Luman Walker LeMasters (1842-1931) was my paternal 2nd-great grandfather. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical facts I've discovered about him.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth certificate
Luman was born October 19, 1842 in Shelby County, Ohio1,2,3. There were no birth certificates required at this time, as the state of Ohio didn't start requiring them until 1867.
1.1.1 Birth notice in newspaper
I have not been able to locate any contemporary news reports of Luman's birth.
1.1.2. Bible record
I am not aware of the survival of a LeMasters family bible. A bible record was mentioned in Luman's Civil War pension file, but if it has survived to the present day, I am unaware. I will continue to reach out to extended family in the hopes that it does exist.
1.1.3. Baptismal record
The Lemasters were members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in Jay County, Indiana, and I believe that they were in Shelby County, Ohio as well. I do not know what church they were members of in Shelby County, Ohio.
1.1.4. Adoption record
There is no indication that Luman was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Luman was married on October 2, 1864 in Versailles, Darke County, Ohio to Mary Keziah Chew1,2 One source reported that the marriage took place at Port Jefferson, Ohio4. Have added obtaining a copy of this record to my "to-do" list.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
I have not searched Ohio newspapers to see if Luman and Mary's nuptials were mentioned. Will add this to my "to-do" list on any research trip to the area.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
I have not searched Jay County, Indiana newspapers for mention of Luman and Mary's anniversaries either. Their 25th would have been October 2, 1889. Their 50th would have been October 2, 1914. Have added this to my "to-do" list on my next research trip into Jay County.
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 record.
1.3. Death certificate
Luman died on November 18, 1931 at Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana5. I thought that I had a copy of his death certificate, but apparently I do not. Will add obtaining one to the "to-do" list on the next research trip to Jay County.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Luman's obituary appeared in the November 18, 1931 edition of the Commercial-Review in Portland, Indiana.6 The obituary spelled his name without the final 's' that appears in many records, including his tombstone. The obituary gives slightly differing dates for Luman's birth and marriage, and mentioned his Civil War service. The obituary mentioned that he had 35 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren surviving.
1.3.2. Funeral home record
The Jay County library has some of the records from the Williamson funeral home in Portland, Indiana. Will add this to my "to-do" list on my next research trip into Jay County.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Luman's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery has been photographed. The tombsone spells the surname "LeMasters". It lists him as "Luman K. 1842-1931", and his wife, Mary is also listed.7
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
On April 12, 1930, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana8, as Luman W. Leamasters, age 87, widowed, born in Ohio. No occupation was listed, but the record indicated that Luman lived on a farm. He could read and write and spoke English. Also living in the household with him was his widowed daughter, Mary Elsie Atkinson. This was the last federal census he appeared in.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 12, 1920, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana9, as Luman Lemasters, age 77, farmer, born in Ohio. He could read and write and support himself. His father was born in West Virginia and his mother was born in Ohio. Besides his wife, Mary, there was a boarder living with them, Irene Green, aged 15, single, born in Ohio.
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On April 25, 1910, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana10, as Noman W. LeMaster, age 67, farmer, born in Ohio. The handwritting for his given name clearly appears to be "Noman" when compared to other handwriting on the page. His father and mother were born in Virginia. He had been married for 46 years. Besides his wife, Mary, also living in the household was his son, Vernon W.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 4, 1900, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana11, as Luman C. Lemaster, age 57, farmer, born in Ohio. He had been married for 35 years. His father was born in West Virginia and his mother born in Ohio. He owned his home free of mortgage. He could read and write and spoke English. The enumerator listed him by the middle initial "C.", which was the middle name of his son, also found elsewhere in Madison Township. Living in the household was his wife, Mary, age 53, daughter Bertha F., age 26, son Ord O., age 24, daughter Edith M., age 20, daughter Una M., age 16, son Arthur R., age 14, and son Vernon W., age 11.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
On June 5, 1880, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana12, as Walker Lemasters, age 38, farmer, born in Ohio. His father was listed as born in Virginia, and his mother born in Ohio. Living in the household was his wife, Mary, age 33, daughter Beulah, age 14, son Suman [Luman], age 13, son William, age 9, daughter Elsie, age 8, daughter Bertha, age 6, son Ottie, age 4, and daughter Edith, age 8 months. Also living in the household was a boarder, William Chew, age 22, born in Ohio, Luman's brother-in-law.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On June 15, 1870, Luman was enumerated in Allen Township, Darke County, Ohio13, as Luman Lemasters, age 27, farmer, born in Ohio. The value of his real estate was $1000 and his personal estate was valued at $500. He was a U.S. citizen. Living in the household was his wife, Mary, age 23 and daughter Eula, age 5, and son Luman, age 3.
