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1. Biography of Jesse Carnes

2. Alfred Cookson’s Obituary

3. Mifflin Cusac’s Civil War Service

4. William D Martin’s Will

5. An update on William and Jane (Cusac) Martin’s final resting place

6. A study of William and Jane Martin’s death records

1. Biography of Jesse Carnes (husband of Mary V Cusac, William, Andrew John?)

J. CARNES, lumber dealer, firm of Carnes & McCord, Paris; was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Dec. 29, 1828, where he resided until 1869, when he removed to Richland Co., Ill., engaging in the lumber business. During his early life, he obtained a good education, and, his father being a merchant, he learned business with him, and began for himself at the age of 20, and married Miss Amanda McFarland January, 1848, and followed plane-making which business he had previously learned. His wife passed away in October, 1865, leaving six children. His present wife was Miss Mary V. Cusick, of Ohio ; they were married March 23, 1867; he has two children by present wife. They came to Paris in April, 1878; He is a man of good physical as well as mental powers; social and genial, energetic and industrious, the result of which is a large property, many friends and a flourishing business, which he is now enjoying. His residence is one of the finest of Paris . He has always interested himself in such public matters as pertain to the good of the community in which he has lived, and is a much respected citizen.

The History of Edgar County , Illinois . Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, Jr., 1879. p. 567

2. Alfred Cookson’s Obituary (Alfred Cookson, Mary Rodman, Roseann Cusac, Andrew John)

“Rites at Roseville for A. B. Cookson

Funeral services for A. B. Cookson, 93, oldest resident of Roseville, will be held at 2:30 o’clock Monday afternoon at the Roseville Lutheran church with Rev. W. E. Burhholtz officiating. Burial will be in the Roseville cemetery.

Mr. Cookson died Friday evening at his home following six months’ illness of complications.

A native of Perry county, Mr. Cookson had resided in Roseville for the last 30 years. He also was a member of the Roseville Lutheran church.

Surviving are a son, Fred Cookson, of Columbus ; a step-son, Earl Earhart, of Roseville ; two grand-daughters, Miss Margaret Cookson, of Chicago , Ill. , and Miss Dorothy Cookson, of Columbus ; a grandson, Gerald Cookson, of Roseville ; a great-grandson, Ronald Cookson, of Roseville , and several nieces and nephews.

The body was removed to the Cannon & Cannon funeral home at Roseville where it will remain until time for the services.”

Saturday 06 April 1940 Zanesville Signal, The ( Zanesville , Ohio ) p. 10

3. Mifflin Cusac’s Civil War Service (William Cusac, Andrew John?)

As yet we have not determined how Mifflin is related to our Cusac family. He is the son of William Cusac and Sarah Hagarty. I am unsure how or if William is related to Andrew John and Jane ( Moore ) Cusac.

Mifflin H Cusac enlisted as a private in Co B 30^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry ( Union ) on 16 August 1861 at the age of 23. He was promoted to Full Sergeant. He died of wounds on 15 August 1864 in Marietta , Georgia . He is buried in plot G, 8073 in Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb Co, GA.

I would speculate that he was most likely injured and subsequently died during the siege of Atlanta that took place 22 July to 25 August 1864. His mother Sarah (Hagarty) Cusac “Sarah Cusick” filed for “Mifflin H Cusick’s” pension on 10 September 1864 application #64,512 certificate #56,808. I have sent for this file. I am hoping it will shed some light on his relationship to our line.

Regimental History of the OHIO THIRTIETH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Thirtieth Infantry. - Cols., John Groesbeck, Hugh Ewing, Theodore Jones; Lieut.-Cols., George H. Hildt, Emerson P. Brooks; Majs., John Ferguson, David Cunningham, Charles Townsend.

