Did you know that Irish-American Heritage Month was first celebrated in March 1991? Although we have celebrated Irish-American Heritage Month for more than 3 decades, the Irish have long played a role in the development and building of our Nation, beginning with Colonial America. Many of the Irish prior to 1715 were brought over as indentured servants. Indentured servants were mostly adults who “signed” a contract agreeing to provide labor for a specified number of years to pay off debt. Others were forced into indentureship for judicial punishment. To learn more about indentured servants, please plan on attending an upcoming program sponsored by the Wayne County Genealogy Society, “Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners: White Servitude in America”. It will be presented by Peggy Lauritzen and held in the Wayne County Public Library’s Conference Room; 220 W. Liberty St.; Wooster, OH 44691 on May 22, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
The first large wave of Irish immigration was from 1715 to 1845. Many of these immigrants were seeking opportunity to own land or were Ulster Presbyterians seeking greater religious freedom. The second large wave of Irish immigration was from 1845-1914. Many of the early immigrants from this wave were fleeing starvation and death due to crop failure in Ireland. From 1845 to 1855, more than 1.5 million adults and children migrated to the United Stated to escape the Potato Famine. Many of their family and friends followed them to the United States over the next several decades. This type of migration is often referred to as chain migration and occurred with great frequency throughout the history of Colonial America and the United States.
There has been a long history of division in Ireland. In 1848, a small group of French women presented the tri-color flag shown above to Thomas Francis Meagher. The group of women was sympathetic to Irish Nationalism. However, this flag was not adopted as the National flag of Ireland until 1916. The green represents the Roman Catholic, the orange represents the Presbyterians and the white in the middle represents a lasting truce between the two groups. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ireland)
Wayne County, Ohio came to be the home of many early Irish immigrants. Some of the first Irish immigrants to file their first or final papers for naturalization in Wayne County, Ohio included:
John and Daniel McPhail, James Rose and Robert Orr, filed for naturalization 6 October 1818; John Dolaghan/Dullaghan, application filed 7 October 1819; Edward Gallagher, applied 5 October 1818 and naturalized November 1826; Thomas Carroll, applied 20 November 1822; John Jeffrey, applied 23 April 1824; Moses McCammon and James Blake, applied 21 October 1824; Thomas Armstrong, naturalized 21 October 1824; Joseph Armstrong, applied 23 February 1825; and Samuel Bell, David Stephenson, and Robert Taggert all applied for naturalization 7 November 1825.
Do you have early Irish immigrants who settled in Wayne County, Ohio?
Is this a box of unrelated stuff that your ancestor wanted to get rid of, or is there some inherit value in this trinket box? This is a dilemma we all will face at some point in our genealogy lives.
At first glance, there does not seem to be much of family value, with the exception of the photo. Of course, the photo in unlabeled so it is anyone’s guess who the people may be. What other items have been included in this box?
A little black day book of Mary O. Scott. It measures 3″ x 4″. The book has the year 1909. It also has a place – Morgantown, WV. It appears to be a day-to-day account of the happenings of Mary O. Scott from Jan 1, 1909 to Jun 14, 1909.
Badge with the First Avenue School “Excelsior” printed on it. On the reverse side, we see the badge was made by the Ohio Badge Co.; 1231 N. High St.; Columbus, O.
An Embosser manufactured by Roovers. It has been stamped “Monogram Embosser Pat. Feb 6, 1912”. The initials cannot be seen without stamping a piece of paper.
Vintage Ketcham & McDougall Retractable Brooch Key Chain. It has a key attached to it. It is small, round, gold tone with a Celtic knot design. Further research reveals the company has been around for decades. It was located in New York and specialized in the manufacture of gold and silver thimbles among other novelties.
Two Lane Bryant envelopes.
An envelope that has been embossed with the included embosser. The three overlapping letters appear to be N-A-S. Inside the envelope was the unlabeled photograph and operation instructions for a Kroehler Davenette bed.
The Blue Book of Telephone Numbers with some names, addresses and phone numbers.
A little brown spiral notebook with the word ESTATE written at the top. Inside the little brown notebook is a blank check belonging to Mrs. Mary Groves of Carpenter, Ohio. The check was from the Vinton County National Bank in McArthur, Ohio.
To give a sneak preview, inside the little brown spiral notebook. With additional research, there is some information that potentially could give insight into the family. On the first page of the notebook, we find the name Nellie Alice Scott. We have a death date given as Sept. 11, 1960. Also, we are given the date December 30, 1936. This is when Nellie may have been issued a Social Security Number.
The next blog will focus on connecting the dots and creating a narrative based on research and the contents of the trinket box. Based on the narrative, you can decide whether it is just a trinket box full of stuff, or a treasure box with some gold nuggets to be found.
As genealogists, we depend a lot on secondary sources to provide data in our family’s history. Often, though, we do not take the next step to verify the information that is given. Such was the case when researching Golden Corners, a little hamlet located in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio. According to E. H. Hauenstein, a columnist for the Wooster Daily Record during the mid-1900s, “The name ‘Golden Corners’ was selected in honor of an early minister, Rev. Gold…” No first name was given, so interest peaked. Evidence reveals that the hamlet of Golden Corners was listed on the 1856 Baker’s Map of Wayne County, Ohio. In the Wayne County Democrat May 22, 1856, on page 3, there is a legal notice about the United States Marshal’s Sale. John R. Caldwell was suing Sidney Vail and William Caldwell, partners in trade in the firm name of Sidney Vail & Co. The marshal was offering for sale by public auction goods and chattels owned by the company. The place of business was at Golden Corners, Wayne County, Ohio. Less than one year later, on March 26, 1857, on page 3, the Wayne County Democrat published the following news item: “B. M. Spencer has been appointed Post Master at Fredericksburg in this county, in the room of W. C. Rheem, resigned. And Mrs. Mary Felger Post Mistress at Golden Corners (in Canaan township) in the place of Dr. Brothers, resigned.” No records to-date show an actual establishment date for Golden Corners; however, in another resource we discover that there was a Post Office established on April 4, 1854, with C. E. Graeter serving as the first postmaster. It was discontinued August 31, 1901. Mail was redirected to the Overton Post Office.
We have established that Golden Corners had a Post Office as early as 1854. Who was Rev. Gold? Reverend Calvin Curtis Gould was born November 28, 1832, to Freeman and Dorcas Lyon (Ward) Gould. Calvin was born near Albion, Illinois. He married Elvira C. Reed on August 27, 1861, in Rockbridge County, Virginia. On his marriage record, it indicates he is listed as a “Theological Student”. On January 1, 1863, Calvin and his wife Elvira welcomed their first son, William Plummer Gould. The son was born in Pennsylvania. Four months later, in May 1863, Calvin Curtis Gould graduated from the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny City. Shortly after graduation, Calvin and his small family relocated in Canaan Township, Wayne County, Ohio. In June 1863, Calvin Gould was listed in the Civil War Draft Registration. On July 10, 1865, Rev. Gould and his wife lost an infant daughter. She is buried in the Wayne Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In the 1870 US Census, the family is in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. Two years later, on June 5, 1872, Elvira passes away. She is buried in the New Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Raphine, Rockbridge County, Virginia. On June 19, 1874, Calvin married Lydia K. Taylor in Upshur County, West Virginia. They had several children together. Rev. Calvin Gould died on February 25, 1921.
The other question you may ask, “Were there any Gould/Gold families in Golden Corners prior to 1854 when the post office was established? In the 1856 Baker’s Map, there is a G. Gould who owns property near Golden Corners. The only G. Gould found in the 1850 US Census for Wayne County is George Gould. He is residing in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio as a Coal Miner. By the 1860 US Census, he has relocated to Eldorado, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. A search in the land deed index for 1812-1863 did not show a land transaction either to or from George Gould. Until further evidence can be found, the research to-date implies that Golden Corners was established by 1854 and it probably was not named in honor of Rev. Gold as published in newspaper articles.
Sources, Paragraph 1
Image from the Library of Congress Digital Maps. 1856 Baker’s Map of Wayne County, Ohio. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592397/ <accessed 18 January 2023>
Hauenstein, E.H. “History of Hamlet Dates Back To Days of Pioneer”. Wooster Daily Record. November 7, 195?.
Hirschinger, Tom. Ohio Postal History Journal. “A Postal History of Wayne County, Ohio.” December 1996, Issue No. 78. p. 10. Journal found in the lateral files at the Wayne County Public Library, Wooster, Ohio.
Legal Notice. “United States Marshal’s Sale. John R. Caldwell, vs. Sidney Vail and William Caldwell, partners in trade in the firm name of Sidney Vail & Co.” Wayne County Democrat. May 22, 1856, p. 3.
Social Notice. “Mrs. Mary Felger Post Mistress at Golden Corners, (in Canaan Township).” Wayne County Democrat. March 26, 1857, p. 3.
Sources, Paragraph 2, Regarding Reverend Calvin C. Gould (in chronological order of event date)
Unless otherwise noted, information compiled on Reverend Calvin Curtis Gould was found through sources on Ancestry Library Edition.
Dismissal Record from the U.S. Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970. Record dates October 27, 1848.
Western Theological Seminary Junior Class catalog, p. 9. Record for 1860.
Calvin C. Gould marriage to Elvira C. Reed. FHL Film Number 33797. Record for 27 August 1861 in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
“Graduates from Theological Seminaries.” Daily Ohio Statesman (Columbus, Ohio). May 14, 1863 p. 2. Image clipped from Newspapers.com.
Calvin Curtis Gould. Presbyterian Ministerial Directory 1898. Abstract indicates he was born near Albion, Il and was ordained in 1863 in Amesville.
“U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865.” 14th Congressional District. Calvin C. Gould, age 30 on 1 July 1863, married, born about 1833 in Illinois. Married. Residing in Canaan, Wayne, Ohio.
Infant Daughter Gould. Tombstone inscription: “Infant Daughter of C. C. & E. C. Gold. Died July 10, 1865.” Find a Grave Memorial ID #25377149. Burial in Wayne Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio. <accessed 12 January 2023>
Elvira Cynthia (Reed) Gould, s/o Calvin Curtis Gould. Tombstone inscription: “Elvira E. wife of Rev. C. C. Gould Born Feb, 6, 1838 Died June 5, 1872.” Find a Grave Memorial ID #64172695. Burial in New Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Raphine, Rockbridge County, Virginia.
Calvin C. Gould. 1870 US Census, Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. ED 11 Jul 1870.
C.C. Gould marriage to Lydia K. Taylor. Record for 19 June 1874 in Upshur, County, West Virginia.
Calvin C. Gould. 1880 US Census, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia. ED 3 Jun 1880.
Calvin Gould. 1900 US Census, Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio. ED 7 Jun 1900.
Calvin C. Gould. 1910 US Census, Lincoln, Marion County, West Virginia. ED 7 May 1910.
Calvin C. Gould. 1911 Directory for Fairmont, West Virginia.
Rev. Calvin C. Gould. 1916 Directory for Marietta, Ohio.
Calvin C. Gould. 1920 US Census Watertown, Washington County, Ohio. Residing with the family of his daughter, Ethel G. (Gould) Breckenridge.
Rev. Calvin Curtis Gould. Find a Grave Memorial ID #29087407. Burial in Riverview Cemetery in Williamstown, Wood County, West Virginia.
Notes on Paragraph 3
George Gould. 1850 US Census Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. ED 29 Aug 1850. Residing with the Andrew Prater family. This could be the same individual as George Gould residing with John and Margaret Gold in Franklin, Summit County, Ohio in the 1850 US Census. In the 1860 US Census, George Gould is the head of the household and residing in Eldorado, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. With him is his inferred mother, Margaret Gould and his inferred older brother, John Gould.
