Porter VAN WORMER^• (1818-1888)

1B1.Porter Van Wormer^• was born on October 11, 1818, in New York, reportedly in Albany County. He is ascribed as a son of Henry & Sarah (Cock/Kock) Van Wormer, who lived in Murray, Greene County, New York, in 1820 and moved southwest to Randolph Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania by 1830. Henry moved to Defiance Township, Defiance County (then in Williams County), in the northwest corner of Ohio by 1840, but Porter apparently remained in Pennsylvania.

Porter married Mary Ann and had at least three children by 1850. By 1860, his wife was identified as Corelia Terrill. It is unclear if he was married twice or if "Mary Ann" was recorded in error. There is no clear break between Porter's 13 children:

Autosomal DNA Matches

While it is uncertain if Porter's father was a brother, halfbrother, or a cousin to Mathew Van Wormer², his connection to Crawford County, where Elizabeth (Van Wormer) Converse³ started her family, is of keen interest. Adding interest to his line is a fairly strong (23 cM) autosomal DNA match between me and a descendant of Almira (Van Wormer) Jordan.

Porter and Mary Ann started their family in Randolph Township by 1850, where Porter worked as a shoemaker and had three children, all born in Pennsylvania.^{[Cen 1850]}

The Van Wormers moved about 385 miles north to White Rock, Huron County, Michigan, probably around 1855 or 1856, between the births of Mary Ann and Theodore.^{[Cen 1860]}

The family moved again by 1870, about 140 miles southwest to Woodhull Township, Shiawasee County. There they lived near Bishop Van Wormer, the son of John W. Van Wormer. Son James, who was the same age as Bishop (26 years), started his own family there as well.^{[Cen 1870]}

The Van Wormers moved yet again in the early 1870s, between the births to Martha and Alsina), south about 130 miles to Milford Township, Defiance County, Ohio.^{[Cen 1880]} Porter's reported father died about 20 miles east of there in Defiance Township in 1852.

Porter Van Wormer died in 1888 and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Edgerton, Williams County^[Grave], just over the county line north of Milford Township. Porter was about 69 years old.

After Porter's death, Cordelia worked as a housekeeper for the widower Uriah Johnston and his granddaughter in Jackson Township, De Kalb County, Indiana, about 18 miles west of Milford Township. She and he were close in age. Cordelia was also reported to have six of seven children surviving as of 1900, which only accounts for about half of Porter's children.

The following year, Cordelia remarried to the widower Henry Grow on May 16, 1901, in Wood County, Ohio^{[Mar 1901]}, about 70 miles east of Milford Township. The lived on Railroad Street in North Baltimore, Wood County. Cordelia was also reported to have four of nine children surviving as of 1910.^{[Cen 1910]}

Cordelia (Terrill) Van Wormer died on July 29, 1911, in North Baltimore, Wood County, Ohio^{[Dth 1911]}, 23 years after Porter and 10 years after her marriage to Henry. She was buried with Porter in Maple Grove Cemetery.^[Grave] Cordelia was about 79 or 80 years old.

Joab/Joel VAN WORMER (~1805-<1870)

1FA. Joab/Joel Van Wormer was born about 1805 or 1806 in New York. He married Elizabeth McKean, reportedly a native of Landisburg, Perry County, Pennsylvania, on March 1, 1843, in Williams County, Ohio. They had at least two sons and Joab may have had a daughter from a previous marriage:

Elizabeth's parents lived in Center Township, Williams County^{[Cen 1850B]}, just east of St. Joseph Township, where Joab, Elizabeth, and their young family are first found enumerated near Joab's parents and younger siblings. Besides his wife and two son, 15-year-old Lucy Van Wormer was living with the family, but it is unclear if she was a daughter, niece, or some other relative.^{[Cen 1850]}

Joab Van Wormer died between 1850 and 1870. What became Lucy, Joab, and William is unknown.

