The Lost Chalfant Children

This is how a researcher gets sucked into a rabbit hole of researching something totally unrelated to the original topic. Jesse Baily (various spellings) Chalfant passed away on December 17, 1932 in Gaston, Delaware County, Indiana. The 86 year old Civil War veteran had been suffering from pneumonia for almost two weeks so his death may not been much of a surprise. His will was admitted to probate in early January 1932. He left everything, personal and real, to his wife Pauline, then upon her death, it was to be sold and the proceeds split evenly among his children. Those children listed were Dema D McLaughlin, Noah H Chalfant, Anna J Heavenridge, Marion F Chalfant, Emma H Brimhall, Minnie V Boyle and Olive B Watson.

He set aside monies for a family monument to be erected in the Matthews IOOF Cemetery if one had not been installed prior to his death. His wife of more than 65 years,  Paulina, had actually died earlier in 1932 and son, Edward passed in 1904. Both were buried there, and share, along with Jesse, a respectable grey granite triple marker. What was interesting is that Jesse also directed "...if there has not been markers erected at the graves of my two children in Bethel Cemetery, Harrison Township, Delaware County Ind. I hereby direct that markers be placed at their graves."

We know where, but who? Delaware County birth records provide us with some answers. On June 26, 1886, Jesse and Paulina (Benbow) Chalfant had a daughter. A simple knee high marker can be found in Bethel Cemetery that reads "Anna Chalfant June 26 1886-June 26 1886". The couple had a little boy, born December 24, 1890. A corresponding and matching stone reads "Ora Chalfant Dec 24 1890-Feb 27 1891".

Bethel Cemetery, Bethel, Harrison Township, Delaware County, Indiana

[Used with permission of the photographer]

With the timing of their births and deaths, Anna being stillborn or dying shortly and Ora's total life falling between census enumerations, their very existence could have easily been forgotten. Thankfully, executor John A Hall followed through on the instructions left by their father Jesse to ensure those babies were not lost to time.