My birthday buddy - my great grandpa Nick Denhof

So far I haven't blogged about anyone that I have any recollection of - most of my "subjects" were long dead and gone before my arrival on Earth.  As I've dug through boxes upon boxes of more "recent" keepsakes I've decided the time has come to blog about a few of those that I knew.

My father's maternal grandfather was born Nicholas Paul Denhof 8/30/1901 at Conklin, Ottawa County Michigan, the 10th and final child of Nicholas Denhof and Margaret Cook.  If you recall my first real blog post about why I got into genealogy, you read that my great grandpa gave me their names, that they were from the Netherlands and wouldn't tell me anything else.  So, via stories and pictures and my personal recollection this is what I know about him.

 I've never understood why baby boys of that day were dressed in dresses but he was.  It certainly didn't fit his personality later in life.  I'm not sure when this photo was taken but he doesn't appear to be over a year old.  I wonder if the dress had anything to do with his baptism.  The Denhof family was (and still is) strictly Catholic and perhaps this was his outfit for that. 

Nicholas was baptised at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Conklin.  I spoke with the secretary there via telephone several years ago and she looked some records up for me but I failed to write down the baptism date.  His godparents were Frank and Gesina Hug.  In the course of my research I discovered that Gesina was born Gesina Kock, daughter of Henderikus Kock and Catharina Drieborg with Henderikus being an uncle to Margaret Cook Denhof, Nicholas' mother.  Her parents died young and from census records it appears she lived with Margaret's parents.

 He attended school in Chester Township, Ottawa County Michigan.  Note that his siblings Rickie (Henrietta), Peter, Bertha and Sena were also in his class.  After doing some research I wonder if he ever knew he was related to all the Vander Laans in his class.  Their parents were John Vander Laan and Ida Kock, Ida being the sister of the above named Gesina. 

Here he is as a teenager.  He was not a tall man by any means, probably 5'6 but he certainly looked and dressed sharp and here looks like he's a ladies man.  I can't quite tell from this picture but he always wore a ring that had an "N" in the middle of it - not sure that's the ring but it does stand out that he was wearing one, even at this age.  He wore the other ring until his death and as far as I know it was given to a great-grandson that carries his name.  I'd love to get a picture of it because I remember it quite well. 

 

I don't know how or when but he met my great grandmother Doris Colson and they were married 2/6/1926 at Grand Rapids, Kent County Michigan.  I'm not sure what church it was in but they were married by Father A.M. Fitzpatrick and the marriage was witnessed by Nick's brother and sister in law Peter and Florence (Armock) Denhof.  They had my grandmother the next year but didn't have their next child Duane until 1932.  There is then a 3 year gap followed by another 6 year gap.  I found this odd given that they were Catholic but my grandma said that her mom left him quite a few times.

 Nick's children say he was a good father but that he was quite stern.  He ruled the house and what he said was law.  If he decided it was time to go to bed at 8pm then off went the TV, even if Doris was watching it and she was to go to bed too. 

That couldn't have been easy to live with but it was a different time and a different way of life.  Ultimately their marriage lasted 68 years and 10 months and what I witnessed was a loving marriage so I suspect that it all worked out just fine!  An example of Nick's "my way or the highway" thinking - my dad recalls that Nick had a beagle for hunting.  The dog absolutely wouldn't hunt so Nick took him out in the woods and shot him.  It may sound harsh but that's not the light I'm trying to paint him in.  Remember, Nick lived through the depression and it impacted how he lived the remainder of his life.  He said about the dog - if you won't work, you won't eat.  It's just a mindset created by living through those tough times.  If I overheard the talk correctly after his death the money for his funeral was in a mason jar in the crawlspace under the house.  This may or may not be true but it's my recollection.  

Nick was known as a hard-working man and a good provider.  I'm not sure when it was but he worked at General Motors for a little bit (before it was a good place to work).  My knowledge of what else he did for a living is pretty sparse but it usually involved cement work. 

I'm not sure who the "& Son" refers to but I suspect it was my grandpa, Nick's son in law Jerry.  Jerry built houses for a living and they worked on many jobs together.  Jerry's home life  was not smooth but he always connected with his in-laws in a special way.  My grandma remembers that Jerry would knock when he visited his dad and stepmother but he'd walk right in when he was visiting Nick and Doris.

 My grandma and grandpa's house has a 2nd level to their backyard and Nick did the cement work to build the stairs up to the upper level and I'm guessing the retaining walls and possibly even the foundation of the garage itself.

He made sure to leave his mark so that everyone could see that it was his handiwork.  When my grandma finally sells the house I hope the person that buys it leaves this.  If they don't want it I'll gladly chisel it out of there and use it as a stepping stone or something in our yard. 







Nick and Doris spent many winters in Florida - I don't have the city handy but I want to say it was Bradenton.  I've found pictures from the 1940s through the 1970s so I'm guessing they made a lot of trips down there.  He loved to fish down there and was quite successful.

This picture was taken at their trailer.  Doris was horrible about looking at the camera when photos were taken so she's always looking the wrong direction.  I don't remember grandpa smoking but everyone did back then.

I'm sure the picture doesn't do it justice but trust me, that little patch of green was immaculate and the flowers were tended to daily.  Gardening was a passion of Nick's.  

This picture was taken at Daytona Beach 2/20/1948.  In these older pictures he's often without a hat but when I knew him he usually had a hat on (because he was without hair!). 














I'm told that Nick softened up a bit when it came to his grandchildren and as he aged.  He and Doris were blessed with 10 grandchildren and they all thought so highly of him.

This was taken Christmas of 1961 - his youngest son Darrell wasn't married yet so it's only 8 of their 10 grandchildren.  In my eyes they look like the prototypical grandparents and he certainly looks happy in the role!











On his 75th birthday I came along.  He'd already had a granddaughter born on his 64th birthday and a grandson born a day before his 50th birthday so we had several birthday parties celebrating them all at once.