After Joab's death, Elizabeth lived with her younger sister Jane McKean and Jane's likely daughter Ida Lockhart. In 1870, Jane was named as the head of household in St. Joseph Township, where they worked as seamstresses.^{[Cen 1870]} By 1880, Elizabeth was named as the head of household in Edgerton, which is within the bounds of St. Joseph Township, and 15-year-old Ida was curiously identified as Elizabeth's granddaughter.^{[Cen 1880]} Ida's father was likely Corporal John W. Lockhart (1838-1885), son of John & Margaret (Hooper) Lockhart (of Bryan and Pulaski Township, Williams County), who served with Company B of the 6th Ohio Cavalry during the Civil War.

Elizabeth (McKean) Van Wormer died on February 11, 1896, in Edgerton, at the age of 76. She was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Edgerton.^[Grave]

After Elizabeth's death, Jane and Ida lived with the Charles & Emma Davis family in Superior Township, Williams County. Jane was identified as an aunt to the family and Ida as a cousin.^{[Cen 1900]}

Mathew D. VAN WORMER^• (1808-1883)

1FB. Mathew D. Van Wormer^• was reportedly born on August 16, 1808, in Onondaga County, New York. He reportedly married Cordelia Stanton on March 4, 1843, in Skaneateles, Onondaga County. They had as many as 11 children, the first born in New York and the rest born in Ohio:^{[Cen 1850]}

1FBA.	Mary J. Van Wormer	1 Jan 1833	25 Mar 1905	(72)
1FBB.	Julia Van Wormer	(1833-1834)	--	--
1FBC.	Eliza L. Van Wormer•	(16) Oct 1835	31 May 1900	(64)
1FBD.	William H. Van Wormer	(Dec) 1838	20 Jun 1926	(87)
1FBE.	Sarah M. Van Wormer	(1840)	--	--
1FBF.	Phoebe M. Van Wormer	(1843)	9 Jan 1891	(46)
1FBG.	Henrietta Van Wormer	6 Aug 1844	6 Apr 1926	(81)
1FBH.	Abraham "Abram" Van Wormer	(1845-1846)	21 May 1877	(32)
1FBI.	Elnora A. Van Wormer	2 Apr 1847	1 Nov 1942	(95)
1FBJ.	Francis Van Wormer	22 Jul 1848	13 Aug 1931	(83)
1FBK.	Frederica Van Wormer	(May) 1850	(< 1860)	(< 10)
1FBH1.	Charles Van Wormer	(1868-1869)	(> 1880)	(> 11)
1FBH2.	William H. Van Wormer	(1872-1873)	(> 1880)	(> 7)

The Van Wormer started their family in New York but moved southwest to Ohio by 1833 or 1834, when daughter Julia was born. In 1840 they were recorded in Kingston Township, Delaware County, 31 miles north of Columbus and about 16 miles west of where Mathew's father had first settled in Ohio—Hartford, Licking County. They had three girls under the age of ten and one boy (William H.) under the age of five.^{[Cen 1840]}

By Francis' birth in 1848, they moved about 20 miles south to Blendon Township, Franklin County, Ohio. Mathew worked as a tanner and currier in Blendon Township. That year he and Cordelia had 11 children between the ages of 2 months and 17 years.^{[Cen 1850]}

The family moved about 15 miles back up Big Walnut Creek to Delaware County and settled in Berkshire Township, just south of Kingston Township, by 1860. All the children from Sarah on down, except for youngest Frederica, lived at home. Mathew worked as a shoemaker with Timothy Aldrich, age 20, who lived with the family, perhaps as an apprentice.^{[Cen 1860]}

The Van Wormers moved again, about 195 miles northwest to Pierceton, Kosciusko County, Indiana, about 35 miles west of Fort Wayne, by 1870, perhaps as early 1865 when grandson Owen was born. Only daughter Henrietta remained with her parents. Mathew worked as a tanner and currier and, as in Blendon, had an apparent apprentice living with them. Sons William and Abraham lived nearby with their families and also worked as shoemakers.^{[Cen 1870]}

Henrietta left home by 1880 and Mathew and Cordelia adopted two grandsons, Charles and William H., ages 11 and 7. They were the sons of son Abraham, a wounded and disabled Civil War veteran, who died three years earlier.^{[Cen 1880]}

Mathew D. Van Wormer died on January 24, 1883, in Pierceton. He was 74 years old.^{[Dth 1883]} Mathew was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery, south of Pierceton.^[Grave]

Cordelia (Stanton) Van Wormer died nine years later in 1892. She was about 81 years old and was also buried at Hillcrest Cemetery.^[Grave]

Henry VAN WORMER (~1810->1850)

1FC. Henry Van Wormer was born about 1810 in Ohio, perhaps in Licking County, central Ohio, where his family settled in 1810. He married Mary and had two children before 1850:

Henry settled in Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan, not far from Ezekiel and Daniel Van Wormer.^{[Cen 1850]} What became of him and his family is not known.

Elizabeth (VAN WORMER) CONVERSE³ (1811-1899)

1FD. Elizabeth Van Wormer³ was born about December 14, 1811, probably in Ohio* likely in Licking County, central Ohio, where her family had lived since 1810. She met Erastus Converse (Sr.), a Vermont native, and married in Pennsylvania where they started a family of five sons, and a daughter who died in infancy:

1FD1.	John Converse4	14 Oct 1829	16 Mar 1909	(79)
1FD2.	William ConverseΔ	20 Oct 1832	13 May 1916	(83)
1FD3.	Henry B. Converse	(1835-1836)	25 Jul 1862	(27)
1FD4.	George W. Converse	(1842-1843)	29 Jul 1864	(22)
1FD5.	Erastus Taylor Convers	(1845)	(> 1930)	(> 84)
1FD6.	Daughter	(1837-1847)	Infancy	--

Continue to Converse Family History

In 1829, their first son, John, was born in Pennsylvania. Their next two sons, William and Henry, were also born in Pennsylvania, in Rockdale, Crawford County.

The Converses settled in Crawford County until they moved to Greene Township, Iowa County, Iowa Territory in 1842, four years prior to Iowa statehood. Greene Township, in the southeast corner of Iowa County, lies about 20 miles southwest of Iowa City which was then the territorial capital.

Erastus died about 1847 after a 70-mile horse ride to fetch a doctor for a sick son. He is said to have been 43 years old.

Jane Loveland

Elizabeth carried on with four boys ranging from about the age of 2 to 17. In the 1850 census they were enumerated with William Convers, likely Erastus' elder brother, and Jane Loveland (also seen spelled as "Lovelin"), perhaps Erastus' mother or Elizabeth's mother.

Jane Loveland died on August 8, 1860, at the age of 93. She is buried at Bethel Cemetery in neighboring Washington Township, Johnson County, Iowa, about 5 miles east of Holbrook.

Land Transactions

Elizabeth deeded three plots that lie on either side of Old Man Creek in northern Greene Township to Thomas Grady on April 5, 1856.^{[Deed 1856]}

• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, Northeast ¼ of Southeast ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, North ½ of Southwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, Southeast ¼ of Southwest ¼

In the Fall of that same year, Elizabeth acquired six plots in the same general area, five from Polly Polly Stewart and Mariah Van Camp, and the sixth from Samuel Baker.^{[Deed 1856]}

• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, Southeast ¼ of Northwest ¼; the plot was later identified as have a mill site on it, presumably built by brother-in-law William Converse
• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, West ½ of Southeast ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, East ½ of Northwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, Southwest ¼ of Northwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 3, East ½ of Southeast ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, Southwest ¼ of Southwest ¼; Baker

Between 1857 and 1860, plots in Section 2 and adjacent plots were noted passing from "J.K. Converse" (perhaps her eldest son, John³) to George Stewart (1857), then from Stewart to her son Henry (1857), and then from George Converse (her brother-in-law?) to Henry (1860). In 1865, Elizabeth filed deeds made out to her by "G & M Converse" (brother-in-law?) in 1860:

• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, Southeast ¼ of North(east) ¼
• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, West ½ of Southwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, East ½ of Northwest ¼ of Northwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 2, Southwest ¼ of Northwest ¼
• Township 78 North, Range 9 West, Section 3, East ½ of Southeast ¼

Sons' Civil War Service

The Converse family paid a heavy price during the Civil War—Elizabeth's three youngest sons went off to war but only one came home.

