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Archive for the ‘Lenawee County’ Category

Levi Goss and his family are buried in the Goss Cemetery in Lenawee County, Michigan.  The opportunity to attend the Federation of Genealogical Society Conference  (FGS) in 2007,  in Fort Wayne, Indiana, made it possible for me to take a day trip to this cemetery and more.

I left early in the morning after getting a hearty breakfast and went north to Michigan from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  It was a lovely sunny pleasant day, just perfect for a drive in the country.

The Goss Cemetery is located west of Morenci, a lovely town, in Lenawee County, Michigan.  I actually missed the cemetery as I was going east and had to ask at the local grocery store in Morenci where it might be.  I headed back going west and quickly spotted the cemetery on the north side of the Morenci Road.  So this is a tip, drive from several directions if you are having trouble locating a cemetery.

Here is a published source for this cemetery:  Burial Records of Lenawee County, Michigan, Vol. 2, Medina Twp., #3 Goss/Perry/Woodworth Addition, Morenci, Michigan, 2011, FHL#977.431 V3b V.2.

Find A Grave has a listing for this cemetery but not necessarily tombstone photos. There is a map showing where the cemetery is located.

This link to township maps for Lenawee County, Michigan, might help get you oriented:  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~keller/lenawee/work/index.html

Remember to click the photo and it will open in a larger window and then click your back button to return to this blog.

Overview:

Overview of the Goss Tombstones

Levi and Sophia’s tombstone:

Levi and Sophia’s Obelisk

Levi close up.  Levi lived 16 years beyond Sophia’s death.

Levi Goss Inscription

Sophia’s inscription on the back of this same obelisk:

Sophia’s inscription close up

Nancy Rummerfield:

Nancy Rummerfield tombstone – 63 years at death

Olive Goss Bailey’s tombstone, on the right of her parent’s obelisk:

Olive Goss Bailey’s tombstone

Their son, Solomon Goss’ tombstone:

Solomon Goss’ tombstone, son of Levi

The Goss/Perry Cemetery was lovely and very pleasant to visit.  It was well-kept.

From this cemetery I headed north to Monroe County and passed through Adrian the county seat.  My goal was to pay my respects to Flora who is buried in the Rice Cemetery.  I will share about that in a future post.

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Levi died on 31 March 1872 in Medina Twp., Lenawee County, Michigan.  He is buried in the Goss Cemetery a little west of Morenci, Lenawee County, Michigan. 

Levi Goss Tombstone

Levi left a will.  I do not have a court copy but I do have a transcription of the will obtained by my cousin Flora Montanye Osborn.  I have tried to get Levi’s estate file and deeds but they are not at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City.  Adrian is the county seat for Lenawee County so I will probably have to go there to obtain this information.  This is not unusual for the FHL, they don’t always have everything.  It would probably be a good idea to check the state archives to find out if the older estate files have been transferred there.

The will is dated June 12, 1869. The affidavit is dated January 23, 1942. The will was drawn up in Medina Twp., Lenawee County, State of Michigan.

State of Michigan – Co. of Lenawee – Probate Court for Said County

I, Hazel D. Gregg, —-Register—- of the Probate Court in and for said County to hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the Last Will and Testament — in re–Estate of Levi Goss, Deceased now remaining on file and of record in the office of the Probate Court for said County, that I have carefully compared the same with said original record, and that the same is a true transcript therefrom and of the whole thereof.

In Witness Whereof, I have her unto set my hand and seal of said Court, at the city of Adrian in Said County this 23rd day of January A.D. 1942 (Signed) Hazel D. Gregg

(SEAL) (Copied in the Registrar General’s off 1/31/42 – mal.)

Copy of the Last Will and Testament of Levi Goss

In the name of God, Amen, I, Levi Goss of the Township of Medina in Lenawee County and State of Michigan, being in good health of body and of sound and disposing mind, am being desirous to settle my worldy affairs whilst I have strength and capacity so to  do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me made at any time heretofore.

And first and principally I commit my soul into the hands of my Creator who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be interred in the burying ground known as “The Goss Burying Ground” in the Twp. aforesaid by my friends and executors hereinafter named.

And as to such worldy Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to intrust me, not heretofore disposed of by myself, I dispose of the same as follows; namely – I have heretofore give of my worldly goods, as follows, namely. To my daughter Mary now Mary Rice the sum of nine hundred dollars and to my daughter Nancy Ranger, the sum of Nine hundred dollars, and to my daughter Louisa Powell the sum of Nine Hundred dollars, and to my daughter, Amanda S. Bullock, the sum of Nine hundred dollars, and to my Sons, Andrew and Daniel the sum of Nine hundred dollars each, being all the portion of my worldly property which I think they are entitled to have, excepting as hereinafter named.

I also do hereby give and bequeath to my son Mark, the sum of one thousand dollars which said sum of one thousand dollars is to be kept at interest by my said Executor during the life time of my said son Mark, and the interest so accruing to be applied to and for the use and benefit of said Mark who is now confined in the Insane Asylum at the City of Washington in the District of Columbia. But in case the said Mark should at any time hereafter regain his health of body and sanity of mind then my said Executors are hereby authorized and requested to pay the said sum of one thousand dollars and the interest that may have accrued thereon to Mark.

Also I do hereby give and bequeath to my grandson George Baley, son of Asa Baley, now of the town of Gorham, in Fulton County, Ohio, the sum of five ($500) hundred dollars to be paid to the said George when he shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years. And finally all the rest and residue of my worldy goods, will that the same be equally divided share for share among my surviving children — or to the heirs of such of my said children as may have deceased. And I do hereby appoint Andrew Goss and Samuel M. Ranger both of the township of Medina, In Lenawee County, State of Michigan Exectuor of this my last Will and Testament.

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the above named Levi Goss as an of and for his last will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at his request, and in his presence have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto.

Dated June 12 A.D. 1869 Levi Goss, L.S.

  • 1st Wit. Josiah Osgood of the Township of Medina, in Lenawee County, Michigan
  • 2nd Wit. Cyrus Adams of the Township of Medina, in Lenawee County, Michigan
  • 3rd Wit. Charles Ranger of the Township of Medina, in Lenawee County, Michigan.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/lenawee/land/lenawee.txt  Michigan patents for land include Levi Goss. 

I refer you to the post dated September 9, 2012 on this blog titled “Levi Goss and Sophia (Rummerfield) Goss’ Family.”  This will and that list of the children will be a very interesting comparison and show the connections of this family.

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We know from Flora’s letter, which I shared in a past post, that Levi got around.  See the  7/21/2012 “Levi Sure Gotta Round,” post.

  1. He served in the War of 1812 out of Niagara Co., New York. 
  2. In 1830 he sold the land in Knox Co., Ohio to John Spracklin his brother-in-law and was living in Upper Canada at the time.  I featured this in the last post.
  3. There is evidence that Levi was a tavern owner on the Thames River near Chatham in Kent County, Ontario.  My understanding is they had to apply for a tavern license so that might be another possibility for research in Kent County or at the Ontario Archives in Toronto. I was told there was very little information on the subject of tavern owners in the area of Kent County, Ontario.  There was a book in the main library “Pioneer Inns and Taverns.”  On page 232 and 149 the Goss Tavern was mentioned.  I place Levi Goss in the area of Chatham about 1830.  (See below.)
  4. By 1845 the Michigan State Census places Levi in Lenawaee Co. by this time. 

Source:  Michigan State Census Index 1845, Levi Goss, Lenawee County, Medina Twp., pg. 123. 

Below is another letter of Flora’s to Paul H. Goss giving even more information about Levi.

 Keziah Cooley Goss, Chapter D.A.R., Ann Arbor, MICH,

Oct 21, 1947

 Paul Goss, Chula Vista Calif.

 Dear Cousins:

             I have been asked to join the daughters of the War of 1812, and I have dug up some information about Levi Goss son of Solomon Goss.  I went to Lansing to the Adjutant Generals Office and found he did not served in Mich then I wrote to Ohio and found he did not serve there, so I found he served in N.Y. “and the Adjutant General sent me this “Levi Goss, Private in Captain Rufus Spaulding’s Company Colonel Silas Hopkins (Niagara County) Regiment N.Y. State Militia, War of 1812 served from 12 September to 16 October 1812.”  Adjust General Wm. J. Magine Col. QMC., Director, Bureau of War Records.”

Pension record Levi Goss #15681 Claims of Soldiers of the War of 1812, as audited and allowed, by the Adjutant and Inspector General, persuant of the Chapter 176 of the Laws of Albany. Weed Parsons and Co. Printers 1860 p. 202 Gives Level Goss $19.00. Medina Lenawee Co. Mich 

Taken from National Society Daughters of 1812 State of Mich. Roster of Soldiers of 1812 buried in Michigan.  Compiled by Mrs. Lynn T. Miller 1940 p 30.

Levi Goss Lenawee County Mich buried in Perry, Goss, Cooley, Cemetery, d., Mar 31, 1872. Ae 78, Sophia, d, Feb 24, 1856 ae 55 (Rummerfield), Medina Twp., Lenawee Co. Michigan.

Census Records of Lenawee County Michigan, as copied by Lucy Scott Barnum Chapter D.A.R. 1845  

Levi Goss:  Males under 10 —- 3, Males 10 & under 21 — 1, Males 45 & under 75 - 1,       Males  5 (total), Females 10 & under 21 – 3, Females under 45 &  75  – 1, Total females  4

(Nothing further in this letter, no second page found) ======

 

Levi’s Tavern

 Here are the excerpts from the Pioneer Inns and Taverns book I mentioned above, pg. 232:

At Tiffanyville (Delaware) he found ‘a pretty good’ tavern, and eight miles farther on towards Detroit was Griffith’s stage-house.  Seventeen miles onward was Ward’s, and twenty miles beyond was a tavern at Howard’s Bridge.  The state then became an uncovered sleigh, and the occupants were all glad to warm themselves when a stop was made at a store and post office at McGregor’s Mill.  There was another house at Chatham, and as the snow was gone by the time they reached the L. Goss’s Tavern on the bank of the Thames River, the driver took to the ice of the river and torn along at a great rate to a stage-house twenty-three miles beyond.

Under Benjamin Lundy’s trip page 149.

“From Chatham the travellers proceeded five mils down the [Thames] to a tavern on the south bank kept by L. Goss.  Here horses were changed, and, the snow being pretty well gone, the sleigh took to the [river] ice.  The ice was strong, and good time was made.”

Here is another letter written to Flora about Levi’s activities in Ontario from Wayne University. It gives more clues and sources that could be located. 

Wayne University,
Board of Education,
Detroit I Michigan

 April 12, 1948

 College of Liberal Arts,   Department of History

 Mrs. Flora M Osborn
1339 S State St,
Ann Arbor  Michigan

 Dear Mrs. Osborn:

 I have gone through my notes on Levi Goss, and find the following, which may be of interest to you:

 (I)        Major Strickland mentions that his boat anchored for the night opposite Goss’s tavern on the Thames below Chatham in October 1831. (Strickland, Twenty-Seven Years in Canada West, Lon., I 1853 p. 114.)

 (2)        Levi Goss, Raleigh Township, received Inkeeper’s licence in 1832 (Askin Papers,  Canadian Archives Ottawa, vol. 32) 

(3)        Benjamin Lundy in 1832 by stage from London, stopped for breakfast at the house of L. Goss on the bank of the Thames, five miles below Chatham in 1832.

The state changed horses here.  Lundy calls it  “a pretty good tavern”.   (Diary of Benjamin Lundy, ed. Fred Landon, Ontario Historical Society, Papers and Records, vol. 19.)

 (4)        Malcolm Weir on June 12, 1834, arrived at Mr. Goss’s Inn, Raleigh, which was for sale.  Weir wanted to purchase it.  Mr. Goss was not at home, held the inn and land at $1300. (Diary of Malcolm Weir, MS in private hands Chatham).  Weir bought this in later in the year, and Goss moved to Chatham), where he  immediately opened another inn.

 (5)     Levi Goss obtained and innkeeper’s license, for Chatham town in January, 1835.  (John Askin Papers, Jan. 1835, MSS in Burton).

 Goss does not appear again among those getting licenses after 1835, nor have I found his name in any other connection, so probably he moved away after this year. 

                                                Sincerely yours: Fred C Hamil.

So with a little help from Flora we find out more about where she obtained the information about Levi her ancestor and we might be able to use her clues to obtain the documents.  Meanwhile I turn to the U.S. Federal Census to find Levi and his migration to Michigan.

Trying to pin Levi Goss down in the U.S. Federal census has been a difficult process.  I had not been successful in finding Levi in past tries. 

So I decided to try again. You won’t find him in Ontario in the Canadian census because their census starts in 1851 and he was gone by 1835 according to the above letter.

The reason I was not able to find Levi Goss was because they misspelled his name.  In the 1850 they have him under Gass. 

Source:  1850 U.S. Federal Census, Medina, Lenawee Co., MI, pg. 135B, August 9, 1850, NARA #M432_355, Image 275 Ancestry.com.

Line 21, 779, 772, Levi Gass, 51, M, Farmer, 2000, PA, Sophia Gass, 59, F, NY, Louisa, 11, F, Canada, Olive, 19, F, Canada, Ammda, 16, F, Canada, Andrew, 14, M, Canada, Daniel, 10, M, Canada, Mark 4, M Canada, Nancy Wright 24, F, 1000, Mich., Levi E. Wright, 4, M, Ohio, Levi Goss 17, M, Farming, Canada.

Levi Gass 1850 US Michigan Census

Source:  1860 U.S. Federal Census, Medina, Lenawee Co., MI, 1 of July 1860, pg. 218?. Roll M653_551, pg. 690, FHL# 083551. This is very difficult to read.  He is under the name “Grobe.” 

Line 7, 1725, 1768, Levi Grobe 67, M, farmer, 4000/800, born Ohio , Andrew 23, M, Farmer, b. Mich.  Daniel 22, M, farmer, born Mich, , M, Mariah 19 F born Michigan, Mark 19 M, born Mich.

In the 1870 he is with his son Andrew Gafs or Gass

Source:  1870 U.S. Federal Census, Medina, Lenawee Co., MI, NARA #M593_686, pg. 365B, Image 107, FHL#552185.

Line 3, 210, 208, Gafs Andrew, 33 M, W, Farmer, 4000/500, b. Mich. Gafs, Athelia, 32, F, M, Keeping House, born Indiana, Gafs Levi, 76 M, born W. Virginia, W, Retired farmer, Rutledge Jacob, 16 M, W, working on farm, born Ohio.

The birth locations are all over the place so a careful study of this census and then a search of Michigan and Canadian vital records would be in order.  Levi’s birth also changes from PA to Ohio and then West Virginia?

So in summary, we see that Levi Goss probably left Canada for Michigan about 1835 and settled in Lenawee County, Michigan.  There is more research to be done on Levi but hopefully the clues given in Flora’s letters and the census will help point the way.  As usual I wish I had more time but finding Levi in the census has made me a happy genealogist.

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Levi Goss, son of Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss, married Sophia Rummerfield sometime around 1820.  She was born about 1800 in New York State.

His War of 1812 service placed him in Niagara County, New York and it is possible that is where he met and married Sophia.  It would be great to find this marriage, but I have not taken the time to do so.

Sophia was the daughter of Samuel Rummerfield and Nancy [        ].  I have no information on Samuel but Nancy was born about 1775 and died 24 February 1856 in Lenawee Co., Michigan.  She is buried in the Goss Cemetery in Lenawee Co., Michigan. Sophia may have had a brother named John Rummerfield.

The children of Levi and Sophia (Rummerfield) Goss are as follows:

1.  Solomon Goss was born about 1820 and died 20 March 1841 in Lenawee Co., Michigan.  He is buried with his family in the Goss Cemetery.  As far as I know he never married or had children.

2. Mary Goss was born 16 March 1822 in Medina Twp., Lenawee Co., Michigan and died 2 September 1886 in Milan, Washtenaw Co., Michigan.  She married Josephus [Joseph] Rice born 22 October 1815, Phelps, Orleans, New York.  He died 28 November 1900 in Milan Twp., Washtenaw Co., Michigan. They are both buried in the Rice Cemetery, Milan Twp., Monroe Co., Michigan. They married on 18 May 1840 in Medina, Lenawee Co., Michigan.  Josephus and Mary had  seven (7) children.   This is the family line of Flora Montanye Osborn, the Goss researcher I have mentioned.

1.  Charlotte Rice  born 17 August 1843, Milan Twp., Monroe Co., Michigan, died 27 June 1925, York Twp., Washtenaw Co., Michigan.  She married Sidney Montanye born 18 November 1838 in Lenawee Co., Michigan, died 16 November 1874 in York Twp., Washtenaw Co., Michigan.  Both are buried in the Rice Cemetery in Milan Twp., Monroe Co., Michigan.

The Children of Charlotte and Sidney:

1.  Florence Montanye born 9 January 1868, Leslie, Ingham Co., Michigan, died 12 April 1935.  She married a Sidney Sanford.

2.  Flora Etta Montanye, born 26 August 1869 in Leslie, Ingham Co., Michigan, died 1 September 1951 Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., Michigan. She married Frederick Lester Osborn 23 April 1891.  He was born 3 September 1867 in Ossian, Livingston, New York and died 6 August 1942 in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., Michigan.  Both are buried in the Rice Cemetery in Milan Twp., Monroe Co., Michigan.  He was a Methodist minister.  They had three children:  Lewis, Etta May and Jesse.

This is the Flora Etta Osborn that contributed so much to the Goss Family history and corresponded with Paul H. Goss and others.

3.  Ida A. Montanye was born 4 October 1871 in Mooreville, Washtenaw Co., Michigan.  She married a Wesley Chester Fuller. She may have married several times and another husband was Fred Forbes.

4.  Marshall C. Montanye born 14 February 1874 in Mooreville, Washtenaw Co., Michigan and died 25 Feb 1941.  He married Nona May Foster and they had 4 children:  Ida I, Forest, Ruth, and John Paul born 1913.

3. Sophia Amanda Goss.  Her birth date is unknown but it was probably somewhere between 1822 and 1827.  Her death was about 1899.  She married a Martin Bullock in April of 1869 but they had no children.  She was probably born in Upper Canada when Levi was living in Kent County near Chatham.

4.  Nancy Goss was born 9 July 1827 and died about 1888.  She married first a Uriah Wright (no information) and then remarried to a Montgomery Ranger (no information).  There may have been 2 children one died about 1894 and the other died 1904.  The only identified child was a Charles M. Ranger.  He lived in Battle Creek, Michigan.

5. Andrew Goss his birth may have been between 1827 and 1830.  He died about 1901 and married a Athelia Smith.  I have no further information on him.

6. Olive Goss was born about 1830 and died 28 April 1861 in Lenawee County, Michigan. She married an Asa Bailey (no information) and had a least one son George L. Bailey who died about 1883. George may have resided in Gorham, Fulton Co., Ohio.

7. Levi Goss was born about 1833 and died 23 July 1850 in Lenawee County, Michigan.  He is buried near his parents in the Goss Cemetery, Morenci, Lenawee County, Michigan.

8. Louisa Goss was born after 1833 and died between 1875-1880.  She married to a man by the name of Powell and had about 6 children:  Alexander, Amanda, Nancy J., Aden, George, and Edwin who may have died 1906.  Edwin may have had son named Rosco.

9.  Daniel Goss was born after 1833 and died about 1899.  He married a Mariah and may have had one children who died in 1895 and another named Arden Goss.  Arden may have been residing in Washington D.C. by 1911?

10.  Marcus M. Goss was born 17 March 1841 and died 4 February 1910.  He doesn’t appear to have married.  He was a Civil War Veteran and apparently it created some problems for him and he was confined in an insane asylum in Washington D.C.  More on this when I discuss his father’s will.

Note:  Sophia, the mother, is getting up in age by this time.  In 1841 she was about 41 years old if she was born in 1800?  So I am not sure about these two children?

11.  Elizabeth Goss no information.

12.  Thomas Goss no information.

Most of the credit for this information comes from Flora Montanye Osborn and the Keziah Cooley Goss D.A.R. Yearbooks of 1941-45, FHL#927452 Item 5.  This source has a very detailed description of the Montanye line.  It also has a version of Flora’s Goss Family History and a listing of the Revolutionary War Service of Goss family members.

Front Cover the DAR Yearbooks

As you can see there is a lot of missing information on the children of Levi and Sophia Rummerfield.  If I had more time I would do research on this line especially in census, deeds, land records, marriage, death and more.  Remember Flora did not have access to the census like we do.  If she wanted to obtain census information she would have had to write to the National Archives and then be content with a transcription.  If she wanted to obtain vital records she would have to write a letter to the appropriate courthouse.  Her goal was to apply to the D.A.R. and Mayflower so she concentrated on her direct line.

There is a letter by a C.M. Ranger that I present here which sheds more light on this family line of Flora’s.  C.M. Ranger was Charles M. Ranger, Nancy Goss Ranger’s son.

Copy of the Original Letter loaned me by Mrs. Fred Osborn, 1339 S. State St., Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mar. 30, 1911, – Hon. H.L. Larwell, Judge of Prob., Adrian, M.

Dear Sir: In response to your letter of the 27, I am pleased to give the following record of the des. of Levi Goss:

1. Andrew Goss, son, died about 1901 without issue;

2. Daniel Goss son, died about 1899. There was a son and dau. in the family. The dau died about 15 years ago. Son Arden Goss lives in Wash. D.C., Address Mailing Division of Post office.

3. Mark Goss, son- died in 1910 without issue;

4. Nancy Ranger, died 1888. There were three sons in the family one in 1894, one in 1904, the remaining son is Chars. A. Ranger, Battle Creek, Mich.;

5. Mary Rice dau. died about 1885 (1887). Some children (3 dau) died in childhood. Three surv. are Charlotte (Charlotte Rice Montayne; Ratzel Saline (Daline), Florence B. Miller Milan, Nelson, R. Milan;

6. Sophia A. (Amanda?) Bullock dau, died 1899 without issue;

7. Olive Bailey, dau. Died 1860 leaving 1 son George L. who died. He left one daug. Mrs. Florence Hayden Kalamazoo, C/O, Rev. J.A. Sprague (Note: Florence Hayden is the wife of Judge Hayden now living Lansing Mich. — 1942 — PHG);

8. Louisa Powell, dau. died between 1875-1880. Sev. children died in infancy: Survivors are: Alexander A. Powell Ulee Ind., Amanda Ray, Belmont, Tenn., Nancy J. Robinson, Camden, Mich.; Aden Powell, Hillsboro Tenn; George Powell Belmont, Tenn. This is G.N. Powell, business address. Mail will be forwarded to him. Edwin Powell son of Louisa F. died in 1906; left three child who live in Seneca, Mich. A letter to the son Roscoe at P.O. will get you the names of the other two.

The older children of Levi Goss, were Elizabeth, Thomas, Solomon and Levi. All of these died before the death of Levi Goss.

Very Truly yours C. M. Ranger (Chas. M. Ranger, Battle Creek, Mich.)

Copied June 4, 1942.

I had the opportunity to travel to the Goss Cemetery near Morenci, Lenawee Co., Michigan when I attended the Federation of Genealogical Society Conference (FGS) in Fort Wayne in 2007. Fort Wayne is in Indiana on the eastern side close to Michigan and Ohio borders.  I decided to take a tour of Michigan, before the conference, so I drove up to Lenawee County and then further up to Monroe County.  I wanted to visit the Goss and Rice Cemeteries and view the graves of Levi and Flora herself.  I will share this visit in a future post.

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Back in June 2003, I traveled to Boston and Plymouth, Massachusetts.  My husband had a conference to attend,  We reserved a condo on Cape Cod.  I wanted to do some research at the Mayflower Library in Plymouth.  This library is in the Annex behind the large Mayflower House.  If you want to do research, the Mayflower Library in Plymouth has a great collection of New England titles that you might want to study.  I was just learning about New England research at the time so it was wonderful to have them all in one location.  Later you can take a tour of the house museum which is lovely and the docent is very helpful and knowledgeable. 

Mayflower Museum

The Mayflower Library

This is the link to the library page.  They have a panorama of the library and it is just like I remember:  http://www.themayflowersociety.com/library  Their hours are short so check the link carefully.  As I recall I had a cold and yet I did my research anyway from 10 to 3 pm, as I recall.

Later in the trip we moved up to Boston for the conference and I visited the Boston Public Library.  It is awesome and a little intimidating.  Here is the link to their genealogical resources:  http://www.bpl.org/research/socsci/genealogy.htm  It seemed like I wandered a long ways through the library to find the room with the genealogical stacks.  You do have to plan in advance if you wish to order other  items. 

Of course, if you are in Boston you have to go to the New England Historic and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) and visit all the floors for some really quality research time:  http://www.americanancestors.org/home.html   Take one of the tours offer in Boston with the costumed tour guide, it is well worth it.  I think it is called “Freedom Trail.”

NEHG Society Entrance

At the NEHGS, I requested from the Special Collections to see the donated papers of Paul H. Goss.  Among his papers was a letter written by Flora Osborn to Paul H. Goss regarding her ancestor Levi Goss.  Flora and Paul corresponded with each other over the course of several years in the 1930′s and 1940′s till her death in 1951.  They were both researching the Goss lines and shared their findings.

The letter that Flora wrote was on the Keziah Cooley Goss Chapter D.A.R. stationary of which Flora was a founding member, regent and registrar at various times.  

“ANN ARBOR, MICH, 1339 S State St, April 13 1948

Paul Goss & Family

Dear Cousins:

I was at the Detroit Genealogical Soc. Saturday and heard this man give a lecture, and when he was through he came and sat by me and as his talk was about early movement of people from Canada to Michigan.

I asked him about Inn’s on the Tames etc. and he said who are you trying to find and get records of, and I told him Levi Goss, and he said I know a lot about him or about the inn etc. so here it is.

Now where did he live when my grandmother was born and Mary Goss, b. 3-16-1823. If he was in Canada in 1831-1835 after that he was in Lenawee Co. Mich. and in 1812 he was in Niagara County, N.Y. served in the War of 1812, Sept 12 to Oct 16 1812, and his father was in Washington County, Ohio. Levi sure got around.

Now I was to go to Washington and be a guest part of the time to a Mrs. Cameron who went into the D.A.R. on Nathaniel Goss and in Mayflower Society via William White, but her husband is sick and she cannot attend much of the time, and I would not go with him sick and the lady who was to go with me is sick so what I stay at home. Are you coming east, if so try to attend the Cooley reunion in Illinois?

I am as well as usual and will take a trip somewhere soon.

Best wishes

Flora Osborn”

Letters like this give clues regarding our ancestors.  Thanks to Flora, we now know the movements of Levi Goss and we can follow her leads.   This letter also gives clues and insight into the people who did the research years ago and what their interests were, in this case Flora was very much involved with DAR and Mayflower. 

Flora is my cousin and she is much closer to me in the lineage to Solomon Goss and Olive Scott Goss.  Her great-grandfather Levi Goss is a brother to Lydia, my ancestor, whom I will discuss shortly.  Flora and I are 3rd cousins twice removed according to my Legacy database Relationship Calculator.  Our common ancestors are Solomon Goss and Olive Scott.

Flora mentions the Tames.  She is referring to the Thames river near Chatham, Ontario to the west of Lake Ontario and east of Lake St. Clair.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_River_(Ontario). 

As for who Mrs.  Cameron is, I will let you figure that out.  You could try the DAR Library search for Ancestor or Member and see what you find.  See the right side bar for this blog and find the New England Links.

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On my recent trip to Ontario and Quebec in May/June of 2012, I saw banners and references to the War of 1812.  The Ontario Genealogical Conferences theme was the War of 1812 – Borders and Bridges. 

Banners in Ottawa Celebrating the War of 1812

This year of 2012 is the 200th year since the War of 1812, which some believe was the 2nd War for American Independence.  http://www.ushistory.org/us/21e.asp

The Official War of 1812 Bicentennial website, Celebrating 200 years of Peace http://www.visit1812.com/ 

Levi Goss was a son of Solomon Goss and Olive (Scott) Goss.  He was the sixth child of this couple.  He served in the War of 1812.  He was 19 years old at the time, born 22 October 1793, in Pennsylvania according to his great grand-daughter Flora Montanye Osborn, my cousin who did a lot of work on this family line in the 1930-1950′s. His father Solomon Goss was on the move and was in Ohio by 1795.  It is possible that Levi might have been born in western Pennsylvania? 

According to the New York Military Equipment Claims at Ancestry.com, Levi served out of  New York from September 12 to October 16, 1812. It was a very short period of service. 

He was a private in Captain Rufus Spauldings Co. and Colonel Silas Hopkins Regiment (Niagara Co., NY).  His pension #15681 is from Claims of Soldiers War of 1812, dated October 21, 1847.) No.: [p.202] 15,681. Index of Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 1812, page 202.

NAME OF APPLICANT:  Goss, Levi,

RESIDENCE OF APPLICANT: Medina, Lenawee County, Michigan,

AMOUNT ALLOWED: $19 00

Levi served in the War of 1812 but he did not really get a pension which was only given to injured or dead soldiers until the laws changed in 1871.  He died in 1872 so he did not benefit from this new law.  

U.S. War of 1812 Service Records, 1812-1815 at Ancestry.com list Levi Goss, Hopkin’s Regiment, New York Militia, Private, Roll Box. 83, Roll. Exct 602, NARA Films M602, 234 rolls – Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Service in the War of 1812, Washington D.C.  This is good news to find this index. I will have to revisit NARA’s films for I did not find him when I first looked. 

Here are some links that might be of interest.   

History of Niagara County at Internet Archives:  http://archive.org/details/cu31924100387392

Fort Niagara State Park and Historic Sights:  http://nyfalls.com/niagara/niagara-fort-niagara.html

Burials of Veterans of the War of 1812 in Lenawee Co., Michigan http://www.lenawee.migenweb.net/1812.html

The New York State Archives website has this paragraph on the War of 1812. http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_topics_mi_warsvc.shtml

“Will search War of 1812 Abstracts of Payrolls for N.Y. State Militia (B0810) and Certificates of Claims (A0020, A3352). The certificates are indexed in Index of Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 1812 (Albany: 1860; repr. 1969). (A veteran’s claim stated war service in order to obtain reimbursement for clothing, arms, and equipment furnished at the soldier’s expense.)

Levi was living in Marietta, Ohio with his family and at some time he took off on his own and his travels placed him in Niagara County by 1812.  I cannot take credit for some of this research on Levi.  It was done by my cousin Flora Montanye Osborn.  I have tried to add to the work she did.  In the next post I will share a letter written by Flora to Paul H. Goss regarding the movements of Levi Goss.

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Mary Goss was a school teacher.  She is mentioned in the History of Washington County

“Mary Goss taught a small school of young children in an old log barn.”  History of Washington Co., Ohio, pg. 688,  C. Williams & Bros, 1881.

She was a daughter of Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss and was born 4 March 1785 probably in the area that Connecticut claimed ownership of which we know as Luzerne County.  The area eventually went under the ownership of Pennsylvania in 1786.  

Again for Mary Goss, the actual date of birth comes from the manuscripts of Flora Montanye Osborn, a cousin of mine.  Flora is a descendant of Levi Goss, a younger brother.

1.   ”Additions to the Cooley Family,” The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine, Vol. VII, No. 1, Sept-Oct, 1943.  This magazine can actually be found in a large public library, or the Family History Library.  You can contact the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library.

2.  ”Keziah Cooley Goss Chapter of the D.A.R., May 3, 1942, Yearbook 1943-1944, FHL#940938 Items 4-5.” 

3.  Notes of Flora Montanye Osborn DAR Goss Family File: Flora writes: “I have a song book which states “From Mary Goss of Washington Co, Ohio to Mary Goss of Lenawee Co., Mich.”)   

Note:  The Mary Goss of Lenawee Co., Michigan is a daughter of Levi and Sophia Rummersfield who married Joseph Rice Flora’s grandparents.

Mary’s father, Solomon Goss, deeded land to her just like he did to her brother Noah and her sister Elizabeth (Goss) Lake.  Date of deed 19 April 1815:

Deed of Solomon Goss of Fearing Twp., Washington Co., Ohio to his second daughter Mary Goss (Gofs) for $100 (50 acres). Witnesses were Simon Porter and Solomon Goss, Jr. and Joel Tuttle JP. Description of the land: ” …certain tract or parcel of Land, Situate and being in said State of Ohio in the Fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of the United States Military land so called, containing fifty acres being part of a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of Land deeded to me by Zaccheus Biggs the 28th July 1802, Refference thereto being had, butted and bounded as follows beginning at the South East corner of a Tract of land this (day) deeded to Elizabeth Lake, Thence West Twenty Four Chains to Lands this day deeded by me to Levi Goss, Thence South Twenty Chains 83 1/3 Links, Thence East Twenty four Chains, Thence North Twenty Chains 83 1/3 links to the place of beginning….”

Source:  Knox County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. B-C, pg. 274-275, FHL#314037.

Not too many years later Elizabeth Lake husband Andrew decided to sell their share of the land in Knox County to Mary.  Here is a transcription of that deed to the best of my ability in being able to read the interesting spellings and legalese. 

Andrew Lake
Deed to
Mary Goss
Rec’d for Record
Jany 5th 1818
 

To all people to where these Presents shall come.  Greetings:  Know ye, That we, Andrew Lake and Elizabeth his wife of Washington County and State of Ohio, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred Dollars, lawful money to use in hand  before the ensealing hereof  well and truly paid by Mary Goss of the same County and State.  The receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and ourselves therewith fully satisfied and contented. Have given, granted, bargained, sold, alien, conveyed & confirmed and by these Presents do freely fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, convey and confirm unto her the said Mary Goss, her heirs and assigns forever, a (page 6 ) certain tract or parcel of land situate and being  in the said [County] of Ohio, in the fourteeth range and tenth Township of the United States Military land (so called) containing fifty acres being part of the tract of land containing four hundred and fifty acres, deeded to Solomon Goss on the 28th of July 1802 by Zaccheus Biggs.  The land hereby conveyed abutted and bounded as follows:  Beginning at the north east corner of said tract of four hundred and fifty acres running thence West four chains to lands belonging to Noah Goss.  Thence south twenty chains 33 1/3 links: thence East 24 chains; thence North 20 chains 33 1/3 links to the place of beginning, being the said land conveyed to said Elizabeth Lake by Solomon Goss, April 19, 1815. 

To Have and to Hold the said granted and bargained premises, and all the appurtenances, privileges and commodities to same ___ anywise belonging to her the said Mary Goss, her heirs and assigns forever to her and their only proper use, benefit, and behoof forever in fee simple and we the said Andrews and Elizabeth Lake for ourselves, heirs, executors and administrators, do convenant to and with the same Mary Goss her heirs and assigns that before the ensealing hereof ___ she true sole and lawful owners of the above bargained premises and are lawfully seized and possed of the same in their own proper as a good perfect and absolute estate of Inheritance in fee simple have full forever and authority to sell and convey the said bargained premises, in manner as aforesaid, and furthermore do convey and engage the above demised premises to the said Mary Goss___  and assigned against the lawful claim or demands and persons or persons whatsoever forever hereafter to Warrant, secure and defend by these presents.

In Witness thereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 26th day of December, in the year of our Lord one hundred and sixteenth.  Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presences of Geo. Dunlevy, Elizabeth Cogswell.  Signed Andrew Lake (Seal) Elizabeth Lake (Seal)

The State of Ohio Washington County ss.  At Marietta, Dec. 26 A.D. 1816.  The above named Andrew Lake and Elizabeth Lake his wife the signers and sealers of the above instrument personally appeared and acknowledged the same to be their free and voluntary act and deed before me and the said Elizabeth being examined freely and apart from her said husband relinquished all right to dower and other estate in the fee conveyed by said Deed.  Certified mg. Aug 28th, 1817 Sardius …….. State of Ohio Washington County ss.  I George Dunlevy Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and said County do hereby certify and make know that Sardius…who hath signed his name to the annexed certification was at the —– his signing and certifying the matters and things in the same certification and was act this being is an acting Justice of the Peace within and forever duly elected, commissioned and qualifying agreeable to the said State and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all things by him, this certificate – as well in Courts of Justice as Elsewheres.

In testimony Whereof I do hereunto set hand and affix my official seal at Marietta in said County this first day of December A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.  Geo. Dunlevy, Clerk. (Seal).

Source:  Deed Book 1, 1843 Recorders Office, Knox County Annex, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 2011.

Mary appears years later as a witness on a deed in 1835 involving land being sold to Peter Spracklin.  Her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) is also a witness.  

Wine Rood. Grantor, to sell land in Dudley Twp. to Peter Sprantlen Grantee of Hardin Co., Ohio. Description: “…The east half of the south east quarter of section No. Twelve (12), in Township No. (5) Five, south of Range No. 12 Twelve in the District of Delaware containing 80 acres more or less…(Signed by Wine Rood and witnessed by Solomon Goss and Mary C. Goss 1834).

Note:  Peter Sprantlen’s name is spelling very different here but it is still the Peter Spracklin who is the father-in-law of Lydia (Goss) Spracklin sister to Mary Goss. 

Source:  Hardin County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. A, pg. 366-368 (373-375), FHL# 913819,

Jump ahead two more years to 1837 and Mary Goss appears in the deed records.   This time it is in Knox County, Ohio.  In this deed she is the grantor and she is selling land to John Spracklin of Knox County. 

Deed: Mary Gofs of Union Twp., Washington Co., sold land to John Spracklin of Knox Co. on Jan. 24, 1837 and recorded in August 12, 1837. The deed was for $250. Witnesses were S. Bartlett and Andrew Lake. Description of Land: ” …following described lots a parcel of land to wit, one tract situate in said State of Ohio, in the fourteenth Range and Sixth Township of the United States Military lands, so called, containing fifty acres, bounded as follows beginning at the South East corner of a tract of land deeded the 19 of April 1815 by Solomon Gofs to Elizabeth Lake, hence that 24 chains to lands deeded to same day by Solomon Gofs to Levi Gofs, hence South 20 chs 38 1/3 links, thence East 24 chains, then North 20 chs 83 1/3 links to the place of Beginning, likewise one other tract of fifty acres deeded by Elizabeth and Andrew Lake to me 26th Dec 1816 situate in the aforesaid Military lands in Range 14, Township Sixth, both of these tracts were conveyed to Solomon Goss by Zacheus Biggs on the 28th of July 1802, being a part of four hundred and fifty acres conveyed by said Biggs to the said Solomon Gofs on that day.” 

Source:  Knox County, Ohio Deeds, Vol. R. pg. 354, FHL #314044.

Mary will follow her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) and his family to Iowa.

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It is now time to turn to my research on Solomon and Olive (Scott) Goss, my 4th great grandparents, who lived their lives during major conflicts like the American Revolution, the Wyoming Massacre and the Connecticut and Pennsylvania land wars.  Life was probably good when they were young children but once their parents decided to move to the Wyoming Valley near the Susquehanna River in about 1769, things got very interesting and probably difficult? Connecticut claimed the area and Pennsylvania was not happy.  Then about 23 years later Solomon left Pennsylvania around 1792-1793 and headed for Ohio which was virgin lands. 

Wyoming Valley!

The marriage date for Solomon and Olive’s marriage is given as 25 June 1776.  Unfortunately and even with a lot of searching I have not found a primary source for this marriage and a location.  I have tried vital and church records for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.  I have studied every possible piece of history about the Wyoming Valley area.  I would call it a comprehensive search but not necessarily exhaustive.  I visited the Wilkes-Barre area, Connecticut and Massachusetts investigating their resources but nothing has come up on this marriage. 

So I have placed their marriage in Plymouth, now Pennsylvania, across the river from Wilkes-Barre based on their parents land holdings at the time and land records for Solomon Goss.* I refer you to the map above (Microsoft Streets & Trips).  Click on the map and it should open up into a bigger screen, just remember to hit the back button to return to this blog. 

I will discuss Solomon and Olive’s earlier years in more detail in the future and their origins, so this topic of their marriage will be revisited.  If anyone has any primary or even a secondary source (church, bible)  for this marriage and a location please leave a comment. 

The Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence on July 2, 1776, so they married just days before this momentous event.   Here is a link to a timeline about the American Revolution.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/revwartimeline.htm

Try this link for the conflict over the land between Connecticut and Pennsylvania as a start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennamite-Yankee_War

Wyoming Massacre: http://www.colcohist-gensoc.org/Essays/wyomingmassacre.htm 

The Susquehanna River - Wilkes-Barre 2008

Solomon and Olive had a family of seven (7) children.

1.  Elizabeth Goss was born 9 December either 1777 or 1778 in the Wyoming Valley probably in Plymouth.  She married Andrew Lake on 17 May 1798 (1797?) in Washington County, Ohio and raised a large family.  Andrew and Elizabeth are buried in the Rainbow Cemetery in Washington County, Ohio.  

2. Noah Goss was born 24 June 1782 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth).  As far as I am aware Noah never married.  Noah died the 18th of July 1833 and  is buried next to his sister Lydia in the Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio. 

