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We are helping Becke Dawson and Pamela Prentice in tracing their Prentice roots. This article is a combination of two earlier articles: (1) Frederick R. Prentice, Spring 1999 and (2) Elizabeth Prentice, Fall 2002.

1. Frederick Ray Prentice/Prentiss, b. 2 Jan 1815 in NY and d. 28 Jul 1879, Polk Co., IA and bur. at Rising Sun Cem., Polk County. Frederick first appears in the 1850 Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL census.

He m. Lucy Ann Kirk, b. 27 Nov 1824, KY and d. 22 Feb 1905 (per Illinois Marriage Index). Bur. Rising Sun Cem. with her husband. They were m. 7 Dec 1843 in McDonough Co., IL. Lucy later appears in the 1880 Grant, Polk Co., IA census without her husband. She also appears in the 1900 Mitchellsville, Polk Co., IA census living with her daughter, Mary. Their children are:

1. Pitt Prentice, b. 8 Jul 1845, IL. . . . . . . . . [2]
2. DeWitt Prentice, b. 2 Jun 1847, IL and d. 27 Oct 1888 and bur. Rising Sun Cemetery. At home in 1880, unmarried. By email of 31 Aug 2005, Becke Dawson relates she has a copy of a letter by DeWitt his mother, Lucy, from Stockton, CA who was there with his brother, Ray, and family.
3. Ray Prentice, b. 12 Sep 1849, IL. . . . . . . . [3]
4. Daniel Nathan Travis Prentice, b. 27 Oct 1851, IL. . . . . . . . [4]
5. Mary Prentice, b. 19 Nov 1854 and d. 29 Jul 1912, IA. Bur. in Rising Sun Cemetery. At home in 1880, unmarried, and living with her mother in the 1900 census.
6. Ellen Prentice, b. 24 Nov 1856, IA, and d. 16 May 1896. She m. Joseph Alexander Purdy on 25 Jan 1883.
7. Josephine Prentice, b. 7 Mar 1860, IA. She m. John A. Westergren on 5 Jan 1890. He was b. c. 1863, Sweden. They appear in the 1920 census in Chicago, Cook Co., IL, and in the 1930 census in Rockford, Winnebago Co., IL. Son:
   1. (illegible) Westergren, b.c. 1899, IL. At home in Chicago in the 1930 census. He may, or may not, be the Edwin Westergren who appears in the 1930 Chicago census as b. c. 1899, IL, with his wife, Helen, b. c. 1904. He is probably the same person as Edwin Westergren shown in the SSDI as b. 28 Jul 1898, who received his SS# in IL, and d. Nov 1967 in Chicago.
8. Elizabeth Prentice, b. 5 Nov 1863, Polk Co., IA. . . . . . . . . [5]
9. William Prentice, b. 17 May 1866, IA. . . . . . . . . [6]

2. Pitt Prentice, b. 8 Jul 1845, IL and d. 28 Apr 1891 in Mitchellville, IA and bur. there. He appears in the 1880 Polk Co., IA census with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Young. They were m. 29 Aug 1872. She was b. c. 1849, IN, dau. of John S. Young and Mary of Polk Co, IA. Children:

1. Fanny Prentice, b. 26 Feb 1876, Polk Co., IA.
2. Edith Prentice, b. 31 Jan 1878, Polk Co., IA

3. Ray Prentice, b. 12 Sep 1849, IL. At home in 1880, unmarried. He appears in the 1900 Vallejo, Solano Co., CA census with his wife, Mary E. Webb, b. c. Apr 1860 in CA. She was the daughter of Jesse Webb and Melinda D. Gard. Ray does not appear in the 1910 Vallejo census with his family and by 1920 may be deceased, Children per 1900 census.:

1. Ada R. Prentice, b. c. Oct 1886, CA. She is not shown at home in the 1910 census and may by then be married.
2. Ora M. Prentice, b. c. Apr 1888, CA. She m. William J. Marten, b. c. 1877 in India, and they are living with her parents in the 1910 census.
3. Fay Prentice (female), b. c. Jul 1898, CA. She does not appear in the 1910 census and may by then be deceased.

Ray's sister, Elizabeth, has an old family photo of man named "Ray", perhaps the same person.

By email of 2 Sep 2005, Becky Dawson provided a copy of the following letter from DeWitt Prentice (#1 ii. above) to his mother, Lucy, sent while DeWitt was visiting his brother, Ray in Stockton, CA, on 9 Oct 1887. Added clarifying material is enclosed in brackets within the letter:

Stockton, Call [California, ] Oct 9th, 1887
Mrs. Lucy Prentice

Dear Mother,

I have been looking for a letter from home for a long time but did not hear a word until last night - [my brother] Ray got a letter from Josie [Ray's sister, Josephine Prentice, b. 7 Mar 1860, IA]. We were all glad to hear from home. I wrote you in July and it came back to me last week from the dead letter office. I thought I would write again.

