Oliver Hardon aka HARNDEN & Hannah BARNUM were married in Shoreham, VT, on 9 Mar 1806. Hannah was the daughter of Jabez BARNUM & his first wife Susannah (probably nee Pettibone). I would like to know more about Oliver & Hannah. Could they have been the family indexed as Oliver HAMDEN in the 1810 census in Shoreham? They were said to have been early settlers in western New York and may have been in Genesee co., NY in 1820. Who were Oliver's parents? Who were their children?

Thank you for your post.



I'm on my wife's computer right now, so I don't have access to all my records. But, I find your questions very interesting. Our early Harnden lines relative to Vermont are sparse at best. But, I have come accross the name Oliver several times in early records (American and Canadian I think), but didn't know exactly where he belonged. If you post what you have I think I can narrow him down. I think we may have a son of his listed incorrectly. We have a Barnum O. Harnden b. ABT 1820 in N.Y. who's father was born in Vermont.



I did find a Oliver "Hamden" living with the family of Alexander Scoby. He was born in 1786 in Vermont. I think this may be the same person in question. I suggest that Oliver may have been his father-in-law.



You'll find the Harnden names relative to this line are as follows:



Barichiah, John, Jonathan and Samuel Harnden were all in Granville, Charlotte County, Vermont in 1781. This is before the boundry lines were set closer to what we know them to be today, and these areas became part of New York.



If you have any questions you can email me directly at daniel_harnden@yahoo.com or post it back to the list. I'd to see others jump in on this one.



Talk to you later, Dan

Oliver Harnden served in the War of 1812 from Plattsburgh, [Clinton Co.] New York Volunteers, Cavalry.

Barnum Harnden was born in Bethany, Genesee County, in 1820. He remained in his native town until he was eight; then removed to Varysburgh; thence to Springville; thence in 1841 to Bennington, where he owns a farm of two hundred and eighty acres. He has been overseer of the poor four years, and highway commissioner six years. He was married March 17, 1846, to Hannah Borden, daughter of David Borden, of Bennington. He has always been a staunch advocate of education. His father, Oliver Harnden, was an early settler in western New York.
[History of Bennington, Wyoming County, N.Y. Pg 40]

Jean C.

Thank you, Dan & Jean, for your response. I have just begun to look at Oliver & Hannah after finally finding proof that my husband's 3rd great grandmother, Sarah Barnum, was the daughter of Jabez Barnum, as was Hannah. There seems to be very little information "out there" about Oliver. I did find the record of his marriage to Hannah Barnum in the Shoreham, VT, town records - 9 Mar 1806. He is indexed as "Oliver Hardon" and, while the name looks like "Handells" in the actual record, "Oliver Harndon" is written in the margin (by the town clerk or someone later?) He may have been the "Oliver Hamden" in Shoreham in 1810. As to the War of 1812, "The History of the Town of Shoreham, Vermont," Goodhue, p. 107, lists Oliver Harnden as a Plattsburgh Volunteer from Shoreham - Cavalry; Nathaniel North, Captain; Ebenezer Bush, Lieutenant. (I take that to mean that Oliver was still of Shoreham in 1812/13.) But, he was in Genesee Co. by 1816 as a 1 year old son, Barnum Harnden, was buried in Wrights Corners per "Early Settlers of Western New York," July 1934, Vol 1, No.1, p. 703. I have seen that piece about Barnum O. Harnden in Wyoming Co., NY and with that name, it does seem likely that the Oliver who was Barnum's father is the same Oliver who married Hannah Barnum. Also, Other members of Hannah's family moved to Genesee Co., NY, early on. Her brother Luther was there by 1820 as an itinerant preacher. He is buried in the Cowlesville Cemetery in what is now Wyoming Co. Their sister Sarah Barnum married William Doolittle in Shoreham, VT, in 1810. Soon after, they moved across Lake Ticonderoga to Moriah, Essex Co., NY, where they were living in 1820. Then, they, too, moved to Genesee Co., New York (to Gainesville, now part of Wyoming Co.). Sarah apparently died before 1830. In 1820 Oliver "Hernden" was in Bethany, Genesee Co., NY. Not found in 1830. In Concord, Erie Co., New York, in 1840. Now, here is a tantalizing bit that is given about Hannah on some Barnum web sites. I believe the info came from a book by Eben Lewis Barnum and Fr. Francis Barnum, "Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family" 1912: "She was the great-grandmother of Frances Folsom (1864-1947), wife of Stephen Grover Cleveland who was the 22nd (1885-89) and 24th (1893-97) president of the United States." I find some genealogy sites that name Clarinda C. Harnden (b. 1809)as the daughter of Oliver Harnden and Hannah Barnum, but in a search of the web, I did not find anything about Frances Folsom that named them as her great grandparents. It seems certain that Clarinda married John B. Folsom and their son Oscar Folsom was the father of Frances, but less certain that Clarinda was the daughter of Oliver Harnden & Hannah Barnum. Still, they were in the right place at the right time....

