Fiske-Ghastin-Powers-Putney-Talcott-
Whitcomb-Young Families

           Amy Susannah Powers [William, Ephraim, Roswell], b. August, 1879; m. Ernest A. Putney, June 27, 1899, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI; d. 1910-20.

            When Amy was 19 years old, she married Ernest A. Putney in a ceremony performed by Rev. R. Vredenberg. Witnesses were Lindsey W. Powers and William Putney.

            Ernest was born in Michigan in February, 1874, a son of A. C. Putney and Amy M. Evans.

            Ernest and Amy lived in Hart in 1900.

            In 1910, Amy’s daughters were living in the homes of her father (William Powers Sr.) and brother William Powers Jr. in Hart. Meanwhile, Amy and Ernest showed up in Ferry Township with sons Ezra C. (8) and Wallace H. (2). Amy claimed to be the mother of five children, four of whom were still alive.

            Amy probably died between 1910 and 1920, for in 1920, Ernest A. Putney was living in Ferry Township with his wife, Mary O, and children Ezra C. (17) and Wallace H. (12) Putney. Ernest also had step-children Fern, Effie Eva, Carl, Garold, Walter M., Mary L. Anderson in the home. Ernest’s brother, William, also lived there.

Ernest’s second wife, Mary, was born in Michigan around 1873.

            In 1930, Amy and Ernest’s son, Ezra, was living in the home of Elmer and Minnie Hedger in Ferry. He was a farm laborer. Meanwhile in Muskegon, Ernest and Mary had settled in a $1,800 home on Michigan Avenue with their son, Wallace. Mary’s children by her first marriage also showed up in the home: Effie G., Mary L. and Walter M. Anderson. Ernest was working as a machine hand at a motor company. Wallace was a core maker at a foundry. Their daughter, Eleanor, was living with Amy’s brother, Charles Powers, in Lansing, where she had a job as a librarian for the State Library.

Children:          

             William Wallace Powers, Jr. [William, Ephraim, Roswell] b. March, 1884 OH, a child of William W. Powers and Emma E. McNutt of Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan; m. Olive Adelia Page, August 1, 1905, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI; d. 1953; South Ferry Cemetery.

            William worked as a miller at his father’s grist mill, and when electricity became the rage in the early 1900’s, he became an electrician at the power plant in Oceana County.

            When William was 21 years old, he married 28-year old Olive Page in a ceremony performed by Rev. V. H. Sibley. Witnesses were Charles Powers and Laura Whitcomb.

            Olive was born around 1877, a daughter of Grant Page.

            Their first child, Julia Gertrude, died on February 28, 1907, of congestion of the lungs. She was six months, 21 days old.

The 1910 census shows William and Olive in Hart with their niece, Elizabeth E. Putney (age 9) and cousin Alma Woodward (5).

The 1920 federal census of Oceana County shows William living in Ferry Township with his wife and daughter. Also in the home were Alma E. Woodard (16, cousin) and a public school teacher by the name of Orpha Sheldrick. Next door were William's parents. In 1930, they were still living next to their parents in Ferry. Raamah was 16 years old. Their niece Arta Weyant (21) was also living with them.

            William died in 1953 and was buried in the South Ferry Cemetery.

Children:

            Charles W. Powers [William, Ephraim, Roswell], b. September 1888, MI; m. Ellen Sophia Orn, January 10, 1912, Whitehall, Oceana Co., MI;

            Charles worked as a miller at his father’s business in Oceana County. On January 10, 1912, he married Ellen S. Orr in a ceremony in Whitehall performed by Rev. J. W. Davids. Ellen was born around 1891, a daughter of Swedish immigrants John A. and Ida Orn. Charles’ brother, George, was a witness at the wedding.

            In 1920, Charles and Ellen were living on Gurney Avenue in the village of Hart with a five-month old child and Ellen’s widowed mother. Charles was a bookkeeper for a produce warehouse.

            At the beginning of the Great Depression (1930 census), Charles and Ellen were renting a home on Shepard Street for $50 a month in the city of Lansing, Michigan. They had one daughter, Barbara, Mrs. Orn and Charles’ niece, Eleanor Powers. Charles was an insurance salesman.

Child:

            George Wade Powers [William, Ephraim, Roswell] b. March, 1891 in Michigan, a daughter of William W. Powers and Emma E. McNutt of Ferry Township, Oceana County, Michigan; m. Mary Florence Platt, June 20, 1914, Hart, Oceana Co., MI ; d. 1985

            George left the 10^th grade at the school in Ferry, then went to live with his Aunt Kate Landon in Hart, where he graduated two years later. 

