Looking for information @ the John R. Espey family

[Valerie]

Dr. John Robert Espey and his wife, Gertrude Harris Espey, are buried at the Masonic Cemetary in Trinidad. He was in practice in Trinidad his entire adult life. They had three daughters, Gertrude (1899-1986), Ruth (1902-1982) and Rachel (1908-1987).

I would like to get copies of the obituaries or key information contained in the obituaries that ran in the Trinidad newspaper. He died November 28, 1945 and she died September 14, 1933 - 73 years ago today. I'm looking for when and where they were born, where he went to medical school, and when he moved to Trinidad.

I'm would also enjoy any memories/stories about the family; such as, where their house was/is located and what the girls were like. We have a portrait painted of Dr. Espey when he lived in Trinidad and their youngest granddaughter was born in Castle Rock.

Thank you for your assistance,
Valerie Driscoll

[Dodie]

John Robert Espey born 05 MAY 1864; died 28 NOV 1945; Trinidad, CO.; son of Hugh S. Espey and Abigail Louisa Haines.

More info on John Robert Espey (shown in file as Espy) born 1864; Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana.
Source: LDS Family Group Record - Colorado

Marriage: 12 OCT 1898 (Source: AWT)
NOTE: LDS IGI Individual Record shows marriage 1886; Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana.

Gertrude Harris born 10 FEB 1869; Patriot, Indiana; died 14 SEP 1933; Trinidad, CO.
Source: AWT

Children shown:
1) Harris Espey born 22 SEP 1897; died 05 OCT 1897.
2) Gertrude Espey born 15 DEC 1899
Source: AWT

LDS Household Record - 1880 US Census Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana
Hugh S. Espey - Self| 57 yrs| Born IN|Retail Grocer & Produce Trader| Parents born PA.
Abbie L. Espey - Wife| 48 yrs| born IN| Father born NY| Mother born NH|
Louisa Espey - Dau| 23 yrs| born IN| Parents born IN
Stewart Espey - Son| 21 yrs| born IN| Clerk In Grocery
Haines Espey - Son| 19 yrs| born IN| Clerk in Grocery
John Espey - Son| 16 yrs| born IN| At Home
May Espey - Dau| 10 yrs| born IN| At Home
Eugene Espey - Son| 8 yrs| born IN
James Espey - Son| 6 yrs| born IN
Martha Hall - Other| 22 yrs| born IN| Domestic Servant

Hugh Stewart Espy born 09 JUL 1822; Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana; died 17 MAR 1895; son of Hugh Espy and Nancy Gant. Married Abigail Haines. File shows 8 children all born Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana.

Hugh Espy born 05 DEC 1786; Nr. Uniontown, Fayette County, PA; died 1870; Rising Sun, Ohio, Indiana; son of William Espy and Margaret Hemphill. He married 12 APR 1810; Fayette, PA. to Nancy Gant. Files shows 11 Children
Source: LDS Individual Record - Indiana NOTE: Several files

[Dodie]

1820 Federal Census - Indiana
ESPEY, HUGH 059 Dearborn
ESPEY, ROBERT 067 Dearborn
Source: http://www.rootsweb.com/~inripchs/1820/e-names.html

ORDERS OF BATTLE FOR THE RED RIVER CAMPAIGN
APRIL – MAY, 1864
OPERATIONS IN ARKANSAS
UNION FORCES - Frontier Division
2nd Battery, Indiana Light Artillery - Lt. Hugh Espey
Source: http://www.mansfieldbattlefield.org/aboutthebattle.asp

[Dodie]

