January 19, 2014

Another Little Thing about Hiram Case

A little insight into Hiram's sense of justice...

From the Western Reserve Chronicle, Warren, Ohio
May 26, 1858

"THE TOLL GATE SUITS

We mentioned the fact, two weeks since, of the Toll gate on the Turnpike north of this town, having been cut down, and the fact that it had been done to test the right of the Trumbull & Ashtabula Turnpike Company to charge toll for that part of the road not finished.  Two suits of the Company vs. Mr. Hiram Case, were tried before Judge Abell last week, and at the same time, a complaint for assault and battery was heard.

It seems that Mr. Case refused to pay the tolls demanded of him, claiming that the dirt part of the Turnpike should not be charged for, but only the plank.  The gatekeeper refused to allow him to pass, when Mr. C. sent his son for an axe and cut down gate.  The gatekeeper complained of an assault against Mr. C. and his son.  He did not claim that his person had been injured, but that he had been pushed aside.

Mr. Case was bound over, but the young man was discharged.  The Company brought suit for trespass to their gate.  Mr. Case offered a judgment of four dollars, which was accepted.

The other suit for the statuory penalty for the use of the county had been commenced also, and this was tried by a jury, resulting in the assessment of a fine of Ten Dollars."

If the connection between Hiram and Caleb Jr. and Caleb Sr. holds up, then the rest of the line back is pretty well documented through Caleb Sr.'s father, Zaccheus.

January 16, 2014

Hiram Case and his son, Isham

I have been tracking Hiram and Isham Case because I believe they are the brother and nephew of my husband's great-great grandfather, Caleb Case Jr. and the son and grandson of Caleb Case, Sr. of Whitestown, New York.

In the 1850 census of Bristol Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, which is located right next to the state line with Pennsylvania, Hiram Case was enumerated on August 18.  He was 44, a farmer AND born in New York.  With him were his wife, Luranda, and children Willard, 18 (farmer); Isham, 17 (born c. 1833 and a store clerk); Sidney, 14; Russel, 11; Ellen, 9; Martha, 3 AND Iantha, 48 - Hiram's sister.  Iantha was named in Caleb Sr.'s will.

The name "Isham" reminded me of the story of Caleb Jr.'s son, Maynard, who died in California. (His story may be read here.)  Maynard died in 1867, so when the family was informed back home in Indiana, it was up to the widow and her eldest son, Emillus, to make arrangements for the settling of his estate and for his burial.  Maynard's father, Caleb Jr., had died in 1854.  When Emillus wrote to the administrator of courts in California regarding how to proceed with Maynard's estate, Emillus wrote:


"The power of attorney we shall send to Isham Case, Brooklyn, California.  Will you please also write to him and tell him whether he can draw the estate on presentation of power of attorney and tell him when to come?"

And it is later reported in the estate papers that in 1869, Isham Case came to pick up the cash from the estate.  

So, to me, it seemed likely that Caleb Jr.'s widow would have asked someone close to the family to handle this personal issue...someone who was already in California.  Isham would have been Maynard's cousin and her husband's nephew.  The research showed that Isham was gone from Hiram's home in Ohio by 1860 and in fact, Isham was enumerated on the 1860 census in Brooklyn, Alameda County, California, living in a boarding house there at the age of 26 and single.

An article in the San Francisco Chronicle, January 30, 1906 about an exceptionally low tide, stated:
"Isham Case, who is employed by the Southern Pacific on the Alameda  mole, came to Oakland in the year 1852 and served as a clerk on a ferry-boat, also had an opportunity to see the mud when the tide was out in that year, and he remembers it."

Isham Case had some status in Alameda County.  The Centennial Yearbook of Alameda County, 1886 gave this biography: 
"ISHAM CASE
This gentleman is a native of New York State, and is an old citizen of Alameda County.  He has just retired from the Board of Supervisors, in which he has held the position of President for five years.  He became early identified with the interests of Brooklyn Township, and was an officer of the Larnes* steamboat line when in operation.  He is the father of a family, and is connected with the Larnes*, having married the only daughter of the late Jas. B. Larne.  Mr. Case's most active occupation, of late years, has been that of farming in the Livermore Valley, where he owns a large ranch.  He has also operated largely in mining stocks.  He has ever been an active politician, and is a man who wields no inconsiderable influence in the Republican party.  He is 43 years of age.*

(I think this should be Larue and I think his age is off by 10 years.)

Isham was also the Treasurer in at least 1864, for the Church of the Advent, Protestant Episcopal Church in Oakland, which was established in 1860.  His father-in-law donated the land for the church and also served as a Vestryman.
He also acted as Assessor for the county in the 1860's. 
 So Isham Case was well qualified to handle any affairs given him by the Case family back in Indiana.  I thought Isham's obituary might help, but all I could find was this short notice in the San Francisco Call published on March 2, 1911.

"CASE - In Oakland, Cal., March 1, 1911, Isham Case, beloved father of J. R. Case* and the late Lula Case, a native of New York, aged 77 years.

(*J.R. was James Russell Case and Lulu was Sarah Lula Case.  Another brother, Willard Frank, might have been deceased by this time; I'm not sure why he's not mentioned.  As a side note, Isham and his wife, Hannah, must have been very saddened by the trials of their daughter, Lulu, who suffered from a mental illness.  The San Francisco Chronicle reported on April 28, 1900:
"RELAPSED INTO INSANITY
MISS LULU CASE AGAIN ORDERED SENT TO AN ASYLUM
Oakland, April 27.  Miss S. Lulu Case, daughter of Isham Case, who was at one time chairman of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, was ordered committed today to the State Hospital at Agnews.  She was sent to an asylum on May 13th of last year, but was permitted to return to her home, as it was thought she had recovered her mental equilibrium.  Recently, however, she has relapsed and is afflicted with many delusions.  She imagines that spirits surround her and that to prevent them from taking her away, she must sleep in a green gown.  She has recently showed signs of a suicidal mania, and it was thought best by her family to have her again placed under restraint.  Miss Case's mother was a member of the Larue family of East Oakland, being a daughter of the now deceased pioneer James Larue.")

I also have not yet found an obituary for Hiram...just his tombstone, and Iantha's and Delia's, all in Trumbull County, Ohio. 
Iantha is buried in the Old Bristol Cemetery, Trumbull County, OH

 
Evergreen Cemetery, Bristolville, Trumbull County, OH
Hiram's sister, Delia, was enumerated with the family in 1880.  Hiram was 75 by that time and Delia, 70. (Delia was also mentioned in the Whitestown will of Caleb Sr.)  I have not been able to find Hiram's wife, Luranda's, place of burial, and I do not know yet who Lettie Kibbee is. Lettie was only 13 when she died.


I don't have an obituary for Hiram who died in 1894 at the age of 88.  That could possible mention a brother named Caleb Jr.  So the connection is far from secured, so I'm looking for any researcher who may have already made that link!  Otherwise, I think I will have to road trip to Trumbull County and New York!  (Not a bad idea anyway)
 

January 14, 2014

Caleb Case - The Dilemma

Caleb Case of Spencerville, Indiana (great-great grandfather), who reported himself born in New York circa 1803 in the census, has certainly led me on a winding genealogical path these past few months.  Who was his father? I thought I knew, based on a will of Caleb Case, Sr., which I acquired long ago in my research.  Then I looked around at other people's research and some connected that man with sons named Caleb who moved to Michigan and Wisconsin.  How could I be sure that I was making the right connections?

First, here is the will of Caleb Case, Sr. of Whitestown, New York, dated 1814:
Oneida County, New York
"The last will and testament of Caleb Case of Whitestown in the county of Oneida and state of New York, I, Caleb Case, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, do make, ordain, publish and declaire this my last will and testament in manner and form following

First, I give and bequeath until my beloved wife, Charlotte Case, the one third part of the reasonable _? of all my real estate of which I am in lawful possession of at my decease.**  I also give and bequeath to my said beloved wife the one third part & improvement of my dwelling house & out houses, also two cows, one horse and twelve sheep, said stock to be kept on the premises which is to be considered as part of the Rents above mentioned to be allowed her.  The privilege in the house and other buildings also to be considered part of the Rents.  I also give and bequeatn to my said beloved wife, Charlotte Case, all my household furniture, also my wearing apparel and necessary fuel for the fire as long as she remains my widow."   (**Charlotte's dower rights - see link)

