Clarissa Viles Taute

Long at last, here is a photo of the oldest daughter of Jotham Viles and Mary Ann Leech, Clarissa A. Viles. Clarissa Viles was born on 1 October 1849 in Delavan, Walworth, Wisconsin. She died on 21 August 1913 in Paton, Greene, Iowa. This photo was displayed at her funeral on 21 September 1913 and I  cropped it from the funeral photograph. Alice Thankful Taute Pemble took the funeral photograph.

Clarissa certainly inherited the chin dimple that seems to be a Viles trait.

Now, I would like a photo of Clarissa's husband, Augustus Taute.

Snow and More Snow

This week, the United States was hit hard by a large winter storm. Some 30 states were reported to be affected. Where I live, we first were hit with freezing rain and then sleet. Chicago was hit hard with snow.

This is a picture of Gretchen Taute taken in Lemmon, South Dakota during the winter of 1937. It may have been 1938 or 39.

There is mountain of snow and getting around could not have been easy.

Chistmas Eve Dinner

This past Sunday, we were driving home from church and Prairie Home Companion was on the radio. Garrison Keillor described a traditional Norwegian Christmas meal with the lutefisk. I just cannot describe it better. So if you really want to know what lutefisk is without tasting it, listen to Garrison's description in the December 18, 2010 News From Lake Wobegon. He was spot on.

We would start the meal with fruit soup which is made with pearl tapioca, a variety of dried fruits, stick cinnamon and grape juice. Then, the main course would include lutefisk (cod fish cured in lye) with boiled potatoes drown in melted butter. There would be a vegetable, a salad, and lots of lefse which looks a lot like a tortilla except that it is made out of potatoes. We would butter the lefse and sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon  and then roll it up. We usually had one or two fruit pies for dessert. There would also be several cookies like krumkaka, fattigmond and rosettes.

My grandmother without an ounce of Norwegian blood would make this meal on Christmas Eve. My grandmother with both Norwegian and Swedish heritage would make several English dishes.

Merry Christmas to all!

Mrs. William H. Moore - Helen Leach or Helen Fine?

Another perfect afternoon was wasted after I decided to enter "Helen Leach" into familysearch.org to see if ANY new documents popped up. And well, yes, something did. Helen Leach/Leech b. 1838 in Maine is the sister of Mary Ann Leach/Leech, one of the main subjects of this blog. I have tracked down all of Mary Ann's brothers and parents. But, Helen has eluded my past searches. Helen is enumerated with her mother, Hannah Leech, in 1850 in Delevan, Walworth, Wisconsin and appears to be enumerated with her mother, Hannah, in the 1855 Wisconsin Census in Delavan, Walworth, Wisconsin (it used to be on pilot.familysearch.org but is not appearing on familysearch.org). Previously, I was not been able to find Helen in the 1860 Federal Census or in the Walworth County Marriages. So, when I found the entry below, I got a little excited. Especially when I found Helen and her husband, William in Walworth County, Wisconsin in 1860! Helen is enumerated as 21 years old, born in Maine. All consistent with my Helen.

Name: Anna A. Houghtting
Death Date: 13 Apr 1919

Death Place: San Berrito, Cameron, Texas

Gender: Female

Race: W

Death Age: 47 years 10 months 16 days

Estimated Birth Date:

Birth Date: 17 Jun 1872

Birthplace: Rockford, Iowa

Marital Status: Married

Spouse's Name:

Father's Name: Wm H. Moore

Father's Birthplace: Old Town, New Jersey

Mother's Name: Helen M. Leach

Mother's Birthplace: Maine

Occupation: Farmer

Place of Residence:

Cemetery:

Burial Date: 14 Apr 1919

Additional Relatives: X

Film Number: 2073563

Digital Film Number: 4023777

Image Number: 85

Reference Number: 85

 
What has me a bit concerned, is that several online family trees have the wife of William H. Moore as Helen "FINE". No one listed a marriage but that is what is needed here. A marriage record that states William H. Moore married Helen ???. Well, so far, I have not found one. 
 
