Christena Ann Heyde was a daughter of John Hidy and Christina Ann Trexler Hidy.
Christena Ann Heyde married first to Augustus Smith. They had ten children.
Christena Ann Heyde Smith married second to David Sears, Sr. on May 14, 1848.
-----
NOTES:
Birth and death dates were provided by Rickard K. Thompson.
Other birth and death dates are suggested.
From Warren Smith on October 29, 2013:
Maiden name spelled Heyde.
Some postings show Hidy amd other spellings.
From a contributor on February 6, 2015:
This story was copied from Ancestry.com with permission. It appears to be based on the letter Christine wrote to her brother, probably George still living in Fayette Co, OH.
"The Augustus Smith Wagon Train left the Greenbrier Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1842. They probably had 5 new Prairie Schooner type Conestoga wagons made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and designed especially for the transcontinental trip. They had been preparing for the trip for more than 2 years.
The group stopped in Fayette County, Ohio for one week to visit the three living brothers of Christina Hidy Smith. They were Joseph, George, and John. The time was spent visiting, checking supplies and equipment on the train. The three brothers were very interested and wanted to make sure that no mistake was made in equipping the train for the long trip.
The brothers, and the majority of the people contacted, expressed their opinion that the train should wait at least 5 years before attempting to go to California.
Joseph Hidy presented Christina with a very fine Morgan saddle mare before she left and wished her the very best. When they left, it was a very serious parting with plenty of tears and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, such as Fayette County had never seen before.
As they crossed the Midwest, they inquired about crossing the plains. The majority of the people advised that it was too soon to travel so far. After having considerable trouble in Illinois with heavy rain and mud, they stopped in Fairfield, Iowa to rest a few days and reconsider their trip. They were offered a good price on a farm there, which they accepted and stayed for three years and farmed and made some money.
In 1846, a man offered them such a good price for their farm that they accepted an were forced to make another decision about making their trip. Three more wagons came along enroute to California, stopped and asked them to go along to California with them. This meant safety in numbers. They proceeded with a total of 8 wagons apparently on the last part of the journey.
Things went well until they reached southwestern Kansas, and as was feared, they were attacked by a small band of Indians. They successfully drove them off with minor damages to equipment and with no casualties.
Again the group proceeded and all was quiet for 2 or 3 days when they were attacked the second time by a little larger band of Indians. They were driven off with a little more effort and some damage to equipment. The group again proceeded with more caution and expectation of more trouble realizing that they were getting into dangerous Indian territory. They were again attacked with larger bands which kept coming, and with more and more ferocity and determination. They circled the wagons, horses taken inside, supplies piled up for breastworks, and made ready for battle. It continued all the first day and increased in ferocity. At night the Indians moved off a short distance and rested for the night. At daylight they started the battle with all their fierceness and savagery, fought all day, retiring at night. Anticipating another big attack the third day, they held a meeting, made plans for the worst to come, if come it must. The plan was to put all the money and valuables in the saddle bags and placed on Christina's saddle horse, made ready for an attempt to escape. It this should happen, she was to return to Fairfield and wait for news from the wagon train. If no news by the end of one year, the money and valuables were hers. She put on men's clothes and got ready for the morning.
When morning came, so did the Indians with all of their fierceness. They fought all day. Two of the sons were killed, two more wounded, two or three of the wagons were burning, horses were breaking loose and running away. Augustus was mortally wounded. Christy was helping him when he looked up at her and said, "GO CHRISTY GO." "GO CHRISTY GO." She bade him goodbye in the saddest moment of her life, jumped on the horse, and the mare seemed to know what Christy wanted. She went outside of the circle of wagons and started to circle the opposite way of the Indians. Suddenly she seemed to see the opening, dashed through it, and just flew away from the Indians.
The Indian ponies could not keep up with the Morgan mare. She traveled on and on, day and night, until she reached Fairfield, Iowa. Christy arranged for a place to stay until she could find permanent quarters. There she waited and waited for word from the wagon train that never came. With the horrible picture she saw when she had to leave the train on her mind and in her memory, she waited years upon years. All of the disgrace and distress and sorrow they had brought upon the family. Many times she started to write letters and tore them up. 1846 had been a very disastrous year for them. But now the vigil started and was to go on and on, as if forever. She decided to stay in Fairfield for the rest of her life and not go back to Ohio or Virginia.
In 1876, 30 years later, she wrote to her brother telling him of the tragedy in great detail. Expressing her utter sorrow at the delay and regretting the disgrace and distress they had brought on the family, needlessly, and uselessly, through just plain lack of responsibility it seemed to her. The letter was 5 pages long.
With the sound of "GO CHRISTY GO" still ringing in her ears, she passed away from this life at Fairfield, Iowa on March 9, 1881. She is buried alone in the Gantz Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa."
If anyone has more/better information, please contact me.
Christena Ann Heyde married first to Augustus Smith. They had ten children.
Christena Ann Heyde Smith married second to David Sears, Sr. on May 14, 1848.
-----
NOTES:
Birth and death dates were provided by Rickard K. Thompson.
Other birth and death dates are suggested.
From Warren Smith on October 29, 2013:
Maiden name spelled Heyde.
Some postings show Hidy amd other spellings.
From a contributor on February 6, 2015:
This story was copied from Ancestry.com with permission. It appears to be based on the letter Christine wrote to her brother, probably George still living in Fayette Co, OH.
"The Augustus Smith Wagon Train left the Greenbrier Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1842. They probably had 5 new Prairie Schooner type Conestoga wagons made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and designed especially for the transcontinental trip. They had been preparing for the trip for more than 2 years.
The group stopped in Fayette County, Ohio for one week to visit the three living brothers of Christina Hidy Smith. They were Joseph, George, and John. The time was spent visiting, checking supplies and equipment on the train. The three brothers were very interested and wanted to make sure that no mistake was made in equipping the train for the long trip.
The brothers, and the majority of the people contacted, expressed their opinion that the train should wait at least 5 years before attempting to go to California.
Joseph Hidy presented Christina with a very fine Morgan saddle mare before she left and wished her the very best. When they left, it was a very serious parting with plenty of tears and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, such as Fayette County had never seen before.
As they crossed the Midwest, they inquired about crossing the plains. The majority of the people advised that it was too soon to travel so far. After having considerable trouble in Illinois with heavy rain and mud, they stopped in Fairfield, Iowa to rest a few days and reconsider their trip. They were offered a good price on a farm there, which they accepted and stayed for three years and farmed and made some money.
In 1846, a man offered them such a good price for their farm that they accepted an were forced to make another decision about making their trip. Three more wagons came along enroute to California, stopped and asked them to go along to California with them. This meant safety in numbers. They proceeded with a total of 8 wagons apparently on the last part of the journey.
Things went well until they reached southwestern Kansas, and as was feared, they were attacked by a small band of Indians. They successfully drove them off with minor damages to equipment and with no casualties.
Again the group proceeded and all was quiet for 2 or 3 days when they were attacked the second time by a little larger band of Indians. They were driven off with a little more effort and some damage to equipment. The group again proceeded with more caution and expectation of more trouble realizing that they were getting into dangerous Indian territory. They were again attacked with larger bands which kept coming, and with more and more ferocity and determination. They circled the wagons, horses taken inside, supplies piled up for breastworks, and made ready for battle. It continued all the first day and increased in ferocity. At night the Indians moved off a short distance and rested for the night. At daylight they started the battle with all their fierceness and savagery, fought all day, retiring at night. Anticipating another big attack the third day, they held a meeting, made plans for the worst to come, if come it must. The plan was to put all the money and valuables in the saddle bags and placed on Christina's saddle horse, made ready for an attempt to escape. It this should happen, she was to return to Fairfield and wait for news from the wagon train. If no news by the end of one year, the money and valuables were hers. She put on men's clothes and got ready for the morning.
When morning came, so did the Indians with all of their fierceness. They fought all day. Two of the sons were killed, two more wounded, two or three of the wagons were burning, horses were breaking loose and running away. Augustus was mortally wounded. Christy was helping him when he looked up at her and said, "GO CHRISTY GO." "GO CHRISTY GO." She bade him goodbye in the saddest moment of her life, jumped on the horse, and the mare seemed to know what Christy wanted. She went outside of the circle of wagons and started to circle the opposite way of the Indians. Suddenly she seemed to see the opening, dashed through it, and just flew away from the Indians.
The Indian ponies could not keep up with the Morgan mare. She traveled on and on, day and night, until she reached Fairfield, Iowa. Christy arranged for a place to stay until she could find permanent quarters. There she waited and waited for word from the wagon train that never came. With the horrible picture she saw when she had to leave the train on her mind and in her memory, she waited years upon years. All of the disgrace and distress and sorrow they had brought upon the family. Many times she started to write letters and tore them up. 1846 had been a very disastrous year for them. But now the vigil started and was to go on and on, as if forever. She decided to stay in Fairfield for the rest of her life and not go back to Ohio or Virginia.
In 1876, 30 years later, she wrote to her brother telling him of the tragedy in great detail. Expressing her utter sorrow at the delay and regretting the disgrace and distress they had brought on the family, needlessly, and uselessly, through just plain lack of responsibility it seemed to her. The letter was 5 pages long.
With the sound of "GO CHRISTY GO" still ringing in her ears, she passed away from this life at Fairfield, Iowa on March 9, 1881. She is buried alone in the Gantz Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa."
If anyone has more/better information, please contact me.
