Introduction
December 29, 2011 – Following is a history from the early 20th century by Earnest Van Wye who copied down a history from 1901 of his grandfather Enoch W. Van Wye, husband of Lucy Van Wye, his first cousin. Enoch lived much of his life in northern Missouri.
I grew up in northern Missouri, in Marceline (boyhood hometown of Walt Disney). We spell our name VanWye, without the separation, but I’ve found that Van Wye and VanWye are synonymous. Growing up, the only VanWyes that I knew were my father, Kenneth Edward VanWye, Sr., my four sisters, Betty Lou, Deanna Kay, Jane Ellen and Patricia June, my father’s brothers: Delbert VanWye of Ft. Madison, IA and Harold VanWye (Uncle Froggy) of Los Angeles, CA.
While playing American Legion baseball in high school (about 1976), we took a trip to play a game in Green City, MO and went through Kirksville, MO. In Kirksville one of my teammates pointed out a service station that said “Van Wye’s 66”. This was the first I had ever heard of anyone having the name Van Wye other than my family and my uncles and Uncle Delbert’s 2 children.
A few years later (fall of 1978), after I had finished high school, I took off one day and drove around northern Missouri to search for Van Wyes, starting at the service station we had spotted 2 years earlier. The owner was from Green City, MO and I believe is the Arthur Van Wye of paragraph 48 of this history. He was not that interested in genealogy but pointed me to Green City and his father, and also to Boynton and Milan, MO. So I headed off to visit grave yards and somehow stumbled upon a wonderful, wonderful lady named Beryl Webb, who along with her husband Hollis, just happened to be visiting from Creve Couer, IL (close to Peoria). Here is a link to the 1998 obituary of Beryl’s brother: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55501279.
Beryl spent time with me that evening, fascinating me with stories of Van Wyes. She actually had many years earlier visited my dad and grandfather, although she did not know them really. Beryl mailed to me later the history I’ve re-typed below.
So, for some years I did little with genealogy, and moved to Texas, where I went to Baylor University. But, in 1982 after finishing my college football days and having a really bad semester I came up with a brainstorm. I went to Baylor’s Moody library and looked through all the telephone books (this was the dark ages before the Internet) for Van Wye and wrote down names and addresses. After going to the post office and looking up zip codes, I made 60 or so copies of the Enoch history, typed up a general letter introducing myself and included a stamped, self addressed envelope back to myself and mailed to all those addresses that I had found. Quite a number wrote back, and I’ve continued some correspondence, though allowing myself to be far too negligent with my genealogy pursuits.
Around 1990, when I lived in Hazelwood, a St. Louis, MO suburb, my mom forwarded me a letter she had received addressed to my dad who had died in 1984, with no zip code (Marceline is a small town) inviting us to a Van Wye reunion at Table Rock Lake, MO. Around 1994, after moving to Albuquerque, I received an invitation to a Van Wye reunion in Alliance, OH. At that reunion, I met many Van Wye members that were from Ohio and the Columbus, Indiana area.
Now, my next spell of craziness has been to secure the domain name VanWye.net, “friend” every Van Wye (on Facebook I am kenvanwye) I can find on Facebook and other networking sites, and type up the Enoch history for publication on the web.
Below, you will see the Enoch history, re-typed by myself. I’ve struggled to keep everything as close to the document that I have as possible. I’ve tried to place any interpretations or guesses at spelling or other wording in []. I also added paragraph numbers to aid in referencing. I’ve also set up an account on Ancestry.com, and for those willing to add their ancestry lines, I will happily add your email address as a contributor.
My genealogical line shows George Van Wye and Rebecca Hamler (Paragraph 21) are my great grandparents, with their son Edward and Lizzie Jackson my grandparents, Kenneth Sr. and Nan Reffett as my parents. My mother still lives in Marceline, MO and is 91 years old. My father was born September 26, 1914 or 1915 and died in September 1984, a few months after I had graduated from college.
So I hope that other Van Wyes will find this history fun and interesting, and those with a passion for unearthing their family roots will become involved. I hope this site will prove an invaluable resource for Van Wye information and for understanding our history better and for passing along to the future a greater sense of family and community.
Ken VanWye
December 29, 2011
kenvanwye@gmail.com
{1}
I am giving here a history of the Van Wye pople copied from this old family history my grandfather, E. W. Van Wye wrote about the year 1901 or 1902 after he returned from a trip through the east visiting and gathering data for this history (by Earnest Van Wye – Enoch).
{2}
The first knowledge that I have or can learn of the Van Wye people is that my great grandfather Arthur Van Wye, came from Holland about 1750 and settled near Philadelphia in the state [then colony] of Pennsylvania and tradition tells me that he was married three time and brought up three sets of children and that he and that he and two of his sons were Indian fightersand also fought in the Revolutionary War wherein the American Colonies fought with and gained their freedom from the British government.
{3}
I have been informed that my great grandmother’s maiden name was Mary Country [Ken VanWye December 2011: I believe that this should be Mary Countryman instead of Country] and was the third wife of my great grandfather and by this marriage five children were born, four sons and one daughter, namely; Charles, Aurthur, Isaac, Abram, and Mary. Of these Isaac and Abram died without leaving any children. Both having died in Trumbull County Ohio. There my great grandmother died near the village of de Forest and here many of her posterity live to this day.