Hopefully, one of the Moore/Fine descendants have found a marriage record or have additional information that I am missing. But, a quick check of my trusted Maine research sites, and I was coming up with a couple of questionable "FINE" families in Maine during the 1840-1850 time frame and maybe none. Yet, in the 1860 Census and in the 1870 Census enumerated in Rockford, Floyd, IA, Helen is born in Maine. In both of the 1860 and 1870 census, William is listed as being born in New Jersey. There are certainly several "Fine" families in New Jersey but none appear to have a daughter named Helen born in 1838 in Maine.

In the next post, more clues from Anna Houghtling's death certificate and more census clues.

Joseph H Leech - Land Patent

Land Patent for Joseph H. Leech



When I found this land patent on the Bureau of Land Management's website, I wanted to know if this was the same Joseph Leech, son of William R. Leech and Hannah Sewell, born in Maine>moved to Wisconsin with his mother>moved to Iowa with his brother-in-law, Jotham Viles>settled in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. Valuable information can be gleaned from the patent file. Here are some things that I found in the file:

No. 14335

CASH ENTRY

Land Office at Michell, D.T. [Dakota Territory]

Sec. 15, Town. 103, Range 67

Patented Apr 20 1888

Recored Vol. 21, Page 76

The land was purchased on 5 Dec 1885 by Joseph H Leech, residing in Brule County, Territory of Dakota, North East Quarter of Section 15 in Township 103 of Range No 67 of the 5 Principal Meridian containing 160 acres. He bought the land for $1.25 per acre totaling Two Hundred Dollars.

An Affiviavit dated 20 Apr  1888 by Joseph H Leech, was sworn and subscribed in Bon Homme County, Territory of Dakota.

Date of Residence,  May 7, 1883

Date of Entry, May 7, 1883

Date of Proof, Dec. 1, 1885

Date of Advertised, Dec. 1, 1885

Date of Certification, Dec. 5, 1885

Improvements, Frame house, shingle roof 12 x 20, 40 acres broken

Value of $600

Residence claimed, 2 y. 6 mos 24

Claimant's family, Wife & 5 children

Paid $14.00 on May 7, 1883 to the Register for a Homestead Application.

The house was built in 1882 and Joseph purchased the house from the entry man.

An Non-Mineral Affidavit signed in Davison County, Territory of Dakota by Joseph H Leech on 1 Dec 1885.

C M Gregory (acquainted with Joseph Leech for 30 years) and Clark A Edgecomb signed Homestead Proof - Testimony of Witness for Joseph.

On 1 Dec 1885, Joseph claimed to be 39 years old and native of the United States. He had a wife and 5 children. He had only been gone from the property for 3 days to harvest grain since May 7, 1883.

Joseph H. Leech was given a Homestead Certificate No. 14335.

What did I learn from this file? It is highly probable that this is the same Joseph Leech who was born in Maine and later lived in Bon Homme County, South Dakota based on age,affidavit taken in Bon Homme County, nativity, and consistent with arrival date to South Dakota reported on South Dakota 1905 Census by two daughters . Joseph and his family arrived in South Dakota on or before May 1883. Assuming that this is the correct Joseph, Joseph and his wife, Alice had a child who was most likely born between December 1882 and May 1883 and died before 1900. Alice mostly like died in South Dakota before 1900.

Now the question is who the heck is C M Gregory that had known Joseph for 30 years? This implies that C M Gregory lived in Wisconsin with Joseph.

Beautiful Butterflies

A little break from gravestone hunting in cemeteries. I could not resist taking these photos of the butterflies.

Elinor (Eleanor) Viles Daughter of Joseph Viles and Elinor Heald

The family group of Joseph Viles born 05 Sept 1792 in Orland, Hancock, Maine and Elinor (Eleanor) Heald had gaps in it. Joseph Viles b. 1792 was the uncle of Jotham Viles and brother of Alfred Viles. Either there were missing children or several children died. Well, I just found a child to fill one gap thanks to Pilot Family Search. I used the advance search and put in "Joseph" for First and Middle Names, "Viles" for Last Name and "Eleanor" for Spouse. There were 20 exact and close matches. The top three were my couple: marriage record in Maine, death record in Wisconsin, and the third was the surprise. A Massachusetts death of Elinor C. Leach. Hmmmm .......

