Webster Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

Back on July 8th, while on vacation, I managed to slip over into Darke County, Ohio and work in a little genealogy research.  The Darke County Visitors Bureau puts out an excellent map of the county, including townships, and the locations of cemeteries.  While we were driving around, I decided to see if I could locate the Webster Cemetery in Allen Township where some of my relatives were buried.  According to the sign, this cemetery was established in 1842.

Sadly, this cemetery is in need of some repair.  Many of the tombstones were knocked over.   The cemetery is right on the corner of the county road and corn fields.  Unfortunately, I didn't have materials I needed to make a rubbing of some of these tombstones, as it was hard to read the inscriptions regarding "years, months and days" on the children.  

Edward Chew (1870-1870) was the son of Nathaniel Durbin and Margaret H. (Heistand) Chew.  The tombstone reads "Edward, son of N.D. and Maggie Chew died January 27, 1870." It appears that his tombstone says aged 1 day.  Also inscribed is the phrase "blossomed on earth to bloom in heaven."

Phillip D. Lemasters (1869-1869) was the son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (Chew) Lemasters.   The tombstone reads "Phillip D. son of L.W. and M.K. Lemasters died May 1, 1869."  I cannot make out the number of months and days.

Rev. Nathaniel Chew (1786-1866) was the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Springer) Chew.  He was my 4th-great grandfather.  His tombstone reads "Rev. Nathaniel Chew born in Gloucester Co. N.J. Nov. 10 1786 died Jan. 24 1866 Aged 79 Y 2 M 14 D."  Now for some reason, I have him dying in Mahaska County, Iowa - where several Chews had settled, but I sincerely doubt they would have transported him back to Ohio for burial.  More investigation needs to be done on this.

Mary E. Chew (1868-1869) was the daughter of Abel Woolston and Salome H. (Holdeman) Chew.  Her tombstone reads "Mary E. dau. of A.W. and S.H. Chew died Sept. 3 1869 aged 1 Y 5 M 21 D."

Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew was the daughter of Abel B. and Rachel (Woolston) Woolston.  She was my 3rd-great grandmother.  Her tombstone reads "Caroline B. wife of Dr. E.C. Chew died Feb. 27 1879."  I was unable to read the aged remarks without a rubbing.

All of these tombstones were together in one section, probably a family plot since they were related and all died within a ten year period.  They were all lined up in a neat little row.

Chew Marriage Records in Darke County, Ohio

Early Marriage Records of Darke County, Ohio, 1817-1865 A-L, Fort Greenville Chapter DAR, recopied by Margaret Snyder, 1966.

Found this book in the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, several months ago, and just now getting around to extracting the information on my relatives.  In this volume I located two Chew relatives.

Chew, Abel W., m. Sarah Holderman Oct. 2, 1862 by John L. Bates.  Abel Woolston Chew was my paternal 2nd-great granduncle, the brother to Mary (below).  I have his marriage in my database taking place on September 25, 1862 in Greenville, and his wife being named Salome H. Holdeman.  Whether the name was Holdeman or Holderman will need to be sorted out as well.

Chew, Mary H., m. Luman W. Lemaster Oct. 2, 1864 by Jason Young, M.G.  Mary Keziah Chew was my paternal 2nd-great grandmother.  I already knew her marriage took place on October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio. The transcription of her middle initial may be an error.  The Jason Young who performed the ceremony may be a relative of Luman's.

Wives of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper Chew: Caroline

Meet Dr. Ezekiel Cooper CHEW, my paternal 3rd-great grandfather.  I think my dad favors him a bit.  Dr. Chew and the Chew family has been one of my favorite lines to try to search, simply because there are so many of them and they seem to spread out far and wide.  But those stories can wait.  Today I'm going to talk about my attempt to flesh out the details on Dr. Chew's wives.


