Benjamin Bowsher, father of 22!

Benjamin Bowsher

Born 1833

Died 1901

When I look at different branches of my family tree, it amazes me how many children some of my relatives had. Many of my relatives were farmers, it was understandable that they had a large family to help with the work maintaining the fields and the farm itself. One of the largest families on my tree is that of Benjamin Bowsher.

My 3rd great grandfather Benjamin Bowsher was born and raised in Marion County, Ohio. He met and married Nancy Hockenberry, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Reizor) Hockenberry in December of 1854. Nancy was just 18 years old when they married. Within one year they had the first of twelve children. They are as follows:

1. Olive Vivian Bowsher, born 1855

2. Anthony David Bowsher, born 1857

3. Esas Marilda Bowsher, born 1859 (my 2nd great grandmother)

4. Margaret Jane Bowsher, born 1861

5. William Allen Bowsher, born 1863

6. Allen Bowsher, born 1865

7. Ellen Bowsher, born 1867

8. Hester Marie (Hettie) born 1869

9. Everett Bowsher, born 1872

10. Ada Bowsher, born 1874 (twin)

11. Arthur Sherman Bowsher, born 1874 (twin)

12. Infant, unknown name, born 1877

So, at the age of 44 Benjamin was a widow with at least eight children still at home! Wow. In 1879 he married Mary Elizabeth Luse, who was born in 1855, the same year Benjamin and Nancy's oldest daughter Olive was born. I wonder if they were friends?

Benjamin and Mary went on to have ten more children! They are as follows:

1. Martha Melissa Bowsher, born 1880

2. Sarah Elizabeth Bowsher, born 1884

3. Benjamin Bowsher, Jr., born 1886

4. Ida Bowsher, born 1887

5. Joseph Albert Bowsher, born 1888

6. James Francis Bowsher, born 1890

7. George Warren Bowsher, born 1892

8. Lillie Myrtle Bowsher, born 1894

9. Louise T. Bowsher, born 1899

10. Infant, died at birth (Mary may have had the measles)

Twenty two children. I believe that Benjamin had the most children on any branch of my family tree. Unfortunately, he died in 1901 and is buried in Warden Cemetery, Monticello, White County, Indiana. Elizabeth died in 1831. Next time I get to Monticello, I will have to look up the Warden cemetery and hopefully find Benjamin and Nancy's graves. There is a lot of information on the Bowsher family in the White County Museum in Monticello, in fact a direct descendant of Benjamin, and my 4th cousin- Judy Baker Carol is director of the museum. Check out my post about our chance encounter on Good Friday two years ago. I believe someone in the family sent me Benjamin's picture. I have a copy of a picture of Nancy Hockenberry, but it is really a very poor copy otherwise I would have published it as well. Who knows, maybe someone in my family has a really good copy I can get my hands on someday!

Hanaway Family Reunion

Bert and Eva Hanaway
January 15, 1901

Wedding photo

I always look forward to the month of July. Not only to celebrate the 4th of July, which is always a fun time to bar-b-que and watch fireworks, but a month to remember and honor our ancestors who fought for our freedom. Like so very many other people, I have quite a number of relatives who fought not only in the Civil War but also the Revolutionary War.

Since 1956 my Hanaway relatives have held a family reunion in the month of July. My G Grandfather Marion Albert "Bert" Hanaway died July 19, 1955 and shortly thereafter, April 26, 1956 his beloved wife, my G Grandmother Eva passed away. Their eight children started the family reunion as a way of gathering together and celebrating their parents lives. Bert and Eva had 42 grandchildren, 141 great grandchildren, and at this point in time over 269 great great grandchildren. I'm not sure how many ggg grandchildren they have.

We are bound together by family roots. Hanaway family roots, Deneau, Boudreau, Senesac, Bowsher, Hockenberry, Donavan, Yarnell, Bunnell, Castner, and oh so many more fruitful family roots. We gather together to celebrate where we came from, to renew family ties, to meet and greet new additions to our family tree, to reminisce, to eat together, to laugh, take family pictures and catch up with long lost cousins. This year we are once again blessed to celebrate with Bert and Eva's youngest daughter and only living child, my beloved Great Aunt Bernice! How lucky we are!

Our numbers may not always be many. Some of our younger generations have yet to develop an interest in family members they are related to but may not know. They may not make a point of attending for one reason or another. Although I have always loved going to this event, I too remember when I was younger being a bit uncomfortable meeting a lot of relatives who looked familiar but I really didn't know. I would always gravitate to my many cousins who I knew very well. They were and still are a fun group to be with! There are never enough of those times so when a reunion comes around, you bet I'll be there. I'm also going to be involved! I'm really lucky that all of my children actually like going too!

As I have discovered in the last ten years of doing family research, I am not alone in my quest for knowledge of where I came from. Several other family members have taken to shaking our tree. I love to share discoveries and learn about new connections. I really don't mind being called the genealogy addict in our family! Happy times, here I come!