Monday, January 10, 2011

So where did Oliver L. Jackson come from exactly?? or "Mom and Dad, where are you?"

Previously we located Oscar and Leanna in Caldwell, Kansas in the 1930 census.  We find the same family unit in Caldwell in 1920 as well, only lacking the two additional children (Robert and Wilma) and Leanna's father Henry B. Andrews.

1920 US Federal Census
Caldwell, Sumner, Kansas


Oscar Jackson, age 37, b. Arkansas, both parents b. Arkansas, married, rent, can read and write, clerk for a laundry
Leina Jackson, age 31, b. Georgia, father b. N. Carolina, mother b. Georgia
Elenor Jackson, age 11, b. Kansas, school, dtr., all children father b. Arkansas, mother b. Georgia
Albert Jackson, age 10, b. Kansas, school, son
Fannie Jackson, age 8, b. Kansas, school, dtr.
Henry Jackson, age 5, b. Kansas, son
Mary Jackson, age 2, b. Kansas, dtr.
Thomas WILLIAMS, age 22, b. Oklahoma, lodger, father b. Missouri, mother b. Kansas, mechanic for a garage




Oscar Lothair Jackson's WWI Draft Registration Card




In 1910 the new family is in Peabody, Marion, Kansas.

1910 US Federal Census
Peabody, Marion, Kansas, District 75
family 79
Maple Street


Oscar L. Jackson, age 28, b. Arkansas, both parents b. Arkansas, Marriage 1 for 3 years, laundryman, steam, employed by someone else
Leana M. Jackson, age 21, b. Georgia, father b. N. Carolina, mother b. Georgia, Marriage 1 for 3 years, mother of 2 children, both alive
Eleanor L. Jackson age 1 and 11/12, dtr, b. Kansas, father b. Arkansas, mother b. Georgia
Albert L. Jackson, age 6/12. son, b. Kansas, father b. Arkansas, mother b. Georgia


The state of Kansas also did a state enumeration between the years 1855-1925.  Although these census' reiterate much of the same information that is found in the US Federal census', they were taken five years after each of the federal census years and these census' sometimes ask a few different questions, such as what state or country the residents came from immediately before their arrival to Kansas. A search of these records reveals Oscar and Leanna's household in the following years:

1925 Kansas State Census
414 No Main St.  fam no 7 [note that on this census  the visitation numbers are out of order] im.62


Oscar Jackson, age 43, laundry, own shop, born Arkansas, from Missouri to KS
Leanna Jackson, age 36, b. Georgia, from Alabama to KS, the rest of the family have no jobs
Eleanor Jackson , age 16, b. Kansas
Albert, age 15, b. Kansas
Fannie, age 13, b. Kansas
Henry, age 11, b. Kansas
Mary, age 7, b. Kansas


1915 Kansas State Census
Caldwell, Sumner, Kansas
fam 4, im.86


H.B. ANDREWS,  age 54, male, owns home
M.J. CLARK, age 66, female 
L.M. JACKSON, age 26, female
E. JACKSON,  age 6, female
Albert JACKSON, age 5, male
Aunie JACKSON, age 3, female [this should be Fannie]
H.B., age 1, male
[I do not know why Oscar is not here with his family and was unable to find him elsewhere in 1915]


Now that we have tracked Oscar and Leanna throughout the census' that are available from their married years together, (the 1910 census indicated they had been married for three years) we can take another step back and attempt to find them with their birth families.  We know that they possibly were married in Kansas, since the children are born there, so one or both of their families may have relocated at some point since their respective births in Arkansas and Georgia.  We know that Oscar's mother's maiden name is Major(from the CA death registration), and that he was born in about 1882 in Arkansas.  I'll start looking in Kansas and Arkansas for him first.

My first attempts at finding Oscar in the census' before his marriage were unsuccessful, but after I did a search of the Kansas state census, I discovered why.  Oscar's mother had either been widowed or divorced and had remarried, and Oscar was listed with his step-father's last name in all of the census' except for the 1905 Kansas State census.  His mother remarried a Charles W. Cupp.  Mr. Cupp was a laundryman, as Oscar was to become as an adult, and the Oscar listed in the household was a match in both age and place of birth, as well as parental births although the middle initial was off (it actually could be an L, when I looked at the original document), so I confirmed his identity furthur by tracking his Cupp siblings.  Charles S. Cupp's mother is identified on his Texas death certificate as Mary Jane Majors.

1905 Kansas State Census
1 March 1905
Caldwell, Sumner, Kansas
images 80-81, line 7


C.W. Cupp, age 45, born Missouri, from Missouri to Kansas, laundry
M.J. Cupp, age 43, born Arkansas, from Missouri to Kansas, housewife
O.L. Jackson, age 22, born Arkansas, from Missouri to  Kansas, laundry
C.S. Cupp, age 13, born Missouri, from Missouri to Kansas, attended school
J.T. Cupp, age 9, born Missouri, from Missouri to Kansas, attended school
G.E. Cupp, age 3, born Kansas


1900 US Federal Census
Sumner, Caldwell, Kansas, District 319, image 14, family 161


C.W. Cupp, age 40, born Sep 1859 in Missouri, father b. Ohio, mother b. Maryland, owns home free, laundryman, married 12 years
M.J. Cupp, age 37, born July 1862 in Arkansas, father b. Canada (Eng), mother b. Arkansas, married 12 years, mother of three children all alive
Oscar Cupp, age 18, born Apr 1882 in Arkansas, father b. Illinois, mother b. Arkansas, laundryman
Chas O. Cupp, age 8, born Aug 1891 in Missouri, father born Missouri, mother b. Arkansas, in school
Jacob T. Cupp, age 4, born Sep 1895 in Kansas, father b. Missouri, mother b. Arkansas


1895 Kansas State Census
Sumner, Caldwell, Kansas, image 66, line 12, fam 343


C.W. Cupp, age 35, born Missouri, to Kansas from Missouri, laundry
Mary Cupp, age 32, born Arkansas, to Kansas from Missouri, housekeeper
Oscar Cupp, age 18, born Arkansas, to Kansas from Missouri [should be age 13, wrong on census]
Charlie Cupp, age 3, born Missouri, to Kansas from Missouri
W. YOUNGER, age 20, born Illinois, to Kansas from Illinois, line man


Now we know that Mary and Charles were married in about 1888.  We should look in Missouri for their marriage record because they both came to Kansas from Missouri and Charlie was born in Missouri in about 1892.  Charles W. is in the 1880 census with his family in Union, Marion, Missouri, so I would begin there.  His mother, Sarah, is widowed and his father had died in the previous four to five years.

