Schuyler C. Lake born 1875 in New York

Who were the parents of New York-born Schuyler Lake? In 1902 he married Bertha Albach in Michigan but neither of his parents were listed on their marriage record; nor were they named on his death certificate in 1922.  Could he be a descendant of Ulster County, NY Schuyler Lake 1810-1880? Harmon, the youngest son of the elder Schuyler and his wife Caroline Morse did move to Michigan but vanished without leaving many records.

Harmon Lake was born in Ulster County, NY in April 1855. About 1874 he married Lydia Barber who was born in Delaware County, NY in 1856; no marriage record has been found for them. Based on later records, it appears that their daughter Ella Jane was born in New York about 1875 and younger daughter Bertha was born in Michigan in 1878. Could Schuyler have been their son? None of the family members have yet been found in the 1880 census.

It is assumed that Harmon died prior to Lydia’s 1881 Wisconsin marriage to Albert Ledger.  In the 1900 census Lydia reported 5 living children, presumed to be: Ella and Bertha Lake, Edward 1882 + Inez 1894 Ledger …. Who was the 5^th?  Could it have been Schuyler Lake?

Lydia died shortly after the 1900 census, Ella had married in 1894 and was living in Wisconsin with her husband Clark Easter, Bertha had married John Grebel in 1895. Schuyler has not yet been found in the 1900 census.

In 1897 civil war veteran Reuben Lake, older brother of Harmon, died in Ulster County, NY leaving his wife Sarah Ann and minor children in a destitute state. Her widow’s pension application stated that they were living in a log cabin outside of town on land owned by the Michigan descendants of Reuben’s deceased brother Harmon.  That was the first (and vague) indication that Harmon had relocated there and was deceased by that time.

Civil War: 150th Anniversary

Today, the anniversary of the end of the Civil War,  makes me reflect on the many, many ancestors who fought in this conflict and the wives and children who were left to fend for themselves ... some for a lifetime if their soldier didn't return.

I have documented about 75 family members (some less directly related than others) who fought ... on both sides !  Some of my RI Watson groups and NY Comfort groups had splits within the family with some of the males moving south and fighting for the Confederacy. I can't really imagine how the family would feel with brothers and cousins pitted against one another.

All of my direct ancestors were in the north and those who fought were Union supporters. Today I am especially remembering 3rd great grandfather Charles Mansfield and two of my great great grandfathers, James McDole and Reuben Lake. All three were from Ulster County, New York. Charles died of disease in Louisiana at age 49 survived by his wife and 6 children (2 of whom joined his unit, Co D NY 156th). James McDole, a native of northern Ireland who immigrated in 1846, left his wife and 4 children. Luckily he returned unharmed, had 5 more children and lived to be 70. Reuben Lake joined as did his younger brother Francis. Reuben was shot in the neck and shoulder in South Carolina and was somewhat disabled for the rest of his life. However, he married Sarah Ann Mansfield (daughter of Charles) and produced a clan of 12 ! When he died in 1897 Sarah was left to raise her 7 minor children on a paltry widow's pension. Her pension files list her only asset as one milk cow.

I am trying to pass along some of this information to the next generation so they will have a better understanding of history as they learn about this in school ... I wish I'd had been told of the "Human" side of the war back when it seemed to be just a list of dates and places.