We are all well at present - We have all had a kind of a distemp. I was up in the mountains fishing and feel from a rock and received a severe cut in the hip but is getting well, it laid me up about ten days. Josie says that you are talking of renting the farm for next year. I and Ray don't think that it would be the best plan. If you have got the stock and machinery to run the place with, you had better run it yourself. Or if you would rather I will go home and run it for you next year. I guess I could stay away from this country that long.

Ray and I got disappointed in getting a ranch on the Sand but Ray has another year on White's ranch. The longer I stay in this county the better I like it - crops were pretty fair this year in this part of the country and the summer has been cool. We have got a great Boom started in this county - land has advanced about one half in value in the last three months and wages and all things have gone up in proportion. Wheat is low this market is overstocked, it is worth about $1.30 per (?), fruit and vegetables are very cheap. Butter is worth about 70 cts - per roll. Eggs 25cts doz.

What has become of [my brothers] Pitt and Will. How are they getting along. How is Sarah and the little girls [perhaps a reference to the wife, Sarah, of his brother Pitt and their daughters Fanny and Edith]? I wrote them some time since. Adda [probably a reference to Ray's daughter, Ada, who was then 1 year old] is as fat as ever, she is very large for a child of her age but is very healthy.

Ray has got about 60 hogs on the ranch. What has become of the Kirk boys [sons of Lucy's brother , Story Co., IA]? I suppose Uncle Jim and Bob are still in Story Co. What is Sandys and Ellen's P.O. address [Sandy and Ellen are his sister Ellen and her husband Joseph Alexander (Sandy) Purdy]?

What has become of Uncle Swartz (sp?). How is his health. I see from Josie's letter that Mrs. Morey is dead. What has become of Amanda and the small girl, I have forgotten her name. Is Warnoch still living on the old place? It is very bad about Willis Hawkins.

Well I will have to close for this time hoping that I will hear from you soon. The folks all join me in love to all. Will write to the girls soon.

From your affectionate son,
DW Prentice

4. Daniel Nathan Travis Prentice, b. 27 Oct 1851, IL (per 1856 Mills Co., IA census and 1870 census. Daniel appears in the 1880, 1900 and 1910 Linn Co., KS census as "Dann Prentice." In the 1910 census, Dann was called "Donnal T. Prentice." In the Quick genealogy, above, he is called "Daniel Prentice." An obituary published in the 4 Aug 1944 "La Cygne Journal" on 4 Aug 1944 says:

"D. A. N. Prentiss, well known citizen of Scott Township died Tuesday night at his home a couple miles north and east of Calmus. Burial Cadmus Cemetery Friday afternoon, 2 PM."

Dann married Clara Minnie Collins on 12 Feb 1878. Clara was b. 12 Feb 1861 in IL, d. 25 Feb 1936, and is bur. in the cemetery at Cadmus, Linn, KS. Children:

1. Fred Robert Prentice, b. 1 Mar 1879, KS. He appears in the 1910 Linn Co. census. He appears in the 1920 Comumbus, Franklin, OH census with his wife, Cornelia Elliot, b. c. 18802, MA. Her mother, Cornelia Elliot, is living with them. He later appears in the 1930 census in Oceanside, San Diego Co., CA, with his wife, Cornelia E., b. c. 1880 in MA, and daughter:
   1. Enid Prentice, b. c. 1914, OH.

2. Clarence Earl Prentice, b. 11 May 1883, KS (per "A Genealogy of the Quick Family in America,") and d. Sep 1966 in Richmond, Waynbe Co., IN (per Pamela Prentice, email, 3 Dec 2005). He m. Martha "Mattie" Elizabeth Quick on 12 Feb 1912, Manvel, TX. She was b. 27 Dec 1890, lived in Richmond, Wayne Co. IN, and d. there in 1863. He appears, with his family, in the 1920 Butler Co., OH census and in the 1930 census in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN. Son, per Pamela Prentice, email, 3 Dec 2005:
   1. Paul Norman Prentice, b. 19 Nov 1912, KS. . . . . . . . [4.1]

3. Delbert Pearl Prentice, b. 30 Dec 1885, KS. (Another source says he was b. 30 Dec 1884) Died 1949 and bur. in the cemetery at Cadmus. He m. Elda Hicks on 26 Jan 1910, dau. of Smith Hicks of Parker, Linn, KS. Delbert appears in the 1885 Linn Co. census with his wife, Elda (b. c. 1892, KS) and in the 1930 census in Liberty, Linn Co., KS. Son:
   1. Nathan P. Prentice, b. c. 1912, KS. He may be the "Ray Prentice" shown in the 1930 census as b. c. 1912 and living at home.