Dr. Chew's first wife was my 3rd-great grandmother, Caroline Bishop WOOLSTON.  Caroline was born February 6, 1826 in Vincentown, Burlington County, New Jersey, the daughter of Abel B. and Rachel (WOOLSTON) WOOLSTON. The Woolston family was an old Quaker family, much like the Chew family, who had become Methodists after the Revolutionary War.  Caroline had two sisters, Beulah and Sarah, who were well-known missionaries in China.  I am fortunate enough to have a picture of Caroline :

Ezekiel and Caroline had several children: I have 14 named children in my database, which still needs some cleaning up of dates, etc.   The family bible surfaced back in 2002, but I was unable to obtain it.  A transcription of sorts does exist on a message board posting.


Ezekiel and Caroline were married December 29, 1842 in New Jersey, according to the Genealogy of the Chew Family by Robert L. Chew.  The marriage took place in Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Here is a snippet from the Gloucester County Historical Society showing the record:

Source: Marriage record database, Gloucester County New Jersey Historical Society, www.gloucestercountyhistoricalsociety.org, accessed 18 November 2010.

I am not a member of the society, so I couldn't pull up the full record.  I was unable to locate this marriage in the Ancestry.com database of New Jersey marriages.  However, the FamilySearch.org beta site had the following:

Groom's Name	Ezekiel C. Chew
Groom's Birth Date
Groom's Birthplace
Groom's Age
Bride's Name	Carolina B. Woolston
Bride's Birth Date
Bride's Birthplace
Bride's Age
Marriage Date	29 Dec 1842
Marriage Place	Woodbury, New Jersey
Groom's Father's Name
Groom's Mother's Name
Bride's Father's Name
Bride's Mother's Name
Groom's Race
Groom's Marital Status
Groom's Previous Wife's Name
Bride's Race
Bride's Marital Status
Bride's Previous Husband's Name
Indexing Project (Batch) Number	M01430-5
System Origin	New Jersey-EASy
Source Film Number	1001853
Reference Number

After their marriage, Ezekiel and Caroline lived in Blackwood, New Jersey where  Ezekiel was the town doctor.  They moved to Montgomery County, Ohio before 1850, as the family was enumerated their in the 1850 cenus in Jackson Township.  Living with them in the household, was Ezekiel's father, Nathaniel, a preacher.

 Source: Ezekiel Chew household, 1850 Census, Jackson Twp., Mongtomery County, Ohio, dwelling 901, family 901, Ancestry.com [database on-line]

Caroline is enumerated as Cordelia in this census record for some reason.  Her age is listed as 24 years, born in New Jersey.  The children listed are Abel, age 6 born New Jersey; Nathaniel, age 5 born New Jersey; Mary, age 3 born New Jersey; James age 2 born Iowa; Milford age 3 months born Ohio.  Also listed in the household was Ezekiel's father, Nathaniel Chew, age 64, occupation Preacher, born New Jersey.


From this reading sometime between 1847 and 1848 the family was in Iowa, where son James was born.  There were other members of the Chew family known to be located in Mahaska County, Iowa at this time.


According to the 1922 history of Jay County, Indiana, by 1855 Dr. Chew was residing in Farmersville, Montgomery County, Ohio and by 1857 the family was in Ft. Jefferson, Darke County, Ohio.  The next census of 1860 finds the family in Neave Township, Darke County, Ohio.

Source: Zeechel Chew household, 1860 census, Neave Twp., Darke County, Ohio, dwelling 1166, family 1128, Ancestry.com [database on-line]

Caroline was enumerated in this census as being aged 34, born in New Jersey. The children listed were A.W. [Abel Woolston], aged 17 born New Jersey; Nathaniel aged 15 born New Jersey; Mary aged 13 born New Jersey; Sarah aged 8 born New Jersey; Caroline aged 6 born New Jersey; William aged 2 born Ohio; and Zeechel [Ezekiel] aged 1 born Ohio.  Again, father-in-law Nathaniel Chew, 74 year old minister, born in New Jersey, was living with the family.

