Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Ira Luce


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 Ira Luce and his immediate family.



First Generation
1. Ira Luce,1 born 1852 in Herkimer County, New York (parents not determined);1, 2, 3 died 1901.1 Ira married Esther Floretta Gazlay8 (born 10 February 1854 in South Edmeston, Otsego County, New York, the daughter of Ralph Leavenworth Gazlay and Harriet Elizabeth Hart;1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Esther died 14 February 1934 in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York1, 8). Ira and Esther are buried in Hillington Cemetery, Morris, Otsego County, New York.1

Esther lived in Bainbridge, Edmeston, Garrettsville, Hamilton, and New Berlin. Her brother Judah Gazlay wrote of Esther Floretta: “the flower of the family has followed Father, Mother, Sister, and two husbands to the grave, and is now caring for Susannah L. who has not walked for four long years. The New Berlin people have been good to her as far as I know.” She died in New Berlin as a result of burns.8


  1. Find a Grave (website). Hillington Cemetery, Morris, Otsego County, New York, shared headstone: Ira A. Luce / 1851-1901 / Esther F. Gazlay / His wife / 1854-1934. Their records provide more details: 1. Ira A. Luce, born: 1851; died: 1901; plus the name and link to his wife Esther. 2. Esther Floretta Gazlay Luce Parker, born: 10 February 1854 in South Edmeston, Otsego County, New York; died: 14 February 1934 in New Berlin, Chenango County, New York; plus names and links to her parents, spouse (first) and one sibling.
  2. New York State Census, 1875, Madison County, Brookfield, Page 1, family of Ralph L. Gazlay (67, Chenango, farmer); wife Harriet E. Gazlay (67, Conn); daughter Susan L. Gazlay (36, Ohio); daughter Eddie G. Luce (21, Otsego, dressmaker); son [sic, son-in-law] Ira A. Luce (24, Herkimer, farm laborer).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, New York, Oneida County, Bridgewater, Enumeration District 86, Page No. 5A, family of Ira Luce (28, N.Y., farm laborer); wife Ettie Luce (26, N.Y.); sister-in-law Susie Luce ([age not discernible], Ohio, listed as maimed, crippled, bedridden, or otherwise disabled); mother-in-law Gazlay (71, Conn.).
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1860, New York, Otsego County, New Lisbon, Page 5, family of Walter Rundell (66, CT, farmer), R. L. Gazeley (52, NY, shoemaker), Harriett Gazeley (41, NY), Suzannah Gazeley (22, NY), Celia O. Gazeley (18, NY), Esther F. Gazeley (16, NY).
  5. New York State Census, 1865, Otsego County, New Lisbon, Page 46, Ralf L. Gazley, 57, Chenango, shoemaker, 5 children; wife Harriet E. Gazley, Conn., 5 children; D[aughter] Susannah Gazley, 27, Ohio; son Judah H. Gazley, 23, Otsego, cheesemaker in Madison; D[aughter] Celia A. Gazley, 20, Otsego, dressmaker; D[aughter] Esther Fazley [sic, probably an enumerator error], 11, Otsego.
  6. New York State Census, 1905, Otsego County, 1st Election District, Edmeston, Page 13, family of Esther F. Luce (51, dressmaker at home); sister Susana Gazley [sic] (66).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, New York, Chenango County, New Berlin, Enumeration District 122, Sheet No. 2B, family of Esther Parker (60, New York, widow); sister Susanna Gazeley [sic] (81, Ohio, single).
  8. Gazlay History, compiled by Margaret Howe in 1955-1956 (copy available at Gazlay Family History - Sources). Margaret Howe indicated that the document is “based on material my mother Inez L. Gazlay collected, but never lived to edit. Her material has just been copied and explains the more extensive material on generation V and VI. Other information has been added which I found from numerous sources.” Unpublished, 29 pages. Several differences in dates have been found between this document and others, especially A Genealogy of the Leavenworth Family; the latter is considered the more accurate source.
  9. A Genealogy of the Leavenworth Family in the United States, by Elias Warner Leavenworth, L.L.D. Syracuse, New York, S. G. Hitchcock and Company, 1873. Digitized copy available at Google Books. Pages 88, 89, and 131, entries for Amos Leavenworth, his wife Esther Warner, and their children, especially Susanna who married Daniel Gazly (Gazlay).