Jacob Karnes

Jacob Karnes
born:  26 Oct 1837 - Fertigs, Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  1897 - Pennsylvania

Jacob Karnes is the father of Henrietta Karnes Truby and, therefore, Ula Truby's grandfather.  He was born the 5th child of James Karnes and Mary S Stroup on Oct 26, 1837 in Fertigs.  He died in 1897 and is buried in Fertigs Cemetery with his wife, Frances.

The following is taken from the History of Venango Co PA published in 1890 by Brown, Runk & Co (Chicago ILL) pages 1147 and 1148:

 

As shown above, Jacob was married to Frances "Fanny" Stewart on Aug 2, 1860.  That is the only documentation I have found regarding their marriage, but part of me hopes that they were really married in 1859 since Ula's mother was born Nov 16, 1860.  However, we have all heard that "the first baby comes any time, the second one takes nine months."

During June of 1863, Jacob registered for the Civil War draft.  He was 25, married and residing in President Township, Venango Co.  His occupation was that of an “ox driver”, also known as a teamster.  It is unclear whether he drove oxen for the purpose of plowing or as a transportation hauler of goods.

 

In 1864, Jacob appears on the IRS November “Special” tax assessments in Cranberry Township, Venango Co.  He was taxed $25.00 ($389.66 in today’s money) for working as a “Peddler 2^nd class” which tends to make me think that he was actually hauling goods rather than plowing when he registered for the draft. He owed $12.50 because he only worked for six months, most likely only during the warmer months of the year.

 

Jacob has been rather elusive as far as finding records that pertain specifically to him.  I found many records for his children showing him as their “father”, but he died before mandatory record keeping began in Pennsylvania. 

 

I don’t believe that Jacob actually fought in the Civil War, although at the age of 27 in 1863, he would have been the appropriate age.  He was required to register for the draft, but the fact that he was a “peddler” in 1864, and my inability to find any military records for him leads me to believe he did not, in fact, serve.  Jacob also had children born during the war which would seem to indicate that he was present in the home although, admittedly, he may have only been home on short furloughs.  He may have had some type of disability as having a certain number of children would not have prevented him from being drafted.

 

I haven’t been able to find him on any census after 1850 when he was 12 years old and still at home with his parents.  There just seems to be nothing out there to tell us what Jacob did between 1864 and 1890, but the fact that he appears as a subject in the History of Venango County, tells us that he was successful at farming.  You had to pay for your “mugshot” to appear in the county histories which were written throughout the US in 1890 and 1895.  He and Frances were members of the Free Methodist Church and he was at least politically aware, if not active, as an independent.  From this we can tell that Jacob was free-thinking and chose not to follow along party lines.

 

I haven’t found an obituary for Jacob yet.  That he died in 1897 is only apparent from his grave marker.  Since the marker was erected after the death of Frances in 1912, this may or may not be correct.

 

Jacob and Frances are buried at the top of a hill at Fertigs Cemetery.  On my earlier visits to their gravesite, all was well.  The cemetery is well maintained and during my last visit in 2010, they were in the process of placing foundations under some of the flat markers which had been sinking into the ground.  However, it was a little disconcerting to me that the very large markers at the top of the hill were beginning to lean as the ground has eroded over the last 100 years.  As can be seen from my photos of this gravesite, as well as a few others later in this narrative, they were doing what they could to preserve the markers.  I didn’t realize that it has been seven years since I was there, so perhaps I’ll make a trip this summer and find out what has happened since then.

 

 

 

 

 

Henrietta Karnes Truby

Henrietta Karnes Truby
born:  Nov 16, 1860 - Fertigs, Venango County, Ohio
died:  Feb 6, 1923 - Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio

Henrietta was the wife of John Calvin Truby and the mother of Ula Jacob Truby, whom we consider to be the head of our collective family.  She was the daughter of Jacob Karnes and Frances "Fanny" Stewart.  It is through Henrietta's paternal line that we are related to President Barack Obama (for those of you who wish to claim bragging rights).

 

Henrietta was married to John Truby about 1881 and they were the parents of:  Emmett Andrew, Hazel O, Jacob Eula, Fern A, Lyman Irvin/Isaac, Gilbert, Mabel Inez and two children who died in infancy prior to 1900 that I have been unable to find.  Her married life was pretty much contained within John Truby's post, however, through reading of her death, we learn that she was well respected in the community in her own right.  She was religious and attended the Church of Christ in Tiffin.
 

The circumstances of her death were such that they deserve an entire post dedicated to just that as her death closely intertwines with her daughter, Fern.  Henrietta passed away from lobar pneumonia due to influenza which she contracted while taking care of her daughter, Fern.  You'll see on her death certificate that it even states she contracted the illness "at the home of her daughter" which must have weighed heavily on Fern when she learned of her mother's death.

 

First, let me give you a quick overview of the Truby families while they were living in Tiffin.  See map below.

 

1920:

21 Minerva St - John C, Henrietta, Hazel and Lyman Truby as well as Thomas, Fern, Earl and Ralph Ashton

38 Liberty St - Ula, Ethel, Dalton, Norman, Henrietta, Walter and Lillian Truby
    *  John Truby dies in the Toledo State Hospital for the Insane nine months after the census is taken.  Fern and Tom Ashton moved between 1920 and 1923 to 22 Jackson St.

1930:
149 W Davis St - Lyman and Flossie Truby  

    *John and Henrietta Truby as well as their daughter, Fern, have passed away.  Hazel is in the Toledo State Hospital for the Insane where she dies two months and six days after the census is taken.  Ula and Ethel have moved to Lake Township, Wood County, Ohio.  Fern's husband and children have moved to Green Creek, Sandusky County, Ohio. 

I'm going to pretty much let the death certificate and newspaper articles speak for themselves. 

Tiffin Tribune  - Feb 7, 1923

Tiffin Tribune  - Feb 10, 1923

Tiffin Tribune - Feb 13, 1923

News-Herald (Franklin PA) - Feb 14, 1923

Family plot at Fairmont Cemetery in Tiffin OH

John's date of death is incorrect and should be 1920.  John is actually buried in Fertigs Cemetery in PA and not in the family plot which was purchased in 1923 by Ula Truby and Tom Ashton.  Hazel died in 1930 and she is buried in the family plot, however, the marker was never engraved to include her date of death.

 

Children of David and Mary Truby - Clara

Clara L Truby
born:  Mar 28, 1874  -  Rockmere, Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  Jan 24, 1951  -  Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania

Clara was the 10th and last child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  Clara lived at home with her mother until Mary's death in 1900, we can assume, caring for her mother.  As was the custom at the time, marriage was the next step for Clara as occupations for women were very limited.

On June 5, 1901, at the age of 27, Clara was married to Willard Cecil Ball, a 42-year-old widower.  He was the son of William Wallace Ball and Emeline Adele Wells and was born June 25, 1852 in Newtown, Forest County, Pennsylvania.  His first wife, Ida Sarah DeMang Ball, had passed away Aug 22, 1895.  It does not appear that Willard had any children with either Sarah or Clara.   

Clara Truby Ball  -  sister of John C Truby

 

Willard was also a first cousin twice removed to the actress Lucille Desiree Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame.  Lucy was born in Celeron, Chautauqua County, New York. Clara most probably knew Lucy as a child since Lucy was 11 years old at the time of Willard's death on Apr 9, 1922 in Stow, Chautauqua County, New York.  Celeron and Stow are a mere nine miles apart.

After Willard's death, Clara moved back to Oil City and apparently worked as an "agent" along with George B McCollum.  It is unclear whether George owned a real estate agency or was merely another agent working with Clara.  Clara and George were married on Mar 19, 1928 in Erie PA.  They appear to be living at the same address in Oil City, although I suppose this could have been the address of the real estate agency, if it was owned by George.  

