Margaret Hanna Mangin Secor

Born 30 July 1920 at Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia

Died 29 November 1987 at Chesapeake, Chesapeake City, Virginia

Margaret was the eldest of three children, all daughters, born to Andrew Joseph Mangin and Laura Rebecca Wilson Mangin. Her family relocated to New Jersey soon after her birth. She was raised at Oradell, New Jersey and Trenton, New Jersey where her father was first a tea company auditor and later a state accountant. About 1940, Margaret was employed by a rubber company as a secretary. Margaret married to Richard Windsor Secor about November 1960. The marriage ended in divorce on 24 November 1971. Margaret and Richard had no children. Her remains were donated to the State Anatomical Board. Margaret is John More Association, Alexander line, cousin #M3.10.3311 and was the wife of my fifth cousin, once removed.

©2018 Cindy Coffell

John Leonard

Born 6 June 1822 at Roxbury, Delaware County, New York

Died 29 January 1899 at Worcester, Otsego County, New York

John was the eldest of 12 children born to Massachusetts native Henry Leonard and Connecticut native Huldah Hull Leonard. He was raised at Roxbury where his father was a farmer. John married to Isabella Smith on 24 March 1843 at Roxbury and they made their home first at that place. They relocated to Callicoon, New York about 1846, where John was first a farmer and later a merchant. He also served as Justice of the Peace. He married many young couples including one marriage that he walked three miles in deep snow for and was paid a bushel of potatoes and twenty-five cents. The family relocated to East Worcester, New York about 1862 where John assisted his brother, Dr. George Leonard, in the practice of medicine. John and Isabella returned to Roxbury about 1864. John and Isabella were the parents of 13 children; John Smith Leonard, Harriet Smith Leonard, George Bruce Leonard, Lucy Bidwell Leonard, Huldah Jane Leonard, Madison Davis Leonard, Ellen Rocelia Leonard, Ida Florence Leonard, twins Oscar Wolcott Leonard and Osmar Wheeler Leonard, Charles Luzerne Leonard, William Henry Leonard, and Truman Smith Leonard. Isabella died just four months after their last child was born. John married next to English immigrant, Mary Fern, sometime between 1867 and 1870. John and Mary made their home at Decatur, New York where he was the owner and operator of a farm and saw mill. John was also Supervisor of the town for eight years. John and Mary had no children. John was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery at Worcester. As Isabella's husband, he is John More Association, Jean line, cousin #M513 and the husband of my second cousin, four times removed.

©2018 Cindy Coffell

Josephine Krassa Van Alen

Born 8 December 1894 at Manhattan, New York County, New York

Died 17 September 1979 at Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Josephine was one of five children born to Austrian immigrants, Anselm Krassa and Ernestine Krebs Krassa. Two of her siblings died in infancy and Josephine was raised at Manhattan as the eldest of three daughters. Her father, who was also known as A. Krassa or Alexander Krassa, was a successful stamp dealer. About 1915, Josephine was a bookkeeper. About 1920, she was a milliner at a robe company. Josephine married to William Pruyn Van Alen on 13 August 1927 at Manhattan. They made their home first at Newark, New Jersey where their only child, William, was born. About 1930, the family relocated to Pequannock, New Jersey where her husband was a paper cutter at a printing house. He died in 1965 and was buried at East Ridgelawn Cemetery at Clifton, New Jersey. Josephine relocated to Bethlehem, presumably to be closer to her sister, Elise, who had married to Bradford Willard and lived at that place. The disposition of Josephine’s remains is unknown; family members have declined to share details. Josephine is John More Association, Edward line, cousin #M8351, and the wife of my third cousin, three times removed. 

©2018 Cindy Coffell

William Townsend Knowles

Born 24 January 1935 at Orange, Essex County, New Jersey

Died 12 September 2017 at Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine

William was the elder of two children born to Alan Cornell Knowles and Elinor Reed Townsend Knowles. He was raised at Essex Falls, New Jersey where his father was a business research analyst. William married his wife on 25 August 1958 at Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He and his wife were the parents of two children; William Townsend Knowles Jr., who died at age eleven, and a daughter. William was buried in the Townsend family plot at Mount Hebron Cemetery at Upper Montclair. He is John More Association, Alexander line, cousin #3111411 and my sixth cousin. 

©2018 Cindy Coffell

William T. Knowles, 82

BRUNSWICK - William T. Knowles, 82, died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.

He was born Jan. 24, 1935, in Orange, N.J., to Alan Cornell and Elinor (Townsend) Knowles. Raised in New Jersey, living initially in Essex Fells, Mr. Knowles graduated from Grover Cleveland High School and in 1957 he graduated from Colgate University, where he later served as a trustee. On Aug. 25, 1958, he married Elizabeth Lunt. His career was in commercial banking in New York City, with Bankers Trust Company for 20 years and later as chairman and CEO of National Westminster Bankcorp. He and his wife retired to Harpswell in 1993. Mr. Knowles was involved in a variety of community activities. In Montclair, N.J., where he lived for 34 years, he served on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and as a director of the American Red Cross chapter, Mountainside Hospital and the Mount Hebron Cemetery Association. He was active in the Union Congregational Church chairing the rebuilding committee and two ministerial search committees. In New York he was chairman of The Regional Plan Association, on the boards of Carnegie Hall, United Way and Mutual of America Life Insurance Company. In retirement, he was active at First Parish Church in Brunswick, and a board member of Bangor Theological Seminary, the Humanities Council and Maine Center for Economic Policy.

Published in Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram on Sept. 20, 2017