The left picture is one of my favorite pictures.  He's there with his Hills Bros coffee and Copenhagen snuff (that he used until his death).  In the right picture he's a proud great grandfather again (I was his 3rd out of the 13 he met). 

I mentioned gardening was a passion of his.  He had the most immaculately kept lawn.  He was always outside watering and mowing and tending to his flowers.  On the side of his garage he had the biggest tomato plants I've ever seen and he always had bags of fresh tomatoes.

As he got older he started developing quite the shake in his hands.  I remember his coffee spilling as he drank it but otherwise I can't think of any (unexpected) age related maladies he had.  He never had heart issues (in spite of his eating lard sandwiches and dipping his toast in his bacon and sausage grease every morning).  I think he had surgery for a prostate issue and that's literally all he had.  He loved playing cards but loved garage sales even more.  This man knew how to dicker with someone on price.  He had a year round garage sale at his house that was the result of his purchases at other sales.  He'd talk someone down to $6 on the bike they were selling for $10 and then bring it home and put it in his sale for $10.  I remember once someone made him an offer on his car and he sold it to him, in the garage sale.  I often wonder how my great grandmother didn't get sold!

Their 50th wedding anniversary photo.

Christmas 1986 - this is how I remember him.  He was always seated and just observing.  His age shouldn't fool you though.  He's 85 in this picture and the year before I remember him coming over and discovering there was a garage sale on the street behind us.  Instead of driving over there he walked up to our chain link fence, grabbed the top and flung his legs over the fence (literally used his arms to throw himself over the fence).  I'm not sure I could do that and he did it 47 years older than I am now!

For his 90th birthday my grandma got this sign made and people did drive by and honk.  He enjoyed the day outside with some neighbors, drinking his Faygo Red Pop (that and Little Debbies were his vices).  He was slower now but he still drove daily and had his garage sales.  When I'd drive up to visit in my 1983 Chevy Cavalier (that had been his car) I'd always ask how he was doing and he'd say "Bub, I'm doing pretty good for an old fart"


I knew something was wrong on Thanksgiving 1994.  We arrived to my grandparent's house as normal and great grandma and grandpa weren't there.  My parents took plates of food over to them and when they got back they were both crying.  His arthritis had gotten so painful that he was just sitting in a corner crying.  He stopped eating because of the pain and ended up over at the Home of Hope Hospice with kidney failure.  At my age I just couldn't wrap my head around why they weren't doing dialysis.  I remember my grandpa saying "sometimes people live too long" and in this case he was right (and I'm old enough to see it now).  What had once been a vibrant man, so full of energy and life had been reduced to a shell of himself.  Thankfully, the regression was only a matter of months and his quality of life was excellent almost til the end.  I feel when someone lives that long they should be able to just go in their sleep, not be dragged into a nursing facility but obviously we don't have control over that.  Nick's cousin Bernie Boomgaard had a heart attack and died while eating with him at Fat Boy Burgers - was sitting there talking and just bam, face first into the table dead.  My dad says his grandpa said "way to go Bernie" (as in if you're going to go that's the way to do it, quick). 

While in hospice he often visited other rooms and sat and talked with the other residents.  I don't think these were "welcome" visits so to speak but it drove him nuts to be there.  My dad was recovering from a knee surgery and was always visiting with him and Nick always begged him to just take him home.  A moment of levity came when he asked my grandmother if she saw the butterflies flying around in his room (his meds had him loopy) - she went along with it and said yes.  Later her brother Duane came in and he asked him and he told him there weren't any butterflies and he said "that's funny, Devonne saw them!" 

He was a tough old man with a soft spot for children.  My mom didn't know either of her grandfathers so Nick filled that role for her.  He was so good to her.  He confided in her that it was scary being the last sibling left after the death of his brother Peter.  It's probably the only fear he ever verbalized.  Nick passed away 12/18/1994 and was laid to rest at Fairplains Cemetery in Grand Rapids.  His widow Doris was 91 and would live another 7 years without him.  I remember at his funeral when they walked her in - I couldn't fathom spending that much time with someone and to then face your remaining days alone.  In her case dementia had set in and I'm not even sure she knew why she was in the church that day. 

I wish he could have met my children but no one can live forever.  I know he sees them and I will make sure that when they grow up they get a glimpse into his life and who he was.  We even gave our youngest son the middle name Nicholas, as an homage to both of my dad's grandparents but since I didn't know the other one it's more for this Nicholas.  I'm glad I got to know him as well as I did and I am proud to have been called "Bub".

 He gave me this crocodile bank when I was little.  He was always giving me his pennies and gave me this to put them in.  I also have a small brass lock box he gave me at one of his garage sales but I've got it put away somewhere where I can't find it at the moment.  Because he was so Dutch and thrifty and because he sold things all the time there wasn't anything real old or meaningful left of his so I treasure this bank as my little remaining piece of him. 

Forgotten cards and letters

I have a folder on my desktop with a bunch of signatures that I've clipped for a future blog post.  I knew I had some cards put away somewhere that came from some of my great-grandparents so I went digging yesterday.  I found a couple shoe boxes of cards tucked away in the corner of my storage room.  I don't consider myself a "pack rat" but I do get sentimental about stuff and I've always had a hard time throwing away cards.  I'm also fortunate that for the first 3-4 years of my life my mom kept cards I received so I have some pretty old ones.

Anyway, I was expecting to find just run of the mill Christmas cards, etc and knew there would be a bunch from both sets of my grandparents.  I noted that my dad's mother signed all of the cards from them (every one of them - my grandpa, who's signature I showcased a few blogs ago, never signed a card).  My mom's parents were different - my grandpa signed most all of the cards until his last couple of years when my grandma started signing some (not sure why, his health was fine).  What I wasn't expecting were the things I kept and forgot I had, in particular letters from my mom's mom the last couple of years before she passed away and cards she sent for making the "Honors Convocation" each year, from May of 1990-November of 1999.

