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Mars Family


William Mars---(?)->----Reuben Mars---->----George Mars------>---Otto Mars----->--Jessie Mars
                                               +                                 +                                +                           +
                                       Leucia Gehon               Clara B Finton              Sylvia Clark         John Irons-->----go to Irons Family page

Generation 1
William Mars:   William Mars is the earliest Mars proved.. The most reliable record for William Mars' date of birth is the 1850 Clayton County, Iowa census, he is living with son or grandson Reuben Mars and he lists his birth as 1773 in Pa.  William was probably a brother of Archibald and Robert of Pa. and Va..  Correspondence with an Archibald Mars' researcher relates that family tradition stated: the fact that Archibald had brothers: Alexander, Robert, and a William.  Their William went to Terre Haute, Indiana and became a Locksmith.  The issue is confused because there are 3 William Mar(r)s in Vigo County, Indiana during this time.  The ages of Archibald, Alexander and Robert, the fact that our William was born in Pa, according to census records, and William's many occupations make this plausible.  Archibald was b.1769, married Deborah Gwynn and they moved to VA. in 1789.  Alexander was in Va., possibly served in the Revolution.  He became a "freebooter" and joined in trade with West Indies.  He failed to return from his last voyage and his fate is unknown.  Robert settled in Philadelphia and became a jeweler.  (Source Jeanie Marrs/Vasseur)  A letter from Archibald's great-grandson states: William died 0ct. 8,1859 possibly in Indiana.  There is supposedly a William Mars buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, age 82 in 1859 (place of death: Terre Haute), I have been unable to locate grave site, due to confusing cemetery records.  The last record of our William was 1856 Iowa census, he listed age as 76, born in Pa., and occupation as a gunsmith. So did he return to Vigo County and die, or was he returned after death to be buried there?  No death or burial record in Iowa exists.  As shown below Reuben and his family disappear from records after 1856 census, except for his grandson, our ancestor George (found on 1870 Iowa census and later in Vigo County, Indiana.)
The spelling of our Mars has been consistent, even with the notorious spelling  attributed to census takers.

 Our William Mars was born in Pa. about 1773 (based on census records-Clayton Co. Iowa 1850).  Reuben, a son was 32 in 1856 age listed as 27 on 1850 census.  William was listed as 76 and a gunsmith, born in Pa..  Also listed is a Mary in 1850 census age 15, born in Indiana.  If Reuben was born according to census between 1824 to 1830, William was 50 to 56 years old when Reuben born.  If Mary was Reuben's sister, she was 15 and born in Indiana, William would of been 61 when she was born, certainly possible, but there may be a son of William who was actually Reuben's father and who died and whose family moved in with William.

Vigo Co.Indiana Census suggest this is the case.  William appears to have 2 families, it is possible that he married a second wife and had younger children or as above one of his deceased children's family moved in.  1840 Vigo Co. In. census lists William Marrs pg 729 Hadden twp. as 010110001-0120001 Male 60-70 correct for our William and a male 15-20 and one 20-30 correct for age of Reuben.  Also female age 5-10 would match Mary on 1850 Iowa census.  Oldest female is 40-50.  So this is undoubtable our William, with a second wife.  This is the only William in Vigo Co. 1840 census.

1830 Indiana census lists 3 William Mars.  The one in Monroe Co. is probably William Blaine Mars not our family.  So there are 2 in Vigo Co.. William on Page 154: 21100001-0001001.  Oldest male 50-60 and oldest female 40-50, good match for William, also has a male proper age to match up with Reuben.  William on Page 186: 200101-212001.  Oldest male 30-40 so not our William.

1820 Indiana census Lists no William Mars in Vigo Co. but 2 William's in Washington Co..  One oldest male is 26-45 and the other oldest male is 16-25.  Our William would of been 46, close, but I think Older William Mars in Washington was again William Blaine Mars
.
Vigo County history says William Mars settled in Terre Haute in 1816 and was a blacksmith, I think this is ours and he was missed on census or I have not been able to properly read name on old census records. 

Children of  William Mars:

Unknown male born 1815-1820                             Unknown female b. 1810-1815
Reuben Mars b. 1820-1825                                   Unknown female b. 1825-1830 - this may be Elizabeth Mars who married in 1848 Vigo Co. In.
John Mars b. 1825-1830                                        Unknown female b. 1825-1830 - this may be Francis Mars who married in 1845 Vigo Co. In.
William b. 1825-1830                                             Mary b. 1835

Proof:
Reuben and Mary are listed on census with William.  Another Mars descendant, states that John Mars of Piatt Co. Illinois (later Ok.) is a son.  He lists his parents places of birth as Pa..  Another possible son is a William with wife Elizabeth on 1880 Wisconsin, Taylor County, Medford district census with his birth in Indiana and parent's Pa.. He was born in 1836, possibly the William Mars who married Eliza Hoskins in Vigo County, Indiana  6/22/1848.