 

 

After their wedding, Clara and George moved to Erie PA.  It appears that they lived a life of retirement as neither the 1930 nor the 1940 census shows an occupation for either of them.  A 1951 City Directory also shows no occupation for them.  In 1930, they were boarding in the home of John and Rose Million.  But in 1940 they are living in Cranberry Twp, Venango Co in a home which they own.  This census indicates that Clara has only completed 2nd grade which is not at all unusual for a woman of her generation.  In 1951 they are living at 105 Wilson Ave in Oil City.

 

Clara passed away in Oil City Hospital from arteriosclerotic heart disease.  She is buried with her husband, George, at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry PA.  

 



 

The Blizzard (Oil City PA)  -  Jan 24, 1951

The Blizzard (Oil City PA)  -  Jan 27, 1951

 

George B McCollum, the son of Jonathan McCollum and Maria Renwick, was born June 8, 1874 and died Sept 15, 1967.

     

   News-Herald - Sept 18, 1967                     News-Herald - Sept 20, 1967

 

 















Children of David and Mary Truby - Etta and Laura

Henrietta "Etta" Truby
born:  Aug 1, 1865  -  Pennsylvania
died:  Feb 12, 1934  -  Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania

Laura Truby
born:  Nov 1869  -  Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  1871-1873  -  Cranberry Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania

Etta was the 8th child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  She was married to Thomas J Kane about 1894.  He was born Dec 5, 1864 and died Mar 14, 1927.  They were both 30-ish when they married and I haven't found any children for them so I don't believe there were any children from this marriage.   Thomas died from splenomedullary leukemia due to influenza and is buried at St Joseph Cemetery in Oil City.  Etta died from diabetes melitose and myocardio degeneration.  She is buried at Grove Hill Cemetery in Oil City.  The two cemeteries are side by side.


       Oil City Derrick  -  Mar 16, 1927

                         
                   
                                                           News Herald  -  Feb 13, 1934



Laura Truby was the 9th child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  She appears on the 1870 census as a 6 month old baby.  The 1870 census was taken as of June 1, 1870 so she was most likely born near the very end of November, 1869 or possibly the very beginning of December.  The grave marker shows that Laura was born in 1871 and died in 1873.  Since she appears on the 1870 census obviously the 1871 birthdate is incorrect.  I believe that she probably died in 1871 as a two year old.  Since the marker was not erected until after Mary's death in 1900, I think that someone remembered 1871 and that Laura was two years old and therefore incorrectly put 1871-1873 on the marker.

Children of David and Mary Truby - Maggie

Margaret Catherine "Maggie" Truby
born:  about 1865 - Rockmere, Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  27 Sept 1925 - Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania

Maggie was the 7th child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  She was married to James Bert Manross (Sept 5, 1860-Mar 22, 1927).  He was the son of James Northrup Manross and his second wife, Olive Manson/Munson.  James Northrup was a pioneer in Venango County who married three times and had 17 children. 

  obituary of Maggie's father-in-law, James Northrup Manross

 

James Bert Manross, Maggie's husband, was in the oil industry and traveled widely for his work.  That may be part of the reason she divorced him in June of 1918.  However, Maggie did not remarry and his death certificate lists her as his wife, so I believe she is the widow referred to in his obituary even though he was living with their daughter. 



Warren Times Mirror - June 24, 1918



News-Herald - Wednesday Mar 23, 1927

 

James Bert Manross and Margaret Catherine Truby were the parents of:

1.  Mary E "Marie" (b Feb 22, 1885) married Jacob Weber (Mar 20, 1878-Dec 4, 1926) on Aug 21, 1912 in Erie Co PA.  He committed suicide by drinking carbolic acid.  I don't believe they had any children together. 

  

 

Warren Tribune - Dec 6, 1926

This article is about two separate incidents.  Anna Forhmeyer is not Jacob's wife, Mary, whose name is not mentioned in the article.

 

Mary then married Henry Warnhouse on May 30, 1927 in Chautauqua Co NY.  It was her second and his third marriage.  They were 42 and 50 respectively at the time of their marriage.

