Gideon Langdon Timeline •••••••••••••••••••
Gideon seems to have had FIVE wives and was involved in the first naval skirmish in the War of 1812. He was the first settler of Steuben County, Indiana and two of his sons traveled the Oregon Trail. One of them operated a gold mine in Idaho during the Civil War. It also appears his youngest son “Charles” died in the Civil War.
Daughter Sarah Jane married a Civil War soldier who fought with the Ohio 101st Infantry. He was wounded by a cannon ball burst at the Battle of Chickamauga and was only able to sleep by sitting in a rocking chair for the rest of his life.
Daughter Sarah Jane also believed she was the first “white” child born in Beloit, Wisconsin. She was not a fountain of facts, but was not far off.
Gideon was also involved in an early incident with the Potawatomi Indians in pioneer Indiana named the “Gage and Langdon War”.
1795 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon is born 6 Apr 1795 in New York, USA.
1805 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Note:
The description of land purchses below is thanks to Historian Douglas Shepard. He has been a great source of information!
NOTE: Almost none of these were actually sales. The company “articled” the land to a prospective buyer. That is, he got a land contract with the Holland Land Co. which required him to make small down payments periodically and prove that he was “improving” his parcel.
Gideon’s father Rufus (Elder) Langdon took an article with the Holland Land Co. on 7 June 1805 for the South 1/3 of Lot 15-6-12. By 1807 it had reverted, was transferred to Rufus Scott in 1809, transferred to George Pierce in 1810. In effect Rufus Langdon traded Lot 15 for the South ½ of Lot 4, Twp.5, Range 12, well down in Pomfret. By 1812 He and Gideon were both on Lot 4 while the Widow Cole was well up on the Lake shore on Lot 28.
(Thanks again to Douglas Shepard)
LINK to the original purchases of lots and parts of lots within the present town limits of Dunkirk.
This might be worth a look.
Holland Land Company delinquent contracts in Chautauqua County, N.Y. If they are in here, it describes what improvements have been made to the land and what their intentions are.
1812 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
War of 1812. Gideon enlists in McMahan’s Regiment, New York Militia. Age: abt 17.
Rank - Induction: Private
Rank - Discharge: Private
He seems to have been involved in the first naval skirmish in the War of 1812 and was present at the burning of Buffalo. He enlisted in Pomfret, NY and served under several officers. Capt. Martin B. Tubbs, Lt. Col. James McMahan, and Capt. Perry. He is discharged by Capt. Perry in Pomfret, NY at the end of the war.
Pay for the month of Sept. 1812 is $6.66.
Here’s a better image from “New York, War of 1812 Payroll Abstracts for New York State Militia, 1812-1815”
McMahon’s regiment seems to have had "307 Chatauqua militia under Lt Col. John McMahon"
Three Langdons are listed in “McMahan’s Regiment"
Are they relatives?
Gideon received land in Minnesota for service in the War of 1812. The files he used to prove he deserved the land are in the link below. They describe his service.
24 April 1855 Letter
“Gideon Langdon aged 60 years a resident of Marquette county, state of Wisconsin who having duly sworn according to law claims that he is the identical man who was a private in the company commanded by captain Jms (James) Hale in the regiment of militia commanded by McMan in the war with Great Britian declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, that he entered the service from Chautauqua county - A.D. 1813 and continued for the term of fourteen days and was in the battle at Blackrock and was honorably discharged at the same place on the day of said battle.”
27th March 1857 Letter
“The claimant now informs me that he volunteered in Chautauqua co. N.Y. in company of Capt. James Hale. ?Scent Eaton. Ens. Chas. Barrette, Col. McMann in McMahon N.Y. Militia and service over 14 days - this he thinks was in 1813. He also volunteered at an other time in the Company, of Capt. Benj. Perry, Col. McMahon as a ?(Substitute?) for Willi Willoughby & was in a battle at the mouth of the "Canada Creek", in Lake Erie near Dunkirk, N.Y.”
9 January 1869 Letter
Written to B.F. Dowell while Gideon was in Salem, Oregon:
“I have served during the War of 1812. I enlisted in the town of Pomfret, County of Satocway, State of New York. During the War, I served under several different Officers, vis; Col McMann, Captains Benjamin Perry & Tubbs. I was discharged by Capt. Perry at the same place where I enlisted.”
