Joshua Faulkner

Joshua Faulkner

This is from a letter written by Aunt V. (Grandma Taft's sister...Vivian Copus Price)

• Joshua Faulkner was born in Union County, Ohio, 3 April 1831 to Samuel and Ida Minerva Martin (or Jordan) Faulkner. He was married to Charlote Calist Coleman, daughter of Nathan and Mary Tilberry Coleman. To them were born two children, Ida and Hiram. They probably lived on our Grandpa George Copus's farm since that land was purchased by Calista's father and given to her. She died in June of 1864 when Hiram was two.
• On March 20, 1865 Joshua enlisted for one year in the Army. According to his record he had blue eyes, brown hair, and ruddy complexion. he was five feet seven inches tall. He was musterred out of the Army July 14, 1865 near Jeffersonville, Indiana. A neighbor cared for the two young children during his absence. Side note: he was actually drafted...he didn't enlist.
• He later married a widow I believe, and they had one son. After her death he married a young woman named Emma Totlin and they had a very large family. His last child was born when Joshua was 69 years old. They may have lived in Sand Creek until after a teenage son and teenage daughter of George and Ida (George and Ida were Grandma Taft's paternal grandparents) were struck and killed by a bolt of lightning as they were closing windows during a storm. One was upstairs and one down. That was 23 June 1897.
• After that Grandma Ida refused to live in that house so I would think that is when Joshua gave the farm to Ida since it belonged to her mother. He bought a farm near Soldier's Grove on County Trunk X and lived there until they moved west.
• Aunt Garnie said he moved to Bellingham, WA because he was determined one of his young daughters would marry an old man with a lot of money. The grown up children were so against it that he sold up and moved and the old man went also. The daughter married him in Washington. The married children stayed in Wisconsin, one was Calista Potts. Uncle Edgar stayed although he wasn't married at the time.
• I think maybe Joshua didn't have much of a sense of humor. Aunt Garnie told me about one he walked into their house and rapped on the door. Grandma Ida didn't know who it was, but she called out, "Come in if your nose is clean." He was insulted and started to leave, but she soothed him down.
• I think he must have moved West shortly before Grandma Ida died since the family group picture was taken before they left showed the youngest son to be about 3 or so. Ida died in January of 1904. The boy was born in 1900.
• Joshua died 22 April 1911 and two of his sons brought his body to Wisconsin for burial. He was buried in the Whiteaker Cemetery in Clayton Township, Crawford, Wisconsin. It was about a mile and a half from the old farm, but the road that went to it then is no longer there.
• Teddi, Jenni, Robby, Holli, Joshua, Amy, Andrew, Shea
• Denise Virgil/Felice Vigil
• Shirley Anne Taft
• Hazel Agnes Copus
• Leroy Copus
• Ida Faulkner
• Joshua Faulkner

I have pictures of Joshua I will have to post when I can get them scanned.

Hazel Copus Taft

Hazel Agnes Copus was the sixth child of Leroy Copus and Julia Miller. She was born 16 March 1914 in Gays Mills, Crawford, Wisconsin. She was three years old when her father died. Leroy and Julia had seven children when he died. Julia married Royal Marlette on 19 August 1918.

Grandma wrote her life story some time ago...I wanted to share some things you probably never heard of before...

We used to pick berries and get a few blue berries and cranberries. We didn't go to the back of our first farm as it was a marsh...think cranberries grew there but probably not many.

Dodd (one of her brothers) and I used to hunt on Saturdays, would wade snow clear to our waist-got rabbits and partridges - it all helped. We'd really be wet when we got home. He was only 13 and shouldn't have been hunting.

Millie (a sister) and I stayed with Alf (a the oldest of the 7) and Amelia (his wife) on the first farm the folks had. Dodd had been down to the place 3 miles south to see about it and didn't come home when Amelia thought he should so she sent me to look for him on horse back. It was below zero and I was afraid to get off and walk because of wolves. It was night-I went 4 miles and didn't see him, so went back home. He had cut across and was there when I got there. I frosted my feet-had big blisters on them for a few days. They bothered me for many years.

Finally in January (year?) we all went to Madison - the folks were living in two rooms so you can imagine what it was like - Alf and Amelia went on to Iowa then. There was a fair sized closet and us kids slept on a cot in there.

Theda got pneumonia and then I did. I didn't go back to school that year. Anyway I was suppose to be in 8th grade and the school near us only went to 6th grade so guess where I went.

