Cora Belle (Metzner) Haley was my paternal great-grandmother. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical facts I have discovered about her.
1. Vital records
1.1. Birth certificate
Cora was born August 21, 1868 in Jay County, Indiana1. The State of Indiana didn't require statewide registrations of births until after 1907. Prior to this date, they were only recorded in the counties where the event occurred. The W.P.A. indexed births in Indiana after 1882.
1.1.1. Birth notice in newspaper
If Cora's birth was recorded in a local newspaper, it has been lost to history. The Jay County Public Library has newspapers from the late 1880s, and the holdings of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis do not indicate any newspapers of the period.
1.1.2. Bible record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible records of the Metzner family.
1.1.3. Baptismal record
The Metzner's were members of the Evangelical Assocation, but I do not know of any baptismal records.
1.1.4. Adoption record
There is no indication that Cora was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Cora was married on July 21, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana to Eli Weldon Haley2.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
I have not searched in newspapers of Jay County, Indiana to see if mention was made of Cora and Eli's nuptials. Have added this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
Though I have copies of anniversary notices from the newspapers, they are not sourced, and I need to add that to my "to-do" list. Need to determine if the notices come from the Portland Commercial-Review or the Graphic.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
There is no indication that a divorce ever occurred, and a recent search of court records during the time period did not turn up a divorce.
1.3. Death certificate
Cora died April 28, 1955 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana1. I need to obtain a copy of her official death certificate from the Jay County Health Department. According to her obituary, she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Clarence (Vera) Stuber.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Cora's obituary appeared in the April 29, 1955 edition of the Portland Commercial-Review3.
1.3.2. Funeral home record
The funeral home record was the subject of a previous post. Cora died at 6:40 p.m. and was 86 years of age. She was buried in the Mt. Zion cemetery and her casket was manufactured by Hutton.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Cora's tombstone in the Mt. Zion cemetery has been photographed. It lists her as Cora B. 1868-1957, and her husband, Eli W. 1866-1957, is also listed4.
2. Census records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
On April 11, 1930, Cora was enumerated in the Eli W. Haley household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana5 as Cora B. Haley, wife, age 62, born in Indiana. She was aged 19 at her marriage and could read and write. Both her parents were born in Ohio. She could speak English and listed no occupation.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 2, 1920, Cora was enumerated in the Eli W. Haley household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana6 as Cora B. Haley, wife, age 51, born in Indiana. Both her parents were born in Ohio. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On April 16, 1910, Cora was enumerated in the Eli W. Haley household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana7 as Cora B. Haley, wife, age 41, born in Indiana. She had been married for 21 years and was the mother of 6 children, 4 of whom were living. Both her parents were born in Ohio. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 16, 1900, Cora was enumerated in the Eli W. Haley household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana8 as Cora B. Haley, wife, age 30, born August 1869 in Indiana. She had been married for 11 years and was the mother of 3 children, 2 of whom were living. Both her parents were born in Ohio. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
One June 23, 1880, Cora was enumerated in the John A. Metzner household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana9 as Cora B. Metzner, age 11, single, born in Indiana. She had attended school within the year. Her parents were both born in Ohio.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On July 4, 1870, Cora was enumerated in the John A. Metzner household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana10 as Cora Metzner, age 1, born in Indiana.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931. These however, were merely for the purposes of determining legislative apportionment.
2.3. Agricultural Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what information might be shed on the Haley farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Being female, these types of records do not apply.
3.2. Pension Records
There is no indication that her husband ever served in the military. However, her father did serve in the Civil War, and there may be mention of her in his pension application.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be searched more thoroughly in Jay County, Indiana. The family lived most of their lives in Noble Township, though did live in Madison Township for awhile.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Jay County published a plat map in 1874, 1881, 1887, 1901, 1910 and 1920 that may be relevant to my search for Cora.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available to research for Cora include county/city directories, court records and will and probate records. Searching these will be on my next "to-do" list research trip to Jay County.
Sources:
1. Gloria Schindler & Nancy Saxman, compiler. Baird Funeral Home Jay Co. Indiana, 1954-1956 (Portland, Indiana, USA: n.p., n.d.).
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book C-F, page 357.
3. Cora B. Haley obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, April 29, 1955, page 1.
4. Mt. Zion Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Cora B. Haley marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster.
5. Eli W. Haley household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 38-9, SD 5, sheet 4B, dwelling 97, family 97, National Archives micropublication T626, roll 595.
6. Eli W. Haley household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED [?], SD 40, sheet 1, dwelling 11, family 11, National Archives micropublication T625, roll 440.
7. Eli W. Haley household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 69, SD 8, sheet 1, dwelling 15, family 15, National Archives micropublication T624, roll 358.
8. Eli W. Haley household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 63, SD 67, sheet 9, dwelling 179, family 181, National Archives micropublication T623, roll 380.
9. John A. Metzner household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 208, SD 6, page 5, dwelling 5, family 5, National Archives micropublication T9, roll 287.
10. John A. Metzner household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana, dwelling 71, family 71, page 9, National Archives micropublication M593, roll 327.
This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions drawn in this article are welcomed.
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