The Ancestry of Mary Josephine Cronkhite wife of Silas Jones

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The CRONKHEIT FAMILY

of New Netherland Colony

Josie Cronkhite’s family in Marion County descended from Dutch settlers who came to the New Netherland Colony from Holland in 1642. Josie Cronkhite’s earliest known ancestor was Herck Siboutszen who was born in January 1620 and baptized 28 January 1620 in the Reformed Church at Langedijk in the Noord Holland province of the Netherlands.

“1620, den 28 January. Gedoopt’t kint van Sibj Sijbes is genaemt Herck [Herck, child of Sibj Sijbes.” A search of the baptismal registry index under all possible spellings by researchers did not reveal any other child of this father. The earliest records regarding him, uses the name “Herck Sybesen.”

Langedijk is a small village near Heereveen, in the province of West Friesland, [Noord Holland or North Holland] Netherlands about 24 miles north of Amsterdam. In the 17th Century the region still belonged to West Friesland which made Herck Syboutszen ethnically Frisian. The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They inhabit an area known as Frisia and are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia which was a part of Denmark until 1864. The Frisian languages are still used by 500,000 speakers; dialects of Frisian are recognized as an official language in the Netherlands.

Some suggests that a Sijbet Pieter Hercks who had a son named Pieter may be the same person as Herck’s father. Pieter was listed in the same baptismal registry as was Herck. “1681, den 5 Augustus. Gedoopt her kint van Sibet Pieter Hercks en is genaemt Pieter”. [Pieter, child of Sijbet Pieter Hercks]. Pieter Syboutszen came to New Amsterdam [New York City] as well as Herck Sijbeszen and served as a baptismal sponsor for Herck SYboutszen’s 7th child in the New Amsterdam Dutch Church in 1657.

Sibet Pieter Hercks was born circa 1566, a native of the Langedijk Noord Holland, Netherlands. His wife Maertgen Cornelis was born circa 1580, in Oud Karspel, Noord Holland, Netherlands 2 miles north of Langedijk and about 35 miles north of Amsterdam. The couple were married 1 November 1598 in Noord Holland. Sijbet and Maertgen had nine children before he died 25 August 1625 at Oud Karspel, Noord Holland in the in the Netherlands.

HERCK SIBOUTSZEN and WYNTJE QUICK

5^th Great grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Herck Siboutszen [Henry son of Sibout] came to New Amsterdam the capital of New Netherlands in the early part of the year 1642. He was a ship carpenter which was an important occupation for the sea faring Dutch trading ships. When Herck Siboutszen arrived in New Amsterdam he at once made plans for a residence and purchased a lot and built his own home near the Heeren Gracht (Broadway, New York City). Then at the age of 22 years, on 16 November 1642, he was married in the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam to Wyntje Quick, the daughter of Theunis and Belitje Quick.

Wyntje was born at Naarden, a village 15 miles southwest of Amsterdam on the Zuider Zee. Her father Theunis Quick was surnamed “de Metselaer” or “the mason”. There was a problem with the marriage record as it lists the witness, Wyntje's sister Marritje, as the bride, but that's long since been proven incorrect. The record from the Reformed Dutch Church New Amsterdam reads; 16 Nov. Henricus Sibelszen, j.m. van Langendyck, en Marritje Theunis j.d. Van Naerden. The j.m. means “man never married”, and the j.d. means “woman never married”.
A year after his marriage, Herck sold his house and lot in New Amsterdam to Barent Dircksen. “Contract of sale between Herck Sybesen and Barent Dircksen of a house and lot near the fort on Manhattan island [Before me, Cornells van Tienhoven], secretary of New Netherland, [appeared Herck Sybesen], who acknowledged that he had sold to Barent Dircksen his house and lot, with all that is fastened by earth and nail, of such size, be it large or small, as the same lies and is computed to be, [the purchase] of which aforesaid house and lot lying on the island of Manhattan, near Fort Amsterdam. Barent Dircksen also acknowledges for the sum of one hundred and seventy-five guilders, and a half barrel of beer as a treat, to be paid two weeks from this date, when the delivery of the house and appurtenances shall take place. In witness where of this is signed by the parties and the witnesses, the [blank] of November A.D. 1643, in New Netherland. It is agreed that if either party backs out and cancels the sale, he shall pay a half barrel of beer. This is the X mark of Barent Dircksen This is the X mark of Herck Sybesen Acknowledged before me, Cornells van Tienh., Secretary.

In the Council Minutes of New Netherland 1638-1649, a criminal complaint was filed against a man for the attempted rape of Siboutzsen’s wife Wyntje. “The honorable director general and council of New Netherland having seen the criminal proceedings begun at the demand of the honorable fiscal, plantiff, against Adam Roelansten, at present a prisoner, on account of force and violence committed against Wynthe [Wyntje] Theunis wife of Herck Syboutsen, at her house, which the said Wythe [Wyntje] declares on oath to have occurred, to wit, that Adam Roelansten by force tried to have intercourse with her at her house and also immodestly attacked her, of which the marks are said to still visible on her body, having also considered the written complaint of the fiscal and the serious consequence there of which in a land when it is customary to maintain justice and cannot be tolerated. We condemn the aforementioned Adam Roelantsen to be brought to the place where it is customary to execute justice and there to be flogged and furthermore to be banished from this country as an example to others. This done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 17th of December 1646.” The court delayed the banishment of Roelansten for the following reasons. “In consideration of the fact that the afore said delinquent is burdened with 4 small motherless children, and that the cold winter is approaching, the honorable director and council have postponed the execution to a more suitable opportunity when the delinquent shall be able to depart.”

Sibout Glaesen, a carpenter from Hoorn, son of Claes Siboutsen of Hoorn, was Herck's first cousin and godfather of his children. Herck's father would have been Sibout Siboutsen according to the name. Sibout Glaesen also inherited land in Hoorn.

In 1647 Herck gave power of attorney to Claes Jansen Calff to collect money owned to him from the West India Company. “Power of attorney from Herck Sybesen to Claes Jansen Calff to receive moneys from the West India Company. Before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared Herck Sybesen from Iangedyck, [Langedijk] ship carpenter, who before and in the presence of the undersigned witnesses appoints and empowers, as he does hereby, Claes Jansen Calff to ask, demand and collect in his, the principal's, name from the honorable directors of the Chartered West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, the sum of one hundred and fifty-three guilders, fourteen stivers, eight pennies due him, the principal, and earned in New Netherland, as appears by the Book of monthly wages, No. P, folio 23 .