Hugh S. ESPEY, one of the leading business men of Rising Sun, was born in the same, in 1822. His parents, Hugh and Agnes (GAUT) ESPEY, were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and came down the river, in 1816, to this locality, and for several years his father was engaged in milling, about three and one-half miles back of town, operating one of the first grain-mills in that vicinity. He also did some farming, and entered and bought land in Ohio County. After practically retiring from business he moved back to Rising Sun, where he resided for about twenty years before his death, which occurred in 1870. Mr. ESPEY died about 1868. Hugh S, the subject of this sketch, remained at the mill and on the farm till eighteen years of age. He then began flat-boating, making his first trip in 1840, and for ten years he followed the river trade exclusively. He then established himself in the mercantile business, in which, with his sons, he has since been more or less extensively engaged. In the produce line he has done a considerable business in port packing, dealing in hay, potatoes, flour, etc., and this branch of trade, as well as the merchandising in retail groceries, provisions, etc., he still continues. Mr. ESPEY has been connected with the Rising Sun Bank, as director, since its organization, and was two years vice-president of the same. In 1864 he was elected treasurer of Ohio County, and in 1868 was re-elected to the same office. He has served as city treasurer, in the council, and has always taken an active interest in the business affairs of the town. Mr. ESPEY was married, in 1853, to Abigail L HAINES, a daughter of Joshua HAINES, who, with his twin Brother, Dr. HAINES, came here from New England in 1816. Her father erected a store on the Ashman corner, and for may years did an extensive dry goods business, remaining a resident of Rising Sun till his death. Mrs. ESPEY was born in 1832, and was married in the same house, at the age of twenty-one years. They have reared eight children: Frank F., Louise H., Hugh S., J. HAINES, John R., Abigail May, Eugene S., and James G. Mr and Mrs. ESPEY, with others of the family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. ESPEY has been identified with the F. & A.M. since 1844.

H.S. ESPEY, Jr., Rising Sun, was born in that city in 1858 and is a son of Hugh S. and Abigail L. (HAINES) ESPEY. He grew up in the town of his birth, in whose schools he was educated, receiving additional instruction to the extent of junior year in Wabash College. In the fall of 1879 he became a partner in his father's produce business having spent two years previously as a clerk. He was married, January 23, 1884, to Mary H. HUMPHREY, of Patriot, Ind., daughter of Cornelius H. and Jane A. HUMPHREY, old residents of Switzerland County, her father, deceased since 1872, her mother still surviving. The firm of H. S. ESPEY & Son does a thriving business in groceries, provisions, etc., also an extensive business in pork packing and produce generally. The firm is one of the most substantial in Rising Sun.

"HISTORY OF DEARBORN AND OHIO COUNTIES, INDIANA-1885"

SUBMITTED BY: Jackie DeCamp

Source: http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray...fe.html#hespey

Resource: http://members.tripod.com/~debmurray.../ohiobios.html

[alice romero]

Excellent work Dodie. Maybe I can add a little bit more.

Campbell-Lewis Morturary-Nov. 1945

Dr. John Robert Espy of 608 Maple,died of Coronary Occlusion, Gen. Arterial Sclerosis. Daughters: Mrs. Ernest Woodward, 10358 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, Mrs. Ruth Hunter, Trinidad, Co., Mrs. Rachel Meisel, Mt. Lebanon, Penn. (227 Academy Ave. Pittsburgh, Penn.), Five grand-children. Brothers: Stewart Espey, Rising Sun, Ind., Dr. Eugene Espy, Rising Sun, Ind., Dr. James G. Espy, Trinidad, Co. Sisters: Mrs. M.M. Marble, Jeffersonville, Ind., Mrs. Abby May Warren, Rising Sun, Ind.

Graduate of Jefferson Medical College Class of 1889. Captain of Medical Corps-World War I. Member of Trinidad Lodge #89, & one of First Masters. Former Chief Surgeon for the Victor American Fuel Co. until his retirement. Wife died Sept. 10, 1933-Mullare Funeral Home.

[alice romero]

CHRONICLE NEWS-NOV. 24, 1945

DR. JOHN R. ESPEY PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON
Pioneer Trinidad Physician Retired, ly Stricken

Dr. John Robert Espey, retired physician, and one of the most highly esteemed of pioneer residents of Trinidad, was suddenly stricken with a heart attack and passed away at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ralph T. Hunter at 608 South Maple Street. He was past 81 years old and had been a resident of Trinidad since 1892, and engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery here from that time until his retirement in 1935.

Dr. Espy had been in good health today, had gone uptown this morning, returned for dinner and then retired to his room at the Hunter home, and was soon afterward ly stricken.

Dr. John R. Espey was born at Rising Sun, Ind., May 5, 1864 and graduated from medical school in Indiana, class of 1889, coming to Trinidad in 1892 to practice, which he did successfully. He was a member of the American College of Physicians and Surgeons, president more than once of the State Medical Society, and active in the Las Animas County Medical Society and in public affairs here for many years.

Dr. John Espy had been one of the best known of the medical professions in southern Colorado while he was in practice here, and for many years before retirement occupied the big stone residence, the former D.A. Chappelli home at East Main and Walnut Street, since 1935 occupied by the Mullare Funeral Home. He had been for many years active in Stanley Hardman Post, American Legion, and was a past commander of the post.

Since his retirement from the profession he had largely divided his time in visits with his daughter, Mrs. Ralph T. Hunter here, and his other two daughters, one in Pennsylvania, the other in California. He and his brother, Dr. James G. Espey Sr., were among the pioneer physicians of Trinidad.

Funeral arrangements by the Campbell-Lewis Morturary.

[Valerie]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I am so impressed by all of the information you all have sent me in one short day. Wow!!

A few years ago I was traveling south on I-25 and spent a Saturday night in Trinidad. Of course, every place where I might have gotten information was closed and wouldn't open again until Monday.

I went to the Dairy Queen for a quick dinner and asked an elderly woman if she knew Dr. Espey. She told me her father owned a grocery store on "that" (she pointed to a nearby street) corner and he gave her German Shepherd to Dr. Espey. It seems her father was afraid the dog might bite a customer and Dr. Espey would pet the dog whenever he came by the store. One day Dr. Espey asked if he could have the dog, and her father said OK. Does anyone know who the woman I spoke with is? What was her father's name?

[Dodie]

Gen 1:
John Robert Espey born 05 MAY 1864 son of Hugh Stewart Espey and Abigail Louisa Haines.
Gen 2:
Hugh Stewart Espey born 09 JUL 1822; Ohio County, Indiana; son of Hugh Espey and Agnes Gant.
Gen 3:
Hugh Espey born 05 DEC 1786; Fayette, PA.; son of William Espey and Margaret Hemphill.
Gen 4:
At http://www.familysearch.org/ type in William Espey or Espy; then click Country "Ireland".
the following files will show. This file will take you from one generation to the next when you click "family" of each individual that shows parents.
William Espey born 1740; Londonderry, Ireland; died 04 DEC 1813; PA.; son of Hugh Espey and Mary Stewart.
NOTE: LDS Individual Record - Ireland
William Espy born 1753; Londonderry, Kilcronaghan, Tiburnemore, Ireland; died 04 DEC 1813; Fayette, Pennsylvania; marriage 1785; Margaret Hemphill. Son of Hugh Espy and Mary Stewart.
Margaret Hemphill born 1764; near Uniontown, Fayette County, PA; parents not shown.
Gen 5:
Hugh Espey aka Hugh Espy born abt. 1730 ; Tubummore, Kileornshan, Londonderry, Ireland died 1800; At Sea Delaware Bay / Maryland; married 1771; Londonderry, Ireland; son of John Espy and Jean Morehead.
Mary Stewart born abt. 1728; , Londonderry, Ireland died 1800; At Sea Delaware Bay / Maryland; parents not shown.
Source: LDS Family Group Record - Ireland
NOTE: AWT files shows deaths at Sea Delaware Bay and LDS file shows deaths at Maryland.
Gen 6:
John Espy born 1704; Cookstown, Antim, Ulster, Ireland; son of Josian Espy and Priscilla Mitchell. Married 1724; Cookstown, Antrim, Ulster, Ireland to Jean Morehead born abt. 1706; Cookstown, Antrim, Ulster, Ireland; parents not shown.
Source: LDS Family Group Record - Ireland

Here is an online Espey family tree that belongs in your line :
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....pey/pafg01.htm

[Dodie]

Alice, the obits are a fantastic find. I can't believe how much info is in them. They are filled with everything that Valerie was hoping for. Thank you for your time and knowledge of the library.

[alice romero]

We, the people of Trinidad, are truly blessed to have such an enormous wealth of information of the past here in "our" little history room. I,for one, am truly grateful and I know alot of the people on the forum are also.

With confidence, I know the library will continue to preserve and save all that we have here for genearations to come.