Melissa Russell

   Cause of her death was apoplexy.

  General Notes:

findagrave.com
She was raised from 4 years of age by William Conklin and his first wife Lucy Osburn.
First wife of Nelson H. Straw. They married 20 Jan 1851, Three Rivers, St. Joseph Co., MI. 4 known children
Second wife of Albert Bowe. They married 10 Jan 1864, Hillsdale Co., MI. 3 known children
Step-son Willis Albert Bowe died 9 Mar 1907 in Los Angeles Co., CA age 54.

1850 Flowerfield, St. Joseph, Michigan
William Conklin 1814 NY
Lucy 1820 NY[ b23 Jan 1820; d/o Sturgis and Chole (Nickerson) Osburn; she d. 16 Sept 1879 in St. Joseph County, MI]
Henry Bebee Conklin 1845 MI
Chansey 1843 MI [female]
George Plowman 1845 MI
Melissa Russell 1835 NY
Maria Conklin 1818 NY
Lucy McArtney 1848 MI

1860 Flowerfield, St. Joseph, Michigan
Nelson Straw 1830 PA; age 30
Melissa 1835 MI age 25
Mary 1852 MI; age 8
Lara 1854 MI age 6
Eva 1857 MI age 3
Henry 1859 MI age 1

First husband appears on Civil War Pension file as Nelson H(oratio?). Straw with wife Melissa Russell- W. Conklin guardian [see 1850 census above]

1870 Adams, Hillsdale, Michigan
Albert Bow 44 NY c1826
Melissa 33 NY c1837
Willis A. 17 MI c1853 [by 1st wife Cordelia]
Lilla C. 13 MI c1857 [by 1st wife Cordelia]
Rosa L. 9 MI c1861 [by 1st wife Cordelia]
Fred 4 MI
Francis N. Straw age 11 MI [could he be the Henry Straw in the 1860 census?]
also a farmhand Emery J. Yost age 26 b. PA

1880 Park, St. Joseph county, MI
Albert Bow agr 54 b. NY; parents b. VT
Malissie age 43 b. NY; parents b. NY
Rosie age 20 MI
Fredie age 12 MI
Orin age 5 CA

1889 - Melissa applied for restoration of pension following death of husband Albert Bow

1890 Veterans Schedules Record for Nelson Straw
"Bow, Melissa former widow of Nelson Straw"
Veteran's Name: Nelson Straw Relative's Name: Malissa Bow Relationship to veteran: Widow Home in 1890 (Township, County, State): Flowerfield, Saint Joseph, Michigan Year enlisted: 1861 Year discharged: 1863 Rank: Private - 6th Michigan inft; CO C; died March 1863; seved 1yr 7mos.

1900 Corwith, Otsego Co MI
Orrie Bow b. Oct 1876 CA; m 1 yr; parents b. NY
Clara B. b. Apr 1882 MI OH OH; m 1yr; ch:1/1
Florence b. Oct 1899 MI
Melissa Bow b. May 1835 NY; wid; ch:14/5 [mother]

23 July 1903 - declared incompetent by Dept of Interior and Geo Kesselring apponted her guardian

1904 Pensioner dropped due to death; last payment sent 4 Mar 1904

Seeking Michigan
Death record is full of errors
It indicates she was the d/o Nelson and Melissa(Russell) Straw but she was Melissa Russell and wife of Nelson Straw. After the death of Nelson she remarried Albert Bow(e) The informant was her son Frank Straw who appears to have given wrong information.Her date of birth may have been 1837

Melissa married Horatio Nelson Straw, son of Nathan A. Straw and Mary Brown, on 20 Jan 1851 in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Michigan. (Horatio Nelson Straw was born in 1831 in New York, died on 4 Mar 1863 in Regimental Hospital at Camp Parapet in Carrollton, LA; Civil War Casuality and was buried in Flowerfield Baptist church Cemetery in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Michigan.). The cause of his death was lung fever [pneumonia].

  Marriage Notes:

pension papers

Melissa next married Albert Bowe, son of Bow and Unknown, on 10 Jan 1864 in Cambria, Hillsdale County, Michigan. (Albert Bowe was born in 1818 in New York, died on 23 Jan 1889 in Flowerfield, St. Joseph County, Michigan and was buried in Howardsville Cemetery in St. Joseph County, Michigan.). The cause of his death was consumption.

  Marriage Notes:

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