The Veterans - Lester A Cornell

Lester Cornell, born Nov 20 1889 in Amawalk, Westchester county, New York to Joshua Cornell and  Alice Cornell. Inducted May 25 1918  in Westchester County, NY. 

Served overseas from June 1918 to June 1919. Co H 2nd Pioneer Infantry, Then HQ Company 2 Pioneer Infantry, then 207 MP until discharge.

The 2nd Pioneer Infantry went overseas to France prior to the 1st Pioneer Infantry.The 2nd landed at Bordeaux and from there went to Bassens, in the Gironde to become acclimated and readied for service at the front.

 Some Companies  were put into service acting as guards and military police from the time of their arrival  in various French cities. In many cases, this MP service continued the entire time they were overseas. 

Other companies of the  2nd Pioneer Infantry had the job of building roads through the thickly forested terrain, salvaging ammunition from burnt-out trucks and abandoned artillery positions and helping bring supplies forward.

Until we find Lester's full military record we do not know what service Lester actually did or what action he may have seen.  Lester returned home in the summer of 1919, and returned to his life as a carpenter. In 1923, he married Florence Purdy and they raised a family in Yorktown Heights, NY.  Lester was afflicted in later years with arthritis, and died in  August of 1978. He is buried in Amawalk cemetery, not far from where he was born. 

Mary Etta Alley Dykeman

Today in the family tree:

Mary Etta Alley was born 24 April 1878  to J.W.  and Anna Alley in Iowa, one of two daughters.  In the 1880 census, her grandmother Elizabeth is also living with the family in Iowa.

A glimpse of events that happened in 1878:
Rutherford B Hayes is President
Thomas Edison patents the Phonograph. 
Pope Pius IX dies after 32 years as Pope.
The first phone exchange is available in Connecticut.
California St Cable Car RR Co starts service.
Harley Procter introduces Ivory Soap.
Louis Pasteur tests a Cholera vaccine in chickens.
First Lady Lucy Hayes begins egg rolling contest on White House lawn. 
The Remington typewriter  is introduced allowing upper and lower letters to be used.
The United  States stops minting the 20 cent coin.
Sherwin and Williams introduces the first pre-mixed paint available in cans.

In 1896 Mary married Peter Baldwin Dykeman, son of James and Ruth Mabie Dykeman. They have a daughter, Ruth Dykeman in September of 1897 in Montana.  In 1907  they move to Riverton in Fremont County, Wyoming. In October 1908, the department of the interior publishes a notice in the Riverton review announcing Peter B Dykeman had filed their Homestead claim.

In 1917,  an article in the hometown paper  mentions Peter and his wife have gone to visit Ruth in Washington DC at school. however two years later I find she is attending dances and community activities in Riverton, so she must have returned to her parents after going to school.

 In 1920 they are found in the census in Los Angeles, California, where they had gone for a stay for a few months. I have yet to discover why they are there, but I do know Peter is the president of the local bank and a well established citizen of Riverton, helping to bring electricity and coal mining to the area. My guess at this point is he is in California for business.

.  Mary E Alley Dykeman died 13 Jul 1954, at the age of 76 and is buried in the Riverton Cemetery with Peter. Their daughter Ruth married Arthur Ward and had a son Phillip in 1925.

From Dolgopiaty to Dolgin

Harry Dolgin died May 17 1953 in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont at the Brightlook Hospital.  Harry was born Hershel Dolgopiaty in Kiev, Ukraine, Russia  on March 12th  1890.

Harry was the son of Ariah Lieb (or Aaron Louis)  Dolgopyat and Brina (or Bertha) Tabatchnick, and had at least two sisters, Mindel who was born around 1879 and Esther who was born about 1887 along with a brother Phillip.

Mauretania

Brina, Herschel, Esther and Mindel Dolgopiaty  immigrated to America on the Mauretania which traveled from Liverpool, England to arrive in New York City on 8 April 1910.

Passenger List of Mauretania 

Brina died under the name Bertha Dolgin in Malden Massachusetts on 26th May 1912. She was listed on her death certificate as a widow of Aaron Dolgin. Her parents were listed as Dora and Solomon Tabatchnick, both born in Russia.

Osborn picnic

Its well known that the Osborn part of the family would often get together for a meal and spend the day together.  In the boxes of pictures  from this side of the family, we found the below photo. After some help from many cousins, we were able to identify everyone in the picture as well.

