Jun 24

We Are For The Birds

Baltimore Oriole

Joe and I enjoy watching and feeding the birds here. We could not keep from turning into avid bird watchers after we moved into our home in the woods years ago. Colorful birds would fly past our windows and our curiosity got the best of us. We had to find out what those birds were.

We have always relied on our faithful bird guide, Roger Tory Peterson’s Field Guide to the Birds, to identify our feathered friends. I know some very nice bird identification software is available today, but we still like to use the Peterson paperback. It has served us well, is very portable and is much less expensive than the software.

Not to brag, but Joe and I have become fairly adept at recognizing birds by just hearing their song. About 95% of the time, when we hear a bird sing, we can identify the bird without ever seeing it. This comes in very handy when there are many leaves on the trees.

We have seen over 130 different birds and water fowl on our lot over the years. And even after all these years that list keeps growing. It seems that every year we see a “new” bird or see some of our regulars doing some unusual things. It is something we have come to look forward to and is one of the great things about living where we live. This year has been no exception.

Our newest bird discovery, new to our life list of birds, is the Dickcissel. We were taking a walk last week and heard a bird song that we had never heard before. The song was coming from droves of birds that were flying around in a wheat field down the road. This wheat field, which has evidently become their nesting ground, also has a few other plants growing in it. There are also some pink weeds, some yellow weeds, and what appears to be a few assorted crops. We were able to get a good look at the birds with the binoculars and Joe finally identified them with our trusty field guide. According to Peterson, the Dickcissel looks like a small Meadowlark, about the size of a House Sparrow. It is a grassland bird with a fondness for alfalfa fields. Apparently there is also some alfalfa in that wheat field. It was difficult to get a good photograph of this bird and I posted the best photo that I took. Wikipedia has a very good photo of the Dickcissel.

Dickcissel (2011)

This year the Baltimore Orioles are finally using our Oriole feeders. Joe puts those feeders out every year but the Orioles have ignored them until this year. Early this spring Joe saw a male Oriole trying to use the hummingbird feeder. Joe quickly put out two Oriole feeders and two pairs of Orioles have been using the feeders ever since. The Orioles also like to eat oranges, as does a fox squirrel.

Baltimore Oriole using Hummingbird feeder (2011)

Baltimore Oriole on Oriole feeder (2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We always see at least one or two Scarlet Tanagers in the spring and one stopped by one of our bird baths a few weeks ago. I have never been able to get a photograph of them, so you will just have to take my word that we have seen them here. They seem to be attracted by water and like the little waterfall on our goldfish pond.

A Wood Thrush also likes our waterfall. They seem to be a rather elusive bird but the sound of water must have been too much of a temptation for this one. After several hesitant attempts he successfully learned to shower under the waterfall. They have a delightful song that I love to hear coming from the woods. We call them the “ee-o-lay” bird since that is what their song sounds like. Their song has been described as one of the most beautiful songs of the birds in North America, and I agree.

Wood Thrush about to take a bath (2011)

Wood Thrush bathing (2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the other noteworthy birds we have seen here over the years include Bobolinks, a Great Horned Owl trotting (more like waddling) across the front yard, a Great Horned Owl drinking from our pond, a Great Blue Heron standing in the goldfish pond (eating the goldfish and Koi!), two Scarlet Tanagers on a bird bath at the same time, a wild turkey walking about on Memorial Day (the wrong holiday for him), a Ring-necked Pheasant strolling through the front yard, a Bobwhite Quail that I called in and that landed about 10 feet from us (much to Joe’s surprise), Blue Grosbeaks, a Rufus-sided Towhee, and a Virginia Rail. Then there was the little Screech Owl that would fly into our patio door at night, hoping to snag one of our parakeet for his evening meal. We eventually had to cover the parakeet cage with a towel so the owl wouldn’t knock himself out on the glass.

Great Horned Owl (2010)

I enjoy photographing the birds and wildlife, although it can be very challenging. #1, I do not have the best camera for the task. #2, these little critters move around quickly and don’t stop to pose for me. #3, wildlife photography can be very time consuming and requires a lot of patience, neither of which I seem to have enough of these days. But, I have taken a few fairly decent photos of our birds. Maybe some day I will have the camera of my dreams. Until then, I will enjoy the photos I have taken so far.

