Bertha Medora Delano (1845 - 1885)

Born 19 May 1845 in Beekmantown, Clinton, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Issac Clinton Towne JR. — married 1866 in Poss, Pottsdam, New York

Died 2 Oct 1885 at age 40 in Clifford Township, Butler, Kansas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Richard Douglass [send private message]

Biography

Died 2 OCT 1883/1885. , CLIFFORD, BUTLER CO, KS. 2 OCT 1883. Clifford, Smith, Kansas. Found multiple copies of death date. Using 2 OCT 1883/1885 Buried OLIVE BRANCH, KENSINGTON, KS. FSFTID KDM6-8C9. Residence 1870 Norfolk, St. Lawrence, New York, United States. Note: !INFORMATION FROM MATERIAL PREPARED BY RUTH HARVEY, WIFE OF MARK MILES DOUGLASS via Ed. & Maxine Harvey 1372 West Second, Weiser, Idaho 83672 obtained June 13, 1989. "Bertha McDonna - b. 1842 in Beekmantown, N.Y. - d. 1885 in Kensington, Kan. m. Issac Towne - 1886". !INFO FROM BETH DOUGLAS 1219 S 25, LINCOLN NE 68502 475-2095 Bertha Medora Delano seems to be the correct name for the wife of Issac Towne. The above source and Beth agree on the dates and the husband. This also agrees with the NY 1850 Census listed below. The Harvey material could have easily been confused since it depended upon the degree of indentation to indicate generation. Also the original typed copy looks more like "Me Donna" and could have evolved through misprint or misreading from Medorra. Beth's father Ralph has visited the grave of Bertha Medora Delano Towne at Kensington Kansas. He says that the Willit family of Kerwin Kansas took him there. There was no headstone at the time. [1990 UPDATE] Ralph identified Arthur Ward Willit as the person who took him to visit the Olive Branch Cem. at Kensington. Since that visit, someone has replaced the stones in the Willit plot, including MeDonna Towne. Have copy of Ward Willit's obit and also Daniel Collins who is buried in the Willit plot. !1850 NY BEEKMANTOWN CENSUS DATA Typed copy from Addie Shields [microfilm of Census also contains same data - pg 320 Beekmantown Twp.] Clinton Co. Historian. B1011 1077 under DELANO Family "DELANO, Bertha 5 F D/of F. & C. Delano (born) NY" Calculated birth date = 1845. Aug 1989 Richard Douglass, Paul, Ed and Eunice Madsen tried to locate the grave. Spoke to Eulonda Hagman co Coop at Kensington KS. She referred us to Cleon Dettmer he lives in the last house on west side as you leave town going south. He was not at home or at his farm (south and west just across the bridge) We walked the Bohemian Cem. with no luck. Talked to Gary Hainke who lives 6 mi SW of Kensington. (Smedley ville) name comes from Milburn Smedley who was a large family farmer. Gary knew of 3 private graves. One south 1/2 mi in a milo field, one 1 E 1 N 1/2 E marked with a lone Cedar tree in field farmed by Wesley Rajhes. Last one 12 mile East in Dean Miller's pasture. Gary suggested we write to Milburn Smedley at Agra KS. He is writing the Agra Centennial book. !from "The Genealogy History and Alliance of the American House of Delano 1621-1899" by Major Joel Andrew Delano 1899 New York Pg 530. Microfilm on loan at LDS Family History Center, Lincoln, NE. "..7th of Frederick Delano [& Catherine Pixley] Bertha Medora Delano, d. Clifford, Kan. Oct 2-1883, m. Stockholm N.Y. Feb 12-1865 Isaac Clinton Town, b Moira N.Y. July 17-1846. 1 Carrie Elenor, b Norfolk N.Y. May 30-1867, d Cincinn. O. Dec 27-1880. 2 Corrie Alzerta, b Mar 21-1869. 3 Karl Isaac, b Mar 5-1871 4 Jessie May, b Nov 17-1873. 5 Josie Helen b Feb 4-1875 6 Mollie Mabel, b Oct 6-1878 7 Harry Max, b Ellerslie M'd...". !Oct 19, 1989 discussion with Beth Douglass, Ralph Douglas tells about when the Willitt family took him to visit the grave of Bertha Medora. They went to the Kensington graveyard and located the grave but there was no headstone. The Willitt family was also from NY and well to do. They seemed to be good friends of the Delano family. They are mentioned in both Corrie's writing and in Polly's letter to Emma Douglass. !1850 Census Beekmantown Twp. Clinton Co shows Willet family living nearby. listed on page 319. !1990 May, located and photoed stone for MeDONNA TOWNE 1842-1885 nearly new brown stone located with the Willits family, likely erected by Ward Willits. Bertha Medora Delano Towne. BIRTH 19 Jun 1845. Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York, USA. DEATH 2 Oct 1883 (aged 38). Kensington, Smith County, Kansas, USA. BURIAL Olive Branch Cemetery. Kensington, Smith County, Kansas, USA. [DATES ON STONE AND IN THE FILE DO NOT QUITE AGREE]. She was the wife of Isaac Clinton Towne. He was born 1 Jul 1846 in Moira, Franklin, NY. from Findagrave. Bertha McDonna was born in 1842 in Beekmantown, New York. She had one daughter with Isaac Towne in 1869. She died in 1885 in Kensington, Kansas, at the age of 43.

Sources

• Unsourced family tree handed down to Richard Douglass.