Tale of Two Margaret's: Two Van Scyoc Women

TALE OF TWO MARGARET VAN SCYOCS : Untangling the VANSCYOC, SHIRLEY and CRABB Lines by Marilyn A. Hudson (2011)

One the issues of family history is the invisibility of females and thus the image of Margaret Ann Van Scyoc Shirley to the left (sent to me by a descendant) clearly illustrates a woman some -intentionally or unintentionally - try to hide.  It is often at such times that issues of social status, family status, race, or gender serve to further hide identity and information.

Once Upon a Time in Fremont Co., Iowa, there were two girls named Margaret VanScyoc...  

In Fremont County, Iowa two Margaret Van Scyocs are confused. One married a SHIRLEY and one a CRABBS.

1) Margaret A. VanScyoc, daughter of Ashbill VanScyoc and wife Sarah Ann Farley VanScyoc. She was born in abt 1846 in Mo or Ia. She married John S. Shirley, had children W.A. and Daisy.  This is proven through a record of her mother estate settlement, Sarah Ann Farley Van Scyoc Fletcher.  She is found on numerous census records for Lucas, Ks.    

There were aunts or cousins in the county named Mustard and Keeler and in 1860 when her father was missing or dead many of her siblings were with these kin while her mother prepared to give birth in June to Almira VanSycoc, her baby sister..   The 1880 Census lists her in Kansas with her husband John S. Shirley.

MEANWHILE - There was also ...

2) Margaret E. Van Scyoc, daughter of John Van Scyoc and wife Julia Winters.   This Van Scyoc and Ashbel Van Scyoc may have been related in some manner resulting in the same surname and similar first names and research is ongoing.  This Margaret, however, married according to the country biographical history of 1881,  on January 17,1869, her father's business parter, Frederick Crabbs. She is in Fremont Co., Iowa on the 1880 census.

According to the Fremont Co., Iowa Biographies of 1881:

History of Fremont County, Iowa Des Moines: Iowa Hist. Co., 1881. Sidney  Township.(Transcribed by Cay Merryman and located in full at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/fremont/f 1881/f1881-sid ney.htm#)

CRABBS, Frederick, P. O. Sidney, joint proprietor Cromwell House; born July 9, 1837, in Carroll county, Maryland. He there grew to manhood, employing his time in farming. Mr. Crabbs came to Cedar county, Iowa, in the year 1868, where he remained until 1872, when he came to Sidney. From the time he came to Iowa until 1874, he followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1875, formed his present partnership with Mr. Scyoc, and entered at once upon the conduct of the Cromwell House. January 17, 1869, he married Miss Margaret E. Scyoc, the daughter of his business partner, by whom he has two children: Frederick and John.

Same source:

SCYOC, John V., joint proprietor Cromwell House, P. O. Sidney; born January 9, 1816, in Perry county, Pa., where he attained the estate of manhood, and resided many years. His early life was passed as a farmer, and his educational advantages limited to the common schools of that day. He followed the occupation of a tanner for five years, and then, the four years following, engaged in railroading. In the spring of 1865 he moved to Cedar county, Iowa, following farming for one year, when, in 1866, he removed to Jefferson county, engaging in farming until the fall of 1871. He then moved to Fremont county, settling permanently at Sidney. In 1873 he rented the hotel propery, known as the Cromwell House, which he conducted until 1875. In that year he purchased the property, in copartnership with Frederick Crabbs, and these gentlemen still conduct the house. Mr. Scyoc was married June 1, 1843, to Miss Julia Winters, a native of Maryland, born August 12, 1819. They have four children living: Isaac, Margaret, Julia and Jennie, all married, and three deceased. Mr. Scyoc is a member of the Masonic fraternity; and both he and his wife are members of the M. E. church

A look at the census records clearly  indicate the CRABB/CRABBS group stayed in Fremont Co., Iowa and the SHIRLEY group remained in the Russell County, KS area. 

What may have contributed to the confusion was the fact the mother of John S. Shirley was a step-daughter to Margaret's mother Sarah Farley VanScyoc Fletcher.  Apparently the VAN SCYOCS, Fletcher, and FARLEY clans may have moved in sync from VA, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri.  This may have been because they knew one another or a mere change of travel at the time.

TIME LINE FOR VAN SCYOC FAMILY IN FREMONT CO., IOWA

ONE FAMILY OF VAN SCYOC

Note: DNA of one descendant reveals a link from Ashbel Van Scyoc and Sarah Farley Van Scyoc Fletcher. Van Scyoc was the apparent son of Cornelius and Almira Goodrich VanScyoc who died in Marion Co., Indiana. Two of his half or full sisters, Ruth Van Scyoc Mustard and Elizabeth Van Scyoc Keeler were also in Fremont Co., Iowa with Asbel's family. 

Theory – This line of VAN SCYOC (by its various spellings) represents a line identified by the descendants of Franklin Benjamin Van Scyoc (born 1850-1904) through his son James Leroy Van Scyoc and James’ daughter Elizabeth Menor Van Scyoc Moore. This researcher was given information collected by the daughter of Elizabeth M. Van Scyoc Moore through her daughter Virginia Mae Moore Hudson. The name “Ashbel” as found on various records has a link to the line of Cornelius Van Scyoc and his wife Almira Goodrich. Ashbel may be the son of a first marriage or other close relative due to the appearance in the same county of the Mustard and Keeler families who married into the Marion County, Indiana Van Scyoc line. Tracking Ashbel he appears to match the ages required to join in the opening of Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa Territories and be part of the greater Black Hawk War.

1833 – Iowa would have been part of the Michigan Territory.

1836- - Van Sihock, Ashbel, pg. 71, Desmoines (total of 3 people in residence- no gender given but assumption is three males and since this is close to the earliest white men were allowed into the area of Iowa Territory that may be correct)

1845 -Marriage of Ashbel and Sarah Farley, Holt Co., Mo. Holt Co., Mo included also parts of current Atchison County, Missouri and Fremont Co., Iowa – with some individuals claiming dual residence.

1850 --District #22, Fremont Co., Iowa, "A.V. Schyhock", Sarah Ann, Margaret, Franklin..."  House # 141 listed a 42 year old male farmer born in Virginia, matching the known location and name for the Asbel and Sarah married in Holt Co., Mo. The census included Sarah Ann, 24 years old born Virginia, Margaret, 3, born Iowa, and 6 month old Franklin born Iowa probably in 1850 since the census was dated September and so his birth date of March 1850 would be most accurate.

1852 - Listed as a hard to read scrawl "Abramscyae A." 3 males 2 females, Sidney Twp. Only a transcription was available for examination and there may be great room for transcription error in interpreting the original document and the name. The three males (Ashbel, Franklin, and Jackson) and 2 females (Sarah and Margaret Ann) would match.

1854 -Listed as "A. VanCyoc", 4 males, 2 f, pg. 13, line 11, Sidney Twp. Here again transcription only but the 4 males (Ashbel, Franklin, Jackson and Thomas Benton) and 2 females (Sarah and Margaret) continues to match the known family.

1856 --Listed as "A. VanScyoc"; unclear as to township and maybe Monroe or Sidney

1860 – The census finds no Ashbel and no Sarah with the children all enumerated with cousins among the Keeler family and the Mustard family. Both had married into the Van Scyoc line out of Marion County, Indiana and are assumed kin to Ashbel Van Scyoc of Fremont County, Iowa. Margaret Ann and Thomas Benton Scyoc are enumerated with William and Ruth Van Scyoc Mustard in Sidney Twp on June 19^th, Riley Keeler in Ross Twp. On June 9, 1860. Franklin is with Seth Keeler in Ross Twp., on June 22 and Jackson Van Scyoc is in Ross Twp with Riley KeelerJune 7^th.  Sarah, believed pregnant with Almira Van Scyoc born June or July 1860, may have been closeted with a family or doctor at the time of the census. The mystery of what happened to Ashbel Van Scyco haunts the history. No grave, no record, no story of what happened to him or where has surfaced. If Almira was born during the time period of summer 1860 than she was conceived fall of 1859 (September – November). Is she was born 1859 (as some census suggest) she would have been conceived in 1858. This window of 1858-1860 provides focus in searching for the death, burial or abandonment/divorce of Ashbel Van Scyoc from his family. The family was primarily located in Sidney Twp. If the family did move to another township for the 1856 census a question of why may lead to answers as to the fate of Ashbel Van Scyoc.

1870- Sarah, having married Abraham Lot Fletcher, 6 September 1860 in Fremont County, was enumerated in his home in Scott Township along with most of her children. They, were listed as Fletcher leading to some confusion but the birthdates and locations match the Van scyoc children.  In residence #217, line 15 was one “Abel” Fletcher, 70 born in Virginia, listed as a “loafer” with property ranging between 13,000- 3,000, Sarah, 48, born in Virginia; Almira, 11,born in Iowa; “Bonton”, 15, born in Iowa; and Franklin, “22” born in Iowa, along with a 7 year old Fletcher. These children match the Van Scyoc brood of those still at home: Almira Van Scyoc, Thomas Benton Van Scyoc, Franklin Van Scyoc. At this census the eldest children, Margaret Ann would the wife of John Simpson Shirley and Jackson Van Scyoc was said to have gone with a cattle herd during this time. Son Franklin's responses on some census records of the time reveal his rebellion with the new home life.

1880 – Sarah is listed in the state mental hospital in the eastern part of the state, Abraham Fletcher is listed with the family of one of his sons. Franklin has md (1877) Lucinda Oakley and Almira had married Benjamin F. Beckwith, According to the medical records from the hospital Sarah was suffering from a condition that seemed, oddly, to get worse every time she was released to go home to her second husband. She claimed women secret snuck in the house at night and she grew agitated and aggressive when at home but was calm and peaceful for long stretches in the hospital leading people to agree to her returning home.

1885 -Frank Scyoc, born ca 1853 is listed Plum Hollow, Fremont Co., Iowa; in Scott Twp. Is listed a Abraham Lot Fletcher, 84, born West Virginia and who is a merchant; wife Sarah Fletcher, 57 born Virginia and a Grant Fletcher, aged 19, born in Iowa.

 Research Questions Still Needing Answers:

• When and where did Ashbel Van Scyoc die?  If his last child was born in June or July of 1860, he would have been  in the are in Oct or Nov of the previous year.  Where was he buried? Why are there no records?
• Did Ashbel own any land in the county of Fremont? For whom did he work if he did not? If he had land, where did the land go to, or who acquired the land post his death/disappearance and his wife's remarriage? 

THE VAN SCYOC FAMILY OF FREMONT CO., IOWA

 THE VAN SCYOC FAMILY OF FREMONT COUNTY, IOWA

Asbell Van Scyoc (1808-ca1859) was born in Virginia, married in Holt County, Missouri and died, probably, in Fremont County, Iowa. It is theorized that he was the son of Cornelius Van Scyoc of Ohio Co., Virginia (son of Abel Van Scyoc) and stepson to Almira Goodrich Van Scyoc since his birthdate predates the marriage of Cornelius and Almira. Note: Two date the DNA appears to support this with connections to descendent of this man.   Two female descendants of this group Elizabeth Van Scyoc Keeler and Ruth Van Scyoc Mustard are also in Fremont Co., Iowa during the time period Ashbel is in Fremont County.

From an Iowa Territorial Census we learn he settled into Iowa as early as 1836. His son Jackson Van Scyoc said in his biography of 1906 that his father was occupied cutting trees, farming, and other related tasks in those years and later. Another source suggests he might have been one of the young men who was involved in the Black Hawk War and the settling of Michigan and Wisconsin and names similar to his may be found in both locations to suggest extended family night have traveled there as well.

