71st Generation


-1598029814. Colonel Russell WATROUS (*) was born on 14 February 1807 in Wallingford, New Haven County, CT. (This is a map of Byron Township, Genesee County, NY, where he and his family lived in 1840.)

One LDS Family Search website lists his birth place as "Of Byron, Genesee County, NY." The FamilySearch Person Tools website lists it as "Wallingford, New Haven County, CT." It is believed to have been the latter, but it must be confirmed.

The 1880 and 1910 Census' for his daughter Laura Estella listed it as Massachusetts. The 1900 and 1910 Census' for his daughter Martha Jane listed it as Connecticut. Because Genesee County was the location of his marriage and the birthplace of his children, it is possible that NY may have been his birth place, but it may also have been CT.

The 1800 Census of Derby, New Haven County, CT, contains the household of "Isaac Watrous" with the following: 2 males under 10 years; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 26-44; 2 females 16-25; and 1 female 26 thru 44.

The 1810 Census of Cheshire, New Haven, CT, contains the household of "Casander Watrous" with the following: 5 males under 10 (Russell was 7 at the time); 1 male 45 and over; 1 female under 10; 1 female 10 thru 15; and 1 female 26 thru 44.

The 1820 Census of Perry Township, Genesee County, NY, contains the household of "Lysander Waters" with the following: 2 males under 10 years; 2 males, 10-16 years (Russell was 13); 1 male, 16-18; 3 males, 16-26; 1 male, 45 and above; 1 female, under 10 years; 1 female 10-16; and 1 female, 45 and above. The same family--listed as "Casandir Watrous"--is contained in the 1830 Census of Perry Township with: 2 males, 15-20; 1 male, 50-60; 1 female, 10-15; and 1 female, age 50-60.

If he was born in CT, his parents may have been Russell Watrous and Lydia Webb, married 5/28/1808, Saybrook, Middlesex, CT. Must also determine whether this Russell Watrous relates to the Benjamin Waterhouse family tree (in the Gary Griggs RootsMagic database). He appeared in the census in 1810 in Colchester, New London County, CT. He appeared in the census in 1820 in New London, New London County, CT. Russell was after 1830 in Le Roy, Genesee County, NY. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After 1830 he was a carpenter, joiner and cabinet maker in Le Roy, Genesee County, NY. He may have met his wife, Lovisa, through her brother, Abner, who was also a carpenter and joiner. He appeared in the census in 1840 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. A household listed in the 1840 Census in Byron Township, Genessee County, NY, fits his family member's ages and is believed to have been his. The head of household was listed as "Russell Waters" and his household consisted on 1 male, age 20-30 (Russell, 33); 2 females, age under 5 (Isabel, 1, and Mary Jane, 3); 1 female, age 5-10 (Martha Jane, 6); and 1 female, age 20-30 (Louisa, 31).

They moved to Oakfield, WI in 1846. Russell lived in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI after 1846. He owned 40 acres on 1 August 1849 in Fond du Lac County, WI. His property was described as "the Northeast quarter of the Northwest quarter of Section twenty five, in Township fourteen, of Range sixteen, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Green Bay, Wisconsin." He died on 9 November 1849 at the age of 42 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Russell has Ancestral File Number KZJS-8PT. Louisa BEEBE (*) and Colonel Russell WATROUS (*) were married on 25 March 1833 in Le Roy, Genesee County, NY. Ruth Johnson's research notes that, after Lovisa's husband died, "She was widowed with five daughters. She placed each of the girls except the baby in a different home as a housegirl in a well-to-do home. She worked as a cook and took the baby to work with her. Several of the girls married sons in the families where they were placed."

-1598029813. Louisa BEEBE (*) was born on 13 January 1809 in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, MA. (Alan Henry's research lists her birth date as 18 Jan 1808; her gravestone lists her birth year as 1810. The 1900 Census for her daughter Martha Jane listed her birth place as Connecticut, but the 1910 listed it as Massachusetts.)

Her given name was listed as "Louisa" in the 1859 record of her marriage to William Ferries, in the 1860 and 1880 Census' records, and in the Vital Records, Marriages for her marriage to George Peoples. However, in the Thwing genealogical history book, it is listed as "Lovisa," which is possible because a daughter of her sister Isabel had the middle name of Lovisa.

This is a picture of her daughters. They are believed to be: back row--Juliette and Mary Jane; front row--Laura Estella, Isabelle Maria and Martha Jane. She appeared in the census in 1810 in West Springfield Township, Hampshire County, MA. She appeared in the census in 1820 in Chesterfield Township, Hampshire County, MA. Louisa appeared in the census in 1840 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Her name was listed as "Louisa Walters" and she was a widow. Her daughters Martha and Mary Jane were living with her brother Abner and his family, and it is not known where her daughter Laura was living. Juliette was living in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, with the family of Elija D. Warner, and Isabelle was living with the Austin and Sophrina Graves in Byron Township.