Image above: Canadaway Creek. “New York State Conservationist”, October 2012. Click image for link to article/photos. Photo by James Hoggard LINK
The first naval skirmish in the War of 1812
began in Lake Erie near the mouth of the Canadaway Creek.
Fredonia and the War of 1812 • Canadaway Creek
June 10, 2012
By DOUGLAS H. SHEPARD
The Mrs. Cole in the article was once Rufus and Gideon’s neighbor.
(Great article)
1813 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Here’s a short description of McMahan’s Regiment at the Battle of Black Rock and Buffalo in 1813.
And a Biography of John McMahan.
Title: Abstract of the Proceedings of the Boards of supervisors of the county of Chautauqua, from its organization to the year 1867 inclusive. Together with a brief historical sketch of the earlier boards and their members; also, a list of county officers, the vote of the several towns, at each presidential election, etc. compiled ... to 1820 ... by Hon. Elial T. Foote. Compiled from 1820 to 1867 from the original records, by Lucius Hurlbut ...
Author: Chautauqua County (N.Y.) Board of supervisors.
1816 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sells land that belonged to Rufus Elder in 1811.
LINK 1811 ASSESSMENT ROLLS
Town of Pomfret, Chautauqua County, NY
Langden, Rufus 5/12/south part lot 4
LINK Western New York Land Sales
Town of Pomfret, Chautauqua County, NY
Langdon, Gideon/ Township 05/ Range12/ Lot 4
1820 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
His father sells land in New York. The document names Rufus (Elder) and his wife Mary. It also names “Gideon Langdon and Mary his wife”.
LINK to 1st page
LINK to second page
Gideon and Mary.
Click image for larger view
• 1st wife
Note:
Gideon’s 1st wife. Her name is Mary. Rufus (II) is said to be a half brother to Abram G. and Ansel, but....
1823 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Speculation:
He supposedly buys land near Sugar Grove, Warren County, Pennsylvania where Rufus II is born. I don’t seem to have any documents to support this other than Rufus naming his birthplace as Pennsylvania.
Town of Pomfret - Poor Relief Rolls, 1808-1833
Gideon is referenced 4 times in this book.
Gideon Langdon - Years 1823, and possibly 1830
A Mary Langdon is referenced 4 times.
Mary Langdon - 10 Years - 1823 through 1833
Mary Langdon and child - Years 1823, 1824
Mary Langdon and infant - Years 1822, 1823
Mary Langdon and two children - Years 1823, 1824
Rufus (Elder) Langdon is mentioned twice.
1826 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Buys land in Hartford Township, Trumbull, Ohio. His property is on the Ohio and Pennsylvania state line. The 1830 deed states that the property is located in the “Connecticut Western Reserve in the state of Ohio”.
Speculation:
That might explain why his daughter Sarah Jane later claims he was born in Connecticut.
(See “The First White Child Born In Beloit” article, pg. 3, below)
Gideon makes 3 purchases. At left is the Index to Deeds.
Click image for larger view
• 2nd wife
Note:
Gideon’s 2nd wife. Her name is Betsey. Links to the deeds below name her.
Here’s a map showing where the land was located.
Click image for larger view
Here’s links to the Deeds.
• 6 September 1826
-
• 7 March 1827
You can find all of these at the incredibly useful site listed below.
The Trumbull County Archives/Deeds:
NOTE:
Here’s a very interesting email:
Hannah Gage was a witness to the 1830 deed. Hannah Gage appears to be Isaac Gage’s first wife. Hiram Langdon married Isaac Gage’s second wife and widow Nancy Michaels.
Isaac Gage was born in 1808 about the same time as Hiram. I have Hiram born in 1808, but that is an estimate base on early census records. Isaac Gage appears to have been born in VT and his father Abraham Gage was born near Boston. The Gages appear to have arrived in the Boston area in the mid 1600s.
It seems clear that the Gages and Langdons followed one another from Trumbull, Ohio to LaGrange Indiana.
Given the relationship between Isaac and Hiram, it seems likely that Hiram and Isaac were the infamous Langdon-Gage War duo.