On receipt of said moneys from their honors by Claes Jansen Calff he shall have power to grant a discharge therefore, which shall be valid, [the principal] holding as valid whatever shall be done and transacted in the matter by the aforesaid attorney. The original hereof in the record is signed by Herck Sybesen and the witnesses, the 17th of July AD. 1647, in New Netherland. Herck Sybetsen, Jacob H. Kip, David Provoost, witnesses Acknowledged before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, Secretary. In 1647 Herck is listed as Sheeptimerman (Ship Carpenter)

The skill of Herck Siboutzsen as a ship carpenter is confirmed by a complaint found in council records. “Thus the ship De Liefde lays helpless and urgently needs to be repaired and sent to the West Indies for salt which is urgently needed here, and that several carpenters including Herck Syboutsen will not work on the ship belonging to the gentleman directors of the United West Indies the Company, for less than 4 gilders per day above the cost of materials, which is an unheard of wage. Thus the gentleman directors and the council have resolved and decided to command the aforementioned ships carpenters, with the first as there spokesman, to take themselves to the ship in order that they as carpenters make a suitable fix to the ship, and in accordance with the work done they will be paid for their labor as two impartial persons shall find suitable. Done this 23 March 1649, New Amsterdam, New Netherlands.

Perhaps upset with his pay which the council insisted he take for his labor, Herck Syboutsen moved his family to Long Island and became one of the early settlers of Newtown. His property was near the “Armen Bouwery” or the Poor's Farm, whence came the name of “Poor Bowery” was applied to that section of Newtown where he farmed near Abraham Ryker Van Lent. His farm was bounded on the east by the property of Abraham Rycken [Ryker], a “respectable planter, who was descended from an ancient family in Lower Saxony.”

Abraham Ryker was given a patent in 1640 for land on Long Island, granted to him in 1638. Six years later he received a grant for a house and garden on the Heeren Gracht (canal) in New Amsterdam which he sold in 1652. By 1655 he was back on his Long Island bowery (farm), known as the "poor farm", near present day Astoria, Queens, New York City and later added an island in the East River on 19 Aug 1664 in New York City known as Riker Island. For a short time in 1656 Abraham was engaged in the fur trade on the South (Delaware) River and visited Fort Casimir (New Castle Delaware). In or about 1650 he removed to the Poor Bowery, where he died between 1681 and '84.

 “Herck Siboutsen” had settled four years previously to taking out his patent on his farm at Newtown dated 2 July 1654. Adjacent to him on the west side, lay a tract of woodland, belonging to the West India Company, beyond which, in the direction of "Newton's Point, or the Green Hook.”

When the English Navy had the Dutch Colony surrender to the British crown, in 1664, the English Governor began parceling out lands to Englishmen and many of the Dutch settler left Long Island and moved up the Hudson River Valley.

The children of Herck Siboutsen and Abraham Rycken, as they grew, began to marry one another. Abraham Rycken eldest son Ryck Abramsen Lent, married Catrina, daughter of Herck and in 1685, with several others, bought from the Indians an extensive tract of land in the upper part of Westchester county at Sleepy Hallow in the colony of New York, formerly New Netherland. Herck Siboutsen’s son in law who served as an elder of the Sleepy Hollow church, was much respected, and died at a good old age in 1723.

Records show that in or about 1650 Herck and his wife moved to “Arme Bouwerie” or “Poor Bowery” Newton, Long Island. It received the name of “Poor Bowery” because it was a farm “in the occupation and tenure of the deacons and officers of the Dutch Church” at New Amsterdam, and was kept under cultivation for the benefit of the poor. On July 2, 1654, Herck bought forty-two acres of land beyond Hellgate, Long Island and then on April 18, 1664, ten acres of salt land near the Poor Bowery were granted in addition. Between 1654 and 1658 Herck bought property from Lourens Pietersen Noorman and also during that period he sold property to Lycus Dierksen Van Berg.

Herck lived on Broadway in New York City until about 1650, when he moved to Newtown, Long Island, New York. There he had land adjoining Abraham Ricken [Ryker] Van Lent. Van Lent was a ship carpenter who came in 1630, to the Poor Bowery, on the south shore of Bowery Bay, Long Island, New York, now Newtown.

Siboutszen was granted 21 “morgens” of land on July 2, 1654 at Middleburg, Long Island and April 18, 1664, at the same place, was granted 8 morgens. A morgen was a Dutch land measure equal to about two acres. In 1686 he is listed as a church member of the Dutch Reform Church in New York City, but the records showed that Wyntie Theunis was the widow) of Herck Siebout, of Arme Bouwery, Long Island.

He was a man of prominence as shown by the names of the people who acted as sponsors to the baptism of his children. There was no Reformed Dutch Church in Newton, Long Island for nearly eighty years after its settlement. There were very few Dutch inhabitants, nearly all of them being located on the northern and western boundaries of the town which gave them easy access by water to the churches of New York, Bushwick or Harlem. Herck and Wyntje attended the church in New York. His farm adjourned Abraham "Ryckem" on the west. Between 1654-1658 Herck bought property in Newtown, Long Island. He died in 1684.

Herck and Wyntje Siboutszen had 15 children, all baptized, save one, in the Dutch Church, the mother's full maiden name being given in each case, so there can be no mistake about the size of this large family. Wyntje Teunis' name was on her 1st child's baptism in 1644, and it also was on the last baptism of her 15th child in 1681. She would have been in her early teens for the 1st child and well into her fifties when her last child Joseph, was baptized. This was a long span of motherhood, 37 years, and was an incredible achievement from Wyntje. Herck died between1681 and 1686 in Newtown, Long Island, New York. He left his property in Newtown, New York to his son Jacobus who had stayed to work the farm with his father.

Siboutszen first three sons moved from Long Island to Sleepy Hallow, Westchester County, New York Colony after the English took over the Dutch Colony and renamed it after the Duke of York. They assumed the name of Kronckheyt. A son Jacobus Siboutszen, who remained in Newtown, Long Island, New York, also took the name of Kronckheyt. This name means "bad health". Why they took such a name, cannot now be explained.

Dutch families did not use family names until about 1700, and for several decades before that, names were in the making, both in Holland and among Dutch immigrants to other countries. One family might have two or three names before deciding on one permanently, and the direct descendents might take different names. Herck Syboutsen, while he went by the name Sybouts and some of his children by the patronymic Herex, his grandchildren adopted the surname Crankheit, later shortened to Crank or Cronk. It was spelled Krankyte in the early records, but later changed to Cronkhite.

