Copyright 22 February 2004, Esther Doyle Read
Updated 15 July 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
AARON REED COURSEN4
368. AARON REED COURSEN4, (Sarah Ann Read/Reed3, Aaron Read2, Joseph Read1) was born 22 October 1833 in Warren County, New Jersey and died at 2 A.M, on 5 December 1895 at his home in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Crawford County death records; Murcko 1996-1998). While the county death records list his death as 3 October, the county's probate records give the date of death as 5 December 1895, as does his grave stone (Espeyville Cemetery; Crawford County Orphans Court Registers Docket Docket 7, page 93). Aaron married first, on 22 May 1856, Sarah Fonner, the daughter of William Fonner and Margaret Quick. She was born 10 January 1836 in Pennsylvania and died 21 October 1864. After Sarah's death, Aaron married her elder sister, Dorinda Fonner. Dorinda was born 3 August 1829 in Pennsylvania and died 6 January 1895 (Epsyville Cemetery; Fonner n.d.; 1870 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 488). Aaron, Sarah and Dorinda are buried in Espyville Cemetery, Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Espeyville Cemetery; Crawford County death records). Their graves were visited on 5 July 2005.
Aaron Reed Coursen had four children by Sarah Fonner and one child by Dorinda Fonner, for a total of 5 children born between 1867 and 1868. There were 7 granchildren who were born between 1889 and 1904 and 8 great grandchildren who were born between 1917 and 1940. I have identified 10 second great-grandchildren and 2 third great-grand child. Total identified descendants equals 32.
CHILDREN OF AARON REED COURSEN AND SARAH FONNER:
729. (i.) WILLIAM McKENDRA COURSEN5, was born 11 March 1857 in Pennsylvania, probably in South Shenago Township, Crawford County and died 18 January 1917 in South Shenago Township (Birth date from Murcko 1996-1998 and his grave stone; death date from his gravestone). Murcko gives his date of death as February 1945 which is incorrect as William's probate records all date to 1921 and 1922 (Crawford County Orphans Court Index to Registers Dockets, 1800-1970, Vol. A-K) and as his grave stone is clearly marked as 1917. William appears on the 1860 census as a 3 year old child living with his grandfather Coursen and his mother and father in South Shenago Township (1860 United States Federal Census, South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 842, 3 August 1860). His mother died when he was 7 years old. His father married his mother's older sister, Dorinda Fonner. In 1870, William lived with his father and his step-mother/aunt on their farm in South Shenago Township. William attended school during the census year (1870 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 488). He is listed as a farmer on the 1880 census. He still resided at home in 1880 with his family in South Shenango Township (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 118, South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 166D, 15 June 1880). His father died in late 1895. By the terms of Aaron's will, William received "...the farm east of rail road known as the Davis place..." with the stipulation that he pay his brothers Ewing and Elmer each two hundred dollars within two years of Aaron's death. Aaron's will was dated 3 October 1895 and was admitted for probate on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). William began purchasing additional land in Crawford County in about 1897. This included 135 acres in South Shenago from Laura A. Campbell (Crawford County Land Records, hereinafter CCLR, Deeds Book W, no. 6, page 108, recorded 28 October 1897); 20 acres in South Shenago from Ray D. Carkhuff (CCLR, Deeds Book No. 180, page 8, recorded 13 September 1907); 107 acres in Summit Township from H.H. Finley (CCLR, Deeds Book No. 194, page 579, recorded 28 December 1911); and 1 1/2 acres in South Shenago from Clarence G. Wagner (CCLR, Deeds Book No. 221, page 487, recorded 31 January 1921 by the administrator of his estate). In 1900, William was a resident of South Shenago Township. He lived with his sisters Lizzie and Meltha. The three siblings lived on a farm in the township. Whether this was the farm inherited by William or the one inherited by his sisters is currently unknown. The family owned the farm free and clear of any mortgages. William and his sisters lived in dwelling 207. Their brother Elmer lived in dwelling 193 (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 37, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 9B, 20 June 1900). The 1910 and 1920 censii list William M.K. Coursen as a resident of South Shenago Township. In both 1910 and 1920 he was listed as a farmer. He was the only resident of his household in 1910 and 1920. He had never married (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 37, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, Sheet 2A, 16 April 1910; 1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeraton District 38, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 4B, 12 January 1920). William died intestate on 13 January 1921. R. Clair Hays was appointed as the Adminstrator of William's estate. Clair Hays was the husband of William's niece Marie Coursen. His estate inventory value was $1,540.71. The final account was submitted on 5 January 1922 (Crawford County Orphans Court Index to Registers Dockets, 1800-1970, Vol. A-K). William is buried in Espeyville Cemetery next to the Methodist church in the town of Espeyville, North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He is buried with his parents and his step-mother/aunt. The Coursen family plot was visited on 5 July 2005.
730. (ii.) MELVILLE "EWING" COURSEN5, was born 24 April 1858 in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 9 December 1907 (Birth date from Crawford County Marriage License Docket Vol. 2, 1887-1888, page 484; death date from Murcko 1996-1998). He appears in the records as "Melvin," as "Melville" as "Ewing" and as "M.E. Coursen." His father names him as "Ewing" in his will (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). Ewing married Myrta Eliose McKay on 30 August 1888 at "the residence of the bride in Espyville..." in North Shenago Township, the ceremony was performed by the Rev. H.H. Hervey (Marriage License Docket Vol. 2, 1887-1888, page 484).
731. (iii.) ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" OPHELIA COURSEN5, was born 30 October 1859 in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 7 March 1935, in Trumball County, Ohio (Murcko 1996-1998; Ohio Death Certificate Index, Volume Number: 7785 Certificate Number: 20510). She appears on the 1860 United States Federal Census as a six month old infant residing with her parents and grandfather Coursen in South Shenago Township (1860 United States Federal Census, South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 842, 3 August 1860). Her mother died when she was about four year old. Her father married Dorinda Fonner as his second wife by 1867. Dorinda Fonner was Lizzie's aunt, she was the sister of Lizzie's mother. Lizzie lived with her father and Dorinda in 1870. She attended school during the census year (1870 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 488). In 1880, Lizzie still resided with her father and step-mother/aunt in South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The census does not list an occupation for her (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 118, South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 166D, 15 June 1880). Lizzie's father died in October 1895; Lizzie was 35 years old. By the terms of his will, Aaron left "...the farm I live on known as the Johnson place to my two daughters Lizzie O. Coursen and Meltha V. Coursen equal between them." Aaron's will was dated 3 October 1895 and was admitted for probate on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). In 1900, Lizzie resided with her brother William and half-sister Meltha on a farm in South Shenago Township. Neither Lizzie nor Meltha were employed. William was a farmer. All three siblings were single. The 1900 census is the only census to list Lizzie's full name: "Elizabeth." William, Lizzie and Meltha lived in dwelling 207, their brother Elmer lived in dwelling 193 with his wife and son, Neither Lizzie nor Meltha gave their date of birth or age to the census taker, those sections of the census were left blank (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 37, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 9B, 20 June 1900). By 1920, Lizzie and her sister Meltha were living in Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio which is just over the state line from Crawford County, Pennsylvania. In 1920, the two sisters rented their home, the census gives their occupations as "home making." By 1930, they had bought a home on State Route #87 between Burton and Kinsman in Bloomfield Township. The house was valued at $1,600. Neither sister was employed (1920 United Federal Census, Enumeration District 265, Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio, sheet 2B, 9 January 1920; 1930 United Federal Census, Enumeration District 78-3, Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio, sheet 7B, 19 April 1930). Lizzie died five years later on 7 March 1935 in Trumball County, Ohio (Murcko 1996-1998; Ohio Death Certificate Index, Volume Number: 7785 Certificate Number: 20510). Lizzie is buried in the same plot with her half-sister Meltha in the Espeyville Cemetery next to the Methodist church in the town of Espeyville, North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Their parents are buried in their same cemetery. The graves of Lizzie and Meltha were visited on 5 July 2005.
732. (iv.) ELMER FREEMONT COURSEN5, was born 1 June 1861 in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 22 April 1902 in Pine Township, Crawford County, as a result of measles (Birth date from Crawford County Marriage License Docket Vol. 6, 1893-1896, page 8; Death date from Crawford County Deaths Vol. 1, 1892-1903, page 43, line 27). He married Jennie I. Nicolls, on 3 October 1893 in Spring Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The wedding was performed by the Rev. J.W. Douglass (Crawford County Marriage License Docket Vol. 6, 1893-1896, page 8). After Elmer's death, Jennie married George A. Woodard on 4 October 1904 in Linesville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. D.G. Gillett (Crawford County Marriage License Docket Vol. 10, 1903-1907, page 161). Elmer, Jennie and George are all buried in Lot D11 Conneautville Cemetery, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Elmer was buried on 24 April 1902 (Crawford County Deaths Vol. 1, 1892-1903, page 43, line 27; Crawford County GenWeb). Their graves were visited on 5 July 2005.
CHILD OF AARON REED COURSEN AND DORINDA FONNER:
733. (v.) MELTHA VALNETTE COURSEN5, was born 16 January 1868 in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died February 1945, possibly in Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio (Murcko 1996-1998). She appears on the 1870 census as a 3 year old child living with her father and mother and her four older half-siblings in South Shenago (1870 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 488). In 1880, Meltha resided with his father and mother in South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. According to the census, she attended school that year (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 118, South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 166D, 15 June 1880). Meltha was in the rather interesting position of being not only a half-sister to her father's first four children, but also their first cousin, as Sarah Fonner (the other four children's mother) was Meltha's aunt. Meltha's father died in October 1895, when she was 27 years old. By the terms of his will, Meltha and her elder half-sister Lizzie received "...the farm I live on known as the Johnson place..." to be divided "...equal between them." Aaron's will was dated 3 October 1895 and was admitted for probate on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). In 1900, Meltha resided with her half-brother William and half-sister Lizzie on a farm in South Shenago Township. Neither Lizzie nor Meltha were employed. William was a farmer. All three siblings were single. William, Lizzie and Meltha lived in dwelling 207, their brother Elmer lived in dwelling 193 with his wife and son. Neither Meltha nor Lizzie gave their date of birth or age to the census taker, those sections of the census were left blank (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 37, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 9B, 20 June 1900). By 1920, Meltha and her sister Lizzie were living in Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio which is just over the state line from Crawford County, Pennsylvania. In 1920, the two sisters rented their home, the census gives their occupations as "home making." By 1930, they had bought a home on State Route #87 between Burton and Kinsman in Bloomfield Township. The house was valued at $1,600. Neither sister was employed (1920 United Federal Census, Enumeration District 265, Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio, sheet 2B, 9 January 1920; 1930 United Federal Census, Enumeration District 78-3, Bloomfield Township, Trumball County, Ohio, sheet 7B, 19 April 1930). Meltha's sister Lizzie died five years later on 7 March 1935. Meltha lived another 10 years. She died in February 1945 (Murcko 1996-1998). It is possible that she died in Ohio. Neither Meltha or her half-sister Lizzie ever married. Meltha is buried in the same plot with Lizzie in the Espeyville Cemetery next to the Methodist church in the town of Espeyville, North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Their parents are also buried in their same cemetery. The graves of Lizzie and Meltha were visited on 5 July 2005. Meltha's date of death was never cut on her grave stone.
Aaron Reed Coursen was the only child of Sarah Ann Read and William Hampton Coursen. He was born on 22 November 1833 in Warren County, New Jersey and was named after his grandfather, Aaron Read. Aaron Coursen's middle name appears in the records spelled with the double "ee" rather than the "ea" spelling. Nine days after Aaron's birth, Sarah died (Kern 1938; Newberry c1934; Union Brick Cemtery). His father never remarried. Aaron was raised by his father and his grandmother Elsy (Elsie) Kerr Coursen. The Read, Kerr and Coursen families were closely connected through marriages. One of Aarons' first cousins, Jacob Coursen (son of Isaac Coursen), married Aaron's second cousin Hannah Read4 (Isaac Read, III3, John Read2, Joseph Read1). Aaron's uncle Isaac Coursen , married as his second wife, Mary Gobel, the widow Kerr (known as "Polly"). Her son (Isaac's step-son) was Ira Kerr. Ira Kerr married Aaron's first cousin once-removed, Phebe Read3 (Isaac Read, Sr.2, Joseph Read1).
Aaron's father William Coursen, settled in Crawford County, Pennsylvania between 1833 and 1840. In 1840, he and Aaron lived in South Shenago Township in Crawford County. Aaron's grandmother Elsy Coursen accompanied William and Aaron to their new home. She kept house for her son and grandson. The 1840 Census lists three individuals in William Coursen's household:
Table 1: Household of William Hampton Coursen in 1840
1840 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 7
Sex |
Age |
Probable Individual |
Birth Date |
One male |
30 to 39 years (1801-1810) |
William Hampton Coursen |
16 May 1802 |
One male |
5 to 9 years (1831-1835) |
Aaron Reed Coursen |
22 October 1833 |
One female |
50 to 59 years (1781-1790) |
Elsy Kerr Coursen |
. |
Aaron's Uncle Jacob Coursen, lived next-door. The Fonner family also lived near-by. Aaron eventually married Sarah Fonner. After Sarah died, Aaron married her sister Dorinda. The two sisters and Aaron grew-up together.
William Coursen purchased a farm in South Shenago Township from the estate of Stepehn Barlow. The deed was recorded in the county courthouse on 15 May 1854 (Crawford County Land Records, hereinafter CCLR, Deeds Book I, no.2, page 218). According to the 1850 census, William owned real estate in South Shenago Township which was valued at $900. The 1850 census gives his occupation as farmer. The 1850 Coursen household was the same as the 1840 household.
Table 2: Household of William Coursen in 1850
1850 United States Federal Census
South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 242B
Name |
Age |
Occupation |
Place of Birth |
Coursen, William |
48 |
Farmer |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Elsy |
66 |
None listed |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Aaron |
17 |
None listed |
New Jersey |
The family still lived adjacent to Aaron's Uncle Jacob. Jacob's family included Jacob (age 46), his wife Mary (age 42). and their eight children—Elizabeth (age 20), Marshall (age 17), Silvia (age 15), James (age 11), Margaret (age 10), Catherine (age 8), Jacob (age 4) and Amanda (age 2). William was in dwelling 198 and Jacob was in dwelling 199. The Fonner family lived in dwelling 196. Their household included William and Margaret Fonner (ages 56 and 52 respectively) and their six children—Amanda (age 23), Dorinda (age 20), Cyrus (age 19), Emily (age 16), Sarah (age 14) and William Harrison (age 10).
Aaron Coursen married Sarah Fonner on 22 May 1856. He purchased 21 acres and 106 perches in South Shenago Township from William H. Johnson sometime before 7 February 1860 (when the deed was recorded at the county court house; CCLR Deeds, Book S, no. 2, page 550). This parcel was known as the "Johnson Place" and was Aaron's home farm at the time of his death in 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). The land is valued at $450 in the 1860 census (1860 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 841 A and B). Aaron first appears in the Crawford County Tax Records in 1856, the year of his marriage. He owned 21 acres of land valued by the county assessor at $126. He also owned a buggy, but no horses. The buggy was assessed at $20. Aaron's father did not own any horses, but his father-in-law William Fonner owned 4 horses. Aaron paid $0.97 in county tax and $0.48 in state tax. The following year, Aaron owned 4 oxen, a cow and 6 horses. He also owned a carriage. Aaron held his original 21 acres, as well as an additional 17 acres (Crawford County Board of County Commissioners, hereinafter CCBCC).
When the census was taken in 1860, Aaron and Sarah were living with Aaron's father. William "Corson" was the head of the household. He was listed as a farmer who held real estate valued at $6,500 and a personal estate valued at $6,026. Aaron's and land was valued at $450. William, Aaron and Sarah lived in dwelling 831. Sarah's parents, William and Margaret Fonner were in dwelling 830. Three of Sarah's siblings were still living at home: Dorinda, Emily and William Harrison. William Courson's brother Jacob lived in dwelling 832. William's mother (and Aaron's grandmother) Elsy Kerr Coursen died on 12 February 1856, shortly before Aaron married Sarah Fonner. Elsy was buried in the famiy plot in Espeyville Cemetery next to the Methodist Church in the town of Espeyville, North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. In addition to the family members living in the household in 1860, the family had a young girl living with them as domestic help. Her name was Mary Bowman, she was an 11 year old native of Pennsylvania. Sarah had a full household to care for which included two adult males and 3 children under the age of four. These children were William McKendra, Melville Ewing and Elizabeth Ophelia. The census gave Melville's name as "Melvina" and his sex as female. However, this child was definitely Melville Ewing and not "Melvina." According to the census the child was 2. Melville Ewing Coursen celebrated his second birthday on 24 April 1860 (Crawford County Marriage License Docket Vol. 2, page 484).
Table 3: Household of William Coursen in 1860
1860 United States Federal Census
South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 841 A and B
Name |
Age |
Occupation |
Place of Birth |
Coursen, Wm H. |
58 |
Farmer |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Aaron |
26 |
Farmer |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Sarah |
24 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Wm M. |
3 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Melvin |
2 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Lizzie O. |
6 Months |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Bowman, Mary |
11 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Aaron's maternal grandfather, Aaron Read, died 19 January 1861. His will (which was written on 4 November 1856) was admitted for probate on 30 January 1861. By the terms of the will, Aaron Coursen was to have a half share of the proceeds of the sale of Aaron Read's land. His Lanning cousins (the children of his mother's sister Lidia Read Lanning) received a full share of the proceeds. The rest of the money from the sale was divided equally between Aaron's Uncle Samuel Cooke Read and his Aunts Catherine Read Kinney and Mary Read McMurtrie (the younger half-siblings of his mother) (Warren County Surrogate Court Records Wills, Book 3, page 418).
Aaron's father William still lived with him in 1870. Unlike the 1860 census where William was the head-of-household, Aaron was listed on the 1870 census as the head. Aaron's first wife, Sarah Fonner, had died in 1864 and Aaron married her sister Dorinda as his second wife. In 1870, the Coursen family included William, Aaron and Dorinda, Aaron's four children by Sarah (William, Ewing, Lizzie and Elmer) and his daughter Meltha by Dorinda.
Table 4: Household of William Coursen in 1870
1870 United States Federal Census
South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 488
Name |
Age |
Occupation |
Place of Birth |
Coursen, Aaron |
38 |
Farmer |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Dorinda |
40 |
Keeping house |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, William |
13 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Ewing |
11 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Lizzie |
9 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Elmer |
8 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Meltha |
3 |
None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, William |
69 |
Farmer |
New Jersey |
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds several microfilm rolls of Crawford County Taxes for the years 1849 through 1870. Aaron first appeared on the tax rolls in 1856, the year he was married. His father was listed on every assessment from 1849 through 1870. Before Aaron was married, William owned 50 acres of land and, depending on the year, one or two cows and horses. It is assumed that because William and Aaron lived together, they shared the duties on the farm equally, although each man owned his own land and stock. Table 4 is a summary of all the land and stock owned by William and Aaron between 1856 and 1870 (see Tax Record link above for individual holdings):
Table 5: Land and Stock holdings 1856 - 1870
Crawford County Tax Records
Year |
Acres |
Horses |
Cows |
Oxen |
1856 |
71 |
. |
2 |
. |
1857 |
71 |
6 |
3 |
4 |
1858 |
71 |
3 |
3 |
. |
1859 |
68 |
3 |
4 |
. |
1860 |
68 |
2 |
3 |
. |
1861 |
68 |
3 |
4 |
. |
1862 |
68 |
2 |
3 |
. |
1863 |
68 |
3 |
2 |
. |
1864 |
68 |
2 |
2 |
. |
1865 |
68 |
2 |
2 |
. |
1866 |
68 |
2 |
2 |
. |
1867 |
68 |
2 |
2 |
. |
1868 |
68 |
1 |
2 |
. |
1869 |
139 |
3 |
3 |
. |
1870 |
139 |
2 |
2 |
. |
During the period 1856 to 1868, William and Aaron held a fairly constant amount of land. William sold off 3 acres in 1859. Aaron added to his holdings in 1868, when he purchased his uncle Jacob Coursen's 75 acre farm (CCLR Deeds Book Q no. 3, pages 322). This is reflected in the jump from 68 assessed acres in 1868 to 139 assessed acres in 1869. Aaron owned 4 oxen in 1857 (CCBCC). This is the only year in which he was assessed for oxen. He owned these animals the year after he purchased his original 21 acre farm. He may have purchased them to aid him in clearing and breaking new land, and then sold them as soon as the task was completed. This would have included dragging trees and stumps from wooded areas, clearing stumps and plowing.
Between 1857 and 1862, the Coursens generally owned three cows. There were two years when they were assessed for four cows (1859 and 1861). Although the two men owned the cows, Sarah Fonner Coursen would have done most of the dairy work in terms of producing butter and cheese. Between 1862 and 1870, the family generally owned two cows. They were assessed for one cow in 1868 and three cows in 1869 (CCBCC). Sarah died in 1864. Her sister Dorinda took over the work associated with dairy production when she married Aaron. It is possible that Sarah produced enough butter and cheese for sale. By 1868 there were five children and three adults in the household, yet the number of cows owned by the family was less than they had owned in the late 1850s when there were fewer children in the house.
The number of horses owned by the family was generally two. In 1857, Aaron personally owned 6 horses. The number was cut in half the following year. By 1860, the number was reduced to two. The family owned two horses from that date forward, except in the years 1861, 1863 and 1869 when they owned three, and in 1868 when they owned one horse. William Coursen never owned a buggy or a carriage. Aaron was assessed for a buggy in 1856 and for a carriage in 1857 and 1858 (he owned 6 horses in 1857 and at least 2 in 1858). Aaron was also assessed for a buggy in 1867 (CCBCC).
Aaron Coursen's household in 1880 included Aaron and Dorinda Coursen, Aaron's four children by Sarah, his daughter by Dorinda, and his father, William Coursen. William Coursen was listed as a retired farmer (he was 78 years old). Aaron and his sons William, Ewing and Elmer were all listed as farmers.
Table 6: Household of William Coursen in 1880
1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 118, South Shenago Township,
Crawford County, Pennsylvania, page 166D
Name |
Age |
Status - Occupation |
Place of Birth |
Coursen, Aaron |
46 |
Head - Farmer |
New Jersey |
Coursen, Dorinda |
50 |
Wife - Keeping House |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, William |
23 |
Son - Farmer |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Ewing |
21 |
Son - Farmer |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Lizzie |
19 |
Daughter - None listed |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Elmer |
17 |
Son - Farmer |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, Meltha |
11 |
Daughter - At School |
Pennsylvania |
Coursen, William |
78 |
Father - Retired Farmer |
New Jersey |
William Coursen died 1 February 1884, a few months short of his 82nd birthday (Espeyville Cemetery; Murcko 1996-1998). Dorinda Fonner Coursen died 6 January 1895. Aaron Reed Coursen died at less than a year later at 2 A.M, on 5 December 1895 at his home in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Crawford County death records; Espeyville Cemetery; Murcko 1996-1998). The county death records list his death as 3 October, but the county's probate records give the date of death as 5 December 1895, as does Aaron's grave stone. His will was dated 3 October 1895, which may be the source of the October date (Crawford County Orphans Court Registers Docket Docket 7, page 93). The cause of death was heart failure, which the death records indicate was a sudden illness. Aaron was 62 years old at the time of his death. The County Death records indicate that he was buried in Espyville Cemetery on 7 October 1895, but it is more likely that it was 7 December 1895. Aaaron was buried in the same plot with his two wive—the sisters Sarah and Dorinda Fonner, his father William Coursen, his grandmother Elsy Kerr Coursen and his uncle Jacob Coursen. Aaron and Sarah's son William McKendra Cojursen was buried in the family plot in 1917. Aaron's daughters Lizzie (by Sarah) and Meltha (by Dorinda) were buried in another part of the cemetery. Their graves were visited on 5 July 2005.
Aaron's will was written 3 October 1895. Witnesses to the will were Mrs. A.D. Hart and W.W. Campbell. Mrs. A.D. Hart was pobably Anna Hart. She and William W. Campbell resided in households that were listed next to one another on the 1900 census. Anna Hart was born in November 1828, she was about 67 years old at the time of Aaron's death. William W. Campbell was born June 1848 (making him about 45 years old when he witnessed the will). In 1900 they both lived in South Shenago Township in close proximity to William, Lizzie and Meltha Coursen (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 37, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 10A, 21 June 1900).
Aaron's will was admitted to probate on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). Aaron appointed his sons Ewing and Elmer as his executors. Letters Testementary were issued to Elmer and Ewing on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Orphan's Court Register's Docket 7, 1895-1900, page 93). By the terms of the will, Aaron's son William received "...the farm east of rail road known as the Davis place..." with the stipulation that he pay his brothers Ewing and Elmer each two hundred dollars within two years of Aaron's death. Ewing and Elmer each received a monetary settlement from the estate. This included the money from William, half of the proceeds from the sale of one of Aaron Coursen's farms and his personal estate after all estate debts were paid and the return of notes that their father held against them. Aaron gave "...the farm I live on known as the Johnson place to my two daughters Lizzie O. Coursen and Meltha V. Coursen equal between them" (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). An inventory of Aaron's estate was filed on 14 December 1895. Total estate value was $1,359.29. The sale of the farm amounted to $1,581.93. This farm was 127 acres of land in South Shenago Township. The sale was made to Samuel Deforest and was recorded on 13 April 1896 (CCLR, Deeds Book P no. 6, pages 697). Ewing and Elmer filed the final account of the estate on 12 June 1897. Aaron's total assets came to $6,741.47, he had credits against the estate amounting to $5,172.76. This left a balance of $1,568.71 as the final distribution amount (Crawford County Orphan's Court Register's Docket 7, 1895-1900, page 93).
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