The Andrew John Cusac Family Newsletter--Issue 1

7. Most Wanted.
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1. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a forum for descendants of Andrew John Cusac to discuss our common Cusac family genealogy. Since we are all looking for the same information on this family, it has become obvious that it would be easier if there were one place that we could refer to for answers. This electronic newsletter is my response to this need. It will be published on an irregular basis and will vary in length. Nevertheless, it is free of charge and will provide a sounding board for anyone in the family looking for Cusac connections. Since it is published and circulated via e-mail, it greatly reduces the cost of postage and paper while at the same time speeding up the process considerably. With this as a starting point, I invite all of you to send in your questions, answers, corrections and comments. I'll do my best to get them into circulation among family members who have a genuine interest in tracing the origins and destiny of the descendants of Andrew John Cusac.
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2. A biography of John B Cusac son of Andrew John Cusac. This biography was sent to me from Janice Gonzales. Thanks Janice!

This information was furnished to James Robert Graham by Ralph L. Cusac of Chillicothe, Illinois.

According to his biographical sketch in the history of Muskingum County, Ohio by Everhardt, John B. Cusac was born in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, ca. 1796. Ralph made several trips to Bucks County and found no records of any kind to indicate that any of the Cusac name(or any variable spelling) lived there. He had not searched records of the Presbyterian Churches.

Before 1824 he left Pennsylvania and moved first to Putnam, Muskingum Co., where he learned fulling. About October 1824 moved to Newton Township. After 1824 worked his trade in small mill which was owned and operated by Remington & Slack.

The first actual record of his presence in Muskingum County, Ohio, was his appointment by the Court of Common Pleas to serve as executor of the estate of John Slack, along with Sarah, the widow of John Slack. This was in 1821. The Slack family was in Ohio at least by August 12, 1819 when a daughter Rachel was born there according to later Census Reports.

The appointment of John B. Cusac to serve as an executor would seem to indicate a very close tie to the Slack family, as later proven by his marriage to the second daughter Elizabeth in 1824. It may even be that John Cusac came to Muskingum Co. with the Slack family early in 1819.

Soon after the death of John Slack, John B. Cusac and Abner Slack, who was the oldest son, bought the mill property from the Slack estate and evidently a few years later John B. Cusac took control of the property. It was known as the Cusac Mills for several decades prior to the death of John B. in May of 1871. (I am assuming this is what was later known as Weller's Mill on Jonathan Creek and Old Town Road but there may have been other mills in the area-Janice)

In October 1824 John B. Cusac and Elizabeth Slack were married in Muskingum Co. by J. Crooks, a Justice of Peace. They farmed and worked the mill. He was a "fuller" by trade. Fulling was a process of changing the texture and suppleness of cloth and leather.

In 1840 John B. and Elizabeth made their first substantial purchase of land (other than the mill area) when they bought 114 acres from Abner Slack. Later purchases through the years brought his total holdings to about 320 acres by the time of his death in 1871.

John B. did not leave a will so court appointed executors were in charge of the division of assets. Records at the court house show that there was an appraisal of all personal property; a sale was held (names of the buyers are listed) and the proceeds were divided among the widow, Elizabeth, and the eight surviving children. Each child received about $80 from the sale of this personal property.

Over a period of the next five years the land was sold, mostly to Andrew Cusac, the oldest son. Evidently, this was done through a series of several deeds and exchanges of money. All of the children were living in Newton Township at that time except William and his wife, Amanda. They had moved to Wenona, Illinois in 1856.

Through most of his married life, John B. Cusac was a Justice of the Peace and performed many marriages in that capacity. Held office of township trustee for many years and was identified with the township clerk's office for a number of years.

The agricultural census of 1850 for Muskingum County shows that John B. Cusac operated the grist portion of the mill, receiving about 2000 bushels of wheat, 1300 bushels of corn and 1300 bushes of buckwheat. 400 barrels of flour were produced with a value of $2,500. His son, Andrew, supervised the sawmill where 1000 logs were processed into wood and lumber products valued at $5,600. Both sections of the mill were powered by the water of Jonathan Creek and a total of 4 people were employed. In addition there were the farms to be cared for.

