Using Digital Newspapers to uncover a family secret

 

One advantage with doing genealogy today is that so much information about our ancestors is available by searching online. One source that has been a very useful tool is digital newspapers and more being added all the time. These newspapers can be searched easily by typing in your ancestor's name or surname.  

Recently I did a search of Maine's digital newspapers, specifically the Piscataquis Observer as several my mother's family is from that area of Maine.  I began with a very general search of the surname Woodward. Many of the articles that popped up were family obituaries as well notes on family member's travels to visit relatives or receiving relatives for a visit. Mixed in with these tidbits was a newspaper article on arrests of three Woodward men, whose names I recognized immediately as my family relatives. This led me to uncover a series of newspaper articles starting in 1902 of robberies in the area which resulted in the arrests of my 2nd great-grandmother's brothers and a cousin and ultimately her father, my 3^rd great-grandfather, Benjamin Woodward. The story would capture the attention of their neighbors and people in the community and was spread across two counties, both Piscataquis and Penobscot. This led me to search another county newspaper, the Bangor Daily News. Searching by the family names revealed more information between the years of 1902 to 1904 in which they were referred to as “The Woodward Boys.”  A notorious gang of local thieves that possibly had been robbing from the community for years if you believe every unsolved robbery could be blamed on them.

Who were the people involved in the “Woodward Boys” gang? Two brothers, Irving and Walda Woodward, and their cousin, Samuel “Sam” Woodward and eventually the arrest of Benjamin J. Woodward, father of Irving and Walda and uncle to Sam Woodward.

The Bangor Daily News dedicated a full page to the Woodwards and their crime spree where most of the story was published.

                                                    The Woodward Boys

Irving and Walda Woodward

Irving and Walda Woodward were brothers, and sons of Benjamin J. Woodward and Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward. Irving was born on 22 April 1871 in Atkinson and his younger brother was born on 6 June 1880 in Atkinson, Maine.  Irving had married Eva May Whitney in 1900.   The Bangor Daily News, December 4, 1902 said the following of the brothers:

“Walda and Irving Woodard were born in Atkinson and have always lived there.  They are respectively 26 and 24 respectively of age. [actually, Walda was 22 and Irving was 32].  They like Sam, have always bore excellent reputations, and men for who, they have worked state that they were good workers and, so far as could be seen strictly honey and trustworthy.”

Sam Woodward

Samuel “Sam” Martin Woodward was born in Charleston, Maine the son of Isaac and Harriet (Baxter) Woodward, on 13 December 1874, and a first cousin to Walda and Irving Woodward and age 27 at the time of his arrest. He had come to live with his Uncle Benjamin Woodward for the past several years. The same article as above said this of Sam Woodard:

“He has always been regarded as a mighty good sort of a chap. His habits were considered of the best and no one ever suspected him of being the thief that he has confessed himself to be. A man who has known him for years, in discussing the case after the arrest of Sam, said that he would as soon as have suspected Elder ____, mentioning a leading clergyman, as to have thought Sam Woodward would have committed the crimes.” (ibid.)

The discovery of the stolen goods was made by a Charles Chase who was hunting and came across abandoned barn owned by Benjamin Woodward in Atkinson. While exploring the loft, he came across a part that was sealed off and when looking through a hole, he was able to see the numerous items hidden there. He immediately contacted the Piscataquis County Sheriff. There they found numerous stolen items from the last two or three years. Sam Woodward was arrested first and then by the afternoon, Irving and Walda Woodward were arrested. (The Piscataquis Observer, Nov 6, 1902)

The link to the Woodwards according to testimony, was that the neighbors had seen the Woodward boys going in and out of the barn and making repairs. Benjamin Woodward testified that he had given no one permission to use the barn at all. Found in the Barn was a graphophone. Two years prior, Sam Woodward had approached the Grange in South Dover, Maine to give a graphophone concert and split half the receipts. The Grange did not accept his offer as they owned the graphophone and should keep all the money. Sam at the time, declared they would be sorry. Not long afterwards, the Grange hall was broken into and the graphophone and all records were stolen.  Although, no suspicion was cast upon Sam. About the same time, 14 teams of horses were left outside of the hall. After the meeting, it was discovered every robe, mat and whip had been stolen. These items were discovered in barn.

