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Michael Shonk (M)
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    Sarah Ann Shonk (F)
    Pop-up Pedigree


      Susanna Shonk1 (F)
      b. 28 June 1820, d. 10 August 1904
      Pop-up Pedigree

      Susanna (Shonk) Auman
      From A Four Family History by Doyle & Mary Shonk
           Susanna Shonk, daughter of Jacob Shonk and Martha Magdalena France, was born on 28 June 1820 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.2,3

      In 1842, Susanna Shonk married Jonathan Auman, son of George Auman and Elizabeth Harris, in Tuscarawas Cty.2

      Susanna was listed on 3 December 1850 as a household member living with Jonathan Auman on the 1850 US Federal Census of Tuscarawas County (Sugar Creek Township), Ohio, enumerated 3 December 1850. Jonathan was Susanna's husband and the father of Sarah, Martha, and Henry.. They lived at dwelling number 139. Also living in the household was a 16-year-old laborer named Daniel Harris. The value of the real estate owned by Jonathan was listed as $2000.4

      Susannah was listed on 10 July 1860 as a household member living with Jonathan Auman on the 1860 US Federal Census of Tuscarawas County (Sugar Creek Township), Ohio, enumerated 10 July 1860. Joseph (properly Jonathan) was the husband of Susannah and father to Sarah, Martha, Henry, George, and Elizabeth.. They lived at dwelling number 653. (The census taker got the head of household's given name wrong--the "Joseph" should be "Jonathan".) Also, there appear to be three other people living on the farm: a 43-year-old man named Charles Wade (who had real estate valued at $4500 and personal wealth of $1200), a 2-yr-old female named Mary A?, and an 18-yr-old male named Frederick Hoeffer, who was listed as a laborer. The value of the farm's real estate was noted as $4000 and the value of Jonathan's (aka Joseph) personal property at $800.5,6

      Susan was listed as the wife of Jonathan Auman in the 1880 US Federal Census of Tuscarawas County (Dover Township), Ohio, enumerated 1 June 1880. They lived at an area populated by farmers and laborers.7

      Susanna Shonk died on 10 August 1904 in Dover, Ohio, at age 84.3

      Susanna Shonk was buried in Dover, Maple Grove Cemetery.3

           Children of Susanna Shonk and Jonathan Auman:
      Sarah Auman+   b. 17 Feb 1846, d. 26 Dec 1921
      Martha Auman   b. 1848
      Henry Auman+   b. 1849
      George Auman   b. 1852
      Elizabeth Auman   b. 1855
      Rebecca Auman   b. c 1860
      Mary Ann Auman   b. a 10 Jul 1860

      Citations

      1. [S58] Doyle & Mary Shonk, A Four Family History: Shonk-Auman, Silvius, Penrod, Lantz.
      2. [S185] John Brandt Mansfield, The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, p. 739.
      3. [S58] Doyle & Mary Shonk, A Four Family History: Shonk-Auman, Silvius, Penrod, Lantz, p. 27.
      4. [S329] 1850 U.S. census, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, population schedule, Sugar Creek township, page 214, dwellings 137/139/140/141, families 139/141/142/143, online <www.genealogy.com>.
      5. [S332] 1860 U.S. census, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, population schedule, Sugar Creek township, Shanesville post office, page 370a, dwelling 653, family 661 (Joseph Auman's name appears on the last line of the previous page), online <www.genealogy.com>.
      6. [S331] 1860 U.S. census, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, population schedule, Sugar Creek township, Shanesville post office, page 369b, dwelling 652, family 660 (Joseph Auman, age 40, is mistakenly listed in this man's household; the rest of his family and their household information is on the next page), online <www.genealogy.com>.
      7. [S324] 1880 U.S. census, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, population schedule, Dover township, enumeration district 716, supervisor's district 8, sheet 1, dwelling 1, family 1, online <www.ancestry.com>.

      Nancy Silliman (F)
      b. 21 July 1832, d. 5 April 1875
      Pop-up Pedigree
      Relationship=Great-grandmother of Cynthia Lee Sprong.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong

           Nancy Silliman, daughter of Samuel Silliman and Lavina Lockhart, was born on 21 July 1832 in Pennsylvania.1,2

      On 8 October 1860, Nancy Silliman married Lemuel Newton Richards.3

      Nancy was listed on 23 June 1870 as a household member living with Lemuel Newton Richards on the 1870 US Federal Census of Jefferson, Williams County, Ohio, enumerated 23 June 1870. Lemuel was husband to Nancy and the father of Samuel, Lilly E., and Louella.. They lived at dwelling number 105. Also included in the household was a farm laborer by the name of John Sheets, aged 14. Lemuel is recorded as owning real estate worth $3000 and personal property worth $400.1

      On 5 April 1875 Nancy Silliman died at age 42, leaving Lemuel a widower.3

           Children of Nancy Silliman and Lemuel Newton Richards:
      Samuel Richards   b. c 1862
      Lillie Eleanor Richards   b. c 1866
      Luella Richards+   b. 5 Jun 1869, d. 11 Feb 1944

      Citations

      1. [S309] 1870 U.S. census, Williams County, Ohio, population schedule, town of Jefferson, Durbins Corners [sic?] post office, page 90, dwelling 105, family 107, online <HeritageQuest Online>.
      2. [S171] 1900 U.S. census, Defiance County, Ohio, population schedule, Farmer township, enumeration district 10, supervisor's district 4, sheet 2, dwellings 42/43/45, families 42/43/45, online <www.genealogy.com>.
      3. [S186] Daughters of the American Revolution, Elene Ensign Sprong, I believe the letter and application were written sometime after 1935..

      Samuel Silliman (M)
      b. 7 June 1800, d. 1860
      Pop-up Pedigree
      Relationship=2nd great-grandfather of Cynthia Lee Sprong.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong

           Samuel Silliman, son of Thomas Silliman and Nancy Nielson, was born on 7 June 1800.

      Circa 1826, Samuel Silliman married Lavina Lockhart.1

      Samuel Silliman died in 1860.

           Child of Samuel Silliman and Lavina Lockhart:
      Nancy Silliman+   b. 21 Jul 1832, d. 5 Apr 1875

      Citations

      1. [S186] Daughters of the American Revolution, Elene Ensign Sprong, I believe the letter and application were written sometime after 1935..

      Thomas Silliman (M)
      b. 27 December 1755, d. 29 May 1843
      Relationship=3rd great-grandfather of Cynthia Lee Sprong.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong

           Thomas Silliman was born on 27 December 1755 in New Jersey.

      On 9 August 1782, Thomas Silliman married Nancy Nielson in Northampton, Pennsylvania.1

      Thomas Silliman "assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of Second Lieutenant in Captain Johannes Vannatta's Pennsylvania Company; also a lieutenant June 23, 1783, with Patrick Campbell's Company, Northampton County Militia; also went on an expedition against the Indians." During the American Revolution, Thomas lived in Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.2

      Thomas Silliman died on 29 May 1843 in Northampton, Pennsylvania, at age 87.

           Child of Thomas Silliman and Nancy Nielson:
      Samuel Silliman+   b. 7 Jun 1800, d. 1860

      Citations

      1. [S186] Daughters of the American Revolution, Elene Ensign Sprong, I believe the letter and application were written sometime after 1935., or 1783.
      2. [S186] Daughters of the American Revolution, Elene Ensign Sprong, I believe the letter and application were written sometime after 1935..

      Elizabeth Maria Sims1 (F)
      b. 1858, d. February 1941
      Relationship=Great-grandmother of Brian Churchett.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Brian Churchett
           Descendant Chart for Richard Dunford

      Elizabeth Maria Sims
           Elizabeth Maria Sims was born in 1858.2

      In 1875, Elizabeth Maria Sims married Charles Henry Dunford, son of John Fifield Dunford and Ann Mary Porter, in Bromley, Kent.1

      In February 1941 Elizabeth Maria Sims died, leaving Henry a widower.3,4 She was buried in Bromley Hill Old Cemetery, which is located in.4

           Children of Elizabeth Maria Sims and Charles Henry Dunford:
      Charles Henry Dunford+   b. 1876, d. 23 Sep 1954
      Annie Mary Dunford+   b. 23 Oct 1877, d. 25 Apr 1965
      Elizabeth Gertrude Dunford   b. 14 Sep 1879, d. b 1881
      Emily Maria Dunford+   b. c 1881, d. 26 Mar 1970

      Citations

      1. [S466] Reference on "Annie Mary Dunford--Pedigree Chart", 1980s.
      2. [S484] Scrapbook of Frank Churchett "Ref the Dunford family tree, handwritten by Frank Churchett, which goes back to 1587 (also indicates a birth year of 1857 in other places)."
      3. [S484] Scrapbook of Frank Churchett "Ref the Dunford family tree, handwritten by Frank Churchett, which goes back to 1587."
      4. [S496] Manuscript note by Frank Montague Churchett, page of "Dunford Charles Henry"; this information appears to be from cemetery records that Frank examined.

      Johanna Sodalaers1,2 (F)
      Relationship=7th great-grandmother of Cynthia Lee Sprong.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong

           Johanna Sodalaers was born.3,4

      On 23 October 1660, Johanna Sodalaers married Johannis Sprongh New York City, New York.

           Children of Johanna Sodalaers and Johannis Sprongh:
      Barbara Sprongh+   b. c Apr 1661
      Garrett Sprongh   b. c Feb 1662/63
      Coert Sprongh   b. c 1664/65
      Gabriel Sprong+   b. c 1665/66, d. c 14 Sep 1726
      John/Johannes Sprongh   b. 13 Jan 1666/67
      Abraham Sprongh   b. c May 1668
      Lucas Sprongh   b. c 1673/74
      Catherine Sprongh+
      David Sprongh   d. 15 May 1739

      Citations

      1. [S208] Howard Griffith Burdge, Sprong and Allied Families 1656-1953.
      2. [S213] "New Netherland Vital Records, 1600s", online <www.genealogy.com>.
      3. [S213] "New Netherland Vital Records, 1600s", online <www.genealogy.com>, claims "Anna Sedelaers" was of Prussian origin.
      4. [S208] Howard Griffith Burdge, Sprong and Allied Families 1656-1953, claims German or Norwegian origin.

      Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong (M)
      b. 18 March 1908, d. 26 January 1984
      Pop-up Pedigree
      Relationship=Father of Cynthia Lee Sprong.

      Appears on charts:
           Pedigree for Cynthia Lee Sprong
           Descendant Chart for David Henry Sprong

      Aaron Alfred Sprong
           Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong, son of George William Sprong and Eva Nora Roach, was born on 18 March 1908 in Hutchinson, Kansas.1,2

      In a letter written 21 April 1983, nine months before he died, to Lucille Roach, his cousin, Aaron wrote the following about the years spent in Hutchinson and his brother's death:
           I had forgotten about living in your house up there on [the] place--however I do remember poorly [the] ride from Hutchinson area up to North east Kansas early on spring (date unknown), rode in sort of covered wagon, with some kind of canvas over so snow and rain would not come in too bad. There was hay on bottom of wagon with some kind of covers or blankets to keep us warm: would stop along side of road so team (horses) could eat some grass (have no idea of route now) and some did some cooking on some kind of stove. First few days we ate some things she [Aaron's mother] had prepared before we left Sandhills in Reno County.
           All I remember about Sandhills were small hills of sand, with an infinite amount of sandburrs, crickets, and grasshoppers. It seemed to me I was always sitting on prickly sandburs and pulling them off my clothes socks etc. cause darm things did hurt and irritate your skin. Folks just starved out all Dad could do was raise watermelons, and then peddle them on streets of Hutchinson. It was a sad & rough time for Mom and Dad. You can't make any money peddling watermelons. Also, Roy my brother got sick (due to watermelon Mom said??) and died while we were living out on the Sandhills, northwest of Hutchinson. I have never known for sure what happened--just what did he have exactly? Never will know. I tried quizzing Mom a few times and tears would start coming and she wouldn't say anything. Do remember Dad coming home one p.m. and she asked him where is Roy? Dad told her (they had taken him to Doctor day before) he was gone and she started crying immediately. You know I am not sure where he was buried to this day--Believe it was Round Prairie Cemetery.3

      On 18 September 1913, his brother Leroy Cecil died of colitis, which is a gastrointestinal disorder usually accompanied by explosive diarrhea; given his young age and the fact that the family was very poor and living in a rural area, dehydration was probably a large factor in his death. He had contracted the disorder twelve days before his death at the age of 2 years, 4 months and 27 days. His mother would never say what exactly had caused little Leroy's death and would say only that he "ate too much watermelon".4,3,5

      Aaron attended the memorial service for Leroy Cecil Sprong at the home of Henry Kershner in Hutchinson, Kansas, in September 1913. It was to Mr. Ford's home that Leroy had been taken when he first fell ill the week before. A funeral service was preached by Rev. K. F. Nance, although the remains were taken to Leavenworth for interment..4

      He graduated on 8 June 1931 from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, with an A.B. degree.6

      On 24 September 1933, Aaron and Elene "decided definitely to be married December 2" of that same year. For some reason, they wished to keep it a secret until after it was done from nearly everyone they knew.7

      Aaron had Elene try on her wedding ring to make sure it fit while she was at the farm for his grandparents' golden wedding anniversary celebration on 16 October 1933.7

      On 2 December 1933, Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong married Elene Ensign, daughter of Gideon Deming Ensign and Luella Richards, at the home of Elene's aunt Lillie Brown in Lawrence, Kansas.8,9,10

      Aaron and Elene spent their honeymoon at at Pickwick Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.11,12

      At the time of their marriage, Aaron was living in Kansas City, and Elene was living in Lawrence and still working in Dean Stouffer's office. Aaron went to Lawrence the night before the wedding; after spending their wedding night at the Pickwick Hotel, Aaron saw Elene back off to Lawrence on the bus, and she was home by two in the afternoon. They did not get to live together for another year and a half, until Aaron received orders to go to Harrison, Arkansas.7

