Delores, You certainly are correct. There are many, many woops. We find the WPA Graves Registration Survey with so many omissions. In many instances one side of the gravestone was recorded but it was forgotten that there are 4 sides to many gravestones. The WPA Graves Registration Survey also appears, for some reason, to have skipped children in so many instances. The LDS reading of inscriptions nearly 40 years ago was completed with much more correctness, but then again, as you said, we are only human. Large monument inscriptions were again missed. Also, I imagine, because of the inscriptions being another 30 years weathered, the soft marble was a little more impossible to read. After viewing persons doing a wire brushing of the soft marble to clean the inscription, I imagine irreparable damage has accelerated/added to the process of weathering of many stones. Some use shaving cream to help read inscriptions, unknowing that the softening agents contained therein chemically loosen the binding agents of the stone, and the stone will crumble like salt when touched. I have received requests where the descendants knew a double inscription was on the gravestone because they had seen pictures of it. But, I used light reflection, flour, and wetting process to attempt to read it. It wasn't there. Picture wasn't either. In re-reading, the Van Buren County Genealogical Society does incorporate the information of the WPA Survey, and the 1960's reading into to our re-reads (listing entries even though no stone is found) as well as going to death records, obituaries and biography publications to complete our record and to include maiden names where found. I hope your finding of the missing inscription was not in one of the 40+ of our 114 Van Buren County Cemeteries that we have recently reprinted. If it was, I hope you have notified us of this. We are attempting to make the cemetery records as correct as possible, because, in many instances, it is all there is. It is such a slow process. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: <Draines22@aol.com> To: <IAVANBUR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2001 4:50 PM Subject: Re: [IAVANBUR] MENDENHALL > Not all cemetery listings are correct. I was in IA several years ago & did > some cemetery research. I found a cemetery index that listed my gg grf, but > couldn't find anything about his wife. My brother & I went out to the > cemetery to at least get a photo of his grave (I am from Oregon, so don't get > to IA) and found his wife was buried next to him. It must have been a woops. > We are only human and can make mistakes. I was just delighted to find her > as well. - Delores > > > ==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== > Share A Piece of Your Family's History With Yet-To-Be-Found Cousins > By Posting Your Obits - Bios - Wills - Bible - Pensions - Deed Records > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/

I want to thank everyone who responded to my inquiry about an official listing of the Bentonsport Cemetary. I live only about 50 miles from there and actually visited the area yesterday. The Keosaqua Library was extremely helpful and I gathered a lot of useful information on the MENDENHALL's I'm researching. But I was confused by the following: Mendenhalls buried in Van Buren County - Elizabeth at Bentonsport Isaac at Bentonsport Beady at Maple Hill in Birmingham The actual Bentonsport Cemetary listing in Section 1 Row 4 "Mendenhall, Elizbeth 11 Aug 1889 age 74y 27d w/o I Mendenhall" Maiden name Adkinson (I think the addition of maiden names to the listing is great!) So I went to the cemetary and found Elizabeth without Isaac. Therefore I was hoping that someone would have an official listing of who had been buried there so I would know for sure where Isaac is. Chris Rogers

Not all cemetery listings are correct. I was in IA several years ago & did some cemetery research. I found a cemetery index that listed my gg grf, but couldn't find anything about his wife. My brother & I went out to the cemetery to at least get a photo of his grave (I am from Oregon, so don't get to IA) and found his wife was buried next to him. It must have been a woops. We are only human and can make mistakes. I was just delighted to find her as well. - Delores

If you can get the email address for the Keosauqua library, they have cemetery records. ----- Original Message ----- From: "CRogers" <rogerca@intersigns.net> To: <IAVANBUR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 07, 2001 9:33 AM Subject: [IAVANBUR] MENDENHALL > Can anyone tell me where I might find the official records for the Bentonsport Cemetary. I'm looking for Isaac Mendenhall whose obit says he is buried there but I've been unable to locate his headstone. Thanks, Chris > > > ==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== > Visit the **NEW** Van Buren Co. IAGebWeb Message Boards > Queries - Obits - Bios - Wills - Bible - Pensions - Deeds > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/

Can anyone tell me where I might find the official records for the Bentonsport Cemetary. I'm looking for Isaac Mendenhall whose obit says he is buried there but I've been unable to locate his headstone. Thanks, Chris