{4}
The daughter Mary married a man by the name of Wycough and her posterity may be found in northern Ohio not far from Cleveland.
{5}
I find that Charles Van Wye was born [in] eastern Pennsylvania in the year of 1770. He came to the western counties of Pennsylvania in 1793. He came in what is known as the Whiskey Insurrection and was disbanded in Washington County Pennsylvania, and resided in that county for some years and the mean time married a girl by the name of Jane Cameron and unto them was born a large family of children. After living in Pennsylvania for some years he moved into the new country of Trumbull County, Ohio on the banks of the beautiful Mahoning River where he lived until his death which occurred about 1855 and there many of his descendants live and are of the best families of that county at the present time and man of them I visited on my last trip to Ohio.
{6}
The aforesaid Charles Van Wye has a vern [very?] numerous posterity scattered throughout the whole United States. In my youth I have seen, visited, and conversed with this great Uncle, Charles Van Wye, from whom I learned many of the facts stated herein.
{7}
Arthur Van Wye, my grandfather was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 25, 1772 and died April 10, 1872 (1827). He was married to Mary James, who was born July 12, 1780, of this marriage were born fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters all of whom lived to the age of maturity and married, except one (Benjamin). My grandfather also came from the eastern counties of Pennsylvania as a soldier in the Whiskey Rebellion which occurred in 1773. Having been mustered out of the service of the United States [KV 2011: if this is still around 1773, it would not have been the United States, as the United States did not exist until 1776. It may have been that he was mustered out of the British army or a colonial unit.] in Washington County Pennsylvania and having some relatives in that county. He stayed there with his relatives. He married and never returned to his old home but sometime about the year 1780 he moved with his family out to the wilderness and then frontier county of Trumbull, Ohio[.] [B]ut after living there eight or 9 years he moved back to Washington County where he lived as a farmer until his death which occured as I have said in 182(7?).
{8}
My grandmother was the daughter of William and Mary (Dowh[n?]ia) James.
{9}
These grand parents [grandparents] I first lern [learn] of in Washington County, Penn. They were of English nationality and tradition says that their ancestors came to America with William Penn. In my grandmother’s family there are many brothers and sisters of whom I have seen the following ones to wit; John James and William James settled in Indiana and Illinois about the year 1810, their descendants are very numerous and live[d] in those states until this day. Thomas James the youngest son moved from Penn. with his parents to the Territory of Indiana about the year 1805 and settled in what is now Jenning[s?] County and bought land along Graham Creek, where my great grandparents lived and died. Their graves are to be seen th [to] this day. I visited these graves last fall (1901).
{10}
The aforesaid Thomas James settled in Jennings County until his death took place about 1850, leaving a great many descendants throughout Indiana. They are of the most highly respected families of that state and his descendants still own and control the old farm that my great grandfather owned, settled, and died on. After my grandfather died my grandmother married again to a man by the name of Isaac Dally of Warren (Trumbull) County, Ohio. Both in their old age he being 65 yrs. of age and her 60. In 1841 they moved from Warren, Ohio to Jennings County Indiana where my grandmother died in 1843. My grandmother had two sisters that married brothers by the name of Earl. Nancy marrying Jacob Earl and Hannah marrying James Earl. These Earl brothers were cousins of my grandfather Van Wye. My grandmother also had a sister that married Enoch Wright of Wash. Co., Penn., and he also was a cousin of my grandfather who I will take up later in this history. The Earls have many descendants in Indiaa to this day. The old people having died years ago and are all buried in Jennings Co., Indiana.
{11}
The best I can learn of them is that they settled in Washington Co., Penn. about the year of [17??]; having married my grandmother about that date in the aforesaid county.
{12}
There he died about the year of 1836 leaving a large family of children and grandchildren. My grandmother’s maiden name was Lydia Wright. The daughter of Joshua Wright, one of the first settlers of Wash. Co. Penn. He having settled there long before the Revolutionary War and was representative of the western counties of Penn. in the councils of that colony under the English government and was a man of much note and great wealth for those days and was the father of three children. One son and two daughters, names as Enoch, Lydia and Nancy. Enoch, the son, married Rachel James a sister of my father’s mother. This old uncle for whom I was named lived and died in Was. Co. Penn., he wa[s]a man of much note; for his health, enterprise and charitable actions. There is a very numerous posterity of his in Penn. to this day. Many of whom I have seen and been acquainted with in my time. They being of the most wealthy and best families of that great state. Nancy Wright married Willis Burris of Wash Co Penn., and their descendants were and are very numerous and are scattered though out the U. S. some yet lifting [living?] in and about Pittsburg [Pittsburgh], Penn,
{13}
My grandmother’s people were of English Nationality and came to Am. with William Penn. These grandparents of mine had a very large family of children and some of their grandchildren to this day are living about Pittsburg Penn., Warren Ohio, Columbus Indiana and many other places in the US. many of whom I visited on my trip east last fall.