Children of Herck and Weyntie and their baptism dates

1. Sybout Herckszen 4 Dec 1644 md in Apr 1669 Marytje Abrahams

2. Marytje Herckse 10 Nov 1647 md. 2 Feb 1673 Evert Aertszen

3. Tryntje Herckse 1650 md. 1672 Ryck Abrahamsen

4. Belitje Herckse 4 Feb 1652 md. 19 May 1675 Conradt Ten Eyck

5. Engeltje Herckse 17 May 1654

6. Teunis Herckszen 4 Jul 1655 md. 10 Sep 1679 Sophia Hendricks

7. Jan Herckszen 28 Nov 1657 md. Grietje

8. Jacobus Hercksen 1 Sep 1659

9. Annetje Herckse 19 Apr 1662 md. 17 Aug 1685 Johan van Vorst

10. Janetje Herckse 3 Aug 1664 md. about 1684 Jan Pinkens

11. Ariantje Herckse 4 Jun 1666 bans 27 Jun 1690 Jan Ryder

12. Hilletje Herckse 22 Apr 1668 marr Jan Snediker

13. Peter Hercksen 22 Mar 1670

14. Weyntje Herckse 27 Mar 1675 md. John Luyster

15. Joseph Hercksen 6 Aug 1681 md. 1700 Geertje Teunise

THEUNIS HERCKSEN and SOPHIA HENDRICKSE WILTSEE

4^th Great grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Theunis Herckszen son of Herck Syboutszen

Baptized 4 JUL 1655 Newtown, New Netherlands

Death September 1709 Philipsburgh, Westchester, New York,

Wife Married 10 September 1679

Sophia Hendrickse Wiltsee daughter of Hendrick Martensen, son of Philippe Matin. She was baptized 11 December 1660, at Wiltwyck..

Early in the 18th century, Theunis moved his family 30 miles north of New York City to an area that would become Sleepy Hallow in Westchester County after the English takeover in 1664, Theunis [Hercx] Crankeyt and his wife acted as witnesses at the baptism of Margrietje, Jacob [Henijrickse] Willson's daughter on April 2, 1709. in the Sleepy Hollow Church near Tarrytown. Here for the first time her husband uses the surname Crankeyt, and here we hear of her the last time when about 48-9 years old.

Sophia was the first child baptized at the village of Wiltwyck by Dominie Bloon of the Dutch Reformed Church and when she was about 3 years old she was taken prisoner by the Esopus Indians, and taken to their fort June 7, 1663. She was kept there until captured by the Dutch army in a battle with the Esopus on 5 September 1663. The Esopus tribe was a tribe of Delaware Native Americans who were native to Upstate New York, specifically the region of the Catskill Mountains. The tribe fought a series of conflicts against Dutch settlers from the New Netherland colony from September 1659 to September 1663, known as the Esopus Wars in and around Kingston, New York.

After being returned to her parents it is likely that she lived with them until her marriage. She named her first son Hendrick, after her father, and her second son Herck, after her father-in-law, according to the Dutch usage. All of Theunis and Sophia’s descendants used Krankeyt [Cronkhite] as their surnames.

A 2nd great grandson of Theunis, Elijah Cronkhite of Warren County, Indiana descended from two sons of Theunis, Hendrick and Herrick through his father Aury Cronkhite and his common law wife Anna Krankhyte. Sophia’s surname appears in the records variously spelled. At the baptism of her ninth child Jan she appears as “Sophia Wiltzee”, and her brother, Theunis, as a witness was also named Wiltzee. Sophia’s mother Grietie Jans appeared also as a witness to show that the child was named after Jan Meyers, her father. This is the only time that Sophia appears as a “Wiltsee”.

Children
1. Daughter Wyntie - - died young Parents: Theunis Herckzen, Fytie Hendricks
Witnesses: Herck Siboutszen, Wyntie Theunis. [parents of Theunis Herckzen]
2. Son Hendrick Baptized June 21, 1682. Parents: Theunis Herck, Saphia Hendricx
Witnesses: Peter Brullstede, Gurtie Theunis  

3. Daughter Wyntie baptized March. 16, 1684. Parents: Theunis Hercksen, Saphia Hendricx. Witnesses: Meynard Hendricksyen, Wyntie Hierex

4. Son Herck [Herrick] baptized Nov. 24, 1685. Parents: Theunis Herckszen, Saphia Hendricks. Witnesses: Meynard Hendricksyen, Janneken Hendricks

5. Son Sibont baptized July 3, 1687. Parents: Theunis Hercxen, Saphia Hendricks.
Witnesses: Jan Hercxen, Margariet Meyrinck

6. Daughter child: VI. Margariet baptisedAug. 18, 1689 Parents: Theunis Herckxen, Saphia Hendricx. Witnesses: Marten Hendricxen, Grietie Hendrix.

7. Son Jacobis---died young baptized Nov. 4, 1691. Parents: Theunis Herckxen, Saphia Hendricx. Witnesses: Jacobis Hercxen, Annatje Hercx.

8. Son Jacobis baptized May 21, 1693. Parents: Theunis Herexen, Saphia Hendricx.
Witnesses: Jacobus Hercx, Wyntie Hercx.

9. Son Jan baptized Jan. 2, 1695. Parents: Theunis Harpen, Saphia Wiltzee.
Witnesses: Theunis Wiltzee, Grietje Jans.

10 Daughter Saphia baptized June 18, 1699 Parents: Theunis Herxe, Saphia Hendrix.
Witnesses: Hendrick Martense, Wyntie Herx Widowe.

HERRICK CRANCKHEIT and HELENA VAN WERT

3^rd Great grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Herrick [Herck] Cranckheit son of Theunis Herckszen and Sophia Wiltsee
Birth 1685 Arme Bouwerie, Long Island, New York Colony

baptized 24 October 1685

Death 1777 Tarrytown, Westchester, New York,

He married Helena Van Wert daughter of Gerret Van Wert on November 18, 1708. They lived in Irvington, Westchester County, New York.

Herck and Helena’s children were:

1. Herrick—Born 1709. Married Helena Margaret Wiltsie.

2. Gerret—Baptized 1711. Married Elizabeth Smith in 1731.

3. Jannetje—Baptized 1713. Married Job Becarent in 1730. Died 1757

4. Lea—Baptized 1715.

5. Wyntje VanWert Cronkite 1718

6. Cornelius—Baptized 1718.

7. Hendrick—Born 1720. Married Maria DeLange on February 20, 1751.

8. Rachel—Born 1722. Married first to John Cocks in 1738. Second to Abraham Cranckheit in 1746.

9. Catharine—Baptized 1724. Married Jonathan Wheeler in 1742.

10. John Cranckheit 1728–1810

11. Theunis—Baptized 1730.

12. Christina—Married Hendrick Van Amburgh in 1755.

123. Helena Cronkite 1738–

HENRICK KRANKHEYD [HENRY CRONKHITE] and MARIA DELANGE

2^nd Great grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Hendrick Krankheyd [Henry Cronkhite,Sr] son of Herrick Cranckheit

• Birth 1720 Sleepy Hallow, Westchester, New York Colony

 • Death 24 AUG 1810 • Minden, Montgomery, New York,

Hendrick Cronkheit, the fifth son of Herck and Helena VanWert Cronkheit, was born in Sleepy Hallow, New York in 1720. Hendrick moved to Rombout, in Dutchess County, New York where he married Maria DeLange on February 20, 1751. She was born in 1735 the daughter of Aury and Anna Wiltsee DeLange (DeLong). Hendrick and Maria then moved to the village of Claverick, in Columbia County, New York prior to 1759. They had moved to the village of Hoosick, in Albany County, New York where he served in the French and Indian Wars.
During the Revolutionary War [1775-1781] Hendrick served in the 14th Regiment of the Albany County Militia. Two of his sons, Theunis (a sergeant) and Cornelius (a private), also served in the same Albany County Militia under the Regiment of Colonel Yates. In 1790 Hendrick was living in Canajoharie, New York and later moved to Minden, Montgomery County, New York where he died in 1810. Maria died about 1811.

Their children were:

1. Maria—1751.

2. Theunis—1753-1797.

3. Aury—1754- 1755. May have died young.

4. Leah—Born 1755. Married David Hibbard.

5. Aury—1757-1815. He married Phebe Kranckheit and Anna Kranckheit

6.Cornelius—1759-1806. Married to Hannah Overacker

7. Anna—1762.

8. Hanna—1764. Married Jonathan Paddock.

9. Henry—1768-1815. Married Hannah Shafer 10. Jacob—1771-1844 Married Elizabeth Sale.
11. Elchie [Alcha]—1774 Married Jame DeLang.

12. Jan [John]—1777-1812. Married Hannah Sale.

AURY CRONKHITE and ANNA KRANCKHEIT

Great grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Aury Cronkhite son of Hendrik Krankheyd and Maria DeLange

• Birth 4 July 1757 Claverack, Duchess County, Colony of New York

• Death 5 August 1815 Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer, New York, age 58 years

Wife Phebe Kranckheit daughter of Jacob Kranckheit and Anna Ferguson

• Birth 26 November 1758 Tarrytown Village, Westchester, Colony of New York,

• Death 10 April 1848 Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer, New York age 89 years

Wife Anna Kranckheit daughter of Jacob Kranckheit and Anna Ferguson

• Birth 3 May 1764 • Hoosick, Rensselaer, Colony of New York,

• Death 30 March 1851 West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana age 86 years

Aury Cronkhite at the age of 18 married Phebe Kranckheit on 12 April 1775 in Schaghticoke,

Albany County, New York. Until the Revolutionary War, Schaghticoke was part of the colony of

New York with most of its citizens governed by the city of Albany, which owned the land they

rented. The couple were married a week before shots were fired at Concord and Lexington in

neighboring Massachusetts Colony.

Phebe was the 16 year old daughter of Jacob Kranckheit and Anna Ferguson. Phebe was a distant cousin of Aury, as her father Jacob and Aury were third cousins and both descendants of Herck Sybotszen the original Dutch emigrant.

Schaghticoke was a dangerous place to live during the war because they villagers were frequently raided by the Indians and Tories. Aurey moved in 1776 to the village of Hoosick in the township of Hoosick, Albany County on the Hoosick river. The area was settled about 1688 by Dutch settlers settlers and folks from Massachusetts came after 1763. Three miles Northeast of the village, at Walloomsac, in the township of Hoosick, the battle of Bennington was fought, on 16 August 1777.

Aury Cronkhite was conflicted regarding his views on rebellion against the British Crown, probably considering it treason as did many conservative Tories. At the age of 20 years, he served first as a loyalist serving under Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum one of 4000 Germans provided to King George III of Great Britain in order to put down the Rebellion in America. Baum under the command of British General John Burgoyne was sent to lead a raid on a supply depot in Bennington, Vermont.

Speaking only his native German, and having little field experience in commanding a multinational force of nearly 800 German, British, Canadian, American and Native troops,Lt. Col. Baum was attacked by the Patriots on 16 August 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from Bennington, Vermont. A rebel force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and reinforced by Vermont militiamen led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated Baum's detachment of a mixed force of 700 composed primarily of Hessians but also including small amounts of dismounted Brunswick dragoons, Canadians, Loyalists, and Indians.

The Americans took the battle field, taking many prisoners and killing Baum. The battle was a decisive victory for the rebel cause, as it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Indian support to largely abandon him, and deprived him of needed supplies such as cavalry and draft horses and food, all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual surrender at Saratoga.

The victory also galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a key role in bringing France into the war on the rebel side. It is said that Aury Cronkhite after joining Baum's expedition, accompanied it to the battlefield at Wallomsac, “but finding many of his neighbors and friends arranged on the other side, with whom he would be brought into deadly conflict, he left the detachment and endeavored by a circuitous route to reach his home crossing the Hoosick River at the falls, he was captured by a party of Indians and taken to Canada.”

            Evidently Aury managed to escape within weeks of being captive and returned to his young bride Phebe as she became pregnant in October 1777. His first born son Jacob was born July 1778 and shortly before the birth of his son he enlisted in the Continental Troops under Col. John Knickerbocker's Hoosick and Schaghticoke District Regiment of Albany County Militia regiment of the Albany County Militia. John Knickerbocker was Schaghtecoke most prominent citizen and commanded 289 men. He served in the Revolutionary War in the Albany County Militia--Fourteenth Regiment - Colonel John Knickerbacker; Colonel Peter Yates; Lieut. Col. John Van Rensselaer; Adjutant Jacob Van Valkenbergh.

Aury served as a private under Capt. Thunis H. Visscher's Company of Buteau men, in the service of the United States, Continental Troops. Visscher was also from Schaghticoke. At the age of 21 years he was on the Company Muster Roll from his enlistment between July 1, 1778 to July 25, 1778, Fish Hill Landing and Sept 1, 1778 through Sept. 24, 1778 his next muster roll was on file, Nov. 1, 1778.

Shortly before Jacob Cronkhite’s birth, Phebe’s , 12 year old Anna sister came to live with her and help Phebe with their first child. Anna stayed as company for Phebe while her husband was away and was with her during her next two pregnancies. Aury Cronkhite would have been home with his wife in March 1779 and July 1780. The American Revolution was over in 1781.

It is not known when Aury decided to take Phebe’s sister Anna as his common-law-wife but she was pregnant by February 1784 when she was 19 years old. Anna’s first child Abraham Auryzsen Cronkhite was born in late October of that year. Auryzsen means son of Aury.
Aury’s residence during this period was in the town of Hoosick, New York. Hoosick is a village now located in Rensselaer county, New York, in the township of Hoosick, on the Hoosick River.
Hoosick was settled about 1688 by Dutch settlers with folks from Massachusetts coming after 1763 at the end of the French and Indian War. Here Aury built two homes one for Phebe and one for his common law wife Anna. Hers as just south of where he lived with Phebe and across the road.

That he divided his time equally and impartially between his two wives is evident from the list of Phebe and Anna's children. He divided his time equally between his two women and “the stork must have had a great time deciding which side of the Hoosick road to deliver his bundles.” In 1786 Anna delivered a son in March and Phebe had a daughter in May which indicated that they were pregnant for much of the same time. Phebe's daughter Hannah and Anna's daughter Sally were born only eight days apart.

Having two wives was probably not considered nearly as scandalous among the Dutch of his time. Evidently the arrangement was with the consent of both sisters. In fact, Phebe named her first daughter Anna.

The fact is that Aury was a respectable Dutch gentleman and other Dutch men of his time had more than one wife. Phebe bore ten children to Aury. Anna as his common-law wife bore thirteen children to Aury.

