Backlight

Backlight, a Fesler Family Chronicle

With a memoir frame story, Backlight follows my family's trek across continents and time from the 1600s in Alsace to Switzerland, to Baden, to the Pennsylvania Colony, to Indiana as a new state, and to Arizona as a new home in modern times. The story, as historical fiction, tells the tale of all Americans who hoped for a better life.

Backlight, a Fesler Family Chronicle, Preface and Chapter One of the Manuscript

Toby Fesler Genealogy in a pdf file

My birth announcement in the Delco Remy Clan 1939.

I'm happy at being born into such a wonderful family.

My dad, Howard Dale Fesler, born 1914 Ovid, Indiana - died 1997 Pendleton, Indiana

My mother, Beulah Mae Crosley, born 1917 Pendleton, Indiana - died 2000 Pendleton, Indiana

	Beulah's parents, my maternal grandparents, Mary Elizabeth Hayden and Walter Henry Crosley, Pendleton, Indiana, about 1910
	Howard's mother and my paternal grandmother, Ella Markle, born Markleville, Indiana 1879 - died Ovid, Indiana 1941 Her father was Samuel Markle, born in New York 1823- died Markleville Indiana1880 - parents John D. Markle (1793-1865) and Sallie Allen (1795-1861), founders of Markleville, Indiana Her mother was Ann Sarah Riggs, born Ohio 1838 - died Markleville, Indiana 1918 - parents Beniah Riggs (1810-1887) and Olivia Ralston (1810-1838) Their sons owned the Markle Bros Saw Mill. Howard's father and my paternal grandfather, Theodore "Dory" Fesler, 1879-1915, photographed at the Markle Bros. Saw Mill in Markleville, Indiana His father was James Monroe Fesler, born Ovid, Indiana 1854 - died Anderson, Indiana1927 His mother was Lydia Cornelia Collis, born 18681 Anderson, Indiana - died 1881 Ovid, Indiana
	Paternal grandparents of Beulah and my maternal great-grandparents, Alice Hite (1857-1925) and Samuel Eddie Crosley 1852-1921, Pendleton, Indiana, about 1910 They had four sons and one daughter. His father was Andrew Apple Crosley, born Ohio1829, died Pendleton, Indiana 1900. His mother was Catherine Lewis, 1830-1919 I know nothing about Alice's family at the present time except that her father came from Tennessee and her mother was born in Indiana.
	Maternal grandmother of Beulah and my great-grandmother, Alice Prudence Smith, 1869-1926 Married to Joseph Daniel Hayden, bore eight sons and one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, my grandmother. Her mother was Phoeby J. maiden name unknown, 1850-1884, Summitville, Indiana Her father was George W. Smith, 1850-1872, Summitville, Indiana
	Maternal grandfather of Beulah and my great-grandfather, Joseph Daniel Hayden, 1863-1940 born on a farm near Muncie, Indiana, farmed all his life outside Pendleton, Indiana His father was John C. Hayden, born Ohio 1817- died Indiana1889 His mother was Elizabeth E. Dickerson born 1827 Ohio - died Indiana 1873
	Probably a doctored photograph of Samuel Eddie Crosley or his father, Andrew Apple Crosley. The man in the photo is holding a Civil War rifle inscribed with Andrew's initials. Andrew fought in the Civil War with the 89th Indiana Infantry Regiment.

Return to Toby Heathcotte Home Page