This regiment was organized at Columbus , in Aug., 1861, to serve for three years. It was armed and equipped immediately and on Aug. 30 was ordered to the field. The next day found the regiment at Benwood , Va. , and on Sept. 2 it reached Clarksburg . Two companies were left at Big Birch bottoms and the remainder of the regiment moved on to Carnifix Ferry, where a sharp engagement took place. During the winter the regiment worked upon fortifications, which were upon several occasions of signal benefit to the army. In the following August (1862) it joined the army in eastern Virginia and participated in the severe engagement at South Mountain , losing 18 men killed and 48 wounded. At Antietam the regiment lost 2 commissioned officers killed and 2 wounded, 8 men killed and 37 wounded. Being transferred the western field of operations, from May 18, 1863, until the surrender of Vicksburg it was engaged in demonstrations against the enemy's works and in fatigue and picket duty. The casualties of the 30th during the siege were1 commissioned officer killed and 6 wounded, 6 men killed and 48 wounded. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment marched to Jackson and upon the evacuation of that place by the Confederates it returned as far as the Big Black river and went into camp. Sept. 24 (1863) found it in position in front of Missionary Ridge and the next day, in company with a detachment of the 4th W. Va., it assaulted and carried the outer line of the enemy's works. Later in the day the 30th and 37th Ohio made two unsuccessful assaults on the works on Tunnel hill, the 30th losing 39 men killed and wounded. Veteranizing and being furloughed home, it rejoined the army at the beginning of the Atlanta campaign and was under fire at Dallas and at Kennesaw Mountain . In an attack at the latter place on June 27, 1864 it lost 35 men killed and wounded. In the engagement at Atlanta on July 22, 1864 it lost 27 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. On the 28th (July 1864) the regiment maintained its ground manfully and lost 30 men killed and wounded. The enemy abandoned a stand of colors under the regiment's fire and 105 dead Confederates were picked up in its immediate front. In the engagement at Jonesboro the 30^th lost 25 killed and wounded. On Dec. 13, 1864 it was in front of Fort McAllister , where at a given signal all moved forward to the crest of the works and engaged the enemy in a hand-to-hand conflict. The regiment then participated in the Carolina campaign, and after the surrender of Lee and Johnston it was retained on guard duty until Aug. 13, 1865, when it was mustered out.

The Union Army, vol. 2

Mifflin is listed among the Civil War veterans from Licking Twp, Muskingum Co, OH.

30 May 1945 Zanesville Signal, The ( Zanesville , OH ) p. 5

4. William D Martin’s Will (husband of Jane Cusac, Andrew John)

Last Will and Testament of William D Martin

In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I William D. Martin of Liberty township, Hancock county, Ohio, do make my last will and testament, in the manner following: First that just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid. Second, I give and bequeat to my beloved wife, Jane Martin, all my property both real and personal not hereinafter executed, to have and control during her natural life, and after her just debts and funeral expenses are fully paid, then to be divided as follows: Third after my wife’s deth, my farm and all my property to be sold and disposed of as follows: First Five Hundred Dollars to M. Christena Forker, a girl that is now living with us, provided she remains with us while we live; the ballance of the proceeds of my property to be divided as follows: first, Five Dollars to be paid to William Martin Black; One seventh part to Matthew Black; one Seventh part to Ann Jane Martin; one seventh part to William Henry Martin; one seventh to David Mitchel Martin; one seventh to John W Martin; one sevent to Manerva Martin; One seventh to Mary Martin, children of David Martin, deceased. Fourth, and lastly this is to revoke all former wills made by me, and further, I apoint Jane Martin and William Cusac sen my executors of this, my last Will and Testament. In Testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 7” of January 1875 William D. Martin

Signed in Presence of us. John Cooper, Jennie Cole.

Codicil

Whereas I, William D. Martin, on the 7” day of January 1875, made my last Will and Testament of that date do hereby declare that following to be a codicil to the same. Item 1^st I do hereby give and bequeath to John S. Kissell Fourty acres off the west side of my farm, and hereby authorize my executors, Jane Martin and William Cusac to make said Kissell, a warrantee deed for the same, provided said John S. Kissell will take care of me and my said wife Jane Martin, during our lives, and furnish us with all necessary means of support. In testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 17” day of July A.D. 1875. William D (his X mark) Martin (seal)

Signed and acknowledged by said William D. Martin, as his last will and testament in our presence; and signed by us in his presence Wm. L. Miller, J. H. Johnston

Probate of Will – State of Ohio , Hancock County , ss. Testimony, Taken in the Probate Court in and for said county as proof of the last will and Testament of William D. Martin, late of said County, deceased. On this 1_” day of August, A.D. 1875 personally appeared, in open court, John Cooper and Jennie Cole, the subscribing witnesses to the last will and testament of said William D. Martin, deceased, bearing date on the 7” day of January A.D. 1875, and being duly sworn and examined, depose and say that they were present at the execution of the said last Will and Testament of William D. Martin hereunto attached; that they saw the said testator subscribe said Will, and heard him acknowledge his signature and that the said testator, at the time of executing the same, was of full age and of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint; request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other. Jennie Cole. John Cooper. Which Which said testimony was reduced to writing subscribed and sworn to by said witnesses, in open Court the day and year first above written.

Attest S. B. Huffman Probate Judge

Proof of Codicil State of Ohio, Hancock County, ss. Testimony, Taken in the Probate court in and for said county in proof of the codicil to the last will and testament of William D. Martin, late of said county, deceased, On this 26” day of July, A. D. 1875, personally appeared in open Court, Wm. L. Miller and John H. Johnston, the subscribing witnesses to the last will and testament of said William D. Martin, deceased, bearing date on the 17” day of July, A.D. 1875, and being duly sworn and examined, depose and say that they were present at the execution of the said codicil to the last Will and Testament of William D. Martin hereunto attached; that they saw the said testator subscribe said Will, and heard him acknowledge his signature, and that the said testator, at the time of executing the same, was of full age, and of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint; and that they signed the same as witnesses, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other. Wm. L. Miller, J. H. Johnston. Which said testimony was reduced to writing subscribed and sworn to by said witnesses in open Court date and year first above written. S. B. Huffman Probate Judge

I have done a little research and found that Matthew and William Martin Black were the children of Israel Black. I have yet to discover the relationship between Israel and William and Jane Martin. Could Israel have been a nephew?

I have also not found the connection between William and David Martin the father of the Martin children listed in William’s will. I speculate that David is either a brother or nephew to William.

From William and Jane’s census records (listed in issue #5) it appears that they didn’t have any children of their own who lived to adulthood so probably David Martin is not their son. However, it is possible that David is William’s son if William was previously married.

Hancock County , Ohio Probate Court, Record of Wills, Volume 3 p. 307-308

5. An update on Jane Cusac Martin’s final resting place. (Andrew John Cusac)

I finally was able to visit the gravesite of William and Jane Cusac Martin. They are both buried in the Indian Green Cemetery located in Liberty Twp, Hancock Co, OH. The cemetery is located on State Route 224 on the south side of the road just west of the junction with State Route 186. The cemetery is partially hidden from the road as it is on a curve and it is located in the woods.

William and Jane share the same headstone. When the DAR (in the1950’s) and the Hancock County Genealogical Society (in 1999) read the cemetery they must not have noticed Jane’s inscription on the backside of the stone (east side). There was a faint verse on the north side of the stone.

