Introduction . . Missing Roots . . Who are Descendants? . . About our Newsletter . . Cumulative Index

    Horace Prentice of Canada and Oswego, NY
    By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
    Summer 1999 and Revised 25 Dec 2009
    Update of 20 Dec 2009: Horace Prentice is the son of John and Caroline Prentice .

    A. Unknown Male Prentice, perhaps b. c. 1810-1820, NY (per 1880 census).

    He m. Unknown female, b. c. 1810-1820, NY (per 1880 census). At some point they moved to Canada and were living there in 1842 when their son, Horace, was born. They had 1 or more children, including:

    1. Horace Prentice, b. c. 1842, Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [1]

    1. Horace Prentice was b. c. 1842 in Canada (with both parents b. in NY), and d. 28 Apr 1898 in Oswego, NY. As indicated by the birth of his first child, Horace immigrated from Canada to NY at some date prior to 1866 when he was about 19. Died in 1898 before 1900 Oswego census.

    He m. Catherine E. Fancher who was b. Oct 1842 in Southwest Oswego, NY (with her father b. in NY and mother in RI per 1880 census), and d. 30 Aug 1918 in Oswego, NY, age 76 years. Horace and Catherine appear in the 1870 Volney, Oswego, as a Boatman and 1880 Oswego, Oswego, NY, he as a Teamster. Catherine was originally from Southwest Oswego and had a prior marriage a Mr. Fancher and had a son, Charles O. Fancher (per Barry Dawson, email, 11 Jun 2007).

    Children of Horace and Catherine shown in the 1880 Oswego and 1900 NY City census:

    1. Charles Prentice, b. c. 1866, NY. He does not appear in the 1900 census. He may be the Charles O. Fancher, mentioned above.
    2. Kittie/Lois Prentice, b. c. 1867, NY. At home in 1880.
    3. George P. Prentice, b. Jun 1870, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [2]
    4. Cora Prentice, b. c. 1871, NY. At home in 1880. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3]
    5. Edward Frederick Prentice, b. 5 Jul 1873, Oswego, NY

    6. Gertrude/Gertie G. Prentice, b. c. 1876, NY. At home in 1880. She m. Fred DeGroff. He was b. 18 May 1873, NY, and d. in NY per Ancestry.com . 1920 census in Oswego, Oswego Co., NY. They had 1 or more children, including:
      1. George DeGroff, b. 5 Aug 1914, NY, and d. 23 Aug 1999, Fulton, NY. He m. Gladys Callen. She was b. c. 1918, NY, dau., of Arthur and Mary DeGroff. They had 1 or more children, including:
        1. (dau.) DeGroff.
    7. Marcia Adelaide Prentice, b. c. 1878, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [4]
    8. Elmer A. Prentice, b. Jul 1882, Oswego, Oswego Co., NY. He appears in the 1920 Onondaga Co., NY census and in the 1930 Syracuse, Onondaga Co., NY census with his wife, Myrtle G., b. c. 1882, IL. Not in the SSDI. Children:
      1. Hilda G. Prentice, b. c. 1912, NY. At home in 1930.
      2. Harry Kendall Prentice, b. c. 1914, NY. At home in 1930. Not in SSDI.
      3. Elma E. Prentice, b. c. 1916, NY. At home in 1930.
      4. Muriel B. Prentice, b. c. 1918, NY. At home in 1930.
      5. Mary L. Prentice, b. c. 1921, NY. At home in 1930.

    2. George P. Prentice, b. Jun 1870, NY. He appears in the 1900 and 1920 Oswego, Oswego Co., NY census with his wife, and family. His occupations in 1900 was a Teamster, 1910 a Ship Carpenter, and 1920 a Rail Road Laborer.

    He m. Agnes DeCaire, b. Nov 1873. Children:

    1. Mary Celena Prentice, b. Apr 1891, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [5]

    3. Edward Frederick Prentice, b. 5 Jul 1873, Oswego, NY, and d. 12 Oct 1943, Lakeside Hospital. He was buried on 15 Oct 1943 in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Donald B. Johnson Funeral Home, 521 Broadway, Bedford, OH, with services on Saturday, October 12, at 2PM. His Death Certificate (County: Cuyahoga, Reg. Dist. No: 274 Primary reg. Dist. No. 8107 State file No: 66390) says he d. of a Cerebral Hemorage due to Hypertension. He was a NYCRR (New Yourk City Railroad in Retired Fireman. Last known Address: 78 Avalon, Ave, Bedford, OH.

    He married Mary Louise Fagnau in 1891. She was b. 2 Jul 1875, Oswego, NY, and d. 15 May 1821 in Lakeside Hospital, Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH. Bur. in Bedford. She was the dau. of Benjamin Fagnau and Melinka Flor?.

    He was a widower at the time of his death, his wife, Mary Louisa, having died earlier. Subject to further investigation, he might be the Edward Prentice, b. c. 1874, NY, who appears in the 1920 census in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH (but not the 1930 OH census) with his wife, Mary, b. c. 1846, NY, and children:

    1. Arthur Leroy Prentice, b. 25 May 1901, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [6]

    2. Earl Frederick Prentice, b. c. 1903, NY. Not in 1930 census. Not in SSDI.

    4. Marcia Adelaide "Addy" Prentice, b. c. 1878, Oswego, Oswego Co., NY, and d. there 17 Nov 1934.

    She married Robert Andrew Dawson on 24 Nov 1897, Oswego. He was born 26 Aug 1878, Oswego, Oswego Co., NY, and d. there 23 Mar 1963. An Ancestor Chart for him can be found at Ancestry.com .

    Children of Marcia and Robert (per Kelly Miller, email, 3 Jan 2006, Barry Dawson, email, 11 Jun 2007, and Ancestry.com ):

    1. Thomas Horace Dawson, b. 19 Jun 1898, Oswego, and d. there 21 Jun 1978 per Ancestry.com. He m. Nellie M. Shortsleeve, b. 1892, Oswego and d. c. 1975 in Oswego. Children per Ancestry.com ::
      1. Mary B. Dawson, b. 1916, Oswego, NY. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      2. Irene A. Dawson, b. 1917, Oswego, NY. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      3. Esther V. Dawson, b. 1919, Oswego, NY. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      4. Helen Leona Dawson, b. 1920, Oswego, NY, and d. 1999, Oswego. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      5. Myrtle E. Dawson, b. c. 1926, Oswego, NY. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      6. Alice V. Dawson, b. c. 1930, Oswego, NY. At home in Oswego in 1930 census.
      7. Joann Dawson, b. aft. 1930
      8. Living Dawson, b. aft. 1930.
      9. Living Dawson, b. aft. 1930.

    2. Robert Orville Dawson, b. 18 Jan 1900, Oswego, NY, and d. there 12 Dec 1990. He m. Agnes Cloonan. She was b. 15 Jul 1901, Oswego, NY, and d. there Jan 1975. She was the dau. of Patrick J. Cloonan (b. 1861) and Mary Coohill (b. 1862). Children:
      1. Patricia N. Dawson, b. 30 Mar 1926, Oswego Co., NY and d. there 6 Mar 2004. She m. Frederick "Fritzy" Smith who was b. 13 Nov 1923,Oswego, and d. there 17 Dec 1985. \ He was the son of Harvey Leroy Smith (1898-1930) and Hazel Elziabeth Elkin (1926-2004). They had 2 sons and a daughter.
      2. Robert F. Dawson, b. 5 Jan 1928, Oswego Co., NY, and d. there 5 Sep 2000.

    3. Claude William "Bill" Dawson, b. 27 May 1913, Oswego, NY, and d. 1 Mar 1987 in Fulton, Oswego Co., NY. He m. Elizabeth Parker Barry in 1933 in Oswego, Oswego Co., NY. She was b. 18 Oct 1915, Hannibal, NY, and d. 19 Apr 2002, Fulton, NY. They appear in the 1930 census in Oswego, Oswego Co., NY. An Ancestor Chart for her can be found at Ancestry.com . Children per Barry Dawson, email, 19 Apr 2008:
      1. William R. Dawson, b. 1934.
      2. Gary P. Dawson, b. 1935.
      3. Marcia E. Dawson, b. 1936.
      4. Nancy A. Dawson, b. 1939
      5. Barry L. Dawson, b. 1950.
      6. Richard Parker Dawson, b. Feb 1953, Oswego, NY and d. there that same year.
      7. Elizabeth Dawson, b. 1955.

    4. Grace Vuiola Dawson, b. 4 Mar 1919, Oswego, NY, and d. 4 Aug 1935, Mt. Vernon, NY, age 16 years.

    5. Mary Elizabeth Dawson, born 4 Mar 1919 in Oswego, NY, and d. 10 May 1975, Alachua, FL. She m. Ben Curry, He was b. 1912, KY. Daughter:
      1. (dau.) Curry. She m. Daniel Wilson.

    5. Mary Celena Prentice, b. Apr 1891, NY, probably Oswego, and d. 3 Jan 1931 in Oswego, Oswego Co., NY. Bur. in St. Peters' Cem.,Oswego. Living at home in 1920.

    She m. Robert Louis Victor Nettles on 2 Apr 1923 in St. Mary’s, Oswego, NY. He was born 26 Jul 1892 in NY and d. Jun 1968, Oswego (per SSDI). Robert was the son of Henry Nettles & Margaret Desjardine. Daughter (per Kelly Miller, email, 3 Jan 2006)::

    1. Mary Margaret Nettles, b. 6 Mar 1926 in Clark's Memorial Hospital, Oswego City, Oswego Co., NY, and d,. 3 Jan 1989 in Granby Town, Oswego Co., NY. She married Anthony DeStefano in Jan 1945 in Oswego, Oswego Co., NY.

    6. Arthur Leroy Prentice, b. 25 May 1901, NY, obtained his SS# in OH, and d. 14 Feb 1965, OH (per Gayle Davet, email, 19 Dec 2009 and SSDI). Bur in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH. He is incorrectly indexed in the 1920 Cleveland, OH, census as "Leroy A. Prentice". Not in 1930 census.

    Arthur married Norma Ruth Fissell on 19 Jun 1922 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH. We have conflicting information about her birth. Robert Davet's email of 24 Dec 2009 says she was b. 22 Jun 1895, OH, but the 1920 Cincinnati census shsows her b. b. Sep 1896, OH. Norma d. 19 Nov 1969, OH, and is bur in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

    She was the dau. of Peter Fissel (b. c. 1859, Germany) and Louise (b. Oct 1863, Germany). Norma was living at home and unmarried in the 1920 Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH census. In the 1930 Cleveland, OH, census she and Arthur are living with her sister, Norma Fagnan. The Cleveland Press of 19 Nov 1969 (see Cleveland Obituaries, Fall 2001) says Norma Ruth d. 19 Nov 1969 and calls her the grandmother of 10. Services were at the Donald B. Johnson Funeral Home, 521 Broadway, Bedford, Cuyahoga Co. OH.

    Children of Arthur and Norma named in her obituary were:

    1. Fred R. Kersey Prentice (adopted), b. 26 Jul 1916.
    2. Robert Edward Kersey Prentice (adopted), b. 29 Aug 1918. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [7]
    3. Kenneth Arthur. Prentice, b. 5 Aug 1930. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[8]
    4. Richard Earl Prentice, b. 28 Sep 1932. Living in 1932 er Robert's obituary. He m. Tomasina Loretta Spagnola. She was the dau. of Fred Spagnola and Pasqua Cipnian. She was b. 28 May 1931, and d. 25 Dec 2005. Children:
      1. Richard Thomas Prentice, b. 15 Sep (year?)
      2. Andrea Lynn Prentice, b. 1 May 1956. She m. Terry Leo Testa, son of Leo Testa and Doris Tucker. He was b. 28 Apr 1950 and d. 1 Feb 2007 in Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH. Andrea and Terry hadthe following children:
        1. Teresa Lynn Testa1 was born on December 3, 1975.
        2. Michael Andrew Testa1 was born on April 25, 1978.
      3. Timothy Fred Prentice, b. 29 Aug 1957.

    5. Edward Fredrick Prentice, b. 20 Jul 1936. Living in 1974 per Robert's obituary. Not in 1920 or 1930 census. He m. (unknown) in Jun 1957

      Note: Robert Davet's email of 24 Dec 2009 say that, according to his father-in-law, the 1st 2 hildren are children of Norma's from a prior marriage and were adopted by Arthur.

    7. Robert Edward Kersey Prentice (adopted), b. 29 Aug 1918, and d. 5 Aug 1974. Bur. Calvary, Cleveland, OH. His obituary of 7 Aug 1974 in the Cleveland Plain Dealer (see Fn. 1) says he d. the Monday preceeding. Services were held at St. Mary's Church, Union St., Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH. He m. Ann nee Colaizzi (see Fn. 1). Children identified in the obituary were: (Fn. 1)

    1. Robert E, Prentice Jr.
    2. Helen Prentice.
    3. Diane Prentice, b. c. 1960 and d. c. 6 Dec 1964, age 4. Residence at High Rd., Oakwood Village. St. John & Sons Funeral Home, 923 Broadway, Bedford. Mass of the Angels, Wednesday, 10 A. M., at St. Mary Church, Union St. at Northfield Rd., Bedford.

