General > Research Needed
Grace Dillon
Advanced Smite:
I've ruled out Native American ancestry through Grace Dillon's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Marcia Woodland. I will do a separate post for her maternal grandfather, Robert Wilson Corrigan. This post will focus on the individuals in bold text below.
Parents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Lou Laponsie & Carol Marcia Corrigan
Maternal Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Robert Wilson Corrigan & Elizabeth Marcia Woodland
Maternal Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: William J Woodland & Mary Margaret (Minnie) Wilcoxson
Maternal Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Joshua Woodland (IRELAND) & Sarah Wilson (IRELAND)
Maternal Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: William H Wilcoxson & Elizabeth Allen (SCOTLAND)
Maternal Great Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Thomas Wilcoxson (England) & Elizabeth (Eliza) Pegg (No Native Ancestry Found)
The link and quoted text below are from an obituary for Grace Dillon's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Marcia Woodland Corrigan Ewald. It connects Grace Laponsie Dillon to her parents, Lou Laponsie and Carol Marcia Corrigan Laponsie.
--- Quote ---Obituary for Elizabeth Marcia "Betty" Ewald (Elizabeth Marcia Woodland)
ELIZABETH “BETTY” MARCIA EWALD, 100, of Cass City, died Sunday, October 31, 2010 in Timberline Lodge Adult Foster Care Home, Caro. She was born October 7, 1910 in Saginaw to William John and Mary Margaret (Wilcoxson) Woodland. She married Robert W. Corrigan in 1934. He died in 1982. She later married Clarence W. Ewald December 29, 1984 in Cass City. He died June 22, 1995.
Betty attended Saginaw Business School after High School. She was a member of the Cass City First Baptist Church. She was formerly the Executive Secretary of the American Cancer Society, St. Joseph County Chapter. Betty worked for the telephone company and for Consumers Power in Saginaw. She loved to read, refinish furniture, and she wrote poetry. Betty had a keen interest in Missionary work. She also enjoyed playing the piano and gardening.
Betty is survived by her children: Carol (Lou) LaPonsie of Cass City, Robert W. Corrigan II of Norway, MI. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren: Robert (Katherine) Corrigan III, Keith Corrigan, Scott Corrigan, Colleen (Scott) Duncan, Daniel LaPonsie, Philip (Roberta) LaPonsie, Aaron (Kathy) LaPonsie, Grace (Tracy) Dillon, Faith LaPonsie, Hope (Steven) Winterhalter, Joy (John) Montei; 24 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; stepchildren and their families: Ruth (Ron) Bullis of Grand Rapids, William (Jean) Ewald of Cass City, Phyllis (Tom) Montgomery of PA. She is preceded in death by her grandson, Thad Corrigan; sisters: Helen Hope Woodland and Irene Munro.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 6, 2010 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City with Pastor David Hill of Cass City First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw. Pallbearers for Mrs. Ewald will be her grandsons: Robert Corrigan III, Keith Corrigan, Scott Corrigan, Daniel LaPonsie, Philip LaPonsie, and Aaron LaPonsie. Memorials may be made to Cass City First Baptist Church. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Source:https://memorials.kranzfuneralhome.com/Ewald-Elizabeth/582038/obituary.php
--- End quote ---
Mother of Grace Dillon – Carol Marcia Corrigan Laponsie
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Carol M Corrigan - Age 5
Estimated Birth Year: 1935
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Michigan
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Home in 1940: Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan
Household members
Elizabeth Corrigan Age 29
Robert W Corrigan Age 28
Carol M Corrigan Age 5
Robert W Corrigan Age 1
Maternal Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Elizabeth Marcia Woodland Corrigan Ewald
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Elizabeth Woodland - Age 9
Birth Year: 1911
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1920: Saginaw Ward 4, Saginaw, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: William Woodland
Father's Birthplace: Canada
Mother's Name: Minnie Woodland
Mother's Birthplace: Canada
Household Members
William Woodland Age 53
Minnie Woodland Age 54
Elizabeth Woodland Age 9
Elizabeth Willcoxson Age 80
Maternal Great Grandfather of Grace Dillon – William J Woodland
1900 United States Federal Census
Name: William Woodland Age 34
Birth Date: Dec 1865
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1900: Saginaw Ward 1, Saginaw, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1887
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Minnie Woodland
Marriage Year: 1886
Years Married: 14
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Years in US: 13
Naturalization: Naturalized
Occupation: Freight Checker
Household members
William Woodland Age 34
Minnie Woodland Age 34
Irene Woodland Age 12
Nellie Woodland Age 6
Maternal Great Great Grandfather of Grace Dillon – Joshua Woodland
1871 Census of Canada
Name: Joshua Woodland
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Origin: Irish
Age: 45
Birth Date: 1826
Birth Place: Ireland
Residence Place: Glenelg, Grey South, Ontario
Religion: Weslyan Methodist
Occupation: Merchant
Household members
Hannah Wilson Age 87
Joshua Woodland Age 45
Sarah Woodland Age 32
Joshua Woodland Age 18
Ellen Woodland Age 16
George Woodland Age 15
Eliza Woodland Age 12
Sarah H Woodland Age 5
Wm J Woodland Age 3
Maternal Great Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Sarah Wilson Woodland
1871 Census of Canada
Name: Sarah Woodland
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Origin: Irish
Age: 32
Birth Date: 1839
Birth Place: Ireland
Residence Place: Glenelg, Grey South, Ontario
Maternal Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Mary Margaret Wilcoxson Woodland (Minnie)
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Minnie Woodland - Age 54
Birth Year: 1866
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1920: Saginaw Ward 4, Saginaw, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year: 1887
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: William Woodland
Father's Birthplace: Canada
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Willcoxson
Mother's Birthplace: Scotland
Native Tongue: English
Naturalization Status: Naturalized
Household Members
William Woodland Age 53
Minnie Woodland Age 54
Elizabeth Woodland Age 9
Elizabeth Willcoxson Age 80
Great Great Grandfather of Grace Dillon – William H Wilcoxson
Michigan U.S. Death & Burials Index
Name: William Henry Wilcoxson
Birth Date: 1829
Birth Place: Canada
Death Date: 8 May 1904
Death Place: Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan
Burial Date: 11 May 1904
Cemetery Name: Forest Lawn
Death Age: 75
Occupation: Farmer
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Father Name: Thomas Wilcoxson
Father Birth Place: England
Mother Name: Eliza Pegg
Mother Birth Place: Canada
Great Great Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Elizabeth (Eliza) Pegg Wilcoxson
Born – 1808 Ontario, Canada
Died – 1892 Ontario, Canada
Source: 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891 Census of Canada
I’m unable to identity parents for Elizabeth (Eliza) Pegg, but she is highly unlikely to have Anishinaabe or Metis ancestry. The 1891 Census of Canada lists both of Elizabeth Pegg's parents as born in the USA. Religion is identified on every census listed above as Church of England. Based on this information, in my opinion, it is most likely that Elizabeth Pegg's parents were English and moved to Canada after the Revolutionary War.
Advanced Smite:
Based on available information, I believe that Anishinaabe and Metis ancestry through Grace Dillon's maternal grandfather, Robert Wilson Corrigan, is highly unlikely. This post will focus on the individuals in bold text below. The Corrigan line is from Ireland. The other lines I researched back to the early 1800s on the East Coast (Vermont, New Jersey). The evidence points to the Wilson, Hoover, Slafter, and Leonard lines being early colonists of English, Irish, or Scottish descent.
Parents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Lou Laponsie & Carol Marcia Corrigan
Maternal Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Robert Wilson Corrigan & Elizabeth Marcia Woodland
Maternal Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Edward Corrigan & Phalle Mary Wilson
Maternal Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Michael Corrigan (Ireland) & Sarah Reid (Ireland)
Maternal Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Farwell Alonzo Wilson & Ann W Hoover
Maternal Great Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Nahum Newton Wilson (1805, New Hampshire – 1887, Michigan) & Phalle Richardson Slafter (1806, Vermont – 1863, Michigan)
Maternal Great Great Great Grandparents of Grace Laponsie Dillon: Jacob H Hoover (1813, New Jersey - 1887, Michigan) & Mary Leonard (1813, New Jersey – 1892, Michigan)
Grandfather of Grace Dillon – Robert Wilson Corrigan
U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Name: Robert Wilson Corrigan
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 29
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 1911
Birth Place: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940
Registration Place: Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Employer: Saginaw Police Dept
Height: 5 10
Weight: 250
Complexion: Ruddy
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Next of Kin: Elizabeth M Corrigan
Great Grandfather of Grace Dillon – Edward Corrigan
1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Edward Colligan – Age 59
Birth Year: 1861
Birthplace: Canada
Home in 1920: Saginaw Ward 4, Saginaw, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Phalle Colligan
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Conductor
Industry: R Road Steam
Household members
Edward Colligan Age 59
Phalle Colligan Age 55
Shirley Colligan Age 25
Floyd Colligan Age 23
Dorothy Colligan Age 16
Robert Colligan Age 8
Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Phalle Mary Wilson Corrigan
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Phalle M Corrigan
Birth Year: 1867
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 63
Birthplace: Michigan
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House Head
Homemaker? Yes
Home in 1930: Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Father's Birthplace: Michigan
Mother's Birthplace: Michigan
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members
Phalle M Corrigan Age 63
Dorthy Corrigan Age 25
Robert Corrigan Age 19
Great Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Ann W Hoover Wilson
Michigan, U.S. Death Records, 1867-1952
Name: Ann W Wilson [Ann W Hoover]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital status: Married
Death Age: 83
Birth Date: 18 Aug 1843
Birth Place: Michigan
Death Date: 12 Apr 1927
Death Place: Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan, USA
Father: Jacob H Hoover
Mother: Mary Leonard
Maternal Great Great Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Jacob H Hoover
1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Jacob H Hoover
Age in 1870: 57
Birth Date: 1813
Birthplace: New Jersey
Home in 1870: Millington, Tuscola, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Inferred Spouse: Mary Hoover
Inferred Children: John Hoover; Addison Hoover
Household members
Jacob H Hoover Age 57
Mary Hoover Age 57
Addison Hoover Age 17
John Hoover
Maternal Great Great Great Grandmother of Grace Dillon – Mary Leonard Hoover
1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Mary Hoover
Age in 1870: 57
Birth Date: 1813
Birthplace: New Jersey
Home in 1870: Millington, Tuscola, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Female
Great Great Grandfather of Grace Dillon – Farwell Alonzo Wilson
1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Farwell Wilson
Age: 38
Birth Date: Abt 1842
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1880: Vernon, Isabella, Michigan, USA
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Ann Wilson
Father's Birthplace: Vermont
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont
Occupation: Lumber Man
Household Members
Farwell Wilson Age 38
Ann Wilson Age 36
Pholla Wilson Age 13
Earl Wilson Age 9
Floyd Wilson Age 4
Florence Wilson Age 4
cellophane:
Grace Lynn Dillon's dissertation, Carefull Verse in Watchman's Song: A Study of Spenser’s Prophetic Voice (UC Riverside, 1997, English program), has the dedication "for my parents, Lou Starr LaPonsie and Carol Marcia LaPonsie". That confirms advancedsmite's conclusion.
At this upcoming seminar announcement:
https://simpsoncenter.org/events/event-detail?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D159457808&eventid=159457808
Grace calls herself "Anishinaabe with family ties to Bay Mills Nation, Garden River Nation and aunties and uncles from the Salteaux Nation". Family ties could mean ties by marriage, perhaps through the LaPonsie family.
Likewise, at this recent announcement:
https://representationmatters.art/2022/02/17/s2e5/
Grace is described as "Anishinaabe with family, friends, and relatives from Bay Mills Nation and Garden River Nation with Aunties and Uncles also from the Saulteaux Nation". Again, not precise.
Her daughter, Elizabeth LaPensée, has an essay, "Transformations and Remembrances in the Digital Game We Sing for Healing" (ca. 2016) here:
https://journals.kent.ac.uk/index.php/transmotion/article/view/243/1007
In it, she calls herself "Irish, Anishinaabe, and Métis", and "Anishinaabekwe and Michif"
In an interview here:
https://alter-native-media.com/2008/08/27/ipi-indigenous-peeps-in-the-industry-04/
Elizabeth says, "I’m a half-breed border crosser. My mother is Anishinaabe and Metis from the LaPonsies with family out in Bay Mills and Sault Ste. Marie stateside. My father’s Irish through and through."
Her website,
http://www.elizabethlapensee.com/about
says, "She is Anishinaabe, Métis, and Irish".
This steampunk related website from 2011 (under her married name, Beth Aileen Lameman):
https://beyondvictoriana.com/2011/04/03/the-west-was-lost-by-beth-aileen-lameman-and-myron-a-lameman-a-review/
says, "Beth has Irish/Anishinaabe/Métis heritage".
cellophane:
Aaniin is our word for “hello” in Anishinaabemowin. It literally means I see the light in you. And I see many lights today. So much that it is Sâgassige gisiss—the sun has come out of the clouds.
"Sâgassige gisiss. The sun comes out of the clouds", with that spelling, comes out of Baraga's 1878 A Dictionary of the Otchipwe Language, Explained in English:
https://books.google.com/books?id=ntMzAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA360
Diana:
Grace Laponsie Dillon's father in the 1940 census. The spelling is a little different but is the same family. The last name Laponsie is spelled differently in many censuses.
Lou La Ponsie
in the 1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Lou La Ponsie
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1933
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Michigan
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Map of Home in 1940: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Residence in 1935: Rudyard
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 15A
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 1st grade
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Angus La Ponsie
39 Head
Stellie La Ponsie
32 Wife
Lois La Ponsie Daughter
Lou La Ponsie 7 Son
Vern La Ponsie 6 Son
Russel La Ponsie 3 Son
Edith La Ponsie 2 Daughter
Grace's grandfather and Lou Laponsie's father in the same census.
Angus La Ponsie
in the 1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Angus La Ponsie
[Angus La Ponsie]
[Angus La Ponsie]
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: Michigan
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Map of Home in 1940: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rudyard, Chippewa, Michigan
Residence in 1935: Rudyard
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 15A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 271
Occupation: Salesman
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 8
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 60
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 45
Income: 527
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Angus La Ponsie 39 Head
Stellie La Ponsie 32 Wife
Lois La Ponsie 8 Daughter
Lou La Ponsie 7 Son
Vern La Ponsie 6 Son
Russel La Ponsie 3 Son
Edith La Ponsie 2 Daughter
Grace's great grandfather in 1910 census. He died ? 1910 to 1911 depending on a number of records. As you can see he is from Canada.
Angus Leponsie
in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Name: Angus Laponsie
[Angus Laponsie]
Age in 1910: 45
Birth Date: 1865
Birthplace: Canada
[Canada French]
Home in 1910: Superior, Chippewa, Michigan, USA
Race: White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year: 1887
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elisabell Laponsie
Father's Birthplace: Canada
[Canada French]
Mother's Birthplace: Canada
[Canada French]
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Mortgaged
Farm or House: Farm
Naturalization Status: Alien
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 18
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Angus Laponsie 45 Head
Elisabell Laponsie
38 Wife
Regna Laponsie
13 Son
Joseph Laponsie
11 Son
Angus Laponsie
9 Son
Edwin Laponsie
2 Son
Louise Laponsie
4 Daughter
Graberil Laponsie
6 Son
Here is great grandfather Angus Laponsie find a Grave. Now the place of birth is the same on a Canadian census from 1871. And the spelling again is a little different.
Angus LaPonsie
in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Name: Angus LaPonsie
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 8 Nov 1866
Birth Place: Vankleek Hill, Prescott and Russell United Counties, Ontario, Canada
Death Date: 13 May 1910
Death Place: Brimley, Chippewa County, Michigan, United States of America
Cemetery: Bay View Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Brimley, Chippewa County, Michigan, United States of America
Has Bio?: Y
Spouse:
Isabelle Elizabeth Hill
Children:
Reginald John LaPonsie
Clara Mary Burns
Joseph Evangelist LaPonsie
James F LaPonsie
Gabrielle William LaPonsie
URLhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43773230/angus-laponsie
Here is the same great grandfather in the Canadian census. All are French Canadian and the family has very deep roots in Canada and France. I have gone all the way back to the 1700s and all are WHITE. This side of the family is very impressive and Grace should be proud of them. I will post the rest tomorrow.
West Hawkesbury is a former township in the Prescott section of Prescott and Russell Counties in eastern Ontario, Canada. In 1998 it merged with its neighbouring township, Longueuil and the independently incorporated villages of Vankleek Hill and L'Orignal into the municipality of Champlain (considered a township).
Angus Lapensier
in the 1871 Census of Canada
Name: Angus Lapensier
Gender: Male
Origin: French
Age: 6
Birth Date: 1865
Birth Place: Ontario
Residence Place: Hawkesbury West, Prescott, Ontario
District Number: 75
Subdistrict: b
Division: 02
Religion: Catholic
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age
Evangalist Lapensier
45
Philonese Lapensier
43
Evangalist Lapensier
22
Ellen Lapensier
18
Adelia Lapensier
15
Emmaline Lapensier
13
Beul Lapensier
11
Angus Lapensier 6
Baptieste Lapensier
1
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