The patriarch of this family is James Osborn. While he isn't in the picture, His sister Zadie is, along with his second wife Lucinda.   Their daughter, Isabel and her husband Cliff, with their children Cliff Jr and Lucy. Their daughter Chloe, her husband John Balser, daughter Barbara Balser and Chloe's son Buddy Dutcher. Their daughter Nancy  and husband Herman Bouffard. Her nephew Weston Beach, better known as Pete whom Lucinda and James raised. Their daughter Elsie Osborn, and James' brother Charles Osborn.

Picture is believed to have been taken after 1939, when Herman and Nancy married, and before 1941 when Elsie married. 

The four Junia Dykemans

The first Junia was the child of Hezekiah & Constant Doane Dykeman (also spelled Dyckman or Dikeman.) Born Nov 22 1785,  he married Sarah Morehouse. They had three children, Belinda, Sally and Daniel.  Junia served in the New York Militia in the War of 1812 in Capt. Ferris' company under Col. Carver. Junia died  March 6 1875. Junia & Sarah are buried in the Old Southeast Church Cemetery in the town of Southeast, Putnam County NY.

The second Junia, Junia Warren Dykeman is the grandson of the first Junia, the only child of Daniel W and Emma C Dykeman. He was born July 9 1856. This Junia marries Helen A Beattys and they have 11 children; Junia Jr, Emma, Charles, Lewis, Frederick, William, Arlene Bessie, Helen Lucille, Elbert, Harold Horton, and Ralph Irving Dykeman.  Junia Dies 22 April 1934, in Manhattan, New York City, New York. He is buried in the Milltown Cemetery in Brewster, Putnam County, New York.

The third Junia, Junia Warren Dykeman Jr was born 23 July 1878, in Dykemans, Putnam County, New York, just like the two generations before him. He married Bessie A Nichols and they had two daughters, Helen and Ruth Dykeman. This Junia was a Justice of the Peace and Town clerk in Patterson, NY. Junia died June 17 1962 in  Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. He is buried in the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Towners, Putnam County, NY.

The last Junia, Junia William Dykeman is the son of Helen Dykeman and the grandson of Junia Warren Dykeman Jr.  Junia William was born June 18 1942 in Danbury, CT.   In July 2 1964, a legal notice was filed by the Putnam County Court stating that Junia William Dykeman would be now known as Miles Rivers. Despite that notice, Junia died in 1973 and is buried under his birth name in the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Patterson, Putnam County, New York.

My Ancestor, Helen Amelia Beattys Dykeman.

There are many Helen Dykemans in my family, and this is the story of just one of them - my great-great-grandmother Helen Amelia Beattys Dykeman


The Civil War was a month old when Helen was born  on the second of September 1861 to Charles S Beattys  and Georgiana Howes in the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York.  She was about a year old when her dad went off to join the union army. A baby brother Daniel soon joined their family. Home life is not easy as her father is injured in the war, and returns just before her three year old brother dies. Just 9 months later, in 1866, Charles dies in a work related accident.   Her mother Georgiana remarries  in 1871 to Oliver Gay, but Helen remains the only child in the home.

Just shy of her 16th birthday, Helen (called Nellie) marries Junia Dykeman on Jul 2 1877.  They reside in  in Southeast, Putnam County, NY where Junia's family had been settled for many years.  A small article was published in the Brewster Standard: announced “marriage of Junia W Dykeman and Nellie Bettis was very quietly celebrated on Sunday, July 1 1877 at the brides mother’s residence. The reception was held on evening following.” They have Junia Jr about a year  later, when Helen is almost 17 and Junia Sr is 22, giving a start to what will become a large family.

In the 1880 Census we find the family living in Southeast, Putnam County NY. Junia is 24, born in NY and a farmer. Helen is listed as Nellie H, 19, Born in NY and Keeping House. Also listed is Junia Jr, 2 years old born in NY and the newest member of the house, baby Emma, at 11 months.  Junia's mother Emma had died a few months before baby Emma's birth, which may be where the name comes from.

Four boys are born to the family by 1890; Charles R in 1881, Lewis H in 1885, William G in 1887, and Frederick S in 1890.  There is no 1890 census, but all data points to Helen and Junia Sr still living in the family homestead in the town of Southeast, Putnam County NY.  No 1892 state census has been found yet for this community. The railroad is established shortly after, going closely by the Homestead. The railroad stop there leads to the establishment of the hamlet of Dykeman's Station  and in 1894 Dykemans gets a post office, putting it on the map.

Two more children are born, Arlene B in 1892, and Helen L in 1994.  Helen's daughter Emma B Dykeman marries a cousin, Henry J Dykeman in April of 1897, moving out of the house.  Helen and Junia have a son, Elbert Leslie Dykeman, born in late 1897  bringing their family to 9 children.  In January of 1898, Helen's first grandchild is born, a daughter, Florence, to Emma and her husband Henry.  In February of 1899, Helen's son Elbert dies. He is the only child they have that dies young, which is unusual for the times.

In the 1900 Census We find the family living in Dykemans Station, town of South east, Putnam County NY. Junia Sr is not listed.
Junia, Head,  b July 1878  a Farmer, B NY listed as single (this is Junia Jr)
Helen A, Mother,B Sept 1861, Married, 8 of 9 children living, B NY.  Father born in CT.
Lewis H, Brother, B Dec 1885, 14, Single B NY
William G, Brother, B Oct 1881 12, Single, B NY
Frederick S, Brother, B April 1890, 10, Single, B NY
Bessie A, Sister, B May 1892, 8, Single, B NY (Arlene Bessie)
Helen L, Sister, B Sept 1894, 5, Single, B NY
Georgiana A Gay, Grandmother (Helen's Mother) B Sept 1837, 62, Widowed, 1 of two children still living, B NY
also some servants and boarders are listed.

In August of 1900, Harold Horton Dykeman, my ancestor,  is born to Helen and Junia. In October, their son Junia marries and in 1902 has a daughter, Ruth.  At some point after Harold is born  Helen and Junia move to Manhattan. This was before their son Ralph is born in March of 1903,   There are records that Junia's father Daniel had lived part time in Manhattan, so they may have moved to a Family owned apartment, or they could have found a new location of their own. Between 1900 and 1910, Helen sees her sons Charles, and Lewis marry. They each have a daughter shortly thereafter, Doris and Alice,  Her mother Georgiana Howes Beatty Gay dies in 1909 in Schenectady.

In the 1910 Census, the family is living on West 96th street in  Manhattan.
Junia is 53, B in NY, on his first marriage of 31 years, Manager of a Milk Dairy.
Wife Helen is 48, B in NY, a housekeeper, married for 31 years.
William, Son, is 22 and single, B in NY, working as a bookkeeper in a Milk Dairy.
Daughter Arlene B is 17, B in NY, single and working as a bookkeeper in a Milk Dairy.
Daughter Helen L is 14, B in NY, single, no occupation.
Son Harold H. is 9, B in NY, Single, no occupation.
Son Ralph I is 7, Single,B in NY, no occupation.

Between 1910 and 1920, Frederick and William both get married. The grandchildren list grow to include Daniel, Helen, Frederick, Robert, Thelma, Kendall, Una, and Robert. World War one expands to include America, the Spanish Flu happens, and women in American gain the right to vote. Helen's son Charles, a state trooper, dies of Pleurisy in the beginning of 1920.

In the 1920 Census, we find the family still living on West 96th street in Manhattan, all born in USA with parents born in USA.
Junia (listed as Junius) Head of household, 63, Married, renting his home, a Manager in a Milk Company.
Helen (listed as Ellen) Wife, Married, 56, at home.
Son Harold,19 and Single, not working.
Son Ralph, 17 and Single, not working.
Son-in-law Charles Jagemann, 27 and Married, a Traffic Manager.
Daughter Helen Jagemann, 25 and Married, not working.
Kendon Jagemann (listed as Kenton), 3 months old.

 Helen and Junia are living at 166 West 96 Street in New York city when Helen goes to have an operation for a intestinal blockage. Unfortunately at the age of 59, in May of 1920, Helen Passes away from complications. In the Brewster Standard  June 4, 1920 her obituary is published: Sunday Morning 11 o’clock at St. Vincents Hospital, Helen Bettis, Wife of JW Dykeman died in her 59th year of age.  Her death followed an operation for relief of strangulated Hernia. Helen was born in South East Center Father Charles H Bettis Mother Georgianna Howes, Daughter of late JO Howes.

 Helen is buried in the Milltown Cemetery in Putnam county NY. Her husband Junia passes away in 1934. She is surrounded by the graves of many of her children and grandchildren.