Person:James Pilcher (7)

I believe the following is a portion of a family history written by Anna Darby of McArthur. Can anyone verify that? Is the complete history of the Pearce family by Anna Darby available in the Wescoat Memorial Library in McArthur, Ohio?

"Edward married Elizabeth England, who had a son, James, whose wife was "Aunt Jane" as I was taught to call her. She was a humble, good woman, who was widowed and raised her children by picking berries and walking miles to sell them. We used to buy all our blackberries from "Aunt Jane" not only because we wanted to help her but because her berries were clean and good. My mother canned gallons of them. James and Jane had four children: Minnie (Waugh), Lou Tinkham, Verna Malone, and John who never married. Lou "Cousin Lou" Tinkham had children Linetta (named for Nettie Milhon) and Albert. Linetta is Nettie Hopkins (Mrs. Sherman Hopkins), who has children: Alberta, Sherman, Jr., and Madelon."

Regarding the death date of this James Pilcher, the Vinton County Death Record clearly records the date as 24 June 1886. The following obituary is found at the Wescoat Memorial Library genealogical room in the scrapbooks of obituaries. Penciled in along the top of the clipping is the date of June 17, 1886 and the newspaper's name. I do not know if the handwritten date is correct on the clipping.

Obituary
June 17, 1886 - McArthur Democrat Enquirer
Born Under an Unlucky Star
James Pilcher, who accidentally fell and broke his leg on the 4th inst., died on Saturday and was buried at the Elk Fork graveyard on Sunday. Misfortune seems to have accompanied this poor man all his life. His father, Edward Pilcher, died when he was a child and he was shortly afterward left to the care of a step-father. When he grew up he married, and his wife soon died. He repeated the operation, but the second wife, after bearing him three children, also died. A third time he tried to secure happiness in the marriage relation, but failed as before. His fourth wife, with four little children he leaves in destitute circumstances. A few years ago he was kicked by a mule. His face was terribly disfigured and one eye put out, but after several months of suffering he recovered sufficiently to be able to work a little. Then he was sun-struck or had something like appoplexy. Nearly a year before his death he was laid up with rheumatism, and was just able to walk slowly about on crutches when a misstep precipitated "the last sad scene of all." In short, he endured the frowns and kicks of outrageous fortune in almost every conceivable form and if suffering in spirit and body on this earth fit one for, and is rewarded by proportionate joys in the future state, James Pilcher will occupy a high position in the spirit world. His age was about 55 years.

1. ↑ United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MX7Z-8Z5
   
   1850 Census, Elk, Vinton, Ohio, United States
   Household ID: 180
   House Number: 180
   
   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
   William Mathews M 45 New York
   Elisabeth Mathews F 39 Virginia
   James Pilcher M 19 Ohio
   Mary Pilcher F 16 Ohio
   John Pilcher M 14 Ohio
   George Mathews M 16 New York
   William F Mathews M 7 Ohio
   Sanford B Mathews M 4 Ohio
   Vinton Mathews M 2 Ohio
   Mary England F 81 Maryland

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001.

   https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6X8-DLW
   
   Name: James Pilcher
   Event Type: Death
   Event Date: 24 Jun 1886
   Event Place: Elk Township, Vinton, Ohio, United States
   Residence Place: Elk Tounship
   Gender: Male
   Age: 56
   Marital Status: Married
   Race (Original): White
   Occupation: Farmer
   Birth Year (Estimated): 1830
   Birthplace: Vinton Co., Ohio