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The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio; Sunday, 4 DEC 1949, page 7D (Newspapers.com):

Miss Wendell Bride Of Donald Boyd

OLIVE WENDELL was married to Donald L. Boyd, Jr., at Firestone Park Presbyterian church. Dr. J. Robert Willis officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. Wendell, 312 S. Firestone blvd. Mr. Boyd and his parents are residents of Toledo.

The bride wore a cocktail-length champagne-colored satin gown with matching net and pearl headdress. She carried an old-fashioned bouquet of Johanna Hill roses.

HER ONLY attendant was Mrs. Richard Hurd, East Liverpool.

Kenneth Weckerly, Toledo, was Mr. Boyd’s best man. Brothers of the bride and bridegroom, Earl W. Wendell and James Boyd, were ushers.

A reception followed at the Wendell home.

Mrs. Boyd is a graduate of Garfield high school and City hospital school of nursing.

After serving four years in the army air corps her husband was graduated from Hiram college. He is with International Harvester Co. in Toledo.

The Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio; Sunday, 4 DEC 1949, page 7D (Newspapers.com):

Miss Wendell Bride Of Donald Boyd

OLIVE WENDELL was married to Donald L. Boyd, Jr., at Firestone Park Presbyterian church. Dr. J. Robert Willis officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl S. Wendell, 312 S. Firestone blvd. Mr. Boyd and his parents are residents of Toledo.

The bride wore a cocktail-length champagne-colored satin gown with matching net and pearl headdress. She carried an old-fashioned bouquet of Johanna Hill roses.

HER ONLY attendant was Mrs. Richard Hurd, East Liverpool.

Kenneth Weckerly, Toledo, was Mr. Boyd’s best man. Brothers of the bride and bridegroom, Earl W. Wendell and James Boyd, were ushers.

A reception followed at the Wendell home.

Mrs. Boyd is a graduate of Garfield high school and City hospital school of nursing.

After serving four years in the army air corps her husband was graduated from Hiram college. He is with International Harvester Co. in Toledo.

Obituary:

Olive Rodgers (Wendell) Boyd passed away on May 1, 2020 at her home on the farm north of New Carlisle, Ohio at the age of 94. She was born March 9, 1926 at Akron, Ohio, daughter of Earl S. and Olive K. (Rodgers) Wendell. She was raised in Akron, Canton, and Mansfield, Ohio and graduated nursing school at Akron as a Registered Nurse. She met Donald L. Boyd while she was working as the school nurse at Hiram College, and they were married on November 24, 1949 at Akron. After a brief residence at Kingman, Ohio where her husband was a school teacher for a couple of years, they lived primarily in Montgomery and Clark Counties, Ohio where they raised their six children. Olive was a prolific watercolor artist and taught watercolor painting classes for many years at the Hotel Gallery in Tipp City, Ohio, where she had many good friends. Olive was a devoted and loving wife to her husband and a devoted mother to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was keenly interested in the lives of her friends and family, and loved to help anyone who needed a helping hand. Her house was a place where anyone would find a friend, a meal, and a bed for the night. She had many friends in the local neighborhood, across the country, and around the world. She loved to garden and enjoyed a drive though the countryside whenever possible. She was a member of the Honey Creek Presbyterian Church.

Olive was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her brother, Earl "Bud" Wendell and wife Janice of Nashville, TN; and by her six children and their spouses, Donald (Susan), Mary (Howard) Dodds, Elizabeth (Jesse) Persinger, David (Becky), James (Pamela), and Margaret "Peggy" (James) Jenkins; and by her grandchildren, Chela, Stephanie, Sasha, David, Lauren, Gabriel, Emily, John, Jarrod, Elizabeth, Aaron, and James; and by nine great-grandchildren and two more on the way. She will be dearly missed by every one of them.

A private memorial service will be held by the family at a later date, on the farm where she lived for the past 56 years.

Obituary:

James Richard Boyd

James R. Boyd was born March 8, 1926 at Ames, Iowa to Donald L. and Leona Ardys (Munsinger) Boyd, and passed away December 5, 2012 at Sylvania, Ohio. Following graduation from Elyria High School in 1944, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army and served our country in World War II, including the occupation of Japan. Jim was fluent in German which proved useful in his military experience. After receiving his honorable discharge in May, 1946, Jim enrolled in the College of Engineering at the University of Toledo where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. Jim worked as an engineer, inventor, and consultant, enjoyed making older cars run again, and was a licensed amateur radio operator living in the Sylvania and Toledo area most of his life. Predeceased by his parents and brother Donald Boyd, Jr., surviving Jim are his sister-in-law Olive Boyd of New Carlisle, Ohio, six nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends. Arrangements are in the care of Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania.

