Ancestors of Carol Griswold Salli of Lee county, Iowa:Information about Francis Britton
Francis Britton (b. 04 Jul 1819, d. 18 Feb 1900)
Notes for Francis Britton:Taken from letter by Eva Britton, Taylor, NE
"After his (Francis Britton) wife passed on, he went to stay with his children for a week at a time.This time he was at Lem's dad's home- Charlie Britton's place - 7 miles, north 2 miles & 5 west of Taylor.He would stay a week or so at each one's place he had four children:Charlie, Albert, Mary Wirsig, Ida Ferguson.So he went from Charlie's home to Mary Wirsig's home in Taylor and stayed 5 or 6 days( in the meantime it had snowed about 5 inches (Lem, my husband always said) it was a rather fair morning so he said he was going to ride up to Ida's and stay a week with her, well he left Mary's about 10:30, the wind came up pretty soon and got colder every hour and finally you couldn't see and it was zero cold, no phone, no way of knowing he left nor knowing if he got to Ida's home:Well, on a Monday or Tuesday morning his faithful old horse was in Lem's parents yard waiting to be unsaddled and fed.Well, they knew something was wrong so they went down to Ida's to see what she knew.He had ate dinner with them the day he went to Aunt Marys and didn't know anything more so her husband and Lem's dad (Charlie) went down to Aunt Mary in Taylor.He left about 11 o'clock the day the blizzard came up and got colder - the temp fell to 30 below- next morning no wind so they told people in Taylor about him being lost;people turned out to hunt him.They found him the second day.There was a family living across the river and they figured he had taken shelter in the brush and a bank, but got sleepy and laid down, stomach on ground and arm under head.He probably thought he would go over there when morning came.They didn't know how long he had been gone - maybe lived in willows a day or so, thought someone would find him or come to cut willows for fuel and find him.Some thought the horse had waited 3 or 4 days for him to come to and some thought he had tied the horse to the willows and he would sleep arm under his forehead, coat all buttoned up.Water had ran, they had to chop him out of the ice, he hadn't moved after he laid down, Lem always said.
NOTE: Francis & Mary Ellen Britton are buried in Kent Cemetery, 5 miles east of Taylor about 3/4 to 1 mile south.
******************************************************************************Excerpt from Taylor Clarion Newspaper, Loup County, Nebraska, dated March 1, 1900.
Lost--Frozen to Death--
Francis Britton was buried on Sunday, Rev. Wizner officiating.Grand Pa Britton was born in Virginia eighty - one years ago last July.His boyhood days were spent in his native state and Ohio and previous to locating in Loup County, about 1887, he resided in Iowa and Kansas.His wife died three years ago last June, since which he has failed in health very fast.He leaves four sons and four daughters;all in this county except three - two in Iowa and one in Kansas.He has been a member of the Baptist church for twenty years, which is as far back as we can learn at this writing.
On Tuesday, the 13th, ult., he left his daughter's residence in Taylor, Mrs. F.A. Wirsig, in the afternoon, saying he was going home, which he made with another daughter, Mrs. Jos. Ferguson, about five miles northwest.That was the last seen of him until his body was found on Friday, the 23rd, on the ice about nine miles up the river, and no one knew he was missing until the day before, Thursday, when Mr. Ferguson came to town and chancing to meet Mr. Wirsig, the question was asked, "How is father?"As he could not be found at any of his usual stopping places it was soon noised around that he was lost north of the river and in a short time there were thirty or forty over there searching which was kept up until dark,The next morning over 50 started out and scoured the north side of the river when they found the body on the ice, and that is all that is known of his wandrings after he left town 13 days before.Had the finding of the body been delayed another day the chances are it would have been under the ice and there is no telling when it would have been found, perhaps never.
You all remember that was the Tuesday afternoon when the big snow storm commenced and continued for nearly 24 hours, and that Wed. night the wind blew quite hard, then of Fri. the wind blew so hard the snow was drifted into the low place and where there was anything to check it was piled up two foot deep or more.Consequently every track of whatever description made before Thursday morning was completely obliterated.
Mr. Britton had very poor eyesight - could not recognize an old friend ten feet distant, unless spoken to - so you can judge the condition he might have been in, as he had to face the storm.It would have staggered a well and strong young man.We are told this was the third or fourth time he strayed out of his course, but under more favorable conditions.
