This is NOT intended to be a COMPLETE record. It is however, a study of this family taken primarily from sources available online on various free and fee sites. Everything in this compilation should be checked against primary sources, where available, for the best accuracy. Confusing or conflicting data is generally pointed out, but small age discrepancies on the various census records may not be.
1. Aaron Sturges was born 5 Nov 1803, Fairfield, Fairfield Co., CT, a son of Banks Sturges and Deborah Sturges. He died in Fairfield on 5 Aug 1890. He was married 2 Apr 1826 at 1st Church of Fairfield, CT to Charity Squire. She was born 21 Jun 1809 (or 21 Feb 1809 - according to John Henry Houck research) and died 14 Nov 1858 in Lewey Lake and is buried in Speculator cemetery.
A possible daughter of Aaron and Charity; Augusta d. Aug 17, 1852 8yrs, 7mos buried in Speculator Cem.
Aaron Sturges and Charity Squire had the following children: 1.1. Aaron Burr Sturges was born 6 Jan 1827 in CT 1.2. Lydia May Sturges was born 4 Mar 1829 in Southport, Fairfield Co., CT 1.3. David Sturges was born 24 Mar 1832 in Cranberry Creek, NY 1.4. James Sturges was born 25 Nov 1833 in NY 1.5. Samantha Sturges was born about 1836 in NY 1.6. George Sturges was born about 1838 in NY 1.7. Chester Sturges was born 15 Feb 1839 in NY 1.8. Lewis Sturges was born Mar 1842 in NY 1.9. Daniel Sturges was born about 1843 in NY 1.10. Alfred Sturges was born in 1845 in NY 1.11. Sarah Alvina Sturges was born 11 Jan 1847 in Lewey Lake, NY.1.1. Aaron Burr Sturges was born 6 Jan 1827 in CT. He married Sarah Thompson a daughter of John Thompson and Anna Dunham. She was born Jan 1827 in NY. He died 10 Jan 1891 age 64 years and 4 days and is buried in Speculator cemetery. She died 15 Feb 1912, age 85 years, 6 months, 8 days and is buried in Speculator cemetery. They had 6 children with 5 still living in 1900 and 4 still living in 1910.
Aaron Burr Sturges and Sarah Thompson had the following children: 1.1.1. Mary Augusta Sturges was born 5 Aug 1853. She married Henry Burton Slack on 4 Jul 1871 in Piseco, Hamilton county, NY. He was born 2 Mar 1848 and died 4 Sep 1916. 1.1.2. Ellen F. Sturges (1854-1925). She married William Ronald. Both are buried in Wells cemetery. 1.1.3. Eugenia Sturges was born about 1858 and died before 1883. She was married about 1874 to Oscar Howland. He was born in April 1850. 1.1.4. John Thompson Sturges was born Jul 1860. He died 1 Feb 1910, age 48 years, 6 months, 8 days and is buried in Speculator cemetery. He died in Wells, Hamilton county, NY. 1.1.5. James C. Sturges was born Nov 1864 and married about 1890 to Daisy Patterson Scidmore. She was born Feb 1872 and died before 1910. James C. Sturges and Daisy had the following children: 1.1.5.1. Sarah B. Sturges born Aug 1894 in NY 1.1.5.2. Kenneth Frank Sturges born 24 Aug 1898 in NY and died 1969, buried in Speculator cemetery 1.1.5.3. Lizzie Isabelle Sturges born 9 Oct 1900, died 1 Feb 1903 according to Lake Pleasant records. 1.1.6. Katherine E. ("Kitty") Sturges was born 26 Jul 1866 and died 25 Feb 1935 according to Lake Pleasant town records. She married David E. Call who was born in 1862 and died 1933.1.2. Lydia May Sturges was born 4 Mar 1829 in Southport, Fairfield Co., CT. She was married on 11 Jul 1850 to Edward Robert Corrin in Fulton City, NY. He was born 29 Jan 1824 in Parish Onchan, Isle of Mann, UK. By 1860 they had moved to Iowa.