Given Clarinda C. Harnden was b. 1809 Sheldon, Wyoming Co., New York and the Oliver Harnden in question b. ? in Vermont is seems unlikely his son Barnum O. Harnden b. 1820 in Bethany, Genesee, New York, my thoughts are they were not brother and sister. I've not ever found anything further as to who Clarinda's parents were to date.

Jean C.


Descendants of Col. John B. Folsom

Generation No. 1

1. Col. John B.2 Folsom (Asa1)1 was born January 28, 1811 in Warsaw, Wyoming, New York2, and died May 19, 1886 in Folsomdale, Wyoming, New York. He married Clarinda C. (Harndon) Harnden2 January 04, 1831 in Folsomdale, Wyoming, New York3. She was born June 03, 1809 in Sheldon, Wyoming Co., New York, and died June 19, 1873 in Wyoming Co., New York.

Notes for Col. John B. Folsom:
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1908

All communities, however small, have their conflagrations entailing loss of property, if not life itself, and the village of Varysburg has not been an exception. At 4 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 23, 1908 fire of unknown origin broke out in the tiny village destroying the entire west side of Main street from the present home of James Almeter to the present apartment house of Mr. And Mrs. Terry Ripstein.

The fire originated in the cooper shop of Orla Lawrence, which set behind the upper hotel. He and Victor Wilcox by day had been busy making barrels for the fall rush of apple picking and by night it was the sleeping place of Frank Danley, a well know countryside character who was awakened by the sound of crackling flames and stifling smoke in time to escape with his life. The shop had been built in 1886 by James S. Barnes as a blacksmith shop.

During the fire, Orla Lawrence, a resourceful man in time of danger, suggested that if they dynamited the Louis Ward house, it might stop the fire from spreading. Dynamite sticks were obtained, but it was too late - the house was in flames. This house had been erected by John B. Folsom, after his marriage in 1831 to Clarinda C. Harnden. They resided in this red framed house until 1834, when they removed to Michigan. Mr. Folsom returned later to the county, and with his brother, organized the hamlet of Folsomdale.

More About Col. John B. Folsom:
Census: September 01, 1850, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 39
Occupation: 1853, First postmaster in Folsomdale

More About Clarinda C. (Harndon) Harnden:
Census: September 01, 1850, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 41
Comment: Died at age 63

Children of Col. Folsom and Clarinda Harnden are:
2 i. Benjamin Frank3 Folsom4, born November 10, 1832 in Bennington, Wyoming, New York4; died January 27, 1873. He married Alice R. Bickford5 January 04, 18656; born 1841 in New York.

More About Benjamin Frank Folsom:
Census: September 01, 1850, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 17
Comment: Died at age 43

More About Alice R. Bickford:
Census: July 26, 1870, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 30

ii. Oscar Folsom, born November 08, 1837 in Folsomdale, Wyoming, New York; died July 23, 1875 in Buffalo, Erie, New York.
iii. Mary Augusta Folsom, born 1849 in Bennington, Wyoming, New York; died February 03, 1873; Adopted child.


Generation No. 2

3. Oscar3 Folsom (Col. John B.2, Asa1)6 was born November 08, 1837 in Folsomdale, Wyoming, New York, and died July 23, 1875 in Buffalo, Erie, New York. He married Emma Cornelia Harmon 18637. She was born November 12, 1841 in Hornelleville, Steuben, New York, and died December 24, 1915 in Hornelleville, Steuben, New York.