I was caught off guard by the content of some of the letters.  The little nuggets of wisdom and advice are right there in front of me and I can relate to it now in a way I couldn't back then.  I wish I'd have had a better understanding of it when I was younger.  I was just on the cusp of understanding when my grandfather passed away and my grandmother was a very private person so, although I knew she loved me very much there is so much about her that I still don't know. 

I found myself overwhelmed with emotions when reading them, reliving some good and some bad, realizing that my grandmother was trying to tell me things that I wasn't hearing at the time and truly realizing that she understood her time was short and she wanted to impart her wisdom while she still could.  I found myself "looking in the mirror" and wondering if I'd lived up to their "expectations" (probably not the word I'm looking for but it'll have to do).

Perhaps she understood that I'd keep them and find myself reading them again someday.  I found this snippet very interesting:

She sent this letter July 14th, 1997 and included a clipping from the Detroit Free Press about how genealogy was starting to really take off on the internet.  It saddened me a bit because a)I don't remember her sending me that clipping and b)she obviously knew of my interest in family history and yet we never sat down and discussed it or looked at pictures.  I'm guessing this was right after I interviewed my grandpa (who passed away a couple months later) and life just got in the way and I never pursued it.  Several of the letters she wrote told me I could stop anytime.  I feel I did better than most grandchildren keeping in touch but I could have done better.

One thing that gave me a chuckle was a folded up napkin that I found tucked away.  I figured I'd lost it years ago.  After my grandpa's death it could be tough to get her out of the house and she'd often turn down chances to go out.  One time I got over there and found this taped to the back door:

She didn't drive and I knew darn well she was home.  When she opened the door she was laughing so hard about this......she thought it was hilarious.  This was not very long before her death and I kept it folded up in my winter jacket pocket for several years.  I'm not sure when I took it out of my jacket and I thought I'd lost it but I must have tucked it in with her letters.

All in all I'm glad I found what I found but I did have a strange emotional reaction to some of it.  Has this ever happened to you?  I was going to post some of the letters but I decided against it.  My grandma was very private and I'm going to respect that when it comes to some of them.  That said, here are a couple snippets from cards regarding my schoolwork and my graduation from high school.

Man she had amazing handwriting.  It was always so impeccable.  There was a letter from 1993 that was to my sister and I but I'm keeping that one offline.  The last one was written by my grandpa in my graduation card.  They both had such good (and yet basic) advice to give...........I like to think I've made them proud. 

More government harassment - the widow Sarah Lambertson Perkins

In this blog I highlight Clarence's 3rd wife, my 3rd great grandmother Sarah Lambertson Perkins and her struggle to get her late husband's pension. 

Sarah and son Willis Ray Perkins

10/11/1906 letter from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions sent to Mrs. Sarah Perkins R.F.D. No. 1 Grant MI.  She had apparently sent a request for assistance (half of Clarence’s pension) as Clarence had entered the Soldier’s Home and she had no means of support.  The Bureau of Pensions returned her request for assistance based on:

·        Deficient evidence of her marriage

·        She needs the testimony of two or more credible witnesses showing that she is of good moral character and that she was in necessitious circumstances. 

Sarah sent affidavits signed by Andrew Smith and Charles Reed who knew her prior to her marriage to Clarence and a copy of her marriage license

11/5/1906 letter from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions sent stating that her evidence was “not satisfactory for the reason that the purported copy of the public record is not under the seal and certificate of the custodian of records.”

11/24/1906 letter from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions sent to her stating that it was necessary for her to file her own sworn statement detailing the following:

·         Any property, real or personal, and if so the value thereof

·         Any income, money in bank, stocks, bonds, or other investments

·         That she was entirely dependent upon her daily labor for support, and if so, the kind of labor and compensation received therefor by the day, week or month should be explicitly shown.

·         Show that she’s not an inmate of an institution or home provided for the wives and children of soldiers and sailors

The above information had to be corroborated in full testimony of two or more credible witnesses.

11/26/1906 letter from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions stating that they received the above request 11/22/1906 and that they were suspending ½ of Clarence’s pension pending adjucation of her claim. Gee Uncle Sam, that makes sense - suspend half his pension while you make Sarah jump through hoops. 

12/1/1906 affidavit signed by Sarah stating that her labor consists of doing washing for other parties and her income averages $1.50/week.

10/10/1907  Sarah files a Declaration of Widow’s Pension stating she had married Clarence 12/1/1873 (this is an error) and that his 1^st wife died 11/5/1868 (this was his 2^nd wife and he listed that she died in 1869 – not that he was accurate about anything!).  She listed that she had 2 minor children (under 16) Guy and Ralph.

11/13/1907 affidavit signed by Sarah that she was married 12/1/1873 (again, in error), that Clarence was married twice before – his first wife Sabrina died 11/29/1857 and his second wife Nancy died 11/5/1868.

11/6/1907 the Michigan Soldiers Home submits a letter stating that Sarah attended Clarence’s funeral and his effects were turned over to her.

12/30/1907 affidavit of Harriet Derby, age 72 stating that she lived next door to Clarence and Sarah and saw Guy and Ralph within hours of their births.

12/30/1907 affidavit of Mary Lancaster, age 37 (Sarah’s sister) stating the same and that she lived near Clarence and Sarah until 1904 when she moved to Sheridan.

Newaygo county records can be quite spotty given that there was a courthouse fire.  I’m not sure when it was but my great grandmother Doris had to prove she existed when she filed for Social Security as she had no record of her birth.  Her birthdate was just a guess, based on the sworn affidavits of individuals that knew her when she was young.  My guess is that the records burned prior to 1907, hence Sarah having to prove the age of her two sons.

1/10/1908 affidavit from Sarah showing the record of death of Clarence’s first wife Sabrina Elizabeth Clark from the family Bible of her father William Clark showing that she died 11/29/1857 at the age of 15 yrs, 9 mos and 11 days.  The Bible is reported in the possession of Juna Turner, a half-sister of Sabrina living at the Village of Newaygo. 

