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.]

Sunday's Obituary - Dottie Dawson

Dottie Maud Dawson was the oldest child of Taylor and Iona (Rodenberger) Dawson.  She died January 2, 1885 in Hallowell, Cherokee Co, Kansas.



    

                                        In Memoriam   

 Dottie Maud Dawson, aged about 10 years, and one of the brightest pupils in the intermediate grade of the Rising Sun school, was drowned in a cistern at her home, Friday evening, the 2d day of the new year, which has begun its record of sorrows.

    Friday evening Dottie declaimed for the school one of her brightest pieces, then hastened home as usual, neither schoolmates nor teacher dreaming that we had seen the bright little girl for the last time.

   While drawing up a bucket of water from the cistern, her foot must have slipped on the icy stones, causing her to fall.  Her father was away from home, and her mother had to run to a neighbor’s for assistance, but before rescue could be effected, Dottie was cold in death.

   Her funeral was preached at the Quaker church by Mr. Pickering.  And so, with her lily hands folded and iced with death’s grim kiss, our little friend was laid beneath the brown sod and cruel sleet.

                              She was a tiny mortal – star

                              That shed a light on earth;

                              But vanished now above

                              She has immortal birth.   -- A.H. Gibson

Challis Dawson, Dottie's youngest sibling, was born in 1892, seven years after her death.  He wrote of Dottie's death in his manuscript that he mailed to his son Gerard in 1947, page 65. There are differences in his memories of the story and Dottie's obituary at the time.

     "My oldest sister Dotty, was drowned in the cistern when she was just old enough to go out and draw a bucket of water.  She slipped on the ice and fell in.  Dad went out after she was gone a few minutes too long, dived in for her, but it was too late.  Mother always said Dad was never the same after this tragedy, as Dotty was the apple of his eye.  I think that this is possible and probably may have explained to some extent his peculiar behavior as mentioned previously.  At least I like to think of it in this way, because it is a better excuse than any other and makes an excellent alibi."

In Lucy Beamer's Memoirs on the John Harland Rodenberger family, she mentions Dottie. 

    "Iona and Taylor Dawson were married in Kansas and lived on a farm in the Hallowell community till 6 of their 7 children were born. Sometime between 1889 and 1891 because of failing health of his father, they moved to Scottland, Ill. where they continued to live. Wm. Spieth was working as a farm hand for Taylor Dawson when he met and courted his future wife, Clara Rodenberger, Iona's sister. The Dawson's oldest child, Dottie Maud, was playing at the home of the Wm. Spieth's on New Year's Day, 1885, when she fell into a cistern and drowned. This was just a few days before Clara's oldest child, Bessie Leo, was born. Of course the tragedy was a nightmare to the entire family."

Taylor Dawson and Sons

Taylor Dawson and sons Challis, Dudley, and Judge Dawson
Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois
September 1930
[Source:  Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society]

Talmage and Challis Dawson, John R Brooks (Dixie's husband), Dudley and Judge Dawson
Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois
Before July 1941 (Talmage's death)
[Source:  Kim Matrisch]

Dawson-Cleveland Family History (1971) by Mary Lossing

Typed, and distributed to extended family, in December 1971, Mary (Swearingen) Lossing shared her research on the William Wesley Dawson and Nancy Cleveland family in a 15 page document which is priceless. 

The transcription of page 2 -

Beginning here is the earliest positive proof we have of our DAWSON & CLEVELAND ANCESTORS.

Early Marriage Records or Bonds of GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
WILLIAM WESLEY DAWSON & NANCY CLEVELAND. 9-23-1800.  Security - Thomas Palmer & John Kennedy.  Our Family Record gives the date of their Marriage as, OCTOBER 25, 1800.