            George got his start in the clothing business in 1910, when he went to work for the Platt and Collins’ clothing store in Oceana County. But George was not content to be a clerk. His father and grandfather had been business owners, and he wanted nothing less. So he and a friend, Sid Sayles, opened a clothing store in Fremont. About two years later, though, Sid bought George out, and George returned to Hart to work for Platt and Collins again.

It was shortly after his return to Hart that George married Mary Florence Platt in a ceremony in Hart performed by Rev. George A. Hancock on June 20, 1914.

            Mary was a schoolteacher at the time of her wedding.

            Eventually, George joined with Collins and bought Platt out.

            In 1920, George purchased Collin’s share in the store and the H. J. Palmiter Clothing store nearby. Then he opened his own men’s clothing store.

            In 1920, George and Mary were in Hart with their son, Virgil, and niece Elizabeth Putney. Elizabeth was born around 1900 (MI-MI-MI). George was listed as a partner at a clothing store. 

            George and Mary were living in Hart, Oceana County, Michigan in 1930 with their sons, Virgil (14) and Donald (10). His niece, Ruth Weyant (23), was also living with them.

            George was also involved in the community – in the Hart Congregational Church, the Fire Department, the Chamber of Commerce, the Masonic Lodge, the Hart Public School board and the Oceana County Fair board.

In 1936, George’s son Virgil joined him in the operation of the family business. In the 1940’s, they opened stores in Shelby and Newaygo. In 1953, Powers Clothing was expanded to included ladies clothing and shoes. Six years later (1959), the Hart store was destroyed by fire, but by October, 1960, they held another grand opening with a new, bigger building. Unfortunately, four months later, the building next to it caught fire and collapsed on Powers Clothing. Finally, after building the business again, they were back in business three months later.

            George retired in 1956, leaving the business in the hands of his son, Virgil. Virgil’s son Michael Powers joined the business in 1963. When Virgil retired in 1982, he left it in the hands of his son, Dennis Powers, who had been with the company since 1970.

Children:

            Gertrude L. “Gertie” Powers [Charles, Ephraim, Roswell] b. November, 1882, MI, a child of Charles and Amelia “Millie” V. Powers; m. Johnathan Frederick Critchett Jr., June 25, 1902, Ferry, Oceana Co,. MI; d. 1950; South Ferry Cemetery, Oceana Co., MI.

When Gertrude was 19 years old, she married 19-year old Johnathan Critchett in a ceremony performed by Rev. J. Edgar Arney. Witnesses were Charles Wesley Powers and Mille B. Rice.

Johnathan was born in Michigan in 1882, a son of Jonathan and Millie Critchett.

Johnathan died in 1955 and was buried next to Gertrude in the South Ferry Cemetery.

Child:

            Laura Ella Whitcomb [Mary, Ephraim, Roswell], b. January 5, 1882, Oceana Co., MI, a child of Mary Ellen Powers and Adam Martin Whitcomb; m. Fred C. Woodbury, September 26, 1908.

            Fred was born in Massachusetts around 1881.

            Laura and Fred moved to Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The showed up there in the 1910 census. Fred was a clerk at a post office a job he held until after the 1930 census.

            In 1920, they were living in Randolph, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.  

            At the start of the Great Depression, Fred and Laura were in the town of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts with four children. They were renting a home on Bedford Street for $20 a month. Their daughter, Phyllis, now 19 years old, was a stenographer in an office.

Children:

            Estella May Whitcomb [Mary, Ephraim, Roswell], b. October 26, 1885, Ferry, Oceana Co., MI, a child of Mary Ellen Powers and Adam Martin Whitcomb; m. Alonzo E. Page, November 21, 1908, Ferry, MI;

            Alonzo was born in Michigan around 1888.

            The 1910 census shows Alonzo and Estella living with Estella’s widowed father in Ferry. They had their first child, Merwin, who was listed as age 10 months. Alonzo’s occupation is hard to read, but it appears to be a day laborer at the “Genthal Works.”

            Alonzo Page was listed as the head of the house in 1920, with Estella and three children. Adam was still working with them, working as a laborer at a canning factory. Alonzo had a job as a day laborer at a basket factory. They were living next to Albert Sobers, who also worked at the basket factory.

            By 1930, Estella and Alonzo were in Shelby, Oceana County. Alonzo was working as a laborer at a fruit farm. Merwin, by now, was 20 years old and working in a saw mill. Their second son, Lauris, was helping out on the fruit farm.

