Generation 11 cont: The turn of the century

 Once back in the Elmira area, Henry lived on Rumsey-Getman Road off Shoemaker Hill near Rutland Township, Pennsylvania. Henry marries his first wife, Annette E. Joslin, together they had 5 children (Mary J, Archie Melvin, Florence, Louisa).

1870 US Census
Source: ancestry.com

They are recorded in the 1870 census. It is interesting to note along with the family members a William Hill is written. He is described on the census as a farmhand. However William Melvin Hill is the son of Shoemaker Hill and Catherine Argetsinger (Henry's sister). Shoemaker Hill served with 141st NY Volunteer Infantry but died in battle from an accidental gunshot from 121st Kentucky Regiment.

Source: Muster Roll Abstract
Ancestry.com

Some sources say that Henry became William's legal guardian but I have not found proof of this, and find it doubtful as Catherine had another son with Shoemaker and went on to remarry Guy Maxwell Shappee around 1870.

Back to Henry, his first wife, Annette, dies prior to 1896, for that year Henry marries his second wife Francis C Goldsmith. Together they have 6 children:

• Edwin (b. 1/20/1897; d. 1/10/1972)
• Aura (b. 4/10/1898; d. 5/30/1992)
• Phillip (b. 5/24/1900; d. 10/27/1989)
• Mildred (b. 2/24/1903; d. July 1986)
• Henry (b. 1/3/1908; d. October 1982)
• Merton (b. 9/8/1907; d. 5/23/1973)

Francis holding Merton
Source: Private Collection

Edwin and Aura
Source: John F. Calkins

Edwin and Aura
Source: John F. Calkins

They are seen on the 1900 Census:

Source: Ancestry.com

Henry is thought to have died in 1912, however the story will continue with Edwin. 

A couple weekends ago I ventured up north to attend my Grandfather's 90th birthday party. While I was up in that neck of the woods, my dad and I drove out to Hicks cemetery to take pictures of the Argetsinger tombstones. 

Hicks Cemetery, Chemung County, New York
Photo by: Laura Argetsinger

Argetsinger Family Stone. Hard to read but it states "ARGETSINGER" at the top
and "In God We Trust" engraved below
Photo by: Laura Argetsinger

Henry Argetsinger Gravestone
Photo by: Laura Argetsinger

There are other Argetsingers buried in this cemetery but we have not gotten to them yet. Their stories are coming. 

Also interesting to note, not to far from this cemetery Henry lived in a farm house. I remember driving past when I was younger and the kid who lived there told my father he knew where another cemetery (Jenkins Cemetery off Rumsey Hill Road) was down and overgrown by the woods. My father believed Francis was buried there. Unfortunately at that time we were not in hiking clothes and I have never been back to check it out. Here is the farm house off Rumsey Hill Road in Chemung Co. New York. 

Henry's Farmhouse Today
Source: Google Maps

Henry Argetsinger Land Plot
Source: US Indexed County Land Ownership Map, Chemung, 1904