Third Generation

17. Thomas Arthur ROOT (*)^116,117 was born on 22 August 1818 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^3,49,50,55 He appeared in the census in 1820 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴⁵ He appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴¹ Thomas appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.⁵⁷ He was living with his parents. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.¹¹⁸ His household consisted of Thomas, age 34 (that was an error; he was 32), born NY; Harriet, age 30 (an error; she was 34), born NY; Jason, age 5, born PA; Ira, age 3, born PA; and Jane, age 1, born PA. His occupation was listed as "Farmer."

The household also included Clark Eighing, age 51, born NY, and Hannah Eighing, age 42, born VT; it is not known who they were. He lived at their family farm in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA before 1854.¹¹⁹ Thomas lived at their family home in Baraboo, Washington Township, Sauk County, WI between 1854 and 1856.¹¹⁹ He lived in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI between 1856 and 1860.^119,120 It is not known if he lived in the village of Jacksonville, or in a farm outside of town in Adrian or Tomah township. Between 1860 and 1864 he was a farmer in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^119,121 He and his family lived on a 120-acre farm in the southwest corner of Section 20. When he died in 1864, the farm was taken over by his son Ira.

He drove a team of oxen during the summer and then he taught Spencerian penmanship in the Ridgeville school during the winter.

He was one of the earliest settlers of Adrian Township. Thomas appeared in the census in July 1860 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² His household consisted of Thomas, age 41, farmer, born NY; Harriet, age 42, born NY; Jason B., age 15, farm laborer, born PA; Ira J., age 13, born PA; Jane C., age 11, born PA; and Orill, age 9, born PA. His occupation was "Farmer." He served in the military between March 1864 and October 1864 in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge County, LA.^{119,123,124,125} He enlisted on March 31, 1864 at Tomah, WI, in Co. I, 4th Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry to serve in the Civil War for a period of three years. He joined because he wanted to be with his son Jason, who had been drafted.

While stationed in Baton Rouge, LA, he contracted typhoid fever. He was taken to a hospital, and later given a furlough to come home to Wisconsin. On September 27, 1864 he returned to his home, and he died there on October 12.

His enlistment papers describe him as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with light complexion, black hair and black eyes. At the time of his enlistment, he was listed as a farmer. (Gary Griggs has a copy of his enlistment papers, as well as copies of letters between him and his family members in May and June 1864.) He died on 12 October 1864 at the age of 46 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{1,3,50,99,119,126} Thomas was buried in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^3,99,124,127 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. His gravestone contains the following inscription:

"His battles are over, his life work is done.
He was ordered up higher, his victories won.
His name stands forever on fame's shining rolls.
He died for his flag and he sleeps in its folds.
Rest, loved and brave soldier, thy trials all past.
Sleep peacefully under the daisies at last."

Thomas Arthur ROOT (*) and Harriett KNAPP (*) were married on 25 December 1842 in Forestville, Hanover Township, Chautauqua County, NY.^{1,3,119,128,129,130} They moved from Pennsylvania to Jacksonville (on the southwestern edge of Tomah), WI in 1854.

Marita Root gave to Gary Griggs a copy of the following handwritten letter written by Thomas to his wife Harriet and his daughter Orril, who were visiting his parents (in Otto, Cattaraugus County, NY) and/or her parents (in Hanover, Chautauqua County, NY) and other relatives in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The Aram that Thomas refers to may be Harriet's brother, who lived next to their parents at the time of the 1840 Census; Orson may be another brother. The letter was written about a year before Thomas died:

"Tomah, Nov. 22, 1863

Beloved Wife. We were all made very happy last night by receiving a letter from you after looking anxiously for three or four days. It at last got along and by it we learn you got safely through and we fondly hope are having a good visit with your friends who I am glad to hear are all well. As to ourselves at home, rest assured we are well and getting along first rate. I hope you and Orrill are well by this time after getting rested of your ride on the cars. I killed my pigs last Tuesday and Jane and I have got the lard tried and work done up long ago. Just say to Father my pigs at 6 1/2 months old weighed 223, 209, and 204 lbs. which I think will do. We are having fine weather. Got done husking corn, all plowed above the road, turnips pulled, etc, etc.