Obituary -- The Courier, Waterloo, Iowa; Monday, 7 JUN 1943, p.8 (Newspapers.com):

J. C. Boyd Dies in Eldora Hospital

Eldora, Ia. – J. C. Boyd, well-known business man and manager of the Lovell-Denniston Lumber Company, died Saturday evening in the Memorial hospital after a two-weeks illness.

The Boyd family came to Eldora 21 years ago from Mt. Vernon, where Mr. Boyd was born and reared. He attended Cornell college. Before coming to Eldora, Mr. Boyd was a salesman for Hunting and Williams in in that capacity had a large acquaintance among Iowa lumber dealers.

He was twice married. The first Mrs. Boyd was Mabel Shirer of Mt. Vernon, formerly of La Porte City. Four sons were born of this union. They are Donald S. (sic) Boyd, manufacturing engineer of Elyria, O.; R. Craig Boyd, chemical engineer of Louisville, Ky.; William Boyd, Cedar Falls, and J. Richard Boyd, Waterloo.

A niece, Margot Francis, employed by Sears, Roebuck of Chicago, was reared in the Boyd home. There are seven grandchildren. Mrs. Boyd died four years ago.

In July, 1941 he was married to Miss Fanny Duren, Eldora, who survives him.

He was a member of the Congregational church, a member of the Rotary and Community clubs and active in all civic affairs.

Funeral services have not been definitely made, awaiting the arrival of the family. Burial will take place at Mt. Vernon.

Obituary -- The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Tuesday, 1 APR 1919, p.11 (Newspapers.com):

FUNERAL FORMER MAYOR OF MT. VERNON TODAY

______________________________

Special to The Gazette.

MT. VERNON, Iowa, April 1.--

Funeral services were held today for David L. Boyd, pioneer merchant of this community, and at one time mayor of Mt. Vernon, who died Sunday night. He was also at one time a member of the local school board.

Mr. Boyd was head of the lumber company of that name for several years, having risen to the position after having started working as a common laborer. He was born Dec. 5, 1841 in Ireland, the youngest of eight children. He taught school in Dublin for seven years, coming to the United States in 1868. He went to Marengo, coming to Mt. Vernon a short time later.

He was for many years cashier of the Mt. Vernon bank and retired a few years ago. On Dec. 8, 1870, he was married to Miss Mary Craig, also a native of Ireland. Surviving are two sons, Jay and William. His wife died about five years ago.

In County Antrim, lived in the townland of Spring Mount, in the parish Grange of Dundermot, within the barony of Kilconway.

Was a teacher in the Irish National School system. Taught in Drumadoon school from 1857 - 1866. One of his students was Samuel S. McClure, who later emigrated to New York and became publisher of McClure's magazine. David L. Boyd is mentioned very favorably in Samuel McClure's book in which he recalls his days as an impoverished school student.

Quote from the Biographical Record (Linn County, Iowa), published circa 1901:

"David L. Boyd was the youngest of eight children of James and Jennie Boyd, who resided in County Antrim, Ireland. During his boyhood, our subject attended a model school in his native land, and was later a student in the training school in Dublin. On leaving that institution he successfully engaged in teaching in Ireland for seven years. But the new world had attractions for him, and he determined to come to that country where every man was equal in the eyes of the law, and where all had an equal chance for advancement. In 1868 he bade good-bye to home and friends and went from Belfast to Liverpool, England, from which port he sailed for the United States. Landing in New York, he proceeded at once to Marengo, Iowa, where he remained three weeks and then came to Mt. Vernon, which has since been his home. He began life here as a farm hand in the the employ of James Smyth, with whom he remained three months, and for three weeks he was similarly employed by Colonel (Robert) Smyth. At the end of that time he accepted a position in the lumber yard of Colonel R. Smyth & Co., at Mt. Vernon, and a year later purchased an interest in the business. This partnership continued for some time and he then purchased his partner's interest, and has since continued to be identified with the lumber business of his adopted city. In May, 1900, he took into partnership with him his son Jay C., and under the firm name of D. L. Boyd & Son the business is continued with marked success. On the advent of his son into the firm, he became connected with the banking business as cashier of the Mt. Vernon Bank, and is now holding that position. His intimate knowledge and extensive acquaintance with the people who do business in Mt. Vernon make him a valuable acquisition to the bank. On the 8th of December, 1870, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Craig. Mr. Boyd is a faithful and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is an ardent Republican. For two years he efficiently served as mayor of Mt. Vernon (1877 - 78), and has been a member of the school board for many years, while he is now serving as one of the trustees of Cornell College. He is a very pleasant and courteous gentleman, who takes a deep interest in every enterprise which he believes will be of public benefit, and he stands deservedy high in both business and social circles."

