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Family Group Sheet


Husband:   George C Chopson

Born:   15 May 1788 in:   VA
Died:   1866 in:   Westboro, Clinton Co., OH
Father:   George Chopson (c1765-)
Mother:   Elizabeth Howard (1759-1870)

1st Wife:   Elizabeth Ann Darbyshire "Betsy"

Married:   04 Apr 1824 in:   PA
Born:   25 Dec 1805 in:   Fayette Co., PA
Died:   15 Apr 1840 in:   Wilmington, Clinton Co., OH
Father:   Thomas Darbyshire (c1773-1851)
Mother:   Ann Covert (1784-1847)

CHILDREN

1   F       Name:   Mary Ann Chopson
Born:   2 Apr 1825 in:   Union Co., PA
Died:   11 Jul 1912 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   2 Feb 1860 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Spouse:   William Reed
Born:   27 Nov 1810 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Died:   15 Jan 1863 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Children:   Martha Emily Reed (1861-1945) m. Alfred Clark Pyle (1850-1915)
Margaret Reed (1863-1940) m. S H Miars (-1918)
Married:   Apr 1870 in:  
Spouse:   James Stillings
Born:   in:  
Died:   in:  
Children:  

2   F       Name:   Elizabeth Chopson
Born:   18 Dec 1827 in:   Fayette Co., PA
Died:   9 Feb 1902 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   1853 in:   Wilmington, Clinton Co., OH
Spouse:   William Alexander Moore
Born:   3 Sep 1826 in:   PA
Died:   10 Feb 1904 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   Edwin Chase Moore (1855-1929) m. Mary Elizabeth Stone (1856-1943)
Franklin Orvil Moore (1859-) m. Sara J Taylor (1867-)
Josephine Arminda Moore (1862-1950)

3   M       Name:   William Chopson
Born:   18 Nov 1829 in:   Union Co., PA
Died:   14 Mar 1910 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   29 Jan 1852 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Spouse:   Ruth Caroline Swaim
Born:   14 Jun 1833 in:   Randolph Co., NC
Died:   7 Feb 1918 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   No children

4   M       Name:   John Chopson (1831-1908)
Spouse:   Susanna Stroup (1833-1906)

5   F       Name:   Martha J Chopson
Born:   6 Apr 1834 in:  
Died:   4 Feb 1926 in:   Reno Co., KS
Married:   28 Jan 1857 in:   Logan Co., OH
Spouse:   Hugh Ghormley
Born:   11 Feb 1834 in:   OH
Died:   3 May 1906 in:   Reno Co., KS
Children:   Flora Ghormley (1860-1918) m. Stephen Cronin (1850-1942)
David Elmer Ghormley (1863-1927) m. Elizabeth R Wallace (1862-1920)

6   F       Name:   Margaret Ellen Chopson
Born:   3 Feb 1836 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Died:   1921 in:   Napa Co., CA
Married:   in:  
Spouse:   Nathan Pritchard
Born:   15 Jul 1831 in:   Oswego Co., NY
Died:   5 Jun 1875 in:   Shasta Co., CA
Children:   Louis Augustus Pritchard (1864-1918) m. Alice B Gott (1871-1935)
Frederick C Pritchard (1864-1930)
Georgia Emma Pritchard (1870-1950)

7   F       Name:   Sarah C Chopson
Born:   17 Feb 1838 in:   Guernsey Co., OH
Died:   30 Jun 1922 in:   Auburn, Placer Co., CA
Married:   28 Mar 1860 in:   Vermilion Co., IL
Spouse:   Ulysses S Moody
Born:   Abt 1835 in:   IL
Died:   Abt 1866 in:   Healdsburg, CA
Children:   Walter Vernon Moody (1861-1934) m. Helen Carlton (1876-)
Herbert Lyle Moody (1862-1931) m. Ida Rachael Gardenshire m. Emma Loring
Anna Theresa Moody (1865-1952) m. Gustavus Robert Readle (1863-1906)
Married:   17 Jan 1869 in:   Auburn, Placer Co., CA
Spouse:   Aaron Coe Keeler
Born:   4 Sep 1837 in:   Lorain Co., OH
Died:   10 May 1903 in:   Auburn, Placer Co., CA
Children:   Evelyn Keeler (1871-1872)
Alice Adella Mabel Keeler (1874-1949) m. Ingate Daniel Stanford (1873-1943)

