Minerva Prudence (Wehrly) Jackson (1867-1948) 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
Minerva was born July 25, 1867 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana1. The State of Indiana did not require state-wide registrations of birth until after 1907. Jay County, Indiana only has birth records from 1882.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
If Minerva's birth was announced in the local newspaper, it has been lost to history. The Jay County Public Library has newspapers from the late 1880s. The holdings of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis do not indicate any newspapers of the time period.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Wehrly 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 Minerva, nor the church affiliation of the Wehrly's.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Minerva was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
Minerva married Lawrence Delbert Jackson on October 7, 18851, probably in Jay County, Indiana. Will need to search at the Jay County courthouse for a copy of this record.
1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper
Once I have the correct location for their marriage, will search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of their nuptials.
1.2.2. Anniversary Notice
Minerva and Lawrence's 25th wedding anniversary would have been October 7, 1910. Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebrations.
1.2.3. Divorce Decree
There is no indication that Minerva and Lawrence were ever divorced, but a search of the Jay County, Indiana court records needs to be conducted.
1.3. Death Certificate
Minerva died March 18, 19481 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California2. I need to verify this fact and try to obtain a copy of her death certificate.
1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper
Will need to add searching for Minerva's obituary to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip. Likely it was mentioned in the Jay County, Indiana papers.
1.3.2. Funeral Home Records
Once I have obtained a copy of her obituary, I might be able to identify the funeral home that provided services and then contact them to see if they had any further records.
1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph
Minerva and Lawrence's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery in Jay County, Indiana3 has been photographed and was the subject of a previous post. The tombstone reads "M. Prudence 1867-1948" and "L. Delbert 1865-1929".
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On April 5, 1940, Minerva was enumerated in the George Ganzmiller household in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio4, as Prudence Jackson, age 69, widowed mother-in-law. Her residence in 1935 was the same location. She was born in Indiana. No occupation was listed. Living in the same household were George Ganzmiller, age 47, born Ohio and Eva Ganzmiller, age 43, born in Ohio. Eva was Minerva's daughter.
2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census
On April 4, 1930, Minerva was enumerated in the William D. Jackson household in Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana5, as Minerva P. Jackson, age 63, widowed mother. She was aged 18 at her first marriage. She was born in Indiana, and her parents were born in Indiana. She could read and write and spoke English. No occupation was listed. Living in the household were William D. Jackson, age 38, optometrist, born Indiana, Iva M. Jackson, age 32, born Illinois, Iva M. Jackson, age 4 1/2, born Indiana, William D. Jackson, age 3 1/2, born Indiana, John L. Jackson, age 1 11/12, born Indiana. William was Minerva's son.
2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census
On January 8, 1920, Minerva was enumerated in the Lawrence D. Jackson household in the 4th Ward of Portland, Jay County, Indiana6, as Minerva P. Jackson, wife, age 53. She could read and write and speak English. She was born in Indiana, and both parents were born in Indiana. No occupation was listed.
2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census
On April 1, 1910, Minerva was enumerated in the Lawrence D. Jackson household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana7, as Minerva P. Jackson, wife, age 40. She was married for 24 years, with 8 children, 7 of whom were living. She was born in Indiana, with her parents both born in Ohio. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census
On June 1, 1900, Minerva was enumerated in the Lawrence D. Jackson household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana8, as Minerva P. Jackson, wife, age 33. She was born July 1866 in Indiana. She had been married 15 years, and was the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom were living. Her father and mother were born in Ohio. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.6. 1880 Federal Census
On June 3, 1880, Minerva was enumerated in the William Wherhly household in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana9, as Minerva Wherhly, daughter, age 12. She had attended school within the year. She was born in Indiana, the birthplace of her father was blank, and her mother was born in Michigan.
2.1.7. 1870 Federal Census
On August 2, 1870, Minerva was enumerated in the William P. Werly household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana10, as Minerva P. Werly, age 3, born in Indiana.
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 Jackson farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Minerva was female.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service by her husband or father that would have made her eligible for benefits. Her father did serve in the Civil War, but I don't believe she was ever eligible for minor's benefits.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as Minerva was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Jay County and Elkhart County, Indiana to see what records might mention Minerva and her family. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Plat maps and county maps for Jay County and Elkhart County, Indiana will need to be searched. Will contact the local historical society to see what maps they might have in their collection.
5. Supplemental Records
Supplemental records available for research on Minerva include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.
Sources:
1. Wehrly, Blaine & Gladys, "Wehrly & Smith Family History." Report to Wehrly Reunion, New Castle, Indiana, 16 August 1970. Photocopy held by author.
2. Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2000. Original data: State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
3. Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), L. Delbert and M. Prudence Jackson marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.
4. 1940 U.S. census, Butler County, Ohio, population schedule, 1st Ward, Hamilton, enumeration district 9-5, SD 3, sheet 1A, 622 Dick Street, household 6; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
5. 1930 U.S. census, Elkhart County, Indiana, population schedule, 1st Ward, Elkhart, enumeration district 20-9, SD 2, sheet 5B, 631 Prospect Street, dwelling 93, household 95; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. Lawrence D. Jackson household, 1920 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne Twp., ED 91, SD 84, sheet 9, dwelling 165, family 167; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 440.
7. Lawrence D. Jackson household, 1910 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne Twp., ED 82, SD 8, sheet 6, dwelling 150, family 153; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 358.
8. Lawrence D. Jackson household, 1900 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Twp., ED 62, SD 67, sheet 1, dwelling 13, family 13; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 380.
9. William Wherhly household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 169, SD 6, page 28, dwelling 6, family 6; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 287.
10. William P. Werly household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, page 27, Salamonie P.O., dwelling 197, family 200; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 327, page 87.
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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