CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameRose Belle KNOST [342], [2266], [5687], [5688]
Birth PlaceClay City, Clay Co., Illinois, United States
Census Date19 Jul 1870 [2289] Age: <1
Census PlaceClay City, Clay Co., Illinois, United States
Census Date14 Jun 1880 [2298] Age: 10
Census PlaceOlney, Richland Co., Illinois, United States
Census Date1 Jun 1900 [2301] Age: 30
Census PlaceSt. Louis, St. Louis Co., Missouri, United States
Census Date1910 [2302]
Census PlaceDenver, Denver Co., Colorado, United States
Census Date2 Feb 1920 [2300] Age: 50
Census PlaceMt. Harris Precinct, Routt Co., Colorado
Census Date2 Apr 1930 [3642], [2266] Age: 60
Census PlaceInglewood, Los Angeles Co., California, United States
Memo533 Hyde Park Blvd. (also at this address on 23-JUN-1928)
Census Date18 Apr 1940 [3697] Age: 70
Census PlaceInglewood, Los Angeles Co., California, United States
Memo532 E. Florence Avenue, 1st Ward
Death Date27 Jan 1943 [342], [1498, Memorial# 96834830] Age: 73
Death PlaceLos Angeles Co., California, United States
Burial PlaceInglewood, Los Angeles Co., California, United States [1498, Memorial# 96834830]
MemoInglewood Park Cemetery
Alias/AKARosabel [2289]
Alt.SpellingRosa [2298], [2339]
FatherJohn Henry KNOST (ca1837-1875)
MotherMary Elizabeth RUTHERFORD (1843-1907)
Misc. Notes
Rose met Joseph W. LYALL in the fall of 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri. [2266]

Following her divorce from Stephen BEAN, Rose B. LYALL filed claims and appeals to obtain a pension based on her marriage to Stephen GREENSWEIGHT, who had served in the Civil War (she had previously obtained a pension after the death of Stephen GREENSWEIGHT, but it was canceled when she married Stephen BEAN). Widow’s Claim file (Certificate 437703) reveals that her relationship with Joseph W. LYALL was undocumented, but sufficient to establish that her marriage to GREENSWEIGHT was not legal and therefore her appeal entered on 2-NOV-1929 was rejected 28-MAR-1929. Rose protested that she never married Joseph or lived with him, but apparently that was not sufficient to prove the absense of a Common Law marriage, which apparently was possible in the state of Missouri at the time. Joseph allegedly promised to marry Rose but never did, eventually abandoning her. It is unknown if he knew she was pregnant at the time he left. [2266]

Even though her alleged marriage to Joseph W. LYALL was undocumented, she adopted the surname LYALL until she married Stephen GREENSWEIGHT, to avoid the embarassment of having had a child out of wedlock [2339]. But after Rose & Stephen BEAN were divorced, she returned to the name LYALL for the benefit of her son, as most people knew her as Mrs. LYALL as a result of her own cover story. [2266]
Research
Found in Missouri Courts Database. Details of case unknown.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/judiciary/allcourts/detail.asp?rID=40554
Case number F3724, filed 1895 (after the death of Stephen GREENSWEIGHT)
Spouses
Birth DateSep 1866 [2305], [3684], [3685], [3699]
Birth PlaceOntario, Canada
MemoOr 1865, or 29-SEP-1877
Census Date2 Apr 1871 [3699]
Census PlaceNorth Easthope, Perth, Ontario, Canada
Immi Date1884
MemoNaturalization stated a residency of 8 years, 3 of that in Colorado.
Reside Date1888 [3691]
Reside PlaceSt. Joesph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, United States
Memo222 N. 6th Street
Natu Date20 Sep 1892 [3685], [3682], [3698], [3721]
Natu PlaceArapahoe Co., Colorado, United States
MemoThe 1920 census reported 1898 and the 1930 census reported 1890.
Reside Date9 Oct 1894 [3685]
Reside PlaceOakland, Alameda Co., California, United States
Memo522 10th Street
Reside Date1 Feb 1897 [3723], [3724]
Reside PlaceOakland, Alameda Co., California, United States
Memo568 15th Street (but city directory for that year places him at 276 11th Street)
Census Date1 Jun 1900 [2305]
Census PlaceLos Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, United States
Memo1027 Temple, 9th Precinct, 2nd Ward
Purchase DateJun 1904 [3700]
Purchase PlaceLos Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, United States
MemoLot 77, Victor Heights tract, from Daniel W. Thomas and Martha E. Thomas.
Census Date12 Jan 1920 [3682]
Census PlaceLos Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, United States
Memo1317 Arapahoe Street, Precinct 448
Census Date14 Apr 1930 [3683]
Census PlaceOakland, Alameda Co., California, United States
Memo148 Tenth St., Block 1278
Reside Date1939 [3722]
Reside PlaceOakland, Alameda Co., California, United States
Memo1511 Jackson Street
OccupationOperator - W. U. Telegraph Co. [3691]
OccupationTelephone Operator [3685]
OccupationTelegraph Operator [2305], [2266], [3723]
OccupationInstructor at Telegraph School [3682]
FatherJohn LYALL (ca1809-)
MotherJane [LYALL] (ca1831-)
Misc. Notes
His middle initial “W” does not stand for any name. [2266]

Although the story was that Joseph walked out on Rose (nee KNOST) and went to Denison, Texas, no evidence of his presence in Texas has been found but he later turned up in Denver, Colorado, and eventually moved to Los Angles, by way of Oakland, California. [2326] On the other hand, there were some people named LYALL in Denison, Texas, in the 1880s & 1890s, so he may have gone there to visit relatives.
_____________________________________________

The Complicated Life of Joseph W. Lyall

Except for some unusual discrepancies in dates, all the records supporting this story seem to refer to the same person. And they show that he moved around quite a bit. He lived in an era when his telegraphy skills enabled to to obtain employment nearly every place he lived.

The one consistent statement about Joseph W. Lyall in all the records which mention his place of birth and that of his parents, is that he was born in Canada, his father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland. The least consistent fact is Joseph’s date of birth. His date of arrival in the United States is also rather variable.

The Canadian census records from 1871 to 1891 show that the only province in which the Lyall family name is found is Ontario. And in the 1871 census, there is a family headed by John Lyall, age 62, who was born in Scotland, and his wife, Jane, age 40, born in Ireland. The youngest boy in the family is Joseph Lyall, age 6, therefore born circa 1865. No Joseph Lyall of similar birth and circumstances is found in the 1881 or 1891 censuses of Canada. According to his naturalization certificate, Joseph arrived in the United States circa 1884, and thus at about age 19.

The next time his name turns up is in the 1888 city directory for the city of St. Joseph, Missouri. He was living at 222 N. 6th Street, and was employed as an operator for Western Union Telegraph Co. Then the 1889 directory for St. Louis, Missouri, contains an entry for a John W. Lyall at 840 S. 8th Street, who was a clerk for the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Co. This is either a coincidence or a typographical error. On the other hand, Joseph did have an older brother named John, so I guess there’s an outside chance they both moved to Missouri.

According to a deposition dated June 23, 1928, it was in the fall of 1888 that Joseph first met Rose Belle Knost, originally from Clay County, Illinois. It was stated that he was about 22 at the time and was a telegraph operator. So this is completely consistent with the Joseph born in Ontario and the Joseph in the 1888 directory of St. Joseph. So this implies Joseph moved from St. Joseph to St. Louis earlier in 1888. Rose and Joseph socialized for several months and then reportedly he lost his job in May of 1889 (see the March 28, 1930, pension appeal documents), at which point he departed to Texas. Rose claimed he wrote to her once from there. She believed it was Dennison [sic], Texas (“Denison” is the currently accepted spelling). So far, this is the only evidence that Joseph was ever in Texas. In Joseph’s absence, Rose gave birth to Horace J. Lyall, later known as Joseph H. Lyall (Note, however, that Joseph W. Lyall & Rose Knost were never legally married, in spite of what the U.S. Pension Office claimed).

