Obituary of Philip LeMaster, Muncie Star Press, May 15, 1915

Located the obituary of my paternal great-great granduncle, Phillip LeMaster, in the Muncie Star Press.  Philip was the son of the Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) LeMasters, and the older brother of my ancestor, Luman Walker LeMaster Jr.

Muncie Star Press
Muncie, Indiana
May 15, 1915, page 3

PIONEER DEAD

Philip LeMaster, a former resident of Madison township died at midnight Thursday after a lingering illness of kidney trouble.  Mr. LeMaster was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Newton LeMaster and was born in Madison township eighty years ago.  He is survived by his wife and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Bessie Henry.  The funeral services will be held Monday.  His nephew, Sheriff J.W.M. Cunningham, his brother, Walker LeMaster and two sisters, Mrs. John Petry and Mrs. William Wilson all of Greene township, will attend the funeral service.  Mr. Walker LeMaster had been at the beside of his brother and came home Thursday afternoon.

A couple of interesting things stand out in the obituary.  Besides the typographical error of his parents names - he was not the son of Newton LeMaster but the son of Luman Walker LeMaster - there is also the fact that the obituary mentions that his daughter, Mrs. Bessie Henry, was adopted.  Prior to this obituary, I knew that he had a daughter, but was not aware that she was adopted and had assumed that she was a biological daughter.  This gives me some other records to try and research to find out more about this adoption.

Phillip died in Spencerville, Allen County, Ohio though the obituary doesn't mention that.  It does allude to the fact that my ancestor, his brother Luman Walker, was at his bedside during the final days.

I also located a follow-up article in another Muncie area newspaper regarding his funeral:

Muncie Evening Press
Muncie, Indiana
May 19, 1915, page 2

John W.M. Cunningham, Mr. and Mrs. Walker LeMaster, Mr. and Mrs. John Petry and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Myron, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur LeMaster, Mrs. William Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Jordan, all of this county, have returned home from Spencerville, Ohio, where they attended the funeral services of the late Philip LeMaster.

Philip was a Methodist minister and had pastored churches in Logan and Allen counties, Ohio.  He was married to Elizabeth C. Hoover in 1870 in Allen County, Ohio.  He is buried in the Lima cemetery.

He Drowned in the Potomac

Sometimes an ancestor or relative seems to call out to you, wanting their story to be told.  Before yesterday, all I knew of William H. Cunningham was his year of birth (1905) and date and place of death (1929, Washington D.C.).  While working on updates on his father, John W., I was drawn to search old newspapers to see what I might find.  It turns out this led me on an interesting search.

John W. Cunningham (1868-1947) was my paternal first cousin 3 times removed, the son of William E. Cunningham and Rachel Lemasters.  Our common ancestors were the Rev. Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young.  While updating his death certificate information from Ancestry.com, I found out that at one time he was the Sheriff of Jay County, Indiana.  Curious to see what stories might mention his service as Sheriff was what led me to the unknown story of his son, William H. Cunningham.

The Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Indiana), May 13, 1929, page 1

The story that grabbed my attention was a news report that appeared in several newspapers across the state, telling the tale of William's death by drowning:

Young Man Drowned.

Portland. - This city city was shocked today to learn that William Cunningham, 24-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Cunningham here, a student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. was drowned in the Potomac River while canoeing Sunday.  According to reports from Washington the body has not yet been recovered.

What a sad fate.  I immediately began searching for more information, and found a little more detail in a similar news report:

Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, Indiana), May 13, 1929, page 14

Hoosier Student Drowns.

Potomac River Has Not Yielded Body of Portland Young Man.

Portland, Ind., May 13 (A.P.) - Mr. and Mrs. John W. Cunningham, of this city, have received a message telling of the death of their son, William Cunningham, age twenty-four, by drowning in the Potomac river at Washington.  The body has not been recovered.

The young man, a student at Georgetown University, was riding in a canoe with two other students when the craft was upset by a whirlpool.  He told his companions to swim to shore and he would bring the canoe in.  They swam to safety, but Cunningham was carried under the surface by another whirlpool.

The parents, one brother and one sister survive.  His father is a former sheriff of Jay county.

 Looking for a death record, I searched FamilySearch and located a record of his death, which gives the date as May 18, 1929.  This may be the date when his body was recovered.  I was unable to obtain an image of the record, only the following:

 

This record gives me William's middle name as Harvey.  He was named for his grandparents - William Cunningham being his paternal grandfather and Harvey Drake being his maternal grandfather.

Knowing that he was a student at Georgetown University, I went online to see what they had in the way of digital archives.  They have their old yearbooks and newspapers available for viewing.  In the May 16, 1929 edition of the student newspaper, the Hoya, I found the following article:

Hoya, Vol. 10, no. 28 (May 16, 1929), page 1

 F.S. STUDENT DROWNED SAT.

W.H. Cunningham loses Life in Potomac as Canoe Capsizes Below Chain Bridge

W.H. Cunningham, 24-year-old junior at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, was drowned in the Potomac River last Saturday afternoon when a canoe in which he was riding with two companions turned over in the swift water about half a mile below Chain Bridge.

Cunningham, with Willard Burkett and W.W. Stevens, his roommates and fellow students, started up the river for an outing early in the afternoon.  At Dempsey's boat house they were joined by a friend, George Davlin.

In two canoes they stared to paddle up the river.  About half a mile from the bridge they came to a swift stretch of water and Cunningham and Burkett tried to make their way through in their canoe.  Unable to force their way through the rapids, they paddled to an island where they were joined by Stevens and the three of them resumed the attempt.

