COPY
Randall, N.Y., Sep. 1896
Mr. C. C. Lounsberry,
Marshalltown, Iowa.
Dear Sir,-
At the request of my Aunt Mrs. Sayles, I have written down at her dictation what little she knows about her ancestry and eclose the same to you. She has been ill ever since she left Washington and is unable to write hereself (sic). She doesn't know anything about the family further back than her grandfather Edward Lounsbery.
Perhaps you did care for it but I put down who the different girls married and their children as far as she remembered them, thnking it might be of help in tracing connecting links. AuntHelen says that when Pres. Garfield was sick he was sent wine by a Lord Lounsbery. She thought may be you might get some clue as to the first settlers here through that means. Hoping that you are succeeding in your task of tracing our genealogy and that these troublous days you are shouting for "McKinley & Protection", I remain
Very respectfully Yours,
Daisy E. Lounsbery.
Statement of Mrs. Helen M. Sayles:
The Lounsberys were of Welch (sic) and English origin and settles in Esopus, now Kingston as early as 1643. Major Edward Lounsbery, together with his brother Richard of Ulster Co., were among the first to offer their services at their country's call -- their names are on the roll of honor in that county's history. The war records show Edward Lounsbery as Lieut. of 3rd N.Y. Regiment, then Cap. of 2nd N.Y. Regiment, came out with rank of Major 15th of Oct. 1778. He was twice married. By the first marriage he had four sons, and one daughter; by the second marriage four sons and three daughters.
The children by the first wife are John, Richard, Jacob, Edward, and Catherine who married a Stillwellville, near Ithaca, N.Y.
The children by the second marriage were Louis, Henry Dubois, Ebenezer, Philip, Elizabeth, Nancy, and Jane.
Of these children Elizabeth married Captain Cornelius Hoffman, Nancy married Peter Hoffman, and Jane married Peter Vosburg, all old colonial families.
Edward Lounsbery's first wife was a Wagner, the second a DuBois a descendant of one of the three DuBois brothers--one settled in New York, one in Kingston, and one at New Paltz, the latter being the one from whom Mrs. Lounsbery descended.
In the war of 1812 John and Ebenezer, sons of Edward, were both colonels. John colonel of Regiment, Ebenezer as chief of staff. Louis also served in the war of 1812.
Col. John Lounsbery was a member of the assembly in 1806, in 1819, 1820, and in 1821--a member of the council of appointment in 1820 during the administration of Dewitt Clinton.
Col. Ebenezer Lounsbery was a member of the senate in 1836 and for many years president of the Kingston Bank.
Richard son of Edward had three sons and three daughters, John, Peter, Richard, Maria, Esther, and Elizabeth.
John son of Richard was a member of the Assembly in 1843, his son William graduated at Rutgers College in 1851 obtaining third honor in his class. He attended the law school at the University of the City of Albany and was admitted to practice in 1851--was Editor of Ulster Co. Republican in 1880 and member of the Ulster Co. Historical society. Was elected Mayor of the city of Kingston in 1879--in fall of 1878 was elected to the 46th congress of the U.S.
Henry DuBois Lounsbery had two sons and one daughter-- Samuel Lounsbery a prosperous merchant, Mary--married Rufus Osmer--Edward Lounsbery an Episcopal clergyman, President of Griswold College, Dubuque, Iowa.
Philip had four sons and two daughters -- John Edward & Ephraim, Jane Anna, & Cornelia, another son was a Br. but can't give names of two. Philip married a De Puy (pronounced De P<long u>).
Edward the clergyman had a son Edward.
Ebenezer had one son and two daughters, William, Esther and Maria; all died young.
Elizabeth Lounsbery Hoffman had two sons and five daughers: Abram, Edward. Jane married Mr. Cheedle. Catherine married Homan (?) D. Ward, Anne and Maria both married Van Heusens; Elmira married George Smith.
Nancy L. Hoffman had four sons and three daughers Adam, Ebenezer, Edward, Peter, Catherine, Jane, Ann.
Jane L. Vosburg had four sons and three daughers, Abraham, Cornelius, Edward, Deborah mr. case, Jane Eliza married Martin, Elmira married Domonick.
James Lounsbery son of Ephraim son of Philip is now a member of the N.Y. State Assembly.
Since John Lounsbery was a member in 1806 the Lounsbery family has been continuously represented.
Major Edward Lounsbery's brother Richard had two sons Richard and Christopher. Christopher was a Prebyterian clergyman father of Thomas Lounsbery of Yale College.
Ebenezer married a Hardenburg.
Louis Lounsbery son of Edward had four children: Louis, Helen (Mrs. Sayles), Mary (Mrs. Hadley), Elizabeth (Mrs. ?)
Louis had nine children Helen Mar, John Edward, George W., Willard B., Louis E., Thurlow Weed, Mary Elizabeth, Louisa A., and Daisy E.
Helen married Lansing no children.
John Edward had two boys Louis E. and George Willard.
Louis E. has two boys Louis M., and Walker B.
George W. had three children George Bliss and Hazel M., both deceased, and Frank Bartlett.
Mary E. married Edwards and has three children: Lucy Howe, John Lounsbery, and Elanor.
Mrs. Sayles has no children.
Mrs. Hadley had three: George (killed in war), Frank, and Louise A. Louise A. hadley married Robert
Cincinnati, OH Dec. 15, 1896
Mr. C. C. Lounsbery,
Dear Sir,-
To-day on my return from New York I find your letter of Nov. 26th which I hasten to answer to atone in part for my neglect of your former inquiries.
I am poorly informed regarding my parental ancestry. I will give you a copy of records in my mother's family Bible. I will send your inquiries to my oldest sister in San Francisco who is better informed about our ancestry than I am. If she adds anything to mine I will send it. our name was spelled Lounsbury. My oldest brother changed it to Lounsbery, as we spell it now. In the East it is spelled Lounsberry.
In 1776 one of the Kingston, N.Y. papers gave quite a history of the Lounsbery family in connection with Col. Lounsbery of Kingston, who was an aide on Gen'l Washington's staff during the Revolutionary War. His residence was purchased by the government and is preserved intact with the furniture as it was in his life. We have visited it several times. You may be able to get valuable information at Kingston. A copy of that paper was sent me at that time from there, and preserved for a year or more and then lost sight of. Hoping you may be successful in your search, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Marshalltown, Iowa
G.H. Lounsbery