Benjamin Cheney Jr. and Nancy Snow

	Benjamin Cheney Jr. and Nancy Snow (Benjamin Cheney Jr.(2), Benjamin Cheney Sr. (1))


	*Benjamin Cheney Jr.* born: April 03, 1803, Granby Pass, Essex Co., Vermont died: March 30, 1882, Fort Dodge, Iowa buried: Otho Cemetery, Hudson Family Plot, Otho, Webster Co., Iowa married: Nancy Snow, August 18, 1825, Prob. Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y. *Nancy Snow* born: April 18, 1803, Cavendish, Windsor Co., Vermont died: May 19, 1891, Probably Otho, Webster Co., Iowa buried: Otho Cemetery, Hudson Family Plot, Otho, Webster Co., Iowa *Notes:*
	Benjamin Cheney Jr. and Nancy Snow by John Schultze, 2001, great great great grandson of Benjamin Cheney II. Many of the photos found on this site were submitted by John Schultze.
	Benjamin Cheney, Jr. was born on April 3, 1803 in Granby Pass, Essex, VT, child twelve of thirteen to Benjamin and Eunice (Hubbard) Cheney. Because of a series of severe winters in the early 1800’s, many families left Granby and it is assumed the Cheney family moved about 1816 or shortly thereafter. By the 1820 census, Ben, Jr. was with his parents in Freedom, Cattaraugus, NY. Their route is undetermined. On August 18, 1825, probably in Freedom, he married Nancy Snow. Nancy Snow was born on April 18, 1803 in Cavendish, Windsor, VT to Robert and Anna (Peck) Snow. Robert Snow was a Revolutionary War Patriot who was at Valley Forge with George Washington and was at the battles of Monmouth, where Washington rallied the troops to victory and at Newport, where the failed French Naval support aborted the Continental Army’s siege of the British-occupied town. Later in the war, he was with General Sullivan’s army that was performing a scorched earth march against the northern Indians.
	Nancy (Snow) Cheney’s Birth Record.
	Prior to 1818, Nancy apparently also took the trip to Freedom with her older brother Warner, her sister Percy, and some of the White family from Cavendish (three of her younger siblings stayed in Cavendish with her widow mother). Percy Snow married Samuel J. White in Rushford, Allegany, NY (a dozen miles from Freedom) in November 26, 1818 and Samuel’s family appears next to several Cheney families in Freedom in the 1820 census. Ben’s obituary states that they moved to Rushford after their marriage in 1825, but they were again residing in Freedom in 1830.
	1830 Freedom Census:

	Benjamin Cheney	Males: one <5 one 20but <30
		Females: one 20 but <30

	1835 New York State Census:

	Benjamin Cheney	two males three females one subject to militia duty
		One eligible to vote one woman <45

	Ben, Jr. and Nancy and their growing family lived near several other of the Cheney clan in Freedom and had their first four children there: Charles Cheney born on September 17, 1828 in Freedom. Anna E. born February 8, 1831 in Freedom, died June 23, 1929 in Ft. Dodge, Webster, IA, married July 12, 1851 in Galena, Jo Daviess, IL to John Parsons born July 1, 1824 in Somersetshire, England, died after 1889 in Ft. Dodge. Clark born March 9, 1833 in Freedom. Ellen born June 28, 1835 in Freedom, died August 26, 1865 in Freedom, married to Nelson J. Shallies. He was born January 13, 1812, died October 9, 1893 in Freedom, and both buried in Sandusky Cemetery near Freedom. The Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, visited Freedom and baptized the Cheney clan in 1831. Ben's family was probably with Aaron's, Ephraim's, and Hurd's families and other Smith followers who moved 200 miles west to set up a Mormon enclave in Kirtland, Lake, OH. Within a few years, however, the Mormon flock was severely persecuted, perpetuating yet another move west. Ben, unlike his brothers, must have renounced Mormonism. In July 1838, the families of his brothers joined in a move to Nauvoo, IL in the company known as the Kirtland Camp. Some other families even returned to Freedom, NY, but Ben's family ramained in Kirtland. Julia Etta Cheney born in July 31,1844 in Kirtland, died May 24, 1881 in Otho, Webster, IA, married on April 20, 1864 in Otho to Charles Hudson. He was born January 26, 1829 in Thornton, Lincolnshire, England, died December 16, 1909 in Otho Jane born August 12, 1837 in Kirtland, died March, 1879 in Otho, married ? Nokes. Mary Marilda Cheney born May 3, 1840 in Kirtland. Martha Matilda Cheney born May 3, 1840 in Kirtland. Thomas Cheney born July 13, 1842 in Kirtland, probably married Sarah Van Horn and had son Bennie born Jan 1 1882, died August 5, 1883 and buried in Otho Cemetery and daughter Olive Pearl born January 6 , 1884 in Ft. Dodge. Either sons Charles or Clarkprobably married Mary Jane ? (born May 29, 1839 Illinois died Aug1920 Otho) and had Phebe A. (born 1857 Iowa, died 1935 & buried in Otho Cemetery) and Frank M. (born abt 1860 in Iowa). Mary Jane’s first (Cheney) husband died or divorced and she married secondly about 1860 to George Coomber (born about 1837 England, died November 14, 1900 and buried in Otho Cemetery) and had Henry M. (born abt 1861) and Mary M. (born abt 1868).

	1840 Kirkland Census:

	Benjamine Cheeny	Males: one 5 but <10 one 30 but <40
		Females: four <5 one 5 but <10 one 30 but <40

	Nauvoo was abandoned because of further persecution, and the 1846 exodus to the Salt Lake Valley was begun. Hurd and Ephraim took their families, at this time, to northern Illinois, possibly drawn by their father's grant of land there for Revolutionary War service. Aaron accompanied the Mormons to Utah. By 1850, Ben's family had reunited with Hurd and Ephraim in Erin, IL. On October 15, 1850, 40 acres in Ben’s name were bought in Section 27, Township 27N, Range 05E, Meridian 4 of Stephenson County, a few miles east of the Jo Daviess County line. On October 22, 1852, 41.09 acres in Nancy’s name were bought in Section 13, Township 27N, Range 04E, Meridian 4 in Jo Daviess County, IL, a few miles west of the Stephenson County line. Child born there: Olive born September 19, 1849 in Erin, Stephenson, IL, married to ? Nokes, but was buried without her husband in March 1920 in Otho Cemetery.

	1850 Erin Census:

	Benjamin Cheney 47 M Farmer VT
	Nancy 47 F VT
	Clark 17 M NY
	Jane 13 F OH
	Mary 10 F OH
	Thomas 7 M OH
	Julia 5 F OH
	Olive 1 F IL

	I couldn’t locate an 1860 census for Ben and Nancy, though an 1855 census of Erin still had Ephraim’s family and another Cheney with illegible information. This is probably Ben, Jr.’s family. Daughter Anna had married John Parsons on July 12, 1851 in Galena, Jo Daviess, IL and I suspect the rest of her family was also still drifting westward. John worked as a blacksmith in Galena, while Anna lived across the river in Dubuque, Dubuque, IA. Perhaps her parents and siblings lived there too, since there were several illegible pages in the 1860 Dubuque census. In 1856 John Parsons went to scope out the prospects in Ft. Dodge, Webster, IA and the following Spring brought Anna there. Though her father’s obituary states that he and his family moved to Otho, Webster, IA in 1865, they must have moved at least a year earlier since Julia’s marriage took place there in 1864.

	1870 Otho Census:

	Cheney, Benj 67 W M Farmer $1220 $300 Vermont
	Nancy 67 W F Vermont

	1880 Otho Census (living with daughter, Julia Cheney Hudson):

	Cheney, Benj W M 77 Father-in-law Married At home VT
	MA MA
	Nancy W F 77 Mother-in-law Married At home VT
	CT CT
	Benjamin Cheney, Jr. and Nancy (Snow) Cheney spent their last years living with Julia’s family in Otho and were buried in Otho Cemetery in the Hudson family plot. Ben died on March 30, 1882 and Nancy died on May 19, 1891. Ben’s obituary in the Ft. Dodge Messenger goes as follows: “Mr. Benjamin Cheney, who was buried last Friday, was born in Granby, Vermont, April, 1803, making him almost 79 years old. He married in 1825 and moved to Furthford, New York in 1845, moved to Otho in 1865, where he and family have since lived. His aged wife and several children still remain to mourn the loss of a faithful husband and esteemed father.” There are some obvious errors in the above article. He probably moved to Rushford, Allegany, NY (not Furthford) after their marriage, not in 1845. Then, they must have come to Otho by Julia’s marriage in 1864. CENSUS: 1850 Federal Census Erin, Stephenson Co., Illinois LAND RECORDS: Please contact me (Travis Thompson) if you can add anything about the history of Benjamin Cheney Jr. and Nancy Snow at aztar10@aol.com. Researchers: Write me at aztar10@aol.com if you would like you name and email address added to this list of researchers for Benjamin Cheney Jr. and Nancy Snow.
		The entrance to the Otho Cemetery, Otho, Webster Co., Iowa. Ben Cheney is buried here with many generations of his descendants. Warning, for readability this is a big photo so give it a few seconds to load. Photo from the family collection of John Schultze.
		The grave of Benjamin Cheney Jr. The stone reads "Grandpa Ben J Cheney Apr.3, 1803, Mar 30, 1882" You can find Ben Cheney living next door to brothers Ephraim and Hurd Cheney in the 1850, Erin, Stephenson Co., Illinois census. This stone is hard to read so I have left it quite large. Photo from the family collection of John Schultze.
		Close up version of Benjamin Cheney Jr.'s grave which can be found above. Photo from the family collection of John Schultze.
		The grave of Nancy Snow wife of Benjamin Cheney Jr. Warning, for readability this is a big photo so give it a few seconds to load. Photo from the family collection of John Schultze.
		Percy Snow (White) sister of Nancy Snow. Photo from the family collection of John Schultze.


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