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.
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