The other link was a discovery of 100 bushels of Oats stolen from the barn of W. C. Campbell of Atkinson. Because it would take a team of horses to carry out such a theft, hoof prints were found at the crime scene. The Oats were hidden at the abandoned “Jenks” schoolhouse in Atkinson. Fred Campbell the local blacksmith became involved in the trail of prints and recognized that one of the hoof print or shoe was pinched and smaller than the others.  Charles Chase had sold this horse to Walda Woodward. (Piscataquis Observer, Nov 6, 1902, Nov 13, 1902, and Bangor Daily News, Dec 4, 1902)

The robberies were not limited to one county. The Piscataquis County Sheriff realized that some of the items found could not be identified by people in his county and reached out to the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office. Remembering a harness that had been stolen owned by a Col. Brett and sounded like one found at the barn, came to Dover, Maine with Brett. It was the same stolen harness and more of the items from robberies that had occurred at camps on Holbrook’s Pond in Holden which is Penobscot County. There were two bicycles taken from home in Charleston and four were recovered at the barn.

Sam Woodward was arrested for larceny, followed by Irving and Walda Woodward for being parties to the robberies. Their trial occurred about week after their arrest in Piscataquis County. Testimony from Charles Chase who found the barn of items and had sold the horse with the pinched hoof to Walda Woodward; W. C. Campbell, whose oats were stolen and Fred Campbell, the blacksmith who identified the horse of Walda Woodward and the Sheriff of the county. Benjamin Woodward was also called to testify that he owned the barn and had given no permission for anyone to use the barn and he was not aware of the building in the loft. Frank Chase, a neighbor, stated he had seen the three men working on the barn.  The judge concluded that there was not evidence against Sam Woodward, but Walda was found guilty of larceny of the oats and Irving for receiving stolen goods and both were sentenced to 3 months in jail.  They were ordered to stand trial with Sam charged with larceny of a horserack and a robe and Walda and Irving for larceny of a harness. (Piscataquis Observer, Nov. 13, 1902)

The next trial, more evidence against Sam Woodward was introduced. Walda and Irving were released on bonds on the charges of receiving stolen goods. Charges against Sam in Penobscot County resulted in his arrest again and being arraigned in Bangor for robberies in Charleston and Holden. It was also revealed “Sam, was a "morphine fiend" and his health suffered from the use of the drug.”  (Piscataquis Observer, Nov. 20, 1902).

Sam Woodward confessed to the robberies in Charleston and Holden which Walda also confessed. “After these confessions there was little the prisoner’s attorneys could do for them besides endeavoring to have the bail made as light as possible.”  Sam was charged with 5 accounts of larceny and Walda with 2 accounts. They were unable to secure bonds and committed to jail for their trial in February. (Bangor Daily News, Dec. 4, 1902).

Map of Holbrook Pond of the camps that had been robbed

The twist in the story was that Walda and Irving’s father Benjamin Woodward was arrested for receiving stolen good in January 1903. (Bangor Daily News, Jan 9, 1903). He appeared at the Dover Muncipal Court, but “his case was not tried for some reason and the old man again took up his long journey over the snow capped hills to Atkinson.”  (Bangor Daily News, Jan. 13, 1903).

 

Benjamin Woodward

 Benjamin J. Woodward had been born on 19 December 1833 in Bowerbank, Maine, son of Isaac and Rebecca (Damon) Woodward.  He married Mary Emma Thurston on 10 July 1863 in Bowerbankbank and had fathered 8 children.  They had settled in Atkinson, Maine by 1867.

A later account  of his trial gave insight as to why Benjamin was found guilty and paid a fine of $10 for receiving stolen goods.  

Pisctaquis Obsever, Jan 22, 1903

 At his February trial, Samuel Woodard plead no contest to the charges and was sentenced to two years in the county Jail.  Walda Woodward had contracted typhoid fever and had separate trial later.  In his trial, his lawyer claimed that Walda had led good life until he came under the influence of the "evil" influence of his older cousin.  His cousin, Sam had even written a letter stating he was responsible for the acts of the younger Walda.  However, the Judge put litte credence to the statements and sentenced Walda to 18 months of hard labor at the county jail. (Bangor Daily News, Feb. 11 and Feb. 17, 1903).

How well known was the trial of the Woodward Boys?  According to the newspaper at the trial, it was quite the event for the area.  

"The Courroom was crowded with people who came from several towns in that section and our villagers composed of farmers, professional men, doctors, clergymen, and about fifty ladies, occupying every available inch of the room.  The event appeared to create quite as much of a sensation as the great murder trial of Henry Lambert." (Piscataquis Observer, Nov. 13, 1902

What became of the Woodward Boys?

Sam Woodward did his time in jail and when released, he did not return to Atkinson.  It is not known if he had any contact with his uncle and cousins.  At his uncle, Benajmin Woodward's 50th anniversary in 1913, he did not attend.  Sam married Susan Irene Billings of Blue Hill, Maine in 1913 and settled there and had two sons, Paul and Wendall.  He died in 1920 in Hampden, Maine.  He appears to turned his life around after his time in jail.