4. Harold Marion Prentice, b. 1 Jun 1889, KS. Twin to Hazel. Did not marry.
5. Hazel Mabel Prentice, b. Jun 1889, KS. Twin to Harold. She was married and may have a daughter.
6. Frank Lloyd Prentice, b. 22 Apr 1891, Fontana, KS. He d. 1973 and is bur. at the cemetery in Cadmus. He married Laura Mae England? on 14 Dec 1917. She was b. 1899, IL, d. 1943 and is bur. in the Cadmus cemetery. Laura Mae may be the dau. of Jesse O. England and Jennie H. England who are also bur. near Frank and Laura. Frank and Laura Mae appear in the 1920 Linn Co. census and in the 1930 census of Osawatomie, Miami Co., KS. Children per census, Nyoka Soper, email, 3 Sep 2002):
   1. Cecil L. Prentice, b. c. 1919, KS. He m. Maxine and in 2002 live in Overland Park, KS. They have 2 daughters.
   2. Lloyd Prentice, b. c. 1920-22. . . . . . . . . [7]

4.1 Paul Norman Prentice, b. 19 Nov 1912 in Liberty Twp., Linn Co., KS, and d. 21 Feb 2002, Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana (per SSDI). Bur. in Earlham Cem., Richmond.

He married Betty Margaret Pickett on 28 Mar 1942, and lived in Richmond, IN. She was b. 29 Nov 1923 in Richmond, Wayne Co., IN and d. 10 Nov 2005 at Reid Hospital, Richmond, IN, at the age of 81. Bur. in Earlham Cem., Richmond.She was the dau of Ronald Picket and Faye Williamson, and was a lifelong resident of the Richmond, IN area. Her obituary relates that:

Betty was a 1942 graduate of Richmond High School and was a seamstress for Paul Harris, Morrisons, and Palais Royal Wedding & Dress Boutique. She was a member of First Christian Church and Past Worthy Matron of Eastern Star Loyal Chapter 49. She enjoyed sewing, making crafts and cooking."

Survivors include her daughters, Patricia Courtis of California and Pamela Wessel of Kentucky; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and friends, including "adopted daughter" Cathy Jeffers.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul N. Prentice, who died in 2002; her parents; her stepfather, Earl Wolf; two brothers, Eugene Pickett and Richard Pickett; and granddaughter, Jennifer Wessel Livers.

Funeral service for Betty M. Prentice will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home with Rev. Dixie Miller officiating. Burial will be in Earlham Cemetery. Friends may call from 9-10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Dunn Center, 831 Dillon Drive, Richmond, IN 47374. Originally published November 12, 2005

Children of Paul and Betty:

1. Patricia Ann Prentice, b. 11 Jul 1947. She lives in California. Children:
   1. Brian Gardner, b. 11 Oct 1965 in Richmond, IN.
   2. Angela. She m. Mr. Longfellow.
   3. Jason Corey Courtis, b. 4 Jul 1977 in Long Beach, CA. (Father: Joseph Courtis) He m. Nancy and has a son and daughter.
   4. Joseph Christopher Courtis, b. 5 Jul 1979 in Riverside, CA. (Father: Joseph Courtis)
   5. Jeremy Charles Courtis, b. 18 Feb 1981 in Riverside, CA. (Father: Joseph Courtis)
2. Pamela Susan Prentice, b. 2 Oct 1952. . She m. William Jeffrey Wessell on 13 Jun 1970. She lives in Kentucky. Daughter:
   1. Jennifer Ann Wessel, b. 2 Nov 1970 and d. 27 Jun 1997 as a result of an auto accident. She m. Carey Livers in Sep. 1996.

5. Elizabeth Prentice was b. 5 Nov 1863 in Polk County, IA and d. there on 5 Apr 1893. She m. James William Dawson on 16 Oct 1884 in Polk County. He was b. 22 Dec 1864 in Polk County and d. 20 Jan 1941, Rising Sun, Polk County. Children:

1. Vilas Earl Dawson, b. 20 Feb 1885, Youngstown, IA. . . . . . . [8]
2. Mary Alma Dawson, b. 5 Nov 1887. She m. Mr. Proudfit. She d. 27 Apr 1953(?).
3. Glen C. Dawson, b. 13 Dec 1890, Nebraska, and d. 22 Mar 1972..

After Elizabeth d. in 1893, James m. 2nd Florence Jane Caldwell and their first child was born Nov 1895 in Adel Twp., Dallas County, IA.