Christena Ann Heyde was a daughter of John Hidy and Christina Ann Trexler Hidy.
Christena Ann Heyde married first to Augustus Smith. They had ten children.
Christena Ann Heyde Smith married second to David Sears, Sr. on May 14, 1848.
-----
NOTES:
Birth and death dates were provided by Rickard K. Thompson.
Other birth and death dates are suggested.
From Warren Smith on October 29, 2013:
Maiden name spelled Heyde.
Some postings show Hidy amd other spellings.
From a contributor on February 6, 2015:
This story was copied from Ancestry.com with permission. It appears to be based on the letter Christine wrote to her brother, probably George still living in Fayette Co, OH.
"The Augustus Smith Wagon Train left the Greenbrier Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1842. They probably had 5 new Prairie Schooner type Conestoga wagons made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and designed especially for the transcontinental trip. They had been preparing for the trip for more than 2 years.
The group stopped in Fayette County, Ohio for one week to visit the three living brothers of Christina Hidy Smith. They were Joseph, George, and John. The time was spent visiting, checking supplies and equipment on the train. The three brothers were very interested and wanted to make sure that no mistake was made in equipping the train for the long trip.
The brothers, and the majority of the people contacted, expressed their opinion that the train should wait at least 5 years before attempting to go to California.
Joseph Hidy presented Christina with a very fine Morgan saddle mare before she left and wished her the very best. When they left, it was a very serious parting with plenty of tears and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, such as Fayette County had never seen before.
As they crossed the Midwest, they inquired about crossing the plains. The majority of the people advised that it was too soon to travel so far. After having considerable trouble in Illinois with heavy rain and mud, they stopped in Fairfield, Iowa to rest a few days and reconsider their trip. They were offered a good price on a farm there, which they accepted and stayed for three years and farmed and made some money.
In 1846, a man offered them such a good price for their farm that they accepted an were forced to make another decision about making their trip. Three more wagons came along enroute to California, stopped and asked them to go along to California with them. This meant safety in numbers. They proceeded with a total of 8 wagons apparently on the last part of the journey.
Things went well until they reached southwestern Kansas, and as was feared, they were attacked by a small band of Indians. They successfully drove them off with minor damages to equipment and with no casualties.
Again the group proceeded and all was quiet for 2 or 3 days when they were attacked the second time by a little larger band of Indians. They were driven off with a little more effort and some damage to equipment. The group again proceeded with more caution and expectation of more trouble realizing that they were getting into dangerous Indian territory. They were again attacked with larger bands which kept coming, and with more and more ferocity and determination. They circled the wagons, horses taken inside, supplies piled up for breastworks, and made ready for battle. It continued all the first day and increased in ferocity. At night the Indians moved off a short distance and rested for the night. At daylight they started the battle with all their fierceness and savagery, fought all day, retiring at night. Anticipating another big attack the third day, they held a meeting, made plans for the worst to come, if come it must. The plan was to put all the money and valuables in the saddle bags and placed on Christina's saddle horse, made ready for an attempt to escape. It this should happen, she was to return to Fairfield and wait for news from the wagon train. If no news by the end of one year, the money and valuables were hers. She put on men's clothes and got ready for the morning.
When morning came, so did the Indians with all of their fierceness. They fought all day. Two of the sons were killed, two more wounded, two or three of the wagons were burning, horses were breaking loose and running away. Augustus was mortally wounded. Christy was helping him when he looked up at her and said, "GO CHRISTY GO." "GO CHRISTY GO." She bade him goodbye in the saddest moment of her life, jumped on the horse, and the mare seemed to know what Christy wanted. She went outside of the circle of wagons and started to circle the opposite way of the Indians. Suddenly she seemed to see the opening, dashed through it, and just flew away from the Indians.
The Indian ponies could not keep up with the Morgan mare. She traveled on and on, day and night, until she reached Fairfield, Iowa. Christy arranged for a place to stay until she could find permanent quarters. There she waited and waited for word from the wagon train that never came. With the horrible picture she saw when she had to leave the train on her mind and in her memory, she waited years upon years. All of the disgrace and distress and sorrow they had brought upon the family. Many times she started to write letters and tore them up. 1846 had been a very disastrous year for them. But now the vigil started and was to go on and on, as if forever. She decided to stay in Fairfield for the rest of her life and not go back to Ohio or Virginia.
In 1876, 30 years later, she wrote to her brother telling him of the tragedy in great detail. Expressing her utter sorrow at the delay and regretting the disgrace and distress they had brought on the family, needlessly, and uselessly, through just plain lack of responsibility it seemed to her. The letter was 5 pages long.
With the sound of "GO CHRISTY GO" still ringing in her ears, she passed away from this life at Fairfield, Iowa on March 9, 1881. She is buried alone in the Gantz Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa."
If anyone has more/better information, please contact me.
