USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. SUBMITTED TO THE OHIO SECTION OF THE USGENWEB ARCHIVES BY: Anna Tangier Smith WordGenius@aol.com Here is a copy of a letter d. 1927 from Emma Jackson to the California DAR detailing Ralston family history dating back to James Ralston, who emig. from SCT and settled in OH in early 1800's (not sure when). Please post it on your web site. Also, I have a Ralston genealogy home page with same letter on it as well as info abouit other Ralstons not related to me, plus links to other people in my family, some of whom also lived in OH at one time or another. All info on James Ralston and his children are verified by 1850 Guernsey Co. OH census. He was listed with wife Mary and 8 children, James Jr. having died in 1842 and William Reed R. being born afterwards, in 1851. Family moved to Madison Co., IA, in early 1850's, and James Ralston died in 1866/1867 there. Letter: (no date) My Dear Mrs. Schmidt: I wrote a cousin of Mr. Ralston's who I thought could give me further information of the Ralston Family, but have not heard from her, hence I have no more data to give you of the uncles and further back of which you ask. My husband's mother was born in Ohio 1 August 1844. her name was Elizabeth Caldwell. As to my husband's brother's wives and my own maiden name, we all had the same as three Ralston brothers married three Jackson sisters. Alice D. Jackson married Samuel C. Ralston 26 Nov. 1896; Lottie D. Jackson married Ernest C. Ralston 15 Nov. 1898 and Emma L. Jackson married James R. Ralston 17 May 1899. As to our parents, our father Ephraim C. Jackson was born in Indiana 4 Nov. 1841 and came to Oregon with his parents in 1852 by emigrant train. Our mother Henrietta M. Fiester was born in Marion County Oregon 10 Dec. 1848, her parents having crossed the plains in 1847. Our parents married 8 Feb. 1865. They have both passed away. Should I get any further information from the cousin to whom I have written I will send it to you. Pardon the delay as it seems unavoidable. Very sincerely, Mrs (James F.) Emma Ralston James and Martha Ralston came to the U.S. from Scotland (in the early 1800's I think.) and located in Guernsey county Ohio near Cambridge. Of their marriage were born four children: Andrew b. 12 Oct. 1825 in Ohio, married in Ore. 1850, d. 1897 James b. 5 Aug. 1827 in Ohio, died age 15 Jennette b. 20 Dec. 1828 in Ohio, died in Oregon John b. 1830, died in Indiana Martha Ralston died and James Ralston married a second wife, Eliza, and of this marriage five children were born: Marthaan b. 6 Aug. 1835 Margaret Jane b. 24 Mar. 1838, unmarried, died in Oregon Samuel Mathers b. 11 April 1840, a soldier in the Civil War, came to Oregon 1875 and married Eliz. R. Caldwell 1869 Robert b. 1842, unmarried, died in Oregon James Bell b. 13 Nov. 1844 Eliza Ralston died 12 July 1849 and James Ralston married a third wife Mary. Of this marriage a son was born: William Reed Ralston b. 4 Oct. 1851 In 1859 the family moved to Madison county Iowa. The parents and John spent the rest of their lives in Iowa. Andrew came to Oregon by ox team in 1850 and located in Linn county where he lived until his death in 18567. Jeanette and Margaret also came to Oregon some years later, living in the latter part of their lives on the homestead of Andrew. Robert came in 1900 after much wandering in the U.S. and Mexico in mining and spent his last years on or near the homestead, passing away about two years ago [1925?]. Andrew, Jenette, Margaret and Robert never married. John M. stayed on in Iowa. They had two daughters. Samuel Mathers Ralston went to Alleghany City, Penn. in 1858 to learn the carpenter's trade and enlisted in a Penn regiment in the Civil War. When the war was over he joined his family in Iowa where he married Elizabeth R. Caldwell 30 Sept. 1869 and moved to Linn County Oregon, coming via San Francisco Cal. They lived in Linn County until their death. Elizabeth died 19 May 1913 and Samuel died 14 Sept. 1918. They had five children. All still living except William. James Frederick b. 20 July 1870, Iowa Samuel Caldwell b. 3 Dec. 1872 William Brown b. 7 June 1876, d. 26 Nov. 1896 Sweet Home Ore. Ernest Carlton b. 11 Feb. 1878 Winifred Grace b. 28 Nov. 1882 living in Clarkston, Idaho James F., m. 1899 to Emma L. Jackson [author of this letter] Samuel married 26 Nov. 1896 to Alice D. Jackson, moved to Salem Oregon from Halsey Oregon, later to Calif. Three children were born of this marriage: Vayne Othmer b. 2 April 1898 Armond S. b. 8 Feb. 1901, d. 15 Jan. 1903 Hila b. 1910, d. 1914 Vayne enlisted in WWI 4 Apr. 1917, was in France at signing of Armistice, went to Germany and came home following Sept. he joined his parents who had moved to Woodland Calif. from Salem. Vayne married and is living at same address as his parents, Mt. Shasta Calif. A son Vayne Jr. was born Sept. 1925 and died one year later. A daughter Betty Jean was born Jan. 1927. Ernest C. Ralston married 15 Nov. 1898 to Lettie D. Jackson. Of this marriage were born: Edward b. 27 June 1900, drowned in the Willamette River 24 Jan. 1917. Ethel Henriette b. 17 April 1903 Lois b. 3 May 1907 William b. 15 Sept. 1909 Lela D. b. 13 April 1913 Virginia Roth b. 17 Nov. 1922 Ethel H. married man named Riggs, present address King City, Calif., had daughter Marigold Jean b. 20 Nov. 1926 Winnifred Grace married Albert Cooley at Brownsville Oregon 30 Dec. 1907, present address Clarkson Idaho, three sons born: Ronald 1909 Homer 1913 Leslie 1916 James Bell Ralston married and went from Iowa to Texas. Three children were born and lived to be grown. The only son and one daughter with father were killed in a cyclone in Okla. in about 1904. The mother having died some years earlier. Cora the remaining daughter came to Oregon in 1907 and married Rastus Stone of Foster Oregon. William Reed Ralston married and moved to Texas where a family of seven children were born. They moved to Oregon and located at Corvallis. He died about two years ago [1925], his wife some years before. Mabel married a man named [Joseph] Lusby, he died leaving her with one daughter Alice, age nine. Mrs. Lusby teaches school in Eugene Oregon. Ella married and has since passed away. Myrtle lives in Corvallis at the old home. Margaret Catherine married a man named Lewis, has daughter age 4. William married and lives in Portland. Lois married and lives in Salem. Am not able to say whether James Ralston settled in Ohio first upon coming to America or in some other state and then went to Ohio. Mrs. James Frederick Ralston 1805 Alcatraz Ave. Berkley, Calif. Rec. 4 Oct. 1927 Anna Tangier Smith Chairman Genealogical Research Berkley Hills Chapter DAR