1880 US Federal Census
Union, Marion, Missouri ED 22, page 20, anc. im. 15


Sarah A. Cupp, age 42, widowed, keeping house, born in Maryland, parents b. Maryland, all of the family can read and write.
Charles W. Cupp, age 20, son, works on farm, all children b. Missouri, father b. Ohio, mother b. Maryland
Annie Cupp, age 13, daughter, at school
Jacob Cupp, age 10, son, works on farm, attended school within the year
Eddie Cupp, age 4, son


And what about Oscar and his parents??  Well Oscar wasn't born yet for the 1880 census, there are no remnants of the 1890 census for any of the areas where he probably might have been, and I don't think he was in Kansas for the 1885 census.  We don't know if Mary Jane was married to Oscar's father yet in 1880, so I've searched for her under both names.  It has been a problem.  I have a couple of possibilities, which gives us some leads to follow up on, but I'm not sure where they will take us.

First I have found an Arkansas marriage record for a J.H. Jackson, born in 1857, age 21 marrying an M.J. Majors, born in 1860, age 18, on 31 August, 1878 in Pulaski, Arkansas.  This is a pretty good match, although elsewhere she says she was born in 1862, but that is a pretty common error or fabrication in records.

In 1880, I find an interesting census record for a Lizzie Majors with children listed as Mary J. Jackson and James H. Jackson in Garland, Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Everything about this record is wrong, but there is enough right about it that I think it is worth further investigation.  We never know when a guess will lead us down the wrong path for awhile or lead to results, so I'll start looking for these Majors and Jacksons in 1870 in Arkansas, try to find a birth record for Oscar, and see if there is a death notice for this James H. Jackson.  Statewide birth and death certificates began in 1914 in Arkansas, but newspaper notices, church records, and local records may be available. Is this Oscar's parents listed as single and children of Lizzie Majors and with incorrect ages?  That would be one messed up census record, but I've seen worse!





Sunday, December 26, 2010

The First Mystery Regarding Oscar L. Jackson

We already know that Oscar lived in Sumner County, Kansas and he is enumerated there in 1920 and 1930 with his known wife Leanna Andrews and he is buried with her in the Caldwell Cemetery.  But did he die in Monterey County, California?  The evidence is indicating that indeed he and Leanna lived in CA. The California death record for an Oscar Lothair Jackson, indicates that he was born in Arkansas, got his social security card in California and the Caldwell cemetery dates match this CA death date. When I search the social security death index I find that Leanna also received her social security card in California. Now this is becoming more than coincidence.  It is likely that she returned to Kansas after Oscar's death, because her last benefit address was in Caldwell, Kansas.  Why were they in California??

Further investigation into their life in California, has only led me to a few tidbits of information, most of which have just led to more questions.  A search of the CA voter registration records (1928-1938) finds on Oscar L Jackson living at 130 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, Monterey County, CA.  He is listed as a farmer, and Democrat.  At the same address is a Miss S. (later voter records show this to be Stella) Virginia Jackson, a housewife and Republican.  Is she related to Oscar?  I find her in the CA census as born in Kansas in 1900, but her father is listed as from Germany and mother from Denmark.  She is married to a George Jackson who was born in 1895 in Wales, parents born in England.  This census listing indicates a Cedar Rd., but a close look at a map of the area shows that the flip side of the house probably did face Forest Ave.  Oscar's mother, Mary Jane, does list her father as Canadian English, so perhaps they did have some familial connections still overseas.  George did  not immigrate to California until 1908.  Perhaps after we receive their social security application records, and if I am able to find an obituary in the newspaper we will find some answers to these questions?  Stella is also in the CA registration records, still at the same address in 1942, so the 1940 census release may also be helpful.  As we continue to look at the family on the reverse timeline, perhaps we will find some other connections, and maybe we won't.  We will return to this mystery later after the arrival of more documentation or other discoveries that may illuminate this situation.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Oscar L. Jackson and Leanna Jackson family of Kansas and California

As with the Young family, we at least know that the family was in Kansas by 1930.  Almost certainly some of the Young/Jackson descendants remained in Sumner County,  Kansas well into the twentieth century, as Elta and Albert Young as well as Oscar and Leanna Jackson are buried in the Caldwell Cemetery.

1930 United States Census     324 N. Main Street, Caldwell, Sumner, Kansas
               
Oscar L. Jackson, born in Arkansas, both parents born Arkansas, age 47, rents for $25 a month
           proprietor of a laundry


Leanna Jackson, wife, born in Georgia, father b. North Carolina, mother b. Georgia, age 41
Elinor Jackson, daughter, age 21, no occupation
       all children born in Kansas, father b. Arkansas, mother b. Georgia
Albert Jackson, son, age 21, helper at laundry
Fannie Jackson, daughter, age 18
H. B. Jackson, son, age 16
Mary Jackson, daughter, age 12
Robert Jackson, son, age 3 and 3/12
Wilma Jackson, age 8/12


Henry B. ANDREWS , father-in-law, age 69, born in North Carolina, both parents b. North    
         Carolina, carpenter, finishing work


So, as is often the case, this census information both provides answers and raises questions.  We would expect to see Oscar's daughter Billie Jean, that we believe was born in 1929 on this census.  Instead we see a Wilma.  Is Billie's year of birth wrong, was the name mis-transcribed, or did she grow into a different name??  We will look for a birth certificates for both a Billie Jean and a Wilma, as well as any other children born to Oscar and Leanna between their marriage date and 1940 or so.  There is a large break between the birth of children Mary and Robert.  Were there other children born during this span?

