Culver Family


Charles Henry Culver, Sr. was married to Harriet Newberry Smith; he was her second husband. There is a strong indication that Harriet’s first husband was Charles Smith and they had two daughters, Sarah and Clara.

Census records show that both Charles and Harriet were born in New York; exact place not specified for Charles, but Harriet’s death record shows she was born in Brownville, Jefferson Co., NY. They were first found on a census record in 1850, living in Painted Post, Steuben Co., NY.

Charles and Harriet were the parents of the following: Charles Henry Culver, Jr. (1848-1918); Solan Kiser Culver (ca. 1852-1923); Nancy Emeline "Emma" Culver (ca. 1854-ca. 1927); Clarence Belden Culver (1859-1915); George W. Culver (1861-1934) and possibly Ida who was born ca. 1862.

Through Charles Culver, Jr.’s military papers, he was tracked from Phelps, New York to Ohio and onto his final place of residence, Belding, MI. Solan left New York at some point in time and was found in Louisiana in the 1880 census. He married Cynthia Coon in 1877. Emma Culver married Sidney Condit and lived most of her adult life in Phelps, NY. Clarence was known to have lived in Arcade, Wyoming Co., NY. George W. Culver lived in New York and Pennsylvania and is buried at Newark, NY. If Ida was indeed their daughter, it is possible she married Lodewick Toombs. They were in the 1880 Seneca Co., NY census with a child, also named Ida.

Charles Culver Sr.’s death record states he was the son of Heziah Culver and Nancy Culver. There was a Hezekiah Culver living in Waterloo from ca. 1840 until his death, ca. 1869 and was possibly a brother to Charles. Hezekiah was married to Mary Ann Newberry. Interestingly, Harriet’s maiden name was also Newberry. Mary Ann’s death record states she was born at Pillow Point, which is located near Brownville, also in Jefferson Co. Harriet’s death record indicates she was the daughter of Samuel Newberry and Harriet Newberry.

In 1880, Charles and Harriet were living in Victor, NY. He was always listed as being a blacksmith, boiler maker and/or carpenter.

Did these folks not leave a paper trail of any kind? Surely, if they lived within a few hundred miles between 1850 and the time of their deaths, there are more records in existence for these two people.

Harriet’s daughter by her first marriage, Clarissa "Clara," bought a house at Phelps, located on Quarry St., at some point in time. At her death in 1917, the house was given to her half-sister Emma Culver Condit; however, her estate was not settled for several years. A distant cousin, who lives in Palmyra, NY, located Clara’s estate papers and, finally, confirmed the relationship of all these people.

by Mary Ellen Dickerson

Many thanks to Mary Ellen for sharing this family history.



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