The Fay Family: Levi and Joseph Fay

THE FAY FAMILY PAGE

GENEALOGIES

Joseph and Martha Fay
And their Descendants

Contributors and Sources

Tracking any line usually involves the efforts and interests of many people, and this line is a perfect example of that. The most recent inquiry came from Wilma Lohide whose interest centers around the Houze group. My knowledge of this line began with Margaret Pincock, who first contributed the early material for the line, and pointed to Joseph and Martha as the heads of the line; she also was trying to trace them back to the next generation. So far as I know, no one has yet succeeded in doing that. Others who have contributed to our knowledge of this line include Linda Cunnningham, Sidney Coulombe Arp, Larry Patrick Cornwell, Maureen Lee, William Waller and Nancy Jaros. In turn, I have studied the census documents and added where I could. Perhaps eventually someone will discover the link from Joseph and Martha back to New England. That it does exist, I am pretty sure; I just don't know where.

The sources include not only the specific family information held by all the contributors, but also the published census records, the marriage records of Indiana, and civil war pension files, among other things.

The Search for Joseph

Joseph Fay, of unknown parentage, was born in Pennsylvania. Our evidence is the census of 1880, where both Levi and Matilda say that their father and mother were born in PA. There is a Joseph in the 1820 census in Greenwood, Perry, PA, but it is not proven that this is the one we want. But it is clear that Joseph and Martha and all of their children were born in Pennsylvania.

Between 1824 (the birth of Levi) and 1830 (when the census shows him in Switzerland County), Joseph moved to Indiana, and we can follow him from then on. Since the 1830 census is not differentiated by township and there is just one list for the whole country, arranged more or less alphabetically, it is not known exactly where he was. Joseph died before 1840, and in 1840 Martha, Daniel and some of the other children, are living in Posey. The family goes back and forth between Posey and Pleasant from then on. In the map below, you can see Posey on the east and Pleasant on the west of Switzerland County.

Switzerland County, Indiana, in 1876, by A. T. Andreas

image copyright � by Cartography Associates
used with permission

The census records for 1830 are interesting, but do not add a lot to our knowledge. The number of children corresponds to what we know; but the age categories are a bit off, it seems. One other thing shows up in the census of 1830: they have with them a much older woman (70-80). Is this Joseph's mother?

In 1850, some of the family are living in Posey, others are found in Pleasant, and the Mellens have moved to Ohio County, just north of Switzerland. They returned later to Switzerland.

Joseph and Martha had 8 children for whom we have names.

Matilda

James

Catherine

Mary

Sarah

Harriet

Daniel

Levi

2 Matilda Fay b: 4/26/1811 d: 1894 ...+William Longberry Lee b: 6/23/1812 d: 8/2/1873 m: 8/2/1830 .....3 Joseph Lee b: 11/12/1834 d: 5/17/1917 ...... +Lovina Bassett m: 8/6/1853 ..........4 Melville Lee b: 12/20/1854 d: 8/7/1867 ..........4 Matilda Lee b: 1856 ..........4 Rebecca J. Lee b: 1857 ..........4 William Lee b: 1859 .....3 Josiah Lee b: 11/12/1834 ...... +Alvira Fredenburgh b: 1836 m: 5/24/1857 d: 12/9/1893 ..........4 John Lee b: 1862 ..........4 Ellen Lee b: 4/2/1864 d: 1941 ........... +Martin V. Turner m: 1881 .....3 Charles L. Lee b: 2/21/1839 d: 2/12/1909 ...... +Mary Matilda Cunningham b: 1/15/1844 m:8/11/1861 d:4/23/1930 ..........4 Isadora Lee b: 1861 ........... +William Wallace Gardner b: 1859 d: 1941 ...............5 Harry Mitchell Gardner b: 1888 ................. +Ruby J. Ross b: 1890 ...............5 Gladys Gardner b: 1900 ...............5 Lee Gardner b: 1904 ...............5 Winona D. Gardner b: 1906 ..........4 Samuel Lee b: 1865 ..........4 Edward B. Lee b: 1/31/1868 d: probably 1/27/1957 ..........4 Harry H. Lee b: 1870 ........... +Anna M. Lock m: 5/28/1893 ..........4 Viola A. Lee b: 1/26/1873 d: 11/18/1890 ..........4 John W. Lee b: 10/28/1877 d: 10/12/1947 ........... +(1)Alta M. Johnson b: 9/1/1878 m:2/17/1897 d:6/30/1916 ...............5 Mary Hazel Lee ...............5 Ruth Lee ...............5 Pauline E. Lee ...............5 Opal Lee ...............5 Edwin Lee. ........... +(2)Nellie A. Cooper b: 3/31/1891 m:2/20/1918 d:5/15/1979 ...............5 Beulah Lee ...............5 Bonnie Lee ...............5 John W. Lee, Jr. ...............5 Kenneth Lee ..........4 Charles Lee b: 1/1880 ..........4 Maime Lee b: 6/1883 ........... +unknown Summer .....3 William T. Lee b: 1/21/1842 d: 5/10/1906 ...... +Isabella Bodle b: 12/10/1843 m: 10/11/1863 ..........4 Flora E. Lee ..........4 Susie E. Lee .....3 Drusilla Lee b: 5/1/1850 d: 6/2/1917 ...... +William Dickason b: 3/24/1844 m: 11/17/1869 d: 10/22/1932 .....3 Mary Catherine Lee b: 6/2/1854 ...... +Ira Mahlon Lientz b: 5/25/1854 d: 10/8/1923 ..........4 Anna Marie Lientz b: 12/7/1874 ........... +Elza Charles Olmstead b: 1874 ...............5 Mildred Beatrice Olmstead b: 10/21/1895 d: 6/28/1987 ................. +Wilfred Glenn Hendershot b: 1/23/1891 d: 3/24/1979 ....................6 Mary Catherine Hendershot b: 6/20/1920 ....................6 Virginia Ruth Hendershot b: 11/11/1921 ....................6 Beatrice Hendershot b: 10/29/1923 ....................6 Dale E. Hendershot b: 10/20/1926 ..........4 Grace Lientz b: 1877