Notes for Oscar Folsom:
"He graduated at the University of Rochester, N.Y. ; was a brilliant and popular lawyer. He met with an accidental death by being thrown from his carriage, in the city of Buffalo, NY,"
[Genealogy of the Folsom family: John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882]

More About Oscar Folsom:
Census: September 01, 1850, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 12
Occupation: Lawyer

Child of Oscar Folsom and Emma Harmon is:
i. Frances Clara4 Folsom, born July 21, 1864 in Folsomdale near Buffalo, Erie, New York; died October 29, 1947 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.


4. Mary Augusta3 Folsom (Col. John B.2, Asa1)8 was born 1849 in Bennington, Wyoming, New York, and died February 03, 1873. She married Dr. William N. Martin8 June 29, 1870. He was born in Cattaraugus Co., New York.

More About Mary Augusta Folsom:
Census: July 07, 1860, Bennington, Wyoming, New York, age 11
Comment: Died at age 23

Child of Mary Folsom and Dr. Martin is:
i. Mary Augusta4 Martin8.


Generation No. 3

5. Frances Clara4 Folsom (Oscar3, Col. John B.2, Asa1)9 was born July 21, 1864 in Folsomdale near Buffalo, Erie, New York, and died October 29, 1947 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. She married (1) President Stephen Grover Cleveland June 02, 1886 in The White House, Washington D. C., District of Columbia, son of Rev. Cleveland and Anne Neal. He was born March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey, and died June 24, 1908 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey. She married (2) Thomas Jex Preston February 10, 1913. He died 1955.

Notes for Frances Clara Folsom:
She attended the Central school, Buffalo, and in 1881 entered Wells college, where she was graduated A.B. in June, 1885, Mr. Cleveland, who was then President of the United States, sending flowers from the White House conservatories to grace the occasion. She spent the summer of 1885 with relatives at Folsomdale, N.Y., and in the autumn accompanied her mother to Europe. They returned home May 27, 1886, [p.261] and after resting in New York for a few days repaired to Washington, where on June 2, 1886, Miss Folsom was married to President Cleveland in the blue room of the White House. Mrs. Cleveland endeared herself to the people by the tact and graceful dignity with which she fulfilled the duties of her position, and no word of unfavorable criticism was ever uttered, despite her youth and inexperience, she being the youngest mistress the White House had ever known. On her return to Washington, on President Cleveland's second inauguration, she was welcomed with cordial affection and made as great a social success as she had during her husband's first administration, having the dignity of motherhood added to her many charms.

Notes for President Stephen Grover Cleveland:
In 1866 Grover Cleveland formed a partnership with Isaac V. Vandepoel. The most of the work here fell on the shoulders of Grover Cleveland, and he soon won a good standing at the bar of the state. In 1869 Mr. Cleveland associated himself in business with A.P. Laning and Oscar Folsom, and under the firm name of Laning, Cleveland & Folsom soon built up a fair practice. June 2, 1886 Grover Cleveland was united in marriage with Miss Frances Folsom, the daughter of his former partner.
[A Biographical record of Schuyler County, New York; Compendium of biography of celebrated Americans Pg 175]

HOMESTATE: New York
PARTY: Democrat
TERMS IN OFFICE: 1885-1889 1893-1897
VICE PRESIDENTS: Thomas A. Hendricks, Adlai E. Stevenson
Cleveland paid a Polish immigrant $1.50 to serve in his place in the American Civil War.
Cleveland was the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms.
SIGNIFICANT ACTS: Signed the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which established federal regulation of railroads. Preserved the country's gold standard in 1893 by spearheading the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. Crushed the Pullman railroad strike of 1894 and prevented interruption of mail service by sending in federal troops. Prompted the settlement of the Venezuela crisis, a border dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela resolved in 1895.
CAREER: 1871-1873 Served as Sheriff of Erie County, New York.
1882 Served as Mayor of Buffalo, New York.
1883-1885 Served as Governor of New York. Elected 1882.
1885-1889 Served as President of the United States.
1888 Defeated by Benjamin Harrison in presidential election.
1893-1897 President of the United States.
As sheriff in Buffalo, New York, Cleveland personally carried out the execution of two criminals. Cleveland underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.