1/23/1908 affidavit signed by James F. Tibbits, age 75 who declares that in 1857 on a date he’s forgotten, he made the coffin for and attended the funeral of Sabrina Perkins and that at the time of her death she and Clarence lived near Bridgeton. 

Seriously? – the Bible record wasn’t enough?  She had to track down the person that made the coffin?

1/27/1908 affidavit of Oscar and Hannah Blood stating they lived as neighbors to Clarence and Nancy and that they saw her after her death on or about 11/5/1868 and attended her funeral.

2/12/1908 letter from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions  stating that Sarah needed to prove the death of Clarence’s wife Nancy, have two witnesses to state she lived with Clarence and had no property and to explain the discrepancy why her marriage license stated Larabette Lambson or Lambertson and she signed her Christian name as Sarah and Sarah E. 

3/4/1908 affidavit of Andrew Reed and Lizzie Sharp stating that Clarence and Sarah did live together and that they had no property.

4/1/1908 Sarah receives her card from the Bureau of Pensions, widow’s pension #941433.  The pension began 10/12/1907 at a rate of $8.00/month plus $2/month for Guy and Ralph until they reached age 16. 

There was no correspondence between 4/1/1908 and 8/6/1926 (perhaps the government wore her out with their nonsense)

8/6/1926 letter from Sarah to the Pension Bureau, return address of 134 ½ Church St, Groton NY, listing her widow certificate #641.072.  She states she wasn’t married to Clarence at the time of his service but married after.  She lived with him a number of years and “raised a large family of children who are all now married and have families but are all dependent on their days wages for support and are unable to help me”.  She continues “my one son was in the Worlds War.  I am past seventy years old and unable to work.  I hope you will do what you can to help me.  Thirty dollars a month is not enough to pay rent, buy food and buy the necessities of life”. 

7/19/1928 letter from Sarah stating that there was no record of her birth at Dryden, Tompkins Co NY 7/4/1853, stating that she lived with her parents in the 1860 Dryden NY census and the 1870 Grant, Newaygo Co MI census.   She states (correctly except surname was Lambertson) that in both censuses she lived with the following siblings:

·         William Henry Lamberson

·         John Fremont Lamberson

·         Mary Lamberson

·         Nettie Lamberson

·         Lucy Lamberson

It should be noted that although Sarah’s signature on this 2^nd letter is very shaky compared to the actual handwriting of both letters which leads me to believe she didn’t actually write the letters.

9/17/1928 letter to the Commissioner of Pensions from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census stating they found Sarahetti Lamberson in the family of Daniel and Delia A Lamberson in 1870 Ashland census, age 15 at last birthday prior to 6/1/1870.  They say in 1860 they find no record of the pensioner (I find Sarah in the 1860 census of Tompkins Co NY but I find Clarence nowhere – unsure if they are referring to him or her). 

9/25/1928 letter from Sarah to the Pension Bureau stating she’d answered their age question over two months ago and got no answer or increase.  Return address for her listed as 214 ½ Syke St, Groton NY.

11/26/1928 letter from the Widow Division of the Pension Bureau stating “your claim for increase under the act of May 23, 1928 is rejected on the ground that the evidence on file does not show that you have attained the age of 75 years”.  Respectfully, Winfield Scott, Commissioner

7/11/1929 letter from Sarah to the Pension Bureau with return address of 114 ½ Sykes St, Groton NY stating that she was now 76 and still had no increase.  “Don’t you think I’m entitled to the extra $10.00 as much as anyone?"

8/15/1929 letter from Sarah with return address of 214 ½ Sykes St, Groton NY – the letter is unreadable but one can only assume it’s another inquiry about her increase. 

1/12/1938 notice from Sarah that her address changed from RR3 Groton NY to R.F.D. #2, Box 252 Ravenna MI

12/30/1938 – letter from Nellie Hosmer (Sarah’s daughter) informing the Bureau of Pensions of Sarah’s death 12/15/1938.

Jumping through hoops to get what's earned - Clarence Perkins and his pension

So yesterday I wrote about Clarence Perkins – more specifically, what the census and vital records tell me about him and my hunt for his ancestry.  I wanted to include the information I found in his Civil War service record but it would have been a 10 page blog.  I still find this important as it adds to the mystery and gives me a few nuggets I didn’t have before.  I know it's a very long tedious blog but I want this documented and out there and perhaps someone will be able to put Clarence's saga together and help me, so I want everything I have out there. 

The monies listed for enlistment, discharge and pension figures out to be $1271.93 for his service in the war.  That's amazing to me given that many people earn that in a week or two now.  

One thing that struck me is how much the government hasn't changed in 100+ years.  This man ended up with 19 affidavits, 7 applications, 8 physical exams and 5 questionnaires.  When I finish Sarah's blog on her attempts to get her widow's pension you'll see that was even worse! 

Clarence shows on a draft registration in Kent County Michigan dated June 6-7, 1863.  He lists his name as Clarence L Perkins, age 24, born in Vermont and working as a lumberman.  I had other ancestors settle in the Newaygo County Michigan area due to the lumbering opportunities so I believe that’s what drew Clarence to settle in the Ashland area.  

He was drafted and mustered 11/2/1863 at Grand Rapids MI for a period of 3 years.  He was described as 5 foot, 5.5 inches tall, blue eyes, sandy hair, fair complexion and paid a bounty and advance of $38.

The muster rolls that I was sent for him are as follows:

·         Jan & Feb of 1864 - Absent with remarks “new recruit assigned 2/28/1864 Regt’l Order Detached at Nashville for equipment”

·         Mar & Apr 1864 – Present with remarks “drafted”

·         May & Jun 1864 – Absent with remarks “Hospital Big Shanty GA June 29/1864

·         July & Aug 1864 – Absent with same remarks

·         Sep & Oct 1864 – Absent with same remarks

·         Nov & Dec 1864 – Present with no remarks

·         Jan & Feb 1865 – Present with no remarks

·         Mar & Apr 1865 – Present with no remarks

·         Jul & Aug 1865 (May & Jun shows no muster roll) – “to be transferred to the 2 Mich Cavalry, which order has been revoked and ordered to be mustered out under S.O. No. 43 from Hd. Drs. Mil. Div. of the Tenn.”

