Tenth Generation

60. Louisa BEEBE (*)^30,31 was born on 13 January 1809 in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, MA.^{2,12,13,14,20,24,26,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39} (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.¹³ She appeared in the census in 1820 in Chesterfield Township, Hampshire County, MA.¹⁴ Louisa appeared in the census in 1840 in Byron Township, Genesee County, NY.⁴⁰ She appeared in the census in 1850 in Oakfield Township, Fond du Lac County, WI.²⁶ 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.³² 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.⁴¹ She appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³ She died in 1894 at the age of 85.^10,36 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.³⁶ in the Byron Cemetery (this must be confirmed because the Byron Cemetery records do not contain a record of her burial).

Louisa BEEBE (*) and William Johns FERRIES were married on 12 February 1859 in Monroe County, WI.^12,24,37,42 The Monroe County Registration of Marriages (Book 4) contains the following hand-written entry, which is a copy of the original document: "I hereby certify that I joined in the bonds of Matrimony on the 12th day of February A.D. 1859 William J. Ferris and Louisa Peoples, both of Monroe County, State of Wisconsin. Fredrick Walrath, Minister of the Gospel." William Johns FERRIES, son of Anthony FERRIS and Margery Lyne JOHNS, was born on 29 May 1808 in Mawnan, Cornwall County, England.^{7,12,32,33,41,43,44,45,46,47} (His birthdate may have been 9 April 1808.)

(His birth place is listed as Massachusetts in the 1860 Census; that was an error.) (His surname was listed as "Farris" in the 1855 Census and as "Ferris" in 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.)

Biographical Sketch: "Mr. Ferries, a native of Cornwall, England, came to the United States when a youth of about eighteen years of age. In early life he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and engaged in locomotive building in the early days of that enterprise. Soon after coming to America, Mr. Ferries located at Lowell, Massachusetts, where he worked his trade, and where he was married to Margaret Evans, a native of South Wales, but who was brought to the United States when but six years of age.

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Ferries removed to Philadelphia, and was engaged in work at his trade in the construction of the Phoenixville and Black Rock tunnels, two of the most important railroad tunnels in Pennsylvania. After completing his work in that State, he returned with his family to Lowell, but a short time later removed to Worcester, Massachusetts, where they continued to reside a number of years.

The mother having an interest in an estate in Wales, they decided to re-cross the ocean, pending the settlement of the estate. They remained a year at Cornwall, the old home of the father, and then returned to Worcester, but a short time afterward emigrated to Wisconsin, about the year 1845. They settled at Paris Corners, about twelve miles from what was then Southport, near Kenosha, where the father engaged in farming and blacksmithing.

In the fall of 1854, he came to Monroe County, and entered land in Wilton Township, where he settled with his family April 23, 1855. In about 1866, Mr. Ferries sold his farm and moved to Tomah, where he died in September, 1888 (sic, 1887); the mother died in 1856. The father was married a second time, and his widow now resided at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

William Ferries brought with him considerable money to Monroe County, being in better financial condition that the average pioneer. He was a man of great energy and industry, and an upright and respected citizen. He was the father of three children by his first wife, William H., the oldest; Elizabeth. widow of Edwin Harlan, of Norwalk, is the next in order of birth; Francis, the second son, is a resident of Wilton."

. He was baptized on 29 May 1808 in Mawgan-in-Meneage, Cornwall County, England.⁴⁸ He emigrated in 1826 from Cornwall County, England.^43,44,46 to Massachusetts. About 1830 William was a blacksmith and locomotive builder in Lowell, Middlesex County, MA.⁴⁶ He appeared in the census in 1850 in Paris Township, Kenosha County, WI.⁴⁹ His household consisted of William, age 46, born in England; Margaret, 49, born in South Wales; William, age 16, born in PA; Elizabeth, 13, born in PA; and Francis, 11, born in PA. The occupations of William Sr. and Jr. were listed as "Blacksmith." His "Value of real estate owned" was $1,000.