 2.  Bert Daniel (Aug 21, 1887-July 22, 1954) married to Faye Muriel Dundas (1901-1994).  He died in Simco County, Ontario, Canada from a cerebral hemorrhage secondary to hypertension.  Bert and Faye were the parents of:

     Norman C (abt 1922)
     June Macey (abt 1926) married to Manuel Paul Nunes.  They were the parents of:  Judy (Marino), Cheryl (James Bemin), Karen (Patrick Feron) and Kim.
     Irma Margaret (Krill) (abt 1927)

      Jeanne (Taylor)
     Linda (Woinelowicz)
     Chuck

3.  Mildred Ellen (June 29, 1889-Mary 13, 1966) married to Frank L Iseman (1883-1974) on May 29, 1908 in Warren Co PA.  They were the parents of:
     Frank L Jr
     William "Billie" (b Mar 27, 1913)
     Gordon J (Apr 18, 1915-Aug 27, 2006)
Mildred divorced Frank Iseman on Nov 1, 1937 and left for California the very next day.  She lived in California until her death in 1966.  She apparently was very adamant when she said she was through with Frank Iseman.

Warren Times Mirror  -  Nov 1, 1937

Warren Times Mirror  -  Nov 2, 1937

Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, California)  -  May 16, 1966

     

Maggie Truby Manross died on Sept 27, 1933 in Warren, Warren Co PA at the age of 68.

 News-Herald (Franklin PA)  -  Sept 28, 1933

Warren Times Mirror  -  Oct 2, 1933

Children of David and Mary Truby - Ella

Julia Ellen "Ella" Truby
born:  7 Aug 1861 - Venango County, Pennsylvania
died:  Dec 5, 1939 - Warren, Warren County, Pennsylvania

Ella was the 6th child of David and Mary Bortz Truby.  She was married to Isaac Newton Mahaffey on Mar 23, 1880 in Oil City.  The son of Perry Mahaffey and Elizabeth Silvis, Isaac was born July 8, 1856 in Gilpin Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania and died Feb 6, 1949 in Russell, Warren County, Pennsylvania.  Isaac was a cooper by trade and worked in a barrel factory.  He owned his home at 14 Bradley Street in Warren. 

Warren Times Mirror - Thursday, Mar 24, 1938

 

obituary of Julia Ellen "Ella" Truby Mahaffey

Warren Times Mirror - Saturday, Dec 9,  1939

 

Warren Times Mirror - Monday, Feb 7, 1949

Isaac and Ella Mahaffey were the parents of:

 

1.  George Chester (Jan 27, 1882-Sept 14, 1955) married to Mary Gertrude Hauser (1886-1967), daughter of Gottleib Hauser and Margaret Krauss.  George and Mary were the parents of:

     Margaret Ellen (1907-1998) married to Jess T Launer (1909-1988) sometime between 1930 and 1940.  His father was born in Switzerland and his mother was born in West Virginia.  Jess and Ella lived in Marietta, Washington County, Ohio.  I don't know that they ever had any children.

     George Newton (1909-1988) married Lila K Drum (1912-2009).  She was the daughter of Nace Henry Drum and Ina Swonger.  George and Lila lived for a time in Gettysburg PA but they are buried in Frederick County, Maryland.  George died from carcinoma of the stomach.  I don't know if they had children.

2.  Thomas Earl  (Aug 2, 1883-Aug 30, 1961) married to Frances Miller (1890-1949).  He worked briefly with his father as a cooper in a barrel factory but then became the manager/owner of a grocery store.  The cause of death on Tom's death certificate was "cerebral vascular insufficiency".  Tom and Frances were the parents of:

     Mildred June (1914-1937) who was married to Edward Leroy "Roy" Fallon* in 1934.  Their brief marriage ended with the death of Roy in 1936 at the age of 31.  June soon followed at the tender age of 20 years 9 months from "broncho pneumonia secondary to acute tonsillitis with left peritonsillar abscess".  I don't know that any children were born to them during their short two years together.

     * I did look to see if I could find a relationship between Roy Fallon and "Late Night" talk show host, Jimmy Fallon.  Roy's father, John, was born in Ireland about 30 years after Jimmy's immigrant ancestor.  Roy's family migrated straight to Pennsylvania while Jimmy's stayed in Brooklyn from the 1880's on.  If there is a relationship it's further back than 1857 in Ireland so I was unable to find anything.