The good news is that Leanna's father, Henry B. Andrews, is living with the family and is still working, as a carpenter, so we now have her maiden name. (Also the H.B. Jackson in the census is probably named after him).  Hopefully we will be able to find his family in North Carolina or where they later lived in Georgia as well as a marriage record, probably to be found in Georgia.  More hunting news later.



The Albert L. Young family of Kansas, previously hailing from Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio (part 1)

When you have an ancestor's name and know where the family lived in 1930, you often can get a real running start on constructing your family tree.  That is the case when we look at the Albert L. and Elta M. Young family of Kansas.  In 1930 we find Albert L. Young as the head of household with his wife, Elta M., and his son Aubrey D. in Renfrow, Grant County, Oklahoma.

 1930 United States Census
  District 26, Renfrow, Grant, Oklahoma
  household no. 4


YOUNG, Albert L   head    owns home worth 1200  age 50 1st marriage at age 27 b.
             Illinois   father b. Illinois   mother b. Illinois  retail merchant  groceries own accord


  Elta M.  wife age 45 born in Kansas   father b. Iowa mother b. Ohio
  Aubrey D.  son age 3 and 7/12 b. in Kansas father b. Illinois mother b.Kansas


Renfrow, Grant County is about 8 miles south of Caldwell, Sumner, KS where Aubrey's future wife lived.  Aubrey may well have been born in Kansas, even if the family lived in Oklahoma at the time.

In 1920, the family is also found in Grant County, Oklahoma, but in Fairview, about 84 miles (via roads) southwest of Renfrow.

1920 US Census
 Fairview Grant Oklahoma
 household no.7


YOUNG,  Albert L.  head  owns home free  age 40 b. Illinois father b. Illinois mother b. Illinois   druggist   drugstore   of own accord

Elta M.  wife  age 34 b. Kansas  father b. Iowa   mother b. Illinois
           
Nadine A.   daughter age 6 b. Oklahoma   father b. Illinois  mother b.Kansas


Our first question might be, "where is Nadine in 1930?"  Did she die, or marry very young?  We will look for her in both the marriage and death records between 1920 and 1930.  In 1910, Albert and Elta are back in Renfrow, Grant, Oklahoma.  They are both documented as being in their first marriage for two years and without any children listed.  Now we can look for Albert and Elta in the marriage records of Kansas and Oklahoma in 1908.

1910  United States Census
District 41  Renfrow  Grant  Oklahoma
household 23


YOUNG, Albert L  head age 28 m1 for 2 years b. Illinois  father b. Indiana mother b. Indiana
                     
Elta M.  wife  age 25 m1 for 2 years  b. Kansas  father b. Iowa mother b. Ohio


Whenever we genealogists jump to a previous generation, it is very important that we make certain that we have found the right child with the right parents.  We need to find Albert and Elta with their parents in 1900.
                            




                       

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Clinton Cemetery Revisited

After the forty degree plus variations in the weather this past week here in Lawrence and another snow, I took the opportunity to head back out to Clinton Cemetery and take some more pictures.  There were still a few blankets of snow and the ground was a bit soggy, but it was seventy and sunny, and I took advantage of the warm break, since another cold front is on its way.

When the genealogist gets a lead that an ancestor is buried in a particular cemetery, she should remember to get not only pictures of that ancestor's stone, but also pictures and details on all burials with the same surname, since they will often later be found to be relatives.  I also always look for maiden names that could be included on female relative's stones.  Just as I do when I find an ancestor in census records, when I find an ancestor's final resting place, I take a strong inventory of everyone that is nearby.  Proximity can be an excellent lead for further investigation.  Proximity is never proof, but it can provide clues and direct your research.

As I recorded the Anderson family stones, a  stone was laid nearby for a Ruth A. Lamb (1855-1928).  Was the A perhaps short for Anderson?   The main family stone was for a Lillie Mae (1878-1964) and John W. Anderson (1868-1920).  There are also a couple of children's stones, Mable Ruth Anderson (1904-1907), and Glenn Anderson (1914-1914).  The fact that Mable's middle name is Ruth is adding to the evidence that Ruth A. Lamb is a relative.  Let's see what comes up in a census search for 1920 for the Anderson family and Ruth Lamb.



I find the John W. and Lily M. Anderson family in 1920 in Marion, Douglas, Kansas.
 
1920 US Federal Census, Marion, Douglas, Kansas
John W. Anderson, age 50, head, born Kansas, father born Missouri, mother born Illinois, owns home, able to read and write
Lily M. Anderson, age 42, wife, born in California, mother and father born in California, able to read and write
Donald W. Anderson, age 13,son, born in Washington, father born in Kansas, mother born in California, able to read and write
Pearl M. Anderson, age 11, daughter, born in Washington, father born in Kansas, mother born in California, able to read and write
Lila N. Anderson, age 9, daughter, born in Kansas, father born in Kansas, mother born in California
Ida M. Anderson, age 4 years and 7 months, daughter, born in Kansas, father born in Kansas mother born in California
Edward C. Anderson, age 2 years and 4 months, son, born in Kansas, father born in Kansas, mother born in California

This census gives us a little more information to go on, namely that Lillie's family is from California and she and her husband lived in Washington for at least a few years before coming to Kansas, where John was born.  I should search for marriage records in all three states.  The family is back in Kansas by 1910, where we find them in Clinton, Douglas, Kansas.

 1910 US Federal Census, Clinton, Douglas, Kansas
John W. Anderson, age 42, head, born in Kansas, father and mother born in Illinois
Lily M. Anderson, age 30, [mistranscribed at ancestry as age 50], wife, born in Kansas, father and mother born USA
Donald Anderson, age 3, son, born in Washington, son, mother and father born Kansas
Pearl Anderson, age 1, daughter, born in Washington, mother and father born in Kansas

Since Donald and Pearl were both born in Washington, I would begin with a marriage search there even though it seems a bit odd since there is no family connection that we know of there.  A search of the Washington State digital archives at www.digitalarchives.wa.gov. finds a marriage for a John W. Anderson and Lillie Lamb in 1903  in Spokane County.  After going to the notes we find that they were married on Oct.12, 1903, filed on Oct 14, 1903, document easpmc414 and an image is available online...nice.


This certificate gives us some additional information.  First off we learn that Ruth is not an Anderson, but is a probable relative of Lillie, and that Lillie is of Long Beach, California and that John W. Anderson is of Gray, Washington.  I certainly am a little bit curious about how these two connected so far from their home bases.  I also notice that their witnesses are Mw(?Matthew) and Birdena Woodward, and I know that there are a lot of Woodward burials in the Clinton Cemetery.  Maybe there is a connection there that brought John to Washington.  We will try to find out.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A New Tree

It's always fun to be given a new family name to investigate.  Today, let's look at the Cadwallader family of Indiana.  Cadwallader is an uncommon name, which can be beneficial, but often those benefits are diminished by the multitude of spelling variations.  I have a name and a state.  Ezra Lewis Cadwallader is the great-grandfather of a friend in his twenties (that can give me a general age idea, if he falls within the norms) and he lived in Indiana.  My first search indicates that perhaps Ezra is a family name.  I come up with two Ezra's in Indiana, one of which is almost certainly the Ezra of interest, born about 1907 and living in Randolph County, Indiana.  The other Ezra was born about 1842 in Indiana, lived in Clinton County, Ohio in 1870, but was married to a Rebecca Hill in Randolph County, Indiana.  We will perhaps find that he is related to our Ezra later, but back to our Ezra Lewis.

In 1920 we find Ezra L. Cadwallader in Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana, with Thomas B. and Gladys Cadwallader, as well as a brother Melvin H. and sister, Dorothy C., and Robert and Walter M. Derrickson, that are reported as uncles of the head of household Thomas B.

1920 Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana

Thomas B. Cadwallader, age 35, born Indiana about 1885, both parents born Indiana, renting, able to read and write
Gladys Cadwallader, age 31, born Indiana about 1889, both parents born Indiana, able to read and write
Ezra L. Cadwallader, age 13, born Indiana about 1907, son, both parents born Indiana, able to read and write
Melvin H. Cadwallader, age 10, born Indiana about 1910, son, both parents born Indiana, able to read and write
Dorothy C. Cadwallader, age 5, born Indiana about 1915, daughter, both parents born Indiana
Robert Derrickson, age 65, born Indiana about 1855, uncle, both parents born Delaware, single, able to read and write
Walter M. Derrickson, age 56, born Indiana about 1864, both parents born Indiana, single, able to read and write

One of the first things I notice is that we're lucky to have some related men in the household that can help us construct the maiden names of women in the family, and also I note that it looks like they are not brothers, since their parents were born in different places.

As a starting point, I feel pretty confident that this is our Ezra.  The middle initial is right on, the location in Indiana is good, he is the only Ezra or Lewis that is of the right age and place.  I will continue on this path and determine if this is indeed our Ezra.  A quick 1930s search isn't finding him, but I do find the Thomas and Gladys household on Potts Road, still in Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana.

1930 Federal Census, District 4, Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana, household 182

Thomas Cadwallader, head,  age 45, born Indiana about 1885, parents both born Indiana, farmer, general farm, first marriage at age 22
Gladys Cadwallader, age 41, born Indiana, parents both born Indiana, wife, first marriage at age 18
Robert Cadwallader, age 5, son, born Indiana, parents both born Indiana
[At the same address, but household 183 we find Thomas' son]
Melvin Cadwallader, head, age 20, all born Indiana, married at age 20, laborer on a farm
Pauline Cadwallader, wife, age 21, married at age 21, all born Indiana,
[I'm not sure where Ezra is in 1930, have found a few possibilities, but still investigating]

They were also in Randolph County, Indiana in 1910 on South Harrison in Washington Twp.

1910 US Federal Census p. 8A, District 141, Washington, Randolph, Indiana

Thomas Cudarallaer, head, age 25, born Indiana, parents born Indiana
Gladys, wife, age 21, born Indiana, parents born Indiana
Ezra, son, age 3
Malvin, son, age 11/12


At the family search.org site, I am able to find a marriage record for Thomas B. and Gladys in Randolph County, Indiana.

Thomas Martin Cadwallader married Gladia Derickson [sic] 27  Feb. 1906. 
Father: H.C. Cadwallader
Mother : Jennie Brown
Batch No. MO11574

This is the record for an actual extracted marriage record and if you go to any Family History Library, you can order the microfilm and make a copy of the certificate.
 
Gladia is found with her father, John Derrickson, in 1900 in Greensfork, but he has only been married to his wife for ten years, so Gladia's mother may well have died at her birth or shortly thereafter. Or the ten years could be a mistake because Marry does say that she has one child, still living...although he/she could be out of the house since she is 36.  I have not found a marriage record or maiden name for her yet. A quick glance at other census information indicates that John may have been married multiple times, and with extended members of the family living in the same households, the Derrickson family will need more extensive research time to deconstruct.  This is another family genealogy that could really use that 1890 census!!

1900 US Federal Census Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana

John Derickson, head, age 53, born Jun 1846 in Indiana, both parents born Delaware, married ten years
Marry Derickson, age 36, born May 1864 in Indiana, both parents born in Indiana
Gladia Derickson, age 11, born Oct 1888 in Indiana, daughter, both parents born in Indiana
Robert Derickson, age 45, born Jun 1854 in Indiana, boarder, both parents born in Indiana

With the marriage certificate information, I will look for Jennie Cadwallader and see if I can find out what H.C.'s entire name is.

We also now know that the Derrickson's listed in the census in 1920 are uncles of Gladys, not Thomas.  This is a very common occurrence in census records.  If the wife gave the information, relationships are often listed in relation to her and not the head of household as they were supposed to be.

At first search, I don't find the family, but when I look for Thomas, born in Indiana in 1885, I find the family in Greensfork in 1900.

1900 Federal Census, Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana

Henry Cadwalader, age 47, born Dec 1852, Indiana, both parents born Indiana, married 18 years
Nancy J Cadwalader, age 36, born Mar 1864 in Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, gave birth to eleven children, nine alive, married 1882
Ina Cadwalader, age 16, born Jul 1883 in Indiana, daughter, both parents born Indiana
Thomas M. Cadwalader, age 15, born Jul 1884 in Indiana, son, both parents born Indiana
Mary A. Cadwalader, age 11, born Jan 1889 in Indiana,daughter, both parents born Indiana
Henry Cadwalader, age 10, born Mar 1890 in Indiana, son, parents born Indiana
James E. Cadwalader, age 8, born Sep 1891 in Indiana, son, both parents born Indiana
George W. Cadwalader, age 7, born Apr 1893 in Indiana, son, both parents born Indiana
Juley C. Cadwalader, age 5, born Jan 1895 in Indiana, daughter, both parents born Indiana
Harvey G. Cadwalader, age 3, born Oct 1896 in Indiana, son, both parents born Indiana
Miram C. Cadwalader, age 1, born Sep 1898 in Indiana, daughter, both parents born Indiana

1920 US Federal Census Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana ED 151, sheet 4B

Henry Cadwallader, head, age 68, born about 1852 in Indiana, both parents born Indiana, can read and write
Nancy J. Cadwallader, age 55, born about 1865 in Indiana, wife, father born Kentucky, mother born Indiana, mother's name Ellartina
George W. Cadwallader, age 26, son, born about 1894 in Indiana, both parents born Indiana, able to read and write
Harvey Cadwallader, age 23, son, born in Indiana about 1897, both parents born Indiana, able to read and write
Miriam Cadwallader, age 21, daughter, born about 1899 in Indiana, both parents born in Indiana, able to read and write
Ellartina Brown, age 78, mother-in-law, born in Ohio about 1842, both parents born in Ohio, widow, able to read and write [ancestry submitted name listed as should be read "Celestina Brown"] 

1930 US Federal Census Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana,  ED 68-4, sheets 6A-B


Harvey Cadwallader, head, age 33, born about 1897 in Indiana, farmer
May Cadwallader, wife, age 29, born about 1901 in Indiana, age 19 at first marriage
Evelyne Cadwallader, age 2, born about 1927 in Indiana 
Clark Cadwallader, father, age 79, born about 1851 in Indiana, age 30 at first marriage
Nancy E. Cadwallader, mother, age 66, born about 1864 in Indiana, age 15 at first marriage



So now we have Thomas' parents' names as Henry C. Cadwalader and Nancy Jennie Brown married in 1882 and living in Randolph County, Indiana.  Consulting the Indiana Marriage Collection, we find that Henry Clarkson Cadwallader married Nancy Jane Brown 15 Jun 1882 in Randolph, Indiana by Min. J. B. Barnes.  Of course, the 1890 census was lost, so we are unable to see the family in their early years, but maybe we can find Henry and Nancy with their birth families.

Henry C. is easy to find in 1870 in Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana, and we find that indeed, Ezra the younger is the namesake of his grandfather Ezra.

1870 US Federal Census, Greens Fork, Randolph, Indiana, page 28

Ezra Cadwallader, age 51, born about 1819 in Ohio, farmer, worth $2200 real, $400 personal
Rebecca Cadwallader, age 48, born about 1822 in Indiana, keeps house
Thomas H. Cadwallader, age 25, born about 1845 in Indiana
Henry C. Cadwallader, age 19, born about 1851 in Indiana
Martha C. Cadwallader, age 12, born about 1858 in Indiana
Mariam E.M. Cadwallader age 7, born about 1863 in Indiana [mistranscribed at ancestry as age 19]
Vashi Semantha age 2, born about 1868 in Indiana

The family was a little harder to find in 1880, Ezra is gone, Henry is listed by a diminutive of his middle name, Clarkson, and Mariam is listed as Ella, also probably her middle name which began with an E. in the earlier census.


Photo by Sabrina and Tim Benner                                                                  
 Ezra Cadwallader
Died
Oct 20, 1877
Aged 58Y.7M.16D

1880 US Federal Census, page 16, Greens fork, Randolph, Indiana

Rebecca Cadwallader, age 57, keeping house, born in Indiana, both parents born South Carolina
Clark Cadwallader, age 27, son, farmer, born Indiana as are both parents [why doesn't this say father, Ohio? recheck]
Ella Cadwallader, age 16, daughter, at home, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana
Cemantha, age 12 grand-daughter, at school, born in Indiana, as are both parents

I wasn't sure if this was the correct family at first, but they are at the same location with the same neighbors and the middle names are matching the initials previously used.  And it surely is not hard to find Henry Clarkson's future wife...she lived only households away.

Marcelus Brown, age 42, born about 1838 in Ohio, parents born unknown, farmer
Clestina, age 40, wife,  born in Indiana, father born Kentucky, mother born PA, keeps house
Samuel, age 19, son, born abut 1861 in Indiana, father born Ohio, mother in Indiana, works on farm
Nancy J., age 16, daughter, born about 1864 in Indiana, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana, at school
Willie, age 12, son, born about 1868 in Indiana, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana, at school

The family was in Greensfork in 1870 as well.

1870 US Federal Census, Greensfork, Randolph, Indiana, page no. 31(stamp print 332)

N M Brown, age 29, born about 1841 in Ohio, farmer
Celestine Brown, age 27, born about 1843 in Ohio, keeps house
Samuel R. Brown, age 6, born about 1864 in Indiana
Nancy Brown, age 6, born about 1864 in Indiana [marked to the side with a ? and the word twins]
Willie Brown, age 1, born about 1869 in Indiana

In the 1880s, many county biographical histories were published throughout the country, and they are full of clues but they are also replete with a multitude of errors and omissions.  The History of Randolph County, Indiana's biography for Marcellus N. Brown follows.