William’s inscription is on the west side of the stone:

William D. Martin 18 July 1875 aged 83 years 8 months 11 days

Jane’s inscription is on the east side of the stone:

Jane Martin 12 September 1876 aged 83 years 5 months 25 days

I found the following about the land where the cemetery is located:

“The writer learns from Nelson Poe and William H. Fountain, that when the first settlers came into Liberty Township they found a tract of cleared land, covering about twelve acres, on the north bank of the Blanchard in Section 7, some of which had apparently been under cultivation, and was called by the pioneers "Indian Green." An Indian graveyard was located here, and also an orchard of plum trees, which supplied the neighbors with that fruit. Several pioneers have stated it was the general impression among the first settlers that an Indian village once flourished at this point. The Ottawas had two villages still farther down the river, in what is now Putnam County , and it is believed the Wyandots had a settlement at Indian Green, whence they removed, in 1818, to Big Spring Reservation. It is a well attested fact that the Indians occasionally visited the old burying-ground, and guarded the remains of their ancestors buried here with jealous care. Mr. Poe says his father told him that a pioneer named Ellison settled with his family on this tract at an early day, and after building a cabin began the work of opening the graves for the purpose of obtaining the valuables supposed to be buried with the Indian dead. The Indians soon heard of this desecration, and at once visited Ellison, and so thoroughly frightened him by threats of retaliation that he deserted his cabin and "silently stole away." The wagon road along the north bank of the river passes through this old Indian cemetery, no trace of which now remains.”

HISTORY of HANCOCK COUNTY OHIO . CHICAGO : WARNER. BEERS & CO., 1886. p. 427

When I was there I noticed what appeared to be an Indian grave marker. It was a pole with a feather attached.

An odd note about the cemetery: the marked graves are on the outer edges of the cemetery with a clearing in the center. Could the famed Indian burials be in the center? If not I wonder what was the purpose of the clearing?

6. A Study of William and Jane (Cusac) Martin’s death records.

I checked the Hancock Co Probate Death Records and found the following:

William D Martin d. 18 July 1875 Liberty Twp; 83y, 6 mos.; born PA; farmer; cause of death: gravel

Hancock County , OH Probate Court Death Records, Vol. 2 p. 4 #135

William’s death record verifies the death date on his tombstone. However, there is a discrepancy in his age at death. His tombstone has his age at 83 years, 8 months, and 11 days. According to this his birth date would have been 07 November 1791. His death record gives his age as 83 years, 6 months, no days listed. If we go by this age (assuming 83y, 6m, 0 days) he would have been born about 18 January 1792. Until there is more proof of his age at death I will list his birth date as between 07 November 1791 and 18 January 1792.

William’s cause of death was listed as “gravel”. Gravel is the passage of small stones formed in the kidney with the urine. While he probably had been afflicted with kidney stones it was probably not the actual cause of his death.

Jennie Martin d. 11 September 1876 Liberty Twp; 84y, 6 mos.; born PA; married; cause of death: inflammation of bowels

Hancock County, OH Probate Court Death Records, Vol. 2 p.10 #397

First of all we have to assume that this “Jennie” is actually Jane (Cusac) Martin. I found no other death record for any other Martin’s that fit the date and name as closely as this one does. If this is Jane there is a discrepancy in the date she died and her age at death. Her tombstone has 12 September 1876 with her age as 83 years, 5 months, and 25 days. According to this, her birthday would have been 18 March 1793.

If we go by the death record for Jennie Martin who died 11 September 1876 aged 84 years, 6 months, and 0 (not filled in) days her birth date would have been about 11 March 1792. Until there is more information found, I will list Jane’s birth date as between 11 March 1792 and 18 March 1793 and her death date as between 11 –12 September 1876.

The death record has that she was married. I am not sure if this means she was married at the time of her death or if it means just that she was married at some point in her lifetime. If this were Jane’s death record she would have been a widow at the time of her death.

Jane/Jennie’s cause of death was listed as “inflammation of bowels”. An inflammation is described as redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat and disturbed function of the area of the body. In the last century, cause of death often was listed as inflammation of a body organ but this was purely a descriptive term and is not helpful in identifying the actual underlying disease. It was a symptom and not the actual disease.

Note: The microfilm I used was from a typed copy of the death records. It was not from the actual records. I will try to locate the microfilm with the actual handwritten death records to determine if there were any transcription errors

That's it for issue #7. 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