Irving Woodward who had married in 1900 had two sons named Clinton, the first died in 1903 at almost a year old and the 2nd Clinton died at age 21 years.  Irving went on to adopted two daughters, Marian and Virginia.  

Walda Woodward received a pardon for his involement in the robberies, due to his father, Benjamin making a push through family connections.

Piscataquis Observer, March 10. 1904

After his pardon, Walda married his 1st cousin, Minnie Pearl Woodward.  They had three children born in Atkinson.  Walda left the area moving to Scarborough, Maine where he became a gardner and landscaper.  He died on 29 April 1932 in Scarborough, Maine.

Benjamin Woodward returned to farm in Atkinson and remained there until his family moved to Dover-Foxcroft.  Benjamin was considered the Moral Judge of the family and it is not known how this incident late in his life affected him.  This story was never discussed that I  can find by any descendant.  It was only by doing a general search in the local paper for Woodward and Woodard that was I able to uncover the entire crime story and who was involved.  I did not include entire articles as space it would not allow to put in every item.  I have referenced all the different sources I have used  to cover this period of time showing the various newpapers used to follow the story of the notorioius Woodward Boys Gang.

Lucy (Perry) Southworth/ Southard: A Pauper's story

 When trying to sort the wives of my ancestor, Constant Southworth (the surname appears as Southard in later records, which the family adopted), I was surprised to see how his second wife became a pauper in the Town Records of Corinna, Maine.  I was also surprised to learn how towns dealt with their poor in the early 19th century before town farms were the common way for towns to maintain their poor, disabled, and metally challenged individuals.

Lucy Perry was born on December 28, 1760 in Sandwich, Massachusetts, the daughter of Zachariah and Hannah (Blish) Perry.   Her family eventually leaving Massachusetts and settling in Wayne, Maine before 1800.  Below is the family records from the Viatl Records of Sandwich, Massachusetts.

 In 1798, at the age of being considered for marriage and labeled a "spinster" Lucy Perry married Constant Southworth of " Conner" Maine.  He was actually of Corinna, Maine and had also been widowed by his first wife, Lucy Ford.  Constant Southworth had been born in Duxbury, Massachusetts on August 20, 1764 and had been a Revolutionary soldier who was granted land in Maine for his service in the War.  He had married his first wife in 1785 in Marshfield, Massachusetts and they had 7 children children.  

He had arrived in Fayette, Maine about 1786 where through records you see the surname change from Southworth in Massachusetts to Constant Southword on the 1790 census and Constant Southward on the 1800 census and then he appears in Corinna, Maine as Constant Southard.  He may have known the Perry family from his time living in the nearby towns of Fayette and later part of Readfield, Maine. 

A 1916 article on the town of Corinna's 100th  Anniversary, stated Constant was the first settler of the town in 1807.  His name is not on the petition for incorporation of the town, he was at the first Town meeting in 1817 where he was elected as a selectman, assessor and an overseer of the Poor.  From the begininng of the town of Corinna, there were people in need of assistance.  The town being incorporated in 1816, the year known as "The Year without a Summer."  1816 was a bad year world wide due to  the Volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815, which affected the climate and caused snow to fall in June of 1816 and destroyed crops for the year as the ground remained frozen most of the year.  If anyone was on the verge of poverty in 1815, 1816 would have pushed them over the edge.

It would appear that Constant and his family weathered through 1816, although, Constant did apply for a pension in 1818 "due to his reduced circumstances."   He died on November 26, 1826 in Corinna, Maine.  He was buried in a field behind his house.  

Constant’s widow, Lucy later also applied for a pension in 1835 which is included in the records with his application as follows.  It appears her pension application was rejected because of the issue with the spelling of the surname of Southard.

I do here certify that the foregoing pages number from one to four are truly copied from the originals on file in the Pension Office, War Department.

Henry S. Addison

And I do further certify that it appears from a List of final Settlement Certificates issued by John Pierce Esquire pay Master General and Commissioner of the Army Accounts of the United States deposited in said Office that Constant Southworth received three certificates for $17. 23 due January 1st 1783. for $80 due January 1st 1783. And for $57.50 due January 1st 1783 the name of Constant Southard does not appear thereon.

Henry S. Addison

Lucy B. Southard applied for land, on May 29, 1835 and her application was examined and rejected on July 17, 1835 stating her husband did not serve 3 years. Her Attorney was Robert C. Vose of Augusta. Lucy B. Southard, widow of Constant Southard, applied again for a land grant on March 24, 1836 with a new attorney, George W. Morton of Augusta. It does not appear she was successful with her second appeal. The last correspondence in the file is from her lawyer:

Augusta June 5, 1837

“Dear Sir,

I have received a package from you containing Abigail Roust, Wm Hardy, Martha True, Oliver Hartwell, Lydia Richardson, Mercy Holmes, Betsey Ewer, Lydia Pratt certificates under Resolve of Legislature of Maine of March 24, 1836. I believe in the application made by Lucy B. Southard for land under Resolve of March 17, 1835 which was rejected by reason of her husband’s service being less than three years, is a certificate of the Judge of Probate, was the cause of my not getting another rejected claim is presumed to be upon your files where the Judge’s certificates will be found. Should it not be found please inform me and I will furnish one immediately.

Yours with respect,

Geo. W. Morton

It does not appear that Lucy was successful  in her claim.  It is not known how much money she had from  received from her late husband's estate if any and if there was some other extenuating reason that may have caused Lucy to need the town of Corinna's asistance.  At this time, towns around New England to deal with paupers or individuals with any kind of disability or mental illness, would be set up at a public auction usually at the annual Town Meeting by the Overseer's of the Poor to be bid on by local townspeople to care for them at a certain rate of pay by the town.  These venues often meant splitting up families and being huniliated by being paraded out to be bid on by the people who had been your neighbors and friends.  Individuals who were young and could work to help around a farm or home would receive the lower bids because their could earn their keep or contribute to the farm or home.  Sadly, individuals who who could not contribute due to age, disability or mental stability would receive the highest bids to find a person to care for them.  In a case of a mental illness, a person would bid off with their cage included.  

Although, it is not known positively, Lucy (Perry) Southard did not have any children possibly due to her being almost 40 when she married, but Constant's youngest daughter, Lovina (Southard) Morse could have been from the second marriage to Lucy Perry.   This may explain why the Morse family often bid to care for her, even after the death of Lovina in 1826.  It could be that with Lovina being so young when her real mother died and her father remarrying when she was but a toddler, Lucy Perry was the only mother Lovina ever knew and the Morse's family may have felt a strong attachment to Lucy Southard.

Lucy (Perry) Southard begins to appear in the town records of Corinna in 1837 as a pauper to be bid off by the town for care.  Her husband had been one of the first overseers of the Poor for the town and now his widow would come under the overseer's care.  The first entry seems to confuse the wives of Constant Southard Sr. and Constant Jr. by calling her Widow Sarah Southard. The name of Lucy Southard is used in later records. Sarah (Hicks) Southard, wife of Constant Jr. was not a widow in 1837, but Lucy Southard had been a widow for almost 11 years by 1837.

Corinna, Maine Town Records:

March 5, 1837, town voted to pay Phillip Morse four shillings per weeks for keeping “Sarah” Southard for the past year. Voted to pay $25 to Phillip Morse to keep Widow Sarah Southard the ensuing year. The vote not accepted by Phillip Morse. Voted to give Phillip Morse four shillings per week to keep widow Sarah Southard the ensuing year and free from town expense.

March 19, 1838, town voted that Eben Boyden have seventy-five cents per week for keeping Mrs. Constant Southard for the ensuing year and to help her free from any expense to the town and is to take her into his home.

Philip Morse, who married Lovina Southard and who had agreed to care for Lucy in 1837 did not bid for her in 1838.  This could be explained by Philip's possible failing health as he died January 10, 1839.  The cause of death is not known, but if Philip was ill previos to his death for a period of time, the family may not have been able to care him and his former mother-in-law.  After Philip's death, his widow and 2nd wife, Mehitable Morse, who had no biological connection to Lucy, continued to care for her.  This could be because Lucy was the only grandmother the children would ever really know or Mehitable liked Lucy and did not want to see her auctioned off to strangers. 

August 26, 1839, town voted to authorize the selectman to agree with the widow Morse to support Lucy Southard from now until the next March meeting at a price not exceeding what she might be supported for on the town farm.

March 24, 1840, town voted to pay Phillip Morse’s widow twenty-five dollars to support widow Lucy Southard the ensuing years and the town to pay the said Lucy’s doctor’s bill.

March 12, 1841, town voted to Mrs. Morse twenty-five dollars to support Mrs. Southard the ensuing year.

This is the last available record at the State Archives, which end in 1843. It is assumed that Lucy continued to live her final days with with Morse family.  Lucy (Perry) Southard died September 15, 1848, Corinna, Maine.  She was buried with her husband in Corinna in the Constant Southworth Cemetery.  With the family's poor circumstances, no gravestone was erected for Lucy.

