Branching Out

 This week's theme is "Branching Out." I thought I would write about an interesting branch of the Pulsipher family. In the 1850's 3 of Ebenezer Pulsipher's 6 sons moved from Geauga County, Ohio to Allegan County, Michigan. One of them was Horace Pulsipher, great grandfather to Carl Strand. 2 brothers remained in Ohio, and 1 brother moved to California. I'm going to write about the brother who moved to California.

Orrin Pulsipher was the older brother to Horace Pulsipher. Orrin was born in 1817 in most likely Stowe, Vermont. Sometime in the 1830's Ebenezer moved his family from Vermont to Ohio, settling just outside Cleveland. In the 1850's Ebenezer's sons started to make their own way in the world. While 3 of the brothers decided to go to Michigan, Orrin decided to go to California. The 1850 census finds Orrin and his wife Sarah living in Ohio. Their daughter, Rebecca, birth is recorded on September 27, 1856 California. I haven't been able to find a document of Rebecca's birth, but all her records list that day, and place as time of her birth. From various newspaper articles I've found Orrin living in Sacramento, California from 1859 to 1863. His job is always listed as Carpenter. I've found him listed as a plaintiff and defendant in lien cases against property, sheriff sales of property, letters left behind at the post office needing to be picked up, and in 1862 he was a juror in a case involving a charge of arson. In 1863 he is listed in the city directory of San Francisco. He is still working as a carpenter. In 1866 he appears on the list of voters in San Francisco. His address is 122 Fourth Street, in the Tenth Ward of the city. 

However, on the 1870 census Orrin is listed as being denied the right to vote, on grounds other than rebellion or other crime. 

I have been researching this and I can't find WHY he was denied voting rights, especially since he was on the voter rolls in 1866. I'm thinking it may have something to do with California law and maybe one of the property lien cases he seemed to be involved with. It is a mystery.

In 1869 an ad appears in the San Francisco Examiner asking contractors and builders to come to a meeting to devise ways to thwart LUMBER THIEVES that are infesting the city. Orrin is specifically named. 

The next time we see Orrin in the newspaper, unfortunately, is for a "probably fatal" accident he took. 

Orrin's death was very tragic, but as I continued researching his family, I learned it wasn't the only tragic death. 

Orrin's daughter Rebecca married a man named John Hucks. John had been born in England and came to California with his family as a child. John started a photography studio and was very successful. In the 1880 census they lived at 904 Market Street in San Francisco. They had 2 children and seemed to have a happy life. Rebecca was involved with the Rebekah Lodge. Unfortunately, Rebecca had her own tragic death, as reported in the newspaper. From December 28, 1892.

Rebecca was only 36 years old. You would think this would be the end of tragic deaths for this family, but, no. There is one more tragedy to come.

On October 30, 1915, apparently despondent over his declining health, John decided to end things by taking his own life. His son found him dead in the studio the next morning.

Going further with this family, I found the obituary for the son George A. in the paper. He died suddenly at the age of 52 in 1928. Sarah Pulsipher, the wife of Orrin, lived to the ripe old age of 80 years and 11 months.  She passed away in 1901.

I thought this branch was especially interesting because most of my ancestors stayed in Michigan. This is one of the few branches to go somewhere else, and to California in the 1850's no less! It must've been exciting to be in California then, and to be in San Francisco at the start and to help with the building of the city. 

 

By Just 2 Votes

 This week's #52ancestors challenge was #voting. I knew that my great grandfather Carl Strand was Watson Township Supervisor. What I didn't know was the convoluted and complicated story that put him in office in the first place. 

Carl's younger brother, Howard, ran for Register of Deeds of Allegan County starting back in the late 1930's. He was elected to office in 1941 and held that post until he chose to retire in 1976. He ran as a Republican and was easily reelected every election. He was elected president of the Michigan Register of Deeds Association and his wife was involved in the ladies of the G.O.P. association in Allegan.  By this time Carl had had a falling out with his brother Howard and was no longer speaking to him. I'm not sure if there was a rivalry there or not, but at some time Carl began getting involved in county and Watson Township politics. While Howard was a Republican, Carl ran as a Democrat. 

In 1949 Jesse Stone, Rep. and Bernard Cavanaugh, Dem. ran for Watson Township supervisor. In a close election, Bernard Cavanaugh won. There was a recount, and Bernard Cavanaugh was still declared the winner.  Jesse Stone still disputed the results of the election, alleging fraud in the 9 absentee ballots counted. Bernard Cavanugh, resigned his position. He said he would rather go back to this farm than continue defending his win in the election. Carl Strand, who had won election as a member of the board of review, was then chosen by the other members to be Watson Township Supervisor. 

Fast forward now to May 1950. Carl Strand is still Watson Township supervisor, but Jesse Stone, and other defeated Republican candidates have taken their case to court. They want the 9 absentee ballots thrown out. 2 of the voters waived their right to secrecy and told how they voted. The other 7 were still in dispute. The judge decided to throw them out. That made Jesse Stone the winner. But, Bernard Cavanaugh had previously been declared the winner, resigned, and then Carl Strand had been appointed supervisor. Who was the supervisor?

Finally, after going to court, a judge declares that Jesse Stone is the winner of the Watson Township supervisor race. But now there's just one small problem. Carl Strand is refusing to give up the job. He is now going to court to keep his job. He is once again appealing a case to the Michigan Supreme Court.

I haven't found a newspaper article with that outcome but I'm assuming Carl lost. In March of 1951 there is an article mentioning how Carl Strand is running for Watson Township supervisor, against the incumbent Jesse Stone.

So, after 2 years of legal wrangling, did Carl win?

Carl won the election by just 2 votes! This time Jesse Stone accepted the results of the election and didn't contest them. As far as I know. Carl also stayed on as Watson Township supervisor for 22 years, I believe. 

I also was sent some correspondence of Carl's wife, Mildred recently. In one of the letters she mentions Carl winning the election by just 2 votes. She only gives it one sentence though, and then goes on to other topics. lol.

When I first found these articles I couldn't believe how closely they mirrored today's news. Contestants  contesting election results. Wanting absentee ballots thrown out. Courts and judges deciding winners. I guess what they say is true, history just continually repeats itself. 

I wasn't surprised to find Carl involved in another case going to the state Supreme Court. This man never gave up a fight. He was stubborn to the end about everything.