Mom's DAR Process - Francis Smalley - Documenting Generation 3

What follows is the documentation that was collected and submitted with mom's application to the DAR through Patriot ancestor Francis Smalley for Generation 3 of her application.

Previously, I had posted about the steps in documenting Generations 1 & 2.

For this generation, the death certificate of Virgil Lee Wright, the birth certificate of Edna Muriel Pierce, the death certificate of Edna Muriel Wright and their marriage application was used as source information.

The death certificate for Virgil Lee Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as certificate no 1972-C068.  The certificate stated his date of death was March 25, 1972 at Bradford N.H. (Alex) - this was the Bradford Nursing home in Alexandria.  His primary cause of death was listed as hypostatic pneumonia with myocardial infarction and arteriosclerosis - diabetes as contributing factors.  The death certificate states that his place of burial was Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana.

Virgil Lee Wright, death certificate no. 1972-C068 (1972), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The birth certificate for Edna Muriel Pierce was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as Certificate 97-H664 in Book H-1 page 38, filed on 2/16/1897.  The certificate states she was born February 16, 1897 in Orestes, Indiana, the daughter of William F. Pierce & unknown Penisten.  Both of her parents were listed as born in Indiana.  Previously, I had listed her as being born in Alexandria, as her obituary had stated she was born in Alexandria.

Edna Muriel Pierce, birth certificate 97-H664, Book H-1, page 38 (1897), Madison County, Indiana Health Department, Anderson, Indiana.

The death certificate for Edna Muriel Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as certificate 1968-0165.  The certificate stated she died March 3, 1968 at Community Hospital, which was in Anderson, Indiana.  Her primary cause of death was listed as pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.  The death certificate states that her place of burial was Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana.

Edna Muriel Wright, death certificate no. 1968-0165 (1968), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The marriage license for Virgil and Edna was filed in Madison County, Indiana Clerk's Office Book 20, page 187 (1915). Virgil was a farmer and Edna was a doing house work.  Virgil's residence was rural route 20, Alexandria and Edna's was rural route 19.  Virgil's birth date was listed as July 6, 1894 in Madison County and Edna's as February 16, 1897 in Madison County.  Edna's parents were listed as William Pierce, a farmer, and Clara Pennisten, both were born in Madison County, Indiana.  Her father's residence was listed as Alexandria, Indiana; her mother's was blank (she was deceased).  Virgil's parents were listed as John W. Wright, a farmer, and Ellen King.  His father's residence was listed as Alexandria, Indiana; his mother was listed as deceased.  Note that Virgil's mother was listed as deceased, though Edna's had a line through the residence - both mother's were deceased.  This was the first marriage for both of them.  Virgil's father's consent was attached to the application, as he was under 21. The marriage was performed the day the license was issued, June 19, 1915, by Rev. Newton Wilson of Alexandria, Indiana.

Virgil L Wright and Edna M. Pierce marriage, (1915), Madison County Marriage Book 28: page 187; Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.

A birth certificate was not available for Virgil, though one was available for his wife.  Indiana did not require birth certificates until 1907, so filing was rather optional before this time.  When mom was first meeting with the local chapter, it was thought this might be a stumbling block, and they suggested she send off to the state for the long-form death certificate.  In the end, they were able to use the date of birth for Virgil from his marriage license.

If you have any additional information or are connected to these families in any way, I would love to hear from you.