The following message has been posted on the Van Buren Queries Board. To respond to this message, do not respond to this list, but rather click on the link below and respond directly to the message using the form provided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > MESSAGE: (#771) Looking for information on Van Buren County famili > <http://iagenweb.org/boards/vanburen/queries/index.cgi?rev=771> > AUTHOR: Vesta Smith > DATE: 10/2/2001 at 15:19:50 > > Surnames: WEIHER,SADDLER,STACKBARGER,NEAL,BROKAW,STANSBURY > >Am looking for any information on the following surnames; WEIHER, SADDLER, >STACKBARGER, NEAL, BROKAW, STANSBURY, WATTS, MCCLAIN, HARDESTY, WHITE, >CUMMINGS, BANK, please email me directly at ClasySasyMom@aol.com with any >help. Very many thanks for anything at all. They were all from Van Buren >County at one time or another, some are still there. > >Happy hunting :o) > >***************************************************************************

The following message has been posted on the Van Buren Queries Board. To respond to this message, do not respond to this list, but rather click on the link below and respond directly to the message using the form provided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > MESSAGE: (#697) Timothy Day 1803-1883 > <http://iagenweb.org/boards/vanburen/queries/index.cgi?rev=697> > AUTHOR: Sherri > DATE: 10/2/2001 at 07:40:06 > > Surnames: DAY,FOX,EDWARDS > >Timothy DAY died in Van Buren co., IA in 1883. His wife was Elizbeth(?) >EDWARDS. He was born in Clermont Co., OH. They were the parents of 7 >children. > >One son, Aaron DAY, married Anna FOX daughter of Charles FOX and Frances >GIBSON. The FOX family resided in both Jefferson Co. and Van Buren Co. in >their lifetimes. Charles and Frances were both born in Richmond, VA. Aaron >and >Anna were the parents of 7 children, also. > >Any information on these people would be greatly appreciated. > >Sherri

Listers, The GenWeb Site for Van Buren County is looking great. As always, I am interested in any Workman, Bauman or Morse, or anything at all about the communities of Mt. Zion and Birmingham. Lee Morse http://pages.prodigy.net/leemorse/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich Lowe" <richlowe@web-iowa.com> To: <IAVANBUR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 12:33 PM Subject: [IAVANBUR] Queries to New Boards Gatewayed Copies of Query posts to the new Van Buren Co. IAGenWeb **Query** Boards will automatically be also sent to this Mail List. People posting to the Query Board may not necessarily be subscribed to this list. Therefore, if you wish to reply to the person posting, you will need to do so on the Query Board itself. A direct link to the query is provided in the gatewayed message. Rich Lowe Van Buren Co. GenWeb >Good News! > >The new Van Buren Co. Message Boards are now on-line! > >Van Buren Co. was a "guinea pig" county during the development of these >boards. I've been involved with several key individuals from the IAGenWeb >state organization and with the programmer for the past 60 days or more >getting the boards to where they are to this point. Today, we are proudly >the first of the boards on-line. Other Iowa counties will be joining us soon. > >Many of you feel as I do, that it is important that the IAGenWeb project >have its own independent boards not affiliated with a for-profit genealogy >organization. As a result of the resent reorganization of the >GenConnect/Rootsweb/Ancestry/MyFamily boards, we not only lost some >important "user friendly" features, we as administrators lost some >important tools as well, such as the ability to correct errors in messages >and e-mail addresses and to backup the important data. We have restored >those features and added new ones. Local control is in our best interests. > >I would encourage you to explore the new boards and to enter your new >queries, obituaries, biographies and other documents. In addition, I would >be especially grateful if you would re-submit messages you may have >previously submitted to the old GenConnect Boards to the new IAGenWeb Boards. > >The Van Buren Co. GenWeb site is the first entry point for the majority of >those researching Van Buren Co. ancestors. It is to everyone's advantage >to post their information on the Van Buren Co. site in order to "connect" >with other researchers with common interests. > >Should you run into any "bugs" in the system that you feel should be >brought to someone's attention, please let me know. Questions are always >welcomed. > >And again, thanks in advance for your help in making these new Van Buren >Boards a valuable data base of genealogical information. > >You will find the new messages boards linked from our main Van Buren Co >web site. A more direct route is: > >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/IAGenWebBoards.html > >Rich Lowe > > >«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤» >Rich Lowe IAVanBuren@web-iowa.com >Van Buren Co. IA GenWeb Coordinator >http://iagenweb.org/vanburen/ >IAVANBUR-L Mail List >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/how-to-subscribe.html > > >==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== >Share A Piece of Your Family's History With Yet-To-Be-Found Cousins >By Posting Your Obits - Bios - Wills - Bible - Pensions - Deed Records >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/ ==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== Visit the **NEW** Van Buren Co. IAGebWeb Message Boards Queries - Obits - Bios - Wills - Bible - Pensions - Deeds http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/