There is a lot of general  information about the William Mars(s) found  in Indiana and Vigo Co..  Problem is  there are definitely 3 William Mars in early Vigo Co., and 4 in early Indiana.  Some of the information may or may not be our William.. Vigo County Historys: by Cronin, by Oakely, and by Beckworth say the following about our William Mars.  Built a cabin in Oct. 1816 and was the first blacksmith.  Mentions "Uncle Billy" Mars as the first constable, was marshal from 1818 to 1849.  Market master, had only set of scales, began working in 1818.  Chancy Rose quote " In the fall of 1817 traveled to Terre Haute, only two cabins Modesitt and William Mars."  William Mars was the blacksmith and lived on the south end of 1st street.  The present southwest corner of Cherry and 5th st..  One of the longest remembered residents.  Blacksmith shop on the corner of 1st and Poplar Street.  He was appointed coroner 1822-1823 and 1830-1831.  William's favorite tale was "of having seen General Washington in Philadelphia".  Was the butcher, constable, and collector/porter in the branch bank in 1832.  Traveled extensively and was chosen first city Marshall.

Since we have no 1820 census record, it is difficult to say whom, when or how many times he married.  He probably married twice due to changes in oldest female in census records.  Oldest child on 1830 census in 15-20, so probably married 180 to 1815.  A William Mars m. Zelpha Sutliff in Vigo Co. 9/8/1823.
A William Mars had numerous land transactions, several with wife Anna T. (?), probable our William.  Age changes in oldest female on 1840 census indicates or suggests a new wife, with some of her children.  A William Alex Mars m Francis Mckinney in 1840 and a William A Mars m Francis Lane also in 1840.

No will or estate has been located in Vigo Co. In. or Iowa, although I have not searched throughly
Vigo County History:  William Mars section.
Generation 2

Reuben Mars:  Little is known about Reuben, 1850 and 1856 census indicate he was born in Indiana.  Had a family of 3 children.  Married Lucia Gehon  (see Gehon) or look at scan below of marriage record.  I assume he was the son of William Mars, since William was living with him in 1850 Clayton Co. Iowa census.  Ages are also suggestive that William could of been grandfather, but why would William not go live with one of his many sons, instead of a grandson.  Reuben was a miner according to census, Clayton Co. Iowa known for lead mining. After 1856 census no trace of any family members is found.  George our ancestor appears on 1870 Iowa census living alone and mysteriously back in Indiana in 1880 Vigo Co. census.
Children:

Reuben Mars and Lucia Genhon Marriage Record
Reuben Mars 1856 Iowa Census

Generation 3

George Mars was the son of Reuben Mars and Lucia (Theodosia) Gehon.  He was born in 1851, in Iowa.  1900 Vigo Co. Indiana census states he was born October 1850, his father was born in Indiana and mother in Iowa. He died in 1904 in Vigo Co. In..  He had a brother Osk(?) and sister Maria (?), nothing is know about them,  they appear on 1856 Iowa census.  George is mysterious.  He is on 1856 Iowa census, then he and parents disappear.  New census located 2008: 1870 Iowa, Jackson County. Lists a George Mars age 17 laborer living with Israel Daves.  He shows up back in Indiana in 1880's and marries Clara Belle Finton.  Daughter of John Finton and Delilah Parker Finton.  Where he was, who raised him, what happened to his parents and family is unknown.  No census records, death records, or records indicating death of parents, etc..   Why did he come back to Indiana, probably aunts and/or uncles.  There were no other Mars in Iowa census 1860, no George Mars in 1860 Indiana.  No Reuben any where.  The only connection through family from Iowa to Indiana is that William Mars, George's grandfather or great grandfather is listed as living with Reuben in 1850 Iowa census, so William had to be a family member. Age would indicate grandfather.  No wills exist.  George died 1/14/1904.  Clara Belle died 7/10/1943.  They are buried in New Harmony Cemetery, Prairie Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana. Detailed family histories of each child above are available, please contact me if interested.
Generation 4

Otto Mars was son of George and Clara Belle Finton, b. 1882 in Vigo Co., Indiana and d. 1962 in Sullivan Co., Indiana.  He married Sylvia Clark in Vigo Co., In. on  3/3/1908. Sylvia Cark was born 1883 and died 1932.  They are buried in New Harmony Cemetery, Prairie Creek, Twp. Vigo Co. In.  Otto was a salesman for Home Supply Company of Terre Haute.  His was a traveling salesman for them, covering Eastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana.
Children:

Otto Mars Pictures

Jessie Mars Irons DAR Application  Page 1   Page 2  Page 3   Page 4

Jessie Mars Irons DAR Certificate

Generation 5

Jessie Mars----John Irons    Go to Irons Family page

Jessie Mars Pictures
Detailed Mars Family Histories (not mine) collected over the years