Mary Celesta Plank

1. MARY CELESTA PLANK was born May 09, 1847¹ in Cannon twp. Kent Co. Michigan, and died November 02, 1928² in Allegan, Kent Co. Michigan. She was the daughter of JAMES PLANK and SUSAN M. BUTTS. She married HENRY MOORE July 25, 1869 in Rockford, Kent Co. Michigan³. He was born 1839 in Canada, and died 1911 in Kent Co. Michigan⁴. He was the son of JOHN H. MOORE and MARIA PIETT. Mary, Henry and Henry's parents are buried in the Livingston (Plainfield) Cemetery, Plainfield, Kent Co. Michigan.⁴

Mary and Henry were the parents of one child: 

i. RAY H. MOORE  b. May 06, 1870, Plainfield twp.., Kent Co., MI⁵; d. 1897 m. MINA BAKER TRACY (before 22 February 1895). The following newspaper clipping (source of newspaper unknown) talks about the couple:

Newspaper clipping:
February, 1895
"A Pleasant Surprise: Huge snow drifts and a river bridged only by ice, could not prevent a party of young people of Peach Grove from celebrating in a very pleasant manner the 163rd anniversary of Washington's birthday. With the merry sound of sleigh bells they started on their way to the new home of their friends. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Moore, at Belmont, with the intention of surprising them which they did about 2 P.M., after a fourteen mile drive. With appetites sharpened by the long cold ride, a goodly portion of the table's burden was soon among the things that were. After a merry time, greatly enjoyed by all, with the gathering dusk of evening they bade their host and hostess good night, wishing many happy returns. PARTICIPANT"

Family stories:
Erma Mae Blett Cole documented several stories that mentioned her favorite aunt--"Great Aunt Mary":

Story #1.
The Planks had two spinning wheels. One type was used to make cotton thread, another for wool yarn. The thread or yarn were knitted into socks, stockings, mittens, underwear, mufflers, men's shirts, dresses and aprons. The three girls of the family were taught to spin the thread or yarn into garments. I remember seeing one spinning wheel in the attic of great-aunt Mary's home in Belmont, which she said she had used. I also remember seeing her [mother's] undergarments which they had knit out of fine wool yarn. I also remember my grandmother [Amy Plank Blett] had a couple hair wreaths in frames, under glass, hanging in the sitting room or parlor walls. I think they were done by her, using the hair of her mother--grandma Plank--and sisters--Mary and Theresa.

Story #2.
It was a wonderful time when the relatives got together at Christmas. Great-aunt Mary and great-uncle Henry Moore from Belmont, Michigan, (grandma's sister and brother-in-law) were usually with us. Then it was, that stories were told of their childhood on the farm in Cannon township, near Rockford. All about the good times they had and the scary times, -sliding on their sled, ice skating, picking berries--wild animals abounded, deer that came to look in the windows at night.

Story #3.
One night after dark, aunt Mary was sent to fetch a pail of water from the spring and on the way back, she felt the family dog come up along side her and she patted it. The next morning her father (grandpa Plank) came in and asked if anyone had seen the bear. He had found tracks that came up the path from the well to the house. They finally discovered that aunt Mary had patted the bear that night, with no harm to her!

Story #4.
Other things that kept grandma and her sisters occupied were helping with the household chores. One summer day she and her sister got lost in the woods in back of their house. They had wandered too far in the picking berries. They tried to find their way out, but after wandering until dark, they just sat down, huddled together and cried; they didn't like to be all alone in the big woods with strange sounds which seemed more terrifying to children when it is dark. After a long time they heard people coming, then they saw a faint light and discovered it was their brother and father with "old Rover" the dog. It was so good to see them and they jumped up and down with joy! Rover was so glad to see them he could hardly keep on his feet because he was wagging his tail so fast. Grandma said "Supper was never so good, and bed never so soft as that night."

Below is a photograph of Mary Plank Moore. Possibly at the time of her wedding (1869). It was taken at the studios of W.H. Jones in Rockford, Michigan.

Below is a photograph of Henry and Mary Plank Moore in their later years:

Endnotes

1. Family bible owned by Amy D. Plank Blett, Mary  Plank born May 9, 1847. See image.

2. Kent Co. Michigan Death records, Vol. 5, Page 381, Record # 56. Death of Mary C. Moore. November 2, 1928.

3. Kent Co. Marriages, Vol. 6, p. 70: MOORE, Henry (w) 30, Plainfield, b. C.W.; occ. farmer, and Mary PLANK (w) 22, Cannon, b. Cannon. 25 July 1869 at Rockford by Nathan Mount, Min. I. COGSHALL, Grand Rapids, and Julia A. MOUNT, Rockford, witnesses.
See http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikent/marriages/court/1845-1870/m.html and family bible owned by Amy D. Plank Blett. See image.

4. Plainfield Cemetery listings at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikent/cemeteries/plainfield/plainfield/livingston.html and family bible owned by Amy D. Plank Blett.  See image.

5. Kent Co. Michigan births at http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikent/births/1867-1870/m.html and family bible owned by Amy D. Plank Blett.  See image.