    8. Kenneth Arthur Prentice, b. 5 Aug 1930.

    He m. Ruth Carolyn Bishop (daughter of Virgil Ellsworth Bishop and Grace Ionia Hardy) on 19 Jun 1954. She was b. 19 Jun 1936. Children:

    1. Gayle Ruth Prentice, b. 28 Feb 1960, Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH. She m. Robert Ivan Davet on 22 May 1982, Shepard Rd. Christian Church, Twinsburg, Summit Co., OH. He was b. 15 Nov 1960, Warrensville Heights, Cuyahoga Co., OH and was the son of Robert E. Davet and Marianne Davies. Received an Associate Degree in Computer Science in May 1981 in Cleveland OH from the Institute of Computer Management. Worked at Bowes Manufacturing for 12 years as Production Manager and Computer Programmer. Hired by the Twinsburg Fire Department in 1989 (Paid on call) and then full time on 28 Sep 1992. Received his Paramedic Licence in June 1993. Children of Gayle and Robert:
      1. Robert Kenneth Davet, b. 20 Mar 1985 in Warrensville Heights, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
      2. Lisa Grace Davet, b. 9 Aug 1988 in Warrensville Heights, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
    2. Kenneth Edward Prentice, b. 29 May 1955. He m. Veronica Diane Bensie (daughter of Leo Bensie and Anita Nagle) on 6 Jun 1981. She was b. 3 Oct 1957. Children:
      1. Jessica Diane Prentice, b. 2 May 1982.
      2. Kathleen Marie Prentice, b. 19 May 1985.
      3. Kenneth Arthur Prentice. b/ 19 Jun 1990.
    3. Mike Timothy Prentice, b. 20 May 1958 in Bedford, Cuyahoga Co., OH. He m. 1st Antoinette Senor on 6 Apr 1981. Children:
      1. Christopher Michael Prentice, b. 24 Sep 1981.
      2. Kari Lynn Prentice, b. 22 May 1986.
      Mike m. 2nd Lisa Seese and had:
      1. Sarah Prentice.
      2. Jonathan Prentice.
      3. Joshua Prentice.
    4. Arthur LeRoy Prentice, b. 30 Apr 1968 in Bedford, Cuyahoga, OH.

      He m. Paula Allen. Daughter:

      1. Jennifer Jill Prentice.

      Arthur m. 2nd Denise Mauser. Son:

      1. Andrew Luke Prentice.

      Are Horace Prentice's parents John and Caroline Prentice?

      The 1880 census says that both of his parents were born in New York. With that new information, and since he moved to Volney, Oswego Co., NY, we checked to see how many Prentices were in Volney in 1870 when Horace was there.

      Following is a printout, by family group, of all the Prentices living in Volney in the 1870 census: 

      View Record 	John Prentice 		Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1819 	New York 	White 	Male 	
View Record 	Caroline Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1818 	New York 	White 	Female 	
View Record 	Lois Prentice 		Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1867 	New York 	White 	Female 	
View Record 	Charles Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1861 	New York 	White 	Male 	
View Record 	George Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1869 	New York 	White 	Male 	

View Record 	Horace Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1843 	Canada 		White 	Male 	
View Record 	Catherine Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1841 	New York 	White 	Female 	
View Record 	Esther Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1852 	New York 	White 	Female 	
View Record 	Wallace Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1856 	New York 	White 	Male 	

View Record 	Susan Prentice 		Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1827 	New York 	White 	Female 	
View Record 	John Prentice 		Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1852 	New York 	White 	Male 	
View Record 	James Prentice 		Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1856 	New York 	White 	Male 	

View Record 	Lottie Prentice 	Volney, Oswego, NY 	abt 1846 	New York 	White 	Female

      Let us hypothesize that Horace's parents are John Prentice, b. c. 1819 in NY and his wife, Caroline, b. c. 1818, NY. They would have been about 24 and 25 when Horace was born in 1842, appropriate ages to be his parents.

      The 1860 census also shows John and his wife living in Volney. Horace does not appear in Volney; perhaps he had not yet arrived, or perhaps he arrived but was missed by the census taker.

      Neither Horace nor John appear in Oswego County in the 1850 census; that would be consistent with both of them being in Canada at that time and with Horace being born in Canada.

      If you have any information which can help us identify the ancestry and descendants of any of the folks mentioned above, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com..

      Return to Top of this Article .
      A member of PrenticeNet - Questions/Comments? Email: webmaster@PrenticeNet.com