I didn't get over the pneumonia like I should have so the doctors thought I should go to the country. i went to Aunt Cora Whiteakers - near Soldier's Grove. She had had an operation and wasn't supposed to do heavy work, so I did the scrubbing, etc. I got there on a Saturday, went down on the trail to Boscobel, and Sunday morning at 5 o'clock they got me up to teach me how to milk. I milked my 4 cows night and morning. They were good to me, but I didn't get the rest I should have had.

On March 1, 1928 I went to Rocky Knoll San at Plymouth, Wis. Went on the bus and they met me from the San. March 16th I was 14 years old. At the San they had entertainment every one . If a church or school put on a play they would bring it out for the patients to see - had band concerts some in the summer.

One Christmas the patients put on a play and the big shots were invited, trustees, etc. I gave a reading and others acted out the birth of Jesus. They always had a banquet at Christmas - really put on a feed. The dining room was filled - it was a pretty room with a living on one end.

The first Christmas I was supposed to go home to Madison but the folks decided they couldn't afford it so I had to stay. Anyone what was up was allowed to go home for a week. There wasn't anyone to eat in the dining room so I had a tray in the ward. There was twins there about a year or a year and a half - they let me play with them while everyone was gone - otherwise we weren't allowed near them. The mother was a patient there so they had the children for awhile to make sure they didn't have it too.

In the two years I was there, Mother was there twice....

Maximiano Vigil

Maximiano Vigil was born on 20 September 1891 at Turkey Creek, Huerfano, CO to Jose de la Luz Vigil and Maria Dolores Gallegos.

Maximiano died on 27 May 1935 at Alhamabra, Los Angeles, CA.

Maximiano was married twice. He was first married to Maria Jacinta Trujillo on 21 Jan 1909 at Turkey Creek, Huerfano, CO.

Maria Jacinta Trujillo was born on 13 September 1896 to Maria Edwigen Trujillo at Turkey Creek, Huerfano, CO.

Maximiano and Jacinta had a son, Jose Tobias born on 17 December 1909 at Turkey Creek, Huerfano, CO.

Their second son was Andres, born on 20 January 1911 at Pueblo, Pueblo, CO.

It appears Jacinta and Tobias died in 1911. Maximiano left Andres with his half-brother, Juan Quintana and his wife, Nicolasa Trujillo. She was Jacinta's aunt. Andres (Andy) was basically raised a Quintana, though he did spend time with Maximiano and his second family.

Maximiano joined the Army was sent to Camp Cotton, Texas. Camp Cotton is at El Paso. Tradition has it that he was with General Jack Pershing in the expedition to go into Mexico and get Pancho Villa.

It was at this time he met Maria Juana Ortiz. They were married on 15 November 1915 at El Paso, El Paso, TX.

Maximiano worked for the Union Pacific railroad and so they moved a lot. To this union was born ten children.

Rogelio (Roy) born 21 Oct 1915 at El Paso, TX

Tobias (Toby...named after his son who died) born 21 Aug 1917 at Pueblo, CO

Maximo born 21 May 1919 at Fresno, CA

Arthur born 25 Jan 1921, Pixley, Tulare, CA

Jacinta (Jessie...named after his first wife) born 3 Jan 1923 at Ogglesby, CA

Dolores born 19 Jan 1925 at Colton, CA

Rita born 1 Sep 1927 at Sloan, NV

Samuel born 15 Oct 1928 at Sloan, NV

Margaret (Maggie) born 2 Mar 1930 at Pico, CA

James born 8 Aug 1932 at Whittier, CA

SIDE NOTE: I did not know about Maximiano's first family. While living in Spartanburg in 1993 I was at home while Frank was at work (he worked in the evenings). I could feel someone there. It was funny because I knew who it was. He came to me because he wanted to be sealed to his first family too. It was very soon after this I was contacted by Sharon Halverson, one of his great granddaughters. She wanted to find out more about his first family...the one she came through. Together we were able to find out a lot of information. It was after that I was able to find a lot of genealogical information on the Vigil's too. It seemed like the flood gates opened. It was a real testimony to me that the folks on the other side of veil know who we are and are aware of what we are doing.

Maria Clemente Josefa Hortiz Rodriguez

This is the only picture we have of Clemencia Ortiz.

