Paxson Eighth Generation




Paxson Family:
Paxson logo    Eighth Generation    Paxson logo

Compiled and copyright by MJP Grundy, 2006

framing the walls

    By this generation the age spread has gotten very large. It is hard to say anything other than that each individual was eight generations from his or her immigrant Paxson ancestor(s). A few of this generation are still living and therefore this page will be incomplete. It is also incomplete because I have only a tiny fraction of the Paxson members who could appear here.

    If you have information that could be added to this page, I would be glad to hear from you via my dear husband's e mail, which is .

    You can refer to previous generations: the Seventh, or Sixth, or Fifth, or Fourth, or Third, or Second, or First (the Immigrant Generation), or English Ancestors from 1640 to 1682. There is also an alphabetical list of the individuals born into a Paxson family who are listed in these pages. If you know of Paxsons who are not here, and you can connect them to this larger Paxson tree, please contact me. For more information about this web site, go to its home page. You can also check out the list of collateral lines that married (sooner or later) into a Paxson line. This is far from complete.

    Most of the information on this Eighth Generation page has been generously passed on to me by other Paxson descendants; but I have not yet had time to verify it myself. The only reason for posting this page so early in the construction process is to appeal to readers for help. If you have information to add to this page, I would be very glad to hear from you via e mail.

    For this generation, since I do not expect it ever to be anywhere near complete, the individuals are listed alphabetically instead of in the genealogical order used for the previous generations. All of the individuals given here with their biographical entries are included in the alphabetical list of Paxsons.




Aaron B., the son of Ezeriah Paxson7 (Aaron6, Jr. Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Susannah (DELLINGER) Paxson, was born on 26 May 1851. He died 5 February 1916. Aaron married Sarah Catherine NULL on 2 October 1873.

Aaron got a quarter section, 160 acres, near Baxter Springs in southeast Kansas, in 1881. Family tradition has it that he and his wife first saw to the building of a large sturdy barn, living in it themselves until they were able to build a house. The barn still stands, with the "6 x 6 main beam super structure", held together with wooden pegs. It was designed for loose hay, and modern bales are much more difficult to stow in it. Around 1898 or 1900 Aaron built a larger house, square, two-storey, still standing, with a bathroom and small family room added in the 1960s. [My thanks to Steve Paxson, e mail 9m/1/2008 for this information.]

The area around Baxter Springs has lead mines, and it is possible that Aaron was involved in a local lead mine, perhaps even serving as president. Up until ca. 1970 there was a 120-acre place called Paxson Mill, about a mile away, on which there was a lead mine, run by Eagle-Picher. When it was sold the proceeds had to be divided among something like 260 heirs. I do not know which Paxson started it. [My thanks to Steve Paxson, e mail 9m/1/2008 for this information.]

Although Aaron may have been involved in a lead mine, his main occupation as well as his passion, was farming. He and his sons were well known for breeding jennies and jacks (mules) for other farmers. In his will he stated that at his death he wanted his sons to carry on with his life's work. This sentiment was echoed in his obituary, quoted below.

Although census enumerators often misspelled Aaron's last name as "Paxton", in his obituary and on his tombstone it is spelled "Paxson". His great grandson, who continues to live on the old homestead, also spells it Paxson—which is the correct spelling.

Aaron died of septicema on 5 February 1916. [Death certificate, data sent to me by Vanessa, 7m/8/2006.] His obituary gives a few more details of his life than show up in the census:

          Aaron Paxson was born May 26, 1851 and departed this life on Feb. 5, 1916, aged 64 years, 8 months and 10 days.
          Deceased was the eldest of a family of 12 children, five of whom survive. They are Martin Paxson of Alexandria, Ohio; Kate Stewart of Fairfield, OH; John C. Paxson of Portland, Ind; Emma Stewart of Fairfield, Ohio; Sarah Fundenburg of Xenia, Ohio.
          Deceased was married to Sarah C. Null of Delaware County, Indiana, on Oct. 2, 1873. He moved with his wife to this county in February 1881, and resided here continuously up to the time of his death. To this union ten children were born, eight of whom survive him. They are Elmer Paxson, John Paxson, Herbert Paxson, Willard Paxson, Charlie Paxson, Mrs. Ed Sharp, Mrs. Bertha Wade, and Miss Josie Paxson. Two children, Mrs. Maud Stoskopf and Miss Anna Paxson, died several years ago.
          Mr. Paxson was ill a long time, but during his long illness he was a patient sufferer, no word of complaint coming from him. He was given the best of medical attention and loving hands did all that was possible to save him. He realized, however, that he was not to get well, and seemed to be more concerned as his family than about himself.
          The wife and children are going to miss the kindness and good counsel of Mr. Paxson, and the community will miss a good man.
          Mr. Paxson was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
          Always a hard worker, he amassed quite a competence. He was square in his dealing with his fellow man, and had the confidence of all with whom he had dealings of any kind.
          Funeral services were held Monday, and the remains were interred in the Baxter cemetery.
[Baxter Springs News (Kansas) Feb. 10, 1916. The very kind and helpful folks at the Cherokee County Historical Society dug it out for Vanessa, who sent it to me, e mail 7/7/2006.]

According to the IGI, Aaron's wife (who that source does not name) was born 10 November 1851 and died 21 October 1926; her remains were buried at Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas. [IGI: Record submitted after 1991 by a member of the LDS Church. No additional information is available.]

Children of Aaron B. and Sarah Catherine (Null) Paxson: [My thanks to Vanessa for the names and dates of the children, e mail, 7/7/2006.]

i.        Elmer Christian Paxson8, b. 11 May 1874 OH; died 1941; called "Buck"; unmarried. He and his brother Herb and nephew Bob farmed the family homestead.

ii.       John T. Paxson, b. 23 Dec 1875 in Ohio; m. Blanche AMOS; had a son Ward Everett Paxson who m. Mary Elizabeth GILLESPIE. [My thanks to Birdie for this information, e mails, 7/22, 8m/11, and 10m/3/2010.]

iii.      Orous Herbert Paxson, b. 8 Dec 1878 in Delaware, Ind.; called Herb; lived on the old homestead with brother Elmer and nephew Bob until Herb got married and moved away.

iv.      Mary Anna Paxson, b. 10 Sept 1881; d. "several years" before her father's death in 1916; called Anna; unmarried.

v.       Willard M. Paxson, b. 7 Nov 1882 Cherokee Co, KS;

vi.      Willie Maud Paxson, b. 7 Nov 1883; d. "several years" before her father's death in 1916; m. __ STOSKOPF;

vii.     Birdie E. Paxson, b. 20 March 1886;

viii.    Bertha Francis Paxson, b. 7 March 1888;

ix.      Charles Oscar Paxson, b. 11 Jan 1892 Cherokee Co., Kans.; d. 1969; called Charlie; had a son, James Robert, called Bob, b. 1918. With Charlie's permission Bob dropped out of school after 8th grade, to farm. When Bob married in 1940 he and his bride moved in with the then bachelor uncles on the old homestead, and continued to farm it after they were gone.

x.       Josie May Paxson, b. 17 May 1894; unmarried at her father's death in Feb. 1916.





Alfred Moore Paxson8, son of James M. Paxson7 (James Steele6, Jacob5 #266, William4 #98, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Hannah (Smedley) Paxson, was born 11 October 1902 in Little Britain, and died 3 December 1972 in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Alfred married Sarah Emily WHITE, daughter of Charles Claud White and Mary Ellen White. Sarah was born 22 July 1900 in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania; she was baptized 21 April 1907 at Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, in Lock Haven. She died in 1980. Alfred and Sarah had two children. But the marriage was troubled and eventually the couple separated. They never got an official divorce, but Alfred lived with Julia Marie (WESTON) White and had another child. Julia was born 17 May 1918, in Keota, Oklahoma, and died 19 February 2003 in Aroda, Virginia. [I am indebted to Alfreda Melvin for information on this family, e mails 3/16 and 17/2008.]

In 1937 his father's obituary mentioned that Alfred was dean of the college of Business Administration, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. [ Lancaster New Era, Nov 16, 1937, kindly transcribed and sent to me by Alfreda Melvin, e mail 3m/17/2008.]

Children of Alfred Moore and his wife Sarah (White) Paxson are still living.



Alva Emanuel Paxton8 son of William Thomas7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Elizabeth (RISK) Paxton was born 29 April 1865, and died in 1948. Amos married Anna "Annie" Louis GLAZE who was born 29 March 1874 in Marshalltown, Iowa.

In the 1900 federal census for Indian Village Twp., Tama County, Iowa, Alva Paxton is listed, born in February 1875 in Iowa. He had married the previous year Anna; they were both 25, and living with them was 15 year old Ella McCOY a boarder attending school. Alva was a carpenter. [1900 federal census for Indian Village Twp., Tama Co., Iowa, Roll 460, ED 137, p. 5B, lines 85-87.]

By ca. 1909 the Paxtons had moved to Fargo, North Dalkota, where they lived as 712 9th St. S. "A.E.Paxton" was a carpenter. [Fargo, North Dakota, City Directory, 1910.] In 1910 they moved across the Red River to Moorhead, the largest city in northwest Minnesota. For reasons that are unclear to me, but perhaps explained by an enumerator not hearing "Alva" clearly and writing in his best guess, in the 1910 census for Moorhead Ward 4, Clay County, Minnesota, "Albert E. Paxton" is listed as 35, married 11 years. He was enumerated with his wife Annie, 36, who had given birth to 6 children, of whom 5 were living. Their children living with them were Warren, 9 born in Iowa, and the rest born in Minnesota, Merle, daughter [sic] 7, Mabel 5, Helen 3, and Donald 1 6/12. Also in the house were Albert's brother Delbert, 42, and 2 roomers, Christ MILLER 22 and Henry KELLER, 35, both born in Germany, but now US citizens. Albert was a carpenter, Delbert was employed in building construction, and the two Germans were wagon drivers. They were all living at 712 Tenth St., Moorhead City. [1910 US Census for Moorhead Ward 4, Clay Co., Minnesota; Roll T624_693; ED 61; p. 12B; lines 51-60, accessed 1m/2/2015.] Moorhead was established in 1871.

On 12 September 1918 Alva Emanuel Paxton registered for the draft, age 43, a self-employed farmer. He was described as tall, stout, with blue eyes and dark hair, with no obvious physical disqualifications. He was not called up.

In the 1920 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, taken January 15, Alva E. Paxton had a dairy farm. Both he and Annie were age 47. Living with them was AnnieÕs widowed father Alexander GLAZE (71); children Warren (18), Merrill (16), Mable [sic] (14), Helen (13), Donald (11), Allan (7), and Wayne (4 5/12). All but Wayne were in school. [1920 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs Co., Minn., Roll T625_845, ED 61, p. 1B, Lines 75-84.]

The 1930 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs Co., Minn., lists dairy farm, Alva Paxton, b. in Iowa, had a radio, age 27 when married, wife Annie 25 when married, now 54; living with them two sons, Allan (17) and Wayne (14); Alva not a veteran. [1930 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs Co., Minn., Roll 1107, ED 14, p. 8B, Lines 74-77.]

1940 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs Co., Minn., A.E. Paxton age 67, attended 8th grade; Annie L. was 66, and had 4 years of high school. Son Alan E., 27, was now head of the house and had taken over the farm. He had 1 year of high school. His parents were listed without an occupation. [1940 census for Milaca, Mille Lacs Co., Minn., Roll T627_1938, ED 48-14A, p. 5A, Lines 24-26.]

There is an "Alvah E. Paxton", b. Feb. 8, 1876, who died in San Diego 29 January 1948. His son Donald was a flower grower there. [California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.] Alva E. Paxton buried in Oceanview Cemetery, Oceanside, San Diego County, Calif. [Find A Grave]

Children of Alva Emanuel and Annie L. (Glaze) Paxton:

i.       Alva Paxton, b. 2 Apr. 1900; d. 4 Apr. 1900.

ii.      Warren McClain Paxton, b. 7 May 1901 in Traer, Tama Co., Iowa; d. 9 Dec. 1943; m. Jessie CULVER; had 2 children

iii.     Merle Francis Paxton, b. 10 Feb. 1903 in Moorhead, Minn.; d. 2 July 1950; bur. 8 July 1950 Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Section C-13, site 10075, Minneapolis; m. Gladys LOW, b. 6 Mar. 1904in Ill. In 1940 census for St Louis Park, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, res at 3111 Toledo Ave., employed as a stationary engineer for a laundry company; had 4 years of high school; wife Gladys, 36, also had 4 years of high school; [1940 census for St Louis Park, Hennepin Co., Minn., Roll T627_1926, ED 27-76,, p. 7A, Lines 14-18.] Merle enlisted 10 Feb. 1941, in Medical Dept. on duty with the Dental Corps, as Staff Sargeant with 1 year of college, in the National Guard; he was 73 inches tall and weighed 202 lbs. [World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives, at College Park. College Park, Maryland] Later he was a Capt. US Army, in Korea; had 3 children

iv.     Mabel Elizabeth Paxton, b. 14 Feb. 1905 in Moorhead, Minn; m. Cecil SHLY. Mabel taught school, and her mother lived with her.

v.      Helen Lucille Paxton, b. 11 Oct. 1906; m. 3 Aug. 1928 William Emil KUETHER, b. 26 May 1902; had 4 children.

vi.     Donald Glaze Paxton, b. 31 Oct. 1908; m. Dorothea BENTELL; in 1940 census in Oceanside, San Diego, California, as a flower grower working on his own account on a flower ranch, in rented house ($18 a month); had 1st year of high school; wife Dorothea, age 26, 4 years of high school;, b. in Wisc.; Dorothea was also employed as a flower grower on a flower ranch. [1940 census in Oceanside, San Diego Co., Calif, Roll: T627_298; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 37-72, lines 63-64] had a daughter

vii.    Alan Emmett Paxton, b. 1 Aug. 1912 in Moorhead, Minn.; m. 8 Feb. 1947 Beulah Mae STROMWALL, b. 3 Nov. 1918; had 6 children

viii.   Wayne Keith Paxton, b. 24 Aug. 1915; m. Juanita MACHOMAS;



Alvin David Paxson8, son of Ezra Wheat7 (Heston C.6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary Jane (Baker) Paxson, was born 5 September 1872, and died 27 June 1936. His twin brother was Calvin David. Alvin married 7 September 1897 Josephine HALL. She was born 29 August 1879 and died 26 February 1927.

In the 1880 census Alvin was "at school" in Limaville, Stark County, Ohio.

After death, both Alvin and Josephine were interred in West Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

Children of Alvin and Josephine (Hall) Paxson:

i.       Eldis M. Paxson, b. 1899; m. Bobbie SELL;
ii.      Harold Paxson, b. 23 Apr. 1900; d. Oct. 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio;
iii.     Kenneth Paxson, b. 5 Oct. 1904; d. June 1982, in Cleveland; m. Louise who was b. 17 Sept 1913 and d. 26 Dec. 1987;
iv.     William Calvin Paxson, b. 28 May 1907 in Hudson, Oh.; d. 4 Oct. 1966 in Fostoria, Oh.; m. 2 Aug. 1933 Dorothy E. PETERS; 3 children.








Amos Closin Paxton8 son of William Thomas7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3), was born 23 September 1855 in Warren County, Ohio, and died 7 August 1919, with burial two days later in the Montour cemetery. Amos married first on 12 December 1882 Elizabeth DANNENBRINK, the daughter of Fred and Sophia (FRAHM) Dannenbrink of the Montour area. The spelling of the middle name (Clausen, Clawson, Clossen, Closin) varies and I am unclear which might be most accurate.

In the 1880 census Amos was enumerated as a 25-year old single farmer living in the household of Barnet TROOPE, also a farmer, in Indian Village, Tama County, Iowa. Barnet was listed as 59 years old, with a 54 year old wife, Susan N., and 43-year old Delia BROWN engaged in house work. [Federal census for 1880, NA film T9-0365, p. 499A, image seen on Ancestry.com 11/20/2007.].

Amos married secondly Carrie ISBELL on 24 December 1897. Carrie was born 2 November 1873, daughter of Herman and Phoebe (CRONK) Isbell. Carrie had taught in several rural schools. They resided in Tama, Iowa, where Amos was a stock buyer.

Children of Amos C. and Ellizabeth (Donniebrink) Paxson:

i.       Sophia Francis Paxton, b. 18 Oct. 1883 in Montour, Iowa; d. 27 Sept. 1979; m. James McCOY on 9 Aug. 1899. He was a R.R. Engineer and they resided in Montour, Chicago, and Tama, Iowa. James died on 15 Jan. 1955. Both are buried in the Montour Cemetery. Had two children:
a)   Lillian McCoy
b)   Harold McCoy
ii.      Ethy Waldo Paxton, b. 1 Aug. 1898; d. 23 Aug. 1898.

iii.    Albia Isbell Paxton, b. 24 July 1899; d. 17 June 1914.

iv.    Frederick Clinton Paxton, b. 26 Feb. 1901; d. 2 June 1968; unmarried. He served in WWI. He enlisted 5 Jan. 1918 at Marshalltown; entered Ft. Logan; transferred to Ft. Sam Houston; first entered 6th Cavalry; mustered out 25 April 1919 from US Guards.

v.     Thelma Fern Paxton, b. 3 Dec. 1903; d. 3 Dec. 1906.

vi.    Amos Gordon Paxton, b. 20 Nov. 1907; d. 21 Feb. 1968 in Lodi or in Oakland, Alameda Co., Calif.

vii.   Eulalia Grinnel Paxton, b. 9 May 1910; d. 4 Mar. 1988 in Delaware Co., Iowa; m. Edwin CARNAL. He d. 27 Aug. 1968 in Tama Co.

viii.  Lula Gretchen Paxton, b. 25 April 1912; m. James DORAN 23 Nov. 1931. In her later years she kept house for priests and provided much information to Darlene Paxton concerning the Paxton family.







Arthur Lindley Paxson, son of Joseph Watson7 (Joseph Jefferson6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3), and his wife Eveline (Dugdale) Paxson, was born 10 September 1857 and died 8 November 1935 in Escondido, California. Arthur married first in 1878 Ida WALTON. She was born 1 July 1861 in Jay County and died ca. 21 March 1926 [or in 1925], and he married a second time, Nettie ___.

Arthur owned the Purity Ice Cream Co. at 121 West 14th St., in Marion, Ind. He went into the ice cream business with his uncle, Benjamin Franklin Paxson. The original factory in Marion was owned by Arthur. Later part was sold to Teller Belle-Vernon Dairies in Ohio. It appears they were the first to mix orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream in a log roll which came out as a mold cutting.

Arthur and Ida went to Cleveland in 1918 to care for their daughter Bertha. They stayed until 1921 when they moved to Escondido, California. There Arthur became head of the Railway Express Office. [Thanks to Bob Shannon, e mail 4/4/2011, for this information.]

Children of Arthur Lindley and his first wife, Ida (Walton) Paxson: [Children's information from Bob Shannon, e mail 4/4/2011.]

i.     Bertha E. Paxson b. 5 May 1881; d. 19 Nov. 1961; m. Henry Eden SMITH on 18 Aug. 1902 in St. Joseph, Mich.; 3 children;

ii.    Zula Purl [or Pearl] Paxson b. 17 Mar. 1883; d. 21 Sept. 1955; m. Walter Leigh NESBITT on 30 Apr. 1910; had a daughter, Patricia Leigh NESBITT, b. 11 Dec. 1920 in Minneapolis, and d. 7 Oct. 1998 in Farmington, NM.

iii.   Lindley Ellis Paxson b. 13 Jan. 1888; d. July 1951; m. Nov. 1909 Grace DEAN, and had a daughter, Jamece Peggy Paxson, b. 18 Dec. 1910 in Louisiana, and d. 17 Apr. 1984.





Arthur Monroe Paxson, son of Eli Warner7 (Joseph Jefferson6 Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2, James1) and his wife Hannah Leona (Johnson) Paxson, was born 25 June 1867. He died of cancer 26 June 1945 in Jay County Hospital, Portland, Indiana. Arthur was married 15 September 1903 by the Rev. POLLY to Eva Jane CRITTON, the daughter of James Finley and Sarah S. (PEARSON) Critton. Eva Jane was born in Miami County, Ohio on 24 January 1882. She died at the Extended Care Unit of Jay County Hospital in Portland on 13 July 1976. Both are buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Redkey, Indiana, and have a monument marking their graves. [From "The Paxsons", compiled by Helen Dinius Paxson (Mrs. Frank Paxson), typescript, kindly sent to me 3/2005 by Tom Irey.]

Children of Arthur Monroe and Eva Jane (Critton) Paxson:

i.      Elsie May Paxson b. 2 Mar. 1906; d. at birth.

ii.     Frank James Paxson b. 16 Sept. 1910; m. 23 Apr. 1948 in Pleasant Chapel E. U. B. Church, Jackson Twp., Huntington Co., Ind. by the Rev. Bevis HILL to Helen Lucile DINIUS, daughter of Boyd Sherman and Eza Florence (SMITH) Dinius;

iii.    Carl C. Paxson b. 25 June 1917; d. of cancer 28 July 1977; m. 6 Jan. 1943 Mabel Eileen HESHER, daughter of William and Pearl (BLOCKER) Hesher; Carl was a plasterer, having learned the trade from his uncle John CRITTON; 8 children.

iv.     Fred M. Paxson b. 29 Nov. 1919; m(1) in Southport, England on 4 Jan. 1947 Doris Evelyn NIXON; they met when Fred was stationed in England during WWII; 3 children; divorced; Fred m(2) 29 Sept. 1979 Carrie Philomean (SCHOONOVER) Marks, widow of Frederick William Marks; 6 step-children.




Bartholomew Milligan Paxson, from Kay Walton's 'Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas'

Bartholomew Milligan Paxson, son of Joseph Taylor7 (Benjamin Franklin6, John5 #268, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mathilda Agnes (KELLEY) was born on 15 February 1882 in the Grandview community of Conway County, Arkansas, where his father was homesteading. He died 14 June 1941 in Little Rock City, Pulaski County, Ark. Bartie married Emma Jane WOODS on 15 February 1906 in High Hill, Montgomery County, Missouri. She was called Jenny, and was born 8 January 1883 in St. Louis County, Missouri; she died 7 November 1962)in Little Rock. [Information on this family is from Kay Walton's ancestry.com file, "Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas", accessed 5m/1/2013, and used with permission. Kay has included copies of the documents supporting her data, which I very much appreciate. The photos of Bartie Paxson and his family are from the same source.]

Bartholomew Milligan Paxson was given his middle name in honor of one of his father's teachers at the College of the Bible in Lexington, KY, Robert Milligan. He was called Bartie from the time he grew up in Conway County. Bartie taught school in the Grandview area after he graduated from High School. In 1905 he went to St. Louis to work on construction for the 1906 World's Fair. While there he met and married Emma Jane Woods, called Jenny. When his construction job ended, they returned to Arkansas where he worked for the railroad.

In the 1910 federal census "B. M. Paxon" was enumerated in Leslie Town, Wiley's Grove Township, Searcy County, Ark. He was a machinist working in the round house. He was 28, his wife Emma was 27, and their son Eugene was three years and "Baby Paxon" was two months old.

When Bartie registered for the draft for World War I, he described himself as a self-employed farmer. He was on medium height and medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

About 1912 or 1913 they moved back to Grandview, Ark. to help his widowed mother on their farm. During that time, Bartie again taught school. Family tradition holds that Mathilda wasn't the easiest person to get along with, so in time Bartie moved out and his older brother Irpeel took a turn. By the 1920 census Bartie's family was living in Center Ridge, Lick Mountain, Conway County, either next door or across the street from his mother and younger brother Irpeel. The enumerator listed them as "Barley Paxon" [sic] and his wife Emma (36), and children Eugene (13), Olive (6), Loise (4), Harrol (2), and Baby (10 months).

Bartholomew Milligan Paxson, from Kay Walton's 'Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas'

About 1921 they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas and Bartie went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In the 1930 federal census Bartie and his family lived in Little Rock City, Big Rock Township, Pulaski County, Ark., in a house that rented for $25 a month. He was 48, Emma was 47, and their children living at home included Olive (17), Lois (15), Harold (13), Milton (11). Bartie worked as a Coach Carpenter in a Railroad Shop. He was probably fortunate to have a job in the depths of the Depression.

In this ca. 1935 photograph of the family taken in Little Rock, Bartie is at the left with Jenny slightly in front of him. Their children, from the left, are Harold, Lois, Olive (Paxson) Smith, Milton, Coleman Smith, Mildred (Bottomley) Paxson, and Eugene.

Ten years later Bartie was 58, Emma 57, and their two youngest sons were living at home: Harold D. (23) and Joseph M. (21), both unmarried. They owned the house now, valued at $2,500. Bartie worked a 40-hour week as a Coach Trimmer for the Railroad for $1,600 the year before. Harold put in an 80-hour week as Manager of a Retail Grocery earning $1,400 in 1939, while Joseph worked 48 hours as a File Clerk in a Retail G__ [I can't make it out] for $780. All three of the males had completed four years of high school.

The remains of both Bartie and Jenny are buried in the Roselawn Cemetery in Little Rock.

Bartholomew "Bartie" and Emma "Jenny" had children:

i.    Eugene Woods Paxson, b. 4 Nov. 1906; d. 19 June 2000 in Athens, Ala.; m. 23 Mar. 1935 in St. Louis Mildred Beatrice BOTTOMLEY (1912-2007); 3 children: Pamela m. __ JENKINS, Mary Jane (1941-2018) m. Benjie NORRIS, and Carol m. Bert LINDSLEY. Mary Jane graduated from Florida College, Temple Terrace, Fla., crocheted garments and blankets for others, and was an active member of Jordan Park Church of Christ, Russellville. Her obit in The Huntsville Times, June 1, 2018.
ii.   Irl Bartholomew Paxson, b. 27 Jan. 1910; d. 11 Oct.1913.
iii.  Olive Frances Paxson, b. 10 Jan. 1913; d. 8 Oct. 1987 in Little Rock, Ark.; m. 23 Dec. 1934 William Coleman SMITH; 2 children.
iv.  Lois Jane Paxson, b. 20 Jan. 1915; d. 21 Jan. 1984; m. James Harrison NAREY (b. 18/6/1918; d. 17/12/1959); lived in Silver Spring, Md. where Lois was secretary to the commanding general of Walter Reed Hospital. About ten years after James's death Lois moved to Memphis, Tenn.; Lois and James are buried in Arlington Cemetery. They had 4 children.
v.   Harold Dean Paxson, b. 2 Feb. 1917; d. 12 Oct. 1985 in Little Rock; married fairly late, 1 son.
vi.  Joseph Milton Paxson, called Milton, b. 23 Feb. 1919; d. 1 Sept. 1962 in Little Rock; m. in Saline, Ark., on 30 Aug. 1940 Flora Mae HARRINGTON (1919-1986); 5 children.




Burr Wick Paxson, the son of Charles Edward Paxson7 (Samuel6, William5 #267, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Eleanor (Hough) was born 29 June 1848 in Waterford, Loudon County, Virginia, and died 15 October 1926 in Waterford. Burr married Mary Elizabeth VIRTS in 1868. She was the daughter of George Peter VIRTS, born 23 September 1845, and died 15 October 1926 in Waterford, Loudon County, Virginia.

In the 1870 census was 23, living near his parents, engaged in farming, but owning no real estate. His personal property was valued at $800. His wife Mary was 22, keeping house. There were three others in their household: Hillary YOUNG, 12, a mullato domestic servant; Charlie BARNITT, 25, a Black Laborer, and Daniel BARNITT, 20, a Black farmer. [ Federal census for Watertown, Loudon Co., Va., 1870, lines 14-18.]

The 1880 federal census for Jefferson Township, Loudon County, Virginia, listed Burr "Paxon" as a 34 year old farmer with his wife Mary E., also 34. With them were three sons: Flavius L. (age 10), George O. (age 6), and "Arthor C." (age 3). Two African Americans also lived there, working on the farm: 22 year old Julius SIMS and 15 year old Allen HENDERSON. All of these people and all their parents were born in Virginia.[1880 census, familysearch.org, as of 5m/4/2005.]

Burr suffered from paralysis before his death.

Children of Burr and Mary Elizabeth (Virts) Paxson:[www.pennock.ws/surnames/fam/fam54258.html, seen 10/18/2013.]

i.      Flavius Love Paxson, b. 30 Jan. 1871; d. 1947 in Ivy, Va.; m. Sept. 1902 Pearl DENSMORE;

ii.     George Oden Paxson, b. 13 Oct. 1873; m. 22 Nov. 1899 at Point of Rocks, Md.; m. Rosalie HICKMAN;[paxlincoln; Rash's surnames]

iii.    Arthur Keeler Paxson, b. 1877; d. 19 Jan. 1948 in Washington, DC; m. 1897 Maude A. MYERS (she d. 25 Apr. 1963). In the 1910 census for Waterford, Loudoun Co., Va., Arthur K. was 32, married 13 years to Maud A. MYERS, She had borne 4 children, all of whom were living. His niece Gussie McPhearson, age 21, lived with them; she was a "phone girl" at a Central Office. Arthur K. was employed in hauling. [1910 census for Jefferson Dist, Waterford, Loudoun Co., Va., roll T624_1633, ED 62, p. 1B, lines 74-80.] By the 1920 census the family was living at 1227 Wisconsin Ave., in Washington D.C. A.K. was manager of a cafeteria. This time they included another niece, Icy MAYERS, 26, a government clerk, but eldest daughter Elsie no longer lived with them. [1920 census for Washington DC, roll T625_210, ED 155, p. 15B, lines 78-83.]
1) Elsie Paxson9, b. ca. 1898;
2) Lola Paxson, b. ca. 1900; in 1920 worked as a stamper in the Bureau of Engraving;
3) Arthur Keeler Paxson, Jr., b. 21 July 1901; d. 9 Oct. 1963 in Loudoun County Hospital in Leesburg, Va. of coronary thrombosis and arteriosclerosis plus colon cancer [1963 Commonwelth of Virginia Death Certificate file # 29303; m. Alice SHREVE; employed in 1920 as a chauffeur in a private family; in 1930 census living in Wash. D.C. with wife Alice S., and daughter Doris L., age 8. They'd been married 8 years, living in a $10 a month rental at 725 Fourth St. Arthur was a helper in a meat market. [1930 census for Wash. D.C., ED 100, p. 8A, lines 29-31.]
4) Chester Paxson, b. ca. 1904; in 1920 employed as messinger in a Gov't Bureau;.





Cela M. Paxton8 son of William Thomas7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Elizabeth (RISK) Paxton was born 5 August 1874. He married Stella GARD. They had two children:

i.       Beryl Paxton, b. 16 Feb. 1905; m. 12 Mar. 1923 Robert HANWAY, b. 16 Dec. 1893 in Colo., son of John L. and America (CASTOR) Hanway; her uncle Delbert G. Paxton living with them in 1940; Beryl and Robert were Presbyterian; had 10 children.


ii.      Cleo Frances Paxton, b. 14 Aug 1908 in Amherst, Buffalo Co., Nebraska; m. Darrel David CARRON 26 Oct. 1932 in Bridgeport, Nebraska. They left Nebraska in 1937 and lived in Idaho for five years and then moved to California. Darrel was a brakeman and conductor; he was killed 17 May 1950 at Emigrant Gap, Calif. in a switch engine accident.




Charles Gillingham Paxson, son of Edward Heston7 (John Jefferson6, Jonathan5 #221, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his first wife Sarah Wood (Gillingham), was born 16 August 1863. He married twice, first on 14 January 1885 to Margaret "Maggie" WORTH. Charles married secondly Azor PRICE.

Charles and his family resided in Camden, New Jersey.

Children of Charles and his first wife Margaret (Worth) Paxson (may be incomplete):

i.      Ethel Virginia Paxson9, b. 14 Jan. 1886;
ii.     Charles Edward Paxson, b. 19 July 1887;
iii.    Rebecca Gillingham Paxson, b. 6 Oct. 1889; [Harrold Edgar Gillingham, Gillingham Family: Descendants of Yeamans Gillingham (Philadelphia, 1901), 90.]




Charles Rupert Paxton

Charles Rupert Paxton, son of John Barton7 Paxton (Bright Rupert6 (Joseph5, Jonas4, James3, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his second Charles Rupert Paxton wife, Anne Jones (Price) Paxton, was born 20 September 1896 in Philadelphia, and died on 9 August 1979 in Camden, New Jersey. Charles married on 22 September 1923 in Philadelphia Elizabeth Shaw BLAIR (shown to the right). Betty was born 17 December 1894 in County Antrim, Ireland, the daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane (McClure) Blair. Betty died 21 June 1946 in Philadelphia.

Charles was a musician; among other things he played the organ for silent movies. He loved puns.

Charles and Betty had one child.






Charles Small Paxson8, son of William Rodman (Samuel H. Paxson #337, John5 #125, Joseph4, William3, William2, William1) and his wife Katherine (Paxson) Paxson, was born in 1875 on the family farm in Middletown Township, Bucks County, and died in 1947. He was married in 1901 to Martha Kelso DUNNING. There is a great deal more information about her family available in 1328 North Fifteenth Street: The Dunning Family and Its Things.

Paxson logo

Charles started the Paxson Manufacturing Company to produce floor sweeping compounds. The first Board of Directors of the Company is pictured to the left below. Charles is seated at the extreme left. The Company's second location, at 2612 North Third Street in Philadelphia, is pictured in the center. The office was on the second floor, front. In time they bought a second row house, and remodeled the front. To the right is a detail from the label of a retail-size cellophane bag for NilDust, one of their trademarked varieties of sweeping compound. The logo used on these web pages was designed by Martha for the Paxson Manufacturing Company and shows the initial letter "P", and an axe, within a sun/son, symbolizing P-ax-son. The company was sold in ca. 1975. The new owner violated the spirit of the agreement, while keeping the legal letter of the law by changing the name to Paxon. Any product claiming to be manufactured by "Paxon" is unlikely to be of the original superior quality. The employment conditions are probably no longer very good, either.

Paxson Manufacturing Company plant on North Third Street, Philadelphia First Board of Directors, Paxson Manufacturing Company Detail of label of retail-size bag of Nil Dust

Charlie and Martie raised their four children at 2104 W. Ontario Street, Philadelphia.



Chauncey Paxson, from Peter Stetterhorn, 1/2010.

Chauncey Gause Paxson8, son of Oliver Howard Paxson (Richard 6, Thomas5 #229, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3), was born 21 June 1899, and died 8 October 1983 in Kennett Square. His remains were buried at Wrightstown Friends Meeting. Chauncey married Dorothy Cornish SIMMONS. She was born 21 December 1899, the daughter of Frederick and Leslie (__) Simmons.

Chauncey applied for membership with Friends, and on 21 Third Month Haverford Friends Meeting (Orth), agreeing with the recommendation of the committee that visited with him, "directed that he should be recorded a member of the Society of Friends, and the Clerk was directed to inform him of this action and to invite his attendance at our meetings" for business. [Haverford MM minutes 21/3m/1929.

In the 1930 Census, the family was enumerated on April 5th in Lower Merion, Montgomery County. His name as incorrectly written as Chauncey B. [sic] age 30, wife Dorothy, 30, two sons, twins, Chauncey B and Edwin N. age 3 11/12.

I think their residence in Chestnut Hill was designed by William Webb Price (1891-1961) and several pencil and crayon drawings of it are in the archives of the William L. and Walter F. Price Collection of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 S. 6th St. They were in the 1930 census in Lower Merion, Montgomery County.

In 1935 they lived in Whitemarsh, Montgomery County. By the 1940 census they were living in Buckingham Township in Bucks County where Chauncey owned their $8,500 house. He and his wife Dorothy were both listed as 40 years old, he with four years of college, she with four years of high school. He was a school director and also worked at a private camp. Their twin sons Chauncey Jr. and Edwin were 14 with 8 years of schooling thus far. Also living with them were Katharine SIMONS, Dorothy's sister (46), and Robert EASTON, a lodger (20), both teaching in a private school. [1940 census for Buckingham Twp., Bucks Co., Pa., roll M-To627-03445, ED 9-25, p. 4A, lines, 12-17.]

Chauncey was an engineer, teacher, and camp director. For years he directed a camp in the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania.

As a widow Dorothy moved into Kendal (a continuing care community in Kennett Square, Penna.). She died there 26 June 1995. They had two children.





Claude Hamilton8 son of Aaron Knight7 (Merritt6 #364, Charles5 #135, Phineas4 #50, William3 #20, William2 #9, William1 #2), was born in February 1876 in Delaware, and died September 24, 1942, in Los Angeles, California. He married August 29, 1901 Josephine S. TAYLOR

In the in 1910 federal census, Claude and Josephine were living in Spokane, Washington, where Claude was working as a real estate agent. They took in two roomers, Julius (29, a travelling salesman) and Elsie Jacoby (26, his wife). [1910 census for Spokane, Wash., roll T624_1670, ED 0167, p. 8B, lines 74-79]

Claude Hamilton Paxson (on left) in front of his real estate agency from Karen Rossi, 2013

When the USA joined the First World War, Claude registered for the draft in Los Angeles on September 10, 1918. He was described as medium height and medium build, with brown eyes and black hair.

In the 1920 federal census they lived in Los Angeles in a rented house, Claude still working in real estate, their 2 girls in school. The photo shows Claude, on the left, in front of his real estate agency. I do not know the identity of the other two men. [1920 census for Los Angeles Assembly Dist. 72, roll T625_112, ED 324, p. 7B, lines 78-81. The photograph is from Karen Rossi, with my thanks, e mail 2013.]

Children of Claude and Josephine (Taylor) Paxson:

i.       Josephine S. Paxson, b. ca. 1904;
ii.      Claudia Paxson, b. ca. 1905;





Clayton Kling Paxson8, son of Joseph C.7, (Timothy6, Joseph5 #212, Joseph4, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary (Kling) Paxson, was born 2 November 1875. He died about 21 October 1948 in the Coatesville Hospital, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Clayton married Lucy "Louie" McPHERSON in 1898. She was born ca. 1876 in West Caln Township, near Sadsburyville, Chester County, and died in September 1938 in her 62nd year at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster County. Clayton K. and his wife "Louie M." were living in West Caln, Chester County, at the time of the 1930 census.

Louie, whose formal name was Lucy, was the daughter of David and Mary (BLAIR) McPherson. Before her marriage she taught school. Later she was a member and lecturer of Sadsbury Grange No 1085. Louie was

prominent as a member of Upper Octarara Church with which her family had been connected for generations. She served as president of the Women's Missionary Society and later a secretary of the Chester Presbyterial Society and as a teacher in the Upper Octorara Sunday School. Se was prominent in the Octorara Historical Society and was narrator in the 1932 Washington pageant of that group. [Obituary in the Parkesburg Post, 8 Sept. 1938. My thanks to Cindy Grossholtz who found it in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc., and sent it to me 3m/26/2003.]

In the spring of 1937 Clayton retired from farming and sometime the next year he and Louie moved to Coatesville to live with her cousin, Dr. S. H. SCOTT. [Obituary for Mrs. Louie McPherson, in the Parkesburg Post, 8 Sept. 1938. My thanks to Cindy Grossholtz who sent it to me 3m/26/2003.

Clayton's obituary from the Coatsville Record of 22 October 1948 gives more details of his life.

        Clayton K. Paxson, one of the most widely-known residents of this part of Chester County, died in Coatesville hospital yesterday shortly after noon. He would have been 73 years of age if he had lived until November 2.
        Mr. Paxson had not been in good health for more than a year. Last April he fell and injured his back and he was in the hospital for more than two weeks. Since then he has been confined to his bed for the most part. On Tuesday last he fell and broke his hip.
        He was taken to the hospital in a critical condition on Wednesday and was under an oxygen tent until he passed away.
        Mr. Paxson was a son of the late Joseph C, and Mary Ann Kling Paxson ad was born near Black Horse where he spent his boyhood. He received his education at Fernwood Academy and George School and later attended Schissler Business College near Norristown.
        In 1898 he married Miss Louie McPherson, of Sadsburyville, and for a number of years he engaged in farming on West Lincoln Highway near Black Horse. Later for many years he farmed the old McPherson homestead near Sadsburyville. He retired about thirteen years ago.
        Mr. Paxson was a member of Upper Octorara Presbyterian church and Keystone Lodge, 569, F. and A. M. of Parkesburg. He was a charter member of Sadsbury Grange which was organized in 1893 and also a member of Pomona Grange, No. 3, of Chester and Delaware Counties.
        His wife died in September 1938, and he is survived by two brothers and a sister, William H. Paxson, of Atglen, with whom he made his home; Harry A. Paxson, of Parkesburg, and Mary, wife of Ferree C. Grossman, of near Boyd's Corner, and several nieces and nephews.
        The funeral will take place from Upper Octorara church on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment will be in the adjoining cemetery.





Curtis Paxson8, son of William Johnson Paxson, (Edward6, Timothy5 #227, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3, William Jr.2, James1 #3) and his wife Ann Lenwell DEPUY Paxson, was born on 6 July 1856 in Philadelphia. He died on 16 May 1921, at 522 N. Preston St., West Philadelphia. Curtis married first, on 8 November 1878, at 409 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, Mary Eliza STRING, who was born 20 December 1857 in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of Benjamin T. and M. Jennie String. Mary Eliza died 30 March 1880, at 671 Brooklyn Street, in West Philadelphia. Curtis then married in 1885 Agnes I. MELDRUM. Agnes was born in 1855, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Meldrum. Curtis and Agnes were divorced before 1900. Agnes died 6 September 1930. Curtis married for a third time between 1910 and 1920, Susan C. LABARR who was housekeeper for Curtis in his later years. Susan was born in January 1848 and died 17 April 1934 on N. Preston, Phila. [My thanks to Carolyn L. Allen who sent me this information.]

Child of Curtis and Mary Eliza (String) Paxson:

i. William Benjamin Paxson, b. 25 Mar 1880, 671 Brooklyn St, Philadelphia; d. 20 Dec 1955, Kingston, Penna.; m. 6 Jun 1905, at Summit, Penna., Edna DEVEREAUX (1884-1968), daughter of Robert and Louisa Carolina "Caroline" (Schwaderer) Devereaux. They had 5 children: [Information from Carolyn L. Allen.]
a) Curtis Devereaux Paxson, b. 19 Mar. 1906; d. 21 Dec. 1981, both in Wilkes-Barre, Penna. unmarried. In June 1919 he attended the first season of Boy Scout Camp Acahele, Penna. Curtis worked for an anthracite coal mine, managed a loan company for many years in several cities; retired to Port Jervis, NY; enjoyed travelling by cruise ship all over the world.

b) Mary Caroline Paxson, b. 11 Dec. 1907 in Wilkes-Barre; d. 24 Nov. 2000 in Conn.; m. 27 June 1932 Roger BACON (d. June 1977); 2 children.

c) Dorothy Louise Paxson, b. 30 July 1911 in Wilkes-Barre; d. 25 Jun 2000, Dallas, Pa.; unmarried. Until 1997 she lived at 132 Butler St., Kingston, Pa., when she moved to an assisted living place in Dallas, Pa. She was bookkeeper for a jewelry store in Wilkes-Barre. After retirement she volunteered as treasurer and driver for many years for Meals on Wheels.

d) William Benjamin Paxson, Jr., b. 1 Dec 1918, Kingston, Pa.; d. Nov. 1982 in a forest fire in Australia; m. 18 Sep 1945, in London, England, Edna SIMMONS, daughter of Harold and Isabelle Simmons. Edna was b. 24 July 1923 in London. William worked for the US state department in England; Rome, Italy; Rio De Janero, Brazil; Kingston, Jamaica; and Washington, D.C. They had 2 children.

e) Robert Devereaux Paxson, b. 17 Jan 1921, 132 Butler St., Kingston, Pa.; d. 18 Jan. 2010 in Warsaw, Kosciusko Co., Ind.; m. 26 Jul 1946, Harvester Ave Missionary Ch, Ft Wayne, Ind., Dorothy Almira SHANEYFELT, who was b. 29 Aug 1920, Fort Wayne, Ind., the daughter of Shirley Elery and Beatrice Vernon (Barto) Shaneyfelt. Dorothy d. 11 Jul 1983, in Fort Wayne. Robert worked for General Electric after graduation from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. He first worked in West Lynn, Massachusettes and lived with his sister, Mary. From there he went to Erie, Pennsylvania, and lived with a distant cousin, Fred SAPPER, and on to Fort Wayne, Indiana, G.E. plant. It was here he met his future wife. He taught school for 39 years, starting in a small school in Adams Co., Indiana and ending at J.E. Ober Elementary in Garrett, Ind. In his retirement he continues to enjoy bird watching, singing in the church choir, and occasionally playing his trumpet at church. The family were members of Harvester Ave. Missionary Church, Ft. Wayne. Two children














David T. Paxson8, son of Joseph C.7, (Timothy6, Joseph5 #212, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary (Kling) Paxson, was born 20 October 1877; he died 27 September 1939 at his home near Paist's Mill on the Lincoln Highway. He married Mary McPHERSON, the daughter of David and Mary (BLAIR) McPherson; her sister Louie married David's brother Clayton. Mary was born about 1880 in West Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and died 16 January 1960 in Coatesville Hospital at the age of 80.

Mary attended West Chester State Teachers College.

David was a farmer, and operated a "fine farm" on the Lincoln Highway. His obituary in the Daily Local News of 28 September 1939 gives more details about his life:

        After having been about as usual yesterday, David T. Paxson, one of Sadsbury township's most prominent and progressive farmers, was found dead in the barn at his home, near Paist's Mill, on the Lincoln Highway, west of Sadsburyville, at about 6:30 o'clock last evening, from a blood clot upon his brain. Mr. Paxson had been under treatment for several years for high blood pressure. . . .
        He was in the 62nd year of his age, having been born October 22, 1877, upon the farm now owned by Benjamin Paxson. He was reared upon the nearby farm now owned and occupied by the misses Meredith.
        He formerly served as Supervisor in Sadsbury Township, and also had served a number of years as Secretary of Sadsbury Grange.
        He had attended Moscow Public School and the Parkesburg Academy. He was an active member of Upper Octarara Presbyterian Church, Sadsbury Grange, 1085, and the Paxson Family Association of America, whose reunions he always attended with great interest. He was a man of jovial disposition and always had a laugh ready to share with others. He was most upright in his daily life and had a vast number of friends. . . .

After David's death, Mary moved to Parkesburg where she lived the rest of her life. She was a member of Sadsbury Grange No. 1085 for over 50 years. She was a member of the Octarara Presbyterian Church where she was active in the old Church Assembly, Women's Association, and other organizations. She died at the Coatesville hospital 16 January 1960. She and David were both buried in the upper Octorara Cemetery. [Obituary found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; I am indebted to her for sending it to me 3m/26/2003.]

Child of David T, and Mary M. (McPherson) Paxson:

1. Horace M. Paxson9, b. 8 Jan. 1908; d. 1 Mar. 1972 in Chester Co. Hospital. Horace had a son.





Delbert L. Paxton8 son of William Thomas7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Elizabeth (RISK) Paxton was born 28 December 1867, in Indian Village Township, Tama County, Iowa. He died ca. 1941.

In the 1880 federal census Delbert was listed as a 13 year old school boy living with his parents and siblings on a farm. [1880 census image on Ancestry.com, NA film #T9-0365, page 499B, seen 11/20/2007.]

The 1900 census for Indian Village, 33 year old "Adelbert Paxton" was enumerated as perhaps a carpenter, although it is written over and very unclear. His age was given as 39, born in Dec. 1869, off by two years, while his nineteen-year-old sister Grace's was written as May 1871, off by a decade. They were both unmarried, living with their widowed mother Frances, age 67. She had been born in May 1833, had 14 children, of whom 10 were living. [1900 US Census Place: Indian, Tama, Iowa; Roll: 460; p. 2B; Enumeration District: 0137, lines 84-86, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

In 1910 Delbert was living with his brother Albert and Albert's family in Moorhead, Clay County, Minnesota.

In 1920 "Delbert G. Paxton" was 50, doing general farming on a rented farm in Broadwater Pct., Morrill County, Nebraska. His widowed sister "Helen M. Crews", 52, lived with him. [1920 US Census for Broadwater, Morrill Co., Nebraska; Roll T625_998; ED 211; p. 8A, lines 1-2, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

In 1940 a 72 year old Delbert Paxton lived with his niece Beryl (age 35, born in Nebraska), and her husband Robert Hanway, (46, born in Colorado), and their 10 children, all born in Nebraska except for the oldest, Retha, 16, born in Wyoming. [1940 US Census for Broadwater, Morrill Co., Nebraska; Roll T627_2258; ED 62-7; p. 3A, lines 10-22, accessed 1m/2/2015.]



Edgar L. Paxson8, son of Hartwell Littleton7 ( Jacob Canby6, Jacob5 #214, Joseph4, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Ina Emmeroi (LEACH) Paxson, was born 1 June 1881 in Lacota, Van Buren County, Michigan, and died 7 September 1946 at his home in Dowagiac, Cass County, Michigan. Edgar married on 11 January 1904 Bessie Stoughton HOLLAND, daughter of Henry Edward and Mary Frances (KNAPP) Holland. [My thanks for information on this family from Dana Paxson, e mails 29 June, and 1 July 2005; from Maggie Paxson, e mails on 6/23 and 6/24/2005; and from Eileen Talamantez, e mails 4/28/2007; the latter sent additional information from Glimpses of the Past: Stories and Pictures of North Berrien County Pioneer Families (North Berrien County Historical Society, 1992).] Bessie was born 26 February 1879. At the age of two, in 1881, her mother took her west with her brother and sister. They lived in Nevada for about nine years before returning to Michigan after her father was killed in a mining accident. [My thanks to Dick Paxson for these memories of stories he heard from his grandmother, e mails 4/4/2008 and 12/28/2008.] For a little more on Bessie's family, see Holland Family History, page 114 and page 115, although her birth year given there is incorrect. The "L" in Edgar's name is just an initial; there is no middle name. [My thanks to Richard Joseph Paxson for this information, e mail 4m/3/2008.]

Front Street, looking south, from an old post card ca. 1900s

While he was quite young his parents moved to a farm southwest of Hartford. At the age of 15 they moved to Watervliet, where he graduated from the local high school in 1899. Edgar went to Normal School and taught in the Washington School in Coloma. Then he was employed in building homes and cottages around Paw Paw Lake and Watervliet. On 11 January 1904 he married Betsey or Bessie Holland. [Obit, 9/9/1946 in the Dowagiac Daily News, kindly sent to me by Eileen Talamantez, 4/13/2007.]

house

The family removd to Dowagiac, probably in early 1912, where he lived the rest of his life. He built the house pictured here, at the corner of McOmber St. and 201 E. Prairie Ronde St., in about 1918 or 1919. Their son Robert was about two when they moved in, and their youngest child, Ruth, was told that as a baby she slept through the noise of built-in bookcases being constructed. The house, in prairie style, has three stone bases that support short pillars, two in the front, visible in this photo, and one in the back obscured by the tree truck. The house is on a corner lot. [My thanks to Dick Paxson for the photo and information, e mail 4/4/2008.

In 1922 Edgar established the Paxson Company, manufacturers of woodworking machinery, including the "Bearcat" power saw rigs. Over the course of his career Edgar designed and constructed hundreds of homes and many commercial buildings in Dowagiac and vicinity, including "some of Dowagiac's finest residences." [Obit, 9/9/1946 in the Dowagiac Daily News, my thanks to Eileen Talamantez for sending this to me, 4/13/2007.] In addition to being a carpenter and home builder, Edgar owned and operated a lumber mill. [E mail 1 July 2005 from Dana Paxson.] He built his own home in Dowagiac (pictured above to the left). Edgar's grandson described it as having "three unique stone pillars at the three corners of the house". [My thanks to Richard Joseph Paxson, e mail 4m/3/2008.]

Edgar designed a stone monument commemorating the local folks who died in the First World War. It was erected in 1919 in the median of the Main Street boulevard where the street ends at Front Street. The first photograph below is a detail from an old post card, probably from the first half of the 1920s. The monument is made of stones fitted together, and for years had a working drinking fountain jutting out from the front of it. Eileen remembers riding her bike to get a drink there, as the water seemed to taste so much better than what came out of her spigot at home. The fountain hasn't worked for years, probably because the water pipes rusted out and the cost of repairs would be too much. The style of the stone work matches the three pillars on the Paxson family's home. It has light globes on each side and one of the plaques is shown in the third photograph. [My thanks to Richard Joseph Paxson for the description, e mail 4m/3/2008, and for the two color photographs, taken ca. 2005; thanks also to Eileen Talamantez for sending the picture of the post card, e mail 4m/5/2008.]

World War monument in Dowagiac, detail from a ca. 1920s postcard as reproduced on a calendar World War monument in Dowagiac, ca. 2005, photo from Dick Paxson plaque on the World War monument in Dowagiac, ca. 2005, photo from Dick Paxson

The 1938 city directory for Dowagiac listed the Paxson Co. on LaGrange St., E. L. Paxson, Mgr. He lived at 201 P Ronde with his wife Mrs. Bessie, and daughter Ruth, employed as a stenographer. Also Edgar's widowed mother, Mrs. Ina E. lived with them. [Luedders' City Directory, 1938, p. 74. My thanks to Eileen Talamantez for sending this to me, 4/18/2007.]

For eleven years Edgar suffered from pernicious anemia. In spite of this he remained active in business until a few months before his death. He died at his home on McOmber street Saturday evening, 7 September 1946, at 6:30. He was 65 years old. [Obit, 9/9/1946 in the Dowagiac Daily News, my thanks to Eileen Talamantez for sending this to me, 4/13/2007.]