JACKPOT! There is no doubt that Elinor C. Leach is the daughter of Joseph and Elinor (Eleanor) Viles. She was born in Anson, Maine. Anson was where Joseph and Elinor Viles lived before moving to Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin circa 1845.

Return of A Death    City or Town: Raynham
Full Name: Elinor C. Leach   Register No. 26
Place of Death: Raynham Centre St.    Date of Death: Sept 2 1908
Residence: Raynham      Age: 86 years - months 25 days
Sex F Color W     Single, Married, Widowed, or Divorced   M
Maiden Name: Elinor C. Viles
Husband's Name: Zelotes Leach
Birthplace: Anson, Me
Name of Father: Joseph Viles
Birthplace of Father: unknown
Maiden Name of Mother: Elinor Heald
Birthplace of Mother: unknown
Occupation: none
Informant: Willard G Leach, Raynham
Place of Burial or Removal: Raynham Pleasant St. Cem
Undertaker: E Milbank

What I learned from this document was that Joseph and Eleanor (Heald) Viles had at least one child who did not make the trip to Wisconsin. Elinor Viles was born (calculated from death date) on 8 August 1822 in Anson, Somerset, Maine. She married Zelotes Leach and died on 2 September 1908 in Raynham, Bristol, Massachusetts at the age of 86 years 25 days. Her father and mother were Joseph Viles and Elinor Heald.

Additional research indicates that Elinor Viles was previous married to Mr. Green. That marriage has not been located. Elinor Green and Zelotes Leach were married on 12 December, 1847 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. It is also not clear whether Elinor and Zelotes Leach had any children. Zelotes Leach apparently was also previous married married to Martha C. Gary. The informant on Elinor Leach's Return of Death was Willard G. Leach, son of Zelotes and Martha.

Viles Information in Wisconsin and Iowa

My last post discussed new databases for Maine research. As discussed in past posts, numerous Maine Viles families migrated first to Wisconsin settling primarily in Walworth County. From Wisconsin, they scattered West. Many moved to Iowa or Minnesota. Pilot.FamilySearch.org has databases with birth, marriage, and death records for Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. I found the marriage records to be the most complete. I believe that many records are missing from the birth and death records probably because they were not recorded. If the image is not linked to the index on Pilot.FamilySearch.org, the FHL film source will be listed. Researching these families is certainly becoming easier.

Maine Databases

On April 27, 2010, pilot.FamilySearch.org updated three important databases for Maine research.

• Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900
• Maine Marriages, 1771-1907, 1739-1900
• Maine Deaths and Burials, 1841-1910, 1739-1900

This is wonderful! There appear to be several databases. The same marriage may appear several times with slightly different information. And a word of caution, some of the marriage dates may in fact may be the marriage intentions and not the actual marriage date.

The research Wiki at FamilySearch.org cautions that databases are not complete for any given area. The LDS source film is given with each entry so that original can be checked out.

In terms of the subject Viles family of this blog, there appear to be several individuals that are members of the family yet not connected in my database. For example, there is a Susan Viles that marries Levi Butler. See entry below:

Groom's Name: Levi Butler

Groom's Birthplace: Of Norridgewock
Bride's Name: Susan Viles
Bride's Birthplace: Of Norridgewock
Marriage Date: 18 Sep 1849
Marriage Place: Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine
Indexing Project (Batch) No.: M52268-1
System Origin: Maine-EASy
Source Film Number: 11577

This couple is living next to Alfred and Thankful Viles in Starks, Somerset, Maine in the 1850 Census. The unanswered question screams, "Is Susan Viles the daughter of Alfred and Thankful (Norton) Viles?"

Elijah Butler and Naomi Viles Family Group Sheet

Notes: There may be other children. Also, not every fact has been verified. Most of the sources are secondary sources. If you have better information, please let me know. I also have information on the grandchildren of Elijah and Naomi Butler.

Husband: Elijah BUTLER son of Henry Butler and Mehitable Norton
Birth: Abt. 1798 in Massachusetts
Marriage: 20 Mar 1823 in New Vineyard, Franklin, Maine, USA [2]
Death: Bef. 1870 in Genoa City, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA [1]

Wife: Naomi VILES daughter of Joseph Viles and Sarah Hancock
Birth: 1805 in Orland, Hancock, Maine, USA
Death: 11 Jul 1882 in Genoa City, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA or Bureau, Illinois.

Children:
1 Name: Asa Hunt BUTLER [1, 3]
Birth: 07 Oct 1825 in New Vineyard, Franklin, Maine, USA [1, 3, 4]
Marriage: 26 Jan 1854 in Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA
Death: 13 Nov 1914 in Petrolia, Humboldt, California, USA [5]
Spouses: Rosina FARNSWORTH (b: 12 Oct 1830 d. 12 Oct 1902 Petrolia, Humbodt, California [5])

2 Name: Harriet Downs BUTLER [1]
Birth: 26 Mar 1826 in Industry, Franklin, Maine, USA [1, 5]
Death: 03 Aug 1907 in Churn Creek, Shasta, California, USA [5]
Spouses: John S LEEMAN (b: 1824)
Mathias Mathew BRAND (b: 23 Jun 1825) Marriage: 08 Nov 1859 in Shasta, California, USA [6]


3 Name: Sumner BUTLER [1]
Birth: Oct 1830 in New, Franklin, Maine, USA [1, 7]
Marriage: 03 Jul 1859 in Steele, Minnesota, USA [8]
Death: Aft. 1910 mostly likely New Mexico
Spouses: Jeannette SIMMONS (b: 1826)

4 Name: Francis BUTLER [1]
Birth: 20 Nov 1832 in New Vineyard, Franklin, Maine, USA [1]
Marriage: 12 Jan 1858 [9]
Death: 06 Nov 1915 in Elkhorn, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA [1]
Spouses: George E. BURPEE (b: 1821)

5 Name: Martha BUTLER
Birth: 12 Nov 1835 in Farmington, Franklin, Maine, USA [1]
Marriage: 1862
Death: 21 May 1922 in Esbon, Jewell, Kansas, USA [5]
Spouses: Emory CLEMONS

6 Name: Lorahama BUTLER [1]
Birth: 1838 in Maine, USA [1]
Marriage: 20 Dec 1869 in Elkhorn, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA
Death: 1921
Spouses: Charles WALES (b: 1818)

8 Name: Mary BUTLER [1]
Birth: 1842 in New Vineyard, Franklin, Maine, USA [1]
Marriage: 29 Mar 1873 in Delavan, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA
Death: 02 Apr 1932 Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA [5]
Spouses: Jerome S MILLER (d. 10 Nov 1896 Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska)

9 Name: Jennie BUTLER [1]
Birth: Dec 1848 in Maine, USA [1, 10]
Marriage: 18 Dec 1877 in Elkhorn, Walworth, Wisconsin, USA
Death: 12 Apr 1938 in Bureau, Illinois, USA [11]
Spouses: Joseph W. ALBRECHT (b: Jun 1845 d. 03 Jan 1929 [11])

Sources

1 Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006), Database online.Record for Elijah Butler.
2 Hatch, William Collins, History of Industry (Press of Knowlton, McLeary & Co., 1893, 894 pgs.).
3 Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Database online. Petrolia, Humboldt, California, ED 40, roll T9_66, page 445.4000, image 0192.Record for Asa Butler.
4 Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004).
5 FindAGrave.com.
6 Pamela Lane Dollarhide, Pamela Lane Dollarhide.
7 Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004).
8 State of Minnesota, Minnesotal Offical Marriage System (2009), http://www.mncounty.com/Modules/Certificates/Marriage/Default.aspx.
9 Pamela Lane Dollarhide, Pamela Lane Dollarhide.
10 Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004).
11 Illinois Statewide Death Index 1915-1950.
12 Hatch, William Collins, History of Industry (Press of Knowlton, McLeary & Co., 1893, 894 pgs.), 836.