The Baby Ruth candy bar was named after Cleveland's baby daughter, Ruth.

The only president's child born in the White House was Cleveland's daughter Esther.

After leaving the White House, Cleveland lived in retirement in Princeton, New Jersey.

More About President Stephen Grover Cleveland:
Burial: Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, New Jersey
Religion: Presbyterian

More About President Cleveland and Frances Folsom:
Marriage: June 02, 1886, The White House, Washington D. C., District of Columbia

More About Thomas Preston and Frances Folsom:
Marriage: February 10, 1913

Children of Frances Folsom and President Cleveland are:
i. Ruth5 Cleveland, born October 03, 1891 in New York City, New York; died January 07, 1904 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey.

More About Ruth Cleveland:
Burial: Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, New Jersey

ii. Esther Cleveland, born September 09, 1893 in White House, Washington D. C.; died June 25, 1980 in New Hampshire. She married William Sidney Bence Bosanquet March 14, 1918 in Westminster Abbey, London, England; born 1893; died March 05, 1966 in Redcar, Yorkshire, England.

More About William Bosanquet and Esther Cleveland:
Marriage: March 14, 1918, Westminster Abbey, London, England

iii. Marion Cleveland, born July 07, 1895 in Buzzards Bay, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died March 10, 1960 in New York. She married (1) William Stanley Dell November 28, 1917; born 1894. She married (2) John Harlan Amen July 25, 1926; born September 15, 1898 in Exeter, New Hampshire; died March 10, 1960 in New York.

More About William Dell and Marion Cleveland:
Marriage: November 28, 1917

More About John Amen and Marion Cleveland:
Marriage: July 25, 1926

iv. Richard Folsom Cleveland, born October 28, 1897 in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey; died January 10, 1974 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. He married (1) Ellen Douglas Gailor June 20, 1923; born 1897; died February 17, 1954. He married (2) Jesse Maxwell Black June 12, 1943; born March 01, 1919 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.

More About Richard Cleveland and Ellen Gailor:
Marriage: June 20, 1923

More About Richard Cleveland and Jesse Black:
Marriage: June 12, 1943

v. Francis Grover Cleveland, born July 18, 1903 in Buzzard Bay, Massachusetts; died 1995. He married Alice Erdman June 20, 1925; born March 24, 1904.

More About Francis Cleveland and Alice Erdman:
Marriage: June 20, 1925


Endnotes

1. Source:, Periodical "Historical Wyoming" by Wyoming Co. Historian Ray Barber.
2. Book:, Genealogy of the Folsom family : John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882 Concord, N.H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1882.
3. Source:, Britian, thePeerage, The Register's of Thorrington 1888.
4. Book:, Genealogy of the Folsom family : John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882 Concord, N.H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1882.
5. Genealogy of the Folsom family : John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882 Concord, N.H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1882.
6. GED: Hale Family Tree by Richard Hale, Ancestors of Frances C. Folsom Cleveland.
7. Book:, Genealogy of the Folsom family : John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882 Concord, N.H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1882.
8. GED: Hale Family Tree by Richard Hale, Ancestors of Frances C. Folsom Cleveland.
9. Book:, Genealogy of the Folsom family : John Folsom and his descendants, 1615-1882 Concord, N.H.: Printed by the Republican Press Association, 1882.

If it is certain that Clarinda Harnden was born in Sheldon, NY, in 1809, and if Oliver Harnden was still in Shoreham, VT, volunteering in the War of 1812, then it does seem unlikely that Clarinda was Oliver's child. How odd that Clarinda Harnden's parents seem to be unknown. All those little towns mentioned in Wyoming Co., New York, are quite close together in the NW corner and near the border with Erie Co. - Strykersville, Varysburg, Sheldon in Sheldon Town[ship], Bennington, Cowlesville, Folsomdale in Bennington Town[ship]. Until 1841, they were all a part of Genesee Co. While Bethany is still in Genesee Co., it is only a couple miles over the border and fairly close by, as well.