"Then I do hereby commit the guardianship of my four youngest children, viz. Iantha Case, aged twelve years, Caleb Case, Jr, aged eleven years, Hiram Case, aged nine years, and Dela Case, aged seven years**, until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years, until my said wife, Charlotte during her life, if she should so long continue my widow and form and after her decease, or if she shall marry again, then in that case, I do constitute, ordain & appoint my beloved son, Zacheus Case, his executors and assigns, and I do hereby declare that the expense and maintenance and education of my four above named children shall be paid & borne by my said wife, by and out of the privileges & property given and bequeathed to her in and by this will."
(**I believe Charlotte was Caleb Sr.'s third wife with whom he had these four young children: Ianthe, born c. 1802; Caleb Jr., born c. 1803; Hiram, born c. 1805; and Dela (Delia), born c. 1807.)

Then, I give and bequeath to my eldest son, Horrace Case, thirty five dollars
Then, I give and bequeath to my three daughters, viz. Elizabeth Mark (March?), Sarah Case, and Rhoda Kellogg, the sum of thirty five dollars each.
Then, I give and bequeath to my two sons, Caleb Case, Jr. and Hiram Case, the sum of three hundred dollars each in manner hereafter pointed out
Then, I give and bequeath to my two daughters, Ianthe and Dela Case, the sum of two hundred dollars each which said several legacies or sums of money I will and order to be paid by my Executors hereafter by me made to this my will.

Then I give and declare to my two sons, Zaccheus Case and Philemon Case, to them then thus their assigns forever, all my Real Estate, together with all my personal estate, being, lying and remaining in the town of Whitestown in the county of Oneida in the state of New York or elsewhere.  Now to them, the said Zaccheus Case & Philemon Case, their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between them, and further my will is that Horace Case, Elizabeth Mark, Sarah Case and Rhoda Kellogg, all receive the legacies above willed to them at the expiration of two years after my decease and it is my will that my two sons, viz. Caleb Case Jr. and Hiram Case shall receive the Legacies allotted and willed to each of them at the age of twenty one years and also that the legacies be paid to Ianthe and Dela Case, above mentioned, when each shall arrive at the age of twenty one years.

And lastly, as to all the rest of my personal estate goods and chattels of what kind or nature not heretofore bequeathed, I give & bequeath equally between my two sons, Zaccheus Case and Philemon Case, whom I hereby ordain, constitute and appoint Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the ninth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen."

The will was signed on the 9th of August and it was presented in court on the 29th after Caleb Sr.'s death.  From this will, we gain the names of his children, which I believe were from three different wives. Horrace was the oldest son, but apparently he had already been compensated sufficiently as he was given $35. Caleb Sr. gave his real estate to two other older sons, Zaccheus and Philemon.  He had probably given the older girls a dowry when they married, so he might have thought that was enough, giving them now just $35 at his death.  (Sarah Case was married to a Case.)  But the four youngest children got substantial amounts of money for the time, 1814.  A currency calculator valued the $300 Hiram and Caleb and their sisters received as worth about $4,000-$5,000 in 2013.  

So it makes sense that when Caleb and Hiram came of age and collected their inheritance, having received no land from their father, they would have headed west where land could be had for $5.00 or less per acre.  Caleb came to Indiana in about 1842 and Hiram to Trumbull County, Ohio sometime in the 1840's.  (More on Hiram in the next post.)

Caleb Jr. married Sophia Camp who was from Waterville, NY, just about 15 miles from Whitestown.  Close enough to visit and court.
So the proximity of these two places supports the possibility that the two Calebs might be related.

But the biggest connection I found between our Caleb Jr, this Caleb Sr. and his brother,Hiram, came through Hiram's son, Isham.
Stay tuned.




January 6, 2014

Case or Camp Photos - Unidentified

These photos were found in the old satchel holding the papers of Emillus Case, son of Caleb and Sophia Camp Case.  Of course, they are unidentified.  The only hope of identification would be if someone of the family has something similar to help name these family members.  

I believe they are daguerrotypes, which usually date between 1840 - 1860.  I've actually thought that one of them might be Emillus himself, another one a brother and perhaps, the last might be the sister who lived with them, Lydia.
But that is pure speculation.
Could anyone help?