Rebecca (Paul) Hartley (1806-1901) Dies in Cedar Rapids

The only image I have of Rebecca (Paul) Hartley and her husband George Washington Hartley (1805-1880).  Courtesy of Sarah Bennett.

My 3rd great grandparents Rebecca Paul and George Hartley were the parents of my 2nd great grandfather James Monroe Hartley (1846-1904)

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette (from NewspaperArchive.com)
January 5, 1901, Saturday
page 7, col 2 

A Splendid Life Closed. 

Brief Sketch of Mrs. Rebecca Hartley, Who Died Yesterday. 

Mrs. Rebecca Hartley, who died at her home at 1123 South Third street yesterday morning at the age of 91 years, leaves over one hundred living lineal descendants to mourn her death. 

The exceeding good health of this aged lady all through her life is something remarkable.  From the time she was an infant till death closed her eyes in sleep she never employed a physician for either herself or her children.  Up till but a few weeks ago she managed all of her own business affairs and even to the day before her death did much of the work in her own kitchen.  She was hearty, hale and exceedingly bright till about six weeks ago, when she fell and injured her hip and it is believed by her children that this injury hastened her to the end of her life. 

The evening preceding her death she ate a hearty supper and retired.  Yesterday morning she announced to those about her that she was tired and not ready to arise.  She fell quietly into a peacful sleep, from which she never awakened. 

Rebecca Paul was born of Quaker parentage in Philadelphia, Pa., on January 13, 1806.  She was married to George Hartley March 17, 1825, and in the fall of 1829 crossed the mountains with her husband and two small children in a stage, settling in Cincinnati, O., for a short time.  In the year 1831 they moved to Indiana and two years later to Missouri, where they remained but a few months.  In 1834 they located in Jersey county, Illinois, and ten years later came to this state, settling in Lee county.  They returned to Illinois in 1853, but came back to Iowa in 1853, settling in Johnson county, where they remained for three years.  They then came to Cedar Rapids and the lady has ever since made this her home, her husband dying in 1880, at the age of 75. 

She was the mother of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. The oldest one living is Solomon, now 73, who has resided with his mother in this city for many years. Two of the daughters and one son have died.  She was the grandmother of sixty-four children, fifty of whom are living, and the great-grandmother of sixty-three children.  Of the latter there are fifty-four living. 

Mrs. Hartley clung to the custom of her religion through her entire life, making all of her clothes, silk and calico alike, from the same pattern.  Her dress was that of the Quaker and she ardently followed up the teachings she had received when a child.    She lived a plain and simple life, performing the duties of a gentle mother and loving wife.  Her years were many and were happy ones, as she enjoyed a health which few are favored with in this life's lot.  All of the children living, with the exception of three boys in California, will be here to attend the funeral.  Final arrangements for the services and interment have not been complete.

Her will is transcribed here.

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Rebecca (Paul) Hartley List of Heirs

List of heirs for Rebecca Hartley.  There are no surprises in this list, but it does confirm what I know about the relationships, ages, and locations of these people at this time, which is always nice.  Linn County, Iowa. Probate case file no. 3166, Fee book No. 12, p. 66.  Administration, Estate of Rebecca Hartley; digital images, Ancestry Iowa, Wills and Probate Records 1758-1997 (http://interactive.ancestry.com/9064/007638173_01151/2040739 : 8 Oct 2016).

My 3rd great grandmother, Rebecca (Paul) Hartley (1806-1901), died in Cedar Rapids and left a will. She named her second son, George W Hartley (1831-1911), who lived 250 miles away in Marcus, Iowa, as sole executor of her will.

Her son J (James). M. Hartley (1846-1904, who married Mary Jane "Jennie" Tibbetts) is my 2nd great grandfather.

How I trace to James M Hartley.

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Kingston, Linn County, Iowa: Comparing 1868/1869 and Now

Kingston was on the west side of the Cedar River opposite Cedar Rapids, as seen in this land ownership map.  D. W. Ensign & Co., "Map of Linn County, Iowa," Thompson & Everts (Geneva, Il.); digital image, Library of Congress: Maps (https://www.loc.gov/item/2012587552/ : accessed 8 Dec 2015).

Both of my parents had direct ancestors (Porter Worden/Hannah Leonard and George W Hartley/Rebecca Paul) living in Kingston City, Linn, Iowa in the 1860 Federal Census.  I have no idea if they knew each other.

Porter Worden (Ancestry's original indexer put Wooden) and family in "Rapids," yet their post office was Kingston.  Am I to assume they were west of the river, maybe in the rural area immediately outside Kingston?

George Hartley and family appear to be in Kingston proper.

Kingston does not come up as a place on modern maps.  It's existence is referenced by a modern apartment development at the terminal end of the old Kingston area limit:

Google Maps snapshot of the Kingston area.

I am not sure where exactly my ancestors lived in Kingston, but the northern part of it can be seen in this 1868 birds-eye view of Cedar Rapids:

These birds-eye maps are always fun.  A Ruger, "Birds eye view of the city of Cedar Rapids and Kingston, Linn Co., Iowa 1868." Chicago Lithographing Co.; digital image, Library of Congress: Maps (http://www.loc.gov/item/73693391/ : accessed 8 Dec 2015).

A closeup shows remarkably little in the layout of the area has changed compared to a snapshot from Google Earth today:

© 2015 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Nora and Jennie Worden, 1st Cousins, Pose For a Portrait

First cousins Nora and Jennie Worden, likely in Anamosa, Jones County, Iowa.  Note the rosy cheeks that were added in.  They appeared to be on a wood plank floor, and a painted countryside scene in the back.  From my personal collection, courtesy of Olive Kennedy.

My 2nd great grandmother, Elnora "Nora" May Worden (1867-1928), was born in Lisbon, Linn, Iowa, and died in Ewing Township, Holt County, Nebraska.  She posed with her cousin Mariah Jane "Jennie" Worden (1870-1900), who was her first cousin.  I'm assuming that Nora was sitting because she was older than Jennie.

This image was taken from a marathon scanning party back with Slater relations in 2011, and in my excitement to just finally put a face to a name I failed to note the specific details, like the size, and condition of the photograph.  I need another look at the original to determine what type it is (perhaps a tintype).

I also failed to note the details of this photograph. The occasion that prompted this photo is unknown, even the time of year is not obvious to me, although as two daughters of Iowa farmers I am assuming they were dressing up.  Their everyday wear was probably considerably more practical.  Since Jennie was born in 1870, I think that this picture was taken at least a few years after 1880, since she looks older than 10.

They wore ribbons in their hair. Nora had bangs, but the rest of her hair is of undetermined length.  Jennie's hair appears to be pulled back (part of it peeks from behind).  They both wore earrings.

Both have collars that appear to me to be separate from the dresses.  Nora's looks lacy; it is harder to determine the fabrication of Jennie's.  They each wear a brooch at the front of the collar, backed by ribbon.

They both appear to be wearing rings.  Assuming this image is the correct orientation (not mirror image), then Nora has a ring on her right ring finger, while Jennie has a ring on her left ring finger.  I'm going to have to research what the ring fingers meant back then.  Nora married in 1884 (at age 17), Jennie in 1891 (at age 21).  IF this image is indeed reversed, then this picture was likely taken Dec 1884 or after, as Nora would have a ring on her wedding finger.

Each girl showed her unique fashion sense in this picture.  An historical fashion expert of this period could probably pinpoint the approximate date of this photo based on the fashion alone, but alas I am not such an expert.

Jennie's dress appeared to have an all-over print, and had extensive pleating at the cuffs, overskirt, and underskirt.  The boots look practical, not polished.

As a fashion magazine aficionado I wonder which, if any, Nora and her cohort looked at for their clothing styles.  I was surprised that by the 1880's there were already quite a few women's magazines, which included fashion, available.

Not exactly the same, but this Godey's Lady's Book from 1880 has an all-over print and the pleating is similar to Jennie's outfit.

I originally thought of the fabric Nora was wearing was tartan, but on reconsideration I think it was termed plaid, which makes more sense.

Fashion plaid in 1880 (Godey's Lady's Book).

A description of the above outfits:

According to the following article, the following women's magazines might have been available to the Worden girls as sources for fashion:  McCall's, The Delineator (later Butterick's), Ladies Home Journal (1883 and after), Woman's Home Companion, and Good Housekeeping (1885 and after).

A quick look through historical newspapers of the time and place reveal a number of these magazines were indeed available in the Anamosa/Cedar Rapids area.  I don't know if the girls made their own clothes or had a dressmaker make them, or if they purchased them.

The Wyoming Journal, Wyoming, Iowa, April 28, 1871, page 4.
Available free through Digital Archives of the Jones County Genealogical Society.

The Anamosa Journal, Anamosa, Iowa, December 1, 1887, page 3.
Available free through Digital Archives of the Jones County Genealogical Society.

The Wyoming Journal, Wyoming, Iowa, December 6, 1888, page 1.
Available free through Digital Archives of the Jones County Genealogical Society.

If the girls made their own clothes, they would have access to the paper patterns published by Ellen Louise Curtis Demorest's pattern and fashion magazines (later became Butterick's).  There is a full version of one of these magazines from 1865 available at the Internet Archive:

Some fashion details to note back in 1865.

© 2015 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.