Cora Jemima Van Wagener, 2nd wife of Isaac Schenck

27 Dec 1854

Dear Bro and Sister,

It is a long time since we have written to each other, and still longer since we have met, during which period, times busy wheels have borne us in, and amidst its ever varying changes, with me those changes are of great magnitude when I last wrote you I was at Owasco boarding with John Miller's teaching at the school house where you and I learned our letters. I need not say memory almost constantly turned back to the scenes of my childhood or that I deeply felt my lonelyness being the only one of my family in that place. I taught the two summers and the last I enjoyed myself very well indeed. But I began to feel lonely and wanted to settle in life, and about this time I had a oppurtunity to do so.

I received the first visit from Abram Ozmun at John Millers, he was from Lansing Tompkins County and now my husband. He is 38 years of age and has three children. Aaron and Mary, twins, 14 years and Abram 5 years. We have been married near 2 years, will be the 3rd of next March, we have a little daughter one year old yes-terday she bears your own name my dear sister she just begins to walk, and speaks a few words she has a dark complexion and black eyes li ke her father. The children are very much attached to her and she to them, we are fathers w hich you know suits me well, my husband is one of the kindest of men, and our children are af fectionate and obedient to us. Mother is with me now, she came here Nov 21st. I do hope you will try to visit your friends in this state before long, we would be right glad to see you and those dear ones of yours. Abraham has some connect in your western region and we may take a journey west I hardly dare flatter myself of it, I find it so difficult to leave home, but I shall hope to hear from you at last and you must come if possible, I close to write a little for Mother yours in haste,
Maria Ozmun.

My dear children I am happy to say my health is very good this winter, much better than it wa s last spring but than times and --- I hope sincerely this may find you and yours enjoying the same blessings. I have experienced much uneasiness and anxiety about you of late, occasioned by I suppose by a dream, in which I saw you and two of the children in great distress, I hope all is well with you, but I can not (help) feeling anxious to hear from you, I think of you every day and fear that you or Harvy or the children are sick, I am glad you both had your health to go to your farm. I wrote to you last September but have not received an answer yet, the reason I did not visit you last fall was the cholera ravaged so, I did not think it safe to start alone. I went to Charles-town last fall friends are all well, I was with Frances two weeks, they are well and doing well, Jerome thinks of buying a farm. They have a fine little boy 2 years old next March, I want you to write immediately on receiving this for I want to hear from you, and tell me if it is true that the rail road is completed through to Corunna, I must close it is ten o'clock Maria is sure sitting here alone & the baby is asleep in the cradle.

From your affectionate Mother J. SCHENCK.

From Dorothy Fitzpatrick, another Van Wagener/Schenck researcher:

Jemima V. Waggoner name was Cora Jemima Van Wagenen Elizabeth Schenck was born Dec. 5, 1823 d. Aug 18, 1891 Corruna, Shiawassee Co., Michigan She married Harvey B (not V) Young. b nov 16, 1821 d. Dec 22, 1903 Corunna, Shiawassee Co., Michigan Elizabeth and Harvey's children born in Michigan were born in Corunna. Glen's name was Glendower b. April 3, 1858 d April 17, 1927. Maria Schenck was b. July 30, 1820 d May 22, 1890 She married Abram Ozmun. The Shiawassee County Website has several obituaries on Schencks, Young...
Dorothy Fitzpatrick,
Daughter of Elmer Yonge
Granddaughter of Howard Young/Yonge
Great granddaughter of Glendower Young
Great great grand daughter of Harvey B. Young.

Most likely widowed by 1830. 1830 Census for Auburn, Cayuga Co, NY shows a Jemima Schenck as head of household with no males, 1 female under 5, 2 females 5-10 years old, 2 females 15-20, 1 female 40-50. Also, letter above makes no mention of husband Isaac Schenck and Jemima is living with her children.