Aury’s family appeared on the census in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, in 1790, 1800, and 1810. Aurey cut his hand on the blade of a scythe in the summer of 1815, probably while cutting hay. Blood poisoning set in and he died August 5, 1815 on his farm near Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York.

His will was probated August 18, 1815 and he provided for both families. He was buried in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, in the same cemetery where his father, mother, and other members of the family were buried. However the cemetery was destroyed many years ago for a gravel pit.

By the time Aurey died in 1815, many of his children were grown and had families of their own. The children of Phebe stayed mainly around Hoosick and New York state while the children of Anna were enticed by new with cheap land, adventure, and a different future west beyond the mountains.

Anna’s oldest son, Abram, chose to stay in New York, but many others of the family went west taking Anna with them. These families stayed briefly in Hamilton County, Ohio near Cincinnati and then moved on to Warren County, Indiana.

Anna lived the latter years of her life with her son, Levi, and his family. She died on 30 March 1851 in West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, USA. She was buried on a knoll in the old section of West Lebanon Cemetery, West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, flanked by two of her sons and their wives with other family members close by.

Children of Aury Cronkhite and Phebe Kranckheit:

1. Jacob Cronkhite, [1778-1894] died at Westchester, New York    
2. Ezekial Cronkhite, [1780-1823] died at Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York.
3. Anna Cronkhite, [1781-1851] died at Westchester, New York     
4. Henry A. Cronkhite, [1783,
5. Mary Cronkhite, [1786,      
6. Phebe Cronkhite, [1788-1865] died at Westchester, New York    .
7. Alcha Cronkhite, [1789, died at Westchester, New York  
8. Deborah Cronkhite, [1791, died at Westchester, New York         
9. Aury Cronkhite, [1794,       
10. Hannah Cronkhite, [1798, died at Westchester, New York        

Children of Aury Cronkhite and Anna Kranckheit:

1. Abram Auryszen Cronkhite, was born on 26 October 1784 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA. He was married to Huldah Wilson on 12 September 1805 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA. Huldah WILSON was born on 22 June 1791. Abram died on 14 August 1824 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA. Huldah died on 24 June 1847. Abram and Huldah had the 8 children
2. Levi Auryszen Cronkhite, was born on 17 March 1786 in Rensselaer County, New York, USA. He was married to Rebecca SWEET about 1809/10. Rebecca SWEET was born on 1 December 1790 in Rhode Island, USA. As the Cronkhites moved west, they lived from around 1817 to 1826 in Hamilton County, Ohio. In 1826 they decided to continue west and moved on to Warren County, Indiana. The trip was made with wagons over the wilderness roads and trails. Once there, they had to work quickly to clear land and build log houses to survive the coming winter in the wilderness. The family appeared on the 1850 census in Warren County, Indiana. Levi died on 6 May 1857 in West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, USA. His will was probated May 19, 1857. Rebecca died on 12 June 1866 in West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, USA. Both were buried in West Lebanon Cemetery, West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, USA. Levi and Rebecca had 8 children    
3. Merriam Cronkhite, was born on 4 February 1788. She was married to Mr. Farewell and died at Rosebloom, New York.  
4. John A Cronkhite was born on 24 May 1790. He was married to Anna Potter on 22 October 1810 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA. He died about 1834   
5. Esther Cronkhite was born on 17 December 1792. She was married to Samuel CROSS about 1812. She died on 6 March 1858.
6. Elijah Cronkhite was born on 2 July 1797 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, He was married to Catherine Ouderkark daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ourderkirk Elijah and Catherine had 10 children before she died. He then married to Martha Wiles daughter of Luke Wiles and Mary Hobsonin Vermillion County, Illinois. Elijah and Martha had 7 children     
7. Sally Cronkhite, was born on 27 August 1799. She was married to Samuel Cross on 11 July 1858. She died on 21 December 1881.   
8. Enoch Cronkhite, was born on 4 September 1800 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA. He was married to Salina Sweet in 1824. Salina was born on 16 May 1808 in New York. Enoch died on 25 October 1846 in Warren County, Indiana,. Salina appeared as head of household on the census in 1850 in Warren County, Indiana. She died on 19 March 1888 in Warren County, Indiana, USA. Enoch and Salina had 10 children
9. Betsey Cronkhite, was born on 30 March 1802. She was married to Lemuel Bowers
10. Sylvia Cronkhite was born on 28 February 1804. She died on 28 April 1856. She was married to Henry Toby.           
11. Salome Cronkhite, was born on 8 April 1806 and died 1896.     
12. Cornelius Cronkhite, was born on 8 January 1808 in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York. He was married to Charlotte Bowers on 1 December 1831. They appeared on the census in 1850 in Warren County, Indiana, USA. He died on 17 February 1879 in West Lebanon, Warren County, Indiana, USA

ELIJAH CRONKHITE and CATHERINE OUDERKERK
Grandparents of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Elijah Cronkhite son of Aury Cronkhite and Anna Kranckheit:

• Born 2 JULY 1797 • Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York, USA
• Died 20 JUN 1877 • West Lebanon, Warren Co., IN

Wife- Catherine Ouderkerk daughter of Jacob John Ouderkerk and Catherine Wygant
            • Birth 1798 Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County New York
            • Death 17 February 1839 Marshfield, Warren County, Indiana age 41 years
Elijah Cronkhite was a native of New York of Dutch descent. He was a farmer by occupation. Elijah and Catherine Ouderkerk Cronkhite were married circa 1815 in Hoosick Falls, New York and had at least 10 children. After the death of two of his children in 1822, Elijah moved his family to adjoining Butler and Hamilton Counties in Ohio where he is located in the 1830 Census of Hamilton in the Township of Crosby. Crosby Township is located in the northwestern part of the county, and borders Butler County.

 In 1824 the settlement of Crosby Township was accelerated by the founding of Whitewater Shaker Village as a commune of the Shakers, the organization's fourth and last village in Ohio. Starting with 18 members and 20 acres, the community eventually grew to over 125 members and occupied 1,400 acres and it remained an active community until it was abandoned in 1916 as a part of the general decline of the sect.

The growing influence of the Shakers probably prompted Elijah Cronkhite to relocate 200 miles west to Steuben Township in Warren County after the Indians had been relocated in 1838. Three of his brothers, Levi, Enoch, and Cornelius, also relocted to Warren County bringing their aged mother Phebe Cronkhite with them. Steuben County lay between the Wabash River and the Illinois State line and bordered Vermilion County, Illinois. Not long after moving to Warren County, his wife Catherine Ouderkirk died in 1839 and is buried in a Cronkhite cemetery known as Number two on the east side of the South County Road 700 West near the town of Marshfield that contain the graves of pioneers. Catherine Ouderkark Cronkhite has a stone saying she died 17 February 1839 at the age of 41 years. Hers is the only stone that remains in this burial ground. All other stones are gone.