Ronald and Howard Paxson, cropped out of the 1914 third grade class, Oak Street School, image sent by Eileen 4/18/2007

Children of Edgar L. and Betsey/Bessie Stoughton (Holland) Paxson:

i. Ronald Edward Paxson, b. in Watervliet 10 Mar. 1905; d. 20 Oct. 1973 outside of Kalkaska, Mich.; m. 12 June 1931 Evelyn May ROTH. She was b. in Dowagiac 12 July 1907, and d. 27 Apr. 2005 in Kalamazoo. Ron is the boy in the lower part of the picture to the right in 1914 in the third grade class at Oak Street Elementary School [taken from photos held by The Museum of Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac and published in Steven Arseneau and Ann Thompson, Images of America: Dowagiac (Arcadia Publishing Co. 2005). My thanks to Eileen for sending this, 4/18/2007]. Ronald was living in Dowagiac in 1946, and took over the Paxson Company after his father's death. After retirement Ron and Evelyn moved near Kalkaska, Mich. They had three children.

ii. Howard Hartwell Paxson, b. 9 Dec. 1906; d. 27 Aug. 1988 in Benton, Berrien Co., Mich. [My thanks to Eileen Talamantez, e mail 4/28/2007, for sending me these dates from "Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996".] Howard is the boy in the upper part of the picture to the right in 1914 in the third grade class at Oak Street Elementary School [taken from photos held by The Museum of Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac and published in Steven Arseneau and Ann Thompson, Images of America: Dowagiac (Arcadia Publishing Co. 2005). [My thanks to Eileen for sending this, 4/18/2007]; in 1946 he was with his brothers Gordon and Robert in Paxson Advertising, Benton Harbor;

iii. Kenneth Holland Paxson, b. ca. 1909; d. 1918 at the age of 9. entry in the 1929 Dowagiac HS yearbook, image sent by Eileen 4/11/2007

iv. Gordon E. Paxson, b. 23 July 1912; d. in an airplane crash 23 July 1954; m. Oct. 1938 Dorothy Lorraine SWEANY.

    Gordon graduated from Dowagiac Central High School in 1929. His yearbook (the 1929 Wahoo) entry (to the right) has been kindly sent to me by the daughter of a classmate. She (Margaret GALE) and Rita MICHAELS, hung out with Gordon and Howard ANTHONY, frequenting Olympia (the local ice cream parlor) for sodas on Friday afternoons. Once they cut school to go fishing. [E mails 4m/11, 4m/13, 4/14/2007, Eileen Talamantez.] Howard went to Hillsdale College, and Gordon went to the Art Institute in Chicago. He won a travelling fellowship to Europe. [The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., July 27?, 1954; my thanks to Eileen for sending it to me.]

photo of Dorothy Sweany

    A newspaper clipping of Oct. 1938 announcing Gordon's upcoming wedding to Dorothy Lorraine SWEANY, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Henry Claris of Chicago, provided additional information. Gordon was instructor in painting and drawing at Rockford College, Rockford, Ill., and Dorothy was a member of the San Carlo Opera company ballet in Chicao, and also danced with the Chicago Civic Opera company ballet. [newspaper clipping datelined "Dowagac, Mich., Oct. 11 (1934); my thanks to Eileen for this.] They had met at the Chicago Art Institute. Dorothy stopped dancing after her marriage. [E mail from their granddaughter, 4/16/2007.]

photo of Gordon Paxson from newspaper account of plane crash, image sent by Eileen 4/11/2007

    During World War II Gordon enlisted in the Navy. After being discharged he joined his brother Howard's advertising agency in Benton Harbor as a designer for 18 months. He left to become assistant to the Dean of the Fine Arts Dept. at Syracuse University. He became interested in industrial design and upon the urging of his old high school chum Howard Anthony, he returned to Benton Harbor and opened the Gordon Paxson Design Studio in 1952. [The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., July 27?, 1954; my thanks to Eileen for sending it to me.]

    In July 1954 Howard, now the owner of the successful Heath Company [remember Heath kit electronics?] wanted to check out a new British-built, twin-engine DeHaviland Dove airplane he was considering purchasing. He invited high school buddies Gordon Paxson and Laurel "Brownie" Brown and his wife Florence, to fly to Florida with him. All of the men were fascinated with flying and airplanes. Then Howard and Gordon planned to go on to the Bahamas for ten days. [The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., July 24, 1954; my thanks to Eileen for sending it to me.] "Benton Harbor folks were stunned to learn that all four passengers and both pilots lost their lives when the small plane crashed into the mountains about 35 miles from Chattanooga, Tenn." The newspaper gave conflicting theories of the cause: either a midair explosion, or an engine dropping off in mid flight. The mayor of Benton Harbor ordered flags to fly at half-staff for twenty days. A double funeral was held for Howard and Gordon, and with over 500 people attending it was said to be the largest ever in the area. A second double funeral was held for the Browns. [The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., July 24, 26, and 27?, 1954; my thanks to Eileen for sending these clippings to me.]

    The class of 1929 organized a collection of contributions for a trust fund for the education of the three Paxson children, aged 11, 9, and 3. [Mimeographed letter to the Class of '29 from Mildred Otteson, Corresponding Secretary, August 5, 1954, sent to me by Eileen Talamantez, 4/14/2007.] After Gordon's death Dorothy taught art for a time, and continued living in St. Joseph in the house Gordon had designed. All three of the children became artists of one kind or another. [E mail from her granddaughter, 4/16/2007.]

v. Robert Keith Paxson, b. 22 Aug. 1916; d. 13 Feb. 2006 in Berrien, Mich.; m. Irene GREGORY during World War II. He was in the Air Corps and met her on a blind date in Missouri; she then joined the WACs. Bob was a sophomore at Dowagiac High School in the 1932 year book; engaged with his older brothers Howard and Gordon in Paxson Advertising, Benton Harbor. "During his retirement, Bob wrote his memoirs and tells with humor how the wedding almost didn't happen when his bride-to-be was confined to her barracks." Although the memoir was never published, Bob did have some short stories published in some magazines and articles published in the Dowagiac Daily News. [My thanks to Dick Paxson, e mails 4/4 and 4m/5/2008 for this anecdote and information.]

vi. Ruth Marion Paxson; m. William PITTS; he was associated with the Paxson Company in Dowagiac; two children.





Edward Calhoun Paxson8, son of William Bushrod Paxson=7 (Samuel Paxson6, William5 #267, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Henrietta C. HOUGH, was born 1 November 1851. He died 24 October 1916. In 1871 he married Sarah Catherine ALEXANDER (1853-1932), daughter of John Thomas and Mary Jane (POWER) Alexander. As a widow she m(2) 1919 Charles Joseph GHEEN.

died; ts

Children of E. Calhoun and Sarah C. (Hough) Paxson:

i.     Annie Bell Paxson, b. ca. 1875; d. 1954; m. 1898 Peter DOVE, 2 children;

ii.    Wallace T. Paxson, b. 15 Oct. 1877; d. 6 Feb. 1906; m. Frances "Fannie" THAYER, had a son Raymond William Paxson (11 Nov. 1899-31 Aug. 1959) bur Arlington Nat Cemetery.

iii.   Grace Paxson, b. ca. 1884; d. 1971; m(1) 1902 Charles Edward MYERS, 3 children; m(2) William Leo LANGFORD. [information from findagrave, mostly Mount Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Ashburn, Loudoun Co., seen 4/2/2021.]



a page from the

Edward John Paxson8, son of William Johnson Paxson, (Edward6, Timothy5 #227, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3, William Jr.2, James1 #3) and his wife Ann Lenwell DEPUY Paxson, was born on 19 January 1854 at 925 Wallace St., Philadelphia. He died on 10 December 1920 in Chester, Pennsylvania. "Edward Jay" was married on 15 February 1880 to Florence Parker CARTER. She was born 20 January 1858. They were divorced before 1910. [Birth date and place from title page of Edward John Paxsons's diary/hand-illustrated book offered on e bay Nov. 2007, item #180186108497; my thanks to Dot Michael for bringing this to my attention, e mail 11/28/2007.]

portrait of Edward Jay Paxson'

Edward and Florence had two children. But the first, Mabelle, died after only five days. The second, a son Harold, who was apparently the apple of his papa's eye, died at the age of three years and ten months. Edward took it hard, and 30 years later when the wind softly pushed against a door, he was again reminded of how little Harold had pushed the door. Edward wrote a poem about "Baby Hands".

"Edward Jay" wrote poems and songs which are in the diary/book that was "engrossed by the author to be copyrighted by Edward J. Paxson for the author. Vol. I". (He seems to have often referred to himself in the third person.) It was offered for sale on ebay in November 2007. Elaine Paxson purchased it and I am very grateful that she has made some of the material available to me. This page seems to explain Edward's religious philosophy. He decried the "pie in the sky when you die" theology, embracing instead a theme dear to the hearts of seventeenth century Friends that we humans are intended to live now as if we are citizens of God's Kingdom.

Sometime before 1910 Edward and Florence were divorced. In the 1910 census Edward was living with his mother and her sister at 2444 Master Street, Philadelphia.

Perhaps the portrait to the left was taken when he hoped to publish some of his writings. His eyes seem sad, and I notice he is wearing what looks like a wedding ring. My thanks to Elaine Paxson for making the photograph available to me.

Children of Edward John and Florence Parker (Carter) Paxson:

i. Mabelle Lloyd Paxson9, b. 1881; only lived 5 days.

ii. Harold Depuy Paxson, b. 1883; d. 1887, aged 3 years and ten months.





Estella Annette Paxson, daughter of Francis Marion7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) was born 26 January 1863 and died 9 March 1942. She married 15 December 1880 Albert KENT, born in 1857, the son of Moses (1819-1872) and Keziah (BURKE) Kent (1818-1892), and grandson of Moses (1795-1881) and Dolly (MILLER) Kent (1797-1866). Albert died in 1919. [My thanks to Bonny Paxton Ross, 2/2015, for bringing this data to my attention, from find-a-grave.]

Children of Albert and Estella Annette (Paxson) Kent:

i. Infant daughter, d.y.

ii. Verle Kent, m. Grace CHAMBERS;

iii. Bessie Keziah Kent, b. 5 July 1888; d. 1968; m. 23 Nov. 1909 Gustav Godfried GREENBECK. Gustav was b. 2 Aug. 1882 in Bridgewater, Adair Co., and d. 1983; both are bur. in Greenfield Cemetery. Gustav was the son of Friedenand and Elizabeth Rechtenback Greenbeck. In the 1930 federal census for Greenfield Town, Adair Co., Iowa, "Gust G. Greenbeck" was 47 and had been married when he was 27 years old; Bessie K. was 40 and had been married at age 21 years. His occupation was listed as laborer, working streets. Two daughters were living with them on North Street, Opal V., age 10 and Vivian B., 8. [Census schedule, Enum. Dist. 7-6, p. 265 or 4B, lines 96-99. Seen on Ancestry.com, 11/20/2007.] They had three children:
a)   Izetta Pearle Greenbeck, stillborn. 13 Feb. 1919.
b)   Opal Viola Greenbeck, b. 24 Nov. 1919; d. 1999; m. 1938 Earl D. CULVER. He d. 2002.
c)   Vivian Burle Greenbeck, b. 9 or 13 Oct. 1921; d. 7 Nov. 2002; m. 29 Oct. 1939 Fred Roy CONRAD, son of Albert and Olive Clida (Thompson) Conrad. Fred was b. 4 Feb. 1904; d. 22 Mar. 1945 in a tractor accident in Arbor Hill, Va. He was a farmer and coal truck driver. They had 4 children.
iv. Jay Kent, b. 14 June 1897 in Greenfield; d. 22 Feb. 1940; m. 9 June 1923 Edna MULHERN in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Cora (HOLMES) Mulhern; 3 children.

v. Ivy Pearl Kent, b. 3 Jan. 1903 in Greenfield; m. 5 Sept. 1923 Paul RICHARDSON, b. 19 Jan. 1900; resided in Greeley, Colo.; 2 children.





Eugene Ellison Paxson8 son of Aaron Knight7 (Merritt6 #364, Charles5 #135, Phineas4 #50, William3, William2, William1), was born in August 1870 in Delaware, and died 30 October 1942. He married first, on 16 December 1916 Georgia ELLISON, daughter of Clayton Larkin Ellison (1852-1926) and his wife Caroline S. (Griffith), who lived just across the state line near Chesapeake City in Cecil County, Maryland. Clayton Larkin Ellison was a son of Jonathan Larkin Ellison (1814-1882), who was the brother of Curtis B., father of Lydia Curtis (Ellison) Paxson. Jonathan and Curtis were born in New Jersey before their parents (Lewis Ellison [1787-1858] and Mary Larkin [1785-1863]) brought the family to Delaware. So Georgia R. Ellison and Eugene E. Paxson were second cousins. After Georgia's death, Eugene married a second time, Nannie WRIGHT (1886-1950), daughter of Thomas H. and Margaret K. Wright. [My thanks to Liz Johnson for information on this family, e mails 7/2017.]

Georgia is in the 1920 census with Eugene E. and their son Eugene C. who was not yet a year old.

Although Eugene E. and his family apparently lived on the property, he did not officially inherit "Bellvue" from his unmarried aunts until after the last one died in 1939. As Eugene E. Paxson died in 1949, his second wife Nannie (Wright) inherited it. Nannie died in 1950. She (or her estate) sold the property to Benjamin and Bertha Johnson. A housing development was later put where this farm once was. There is at least one very good DelDOT archaeological study that was done on this property, which includes the chain of ownership. Liz writes that if you can find the small rise at the intersection of Red Cedar Lane and Amberwood Drive near highway 896, that is about where the Bellvue farm house was. I think the farm pond was where a field is now, behind houses on Cypress Way, Karen's Way, Silver Birch Lane and Orchid Lane. There is a low spot in the middle of that field. [My thanks to Liz Johnson for this information, e mail 7/2017.]

Nannie outlived Eugene, dying in 1950. Her remains were buried in Saint Rose of Lima Cemetery, Chesapeake City, Cecil Co., Maryland.

Child of Eugene Ellison and Georgia (Ellison) Paxson:

i.    Eugene Curtis Paxson8, b. in 1919 on the family farm "Bellvue" near Glasgow, Pencader Hundred, Delaware, and died there at age 9 in 1928. He is buried with his parents in Bethel Cemetery in Chesapeake City, Cecil County, Maryland.








newspaper image of Ezra Longo Paxson from Mary Fraley, 5/2021

Ezra Londo Paxson8, son of Ezra Wheat7 (Heston C.6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary Jane (Baker) Paxson, was born in 1856 and died in 1931. On 2 February 1883 Ezra married Susan CONRAD (1858-1944). Her parents had been born in Germany.

google map image of Ezra Longo Paxson's house at 202 Allies St., Akron, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021

In the 1880 census Ezra was unmarried, living with his parents in Limaville (former village, in 2010 had only 151 inhabitants) in Stark County, and working as a teamster. Later he was employed as a grocer in Limaville, living in the house he owned. Then he worked as a carpenter in Akron for twenty years where they lived in this house at 202 Allies Street, which Ezra also owned. [My thanks to Mary Fraley for information on Ezra Londo Paxson and his children, email 5/2021. ]

The 1930 census for Akron City, Summit Co., Oh. listed 74 year old Ezra as a carpenter in the house trade. He owned his home, valued at $3,000 at 202 Allies St. Susan was 71. Jasper (40, divorced) and Everett (36, single) were living there, too. [1930 census for Akron City, Summit Co., Oh., ED 77-22, p. 3A, lines 25-28.]

Ezra died in 1931, and Susan in 1944. The remains of both were interred in the Limaville Cemetery on Pine Street.

Ezra L. and Susan (Conrad) had three children:

i. Jasper Valentine Paxson, b. 15 Feb. 1890 in Limaville; d. 22 Apr. 1966; married 5 times; m(1) 6 May 1911 Edna May PHILABAUM, daughter of Robert and Rosa Spring; 1 daughter: Marguerite Paxson, b. 5 June 1912. Four years later Edna had another man, as this clipping from the Akron Beacon Journal of 19 Aug. 1916 described. Judge W. J. AHERN granted Jasper a divorce "for neglect", 20 Oct. 1916. On 23 Dec. that year Jasper m(2) Mary Idella YEAGLEY by Rev. L. N. D. WELLS in his study at the High st. Church of Christ. They lived t 378 Sherman St. Mary had previously been mar. to __ ENGLISH. Although Jasper asked for custody of Marguerite it is unclear where the little girl lived. On his June 5, 1917 draft registration Jasper declared he was responsible for the support of wife and child—which could be the case wherever Sue lived. He said he was a Rubber Worker for Firestone Rubber Co., in Akron, and had previously served 5 years as a private in the infantry. He was described as medium height, slender, grey eyes and dark hair. In the 1920 census he and Mary had no children living with them, and she was listed with her mother and Herman M. SHEELER. Jasper and Mary divorced Jan. 11 1928. Three days later, 14 Jan. 1928, the pastor of the Wooster Ave. Reformed Church married Jasper and Leeoatice E. CURTISS. He was a 37 year old electrician, she was a 42 year old nurse. He was living with his parents at the time. This marriage was short lived, and in the 1930 census Jasper was gravemarker for Jasper and his 5th wife Maude, added to findagrave by 'Mic'enumerated as divorced, living with his parents on Allies St.; he was an "electrician" working for "telephone". Not until 5 June 1935 did Jasper apply for another marriage license. He m(4) Lila Ann BALDWIN (mar. 1927 Harry MAXWELL, divorced). He was listed as an electrician and acknowledged being divorced once before. He was 45, Lila was 43. They had a daughter, Susan Ann Paxson, b. 6 Oct. 1936. The 1940 census enumerated them at 1923 Issaquah St., Cuyahoga Falls. Jasper was still an electrician, but now working for "rubber co." (of which there were many in Akron). The marriage ended with Lila's death after a lengthy illness at age 48 in 1941 when Sue was five years old. Her body was interred in Glendale Cemetery. Beside Susan, Lila left a much older daughter, Mrs. Hazel CONNEL of Akron. Jasper didn't feel up to raising a daughter and gave her up for adoption. At the age of 9 Sue was adopted by the FOWLERs. Meanwhile Jasper found another woman, Maude M. ___, (1897-1963) although no marriage record has been found. Nevertheless they shared a grave in Brooklyn Heights, Oh., with the words "husband" and "wife" above their names and "together forever" between the names. It looks like the base metal plate was purchased first, with the names bolted on later. [My thanks to Mary Fraley for information and images for Jasper Paxson and his wives and children, email 5/2021. "Mic" added the photo to findagrave in 2016, #171196450]

Akron Beacon Journal clipping Aug. 19, 1916, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021 Akron Beacon Journal clipping Dec. 26, 1916, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021 newspaper clipping, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021 newspaper clipping, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021 Akron Beacon Journal clipping Aug. 19, 1916, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021

Everett Paxson, from Mary Fraley, 5/2021
ii. Everett W. Paxson, b. 22 Oct. 1893; d. 1966; m. 8 Mar. 1923 with Eugenia Grizzard HAMMOND, by Rev. John Taylor ALTON. She was the daughter of Oscar C. and Emma Dora (Grizzard) Hammond. Neither had been previously married. Everett was 30, Eugenia was 20, and both lived at 202 Allies St. Everett worked in real estate. Curiously, in the 1930 census he was a real estate salesman listed as single. I do not know what happened to Eugenia. On 6/5/1917 Everett registered for the WWI draft. He was 23, living at 389 Hickory, Akron, working as a shoe salesman for Newart Shoe Co., of 73 S. Main, Akron; he was single, described as tall, slender, brown eyes and black hair. From time to time over his life he lived with his parents at 202 Allies St. in Akron. He was living there when he registered for the "old men's draft" for WWII; he was unemployed and gave his sister as his person to know his address. She lived there, too. His last 20 years he was disabled. In the photo he's holding a device in his mouth that helped him listen to radio broadcasts. He lived at 1668 Van Lynn Rd., but died in Los Angeles, Calif. His funeral was held in Ohio, service by Rev. Gale BERGSTRESSER, burial in Limaville Cemetery. [Newspaper death announcement, from Mary Fraley,]

iii. Leona W. Paxson, b. 1903; d. 1982; m. Lloyd R. DICKERHOOF, then they were divorced; lived in Mahoning, Ohio.













Pearl Densmore Paxson photo ca. age 16 from Ben Hoffman Flavius Love Paxson9, son of Burr Wicks8 (Charles Edward Paxson7, Samuel Paxson6, William5, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary Elizabeth (VIRTS) Paxson, was born 30 January 1871, and died in 1947 in Ivy, Virginia. Flavius married Sept. 1902 Pearl DENSMORE. The family spelled their name Densmore, later spelled it Dinsmore, then Dinsmoor. The black and white photo was taken of Pearl when she was about 16, and the oil painting was copied from the photo. My thanks to Ben Hoffman for both images.

Pearl Densmore Paxson painting ca. age 16 from Ben Hoffman

The 1880 federal census for Jefferson Township, Loudon Co., Va, listed Burr "Paxon" as a 34 year old farmer with his wife Mary E., also 34. With them were three sons: Flavius L. (age 10), George O. (age 6), and "Arthor C." (age 3). Two African Americans also lived there, working on the farm: 22 year old Julius SIMS and 15 year old Allen HENDERSON. All of these people and all their parents were born in Virginia.[1880 census, familysearch.org, as of 5m/4/2005.].

After marrying, "Flave" built a house in Paeonian Springs, just west of Leesburg on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. One feature he incorporated into the house was a water storage tank in the attic to provide gravity feed to all fixtures. He apparently rode the W&OD to DC to work. In 1910 he was employed as a salesman for a beef company, probably Armour. In 1914 the family lived at 1669 Columbia Road in Washington, DC. Then in 1920, until 1938, they lived at 1003 Hamilton Blvd., Hagerstown, MD. During the depression, he apparently lost his job and became a traveling salesman, selling all sorts of candies and sweets. He traveled by train, carrying a heavy sample case and his suitcase, and was gone from early Monday morning, often Sunday evening, until late Friday night.[My thanks to Ben Hoffman for this information, e mails 7/2017.].

Early in 1938 they moved to Swiss Village, a suburb of Charlottesville. When the Daily Progress (newspaper owned by Elizabeth Lindsay Paxson) had a social note about the village, it read, "Swiss Village, where there are more dogs than people". In retirement he raised chickens and cut firewood. When a chicken hawk threatened the flock, he would sit in a cane chair underneath a large white oak tree, with a double-barreled shotgun, usually asleep. Of course the hawk stayed away when he was waiting so they covered the young chick run with wire mesh. Flavius passed away in the fall of 1947 in a nursing home in Ivy, VA. He had suffered a stroke and been bedridden for several months, the one thing he feared, since his father had also been paralyzed at the end of his life. [Thanks to Ben Hoffman for this, e mails 7/2017.].

Children of Flavius and Pearl (Densmore) Paxson (may be incomplete):

i. C[harles] Armonde Paxson, called "Pax", b. in Waterford, Vermont, 30 Oct. 1905; d. in Charlottesville, Va. 20 Apr. 1976; m(1) between 1931 and 1935 Elizabeth Lindsay MOUNT (divorcee) and had one daughter; divorced ca. 1948; m(2) 20 Mar. 1950 Lola Blanche PITMAN [Who's Who in American Politics, 1967-68, 1:515.], from Richmond, Va.; divorced 15 Aug. 1955; m(3) in the 1960s Janice Dey SUMMERS.[The information in this entry is from National Cyclopedia of American Biography (1981), 60:87, and from Ben Hoffman, e mails 3m & 6m/2017, unless otherwise noted.]

Chas. Armonde Paxson's name written in 'With Lee in Virginia'

C. Armonde attended Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy, earned an LLB from the University of Virginia in 1930, having already entered the Virginia bar the year before. He is on the Phi Sigma Kappa page of the 1927 University of Virginia yearbook (p. 229, see also p. 98). At one point while in college, he shoveled coal on a tramp steamer to get to France. His signature, to the right, is on the flyleaf of a book purchased in a used book store in Pennsylvania, G. A. Henry's With Lee in Virginia, published in 1890. [My thanks to Bob Brown for telling me about this, and sending me the image of the signature. E mail Sept. 2011.]

By 1942 Armonde was senior partner in the law firm Paxson, Marshall & Smith in Charlottesville, specializing in banking, corporation, insurance, estate planning, and real estate law.

He was a Democrat and won election to the Virginia House of Delegates from 1961 to 1970. He worked to pass bills that would permit judges to fix sentences in jury trials. It was passed in 1976. He served as assistant judge in the Charlottesville Municipal Court. In 1964 he was awarded a gavel from the Democratic National Convention (held in Atlantic City).

Pax owned several "yachts" (40 footers) based in Urbana, Vir., and was a real fan of the Navy, though never able to be a member. His leg was amputated, probably from diabetes, ca. 1974. He suffered from glaucoma and he was probably legally blind when he did beautiful pen and ink sketches on envelopes of letters to his sister. He probably also had COPD.

In addition to serving on a number of boards of directors, C. Armonde was a director of Recording for the Blind, Inc., treasurer of the Stonewall Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Mental Health Association. His hobbies included painting and writing, building ship models, and fishing.

Child of C. Armonde and his first wife Elizabeth Lindsay Mount Paxson:

a. Eliza Liggett Paxson, called "Lig", b. ca. 1936; d. of cancer in 1964 or 1975, in Charlottesville; m. ___ ARMSTRONG from Kentucky; divorced, ca. early 1970s. Lig loved horses.
ii. Arline Love Paxson, b. 7 Dec. 1903; m(1) 27 Mar. 1929 Benjamin F. HOFFMAN, in Gettysburg, Pa.; separated 1933; m(2) 1938 Robert T. HAAS, res. in Hagerstown, Md., then in 1942 moved to Baltimore, Md.; separated 1953. She changed the spelling of her name to Arlene. She d. Jan. 1993 in Towson, Md. She had a child with her first husband, who was raised by her parents from 1932 until 1942 when he moved to live with her and Bob, who was an "outstanding father" to the child.




Photograph of Francis Asbury Paxson, from Lyn Paxson, 2m/8/2008

Frances Asbury Paxson8, son of William Johnson Paxson, (Edward Paxson6, Timothy5 #227, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3, William Jr.2, James1 #3) and his wife Ann Lenwell DEPUY Paxson, was born on 23 December 1866, in Kensington (a neighborhood in Philadelphia). He died sometime on 10 December 1943 in Chester, Penna. Frances married on 19 October 1893 Sarah Hinckson RICHARDSON. She was born in 1870 and died in 1933 at the age of 63 of an infection of her foot. [My thanks to Lyn Paxson for this information, e mail 2m/8/2008.

Photograph of Sarah H. Richardson Paxson, from Lyn Paxson, 2m/8/2008

According to the 1900 census, "Frances" [sic] was a bookkeeper at The Mill Bottom.

Children of Frances Asbury and Sarah (Richardson) Paxson:

i. Frank G. Paxson9, b. Oct. 1894 in Penna.; d. 1948; m(1) ca. 1922 Anna C.; m(2) 1934 Helen B.; resided at 2523 Myra St, Jacksonville City, Fla.; worked as an Office Manager, for an Oil Wholesale concern. Three children.

ii. Edith Paxson, b. Mar. 1897 in Penna.; m. __ HEWES; 2 children.











Frank Wilson Paxson, the son of Moses Paxson (Amos C. (Eliada5 #316, (Aaron4 #116, Thomas3 #45, Henry2 #18, James1 #3) and Mary W. CROASDALE, was born in April 12, 1855, and died December 26, 1921. He married three times. First, on 20 February 1875 to Rebecca ALCUTT or ALCOTT or ALCOTTin Deep Run Presbyterian Church, Doylestown (paying $5 to the minister).[Deep Run Presbyterian Church Marriage Register, p. 166.] He was reported 18 June 1884 to Race St. Meeting for marrying "a person not a member amongst us and in the manner of the marriage has violated our testimony to a free gospel ministry." [Phila. MM Men's minutes, 6m/1884 & ff; Hinshaw 2:907.]

newspaper ad for Paxson, Comfort & Co.

In the 1880 census for the 31st Ward of Philadelphia Frank W. was a 25 year old travelling salesman, Beckey A., same age, was "housekeeper", their daughters were Eva (5) and Sally (3). Also living with them was Mary W., 52, Frank's mother. They were living at 2003 Coral Street. [1880 US census for Phila., Pa., roll 1189, ED 665, p. 322D, lines 10-14.]

Frank had an unfortunate incident while travelling in the fall of 1886. It was written up in the Wed., Oct. 13, 1865 Lancaster Examiner, page 3. I assume he never saw the cash or pocket book again, but perhaps some under-paid chamber maid got an unexpected bonus. [My thanks to Cindy Graham who sent the clipping, email 3/14/2021.]

Frank married a second time Anna Victoria SHARPER. She was born October 1, 1859 and died in Easton on August 28, 1920 of "Phthisis Pulmonalis", aka tuberculosis. Her remains were interred in the Easton Heights Cemetery. It's interesting that Frank did not know the name of her mother, and for her father only had the initial J. [Northampton Co., Penna. Death Certificate File No. 85494. My thanks to Cindy for sending me a digitized copy, email 3/19/2021.

Less than seven months later Frank married for the third time, Katherine WILSON in Lehigh County. He said his previous wife died 8/8/1920, and that both his parents were deceased. Katherine, of 129 Spring Garden St., Easton, was the daughter of Jacob S. Wilson and Isobelle (Brotzman), both deceased. She had an occupation ("teacher"?), but I cannot make out the handwriting. The marriage was performed February 3, 1921. Frank was 65 and Katherine was 46. Curiously, a handwritten note says, "Dont publish". [Digital copy of marriage license application and filing, sent me by Cindy Graham, email 3m/8/2021.]

They were only married ten months and a bit over three weeks before he died on the day after Christmas of a "Pulmonary Oedema", with "cardiac weakness" as a contributing factor. His body was interred 12m/29, like his mother's, in Fairhill Burial Ground. [Digital copy of Frank's death certificate sent me by Cindy Graham, email 3m/8/2021.

newspaper notice for Sallie Paxson's marriage

Children of Frank W.Paxson and his first wife, Rebecca (Aucott) Paxson:


i.      Eva Paxson9, b. ca. 1875

ii.     Sallie Paxson, b. ca. 1877; m. 10 Sept. 1902 Frank MESSINGER, at the home of her parents, 3945 Haverford Ave., Phila., by the Rev. J. G. BICKERTON, DD. [My thanks to Cindy Graham who sent the clipping of 12 Sept. 1902, Phila. Inquirer, p. 14. "Paxon" was the misspelling.]








Frederic Logan Paxson, the son of Joseph Armitage Paxson7 (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3, Henry2, James1), was born 23 February 1877, and died 24 October 1948. He married Helen JACKSON.

He attended Friends Central High School in Philadelphia, where he presented a speech at graduation.

Frederic was an historian of the western frontier, PhD from the Univ. of Wisconsin. The 1929 Madison, Wisc., City Directory lists him as "prof U of W", his home at 2122 VanHise Ave., and his wife Helen J. [Madison City Directory (1929), p. 639, as digitized on ancestry.com.] Typical of his era and training he did not understand or appreciate women's or family history and threw away a whole trunk of old family letters. He did, however, write up a family reminiscence for his daughters. Again, reflecting his era and training, he did not use scholarly research to compile it, as genealogy was disparaged by professional academicians.

The following "In Memoriam, 1948" was written by J. D. Hicks, H. E. Bolton, and J. P. McBaine:

      Frederic Logan Paxson, long a prominent figure among American historians, died in Berkeley, California, October 24, 1948, from an embolism, following a major operation. A former president of the American Historical Association, and professor of history successively at four state universities, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, and California, he was at the time of his death Margaret Byrne Professor of United States History, Emeritus, at the University of California. He had retired the year before after a period of service at California of fifteen years, during the last eight of which he had been Chairman of the Department.

      Professor Paxson was born in Philadelphia, February 23, 1877. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he also received his Ph.D. degree. His Master's degree he held from Harvard. Throughout his life he was a loyal member of the Society of Friends.

      As a scholar, his interests ranged through all United States history. He first won recognition by his studies on the influence of the frontier West in American History. His Last American Frontier (1910), his numerous articles in historical journals, especially on railroads, and his History of American Frontier (1924), all emphasized this theme. For the latter he received the Pulitzer prize for the best book of the year on American history. He was also among the first to emphasize the importance of recent American History. His New Nation, published in 1915, and his Recent History of the United States, a textbook which went through numerous printings, and was repeatedly revised, did much to set the pattern of historical writing in this field. The first World War gave him still another special interest. During this conflict, he was in Washington as a Major in the United States Army in charge of the Economic Mobilization Section of the Historical Branch, War Plans Division, General Staff. Later he brought out a series of three volumes on American Democracy and the World War (1936-1948), books in which he attempted successfully to bridge the gap between the historical specialist and the general reader. Among his other books was one on The Independence of the South American Republics (1903), another on The Civil War (1911), and at the time of his death, he was well along with a book on the history of land grant colleges in the United States.

      As a University professor, his teaching and writing deeply influenced the thinking of thousands of students, both undergraduate and graduate. Before his retirement in 1947 he had supervised the writing of no less than sixty-six Ph.D. theses on practically all phases of United States history. As a skilled administrator, his service was in constant demand, not only in departmental matters, but also in general University affairs. As a loyal friend and a trustworthy adviser he was widely known in historical circles the nation over. As a faculty colleague he was admired for his charm and dignity, his unfailing courtesy, his well-nigh universal interests, and his incisive observations on men and events. His passing brings deep grief to all who knew him well.

      He is survived by his wife, Helen J. Paxson, and by three daughters, Dr. Jane T. Paxson, of Albany, California, Miss Emma F. Paxson, of Berkeley, who was until recently with the army of occupation in Germany as a Captain of the WACS, and Mrs. Stanley L. Ruey, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [http://content.cdlib.org/xtf/view?docId=hb9p300969&doc.view=frames&chunk.id=div00021&toc.depth=1&toc.id=, seen 4/13/2007.]

Photograph of Jane T. Paxson, University of Michigan class of 1933-34 Internal Medicine, photo by Luke Burns, e mail 4m/2/2019.

For readers who might like to sample Frederic's history, four of his books can be downloaded from the web at http://www.archive.org/: Recent History of the United States 1865-1929, America at War 1917-1918, The Civil War, and The Last American Frontier.

The three daughters of Frederic Logan and Helen (Jackson) Paxson:

i.     Jane Taylor Paxson, MD, b. 7 Sept. 1909; d. 1 May 1991; unmarried; in 1929 Madison City Directory she was a student at the Univ. of Wisc. living at home; graduated in Internal Medicine from the University of Michigan, in the class of 1933-34. My thanks to Luke Burns for taking this photo of the class picture of graduates from the Internal Medicine program. In the 1940 census Jane was living at 710 Gateview Ave., Albany, Alameda Co., Calif., in her own $5,000 house. She was 30, a physician in private practice. She had a 32 year old lodger (roommate?) Alilene? E. Bonestell, who was a bacteriologist at the Univ. of Calif. The last week of March Jane had worked 60 hours, Aline a more reasonable 45. They both worked 52 weeks in 1939, the lodger earning $1,000 in wages, Jane not getting remunerated through wages.[1940 census for Alameda Co., CA, roll m-t0627-00186, ED 1-71, p. 6B, lines 56-57.] At the time of her father's death in 1948 Jane was still living in Albany.

ii.    Emma Fell Paxson, in 1929 Madison City Directory she was a student living at home; she was with the army of occupation in Germany as a Captain in the WACS after WWII.

iii.   Patricia Paxson, who m. Stanley L. RUEY. In 1948 they were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.





Frederick Paxson, Jr., son of William Betts7, (Frederick6, Charles5 #234, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Lydia (Shoemaker) Paxson, was born at 12:40 p.m. on 8 October 1875, and named for his paternal grandfather. [Hinshaw 2:814 sez he was b. 8 Sept. 1875, but Frederick's draft registration says September.] He died in 1959 and was buried in Norriton 234, West Laurel Hill Cemetery. Frederick married on 6 June 1903 at Rosemont Katherin N. WILLIAMS. She had been born 7 October 1879, the daughter of William F. and Annie (__) Williams. They lived in Radnor. [Suzanne P. Lamborn, The Paxson Family (Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2008), 43.]

In the 1897 Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory Frederick was listed as a student living at 1723 Oxford.

Frederick registered for the draft for World War I on 12 September 1918. He was a "Line & Pay Clerk" for John R. Evans & Co. of Camden, N.J. He gave his mother as his nearest relative, which suggests that his wife had passed. Frederick was described as tall, medium build, blue eyes, brown and gray hair, and "Somewhat deaf". [WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Penna., Delaware Co. no. 3; A-Pfaender, accessed on familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-26612-28921-30?cc=1968530, 1m/5/2015.]

Frederick and Katherin N. (William) Paxson had 3 children: [as listed by Lamborn.]

i.     Frederick Paxson9, b. 3 July 1906; m. 24 Sept. 1931 in Lutherville, Md. Margaret REESE. She was b. 30 Nov. 1908, the daughter of James P. and Louisa A. (LEISENRING) Reese of Lutherville.

ii.    Beatrice Paxson, b. 12 July 1907; m. 15 May 1930 at Rosemont William B. HART (b. 29 April 1907), son of William B. and Nina L. (JUSTICE) Hart; they lived in Villanova, Delaware Co., Penna.

iii.   Ann Catherine Paxson, b. 13 July 1909 in Radnor;


George Andrew Paxson8, son of Joseph Charles7 (Morris6, Ely5 #302, John4 #114, Henry Jr.3 #43, Henry2 #18, James1 #3) and his wife Margaret Catherine (SHAFFER) was born 13 March 1883 in Shuyler County, Missouri; he died 11 May 1956 in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. George married Ida Elizabeth HOWARD (born 29 October 1889; died 19 August 1946).

In the 1929 federal census for St. Joseph City, Missouri, George A. Paxson was a 35 year old laborer in the stock yards. His wife was Ida, age 30. Their three sons and George's brother Otis R. lived with them along with a boarder, Albert H. NORTON, 20, who with Otis also worked in the stock yards. The house was rented.[1920 census for St. Joseph City, Buchanan Co., Mo., roll T625_907, ED 128, p. 9B, lines 89-95.]

George and Ida had 3 children:

i.    Ora L. Paxson, b. 16 Dec. 1907 in St. Joseph, Mo.; d. 10 May 1930, killed in a blast at the Armour meat packing plant in St. Joseph. He was engaged to be married at the time.

ii.   Curtis Lloyd Paxson, b. 6 Aug. 1910 in Mo.; d. 21 July 1988 in St. Joseph; m. 6 Oct. 1934 in Mo. Edna Marie ARTHUR, b. 1 Dec. 1911, daughter of Bert W. and Goldie P. Arthur; Edna d. 22 Mar. 1990.

iii.  Donald Vern Paxson, b. 14 Mar. 1919 in Mo.; mar. 12 Nov. 1948 in Scott, Mo., Dortha Lee JACKSON (b. 1921); had 2 children.




George Hastings Paxson8 ( - ), son of Merritt C.7 (Merritt Hanson6, Charles5 #135, Phineas4 #50, William3 #20, William2 #9, William1 #2) and his wife Sarah "Sally" (COCHRAN), was born 3 July 1889. He died in 1963. George married Mary Rebecah STEEL.

George worked for the Deemer Steel Company, where his father had been a watchman. George ended as the head of maintenance at Deemers steel mill. George and Mary also had a farm on what is now Black Stallion Road, outside of Clayton, Delaware. Later their daughter Ruth and her husband Wilbur Fox bought it while continuing to let them live there, so that Ruth could care for her mother who was in poor health. Mary died in 1951. Ruth then cared for her father for many years.

Several times George's brother Merritt visited them, even coming up at least once from Georgia to visit. He and George looked very similar.

Children of George Hastings and his wife Mary Rebecah (Steel) Paxson: who d. 1940;

i.      George Jacob Paxson, b. 1913; d. 1988; m(1) Myrtle SEYMOUR; m(2) Dolly __;

ii.     William Vernon Paxson, b. 1915; d. 1999; m(1) Rachele TRESSLER; m (2) Ann __;

iii.    Merritt Paxson, b. ; died as an infant.

iv.    Ruth Marie Paxson, b. 1918; d. 1978; married 1938 Wilbur Wilson FOX, Jr. had 2? children.

v.     Mary Paxson, b. ; died as an infant.

vi.    Mildred Gladys Paxson, b. 1921; d. 2013 married 1940 Hurbert JOHNSON;

vii.   Alfred C Paxson, b. 1922; died in 1940 car accident.

viii.  Merritt Paxson, died as an infant.

ix.    Mary Paxson, died at 2 years of age of pneumonia.

x.     Charles Malcolm Paxson, b. 1931; d. 1994; married Joyce __.



George Morgan Paxson, the son of Isaac Paxson7 (John Jefferson6, Jonathan #221, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Louisa (HESTON) was born 10 July 1869 in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and died there on 23 July 1935. [Roberts, comp., The Kirk Family, 391, incorrectly has his middle initial "C".] His earthly remains were buried in the Union Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven. George married Emma Deibert GILHAM in Schuylkill Haven. She moved there from Shamokin.

An attorney with offices in Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven, George also worked as a freight agent for the Reading Company. His father and two brothers also worked for the Reading Co.

George was involved in a number of civic activities, serving on the Board of Education, the Building and Loan Association, and the State Bank board. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He and his family were members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. [Paxson family entry in a book published for the 225th anniversary of Schuylkill Haven; my thanks to Elaine Paxson for e mailing me images of two pages, 1m/4/2008.]

In 1910 the couple was enumerated with two little girls, Maude T. (age 4) and Margaret C. (age 1). [1910 US census for Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill, Penna.; Roll T626, ED 80, p. 23B, lines 52-55.

The 1930 federal census for Schuylkill Haven indicated that their daughter, 21 year old Margaret C. and Emma's mother, 74 year old Emma J. GILLIAM, lived with them. [1930 US census for Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill, Penna.; Roll T624, ED 109, p. 14B.

Children of George M. and his wife Emma D. (Gilham) Paxson:

i. Maude Iona Paxson, b. 26 Aug. 1905; d. 8 July 1996 in Schuylkill Co., Penna.; m. Paul FEESER; had 3 children.

ii. Margaret C., b. ca. 1909;





George S. Paxson, son of Wilson S. Paxson7 (son of Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3 #45, Henry2, James1) and his wife "Jennie" (Hall) Paxson, was born 1 December 1874, and died on 11 April 1896. George married in 1890 Mary DOAN [Information about his wife from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lukedillon/pafg100.htm#2586 seen 12/16/2007.]

The photograph to the right shows George. George died after suffering two weeks with appendicitis. He was a quarry superintendent. He was born, died, and was buried in Solebury. [Register of Deaths, Bucks County Courthouse, Doylestown (seen 8/1987).]

Mary and her parents-in-law raised her young son Earl for a while, but they disagreed strongly over how it should be done. He was put in the Mason home for boys for a while. Wilson and Jennie Paxson were very strict. Finally Mary gave up and turned Earl over to his grandparents. [letter June 20, 1997 from Dorothy Paxson Sargent.]

Child of George S. and Mary (Doan) Paxson:

i.  Earl Daniel Paxson9, b. 11 May 1894 in Bucks Co.; d. 29 Mar 1937 in Grass Valley, Calif. of appendicitis; m. 23 Jul 1917 in Colorado Ethel Luella BECK. She was the daughter of Marcellus Loren Beck and Anna Pearl (Roach) Beck, b. 28 Dec. 1896 in Colorado Springs, Co.; d. 28 Feb. 1973 in Hood River, Ore. They had 3 children. [Information about them from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~lukedillon/pafg101.htm#2623 seen 12/16/2007.] Earl was two when his father died. After considerable conflict his mother sent Earl to live with his paternal grandparents. Earl was unhappy about that as they were very strict and old fashioned. In his late teens he ran away, riding on a train boxcar, ending up in Colorado, where he met Luella. He worked as a mechanic and car salesman. In 1921 he drove a log truck in Hood River, Ore. In 1928 he had a tire shop in Delano, Calif. In 1929 he had the Kelly-Springfield tire agency in Wenatchee, Wash. In the early 1930s he had an auction house in Sherman Oaks, Calif. At the time of his death he had a Graham-Paige car agency in Grass Valley, Calif. Earl and Ethel had three children:
a.  D- P- Paxson10
b.  Beverly Edella Paxson, b. 14 Oct. 1922 in Denver, Clo.; d. 12 Oct. 1972 in Garden Grove, Calif.; m. Edward B. GUERRERO; 2 children.
c.  D- E- Paxson




George Washington Paxson, son of Francis Marion (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1) was born 5 April 1855 in Ohio, and died on 11 October 1912. He married on 23 March 1887 to Minnie Nellie POWERS at Marshalltown, Iowa by the Rev. TASKETT, a Baptist minister (taken from the family bible of the Powers, belonging to Violet Paxton Bryan). Nellie had been born 12 March 1866 in Burr Oak, Michigan, the daughter of Humphrey and Caroline (PACKER) Powers. Nellie died 29 December 1918. [Information from Mary Louise Giles, and Bonnie Paxton Ross, with my thanks.]

Nellie's father died of pneumonia when she was seven, so her mother moved the family to Tama County, Iowa to live with Caroline's sister Nancy (Packer) CONANT. Caroline married 31 October 1875 James CARTER, and they resided on a farm southeast of Montour.

After graduating from high school Nellie went to Gladbrook and Toledo to take Normal training. IShe may have attended Leander Clark College, a United Brethren institution begun in 1857 and merged with Coe College in 1918. She complained of being tired much of the time and it was the opinion of Darlene Ward Paxton, who assembled the notes that Bonnie Paxton Ross used in her monograph, that she was suffering from tuberculosis, from which she eventually died. Nellie went to teach at the Kellog school in Indian Village just south of the Paxtons'. It was there that she started seeing George Paxton. They were married 23 March 1887.

George and Nellie were enumerated in the 1900 US census in Indian Village. He was 45, she was 34, and they'd been married 13 years. She had given birth to five children in Iowa and they were all still living. George was a farmer who owned his own land next door to his parents' home farm. [1900 US Census for Indian Village Twp., Tama Co., Iowa; Roll 460; ED 137, p. 12B, lines 65-69, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

In 1910 the census enumerator listed George, 55, M. Nellie 44, Glenn F., 16, Violet M. 14, Allen D. 10, Audray G. 9, and Milfred M., 7. By this time Nellie had had seven children and one (Florence) had died. Harold had married and moved away. [1900 US Census for Indian Village Twp., Tama Co., Iowa; Roll T624_424; ED 159, p. 8A, lines 11-17, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

After George's death in 1911 Nellie traveled quite a bit and "many criticized her for being so extravagant." Violet Paxton kept a diary while on a trip with her Mother and Wendell in 1914, that included this excerpt:

We went from Chicago to Niles, Michigan to Eva Starkeyus and visited with the Cornwalls. We went to Sturgis Michigan and to Burr Oak at which cemetery Humphrey Powers is buried. We visited Aunt Pheobe at Burr Oak and went to the Frasher house that Uncle Henry Packer talked so much about. We went to Brunson to visit cousin Dr. Shaw. Phoebes sons Oliver and daughter Goldie. We went to the Sturgis cemetery. Uncle John at Sturgis took Needa and Violet throu the furniture factory where he worked. We went to Oswego N.Y. to visit Emma Harrington who lived on the banks of Lake Ontario. We visited Aunt Sarah and Chester Randal and Helen and Roger. We went to the cemetery where my great grandfather and grandmother Powers were buried at Oswego, N.Y. We went to Sterling and Auburn. De Greene met them at Auborn. Dr. Greene is a cripple and has to walk with a cane and had his broken 17 years before. We went to Sherwood to Emma Brusters.

Minnie had died of influenza in 1918, probably acsaserbated by tuberculosis. She and George were buried in the Montour Cemetery. Their youngest son, Wendell, was only seven, and was raised by his sister Violet, in spite of their aunt hoping to adopt and raise him. I have not checked the Orphan's Court records, but did find this tantalizing notice of a court case involving Wendell.

In the case of Wendel PAXTON, a minor, the court agree with a petition that property in which the ward has a share is unproductive and decreasing in value. The court authorized the guardian to give a deed and sell the property at cash value of $1,600. The share of Wendel PAXTON in this property is $266.66. [http://www.iowaoldpress.com/IA/Tama/1925/sept.html, seen 11/19/2007.]

Children of George Washington and Minnie Nellie (Powers) Paxton:

i.       Florence M. Paxton, b. 31 July 1888; d. 7 Sept. 1909; m. 1908 Perry W. HALL, although shortly before the wedding Perry was found to have been previously married. She attending school in 1900 census. At the age of 22 years, "1 month and 6 days she died of consumption and a broken heart during pregnancy."

ii.      Harold Humphrey Paxton, b. 11 Aug. 1891; d. 22 Jan. 1966; m(1) 23 Nov. 1909 Anna KERNER in Rock Island, Ill.; had 1 daughter; divorced; m(2) 15 Ayg. 1925 Grace Easton BURGHER; they had a son. Harold was attending school in 1900 census; was a farmer who lost everything in the Depression when he mortgaged the farm to buy another at $300 an acre (according to Wendell Paxton).

iii.     Glenn Francis Paxton, b. 16 Dec. 1893; d. 29 Mar. 1973; m. 19 Jan. 1916 Nelle FOWLER, daughter of George and Edith (FLINT) Fowler, b. 14 Mar. 1896; attending school in 1900 census. They purchased the farm where he was born; at his death it went out of the family's ownership. Adopted a son, Forrest Paxton.

iv.    Violet Rosene Paxton, b. 22 Apr. 1896; d. Aug. 1974; m. 27 May 1924 Walter "Sam" Scott BRYAN. After the death of her mother in 1918 Violet cared for little brother Wendell and "kept the household together." She and Sam had 5 children.

v.     Allen or Alan Dale Paxton, b. 30 June 1899; m. 5 June 1923 Tena VANA. He was a barber and owned a radio shop in Montour for a number of years. He then purchased the Paxton farm, southwest of Montour. Allen and Tena had two sons

vi.    Audrey George Paxton, 11 Apr. 1901; killed 20 Feb. 1919 when he jumped from a moving train in Tama. His obit:
Audrey George Paxton was born on the home farm 2 1/2 miles southwest of Montour, April 11, 1901 an died by accident in Tama February 20, 1010 at the age of 17 years, 9 months and 9 days. He was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Paxton. He is survived by five brothers and one sister. They are Harold, Glenn, Allen, Milford, Wendell and Violet, also by his aged grandmother, besides many other relatives. His father passed away October 11, 1912 and his mother only seven weeks ago. . . . He moved with his mother and the children to Montour three years ago. He was of mild, unassuming disposition but active and energetic in work, always desiring to be employed. When the U.S. became involved in war he had an earnest desire to answer his country's call to service but owing to his youth was rejected. After attending the rural school for several years he entered the Montour high school, where he was a student until last year. He was a member of the Young peoples' class of the M.E. Sunday school and was a favorite and well beloved by his young friends and companions.
vii.   Milford James Paxton, b. 1 Mar. 1903; d. 2 Dec. 1970; m. Alta Irene WALL; resided in Marshalltown, Iowa; he was a truck driver for many years; had 3 children

viii.  Wendell Powers Paxton, b. 14 Aug. 1911; d. 28 Apr. 2000 of cancer in Davenport, Iowa; m. Darlene Steffa WARD, daughter of Alvin and Imo (STEFFA) Ward 17 June 1936. She d. of cancer 23 Nov. 1993. After his parents' deaths he was raised by his sister Violet rather than being adopted by his aunt Gustie. Graduated from Montour High School, the first graduate to go to College; it was 1928 and he was 17; his inheritance only covered about 20% of his college expenses. With the Depression he picked up whatever jobs he could, and finally in September 1935 he started teaching math, science, woodworking, and business arithmetic and coached basketball, baseball and track in Montour. The summer of 1942 he got a job at Collins Radio Co. in Cedar Rapids for his first engineering job, working for them for 26 years when the company's financial difficulties forced him into early retirement. He then returned to teaching, moving to Bettendorf, Iowa. Wendell and Darlene did a great deal of genealogical work. They had three children






Photo of Hallie with granddaughter Hallie and daughter Martha, from Kathy Kleiva

Hallie Paxson, daughter of William Patterson7 (Stephen6, Joseph5 #209, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) was born 7 March 1865, and died 20 July 1940. She married William Calvert WINSBOROUGH. He was born 2 August 1864, the son of Dr. Joseph William (1832-1912) and Martha (COLBERT) (1840-1904) Winsborough. William died 25 August 1953. Hallie is pictured here with her granddaughter and daughter.

Hallie Paxson Winsborough was a social leader in the Presbyterian Church, championing women's right and integration. Hallie proposed the establishment of a woman's organization in the Presbyterian Church, U.S., and served as the first Secretary of Women's Work from 1912 to 1929. She is included in several books, and wrote one herself, Yesteryears, and co-wrote Glorious Living: Informal Sketches of Seven Women Missionaries of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. (Atlanta, Georgia: Committee on Women's Work, 1937). A biography of her was published by the Committee on Woman's Work, Presbyterian Church in the United States in 1940 or 1941. This is a short history as given on the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Charles, LA web page.

         In the early 1800s the first Presbyterian women's organization defied societal and church conventions. These courageous, dedicated women faced the biases of men and others who felt women should remain at home. In spite of numerous restrictions, the women's organization gained respect, especially that of missionaries in the field who requested women's donations and prayers.
         In the mid-1800s with civil strife in the nation, the church split. The work of Presbyterian women continued but varied with the cultural backgrounds of the North and South. Presbyterian women have long advocated for women and children, and crusaded for the right to fair, paid work for African Americans, Native Americans, people of Appalachia and immigrants. They went into the field to actively do something about a host of other societal problems.
         In the late 1800s the mission work of Presbyterian women broadened to include areas of Alaska and San Francisco, with a particular focus on Asian women. By answering God's call, women's work in the church and in society was validated, and the role of women in both foreign and home missions expanded throughout the 19th century.
         In 1872 the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in North America asked women members to devise some way to systematically raise money to support women missionaries in the field. Northern Presbyterian women received permission to organize the Women's General Mission Society. It took the southern women more than 26 years to get permission to set up a national women's organization called Women of the Church.
         Each May, the Presbyterian women collect donations for the Birthday offering. The tradition began in 1922 by Mrs. Hallie Paxson Winsborough who was superintendent of Women's Work in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Winsborough toured the mission stations in Asia visiting Miss Dowd's School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. She saw inadequate facilities and crowded rooms and recognized a need that could be met by Presbyterian women in the United States. Returning home, she challenged all the women of the church to give one penny for each year of their lives (or a dollar, if they didn't want to reveal their ages) as a "birthday gift" to those school girls in Japan.

Because of her work, several buildings in women's schools and colleges around the world have been named for her. [My thanks to Kathy Kleiva, e mails 10/2012, for information about Hallie and her family.]

In the photo above and to the right, taken ca. 1924, Hallie is on the left, with her daughter Martha on the right, and granddaughter between them. My thanks to Kathy Kleiva for the photo,

Daughter of Hallie Paxson and her husband William Calvert Winsborough:

i. Martha Winsborough, b. 25 Jan. 1894; d. 18 Jan. 1979; m. Archibald Hunt DAVIS II. They had one daughter, shown in the photo.






Harold Knight Paxson8 son of Aaron Knight7 (Merritt6 #364, Charles5 #135, Phineas4 #50, William3 #20, William2 #9, William1 #2), was born August 9, 1876 in Sumitt, Delaware, and died in 1955. He married Marie Louise ROBBINS. [My thanks to Jeff Heim for information on this family, e mail 7/2017.]

The couple had two children:

i.    Harold Knight Paxson, Jr., b. 1905; d. Feb. 1986; m. Elizabeth GERHARDT; two sons

ii.   Marie Louise Paxson, b. 1 July 1920; d. 6 July 2014; m. 16 Sept. 1942 Charles Gilbert HEIM III. He was b. 25 May 1915, d. 9 Feb. 1974. They had two sons



There's a missing link here:

Harry Paxson Where does this man fit into our family? Harry Paxson widower of Ethel, with daughter Shirley, and sons James, Randal, and Terry.

      Ethel M. Paxson, 84, of London died Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at Dardanelle Nursing Center.
      She was a daughter of the late James and Etta Phelps Wolfe, affiliated with the Pentecostal faith, and was preceded in death by one sister, Nellie Cantrell; and one brother, Lester Wolfe.
      Survivors include her husband, Harry Paxson; one daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Lee Morgan of London; three sons and two daughters-in-law, James and Joan Paxson of Clarksville, Ronald L. Paxson of Lamar, and Tarry and Kathy Paxson of Knoxville; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
      Funeral was at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at Roller-Cox Chapel with Rev. Doug Ming officiating. Graveside services and burial were at 2 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
      Pallbearers were Skip Wiggins, Steve Wilcox, Ray Britton, Kevin Ramsey, Kerry Wiggins, Bill Hill, Tim Storms, and Quinton Ramsey. [http://www.cswnet.com/~graphic/00obit/11-15-00.html seen 12/16/2007.]








Henry "Harry" Andrews Paxson, son of Joseph C.7, (Timothy6, Joseph5 #212, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary (Kling) Paxson, was born 6 February 1882 in Sadsbury Township, and died on Monday 31 December 1962 at his home in Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Harry married 24 June 1914 in Lenover, Penna. Helen Rene CHALFANT.

Helen was born 12 August 1890 in Lenover, the daughter of Harry and Clara M. (YOUNG) Chalfant. The Chalfont brothers owned the Chalfont Machine Works in Lenover. In 1852 they manufactured threshing machines in a stone building that is still standing on Lower Valley Road west of Parkesburg. There was a rail siding next to their plant, from which they shipped many machines out west. For a while they produced a large car there. In 2006 there was three remaining Chalfont cars in existence, one in Canada and two in West Virginia. Harry operated a hardware store in Parkesburg. He lived west of town across from the Chalfont plant along the road where other Chalfont family members built houses. [Suzanne P. Lamborn, The Paxson Family (Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2008), 35.]

Helen lived in the Parkesburg area all her life. Helen was a graduate of Parkesburg High School and Darlington Seminary, West Chester, Peabody Institute of Music, Philadelphia, and West Chester State College. She taught in the Coatesville School System for 35 year, and for 8 years at Octorara School. Helen died 16 February 1971. [Obituary, Daily Local News 17 Feb. 1971, in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; I am indebted to Cindy Grossholtz for sending it to me 3m/26/2003.]

In the 1930 census for Parkesburg, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Harry is listed with his wife Helen and two sons, H. Chalfont Paxson (12), and James Paxson (6). Harry was a 48 year old carpenter, who married when he was 32. Helen was an elementary school teacher, her age illegible, but married when she was 24, so ca. 40 years old.[Census schedule image as seen on Ancestry.com, 11/23/2007, taken Apr. 23, 1930, Enum. Dist. 15-56, Sheet 3-B, lines 76-79; Roll 2020.]

The family were members of the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church.

Harry died suddenly in his home, aged 80. His body was buried in the Upper Octorara Cemetery on Friday; he died on Monday. [Obituary, Parkesburg Post 3 Jan. 1963, found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; I am indebted to her for sending it to me 3m/26/2003.]

Children of Harry Andrew and Helen (Chalfant) Paxson:

i.       Harry Chalfont Paxson, b. 22 Mar. 1918 in Parkesburg; d. 17 Sept. 2001 in Apoka, Fla.; m(1) 3 Oct. 1942 Annette LANARD at Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia; she d. in 1984. Harry m(2) Beverly __. Annette graduated from the Univ. of Penn. and taught at the Coatesville High School. Harry graduated from Parkesburg High School and West Chester State teachers College, then worked for 25 years as a ceramic engineer in the research department of Lukens Steel. He also worked for G & WH Corson in Plymouth Meeting. He served as Sunday School Superintendent of the Parkesburg Presbyterian Church. From 1957 to 1975 he served on the Octorara School Board, for seven years as president. In 1989 he removed to Florida. 5 children.[Suzanne P. Lamborn, The Paxson Family (Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2008), 35-6.]

ii.     James Howard Paxson, b. 31 May 1923; d. 6 Dec. 2001 in Apopka, Orange Co., Fla. [dates from Social Security Death Index[an error occurred while processing this directive]]; m. Anna CROSSMAN. James lived in West Grove, Penna., and was a member of Landenberg Methodist Church; he was a Mason, member of the Lions at Avon Grove, and the Sertoma Club. He was a judge of the American Horse Show Association and lent a horse to the US equestrian team. He was a farmer, but also with his sons ran the James Paxson & Sons trucking firm. Had at least 2 sons and a daughter. [Suzanne P. Lamborn, The Paxson Family (Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2008), 36.]





Henry Campbell Paxson8, called Harry, son of Joseph Paschall7, (John Jefferson6 (#221 Jonathan, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Jane Wynkoop, was born 14 December 1867 near Schuylkill Haven, Penna, and died 26 July 1936. He was married on 1 February 1900 in Norfolk, Va., to Kate Estelle JAMES.

tombstone of Harry C Paxson, photo from findagrave, photo added by SWF, memorial/52717130, accessed 4m/11/2021

In the 1880 census for South Manheim, Harry was 12, having attended school, and engaged in farm work. [1880 federal census for South Manheim, Schuylkill Co., Pa., roll 1193, ED 236, p. 153D, ]

In the 1920 census for Providence Road, Washington District of Norfolk County, Virginia, Harry was now 54, Kate was 49, and three of their children were living with them: Harry, Jr., 13, Roland J., 11, and Benjamin 10. There was also Leona M. JAMES, 44, Kate's sister. [1920 census for Washington Dist., Norfolk Co., Va., roll T625_1900, ED 146, p. 1B, lines 77-82.]

Children of Harry C. and Kate (James) Paxson:

i. Harry C. Paxson, Jr.9, b. 1906; d. 1919 in Chesapeake, Va.; m. 5 Sept. 1933 in Norfolk Amy Virginia HALL. In 1940 census Harry and Virginia both had 2 years of college; Harry was 34, Virginia 33, and they had a daughter Shirley, 5. Bettie W. Hall, 68, Virginia's mother, lived with them. Harry was a salesman for fertilizer, and earned $2,400 the previous year. They had lived on 642 Highway in Norfolk County, at least since 1935. [1940 federal census for Washington Dist., Norfolk Co., Va., roll T627_ 4279, ED 65-18, p. 4A, lines 29-32.

      Harry C. Paxson Jr., known among locals as ``Mr. Education'' and the ``Miracle Man,'' was praised for his investment in the city by Gov. George F. Allen.
      ``You are a model of what a true Virginian should be and a Virginian ought to be,'' said Allen, a Republican and former Jaycee. ``You remind me of (Thomas) Jefferson, an individual who devoted much of his talents, his time and his resources helping out his community in this state and our founding nation, as well as others outside the nation.''
      Allen spoke at a dinner last Thursday honoring Paxson as Chesapeake's First Citizen. The award is given annually by the Great Bridge Jaycees.
      After Allen's speech, state Sen. Mark L. Earley, R-Chesapeake, presented a surprise to Paxson - a copy of a resolution passed by the state Senate and House of Delegates recognizing Paxson as the city's First Citizen.
      Paxson, 88, is known for his coaching success at South Norfolk High School. He also is credited as a school leader who helped ease two big transitions: integration and the merger of South Norfolk and Norfolk County schools.
      As a youth, he attended South Norfolk High School, playing right guard for the football team that won the 1925 Class B state championship. He continued to play football at the College of William and Mary.
      After his graduation, Paxson returned to South Norfolk High to coach football, baseball and basketball. Both his baseball and basketball teams won state championships in 1935.
      In the process, he coached some of the city's most prominent leaders. Chesapeake Circuit Judge William L. Forbes was one of Paxson's bat boys.
      ``His enthusiasm was contagious," Forbes said at the dinner and awards ceremony. ``He had more impact on young people than any one of us."
      Paxson went on to become South Norfolk High's assistant principal in 1940 and then head of the Norfolk County Recreational Department. He was the assistant personnel superintendent of Norfolk County schools before the locality merged with South Norfolk in 1963.
      He retired from the Chesapeake school system, where he had continued as assistant personnel superintendent, in 1972.
      Paxson is still known as ``Uncle Harry" to his large extended family of friends.
      ``I know many people," he said. ``I went to high school with some of them. I makes me feel so good to see them."
      At the ceremony, Paxson stood in the hallway of the Holiday Inn in Greenbrier, greeting the 270 guests one by one. Dressed in a dark gray pin-stripe suit adorned with a white carnation corsage, his weathered face blushed and his eyes sparkled in excitement.
      ``Good to see you, my friends," Paxson said heartily to each guest. ``Good to see you."
      ``You're so special," a friend said.
      In his acceptance speech, Paxson was modest. His humble comments sparked laughter among the guests.
      "I don't know what to say," he said. "I'm the oldest person ever receiving that award, so don't expect much." tombstone of Harry C Paxson, Jr., photo from findagrave, memorial/60762707, photo added by JSNE, accessed 4m/11/2021
      At the end, Paxson credited his achievements to others.
      "If I have had any opportunity to positively touch your lives in any small way, I'd like to say thank you," said Paxson. ["GOVERNOR PRAISES HARRY PAXSON, BEING HONORED AS FIRST CITIZEN", The Virginian-Pilot, Friday, July 15, 1994, as seen 12/16/2007 on http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940715/07130127.htm]

"One very beautiful mature soul was Harry Paxson. Harry Paxson died last month in Chesapeake in his ninth decade. I doubt there was a more beloved man than Harry. I never saw Harry without feeling like I brightened his day, as everyone felt with Harry. He was a glowing light of love which eclipsed all physical deterioration." ["The Shopper.com" issue of Dec. 16, 2007, seen at http://www.theshopper.com/stageslife.shtml on 12/16/2007. The grave marker was added to findagrave by JSNE, memorial/60762707.]

ii. Roland J. Paxson, b. ca. 1908;

iii. Benjamin Franklin Wilson Paxson, b. ca. 1910;




Horace Paxton8 son of John Samuel7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Keziah (ST. JOHN) Paxton was born 12 October 1865 in Majority Point, Union Township, Cumberland County, Illinois. He was married 20 March 1887 in Iowa to Lottie May WALLACE. She was born 23 June 1871 and died 25 October 1926. [Information on this family from Bonny Paxton Ross, "Paxton Family", draft manuscript, a copy given to me 12/2014, and used with permission.]

In 1880 Horace was 14 and engaged in farm work, presumably for his father. [US census for 1880, NA film # T9-0183, p. 484B, seen on FamilySearch 11/19/2007.]

Twenty years later the 1900 census listed "Horas Paxton", 34, and his wife of thirteen years "Lotta M.", born in July 1871 in Illinois, age 28. Lottie had had 6 children, 3 were living: Kiziah b. May 1890, Samuel, b. Apr. 1892, and Mary, b. Aug. 1998, all in Illinois. Horace was farming on rented land. [1900 US Census for Cottonwood, Cumberland Co., Ill.; Roll 295; ED 49; p. 4B, lines 69-73, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

The enumerator for the 1910 census was a better speller, listing "Horace W. Paxton", 44, engaged in general farming, married 23 years to Lottie M., 37. By this time she had had 10 children, all b. in Illinois, of whom 6 were still living: John S., 18, farm laborer on home farm for wages; Mary A., 11, in school; Flossy C., 8, in school; Rhodes A., 6, in school; Walace [sic] 6/12. [1910 US Census for Cottonwood Twp., Cumberland Co., Illinois; Roll T624_284; ED 24; p. 12A; lines 35-41.

The 1920 census listed Horace W. Paxton, 54, engaged in general farming; Lottie M., 47; son Rhoades A., 15, attending school and also laborer on home farm for wages. [1920 US Census for Cottonwood, Cumberland, Ill.; Roll T625_301; ED 24; p. 2B, lines 59-61, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

Finally in 1930 we get another glimpse of Horace W. Paxton, widowed and living alone at the age of 64. He was still doing general farming. [1930 US Census for Cottonwood, Cumberland Co., Ill.; Roll: 509; ED 1; p. 4A; line 4, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

Children of Horace and Lottie (Wallace) Paxton, from various census schedules (may be incomplete):

i.       Lee Roy Paxton, b. 9 Mar. 1880; d. 4 May 1888.

ii.      Nancy Kezia Paxton, b. 25 April 1890 in Toledo, Cumberland Co., Ill.; m. 26 Oct. 1907 Lewis THOMPSON, b. 13 Mar. 1883, son of Perry and Hester (RUSSELL) Thompson; had 6 children.

iii.     John Samuel Paxton, b. 19 Feb. 1892; d. 1962; m(1) 29 Aug. 1912 Della STARWALT, daughter of Will Starwalt; they had 4 children; she d. 29 Nov. 1924; John m(2) 10 Jan. 1938 Ruby Mae __.

iv.     George William Paxton, b. 6 Nov. 1894; d. 6 Oct. 1895.

v.      Herbert Paxton, b. 20 Aug. 1896; d. Aug. 1897.

vi.     Mary Alice Paxton, b. 19 Aug. 1898; m. 3 Jan. 1916 Clarence Arthur HAMILTON, b. 21 Feb. 1892, son of Thomas and Lola (CARTER) Hamilton; had 9 children.

vii.    Flossy Catherine Paxton, b. 4 May 1901; m. 18 Sept. 1919 Leslie M. WALKER, son of Loren Marian and Lucy Ann (WORLEY) Walker; had 7 children.

viii.   Rhoades Albert Paxton, b. 24 Jan. 1905; m. Elizabeth CRAIG. In the 1920 census he was 15, attending school while also working on the home farm for wages. They had one daughter !_--Nancy Paxton, b. 7 Nov. 1925-->

ix.     Wallace Paxton, b. 3 Oct. 1910: 6 mo. old at time of 1910 census; perhaps d. by 1920 census.

x.      boy, d. at birth.




Irpeel Joshua Paxson, photo from Kay Walton's 'Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas', accessed 5m/1/2013

Irpeel Joshua Paxson, son of Joseph Taylor7, Benjamin Franklin6, John5 #268, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife, was born 1 November 1891 in Center Ridge, Conway County, Arkansas. He died 3 September 1973 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. Irpeel married in Indiana 1932 Eola PARRY. She was born 6 May 1907, and died in May 1975 in Tucson. [Information on this family is from Kay Walton's ancestry.com file, "Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas", accessed 5m/1/2013. Kay has included copies of the documents supporting her data, which I very much appreciate. The photo of Irpeel Paxson is from the same source, used here with permission.]

Irpeel registered June 5, 1917 for the draft in the First World War as a farmer with no dependents. He was described as medium height and slender build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

When the 1920 federal census was taken on January 5, 1920, Irpeel was living with his widowed mother Matilda A. Paxson and Liddie Cooker, age 8, claimed as Matilda's daughter. Next door lived "Barley" [Bartholomew] Paxon [sic] and his wife Emma (36), and children Eugene (13), Aline (6), Loise [sic] (4), Harrol (2), and Baby (10 months). Four days later, on January 9, 1920, a different enumerator found Irpeel J. Paxson as a boarder with the family of James R. Lipe in Scranton town, River Township, Logan County, Ark.

At the time of the 1930 federal census Irpeel was living with his married sister Tryphosa and her husband John A. SCOVILLE in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was a 39 post office clerk. Two years later he married Eola PARRY.

Irpeel and Eola (Parry) Paxson had 1 daughter.




Ben & Callie Paxson on their 60th anniversary, from Susan Norris

James Benjamin Paxson8, son of Cyrus T. Paxson7 (Reuben6 (Jacob5 #276, John4 #102, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #18, James1 #3) and his Ben Paxson's ID card, from Susan Norriswife Rachel (Sharp), was called Ben. He was a twin with sister Martha, born in 1868, and died in 1954. Ben married Callie ZEIGLER and dropped out of law school. She was not a Friend, and Ben's father "disowned" Ben. The photo to the right shows Ben and Callie on their 60th wedding anniversary. My thanks to Susan Norris for all the photos of Ben.

Ben Paxson's ID card, photo, from Susan Norris

This 1903 identification card is the earliest image we have of Ben; he was 35, described as 5 ft. 9 inches, brown eyes, black hair, and a mustache (which does not appear in his photo). He apparently had thee marks on his forehead. Ben was a member of the Ben-Hur fraternal order. Too bad he didn't sign the card?

An old friend "whose family were friends and neighbors of Ben and Callie, [recalled that] Ben was a wonderful teller of stories and tall tales. He loved to tell jokes. He had the propensity to curse, but was highly respected by all who knew him." In addition, "Ben not only had horses and farmed, but if anyone wanted anything built, repaired, painted, you name it, they would always call on him." He was the kind of neighbor everyone loves. [E mails from Susan Norris, 3/12 and 3/15/2021.]

Ben and Callie had a house on Indian Lake, a reservoir in Logan County, Ohio. Their granddaughter spent the summers there. She told me, "I would sit on a hay bale or a nail keg while he conditioned his harnesses and shined the brass trim. He would teach me songs from when he was young. Sometimes, he would tell me stories. Some were about the Miami, Lenape, and Shawnee of Ohio and the Cheyenne and Lakota out west. He was a great story teller." [E mail from Susan Norris, 3/12/2021.]

Ben Paxson and work horses, from Susan Norris Ben Paxson and his car, 1940s, from Susan Norris Ben Paxson and his son-in-law, from Susan Norris
Ben Paxson's obituary, from Susan Norris

Ben loved horses, and had both working horses (the photo shows his last team of work horses) and also racing horses. One of his racers, "American Judge", was top horse at the Ohio State Fair for something like six years in a row. "Ben loved horses, and Callie loved cows. So much so, that their tombstone at Huntsville Cemetery has an engraved cow under her name and a horse under his." An indication of Ben's and Callie's shared sense of humor. Apparently Callie was adamant about having the horse and cow heads on the tombstone. [E mail from Susan Norris, 3/12/2021.] A love of horses did not, however prevent Ben from getting a car. The photo is from the 1940s.

Ben and Callie Paxson's tombstone, photo by Deb Allison, findagrave

Ben died in 1954, and his obituary appeared 13 December 1954 in the Bellefontaine Examiner. Callie went to live with her daughter Ruth in Bellefountaine, Ohio. Their tombstone is from findagrave. The photo by Deb Allison was added in 2014.

Children of Ben and Callie (Ziegler) Paxson: [My thanks to Susan Norris for the children's names and dates, email 3/15/2021.]


i.      Nellie Rachel Paxson9, b. 1891; d. 1969; m. James Alva FAY. The photo shows Ben and James in front of a tree they repaired with cement, done for a judge in Bellefountaine, Ohio.

ii.     Reuben Paxson called "Ruby"; (Rubin is the spelling on death certificate), b. 1897; d. 1914

iii.    Helen Irene Paxson, b.

iv.    Earl Benjamin Paxson, b. 1898; d. 1981

v.     Ava Marie Paxson, b. 1901 [she is given by Ruth; may have d. at or soon after birth]

vi.    Ruth B. Paxson (also used E as middle initial), b. 1904; d. 1987;

vii.   Harold Herbert Paxson, b. 1907; d. 1968

viii.  Anna Belle Paxson, twin, b. 1910

ix.    Eva Mae Paxson, twin, b. 1910; d. 1952








James B. Paxson, son of George P. (Aaron P. Paxson, Aaron P., Jr.5, Aaron4#116, Thomas3 #45, Henry2 #18, James1 #3) and his wife, Louisa BOILEAU Paxson, was born 20 May, 1872. He married Claire SKENTELBURY. The couple raised their family on a farm on Swamp Road near Dundee, Michigan.

Children of James and Claire:

i.    George W. Paxson9, b. 25 Sept. 1902 in Sylvania, Ohio; d. 17 Dec. 1992 in Monroe, MI; m. 26 June 1937 Lorena B. NIETHAMMER in the Sawyer House, 320 E. Front St., Monroe, MI. In Oct. 1938 the couple moved to 141 Lincoln Ave. George had graduated from Dundee High School, Olivet College (1927) and the University of Michigan Law School (1929). He passed the Michigan Bar exam that fall and opened his practice in an office above the First National Bank at E. Front and Washington Sts., Monroe, retiring in 1971. George was active in the Monroe community, running unsuccessfully for circuit court judge several times. He was a charter member of the Monroe County Historical Society, serving as president for 4 years and on the board of directors for many years. He was honored in 1983 by the Monroe County Historical Commission for his years of service. Lorena died 2 Jan. 1977. In late 1989 George moved to Norman Towers. George and Lorena had three children and 11 grandchildren. [Information mostly from his obituary, courtesy of Aaron G. Paxson, Jan. 1993.]

ii.   M. Louise Paxson, b. 14 or 17 Apr. 1913; d. 2 Mar. 2003 in Macomb, Mich.; m. Walter RUDKIN; he was b. 3 Feb. 1899 and d. 31 July 1993; res. in Roseville, Macomb Co., Mich.



James E. Paxson died February 21, 2004. He was a graduate of George School, class of 1943. [Georgian Dec. 2004, p. 19.] If anyone can tell me how he fits onto the larger Paxson tree, please get in touch with me via e mail at





James Heaton Paxson8, son of John Coldwell Paxson7 (Samuel Paxson6 (William5 #267, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Louisa R. NICHOLS, was born 19 November 1855; d. 28 May 1902, age 45. On 14 April 1881 in Loudoun Co. James married Mary Etta PANCOAST (b. 1 Aug. 1890 in Silcott Springs).

It is possible, but not yet proved, that James H. was appointed postmaster of Silcott Spring, Loudoun County, Va. on 5 June 1876, but he was only 20 years old. Silcott Spring is an unincorporated community at the crossroads of Paxson (Va. rt. 725) and Silcott Spring (Va. rt. 690) Roads.

Children of James Heaton and his wife Mary Etta (PANCOAST) Paxson, all born in Silcott Springs, from family Bible records kindly sent to me by Doug Paxson, email 8/17/2022.

i.     William Carroll Paxson9, b. Oct. 12, 1882; d. June 15, 1944; m. Nell HUMPHREY (she d. Jan. 1, 1958 in Hagerstown, MD); resided in Purcellville, Va.; had children.
a.   William Dalton Paxson10, b. May 22, 1916; d. 28/9/1998;
b.   Yvonne Curtis Paxson, b. Feb. 27, 1919; d. 2001;
c.   John Humphrey Paxson, "Jack", b. Sept. 30, 1920; d. Sept. 15, 1988.
d.   Jerry Moore Paxson, b. Jan. 31, 1927; d. 9 Oct. 2009;
ii.    Millard Clayton Paxson, daughter, b. June 2, 1887; d. July 11, 1972

iii.   Curtis Thompson Paxson, b. Aug. 1, 1890; d. __

James Oscar Paxton8 son of William Thomas7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Elizabeth (RISK) Paxton was born 2 August 1860, a twin of Christa. He married Clara MILLER 10 August 1883.

Children of James Oscar and Clara (Miller) Paxton:

i.       Nellie Paxton, b. 1884; d. 1897.

ii.      Tessie Paxton, b. July 17, 1886 in Montour, Iowa. She never married and was a cripple for many years, having had polio. She resided with her youngest siblings Lillian and Lloyd in Fullerton, California.

iii.     Victor Paxton, b. 19 Aug. 1888 in Montour. Iowa; d. 11 Jan. 1919; m. Emma JOHNSON; had 3 children

iv.     Freddie Paxton, b. 23 April 1890

v.      Ralph Paxton, b. 7 June 1893 in Nevada, Iowa; d. Jan. 1982 in Pasco, Fla. [SSDI]; m. 7 July 1920 Lucy BRAINARD (b. 16 Apr. 1900, daughter of John Vernon and Nellie (Wilcox) Brainard); had 3 children.

vi.     Eva Paxton, b. 24 Aug. 1896 in Nevada, Iowa; m. 25 June 1921 Jean IAMES; had 2 children

vii.    Frank Paxton, b. 24 Nov. 1900 in Nevada, Iowa; d. July 1978 in Orange Co., Calif.; m. 15 May 1930 Vera TONNESON; had 2 children

viii.   Lillian Paxton was born Aug. 20, 1903 in Moorehead, Minn.; d. Jan. 1985 in Orange Co., Calif.; never married.

ix.     Lloyd H. Paxton was born May 3, 1907 in Moorhead, Minn.; d. 9 Mar. 1988 in Orange Co., Calif., age 81; never married.




Jesse C. Paxson, image sent by Elaine 2/22/2009

Jesse Cole Paxson8, son of Hartwell Littleton7 ( Jacob Canby6, Jacob5 #214, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Ina Emmeroi (LEACH) Paxson, was born 30 January 1894 in Watervliet, Michigan, and died ca. February 1940 in California. He married Martha __, probably in California.

Jesse's middle name of Cole was no doubt from his maternal grandmother's second husband. I gather there is a complicated story involving an 1869 divorce, with the five children split up and only the two little girls, Ina and Ada Leach, staying with their mother Julia. She married W. S. COLE in 1873, taking his name. [E mails from Elaine Bennett-Sharp, 2/21, 22/2009.]

Jesse went to California as a young man and never came back to Michigan. I do not know any of the circumstances, but Jesse's brother Edgar wrote that their mother "had grieved for him for many years". When Jesse died, a letter was sent to Edgar, who forwarded it to the Matron of the facility where their mother lived so that Ina would not be alone when she learned of the death. Three grandchildren also immediately went to be with her. Jesse's death "was a severe blow" to Ina. She died ten months later. [Letter from Edgar Paxson to his aunt Elizabeth Inman, Santa Cruz, Calif., Oct. 15, 1941. Typescript kindly sent to me by Elaine, 2/22/2009.]

Children of Jesse Cole and Martha (__) Paxson: [Letter written by Blanche (GLASS) FROST to Thomas W. Jones, 31 March 1979, copy kindly sent to me by Elaine, 2/22/2009.]

i.    Helen LaVerne Paxson, b. 13 Jan. 1907; d. Feb. 1992 [SSDI]; unmarried.

ii.   Vivian Estelle Paxson, b. 14 May 1911; d. 17 July 1997 in Essex Co., N.J. [SSDI]; unmarried.

John B. Paxson8 (ca. 1851- ), son of Heston7 Paxson (Isaiah6, Benjamin5, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Margaret, was born ca. 1852 in Indiana. He was enumerated in the 1880 census as aged 28, plasterer in Red Key, Jay Co., Ind., b. in Ind, parents b. in Ohio; wife: Arizona A. 20, b. in Ind, father in Va, mother b in Ind. [NA Film Number T9-0287, p. 493A, as transcribed on familysearch, seen 7m/3/2005.]




Henrietta Katzmar Paxton, John Barton Paxton, and his sister Sue Paxton Edmunds, at John's homestead in Ariz.

John Barton Paxton, son of John Barton7 (Bright Rupert6, Joseph5, Jonas4, James3, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his second wife, Anne Jones (Price) Paxton, was born 5 April 1889 in Philadelphia. He died in the early 1960s in Wagoner, Arizona. John married on 27 September 1916 in Prescott, Ariz., Henrietta KATZMAR of Auburn, New York. She was the daughter of Paul H. and Amelia (Henberger) Katzmar. "Henri" died in the 1960s in Auburn, NY. They had no children.

John was a mining engineering who "didn't like the city, although he had a lively interest in people and things." Henrietta's sister Charlotte took them to the World's Fair in San Francisco. They lived in Wagoner, near Flagstaff, Arizona. The photograph shows Henri and John at their homestead, with John's older sister Sue (with the camera), taken in the mid 1950s.

John and "Henri" had no children.





Photograph of Libbie Heebner Paxson, from Sue McClory

John Conard Paxson, the son of Isaac Paxson7 (John Jefferson6, Jonathan #221, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Miriam (CONARD) was born 23 November 1861 in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He died on 22 December 1933 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. John married on 29 September 1886 Elizabeth Fannie "Libbie" HEEBNER in Port Carbon, Penna. She was born 27 December 1858 and died in 1941. [My thanks to Elaine Paxson for information on John and his children, e mails, 3/2008.] This photo is of Libbie.

Libbie was the daughter of George Washington HEEBNER and Sarah Elizabeth (WYNKOOP). Sarah died when Libbie was an infant and she was raised by her grandparents, Gen. George and Mary Wynkoop in Pottsville, Penna. Later Libbie returned to live with her father and his second wife, Anna M. (FISTER) in Port Carbon. Her half-brother, John Heebner wrote in his memoir about John Paxson and Libbie's courtship. [My thanks to Sue McClory for this information, the quotation, and the photograph of Libbie, e mail 5m/1/2010.]

Let me give you a scene on our front steps on a Saturday evening. The steps are filled with us young people, Libbie near the bottom so she could get her feet on the bricks, and her ears open so she could hear the faintest sound. ... There's the sound of horse feet on the Coal Street Bridge, coming nearer, and it at last stops at the hitching post, but before John Paxson could get his horse tied, Libbie was at his side, we would all turn our backs for a minute, and then see Libbie and John on their way to the back porch. ... Libbie having compassion for John Paxson's poor horse, she also married him and went to Schuylkill Haven with him. I have often wondered what became of that horse that John would take out of the stable and whisper in his ear "Port Carbon" and that horse knew the way and would not stop until he came to our hitching post.

John and Libbie lived on the Paxson Estate on Schuylkill Mountain, and then for a time in Pottsville. "For many years he was the storekeeper for the P. & R. C. & I. at Pottsville. He was a man of a very quiet nature, candid and straight-forward in his convictions and actions. He was a member of the Sons of America of Schuylkill Haven, and for many years one of its officers and regular attendants. He was an active member of the First Presbyterial Church of Pottsville. For his last few years he lived with his daughter and son-in-law in Bethlehem. [undated newspaper obituary]

John died at the age of 72 on 22 December 1933, leaving his wife Libbie, three children, and two brothers, Atty. George Paxson and Edwin Paxson of Schuylkill Haven. His funeral was conducted by the Rev. Merlyn CHAPPEL, interment in the Union Cemetery. [undated newspaper clipping obituary]

Children of John Conard and Fannie Libbie (Heebner) Paxson:

i.      George Heebner Paxson9, born 23 Nov. 1887 in Schuylkill Haven, Schuykill County; m. Emma __.

ii.     Isaac Earl Paxson, called Earl, b. 13 Feb. 1890 in Schuylkill Haven, Schuykill County, PA; d. 1969; m(1) Carrie BUEHLER, divorced, no children; m(2) Lena Ursula MOHL; children; ran a dairy business on the old farm on Schuylkill Mountain, which sits above Schuylkill Haven; after his death farming ended although the property is still the home of a descendant.

iii.    Thomas Arthur Paxson, born 4 April 1891 in Schuylkill Haven, Schuykill County; d. 26 Aug. 1891, age 4 months, 22 days.

iv.    Harold Lenker Paxson, born 21 May 1894 in Schuylkill Haven; d. 19 Sept. 1894, age 3 months 29 days.

v.     Mary Elizabeth Paxson, b. 6 Nov. 1895 in Schuylkill Co.; d. 1980; m. Clinton COLVER; her father lived with them the last few years of his life. Mary and Clinton had a daughter.





John Riley Paxson, son of Cyrus C. Paxson7 (Joseph Jefferson6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Jane PERRY, was born 21 July 1848 in Penn Township, Jay County, Indiana. He died 10 October 1923. John married on 3 March 1869 Harriet Swigert WALTER. She was born in 1848, the daughter of Peter and Rebecca (__) Swigert; Harriet died 19 April 1921, and was buried in Gilead Cemetery.

John was educated in the old Paxson and Griest school houses. After his marriage he began farming on land rented from his father. Then he bought the original eighty acres of his grandfather's old homestead. He started out with a single horse and set of harness, one cow, one sheep, and one pig. Some of the land still needed to be cleared. John also helped in the community with building corduroy roads in the neighborhood. The first money he eared was 12¢ a day. He augmented his income with teaming between Penn Township and Ft. Wayne. Eventually he prospered and bought additional land until his farm was 121½ acres. He also bought and sold livestock. He was a member of the Friends meeting in Pennville, and a Republican. [Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, (Indianapolis: Historical Publishing Co., 1922), Vol. II, as transcribed on http://debmurray.tripod.com/jay/jaybioref-7.htm#jpaxson. My thanks to Bruce Sonner for bringing this to my attention, e mail 3m/9/2011.]

Children of John Riley and his wife Harriet (Swigert) Paxson:

i.     Walter C. Paxson, b. 14 Sept. 1870; d. 22 Sept. 1878, bur. Gilead Cem.

ii.    Ernest L. Paxson, b. 27 May 1876; d. 28 Sept. 1878, bur. Gilead Cem.

iii.   Rose Blain Paxson, b. 14 Sept. 1884; d. 8 Feb. 1887, bur. Gilead Cem.

iv.   Elsie L. Paxson, b. 6 Apr. 1888; d. 18 Aug. 1895, bur. Gilead Cem.





Photograph of John Watson Paxson, Sr. from John C. Paxson, 1/2011.

John Watson Paxson, the son of Wilson S. Paxson7 (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3, Henry2, James1), was born 4 July 1885, and died in January 1969. He married Ethel MILLS, who was born 28 May 1895 and died 20 September 1988. Both are buried at Wrightstown Meeting.

Watson, as he was known, farmed most of his life. His first farm was along the Delaware River and canal below Bowman's Hill tower. Later he had a farm in Gardenville. His grandson remembers that Watson seemed tall and had "the frostiest white hair". [E mail 11/16/2007 from John Paxson.] The snapshot shows him in his favorite chair.

Photograph of Robert Frank Paxson, from John C. Paxson, 1/2011.

Children of J. Watson and Ethel (Mills) Paxson: [from Dorothy (Paxson) Sargent's family charts, sent to me 6/1997.]

i.      John Watson Paxson II9, b. 4 July 1914;

ii.     Charles H. Paxson, b. 12 Jan. 1916 in Brownsberg, Penna.; m. 18 Nov. 1939 in Noble, Pa., Mary E. DICKER;

iii.    Grace E. Paxson, b. 23 June 1917; d. 23 Dec. 1978, Buckingham MM; m. Harry LAKE;

iv.     Robert Frank Paxson, b. ca. 1919; d. ca. 1985 in Doylestown; m. Mary LOGAN. His photo, to the right, thanks to John C. Paxson, 1/2011.








Jay T. Paxson and his second wife Hattie, from Debbie Musselman

Johnathan Townsend Paxson, son of Cyrus7 (John Townsend6, Jacob5 #276, John4 #102, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2, James1 #3) was born 14 September 1882, and died 19 March 1976. JT or Jay T., as he was called, married three times. First in 1900 he married Sarah Katherine "Sadie" NINEMIRE. They had four children and were divorced. He married secondly between 1920 and 1925 Harriet "Hattie" SUMMERS. Jay T. and Hattie are shown in the photo. They had one son. JT Married thirdly Charlotte __(?). [My thanks to Debbie Musselman, e mails Aug. 2011, for much of this information on JT and Sadie.]

Jay T was a mail carrier. When he registered for the draft for World War I he was described as having blue eyes and brown hair.

JT walked out on Sadie, leaving her with young Leonard, and JT "paid little or no money toward his upkeep." Sadie "had the creamery in Penokee (where they judged the quality of the cream)". She also had a loom and made rag rugs. Katherine Grant wrote "I shall always treasure memories of Aunt Sadie because I was named for her (Sarah Katherine). She had so little money yet each birthday found a wonderful gift from her--books, a Japanese parasol. Where she ever found them astounds me now. Because I loved to read, she would save the last page of the newspapers which always carried a serialized novel. Then when I graduated from college and left home, she would send me a bouquet of lilacs each spring--Chicago and even to Los Angeles. Mother came to Kansas from Texas and the change was hard on her. Aunt Sadie was there when mother needed her." [Katherine Grant, as quoted by Debbie Musselman.]

Hattie came from Manitou Springs, Colo. to Millbrook Twp. in Graham Co., Ks. In 1910 she was a sales clerk in a dept. store; in 1920 she was postmistress, living with her mother and 3 younger siblings; in 1925 she was the wife of JT Paxson, with a son, John H., age 18?, oresumably from anearlier marriage. The photo above shows Hattie and Jay T. Paxson. In the 1948 U.S. City Directory from Colorado Springs, Colo. Harriett Paxson is listed as the widow of Jay T, living at 159 Navajo Ave.; W. Howard Summers, a carpenter, was at the same address. Meanwhile, at 552 E. Bijou lived Mrs. Charlotte Paxson. Jay T. died in 1976, but was not listed in the directory. Both Sadie and Hattie, apparently, called themselves "widow", at least at first, presumably not wanting the shame of being divorced.

Children of Jay T. and his first wife Sarah Catherine "Sadie" (Ninemire) Paxson:

i.     Elma Violet Paxson, b. 12 Feb. 1902; d. 18 Oct. 1964 Colorado Springs, Col.; m. Lewis CARON.

ii.    Oliver "Olly" Franklin Paxson, b. 9 July 1904; d. 12 Nov. 1984 in Graham Co.; m. 1 Aug. 1926 Ella Mae BARRITT or BARRETT.

iii.   Johnathan Hadley Paxson, b. 16 Sept. 1906; d. 24 Apr. 1949; m. Dora BIGGS.

iv.   Leonard Milton Paxson, b. 10 July 1919 in Penokee; d. 31 Dec. 2003 in Hill City; m. 6 Sept. 1939 Nancy Patricia "Pat" BEAN in Burrton, Ms.



Joseph and Emma Paxson, from James Paxson, 7/2013

Joseph Armitage Paxson8, son of Oscar Howard7, (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3 #45, Henry2 #18, James1 #3), was born 3 June 1882 in Lumberville, Bucks County, and died at the home of his daughter, Mildred P. ANG, in Pleasantville, N.J. in 1963. Joseph married Emma Francis BOWEN in 1904. Joe and Emma are pictured to the right on their wedding day.

Joseph was fourteen when his family moved to Philadelphia. Joseph got a job with a cousin in the feed and grain business. When the family moved to Atlantic City in 1901 he worked for a baker for a half dozen years, then opened his own bakery shop. He expanded it with two more stores, then sold out in 1915. Joe and Emma lived on Iowa Avenue. Next he turned to real estate, and then in 1929 opened a gasoline station. His gas station on Absecon Blvd. was said to be the largest on the eastern seaboard, with fifty pumps and eight brands of gasoline. Note the proud claim in the postcard below. The snapshots are taken about the same time. Joe assembled a menagerie of wild animals at the gas station to attract business. The photo below shows the cages for a red fox and coyote. There were lions, tigers, leopards, crocodiles, bears, ponies, hyenas, snakes, monkeys, and ostriches, too. Then in 1940 Joe decided to create a different feel to the place and sold the menagerie to Warren Buck, the brother of "bring 'em back alive" Frank Buck who had an animal farm in Florida.

Old post card of Paxson Gas Station, from James Paxson, 2/2011 snapshot of Paxson Gas Station, from James Paxson, 2/2011 snapshot of Paxson Gas Station, from James Paxson, 2/2011 snapshot of Paxson Gas Station, from James Paxson, 2/2011 Menagerie, from James Paxson, 2/2011 Joseph and Emma Paxson, from James Paxson, 2/2011

Joe and Emma are pictured to the right at the Paxson Gas Station outside of Atlantic City, in 1942.

In 1941 Joe opened sixty units of tourist cabins and a restaurant, called Paxsonville, on the White Horse Pike. The family simply referred to it as "the Place". It had its own fire house, with a Hale pumper fire truck. Later he added thirty units at the Shore Court motel. Several summers he also rented the whole hotel West Virginia located just off the boardwalk near Central Pier in Atlantic City for overflow when all his cabins were occupied. On the left below is an old post card of the original Paxsonville, and to the right of it an air view taken later after some of the cabins had been washed away in the hurricane of 1950, followed by some construction (the longer cabin bloc, etc.). It caused over $200,000 of damage. In his older years Joe operated "Paxsonville" every summer, but spent the winters in Florida. From 1947 his son Ivo managed it.

Old post card of Paxson cabins, from James Paxson, 2/2011 airview of Paxson cabins, from James Paxson, 2/2011

The Shore Court Motel, owned by Joe, was managed by Eddie Paxson. It was a short distance from Paxsonville on the other side of the road (Rt 30). The "March Storm" of 1962 wrecked the whole operation and it was never rebuilt. The snapshot shows some of the damage. The post card shows the Shore Court in its glory days.[My thanks to Jim Paxson for these dozen images, Feb. 2011 and July 2013.]

Paxsonville cabins after the March 1962 storm, from James Paxson, 2/2011 Shore Court after the March 1962 storm, from James Paxson, 2/2011 post card of Shore Court Motel, from James Paxson, 8/2013
Sketch of Joseph A. Paxson, from John C. Paxson, 1/2011

The photo below shows a happy Emma Paxson with her grandson Jimmie, in late 1940. The sketch to the right illustrated a "Weekly Gallery of Famous Folk" in the Atlantic City Press. Small drawings in the left margin symbolize Joe's early occupations.

Emma Paxson & grandson Jimmie, from James Paxson, 2/2011
Joseph Armitage Paxson, from Jim Paxson, 7/2013

Joe was active in local politics, and twice elected magistrate. In 1927 he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the City Commission and was elected to two additional terms. Then in 1928 he was elected Finance Director, surviving an attack by the head of the Atlantic City Bankers' Association who questioned his fitness for the post. In 1932 as Finance Director he sought to have a lump sum placed in the city budget for his disposal with no strings attached. Two years later, when the city was in default on its bonds, Joe suggested that the State Department of Municipal Accounts take control of the city's finances and negotiate a deal with the bond holders. In 1933 the city issued emergency scrip, like this one signed by the mayor and J.A. Paxson, City Treasurer. At about this time, in 1934, Joe was transferred from the Finance Department to head of the Dept. of Parks and Playgrounds. He demanded that all city employees live within the city limits.[Atlantic City Press 7/3/1932. My thanks to John Paxson for a copy of the clipping, from the Atlantic City Public Library.] Partisanship makes it hard to know how to interpret a record in public life. As the owner of a five-star restaurant inelegantly put it, "The further up a flag pole you climb, the more your ass shows."[Thanks to Jim Paxson for this insight from his former boss, e mail 2/24/2011.]

Facsimile of $1 scrip issued 1933 by Atlantic City, signed by Treas. Joseph A. Paxson, from John C. Paxson, 1/2011.

There was more than a whiff of scandal in 1933 when Joe was the center of a dispute over $20,000 in gasoline taxes from Atlantic City jitneymen. His gas station was patronized by the jitneymen, who paid the tax there even though the State Finance Department had exempted jitney operators from the tax. When the men filed claims to recover the tax, the case was taken to court. Apparently repayment was disallowed. I do not know what became of the money. [Obituary, Atlantic City Press, 1963. My thanks to John Paxson for a copy of the clipping.] A descendant told me that Joseph Paxson, from James Paxson, 2/2011Joe offered a reward to anyone who could prove he had done something wrong, and no one took him up on it. He did, however, require the jitneymen to drive three miles outside of Atlantic City to get their gas (at his station).[My thanks to James Paxson, e mail 2/20/2011.]

Joe was described as "rotund and jovial . . . and while he is much at home with ward clubs, he is also active in church circles, can deliver an apt address to either group." Typical of his time, he was a member of several fraternal organizations: Elks, Red Men, and Junior Order of American Mechanics. For many years he was Sunday School Superintendent and teacher in the Methodist Church, as well as chairman of its Board of Stewards.[Atlantic City Press 7/3/1932. My thanks to John Paxson for a copy of the clipping.]

Children of Joseph A. and Emma (Bowen) Paxson, pictured to the left with Joe and Emma in the Atlantic City city hall, 1934:

i.      unnamed girl who died as an infant

Eddie Paxson, from James Paxson, 2/2014ii.    Mildred Paxson, b. 23 Oct. 1881; d. age 87, ca. 1968; m. Joe ANG; lived in Pleasantville, NJ.

iii.   Edward Paxson, d. age 76; unmarried; in the US Army Ambulance Corp in WW II in Sicily and North Africa; lived in Absecon, NJ; managed the Shore Court motel.

iv.   Charles S. Paxson, d. ca. 2001; m. Mildred "Pookie" (__) who is at the extreme left in the photo above; lived in the Chelsea Heights section of Atlantic City; had two children.

v.     Ivo Gage Paxson, b. 8 Jan. 1917; d. 13 Oct. 2003; m. Selma Charlotta STEWARD (she d. 5 Jan. 2013). They were Atlantic City High School sweethearts (Ivo class of 1935, Selma class of 1936), married for 67 years. They lived in Absecon, NJ. Ivo started working at the gas station at the age of 12, earning $2.50 a week; after his time in the US Army in Guam and the Philippines in WWII Ivo managed Paxsonville. Earlier Paxsonville had been managed by Harry BOWEN. Ivo and Selma ran Paxsonville (motel, restaurant, gift shop, and private bay beach) until the March 1962 storm destroyed it. The family then moved farther inland in Absecon. Ivo went into real estate and politics while Selma became a medical secretary running three offices. Two children. [The Press of Atlantic City Feb. 12, 2013, and obit of Jan. 6, 2013.]
photo of Ivo G. Paxson, age 11, from James Paxson, 7/2013 photo of Ivo G. Paxson, 1935 ACHS graduation, from James Paxson, 7/2013
Photograph on the left is Ivo at age 11; on the right is his graduation picture, Atlantic City High School, 1935.




Joseph Elwood Paxson, son of Phillip I.7 (Joseph Jefferson6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2, James1 #3), was born 14 September 1847. He married on 1 April 1871 Mary Shelley PARRETT. She was the daughter of Amos and Mary (SHELLEY) Parrett; Amos died and Mary married a second time, Jonah IREY, son of Phineas Irey. [e mail from Tom Irey, 4/24/2010.]

In the 1880 census he is listed as Elwood J. (age 32) with his wife Mary L. (28) and three children, all born in Indiana: Iva M. (8), Amos E. (5), and Anna C. (1 year old). He was listed as a farmer. [1880 federal census for Penn Twp., Jay Co., Ind., NA Film no. T9-0286, p. 356A; seen 9/24/2008 on FamilySearch.]

Joseph was known as an excellent carpenter and building contractor; he also owned a 74-acre farm in Penn Township, Indiana.

Children of Joseph Elwood and Mary Shelley (Parrett) Paxson:

i.       Iva M. Paxson, b. 1872; m. Thomas J. HARRELL;

ii.     Amos Ebert Paxson, b. 1875; d. 1935; m. Iva BUNKER; 3 children;

iii.    Anna Clementine "Clemmie" Paxson, b. 1879;

iv.    Opal Paxson, b. 1884; m. Walter WILLIAMS, as his first wife;

v.     Leslie Merle Paxson, b. 1888; d. 1956; m. 22 Mar. 1913 Orpha Belle WALDO, daughter of Rev. Loren E. Waldo; 7 children;

vi.    Esta Paxson, b. 1892; m. Walter WILLIAMS after her sister, Opal, Walter's first wife, died;

vii.   Phyllis Paxson, b. 20 Dec. 1894; m. Forest HULLINGER.






Joseph Howard Paxson8 (called Howard), son of Charles S. Paxson7 (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3, Henry2, James1) and his wife Sarah B. (Michener) Paxson, was born 12 September 1868 in Plumstead township. He died in July 1946. Howard married 6 June 1895 Emma Augusta FLACK. She was born 18 March 1869, the daughter of Wilson J. and Mary Anna (Pickering) Flack. ["Flack Genealogy" webpage of Jim Flack, Carol Temlin, and Rich Flack, seen 11m/9/2007 at http://www.flackgenealogy.com/ There is considerable controversy over the date of birth of Wilson J. Flack because of the many different ages for him given to the census enumerators over the years. Jim Flack offers ca. 1830, which matches the date on his gravestone.]

J. Howard Paxson was listed as a farmer in Carversville in 1894. [Bucks County Directory, 1894: containing the names of citizens . . . address, together with a general business directory, and appendix giving banks, churches, societies, etc. (Doylestown: James D. Scott, 1894), p. 360.] In 1902 he was listed as a laborer in Carversville, Solebury Township. He did not own any real estate. [Bucks County Directory, 1902: containing the names of all men in the county over 21 years of age . . . all women who pay tax for money on interest. . . (Doylestown: Jospeh B. Steiner, 1902), p. 200x.]

headstone of J. Howard Paxson, Solebury Friends Meeting graveyard, 12m/5/2006

Howard, Emma, and their daughter Edna seemed to have lived in a second house on Howard's father's property, as enumerated in the 1910 census. Then by the 1920 census, Howard's elderly parents moved in with them, and J. Howard was listed as the head of the household. [I am indebted to Jim Flack for sending me the census, e mail 11m/9/2007] In 1930 census both parents had gone to their reward, and "Joseph H." and "Emma F.", both listed as 61 years old, married at age 29, were living on the farm. It was valued at $10,000. [Census schedule image as seen on Ancestry.com, 11/23/2007, taken in Apr. 1930, Enum. Dist. 9-65, Sheet 6-B, lines 84-85; Roll 2008.]

The photograph to the right shows Howard. On the left is his headstone in Solebury Meeting graveyard.

Child of J. Howard and Emma Augusta (Flack) Paxson:

i.     Edna M. Paxson, b. 9 Mar. 1896; m. 16 Oct. 1922 Harvey FAUK. Edna attended Carversville School, where her eighth grade teacher was Marion Edwards. Her report card has been preserved--she was a good student. Each month it was sent home and her mother had to sign it before it was returned. Note the variety of subjects. Many thanks to Tina Ronspies for sending it to me.





Joseph Townsend Paxton

Joseph Townsend Paxton, son of John Barton7 Paxton (Bright Rupert6 (Joseph5, Jonas4, James3, William Jr.2, James1) and his second wife, Anne Jones (Price) Paxton, was born 23 August 1880 in Philadelphia. He died suddenly on 22 January 1910 while on company business in Durham, N. C. As there was nobody else to take over the company, it was sold after his death. His remains were buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Penna. [Photo of his tombstone added to findagrave Memorial ID 91230661, by Jenn O.]

Joseph Townsend Paxton tombstone, p[hoto by Jenn O One relative thought Joseph married Nettie __.[HREII notes.] but I have found no evidence of this.

Joseph joined Race Street Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends by application 23 May 1900. [Hinshaw 2:907.]








Matilda E. Paxson and Mahlon I. Paxson

Mahlon Irey Paxson, son of Joshua M.7 (Joseph Jefferson6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary J. (Irey) Paxson, was born 11 November 1842 on his parents' farm in Penn Township, Jay County, Indiana, and died 15 February 1920 in Pennville. He married on 22 (or 27 as in Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana) February 1866 Matilda Ellen KEESE. She was born 23 Tenth Month 1848, the fourth daughter of Stephen and Sarah Keese who had moved to Indiana from Vermont as early as 1838. Matilda died 2 February 1876. This photograph of Mahlon and Matilda is copied from W. T. Keese, Keese Family History and Genealogy from 1690 to 1911 [(Cardington, Ohio: Independent Printing Co., 1911), opposite page 43. My thanks to Tom Irey for sending this to me.] Mahlon married for a second time on 12 October or November 1877 Rebecca Jane WALKER. She was born in 1851 and died in 1933 in Pennville. [W. T. Keese, Keese Family History and Genealogy from 1690 to 1911 (Cardington, Ohio: Independent Printing Co., 1911), 43; "The Rumple-Haworth Family History" updated 7/26/2003, by Shannon Colleen O'Hara-Haworth, at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/; and, "The Paxsons", compiled by Helen Dinius Paxson (Mrs. Frank Paxson), typescript, 36 (copied for me 3/2005 by Tom Irey). Second marriage being in Nov., her middle name of Jane, and years of birth and death are from Dave Paxson, e mail 5/15/2009.]

Mahlon Irey Paxson in a straw hat, from Bruce Sonner, 6/29/2009

Mahlon had little time for schooling, completing only four or five terms by the age of seventeen. However, he continued to read and observe, thus making up for the lack of "book learning". [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403, as cited by Dave Paxson, "Family Group Sheet for Mahlon Irey Paxson", May 14, 2009.]

Mahlon Irey Paxson in 'Indian' costume, from Bruce Sonner, 6/29/2009

At the age of nineteen Mahlon enlisted as a private in Company F, 75th Regiment Indiana Infantry on 31 July 1862 in Pennville (then known as Camden), serving in the Civil War until 8 June 1865. He saw action at Chickamunga, among other battles. His feet were injured on the march from Raleigh, North Carolina to Washington, DC in May or June 1865. He also suffered chronic diarrhea, piles and fistula. Later he was a member of Lew Dailey Post #33, Grand Army of the Republic, as noted on his tomb stone. Politically he was a strong independent, although he supported the Greenback party while it was in existence and later became a Populist. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403.] This was a time when fraternal organizations flourished. Mahlon was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, joining at Keystone. It claims to be the oldest fraternal organization started in the United States, tracing its origins to the rebel Sons of Liberty in 1765. "They patterned themselves after the great Iroquois Confederacy and its democratic governing body." After the War of 1812 the name was changed to the Society of Red Men, and then in 1834 to the Improved Order of Red Men. I wonder what Native Americans might think of its boasted efforts to perpetuate "the beautiful legends and traditions of a once-vanishing race and the keeping alive some of the traditional customs, ceremonies, and philosophies." The photograph shows him in the group's uniform.

Mahlon I. Paxson and his second wife, Rebecca, courtesy of Diane (Dougherty) Render, from Bruce Sonner, 7m/10/2009

With money saved from his army pay Mahlon bought a 60-acre farm, to which he brought his bride, Matilda E. Keese. Not too long after that they exchanged the farm for 80 acres of woodland. There he built a log cabin, 16 x 18 feet, and set up a blacksmith shop. He cleared about 50 acres, but made more money in smithing. On 2 February 1876 Matilda died, leaving four children. Two years later Mahlon married Rebecca Jane Walker, the widow of Miles PAXSON of Jay County. She had a son, Luther M. Paxson. Rebecca was an active member of the United Brethren church from her childhood. Mahlon did not belong to any religious organization. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403, as transcribed by Dave Paxson, "Family Group Sheet for Mahlon Irey Paxson", May 14, 2009.]

Mahlon (age 37) and Rebecca J. (age 25) show up in the 1880 federal census for Penn Township, Jay County, Indiana. With them are four children, all born in Indiana: Florence (12), Nealy (7), Luther M. (6), and Lelfer [sic] (age 1 year). Luther was Rebecca's son by her first marriage. Mahlon was listed as a farmer. [ NA Film Number T9-0286, page 364A, as seen on FamilySearch, 9/24/2008.]

About 1883 Mahlon exchanged his 80 acres for 100 acres in Notttingham Township, Wells County. It was a mile and a half southwest of the village of Petroleum. Mahlon Irey Paxson and his sons with Civil War weapons, from Bruce Sonner, 6/29/2009

He made many improvements on this farm, including among others one of the largest barns in the township and a beautiful two-story modern dwelling costing twenty-five hundred dollars. He brought the land to a high state of cultivation and by his energy, foresight and successful management added continually to his possessions until within a comparatively few years he was numbered among the wealthiest men in his part of the county. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403, as transcribed by Dave Paxson, "Family Group Sheet for Mahlon Irey Paxson", May 14, 2009.]

Mahlon Irey Paxson and his sons with Civil War weapons, from Bruce Sonner, 6/29/2009 Mahlon Irey Paxson's museum

Mahlon collected guns. Here he is with his boys showing off some Civil War era muzzle loaders. From the left: Sherman Irey, Telfer Phineas, Mahlon Irey, Orville Leslie, and Ernest. Eventually Mahlon created a museum for his collection, of which this picture is only a small part. After his death it was sold at public auction. The clipping to the right lists the things he had collected. Fred Williams, representing the State of Indiana, bought the "entire stock of relics" for $1,700.

In 1896 Mahlon purchased a "fine residence" in Bluffton, but after a short time he returned to the country, eventually trading his city property for a farm in Lancaster. He moved there in 1898, while retaining his Nottingham farm, which eventually went to his son Telfer. Mahlon owned some 752 acres of good farm land in Lancaster Township, Nottingham, several pieces in Jay County, and some in Stafford County, Kansas. He bred Galloway cattle and also Jerseys. He owned a "fine threshing outfit", a shredder, and continued to operate a blacksmith shop. His was the "self-made" "rags to riches" American dream. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403.]

Ad for sale of stock by Telfer Paxson, from Bruce Sonner, 7m/1/2009 barn and stock, 1909 Telfer Paxson, from Bruce Sonner, 7m/1/2009

In 1909 Mahlon's son Telfer, who took over the farm in Nottingham, held a major sale of stock and equipment. The list indicates not only what was for sale, but the equipment a modern farm had before the First World War. The photograph shows ten horses, and may have been the day of the sale or shortly before. Note the large barn, which by this time was Telfer's. It is still standing on the north side of Bluffton, Indiana. [My thanks to Bruce Lynn Sonner, e mail 1/17/2011, for information on Telfer.]

Mahlon Irey Paxson's tomb stone, photo sent by Dave Paxson

Don H. Fisher has written a 137 page book, Mahlon Paxson, Civil War Soldier, Farmer, Patriot recording Mahlon's biography and travels, and including letters and pictures. It also documents information on Mahlon's Civil War battles, the hardships, and marching with General Sherman's army (at one time marching 30 miles barefoot). The man had a full and interesting life.

In preparation for the close of his eventful life, Mahlon planned an unusual grave monument in the rustic style, showing a scroll hung from a tree stump. [My thanks to Dave Paxson for sending this image of it, 5m/9/2009.] Mahlon died 15 February 1920 in Pennville.

Children of Mahlon Irey and Matilda Ellen (Keese) Paxson:

i. Florence Estella Paxson m(1) 6 Jan. 1884 David KELLY, m(2) Lilburn KEESE; she donated a number of items to the Indiana State Museum in 1930; 6 children: [Data on the children from: Keese, Keese Family History and Genealogy from 1690 to 1911, 43.]
a) Mary Ethel Kelly, b. 7 June 1885;
b) Verna Matilda Kelly, b. 30 Mar. 1887;
c) Marion Francis, b. 25 July 1889;
d) William Edward Kelly, b. 2 Aug. 1891;
e) Monna Juanna Kelly, b. 6 Oct. 1893;
f) James Ulric Kelly, b. 6 Aug. 1895;
ii. Nealy Pearl Paxson m. 10 Dec. 1890 George LANNING; resided in Michigan; 6 children: [Data on the children from: Keese, Keese Family History and Genealogy from 1690 to 1911, 43.]
a) Esther May Lanning, b. 19 Aug. 1891;
b) Frederick Lanning, b. 19 Mar. 1893;
c) Sarah Ellen Lanning, b. 8 Feb., 1896;
d) Anna Lanning, b. 29 May 1900;
e) Zella Lanning, b. 9 Aug. 1904;
f) Franklin Lanning, b. 11 Apr. 1910;
iii. Nathan Paxson, d. by 1880. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403.]

iv. Adrian Paxson, d. in infancy, but after the death of his mother. [Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana (1903), p. 403.]
Elva Margaret (Eichhorn) and Telpher Phineas Paxson wedding photo

Children of Mahlon Irey and his second wife Rebecca Jane (Walker) Paxson: [Information about Rebecca's children from Dave Paxson, e mail 5/15/2009.]

Telfer, Wilda, and Elva Paxson, from Bruce Sonner, 1m/17/2011 v. Telfer Phineas Paxson, b. 27 Dec. 1878 in Jay Co., Ind.; d. 26 Jul. 1937 in Bluffton, Ind.; m. 30 Mar. 1902 Elva EICHORN (she was b. 31 Aug. 1885); their wedding photograph is to the right. [My thanks to Bruce Lynn Sonner, e mails 6/28/2009, 1/17/2011, for information on Telfer's family.] Telfer lived on his father's farm in Nottingham Twp.; he was remembered for studying the Bible.
a) Wilda Crystal Paxson, b. 11 May 1905; d. 4 July 1969 at Wells Community Hospital from cancer; married (1) Oliver Dwight Bell; they had two children. Wilda married (2) Henry Heckley; he was b. 8 Nov. 1900; d. Feb. 1976. The oval picture shows young Wilda between her parents, Telford and Elva.
1. Gene Edward Bell, b. 6 Sept. 1928; d. 12 May 1999;
2. Joyce Ann Bell, b. 19 June 1932; d. 25 Aug. 2010; mar. __ Sonner.
b) Rodney Dallas Paxson, b. 5 Feb. 1915; d. 23 July 1996; married Doris E. Baker 25 Dec. 1940. She was the daughter of Ira Glenn & Edna (Gerber) Baker.

c) Lois Christine Paxson, b. 19 June 1917; d. 24 Sept. 2009; married Floyd Grosh Dougherty 8 Aug. 1943 in Bluffton Ind. Floyd was born 28 Feb. 1917 & died 1 June 1999.
vi. Sherman Irey Paxson, b. 17 Sept. 1881 in Jay Co.; d. 27 Oct. 1961; m. 26 Sept. 1902 in Uniondale, Ind. Clara GREGG (b. 8 Aug. 1884; d. 2 May 1873 in Bluffton, Ind.); lived on part of his father's farm in Lancaster Twp.; 3 children, all born in Bluffton, Wells Co.: [My thanks to Dave Paxson for information on Sherman's family, e mail 8m/29/2009.]
a) Dorothy M. Paxson, b. 23 Jan. 1906; d. 22 Jan. 1983 in Ft. Wayne; m. John H. SMITH
b) Lloyd Sherman Paxson, b. 8 May 1909; d. 16 Feb. 1966 in Ft. Wayne; m. Gwendolyn NYBLICK
c) Roger Earl Paxson, b. 17 Sept. 1918; d. 13 Dec. 2001 in Van Wert, Ohio; m(1) 6 Jan. 1938 in Bluffton, Ind. Doris BYERLY; m(2) Mary BROWN; he worked for General Electric in Ft. Wayne for 32 years, retiring in 1981; 3 sons, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren as of 2001.
Apologies for the poor resolution resulting from their minute size. First, Sherman and his bride, Clara (Gregg), 1902; Dorothy, Lloyd, and Roger with their father Sherman Paxson; Sherman and Clara in front of their car; the Sherman Farm.
Sherman Paxson and his bride Clara (Gregg) 1902, from Bruce Sonner, 11m/14/2011 Dorothy, Lloyd, Roger and their father Sherman Paxson, from Bruce Sonner, 11m/14/2011 Sherman & Clara Paxson + their car, from Bruce Sonner, 11m/14/2011 Sherman Farm, from Bruce Sonner, 11m/14/2011
vii. Orville Leslie Paxson, b. 5 July 1885 in Jay Co., Ind.; d. 7 June 1946 in Clinic Hospital, Bluffton, Wells Co., Ind. and was bur. in Elm Grove Cemetery; m. Inez Orilla STRAM (b. 14 Sept. 1888; d. 3 Aug. 1966); managed a strip mine pit in Bluffton, Ind.; had children:
a) Frederick Mahlon Paxson, b. 2 May 1908 in Wells Co.; d. 7 June 1966;
b) Mildred L. Paxson, b. 25 Jan. 1910 in Bluffton; d. 12 Feb. 1989 in Titusville, Fla.; m. 23 Aug. 1923 Harold M. KRINN;
c) William Wendell Paxson, b. 5 May 1913 in Wells Co.,; d. 5 Sept. 1977 in Huntingdon Co., Ind.;
d) Ruth Maxine Paxson, b. 8 Apr. 1917 in Wells Co., Ind.; d. 18 Dec. 2004 in Bluffton; m. 14 Sept. 1939 Dwight Edward NIBLICK. She graduated from Lancaster High School in 1935; she was a member of the First United Church of Christ; 4 children, 10 grandchildren. [Obit., Dec. 20, 2004 Bluffton News-Banner.
e) Doris June Paxson, b. 30 June 1919 in Bluffton; d. 27 June 2007 in Prairie Village, Kan.; m(1) 26 Sept. 1945 in Nobelsville, Ind., Don Herbert FISHER. Dottie "graduated from Lancaster High School near Bluffton and was active in swimming, diving, and roller-skating in dance team competitions. Full of spunk, she enjoyed skeet shooting and horseback riding with her father and played the violin she received from her grandfather. During World War II she worked for the General Electric plant in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where parts for the war effort were built." They lived on the Connor Prairie Farm, and when it became an historical site she led tours of the buildings there. Doris was a skilled seamstress making stylish clothes and appliqued quilts, studied oil painting, and was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Organization in Noblesville, Ind. In 1960 the Fisher family moved to Prairie Village, Kansas. They joined the Asbury United Methodist Church. Dottie had a great sense of style and "worked for many years in sales behind the counter as an Estee Lauder representative in the Jones Store (now Macy's)". [Obituary in the Kansas City Star 7/1/2007.]
f) Jayne Paxson, b. 26 Oct. 1922 in Bluffton; d. 30 Jan. 1993; m. David Carl BOOTH; Jayne retired in 1984 as a machinist from CTS at Berne; member of First United Church of Christ.
viii. Ernest Paxson, b. 7 Jan. 1886; d. 6 Feb. 1898 from an accidental gunshot by his brother Orville.



Melvin and Jessie Paxson with 2 of their children, from Debbie Musselman

Melvin Lincoln Paxson was born 14 April 1865 in Pleasant Plain, Jefferson Co., Iowa, the son of Cyrus and Sabina (Hadley) Paxson. Melvin died 24 January 1956. He married first Jessie L. JOBES, and they had four House of Melvin and Jessie Paxson in Clifton, Co., 1909, from Debbie Musselmanchildren. The photo shows Melvin, Jessie and two of their children, probably the first two, although they are not named. Melvin married secondly Ada __.

They lived in Clifton, Colorado, and here they are with three children in front of their house in 1909. Apparently Jessie died at or soon after the birth of the fourth child, because in "Della Fortune's photo album there is a picture that says: 'Jessie Paxson's sister and little family she was left to take care of.' There are 4 children in the picture." - cited by Debbie Musselman.

Apparently Melvin and his second wife, Ada, lived for a while in Grand Junction and had a fruit growing business, where one of his nephews helped for a year.[Debbie Musselman citing "Katherine Grant's letter".]

Children of Melvin and Jessie (Jobes) Paxson:

i.      Miriam M. Paxson, b. 6 July 1901; d. 8 Apr. 1902.

ii.     Hazel Ruth Paxson, b. 1903;

iii.   Anita May Paxson, b. 1906

iv.     Melvin Franklin Paxson, b. 1909 in Colorado;





Newlin Fell Paxson8, son of Oliver Howard Paxson7 (Richard 6, Thomas5 #229, Benjamin4 #92, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3), and his wife Evalyn (Mattson), was born 10 September 1895 in Philadelphia. He died 8 December 1982, and his remains were buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Penna. Newlin married twice, first to Ruth SHALLCROSS; secondly to Ann BUCHANAN. OR, "On November 9, 1926, Doctor Paxson married Helen Rex MacGowan, of New York City, the daughter of John K. MacGowan and Marion W. (Boyd) MacGowan."

Newlin was educated at Friends Select School in Philadelphia, then finished at Central High School, the premier public school for boys in the city. He attended Haverford College for two years.

[I]n 1915, he enrolled at the Hahnemann Medical College and was graduated from this institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1919. The following year he served as an interne at the Hahnemann Hospital and then became assistant to Dr. N. F. Lane, a gynecologist whom he was to be associated with for fifteen years. During this period he also served as an assistant to Dr. J. E. James, obstetrician, for five years, and established an independent practice in 1920 which he has conducted since. Like his father, Doctor Paxson is associated with the faculty of the Hahnemann Medical College, serving as clinical professor of obstetrics. He is also attending obstetrician and a member of the staff of Hahnemann Hospital, and attending gynecologist and obstetrician at the Broad Street Hospital. [Philadelphia: A Story of Progress, 369, transcribed for the internet by Alan D. Hollins, e mail 12m/2004.]

Newlin was staff surgeon and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital; president of The Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia, May 1949 to May 1950; and a member of the University Club. A claim to fame is that he was the obstetrician who delivered Grace Kelly. He was a member of Haverford Meeting. His hobbies include travel, photography, and horses. Newlin had no children.





Norris Hoffman Paxson, Sr., son of Jonathan Paxson (John Jefferson Paxson6, #221 Jonathan5, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his first wife, Martha Washington (Wynkoop) Paxson, was born on 26 April 1877 in South Mannheim Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, the oldest child of his parents. He died 5 August 1955. Norris married Catherine Elizabeth LIVERMAN 3 August 1898. She was born in West Virginia on 22 June 1876, the daughter of Hardy and Rosa A. (MESSICK) Liverman, and died 4 September 1969.

Tombstone of Norris H. Paxson, Sr., photo by Steve Centner on findagrave.com, 6/26/2021

At some point Norris moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, where they were in the 1910 federal census. Norris was enumerated as a Merchant in tobacco and something else that I couldn't read. His wife had had four children, of whom three were still living. [1910 census for Newport News City, ED 83, p. 9A, lines 30-34.] In the 1920 census the family was living in Wythe, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Norris was Manager of Mayware Drug?? (the handwriting is difficult to decipher). There were six children living at home. [1920 census, ED 36, p. 5B, lines 60-67.]

After their deaths, the remains of Norris and Catherine were interred in Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News, Virginia [Memorial ID 101367414] Photo by Steve Centner on findagrave.com.

Children of Norris Hoffman and Catherine (Liverman) Paxson. Not listed is one that must have died young, alluded to in the 1910 census.

i.       Catherine Paxson, b. 8 Oct. 1901; d. 28 Feb. 1986, bur. Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News; m. 1929 Raymond F. KEETER (1906-1986); in 1920 she worked in a store as a clerk.

ii.      Martha Gertrude Paxson, called Maddie? b. 17 Nov. 1903; d. 16 July 1983, bur. Peninsula Memorial Park, Newport News; m. Emmett Francis FOLSOM (1892-1966). She was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Eastern Star, and Daughters of the American Revolution. She was survived by three children: [info from findagrave, seen 6/26/2021]
a.   Martha Catherine Folsom of Newport News, called Cathy, b. 1944; d. 2015, bur. Peninsula Memorial Park; m. Theodore Thomas KREZEL (1914-2009); member of Eastern Star; no children.
b.   James Warren Folsom of Staten Island, NY, b. 13 Dec. 1939; d. 24 Mar. 1989, bur. Peninsula Memorial Park; unmarried; Baptist; attended North Carolina Univ.; member of Metropolitan Canoe Club of NY
c.   John Folsom of NJ.
iii.     Norris H. Paxson, Jr., b. 9 June 1906; d. 19 Feb. 1980, bur. Denbigh Baptist Church Cemetery, Newport News; m. Caroline Eleanor SCRIMINGER (b. 6 May 1911; d. 19 Dec. 1987); had three children:
a.   Norris H. Paxson III, b. 26 Feb. 1934, d. 19 Dec. 2009; m(1) Sonya Claire SERIG; they divorced in 1988, and he m(2) Janet __. Norris and Sonya had four children.
b.   Caroline Louise Paxson,
c.   Sylvia May Paxson,
iv.     Alexandria R. Paxson, b. ca. 1911, listed as a daughter (and so was Norris!), and attending school, in the 1920 census.

v.      Ruth Paxson, b. ca. 1914, 6 years old and attending school in the 1920 census;

vi.    Mildred Paxson, b. ca. 1917; outlived her sister Martha; m. __ ANDLETON; listed as 2 years and 4 months old in 1920 census.


Oliver Huston Paxton8 son of John Samuel7 (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Keziah (ST. JOHN) Paxton was born 22 April 1859 in Indiana, and died 17 June 1932 in Toledo, Cumberland County, Illinois. He married 18 November 1883 Mary Francis SNODGRASS. She was born 20 November 1861, the daughter of John and Sara (FAIRBANKS) Snodgrass. Mary died 23 February 1942.

In the 1900 US census Oliver Paxton was enumerated as age 41, a farmer on rented land. For reasons that are unclear Mary F. was listed as age 39, married in 1884, with a birth date in December 1860; she had given birth to 7 children all born in Illinois, and 5 were still living: Dorrie M, 11, b. Nov 1888; Alvin W., 9, b. June 1890; Clarence 8, b. Jan. 1892; Iva 5, b. Mar. 1895; Nora J. 2, b. Jan. 1898. [1900 US Census for Cottonwood Twp., Cumberland Co., Ill.; Roll 295; ED 49; p. 8B, lines 93-99, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

The 1910 census listed Oliver H. Paxton, age 51, engaged in general farming on a rented farm, married 30 years. His wife Mary F. was now only 48, had 8 children, 6 living. Four childrenlived with them: Clarence W, 17, farm laborer on home farm for wages; Iva M, 16; Nora J 12; Carl J 7, all b in Ill. and attending school. [1910 US Census for Cottonwood, Cumberland Co., Ill.; Roll T624_284; ED 24; p. 9B, lines 56-61, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

Ten years later the 1920 census provides a glimpse of Oliver H. Paxton, 59, farmer, with his wife Mary F., 58, born in Illinois. The household consisted of them, daughter "Norrah", 21; son Carl, 17; and father-in-law John Snodgrass, 68. [1920; US Census for Sumpter Twp., Cumberland Co., Ill.; Roll T625_302; ED 37; p. 3A, lines 41-45, accessed 1m/2/2015.]

Oliver died 17 June 1932 in Toledo, Cumberland Co., and his remains were buried in the Janesville Cemetery, Pleasant Grove Township, Coles County, Illinois.

Children of Oliver Huston and Mary Frances (Snodgrass) Paxson; this list does not match the 1900 census very well.

i.       Infant daughter, d. 8 Nov. 1884.
ii.      Merle E. Paxton, b. 25 June 1886; d. 20 Aug 1886.
iii.     Bessie Paxton, b. 4 Nov. 1887 in Cumberland Co., Ill.; m. 2 Aug. 1906 Fred PEACHER, who d. 29 Oct. 1957; 5 children.
iv.     William Alvin Paxton, b. 20 June 1890; m. 27 Dec. 1910 Ruby Marie RAWLINGS, b. 8 Mar. 1893, daughter of James and Belle (McINTOSH) Rawlings; resided in Mattoon, Ill.; 2 children
v.      Clarence Paxton, b. 11 Jan. 1893; m. 15 May 1919 Nancy GIBSON, b. 1 Apr. 1889 or 1899 daughter of Samuel and Fanny (WALLACE) Gibson of Janesville, Ill.; had 5 children
vi.     Iva Paxton, b. 13 March 1895; m. John STEEN; one son.
vii.    Norah Paxton, b. 7 Jan 1897, lived in Toledo, Illinois. She was the main source for Darlene Ward Paxton's information concerning the Illinois branch of the Paxton family.
viii.   James Carl Paxton, b. 5 May 1902; m. 5 June 1923 Lelah PARK, b. 26 Sept. 1904, daughter of William Charles and Etta (CALAHAN) Park; members of Methodist Church; in 1948 moved from Toledo, Ill. to Spokane, Wash.; 3 children
ix.     Lillian Paxton, deceased.
x.      Mary Paxton, d. 25 June 1886





Phillip A. Paxson, son of Joshua M.7 (Joseph Jefferson6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary J. (Irey) Paxson, was born in 1847. On 15 August 1870 he married Sarah "Sallie" M. SIBRAY. [The information for this family is from "The Paxsons", compiled by Helen Dinius Paxson (Mrs. Frank Paxson), typescript, 36. My thanks to Tom Irey who sent me a copy 3/2005.]

Children of Phillip A. and Sarah M. (Sibray) Paxson:

i.     Leona "Ona" Violet Paxson, b. 1878; m(1) 25 Oct. 1903 Melvin LANNING; m(2) 1910 Howard G. SHARP;
ii.    Karl I. Paxson, b. 1885; d. at birth.
iii.   Oscar Alvin Paxson, b. 7 Aug. 1889; m. 1910 Ruth Lydia McCLAIN.




Pierce I. Paxson8, son of William Maud7 (Benjamin Ely6, Benjamin5 #213, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary Ann (KINT) Paxson, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio in 1840. He died in __. Pierce married first Sarah Elizabeth McFARLAND and had one child. Then Sarah Elizabeth died, possibly in childbirth. Pierce married secondly Mary Elizabeth HODGSON 17 October 1867, daughter of Nathan Hodgson. They had a son, then they divorced and she remarried Amos HOLLOWAY. Pierce married a third time, Martha (GAUNT) GELLER 11 September 1875, who had two children by a previous marriage and together they had another daughter. [Information on this family thanks to Mimi Thomas, e mails Sept. 2013.]

Pierce's father had died in 1848 when Pierce was eight years old. His mother then married John David BOWMAN. John then may have died because in the 1860 census for Penn Township, Jay County, Pierce was nineteen, living with his mother, four siblings, and three half-siblings. [1860 census for Penn Twp., Jay Co., Ind., roll M653_269, p. 269, lines 9-17.]

Pierce's first child, Alida, came to live with her father and his third wife. In the 1880 federal census Pierce was enumerated as a 39 year old shoemaker in Red Key, Jay County, Indiana. Although he was born in 1840 in Columbiana County, Ohio, the 1880 census mistakenly gave his place of birth as Pennsylvania. His wife was Martha Paxson, 28 years old, born in Indiana. Living with them were two daughters and two step-daughters, all born in Indiana: Alida (14) and Jessie (3) were Paxsons, while Belle Geller (10) and Clara Geller (7) were the step daughters. [1880 US Federal Census, p. 494 D, nara film no. T9-0287, as seen on FamilySearch, 1/3/2013.]

Daughter of Pierce I. and his first wife Sarah Elizabeth McFARLAND Paxson:

i.      Alida or Lida Paxson, b. 11 Aug. 1864;
Son of Pierce and his second wife Mary Elizabeth HODGSON Paxson:
ii.     Audian Morris Paxson
Daughter of Pierce and his third wife Martha (GAUNT) Geller Paxson:
iii.    Jessie Paxson



Samuel Livezey Paxson8, son of Eugene7 (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3, Henry2, James1) and his wife Martha (Livezey), was born 18 August 1870, and died 2 September 1948. He married ca. 1899 Ann E. HORN.

Samuel was a school boy in the 1880 census list. In 1894 hewas a laborer in Solebury. [Bucks County Directory, 1894: containing the names of citizens . . . address, together with a general business directory, and appendix giving banks, churches, societies, etc. (Doylestown: James D. Scott, 1894), p. 360.] In the 1910 census he lived in Solebury, and owned the Cuttalossa Orchards near Lumberville. In the 1930 federal census he was enumerated as a 59 year old farmer on a fruit farm in Solebury Township; he was married at age 29, and his property was valued at $20,000. With him was his wife, "Ann E.", age 60, also married at age 29, born in Pennsylvania of parents born in New Jersey. [Census schedule image as seen on Ancestry.com, 11/23/2007, taken Apr. 22, 1930, Enum. Dist. 9-65, Sheet 8-B, lines 99-100; Roll 2008.]

By the 1940 census Samuel was a widower living alone in Solebury on his $8,000 fruit farm.

Child of Samuel L. and Ann E. (Horn) Paxson:

i.       Richard H. Paxson, b. 20 Jan. 1908, an invalid, unmarried.





