Friday, October 31, 2008

Obituary : Carey Lambertson (1846-1918)

Source : Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader, March 18, 1918, page 1.

Carey Lambertson

Cousin of President Wilson Died Here This Morning

Carey Lambertson, aged 72, died at his home at 1906 North F street, this morning at 6 o'clock, after an illness of two weeks, of bronchial pneumonia.

He was one of Elwood's best residents, held in high esteem by all who knew him and there was a general regret expressed by his long time friends and neighbors on learning of his death.

Mr. Lambertson was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1846, and was the son of John and Sarah Wilson Lambertson. He was a first cousin of President Wilson.

Thirty-seven years ago he removed to Indiana, locating in Hamilton county, where he was married to Clara E. Cook in 1848. Five children were born to this union, a son, Samuel, dying about six years ago. The surviving children are Charles W. and Bert of this city, Mrs. Frank Fisher, near Arcadia, and Mrs. Omer Whisler, of Atlanta. The family removed to this city from Cicero, where they have since resided.

Mr. Lambertson met with an automobile accident last September, since which time he has been in failing health.

He was a member of the Quaker church at Providence, Hamilton county, and a consistent christian man all of his life, enjoying the regard of all who knew him.

The arrangements for the funeral were not announced this afternoon.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Obituary : Paul W. Wright (1905-1994)

Source : Anderson Herald Bulletin, December 12, 1994.

Paul W. Wright, 89, formerly of 1310 Brown St., died Dec. 10, 1994 at Community Hospital following an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 22, 1905, in Alexandria, and lived all of his life in this area. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1923 and retired in 1965 from the U.S. Postal Service after 42 years as a rural mail carrier.

He was a member of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge for 66 years and was a member of Rural Carriers Union.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy May Wright; three sons and daughters-in-law; Gene and Sue Wright of Anderson, Maurie and Elizabeth Wright of Anderson, and Robert and Rebecca Wright of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren, David Wright, Linda Wright, Laura Krivoshia, Cathy Wright, Scott Wright, Greg Wright, Kimberly Wright and Jeff Wright.; two great-grandchildren, KateLyn and Cameron Krivoshia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bertha Wright; a brother, Fred Wright, and a sister, Erma Johnson.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home, Anderson, with Dr. Robert Jackson officiating. Burial will be in East Maplewood Cemetery.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

May - Wright wedding

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, May 23, 1928, page 1.

The wedding of Miss Dorothy May, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas May, and Paul Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, of Alexandria, will take place this evening at the home of the bride's parents, east of Anderson. The single ring ceremony will be read at 8 o'clock by Rev. Alva Lindsay, before an altar arranged in the living room of the home, formed of palms, ferns and other spring flowers. The young couple will be unattended and will take their places before the altar, while Miss Eveylyn Martin plays the wedding march from Lohengrin. The bride will wear a smart frock of peach georgette with rows of black velvet ribbon as trimming on the rather full skirt, with basque waist. A corsage of bride's roses and ferns will complete the ensemble, together with shoes and hose in peach shade. Following the wedding ceremony, an informal reception will be held and a buffet luncheon will be served. A bride's cake, wreathed in cut flowers will form the decoration for the centerpiece of the serving table, where Mrs. Orville Stohler and Miss Velma Bronnenberg will assist the hostess in entertaining. The invited guests include : Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. May, Mr. and Mrs. I.N. May, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie May, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wright, Mr. and Mrs. M. May, and Mrs. Mary May, all of Alexandria; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard of Pioneer, O.; Mr. and Mrs. P. May of Shirley, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. John Hay, of Windfall and Miss Velma Thomas, of Linville, Ind. After a brief wedding trip the couple will be at home to their friends in the Loan apartments at Anderson. Miss May is a graduate of the Anderson high school, and has been employed as a stenographer at the city hall there. Mr. Wright who is a mail clerk at the Anderson post office, formerly lived in Alexandria where he was graduated from the Alexandria high school. Both young people have a number of relatives and friends in the vicinity.

Wrong Anniversary Date : Joseph Wright - Dorothy Palmer

In my database, I have always had the marriage date of my maternal 3rd great grandfather, Joseph WRIGHT to his second wife, Dorothy PALMER as taking place on April 9, 1891 in Madison County, Indiana.

Secondary sources, such as Dorothy's obituary, backed up this data by stating that they were also married on April 9th.

Which is why you should always try to go back to the original sources - as in looking through my files, I found that I had the copy of the actual marriage record from the Madison County, Indiana clerk's office - and it shows that the license was issued on April 9th but the couple was united in marriage on Apirl 11th by Benjmain F. McCarty.