The 1840 Census shows that Elijah’s family was located in Warren County with 11 persons in his household. Elijah Croknhites daughter Maria Hester married Moses Garrison in 1835 and had moved to Jones County in Iowa Territory by the 1840 census. Three people in this household is unknown.

Elijah Cronkhite Home in 1840 Warren, Indiana

Free White Male - 40 thru 49 1791-1800 Elijah
Free White Females - 15 thru 19 1821-1825 unknown
Free White Male - 20 thru 29 1811-1820 Levi born 1819
Free White Male - 15 thru 19 1821-1825 Abraham born 1823
Free White Female - 15 thru 19 1821-1825 Rebecca Ann born 1824
Free White Female - 10 thru 14 1826-1830 Sally born 1825
Free White Male - 15 thru 19 1821-1825 Josephus born 1827
Free White Male - 5 thru 9 1831-1835 unknown
Free White Male - 5 thru 9 1831-1835 Thomas born 1837
Free White Male - Under 5 1836-1840 Lansing born 1829
Free White Female - 5 thru 9 1831-1835 Euthemia born 1831
4 Persons Employed in Agriculture

At the age of 43, Elijah on 6 May 1841, in neighboring Vermilion County, Illinois, was remarried. He married 24 year old Martha Wiles the daughter of Luke and Mary Hobson Wiles natives of North Carolina. The Wiles were of Quaker stock and moved to Vermilion County, Illinois circa 1830. At the age of 44 he began to have a new family of eight children the youngest born when Elijah was 58 years old.

The 1850 Census showed that two of Elijah’s sons from his first marriage were still living with him, Lansing age 21 and Thomas age 12. The remaining four children were from his 2nd wife Martha. He was a listed as a farmer worth $4500. His youngest daughter Euthamia [Euthaney] was listed as 17 years old and living with her brother Levi Cronkhite’s family.

The 1860 census showed that Elijah was worth nearly $10,000 in real estate and personal estate and the 1870 Census showed that he was worth more than $15,000. He was a a very prosperous farmer in Steuben Township, Warren County, Indiana where he passed the remainder of his days and died in 1877 about two weeks shy of his 80th birthday.

There is a 14 feet tall grey Granite Obelisk located in West Lebanon Cemetery in rural Warren County, Indiana. The monument’s text reads: “Elijah Cronkhite A patriot and honest man Born in Co. Rensselaer N.Y. July 2, 1797, Died June 20, 1877. Requiescat in Pace.” He was the father of probably twenty children.

To the 2nd marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Cronkhite were born five sons and one daughter, of whom Luke and Henry, who were and respectively, and Philander was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun.
Children by Catherine Ouderkirk
1. Altha Cronkhite 1815-1822. He died in Hoosick Falls, New York about 7 years old
2. Mariah Hester Cronkhite 1817-1847. She married Moses Garrison at the age of 18 and had six children. She moved with her husband to Iowa where she died in 1847 at the age of 30 in Cedar County, Iowa
3. Levi S Cronkhite 1819-1893. He served in the Union Army during the Civil Compnay I in the 40th Regiment in the Indiana Infantry. After the war he married Anna W. McPheter. He moved to Marion County, Iowa and had land adjoining his brother Abraham.
4. Jacob Cronkhite 1820-1822 died in infancy
5. Abram Cronkhite 1823-1909 married 3 times. His 2nd was Nancy White Burch
6. Rebecca Cronkhite 1824-1891 married William Henry Garrison brother of Moses Garrison. Moved to Marion County, Iowa
7. Sarah Cronkhite 1825-1872 married William Jackson Leonard
8. Josephus Cronkhite 1827-1921 married Martha Graham
9. Lansing Cronkhite 1829-1915 married Sarah Wood
10. Euphamia Cronkhite 1831-1870 married James Gallimore
11. Thomas Cronkhite [1837-before 1860]
Children by Martha Wiles
1. Augustus Caesar Cronkhite [1842-1923] was a farmer in Warren county, Indiana. He married Samantha Victoria Burch the sister of the wife of his half brother Abraham Cronkheit. After her death in 1880 he married twice more Sarah Belle Jones, Lora Schrock
2. Luke Cronkhite [1843–1864] member of the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. He was wounded at Kenesaw mountain, Georgia and died of his wounds. “Luke Cronkhite, of Company E, was quite severely wounded in the wrist while on the skirmish line that morning [of June 21, 1864]. It was a severe and extremely painful wound, and few, if any, expected it to prove fatal. But in a few weeks word came to the regiment that he died at Louisville on the 9th of August.” He died of blood poisoning.
3. Henry C Cronkhite [1844-1863] He joined his brother Luke and enlisted as a member off the Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war. He was killed in the Battle at Missionary Ridge, that was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War.
4. Katherine Cronkhite [1846-1857].
5. Philander Constantine Cronkhite [1850–1889] married Tempa Conner The Danville Examiner and Sunday Ledger reported that he served for a time as Principle Examiner of the Dept. of Pensions in Washington, D.C., and that he came home one day from squirrel hunting, stumbled on a step, and discharged his gun into his side and died.
6. Christopher Columbus Cronkhite [1852-1915] married Minerva Frame. He became a medical doctor and surgeon. He was prominent among the leading physicians and surgeons of Marion,Warren, Indiana.
7. Lee Ann Cronkhite [1854-1915] married Albert Gustava Johnson and moved to Chicago, Illinois

ABRAHAM CRONKHITE and NANCY WHITE BURCH

Parents of of Josie Cronkhite Jones

Abraham Cronkhite son of Elijah Cronkhite and Catherine Ouderkirk

            • Birth 20 MAR 1823 Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio

• Death 9 JUL 1907 • Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, USA Burial: Greenwood Cemetery

Wife Clarissa Arabelle Waits married 24 Nov 1843 Warren County, Indiana

• Born circa 1826 Ohio

• Died circa 1856 Warren County, Indiana

Wife Nancy White Burch married 30 December 1857 daughter of Landon J Burch

• Born February 4, 1835 Barren County, Kentucky

  Died  6 November 1861 Knoxville Township, Marion County, Iowa

Wife Phebe H Walters married 17 May 1864 Marion County, Iowa daughter of John H Walters and Rachel W. Babbs

• Born Mar. 6, 1833 Union, Clinton, Ohio, USA

• Death: Aug. 27, 1915 Marion County Iowa, USA

Abraham Cronkhite, or Abram as he was generally known was 20 years old when he married 18 year old Clarissa Arabel Wiat, 24 Nov 1843 in Warren County, Indiana. The 1850 Census of Warren County, Indiana only lists one child by Clarissa, a son named Elijah. Little is known of Abraham’s first wife and family. As that the couple were married in late 1843 and only one child born in late 1849, this suggests that more children may have been born and died during the six years in between to this family.