{14}
My grandparents Arthur Van Wye and Mary James Van Wye, of them my father was the third son and was born June 22, 1800 and died in 1868. My mother Jane Laird Van Wye and was born in Wash. Co. Penn. and was married on Christmas Day 1822 which took place in the aforesaid Wash Co. Penn.
{15}
Unto my parents were born twelve children, seven sons and 5 daughters, I being the 5th child and the third son, the names of my brothers and sisters are as follows; Mary married Thomas Glover of Virginia, Lydia married James Fafney [Pafney?] of Columbus Ind, John married Emma McConnell of Ky., James married Margaret Wynn of Ind., and I, Enoch W. married Lucy Van Wye, my cousin, the daughter of Uncle Arthur Van Wye, Arthur Van Wye, my brother, died in early youth and never married, Charles died in early youth, Nancy died in early youth and never married, Rachel died in early youth, William Van Wye my only living brother at this date married Lucy Garrison of Columbus Indiana. My brother Isaac I do not know what became of him. He left Kansas in 1865 and started for the then wild west and we never heard from him afterwards. He may be living yet if he is he would be 65 years old at this time. My sister Ellen married Arthur McCulla he lived only two or 3 years. She after being a widow for ceferal [several] years, married for her second husband Joseph McEwen of Columbus Indiana, and is now my only living sister. Our people are very numerous and much scattered through out the United States and have many different names and connections. I will now take up some other branches of our people.
{16}
My grandfather Arthur Van Wye’s oldest son whose name was Abram Van Wye married Charity Laird, a sister to my mother. To this union were born twelve children[,] four sons and eight daughters. Uncle Abram and Aunt Charity were married in Wash. Co. Penn., about the year of 1818. They moved to Trumbull Co. Ohio in 1833 where he died in 1856. He became quite wealthy for those days and at this time his descendants are bery [very] numerous and belong to the best families of the beautiful Mahoning Valley. I was brought up by this uncle and I visited his children at their homes last fall [1901]. I found five of his children yet living and owning his old farm, and grandchildren even to the fifth generation I found still living near here. My grandfather’s second son was named John and married Mary Latimare of Jennings Co. Indiana. Having settled in that county about the year of 1820. His descendants are not very numerous, the most of them died in their youth, but there is yet living in Jennings co. and Bartholomew Co. Ind. some of his posterity belonging to some of the best families, among them are the Jeffs, McCaslins, and the Hunters.
{17}
Arthur Van Wye the 4th son of Arthur Van Wye my grandfather, was born on June 24th 1802 in Wash. Co. Penn., and married Amanda Seeley of Wash Co. Penn. about the year of 1821, or 1829. They then moved to Jennings co. Ind. in about the year of 1856, after living there 2 or 3 yrs. they moved to Grenup Co. Kentucky where he lived until the yr. 1852, when he moved to Bartholomew co Ind. In the fall of 1856 he moved from Ind. to Missouri, he lived in Scotland Co. 2 or 3 years and then in the year of 1859 he moved from Scotland County to Sullivan County where bought and owned his first land, and where he died on Nov. 29th, 1873 at the age of 75 yrs.
{18}
Amanda Seeley Van Wye was born in Washington Co., New York on November 20th 1806 and came to Was. co penn with her parents in her youth. She was married to Arthur Van Wye on November 5th, 1828, and died on August 14th 1890 at the age of 83 years.
{19}
The Seeleys were of English nationality and came to America at a very early date and settled in the Colony of New York. The descendants of the Seeleys are very numerous and much scattered through out the U. S., many of them now living in Ohio and Kentucky (?).
{20}
The descendants of Arthur and Amanda Van Wye are many. There were eight children, three sons and five daughters.[KV 2011: Arthur Van Wye and Amanda Seeley are great great grandparents of Kenneth VanWye, Jr. (myself)].
{21}
*****George Van Wye married Rebecca Hamler [great grandparents of KV] [KV 2011: handwritten notes in the document I received in 1978, and I believe are notes of Mrs. Hollis Webb (Beryl) then living in Creve Coeur, IL, “(George Van Wye and Rebecca Hamler) children: Joseph, Electa, Amanda, George (Bud), Edward (grandfather of KV), Ruby (my mother) Pollock…”]***** Almia Van Wye died in her early womanhood, Lucy Van Wye married her cousin Enoch W. Van Wye [KV 2011: author of this history], Mary Van Wye married Samuel Carmer of Bartholomew Co. Ind. who died in the late war (Civil War), she, remaining a widow 2 or 3 yrs., she then married Robert F. Boyd of Sullivan Co. Mo. Electa Va Wye married Judge William H. Emberton of Milan [MO] at this date (1902).
{22}
Josephine Van Wye married W. W. Jones [KV: perhaps H. W.] also of Sullivan co missouri, we know him as Parson Jones, they now live in Macon, County and have a large and respected family of children and grandchildren about them.
{23}
Dr. Charles Van Wye of Browning Mo. married as his first wife, Indiana Wynn of Sullivan Co Mo. She living not many years, dying of consumption. The Doctor remained a widower for some yrs and then married Mary Newkirk of Linn co mo. and now resides with her in Browning Mo.
