Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Mary Jane Crouse


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Mary Jane Crouse and three of her descendants down to the second generation.


First and Second Generations
1. Mary Jane Crouse,1 born 19 December 1840 in Dutchess County, New York (parents not determined);1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 17 December 1886 in Clinton Hollow, Dutchess County, New York.1, 6 Mary married George Henry Gazley1 (born 22 May 1834 in Dutchess County, New York, the son of Elnathan Gazley and Sarah B. Wilbur;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 George died 17 January 1901 in Clinton Hollow, Dutchess County, New York1, 11). Mary and George are buried in Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Pleasant Plains, Dutchess County, New York.1

George’s obituary provides a brief biographical sketch:11

George Gazley, formerly a resident of Rhinebeck, and for several years past proprietor of the store at Clinton Hollow, was found dead in bed at the home of Martin E. Rikert, at Clinton Hollow, Thursday morning. He had complained of feeling ill before retiring and when Mr. Rikert, with whom he boarded, called him, it was found that he had died during the night. Mr. Gazley was well known in the Dutchess county. He was a democrat in politics and as a storekeeper, the postoffice being his store, he came to know everybody in his section of the county. He was a man of good character all of his life. He was a widower. He was 66 years old.11


Children of Mary Jane Crouse and George Henry Gazley:

 2i. Lillian Gazley, born 12 November 1861 in Dutchess County, New York;1, 3, 4 died 20 January 1877.1 Lillian is buried in Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Pleasant Plains, Dutchess County, New York.1
 3ii. Theodore Gazley, born 29 November 1863;1 died 5 May 1866.1 Theodore is buried in Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Pleasant Plains, Dutchess County, New York.1
 4iii. Homer Alonzo Gazley, born 15 January 1875 in Clinton Hollow, Dutchess County, New York;4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 died 14 September 1948 in Wingdale, Dutchess County, New York.13, 18 Homer attended schools in Clinton Hollow, and was a postal clerk in New York City for 45 years.18 Homer is buried in Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Pleasant Plains, Dutchess County, New York.13

  1. Find a Grave (website). Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Dutchess County, New York, Gazley, George Henry; George H. Gazley / May 22, 1834 - Jan. 17, 1901 / Mary Jane Crouse / His Wife / Dec. 19, 1840 - Dec. 17, 1886 / Their Children / Lillian / Nov. 12, 1861 - Jan. 20, 1877 / Theodore / Nov. 29, 1863 - May 5, 1866 [from headstone].
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, New York, Dutchess County, Clinton, Page 960, family of Daniel Crouse (54, New York, farmer); L. D. Crouse (51, New York); T. J. Crouse (20, New York); G. H. Gazely (25, New York, farmer); M. J. Gazely (19, New York).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1870, New York, Dutchess County, Clinton, Page 5, family of George Gazeley (35 New York, farmer); Mary Gazeley (29, New York); Lillian Gazeley (8, New York); Dewitt Farrel (14, New York, laborer).
  4. New York State Census, 1875, Dutchess County, Clinton, First Election District, Page 6, family of George H. Gazley (41, Dutchess [County], farmer); wife Mary J. Gazley (34, Dutchess); dau. Lillian Gazley (13, Dutchess); son Homer A. Gazley (5/12, Dutchess); servant Ada Green (18, Dutchess).
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, Dutchess County, Clinton, Enumeration District 31, Page No. 12, family of George H. Gazlay (46, New York, merchant); wife Mary Gazlay (37, New York); son Homer Gazlay (5, New York); servant Nellie Goldsmith (18, New York).
  6. New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956, available at familysearch.org. 1886, Mary J. Gazley, died 17 December 1886 in Clinton Hollow, New York.
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1850, New York, Dutchess County, Clinton, Page No. 289, family of Ellathan Gaysley [sic] (42, NY, farmer); Sara Gaysley (38, NY); George H. Gaysley (16, NY, farmer); Alonzo Gaysly (13, NY); Orlando Gaysley (6, NY); John Ward (30, Ireland, farmer); Jane Carpenter (19, NY); Joanna Handley (19, NY).
  8. New York State Census, 1892, Dutchess County, Clinton, Page 6, family of George H. Gazley (58, U.S., merchant); Homer Gazley (18, U.S.); Elnathan Gazley (28, U.S.); Jennie Gazley (28, U.S.); Myrta Gazley (8, U.S.); Wilber Gazley (4, U.S.).
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, New York, Dutchess County, Clinton Town, Enumeration District 3, Sheet No. 6A, George H. Gazley (66, New York, May 1834, widow, merchant). He is a border in a household headed by Ameston E. Rikert.
  10. History of Duchess County New York 1683-1882, by James H. Smith; Published by D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, N.Y. 1882. Available at Internet Archive, www.archive.org. The back of the book provides a list of “Names of Citizens who assisted and contributed toward the publication of the History of Duchess County, with Personal Statistics.” This section includes, for the town of Clinton, “Gazley Elnathan, p o Pleasant Plains, farmer and drover, 112 acres, born in Pleasant Valley in 1808, settled in the town in 1835, has been supervisor; wife Sarah B. Wilbur of Hyde Park, married Dec. 25, 1835; children four - George Henry, Alonzo, Orlando and Emily; Father Joseph Gazley of this town.”
  11. Obituary, The Pine Plains Register, Pine Plains, Dutchess County, New York. Available at fultonhistory.com. 25 January 1901, George Gazley, died “Thursday” [believed to refer to 17 January 1901]. The article provides a brief biographical sketch.
  12. Draft Registration Card, World War I, Gazley, Homer Alonzo, born 15 January 1875; occupation: railway postal clerk; nearest relative: Mrs. Sextus E. Landon.
  13. Find a Grave (website). Pleasant Plains Cemetery, Dutchess County, New York, Gazley, Homer A.: Homer A. Gazley / Jan. 15, 1875 / Sept. 14, 1948 [from grave marker, which is associated with that of his parents]. The record provides a copy of his obituary and the place of his birth and death.
  14. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, New York, New York County, New York City, Enumeration District 498, Sheet No. 12A, lodger Homer A. Gazeley, 35, New York, railway mail cl. [clerk].
  15. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, New York County, Manhattan, Enumeration District 911, Sheet No. 5A, Homer Gazley (44, New York, mail clerk, railway).
  16. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, New York, New York County, New York City, Enumeration District 31-592, Sheet No. 23B, Homer Gazley (55, New York), mail clerk, railway clerk).
  17. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, New York, Westchester County, Yonkers, Enumeration District 68-401, Sheet No. 13B, Eleanor Gazley (50, New York, widow); daughter Eleanor Gazley (24, Connecticut, nurse, hospital); daughter Myrta Gazley (22, Connecticut, stenographer, advertising corp.); cousin Homer Gazley (65, New York, retired, U.S. Post Office); border Grace Wilson (61, New York).
  18. Obituary, The Register Herald, Pine Plains, New York. Available at fultonhistory.com. 23 September 1948, Homer Gazley. The article provides his date and place of birth, the names of his parents and a cousin Myrta Banks, and biographical details.