Copyright 22 February 2004, Esther Doyle Read
Updated 15 July 2005
READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS
MELVILLE EWING COURSEN5
730. MELVILLE "EWING" COURSEN5, (Aaron Reed Coursen4, Sarah Ann Read/Reed3, Aaron Read2, Joseph Read1) was born 24 April 1858 in South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, the second son and child of Aaron Reed Coursen and Sarah Fonner. He died 9 December 1907 (Birth date from Marriage License Docket Vol. 2, 1887-1888, page 484; death date from Murcko 1996-1998). He appears in the records as "Melville," "Melvin," "Ewing" and "M.E. Coursen." His father names him as "Ewing" in his will, this appears to have been the family's prefered name (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). In 1860, Ewing lived with his parents and grandfather Coursen in North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was 2 years old (1860 United States Federal Census, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, 3 August 1860, page 842). His mother died on 21 October 1864, when Ewing was 6 years old. His father remarried by 1868. Ewing's new step-mother was his maternal aunt, Dorinda Fonner. In 1880, "Ewing" (as named in the census) resided with his father and step-mother/aunt in South Shenango Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. He was employed as a farmer (1880 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 118, South Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, 15 June 1880, page 166D).
On 23 August 1888, Crawford County issued marriage license no. 1182 to M.E. Coursen of South Shenago Township for his marriage to Myrta Eliose McKay, the daughter of Robert McKay. The wedding took place on 30 August 1888 at "the residence of the bride in Espyville..." in North Shenago Township, and was performed by the Rev. H.H. Hervey. Myrta was born 20 September 1862 (Marriage License Docket Vol. 2, 1887-1888, page 484). She was the daughter of Robert McKay.
In 1893, Ewing and Myrta Coursen lived in Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The county records show that M.E. Coursen was assessed for property valued at $2,421 for the school tax. He paid $7.05 in taxes (Crawford County Genweb). Ewing's father Aaron R. Coursen died two years later. Aaron did not leave Ewing real estate by his will. Instead Ewing received a monetary settlement after all the other estate debts were paid. This included half of the funds left from the sale of of Aaron Coursen's personal estate and of one of his farms; two hundred dollars from Ewing's brother William, who was given one of Aaron's farms; and the return of a note that Aaron held against Ewing. Ewing and his brother Elmer acted as the executors of the estate. Aaron's will was written 3 October 1895 and was admitted to probate on 10 December 1895 (Crawford County Wills Book H, page 494). The Letters Testementary were issued on 10 December 1895 and the final account for the estate was filed on 12 June 1897 (Crawford County Orphan's Court Register's Docket 7, 1895-1900, page 93). Ewing and his brother William had several business transactions which may be related to their father's estate, or to that of their brother Elmer (who died in 1902). Receipts and bills of sale were filed in the county courthouse on 13 September 1907 and 28 March 1908 (Crawford County Land Records Deeds Book No. 184, page 298 and No. 221, page 487).
In 1900, Ewing and Myrta lived on a farm in Summit Township. They owned the farm free and clear of all mortgages. According to the census, Myrta was the mother of three children, two of whom were living in 1900. Her daughter Sarah had died in 1892 at the age of 2. The two living children were Agnes and Marie. Ewing's occupation was given as farmer (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 44, Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 8A, 8 June 1900). By 1904, Ewing, Myrta, Agnes and Marie had moved to Wallace Street in the town of Linesville in Crawford County. The youngest Coursen daughter, Roberta, was born there on 4 January 1904 (Crawford County Births, Vol 2, 1893-1902, page 31, line 32). Ewing Coursen died shortly before Roberta's fourth birth on 9 December 1907 (Murcko 1996-1998). Mryta Coursen was probably dead by 1910, as she does not appear in the 1910 census. The eldest daughter, Agnes, died in December 1909, she was almost 21 years old. In 1910, the two surviving chidren, Marie and Roberta, lived with their mother's sisters (1910 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 17, Linesville, Pine Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 1B and Enumeration District 26, North Shenago Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 6B).
Ewing Coursen and Myrta McKay had 4 children who were born between 1889 and 1904 and 7 grandchildren who were born between 1917 and 1940. I have identified 6 great grandchidren and 1 great-grandchild. Total identified descendants equals 18.
CHILDREN OF MELVILLE EWING COURSEN AND MYRTA McKAY:
1358. (i.) MYRTLE "AGNES" COURSEN6, was born 23 May 1889, possibly in Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 8 December 1909 (Murcko 1996-1998). In 1900, she lived with her parents on the family farm in Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The census lists her name as Agnes and gives her birth date as May 1889. Agnes attended school during the census year (1900 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 44, Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, sheet 8A).
1359. (ii.) SARAH ANN COURSEN6, was born 16 August 1890, possibly in Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 13 September 1892 (Murcko 1996-1998).
1360. (iii.) SUSAN "MARIE" COURSEN6, was born 15 July 1895 in Summit Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 13 May 1928 (Linesville Cemetery; Murcko 1996-1998). She married Robert "Clair" Hays, on 3 January 1917 in Crawford County (Murcko 1996-1998; Crawford County Marriage License Docket Index, 1885-1951). He was the son of John and Fannie Hays of West Fallowfield Township, Crawford County. Clair was born 1897 in Pennsylvania and died 13 May 1928 (Linesville Cemetery). They are buried in Linesville Cemetery, Linesville, Pine Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. Their graves were visited on 5 July 2005.
1361. (iv.) ROBERTA McKAY COURSEN6, was born 4 January 1904 on Wallace Ave. in Linesville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania and died 27 May 1996 in Austin, Williamson County, Texas (Crawford County Births, Vol 2, 1893-1902, page 31, line 32; Social Security Death Index). Roberta married on 14 June 1937, George McKinley Hammers, as his second wife (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 11-50, 1st Ward, Johnstown City, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, sheet 5B, 9 April 1930; Murcko 1996-1998). He was born 20 September 1896 in Pennsylvania and died June 1963 in Texas (Social Security Death Index). Roberta remarried five years later on 8 July 1968. Her second husband was Gerald Fonner Smith. He was born 3 August 1905 and died September 1973. They were married in Bexar (pronounced bear) County, Texas (Social Security Death Index; Texas Marriage Index).
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by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read edrtjd@charm.net