William Miller Mapes

     William Miller was born on Thursday, 17 February 1814 in the Town of Wallkill, Orange County, New York. William married Mary Thorne on 28 November 1838 in Orange County, New York. William and Mary had children: George Egbert [10/31/1839-8/22/1925], Thomas Theadore [1841], Sarah Jane [1843], John N. [11/23/1844-5/17/1925], William Addison [1859-1/16/1890]. 18 July 1850, William and his wife, Mary, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Lumberland, Sullivan County, New York. Enumerated in this household were W. Mapes [36 New York], M. [32 New York], G [10 New York], Theo [9 New York], S.J. [7 New York], J. [5 New York], M. F. Woodward [20 New York] & E. West [18 New York] & Jacob Thorne [22 New York]. William was a farmer and their property was valued at $2000.² 4 August 1860, William and his wife, Mary, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Tusten Township, Sullivan County, New York. Enumerated in this household were William Mapes [46 New York - farmer], his wife: Mary [42 New York], Sarah Jane [17 New York], George E. [20 New York], Thomas P. [19 New York], John N. [16 New York] & William [1 New York].³ William departed this life on Saturday, 6 February 1897 in Philadelphia at age 82 years, 11 months and 20 days.

William H. Mapes died at the residence of his son, George E. Mapes, in Philadelphia, Feb. 6, aged 83 years, lacking 11 days. He was born in 1814 at Howell’s Depot and was a great third son of Nathaniel Mapes and Elizabeth Miller and was reared on his father’s farm near Mt Hope. He married Mary Thorn of Minisink, who was a great granddaughter of Benj. Bennett, a member of Col. Tusten’s regiment of Goshen’s militia, who was killed along with his commander at the battle of Minisink.In 1840 Mr. Mapes moved with his wife and first child to Beaver Brook, Sullivan County, where he cleared a farm in the forests undergoing all the hardships of a pioneer life. Here he reared his family of four sons and one daughter. He served in the public capacity of School Superintendent, Justice of the Peace and Highway Commissioner during his thirty years’ residence in Sullivan County. IN 1870 he followed his sons to the oil country, residing respectfully at Miller Farm, Pleasantville, Petrolia and Bradford Pa. In 1802 he moved to Philadelphia, where he has since resided with his son.He was a Whig and later a Republican in politics, having voted at sixteen presidential elections. He was for thirty years a member of the First Congregational church at Lumbertown and later of the Methodist churches at Pleasantville and Petrolia Pa. He is survived by his wife and three sons, George E. of Philadelphia, John N. of Bolvivar, N.J., and Willaim A. of Findley, Ohio.

He was buried there in Mt. Hope Peace Cemetery. The inscription on his tombstone reads: William M.v Mapes 1814 - 1897.⁴