8   F       Name:   Catherine Chopson
Born:   2 Jan 1840 in:   Highland Co., OH
Died:   15 Sep 1908 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   28 Nov 1865 in:   Danville, IL
Spouse:   John J Miller
Born:   10 Apr 1833 in:   PA
Died:   14 Mar 1917 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   Eli P Miller (1866-1937) m. Linnie L Roberts (1867-1949)
Mark P Miller (1868-) m. Ella May Welch (1867-)
William C Miller (1872-)
Fannie M Miller (1876-) m. Eugene Franklin Gates (1872-)

2nd Wife:   Mary Ellen Burke Pennington

Married:   23 May 1841 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Born:   29 Apr 1801 in:   OH
Died:   21 May 1877 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Father:   John Burke
Mother:   Elizabeth Fitzgerald

CHILDREN

1   F       Name:   Elmira Chopson
Born:   Abt 1841 in:   OH
Died:   in:  
Married:   in:  
Spouse:   James Shaw
Born:   Abt 1814 in:   PA
Died:   in:  
Children:   Louisa Shaw (c1863-)
Thomas Shaw (c1866-)
Edward Shaw (c1868-)
Mattie Shaw (c1873-)
Effie Shaw (c1876-)
Anna Shaw (c1878-)

2   M       Name:   Thomas W Chopson
Born:   30 Jan 1844 in:   OH
Died:   18 Dec 1920 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Married:   2 Dec 1866 in:  
Spouse:   Mary Adaline Gordon
Born:   9 Oct 1846 in:   Highland Co., OH
Died:   2 Dec 1917 in:   Huntington Co., IN
Children:   John W Chopson (c1867-)
Clarence Chopson (1870-1956) m. Ella May Hosier (1876-1956)
Lena Chopson (1872-1955)
Ruth Chopson (c1875-) m. Boxell
Anna Chopson (1878-1953) m. Harley P Keplinger (1874-1943)
Elijah Chopson (c1880-)
Edward Chopson (c1882-)
George E Chopson (c1884-)

3   F       Name:   Sinai Chopson
Born:   Abt 1845 in:   OH
Died:   in:  
Married:   in:  
Spouse:  
Born:   in:  
Died:   in:  
Children:  

4   F       Name:   Ruth C Chopson
Born:   4 Jul 1851 in:   Clinton Co., OH
Died:   27 Aug 1933 in:   Cook Co., IL
Married:   in:  
Spouse:   William Costello
Born:   1 May 1844 in:   OH
Died:   6 Dec 1911 in:   Cook Co., IL
Children:   Clarence Costello (1873-) m. Edna
Kate Costello (1874-)
George J Costello (1876-) m. Mabel
Ethel Costello (1880-)
Grace Costello (1881-)
Maude Costello (1888-1935) m. Howard J Phalen
Ruth Costello (1891-)
Walter J Costello (1895-)

Biography and Timeline


From History of Huntington County, Indiana, 1887, page 802:

George and Elizabeth (Derbyshire) Chopson were natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. They were united in marriage about 1824. They emigrated to Guernsey County, Ohio, about 1830, and from thence to Clinton County, Ohio, and here they resided until death; the latter was called away in April, 1840, in Wilmington, Ohio; the former died in December, 1868, at Westboro, Ohio.


From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, William Chopson, pages 496-501:

Before pursuing his (William Chopson) personal history further, we will refer briefly to his family and birth, the latter occurring near Uniontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1829. His father was George Chopson , whose grandfather is said to have died while en route to America and was buried in the ocean. His son falling into the hands of a German woman the name being corrupted from Ackerman to that it is to-day. His mother was Elizabeth Ann Darbyshire , who, though born in America, was of Irish ancestry. When William was still a child they moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, and soon after to Clinton county, where the parents died. The family is noted for the longevity of its members, William being one of eight children, all of whom are still living, the youngest being past sixty-one. Mary A. is the widow of James Stillings, of Warren; William is the third; John, is a retired farmer of Warren ; Martha J. lives in Kansas; Margret E. resides in California, and is remembered by some of the older citizens as having lived here when a girl many years ago; Sarah is also in the same state; and Catherine is Mrs. J. J. Miller, of Warren. Soon after arriving in this community William met a charming young girl of seventeen by the name of Ruth C. Swaim, the daughter of Simeon and Nancy (Irwin) Swaim, and whose birth had occurred in Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 14th of June, 1833, being an infant in arms at the coming of her parents to Preble county, Ohio, and but a child of three upon arrival in Huntington county. The history of her family will be found in another article in this volume. Her own girlhood was passed in the country, a few miles east of Warren, receiving such education as enabled her to assume the conduct of a school. The young teacher from Ohio impressed all the citizens quite favorably, it would seem, and this young lady who had been sought by many others seemed pleased with his attentions to the extent that two years later she became his bride, the ceremony that united them being performed on the 29th of January, 1852.


Timeline:

  Date:   Place:   Event:
  1788   VA   Birth: George
  1802   PA   Birth: Elizabeth
  1812     Military: George was veteran of war of 1812
  1824   PA   Marriage: George and Elizabeth
  1831   OH, Guernsey Co.   Taxes: George
  1832   OH, Guernsey Co.   Taxes: George
  1840   OH, Clinton Co.   Death: Elizabeth
  1840   OH, Clinton Co.   Census: George (age 40-49) with kids
  1841   OH, Clinton Co.   Marriage: George and Mary
  1850   OH, Clinton Co.   Census: George (age 60) farmer, Mary (age 48)
  1860   OH, Clinton Co.   Census: George (age 71) farmer, Mary (age 53)
  1866   OH, Clinton Co.   Death: George
  1870   OH, Clinton Co.   Census: Mary (age 69) with daughter
  1877   OH, Clinton Co.   Death: Mary

Family Photos


William


William Chopson
(son of George Chopson)
and his wife Ruth


Birth Records


 

 

Marriage Records


1841 Clinton County, Ohio, marriage record:

marriage record

? certify that George Chopson and Mary Pennington were ? in marriage by me on the 23rd May 1841. A.T.Sewell J.Peace


FTM Marriage Index, Ohio 1789-1850:

George Chopson
Mary Pennington
23 May 1841
Clinton Co., OH
Family History Library film # 0568594

Mary Ann Chopson
Elias Allen
12 Octy 1849
Clinton Co., OH
Family History Library film # 0568594

Death Records


Cemetery Records of Clinton County, Ohio 1798-1999, p.204:

Chopson, George   D.1866 Age 77 Yr. 7 Mo. 18 Da. Westboro IOOF Cemetery/J (Jefferson Township)
Chopson, Mary E.   D.5-21-1877 Age 76 Yr. 22 Da. Westboro IOOF Cemetery/J
Note: cemetery is located on north edge of Westboro on Jonesboro Rd.
Photos from FindAGrave.com.

headstone headstone


obit


obit obit obit

Census Records


1840 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Union Township:

  George Chopson 2 males 5-9, 1 male 40-49, 2 females 0-4, 1 female 5-9, 2 females 10-14


1850 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, District 163, Jefferson Township:

  George Chopson age 60, male, farmer, $1200 real estate, born in VA
  Mary Chopson age 48, female, born in OH
  Catharine Chopson age 12, female, born in OH, attended school
  Elmira Chopson age 9, female, born in OH, attended school
  Thomas Chopson age 6, male, born in OH
  Sinai Chopson age 5, female, born in OH


1860 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Jefferson Township:

  George Chopson age 71, male, farm, $3200 real estate, $1500 personal estate, born in VA
  Mary Chopson age 53, female, born in OH
  Elmira Chopson age 18, female, born in OH, attended school
  Sinai Chopson age 15, female, born in OH, attended school
  Thomas Chopson age 14, male, born in OH, attended school
  Ruth Chopson age 9, female, born in OH, attended school


1870 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Westboro, Jefferson Township:

  Mary E. Chopson age 69, female, keeps house, $1500 real estate, born in OH
  Ruth Chopson age 18, female, "helps mother", born in OH

Notes and Other Records


To do:

  • Look for marriage record.
  • Look for military record.
  • Look for death records.

Proof of lineage notes:

  • 1901 Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County states that John Chopson of Warren is son of George Chopson and Elizabeth Ann Darbyshire.
  • 1908 obituary for John Chopson states that he is the son of George and Elizabeth Chopson.
  • H. Brown and Sons Funeral Home records state that John Chopson is son of George Chopson and Elizabeth Derbysline.

George Chopson was a veteran of war of 1812, serving under General Scott at the battle of Lundy's Lane.


Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850:

George Chopson, 1831, Wills Township, Guernsey County, Ohio.

George Chopson, 1832, Wills Township, Guernsey County, Ohio.


Thomas Chopson (son of George and Mary) was in Company C, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during civil war.


William Chopson William Chopson


From Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, pages 496-501:

William Chopson

Toward the end of the past year (the last of the old century), a meeting was arranged for and attended in Chicago by two men who had not met for forty-seven years; and a renewal of former relations was effected, the incidents of half a century ago in which they were both participants being rehearsed with the greatest pleasure by each. These two men were step-brothers, one of whom is among the best known citizens of Warren, William Chopson, while the other one, who may be recalled by but a few of those still living here, some of whom may have been among his pupils--was M. B. Pennington. Just one-half of the greatest century ever known in the world's history, in the progess of which each of these men were active as builders and strengtheners of the commonwealth in which each had lived, had been counted off to the credit of old "Father Time" since these men, then young and full of the buoyancy of youth, passed from the old fireside where they had been reared in Clinton county, Ohio, and turned their faces to the west, acting upon the sage advice of that champion of the young men, Horace Greeley, who was then at the zenith of his fame. The two had not only been reared in the same family, the father of William having married the mother of Pennington when William was about twelve years of age, but they had attended the same schools where they had prepared themselves to teach. They were each ambitious, and took advantage of the limited schools of the time, generally attending about forty days each winter, it being the exception when either had the benefit of the full term of sixty days. The family being poor it was necessary for them to shift for themselves, William, at the age of sixteen, working out for a year, to receive, in addition to board, clothes and three months' schooling, ten dollars at the end of the year. He remained two years for the one man; the second year having fifteen dollars. He had attended one term at a graded school at Martinsville, Ohio, which enabled him to secure a license to teach, which he did for one term, when the two, thinking the demands would not be so great upon teachers in Indiana, and not having any too much confidence in their own education, they decided to try their fortunes in the newer country; and we accordingly find them wending their way, with what little clothing they had tied up in a small bundle, and without much definite idea as to where they would find employment. It being in the fall of the year the trip was a very pleasant one, the long stretches of woodland and the leaves turning to gold and yellow presenting a beautiful appearance and tending to add cheer to the anticipations of the companions, who little knew what this state of Indiana had in store for them. Fifty years ago this section of the country was but slightly improved. Most of the houses of the settlers being of logs, and generally pretty well filled with their own children, the accommodations for strangers seemed pretty slender. But what was lacking in room was made up in the hearts of the people; no more hospitable and companionable class of settlers ever attempted the subjugation of the forest; and shelter and a place at the table never had to be asked for a second time. The course of the travelers led them into the country of the Salamonie, where inquiry developed that just such young men were needed, and each secured a school. William's school was in Jackson township, Wells county, while the other taught in Salamonie. They decided to go together to secure a license, the former having to go to Bluffton, where an old man by the name of Upton was the examiner, who began to quiz them upon grammar, taking exceptions to some of the answers. Pennington was specially well posted in grammar and, maintaining his position, was seconded by the old man's son, who sided with him. The old man seeing that the applicants knew more about grammar than he did, asked no more questions, but gave them both licenses. The journey was continued to Huntington, where Lamden P. Milligan was examiner, the first question being, Where are you going to teach? And when they replied, Warren, he said: "Warren is twelve miles north and four miles east, How far is it to Warren?" This struck William where he was strong, and in less than half a minute he gave the answer, which satisfied the examiner, no more questions being asked. Pennington continued to teach for a couple of years, when he decided that he would go farther west, and was soon a resident of Centerville, Iowa, where he remained, and though something of a correspondence has been kept up they had not met until the arrangement first mentioned. The youths who were dependent upon what little income there was at one dollar per day, the general wages for the time for teachers, had each become an important factor in the place of his permanent home, no little credit being due each of them in the part they had taken in the development of their section of the country. Each had remained true to early convictions as to the advantages of a moral life, and to them something is due for the high standing of the communities in which they reside. The schools of those early days were not behind those in the older state, as they had expected; on the contrary, the people and the students were fully alive to their needs, and were anxious to receive all the benefits the schools could give. The truth is, that whatever may be said in criticism of the people of Indiana, they have never been behind in the matter of their schools, many of the other states, which exalted themselves on the merits of their own school systems found much to copy from in the educational system of the "Hoosier" state. As they advanced with their pupils their own confidence grew, until they realized it had been of the greatest value to them that they had not gotten into a section where school interests were lagging. Despite the rumor that much trouble existed in certain schools, and that no teacher could retain his position, the benefits of good schools were so apparent to all that every school taught was closed with the warmest feelings existing betweeen teacher and pupils. Spelling schools were the order of the times, the different teachers taking turns in holding them; and these afforded the best possible means for the cultivation of a most cordial spirit between the different localities, though the rivalry was sometimes very intense. Not so much ground was covered in teaching then as now; but there is no doubt that subjects studied were mastered more thoroughly than now, a power of reasoning from principles being cultivated that made the young men and women master of any subject undertaken. Becoming thoroughly imbued with the spirit of education, Mr. Chopson endeavored to inculcate the desire on the part of his pupils to make strides that would place them in the front rank, the result being that many of them became teachers, some reaching the highest positions open to them in this section of the state. The old plan of "boarding "round" was in vogue when he began, but was soon superseded by the preferable system of the teacher's being fixed at one place, which in his case was some three miles south of Warren, near where the most of his teaching was done. The first school after his marriage was the "Wickersham" school, in Grant county, where he was assisted by his wife and where he received greater compensation than usual, it being a subscription school with nearly seventy pupils in attendance. In the interim between schools, he would work in other lines, recalling the fact that he ran a threshing machine one season, the remarkable thing about it being that it, if not the first, was one of the first in this region. The power was quite like those in use for years, but the thresher consisted simply of a cylinder which threshed the grain, the straw and grain falling in a pile, which was shaken up with a fork by hand, the straw being thrown one side, while the grain was separated from the chaff by passing through a hand fanning-mill. With its capacity of probably a hundred bushels per day this presented a great contrast with the machines now in use, turning out a thousand bushels in the same length of time. He also made brick, the demand for chimnies giving a market at three dollars per thousand, delivering them sometimes three or four miles. He invested what he could raise in a general stock of goods and opened a store in the neighborhood where he was stopping, removing his business in the winter of 1855 to Warren, where he continued for two years, having a very satisfactory trade, by which he accumulated a neat sum of money. All this time he had kept his eye on a certain tract of land that he was determined he would buy for a home, but hitherto the owner would not sell. It now passed into other hands and he was able to make the purchase, which he did, closing up his store and removing to the ninety-five-acre tract upon which was a small but neat house. He soon became interested in the growing and handling of horses, taking pride in owning as good as there was to be had. When the Civil war emphasized the demand for good horses he embarked more extensively in that specialty, handling a good many animals that eventually passed into the service of the government. As his financial strength increased he began to add to the land until he was the owner of something like six hundred acres, the home farm still containing three hundred, the remainder going to others. Before pursuing his personal history further, we will refer briefly to his family and birth, the latter occurring near Uniontown, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1829. His father was George Chopson , whose grandfather is said to have died while en route to America and was buried in the ocean. His son falling into the hands of a German woman the name being corrupted from Ackerman to that it is to-day. His mother was Elizabeth Ann Darbyshire , who, though born in America, was of Irish ancestry. When William was still a child they moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, and soon after to Clinton county, where the parents died. The family is noted for the longevity of its members, William being one of eight children, all of whom are still living, the youngest being past sixty-one. Mary A. is the widow of James Stillings, of Warren; William is the third; John, is a retired farmer of Warren; Martha J. lives in Kansas; Margret E. resides in California, and is remembered by some of the older citizens as having lived here when a girl many years ago; Sarah is also in the same state; and Catherine is Mrs. J. J. Miller, of Warren. Soon after arriving in this community William met a charming young girl of seventeen by the name of Ruth C. Swaim, the daughter of Simeon and Nancy (Irwin) Swaim, and whose birth had occurred in Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 14th of June, 1833, being an infant in arms at the coming of her parents to Preble county, Ohio, and but a child of three upon arrival in Huntington county. The history of her family will be found in another article in this volume. Her own girlhood was passed in the country, a few miles east of Warren, receiving such education as enabled her to assume the conduct of a school. The young teacher from Ohio impressed all the citizens quite favorably, it would seem, and this young lady who had been sought by many others seemed pleased with his attentions to the extent that two years later she became his bride, the ceremony that united them being performed on the 29th of January, 1852. For forty-nine years have this worthy couple traveled the highway of life together, the passing years only tending to emphasize the wisdom of his choice, the ripening wealth of matronly graces being the natural result of the living application of the precepts of the Master, which have ever been made her rule and guide. Not dividing their affections and with no offspring of their own, more secure and firm has the bond that holds them become until the union is now one of hearts and souls as well as hands. Being deprived of children, they have allowed no opportunity to pass to care for "some of the least f (sic) these," their doors ever being opened to the admission of the orphaned and th (sic) distressed. One of these was D. F. Payne, an orphan of seven, who became one of the family, remaining until reaching manhood, and himself assuming the care of a family, having owned a part of the old home; but on April 12, 1901, Mr. Payne died leaving a family of children. E. P. Miller the present hardware merchant of Warren, came into the home at thirteen, remaining as one of their own until engaging in business and taking unto himself a wife. Another, Thomas Dillsworth, grew up with them. He went into the volunteer service during the war, and then into the regular army. What his course has been since then, is not known. Others have been in the family for a time, the hearts of both Mr. Chopson and wife responding at every call for help. Realizing that in these little ones lay the hopes of the nation's future and the perpetuity of the institutions of the country, they have felt a demand was made upon them and have sought to broaden and advance the youthful charges committed to their care. All this has been duly appreciated, every child in the town knowing that in the hearts of these aged people there glows a warmth that the passing years can not congeal, but becomes the more fixed and sympathetic the nearer their own courses are drawn to a close. While a Republican all his life, its foundation and principles appealing strongly to the love of freedom in his own bosom and the abolishment of that curse on the country--slavery--met with his approval, he had not cared to take the lead in public affairs that was his had he but accepted; and has contented his ambition with the holding of the office of trustee at a time when the affairs of the township needed a master mind at the helm. By the exercise of the strictest ecomony all along the line, the obligations of the township were raised in value from sixty cents to one dollar, par. Knowing the value of all public improvements he has given substantial encouragement to all efforts at pike or railroad building, while the public schools have had no warmer or consistent friend and advocate, knowing that in them lies the happiness and proseperity (sic) of the nation.

Believing in the realities of life and that an account must be rendered for the actions on earth, he has frittered away but little of an active life, having no inclination to the passing of time in sports or games. While making the trip with his step-brother, they thought they would like to learn to play cards and securing a pack spent some hours over them, but failing to see the sport in it they had expected, they burned the cards and he has not tried to learn any similar game since. Standing in the forefront of the twentieth century, after a life spent in the service of their Master, this worthy couple hold the confidence and respect of the entire community as few others do, the great pulsations of the heart-throbs of those who have striven and possibly failed finding here a sympathy that takes away much of the sting and pain, trust in God and faith in man having ever characterized them in every emergency in life.

Simple as it may seem, the manner in which this aged couple are addressed by young and old is marked with courtesy and almost veneration, and on being asked by the writer why everybody addressed them as Uncle Will and Aunt Ruth, replied: "We don't known. (sic) But we do know that, no matter who it comes from--high or low, white or black--it creates only the kindest feelings, such as Mr. and Mrs. could never do."


Sarah Chopson Keeler

Sarah Chopson was born in Guernsey Co., Ohio in 1838, the youngest child of George Chopson and Elizabth Darbyshire. Elizabeth died when Sarah was two years old, and the father had a struggle to keep the family together. George remarried. Sarah had a teacher's certificate from Illinois, and it was there that she presumably met her first husband, Ulysses Moody. They came to California in a covered wagon about 1856, Sarah pregnant and with two small children. Mr. Moody died, leaving Sarah with three small children-- Herbert, Walter and Anna. For some reason, they moved to Placer county, where Sarah and Aaron Coe Keeler met. Sarah had bought a piece of toll road near Yankee Jim's. Sarah and Aaron were married in Auburn in 1869. They had a child who died in childbirth, and then Adella Keeler was born in 1874. Adella became a teacher, and taught in Redding where she met Ingate Stanford. They were married in 1899 in Auburn, and lived in Redding until about 1906 or 1907. While in Redding they had two children, Muriel ( May 13, 1902) and Gillette (Dec. 10, 1904). They moved to Marysville where Ingate was editor of the Marysville "Appeal". The family moved to Sacramento in about 1909, where Allison was born in 1912.

Sources and Credits


  • History of Huntington County, Indiana, 1887.
  • Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901.
  • 1841 Clinton County, Ohio, marriage record.
  • FTM Marriage Index, Ohio 1789-1850.
  • 1840 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Union Township.
  • 1850 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, District 163, Jefferson Township.
  • 1860 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Jefferson Township.
  • 1870 Census, Ohio, Clinton County, Westboro, Jefferson Township.
  • H. Brown and Sons Funeral Home Records.
  • Cemetery Records of Clinton County, Ohio 1798-1999.
  • Data from FamilyTreeMaker Online database.
  • FindAGrave.com.
  • Ancestry.com family trees.
  • Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850, FamilySearch.org.