Abner's household also included "Larys A. Walters," a male, age 4, that was listed with Louisa's children. That was probably Louisa's son, Lemuel. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI. She was listed in the household of her third husband, William J. "Ferris," as well as was William's son Francis and his family. Louisa appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. She died in 1894 at the age of 85. She may have died in 1895 while living with her youngest daughter, Stella, in Fond du Lac County. She is reportedly buried there. Louisa was buried in 1894 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. in the Byron Cemetery (this must be confirmed because the Byron Cemetery records do not contain a record of her burial).

Children were:

19

i.

Martha Jane WATROUS (*).

ii.

Mary Jane WATROUS was born on 26 August 1836 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1840 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Mary appeared in the census in 1860 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Her household consisted of Mary Jane and her children William, Minnie and Frank. Mary appeared in the census in 1900 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She was a widow, and the census indicated that she had 4 children, of whom 2 were still living. Living with her was a 15-year-old grandson, but his name is not legible. She lived in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, WI on 1 June 1905. She lived in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, WI in 1912. Mary died on 17 February 1929 at the age of 92 in East Hampton, Middlesex County, CT. (She was still living in November 1909. This picture was taken of her at a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of her sister Martha Jane in Tomah.)

iii.

Isabel Maria WATROUS was born on 4 January 1839 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. (Her given name is sometimes spelled "Isabelle," but she spelled it "Isabel" in 1879 in the autograph book of her niece, Carrie Griswold.)

(This is a picture of her, her husband, and their children.)

. She appeared in the census in 1840 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She was living in the household of Austin and Sophrina Graves, relationship unknown. It is assumed that the reason that she was not living with her mother was because her father had died and her mother had to send some of the children to live with other families.

. Isabel appeared in the census in 1860 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1870 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI.

On October 19, 1879, she wrote in the autograph book of her niece, Carrie Griswold, "Remember me when this you see, and I will do the same by thee."

. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Isabel appeared in the census in 1900 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1910 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. Her household consisted of herself and her daughter, Elsie, age 21. The census indicated that she had 7 children, of whom 6 were still living. In the 1900 Census, it listed Elsie as a granddaughter, so Isabelle may have adopted her after Elsie's mother died. She died on 8 June 1912 at the age of 73 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. (She died of tuberculosis of her stomach and lungs.)

Obituary Notes: "Daily Commonwealth, June 10, 1912. Isabel M. Phelps Dies At Oakfield; Came to Fond du Lac County at Age of Seven (sic) Years.

Isabel M. Phelps, widow of Nathaniel Phelps and a pioneer resident of Fond du Lac county, died at her home in Oakfield at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, after an illness of several months. Isabel Maria Watrous was born in the town of Byron, Genessee county, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1839. In 1846, when she was seven years of age, the family came to Wisconsin residing in the town of Byron, in the vicinity of Genessee. She was married in 1855 to Nathaniel Phelps, whose death occurred ten years ago.

The greater part of their life, with the exception of four years which were passed in Fond du Lac, was spent on their farm in Byron, until they went to Oakfield to reside about fifteen years ago. Both became members of the Wesleyan Methodist church during their early married life, to which faith they remained constant until the end.

Six children remain to survive their loss. Four daughters, Mrs. C.B. Culver, Mrs. Geo. H. Taylor, Mrs. E.W. McKnight, and Elsie, two sons, Elmer and Fred, all of Oakfield. Four sisters, Mrs. Martha Griswold, of Tomah, Wis., Mrs. Mary J. Allen, Oshkosh, Mrs. Juliette Crofoot, Rhinelander, and Mrs. Estella Abbey, Fond du Lac. One daughter, Mrs. Cora Olds, passed away three years ago.

The funeral will be held Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock at the residence and at 11 o'clock at the M.E. church, Rev. Sabin Halsey officiating, with interment at Avoca cemetery."
Isabel was buried on 11 June 1912 in Fond du Lac County, WI. in the Avoca Cemetery. (The spelling of her given name may have been "Isabelle.")

iv.

Juliette Arabelle WATROUS was born on 7 June 1843 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY. (Her given name may have been "Julia.") (She was not listed with her mother and siblings in the 1850 or 1860 Census.)

. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Byron Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She was listed as "Juliet Watters," age 6, born in NY, and she was living with the family of Elijah D. Warner, whose wife, Laura, was her grandaunt. It is assumed that the reason that she was not living with her mother was because her father had died and her mother had to send some of the children to live with other families.

. She appeared in the census in 1860 in Fond du Lac Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She was a "Domestic" in the household of Chauncey and Sarah Griswold. Chauncey was her first cousin, once removed. Juliette appeared in the census in 1870 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1880 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Township, Fond du Lac County, WI. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Rhinelander, Oneida County, WI. She was living with her son Charles and his family. Juliette died on 21 November 1924 at the age of 81 in Rhinelander, Oneida County, WI. (She may have died in 1921.)

-799014907

v.

Laura Estella "Stella" WATROUS.

vi.

Lemuel A. WATROUS was born in 1846 in New York. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI.