Unidentified Photos - Rodenberger, Spieth, Dawson?

Edited May 5, 2014 with names to match the faces!  Thanks Sheryll.
Unidentified photos (treasures) that were in my mother's collection . . . Speculation and information are welcomed!




Terrence Maddock
The Spieth Studio, Olney, Ill.

Gladys Maurine (Dawson) Craft
No studio listed.

Alba Doyne Craft
Rochford Studio - Sheridan
Class of 1941
 

Alba Doyne Craft
Rochford Studio - Sheridan
 

Travel Tuesday - 1904 World's Fair, St. Louis

I have two copies of the same photo.  Wonderfully, they are from different families and between the two photos, all but one person is identified.

1904 World's Fair
Only people identified:  woman 3rd from left - Leo Bessie Spieth, woman seated on left - Mrs. Rodenberger
woman seated in the middle - Iona Dawson, and young man standing on far right - Challis Dawson

1904 World's Fair
[Source:  Jeanie Ommerle]

Top - Edith, 2nd Gma Rodenberger (Elizabeth), Leo, Clara, Billie Spieth, Nettie Spieth Bradley
Bottom - Harold, Sis, Ralph Bradley, Harry Bradley
"Lived in tent while there.  Smallpox epidemic in progress."
[Only the two people standing on the right side were unidentified.]

In Letters to Connie Rodenberger Fulton, 1901 - 1908, on page 16, C. C. Rodenberger wrote to his daughter, Connie on September 25, 1904.  C. C. Rodenberger lived in Oswego, Kansas and his daughter lived in Arizona.
". . . There is considerable sickness around here and has been Several deaths we are all on foot  Uncle Levy his wife and baby will start the third of next month from medford by the southern rout, he will land here on the Katy  Stop a day or two then go to the fair at St Louis on account of his ticket then will come back and visit with pa for Some time none of us have seen him for 48 years he says that is the cheapest rout 36 dollars a ticket . . ."
[Source:  Charles Alvard Rodenberger]

In the photos are two sisters:  Clara (Rodenberger) Spieth and Iona "Sis" (Rodenberger) Dawson.  Clara's husband is Billie Spieth.  Their children are Leo Bessie, Edith, and Harold Spieth.  2nd Grandma Rodenberger is the step-mother of Clara and Iona - the 2nd wife to their father.  Iona's son is Challis Dawson.  Nettie Spieth Bradley was the sister of Billie Spieth and, I believe, Ralph and Harry Bradley are her sons and they lived in Illinois.  Iona and Challis Dawson also lived in Illinois, Edgar Co.  The Spieths and 2nd Grandma Rodenberger lived in Cherokee Co, Kansas.

Charles C. Rodenberger was the brother of Clara and Iona.   John Harland Rodenberger, the father of Iona, Charles, and Clara, was the oldest brother of Uncle Levy.

Levi Cornwall Rodenberger was captured in the Civil War and escaped from prison.  I have read of two different regions - Huntsville, TN and Petersburg, VA -  and am not sure which is correct.  Some time after the Civil War, Levi headed west -  possibly with his brother Moses Rodenberger [See post of 10/2/2011].  He is enumerated in the 1870 Federal Census of Myrtle Creek Precinct, Douglas Co, Oregon. 

Travelling with Levi would have been his second wife, Sherry Abigail (Dean) Rodenberger.  Since the child is referred to as a baby, I would surmise that he would be Robert Dean Rodenberger, youngest son of Levi, who was born in 1901.

John Harland Rodenberger died 6 September 1908 in Cherokee Co, Kansas at the age of 76.  Levi Cornwall Rodenberger died 25 May 1933 in San Francisco, California at the age of 90.

Wordless Wednesday - Hallowell, Kansas Farewell Party

Not Thanksgiving gathering, but a family/friends gathering - Farewell party to the John Beamers, August 1909, Lem Holmes' home in Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas. 





Photos:  Lucy Beamer's Beamers Photo Album.