Copies of Query posts to the new Van Buren Co. IAGenWeb **Query** Boards will automatically be also sent to this Mail List. People posting to the Query Board may not necessarily be subscribed to this list. Therefore, if you wish to reply to the person posting, you will need to do so on the Query Board itself. A direct link to the query is provided in the gatewayed message. Rich Lowe Van Buren Co. GenWeb >Good News! > >The new Van Buren Co. Message Boards are now on-line! > >Van Buren Co. was a "guinea pig" county during the development of these >boards. I've been involved with several key individuals from the IAGenWeb >state organization and with the programmer for the past 60 days or more >getting the boards to where they are to this point. Today, we are proudly >the first of the boards on-line. Other Iowa counties will be joining us soon. > >Many of you feel as I do, that it is important that the IAGenWeb project >have its own independent boards not affiliated with a for-profit genealogy >organization. As a result of the resent reorganization of the >GenConnect/Rootsweb/Ancestry/MyFamily boards, we not only lost some >important "user friendly" features, we as administrators lost some >important tools as well, such as the ability to correct errors in messages >and e-mail addresses and to backup the important data. We have restored >those features and added new ones. Local control is in our best interests. > >I would encourage you to explore the new boards and to enter your new >queries, obituaries, biographies and other documents. In addition, I would >be especially grateful if you would re-submit messages you may have >previously submitted to the old GenConnect Boards to the new IAGenWeb Boards. > >The Van Buren Co. GenWeb site is the first entry point for the majority of >those researching Van Buren Co. ancestors. It is to everyone's advantage >to post their information on the Van Buren Co. site in order to "connect" >with other researchers with common interests. > >Should you run into any "bugs" in the system that you feel should be >brought to someone's attention, please let me know. Questions are always >welcomed. > >And again, thanks in advance for your help in making these new Van Buren >Boards a valuable data base of genealogical information. > >You will find the new messages boards linked from our main Van Buren Co >web site. A more direct route is: > >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/IAGenWebBoards.html > >Rich Lowe > > >«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤» >Rich Lowe IAVanBuren@web-iowa.com >Van Buren Co. IA GenWeb Coordinator >http://iagenweb.org/vanburen/ >IAVANBUR-L Mail List >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/how-to-subscribe.html > > >==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== >Share A Piece of Your Family's History With Yet-To-Be-Found Cousins >By Posting Your Obits - Bios - Wills - Bible - Pensions - Deed Records >http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/

The following message has been posted on the Van Buren Queries Board. To respond to this message, do not respond to this list, but rather click on the link below and respond directly to the message using the form provided. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * MESSAGE: (#393) Elam Phillips, cooper - 1856-1880 <http://iagenweb.org/boards/vanburen/queries/index.cgi?rev=393> AUTHOR: Lea Achey DATE: 10/1/2001 at 10:42:13 Surnames: PHILLIPS FOX Seeking ANY info concerning Elam S. Phillips, cooper. Listed with family in 1856 STATE census, at Farmington. Born 1819, Bennington, VT - died Sept 1879, Putnam Co., MO.- mortality schedule indicates he's only been there two weeks. Last Two children were Lydia, b. 1860 and Hiram, b. 1869. State census only lists initials for the others. ANY information concerning this family, gratefully accepted!! *************************************************************************** If you wish to respond to this message, please post your response directly to the board. Thank you!

Good News! The new Van Buren Co. Message Boards are now on-line! Van Buren Co. was a "guinea pig" county during the development of these boards. I've been involved with several key individuals from the IAGenWeb state organization and with the programmer for the past 60 days or more getting the boards to where they are to this point. Today, we are proudly the first of the boards on-line. Other Iowa counties will be joining us soon. Many of you feel as I do, that it is important that the IAGenWeb project have its own independent boards not affiliated with a for-profit genealogy organization. As a result of the resent reorganization of the GenConnect/Rootsweb/Ancestry/MyFamily boards, we not only lost some important "user friendly" features, we as administrators lost some important tools as well, such as the ability to correct errors in messages and e-mail addresses and to backup the important data. We have restored those features and added new ones. Local control is in our best interests. I would encourage you to explore the new boards and to enter your new queries, obituaries, biographies and other documents. In addition, I would be especially grateful if you would re-submit messages you may have previously submitted to the old GenConnect Boards to the new IAGenWeb Boards. The Van Buren Co. GenWeb site is the first entry point for the majority of those researching Van Buren Co. ancestors. It is to everyone's advantage to post their information on the Van Buren Co. site in order to "connect" with other researchers with common interests. Should you run into any "bugs" in the system that you feel should be brought to someone's attention, please let me know. Questions are always welcomed. And again, thanks in advance for your help in making these new Van Buren Boards a valuable data base of genealogical information. You will find the new messages boards linked from our main Van Buren Co web site. A more direct route is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/IAGenWebBoards.html Rich Lowe «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤» Rich Lowe IAVanBuren@web-iowa.com Van Buren Co. IA GenWeb Coordinator http://iagenweb.org/vanburen/ IAVANBUR-L Mail List http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/how-to-subscribe.html

Hi The names that I am researching are NEWPORT AND HANEY One set of my GGrandparents are: Ruth Ann Haney who married Francis M. Newport in Keosaquua in 1873. They had 3 children, Minnie Bell (my Grandmother) who married Charles W. Baxter in Fort Madison, LeRoy Allen who moved to Spokane, WA and died there, and John E. Don't know anything about him. Ruth Ann was married first to a George Wicks/Wix in 1853 in Clark Co. MO. Hope someone knows of these parts of my family. Corinna in Seattle

Hi Rich - and Van Buren County list.... My connection to Van Buren County is my great grandmother, who was born in Farmington, Mar 1860. Her name was Lydia Ann Phillips. She was the daughter of Elam S. Phillips and Eliza Jane Fox. Lydia married Daniel B. Adams down in Schuyler Co., MO; 21 Aug 1876. They are both buried in Putnam Co. (Worthington) MO The information I'm looking for concerns her parents. Elam was a cooper by trade. I find him on the 1856 state census for Van Buren County, but no where else until he shows up on the 1880 mortality schedule for Putnam Co., MO. He'd apparently lived there - probably with Lydia and Dan - for about 2 weeks before his death - September 1879. Can anyone tell me anything else about this man?? I find that at times his name is spelled Elan or Elen instead of Elam. He was a veteran of the Civil War - serving from Iowa, mustered out at Keokuk. Any help will be most appreciated!! I was born in Novelty, MO - grew up in central WY, and have lived in NORTH Idaho for the past 42 - almost 43 years. We are 35 miles east of Spokane, WA and 99 miles south of the Canadian border!! Lea

----- Original Message ----- From: "Hazel E Murray" <hazelm7@juno.com> To: <IAVANBUR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2001 8:35 PM Subject: [IAVANBUR] James Crandall > Hi, > > I just joined the list. > > I am looking for information on the James Crandall family of Chequest, > Van Buren, IA. James was married to Jemima Brown 10/22/1861 in Van > Buren. In the 1870 census it lists their family as Joesph age 7, Nora > age 5, Netie age 3. I would love it if someone has the 1880 census and > could tell me the other children born after 1870. My great grandfather > John F. Crandall was one of them, he was born March 1877. > > Also, if anyone has information on the death of James. He was born > around 1834 in MO. and it is most likely that he died in Van Buren > county. He was a farmer. > > I appreciate any help that can be given. > > Hazel > ________________________________________________________________ > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. > > > ==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== > To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the IAVANBUR List > http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/how-to-subscribe.html >

>I am looking for information on the James Crandall family of Chequest, >Van Buren, IA. James was married to Jemima Brown 10/22/1861 in Van >Buren. In the 1870 census it lists their family as Joesph age 7, Nora >age 5, Netie age 3. I would love it if someone has the 1880 census and >could tell me the other children born after 1870. My great grandfather >John F. Crandall was one of them, he was born March 1877. > >Also, if anyone has information on the death of James. He was born >around 1834 in MO. and it is most likely that he died in Van Buren >county. He was a farmer. Your James Crandall was actually in Lee Co., which borders Van Buren Co, in 1880. Here is what it shows: Census Place: Des Moines Twp, Lee, Iowa Source: FHL Film 1254350 National Archives Film T9-0350 Page 233A Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace James CRANDEL Self M M W 45 MO Occ: Farmer Fa: NY Mo: PA Jeminia CRANDEL Wife F M W 35 OH Occ: Keeping House Fa: OH Mo: PA Joseph B. CRANDEL Son M S W 16 IA Occ: At Home Fa: MO Mo: OH Nora E. CRANDEL Dau F S W 15 IA Occ: At School Fa: MO Mo: OH Nettie M. CRANDEL Dau F S W 13 IA Occ: At School Fa: MO Mo: OH James F. CRANDEL Son M S W 2 IA If this comes through too jumbled, let me know and I'll get it to you another way. Rich

