Eleanor More Johnston

Born 31 August 1838 at Durhamville, Oneida County, New York

Died 6 October 1912 at Westminster, Greater London, England

Eleanor was the youngest of ten children born to Robert Laraway More and Gertrude Conover More. She was raised at Durhamville where her father was the owner of a profitable tannery business. The family relocated to Norwalk, Connecticut about 1847 where her father was engaged in the construction of the section of New York and New Haven Railroad from Norwalk to Westport. The family relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York about 1849 where her father was manager of a large mining interest. Eleanor married to Theodore Van Tine Johnston on 4 June 1868. They made their home at 299 Mill Street at Poughkeepsie where her husband was a restaurateur. Eleanor and Theodore were the parents of two children; Katherine Bangs Johnston and Ella May Johnston who died at two-years of age. Eleanor's husband died in 1904 and her daughter, Katherine, became her constant companion. They traveled frequently, including summer voyages to Europe. They sailed for Europe in May 1912 expecting to return about September. Eleanor became ill while in London and died at Saint George’s at Hanover Square, Westminster. Her remains were returned to America aboard the steamer Carmania and she was laid to rest with her husband at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Eleanor served on the John More Association Permanent Committee from 1890 until her death in 1912. She was John More Association John line cousin #13.10 and my second cousin four times removed.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Theodore Van Tine Johnston

Born 1 October 1828 at New York City, New York

Died 19 March 1904 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York

 Theodore was born in New York City and presumably raised there as well. I found no information on him before he relocated to Poughkeepsie about 1852. He and his brother, Floy M. Johnston, were partners in Johnston Brothers, and owned several restaurants along the Central Hudson road. In his early years, he was interested in financial matters and was director of a bank. Theodore married to Eleanor More on 4 June 1868. They made their home at Poughkeepsie where they were the parents of two children; Katherine Bangs Johnston and Ella May Johnston who died in 1874 at two-years of age. Theodore died at his home at 299 Mill Street and was buried at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.  Theodore is John More Association John line cousin #M13.10.

©2017 Cindy Coffell 

Katherine Bangs Johnston

Born 15 December 1869 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York

Died 10 April 1917 at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York

Katherine was the elder of two daughters born to Theodore Van Tine Johnston and Eleanor More Johnston. Katherine was raised with the privileges of wealth at Poughkeepsie where her father was a partner in Johnston Brothers. He was the owner and operator of one or more restaurants. After her father’s death in 1904, Katherine was her mother’s constant companion. They traveled frequently to include ocean voyages to Europe. She never married. Katherine’s last known residence was on South Hamilton Street in the household of publisher Arthur A. Parks and his wife, Blanche J. Parks. Katherine served on the John More Association Permanent Committee from 1912 until her death in 1917. She was buried with her parents at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Katherine was John More Association John line cousin #13.10.1 and my third cousin three times removed.

©2017 Cindy Coffell

Mary Elizabeth Briggeman Sanford

Born 25 March 1862 at New York, New York County, New York

Died 21 August 1947 at Bronx Borough, New York

Mary was the daughter of Richard Briggeman and Catherine Earle Briggeman. I found no information for Mary or her parents before her marriage. Mary married to Watson More Sanford on 26 October 1881. They made their home first at New York City and relocated to Liberty, New York about 1884 where her husband was the owner and operator of a farm. The family relocated to New Milford, Connecticut sometime before 1910 where her husband was a carpenter. In May of 1910, the family relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York where her husband was a carpenter. Sometime between 1925 and 1930, Mary separated from her husband and took up residence with her daughter, Harriet, who had married to David Cowan. They resided at Bronx where her son-in-law was a stationary engineer. Mary and Watson were the parents of three children; Watson Edgar Sanford, Elizabeth Lee Catherine Sanford, and Harriet Julia Sanford. Mary was buried with her husband at LaGrange Rural Cemetery at Poughkeepsie. She was the wife of my first cousin three times removed and John More Association Jonas line cousin #M4281.

Mary Elizabeth Fewel Dearborn

Born 29 July 1904 at Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas

Died 30 August 2002 at Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland

Mary, more commonly known as Elizabeth, was the daughter of Charles Walter Fewel and Charlie Daniely Cooney Fewel. She was raised at Fort Worth where her father was a real estate developer. Mary married to Eugene Wilson Murray, Jr. on 7 December 1927 at Abilene, Texas. They made their home first at East Orange, New Jersey where she was an interior decorator and her husband was a stocks and bonds broker. They relocated to Newark, New Jersey about 1933; to Maplewood, New Jersey about 1934 where her husband was a secretary-treasurer at Gullan, Incorporated; and returned to Newark about 1940 where her husband was a retail rug merchant. Mary and Eugene were the parents of two children; a daughter and a son, Eugene Wilson Murray III. Mary’s husband died in 1947 and she married next to Mr. Dearborn. Mary’s last known residence was at Silver Spring. Her cremains were interred at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Columbarium at Washington, District of Columbia. Mary, as the wife of Eugene Murray, is John More Association Alexander line cousin #M311121.

©2017 Cindy Coffell