Wednesday's Child - Rodenberger Children

The Winter of 1881 must have been extremely hard in the home of Paul and Sarah Williams (Spring) Rodenberger.  Three of their eight children died within 5 weeks.  All are buried at McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas.  Photos by Mary Parmele, FindAGrave.



Cassius L.

Son of
P. & S.W.
Rodenberger
Born

Mar 12, 1862

Died

Nov. 19, 1881



Martha A
Dau of
P. & S.W.
Rodenberger
Born
Oct. 28, 1864
Died
Dec. 15, 1881

Mary E
Dau. of
P. & S.W.
Rodenberger
Born
June 14, 1868
Died
Dec. 23, 1881

Tombstone Tuesday - "Famous Cartoonist Buried Here"

Weller Rodenberger
1860-1920
McKee Cemetery
Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas
[Photo: Mary Parmele -FindAGrave]

Modern Light
Columbus, Kansas
June 10, 1920

Death of Weller Rodenberger.
     Weller Rodenberger died Friday, June 4, 1920, at his home in Allentown, Pa.  He was the son of Paul and Sarah Rodenberger and was born in Brazil, Ind., August 7, 1860.  He is survived by two brothers, Edgar and B.S. Rodenberger, and one sister, Jeannett Parkinson.  The body was shipped to Columbus from Pennsylvania.  Burial was made in the McKee cemetery at 3:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  A short funeral service was held at the cemetery conducted by Reverend. Alphon Goodrick.

Modern Light
Columbus, Kansas
June 17, 1920

Famous Cartoonist Buried Here.
  Newspaper and magazine readers who have enjoyed the cartoons which appeared for many years signed “Rhoda” will be grieved to know that he is dead, and that his remains were brought to Oswego Monday evening for internment [sic] in the McPee cemetery east of town.  Weller Rodenberger,

was the man referred to.  He was born Aug. 7, 1860, at Brail, Indiana, coming to Cherokee county, Kansas, when small and lived for many years near Hallowell.  Later he moved to Oswego and was in the real estate business here with Geo. King.  He took up cartoon work and was employed on such publications as the St. Louis Globe, the Philadelphia Record and Puck and Judge and other magazines.  At the time of his death he was in charge of the circulation department for a number of states on the Philadelphia Record.  He had one brother, Ben, of Kansas City, and a sister, Mrs. Parkinson, of South Bend, Ind., both of whom were here for the funeral which took place at the McGee cemetery, the sermon being preached by Rev. Goodrick, of Columbus.  Archie Rodenberger of Baxter Springs and Ed. Rodenberger of Kansas City, cousins of the deceased were here also.

– Oswego Independent.

Several inaccuracies are in this article.  Weller Rodenberger was interred at McKee cemetery, not McPee.  He was born in Brazil, not Brail, Indiana.  He had two brothers, Ben, of Kansas City, and Ed Rodenberger of Kansas City (not his cousin).  Archie Rodenberger of Baxter Springs was Weller's nephew, not cousin.

Weller had been married, according to the 1910 Federal Census where his marital status was listed a widowed.

On ancestry's website, the 1890 St. Joseph, Missouri City Directory has an entry for Weller Rodenburger with an occupation of artist for the St. Joseph Herald.

I haven't been able to find any of Weller's cartoons.  I would love to see his artwork!

[Death and burial information, for Weller's brother John Edgar and sister Jennette, has been added to the FGS of Paul and Sarah Rodenberger's posting.]

Amanuensis Monday - Letters of Guardianship

This application for Letters of Guardianship is somewhat unusual.  Paul and Sarah W Rodenberger were preparing for their move from Clay Co, Indiana to Cherokee Co, Kansas.  For some reason, their two older children, ages 18 and 14, signed their authorization for their father to be their guardian.  Why?  Both parents were living despite the printed word "deceased" on the front placard of the application.

This documents was photocopied at the Clay Co., Indiana Court House in Brazil, Indiana - Fee Docket 2 Guardians (Mar 1867-Sep 1879), Box 26. 