By this census, sons James (1848) and Millard F. (1850) were deceased, as well as another son Samuel W. (1852) not recorded in any census records.

If daughter Sarah's birthplace is correctly recorded, then the family would have moved back to New Jersey sometime around 1852-53 and then would have been back in Ohio by 1855 to be living in Farmersville.  Later census records for Sarah reflect a New Jersey birth, so the family must have gone back "home" to New Jersey for a time. Caroline's mother, Rachel WOOLSTON (1800-1851) died in Burlington County, New Jersey on September 11, 1851, so perhaps the family went back to New Jersey to help settle the estate.

Records for Ezekiel place him in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana in 1863-64.  In May 1863 he was assessed federal income tax as a lawyer in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  On June 24, 1863 he was again assessed federal tax as a lawyer in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  On January 24, 1864 he was assessed a tax as a physician in Lancaster [now Salamonia], Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.


The census of 1870, however, finds them living in New Madison, Twin Township, Darke County, Ohio.

Source: Ezekiel Chew household, 1870 census, Twin Twp., Darke County, Ohio, dwelling 128, family 127, Ancestry.com [database on-line].

Caroline was enumerated in this census as 44 years old, born in New Jersey and keeping house.  The children were Sarah age 17 born New Jersey; Carrie B. age 16 born Ohio; Cooper age 14 born Ohio; Willie A. age 12 born Ohio; Charles age 10 born Ohio; Horace age 5 born Ohio; and Dona age 1 born Ohio.

By the time of this census, son Jesse (1862) had been born and died; and the older children had began to marry and have families of their own.  Abel married Salome HOLDEMAN September 25, 1862 in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio.  Nathaniel had married Margaret HEISTAND on April 18, 1867 in Darke County, Ohio.  Mary had married Luman LEMASTERS on October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio.

Catherine died on February 27, 1879 and is buried in the Webster Cemetery, Rossburg, Darke County, Ohio.  A memorial page has been created at the Find A Grave website.  

Caroline's sister, Sarah WOOLSTON, wrote her will dated September 29, 1879 which makes interesting mention of our Dr. Ezekiel Cooper Chew.  Fortunately, her estate would up going to the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Thanks to Google Books, I found Reports of cases decided in the Court of Chancery of the state of New Jersey, Volume 79.

In her will, Sarah, who had been a missionary in China, wrote  the following items:

Fourth: I give and bequeath to each one of the ten children of my deceased sister Caroline B. Chew, to them and their heirs, the sum of twenty-five dollars.  The shares of the younger children to remain in the hands of my executrix or executor until each one comes to the age of twenty-one years when it shall be paid to him with interest from the time of my decree.

Seventh: And I will and direct that the other half of all moneys belonging to my estate be divided into twelve equal parts, two of these parts shall be given  to my sister Rebecca Ann H. Deacon to her and her heirs, and the other ten parts shall be given to the ten children, to them and their heirs, of my deceased sister Caroline B. Chew.  And I do further will and direct that the shares of such of these children as are minors shall remain in the hands of my executor until each one is twenty-one years of age when it shall be paid to him with interest from the time of my decease.  And I do especially direct that my executor shall see that each one of these children receives his and her full part without any diminution whatever.

Eighth: In case the father, Ezekiel Cooper Chew, of the ten children of my deceased sister Caroline B. Chew, under any pretense whatsoever, claim any part or portion of the share or shares of any one or more of these children, then I do will and direct that they receive only twenty dollars each, and the remainder of these ten shares shall be given to the American Bible Society to be used in printing the Holy Scriptures in the Chinese language.

Apparently, Dr. Chew did not endear himself to his sister-in-law, Sarah, who was concerned that he might claim an interest in her estate.

Next, I will focus on Dr. Chew's second wife, Laura...