Interestingly, there were some Lyall folks in Denison, Texas, in the 1880s & 1890s. The 1887 city directory for Denison lists a James R. Lyall, employed by and residing with William C. Lyall, an agent for Pacific Express Co. James was an express messenger for that company. And a George W. Lyall was a cashier for that same company. As of 1891, only George and William were still in Denison. About 1893 William C. Lyall moved to Dallas, TX, but was still working for Pacific Express Co., though he is the only Lyall in Dallas then. He was in Dallas at least through 1897. He is missing from the 1898 Dallas directory, so that may be a clue to when he died (that will make more sense in a moment). The next available census, 1900, shows a James R. Lyall, born 1863 in Canada, living in Texarkana, Miller Co., Arkansas, single, but living with his sister-in-law Marion [sic] Lyall (widow) and her children who were all born in Texas 1884-1897, one of whom is named William C. Lyall, born 1886. He appears in the 1914 city directory of Texarkana, AR, as a manager of a pool hall, and his mother, Marian Lyall is listed as the widow of “Wm C.” I found the death certificate for the younger William, who died in 1917 in El Paso, Texas (age given only as “about 30”; no birth date given). It shows his father’s name was W. C. Lyall, born in Canada, and his mother was Marian also born in Canada. It also confirms that William Jr. had previously lived in Texarkana, AR. So William Sr. of Denison & Dallas, died sometime between 1898 and 1900 (the Texas death certificates don’t seem to be available that far back). James reported both of his parents as born in Scotland and that he and his sister-in-law immigrated from Canada in 1884. A James R. Lyall is also in Texarkana in 1930, but strangely lists his birthplace as New York, but his age is approximately correct and his parents were from Scotland and England. And later, a James R. Lyall died in Abilene, TX, in 1940, with the death certificate saying he was born in New York in 1865, but gave no details about his parents (see also Find A Grave Memorial# 59626204). I could not find James in 1910 or 1920. The closest match I found in the 1871 Canada census was a James Lyall, born circa 1865, with a father (John) born in Scotland and mother (Elizabeth) born in England. That James had older brothers named George and William, so it sounds promising. In the 1881 census that same James appears at age 17, but the older brothers were no longer in the household. However, in a different town in the same district that year was another 17 year old James Lyall, whose father was apparently deceased but his mother (Jane) was reported as born in Scotland. But it turns out, that James died in an industrial accident the following year. Also, that Lyall family was not found in the 1871 census and there was no George or William in that family. It should be noted that Joseph also had an older brother William but no brother James or George. When I backed up to 1861 in the same part of Ontario, I discovered Joseph’s family, before he was born, at which time his brother’s name was recorded as “Wm. C. Lyall.” Again still no George in that family but now there are two William C’s in Ontario. One other consideration is a William C. Lyall, b. 1857 in Ontario who is in British Columbia in 1901, so can’t be the William who moved to Texas. It’s a lot of speculation, but if Joseph W. Lyall really did go to Denison, TX, it certainly looks like there were some relatives there already. But he didn’t stay long enough to leave a paper trail.

Returning to the original timeline. Again referring to Joseph's naturalization certificate, he stated he had resided in Colorado for three years prior to naturalization, implying arrival in that state in 1889, which is consistent with his departure from Missouri. And it also further supports the idea that his time in Texas was very short. In 1892, J. W. Lyall checked in at The Gilsey hotel in Denver, Arapahoe Co., Colorado. The Denver directory for that year does not list an occupation, but in the 1893 directory, Joseph W. Lyall is living at 2212 California Street, Denver, and is an operator for Western Union Telegraph Co. On Aug. 31, 1892, Joseph married the widow, Mrs. Rose Lake (nee Daniels). Soon after, on Sep. 20, 1892, Joseph became a naturalized citizen, demonstrating that he was not born in the United States.

By Oct. 9, 1894, Joseph had moved to Oakland, California, and on that date registered to vote. It is not known if his wife was with him at the time. He was employed as a Telephone or Telegraph Operator (the source just says “Tel.”). He continued to appear in the Oakland voter registration books through at least Feb. 1, 1897 (at that time he was a Telegrapher).

Mrs. Lyall’s parents, Jacob and Mary Daniels, moved from Denver, to Los Angeles, CA, in 1896, along with her brother, Schuyler. Their first home there was at 1025 Temple St. This was the last time the records listed their name as “Daniels” as later it was only “Daniel.” By 1897, Jacob and Schuyler Daniel went into business as “Daniel & Son” (the nature of this business is unknown). In 1898, the family moved down the street to 1027 Temple.