Home in 1850 was Steuben Township, Warren, Indiana, were he is listed as a farmer and enumerated on 10 August 1850. His family Number was 48

Abram Cronkhite age 26 birthplace Ohio

Wiatt Cronkhite [Arabel ]age 24 birthplace Ohio

Elijah Cronkhite age 10/12 mo birthplace Indiana

It is said that Arabel had several children which were buried in the now destroyed Cronkhite graveyard south of Marshfield. She is thought to have died circa 1856 in Warren County.

Abram went to Marion County, Iowa, after the 1856 census was taken in company with his brother Levi Cronkhite and some married sister. He is living there as of 30 December 1857 when he married Nancy White Burch the daughter of Landon J Burch and Mary Pursley. They had a daughter born in November 1858 that they named Mary Josephine Cronkhite who went by the name Josie.

The 1860 United States Census listed Abram Cronkhite in Marion County, Iowa on 9 June when he was enumerated as household 54 in Knoxville

Abram Cronkhite age 36 $500 real estate $400 personal estate birn in Ohio 36

N W [Nancy White] Cronkhite age 25 born Kentucky

M J [Mary Josephine] Cronkhite age 1 born in Ohio

Nancy Was pregnant at the time of this census and gave birth 11 November 1860 to a daughter she named Augusta Victoria "Gusta" Cronkhite. A year later Nancy died on 6 November 1861 before her youngest daughter’s first birthday.

The American Civil War had begun by the time of Abraham death and was in no position to join in the fight with two infants to raise although in 1863 he was registered for the draft. Two of his half brothers Luke and Henry Cronkhite died in the Civil War in the Union Army.

On 17 May 1864 Abraham Cronkhite married for the third time Phebe H Walters the daughter of John Walters and Rachel Babbs. She was 31 years old at the time of her marriage to 41 year old Abraham. She became the stepmother of his 5 year old daughter Josie and 3 year old daughter Gusta. Phebe bore Abraham two more children, sons Azel and Sephus before the 1870 census was taken.

On 18 June 1870 Abram Cronkhites’ family was enumerated only using initials for their first names. They were living in Knoxville Township with their post office address being the town of Knoxville. He had a farm worth $3000 and personal property worth $1800.

A [Abram] Cronkhite age 46 [1824] farmer born Ohio

P H [Phebe]Cronkhite age 36 [1834] keeping House born Ohio

M J [Josie ]Cronkhite age 11 [1859] born Iowa

A V [Augusta] Cronkhite age 9 [1861] born Iowa

A E [Azel] Cronkhite age 4 [1866] born Iowa

J E [Cephas]Cronkhite age 1 [1869] born Iowa

Phebe was pregnant with her son Cyrus when the census was taken and he was born 10 August 1870.

An agricultural census was taken by the government also in 1870 which showed that Abram Cronkhite owned 60 acres of land in cultivation and 12 acres of woodlands worth $3000. Additionally he had $175 worth of farm machinery [ploughs, wagons, farming equipment] and had paid out $125 in wages to farm help. He owned six horses, five cows, one bull, 24 sheep and 27 swine all valued at $1,275. On his farm he had raised 55 bushels of spring wheat, 1600 bushels of “Indian Corn’, and 100 bushels of oats which was used primarily as horse feed.

The birth of a daughter named Bessie Cronkhite occurred 17 Apr 1873 and on 28 February 1875, his 16 year old daughter Josie married a neighborhood boy named Silas William Jones the son of Isaac.

A plat map from 1875 shows that Abram had a 10 acre plot that was separated from his 60 acre farm and was diagonally southeast of a 30 acre plot of land belonging to Isaac Jones. Abram Cronkhite’s farm was in section 26 on the east side of White Breast Creek while Isaac Jones’ farm was on the west side of White Breast Creek in Section 25 of Township 76 Range 20 and their residences were about a mile apart.

Abram and Phebe’s youngest child, Abram Cronkhite was born 27 Apr 1876 when Phebe was 43 years old. A year later his first grandchild, Fred Newton Jones was born 16 May 1877 to Abraham’s daughter Josie Jones.

The 1880 Census enumerated Abraham Cronkhite’s family on 24 July 1880. His occupation was given as being a farmer but his financial situation was not listed. Within his household was Phebe Cronkhite’s 57 year old brother Azel Walters who is listed as a being single but also as a widower.

A. [Abraham] Cronkhite age 57 head of household

Phebe H. Cronkhite age 47 wife keeping house

Augusta Cronkhite age 19 daughter house keeper

Azel E. Cronkhite age 14 son at home

Cephas Cronkhite age 11 son at home

Cyrus E. Cronkhite age 10 son at home

Bessie A. Cronkhite age 7 daughter

Abram Cronkhite age 4 son

Azel Walters age 51 brother in law farmer

The Agriculture census for Abraham was taken 23 July 1880. It showed that he had 115 acres of improved land, 25 acres of orchards and pastures, 10 acres of woodlands, and 12 acres of old fields. 20 acres of grassland produced 30 tons of hay, 35 acres in Indian Corn produced 1,400 bushels of corn, 20 acres in wheat produced 900 bushels of grain, 1 acre in sorgum produced 45 bushels, 2 acres in potatoes produced 150 bushels, 2 acres planted with 125 apple trees produced 20 bushels of apples with the orchard worth $25. He had 30 cords of wood valued at $50.

Farmland, fences, and buildings were value at $5,500. Farm implements and machinery valued at $110, and Building repairs cost $15. His livestock was valued at $1,074, which included 8 horses, 6 milk cows, 10 heads of cattle, 5 calves dropped last year, 48 swine, 100 barnyard chickens, 14 geese. His farm produced 100 dozen eggs, 400 pounds of butter.

The 1885 state Census of Knoxville Township, Marion County listed the family of Abraham Cronkhite as living in the Northeast quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 25 of Township 76 Range 20

Abraham Cronkhite age 61

Phebe Cronkhite age 51

Gusta Cronkhite age 23

Azel Cronkhite age 18

Sephus E Cronkhite age 15

Syrus E Cronkhite age 13

Bessie Cronkhite age 11

Abraham Cronkhite age 8

Augusta Cronkhite became a school teacher and lived with her father’s family until she married on 4 May, 1890 Thomas Nace who became a bank officer in Knoxville. She was 29 at the time of her marriage. If the couple had children none were recorded.

The 1890 Census was destroyed but the 1895 state census the family with Abram’s orphaned grandchildren Augustus Jones and Ruth Jones. The census also listed the religion of Abram as being Christian United while Phebe’s affiliation was Evangelical.

Abram Cronkhite age 71

Phoebe Cronkite age 62

Azle Cronkite age 28

Cyrus Cronkite age 24

Bessie Cronkite age 21

Abram Cronkite age 18

Augustus Jones age 10

Ruth Jones age 6

Tragedy occurred to the Abraham Cronkhite’s family in October 1894 when his eldest daughter Josie Jones killed her husband Silas and herself and left Abraham’s four grandchildren orphans. He took in the two youngest orphans and his now married daughter Augusta Nace took in Augustus Jones. The eldest grandson Fred Jones who was 17 lived with his paternal grandfather Isaac Jones.