Muster-out roll dated 7/1/1865 at Nashville Tenn lists him as follows:

Clarence L Perkins, Priv Co K 4^th Reg’t Mich Cav, age 24 (does this man really not know his birthdate?)

Note on card – “Am’t for cloth’g in kind or money adv’d $71.93”

*In his Declaration of pension dated 2/26/1907 Clarence writes he was mustered out at Edgefield TN

The remainder of this packet is the story of his medical problems and his pension starting in 1891.  I was hoping to find more information about his service but with the hospital stay and with him being “absent” half of his service time I’m guessing there isn’t much to write about regarding actual battlefield experiences.  He and Sarah sure had to jump through hoops to get his pension though!

4/14/1891 – Declaration for Original Invalid Pension

Age 52, 5’5, light complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair

10/14/1891 Examination – Clarence claims he has head and neck pain, shoulder and breast pain, that his hands are stiff and sore, that his nose is sore and he blows “a great deal out of it” and makes an unreadable complaint about his eyes.  He guestimates that he’s ½ disabled for manual labor.  The doctor finds – no signs of neuralgia, no limitations of motion, a slight congestion of the nose/throat and that his general physical condition is good.  “No disability exists at this examination”.  I’m unable to ascertain who performed this examination.  

6/21/1893 Surgeon’s report

 

9/12/1893 affidavit of Clarence lists that at Big Shanty GA in June of 1864 he contacted chronic rheumatism, neuralgia and disease of respiratory organs, from exposure in line of duty.  Prior to the war he lists he was a sawyer and after the war he says he’s been a miller and a farmer. 

12/11/1893 his claim is denied

6/25/1895 Declaration for Original Invalid Pension – this time they find him entitled to disability based on his rheumatism (that was rated 10/18) and his chronic bronchitis (rated 6/18). 

7/1/1895 – awarded an invalid pension of $6.00/month based on rheumatism and bronchitis

2/27/1896 affidavit of Andrew Reed and J.F. Blood stating that they’d known Clarence 20 years/at least 10 years respectively and knew him to complain of his maladies during this time.

5/27/1897 affidavit of Frank W. Squier and Harley R. Derby stating they’d both known Clarence 10 years and knew him to complain of his maladies and at times he was unable to perform manual labor.

6/5/1897 affidavit of Dr. J.S. Ingram who declares Clarence’s condition to be worsening with age and that he’s “2/3 of the time disabled.”

8/30/1897 he’s awarded $6.00/month for rheumatism and bronchitis (not sure why he had to send in new affidavits and get awarded the same pension again - perhaps they revoked it?)

10/4/1897 Clarence filed a Declaration for increase of Invalid Pension

12/6/1897 Clarence filed another Declaration for Original Invalid Pension

2/11/1898 affidavit of Andrew Reed stating he’d known Clarence since 1865 with his maladies and knew him to see the doctor for them and that sometimes he was unable to work because of them.

2/16/1898 affidavit of Harley R. Derby stating he’d been an acquaintance of Clarence since 1877, living near him and working at the same place with him for the last 6 years, seeing him almost daily.  He stated that Clarence complained of his maladies, took medications, saw the doctor and sometimes quit work because of them.

6/4/1898 the Bureau of Pensions sent Clarence a questionnaire:

•  First, Are you married?  If so, please state your wife's full name and her maiden name.  Clarence answered "Sarahetta Perkins"
•   Second, When, where, and by whom where you married?  Clarence answered "S.M.  Woodworth."
• Third, What record of marriage exists?  Clarence answered "Co. Record, Dec 1st 1872"
• Fourth,  Were you previously married?  If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.  Clarence answered "Twice - former wives dead"
• Fifth, Have you any children living?  If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.  Clarence answered "Six living, youngest 3 months old"

 4/23/1898 the Bureau of Pensions sent Clarence the same questionnaire - I can't figure out why the dates are the way they are but this is the order of the file and it's clear they made Clarence redo the questions because of his lack of answers the 1st time.

• Sarah Lambertson
• At Ashland Mich Dec 1st, 1872 by S.M. Woodward, Justice of the Peace
• Record in office of County Clerk of Newaygo Co Mich
• First Nancy Kellum who died Nov 5th, 1869 at Ashland Mich (Sarah's affidavits and one of their neighbors contradict this, stating it was 1868.  No death record found - Nancy was wife #2 - unsure why Clarence mentioned  2 wives on one questionnaire and only 1 on this one)
• Clarence answered the following children and dates - I have no idea who James Edwin is - he isn't in any of the census records and I find no record of him at all.  Clarence doesn't mention any of the children of his 2nd marriage (I know of 3) and doesn't mention my 2nd great grandfather, his son Charles Ellsworth Perkins born 9/15/1880.  Willis was born in 1884 and Nellie in 1889 but otherwise this is all accurate.  

o   James Edwin 2/21/1874

o   Delia May 5/31/1875

o   Eva 1/26/1877

o   Viola 8/15/1882

o   Willis 11/18/1885

o   Nellie 6/12/1888 -

o   Guy Herald 3/31/1893

                  o   Ralph C 3/18/1898

Seriously Clarence?  On the 1^st questionnaire you say you’d been married twice but on this one you only list Nancy, incorrectly as your first wife?  And what about those 6 living children you mentioned last time?  It’s now 8 children (instead of the 12 that I know of written about in my previous blog)

6/15/1898 Surgeon Certificate listing same health issues

2/21/1899 Affidavit of an Officer or Comrade given by Enoch S. Rhoades, age 56.  He concurred that at Big Shanty GA in 1864 Clarence was hospitalized for rheumatism of the right knee/foot and was “quite lame”, that 7/1864 at Big Shanty he ruptured his left groin and added that at Huntsville AL in 8/1864 he contracted catarrh & bronchitis. 

3/4/1899 Declaration for Pension Increase filed, listing Clarence age 54.

8/2/1899 Surgeon Certificate lists Clarence age 54, 5 ft, 4.5 inches, 150lbs and stated “this man is weak & disabled”.  The ratings for his disabilities were as follows:  6/18 for catarrh & resulting bronchitis, 8/18 for rheumatism and 10/18 for his hernia.

8/2/1899 his pension is increased to $8.00/month due to added left inguinal hernia, memory issues and a “weak ankle as a result of dislocation”. 

3/26/1900 affidavit of Watson S. Williams, age 63 stated that he served in the same regiment as Clarence and knew he’d been treated.  He stated he’d worked with him from 1865-1877 and he was “not able to do half of able bodied man”.

6/19/1900 affidavit of J.S. Ingram, Dr. is unreadable

7/24/1900 affidavit of Andrew Steadman stating he’d known Clarence 25 years and that he'd worked with him and heard of his maladies.

This one was a key piece for me to link Cecelia/Celia as a definite child of Clarence as in 1900 census she’s living with Andrew and Sarah Steadman.  Further research revealed that Sarah’s maiden name was Kellum and that she was a sister to Clarence’s 2^nd wife Nancy, therefore an aunt of Celia.

7/24/1900 affidavit of Frank W. Squier stating he’d known Clarence since 1865 and that he’d worked for Frank and his father for the last 20 years with his maladies.

7/26/1900 Physician’s Affidavit of J.S. Ingram stating Clarence is “nearly totally disabled”.

8/30/1900 affidavit of Watson S. Williams and Franklin R. Howes stating they’d known Clarence since 1862 and knew him to be a “good, moral and upright citizen, one respected by all his acquaintances and a man of no vicious habits”

The “no vicious habits” appears in several affidavits and physician’s statements”

9/14/1900 affidavit of Clarence to state he has no further medical proof of his problems

9/22/1900 affidavit of Clarence to again state he has no further medical proof of his problems as he’d been treated by Doctors Baker & Fish and that both had been dead for some years. 

3/2/1901 Application for Pension Increase requesting increase from $8.00 to $12.00/month

3/16/1901 Physician’s Affidavit by J.S. Ingram stating he’d known Clarence 20 years and that he was a “sober industrious and upright man” and that he’s a constant sufferer from piles, chronic rheumatism of shoulders and arms so severe at times he can hardly move his arms, chronic catarrh of throat and nose and a right inguinal hernia. 

8/7/1901 Surgeon’s Certificate stating he was born in Vermont, age 54, 5’4, 166lbs, works as an engineer.  This report confirmed the hernia, rheumatism and catarrh.

10/4/1901 handwritten letter from Enoch Rhoades – almost unreadable but lays out the medical issues again.

2/18/1902 the Bureau of Pensions sent questionnaires:

·         Andrew Reed – known Clarence and his medical issues since 1865

·         Harley Derby – unable to read

·         Andrew Steadman – known Clarence since 9/1865 and “unable to do ¼ of a man’s work”

3/3/1902 affidavit from Mary Clough and Smith Fulkertson stating the following:

“We have known Clarence L. Perkins the claimant for nearly 40 years and met him frequently and are well acquainted with his character.  We know him to be a moral, strictly temperate man, a good and respected citizen, and a man of no bad or vicious habits”. 

Clarence then signs the affidavit after it’s written (unknown by whom) – “that he is unable to say positively how he incurred a rupture of groins both right and left.  That he first noticed a small swelling in the left groin just before he was mustered out of service.  Thought it was caused by striking the pommel of his saddle when mounting his horse.  Had no treatment for it during service.  It became very bad about one year afterwards and has so continued up to the present time and now there is a rupture of both groins.  That they are not caused by vicious habits as he is a strictly moral man and a man of no bad habits. 

3/13/1902 affidavit signed by Clarence:

“that he is unable to give a reason for his eyes being diseased only that while near Big Shanty Georgia in 1864 he had a severe headache and his head and face became swollen so as to close his eyes for a week or more and his eyes have never been perfectly well since.  That he has not now or ever had any vicious habits and is a strictly temperate moral man and was at the time of the above mentioned trouble.  That he cannot furnish any witnesses as to the cause of his rupture as he did not know what it was at first and when he discovered it was a rupture he did not like to show it to anyone”. 

5/27/1902 – application for a pension increase filed due to “inability to earn a support at manual labor”.  He was earning $8.00/month at the time. 

Undated letter (kept in order so assume between May-October 1902) from J.S. Ingram stating he first treated Clarence 8/1/1880 and that he’s got chronic rheumatism of arms and shulders, chronic bronchitis and he’s unable to perform manual labor “six eighth of his time”. 

10/15/1902 Surgeon’s Certificate listing him at age 55, 5 ft, 3-3/4 inches, 160lbs and diagnosed with a double inguinal hernia.  The doctor wrote “we think the condition of this man will or should warrant a rating of at least $12.00”.

12/17/1903 – awarded an increase to $10.00/month

4/15/1905 Surgeon’s Certificate

·         Confirmed double inguinal hernia in 1864 with “right complete”

Rheumatism 1885 Bronchitis and catarrh 1885

·        Disease of eyes 1900

Doctors noted:

·        Rheumatism of shoulders/elbows/hips/knees/back

·        Cannot raise either arm to right angle to body

·        Function of shoulders just ¼

·        Muscles of back very painful on palpation and claimant cannot stoop to floor to pick up anything.  Function of back is just ¼

·        Claimant walks with a cane and slow

·        Catarrh

·        Bronchial cough from chronic bronchitis

·        Both eyes 12/20 but can read with glasses

This certificate ends with “a note of $12.00”

Application for admission to the Soldiers Home at Grand Rapids MI lists his admission 5/17/1906.  

He listed his discharge at Edgefield TN 8/12/1865 due to "close of war". 

