Saturday, December 10, 2011

Photos from Barbara Whitehead Cole Kowallis album

Jensen Family women showing off their hats. From left to right: (front row) Lisa Jensen, Denise Garner, Deborah Jensen, Sheri Kowallis, (back row) Cheryl Humphreys, Audrey Garner, Phyllis Butler, Jan Marriott, Chris Marriott, Barbara Kowallis
Grandpa Joe and Grandma Ethel Jensen at the campground at Tony's Grove showing off their motorcycle skills.

Kory Kowallis and his little sister Jami camping at St. Charles Creek Campground in Idaho on 30 June 1982.

Baby Mike Kowallis with his big brother Brandon. Mike was just 6 weeks old.

Reinhart Kowallis retirement party at office in the Federal Bldg, Salt Lake City in 1975. Look at those pants! And the well-matched shirt and jacket. Now that's a man who knew how to dress.

Photo on south side of Kowallis home in Pleasant View, Utah. From left to right: Cheryl (unknown last name), Grandpa Joseph Jensen, Jan Marriott, and Bart Kowallis. Photo taken in about 1975. And it appears that Bart has inherited some of his father's fashion sense.

Bart, Leanna, and Julee Clark Kowallis 27 December 1982 at the home of Reinhart and Barbara Kowallis in Pleasant View, Utah.

Kent, Jill, Kim, Cheryl, and Reinhart Kowallis, 26 November 1977 and the home of Cheryl Kowallis Humphreys in North Ogden, Utah.

Brandon Kowallis and Sheri Lemon Kowallis picking peas at Grandpa Kowallis' garden in June 1977.

The Humphreys clan camping in July 1982 (from left to right): Todd, Tami, Darin on Cheryl's lap, Amy, Jeannie, Justin with Lynn.

Kim Kowallis with his new Datsun in March 1977 in the driveway of the Kowallis home in Pleasant View, Utah.

Monday, November 28, 2011

A few more Jensen Family pictures

Jill at Delicate Arch in Arches National Monument (now National Park) in the 1960s.

Kim Kowallis, Robert Garner, and Bart Kowallis sledding on the Mantua Hill probably about 1966.

Mid-summer photo of the Jensen barn and granary (actually the home that Joseph M. Jensen was born in and lived in as a boy). I'm not sure who is on the tractor. The photo was taken from the west side of 1100 West in Pleasant View, Utah looking to the east-northeast.

Cheryl Kowallis, Lynn Humphreys, and Norma (Jensen) Kowallis. I'm not sure if this was before, after, or on Cheryl and Lynn's wedding day.

Marriott family in the snow. From left to right: Jan Marriott, Mark Marriott, Scott Marriott, Kevin Marriott, and Glena (Jensen) Marriott. Jan was obviously not happy about standing in the snow.

Reinhart Kowallis and Norma Jensen while they were courting.

Phyllis Jensen, Norma Jensen, and Ruth Jensen.

Sunday dinner at the Kowallis home. On the left side of the table, front to rear: Kim Kowallis, Norma Jensen Kowallis, Grandma Ethel Jensen, Jill Kowallis, Cheryl Kowallis. At rear: Grandpa Joseph Jensen. On right side, front to rear, Bart Kowallis (with a nice grape juice mustache), Reinhart Kowallis, and Kent Kowallis. Photo taken about 1958.

Lamar Jensen, Cheryl Kowallis, and Glena Jensen in about 1945.

Grandma (Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen) with a baby blanket she had made for one of the grandchildren.

Baby Cheryl with Dad (Reinhart Kowallis) in the winter of 1944-45.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Jensen Family -- Give Thanks for a Wonderful Family

Just a few family photos to remember the wonderful people in our lives. Click on the photos for a larger view.

Summer watermelon at the Jensen's. From left to right: Norma Jensen, Phyllis Jensen, Audrey Jensen, and Ruth Jensen. Photo was probably taken about 1926 (Audrey appears to be about 3 yrs old and was born in 1923).

Jensen clan on front porch of home on Pleasant View Drive. From left to right, front row: David Butler, Jay Butler, Glena Jensen, Joseph M. Jensen, Reinhart T. Kowallis; back row: baby Cheryl Kowallis, Norma (Jensen) Kowallis, Wayne S. Butler, Phyllis (Jensen) Butler, Ethel Jane (Chamberlain) Jensen, Ruth Jensen (hiding behind Glena and Grandpa Joe), Lamar Jensen, baby Karla Garner, and Audrey (Jensen) Garner.

Hiking in Pine Canyon below Ben Lomond Peak in the Wasatch Mountains. From left to right: Jay Butler, Phyllis (Jensen) Butler, Audrey Jensen, and Norma Jensen.

Lamar Jensen, Norma Jensen, and Joseph M. Jensen at their home in Pleasant View, Utah.

Glena Jensen as a young teen-ager in Pleasant View.

Grandma Ethel (Chamberlain) Jensen with granddaughter Karla Garner.

Cousins playing with straw hats -- Cheryl Kowallis and Karla Garner.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Benjamin Duers

BENJAMIN DUERS was born probably in Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts about 1778 the son of David Dewers and Deborah Sherman. By 1816 he was in deep financial trouble and petitioned the Court of Common Pleas in Washington County as an insolvent debtor. His total debt amounted to just over $300, a sizable amount for the time. When the 1820 U.S. census was taken, Benjamin was no longer listed among the heads of households in Washington County. He is likely the Benjamin Dures listed in Junius Twp., Seneca County, New York in this 1820 census. Benjamin died on 12 August 1840 in Alabama, Genesee County, New York and is buried there in the Alabama Center Cemetery. His epitaph reads: What though his uncontrolled dust command our flesh to dust; Yet as the Lord our Savior rose, so all his followers must.

Benjamin was married at least twice, 1st before 1810 to an UNKNOWN WOMAN while he was living in Cambridge, Washington County, New York, and 2nd about 1830 in western New York State (perhaps in Seneca or Genesee counties) to SUSAN MCGOWAN born in Ireland in about 1797. Susan remarried after Benjamin’s death to Theodore Hitchcock. She died on 23 March 1871 and is buried in the Alabama Center Cemetery.

In his will, Benjamin mentions his wife Susan, sons Harrison, David (David is probably dead at the time of the will, since the will leaves nothing to him, but something to David’s unnamed daughter), and William. The will also mentions daughters Sarah, Maria W., Mary, Hopewell, Nancy, and Elsy (Elsie).



Benjamin and his unknown first wife had the following children all born in New York (according to his daughter Elsie’s obituary, Benjamin had nine children; if this is correct, then we have identified them all):
i. Sarah Duers, b. prob. abt. 1799 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
ii. Maria W. Duers, b. abt. 1807 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
iii. David Duers, b. prob. bef. 1810 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
iv. Mary Duers, b. abt. 1811 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
v. Hopewell Duers, b. abt. 1812 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
vi. William Harrison Duers, b. abt. 1815 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.
vii. Nancy Duers, b. abt. 1819 in Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y.

Benjamin Duers and his second wife Susan McGowan had the following children:
viii. Elsie Duers, b. November 1832 or July 1831 prob. in Alabama, Genesee Co., N.Y.
ix. William Duers, b. abt. 1834 prob. in Alabama, Genesee Co., N.Y.

Sources & Notes:
1.  Washington Co. Court Records, Insolvency for Benjamin Duers, 12 Mar 1816, Book BX1, Folder 214, Roll 636, Blip B-0633, Inventory # 13048.
2. The earliest we can for certain place Benjamin Duers in Genesee Co. is 1834 when he bought 50 acres in the Town of Alabama from Joshua Waddington and Thomas Ludlow Ogden (Genesee Co. Deeds, 35:505).
3. 1820 US census of Junius Twp., Seneca Co., N.Y., p. 409. Listed on this same page with Benjamin is a Philip McGowan (possibly a relative or parent of his 2nd wife Susan McGowan) and a Henry Shearman (possibly a cousin through his mother’s family. His grandfather’s name was Henry Shearman.
4. Will of Benjamin Duers, dated 6 April 1840 and proved 5 April 1841, Genesee Co., N.Y. Wills 4:32; Cemetery records, Genesee County, New York, Alabama Center Cemetery, FHL microfilm 1381729, item 4.
5.
Friendship Chronicle
, Friendship, Allegany Co., N.Y., 14 April 1880, v. 1, no. 10..This obituary of her daughter Hopewell Duers suggests that this unknown wife died soon after Hopewell was born. If this is true, then Benjamin may have had a third wife, who would be the mother of William Harrison and Nancy.
6. 1810 U.S. Census, Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y., p. 491. Benjamin’s household in1810 was next to his brother David’s. The household consisted of Benjamin (age 26-45y, he should have been about 32y) with a woman who was over 45 years of age (unknown, probably his first wife who was likely misclassified; she should be in the 26-45y range), 3 females under 10 years (Maria, age 3 years, perhaps Sarah since her birth age is unknown, and possibly Mary if her age in later censuses is off by a year she could have been listed in this census, and 1 male under 10 years (probably his son David). At the 1820 US census of Junius Twp. (see note above), Benjamin’s household consists of 1 male over 45 years of age (Benjamin should have been about 42y), one male age 10-16 years (son David), one male under 10 years (son Harrison age 5y), one female age 26-45 years (likely still his first wife), one female age 10-16 (Maria age 13y), one female under 10 years age (this is the problem category since Benjamin should have 3 daughters under 10 (Mary age 9y, Hopewell age 8y, and Nancy age 1y). A possible solution to this is that Maria may have been working as a servant in another household, Mary may have been classified in the 10-16 year group (as it seems likely she was in 1810), Hopewell could have been the one enumerated, and Nancy’s birth may not have occurred by the date of enumeration.
7. The marriage date is estimated based upon the large gap in ages of his known children, with Nancy born about 1819 and Elsie born in about 1832. It is unlikely that Benjamin and Susan would have been married before about 1830 if Elsie is their first child. Also, Benjamin appears to be living in Junius Twp., Seneca Co., N.Y. by the 1820 US census.
8. 1850 and 1870 U.S. censuses of Alabama, Genesee Co., N. Y. pp. 326 and 362, respectively.
9. Susan’s last name is given as McGown on the death certificate of her daughter Elsie (copy provided to the author by Rev. John Crossen, 3rd-great-grandson of Susan McGown).
10. Susan and Theodore Hitchcock are mentioned in the newspaper notices related to the settlement of Benjamin’s will (Republican Advocate, Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, Tuesday 21 January 1851).
11. Cemetery records, Genesee County, New York, Alabama Center Cemetery, FHL microfilm 1381729, item 4.
12. Will of Benjamin Duers, Genesee Co., N.Y. Wills, book 4, p. 32.
13. Batavia Daily News, Saturday, 16 July 1910, p. 8.
14. Republican Advocate, Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, Tuesday 21 January 1851.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Will of Sterling Hotchkiss

The daughter of Sterling Hotchkiss, Almira, married into the Duers Family. Almira is mentioned in her father's will. Please contact me if you have any additional information about this family.



