Francis Julius LeMoyne (September 4, 1798 – October 14, 1879) was a 19th-century American medical doctor and philanthropist from Washington, Pennsylvania. Responsible for creating the first crematory in the United States, he was also an abolitionist, founder of Washington's first public library (known as Citizen's Library), co-founder of the Washington Female Seminary, and an instrumental benefactor to the LeMoyne Normal and Commercial School (now LeMoyne-Owen College), to which he made a $20,000 (~$425,287 in 2023) donation in 1870.[2]
Early life
LeMoyne was the son of Nancy McCuly and John Julius LeMoyne.
He became a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, gave public lectures beside his home and travelled to U.S. slave states to lecture also, and in 1841, 1844, and 1847 ran as a candidate with the Abolition party for the Governor of Pennsylvania.[5] He may have been the Vice Presidential candidate on the Liberty Party ticket of 1840, under James G. Birney; the ticket garnered 4,000 votes nationwide.[6]
Deducing that decomposing bodies in local cemeteries were contaminating the water supplies and making the citizens sick,[7] Dr. Lemoyne set out to build the first crematory in the United States. The crematory was finished in 1876 on his own land, perched atop a location known locally as Gallow's Hill. The first cremation took place on December 6, 1876. In 1901, after 41 more cremations were performed (with Dr. LeMoyne being the third), the crematory was closed.
Today, the structure can be found in the same location off of South Main Street.
The LeMoyne house, built by father John Julius LeMoyne in 1812, was a stop on the underground railroad. It was Pennsylvania's first of six National Historic Landmarks of the Underground Railroad to be registered.[8] It still stands today at 49 East Maiden Street, near the campus of Washington & Jefferson College, where it has been converted into a museum. The house also serves as the center of the Washington County Historical Society.[9]
Marriage and Descendants
LeMoyne married Madeleine Romaine Bureau. Their descendants include:[10]
John Valcoulon LeMoyne (17 Nov 1828 - 27 Jul 1918), U.S. Congressman, married the beautiful Julia Nancy Murray (10 May 1828 - 17 Jun 1902), daughter of Magnus Miller Murray, former Mayor of Pittsburgh and his wife Mary Wilkins (23 Oct 1788 - 16 Feb 1872), daughter of Quartermaster General John Wilkins Jr. Their children included:[11]
Francis Julius Lemoyne (1854 - 26 Feb 1937), who late in life married Mary I. Clark (Dec 1873 - 9 Jul 1973), daughter of George Dorsey Clark (1844-1900) and Alice Ann Linthicum (1848-1929); no issue.
William M. Lemoyne (29 Jun 1855 - 16 May 1931), lawyer, married about 1890 to Gertrude M. McKennan (11 Feb 1856 - 11 Nov 1935); no issue.
Madeleine Romaine LeMoyne (b. 14 Nov 1856), married 21 Jul 1890 to Charles Ellis Ellicott and had issue:
Charles Ellis Ellicott Jr. (1892-1988), married Ann K. Murray and had issue:[12]
Nancy Ellicott (b. abt. 1921 (possibly 22 Oct 1920 - 1 Feb 2005 and married twice))
Dr. Charles Ellis Ellicott III (23 Feb 1923 - 25 Dec 2008), married Marjorie Foote (2 Nov 1923 - 3 Oct 1975)
Madeleine LeMoyne Ellicott (19 Mar 1926 - 7 May 1995), married Alan D. Chesney[13]
Dr. Valcoulon Le Moyne Ellicott (15 Nov 1893 - 10 Feb 1983), married Mary Purnell Gould (28 Sep 1897 - 30 Nov 2006), daughter of lawyer Clarendon Ivan Theodore Gould (10 Nov 1862 - 23 Apr 1948) and Grace Purnell (7 Jun 1870 - 21 Dec 1951), and had issue:[14]
John Valcoulon Le Moyne Ellicott (b. 26 May 1929), married Mary Lou Ulery (1931-1995)
Mary Ann LeMoyne (Aug 1858 - 17 Jan 1937), married George Dole Forrest and had issue:
Julie Murray Forrest (5 May 1894 - 15 Apr 1990),[16] on 25 Sep 1920 married banker Spottswood Page Nelson (13 Jul 1896 - 20 Apr 1980) and had issue:[17]
Julie Murray Nelson (b. abt. 1924), married Edward Monroe Williams and had issue.[18]
Spotswood Page Nelson (b. 11 Dec 1925)
Katharine Forrest Kendrick (4 June 1888 - 29 December 1989)[19]
Louis Valcoulon LeMoyne (4 Jan 1860 - 1928), landscape architect, author[20]
Julia LeMoyne (1 Jul 1863 - 6 Aug 1953),[21] who married William Brown McIlvaine and had issue.[22]
Katharine Le Moyne (b. 19 Sep 1866), married Janon Fisher (b. Sep 1837) and had issue:[23]
Janon Fisher Jr. (4 Jan 1898 - 26 Mar 1979), married Margie James (4 Jul 1900 - 6 May 1987), daughter of lumber merchant Norman James, and had issue.[24]
Katharine Le Moyne Fisher Jr. (b. 21 Mar 1900)
Romaine LeMoyne (1870-1968), who married Austin McLanahan (31 Oct 1871 - 3 Apr 1946). They are ancestors of actress Julie Bowen.[25]
Anne LeMoyne, married coal dealer Vachel Harding. Their children included:
Charles Vachel Harding (15 Oct 1856 - 19 Apr 1947), married Belle Galbraith (b. 1858),[26] then remarried in 1886 to Amanda Virginia Hupp[27] by whom he had issue:
Carolene H. Harding (25 Sep 1887 - 13 Apr 1960)[28]
Annie LeMoyne Harding (26 Mar 1864 - 30 Dec 1937)[30]
Romaine LeMoyne (Apr 1831 - 17 Feb 1922), married Nicholas King Wade (1823-1899). Their children included:
Madeleine Romaine Wade (Jun 1855 - 2 Dec 1925), married investment broker Robert Warner Poindexter (1849-1927). Their children were:
Robert Wade Poindexter (4 Mar 1887 - 15 Mar 1943),[31] manufacturing chemist and plant breeder, on 5 Feb 1916 married Irene M. Mersereau and had issue.[32]
Romaine LeMoyne Poindexter (2 Jul 1889 - 26 Aug 1977), no issue.[33]
Susan Wade (1859-1945), married Ernest Pryce Mitchell (1862 - 5 Feb 1947), no issue.
Julia Frances Wade (1861 - 25 Mar 1944), no issue.
William Nicholas Wade M.D. (1863-1917), married, no issue.
Jane LeMoyne (24 Feb 1834 - 3 Sep 1917), married about 1887 to Prof. James Snodgrass Simonton (20 Mar 1829 - 27 Dec 1921), elder brother of Ashbel Green Simonton. No issue.
Julius LeMoyne (29 Aug 1836 - 2 Apr 1911), President and Treasurer of the Washington County Fire Insurance Co.,[34] on 4 Mar 1862 he married Annie H. Kuhn (b. Mar 1839), daughter of Adam Kuhn (8 Mar 1801 - 27 Oct 1872), a bank president, and his wife Priscilla Wheeler (28 Jan 1805 - 27 May 1850). Their six children include:
Rose M. LeMoyne (b. abt. 1866), who on 11 Oct 1902 married George M. Kelley M.D.[35] No issue.
Francis Julius LeMoyne (5 Jan 1867 - 3 Aug 1953), married on 7 June 1899 to Catharine Murray Guthrie (29 Dec 1872 - 5 Jan 1940) (daughter of Robert Walker Guthrie and Priscilla Sellers), granddaughter of John Brandon Guthrie, former Mayor of Pittsburgh, and niece of George W. Guthrie, future Mayor of Pittsburgh and Ambassador to Japan. They had one daughter:
Madelaine Romaine LeMoyne (Nov 1877 - 17 Feb 1928), who on 10 Jun 1915 married Thomas Rush Alexander Jr.[43] No issue.
