Ch/grch of John VanCleave(John-AIJ) & Eunice VanCleave(Ben-AIJ)
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In reply to:
Ch/grch of Aaron Van Cleave & Rachel Schenck
Richard 11/10/02
Fellow Van Cleave family researchers & cousins,
Although my grandmother, Dulcena Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Van Cleave) Lawson's direct paternal line is: Dulcena-Benjamin Milton-David-Aaron(4-4)-John-AIJ, I will post some of the information that I have about David's wife, Sarah Jane Van Cleave's family first, since "Big John" (4-3) is listed before Aaron (4-4), both being sons of John Van Cleave & Mary Shepherd.
4-3 JOHN "Big John" b 4/18/1765/6, md 9/23/1794 Shelby Co, Ky to Eunice Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ), John d 9/5/1848 Stampers Creek Tp, Orange Co, IN, where Eunice d abt 1831. (AIJ = Aaron-Isabrandt-Jan). John was father of my 2nd grt grmother, Sarah Jane Van Cleave, who md David Van Cleave.(Note that, since Eunice, dau of Ben-AIJ, would be listed as 5-7, then all of these descendents that I'm posting could also be listed with 5-7 in place of4-3).
We are very fornunate that many of the incidents that happened surrounding the "seige of Bryant's Sation", that pertain to our "Big John" Van Cleave, have been passed on & recorded.Some of this following account, I have posted earlier, and some of it is additional information, from pgs 7-9, about our "Big John" & other members of our family.
The following comments/stories about our Van Cleave family, including excerpts from story of attack on Bryant's Station, are from: THE VAN CLEAVE FAMILY THE McMULLEN FAMILY THE TAYLOR FAMILY, compiled by Errett Van Cleave, San Francisco, CA, 1946; from notes left by his Uncle James Wm Van Cleave of Brown's Valley (near Crawfordsville), Montgomery, IN (who apparently relied heavily on "the Elders" Uncle Jonathan & Aunt Betsy Van Cleave & Uncle Matthius Mount Van Cleave).
I have presented these excerpts as they were told by "the Elders", and compiled by Errett Van Cleave, just as they were written, in most instances, even though they contain some expressions of a sensitve nature. I did avoid using some terms which I determined may be considered more offensive than sensitive, and, at the very least, considered politically incorrect in this present day.
Bottom of page 6-page 13: A lengthy description of the siege on Bryant's Station [which must have lasted about a month], including serveral battles with reinforcements coming into the fort from all directions & how several members of the Van Cleave family, including the women, did whatever was neccessary to help defend the fort during that long siege.
Bottom of page 7: "In the meanwhile the men in the garrison were kept busy defending the fort against the ...[Indians], and the women were not idle.They assisted the men as much as they were able.Ruth[Munson Van Cleave]'s daughters, Mary [15] and Rachel [9] [Eunice was not quite 2], assisted the men by molding bullets for them as they were needed.Mention is made of John [Van Cleave], Mary [Shepherd Van Cleave], his wife and daughters [Rachel 19, Leah 17 & Elizabeth 8] helping to carry from the spring and to run bullets and to [page 8:] carry them to the men at the walls of the fort.John [15/16] and Aaron [12], sons of John were not idle.They were lads but could handle a rifle as could most boys of that day.Aaron [12], son of Benjamin, also took part in the affray and stood at the walls with rifle in hand and sent forth death dealing loads among the ...[Indians].