(Thanks Greg!)
NOTE: The above email doesn’t take into account Hiram’s timeline. He was not living in the area at this time. He was in Harmony, Ohio. He bought land in LaGrange 10 years later.
Speculation:
Here’s Hartford Township in 1830. Gideon had
a mortgage with Cosset. (upper right) Look at all the Andrews around him. His sister married an Andrews.
Also note Clarks and Nortons. Gideon’s daughter married a Norton and his granddaughter married a Clark.
Above is only Hartford township. There are other Langdons around. One is “Lucius?” Landon in Warren county. Was he related?
1827 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Son Rufus Jr. is born 24 Feb 1827 in Pennsylvania, USA. Gideon’s Ohio land was on the state line.
Speculation:
They may have traveled back to Pennsylvania to have the child with a trusted midwife. Here’s a map of where he was moving.
Note/Speculation:
1974 letter from Jesse (Son of Erwin/ Grandson of Rufus II) that states Ansel and Arbam G. were half brothers to Rufus II. That would mean Rufus II was the son of an unknown 5th wife. (Mary?)
Doesn’t make sense with the above info., but is certainly possible.
Here’s the letter.
1828 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon in Hartford Township, Trumbull, Ohio.
record title: Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850
name: Gideon Langdon
taxation type: Personal
year: 1828
page number: 66
digital folder number: 4021660
Son Abram G is born Dec 1828 in Hartford Township, Trumbull, Ohio. Mother is Betsy (Betsey).
1829 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon in Hartford Township, Trumbull, Ohio.
record title: Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850
name: Gideon Langdon
taxation type: Personal
year: 1829
page number: 66
digital folder number: 4021661
1830 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon in Trumbull, Ohio.
1831 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Age 36, Gideon is the first settler in Steuben County, Indiana,
From the 1876 Illustrated Historical Atlas of the
State of Indiana:
The smoke from the first permanent settler's cabin first arose
within the present limits of Steuben County in the spring of 1831.
That settler was Gideon Langdon. His rude cabin was in the
southwest quarter of Section 5, Jackson Township, afterward
known as the Town farm.
Son Ansel is born 26 Jul 1831.
Note:
When Ansel Marries Phoebe Ann Stickles in 1866 his mother is listed as Betsy Langdon. Ansel and Abram G. are half brothers to Rufus so this is Gideon’s 2nd wife.
Image of Ansel’s 1st marriage document.
1832 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
His wife Betsy dies.
Speculation
• She might have died from Cholera.
(Indianapolis Indiana Journal, October 27, 1832)
Cholera epidemic prevails throughout Indiana. Governor
Noble proclaims second Monday in November as day
of fasting and prayer.
Gideon sells his land.
From the 1876 Illustrated Historical Atlas of the
State of Indiana:
The first sale of land and transfer of title deeds was made
October 3, 1832. This sale was made by Gideon Langdon,
the first settler in the county, to William Lock, and was
recorded in LaGrange County, to which county this region
then belonged. The land transferred was the northeast
quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 5,
Jackson Township.
The first death was that of Mrs. Gideon Langdon, in 1832.
The remains were interred in the prairie burying ground,
on land that has since passed into the possession of
D. H. Roberts.
The Gage and Langdon War •••••••••••••••
VERY interesting old story from 1832 that seems to involve Gideon.
A miller and his Potawatomi Indian friends played a practical joke on a couple of farmers by the name of Langdon and Gage. It almost led to a massacre. Gideon only lived 5 miles away.
Link to Gage & Langdon War Page
1833 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
• 3rd wife
31 Jan 1833 Marriage to Judith Baker in Clark County, Ohio, USA
His 2nd wife. We don’t see her again after this.
Here’s a link to an image of the register.
Speculation
• Rufus Elder and Gideon’s brother Hiram are living in the township of Harmony, Clark County, Ohio in 1830. Same place as this marriage. He must have been visiting.
1834 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
5 Aug 1834 Gideon buys 120 acres in Steuben County, IN. They are recorded as 2 separate purchases.
1st: 80 acres- the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 5.
2nd: 40 acres- the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of
Section 8.