Sharing the bird bath. (2010)

Squirrels like oranges, too! (2011)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love our Bluebirds, too! (2010)

Bluebird (2010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last year, as a Christmas present for Joe, I had our yard registered as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. As required for certification, I indicated that our property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. We have a nice metal sign that shows our certification.

Jun 21

Tombstone Tuesday–Mary Bryan

Mary, wife of Peter Bryan, Died 10 Nov 1864, Aged 64y, 10m, Pingry Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana (2001 photo)

This is the tombstone of Mary (Huey) Bryan, located in Pingry Cemetery, Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana. The tombstone is very weathered, but the inscription appears to be: “Mary, Wife of Peter Bryan, died 10 Nov 1864, aged 65y, 10m.” Her tombstone is broken and the rest of the inscription is gone. Mary and Peter were my fourth great-grandparents. Mary’s tombstone is between the marker of her husband Peter and that of her grandson William Riley Bryan, son of John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan. I have written about the Huey and Bryan families in Ohio and Jay County, Indiana, in my last several blogs.

Mary’s date of birth was January 1799, as calculated from her tombstone. She indicated in the both the 1850 and 1860 censuses that she was born in Pennsylvania. She was probably born in Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, since her family was living there at the time of her birth. Peter Bryan and Mary Huey were also likely married in Georges Township in about 1821. I know of six of Peter and Mary’s eight children: John (my direct ancestor), Joseph, Hallet, Elisabeth, Byantha, and Peter L.

Mary’s father was Jonas Huey, but the name of her mother is not known. Mary had as many as 19 siblings and half-siblings. They include Warren, Isaac, Jacob, Elizabeth, Rachel, John, Joseph, Jonathan, Hannah, James, Jonas Jr, Sarah, Eleanor, Delilah, Nannie, and Peter. A few of them also moved to and resided in Jay County. Some day I will blog about the Jonas Huey estate records that give their names and other information.

Jun 17

The Peter Bryan Family–Pennsylvania>Ohio>Indiana

Estate of Peter Bryan, deceased. Box 8, 1854, Jay County, Indiana, Historical & Genealogical Society.

The saga of Peter Bryan and his family continues. Peter was featured in my last Tombstone Tuesday blog and was my 4th great-grandfather.

Peter Bryan (1796-1854) and his wife Mary (Huey) Bryan (1799-1864) indicated that they were both born in Pennsylvania when they were enumerated in the 1850 census. (source: 1850 US Census, Monroe, Allen, Ohio; Roll M432_657:369B) The name of Peter’s father is not known and an Internet search shows that there were over 20 Bryan families living in Pennsylvania in 1800. Mary’s father was Jonas Huey, but the name of her mother is not known. The Jonas Huey family lived in Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and Jonas (1769-1848) is buried in Tent Church Cemetery there. You can see a photo of his tombstone on Find A Grave.

Peter and Mary were married in Pennsylvania, probably in Fayette County, about 1821-22. Sarah Huey, sister of Mary, stated in Fayette County Orphans Court Records that Mary married before she left Pennsylvania. Peter and Mary moved soon after their marriage and were living in Ohio by 1824. Their son John was born in Coshocton County 15 August 1824. (source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana, Lewis, 1887:899) Their other children were also born in Ohio: Byantha (c1829-aft 1900), Joseph (c1831-?), Hallet (1836-1863), Elisabeth (1837-1905), and Peter L. (1840-1915).

In 1830 the Peter Bryan family was living in Madison Township, Licking County, Ohio. They had 4 children by this time: a boy under 5 years, 2 boys 5-10 years, a girl under 5 years, a male and female 30-40 years, and a male 20-30.  (source: 1830 US Census, Madison, Licking, Ohio, Roll 134:415) The 1887 Jay and Blackford history indicates that John Bryan was the second child in the family of 8 children. John Bryan’s older brother was probably born about 1822 since couples often had a child about every 18-24 months. In this enumeration Joseph may have been the male under 5, John and his older brother were probably the boys 5-10 years old, Byantha the girl under 5, and Peter and Mary between 30-40 years. It is nearly impossible to know who the male between 20 and 30 years was. He may have been a brother of Peter or Mary or another relative.

According to the 1887 Jay and Blackford history the Peter Bryan family moved on to Fairfield County, Ohio, and then to Allen County, Ohio.