This is the saddest occurence we have ever been called upon to chronicle.Sad, to contemplate.Sad, for the manner of his death.Sad, to think that he, an old, feeble, blind, decrepit person should be allowed to start off, alone, in the face of such a storm.Sad, to think that a human being had been wandering indescriminately, lost, and finally obliged to lay his aching benumbed and weary body down on the cold ice with no covering to shield his emaciated form from the cold blasts of winter except the stars above, to breathe his last, almost within hailing distance of succor.
No news, probably, has ever shocked or caused the cold shivers to course through the veins of our community as did this.For four or five days past the air has been full of criticisms, etc., but if there is any blame to be laid at the door of any one for the sad occurences, we will leave it with the JUDGE of Judges.
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According to Cora Ferguson: he left Fort Madison, Iowa as a young man when gold was discovered in California in 1849. He sailed down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of Mexico.He boarded a ship and sailed around the southern tip of South America and back up to California where he searched for gold for several years.He didn't find any so he worked his way overland back to Fort Madison where he packed up his family and went to Nebraska
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from e-mail from [email protected] ( marilyn & glenn Britton) " my father-in-law, Harry Britton (dec.1979) used to tell us that 2 brothers came out to the Gold rush in California.'One became homesick for Iowa/Neb and went home and the other brother (who stayed) was not heard from again'
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According to Mahala Britton Thompson, Francis was born in Dublin, Ireland and came to this country alone as a young boy.She remembers him speaking with an Irish accent. [There doesn't seem to be any proof that Francis was born in Ireland.All records point to him being born in VA (now WV)
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According to Eva Britton (Letter 11/8/77
" I would say the Brittons left Iowa to get 640 acres of land for filing on it, then living on it for 5 to 7 years and put enough improvement on it to make it worth $1200 or $1500.It was poor land.Congress enacted the Homestead Act or law and people got homesteads.In 7 years, Congresss got taxes off those acres. Schools, churches, bridges and post offices were built, blacksmith shops, grocers store, roads & schools....When people came to Nebr. they followed a river for water for their family, for their horses.Most had a chicken crate on the side of the wagon, also a pig or so, and led a cow along ..
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According to Melvin Hyde letter 20 Apr 1978--Cora Ferguson says she can remember Francis quite well as he stayed at their place and she was 6 when he died.She said she liked him and got along good with him.She said he got himself in the predicament he did because no one could tell him what to do and his horse was lame and he wouldn't ride it.
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from letter of Ruth Wirsig " I have heard my mother tell of my gr grandfather Francis Britton, saying he was a very good singer. Also, left his family & went to look for gold in California.was gone for some time.She remembered of his death by freezing.
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Francis's tombstone says:FrancisDied Feb 18, 1900--Age 80 yr, 7 m. 14 days
Buried IN Kent Cemetery, Loup co, NE (1 mile south, 5 miles east & 1 mile south of Taylor.
[Griswold.FTW]
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In March 7, 1900 Democrat
Under Viele, IA news:News was received that Frank Britton, an old resident of Viele, IA was caught in a blizzard and froze to death in Nebraska where he had moved.
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******************POSSIBLE PARENTS OF FRANCIS*************************
1830 Ohio Guernsey Westland twp5 of 10