Sometime in 1899 Joseph also moved to Los Angeles, CA (there was a “Jos. A. Lyall” listed in the 1899 Oakland directory, which is probably a typo for “Jos. W” because that person was also an Operator for “S P Co.,” so that must have been the last edition of the Oakland directory to list him. In Los Angeles, his first home was at 1201 Adams Street, but the June 1900 census shows that he and Rose had moved in with her parents at 1027 Temple Street. This household also included Rose’s daughter, Imogene Lake, from her first marriage. Joseph is reported as a Telegraph Operator and gives his date of birth as Sept. 1866, in Canada. His father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland.

Joseph continued to reside at 1027 Temple St. through at least 1904. Imogene, at least according to the city directories, was known as Imogene L. Lyall, and was also in that same house through 1904. In June of 1904, Joseph purchased Lot 77, the Victor Heights tract, from Daniel W. Thomas and Martha E. Thomas (I have no idea where that lot is located in Los Angeles).

Next we have the 1907 Los Angeles directory, which shows both Joseph W. Lyall and Imogene L. Lyall at 912 Hinton Av., through 1908, which is about the time that Imogene married Joseph T. Saunders Jr. The first census showing that couple together is the 1910, which places them at 2181 West 30th Street, Los Angeles. That marriage broke up in the 1930s. Joseph W. Lyall remained at 912 Hinton Av. through at least 1913.

At this point it looks like Joseph & Rose divorced, because on July 7, 1913, in St. Louis County, Missouri, Joseph applied for a marriage license to marry Alberta Rupp, who was born in Missouri, but her mother was German. Based on Alberta’s age, he could not possibly have known her when he had lived in St. Louis, so how did this happen? It turns out that Alberta was already in Los Angeles as of April 30, 1910 (census). They must have met there, though why they had to go back to Missouri to get married is unclear. I found no evidence of her parents living there in 1913. By 1915, Joseph is back in Los Angeles, at 916 W. 10th Street, but Mrs. Rose I. Lyall is still living at 912 Hinton Avenue. The Los Angeles 1916 Voter Registration in Precinct No. 317 shows both Joseph & Alberta at 834 Golden Ave.

Joseph registered for the WWI Draft, on Sep. 12, 1918, but reported that he was still at 916 W. 10th Street. By 1920 he moved to 1317-1/2 Arapahoe Street. The census that year shows him living with his new wife, Alberta (mistakenly recorded as “Elberta”) at what appears to be that same address (the enumerator indicated the “1/2” part of the house number by adding a small superscript “2” to the “1317” - an easy detail to miss). In the mean time, his ex-wife, Rose Lyall was living at 912 N Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA, and apparently relying on a lodger for income. It is confusing of course that now both of his prior female companions go by the name of Rose Lyall.

(Just for fun, look up her address in Google Maps: 912 N Beaudry Ave, Los Angeles, CA, and pull up the street view to see her house; it really looks like it could be the same house from 1920!)

Joseph and Alberta moved to Oakland, CA, at least by the time of the 1930 census and her mother. Wilhelmina Rupp, was living with them as well. Joseph seems to have retired by this time, as from here on, there is never an occupation listed for him. They moved around a lot in Oakland, with the last known address in 1939 being 1511 Jackson Street. I have not found either of them in the 1940 census anywhere. In a previous communication I said that I thought Joseph died sometime before 1917, but clearly I was mistaken (not to mention that I figured out my original logic was faulty). Now it appears he may have died around 1939-40. No death records for Joseph or Alberta have yet been found. They do not appear in the 1940 Oakland city directory; in fact they do not appear in any of Ancestry’s city directories after 1939. Given their age difference, one would expect Alberta to have still been around somewhere after he died. But maybe they just moved again.

There are some problems with all these records however. When Joseph went back to Missouri to marry Alberta Rupp, he gave his age as 39, thus placing his birth circa 1874, eight years off the 1866 given by the 1900 census and his 1894 voter registration. Then when he registered for the draft in 1918, he gave his exact birth date as Sep. 29, 1877. However, the Draft Card also says he is a Telegraph Instructor for the Sante Fe Railroad in Los Angeles, and confirms he is married to Alberta. His first known association with the Santa Fe Railroad was in 1901, employed as a “tel opr.” By 1913 he was a Superintendent of their Telegraph School, and from 1915-1920 was an instructor for the school.

The only thing consistent regarding his date of birth is the month of September. Alberta stated her age as 26 on the marriage license application, which corresponds to 1887, which is close to the 1888 derived from the 1920 census. In that same census, Joseph is 46 and therefore born in 1874 (consistent only with the marriage license application). But it still shows him to be Canadian by birth. It does however state that he immigrated from Canada in 1893 and became a naturalized citizen in 1898 (in the 1930 census, the year of immigration changed again to 1890). But then how could he have been a Telegraph Operator in St. Joseph, MO, in 1888 and subsequently meet Rose Knost in St. Louis, in the fall of that year? That immigration & naturalization data is also in conflict with the Oakland voter registration books which consistently said he had been naturalized on Sep. 20, 1892, in Arapahoe Co., CO. That date is confirmed by the naturalization record on file at the Colorado State Archives.

In 1900 Joseph had reported that his father was born in Scotland and his mother in Ireland and that also agrees in 1920 (but Ancestry reversed the countries in their index! - I submitted a correction). And also it says he’s an Instructor at a Telegraph School, so it’s got to be him!

Then in 1930, he and his wife, Alberta, are in Alameda, Oakland Co., CA, but he’s only 55 (b.1875). If nothing else, he seems to have been consistent in reporting his age from the time he married Alberta, but not consistent with earlier records. Maybe he wanted her to believe he was younger that he really was. But in that case he fooled the Draft as well.

If there were two Joseph W. Lyall’s from Canada, with such similarities, it would be pretty incredible.

Regarding those voter registration records that where created while Joseph was in Oakland, CA, in the 1890s. Both Familysearch & Ancestry have indexes, but only Ancestry has the images of the original register books. The Ancestry database is called “California, Voter Registers, 1866-1898” and the title on the register itself is “Great Register.”

The register for 1894 gives his age as 28, height 5’9”, blue eyes, brown hair. By comparison, his WWI Draft Card said blue eyes, dark hair, medium height, so it certainly sounds like the same man. The register also says he was born in Canada and works as a Telephone Operator. The date of registration was Oct. 9, 1894, which implies he was born in 1866. At the 1896 voter registration, he had moved to a different street address in Oakland and shrunk by 1/2 inch.

Given that his naturalization took place in Arapahoe Co., CO, it is weird that he ended up living on Arapahoe Street in Los Angeles in 1920!

I suppose it’s important to point out that we have no official documents from Joseph’s first time in Missouri, that identify his date or place of birth. In the event there really were two Joseph W. Lyalls, we have no idea where the Joseph W. Lyall who Rose Knost met in Missouri, is from. But if he did leave her to visit relatives in Denison, TX, then it would be pretty certain he was from Canada.

Revised: June 2, 2014 – Bruce W. Christopher
Research
1888 directory, St. Joseph, MO: Joseph W., Opr W. U. Telegraph Co., rms 222 N. 6th Street (page 303) [3691]
1889 directory, St. Louis, MO: John W. Lyall, clk St. L. I. M. & S. Ry. (St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Co.), r 840 S. 8th Street (page 795)
1892 directory, Denver, CO: J W Lyall, oper W U Tel Co, r The Gilsey (a hotel: listed on p.1191: sw corner of Stout & 18th St, F S McLene, proprietor) (page 654)
1893 directory, Denver, CO: [Fold3] Joseph W. Lyall, opr W. U. Tel Co, r 2212 California Street (page 690)
1894: Not listed in Denver, CO.
1897 directory, Oakland, CA: Jos W, opr S P Co., r 276 11th Street (page 310)
1899 directory, Oakland, CA: Jos A [sic], opr S P Co., r 2321 Tel Av.(page 277)
1899 directory, Los Angeles, CA: J W Lyall, 1201 W. Adams (page 1153)
1900 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., r 1027 Temple (page 490) no occupation listed.
1901 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., tel opr for Sante Fe Route, bds 1027 Temple (no mention of wife) (page 555)