Lydia May Sturges and Edward Corrin had the following children: 1.2.1. Ambernett ("Nettie") Corrin was born 27 Jan 1850 in NY. She was married about 1869 to Robert B. Weaver. He was born in 1846 and died in 1912. 1.2.2. James Edward Corrin was born 4 Feb 1857 in IA. He was married to Mary S. Dargetz and living in Ashland Pct, Boone, NE in 1900 1.2.3. Joseph Eugene Corrin was born 30 Oct 1861 in IA and married Isa C. Arnot. 1.2.4. Eliza May Corrin was born 29 Apr 1863 in Davenport, IA (twin) and married Frederick W. Meyer who was born in 1852. 1.2.5. Samantha Ellen Corrin was born 29 Apr 1863 (twin) and married Neil S. Hansen who was born in 1855. 1.2.6. Sarah Ann Corrin was born about 1866 in IA and married Ed Thompson who was born 1867. 1.2.7. George John Corrin was born about 1868 in IA and married Isabella Hanks who was born in 1875. 1.2.8. Sherman Corrin (b. abt Jul 1869 in IA)1.3. David Sturges was born 24 Mar 1832 in Cranberry Creek, NY. He first married Irene Matilda Holmes about 1858 and is found living with her in 1860 (she's 25 years old). His 2 youngest siblings are also living with him then. He was married second on 6 Nov 1895 in Wells, NY to Ida M. Weaver who was born 11 Feb 1868 in Wells, NY and died 28 Jul 1956 in Speculator and buried in Speculator cemetery. He died 15 Sep 1920 also in Speculator and is also buried in Speculator cemetery. She married second Howard Sturges.
1.4. James Sturges was born 25 Nov 1833 in NY, died 12 Oct 1926 in Buffalo, Wright, MN. He was married about 1861 to Ellen A. Dudley who was born Aug 1840 in VT and died in 1910.
Civil War service records:
Sturges, James
[Service record as Sturgess]
Enlisted 27 Aug 1864 at Galen, age 30 as
Private, Battery E, 3rd NY Light Artillery
Mustered in 31 Aug 1864
Mustered out 23 June 1865 at Richmond, VA
Pension Records:
Filed for Invalid pension 18 Jan 1896 from Minnesota
Application #1173369, Certificate #908010James Sturges and Ellen A. had 2 children with 2 surviving in the 1900 census. 1.4.1. Alfred Sturges, b. Feb 1862, in MN and died in 1956. He married Adaline Covert about 1883. She was born Oct 1859, in MN and died in 1935. By 1900 Alfred Sturges and Adaline had 4 children: 1.4.1.1. Bessie, b. Mar 1885, in MN 1.4.1.2. Paul, b. Apr 1887, in MN 1.4.1.3. Chester, b. Dec 1896, in MN 1.4.1.4. Myra, b. Aug 1898, in MN 1.4.2. James Sturges, b. about 1868, in MN and died in 1945. He married Edith Burrows who was born in 1861 and died in 1898.1.6. George Sturges was born about 1838 in NY. He died in the Civil War on 6 Apr 1865.
Civil War service records:
Sturges, George
Enlisted 30 July 1862 at Johnsburgh, NY, age 25 as
Private, Co. D, 118th NY Infantry
Mustered in 29 Aug 1862
POW 27 Oct 1864 at Fair Oaks, VA
Paroled (date and place not stated)
Died of disease 6 April 1865 at Annapolis, MD
Letter from George Sturgess to Josiah Wood:
George served with William Wood and wrote to William’s parents to inform them of their son’s death. The letter was dated 10 July 1864 and ends with these lines (spelling corrected for ease of reading):
“Many [times]? William and I have got and talked over old times and wished that we was back to Racket [sic] Lake. I shall miss him very much for he was the only one that I was acquainted with from that part of the country. I don’t know as I can give you any more information about him. Give my best respects to Lonzo [William’s brother] and his wife. Tell him that I will come and see him when I get out of the army.”1.7. Chester Sturges was born 15 Feb 1839 in NY and died 10 Dec 1894 and is buried in Speculator cemetery. He married Phebe Eliza Pelcher. She was born 10 Dec 1844 in Oppenheim, NY and died 24 Jan 1924 in Lake Pleasant, NY. She was the daughter of Ambrose Pelcher and Almira Hastings according to her death record and she's buried in Speculator cemtery. One of their 9 children had died before 1900.
Civil War service records:
Sturges, Chester
Enlisted 28 Sept 1861 at Indian Lake, NY, age 21 as
Private, Co. C, 93rd NY Infantry
Mustered in 20 Nov 1861
Re-enlisted 20 Dec 1863
Wounded 5 May 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness, VA
Discharged for disability 4 Dec 1864 at Petersburg, VA
Additional: See Hamilton County Civil War Discharges
Physical description (from discharge): age 24 years, 5 ft. 10 in., light complexion, blue eyes, light hair
From History of Hamilton County:
(Pg. 78) “Reaching out beyond his small community, [Milo] Washburn had talked with the young mountain guide and hunter, Chester Sturges, at his father’s fishing camp at Lewy Lake. The 22-year-old resident of the Town of Lake Pleasant signed for service as Washburn’s recruit at Indian Lake on the same September 28th...The Sturges brothers...were credited to the town of Lake Pleasant.”
(Pg. 84) “They examined the ugly wounded jaw of Chet Sturges, now covered by a thick growth blond beard, and learned how he had lain helpless on the battlefield in the Battle of the Wilderness, his face full of maggots.”
Pension Records:Filed for Invalid pension 14 Oct 1865 [Under Sturgis, Chester]
Application #136925, Certificate #95249Widow (Eliza Sturges) filed for pension 13 April 1895 from NY
Application #614201, Certificate #428280Helpless child (Mead Sturges, guardian) filed for pension 26 Nov 1924 from NY
Application #12260641883 Hamilton County Pension List: Hope Center; cause – wound of jaw 1890 Special schedule census: Lake Pleasant, Hamilton County, NY; PO Sageville Chester Sturges and Eliza P. had the following children: 1.7.1. Charity Sturges was born about 1867 and died in 1948. She married Albert Danforth who was born in 1857 and died in 1933. 1.7.2. George M. Sturges was born about 1869. He married about 1900 to Eunise E. Hewitt. She was born in 1874 and died in 1940. George Sturges and Eunise had the following children: 1.7.2.1. Harrie Lloyd Sturges was born about 1899 and died in 1916. 1.7.2.2. Chester A. Sturges was born 16 Jan 1901 and married Helen Fenner. 1.7.2.3. Lee Clifford Sturges was born 11 Aug 1902 and died 31 Jul 1904. 1.7.2.4. Arthur C. Sturges was born about 1906 and married Anna Clark. 1.7.2.5. Mae Leona Sturges was born in 1914 and married Charles Dare 1.7.2.6. David Wallace Sturges was born in 1917 and married Mary Walts 1.7.3. Alfred W. Sturges was born 19 Jan 1871 and died 16 Nov 1904, buried in Speculator cemetery 1.7.4. Mead Irvin Sturges was born 21 Dec 1873 and died 8 Mar 1947, buried in Speculator cemetery 1.7.5. Edith A. Sturges was born about 1875 1.7.6. Nelly P. Sturges was born 1877 and died 1934. She married Nathan Page and is buried in Speculator cemetery. 1.7.7. Walter D. Sturges was born March 1880. 1.7.8. Howard Chester Sturges was born 22 Jan 1882, died 6 Aug 1953, buried in Speculator cemetery. 1.7.9. Richard Nelson Sturges was born 2 Dec 1884.1.8. Lewis Sturges was born Mar 1842 in NY and died in 1927. He was married first to Anna Dunning, b. abt 1846 in NY. He married second about 1874 to Fidella Adeline Denny who was born Feb 1852 in MI and died in 1946. Adeline had 6 children with 4 surviving in the 1900 census. They are residing in Excelsior Village, Hennepin, MN by 1870.
