MARS FAMILY HISTORY
AND
RELATED INFORMATION ON ORANGE COUNTY NEW YORK
|
___ ___ |
GENEALOGY
STEPHEN MARS AND ANNA MARY DEGRAW
Stephen Mars was born on July 15, 1842 in "Toween Marburg Hesse Cassel",
Germany. He sailed from Bremen, Germany on August 14, 1865 and landed at Castle
Garden, New York on August 28, 1865. Family oral history reports that he may
have sailed with a brother or two. This however has not been substantiated.
Family oral history also notes that Stephen Mars may have emigrated to the
United States due to a war in Germany. Hessen is a state in west central Germany
where the town of Marburg is located. Farming was a major occupation. During
the Seven Weeks War, also known as the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, Bismarck
did send Prussian troops into Hessen as well as other German states.
The Steamer Hansa was the only ship that landed at Castle Garden, New York on August 28, 1865. This ship did depart from Bremen, Germany. On the "List or Manifest of all the passengers taken on board the Steamer Hansa", S. Mars is listed as twenty-two years of age; occupation- Farmer; the country to which they belong- Germany; the country of which they intend to become inhabitants- U. States.
Family oral history reports that Stephen Mars met another German man, Mr. Heinzelman on his voyage or soon after in New York City. Stephen Mars and Mr. Heinzelman made their way to Orange County, New York. Mr. Heinzelman's descendant, Minnie Heinzelman, worked at the Florida National Bank in 1929 as a ledger bookkeeper. Stephen Mars eventually purchased land and continued in the farming occupation. According to the "History of Orange County New York", by E. M. Ruttenber and L.H. Clark, DeWitt C. Durland began to sell small parcels of land to men engaged in onion-raising. Stephen Mars had a very close relationship with the Durland family and named one of his sons, Jesse Durland Mars.
Stephen Mars married Anna Mary DeGraw on December 4, 1872. Anna Mary DeGraw was born on October 10, 1847 at Greenwood Lake, Bellvale, Orange County, New York. Seven children were born to this couple. Anna Mary DeGraw also had one daughter, Ella May DeGraw, who lived with the family and was known as Ella May Mars. The Mars family lived on Main Street, Florida, New York. Stephen Mars died on January 7, 1929 and his wife, Anna Mary DeGraw Mars died on January 1, 1926. The couple was buried in the Family Plot at Warwick Cemetery, Warwick, New York. Please click on the links at the bottom of the page to view obituaries, photos, and information on Stephen and Anna's children.
The parents of Anna Mary DeGraw Mars were Lillelous Donald DeGraw and John DeGraw. This couple was from Greenwood Lake, Orange County, New York. Lillelous Donald DeGraw was born on January 26, 1811 and died on February 14, 1899. Please click here to view the obituary of Lillelous Donald DeGraw or the link at the bottom of the page.
The above writing of Lillelous DeGraw was in the autograph book of her granddaughter, Ella May DeGraw Mars.
[Autograph book is in the possession of Jan E. Mars Dalrymple]
The above photo is the cover page of the bible of Stephen Mars. Anna Mary DeGraw Mars most likely gave this book to Stephen Mars as a Christmas present.
[Bible is in the possession of Jan E. Mars Dalrymple]
Birth Page- Stephen Mars Bible
Marriage Page- Stephen Mars Bible
This hair was found in the bible between a paper dating to 1886.
The Goshen Republican Club bookmark was found in the bible of Stephen Mars.
Deaths -Stephen Mars Bible
Please click on the links below to view more information on Stephen Mars and Anna Mary DeGraw Mars.
CHILDREN OF STEPHEN MARS AND ANNA MARY DEGRAW MARS
OBITUARY- ANNA MARY DEGRAW MARS
OBITUARY- LILLELOUS DONALD DEGRAW