They had progressed about 100 yards into the swift water when the canoe was caught broadside in the rapids, the water spinning the frail craft around and tipping it over.  Burkett, who had been kneeling in the bottom of the canoe, was nearly drowned when his leg was caught in a seat.  All three of the boys came to the surface and seized the canoe.

Unable to right it, they began drifting downstream.  Stevens swam to shore.  Burkett and Cunningham continued to drift with the canoe, calmly discussing the best means of reaching shore without damage to themselves or the craft.  Burkett, at Cunningham's suggestion, removed the pillows from the canoe and seized one of the paddles which was floating alongside.  With this burden he released his hold and started for the Virginia short [sic], calling to Cunningham to steer the canoe into shallow water if possible.  Cunningham answered that he thought he would be able to bring it ashore.

Burkett, on reaching the shore, looked around for his companion.  He saw the canoe bobbing in the current, but Cunningham had disappeared.

Burkett ran back up stream to the point where Davlin was in the other canoe.  They paddled down the river in a futile search for their friend.

The drowned youth, said to have been a strong swimmer, lived in Portland, Ind.  With Burkett and Stevens, he attended Western Reserve University before coming to Washington.  The three boys lived together here at 2410 Twentieth Street.

This article not only gave me the important details of how William died, but also gave me avenues of additional research - the fact that he had attended Western Reserve University as well.  I will need to research local newspapers in Jay County on my next trip to the library.

There is much more to research on this young man and his life, but at least now the story of his untimely death will be known.

William is buried in Green Park Cemetery in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  A memorial page for him exists at the FindAGrave site.

Jay County, Indiana Marriages 1837-1865

Jay County, Indiana Marriages
1837-1865
(Transcribed by Rex W. Betram)

Located this book in the Allen County Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana several months ago and just now getting around to abstracting the information.

Some of the family members that I located mentioned during this time period:

CUNNINGHAM, William E., to LEMASTER, Rachel, 18 Mar. 1860, married by Wm. A. Hartzell, J.P., Book B, page 375. [Rachel was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt]

HARTER, Hiram B., to WEHRLY, Elizabeth, 29 May 1860, married by Richard Harter, M.G., Book B, page 378. [Elizabeth was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt]

METZNER, John A., to MOULTON, Clarice, 13 Nov. 1864, married by Nathan Beck, M.G., Book B, page 536. [They were my paternal 2nd-great grandparents]

WEHRLY, John, to LEMASTER, Catherine, 3 Feb. 1861, married by James Redkey, M.G., Book B, page 408. [Catherine was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt]

On This Day : December 27

1669 - Joseph CHEW married Margaret MILES.  Joseph was the son of John CHEW and Sarah GALE.

1680 - Mary CLARKE born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Mary was the daughter of Joseph CLARKE and Bethiah HUBBARD.

1682 - John HUTCHINSON married Hannah ROOT in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.  John was the son of Ralph HUTCHINSON and Alice _______.

1685 - Mercer BROWN born.  Mercer was the daughter of William BROWN and Ann MERCER.

1712 - Avis MAXSON born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Avis was the daughter of John MAXSON and Judith CLARKE.

1732 - James TAYLOR born.  James was the son of James TAYLOR and Alice THORNTON.

1747 - John BEESON died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  John was the son of Richard BEESON and Charity GRUBB.

1754 - Carey BURDICK married Dorcas COTTRELL.  Carey was the son of Thomas BURDICK and Dorothy MAXSON.

1755 - John MOULTON born in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut. John was the son of Samuel MOULTON and Phoebe ________.  John was my 5x-great grandfather.

1798 - Hannah RAINS born.  Hannah was the daughter of Anthony RAINS and Nancy GRAHAM.

1806 - William MAXSON born. William was the son of Jonathan MAXSON and Mary MAGDILINE.

1827 - Sarah Jane HEATON born in Brown County, Ohio.  Sarah was the daughter of Alexander S. HEATON and Jemima SHAW.

1833 - Rachel FAULKNER born.  Rachel was the daughter of Solomon FAULKNER and Ruth BEALS.

1842 - Elizabeth PITTS died.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel STANLEY and Sarah WILLIAMS.

1862 - Catherine E. CUNNINGHAM born.  Catherine was the daughter of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel LeMASTERS.

1863 - Charity MILLS died.  Charity was the daughter of Henry MILLS and Hannah WOODWARD.

1886 - Jemima HUDDLESTON died in Jackson Township, Champaign County, Ohio.  Jemima was the daughter of Michael SILLS and Rosana FETTERS.

1886 - George SWAFFORD married Nancy Kathleen THACKER in Ray County, Missouri.  George was the son of James SWAFFORD and Rebecca Ann BALLARD.

1891 - Jarah Albert STOUT married Ida May SHEARS in Palestine, Crawford County, Illinois.  Jarah was the son of Moses B. STOUT and Nancy PARKER.

1892 - Earl KING born.  Earl was the son of James Alfred KING and Ella May LOWERY.

1893 - Edna DAVIS born. Edna was the daughter of Joseph Newton DAVIS and Almeda DAVIS.

1939 - Jewell FIELDS died in Richmond, Missouri.  Jewell was the son of Thomas Henry FIELDS and Dessie May LEE.

Research Trip Notes : Allen County Public Library

Last Sunday, I managed to get away to the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to do some research.  The library has hours from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, and with parking in the garage only $ 1.00 per hour, I need to take advantage of the opportunity when I can.  

