Genetic Chandler Family 47

Enos Chandler, born 1806 in Connecticut, is the earliest known ancestor for the genetically distinct Chandler family designated #47 by the Chandler DNA Project. His wife, Zilpha Tallman (1818-1901), was born in Rhode Island, and they were married 19 May 1839 in Thompson, Connecticut. The registration of their marriage says they were “both of Johnson R.I.”

1870 Census Record – Easton, New York

Enos and Zilpha are included in the 1870 United States census as residents of North Easton, Washington County, New York. (See census image above, where Zilpha’s name is badly misspelled.) Also in the household are Enos Chandler, Jr., age 23, and John B. Chandler, age 14. Enos, 65, is listed as a shoemaker and Zilpha, 51, as a housewife. Enos Jr. is a teamster; the occupation of 14-year-old John B. is given as “works at the meat market.” The 800 in the census record indicates that Enos had a “personal estate” worth $800.

According to a biographical article published in 1885 about his son Albert, Enos was a boot and shoe merchant in Troy (Rensselaer County), New York, whose father was a commissioned officer in the regular army and died soon after his retirement. Enos and Zilpha are buried in Greenwich Cemetery, Greenwich, New York, and Zilpha’s name is misspelled again on her grave marker (see below).

Grave markers for Enos and Zilpha (Tallman) Chandler in Greenwich Cemetery Photos courtesy of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III

Children of Enos and Zilpha included:

• Elizabeth G. Chandler (22 Mar 1840 – 15 Mar 1914, buried Greenwich Cemetery); married Lyman H. Meader (14 Feb 1834 – 26 Jan 1911, buried Greenwich Cemetery)
• Amanda (1842-1924, buried Greenwich Cemetery); married Charles L. Woodworth (16 Aug 1842 – 16 Oct 1898, buried Greenwich Cemetery)
• Mary Jane (Sep 1843 – 27 Apr 1897 Greenwich, New York, buried Greenwich Cemetery); married Mr. Griffin
• Sarah T. (6 Aug 1845 – 21 Nov 1911)
• Enos C. (16 Sep 1847 Troy, New York – 14 Feb 1884 Greenwich, NY, buried Greenwich Cemetery); married Mary Ann ? (Oct 1856 – Aug 1857, Greenwich, NY)
• Frances (born between August 1851 – June 1852); married R. Dawley ?
• Albert L. (26 Nov 1854, Saratoga, New York; married Stella Booth in Michigan 1878
• John B. (Jul 1856 Saratoga, New York – ?)
• Ida A. (1858 – 6 Apr 1896, Greenwich, New York, buried Greenwich Cemetery); married Mr. Williams

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Enos Jr., Albert L., and their sister Mary Jane all had children; no information has been found about children of the other siblings. Mary Jane Chandler and her husband “Mr. Griffin” had a daughter named Mary. Mary was born in Albany, New York, between July 1871 and May 1872. She married Franklin Tucker on November 4, 1879. Mary died 27 April 1897 and Frank died in 1905. They are both buried in Greenwich Cemetery.

We have some details of the lives of sons Enos Jr., who remained in Washington County and died in his thirties, and Albert L., who left the family at age 12 to seek his fortune, with considerable success, in Michigan.

Enos Chandler Jr., his wife Mary, and their two children lived in the historic village of Greenwich in Washington County. Located on the banks of the Batten Kill, a nationally recognized trout stream, Greenwich has been called “the most extraordinary, beautiful and architecturally intact village in all of upstate New York.” Nineteenth century storefronts line Main Street and the downtown area is surrounded by stately Greek revival and Victorian homes. Because the historic identity of Greenwich has been so well preserved, Enos would probably feel right at home there today.

Although he was a member of the Rough and Ready Engine No. 2 firehouse company, Enos Jr. was ill (see his obituary below) and may not have been able to attend the fifteenth annual ball and supper of the company held at the Opera House in Greenwich in early February 1884. A writeup in the February 14, 1884, issue of The People’s Journal, a local Greenwich newspaper, states that members of fire companies from nearby towns were present for the occasion. After dancing in the early part of the evening, a midnight supper was served to about 100 people.

This photograph at left of the historic firehouse of Rough and Ready Company No. 2 on Main Street in Greenwich, New York, was made in 2009 by Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III, a direct descendant of Enos Chandler Jr. who was a member of the company.