Obituary : John William Wright (1860-1945)

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, June 6, 1945


The body of the late John W. Wright, who died Tuesday morning at his country home, was moved Tuesday afternoon from the Roger C. Gipe funeral home to the residence of his son, Virgil Wright, 2 1/2 miles southwest of the city, where friends and neighbors may call. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the First Christian church, of which he was a member. Rev. G.W. Winfrey, the pastor, will speak and interment will be in I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Obituary : Jesse Wright (1878-1919)

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, April 1, 1919, page 1.

JESSE WRIGHT DIES ON TRAIN WHILE SORTING THE MAIL

Former Resident of Alexandria Expires Suddenly This Morning Near Linwood - Body Taken to Anderson

Jesse Wright, age 41 years, a mail clerk in the employee of the U.S. government on trains between Anderson and Elkhart, Ind., died suddenly after 10 o'clock this morning while the train was speeding on its way to Anderson. He was afflicted with heart trouble.

Mr. Wright formerly resided in Alexandria and a few months ago he returned to work after a serious attack of sickness. After the death of his wife, who was formerly Miss Hazel O'Bryant, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford O'Bryant, Mr. Wright frequently visited relatives in Alexandria.

The body was taken on to Anderson and prepared for burial. The funeral will either be held here or Anderson. Mrs. Bradford O'Bryant went to Anderson this morning.

Mr. Wright was a member of the Alexandria Lodge of Masons.

Joseph Wright, father of Jesse Wright, is a well-known farmer living south of Alexandria. Charles Wright, Edward Wright, James Wright and John Wright are brothers. Mrs. Thomas Fox, of near Pendleton, is a sister.

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana , April 2, 1919, page 1.

The body of Jesse Wright, railway mail clerk, who died suddenly of heart trouble while distributing mail on a Big Four train between this city and Linwood Monday morning, was brought here this afternoon from the home of a sister at Anderson and buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery. Members of the Masonic Lodge here met the body at the cemetery.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Will of George Wright (1853), Brown County, Ohio

Source : Brown County, Ohio Probate Court, Georgetown, Ohio, Will Book 3, page 99.


This day the last Will and Testament of George Wright late of Brown County Ohio deceased was produced in open Court and was duly proved by the oath of James Crawford one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and John J. Gregory and Joseph T. Gregory the other subscribing witnesses to said Will having departed this life their hand writing was duly proved by the oaths of William Tatman and James Crawford which testimony was reduced to writing and signed and it appearing from the Testimony that said Will was duly attested and executed and that said testator was at the time of executing the same of full age and of sound mind memory and sight and under no legal restraint it is ordered by the Court that said Will and Testimony be recorded. And Samuel P. Wright and Joseph Wright two of the Executors named in said Will declines to accept the trust of executing said Will and John Wright the other Executor having signified his acceptance of the trust of Executing the said Will. It is therefor ordered that Letters testamentary be issued to him on his giving bond in the sum of six hundred dollars, with Samuel P. Wright and Joshua Bratten his secure & conditioned according to law. The Court appoint Lewis Calvin, Noah Hite and Joseph McFadden appraisers of the personal estate of the said Testator.


Will: In the name of God, amen.
I George Wright of Washington Township Brown County Ohio being in health of body and sound mind and memory calling to memory calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and the possible suddenness of death do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I do recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth and touching such worldly interest wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form first it is my will that my wife Elizabeth shall have possession of one of the rooms of the house that I now reside in so long as she remains my Widow also I bequeath unto her all the household furniture to dispose of as she thinks proper and shall also draw sufficient rent of my farm for her support during her natural life or so long as she shall remain my widow lest if she marry she shall relinquish her claim to the room and rent all lands that I possess at my death I give unto my two sons John Wright and Samuel P. Wright to be equally divided between them Samuel is to possess the house in which I now live and Samuel to own the wagon that I bought of James Higgins. I bequeath my two daughters all the personal property that I have at my death it is also my will that my two sons shall pay my daughter Susanna ten dollars a year for three years which will make her thirty dollars. It is also my will that my two sons shall pay my daughter Sarah ten dollars a year for two years which will make her twenty dollars. Lastly I constitute and appoint my two sons John and Samuel and my brother Joseph Wright Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and disavow all former Wills by and made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and seal this 12th day of August A.D. 1845. George Wright


Signed and published and pronounced by the said George Wright as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have set our names
John J. Gregory
James Crawford, his mark
Joseph S. Gregory


Proof : State of Ohio Brown County:
This day came into open Court William Tatman who being duly sworn says that he was well acquainted with John J. Gregory in his lifetime and that he departed this life in the month of December 1850. He states that he was and is acquainted with the handwriting of said Gregory both by seeing him write and from instruments of writing acknowledged to be the genuine hand writing of said Gregory and as a witness to the last Will and Testament of George Wright deceased and from his knowledge of the handwriting of said Gregory he believes the signature of said Gregory as a witness to said Will to be his proper and Genuine hand writing and further says not. Wm. Tatman