Christena Ann Heyde married first to Augustus Smith. They had ten children.
Christena Ann Heyde Smith married second to David Sears, Sr. on May 14, 1848.
-----
NOTES:
Birth and death dates were provided by Rickard K. Thompson.
Other birth and death dates are suggested.
From Warren Smith on October 29, 2013:
Maiden name spelled Heyde.
Some postings show Hidy amd other spellings.
From a contributor on February 6, 2015:
This story was copied from Ancestry.com with permission. It appears to be based on the letter Christine wrote to her brother, probably George still living in Fayette Co, OH.
"The Augustus Smith Wagon Train left the Greenbrier Valley of Virginia in the spring of 1842. They probably had 5 new Prairie Schooner type Conestoga wagons made in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and designed especially for the transcontinental trip. They had been preparing for the trip for more than 2 years.
The group stopped in Fayette County, Ohio for one week to visit the three living brothers of Christina Hidy Smith. They were Joseph, George, and John. The time was spent visiting, checking supplies and equipment on the train. The three brothers were very interested and wanted to make sure that no mistake was made in equipping the train for the long trip.
The brothers, and the majority of the people contacted, expressed their opinion that the train should wait at least 5 years before attempting to go to California.
Joseph Hidy presented Christina with a very fine Morgan saddle mare before she left and wished her the very best. When they left, it was a very serious parting with plenty of tears and waving of hats and handkerchiefs, such as Fayette County had never seen before.
As they crossed the Midwest, they inquired about crossing the plains. The majority of the people advised that it was too soon to travel so far. After having considerable trouble in Illinois with heavy rain and mud, they stopped in Fairfield, Iowa to rest a few days and reconsider their trip. They were offered a good price on a farm there, which they accepted and stayed for three years and farmed and made some money.
In 1846, a man offered them such a good price for their farm that they accepted an were forced to make another decision about making their trip. Three more wagons came along enroute to California, stopped and asked them to go along to California with them. This meant safety in numbers. They proceeded with a total of 8 wagons apparently on the last part of the journey.
Things went well until they reached southwestern Kansas, and as was feared, they were attacked by a small band of Indians. They successfully drove them off with minor damages to equipment and with no casualties.
Again the group proceeded and all was quiet for 2 or 3 days when they were attacked the second time by a little larger band of Indians. They were driven off with a little more effort and some damage to equipment. The group again proceeded with more caution and expectation of more trouble realizing that they were getting into dangerous Indian territory. They were again attacked with larger bands which kept coming, and with more and more ferocity and determination. They circled the wagons, horses taken inside, supplies piled up for breastworks, and made ready for battle. It continued all the first day and increased in ferocity. At night the Indians moved off a short distance and rested for the night. At daylight they started the battle with all their fierceness and savagery, fought all day, retiring at night. Anticipating another big attack the third day, they held a meeting, made plans for the worst to come, if come it must. The plan was to put all the money and valuables in the saddle bags and placed on Christina's saddle horse, made ready for an attempt to escape. It this should happen, she was to return to Fairfield and wait for news from the wagon train. If no news by the end of one year, the money and valuables were hers. She put on men's clothes and got ready for the morning.
When morning came, so did the Indians with all of their fierceness. They fought all day. Two of the sons were killed, two more wounded, two or three of the wagons were burning, horses were breaking loose and running away. Augustus was mortally wounded. Christy was helping him when he looked up at her and said, "GO CHRISTY GO." "GO CHRISTY GO." She bade him goodbye in the saddest moment of her life, jumped on the horse, and the mare seemed to know what Christy wanted. She went outside of the circle of wagons and started to circle the opposite way of the Indians. Suddenly she seemed to see the opening, dashed through it, and just flew away from the Indians.
The Indian ponies could not keep up with the Morgan mare. She traveled on and on, day and night, until she reached Fairfield, Iowa. Christy arranged for a place to stay until she could find permanent quarters. There she waited and waited for word from the wagon train that never came. With the horrible picture she saw when she had to leave the train on her mind and in her memory, she waited years upon years. All of the disgrace and distress and sorrow they had brought upon the family. Many times she started to write letters and tore them up. 1846 had been a very disastrous year for them. But now the vigil started and was to go on and on, as if forever. She decided to stay in Fairfield for the rest of her life and not go back to Ohio or Virginia.
In 1876, 30 years later, she wrote to her brother telling him of the tragedy in great detail. Expressing her utter sorrow at the delay and regretting the disgrace and distress they had brought on the family, needlessly, and uselessly, through just plain lack of responsibility it seemed to her. The letter was 5 pages long.
With the sound of "GO CHRISTY GO" still ringing in her ears, she passed away from this life at Fairfield, Iowa on March 9, 1881. She is buried alone in the Gantz Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa."
If anyone has more/better information, please contact me.
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