"It was now near sundown and the fire on both sides had slackened.The Indians had become discouraged.Their loss in the morning had been heavy and the country was evidently arming and would soon be upon them.They had made no impression upon the fort and without artillery could hope to make none.The chief spoke of raising the seige and decamping, but [Simon] Girty determined since his arms had been unavailing, to try the efficacy of negotiating.Near one of the basins there was a large stump to which he krept on his hands and knees and from which he hailed the garrison.He highly commended their courage but assured them that further resistance would be madness, as he had six hundred warriors with him, and was in hourly expectation of reinforcements with artillery which would instantly blow their cabins into the air; that if the fort were taken by storm, as it certainly would be when their cannon arrived, it would be impossible for him to save their lives; but if they surrendered at once, he gave them his word of honor that not a hair on their heads would be injured.He told them his name, inquired whether they knew him, and assured them that they might safely trust in his honor.The garrison listened in silence to his speech, and many of them looked very troubled at the mention of artillery, as the Indians had, on at least one occasion, brought cannons with them and destroyed two stations.A young man by the name of Reynalds [Reynolds?]; highly distinquished for courage and energy, took it upon himself to reply to Girty's speech.To the inquiry if the garrison knew him, Reynalds replied that Girty was very well known, that he, himself, had a very worthless dog to which he had given the name of Simon Girty, because of his striking resemblence to a man of that name; that if he had either artillery or reinforcements, he might bring them up and be damned; that if he and any of his naked rascals with him found their way into the fort, they would disdain to use their guns against them, but would drive them out with switches, of which they had collected a great number for that very purpose alone.And finallly he declared that they were expecting reinforcements, that the whole country was marching to their assistance, and that if Girty and his gang of murderers remained twenty-four hours longer before the fort, their scalps would be found drying in the sun upon the roofs of their cabins.
"Girty took great offense at the tone and language of Reynalds remarks, and retired with an expression of sorrow for the inevitable distruction which awaited the garrison on the following morning.He quickly rejoined the other chiefs in instant preparations for raising the seige.
"While these ... war like scenes were transpiring aboutthe fort, [Big] John Van Cleave, son of John [AIJ], distinquished himself.It was sometime during the latter part of the day and shortly before Girty's speech and Reynald's intrepid reply that John Van Cleave, standing at his post near the wall where he had been all day, saw an Indian standing on a stump, a tall stump, trying to look over into the fort.John, who was a lad of fifteen years, called the attention of the others, who were standing nearby, to the Indian on the tall stump.John thought of shooting at the Indian, but it was at very long range, and the other men thought it too far for their guns, but 'Big John' Van Cleave, as he was called, concluded that he could hit him.His rifle was a small boar gun, but of long range, and he said to those near him, 'Boys, I intend to shoot at that Indian and see if I can make him get off of the stump.'The men made no objections.John saw something bright and shiney on the Indian's breast, but could not make out what it was at that great distance.So he took aim upon the object on the Indian's breast, up near the chin and fired.At the report of his rifle the Indian dissappeared from the stump.It was a long shot, but John knew the strength of his rifle, for he had often tried it at long range on turkey and deer in the forest. He was a good hunter as well as a dead shot.Soon after he fired, there were soon many Indians gathered about the stump keeping up a great commotion.After [page 9:] yelling about for some time they all went away."
Page 14: "Now that the battle was over and the Indians had fled, 'Big John' Van Cleave [son of John-AIJ] went out to the stump where he shot at the Indian standing upon it to see the result of his long shot. John found no Indian at the stump where he had seen him fall, for the Indians had borne the body away and tried to hide the evidence of his death by killing a hog and dragging it around the stump to obliterate all trace of the dead Indian. Indian tracks were thick about the stump. John searched down around the roots and found a silver half-moon with a short buckstring attached to it. The upper end had been cut off with a rifle ball, for the color of lead was still upon it. He knew then that this was what had glittered on the Indian's breast. John kept the silver [half-]moon the rest of his life but it is not known what became of it. John said that during the siege of the fort they became very hungry for the garrison had not enough time to gather provisions before the siege. He was so hungry that he gathered up grains of corn from the cow dung, washed, parched and ate them with relish [pleasure].