These are two closest stones to Constant's gravestone, and one would probably be his wife and the other probably mother who came to Corinna with him.

How the Woodward Reunion Began

 When I was a kid it seemed normal to attend at least one family reunion in the summer.  There were two that I remember as a child and both on my mother's side of the family.  The Moulton-Thompson reunion and the Woodward Family Reunion.  Sadly it wasn't until the Woodward reunion ended that I learned how it began.

The Woodward reunion began from a family gathering in 1913 to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my ancestors, Benjamin Jordan Woodward and Mary Emma  (Thurston) Woodward.  They were married on July 10, 1863 in Atkinson, Maine.

It was from this event that a reunion began and it continued for another 80 years.  Reunions were a serious events held annually.  Officers were elected, a meal was served, money was raised to cover costs for the following year either by asking for donations or asking for an items for the reunion auction where miscellanous items were bid on to raise money.  It was a once a year coming together of parents and children, siblings and cousins that you would not probably see otherwise unless it was a wedding or a funeral and usually it was the latter.  Although as a kid I usually hung with my immediate cousins I knew and older kids and youngers kids didn't usually mix unless it was playing baseball or horseshoes.  Everyone was expected to bring a dish which you would be assigned to on your reunion invite, a dessert, rolls, coffee or soda, or a salad or maybe a can of brown bread to go with the baked beans that were always the dinner staple.  There always seemed to be plenty of food and leftovers to be bid on at the auction.  Of course it was the women who worked in the kitchen cooking the food in the hot summer and doing the dishes afterwards and the men to play a game of horseshoes until the official reunion meeting began.

On September 10, 1913, the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Benajmin and Emma Woodward as well as Benjamin's siblings and Emma's surving uncle who was in his 90s at the tiime, gathered at their home in Atkinson to give them a surprise party as the local newspaper recorded.

Those in attendance

1913

Front Row L to R: Thelma Bragg, Marion (Carr) Whitney, mother of Eva Woodward, Erwin Woodward, Rutillus Woodward holding Delma Cochran, Thornton Woodward, Delila Woodward, Clinton Woodward, Orman Pettigrew, (Eva Woodward's nephew)

Second Row L to R: Lillian Brooks Woodward, wife of Seth, holding Harland Woodward, John Woodman, uncle to Mary Emma Woodward, David Woodward, Lydia (Woodward) Gerry, Benjamin J. Woodward, Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward, Jennie (Woodward) Hutchinson, Emma (Paine) Moulton holding Aubrey "Bob" Moulton

Third Row L to R: Seth Woodward, holding Ramson Woodward, Lela (Woodward) Cochran, Walda Woodward, Harriet (Hudson) Woodward, William Woodward holding Donald Woodward, William Bragg, Ethel (Woodward)  Bragg, Theodore Moores, Dorothy Bragg.

Fourth Row L to R: Irving Woodward, Edmond Woodward

Fifth Row L to R: Virginia Woodward, Geneva (Turner) Cochran, wife of Harry, Eva (Whitney) Woodward, Ella (Woodward) Reed, Minnie Woodward, Marion Woodward's mother, Frank Putnam and Eva Reed

Sixth Row L to R:  Harry Cochran, Marion Woodward, George Reed, husband of Eva Reed.

The Dinner Table

(my great-grandmother, Emma Moulton on the very right hold Bob)

My great-grandmother, Emma (Paine) Moulton attended the reunion with her youngest child, Aubrey Moulton.  As her husband and other children do not appear in the photos, I have to assume, she could not bring her whole family or maybe my great-grandfather did not want to attend.  He must have been back at the family farm with the other children, although, the family was also residing in Atkinson, Maine.  It may have been a situation where my great-grandmother was taken to the anniversary party by another relative who did not have enough room  on their horse and wagon for the entire Moulton clan.  A 5 generation photo was taken of her while there with her youngest child still nursing, she needed to bring her son.  Sadly her mother, Elsie (Woodward) Paine had died in 1891, so her aunt Lela filled in for her mother, just as Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward's uncle, John Woodward filled in the generation foir her mother, Emily (Woodman) Thurston

 Five Generatons of Family

Left to Right

John Woodman (1818-1918) uncle to

Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward (1848-1924) mother of

Lela (Woodward) Cochran (1873-1927) aunt to

Emma (Paine) Moulton (1888-1951) mother of

Aubrey "Bob" Moulton (1912-1989)

As time went on and the generations of descendants from Benjamin and Woodward grew, as with any reunion, eventually the cousins become more and distant in relationship.  Some family lines stopped attending due to distance to travel or lost interest as cousins who attended were now 4th or 5th cousins.  It seemed through the years, one family line would have more members attending and running the reunion.  The often resulted in fights, sometimes fueled with alcohol, feelings were hurt and rifts grew.  My cousin said when wasn't there a fight at the reunion between siblings, cousins, spouses who didn't get along or gossip about some relative that may or may not have been true, all lead to a decrease in attendance year after year.  Eventually the reunion decided to disband.

I'm sure my family's reunion was no different than other eeunions that have come and gone through the generations and years.  They would begin with a family gathering and deciding to make a more formal arrangement of gathering once a year.  The reunions you see continuing to day are more of people who have an interest their surname's family history or their connections to more famous people of history, like the Alden Kindred of America.   Where as our family reunion began with family members who had a desire to see each other at least once a year and not to reserve a family history, and ended when there was no interest in seeing the family of strangers only bound by a common ancestry.

Lost in Space andthe advantage of testing older relatives

 

As a kid, I remember watching reruns of Lost in Space after school.  The robot who was known for saying “Danger Will Robinson, Danger, Danger and the Dr who always seem to cause a lot of the problems for the Robinson family to benefit himself which always backfired as well as The Robinson’s father and mother and children and Major Don West, the hot-tempered pilot who was you knew liked Judy Robinson. 

 

I quite surprised to find a DNA match was also one of the stars of the TV show.  This DNA match was through my grandmother Smith’s side of the family.  I had seen the match on Ancestry and had recorded the line of descent. I had no idea who Charles Goddard was.  This person only shared DNA with my uncle, my Dad's elder brother.  My Dad had died long before DNA testing, so my uncle has been a substitute with connecting to distant cousins that neither myself not my brother share DNA.  Charles Goddard's family tree on Ancestry was private, so I had to use other people's family tree to document each ancestor of Charles.

 

Our common ancestor is JOHN ROBINSON, who according to his gravestone was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on December 27, 1749, his parents have yet to be determined.   John was a Revolutionary War Soldier, who enlisted in 1775 and spent the winter with General Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  He married Katherine Jordan on June 1, 1775 at Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  The family then moved to Durham, Maine and remained there until 1810, when John moved to Lewiston, Maine.   He died there on March 16, 1844.  John and his wife were buried at Herrick Cemetery in Lewiston, Maine.   My ancestor Peter Skinner moved to Casco, Maine and his brother Andrew settled in that area of Danville, Maine which became Auburn, Maine.  Andrew's descendants remained in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Charles' father was a Clarence Golder ←←←Goddard, who died in 1968

I was able to find on Newspapers.com thru my ancestry acount an obituary for Clarence.

The obit says he was survived by Carles Mark Goddard which had to be a misprint for Charles Mark Goddard of Beverly Hills, CA (a motion picture actor).  A quick google search for him revealed it was actor Mark Goddard.

So I realized why he was using a private family tree and he was also using his birth name of Charles Goddard and not his acting name as well for his own privacy.  Next was to determine our line of descent.

                                                            

                                                                1st Generation
                                                                JOHN SKINNER

2^nd Generation
Andrew Skinner                                 siblings                           Peter Skinner
(1781-1857)                                                                                (1784-1874)
 
3^rd Generation
Jordan Skinner                                   1^st cousins                      Andrew J. Skinner
(1808-1863)                                                                                 (1828-1910)
 
4^th Generation
Sarah (Skinner) Golder                      2^nd cousins                     Myron L. Skinner
(1836-1909)                                                                                  (1868-1951)
 
5^th Generation
Leona (Golder) Goddard                 3^rd cousins                    Ethelyn (Skinner) Smith
(1866-1937)                                                                                        (1898-1972)
 
6^th Generation
Clarence Goddard                           4^th cousins                         Glenn S. Smith
(1900-1968)                                                                                  (1940-1996)
 
7^th Generation
Charles H. Goddard                         5^th cousins                           Peter M. Smith
(1936)                                                                                              (1963)
a.k.a. Mark Goddard

Mark Goodard is my 5th cousin.  Although I do not share nay DNA with him above 8cMs, my uncle did share DNA with him which lead me to this connection.  This highlights why it is important to test an older generation.  Not because you will be connected to a famous actor, but it will provide connections to cousins one more generation back and down from yourself.  This could be useful in finding a connection with someone who also is working on your family tree.  Now I have a real interest in Lost in Space that I would never have known about if it wasn't for this DNA connection to actor Mark Goddard.