I continued to track the Peter Bryan family in the census. By 1840 they had moved to Monroe Township, Putnam County, Ohio, which is just north of Allen County, Ohio.  In 1840 there were 10 in the Bryan household. Six of them were probably their children: a male 5-9 years, a male 10-14 years, 2 males 15-19 years, a female under 5 years, and a female 10-14 years. Also in the household: a male and female 40-49 years, I assume Peter and Mary, and 2 males 20-29 years, identities unknown. One person was employed in agriculture, probably Peter. (source: 1840 US Census, Monroe, Putnam, Ohio; Roll 422:339)

In 1850 Peter and Mary Bryan were living in Monroe Township, Allen County, Ohio. In this census the family name is written as “Byan”. I wonder if this was the same place they were living in 1840, in Putnam County. Monroe Township is on the border of Putnam and Allen Counties and the county boundary lines may have changed. This will require more research into land deeds and county boundary histories. (source: 1850 US Census, Monroe, Allen, Ohio; Roll M432_657:369B) The Bryan family in 1850: Peter Bryan, age 50, born in Pennsylvania, farmer; Mary, 49, born in Pennsylvania; Joseph, 19, born in Ohio; Hallett, 14, born in Ohio; Elisabeth, 12, born in Ohio; Peter, 10, born in Ohio.

The nice thing about the 1850 census is that it gives the names and ages of the other household members. Previous censuses (1790-1840) only show the name of the head of the household. Others living in the household are listed with hash marks under age group categories. In the census years between 1850-1870 we often assume that the others in the household are family members, such as the spouse and the children of the head of the house. However, census enumerations between 1850-1870 do not specifically state these relationships. During those years we often assume that the younger members in the household are probably children of the head of the house, but this would not be considered proof of a relationship for a lineage application. More proof would be needed to prove relationships during those census years. It was not until 1880 that relationships among family members were stated in the census reports.

Luckily, several years ago I found and copied Peter Bryan’s estate papers at the Jay County Genealogical Society, now the Jay County Historical Society. There were only 3 pages in the file and one page was faded and nearly illegible. The most important paper, the one that names Peter’s heirs, was very readable: Estate of Peter Bryan Dec’d. Heirs: Mary Bryan [wife]; 6 children: John Bryan; Joseph Bryan; Byantha Curtice, wife of Leonard Curtice; Hallett Bryan; Elizabeth Bryan; Peter Bryan. (source: Probate estate files, Jay County Historical & Genealogical Society, Portland, Indiana, Box 8, 1854.)

Those few lines told me a lot. 1. This document named Peter Bryan’s living children. This will be my source to prove that Peter and Mary’s son Hallet, who died in the Civil War, was John’s brother. John is my direct ancestor and Hallet is considered a collateral ancestor. I plan to submit his name for inclusion in the OGS Society of Civil War Families of Ohio lineage society.  2. I assume that only 6 of their 8 children were living when Peter died in 1854. 3. No grandchildren were named as heirs. Their other 2 children probably died before they married. 4. Elizabeth was not yet married in 1854. 5. I learned that Byantha was married to Leonard Curtice [Curtis] and that gave me enough information to research her family. 6. During the Curtis research I discovered that in 1900 Byantha’s niece, Ann Huey, was living with her. Ah-ha! Byantha’s only sister Elizabeth must have married a Huey. Sure enough, I found Elizabeth Bryan’s 1859 marriage record to Andrew J. Huey and was able to trace their family through census enumerations and vital records.

It appears that most of the Bryan family moved to Jay County about 1850. Peter’s son John Bryan married Mary Huey in Jay County in 1848. By 1850 John’s older brother, name unknown, had either moved out of their parents’ home or had died. Peter Sr, Mary, Joseph, Elisabeth and Hallet Bryan also moved to Jay County shortly after 1850. Peter Sr purchased 80 acres of land, the east ½ of the SW ¼ of Sec 27, Town 24, Range 14 for $400 from Chris Huey in September 1850.  Peter Sr died in 1854 and is buried at Pingry Cemetery. Byantha married Leonard Curtis in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1847 and they remained in Ohio.

