Dr. W. A. Chew Family - Salamonia, Indiana

The Jay County Historical Society provided me with the copies of these photos of the Dr. William Anderson CHEW family of Salamonia, Indiana.  The photos are displayed in their museum in Portland.  Dr. Chew was my paternal 2nd-great granduncle, the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW.  Dr. William took over the practice in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana when Dr. Ezekiel retired.

I do not know the date that these photos were taken, and the identifications of the photos provided by the historical society refer to the girls by their married name.  One of the boys is also not identified.

William Anderson CHEW was born April 4, 1858 in Darke County, Ohio.  He married Emma Susan STRAIGHT in 1886 at New Weston, Darke County, Ohio.  Susan was born June 1866 in Ohio, the daughter of William and Catherine (BIDDINGER) STRAIGHT.  William died January 6, 1914 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Susan died in 1934.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Known children: Ethel A., Forest L., Orville Bernard, Opal W., Lyford L., Imo C., Crystal E., Kenneth E., and Lea.

Dr. W.A. CHEW attended Columbus Medical College in Columbus, Ohio. 

Family Milestones: December 20th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Nancy DAVIS, was married on this date in 1846 in Monroe County, Indiana to James M. CAMPBELL.  Nancy was the daughter of John and Susannah (________) DAVIS, and the older sister of my Austin DAVIS.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Thomas GROENENDYKE, was married on this date in 1899 in Madison County, Indiana to Hettie BALLARD.  Thomas was the son of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE, and the younger brother of my Catherine GROENENDYKE.  Thomas was born October 2, 1852 near Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  Hettie was born March 1865 in Indiana.  Thomas was a farmer in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Thomas died November 25, 1944 in Madison County, Indiana, and is buried in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Amanda P. PIERCE, was born on this date in 1842.  Amanda was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE.  Amanda died February 22, 1845.

My paternal great granduncle, Harvey Allen WEHRLY, was born on this date in 1876 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Harvey was the son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY, and the younger brother of my Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.  Harvey married October 9, 1888 to Nettie SHREEVE.  Nettie was born circa 1880 in Indiana.  They had 4 children, and lived in Henry County, Indiana.  Harvey died June 9, 1968.

My maternal 6th-great grandaunt, Mayke GROENENDYKE, was born on this date in 1751 in Kingston, Middlesex County, New Jersey.  Mayke was the daughter of Johannes and Sarah Ann (LAKE) GROENENDYKE, and the younger sister of my Nicholas GROENENDYKE.  Mayke was still living at the time of her father's death in 1785.  Nothing further is known at this time.

Jay County Courthouse - Portland, IN (1918)

Pictured on this black and white postcard postmarked September 12, 1918 is the Jay County courthouse in Portland, Indiana.

Transcription of the postcard from Portland, Indiana:

Dear Mother & all - This is Thursday morn.  Rec'd your card yesterday.  We had quite a rain last night.  Mary & Mildred were here yesterday she canned six cans of grapes and made quart of jelly.  I have four cans. Guess I will not can any more untill next week.  They will be more ripe.  I haven't washed ____ it has been rainy.  I will be thinking a lot of Vera to-day.  We're all well, From Nora.

The recipient, Mrs. Clarence STUBER, was my maternal grandaunt, Vera Delphene (HALEY) STUBER.  Vera was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY, and the older sister of my grandmother, Ruth Pauline HALEY.  Vera married Clarence Leroy STUBER on February 14, 1915 in Jay County, Indiana. 


The author, Nora, is Vera's sister, Clara Elnora HALEY.  Nora was born October 31, 1900 in Jay County, Indiana.  The Mary mentioned was another sister, Mary Annettie HALEY, born August 23, 1895 in Jay County, Indiana.  Mary was married to Galen H. MILLER on August 23, 1917.  Mildred was their daughter.


This postcard places Vera and Clarence STUBER in Spencerville, Ohio in 1918.  What I do not know is whether or not Vera's parents, Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY were living in Ohio at the time.  From the way the postcard is addressed, it would appear so.  Most records I have show them in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, including the 1920 census.


This post was written for A Festival of Postcards, 6th edition.