1835 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
• 4th wife
7 April 1835 Marriage to Maria Cook in White Pigeon, St Joseph, Michigan, USA. His 4th wife.
Link to image of the register:
1836 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Age 41, moves to Beloit, Wisconsin.
The Black Hawk War ended 4 years earlier.
Gideon did not arrive in Beloit alone. John and Samuel Langdon arrive in Beloit at the same time and were employed by Caleb Blodgett. They lived about a mile apart in cabins owned by Blodgett.
“Pioneer Beloit” by Arthur L. Luebke
They were occupied by two Langdon families. The Gideon Langdon
family lived in the north cabin until about March 1837. John Langdon
and Samuel P. Langdon occupied the south cabin.
The History of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
The first actual settlers were John Langdon and family, and his
brothers, who settled in a grove at the northeast comer of
Long Prairie, in the fall of 1836, where they built the first cabin
in the township.
1837 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
April 15, 1837 Deacon Henry Meyers arrives and gives a description of what he finds.
“Pioneer Beloit” by Arthur L. Luebke
Of the inhabitants, I found a Mr. Blodgett and family, a Mr. Langdon
whose house stood near where the Rock River Paper Mill now
stands and who was about leaving the place...
Map of Beloit with the locations of both Langdon Cabins maked.
Click image for larger view
13 April 1925 letter from Gideon’s daughter Sarah Jane
Her husband served in the Civil War. She was requesting an increase in her pension and mentions:
“I was the first white child borned in Beloit, Wisconsin. Father went there with the New-Ingland Co. to buy land.”
(Source: National Archives, Civil War Pension files of John Wesley Norton)
Speculation:
The New England Emigrating Company played a major role in founding Beloit. Sarah may have been trying to boost her claim to an increase in pension, but I believe Gideon is mentioned in their records. Two of the men were awarded pieces of the abandoned “Langdon claim”.
(Source: “The Book of Beloit” published 1936.)
“Diary of Ellery Crain”
Beloit Historical Society holdings. Page 14.
When representatives of the N. E. E. Company first arrived at the mouth of the Turtle, the log house built and occupied by Mr. Blodgett, with his family and the Thibault Log Cabin, where the Frenchman and his family lived, were the only cabins in the place occupied by settlers. The Log Hut a little way down the river, also the one a short distance up the river were empty; having been occupied by the Langdons, previous squatters here who had sold out and gone to a fresh field.
1838 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Daughter Sarah Jane Langdon is born 16 Feb 1838 near Beloit, Wisconsin.
August 25, 1909 article in the Beloit News about Sarah Jane and Gideon.
LINK Page 1 • LINK Page 2 • LINK Page 3
LINK to the Article on Wisconsin Historical Society Website.
• His wife wanted him to sell the farm in Wisconsin and buy land
in Chicago. He “thought his wife crazy to want to settle in that
lake of mud”.
According to the above newspaper account the family moves 15 miles down river from Beloit when she is age 3. Almost to Rockford, IL. They live there for 3 years before moving to a farm within 5 miles of Delevan, WI.
Speculation:
This seems to conflict with census, land and court records. In the 1840 US Federal Census, Gideon and family are living in Walworth County, WI. The census was conducted on June 1, 1840. On December 10, 1840 Gideon buys 80 acres in Walworth Co. That doesn’t sound like a man about to move the entire family about 30 miles to the southwest. In the 1842 Wisconsin State Census Gideon is living in Walworth County. On 1843 March 3, Gideon buys 40.89 acres in Walworth Co. The land is connected to land he already owns.
1840 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
December 10, 1840 Gideon buys 80 acres in Walworth County.
Township 001N - Range 015E - Section 4 - S½NW¼
1840 US Federal Census.
His age is 45 and there are 7 people living in his household. 5 male and 2 female.
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
Males - 5 thru 9: 1 (Might be Charles C)
Males - 10 thru 14: 2 (Ansel & Abram G?)
Males - 15 thru 19: 1 (Rufus?)
Males - 40 thru 49: 1 (Gideon)
Females - Under 5: 1 (Sarah Jane)
Females - 30 thru 39: 1 (Maria)
Note:
This is the only time I’ve seen Gideon with his entire family.
1842 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1842 Wisconsin State Census. Gideon is living in Walworth County.
1843 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
March 3, 1843 he buys 40.89 acres in Walworth County.
Township 001N - Range 015E - Section 4 - NW¼NW¼
October 1843, Gideon is involved in a Civil Court case. It appears the case began in La Porte Co., Indiana. A man named Moses Bullock sells Gideon a “sound” horse. Gideon claimed the horse was lame and of no use to him.
Complete Court Record
Moses Bullock vs Gideon Langdon } Assumpsit
Assumpsit is a form of action at common law for the recovery of damages caused by the breach or non-performance of a simple contract, either express or implied, and whether made orally or in writing.
LINK to Wikipedia page Assumpsit
1844 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Evidence for Gideon’s residence in Walworth County continues with the petition he signed in 1844.
PETITION TO CONGRESS BY CITIZENS OF WALWORTH COUNTY [Refered February 10, 1844] LINK
The complaint concerns Franking Privilege and Rates of Postage. I had no idea what Franking was, so I googled it. "The franking privilege refers to the right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense." There's another link somewhere (can't find it right now) that said the cost for Franking Privileges in 1844 Wisconsin was over $17,000.00. LOT of money back then! Anyway, Gideon signs the document. Here’s the four pages.
1849 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
• 5th wife
13 Sept. 1849 he marries his 5th wife Anna Sumner in Cass County, MI
Image of register.
1850 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This is interesting. Abram G is in it and it is the only document I’ve seen where Rufus (Elder) has a middle initial. “J”
31 July 1850 (recorded 9 May 1851). Quit Claim Deed Rufus J Langdon to Gideon Langdon.
This indenture made this thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Abram G Langdon of Columbia County, Wisconsin and Rufus J Langdon of Marquette County said state of the first party and Gideon Langdon of the place last apraised? of the second party.
1851 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
10 January 1851 son Abram G. Langdon marries Sally Langdon in Randolph, Wisconsin.
17 Mar 1851 (recorded 9 May 1851). Rufus Elder leases Gideon land in Marquette County, Wisconsin for 11 years.
In case the said Gideon Langdon should die before the expiration of the eleven years, the lease is to run to Charles C. Langdon and Sara Jane Langdon, son and daughter of the said Gideon Langdon.
21 Mar 1851 (recorded 9 May 1851) Bond for land from Rufus (Elder?) to Gideon. Marquette County, Wisconsin.
1853 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sons Ansel and Abram G. travel to Missouri and join the Dimmicks on the Oregon Trail. They arrive in Oregon 6-10 October 1853.
1855 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Wisconsin 1855 State Census. Living in Mackford, Marquette County, Wisconsin
LINK to Green Lake County Local History Web.
LINK to image of census
1857 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
NEW JULY 2014
Well it looks like he arrived in Minnesota much earlier than I thought. Here’s 10 documents I got from the Recorder’s office in Austin, MN.
NOTE about doc 1. I was curious about Charles Langdon getting a war deed, but the page that was referenced had no mention of him when we looked at the microfilm. The date was 1867. 3 years after our Charles supposedly died. It was the last thing I made a copy of and might be the wrong page. The Index was badly handwritten.
NOTE: This last one seems to have a Cook underneath Gideon’s sale. Is this Cook related to Gideon’s wife Maria Cook?
1859 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3 May 1859. Buys 40 acres in Mower Co., Minnesota.
1 June 1859. Buys 120 acres in Mower Co., Minnesota.
Here’s two maps of his land.
Note/Speculation
• The Cedar river ran through his property. (Cedar Rapids, Iowa is downstream). I looked for historical records of flooding. Maybe that's why he went to California?
Didn't expect to find that less than a year before he bought the property, a town that was located less than a mile downstream from him was wiped out of existence by flooding.
NOTE: Even more puzzling given the above data. He was actually living there when the flooding took place.
It looks like Mower county now uses section 27 and 28 to help with flood control. The map linked below is part of the 2009 Emergency Management Hazard Plan. LINK
• Ghost Towns of Mower County
“I refer also to Cedar City, six miles south of here (*Austin), which once had its saw mill and its flour mill, and Justice Meanes, before whom long suits at law were wont to be tried in ancient days. But the floods of August, 1858, swept out the last vestige of that city.”