{24}
Samuel S. Van Wye married Jamima E. Jackson of Sullivan Do [Co] Mo. He now resides in Oklahoma Territory on his farm surrounded by his children and grandchildren at this date. (1902).
{25}
Thomas Van Wye, my father’s brother, married Marial McClure of Wash co Penn. about the year 1835 or 1836, he moved from Wash co penn, to Jefferson co Ind. where he bought land near the village of Dupont and lived for many years. But about the year 1855 he sold his land and moved to Elizabeth town [Elizabethtown?] in Bartholomew co ind. where he resided until his death. His descendants are not ver numerous, but much scattered through out the US., some in Kansas, and some in California.
{26}
William Van Wye, my father’s sixth brother was born in Wash co penn and married Lydia Carnes as his first wife and unto this union was born two daughters, Sadie married her cousin Charles McCalla of Columbus Ind, a second cousin of hers. Neither of these daughters leaving any daughters. My uncles first wife having died about the year of 1849. He took for his second wife Lizzie Haagns [?] (correction on Earnest’s paper shows; Lizzie Houge [Rouge?]) of Elizabeth town Indiana and unto this union was born three children, Charles, Joseph, and Lucy, none of these leaving any children except Joseph. His 2nd wife having died about the year of 1855. My uncle being a marrying man, ones [once?] more took unto himself a wife. This time he married a widow woman by the name of Francis Trent of Elizabethtown Ind. Unto this union was born one son known as Frank Van Wye of Columbus, Ind. Said Frank has no children. This uncle died about the year of 1880 and his last wife died just a few days ago at Elizabethtown. Uncle Billie as he was called, was Blind many years before his death. Joseph Van Wye the 7th son of my grandparents was born in Wash Co., Pa. and married Eliza Crouch of Wash Co., Pa. Unto this union was born one child, a daughter who married Henry Coates of Hope, Ind. Them having 1 daughter and 1 grandchild at this time. This uncle died near Nobles Ville, Indiana about the year of 1855. So you see that his descendants are few. Dr. Enoch Van Wye the 8th son of my grandparents married Lucy Haagne of Bartholomew Co., Ind. and the result of this was one son. William Van Wye known as litttle Billie, who married his cousin Ollie Hunter of Columbus, Ind. and have 2 children. My uncle and aunt both died with cholera in the year of 1847 a copio [?] in Jennings Co. Ind.
{27}
Charles Van Wye, the 9th son of my grandparents married Levine Free of Pittsburgh, Pa. and died in his early manhood leaving no children.
{28}
Mary Van Wye, a daughter of my grandparents, married George Crough of Wash. co. pa. Unto this union were born several children. I do not know how many, but I have seen several of them in my time. They are scattered throughout the U.S., some in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Penn., some in Indianapolis, Indiana, some in Ohio, and some in California.
{29}
Rachel Van Wye, another daughter of my grandparents married William McCalla of Washington co pa and unto this union were born 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters. Arthur married Ellen Van Wye, my sister, of Sullivan Co Mo, leaving one daughter. Mary, Married James Karr [or Marr] of Columbus Indiana where they now live and are very wealthy. Margaret Ann married Albert Richardson, also of Columbus, Ind. John Sam married a Mrs. Davis, Bartholomew Co Ind., but now lives in Oklahoma Territory near Killdore. Nncy [Nancy?] E. Married Isaac Davis of Columbus Ind. He died and she later married a man by the name of Louis and she is now a widow and lives in St. Louis, Mo. at this time. Nancy Van Wye married Sam McCalla of Wash. Co., Pa. and moved to Jennings Co. Ind. about the year 1835 or 1836, her husband having died that year. Some time after this she moved to Bartholomew Co. Ind. where she lived until her death which occurred about the year of 1885.
{30}
This aunt of mine was the mother of 4 children. 3 sons and 1 daughter. Charles McCalla her oldset son married Saddie Van Wye his cousin. The daughter of William Van Wye. They have [? (KV 2011)] chil.
{31}
Catherine, the daughter of Jacob Davis of Indiana, she died young, leaving 1 son known as [? (KV 2011)] John M. Davis of Columbus, Ind., the Columbus other two sons died before they were grown [missing a top line on my copy: KV 2011] Catherine W. Van Wye, the youngest and only surviving one of this large married Jessie Hunter of Trumbull County Ohio, about the 1840 they moved to Jennings County Indiana, from there they moved to Bartholomew County Indiana, in the spring of 1844, her husband died in that County. My aunt still survives at the age of 80 years. Unto this union were born twelve children, many of them died in early youth or in infancy. But at this time her descendents are many and living around [? (KV 2011)] and near her. Joseph Hunter, her oldest son married [KV 2011: unsure of the next half sentence] Jane Trent of Coumbus [the preceeding appears to be line out by the author (KV 2011)] Louis McCaslin of Columbus Indiana. Arthur Hunter the second son married Jane Trent of Elizabethtown Indiana. William Hunter married a girl from Columbus Indiana, by the name of Davis.
{32}
Ollie Hunter married William Van Wye as I have stated in another place in this book.
