Benjamin Pierce's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related.
Ben was born in New York about 1852. Later in his life he went by Benjamin, but as a child he was called Benajah which is the biblical name of a warrior of David. It is pronounced Ben-NAY-uh.
His mother, Catherine, was born in New Jersey about 1816. His father, Silvanus Pierce, was born in New York about 1810 and was a veteran of the US Civil War. Ben's siblings (all born in New York) included: Lucy (born about 1848), Albert (about 1850), and Franklin (about 1855).
During the New York census of 1855, Ben was 3 years old and living with his parents and siblings in Corning, New York where his father was a teamster. At the time of the census of 1860, Ben was 8 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Howell, Michigan. His father was farming.
In the mid-1870s Ben married Ida Mae Niles who was born in Michigan in January of 1858 or 1859. They had at least two children (both born in Michigan): Edward D. (born in 1876) and Madora "Dora" (in 1880). Ida did have another child, but the child died before 1900 and may have been the child of a later husband.
In the census of 1880, Ben was listed in Howell, Michigan with Ida, 3 year old Edward, and 1 month old Madora. Next door to them were Ben's parents Silvanus and Catherine Pierce as well as Ben's brother Franklin.
Ben & Ida divorced in Michigan in June 1888. On 5/7/1891 she married Homer Lee Sprague in Oak Grove, Michigan. He was born in Michigan about 1852. It was the second marriage for each of them. Ben & Ida's daughter took the name Sprague and would later identify Homer as her father. However Ben's son Edward kept the name Pierce and seemed to always identify Ben as his father.
It is not known what became of Homer Sprague. On 12/24/1895 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan Ida married William Harrison Ashley, a farmer. It was his second marriage and her third. William enlisted in the US Army during the US Civil War when he was 14 years old. He had several children from his first marriage one of which was Frank Benjamin Ashley. On 12/29/1897 Ida & Ben's daughter Madora married her step-brother Frank Ashley.
In 1900 Ida and William Ashley were living in Arlington, Michigan. Meanwhile Madora and Frank were living in Liberty, Indiana where Frank was a freight agent. Frank & Madora divorced before 1907. It is not known what became of her.
In 1908 Ben's son Edward married Bertha Trowbridge in Michigan. They had at least two children: Horace Joseph (born in 1909) and Russell Anthony (in 1912).
At the time of the 1900 census Ben was single, living in Portland, Oregon in a large boarding house. He was working in a sawmill. In the census of 1920 Ben was listed as "married" but he was not living with a wife. He was a roomer in The Dalles, Oregon where he was a janitor.
By 12/19/1930 Ben had been admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was reportedly senile. After being a patient at the institution for almost 8 years he died there on 10/16/1938. The cause of death was arteriosclerosis.
He was listed as a widow. His ex-wife Ida had died in Michigan on 9/25/1936. She was buried at Hicks Cemetery in Bangor, Michigan and shares a headstone with her husband William Ashley who died in 1939. Son Edward died in 1956. Grandson Horace died in June 1969. He never had children. Grandson Russell A. Pierce married Clara E. Wendel in 1940 in Ohio. They raised 3 children. He died 5/24/1976.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Ben was born in New York about 1852. Later in his life he went by Benjamin, but as a child he was called Benajah which is the biblical name of a warrior of David. It is pronounced Ben-NAY-uh.
His mother, Catherine, was born in New Jersey about 1816. His father, Silvanus Pierce, was born in New York about 1810 and was a veteran of the US Civil War. Ben's siblings (all born in New York) included: Lucy (born about 1848), Albert (about 1850), and Franklin (about 1855).
During the New York census of 1855, Ben was 3 years old and living with his parents and siblings in Corning, New York where his father was a teamster. At the time of the census of 1860, Ben was 8 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Howell, Michigan. His father was farming.
In the mid-1870s Ben married Ida Mae Niles who was born in Michigan in January of 1858 or 1859. They had at least two children (both born in Michigan): Edward D. (born in 1876) and Madora "Dora" (in 1880). Ida did have another child, but the child died before 1900 and may have been the child of a later husband.
In the census of 1880, Ben was listed in Howell, Michigan with Ida, 3 year old Edward, and 1 month old Madora. Next door to them were Ben's parents Silvanus and Catherine Pierce as well as Ben's brother Franklin.
Ben & Ida divorced in Michigan in June 1888. On 5/7/1891 she married Homer Lee Sprague in Oak Grove, Michigan. He was born in Michigan about 1852. It was the second marriage for each of them. Ben & Ida's daughter took the name Sprague and would later identify Homer as her father. However Ben's son Edward kept the name Pierce and seemed to always identify Ben as his father.
It is not known what became of Homer Sprague. On 12/24/1895 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan Ida married William Harrison Ashley, a farmer. It was his second marriage and her third. William enlisted in the US Army during the US Civil War when he was 14 years old. He had several children from his first marriage one of which was Frank Benjamin Ashley. On 12/29/1897 Ida & Ben's daughter Madora married her step-brother Frank Ashley.
In 1900 Ida and William Ashley were living in Arlington, Michigan. Meanwhile Madora and Frank were living in Liberty, Indiana where Frank was a freight agent. Frank & Madora divorced before 1907. It is not known what became of her.
In 1908 Ben's son Edward married Bertha Trowbridge in Michigan. They had at least two children: Horace Joseph (born in 1909) and Russell Anthony (in 1912).
At the time of the 1900 census Ben was single, living in Portland, Oregon in a large boarding house. He was working in a sawmill. In the census of 1920 Ben was listed as "married" but he was not living with a wife. He was a roomer in The Dalles, Oregon where he was a janitor.
By 12/19/1930 Ben had been admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was reportedly senile. After being a patient at the institution for almost 8 years he died there on 10/16/1938. The cause of death was arteriosclerosis.
He was listed as a widow. His ex-wife Ida had died in Michigan on 9/25/1936. She was buried at Hicks Cemetery in Bangor, Michigan and shares a headstone with her husband William Ashley who died in 1939. Son Edward died in 1956. Grandson Horace died in June 1969. He never had children. Grandson Russell A. Pierce married Clara E. Wendel in 1940 in Ohio. They raised 3 children. He died 5/24/1976.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Benjamin Pierce's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related.
Ben was born in New York about 1852. Later in his life he went by Benjamin, but as a child he was called Benajah which is the biblical name of a warrior of David. It is pronounced Ben-NAY-uh.
His mother, Catherine, was born in New Jersey about 1816. His father, Silvanus Pierce, was born in New York about 1810 and was a veteran of the US Civil War. Ben's siblings (all born in New York) included: Lucy (born about 1848), Albert (about 1850), and Franklin (about 1855).
During the New York census of 1855, Ben was 3 years old and living with his parents and siblings in Corning, New York where his father was a teamster. At the time of the census of 1860, Ben was 8 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Howell, Michigan. His father was farming.
In the mid-1870s Ben married Ida Mae Niles who was born in Michigan in January of 1858 or 1859. They had at least two children (both born in Michigan): Edward D. (born in 1876) and Madora "Dora" (in 1880). Ida did have another child, but the child died before 1900 and may have been the child of a later husband.
In the census of 1880, Ben was listed in Howell, Michigan with Ida, 3 year old Edward, and 1 month old Madora. Next door to them were Ben's parents Silvanus and Catherine Pierce as well as Ben's brother Franklin.
Ben & Ida divorced in Michigan in June 1888. On 5/7/1891 she married Homer Lee Sprague in Oak Grove, Michigan. He was born in Michigan about 1852. It was the second marriage for each of them. Ben & Ida's daughter took the name Sprague and would later identify Homer as her father. However Ben's son Edward kept the name Pierce and seemed to always identify Ben as his father.
It is not known what became of Homer Sprague. On 12/24/1895 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan Ida married William Harrison Ashley, a farmer. It was his second marriage and her third. William enlisted in the US Army during the US Civil War when he was 14 years old. He had several children from his first marriage one of which was Frank Benjamin Ashley. On 12/29/1897 Ida & Ben's daughter Madora married her step-brother Frank Ashley.
In 1900 Ida and William Ashley were living in Arlington, Michigan. Meanwhile Madora and Frank were living in Liberty, Indiana where Frank was a freight agent. Frank & Madora divorced before 1907. It is not known what became of her.
In 1908 Ben's son Edward married Bertha Trowbridge in Michigan. They had at least two children: Horace Joseph (born in 1909) and Russell Anthony (in 1912).
At the time of the 1900 census Ben was single, living in Portland, Oregon in a large boarding house. He was working in a sawmill. In the census of 1920 Ben was listed as "married" but he was not living with a wife. He was a roomer in The Dalles, Oregon where he was a janitor.
By 12/19/1930 Ben had been admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was reportedly senile. After being a patient at the institution for almost 8 years he died there on 10/16/1938. The cause of death was arteriosclerosis.
He was listed as a widow. His ex-wife Ida had died in Michigan on 9/25/1936. She was buried at Hicks Cemetery in Bangor, Michigan and shares a headstone with her husband William Ashley who died in 1939. Son Edward died in 1956. Grandson Horace died in June 1969. He never had children. Grandson Russell A. Pierce married Clara E. Wendel in 1940 in Ohio. They raised 3 children. He died 5/24/1976.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Ben was born in New York about 1852. Later in his life he went by Benjamin, but as a child he was called Benajah which is the biblical name of a warrior of David. It is pronounced Ben-NAY-uh.
His mother, Catherine, was born in New Jersey about 1816. His father, Silvanus Pierce, was born in New York about 1810 and was a veteran of the US Civil War. Ben's siblings (all born in New York) included: Lucy (born about 1848), Albert (about 1850), and Franklin (about 1855).
During the New York census of 1855, Ben was 3 years old and living with his parents and siblings in Corning, New York where his father was a teamster. At the time of the census of 1860, Ben was 8 years old, living with his parents and siblings in Howell, Michigan. His father was farming.
In the mid-1870s Ben married Ida Mae Niles who was born in Michigan in January of 1858 or 1859. They had at least two children (both born in Michigan): Edward D. (born in 1876) and Madora "Dora" (in 1880). Ida did have another child, but the child died before 1900 and may have been the child of a later husband.
In the census of 1880, Ben was listed in Howell, Michigan with Ida, 3 year old Edward, and 1 month old Madora. Next door to them were Ben's parents Silvanus and Catherine Pierce as well as Ben's brother Franklin.
Ben & Ida divorced in Michigan in June 1888. On 5/7/1891 she married Homer Lee Sprague in Oak Grove, Michigan. He was born in Michigan about 1852. It was the second marriage for each of them. Ben & Ida's daughter took the name Sprague and would later identify Homer as her father. However Ben's son Edward kept the name Pierce and seemed to always identify Ben as his father.
It is not known what became of Homer Sprague. On 12/24/1895 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan Ida married William Harrison Ashley, a farmer. It was his second marriage and her third. William enlisted in the US Army during the US Civil War when he was 14 years old. He had several children from his first marriage one of which was Frank Benjamin Ashley. On 12/29/1897 Ida & Ben's daughter Madora married her step-brother Frank Ashley.
In 1900 Ida and William Ashley were living in Arlington, Michigan. Meanwhile Madora and Frank were living in Liberty, Indiana where Frank was a freight agent. Frank & Madora divorced before 1907. It is not known what became of her.
In 1908 Ben's son Edward married Bertha Trowbridge in Michigan. They had at least two children: Horace Joseph (born in 1909) and Russell Anthony (in 1912).
At the time of the 1900 census Ben was single, living in Portland, Oregon in a large boarding house. He was working in a sawmill. In the census of 1920 Ben was listed as "married" but he was not living with a wife. He was a roomer in The Dalles, Oregon where he was a janitor.
By 12/19/1930 Ben had been admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was reportedly senile. After being a patient at the institution for almost 8 years he died there on 10/16/1938. The cause of death was arteriosclerosis.
He was listed as a widow. His ex-wife Ida had died in Michigan on 9/25/1936. She was buried at Hicks Cemetery in Bangor, Michigan and shares a headstone with her husband William Ashley who died in 1939. Son Edward died in 1956. Grandson Horace died in June 1969. He never had children. Grandson Russell A. Pierce married Clara E. Wendel in 1940 in Ohio. They raised 3 children. He died 5/24/1976.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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