Exploratory Data Analysis Through 2x-Great Grandaunts & Uncles

Though it took much longer that I had hoped, have finally finished by series of exploratory data analysis through my 2x-great grandaunts and granduncles.  Previously, I had written about my results through my 2x-great grandparents.  My next steps are to move on to my 3x-great grandparents as well as start work on some of Eileen's ancestors and Corinne's ancestors.

Working on this series has allowed me to find out where there are gaps in my research and has added much data.  Now I just need to follow up with my "to-do" lists before my next research trip to make sure I use my time effectively.

Here are the links to posts about the exploratory data analysis posts for my 2x-great grandaunts and granduncles:

• Beulah Sarah (LeMasters) Rockwell (1865-1940)
• Phillip D. LeMasters (1869-1869)
• William Clifford LeMaster (1870-1922)
• Mary Elsie (LeMasters) Atkinson (1873-1942)
• Bertha Fidelia (LeMasters) Yaeger (1874-1922)
• Ord Otterbein LeMaster (1876-1937)
• Edith Mabel (LeMasters) Meinholtz (1879-1949)
• Una Maude (LeMasters) Phillips (1884-1968)
• Arthur Raymond LeMaster (1885-1971)
• Vernon Walker LeMaster (1888-1955)
• Minerva Prudence (Wehrly) Jackson (1867-1948)
• John William Wehrly (1870-1954)
• Orilla Catherine (Wehrly) Andrews (1872-1970)
• Benjamin Franklin Wehrly (1873-1895)
• Henry Leonard Wehrly (1875-1924)
• Harvey Allen Wehrly (1877-1968)
• Alva Monroe Wehrly (1878-1952)
• LeRoy Garfield Wehrly (1880-1883)
• Ida Laura (Wehrly) Scholer (1883-1963)
• Blaine Pearle Wehrly (1884-1964)
• Ethel May (Wehrly) Shreeve (1886-1951)
• Martin Nimrod Wehrly (1888-1954)
• Andrew Frank Haley (1864-1937)
• George David Ellsworth Haley (1868-1941)
• Rachel Emma Pernina (Haley) Hanlin Zorn (1869-1963)
• Charles Wesley Haley (1872-1893)
• Carrie Mae (Haley) Graves Booth Marks (1877-1956)
• Ora Amanda (Haley) Bittikofer (1884-1961)
• William A.L. Metzner (1866-1879)
• Wesley F. Metzner (1872-1953)
• Chester Arthur Wright (1896-1955)
• John Herman Pierce (1895-1959)
• Edward E. Pierce (1900-1900)
• Lillian Pierce (1902-1921)
• Nehersta Edith (Pierce) Miller Roberts (1910-1979)
• William McClellan Pierce (1913-1978)
• Cloyd J. Pierce (1916-1962)
• Charles D. Pierce (1918-1991)
• Robert F. Pierce (1923-2005)
• James Louis Pierce (1931-2002)

Exploratory Data Analysis: Ora Amanda (Haley) Bittikofer (1884- 1961)

Ora Amanda (Haley) Bittikofer (1884-1961) 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

           Ora was born August 25, 1884 in Jay County, Indiana¹.  The Jay County Indiana Health Department has birth records from 1882.  I do not yet have a copy of her birth certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Ora's birth was recorded in a newspaper, I have not yet discovered it.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if she is mentioned.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Haley family.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               The Haleys were members of the Evangelical Association.  I am not aware of any baptismal record for Ora at this time.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Ora was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Ora married Franklin Oliver Bittikofer on February 20, 1904 in Jay County, Indiana².   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 newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Frank and Ora's nuptials.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Ora and Frank's 25th wedding anniversary would have been February 20, 1929.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if there was any mention of anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that Ora was ever divorced, but a thorough search of Jay County, Indiana court records needs to be completed.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Ora died in 1961, according to her tombstone.  I do not have a copy of her death certificate.  Since the family was living in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, assume that she died there.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Once I obtain an exact date of death, will search contemporary newspapers to see if I can locate an obituary for Ora.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Once I have a copy of Ora's obituary, I can contact the funeral home mentioned and see if they have any additional records of Ora's funeral.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Ora's tombstone in the Riverside Cemetery, Troy, Miami County, Ohio has been photographed.  A link to her memorial page at Billiongraves.com is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 1, 1940, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bittikofer household in Ward 3, Troy, Miami County, Ohio³, as Ora Bittikofer, wife, age 55.  She was born in Indiana.  Her residence in 1935 was the same location.  She had completed the 5th grade in education.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 323 Summit Avenue.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 18, 1930, Ora was enumerated in the Frank O. Bittikofer household in Ward 3, Troy, Miami County, Ohio⁴, as Ora M. Bittikofer, wife, age 46.  She was married at age 23. She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 517 Court Street.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 3, 1920, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bitteroffer household in Bradford, Miami County, Ohio⁵, as Ora Bitteroffer, wife, age 35. She was born in Indiana, and both her parents were born in Ohio. She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 314 Main Street.  The census enumerator spelled the surname as Bitteroffer.