• More on Cedar City
“These two men, built a dam of stones and timber and then built a sawmill and grist mill behind it. The rains of the spring of 1858 were unusually heavy and the new dam gave way to the unexpected water levels. The dam and mills were never rebuilt“
1864 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon receives 171.03 acres of land in the form of a Military Warrant for his service in the War of 1812. The land is located in Freeborn Co., Minnesota. He sells it to Caleb Northup 18 Sep 1864
Son Abram G. has entered into a partnership with two other men and is in the mountains north of Boise, Idaho (North of Pioneer City). He is mining gold.
SPECULATION:
Could this be the reason Gideon travels west? He sold his military bounty land 18 September 1864. On 27 August and 29 September 1864 there are two newspaper articles in the “Idaho Statesman” about Abram’s mine and his efforts to secure financial backing to purchase mining equipment. Abram also writes a letter to the Governor of Oregon on the first of November 1864.
First Article: 1864-08-27; Idaho Statesman; Page 2
Second Article: 1864-09-29; Idaho Statesman; Page 2
Abram writes to the Governor of Oregon asking if he would be interested in investing in the mine. Here’s the letter:
Source:
Addison C. (Crandall) Gibbs Papers, Mss 685, Oregon Historical Society Research Library. Box 3/Folder 4. Langdon, A. G. , Nov. 1, 1864. 1 letter
1865 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1865 Minnesota Census is taken June 1. Gideon is gone.
SPECULATION:
Perhaps there's info to find in the local papers? We can narrow the dates between Sept 1864 when he sells his land in Freeborn county and 1 June 1865 when they take the census. I’d like to take a look at the Land Records in Mower county and see when he sold the land he was living on.
1867 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Living in San Jose, California, USA.
(Per letter he wrote asking about War of 1812 pension)
1868 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
21 Oct 1868. Hayward earthquake in San Francisco Bay area. Several buildings in San Jose are destroyed. Mark Twain is living in San Francisco at the time and devotes a chapter of one of his books to it. “Roughing It”. Part 6 - Chapter 58.
Speculation
• Gideon is around 73 at the time and probably decided that it would be a good time to leave town. About 2 months after the earthquake he shows up in Salem, Oregon.
Note:
• Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) married Oliva Langdon.
She is NOT related to the immediate Langdons we’re looking at.
1869 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Living in Salem, Oregon. 9 Jan 1869 Gideon writes to B.F. Dowell (Washington D.C.) and asks Dowell to inquire about pension petition sent to government two years ago, for War of 1812 pension.
His letter is in the Oregon State University, Northwest Digital Archives:
Here’s link to a pdf of the document. LINK
1870 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gideon dies April 24, 1870 of consumption in the town of Clinton, Rock County, WI. Mortality schedule lists him as widowed.
Additional Information ••••••••••••••••••••••
Speculation Mining
In the 1869 letter he wrote, Gideon drops a few names. One of them is mentioned in this passage:
"Nearly two years ago a petition was forwarded by R. Savage Esq. U.S. Assessor Second District from San Jose Cal."
That would have been Richard Savage. He came West in 1850 when gold was discovered in California. He helped discover the rich silver deposits of the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, Nevada and formed the Savage Mining Company. He lived in San Jose. During the Civil War he pushed to keep California on the Union side, and was rewarded by President Lincoln with the post of Collector of Internal Revenue 1861–1873.
Son Abram G. seems to have been looking for investors in his mine. Perhaps he knew Mr. Savage? Was Gideon investing money from the sale of his bounty land?
Speculation
I don’t believe he ever lived in Freeborn County, MN. He did live in neighboring Mower county for a number of years. What happened to his last wife? Why did he leave for California? Why did he go to Salem, Oregon? Two of his sons lived in Douglas County, Oregon, but he chose to go to Salem. Why did he go back to Wisconsin to die? No family seems to have lived in Walworth or Rock County, WI at that time.
These are mentioned above, but complete transcripts of the two most interesting letters from Gideon’s Land documents are below. Gideon received land in Minnesota for his service in the War of 1812. Like many other vets, it looks like he sold the land for the money as soon as he got it.
The complete files for his request for land are here.