1904 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., tel opr Santa Fe. bds 1027 Temple Street (page 812)
1904 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Imogene L., stenogr. bds 1027 Temple Street (page 812)
(Imogene, his step-daughter)
1907 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., tel opr Santa Fe. h 912 Hinton Av. (page 918)
1907 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Imogene L., steno. h 912 Hinton Av. (page 918)

1908 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., Supt. Tel Sch. h 912 Hinton Av. (page 894)
1910 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W. r 912 Hinton Av. (page 912) [no occupation listed]
1912 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., tel opr, h 912 Hinton Av. (page 972)
1913 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W. Superintendent Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, 912 Hinton AV. (page 1195)
> separate entry for Rose I. Lyall but at same address as Joseph.
1915 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W. Lyall, instructor Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, r 916 W. 10th Street (page 1321)
> separate entry for Rose I Mrs. at 912 Hinton av.
1917 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Jos W tchr Santa Fe Telegraph Sch h 834 Golden av (page 1303)
> separate entry for Rose I Mrs. at 912 Hinton av.
1918 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Joseph W., tel opr, h 834 Golden av (page 1271)
1920 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Jos W instructor Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, h 1317 1/2 Arapahoe Street. (page 1438)
1921 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Jos W instructor Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, h 1317 1/2 Arapahoe Street. (page 1658)
1921 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Rose I. Lyall, h 912 Beaudry Av.. (page 1658)
1922 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Jos W instructor Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, h 1317 1/2 Arapahoe Street. (page 1751)
1923 directory, Los Angeles, CA: Jos W instructor Santa Fe Telegraph Sch, r 1546a 3d Av. (page 1983)
1924 directory, Los Angeles, CA: both Ancestry & Fold3 are missing the relevant pages.
1925 directory, Los Angeles, CA: missing all pages after LANGE (Fold3 (library edition) stops at year 1924).
1926 directory, Los Angeles, CA: missing all pages before MOODY.
1927 directory, Los Angeles, CA: missing all pages after BRUNO.
1928 directory, Los Angeles, CA: missing all pages before PADDAOK.
1929 directory, Los Angeles, CA: missing all pages after EITAL.
Even though the census places Joseph & Alberta in Oakland by 1930, the 1935 directory is the first edition to list them.
1935 directory, Oakland, CA: Joseph & Alberta, h 1515 Alice Street (page 532). no occupation listed.
1937 directory, Oakland, CA: Joseph & Alberta at 1461 Alice Street (page 535).
> Ancestry error: index gives home address as 461 Alice
1938 directory, Oakland, CA: Joseph W. & Alberta, h 1505 Jackson Street (page 572). no occupation listed.
> Ancestry error: index gives home address as 605 Jackson
1939 directory, Oakland, CA: Joseph W & Alberta at 1511 Jackson Street (page 558, image 286).
> Ancestry error: index gives home address as Oil Jackson
1940 directory, Oakland, CA: no Joseph or Alberta listed.
CmnLaw Dateca 1888 [2266]
CmnLaw PlacePacific, Franklin Co., Missouri, United States
CmnLaw MemoSee Notes for Rose Belle KNOST
Misc. Notes
As far as the U.S. Government was concerned (the Pension OFfice), Rose & Joseph had a common-law marriage in the state of Missouri, even though, as she alledged, they never even lived together for a single night. [2266]
ChildrenHorace J. (1889-1946)
Birth Dateca 1839 [1809], [2011], [2338], [2339]
Birth PlacePennsylvania, United States
MemoOr 1836 based on 1850 census.
Census Date20 Sep 1850 [2340]
Census PlaceUpper Towamensing, Carbon Co., Pennsylvania
Census Date27 Jul 1860 [1810]
Census PlaceMuncy Creek Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, United States
Census Date3 Jun 1870 [1809]
Census PlaceMuncy Creek Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, United States
Census Date17 Jun 1880 [2011]
Census PlaceCogan Station Village, Hepburn Twp., Lycoming Co., Pennsylvania, United States
Census DateJun 1890 [3013]
Census PlaceRolla, Phelps Co., Missouri, United States
Death Date25 Jan 1895 [2273]
Death PlaceDuncan, Missouri
Alias/AKAGREENSWAG [2340]
Alt.SpellingGREENWITE [1810]
Alt.SpellingGREENWHITE [1809]
Alt.SpellingSteven GREENSWITY [4134]
OccupationBlacksmith [1809], [2011], [3033]
FatherJohn T. GREENSWAG (ca1798-)
MotherChristina [GREENSWAG] (-<1850)
Misc. Notes
May be related to Benjamin, Gabriel and/or William GREENSWEIGHT / GREENSWITE / GREENZWEIGHT / GREENZWEIG