Looking at the 1860 Census, Bear Creek Township, Jay County, we can see Peter and Mary Bryan’s descendants. Family #517 is son John Bryan and his family: John, 35, born Oh; Hannah, 31, born Oh; Mary, 11; Peter, 9; Hallet, 7; Riley, 6; Emely, 4; Jackson, 2. All of their children were born in Indiana. Family #536 is son Joseph Bryan and his family: Joseph, 29, born Oh; Rachael, 22, born Ind; Leonard, 3, born Ind; and Henry, 1, born Ind. Family #537: son Hallet Bryan, 25, born Oh, farmer; and Mary, 62, born Penn (their mother); and son Peter, 21, born Oh, laborer. Family # 534 is daughter Elisabeth, 23, born Oh; her husband AJ Huey, 27, born Oh; Jasper, 6/12, born Ind. (source: 1860 US Census, Bear Creek, Jay County, Indiana; Roll M653_269:215-6)

Daughter Byantha Curtis was living in Paulding County, Ohio, with her family in 1860: Leonard, 30, born Oh; “Brantha”, 21, born Oh; Martha, 8, born Oh. (source: 1860 US Census, Monterey, Putnam, Ohio, Roll M653_1027:473) It appears Byantha’s age was about 10 years off in this enumeration. Ages can and do vary in the census enumerations.

Keep watching here for more Bryan and Huey information.

Jun 14

Tombstone Tuesday–Peter Bryan

Peter Bryan, Died Aug 14, 1854, age 57y, 11m, 17d; Pingry Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana

This is the tombstone of Peter Bryan, located in Pingry Cemetery, Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana. The tombstone is inscribed, “Peter Bryan, died Aug 14, 1854, age 57y, 11m, 17d.” Peter was the father of John Bryan, who was featured in my last Tombstone Tuesday blog. Peter is also my 4th great-grandfather.

Peter was born 28 Aug 1796, as calculated from his tombstone. He indicated that he was born in Pennsylvania when he was enumerated in the 1850 census, but I do not know who his parents were. I also do not know where Peter and Mary Bryan were married, although they were probably married about 1821-22, probably in either Pennsylvania or Ohio.

Peter’s wife, Mary Huey Bryan, and their grandson, William Riley Bryan, are also buried at Pingry Cemetery. They are buried side by side, Peter on the right, Mary in the middle and William Riley on the left. William Riley was the son of John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan.

According to the 1887 Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana, page 899, Peter and Mary Bryan had 8 children and John was their second child. I do not know the name of their oldest child, but he was probably born about 1822-23. I assume he was a male because in 1830 there were the following 4 children in the Peter Bryan household: 2 males between 5 and 10 years and both a male and a female under 5 years. (source: 1830 Federal census, Madison Township, Licking County, Ohio; Roll 134:415) John and his older brother were probably the 2 males between 5 and 10 years old.

I also assume that only six of Peter and Mary’s children were living when Peter died in 1854. Six children were named as heirs in Peter’s will: John, Joseph, Byantha “Curtice” (wife of Leonard Curtice), Hallet, Elisabeth, and Peter. (source: estate papers of Peter Bryan, Jay County Genealogical Society, Portland, Indiana, Box 8, 1854.)

I know of the following six children of Peter and Mary: John (1824-1900, married Mary Huey), Byantha (c1829-aft 1900, married Leonard Curtis, living in Putnam County, Ohio, in 1860 & 1900), Joseph (c1831-?, married Rachael Denney),  Hallet (1836-1863, died in the Civil War), Elisabeth (1837-1905, married Andrew J. Huey, lived in Van Wert County, Ohio & Emmet County, Michigan), Peter L. (1840-1915, married 1. Christene McCaskey, 2. Nancy E. Jones).

Pingry Cemetery, Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana (2001 photo)

Pingry Cemetery, Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana (2001 photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pingry Cemetery is one of my favorite cemeteries. It is a small rural cemetery on a little hill in a wooded area that overlooks a field. To get to the cemetery you must cross a wooden foot bridge and climb the small hill through a narrow path in the trees. Although many of the stones are now broken, they are inscribed with many family names and other names that I have become familiar with.

Path to Pingry Cemetery (2002 photo)

William Riley Bryan, Mary (Huey) & Peter Bryan, Pingry Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana (2001 photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jun 10

The John Bryan Family Photo

John & Hannah (Huey) Bryan. Children: Emily, Peter, Mary, William Riley, Alta Jane, Hallet, Byantha.

This photo may look familiar to those of you who have been following my blogs and looking at my website. It is the background photo of this website, a photo of the John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan family. The photo was taken in Jay County, Indiana, very likely on the family farm in Bear Creek Township. I do not know when the photo was taken. I featured John and Hannah’s tombstone in my last Tombstone Tuesday blog.

In the photo John Bryan and his wife Hannah (Huey) are seated in their rockers holding their massive family Bibles. Seven of their eight children are standing behind them. They are, left to right: Emily Ellen, Peter, Mary, William Riley, Alta Jane, Hallet, and Byantha. Their eighth child, Jackson, died 2 Jul 1868.

John Bryan lived in Bear Creek Township in Jay County, Indiana. According to John’s will his 80 acre property was the East 1/2 of the SE quarter of Sec 34, Twp 24, Range 14 East. All of John and Hannah’s children were born in Jay County. Below is some information about those in the photo:

John Bryan (15 August 1824-19 April 1900) and wife Hannah (Huey) Bryan (19 January 1830-19 February 1901). They married 20 April 1848 in Jay County.

Emily Ellen (8 May 1856-24 Jun 1940) married William W. Reid 30 Jun 1878 in Jay County (Vol. D:442). William passed away in 1905 and Emily married Abraham C. Bisel 20 Dec 1913 in Jay County (Vol. 9:99). Emily and William were the parents of Pearl Reid, my great-grandmother. Pearl married Philip Brewster and their daughter Gertrude married Carl Miller. Gertrude and Carl were my grandparents.

Peter J. Bryan (22 May 1851-27 Jan 1914) married Mary A. Reid in 1876. They had the following children: John, Rena, Della, Edward, Emma, and Jesse.

Mary E. (5 Oct 1849-bef 1940) married George Reid. They had the following children: Eva, Lewis, and Manuel.

Hallet B. (24 Feb 1853-1936) married Mary Chapman 6 Sep 1879 in Jay County (Vol. D:557). They had the following children: James, Riley “William”, Lawrence B., Clarance, and a child that died in infancy, buried in Limberlost Cemetery, Jay County.

Alta Jane, (30 Sep 1866-bef 1940) married Ernest C. Schmidt 11 Aug 1894 in Jay County (Vol. G:494). They had the following children: Clarence and Mary R.

William Riley (27 Oct 1854-25 Jan 1893).

Byantha (5 Mar 1864-bef 1940) married George Saxman Jr. 28 Sep 1883 in Jay County (Vol. E:439). They had the following children: Alta Leana, Hannah Callie, John W.P., Mary G., Lela A., Jacob W., Orva L.J., Caroline, Arthur, and Kenneth B.A.

Some of this information was obtained from the booklet, the Seventh Annual Reunion of the Descendants of Christian and Hannah Whiteman. This booklet has been a valuable source of family information. The reunion was held 27 August 1908 at J.W. Whiteman’s Grove, four miles northeast of Bryant, Indiana. Christian Whiteman was one of my Revolutionary War ancestors and this booklet outlines his descendants. Christian’s second wife was Hannah Huey. One of their daughters was Mary, who married Isaac Huey. Mary and Isaac had a daughter Hannah, who married John Bryan.

Seventh Annual Reunion, Descendants of Christian & Hannah Whiteman, 1908. (first 3 pages)

Here is another source of information about the John Bryan family:

History of Blackford & Jay Counties, Indiana, 1887, by Lewis, p. 899: John Bryan, one of the leading citizens of Bear Creek Township, where he successfully follows farming pursuits, is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born August 15, 1824.  His parents, Peter and Mary (Huey) Bryan, were formerly residents of the State of Pennsylvania.  They had a family of eight children, of whom our subject was the second child.  When he was quite small he was taken by his parents to Licking County, Ohio, and later to Fairfield County, and from there the family subsequently removed to Allen County, in the same state.  John Bryan grew to manhood in his native state, being reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and by study at home.  In 1847 he came to Jay County, Indiana, where he has since made his home, and is now the owner of eighty acres of as good land as the county affords.  He has a good residence, surrounded by shade and ornamental trees, a large, commodious barn and other improvements, and his land is very productive and under fine cultivation.  Mr. Bryan was united in marriage, April 15, 1848 [sic], to Miss Hannah Huey, a daughter of Isaac Huey, born January 19, 1830, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and came to Indiana with her parents in 1836.  To them have been born eight children, seven still living–Mary E., born October 5, 1849; Peter J., born May 22, 1851; Hallet B., born February 24, 1853; William R., born October 27, 1854; Emily, born May 8, 1856; Jackson, born March 22, 1858; Byantha, born March 5, 1864; Alta Jane, born September 30, 1866;  Jackson is deceased.  Politically Mr. Bryan is a Democrat.  He is a worthy and consistent member of the Disciple church, and is a zealous worker in the Sabbath School.

Look for more information about the Bryan family next week.