1908 CONNER REUNION

1. "Grandpa Conner."  William Bennett Conner.  25 October 1851 in VA - 28 January 1926 in McVeytown, PA.  Grandpa and Grandma Conner were married 16 March 1876 in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, VA.  They had thirteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood and were at this 1908 Conner Family Reunion.  
2. "Grandma Conner."  Sara Catherine Huffman Conner.  7 January 1857 in VA - 28 January 1926 in Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA.  Grandpa and Grandma Conner were married 16 March 1876 in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, VA.  They had thirteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood and all were at this 1908 Conner Family Reunion.  
3. Florence May Youtzy.  10 July 1902 in McVeytown, PA - 13 June 1977.  Florence was the daughter of Aunt Maggie and Uncle Clay Youtzy.  She married Carl Stanley Pannebaker.  They had one daughter.
4. Mary Catherine Youtzy.  15 Feb 1904 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA -- 1 March 2002 in Norristown, Montgomery County, PA.  Mary was the daughter of Aunt Maggie and Uncle Clay Youtzy.  She married Melvin Richard "Mooch" South.  Mary had one son and four daughters, including twins both who died in infancy.
5. Mary Elizabeth Conner.  29 October 1900 in Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA  -- 7 February 1969, McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA.  Mary was the daughter of Uncle Dave and Aunt Eve Conner.  She married Herbert Wilbur Grassmyer.  They had four sons and one daughter.
6. Gladys Bertha Conner.  14 October 1904, Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA -- 5 July 1989, Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA. Gladys was the daughter of Uncle Dave and Aunt Eve Conner.  She married Russell Dowain Henry.  They had two sons and two daughters.
7. "Uncle Ben."  Wilson Bennett Conner.  4 November 1898, in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA -- 19 February 1984 in Brevard County, FL.  He married Erma Viola "Peg" Lauver, and Estelle Emma Weber Offill (1976). Uncle Ben and Aunt Peg had one son. Uncle Ben was a photographer with the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Uncle Ben was the last of the 10 children to survive.
8. Helen Lorraine Conner.  9 November 1902  in Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA -- January 1982 in McClure, Snyder County, PA.  She was the daughter of Uncle Dave and Aunt Eve Conner.  She married Harry Landis Colabine, Sr.  They had one daughter and three sons.
9. Beatrice Evelyn Myers.  10 September 1903 in PA  -- 6 July 1997, Braddock, Allegheny County, PA.  Daughter of Aunt Bessie and Uncle Oscar.  Married to Russell Semmel and Herb Hensel (1963).  Evelyn had no children.
10. "Aunt Mabel."  Anna Mabel Conner.  24 February 1890 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 5 November 1966 in Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA.  Married Ralph Vernon Harris (1915).  They had two daughters.
11. Friend of Aunt Mabel's.
12. "Uncle Clay Youtzy."  Clay Warren Youtzy.  15 May 1876 in Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA -  15 September 1955 in PA.  Married Nora Magnus "Maggie" in 1897.  They had four children, two sons dying suddenly at ages 37 and 41.  
13. Howard J Youtzy.  (He's being held by Uncle Clay.)  14 March 1907 - 20 February 1945.  He was the son was Aunt Maggie and Uncle Clay.  Married Virginia M "Virgie" Hertzler.
14. Carl Russell Youtzy.  (In front.)  1899 - 7 September 1940.  He was the son of Aunt Maggie and Uncle Clay.  Married Esther Snow.
15. "Uncle Dave."  David William Conner.  25 April 1877 in Shenandoah County, VA - 5 November 1951 in PA.  Married Eve Elizabeth Mertz.  They had 13 children, twelve who lived to adulthood.  Daughter Doris will be 91 on 22 November!
16. "Aunt Maggie."  Nora Magnus Conner Youtzy.  6 September 1878 in Shenendoah County, VA - 7 November 1945 in PA.  She married Clay Warren Youtzy.  They had four children, two sons dying suddenly at very young ages.  Aunt Maggie was the first of the adult siblings to pass away.
17. "Aunt Eve."  Eve Elizabeth Mertz Conner.  16 October 1875 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 6 February 1945 in PA.  Aunt Eve married Uncle Dave (1896) and they had 13 children, four sons and 9 daughters all but one daughter living to adulthood.  Daughter Doris will be 91 on 22 November!
18. Lillian Gertrude Conner.  (Being held by Aunt Eve.) 25 July 1908 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 14 February 2002 in McVeytown.  Lillian was the daughter of Uncle Dave and Aunt Eve.  She married Joseph Albert Cavanaugh (1929). They had seven children, four sons and three daughters. 
19. "Aunt Bertha."  Bertha Susan Conner.  26 April 1886 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 2 July 1969 in McVeytown.  Aunt Bertha never married.  She was a school teacher.
20. "Aunt Bessie."  Amanda Elizabeth "Bessie" Conner Myers. 10 February 1883 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 30 August 1973 in PA.  Aunt Bessie married Oscar Raymond Myers and they had three children, two daughters and one son.
21. Sara Amanda Myers. 8 March 1908 in Altoona, Blair County, PA - 31 July 2006 in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County, PA. Sara never married.  She was a school teacher.
22. William Floyd Conner.  1 Nov 1896 in Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA - 28 April 1956 in McClure, Snyder County, PA.  Bill was the son of Uncle Dave and Aunt Eve.  Bill married Katharine Irene Bowers (1923) and they had 6 children.
23. "Uncle Oscar Myers." Oscar Raymond Myers. 18 August 1884 in PA - 19 February 1959 in PA.  Uncle Oscar married Aunt Bessie.  They had three children.
24. Kathryn Margaret Conner.  23 September 1898 in Oliver Township, Mifflin County, PA - 9 May 1988 in Lewistown, Mifflin County, PA.  She married Harry J Shehan (1922) and they had two daughters and two sons.  
25. "Aunt Laura."  Laura Grace Conner.  8 April 1892 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 23 April 1980 in Riverside, Riverside County, CA.  She married Harry Benjamin Purvis  (1917).  They had four daughters, only one of whom survived her.   
26. "Uncle Sam."  Samuel Floyd Conner.  24 June 1893 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 22 April 1960 in Allensville, PA. Uncle Sam married Blanche Charlotte King (1914) and they had five sons. Their son Donald is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and will be 93 on 1 October!  
27. My Dad, Walter Ross Conner. 19 February 1888 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA - 18 October 1955 in Portage, Columbia County, WI.  Married Bertha Jane Hancock (1921). Following her death in 1929 he married Arlene Noyes (1931).  He had two sons with Bertha Jane, and two daughters with Arlene.  Dad was a Methodist clergyman.  My sister Clarice and I--the two youngest of the 36--are still here!
28. "Aunt Gertie."  Gertrude Tellula Conner.  19 February 1885 in McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA -- 25 March 1974 in Melbourne, Brevard County, FL.  Married John Goodman (1942). She always said she waited so long (57 years old) to marry because she was "waiting for a good man!"   