3.  Mary Goss was born 4 March 1785 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth).  Mary didn’t marry but she followed her brother Solomon Goss (Jr.) to Hardin County, Ohio and then to Iowa and is buried probably in Henry County, Iowa.  She died before the 13th of April 1859 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa. 

4.  Solomon Goss  was born about 5 May 1788 probably in the Wyoming Valley (Plymouth) in Pennsylvania.  He married Mary (Polly) Coburn Devol on 19 November 1812 in Washington County, Ohio.  They lived on his father’s land till about 1832 when Solomon sold it an migrated to Hardin County, Ohio settling near Peter Spracklin the father of his brother-in-law John Andrews Spracklin who married his sister Lydia.  For ease of identification I usually refer to him as “Jr.”  Solomon Goss (Jr.) died 1 November 1864 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., Iowa (death provided by an online source).  Back in 2003 I traveled to Iowa.  I did not blog about that trip so I will share in future posts. 

5.  Daniel Goss was born 23 September 1790 per his tombstone.  He died 18 November 1868 in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  He married  Lydia Ackley on 13 August 1813 in Washington County.  He is buried in the Rockland Cemetery in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  Lydia Goss is listed in the death records of Washington County as passing on the 20th of October 1873 in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio.  I do not know where she is buried?

6.  Levi Goss or rather the Rev. Levi Goss was born 22 October 1793  maybe in the Wyoming Valley or somewhere on route with his parents to Ohio.  He married Sophia Rummerfield (no record yet found) probably in northern New York state and he died on 31 March 1872 in Medina Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.  He is buried with his family and wife in the Goss Cemetery west of Morenci, Michigan. I visited Levi on a earlier trip to Ohio in 2007 and I will share what I found in later posts. 

Levi is the great-grandfather of Flora Montanye Osborn.  Flora contributed to the research on the Goss family back in the 1920′s to the 1940′s.  She was a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and Mayflower. She corresponded with Paul H. Goss who wrote many manuscripts and articles on the Goss Family.  In the future, I will write about these two individuals and their contributions to the body of knowledge of the Goss family. 

7.  Lydia Goss was born 8 June 1796 probably either in what was eventually called Cincinnati or maybe in what became Dayton, Ohio? The history books of the Montgomery County area state that another male child was the first-born in Dayton?  One of Lydia’s children’s obituaries told the story that Lydia was the first child born in Dayton!  More on this in a later post.  Lydia married John Andrews Spracklin on the 19th of July 1819 in Washington County, Ohio.  She and John are buried with Noah and Ida in the Green Valley Cemetery in Knox County very close to the land that was bequeathed in a deed in 1815 to Lydia by her father Solomon Goss.  Lydia and John A. Spracklin are my 3rd great grandparents and this is my link to the Goss family through her father Solomon. 

8.  David Goss was born probably sometime in the late 1790′s in Washington County but so far no record has been found of his birth or his death which might be about 1810 in Fearing Township, Washington County, Ohio? I will discuss David a little more in a future post.  Not much is known about David but he is usually confused with his brother Daniel. 

NOTES:  Susquehannah was spelled with an “h” at the end in the beginning and then it was later dropped. 

The Wyoming Valley is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania and I found this online series of maps that might help to show it in more detail:  http://www.mapcenter.org/community/wv-model.html  My map above is not as detailed and I am focusing more on the area that was specific to the Goss, Scott and allied families.

*******

Sources:   Here are the general categories of the sources used: Washington County, Ohio vital records, Washington County Cemetery Records, cemetery visits, tombstone photographs, the manuscripts and articles of Paul H. Goss and Flora Montanye Osborn, DAR Applications, compiled indexes, estate files, county history books, deeds, tax lists,  U.S. Federal Census, family histories and more.  Each child and their family will be discussed in more detail in future posts with sources. 
*If you have ancestry in this area of Pennsylvania that has been discussed in this post, you will need to study the writings and books of Donna Bingham Munger.  Her Connecticut’s Pennsylvania “Colony” 1754-1810 Volumes:  Proprietors, Settlers and Claimants are a must.  This link to Amazon has them for sale.  However, you should be able to find copies in your local large library, archive or genealogical society.  Donna, my friend, took many sources and created a detailed index of the land records for the area.  I have seen some of these sources and they are not easy to read.  This three volume set can be of great help to researchers .   
http://www.amazon.com/Connecticuts-Pennsylvania-Colony-Susquehanna-Proprietors/dp/0788442392

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My trip to Ohio in 2007 was a combination trip.  I wanted to visit the Allen County Public Library  because I had heard so much about it.  They had just completed the new building and it was open for business.  The Federation of Genealogical Societies and APG were having their conferences in Fort Wayne and it was no contest.  I was ready! 

I then realized that Ohio was two hours away. Michigan was about the same.  I could drive up to Michigan and visit several cemeteries on one of the days.  Then I would attend the conferences and after drive to Ohio and return to Fort Wayne.  I could visit Kenton in Hardin County and then onto Mount Vernon in Knox County and be able to pay my respects to my Spracklin ancestors.  Morrow County was just a few miles away and I could visit my Keller ancestors.  Okay, I was now really ready to go!

The trip was amazing and I have fond memories of Ohio.  I remember the pouring rain when my cousin and I visited the Green Valley Cemetery the first time.  Having to ask the locals where the Hedding M.E. Cemetery was located in Morrow County.  Driving along a road we thought would be a short cut and coming upon flooding and water over the road.  This meant we had to turn back and figure out another route.  Listening intently to the TV for information about the weather and more flooding.  Going around and around the roundabout in the middle of Mount Vernon.  I am joking about some of these challenges, of course.  It was a very good trip. 

The following repositories were visited at that time:

Cemeteries visited:

We visited the courthouse and annex in Knox County and the staff was very helpful. 

In August 2011 I will be returning to these repositories, societies, cemeteries and doing a whole lot more.  I will travel to Portage County and to Washington County, Ohio as well.  I will start my trip in Columbus so I can visit the Ohio Historical Society and other archives.  Of course, I will return to the Ohio Genealogical Society.  I am getting excited!

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