Person Page 70

Sarah Seward and Joseph Billiter were married.

Sarah Seward was a first cousin, once removed, to William Henry Seward, President Andy Johnson's Secretary of State and former Governor of New York. William Henry Seward purchased Alaska from the Russians in 1867; Alaska was then popularly called Seward's Folly and Seward's Icebox. The purchase price, about $7.2 million, was equivalent to 2.5 cents per acre.

Sarah's and William Henry Seward's common ancestor was Obadiah Seward Jr, b c 1702, NY Colony.

Quoting an article at http://www.everythingalaska.com/eta.sfy.html:

"President Andrew Johnson's Secretary of State, William H. Seward, is responsible for negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Seward was so adamant on purchasing Alaska that he started negotiating with the Russian minister, Edouard de Stoeckl, before he was authorized by the President. His original offer was for $5,000,000.00 or possibly $5,500,000.00. While the Russian Minister was taking the offer to the Czar, Seward asked the Cabinet for authority to offer $7,000,000.00 As they had not been notified of the pending purchase, and due to their caring little about Alaska, they did not object to Seward's request, much to his surprise."By March 23rd, both parties had reached an agreement on the main points of the purchase. Stoeckl cabled St. Petersburg on the $7,000,000.00 figure that had been reached, and asked for authority to sign the treaty. On March 29th, Stoeckl received approval from Czar Alexander to sign the treaty with minor provisions."Seward wanted so much for the treaty to be signed that he opened the State Department that evening after hours and made the Russian delegation welcome. Stoeckl wanted to improve on some of the smaller points, but Seward refused to consider them, but in turn offered another $200,000.00 to the purchase price. So the final agreed upon price became $7,200,000.00. This translated into approximately 2.5 cents per acre for 586,400 square miles of territory, twice the size of Texas."It was a long and bitter battle to get Congress to approve the purchase then appropriate the money for it. Seward prevailed in completing the purchase, but he became the butt of popular jokes over his purchase. When asked what was the most significant act of his career, he declared "The purchase of Alaska! But it will take a generation to find that out.""On the misty afternoon of October 18, 1867, at the city of Sitka , on the desolate Alaska coast, amongst the firing of Russian and American cannon, the Imperial Russian flag came down over Russian America. The Stars and Stripes was raised up the 90 foot flag pole, and 'Seward's Icebox' became a territory of the United States."

Simpson was born about 1850. She and James Henry Billiter were married about 1870.

Jay Jethrow Bonham was born on 22 April 1884 in Montpelier, Blackford Co, Indiana. He and Goldie Ulissus Billiter were married on 2 June 1904 in Hartford City, Blackfrod Co, Indiana. He died on 11 June 1964, at age 80, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, California. He was buried in Inglewood Cem, Inglewood, Los Angeles Co, California.

Inez Lucille Billiter was born on 25 November 1880 in Pittsburgh, Alleghany Co, Pennsylvania. She and Ruben Elmer Henderson were married on 11 August 1898 in New Kensington, Westmoreland Co, Pennsylvania. She died on 18 November 1918, at age 37, in Warren, Trumbull Co, Ohio. She was buried in Oakwood Cem, Warren, Trumbull Co, Ohio.

Children courtesy Maggie Calkins. Sources: 1) Family knowledge; 2) GS film 1316373 item 3, PA, Westmoreland Reg. of Births 1893-1903.

Ruben Elmer Henderson was born in 1875 in South Bend, Armstrong Co, Pennsylvania. He and Inez Lucille Billiter were married on 11 August 1898 in New Kensington, Westmoreland Co, Pennsylvania. He died on 14 September 1940, at age ~65, in Newton Falls, Trumbull Co, Ohio.

Letonia ("Leah") Billiter was born on 23 September 1883 in Fayette City, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She and William Brightwell were married in 1905. She died in October 1935, at age 52, in Pennsylvania.

William Brightwell was born in 1871 in Pennsylvania. He and Letonia ("Leah") Billiter were married in 1905.

Susie Billiter was born in 1884 in Fayette City, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She died in 1884, at age ~0.

Lyle Walter Billiter was born on 20 March 1885 in Bellaire, Belmont Co, Ohio. He and Frances Weed were married. He died on 30 January 1960, at age 74, in Ft Smith, Sebastian Co, AR. He was buried on 2 February 1960 in Grace Lawn Cem, Van Buren, AR.

Frances Weed was born on 26 February 1878 in Pittsburg, Alleghany Co, Pennsylvania. She and Lyle Walter Billiter were married. She died on 8 June 1943, at age 65, in Ft Smith, Sebastian Co, AR. She was buried on 10 June 1943 in Forest Park Cem, Fort Smith, Sebastian Co, AR.

Dale Billiter was born in 1886 in Pittsburgh, Alleghany Co, Pennsylvania. He died in 1886, at age ~0.

Verlie Uldeen Billiter was born on 22 February 1887 in Fayette City, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She died on 5 May 1915, at age 28.

Ouida Aleen Billiter was born on 29 March 1889 in Fayette City, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She and David P Williams were married on 17 July 1909 in Uniontown, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She died on 28 January 1972, at age 82, in Bridgeton, Cumberland Co, New Jersey.

Family group courtesy Maggie Calkins and Margaret Brooks.. Source: personal records of Margaret Brooks, Bridgeton, NJ.

David P Williams was born on 12 October 1885 in Deerfield St, Cumberland, New Jersey. He and Ouida Aleen Billiter were married on 17 July 1909 in Uniontown, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania.

Lester Charles Billiter was born on 3 March 1891 in Monongahela, Washington Co, Pennsylvania. He and Maude G O'Donnell were married on 17 July 1909 in Uniontown, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. He died on 18 July 1950, at age 59, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co, California. He was buried in Inglewood Cem, Inglewood, Los Angeles Co, California.

Courtesy Maggie Calkins. Sources: 1) GS film 840895 WV, Monongahela, Record of Birth 1853-1915, Vol 3, p 173; 2) CA State Library - CA Death Records.

Maude G O'Donnell was born in 1893 in West Virginia. She and Lester Charles Billiter were married on 17 July 1909 in Uniontown, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She died on 16 February 1966, at age ~73, in Stockton, San Joaquin Co, California. She was buried in Inglewood Cem, Inglewood, Los Angeles Co, California.

Nancy Jemima Billiter was born on 2 March 1895 in Fayette City, Fayette Co, Pennsylvania. She and Elmer Miller were married on 19 July 1922 in Akron, Summit Co, Ohio. She died on 23 May 1965, at age 70, in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co, California.

Elmer Miller was born on 3 July 1895 in Newark, Wirt Co, West Virginia. He and Nancy Jemima Billiter were married on 19 July 1922 in Akron, Summit Co, Ohio. He died on 4 June 1928, at age 32, in Newark, Wirt Co, West Virginia.