Switzerland County, Indiana
Surnames: Armstrong, Burton, Chamberlin, Keene, McGuire, McKenzie, Marshall
I recently typed this up for a fellow researcher and felt it might be of
interest to the list. All of these families lived in Switzerland County at
one time or another.
E. D. Marshall came from Vermont to Indiana sometime between 1828 and 1847.
His brothers, Edwin and Dorwin Marshall, also born in VT, came to Indiana too.
Source: 1850 Census, Indiana
State: Indiana; County/Parish: Switzerland; Township/Ward/Beat: York
Township; Post Office: ?; Date of Enumeration: 15 Oct 1850; Publication
No.: M-432; Reel No. 174
Page: 472; Dwelling No.: 1070; Family No.: 1070
Names:
E. D. Marshall; age 28; sex: male; Color: [blank]; Occupation: F. Boatman;
Value of real estate: 125; Birthplace: Vt
Rebekah Marshall; age 25; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Mary L. Marshall; age 3; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Edwin D. Marshall; age: 1; sex: male; Birthplace: Ind
Edwin Marshall; age 22; sex: male; Birthplace: Vt <-- brother to E. D. Marshall
Source: 1860 Census, Indiana
National Archives, Extract from 1860 Census - Switzerland County, Indiana,
(National Archives: M-653; Reel No. 299), 87, State: Indiana;
County/Parish: Switzerland; Township/Ward/Beat: Florence York Township;
Post Office: Florence; Date of Enumeration: 28 July 1860; Publication No.
M-653; Reel No.: 299
Dwelling No.: 653; Family No.: 642;
Dorwin Marshall; age: 34; sex: male; Occupation: Pilot; Value of real
estate: 600; Value of personal property: 100; Birthplace: Vt
Elizabeth Marshall; age: 27; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Cindrella Marshall; age: 4; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Fredrick K. Marshall; age: 3; sex: male; Birthplace: Ind
Joseph Marshall; age; 1; sex: male; Birthplace: Ind
Polly Phillips; age: 70; sex: female; Birthplace: KY. < -- I have no idea
who this is.
E. Dormand Marshall grew up in Switzerland County, Indiana and married
Rebecca Keene. Rebecca Keene was the daughter of William C. Keene. William
C. Keene was pretty famous (infamous) in Indiana. Remind me to send you
short bio on him. In a nutshell he was a War of 1812 hero, pioneer printer
in Pennsylvania and Indiana, Postmaster, Probate Court Judge, Militia
Brigadier Genera l and Federal Felon (robbed the mail and was later
pardoned by Pres. Van Buren). He had at least two other daughters both of
whom married brothers. Indiana Keene who married Renselar Chamberlin and
Eliza C. Keene married Jared Chamberlin.
Source: Indiana State Library Genealogy Division, Indiana Marriages Through
1850, (On-line database), "Electronic," L-M, MARSHALL, Dormond; KEENE,
Rebecca; County: Switzerland; Date: 2-19-1844.
Source: Larry Sheuer, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, INDIANA MARRIAGE RECORDS
1814-1885, (Scheuer Publications; 722 E. Center St.; Warsaw, IN 46580;
Published 1994), 61, 3643 Chamberlin, Renssalaer Keen, Indiana 16 Sep 1833.
Source: Larry Sheuer, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, INDIANA MARRIAGE RECORDS
1814-1885, (Scheuer Publications; 722 E. Center St.; Warsaw, IN 46580;
Published 1994), 61, 3642 Chamberlin, Jared Keen, Eliza C. 28 Feb 1833.
The Marshall family lived in Florence, Indiana at the time of the 1860
census. It shows that Rebecca and Dormond (listed as E. D.) had four
children, all born in Indiana, ranging in age from 3 to 14. Dora was the
youngest.
E. D. Marshall; age: 39; sex: male; Occupation:River Pilot; Value of real
estate: 600; Value of personal property: 100; Birthplace: Vt.
Rebecca Marshall; age: 34; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Mary L. Marshall; age: 14; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind
Edward D. Marshall; age: 11; sex: male; Birthplace: Ind
Leslie K. Marshall; age: 6; sex: male; Birthplace: Ind
Dora N. Marshall; age: 3; sex: female; Birthplace: Ind.
Source: National Archives, Extract from 1860 Census - Switzerland County,
Indiana, (National Archives: M-653; Reel No. 299), 89, State: Indiana;
County/Parish: Switzerland; Township/Ward/Beat: Florence York Township;
Post Office: Florence; Date of Enumeration: 28 July 1860; Publication No.
