Lydia Ann LONGWELL

  General Notes:

2nd Great Grandmother.
BIOGRAPHY: Lydia Ann Longwell was Ralph S. & Betsy (Thurston) Longwell's 7th child and was born June 1, 1834. In the "Brown Township Record Book of Births and Deaths" for the year ending in 1905,under deaths it states she was born in Brown Township ,Delaware County,OH. Lydia grew up with her eight sisters and two brothers near the town of Eden. I'm sure we have pictures of sisters and family in her photograph album, but to date only a few of them have been confirmed. She was 16 years old and living at home ,with her parents in Brown township, Delaware County,at the time of the 1850 census. The town of Eden was founded in 1836, by Daniel Greene Thurston who was Lydia's grandfather . "MARRIED- One the 1st. Inst. by B.F.Loofbourrow Esq. Mr. Morris C. Clay to Miss Lydia Longwell, all of this county" is the way it read in the January 9,1852 issue of the Delaware Daily News .In 1852, they bought lots 45 & 46 in the town of Eden. Much building was going on in Eden, in preparation for the railroad which was believed to be coming throught the town. During this period, the records show,on March 6,1855, Morris was elected supervisor of highways for Brown Township,. Morris was also paid for road planks he supplied. The railroad changed its mind and by-passed Eden and was directed towards Ashley. In 1854 Morris & Lydia sold their lot's in Eden, to Lydia's sister Esther and her husband, Willis Myers, and in 1856, they purchased 97 acres in Leesburg township, Union County near Phairsburg. Morris was a farmer at that location in the 1860 census. They had three children at that time of the 1860 census, Henry Franklin, Lucy E, and Mary A.. On September 26, 1862 Morris & Lydia had a forth child, Norton Albert Clay.
It is possible that when the war broke out in 1861, Morris , Lydia and family moved back to Eden. Things went well, until December 22 ,1864 tragedy struck with the death of Morris C. Clay . It is most likely Morris died from consumption* at this early age since this ran in his family, and two of his children died at age 29 from it. Lydia married for the second time on March 26,1868,in Delaware County,to Daniel E. Russell. Daniel died in less then a year. I have been trying to find out about Daniel Russell but have failed to uncovered anything. Lydia married a third time ,June 3,1869,to Joseph D.Fleming. ,who was a son of one of the early settlers of Delaware County. Joseph was a Civil War veteran who was in the 96th O.V.I.. He suffered a disability after a shell exploded in a tree and a limb fell on him at Arkansa post. He suffered from cronic diareia and could only work part time on his return from the service. In his military pension record it mentions Lydia's first two husbands by name and Josephs first wife, Sarah Cox who died around 1860. It also mentions he had no children under age. Joseph had at several children by his prior marriage,Alexander, Moses and Mary Fleming. Moses Fleming, who is mentioned in the 1880 History of Delaware County. Moses left the farm in 1870, shortly after the marriage of his father and Lydia, and later owned his own printing business in Delaware. In Joseph Fleming's petition of guardianship August 11, 1869, we see that Henry F. Clay aged 17 years October 11th next, Lucy Estelle Clay aged 13 years January 1st next,Mary Amelia Clay aged 11 years March 6th last & Norton Albert Clay aged 7 years Sept. 26th next ,children of Morris Clay, finally found a new father. Other guardianship cases are attached with this case. The next was in 1872 to M.M Glass, Hiram Hipple and John W. Longwell and the next in August of 1875 to the same. I don't understand why this happened. Perhaps Joseph and Lydia where unable to support the children. M.M. Glass was in charge of the County Infirmary. The accounts of payment to the children from the estate are included in these documents.
Together, Lydia A. Russell ,now Lydia Fleming,and Joseph D. Fleming had one daughter Maggie Fleming who only lived two years and twenty-six days (died August 26,1872). She was buried next to Morris C. Clay (right side) at Eden Cemetery. From Joseph's pention record we see that after his injury he was only able to do half the work as he could before. He was a farm laborer. They lived in Brown township in the 1870 Census but are found living in Liberty township at the time of the 1880 census. In a the book , " Roster of the Ninety - Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry 1862 to 1865 " compiled by Robert F. Bartlett in 1895, we see on page 101 under Company F. ..."Fleming, Joseph D. Age 38; enlisted July 29, 1862. Battles:Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, where wounded by shell; Vicksburg (absent, sick), Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. Transferred to Company A. November 18,1864, and to Veteran Reserve Corps December 21, 1864, and discharged at New Orleans, La., in June 1865; died June 18, 1889, at Eden, Delaware county, Ohio. Lydia A. Fleming, widow, Kilbourne, Ohio. "
Joseph D. Fleming is buried at Radnor Cemetery and has only a Veteran stone. Lydia A. Fleming (widow three times) drew a pension of $12.00 per month, which was used mostly helping others. After the death of her third husband Lydia , at the age of 55, had already experienced the death of three of her five children . Maggie Fleming in 1872, Henry Franklin Clay died on January 3, 1882 from consumption and daughter Lucy Estelle Gaylord on June 4, 1886 also from consumption. Lydia bought a house in Eden (lot 22) which she lived in the rest of her life. For her living, she wove rugs & carpets, on a heavy wooden loom. She also raised her grandson, Leon Earl Gaylord, who lost his mother soon after his birth. In the 1900 Census Lydia was living in a duplex house in Kilbourne by herself. Her occupation was a weaver. In August of 1904 the Delaware Gazette had a section on news from different townships on August 9th It mentioned Aunt Lydia Fleming had been ill for sometime and was not getting better. Lydia A. (Longwell) Fleming died August 15,1904 in Eden (Kilbourne). The funeral was held in her house. From the few pictures of Lydia we have, the one thing that stands out is her sad eyes which I'm sure was a part of her personality. She suffered the loss of so many loved ones in her life time.

