Person Page - 491

     Rhoda Jane McConnell was born on 18 October 1844 at Italy, Yates Co., NY.¹ She was the daughter of Alexander Joseph McConnell and Rosina Gillett.¹ Rhoda Jane McConnell married Richard Covel Phillips on 25 December 1866.¹ Rhoda Jane McConnell died in 1921 at Italy, Yates Co., NY.¹

Richard and Rhoda were enumerated in the 1880 Italy, Yates Co., NY, federal census. He was a farmer, age 36, she was 35. Children in the household were Rosina 11, Edwin 11, Ellis L. 7, Eva L. 7, and J. Dana 5. Also in the household were sister-in-laws Phebe McConnell 50, and Annie McConnell, 32.

     Richard Covel Phillips was born on 16 September 1843 at Steuben Co., NY.¹ He married Rhoda Jane McConnell, daughter of Alexander Joseph McConnell and Rosina Gillett, on 25 December 1866.¹ Richard Covel Phillips died on 10 March 1935 at Prattsburgh, Steuben Co., NY, at age 91.¹

     Lydia Ann McConnell was born on 14 November 1846 at Italy, Yates Co., NY.¹ She was the daughter of Alexander Joseph McConnell and Rosina Gillett.¹ Lydia Ann McConnell married John J. Clark on 29 April 1896.¹ Lydia Ann McConnell died at Prattsburgh, Steuben Co., NY.¹

     John J. Clark was born.¹ He married Lydia Ann McConnell, daughter of Alexander Joseph McConnell and Rosina Gillett, on 29 April 1896.¹

     Richard Sparrow was born circa 1675 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹ He was the son of Jonathan Sparrow and Hannah Prence.¹ Richard Sparrow married Mercy Cobb on 4 February 1701/2 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹ Richard Sparrow died on 13 April 1728 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹

     Mercy Cobb was born on 9 April 1685 at Barnstable, MA.¹ She married Richard Sparrow, son of Jonathan Sparrow and Hannah Prence, on 4 February 1701/2 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹ Mercy Cobb died after 17 April 1729.¹

     Jonathan Sparrow was born circa 1633/34 at England.¹ He married Hannah Prence, daughter of Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster, between 5 June 1667 and 11 September 1671 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹ Jonathan Sparrow died on 21 March 1706/7 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹

     Hannah Prence was born before 1634 at probably Plymouth, MA.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Prence and Patience Brewster.¹ Hannah Prence married Jonathan Sparrow between 5 June 1667 and 11 September 1671 at Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA.¹ Hannah Prence died before 23 November 1698 at probably Eastham, MA.¹

     Sanford Wallace Miller was born on 11 July 1870 at Palo, Ionia Co., MI.¹ He married Lillian Mae Phillips, daughter of Charles Edward Phillips and Sarah Ann McGrath, on 29 November 1894 at Defiance, Defiance Co., OH.¹ Sanford Wallace Miller died on 19 December 1958 at Toledo, Lucas Co., OH, at age 88.¹

     Marie Hilda Miller was born on 17 May 1896 at Defiance, Defiance Co., OH.¹ She was the daughter of Sanford Wallace Miller and Lillian Mae Phillips.¹ Marie Hilda Miller married Charles Alford Seeley on 17 December 1920 at Detroit, Wayne Co, MI.¹ Marie Hilda Miller died on 6 October 1986 at Jensen Beach, Martin Co., FL, at age 90.¹

     Charles Alford Seeley was born on 16 July 1882 at Peru, Miami Co., IN.¹ He married Marie Hilda Miller, daughter of Sanford Wallace Miller and Lillian Mae Phillips, on 17 December 1920 at Detroit, Wayne Co, MI.¹ Charles Alford Seeley died on 20 December 1970 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA, at age 88.¹

     Donald Earl Seeley was born on 2 October 1921 at Toledo, Lucas Co., OH.^1,2 He was the son of Charles Alford Seeley and Marie Hilda Miller.¹ Donald Earl Seeley died on 10 August 1991 at Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Co., FL, at age 69.^1,2

     Earl Holcombe was born circa 1831 at NY.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Julius Holcombe was born circa 1820 at NY.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     E. W. Holcombe was born circa 1815. He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹ E. W. Holcombe married Mary Ann (?).¹

E.W. is only assumed to be a son of Virgil because he is enumerated near Virgil in the 1850 census.


E.W. and Mary Ann were enumerated in the 1850 York, Washtenaw Co., MI, federal census. He was a merchant, age 35, born in NY; she was 33 born in NY. Children in the household were Sarah Ann 10 born in OH, Alice 8, Henry W. 5, William 4, and Milo 2. The last four all born in MI.

