Hector's Family Tree

I thought it would be helpful to lay out Hector's tree so to easily see what his family looks like.  I'll detail the individual families in the near future. 

Homesteaders!

Hector and Jane homesteaded in Lancaster County, Nebraska.  They made application March 16, 1872 for an 80 acre parcel of land - Section 24 - Twp 12 - Range 4E

They proved up on it and received their land certificate Oct. 8. 1877.  

They filed for an additional 80 adjacent to it in March 1880.  

Can you imagine a family of 5 living in a 14 X 19 foot, one story house with three windows and one door??

They had also filed a Timber Conservation claim on one parcel, but had that revoked as they had not planted the required number of trees. 

Here is Hector's final naturalization document that was attached to his homestead application as proof of his citizenship.

The naturalization process began in Cedar County, Iowa when they stopped and stayed there in 1870-1871.

On to Nebraska!

Hector and Jane moved their family from Cedar County, Iowa after a short stay there.  In the 1878 Nebraska census, they show up in Lancaster County, living in West Oak precinct.

They are shown living with the Donisthorp family.  I don't know how the two families came to be acquainted.  Sidney Donisthorpe eventually married Elizabeth McLean.

Where is GGGrandma Elizabeth??

So the search was on. . .where was Elizabeth?  Well, as luck would have it, I found her living back in Seymour, Ontario where the family moved from.  She was living with her aunt, uncle and grandmother as shown here in the 1871 Seymour Twp. census.  The pieces are starting to fit together!

By this time, I knew that Hector's mom was Agnes (Hunter) Curling.  My great grandmother had a wonderful scrapbook full of clues about this family.  One page had several clippings about Dinwoodies.  I didn't know the full significance of those clippings until I found this census.  Upon further research, I learned that both of Hector's sisters married Dinwoodie brothers. 

Hector and Jane Move South!

Years ago, as I was exploring Hector's homestead land application in Nebraska, I found his Naturalization application completed in Cedar Co. Iowa attached to his file.  I tucked that bit of information away and hadn't really thought much about it until last Spring.

I was taking a look at this very challenging project.  Piece by piece.  I put together a timeline for the family and realized that I didn't have a listing for them in the 1870/71 census.  I searched and searched.  Finally, there it was.  The family was shown living in Cedar Co. Iowa in the 1870 census record. 

I really didn't understand the significance of the location at that time.  More on that later!  What I did notice was that my great great grandmother wasn't living in the home at that time.  She would have been 13 years of age, so I found that curious for her not to be at home with her parents.

So the search was on!

Hector and Jane's Family

According to the St. Andrew's church, Hector and Jane had 3 children.  

Elizabeth Heseltine b. 1858 (my gggrandmother)

Isabella b. 1861

Allen John Campbell b. 1862

Hector Marries Jane Whitton

Jane Whitton is the daughter of James Whitton and Elizabeth Heseltyne Whitton of Yorkshire, England.  They moved to Ontario in 1839 and located in Seymour township in 1849.  They ran an inn and cheese business, making the first cheese in Northumberland County.  They had 9 children.  Jane was the oldest.

Hector and Jane were married at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Burnbrae, Seymour township, Northumberland Co. Ontario in 1856 according to the Marriage Register by Rev. R. Neill.  Donald McLean witnessed the marriage.