Children:

            William A. Young, Jr. [Ida, Ephraim, Roswell], b. May, 1897, MI, a child of Ida May Powers and William A. Young; m. Hilda A. __, around 1917;

            William grew up in Benzie County, Michigan, where his parents worked in the telephone and hotel business. By 1910, though, he had moved out of the house.

            Though William married Hilda around 1917, the 1920 census shows William as a roomer in the home (perhaps boarding house) of William and Mattie (Lawson) Phelps on G Street in Washington, D.C. William was unemployed. We’re not sure what he was doing in the nation’s capital, but by 1930, he was back in Michigan. At the start of the Great Depression, he was living in the home of his sister, Irene (Young) Bruining in Muskegon, Michigan. William was a sales manager for an aluminum goods factory.

            Hilda was born in Michigan around 1897.

Children:

            Irene Young [Ida, Ephraim, Roswell], b. around 1901, MI, the youngest child of Ida May Powers and William A. Young; m. Clarence L. Bruining, around 1920;

            When Irene was 19 years old, she married 21-year old Clarence L. Bruining.

            Clarence was born in Illinois around 1899.

            The 1930 census shows Clarence and Irene living on East Forest Avenue in Muskegon, Michigan, with children Gerald C. and Patricia A. Bruining. Irene’s brother, William Young also lived with them. Clarence was a superintendent of a wire factory.

Children:

            Gerald E. Powers [Eugene, Ephraim, Roswell] b. January, 1890, MI, a child of Eugene E. and Mary J. Powers; m. Mae __, around 1914

            Mae was born in Michigan around 1896.

            In 1920, Gerald and Mae were living in Croswell, Sanilac County, Michigan, in 1920. His sister, Olive, lived in his home. Gerald’s wife was the superintendent of the public school. Gerald was the captain of a flag ship. In 1930, they lived on Penrod Avenue in Detroit in a home valued at $15,000 at the start of the Great Depression. He was the secretary treasurer for a chemical plant.

Children:

            Eugene L. Putney [Wellman, Lucy, Roswell] b. September 18, 1885, Hart, MI, a son of Wellman A. and Sarah E. (Matthews) Putney; m. Sadie Ladow; d. February 26, 1947, Orange Co., CA

            When Eugene reached adulthood, he moved to Detroit, where he took a job as a bottler at a brewery. The 1910 census shows him as a boarder in the home of Thomas and Catherine Williams on Jefferson Street East in Detroit.  

            When he was 25 years old (c. 1910), Eugene was married, although we’re not sure if he married Sadie at that time of another woman. Ten years later, E. L. Putney showed up in Kern County, California, as a widower living in a bunk house. He was working as a boiler maker for an oil company. (1920 census).

            By the beginning of the Great Depression, Eugene was shown with his wife Sadie, living in a $10,000 home on Commonwealth Avenue in Fullerton, Orange County, California. Eugene was a rotary helper at an oil field. Sadie and their 17-year old daughter Leona were fruit packers at an orange orchard.

            Sadie was born in Pennsylvania around 1885. She had married previously when she was 18 years old (c. 1903) to Harry Maidenberg, a real estate salesman from Los Angeles (1920). They had two children: Leona and Merle. However, on Leona’s death certificate, she claimed her father to be Putney. Merle Maidenberg’s death certificate (1957) identifies his mother’s maiden name as Ladow.

Child:

            May Putney [Hiram, Lucy, Roswell] b. November, 1887, MI, a child of Hiram and Margaret “Maggie” (Ziglar) Putney; m. William F. Davis, around 1908, MI

            William and May moved to the Upper Peninsula and showed up there in the 1920 census with three children. They were renting a home on Newberry Road in Pentland, Luce County, next to a Native American family: Peter and Annie James. William worked in a lumber camp with Mr. James.

            William and “Mae” were still in Luce County in 1930, this time near Newberry Village in McMillan Township. Their son, Ray, was no longer in the home. William was a scaler at a sawmill. May and their daughter Elsie were working for the State Hospital as attendants. They were living in a $1,000 home on Pierre Road, on the north side of the city limits.

Children:

            Luella Herrick Fiske [Emma, Sarah, Roswell], b. December 1, 1876, Minnesota, a daughter of Emma J. Ghastin (aka Luella Herrick) and William B. Fiske.

            Luella’s mother died in Minneapolis on March 14, 1877. Luella was only three months old. Because of the difficulty of raising a newborn as a single parent, Luella’s father sent her to live with his parents, Francis A and Melinda Fiske, in Sherburne, Franklin Co., Massachusetts (1880 census). She may have lived there long enough to meet her great grandmother Mrs. Melinda Fiske (b. May, 1817, NY), who came to live with her grandparents prior to the 1900 census. By the 1900 census, though, Luella had moved away.

The 1900 census shows her father, W. B. Fiske, living in the home of Warren and Mattie Messerale on 58^th Street in Chicago. William’s occupation was listed as “brake bd. trdale.” (?) There is no sign of Luella, although we know she was alive at least as late as 1911. Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to find Luella in 1910, although we know she was living in Chicago at the time. According to Edith L. Sawyer’s diary, Luella lived at 3017 Prairie Avenue in Chicago in 1909.[1] (Her telephone number was 1523 Harrison Place.) This location would have put her directly on the south side of Dunbar Park, near the intersection of South Prairie Avenue and East 31^st Street. This was in the 2^nd Ward of the City (E.D. 185 or perhaps 186). Another possibility for the 1910 census was Halsted. In 1911, Luella wrote a letter from 4201 S. Halsted, which is located south of West Pershing Road, about 500 yards north of McHenry Park. This would have put her in either the 29^th (E.D. 1261) or 30^th (E.D. 1291) Ward of the City (since Halstead was the dividing line between the two wards). This narrows down our search considerably. However, we have still been unable to positively identify Luella in 1910.

            The letter we referred to before, typed and signed by Luella (now in the possession of Paul Stiles), was sent to Edith L. Sawyer on June 7, 1911. The letter reads as follows:

          "My dear cousin

            In an old address book I find S. Frankfort, Michigan, and I hope this will reach you. I do not think I have received a letter from you since the one telling of Aunt Lavancha's death several years ago. Perhaps you as well as your sister are married now and have a home of your own; if so, there will be much to tell me; if not, hope you are as happy as I am enjoying 'single blessedness.'

            I am especially anxious to learn as much as possible concerning my dear Mother, you Mother's sister. There have been conflicting statements lately regarding the family name; I always thought it was Gaston, but an old friend of Mother's states it was Ensign. Aunt LaVancha no doubt told you much of her own people, and any information you can give me will be a great favor.

            Do you know if Emma Luella Ensign, or Emma Luella Gaston is the correct name which she bore before adopted by the Herricks. Can you tell me our Grandfather's and Grandmother's names, where they lived and at about what time the children were adopted; that is at what time or year my Mother was adopted.

            Owing to a certain financial matter pending at this time it is very important that I should know Mother's name and year of adoption at once. Her name you surely now even if you do not know the date of adoption. It would be the same as your Mother's name before her adoption. Please let me know by return mail.

            I am busy with work and play; the work is congenial and my friends give me many good times, drives, theatres, and best of all the weekend trips to country homes outside the city. It is the one delight looked forward to with each coming Saturday, to close my desk and take a noon train for the suburbs.

            Pardon, please, my using the typewriter for this letter, for I am so busy today and this is a quick method for conveying my desires, besides being much easier for you to read, for Father says I am still a poor penman.

            Hoping to hear from you at once and that this letter will be the beginning of a renewal of former correspondence, and with love to you and yours, I am, Very sincerely,

                                                Luella Herrick Fisk"

A week later (June 15, 1911), William B. Fisk wrote this letter to Edith Sawyer:

           "311 Northwestern, Minneapolis, MN

My Dear Edith

            I just received your letter. Many thanks. Luella came this morning. Has gone to spend the day with friends. We want the most of anything to find out the time and place of the legal adoption of Luella's mother by W. W. Herrick and his wife. I think it was about 1852, she being about three years old. Several of us have tried to find out but with no success. Edwin W. Herrick, William Herrick's brother, died May 2nd. Otherwise he could tell us all we want to know. Anything you find out or know you not keep from Luella. She is a darling daughter and beloved by everyone. We have written to the county seat of Ashtabula County, Jefferson County seat, and Chautauqua County seat and find no record anywhere. Please send anything you find out here to my office.

            Was glad to hear from you. With lots of love from your uncle

W. B. Fiske"

Burl Dow Ghastin [Marquis, Sarah, Roswell], b. April 20, 1882, a child of Marquis Roswell Ghastin; m. Sylvia Y. Swaney, 1904, Grand Traverse Co., MI; d. July 16, 1959, Grand Traverse Co., MI.

When Burl reached adulthood, he moved to Grand Traverse County and took a job as a servant (farm laborer) for William Tompkins, Jr., on the Old Mission Peninsula (1900 census). Around 1905, he married Sylvia Y. Swaney.