He was granted American citizenship in 1875.

Additional facts that may help lead to his ancestry:

As a younger son, farming the family land was not an option for David. In pursuit of gainful employment, he became a teacher in the National School system, where he taught at the Drumadoon school from 1857 to 1866. Samuel S. McLure, later a successful American magazine publisher, was a student of David Boyd's in Ireland. Writing in his autobiography of his early days attending a National School near his home he recalled that because he was malnourished and tired easily, he would have crying spells in the afternoon, and writes the following:

"I distinctly remember how kind the teacher, Mr. Boyd, was to me when these crying-fits came on, and how considerate the other boys were... Every few years each teacher in the public schools was required to spend six months in Dublin... I can remember when our teacher Mr. Boyd went, and how none of us much cared for the substitute... When Mr. Boyd explained to us boys that the war was between the Northern and Southern states of North America and not between North and South America, that was a great revelation to us... I have so often wondered in the intervening years what had become of this good and kindly man that I was very much pleased when Senator Brackett at the time these memoirs first appeared, wrote me, "I suspect the school teacher whom you mention in your autobiography is my old time friend David L. Boyd, still living in Mt. Vernon, Iowa." I availed myself of the hint and was rewarded by the following communication from the younger Boyd...." (a letter from David's son William W. Boyd follows in the autobiography).

- David's son William Walter Boyd took a trip in 1895 back to Ireland, and wrote a little diary. The only useful tidbits are that he went to the townland of Spring Mount, in Grange of Dundermot parish near Clough, and visited "Uncle Robert" there.

- when my father was a young boy living in northern Ohio, on one occasion his father and grandfather Boyd took a trip to Tecumseh, Lenawee County, Michigan to visit "a cousin".

- I have some information on the Boyds of Lenawee County, but I can't make a connection from it. Possibly our James Boyd (father of David) was another son of the William Boyd who was the Irish progenitor of most of the early Lenawee Boyds

- Our Presbyterian Ulster Boyds were undoubtedly descendants of the "planted" Scots during the plantation under English King James in the early 1600s, from the Boyds of Kilmarnock in Ayr. My dad remembered his grandfather had a little ditty that recited the towns in Ulster through which their immigrant ancestor travelled after arrival in Ireland. The "Bally" names are difficult and foreign to us, and he couldn't remember most of them, but it ended in "Ballymena".

Biography -- (Findagrave.com(:

From History of Guthrie and Adair Counties, Iowa, Continental History Co., Springfield, Ill., 1884:

"Mr. James M. Munsinger, junior member of the firm of Smith & Munsinger, is the son of John and Julina (Fuller) Munsinger, and was born in Lorain County, Ohio (Russia township), November 15, 1857. His father is a native of Germany, and his mother of Ohio. When he was eight years of age his parents removed to Jones County, Iowa, where he remained until twenty-two years of age, with the exception of two or three years spent in other places. He then removed to Carroll county, Illinois, where he remained about two and one-half years, then coming to Guthrie County, and locating in Bayard in March, 1882, buying a one-half interest in the present business. He was married in Carroll county, Illinois, to Miss. Elizabeth Smith, a native of Illinois, January 1, 1880. They have two children--Gracie May, born January 13, 1881 and Lawrence Estel, born January 28, 1884."

1890 - 1902, bank employee at Bayard. Travelled for the Livestock Commission company, and operated elevators for Des Moines Elevator Co.

Settled in Ames, Iowa in 1908 as employee of Lockwood Elevator Co. Became manager of Ames Grain and Coal Co. in 1917. Retired from Ames Grain and Coal in 1944.

He was a member of the Ames city council, the Kiwanis club, and the IOOF.

