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52 Ancestors: Week 41, Thomas Abial and Emma Alberta (Bailey) Cram

Orginal post: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Thomas Abial Cram, son of James and Louisa (Bailey) Cram, was probably born in Trenton, Washington County, Wisconsin1 30 August 1849 and died probably in Burt County, Nebraska 24 February 1904.2 He married at his parent's home in Cuming City, Washington County, Nebraska 27 February 1870, Emma Alberta (Rice) Bailey, adopted daughter of Thomas B. and Ruth Waterman (Fletcher) Bailey.3,4,5 She was born in Washington County, Wisconsin 27 October 1849 and died in Herman, Washington County, Nebraska 2 January 1923.6,7 They were both buried in New England Cemetery in Herman.8,9

Thomas' mother Louisa (Bailey) Cram and Emma's adoptive father Thomas B. Bailey were siblings. The two families were part of a migration of several interrelated families from Maine to Wisconsin in the 1840s. By 1850, James' parents had return to Montville, Waldo County, Maine.10 Emma's family were still in Trenton, Wisconsin in 1850.11 They later moved to Juneau County, Wisconsin and then to Washington County, Nebraska in 1859.12 Meanwhile, Thomas' family moved across Maine to the town of Bridgewater on the border with Canada where they lived in 1860.13 They came to Washington County, Nebraska in February 18682,14 and are recorded in Grant Precinct in 1870.15

Thomas and Emma's first child, Orinda, was born in April 1871 in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, where Emma resided at the time of their marriage. Two months later, they moved to Herman Township, Washington County, Nebraska and settled in the New England community.16 Thomas, farmer, and Emma were in Herman Precinct in 1880 with their four children.17 By 1885, they moved north to Bell Creek in Burt County where they were recorded with six children. Thomas' parents also resided with them.18 Their eldest daughter, Orinda, had been adopted by Emma's parents by this point and was living with them in Herman Township, Washington County.19 The family moved to Kansas in 1894 where their youngest daughter Jennie was born. They returned to Burt County, Nebraska in early 1895.20 In 1900, Thomas and Emma were in Riverside Precinct with six children. Thomas' father still resided with them.21 Their daughter Louise (Cram) Headley and son Charles Cram's households are listed either side of them.

At the time of his death, Thomas was member of the mutual benefit society, Fraternal Union of America.22,23 Thereafter, Emma would return to Herman Township, Washington County where she was recorded in her son-in-law Fred Rogert's household in 191024 and 1920.25 She was a member of the New England Baptist church for 52 years.6,7

Children of Thomas Abial and Emma Alberta (Bailey) Cram:

  1. Orinda Alberta Cram, b. Fort Calhoun, Washington Co., Nebr. 6 April 1871; m. Frank Eriksen.16,26
  2. Charles Edwin Cram, b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 8 Dec. 1872; m. Mary E. Sisson.27,28
  3. Ivan D. Cram, b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 16 Dec. 1874; m. Mabel M. Marr.29,30
  4. Louise Sylvia Cram,31 b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 5 Dec. 1877;32 m. Elmer Headley.33
  5. Bert Judson "Bertie" Cram, b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 11 July 1879; m. Alta Kohler.20
  6. Emma Jane Cram,34 b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 29 July 1881; m. Hans Henrick Hansen.35
  7. Madge Adaline Cram, b. Herman Twp., Washington Co., Nebr. 2 Jan. 1884;36 m. Fred Rogert.37
  8. Thomas Alfred "Tom" Cram,31 b. Burt Co., Nebr. 9 April 1886; m. Viola E. (Coberly) Fisher.38,39
  9. Mary Izetta Cram,40 b. Burt Co., Nebr. 13 Feb. 1888; 41 m. Roland Benjamin Richmond.42
  10. William Rice Cram, b. Burt Co., Nebr. 28 May 1890;43,44 m. Caroline B. Robinson.45
  11. Jessie E. Cram, b. Kans. 30 June 1894;46 m. Joseph Albert Means.47

  1. His family resided there in 1850, and his brother Charles was born there in 1847. See State of Montana, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death, G.V. [Golden Valley Co.] 238, Charles E. Cram (18 Oct. 1847-9 Jan. 1937); digital images, Ancestry, "Montana, U.S., State Deaths, 1907-2018" > Montana Death Records > 1920 Nov-1961 Mar > image 247.↩

  2. "Obituaries," Tekamah (Nebr.) Journal, 3 March 1904, p. 5, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  3. Washington County, Nebraska, Marriage Records, Book 2:83, Thomas Abial Cram-Emma Alberta Bailey, m. 27 Feb. 1870; digital images, Ancestry "Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908," > Washington > 1856-1898 > image 106.↩

  4. Washington County, Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1867-1874, Book 2 (Fremont, Nebr.: Eastern Nebraska Genealogical Society, n.d.), 16; digital images, FamilySearch; abstracted entry for Thomas Abial Cram-Emma Alberta Bailey, m. 27 Feb. 1870, citing Washington County, Nebraska, [Marriage Records], Book 2:83.↩

  5. For her ancestry, see "52 Ancestors: Week 8, Thomas B. and Ruth Waterman (Fletcher) Bailey"↩

  6. "Mrs. Thos. Cram Answers the Call," The Pilot (Blair, Nebr.), 10 Jan. 1923, p. 3, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  7. "Death of Emma Bailey," Burt County Herald (Tekamah, Nebr.), 11 Jan. 1923, p. 1, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  8. Find a Grave, memorial 8546351, Thomas A. Cram (1849-1904), New England Cemetery, Herman, Washington County, Nebraska, USA; gravestone photographed by Ruth Moss, maintained by "MrsB."↩

  9. Find a Grave, memorial 8546390, Emma A. Cram (1849-1923), New England Cemetery, Herman, Washington County, Nebraska, USA; gravestone photographed by Ruth Moss, maintained by MrsB.↩

  10. 1850 U.S. census, Waldo County, Maine, population schedule, Montville, p. 265 (stamped), p. 529 (penned), dwelling 151, family 153; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4198861 > image 517; citing NARA microfilm M432, roll 271.↩

  11. 1850 U.S. census, Washington County, Wisconsin, population schedule, p. [102] (penned), Trenton, dwelling 855, family 855; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4206494 > image 109; citing NARA microfilm M432, roll 1008.↩

  12. History of the State of Nebraska (Chicago: The Western Historical Company, 1882), 1472; digital images, FamilySearch. This book is commonly referred to as “Andreas’ History of Nebraska” after A. T. Andreas, the owner of the publishing company.↩

  13. 1860 U.S. census, Aroostook County, Maine, population schedule, Bridgewater, p. 40 (penned), dwelling 251, family 250; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 5170016 > image 138; citing NARA microfilm M653, roll 434.↩

  14. "Obituary," Blair (Nebr.) Courier, 28 Sept. 1889, p. 1, col. 6; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  15. 1870 U.S. census, Washington County, Nebraska, population schedule, Grant Precinct, p. 9 (penned), dwelling 96, family 95; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4273890 > image 425; citing NARA microfilm M593, roll 833.↩

  16. "Mrs. Eriksen, 72, Succumbs," Herman (Nebr.) Record, 6 May 1943, p. 1, col. 7; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  17. 1880 U.S. census, Washington County, Nebraska, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 37, Herman Precinct, p. 1 (penned), sheet 262-A, dwelling 4, family 4; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 5161396 > image 103; citing NARA microfilm T9, roll 757.↩

  18. 1885 Nebraska state census, Burt County, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 93, Bell Creek, p. 23, dwelling 177, family 180; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4639832 > image 110; citing NARA microfilm M352, roll 5.↩

  19. 1885 Nebraska state census, Washington County, population schedule, enumeration district 761, Herman Township, p. 5, dwelling 35, family 35; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4639882 > image 14.↩

  20. "Throng Attends Cram Obsequies," Burt County Herald (Tekamah, Nebr.), 20 Feb. 1941, p. 4, cols. 6-7; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  21. 1900 U.S. census, Burt County, Nebraska, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 28, Riverside Precinct, sheet 3-B, dwelling 57, family 57; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4120373 > image 171; citing NARA microfilm T623, roll 918.↩

  22. "Resolutions," Burt County Herald (Tekamah, Nebr.), 4 March 1904, p. 1, col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  23. For details on the society, see Albert C. Stevens, comp., The Cyclopædia of Fraternities (New York City: Hamilton Printing and Publishing Company, 1899), 134; digital images, Internet Archive.↩

  24. 1910 U.S. census, Washington County, Nebraska, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 142, Herman Township, sheet 3-B, dwelling 51, family 51; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4972825 > image 1434; citing NARA microfilm T624, roll 855.↩

  25. 1920 U.S. census, Washington County, Nebraska, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 162, Herman Township, Herman Village, sheet 2-B, dwelling 51, family 51; digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4966382 > image 201; citing NARA microfilm T625, roll 1003.↩