We do not know the date of birth of William Wesley Dawson.
In the 1850 census of Edgar County Illinois, he was listed age 90, born in Tennessee, living in the home of his son, Thomas Lewis Dawson.  That would place his birth as around 1760.  (Ages in the census are sometimes correct, and sometimes not.)  His tombstone in "Old Moorefield Cemetery" (south of Raven, Illinois) inscription says:  Born around 1770.  So apparently no one knows the date of his birth.  Since some of his descendants have also lived to ages around 90 or more, his age in the 1850 census as 90, could be pretty close.  He died March 8, 1855 (age approximately 95) at the home of his son, Thomas Lewis Dawson, North of Raven, Illinois.  He died before the 1855 census, so nothing can be found there.  Nancy Cleveland was born October 10, 1781.  She died August 27, 1845.  At the time of her death, they lived southwest of Dana, Indiana, on the new road 36, between the railroad & the Ind. & Illinois state line.  She walked from her home up to the home of her son Thomas Lewis Dawson & his wife Rebecca Taylor, North of Raven, Ill. on the old road 36.  While walking through the tall grass & weeds, she was bitten by a rattlesnake & died.
In the 1880 census of Edgar County Illinois, Thomas Lewis Dawson, head of the household, lists both of his parents as born in Tennessee.
      Tennessee became a state in 1796, so at the time of birth of both William Wesley Dawson & Nancy Cleveland, they would have been born in that part of North Carolina, which later became Tennessee.  We know they were married in Greene County, Tennessee.  After their marriage, they settled in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.  As far as I know all of their children were born at this place.  I have no proof of the time they came to this place or when they left.
WILLIAM WESLEY DAWSON, b. around 1760.  d. March 8, 1855. (age 95)
Nancy Cleveland,                    b. Oct.10, 1781. d. Aug. 27, 1845. (age 63 years, 10 mo. 17 days.)
Married Oct. 25, 1800.  Greene County, Tennessee.
Their children born in Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky.
1.  John         Dawson, born  Aug. 27, 1801. M. May 18, 1835, to Rebecca Jane Sterns.
                                                                                       (Marriage record, Vermillion Co, Indiana.
2. William             "          "     Sept. 26, 1803. M. Sept.27,1832, to Sarah Green (Greer)
                                                                                       (Marriage record Vermillion Co. Indiana.
                                                                                        He died Dec.30, 1887. (age 85)
3. Benjamin          "          "     March 18, 1805. M. Sept.9, 1830, to Sarah Elliott.  Ver.Co.Ind.
                                                                                        He died May 26, 1872. (age 67)
4. Fanny               "          "     Aug. 7, 1807.
5. Jane                 "          "     Dec. 17, 1809. M. Nov.27, 1828, Vermillion Co.Indiana, to:
                                                                                        John Peer. (Had 9 children)
6. Jesse               "          "     June 15, 1812. M. April 18, 1839, to Jemima Lindsey. Ver.Co.
7. Thomas Lewis "          "     Oct. 14, 1816. M. Feb. 11, 1841, to: Rebecca Taylor. Illinois
                                                                                        He died Dec.15, 1889. Scottland, Illinois.
8. Joseph             "         "      Sept. 28, 1818.
9. Charles Hardin "        "       Mar. 8, 1821. M. Aug. 29, 1845. to: Elizabeth Digby. Ver.Co.
                                                                                        They lived Eugene, Indiana.
                                                                                        He died Oct.26,1863 in Civil War.
Note * Notice Jane Dawson was married Nov. 27, 1828 in Vermillion County, Indiana.  This is the earliest date we have of them being in Indiana.

Tombstone Tuesday - Taylor Dawson Family

Taylor Dawson, his wife Iona Rodenberger Dawson and four of their seven children are buried at the Wesley Chapel Cemetery (or Friends Chapel Cemetery) in Scottland, Edgar Co, Illinois

Iona C.S. (Rodenberger) and Wm. Taylor Dawon

                    

Nettie (Maddock) Dawson, Judge Leighton Dawson, and Judge Lowell Dawson

Lois L (Dawson) Dillon

Florence Mabel (Osborn) and Talmage Virgil Dawson

Dixie Beryl (Dawson) and John Brooks

Daughter Dottie Maud Dawson was buried at McKee Cemetery, Cherokee Co, Kansas.  Son Challis C.H. Dawson was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginina [Post of Aug 2, 2011].  I have not located the burial site for Dudley Theo Dawson, who died in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Amanuensis Monday - Elizabeth (Rudy) Greenawalt's Will

The Last Will of Elizabeth Greenawalt, deceased,

In the name of God amen.

I Elizabeth Greenawalt of Barree township Huntingdon county, Pa being in good health of body and of sound and disposing mind praise be to God for the same.  And being desirous to settle my worldly affairs while I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me heretofore and first principally I commit my soul into the hands of my creator who gave it and my body to the Earth to be intered in the bury ground of st stevens beside by Last Husband and as to such worldly affairs where with it hath pleased God to intrust me to dispose of the same as followeth Infirmeries I will that all such Just debts as shall be by me owing at my death together with funeral expenses and all charges touching the proving of or otherwise concerning this my will shall in the first place paid out of the real estate and from and after payment thereof and subject there unto then.  My will is that all the residue of my chattels merchandise and household furniture shall be independently appraised and after such appraisement that the same shall be divided into four equal parts to my daughter Barbara Wilson one forth also the Bea----. To my son John Evertts one fourth (if he is not living when I come to dye his share is to be divided between his sisters & Brother)[within parentheses was crossed out] to my son George Everetts one forth to my Daughter Margaret Wilson one fourth to my grand child Seibert Johnston I give & bequeath to him the contents left in the spare room upstairs Also the cookstove this property will not be praised that is left to Seibert Johnston. I also give & bequeath my last husbands children Kate Myton Hetty Frye Graffius Greenawalt Elizabeth Pen & John Everts son & daughter of Nicholas Evetts descd on Dollar each after the expenses of my funeral and debts is all paid out of what I claim in the farm which is about three hundred dollars.  I want equally divided among my first children share & share alike I do here by nominate constitute and appoint C C Kocher of Barree township Huntigdon co Executor of this my will hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time made and declare this only to be my last will and testament in witness where of I have this day set my hand seal this 3^rd day of July 1894

                                                                                Elizabeth Greenawalt, her seal

[Source:  Family History Library microfilm #854237]

Elizabeth's will mentions her last husband, John Greenawalt; burial in St. Stephen's Church Cemetery; children with first husband, Philip Everts:  Barbara Wilson, John Evertts, George Everts and her deceased son's, Nicholas Everts, children - John Everts and Elizabeth Penn; child from relationship: Margaret Wilson; and children with John Greenawalt:  Kate Myton, Hetty Frye, Graffius Greenawalt, and deceased daughter's, Arminta Johnston, son - Seibert Johnston.