24 April 1855 Letter
State of Wisconsin
County of Marquette
On this 24th day of April A.D. 1855 personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace with and for the county and state aforesaid Gideon Langdon aged 60 years a resident of Marquette county, state of Wisconsin who having duly sworn according to law claims that he is the identical man who was a private in the company commanded by captain Jms (James) Hale in the regiment of militia commanded by McMan in the war with Great Britian declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812, that he entered the service from Chautauqua county - A.D. 1813 and continued for the term of fourteen days and was in the battle at Blackrock and was honorably discharged at the same place on the day of said battle.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the
bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved March 3, 1855. He also declares that he has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or any other act of Congress, nor made any other application thereof.
(signed) Gideon Langdon
27th March 1857 Letter
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose you Power of Attorney to my self in the
claim for Bounty Land of Gideon Langdon #116.619 Act 3rd March 1855 ?suspended. The claimant now informs me that he volunteered in Chautauqua co. N.Y. in company of Capt. James Hale. ?Scent Eaton. Ens. Chas. Barrette, Col. McMann in McMahon N.Y. Militia and service over 14 days - this he thinks was in 1813. He also volunteered at an other time in the Company, of Capt. Benj. Perry, Col. McMahon as a ?(Substitute?) for Willi Willoughby & was in a battle at the mouth of the "Canada Creek", in Lake Erie near Dunkirk, N.Y. Will you please make a re-examination for his service, as above stated.
Speculation About Gideon’s Age ••••••••
Daughter Sarah Jane and the Wisconsin Mortality Schedule both give a date of April 6 for his birth, but the year is fuzzy. What year was he born? Here’s what we have so far.
1) 1830 census
NO AGE
Gideon is listed as head of family, but apparently is not there.
The only male listed is under 5 years of age.
2) 1840 US Federal Census
BIRTH RANGE 1791 -1800
Males - 40 thru 49: 1 (Gideon)
3) 1849 Marriage to Anna Sumner
APRIL 6, 1797
Sept. 12, 1849 his age is listed as 52
4) 1855 Wisconsin Census
NO AGE
5) 1855 Bounty Land letter
APRIL 6, 1795
24th day of April A.D. 1855 personally appeared before me, a Justice
of the Peace with and for the county and state aforesaid, Gideon
Langdon aged 60 years a resident of Marquette county, state of
Wisconsin.
6) 1870 Mortality schedule
APRIL 6, 1793
Age at death 77. Born NY, They claim he died in May.
7) 1909 Sarah Jane article
APRIL 6, 1795
Born in Connecticut
LINK to the Article on Wisconsin Historical Society Website.
Speculation About Where He Was Born:
In a 1909 article from the “Beloit News”, his daughter Sarah Jane claims he was born in Connecticut, but Gideon himself always lists birthplace as New York. After the War of 1812 Gideon lived in an area that was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve.
Connecticut Western Reserve
“The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.”
“In 1800, Connecticut finally ceded the Western Reserve, and the Northwest Territory absorbed it, establishing Trumbull County.”
New 2016 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
It looks like the entire family received poor relief at one time or another. I found early records that names both Gideon and Rufus Elder’s wives as Mary. Could there be info in these that names family lines?
http://www.chautgen.org/sadmin/pdfs/060200.pdf
This is only an index. Here’s the list with Langdons.
Town of Pomfret - Poor Relief Rolls, 1808-1833
Gideon Langdon ............................................... p. 42, 44, 46, 170
References to Years 1823, 1823, 1823, and 1821,1823,1830
Martin Langdon ................................................ p. 70
References to Years 1829,1830
Mary Langdon .................................................. p. 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58,60, 62, 64, 68, 70, 72, 76, 80, 82
References to Years 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833
Mary Langdon and child .................................. p. 48
References to Years 1823, 1824
Mary Langdon and infant ................................. p. 40
References to Years 1822, 1823
Mary Langdon and two children ...................... p. 42, 44, 170
References to Years 1823, 1824, and 1821,1823,1830
Rufus Langdon (or Landon) ............................. p. 1
References to Years 1808,1810,1811,1812
Rufus Langdon and family ................................ p. 168
References to Years 1812,1814,1821,1822
