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| William C. LeMaster (left) and son Ralph LeMaster |
William Clifford LeMaster (1870-1922) was my paternal great-granduncle. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
William was born September 1, 18701, 12 in Darke County, Ohio.
The discovery of his correct birth date was the subject of a previous post.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of William'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 William. The family was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that William was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
William married Lella Edith Lewis on August 20, 1892 in Penn Township, Jay County, Indiana1,2.
A copy of their marriage license and return was the subject of a previous post.
William married secondly to Parnell Brown on July 21, 1921 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of his nuptials.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
Neither of his marriage's lasted long enough, due to divorce or death, to reach the 25th anniversary mark.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
William filed for divorce from Lella in Teller County, Colorado on August 21, 1917. The papers were served to Lella on September 5, 1917 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California3.
A copy of their divorce papers was the subject of a previous post.
1.3. Death Certificate
William died July 26, 1922 in Sedalia, Douglas County, Colorado4. I have not yet obtained a copy of his death certificate. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
William's obituary appeared in the July 28, 1922 edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette4. Mention was also made in the July 29, 1922 edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette
5.
1.3.2. Funeral home records
Neither obituary mentioned the funeral home that handled the arrangements. The funeral was held at the Elks in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
William's tombstone in the Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado6 has been photographed.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1920 Federal Census
On January 12, 1920, William was enumerated in the Francis P. Hall household in Victor, Teller County, Colorado7, as William C. LeMaster, lodger, age 46, divorced. He was born in Ohio, father born in Ohio and mother born in New Jersey. He could read and write and spoke English. His occupation was listed as the proprietor of a theatre. Living in the same household was son, Ralph M., age 17, born in Ohio, and express driver.
2.1.2. 1910 Federal Census
On April 16, 1910, William was enumerated as the head of household in Ft. Collins, Larimer County, Colorado8, as William C. LeMaster, age 39, bank cashier. He had been married for 17 years. He was born in Ohio, father born in Ohio and mother in New Jersey. He could read and write and spoke English. Living in the household was his wife, Lella E., age 38, born in Indiana, and children Gladys A., age 16, born Indiana; Lella L., age 13, born in Ohio; Ralph M., age 7, born in Ohio, and William C. Jr., age 5, born in Colorado.
2.1.3. 1900 Federal Census
On June 4, 1900, William was enumerated as the head of household in Ward 4, City of Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio9, as William C. LeMaster, age 29, bank clerk. He had been married for 7 years. He was born September 1870 in Ohio, his father was born in Ohio and his mother in New Jersey. He could read and write and spoke English. Living in the household was his wife, Lella E., age 24, born in Indiana, and children Gladys A., age 6, born in Indiana and Lilla S., age 3, born in Ohio.
2.1.4. 1880 Federal Census
On June 5, 1880, William was enumerated in the Walker Lemasters household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana10, as William Lemasters, age 9, son. He had attended school within the year and could read and write and spoke English.
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.
No state census of Ohio are known to exist.
Colorado conducted state census in 1861, 1866, and 1885.
2.3. Agricultural Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what light they might shed on the LeMaster farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
William was too old to meet the draft requirements during World War I.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service that would make William eligible for pension benefits. His father did serve in the Civil War, but I don't believe he was ever eligible for any minor benefits.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Lorain County, Ohio and Teller and Douglas County, Colorado to see what records might mention William and his family. Will add this to my "to-do" list for further research.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Plat maps and county maps for Lorain County, Ohio and Teller and Douglas Counties, Colorado will need to be searched. Will contact the local historical societies to see what maps they might have in their collections.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available for research on William include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add these to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
In January 1892, William graduated from Oberlin College in Ohio1.
On April 4, 1900, William was elected fourth ward councilman for the city of Elyria, Ohio11.
Sources:
1. Morgan Milton Lewis, Genealogical and biographical record of the Lewis and Grisell families : from the years 1751 and 1763 to the year 1903 (Battle Creek, Michigan, USA : M.M. Lewis, 1903), page 207.
2. Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage Return: Clifford W. Lemasters to Lella Lewis, 1892"; County Marriage Returns Collection: Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.
3. Teller County Colorado, Divorce Records 3359, LeMaster, William C. v. LeMaster, Lella E., 1918; Colorado State Archives, Denver, Colorado, USA.
4. Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 28 July 1922, page 3:2.
5. Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 29 July 1922, page 6:6.
6. Evergreen Cemetery (Colorado Springs, Colorado), W.C. LeMaster marker, photographed by Nick Hardy, 23 January 2011.
7. Francis P. Hall household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Victor, Teller County, Colorado, ED 238, SD 3, sheet 9, dwelling 192, family 207; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 172, page 36.
8. William C. Lemaster household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Ft. Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, ED 227, SD 1, sheet 2, dwelling 37, family 37; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 121.
9. 1900 census, Lorain County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 4, Elyria, ED 81, SD 13, sheet 4B, dwelling 72, family 79; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
10. 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.
11. Two Women Were Elected article, The Elyria Republican, Elyria, Ohio, USA, April 5, 1900, page 1.
12. "Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-2003." Index and Images. FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org) accessed 24 April 2013, Darke County, Ohio Birth Registers with index 1863-1878 vol. 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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