Burl was living in Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse Co., MI, in the 1910 and 1920 census. In 1920, they had five sons living in their home, as well as Burl’s father, Marquis. Burl was the owner of a fruit farm. Marquis still lived with Burl and Sylvia in 1930, although he would die seven days after the census was taken.

Children:

            Raleigh Arthur Ghastin [Marquis, Sarah, Roswell], b. December 20, 1885, Blaine, Benzie Co., MI; m. Ruth M. Ford, after 1920; d. November 5, 1962, Frankfort, Michigan; Benzonia Cemetery.

In 1900, “Rolly Goston” was living in Homestead Township, Benzie County, as a boarder in the home of Jacob and Maggie Weaver. He was born in December, 1884. Both he and Mr. Weaver were day laborers. “Ralleigh” Ghastin (25) was listed in the home of Roswell’s mother and step-father, Alfred and Mary E. Garside in 1910. Ralleigh was a log driver at a sawmill.

Ruth was born in Detroit August 14, 1885, a daughter of John Frederick and Hattie E. (Ruehle) Ford. The Ford’s had moved to Benzonia, where Ruth and Raleigh met. One of Ruth’s sisters married George Snell.

We have not been able to find Raleigh, Ruth or Roswell in the 1930 census. Variations of each name have been researched, in hope that we could find them amidst the thousands of census taking, transcribing and indexing errors, but nothing has turned up.

Ruth died November 12, 1937 and was buried in the Benzonia Cemetery.

Raleigh died at Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort in 1962, after an extended illness. His obituary in the Traverse City Record Eagle claimed his survivors as his son Roswell and sister “Vesta” Thurston of Chicago. He was buried next to Ruth.

One child:

            Beulah Vista Ghastin [Marquis, Sarah, Roswell], b. April 25, 1886, a daughter of Marquis Ghastin and Mary Etta Salsgiver; m. Amos G. Wallace, around 1900-1918; m. (2) Thurston; d. May, 1969, Chicago, IL

            Vista married Amos G. Wallace.

            Amos was born in Illinois in October, 1885, a son of Walter and Florence Wallace. He grew up in Danville, Illinois, where his father worked as a carpenter. Amos worked in Danville as a delivery boy when he was a teenager and, upon reaching adulthood, became a brakeman on the railroad.

            In 1920, Vista and Amos were living in Danville, Vermillion County, Illinois, with their daughter “Pearl.” By 1930, though, Amos was dead. Vista and Pearl (or Burl) were renting an apartment for $40 a month at 1322 East 47^th Street in Chicago. The proprietor of their hotel was James Moran. Vista was a cook for a private family. Vista was listed a second time in the census that year as a guest in the apartment of John A. and Florence Caldwell. The Caldwell’s were residents at the Villa Manor Hotel in Chicago. Vista claimed this time to be a seamstress at a dress shop.

Child:

            Allen M. Talcott [Rosetta, Sarah, Roswell], b. August, 1875, Andover, OH, a child of Rosetta A. Ghastin-Manley and Walter M. Talcott; m. Anna Grace __, around 1900, Cleveland, OH; d. after 1930.

            Anna was born in Ohio around 1880.

            Allen and Anna Grace owned a home on Wyandotte Avenue in Rockport Township in the 1920 census. By 1930, their daughter, Ruth had moved away. Clifford stayed with them as the Great Depression began. Allen was a teller at a bank. In 1930, Clifford was a maintenance man at an oil and gas company.

Children:

            Joseph Earl Talcott [Rosetta, Sarah, Roswell], b. October, 1884, OH, a child of Rosetta A. Ghastin-Manley and Walter M. Talcott; m. Zetta P. ___, around 1910;

            Joseph lived in Cleveland for most of his life. When he was 26 years old, he married 22-year old Zetta.

            Zetta was born in Canada around 1888. She immigrated to the US in 1899 and was naturalized in 1911.

In 1920, Joseph and Zetta showed up on West 91^st Street in Cleveland. Joseph was a buyer of wholesale hardware. He claimed to be born in Ohio and not to know where his parents were born.    The 1930 census shows that the Talcott’s home was valued at $8,000. Joseph was a salesman at a wholesale hardware company. He claimed to be born in Iowa.

According to the obituary of their son, Wallace A. Talcott, in the Hartford Courant, January, 2005, Wallace was “a long-time resident of the Simsbury area and active in West Avon Congregational Church, Heublien Tower and Landmark Antiquarian Society. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army.” He was buried at the Rose Hill Memorial Park.

Children:

Last update March 07, 2018