Sixth Generation

i.

She appeared in the census in 1820 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1830 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. Olivia appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. She was living with her parents.
She appeared in the census in 1850 in New Buffalo, Sauk, Wisconsin, United States. She lived in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI in 1860. Olivia lived in Adrian Township, Monroe County, WI in 1870. She died on 14 September 1875 at the age of 59 in Monroe County, WI. She was buried in 1875 in Jacksonville, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Mount Vernon Cemetery.

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ii.

iii.

(This picture shows the distribution of the Root name across the U.S. in 1880.) She appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY.
She died on 24 June 1914 at the age of 93 in Minburn, Dallas County,IA. Mary was buried in Adel, Dallas County, IA. in the Oakdale Cemetery.

iv.

(She was not living with Elliott in the 1910 Census, but that year's census for Sodus, Wayne County, NY contains a listing for a Harriet Knapp, age 87, born in New York, whose parents were also born in New York, who was living with her daughter Harriet, age 55; her husband, Daniel P. Bates, age 57; and their daughter, Alice K., age 16. Harriet is not known to have had a daughter named Harriet, but that may have been her.) She died on 10 April 1916 at the age of 93 in Warrens, Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI. After the death of her husband in 1898 in New York, she moved to Monroe County, WI to be near her brothers Thomas and Ephraim.

(She may have died in 1906 in Upper Township, Cape May County, NJ.) She has Ancestral File Number 93FR-NPD.

v.

vi.

"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. He appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. William appeared in the census in 1850 in Placerville, El Dorado County, CA. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. in the Evergreen Cemetery.

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viii.

(The 1855 New York State Census lists her birthplace as Otsego County, but the Puzzilla.org lists her birth place as Forestville, Chautauqua County, NY.) She appeared in the census in 1830 in Springfield Township, Otsego County, NY. She appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. Amanda appeared in the census in 1850 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. She was listed as "Manley."
She appeared in the census in 1855 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. She was living with her parents.

ix.

x.

(Jay Root's research on Puzzilla.org and a page in the Root Family Bible list his birth date as 29 Oct 1833; his gravestone marker lists it as 29 Oct 1834.) He appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. (He cannot be located in the 1860 Census. He may have been in the Pike's Peak area of Colorado.) Ephraim appeared in the census in 1855 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Farmer." After 1861 he was a farmer in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI. in Pleasant Valley.

"An early settler, the Ephriam Roots, from New York, purchased the E1/2 of SW1/2 of Sec 1 from Mr. Bell, who had acquired the original grant from President Buchanan in 1856. Mr. Root lived in a tent until he was able to get permanent buildings built.

His wife was the former Ann Parker. This couple adopted two children, William Root and Ella Root (Mrs. Ira Hatch). She was a sister of Harry Saulisbury. This farm was purchased by Otis Purdy in 1912 and sold to Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Purdy in 1952." He appeared in the census in 1870 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI. His household consisted of Ephraim; his wife, Anna; and 5-year-old William, an adopted son. His occupation was "Farmer." Ephraim appeared in the census in 1880 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI. His household consisted of himself and his wife, Ann, and his occupation was "Farmer."

A picture of his home is contained in the 1976 Pictorial History of Monroe County. His home was located in Pleasant Valley, which was described as being located "up over the divide to the east of Purdy Valley" in "another fertile valley in Greenfield Township. All waters on the east side of this divide flow into the Wisconsin River and the waters west of the divide flow into the La Crosse River."

Tomah Journal articles dated 13 October 1905 and 17 November 1905 mention his trip to California. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI. His occupation was "Farmer, General Farm." Ephraim died on 12 January 1912 at the age of 77 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. Article in the History of Monroe County: "Ephraim G. Root, who, after a residence in Monroe County of fifty-five years, died on January 12, 1912, was born in the state of New York in 1834. He came to Wisconsin, locating in Monroe county in 1857, and was among the earliest settlers; he has lived here almost continuously since that time.

During the gold excitement in 1859, he was one of a party from this vicinity to make the trip to Pike's Peak, and subsequently returning to Monroe County, he was married to Miss Ann Parker, daughter of John and Judith (Hicks) Parker, and immediately settled on the farm in Pleasant Valley, Greenfield township, where they resided until his death.

He is survived by his wife and two adopted children, William H. Root and Mrs. Ella Hatch, all of whom reside at Tomah; and one sister who lives in Iowa; and two brothers in California. When Mr. Root came to Greenfield township, the country was a wild state, with few settlers, and the privations and hardships experienced were many; but, like most of the hardy pioneers, he overcame all obstacles and prospered in the end.

When he first located on his farm, he lived in a tent until his buildings could be erected; he cleared eighty acres, where he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming. He stood high in the esteem of his neighbors, was energetic and progressive, a kind neighbor and a good citizen, interested in the affairs of his community, and was a man of genuine worth." He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

xi.

It is possible that Charles was the subject of an article in the Tomah Journal in July, 1885: "Mr. Charles Root, from New York, arrived in Tomah Tuesday and is visiting his brother J. R. Root and other relatives. It has been 20 years since Mr. Root was here and he finds but little that is ... to/in the appearance of the country."

It is not known who "J. R." Root would have been. Charles A. Root's only brothers in the Tomah area in 1885 were Thomas Arthur, William and Ephraim O. Root. The article may have been about the Charles that was the brother of Ira R. Root, Thomas Arthur's father.
He appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. He appeared in the census in 1850 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. Charles appeared in the census in 1855 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1860 in Cattaraugus County, NY. He and wife, Armetta, and daughter Alice were living with his parents. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. Charles appeared in the census in 1875 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. He and his family lived three households from his parents and his occupation was "Farmer." He appeared in the census in 1880 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.
He died on 7 June 1908 at the age of 71 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. Charles was buried in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY. in the North Otto Cemetery.