When young James Munsinger proposed to Mary Smith, he was seriously considering a career as a minister. Mary told him that she had no desire to be a preacher's wife. (Presumably this opinion was based on her childhood observation of her mother's life as a United Brithren minister's wife.) Consequently, being without formal education, he worked as a laborer until eventually advancing into a managerial position in the grain storage and sales business. They enjoyed a happy marriage of 64 years, until her death in 1944.

According to James, when Mary was young she was a great admirer of high-spirited horses.

Mary E. Smith was 1/32 Native American, via her descent from Johannes Preisz and his Delaware wife, their son John Price, his son Rev. Jacob Price, his daughter Hannah (Price) Stouffer, and her daughter Elizabeth Stouffer.

from Wilda Spaulding's letter dated October 29, 1987 to the Oberlin College Archives:

"Sarah Fowl died after her fourth child was born. Sarah knew that she couldn't get well so asked her best girlfriend, Julina, to marry John and help raise the babies. That must have been the reason Julina quit school."

The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Morgan in the Morgan home in Oberlin.³

Quoted from Ray Taylor letter:

Cousin Wilda has a souvenir pamphlet of the early settlers of Smith County, Kansas. Great-grandfather John was honored with his picture on the back. She states that it contained just his picture and under the picture was "Born in Germany, December 10, 1812, located in Smith County in 1880." She states further "He did buy a lot of land -- the place where my Grandfather Finn lived; across the road where Uncle Will lived (south of Smith Center) and also land west of there a couple of miles or so, the Uncle Ed Munsinger place. My Grandfather Tucker bought that place from Uncle Ed. That is where Aubrey and I were born. The old rock house was still there about 20 years ago when I took Mother Vivian to Smith County. She said the same wallpaper was still on the wall. Cousin Charles Taylor was homesteading here when he met Elizabeth Munsinger.

Article in Topeka Capital, November 30, 1912:

CELEBRATE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY DECEMBER 10

John Munsinger Making Great Preparations to Have Children With Him

Special to the Capital.

Smith Center, Kan., Nov. 30 -- John Munsinger, a resident of this county for a third of a century, is making great preparations to celebrate his one hundredth birthday at the home of one of his sons in Howard, this state, December 10. Elaborate preparations are being made for the event and all the children, thirteen in number, will assemble from their homes in all parts of the United States and assist in making the occasion a memorable one. As the plans were originally made, the celebration was to have been held in this city, but later it was decided to change the gathering place to Howard, where the largest hall in town has been secured to accommodate the gathering. While the occasion is one in which only relatives will participate it is expected that there will be present, including children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, a crowd of two hundred. An elaborate banquet contributed by the sons and daughters will be one of the features.

Grandfather Munsinger was born in Germany, December 10, 1812. He came to America in 1826 (it was actually 1828) and to this county in 1880. At the age of twenty-five he was married for the first time and to this union four children were born. His wife dying, he was married a second time many years later and became the father of ten more children. One of these, a daughter, died in the latter seventies. Wife number two died in this county in 1880 (actually it was in Rome Twp., Jones County, Iowa). The thirteen surviving children, all of whom are making arrangements to be present when their father and honored centenarian celebrates his birthday are as follows: George and Ed Munsinger and Sarah Knickerbocker, Moline, Kan.; Mary Smith of South Dakota; John Munsinger of Oregon; Elizabeth Taylor of Denver, Colo.; J. K. Munsinger, Howard, Kan., J.M. Munsinger, Ames, Iowa; C. G. Munsinger, Harlan, Kan.; Susie Taylor, McCracken, Kan.; Rosie L. Dewey, Oakland, Calif.; Will and F. S. Munsinger, this city.

Although having attained an age that few men ever see, Mr. Munsinger is remarkably active, both mentally and physically. He still takes a keen interest in all affairs of the world and nothing delights him more than a romp with some of his great or great great grand children. One of the feats that he delights in performing for some visitor is springing into the air and cracking his heels together three times before alighting. Asked how to reach five score years his reply is invariably, "Be temperate in all things and worry not."

OBITUARY:

Friday evening, September 21, 1917, at about 4 o'clock, John Munsinger passed away, at the home of his son, J. K. Munsinger, at the great age of 104 years, 9 months and 11 days. Grandpa Munsinger had been in his usual good health until a few weeks ago, when it was noticed that he was growing weaker and less disposed to walk around. He suffered no pain and his last days were passed in peace and quiet. A few days before his death he refused sustenance, and quietly awaited his final summons.