2 James W. Fay b: 1812 (searches have produced no further information)

2 Catherine Fay b: 1816 d: about 1843 m: 3/10/1839 ...+Michael Houze b: 1/16/1817 d: 7/4/1867 .....3 Martha A. Houze b: 3/18/1841 d: 7/25/1934 (m. first cousin) ...... +Lafayette Houze b: 3/16/1844 d: 6/12/1937 m: 11/11/1864 ..........4 Harvey William Houze b: 5/1/1867 d: 6/4/1938 ..........4 Francis M. Houze b: 5/31/1869 ..........4 Michael Houze b: 4/27/1872 d: 6/30/1960 ........... +Mae (Margie) Smith ...............5 Wilbur L. Houze b: 1/8/1900 d: 7/14/1931 ...............5 Flossie Mae Houze b: 7/14/1897 d: 11/2/1987 ................. +(1) Tom Joester ................. +(2) Herbert F. Weber b: 11/11/1893 m: 9/7/1920 ........................6 Lynn Weber b: 4/24/1933 m: 6/2/1956 .......................... +Clara M. Heinzelman b: 1/12/1936 ..........4 William Clarence Houze b: 3/18/1874 d: Aft. 1934 ........... +(1) Mary Strautman ........... +(2) Myrtle Miles b: 1879 m: 2/27/1903 ...............5 Mary Houze b: 11/20/1905 ..........4 Mary Lillie Houze b: 3/6/1876 d: 6/1909 ........... +Henry Strautman m: 7/26/1896 .....3 John Wesley Houze b: 1/27/1843 d: 12/7/1910 ...... +(1) Mary Robinson d: 11/24/1883 m: 5/29/1870 ..........4 Adah Houze b: 7/10/1871 d: 12/1968 m: 12/28/1893 ........... +Robert Mosby Wilson b: 5/1/1867 d: 5/20/1948 ..........4 Calvert Houze b: 1873 ........... +Elnora Mendell b: 1881 m: 8/3/1900 ...............5 Vernie Houze b: 1903-1904 ...............5 Talma Houze b: 9/3/1905 d: 9/1963 ...............5 Ada T. Houze b: 1908 ...............5 John W Houze b: 1910 d: before 1920 ...............5 Robert V Houze b: 1913 ...............5 Mary F Houze b: 1915 ...............5 Magdaline Houze b: 1917 ...............5 Paul L. Houze b: 1/11/1920 d: 4/28/1998 ...............5 Stanley Houze ..........4 Jennie Houze b: 1878 ........... +Hugh Thompson b: 1875 m: 11/23/1898 .....3 John Wesley Houze married as his second wife his first cousin: ...... +(2) Phoebe Mead b: 4/15/1851 d: 10/20/1919 m: 11/19/1894

2 Michael Houze married again 5/25/1844: ...+Elizabeth Jane Roberts Wainscott b: 1824 d: 1892 (lines continue) .....3 William Henry Houze b: 9/18/1845 .....3 Son Houze b: 10/15/1847 .....3 John Francis Houze b: 3/4/1851 .....3 Albert Jackson Houze b: 5/2/1854 .....3 Mary Elizabeth Houze b: 8/20/1858 .....3 Jordan Rudolph Houze b: 10/17/1859 .....3 Viola Estella Houze b: 1863

