THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Leonard Gerber.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1920; Koreshan Unity Colony;
Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Enumeration date: Jan 3, 1920; Enumerator:
Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff,
Dec 1994: Leonard Gerber; Relation to head of family: Nephew; Place of
residence: Poultry yard road; Relation to head of family (Susanne Ehrisman)
Nephew; Age 47; Single; Place of birth: Illinois; Place of birth of father;
Illinois; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: farm laborer/home
farm.
1930 U. S. Federal Census; Estero, Lee, Florida; Precinct; Koreshan Unity
Home; Enumeration Date: 5 May 1930; Enumerator: William Howell; ED: 36-17;
SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2003: Leonard
Gerber; Sex: Male; Race or Color: white; Age at last birthday: 57; Marital
condition: Single; Attended school since September 1, 1929: no; Whether able
to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Illinois; Place of birth of father:
Illinois; Place of birth of mother: Illinois; Whether able to speak English:
yes; Occupation: farmer; Industry: Farming; Whether actually at work
yesterday (or the last regular working day): yes; Veteran: no.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Francis Deane Gilbert
son of Rose M. Gilbert (nee Welton); Born: 24 Apr 1901. His uncles were
Richard B. and Morgan Gilbert.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Rose Gilbert: "Rose was a
daughter of Ada Welton. She married a Gilbert (I think the one Allen
(Andrews) refers to as "Captain Gilbert" or his son), but left him and
brought her baby son back to the Unity. Later, her sister Ann Lewis brought
him up in the north."
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1910Koreshan Unity; Enumeration
Date: 25 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm No.: Fl
1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 1995:
Francis D. Gilbert; Sex: Male; Race: white; Age 9; Marital status: Single;
Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of father: Florida; Place of birth
of mother: New York; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Student; No. of
months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes; Attending school: yes.
Vital Records: Social Security Death Index; 1937-1998; L-Z: Francis
Gilbert; SS#: 078-12-7147; Social Security Number issued in New York; Date of
birth: 25 Apr 1901; Death Date: October 1981; Residence: Lynchburg, VA
24503.
Notes from Evelyn Horn: Rose Gilbert
Sister Rose Gilbert came to Estero with the Chicago group of Koreshans in 1894
with one son, Dean, who grew up in the Unity. Rose lived in the Planetary
Court with the Sisters. Dean lived in the children's or Brother's home.
Sister Rose was Estero's postmistress all her life. In later years her sister
and brother-in-law, Anna and Frank Lewis, came to Everglade City to live where
Anna was postmistress and Frank worked at Western Union office. In their
retiring years the Lewis' built a home on Koreshan Unity property on Highway
41. They named it El-Retiro. The Lewis' were affiliate members of the
Koreshan Unity. Frank served on the Board of Directors and also was
bookkeeper and treasurer. Frank died December 7, 1946. Frank was a
trailblazer.
Sister Rose lived with Anna in the new home "El-Retiro" after Frank's death.
Rose died September 12, 1953, and Anna became postmaster. Dean Gilbert grew
up and was educated in the Unity and left the Unity for Pennsylvania where he
became a very prominent banker. He married and had two children, Robert and
Joan. Dean died in Lynchberg, Virginia, leaving a wife, Mamie. He was 84
years
old.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE; October 1996; Page 2; Vol. 86: Our Readers Write; Letter
to Sara Weber Rea on 3 Sep 1996.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Rose was a daughter of Ada
Welton. She married a Gilbert (I think the one Allen refers to as "Captain
Gilbert" or his son), but left him and brought her baby son back to the Unity.
Later, her sister Ann Lewis brought him up in the north."
LEE TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC.; May 1996: THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS
BEACH WANTS TO BUY AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC SITE: " In April, the town
council unanimously voted to try to acquire the "Mound House" on "Long
Estate." A group of German developers has reportedly made a $1,000,000 offer
for the property, but council members hope they can acquire the property
before that deal closes. Fort Myers Beach is ready for historical and
eco-tourism; town manager Marsha Segal-George proposed creating a water
eco-trail from the Matanza Pass Wilderness Preserve to the Mound House and on
to Mound Key, which is believed to have been the capital of the Calusa
Indians.
This site, one of Lee County's earliest recorded archaeological mounds,
is in pristine condition and qualifies for the National Register of Historic
Places, but the Mound House has significance beyond its Calusa roots. The
first Homestead in Estero Island was granted to ROBERT GILBERT for Mound House
property and 82 acres from Gulf to Bay. Gilbert was a Koreshan and after Dr.