  26. Washington County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 5:43, entry no. 1804, Frank Erickson-Orinda Cram, m. 5 Dec. 1891; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Washington > 1856-1898 > image 786.↩

  27. "Area Pioneer Laid to Rest at Age 97," Burt County Plaindealer (Tekamah, Nebr.), 8 Oct. 1970; image uploaded to Ancestry by user "10Bing."↩

  28. Burt County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 4:135, entry no. 1369, Charles Edwin Cram-Mary E. Sisson, m. 4 May 1898; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Burt > 1890-1906 > image 409.↩

  29. "Obituary," Tekamah (Nebr.) Journal, 18 Dec. 1902, p. 5, col. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  30. Burt County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 4:119, entry no. 1353, Ivan D. Cram-Mabel M. Marr, m. 9 March 1898; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Burt > 1890-1906 > image 400.↩

  31. Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an autosomal AncestryDNA test match between S. D. and T. C. Their most recent common ancestors are Thomas Abial Cram and Emma Alberta Bailey, the 2x great-grandparents of S. D. and great-grandparents of T. C. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 2nd cousin 1x removed, based on sharing 155 cM across 9 segments.↩

  32. Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 97, Emma [sic] Sylvia Headley (5 Dec. 1877-18 June 1941); digital images, FamilySearch, DGS 4222446 > image 2262.↩

  33. Burt County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 4:164, entry no. 1398, Elmer Headley-Louise S. Cram, m. 5 Dec. 1898; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Burt > 1890-1906 > image 426.↩

  34. Her middle name is recorded in her son's birth certificate. See Montana State Board of Health, Delayed Certificate of Birth, state file no. 6402, Jens Herbert Hansen, b. 12 March 1917 (registered 21 Sept. 1955); digital images, Ancestry, "Montana, U.S., Birth Records, 1897-1988" > Mixed > Delayed Births > image 16660.↩

  35. "Emma Hansen's rites Saturday," The Montana Standard (Butte, Mont.), 23 May 1968, p. 23, col. 1; digital images, Newspapers.com.↩

  36. Nebraska State Department of Health, Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration 2-150898, Madge Adaline Cram, b. 2 Jan. 1884; image uploaded to Ancestry by Tonna Lusareta-Stevens.↩

  37. Washington County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 6:387, entry no. 3446, Fred Rogert-Madge Cram, m. 2 Jan. 1906; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Washington > 1898-1908 > image 263.↩

  38. Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 24401, Thomas Alfred Cram, d. 27 Oct. 1970; digital images, Ancestry, "Washington, U.S., Death Records, 1907-2017," image 3391.↩

  39. Iowa State Department of Health, Return of Marriage to Clerk of District Court, J36-77, Thomas A. Cram-Viola E. Fisher, m. 19 Aug. 1938; digital images, Ancestry, "Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1950" > 1938 > 3 (Dubuque County thru Hancock County) > image 4352.↩

  40. Her middle name is recorded in her son's obituary. See "United States, Obituary Records, 2014-2023", database and images, FamilySearch, obituary of Duane Rod Rodney Richmond, 11 Aug. 2022; DGS 117468711 > image 908.↩

  41. Find a Grave, memorial 89577235, Mary Richmond (13 Feb. 1888-5 Dec. 1963), Highland Cemetery, Junction City, Geary Co., Kans.↩

  42. Thurston County, Nebraska, Marriage Record 2:127, Benjamin Richmond-Mary Cram, m. 25 July 1905; digital images, Ancestry, "Nebraska, U.S., Select County Marriage Records, 1855-1908" > Thurston > 1889-1908 > image 435.↩

  43. "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database and images, FamilySearch, index card for William Rice Cram; DGS 105158018 > image 2416.↩

  44. "U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database and images, Ancestry, Montana > Powell County > ALL > Draft Card C > image 112, card for William R. Cram, [serial no.] 570.↩

  45. "Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854-2013," database and images, Ancestry, Yakima > Application for Marriage License > images 3646-3647, License No. 24240, William R. Cram-Caroline B. Robinson, 24 Dec. 1941.↩

  46. "Nebraska, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1904-2022," database, Ancestry, Jessie E. Means (30 June 1894-16 Sept. 1989), Douglas Co., Nebr.↩

  47. State of Montana, Certificate of Birth, box 91-55, registration no. 757, Donald Albert Means, b. 17 Sept. 1917; digital images, Ancestry, "Montana, U.S., Birth Records, 1897-1988" > Mixed > 1917 > image 18152. The certificate names his parents Jessie Cram and Joseph Means.↩