Clay County, Indiana: "Old" Joseph France and Family in 1860

The 1860 census relocates the core France family about 300 miles west-southwest of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to Clay County, Indiana.

August 2, 1860. Christies Prairie Post Office, Perry Township, Clay County.  Living with Deter/Deeter family, at dwelling-house #1220. 

[Note: Jacob Deter’s son, William Mathias Deeter, will marry Catherine Newport in 1865, after serving in Company I, 85^th Indiana with Ira B. Slack. File this information for later use].

Jacob Deter, 50   Farmer. Real estate $4800. Personal estate $600. 

Elizabeth Deter, 48 Housekeeper.

Emanuel Deter, 21 Farm labourer.

Arthur Deter, 16 Farm labourer.

Joseph France, 51 (born circa 1809). Farmer. Personal estate $200.

Jeremiah, 17 [born 1840], Farm labourer. Attended school within the year.

Sarah A., 16 [born January 22, 1844], domestic. Attended school within the year.

Christian, 9 [born July 1852]. Attended school within the year.

Susanna, 7  [born May 10, 1854]. Attended school within the year.

Same day and vicinity, at the dwelling-house (#1214) of Israel Price ($1600, $700) and family:

Samuel France, 22. Farm labourer.

In the 1860 census, we are missing “young” Joseph France, born circa 1845.

However, there is an age-appropriate Joseph France in Washington Township. Hocking County, Ohio, living with yet another Joseph France (born Pennsylvania, circa 1807; Farmer; $2500, $1000) and Mary France (born Pennsylvania, circa 1808) and Mary L. France (born Ohio circa 1847).  Will have to check them out further to see if actually related, etc. Also seek other possible locations for younger Joseph in Indiana in 1860, name possibly misspelled.

In 1860, we are also missing from the 1850 census:

Fanny Widener/Weidner France (b. 1816 PA)

Elizabeth France (b. 1844 Ohio)

Franey/Fanny/Franny (b. 1848 Ohio)

Franner (b. 1850 Ohio)

If they died before the migration to Clay County, it is highly probable that they were buried in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Pursue this line of inquiry.  Elizabeth could have survived and married someone as of 1860.

1861 – The American Civil War begins. By the time this dramatic upheaval is over in 1865, there will be disruptions (death, wounds) and realignments in the works (marriages, new people).

[To be continued].