Cyrus Teed, founder of the Koreshan Unity died in 1908 Gilbert sold the
property to William H. Case.
The house on the mound encases one of the first homes built on Estero
Island. It was built circa 1909 by William H. Case, who platted the first
subdivision on the Island, Case's subdivision."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: H. W. Glassen; Born: 31
Jan 1816.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Carl Gleason; Born: 11
Aug 1855, Vern-on-Aller, Germany
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Annie G. Ordway; Known
also as (Victoria Gratia); Born: 10 Apr 1844 in Boston, Mass. Died: 8 Jan
1923.
The American Eagle: April 1993; Vol. 79; Page 3; The Koreshan Story
Continues--The Period of Decline by Sara Rea: "The first Unity president,
Annie Ordway, served from 1903 until her resignation in 1909........"
MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with
participation by Lovelle McCready: "Victoria, Pre-eminent," or head woman of
the organization, unlike Doctor, was rather "standoffish" and not a person to
whom we children, as least, could feel near. Very "finished" according to the
standards of the day, she devoted a great deal of time to the older girls,
giving lessons in drawing and painting, embroidering, and singing to those
whose voices showed promise. Catharine McCready, who had a beautiful voice
with an unusual range, was her favorite pupil in the voice classes and the
only one she continued to teach long after we all went to Estero. She always
ate in the front dining room with Doctor and certain others, but at noon she
had only the older girls, that she might teach them table manners."--pages 43
and 44.
*1850 U.S. Federal Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex;
Township: Cambridge; Roll: M432_325; Page: 100; Image: 201; Ancestry.Com;
Line No.; 17; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 1 Mar 1850; Line: 19; Name:
Anne Glassen; Age: 6; Sex: female; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Attended
school within the year: yes. (*Probably Annie Ordway, who lived in the
Koreshan Unity)
*1860 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town or
Township: Cambridge; Ward: Third; P.O.: East Cambridge; Series: M653;
Roll: 508; Page: 170; Enumeration date: 7 Jun 1860; Enumerator;
Heritage-Quest Internet: A. (?) Green. Line: 10; Name: Anna Glasson; Age:
16; Sex: female; Color: white; Birthplace: Massachusetts. (*This person is
probably the Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)
*1870 U.S. Census: State: Illinois; County: Cook; Post Office: Chicago;
Ward: 12; Page: 274; Enumeration date: 1 July 1870; Microfilm: M593; Roll
No.: 206; Enumerator: Geo. W. (?) (Heritage Quest); Line 13; Name: Annie
Ordway; Age at last birthday: 25; Sex: female; Occupation: Keeping house;
Place of birth: Massachusetts. (*This person is probably the Annie Ordway,
who lived in the Koreshan Unity)
*1880 U. S. Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Page No.:
306D; (FamilySearch, Internet); Name: Annie G. Ordway; Color: white; Sex:
female; Age prior to June 1st: 36; Relationship to head of house: wife;
Married: yes; Profession, Occupation, or Trade: Keeping house; Place of
birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of
mother: England. (Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2004) (*This
person is probably the Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)
1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet Township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film
Roll No. 285; Page No. 285; SD No. 1; ED No. 986; Sheet No. Enumeration Date:
13 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle
Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Annie G. Ordway; Residence: 99th Street, Dwelling 133;
Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, Female; Month of
birth: April; Year of birth: 1844; Age at last birthday: 55; Married; No of
years married: 1*; Mother of how many children: 2; Number of these children
living: 2; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father:
Massachusetts; Place of birth of mother: Massachusetts; Occupation; Nothing
listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes. (*Except for 5
persons all married residents in this dwelling listed their number of years
married as 1.)
1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Florida; County: Hillsboro, Film Roll No.:
161, T624; Name of incorporated place: Brandon; Precinct: 16; SD: 1; ED:
98; Enumeration Date: 7 May 1910; Enumerator: Jno. P. Davis. Line 20; Name:
Annie Graves; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 66; Marital status: Married
two times; Number of years of present marriage: 38; Mother of how many
children: 2; Number of those children living: 2; Place of birth:
Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of mother:
England; Language spoken: English; Occupation: None; Can read and write:
yes.
1920 U. S. Federal Census; State: Florida; County: Pinellas; Township: 11th
Precinct, St. Petersburg: City or town: St. Petersburg; SD: 1; ED: 140;
Sheet number: 15; Page: 176; Enumeration date: 20/22 Jan 1920; Enumerator:
Mary Margaret (?); Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 20 Jan 2004; Address:
Pack Road; Name: Annie G. Ordway; Relationship of this person to the head of
the family: wife; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 76;
Marital status: married; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of
birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of
mother: England; Able to speak English: yes; Trade or profession: None.