Dr. Francis "Frank" Julius LeMoyne Jr. (4 Apr 1839 - 1 Dec 1913),[44] Lucretia O. Lewis (20 Jun 1849 - 21 Jul 1925), daughter of Abraham Kirkpatrick "Kirk" Lewis and Mary Orth.[45]
Romaine LeMoyne (1882 - 1970) married Dr. Frederic Tremaine "Josh" Billings (1873 - 1933)
Dr. Frederic Tremaine "Josh" Billings, Jr. (1912 - )
Madeleine LeMoyne (8 May 1843 - 26 Oct 1943), remained single until at the age of 63 on 2 Mar 1907 in California she married George W. Reed.[46] No issue.
In episode 2 of season 8 of the genealogy television show Who_Do_You_Think_You_Are, a short biography is presented, and actress Julie Bowen is shown to be a direct descendant.
^Francis J Lemoyne Family in the 1850 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_834; Page: 356A; Image: 230. Ancestry.com paid subscription site. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009; accessed April 2018.
^[1] Census Place: Lake View, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 201; Page: 217A; Enumeration District: 216. 1880 United States Federal Census. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010; accessed April 2018.
^[2] Census Place: Baltimore, Maryland; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0668. 1930 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002; accessed April 2018.
^[3] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; accessed April 2018.
^[4] Census Place: Montgomery, Maryland; Roll: m-t0627-01554; Page: 53B; Enumeration District: 16-22A. 1940 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; accessed April 2018.
^[5] Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Naval and Reserve, U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013; accessed April 2018.
^[6] Julie Murray Forrest, Athlete at
Girton School, U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1990. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010; accessed April 2018.
^[7] Census Place: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland; Roll: m-t0627-01540; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 4-826. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; accessed April 2018.
^[8] Virginia, Marriage Records, 1936-2014. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; accessed April 2018.
^[9] A Dictionary of North American Authors Deceased before 1950. Compiled by W. Stewart Wallace. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1951. (DcNAA) Who Was Who in America. A component volume of Who's Who in American History. Volume 1, 1897-1942. Chicago: A.N. Marquis Co., 1943. (WhAm 1); accessed April 2018.
^[10] Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number: 66950. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; accessed April 2018.
^[11] Census Place: New Trier, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_239; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 1582; FHL microfilm: 1374252. 1910 United States Federal Census. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006; accessed April 2018.
^[12] Census Place: Election District 9, Baltimore City (Independent City), Maryland; Page: 23; Enumeration District: 0041. 1900 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004; accessed April 2018.
^[13] Census Place: Baltimore, Maryland; Roll: m-t0627-01504; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 3-43. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; accessed April 2018.
^[14] Source number: 492.000; Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004; accessed April 2018.
^[15] Ancestry.com. West Virginia, Marriages Index, 1785-1971. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011; accessed April 2018.
^[16] Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number: 34241. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; accessed April 2018.
^[17] Census Place: Upper St Clair, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: m-t0627-03419; Page: 44A; Enumeration District: 2-568. 1940 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; accessed April 2018.
^[18] Annie Le Moyne Harding Hood in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966; Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number: 119794. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; accessed April 2018.
^[19] Robert Wade Poindexter in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000; accessed April 2018.
^[20] Census Place: Long Beach, Los Angeles, California; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 1150. 1930 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002; accessed April 2018.
^[21] Romaine LeMoyne Poindexter in the California, Death Index, 1940-1997. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000; accessed April 2018.
^[22] Film Number: 001851830; Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1852-1968. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Accessed April 2018.
^[23] Year: 1930; Census Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0221; accessed April 2018.
^[24] Certificate Number: 10327; Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Accessed online April 2018.
^[26] Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number: 90100. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; accessed April 2018.
^[27] John Julius Baird in the Pennsylvania, Birth Certificates, 1906-1910. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Box Number: 90. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Accessed April 2018.
^[28] Census Place: Ben Avon, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: m-t0627-03397; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 2-27. 1940 United States Federal Census. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012; accessed April 2018.
^Her mother's 1900 U.S. Federal Census listing indicates only four of six children were still alive.
^[30] Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number: 124289; accessed April 2018 via Ancestry.com paid subscription site. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014; accessed April 2018.
^[31] Lucretia Lewis LeMoyne in the Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966; Certificate Number: 68185; accessed April 2018 via Ancestry.com paid subscription site. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
^[32] Madeleine LeMoyne in the California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1830-1980. California Department of Public Health, accessed April 2018 via ancestry.com paid subscription site.