First Generation
Second Generation, 13 children, 3 died in early childhood, 10 lived to adulthood.  All ten are in the picture above.
Third Generation, 36 children, 34 lived to adulthood.

The date February 19 seems to be very prevalent in the Conner Family! My Dad Ross was born February 19.  Aunt Gertie was born February 19.  Uncle Ben died February 19. Uncle Oscar died February 19.  My brother Walt and his wife Ruth were married February 19.  Walt and Ruth's grandson Nathan was born February 19.  Aunt Laura's daughter Nancy died February 19.  Others?

With many thanks to Cousin Sara Myers for identifying everyone in this picture, and to Cousin Isabelle Mowery for helping collect the data.

CHARLES S YENTSCH

CHARLES S YENTSCH
Sept 13, 1927 - Sept 19, 2012 

Charlie was honored as a leader and innovator.  Yet he will be remembered as a "beloved maverick" by those who knew him best.  Learning about the seasons, cycles, and ever-changing dynamics of the ocean was Charlie's life-long passion.  Creating a positive and equitable learning environment shipboard, in the laboratory, and at home was his commitment. Compassion was his hallmark.

Since childhood, Charlie was a student of the seas.  As a kid in Kentucky, he was fascinated with fossils of marine organisms in the limestone. As a California teenager, he studied waves from his post as a lifeguard and experienced waves as a surfer.  He set up a business to free-dive for and market abalone.  The diving triggered his fascination of sunlight interacting with water.  As an adult, he turned his father's and uncles' mechanical skills with trucks toward the measurement of light in the sea and the tiny marine organisms dependent on sunlight. He held a reverence for all life and found the simplest forms most compelling.  Always non-hierarchical in his belief of human potential, he put every person and every idea on a par to be tested.  He cherished skeptically-minded colleagues.

He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a fire-fighting instructor in San Diego (1944-1946).  The GI Bill and no job prospects encouraged his formal education at the University of Louisville (B.S. 1950), Florida State University in Tallahassee (M.S. 1953), and the University of Washington in Seattle.  Employment included the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (1956-1967); Nova University Oceanographic Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL (1967-1970); and the University of Massachusetts Marine Station, Gloucester (1970-1974).  In July of 1974, Charlie and wife Clarice founded the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor, ME.  Within a few years, this institution had become a world-class laboratory attracting innovative scientists from around the world, and today it is a leading employer in the State of Maine.