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Teddi, Jenni, Robby, Holli, Joshua, Amy, Andrew and Shea

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Denise, Felice, David

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Arthur Virgil/Anne Taft

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Maximiano Vigil/Maria Juana Ortiz

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?/Clemencia Ortiz

Tradition says Maria Juana's father was Antonio Saenz. In fact, we grew thinking her name was Maria Juana Saenz...until I tried to find her in the parish records and civil registration. No Maria Juana Saenz. I talked to Uncle Sammy Vigil who said, "Oh, didn't you know she was illegitimate?" The answer was "No!" I went back to the film records and found her birth/christening a year later than when she was born. Hence, the question mark next for the "spouse" of Clemencia Ortiz.

I have been told Clemencia was a very kind person. She was also blind.

The man in the picture's last name is Chano Saenz.

Maria Clemente Josefa Hortiz Rrodriguez was the daughter of Jose Brigido Ortis Santiesteban and Maria Toribia Ynes Rodriguez Chavez. She was born 26 Nov. 1861 in Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, Mexico. It appears she was third of seven daughters.

Unfortunately, I don't even know how many children Clemencia had. She died on 30 June 1954 at Belvedere, Los Angeles, CA. The informant for the information on her death certificate was Felipe Saenz. It says she was divorced.

Clemencia is buried at Calvary Cemetery 4201 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Photo of Absalom Taft

Absalom Taft was born 27 Mar 1841 in Mercer County, PA.

He died 8 Jan 1932 in Crawford County, WI

This is his second wife, Mary Pittsley.

We have other photos of him when he was younger... his first wife, Emeline Coleman died in 1888

Photos online of Ruel Taft and his family

I found these photos of our ancestors...Jon Walton is the son of Agnes Taft Walton. Agnes was Grandpa Taft's sister.

Here are the links to the photos...enjoy!

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jonwalton/TaftA/Taft4.html

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jonwalton/TaftA/TaftA.html

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jonwalton/OldTimers.html

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jonwalton/TaftC/TaftC.html

http://personalpages.tds.net/~jonwalton/TaftD/TaftD.html

Remembrances of Absalom Taft

Back in 1991 I thought it would be neat to ask my great aunts and uncles what they remembered about their grandfather, Absalom Taft. They great aunts and uncles were thrilled to write what they remembered. This is from them...

Howard Taft (Grandpa Taft's brother) wrote:

dated 7-23-91

Dear Felice,

Received your letter and was glad to hear from you. I will try to ans. it with what little I remember of grandfather. When I was a kid going to school we always stopped in to see them, my grandmother all ways made buckwheat pancakes for breakfast and I just loved them so I would always eat with them. She made to batter in the fall and used out of it all winter, each day adding a little new to it and kept it sitting on the warming oven of the stove.

He always had comb honey on hand and I loved it. He had an old phonegaraph that played clinder records and I alway liked to play it and it had a horn on it that the sound came from. He had a lawn swing and was always sitting in it and we would have to sit and talk a while with him and eat cookies with him.

He had a big grape vineyard and we could have all the grapes we wanted to eat but we couldn't pick them he had to, He also had lots of apple trees and we would pick some to eat on the way home. He was a big man and had a long white beard.

He was still alive when I first got married but I didn't get to see him so much as when I was younger as he only lived about 1/2 mile from us. This is about all I can remember.

With love

Great uncle Howard

Agnes Taft (Grandpa Taft's sister) wrote:

Dear Felice,

So nice to hear from you. It's a beautiful morning here. We have had very hot weather, and no rain.

You ask what I remembered about my Grandpa Taft. He has been dead a long time, but as a kid I remember him, he was a big man. I always remember he had white hair, and a long white beard. When I was little and going to school, we always had to stop and see them at night, and there was always homemade cookies for us. He had a big swing out in the yard and I remember sitting there with him. My real grandma was dead, but I had a step grandma. She was the only grandma I knew.

He had a big apple tree out back of the house, right by the old outdoor toilet, in the fall, it had big red apples, that were so good. We didn't know the name of them, so we kids always called them,

"The back house apples", nw we know they were called McIntosh. Maybe that's why they are my favorite apples, they are all good memories. But it's been so many years. I have forgotten many things about him.

Tell your folks hello, just talked to your grandma, she's same as always, don't see her very often.

Love,

Aunt Agnes

Teddi, Jenni, Robby, Holli, Joshua, Amy, Andrew, and Shea

Denise-Felice-David

Anne Taft/Arthur Virgil

Harley Taft/Hazel Copus

Ruel Benjamin Taft/Myrtle Roghers

Absalom Taft/Emeline Coleman

So Absalom is your 3rd great grandfather

Kingston's Old Dutch Church

From New Paltz, we journeyed to Kingston. We found the Old Dutch Church and were able to find the graves of Louis DuBois and his spouse...and Conrad Elmendorf and his spouse. We had lunch while in Kingston...an event we shall not soon forget!