Living alone as of 1880 census. [2011]

Probably made the move to Missouri about 1882-83, based on the fact that his son, Gabriel (A. Lincoln) was discharged from school to Rolla, MO, 31-MAY-1883. [3644]

Given that Stephen’s father was John, according to Stephen’s
marriage license, [2339] then the 1850 census of “John Greenswag” [2340]
(“Greensway” according to Ancestry) in Upper Towamensing, Carbon
Co., PA, shows that Stephen had an older brother, Reuben (b.1833).
Stephen’s age here of 14, is inconsistent with other records of his
age but the only other Stephen with a similar surname (Greenswig, or
“Greenserig” according to Ancestry) that year had a father named
“Danl.” Next-door neighbor of John Greenswag, Benjamin Greenswag
(age 22) is probably another brother of Stephen, though technically
not certain from that census record. Further complicating this is
the appearance that same year of a Benjamin GREENSWITE, also 22, in
Lycoming Twp., who was a Blacksmith [4127], whereas the Benjamin in Carbon
Co. was a farmer. The Benjamin Greensuige(?) [308] who was living with
Mahlon Taylor in 1860, was born the same year as Benjamin Greenswag
and was a Blacksmith, and so perhaps is more likely the Benjamin who
was in the John HARTMAN household in 1850, rather than the Benjamin
over in Carbon Co. A Benjamin GREENSWEIGHT, born 11-MAR-1828 in
Northampton Co., PA, and died 23-JAN-1913, in Williamsport [4128], was
reportedly the son of William GREENSWEIGHT and Edith STROHL. This
would seem to rule him out as the brother of Stephen. Though considering
that Carbon Co. was formed out of Northampton Co. in 1843, this Benjamin
was probably part of the Carbon County GREENSWAG/GREENSWEIGHT
family.
And of course there was Gabriel Greensuige, age 40, next door to
Mahlon TAYLOR in 1860, and certainly could also have been another son
of John Greenswag.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

In 1891, Stephen became the defendant in a lawsuit over a labor contract. Here is my summary of the case based on copies of the actual case file: [3748]

In May of 1891, Fritz Wagner of Rolla, Missouri, filed suit in Circuit Court to obtain wages allegedly owed to him by Stephen Greensweight. Greensweight had apparently hired Wagner to cut and haul “12 loads of wood at 60¢ per load” for a net of $7.20 (adjusting for inflation, possibly the equivalent of $183-230 as of 2013). Wagner asked for “judgment with all costs of this suit.” A short statement describing that job was filed in court on 6 May 1891, by Justice of the Peace, George H. Hume. That same day, Justice Hume ordered Constable Louis Heimberger to summon Greensweight to appear in Hume’s office on 16 May 1891, to answer to Wagner’s complaint. However, on 14 May 1891, Greensweight submitted a request for a change in venue, as he claimed Justice Hume was prejudiced against him. On 16 May 1891, the request was granted and the case was transferred to Justice R. A. Warren. Three witnesses were subpoenaed by Justice Warren on 27 May 1891: Puleston, Abe Light and Louis Heimberger (subsequent documents show that of these, only Heimberger testified). The following day, A. J. Jones was also subpoenaed and records show he did testify.