{33}
Mary J. Hunter married Luke Thomas of New Azalia Indiana. Mary J. died young leaving one son Morton Thomas [KV 2011: unsure of Morton or Horton].
{34}
I visited this aunt in October 1901, she is very hale and well preserved for one her age. she is living happy and contented, surrounded by her grandchildren and children, even three generations, waiting and hoping to be called home to be with her redeemer and many friends and relatives that have gone on before her, and to hear that welcome plaudit, well done, good and faithful servant enter unto thy rest.
{35}
I will give here a short sketch of Abram Van Wye’s family, as I was brought up with this family they seem more like my brothers and sisters than my own brothers and sisters do.
{36}
Abram Van Wye and my father, James Van Wye married sisters, Abram marrying Charita [KV 2011: I believe “Charity”] Laird and James my father marrying Jane Laird. Both families moving to Trumball [KV 2011: Trumbull?] County Ohio at an early date, my father in 1832 and Abram in 1835. There were twelve children in each family, 24 in all; pretty good was it not? Our Families lived in close and intimate terms with each other for many years in fact there was never any disagreements between to my knowledege.
{37}
My fater [KV 2011: “father”] and mother moved to Indiana in 1841 where my mother died in 1844. I was 14 years old at the time. I was then sent back to Ohio in the fall of 1843 to my uncle Abram Van Wye, with whom I made my home until the fall of the year in 1852. When I again went back to Indiana and made my home with my uncle and Aunt Jessie and Caterine [KV 2011: Catherine?] Hunter until Luch [KV 2011: Lucy?] and I were married in September [L?], 1853.
{38}
We then moved to [J?]ohnson County Indiana where we lived until the spring of 1856 when we moved to Missouri and I entered the 12[0?] acres of land which we moved onto in the fall of 1857. I still own and reside on said land today. My children were all born and married here, and this neighborhood I buried Luch [KV 2011: Lucy?] and here I hope to remain until I am called away by death which according to nature can’t be far away for I am gettin old and feeble. I will still say here that I have seen many pleasures in life, and many trials also. And my Creator has been exceedingly good and merciful unto me for more than I ever deserved. I have no wish to live my life over again unless it swould be to live a better and more perfect life. May God’s mercy and blessing rest on us all.
{39}
Abram Van Wye my old and respected Uncle was the most perfect and upright man that I ever knew, a man that tried to live a perfect life in the sight of his God and in the sight of men. A man of strong passions which he learned to subdue and control. A man of strong mental faculities [KV 2011: faculties]. A man well informed away abo[v]e the average for his day, not an enthusiast but prudent and conservative in all his affairs, charitable toward all, not bigoted in the least, he was industrious temperate, sober prudent and kind to all, a pattern for his fellow men if they could follow in his footsteps, his influenc[e] was great and always for good. In religion and education he was always in front taking an active part, and his influenc[e]for good is still going on and will continue until the end of time. Oh, what a a blessing to have such a father or to be brought up by such a man. His influence on his posterity has been great and good. His descendants are many. I saw last fall in his old home even th fourth generation, and they are all religious, temperate, industrious, intelligent and respected among their fellow man. Mostly farmers and mostly wealthy, their county being a wealthy county. I might enlarge on his history but this will fo gor the present, I may take it up again later.
{40}
The Van Wye people have some characteristics peculiar to themselves. We have always been a people in the better middle class of society, always industrious and self supporting. I n[e]ver knew of a pauper among my people and n[e]ver knew or hear[d] of one being in the state prison.
{41}
By occupation mostly farmers, but there have been some very eminent teachers and doctors of some note. We are usually temperate but if a Van Wye drinks they are sure to drink to an excess. A Van Wye should never drink at all. The men among the older Van Wyes were noted for their strength and the women for their beauty, virtue and kndness. There came in from some where what we call blue teeth which is peculiar to our people, no other people have teeth like these that I know of, I know not how they started or how they came about, but it must have veon [been] among our people at a very early date, for I can trace them back about six generations, they are among the Wrights and the Earls, Charles Van Wye[‘]s descendants and my grandfather[‘]s descendants, these people were all cousins, so it must of v en [been] an e[i]nherited to and by us before their time, They were teeth having no roots but just stuck in the gum never aching but ready to be pulled out at any time.
{42}
These peculiar teeth were never transmitted to posterity unless one or both of the parents had them. Lucy and I both had good white teeth so our children are not afflicted with this peculiarity but many of our brothers and sisters having had these blue teeth have transmitted them to their posterity even to the last children born to them. The first Van Wyes were of large build and great strength fair complexioned and with blue eyes. but by intermarriage with dark complexioned and black eyed mothers a great many of our people have dark eyes, dark hair and dark skin, but formerly the hair was of a light color.
{43}
The Van Wyes are of quick anger and quick to resent a wrong or insult but of a forgiving nature, not returning malice or hatred but willing to reconcile to and with our fellow man wishing to be at peace with all, so may it be.
{44}
This finishes up the history of the Van Wye people that my grandfather Enoch Van Wye wrote, will here take up the present generation, the descendants of Enoch W. and Lucy Van Wye.