John Munsinger was a familiar figure in Howard life for many years, and until the hot weather of the past summer came on, he was to be seen on our streets almost as frequently as any of our citizens. He retained his faculties to a remarkable degree, his eyesight being excellent and his hearing but very slightly dulled. When he was 103 years old, he appeared before the Old Settlers' Reunion in this city, made a speech, and danced a jig. He retained an accurate recollection of the incidents of his youth and mature years and enjoyed talking with his friends.

Funeral services were held at the Christian Church in this city, Sunday at 2:30 and a great crowd of relatives, friends, and neighbors filled the church and the surrounding space, Rev. Glen C. Wade conducted the service, and was assisted by Rev. O. L. Weir and a quartet of singers. The remains were taken to Olin, Iowa, Monday for interment at the old home.

The following brief sketch of the life of this good old man was read at the funeral:

John Munsinger was born in Wittenberg, Germany, December 10, 1812, died at the home of his son J. K. Munsinger, in Howard, Kansas, Sept. 21, 1917, age 104 years, 9 months, and 11 days.

He came with his parents to America in 1824 landing at New York, then going west and settling in Lorain county, Ohio. In 1833 he was married to Miss Sarah Fowler. To this union four children were born, two boys and two girls. His wife dying in 1849.

He was again united in marriage to Miss Julina Fuller. To this union were born ten children, six boys and four girls. In the year 1866 he moved with his family to Jones county, Iowa where the wife and mother passed away May 2, 1880. In 1881 he moved to Smith county, Kansas. In 1892 he sold out and broke up the home and since then has spent his days visiting his children. Three daughters have gone on before.

There are left to mourn his loss: Geo. and Ed. of Moline, Ks. J. P. of Nehalem, Oregon. J.K. of Howard, Ks. J. M. of Ames, Iowa. C.G. of Harlan, Ks. W. G. and F. S. of Smith Center, Ks. Mrs. Susie Taylor of Scott City, Ks. Mrs. Rosa Dewey of Oakland, California and Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor of Ames, Iowa. One brother, David Munsinger of Nebraska. Eighty-seven grand children. Seventy great grandchildren. Fourteen great-great grandchildren and a host of friends.

Grandpa united with the Lutheran Church when but a young man, but lived the most of his life in the Christian Church of which he died a true and faithful member.

Per Wilda (Tucker) Spaulding, the John Munsinger house in Rome Township was built in two sections. The attic was made into a room that had a separate entrance from the front porch, where travelling salesmen (or John on occasion) would stay.

from Wilda Spaulding's letter dated October 29, 1987 to the Oberlin College Archives:

"Sarah Fowl died after her fourth child was born. Sarah knew that she couldn't get well so asked her best girlfriend, Julina, to marry John and help raise the babies. That must have been the reason Julina quit school."

The ceremony was performed by Rev. John Morgan in the Morgan home in Oberlin.²

Julina kept an "album" from the mid-1840s for the rest of her life (see it under the "Images" tab. Selected inscriptions:

From Almira:

"To Julina

We're no abiding city here,

This changing world is not our home,

But pilgrims in a stranger land,

We seek a peaceful rest to come.

And soon, yes soon our toils all o'er,

And all our earthly conquests won,

We'll rest on Canaan's happy shore,

And find in heaven our lasting home.

Almira

Oberlin, Aug. 27, 1845."

From Esther A. Egleston:

"To Julina

Oh glorious hope of endless bliss

My heart is where my treasure is.

Ere long with Christ I hope to reign,

Dear Julina we shall meet again.

Esther A. Egleston

Elyria, August 10th, 1848"

From Lucretia C. Adams:

"To Julina

Again the silent wheels of time

Their annual round have driven

And you though scarce in maiden prime

Are so much nearer heaven

Lucretia C. Adams

Elyria, Jan. 1, 1848"

From Oberlin College professor John Morgan:

"To Mrs. J. Munsinger

Our family can never forget you as the loving, affectionate friend of their childhood, & Mrs. Morgan cannot forget the ever kind attention of her toils & cares - nor can her husband. We thank God that his grace is still with you to make you still loving and faithful in all your new relations as wife & mother. We trust that grace will always be with you & yours.

Ever your friend & brother

John Morgan"

From Mary Joanna Morgan:

"Even with my sad thoughts that you must soon leave us for a home so far away, there comes a train of pleasant memories and cheering hopes. Along in the years which are past, I find many traces and sweet remembrances of one who lovingly helped to guide these wayward feet, and wrap the little body, and watch the little heart in the slippery places and the damps of life's morning. That one was yourself, Julina. The cheer which accompanies even the smallest of your kind offices makes it a joy for me to recall the times when you braided my hair and gave me my morning bath.

