Warren and Elisabeth Lee Piatt
Warren Piatt was born in 1813 in Ohio and died in 1863 in Noble County, Indiana. He might have been the son of Peter Piatt (who appeared in the 1820 census of Coshocton County, OH) or of John N Piatt (recorded in the 1820 census of Licking Co, OH; 1830 census Rush Co, IN).
Warren was married to Elisabeth Lee who was born December 20, 1815 ( calculated using birthdate calculator) in Ohio and who died April 9, 1881, being 65 years, 3 months, and 19 days old. She is buried in the Cosperville Cemetery in Noble County, Indiana, though her marker disappeared sometime after a transcription in 1930.
Warren and Elisabeth had the following known children:
- Nancy Jane Piatt b: 19 Dec 1835 OH d: 10 Mar 1891 Rome City, IN (buried Orange Cemetery, Rome City, IN) m: Clark Calvin Watkins
- Warren Clarence Watkins b: c1869 IN (probably Noble Co)
- Fannie F Watkins b: c1871 IN (probably Noble Co)
- Timothy Watkins b: c1873 IN (probably Noble Co)
- Nathan Watkins b: c1876 IN (probably Noble Co)
- William Watkins b: May 1880 IN (probably Noble Co) m: Mary Myrtle Babb (ancestors of Martha A Andrews andymart@mintcity.com )
- John H Piatt b: c1839 OH d: aft Nov 1874 (buried Cosperville Cemetery, Noble Co, IN) (Civil War veteran - Company B 88th Indiana Infantry) m: Catherine Steinbarger b: 1843 d: 1877 (buried Cosperville Cemetery, Noble Co, IN)
- Leana Piatt b: 27 Feb 1869 d: 12 Nov 1869 (at 8mo 15d of age) (buried Cosperville Cemetery, Noble Co, IN)
- Mary Ellen Piatt b: c1842 OH
- Catherine "Casse" Piatt b: c1843 OH m: Henry McHenry d: bef 1880 (they lived in Kent Co, MI; was 'Casse' named for Cassey Lee?)
- William Piatt b: c1844 OH
- Deborah Piatt b: c1845 OH d: bef 1880 m: William Steinbarger
- Isabell Piatt b: c1846 OH m: Edwin Osterhout d: bef 1880 (she lived in Kent Co, MI)
- Alexander Piatt b: c1848 OH (probably Union Co)
- Hugh H Piatt b: c1850 OH (probably Union Co)
- James D Piatt b: c1855 OH m: c1875 (probably Noble Co, IN) Emma ?
- Elizabeth Piatt b: c1876 IN (probably Noble Co)
- ?Ardenia Piatt b: c1878 IN (probably Noble Co)
- Elizabeth Piatt b: c1857 OH m: Emery Shawl (lived in St Joseph Co, MI)
- Josephine Piatt b: c1858 IN (probably Elk Hart Township, Noble Co) m: bef 1880 Alvin (or Alva) Billman (lived in Noble Co, IN)
This family was recorded in the 1840 census for Knox County, Ohio. and
On the 1850 census of Union Township, Union County, Ohio:
- Pyatte, Warren age 36 born OH / M / Farmer
- Pyatte, Elisabeth age 34 born OH / F
- Pyatte, Nancy J age 14 born OH / F / attended school
- Pyatte, Mary E age 13 born OH / F / attended school
- Pyatte, John H age 11 born OH / M / attended school
- Pyatte, William age 10 born OH / M / attended school
- Pyatte, Casse age 7 born OH / M / attended school (this name spelled ‘Ca’ double s ‘se’; the old-fashioned double s looks like an f as in ‘Cafse’; note in 1860 this child is listed as 'female')
- Pyatte, Debora age 5 born OH / F
- Pyatte, Isabella age 4 born OH / F
- Pyatte, Alexander age 2 born OH / M
This family was enumerated #1300/1318 pg 38 ‘subdivision No 196’ image 12/24. Their neighbors were William C Piper, Archibald Irwin, Jesse Porter, Isaac Horton, George Dipple, Conrad Wideman, *, Margaret Woods, John P Woods, William Watson, Maria Gabriel, Richard Gabriel, and James Gabriel.
As early as 1853 Warren had purchased land in Noble County, Indiana, and moved his family there between 1857 and 1858.
The family had grown by the 1860 census of Wawaka, Elk Hart Township, Noble County, Indiana:
- Piatt, Warren age 47 born OH / m / Farmer / $1500/$600
- Piatt, Elizabeth age 46 born OH / f
- Piatt, John age 21 born OH / m
- Piatt, Mary age 18 born OH / f
- Piatt, Casse/Cassa age 17 born OH / f / attended school (identified in 1850 as a 'male')
- Piatt, Wm age 16 born OH / m / attended school
- Piatt, Deborah age 15 born OH / f / attended school
- Piatt, Isabelle age 14 born OH / f / attended school
- Piatt, Alex age 12 born OH / m / attended school
- Piatt, Hugh age 10 born OH / m / attended school
- Piatt, James age 5 born OH / m / attended school
- Piatt, Betsy age 3 born OH / f
- Piatt, Josephine age 2 born IN / f
This family was enumerated #2021/2020 pg 16 Aug 1860 image 11/26. Their neighbors were John Barry, William Young, Augustus Boss, John Lease, Frank Creigh, ?Hima Hill, and Joseph Stuart. In Jefferson Township, Noble County, Indiana, was a 22 year old John Piatt. I would imagine that keeping him separate from this 21 year old John Piatt might be difficult.
Their oldest daughter, Nancy Jane Watkins, was living in Noble County, Orange Township, Bourie and Northpoint as follows:
- Watkins, Calvin age 32 born NY / m / none listed / $3000/$1000
- Watkins, Nancy age 23 born OH
- Watkins, Clarance age 11/12 born IN
The will of Warren Piatt is recorded in Noble County, Indiana.
This deed is found in Noble County, IN, Deed Book 45, page 240-241:
This Indenture Witnesseth That Mary Ellen Piatt(unmarried) in
Consideration of the Sum of Forty-five dollars in hand paid by James D
Piatt do hereby Remise(?) Release and forever Quit claim unto the said
James D Piatt his heirs and assigns forever all my title Interest and Estate legal and equitable in the following premises with appurtenances Situate in Noble county in the State of Indiana and bounded and Described as follows: The East half of the South East quarter of Section Sixteen (16) Township thirty five (35) North Range Nine (9) East and I the said Mary Ellen Piatt do also hereby Sell assign and transfer to said James D Piatt a certain legacy given to me by the last Will and Testament of my father Warren Piatt Deceased of Seventy five Dollars and I authorize the said James D Piatt to receive and collect the same of the Executor of my father's Estate or any other Person who may be liable to pay the same when the same shall become due and I hereby release to said James D Piatt all my right title and Interest in said Legacy under said Will also all my right and title to all real and personal Estate of said
Deceased the above Described Real Estate being the lands of which Warren
Piatt died seized leaving as his widow Elizabeth Piatt and Eleven
Children, viz: Jane Piatt who married Clark C Watkins, Mary Ellen Piatt (the Grantor herein), John H Piatt (now deceased), Deborah Piatt, (now deceased) who married William Steinbarger, Catherine Piatt who married Henry McHenry, Isabell Piatt, who married Edwin Osterhout (he who is now
deceased), Elizabeth Piatt who married Emery Shawl, Alexander Piatt, Hugh H Piatt, James D Piatt (the Grantee herein) and Josephine Piatt who married Alvin Billman being all the children and heirs at Law of said Warren Piatt Deceased.
In Witness Whereof the said Mary Ellen Piatt (unmarried) has hereunto set
her hand and Seal this 6th day of September 1880.
Attest John Baughman / Mary Ellen Piatt seal
The State of Indiana
Noble County ss Before me John Baughman County Recorder in and for said
County this 6th day of September 1880 personally came Mary Ellen Piatt and
acknowledged the Execution of the annexed Deed.
Witness my hand and Official Seal John Baughman Recorder
Recorded September 6, 1880 at 4 O'Clock PM
John Baughman, RNC [Recorder, Noble Co?]
Apparently James D Piatt, (and maybe in collaboration with his brother
Alexander as indicated by other deeds) was acquiring the home place from
the other heirs. Other quit claim deeds establish the residences of some
of the other heirs:
- Emery and Elizabeth Piatt Shaul, St Joseph Co, MI
- Alva and Josephine Piatt Billman, Noble Co, IN
- Isabel Piatt Osterhout, Kent Co, MI
- Henry and Catherine Piatt McHenry, Kent Co, MI
- Hugh H Piatt, Noble Co IN
- Calvin and Nancy Jane Piatt Watkins, Noble Co IN
Warren Piatt bought the land described above from the State of Indiana on
18 October 1853 (Noble Co Deed Book 10, page 385). The land is north
across the road and just a little east of the church cemetery in
Cosperville (first called Springfield) where some of this family is buried.
The widowed Elisabeth is found in Ligonier, Elk Hart Township, Noble County, Indiana, on the 1870 census:
- Piatt, Elisabeth age 54 born VA / f / Keeping House / $4000/$200
- Piatt, Mary E age 34 born OH / f / At Home
- Piatt, Hugh age 19 born OH / m / Farm Hand
- Piatt, James D age 15 born OH / m / Farm Hand / attended school
- Piatt, Josephine age 13 born OH / f / At Home / attended school
- Lee, Cassey age 81 born MD / m
This family was enumerated #56/57 10 June 1860 pg 111 image 7/33. Their neighbors were Andrew Cook, Paris White, John Mawhorter, Adam Mawhorter, George Miller, John Stage, *, James Pearson, Fred Arndt, Jesse Minier, and Augustus Boss.