!CENSUS: 1840 Census Delaware County, Brown twnship, page 208
1840 OHIO DEL BRN 208
#18. Ralph S. Longwell
Males: 1- 10 and under 15
1- 40 and under 50
Females:2- under 5
2- 5 and under 10
2- 10 and under 15
2- 15 and under 20
1- 30 and under 40
1- 60 and under 70

1850 Census Delaware County, Brown twnship, page 301
1850 OHIO DEL BRN 301
#1. Ralph S. Longwell 58 M Farmer PA(birth)
#2. Elizabeth " 46 F NY
#3. Albert " 20 M OH At.Sch.
#4. Lydia " 16 F " "
#5. Hester (Esther) " 12 F " "
#6. Phebe " 10 F " "
#7. Norton " 8 M " "
#8. MN?(Charles) " 6 M "
#9. Milla (Millie) " 3 F "

1860 OH. Union County, Leesburgh twp, P.O.Phairsburg , Page 34 : Morris Clay Morris Clay 30 M farmer (value of real estate)2232 born in N.Y. Leida Clay 26 F born in O. Henry Clay 7 M born in O. Lucy E.Clay 4 F born in O. Margaret Clay 1 F born in O.

1870 OH. Delaware County, Brown twp, P.O.Ashley Ohio, Page 2:Fleming,Joseph D. Joseph D. Fleming 46 M W farm laborer (250) born in Ohio Lydia Fleming 35 F W keeping house (400) born in Ohio Lucy E. Clay 13 F W attending school born in Ohio Mary E. Clay 11 F W attending school born in Ohio Albert N. Clay 8 M W attending school born in Ohio

1880 OH. Delaware County, Liberty twp,Page ? June 23, 1880;Fleming, Joseph D. Fleming, Joseph D. W M 67 Farmer Born in Ohio, Father born Virginia, Mother born Ohio Fleming, Lydia A. W F 44 Wife Keephouse

1880 OH. Delaware County, Brown twp, Page. 8 : Clay ,Norton Norton Clay W M 17 Servant place of birth Ohio

1900 OH. Delaware County, Brown twp,Page 33: Fleming, Lydia Fleming, Lydia Head W F birth:June 1834: mother of 5 : 2 children living: born in Ohio :father b.place Pennsylvania: mother b.place New York :occupation C. Weaver:months unemployeed 0:Education, can read Yes, can write yes, can speak english yes; Owns home free of mortgage, House.

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Brown, Delaware, Ohio; Roll: T623 1263; Page: 5A; .

Name Lydia A. Fleming
Gender Female
Death date 15 Aug 1904
Death place Kilbourne, Delaware, Ohio
Age in years 70
Birth date 1834
Birth place Brown Twp.
Occupation Housekeeper
Race White
Marital status Widowed
Batch number B01506-7
Record group Ohio-EASy
Film number 1983888

  Noted events in her life were:

• Marriage Contract: Marriage to Morris, 1 Jan 1852, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Personal Photo: Clays,Earl Gaylord,Lydia,John & Mary Moshier & children, 1892, Taken in front of Lydia's house (lot 22) Eden (Kilbourne), Ohio.

• Personal Photo: Lydia Presbyterian Church Picture, sister Millie on Left, 1900, Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.

• Burial: Lydia's Grave, 1904, Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.

Lydia married Morris C. CLAY, son of Ira CLAY and Lucy H. HUMISTON, on 1 Jan 1852 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.⁶ (Morris C. CLAY was born on 3 Oct 1829 in Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York, died on 22 Dec 1864 in Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio and was buried in Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.) The cause of his death was consumption.

  Marriage Notes:

Groom's Name: Morris C. Clay
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Lydia Longwell
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 01 Jan 1852
Marriage Place: Delaware,Ohio
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M51416-2
System Origin: Ohio-ODM
Source Film Number: 391395
Reference Number:
Collection: Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958

Lydia next married Daniel E. RUSSELL, son of Daniel RUSSELL and Harriet LINDSEY, on 26 Mar 1868 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States. (Daniel E. RUSSELL was born about 1834 in Ohio and died about 1868 in Ohio.)

  Marriage Notes:

By Wm Williams J.P.

Lydia next married Joseph D. FLEMING, son of Moses B. FLEMING and Mary Polly DUNLAP, on 3 Jun 1869 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States. (Joseph D. FLEMING was born on 10 Jun 1823 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States, died on 18 Jun 1889 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States and was buried in Radnor, Delaware, Ohio, United States.)