What happened to Addie Spurgeon?

This is a Byfield descendant that I come back to now and then. 

Eighteen year old Hattie Imel, daughter of Julia Ann Byfield and Peche Harrison Imel, married Oscar C Spurgeon in Coffey County, Kansas. They had a daughter, Addie, in 1876. By 1878 Hattie and Oscar had divorced and Hattie had remarried.  

Four year old Addie is found in the 1880 census with her mother, Hattie, and her new step-father, George Gilbert Holmes.  That's the last record that I can find.

I'm sure Addie must have married in the 20 years before the next census in 1900 but, I have no clues to go on.  Do any of you Kansas Imels or maybe Holmeses have some information about Addie?

This is my entire listing for Addie:

15311. Addie Spurgeon. (Harriett B "Hattie" Imel-4; Julia Ann Byfield-3; Massia Byfield-2; Abraham H. Byfield-1)

Daughter of Oscar C Spurgeon and Harriett B "Hattie" Imel. Born about 1876 in Kansas. Died _____________ in _____________.

Benjamin Byfield

I'm just finishing up work on the descendants of Benjamin Byfield, son of Massia Byfield.  Benjamin was Massia and Polly's first child and is the only one that stayed in Indiana when the rest of the family moved to Illinois.

Benjamin's son, Sardius, married a second cousin so, there's a branch of Byfields that are related to Abraham Byfield and Patience Corbin through two different grandparents.

I'll upload a new version of the full book once I get the Benjamin Byfield line wrapped up.  I don't plan to update the book that includes only the Massia Byfield line until that line is complete.  I guess I'm going to have to find a better way to refer to which book contains the entire Byfield line and which is just a branch starting at one of Abraham's children.

Updated Version

I just uploaded the latest version of the book.  I added  a section explaining the Henry Numbering system.  The Massia Byfield portions are shaping up slowly.

Any descendants of Massia Byfield out there, sent me pictures!

Change of Plans

I've decided to finish work on the Massia Byfield branch of the Byfield family.  That way I can put up a book covering just the Massia branch that will be fairly complete.  I chose the Massia branch to complete first since that's my branch and I'm closest to having all the "skeleton" information for that branch already.

I will probably do the Horatio Byfield branch next.  I've got some good research on that branch and have received some great help from a couple of other researchers on the Horatio line.

I also have the George Washington Byfield line in pretty good shape but I need to correspond with a few others to fill in some blanks.

I want to stress that even when each branch is completed, that it will only be complete as far as I can fill in names, dates, and places.  I still want to add the stories and family traditions for as many people and families as possible.  I want to hear from anyone associated with the Byfield family!  What stories did your parents or grandparents tell?  Do you have old photographs that you can share?

Send me a note!  There is a place on the right hand side of this page where you can leave me a note or just e-mail me at byfieldbook@gmail.com.

Kate Byfield, Kate Polasky, Kate Woolen

Horatio Byfield of Lancaster Township, Jefferson County, Indiana, had a son named Alford.  Alford Byfield married Nancy Graham and they had a daughter named Hannah Janet Byfield.  This is recorded in Horatio's family bible.

Alford died young and his wife, Nancy, moved back with her parents for a while.  Nancy is listed with her parents in the 1850 census and her daughter, Hannah Janet, is listed with relatives adjacent.  By 1860, Nancy had  set up shop as a seamstress in Madison, Indiana.  Here is where her daughter, Hannah Janet Byfield, became Kate.  I don't know why.  Hannah was her maternal grandmother's name and her paternal grandmother was Jennet so the name Hannah Janet made sense.  Nevertheless, she is recorded as Kate in the 1860 census.

In 1867 Hannah Janet Byfield married John Polasky.  She is recorded as 'Kate' on the marriage record. Later in 1867 John Polasky died along with his business partner, Arthur Hurd.  The young widow, Hannah Janet, had a daughter named Mary Hurd Polasky.  However, in the 1870 census, Hannah Janet is recorded as Kate with a ditto mark indicating the name Kate for her 2 year old daughter.

So.  Kate, who is really Hannah Janet, has a daughter, who's name is Mary Hurd Polasky,  listed as Kate Polasky.

In 1872, Hannah Janet (Byfield) Polasky married the Indiana Attorney General, Thomas Woolen.  In the 1880 census, she is listed as Catherine Woolen and her daughter is listed as Herdie Polasky.  Mary Hurd (aka Kate) (aka Herdie) Polasky died young and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, in Franklin, Indiana.  On the family headstone that she shares with her mother and step-father she is "Mary Hurd Polasky".

Hannah Janet's husband Thomas Woolen died in 1898.  In the 1900 census, Hannah Janet is listed as Kate Woolen and is with two of her daughters by Thomas Woolen, Ruby May Woolen and Kathryn Woolen who is listed as "Kate".  So here is another Kate!

In the censuses of 1910 and 1920, Hannah Janet (Byfield) Woolen is living with her daughter Kathryn who is married to James Dean.  In 1910 Hannah is listed as "Hannah J Woolen" and in 1920 as "Mrs. Kate Woolen".

Hannah Janet Byfield died in 1926 and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery with her husband Thomas Woolen.  On the headstone she is recorded as "Hannah Janet Woolen".

Hannah Janet Byfield can be found as "Kate Byfield", "Kate Polasky", and "Kate Woolen".
Her daughter, Mary Hurd Polasky can be found as "Kate Polasky".
Her daughter, Kathryn Woolen can be found as "Kate Woolen".

Massia Byfield Line Complete Through Grandchildren

I've completed my initial work on the grandchildren of Massia Byfield.  My primary task was to check that all the grandchildren were listed correctly and their children were all listed.  There will be a lot of work to fill in the family stories, but I have to get the framework completed first.  This would be a good time for you descendants of Massia Byfield to contact me with family stories and photographs!

I'll be starting to work on the grandchildren of Stella Harriet Byfield next.  All you McGaughey cousins might want to take a look at the book as it now stands.  I know there were some McGaughey children that stayed in Indiana when the rest of the family moved to Minnesota.  I would love to know more about them.

Massia Byfield Line Working Copy

I'm working on the Massia Byfield branch of the tree right now and have uploaded a draft version of just this branch. It's still a couple of hundred pages. It's available to view or to download as a PDF file here. In addition I uploaded a copy of this to bookpatch. I did this so I could get a paper copy to make notes in as I work may way through the families. If anyone wants one of these, they are about 200 pages and spiral bound. Bookpatch charges about $20 to print and ship if you pick the slowest shipping speed. Here's the link:

Descendants of M ...

Paul Carpenter

$13.35

As always, comments are encouraged!