Civil War service records:
Sturges, Lewis
Enlisted 8 May 1861 at Glens Falls, NY, age 20 as
Private, Co. C, 22nd NY Infantry
Mustered in 6 June 1861
Promoted Corporal 1 Feb 1863
Mustered out 19 June 1863 at Albany, NY
Pension Records:Filed for Invalid pension 2 June 1887 from Minnesota
Application #611789, Certificate #426072Widow (Adaline Sturges) filed for pension 23 Nov [1889]? From California
Application #1597356, Certificate #a-2-2-28Lewis Sturges and Annie had the following children: 1.8.1. Walter Sturges was born about 1866, in MN, probably died before 1880. 1.8.2. Charlotte Sturges was born about 1868, in MN and married David L. Hannon who was born in 1859. Lewis Sturges and Adaline had the following children: 1.8.3. Lulu Sturges was born about 1876, in MN and married Jocelyn Clark who was born in 1874 and died about 1923. 1.8.4. Florence Sturges was born about 1878, in MN and married a Mr. O'Brien. 1.8.5. Raymond F. Sturges was born in Feb 1883, in MN. 1.8.6. Minnie Sturges was born in Aug 1889 in MN and died after 1941. She married Douglas Farnum. 1.8.7. Nettie Sturges was born in 1880 and died after 1895.1.9. Daniel Sturges was born about 1843 in NY and died in the Civil War.
Civil War service records:
Sturges, Daniel
Enlisted 23 July 1862 at Danube, NY, age 19 as
Corporal, Co. A, 121st NY Infantry
Mustered in 23 Aug 1862
Promoted Private (reduced to ranks)
Wounded 19 Oct 1864 at Cedar Creek, VA
Died of wounds (date not stated) at hospital in Baltimore, MD
Pension Records:
Father (Aaron Sturges) filed for pension 29 Jan 1879
Application #241327, Certificate #1885801.10 Alfred Sturges was born in 1845.
Civil War service recordsSturges, Alfred
Enlisted 19 Oct 1861 at Indian Lake, NY, age 18 as
Private, Co. C, 93rd NY Infantry
Mustered in 20 Nov 1861
Mustered out 20 Oct 1862
Re-enlisted 20 Oct 1862
Mustered into Co. E, 2nd U.S. Cavalry
Date and method of discharge not given
From History of Hamilton County:
(pg. 78) “Meantime, Alfred Sturges, brother of Chester, had followed his brother’s lead, enlisting in the same company on October 19th. The Sturges brothers...were credited to the town of Lake Pleasant.”1.11. Sarah Alvina Sturges was born 11 Jan 1847 in Lewey Lake, NY. She was married on 28 Nov 1863 in Lake Pleasant, NY to David Henry Fountain who was born 16 Dec 1839, in Fulton county, NY and died 3 Oct 1918 in Wells, NY. She died 25 Sep 1925 in Sacandaga Park, NY. Both are buried in Wells cemetery.
Sarah Alvina Sturges and David Henry Fountain had the following children: 1.11.1. Lee Leroy Fountain was born 22 Jun 1869. 1.11.2. Dexter Burr Fountain was born 14 Jun 1873. 1.11.3. Russell Harrold Fountain was born 14 May 1877. 1.11.4. David Sturges Fountain was born 8 Sep 1879.Sources:
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 census Lake Pleasant
1860 Inland Twp, Cedar, IA
1870, 1880 Farmington, Cedar, IA
1870, 1880, 1900 Excelsior, Hennepin, MN
1870, 1880, 1900 Buffalo, Wright, MN
"A Sturges Family Story: The Ancestors and All Identified Descendants of Aaron ("Old Sturge") Sturges 1803-1890," by Art Danforth.
Family history research performed by Annie Weaver.
Speculator cemetery listing
WWI Draft Registration
Descendants of Roswell and Esther Slack of Hamilton County posted on this site
AND Compared with World Tree from Jo Gaddy, John Houck, Kenneth Carpenter, Gary Silverstein, Cheryl Krams
Last Updated: Wednesday, 14-May-2008 13:17:24 PDT
Copyright © 2004: Lisa K. Slaski / Annie Weaver / Joanne Murray