Roberta Preston-Napier and Jim Andris: Second Cousins Once Removed

In December of 2002, I received several email communications from Roberta Preston-Napier whose father, Frederick Preston, was my second cousin. Some of this information was also provided by another relative, Vera Poole. Roberta writes:

Jim, I found your web-site through a relative of mine. My name is Roberta Preston-Napier. I am the granddaughter of Marie Preston and the great granddaughter of Maggie Sullivan. I found your website very useful and full of information I didn't have. Given that Marie and her husband Norman Preston moved to Oklahoma when they were young, my father never had much information on his family. Especially his mother. If you're interested in any information about Marie's family I would be happy to provide it and would love any other information you might come across about the Sullivan/Buertel lines.

In addition, Roberta had attached an email message from Vera Poole. They are second cousins, since Roberta's grandfather, Norman Preston, and Vera's grandfather, Charles Preston, were brothers.Vera had collected important genealogical information from Cochran's Marriages and Cochran's 1870 and 1880 Censuses of Washington, County, Ohio, which is given at the end of this document.

Using information provided to her by Vera Poole, Roberta goes on to establish that a Maggie Sullivan (my grandfather Frank Sullivan's older sister), age 19, married a Frank Backes, age 23 on Feb 24, 1897. Their daughter, Marie Caroline Backus, was born Feb 1, 1898. When Maggie Sullivan was 26, she married Earnest Shiers, age 29, on Oct 10, 1903. They had a son, Ernest Shiers, Jr. some time around 1917. The picture to the left is of him and was in my grandmother's scrapbook. According to Roberta, Ernie, Jr. is still living in California.

Maggie Sullivan's daughter, Marie Caroline Backus, married Norman Elmer Preston on Christmas Day, 1919. Their picture from my grandmothers's scrapbook, is to the right. Norman Preston was born Apr 17, 1897. The family moved to Enid, Oklahoma shortly after their marriage. There were three children by this marriage, Kenneth, Frederick and Norman. Frederick was Roberta's father.

Marie Preston visited Marietta at least once in the 1960's. Vera Poole remembers this visit; she was a 1964 graduate of Marietta High School. My mother remembers that Marie came to Marietta and visited Laura Bartell Withington, who was a half first cousin of Maggie Sullivan Shiers and my grandfather, Frank Sullivan. (Frank's mother, Carolina Buertel, and Laura's father, Carl Buertel, were half-brother and sister.)

Roberta sent me a later picture of Marie and Norman, which is shown below. Both Marie and Norman are buried in the Hominy City Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma. Marie died May 14, 1962 and Norman followed in July 26, 1970.

Considering these facts, then, Roberta's father, Frederick, and I are second cousins, which makes Roberta my second cousin once removed. Roberta also sent a picture of the Prestons' three sons shown below: from left to right Norman, Frederick and Kenneth Robert, who died in WW II at age 22.

Roberta writes this: "My father [Frederick] was born 11/24,1925. He married Elaine Krabseth in North Dakota and had four daughters. Carolyn Jean born 3/19/1954 … died shortly after birth.Carol Ann on 7/16/1955, Jan Kimberly on 12/13/1957 and Roberta Diane on 2/28/1961."

It is odd indeed that just when I started working on this particular scrapbook of Clara Noe Sullivan I should hear from these relatives. My mother remembers that it was Marie Preston who took mom's picture when mom was four years old. She said it was on the west side, half way up Harmar Hill, where Maggie was living at the time. Mom also remembers that Marie tried to convince Frank to move to Oklahoma with them and work in the oil fields there, but Grandma Clara said no. I'm looking forward to filling in more connections here.

Vera Poole's Information

BACKES, MARGARET MALISSIA 26 (W) WASH
SHIERS, EARNEST 29 (W) WASH
Married Oct 10, 1903
Robert & Annie (Rooney)
**from Cochran's Marriages of Washington Co., Ohio

BACKES, FRANK 23
MAGGIE SULLIVAN 19
Married Feb 24, 1897
**from Cochran's Marriages of Washington Co., Ohio

FRANK D. SULLIVAN 26 OH OH OH WK SAWMILL
CAROLINE (WI) 35 GER GER GER
MAGGIE M. (DA) 2 OH OH GER
WILLIE (SN) 1/12 OH OH OH (?)
**from Cochran's 1880 Census of Washington Co., OhiO

SULLIVAN, FRANK D.
BATTLE, CAROLINE
Married Oct. 9, 1875
**from Cochran's Marriages of Washington Co., Ohio

CAROLINE BATTLE (BATTELLE) 24 GER WASHING
KATE 3 OH
Living in the SAMUEL MALONEY household
**from Cochran's 1870 Census of Washington Co., OhiO