DEATH--State of Florida; Office of Vital Statistics; BUREAU OF VITAL
STATISTICS, State Board of Health; Place of Death: Pinellas County; File No.:
984; Registration District No.: 3901; Registered No.: 13; Primary
Registration Dist. No.: 39511; City: St. Petersburg, Monte Vista (jungle);
Full Name: Annie Grace Graves; Residence: Monte Vista (jungle); Length of
residence in city or town where death occurred: 4 years; Sex: Female; Color
or race: white; Single, married, widowed, or divorced: Married; Date of
birth: April 10, 1844; Age: 78 years, 8 months, 28 days; Occupation of
deceased: House wife; General nature of Industry, business, etc.: House
wife; Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts; Name of father: Henry Glosson;
Birthplace of father: Don't know; Maiden Name of mother: Don't know;
Birthplace of mother: Don't know; Informant: Dr. Thomas Morgan, Address:
Monte Vista (Jungle); Filled: Jan. 11, 1923; Registrar: Wm. Davis; Date of
death: Jan. 8, 1923; I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Jan 8,
1923 to Jan. 9, 1923, that I last saw her alone on Jan 9, 1923 and that death
occurred, on the date stated above at 4:30 p.m.; Place of Burial, Cremation or
removal: Royal Palms Cemetery; Date of Burial or removal: Jan. 11, 1923;
Undertaker: Wilhelm (?) Undertaking Co., Address: 25 6th St. S?; St.
Petersburg, Florida.
Evelyn Horn's notes: "Victoria Gratia" (Pre-Eminent) Victoria's Birthday
Victoria's Birthday April 10, 1844--The first celebration of the Lunar
Festival at Estero, 1902, where Dr. Cyrus R. Teed and Victoria both attended.
There were also celebrations at the Koreshan Home in Chicago. The Estero
celebration was an all-day affair, starting at breakfast in the Dining Hall--a
musical program at 10:30 a.m.--at 2 p.m. a boat trip on the steamer
"Victoria", down the Estero River, along with Dr. Teed and 32 members. The
steamer was decorated with gala-day decorations with flags and streamers.
Victoria was married to Dr. George Ordway and had one son. She loved music
and the fine arts. She often sang in the Art Hall. Victoria was of medium
build, dark brown hair and eyes. She dressed in Victorian-style clothing,
beautiful materials of brocade, taffeta and satin trimmed with pearls and
lace. She always wore dark colors. A warm personality and pleasing
disposition. She lectured on the religion and science of Koreshanity. She
worked strongly with the group in California and Chicago. In Estero she lived
at the founder's home with Sister Emma Norton. Miss Vesta Newcomb was her
personal maid.
Victoria loved cats and always had at least two, beautiful Siamese. After Dr.
Teed's death in 1908, Victoria moved to St. Petersburg in June 1909 to start a
new group of Koreshans. She married Dr. Graves in September 1909. Victoria
died January 8, 1923, and was buried near St. Petersburg, Florida.
THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 74; April 1990; Page 1: (Excerpts from news article)
Victoria Gratia's Birthday Fete Honors Koreshan Women President: Annie G.
Ordway, one of the first Koreshans to migrate to Estero, was named "Victoria
Gratia" by Dr. Cyrus Teed, founder of the Koreshan Unity. Dr. Teed appointed
her the Pre-eminent--to stand in his stead in the day-to-day affairs of the
Estero home place during his frequent absences from Florida when he was on
speaking tours to attract new converts to the Koreshan philosophy and the
Estero colony.
From her photographs and writings in records at the Koreshan
Library/Museum, "Victoria Gratia" was a strong, attractive woman born in 1844
who relished the position Dr. Teed bestowed on her. According to Koreshan
letters and writings, she was of medium build with dark brown eyes and hair.
Like most Koreshan women, her clothes were stylish for that period. Victoria
usually wore dark brocade and taffeta trimmed (sic) with pearls and lace.
Her April 10th birthday has been celebrated in Florida since 1902 when
the first Lunar Festival was held in Estero. Previously they had been held in
Chicago at the Koreshans' first major colony.
The Lunar Festival is currently held on the Saturday nearest her
birthday--this year, on April 7 at the Koreshan State Historic Site.