      On 11 December 1933 Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong received a letter from Carrie. Carrie, his aunt, said, "Aaron I always thought so much of you. You were so much like your dad and we all thought George [Carrie's little brother, Aaron's father] was about right--he was our baby there at home and all of us made a great pet of him. . . . With much love, Aunt Carrie."13

      Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong graduated on 11 June 1934 from KU, with an M.D.6

      Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong was a doctor (general internist) and a member of both the AMA and the American College of Physicians.14

      Aaron's wife had a miscarriage on 12 June 1935 in Lawrence, Kansas. She was taken to the hospital on the 12th of June. Elene wrote in her diary that "Aaron came down and was with me all thru ordeal." The next day, she was "taken to delivery room at 3:00 and all over at four. Very sore and tired out. Suffered agony." Elene remained in the hospital until 21 June, when her friends Alberta & George Hulteen took her to Aaron's parents to recover; she stayed at the farm until the beginning of July, at which time Aaron received orders to go to Harrison, Arkansas, and the two of them packed their things and set out on the 9th of July.7

      Aaron and Elene had a daughter, Marilyn Lucille, on 13 July 1938 in Sterling, Kansas.

      Shortly before Elene was due to give birth to Aaron's second child, he "had a skull fracture in the States . . . They delayed telling [Elene] about the wreck fearing it would cause a problem [with the pregnancy]." In the fall of 2002, Elene and her daughter Cynthia were in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where Cynthia recalls that they "noticed a big hospital-like building at the end of the promenade--think it is a rehabilitation center now. [Elene] said this hospital was where [Aaron] recuperated from the skull fracture. This happened while he was in the Army . . . I recall [my father] mentioning to me one time that he was very concerned that after he had the skull fracture that he might have long-term mental problems as a result."15

      Aaron and Elene had a daughter, Cynthia Lee, on 29 August 1941 in Sterling.

      During World War II, Aaron served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Flight Surgeon in the Army Air Corps.14

      During his service in the South Pacific during World War II, Aaron contracted both dengue fever and malaria. He always took prophylaxis for it, which indicates that he had a mild case that was not recurrent.15

      Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong was a longtime member of the Bellaire Christian Church.12

      In April 1983 Aaron wrote a letter to Lucille Roach. (Lucille was his cousin.) He shared some stories from his childhood and also wrote about his daughter Marilyn and her family, who were living in Germany at that time.3

      On 26 January 1984 Aaron died at Sharpview Manor in Houston, Texas, at age 75 of a myocardial infarction due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, leaving Elene a widow. He had been quite ill for some time after a series of strokes. The time of death was 5:30 a.m; no autopsy was performed.1,2,14,16 He was buried on 30 January 1984 at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas, Mourners who wished to make contributions were asked to direct them to the Bellaire Christian Church.16,14

           Children of Dr. Aaron Alfred Sprong and Elene Ensign:
      Marilyn Lucille Sprong   (excluded)
      Cynthia Lee Sprong   (excluded)

      Citations

      1. [S195] Manuscript note by Elizabeth Karl Churchett.
      2. [S7] "Social Security Death Index", online <www.genealogy.com>.
      3. [S382] Letter from Aaron Sprong to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stuckenbruck, 21 Apr 1983.
      4. [S381] Obituary of Leroy Cecil Sprong.
      5. [S395] Roy Cecil Sprong, death certificate 278430 (registered number 197).
      6. [S384] Academic transcript of Aaron Sprong, University of Kansas.
      7. [S355] Diary of Elene Ensign Sprong.
      8. [S357] Marriage announcement for Elene Ensign and Mr. Aaron Alfred Sprong, 2 Dec 1933, Lawrence, Kansas.
      9. [S365] Elene Ensign and Aaron Sprong, wedding guestbook, 2 Dec 1933.
      10. [S208] Howard Griffith Burdge, Sprong and Allied Families 1656-1953, card #52 (record of George William Sprong--both the typewritten date and the handwriting attempting to correct it are wrong).
      11. [S359] Pickwick Hotel, guest stationery, December 1933 "Hotel stationery."
      12. [S159] Personal knowledge of Elizabeth Karl Churchett (researcher).
      13. [S361] Letter from Carrie Redmon to Aaron and Elene Sprong, 11 Dec 1933.
      14. [S199] J. Patrick Karl, "Re: Obituary for your father?," e-mail to Elizabeth (Karl) Churchett, 14 March 2002 @ 20:41:41.
      15. [S289] Cynthia Sprong Karl, "'Follow-up from IM message' (Cynthia)," e-mail to Elizabeth Churchett, 20 Jan 2003.
      16. [S386] Aaron Alfred Sprong, death certificate 852.

      Ade Sprong (F)
      Pop-up Pedigree
      Relationship=5th great-grandaunt of Cynthia Lee Sprong.



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        Elizabeth Churchett
        Austin, Texas

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