The library now has a photocopy card that it uses as cash, you can reload the card with any denomination.  No more lugging around quarters, nickels and dimes.  

I managed to snag a few photocopies from some of the printed material, which I need to digest and update in my research logs.

In Darke County, Ohio Marriages 1899-1911 by Doris Aultman, I found reference to the Groenendyke and Lambertson families.

In Eddie Schirack's Notes & General Index Estates, Wills and Civil Cases 1818-1878 of Darke County, Ohio, I found references to the Groenendyke and Lambertson families.

In Abstracts of Johnson Funeral Home, 1916-1943, I found reference to the Ingram family.

In Miller Funeral Home Records, 1917 to 1950, Greenville, Ohio, I found reference to the Groenendyke and Lambertson families.

In Early Marriage Records of Darke County, Ohio, 1817-1865 Volume II by Fort Greenville Chapter D.A.R., I found reference to the Miller family.

In Early Marriage Records of Darke County, Ohio, 1817-1865 Volume I by Fort Greenville Chapter D.A.R., I found reference to the Chew family.

In Jay County Pioneers Prior to 1886, I found reference to the LeMaster family.

In Jay County, Indiana, Marriages 1837-1865, transcribed by Rex Bertram, I found reference to the Cunningham, LeMaster, Harter, Wehrly, Metzner and Moulton families.

In Records of Zook Funeral Home Converse Indiana, 1904-1922, I found reference to the Albright family.

In Vital Statistics Index to St. Joseph County, Indiana Newspapers, 1831-1912 by David Eisen, I found reference to the Chew family.

In Lancaster Cemetery, 1837-1967, Huntington County, Indiana, I found reference to the Lewis family.

In Marshall County, Indiana Land Grants, I found reference to the Fisher and Bigley families.

In Marshall County, Indiana Marriage Records 1836-1888, I found reference to the Bigley, Peeples, Fisher, Chew and  McMillen families.

In Index to Marriage Records, Howard County, Indiana 1844-1920, I found reference to the Beals family.

In Index to Birth Records, Huntington County, Indiana, I found reference to the Lewis family.

As I sort through this material, I will be added additional posts to the blog.

On This Day : July 5

1663 - John PIERCE married Deborah CONVERS.  John was the son of Thomas PIERCE and Elizabeth COLE.


1682 - Thomas MENDENHALL died in London, Middlesex, England.  Thomas was the son of Francis MILDENHALL.  Thomas was my 10x-great grandfather.



1704 - Peter WOODBURY died in Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts.  Peter was the son of John WOODBURY and Agnes NAPPER.  Peter was my 10x-great grandfather.


1705 - Anna Maria HERBACH born in Otterberg, Bayern.  Anna was the daughter of Johann Peter HERBACH and Anna Maria ________.  Anna was my 7x-great grandmother.


1721 - Samuel PIERCE died in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Samuel was the son of Thomas PIERCE and Elizabeth COLE.  Samuel was my 9x-great grandfather.


1728 - Sarah HAINES died.  Sarah was the daughter of John PAINE.  Sarah was my 8x-great grandmother.


1775 - Lucy BABCOCK died.  Lucy was the daughter of Samuel MAXSON and Ruth ROGERS.


1779 - Silas BAILEY born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island.  Silas was the son of Silas BAILEY and Amy STILLMAN.


1793 - Daniel PHILBRICK born.  Daniel was the son of John PHILBRICK and Sally JEWETT.


1796 - Abner BEALS died in Grayson County, Virginia.  Abner was the son of John BEALS and Mary CARTER.


1813 - David KEENEY born.  David was the son of John S. KEENEY and Magdalena PETRY.


1820 - Eleanor Ann WARDLOW born.  Eleanor was the daughter of James WARDLAW and Eleanor IRWIN.


1831 - George G. LAMBERTSON born in Warren County, New Jersey.  George was the son of John LAMBERTSON and Sarah A. WILLSON.


1848 - John BEALS died in Hamilton County, Indiana.  John was the son of Thomas BEALS and Sarah ANTRIM.  John was my 6x-great grandfather.


1855 - John Ballinger SMITH married Rebecca Ann MAHIN in Fayette County, Ohio.  John was the son of Seth SMITH and Nancy CLEMONS.


1860 - Nancy Margaret CUNNINGHAM born in Jay County, Indiana.  Nancy was the daughter of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel LeMASTERS.


1866 - Emeline YOUNG married Walter F. HUBER.  Emeline was the daughter of Noah YOUNG and Orlintha BROWN.


1869 - Hester Ann LEE born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.  Hester was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin LEE and Mary Isabella THURMAN.


1890 - Benny CRAWFORD born in Bienville, Louisiana.  Benny was the son of George Netwon CRAWFORD and Mary Elizabeth BIRDWELL.


1898 - Karl Ludwig RITT died in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Karl was Corinne's 4x-great grandfather.


1904 - Emma RITT born in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Emma was the daughter of Louis E. RITT and Mary A. HOLTMAN.


1906 - Frederick W. PIERPONT born in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana.  Frederick was the son of Joseph Gilbert PIERPONT and Lena Leato ORCUTT.


1929 - Esther Miller BETZ died.  Esther was the daughter of Phillip YOUNG and Keziah CURTIS.


1944 - Levi Bertis DEMPSEY died in Yankeetown, Warrick County, Indiana.  Levi was the son of Daniel Andrew DEMPSEY and Nancy CHIVLARE.

On This Day : April 26

1662 - Mercy HUTCHINSON died in Northampton, Hamsphire County, Massachusetts.  Mercy was the daughter of Ralph HUTCHINSON and Alice ________.