In later years, my school tasks were made lighter and pleasanter because you shared them with me. Did we not study together - and read and write and sing together? How well I loved to visit Julina's waxen-neat room - it was next my own. Julina's sweet flowerbed was in the garden - her dewplant and geraniums adorned the house - her name was a well-loved household word. When you went to your new home, a sunbeam and a joy left ours. Hope whispers that the sunbeam and the joy you carry with you will yet return to us again. May they gladden the home and the hearts of your dear ones for many a year to come - and may your path grow brighter and happier to the perfect day of Heaven.

Mary Joanna Morgan

Jan. 24th, 1866"

From Eugenia M. Morgan:

"There are bright spots in the drear of life - little green Oases, where the fragrance of pure, true and loving hearts encourage and strengthen fainting souls. Such a heart my dear friend has God given to you. Its benign influence will fertilize some favored spot. Not only will your own dear ones be blessed there, but other dear ones and those forlorn ones dear only to God, will find a home - a heart, a home where you reside. On parting, my sad heart entreats our Heavenly Father for His richest blessing upon you and yours, and that He will make future friends to you, such as you have been to us and will be to them.

Your very affectionate friend,

E. M. Morgan

Oberlin, Jan 31st, 1866"

From daughter Lilla Rosa Munsinger, on her sixteenth birthday:

"Olin, Iowa July 6th, 1878

Dear Mother,

Remember me I only ask

This simple boon of thee

And may it prove an easy task

To sometimes think of me.

Your Daughter

Rosa Munsinger"

Per Wilda Spaulding, in the last few years of her life, Julina maneuvered around the house with one knee on a chair because of phlebitis.

OBITUARY - Springfield (Ohio) News - Tuesday, October 26, 1982

MRS. OLIVE R. WENDELL, 76, of 111 Sunrise Terrace, New Carlisle, died Monday in Belle Manor Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, in July, 1968. She was a member of the Honey Creek United Presbyterian Church and the Seniors Citizens Club, both of New Carlisle. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Donald (Olive) Boyd, Bristol, Virginia.; a son, Earl Wade (Bud) Wendell, Nashville, Tennessee; 10 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Trostel-Chapman Funeral Home, New Carlisle, with the Rev. Joseph Quinn officiating, and burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Columbus. The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.

A Nellie Wendell, age 1, shown as "granddaughter" was living in the household of William Alloway, very near the residence of William and Rosa Wendell, in Liberty Twp., as of the 1900 census (census p.203A). Nellie was the daughter of Dova B. Alloway, unmarried daughter of William and Elizabeth Alloway. A certified copy of Nellie's Guernsey County birth record, signed by her mother, is in the possession of Donald L. Boyd. It shows a pen stroke through the block where the father should have been named. Nellie's father is unproven, but the circumstantial indications suggest strongly that she was an illegitimate daughter of William S. Wendell.

Dova Belle Alloway subsequently married Walter Allender in March, 1902 and in the 1910 census Nellie's age was "adjusted" to indicate a birth year of 1902 or 1903. Nellie Allender married Elihew O'Dowd about 1916, and died in 1971 at Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio. A copy of Nellie's Ohio death certificate is in the possession of Donald L. Boyd -- it shows her father as Walter Allender. Ohio Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics Death Certificate #075262, Dr. W. Thatcher, signed 18 OCT 1971, information provided by her daughter Madelyn Scott.

The William S. Wendell family migrated to Columbiana County, Ohio sometime in the first decade of the 20th century, continuing as tenant farmers.

The same William and Elizabeth Alloway were still living in Liberty Twp. in 1910. They were found in Wheeling Twp. in the 1880 census.

William S. Wendell was described by his children as being extremely likable, even charming, such that he was easily able to acquire tenant-farmer work, but was subject to losing his money (and perhaps other problems) when under the influence of alcohol, which condition was the subject of a major row with his son Earl at a point in time around 1920, as reported by Earl's daughter Olive Wendell. It seems there was a pattern in William's life of coming home broke and intoxicated, followed nine months later by the birth of another child. In the "counseling" session that happened around 1920, son Earl advised his father that the behavior had to stop, for the sake of the existing children, and in light of the family's serious poverty.¹

: Enlisted as Private, Co. K, 174 Ohio Volunteer Infantry; mustered out 10 November 1862.