"The boys made their escape following the horsemen. [Big] John was a fleshy boy and couldn't run as fast as Aaron and Benjamin, so he was left behind. He made his escape by hiding in a hollow log and stayed there all night. He was found the next morning by scouts that went out to look for the dead and missing. John came out of the hollow log rejoicing to find friends. Aaron and Benjamin were slim and fleet of foot so they ran after the horsemen and kept up pretty well. When they came to the river the horsemen could not take them up, so they caught the horses by the tail and swam across in that manner. After crossing the river they hurried along on foot as fast as they could, encumbered as they were with wet buckskin garments."
Since many of the members of the Van Cleave family, that I've read about, were described as very tall & large, it seems incredible for any one of them to be called by a nickname such as "Big John" by other members of the Van Cleave family.From several accounts that have been told to me about this ggg grandfather of mine, I can imagine how much he enjoyed the telling of these stories, esp. of the eating the parched corn from the cow dung, and esp. to the young ladies of his day.
After the death of his wife Eunice in 1831 (his 1st cousin nearly 15 years younger than himself), he is said to have mdNancy Nichols on 12/15/1831 in Orange Co, IN.There were no known children of this marriage.He is said to have lived in Montgomery Co, IN, from the early to the late 1830's or until early in the year of 1840.He is listed in the1840 FC of Orange Co, IN, where he is said to have died, and to have been buried, but it is alsothat he died in Morgantown, Morgan Co, IN,where his grandson, Henry Harrison Van Cleave was md on 4/13/1848."Big John" Van Cleave, Jr, by his services in defending Bryant's Station, was considered a Veteran & Patriot of the Revolutionary War, along with several other male members of the Van Cleave family.
Children of John Van Cleave, Jr & Eunice Van Cleave:
4-3-1 (John?) "Squire Keawick" Van Cleave, b abt 1795 Shelbyville, Shelby Co, KY, md 3/12/1818 in Orange Co, IN to Margaret McGrew, d abt 1822 (Wash. Co, IN? where he was listed in 1820 FC.Margaret md (2) 3/2/1826 to Jacob King (bro of Cornelius King-see below), and she md (3) abt 1842 to James Murphy.Margaret was b 9/14/1798 KY & d 3/21/1865 Knoxville Knox Co, IL).Desc's were in Morgan Co, IN abt 1830-1848 & in Knoxville, IL area by 1850.
Children of (John?) "Squire Keawick" Van Cleave & Margaret McGrew: (all b Livonia, Wash. Co, IN)
4-3-1-1 John Andrew, b1819, md1845 Electa Stockton, d 1859 Greenbush, Warren Co, IN.
4-3-1-2 Joseph Newton, b 1820, prob d.y.
4-3-1-3 Joseph Warren, b 1821, prob d.y.
4-3-1-4 Henry Harrison, b 1822, md 4/13/1848 Morgantown, Morgan Co, IN to Mary Jane Wallace, d 1873 Knoxville, Knox Co, IN, leaving many desc's.
4-3-2 Mary "Polly" A(llen?) Van Cleave, b abt 1797 Sh'yv., md 4/8/1819 Orange Co, IN to Cornelius King, d abt 1861 (Mont. Co, IN?, where they were listed in FCs of 1830-1860).Cornelius was b abt 1797 KY and d abt 1867 (Dallas Co, IA?, where some of their ch were listed in the 1860 FC).Child of Cornelius by 1st wf, name unk: Sarah B. b 1815 OrIN, md Thomas Davis 1835 MtIN, nothing further.
Children of Mary "Polly" A(llen?) Van Cleave & Cornelius King:
4-3-2-1 Eunice Jane, b 1820 OrIN, md Crawford Van Cleave, son of Aaron Van Cleave (Ben-AIJ) & Elizabeth Van Cleave (John-AIJ) 1840 MtIN.
4-3-2-2 John V, b 1823 OrIN, md Elizabeth A Thorn (dau of George) 1855 MtIN (veteran of War with Mexico - Co.I5th IN Inf.).
4-3-2-3 Asa W, b 1826 OrIN, md Rhoda J Allen, dau of James Allen & Cynthia Van Cleave (Sam-Ben-AIJ) 1845 MtIN; (female-name unk) b 1828 OrIN.