1694 - Samuel JEWETT born in Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts.  Samuel was the son of Francis JEWETT and Sarah HARDY.  Samuel was my 7x-great grandfather.


1712 - William BEALS married Rebecca CHAMBERS in Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  William was the son of John BEALS and Mary CLAYTON.


1775 - Jeremiah HAINES married Mary HANN in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Jeremiah was the son of Jeremiah HAINES and Hannah BONNELL.


1791 - Robert NESBIT married Anne McCLENNICHAN in Bourbon County, Kentucky.  Robert was the son of Samuel NESBIT and Mary BERRY.


1797 - Andrew CHEW married Anna Marie BARTHUS in Mason County, Kentucky. Andrew was the son of James CHEW and Mary CALDWELL.  They were my 6x-great grandparents.


1818 - Phebe Ann LEMASTERS born in Champaign County, Ohio. Phebe was the daughter of Jacob LEMASTERS and Hannah ________.


1835 - Hetta RINEHART died in Henry County, Indiana.  Hetta was the daughter of Jacob RINEHART and Mary ADNEY.


1843 - Daniel BEALS married Abigail COOK in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Daniel was the son of Nathan C. BEALS and Elizabeth CHEW.


1866 - Elisha Dunham BECKETT married Cornelia Matilda HOLLAR.  Elisha was the son of Lemuel Daugherty BECKETT and Sarah Springer CHEW.


1868 - John William CUNNINGHAM born in Indiana.  John was the son of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel E. LEMASTERS.


1872 - Mary Elsie LeMASTERS born in Rose Hill, Darke County, Ohio.  Mary was the daughter of Luman Walker LeMASTERS and Mary Keziah CHEW.


1884 - Una Maude LeMASTERS born in Jay County, Indiana.  Maude was the daughter of Luman Walker LeMASTERS and Mary Keziah CHEW.


1892 - Lemuel BEALS died.  Lemuel was the son of Thomas BEALS and Nancy STANLEY.


1897 - Cleo Victoria PENISTEN born.  Cleo was the daughter of George Washington PENISTEN and Jemimah STIGLEMAN.


1906 - Otto H. SAUER married Lula DAY in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Otto was the son of George F. SAUER and Agnes Barbara HOFFHER.


1910 - Ethel B. LEWIS born.  Ethel was the daughter of Miles Clement LEWIS and Naomi C. BRANNAN.


1916 - Katharine PEEPLES died in Culver, Marshall County, Indiana.  Katharine was the daughter of James E. McMILLEN and Julia E. ________.  Katharine was Eileen's 2x-great grandmother.


1927 - Robert Dexter CHEW died.  Robert was the son of Carlton Elijah CHEW and Gladys VAN DEXTER.


1953 - Thomas A. SWAFFORD died in Rayville, Missouri.  Thomas was the son of James J. SWAFFORD and Elizabeth Ann Gant HANKINS.

On This Day : March 12

1714 - John MAXSON born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  John was the son of Jonathan MAXSON and Content ROGERS.


1724 - Robert ELDERTON born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Robert was the son of Roger ELDERTON and Lydia BABCOCK.


1758 - Joseph CHEW married Grace DESHON in New London, Connecticut.  Joseph was the son of Thomas CHEW and Martha TAYLOR.


1764 - Joshua G. DAVIS died.  Joshua was the son of Nathan DAVIS and Ann GIFFORD.


1781 - Nancy POTTER born.  Nancy was the daughter of George POTTER and Mary STILLMAN.


1797 - William BEALS married Rachel PIERCE.  William was the son of William BEALS and Rachel GREEN.


1807 - William METZNER born in Saxony.  William was the son of Jasper METZNER and Hannah REISENBURG.


1813 - Johannes NOLL died.  Johannes was the son of Johannes NOLL and Anna GERTRAUD.  Johannes was Corinne's 6x great-grandfather.


1816 - George MILLER born in York County, Pennsyvlania.  George was the son of George MILLER and Catherine PETRY.


1834 - William KING married Nancy OWENS in Wayne County, Indiana.  William was my 4x great-grandfather.


1835 - Miriam MILLS married David HAWORTH in Vermillion County, Indiana.  Miriam was the daughter of John MILLS and Charity MENDENHALL.


1848 - Joseph CHEW died in Andersonville, Ross County, Ohio.  Joseph was the son of James CHEW and Mary CALDWELL.


1853 - Rebecca Ann MATTHEWS born in Warrick County, Indiana.  Rebecca was the daughter of Job MATTHEWS and Christina BOYER.


1862 - Arana Marshall WARDLOW born in Brown County, Ohio.  Arana was the son of Levi WARDLOW and Nancy Ann WRIGHT.


1880 - Harriett Caroline SWAFFORD married JohnW. LILE in Ray County, Missouri.  Harriett was the daughter of John B. SWAFFORD and Nancy Rowena MILLARD.


1893 - Margaret R. KING born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  Margaret was the daughter of Eli KING and Laura Belle BLACK.


1900 - Boater BALES died in Blue River Township, Henry County, Indiana.  Boater was the son of Aaron BALES and Susannah RUSSELL.


1910 - Frankie Elizabeth KING born.  Frankie was the daughter of David Victor KING and Rosie Myrtle ETCHINSON.


1913 - Rachel CUNNINGHAM died in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  Rachel was the daughter of Luman Walker LeMASTERS and Nancy YOUNG.


1916 - Vernon HALEY married Wilma FREEMYER in Jay County, Indiana.  Vernon was the son of Jacob HALEY.


