Lemuel Lurchin

LEMUEL A. LURCHIN

Lemuel A. Lurchin was born in Maine (probably Washington County), in about 1840, and died at Homestead, Oregon, probably about 1910.. His parents were James R. and Nancy "Ann" (Blackwood) Lurchin. James was born in England about 1795, and Ann was born in Maine February 14, 1798.. In the 1860 census in the area of Lubec,Washington County, Maine, James is shown as 66 and Ann as 63. (Note: Lubec is situated near the Atlantic Ocean and is near the eastern-most point of the U.S.). James' occupation is shown as, farmer. Lemuel is shown living with them, at age 20. Two other brothers, Hillman, age 17 and Israel, age 8, are also listed in the household. It is likely that there were other children of James and Ann who had grown up and moved out of the household.

Lemuel's parents passed away in 1860. Lemuel, at age 20, moved west within the next few years. Possibly, his motivation was to avoid the imminent conflict arising between the North and the South, or he decided to seek his fortune in the goldfields of California and Oregon. In any event, Lemuel surfaces in the frontier region around Clarksville in 1866, where he meets and elopes with Amelia Koontz, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth Jane Koontz. In 1867, Lemuel and Amelia become the parents of a son, Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Lurchin. In 1868, Frank Koontz died tragically and the Lurchin family and Jane Koontz , along with her children, move a few miles from the family home near the mill on Burnt River back to Clarksville. The 1870 census lists the entire group living together. Lemuel is listed in the census as a laborer in the sawmill. It is likely that he did prospecting in his spare time, as it seemed to be a life-long obsession with him. In 1872, Amelia gave birth to a daughter, Ida Jane on April 20, 1874, Amelia's mother, Jane, passed away at age 40, and was buried beside her husband on a knoll just above the family home on Burnt River. Little Ida passed away January 21, 1878, at age 5 1/2 , and was buried in the family cemetery near her grandparents, Frank and Jane Koontz. A second daughter, Minnie Alice was born about December 18, 1886 and died April 11, 1889, at age two. It is not known where Lemuel and Amelia were living when Minnie died. It is known that Lemuel and his son, Frank were active in prospecting in the Sparta area in the mid-1890's and continued working there until at least 1900. Records indicate that Lemuel and Frank Lurchin filed a number of claims in the Sparta area during the mid to latter 1890's.

According to written statements by older long-term and highly credible residents of the Sparta area, Lemuel Lurchin was involved in a claim-jumping incident that resulted in the murder of one man and the suicide of another. One of the written statements says the incident, "took place on lower Deer Flat, where Thorn Gulch narrows down, where farming ground stops." (See attached map). Lemuel Lurchin had at least one mine in Thorn Gulch. Nearby, a man named Chamberlen also had a mine. Due to the dry conditions in the area, and because water is needed to separate out the gold from the dirt and rocks, miners "uncovered" ground, i.e., they dug out the tunnel during the dry season and prepared the material for easy access when the snow melt and rain filled the drainages with water. Chamberlen had prepared a considerable volume of material in the fall of 1894, and then left for Utah to visit friends. His intention was to return in the spring and begin processing the soil. When he returned to his mine in the spring of 1895, he spotted two men, Parney George and "Dad" Lurchin coming out of his "drift" and working his claim. Chamberlen went the short distance to the Sparta store and bought a box of shotgun shells. He then returned to the mine and shot the two men. Both Lurchin and Parney George fell to the ground and, from all appearances, they were dead. Chamberlen then walked over to a thorn thicket ("close to where Colton's had settled") and turned the gun on himself. Parney George was killed by the shotgun blast, but Lurchin had received only a few buckshot in his neck.(One has to surmise that he skedaddled away from the mine and returned to his own diggings.) The sheriff from Union rode to the area and spent 4-5 days investigating, but could not find out who had done the shooting or even what exactly had happened. Later in the spring, John and Charley Colton were going through the thorn thicket when they came upon Chamberlen's body. Apparently, he had put the butt of the shotgun in the crotch of a tree and put the gun's muzzle in his mouth, as most of his head was missing.

The 1900 census shows Lemuel, and Amelia living in Union, Oregon. Also living with them were Frank Lurchin and his wife Mary (Mollie), and their daughter, Etta, age 9. A little later in the year, the census shows all of them except Lemuel, living at Homestead, Oregon. Lemuel is shown living at Sparta. Frank Lurchin is shown as head of household and his occupation is listed as running a boarding house. The household also includes two servant girls. It is probable that Mollie was running the boarding house and that the servant girls were assisting. It is surmised that Amelia was terminally ill and that all of the family, with the exception of Lemuel, were taking care of her and trying to get some income by operating a boarding house for miners. Lemuel's absence is inexplicable. Amelia passed away August 28, 1900, and was buried in the little family cemetery near Burnt River.

Very little is known about Lemuel after 1900. A story told by his granddaughter, Etta Lurchin, relates how Lemuel took some livestock to be sold in Portland and, returning by train, he stopped off in Pendleton. Apparently, in a bar, he was given a "Mickey Finn" (drugged drink). Unfortunately, the drug was too strong and it permanently damaged his brain. He had been robbed and left someplace in Pendleton. By some means, he was identified and was brought back to Homestead. Etta took care of him until he died. The date of his death is not known. Through the 1890's, he had maintained the company name, "L.A. Lurchin & Co." for his mining activities. ( It never showed more than $100 in assets during the years he owned it) In the county directory for 1910, L.A. Lurchin & Co. of Sparta is still shown. In the next directory (1914), it is simply listed as, Lurchin & Co. It is probable that Lemuel had passed on and that Frank Lurchin took over use of the company name. In the early 1900's, Frank Lurchin registered gold claims, but unlike his claims made in the 1890's, Lemuel's name does not appear as a witness. Also, Frank's claims are in the Homestead area and not in Sparta. It is unclear whether Lemuel died in 1910 or if he died prior to that time. In any event, with Lemuel's passing, this colorful chapter in our family's history came to a close.

James R. Lurchin

LURCHIN ANCESTRY. Lemuel's father was James Lurchin, born in England in 1795 and died in Lubec, Maine in 1860. James' wife was Nancy "Ann" M. Blackwood, born February 14, 1798 in Maine and died in 1860, in Lubec, Maine. James and Ann were married December 12, 1814 in Denneysville, Maine. In the 1860 census for Lubec district, Washington County, Maine, it shows James, age 66, farmer; Ann, age 63; Lemuel, age 20, and Israel, age 8. It is almost certain that there were a number of older children who had already moved out of the household. (A letter from a Lurchin relative states that James and Ann Lurchin had 11 children, many of whom scattered to Oregon and Washington). James was the son of John and Catherine Lurchin, English citizens. James' wife, Ann, was the daughter of James Blackwood (born about 1744 and died Dec. 16, 1836) and Nancy Ann Grimes (born about 1756 and died Sept. 13, 1844). James Blackwood arrived in America in May, 1776, as a lieutenant in the 21^st Regiment of the North British Fusiliers, a premier group sent to aid Lt. Gen Burgoyne during the American Revolution. During the Battle of Saratoga (Oct. 7, 1777), he was captured and subsequently joined the American forces. He served as a private, and later as corporal, Third Regiment of Continental Artillery, Massachusetts Line. He was discharged June 9, 1783. His discharge was signed by George Washington.

Nancy (Anna) Blackwood (Cpl Matr James (John)1) was born in Pembroke, Washington, ME 14 Feb 1798. Note: Fisher-Szewczyk say two children: one Nancy, one Anna; however, other records say she is Anne, called "Nancy," while some records say Nancy, called "Anna;" Carroll Stevens says b 14 Feb 1797 Pembroke, ME; Ethel Quimby says b 14 Feb 1782 - VRs say 14 Feb 1798 Individual flags: Twin. Nancy died 10 Feb 1836 in Lubec, Washington, ME, at 37 years of age. age 37 years (Note: Robert Gibson says d 1860 Lubec, ME; Carroll Stevens says d in Pembroke, ME)
She married Lt James R. Lurchin in Dennysville, Washington, ME, 12 Dec 1814. NOTE: Ralph Blackwood, Robert Wylie, and Carroll Stevens says m 1 Apr 1818; another source says m 12 Dec 1814 by Isaac Hobart of Edmunds - Need to verify (Lt James R. Lurchin) James was born 11 Jul 1793 in Lavenham, Suffolk, ENG. NOTE: Ralph Blackwood and Robert Wylie say he was born in Pembroke?? Carroll A. Stevens says he was born in Lubec, ME. I question both of these researchers, as Lurchin Family files say he was born in England. An unusual known fact about this family, they so enjoyed eating all kinds of meat with mounds of sugar poured directly onto the meat.
James died aft 1860 in Lubec, Washington, ME. James served in the military in ME. James was a Lt in the British Navy; deserted, came to Eastport, then to Dennysville. Resided: England (born there), Eastport, Dennysville, Pembroke, Lubec, ME (c1831). Family members stated James insisted he deserted only because in his words "I just caint shoot worth a dern".
Occupation: sheep herder, farmer; fisherman. He resided in Lubec, Washington, ME 1850.
Nancy (Anna) Blackwood and Lt James R. Lurchin had the following children:
+ 65 i. Sol Robert3 Lurchin was born 20 Mar 1816.
+ 66 ii. Amos C. Lurchin Sr was born 6 Apr 1818.
67 iii. Israel Lurchin (#9940) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 15 Jul 1820.(133) Israel died 6 Oct 1845 in At sea ?, at 25 years of age. went down with the "Phoebe D" - see "Lost in the Phoebe(sp) D," a handwritten family manuscript (as told to me by Ethel Quimby)
68 iv. Philippi Wilson Lurchin (#9941) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 27 Nov 1822. NOTE: Carroll Stevens has her listed as a probable male child (spelled Phillipe); however, birth records of Dennysville specify her as a female. Philippi died 1892 in North Lubec, Washington, ME, at 69 years of age. Her body was interred 1892 in North Lubec, Washington, ME, Upper Cemetery. She married Albert Coggins in Pembroke, Washington, ME, Dec 1842. intentions 26 Jul 1842 (Carroll Stevens has marriage date as 26 Jul 1843 and name of husband unknown)
Note: Fisher-Szewczyk says she m a "Wilson;" however, I don't think so as Lurchin Genealogy doesn't mention a Wilson and Phillippa's middle name was Wilson..... (Albert Coggins is #48952.)
Albert was born 1819 in ME. Albert died 1891 in ME, at 72 years of age.
+ 69 v. Harriet Newell Lurchin was born 1 Jun 1825.
70 vi. Emma Clark Lurchin (#9943) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 29 Apr 1827. She married 20 Sep 1849. Carroll Stevens lists no name for husband
Note: Fisher-Szewczyk say m 20 Sep 1849 a Clark as her 1st husband; however, Dennysville VRs say her middle name was Clark, so I don't believe this marriage took place
Fisher-Szewczyk say m Leonard Shaw as her 2nd husband; however, this is her brother's name, so don't believe this marriage took place either
+ 71 vii. Leonard Shaw Lurchin was born 28 Jul 1829.
72 viii. Jesse S. (L.?) Lurchin (#48985) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 6 Jan 1832. He married Anna Ellen Dennison in Cutler, Washington, ME, 25 Apr 1868.(140) int 18 Apr 1868 (Anna Ellen Dennison is #48986.) see also: May 20, June 18, 1863 - The Addison C. (Crandall) Gibbs collection - two letters
A Jesse Lurchin m 11 Aug 1865 Umatilla, OR to Lucy Reed
+ 73 ix. Sarah Ann Lurchin was born 19 May 1834.
74 x. Surene L. Lurchin (#48987) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 18 Jan 1837.
75 xi. Lemueal A. Lurchin (#48988) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 5 Nov 1839.
76 xii. Hillman P. Lurchin (#48989) was born in Dennysville, Washington, ME 8 Aug 1842. Hillman died 29 Aug 1872 in Port Gambell, Washington Territory, at 30 years of age.