******************************
{45}
Lucy Van Wye died in 1901 and Enoch Van Wye died in 1903. They are both buried in the Elmwoods Cemetery near Boynton, Missouri. To this union was born four children, three sons and one daughter, named Frank, Charles, Sherman and Lucy O. (Aunt Ollie as we know her) and Lee.
{46}
Frank Van Wye the eldest son of Enoch and Lucy Van Wye was Born February 21, 1858 and married Ellen Price of Sullivan County Missouri on September 13, 1879, where they resided on a farm near Green City, Missouri until their deaths which occurred as follows, Frank Van Wye dies Feb. 17, 1905 at the age of 47 years, Ellen Van Wye his wife, remained a widow until her death which occured June 21, 1934. They are boyh [KV 2011: both] buried in the Elmswood Cemetery near Boynton, Missouri where quite a number of the Van Wye people are buried. To this union was born four children named Victor, Coy, Bessie and Arthur.
{47}
Victor Van Wye the oldest son of Frank and Ellen Van Wye married a girl by the name of Edna Gill, she not living long, he remained a widower for some years and then married Ethel Brummitt of Pollock, Missouri July 3, 1910. Unto this union was born four children two sons and two daughters, all living, named Van[,] Tessie, I [KV 2011: in handwritten note by I believe Beryl Webb, from whom I received this history in the fall of 1978, this was written by Enoch’s grandson Earnest]and Frank. And one daughter Anna, of his former marriage.
{48}
Van Van Wye, oldest son of Vick and Ethel Van Wye was born Sept. 17, 1911 and married Lorene Yoakum of Winnigan Missouri August 11, 1934. They live in Green City, Missouri and have one son, Arthur Leon Van Wye born July 30, 1935.
{49}
Tessie Van Wye the oldest daughter and second child of Victor and Ethel Van Wye was born August 17, 1914 and married George Orville Schiver July 14, 1933, and they are now living in Iowa.
{50}
Irene Van Wye the second daughter and third child of Victor and Ethel Van Wye was born August 6, 1917.
{51}
Frank Van Wye the youngest son of Victor and ethel Van Wye was born October 19, 1919.
{52}
Coy Van Wye the second son of Frank and Ellen Van Wye married Pearl White of Milan, Mo. and unto this union was born one child, a daughter. Coy died May 29, 1910, and is buried in the Elmwoods Cemetery near Boynton, Missouri.
{53}
Bessie Van Wye, the third child and only daughter, of Frank and Ellen Van Wye married John C. Yardley of Milan, Missouri on July 4, 1911. They have two children, both boys. Clem Edward Yardley born May 19, 1910, and Gerald Edwin Yardley, born May 27, 1929.
{54}
Arthur Neal Van Wye the youngest child of Frank and Ellen Van Wye, married Eva Parker of Milan, Missouri October 24, 1924, they have no children.
{55}
Clara O. (Aunt Ollie as we know her) was the second child and only daughter of Enoch W. and Lucy Van Wye, she was born August 3, 1860 and married William J. Tysor of Putnam County, Missouri, March 19, 1879. Unto this union was born five children, three sons and two daughters, named as follows, Tessie Lee Tysor, the oldest child was born October 25, 1882, Jessie Tysor was born May 5, 1884, Enoch Franklin Tysor was born May 5, 1880 [KV 2011: I believe this must be 1886 and not 1880], Walter G. Tysor was born November 1, 1887, Olie [Ollie?] Tysor was born August 3, 1895, Aunt Ollie was living in either Wichita or Anthony Kansas the last we herd [heard] of her. If she is still living she is the only one living of that family.
{56}
Charles Sherman Van Wye, the second son and third child, of Enoch W. and Lucy Van Wye was born June 5, 1865 and married Ora E. Jackson of Jacksons Corners Sullivan County [Missouri], June 27, 1889, and unto this union was vorn [born] four children all boys and living, names, Ralph, [Ray], Nat and Enoch Everett (Dick). Sherman and Cora Van Wye lived in and around Boynton Missouri until the year of 1913 when they moved to Chillicothe Missouri, and resided there until the year of 1917 when they moved to Detroit Michigan where they resided surrounded by their children until their deaths which occurred as follows: Chares Sherman Van Wye died of cancer of the bowels on July 22, 1937. Cora E. his wife died Feb. 20, 1938.
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Ralph the oldest son of Sherman and Cora Van Wye was born December 24, 1892 and married Vina F. Sellars of Maywood Mo. on June 26, 1923, they now live in Detroit, miochigan. They have no children. Ralph served in the World War, saw service in France and also served with the army of Occupation in Germany.
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Ray Van Wye the second son of Sherman and Cora Van Wye was born Feb. 27, 1894 and married Elizabeth J. Doty of Wheeling, Missouri on February 2, 1921, (Nat and Ray married sisters). They have two boys Glen Jackson Van Wye was born February 18, 1922, Robert Dean Van Wye was born March 12, 1929. They are now living in Detroit, Michigan. Ray also served in the world war and saw service in France.
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Nat Van Wye the third son of Sherman and Cora Van Wye was born April 2, 1896 and married Veda M. Doty of Wheeling, Missouri on December 9, 1916, and unto this union was born two children, both boys, Nat Jr. was born June 22, 1919, Charles Franklin ws born January 5, 1912 he only living a few days. They are noe [now] living in Lincoln Park, Michigan. (A suburb of Detroit).
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Enoch Everett Van Wye, the fourth son, of Sherman and Cora Van Wye was born March 14, 1903 and married Elga B. Wakefield of Detroit, Michigan on April 30, 1923 and unto this union was born two children both boys, Enoch Wright (Dickie we call him) was Born July 31, 1929, Wayne Franklin was born December 8, 1931, Dick’s wife died January 25, 1932 soon after the second child was born.
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My Father, Lee Van Wye, the youngest son of Enoch and Lucy Van Wye was born August 10, 1872, and married Bessie McEwen of Sullivan County, Missouri April 30, 1901. they lived in Boynton, Missouri until about 1915 when they moved to Gault, missouri where they lived until their deaths which occurred in 1919. Lee Van Wye died May 5, 1919, age 47. His wife, Bessie, died June 21, 1919. Unto this union was born five children, four boys and one girl named as follows Lucy, Earl, Earnest [the author of this section], Max and Charles.
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Lucy Van Wye the oldest child and only daughter of Lee and Bessie Van Wye was born on Feb. 22, 1902 and married Dewey Tipton of Pollock, Missouri. They now live in Kansas City and have no children.
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Earl Van Wye the second child of Lee and Bessie Van Wye was born June 5, 1903 and married Mildred Crawford of Boynton, Missouri May 30, 1929. They live in Boynton, Missouri and have no family.
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Earnest Van Wye [the author of this section] the third son of Lee and Bessie Van Wye was born May 27, 1904 and married Ruth Tipton of Milan, Missouri, September 15, 1928. They have two children, both boys, Walter Lee was born August 7, 1929, Ronal [Ronald?] Earnest was born October 13, 1954, they now live in Milan, Missouri.
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Max Van Wye the fourth child of Lee and Bessie Van Wye was born October 9, 1907 and married for his first wife Helen McGuire of Kansas City, April 1935; he was divorced from his first wife and married Mildred Wolfe and they now live in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Charles the youngest child of Lee and Bessie Van Wye was born July 15, 1914.
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[By Earnest Van Wye, grandson of Enoch, copying Enoch’s journal of a 1901 trip back east] I will start here and copy down what he wrote on his trip back East in the fall of 1901.
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[Enoch] I will write down a few thoughts and a few items taken from my diary that I wrote on my visit East to Ohio and Indiana.
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I started from home on the 7th of Sept. 1901 by the Burlington route on my way to Cleveland, Ohio. This was on a a Saturday, I was accompanied by Judge Calfey of Milan and George Mason of Pollack Mo. WE arrived in Chicago, September 8, and left that same day for Cleveland. We went by way of the Lake Shore and Southern Michigan Route. This route took us for quite a distance along the shore of Lake Michigan of which we had a very beautiful view. The lake was rough, the billows and white caps rolling high which was a grand sight to us for it had many years since we had seen such a sight. It had been 35 years since I had seen the lake. This route took us through the State of Michigan.
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We arrived in Cleveland Sunday night about ten p.m. very tired. We put up at the Taylor House on Euclid Ave. WE saw the sights of the city on Monday op until 4 p.m. I went by street car to the old home, what a change/ when I left here 50 years ago there was not a railroad in the country and now I find there are five railroads and one street car line running thorough the old farm and also quite a town built on it, with roundhouse and machine shops for the railroads.
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I stepped off the street car on the o;d [old] home farm, it was nearly sundown when I got off. That is about one half mile from where cousin Nancy DeForrest lives. I got in a buggy with a young man that was going past her house, where I arrived about dusk.
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I found Mrs. DeForrest out on the lawn, she knew me as soon as she saw me. It had been about 35 years since we had seen each other, Mrs. DeForrest lives with her daughter, Mrs. Cummins, a widow woman.
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We had a great talk that night, we did not sleep much for we had so much to talk about, for we were raised together, and were always great friends when we were young, but we are both [old] and feeble now. She being older than I by about two years. On the tenth day of September, Nancy took me to Joe Van Wyes.
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On the morning before I went to Joes I went to the old school house where I went to school when I was a Child, and where I received what little schooling I have.
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The old school house has been replaced by a good, modern one, it had been 50 years since I was here. I had taught school here 50 years before in my youth, but now things have changed, the old forest trees are gone, new building built, new orchards in sight, everything new and strange.
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I wandered about like one in a dream. I went down to the little brook that ran through the playgrounds, it was still running as I had seen it 65 years before, the water still rippling and murmuring as it did many years ago. But where are those that met me on the banks of this little brook in my childhood? They are all gone, not one left and I am alone, a feeble old man past three score years and ten. School was in session, a lady was teaching, she had quite a large school, these children were those children were the grand and the great grandchildren of the children that I went to school with. The teacher asked me to talk to her scholars which I did and told them who I was and that once I had been a little child and went to school her[e] as they are now doing. I told them to be good and kind to their teacher and to each other for they would never regret their kind acts.