MARCELLUS N. BROWN, farmer P.O. Lynn: born in Preble County, Ohio, February 28, 1838; he is the son of Thomas M. and Nancy J. (Brandon) Brown, the former born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Darke County, Ohio, March 12, 1820.  Mr. Brown was educated at Spartansburg; he was married August 1860 to Celestina Ruby, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, November 1, 1840.  She is the daughter of Samuel F. and Jane (Mculty) Ruby, the former born April 27, 1812, and the latter February 17, 1818.  Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been blessed with three children viz, Samuel R., born October 14, 1861; Nancy J., March 6, 1864, and Willie S., October, 1869.  Mr. Brown became a resident of this county in 1849; he owns a farm of 100 acres in Section 25, on which he has bee residing since 1875.  He is a thorough gentleman, and he and his worthy lady are respected by all who know them.  (p. 370)

The marriage record index for Ezra and Rebecca Hill indicates that they were married 16 Aug 1843 in Randolph County.  This marriage should be found on FHL US/CAN Film 1654838 and can be ordered through any Family History Center in your area.

The Randolph history indicates that William Hill and Mary Hockett are Rebecca Hill's parents.

William Hill was born in North Carolina in 1785; married Mary Hockett in 1807.  (She was born in 1784, and came to Ohio in 1807.)  They came to Wayne County, Ind., (near Richmond), in 1810; moved to Highland County, Ohio in 1811 ( probably on account of the Indians); returned to Wayne County, Ind., in 1816; came to Randolph County in 1823; bought sixty acres of land at second hand; had nine children, all living to become grown and to be married, and five still survive.
     The children were Ruth, Aaron, Hiram, Martha, Sarah, Rebecca, Miriam, and Henry W., all born between 1808 and 1828.
     William Hill died in 1840, aged fifty-five years; his wife died in 1865, aged eighty-one years.
     W. H. was a sterling pioneer, active, discreet, zealous for the right, and he trained up his large family in the way in which they ought to go, and his descendants are to-day an active, estimable, worthy group of men and women.  Many odd and quaint things are told of William Hill and of his boys, most of which are probably not true, and which, were they even true, will hardly pay to write down.
     He was a farmer, a blacksmith, a plasterer, a brick-mason and what else we do not know.  In religion, he was a Friend, in politics a Whig; and altogether an intelligent, reliable, citizen and worthy.

Since we have a nice, long, stable history of the family residing in Greensfork, Randolph County, Indiana, I think it is time to consult some of the local genealogical resources for mentions of the family names and some history about the area in which they lived,and  look for more birth, death, and marriage records, as well as wills that will serve to substantiate the proposed family relationships.

In summary,  the family, so far, looks to be thus:

Ezra Lewis Cadwallader, b. 1907 in Indiana
son of Thomas Martin Cadwallader, b.1885 in Indiana and Gladia Derrickson, b.1889 in Indiana
Gladia was the daughter of John Derrickson and unknown
Thomas Martin Cadwallader (1885) was the son of Henry Clarkson Cadwallader ,b.1852 in Indiana and Nancy Jane aka Jennie Brown, b.1864 in Indiana
Nancy Jennie Brown (1864) was the daughter of N. Marcelus Brown b.1841 in Ohio and Celestia b.1843 in Ohio
Henry Clarkson Cadwallader (1852) was the son of Ezra Cadwallader (1819-Ohio) and Rebecca Hill  (1822-Ohio).
Rebecca Hill (1822) was the daughter of William Hill b. 1785 in North Carolina and  Mary Hockett b. 1784.
Ezra Cadwallader (1819) was the son of Thomas Cadwallader b. 1795 in Virginia and Vashti b. 1797 in South Carolina.

The History of Randolph County indicates that Thomas Sr. Cadwallader (given as the father of Ezra, and buried at Arba Cemetery), husband of Vashti, was a Quaker, but that his son Ezra and his wife, Rebecca Hill, were  early members of the United Brethren Bethel Church, as were other members of the Hill family.  They are all buried at Arba Cemetery (I haven't found Rebecca, Ezra's widow, and do not know if she remarried or moved away), a cemetery began by the Quaker congregation.  The history also indicates that the Cadwallader family of Greensfork arrived there in 1830 or1833.  There is one mention of an Ira Cadwallader arriving to Greensfork in the same year as Abner and Thomas and in the listing of the oldest living settlers in 1882, there is mention of Amos Cadwallader. There are some indications that the family hails from Warren County, Ohio and before that, Virginia.  Also note that Randolph County borders Darke County, Ohio.

From the Randolph County History:
     Thomas Cadwallader was born in 1795, and came to Greensfork Township, Randolph Co., Ind., about 1830, in company with his brother Abner, settling in the woods.  Abner died many years ago, but Thomas lived on, a steady, quiet, humble, thankful life, for fifty-two years, upon his little farm where first he pitched his tent under the "shadow of the beeches."  He was all his life a member of the Society of Friends belonging at Arba.  He departed this life at his residence, near Arba, Sunday, April 23, 1882, in his eighty-seventh year.  The funeral services were held at the Arba Friends' Meeting-House on Tuesday following his death, being attended by a large concourse of neighbors, relatives, and friends.  They were in the simple and impressive style common among the Quakers.  His aged companion still survives him, being herself eighty-five years old.  They had been married nearly or quite sixty-five years.  He was born during the second term of Washington's administration, and was old enough to vote for James Monroe at his first election.  His birth occurred the same year with Wayne's treaty with the Indians at Fort Greenville, Ohio, 1795, so that his life measures the whole interval since the power of the savage tribes over the great Western valley was broken by the master hand of Gen. Anthony Wayne.  The change that has come over the world since Friend Thomas lay a babe in his cradle--how wondrous great!
       Mr. Cadwallader lived all that long earthly life in the fear and love of God, and his happy spirit rests, doubtless, in the heavenly mansions.
      His brother Abner, father of Hon. Nathan Cadwallader, came as stated above, with his brother Thomas, but did not very long  survive, dying in middle life.  Some account of his family may be found along with the biography of Hon. N. Cadwallader already mentioned.
From the biography of Nathan Cadwallader we get some additional family information:

Nathan Cadwallader, banker, was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1826.  His father moved to Greensfork, Randolph Co., Ind., in 1833.  He was an active, thriving man, but he died in 1840.  Nathan was the only boy, and but fourteen years old.  By the "turn of times" and the worthlessness of "sale notes" the family became somewhat poor.  Nathan's boyish management was none of the best.  They had one old bay mare, and no way to get any more or to get much else.  He "gouged along" after a "fashion," borrowed a horse sometimes, etc.  He did most of the work that was done, though his sisters helped what they could in loading, cleaning grain, etc.  They cleaned grain by "flapping" it on a sheet, and had to haul everything on a sled.  A wagon was a luxury not to be thought of. Two brothers, Thomas and Abner (his father) came together, and settled west of Arba.  Uncle Thomas is living yet, eighty-five years old, and his wife is over eighty.  (He died a few months ago.)
     A. C. married Mary Thomas in about the year 1825.  She died in 1868.  They had five children-Nathan, Vashti (Williams), Janet Gray Heitzman (widow), Sarepta (Chenoweth), Rachel (Bowen)-all living.

 On the 1840 Greenfork, Randolph, Indiana census we find:

Thomas Cadwalader
one male age 10 to under 15
one male age 20 to under 30
one male 40 to under 50

Abner Cadwalader [three households away from Thomas]
one male age 10 to under 15
one male 30 to under 40
one male 70 to under 80
two females under 5
one female 5 to under 10
one female 10 to under 15
one female 30 to under 40

1850 US Federal Census Greensfork Randolph Indiana
Thomas Cadwalader age 55 farmer born in Virginia
Vashti Cadwalader age 53 born in South Carolina unable to read and write
Rachel Flora?? age 14 born in Indiana attending school
Sarah A. age 6 born in Indiana attending school

Links of interest:
Cadwallader burials at Arba Cemetery, Randolph, Indiana:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=691794&GSfn=&GSln=cadwallader
Arba Cemetery Info:
http://www.randolphcountyindianahistoricalsociety.org/
http://www.randolphcountyindianahistoricaabra_cemetery_grnfrk.htm
1882 History of Randolph County, Indiana online  digitization with search capability"
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofrandolp00tuck
 BYU Family History Collection online-surname search available in all digitized family histories:
http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/index.php
Family Search through LDS, many items are only good for leads or ideas, unless they are indexes of actual records and not just member contributions:
http://www.familysearch.org/ENG/search/frameset_search.asp

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Women in the Tree

As every genealogist knows, the women in our family trees can be particularly difficult to find and follow throughout their lives. Being a woman myself, a mother of three children and a student of the history of women, I am particularly drawn to finding methods of tracking the lost women in our families. By studying the women in our families throughout history, I believe that we give their life's work the consideration it deserves and respect for it's importance.

Beginning genealogists often don't understand how important it is to study all the peripheral parts of their family tree rather than focusing only on their direct line . Whenever you make a new generational discovery, you should always do at least a cursory check of all the siblings as you look for information about your ancestor. I would have saved a lot of time through the early years, if I had followed that rule consistently. Of course, it was also a much more difficult task in those pre-internet days. What used to take days of microfilm scrolling and searching, can now be accomplished in a matter of hours, at least after some practice and skill development, if you subscribe to online census images. Whenever I find a new family unit, I try to find every person included in that unit during every census year that is available. If you do that, you will often accumulate many clues that will aid you in your future research.

Let's begin with a known grandmother, Dora, wife of William F. Niemeyer, of Arkansas. We know her children were born in the 1910s and 20s, so she was probably born sometime in the 1880s or 90s. A census search immediately shows her in Clark Twp., Pope County, Arkansas in 1920 and 1930 with her husband William F. and a birth year of 1886 or 87. Rachel's mother Inos is found in the household, confirming that we have found the right family. In 1920 we find:

William F. Niemeyer, age 33, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Missouri, farmer
renting, able to read and write
Dora Niemeyer, age 33, born Arkansas, father in Arkansas, mother in Georgia, able to read and write,
laborer on the home farm
Anna M Niemeyer, age 10, born Arkansas, father in Missouri, mother in Arkansas, in school, can r and w
Inos V Niemeyer, age 3 and 6 months, born Arkansas, father in Missouri, mother in Arkansas
George C Derrick, age 52, boarder, born Georgia, both parents born Georgia, single,farmer, can r and w
Mrs. W A Bennett, age 64, mother-in-law, born Georgia, both parents born Georgia, widow, able to read
and write.

We've made a great start, and gotten a little lucky since Dora's mother is living with them in 1920. Unfortunately, she is listed by her husband's initials, instead of by her own name, but we have a lot of information to work with. In 1930 we find the family still in Clark Twp., Pope County, Arkansas, but Dora's mother and the boarder George C. Derrick are no longer with them, so they have either moved away or passed on. A quick search in the local area does not find them, so I will search for death records for them in the 1920s.

William Jr. Niemeyer age 45, born Missouri, both parents born Missouri, md. age 23, Laborer on the R.R.Section, not a veteran, rent for four dollars a month.
Dora Niemeyer, age 44, wife, md. age 23,born Arkansas, father Arkansas,mother Georgia
Annamae Niemeyer, age 20, daughter, born Arkansas, father Missouri, mother Arkansas
Inusverdell Niemeyer, age 13, daughter, born Arkansas, father Missouri, mother Arkansas
William B. Niemeyer, age 4 and 5/12, son born Arkansas, father Missouri, mother Arkansas

So now that we know Dora's mother's last name, perhaps we have Dora's maiden name. If her mother remarried after the loss of her husband, there will be another name to find, but that is still a good clue to follow. Let's see if we can find a Dora Bennett in Arkansas, about age 13, in 1900 . The first search using just Dora's name, age, and birth state brings nothing. Now I will try a last name, birth year search. A few come up in Pope County, but nothing matches our family. Still getting nothing. Let's look for a W A Bennett, born in Arkansas around 1866. Nothing. Let me widen to all Bennetts in Pope County. Okay, now we get the hit we're looking for, a William A Bennett with wife Terressa A. in London, Pope, Arkansas (District 171). I also make a note that in this search, a few other Bennett families live in Pope County that have connections to Tennessee, as William does, and I may want to look into that later. (Moses, Isaac, George H., and Maggie) .So I look at the page and lucky for us, there is Dora, written as Madora. Dora was a Bennett before she married William F. Niemeyer, all of the particulars, including location, years of birth and birth places are all fitting exactly correctly.

1900 US Federal Census, District 171, London, Pope, Arkansas

William A. Bennett, born Dec 1851, age 48, married 25 years, born Ark, father b. Tenn, mother b. Ark, farmer, owns free his farm and can read and write
Terress A. Bennett, wife,born Mar. 1855, age 45, married 25 years, mother of nine children, eight are living, born Georgia, parents born in Tennessee, can read and write
George N. Bennett, son, Jan. 1876, age 24, [all these children born Arkansas, father b. Ark, mother.b. Georgia], farmer, can read and write
Grundy A. Bennett, son, born Nov. 1886, age 19, at school 3 months, can r & w
Harvey Bennett, son, born Apr.1883, age 17, at school 3 months, can r & w
Madora Bennett, daughter, born Dec. 1885, age 14, at school 5 months, can r & w
Benjamin G. Bennett, son, born Nov. 1890, age 9
Maggie L. Bennett, daughter, born Apr. 1894, age 6
Martha C. Bennett, daughter, born Oct. 1896, age 3

William A. Bennett and Teressa A. Derrick
Price Cemetery, London, Pope, Arkansas
W.A. Bennett married T.A. Derrick 10 Feb 1875 in Yell, Arkansas

When I really get stuck on a family, I will study the families that live nearby looking for hints of connections. Oftentimes, family groups move together and, more often than not, people find their mates near their own residence. I note that on this census page, I see a lot of Tennessee birth information, indicating possible family, church membership, or migration connections that I might want to research further at a later time. I also see that two households away there lives an Isaac G. Bennett, born Mar. 1870 in Arkansas, father born Tennessee and mother born Arkansas and he is living with his sister Maggie [also note that William has a daughter Maggie], born Nov. 1868, birth info the same. I would definitely look for a family unit that includes a Maggie, an Isaac and a William in the 1870 and 1880 census'. This is a slight diversion off the trail but let's see what we find. A search for Isaac easily finds the family in Delaware, Yell, Arkansas in 1870, and all three of the children are there with the correct birth ages, and places. Family found! I love it when names are spelled "right".

1870 US Federal Census Delaware Yell Arkansas

George E. Bennett . age 41, 250 worth of PP, born Tennessee,
Nancy C. Bennett, age 37, keeping house, born Arkansas
William A. Bennett, age 18, works on farm, all children born Arkansas
Mary J. Bennett, age 17 at school
Easter F. Bennett, age 16, at school
Nancy H. Bennett, age 7
Robert E. Bennett, age 3
Magnolia Bennett, age 2
Isaac G. Bennett, age 4/12
[note the large age gap between Easter and Nancy...?possible second marriage or loss of children, investigate further]

1880 US Federal Census London, Pope, Arkansas

George A. Bennette, age 52, carpenter,rheumatism, born Tennessee, parent birth spots empty
Narcissa C. Bennette, age 46, wife, housekeeping, can't read or write, b. Ark, father b. KY, mother b. Tennessee
Robert M. Bennette, age 13, son, [all children at home, born Arkansas, father b.Tennessee mother b. Arkansas, attending school and unable to read and write]
Magnolia Bennette, age 11, daughter
Isaac G. Bennette, age 11, son

1860 US Federal Census Dardanelle, Yell, Arkansas

George Bennett, age 31, born Tennessee, carpenter
Caroline Bennett, age 26, born Arkansas
William Bennett, age 9, attended school, born Arkansas
Mary Jane Bennett, age 7, attended school, born Arkansas


Now we can proceed to look for a Dora Bennett in the marriage records and the census records, and figure out what brought them from Georgia and/or Tennessee. I also notice that George C. Derrick, the boarder, has the same parental birth places as Mrs. W.A. Bennett. I think we should check that out, although I would recommend a check of Mr. Derrick even if that were not the case, simply because he is boarding in their household. Any connections can prove to be relevant to future research. Let's look for him. I get a few hits for a George in 1880, two in Arkansas. The most likely candidate regarding birth years, location, and residence and identical middle initial C. is found in Magazine, Yell, Arkansas. But his parents, W.H. and Martha J., are listed as both born in Tennessee, not Georgia?? Let's try 1870 and 1900. In 1870, the entire same family is found in Hamilton County, Tennessee. They are still listed as both born in Tennessee, but all of the children, even the two year old George C., were born in Georgia (they must have returned to Tennessee recently), and we find a Terressa M., age 15, born in Georgia. I think that George was more than a boarder after all, he was Terressa's younger brother, found living with them in 1920 in Arkansas. Terressa was a Derrick as well. And the next question...who are these Parker children??

1870 Federal Census, District 6, Subdivision 13, Hamilton, Tennessee

William H. Derrick, age 50, farmer, born Tennessee
Martha J. Derrick, age 46, keeping house, Tennessee
Amanda E. Derrick, age 19, at home, Georgia
Eliza C. Derrick, age 17, at home, Georgia
Teressa M. Derrick, age 15, at home, Georgia
William J. Derrick, age 13, at home, Georgia
Leah L. Derrick, age 7, at home, Georgia
George C. Derrick, age 2 , at home, Georgia

and in the same household we find:

Patience P. Parker, age 10, at home, born Tennessee
John C. C. Parker, age 8, at home, Tennessee