Shep's Place Family Tree

In the 1850 federal census William and Lydia Sibley, both 32 years old, lived in Green township where William was a wagonmaker. Born in New York state, William owned real estate valued at $200.00. His wife Lydia and all of their three children had been born in Ohio. The children were Jonas, Adam and Morton.

Lydia was probably a Rader because living with them were Jonas Rader 22 years, a wagonmaker and Washington Rader 26, a boatman.

However, in the Gallia County Civil Journal of July 21 1852 it states: "This day Sarah Jane Burnett aged twelve years in June AD 1852, a minor child of Vintner Burnett deceased personally came before the Judge of the Probate Court...and made the choice of Isaac Siddell for her Guardian which said choice is approved....

Eleven years later we read that Miss Sarah Burnett, 22 years old, died at the residence of Major Jacob Kerns, Harrison Township on June 11, 1863. She became an orphan at the age of 7 when her parents Vintner and Emily Page Burnett died of Asiatic Cholera in June 1849. Mr. and Mrs. William Sibley raised her, a brother Edward, and a sister Rebecca. Burial was in Smeltzer Graveyard.

Gallipolis Journal
2 July 1863
OBITUARY

Miss Sarah Burnet ‎[sic]‎ died at the residence of Major Jacob Kerns, of Harrison township, Gallia County, Ohio, June 11th, 1863, in the 22nd year of her age. Being in the bloom of youth and in the vigour of life, it was natural she should wish to live, and especially as she had, in the event of her recovery, favourable prospects of earthly happiness.......‎[very religious]‎ Nine months ago she made a public profession of religion, and from this self-consecration to the service of God, she derived much comfort on a sick bed, and in a dying hour....

Miss Sarah Burnet was left an orphan when but seven years of age. Her parents died of Asiatic Cholera in June, 1849, leaving a son and two daughters. At that tender age she was taken into the family of Mr. Wm. Sibley, in whose kindness and sympathy, and the maternal solicitude of Mrs. Sibley, she was regarded as one of their own children--From childhood to youth and from youth to womanhood, she was tenderly nurtured and carefully brought up by these kind parents, to the habits of virtue,industry, and economy--She uniformly called them by the endearing name of father and mother. And well she might so regard them. For but few have more faithfully and affectionately performed a parent's part towards an orphan child, as it respects the concerns of this life.

She was first taken sick at Mr. Sibley's, her adopted home. But when she had somewhat recovered of her complaint, she rode out as far as the residence of Major Kearns, a distance of about four miles, hoping thereby to improve her health, and to refresh her spirits by participating in the hospitality and friendship of that worthy and benevolent family. In a few weeks she relapsed.--Growing worse and worse, and rapidly sinking under the influence of a consuming disease, Pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs, until she breathed her last breath in the presence of friends and neighbors standing around her dying bed, and watching with deep emotion with tearful eyes, and a heart-felt sympathy, the last lingering pulse of expiring life--...

On Saturday, the 13th, at any early hour, a funeral sermon was preached at the residence of Major Kearns, from Deut. 32:29...Shortly after the close of the religious services, her mortal body, clothed in the habiliments of the grave, and followed by a large concourse of kindred and friends, was conveyed to the Smeltzer Grave-yard, and there interred in the hope of a glorious resurrection to immortality and eternal life--

From her adopted parents and from Major Kearns and his benevolent wife, as well as from others, our deceased friend, during her last illness, received every degree of care and attention, that sympathy and affection could bestow on one so lovely and interesting, suffering from the chastening of the Almighty.....
PILGRIM.
Pilgrim'sCottage, 1863