Simonson Genealogist: May 2011

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Investigating the names in the Raritan Reformed Church Membership Roll

I found the church membership roll in the pamphlets for the celebrations of the 145th and 150th anniversaries of the Raritan Reformed Church (Raritan, Illinois; see previous post, Simonson Genealogist: Raritan Reformed Church in Raritan, Illinois).

Although Mrs. Simon V.A. Simonson is listed as a charter member, Mr. Simon V.A. Simonson is not, which I find interesting. Their firstborn son, Dennis Nevius Simonson (1855-1930) was the first child baptized in the church, and it appears from these membership records that other children including Mattie Louise Simonson (1870-) and possibly Gertrude Ellen Simonson (1859-) and Alice Wortman Simonson (1874-) were also members of the church.

There are actually two Gertrudes listed: Gertrude Simonson Cortelyou and Mrs. Gertrud[e] E. Simonson Rankin. According to new.familysearch.org, Gertrude Ellen Simonson (1859-) married Samuel A. Rankin (1859-). Perhaps then Gertrude Simonson Cortelyou is Gertrude Simonson Rankin's cousin/aunt? This would make Gertrude Simonson Cortelyou = Gertrude Ellen Simonson (1833-) daughter of Dennis Simonson (1793-1867) and Ellen Nevius (1800-1877). new.familysearch.org has her listed as married to William P Wright (1829-), however, with no mention of a Cortelyou. Perhaps this is an unrelated Gertrude Simonson (or branched from the tree farther back in New Jersey, or a second marriage, or new.familysearch.org is wrong)? Actually, it appears she is the daughter of Garret Simonson and Martha Dunham (see farther down).

Garrett Simonson and Mrs. Martha Dunham Simonson also appear in the 1856 members list. A search on familysearch.org shows them in the 1880 census. Garret[t] Simonson was born in 1820 in New Jersey (although the 1860 census says New York), and Martha was born in 1825 in New Jersey. Martha's mother, Catharina Dunham (1794-; born in New Jersey), also lives with them. Annie E. Dunham (1826-; born in New Jersey), Martha's sister also lives with them. An 18 year old Charles Harden lives with them, no relation. Searching on new.familysearch.org reveals:

Garret Simonson (born 9 January 1820, Raritan, Somerset, New Jersey) of Dennis Simonson and Gertrude Cock. He has a brother named John Simonson (1816-). Apparently this information can be found on microfilm in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Garret P. Simonson (born 1815-1820 in New Jersey) married Martha M. Dunham (1824-). They had two children, Robert B. D. Simonson (1848-) and Gertrude Ellen Simo[n]son (1853-).

This looked like a safe bet, so I combined the two records on new.familysearch.org. Apparently R.B.D. Simonson listed as a member in 1872 and one of the Gertrude Ellen Simonsons (new.familysearch.org has her as wife of Abraham Cortelyou) are children of Garret Simonson and Martha Dunham. Finding another duplicate entry in new.familysearch.org, R.B.D. Simonson = Robert Barkley Dunham Simonson.

Searching for John Simonson (1816-) turned up a death record on familysearch.org for John Simonson (1816-1889; died in Plainfield, New Jersery; occupation = clergy; widowed at death). I did a Google search for "plainfield new jersey reformed church simonson" and found this funny little article from September 19, 1891 in the New York Times: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F30F15FB3E5E10738DDDA00994D1405B8185F0D3. In the article, it says the recently late Rev. J. Simonson was pastor of the Trinity Reformed Church in Plainfield. It lists John Goldsmith Payntar as his relative.

More likely than not, Garret Simonson (1820-) is a relative of Simon Van Arsdale Simonson, but how, I still do not know. UPDATE: see Simonson Genealogist: Relationship between Garret Simonson (1819-) and Simon Van Arsdale Simonson (1830-1921).

Raritan Reformed Church in Raritan, Illinois

I came across a website, http://www.illinoisancestors.org/henderson/bedfordchurches.htm, that mentioned Dennis Nevius Simonson as being the first child baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in Raritan, Illinois. His mother, Mrs. Simon Van Arsdale Simonson (Anne E. Wortman) was also one of the charter members of the church. I did some more investigating, and I found via Google that there is today a Reformed Church in Raritan. I decided to stop by and see what I could see.
When I first arrived, I saw a man across the street from the church, and he told me he thought it was indeed the same church. He pointed out a plaque placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the date (1855) matched what I was looking for. He also said I should talk to one of the fellows in town who might be a distant relative (a Van Arsdale). The next day I did, and he turned out to be one of the elders of the church, and he offered to take me on a tour of the church, which I gladly accepted.

Here are some photos from outside the church:

Plaque place by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

The elder and one of the deacons showed me around inside. Here are some pictures from inside:

Sacrament plates and cups. I asked the elder and deacon how old they were, but they could only tell me that they were VERY old.