Charlie was regarded as one of the great pioneers of modern oceanography, and one of the first to conceive of and advise NASA on the potential of ocean color remote sensing. In 1985 he received a Ph.D. Honoris causa from Long Island University, Southampton, NY. The American Association of Limnology and Oceanography presented Charlie with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. In 2010, The Oceanographic Society bestowed the honor of the Nils Gunnar Jerlov Award and also named him a Fellow of The Oceanography Society.

Charlie had a deep sense of time, space, and place.  He enjoyed going to sea and world travel, with his family accompanying him when possible.  Yet he was most fond of being home, defined by a wood fire, kids and pets, "tea" time, humor, a well-prepared meal fresh from the sea, and then the evening topped off with a puff on a Partagas and a good read.

His descendants are three sons and two granddaughters.  Charlie was proud that each one of the five is now an astute naturalist.  Tim Yentsch lives in West Falmouth MA.  Colin Yentsch, wife Sara and daughters Ella and Sadie live in Boothbay Harbor, ME.  Carlton Yentsch with friend Sandy Barry live in Boothbay Harbor, ME.  Charlie's wife Clarice will continue to call Fort Lauderdale, FL home.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no public service.  Any gift may be sent to the Yentsch Scholarship Fund, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, ME 04544 or Hospice-by-the-Sea, 1200 East Las Olas Blvd., Suite 202, Fort Lauderdale, FL  33301.

If you are so inclined, the next time you set sail, see sunlight reflecting off the ocean, dance the swing, listen to Dixieland, or sing Spirituals - raise a toast to Charlie.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Thanks, Clarice for letting me share this!

To read more about Charlie--
     Google search finds over 42,000 hits!
     http://bangordailynews.com/2012/09/22/news/midcoast/renowned-maine-based-
             scientist-known-as-beloved-maverick-dies-at-age-85/

MYRON & SARAH JONES KENDALL

STATE OF MINNESOTA,
County of Brown

I hereby certify that on the twenty-second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one at my House in Eden in said county, I, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace did join in the holy bonds of matrimony, according to the laws of this State, Myron Kendall of the County of Brown and State of Minnesota and Sarah L. Johns of the County of Brown State of Minnesota in presence of

James Winter   }                                                                           Daniel Winter
                           Witnesses                                                         Justice of the Peace
Eliza I. Winter  }                                                                       in and for Brown County
                                                                                                         Minnesota
                                   

Clare's Great-Grandfather Myron Kendall was born in New York State, perhaps in Corinth, on  1 May 1848.  He was the first child of Lucas H(arvey?) Kendall and Cynthia Ann Hale Kendall.  Six years and three brothers and sisters later, the family moved to Eldorado Township in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.  The family grew by four more children.  In 1863, when Myron was 15 years old, his father died of pneumonia during the Civil War in Tennessee.  In 1869, his mother remarried to Joseph Strong.  In 1871,  Myron went to work on a farm in Eden, Brown County, Minnesota where he met Sarah Jones.

Clare's Great-Grandmother Sarah Louise Jones Kendall was born 19 September 1853, in Lind, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.  She was the 5th of 13 children born to Minor Jones and Martha Ann "Patty" Fox Kendall.  Three of the children died in infancy. In 1871, Sarah was visiting her older sister,   Coralyn Jones Jones (she married a Jones!), in Eden, Brown County, Minnesota when she met Myron Kendall.  She told that she was sitting up on a roof when he first saw her!

Following their marriage in Eden, Minnesota, Myron and Sarah returned to Eldorado in Wisconsin where their first child, Leslie Lucas, was born in 1873.  Shortly thereafter they moved to Lind, Waupaca County, Wisconsin where they had six more children:  Aubrey Earl in 1874, Walter Kent in 1876, Cora Georgina in 1880, Vernon Floyd in 1883, my husband Clare's grandfather Clare Myron in 1891, and Dorris Ethel in 1894.  Additionally, they took over the care of Esther Mary Horton in 1900, daughter of Sarah's sister Laura H. Jones Horton who died just 47 days after the birth of Esther Mary, her ninth child.

Myron and Sarah had 21 grandchildren though Myron did not live long enough to see many of them.   Likely, though not positively identified, these are the first two.  Left: Marjorie Claire Kendall (Vernon & Ruth Kendall), born 14 Aug 1908, right:  Keith Howard Pope (Cora and Nathaniel Pope) born 16 August 1909. Sadly, Keith succumbed on 17 September 1910, age 13 months.

Myron died of cancer in Winifred, Alberta, Canada on March 29, 1919, and is buried there.

Following the death of Myron, Sarah stayed in Alberta with her daughter Dorris for some time, but then returned to Lind, Wisconsin, where she lived with her brothers, George and Lyman Jones.  Later she lived with her son Clare Myron near Randolph, Columbia and Dodge Counties, Wisconsin until her death on 23 March 1930.  She is buried in Lind Cemetery, Lind, Waupaca County, Wisconsin.  