Hi, I just joined the list. I am looking for information on the James Crandall family of Chequest, Van Buren, IA. James was married to Jemima Brown 10/22/1861 in Van Buren. In the 1870 census it lists their family as Joesph age 7, Nora age 5, Netie age 3. I would love it if someone has the 1880 census and could tell me the other children born after 1870. My great grandfather John F. Crandall was one of them, he was born March 1877. Also, if anyone has information on the death of James. He was born around 1834 in MO. and it is most likely that he died in Van Buren county. He was a farmer. I appreciate any help that can be given. Hazel ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

Rich: Thank you for the offer to introduce myself. My name is Steve Hissem and I am currently living in San Diego, CA, but I trace my ancestory to Van Buren County, and more specifically to Milton. I am aware of a Hissem cemetary in the county, was told by my Dad of a Hissem school and read somewhere about a Hissem school district. I visited Milton many years ago and was introduced to a number of old men who claimed they remembered my Dad and the family. Hi Steve, My family is from Van Buren County too...though none of them are related to you sorry to say. The amusing thing is my husband and I live in San Diego also, after I grew up in Muscatine which is right below Davenport Iowa. I am looking for info on {John and <Matilda?> Squires (early 1800s)}, and {Thomas Lewis Williams (1845 - 1921)} who married Mary Christine Hootman. Can anyone help me with these people? Welcome to the list Steve Teri Needham

Steve Don't know whether this will be of any help or not: In my search for my Lee family I found the following family who may or may not be related to my Lees. Lee John b ca 1810 Maryland Eleanor b ca 1824 Virginia [This is Eleanor Hissom/Hissem] Possible children are: John M Lee ca 1858 Ohio Elizabeth J ca 1860 Ohio Francis M Ca 1863 Ohio Laura ca 1866 Iowa According to another researcher, this John Lee was in Meigs Co Ohio. His first wife died, but they had a daughter Julia Ann Lee b 1832 Meigs Co Ohio m Simon M Pickens[also in Chequest Twp]. Looks like they were in Van Buren Co by 1866. Eleanor Hissom/Hissem was John Lee's 2nd wife. There is an anecdote that two of his sons died in the Ohio River on their journey to Iowa. It is not known if this is true or which sons it was. I suspect Eleanor is relation to your line. This is just about all I know of them. Hope it is of some help. Marian Cox In a message dated 9/4/01 9:30:44 PM Central Daylight Time, shissem@san.rr.com writes: > Abner married Caroline, born in 1832, while living for a time in Meigs > County, Ohio. Aner had a daughter by a previous marriage, Serrena J., who > appears to have married Floyd Nicklin on 6 Oct 1877 in Van Buren County. > Abner and Caroline's children, as of 1878, were Martha J., born in 1861 in > Ohio and Arthur W., born in 1866 in Iowa. > >