View of the loft.

View in the loft.

This is an interesting engraving that sat above the handle for the lifting the shutter of the loft. The elder did not know what it was. Perhaps a biblical scene, like Jesus and the woman at the well?

View from the loft.

Stairs going down from the loft.

Old clock (the elder and deacon said they thought it had been there since around 1920).

They were also kind enough to give me two pamphlets celebrating the 145th and 150th anniversaries of their church. They also had pamphlets dating back to 1905, but they did not have copies that they could give away. In 1905, Mrs. S. V. A. Simonson (Anne Elizabeth Wortman [1832-1907]) was still alive. I am assuming the picture of her that they included in the pamphlets was taken around 1905. Here are some photos I snapped from pages in the pamphlets. Note that several Simonsons and other relatives (Groomes, etc.) are listed in the early membership lists:

Charter members of the Raritan Reformed Church.

1937 photo showing a Mrs. Elmer (Edna) Simonson.

Pre-1925 photo.

Peter Nevius Blacksmith Shop.

Mrs. Simon Van Arsdale Simonson (Anne Elizabeth Wortman [1832-1907]).

Note Mrs. Anna Wortman Simonson, Garrett Simonson, Mrs. Martha Dunham Simonson,
Peter Groom, Mrs. Sarah E. Wilson Groom.

Note Mrs. Gertrude Simonson Cortelyou, R.B.D. Simonson, Mrs. Susie Dorris Simonson (wife of Peter Simonson), Mrs. Mary C. Groom Simonson (wife of Dennis Simonson).

Note Mrs. Emma W. Groom Stryker, Mrs. Gertrud E. Simonson Rankin, Adrianna Simonson, Mattie Louise Simonson.

Note Mrs. Adrianna Simonson Cortelyou, Mrs. Alice Simonson Worthington.

Note Mrs. Edna Barnnes Simonson.

Note Lillian Levetta Simonson, Mrs. Harold Simonson.

Poem by R. B. D. Simonson (apparently Robert Barkley Dunham Simonson [1848-])

Monday, May 23, 2011

Visit to the Raritan, Illinois, Cemetery

I recently visited the Raritan, Illinois, Cemetery. Simon Van Arsdale (1830-1921) and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Wortman (1832-1907) were both born in New Jersey and were apparently among those who helped settle Raritan, Illinois, where they are also buried. The cemetery sits on the top of a hill on the south of town that overlooks Honey Creek, which runs between town and the cemetery. While there, I took photos of many headstones, including all of the Simonsons, Groomes, Grooms, Neviuses, and Van Arsdales that I could find, plus many more that I thought were interesting or might be somehow related. Here are some of the photos, and perhaps I will add more later:

Simonsons

Nellie Simonson (-Aug. 27, 1863), daughter of S.V.A. and Annie E. Simonson

Simonson Van Arsdale Simonson (Feb 9, 1830-Oct. 31, 1921)

Susie Simonson (1897-1997)

Peter W. Simonson (1857-1934), Susan Dorris Simonson (1853-1952)

Percy Simonson (1885-1965)

Ray Simonson, Feb. 6, 1941

Robert D. Simonson (1893-1974), Clora M. Simonson (1899-1959)

Elmer Simonson (May 2, 1887-May 12, 1973), Edna B. Simonson (July 31, 1891-Feb. 19, 1965)

Bessie G. Simonson (1900-1993), Simon V. Simonson (1892-1962)

Groomes/Grooms

I am assuming Annie died young and was the sister of Mary C. Groome (1857-1901; wife of Dennis Nevius Simonson [1855-1930]). I could not make out all of the writing.

Cora E. Groom (May 6, 1876-May 29, 1883), Joseph Avery Groom (1878-Apr. 16, 1883)

Cora May Groom (May 26, 1869-Oct. 26, 1871), Henry V. D. Groom (Oct. 2, 1871-Aug. 23, 1874)

Nathaniel G. Groom (Aug. 30, 1840-April 18, 1902), Annie S. Groom (June 3, 1829-)

Does anyone know to whom this marker corresponds?

WWII album of John Dennis Simonson (1923-1961)

John Dennis Simonson was a fighter pilot for the Navy in the Pacific nearing the end of World War II. His wife said that right out of high school he went to the recruiting station. His original intent was to volunteer for the Air Force, but he and his friend decided the line was too long and went to the line for the Navy. His wife said he also enjoyed photography. Here are scans of most of the photos and loose items from an album that he kept, many of the photos being taken during WWII. Apparently many photos are missing, and some are stuck to the pages such that it appeared risky to pull them off without tearing them. Some of the photos are scans of negatives that were also in the album. I wish I knew who more of the people are in the photos, but I can really only identify John.