Family Milestones: September 25th

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Abel Woolston CHEW, married on this date in 1862 in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio to Salome H. HOLDEMAN.  Abel was the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW, and the older brother of my Mary Keziah CHEW.  Salome's parentage is unknown.  Abel was born November 11, 1843 in Blackwood, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Salome was born November 1844 in Ohio.  Abel was a teacher and farmer.  They raised 10 children and lived in Charlevoix County, Michigan.  Abel died January 6, 1903.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Clarissa A. WRIGHT, married on this date in 1878 in Brown County, Ohio, to William Henry BALLEIN.  Clarissa was the daughter of John and Anna (WARDLOW) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my Joseph W. WRIGHT.  William's parentage is unknown.  Clarissa was born March 29, 1856 in Brown County, Ohio.  William was born January 1847 in Ohio. They had 2 children and lived in Brown County, Ohio.  William last known living after 1900 census in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio.  Clarissa died September 27, 1884 in Brown County, Ohio.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Hosea Tillson SMITH, was born on this date in 1849 in Cass County, Michigan.  Hosea was the son of William P. and Prudence (MAXSON) SMITH, and the younger brother of my Olive Jane SMITH.  Hosea served in the Civil War in the 11th Indiana Cavalry.  He married Mary ______. Hosea died in Jackson County, Oregon.  Nothing further is known at this time.

Family Milestones: November 11th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Elizabeth CROCKETT, married Miles BRAY on this date in 1845 in Owen County, Indiana. Elizabeth was the daughter of David and Mary Ann (NOSLER) CROCKETT, and was the older sister of my Mary Ann CROCKETT. Elizabeth was born circa 1827, probably in Owen County, but I haven't followed this line any further. I have no information in my database on Miles BRAY.

My paternal 2nd-great granduncle, Abel Woolston CHEW, was born on this date in 1843 in Blackwood, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Abel was the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW, and the older brother of my Mary Keziah CHEW. Abel married September 25, 1862 in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio to Salome H. HOLDEMAN. Abel was a school teacher and farmer and they lived in Darke County, Ohio and Charlevoix County, Michigan where he died on January 9, 1903.

My paternal 5th-great grandmother, Avis HURLBUT, was born on this date in 1762 in Woodbury, Connecticut. Avis was the daughter of Israel and Jerusha (________) HURLBUT. She married John MOULTON, son of Samuel and Phoebe (________) MOULTON, on July 24, 1781 in Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont. I do not have a record of Avis' death, but it was probably in Vermont.

My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, Charles Riggs WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1870 in Madison County, Indiana. Charles was the son of Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my John William WRIGHT. Charles married Bertha Cordelia LEONARD, daughter of Stephen Sylvester and Susan (TODD) LEONARD, on December 6, 1890 in Innisdale, Madison County, Indiana. Charles was a salesman and farmer of Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana where he died November 23, 1967.

My paternal 3rd-great granduncle, Jonathan MAXSON, was born on this date in 1810 in Clark County, Ohio. Jonathan was the son of Jesse and Sarah (SUTTON) MAXSON, and the older brother of my Prudence MAXSON. Jonathan married in 1829 to Christiana DAVIS. He died 1878 in Dearfield, Indiana.

Tombstone Tuesday: Ezekiel Copper & Jane (Riddle) Chew

My paternal third great-grandfather, Dr. Ezekiel Cooper Chew and his third wife, Mary Jane (RIDDLE) (ADAMS) (KEISER) SHIRK, are buried in the Lakeville Cemetery, St. Joseph's County, Indiana.

Ezekiel was born January 17, 1822 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, the son of Rev. Nathaniel and Mary (WEST) CHEW.

Mary Jane was born December 28, 1845 in St. Joseph's County, Indiana, the daughter of Wiley and Miranda M. (PRICE) RIDDLE.

Ezekiel died August 27, 1888 in St. Joseph's County, Indiana. Mary Jane died in 1921. After Ezekiel's death, she had married Simon KEISER on September 7, 1889 in St. Joseph's County, Indiana. This marriage ended in divorce, and she married Hiram SHIRK circa 1894.

Ezekiel's occupation was that of a medical doctor. He graduated from Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a doctor for many years in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.

Ezekiel's first wife, Caroline Bishop WOOLSTON (1826-1879) was my 3rd-great grandmother. After her death, Ezekiel remarried to the widow Laura SKAGGS, and after her death married Mary Jane RIDDLE.

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW are:

• Abel Woolston CHEW (1843-1903); married Salome HOLDEMAN; 11 children
• Nathaniel Derby CHEW (1845-aft1920); married Margaret HEISTAND; 7 children
• Mary Keziah CHEW (1847-1927); married Luman Walker LEMASTERS; 11 children
• James CHEW (c1848-c1851)
• Millard F. CHEW (1850-1851)
• Sarah Fidelia CHEW (1852-1935); married David ELEY; 5 children
• Samuel W. CHEW (1852-1852)
• Caroline Bishop CHEW (1854-1920); married Fred E. WHITACRE; 3 children
• Ezekiel Cooper CHEW (1856-aft1920); married Minnie J. SAFFORD; 4 children
• William Anderson CHEW (1858-1914); married Emma Susan STRAIGHT; 9 children
• Charles Alexander West CHEW (1860-1925); married Rebecca F. SHUMAKER; 10 children
• Horace Virgil CHEW (1865- ); married Esther V. ABEL; 3 children
• Donovan R. CHEW (1869- ); married Bertha ADAMS; 4 children
• Jesse CHEW

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Laura (________) (SKAGGS) CHEW are:

• Edis Playfair CHEW (1883-1915); married Bertha ________

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Mary Jane (RIDDLE) CHEW are :

• Wiley Riddle CHEW (1888-1959); married Dora Belle LAMB
  

Caroline Bishop Woolston (b. February 6, 1826)

Today's featured relative in my database is my paternal 3rd-great grandmother, Caroline Bishop Woolston.

Caroline was born February 6, 1826 in Vincentown, Burlington Co., NJ, the daughter of Abel B. and Rachel (Woolston) Woolston. Caroline married December 29, 1842 in New Jersey to Ezekiel Cooper Chew, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (West) Chew. Ezekiel was born January 17, 1822 in Gloucester Co., NJ., and died August 27, 1888 in St. Joseph's Co., IN. Caroline died February 27, 1879 in Rossburg, Stark Co., OH.

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew are as follows :
i. Abel Woolston Chew b. November 11, 1843 Burlington Co., NJ., d. January 9, 1903, m. Salome H. Holdeman
ii. Nathaniel Derby Chew b. April 17, 1845 New Jersey, d. after 1920 census, m. Margaret H. Heistand
iii. Mary Keziah Chew b. February 13, 1847 Burlington Co., NJ., d. February 22, 1927 Jay Co., IN, m. Luman Walker Lemasters Jr.
iv. James Chew b. ca. 1848 Indiana, d. ca. 1852
v. Millard F. Chew b. February 1850 Ohio, d. June 4, 1851
vi. Sarah Fidelia Chew b. 1852 Camden Co., NJ, d. 1935, m. David Eley
vii. Samuel W. Chew b. March 3, 1852, d. March 4, 1852
viii. Caroline Bishop Chew b. April 11, 1854 Ohio, d. October 1, 1920, m. Fred E. Whitacre
ix. Ezekiel Cooper Chew b. January 1856 Ohio, d. after 1920 census, m. Minne J. Safford
x. William Anderson West Chew b. April 4, 1858 Darke Co., OH., d. January 6, 1914 Jay Co., IN., m. Emma Susan Straight
xi. Charles Alexander West Chew b. August 18, 1860 Darke Co., OH, d. July 16, 1925, m. Rebecca F. Shumaker
xii. Horace Virgil Chew b. February 1865 Ohio, m. Esther V. Abel
xiii. Donovan R. Chew b. August 20, 1869 Ohio, after 1920 census, m. Bertha A. Adams
xiv. Jesse Chew