Joseph Britton (could be grandfather)
3 males 20-30
1 male 60-70
1 female 50-60
1840 Ohio GuernseyCambridge18 of 21
James Britton1 male 15-20
1 male 20-30 (Francis age 22)
1 male 30-40
1 male 40-50
1 female under 5
2 females5-10
1 female30 - 40
1850OhioGuernseyCambridge46 of 64
2061/2073James Britton52Farmer5200Ireland
Mary 40 f Ohio
Jane 18 Ohio
Nancy 15 Ohio
Mary A. 11 Ohio
Joseph 9 Ohio
1860IowaMadison co. Center Twp (Heritage Questpg 718)
498/498James Britton52 [sic should be 62] MFarmer1600/500Ireland
Mary O. Britton50 Ohio
Jisiah 20 m Ohio
1870 Iowa Dallas co, Union Twp(Heritage Questpg 619)
296/287Britton James74 IrelandBlind
Mary 60 Keeping houseOhio
James Britton b: c 1792Prince William co,VA m: Sarah/Sallie Dyeb: 1792Prince William co,VA;married 1813 Prince William co,VA
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Census history of Francis Britton & Mary Ellen Cherry
1850IowaLee Montrose twppg 406272/278
Francis Britton26 m FarmerVA
Ellen24 f Ohio
Mahela 3 f Ohio
James A. 1 m Iowa
1856 State CensusIowaLee Charleston twppg 13239/39
Francis Britton34 m m 7 VA farmernative votermilitia
Mary Ellon 25 f m 7 Ohiio
Mahala A. 9 f 7 Ohio
James A. 7 m 7 Iowa
Robt E. 1 m Iowa
1860 Iowa Lee Jefferson twpPO: Montrosepg 58429/410
Frank Britton36 m farmer200 Virginia
Mary 32 f Ohio
Mary Ann 13 f Iowa
James 11 m Iowa
Robert 7 m Iowa
Sarah 4 f Iowa
Charles 2 m Iowa
John3/12 m Iowa
1870 Iowa Lee Jefferson twppg 184b /16#2
BRITTEN Francis51 m w farmer4000 500 Virginia
Mary43 f w keeping houseOHIO
Albert 21 m w FarmerIowa
Robert16 m w attn/schoolIowa
Sarah 14 f w attn/school Iowa
Charles12 m w attn/school Iowa
John8 m w attn/school Iowa
Mary 7 f w attn/schoolIowa
Hallie5 m w attn/school Iowa
Ida3 f w Iowa
1880 Iowa Lee Jefferson twppg 5#43
Britton, Frank 57 farmerVA ENGLAND VA
Mary E. 54 wife keeping houseMD MD OHIO
Charles N. 21 son laborer on H.L?IA VA OH
John F. 20 son on farmIA VA OH
Hulda J 15 dau IA VA OH
Ida E. 13 dau IA VA OH
Bulard, Albert w m 4 gr. son IA IA IA
Charles A. w m 3 gr. son IA IA IA
Worsic Mary w f 18 daughtermarried Border IA IA IA
John G. 7/12 son IA IA IA
1885 state censusIowaLee Jeffersonpg 23#54
Francis Britton64 mVir
Mary E.57f Oho
John 24 Lee
Ida 18 f Lee
Albert Bullard 9 m Lee
Charles Bullard 7 m Lee
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--------------Index of Kent Cemetery------------------------
Britton
Albert -------------------- 1848-none
Dale ---------------------- 1917-1919
Edwin J. ------------------ 1882-1930
Frances ---------------------- d.1900
Jack ---------------------- 1893-1967
Joseph -------------------- 1890-1957
Mary E. ---------------------- d.1897
Orissa -------------------- 1855-1930
Robertie W. --------------- 1900-1902
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from "Loup Co Centennial Book"
More About Francis Britton:
Fact 3: 1856, census: Charleston Twp,Lee,IA pg.32.9
Fact 4: 1860, census:Jefferson twp,Lee,IApg.58.9
Fact 5: 1870, census:Jefferson Twp,Lee,IA pg.184.9
Fact 6: 1880, census:Jefferson Twp,Lee,IA pg.5.9
Fact 7: 1885, census: Jefferson Twp,Lee,IA pg.23.9
Resided: went to gold rush/CA.9
Stone: 1850, census: Montrose Twp,Lee,IA pg.401.9
Tombstone: 18 Feb 1900, died aged 80y, 7m,14d=== 4 Jul 1819.
Children of Francis Britton and Mary Ellen Cherry are:
- +Mahala Ann Britton, b. 11 Apr 1847, Guernsey co,OH9, d. 06 Apr 1917, Los Angeles,Los Angeles,CA9.
- +James Albert Britton, b. 25 Dec 1848, Lee co,IA9, d. 13 Apr 1934, Taylor,Loup,NE9.
- +Robert Efferoi Britton, b. 07 Aug 1853, Charleston Twp,Lee,IA9, d. 02 Aug 1930, Fort Madison,Lee,IA9.
- +Sarah Malinda Britton, b. 28 Jan 1855, Jefferson Twp.,Lee, IA9, d. 21 Jul 1878, Jefferson Twp.,Lee, IA9.
- +John F. Britton, b. 15 Mar 1860, Jefferson Twp.,Lee,IA9, d. 28 Mar 1926, Fort Madison,Lee,IA9.
- Mary Elizabeth Britton, b. 15 Jan 1862, Montrose, Lee,IA9, d. 08 Mar 1921, Taylor,Loup,NE9.
- Hulda (Hallie) Jane Britton, b. 23 Jun 1864, Lee co.,IA, d. 24 Mar 1912, Omaha,NE.
- Ida (Polly) Britton, b. 22 Nov 1866, Montrose, Lee,IA9, d. 27 Mar 1925, Taylor,Loup,NE9.
- +Charles Nicholas Britton, b. 17 Sep 1857, Montrose, Lee,IA, d. 13 Feb 1927, Taylor,Loup,NE.