With many thanks to Betty Cannady, Kenneth Everett Kendall, Ernest L. Kendall,  and Roberta Kendall for their diligent researching of the Kendall family history. 

THE EALES LADIES

Back Row

Lucy Jeannette Eales (14 Sept 1867 -- 21 Oct 1930).  "Aunt Net" married George Washington Brown 13 Sept 1883, in Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  They had seven children--three daughters and four sons.  George was a saloon keeper in Whitewater, Walworth County, Wisconsin. They lived above the saloon. George died in 1923 at age 62.  Aunt Net or "Aunt Lucy" as she was known by many relatives, survived George by 7 years.  George was a brother to Charles who married Aunt Annie.

Anna Elizabeth Eales (7 Nov 1869 in Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin -- 4 Apr 1956 in Stoughton, Dane County, Wisconsin).  "Aunt Annie" married Charles Edward Brown 31 Mar 1886.  They had two sons, one who died at 3 months, the other at age 41.  Charles Edward Brown died of complications of diabetes at age 42 in 1906, Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  Charles was a brother to George who married Aunt Net.

Daisy Maud Eales (15 Feb 1876 in Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin -- 22 Feb 1956 in Brodhead, Green County, Wisconsin).   "Grandma" married William Henry "Will" Noyes 12 Feb 1896, in the parlor of her mother's home in Hebron.   They had one daughter, Martha Arlene Elizabeth Noyes (my mother), born 31 July 1905, in Hebron.  Grandma passed away at the home of Mom Arlene just 10 days after their 60th wedding anniversary, following a long illness.  Grandpa survived her, living to 95 years, passing away 29 Aug 1967, in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, at the Methodist Hospital.  

Front Row

Harriet A Eales (16 Nov 1859  -- 4 May 1956).  "Aunt Hattie" married Frank B Wilcox on 2 Nov 1878.  They had five children, three sons and two daughters.  Frank B passed away at age 37 on 7 Oct 1894,  just four days after the birth of Frank B Jr. on 3 October 1894. Aunt Hattie survived until age 96, surviving Frank Sr by 62 years!  My mother Arlene said that Aunt Hattie, who was 17 years older than her sister Daisy, attended her birth in 1905.

Betsy Elizabeth Cooper Stanhope Eales (27 Sep 1835 in Rochester, Jefferson County, New York -- 30 Aug 1899 in Hebron, Jefferson County, Wisconsin). At age 18, in 1853 in Wheatland, Monroe County, New York, she married Lafayette Stanhope and they had one son Julius Levi "Jude." They moved to Wisconsin.  When Uncle Jude was only 8 months old, Lafayette passed away.  The following year, Great-Grandma Eales married a widower, Joseph A Eales, 22 years her senior,  an immigrant from England, who had five children, the youngest who was only five years old.  They were married on 11 Apr 1856 in Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  Six years later they moved from Waukesha to Hebron, about 30 miles away.  Grandpa Eales died in 1892 at age 79.  Grandma Eales survived him by only 7 years, passing away at age 63, suffering from "catarrh of the stomach."

Carrie Sarah Eales (25 Nov 1861 -- 3 Mar 1952).  Aunt Carrie married Leonard J Hartman, an immigrant from Germany, on 30 Dec 1880.  They had four children, three sons and a daughter Bessie who was always close to my Mom Arlene though Bessie was 17 years older.  Leonard  died in 1917.  Aunt Carrie survived him by 35 years to age 90.   

This cabinet card was taken by the A. B. Rumsey's Art Studio, Bowers Block, Whitewater, Wisconsin, probably in about 1890?

Three of the five daughters passed away in 1956--from youngest to oldest.  Grandma Daisy on 22 Feb 1956 (age 80), Aunt Annie on 4 April 1956 (age 86), Aunt Hattie on 4 May 1956 (age 96).

In addition to the five daughters in this picture, Joseph and Betsy had the following children: George Alfred (28 Sept 1857 in Waukesha, Waukesha County, Wisconsin -- 31 Aug 1944 in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin);  Samuel (born 1865 and died in infancy); and Willie A (born in 1973 and died in infancy).

Grandma Daisy is wearing this silver "Demorest Prohibition Prize"pin in the picture above.

William Jennings Demorest (1822  - 1895) an ardent and wealthy prohibitionist, began his Medal Contest in May 1886.  He awarded silver, gold and diamond medals to young people around the world for essays about Prohibition.  Schools and Sunday Schools sponsored the recitation competitions to train students in public speaking, and instill in them the principles of temperance.  (It must have worked--I'm sure Grandma never had a "drop to drink!")

Demorest and his wife, Ellen Louise Curtis, led very interesting lives!  If you'd like to read more about them, start with the following sites and then Google his name for more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jennings_Demorest, http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.demorest/39.2/mb.ashx