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Joe Van Wye lived across the river from the old farm. We crossed at the Draper Place, there is a fine bridge at this place. Joe lives on a farm on the little Meander Creek about three miles from Niles where my father lived in 1833. It is a fine farm. Joe has two children, one son and one daughter, both grown and at home. He is uncle Abrams youngest son, he is about five years younger that I am. He knew me as soon as he saw me and was wonderful glad to see me. We had such a fine time visiting as we had not seen each other in 35 years. Joe and I were always great friends in our youth. On September 11 I went to Warren, ohio with Joe and from there to John Van Wyes, h is the oldest Van Wye now living being past eighty years of age. he is the second son of uncle Abram Van Wye. We took dinner with him and then went back home with Joe and on September 12 I went to Niles, this is Presidents [President] McKinleys birth place. I saw the house [he?] was born in fifty years ago. When I left Niles it was only a small village but now it is a city containing 12,000 inhabitants and is a manufacturing place.
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On September 13, I went to DeForrest and stayed there until the 14th, and then went back to Joes place. On the 15th. I went to Bristolville to see Dothula Moore, she is a daughter of Uncle Abram Van Wye, and had a fine visit with them. On the 17 I was at Clara Hydes, her mother was a Van Wye. On the 18th, I went back to Joe’s from Bristolville. On the 19th, I went to President McKinleys funeral at Canton and had a very interesting day seeing many strange sights of interest. Many of my Van Wye people went for many relatives of the President live here yet, I was inside of the Presidents door yard and on the lawn in front of his house.
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On September 21, I walked up to the old farm I was raised on, it was a three mile walk, I walked on the railroad. My how everything has changed, well it has been 50 years since I was here last. When I was here there was not a railroad in the country. Now there are five railroads running through the farm, and one street car line, so you see that the country has really changed. I knew it when it was a wild state with the primitave forest growing and the first log cabins of the early settlers. One railroad running through the farmyard and door yard. I sat down on the railroad near the barn.
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I saw several people at the house that were my relatives but they having been born since I left here, knew me not but thought me some old tramp. My father owned and lived this place from 1836 to 1841. I did not call at this time but just sat on the railroad and thought of the past and wondered where the companions of my childhood were. They are all gone and I wondered why I alone was left, on this thought I pondered a long time. Then I arose and continued my walk until I came to my old relative Nan DeForrest. There I stayed all night and had a fine talk with her.
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On the 22nd, Nan and I went to Hiram Dunlap’s, he married Lydia Van Wye for his first wife. He is eighty years old. He was glad to see me. I worked for him fifty-three years ago and we had not seen each other for fifty years. He is very stout and healthy for a man of his age and retains his intellect and mind remarkably well.
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Sept. 23, 1901: This day I went down to the old locks on the canal. This canal was commenced in 1837 and finished in 1840, the summer William Henry Harrison campaign, but this canal has been unused and abandoned for many years. I also went to the place where the old house stood that I was reared in and to the spring near by and got a drink of water and washed my hands and face in the running water where I had washed many times in my youth. The house was gone having burned many years ago. Nothing looked natural except the spring. It had been fifty years since I was here last. I found my name and my brothers names cut in the bark of a birch tree, having been cut there in 1850, a little more tha 50 years ago. The names are plain to be seen and easy to read at this date. Brother James has been dead about thirty five years. I stayed all night this night at Abram Van wye’s the oldest son of Charles Van Wye.
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Sept. 24, I went to the Niles Cemetary, I saw some old tombstones on which I saw many names that I knew when I was a child. The 25th. I went with Joe Van Wye to the Canfield Fair, this is in Mahoning County. I was at the fair here in 1850. I saw some fine stock here, this is a fine country today. It was nice and cool and we had a pleasant day of it. Sept. 26 I am at Joe’s place. Today I went down to the creek, the name of which is Meander. My father lived near the mouth of this creek in 1833. I was then three years old and I think I can remember when I we lived here. This country was all a wild and new country at that time, plenty of game in the great forests and swamps. It was thinly settled but it has all changed, now it is thickly settled and has a large town, fine farms and homes.
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Sept. 28, 1901, This day I went to the Westlakes they are relatives of ours. They are the descendents of Charles Van Wye, a brother of my grandfather. Joe Van Wye went with me, we went on the street car line. It cost one cent per mile. We had a fine visit here I first saw natural gas used.
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On October 9th. I went with Joe Van Wye and the DeForrests to visit a pottery factory. It was quite a sight to see them work in this factory. They make white granite ware here. They empl0y about 200 hands.
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On October 14, I went to Asterbule County to see Clint Moore, this is Dethula Moore’s son. Charles Moore took me in a buggy, it was about a fifteen mile drive, this is a fine country and I had a nice visit here.
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On October 21, 1901, I finished my visit in Ohio and started for Indiana. My friends were nearly all in to see me leave. I started from Joe Van Wye’s place for Columbus, Indiana, where I arrived at 8:30 A.M. on the 22nd. Charles McCalla was at the depot to meet me with his buggy and took me out to his house with him. I found them all …..[KV December 29, 2011: The copies I have of this history appear to be missing page(s) and some additional lines on this page].