No. 438
Application for Letters of Guardianship of
Paul Rodenbarger
for the minor heir of
Paul & Sarah W Rodenbarger, Deceased.
Filed Apl 18" 1873
Geo E Hubbard, Clerk





The State of Indiana, County of Clay:

  The undersigned applies for Letters of Guardianship on the estate of

John E Rodenbarger, born July 17th, 1855.

Carry J(x-ed out) N. Rodenbarger, born January 6th, 1859.

Paul W. Rodenbarger, born August 7th, 1860.

Cassius L. Rodenbarger, born March 12th, 1862.

Martha A. Rodenbarger, born October 28th, 1864.

Benjamin S. Rodenbarger, born Oct 29th, 1866.

Mary " Rodenbarger, born June 14, 1868.

minors heirs of Paul & Sarah Rodenbarger, late of

Clay County, Indiana; said minor.s

reside in Clay County, Indiana.  The probable

value of their estate is Four hundred Dollars,

as follows, viz:

       Real Estate - - - - - - -$------------

       Personal Estate - - - - $400.00.

      

that the minors over the age of twenty-one years have

given their consent to my appointment.

                           Paul Rodenberger

   Paul Rodenbarger, swears that the contents

of the above statement are true, as I verily believe.

                           Paul Rodenberger

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 14"day of April, 1872.

We the undersigned mineer heirs of Paul & Sarah
Rodenberger do hereby authorize the clerk of the
Clay Circuit Court to issue letters of guardianship
of our person & property to Paul Rodenberger.
April 12 1873
Sarah W Rodenberger [x-ed out]
C. Nettie Rodenberger
John E. Rodenberger.

Sunday's Obituary - Paul Rodenberger

Columbus Advocate, Jan. 26, 1911
Columbus, Kansas
[Source: Ray Beamer]

Hallowell News -
     Paul Rodenberger was born in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1826, ans was at the time of his death 83 years old, lacking one month and one day.  He was the son of John and Elizabeth Rodenberger, devout Christians, and members of the German Reformed church, in which church he was catechised and baptised.  In his early manhood he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and continued during his life a firm believer in the faith and a consistant Christian.  In the year 1873 he removed from Brazil, Indiana, to Cherokee county, Kansas, where he resided until the time of his death, Sunday, Jan. 15, 1911, at 4 o'clock p.m., surrounded by his family and administering friends.  He was united in marriage to Sarah Williams Spring, July 10, 1854, at Poland, Indiana.  The fruit of their union was nine children, four of whom survive.

FGS - Paul and Sarah Wiliams (Spring) Rodenberger

Family Group Sheet for Paul Rodenberger and Sarah Williams Spring

Husband – Paul Rodenberger

                                Born:                     16 February 1826 in Ohio

                                Married:              10 July 1854 in Owen Co, Indiana

                                Died:                     15 January 1911 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Parents:                Johannes “John” Rodenberger and Elisabeth _________

Wife – Sarah Williams Spring

                                Born:                     1 December 1826 in Piqua, Ohio

                                Died:                     28 June 1915 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Parents:                John L Spring and Margaret Williams

Child 1 – John Edgar Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     17 July 1855 in Indiana

                                Spouse:                Sarah J “Sadie” Davis

                                Married:              About 1891

                                Divorced:             Before October 1900

                                Died:                    1942

                                Buried:                 Rebekah IOOF Home Cemetery, Riley Co, Kansas

Child 2 – Margaret Myra Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     About 1858 in Indiana

                                Died:                     24 October 1860 in Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana

                                Buried:

Child 3 – Carrie Jeannette Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     6 January 1859 in Indiana

                                Spouse:                Napoleon Bonaparte Parkinson

                                Married:              11 March 1884 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Died:                     18 September 1921 in South Bend, St Joseph Co, IN

                                Buried:                 Riverview Cemetery, South Bend, St Joseph Co, Indiana

Child 4 – Paul Weller Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     7 August 1860 in Brazil, Clay Co, Indiana

                                Spouse:

                                Married:              Pre-1910

                                Died:                     4 June 1920 in Allentown, Lehigh Co, Pennsylvania

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 5 – Cassius L Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     12 March 1862 in Indiana

                                Died:                     19 November 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 6 – Martha A Rodenberger

         F                     Born:                     28 October 1864 in Indiana

                                Died:                     15 December 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Child 7 – Benjamin S Rodenberger

         M                   Born:                     29 October 1866 in Indiana

                                Spouse 1:            Sarah J “Sadie” Davis

                                Married:              6 October 1900 in Columbus, Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Divorced:

                                Spouse 2:            Lenora _________________

                                Married:

                                Divorced:

                                Died:    

                                Buried:

Child 8 – Mary E Rodenberger

          F                     Born:                     14 June 1868 in Indiana

                                Died:                     23 December 1881 in Cherokee Co, Kansas

                                Buried:                 McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas

Wednesday's Child - Dottie Dawson

Dottie Maude Dawson, oldest child of William Taylor and Iona C.S. (Rodenberger) Dawson, was born June 4, 1875 near Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas.  She died on January 2, 1885.  Her obituary was posted on Oct. 15, 2011.

Dottie had two younger brothers and two younger sisters at the time of her death.  In the 1880 Federal Census of Sheridan Twp, Cherokee Co, Kansas, the Taylor Dawson family was enumerated on 17 June 1880:  Taylor Dawson, 30, farmer, b. Ill.; wife Iona S. Dawson, 24, keeping house, b. Ind.; daughter Dottie M. Dawson, 5, b. Kansas; son Judge L, 3, b. Kansas; daughter "not named", b. April, 1 month old, b. Kansas; and Jasper Reid, 21, works on farm.

Dottie and her mother, Iona (Rodenberger0 Dawson
Tintype in the Dawson Family Bible

Some items in a Iona's scrapbook:

Dottie Dawson
November 23, 1883 Monthly Report
Reading 100; Spelling 100; Penmanship 100
No. of Days Present 19; Deportment 85
General Average 100
Nov. 24, 1883 by Ad H. Gibson, Teacher

Dottie Dawson
Apr. 11, 1884 Monthly Report
Spelling 100; Arithmetic 100, Penmanship 100
No. of Days Present 20; No of Times Tardy 1; Deportment 95
General Average 98+
Apr. 12, 1884 by Ad H. Gibson, Teacher

A poem, that is not scanned into the computer, NINE YEARS OLD.  "In pencil, and some of it is too worn and faded to decipher, is written: "To Dottie Presented on her Birthday June 4th 1884 By Her Mother."  Along side of this poem Iona has written her own poem:

Gone is the house sad the hour

Since her sweet smile is gone

But on a brighter home than ours

In heaven is her own."

A transcribed letter from Dottie with her signature photocopied:

[Dawson Family History, 1976]



A Bit of Experience
Dottie's recitation on Dec. 25th, 1884.





A Bit of experience. Rec. by her
at the Friendship Christmas tree, Dec. 25th 1884.
For which she received praise
even at her Funeral for speak-
ing it so calm and nicely,
at nine years of age.

                       

Also from the Dawson Family History:  "But most heart wrenching, and almost overlooked is the next insert, a pencil written poem with this note at the top - "This her last Declaration at school, 2 hours before her death Jan. 2nd, 1885."  Dottie's last declaration was Polly Perkins.

Another item from the Dawson Family History:  "In the center of this page a beautiful card with cut out paper lace, inside is glued a newspaper cutting: A little girl by the name of Dottie Maud Dawson, about ten years old, whose parents reside in Sheridan township, was drowned in a cistern last Friday evening, by accidently falling in while attempting to draw water.  It is supposed she slipped upon the ice, thereby losing her balance."

And, "pasted in the seam of the album is a receipt for a picture to frame in 8x10.  The price $4.50 to be delivered April 1st 1885.

"There was always an old type enlarged photograph, something like a tintype, of Dottie hanging in our living room.  I can still see that photograph.  I was always unduly impressed with the extraordinary stockings that she had on.  The were outlined by multicolored circular, wide bands, and had the appearance of being made of heavy wool."
Challis Dawson to his son Gerard, 1947; page 65.

Transcription of a letter from Taylor Dawson's father, Thomas Lewis Dawson, in the Dawson Family History:

"Scottland Edgar Co.  Jan the 15th   Dear Children   yourse of the 11th to hand which brings us the sad news of little dotty death.  The shock of her death is so great that i hardly know how to express my feelings we just received her and judz (sic) fine letter and was thinking how fine they were progressing in their school and we was refuging (?) with your happy proposals but alas the newest news brings us to morning with yourselves it is hard to reconcile our feelings to such hard Strokes of Providence but the least if only thing we can do is to reconcile our feelings as best we can i trust we will not mourn as them that have no hope.  The question is asked if a man die well as it is one of God old persons that asks the question i will let him answer Jobe as though skin worms destroy my flesh yet with these eyes i shall see God not that i may see but i shall see him so you can those is great consolation to the Cleven i think we all sympathize with you in your bereavement but in my own case am fully prepared to feel all pangs of affliction as i have suffered like losses myself and have learned through life that trouble awaits us of course it being accident is harder than if other wise but it is don and cant be helped well Iony you want dotty dear little letter i will copy it off and send you the likeness as it was the first & last i want to keep a copy myself in rememberance. T.L. Dawson All well & hope you the same."

[Thomas Lewis Dawson had five children die early in their lives:  George Washington Dawson, age 15; Nelson Dawson, age 2 months; Stillborn twin daughters, Effie and Esther; and Ethel Dawson, age 1.]

Lastly, a family portrait after Dottie's death.

Taylor and Judge
Dixie, Tally, Lois, Iona (holding Dottie's portrait)

Dottie was buried at McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co., Kansas.

[Source: Find a Grave, photo by Mary Parmele]

Tombstone Tuesday - Paul and Sarah (Spring) Rodenberger

Paul Rodenberger was the son of Johannes "John" and Elizabeth Rodenberger, younger brother of Samuel Rodenberger, and uncle to John Harland Rodenberger. 

Paul's wife Sarah Williams (Spring) was the daughter of John L and Margaret (Williams) Spring.  Sarah's younger half-sister was Elizabeth Lowry (Spring) Rodenberger, the wife of John Harland Rodenberger.

They are buried at McKee Cemetery, Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas.

RODENBERGER
Paul Rodenberger
Born February 16, 1826
Died January 15, 1911
Sarah Williams
His Wife
Born December 1, 1826
Died June 28, 1915
The Lords Appointment Is The Servants Hour
[Photo by Mary Parmele, FindAGrave]

Amanuensis Monday - The Shooting: 4 versions

I have been given four versions of the same incident.  Tallie (Talmage) was the son of Taylor and Iona (Rodenberger) Dawson.  Clara (Rodenberger) Spieth and "Mother" [Elsie (Rodenberger) Beamer] were younger sisters of Iona (Sis).  The Dawson, living in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois, were visiting family near Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas. 

Dec 1980 letter from Florence (Beamer) Bratton
to Albert Leroy Dillon

"There is a reason for which I was given the name "Florence".  According to mother, Tallie (Talmadge) and wife Florence were visiting at Aunt Clara's.  Mother was pregnant with me at the time and the three couples had gone into Hallowell to a church meeting, leaving the Dawson cousins at Aunt Clara's and my three teenage brother and sisters at home.  The three of them decided to dress up or disguise themselves to go over to scare the Dawsons.  When Florence answered the door she recognized them but called to Tallie, who always carried a gun since he worked for the railroad, to bring his gun and quick.  He came out prepared for the worst and shot my sister Nellie through the right shoulder.  Hence, my parents named me Florence to show the cousins there were no hard feelings.  Incidently, the bullet went right on through the shoulder and left nothing but two scars.  I know this will not assist in your compiling the history but thought is an interesting story."


