Person:William Abshear (1)
William Garrett Abshier
b.1 Jan 1818 Indiana, United States
d.5 May 1869 Spencer, Indiana, United States
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Spouse and Children
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  • H.  William Garrett Abshier1818 - 1869
  • W.  Mary ShoptaughAbt 1819 - 1853
m. 8 Aug 1841
  1. Ann R. AbshierAbt 1842 -
  2. Elizabeth AbshierAbt 1844 -
  3. Elmyra AbshierAbt 1847 -
  4. Nicholas T. AbshierAbt 1849 -
Spouse and Children
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m. 6 Feb 1855
  1. Lucy Alice Abshier1856 - 1920
  2. James T. AbshierAbt 1858 -
  3. Rosie E. AbshierAbt 1860 -
  4. George Ball Abshier1863 - 1948
  5. William Garrett Abshier, II1865 - 1952
  6. John R. AbshierAbt 1869 -
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Facts and Events
Name[1][2][4] William Garrett Abshier
Alt Name[4] Garrett _____
Alt Name[3] _____ Abshear
Alt Name[1] _____ Abshare
Gender Male
Birth[1][3][4] 1 Jan 1818 Indiana, United States
Marriage 8 Aug 1841 Spencer Co., Indianato Mary Shoptaugh
Occupation[3] 16 Sep 1850 Luce, Spencer, Indiana, United StatesFarmer-value of real estate $500
Marriage 6 Feb 1855 Indiana, United Statesto Mary Frances Duncan
Occupation[1] 5 Jul 1860 Luce, Spencer, Indiana, United StatesFarmer-value of real estate $2500
Death[4] 5 May 1869 Spencer, Indiana, United States

The interesting spelling of the surname 'Abshear' is found in the 1850 census. It is then listed as 'Abshare' in the 1860 census, then 'Abshier' in the 1870 census, and as 'Abshire' in 1880 for the same family. Garrett himself only shows up in the 1850 and 1860 censuses however. Garrett also has a spelling variation in the census as 'Garret'.

Garrett's Abshier's wife was listed as 'Polly' in the 1850 census, with children Ann R. (7), Elizabeth (5), Amira (2), and Nichlas T. (8 mos.). His second wife 'Mary' was found with Garrett in the 1860 census. All of Garrett and Polly's children remained with Garrett and Mary in the 1860 census, except Elizabeth (who would have been about 15 in 1860). Garrett and Mary show two children they had together in the 1860 Census, Alice (5), and James F. (3).

The 1870 census for Luce Twp., Spencer County, Indiana, shows Mary Abshier as the 'head of household' with 6 children and two adults living in the same house, but Garrett was not listed. Mary has added four additional children since the 1860 census, Rosie E. (10), George Ball (9), William Garrett (5 - my ancestor), and John R. (1).

In the 1880 census Mary was the 'head of household' in the N. Luce Twp of Spencer County, with three sons George, William Garrett, and John in the same household.

Interestingly, there is a 'Martha Abshare' listed in Ohio Twp, Spencer County in 1860 with three children, Elizabeth 16, Scott 12, and George 10. I need to investigate further to see if Martha is possibly related to Garrett somehow.

References
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1860 U.S. Census, Spencer Co., Luce Twp., Rockport P.O., Indiana. (Heritagequest online)
    page 289.
  2. ↑ death certification of his son William G Abshier, in Missouri, United States. Death Certificates. (Missouri State Archives).

    The original post (by a descendant) called him William Garrett Abshier II, implying that his father was also William Garret Abshier. This is borne out by the death certificate, which identifies his father as W G Abshier.

  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 1850 U.S. Census, Spencer Co., Luce Twp., Indiana. (Heritagequest online)
    page 36.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Garrett Abshier, in Find A Grave.
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