Memories of the Coes 14: Grandmother Elizabeth Sorenberger and Grandmother Elizabeth Smith Prentice

Grandmother Elizabeth Ann Coe had seven sons and two daughters. One son, John, fell from a load of grain and was so injured that he died, only sixteen. I heard one of our uncles say grandmother could not seem to be reconciled until John said he felt prepared to die. 

Our mother's mother died after giving birth to twin babies who survived her by about six months. All three, with her father and mother, Rev. Newton Smith and Deborah Smith, are buried on the hill in Wyoming village Cemetery. Arthur made snapshots of their tombstones. After the mother's death, the Prentice children were separated. The bonds of affection which held them, however seemed to be stronger than is usual, as they always, tho quite widely separated, kept up correspondence and frequent visits. Mother cam to the town of Pavilion and live with Mr and Mrs Mills. I wish I knew more about her life before she came, and afterward. She made nice button holes, and I understand she learned when she worked for a tailor. She must have been a busy little girl, as she was the oldest of five children. Next oldest was Martin, - Elizabeth Ann Walkley (aunt Libbie or Ann), Carrie, (Mrs. Delos Allen of Oakfield, Wis.) and Horace. I very much liked uncle Martin. The story is he married his first wife in a fit of pique. He had been going with her, but when her sister was married, he was not good enough the be invited to the wedding, so they had one of their own! She was the mother of his only child, a daughter Carrie. His second wife was a neighbor, and a fine and rather superior woman. She died with cancer. Number three, a pretty widow near by, had a widowed friend who was lonely, and asked if she hadn't and eligible single man friend to whom she would introduce her. Uncle Martin was the man chosen, but when she asked him how he liked the lone woman, he replied he like here all right "But I like you better!" and eventually won her. I never met number four until cousin Arthur Prentice (uncle Horace's son) Sarah, Charles and I drove down to visit them. She was plain-looking, but oh so hospitable and pleasant! Uncle Martin and his last wife had just visited mother before she died. The night before she went I called her up for a little visit. I said "How do you like number four?" There was a little little breath of surprise and a laugh as she replied, "O very well." Aunt Libbie married Miller Walkley. He was a bright, but eccentric man. Her health was poor and we suspect her life was far from a happy one. He was always talking about "his second wife." There were some who were not sorry that she survived him. They had three daughters, Clara, who married a bachelor neighbor, John Logan. She has one daughter, Lotta, who went to Washington to work I think in war time, and married a Washington Man. Ella was a sweet girl, married Burton. Both have been long dead. Mary Walkley married Peter Carmichael of Caledonia, postmaster and leading citizen. Miller and R.L. Walkley were the only children of Stephen Walkley of Le Roy - I believe we was quite well to do financially. 

_______
Patty's notes on this entry

Grandmother Elizabeth Ann Coe - Elizabeth Ann Sornberger (1795-1888), probably the daughter of John Sornberger (1767-1856) and Deborah Rau (1765 - between 1842 and 1850). Elizabeth married Ezra Coe (1796-1869, son of Jesse Coe (1769-1843) and Oliver Roberts (1770-1854)) in 1818. They settled in Genesee County, New York in the early 1820s. 

Seven sons and two daughter - Ezra Coe and Elizabeth Sornberger had nine children, Ransom (1819-1892, married Almira Facer, lived in Le Roy), Huldah Melissa (1821-1902, married Henry Crocker, lived in Le Roy), Olive (1823-1901, married Cyrus Sperry, lived in Le Roy), Jesse W (1825-1890, married Mary Elizabeth Storms, lived in Michigan and Iowa), Albert (1827-1907, married Deborah Prentice, lived in Le Roy and Pavilion), John (1829-1844), George W (1831-1906, married Harriet Van Voorhis, lived in Wyoming, Livingston and Monroe Counties), Hiram Coe (1833-1919, married Sarah Fisher, lived in Michigan), and Emory M (1836-1915, married Julia Frances Arms, lived in Le Roy). 