He is listed as 70 years old with an occupation of sawyer and as a Protestant.  

Disabilities listed are double hernia and heart trouble.

Specifically they state he has a double inguinal hernia, has heart difficulty-valvular lesions, is subject to dizzy spells.  Very feeble being unable to work without (unreadable word).

2/26/1907 Declaration of Pension showed him a resident of the Soldier’s Home, age 70, 5’5, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair, born in the United States.  He made his mark instead of signing.

12/14/1907 Michigan Soldiers Home issues a certificate of death stating Clarence entered the home 5/17/1906 and died 8/15/1907 of septicaemia.  His nearest kin is son Charles E. Perkins of Bellevue MI (this is the only reference to my 2^nd great grandfather in any of the papers).

How old is this man and where did he come from? My 3rd great grandfather Clarence L. Perkins

Clarence Lendall Perkins, my 3^rd great grandfather.  Where on Earth do I start with this one?  This is a rather long entry about an ancestor, a brick wall and the clues I've found leading me to a theory that I don't have the resources to solve (yet).

Clarence Lendall Perkins 

My great grandmother Doris (Colson) Denhof was his great granddaughter, via his son Charles Perkins and wife Freda Johnson.  Why do I list Doris as a Colson?  Because when she was 3 months old her mother Freda died of pneumonia, Charles took her brother Milo and moved to Lansing Michigan, leaving Doris with George and Anna Colson.  My pursuit of Clarence was initially hampered by my lack of information on the Perkins family which was because nobody in my family ever bothered to look.  Doris lived to be 98 years old and told me that her parents were Charles and Freda and the story of the “adoption”  (nobody thinks she was ever legally adopted).  She had a photo of each of her parents in her photo albums and told me that her father had remarried to a “Gertrude”.  I dug around on www.familysearch.org and found the marriage for Charles and Freda and found another marriage for Charles and Gertrude……….now I had an approximate age for Charles and the names of his parents.   

I looked in the Newaygo County marriages and found that Clarence L Perkins, age 36 and Sarahette Lamberson, age 18 married at Ashland, Newaygo County Michigan 12/1/1872.  Note that her name was actually Sarah Etta Lambertson – this comes into play later when talking about his military pension.

The next step I took was to look for Charles and family in the census records – I figured he must have siblings and I always track them as well, as working down a sibling line can yield a living cousin with information.  I was only able to find them in the 1880 and 1900 census:

6/17/1880 Ashland, Newaygo County Michigan

Clarence Perkins, age 25, laborer, born Vermont – parents born in VT

Sarah Perkins, age 22, keeping house, born New York – parents born in NY

Delia May Perkins, age 5, born Michigan

Eva Ellen Perkins, age 3, Michigan

Charles E Perkins, age 9/12 (born the previous September), Michigan

June 8^th-9^th 1900 Moorland, Muskegon County Michigan

Clarence L Perkins, age 54, Apr/1846,  boarder, born Vermont – parents born in VT

Why is he enumerated twice?  And why didn't he know where his parents were from 2 weeks after stating they were from Vermont?

6/21/1900 Ashland, Newaygo County Michigan

Clarence Perkins, Apr/1846, age 54, married 28 years, engineer, born Vermont – parents birth unk

Sarah Perkins, Jul/1854, age 45, 9 children, 8 living, born New York – parents born in NY

Viola Perkins, Aug/1883, age 16

Willis R Perkins, Sep/1885, age 14

Nellie Perkins, Jun/1888, age 11

Guy H Perkins, Mar/1893, age 7

Ralph C Perkins, Mar/1898, age 2

Eva A Scott, Feb/1878, age 22, 2 children, 1 living

Archie Scott, Dec/1876, 23, born MI

Ella L Scott, Nov/1899, 6/12, born MI

So far I’ve located 3 records for Clarence – his marriage would indicate he was born in 1836 in Vermont yet in 1880 he’s 11 years younger than he indicated in his marriage 8 years before.  Then in 1900 he’s aged 30 years in the 20 year span.  This isn’t going well at all.

I couldn't find Clarence after 1900 but I did locate Sarah in the previous 3 censuses:

1910 Groton, Tompkins County New York
Sarah Perkins, age 52, widowed, 9 children, 7 living, born New York, parents - born in NY
Willis Perkins, age  25, single, born Michigan
Ralph Perkins, age 12, single, born Michigan

1920 Groton, Tompkins County New York
Sarah Perkins, age 64, widowed, born New York, parents - dad born PA, mom born NY
Willis R Perkins, age 36, widower, born Michigan
Ralph Perkins, age 21, born Michigan
Alice Perkins, age 21 (dau in law)

1930 Groton, Tompkins County New York
Ralph Perkins, age 32, born Michigan
Harriett Perkins, age 26
Jay Perkins, age 6, born New York
Sara Perkins, age 76, widowed, born New York, parents - born in NY

Jay Perkins, age 6 living with Sarah huh?  A quick Google search revealed a Jay Perkins still living in Groton NY (this was around 2005 – he and his wife Blanche have both passed away since).  I called the house and Blanche answered the phone.  I explained how we were related and I did indeed have the home of Sarah’s grandson Jay.  Blanche was the family historian and was excited to hear from me.  She ended up sending me a packet of photos and family information and their son emailed with me a bit.  What really broke things open for me was when she asked “you do know you have a cousin in Grant (MI) still?”  I had no knowledge of what she was talking about so I took the woman’s name and number and gave her a call.

When I spoke to Charlene she was also glad to hear from me.  Her grandmother was Eva Perkins Scott and she remembered my 2^nd great grandfather Charles Perkins and his son Milo.  She had no knowledge of my great grandmother but was more than willing to meet with me.  I made the drive up to Grant and brought my grandma with me – when they met it was almost eerie how similar they looked – the genetics weren’t lost on either!  She had some documents and pictures to share.  One photo was the one at the top of the blog (the only picture of Clarence I can find) and one was a less than flattering picture of Charles (I’ll save that for another blog).  She also gave me Clarence’s discharge certificate from when he served in the Civil War and told me that he’s buried at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Grand Rapids.  Now I’m getting somewhere – I can track his death down this way!  This is also the paper that got me writing for his war record.

