Our great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Seip Calvert (1840)
Elizabeth Seip Calvert as she looked in 1889.
Our great-great grandfather, Michael Henry Calvert (c. 1875)
Elizabeth Calvert (1817-1890) was born on June 11, 1817 in Cumberland, Pennsylvania. From the 1817 birth record, it appears she had a twin named Leah. Her father's name was John Seip (1772-1840) and her mother's name was Margaret Darr Seip (1775 - ?). Elizabeth was Michael Henry's second wife, as he had previously been married to her sister Susannah (1813-1845) who died at the age of 32.
According to the records I have been able to find, Elizabeth had 4 children with Michael Henry: Joseph L. (1846-1936), Sidmon M. (1851-1934), David B. (1855-1906) and Rebecca (1849 - ?). Susannah previously had 6 children with Michael Henry: Elizabeth (1834-1888), John S., (1836-1888), William H. (1838-1914), Susannah M. (1840-1905), Samuel (1841-1845) and Simon P. (1851-1924). Elizabeth raised all the children and, of course, we are descended from her son, Joseph L. Calvert.
It appears that 1845 was a particularly difficult year as both Michael Henry's wife Susannah and their child Samuel died. I have not been able to find a record for Michael and Elizabeth's marriage, but I assume it was not long after Susannah died, as Joseph was born on Nov. 18, 1846. According to Michael's (1809-1879) obituary, he was born in Frankford Township, Cumberland. County, PA., and they moved into the Altoona area in 1846, but I think 1848 is probably a more accurate date (see below).
According to family records from 1934, Michael, Elizabeth and their family decided to go west, perhaps into Ohio. They were travelling with the Seip family along the canal and and they arrived at Frankstown, near Hollidaysburg, when baby Joseph L. and Elizabeth became ill and the Calverts decided not to continue further while the Seips went into Ohio. From the 1850 federal census we find the Calvert family in Blair County, Allegheny Township, before Altoona was incorporated:
Michael's father was William H. Calvert (1770-1847), and his mother was named Elizabeth Deal/Diehl (1779-1848). William H. was born at Mt. Airy in Upper Marlborough, Maryland, and moved up into Pennsylvania after the Revolutionary War.
From records I've found, it appears that at least three of Michael's sons fought on the side of the Union in the Civil War. Simon P. Calvert then moved out to Saguache County, Colorado where he had a cattle ranch. It appears that he never married or had children. I've been able to find a few interesting stories about him which I will include in a future post.
I should also include that Uncle Bill wrote that Elizabeth's photo from 1889 was used for the stained glass window that commemorated her at the Fairview Methodist Church in Altoona as one of the church's founders. Dad mentioned Michael, Susannah and Elizabeth to me many times. Perhaps you heard stories about our ancestors, too. Please let me know of any stories you heard about the events I mentioned above. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
