Coral’s family history · Chapter 11

The Saga Continues: The Ralstons

Matthew P. Ralston was the son of John Ralston Sr. who was born on Mar. 26th 1759 in Chester County, Pa. John married Margaret Gelvin who was born in 1761 in Franklin County. She was the daughter of Jeremiah Gelvin, born in 1724 in Northern Ireland or Scotland and Hannah Unknown. They settled in Letterkenny, Franklin, Pa.

John Ralston Sr. and Margaret had four children, Jeremiah who was killed in the war of 1812 near Mansfield Ohio, Robert who also served in the war of 1812, married Jane McIntyre and died young and John Ralston Jr. who married Hannah Dowling. They had a daughter named Elizabeth Ralston who married David B. Steele and had nine children. They moved to Waukon, Iowa. The fourth child was Matthew P.

Jeremiah Gelvin Sr. who was Margaret’s brother was born in 1765 and served in the war of 1812. He married Mary Walker, born in 1765. They had nine children. They were William, Nancy, Jeremiah Jr., Elizabeth, John, James T., Hugh, Jackson, and Walker. Three of their children met with tragedy in their lives.

Jeremiah Jr., who also served in the war of 1812 was the one whose wife was found frozen to death. William drowned in Crooked Creek leaving a wife and eight children and another brother, Jackson, was murdered by Zeba Fisk. Jackson and Fisk spent the whole of one Saturday together, possibly drinking, and upon returning home, Zeba invited Jackson to stay until morning. In the morning an argument arose over a pair of boots and Fisk seized a loaded musket that was in the house and deliberately shot Gelvin. Jackson, though wounded was able to walk about a half mile to his own house, but died a day or so later. Fisk was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to twelve years of solitary confinement and hard labor at the Penitentiary in Allegany County. Jackson Gelvin had a wife, Mary Polly Lindsay and four children.

James Ralston, born Oct 1820 was the son of Matthew P. and Martha Frame. He was my 2nd gr. grandfather. He married Abigail Minnis, daughter of Wilson Minnis and Mary Turner about 1847 in Poss, Crawford County. They had ten children. They were Martha, Wilson, Abner, Edgar, Mary Emily, Susan, Elmer, Hiram, Ida and James.

Martha (Mattie) was born in 1849 and married Harlon P. Foust. They had two children, Belle M. and Myrtle Blanch. I can remember my grandmother talking about her Auntie Foust many years later. They were both buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Conneaut Lake.

Wilson was born in 1850. He married Elsie Mae DeArment. He was a Hardware Merchant in Conneaut Lake. I can remember my grandmother talking about Uncle Will’s china shop. I have some of that china that she kept all those years. Their children were Carl, Ray, Hazel, Paul and May. They were also buried in Lakeview Cemetery.

Abner T. married Nellie F. Sutton in 1883. He died in 1933 in Atlantic. She died in 1943.

Mary Emily, born in 1858 married Samuel Shellito. They had two children, Iva and Lela. Iva was a teacher and she married Park M. Hendrix who was a veterinary surgeon for the state of Pa. and Lela married Harry Hayes. Iva was a very strict vegetarian. It might have had something to do with her husband’s job. She would not even have a quart of milk in the house. I drove out there years ago to pick up my grandmother who had been staying with Iva and she served us some apple pie. The crust was made with ritz crackers. I assume because regular crust was made with animal fat. I don’t remember what the pie tasted like. She and Park never had any children. When she died she left my Aunt Mabel $5000. I guess because Mabel used to go stay with her and help her out once in a while.

Elmer was born in 1862. He never got married. He worked for the railroad and was killed in 1896 in a railroad accident when he was caught between two railroad cars. He is in the Frame Cemetery along with his parents.

Ida, born in 1868 was married at the age of 42 in Ohio to Peter Allen. He was the constable for the city of Ashtabula. He was about ten years older then her. He died early in 1930. I found Ida in the 1930 census in Conneaut Lake living with her niece Marian Ralston. After that she moved back to Ashtabula at one point, as my grandmother Grace and Aunt Mabel visited her there once or twice in later years.

James was born in 1870. I read in a couple of places that he died near Tucson Arizona in 1882. That would make him only 12 years old. What would a twelve year old from Pa. be doing in Arizona? I don’t know if that is true or not.

Susan J. married an unknown Shellito. That is all that is known about her.

Matthew Edgar (Edgar), my great grandfather, was born in 1855. He was a carpenter and stone mason. He married Almeda Grinnell (Allie), daughter of Melinda Grinnell in Jan. of 1883 in Hartstown, Pa. They had two daughters, Mabel born on the 30th of Jan. 1884 and Ledda Grace (Grace) born the 26th of Dec. 1885.

Coral records that Edgar and Almeda separated in 1887 and that he later filed for divorce. Edgar died in 1908 and was buried in the Frame Cemetery. Personal judgments about their relationship are omitted from this public edition.