2.1.7. 1860 Federal Census
On June 4, 1860, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana14 in the Luman W. Lemaster household as Walker Lemaster, age 17, born in Ohio. He had attended school within the year.
2.1.8. 1850 Federal Census
On September 25, 1850, Luman was enumerated in Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio15 in the L.W. Lemasters household as L.W. Lemasters, age 7, born in Ohio. He had attended school within the year.
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 Lemaster family farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft registration
I have not found Luman in any draft registrations for the Civil War, though he did enlist in Company C, 39th Indiana Infantry.
3.2. Pension records
Luman did receive a pension for his service during the Civil War. He enlisted July 21, 1861 in Company C, 39th Indiana Infantry16. The unit later was known as the 8th Indiana Cavalry. I need to make the records of his service and pension the subject of a future post.
3.3. Service records
Luman was wounded July 3, 1863 at Decker's Forge, near Winchester, Tennessee16, when he was shot through the left breast. He later received a discharge from the service on March 4, 18646. His discharge was recorded in Jay County, Indiana on September 13, 186717.
I need to make the records of his service the subject of a future post.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be searched thoroughly in Jay County, Indiana as well as Darke County, Ohio.
The following records in the Jay County Circuit Court Book 2 need researched :
Lemasters, Luman W., et al, Joseph Pulley, et al, Injuction, December 12, 1896, Box 339, Record No. 9601.
Lemasters, Luman W., Francis M. McLaughlin, account, February 2, 1901, Box 365, Record No. 11055
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 Luman. I have access to copies of the 1887 and 1901 plat maps in Jay County, and need to see what information they hold concerning Luman.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available to research for Luman include county/city directories court records and will and probate records. Searching these will be on my list of "to-do" items on my next research trip into Jay County.
Luman's listing in the 1907 Directory of Jay County18 was the subject of a previous post.
Luman was the subject of a biographical sketch in the 1922 history of Jay County, Indiana1.
Luman's will was filed and probated in Jay County, Indiana. Though I have a copy of it, I do not have it properly sourced by book and page with the probate office.
Sources:
1. Jay, Milton T., History of Jay County, Indiana:including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: Historical Publishing Company, 1922, p. 195.
2. Lemaster, Howard M. & Margaret Herberger, Lemasters U.S.A., 1639-1965. Carlinville, Illinois, 1965, p. 196.
3. Young, L.I.C., Biography of the Young Family, 1759-1904. Fremont, Ohio: Fremont Printing Co., 1904, p. 51.
4. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977. Gateway Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 1977, p. 385.
5. Franklin, Phyllis (Strock), Salamonia Cemeteries: Salamonia, Madison Twp., Jay County, Indiana. Portland, Indiana: The Jay County Genealogy Society, 2000, p. 19.
6. L.W. Lemaster obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, November 18, 1931, p. 1.
7. Luman Walker LeMasters tombstone, Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana, transcribed by writer, 19 May 2009.
8. Luman W. Leamasters household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 38-8, SD 5, sheet 6A, dwelling 127, family 127; National Archives micropublication T626, roll 595.
9. Luman Lemasters household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 72, SD 84, sheet 5, dwelling 103, family 103; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 440.
10. Noman W. LeMaster household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 67, SD 8, sheet 5, dwelling 95, family 96; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 358.
11. Luman C. Lemaster household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 62, SD 67, sheet 3, dwelling 59, family 60; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 380.
12. Walker Lemasters household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 161, SD 6, page 4, dwelling 47, family 47; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 287.
13. Luman Lemasters household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Allen Township, Darke County, Ohio, USA, North Star P.O., sheet 21, page 12, dwelling 79, family 79; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1194.
14. Luman W. Lemaster household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, Salamonia P.O., page 2, dwelling 10, family 10; National Archives micropublication M563, roll 269.
15. L.W. Lemasters household, 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Salem Township, Shelby County, Ohio, USA, dwelling 109, family 109; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 729.
16. Jay, Milton T., History of Jay County, Indiana: including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: Historical Publishing Company, 1922, page 196.
17. Jay County Indiana Deed Records, Miscellaneous Book 1, page 97, Recorder's Office, Portland, Indiana, USA.
18. Complete Directory of Jay County (Portland, Indiana, USA: M & M Directory Co., 1907), page 235.
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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