Philinda (Muir) Fackler (1860 - 1954)

Born 11 Jun 1860 in Williard, Huron, Ohio, United States

Wife of George Washington Biddle — married Sep 1880 in Sandusky County, Ohio, United States of America

Descendants

Died 23 May 1954 at age 93 in Rural Jackson, Paulding, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anne B [send private message]

Biography

A Woman of many Names: Philinda,^[1][2][3][4] Linina,^[5] Linnie,^[6] Lin,^{[7] [8]} Felinda^[9]

Birth
Philinda Muir, daughter of Peter Muir and Elizabeth Nelson, was born 11 June 1860. Philinda's fourth marriage license, names her parents and her place of birth as Williard, Huron, Ohio. According to her death certificate, informant her stepdaughter, Mrs. Harry Rodman, she was born in Green Springs, Ohio, to "Unknown Muir and Elizabeth Unknown."^[1]

Biddle Marriage
George W. Biddle and Miss Linina Muir were married. A license was granted Sept. 24 1880, Sandusky County, Ohio. There was no return listing the date.^[5] Philinda stated in her suit against Andrew Biddle that she and George were married on the 26th.^[4] The obituary for George Biddle stated they were married on the 24th.^[10]

Biddle Divorce^[4]

"Court of Common Pleas.

Sandusky County Ohio.

Philinda Biddle Plaintiff.

Against

Andrew Biddle Defendant.

Plaintiff says.

First. On the 26th day of September AD 1880 at Sandusky County Ohio by lawful marriage she became and still is the wife of one George W Biddle.

Second. That from said marriage until the 20th day of December AD 1882 the plaintiff and her said husband were living happily together and said George W Biddle supported plaintiff all of which as well as of said marriage well knew.

Third. That the defendant intending to injure this plaintiff and to deprive her of the society and support of her said house the defendant on said last mentioned date and from that time continuously until July 27th AD 1883 advised persuaded divided and caused her said husband to strike and commit other acts of violence upon this plaintiff and on said last mentioned date maliciously enticed said George W Biddle away from the plaintiff and advised persuaded and caused her said husband to leave and abandon the plaintiff and go to parts to her unknown against the consent of this plaintiff and her peaceable efforts to prevent it.

Fourth. The plaintiff has thereby been wrongfully deprived by defendant of the affection society and support of herself and their minor child and plaintiff has suffered great distress of body and mind and has suffered great violence and has been put to great expense and and trouble in the premises to her damage ten thousand dollars for which she asks judgement against said Andrew Biddle defendant."

It's then sworn to, signed and a summons for Andrew Biddle was instructed to be issued, demanding ten thousand dollars, 7 Sep 1883.

29 Oct 1883 Sandusky Co Ohio. A divorce was granted to Philinda Biddle Plaintiff vs George W Biddle and Andrew Biddle Defendant. The court ordered Philinda solely in charge of the minor child, Edna E.[sic] Biddle and ordered the Biddles to pay court costs.

Sweagey Marriage
Philinda was a young woman, with a young child, and it didn't take her long to remarry. Linnie Biddle married Joseph Sweagey, 13 July 1884 in Sandusky, Ohio, United States.^[6]

Who was Joseph Sweagey? Searched Ancestry and FamilySearch, his marriage is the only hit. Searched Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank, no hits. Edna's marriage registration in 1899 says her mother was ____ Swrager (prob. Sweagey.)^[11]

Clapper Marriage
Oral tradition passed down that Philinda was married three or four times. In 1890, she put her daughter Edna into a county home. Why? Speculation: The Sweagey husband died, didn't want her or they were divorced and Philinda couldn't afford to keep her.

There are no census records, found, for her in the name of Sweagey and she didn't marry the last husband until after 1921. Her marriage record to John Fackler, found, revealed that she was at the time Mrs. Charles Clapper.

14 Jun 1901, Charles Clapper, and Miss Lin Swozsey applied for a marriage license. Charles Clapper, age 35, son of John Clapper and Maria Reidnour, born in Big Spring Twp, was a resident of Tiffin, Ohio, and a railway employee. He was not previously married. Miss Lin Swozsey, 32, housekeeper, resident of Tiffin, but born in Huron County, did not list her parents and claimed to have not been previously married. They were married 15 Jun 1901, by a Justice of the Peace.^[12]

1903 City Directories list Charles and Lin living at 106 Franklin, Fostoria.^[13] and 302 Water, in Tiffin, working as a Wagon Blacksmith.^[14]

He, age 44, and Lin, age 43, both married once, no children, lived in Tiffin, Seneca, Ohio in 1910. Lin's father b. in Scotland, mother b. in Ohio. Charles was a blacksmith working on wagons.^[15]

By 1920, although the couple were still married, they were living separately. Charlie Clapper, wagon blacksmith, was living in a boarding house without Lin.^[16] Lin, age 50, head of household, was working in a lantern factory. An interesting note is that she claims her father was born in Albania, but his native tongue was Scotch.^[17]

Divorce records are not as easily available and must be ordered, but one could speculate that Charles discovered the deception of her claiming to be single, and if indeed he was Catholic would have had the marriage annulled, explaining why his obit claims he was never married.

Charles F. Clapper, of Tiffin, died 4 Jan 1939, so the couple were probably divorced. His obituary, listing his parents (John and Margaret Ridenour Clapper) says that he never married. He was buried at St. Mary's a Catholic Cemetery.^[18][19]

Fackler Marriage
16 Feb 1925, Philinda married John E. Fackler in Seneca County, Ohio.^[20] They remained married until his death in 1951.^[21]

Their marriage license provided proof of her marriage to Charles Clapper and the name of her parents. John E Fackler, age 52, b. 7 Sept, in Van Wert County, Ohio, son of Welliam H. Fackler and Sarah Ann Harvey was a farmer. He was previously married once and a resident of Van Wert County. Lin Clapper age 52 years, b. 11 June in Williard, Ohio, daughter of Peter Muir (misread Uluir) and Elizabeth Nelson, was employed at US Glass Co., lived in Tiffin, and was married "twice"[sic] before. Divorced her married name was Mrs. Charles Clapper.^[20]

John was previously married to Mamie Walls, who died in 1921.^[22] John and Mamie had several children. Two of them, Jesse and Lucille died in 1922 when their school bus was hit by a train. A third, George died shortly after from injuries incurred in the crash.^[23] They also had daughters Gladys, Ruth and Dorothy.^[24]

There is a family story about John Fackler told by Rex Rodman, John's grandson. About 1940, Philinda and John attended the Haviland Baptist Church. One Sunday as John put a dime into the collection plate, he mumbled "I could buy a loaf of bread with a dime, I might as well of bought the bread". The usher looked at John and said "John, if you need a loaf of bread, take back your dime". John took back his dime.

1930, 1940
Lin Fackler, age 58, first married at age 15, lived in Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. She states that her father was born in Scotland and her mother in Ohio. Her husband, John Fackler, 58, head of household, and his daughter, Dorothy, lived with her. John was a farmer.^[7] By 1940, Dorothy had moved out and John, 71, and Lin, 27 [sic], lived in Latty Village, Paulding County, Ohio.^[8]

1954 Letter

She (Mrs. John Fackler) wrote a letter 25 Oct 1945 to her great grandchild Robert Bishop on the occasion of his first child's birth. It refers to her daughter Edna and husband visiting. Evidently they kept in contact despite the fact that she "gave up" Edna. Philinda lived in Haviland, Ohio in 1945,^[25] where she attended the Haviland Baptist Church.^[2]

Died
Mrs. Philinda Fackler, died 23 May 1954, at the Paulding County Home in Rural Jackson, Paulding County, Ohio, where she died about 4 AM of old age. She was 93.^[1][2]

Buried
Philinda Fackler was buried 25 May 1954 at Ridge Cemetery, Van Wert Co.. Ohio, after services held at the Haviland Baptist Church conducted by Rev. D.B. Gehres. Her headstone says she was born in 1861^[1][2][3]

Daughter
Edna Helen Biddle was placed in Philinda's custody after her divorce from Biddle, but for reasons unknown, Edna, age 9, was placed in the custody of the Sandusky Co. Infirmary in 1890. She was subsequently happily placed with a foster family.^[26]

Research Notes

The Search for Philinda Muir's Parents.

Her death certificate says her father was ____ Muir and her mother was Elizabeth ____. Family oral tradition said her father was an Ohio Court reporter and spoke seven languages.

Searching for Philinda in the Censuses. You would think with an uncommon name that I would find her easily. Not so, because of mis-spelling and mistaken hearing etc. So I searched for every variation I could think of in places I thought she might be. Sometimes searching the entire of state of Ohio.

1860 – Enumeration was 1 Jun 1860. Philinda was born 11 June 1860 so missed this one.
1870 – She should be with parents age 10.
1880 –She’s married in Sept of 1880 so probably she would be with her parents still.
1890 – no census records.
1900 – 1920 At the time I didn't know what her last name was.
1930 – Is she with John Fackler? When I started looking I didn’t know when John’s 1st wife died.

So I started with 1870 the most likely census to find her. There are approximately 30 female Muirs in all of Ohio in 1870, only 10 of these are in the correct age bracket (5 years before and after 1860) None are her.

Eventually I found a Filinda Whehr age 8 in 1870 in Norwich Huron, Ohio.^[9] On checking the originals, it’s easy to see that this name could be Mihr or Muhr, both of which are close to Muir. I wrote off this Filinda for a long time due to the age thing. (I know the census is notorious for having wrong ages, but I was looking for something better.)

Then Eureka in April 2010, I was corresponding with someone interested in the Fackler’s, and I started looking seriously for John Fackler in the Census. I knew they had lived in Van Wert County. At last - 1930 Census Ridge, Van Wert, Ohio^[7] – It was indexed then as Fochler: John, Tim, and Dorothy. It is very clearly though Fackler, John, Lin (wife) and Dorothy (dtr). Lin was 58 and it stated she was 15 at 1st marriage. She and her mother were born in Ohio and her father was born in Scotland. Someone was mistaken about her age. The 1940 Census is deceptive because "Lin" was listed as age 29.

I decided to revisit the Whehr family. Eventually I found the following

1850 Sidney Shelby Ohio. Merver(indexed) (looks like MEWER) : Peter 32 born Canada no occupation, Elisabeth 23 born York State, James 5, William 2, Ruth A 3/12 all born in Ohio.^[27]

1860 Norwich, Huron, Ohio, Mann: Peter 42 Laborer b Canada, Betsy 36 b NY. Jane 16 (f) {see what I mean about they can’t hear, it's James}, William 13, Ruth 10, Frank 8, John 5, Emeretta (?) 2 female^[28]

1870 Norwich, Huron Ohio Whehr (indexed but looks like Muhr or Mihr): Peter 55 Day Labor b New York (in a long line of New York’s), Betsy 45 New York, William 22, Ruth 20, Frank 16, John 14, Leurette (?) 12, Felinda 8.^[9]

1880 Corporation of Green Springs, Adams, Seneca, Ohio. Muir (at last): James 35 day labor he was b Ohio parents b in NY. James’ wife , daughter and 3 sons, Franklin his brother 26, and Peter 65 his father a boarder b NY Father b in Scotland mother b in Conn.^[29]

I am now fairly confident that these are all the same family, and that they are Philinda’s family.

RMB contacted VanWert Probate Court with no success in finding a marriage certificate for her last marriage. New content becomes available on the internet on a regular basis. In Nov 2020, I searched for an Ohio marriage for John Fackler in the right time frame and easily found the record, which provided the name of her father Peter Muir and mother Elizabeth Nelson, and the name of her third husband. That marriage record was easily found under his name.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Ohio Department of Health, Certificate of Death. File # 33016. Paulding County, Ohio. Philinda Fackler. 23 May 1954.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Paulding Progress, Thursday May 27, 1954, "Philinda Fackler, 93, Succumbs"
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Photo of gravestone Find A Grave: Memorial #31819850. Ridge Cemetery. Section 2a row 10. Middle Point, Van Wert County, Ohio, USA.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Sandusky County Clerk of Courts. Court of Common Pleas 7 Spt 1883 and Decree of Divorce 29 Oct 1883. Philinda Biddle Plaintiff.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDVD-LY4 : 8 December 2014), George W. Biddle and Linina Muir, 24 Sep 1880; citing Sandusky,Ohio, reference ; FHL microfilm 0506619 V. F10-G11. Image at Ancestry ($)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDLT-YL7 : 10 December 2017), Joseph Sweagey and Linnie Biddle, 13 Jul 1884; citing Sandusky, Ohio, United States, reference p. 316; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 506,620.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4ZB-H7Z : accessed 2 February 2018), John Fackler, Ridge, Van Wert, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 13, sheet 1A, line 1, family 1, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1890; FHL microfilm 2,341,624.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWLQ-BWR : accessed 2 February 2018), John Fackler, Latty Village, Paulding Township, Paulding, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-21, sheet 4A, line 1, family 62, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3126.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M62P-9BM : 12 April 2016), Peter Muhr, Ohio, United States; citing p. 22, family 189, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,724.
10. ↑ "Funerals." Fremont Ohio Daily News, 9 Feb 1931. page 2, column 4.
11. ↑ Yates County, State of New York marriage Register. Bishop and Biddle. See record attached to Edna
12. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8G3-B5Q : 26 August 2019), Charles Clapper and Lin Sweozsey, 15 Jun 1901; citing Marriage, Seneca, Ohio, United States, p418 cn831, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm.
13. ↑ Fostoria, Ohio, City Directory, 1903
14. ↑ Tiffin, Ohio, City Directory, 1903
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML86-L89 : accessed 13 November 2020), Charles Clapper, Tiffin Ward 2, Seneca, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 144, sheet 6B, family 178, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1229; FHL microfilm 1,375,242.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDG5-ZB9 : accessed 13 November 2020), Charlie Clapper in household of Carl H Sagres, Tiffin Ward 1, Seneca, Ohio, United States; citing ED 107, sheet 10A, line 43, family 21, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1431; FHL microfilm 1,821,431.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDG5-ZCK : accessed 13 November 2020), Lin Clapper, Tiffin Ward 1, Seneca, Ohio, United States; citing ED 108, sheet 8A, line 11, family 207, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1431; FHL microfilm 1,821,431.
18. ↑ The Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio) 05 Jan 1939, Thu Page 7, col 5.
19. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 13 November 2020), memorial page for Charles F Clapper (1868–4 Jan 1939), Find A Grave: Memorial #68166291, citing Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery, Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, USA ; Maintained by ProgBase (contributor 47278889) .
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z8QV-4BN2 : 12 May 2020), John E. Fackler and Lin Clapper, 1925. Seneca County
21. ↑ Ohio Department of Health Death Certificate #19121 John Fackler. March 17 1951. Rural Jackson, Paulding County Ohio
22. ↑ State of Ohio Death Certificate #6131 Mamie Alice Fackler. 18 Jan 1821. Ridge, Van Wert, County Ohio
23. ↑ State of Ohio Death Certificates. 10 Jan 1922 Jessie Fackler & Lucille Fackler 10 Jan 1922. George Fackler 11 Feb 1922. Ridge, Van Wert, County Ohio
24. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDYM-9NV : accessed 2 February 2018), John Fackler, Ridge, Van Wert, Ohio, United States; citing ED 136, sheet 4A, line 28, family 83, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1446; FHL microfilm 1,821,446.
25. ↑ Fackler, Mrs John, Letter from Mrs. John Fackler to Robert M Bishop and Wife on the birth of their son.
26. ↑ "Sandusky County Infirmary 1880-1940, Persons Admitted" compiled by Hermina Brinkmeier and Ruby Kapp 1993
27. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7H-7HC : 12 April 2016), Peter Merver, Sidney, Shelby, Ohio, United States; citing family 32, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
28. ↑ ."United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC25-74S : 13 December 2017), Peter Mann, 1860. Norwich Township, Huron, Ohio. p. 295
29. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8SP-CVL : 16 July 2017), Peter Muir in household of James Muir, Adams, Seneca, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district ED 195, sheet 69B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1065; FHL microfilm 1,255,065. Sheet Letter B Sheet Number 69 Person Numbe 7 Volume 1