Exploratory Data Analysis: Clara (Moulton) Metzner (1843-1899)

Clara (Moulton) Metzner

Clara (Moulton) Metzner (1843-1899) was my paternal 2nd-great grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have collected about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Clara was born September 30, 1843¹ in Licking County, Ohio.

          The State of Ohio did not require birth certificates until 1867.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               I have not been able to locate any contemporary newspaper accounts of Clara's birth.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of the survival of a Moulton family Bible. I will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I have not located a baptismal record for Clara.  I do not know what faith the Moulton family was at the time of Clara's birth; in her adult life she was a member of the Evangelical Association.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Clara was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage license

          Clara married John Adam Metzner on November 13, 1864 in Jay County, Indiana².  Their marriage license was the subject of a previous post.

          1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper

               I am not aware of any surviving contemporary newspapers from Jay County, Indiana that might have mentioned Clara and John's nuptials.

          1.2.2. Anniversary notice

               I need to search newspaper records in Jay County, Indiana for mention of their wedding anniversary.  Their 25th would have been November 13, 1889.

          1.2.3. Divorce decree

               There is no indication that they were ever divorced, and a recent search of court records did not turn up any mention of a divorce.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Clara died July 2, 1899 in Westchester, Jay County, Indiana³.  I need to obtain a copy of her death certificate from the Jay County, Indiana Health Department on my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper

               Clara's obituary appeared in the July 13, 1899 edition of the Evangelical Messenger¹.  The obituary was the subject of a previous post.

               I need to search contemporary Jay County, Indiana newspapers for local mention of her obituary.

          1.3.2. Funeral home records

               The Jay County Library has funeral home records from the various funeral homes in the county.  Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone photograph

               Clara's tombstone in the Mt. Zion cemetery, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana has been photographed.  Will have to make this the subject of a future "Tombstone Tuesday" post.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 23, 1880, Clara was enumerated in the John A. Metzner household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana⁴, as Lena A. Metzner, age 36, keeping house.  She was born in Ohio and both her parents were born in Vermont.  Living in the household were husband John, age 40, born Ohio; daughter Cora B., age 11, born Indiana; son Wesley F., age 8, born Indiana; and a lodger, H. Shaudleman, age 29, born in Ohio.

          2.1.2. 1870 Federal Census

               On July 4, 1870, Clara was enumerated in the John A. Metzner household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana⁵, as Clara A. Metzner, age 26, keeping house.  She was born in Ohio.  Living in the household were husband John A., age 28, born Ohio; son William, age 3, born in Indiana, and daughter Cora, age 1, born in Indiana.

          2.1.3. 1860 Federal Census

               On June 20, 1860, Clara was enumerated in the Lydia Mouton household in St. Albans Township, Licking County, Ohio⁶, as Clara Moulton, age 16, born in Ohio.  She had attended school within the year.  Living in the household were Lydia Moulton, age 64, born Vermont; Emeline Moulton, age 38, born Ohio, and Lydia Moulton, age 11, born Ohio,

          2.1.4. 1850 Federal Census

               I have not yet located Clara in the 1850 federal census.  Her father, Albert, is enumerated in Placerville, El Dorado County, California.

     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 records to see what light they might shed on the Metzner farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Clara was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          Clara did receive a widow's pension based on her husband's Civil War service.  I need to make these records the subject of a future post.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Clara was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Jay County, Indiana for the Metzner family.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Jay County published a plat map in 1874, 1881, 1887, 1901, 1910 and 1920 that might be relevant to my search for the Metzner homestead.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records to search for Clara include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip to Jay County.

Sources :

1. Clara Metzner obituary. Evangelical Messenger, New Berlin, Pennsylvania, USA, July 13, 1899, page 443.
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage records, Book C-B, page 536.
3. Jay County, Indiana Death records, Book H-3, page 40.
4. 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.
5. John A. Metzner household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana, dwelling 71, family 71; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 327.
6. Lydia Moulton household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, St. Albans Township, Licking County, Ohio, Alexandria P.O., dwelling 121, family 121; National Archives micropublication M653, roll 999.


Sources :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.