. He appeared in the census in 1855 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^44,45,46 He is listed in the 1855 Census as "William Farris" with a family consisting of 3 males (himself and two sons) and 2 females (his wife and daughter), with 2 "foreign"--probably meaning that William and his wife were born overseas. He was the first settler of Wilton, WI.

. About 1860 William was a hotel owner in Ridgeville Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴³ where he owned the first hotel in Ridgeville. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.³² His household consisted of William J., age 52; his second wife, "Lovisa," age 51; his son Francis, age 20; Francis' wife, Huldah, age 21; and their children, Samuel, age 3; W.H., age 8/12; and a boy, John Ferris, age 10, born in Pennsylvania; it is not known who John was. (His surname was listed as "Ferris.")

. He appeared in the census in 1870 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴¹ His occupation was listed as "farmer.")

. William appeared in the census in 1880 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³³ His surname was spelled "Ferris" and his occupation was listed as "Blacksmith." His household consisted of himself and his wife, "Louisa."

. He died on 13 August 1887 at the age of 79 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^18,43,44,50

Obituary Notes: "Died at his home in Tomah, Monroe County, Wis., Saturday August 13, 1887, William J. Ferries, aged 79 years.

Father Ferries was born in Cornwall, England and came to the United States in his eighteenth year. He moved to Wisconsin in the year 1841, and in 1854 became one of the first settlers of the town of Wilton, Monroe County. He first settled in what is known as the dividing ridge between the La Crosse, Kickapoo and Lemonweir valleys. The forest soon melted away before his untiring energy and he succeeded in opening up a valuable farm. But poor health and the infirmities of age compelled him, at last, to retire from the busy affairs of life. He sold his farm and in the year 1865 moved to Tomah, where he has since lived, honored and respected by all.

In the year 1860 he was married to his present wife, who now mourns his loss with a large circle of relatives and friends. He leaves three children, viz., Wm. H. and Francis Ferries, of the town of Wilton, and Mrs. Elizabeth Harland of Norwalk.

The funeral was held at one o'clock Sunday afternoon from the M. E. Church, Rev. W. R. DeLap conducting the service. The burial took place at the Tomah Cemetery."

. He was buried on 14 August 1887 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵¹ in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

.

Louisa BEEBE (*) and Colonel Russell WATROUS (*) were married on 25 March 1833 in Le Roy, Genesee County, NY.^12,24,30,52 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."

Colonel Russell WATROUS (*), son of John Whipple WATROUS and Desire ROGERS, was born on 14 February 1807 in Wallingford, New Haven County, CT.^{12,38,39,53,54,55,56} (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.¹⁸ He appeared in the census in 1820 in New London, New London County, CT.¹⁸ Russell was after 1830 in Le Roy, Genesee County, NY.⁵⁷ 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.^12,24 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.⁴⁰ 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 1846.⁵⁷ He owned 40 acres on 1 August 1849 in Fond du Lac County, WI.²⁵ 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.^12,52,54,57 Russell has Ancestral File Number KZJS-8PT.

Louisa BEEBE (*) and Colonel Russell WATROUS (*) had the following children:

Louisa BEEBE (*) and George PEOPLES were married on 27 February 1851 in Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Township, Fond du Lac County, WI.^24,35 (Family records list their marriage date as 27 February 1851, but the Vital Records, Marriages, for Fond du Lac County list the date as 28 February 1851. It is not known how long they were married and why the marriage ended.

(There were two Peoples households listed in the 1870 Census for Oakdale Township, but George was not listed with either family.) George PEOPLES was born about 1797 in Pennsylvania.⁵⁹ He appeared in the census in 1850 in Le Roy Township, Dodge County, WI.⁵⁹ He and his daughters Eliza, 20, and Mary, 9, and son Washington, 14, were living in the household of John and Amanda Ayres. Amanda may have been his daughter. His occupation was "Farmer." He was listed as Married, but no wife was listed.