4-3-2-4 Lydia T b 1830 Browns V'y, MtIN, md (1) Wm C Taylor, son of Benj S Taylor & Marg't Van Cleave (Aaron-Ben-AIJ) 1855 MtIN, md (2) Joseph G Lee 9/4/1864 (Dallas Co, IA? where listed in 1860 FC).
4-3-2-5 Joseph b 1832 Br's V'y, IN, md Mary Ann Van Cleave (see 4-3-11-1 below) 8/5/1852 MtIN.
4-3-2-6 Cornelius, Jr b 1835 Br's V'y, IN, md Zerelda Thorn (dau of George) 1858 Dallas Co, IA.
4-3-3 Eunice Van Cleave, b abt 1799 Sh'yv., prob d.y.
4-3-4 Elizabeth Van Cleave, b abt 1801 Sh'yv. prob d.y.
4-3-5 Sarah Jane Van Cleave, b 10/7/1803 Sh'yv., md David Van Cleave, son of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin, (see desc's of Aaron #4-4).
4-3-6 Catherine Van Cleave, b abt 1805 Sh'yv., prob d.y. (note that Sarah Jane had dau named Elizabeth Catherine.Also, see note after Milton 4-4-10).
4-3-7 Lydia Van Cleave, b abt 1807 Sh'yv., md Samuel Van Cleave, son of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin, (see desc's of Aaron #4-4).
4-3-8 Samuel Van Cleave, b abt 1809 Sh'yv., prob d.y.
4-3-9 Harvey Van Cleave, b 1/9/1811 Sh'yv., md 3/7/1833 Mont. Co, IN to Elizabeth Combs Van Cleave, dau of Thomas G Van Cleave (Ralph-AIJ) & Mary S Van Cleave (Aaron-John-AIJ), d 12/5/1887 Scappoose, Columbia Co, OR. (veteran of War with Mexico - Co I5th IN Inf).Elizabeth C was b 11/19/1815 Madison, Jefferson Co, IN and d 5/11/1890 Scappoose, OR.
Children of HarveyVan Cleave & Elizabeth Combs Van Cleave:
4-3-9-1 Sarah Ellen, b 6/1/1840 Parke Co, IN, md Francis Ternahan.
4-3-9-2 Thomas Crawford, b 12/28/1842 Br's V'y, IN, d 7/19/1844;Mary Matilda 5/1/1847 Br's V'y, IN, md Lewis Piper.
4-3-9-3 John Samuel, b 10/9/1850 (twin) Br's V'y, IN, (never md?), d 1927;Benjamin Lindsey b 10/9/1850 (twin) Br's V'y, IN, md (1) Sarah Dobbins, (2) Emma L (Palmer) Ternahan.
4-3-9-4 Serilda Jane, b 8/22/1855 Blakesburg, Monroe Co, IA, md John W Harkleroad.
4-3-9-5 Susannah Conover (Anglican/Americanized version of [Van] Couvenhoven), b 8/6/1859 Blakesburg, IA, (never md?), d 5/1/1873.
4-3-10 James Young Van Cleave, b 4/3/1813 Stampers Creek, Orange Co, IN, md (1)11/17/1835 Parke Co, IN to Lucretia Holcomb, d 3/20/1891 (CO?-note in my file worksheet, veteran of War with Mexico - Co I5th IN Inf).Lucretia was b 1/29/1813 Yadkin Co, NC and d 3/31/1853 Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL (bur in E. Jacksonville Cem). James Y md (2) 10/18/1855 Morgan Co, IL to Clara Ann Caldwell (nothing further abt Clara).
Children of James Young Van Cleave & Lucretia Holcomb:
4-3-10-1 Nancy J(ane?), b abt 1836/7 Parke/Orange Co, IN, (md Feelden Gibbons?-when/where?-not sure of source).Nancy was listed in the 1850 FC of Jacksonville, IL in an Intitution for the Deaf-Mute).
4-3-10-2 Mary E, b 5/1840 Parke/Orange Co, IN, md David A Farnum (when/where?).
4-3-10-3 Philip Holcomb, b 8/5/1841 St'rs Cr, Orange Co, IN, (never md?), d 4/20/1932 (CO/NM?-note in my file worksheet, veteran of Civil War - Co I14th IL Inf 25 May 1861-18 June 1864 - bur in Camp Butler National Cem, Springfield, IL).
4-3-10-4 Perry Lloyd, b 1/10/1843 Richland Co, IL, md 3/2/1869 Macon Co, IL to Hulda (Hardy) (Wright?), dau of George Hardy & Elizabeth (???), d 7/17/1926 Macon Co, IL (veteran of Civil War - Co J115th IL Inf 13 Aug 1862-11 June 1865 - bur in Hall Cem, Blue Mound, IL).
4-3-10-5 George R, b abt 1847 Richland/Morgan Co, IL, (md?), d 1878 (when/where?) (veteran of Civil War - Co J115th IL Inf 4 Aug 1862-11 June 1865).
4-3-10-6 James, b abt 1850 Morgan Co, IL, nothing further.
4-3-10-7 Thomas, b abt 1851 Morgan Co, IL, nothing further.
Child of James Young Van Cleave & Clara Ann Caldwell:
4-3-10-8 Joseph William, b abt 1859 Morgan Co, IL, (md?), d 1926 (when/where?-note in my file worksheet - bur in Fairlawn Cem,Decatur, IL. (same cem - Rachel Annis Van Cleave 1863-1940, poss wf of Jos Wm?).
4-3-11 Benjamin C Van Cleave, b 11/10/1815 St'rs Cr, Orange Co, IN, md 4/14/1836 Mont. Co, IN to Nancy G Van Cleave, dau of Thomas G Van Cleave (Ralph-AIJ) & Mary S Van Cleave (Aaron-John-AIJ), d 9/8/1879 Polk Co, IA (veteran of War with Mexico - Co I5th IN Inf).Nancy was b 11/18/1817 Madison, Jefferson Co, IN and d 5/25/1862 Mercer Co, MO.
Children of Benjamin C Van Cleave & Nancy G Van Cleave:
4-3-11-1 Mary Ann, b 2/21/1837 Crawfordsville, Mont. Co, IN, md 8/5/1852 MtIn to Joseph King (see 4-3-2-5 above), d 9/2/1878 (IA-note in my file-family 1880 IA).
4-3-11-2 Eunice Elizabeth, b 11/16/1838 Cr'dsv., IN, md (when/where?) to Ace Bradford, d 1928 near DeBeque, Garfield Co (Garfield side of county-line), CO - bur in DeBeque Cem, DeBeque, Mesa Co, CO.
4-3-11-3 John Thomas, b 11/29/1840 Cr'dsv., IN, md 1865 (where?) to Matilda Jane Elliott, d 1/24/1914 Kimball Creek (near DeBeque) Garfield Co, CO - bur in DeBeque Cem. (veteran of Civil War - Co? 15th IA Inf).
4-3-11-4 Jesse William, 2/25/1842 Cr'dsv., IN, prob d.y. <1860.
4-3-11-5 Harvey Milton, b 7/15/1845 Cr'dsv., IN, (never md?), d 1926 (veteran of Civil War - Co? 12th MO Calv).
4-3-11-6 Matilda Jane, b 4/29/1848 Cr'dsv., IN,md (when/where?) to Charlie Dayton, d 8/28/1873 (when/where?).
4-3-11-7 Louiza C, b Cr'dsv., IN, d 9/29/1851.
4-3-11-8 Zerelda J(ane?), b 4/11/1852 IN/MO, d 8/25/1857.
4-3-11-9 Lydia Combs, b 4/10/1854 near Pleasanton, IA in Mercer Co, MO, md 2/29/1872 Perry, Dallas Co, IA to Andrew Jackson Scott, d 4/7/1944 (near DeBeque) Garfield Co, CO - bur DeBesque Cem.
4-3-11-10 Susanna Rebecca, b 6/26/1858 near Pl'n, IA in Mercer Co, MO, md 12/22/1878 (Polk Co, IA?) to John Crawford, 1944 (when/where?).
4-3-11-11 Nancy S, b 9/21/1861 near Pl'n, IA in Mercer Co, MO, d 9/6/1863.
4-3-12 Aaron Van Cleave, b 4/15/1818 St'rs Cr, Orange Co, IN, md 7/26/1855 Blakeburg, Wapello Co, IA to Mary Jane Belknap (prob sis of James Belknap who md Elizabeth Van Cleave, dau of Ahijah W-Sam-Ben-AIJ, see 5-3-9 in VanCleave post #486), d 3/13/1897 New Market, Mont. Co, IN - bur Indian Creek Hill Cem, Mont. Co, IN.(veteran of War with Mexico - Co I 5th IN Inf, also said to have been veteran of Civil War-unit?).Mary Jane was b 1830 OH and d 3/21/1864 Blakesburg, Wapello Co, IA.Their is no evidence that Aaron remarried after the death of his daus in late 1850's/early 1860's and the death of his wife in 1864.He returned to Mont. Co, IN, in 1865, where he died in 1897, leaving no known desc's.
Children of Aaron Van Cleave & Mary Jane Belknap:
4-3-12-1 Nancy Ellen, b 7/8/1856 Blakesburg, Wapello Co, IA, d 10/8/(1862?).It was more likely 10/8/1856-7-8-9 as Nancy was not listed with Aaron & Mary and her sister Eunice in 1850 FC of Adams TP, Wapello Co, IA.
4-3-12-2 Eunice J(ane?), b 11/10/1859 Blakesburg, Wapello Co, IA, d 2/3/1861.
4-3-13 Susannah Wible Van Cleave, b 5/21/1820 St'rs Cr, Orange Co, IN, md after 1860 Blakesburg, Wapello Co, IA to (???) Johnson, d 11/13/1879 Blakesburg, Wapello Co, IA.Nothing further about Mr Johnson.No known ch or desc's.
4-3-14 John Squire McGrew Van Cleave, b 5/14/1823 (shortly after death of [John?] "Squire Keawick" Van Cleave 4-3-1) Stampers Creek, Orange Co, IN, md later part of1852 (Pacific Co?), Wash. Terr. to Mary Jane Wallace, d 2/3/1889 (Wooodard's Landing?, Pacific Co?, Wash Terr.?-WA became a state in 1889). (veteran of War with Mexico - Co I5th IN Inf).Mary was b 9/21/1828 OH and died 2/4/1884 Woodard's Landing, (Pacific Co?), Wash. Terr.
Upon the death of his dear wife of"a little over 31 years", John SM Van Cleave wrote a letter from Woodard's Landing, W.T. to his elder brother Harvey, to advise him of his wife's recent death.Harvey had just reached his 73rd year of life, and this letter from his grieving younger brother begins: "Harvey Van Cleave- My Dear Bro, I have not heard from you for a long time, and so cannot tell whether you are dead or living.I write however, to you in the hope that you are still in the land of the living.I write to convey to you the sad intelligence of the death of my good, kind and loving companion."After describing the circumstnaces surrounding his wife Mary's death, he ends: "We are all getting better and hope that time will soothe our sorrows to a calm resignation.Hoping you and yours are well, I close. Write soon for my crushed heart needs the sympathy of my friends. Your brother, J.S.M. Van Cleave."
Children of John Squire McGrew Van Cleave & Mary Jane Wallace:
4-3-14-1 Minerva Ellen, b 10/29/1855 Raymond, Pacific Co, W.T., (never md?), d 7/29/1874.
4-3-14-2 Leonidas X, b 5/31/1858 Raymond, Pacific Co, W.T., md 10/17/1881 Pacific Co, W.T. to Emma G Hoover, d 7/17/1923 Wenatchee, Chelan Co, WA-where he lived in 1900's at 427 Kittitas St.
4-3-14-3 Miriam Rosanna, b 7/27/1860 Raymond, Pacific Co, W.T., md (when/where?) to (???) Gilbert, d (when/where?).
4-3-14-4 Marcus C M, b 11/20/1862 Rayond., Pacific Co, W.T., nothing further.
4-3-14-5 Francis Eugene, b 1/27/1865 Portland, Multanoah Co, OR, listed in 1900 FC of Klamath TP, Del Norte Co, CA w/bro Mark J, nothing further.
4-3-14-6 Mary J(ane?), b 10/20/1867 Portland, Multanoah Co, OR, nothing further.
4-3-14-7 John Daniel, b 9/5/1870 (twin) Pacific Co, W.T., nothing further.
4-3-14-8 Mark J, b 9/5/1870 (twin) Pacific Co, W.T., listed in 1900 FC of Klamath TP, Del Norte Co, CA w/bro Frank E, nothing further.
It has been with great difficulty that I have been able to sort out as many marriages of the above desc's of Big John & Eunice, esp in Mont.Co, IN, and to find which Van Cleave family the spouses were from, as I have.I have posted these results of countless waking hours spent at that task for one main reason, other than not letting all that time be wasted.
My first real correspondence about the Van Cleave family was in 1971, with Julien Van Cleave Root, son of George Allen Root & Aunt Minnie Jewett Van Cleave, sister of my paternal grandmother, Dulcena Elizabeth (Van Cleave) Lawson.His father, George A Root, had been, for over fity years, curator of records of the Kansas Historical Society Museum, where he had met my Aunt Minnie, who also worked there.Julien and I corresponded only a few years, as he died in 1974, at the age of 80, but not before sending an enormous amount of material to me about our Van Cleave family.
About the time of Julien's death, I began corresponding with Miss Elizabeth Van Cleaveof Indianapolis, IN, dau of Benjamin Franklin Van Cleave-Aaron Wilson Van Cleave, son of Sarah Jane Van Cleave (4-3-5 above) & David Van Cleave.Miss Elizabeth had just recently had the house remodeled that was on the property originally deeded to David & Sarah Jane in about 1831/2.Several items were discovered in the attic of that old house, including many old pictures kept by David & Sarah Jane, and some kept by their son Aaron W &/or their several unmarried daus, esp Sarah Jane Van Cleave, who had been md a short time to a Levi N Lee.
As you can imagine, most of the people in those pictures were, and still remain, unidentified.However, as I was able to sort out the relationships, I was able to identify more of the pictures.I still have at least one more post of the desc's of Aaron Van Cleave (4-4) & his wife, Elizabeth Griffin.Then, I want to have my son help me to set up my own web page to include some of the indentified, and maybe, eventually, some of the unidentified pictures, many of which are tin-types.It will require years of serious inquiry to try to identify amany of these Van Cleave relatives, and, unfortunately, there are very few members of the family who are old enough to know the identity of most of those left unidentified.
One great source of help in this tremendous undertaking, would be for several of those members of the Van Cleave family who have identified pictures of the late 1800's, to set up their own website, or to scan those pictures and send copies to me by e-mail at:
[email protected]
or to xeroxed color-printer copies and send them by regular postal service to:
Richard Lawson1425 STHYFNiangua, MO 65713
While it may be of some value to include their own unidentified pictures on their own website, I see no real value in sending me copies of unidentified pictures of that time period, unless you have some degree of idea as to the identity of those individuals or families.
I will now get to work on the post of desc's of Aaron Van Cleave & Elizabeth Griffin.Please let me know if you have any additions, corrections or commnets concerning these many Van Cleave & related families.
More later,
Richard Lawson
Niangua, MO 65713