2 Mary Fay b: 1820 ...+Joseph Miller b: 1817 m: 1/15/1838 .....3 William F Miller b: 1844 .....3 Helen (Ellen) E Miller b: 1848 .....3 Samuel James Miller b: 1851 .....3 Louisa J Miller b: 1853 .....3 Sarah A Miller b: 1855 .....3 Agnes F Miller b: 1858 .....3 Herman L. Miller b: 1863

2 Sarah Fay b: 4/1818 d: 1901 ...+Samuel E. Mellen b: 2/19/1824 d: 11/25/1923 m: 1/6/1849 .....3 Erastus Mellen b: 1848 .....3 William Oscar Mellen b: 8/1/1850 ...... +(1) Mary Jane Sisson b: 4/18/1849 m: 11/18/1871 ..........4 Eva Mellen b: 8/23/1873 d: 1/4/1934 ........... +(1) Peter Leasuer ........... +(2) Peter Stephenson b:1/8/1858 d:3/8/1940 m:8/8/1894 ...............5 Benjamin Seracy Stephenson b: 7/1/1911 ................. +Elaine Kindle b: 2/3/1920 m: 1/1/1940 ....................6 line continues ...............5 Mary Zelle Stephenson b: 5/24/1914 ................. +Earl Powers ..........4 Fannie Mellen b: 1/10/1875 ..........4 Lillie Mellen b: 2/6/1876 ........... +John Cook m: 3/12/1892 ..........4 Jennie Mellen b: 8/12/1878 ........... +Elwood Chase b: 10/1876 m: 1898 ...............5 Everett L. Chase b: 1899 ..........4 Rettie Mellen b: 12/17/1879 ..........4 Nettie Mellen b: 12/17/1879 ........... +George Bromwell m: 1/9/1899 ..........4 Charlie Mellen b: 9/17/1881 d: 2/2/1883 ..........4 Samuel Mellen b: 6/22/1888 d: 12/3/1973 ........... +Katie Busby b: 11/25/1887 d: 12/26/1958 m: 12/22/1906 ...............5 Bernice Emza Mellen d: 1/2/1992 ................. +Harvey Dasher Wolf ...............5 Mable Mellen b: 12/6/1908 d: 3/4/2004 ................. +Robert Houze ....................6 line continues ...............5 William Oscar Mellen b: 1/9/1914 d: 8/6/1988 ................. +Neva Riley b: 7/17/1914 m: 8/11/1935 ....................6 Yvonne June Mellen ...................... +William Earl Waller m: 5/28/1957 ...... +(2) Sarah A. Courtney d: 3/1918 m: 11/24/1894 .....3 M. R. Mellen b: 1850 .....3 Edgar Mellen b: 10/1851 d: 1943 ...... +Malinda Hysell b: 3/1856 m: 5/24/1876 ..........4 Nettie Glenn Mellen b: 1878 d: 1946 ........... +Eugene Lamkin b: 1871 ...............5 Herbert Lamkin b: 1/1898 ...............5 Fay Lamkin b: 1901 ...............5 Paul Lamkin b: 1908 ...............5 Glen Lamkin b: 1909 ...............5 Ruth Ada Lamkin b: 1912 ...............5 Gertrude M. Lamkin b: 1914 ............... (one of the daughters married McCabe) ................. +McCabe ....................6 Helen McCabe ..........4 Gertrude Mellen b: 1/27/1883 ........... +Frank Lukie b: 9/19/1879 m: 1900 ...............5 Hershell Lukie b: 1903 ...............5 Clotus Lukie b: 1905 (name is very uncertain) ...............5 Edgar Lukie b: 1911 ..........4 Wilbur Blain Mellen b: 3/6/1886

2 Harriet Fay b: 8/14/1819 d: 1/5/1854 ...+Dewitt Clinton Mead b: 1819 m: 8/15/1838 .....3 Lucippa Mead b: 1840 .....3 Enrico (Henry) Mead b: 3/14/1842 d: 4/29/1919 ...... +(1) Sarah K. b: 1851 ..........4 Percy Mead b: 12/1871 ..........4 Bertha Mead b: 1874 ...... +(2) Ella Peak m: 1901 .....3 Edwin Mead b: 1843 d: before 1900 ...... +Hannah B. Armstrong b: 1/1855 m: 1/12/1875 ..........4 Clarice Mead b: 1875 ..........4 Lillian H. Mead b: 11/1876 ..........4 Hannah B. Mead b: 1/1879 .....3 Dewitt Mead b: 1846 .....3 Missouri Belle Mead b: 1849 ...... +Morris McMurray m: 12/31/1871 .....3 Phebe Mead b: 4/15/1851 ...... +John Wesley Houze b: 1/27/1843 (John and Phebe were cousins. They married in about 1894.)

