Third Generation

21. William James ROOT (^) was born on 19 November 1824 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.^{3,19,35,49,50,55,69,149} (On 3 July 1992, William's great-grandson, Richard N. Root, wrote a letter to the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springfield in Springfield Center, Otsego County, NY. The text of the letter, now in the possession of Gary Griggs, is as follows:

"I am doing my family history. Through some old letters of my great-grandfather, he stated that he was born in Springfield, Otsego County, New York. He was born on November 19, 1824. His father was Josiah Root and his mother was Sarah Mallory Root. (Gary Griggs' note: He said that his great-grandfather's father was Josiah Root; his great-grandfather's father was actually Ira Root, and Josiah was his great-great-grandfather, Ira's father.)

My great-grandfather's name was William James Root. His brothers and sisters were Elliot M., Charles, Albert, Mary, and twins Olive and Olivia.

I'm trying to find out more about my great-great-grandparents. When they were born and where.

I found some information in the computers at the library that I am sending along. There was a Josiah Root baptized at First Baptist Church of Springfield, Springfield Center, Otsego, New York in 1808. No parents listed. (Gary Griggs' note: The information was in the LDS computer files, and it related to Josiah's joining the church on 15 Oct 1808.)

If you have any information in the church records that is available, I would be pleased if you could send it. If there is a fee, please let me know. I am enclosing a self-addressed stamped envelope for your reply. Yours truly, Richard N. Root."

The church historian, Janice Maine, told Gary Griggs that she sent a long letter in reply to Mr. Root in 1992, detailing the information that she could find about his great-grandfather and his parents and family.

At the time that he wrote the letter, Richard's address was: Gold Spike Village, 2212 Newcastle Gap Drive, Gold River, CA 95670. Gary Griggs attempted to contact Richard in August 2002, and could not locate him. He later found out that Richard had died in 1993. Gary eventually contacted one of Richard's younger brothers, Alan Harrison Root.)
He appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.⁴¹ He appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.^57,150,151 William appeared in the census in 1850 in Placerville, El Dorado County, CA.¹⁵⁰ His occupation was "Miner." He had apparently gone West as part of the Gold Rush. He must have been successful because the 1860 Census lists the value of his real estate as $2,500 and his personal estate as $1,500. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Scott Valley Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵² He was listed as "W. J.," age 34, Single, occupation "Farmer." Living in his household was Benjamin Robbins, age 38, born in PA, occupation "Brick Mason." He appeared in the census in 1870 in Scott Valley Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵³ He was listed as "W. J." and his occupation was "Machinist." In addition to his wife and their two oldest sons, his household consisted of Edward Starr, 13, born IN; Robert Starr, 10, born IN; and Anne Starr, 9, born IN. They may have been related to his wife. William appeared in the census in 1880 in Callahan Township, Siskiyou County, CA.^71,154 His occupation was listed as "Farmer." He listed his birth place as NY, his father's as CT (was actually NY), and his mother's as VT. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Etna Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵⁵ His occupation was "Farmer." Also living in his household were: Edward Starr, born Feb 1857, age 43, born in IN, occupation "Farmer," his Son-in-Law; Esther R. Heindman, born Sep 1886, age 13, born in CA, a granddaughter; and Annie S. Heindman, born May 1890, age 10, born CA, another granddaughter. The two granddaughters were apparently not daughters of Edward because the Census lists the birth place of their father as Missouri and their mother as Oregon. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Yreka, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵⁶ He was living with his son Charles and his family, but his wife was not listed with him. William died on 20 October 1915 at the age of 90 in Yreka, Siskiyou County, CA.^{79,149,157,158} Obituary Notes: "William J. Root, pioneer resident of Siskiyou county and the Sacramento Valley, died October 20th in Yreka at the home of his son, George E. Root, from the infirmities of his advanced age.

William J. Root was born November 19, 1824 in the town of Springfield, Otsego county, New York. At the age of seven, his parents moved west to Callevaugus (sic) county, New York. At the age of 17 he and his brother Elliott went to Illinois. Here, William taught school for three years. He then went to work in a machine shop, making reapers and mowers, he being the inventor of some parts of the mower of the present day.

In 1850, he crossed the plains on horse back and that fall he arrived at Hangtown, near Placerville. After mining for some time, he commenced building and operating threshing machines, the first ever built or operated in this state. He threshed grain on the ground now occupied by large business houses in Placerville.

A few years later, he and Charles Havenden operated and were partners in a pack train between the towns of Red Bluff and Yreka. In the fall of 1857 he returned east to Philadelphia by way of the Isthmus of Panama. The next spring returning to California, he bought a farm.

He was marred to Irene J. Starr on Christmas Eve, 1860. In the year 1870 he was elected assessor for two years. He then engaged in farming until 1900, when he retired and made his home with his son, G. E. Root, of Yreka, where he died October 20, 1915. He leaves a wife and five children.

The funeral was held at J. E. Turner's chapel, Friday, October 22 at 2 p.m. and the services were conducted by Rev. E. H. Mackay. The remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery."

He was buried in 1915 in Yreka, Siskiyou County, CA.⁷¹ in the Evergreen Cemetery.

William James ROOT (^) and Irene Jane "Nina" SEVERSON were married on 25 December 1860 in South Township, Siskiyou County, CA.^{35,79,113,149,155} The 1900 Census indicates that they had 9 children, of whom 7 were living at the time; 4 of them were from her first marriage.

The 1910 Census indicated that he had been married 50 years. Irene Jane "Nina" SEVERSON¹⁵⁹, daughter of Robert SEVERSON and Rebecca ALLEN, was born on 21 November 1837 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, IN.^79,113,155 She appeared in the census in 1870 in Scott Valley Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵³ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Etna Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵⁴ Nina appeared in the census in 1900 in Etna Township, Siskiyou County, CA.¹⁵⁵ She appeared in the census in 1920 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA.¹⁵⁷ She was a widow, age 80, and was living with her daughter Jessie and her family. Her son Albert also lived with them. She died on 18 December 1921 at the age of 84 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA.⁵¹ Nina was buried in Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA.¹⁴¹ in the Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum.

William James ROOT (^) and Irene Jane "Nina" SEVERSON had the following children: