The Rhoads Family

Through all the ancestry research I've done, most of it has been with surnames other than my own. The name I write day by day has yet to come up on a gravestone in all of my searching; and my life. I had never previously visited a grave of a Rhoads ancestor. While in Frame Cemetery we not only saw many Rhoads' but a J. Rhoads. I believe his name was James, but it was somewhat startling to see what could have been my name on a gravestone.

We had made it about half way there when I realized that I'd forgotten my camera. Both of them. So, I relied on my BlackBerry to take the photos, they're not half bad, but I would have been more comfortable and more photo oriented if I would have had my DSLR. Or even a point and shoot. But, I made it work with what I had. There aren't many photos but these are what I have.

Back to the ancestry at hand...

My great-grandparents are Loy Rhoads (b. 28 Jan 1906, Meeker, Ohio - d. Jul 1975, Enon, Ohio) and Floreine Spain  (b. 31 Mar 1904, Mingo, Ohio - d. 16 Dec 1993, Monroe, Michigan). They were married 19 Jun 1926 in Covington, Kentucky. The two of them are buried in Enon, Ohio. I have yet to visit their memorial, or those of the many other ancestors buried in the Dayton area.

Floreine's family is traced in my previous blog post on The Spain Family.

Loy's sister Lucy is buried in Frame Cemetery, Meeker, Ohio. She died in a tragic accident when her oven exploded, leaving three children.

She is buried next to her stepmother, Caddie Creviston Rhoads. Caddie married Homer Rhoads 18 Jun 1933, after the death of his first wife.

Loy's parents are Homer D Rhoads (b. 23 July 1884, Meeker, Ohio - d. 9 June 1967, Meeker, Ohio) and Della May Ducatt (b. 5 Dec 1886, Meeker, Ohio - d. 25 Nov 1931, Meeker, Ohio).

They were married 10 Jun 1905 in Marion, Ohio. A century later, on what would have been their 104th anniversary, my son was born, June 10.  I find that interesting, though the dates are sure to repeat throughout all these lives and events I have tracked.

The two of them are buried together in Frame Cemetery, Meeker, Ohio.

Next to them are two matching grave stones for children Clay and Ruth. They are siblings of Homer's, children of Absalom Perry Rhoads and Eliza Cathrine Wood. Clay was born 28 Sept 1889 and died 14 Jan 1907. Ruth was born 9 Sept 1894 and died in 1895.

Della May's parents are Anthony J Ducatt (b. 30 Apr 1850, Ohio - d. 19 Sept 1934, Meeker, Ohio) and Minerva Jane Guthery (b. 5 Aug 1852, Marsailes, Ohio - d. 27 Sept 1934, Meeker, Ohio). The two of them were married 14 Oct 1871. They, too, are buried in Frame Cemetery.

Early on in my research I noticed that Homer had a rough 4 years. In 1931, he lost his mother, father, and wife. He remarried in 1933, then in 1934 he lost his first father and mother in-law, both in September of that year. The following year, his daughter Lucy died. When looking at dates it seems easy to skip over the timeline of the events, but I think you get a better idea of what life was like for your ancestors when you link the events to each other.

Anthony Ducatt's parents were Anthony Wayne Ducatt, born about 1853 in Michigan, and Margaret, born in Michigan. I don't have much on them.

Minerva's parents are William Guthery (b. 16 May 1817, Ohio - d. 20 Mar 1863, Ohio) and Lucinda Manville Cleveland (b. 15 Oct 1819, New York - d. 4 Aug 1879, Ohio). The two of them are buried in Guthery Cemetery, a bit south west of Meeker, near LaRue, Ohio.

 William's side.

                                                       Lucinda's side.
















Lucinda is said to be a direct descendant of Governor William Bradford of the Mayflower, whose son William (also her ancestor) was Major and Deputy-Governor of the Plymouth Colony.

Her family also includes a line to President Grover Cleveland, together they are related through Moses Cleveland, whose descendant founded Cleveland, Ohio.

Lucinda's parents are Silas Hall Cleveland (b. 22 Nov 1795 - d. 23 Apr 1875, Norton, Ohio) and Betsy Briggs (b. 2 May 1792). I attempted to find Silas' grave at Wyatt Cemetery, but it appears the cemetery isn't accessible. The plots are on what looks like private land, or an easement to the cemetery but I wasn't going to intrude.

William's parents are Joseph Guthery (b. 29 Mar 1790, USA - d. 5 Feb 1856, Ohio) and Hannah Dever (b. 18 Jan 1796, Kentucky - d. 7 Mar 1864, Ohio). They are also buried in Guthery Cemetery. They have two monuments, an original and what looks like a newer one for each.

Hannah's parents are John Dever (b. about 1766, Virginia - d. 10 Nov 1827, Ohio) and Hannah Cubberly (b. 25 June 1763 - d. 1834). They are buried in Dever Historical Cemetery in Lucasville, Ohio. This is on my list of places to get to.

Joseph's parents are John Guthery (b. 14 Apr 1744, Greene County Pennsylvania - d. 1 Jun 1823, Piketon, Ohio) and Lydia Baldwin (b. 16 Feb 1755, Greene County, Pennsylvania - d. 14 July 1816, Piketon, Ohio) They are buried together in Mound Cemetery, Piketon, Ohio. John's marker is at the top of a large burial mound. I have previously visited their memorial.

The Guthery line continues from there, but I will go back to where we left off in the Rhoads line, with Homer's parents; Absalom Perry Rhoads (b. 1843, Marion County, Ohio - d. 1931 Meeker, Ohio) and Eliza Catharine Wood (b. 21 June 1858, Ohio - d. 14 Jan 1931, Ohio) who were married 30 Nov 1877. They are buried behind Homer and Della May in Frame Cemetery.

Eliza Catharine's parents are Hampton Wood (b. 1814, New Jersey - d. 8 May 1889, Ohio) and Susannah Marsh (b. 25 Apr 1823 - d. 26 Apr 1878, Ohio).

Susannah's parents are Mahlon Marsh (d. 14 Mar 1852, Meeker, Ohio) and Mary A. Yeazell        (b. 19 Jun 1796, Virginia - d. 7 Mar 1858, Meeker, Ohio).

Hampton's parents are Isaac Wood and Sarah.

Back in the Rhoads line again, Absalom Perry's parents are George P. Rhoads (b. 1 Feb 1810, Ohio - d. 20 Jan 1884, Ohio) and Drussilla Yoakum (b. 4 Jan 1819, Meeker, Ohio - d. 25 July 1896). They are buried together in Frame Cemetery.

Drusilla's parents are Absolum Yoakum (b. 1794, West Virginia - d. 1877) and Rachel Hall. They are buried in Yoakam Cemetery. This is a small family cemetery on the top of a hill next to Dry Lane Road. It is both small and old, with an old wooden fence surrounding it. The grounds aren't maintained, as there are lots of weeds growing up around the memorials. To get to it you have to climb up the small hill through the weeds, though it's not too hard to access.

This is Rachel's stone, what's left to be read.

 And this is Absalom's.

The Yoakam line continues from there, Michael and Drussilla are Absalom's parents, and I don't know anything about Rachel's.

George's parents are James Rhoads (b. 17 Apr 1783 - d. 5 May 1845, Ohio) and Nancy Susannah McKelvy (b. 2 July 1781, Pennsylvania - d. 2 Apr 1850, Ohio).  I don't have much information on them.

There are always missing links and data in the process of ancestry research. I hope to find the answers I'm looking for as I casually search the internet and cemeteries on my way to things I already expect to find.

Thanks for reading!

The Ricketts Family

Friday I hit the road on a whim and went to visit the grave sites of the Ricketts/McGreevy side of the family.

Down OH-13 through Somerset to Junction City, I saw a few tar paper shacks, a few goats, and a few beautiful views of the hills of ohio.

I will try to organize this by generations, as I have before.

Grandma McGreevy's parents are Daniel W Ricketts (b. 16 Dec 1887 Monday Creek Township, Perry County, Ohio - d. July 1965) and Hazel G Starner (b. 5 Oct 1892 Perry County, Ohio - d. 1967)

Next to their plot is their son, Pearl, Grandma McGreevy's brother who died of disease (I believe Scarlet Fever) at age 7.

Most of Hazel's family is found here in New Lexington Cemetery, while the Ricketts line is mostly found in Friendship cemetery, so I will continue with the Starners.

Hazel's parents are Charles William Starner (b. 4 May 1870 Perry County, Ohio - d. 16 Mar 1947 Perry County, Ohio) and Malinda Thompson (b. 23 Sep 1869 Perry County, Ohio - d. 21 Feb 1951).

With them are their two sons, Morris (b. 1894 - d. 1894) and Cecil (b. 1895 - d. 1897).

I don't know much about Malinda's parents, so that line ends with her.

Charles' parents are Morris Starner (b. 24 May 1844 Perry County, Ohio - d. 30 Nov 1918 Perry County, Ohio) and Sarah Ann Burnside (b. 1844 Perry County, Ohio - d. 27 Aug 1923 Perry County, Ohio).

Their headstone has been broken, as you can see here,  however a photo can be found on Find a Grave.com of the stone held in tact.

As far as I know, Sarah's parents are Abraham Burnside (b. 13 Oct 1813 Fairfield County, Ohio) and Harriett Griggs (b. 1 Oct 1817 Sussex, New Jersey - d. 2 Oct 1853 Jackson Township, Perry County, Ohio). I have noted that Harriett is buried in Griggs Farm Cemetery, however the location of this is on private land and the best photo I can find online shows the stones in very poor shape, so identifying hers would likely be a challenge. I have more research to do in this line with the Burnside and Griggs families.

Morris' parents were Charles Starner (b. 15 Nov 1809 Smithfield, Pennsylvania - d. 25 Apr 1894 New Lexington, Ohio) and Rachel LaBar (b. 28 Apr 1808 Northampton County, Pennsylvania - d. 15 Mar 1850 New Lexington, Ohio)

This is the memorial for Charles and his second wife, Elizabeth. Rachel is buried in another cemetery at the First Methodist Church in New Lexington.  I didn't visit this cemetery on this trip.

Rachel's parents are George LaBar (b. 1763 - d. 1875) and Mary Magdalena Engle (b. 1769 Pennsylvania - d. 1835 Pennsylvania) They are buried together in central/eastern Pennsylvania at the Woodale United Methodist Church Cemetery. A book was written about George, because of his age of 112.

Charles' parents are Johan Geoge Starner (b. 7 Apr 1780 Northampton County, Pennsylvania - d. ) and Catharine M. VanVliet (b. 9 Jul 1787 Northampton County, Pennsylvania - d. 18 Aug 1823 Lower Smithfield, Pennsylvania). More information can be found on this line here. The only non-US born ancestor I can find here came from Germany.

This brings us back to the Ricketts family. Daniel W Ricketts' parents are Ignatious Wesley Ricketts (b. 21 Feb 1862 Perry County, Ohio - d. May 1951 Perry County, Ohio) and Margaret Cagretta Hill (b. 17 July 1866 Westmorland County, Pennsylvania - d. 19 Oct 1946 Perry County, Ohio). I found the memorial for Margaret in New Lexington Cemetery, however it seems I didn't find Ignatious.

I know little about Margaret's parents. Ignatious' parents are John Wesley Ricketts (b. 18 June 1835 - d. 1 June 1863 Triune, Tennissee) and Keziah Harrison (b. 18 Oct 1836 - d. 7 Apr 1904). John died serving in the Civil War. They are buried separately, John next to his parents in Friendship Cemetery, and Keziah in Shawnee Cemetery.

Keziah's parents are still unknown to me. John's parents are Reverend Daniel Ricketts (b. 28 Dec 1812 Old Randolph County, Virginia - d. 19 July 1892 Monday Creek Township, Perry County, Ohio) and Lucy Wickizer (b. 22 Dec 1813 Delaware County, Ohio - d. 2 Apr 1888). They are buried together in Friendship Cemetery.

Lucy's parents are Conrad Wickizer (b. About 1775 Berks County, Pennsylvania - d. Aug 1842 Delaware County, Ohio) and Lydia Weeks (b. 6 Oct 1781 - d. 28 May 1867 Perry County, Ohio).

Daniel's parents are Ignatious Wesley Ricketts (b. 18 Oct 1781 Old Frederick County, Maryland - d. 10 Dec 1855) and Margaret Poling (b. 29 June 1787 Allegheny County, Maryland - d. 3 Oct 1865). They are buried in Friendship Cemetery with matching gravestones.

I have limited knowledge of the ancestors beyond this. There is a great deal of information about the Ricketts and Ploing lines following the male lineage, however many of the wives' families information is lost to history (or more research).

I enjoyed my trip to Perry County. It's nice having roots and knowing where you come from. I'm also thankful, though, that Grandma and Grandpa McGreevy moved out of Perry County so that I know a life outside of that as well. I remember hearing Grandma reminisce about New Lex/Shawnee, but sadly the town of Shawnee is no longer what it used to be. It's declared a historical place, so the buildings have somewhat been preserved from demolition, however a lot of them have been condemned or sit either empty or full of junk. A furniture store and a few restaurants still operate in a few of them, but it's clear it's not the bustling small town that Grandma would remember.

Cutshaw Gravesites

Again in Washington County, I've also visited the Cutshaw 1/4 of my family. My great-grandparents are Elmo Cutshaw (19 Mar 1916- Sept 1968) and Dorothy Huck (14 Sept 1919-27 June 1997). I remember their house and a lot about my grandmother, considering I was young when she passed. The two of them are buried in New St. Mary's Cemetery in Marietta, Ohio. Elmo has a World War II marker and flag.

An older photo of Elmo with his mother and sisters.

Here's a more recent photo of Dorothy, I believe this was taken in her kitchen.

Elmo's parents are Ernest Cutshaw (1890-1968) and Mary Lois (Mae) Johnson (10 Feb 1891-13 June 1976). Mae died in Michigan and Ernest died in Ohio. They are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio.

This is a photo of Grandma Mae and I believe her great-grandchildren, my parent's generation.

Edit October 6, 2020: The little boy is definitely Robert Arthur Kirkbride, my mom’s brother. I believe the older girl is my mom’s sister and the baby to be my mother. Uncle Bob passed away December 18, 2011 at the age of 49 due to a heart attack.

Ernest's parents are buried a bit higher on the hill in Oak Grove, Cell (30 Mar 1854-19 Dec 1921) Cutshaw and Sabra Robinson (19 Jan 1859-27 Jan 1928). Cell's death certificate says his full name was Marcellus. His cause of death was Diabetes, he is listed as a common laborer. His father's name was Conrad (b. 1816 Maryland) and Margaret Glasgow (b. 1815 Virginia d. 22 Sept 1878 Ohio).

Sabra's death certificate lists her cause of death as a cerebral hemorrhage. Her parents were Thomas Rightson Robinson (5 Oct 1815-15 Dec 1889) and Patience Lavinia Martin (24 Feb 1824-25 Dec 1901).

So, now we return a generations to Mae Johnson. Her parents were William Johnson (12 Aug 1864-16 Feb 1943) and Jennie Parsons (Aug 1865-7 Nov 1944). They are buried in Harmar Cemetery, Marietta, Ohio. William has a World War I marker and flag. His death certificate says he was a building engineer. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage. His parents were Charles Johnson (b. Pennsylvania/Ohio) and Anna McCarmick (b. Ireland).

So now, back again to the first generation listed, Dorothy Huck's parents were Theodore Louis Huck (20 Aug 1889-27 June 1947) and Carrie Haun (b. 1890, Ohio d. 6 Oct 1946, Lowell, Ohio). I think it's interesting that their address, since it's rural, is listed as 2 miles west of Lowell. Theodore's death certificate says he died of a coronary occlusion (I think--it's hard to read) and that he has Diabetes. Carrie's cause is cerebral hemorrhage and that she had hypertensive heart disease. Her parents were Allison Haun (b. Aug 1856) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Goff (Aug 1856-1 Jul 1921).

Theodore and Caroline are buried in Our Lady of Mercy cemetery, Lowell, Ohio.

Theodore's parents were Joseph Huck (23 May 1861-28 Apr 1922) and Anna Catherine Lang (7 May 1864-21 Dec 1939). They are also buried in Our Lady of Mercy.

They appear to be the first ones buried here.

Their parents are both buried in Ava Maria Cemetery. We went there next from the church and it was a bit of an adventure. We were on a gravel road that was twisty and turny and about one lane. Ava Maria is on a hill, secluded to itself. Joseph's parents were Theodore Huck (9 Nov 1822-25 Dec 1907) and Barnardin Rouch (23 Apr 1831-29 Dec 1897). They were both born in Germany. They're buried in the top corner of the hill.

Anna's parents were Louis Ludiwg Lang (22 Nov 1833-14 May 1917) and Mary Frances Kern (24 May 1844-9 Feb 1920). Louis was born in Germany, too.

Mary's parents were Johann Kern (b. 23 May 1816, Germany d.18 Nov 1903, Lowell, Ohio)  and Elisabeth Straswinder (b. 24 Jun 1816, Germany d. 10 Feb 1887, Lowell, Ohio).

I find it really interesting that their stone was written in German. I wonder if they spoke any English while they were here. While exploring the family's old stomping grounds we passed Lang Farm Road and Huck Road. We were significant, that's for sure. I think our family was one of the first ones to settle in Lowell, but I could be slightly off on that one.

There is something very moving about being in an area that you know many generations of your family have lived in...it kind of brings you closer to them even if you never knew much about them.