Asa Butler and Fred Farnsworth Bound for California

Asa Butler moved with his parents and large extended family from Maine to Walworth County, Wisconsin circa 1850. He married Rosina Farnsworth on 26 Jan 1854 in Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin. It is not known whether this couple had any children or not. Then, prior to 1860, Asa and his brother-in-law, Fred Farnsworth, travel by covered wagon from Wisconsin through Fort Kearney, the South Pass. Asa, Rosina and Fred are found in the 1860 census of Eel River Twp, Humboldt, California in 1860. Asa's sister, Harriet Downs Butler Leeman also made her way to California but settled in Shasta County. Harriet married Mattias Brand on 8 Nov 1859 in Shasta, California. From Serial Set Vol. No. 1100, Session Vol. No. 9; Report: H. Exec. Doc. 63; Asa Butler had 1 wagon, 2 people, and 4 stock destine for California. Fred (listed as F. Carnsworth) had 2 wagons, 4 people and 8 stock destine for California. The interesting question becomes, who were the other four people? Was one of the party, Harriet Leeman who was a widow at the time? Fred was not married yet. Just who were the other 3 or 4 unaccounted for persons??

It must have been an adventure.

Asa Hunt Butler b. Oct 1825 in New Vineyard, Franklin, Maine. Asa and Harriet's parents were Elijah Butler and Naomi Viles. Harriet was born 26 Feb or March 1826. Either Asa's or Harriet's birthdate is not correct.

Charles Viles

Charles C. Viles was the son of John G. Viles and Clara Baker, born 18 Apr 1885 in Vinton, Benton, Iowa according to the record of births for Benton County, Iowa.

Charles Viles, of this city, died Saturday morning at 7:30 o’clock, at Lane, Kan., in which city he had been operating a motion picture theater since last fall. His death was caused by pneumonia following an attack of influenza. Word was received from the father, who was at his bedside, Saturday morning, stating that the son had passed away. The body will be brought to Vinton for burial.

Mr. Viles was about 34 years of age, and was born and reared in Vinton. For several years he has been engaged in the motion picture business. Last fall he purchased a theater at Lane, Kan., and had been operating it since. His wife and son were with him. Besides the wife and son he is survived by his father and one sister, Mrs. Clark Hayward, of this city. His mother died a year ago.

The Evening Gazette Feb 09, 1920

Mrs. John Viles Dies at Vinton

Given name was Clara Baker.

Vinton, Ia., April 19 – Mrs. John Viles died at her home in this city early Wednesday morning. On Tuesday morning she suffered a stroke of paralysis, the stroke coming on while she was about her household duties. She was practically unconscious from the time of the stroke to the time of her death. Deceased was born in Big Grove township, May 31, 1857. She was married on April 11, 1877 to John G. Viles of this city, and she had lived in Vinton since the time of her marriage. She is survived by her husband and two children, Charles C. and Mrs. Florence Hayward, of this city; also two grandchildren, Mrs. Elmer Snow, Waterloo, and John L. Viles, this city, and one great-grandchild, Carl Hayward Snow. Funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 2:30 PM by Rev. D. MeMasters, pastor of the Baptist church.

Waterloo Evening Courier, Apr 19, 1918

John G. Viles of Vinton Dies

John G. Viles was born third child born to Jotham and Mary Ann Viles, on 1 Feb 1853 in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

Vinton, Ia. – John G. Viles, one of the pioneer residents of Vinton, died at his home here Monday. Mr. Viles was 77 years of age and was born in Wisconsin. At the age of nine years he came to Vinton with his parents and had resided here constantly since. He married in 1877 Miss Clara Baker who died 12 years ago. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Clark Hayward, and a grandson, Linford Viles of Victoria, Tex., and a granddaughter, Mrs. Helen Snow, of Cedar Rapids. He also has three great grandchildren. For the last 40 years Mr. Viles had been a carpenter at the College for the Blind here. Since the death of his wife, his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Hayward, have lived with him. Burial will be at Evergreen cemetery.

