Caywood Family
|
Caywood Family Genealogy |
Ruth Caywood was our father's mother. She was born in Binghamton, New York in May, 1894. In 1910, at the age of 16, she worked in one of the Binghamton cigar factories as a bander. She married Ralph Earl Wheeler, our grandfather, when she was 18 years old.
We have a photograph of Ruth as a young woman, dressed in a nurses uniform. The inscription on the back of the photo says nothing about when it was taken or why Ruth is in a nurses uniform. During the First World War the Red Cross had a very active department in Binghamton. The volunteers worked to produce bandages, sheets, hospital clothing, sweaters and other necessary items to supply the hospitals and relief centers in Europe. It is possible that Ruth was a volunteer in the Red Cross, sometime between 1917 and 1919. By this time she was married and was a young mother. Ralph, her husband, was serving in France. Her son, Frederick, would be at least 2 years old.
Ruth's father, Frederick, worked with wood as a furniture finisher and by 1910 owned his own business. Frederick was born about 1860 in Oswego county, New York to Benjamin Franklin Caywood and Cornelia Caywood.
Federal and State census records and Binghamton city directories document the movement of the family. Frederick's father, Benjamin Franklin Caywood, our great-great-grandfather, lived and worked in and around Oswego county and Onondaga county in central New York. There is an interesting change in the records for Franklin Caywood, Frederick's father. The 1860 Federal census shows Franklin Caywood, his wife Cornelia and 5 month old child (unnamed) living in Granby, Oswego county. Franklin is 23 years old, Cornelia is 17. The New York State census for 1865 lists the Caywood family living in Volney in Oswego county, near lake Ontario. The census records Franklin in the Army and his wife, Cornelia, working as a boatman. No ages are listed for either. They have three children, Frederick, Charles, and Cora. Five years later in the 1870 Federal census, the names have changed. Benjamin F. Caywood is listed as the head of the family instead of Franklin. Maybe the F stands for Franklin? All the children's names and ages correlate with the 1865 New York State census so I am assuming this is the same family, but Cornelia is gone and Mary is now listed - but not as wife. Her age of 20 would make her only 10 years older than Frederick, the oldest child, who is 10 years old. The youngest child, William, is 6 months old. The family is living in Mottville, Onondaga county, just north of Skaneateles. Benjamin is working as a teamster. Five years later, in the 1875 New York State census, Mary is now listed as Benjamin's wife. Benjamin is working as a policeman. The family is living in Skaneateles, Onondaga county, New York. What happened to Cornelia? Who is Mary and how did Benjamin -or Franklin - meet her? According to the 1880 Federal census, Mary's parents were both born in Ireland. She was born in Onondaga county, NY. Benjamin served twice during the Civil War. He first mustered in at Fulton, New York on 19 November 1862 in company A of the 12th New York cavalry. He worked as a teamster. He was discharged with a disability on 12 August 1863. He enlisted again in company C of the 184th New York Infantry in September 1864 at Volney, New York and was mustered out in June 1865. The 1880 Federal census shows Frederick Caywood living in Auburn, New York as a border and working as an ice peddler. Census records and the Binghamton city directory show the Frederick Caywood family living on Franklin Street in Binghamton's First Ward for many years and in various homes. Beginning with the 1893 Binghamton City Directory, Frederick is living at 33 Franklin Street. In January of 1907 Frederick Caywood purchased 33 Franklin Street. A deed listed in book 209, page 181 in the Broome County Clerk's office records the purchase. The 1916 Binghamton City Directory lists Frank Caywood, Frederick's son and Ruth's brother, living at 18 Franklin Street. The same directory lists William Caywood at 30 Franklin Street and Charles Caywood one block north at 9 Prospect Street. William and Charles are Ruth's brothers, our father's uncles. Franklin Street, and the First Ward, where my siblings and I were born and raised, has been a place in our family's story for 3 generations. Our father's sister in law - our aunt Ruth - was still living at 33 Franklin Street until the 1970s'. Caywood Family Photos
|
Ruth Marie Caywood, born May 1894; died July 1967
Father: Frederick Caywood Mother: Alma Shaw Married: Ralph Earl Wheeler, 1912 Children: 1. Frederick (Fritz) Wheeler, born abt. 1915 2. Ralph Wheeler Jr., born abt. 1920 3. Donald Arthur Wheeler, born 6 August, 1921 4. Dorothy Wheeler, born abt. 1924 5. Richard Wheeler, born abt. 1926 Frederick Caywood, born abt 1860, died 1928. Married: Alma Shaw in 1879, she is born 1862, died 1928, buried Chenango Valley Cemetery Children: 1. Cora I Caywood, born about 1886 married Louis Blauvelt 2. Charles H Caywood, born Jan. 1889 married Delia Beyea 3. Frank I Caywood, born June 1890 married Mary Wayman 4. William Caywood, born about 1891 married Flora Hobbs 5. Ruth Marie, born May 1894 married Ralph E. Wheeler 6. Arthur B Caywood, born July 1897 married Lillian Schrader 7. Dorothy M. , born April1900 married Leo O'Hanley (Benjamin) Franklin Caywood, born about 1837, Oswego, New York Married: 1. Cornelia, b. about 1843, [1865 NYS census, employed as boatman, town of Volney, Oswego county] Children: 1. Frederick, born about 1860, Oswego county, New York 2. Charles Caywood, born about 1862 3. Cora Caywood, born about 1865 Married: 2. Mary J.(?) b. abt. 1851 Children: 4. William Caywood, born about 1870 5. James Caywood, born about 1876 6. Mary Caywood, born about 1879 Benjamin Frank Caywood enlisted in the 12th cavalry, company A, in August 1862 and was discharged with disability in November 1863 New Berne, North Carolina. Enlisted again, 30 August 1864 with 184th Infantry, Company E (Volney, NY) and discharged June, 1865. Frank Caywood is listed as being in the Army in June 1865 (New York State census); employed as teamster in Onondaga county in 1870 census. Ancestry.com shows a family tree connection naming Phoebe Fairbanks (1820-1901) as Benjamin's mother. No father is known. REFERENCES 1925 New York State Census: 33 Franklin Street, Binghamton, New York Frederick Caywood aged 65 employed as wood finisher Elma Caywood aged 62 Dorothy Caywood aged 25 employed as manicurist 1916 Binghamton City directory Frank and Mary Caywood lived at 18 Franklin Street, Occupation shwkr (?) This same directory lists several other Caywoods at Franklin Street and Prospect St. Arthur D. Caywood, electrician (Mason-Bouck Elec. Co.); 33 Franklin Street Charles H. Caywood (Delia), woodworker, 9 Prospect Street Fred H. Caywood (Elma E), wood finisher at 312 Water street, lived at 33 Franklin St. William Caywood (Breata), 30 Franklin Street 1915 New York State census: 33 Franklins Street, Binghamton, New York Frederick H. Caywood, aged 42 [sic, 55], employed as wood finisher Elma E. Caywood, aged 52 Arthur B. aged 17, electrician Dorothy M. aged 15, telephone operator 1910 Federal Census: 33 Franklin Street, Binghamton, New York Fred H. Caywood, 50; Furniture finisher; own shop Elma Caywood, 47 Frank Caywood, 19 William Caywood, 17 Ruth Caywood, 16; Bander, cigar factory Arthur Caywood, 12 Dorothy Caywood, 10 1909 Binghamton City Directory Frederick H Caywood Wood Finisher 55 State Street (business) 1905 New York State Census: Binghamton, Ward 1, Broome County, New York 33 Franklin Street Frederick Caywood employed as foreman Elma E Caywood, Cora I Caywood, Charles H Caywood, Frank I Caywood, William Caywood, Arthur B Caywood Dorothy M Caywood 1900 Federal Census: Binghamton, Ward 1, Broome County, New York 33 Franklin Street Frederick Caywood Head aged 40 Elisa (Elma) E. Wife aged 38 Cora I. aged 14 Charles H aged 11 Frank I aged 9 William aged 7 Ruth M aged 6 Arthur B aged 2 Dorothy M 2 months 1880 Federal Census: Auburn, Cayuga county, New York Fred Caywood aged 20 border employed as ice peddler 1880 Federal Census: Skaneateles, Onondaga county, New York. Benjamin F. Caywood aged 43 employed as tin peddler Mary Caywood aged 30 Charles aged 18 works in a chair factory Cora aged 15 William aged 10 James aged 4 Mary aged 1 1875 New York State Census : Skaneateles, Onondaga county, New York. Benjamin F. Caywood aged 38 employed as policeman Mary Caywood aged 24 Frederick aged 15 Charles aged 12 Cora aged 10 William aged 5 1870 Federal Census (22 August): town of Mottville (?) Onondaga county, New York Frank Caywood, aged 33 employed as teamster Mary Caywood, aged 20 Frederick aged 10 Charles Caywood, aged 8 Cora Caywood, aged 5 William Caywood new born (6 months) 1865 New York State census (June): town of Volney, Oswego county, New York Franklin Caywood in the Army Cornelia Caywood employed as boatman Frederick Caywood born in Oswego Charles Caywood born in Oswego Cora Caywood born in Oswego Civil War Muster Rolls Benjamin F. Caywood 12th New York Cavalry, company A. Mustered in November 1862, discharged with a disability in August 1863. 184th New York Infantry, company E. Enlisted September1864 and mustered out 29 June 1865. . 1860 Federal Census: Granby, (Fulton) Oswego, New York Franklin Caywood 23 Cornelia Caywood 17 Infant Caywood 5 months Nicholas Miller 18 Charles Miller 15 1850 Federal Census : Camillus, Onondaga, New York Jacob Fairbanks 63 Cooper Naoma Fairbanks 53 Chloe Fairbanks 12 Phebe Caywood 26 Franklin Caywood 13 Fernando Caywood 11 Adelbert Caywood 3 |