Warren and Elisabeth's son, Alexander, was still living in Wawaka, Elk Hart Township as follows:
- Miller, Eli age 23 born OH / m / Stone Mason / $1000/$150
- Miller, Mary R age 16 born IN / f / Keeping House
- Piatt, Alexander age 22 born OH / m / Farmer / $0/$250
- Piatt, Victoria age 19 born OH / f / Keeping House
This family was enumerated #93/93 (Alexander's separate house number erased and the following family given #94) pg 11 image 12/33.
Warren and Elisabeth's daughter, Deborah Steinbarger, was in Wawaka, Elk Hart County, Indiana, as follows:
- Steinberger, William age 53 born OH / wm / Farmer / $9000/$600
- Steinberger, Deborah age 26 born OH / wf / Keeping House
- Steinberger, Albert age 10 born IN / wm / attended school
- Rowell, William age 8 born IN / wm / attended school
- Rowell, Jenny age 8 born IN / wf
This family was enumerated #166/166 pg 118B image 22/33. Were William and Jenny children of Deborah from a previous marriage? She was with her parents in 1860 and would have married before 1862. If so, then Albert would not be her son. Alternatively, William and Jenny could be William's grandchildren or some other relationship (or none at all) and Albert may be Deborah's child if she married soon after the 1860 census.
I did not locate Isabella and Edwin Osterhout or Elizabeth and Emery Shawl on the 1870 census with the spouses that they had in 1880 quit claim deed paperwork.
Warren and Elisabeth's daughter, Nancy J Watkins, was still in Orange Township, Noble County, as follows:
- Watkins, Clark age 43 born NY / wm / Farmer / $4000/$700
- Watkins, Nancy J age 33 born OH / wf / Keeping House
- Watkins, Warren age 11 born IN / wm / At home / attended school
- Watkins, Fanny F age 9 born IN / wf / At home / attended school
- Watkins, Timothy age 7 born IN / wm / At home / attended school
- Watkins, Nathan age 4 born IN / wm / At home
- Watkins, Wm age 1/12 born May IN / wm / At home
This family was enumerated #134/134 pg image 17/35. I haven't located Warren and Elisabeth's son, John H Piatt, on the 1870 census unless he is the 31 year old born OH with wife Caroline age 25 and son, William H age 3, in Sturgis, St Joseph County, Michigan. John H Piatt is buried in Cosperville Cemetery with a Civil War marker which indicates that he served with Co B, 88th Indiana Infantry. There are no dates on the marker. John H Piatt and his wife sold land on 3 Nov 1874 but both were dead by the time of the quit claim deed of Mary Ellen Piatt in 1880. Next to John's marker is that of his wife, Catherine Steinbarger Piatt, 1843-1877, and in the same row is a marker for their daughter Leana Piatt, (d/o JH & C PIATT), d 12 Nov 1869, 8mo, 15d. Also in the same row is a marker for William Piatt, 1867-1877. If this is a son of John H and Catherine, that fact is yet to be established.
A book of Noble County cemetery inscriptions states that a transcript of the Cosperville Cemetery done by the DAR in the 1930s lists Elizabeth Piatt as being buried in the same cemetery giving her death date as 9 Apr 1881 being 65y, 3m, 19d. (By the printing of the other book in 1996 no stone for Elizabeth could be found.) If Elizabeth is there it would not be
difficult to suspect that her husband, Warren, would be in the same
cemetery, too, but as yet there is no proof.
By the 1880 census many of the Piatts seem to have moved away. These are the only Piatts left in Noble County on that census:
- Piatt, James age 24 born OH / farmer / father/mother born (left blank)
- Piatt, Emma (wife) age 24 born IN / keeping house / father born (left blank)/mother born IN
- Piatt, Lizzie (daughter) age 4 born IN / father born OH/mother born IN
- Piatt, ?Ardenia (daughter) age 2 born / father born OH/mother born IN
- Piatt, Charlie (relationship not stated) age 12 born / attended school / father born OH/mother born IN
- Piatt, Mary E (sister) age 40 born OH / house work / father/mother born (left blank)
- Piatt, Elisabeth (mother) age 64 born VA / house work / father born VA/mother born (left blank)
This family was enumerated #68/69 pg 364 image 7/36 and indexed as 'Platt' in Elk Hart Township. Who is Charlie Piatt? I do not find any 2-year-old that would be a match on the 1870 census. Other Piatts in Noble County:
- Shobe, Taylor age 29 born IN / MWM / Clerk In Store / father/mother born OH
- Shove, Maryetta (Wife) age 30 born OH / MWF / Keeping House / father/mother born OH
- Piatt, Lorenzo P (SSon) age 8 born IN / SWM / father born NY/mother born OH
- Shobe, Blanch (Dau) age 6/12 born IN / SWF / father born IN/mother born OH (from familysearch.org; page 399A Perry Township)
- Steinberger, George age 51 born OH / MWM / Shoe Maker / father/mother born PA
- Steinberger, Rebecca (Wife) age 35 born OH / MWF / Milliner / father born IRE/mother born PA
- Steinberger, Ella (Dau) age 24 born IN / SWF / Milliner / father/mother born OH
- Steinberger, Greely (Son) age 22 born IN / SWM / Laborer / father/mother born OH
- Steinberger, Jennie (Dau) age 19 born IN / SWF / House Keeping / father/mother born OH
- Piatt, Hattie (Other) age 8 born MI / SWF / Schollar / father born OH/mother born IN (from familysearch.org; page 375B Wawaka)
- Piat, Ellick age 33 born OH / MWM / Farmer / father/mother born (left blank)
- Piat, Victora (Wife) age 29 born OH / MWF / House Keeper / father born PA/mother born OH
- Piat, Warren A (Son) age 10 born IN / SWM / Schollar / father/mother born OH
- Piat, Blanche M (Dau) age 3 born MI / SWF / father/mother born OH (from familysearch.org; page 376D Springfield)
Some clues from these entries indicate that at least two of the families have ties to Michigan indicating that is where the family has moved (borne out by the 1880 deed transaction). Here we see another Steinberger/Piatt link. Was Hattie an orphan? Is that why she came back to Indiana from Michigan? It appears that any school age child is listed as 'schollar'. What Piatt was Maryetta married to c1871 before she married the Shobe? I find it interesting that Alexander is called Ellick. I have found that in one of my Studdard ancestors (Elic Alexander Studdard) and always thought it was part of his name - not a nickname. Now, I am not so sure that it wasn't like John/Jack or William/Bill.
Searching the 1880 census index for married daughters of Warren and Elisabeth, I did find Nancy Jane Watkins and family as follows in Orange Township, Noble County, Indiana (#5/5 dist 650 image 18/44):
- Watkins, Clark C age 53 born NY / farmer / father/mother born NY
- Watkins, Jane (wife) age 43 born OH / keeping house / father born MA/mother born VA
- Watkins, Warren C (son) age 20 IN / farm laborer / father born NY/mother born OH (same on all children) / attended school
- Watkins, Fannie F (daughter) age 19 born IN / stays at home / attended school
- Watkins, Timothy C (son) age 15 born IN / works on farm / attended school
- Watkins, Nathan A (son) age 14 born IN / goes to school / attended school
- Watkins, Willie H (son) age 10 born IN / goes to school / attended school
Since Deborah had died previous to 1880 and since I find no matching William Steinbarger (who would have been aged 63), I am assuming he is dead as well. Their son, Albert, (age 19) is in Noble County, Indiana, (district 67) with Daniel Minier. I found the Emory and Elizabeth Shawl family in Constantine, St. Joseph County, Michigan (district 191 image 29/46). The image was not readable online to determine whom else might have been in the household and any information not included in the index which was as follows:
- Shawl, Emory age 31 born OH
- Shawl, Lizzie (wife) age 25 born OH
- Shawl, Frank H (son) age 11 born MI
- Shawl, Harry T (son) age 8 born IN
Also in this township (image 31/46) was 54-year-old Lucreathy Shawl who was born in Ohio with children Frank B and Mary E. I was unable to locate Catherine or Henry McHenry although the 1880 deed suggests they were still living. I found an 'Anna B Osterhout' in Cedar Springs, Kent County, Michigan with a husband 'Edwin I Osterhout' who was the correct age to be Isabell. They had no children. Did Edwin die between the census and the date of Mary Ellen Piatt's deed in September 1880, or, is this not the right Isabell? Josephine Piatt Billman and family were still in Elk Hart Township, Noble County, Indiana (#53/54 district 67 image 8/36) as follows:
- Billman, Alva age 25 born IN / mwm / farm laborer / father/mother born PA
- Billman, Josephine age 2? born IN / mwf / keeping house / father/mother born OH
- Billman, Elsworth age 4 born IN / swm
- Billman, Dessie age 2 born IN / swm
The only William Piatt I find who is age 35 or 36 in 1880 is one in Eddyville, Wapello County, Iowa, who claims to be born in Indiana. Is this Warren and Elisabeth's son? I found no Hugh Piatt using a search for born 1850 in the US and no one of the right age searching with name only or anyone named Hugh in Noble County, Indiana.
Sources:
- Noble Co, IN, deeds
- Noble Co, IN, cemetery inscriptions
- Martha Andrews andymart@mintcity.com
- 1850 Union Co, OH, federal census
- 1860/1870/1880 Noble Co, IN, federal census