2 Daniel Fay (searches have produced conflicting evidence and no certainty)

2 Levi Fay b: 1824 ...+Sarah Ann Merrill b: 1832 .....3 Lucilla Fay b: 6/9/1848 ...... +William Henry Orton ..........4 Arminta Orton ........... +George D. McCorkel ...............5 Verna LuElla McCorkel ................. +Francis Roy Jenness ....................6 Virgil Vernon Jenness ...................... +Evangalene Johnson .........................7 Maureen Ann Jenness .......................... +David Alan Lee .....3 Catherine Fay b: 12/1849 d: in childhood .....3 Rosabelle Fay b: 7/1851 ...... +George Washington Lacy ..........4 Celia Irene Lacy b: 12/29/1873 ........... +Milo Adolphis McQuiston m: 10/31/1894 ...............5 Gladys Colleen McQuiston b: 9/2/1895 ................. +Ephriam Alan Ricks m: 11/17/1913 ....................6 Bessie A. Ricks b: 1915 ....................6 Madge Ricks b: 1917 ....................6 Margaret Ricks b: 5/18/1921 ...................... +Pincock ....................6 Ola Ricks b: 1925 .....3 Levi Edward Fay b: 6/2/1853 ...... +Margaret Ann Shanklin b: 8/1857 m: 9/21/1879 ..........4 Clarence Cecil Fay b: 6/19/1880 ........... +Clara b: 1885 ...............5 Pearl J. Fay b: 1904 ...............5 Vernon L. Fay b: 1905 ...............5 Jose W. Fay b: 1906 ...............5 Cecil D. Fay b: 1908 ...............5 Hubert E. Fay b: 1916 ...............5 June Fay b: 1921 ..........4 Hattie Fay b: 1/1881 ..........4 Frank Manly Fay b: 6/17/1882 ........... +Gertrude Emma b: 1890 ...............5 Virgil L. Fay b: 1912 ...............5 Vera J. Fay b: 1914 ..........4 Arthur Francis Fay b: 4/2/1884 ........... +Emma P. b: 1892 ...............5 Harold Fay b: 1911 ...............5 Helen Fay b: 1915 ...............5 Virl Fay b: 11/26/1916 ..........4 Delbert Owen Fay b: 7/9/1887 ........... +Anna M. b: 1894 ..........4 Goldie Fay b: 5/1891 ..........4 Sylvia Fay b: 1/1893 ..........4 Fern Fay b: 2/1895 .....3 Josephine Fay b: 9/1855 ...... +Jacob Brown b: 5/1844 m: 12/8/1870 ..........4 William W. Brown b: 10/1871 ..........4 Emma Brown b: 1873 ..........4 Addie Brown b: 1874 ..........4 James D. Brown b: 3/1880 .....3 Fay b: 1859 d: 1859 .....3 Dewitt Clinton Fay b: 2/1862 ...... +Dora Elizabeth Kurtz b: 1/1865 m: 10/24/1889 d: before ..........4 Marvin L. Fay b: 5/1890 ..........4 John Fay b: 4/1892 ..........4 Anna Fay b: 2/1897 ..........4 Effie Fay b: 1903 ..........4 Annie Fay b: 1905

There is a mystery here. In 1910, Dora is living alone with all five children. The census reports her as a widow, and there is no sign of Dewitt anywhere. In 1920, Dewitt seems to be in Washington, reports himself as a widower, and there is no sign of Dora. In addition, Marvin, living with Dora in 1910, married and had two children by 1920; he is living with them, his wife, and his brother John. I cannot find ANY of them in 1930.

.....3 Oscar Fay b: 1863 ...... +Amelia Hoffman b: 1873 ..........4 Walter Fay b: 1890 ..........4 Lawrence Fay b: 1895 ..........4 Bern Fay b: 1898 ..........4 Ralph Fay b: 1901 ..........4 Fredrick Fay b: 1905 .....3 George Fay b: 1865 .....3 John R. Fay b: 1867 ...... +Nancy Almeda Hepler b: 1871 m: 12/24/1890 ..........4 Earl Fay b: 1892 ..........4 Warren Fay b: 1894 ..........4 Myrtle Fay b: 1896 ..........4 Clyde Fay b: 1905