What an excellent introduction to our list members on your Van Buren Co. ancestors! Hopefully, among our 128 subscribers, one or more will be able to find a connection with your lines. Anyone? Rich At 07:28 PM 9/4/01 -0700, you wrote: >Thank you for the offer to introduce myself. > >My name is Steve Hissem and I am currently living in San Diego, CA, but I >trace my ancestory to Van Buren County, and more specifically to Milton. I >am aware of a Hissem cemetary in the county, was told by my Dad of a Hissem >school and read somewhere about a Hissem school district. I visited Milton >many years ago and was introduced to a number of old men who claimed they >remembered my Dad and the family. > >My father, Darrell Dean, was born in Milton and raised on the family farm >there. He attended the local high school, although he left after the 11th >grade. His parents were Leo Worth Hissem and Lena May Six Hissem. Leo was >a WWI veteran (of the Rainbow Division perhaps?) and suffered all the rest >of his life from injuries received in the war, dying in 1945. I never knew >him. I believe he is buried in the Sunnyside cemetary. I am aware of a >cousin named Royale. > >Lena May was the daughter of George Six. They were both born in Illinois, >subsequently moving to Van Buren County. Lena was living with my folks in >Tempe, AZ, when she died in 1976. > >My Dad's siblings included Alice (children Marlena, Carla, Shawn, Leora and >Zena), his twin brother Garrel Gene (children Susan and Linda), and Loisell >Herbert (child Keating Lin Hissem). All three are now deceased. Garrel is >buried at the Rock Island military cemetary. Both he and Loiselle died of >cancer when I was a very young boy. > >My father left Van Buren county upon joining the Army Air Corps in WWII and >spent the next 20-some years of his life moving around the country in the >USAF, finally settling in Tempe, AZ, where he continues to reside with my >Mother, Jeanne Katherine Offerman Hissem, of Davenport. > >My grandfather, Leo, was born in 1891, in Milton. His father may have been >named Homer. In my researches I have found two Hissems (sometimes spelled >Hissom, Hisson, or Hissone), perhaps brothers, who settled in Chequest >Township in the mid-1800's. Thomas Hissem, born in 1828 in Virginia, came >first, according to the 1860 census. Abner Hissem, born in 1830 in Tyler >County, West Virginia (the same area as the pre-Civil War Virgiia of >Thomas?), came in the mid-1860's, according to the 1870 census. There is >also biographical information on both of them dating from 1878. > >Thomas married Arvila J., born in 1840. Their children, as of 1878, were >Jessie Thomas, born 30 Aug 1866 (or 1867) and Susan E., born 1868. Jessie >married, I think, Theoria "Alice" Morrow, born 4 Sep 1870 (my aunt Alice may >have been named for her). He died 13 Oct 1954 and is buried in Leando >Cemetery, Douds, Iowa. > >Abner married Caroline, born in 1832, while living for a time in Meigs >County, Ohio. Aner had a daughter by a previous marriage, Serrena J., who >appears to have married Floyd Nicklin on 6 Oct 1877 in Van Buren County. >Abner and Caroline's children, as of 1878, were Martha J., born in 1861 in >Ohio and Arthur W., born in 1866 in Iowa. > >I want to think that my great-grandfather was a son of one of these two men, >but if his name really is Homer, he would have been born after 1878, which >makes the date of birth of my grandfather difficult. To resolve this issue >I need access to the 1900 census to learn if my grandfather Leo was really >born in the county and who his father was. > >Abner and Thomas are frequent first-names amongst all the historical >Hissem's I have located. Most of the Hissem surnames are found in the Tyler >County, WV area. Researchers there trace the name from there through >Pennsylvannia to New Jersey and as far back as the early 1700's. Three >Hissems were in the Revolutionary War, two appearing on prison ship lists. >It appears that the spelling of the name changed frequently and, at least >once, two brothers spelled their names variously Hissem and Heysham. >Heysham, pronounced "Hee-sham" and at one time spelled Hessam, is also a >village in Lancashire County, England, on the countries' western coast. I >have at least one reference, from circa 1200, referring to a leading citizen >as Brian de Hessam, though that may mean nothing more than "of that >village." > >I've also heard the name referred to as German (perhaps as a variation on >Heismann) and as Dutch. A Martin Luther Hissem, born in the 1860's, a >steamboat captain on the Ohio, appears to have had a grandfather, also >called Martin, who may have taken ship from Holland. > >For added color, there is also a WWII hero in the extended family. The Navy >destroyer USS HISSEM (DE-400) is named for Ensign John Metcalf Hissem who >was killed in the Battle of Midway while flying as a navigator in a torpedo >bomber. > >My interest in geneology is mainly internet-focused - I am truly amazed how >much information is out there and how much fun it is locating it. That task >is eased by the relative rarity of my name. But also, as I go older, and >have sons of my own, I feel I owe them a knowledge of where they came from. > >Thank you again for your time and for any assistance you may be able to >provide, > >Steve > > > > > >==== IAVANBUR Mailing List ==== >- Van Buren Co. Obituraries Database - >Be Sure to Leave One Behind .. for Every One You Find >http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/VanBurenObits