Enos Chandler Jr. died February 14, 1884. His obituary (below) was published in the February 21 edition of The People’s Journal:

Mary Ann (maiden name unknown), the mother in the portrait at left, was married to Enos Chandler until his death in 1884. Mary Ann and Enos had two children, Charles Enos, born March 31, 1876,  and Emeline (Emma), born September 16, 1881.  Charles Enos, son of Mary Ann and Enos Chandler, is not shown with the group in the portrait. To the right of Mary Ann is Emma Chandler, her daughter by Enos Chandler. The two younger children are Jay (in Mary Ann’s lap) and Flora, children of Mary Ann and her second husband, name unknown.

The portrait of Mary Ann and the children was produced by Arnold Photographic Studio, 45 Main Street, Greenwich, New York.

Charles Enos and his sister Emma are listed in the 12 June 1900 U.S. Census in Shiawassee, Michigan, perhaps under the care of their Uncle Albert (see below). According to family legend, Emma died of TB, possibly between 1900 and 1910. Charles married Nellie Derr about 1901 and had 4 sons: Albert, Harold, Kenneth, and Charles Enos II. All were born in Michigan except Kenneth, who was born in North Dakota. Albert died at about age 10 of complications from being kicked by a cow.

According to a biographical article published in 1891, Albert L. Chandler, brother of Enos Jr., left home as a boy of 12 and went to Michigan. It would be interesting to know more of his early story: did he travel to Michigan on his own or was he possibly in the care of family friends? At any rate, once in Michigan Albert went to work “for himself” on a farm. He saved money and then went to school in Sturgis, Michigan. Working his way through, he graduated from high school in 1872. Albert then continued his education at Hillsdale College in the town of Hillsdale in rural southern Michigan. He stayed at Hillsdale College — teaching, working and getting an education — for six years. In 1878 Albert returned back east to read law, spending time in the law library of Syracuse, New York. Perhaps he was able to reconnect with his family during this time.

Returning to Shiawassee County, Michigan, Albert was principal of Vernon High School for two years and in 1881 was admitted to the bar of Michigan at Corunna. Although he had partners in his early years, Albert later settled into a solo practice.

He married Stella Booth, daughter of Samuel Booth, a retired farmer of Coldwater, and niece of Cyrus Gray Luce, Michigan’s governor 1887-1991. Stella was born in Gilead, Branch County, Michigan. Albert and Stella had two daughters, Abbie, born February 1882, and Carol, born 1896.

Abert had diverse interests and activities beyond the practice of law. He enjoyed “the quiet pursuit of agricultural affairs” and owned several farms where he raised registered cattle and hogs. He managed the Shiawassee Paper Mill in Shiawassee Township for Godfrey and Clark of Pittsburg and also served as a special correspondent for various newspapers in the state. As of the date of the biographical article, he had served as city attorney, as deputy master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and as a representative from the county to Republican state conventions. He was defeated in a political race for U.S. Representative from Michigan in 1912.

Albert is listed in the Michigan State Bar Journal as one of six attorneys practicing in Owosso, Michigan, in 1921-22. Corunna and Ososso are both in Shiawassee County.

The only comment in the biography about Stella after the marriage says “Mrs. Chandler is a Presbyterian in her religious views and is a valued member of the church in this city.”

In researching the family of Enos Chandler Sr., Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III came across clues that indicate the Chandler and Meader families were at least neighbors, if not friends. John B. Chandler, younger son of Enos Sr., is shown in the 1870 census (see image at top of this page) as working “at the meat market.” Chuck believes John may have worked at Meader’s Meat Market in Greenwich, New York. Perhaps young John sometimes drove the “free-delivery wagon for orders received, kept in connection with market.” The advertisement is from a city directory of the period.

1 See Tallman entry in “Barbour Collection of CT Vital Records,” Births, Marriages, Deaths 1785-1850. Windham County, Connecticut, CT GenWeb Project. www.ctgenweb.org/county/cowindham/records/barbour/barbourthompsontuvwxyz.htm. Certified copy of marriage registration in files of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

2 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Easton, Washington County, New York, Series M593, Roll 1110, p. 97, dwelling #276, family #317, line 17. HeritageQuest [database online], ProQuest LLC, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

3 Portrait and biographical album of Clinton and Shiawassee counties, Mich., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state, p. 639. Copyright by Charman Bros. 1885.

