Re: Jacob L. Gerton (Girton)
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In reply to:
Re: Jacob L. Gerton (Girton)
Larry Phalin 12/25/00
Hello.I, too, have been trying to find a connection between Emma R. Girton of Luzerne County PA and the Columbia County Girtons and was delighted to find your postings; however, I think you have the wrong Jacob L. Girton.
Emma's family is illusive, but I believe I have located them in the 1860 census for Lake Township in Luzerne County.I have a copy of Emma's obituary and it says this is where she grew up.The census lists J.L. Girton, age 34, as head of the family.This would mean he was born around 1826.He is a farmer with substantial assets, born in Pennsylvania.His wife Catharine, age 34, was born in Germany.Four children are also listed:John L., age 14; Martha J., age 11; Emma R., age 9; Ellis B., age 4; and Mary C., age 2.
The family is still there in 1870 although some children have gone and more have come along.The head is (erroneously, I believe) listed as John L.He and his wife Catherine are both shown as being 45.John L, Martha and Emma are all gone.Ellis is now 15 and working on the farm.Mary is 12 and there are four more children:Charles, 9; Elizabeth, 7; Nathaniel, 3 and Robin, 1.In this same census, Emma and her husband (Amos) James Hazeltine are found in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, PA.At this time James's occupation is given as laborer.He is 26.Emma is only 18 but they have a 3-year old child, Elias, a name very similar to Emma's younger brother. Elias died around 1871 or 1872.
In 1880 Jacob and Catharine Gerton (note variant spelling, but I am pretty sure it is the same family since Jacob's birthplace is PA and Catharine's Wurtemburg (Germany) and the ages are right) turn up in Kansas of all places with two of their children from Pennsylvania.The parents are 54, Mary is now 22 and still "at home" and Nathaniel seems to be known as Perry, now age 13.James and Emma are still in Kingston Township in Luzerne County PA with additional children including my grandmother. They will remain there the rest of their lives.
Jacob and Catharine disappear then.The Bradsby History of Luzerne County gives some information on the Schappert family but states that Catherine was the wife of Anthony Reber (at the time the book was written in 1893).This may not be the right Catharine Schappert since this and another source state that the family came to this country in 1854.I think it may be the right family but that was when the family came to the Wilkes-Barre area, not the U.S. Jacob could have died and Catharine returned to Luzerne County and remarried.Jacob was indeed in the Civil War 143rd Regiment, but I can find no record of his having a pension.This doesn't mean he didn't have one, since another ancestor of mine, who did have a pension, doesns't show up in the pension index, but it is food for thought.
I am beginning to suspect that Jacob may have been connected to the Bucks County Girtons rather than the Columbia County Girtons, but that is based more on intuition than evidence.
I am sorry this initial posting is so long, but I wanted to make the information I had as complete as possible with documentation since there is so much conflicting information on the Girtons.
If there is any additional information available on Catharine Schappert (documented if at all possible), I would really like to learn more. And of course, more information on the Jacob Girton who was her husband.
More Replies:
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Re: Jacob L. Gerton (Girton)
perry girton 4/11/11