Henry was the first to go at the end of the summer when the war broke out, 1861. He died the following July after suffering for nearly 3 months of chronic dysentery and an attack of typhoid fever in Corinth, Mississippi. Barely a month later, her next youngest, George, enlisted and a month after that her youngest, Erastus, enlisted.

With one son dead and George on his way south in General Grant's Vicksburg Campaign, Elizabeth petitioned the State of Iowa to discharge Erastus in May 1863, citing that he was underage when he enlisted without her consent and had no one to support her, a widow of about 50 years and in very feeble health. Her plea was passed to Washington, D.C., but apparently failed.

Two months later George fell ill with chronic diarrhea following the successful siege of Vicksburg and died a year later, July 29, 1864, and was buried at the Jefferson Barracks Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. She signed for his personal effects, which included a cap, two flannel shirts, a pair of boots, a woolen blanket, a pocket book, and $9.50. Later in 1880 she filed for his pension.

Erastus was spared the horrors of battle and disease in the South and served with the cavalry along the northwestern frontier where the Union Army contended with hosilities with the Sioux Indians. Erastus and his cavalry unit mustered out in October 1865.

Son William sold off his plot in the Southeast quarter of Section 35 to William H. Manley in 1864 and Elizabeth followed by selling off plots in the same quarter to Manley and Austin Corbin in 1865 and 1867:^{[Deed 1865,1867]}

• Township 79 North, Range (9) West, Section 35, Northeast ¼ of Southeast ¼, 5 acres to Manley^{[Deed 1865]}
• Township 79 North, Range 9 West, Section 35, West ½ of Southeast ¼, to Corbin^{[Deed 1867]}

Move to Pottawattamie County

In 1871, son William moved across state to Valley Township in Pottawattamie County. Elizabeth is presumed to have moved to Valley Township with William in 1871, however in 1880 she is noted living alone in Western, College Township, Linn County, Iowa^{[Cen 1880]}.

By 1885 she had moved in with William's family east of Hancock in Valley Township.^{[Cen 1885]}

Elizabeth (Van Wormer) Converse³ died on October 30, 1899, in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, at the age of 87. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Valley Township along side her grandson John. She was later joined by son and daughter-in-law, William and Jane.

Daniel VAN WORMER^Δ (1812-1889)

1FE. Daniel Van Wormer^Δ was born in July 1812 in Ohio, perhaps in Licking County, central Ohio, where his family settled in 1810. He married Jerusha and as many as ten children, all born in Michigan, probably in Shiawassee County:

1FEA.	Alexander "Alex" Van Wormer	25 May 1843	24 Sep 1906	(63)
1FEB.	Sarah Jane Van WormerΔ	(1844-1845)	16 Mar 1872	(26)
1FEC.	Abel Van WormerΔ	23 Sep 1846	8 Mar 1931	(84)
1FED.	Ethemer Van WormerΔ	Mar (1848)	20 Apr 1914	(66)
1FEE.	Henry A. Van Wormer	Jan 1852	4 Feb 1908	(56)
1FEF.	Eliza A. Van Wormer	8 Apr (1853)	5 Jul 1884	(31)
1FEG.	Emily Van Wormer	(1854-1855)	(> 1870)	(> 15)
1FEH.	Riley Van Wormer	(Jan 1860)	(Childhood)	(Childhood)
1FEI.	Frances Van Wormer	(1862-1863)	(> 1920)	(> 57)
1FEJ.	George Van Wormer	Sep 1864	12 Dec 1937	(73)

The Van Wormer family is first found in Vernon Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan, enumerated next to the Ezekiel & Sarah Van Wormer family. Ezekiel was 15 years older than Daniel so it is unclear what relationship they might have had. Daniel's elder brother Henry was enumerated 13 households later.^{[Cen 1850]} Daniel was incorrectly recorded as "David" in 1860.^{[Cen 1860]}

Civil War

During the Civil War, six companies of the 9th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment were captured during a disastrous defeat in the First Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee (July 1862). The following month, 18-year-old son Alex enlisted as a private on August 30, 1862, with Company "K" of the 9th. The captured companies were paroled and the regiment was reconstituted in November at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Blame for the defeat was placed on the brigade commander and after the regiment was cleared it became the provost guards for General Thomas' XIV Corp.