1916 - Benjamin Franklin LEE died in Pikeville, Tennessee.  Benjamin was the son of Burrell Russell LEE and Louhaney SWAFFORD.


1949 - Walter Alden DILLON died in Culver, Marshall County, Indiana.  Walter was the son of Harry Alden DILLON and Edna Blanche PEEPLES.


1969 - John William LEE died in Richmond, Missouri.  John was the son of William Burrell LEE and Margaret Jane SWAFFORD.

On This Day : February 29

1704 - Sarah FIELD died in Deerfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.  Sarah was the daughter of John FIELD and Mary BENNETT.


1704 - Sarah PRICE died in Deerfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts.  Sarah was the daughter of John WEBB and Anna BASSETT.  Sarah was my 9x great-grandmother.


1720 - Martha FESSENDEN born in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Martha was the daughter of William FESSENDEN and Martha WYETH.


1728 - Elizabeth ALLEN born.  Elizabeth was the daughter of John ALLEN and Amy COX.


1796 - Mary Polly ALDERMAN born.  Mary was the daughter of James ALDERMAN and Catherine WARNER.


1872 - Norton YOUNG married Delilah BRUNTHAVER.  Norton was the son of Noah YOUNG and Orlintha BROWN.


1880 - Nancy Margaret CUNNINGHAM married David F. RANTS.  Nancy was the daughter of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel LeMASTERS.


1932 - Martha JOHNSON died in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  Martha was the daughter of Edmund G. PIERCE and Catherine GROENENDYKE.

On This Day : February 3

1609: Jacob KIRN married Barbara HAITZMAN in Wurttemberg.  They were my 10x great-grandparents.


1665: Elizabeth MARIS born in Worchestershire, England. Elizabeth was the daughter of George MARIS and Alice ________.  Elizabeth was my 9x great-grandmother.


1702: Richard HERITAGE born.  Richard was the son of Joseph HERITAGE and Hannah ALLEN.


1729: Isaac BEESON born in Frederick County, Virginia.  Isaac was the son of Richard BEESON and Charity GRUBB.


1762: Richard HERITAGE born in New Jersey.  Richard was the son of Judah HERITAGE and Mary CATTELL.


1783: Hannah WHITE born.  Hannah was the daughter of John WHITE and Rebecca HAINES.


1793: Samuel EBERLY born.  Samuel was the son of Henry EBERLY and Elizabeth ERB.


1798: Daniel ADNEY married Anna COGER in Franklin County, Virginia.  Daniel was the son of Thomas ADNEY and Elizabeth DUNN.  Anna was the daughter of Peter COGER and Mary McELWAIN.  They were Eileen's 5x great-grandparents.


1805: Joel SHIRK born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Joel was the son of Michael SHIRK and Barbara FLICKINGER.


1816: Judah HERITAGE died.  Judah was the son of Richard HERITAGE and Sarah TINDALL.


1820: Jeremiah Haines DEACON born in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Jeremiah was the son of Joseph DEACON and Beulah HAINES.


1825: Thomas BABCOCK died in Greene County, Ohio.  Thomas was the son of Thomas BABCOCK and Judith DAVIS.


1829: Richard HIGGINS died in Flemington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.  Richard was the son of Judiah H. HIGGINS and Mary HILL.


1841: Magdalena PETRY born in Preble County, Ohio.  Magdalena was the daughter of Stephen PETRY.


1855: Martha KIMBALL died in Brown County, Ohio.  Martha was the daughter of Robert WARDLAW and Janet DOWNEY.


1865: Phillip L. CUNNINGHAM born.  Phillip was the son of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel E. LEMASTERS.


1882: Bertha A. MORRISTON born.  Bertha was the daughter of Alonzo T. MORRISTON and Rebecca A. WAMSLEY.


1893: Fred Albert WRIGHT born in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Fred was the son of Charles Riggs WRIGHT and Bertha Cordelia LEONARD.


1903: Mary Ethel SWAFFORD born in Ray County, Missouri.  Mary was the daughter of John William SWAFFORD and Viola Mae MILLER.


2009: Basil O. McDERMITT died in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  Basil was the son of Basil O. McDERMITT and Helen Louise WRIGHT.

On This Day : January 16

1647: Mary CROSBY married Nicholas LONGHORNE in Rowley, Essex County, Massachusetts.  They were my 10x great-grandparents.


1671: Mary CLARK married David MORGAN in Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts.  Mary was the daughter of John CLARK and Elizabeth STEBBINS. David was the son of Capt. Miles MORGAN and Prudence GILBERT.  They were my 8x great-grandparents.


1692: Matthias BUTTON born.  Matthias was the son of Peter BUTTON and Sarah CRANDALL.


1696: Patience BEALS born in Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Patience was the daughter of John BEALS and Mary CLAYTON.


1708: Jonathan MAXSON born.  Jonathan was the son of Jonathan MAXSON and Content ROGERS.


1715: Aaron MENDENHALL married Rose PIERSON in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Aaron was the son of John MENDENHALL and Elizabeth MARIS.


1730: Aeltje KOUWENHOVEN married William WILLIAMSEN.  Aeltje was the daughter of Pieter Williamse VAN KOUWENHOVEN.


1733: Hannah CHEW married John DILKS in Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Hannah was the daughter of John CHEW and Sarah JENNINGS.


1758: Wells KENYON born.  Wells was the son of Nathaniel KENYON and Eleanor UTTER.