My Great-Grandfather "Punka" Smith

 

My great-grandfather was born Julius Clifford Smith, but went by Clifford Smith as he disliked the name Julius.   He signed as either J.C. Smith or J. Clifford Smith on most legal documents.  But my family refers to him as "Punka."  He received this name from his oldest granddaughter, Hilma Smith, who as child could not pronounce "Papa” which came out as Punka.  The name stuck and all the grandchildren and his descendants have referred to him as Punka ever since.  Many of the neighbors also used the nickname of Punka as well. 

 

Punka 1894 Graduation

Punka attended schools in Corinna at that time and graduated from Corinna Union Academy in 1889.  At the age of sixteen he took up the trade of painting and made it his lifelong occupation.  He married his first wife, Emily Mower in 1894.  Emmie had been a classmate of Punka's at Corinna Union Academy.  It is not know if they were sweethearts in school or if Clifford started courting Emmie after they both left school.

 

Painting of Emmie (Mower) Smith
in 1900 Corinna, Maine

In 1900, Julius C. Smith, age 30, b. Sep. 1869, m. 5yrs, a farmer, was living in Corinna, Maine with his wife, Emmie M. Smith, age 29, b May 1871, mother of 3 children, 3 children living, and his daughter, Leona G. Smith, age 4, b May 1895; his son, Donald C. Smith, age 3, b. March 1897; his daughter Alta b. Smith, age 1, b Apr 1899; as well as a servant, Leila M. Proctor, age 20, b Apr 1880, and James Devereaux, age 19, b. March 1881, a farmer laborer and a cousin on Clifford's mother's side of the family. Punka first rented a house called the "Tasker Fam" after his marriage, which is where the above potrait of Emmie was labeled as painted at.

In 1903, Joseph Smith sold to his son, J. Clifford Smith of Corinna, for the sum of $200, Lot 3, 3rd range, on deed as "near Corinna Union Academy."  The land had originally been owned by Frank and Sadie Metcalf who had moved to Hennepin, Michigan and had sold the land to Joseph in 1899. 

 

Smith Family Farm 1897, Corinna, Maine
In front are Punka's wife Emmie Smith holding son, Donald, Punka's mother 
Arminda Smith and Punka's sister, Jennie with his daughter, Leona.

In 1905, His wife, Emmie was taken to the Moosehead Sanitarium in Greenville, Maine where she was thought to have tuberculosis.  The medical thinking at the time was that cold Mountain fresh air was best patients who were suffering from TB.  In letters home, Emmie and Clifford wrote to the children of how much she missed her children.  Clifford was able to find work at the sanitarium painting to be near his wife.  In one letter, Clifford wrote to his daughter, Leona, who was only ten years old at the time, that Emmie felt they were abusing her at the sanitarium and was unsure what to do, quite a story to share with his young daughter.  Emmie died in April 1905 at the sanitarium.  A surviving telegram from Clifford sent home to his father in Corinna, simply stated "Emmie passed away this morning."  His daughter, Leona said her father took the loss of her mother hard and never really forgave himself as he worried, he didn't do more for her.

 

Moosehead Sanitarium where Emmie died which later became an Inn in Greenville, Maine

 Clifford also had a maple syrup business which began from the tapping trees on the family property.  He built a large sap camp in the woods behind his home to make the syrup.  There is no exact date of when the camp was built, but it was in use by the 1900 and last used in the 1950s when it was torn down.  The syrup was sold under the State of Maine brand label and used the name of J.C. Smith and son for his bottles.  Later his son, Donald took over the making of the syrup.  There is a family story that the camp was sometimes used for making moonshine during the prohibition years and afterwards.  There is no proof, but a family story that has been retold.

 

Smith sap camp in Corinna, Maine
Donald and Ethelyn Smith on the roof

 

Clifford was also a trustee of Corinna Union Academy from 1893 to 1915.  He was at one time, President of the Board of Trustees.  He was also a member of the Methodist Church on Center Street in Corinna.

 In 1910, J. Clifford Smith, age 45, widower, farmer, was living in Corinna with his father, Joseph Smith, age 74, widower; his daughter, Leona G. Smith, age 14; his daughter, Alta B. Smith, age 10 and his son, Donald C. Smith, age 13.  Also living with them was Isora Morgan, age 49, listed as a servant, m. 26 yrs, mother of 1 child and 1 child living and her occupation was listed as a nurse, as well as Mary Curtis, age 56, mother of 3 children, 23 children living, house keeper and Everett Curtis, a servant, age 17, a farm laborer.  Isora Morgan was hired by Clifford to help raise his children after his wife's death.  She was called "Morg" by the children.  It is not know how many years she remained with the children, but it was for several years.  Clifford's granddaughter, Lorene often wondered why Clifford didn't marry Isora, but it was said they differed in opinion on most subjects as he was a staunch Republican and she was a staunch Democrat.  And at times, Punka didn't like they way she ordered the children around and yet he never let her go.

