Family of Sherman^8 Van Wicklin

(Photo: Sherman and Alvira Van Wicklin at time of wedding in 1907)

Sherman^8 Van Wicklin (Gates^7, John^6, Jan^5, Paul^4, Garret^3, Gerrit^2, Jentie^1 Jeppes), b. 1866, Brighton Township, Ontario, Canada


Married:
1. Emma/Amy Montgomery, (b. 1856, Ontario) 1884, Brighton, Ontario (See Certificate of Marriage information in source section below)(See information on Emma's prior marriage to Samuel Whitney and her three sons by that marriage in source section below. Samual Whitney dies before 1881. By 1891 Ontario census, Sherman and Amy Van Wicklin are in household of Gates Van Wicklin with George and Claton ?Van Wicklin. The census could be in error about surnames of George and Clayton...or...perhaps while Amy [Emma] was married to Sherman. When Sherman left Amy [Emma]--not sure if legal divorce occured--Amy and her sons could have reverted to use of Whitney surname.)
2. Alvira Sabin (b. 1874, Ontario) 1 January 1907, Rochester, NY

Photo above is of Floyd and Lena Van Wicklin abt. 1925 in Rochester, NY

Children: (by 2nd marriage to Alvira Sabin)
1. Lena^9 Van Wicklin (b. 1908, Rochester, NY)
2. Floyd^9 Sherman Van Wicklin (b. 1910, Rochester, NY)

Parents:
Sherman's parents are Gates Van Wicklin and Mary Ann Davis
Alvira's parents are William and Adaline (Brown) Sabin

Photo above is of Sherman and Alvira Van Wicklin abt. 1925 in Rochester, NY

Background information:

Sherman^8 Van Wicklin (Gates^7, John^6, Jan^5, Paul^4, Garret^3, Gerrit^2, Jentie^1 JEPPES) was b. 30 August 1866 in Brighton, Ontario, Canada and died 1939 in Rochester, NY. He married Emma/Amy Montgomery (b. 3 July 1856), d/o George and Lucinda Montgomery, on 2 February 1884 at Brighton, Ontario. (See Certificate of Marriage information in source section below) Sherman was 17 and Emma was 27 at the time of the marriage. No information on how this marriage terminated-- apparently no children. Emma Van Wicklin may have been buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery Brighton, Ontario in the Montgomery family section on the older east side--however a physical search of the cemetery and a review of cemetery listings has not substantiated this. (Emma's sister, Phoebe Jane, married John Carr, son of Abram and Rhoda Carr--buried in Carr Cemetery with Gates' grandparents, Garret and Rachel (Frost) Van Wicklin. Emma's first cousin, Charlotte, d/o Henry Montgomery, m. John Carr's younger brother George Carr.)

Note from Jack Montgomery about Emma Montgomery (3 October 2000 email): There is an Emma Montgomery buring in Hilton Cemetery and she was b. in the same year (1852) as Emma/Amy Montgomery above. She died in 1932. Emma Nix is the name of this lady and she was buried with Albert and Mabel Smith.

Sherman and his brother Edward are mention in their father, Gates Van Wicklin's Last Will and Testament, made in November of 1888 and filed in Trenton, Hastings, Ontario. The will claims that Sherman and Edward are to inherit equal shares of Gates' real and personal property which included over 400 acres of farm land in Brighton. No knowledge to date on whether either brother acquired the property and/or how they disposed of it. Gates' farm land is now in the hands of a family with the surname of Cameron. This will also indicates that Gates most likely never married Mary Ann Davis, the mother of his sons. (See below for information on 1890 indenture made between brothers Sherman and Edward.)

Sherman married Alvira SABIN on Jan. 1, 1907. Alvira, b. 1874 (Ontario) and d. 1941 was the dau. of William and Adaline (Brown) SABIN. Sherman and Alvira are buried in the northeast corner of Riverside Cemetery, Lake Ave., Rochester, NY. On the marriage certificate, Sherman lists his marriage to Alvira as his first marriage--although it clearly was not. Sherman was illiterate and his marriage certificate lists him as an insurance agent at the age of 38 (although he was clearly 40 at this time). Sherman was 4 and his younger brother Edward was 2 when their mother, Mary Ann, left Gates because he was abusive and would beat her and the children. Sherman never learned to read or write because his farms chores and care of Edward prevented him from attending school He also never learned to drive and never owned a car.

Around 1910 to about 1918 Sherman was a tenant farmer on the Griffith farm in Wyoming, NY. Floyd and Lena attended a one-room country schoolhouse in Wyoming County. About 1918 the family moved to Rochester and moved 8 to 10 times over the next few years as Sherman, an expert carpenter, bought, repaired, and sold houses they lived in. For one year (about 1921) Sherman purchased a 200-acre farm in the Trumansburg, Interlaken, Lodi area but couldn’t make a go of it and had to auction the livestock and equipment. He then moved to Rochester when he worked as a porter. Alvira (Savin) Van Wicklin came from Warkworth, Ont. and Sabins still lived there. Alvira’s sisters were name Ella (Eleanor) and Louisa.

Children: Lena^9 Van Wicklin was born abt. 1909 and married William Culver. They had one son, Richard Culver, and lived in Rochester, NY. They both died sometime in the 1980s. Floyd^9 Van Wicklin was b. 1 Aug 1910 in Wyoming, NY where his father, Sherman, was working as a tenant farmer on the Griffith farm in Wyoming, NY. He remembers his grandfather, William Sabin, visiting the farm when he was just a young boy. He has no first hand memories of his other grandfather, Gates. Floyd celebrates his 90th birthday on August 1, 2000. Floyd married Irene (McKee) Van Wicklin, b. Sept. 1917 in Belfast, Ireland and died Apr. 1969 in Rochester, NY. They were married in 1936.

Source:

Ontario Census of 1871

1880 US Census for Greig, Lewis, NY lists William Sabin, 29, b. NY (NY, NY), laborer, with Mary, 26, wife, b. NY (NY, NY) and three daughters, May, 5, Clarabell, 2, and "baby", 1 month. (The baby is likely to be Alvira. She had a father named William, b. NY and she also had two siblings--both of whom were older sisters.)

Ontario marriage archives (for record of marriage of Sherman and Emma (Montgomery) Van Wicklin (Marriage certificate 
information provided in 20 February 2002 and 28 February emails from Marg Trottman Graham -- Van Wicklin, Sherman Feb. 2, 1884 Brighton Reg. 007955 84)

CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
Registration: 007955
Groom: Sherman Vanwicklin
Age: 18 (he was actually only 17 at the time)
Address: Township of Brighton
Place of birth: Canada
Marital status: Bachelor
Parents: Gates and Mary Vanwicklin
Bride: Emma Montgomery
Age: 19 (she was actually 27 at the time)
Address: Township of Cramahe
Place of birth: Canada
Parents: George and Lucinda Montgomery (George's mother's maiden name was Rebecca Van Wicklin and Rebecca's brother John is Sherman's grandfather. Therefore Emma and Sherman have the same great grandfather and great grandmother-- John and Christina (Traver) Van Wicklen)
Witnesses: Amelia Bredin and Thomas Bredin, Brighton
Date/Place: Brighton 2 February 1884
Religion: Methodist
By whom: John Bredin
By document: License

21 Nov 1888 Gates Van Wicklin Last Will and Testament

1901 Ontario Census for Brighton, Codrington area, (courtesy, Georgi Sills)

Document 5151 Brighton, Ontario (copy in files of JVW). This indenture made in duplicate the 13th day of October, 1890 between Edward Vanwicklin of the township of Brighton in the county of Northumberland. Farmer unmarried of the First Part and. Sherman Vanwicklin of the township of Brighton in the county of Northumberland, farmer of the second part. (notice that Sherman is thus presumed to be married, as he was, to Emma Montgomery).

In consideration of Four thousand dollars of lawful money of Canada now paid by Sherman to Edward, the receipt is hereby aknowledgement of the transaction... for the premises situated on the West portion of Lot #30 and the East half of lot #32 in the 7th concession of the Township of Brighton in Northumberland County, containing one hundred and fifty acres, more or less.

1 Jan 1907 Marriage certificate for Sherman and Alvira Van Wicklin

The 1910 (28 April) US Census for Middlebury, Wyoming, NY lists Sherman Van Wicklin, age 39 (b. abt 1868, CAN; parents b. CAN) as a farmer/laborer in Wyoming, NY with his wife, Alvira, age 35 (b. abt 1874, NY, parents b. US) and daughter, Lena Van Wicklin, under one year. Both of Sherman's parents were listed as b. in Canada and both of Alvira's parents are listed as b. in NY. Sherman is listed as entering the U.S. in 1903. His next door neighbors are George and Carrie Hammond and family, farmers, and Clinton Griffith and family, farmers. In the 1930 US Census, Sherman Van Wicklin, age 62 (b. abt 1868, CAN) and Alvira, age 55 are residing in Rochester, Monroe, NY with their son, Floyd, age 19. Sherman is a watchman at a clothing store, Alvira works in manufacturing, and Floyd is a draftsman. Unable to locate them in the 1920 US Census. 

1920 US Census for 26 Mayberry Street, Rochester Ward 18, Monroe, NY lists Sherman Van Wicklin (index misspelling of surname as Varwinklan), head, 52, immigrated 1903, b. CAN (CAN, CAN), night watch (factory) with wife, Alvira, 45, b. CAN (NY, NY), dau., Lena, b. NY (CAN, CAN), and Floyd, 9, b. NY (CAN, CAN)

The 1930 U.S. Census for Rochester, Monroe, NY, Dist. 165 lists Sherman Van Wickline in index (but clearly Van Wicklin on actual census page), age 62, married, b. Canada with Alvira, wife, age 55 (b. Canada but U.S. Citizen with b. parents b. NY) and son, Floyd, age 19, single, b. NY. Sherman's occupation is [night] Watchman at a clothing store, Alvira is a solderer in a copper manufacturing plant, and Floyd is a draftsman. (Lena is no longer living in the household because she is now married to Kermit Stubenrod, and resides with him in Dist. 179, Rochester, NY.)

1939 Certificate of Death #3489 issued by New York State Department of Health, Rochester, Monroe County. Sherman Van Wicklin of 116 Elba Street, Rochester, NY died 30 December 1939 at 2:30am with primary cause of death as cancer of the prostate and chronic nephritis as a contributory cause. Born 30 August 1867 in Trenton, Ontario, Canada to Gates Van Wicklin and Mary Ann Davis. He worked as a doorman in a retail store last working in that position in the same month that he died. He was 72 years, 4 months and 0 days at the time of his death. The certificate was signed by his son, Floyd Van Wicklin, also of 116 Elba Street. Sherman was married to Alvira Sabin. He was buried 2 Jan 1940 in Riverside Cemetery, Rochester, NY.

1941 Certificate of Death #1583 issued by New York State Department of Health, Rochester, Monroe County. Alvira Van Wicklin of 116 Elba Street, Rochester, NY died May 30, 1941 around 9pm. Cause of death was listed as coronary occlusion due to diffuse arterioschlerosis. She was born on 4 August 1874 and listed 66 years, 9 months and 24 days. Occupation listed as housework. Her parents are William and Mary [Brown] Sabin, both b. in New York. Alvira was b. in Canada. Her son, Floyd Van Wicklin, also of 116 Elba Street, signed the certificate. She was buried 2 June 1941 in Riverside Cemetery, Rochester, NY.

29 April 1941 Cerfificate of Naturalization #5011957 for Alvira Van Wicklin, age 66, white, female, medium complexion, brown eyes, brown-gray hair, five feet five inches in height and weight of 130 pounds, a widow born in Canada. residing at 116 Elba Street, Rochester, NY.

Personal correspondence with my father, Floyd Van Wicklin

Via May 2006 email correspondence, Jack Montgomery provided the following details on Emma Montgomery's first marriage to Samuel Whitney. "I have a photocopy of a marriage between Emily Montgomery, age 19, spinster of Brighton, b. in Brighton, father George Montgomery & mother Sarah, married by Rev. W. A. Sills, Episcopal Methodist in the E. M. Parsonage in Brighton, to Samuel Whitney, age 19, bachelor of Brighton but b. in Prince Edward Co., father Simon Whitney & mother Minerva Whitney. Marriage was on November 2, 1872 and was "by Banns, not license." Witnesses at the wedding appear to be members of the reverend's family--Emma and H. Sills."  1881 Census of Ontario lists the following children of Emily [Amy, Emma] and Samuel Whitney: George Whitney, b. 1874, Cramahe; Norton Lewis Whitney, b. 1876, Brighton and d. 1926, Murray; Eames Clayton Whitney, b. 1880, Brighton, and d. 17 Nov 1934 in Cobourg. Also, a death certificate for Amy Whitney of King Street, Colborne, Ontario; b. 1852, Ontario; father, George Montgomery, informant was son, Clayton Whitney; date of death, 9 Nov 1927 cause of death cerebral hemorrhage, arterio schlerosis, attending physician, J. Archer Brown, M.D.

1881 Canadian Census for Cramahe Twp lists Stephen Dudly, 61, farmer with wife, Lovina Dudly, 57, and Emma Whitney, 26 [a widow by this time], George Whitney, son, 6, Norton Whitney, son, 4, and Clayton Whitney, son, 2. All b. Ontario, CAN.