Following the Union victory in the Battle of Nashville in December 1864, son Ethemer, age about 16 years, enlisted on Febraury 18, 1865, and also was assigned to Company "K". The regiment mustered out on September 15.

After the war, son Alex returned home, married, and settled near his parents and brother-in-law, Leroy Chapin, in Vernon Township.^{[Cen 1870]} Son Ethemer started his family by 1880 in Tuscola Township, Tuscola County, about 50 miles to the northeast of Vernon.^{[Cen 1880B]}

Daughter Sarah Jane (Van Wormer) Wilkinson married and moved to Mersea, Essex County, Ontario, Canada, where she died of consumption on March 16, 1872, at the young age of 26.^{[Dth 1872]}

Daughter Eliza married Hiram Keller on October 11, 1873, in Shiawassee County. Interestingly, the witnesses to her marriage were Andrew Van Wormer, son of Ezekiel, and his wife, who also lived in Vernon.^{[Mar 1873]} Eliza returned to her parents' home by 1880, but she was not marked as divorced or wiidowed.^{[Cen 1880A]} Eliza A. (Van Wormer) Keller died a few years later on July 5, 1884. She was reportedly the age of 28, but she was more likely 31. Eliza was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Vernon.^[Grave]

Sons Abel and Henry started farms and families nearby in Vernon Township by 1880; and daughter Frances was annotated as "idiotic."^{[Cen 1880A]} Frances was lated annotated as "deaf and dumb" and lived with her cousin Eugene J. Van Wormer (son of Andrew) in 1910 and 1920.^{[Cen 1910, 1920]}

Daniel Van Wormer died on October 23, 1889, at the age of 77 years. He was also buried in Greenwood Cemetery.^[Grave]

John W. VAN WORMER^Δ (~1818-1863)

1FF.John W. Van Wormer^Δ was born about 1817 or 1818 in Ohio, likely in Licking County, central Ohio, where his family had lived since 1810. He married Belina B. and had at least two children:

The Van Wormer family started in Florence, Williams County, in the northwest corner of Ohio by 1850.^{[Cen 1850]} From there they moved about 110 miles north to Shiawassee County, Michigan, where he and his younger brother Lucius both worked as farmers.^{[Cen 1860]} Brother Abram settled in Sciota Township to the north.

John enlisted as a private and joined Company H of the 3rd Regiment, Michigan Infantry. It is not yet clear if he died in the service but at the time of his death in May 1863, his regiment had fought at Chancellorsville, Virginia, on May 3, and then marched north and fought at the Peach Orchard during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2.

John W. Van Wormer died on May 28, 1863, at the age of 46 years. He was buried at Alton Cemetery in Bennington, Shiawassee County.^[Grave]

After John's death, Belina lived with son Bishop in Woodhull Township through 1880.^{[Cen 1870, 1880]} Enumerated nearby in 1870 was the Porter & Cordelia Van Wormer family and James & Ellen Van Wormer family .^{[Cen 1870]} (Porter is held to be a son of Hendrik Van Wormer, and therefore a cousin to John; James was Porter's son.)

Lorain VAN WORMER (1823->1854)

1FH.Lorain Van Wormer was born around 1823, likely in Licking County, central Ohio, where her family had lived since 1810. She was a fraternal twin with brother Abram. Uncorroborated research by another researcher says that she married James Davison on April 23, 1854, in Williams County, Ohio.

Abram VAN WORMER^Δ (1823-1896)

1FI.Abram Van Wormer^Δ was born around 1823, likely in Licking County, central Ohio, where his family had lived since 1810. He was a fraternal twin with sister Lorain. Abram married Loretta Hogel^{[Cen 1860]} and had as many as seven children:

The Van Wormer family setted in Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan, the township north of Woodhull Township where brothers John and Lucius settled.^{[Cen 1860]}

Loretta (Hogel) Wormer may have died during the 1860s; and by 1870 Abram was living with his younger sister Henrietta in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio.^{[Cen 1870A]} At the time, son John and daughter Rachel remained in Shiawassee County with their cousin Bishop Van Wormer, his family, and his widowed mother.^{[Cen 1870B]}

Abram later returned to Michigan and lived with son Jerry in Union Township, Branch County^{[Cen 1880]}, about 90 southwest of Sciota Township.

Abram Van Wormer reportedly died on January 19, 1896, in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan. He as about 74 years old.

Emily VAN WORMER (~1824->1863)

1FJ.Emily Van Wormer was born about 1824 in Ohio, perhaps in Licking County where her family had lived sin ce 1810. She married Nathaniel Van Order, reportedly on May 4, 1846, in La Porte County, Indiana. They had three sons before his early death:

The family started in Ohio with the birth of Americus, but by 1850 they settled in Wills Township, La Porte County, Indiana, where Nathaniel worked as a blacksmith.^{[Cen 1850]}

Nathaniel Van Order died sometime between 1856 and 1860, while in his mid-30s. Emily and her two younger sons have yet to be found in the 1860 census, but son Americus was living with the George & Malinda Tochard family in Otsego Township, Steuben County, Indiana.^{[Cen 1860]}

Emily remarried to Charles Olmsted on March 15, 1863, in Branch County, Michigan.^{[Mar 1863]} What became of them afterward is unclear. Sons Americus and Charles settled in Union City, Branch County; and son Henry moved to Fostoria, Seneca County, Ohio.

Lucius D. VAN WORMER^• (1824-1891)

1FK.Lucius "Durfy"/"Derfy" Van Wormer^• was born in May 1824, reportedly in Licking County, central Ohio, where his family had lived since 1810. He married Alice Loraine Preston(?) and had ten children, six of whom lived to 1900^{[Cen 1900]}:

The Van Wormer settled in Michigan as early as 1850 and was enumerated near Lucius' elder brother John in Woodhull, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Both worked as farmers.^{[Cen 1860]} Brother Abram settled in Sciota Township to the north.

7-year-old daughter Sophrona died in 1855 and was buried in Alton Cemetery, Bennington, Shiawassee County.^[Grave]

The Van Wormers moved 440 miles west to Madison Townhip, Jones County, Iowa, by 1870^{[Cen 1870]}; and by 1880 continued another 120 miles deeper into Iowa to Union Township, Hardin County. Daughter Alice and her young family lived with them in 1880.^{[Cen 1880]}

Lucius D. Van Wormer died on May 6, 1891, in Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa, and was buried ther in Graceland Cemetery. He was two weeks short of his 67th birthday.^[Grave]

After Lucius' death, Alice lived with daughter Belle and her family at 1423 Superior Street, Webster City^{[Cen 1900]}; and later moved in with daughter Bulina and her family in Wyoming, Jones County, Iowa.^{[Cen 1910]}

Alice Loraine (Preston) Van Wormer died on February 27, 1919, in Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa, at the age of 91 or 92. She was also buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City.^[Grave]

Henry (VAN WORMER) HAMMEL (1829-1884)

1FL.Henry Van Wormer was born March 25, 1829 in Ohio. He was a fraternal twin with sister Henrietta. He was married as many as three times and had as many as eleven children, eight by Margaret "Peggy" Stoy and three^{[Cen 1900]} by Laura Salisbury:

Henry reportedly first married Ann Napier on August 4, 1847, in Jackson County, Michigan, but nothing further has been found on that marriage. In 1850, Henry was still living with his parents in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio.^{[Cen 1850]}

Henry married Margaret Stoy, reportedly on April 6, 1856, in Defiance County, Ohio, and settled north of there in St. Joseph Township.^{[Cen 1860]} Around 1861 (between the births of Filena and Abram), the family moved about 60 miles north into Michigan, where Henry registered for the draft in 1863 in Sherwood, Branch County.^{[Draft 1863]} By 1870, they had moved about 10 miles northeast to Burlington Township in neighboring Calhoun County.^{[Cen 1870A]} Daughter Philena was also enumerated with her apparent maternal aunt, Mrs. Mary Ann (Stoy) Lochard/Lockhard, and her family in Coldwater, Branch County.^{[Cen 1870B]}

Margaret (Stoy) Van Wormer died around the time that she gave birth to son Lony. One uncorroborated source gives her death date as May 29, 1870, in Burlington Township, but son Loney's baptism in Branch County gives his birth as June 3, 1870.^{[Bap 1870]} Margaret was only 40 years old. She was enumerated in the 1870 census, which was taken two months after her death, but was recorded at the end of the family.^{[Cen 1870A]}

Henry remarried four years later to Laura Salisbury, reportedly on November 19, 1874, in Calhoun County.

Five years later, daughter Mary Eveline married Laura's younger brother Clark W. Salisbury on October 24, 1879, in Union City, Branch County, Michigan. Henry and Laura and Clark's mother, Mrs. Rosetta Salisbury, served as witnesses.^{[Mar 1879]} The two families were recorded together the following year in Burlington Township.^{[Cen 1880]}

Eldest daughter Sarah was institutionalized in the Calhoun County Poor House in Marengo Township because of epilepsy by the time she was in her early 20s.^{[Cen 1880]} She died there at the reported age of 43 on August 6, 1901.^{[Cen 1900, Dth 1901]} Her body was donated to science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Henry Van Wormer died of pneumonia on March 29, 1884, four days after his 55th birthday, in Hillsdale, Hillsdale County, Michigan. He had worked as a house mover.^{[Dth 1884]}

Laura remarried to Willard Hyatt on December 9, 1891, in Calhoun County^{[Mar 1891]} and they lived in Tekonsha Township, Calhoun County, where Willard farmed.^{[Cen 1900]}

Laura (Salisbury Van Wormer) Hyatt reportedly died of heart disease and Bright's disease at the age of 52 on June 2, 1902, in Union City, Branch County, Michigan. She was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Union City.^[Grave]

Henrietta (VAN WORMER) HAMMEL (1829-1915)

1FM.Henrietta Van Wormer was born March, 25, 1829 in Ohio. She was a fraternal twin with brother Henry. Henrietta married Russel Hammel, reportedly on August 28, 1853. They had two children^{[Cen 1900]}:

The Hammels settled in St. Joseph Township, Williams County, Ohio,^{[Cen 1860]} where her father died in 1856. In 1870 Henrietta's elder brother Abram, presumably widowed, lived with them and worked as a farm laborer.^{[Cen 1870]}

From 1880, the Hammels were enumerated in Florence Township to the north of St. Joseph Township, but it is not clear if they actually moved or merely lived closed to the township line.^{[Cen 1880]} By 1900, son Otis was named as the head of household on the farm in Florence Township and Henrietta and Russel lived his family. There Otis worked as a teamster.^{[Cen 1900]}

Russel Hammel died in 1904 at about the age of 86. He was buried in West Buffalo Cemetery near Blakeslee, Williams County, and the township line.^[Grave]

Henrietta (Van Wormer) Hammel died ten years after Russel at the age of 86, on November 12, 1915, in Reading, Hillsdale County, Michigan, where she had been living with Otis. Curiously, she was not enumerated with Otis in 1910.^{[Cen 1910]} Henrietta died of apoplexy (cerebral hemorrhage or stroke) after four days and her body was returned to Williams County, Ohio, and laid to rest with Russel in West Buffalo Cemetery.^{[Dth 1915, Grave]}