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 30, 1910, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bittikofer household in Recovery Township, Mercer County, Ohio⁶, as Ora Bittikofer, wife, age 26.  This was her first marriage and she had been married for 6 years.  She was the mother of 2 children, 1 of whom was living.  She was born in Indiana, her father born in Indiana and her mother born in Ohio.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 16, 1900, Ora was enumerated in the Robert E. Kimble household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana⁷, as Ora M. Haley, stepdaughter, age 15.  She was born August 1884 in Indiana.  Her father and mother were born in Ohio.  She could read and write and spoke English.

     2.2. State Census Records

          No state census records in Ohio are known to exist.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet examined these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Kimble/Haley farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Ora was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Ora's husband or father that would have made her eligible for military benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Ora was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Mercer and Miami Counties, Ohio to see what records might mention Ora and her family.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Will need to search out plat maps in Miami County, Ohio to see if I can locate her family and obtain any additional information.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records to search for Ora 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. Jay County, Indiana Birth Records, Book H-1, page 107.
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book C-J, page 19.
3. 1940 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 3, Troy, enumeration district 55-10, SD 4, sheet 2B, 323 Summit Avenue, dwelling 34; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 June 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
4. 1930 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 3, Troy, enumeration district 55-7, SD 11, sheet 20A, 517 Court Street, dwelling 551, family 5551; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 June 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.

5. 1920 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Bradford, enumeration district 220, SD 3, sheet 4B, 314 Main Street, dwelling 91, family 102; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 October 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. 1910 U.S. census, Mercer County, Ohio, population schedule, Recovery Township, enumeration district 122, SD 9, sheet 11B, dwelling 224, family 226; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. Robert E. Kimble household, 1900 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Noble Township, ED 63, SD 67, sheet 9, dwelling 180, family 182.

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.

Marriage License & Return: Frank O. Bittikofer to Ora M. Haley, 1904

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage License, "Frank O. Bittikofer to Ora M. Haley, 1904"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

Marriage License

State of Indiana, Jay County, SS:

To All Who Shall See These Presents, Greeting:

Know Ye, that any person empowered by law to solemnize Marriages is hereby authorized to join together as Husband and Wife,

Frank O. Bittikofer and Ora M. Haley

and for so doing, this shall be his sufficient authority.

In Testimony Whereof, I, Francis L. Crowe Clerk of the Jay Circuit Court, hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Portland, Indiana, this 20th day of February 1904

Francis L. Crowe Clerk

STATE OF INDIANA, JAY COUNTY, SS:

This certifies, that I joined in marriage as Husband and Wife Frank O. Bittikofer and Ora M. Haley on the 20th day of February 1904

Alphonso E. Kemp

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage Return, "Frank O. Bittikofer to Ora M. Haley, 1904"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

INDIANA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

RETURN OF A MARRIAGE TO COUNTY CLERK

1. Full Name of GROOM Franklin O. Bittikofer

2. Place of Residence Fort Recovery, Ohio

3. Occupation Farmer

4. Age next Birthday 22 years. Color White Race Caucasian

5. Place of Birth Fort Recovery Nationality American

6. Father's Name Abraham F. Bittikofer

7. Mother's Maiden Name Elizabeth Bishop

8. Number of Groom's Marriage First

9. Full Name of BRIDE Ora M. Haley

10. Place of Residence Fort Recovery

11. Age next Birthday 20 years. Color White Race American

12. Place of Birth Fort Recovery, O. Nationality "

13. Father's Name George W. Haley

14. Mother's Maiden Name Mary J. Sherick

15. Number of Bride's Marriage First

16. Married at Home of Bride's Parents in the County of Jay and State of Indiana, the 20th day of February 1904

17. Witnesses to Marriage Frank Haley, W.W. Vankirk

Marriage solemnized by Alphonso E. Kemp

Fort Recovery O.

Dated at Fort Recovery this 20th day of February 1904.

This record of the marriage of Franklin Oliver Bittikofer and Ora Amanda Haley was located at the Jay County Historical Society in Portland, Indiana.

Ora was my paternal great-grandaunt, the daughter of George Washington Haley and Mary Jane Sherick.  The return listed her birthplace as Fort Recovery, Ohio, while I had shown it as Jay County, Indiana in my database.  The Haley's were living in Seneca County, Ohio at the 1880 census, so they may have stopped in Fort Recovery before moving to Jay County.

The Frank Haley who witnessed the marriage was likely the bride's older brother.