Adna Davis Kilburn and Mary Ann Packard

44. Adna Davis Kilburn {c,d,e,f,g,i,m,n,o,p} was born 14 Jun 1814 in Sterling (Worcester) Massachusetts (others have the date as 1815, or the place as Templeton (Worcester) Massachusetts), and died in 1884, probably in Michigan (but possibly in Missouri). He is a son of Stephen Kilbourn and Sally [89]. (also seen as Abner Davis Kilburn, but most commonly went by his middle name Davis)He married about 1838 in Adams (Jefferson) New York,

45. Mary Ann Packard {c,f,g,i}. Mary was born in 1818 in New York (probably Jefferson County?), and died 24 Jun 1876 in New London (Huron) Ohio. She is a daughter of ___ Packard [90] and Rhoda ___ [91].

The 1850 Ohio census lists Rhoda Packard age 55, Maria Packard age 29, and Thomas Packard age 12, living with A. Davis and Mary Ann. Thomas is possibly Rhoda’s son, but Maria is a problem for us. It seems unlikely that someone would name two daughters Mary and Maria. Maria might be a niece, or a widowed daughter-in-law to Rhoda. It is also possible that Thomas is the son of Maria -- either Rhoda had him at age 43, or Maria at age 17, either way is near the limits of normal childbearing age.

Adna usually went as Davis, A.D. or A. Davis; the first name is uncertain, often seen as Abner. Source {i} has him as A. Danis; source {m} has Adma Davis with a question mark. He may have been born Anglican, but was baptized into the Methodist Episcopalian church on 10 Oct 1824 at age 9, probably as a result of his father’s second marriage.

He moved to Adams (Jefferson) New York with his family in 1825, at age 10. He married Mary Ann there, and their first two children were born there. In 1840 they moved to New London, Ohio along with Stephen and several siblings.

Davis worked in Stephen’s chair factory, as a painter. He also painted houses. He was the town’s first train agent when the CC&C Railroad (Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati) built a station in 1851, and he was a member of the first New London town council in 1853. The first act of the council was to put in sidewalks, but the taxpayers protested and the project was dropped. He is supposed to have built a house about 1850 on North Railroad Street, just east of North Main Street; they apparently lived only in the upper flat; the house is known as the Van Gorder residence, after a later occupant.

He is listed in the 1860 census as a painter; son Herbert, still living with them at 21 is also a painter, and Henry at 16 is a painter’s apprentice. Both Herbert and Henry served in the Civil War, and Herbert died of disease during the war.

In April 1879 Davis won the contract for painting a new Baptist Church. In August of that same year he was laid up for several weeks by a severe kidney disease. We know from newspaper items that Davis visited his son Henry in Missouri several times after Mary Ann died, and that he moved to Michigan. We don’t know if he stayed in Michigan or moved to Missouri, as the newspaper article on his death does not give a location.

Davis and Mary Ann had four children, of which only one had grandchildren:

44.1. Herbert B. Kilbourn {b,c,f,g,i,j,p} was born in 1839 in Adams (Jefferson) New York, and died 19 Apr 1864 in Murfreesborough (Rutherford) Tennessee. He was a year old when the family moved to New London, Ohio. Herbert never married; he was living with his parents in the 1860 census, and is a painter in the family furniture factory. Herbert served in the Civil War, enlisting in the 23rd Ohio Infantry on 7 Jun 1861. (Herbert signed his enlistment papers using the old “Kilbourne” spelling.) The 23rd Ohio was commanded by Rutherford B. Hayes [5632.7.1.1.5.7.1.4.4], future President of the U.S., and a direct descendant of Thomas Kilbourne. Herbert and Rutherford were seventh cousins, though it is hardly possible they would have known that. Herbert was stationed in what is now West Virginia until Second Manassas (Bull Run), at which time the regiment was made part of the Army of the Potomac. They were moved to the Washington D.C. area, and from there marched into Maryland, taking part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Herbert was a member of the Regimental Band, so we don’t know what, if any, role he had during the battles. About this time the regimental bands were done away with as being cumbersome and expensive, so Herbert was discharged from the Army on 24 Oct 1862. He returned home for a year, but then enlisted again on 16 Nov 1863, this time in the 12th Ohio Light Artillery, to join his younger brother Henry who was with the Battery at Chattanooga. They were moved to Nashville for the winter, then to Fortress Rosecrans at Murfreesborough in March. Shortly after his arrival, Herbert fell ill with a virus, which developed into pneumonia. He died in the fort hospital of “typhoid pneumonia”. His remains were sent back home, and he is buried in the Grove St. Cemetery in New London.

44.2. Frances Kilburn {a,b,c,f,g,i,k,q}was born 27 Feb 1840 in Adams (Jefferson) New York, and died 20 Dec 1924 in Cleveland (Cuyahoga) Ohio. She married 17 Sep 1860 in New London (Huron) Ohio, Joseph Henry June, the son of Joseph June. Joseph was born 18 Feb 1828 in Connecticut, and died 24 Sep 1909 in New London (Huron) Ohio. Frances (called Frankie) and Joseph were Methodist Episcopalian, and are buried together in Grove St. Cemetery in New London. Joseph owned a shoe store and had a shoe repair business; retired from the stoe in 1887, but continued to work at shoe repair until two years before his death. In Joseph’s obituary, Frances (then 69) was said to be in feeble health.

Frances and Joseph had no children, but raised two foster daughters:

Homeretta Packard {i,k} was born 5 May 1864 in New London (Huron) Ohio, and died 10 Nov 1890 in New London. She is related, but we don’t know exactly how. I suspect she is a daughter of Thomas, and probably a first cousin or first cousin once removed to Frances. Homeretta married 10 Jul 1888  in New London, Daniel Joseph Comfort Arnold (called DJC Arnold). Daniel was born 27 Oct 1854 in Adams (Berkshire) Massachusetts, and died 21 Feb 1920 in Oberlin (Loraine) Ohio. He is almost certainly related to Bill’s side, as his ancestry includes Whipple, Sprague, Tilden, Ballou, Whitman, Arnold, Mowry, Jenckes and Lovett lines from Massachusetts, but we haven’t found any positive connections. He was part owner of the DJC Arnold - Creagher Factory in New London.

Claudia Briggs {i,k} was born about 1865 in Ohio. Claudia is the daughter of Bernard Briggs and Esther McClave. We don’t know how she came to be placed with Frances -- perhaps her father died in the Civil War. Claudia married C. E. Hauk.

A 4 October 1916 article in the New London Record said that Frances was visiting friends in Cleveland, and had plans to move there permanently. She apparently did move there the following year: a page one article in the Record on 9 March 1922 talks about a reception given for her 82nd birthday, and says she had been living in Cleveland for five years. She died at the McGregor Ladies’ Home in Cleveland, and is buried in Grove St. Cemetery next to Joseph -- they share a single headstone.

An article following her death appears in the New London Record:

The remains of Mrs. F. K. June, who died last Saturday in Cleveland, were brought here Monday for burial. Services were held in the M. E. church at 10 a.m., Rev. W. E. Hollett officiating. Miss Jennie Curtiss sang two appropriate selections. Interment was made in Grove Street Cemetery. Mrs. June was one of the early settlers of this community, being a member of the Kilbourne family who were among the first pioneer families to take up their residence in this community. She was Miss Frances Kilbourne and was born here 84 years ago [we have her birth as New York]. Her husband, Joseph Henry June moved here from Fitchville and established the first shoe store nearly fifty five years ago [should read sixty-five years ago]. They were soon after married and always made their home here until his death. They never had any children of their own, but it was their privilege to care for others, Miss Etta Packard, whom they raised and educated, who taught school a while then became the wife of D. J. C. Arnold, then later Miss Claudia Briggs, now Mrs. C. E. Hauk, of Cleveland. After the death of Mr. June, Mrs. June went to Cleveland to live and for the past seven years has been a resident of the McGregor Ladies’ Home. Mrs. June was a most estimable lady of whom it was a pleasure to be a friend. In her earlier years she was a most zealous worker in the M. E. church, being identified with all its various activities. A lady of high culture and for many years a member of the C.L.S.C.

Another article written five years later in the New London Record mentions her again:

Mrs. June lived to a ripe old age, an extension of life owing, possibly, to her enjoyment, as she claimed, of the blessing of sanctification, or pure, perfect love.

44.3. Henry Clay Kilburn [22] (1843 OH - 1897 MO) and Helen Cookingham are direct ancestors, separate page.

44.4. Edward Kilburn {c,g,h,i} was born in 1852 in New London (Huron) Ohio. Source {i} has him as Edgar Kilburn. We don’t know anything about him, except that he was in the town band in 1875. William Thom said that he died as a young man, which I would guess means sometime before 1890.

Sources:

a. Rosine Spencer, research notes and correspondence
b. New London gravestones
c. References in New London Record (newspaper)
d. References in “History of New London Ohio 1815-1941”, Helen R. Foskett 1976
e. Census, Ohio 1840
f. Census, Ohio 1850
g. Census, Ohio 1860
h. “Reminiscences of New London”, Wm Thom, in Firelands Pioneer V.22, 1921
i. Paula Griffin, data sheets for “Women in the Western Reserve”
j. Herbert Kilbourn: enlistment papers and muster cards, Civil War (National Archives)
k. Frances Kilburn: obituary, New London Record
m. Vital Records of Templeton, Massachusetts to 1850, Charlotte B. Croshaw,  1907
n. Correspondence by DN Kilburn in genforum.familytreemaker.com/kilburn/messages
o. “The Kilbourn Family History”, George Darius Kilborn, 1957
p. Thomas Neel notes for Stephen Kilburn biographical sketch
q. Joseph H. June death certificate, Health Dept, Norwalk Ohio

Compiled by Bill Stupak. Last update: Aug 2010