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.

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.