Jesse W Coe (1825-1890) and Mary Elizabeth Storms (1829-1918)

Photo courtesy of Marion Sperry Howe

Marion's blog with Coe photos is at https://mlsperry.blogspot.com/2020/07/coe-family-this-post-presents-pictures.html

George W Coe (1831-1906)

Photo courtesy of Marion Sperry Howe

Marion's blog with Coe photos is at https://mlsperry.blogspot.com/2020/07/coe-family-this-post-presents-pictures.html

Sarah Fisher (1838-1927) and Hiram Coe (1833-1919)

Photo courtesy of Marion Sperry Howe

Marion's blog with Coe photos is at https://mlsperry.blogspot.com/2020/07/coe-family-this-post-presents-pictures.html

Emory Coe (1836-1915) and Julia Frances Arms (1834-1919)

Photo courtesy of Marion Sperry Howe

Marion's blog with Coe photos is at https://mlsperry.blogspot.com/2020/07/coe-family-this-post-presents-pictures.html

John - John Coe (1829-1844) lived his entire life in Genesee County, probably in what is now the town of Pavilion (town was founded in 1841 from Covington). He was the only child of Ezra Coe and Elizabeth Ann Sornberger not to live to adulthood. 

Mother's mother - Elizabeth Ann Smith, known as Betsy Ann (1802-1846) daughter of Newton Smith (1772-1838) and Deborah Reeder (1775-1853). Betsy Ann was likely born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania where he father was listed in the 1800 and 1810 U.S. Censuses. She first married a man name Graham and may have had six children from her first marriage  Joseph T (1825-1882 who used Prentice as his last name), Smith Nelson (1826-1903), Melinda (1827-1907 who also used Prentice as her last name), Mahala, Henrietta and Howe. After the death of her first husband, she married Southwick Prentice (1800-1876, son of Thaddeus Prentice (1762-1850) and Keziah Southwick (1767 - between 1820 and 1830). Betsy Ann and Southwick Prentice had seven children Deborah (1833-1910), Elizabeth Ann (1835-1916), Martin S (1837-1925), Caroline (1840-1913), Horace (1842-1901), Mary (1846-1846) and Sarah (1846-1846)

twin babies - Mary and Sarah Prentice were presumably born shortly before May 2, 1846 in Wyoming, Wyoming County, New York. Their mother Betsy Ann died on May 2. Both girls died on September 21, 1846. Betsy Ann, Mary and Sarah are all buried in the Wyoming Cemetery, in Wyoming.

Rev Newton Smith and wife Deborah Smith - Betsy Ann Smith's parents were Rev. Newton Smith and Deborah Reeder. Rev. Newton Smith was the son of William Smith (1736-1778) and Margery Kellogg (1738-1816). Deborah Reeder was the daughter of Jacob Reeder (1742-1826) and Eunice Hazen (1747-1817). In a fascinating coincidence - Richard Hankins (aft 1747-1798 - the immigrant for my Hankins line) conducted the inventory for Benjamin Reeder's estate (Jacob's father) in 1783 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Newton Smith and Deborah Reeder married in 1795 and had five chidren, Betsy Ann, Reeder (1804-1892, lived in Wisconsin), Martin (1809-1881, lived in Michigan), Draper (1815-1899, lived in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania) and Deborah A (1818-1904, lived in Michigan). Rev. Newton Smith and Deborah Reeder are buried in the Wyoming Cemetery.

Sketch of graves of Newton & Deborah Smith, Betsy Ann Prentice and the twins

Based on Elizabeth Coe Call's notes of an 1882 visit to the Wyoming Cemetery 

Arthur - Charles Arthur Call (1885-1962), oldest son of Elizabeth Ann Coe and Charles Joslin Call. Arthur was the family genealogist and he helped his mother join the Daughters of the American Revolution. They were trying to get the Smith line accepted by the DAR. 

Mr and Mrs Mills - Lyman Mills (1793-1849, son of Seth Mills (1769-1845) and Elizabeth Bennett (1773-1819) and his wife Caroline Chapin  (about 1801 - after 1870). According to the 1850 census, Deborah Prentice was living with Caroline Mills and her two sons Luther  and Webster Lyman (1840-1926). 

Martin - Martin S. Prentice (1837-1925), son of Southwick Prentice and Betsy Ann Smith. He lived in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. In 1850, he was living with the Eli and Lydia Anderson in Franklin, Bradford County. 

Elizabeth Ann Walkley (Aunt Libbie or Ann) - Elizabeth Ann Prentice (1835-1916), daughter of Southwick Prentice and Betsy Ann Smith. In 1850, she was living with Cyrus Sperry and Olive Coe in Pavilion. She married Miller Mills Walkley (1836-1913) in 1858.

Carrie (Mrs Delos Allen of Oakfield, Wis) - Caroline Prentice (1840-1913) daughter of Southwick Prentice and Betsy Ann Smith. I haven't found Carrie in the 1850 census. She married Delos Allen in 1858. Delos Allen was in Wisconsin in 1850, and Carrie and Delos were living in Byron, Fond du Lac County in 1860, so they may have met and married in Wisconsin. 

Horace - Horace Prentice (1842-1901) son of Southwick Prentice and Betsy Ann Smith. The earliest record I have for Horace is 1861 when he joined the Wisconsin 10th Regiment in the Civil War. I haven't found him in either the 1850 or 1860 censuses. He married Jennie E Sperry (1842-1922, daughter of Platt Sperry (1814-1889) and Ann Husted (1812-1848) and was an older half-sister of George W Sperry (1853-1933) who married Mary Isadore Coe (1851-1924) oldest daughter of Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice) in 1865 probably in New York. They moved to Pennsylvania and Iowa before finally settling in Michigan. 

Elizabeth Coe Call included additional information about Carrie and Horace Prentice a separate section of the manuscript immediately following this section. 

Uncle Martin's 4 wives - Martin Prentice was married 4 times. Martin married Martha Ann Ford (1835-1883, daughter of John Ford (1803-1868) and Sarah Merritt (1806 - ????)) before 1863. They may have married before 1860. Martha is not listed with her parents in the 1860 census and I haven't found Martin in the 1860 census. In 1863, he was listed as married and living in Pike, Bradford County in the Civil Draft Registration records. Sometime between 1883 (death of Martha Ann) and 1899, Martin married Charlotte Buck (1850-1899, daughter of Perley Hanford Buck (1823-1907) and Elizabeth Northrup (1825-1888)). In 1901, Martin married Eleanor/Ella Vaughn (1842-1906, daughter of John Vaughn (1810-????) and Mary Overton (1823-????). Eleanor had previously been married to men named Statford and Buck, so is listed on the marriage record with Martin as Eleanor Buck. So far, I haven't been able to identify who her Buck husband was, so don't know if he was related to Charlotte Buck (Martin's second wife). In 1907, Martin married Lucinda Wiley (1857-1925, daughter of John Wiley and Jane) who survived him by about four months. 

Daughter Carrie - Carrie Prentice (1866-1945) was Martin's only child, the daughter of his first wife Martha Ann Ford. She married Charles H. Benham (1861-1916, son of James Benham and Eliza) in 1884. Carrie and Charles had two sons Jay H (1886-1887) and Frederick M (1889-1973). 

Arthur Prentice (Uncle Horace's son) - Arthur Sperry Prentice (1867-1924) son of Horace Prentice and Jennie Sperry. He married Nellie Josephine Richardson (1871-1947, daughter of Milan Richardson 1946-1896) and Elizabeth Jane Hogmire (1848-1901)) in 1892. Arthur and Nellie had two daughters Earnestine (1899-1972) and Virginia (1913-1992). Arthur and his family lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They visited Genesee County, New York several times between 1900 and 1925. The visit Elizabeth refers to may have been in 1920, when it was reported in the Batavia Daily News on May 15 that "Mr and Mrs Charles J Call accompanied by Arthur Prentice of Kalamazoo, Mich have been on an automobile trip in Pennsylvania". 

Sarah - possibly Sarah Frances Ward (1856-1941, daughter of Charles Kendall Ward and Laura Caroline Davenport) wife of Ezra Frank Coe, Elizabeth's older brother. They were living in Batavia in 1920, so she would have been in the area for a road trip with Charles and Elizabeth Call. 

Charles - Charles Joslin Call (1859-1939, son of Robert Call (1831-1913)  and Charlotte Joslin (1834-1908)) husband of Elizabeth Ann Coe

Visit to Mother before she died - According to the Le Roy Gazette, Martin Prentice and his wife visited his sisters Mrs Miller Walkley (Elizabeth Ann Prentice) and Mrs Albert Coe (Deborah Prentice) the week of October 19, 1910. Deborah Prentice Coe died on November 5, 1910. 

Miller Walkley - Miller Mills Walkley (1836-1913, son of Richard Walkley (1812-1887) and Juliette Mills (1810-1899, sister of Lyman Mills, Deborah Prentice was living with Lyman's widow in 1850) married Elizabeth Ann Prentice in 1858. They had three daughters Clara, Ella and Mary. 

Clara - Clara M Walkley (1864-1964, oldest daughter of Miller Mills Walkley and Elizabeth Ann Prentice) married John Logan in 1886.

John Logan - John Logan (1846-1919, son of James Logan and Ann Lowery) married Clara M Walkley in 1886, Clara and John had one daughter, Lotta. 

 

Lotta - Lotta Logan (1889-1984, daughter of Clara M Walkley and John Logan) married Daniel William Kessler (1883-1962, son of Daniel Kessler and Sarah Faulk) in 1921. In 1920, Lotta was working as a clerk at the U.S. Treasury. Daniel had a long career at the Bureau of Standards. They had one daughter, Virginia. 

Ella - Ella D Walkley (1867-1917, daughter of Miller Mills Walkley and Elizabeth Ann Prentice) married Jesse Eline Burton (1870-1920, son of Leonard Burton (1839-???) and Sarah Fishell (1843-???)) in 1900. They had one daughter Elizabeth Clara (1904-1991). 

Burton - Jesse Eline Burton married Ella D Walkley in 1900.

Mary Walkley - Mary B Walkley (1870-1967, youngest daughter of Miller Mill Walkley and Elizabeth Ann Prentice) married Peter R Carmichael in 1894. They had six children Olive Elizabeth (1895-1988), Mary Edith (1897-1982), Miller James (1902-1967), Ruth Onalee (1904-1981), Glenn MacIntyre (1906-1997) and Jay Reed (1909-1984). 

Peter Carmichael - Peter R Carmichael (1874-1947, son of James Carmichael (1824-???) and Jean Isabel McIntyre (1836-???)). married Mary B Walkley in 1894. 

R.L. Walkley - Rosman L. Walkley (1838-1930, son of Richard Walkley and Juliette Mills) married Maryetta Peck (1843-1922) in 1866. Their only son, Frank Lincoln Walkley (1867-1961) married Carrie Evelyn Coe (1864-1948, daughter of Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice) in 1894. 

Stephen Walkley - Elizabeth is off by a generation with the ancestry of the Walkley family. Miller and Rosman were the sons of Richard Walkley and Juliette Mills. Richard was the son Stephen Walkley (1778-1869) and Hannah Lawrence (1785-1863). If you are looking for more information about the Walkley family, in 1965 Edith Coker Jinks published Rosman Lawrence family : embracing the descendants, as far as known, of Rosman Lawrence of Middletown, Connecticut and his descendants of other names. The book is available on Ancestry and through various libraries. 

Previous Post in the Memories of the Coes: Father Albert Coe

Next Post in the Memories of the Coes: Prentice Family