4 Greenwich, NY Cemetery Records (approved by the Greenwich Cemetery Association), www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nywashin/cemetery/GreenwichCemetery.htm. There are about 10,000 graves in the cemetery. Sources of information include: “Greenwich Cemetery Listings” (index card file at the town library); The Greenwich Journal (town newspaper); Death Index, New York State Archives, Albany, NY; and tombstone inscriptions copied at the cemetery.

5 Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III pulled together the list of Enos and Zilpha’s children from clues in a number of different sources, which included the following:

• 1900 US census for Troy shows “Ziltha” and Sarah at 517 Jacob st. This was shortly before Zilpha died.
• Saratoga County office, U.S Census 19 July 1870, page 100, shows Sarah Chandler, age 24, working at cotton mill and Frances, age 18, “at home.”
• Saratoga Historian office has a book, “John Meader of Piscataqua, Volume 2, 1800 – 1875,” which contains #348 Lyman H. Meader 1834-1911, farmer in Easton and later owned a meat market in Greenwich. Married Elizabeth Chandler born 1840 died 1914. Children Henry R. Meader born 12 Aug 1873 died 1922.
• Saratoga Public Library has directories showing Sarah and Zilpha. For example, Kirwin 1884 lists Sarah, dressmaker, at room 14, 370 Broadway, and Zilpha, widow of Enos, boards at 73 Church.
• Troy Public Library has directories, “Troy Directory 1899” N917.4741 786d v.71 page 104 lists widow Mrs. Enos Chandler and Miss Sarah T. Chandler at 553 Jacob St.
• Aug 1890 newspaper People’s Journal (Greenwich): “Miss Sarah Chandler of Lansingburgh is visiting relatives and friends in town. Then went to Cossayuna Lake. Then went to L.P. Dawley’s.” Note: Cossayuna lake is where Frank Tucker lived at the time (married to Mary Jane Chandler).
• Peoples Journal, sometime in 1881-1886, refers to Mrs R. Dawley, Mrs. Ida Chandler, Mrs. Frank Tucker as sisters and brother Enos.
• Peoples Journal, May 6, 1886: “Mrs. R. Dawley and Mrs. Ida Chandler of Greenwich made a pleasant call on their sister, Mrs. Frank Tucker, on Monday.”
• Peoples Journal, Feb. 21, 1884: “Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tucker was called to Greenwich on Saturday last to attend the funeral of her brother, Enos Chandler.”

6 June 1875 census of Easton, NY, found in Washington County Clerk’s Office, 383 Broadway, Ft. Edward, NY. Copy in files of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

7 Jackson, Mary Smith, and Jackson, Edward, “Marriage Notices from Washington Co. Ny Newspapers, 1799-1880.” (Heritage Books, 2006).

8 Greenwich, NY Cemetery Records, www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nywashin/cemetery/GreenwichCemetery.htm.

9 Greenwich, New York (official website), www.greenwichny.org

10 World War I draft registration card, Shiawassee County, Corunna, Michigan, dated April 12, 1918. Photocopy in files of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

11 Certified transcript of birth for Emeline Chandler, 16 September 1881, State of New York, Department of Health. Copy in files of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

12 Handwritten identification on the reverse of the photograph. Photo in possession of Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

13 Information from reverse of photograph.

14 Family information provided by Charles Enos (Chuck) Chandler III.

15 “Portrait and biographical album of Clinton and Shiawassee counties, Mich.” (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891) pp. 639-640. Found online at books.google.com

16 1900 U. S. Federal Census, Ward 2, Corunna, Shiawassee County, Michigan, Supervisors District 8, Enumeration District 83, sheet 14, line 1. [Carol F., born 1896, is listed here as a son, but it is believed Carol was a daughter.]

17 “Portrait and biographical album of Clinton and Shiawassee counties, Mich.” (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891), pp. 640.

18 Michigan State Bar Journal, Volumes 1 & 2, published by the Michigan State Bar Association, Ann Arbor, Michigan, p. 243.

19 Political Graveyard, politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/usrep1910s.html

20 “Portrait and biographical album of Clinton and Shiawassee counties, Mich.” (Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1891), pp. 640.