Waterloo Daily Courier, July 16, 1930

Art Taute and Brothers

The man seated is Arthur R. Taute, son of Augustus Taute and Clarissa Viles. He was born on 14 February 1880 in Paton, Greene, Iowa and died on 27 December 1927 in Tolley, Renville, North Dakota. I would like to know who these other gentlemen are. Presumably a couple of his brothers. The man on the left looks younger to me. Perhaps it is Ralph Taute b. 10 Apr 1887. The other three possiblities are George b. Dec 1869. Lemuel b. 10 Apr 1873 or the most likely, John Henry (Jack) b. 8 Jul 1876. George moved to Oklahoma and Lem moved to Minnesota. Ralph and Jack spent time in both North Dakota and Iowa.

This is a photo of Art and Alfred Taute b. 1875 d. 1906.

Dr. G. E. LEECH WILL REMOVE TO THE EAST

George Edwin Leech was the son of George Leech and Elizabeth G. Willis of Delavan, Walworth, Wisconsin. Born 17 Sep 1859 and died 04 Jun 1947.

Will Conduct His Farm at Vineland, N. J., and Also Open Practice

Dr. G. Ed. Leech, veterinarian, who has been located in Winona for the last 20 years, plans to leave with his wife the end of the week for Vineland, N.J. Dr. Leech will make his headquarters on a farm of 80 acres which he owns near that place and will undertake veterinary work in the south central part of New Jersey or the heart of Maryland. While he does not expect to personally conduct his farm he will oversee it and make that his headquarters for other work.

In the 20 years he has been located in Winona Dr. Leech has done general veterinary work for 15 years of that time has been inspector for interstate shipments of stock, looking into the health of livestock passing between the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. This service is now to be discontinued here, it is stated. Inspection work has increased in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as in other states, until now, with 10 or more inspectors to a state, this inspection can be performed at important points without the inconvenience of stopping the stock for inspection at points where they may pass from one state to another, it is stated. While in Winona Dr. Leech also served for seven years as city milk inspector.

Mrs. Leech also has been active, particularly along the line of promoting women’s work. For several years she acted as superintendent of the women’s department at the Tri-County fair in Winona. She also has served as assistant superintendant in the women’s department at the Minnesota state fair.

Winona Republic-Herald, Feb. 4, 1920

Grace B. Cramer Viles Obit

Grace B. Viles

Grace B. Viles, widow of Sewall C. Viles, 519 Fifteenth street NE, a lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids and a supervisor at the Children’s home, died in a Cedar Rapids hospital at 5:50 p.m. Friday. She was born Feb. 27, 1889 in Cedar Rapids.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Floyd Johnson of San Antonio; a brother, W.H. Cramer of Chicago, and two grandchildren.

Mrs. Viles was a member of St. Paul’s Methodist church, and Pythian Sisters.

Services will be conducted in Turner chapel at 1:30 p.m. Monday by Dr. Marvin B. Kober and the Pythian sisters. Burial will be in Cedar Memorial cemetery. Friends may call at the chapel.

Cedar Rapid Tribune July 14, 1951

Sewall C. Viles Obit

Sewall Chadborne Viles was the youngest son of both Jotham S. Viles and his third wife Laura Schutts and the only child born to this union.

"JACK VILES", FORMER MEMBER OF COUNCIL, IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Funeral services were held Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Paul’s M. E. church for Lieut. Col. S.C. (“Jack”) Viles, former member of the city council, who died at his home, 1414 Bever-ave, Tuesday morning after an extended illness. Rev. Dr. A. A. Brooks, pastor of St. Paul’s church officiated at the funeral. Mr. Viles had lived here 37 years.

Prominent in military circles, Mr. Viles was second in command of the 133rd infantry of the Iowa National Guard. He first enlisted in ING at Vinton, where he was born July 12, 1881. During the World war he served as instructor at training camps at Camp Custer, Mich. and Camp Lee, Va. He was a charter member of Hanford post American Legion.

