Sunday, September 16, 2012

Exploratory Data Analysis: Pearl May (Beals) Lambertson (1878-1970)


Pearl May (Beals) Lambertson (1878-1970) was my maternal 2nd-great grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical information I have collected about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Pearl was born May 11, 1878 in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana1.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               I have not yet searched contemporary newspapers at the time of Pearl's birth to see if it was mentioned.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible records for the Beals family.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal records for Pearl.  Her family was of the Society of Friends (Quaker) faith.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

                There is no indication that Pearl was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage license

          Pearl was married on April 18, 1897 in Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana2, to Charles Wilson Lambertson.  I do not yet have a copy of their marriage license.

          1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper

               Will need to search out mention of their wedding on my next library research trip.

          1.2.2. Anniversary notice

               Charles and Pearl's wedding anniversary was mentioned in the newspaper on their 57th wedding anniversary2.  I need to search out other mentions of their anniversary.  Their 25th would have been in 1922, and their 50th was in 1947.

          1.2.3. Divorce decree

               There is no indication that they ever filed for divorce, but I have not searched court records to verify.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Pearl died August 3, 1970 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana3.  I have not yet obtained a copy of her death certificate.  Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper

               Pearl's obituary appeared in the August 4, 1970 edition of the Anderson, Indiana Daily Bulletin3.

               Pearl's obituary appeared in the August 4, 1970 edition of the Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader.

               Will need to search other local newspapers to see if her death was mentioned.

          1.3.2. Funeral home records

               According to her obituary, funeral arrangements were handled by the Copher & Fesler funeral home in Elwood, Indiana.  Will need to contact the funeral home to see if they have any surviving records.

          1.3.3. Tombstone photograph

               Pearl's tombstone in the Cicero City Cemetery has been photographed4, and was the subject of a previous post.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 2, 1930, Pearl was enumerated in the Charles W. Lambertson household in Sharpville, Tipton County, Indiana5, as Pearl M. Lambertson, wife, age 51, no occupation.  She was married at age 18 at her 1st marriage and could read and write and speak English.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  Living in the household were her husband, Charles W., age 57, born Ohio; and daughter Elizabeth, age 14, born in Indiana.

          2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 14, 1920, Pearl was enumerated in the Charles W. Lambertson household in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana6, as Pearl M. Lambertson, wife, age 41, no occupation.  She could read and write and speak English.  She as born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  Living in the household with her were husband, Charles W., age 47, born Ohio; son Orval E., age 17, born in Indiana; daughter Pauline, age 11, born in Indiana; son Paul, age 11, born in Indiana; and daughter Elizabeth C., age 4 1/2, born in Indiana.

          2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 23, 1910, Pearl was enumerated in the Charles Lambertson household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana7, as Pearl Lambertson, wife, age 31, no occupation.  She had been married for 13 years and was the mother of 5 children, all of whom were living.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  Living in the household with her were husband Charles, age 38, a painter born in Ohio; son Clemon B., age 11, born in Indiana; son Orval E., age 8, born in Indiana; daughter Leona B., age 5, born in Indiana; son Paul, age 1 11/12, born in Indiana; and daughter Pauline, age 1 11/12, born in Indiana.

          2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 16, 1900, Pearl was enumerated in the Carey Lambertson household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana8, as Pearl Lambertson, D[aughter] at law, born May 1878 in Indiana, age 22.  Both her parents were listed as being born in Ohio.  She was the married mother of 1 child yet living.  She could read and write and spoke English.  

          2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 2, 1880, Pearl was enumerated in the Nathan Beales household in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska9, as Pearlie M. Beales, age 2, born in Indiana.  Both of her parents were listed as being born in Nebraska.

     2.2. State Census Records

              Pearl appears in the 1885 state census of Nebraska, which needs to be researched for a later post.

              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 searched these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Lambertson family farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

           Not applicable, as Pearl was a female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Pearl's husband or father that would have allowed her to receive a pension.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Pearl was a female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be searched thoroughly in Hamilton, Howard and Madison Counties, Indiana for records of land purchases.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Will need to search out the various plat maps in the above mentioned counties for locations of Lambertson properties, including city maps in Elwood, Indiana.

5. Supplemental Records

         Supplemental records available to research for Pearl include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these items to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

Sources :

1. Obituary of Mrs. Pearl M. Lambertson, Anderson Herald, Anderson, Indiana, August 4, 1970.
2. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lambertson Wedding Anniversary article, Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, April 14, 1953, page 13.
3. Pearl Lambertson Expires Monday article, Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, August 4, 1970, page 2.
4. Pearl Lambertson tombstone, Cicero City Cemetery, Cicero, Indiana.
5. Charles W. Lambertson household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Sharpsville, Tipton County, Indiana, ED 80-9, SD 6, sheet 1B, dwelling 17, family 17; National Archives micropublication T626.
6. Charles W. Lambertson household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison County, Indiana, Pipe Creek Township, ED 138, SD 84, sheet 6, dwelling 138, family 143; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 449.
7. Charles Lambertson household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Hamilton County, Indiana, Jackson Township, ED 104, SD 9, dwelling 156, family 158; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 353.
8. Carey Lambertson housheold, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Hamilton County, Indiana, Jackson Township, ED 84, SD 9, sheet 2, dwelling 345, family 371; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 375.
9. Nathan Beales household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska, ED 320, SD 1, page 27, dwelling 61, family 63; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 754.



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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