Regimental History:

OHIO, ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY

One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Col., John S. Jones; Lieut. Col., A. James Sterling; Majs., Benjamin C. G. Reed, William G. Beatty. This regiment was organized at Camp Chase from Aug. 18 to Sept. 21, 1864 to serve for one year. It was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee and to report to Gen. W. T. Sherman. It reached Nashville on Sept. 26 and was immediately ordered to proceed to Murfreesboro, where it remained until Oct. 27, when it was ordered to report to the commanding officer at Decatur, Alabama. It was then moved to the mouth of Elk River, leaving on the way four companies as a garrison for Athens, Alabama. The regiment soon returned to Decatur, where it remained until Nov. 26, when the town was evacuated. It then returned to Murfreesboro, where it remained during the siege and participated in the battle of Overall's Creek. On Dec. 7 it was engaged in the battle of "The Cedars," and on Jan. 17 moved down the Tennessee and up the Ohio river to Cincinnati. It was then ordered to Washington, D. C., which place it reached on Jan. 29, 1865. It remained in camp at Washington until Feb. 21, when it started for North Carolina, reaching Fort Fisher on the 23d. It marched to Morehead City on the 24th and to New Berne on the 25th. It took part in the battle of Wise's Forks, near Kinston, NC. Under the order mustering out volunteers whose term of service expired previous to Oct. 1, the regiment was mustered out on June 28, 1865.

Source: "The Union Army", Vol. 2

Battles Fought by the 174th OVI:

Fought on 04 December 1864 at Overall's Creek, TN.

Fought on 07 December 1864 at Cedars, TN.

Fought on 08 December 1864 at Cedars, TN.

Fought on 08 March 1865 at Wise's Forks, NC.

Fought on 10 March 1865 at Wise's Forks, NC.

Fought on 24 March 1865 at Goldsboro, NC.⁴

Was living in the household of Thomas Burson as a farm hand at the time of the 1860 census, p.240, adjacent to the farm of Joseph Jeffery, his future father in-law. Thomas Burson's family is in the 1850 census as well, p.205B.

Per card index at Northwood Cemetery, the burial plot was purchased by a John Wendell. This was probably his son (b. 1880), with whom he was living in 1910 at Canton.

The following stories came down to his great-granddaughter Olive R. Wendell, through her father, Earl, a grandson of William J. Wendell:

As a retired widower in Cambridge, every year at Christmas William would go to the market and buy fresh oysters, which were only available at that time of year. He would take these to the home of whichever child he was living with, and ask to have them prepared for oyster stew. Also, he loved to hear a Victrola played in the years before his death. In the families of his children and grandchildren, there were seldom-spoken references to the fact that he and Susanna had not always gotten along very well, and had in fact separated at one point (see the information on Cora's placement in foster care below). The 1890 veteran's census, in which he is found living at Barnesville, indicates he was living alone at that time. Interestingly, in the Northwood cemetery where they are buried, their headstones are facing in opposite directions to this day. DLB 2005.

Marriage Book "D", p.327

1900 census shows 12 children born to Rachel, 3 living as of 1900. The "3 living" is not understood -- I can account for 4 living daughters and one living son as of the 1900 census. Moreover, their marriage lasted only 16 years until Thomas died, making 12 children a stretch. Apparently the 1900 census figures were given by her second husband, John Gadd, applicable to his marriage, rather than for Rachel. DLB 2011.

from his obit 3-2-1893 in the Cambridge Jeffersonian:

From early age Thomas was affiliated with the Baptist Church of Midway; after changing locations he then served with the M. E. Church as the respected offices of steward, Sunday school superintendent and class leader which he held at the time of his death. Was remembered as being kind-hearted, a loving father & husband as well as an enthusiastic worker in the church. During his last illness he suffered from Nervous Prostration which rendered him delirious except for a few moments before death when he was completely rational and assured his family he was alright and going to that home which Christ has prepared for him.

Marriage Book "D", p.327

1900 census shows 12 children born to Rachel, 3 living as of 1900. The "3 living" is not understood -- I can account for 4 living daughters and one living son as of the 1900 census. Moreover, their marriage lasted only 16 years until Thomas died, making 12 children a stretch. Apparently the 1900 census figures were given by her second husband, John Gadd, applicable to his marriage, rather than for Rachel. DLB 2011.