Catharine (Groenendyke) Pierce (1843-1913) was my maternal 3rd-great grandmother. What follows is an exploratory analyis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.
1. Vital Records
Catharine was born February 4, 1843 in Madison County, Indiana1, according to her biography.
1.1. Birth Certificate
The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates until 1907, so no birth certificate for Catharine is available.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
If Catharine's birth was mentioned in a local newspaper, it has been lost to time.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible record for the Groenendyke family that would record the birth of Catharine. Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one will be found.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
I am not aware of any baptismal record for Catharine, nor do I know the church affiliation of the Groenendyke family.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Catharine was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
I have been unable to locate a marriage record for Catharine and Edmund G. Pierce. They were married May 15, 1864 in Madison County, Indiana2, according to her biography. The courthouse in Madison county suffered a fire in 1880 and early marriage records were lost.
1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Catharine and Edmund's nuptials.
1.2.2. Anniversary Notice
Catharine was widowed less than 10 years from the date of her marriage, when Edmund died January 8, 1875 in Madison County, Indiana.
1.2.3. Divorce Decree
There is no indication that Catharine and Edmund were ever divorced.
1.3. Death Certificate
Catharine died December 10, 1913 in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana3. The cause of death was valvular heart disease.
1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper
Catharine's obituary appeared in the December 11, 1913 edition of the Alexandria, Indiana Times-Tribune4 on page 1. The obituary stated that she passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Jones in Lafayette Township.
1.3.2. Funeral Home Records
Will need to search the local historical society to see if they have funeral home records that might shed some light on Catharine's funeral. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip. According to her death certificate, the Albright funeral home handled the arrangements.
1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph
Catharine's tombstone in the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana5, has been photographed. A link to her memorial page at FindAGrave is located here.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1910 Federal Census
On April 23, 1910, Catharine was enumerated in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana6 in the John W. Jones household as Catherine Pierce, mother in law, female, aged 67, widowed, born in Indiana. Both of her parents were born in Indiana. She could read and write and spoke English and had no occupation.
2.1.2. 1900 Federal Census
On June 4, 1900, Catharine was enumerated as head of household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana7, as Catharine Pierce, female, born February 1843, age 57. She was born in Indiana as were both of her parents. She was listed as widowed, the mother of 2 children, both living. She was renting her home. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.3. 1880 Federal Census
On June 3, 1880, Catharine was enumerated as head of household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana8, as Catharine Pierce, female, age 37, widowed, keeping house. She was born in Indiana, her father was born in Ohio and her mother was born in Ohio.
2.1.4. 1870 Federal Census
On July 15, 1870, Catharine was enumerated in the E.G. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana9, as Catherine Pierce, age 27, female, keeping house. She was born in Indiana, and could not read.
2.1.5. 1860 Federal Census
On July 11, 1860, Catharine was enumerated in the Eli Groenendike household in Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana10, as Catharine Groenendike, female, age 17, born in Indiana.
2.1.6. 1850 Federal Census
On September 9, 1850, Catharine was enumerated in the Elias Groanendike household in Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana11, as Catharine Groanendike, age 6, female, born in Indiana.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931. 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 Pierce family.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Catharine was female.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service for Catharine's father or husband that would have made her eligible for a pension.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as Catharine was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records will need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Catharine and husband Edmund. Will add this to my "to-do" list of items for my next research trip.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Plat maps of Madison County, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information that can be gleaned that might be relevant for my search.
5. Supplemental Records
A biography of Catharine appeared in the 1893 Portrait and Biographical Record Madison and Hamilton Counties, Indiana1. It mentions that her parents, Elias and Nancy (Jenkins) Groendyke were pioneer settlers of Madison County, Indiana and settled about one and a half miles southwest of Frankton. The biography states that she and Edmund Pierce were the parents of five children.
Supplemental records available for research on Catharine 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.
Sources:
1. Portrait and Biographical Record of Madison and Hamilton Counties, Indiana: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1893), p. 124.
2. Portrait and Biographical Record of Madison and Hamilton Counties, Indiana: containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1893), p. 125.
3. Catherine Pierce, death certificate 1913-H218 (1913), Madison County Indiana Health Department, Anderson, Indiana.
4. "Madison County Woman Is Dead," obituary, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 11 December 1913; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 April 2016), The Alexandria Times-Tribune; page 1.
5. FindAGrave, Inc. FindAGrave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 24 Apr 2016), Catharine Groenendyke Pierce memorial.
6. John W. Jones household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 107, SD 8, sheet 8A, dwelling 162, family 171; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 364., page 145.
7. 1900 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Lafayette Township, enumeration district (ED) 94, SD 67, page 345A, sheet 3, dwelling 46, family 46, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2016); National Archives, Washington, D.C..
8. Catharine Pierce household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, USA, page 1, ED 23, SD 3, dwelling 2, family 2; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 293.
9. E.G. Pierce household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Twp., Madison Co., IN, Page 32, dwelling 235, family 235; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 336., Page 184.
10. Eli Groenendike household, 1860 U.S. census, Pipe Creek Twp., Madison County, Indiana, dwelling 863, family 863; National Archives microfilm publication M653, Roll M653, page 277.
11. 1850 US Census, Madison County, Indiana, Pipe Creek Township, dwelling 549, family 549, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2016); National Archives, Washington, D.C..
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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