BackGround: Palmyra Temple, Palmyra, New York.
Up dated 19 September 2008
Ervin was born 9 October 1815, in Hebron, Washington, New York, and married 19 May 1839, in La Porte, Co., Indiana, Harriette GRIFEN, the daughter of Seth GRIFFEN and Esther Bradley ALDERMAN. She was born 14 April 1817, in Broome, Schoharie, New York, and died 11 August, 1854 in Columbia Co., Wisconsin.
Ervin married second 2 April 1855, in , Columbia, Wisconsin, Louisa Ann WELLS, the daughter of Asa WELLS Jr. and Betsey BARR. She was born 20 April 1829 in Oxford, Chanango, New York and died 25 May 1884 in Cambria, Columbia, Wisconsin.Ervin died 30 December 1895, Cambria, Columbia, Wisconsin.
Ervin McCALL [10-08-1815], Hebron, Washington, the son of John & Nancy McCALL. Ervin was married on 05-18-1838 in Indiana to Harriet GRIFFIN, [04-14-1817], Schoharie County, New York, who died [08-11-1854], at age of 37. She was the daughter of Seth GRIFFIN. They had eight children: Nancy A., married Richard MASON of New York; Susan M., who had married Henry ELLIS, died [01-01-1873] and left three children: George, Effie and Ida; Mary E., married Richard GAGE; Almina, married Samuel WILCOX of Portage; and four children died: Orpha, Alice, Harriet and an infant not named. Ervin had a second marriage on 04-02-1855 to Louisa Ann WELLS [04-20-1829], Chenango County, New York, daughter of Asa WELLS, who died [11-02-1850], aged 79. They had four children: Asa Ervin 12-22-1856]; John S. [09-12-1860]; Sanford H. [04-03-1863]; and Harriet V. [11-23-1865]. Ervin McCall located on his land in 1845; his brother, John D. McCALL, unmarried, who was in partnership with him, died [02-26-1851], age 40. Section 1, 201 acres.
Late in April, 1845, Ervin McCALL came here from La Porte, Indiana. On the first day of May, he deposited the money for the entry of eighty acres of land at the sub-land office at Fox Lake. He returned to La Porte, picked up his family, and brother John, and set out for their new home. While crossing the Fox River in Illinois, their wagon overturned, resulting in a fracture of his wife's arm. The broken arm was properly adjusted and they came on to Johnstown, Rock County, where his brother-in-law, Matthew W. PATTON lived. He and his brother continued to their claim, arriving in the middle of September, and spent a night at the log house of Sam LANGDON. Here, they built a log house before returning to Rock County for their family.
"On the 24th of September, having previously agreed upon them, Robert Closs, David D. Roberts, John R. Rowlands, Sr., Evan Edwards and Jabez Lloyd left their families at the places mentioned, and were joined by E.B. Williams, William R. Williams, John O. Jones and John Edwards (single men). The party then started on foot in search of a suitable place on which to locate, traveling westward over the eastern part of the state, and passing through the village of Fox Lake, where a branch land office was located, the main Government Land Office being then located in Green Bay. They entered into Columbia, then called Portage County, about four miles north of the present site of the village of Randolph, arriving foot-sore and weary on Saturday evening, September 27th, at the shanty of Foulk Roberts on Section 12, Township 13, Range 12, then being a part of the LeRoy Precinct.
"After resting themselves on Sunday at Mr. Roberts’ they continued their westward course until they came to a point in the Fox River near the center of Section 16, Township 13, Range 11. There they discontinued for the first time their westward course and turned south, passing over Portage Prairie. On this path they met Samuel McConochie, M.W. Patten, John and Ervin McCall, and John Dodge, who were also newcomers preparing to erect cabins on their claims. Mr. Dodge having nearly completed his cabin, prevailed upon them to stop with him for dinner, which was cooked and prepared by Mr. Dodge personally and, of course, free of charge, which was characteristic of those days.
"After dinner they kept on their southerly course, crossing the north branch of Duck Creek about two miles west of where the village of Cambria is now located. It is interesting to note that the site of the village was entered upon by Samuel P. Langdon, and conveyed to him on the 14th day of June 1845; and it is also claimed and conceded that Mrs. Jabez Lloyd, wife of one of the investigating party of that name, late of Mankato, Minnesota, was the first white woman to step on Cambria soil.
"After crossing Duck Creek the party entered South Prairie, to which they took quite a fancy, and after traveling over the land, examined the quality of the soil, locating the timber land and investigating the source of the water supply, late in the afternoon they walked up to the highest point, which was about half a mile southwest of Zion’s Church of Springvale, and there sat down on the green grass deliberating over the situation and comparing notes on the different localities though which they had passed during the week. Viewing the beautiful landscape before them and stretching in splendor for miles in every direction under the variable-colored rays of the setting sun, they deliberately decided to make that locality their place of future abode, hoping that the future would gather to form a Welsh colony.
"After deciding on the location, they prepared to return, calling first at the Fox Lake land office to enter their claims. Then, returning to their families at Milwaukee and Racine, they immediately prepared to move onto their farms, coming over in covered emigrant wagons -- ‘prairie schooners’ -- and by the middle of October they were all on their places, housed in what people nowadays would call ‘miserable shanties,’ but to them, after their wearisome journey, they were ‘comfortable homes.’ Facing the winter of 1845-46, the settlement contained in round numbers, including children, fifty-three persons, composed of nine families and seven single men.
"A word on the origin of the name, Welsh Prairie, may be interesting. Before leaving the spot which the exploring party decided as their location, and in full view of the scenery before them, one of the party suggested that the beautiful prairie lying before them should thereafter be called Welsh Prairie; and to this, all agreed. Hence the name, dear to the memory of and quite a drawing card in bringing together many of the hosts of Home Comers that visited Cambria on the 3d, 4th and 5th of July, 1912, from New York to California and from Canada to Texas; and now after a lapse of sixty-seven years. out of the party of fifty-three persons mentioned, only three of us are left to represent the early settlers of '45 at the glorious Cambria reunion of 1912."
The first settler in Springvale was Ervin McCall. Late in April 1845, he entered the town in search of a home, and went no further, but returned to the sub-landoffice at Fox Lake and filed his claim on an eighty-acre tract. He then returned to his home in La Porte, by way of Watertown and Milwaukee, and early in September started for his Wisconsin home with his family, brother, wagon, two york of oxen, half a barrel of pork and limited supply of other provisions and household goods. While fording Fox River in Illinois, the wagon was overturned and Mrs. McCall's arm broken. The broken arm was temporarily adjusted and the party came on to Rock County, Wisconsin, where his brother-in-law, M.W. Patton, resided. There Mr. McCall left his family and, with his brother, pushed on with the family outfit for the Springvale claim in the northeastern part of the town. The first night after their arrival was spent at the log house of Sam Langdon on the present site of Cambria, and the next day they commenced haying on the marsh nearby, in order to get in a winter's supply for their stock. They built a log house on the claim a short distance west, and then Ervin returned to Rock County for his family.
Mr. Patton and his family came to Columbia County with the McCalls but located in the Town of Scott, where he became prominent. They all arrived at the hospitable house of Mr. Langdon on the night of the 15th of November, and the next day the McCall family moved into their new cabin which awaited them.
During the first winter of the McCall's residence there, after making the necessary purchases of provisions to last until spring he inventoried his worldly goods and found that his cash assets amounted to two twenty-five cent pieces. A little later two Methodist circuit riders -- the elder being Rev. W.G. Miller, afterwards eminent and always popular -- penetrated to the northeastern part of the county and stopped at the Langdon house. There Mr. Miller delivered a sermon, to which the McCalls were eager listeners; so much so, that the head of the family donated one of his two twenty-five cent pieces to the cause, or rather to assist in defraying the traveling expenses of the good missionaries. That night also they were entertained at the McCalls, where other religious services were held, the first in the town.
"Mail call for Centerville". Centerville? Cambria was once Langdon's Mill, Belleville, and Florence, but never Centerville.
For four years before Cambria received her post office, Centerville three miles to the north of Cambria at what is now the intersection of Hwy 33 and Englehart Road, was the stage coach stop for the mail coaches traveling east and west, approximately along what is now Highway 33. As the stages for tehse coaches were at intervals of from five to seven miles, Centerville was the closest to the growing settlement along Duck Creek. Previous to the year 1850, the nearest post office was at Fox Lake.
