My Paternal Gr Gr Grandfather Solomon Ponsler Solomon Ponsler was born February 11, 1822 in Ohio, possibly Fairfield County, and died December 16, 1887 in Beecher City, Shelby County, Illinois. (his tombstone on right)  He married February 7, 1847 to Chloe Malinda Breckinridge in Franklin County, Ohio. (Solomon's stone on right). Chloe Malinda was born August 11, 1828 in Ohio, possibly Franklin County, to John and Rebecca Breckinridge. Chloe Malinda died February 1, 1867 in Shelby County, Illinois. (her tombstone left).Solomon & Chloe Malinda were the parents of Margaret Elizabeth, Susan, Eliza, Francis Hughes, Phoebe Ellen, Caroline (my great grandmother), Seamore, Emily Jane, Mary Catherine & Sherman.  Chloe's stone on left. Solomon married secondly to Margaret Harrison on September 12, 1867 in Ohio (her stone on right). Margaret was Chloe Malinda's best friend in Ohio and recently widowed (married name unknown) when Solomon traversed to Ohio and asked for her hand in marriage. Maggie, as she was called, was born February 10, 1832 in Franklin County, Ohio to Patterson & Harriett Harrison. Maggie died December 21, 1870 in Shelby County, Illinois  (her tombstone on right). He brought Maggie & her children to Illinois and to this union was born Patterson Harrison & Chloe Malinda. Solomon then married a third time on November 2, 1871 in Illinois, to Sarah Jane McCurdy Bixler, widow of Henry Bixler, and mother of 7 children. Sarah Jane McCurdy was born May 8, 1837 in Pennsylvania, to Henry Boughter McCurdy and Rosannah Shadle McCurdy. Sarah Jane died September 25, 1919 in Shelby County, Illinois. Solomon & Sarah Jane had 6 children, namely Hattie Mae, Ida Alice, John Thomas, Dora Bill, Annie & Cora Viola.
Pictured above left is Mt. Zion Cemetery, above right is Mt. Zion Church, Shelby County, Illinois ~ between the Stewardson & Beecher City areas
Margaret Elizabeth, the first child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler was born February 3, 1848 in Franklin County, Ohio. She was married to George W. Williams on November 14, 1869 in Shelby County, Illinois. There were two children born of this union, namely Albert P. and Ada. No further info available at this time on the two children. Margaret died April 1, 1874 and is buried at Union Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.
Susan, second child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler, was born May 23, 1849 in Franklin County, Ohio and died August 27, 1927 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois. On March 10, 1867 she was united in marriage to Samuel Roley, a son of Elisha Roley and Eleanor (aka Ellen) Williams Roley. To this marital union was born the following children: 1. Joseph Arthur who married Fannie Powell and they had 4 known children: Lynn, Idell, Erma & Vaughn. 2. Delbert (died at 2 years of age) 3. Siemer (also shown as Seemer A.) died June 3, 1873 at age 10 months. 4. Walter who married Jessie LNU and they had one known daughter Della. 5. Margaret born about 1867 died 1956 was married to Sherman Yakey and they had the following children: Wilma, Susan, Hobart, Reuben, Arthur, Gaylord, Floyd Forrest, and Ethel. 6. William Franklin born about 1868 died 1952 was married to Minnie Strohl and they had two known children: Burl & Flossie. 7. Sherman born August 29, 1874 died December 25, 1896 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Clarksburg Township, Shelby County, Illinois. He was accidentally shot. He was married to Sophie E. Smith and they had one known daughter, Grace. 8. Samuel Edward born May 12, 1877 died about 1951 was married to Minnie Mae Gorrell, and they had 3 known children, Mabel, Arlond Glenn & Harold W. 9. Clem S. born about 1887 died about 1965 was married to Lena M. Foster, and they had 3 known children, Wilma, Delbert C., & C. Dean. 10. Gertie (Gertrude May) was born April 13, 1889 and died about 1960 was married to Otis Earl Shumard. She would not permit anyone to call her other than Gertie. Gertie & Otis had a son William Earl (aka Earl), and a daughter Gail Eileen. 11. Mamie Gaye was born September 29, 1892 was married to Orpheus Robey, Carroll McClellan and Alva Gorrell, and this time do not have information on the marriages nor of any children.   Samuel Roley Susan Ponsler Roley Samuel Roley and Susan Ponsler Roley (older)
Eliza, the third child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler, was born December 27, 1850 in Franklin County, Ohio.  She died October 8, 1874 and is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.
Francis Hughes, the 4th child & eldest son of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler, was born January 28, 1852 in Franklin County, Ohio and died February 3, 1919 in Shelby County, Illinois. He was married to Martha Ann Clesson (sometimes shown as Clessom) on September 11, 1879 in Shelby County, Illinois. Martha Ann was born August 12, 1857 and died October 27, 1938 in Shelby County, Illinois. Francis & Martha are buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery. The children of Francis & Martha are ~ Edith, Norman, Bertha, Eva Iola, Addie L., Hilda, Prudence, Clarence Monroe, Lawrence Charles, Verna Belle, Mary Malinda and Elgin Franklin.
Francis Hughes Ponsler and Martha Ann (Clesson) Ponsler Family circa 1910	Addie L. Ponsler & John W. Barrows Addie is a daughter of Francis Hughes Ponsler & Martha Ann Clesson
Edith Ponsler, eldest daughter of Francis Hughes Ponsler & Martha Ann Clesson	Clarence Monroe Reynolds husband of Hattie Mae Ponsler, picture courtesy of Michael Reynolds
Children of Martha Ann Clesson & Francis Hughes Ponsler Back row ~ Elgin, Prudence & Lawrence Middle row ~ Verna, Mary, Edith, Addie, Bertha, Hilda, Clarence Front row ~ Martha Ann Clesson Ponsler (mother) Picture taken 1938, Shelby County, Illinois
Grandchildren of Francis Hughes Ponsler & Martha Ann Clesson Ponsler Back row:  Carl Johnston,  s. of Edith  Orville Barrow, s. of Addie, Beulah Barrow, dtr of Addie, Cecil Barrow, s. of Addie Middle row: Charles Marvin, s. of Clarence, Julia Ann Johnston, dtr of Edith ~ Front row ~ Walter, s. of Lawrence, Frank, s. of Lawrence, Charles Westley, s. of Lawrence
Phoebe Ellen, the fifth child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler was born May 16, 1853 in Franklin County, Ohio.  Phoebe died April 14, 1879 and is buried at Union Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.
Caroline, the 6th child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler was born July 17, 1855 in Franklin County, Ohio and died February 4, 1873 and is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois. Caroline never married but died either in the birth, or due to complications in the birth of my grandmother Antoinette, her only child.
Seamore, the seventh child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler was born July 16, 1857 in Franklin County, Ohio and died October 30, 1876 and is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois
Emily Jane (also shown as Emmy J.), the 8th child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler, was born April 27, 1859 in Shelby County, Illinois. She died April 30, 1880 and is buried in the Union Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.
Mary Catherine, the 9th child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler was born about 1861 in Shelby County, Illinois. There is no further information of her at this time. Through family lore it was said she married and died within one year of her marriage. No marriage has been found to date.
Sherman, the 10th child of Solomon & Chloe Malinda Ponsler, was born June 19, 1865 in Shelby County, Illinois and died July 3, 1888 and is buried in Union Cemetery, Shelby County, Illinois.