Sworn to and ascribed before me this the 22nd day of August 1853
John J. Higgins, Probate Judge


State of Ohio Brown County :
This day came into open Court James Crawford one of the subscribing witnesses to the last Will and Testament of George Wright, deceased, who being duly sworn says that George Wright subscribed the paper writing purporting to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of this affiant and in the presence of John J. Gregory & Joseph S. Gregory the other subscribing witnesses thereto who are now both dead, that at the time he acknowledged the said papers writing to be his last Will and Testament, and was over twenty one years of age was of sound mind memory & judgement and under no restraint whatever and that this affiant and John J. Gregory and Joseph S. Gregory subscribed the said Will as witnesses thereto in the Presence of each other and in the presence of the said Testator and at his request James Crawford, his mark
Sworn to and ascribed before me this the 22nd day of August 1853
John J. Higgins, Probate Judge

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

George Wright, cabinetmaker?

You never quite know what you are going to find when surfing the net for your ancestors.

Recently, I did a 'Google' search for my ancestor, George Wright, and came across an article located at http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/stories/index.html?id=732 that mentioned George Wright who had a wife Elizabeth Robins, and died in Brown County, Ohio in 1853. This matched with my ancestry, so I quickly shot off an email to my relatives telling of the wonderful new lead.

This George Wright, was written up in a magazine called American Furnitue 2007 in an article about his work as the foreman for Joseph B. Barry & Son in Philadelphia. Apparently, George's cabinetry is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and was purchased by such notables as George Washington, etc. Who wouldn't love that type of story? The article mentions that after leaving Philadelphia, George left for Pittsburgh before settling in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio after 1826 and then dying there in 1853.

After I had hit the 'send' button, bells and alarms started going off in my head. Yes, the name was the same and the name of the wife was correct. Even the death dates were right for George Wright and Elizabeth. But other dates didn't seem to add up. For instance, their son, John (my ancestor) was born in Pleasant Township, Clermont County (now Brown), Ohio in 1814, from a number of sources. So how could George be in Philadelphia/Pittsburgh and in Ohio at the same time?

I think that this is a case of someone mixing up two George Wrights with similar geographically locations. I have tried to contact the authors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but have not heard back from them. I also responded to my family that I think this may have been a mistaken identity, but you know how the rumors and internet go - already this 'fact' will be a family legend, and I'm the one who spread it.

I am now going to focus on obtaining more information about 'my' George Wright, as well as obtain the original article. I've found the magazine online for around $60, but perhaps I can obtain a copy through interlibrary loan.

Gloria Wright named winner at institue

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, [n.d.]



Gloria Wright named winner at institute


Gloria Wright, 1963-64 editor of the "Spectrum" yearbook of Alexandria-Monroe High School, is one of four first place winners in laboratories for yearbook editors at the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute.


Miss Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wright, was recognized at closing ceremonies for the institute Friday night, following the completion of the two weeks course.


The Alexandria-Monroe High School senior attended the institute on a scholarship from the Times-Tribune.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Obituary : Chester Arthur "Mike" Wright (1896-1955)

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 21, 1955, page 1

"Mike" Wright, 58, Dies in Ohio; Rites Thursday

Chester (Mike) Wright, 58, well-known farmer near Alexandria, died at 7:30 p.m. Monday in University hospital, Columbus, Ohio where he was taken a few days ago. He had been ill for five months.

Mr. Wright lived on a farm on rural route 3 about 3 1/2 miles southwest of Alexandria.

He was born on the same farm on October 18, 1896, the son of John W. and Ellen Wright. He lived on this farm his entire life. He married Mamie Lawson in Alexandria in 1939.

Surviving besides the wife are two daughters, Mrs. June Harting of Elwood, and Miss Patricia Wright, at home; one brother, Virgil Wright, rural route 2, Alexandria; three grandchildren; and two uncles living in Alexandria, Charles and Ed Wright.

The body was taken to the Davis and Stricler Funeral Home, where friends will be received after 7 p.m. today.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Raymond Miller, pastor. The body will be taken to the church at 9 a.m., an hour before the time of service.

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 22, 1955, page 1

Wright Funeral To Be Thursday

Funeral services for Chester (Mike) Wright will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Raymond Miller, pastor.

Friends are now being received at the Davis and Stricler Funeral Home. They body will be taken to the church at 9 a.m., one hour before the time of the service.

Mr. Wright, a well-known farmer southwest of Alexandria, died at Columbus, Ohio. He was 58.

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 23, 1955, page 1.