On 29 May 1891, Justice Warren ordered Constable Louis Heimberger to assemble “twelve good and lawful men” as jurors in this case (though of the 12 summoned, only 6 actually served; they were paid 75¢ each). That same day, a statement by Greensweight was filed, in which he formally answered Wagner’s petition, denying that he owes Wagner “any sum whatsoever.” Greensweight provided a backstory, to the effect that on 13 Sep 1890, Wagner had leased him, by oral agreement, 40 acres of land in Rolla Township, for a term on one year. Greensweight states that he had agreed to farm and cultivate about five acres of that property for the 1891 growing season. Wagner was to receive the entire crop produced, but he was also supposed to farm another three acres himself, as well as fix the fences on the property. The work on those extra three acres was to earn Wagner $3.00. Wagner was then also to chop and haul 15 loads of wood from Greensweight’s land to Greensweight’s home, no later than 1 Jan 1891. Greensweight alleged that Wagner failed to comply with the terms of the lease, and therefore proposed that Wagner owes him $15 plus court costs.

This matter appears to have been handled very quickly, as the jury’s verdict was also dated 29 May 1891. Wagner won the case with an award of $6.45 (Greensweight would also owe court costs of $11.45). The next day, Greensweight filed an appeal, advising Wagner to appear in court on 10 Aug 1891. But then on 1 Jun 1891, Greensweight and a previously unmentioned associate, F. E. Dowd (probably Frank E. Dowd, originally of Michigan), submitted a statement to Justice Warren, stating that Greensweight and Dowd acknowledge indebtedness to Wagner in the amount of $50, to be paid subject to certain conditions: if the original judgement against Greensweight is affirmed on appeal, or if the appellate court judgement goes against Greensweight, or if the appeal is dismissed. Payment would also include the costs of the appeal. The results of the appeal are not part of this case file.

As a postscript, it should be noted that the Missouri Judicial Index Database also lists two other civil cases involving Stephen Greensweight, and interestingly they both also involve F. E. Dowd as well as Stephen’s wife, Rose B. Greensweight. However, these are dated 1895 and 1896 and because Stephen died 25 Jan 1895, he is listed as “Plaintiff / Deceased” in both cases.
Revised, 15-JUL-2014, Bruce W. Christopher
Military
Civil War [2266]
Draft Registration, May-June, 1863. [3033]
Private, Co. B, 84th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. [2273], [3013]
Mustered in 11-DEC-1861 (or 03-OCT-1861 [3013]). Discharged 16-DEC-1862 (or 17-SEP-1862 [3013]). [2274, p.1316]
Co. A, 16th Veterans Reserve Corp. (VRC), 04-SEP-1863 to 24-Nov-1865. [3013], [2266]
“Invalid” pension claim filed on the basis of “dropsy” aka edema. [2275], [3013] Received $4.00/month beginning April 1879.
Also reported with “dropsy” at time of enlistment in the VRC, and “Bright’s Disease” and Albuminuria. [2266]
Research
Check land records of Phelps Co., Missouri.
Marr Date5 Jul 1894 [151], [2338], [2339], [2266]
Marr PlaceBelleville, St. Clair Co., Illinois, United States
Marr MemoLicense No.00002790
Birth Dateca 1862 [2300]
Birth PlaceIndiana, United States
Census Date13 May 1910 [2303]
Census PlaceNederland, Boulder Co., Colorado
Memo13th Precinct, Pike National Forest Reserve
Census Date2 Feb 1920 [2300]
Census PlaceMt. Harris Precinct, Routt Co., Colorado
OccupationMiner [2303]
OccupationNight watch at coal mine. [2300]
Misc. Notes
He was listed as a widower in the 1910 census. [2303]

Father born in Virginia, mother in Indiana. [2300], [2303]
Research
Marriage to Rose not found in Ancestry.com’s Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939.

Possible match in 1900 census of Central City, Gilpin Co., Colorado: Douglas BEAN and wife Minnie. It shows him born in Indiana, Jun. 1860.
Marr Date24 Oct 1917 [2266]
Marr PlaceMoffat Co., Colorado
Div Date12 Aug 1922 [2310], [2266]
Div PlaceRoutt Co., Colorado
Div MemoOr 25-DEC-1921, though the 1922 date seems more believable.
Last Modified 26 Feb 2017Created 8 Nov 2024 using Reunion for Macintosh
First Published 22 Sep 2013. Revised 8 Nov 2024
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