Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 Comments by Gerry Lynn Hamilton, Version 3-3-09 In 2008, Luella Mae (Mitchell) Hamilton said these photos may have been taken at the Daniel T. Yentzer farm. Daniel was the second husband of Nettie May Mitchell; they were married between 1910 and 1920. Daniel died in 1931. Luella said the farm was the site of at least one reunion. The Yentzer dairy farm was situated on Sartwell Creek Road in Pleasant Valley Township. The township is on the western edge of Potter County and north of Roulette. In the 1920 census for the township, there were 32 households, and all were on Sartwell Creek Road. Luella identified the people in the two photos Photo A and Photo B. Luella is my mother, who turned 91 on Nov. 17, 2008. The year 1923 was established by the apparent ages of Luella s brothers Carl Wilbur Mitchell (b 10 Apr 1921) and Lloyd Earl Mitchell (b 30 May 1919). Also their mother Ettabell Virginia Thompson may be pregnant as shown in Photo A. She would have been carrying Elnora Marie (b 20 Sep 1923). In the following text, all ages are calculated for the summer of 1923. Luella said the Gee children spent a lot of time at the home of Mahlon and Rose Mitchell. Rose was their grandmother. The children were Thelma B. 9 and Forest E. Buster 6, children of Walter B. and Mabel G. Gee, who were living in Warren County in 1920. Rose was Mabel s mother. The following section accounts for the children of George Washington Mitchell who were identified in photos. The numbered paragraphs account for their 11 children. Children of George Washington Mitchell and Lydia Eliza Vergason 1. Fred M. Mitchell 43 and wife Rebecca Becky Tuttle 39. 2. Mahlon Alvin Mitchell 40 and wife Rosalie Ida Byam 50. 3. Cora May Mitchell 38 and husband Orel Shaffer 45. 4. Carl E. Mitchell 36 and wife Ettabell V. Thompson 32. 5. Clyde C. Mitchell 31 and wife Ida M. Johnson 30 (no children). 6. Nettie May Mitchell 29 and second husband Daniel T. Yentzer 68. 7. Harry R. Mitchell 24. Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 9:32 PM 3/3/2009 Page 1
Not in the photos or not identified The following sections list people who are not in the photos or not identified, but they may have been alive in 1923 and they could have been in the photos. Lydia Eliza was the third wife of George Washington Mitchell. Abigail Steffy was the first. Children of George Washington Mitchell and Lydia Eliza Vergason 8. Myrtle Mitchell 44 and husband Robert Peter Teuscher 62; children Milton 27, Wanda 23, Gertrude 20, Beulah 17, Mary 14. In 1910 this family was living in Michigan. 9. Maude Mitchell 45 and husband Frank Gilbert 37; children Clarence 16, Lola 14, James 18, Kathryn 16, Lloyd 13. In 1920 and 1930, this family was living in Elmira, NY. 10. George W. Mitchell 42 and wife Eunice Nelson 39; children Evelyn 19, Winifred 15. In the 1910 census, George and Eunice lived in Coudersport. In the 1930 census, they were living in Brockton, MA. I cannot find this family in the 1920 census. 11. Frank Mitchell died before 1900. Children of George Washington Mitchell and Abigail F. Steffy Minnie Anna Mitchell and husband Elmer Timothy Shetler; children Ella Mae, William Arthur, Henry, Josiah Teitsworth, Ellis John, George Rufus, Ray Ellsworth, Bertha Adelia, George Benjamin, Minnie Elizabeth, Marjory Ruth, Irwin Elihu. Luella said there were no Shetlers in the photos. Dolly Mitchell born and died in 1872. Siblings of George Washington Mitchell Elizabeth Libbie Mitchell 66, widow of Horace Toombs, was the only surviving child of Mahlon Mitchell Jr. (b 1806) and Elizabeth Gilbert. The 1880 census lists Wes Allen and wife Anna Eliza Mitchell. Also staying at the farm home were Wes Allen s sister-in-law Libbie Mitchell and niece Cora May. In 1930, Wes Allen, a widower, was boarding at Elizabeth s home at 71 Mill St., Coudersport. Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 9:32 PM 3/3/2009 Page 2
Children of Daniel T. and Kit D. Yentzer Kittie D. Yentzer also known as Kit was Daniel Yentzer s first wife. They had three children: Edwin Yentzer 33. Tina M. Yentzer, 15. Hattie B. Yentzer, 11. Siblings of Daniel T. Yentzer Following is a biographical sketch, which identifies the parents, siblings and step-siblings of Daniel T. Yentzer. His father was Daniel Yentzer. DANIEL YENTZER, farmer, P.O. Roulette, was born in France in 1821, and came with his parents to America in 1834. In 1849 he married Mary A. Shafer, located in Pleasant Valley township, and engaged in farming, remaining there about thirty-six years, when they removed to Roulette, where Mrs. Yentzer died in November, 1884, leaving four children: Henry B., John L., Daniel T. and Mary (now Mrs. William Ernst). In 1886 Mr. Yentzer married, for his second wife, Mrs. Angeline Peckham, daughter of Luther Kinney, formerly of Clarksville, Allegany Co., N.Y., who also had three children: Carrie (now Mrs. Wilson McDowell, of Pleasant Valley), Nellie (now Mrs. John Smith, of Annin township, McKean county) and Lillie P. Mrs. Ventzer is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Yentzer of the Lutheran Church. In politics lie is a Democrat. He is a prominent citizen, and has held various positions of trust and honor in the township of Pleasant Valley. Source: Page(s) 1251-1261 History of Counties of McKean, Elk and Forest, Pennsylvania. Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co., 1890. Transcribed February 2006 by Carol Eddleman Published 2006 by PA-Roots Following are the three siblings of Daniel T. Yentzer (additional information from Sartwell Creek Cemetery listing posted by Painted Hills Genealogy Society): John Lewis Yentzer 71 (Jane P. 60). In the 1920 census, they were living in household No. 12 on Sartwell Creek Road. That was perhaps next door to Dan in household No. 13. John died 31 Jan 1928. Jane died 10 Mar 1942. Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 9:32 PM 3/3/2009 Page 3
Mary Yentzer 71 (William Ernst 76). In the 1920 census, both were living in household No. 7 on Sartwell Creek Road in Roulette Township. Fred 74 (perhaps William s brother) and Laydia 65 Ernst were living in household No. 6 on the same road. Mary died 22 Feb 1944. William died 11 Oct. 1923. Henry B. Yentzer died 31 Oct 1896. Following are the three step-siblings of Daniel T. Yentzer. Carrie (Wilson McDowell). Nellie (John Smith). The 1920 census shows John B. Smith 65 and Nellie B. Smith 67 living in Bradford, McKean County. Lillie P. My best guess is that Question Marks No. 2, 12, 13 and 14 are the surviving brother (John Lewis) and sister (Mary) of Daniel T. Yentzer and their spouses. Vergasons If Ernest Vergason 23 is in the photos, then Question Mark No. 3 is probably his first wife Mary A. Baker 21. If Roy Vergason 35 is in the photos, then Question Mark 3 is probably his wife Mina Johnston 32. Their children were Durward L. 10, Hilda 5 and Lillian (age unknown). No. 3 appears to be too old to be Ernest. Ernest and Roy were first cousins. Their parents could have been in Photo B: Roy s parents, Alfonso 56 and Marion Hill 69 Vergason, although I don t know when Alfonso died. Ernest s parents Albert H. 45 and Hattie B. Ward 44 Vergason. Albert died in 1970. His obituary included a photo of an older Albert, and he does not appear to be in the reunion photos. Hattie died in 1961. A number of other related Vergasons may have been alive in 1923, including a son and daughter of Charles L. Vergason by his first wife Alura. I don t know when they died, and I don t have information about any spouse for the daughter. They are: Martha J. Vergason 69. George R. Vergason 66 and his wife Dora I. 61. Their children were Nellie C. 47, Charles 43, Estella M. 41, Ora 45 Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 9:32 PM 3/3/2009 Page 4
Other possibilities All ages are calculated for 1923. Emily J. (Roby) Allen 70, second wife of Wesley Allen. She probably died in the 1920s, but the date is uncertain. She is listed in the 1920 census, but not the 1930 census. For Question Marks No. 1 and 2, Luella suggested the last name might be Weir and the couple might have been from Bradford, and this seems correct. The 1920 census for Bradford Township, McKean County, lists Walter E. 36 and Bessie M. 35 Weir as the only husband-wife Weir household in McKean County. For Question Mark No. 4, Luella suggested the last name might be Phelps and the family lived on Mill Street in Coudersport, but this does not seem to work. Luella said the Phelps family lived in a house just on the north side of the bridge. She also remembers another time when the Phelps woman said they were related. The 1920 census listed a Phelps family at 107 Mill St. (1923 ages): William Phelps 52, head, who was a garage proprietor. Matilda Phelps 59, wife. Lillian Taylor, 17, daughter. (Her middle initial was J. in 1910.) It was a second marriage for both William and Matilda. His first wife was Marie. Her first husband was James Taylor. Census reports show Matilda Phelps and Rebecca Mitchell were sisters. Their parents were John Tuttle and Josephine Oils. In the 1920 census, Josephine was living with Fred and Rebecca Mitchell in Genesee. Conceivably, Josephine (72 in 1923) as well as William, Matilda and Lillian could have attended the reunion. William died in 1928. Matilda died in 1937. However, No. 4 appears to be too young to be Matilda Phelps and too old to be her daughter Lillian Taylor. Is Question Mark No. 5 one of the sons of Orel and Cora Mitchell Shaffer (their daughter is in the photos). The sons were Emanuel Shaffer 19 and Paul C. Shaffer 17. Perhaps Cousin Edna English can answer that question, because Emanuel and Paul were here uncles. I ve sent her a copy of the photos. Photos of Mitchell reunion circa 1923 9:32 PM 3/3/2009 Page 5