6. William Prentice, b. 17 May 1866, IA. He m. Maggie C. Johnson on 3 Jul 1887. No chilren yet identified. He might be the person mentioned in Becky Dawson's email of 11 Aug 2003 who sent a letter to his mother, Lucy, from Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA, dated 9 Oct 1889. The signure is hard to read, but may be William. Becky is investigating this matter further.

7. Lloyd Prentice, b. c. 1920-22, KS. He m. Maureen Welborn in 1943. in 2002 they lived in Ottawa, KS. Children:

1. Nyoka Louise Prentice. She m. Mr. Soper and in 2002 lives in Gardner, KS. Daughter:
   Janea Louise Soper. She m. Mr. Emley and has two daughters. They live in Independence, Mo.
2. Bruce Lloyd Pentice, b. 1949. He has 3 sons and in 2002 lived in Ottawa, KS.
3. Marla Prentice, b. 1951. She has 2 daughters and a son and in 2002 lived in Ottawa, KS.

8. Vilas Earl Dawson, b. 20 Feb 1885, Youngstown, IA and d. 25 Sep 1963. 1910 census in Beaver, Polk Co., IA. 1920 census in Hickory Gove, Jasper Co., IA.

He m. Lillie/Lilly May Pearson [Dawson] who was b. 27 Aug 1887,IA, with her father b. in IA and her mother in IL. Lillie d. 23 Apr 1982.

Children of Vilas and Lillie::

1. Ralph William Dawson b: June 13, 1908, IA, and d: May 17, 2000, Bella Vista, Benton Co., AR (per SSDI). He appears in the 1910 census in Beaver, Polk Co., IA. At home in 1920 census in Hickory Gove, Jasper Co., IA. Not in 1930 census.
2. Glen Garold Dawson b: November 9, 1909, IA, and d. 7 Mar 1988, Des Moines, Polk Co., IA (per SSDI). He appears in the 1910 census in Beaver, Polk Co., IA. At home in 1920 census in Hickory Gove, Jasper Co., IA. 1930 census again in Beaver, Polk Co., IA, where he is called a nephew of Claire L. Smith and his wife, Mary P. Smith.
3. Male Dawson.
4. Male Dawson
5. Don Asa Dawson b: February 15, 1915, IA, and d. Feb 2003. At home in 1920 census in Hickory Gove, Jasper Co., IA. Not in 1930 census.
6. Male Dawson.
7. Leona Mae Dawson [ Golob ] b: December 13, 1918, IA, and d: 24 Aug 1970. At home in 1920 census in Hickory Gove, Jasper Co., IA.
8. Leatha Ann Dawson [ Porter ] b: September 27. 1920 d: April 18, 2003. Not in 1930 census.
9. Male Dawson
10. Gladys Pearl Dawson, b. 28 Aug 1925. She m. Clifford Charles Conn, b. 18 Mar 1925. Children:
    1. (son) Conn. He m. 1st Miss. Stevens and had 1 child. He m. 2nd Miss. Coppock and had a child. He m. 3rd Miss. Harris.
    2. (dau.) Conn. She m. James Randy Earnes who was b. 31 Oct 1947 and d. 6 Nov 1999. They had 3 children.
11. Living female Dawson.
12. Living Dawson

The 1850 census does not give the birth place of Frederick's father, but we do know from the 1850 census that Frederick's father was living in NY in 1815 when Frederick was born.

Entire families of parents-children, brothers and sisters often moved together in that period, so we took a look to see what other families appeared in Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL during that same period.

In our Spring 1999 issue we have an article about Nathan Prentice of Nauvoo .

Nathan Prentice was b. c . 1787 in CT and d. 1872 at Nauvoo, IL. His wife, Elizabeth, was b. c. 1891, NY and d. 1864 in Nauvoo. By email of 11 May 2002, Connie Eccles advises that both Nathan and Elizabeth have a joint stone at the Historic Nauvoo Cemetery. They were in NY c. 1817 when their son, Luke was born and had moved to Nauvoo. By email of 9 May 2006, Becke Dawson advises that the obituary of Nathan's son, Luke, says that Nathen and his family moved to McDonough Co., IL in 1836, and then to Nauvoo in 1846. By 1847, Luke married there. In 1873, Luke moved to Carthage.

Nathan's age is such that he may be Frederick's father. There is an appropriate age spread of 28 years between them. And their respective NY residences (1815 and 1817) and Nauvoo residences (1847 and 1850) coincide. It may also be significant that Frederick named one of his sons "Daniel Nathan Travis Prentice".

Frederick's 1815 birth would also match the 1811-1820 birth period of 1 of Nathan's 2 young sons shown in the 1820 census.

Correspondence:   If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please send your information to us at the Prentice Newsletter. Be sure to give the full title and date of this article in the Subject line of the email.

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