In 1922-23 he was a deputy sheriff under former sheriff Tom Avery. In 1931 Mr. Viles was elected commissioner of public safety, serving two years. Following the death of “Jim” Travis, justice of the peace, Mr. Viles was named to fill the unexpected term, later being elected for a full term. He was a past president of the Barbers’ union.

Col. Viles was active in fraternal circles. He was past chancellor-commander of Star of the West lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythians, and a past deputy grand chancellor of the Pythians of Iowa. He was secretary of Ardekan temple of D.O.K.K. and a member of the local Pythian judiciary committee. He was a past noble grand of Maine lodge No. 613 I.O.O.F.

Besides his wife, Grace B. Viles, he is survived by his daughter, Eileen at home, and a son, Richard of San Bernardino, Calif.

Cedar Rapids Tribune, March 12, 1937

Joseph Leech in Springfield Cemetery

Pouring rain and an hour off the highway did not detour us from visiting Springfield Cemetery in Springfield, Bon Homme, South Dakota. The landscape was lush green grass with rolling hills and few trees. It is just north of the Missouri River and an hour west of the I-29 off the Vermillion exit.

The target graves were Joseph H. Leech d. 15 May 1927 (South Dakota Death Index, 1905-1955 on ancestry.com) and his son, Frank Leech d. 1900. The cemetery records indicate that they are buried in Block 28, lot 4, graves 6 and 5. A cemetery trustee gave us directions to the site. We searched long and hard in the very wet grass but did not find the graves of Joseph and Frank. However, we did find one for Joseph's granddaughter, Martha Alice (Stark) Newman. It appears that Martha who was also known as Alice, was named after both of her grandmothers. Joseph Leech married Alice Bentley in Benton County, Iowa 14 September 1872. The Martha comes from her paternal grandmother, Martha C (Armstrong) Stark. Martha Alice Newman shares a headstone with her husband, Victor Newman and Martha and George Stark are buried in the adjoining graves. Dennis Clyde Stark and Mary A. Stark, children of George and Martha Stark have nearby graves as well.





On the "To Be Found" list are the death/burial records for Alice (Bentley) Leech, Mary A. (Leech) Grinwis d.1910, and Oscar and Clara (Leech) Stark. Mary and Clara Leech are both daughters of Joseph and Alice Leech. Oscar is the son of George and Martha Stark and father of Martha Alice (Stark) Newman.

Jotham Viles's Wives

Jotham Viles married four women and had 8 or 9 nine children. Only his last wife did not bear him a child. His first wife was Mary Ann Leach, the assumed daughter of William R. Leach and Hannah Sewell. She has been the focus of much of my research. There is no document to date that establishes her parentage but there is much circumstantial evidence. Jotham Viles of Starks and Mary Ann married on October 1, 1848 in Augusta, Kennebec, Maine. Their intentions were published in the Maine Farmer on September 17, 1848 and the marriage announcement was published in the Age on October 12, 1848. This union produced 5 or 6 children: Clarissa, Serena, John, Helen, Frank? and Mary. All of the children were born in Walworth County Wisconsin.

Jotham's next wife was Sarah Diana Frost. They were married on June 3, 1861 in Tipton, Cedar, Iowa. There is evidence that they were living in both Wisconsin and Iowa during the next few years. Jotham and Sarah had two girls, Elsie Matilda and Iona. Sarah died on April 28, 1879 in Eden, Benton, Iowa.

Jotham's third wife was Laura E. Shutt (Schutts) Smith. They married on November 11, 1879 in Vinton, Benton, Iowa by L. S. Keagle. Laura's first husband, Silas Smith, did not die and in fact married two women after Laura and had many children. Laura brought her two sons with Silas with her, Frederick and George Smith. Jotham and Laura had one son of their own, Sewall Chadborne. Laura died on July 7, 1886.


Jotham married his last wife, Letha Ann Taylor Dodge, less than two years before his death. Letha was previously married to Elijah S. Dodge and had three sons by that union. Letha was 59 years old when they married February 16, 1889 by Levi S. Keagles and no children were produced by this marriage.