They were married by J. Crooks

He was universally esteemed and respected, was a gentleman of great business acumen and had customers from a wide area of the county. Politically first a Whig and then a Republican.

He is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Newton Township, Muskingum County, Ohio."

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3. An obituary for Sarah E (Cusac) Reed (daughter of Daniel, son of Andrew John Cusac) found in Monday, December 21, 1914 The Findlay Morning Republican, p. 3

AGED WOMAN IS CALLED BY DEATH -
Mrs. Sarah E. Reed Dies at 88 Years
After Long Illness From Heart Trouble.
RESIDENT OF COUNTY NEARLY ENTIRE LIFE-
Member of Presbyterian Church for
Many Years - Two Brothers
Survive

Mrs. Sarah E. Reed, 88, died at her residence, 220 West Lincoln street at 6:30 Sunday morning from heart trouble. She had been in ill-health for about a year and bedfast for about six weeks.

Before her marriage, Mrs. Reed was Miss Sarah E. Cusac and as a member of the of the best known families in Hancock county, she had a wide acquaintance. She was the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Daniel Cusac, and was born in Perry county, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1826. With her parents, she moved to Hancock county when she was twelve years old and had resided her ever since.

Lived in Findlay Many Years.

Her parents resided on a farm in Liberty township. When she was married to John Reed, she continued to live in Liberty township. Her husband died thirty years ago and shortly afterward she moved to Findlay purchasing the property on East Lincoln street where she had lived since that time. She had no children.

Mrs. Reed was a member of the Presbyterian church all her life. When a resident of Liberty township she attended the Blanchard Presbyterian church and after coming to Findlay she joined the First Presbyterian church.

Those Who Survive

She is survived by two brothers, William Cusac, of Liberty township, and Captain Isaac Cusac, of McComb. Six other brothers and sisters are dead. They are: John Cusac, James Cusac, Mrs. Mary Ann Mulford, Mrs. Nancy Cooper, Mrs. Jenliza Cooper, and Mrs. Margaret Poe.

Almost ever since she moved to Findlay her nephew, M. C. Kelley, has resided with her. He was her companion when he was but a boy and continued to live in her home after his marriage and until her death.

The funeral service will be at the home at 10:30 o’clock Tuesday morning.

Dr. W. F. Dickens-Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.

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4. Obituary of Allen Cooper (Jane Eliza, Daniel J, Andrew John) found in The Findlay Morning Republican, Thursday, July 3, 1919 p. 12

ALLEN COOPER IS DEAD AT 84 YEARS
Was First White Male Child Born in Portage Township -
Well Known as Lumber Dealer.

Due to complications of diseases Allen Cooper died at the Home and Hospital at 7:30 yesterday morning at the age of 84 years. He was the first white male child born in Portage township and was the son of John Cooper and Eliza Jane Cusac.

As a lumber dealer he was well known having owned a planing mill for many years in McComb. Since his wife’s death four years ago he has resided with his children and his sister, Mrs. Mose McAnelly, of Washington avenue. W. E. Cooper, an attorney of this city, and Mrs. H. Walter Doty, of Chattanooga, Tenn., are his children and James Cooper of Knoxville, Tenn., and John Cooper, of north of this city, are his brothers. Funeral services will be held Friday.

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5. Biography of Allen Cooper (Jane Eliza, Daniel J, Andrew John).