Abraham and Phebe’s only daughter Bessie was married 12 Feb 1896 to William Crossen. The following year Their oldest son Azel was married 17 Feb 1897 to Ida Charity Houck. At the end of the 19th Century the youngest son, Abram married on 22 Mar 1899 Eunice Belle Fornerod.

The 1900 United States Census listed Abraham Cronkite as 77 years old with a birthdate of Mar 1823 and birthplace Ohio. He was listed as the head of his household which was enumerated on 8 June 1900. He still listed his occupation as a farmer and stated that he had been married 34 years. Phoeba H Cronkite stated she was 67 years old the mother of 5 children all who were living at the time. Her parents were from Virginia and her birthdate was given as March 1833.

 Living with his parents was Abie [Abram] Cronkite, Eunice Cronkite, and Ruth Jones. Abie is listed as a son and Eunice as a daughter in law, and Ruth as a granddaughter. Abie was a farm laborer and birthdate was given as April 1877. Eunice gave her birthdate as May 1877 and her father born in France and mother in Canada. She stated that she was the mother of 1 child and it was still living but this child is not enumerated for whatever reason. Ruth Jones birthdate is given as May 1891.

The following year Abraham and Phebe’s married daughter Bessie Crossen died 26 June 1901 at the age of 28 with leaving one daughter Fay Crossen. The last child to marry was Cyrus who on 8 July 1904 married Calpurnia “Callie” E McCoy.

Abraham Cronkite made out a will dated 15 November 1906 in which he made his wife Phebe Cronkhite and his sons Cyrus and Abram the executors. He devised after his debts were paid that his “beloved wife” was to receive a third of his estate. The other two thirds were to go to “my six children, namely Augusta V Nace, A.E. [Azel] Cronkhite, S E [Sephus] Cronkhite, C E [Cyrus] Cronkite, Bessie Crossen, and Abie [Abram] Cronkhite. Witnesses to the will were M D Fry and C H Amos.

Abram Cronkhite died 9 July 1907 on his farm in Knoxville Township and his estate went into probate 29 Jul 1907. Heirs listed in the probate record were P.H. Cronkhite wife age 74 of Knoxville, Azel Cronkhite son age 41 of Knoxville, S.E. Cronkhite son age 39 of Knoxville, C.E. Cronkhite son age 37 of Knoxville, A Cronkhite son age 31 of Knoxville, Augusta Nace daughter age 47 of Knoxville, Fay Crossen granddaughter age 6, Fred Jones grandson age 30 of Knoxville, Don Jones grandson age 25 of Knoxville, Augustus grandson age 23 of Knoxville, and Ruth Jones granddaughter age 19 of Des Moines.

Abram’s estate consisted of a 126 acre farm in Section 25 Township 76 Range 20 and personal estate valued at $1113.51 which included three horses. His outstanding debts however were $1026.42 which only left $77.09 after being sold. Additionally he owed over $2200 to a mortgage company that his farm had to be sold to pay off remaining debt. The probate dragged on until 1911 until there was nothing left.

The 1910 Census has the widow Phebe Cronkhite living with her youngest son, Abraham’s family which also included Phebe’s granddaughter Fay Crossen. She died 27 August 1915 at the age of 82.

Clarissa Arabelle Wiatt’s children

1. Elijah Cronkhite born November 1849 Warren County Indiana died circa 1856

Nancy White Burch’s Children

1.) Mary Josephine Cronkhite [1858-1894] married Silas W. Jones

2.) Augusta Victoria “Gusta” [1860-1949] married Thomas Nace

The banks of Knoxville are ably managed and possess the confidence of the community and the Guaranty Bank receives a gratifying share of the banking business transacted in the city. Its doors were opened on the 1st of October, 1909, and its first administrative officers were George W. Crozier, president; Thomas Nace, vice president; N. F. Miller, cashier; and R. C. Nace, assistant cashier. It was at that time located one door west of the postoffice, but is now housed in its new building on the west side of the square on Main street. The structure was finished on New Year's Day, 1914, and is modern in all respects. It has a handsome front and the equipment for banking is one of the best in Knoxville. The banking room is lighted by skylights and the vault is the finest and most secure in the county. The upper floor is given up to offices. It is a private institution owned by a copartnership of twenty six responsible and representative men. It offers its depositors ample security and in the past year the total sum of deposits subject to check has almost doubled. The officials at the present time (1915) are Geo. W. Crozier, president; Thomas Nace, vice president; E. R. Jordan, cashier; and Roy Walker, assistant cashier. Its policy is a progressive one and its continued prosperity and growth is assured. The Guaranty Bank of Knoxville commenced business in 1909 with a capital stock of $35,000. It occupies a new building on the west side of the public square, facing the courthouse.

Phebe Walter’s Children

1. Azel Elijah Cronkhite (1866 – 1948 married Ida Charity Houck Cronkhite (1875 - 1930)

2. Sephus Elmer Cronkhite (1868 - 1955)

Mr. Cronkhite, who spent many years in the sheriff's office, was born in Marion County, November 19, 1868, son of Abraham and Phoebe (Walters)Cronkhite. SEPHUS E. CRONKHITE, was born in Marion County and is a resident of Knoxville, has had an exceptionally long and eventful experience as a law enforcement official, both for the county and the Federal Government. Sephus E. Cronkhite until he was twenty-one years of age lived on the home farm in Marion County, working for his father and attending the public schools. It was in 1892 that he was given his first connection with the sheriff's office. He was deputy sheriff from 1892 to 1895. Duringthe next twelve years he was engaged in business for himself and in 1907 again became deputy sheriff. This four-year term as deputy gave him qualifications for serving the people of Marion County in that office. Hewas elected in 1910 and served consecutively as sheriff from 1911 to 1921.During 1921-22 Mr. Cronkhite was employed, under the direction of the Iowa Bankers Association, in apprehending bank robbers, and it was due to his vigilance and energy that conviction was secured of one of the largest gangs whoever operated in the state. From March 27, 1922, to February 28, 1928, Mr.Cronkhite was employed by the United States Government with the prohibition enforcement bureau. He is a Democrat in principle, but exercises an independent ballot when that is according to his best judgment. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Cronkhite married at Knoxville, Iowa, March 12, 1907, Mrs. Martha Elizabeth (Moon) Tucker.She was born in Marion County, daughter of H. J.and Betty (Wilson) Moon. Her father came to Iowa in 1848 and spent his life as a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Cronkhite are members of the Christian Church of Knoxville. They have one son, Robert Arthur, a graduate of theKnoxville High School.

3. Cyrus Edgar Cronkhite (1870 - 1927) married Calpurnia E "Callie" McCoy 1876-1960

4. Bessie R A Cronkhite [1873 -1901] William D Crossen

5. Abraham “Abie” Cronkhite (1876 - 1968)* married Eunice Belle Fornerod