1761: Daniel BEALS born.  Daniel was the son of Jacob BEALS and Elizabeth GRIEST.


1771: Abner HUNT married Mary POPE in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Abner was the son of Thomas HUNT and Ann BEALS.


1820: Mary PEGG died in Indiana.  Mary was the daughter of John MILLS and Sarah BEALS.


1822: Nathan BALES married Jemima HIATT.  Nathan was the son of Jacob BEALS and Mary ________.


1826: Elizabeth M. PEFLEY born in Virginia.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Solomon PEFLEY and Frances ROOF.


1828: Minerva Ann COOK born.  Minerva was the daughter of James S. COOK and Eunice HUNT.


1863: Catherine E. CUNNINGHAM died in Jay County, Indiana.  Catherine was the daughter of William E. CUNNINGHAM and Rachel LEMASTERS.


1881: Emeline MOULTON died.  Emeline was the daughter of Joel PHILBRICK and Sally FOX.


1986: Lester SWAFFORD died in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.  Lester was the son of George W. SWAFFORD and Elizabeth HAMILTON.

Sunday's Obituary: Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham (1838-1913)

Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 12, 1913, page 1

DIED AT HOME OF HER SON


Mrs Rachel Cunningham Died At Home Of Her Son John Cunningham


Funeral Friday


The Service Will Be Held At The Methodist Church at Salamonia at 2 P.M.


Mrs. Rachel Cunningham passed away at the home of her son John W. Cunningham West Water street at 2 o'clock Wednesday morning.  Mrs. Cunningham has been in failing health for some time but was able to come Sunday from Salamonia, to the home of her son in this city.  She was born in Shelby County, Ohio July 16, 1837 and was the daughter of Leuman and Mary Young LeMasters. Her husband William Cunningham died June 4th 1911.  She is survived by eight brothers and sisters and the following children: Mrs. David Rants, of Salamonia, Phillip Cunningham of Y--- Nebraska, John Cunningham of this city, Mrs. Lorinda Pauling of Cincinati, Ohio and Mrs. C.E. Beard Dayton Ohio.  Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at Salamonia Friday afternoon at two o'clock.  Rev. Pfifer will officiate, the funeral party will leave the residence at twelve o'clock Friday.


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Rachel was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, the daughter of Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.  She married William E. CUNNINGHAM on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana.  She is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery.


Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

When You Break The Microfilm Reader, It's Time To Go Home

Microfilm reader at Jay County Public Library

My first research trip of 2011 turned out to be a productive one.  I had planned a visit to the Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana in order to obtain copies of obituaries from the local newspaper.  Prior to my trip, I had created a "to-do list" using the features of my RootsMagic database.

Though my focus was going to be strictly on obituaries, I decided to contact the Jay County Historical Society via email to see if by chance someone could come in on Saturday and let us look around.  Normally, the museum is only opened through the week.  On my last research trip, the microfilm reader at the library stopped working, and I wanted to have a back up plan in case it was broken again.

My dad wanted to go with me on this trip, and I was excited to have him come along.  He's been getting interested in family history again, reading my blog daily, doing off site research and preparing mini-history books on our ancestors.  We met at 7 a.m. in the morning and headed out to Portland.

Arriving at the library, my cell phone rang and it was Tom Young from the Historical Society letting me know that he could open the museum for us and let us do some research.  We agreed to meet at 10 a.m., so that still gave dad and I a few hours at the library.

As I quickly began to scour the local newspapers, which stretch back into the 1880s, I was pleased with the rate of success.  At only $0.15 per copy, these obituaries are a bargain.  I only wish that the entire collection of these small town newspapers were online somewhere, such as Ancestry, so that I could do an every name search and locate tidbits of information about the daily lives of the families.  The society notes in the earlier newspapers are great sources of information.

Just before 10 a.m., we headed down the Historical Society, where we met Tom.  My dad and Tom graduated from Portland High School in the same class, and as we talked we also realized that we have a distant connection through the Haley-Easterday families.  Tom mentioned that he has read my blog, always nice to hear that as well.  Will have to see what more information I could share with Tom about the Haley and Easterday families.

I wanted to focus on the records of the township schools at the museum, and right away dad found a school photo from 1931-32 of Mt. Zion school in Noble Township that had included his mother, Ruth Pauline Haley.  Fortunately, someone had taken the time to identify each and every person in the photo.  Very serendipitous to find such a picture right off the bat.

We spent about two hours at the museum, where I obtained copies of anniversary notices from the local newspapers, recipes submitted by family members to locally-published cookbooks, funeral home records and marriage supplemental transcript records.  Someone had taken the time to print these from the courthouse and place them in binders at the Historical Society, giving me access to information that normally would have been locked up at the courthouse on a weekend.

It's easy to get so involved in your research that you forget to eat, but around noon we decided that we'd better not overstay our welcome with Tom. We thanked him for letting us research on Saturday, and headed to lunch for a sandwich.

After lunch, we called my aunt Juanita and uncle Harold, and found out they were home.  We were able to visit with them for a good couple of hours, sharing the information we had just discovered.  Dad gave Juanita a booklet he had put together on the Lemasters family, including records on our ancestors' Civil War service.  Harold and Juanita shared some memories about the members of the families in the obits I had discovered.  My cousin Mark and his wife and daughter showed up right as we were leaving, and it was good to see them again.  Dad told them about this blog, so hopefully they will check it out and see some of the information we've discovered.

