337This family lived in West Freeman, Maine. In the 1840 Freeman census his family showed one male under 5 (Looman), one male 30-39 (John Jr.); females: one 5-9 (Selemna), two 15-19 (??) and one 20-29 (Louisa).
The 1850 Freeman census shows John Dyar a 40-year-old farmer with real estate valued at $1500; his wife Cordelia A.F.L. Dyar, aged 33, born in Maine; daughter Selemna A., aged 15; son Looman A.F. aged 13; daughter Persia L. aged 5; daughter Flora C. aged 3. All children were born in Maine. Selemna and Looman were children by John's first wife, Louisa Weymouth, who died in 1844. The new daughter, Juliet E. (born 15 DEC 1849), was counted in the household of John's brother, Azor DYER. As Azor and his wife had no children of their own, wetnursing is unlikely.
The 1860 Freeman census shows John Dyar a 50-year-old with real estate valued at $2500 and $1200 in personal possessions. His son Looman H. is a 23-year-old laborer; wife Cordelia A. is 43 years old; Persia S. aged 15; Flora C. aged 13; Juliet E. aged 11; Georgia A. aged 8; Olive H. aged 5; Mary L. (shown as "H.") aged 4; Orlando H. aged 2. All were born in ME.
The 1870 Freeman census shows John Dyar a 60-year-old farmer with real estate valued at $3000 and personal property worth $2605; his wife Cordelia A. is aged 53; Persia L. aged 24 "works in cotton mill" and has personal property valued at $400; Flora C. aged 22 "works in cotton mill" and has personal property worth $200; Georgia was 18 and a "school teacherr" who also attended school that year; Mary aged 16 was "at home" as was Olive O. aged 14, both attended school; Orlando aged 14 was doing farm labor and going to school; Lewis H. aged 9; Julia E. aged 20 "works in a cotton mill." All were born in ME.
John Nichols Dyar died AE 70 in 1879, and was buried in the Dyar Cemetery, West Freeman, where his gravestone reads "Capt. John Dyar". The captain must have come from during some sort of military service, possibly during the Civil War.
The following year the census of 1880 showed Cordelia a widow (both her and her father were born in Maine, and her mother in NH), aged 63 (born 1816/17). Living with her is "Lewis H." aged 18, a "farmer".
Additional Sources: Census of Freeman (ME) of 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880; Franklin County, Maine, Vital Statistics II, 185; Genealogical & Personal Memoirs of Middlesex County (1908) IV, 1751. |