 

Smith Farm in 1916, Punka with his children,
Leona, Alta and Donald

 By 1920, Julius Clifford Smith, age 51, house painter, was still living in Corinna with his youngest daughter, Alta Smith, age 20, saleswoman at a dry goods store,  as well as his daughter, Leona Judkins, age 24 and son-in-law, Wilbur N. Judkins, age 24, house painter .  His daughter Leona and family remained living with her father to help him with the running the farm and the painting business.  His daughter, Alta and husband also lived with Clifford after her marriage.  An apartment was made for Alta and her family above the kitchen in the farmhouse.  They only remained for a few years and moved out to their own house.

Punka poses with his aunt, Zoe (Devereaux) Brown, his daughter 
Alta (Smith) Hayden and holds his grandson, Lindley Hayden
1928

 On the 1930 census of Corinna, Maine, J. Clifford Smith, age 61, listed as the owner of his own home valued at $5500 and the owner of a radio set and a painter of house, was living with his son-in-law, Wilbur Judkins, age 34, who was his partner in the house painting business, and his daughter, Leona Judkins, age 34; his granddaughter, Alta L. Judkins, age 8. 

Punka and his wife, Alice

Punka married his second wife, Alice Mary Miller, 1 October 1931 at the Methodist parsonage in Corinna by the Rev. Chauncy D. Wentworth.  Their intentions published 21 September 1931.  A newspaper clipping from the Bangor Daily News states after the wedding, the couple went to their home on Pleasant street.  And that Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith esteemed, and both have hosts of friends who extend sincere wishes for the happiness and prosperity.  Alice was the widow of Frank Macomber of Corinna, who had died in 1925.  She was a school teacher and even taught some of Clifford grandchildren in school.  Clifford's granddaughter, Lorene remembers that on the same day, he married his wife, Alice, her family moved out of the house and into their own home just down the road.  Punka's granddaughter, Lorene, said at the time when her grandfather married, she thought he was just too old to get married.

Punka's grandchildren have fond memories growing up and spening Christmas with their grandfather.  The children would put on a Christmas pagent of songs and skits for their grandfather and parents.  Then Wilbur Judkins, who had married Punka's daughter Leona, would sneak upstairs and put on a Santa outfit and come down the backstairs giving gifts to the children and tossing candy out for them to scurry around and collect.  There was always a big family dinner afterwards and plenty of sweets and desserts.

Christmas 1939
Punka and his grandchildren
front: Gwen Smith, Dean Smith and Donald Smith
Middle: Lindley Hayden, Athalie Smith, Muriel Hayden, Lorene Judkins, Hilma Smith
Missing is grandson, Glenn who was born Dec 27, 1940

In 1940, Clifford Smith, age 71, listed as completing four years of high school, a master painter for the business of J.C. Smith and son Co., was living in Corinna, Maine on what was now called the Saint Albans Road with his wife, Alice Smith, age 68, also listed as completing four years of high school and was listed a teacher 

The family farm on Saint Albans Road burned on June 14, 1946.  Punka was away painting a house in Stetson, Maine and only his wife, Alice was at home. The fire started in the barn and thought to have started from wet hay and spread to the main house.  An insufficient supply of water from the well, prevented the firemen from saving the structure which was valued at the time at $10,000.  Neighbors and firemen were credited with saving most of the furniture, but the real cause was never determined.  His granddaughter, Lorene, remarked, can you imagine the shock Punka had when he returned home from work and saw that his house had burned to the ground?  After the fire, Punka moved in with his son, Donald's family.  A paint shop owned by Donald Smith stood on the old property until after his death, when the shop was torn down in the late 1960s.

Punka died in 1949 in Corinna, Maine.  Alice remained living with the Smiths until it became clear, she needed more help that Donald's wife could provide.  Alice's sister came and moved her to a nursing home in Dexter, Maine.

 

Punka and his second wife were buried in the Village Cemetery, Corinna, Maine.  His first wife, Emmie was buried in Weymouth Cemetery, Corinna near her parents.  Tradition said that Punka had planned to be buried with her, but later decided to be with his parents and his 2nd wife.  

All stories told to me by my aunts and uncles and their cousins was how much they loved their grandfather Punka and the time spent with him and his wife, Alice.  My Father always thought of Alice as his grandmother as he never knew his real grandmother.  As his grandparents were living with him as a child, he remembered more about he felt loved by his grandfather.  The legend of Punka will continue on with two short narratives written by his granddaughters, Lorene and Hilma of their memories of him.