Then it was back to the library for a couple more hours of research.  Dad was digging into the plat maps and the city directories while I was burning up the microfilm reader printing obituaries.  As in the morning, was able to make great headway.  Just around 4 p.m., however, the microfilm reader decided it was time to surrender.  The reel just refused to advance forward or backwards. That was my cue that it was time to call it a day.  After notifying the staff of the problems, we decided to pack it in and call it a day.

We called my uncle Paul and aunt Betty, found out they were home, and stopped by for a visit on the way out of town.  We again shared the research and gave them a copy of the family history dad had put together.  Uncle Paul remembered some stories and shared a few tidbits about the family members whose obituaries I had obtained.  Cousin Nancy stopped by and we found out she is getting married in June; also saw cousin Phil briefly.

It was a long day, but a good day from a research standpoint.  Now I just have to source the data, and will post copies of the obituaries on the blog.

Finds from the visit to the Jay County Public Library:

• Information regarding the 1949 polio epidemic in Portland, something I want to document as it affected my family
• Obituary of Patty Lou LeMaster, age 12, from the November 1, 1945 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Maxine Elizabeth LeMaster, age 10, from the April 4, 1931 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• LeMaster, Sr., age 77, from the January 14, 1980 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Clarence Harrison LeMaster, age 75, from the November 29, 1963 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Elvin Cooper LeMaster, age 87, from the May 17, 2000 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Garth Luman LeMaster, Sr., age 76, from the February 6, 1998 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Bertha A. (LeMasters) Hercules, age 69, from the January 2, 1962 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of John Leland LeMaster, Jr., age 50, from the March 28, 1973 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of William A. LeMaster, age 54, from the October 16, 1978 edition of The Commerical-Review.
• Obituary of Roger A. LeMaster, age 45, from the March 6, 1972 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Bertha (LeMasters) Yaeger, age 47, from the March 17, 1922 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Beulah S. (LeMasters) Rockwell, from the July 18, 1940 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Catherine Elizabeth (Lemasters) Wehrly, from the December 26, 1911 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ralph V. LeMaster, age 73, from the February 1, 1996 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Floyd LeMasters, Sr., from the February 12, 1982 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Mary Elsie (LeMasters) Atkinson, age 70, from the June 5, 1942 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ord Otterbein LeMasters, from the September 15, 1937 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham, from the March 12, 1913 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Maude (LeMasters) Phillips, from the September 16, 1968 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Matthias Jefferson Atkinson, age 59, from the August 25, 1923 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ferry Mae (Bickel) LeMaster, age 86, from the July 21, 1978 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ora Lee (Brady) LeMaster, age 87, from the April 16, 2008 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Clara L. (Burkey) LeMaster, age 90, from the October 31, 1985 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Dr. William Anderson Chew, from the January 7, 1914 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Carrie V. (Haley) Thornburg, age 98, from the August 6, 2003 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Larry LeMaster, age 24, from the February 28, 1974 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Wedding announcement of Ora Lee Brady and Garth L. LeMaster from the May 11, 1942 edition of The Commercial-Review.

Finds from the visit to the Jay County Historical Society:

• Photograph of my grandmother, Ruth Pauline Haley, int he Mt. Zion School of Noble Township, 1931-32.
• Funeral record of Frank Haley, August 1, 1937 from the Baird Funeral Home.
• Marriage supplemental record of Pearl M. Metzner to Edward H. Baumgartner from June 2, 1915.
• Marriage supplemental record of Archibald E. Chew from October 27, 1909.
• Marriage supplemental record of Mamie Petry from October 12, 1907.
• 45th Anniversary announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Lisle Wehrly, from April 1, 1969.
• 50th Anniversary announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Haley, from March 3, 1966.
• LeMaster entries in the 1927 Jay County Directory
• LeMaster entries in the 1941 Portland, Indiana City Directory
• LeMaster entries in the 1949 Portland, Indiana City Directory

I'm looking forward to planning out my next research trip.  

Family Milestones: July 16th

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Nellie Myrtle BEALS, married on this date in 1910 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Albert Edward STOBER.  Nellie was the daughter of Nathan Thomas and Elizabeth Caroline (POE) BEALS, and the younger sister of my Pearl May BEALS.  Albert was the son of Wilson and Susan R. (________) STOBER.  Nellie was born August 30, 1880 in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraksa.  Albert was born January 25, 1865 in Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana.  They had 1 daughter.  Nellie died December 3, 1933.  She is buried in the Cicero Cemetery, Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Rachel LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Rachel was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Rachel married March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana to William E. CUNNINGHAM, son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.  William was born February 1835 in Indiana.  They had 6 children.  William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Family Milestones: March 18th

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Rachel LEMASTERS, was married on this date in 1860 in Jay County, Indiana to William E. CUNNINGHAM.  Rachel was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS Sr. and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio.  William was born February 1835 in Indiana, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.  William was a farmer and shoemaker in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  They had 6 children.  William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.  Both are buried at the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Tombstone Tuesday: William E. and Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham

 

William E. and Rachel (LEMASTERS) CUNNINGHAM, my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt & uncle, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

William was born February 1835 in Indiana, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.

Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio, the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.

William and Rachel were married on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana.

William's occupation was shoemaker and farmer.  They lived out their lives in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.

Known children of William and Rachel (LEMASTERS) CUNNINGHAM:

• Nancy M. CUNNINGHAM (1861-1938); married David F. RANTS
• Catherine E. CUNNINGHAM (1862-1863)
• Phillip L. CUNNINGHAM (1865-     ); married Eana BRAKE
• John William CUNNINGHAM (1868-     ); married Leona DRAKE
• Orinda CUNNINGHAM (1869-    ); married Elmer I. PAULING
• Martha J. CUNNINGHAM (1873-    );married Elsworth BEARD

Tombstone Tuesday: Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters

My paternal 3rd-great grandparents, Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman was born March 11, 1808 in Mason County, Virginia (now West Virginia), the son of Jacob and Hannah (________) LEMASTERS.

