Wives of Joseph Fetty of Marion County (1812-1900)
Hello Fetty Researchers:
I have seen a lot on the web about the wives of Joseph LFetty of Marion County, WV and none of it really matches the documented evidence so here goes:
Joseph was born 2 Feb 1812 in Marshall County (according to his death record - 10 Nov 1900 Marion Co) probably a son of William L Fetty & Mary Elizabeth Riggs (parents come from net sources and are not verified). His family moved to Monongalia County when he was young and the portion they lived in (near Mannington) became part of Marion County, formed in 1842.
While it was still Monogalia Co, Joseph married the first time to Nancy Baker 11 Dec 1834. She was probably the daughter the Thomas & Sarah Baker who lives next door to Joseph and Nancy in the 1850 census.
Nancy died very shortly after the 1850 census, probably the winter of 1850/51. This part takes a little deductive reasoning: They had a child named Christina in 1847 and then another child named Christina in the winter of 1850/51. It seems to me that the first Christina died about the same time Nancy died giving birth to the second Christina and the surviving baby was named in honor of her dead sister (a common practice for the time).
Joseph & Nancy's surviving children: Lavonia, Perlina, Justina, Diana, Lurena (my ancestor), Persipheny (sp?), Susan, Silas, Martin, and Christina (II),
Widowed Joseph (left with 10 kids!) quickly married again to provide a mother for his little ones. I have not found a marriage record for the 2nd marriage, but I have not done an exhaustive search either. In any event, the marriage would have take place in 1851 or 52 and was to Ann Wilcox (b.ca.1813) daughter of Stephen & Sarah Wilcox (Stephen and Sarah were living with Joseph & Ann in 1870 Census).
Joseph and Ann had two more daughters: Roanna & Rebecca
Ann was alive in the 1880 but had to be dead by 1884 which is when Joseph remarried again.
Joseph married a 3rd time 30 Sep 1884 to Margaret Edgel (4 Apr 1866 - bef.1900). At first I thought this may be a marriage of a descendant of Joseph with the same name, but their daughter Matilda's death record makes it clear it is the same Joseph.
Joseph & Margaret had Matilda (1885-1943) and Dollie (b.1886). Joseph and these two daughters are listed together in the 1900 Census living with Silas (Joseph's eldest son by Nancy). Joseph is listed as a widower at this point so Margaret obviously died before 1900. Joseph himself died later that year in Nov 1900.
Hope that clears that up.
Now for my next trick: trying to find Joseph's ancestors.
Dan Willis