Version 2 comes from The Lucy Beamer Memoirs' The John Rodenberger Family essay.
[www.raybeamer.com]

    "One such evening in 1907 came very near tragedy.  Everyone was to gather at the Wm. Spieth home.  The visitors were staying there that night and had their suitcases in their rooms.  As I remember the story, it was near Halloween and the Beamer girls, Nellie and Lora, about 14, decided to dress up in their brother’s (Raymond) clothes and pretended to be robbers.  So when they arrived instead of bursting in unannounced as they would normally have done, they knocked and waited till Uncle Billy came to the door.  He immediately saw the plot so he shouted, “Help! Robbers.”  One of his visiting cousins, thinking him serious, stepped into his bedroom, took a revolver out of his suitcase, rushed to the door and fired.  When Nellie saw the gun pointed at her she ducked.  The bullet struck her in her left shoulder.  If she hadn’t ducked it doubtless would have killed her.

   Multiple confusions reigned for the rest of the evening.  Dr. Hill, the family doctor, was summoned to dress the wound.  By the time he arrived, it was evident that Nellie’s mother (then almost to term with Florence) was in a more critical condition than Nellie was.  When someone told her Nellie had been shot she went to pieces and refused to calm down.  She was sure they were deceiving her; that Nellie was going to die.  Nellie tried to reassure her mother, laughing and joking and telling her she was all right.

   Mother Beamer finally quieted down and did carry her baby to term.  Nellie’s wound healed without particular trouble.  But she suffered with that shoulder all her life. . .I’m sure each member of the family knew which cousin fired the shot; yet in all the times I have heard the story told I do not remember ever hearing his name mentioned.  I like to think everyone wanted to spare him further shame.  It is one of the many incidents I have known of during my life that makes me feel so convinced that there is far more danger of lay people having a gun for protection than the there ever is safety in it.

    When Florence was born, she had some dark specks in one ear.  Mother B. was sure she had marked Florence with powder burns because of her fright.  It was a common belief at that time that a shock or fright experienced by a pregnant woman could cause a birth mark on the baby.  They didn't know that the fetus doesn't develop that way but even after science knew and tried to dispel the myth, many of my parents generation still believed it to be true."

Version 3 was written on the reverse side of a photograph.

Digital copy received from Jeanie Ommerle, a descendant of Clara (Rodenberger) Spieth.

"The Dawsons were friends from Indiana, previous to the R's [Rodenbergers] move to Kansas.  Some of the Rodenberger girls married Dawson; they visited in Kansas several times. Once at night when they (Talley Dawson) were visiting the William Spieths, Nellie Beamer, as a prank, dressed up as a man and went to Wm Spieth's with a gun in hand, pretending a robbery.  Talley, who recently had a gun (unknown to any of the family) shot Nellie in the arm.  She stopped pretending and cried, "Oh, Talley, you've shot me.  Mother (Leo) told this story many times. (Of course, her father, Wm. Spieth, knew all the time it was Nellie!"

The 4th version was in Challis Dawson's letters to his son Gerard Dawson, written in 1947.

page 76
[Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society]

"Two other sisters Rodenberger married two brothers Spieth, Billy and Robert, and another one married a John Beamon, who was more like Doug than any one else.  The Beamons had several children, a water melon patch and a disordered barn yard.  Two of his girls were named Elsie and Nellie, one of whom was accidently shot by my bro. Tally when on a visit there.  Tally had been attacked several times in his duties with the railroad so he fancied himself carrying a pistol, although he never could hit any thing he tried to shoot.  This was an exception though.  Nellie and Elsie played burglar, and tried climbing through his window to frighten him.  Those girls were always up to some pranks.  Tally fired and shot Elsie through the chest.  It nearly frightened Tally to death, so much as that he quit the pistol packing habit.  She recovered.  They had a brother by name Raymond, about Dudley's age.  We all had great fun during those rare summers."

[John Beamer, not Beamon, and his wife was Elsie Rodenberger Beamer.  Their daughters were Nellie and Lora.  Nellie was the one shot in the shoulder.]