Started this last year, and though I love the idea of writing about an ancestor each week, I've given up. Still, I thought this was an interesting story so am publishing it a year late.
This year I am participating in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing prompts. The goal is to write and blog the story of one of my ancestors each week. I'm starting a month behind because of travel schedules, but I am determined to catch up. The topic for this week is outcast. Was Amos Dye an outcast? How did this Ohio native end up in Arizona Territory married to a woman younger than his daughter?
Like many family historians, I use the website Ancestry.com for much of my genealogy research. On the site, researchers are often tempted by the leaf hints that appear on our family trees. One of the hints I received for you was for a tombstone in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is the tombstone of a Civil War era Union Soldier. At first, I was convinced that it could not be you. Afterall, born in 1847, you were younger than most who served. I easily found the record of an Amos Dye who served in Company D, 77th Ohio Infantry.
Looking at the history of the 77th Ohio, which was formed in Marietta, Ohio, I realized you certainly fit in that location. I also found a record of your brother Henry's enlistment in the 77th on 9 Dec 1961. Henry saw a good deal of action with the 77th, the Battles of Shiloh, Fallen Timbers, the siege of Corinth, the Battle of Bayou Fourche and the capture of Little Rock. I believe that Henry got to come home in the fall of 1863. The Regiment reenlisted 20 Dec 1863 and mustered in 22 Jan 1864. This was just a couple of days after you and brother Dudley enlisted. Were you so impressed by the stories of his adventures, that you decided to go also? Did Henry think at as Second Lieutenant he could assure your survival?
When Henry mustered out 10 Oct 1865, he'd stayed six months after Lee's surrender. The Regiment was in Texas and after 4 years, I guess he had seen enough. Were you and Dudley given the choice to stay or go? We'll probably never know but you both stayed until the Regiment finished its assignment and was returned to Ohio.
Like many family historians, I use the website Ancestry.com for much of my genealogy research. On the site, researchers are often tempted by the leaf hints that appear on our family trees. One of the hints I received for you was for a tombstone in Phoenix, Arizona.
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| Amos Dye Tombstone Photo from www.findagrave.com Memorial ID 32502073 photo by Diane & John Masons Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona |
This is the tombstone of a Civil War era Union Soldier. At first, I was convinced that it could not be you. Afterall, born in 1847, you were younger than most who served. I easily found the record of an Amos Dye who served in Company D, 77th Ohio Infantry.
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| www.fold3.com from National Archives Publication M552 |
Looking at the history of the 77th Ohio, which was formed in Marietta, Ohio, I realized you certainly fit in that location. I also found a record of your brother Henry's enlistment in the 77th on 9 Dec 1961. Henry saw a good deal of action with the 77th, the Battles of Shiloh, Fallen Timbers, the siege of Corinth, the Battle of Bayou Fourche and the capture of Little Rock. I believe that Henry got to come home in the fall of 1863. The Regiment reenlisted 20 Dec 1863 and mustered in 22 Jan 1864. This was just a couple of days after you and brother Dudley enlisted. Were you so impressed by the stories of his adventures, that you decided to go also? Did Henry think at as Second Lieutenant he could assure your survival?
When Henry mustered out 10 Oct 1865, he'd stayed six months after Lee's surrender. The Regiment was in Texas and after 4 years, I guess he had seen enough. Were you and Dudley given the choice to stay or go? We'll probably never know but you both stayed until the Regiment finished its assignment and was returned to Ohio.
The 1870 Federal Census listed you as "Works in Oil Well" in Lawrence, Washington County, Ohio with your wife Marinda and son Herbert age 3 and daughter Ida M. age 1. I have yet to discover how you were educated in the law but the 1880 Federal Census lists you as a lawyer and you are living in Huntington, Cabell County, West Virginia with the same wife and children.
You went on to serve as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, an Ohio State Senator, a police Court Judge and became a prominent lawyer in Hamilton County, Ohio. Then your wife, Marinda (McCowan) died at the age of 49 on May 24, 1894. You had been married for 30 years.
About 18 months later you married Ida Schaetzle. This came as quite a shock to your children by Marinda who were both older than your bride. One of her children, my great grandmother, was already married and a mother herself and shared a first name with your second wife. Not to mention, that Ida had most recently been working as a servant in your home.
Then came the Food and Dairy Commission Scandal. You were accused of taking bribes and enormous legal fees totally $3, 910.03 according to an article in the Democratic Standard of Coshocton, Ohio published on March 13, 1896. Next thing we know, you and your second family are living in Phoenix, Arizona Territory.
On January 1, 1906, the Arizona Republican (Phoenix) published a notice for your funeral. I found the notice at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6866/images/NEWS-AZ-TH_AR_RE.1906_01_01_0012?pId=475038732
When we were children living in Southern California, we used to visit Selma Ford in Beverly Hills when your granddaughter Hazel Bynon (Allen) Cone came to visit. I never really understood our relationship to Selma until I began more in-depth genealogy research. Today, I know that Selma was your daughter from your 2nd marriage.
There are two additional inconsistencies in your death notice. One, all the records I've found list you as having served as a private not Colonel in the 77th Ohio Infantry. Second, you were a Grand Master for Odd Fellows when you lived in Cincinnati but were buried in the Masonic Cemetery.
So, it appears you were cast out from your life and family in Ohio.
There are so many additional questions to ask and research to do in Cincinnati.
Love, your 2nd great granddaughter,
Cecily
PS For family members here is our relationship to Amos Dye:
Amos Dye married Marinda Jan McCowan 11 Feb 1864 their daughter
Ida Mae Dye married Chester Bynon Allen 18 Sep 1890 their daughter
Hazel Bynon Allen is my paternal grandmother
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