     Lorenzo Holcombe was born circa 1819.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Justin Holcombe married Henrietta (?).¹ Justin Holcombe was born circa 1824 at NY.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

Justin is only assumed to be a son of Virgil because he is enumerated on the same page in the 1850 census.


Virgil and Henrietta were enumerated in the 1850 Milan, Monroe Co., MI, federal census. He was a farmer, age 25 born in NY; she was 18, also born in NY. There were no children listed.

     Seymour Holcombe was born circa 1826 at NY.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹ Seymour Holcombe married Ann (?).¹

Seymour is only assumed to be a son of Virgil because he is enumerated on the same page in the 1850 census.


Seymour and Ann were enumerated in the 1850 Milan, Monroe Co., MI, federal census. He was a laborer, age 23, born in NY; she was 24, also born in NY. The only child in the household was Albert N. 1 month.

     Ansel Holcombe was born circa 1828.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Samuel Holcombe was born circa 1831.¹ He was the son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Henrietta (?) married Justin Holcombe, son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹ Henrietta (?) was born circa 1830 at NY.¹

     Ann (?) was born circa 1825 at NY.¹ She married Seymour Holcombe, son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Albert N. Holcombe was born circa June 1849 at MI.¹ He was the son of Seymour Holcombe and Ann (?).¹

     Mary Ann (?) was born circa 1816 at NY.¹ She married E. W. Holcombe, son of Virgil Holcombe and Sophronia (?).¹

     Jennie S. Phillips married Thomas T. Loomis on 25 May 1881 at Racine, Racine Co., WI.

     Thomas T. Loomis married Jennie S. Phillips on 25 May 1881 at Racine, Racine Co., WI.

     Isaac Morgan was born circa 1801 at Griffithshire, England. He married Mary C. Brasher in 1828. Isaac Morgan died on 16 December 1884 at Williamson, NY.

     Mary C. Brasher was born circa 1811 at Devises, England. She married Isaac Morgan in 1828. Mary C. Brasher died on 8 July 1884 at Williamson, NY.

     Clarence Fitch married Florence Maria Waring, daughter of John Augustus Waring and Helen Maria Humphrey.

     Waring James Fitch was born on 29 December 1912 at Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH.¹ He was the son of Clarence Fitch and Florence Maria Waring. Waring James Fitch married Mary Anne Griffith on 21 June 1941.¹ Waring James Fitch died on 10 March 1995 at Port Townsend, Jefferson Co., WA, at age 82.¹

obituary from the Leader 15 March 1995


Waring James Fitch, 82, of Port Townsend died Friday, March 10, 1995 at the family home after a long illness. a memorial service is set at 2 p.m. Friday, March 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Townsend.


Mr. Fitch was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1912 to Clarence and Florence Fitch. He graduated from Michigan State College and received his master's degree in special education from the University of Michigan. He was a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing at Rochester, Minn. and Winona, Minn., where he met Mary Anne Griffith, who was a fellow teacher. They married June 21, 1941.


Waring worked with war-deafened persons during World War II in Checkasha, Okla. After the war he became a teacher in the English Dept. at the University of Michigan. The couple moved to Seattle in 1949 to head the state training program. In 1960 he became the first director of Special Education for Highline School District. From there, he was appointed the Seattle School District's supervisor for special education for hearing impaired.


Owning a summer home in Brinnon introduced Waring and Mary to Jefferson County. In 1968 Waring was hired as the Port Townsend School District's special education instructor specifically to work with the deaf and hard of hearing. He retired from teaching here in 1974, although he worked one year to establish an Easter Seal hearing program in the island of Maui, Hawaii. He also co-authored a book, "Hearing Therapy for Children."


Mr. Fitch is survived by his wife, Mary, in Port Townsend; daughters Catherine Lucille Farrar and Nancy Beth Mershon, both of Seattle; a brother, Steve Fitch, Palo Alto, Calif; and three grandchildren.


Friends remember Waring Fitch as a "gentle and kind man," his wife said. He was a life member of the Washington State Hearing and Speech Association and the first Presbyterian Church of Port Townsend. He liked to travel and garden.


Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church or to Hospice Port Townsend, in care of Jefferson General Hospital.

     John Fitch was born circa 1897 at OH.¹ He was the son of Clarence Fitch and Florence Maria Waring.¹

John and Frances were enumerated in the 1930 East Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co., OH, federal census, ED 599. He was an accountant at an electrical co., age 32; she was 30. The only child in the household was Robert J. 1 month. Brother Waring, age 17 was also enumerated in the household.