Samuel Shannon Paxson8, son of Joseph Paschall Paxson, (John Jefferson6 (#221 Jonathan, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Frances Jane Wynkoop, was born 13 May 1874 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He died 19 November 1935 in Oaklette, Chesapeake City, Virginia. Samuel married Bertha SPRING (1869-1913). He was a millwright.

Gravemarker of Samuel Shannon Paxson and his wife Bertha Spring Paxson, findagrave, accessed 3m/28/2019

Bertha died in 1913, with her youngest child only four years old. Samuel managed to raise them all to adulthood. He died November 19, 1936, aged 62, with his remains buried along with Bertha's in Riverside Memorial Park in Norfolk. [ Photo of gravemarkers added to findagrave by SWF on 9 Apr. 2009, accessed 28 Mar. 2019.]

Samuel and Bertha had five children. [Gilbert Cope, ed., Genealogy of the Descendants of John Kirk: born 1660, at Alfreton . . ., Vol. 2: 604. My thanks to Becky Paxson Ilog for bringing this to my attention.] All of them have grave markers in Riverside Memorial Park.



i.      Joseph S. Paxson, Sr., b. 11 June 1900; d. 1 May 1977; m. Josephine V. (1902-1971);

ii.     Frances J. Paxson, b. 10 Dec. 1901; d. 17 May 1983; m. Hugh A. SAUL (1897-1982). They were buried with the other Paxsons in Riverside Memorial Park.
Bertha Meredith Paxson, findagrave, accessed 3m/28/2019
iii.    Bertha Meredith Paxson, b. 7 July, 1904; d. 14 Jan. 1978; m. __ DAVIS; 2 children: Robert Joseph Davis (1938-2017) and Thelma Estelle Davis Bruce (1944-2009). The photo to the right, of Bertha Meredith, was posted on find-a-grave by SWF. Bertha and her youngest sister are buried together, not Bertha and Robert.[photo on findagrave added by SWF, 10 July 2013.]
Gravemarkers of Louise Paxson and her sister Bertha Paxson Davis, findagrave, accessed 3m/28/2019
iv.    Thelma Paxson, b. 30 June 1906 in Norfolk Co., Va.; d. 5 Mar. 1992 in a hospital; m. Herbert Washington GROTH (22 Feb. 1907-19 Jan. 1988). They lived in the 1000 block of Oaklette Drive. Thelma was a member of Oaklette United Methodist Church and was a volunteer with the American Red Cross Blood Bank. Only nieces and nephews survived her. [Obit. in The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, 7 Mar. 1992, as cited on findagrave, seen 3/28/2019.]

v.      Louise Paxson, b. 30 Sept. 1909; d. 9 Oct. 1973; unmarried; called "Pete".





Photo of Fred Paxson from Kay Walton's 'Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas', accessed 5m/1/2013

Sylvanus Frederic Paxson8, son of Joseph Taylor7 (Benjamin Franklin6, John5 #268, Jacob4 #100, Reuben3 #32, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mathilda Agnes (KELLEY) Paxson, was called Fred. He was born 11 December 1894 in Center Ridge, Conway County, Arkansas, and died 8 February 1983 in Botkinburg, Van Buren County, Ark. Sylvanus was married on 24 December 1916 to Susan Lucinda MEADERS. She was born 9 December 1896 in Solgohachia, Conway County, and died 8 July 1993 in Seattle. [Information on this family is from Kay Walton's ancestry.com file, "Paxsons in Georgia & Arkansas", accessed 5m/1/2013, and used with permission. Kay has included copies of the documents supporting her data, which I very much appreciate. The photo of Fred Paxson is from the same source.]

Fred registered for the draft for the First World War on June 5, listing himself as a farmer with a wife to support. He was described as medium height and build, light blue eyes, and light brown hair. The registrar was his brother Irpeel J. Paxson.

The 1920 federal census enumerated Fred Paxson, age 25, in Archey Valley, Van Buren County with his wife Susie L., age 23, both born in Arkansas. They lived in a home he owned. They had one child, Mildred M., age 1½. Fred was a farmer, Susie was post mistress of Archey.

By the 1930 census the family had moved to Monroe, Le Flore County, Oklahoma. Fred's widowed mother, age 73, lived with them. The transcriber misspelled their surname "Paxton". Three children were in the family, "Maxine", age 11; Norman, age 9, and Sylvan, age 3 years and 8 months. Fred was employed as a mail carrier, and none of the other members of the family had an occupation listed in the census.

Fred and Susie had 5 children:


i.       Mildred Maxine Paxson9, b. 15 Aug. 1918 in Center Ridge, Conway Co.; d. 6 Feb. 2012 in Searcy, White Co., Ark.; m. 30 Sept. 1941 in Monroe, Le Flore Co., Okla., Samuel Frederic TIMMERMAN (1916-2009); had 4 children. They were missionaries in Belgium for many years.

ii.      Norman Emmett Paxson, b. 8 Sept. 1920 in Botkinburg, Van Buren Co., Ark.; d. 18 Oct. 1999 in Odessa, Ector Co., Tex.; m. 15 Mar. 1946 in Corinth, Miss., Adylene PITCHFORD (1922-2006); had 2 children, including James Pitchford Paxson10 (1949-2012).

iii., iv., v.   three other children.




Theodore Paxson, son of Chandler Paxson7 (Joel Cheshire6, Jacob5 #276, John4, Reuben3, William Jr.2, James1) and his wife Elizabeth (Emery) Paxson, was born 3 March 1901 at Allen, Dixon County, Nebraska. He married 24 January 1923 at Tamarack, Minn., Della May HANSEL. She was born 4 December 1902. They had 4 children. [Information from Roberta Lake, "Chandler, Bell, Paxson Descendants", typescript, 1954.

i.     John Richard Paxson9, b, 12 July 1924; d. 7 Aug. 1925.
ii.    Helen
iii.   Roy
iv.   Duane




Thomas Wesley Paxson8, son of son of Joseph Charles7 (Morris6, Ely5 #302, John4 #114, Henry Jr.3 #43, Henry2 #18, James1 #3) and his wife Margaret Catherine SHAFFER, was born about 1885. On 11 June 1913 Thomas married Margaret Sadie McLEOD in Fort Frances, Ontario. She was born 18 July 1886, the daughter of Malcolm and Isabella "Bella" (SMITH). On their marriage application Thomas was 26, stated he was born in Queen City (Kirksville), Missouri, his occupation was a Timber Inspector, religion was Baptist, and he resided in Barwick when he was married. Names of Witnesses were Emily McDonald and Hugh Buck, Barwick. The minister was J.R. Harris of Fort Frances, Presbyterian. Many years later, in 1962 Margaret said her birthdate was around 1895, she was married in Barwick, religion was Presbyterian, and the birthplace of her spouse was Ripley, Ontario.

In spite of Margaret's faulty memory in later life, the 1921 Canadian Census shows Thomas Paxson, birth year about 1885, married to Margaret; his father and mother born in the U.S.A., Year of Immigration 1911, Racial Origin: German, Occupation Farmer. Also in the family were Joseph Paxson, age 7, birth year about 1914, Racial origin: German, Occupation: Student; and Donald Paxson, age 2, birth year around 1919. [My thanks to Patti Paxson for the information about this family, 11m/6/2022. She said the family tradition was the Paxsons were "Pennsylvania Dutch".]

In 1962, the couple resided at 137 Martha Street, Port Arthur. Margaret died three years later, 19 November 1965.

Children of Thomas Wesley and Margaret Sadie (McLeod) Paxson:

i.     Joseph Malcolm Paxson9, b. 30 Mar. 1914; d. 29 Sept. 1973; m. 9 June 1947 Margaret Sinclair POLLOCK. She was b. 13 May 1921 in Cumbernauld, Scotland, and came to Port Arthur 6 June 1947. She was married 3 days later. Had they met during the war? She died 2 Dec. 2007. They had 4 children.

ii.    Donald Frank Paxson, b. 23 July 1919; d. 21 Jan. 2009; m. 18 Sept. 1942 Emily Elizabeth DOWLING, called Ethel. She was b. 15 Feb. 1922; d. 12 Mar. 2021; both bur. in Mountain View Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta. They had two children.



photograph identified as William Alpha Paxson in his novel

William Alpha Paxson8, son of John7 (Aaron, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3, William Jr.2, James1) and his wife Louisa Ann (LeValley) Paxson, was born 6 July 1850 near Jamestown, Greene County, Ohio, and died 16 January 1933. William Alpha, known as "Alf", married Becky RANKIN.

Alf was a lawyer and farmer. He attended Ohio Wesleyan College for two years, taught school, read law in Xenia, and finally went on for a year at Cincinnati Law College. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1874. He practiced law in Washington Court House from 1874-1876, then moved to Jamestown where he practiced from 1876 till he died. He also operated extensive farms. He wrote a lot of poetry on rural themes, but published only one book, A Buckeye Baron: A Rural Story of a Buckeye Boy (Cincinnati: The Robert Clarke Company, 1901). [William Coyle, ed., Ohio Authors and Their Books: Biographical Data and Selective Bibliographies for Ohio Authors, Native and Resident, 1796-1950 (Cleveland: World Publishing Co., for the Ohioana Library Association, 1962), p. 487, as seen 6/27/2005 on http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/paxson.html.] According to Au Revoir, a document located in the Greene County Archives, he was known as the "poet laureate" of the Greene County Bar. [http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/paxson.html citing Gillian Hill, Greene County, Ohio: Time Capsule of 1901 (Arcadia Publishing, 2002), 2.]

cover of A Buckeye Baron A Buckeye Baron purports to be a true story, dictated to W. A. Paxson by a man who may or may not be his twin brother. It is full of late Victorian purple prose and highly improbable plot twists (like our hero accompanies Henry Morton Stanley, and ends up in a Masonic ritual in darkest Africa--shades of da Vinci Code). It also is studded with fairly awful poetry written by Paxson. But I suspect that unselfconsciously it reflects quite accurately the times, attitudes, and characters of rural southwest Ohio in the 1860s. Anyway, it is a rather amusing light summer read. The photo is from an illustration in the book, labelled "me", presumably Alf Paxson.

inscription by William Alpha Paxson on the flyleaf of his novel Wilmington College Library's copy of A Buckeye Baron was inscribed by the author to __ Doan (I'll let the reader decipher his handwriting). There is a fragment of a very intriguing holograph letter pasted into the front of book. The right margin of the last page of the letter has been clipped so that it fits better. It is undated, consisting only of a "Post Script", and signed, "Mother" (is she Mrs. Doan?). She obviously does not care for William Alpha Paxson, calling him "Alf Paxton", of Jamestown, Ohio. She goes on to relate:

He had the gift of gab & used it unwisely. My brother Will was in love with Becky Rankin and she with him. All went well with them until he went to see her one night and thru the window saw Alf Paxton sitting with her, so he turned around & left, and never went back. After Becky had married Alf she met Will once by accident & immediately she asked him what happened to him & he told her. Her reply was: "Why didn't you ask me?"

   Alf Paxton was the man in Jamestown who saw my father in some town when I was visiting Hattie Hockett and told him that I had gone camping with a wild bunch of young people who were not decent. My father was very much excited about it and had Walker drive over to the perfectly decent, well chaperoned camp to bring me home. The youn[g] people were nice -- both the boys & girls. So I wouldn['t] go back with him. In f[act] he stayed too.

She concluded (and the reader must make his or her own decision as to the merits of the accusations and conclusions) with this character and literary assessment:
Alf Paxton was noted for being a lia[r] but I guess he could write [poems]. I don't think that I read any of them.
 William Alpha Paxson wrote a "Chronological Sketch, or History of the LeVally Family, Written for the Family Reunion, August 19, 1928". It is posted on the LeValley [note the spelling] web page with this caveat:
Unfortunately, the first half is mostly fiction. John J. LeVally was not born until around 1794--far too late to have participated in adventures with Lafayette or George Washington. His father did not move the family to Ohio until 1811. Yet the information on John's descendants seems fairly accurate.

It then goes on to name the parents of Alf: John Paxson, whose wife, Louisa Ann LeVall[e]y was a twin of Lewis, born 22 November 1829.

In addition to his literary sideline (hardly a career), Alf was a lawyer and politician. He was mayor of Jamestown when a tornado struck in 1884. He sent the following telegram to the mayor of Dayton:

One half of our town was totally destroyed by the terrific cyclone of the 27 inst. Hundreds of our citizens are in destitute circumstances and in need of relief. Any assistance will be gratefully received. [http://www.dragonbbs.com/members/ww8566/cyclone2.html (as of 6/27/2005).]
Children of William Alpha and Becky (Rankin) Paxson: [WA Paxson, "Chronological Sketch, or History of the LeVally Family" as posted on http://www.wvu.edu/~lawfac/jelkins/lp-2001/paxson.html (as of 6/27/2005).]
i.       W. A. Paxson, Chief Solicitor for the City of Washington, Ohio, in 1938; [he received a letter in that capacity on 13 Aug. describing reasons for the Green River Ordinance. See http://www.cityofgreenriver.org/aboutus/grord.htm (as of 5/27/2005).]

ii.     Mary Paxson, d. by 1928; m. __ DICKEY; had a son, Homer Dickey of Dayton; perhaps she is the one nicknamed "Frostie"? ["Mother" in the letter quoted above, reports that Alf had "a lovely daughter named 'Frostie'."]

iii.   Patience Paxson, m. Edward SUMMERS; res. Worcester, Mass.;

iv.     John N. Paxson, d. by 1928;

v.       Charles A. Paxson, d. by 1928;



William D. Paxson, the son of William Patterson Paxson7 (Stephen6, Joseph5 #209, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Harriet Missouri (Swing) Paxson, was born in 1871. Will, as he was called, married first Sofie PERRY. Five years after her death he married on 25 September 1898 Jeannette (CARR), formerly married to a physician, with whom she had a child. [I am indebted to Grey Brogdon for the information on this family, e mails 1m/2008.]

Sofie was the daughter of Calvin C. PERRY, born in 1835 in Indian Territory, a descendant of the Okla-fa-lay-a Choctaw Clan. He was a farmer and stock rancher for most of his life, and owned much of the land around present day Calvin, Oklahoma. He gave the land along the river to build the present day town, which is about 90 miles east by southeast as the crow flies from Oklahoma City. The locals wanted to call it Perry but because there was already a city by that name they settled on Calvin. He married Phebe (Phoebe) BURRIS, the eldest daughter of Judge Gabriel Burris, of Kiamichi County. During the Civil War Calvin served for one year in General Cooper's command and fought in the battle of Bird Creek (December 1861). In 1888, following the passage of the Dawes Act, he was appointed a Commissioner of Registration for the registration of the freedmen (former Black slaves of Choctaw owners brought with them when forced out in the 1830s by Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Act of 1830). When the Dawes Act became final and land was divided within the new territory, slaves were considered a part of the tribe and therefore received an equal share of land. Often this was 180 Acres and was located within the tribal regions. Former slaves of the Indians were very fortunate, because under the Dawes Act they were taken care of compared to the slaves released in the south who received no land, livestock, or home (forget the promise of "forty acres and a mule") and eventually were forced into sharecropping.

Will Paxson had a large cattle and horse spread at Blue Ridge Ranch, 5 miles south of Calvin. There was a Blue Ridge Church and School located near by and the Blue Ridge Cemetery across the road where many of the family are buried. Will had a large two story white farm house with a wrap-around porch near the old Church and cemetery.

Jeannette was the widow (?) of a physician, and went on to become a Dr. herself.

In the 1920 census for Hughes Co., Okla., William and his second wife, Jeannette, provided a home for Will's brother Fred L. and aunt Anna L. Paxton. Nearby lived his son Calvin and wife Mary Paxton.

The Dawes Act, 8 February 1887, changed the official relationship of the US government towards some of the Indians. In 1893, President Grover Cleveland appointed the Dawes Commission to negotiate with the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, who were known as the Five Civilized Tribes, who had been excluded from the original Act. As a result of these negotiations, several acts were passed that allotted a share of common property to members of the Five Civilized Tribes in exchange for abolishing their tribal governments and recognizing state and federal laws. By an Act of Congress of 3 March 1901, every Indian born in the United States who received land in allotment and took residence separate and apart from any tribe of Indians, was declared a citizen of the United States.

The purpose of the Dawes Act and the subsequent acts that extended its initial provisions was purportedly to protect Indian property rights, particularly during the land rushes of the 1890s, but in many instances the results were vastly different. The land allotted to the Indians included desert or near-desert lands unsuitable for farming. In addition, the techniques of self-sufficient farming were much different from their tribal way of life. Many Indians did not want to take up agriculture, and those who did want to farm could not afford the tools, animals, seed, and other supplies necessary to get started. There were also problems with inheritance. Often young children inherited allotments that they could not farm because they had been sent away to boarding schools. Multiple heirs also caused a problem; when several people inherited an allotment, the size of the holdings became too small for efficient farming. [The National Archives, "Teaching With Documents: Maps of Indian Territory, the Dawes Act, and Will Rogers' Enrollment Case File", at http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/fed-indian-policy/, seen 1m/11/2008.]
Although Sofie had both Choctaw and Chicksaw ancestors, Congress decreed that each Indian choose only one affiliation. Will and Sophie's four children were enrolled as Choctaws. Together they were given 380 acres of land as Choctaw Indian allotments (the land was often in parcels and not congruent). [Indians who did not or could not comply faced a more bleak situation. See another view of the Dawes Act and other US legislation concerning Indians.] Will and Sophie's youngest daughter married a farmer, so the land allotment worked well for her.

Children of William D. and his first wife Sofie (Perry) Paxton:

i. Calvin C. Paxton9, b. 23 May 1887; d. Sept. 1991 in Heavener, Okla.; m. Mary REESE from Heavener, Okla. (?). In the 1920 census the couple lived near Will and Jeannette.

ii. Walter Paxton, b. 2 Mar. 1892; res. in Brooklyn, NY (?)

iii. Angeline Paxton, b. 31 Dec. 1893; res. in Illinois; became Angie SWANSON (?); had two children.

iv. Pearl Paxton, b. 22 Mar. 1894; d. 12 Oct. 1981 in Stillwater Nursing Home; bur. in the Fairlawn Cemetery alongside Madison Brogdon; m. James Madison BROGDON, the marriage being conducted by Pearl's grandfather William Patterson Paxson. In 1904 at the age of 10 years she was one of 16 female Choctaw students at the Chishoktak Boarding School when her Great Aunt Anna L. Paxton taught there. Pearl and Madison lived on the allotment as farmers (Madison's family had been farmers in Uvalde, Georgia). An additional 10 acres of land was given to Pearl that was very near the Blue River. They lived on the farm until around 1914 when most of the land was sold and the family moved into Calvin, where J.M. Brogdon owned a general store. After their three children graduated from Shawnee High School, the family moved, living in Atoka, Shawnee, and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Child of William D. and his second wife Jeannette (Carr) Paxton:

v. George Paxton, d. at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, 25 Oct. 1910 (killed by a train); bur. Blue Ridge Cemetery, Calvin.




William Franklin Paxton8 son of Francis Marion7 "Frank" (Amos Clossen, Jr.6, Amos5 #208, James4 #87, James3 #30, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Clarissa (St. John) Paxton, was born 19 April 1868 in Tame Counbty, and died 3 October 1945. He married in 1898 Mathilda SPINDLER of Tama County. [Information on this family, except where otherwise noted, from Bonny Paxton Ross, "Paxton Family", draft manuscript, given to me 12/2014, and used with permission.]

He was described in the typical fulsome language of late 19th century county histories in this article in the History of Adair County.

William Paxton remained with his parents during the period of his boyhood and youth and was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life, sharing in all the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the frontier. He acquired his education in the district schools. The building in which he pursued his studies was afterward purchased by his father for a chicken house, a fact which indicates something of its size. After attaining his majority William Paxton continued to assist in the operation of the home farm until his thirtieth year. He afterward worked for eighteen months on a stock farm and subsequently cultivated rented land for a year. In 1900 he purchased eighty acres of his present farm and following year removed to Adair county, taking his abode upon the land which he had previously acquired. Subsequently he bought eight-six acres adjoining, so that he is now the owner of an excellent farm property. His land is naturally rich and arable and he had brought his field to a high state of cultivation. His farm methods are at all times practical and progressive and he had steadily advanced in the attainment of success, being now at the head of a business which is bringing him substantial returns. . . . Mr. Paxton is a republican in his political views and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. His life has been one of untiring industry and persistent and intelligently directed labor has brought him the success which now classes him with the substantial farmers of the district.

William died 3 October 1945.

Child of William Franklin and Mathilda (Spindler) Paxton:

i.       Orville M. Paxton, b. 21 Oct 1899; d. 3 Oct. 1945; m. Helen VAN of Montour, twin sister of Tena Van who married Allen Paxton, son of George and Nellie Paxton. They had no children.




William H. Paxson8, son of Joseph C.7, (Timothy6, Joseph5 #212, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Mary (Kling) Paxson, was born 3 January 1880 [Lamborn, The Paxson Family, 34.] and died sometime after his wife's death in 1955. William married Florence BAILEY, the daughter of Thomas J. and Rachel (LIGHT) Bailey. She was born about 1886 near Steelville, and died 22 July 1955 in Sacred Heart Hospital, Norristown. [Obituary found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; I am indebted to her for sending it to me 3m/26/2003.]

William and Florence lived in Atglen until 1954 when they moved to their daughter's home in Conshohocken. Florence was a member of Market Square Presbyterian Church of Germantown. [Obituary found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; the clipping was not dated nor marked with the name of the newspaper. My thanks to Cindy for sending me the information, 3m/26/2003.]

Children of William H. and Florence (Bailey) Paxson:

i.       Joseph B. Paxson9, b. ca. 1907 in West Fallowfield Twp.; d. of a cerebral embolism on 16 May 1954 at his home in Atglen. Member of Parkesburg First Presbyterian Church, and served on the election board of West Sadsbury Twp. and Atglen for many years. When he was very young Joseph had infantile paralysis (polio) which left him totally paralyzed from the waist down; he was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

ii.     William H. Paxson, b. ca. 1917; d. 2 Oct. 1927 at his home on South Valley Road. From the Local Daily News, 3 Oct. 1927: "The first case of infantile paralysis to appear here in several years terminated in the death early yesterday afternoon of William H. Paxson, Jr., ten year old son of William H. and Florence Paxson, at their farm home on the South Valley Road at the western edge of the borough. The child, a pupil of Lenover School, became ill last Sunday and remained out of school on Monday. He returned to school, attending Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, becoming ill again that night. His condition became serious on Saturday night. Several physicians were called in, and the case took definite form, the paralysis of one side of his body and head developed steadily. State Health Office Granville R. Boyd, of Westwood, visited the house yesterday afternoon, placed the family under modified quarantine and informed the stricken family that strictly private burial of the little boy must be made within thirty-six hours, . . . The malady, which has puzzled scientists and physicians, has dealt a double blow to the family, their eldest son, Joseph, now a young man, having remained entirely paralysed from the waist down since attacked by the disease during his infant years, and has been confined to a wheelchair ever since." [Obituary found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; my thanks to her for sending me the information, 3m/26/2003.]

iii.  Rachel Paxson, b. ca. 1911 in Steelville, Chester Co. ; d. 16 Nov. 1991 in Orville Mennonite Home where she had been a patient for 2 years; m. 4 Aug. 1945 Thomas P. COSGROVE, at the home of the Rev. Burtis HALLOCK, former pastor of the Parkesburg Presbyterian Church, West Chester. Rachel attended Parkesburg High School, and Coatesville Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a nurse until she retired in 1970. She was a member of Christian Fellowship Church of Lancaster County, in New Holland. Thomas attended the University of Pennsylvania and worked with the Philadelphia United Insurance Company.Thomas preceded Rachel in death. No issue. [Data gleaned from several obituaries and a marriage notice, found by Cindy Grossholtz in the Newspaper Clipping File at the Chester Co. Hist. Soc.; my thanks to her for sending me the information, 3m/26/2003.]





William Jefferson Paxson; my thanks to Elaine Paxson for sending it to me, e mail 6/20/2008.

William Jefferson Paxson, the son of Isaac Paxson7 (John Jefferson6, Jonathan #221, Joseph4 #91, Thomas3 #31, William Jr.2 #16, James1 #3) and his wife Louisa (HESTON) was born 27 October 1859 in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. He died 20 December 1924. On 7 May 1884 he married Lucy M. KREMER in South Mannheim Township. In the 1880 census he was listed as a carpenter; for many years he worked with his father in the Car Shops of the Reading Company.

The 1880 federal census in Schuylkill County found William living in his parents' home in South Mannheim. He was 21, employed as a carpenter. Lucy Kramer [sic] was a 19-year old servant living in the house. [1880 federal census for South Mannheim Twp., Schuylkill Co., Penna., NA Film no. T9-1193, p. 153D; seen 9/24/2008 on FamilySearch.]

William J's pocket watch was eventually given to his great nephew.

My thanks to Elaine Paxson for sending me the photograph, e mail 6/20/2008; she got it on ebay from California.





William W. Paxson8, son of Oscar Howard7, (Howard6, Elias5 #306, Abraham4 #115, Thomas3 #45, Henry2 #18, James1 #3), called Bill, was born 5 July 1887 in Lumberville, Bucks County, and died in December 1975. Bill married twice. His first wife was Maie TOMLIN, born 12 December or 2 February, 1890, the daughter of Robert G. TOMLIN and Sarah E. (ROSE). William's second wife was Eva (GOLDENBERG) Gillespie. She was from Baltimore, MD, and at the age of sixteen eloped to Philadelphia with the chauffeur, Francis A. Gillespie. They were later divorced, and she married Bill Paxson as her second husband.[My thanks to Dave Gillespie for information on William W. Paxson's family, e mails Dec. 2010, 12/2012.]

Bill and Maie were married after the 1910 census (when Maie was 19 and unmarried) and divorced by the 1920 census. Later she was god mother to Marie Varrelman, who called her "Mommie Maie". [My thanks to Marie Varrelman Melchiori, e mail12/18/2015, for information on Maie.]

Bill was chief electrician for construction of the Atlantic City Convention Hall. He lived at 3821 Blvd. Ave., Chelsea Heights, NJ. The house had been built in 1913 for the girlfriend of then Mayor BOWES of Atlantic City. It is still standing.

Bill had no children but Eva had 3 sons by her first marriage, whom Bill helped raise.

i.       Francis Gillespie9, b. in Phila.
ii.      Leonard Gillespie, b. 16 Sept. 1915 in Phila.; d. 22 Aug. 1999, bur. Fort Custer Military Cemetery, Mich.; m. Virginia __. Bill was in the military from 1936 to 1972, but saw no action during his career. From 1947 to 1972 he was in the USAF air weather service.
iii.     Robert Gillespie, b. in Phila.



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Paxson logo
Leaded glass version of the logo used by the Paxson Manufacturing Company
until the company was sold in ca. 1975.
Anything claiming to be manufactured by the company which changed the name to "Paxon" is hereby warned that the product may no longer be of the original superior quality.



This page was first posted on April 12, 2007, and updated most recently on 1m/20/2023.