M-653; Reel No.: 299
Dwelling No.: 472; Family No.: 641;
Dora's oldest sister Mary Louise Marshall married William Burton (shows up
as Berton on the married index) on 16 January of 1862. She would have been
approximately 16 years old at the time.
Source: Mrs. James S. Knox; Ruth M. Sleven, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, INDIANA
MARRIAGE RECORDS 1831 - 1885, Part I Grooms - 279, 16 Jan 1862; BERTON,
William; MARSHALL, Mary L.; Book 1; Page 221.
William was from Pennsylvania (we think) and was about 31 years old at the
time of the marriage (May - June affair: could this be the source of family
strife?).
Source: Family Bible of Jesse Belle McGuire Burton, William D. Burton born
28 Dec 1831.
You may recall from my earlier mail message, the early and unfortunate
death of Mary Louise (Marshall) Burton. the Indiana Reveille tells it like
this:
Source: "Indiana Reveille," Vevay, Switzerland County, Indiana, Thursday,
May 26, 1864, "Woman Drowned.
Last Sunday [Sunday, May 22, 1864 afternoon a lady named Mrs. Mary L.
Burton, was drowned at Florence, in this county. We learn that she was
stepping from a skiff to a wharf boat, when on of her feet slipped, and she
feel in the river, her head striking the wharf boat, when she sunk, and
was not seen to rise again. She had a child in her arms at the time of
falling, but threw it on the wharf boat. The child was saved."
Her husband William Burton was away in the war fighting for the Union.
Family history has it that he fought with a Kentucky Infantry unit. I have
some evidence which shows that he deserted this unit and later joined the
famous Ellet's Marines within the Mississippi River Brigade only to desert
from them. He disappears after that.
Family history has it that the Marshall family disapproved of the marriage
and certainly of William Burton. As the story goes, Dora, her mother, or
both of them wrote to William while he was away and told him of the
terrible tragedy, neglecting to mention that young William was saved. Poor
William the elder, thinking his wife and child perished, never ever
returned. Young William was raised by his Aunt Dora and Grandmother.
According to the Family Bible of Jesse Belle (McGuire) Burton, William
Marshall Burton was born 15 Sep 1862. This is also supported by his obituary.
William M. Burton married Jesse Bell McGuire on 16 October, 1888 in
Gallatin County, Kentucky (right across the river from Vevay and Florence,
Indiana). Jesse Bell was born on June 6, 1863.
It is interesting to note who the witnesses to this marriage were:
Witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Marshall. Eddie Marshall is most probably
Edward Marshall, Dora Marshall's brother and William's Uncle. Source: Copy
of Marriage Certificate in possession of Sally Weales Clyde
Other Sources:
Family Bible of Jesse Belle McGuire Burton, Jesse Bell McGuire born 06 Jun
1863. Marriage Certificate - William Marshall Burton & Jesse Bell McGuire,
William Marshall Burton married Jesse Bell McGuire on 16 Oct 1888 in
Warsaw, Gallatin County, Kentucky.
William and Jesse were married and lived long enough to celebrate their
golden wedding anniversary.
I don't know when she died, but he died on April 22, 1922 at Connersville,
Indiana. Source: Obituary for William M. Burton, William M. Burton died in
Connersville, Indiana on 22 Apr 1922.
Further subterfuge by the Marshall's continued through to the death of
young William Marshall Burton. In his initiatory they apparently lied
(strong family belief) about his demise to hide the possible shame of his
desertion: "His father, a soldier of the Kentucky Regulars was killed in an
engagement in the war of the Rebellion."
Source: Hand written obituary for William Marshall Burton in possession of
Sally Weales Clyde
Note: Alternate spellings - Jessie and Jesse
Jessie: Marriage Certificate, Application for Marriage, etc.