Louis DuBois' House

The DuBois house was considered a "fort" because it has two ports for rifles to stick out if need be.

Visiting New York

As you well know, Denise, Jenni, Andrew, Shea and I were able to go visit New Paltz and Kingston, NY. We really wanted to see Louis DuBois' house...too bad we were there on the day it was closed! We were able to take some photos though...

French Huguenot Ancestors

I have gotten into our French lineage of late. It has inspired me to even learn French. I am enjoying it a lot!

I have found this information for a beginning on our ancestors:
"Wallerand du Bois, son of Antoine and Philipotte du Bois, first of his line to be by inheritance Seigneur both of La Bourse and of Beaufermez, married 1583, Madelein de Croix. Wallerand and Madeleine du Bois thus lived at the right place and the right time to have been the parents of Chretien du Bois, father of Louis, the emigrant to New York. For since the Parish Register of La Bassee (in which Wicres is situated) shows that Chretien du Bois had at least two sons older than Louis, who was born in 1626, Chretien could not have been born much later than 1600 at latest, not too late for the birth of a son to parents married in 1583.
http://www.vnla.com/vnl/gen/mcq/DuBois.htm

Catarinen [Catherine] Blanchan [Blanjean] was apparently born in the Province of Artois, France, the oldest child of Mattheu Blanchan and Magdalena Jorisse, who left France to escape persecution of Huguenots before 1647. Catarinen died 1713 in Kingston, Ulster County, N.Y. She married Louis du Bois 10 Oct. 1655 in Mannheim, Germany. They had 12 children. Catarinen was captured by Esopus Indians on 7 June 1663, along with three of her children, her sister Maria, Maria's child and other women and children of New Village (now Hurley, N.Y.). They were rescued three months later. Catarinen married second about 1698 to Jean Cottin. She moved to Kingston after second marriage.

Matheu Blanchan [Blanjean] was born in Noeuville-au-Corne, parish Ricame, Province of Artois, France, a son of Leonin and Isabeau (LeRoy) Blanchan. He died 7 March 1687/8 in Ulster County, N.Y. A Huguenot, he fled from Flanders to England before 16 May 1647, when daughter Magdelaine was baptised at the Walloon or Strangers' Church of Canterbury. He was in Mannheim, Germany, on the Rhine River by 1651. Matheu became burger (citizen) of Mannheim. He was among first deacons of French congregation formed in 1652. He arrived at New Amsterdam (New York) Apr. 26, 1660, on "De Vergulde Otter" (The Gilded Otter) with his wife and three minor children, and daughter Maria and her husband, Anthony Crispel. Blanchans were among first Huguenots in Ulster County. Early colonial records of New York, both Dutch and English, support conclusion that Blanchan was "aggressive and obstinate individual." He frequently was in court as both plaintiff and defendant and apparently nursed grudges for years. Also appears to have been successful businessman. Owned property in both America and England at time of death. He married Magdeleine Jorisse 15 Oct. 1633 in Catholic Church of Armentieres. They had six children, one of whom apparently died before they came to America.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kseitz/hugim.html

Louis du Bois was baptised 21 Oct. 1626 at Lille, parish church of Wicres, now in Province of Artois, France, a son of Chretien du Bois. The area is also known as Flanders. Louis died 1695/6 in Ulster County, N.Y., probably in Hurley. A Huguenot, he fled France to escape persecution at unknown date, but prior to 1655. Louis came to America with family in 1661 aboard the "St. Jeane Baptiste." he settled for a short time in Wiltwyck (Kingston), N.Y., before moving to the new, nearby town of Hurley. Both were then part of Dutch colony of New Netherland. In 1663, he fought Indians who had taken captive his wife, three children and other Huguenot settlers. He was leader of the 12 men (Duzine) who obtained 1677 patent for land that became New Paltz, N.Y., although he returned to Kingston or nearby Hurvey in 1686, leaving his sons to build up colony. Apparently a money lender. At some point after the British took over, he was removed from a position as local judge because of differences with the governor's assistant. He married Catarinen Blanchan 10 Oct. 1655 in Mannheim, Germany.

There is a lot more information. I have found myself really touched by their devotion to their religious convictions. I hope this summer to go to Paltz with Andrew, Shea, Denise and Jenni. 4/15/08