January 21 Following A Rabbit Trail

 

       Have you ever taken a walk in the snow and wondered where the rabbit trails might lead? Given the current cold, snowy conditions, I decided to follow a few genealogical rabbit trails.

       During the summer of 2023, the Interlaken Historical Society received a gift which caused me to begin research on the Knight family. At that time my focus was on James and his son Edward. Then when helping at Lake View Cemetery, I noticed the headstone for Abram, James’ younger brother.

       Abram B Knight was born 28 July 1815, and died 28 August 1863, but no wife is noted on the headstone. When researching older families in this area, one of the first reference books to use is The Covert Family by Fisher, Covert and Patterson. It has excellent starting points, but at the same time, because it is collected from a variety of places and memories, there may be inconsistencies, or wrong interpretations. That book notes that Abram married Jane Wheeler.

       Starting with the basic information given, I began looking for more information for them. Jane Wheeler was born 6 October 1830, daughter of Nathan Beach and Ann W. Rappleye Wheeler. Abram and Jane were married on 11 February 1852, as recorded in the Interlaken Reformed Church. There are no children recorded for them in either The Covert Book or the church records. Abram died 28 August 1863 and is buried on lot 260 at Lake View Cemetery, Interlaken. Lot 260 is part of a group of lots owned by other children of Nathan and Ann Wheeler. It is across the pathway from Abram’s brother James.

       First rabbit trail: what happened to Jane that she is not buried with her husband? Looking further into The Covert Book, it is noted that she married Daniel Barnes Bryan in 1866 as his second wife. Jane died 3 March 1911, at Bath, Steuben County, and is buried at the Nondaga cemetery there.

       Jane’s obituary notes “Mrs. Jane W. Bryan died in Bath last week, Friday and was buried there Monday. She was a sister of O.G., D.C. and William Wheeler of this place…in 1866 she married the late Daniel B. Bryan…she leaves one son D. Beach Bryan.” [Interlaken Review March 10, 1911] So the first question is answered.

       Second rabbit trail: who was Daniel Barnes Bryan? I found that he is also a Covert descendant. Daniel was born 13 November 1810, in Ovid, son of George Byran [1777-1853] and Jane Covert Byran [1785-1866]. The family moved to Sonora, Steuben County between 1823 and 1828 [Covert Book page 92].

       Daniel married first Elizabeth B. Hollett, and this is where the rabbit trails go all over the map. The Covert Book, page 176 lists her birth as 15 January 1817, and death 17 January 1865. But the notation that her parents were P. S. and Mathilda Leonard Hollett is incorrect. Elizabeth’s headstone notes “wife of D.B. Bryan and dau of Rev. P Hollett, died Jan 17, 1865, age 48 years.”

       When trying to connect parents and children, especially in the era of Daniel and Elizabeth and their parents, the 1850 census is a wonderful starting point. That census is the first census to list all the members of the household. [June 1 Snippet]. Peter S. Hollett age 28 and his wife Matildia also age 28 are living in Yates County. While the names match the information in The Covert Book both are more the age of siblings, not parents. I did find them in Find-A-Grave confirming their ages, and that he was a doctor, not a Reverand.

       I will spare you the rabbit trails trying to find the correct Rev. P Hollett. It involved following Peter S. through a number of sources. Eventually, Rev. Peregrine Hollett was located. An 1891 Watkins Express article provided many details on the family. I spent considerable time pulling all of the pieces together and working to update listings on Find-A-Grave for Elizabeth and her siblings.

       At last, we come back to Jane Wheeler Knight Bryan. She lived in Sonora and Savona for a number of years before moving to Bath. She was the mother of two children, Daniel Beach and Anna Elizabeth. Daniel was born 7 March 1868, married twice and died 11 February 1937. Anna born 6 November 1873, died 4 August 1906, noted as died single. “JR Wheeler and Mrs. N Campbell went to Bath last Monday to attend the funeral of their niece, Miss Anna Bryan, who died on Saturday as result of surgical operation the previous Tuesday.” [Interlaken Review August 10, 1906]

       If you are wondering why I spent this much time on rabbit trails, Jane was a sister to Mary R. Wheeler who married Jared B. Bassette, my ancestors. The rabbit trails continue and my copy of The Covert Book contains many scribbled notes from those trails.

       Following rabbit trails can be an interesting, and frustrating, way to stay warm on these cold snowy winter days. Thank you for coming along on the trail.

Dewitt’s Diary Saturday, January 21, 1950, Temperature 20, cloudy and acting like snow. The ground is white this morning. The wind is back in the south. Getting ready to buzz some wood. Moved the brooder house. Shot a couple of rabbits across the road in Halstead’s evergreen patch. Saw eight deer in a bunch one mile east of Townsendville this afternoon. Temperature 30.