: Calphurnia Ramsdell and Jeremiah Carter were the first Trance Mediums in this area. After Jeremiah learned mesmerism, trance and Mediumship in 1844 he taught Calphurnia, who also exhibited exceptional psychic abilities. They gave weekly demonstrations that brought crowds from all around Chautauqua County, and they organized a society in Laona in 1855, dedicated to Spiritualism "The Religious Society For Free Thinkers" , later the Cassadaga Lake Free Association that further evolved into the spiritualist community of Lily Dale NY
Caphurnia was the only child of her father Erastus and mother Harriet. Harriet died when Calphurnia was only 2 years old. After Harriet died Erastus remarried to Mariah and had several more children. On a 1850 Census, Erastus is listed as a shoemaker . There were many tanneries making leather in the area, which was probably helpful.
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Her husband Albertus was a farmer. In the 1870 census, Albertus was 36Calphurnia was 34. Living with them were thier children Emma 17, Frank 12 and Eugene 10. Also there was William Theis age 15, working as a farmer laborer, and Mary Haus age 18 working as a Domestic. Calphurnia died when she was 66 years old. Her obit sadly notes she had considerable suffering in her last days. The obit also shows how she was clearly loved by her community.
She i s buried with her husband Albertus Straight, and her son DeForest Straight who died when he was only 7. She was survived by her sons Fred Biron Straight and Eugene Straight and her daughter , Emma Straight Davis, also buried here in Laona , link pending, Memorial # 236635143 ·
Caphurnia was the only child of her father Erastus and mother Harriet. Harriet died when Calphurnia was only 2 years old. After Harriet died Erastus remarried to Mariah and had several more children. On a 1850 Census, Erastus is listed as a shoemaker . There were many tanneries making leather in the area, which was probably helpful.
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Her husband Albertus was a farmer. In the 1870 census, Albertus was 36Calphurnia was 34. Living with them were thier children Emma 17, Frank 12 and Eugene 10. Also there was William Theis age 15, working as a farmer laborer, and Mary Haus age 18 working as a Domestic. Calphurnia died when she was 66 years old. Her obit sadly notes she had considerable suffering in her last days. The obit also shows how she was clearly loved by her community.
She i s buried with her husband Albertus Straight, and her son DeForest Straight who died when he was only 7. She was survived by her sons Fred Biron Straight and Eugene Straight and her daughter , Emma Straight Davis, also buried here in Laona , link pending, Memorial # 236635143 ·
: Calphurnia Ramsdell and Jeremiah Carter were the first Trance Mediums in this area. After Jeremiah learned mesmerism, trance and Mediumship in 1844 he taught Calphurnia, who also exhibited exceptional psychic abilities. They gave weekly demonstrations that brought crowds from all around Chautauqua County, and they organized a society in Laona in 1855, dedicated to Spiritualism "The Religious Society For Free Thinkers" , later the Cassadaga Lake Free Association that further evolved into the spiritualist community of Lily Dale NY
Caphurnia was the only child of her father Erastus and mother Harriet. Harriet died when Calphurnia was only 2 years old. After Harriet died Erastus remarried to Mariah and had several more children. On a 1850 Census, Erastus is listed as a shoemaker . There were many tanneries making leather in the area, which was probably helpful.
.
Her husband Albertus was a farmer. In the 1870 census, Albertus was 36Calphurnia was 34. Living with them were thier children Emma 17, Frank 12 and Eugene 10. Also there was William Theis age 15, working as a farmer laborer, and Mary Haus age 18 working as a Domestic. Calphurnia died when she was 66 years old. Her obit sadly notes she had considerable suffering in her last days. The obit also shows how she was clearly loved by her community.
She i s buried with her husband Albertus Straight, and her son DeForest Straight who died when he was only 7. She was survived by her sons Fred Biron Straight and Eugene Straight and her daughter , Emma Straight Davis, also buried here in Laona , link pending, Memorial # 236635143 ·
Caphurnia was the only child of her father Erastus and mother Harriet. Harriet died when Calphurnia was only 2 years old. After Harriet died Erastus remarried to Mariah and had several more children. On a 1850 Census, Erastus is listed as a shoemaker . There were many tanneries making leather in the area, which was probably helpful.
.
Her husband Albertus was a farmer. In the 1870 census, Albertus was 36Calphurnia was 34. Living with them were thier children Emma 17, Frank 12 and Eugene 10. Also there was William Theis age 15, working as a farmer laborer, and Mary Haus age 18 working as a Domestic. Calphurnia died when she was 66 years old. Her obit sadly notes she had considerable suffering in her last days. The obit also shows how she was clearly loved by her community.
She i s buried with her husband Albertus Straight, and her son DeForest Straight who died when he was only 7. She was survived by her sons Fred Biron Straight and Eugene Straight and her daughter , Emma Straight Davis, also buried here in Laona , link pending, Memorial # 236635143 ·