Nancy was born August 26, 1904 in Pickaway County, Ohio, the daughter of Philip and Nancy Ann (McLANE) YOUNG.

Luman and Nancy were married on January 19, 1832 in Shelby County, Ohio. They lived in Shelby County, Ohio until around 1854 when they purchased land in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana and settled there. Luman was a farmer and a Methodist Episcopal minister.

Luman died on April 15, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana and Nancy followed him on August 26, 1904 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman and Nancy were the parents of the following children, all but John were born in Shelby County, Ohio:

• Hannah Lemasters (1832-1838)
• Nancy Ann Lemasters (1834-1838)
• Philip Lemasters (1836-1915) married Elizabeth C. HOOVER; 1 child
• Rachel Lemasters (1838-1913) married William E. CUNNINGHAM; 6 children
• Catherine E. Lemasters (1840-1911) married John P. WEHRLY; 8 children
• Luman Walker Lemasters (1842-1931) married Mary K. CHEW; 11 children
• Jacob Lemasters (1845-1922) married Sarah A. HALFHILL; 10 children
• Phebe Jane Lemasters (1847-aft1873) married William R. WILSON
• Mary Lemasters (1849-1929) married John PETRY; 2 children
• Martha Julesa Lemasters (1852-1936) married William W. LOOFBOURROW; 5 children
• John Stevens Lemasters (1855-aft1920) married Sarah I. WILSON; 7 children

William Cunningham family - 1910 Jay Co., IN

Today I sourced the 1910 census record in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana for William E. CUNNINGHAM, my paternal 2nd-great granduncle. William was married to Rachel LEMASTERS, the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.

William was listed as a 75 year old farmer, born in Indiana, with father born in Virginia and mother born in Pennsylvania. He and Rachel had been married for 50 years. Rachel was listed as aged 71 years, born in Ohio, with both parents born in Ohio. She was listed as the mother of 6 children, 5 of whom were still living in 1910.

William's occupation was that of a farmer, which corresponds with other census records. In 1860, his occupation was listed as a shoemaker.

William was born February 1835 in Indiana, and married Rachel on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana. Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio, and died March 13, 1913 in Jay County, Indiana. Their children were :
i. Nancy M. Cunningham b. July 5, 1861 m. David Rants
ii. Catherine E. Cunningham b. 1861-1865
iii. Phillip L. Cunningham b. February 3, 1865 m. Eana Brake
iv. John W.M. Cunningham b. April 26, 1868 m. Leona A. Drake
v. Orinda Cunningham b. May 5, 1869 m. Elmer I. Pauling
vi. Martha J. Cunningham b. May 5, 1873 m. Elsworth Beard

Luman Walker Lemasters Sr. (b. March 11, 1808)

Today's featured relative in my database is my paternal 3rd-great grandfather, Luman Walker Lemasters.

Luman was born March 11, 1808 in Mason Co., VA (now WV), the son of Jacob and Hannah (________) Lemasters. Luman married January 19, 1832 in Shelby Co., OH to Nancy Young, daughter of Phillip and Nancy Ann (McLane) Young. Nancy was born June 2, 1812 in Pickaway Co., OH, and died August 26, 1904 in Salamonia, Jay Co., IN. Luman died April 15, 1888 in Jay Co., IN. Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery.

Luman was a farmer and Methodist Episcopal minister. His residence in the 1840 & 1850 census was in Shelby Co., OH, and the family moved to Jay Co., IN. around 1854.

Children of Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters are as follows :
i. Hannah Lemasters b. November 22, 1832 Shelby Co., OH., d. November 21, 1838 Shelby Co., OH.
ii. Nancy Ann Lemasters b. July 29, 1834 Shelby Co., OH., d. November 21, 1838 Shelby Co., OH.
iii. Phillip Lemasters b. June 10, 1836 Shelby Co., OH, d. after 1910 m. Elizabeth C. Hoover
iv. Rachel Lemasters b. July 16, 1838 Shelby Co., OH, d. March 13, 1913, m. William Cunningham
v. Catherine E. Lemasters b. June 26, 1840 Shelby Co., OH., d. 1911 Jay Co., IN, m. John P. Wehrly
vi. Luman Walker Lemasters b. October 19, 1842 Shelby Co., OH., d. November 18, 1931 Jay Co., IN., m. Mary Keziah Chew
vii. Jacob Lemasters b. April 16, 1845 Shelby Co., OH., d. Valley Co., NE., m. Sarah Ann Halfhill.
viii. Phebe Jane Lemasters b. April 16, 1847 Shelby Co., OH, m. William R. Wilson
ix. Mary Lemasters b. February 26, 1849 Shelby Co., OH., d. December 28, 1929 Jay Co., IN.
x. Martha Julesa Lemasters b. June 27, 1852 Shelby Co., OH., d. 1936 Valley Co., NE., m. William Wade Loofbourrow
xi. John Stevens Lemasters b. April 22, 1855 Jay Co., IN., d. after 1920, m. Sarah I. Wilson

I descend from Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters through their son, Luman, as follows:
Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young
Luman Walker LeMasters and Mary Keziah Chew
Luman Cooper LeMasters and Barbara Isabelle Wehrly (my great-grandparents)