     Geraldine M. (b abt 1921) was married to William Brooks.  They were the parents of: Jeffrey, William, Roxanne and Scott.  I haven't been able to find anything on Geraldine since the 1940 census when she was still at home with her parents.  Unfortunately, the existence of Geraldine Brooks, a well-known actress of the same time period, makes a search for our Geraldine like finding a needle in a haystack.

 

Warren Times Mirror - Monday, Dec 12, 1949

 

 Warren County Observer - Friday, Sept 1, 1961

 

Warren County Observer - Tuesday, Sept 5, 1961

 

4.  Rose E (July 19, 1888-Apr 12, 1958).  She was apparently self employed as a distributor for Septico Products for septic tanks.  Rose, who was never married, died from "acute coronary occlusion with myocardial infarction" at the age of 69.
 

 

 Warren Times Mirror - Wednesday, Mar 12, 1958

one month before Rose's death

 

 Warren Times Mirror - Monday, Apr 14, 1958

 

Warren Times Mirror - Wednesday, Apr 16, 1958

 

 Warren Times Mirror - Tuesday, Aug 12, 1958

 

5.   Richard John (Oct 4, 1896-Mar 1, 1975) was married on May 19, 1920 to Dorothy Helen Pearson (1897-1975).  The daughter of John and Caroline Pearson, she was born in Sweden.  Richard was a PFC in the Army during World War I serving in Co H of the 56th Pioneer Infantry from Aug 1918-June 1919.  He fought in the battle at the Muese-Argonne.  Richard and Dorothy were the parents of:

     Frederick Richard (Feb 28, 1922-July 18, 2006) married to Vivian Marie Spangler, daughter of Clifford Marilla and Cecil Pochey.  Fred served in the US Army from Nov 1942-Oct 1945 with foreign service from July 1943-July 1945.  He was separated from service at Deshon General Hospital in Butler PA.  In 1961 Fred ran for and was elected to the Charter Commission of Painesville Twp, Lake County OH.  Fred and Vivian were the parents of:  Frederick D (Brian Fallon) and Peggy A (Rev Bill Pierce).

Warren Times Mirror - Thursday, May 19, 1960

    

6.  Ella Mae (Apr 10, 1898-Sept 1, 1961) was married three times.  She was married to Ray Gilbert Berdine in 1920.  He was born Mar 25, 1902 in New York and died Aug 10, 1927 in Warren.  They were the parents of:

     John Isaac (1921-1950) who married Leathia Gillingham.  He served in World War II from Nov 1942 to Dec 1845.  John died from "coronary occlusion".

     Raymond Junior (1924-1990). Ray worked for the Works Progress Admnistration (WPA) while still in high school.  He served in the Air Force during World War II from Mar 1943-Nov 1948 being discharged from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington DC. 

 



obituary of Ray Gilbert Berdine

Warren Tribune -  Thursday, Aug 11, 1927

 

Warren Times Mirror - Monday, Nov 11, 1963

 

Ray Junior Berdine - Warren High School 1940

 



After Ray's death, Ella married Albert A Shepard on Aug 15, 1932 in Erie Co PA.  As far as I can tell, they had no children together.  He died before 1940.

 

Ella then married her 1st cousin, Lyman Irvin/Isaac Truby.   Guess it's a good thing they had no children together.  Lyman was born June 16, 1894 in Warren PA to John C and Henrietta Karnes Truby (her mother's brother and sister-in-law).  Lyman died on June 28, 1969 in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado.  Interestingly, he has a marker in Oakland Cemetery (Warren) where Ella Mae is buried (with no date of death), but he also has a marker in Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle, Colorado (where he is actually buried). 

 

 marriage record of Ella Mae Mahaffey and Lyman Truby

 

 

 

Warren County Observer - Tuesday, Sept 5, 1961

 

More about Lyman when I get to the children of John and Henrietta Truby.