Rich: Thank you for the offer to introduce myself. My name is Steve Hissem and I am currently living in San Diego, CA, but I trace my ancestory to Van Buren County, and more specifically to Milton. I am aware of a Hissem cemetary in the county, was told by my Dad of a Hissem school and read somewhere about a Hissem school district. I visited Milton many years ago and was introduced to a number of old men who claimed they remembered my Dad and the family. My father, Darrell Dean, was born in Milton and raised on the family farm there. He attended the local high school, although he left after the 11th grade. His parents were Leo Worth Hissem and Lena May Six Hissem. Leo was a WWI veteran (of the Rainbow Division perhaps?) and suffered all the rest of his life from injuries received in the war, dying in 1945. I never knew him. I believe he is buried in the Sunnyside cemetary. I am aware of a cousin named Royale. Lena May was the daughter of George Six. They were both born in Illinois, subsequently moving to Van Buren County. Lena was living with my folks in Tempe, AZ, when she died in 1976. My Dad's siblings included Alice (children Marlena, Carla, Shawn, Leora and Zena), his twin brother Garrel Gene (children Susan and Linda), and Loisell Herbert (child Keating Lin Hissem). All three are now deceased. Garrel is buried at the Rock Island military cemetary. Both he and Loiselle died of cancer when I was a very young boy. My father left Van Buren county upon joining the Army Air Corps in WWII and spent the next 20-some years of his life moving around the country in the USAF, finally settling in Tempe, AZ, where he continues to reside with my Mother, Jeanne Katherine Offerman Hissem, of Davenport. My grandfather, Leo, was born in 1891, in Milton. His father may have been named Homer. In my researches I have found two Hissems (sometimes spelled Hissom, Hisson, or Hissone), perhaps brothers, who settled in Chequest Township in the mid-1800's. Thomas Hissem, born in 1828 in Virginia, came first, according to the 1860 census. Abner Hissem, born in 1830 in Tyler County, West Virginia (the same area as the pre-Civil War Virgiia of Thomas?), came in the mid-1860's, according to the 1870 census. There is also biographical information on both of them dating from 1878. Thomas married Arvila J., born in 1840. Their children, as of 1878, were Jessie Thomas, born 30 Aug 1866 (or 1867) and Susan E., born 1868. Jessie married, I think, Theoria "Alice" Morrow, born 4 Sep 1870 (my aunt Alice may have been named for her). He died 13 Oct 1954 and is buried in Leando Cemetery, Douds, Iowa. Abner married Caroline, born in 1832, while living for a time in Meigs County, Ohio. Aner had a daughter by a previous marriage, Serrena J., who appears to have married Floyd Nicklin on 6 Oct 1877 in Van Buren County. Abner and Caroline's children, as of 1878, were Martha J., born in 1861 in Ohio and Arthur W., born in 1866 in Iowa. I want to think that my great-grandfather was a son of one of these two men, but if his name really is Homer, he would have been born after 1878, which makes the date of birth of my grandfather difficult. To resolve this issue I need access to the 1900 census to learn if my grandfather Leo was really born in the county and who his father was. Abner and Thomas are frequent first-names amongst all the historical Hissem's I have located. Most of the Hissem surnames are found in the Tyler County, WV area. Researchers there trace the name from there through Pennsylvannia to New Jersey and as far back as the early 1700's. Three Hissems were in the Revolutionary War, two appearing on prison ship lists. It appears that the spelling of the name changed frequently and, at least once, two brothers spelled their names variously Hissem and Heysham. Heysham, pronounced "Hee-sham" and at one time spelled Hessam, is also a village in Lancashire County, England, on the countries' western coast. I have at least one reference, from circa 1200, referring to a leading citizen as Brian de Hessam, though that may mean nothing more than "of that village." I've also heard the name referred to as German (perhaps as a variation on Heismann) and as Dutch. A Martin Luther Hissem, born in the 1860's, a steamboat captain on the Ohio, appears to have had a grandfather, also called Martin, who may have taken ship from Holland. For added color, there is also a WWII hero in the extended family. The Navy destroyer USS HISSEM (DE-400) is named for Ensign John Metcalf Hissem who was killed in the Battle of Midway while flying as a navigator in a torpedo bomber. My interest in geneology is mainly internet-focused - I am truly amazed how much information is out there and how much fun it is locating it. That task is eased by the relative rarity of my name. But also, as I go older, and have sons of my own, I feel I owe them a knowledge of where they came from. Thank you again for your time and for any assistance you may be able to provide, Steve