I tracked down his death certificate and obtained this information:

He died at the Soldier’s Home in Grand Rapids, Kent County Michigan

He was born 4/4/1835 in Vermont and died 8/15/1907

His father was William Perkins of Ireland

His mother was Adeline Perkins of Vermont

He died of “septicemia” (from injury of knee)

He’s buried at the Soldier’s Home Cemetery

Informant was Wm. J. Emery of the Soldier’s home. 

So – why on Earth wasn’t Sarah the informant?  What about his children?  His father born in Ireland?  Really?  This matches nothing I’ve found.  The 1835 date only matches the age Clarence gave at his marriage.  Other than possible names of parents this certificate didn’t provide much.  Charlene had mentioned that Clarence was married previous to Sarah so I got to looking and found this marriage record at Newaygo, Newaygo County Michigan:

Source:   "Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1935," index and images, FamilySearch.org

With this new information I looked for Clarence and Nancy but was unable to find them.  I did however locate Clarence in the 1870 census (living with the Robert and Almira Field family – unk connection, if any):

7/2/1870 Ashland, Newaygo County Michigan

Lendall Perkins, age 30, born Illinois, cabinet maker, $200 personal estate

Clarence Perkins, age 4, born Michigan

Mary Perkins, age 2, born Michigan

I scoured the 1860 census records and was unable to locate him (a fact that was reinforced by the Census Bureau being unable to locate him either when he filed for his Civil War pension………the pension record is another blog). 

So far I have him born anywhere between 1835 and 1855 in Vermont, New York or Illinois to a father possibly born in Ireland even though all the census records list Vermont.  At this point I’m not sure where to go with my search but my assumption is that he was born in Vermont and that his parents died when he was young.  I’ve got 2 marriages with 11 combined known children but no explanation why none of the children from his 1^st marriage that were with him in 1870 were with him in 1880 as their mother is assumed dead (later confirmed in the pension papers). 

I found Clarence in the special Veteran’s census of 1890:

6/1890 Moorland, Muskegon County Michigan

Clarence L Perkins, Private Co K MI Cav Enlisted 11/2/1863, discharged 8/18/1865 (these ended up being a touch off), having served 1 year, 9 months and 16 days.

I went to work on census records for his known children, tracked down marriage and death records for all but his son Clarence (who I believe went to live with a daughter in WI after the death of his wife in 1932).  I ordered his Civil War record through the National Archives (again, another blog but same confusion was found there).  I decided I had a pretty solid family tree for Clarence and his children and then someone sent me the death certificate for a Myrtle Shears, which listed her parents as Clarence Perkins and Nancy Kellum.  I don’t have a Myrtle anywhere but this woman was clearly born while Clarence and Nancy were married.  Her obituary lists that she’s survived by two sisters, one in Newaygo County and one in “South Frankfort” and a brother in Newaygo County.  Good grief, I have 11 known children of Clarence and Myrtle isn’t one of them.  Her obituary either completely omits all her half-siblings, someone only included some or only includes her full siblings (which if that’s true I’m still missing 1 as Clarence would be the brother and Mary would be the sister). 

I added her information to my tree and decided other than going back generations I was probably done with this tree.  Then while working on my blog I was going through papers recently and found that Charlene had given me a copy of the 1884 census for Clarence and it threw yet another wrench into things. 

6/12/1884 “Spaulding Mill Camp”, Ashland, Newaygo County Michigan

Clarence Perkins, 19, born Michigan, parents – dad born VT, mom born MI

Next door

Clarence L Perkins, 46, born Vermont , parents born VT

Sarah Etta Perkins, 30, born New York, parents NY

Dolly M, 8, born Michigan, parents  VT and NY (remainder of children show this)

Eva E, 6

Charles E, 4

Viola, 1

Cecelia H, 23

Cecelia?  She’s listed as a daughter and would have been born about the time of Clarence and Nancy’s marriage but where on earth has she been for 1870 and 1880?  Also she lists her mom born in NY but Nancy was born in MI.  I find a marriage record for her in 1877 but can’t find her in 1880, married or otherwise.  In 1900 I find her again, listed as Perkins having had 2 children, 2 still living but not living with her.   I can find no other record for her at all – no 2^nd marriage, no death – no nothing.

So all of my work into putting this tree together and a decade later I find myself unsure that I’ve even got all of Clarence’s children and with Cecelia and Clarence Jr I’m still missing the deaths of 2 of them.

In regards to Clarence’s ancestry – this is my theory (which I firmly believe is correct but can’t prove without help):

In the 1850 McHenry, McHenry County Illinois (remember the 1870 census has him born in Illinois):

C.M. Perkins, age 24, born Vermont

Marilla Perkins, age 24, born New York

Luella Perkins, age 1, born Illinois

Clarence L Perkins, age 10, born Vermont

Thomas H Perkins, age 66, born Vermont

I have found multiple family trees online that list C.M. Perkins as Charles Marsh Perkins, son of Thomas Harlow Perkins.  I believe Clarence is a nephew of Charles and that his parents (possibly named William and Adeline) are deceased by 1850.  This census lists him born abt 1840 which lines up with more records than it doesn’t.  Given the games that Clarence seems to play with his age on various records I feel this one is probably the most accurate (no reason for his uncle to lie about his age). 

I’m afraid that until I’m able to find records from Vermont prior to 1850 I’m going to be stuck where I am on this one.  Anyone have any ideas?  This is the person I believe to be his grandfather:

Vermont, Vital Records, 1720-1908 about Thomas Harlow Perkins

Name:	Thomas Harlow Perkins
Gender:	Male
Birth Date:	19 Aug 1789
Birth Place:	Woodstock, Vermont, USA
Father Name:	John Perkins
Mother Name:	Hannah Gardner