Mary Elsie (LeMaster) Atkinson (1872-1952) was my paternal great-grandaunt. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
Mary was born February 15, 1873 in Darke County, Ohio1. Finding her birth record was the subject of a previous post.
Mary was born April 26, 1872 in Darke County, Ohio2, according to her obituary. I have not reconciled the discrepancy.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Mary's birth.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible records of the LeMaster 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 record for Mary. The family was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Mary was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
Mary married Matthias Jefferson Atkinson on September 15, 1894 in Jay County, Indiana2, 3.
Mary's name was listed as Elsie Lemasters on the license, and the grooms name was spelled 'Mathias' rather than 'Matthias'.
A copy of their marriage license was the subject of a previous post.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of Matthias and Mary's nuptials.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
Matthias and Mary's 25th wedding anniversary would have been September 15, 1919. Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebration.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
There is no indication that Matthias and Mary were ever divorced.
1.3. Death Certificate
Mary died on June 5, 1942 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana2. According to her obituary, she suffered a heart attack.
I do not yet have a copy of her death certificate, will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Mary's obituary appeared in the June 5, 1942 edition of the Portland, Indiana Commercial-Review2. Her obituary was the subject of a previous post.
1.3.2. Funeral home records
According to her obituary, Mary's funeral arrangements were handled by the Williamson funeral home. Will add searching for these records to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Mary is buried at the Salamonia Cemetery in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana. I need to obtain a photograph of her tombstone for my records.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On April 16, 1940, Mary was enumerated in the Lynn Rockwell household in Ft. Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio4, as Mary E. Atkinson, age 67, widow, born in Ohio. She had completed the 8th grade. Her residence in 1935 was listed as Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. No occupation was listed.
2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census
On April 12, 1930, Mary was enumerated in the Luman W. Leamasters household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana5, as Elsie Atkinson, daughter, age 57, widow. She was born in Ohio and her father was born in Ohio and mother in New Jersey. Her occupation was listed as housekeeper. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census
On January 12, 1920, Mary was enumerated in the Mathias J. Atkinson household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana6, as Mary E. Atkinson, wife, age 48. She was born in Ohio and her father was born in Ohio and mother in New Jersey. She could read and write and spoke English. No occupation was listed.
2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census
On April 22, 1910, Mary was enumerated in the Mathias J. Atkinson household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana7, as Elsa M. Atkinson, wife, age 39. She had been married for 15 years, no children. She was born in Ohio, her father born in Ohio and mother in New Jersey. No occupation was listed.
2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census
On June 4, 1900, Mary was enumerated in the Mathias J. Atkinson household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana8, as Mary E. Atkinson, born April 1872, wife, age 28. She was born in Ohio, her father in Ohio and mother born in New Jersey. She could read and write and spoke English. No occupation was listed. She had been married for 5 years, no children.
2.1.6. 1880 Federal Census
On June 5, 1880, Mary was enumerated in the Walker Lemasters household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana9, as Elsie Lemasters, daughter, age 8. She attended school within the year. She was born in Ohio, her father in Ohio and mother in New Jersey.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913 and 1921. These, however, were merely for the purposes of 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 Atkinson farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Mary was female.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service by her husband or father that would have made Mary eligible for military benefits. Her father did serve in the Civil War, but I don't believe she was ever eligible for any minor's benefits.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as Mary was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Jay County, Indiana and Mercer County, Ohio to see what items might mention Mathias and Mary. Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Plat maps for Jay County, Indiana and Mercer County, Ohio need to be searched as well. Will contact the local historical society to see what information they might have on Mary and Mathias.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available for research on Mary include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.
In 1907, Mary was listed as resident of Section 7, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana10, living on 98 acres.
In 1922, Mary was listed as a resident of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana11, in the biographical sketch of her father.
In 1922, Mary was listed as a resident of Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana12, in the obituary of her sister, Bertha.
In 1923, Mary was listed as a resident of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana13, in the obituary of her husband.
Sources :
1. "Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-2003." Index and images. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) accessed 18 April 2013, Darke County, Ohio Birth Registers with index 1863-1878 vol. 1.
2. Mary Elsie Atkinson obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, June 5, 1942, page 1.
3. Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage License, "Mathias J. Atkinson to Elsie Lemasters, 1894"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.
4. 1940 U.S. census, Mercer County, Ohio, population schedule, Ft. Recovery, enumeration district 54-26, SD 4, sheet 1A, household 4, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
5. Luman W. Leamasters household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 38-8, SD 5, sheet 6A, dwelling 127, family 127; National Archives micropublication T626, roll 595.
6. Mathias J. Atkinson household, 1920 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, ED 72, SD 67, sheet 5, dwelling 54, family 54; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 440.
7. 1910 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, enumeration district 67, SD 8, sheet 4B, dwelling 87, family 89; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
8. Mathias J. Atkinson household, 1900 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison township, ED 62, SD 67, sheet 3, dwelling 63, family 64; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 380.
9. Walker Lemasters household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 161, SD 6, page 4, dwelling 47, family 48; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 287.
10. Complete Directory of Jay County (Portland, Indiana, USA: M. & M. Directory Co., 1907), page 230.
11. Milton T. Jay, History of Jay County, Indiana: including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: Historical Publishing Company, 1922), page 197.
12. Mrs. John H. Yeager obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, March 17, 1922, page 2.
13. M.J. Atkinson obituary, Portland Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, August 25, 1923, page 1.
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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