WILLIAM DUERS (Benjamin, David) was born about 1834 in New York and is living in Alabama, Genesee County, New York at the 1860, 1870 (where his name is spelled Dewers), and 1880 U.S. Censuses. He married in about 1862 ALMIRA M. HOTCHKISS, who was born 18 August 1835 probably in Alabama, Genesee County, New York to Sterling and Hannah Hotchkiss. William buys land in Genesee County on several occasions, mostly from relatives, between 1853 and 1882. William died 22 June 1888 at the age of 63 years and is buried in the Reed Cemetery in Oakfield Township, Genesee County, New York. In his will he mentions his wife Almira and his daughter Victoria Anthony. Almira married second Mr. Ham, possibly Phillip Ham of Wheatfield, Genesee County, New York. Almira died 11 April 1904 and is buried next to William in the Reed Cemetery in Oakfield.

They had the following child:
i. Victoria E. Duers, b. September 1863.

Sources
1. F.W. Beers (editor), Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genessee County, N.Y. 1788-1890, J.W. Vose & Company Publishers, Syracuse, New York, 1890, p. 130.

2. Genesee Co., N.Y. Deeds, v. 92, p. 219; v. 95, p. 201; v. 115, p. 71; v. 123, p. 67; v. 156, p. 88.

3. Genesee Co., N.Y. Wills, v. 20, p. 275. Will dated 7 November 1887 and proved on 31 October 1888.

4. Almira is listed as Almira Duers Ham in the Reed Cemetery records, and the only Ham of about the right age in the area is Phillip Ham a farmer who is listed in the Gazeteer and Business Directory of Genesee County published in 1869.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Grandma Jensen

William Alonzo Chamberlain surrounded by his family about 1901. Clockwise from left: Alice Estella (Moore) Chamberlain, Anna Eliza, Henry Ernest, George Francis, Lottie Calvina, Bertha Estella, Walter Alonzo, and Ethel Jane.

Grandma Jensen (Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen) was always a safe harbor in any storm. She and Grandpa Jensen (Joseph Moroni Jensen) lived on Pleasant View Drive about two blocks from our home. Growing up, I spent almost as much time at my grandparents home as I did at my own. It was a place I could go and feel the depth of family roots. It seemed that someone in the family was always visiting.

Grandma loved to have family around. Her house was full of wonderful smells, secret hiding places, and old treasures, like an iron that had no electric plug, a wash tub and wringer that were operated by hand, and old photos of people who looked so odd with their funny clothes and hair styles.

Grandma died too young even though she was 74. She was the first close family member I had lost, but perhaps her death prepared me for the loss of my mother 4 years later. I miss them both, but treasure the legacy they left me...a legacy of family and the importance of remembering the ones who have gone before.

Alice Chamberlain with her daughters. Front row: Bertha Estella, Alice, Ethel Jane. Back row: Anna Eliza, Lottie Calvina.

Joseph Moroni Jensen and Ethel Jane Chamberlain Jensen -- photo taken in December 1953.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Alexander Township, Genesee County, New York

This is a cemetery located in the Town of Alexander, Genesee County, New York. Transcribed by Mary B. Wells and Frances H. Witmer. Images are from Family History Library microfilm 1381729 item 4. [Click on the image for a larger view]





Sunday, September 25, 2011

Nichols Cemetery, Alabama Township, Genesee County, New York

This is a cemetery located in the Town of Alabama on the road just east of Wheatville, Genesee County, New York. Transcribed by Mary B. Wells and Frances H. Witmer. Image is from Family History Library microfilm 1381729 item 4. [Click on the image for a larger view]




Friday, September 23, 2011

East Alabama Cemetery, Genesee County, New York

This is a small cemetery located directly south of South Alabama Village in Alabama Township, Genesee County, New York. Transcribed by Mary B. Wells, Jean Stowell, and Frances H. Witmer. Image is from Family History Library microfilm 1381729 item 4. [Click on the image for a larger view]

Monday, September 12, 2011

Wheatville Cemetery, Alabama Township, Genesee County, New York

These are the records of the Wheatville Cemetery, Alabama Township, Genesee County, New York that were copied and typed by Mary B. Wells and Frances M. Witmer (FHL microfilm 1381729 item 4).

[Click on the image for a larger view]