Since there are an Isiah, Abram and Cornelius Van Scyoc (of various spellings)  east of Fremont County they  may need to be considered as possible relations.

The Family of Franklin Van Scyoc had the information that his father had married a Sarah Farley and they had lived in Fremont Co.,Iowa.  With that as the source point the search began for the lineage of Franklin Van Scyoc. A lot of obstacles (assumptions, bad tree constructions, and lost records) hindered the process. 

Theory 1: The Father of Franklin Van Sycoc was an “Ashville” or , as only ONE source claims, “Nashville” based on the appearance on the 1850 Andrews County, Missouri census of a group there named VanSchoiack: Rueben, Josiah, Jackson, and Machiga. They apparently came out of the southeast. There is a land patent # 3062 issued in 1846 to Josiah Vanschoiack of Andrew County. This group, except for some who attempted to head to Oregon, remained in Andrew County, Missouri and there is a cemetery there called the VanSchoiack Cemetery. 

On the 1850 census of the county is listed a man many have identified as “A.R. VanSchoiack”. With him was a wife named Sarah born in Virginia and a daughter named Margaret born in Missouri.   Thus, the “A.R.” of that 1850 Missouri census became “Asbury R. Van Scyoc” because of the happenstance of the wife and child’s names being the same.

A close inspection of the entry in the census record calls this into question. 

The initials used, when compared to other letters written by the survey taker, are “N” and “R”. In fact, just four lines below the entry for this individual is a person named “Nancy” and the capital initial is clearly the same in both instances. One researcher, citing merely “Morman records” identified these people as “Neely Ralston VanSchoiack”, his wife Sarah, and daughter Margaret who left to go to Oregon but may not have survived that trip. The limitations of many databases is that the variations of name spellings create a barrier to searching, linking and locating connections with unique surnames. The 1850 Jefferson Twp., Andrews County, Missouri was dated Nov. 26, 1850.

A clear and close look at the census record for the Andrews County group reveals it is clearly an "N" and not an "A."

Since the Fremont County, Iowa Van Scyoc group is located on the 1850 Census of Iowa in District 22 of Fremont County, the two are not the same. Since the textual evidence of the handwriting clarifies the interpretation of the initials in the Andrew County, Missouri census, the two are not the same. Since no further links can be found to tie these two groups together the conclusion is that these are two distinct groups unrelated to one another.

Theory 2 – The A. Van Scyoc (by various spellings) in Fremont County, Iowa came into Iowa at an early date, at or shortly after the area of Iowa Territory was opened to white, male populations in surrounding regions and beyond. Thus his trek from his birthplace in Virginia likely crossed, Ohio, Indiana, and then northwest into what would be Wisconsin and Michigan Territories. His birthdate – based on response to the 1850 census – suggests he could have been a young man when he first arrived in the region and possibly fought in the Black Hawk War or worked for the government in exploring, clearing or otherwise opening the territories previously mentioned. His second son, Jackson Van Scyoc, will say in 1906 that his father felled trees on first coming into Iowa and that may be a clue as to his presence in the 1836 Territorial Census of Iowa.

In 1845 his path and that of Sarah Ann Farley cross in Holt County, Missouri. The region – often considered part of Fremont County, Iowa as well as Atchison and Holt County, Missouri – is said to have seen people counted in multiple census records. Yet, only one marriage record exists for this couple and it is in Holt Co., Missouri in 1845.

Subsequent census records, especially those after Sarah apparently widowed about 1860, remarries a local merchant-farmer Abraham Fletcher, have been greatly confused by people. Children of Van Scyoc were labeled as Fletcher and the fact that there were several Sarah Fletcher's in the area further confused things. Sarah Farley Van Scyoc Fletcher is often listed as a mother to children by her second husband when she was married to Van Scyoc and before.