Prindles and Prindels of Clinton and Franklin Counties, NY and Their Allied Families

John, aka Johnnie PRINDLE was born in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY. He was the son of Levi PRINDLE (3.) and Mary E. UNKNOWN, and was found with the family in the 1850 census as a 4 year-old. After the death of his parents, Johnnie and his sister, Harriet, went to live with their Aunt and Uncle, Betsey and Eli PRINDLE (4.). In the 1860 Plattsburgh, Clinton, NY census, John was 14 years old. His occupation was listed as a peddler. In 1870, he was listed as a 24 year-old sailor, and had a 2 year-old daughter, Carrie. They were living in the Eli and Betsey PRINDLE household. It is unknown who the mother of Carrie was. Johnnie PRINDLE married Caroline Elbertine BENNETT, aka Carrie, sometime 1870-1877 in Orleans County, VT. She was born on Jun. 3, 1851 in Orleans County, the daughter of Quincy N. BENNETT and Caroline E. LAWRENCE. Johnnie’s young daughter, Carrie, lived with them. Together, Johnnie and Carrie BENNETT-PRINDLE had three children who spent their entire lifetimes in Glover, Orleans, VT. The family was not found on the 1880 census because they had moved to Canada. The Orleans County Monitor, Barton, Orleans, VT Apr. 19, 1880 "Johnnie Prindle's family have moved to Coaticook, P.Q. Johnnie has engaged with a circus which makes a tour in Canada this season." This took place a couple of months before the 1880 census was be taken in VT. P.Q. stands for the Province of Quebec. Coaticook is a border town. Its southern border is the line between the USA and Canada. There are no census records for 1890, so the next time they were found was in the 1900 census. In the 1900 census, Carrie stated her birth as Jun. 1853, but because in the 1860 census she was 9 years, and in 1870 she was 19 years, it is believed that Jun. 3, 1851 is more accurate of her actual birth. Carrie was listed as Caddie with her parents in the 1870, Orleans County, VT census. From The History of the Town of Glover, Vermont (1983) pg. 37: "Johnnie Prindle was born in Plattsburg, N.Y., in 1845. Johnnie was a born mimic, gifted with extraordinary vocal talent. At an early age he learned to play the banjo and sing his own compositions. This talent coupled with his impersonations won him at the age of 14 a position as a juvenile comedian with a theatrical troupe touring New England. He joined the Navy during the Civil War and was stationed on the battleship Savannah under Admiral Farragut. His contact with the southern Negro developed his black-face act to perfection, and after the war he again took up the theatrical profession in the role of comedian. On the circuit he met Charles C. Beedle, a musician whose home was just over the line between Glover and Barton. Out of this acquaintance developed the Beedle and Prindle shows, the troupe being known as the “Swiss Bell Ringers". The troupe rehearsed in the ballroom of the Union House. Emma Bemis and Etta Whittlesey, talented singers among the Glover girls, joined the group. Johnnie soon established a warm genuine friendship with the townspeople which he held to the end of his life. From the combined eccentricities of his Glover friends was evolved an impersonation to become nationally known—a combined comic and emotional character in which Johnnie always introduced himself as Reuben Glue of Glover, Vermont. Johnnie bought a house in Glover Village where Katie Butler now lives. His daughter Jo married Roy Christie. Jo Christie, like her father, was a fine singer and banjo player. For many years, Jo would delight her friends at talent shows or social gatherings with her lovely voice and nimble fingers.” The Plattsburgh Sentinel, Plattsburgh, Clinton, NY May 25, 1888 “Music Hall was filled Wednesday evening to see “Peck’s Bad Boy” and Johnnie Prindle. Johnnie, as the “Grocery Man,” was good and his specialties kept the audience in a roar. He was called out a number of times and finally acknowledged the compliment with a humorous speech.”