ALLEN COOPER, manufacturer, McComb, was born in Portage

Township, this county, September 18, 1834. eldest child of James and Jane Eliza (Cusac) Cooper. (A sketch of his parents appears in this volume, and for a more extended history of his mother's family see biography of Hon. I. Cusac of McComb.) Our subject received a common school education and worked on the farm till he was twenty-one years old When he embarked in the saw-mill business in company with J. Cusac. The latter sold his interest after one year, to Joshua Simon, and the partnership of Allen Cooper and Joshua Simon lasted for twenty-one years. They did a successful business, dealing in hard lumber, sashes, doors, blinds and shingles. Mr. Simon subsequently sold out and in 1881 W. P. Cooper bought a third interest and the firm style is now Cooper & Bro. Our subject was married, in 1859, to Rebecca, daughter of William Ritter, whose parents were natives of Switzerland. This union has been blessed with eight children, only two of whom now survive: Ida L., wife of Prof. H. W. Doty, superintendent of the McComb high schools, and W William E. , at home. Mr. Cooper served two terms as trustee of Pleasant Township. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. ; in politics a Democrat.

p. 828 HISTORY of HANCOCK COUNTY OHIO. CONTAINING A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, VILLAGES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, INDUSTRIES, ETC.; PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN; BIOGRAPHIES; HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY; HISTORY OF OHIO ; STATISTICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTER, E'TC., ETC,
ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: WARNER. BEERS & CO., 1886.

6. Census Records for Daniel Cusac (son of Andrew John) and his wife Sarah Sellers:

1820 Clayton Township, Perry Co, OH p. 14
Daniel Kusick: 1 male to 10; 1 male 26 - 45; 3 females to 10; 2 females 16 - 26, 1 person in manufacturing

1830 Clayton Township, Perry Co, OH p. 390
Daniel Cusac: 1 male under 5, 1 male 10-15; 1 male 40-50; 1 female under 5; 1 female 5-10; 2 female 10-15; 1 female 15-20; 1 female 40-50

1840 Liberty Township, Hancock Co, OH p. 46
Daniel Cusack: 2 males 5-10; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 50-60; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 15-20; 1 female 40 - 50

1850 Liberty Township, Hancock Co, OH p. 779/390 (04 Sep 1850) household 17
Daniel Cusac, 60, m, farmer, $2000 real estate, born Pa, married within the year
Sarah Cusac, 56, f, born Pa, married within the year
Sarah E, 23, f, born O, attended school within the year
James M, 18, m, farmer, b. O, attended school within the year

William, 16, farmer, b. O

1860 Liberty Township, Hancock Co, OH p. 2/3 (02 June 1860) household 18
Daniel Cusic, 70, m, farmer, $3000 real estate, $500 personal estate, b. PA
Sarah 66, f, b. Pa, insane
Sarah Ellen, 33, f, b. O
Malissa Loy, 11, f, b. O, attended school within the year

1870 Liberty Township, Hancock Co, OH p. 2 household 13
Sarah Cusac, 76, F, keeping house, $4600 real estate, $500 personal property, b. Penn

1880 Liberty Township, Hancock Co, OH p. 416B/18 Enumeration District 178, 18-19 June
household 144
Sarah Cusac, white, female, 86y, widowed, keeping house, b. Penna, father b. Penna, mother b. Penna

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7. Most Wanted.

What information would you most like to find? Send me an email with your query and I will place it in the newsletter. Maybe someone has the answer!

I for one am still searching for Isaac Cusac in the 1850 census. Isaac is the son of Daniel Cusac and Sarah Sellers. Isaac lived in Hancock County, Ohio except for a brief time. I would like to know where he was during the 1850 census. He returned to Hancock County, Ohio by 26 August 1851 when he married Sarah Van Eman daughter of the Rev. George Van Eman.

I would also like to know how many descendants of Andrew John Cusac were in any form of military service.

What question would you like answered?

That's it for issue #1. If you come across any obituaries, documents, essays, photographs, weddings, births, or stories on your line from Andrew John Cusac that you would like to share, please pass them along to me. Feel free to forward this newsletter to others in the family who may have an interest in Andrew John Cusac's history or genealogy. Free back issues will be available for the asking. Do you have a question you want asked of the group? Email it to me and I'll include it in the next issue. Email: skratze@wcnet.org or skratze@bgnet.bgsu.edu Best wishes... Sheila