"Mike" Wright Services Today

Funeral services for Chester (Mike) Wright (above) were held at 10 a.m. today at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Miller, pastor.

Pallbearers were Harlon Scott, Gurney Scott, John Bangle, Warren Hicks, Ted Hosier and Lester Farmer.

Burial was in Park View cemetery. Davis and Stricler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wright, a well-known farmer southwest of Alexandria, died at Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. He was 58.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

What ever happened to Uncle Mike?

Ever since I started working on my family history, there have been certain gaps in the family story that have intrigued me. Usually these mysteries have been compounded by the fact that none of the current generation was around at the time of the event or the stories were simply not handed down. One of those in my family is that of my maternal great-granduncle, Chester Arthur WRIGHT, whose nickname was "Mike".



Chester Arthur WRIGHT was the son of John William and Ellen (KING) WRIGHT, born October 18, 1896 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana. He was the younger brother of my great-grandfather, Virgil Lee WRIGHT. Why his nickname was "Mike", is a mystery, although I can imagine that it sounds better than being named after a U.S. President named Chester.



One mystery is why would he be named after this particular U.S. President. Although many babies are named after war heroes and politicians, in this case, Chester Arthur was no longer President. In fact, he had been deceased for 10 years by the time "Mike" came around. There is no known family connection to the Arthur family. Perhaps his parents were Republicans, or admired him for some other reason, but either way he was named for the 21st President.



A few colorful stories have been handed down to me regarding Uncle Mike - one of them being that his father, John, ran off his first wife. Apparently, there was some bad blood and he didn't care for his son's choice. Mike's first wife suppossedly burnt the Wright family bible in anger, so she receives the heresay blame for the loss of this treasure. Who knows what family jewels may have been in this Bible?



Recently, I began to try and piece together the story of Uncle Mike and his family. I knew that he had a daughter from his first marriage, Vivian, whose granddaughter I went to school with. But other than that, I didn't know where and when he died, the name of his second wife, or any other children.



Searching out the census records, in the 1920 census, Chester A. Wright, aged 23 years, single, Farmer who could read and write was living in his father's household, the John W. Wright household, in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. The enumeration date of the census was January 15, 1920, and Mike didn't stay single for too long, as he was married March 5, 1920 in Madison County to Erma Violet HAYES, daughter of John and Cora (Reason) HAYES.



By the 1930 census, Chester A. Wright, aged 33 years, divorced, Farmer was again living with in his father's household in Monroe Township. So, sometime between those ten years, he married, had a daughter, and was divorced. The search for the missing years was on - and I still needed to find out how the story would end.



Through newspaper sources, I was able to find the obituary of Mike's daugther, Vivian, in the Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader. In the obituary, it stated that Vivian was the daughter of Marvin and Erma (Hayes) Dailey, and listed her children and grandchildren, some of whom I already knew. One key fact was Erma's remarriage to Marvin Dailey. With this piece of information, I was able to find her obituary as well and learn that she had other children from her second marriage. Erma was born in nearby Frankton, Indiana on May 2, 1902, and would have been only 17 when she married Uncle Mike.



Searching in the Elwood Public Library, I was able to find birth records of the other children of Erma with Marvin Dailey and find out that she and Uncle Mike hadn't been married very long before the were divorced, perhaps only a couple of years. Maybe the story about her being run off by my 2nd-great grandfather was true. I still need to seek out the divorce records in the Madison County courthouse.



After the 1930 census, I didn't have any other records in my database that would shed any light on what had happened to Uncle Mike. I knew that he was still living at the time of his father's death in 1945, as he was mentioned in the obituary. For some reason, I had neglected to retrace my steps, as if I had done that, I would have found that I had his date of death, 1955, right under my nose.



The Alexandria-Monroe Township Public Library has an online database of obituaries from local newspapers, and I was able to find that the obituary for Chester Arthur Wright appeared on June 21, 1955 in the Alexandria Times-Tribune. I was quickly able to locate not only his obituary, but funeral notices over the next few days to piece together the end of the story. Interestingly, though he lived his entire life in the area, he was rushed to a Columbus, Ohio hospital where he died. The State of Ohio has many death certificates online, but they stop in 1953, just shy of the year I need to see this one, so I will have to write to them to obtain more details.



His obituary mentioned a second wife, Mamie, and a daughter Patricia. My mother said she remembers hearing that name, and thinks that Patricia may have been Mamie's daughter that Mike adopted and took the Wright name - but there is a whole new avenue to research.



Chester Arthur Wright, son of John William and Ellen (King) Wright was born October 18, 1896 Orestes, Madison County, Indiana, died June 20, 1955 Columbus, Ohio. He married Mamie Lawson in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana in 1939.