.......Victoria and her husband, Dr. George Ordway, accepted the Koreshan
faith in Chicago in the early years of its inception. The father of her only
son, Dr. Ordway became one of Dr. Teed's lecturers and a student of Cellular
Cosmogony.........
In 1893 Dr. Teed first came to Pine Island in Lee County to find land
which he had heard was available. Victoria was chosen to accompany him on
this exploratory trip along with Mary Mills, her secretary and Berthaldine
Boomer--another instance of Dr. Teed's belief in the capabilities of
women......
At New Jerusalem, Victoria ably assisted Dr. Teed and her lovely voice
was often heard in programs and concerts in the Art Hall. Like many of her
compatriots, Victoria loved the fine arts......
Victoria wrote that by 1903 the Koreshans at Estero were 200 strong and
considered themselves a family, living the way of early Christians. They
pioneered the trails, built public, trade, agriculture facilities and
buildings to live in.......
.....Victoria lived in one part of the Founder's House which was also Dr.
Teed's headquarters when he was in residence at Estero. Also living in the
large building were Emma Norton, Dr. Teed's sister, and Vesta Newcomb, who
assisted Victoria with her work and daily chores. It also contained, in early
years, classrooms for the youngsters....
There are few records of Victoria after Dr. Teed's death, but it is
certain she left the Estero settlement with a small group of Koreshans to
begin a new colony in what we know today as Pinellas County. She married Dr.
A. C. Graves, who had been the Estero colony dentist. The effort of the small
group with her failed. She died in 1923.
*1860 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town or Township:
Cambridge; Ward: Third; P.O.: East Cambridge; Series: M653; Roll: 508;
Page: 170; Enumeration date: 7 Jun 1860; Enumerator; Heritage-Quest
Internet: A. (?) Green; Line: 11; Name: Florence Glasson; Age: 4; Sex:
Female; Place of birth: Massachusetts. (This is probably Annie Ordway's
sister)
*1870 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town:
Campbridge; Post Office: E. Cambridge; Enumeration date: 18 Jul 1870;
Enumerator: Jacob L. Bailey; Page: 79-80; Microfilm Roll No.: 624, Series:
M593; Ward: 3; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 1 Mar 2004; Line: 1;
Name: Florence Glassen; Age last birthday: 14; Sex: female; Color: white;
Occupation: At school; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Father was foreign
born: yes; Mother was foreign born: yes; Attended school within the year:
yes. (Probably Annie Ordway's sister)
*1850 U.S. Federal Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Township:
Cambridge; Roll: M432_325; Page: 100; Image: 201; Ancestry.Com; Line No.;
17; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 1 Mar 1850; Family number: 1629;
Name: William H. Glasson; Age: 31; Sex: male; Occupation: Cabinet maker;
Place of birth: England; (*Probably Annie Ordway's father)
*1860 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town or
Township: Cambridge; Ward: Third; P.O.: East Cambridge; Series: M653;
Roll: 508; Page: 170; Enumeration date: 7 Jun 1860; Enumerator;
Heritage-Quest, Internet: A. (?) Green. Line: 8; Dwelling No: 322; Family
No.: 519; Name: Henry W. Glasson; Age: 41; Sex: Male; Color: white;
Occupation: Cabinet Maker; Value of Real Estate: $500; Birthplace: England.
(*This is probably Annie Ordway's father) (Also, living with the Henry W.
Glasson family is James and Mary Farrel. James is a glass maker who's
birthplace is Ireland)
*1870 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town:
Campbridge; Post Office: E. Cambridge; Enumeration date: 18 Jul 1870;
Enumerator: Jacob L. Bailey; Page: 79-80; Microfilm Roll No.: 624, Series:
M593; Ward: 3; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 1 Mar 2004; Line: 39;
Name: Henry W. Glasson; Age last birthday: 52; Sex: male; Color: white;
Profession: Cabinet Maker; Value of Personal Estate: 1000; Place of birth:
England; Father foreign born: yes; Mother foreign born: yes; Male citizen 21
years and up: yes. (*Probably Annie Ordway's father)
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: John W. Gottsch.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Anna M. Gould; Born 18
Oct 1845; Saratoga Co., New York.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Edward A. Gould; Born:
19 Jan 1874, Chicago, Illinois.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: William J. Gould; Born:
17 May 1869; Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Social Security Vital Records; Social Security Deah Index:
Angus Grace; Born: 25 Nov 1914; Died: Oct 1973; SS#: 263-80-4189; Social
Security number issued in Florida.