Source: Family bible of Jesse Bell McGuire Burton -- in possession of
Jennifer Weales McGuirl
Jesse Bell Burton b: 06 Jun 1863
When Jesse Bell Burton died, her obituary appeared in the paper. My
grandmother had the clipping, but unfortunately did not record the date or
the paper. Here is a genealogical summary of that obituary:
Source: Type written copy of obituary for Jessie Belle McGuire
Born 06 June 1863 at Sulivan, IN the daughter of Amelia and Ambrose E. McGuire
Spent her childhood in Sulivan. Young woman in Florence where she met
William M. Burton, Oct 16 1888. Married life in Florence, IN and at Vevay
until 1920 when the parents removed to Connersville, IN. To this union were
born six children all who survive her: Edna Anderson; Mary L. Weales (my
grandmother) of Connersville and four sons: Howard, Royal, and Jesse of
Connersville and Gerald B. of Chicago. She was survived by seven
grandchildren and two sisters: Mrs. Elmer McKenzie and Mrs. Clarence
McKenzie both of Vevay. [Clarence was married to Maggie] and one brother
Ellison McGuire of Toledo. Husband died 22 Apr 1922 of accident. Died about
10:30 Sun 12 Aug of five month illness due to heart trouble. Member of
Central Christian Church [Connersville]. She was proud to be a mother of a
World War soldier [Howard?] and she found great pleasures in activities
with other war mothers of local organizations. [includes poem]
==> Have you noticed the trend to marry brothers?
Armstrong - Marshall
McKennzie - McGuire
Keene - Chamberlin
BACK TO DORA (you were wondering when this would happen, right?):
According to my grandmother, Dora had a sister Polly, and the two of them
married two brothers by the name of Armstrong. She could not remember their
names, but she was emphatic on this. I have not been able to find Polly (I
have only checked 1850, 1960 census) in census data nor have I found the
marriage record. Can you help with this one?
I was able to find at least one reference to Dora's marriage.
Dora Marshall married William C. Armstrong on 15 Feb 1882 in Switzerland
County.
Source: Mrs. James S. Knox; Ruth M. Sleven, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, INDIANA
MARRIAGE RECORDS 1831 - 1885, Part 1 Grooms - 279, 15 Feb 1882; ARMSTRONG,
William C.; MARSHALL, Dora V.; Book 4; Page 53.
I found William C. Armstrong's grave information, among many Weales,
Warden, Armstrong, etc. data, in the wonderfully rich cemetery inscriptions
book by Wanda Morford:
Wanda L. Morford, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, INDIANA CEMETARY INSCRIPTIONS
1817-1985, (Cincinnati, OH 1986), 202, The Vevay Cemetery - Section 8;
Armstrong, William C.., 1846 - 1916.
I interviewed my late grandmother, Mary (Burton) Weales over several years
before she passed away. She still seemed to remember a lot about the
family, but being young (I am 41 now and was in my mid teens then) and not
especially knowledgeable about what to ask for, I failed to get more than
the basics. My, how I wished I had captured some stories from her.
Here are some notes on the interviews with her and her son, my Uncle,
Professor Gerald Weales of Pennsylvania:
Source: Handwritten obituary for William Marshall Burton in possession of
Sally Weales Clyde
22 Apr 1922 Residence was Florence, IN at time of death of nephew, William
Marshall Burton
Source: Interview with Mary Louise Burton Weales
She and her (Dora) sister Polly married brothers (Armstrong). Dora raised
William Burton after her sister drowned in the Ohio river in Vevay, IN. She
wrote William's father while he was away in the war between the states and
told him that both his wife and son had died.
Source: Correspondence with Gerald Clifford Weales
"Yes Dora was Pa Bill's mother's sister. When she drowned, falling into
the Ohio and tossing the infant Bill to a bystander, her mother, the
formidable Mrs. Marshall (the Marshall family always thought the woman had
married beneath her when she married an itinerant Burton) wrote Burton,
in the army at the time, that both his wife and child had drowned and he
never returned to Vevay. I have always intended to try to find out
where he was discharged from the army to see if he started a new family
somewhere else, but I have never done it."
There seems some controversy over Dora Marshall Armstrong's middle name. It
is listed three different ways as the following shows:
Dora V - Marriage
Dora N - 1860 Census
Dora M - Cemetery
Sources: 1860 Census; Switzerland County IN Marriages 1814-1885;
Switzerland County, Indiana Cemetery Inscriptions 1817 - 1985
If you found any of this helpful, please stop by the Weales Family History
& Genealogy Web site and let us hear about it. Likewise, please leave any
queries concerning the surnames mentioned on the Family History and
Genealogy message board.
Weales Family History & Genealogy
http://www.wwclyde.com/wealesfamily
Spinning Weales Message Board
http://www.wwclyde.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi
I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can continue to shed light on
these lines. Thanks for the space.
Regards,
Shannon Clyde