The Ancestry of Daisy Bishop wife of Donald Jones

CHAPTER 21

THE BISHOP FAMILY

6 December 2016

Daisy Mae Bishop had a short life and a hard one. She was born 7 April 1904 in 1905 in Sioux City to Jesse Bishop and Jennie Bowman Her parents divorced when she was a child and she grew up not knowing her Bishop side of her family.

Daisy Bishop’s paternal family traces its roots to the wine growing village of Oberhauser, on the Nahe River in Rhine, Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany. There her family was called Bischoff before immigrating to America. The area on which her ancestors settled have had human habitation from the time between 600 and 400 BC. Two important prehistoric roads, the so-called Salzstraße or “Salt Road” linked the upper Nahe River region with the Rhine and the other, a road from Kirchberg to Meisenheim, served as a north-south link between the Moselle region and the North Palatine Uplands.

The village of Oberhausen passed in 1200 AD to the Counts Palatine of Zweibrücken where it remained at the time the Bischoff migrated. Oberhausen is first mentioned in documents from 1342 and 1346. In the Late Middle Ages, Oberhausen became part of the Lordship of Wartenstein. In the course of the earlier half of the 16th century, the Lords of Schwarzenberg eventually managed to secure their place as the sole lordship, although they had to be mindful that their overlords were still the Counts, later Dukes, of Palatinate-Zweibrücken.

As the village lord, Johann III of Schwarzenberg introduced the Protestant Reformation into the parish of Oberhausen sometime about 1550. Oberhausen formed together with the village of Hennweiler a greater municipal area in the Late Middle Ages. The villages’ common woodlands were shared out as late as 1769.

The earliest progenitor of the family that immigrated to America was a man named Johannes “Hans” Jacob Bischoff born circa1646. He had a son named Georg Heinrich Bischoff born 11 May 1677 and who died a young man of 29 years on 18 October 1706 in Obenhausen but not until he married and had offspring. He married Anna Christina Franzmann in 1702 and had a son named Hans Jacob Bischoff born 17 November 1704. When he was about 19 Jacob Bischoff married Anna Catharina Rousch [Rauch] on 17 February 1723. Catharina was born 1705 in Hundsback, Rhine, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and was widowed at the age 34 when her husband died 28 March 1739 age 33 years in Germany.

Jacob Bishop and Margaret Church

Hans Jacob Bischoff and Catharina Rousch were the parents of Johann “Jacob” Bischoff born 17 October 1724 at Oberhausen, Rhine, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Jacob Bischoff was married at the age of 21 years to Anna Margaretha Kerch [Church] on 30 November 1745 in the town of Odernheim, Pfalz, Bavaria.

When Jacob Bischoff was 22 he immigrated to America with his wife, his widow mother Catharina Bischoff, and his brothers. The family had passage of the ship “Two Brothers” of which Thomas Arnott was master [captain]. They arrived only 4 days before Jacob’s 23 birthday on 13 October 1747 arriving at the port of Philadelphia. They also arrived in time to be included in the 1747 census as living in Philadelphia Township.

Between 1727 and 1775, approximately 65,000 Germans landed in Philadelphia mostly from the Rhineland and settled in the Pennsylvania and Maryland Colonies. The largest wave of German immigration to Pennsylvania occurred during the years 1749-1754 but tapered off during the French and Indian Wars and after the American Revolution.

In 1748 nearly 2,800 Palatinates [Germans from the Rhineland] came into Maryland and settled mostly in and about Fredericktown in the Colony of Maryland. As that Frederick County had a large German speaking population, Jacob Bischoff and his family settled at Frederick Town the county seat.

‘Frederick Town’ was laid out in 1745 by a land speculator on the banks of Carroll Creek and was settled by a party of German immigrants led by a young German Reformed schoolmaster from the Rhineland Palatinate. Within three years the settlement had so many Germans it became the county seat of Frederick County. In fact there were so many German speaking settlers in Frederick County, that it was ordered by Maryland’s House of Delegates that the printer at Fredericktown be directed to translate into the German language the proceedings of the Committee on the Federal Constitution and print copies for distribution in Frederick, Washington & Baltimore counties during the War of Independence.

In Frederick County, Jacob Bischoff became a farmer and began a family. He also changed his name from Bischoff to Bishop which was easier for the English settlers to say and spell. In 1751 his widowed mother Catharina Bischoff died in western Maryland about 46 years old.

Jacob Bishop Sr. resided on the Maryland Frontier during the French and Indian War when many settlers in Western Maryland were killed or fleeing east. The frontier of the Colonies of Western Maryland and Pennsylvania were dangerous places to live between 1754 and 1763. All of the settlements of Frederick County repeatedly came under attack by Indian war parties during these years. A series of fortifications were built in rapid succession by settlers to protect themselves from the Indians.

In the early part of 1754 the Indians from Western Frederick County suddenly disappeared. Emissaries of France had been among them and had enlisted their aid in their ambition to take possession of the full Mississippi Valley. The object of the French was to confine the English colonies to the Atlantic slope while England was laying claim to virtually all of the Ohio Valley.

The French had a long-standing treaty with the Iroquois Indians, and the Iroquois were greatly feared by every other Indian tribe in the whole area, including Western Maryland. Thus the French and the Iroquois were able to intimidate the greater part of the Indian tribes of the area to make war upon the English colonies.

In Western Frederick County, Tonoloway Fort was built located where now Hancock, Maryland is located. There is little doubt that Jacob Bishop Sr. was a part of the colonial militia that drilled at the blockhouse built for the protection of settlers from Indian Raids. He would have been about 30 years old. The fort was attacked several times and was completely abandoned after the completion of Fort Frederick.

In 1755, on receiving the news of General Braddock of the British Army being defeated by the French, Maryland Governor Horatio Sharpe marched to the frontiers at the head of a body of a militia hastily equipped for the service. He was almost powerless in checking the devastations of the Native Americans and could do but little for the relief and protection of the panic-stricken people. For more than two years warfare continued on the western frontiers of Maryland where Jacob Bishop lived.

In 1756 Governor Sharpe had a fort built on the Potomac River that he called Fort Frederick. It was finished in August of that year, and manned by two hundred men under the command of Colonel Dagworthy. He wrote to Lord Calvert on February 4, 1757, “The Garrison of Fort Frederick instead of being 300, scarcely amounts to 250 Men & I am afraid the Officers will find it impossible to raise the Number allowed for the immediate Defence of this Province, however no Mischief has been done on our Frontiers for a considerable time & the People begin to think themselves well enough protected.”

With completion of Fort Frederick there were only a few accounts of any Indian attacks in the frontier settlements. Residents of western Frederick County however were several days away from Fort Frederick and were expected to seek shelter at Jonathan Hager’s House in Elizabeth Town (present day Hagerstown) which is where Jacob Bishop Sr. family were living.

In 1758 the French Fort Duquesne was captured by combined British and provincial forces, and the French and Indian wars came to an end although a peace treaty was not formally signed until 1763. The name of the captured Fort Duquesne was changed to Fort Pitt, in honor of William Pitt, who in 1756 was British secretary of state. Lord Pitt had planned the campaign that resulted in the overthrow of the French power in America. The city of Pittsburgh grew up at the site of the fort.

By 1763, the Treaty of Paris had formally ended the frontier struggle with England taking possession of most of France's empire, including Canada. This left the frontiers of Western Maryland safer to live in. Jacob Bishop Sr. was about 39 years old.

Jacob Bishop Sr. was able to live in relative peace for the next 10 years during which he prospered and gained property of his own. However in 1773 the Boston Tea Party took place in Massachusetts Colony which would lead to a rebellion against the King of Great Britain. The British government had insisted that the American Colonies share the burden of keeping the peace along the Appalachian Frontier and help pay for the cost of the French and Indian War. The British imposed a series of taxes.

The Boston Tea Party was a protest by the American Colonists against the British in regards to the tea taxes that had been imposed on them. The British government shut down Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was paid for. In April 1775 Massachusetts Militiamen and the British Regular Army fired upon each other at Concord and Lexington precipitating the Revolutionary War.

Jacob Bishop Sr. was 52 years old when America declared its Independence and his 16 year old son signed up in the newly formed German Battalion. The war lasted seven long years and he was in his late 50’s when he became a citizen of a new nation, the United States of America.

When Jacob Bishop was nearing 60 years old he made out his will dated 5 September 1784. He stated he was “sick and weak in body” and he devised to his wife Margaert “use of house and lot where we live in Elizabeth or Hagertown adjacent to the Lutheran Church and 1/3 of real and personal estate for life unless she remarries and then 1/3 for my children.” He named his sons as William, Jacob, and George. His daughters were Catherine wife of William Stiles, Margaret wife of David Harry, and Susannah wife of Jacob Clyne. David Harry his son in law and his son Jacob Bishop were appointed executors. The Witnesses were George Dick, Alpheus Gasten, and Edmund Moran.

Jacob Bishop Sr. will was recorded 11 December 1784 in Washington County, which had been formed out of the western half of Frederick County, and it is likely he died in November age 60 years at his home at Hagerstown, then known as Elizabeth Town.

Jacob Bishop Jr and Mary Powell

Jacob Bishop Sr and Margaretha Church’s son Jacob Jr was born 6 October 1759 probably at Hagertown, Maryland which had a strong German community. He was a first generation American and in the summer of 1776 when he was 16 years old and a half he joined the newly formed German Battalion to fight for American Independence.

The German Battalion was organized under the command of Col. Nicholas Haussegger a native of Germany and resident of Pennsylvania. The call to arms was well heeded by the German immigrant community of Maryland and Pennsylvania and was complete by the summer of 1776 after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Jacob Bishop had signed up for three years for which was the original enlistment period for the German Battalion. There were some accommodations made for those men serving from the agricultural areas as was Jacob; as it was very difficult on the families and the farms when the head of the family was absent over three harvest periods.

An excerpt from a “Sons of the American Revolution” application submitted by Jason Cook, great grandson of Jacob Bishop, in February 1924 states as follows: Jacob Bishop enlisted before he was of age, at Hagerstown, MD, in the summer of 1776, as a private in Captain William Heyser’s Company of Colonel Nicholas Haussegger’s German Regiment (PA Troops) and served three years, during which time he was in the battle of White Plains, taking on the Hessians, battle of Trenton, battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth; that he marched to Wyoming [Pennsylvania], endured severest hardships, and was wounded in his foot in one of the engagements.”

“There is no application for pension on file for the soldier, and his age is not stated. Jacob Bishop was married December 25, 1781 to Mary Powel by Joseph Powel a Minister of the Gospel; no relationship stated. [He was her father] Soldier died April 10, 1813, and his widow Mary Powel was allowed pension on her application executed Jan 30, 1839, at which time she was a resident of Bethel Township, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania, and seventy-four years of age. [born circa 1765]. Her son William Bishop, who was alive in 1839, is the only child referred to. In 1855, [age circa 90 years] Mary Bishop resided in Fulton Co., Pennsylvania, the date of her death is not known.”

The above information is collaborated by Jacob Bishop being listed as a private in the Roll of Capt. William Keyser's Company. Dated October 23rd, 1776. William Keyser, Captain. Jacob Kottz, 1st Lieut. Sergeants David McCorgan, (recomd. by Maj. & Cap.) Jacob Hose Daniel Taquet, (or Jaques) Jacob Miller Adam Smith, 2nd Lieut. Paul Christman Ensign. Corporals. Andrew Filler Phillip Reevenach Barnard Frey William Lewis”

Under the command of Colonel Haussegger, the German Battalion went to New York and was engaged in the Battle of Long Island from August 26th to August 28th. Other engagements in New York were at Harlem Plains, Montressor's Island on September 24th, Harlem Heights on October 12th, White Plains on October 28th, and Fort Washington on November 16th. Colonel Haussegger commanded the Battalion during subsequent campaigns around northern New Jersey.

During this entire period Colonel Haussegger showed himself to be an able field commander and a man possessed of courage and qualities of leadership. He led the Battalion in the attack on the Hessians in the Battle of Trenton, January 3, 1777, but was taken prisoner in that engagement. His subsequent career has been difficult to trace, and has been the subject of controversy. General George Washington in a letter to John Beatty in reference to the exchange of prisoners of war wrote: "You are not to exchange . . . Colonel Haussegger ... he was taken in a manner which will not suffer us to consider him in the light of a common prisoner." It has also been stated that "On February 1, 1781, Colonel Hassegger sent in his resignation and commission to General Washington, having joined the enemy" (Writings of Washington, XVI, 131).

At the end of the Revolution Haussegger returned to his home in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his death in July, 1786. During his later years he applied for bounty lands to which the soldiers of the Revolution became entitled, and after his death his heirs received the land grants in question from the State of Pennsylvania. His heirs surely would not have received such bounty lands if Colonel Haussegger had been regarded as a traitor.

Next in rank to Colonel Haussegger was Lieutenant-Colonel George Stricker of Frederick County, Maryland. George Stricker had served as an officer in the French and Indian War in 1755 and took part in the defense of Western Maryland against the Indians after the defeat of General Braddock in 1755. He would have been known to Jacob Bishop Sr.

When the German Regiment was organized, Strickler was appointed Lieutenant Colonel on July 17, 1776 and was its highest ranking officer and probably the most ardent recruiter among his fellow Germans. Jacob Bishop Jr may have been one of his recruits. At one point he reported that he had raised twenty-one men for his German company in two days. The Maryland Council was well aware of his effectiveness and stated: "We think the service will be benefitted by his Appointment. If he should be commissioned the sooner 'tis done the better as it will probably be a great inducement to his [German] Countrymen to enlist."

Strickler fought with the German Battalions in battles around New York City and northern New Jersey and he became the field commander when Colonel Haussegger was taken prisoner by the Hessians in Trenton.

The German Battalion was with General George Washington when he crossed the Delaware and with him January 3rd when he attacked the British camp at Princeton and their Hessian German mercenaries.

After the battle of Trenton During, the Continental army was reorganized. The colonial militia regiments with little military training had proven unreliable. The Maryland forces, had been seriously reduced by losses in battle and were consolidated into two brigades and five more Maryland regiments were raised. These, along with the German Battalion, were organized into the celebrated "Maryland Line." Four regiments were placed under General William Smallwood of Maryland, and the German Battalion and three Maryland regiments were put under command of General Prudhomme de Borre, a Frenchman, to whose command the German Battalion had been assigned. These two brigades constituted the force commanded by Major General John Sullivan.

After the inglorious exit of its original commander, Colonel Nicholas Haussegger, there were important changes among the officers of the German Battalion. Baron Heinrich Leonhardt von Arendt, a Prussian officer was imposed on the battalion as field commander with the rank of colonel and Lt. Colonel Stricker as his subordinate. Lt. Colonel Stricker became angered at being passed over in this manner and thought that he should have been promoted to full Colonel and continue as Battalion commander. This prompted the angry resignation of Marylander George Stricker on 29 April 1777.

On 25 June 1777 Colonel von Arendt requested permission of General Washington to go to Philadelphia and lay before the Continental Congress his proposal for a treaty of alliance with the King of Prussia. Washington consented, provided "that he should not be absent from the German Battalion for more than two days, as the officers needed supervision." Colonel von Arendt was unsuccessful in that attempt. Furthermore, as a foreigner and one accustomed to the strict discipline of the Prussian army, he was not popular with the officers serving under him. His brief and much resented command ended in August, 1777 when he applied for a leave of absence on account of ill health. His request was granted and he returned to Europe.

Since the Colonel von Arendt was largely absent during the subsequent months, the command of the German Battalion was virtually and ably performed by Major Ludwig Weltner of Maryland. Weltner was an officer in the Frederick County Militia during the French and Indian War and took part in the defense of the western frontier in the difficult years after Braddock's defeat. When the German Battalion was organized Weltner was commissioned as a Major. He took part in the battles around New York City, as well as the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. Major Weltner was raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on April 29, 1777, and from all accounts was actually acting in command of the regiment after the resignation of Lt. Colonel George Stricker.

In August 1777 the reorganized German Battalion was involved in the night raid on Staten Island. The raid proved to be a disaster and the German Battalion suffered severe losses.

After the British landed at Elk River, Maryland, the scene of the war was shifted from New York to the area between Wilmington and Philadelphia. The German Battalion was then sent back to Pennsylvania to guard the crossing of Brandywine Creek at Chadd's Ford and were there at the beginning of the Battle of Brandywine on 11 September 1777. The seasoned German riflemen of the Battalion forced a strong contingent of Hessians under General von Knyphausen to abandon the initial attack. But then tactical mistakes and rivalry on the part of some American commanders and a superb strategy of the British and Hessian forces led to a disastrous defeat.

The German Battalion suffered most severely. The extent and severity of these losses is indicated by the fact, as stated in Heitman's Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army, that the manpower of the German Battalion had been reduced from the original nine companies to two companies.

The German Battalion retreated to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where they spent the winter. During that Winter of 1778, the General Frederick von Stueben, a Prussian officer trained the Continental Army’s men to become an effective fighting unit. Steuben transformed the American army into an efficient fighting unit by compiling a manual of arms and instructing the men in the proper use of the bayonet. He also held classes in strategy and tactics for the senior officers.

Lieutenant Colonel Weltner was in charge of the remnants of the German Battalion while at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778. On February 26, 1778 the German Battalion was officially made a part of Maryland's quota to improve and facilitate recruitment. It was numbered as the Eighth Maryland but in most records its original designation as the German Battalion was retained.

When the Battalion was reorganized in the spring of 1778 Lt. Col. Weltner became its field commander. Lt. Colonel Weltner was said to have been the most outstanding of all the officers of the German Battalion. He was a competent field commander and was respected and liked by his junior officers and by the enlisted men. As commanding officer of the German Battalion Weltner should have been made a full Colonel. In the later years of the War, however, it was the policy of General Washington not to create any new Colonels because a Lieutenant Colonel, if taken prisoner, had a better chance of being exchanged, Washington having observed that almost no British officers of the rank of full Colonel were ever captured.

Captain William Heyser, having served two years resigned 21 May 1778. Jacob Bishop had spent his teenage years from 16 to 18 serving with Heyser and other Frederick County men who made up the majority of his Company.

The German Battalion left Valley Forge on 16 Jun 1778 and was sent to

Brunswick Landing and Scotch Plains in New Jersey where they spent the 4 July 1778. Less than two weeks later they joined all of George Washington’s army on July 20thh which was headquartered at White Plains, New York outside of New York City.

As part of General Sullivan's division, German Battalion participated in the Battle of Rhode Island, also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill on August 29, 1778. After abandoning their siege of Newport, under the command of General John Sullivan, the Battalion was withdrawing to the northern part of Aquidneck Island, the largest island in Rhode Island, when the British forces supported by recently arrived Royal Navy ships, attacked the retreating Americans. The battle ended inconclusively, but afterwards Continental forces withdrew to the mainland, leaving Aquidneck Island in British hands.

The only definite documentation of the German Battalion afterwards is dated 5 September 1778. It is a record of a payroll for a part of the Battalion, then stationed at White Plains, New York.

Prior to the Battle of Rhode Island, in northern Pennsylvania about 145 miles northwest of New York City, a force of British Loyalists led by Major John Butler's British Rangers, with the assistance of about 700 Native Americans, attacked the outnumbered Wyoming Valley settlers on 3 July 1778. , The exact fatality count is not known, but it is estimated between 200 and 300 Americans were killed in the battle.

After the battle, settlers claimed that the Iroquois raiders had hunted down and killed fleeing American militiamen before killing thirty to forty who had surrendered using ritual torture. A British commander claimed that his force took 227 American scalps, burned 1,000 houses, and drove off 1,000 cattle plus many sheep and hogs in the Wyoming Valley. Of the 60 Continentals and 300 militiamen involved, only about 60 escaped the disaster.

The Wyoming massacre became an important propaganda tool for the patriot cause, and also led General Washington to appoint Major General John Sullivan to lead a campaign against the Iroquois on the Pennsylvania and New York frontier in 1778. The German Batallion under the command of General Sullivan was assigned the duty of protecting the western frontier against the Loyalists and Indians. The Battalion served there in the Wyoming Valley from 30 October 1778 to 25 Jun 1779.

Sullivan's campaign secured Pennsylvania's northern frontier and later forced the Iroquois to cede their lands in Pennsylvania and western New York under the second Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1784.

Jacob Bishop was mustered out of the German at the end of July 1779. The “Pay Roll of Lt. Col. Weltner's Company in the German Regt, of the Continental forces of the United States. Commanded by Lt. Col. Ludwick Weltner, for the months July, August, Sept and Oct, 1779”; Jacob Bishop discharged 26 July 1779. Jacob Bishop served his full three years and went home probably from the Wyoming Valley Campaign to Hagertown some 200 miles southwest. He probably made the journey with a wounded foot.

The German Battalion was officially disbanded, on 1 January 1781, on General Washington's order for the "Reform of the Army," and its officers and men were retired. This Battalion served its country in good and bad days with honor and distinction for nearly five years. General Washington held the German Battalion in the highest esteem, which is evidenced by his report to the Board of War dated February 19, 1781 which concluded: "The Board of War will be pleased to pay attention to a memorial of Lieutenant Colonel Weltner of the German Battalion.

When the war ended in October 1781, Jacob Bishop, now 22 years old, was home in Frederick County with his family, after “enduring severest hardship” and having been wounded in the foot in one of the engagements. Within months of returning home he married 25 December 1781 Mary Powell the daughter of Reverend Joseph Powell and Rachel Rose. Reverend Joseph Powell performed the marriage of his daughter to Jacob.

Rev. Joseph Powell was of Welsh parentage, and born March 6, 1734 in the Baptist Community of Pennepek, Pennsylvania. He was classically educated at the Hopewell Academy in New Jersey and ordained there in 1764. He married Rachel Rose, 1 September 1764 and they had eight children Mary, Anna, Joseph, Rebecca, Samuel, John W., and Rachel. He and his wife Rachel (Rose) Powell, were leading members of the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church beginning August 1765, when he was called to be the first pastor of this church. Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church which is located in Thompson Twp., in present day Fulton County, was formerly part of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Hagerstown, Maryland. The church was organized and built in 1752 and was located just fifty yards inside the Pennsylvania state line. Before the Mason-Dixon survey was done between 1763 and 1767, the congregants thought the church was in Maryland. The Tonoloway Primitive Baptist was the tenth Primitive Baptist church built in the colonies, and drew parishioners from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Rev. Joseph Powell worked diligently in his capacity as Pastor of Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church for nearly forty years and solemnize 845 marriages over the course of his ministry. Additionally was appointed a Chaplain in the Revolutionary War. Rev. Joseph Powell also serve as a member of the Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention 1776 and as a member of the General Assembly 1779-80 after leaving the army.

Rev Joseph “Powell” was a Captain in John Patton’s Continental Regiment, and was promoted to Major in 1778 when he was transferred to the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. Company A was commanded by Joseph Powell.

Rev. Powell was the first chaplain of the original seven to vacate his capacity, when he was promoted to the rank of major on 17 January 1778. During Powell’s service with the 11th, the unit was primarily stationed at Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Joseph Powell retired from his military career on June 5, 1779. It is not known why he retired. “Perhaps he simply felt it was time to return to his little log church in the wilds of western Pennsylvania.” Within a few short months, Rev. Joseph Powell was elected as Representative from Bedford County in the Pennsylvania Assembly.”

The fact that Rev. Joseph Powell was such a patriot, no doubt he approved of the marriage of Jacob Bishop to his oldest daughter. Jacob Bishop was raised a Lutheran but certainly Jacob and Mary Powell Bishop would have been members of his father in laws congregation in the Tonoloway Baptist Church.

It is inconceivable that Donald A Jones and Daisy Bishop would have known that both their ancestors had been members of the Tonoloway Baptist Church. Donald A Jones’ 2nd great grandfather Jehu Paten Jones and his relatives and in laws, the Addy, Maple, and Fuller families, were members of this church as was the Miskimen family before they all moved to Ohio shortly after the death of Rev. Joseph Powell and settled near each other. The Fullers and the family of James Miskimen were members of the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church while living in Maryland. Although the Jones and Addys lived in Jefferson County, in Virginia two states away from the Tonoloway Baptist Church, distance wise it was less than 3 miles.

When Rev. Powell died Sept. 8, 1804 he was aged 62 years. The family Bible of Joseph Powell, as of 1939, was in the possession of Mrs. Miller of Indianapolis, Indiana, and contains records of the exact times each of their children were born.

The 1786 state tax for Pennsylvania showed that Jacob Bishop had relocated from Maryland to Bethel Township in Bedford County from Maryland. He paid a tax of 1 shilling and 6 pence on his property. He is not listed in his own household in Bedford County in the 1790 census when he would have been 31 years old. However there is a “Joseph Bishop” two households away from Joseph “Powels”, Jacob’s father in law. The enumerator probably was sloppy and wrote Joseph instead of Jacob. This household included a male over 16 years and two males under 16 and two females. His children enumerated in this census were probably Joseph Bishop born 1784, George Bishop born 1787 and Rachel Bishop born 1790. Mary Powell Bishop would have been circa 25 years old. A daughter named Margaret was born in 1785 but died in infancy before the census.

Ten years later the 1800 Census of Pennsylvania showed that Jacob Bishop was still residing in Bedford County. His household included 7 children under 16 years old and two adults over 25 years old for a number of 9 “Free White Persons”

Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Jacob was listed as a “White male age 26 to 44” which would have him born between 1756 and 1776. As that he was 41 years old in 1800 this information was correct. Within his household was also a White female age 26 to 44 which would have been his wife Mary who was 35 years old, and three sons and four daughters ranging from under ten to 15 years old.

Family records stated that Jacob and Mary Powell Bishop were the parents of 15 children, 7 sons and 8 daughters. Three of these sons were listed in 1800 and they would have been Joseph Bishop age 16, George Bishop age 13, and William Bishop age 8. The census enumerated them as 2 males under 10 years and 1 male ages 10 thru 15. George Bishop was enumerated in the wrong category.

The four daughters listed in 1800 were Rachel Bishop age 10, Mary Bishop 1795 age 5, Elizabeth age 3 and Margaret Bishop age 1. The census enumerated them as 3 females under 10 and 1 female ages 10 thru 15.

The last census for which Jacob Bishop can be found in is the 1810 Census of Bethel Township in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. In this household were 12 people, 8 under 16 years and 2 over 25 years which left two people as being over 16 and under 25. Jacob Bishop was listed as a white male over 45 years. In 1810 he was 51 years old. His wife Mary was listed as a white female over 45 and she was about 45 years old. Ten children were listed in this household. They were 4 males and 6 females ranging in ages from under 10 years to 26 years old.

The two boys under the age of 10 were David Bishop age 8 and John Bishop age 5. One boy was listed as being 10 thru 15. This may have been William Bishop who would have been 18 years old. Another man listed as being 16 thru 25 was probably the oldest son Joseph Bishop age 24.

The census listed 3 girls under 10 years who were probably Rebecca Bishop age 9, Judiah Bishop age 6, Catherine Bishop age 1. Two girls were listed as 10 thru 15. They were Mary Bishop age 15 and Margaret Bishop age 11. The oldest daughter in the household was listed as 16 thru 25 years old. She was Rachel Bishop age 20. Only, William Bishop age 18 seemed to be in the wrong category. A daughter named Elizabeth Bishop who would have been 13 years old in 1810 is either misclassified in the wrong category or may have died.

Jacob Bishop’s son George Bishop was listed in his own household in 1810 as he was married with a daughter living within Bethel Township of Bedford County. He is listed as a white male between the ages of 26-45 when he was only 23 years old.

Three years after this census was taken Jacob Bishop died on 10 April 1813 probably on his farm in Bethel Township. He was buried in the graveyard near the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church. Besides his widow Mary Powell Bishop Jacob left a number of minor children to be raised by their mother. In 1813 Mary Bishop was age 18, Margaret Bishop was age 14, Rebecca Bishop was age 12, David Bishop was age 11, John Bishop was age 8 and Catherine Bishop was age 4. The 1820 census suggests that another son was born between 1810 and 1813 but whose name is unknown.

Mary Powell Bishop remained a widow for the rest of her life. She is found in censuses of Bedford and Fulton Counties from 1820 through 1850. Fulton county was created on April 19, 1850from part of Bedford County that included Bethel and the Tonoloway Baptist Church and was named for inventor Robert Fulton. Mary Powell Bishop never moved but the area where she lived and died shifted from Bedford to Fulton County.

Mary Bishop remained in Bethel Township where in the 1820 United Census she is listed with a household of 10 people including herself. She was 55 years old in 1820 and nine of her children were still living on the farm. They included adult unmarried sons Joseph Bishop age 36, William Bishop age 28, and David Bishop age 18 years old. Two other males were listed one who was John Bishop age 15 years and a boy under the age of 10. He could could have only be between 9 and 7 years old as Jacob Bishop died in 1813. The daughters in the household were Margaret Bishop age 21, Rebecca Bishop age 19, Judiah Bishop age 16 and Catherine Bishop age 11. Three in the household were engaged in Agriculture according to the census and that would have been brothers, Joseph, William, and David. All other children of Mary Powell were listed in other households.

The 1830 Census of Bedford County, Pennsylvania showed the households of Mary Bishop and her son William adjacent one another. David and Jacob Bishop were living near each other but some distance from their mother. They all were living in Bethel Township while John Bishop was living in neighboring Ayr [Air] Township.

Mary Bishop’s household consisted of all females, herself at the age of 65 and 3 females ages 20 thru 29 [1801-1810]. These women were Rebecca Bishop age 29, Judiah Bishop age 26 and Catherine Bishop age 21. All her other children were either married or passed away.

In the 1850 Census of Fulton County, Pennsylvania Mary Bishop is listed as a 84 year old woman living in Belfast Township at the home of her daughter Margaret and her farmer son in law Job Morgret. Her birthplace is given as New Jersey which might be accurate as her parents married there. Six years later on 9 April 1856 the day before the 43rd anniversary of her husband’s death she died in her daughters home in Belfast, at the age of 91. She was buried in the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church graveyard by her husband.

JOHN BISHOP and RACHEL HAUGER

John W Bishop was born 5 September 1805 in Bethel Township, Bedford County,Pennsylvania to Jacob Bishop and Mary Powell. His grandfather Jacob Bishop was a German emigrant and his grandfather Rev. Joseph Powell had been the pastor of the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church for over 40 years. He never knew his grandfathers and had vague memories of his father who died when John was 6 years old. He was raised in the household of his widow mother and was one of the youngest of her 15 children.

When John Bishop was about 23 years old he married Rachel Hauger the daughter of Frederick and Christina Hauger. It is supposed that Frederick Hauger was born circa 1760 in Wurttemberg, Germany.

The 1790 United States Census for Bedford County, Pennsylvania showed that Frederick Hauger [Hagger] was living there with a wife and 2 daughters three families away from Jacob [Joseph] Bishop and five families from Rev. Joseph Powell. On 3 December 1792 Frederick was granted 100 acres in Bedford County in the township of Ayr.

The 1800 Census of Bedford County, Pennsylvania listed Frederick Hauger as living in Ayr Township. His age was given as being between 26 and 44 [1756-1774]. The 1810 census listed him as older than 45 years therefore he was born between 1756 and 1765. His wife Christina was listed as being between 26 to 44 also [1756-1774] The 1810 Census gave her age as between 26 and 45 years old [1765 and 1784]. Thus it seems logical that she was born between 1774 and 1784 most likely about 1774 if she had three sons and three daughters between 1790 and 1799.

The 1810 Census of Bedford County, Pennsylvania listed Frederick Hauger as living in Ayr Township. In this household were 11 people, 2 adults and 9 children. Frederick was listed as a white male over 45 years old which would place his birth before 1765. As that he was 50 years old in 1810 this information was correct. His wife Christina was listed as between 26 and 45 years old. She was about 37 years old in 1810. There are three boys between 10 and 16 years old, 1 boy who was under 10 years old. Three daughters were 10 years and younger and 2 daughters were between 10 and 16. As that no child was born before 1794 it can be assumed that Frederick and Christina were married circa 1792. A daughter named Sarah Hauger was 16 years old in 1810, a son named Audrous was about 14 years old, a son named Jacob Hauger was 12 years old in 1810, a son named Frederick Hauger was 8 years old in 1810, a daughter Christina Hauger was 6 years old and Rachel Hauger was born about 1810. The names of the other five children are unknown.

Ten years later the 1820 Census of Bedford County listed Frederick Hauger with a wife and 7 children living within his household located in Ayr Township. He is listed as being over 45 years old when he was about 60 years old. His wife is also listed as over 45 years old which meant she was born before 1775. This pretty much pinpoints her birth year as 1774. The 7 children still living in Frederick’s household were four males and three females. Jacob and Frederick Jr would have been 22 and 18 years old but the other males born between 1796 and 1804 are unknown. Of the three females ages 10 to 16 would have been 16 year old Christinia and 10 year old Rachel.

Frederick Hauger [Hawger] died probably in February 1824 intestate in Ayr Township about 63 years old. Letters of Administration of his estate were granted 11 March 1824 to his son “Jacob Hawger”, and son in law Benjamin Pittman. A Bond of $1,800 was secured by John Hess and $1,800. Sureties: John Hess, David Pressel

Frederick Hauger’s son Jacob Hauger, Esq., joined the Tonoloway Primitive Baptist Church, in 1828. He married Elizabeth Pittman, date unknown, who had joined the church in 1827. This may have been the way that John Bishop, whose mother was a member of the church, met Rachel Hauger.

John W. Bishop moved from Bedford County by 1832 when their first daughter was born in Ohio. They only John Bishop that fits the profile of a 35 year old man in 1840 was a family that was living in Liberty Township, Licking County, Ohio. The family consisted of six individuals, 2 adults and 4 children. The head of the household was John Bishop, a Free White Males ages between 30 and 39. John Bishop would have been 35 in September of that year. The wife was given the same age range and Rachel Hauger would be about 30 years old. This household contained a son age 10 through 14 and Jacob Bishop would have been either 10 or 11 years old. There are two daughters born after 1831 and one daughter after 1835. Licking County was just east of Coshocton County where many Baptists from Pennsylvania and Maryland had settled.

According to the 1850 Census John Bishop had four children born by the 1840 census, two sons and two daughters. Three of these children were born in Ohio. It is possible that the census taker may have simple misidentified one of these children. Jacob Bishop was born circa 1830 in Pennsylvania, Mary E Bishop was born circa 1832 in Ohio, William Bishop was born circa 1838 in Ohio and Eliza J Bishop was born circa 1840. There is a gap between Mary E Bishop and William M Bishop of six years which certainly suggests missing children who died before 1850.

The family spent a half a decade in Ohio before moving west of the Mississippi River into north western Missouri. Why the family moved to this area is unknown. There doesn’t seem to be any family members located here. Daughter Martha Bishop and son George Washington Bishop were both born in Andrew County, Missouri. Martha in 1843 and George W in 1847.

Andrew County was organized in 1841, and is one of six counties in the Indian Platte Purchase Territory annexed to Missouri in 1837. The Platt Purchase comprised lands along the east bank of the Missouri River and added 3,149 square miles to the northwest corner of the state of Missouri. Its western border is formed by the Nodaway and Missouri rivers.

This expansion of the slave state of Missouri was in violation of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which prohibited the extension of slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30′ north except within the boundaries of the state of Missouri as defined at the adoption of the Missouri Compromise. St. Joseph, one of the main ports of departure for the westward migration of American pioneers, was located in the new acquisition. The Platte Purchase added 2 million acres to a slave state and created an area heavily populated with pro-slavery sympathizers. After the passage of the Nebraska Bill residents were divided between abolitionists and pro-slavery supporters. The Civil War tore the counties of the Platte Purchase apart, dividing its residents and ending its slaved-based economy.

The 1850 Census of Missouri showed the family of John W. Bishop as living in District 28 of DeKalb County, Missouri on August 27th. This county was directly east of Andrew County and bordered the Platt Purchase. He was listed as 44 years old as that he would not be 45 until September. He said he was born in Pennsylvania and he was a Miller worth $1000. His wife “Rachael” gave her age as 34 which seems highly unlikely and also born in Pennsylvania. They had seven children listed in the household.

They were Jacob Bishop age 20 born in Pennsylvania, Mary E Bishop age 18 born on Ohio, William Bishop age 12 born in Ohio, Eliza J Bishop age 10 born in Ohio, Martha A Bishop age 7 born in Missouri , George Bishop age 5 born in Missouri, and Oliver Perry Bishop age 2 months born in Missouri. Neighbors of John Bishop were John Shears a 39 year old School teacher and William H. Richie a Merchant. Shears’s wife, Synthia age 32, was born in Pennsylvania. The birth of their children generally followed the same pattern as Jacob Bishop’s family and therefore may have been related. He was worth $1000. The other neighbor of Jacob was William H Richie who was only worth $500.

Three years after this census Rachel Hauger Bishop died in Holt County, Missouri about 43 years old. Her oldest son Jacob Bishop may have died around this time as there are no more records for him.

John W Bishop’s eldest daughter Mary E Bishop married John Alexander Stucker 24 July 1853 in DeKalb County, Missouri. John Alexander Stucker was born 23 February 1829 in Jefferson County, Indiana to Martin Vaughn Stucker and Elizabeth Mobley. They were the parents of three children by 1860.

John W. Bishop remarried after the death of his first wife on 28 October 1856 in DeKalb County. He married Charity Haptonstall who was 20 years younger than he. She was born 1826 in Gallia County, Ohio, to Samuel Haptonstall and Eleanor Perkins. John and Charity Bishop had no children of their own and she was the stepmother who raised the remaining children.

In the 1860 Census of Missouri, John W Bishop’s family was listed as living in Holt County, on June 15th. They were living in Nodaway Township Post Office Oregon.

John W Bishop stated he was 55 years old and a farmer worth $400. He was considerably reduced in circumstances from ten years before. He did not own his own farm but was renting and the $400 included his home, farm equipment and livestock. His health may have been failing as that his 24 year old son William Bishop was living with the his father on the farm. His wife Charity Bishop stated that she was 32 years old [1828] but in later censuses she stated she was born in 1823 or 24. Within this household was his son William Bishop and his youngest children, Martha Ann Bishop age 14, George Bishop age 12, and Oliver Bishop age 9. Martha and Oliver must have had some affection for their stepmother as she would live with them in her old age.

John W Bishop’s eldest daughter Mary Stucker was living with her husband in Buchanan, Atchison, Missouri with his three grandchildren. There is no record of his eldest son Jacob Bishop who would have been about 30 years old.

The American Civil War lasted from 1861 until 1865 when John W. Bishop would have been 60 years old. When the war broke out his son William joined the Union Army and enlisted as a private in Company E of the 35th Regiment of Missouri under Captain William J. Cross and later Captain Richard B. Linville. He enlisted at St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri. His son George Washington Bishop enlisted in Company C of the 51st Missouri Infantry The 51st Regiment, Missouri Infantry (Union) was organized at St. Joseph, Mo., March 1 to April 14, 1865, and stationed at St. Louis, and in the Dept. of Missouri. They mustered out August 31, 1865. During its short service it was stationed at St. Louis, doing guard and escort duty. It was mustered out on the last day of Aug. 1865.

With the fierce fighting and bushwhacking going on in Missouri, John W. Bishop left the state and crossed over into Iowa and settled in Fremont County on the state line. There is no record of when or where John W. Bishop died. He is not found in the 1870 census of Missouri or Iowa and is presumed dead by that time. He had a grandson John W. Riley born in 1867 but is not known whether he was alive or dead by that time.

His surviving children lived in Fremont County for a time before moving to Monona County, Iowa where they settled by 1880.

After John W. Bishop died Charity married John Jividen in Monona County sometime after 1885. She is found in the 1895 Iowa State census as a 71 [1823] year old widow living within the household of her step daughter Martha Bishop who married Henry Riley in Monona County. John Jividen died in 1893. She is located in the 1900 United States census as living within the household of Philip Kratz who had married the Sophrona Bishop, widow of Charity’s step son Oliver P Bishop. She had no relationship with either adults in the household but she was the stepgrand mother of Robert Bishop who was a step son of Philip Kratz. It is not known when she died but she had passed away before the 1910 census was taken.

William M Bishop and Nancy Jane Jones

WILLIAM M BISHOP and NANCY JANE JONES

William M Bishop was born in 1838 most likely in Liberty Township, Licking County, Ohio to John W. Bishop and Rachel Hauger natives of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His father was a miller and a farmer and they were most likely members of the Primitive Baptist Church as were their parents.

In the early 1830’s the family relocated to Ohio as many western Marylanders and Pennsylvanians were doing. He had two older siblings a brother Jacob Bishop born 1830 in Pennsylvania and a sister Mary Elizabeth Bishop born in 1832 in Ohio.

When he was about six years old the family moved from Ohio to western Missouri and lived in what was known as the Platte Purchase that was annexed to the state of Missouri. Missouri was a slave state and the annexation in affect brought in thousands of acres that had been in the old Louisiana Purchase that had been off limits to slavery. William Bishop grew up among slave owning sympathizers as well as abolitionists. How the family felt about slavery is unknown but when the Civil War broke out, William and his brother George fought for the Union.

A younger sister Eliza J Bishop was born 1840 in Ohio, and another sister Martha Ann Bishop was born in 1844 in Andrew County, Missouri part of the Platte Purchase. Two brothers followed, George Washington Bishop born 1847 in Andrew County, Missouri and Oliver Perry Bishop born in 1850 in DeKalb County Missouri.

In 1850, William Bishop was located in De Kalb County, Missouri with his family in District 28. His father was not a land owner but was a miller by trade and was worth $1000 so the family would have been comfortable financially. His father rather than owned a mill probably helped construct them as many of his sons became carpenters. This may be the reason the family moved around so much.

When William Bishop was 15 years old his mother Rachel Hauger died in Holt County, Missouri about 43 years old. The cause of her death is unknown. Other family members died also in the 1850’s perhaps around the same time from the same disease or cause. William’s brother Jacob who was over 20 years old and his sister Eliza J Bishop who was over 10 years old disappeared from the family record at this time. His sister Mary E. Bishop left home in 1853 by marrying a carpenter named John Alexander Stucker. They might have met when he and her father were working on the same project.

After the death of his mother, his widowed father was left with a three children under the age of 9 including a 3 year old to be raised. In 1856 his father remarried a spinster named Charity Haptonstall. She was only 33 years old but having never married she was considered a spinster. William Bishop was 18 years old when his father remarried and therefore Charity was not much a step mother as much as being his father’s wife. However to his younger siblings she was the mother who raised them as she had no children of her own.

The 1860 census of Nodaway, Holt, Missouri, listed William Bishop as 24 years old when he was more than likely just 22 years old. He was still living in the home of his father and stepmother and no occupation was given for him although his father was now farming and had persona; property worth only $400. His father owned no real estate so he was renting the farm he was working. It can only be speculated why his circumstances were so reduced between 1850 and 1860 when most people were prospering. He may have been ill, injured, or as often was the case addicted to alcohol.

The census was taken in June 1860 and the nation was at a breaking point over the issue of expanding slavery. “Bleeding Kansas” in the late 1850’s where slavers and abolitionists battled over whether Kansas would join the Union as a free or slave state had to have influenced public opinion in NorthWest Missouri. In October 1859, Abolitionist John Brown hoped to lead a slave insurrection starting at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. In December 1859 he was executed for treason by the same people that little over a year later would commit treason themselves against the United States.

In November 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States to the horror of the slave states who feared him as an abolitionist candidate. As that William Bishop was of age to vote it would not have been surprising if he had voted for Lincoln. In December 1860 South Carolina voted to secede from the Union followed by other Southern States who elected a new national government called The Confederate States of America. War broke out in April 1861 and Lincoln called for an Army of 50,000 to put down the rebellion.

At the age of 24, William Bishop made his way to St. Joseph in Buchanan County on the Missouri river and enlisted in the 35th Regiment Missouri Regiment. He was a private in Company E. and served under Captain William J. Cross and Captain Richard B. Linville. The 35th Regiment, Missouri Infantry was organized at Benton Barracks, Missouri on 3 December 1862, the regiment was ordered to Helena, Arkansas in January, 1863, and arrived there January 10, 1863. The regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 12th Division, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, through July, 1863 where they did garrison duty at Helena, Arkansas until April 1865.

They repulsed Confederate General Holmes' attack on Helena, 4 July 1863. The regiment also took part in an expedition from Helena to Arkansas Post January 24-26, 1864 but moved back to Little Rock, Arkansas in April 1865. There William Bishop did garrison duty until June, 1865 when they was mustered out June 28, 1865 and moved home to Benton Barracks, Missouri July 3-12 where he was discharged from service. While not involved in heavy battles, the Regiment lost 234 enlisted men by disease.

Probably right before joining the army, William M. Bishop married Nancy Jane Jones the daughter of David Jones and Ruth Wade of Fremont County, Iowa. Fremont County borders the Missouri River to the west and Atchinson County, Missouri to the south. The 1870 Census showed that they had a son born in 1863 and another one in March 1866. As that William Bishop was in the service from January 1863 until July 1865 it is reasonable to assume that William and Nancy Jones Bishop were married in late 1862 and she became pregnant and had his first child while he was in the service. After the war ended, William Bishop came home to his wife Nancy who more than likely lived with her folks while he was away.

William Bishop and Nancy Jones first child was according to the 1870 census named John L Bishop but in all other records he was known as Jerry Bishop. He was born 1863 in Fremont County, Iowa and called Jerry after Nancy Jones’ brother Jeremiah who died in the Civil War.

After William M Bishop came home from the Civil War to Fremont County, Iowa, he and Nancy had another son William G Bishop born in 1865. Later a third son was born February 1867 named Zachariah E Bishop according to the 1870 census. All these sons would give various dates for their births in subsequence records.

The 1870 United States Census has the family of William M Bishop living in Fremont County, Iowa where he worked as a teamster in the town of Hamburg. He must have had a little farm as the census reported that he owned $200 in real estate and $150 in personal property. This was not much more than living in poverty.

Before the census was taken a son was born 16 March 1870. The census was taken on 16 June 1870 and the family was living in Hamburg Township, with the Post Office of Hamburg. There are several problematic issues with this census. William Bishop’s age is consistent in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census as being born in 1838 in Ohio however the census listed Nancy Jane as “Norah J” age 27. As that her birthday was in April she should have been listed as 28 years old. Next a son listed as “John L” was 7 years old [1863] and a son “Joel F” 4 months born in February not March. The confusion is that this Joel F. is later identified under the name “John Franklin” so why would this family have two sons named John?

Also William G Bishop who was age 5 [1865] is identified as “William G Jerry” by some researchers while later censuses would list a son named Jerry and a son named William. Zach E Bishop is listed as 3 years old. From this census we can infer that John L Bishop born 1863 during the Civil War was called “Jerry”, William G. Bishop born 1865 is sometimes referred to as “William J”, Zach E born in 1867 was Zachariah Edward Bishop, and Joel F born 1870 was also known as John Franklin Bishop.

Living next to William M Bishop was his younger brother Oliver who was married with a daughter. He worked in a brick yard in town.

William and Nancy Jane’s first daughter was Martha Jane Bishop born according to family records16 January 1874 in Onawa, Monona County, Iowa however census records place her birth in 1872 in Fremont County. Another son was said to have been born 20 Feb 1879, named Jessie but census records said he was born in 1876. He was said to have been born in Fremont but was born in Monona County, Iowa. The youngest son was named Jacob Bishop and was born perhaps December 1879. It is totally possible the family knew birthdays but not years. On Jess Bishop’s death certificate she stated his birthdate was 25 February 1880. The year is totally inaccurate but the birthday probably is correct. On Jacob Bishop’s death certificate, the informant was his brother Jess Bishop and he listed just the year 1880 as his brother’s birthdate. He did not know the actually day.

The family had relocated up the Missouri River to the county of Monona just south of Sioux City after 1872 and before 1876. They were there by 21 June 1880 when the United States Census was taken. William Bishop was a listed as a 40 years old [1840] farmer living Franklin Township, Monona, Iowa, United States when he should have been 42. His wife Nancy was listed as age 32 keeping house when she was actually 38 years old. William and Nancy’s children are listed as Jerry Bishop age 17 [1863], William Bishop and 13 [1867 should have been 15], Zach Bishop age 12 [1868], John Bishop age 10 [1870], Martha Bishop 8 [1872], Jesse Bishop age 4 [1876] and Jacob Bishop age 6 months. The discrepancies between the 1870 and 1880 census is most profound with the sons, John L “Jerry” born in 1863, and Joel F “John” born in 1870.

William and Nancy Jones Bishop’s brothers and sisters had also moved to Monona County by 1880. Nancy’s brother Hubbard Jones was listed as household 119 and William’s brother Oliver Bishop was listed as Household 113 so was a near neighbor to Hubbard Jones. William and Nancy Jones were household 86. Other family members in Monona were William Bishop’s brother George W Bishop who married there in 1881 but is not listed in the 1880 census and William’s sister Martha Riley who was located in Lincoln Township.

The 1885 Iowa State Census for Franklin Township of Monona County showed that William Bishop lived in Section 14, his brothers George and Oliver Bishop lived in Section 2 about a miles north and Hubbard Jones lived in Section 18 about 4 miles west of William Bishop. The census listed William Bishop as a 45 year old farmer when he was actually 47 years home. Within his household was his wife Nancy age 42 [1843], son Jerry Bishop age 21 [1864], William Bishop age 18 [1867], Zachariah age 16 [1869], Franklin Bishop age 14 [1871], Jessie Bishop age 7 [1878], Jacob Bishop age 4 [1881] and Jane age 13 [1872]. In the 1900 census Nancy Bishop said she was the mother of 7 children all living at that time.

From the 1880 and 1885 census it is reasonable to suggest that William and Nancy’s family consisted of six sons and 1 daughter. They were Jerry Bishop, William Bishop, Zachariah Bishop, Franklin Bishop, Martha Jane Bishop, Jessie Bishop, and Jacob Bishop.

The 1890 United States Census was destroyed and although there is a substitute census for Union Veterans of the Civil War, William Bishop isn’t listed. However the state of Iowa took another census in 1895.

Only three of William and Nancy Bishop’s children are still living at home in 1895.

William G Bishop age 27 born in Fremont County had married 20 Jan 1888 Minnie Colyer but whether they divorced or she died is unknown. He is listed as ‘”single” in the census. Jerry Bishop is no where to be found in the Iowa 1895 census and may be in Nebraska or South Dakota. His mother said he was alive in 1900.

Zachariah Bishop was married 26 Nov 1894 in the town of Onawa, Monona County, Iowa to Mary Nora Duncan. He is listed as a common laborer in the 1895 census. Martha Jane Bishop who went by “Jennie” married Theodore C Wheeler on 21 December 1888. The couple may have eloped as they were married in Sioux City and he was 33 years old and she was only 16 although she stated she was 18. She also said she was from Sloan, in Woodbury County, when her family was in Monona. They were married by a Justice of the Peace without family.

            Jennie Bishop Wheeler had a baby girl born 6 March 1891 in Onawa, Monona County that she named Daisy Myrtle Wheeler. Jennie and Theodore Wheeler divorced and she remarried 25 October 1894 also in Sioux City a man named John C Morrison. The 1895 census stated he was 26 years old and a Brakeman for the railroad. His wife “Jannie” said she was born in Harrison County, Iowa. Her daughter 4 year old Daisy was using the last name of Morrison.

            In 1895 William Bishop was listed as a 56 year old farmer who was born in Ohio. The census showed that he was a Civil War veteran having served in Company I of the 35th Ohio Infantry. Nancy J Bishop was listed as 59 years old when she was 53 years old. She said she was born in Fremont County. Their sons Jessie Bishop was listed as 16 [1879] born in Monona County and Jacob Bishop age 14 [1881] also born in Monona County.

The Panic of 1893 brought ruin to farmers across America as banks were forced to foreclose on farm mortgages. A year after this census was taken, 1896, William Bishop had moved to Sioux City as that his health was declining and to find work. He still had teenage sons living with him. The 1896 city directory of Sioux City listed William Bishop as living at 1515 5th Street west of the Floyd River and near 5th Street and Floyd Boulevard. He gave his occupation as a farmer although he lived in the city. Within this household were his sons William Bishop Jr, Jesse Bishop, and Jacob Bishop. The sons occupations were all given as laborers.

William Bishop’s son Zachariah Bishop was also in the city living at 1808 Grand Street working as a “driver” which would have been a teamster. He lived west of his father where the street turned into Pearl Street.

Another Bishop in the directory was named Jeremiah L Bishop who was a laborer listed as living at 815 Plymouth east of the Floyd River and just above the Floyd Cemetery. In the 1900 Census he listed Jess Bishop as his brother. William M, Jeremiah L, and Zachariah Bishop were all renting their homes while William Jr, Jesse, and Jacob were listed as border within William’s household. The only member of the family not in Sioux City was Franklin Bishop who remained in Monona County.

As Sioux City's population grew, saloons, gambling dens, and houses of prostitution flourished amongst other downtown businesses. City business interests inconspicuously secured substantial income from gambling, liquor, and prostitution. As the city's white business elite became more established, they built residences on Codfish Hill, just north of the downtown business district, thus physically removing themselves from direct association with the vice that continued to thrive in the older part of downtown. The red light district—located near the railroad tracks on Jones, Pearl, Second, Third, and Fourth streets—became known as the Soudan.

When moral reformers destroyed the Soudan and removed houses of prostitution from the central business district, they relocated the red light districts in the African-American community on the west side of town, and left it near the working-class housing for meatpacking plant workers in the South Bottoms. , Those locations, city officials believed, would be where their constituencies would most expect to find vice and thus would most likely tolerate it. The Soudan and the South Bottom were the principle residence of the poor working class Bishop family. The Polk directory of 1903 listed 37 Saloons on 4th Street all within a mile. That was out of 87 Saloons listed.

The 1897 Sioux City Directory showed that William Bishop had moved to 1404 4th Street west of the Floyd River but east of Floyd Boulevard where he was renting a home. There was a Saloon listed at 1413 4th. He was now listed as a laborer and no longer a farmer. His sons Jesse and Jacob P Bishop were listed as boarding with him and were also laborers.

Jeremiah L Bishop was working for the Sioux Milling Company and living at 316 Prospect. He lived about a half mile from his father at 4th and Prospect. William G Bishop was no longer listed in his father’s home but is also not listed in the directory. He may have moved back to Monona but he married on 3 Sep 1898 in Woodbury County, Iowa, a woman named Amanda Lyon. “Zacharias” Bishop was listed as a laborer also and living at 1014 Cleveland Street about 3 miles southeast of his father across the Floyd River.

The Sioux City directory for 1898 listed that William M Bishop had died 2 May 1898 at the age of 62 when he was actually only 60 years old. He was buried in the Floyd Cemetery, in the Grand Army of Republic section.

Jesse Bishop and brother Jacob P Bishop were working as laborers and living at 311 Morgan Street with their widow mother Nancy. Their residence was about a half mile east of their old place located on 4th Street and Morgan across the Floyd River. William G and his brother Zachariah are no longer listed as living in the city but Jeremiah L Bishop was a driver for the Sioux City Cider Company and lived at 1621 3rd Street, a block southwest of his mother.

After the death of her husband, Nancy immediately filed as a widow for a Veteran’s pension on 13 May 1898. She was 56 years old and in poor financial circumstances. William M Bishop had tried for a pension on 4 February 1876 but his claim was denied. The 1899 Directory listed Nancy Bishop as a widow and she lived at at 2007 3rd Street with her sons Jesse Bishop age about 24 and Jacob Bishop age about 19. They moved about 2 blocks southeast from their old address. Her son Jeremiah L Bishop was at 1621 3rd Street three blocks to the west and son William Bishop who had moved back to the city was living at 305 Pavonia, a six minute walk northeast of his mother. All of Nancy’s sons were listed as laborers.

At the turn of the century the Polk Directory listed Nancy Bishop widow as living at 322 Pavonia Street. Her sons Jesse and Jacob were at 424 Pavonia 95 feet away. Jeremiah L is listed but just an occupation and not an address is listed.

Nancy Jane and her son Jacob are not listed in the 1900 census as living in Sioux City however however the 1900 Census of Iowa showed a Jerry Bishop as a house painter living at 1621 3rd Street. The Polk directory listed his occupation as a painter for the International Packing company so they are probably the same person. Jerry Bishop and his brother Jesse Bishop were enumerated on 4 June 1900. Jesse was listed as Jerry brother born September 1878 which conflicts with the date given on jess’ death certificate. He is also listed as born in Nebraska rather than Iowa.

Other members with this household were Jerry Bishop’s wife Fanny a 28 year old mother of six children but only 4 living in 1900. They were Effa M Bishop age 11, Fredrick Bishop age 9, Nancy J Bishop age 7, and Mary S age 5. A Joseph S Clark age 29 was also boarding in their home. Jess’s age was given as 21 when he should have been 24 and he was a laborer on a “packing house”.

Nancy J Bishop rented a house in 1901 at 318 Morgan Street where she lived until 1905. Her sons Jesse and Jacob, now about 25 and 21 years old were still living with their mother and were listed as day laborers. Jeremiah L Bishop, no address given, was a carpenter for Armour and Company. This is the last record found on Jerry Bishop. Zachariah Bishop was a day laborer living at 313 South Lafayette. The directory stated that William Bishop had moved to Kansas City, Missouri.

Nancy was still renting a house at 318 Morgan Street with only her son Jacob Bishop living with her in 1902. He was a laborer hired at the Hyman Levin Company which dealt with wholesale and retail Hard and Soft Coal, scrap iron and other items such as rags. The business was located at 1703 East 4th Street about 2 and half miles west of where Jacob lived. His brother Jesse also worked for the same company as a teamster probably delivering coal but Jesse was listed as living at 312 Morgan.    

There is a Jacob N Bishop who is also living at 318 Morgan Street and employed as a moulder. Who this individual is is unknown. Her son Jacob had the initial P. Zachariah Bishop is living at 1514 Grand Street and is employed as a foreman but for what company it is not stated. William Bish returned to Sioux City and was working as a teamster and living as 1412 Washington.

The 1903 directory has Nancy and son Jacob Bishop living at the same address as the previous year with Jacob still employed by Hyman Levin. Jesse Bishop now married to Jennie Bowman was living at 1706 5th Street and he was still a teamster for Hyman Levin. William and Zacharias were still listed in the city as a laborer and a teamster. In 1904 Jesse Bishop had changed jobs and was a driver for the Brown Coal Company and had moved down the street to 1919 5th Street. His mother and brother Jacob still lived on Morgan Street and Jacob was working for Hyman Levin. William Bishop had moved to 1432 Leech Street and listed as a Day Laborer while “Zachary” Bishop lived at 1514 Grand.

There isn’t a 1905 directory available however the 1905 State Census of Iowa shows that Nancy Bishop was listed as “Mrs. N J Bishop” age 63 and living at 713 Lafayette Street with her son Jacob age 24. Jesse Bishop and his wife Jennie were living at 1519 7th Street. He listed his work as a laborer and Jennie stated she had only been in Iowa 7 years [1898]. Zack Bishop was a 34 year old laborer living at 1514 Grand. The 1906 Census still had Nancy and Jacob at 713 Layfayette.

In 1907 Nancy Bishop and her son moved to 2334 4th Street and lived there until Nancy was 70 years old. Jacob worked this entire time still as a laborer for Hyman Levin. The 1910 Census of Iowa was taken on 16 April 1910 listed Nancy and her son Jacob as living at 2334 4th Street. She stated she was a 69 year old widow and the mother of 11 children with 7 still living. There is no evidence that she ever had 11 children so perhaps she was counting pregnancies. Jacob Bishop was 29 years old and worked at odd jobs. The 1910 Polk Directory listed Jesse Bishop as also living at his mother’s address and both he and his brother were laborers working at Hyman Levin.

In 1912 Nancy Bishop was 70 years old and she and Jacob moved from 4th street to 1110 South Clark Street where they rented a home there. They resided there during World War I and until 1920 when they moved to 412 Pavonia Street a mile southeast near 4th Street and Pavonia. They lived here just two years before moving back to Morgan Street when Nancy was 80 years old at the street address of 415, three blocks west of Pavonia.

The 1915 Iowa State Census did not include Nancy J Bishop. However her son William Bishop was listed as a 52 year old laborer with an 8th grade education. He only made $480 in 1914 and was listed as living at 112 Steuben Street. Jesse Bishop was listed as a 35 year old common laborer who was unemployed for 6 months in 1914 when he only made $300. He said he had no church affiliation. He lived at 1811 East 7th. Son Zachariah was a 44 year old teamster who made $500 in 1914. He lived at 1314 Royce street and had a $2000 mortgage on his house. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene.

1917 must have been an extremely difficult year for Nancy Jane Bishop as that three of her children died that year, as well as a sister and a grandson. Her son William G Bishop was buried in the Floyd Cemetery in Plot Section: 208. A simple marker states: William Bishop died 1917. He was about 52 years old.

Her only daughter Jennie Morrison died 18 March 1917 about 55 years old in Sioux City. Less than a month later her son John Franklin Bishop died 4 April 1917 in Onawa City, Monona County Iowa at the age of 47. The next day on 5 April 1917 Nancy’s older sister Martina J. Hinkley died and was buried in the Onawa Cemetery in Monona County. Kenneth Warren Neil Bishop her only grandson by her son Jesse died 7 July 1917 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa and buried in Graceland Cemetery.

The last census that Nancy Jane was enumerated in was the 1920 United States Census of Iowa. On 5 January 1920 Nancy J Bishop gave her age as 78 years. Her home in 1920 wasSioux City Precinct 11, Woodbury, Iowa at 412 Pavonia. Her son Jacob Bishop’s age was given as 38 years when if born in 1880 he would have been closer to 40. He gave his occupation as laborer in “Iron Works Junk”. Nancy and her son would live at this address for three years.

In 1923 and 1924 Nancy Bishop is listed as living at 1709 4th Street 390 feet away from their address at 415 Morgan. The Polk Directory must have been going to press as that Nancy Jane Bishop died 24 January 1924 at St Vincent Hospital. Her home address listed on the death certificate was 1709 East 4th Street in Sioux City. She had been attended by a doctor for 10 days and the cause of death was “senility” with “taking cold” a contributing factor. Today she probably would have been diagnose as having Alzheimer. Dr. W.H. Hanchith had attended her from January 14 until he last saw her alive on January 23rd.

She was listed as a widow and her birth date was given as 18 April 1842. Her son Jake” Bishop was the informant but he didn’t know the place of birth of her birth. He also did not know the name of Nancy’s parents or where they were from. It seems inconceivable that he could have lived all his life with his mother and not know this basic information. Her age at the time of death was give as 82 years 9 months and 6 days. However she would not have been 82 until April. Her occupation was given as “House wife”. She was buried at the Floyd Cemetery 26 January 1924 by A.J Hennessey of the Westcott Undertaking Company. Her grave marker simply states Nancy J Bishop died 1924.

Zachariah Bishop died 10 November 1924 in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa at St. Vincent Hospital, ten months after his mother. His son Zack Junior was the informant and stated his father was a resident of Ponca, Nebraska before his death. He didn’t know his father’s actual age and stated he was 59 years old [1865] when he was born closer to 1868. He didn’t know his father’s mother’s maiden name either. He died of Suppurative meningitis and was buried in the Floyd Cemetery 12 November 1924. He and his wife Mary Nora Duncan were the parents of 10 children. She never remarried and died in 1950.

Jacob Bishop had lived with his mother all his life and after she died, he went to live with his brother Jesse. Jacob never married and he died 30 April 1930 at St. Vincent at the age of about 50 years old. His death certificate stated he died of Acute Hepatitis and biliary obstruction which meant that he was very jaundiced when he died. Hepatitis can be caused by a series of common events such as unsanitary conditions, alcoholism, and even sex.

The onset of symptoms began April 20 and he was admitted to St. Vincent on April 23rd. He was attended by a physician until his death on April. Jesse Bishop was the informant on the death certificate and stated that his brother was living at 110 South Clark Street which also his own address. Jesse stated that Jacob’s occupation was a laborer in coal yard. He was buried in the Floyd Cemetery Plot Section: 656 with a simple marker Jacob Bishop died 1930.

Jesse Bishop was the last of this family to die when he died in 1935.

JESSE BISHOP and JENNIE BOWMAN

Jesse Bishop was born 20 February 1876 in Monona County, Iowa the son of William Bishop and Nancy Jones. The 1880 census showed that this family of William Bishop was in Franklin Township, in Monona County, Iowa and Jesse Bishop was said to be 4 years old. The 1885 Iowa Census listed him as a 7 year old born in 1878. Ten years later in the 1895 census the family is still located in the same county. Jesse Bishop was  listed 16 years old [1879] and born in Monona County.

His father, William Bishop was listed as a 56 year old retired farmer. That he was retired indicated that his health was frail. Nancy Jones Bishop was 56 years old. She stated that Fremont County was her birthplace. A younger brother named Jacob Bishop was 14 years old was born in Monona County but an older brother William G Bishop age 27 stated he was born in Fremont. Only the father was born out of state in Ohio. They affiliated with the Methodist Church.

The Panic of 1893 must have caught up with this family as by 1896 the Bishops had relocated to Sioux City, Iowa. There Jesse was 20 years old and was working as a laborer. He was still living with his father who resided at 1515 5th Street. William was listed as a farmer but doubt if he had a farm. The family had moved to another residence in 1897 in Sioux City. Jesse was listed as a laborer boarding at 1704 4th Street which was his father’s residence.

The 1898 Polk Directory stated Jesse Bishop and brother Jacob P Bishop were laborers living at 311 Morgan Street with their widow mother Nancy. It also stated that William M Bishop died 2 May 1898 age 62. Jesse Bishop would have been 22 and his brother Jacob 18 years old when their father died.

When Jesse Bishop’s family moved to Sioux City it was a “pretty wide open city” on the riverfront then. The city had three times as many saloons as it did churches. There were 75 saloons to only 18 churches. Additionally the town had two breweries.

Sioux City’s reputation as a rough and tough town began in the 19th Century when in 1882 the voters of Iowa adopted an amendment to the state constitution that made it illegal to sell liquor or intoxicants as a beverage in the state. Saloons all over Iowa closed except in Sioux City where, gambling and prostitution were allowed to “illegally” operate for a monthly fee.

The Sioux City saloonkeepers and their clientele were able to thumb their noses at the state law because the local businessmen looked the other way as alcohol consumption was good for business. Cowboys and cattlemen, the steamboat trade that came up the Missouri, manual laborers, and farm hands all made their way into the city to blow off steam by drinking and gambling and frequenting the sporting houses of prostitution. This rough and tumble reputation led to Sioux City being called "Little Chicago."

 Prostitution and gambling dens flourished on "Lower Fourth" and along Pearl streets, where the red-light district was dubbed "The Sudan," because of the number of African Americans who lived there. As Jesse and Jacob Bishop were young men its hard to believe they didn’t relish the vice Sioux City had to offer.

Sioux City established itself as major slaughter house for the tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota when the "big three" meat packing plants, Cudahy, Armour and Swift, established themselves in the stockyards area. Cudahy came in 1892, Armour in 1901, and Swift and Company began operations in 1917. As the stockyards grew, changes began to take place.

The last year of the 19th Century Jesse Bishop was living with his widow mother Nancy Jones Bishop and his brother Jacob at 2007 3rd Street. They were unskilled and worked as day laborers and were their mother’s only means of support.

The 1900 Census for Iowa showed that as of 4 June 1900 Jesse Bishop was living with an older brother Jerry Bishop at 1621 3rd Street and was a laborer in a packing house. It did not say which one but most likely Cudahy. The census stated that he was born in September 1878 and was 21 years old which is an entirely different date than what was given on Jesse’s death certificate by his 2nd wife. If he was born in 1876 he would have been 24 years old. The Polk Directory for 1900 also had Jacob and Jesse Bishop living together at 425 Pavonia Street working as laborers. Their mother Nancy J Bishop was living next door at 322 Pavonia Street. Evidently working in the slaughter house did not appeal to Jesse. The following year in 1901 Jesse and Jacob Bishop were laborers living with widow mother at 312 Morgan Street.

The 1902 Polk Directory showed that a Jesse Bowman was boarding with the Bishop family at 312 Morgan Street. How he was related to Jennie Bowman is not clear. Jennie Bowman had a younger brother named Jesse but as he was only 11 years old it would seem strange that he was listed as a border although his father had just left Sioux City for Yankston, South Dakota. It was probably through this Bowman that Jesse Bishop met Jennie.

Jesse Bishop was 26 years old when he married 16 year old Jennie Bowman on 28 November 1902. Jennie Bowman was born in January 1886 at Ponca, in Dixon County, Nebraska the daughter of Isaac James Bowman and Elizabeth Thompson. In 1900 Jennie was living with her parents at 306 Pavonia Street on the same street as Jesse Bowman was living on.

In 1903 Jesse Bishop was working as a teamster for Hyman Levin Company and living at 1706 5th Street. Hyman Levin sold hard and soft Coal dealt in Scrap Iron and old Railroad material. The following year when he was 27 years old Jesse Bishop, he was a driver for Brown Coal Company and lived at 1919 5th Street.

Jesse Bishop’s wife Jenny gave birth of their daughter Daisy Mae Bishop on 7 April 1904 in Sioux City. In 1906 he was working for the Louis Kronick Company which was a livery and feed stable at 510 Steuben. Jesse Bishop and his family were living at 1511 7th Street.

A birth record recorded for Jesse and Jennie’s son Kenneth Warren Neil Bishop stated he was born 21 October 1907 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa. His parent’s address was given 800 Morgan Street. He lived at this address until he and his wife separated. Jesse and Jenny called it quits and a divorce was granted 4 May 1909 in Sioux City. He was 33 years old and she only 23 years old.

The 1910 Census of Sioux City Ward 5, Woodbury, Iowa taken in May showed that Jesse Bishop was lodging with his brother Jacob Bishop at a Boarding House at 2334 on 4th Street. Both brothers were laborers on the railroad. The 1910 city directory also had the brothers working for Hymen Levin and living with their mother at 2334 4th Street.

That census stated that Jennie Bishop was operating a boarding house at 1009 7th Street. She listed her status as a widow but was divorced. In her house hold were her two children Daisy and Warren, her 19 year old brother Charles Bowman and two men listed as widowers 27 year old Frank Jenkins and 30 year old Frank Barnes

The 1911 Polk Directory show that Jesse Bishop and his ex-wife were living in separate households. Jesse was living with his mother while “Mrs. Jennie Bishop” was living at 1009 7th Street. At the same address was Frank Jenkins listed as a carpenter. It is not clear when Frank Jenkins and Jennie Bowman Bishop were married but a son named Frank A Jenkins was born 4 September 1914 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa. Jennie had three children now, Daisy Bishop, Kenneth Bishop, and Frank Jenkins.

In 1912 Jesse his brother and mother had moved to 10 South Clark Street and Jesse found with back with Hyman Levin. There isn’t a Polk Directory for 1913 and 1914 available for this researcher.

In the winter of 1914, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) chose Sioux City as the site of one of its many “free speech” fights. The goal was to organize both meat packers, industrial workers, and agricultural farm laborers into one big union to pressure management for better wages and shorter hours. As in all of the IWW free speech fights of that era, once word of such a demonstration went out, thousands upon thousands of unemployed men made their way into the city by foot or on freight cars.

The center of activity was in the 800 block of Fourth Street, where Sioux City Police on horseback, assisted by Iowa National Guardsmen, engaged in skirmishing. Hundreds of unemployed laborers were arrested. When the jails filled up, city authorities bodily expelled the demonstrators aboard freight cars, which delivered them to isolated locations outside the city.

The 1915 Iowa State Census listed “Jennie Jenkins” as married and living at 721 Wall Street with her husband Frank Jenkins, a sheet metal worker, who made $600 in 1914. Her children Daisy and Warren were also listed as Jenkins and Frank Jenkins is listed as 1/2 year old.

Jesse Bishop lived at 1811 4th Street with his new wife Ada Rupe. He told the census taker that he was married, was 35 years old and was a Common laborer who was 6 months unemployed in 1914. He only made $300 that year and had no church affiliation. His wife Ada Bishop was 24 years old born in Iowa and was a Methodist.

The marriage of Jennie and Frank Jenkins only lasted a couple of years as she married for the third time Wallace Mullenax McPherson on 2 Jun 1917 in Union County, South Dakota. He was the son of William “Champ” McPherson and Lillie Tinsley. His brothers married sisters of Jennie. Edmund Henry McPherson married Mary Elizabeth “Mamie” Bowman and Grover Cleveland McPherson married Nellie Levinia Bowman as her second husband.

A month after Jennie’s marriage, her son Kenneth Warren Neil Bishop died 7 July 1917 in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa. He was only 10 years old and was buried in Graceland Cemetery.

The Polk Directory did not list Jesse Bishop as living in the city from 1915 through 1917. However he was back in Sioux City by 12 September 1918 when he registered for the World War I draft. He stated he was born 20 February 1878 and then the year was written over to make in 1879. He stated he was a laborer working for the Caplan Company. Instead of listing his wife Ada as his nearest relative he listed his mother who was living at 110 South Clark Street. His address was 115 South Steuben Street. He was described as medium height, medium build, and had gray eyes and dark brown hair.

In 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, importation, sale and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. However booze continued to flow freely in Sioux City in speakeasies and other clandestine places. Nevertheless the business district dramatically changed with all the saloons closing. Temperance was extremely hard on the laboring class.

The 1920 Census of Iowa for Sioux City showed Jesse Bishop and his 2nd wife Ada living in Precinct 12 as of 17 January. He listed his age as 39 when he would have been over 40 years old. Ada was listed as being 28 years old. They lived at 115 Steuben Street on the east side of Floyd River near the stockyards. Jesse worked as a laborer in the stockyards loading hogs and cattle onto elevated ramps that led to the slaughter houses.

Jennie Mcpherson also lived in the 12th Precinct when she was enumerated in the 1920 Census on 5 January. She was listed as age 35 born in Iowa when she was born in Nebraska. She lived at 106 Virginia street about a mile west of Jesse Bishop on the west side of the Floyd River with her third husband Wallace McPherson, her two children and her uncle Marion Bowman who was boarding with the family. Marion Bowman was the younger brother of Jennie’s father and remained a “confirmed” bachelor” his entire life.

Wallace Mcpherson was listed as age 32 born in Tennessee and worked in the Sioux City Stockyard. The 1920 directory said he was a foreman in the Sioux City Stockyard. Daisy Bishop was 14 years old and with a line was crossed through her last name indicating that Jennie wanted her to be identified as a McPherson, as was her 5 year old son Frank. Whether Wallace officially adopted Frank Jenkins is unknown but he used the name McPherson for the rest of his life. His father Frank Jenkins Sr had left Sioux City to live in Webster County, Iowa with his mother. He never remarried.

The Polk Directory for 1921 listed Wallace McPherson working as a yardman for Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott Livestock Commission and still renting on Virginia Street but by 1922 the family had moved to 316 South Wall Street in the South Bottoms. McPherson was still employed by Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott. The Polk director also listed “Daisy McPherson” as a student living at 316 South Wall when she was 18 years old.

The Polk Directory for the 1920’s shows that Wallace McPherson worked for Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott as either a yardman or as in 1923 and 1926 as a salesman. The family moved from 316 South Wall Street in 1923 to 1214 Leech Street and lived there until 1925 when the family moved back to 316 South Wall Street. In 1925 and 1926 Mrs. Jennie McPherson worked as a “Matron of Day Nursey” when she was 40 and 41 years old. The family in 1928 moved for a year to 1410 Dace Street before in 1929 moving back to Leech Street but to a house at 1212.

Jesse Bishop and his wife Ada in the 1920’s lived at various places. They moved from Steuben Street to 1504 Grand where they lived until 1923 when they moved to 211 South Lafayette Street but in 1924 they moved to 110 South Clark Street. The Polk Directory did not even list the street in their street directory which probably meant it was on an alley and probably not more than a shack. For most of this time Jesse still worked for Hyman Levin and in 1923 was listed as a foreman. He was about 45 years old.

The 1925 Iowa State Census listed Jesse as 43 years old which was off by several years. His wife Ada was listed as 33 years old. She was born in 1891 which is about correct. They lived at 110 Clark Street and rented a house for $10 a month which was probably not much more than a shack. Living with them was Jesse’ niece Jennie Swolley age 29 who was the daughter of his brother Zack Bishop who had recently died in 1924. She was a twice divorced woman and would eventually marry two more times.

Neighbors of Jesse Bishop were extremely poor renting houses for $16 a month or less. His immediately neighbors were an African American family. The Polk directory also listed him as living at 110 Clark Street and employed as a foreman for Hyman Levin. His mother Nancy Jones Bishop had died the year before and in 1925 his brother Jake is not listed in the 1925 census nor Polk Directory. He must have moved out of state to Nebraska or South Dakota perhaps because it was easier to obtain alcohol there.

The whereabouts of Jesse and Ada Bishop from 1926 to 1929 is unknown. They are not listed in the Sioux City Polk Directories for those years and neither is Jake Bishop. The family does not reappear until 1930.

The 1930 United States Census enumerated the family of Jennie McPherson on 14 April at 1618 8th Street. Household Members were Wallace M McPherson age 41, Jennie McPherson, age 45, Daisy Jones age 25, Frank A McPherson age 15, Kenneth D Jones age 5, William D Schuler age 78 and Marion Bowman age 62. McPherson stated he was a salesman for a cattle stockyard. Daisy Jones was an elevator girl in a department store. Evidently Jennie gave the census taker this information as she described Daisy as a daughter and Frank A as a son, Kenneth D Jones as grandson, and Marion Bowman as “uncle.” Daisy and Frank were actually Wallace’s stepchildren. Schuler was a boarder.

The Polk Directory stated that Wallace still worked for Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott Livestock Commission and he was lucky to still have a job as the Great Depression threw millions of others out of work.

Jesse, Ada, and Jake Bishop are not to be found in the 1930 census but according to the Polk Directory they had returned to Sioux City perhaps because Jake was becoming increasingly ill with hepatitis. Jesse and Ada Bishop were back at 110 South Clark Street where his occupation was given as a laborer. His brother is not in the directory as he died 30 April that year. Jesse was the informant on his brother’s death certificate and he stated that Jacob’s last residence was at this house on Clark Street.

Jesse and Ada Bishop continued to live at 110 South Clark for the next five years. From 1931 through 1933 during the worse of the Great Depression, he was listed as a laborer probably just making enough to pay rent and buy food. In 1934 he found work at a Second Hand Store located at 1625 4th Street where he worked until his death on 16 March 1935.

Jesse Bishop like his brother Jake was probably an alcoholic as that he died of liver cancer. He was living at 110 South Street when he was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital on 1 March attended by Dr. J A Thomason. He died from liver cancer at 2:50 in the morning on March 16th .

The informant on his death certificate was his wife Ada Rupp Bishop who probably knew very little about his family. She stated that his birth date was 25 February 1880 and 55 years and 21 days at the time of death. He was actually between 59 and 57 years old if the 1880 Census is accurate. His draft registration for World War I gave his birth date as 20 February 1879.

She listed his occupation as laborer and born in Onawa, Iowa. His father was listed as William Bishop with birthplace unknown and mother as Nancy Jones with birthplace unknown.

Jesse Bishop was buried 19 March 1935 in the Floyd Cemetery Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa, in Plot Section: 656 next to his brother Jake Bishop. His marker simply reads Jess Bishop died 1935. What happened to Ada Bishop is unknown. She is not listed in the Sioux City directory anymore and she is not found in the 1940 census.

On 1 June 1936 the Great North American Heat Wave began. It was one of the worst heat waves in North American history and in the days before air conditioning. The 1936 North American heat wave was the most severe heat wave in the modern history of North America. It took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and caused catastrophic human suffering and an enormous economic toll. The death toll exceeded 5,000, and huge numbers of crops were destroyed by the heat and lack of moisture. Many state and city set record high temperatures during the 1936 heat wave which stood until the Summer 2012. The 1936 heat wave followed one of the coldest winters on record.

Jennie McPherson with her husband Wallace continued to live at 1618 on 18th Street until 1934 when they moved a few blocks to 1212 still on 18th Street and lived there until 1938. In that year 1938 they moved to 1810 South Cypress and lived there until 1944. In 1945 Wallace and Jenny McPherson moved to 1022 Douglas where he lived when he died on 2 December 1947 at the age 59 years. Since at least 1920, Wallace worked for the Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott Livestock Commission as a salesman except in 1937 when he worked Steele, Siman, and Company another livestock company but the following year he returned to Wagner, Garrison, and Abbott and worked for them until his death.

Jennie Bowman in 1940 worked for The Workshop for the Blind at 315 6th Street. Mrs. Virginia Duel was the supervisor. She worked there for at least 7 years. In 1942 during World War II she was the assistant supervisor and in 1944 she was listed as “forewoman” at the workshop.

The Polk Directory of 1948 listed Jennie McPherson as the widow of Wallace McPherson and she moved from the house they shared to 622 Jackson. Her son Frank McPherson and his wife Luella are listed as living at 1022 Douglas. There are no more records of her in the directory after that year.

The death date of Jennie McPherson is unknown.

In 1949 Jennie’s son Frank McPherson applied for bonus money that the state of Iowa was giving to veterans of World War II. He had joined the army corp of engineers in 1944. The address he gave for his mail was 2112 Leech Street. There is not a 1949 Polk Directory available to be search and the next one is for 1950.

Two of Jenny’s younger sister Nellie and Mamie had both married brothers of Wallace McPherson and had moved to Southern California in the 1930’s. Nellie is actually buried in the Downey Pioneer Cemetery which is where Kenneth Thomas Paine’s great great grandparents Mabry and Minnie Danforth are buried also.

Jennie McPherson’s son Frank and her grandson Kenneth Delbert Jones relocated in the 1950’s also to Los Angeles County. It is possible that she may have come with them or died in Iowa. The Polk Directory for Sioux City does not list Jennie McPherson, Frank McPherson or Kenneth D Jones for 1950. However Kenneth D Jones had his son Kenneth Louis Jones on 22 August 1951 in Sioux City and was listed in the 1952 Polk Directory. Frank McPherson on the other hand was in Downey California by 1952 living at 9059 Lemoran with his wife Luella. Frank McPherson died 25 March 1971 a resident of Downey, Los Angeles County, California at the age of 56.