After the arrival of a Mr. L. Richards in 1852, this gentleman, along with Lewis Lloyd and Peter Houston began to urge the government through petitions and letters to authorize an office in Cambria. It took two years before Mr. William Post was appointed the first postmaster at the Cambria Post Office. However, it wasn't until 1857 and the advent of the railroad, that Cambria had direct mail service. Until that time, a man was sent to Centerville to collect the mail.
Sometime during the period of 1898 and 1919, the post office was located at the present site. In the same period, the first rural route was established with Benjamin Roberts as the first carrier on rural route one in 1900. In 1964, a new post office building was erected and dedicated.
1850 Census Springvale, Columbia, Wisconsin Page 229
R Estate Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Born
Irvin McCALL 38 M ---- Farmer $ 2,000 New York
Harriet " 33 F ---- ---------- -------- New York
Nancy A " 8 F ---- ---------- -------- Indiana
Susan " 6 F ---- ---------- -------- Indiana
Mary " 4 F ---- ---------- -------- Wisconsin
Orpha " 1 F ---- ---------- -------- Wisconsin
John " 40 M ---- Farmer $ 1,700 New York
Jane McFINEY 13 F ---- ---------- -------- New York
1860 Census Scott, Columbia, Wisconsin, Page 56
R Estate Personal Where
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Value Born
Ervin McCALL 44 M ---- Farmer $ 5,000 $ 1,244 Indiana
Louisa M " 39 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- New York
R. I. MASON 25 M ---- ---------- -------- $ 0,175 New York
Nancy A " 17 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- Indiana
Susan M McCALL 15 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- Indiana
Mary " 13 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- Wisconsin
Almira " 9 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- Wisconsin
Asa " 3 F ---- ---------- -------- -------- Wisconsin
Marvin THOMPSON 16 M ---- Farm Labor -------- -------- Ohio
Henry ELLIS 25 M ---- Farm Labor -------- $ 0,225 New York
1870 Census Springvale, Columbia, wisconsin, Page 359
Name Age Sex Race Occupation Value Value Born
McCALL Ervin 54 M W Farmer $ 10,000 $ 1,765 New York
" Louisa A 41 F W Keeping House -------- -------- New York
" Elmira 19 F W At Home -------- -------- Wisconsin
" Ace E 13 M W At Home -------- -------- Wisconsin
" John S 9 M W At Home -------- -------- Wisconsin
" Sanford 7 M W At Home -------- -------- Wisconsin
" Hariett 4 F W At Home -------- -------- Wisconsin
POWELL Thomas 24 M W Works on Farm -------- -------- Wales
WELLS Betsey 75 F W ------------- -------- -------- Massachusetts
1880 Census Springvale, Columbia, Wisconsin
Name Relat Sex Race Age Sta Occupation |Self Father Mother|
MCCALL Erving Self M W 64 M Farmer N. Y. N. Y. N. Y.
MCCALL Louiza Wife F W 51 M Keeping House N. Y. N. Y. N. Y.
MCCALL Ace E. Son M W 23 S Farmer Wisc. N. Y. N. Y.
MCCALL John Son M W 19 S Farmer Wisc. N. Y. N. Y.
MCCALL Sanford Son M W 17 S Farmer Wisc. N. Y. N. Y.
MCCALL Marie Dau F W 14 S ------------- Wisc. N. Y. N. Y.
1900 Census Portage, Columbia, Wisconsin, ED 21 Sheet 11A Line 3
Mont Year Mar Yrs | Place of Birth |
Name Relat R S Born Born Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
CARROLL James D Head W M Dec 1954 45 M 16 Wisc. Ire. Ire. R. R. Engineer
" Harriette V Wife W F Nov 1866 34 M 16 Wisc. N. Y. N. Y. ----------
McCAll Susie Niece W F Jul 1882 17 S --- Wisc. Wisc. Germ. At School
" Lina Niece W F Feb 1884 16 S --- Wisc. Wisc. Germ. At School
Harriette V Mother of 0 Children 0 Living
1910 Census Portage 5th Ward, Columbia, Wisconsin ED 30 Sheet 8A Line 33
Mar Yrs | Place of Birth |
Name Relat Sex Race Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
CARROLL James D Head M W 55 M 25 Wisc. Ire. Ire. Engineer
Locomotiv
" Harriet Wife F W 44 M 25 Wisc. N. Y. N. Y. None
Harriet Mother of 0 Children -- Living
1920 Census Miltown, Polk, Wisconsin, ED 160 Sheet 13A Line 7
Mar | Place of Birth |
Name Relat Sex Race Age Sta |Self Father Mother| Occupation
CARROLL James D Head M W 65 M Wisc. Ire. Ire. None
" Harriet Wife F W 54 M Wisc. N. Y. N. Y. None
McCALL Asa Bro-Law M W 63 M Wisc. N. Y. N. Y. None
" Caroline Sis-Law F W 58 M Germ. Germ. Germ. None
1930 Census Miltown, Polk, Wisconsin, ED 28 Sheet 5B Line 92
Age
Mar 1st | Place of Birth |
Name Relat Sex Race Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
CARROLL James D Head M W 75 M 29 Wisc. Ire. Ire. Ret. Engineer
Raril Road
" Harriet Wife F W 64 M 18 Wisc. N. Y. N. Y. None
Submitter: Joe Chase
Subject: McCall
Message:
From the "History of Columbia County, Wisconsin-1880"
by Western Historical Company,
in the biographical sketches for the Town of Springvale:
Ervin McCall, Sec 1; P.O. Cambria;was born Oct 8, 1815, in
Hebron, Washington Co, NY; son of John and Nancy McCall; his
mother died in 1831, and in the fall of 1836, his father removed
to Indiana with his family and settled in LaPorte Co., where he
died two years after, aged 61, leaving a family of ten children.
Ervin was married May 18, 1838, in Indiana, to Harriet Griffin,
who was born April 14, 1817, in Schoharie Co, NY, town of Boone
(now Conesville); daughter of Seth Griffin. Ervin came to Springvale,
Wisconsin in the spring of 1845 and brought the family to Wisconsin
the next September . His brother John D. came to Wisconsin with him
and bought land in company with Edwin, and he lived with him until
his death, Feb 26, 1851, aged 40, and unmarried. Ervin's first wife,
Harriet, died Aug 11, 1854, aged 37, leaving four children --
Nancy A, now Mrs. Richard Mason, of Almon, Allegany Co, NY;
Susan M., who married Henry Ellis, and died Jan 1, 1873,
leaving three children
George,
Effie
Ida;
Mary E., now Mrs. Richard Gage, of Marinette, Wis,
Almina, now Mrs Samuel Wilcox, of Portage City;
had lost four
Orpha,
Alice,
Harriet,
one died in infancy not named.
.... All the information about his second wife and children is
also listed.
Contact me for more info.
joec@inxpress.net
Submitter: Laura Sullivan
Subject: McCall Family in LaPorte County, Indiana
Message:
I am looking for more information on the following families:
Siblings:
John D. McCall, Ervin McCall, Nancy
McCall, and Maria McCall.
1. John D. McCall, b. abt 1810 in NY, d. Unknown, m. Margaret Somerville
December 12, 1835 in LaPorte, Indiana.
2. Ervin McCall, b. abt 1812 in NY, d. Dec. 30, 1895 in Cambria, Columbia
Co., Wisconsin, m. Harriet Griffin May 19, 1839 in LaPorte, Indiana.
Harriet Griffin, b. abt 1817 in Unknown, d. Aug. 11, 1854 in Cambria,
Wisconsin
Children:
2.1 Nancy A. McCall, b. 1842 in LaPorte, Indiana, d. Unknown,
2.2 Susan McCall, b. 1844 in LaPorte, Indiana, d. Unknown
2.3 Mary McCall, b. 1846 in Wisconsin, d. Unknown,
2.4 Orpha McCall, b. May 1849 in Wisconsin, d. Aug. 15 1850 in
Cambria, Wisconsin,
2.5 Alice McCall, b. June 1852 in Cambria, Wisconsin, d. Aug 12, 1854
in Cambria, Wisconsin,
2.6 Harriet McCall, b. June 1854 in Cambria, Wisconsin, d. Sep. 9,
1854 in Cambria, Wisconsin,
Ervin m. 2nd L.A. in Wisconsin and had two sons
2.7 Sanford Hugh McCall
and
2.8 Asa E. McCall.
3. Nancy McCall, b. Unknown, d. Unknown, m. William A. Webster Feb. 28,
1841 in LaPorte, Indiana
4. Maria McCall, b. Unknown, d. Unknown m. Jacob J. Mann Nov. 19, 1843
in LaPorte, Indiana
Submitter: Laura Sullivan
Subject: McCall Family in Cambria, Columbia County, Wisconsin
Message:
I am looking for more information on the following families:
Siblings:
John D. McCall and Ervin McCall
John and Ervin were two of the first sttlers in Cambria.
1. John D. McCall, b. abt 1810 in NY, d. Unknown, m. Margaret Somerville
December 12, 1835 in LaPorte, Indiana.
It appears that his wife may have died by 1846.
2. Ervin McCall, b. abt 1812 in NY, d. Dec. 30, 1895 in Cambria, Columbia
Co., Wisconsin, m. Harriet Griffin May 19, 1839 in LaPorte, Indiana.
Harriet Griffin, b. abt 1817 in Unknown, d. Aug. 11, 1854 in Cambria,
Wisconsin
Children:
2.1 Nancy A. McCall, b. 1842 in LaPorte, Indiana, d. Unknown,
2.2 Susan McCall, b. 1844 in LaPorte, Indiana, d. Unknown
2.3 Mary McCall, b. 1846 in Wisconsin, d. Unknown,
2.4 Orpha McCall, b. May 1849 in Wisconsin, d. Aug. 15 1850 in
Cambria, Wisconsin,
2.5 Alice McCall, b. June 1852 in Cambria, Wisconsin, d. Aug 12, 1854
in Cambria, Wisconsin,
2.6 Harriet McCall, b. June 1854 in Cambria, Wisconsin, d. Sep. 9,
1854 in Cambria Wisconsin,
Ervin m. 2nd L.A. in Wisconsin and had two sons
2.7 Sanford Hugh McCall
and
2.8 Asa E. McCall.
2.7 Sanford Hugh McCall, b. Unknown in Cambria, d. abt 1925 in
Santa Ana, Orange County, California. Sanford was a doctor in
Cambria. He married Martha Richards April 6, 1886 in Cambria.
Martha, b. Unknown in Cambria, d. abt 1915 in Missoula, Missoula
County, Montana. They had the following
Children:
2.7.1 Eleanor Louise McCall, b. Dec. 10, 1887 in Cambria,
d. Dec. 13, 1953 in Santa Ana, CA, m. Leo Marshall Harnois
Nov. 20, 1907 in Unknown,
2.7.2 Irvin McCall b. Unknown in Cambria, D. Unknown
2.8 Asa McCall, b. Unknown in Cambria, d. Unknown, m. Lena Arch
May 12, 1881 in Cambria.
Children:
2.8.1 Susan Pearl McCall, b. July 23, 1882 in Cambria, d. Unknown,
2.8.2 Lena Ann McCall, b. Feb. 2, 1884 in Cambria, d. Unknown
CHILDREN of Ervin McCALL and Harriette GRIFFEN:
+ 71. NANCY b: 18 Dec 1842; , La Porte, Indiana.
md: ; , , .
Richard L MASON.
+ 72. SUSAN MARIA b: 27 Jun 1845; , La Porte, Indiana.
md: 10 Oct 1861; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
Henry ELLIS.
d: 1 Jan 1873; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
+ 73. MARY E b: 19 May 1847; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
md: ; , , .
Richard GAGE.
74. ORPHA b: 12 May 1849; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
d: 15 Aug 1850; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
+ 75. ALMINA b: 11 Nov 1850; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
md: 3 Jul 1872; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
Samuel WILCOX.
76. ALICE b: 12 Jun 1852; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
d: 12 Aug 1854; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
77. HARRIETTE b: 2 Jun 1854; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
d: 9 Sep 1854; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
78. INFANT b: 2 Jun 1854; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
d: 2 Jun 1854; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
CHILDREN of Ervin McCALL and Louisa Ann WELLS:
+ 79. ASA ERVIN b: 22 Dec 1856; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
md: 12 May 1881; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
Lena ARCH
d: 8 Oct 1938;
7A. JOHN S. b: 12 Sep 1860; Scott, Columbia, Wisconsin.
d: 16 Dec 1909;
+ 7B. SANFORD HUGH b: 3 Apr 1863; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
md: 6 Apr 1886; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
Martha (Mattie) RICHARDS
d: 21 Apr 1923; Santa Anna, Orange, California.
+ 7C. HARRIETTE MARIE b: 23 Nov 1865; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
md: Abt 1884; , Columbia, Wisconsin.
James W CARROLL
d: 14 Oct 1958;
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