I descend from Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew through their daughter, Mary Keziah, as follows :
Caroline Bishop Woolston and Ezekiel Cooper Chew
Mary Keziah Chew and Luman Walker Lemasters Jr.
Luman Cooper LeMasters and Barbara Isabelle Wehrly (my great-grandparents)

Ezekiel Cooper Chew (b. January 17, 1822)

Today's featured relative in my database is my paternal 3rd-great grandfather, Ezekiel Cooper Chew.

Ezekiel was born January 17, 1822 in Gloucester Co., NJ, the son of Nathaniel and Mary (West) Chew. Ezekiel married December 29, 1842 in New Jersey to Caroline Bishop Woolston, daughter of Abel B. and Rachel (Woolston) Woolston. Caroline was born February 6, 1826 in Vincentown, Burlington Co., NJ and died February 27, 1879 in Rossburg, Stark Co., OH. Ezekiel married secondly to Mrs. Laura Skaggs between 1879-1882. Laura was born in Ohio and died in Jay Co., IN. Ezekiel married thirdly to Mary Jane Riddle. Mary was born December 28, 1845 in St. Joseph's Co., IN, and died in 1921. Ezekiel died August 27, 1888 in St. Joseph's Co., IN.

Ezekiel was a medical doctor who graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He practiced medicine in Indiana and Ohio; living in Jay Co., IN., Darke Co., OH, Montgomery Co., OH, and St. Joseph's Co., IN.

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew are as follows :
i. Abel Woolston Chew b. November 11, 1843 Gloucester Co., NJ, d. January 9, 1903, m. Salome H. Holdeman
ii. Nathaniel Derby Chew b. April 17, 1845 New Jersey, d. after 1920 census m. Margaret H. Heistand
iii. Mary Keziah Chew b. February 13, 1847 Burlington Co., NJ, d. February 22, 1927 Jay Co., IN., m. Luman Walker Lemasters Jr.
iv. James Chew b. ca. 1848 Indiana, d. ca. 1852
v. Millard F. Chew b. February 1850 Ohio, d. June 4, 1851
vi. Sarah Fidelia Chew b. 1852 Camden Co., NJ d. 1935 m. David Eley
vii. Samuel W. Chew b. March 3, 1852, d. Mary 4, 1852
viii. Caroline Bishop Chew b. April 11, 1854 Delisle, OH, d. October 1, 1920, m. Fred E. Whitacre
ix. Ezekiel Cooper Chew b. January 1856 Ohio, d. after 1920 census, m. Minnie J. Safford
x. William Anderson Chew b. April 4, 1858 Darke Co., OH, d. January 6, 1914 Jay Co., IN, m. Emma Susan Straight
xi. Charles Alexander West Chew b. April 18, 1860 Darke Co., OH, d. July 16, 1925, m. Rebecca Shumaker
x. Horace Virgil Chew b. February 1865 Ohio, m. Esther V. Abel
xi. Donovan R. Chew b. August 20, 1869 Ohio, d. after 1920 census, m. Bertha A. Adams
xii. Jesse Chew

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Laura (_____) (Skaggs) Chew are as follows :
i. Edis Playfair Chew b. June 1882 Indiana

Children of Ezekiel Cooper and Mary Jane (Riddle) Chew are as follows :
i. Wiley Riddle Chew b. June 18, 1888 Ohio, d. August 6, 1959, m. Dora Belle Lamb

I descend from Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew through their daughter, Mary Keziah, as follows :
Ezekiel Cooper Chew and Caroline Bishop Woolston
Mary Keziah Chew and Luman Walker Lemasters Jr.
Luman Cooper LeMasters and Barbara Isabelle Wehrly (my great-grandparents)