You say it cost $20 to get through but did not tell us how much you paid for carrying Orrill. Now I want you to use what you want if it takes all you have and I will send you enough to get home when you want to come. I am a little disappointed in Ephraim not having more with him, but that is all right. I do want you to see Alonzos before you come back. If you stay longer than the rest and come alone, can't you coax William to take his team and carry you out there and then take the cars home or to Michigan and stop and see Aram and Orson as you come along. One thing, try to give yourself no uneasiness about so long as you are well yourselves and take time and make them all a visit if possible. You should have money enough to carry you around all right. I wrote to Alonzo last week and you may hear from him soon. If not, go to see him by all means.

I must say a word about the draft here which you can tell Ephraim as a matter of news when you see him. Among the drafted are L. Boughton, Fred Kunkle, Wm. Wright, Nelson Stacy, Webster Kenyon, Henry Stewart, Con. Merrill, F. Whitcomb, Moll, Carter, Flora, Mallory, 2 Bigalows, Bartle on the ridge and a host of others that I know. A good deal of excitement about raising the 300 dollars to get exempt. Jane has got some bread to mix. Thinks she will not write this time. Please remember us all to your friends, Father in particular. Go and see my folks if you can. Give my respects with my best wishes to all. I shall not, as you say, send any money this time, but shall wait to hear from you again, but do not be afraid of using what you have. Write on receipt of this and rest assured though, Mother is missed at home by none more than by her loving husband.

T. A. Root"

At the end of the letter is a note from Thomas' son Ira to Ira's brother Jason and sister Orril, who were traveling with their mother. That note is included under Ira's profile.

(Thomas' sister Orril married Harriet's brother William Knapp.) Harriett KNAPP (*)^116,117, daughter of James B. KNAPP and Clarinda PULLING, was born on 10 January 1816 in Nashville, Hanover Township, Chautauqua County, NY.^{3,55,119,131,132,133,134,135} (The Koehler research lists her birthplace as Springboro, Crawford County, PA. Another source lists it as Nashville, Niagara County, NY.) She appeared in the census in 1820 in Gorham Township, Ontario County, NY.¹³³ She appeared in the census in 1830 in Hanover Township, Chautauqua County, NY.¹³¹ Harriett appeared in the census in 1840 in Hanover Township, Chautauqua County, NY.¹³² She was living with her parents. She appeared in the census in 1850 in Springboro, Spring Township, Crawford County, PA.¹¹⁸ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² Harriett appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^136,137 Her household consisted of herself, her son Ira and her daughter Orril. (She may have been living with her son Jason during the 1875 Wisconsin census.) She died on 11 March 1879 at the age of 63 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{3,99,119,126,128,138,139,140} at the home of her daughter, Mrs. (Orril) Jennings, of heart disease.

Obituary Notes: "At the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Jennings, near Tomah, Tuesday morning, Mch. 11th, '79, Mrs. Harriet Root, aged 63 yrs.

The deceased came to this State from Pennsylvania, in company with her husband and children, in 1854. Ten years later her husband, a soldier in the late war, died while at home on a furlough, since which time she has remained with her children. Converted many years ago, and joining the M. E. Church, she has made her cheerful, practical religion, result in great comfort and good to her own life and the lives of others.

A large number of relatives and other friends attended the funeral service at the Church on Wednesday, and joined in procession to the Jacksonville Cemetery, where her body was placed beside her husband. Of her own family, four children remain to mourn her loss: J. B. Root, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Dewey, and I. J. Root." She was buried on 12 March 1879 in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,127 in the Mount Vernon Cemetery. Her gravestone contains the following inscription:

"She stepped within the golden gate
Close to her Saviour's side,
While we, bereft, but watch and wait
Below, since mother died."

Thomas Arthur ROOT (*) and Harriett KNAPP (*) had the following children: