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This blog post is part of the Donohoo Descendancy Project. Josephine Donohoo was a daughter of Francis T. and Rebecca (Wheatley) Donohoo, and a grand-daughter of Patrick and Sarah Donohoo.


 

Josephine Donohoo was born about 1833, in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky [1], to Francis T. and Rebecca (Wheatley) Donohoo. In the 1850 U.S. Census, she is enumerated with her parents, three younger sisters, Emily, Sarah and Caroline, and two younger brothers, John F. and Charles, living in Nelson County, Kentucky [2]. (Josephine’s age is given to be 15 years in this census, giving a birth year of about 1835, however, her marriage and death records both give an approximate birth year of 1833.) Joseph W. Allender was born the same year, 1833, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [1].

On 23 December 1856, Josephine Donohoo married Joseph Walter Allender. Both were age 23. They were married by the Catholic priest at the home of Josephine’s father, Francis Donohoo. Her aunt, Sarah Bishop, was one witness of the marriage [1,3].

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Sometime in 1858, a son, Walter, was born to Joseph and Josephine. Birth records were kept sporadically in Kentucky during this time period, and a birth record has not yet been located for Walter. However, a Walter Allender, age 2, is living with Josephine’s parents in the 1860 census [4]. J. Allender and Walter Allender are the only Allenders enumerated in Nelson County, or nearby counties, during this census. As the name Walter is also Joseph’s middle name, it seems very likely that this young boy is the child of Joseph and Josephine, and is living with his grandparents, while his newly widowed father is putting his life back together.

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On 1 June 1859, Joseph and Josephine welcomed a baby girl, Catherine T. Allender or “Kate”, to their family. She was born in Nelson County, Kentucky [5].

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Sadly, after less than three years of marriage, Josephine Donohoo Allender died in August of 1859, at the age of 26, of typhoid fever. Her newborn baby died the next month, in September of 1859, at the age of 3 months, of marasmus, or malnutrition [6].

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Later in 1860, September 4, Joseph remarried to a woman named Caroline A. Massie [7]. Just before their marriage, Joseph was enumerated in the 1860 census, living in a boarding house in Nelson County, Kentucky with a dozen other boarders, working as a “C. Trimmer” [8]. Caroline Massie, age 29, was living in Bardstown with Sallie Massie, age 50, and Cordelia Massie, age 25 [9].

By 1870 this family is no longer living in the Bardstown area; they have relocated back to Joseph’s hometown area of Pittsburg. The household is comprised of Jos. W. Allender, age 37, Caroline Allender, age 42, and Minnie Allender, age 7, enumerated in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Jos. A. is an upholsterer [10]. However, Walter Allender is not in this household.

Walter Allender’s whereabouts are a mystery. A 12 year old Walter Allender is found in the 1870 U.S. Census in Hinsdale, Cattaraugus, New York, in the household of Ira Nowland, age 51, born New York, Eliza Nowland, age 48, born Pennsylvania, and Mary Lowe, age 28, born Pennsylvaniain New York [11]. This Walter is the correct age, also born in Kentucky. The women in the household are listed as being born in Pennsylvania, where Joseph Allender was born and resided again. However, if this is Walter Allender, son of Joseph and Josephine (Donohoo) Allender, how did he come to live with this family? What is the Nowland family connection to the Allender family? This is the only somewhat plausible entry for Walter found to date on ancestry, familysearch, google, fold3, and newspapers.com. These are mysteries to be solved another day.

The Allender family relocated about 50 miles away by the 1880 Census, to Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania: Joseph Allender, age 48, born Pennsylvania, Caroline Allender, age 48, born Kentucky, and Minnie Allender, age 17, born Pennsylvania. Joseph works as an upholsterer [12]. The next year, on 15 July 1881, Joseph W. Allender dies and is buried in the Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania [13].

By 1882, Caroline Allender, widow of Joseph, lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and appears in the city directory there [14]. In 1894, Caroline Allender, widow of Joseph, continues to live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [15].

In the 1900 U.S. Census, Caroline Allender, widow, born May 1828 in Kentucky, age 72, mother of 1 child, 1 living,  and Minnie Allender, born March 1867 in Pennsylvania, age 33, are enumerated in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [16]. By the 1910 U.S. Census, Caroline Allender, age 82, widow, born Kentucky, mother of 1 child, 0 living, (Minnie appears to have died by this date), is enumerated in an “aged ladies home” in Allegheny County, Kentucky [17]. The 1920 U.S. Census lists Caroline Allender, age 91, widowed, born Kentucky, in a “Home for Aged Protestant Women” in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania [18].

On 4 March 1922, Mrs. Caroline Allender died. Her death certificate listes her age as 93, widow, born Kentucky, father James Massey, born Kentucky, mother Sarah Cox, born Kentucky. She was buried in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, near her husband [19].

Sources:

[1] Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5ZN-XMM : accessed 18 December 2014), Joseph Walter Allender and Josephine Donohoo, 23 Dec 1856; citing p. , Nelson, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 499,977.

[2] Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: District 1, Nelson, Kentucky; Roll: M432_215; Page: 278B; Image: 15. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[3] “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5ZN-61B : accessed 17 December 2014), Joseph W Allender and Josephine Donohoo, 23 Dec 1856; citing p. , Nelson, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 499,977.

[4] Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: District 1, Nelson, Kentucky; Roll: M653_389; Page: 175; Image: 175; Family History Library Film: 803389. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

[5] Ancestry.com. Kentucky, Birth Records, 1852-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Kentucky. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records – Microfilm (1852-1910). Microfilm rolls #994027-994058. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.

[6] Source Citation Census Year: 1859 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. A portion of this collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.

[7] “Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VHC8-7XS : accessed 18 December 2014), Joseph Allender and Caroline A Massie, 01 Sep 1860; citing p. 343, Nelson, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 481,490.

[8] Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: District 1, Nelson, Kentucky; Roll: M653_389; Page: 191; Image: 191; Family History Library Film: 803389; Description City : District 1; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

[9] Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Bardstown, Nelson, Kentucky; Roll: M653_389;Page: 13; Image: 13; Family History Library Film: 803389; Description City : Bardstown; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

[10] Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Allegheny Ward 5, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1291; Page: 492A; Image: 323; Family History Library Film: 552790; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

[11]  Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Hinsdale, Cattaraugus, New York; Roll: M593_908; Page: 245B; Image: 501; Family History Library Film: 552407; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

[12]  Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Connellsville, Fayette, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1129; Family History Film: 1255129; Page: 91C; Enumeration District: 035; Image: 0485; Source Information Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[13] Find-A-Grave Memorial, Joseph W. Allender, born 1833, died 15 July 1881, Inscription:
Aged 48 years, Burial: Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA,
Created by: Mary Green Kerr, Record added: Jan 22, 2012, Find A Grave Memorial #83869001, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=83869001&ref=acom

[14] Description Title : Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1882; Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[15] Description Title : Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1894; Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[16] Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Allegheny Ward 6, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1356; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0066; FHL microfilm: 1241356; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[17] Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Wilkinsburg Ward 2, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1298; Page: 24A; Enumeration District: 0274; FHL microfilm: 1375311; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.

[18] Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Wilkinsburg Ward 2, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1530; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 865; Image: 932; Description Enumeration District : 0865; Description: Wilkinsburg borough, Ward 2 (part), Precinct 5 including Home for Aged Protestant Women and Couples; Source Information Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City).

[19] Description Certificate Number: 034441, Mrs. Caroline Allender, Death 4 March 1922.
Source Information Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.


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