Working Through the 1880 Census

Moved on to the next phase of my census projects to update my database to the 1880 census.  Completed the 1940 census awhile back and have jumped back in time 60 years to the 1880 census.

I've set my search feature in my RootsMagic database to locate individuals that should be found in the 1880 census.  My criteria is to look for individuals born before 1860 and died after 1880.

As I go through the database and find people who match these criteria, I'm looking for those who do not have an entry for the 1880 census and those who have a spouse.  I'm selecting only those who were married by the time of the 1880 census, hoping I can find household information.

Understanding that these criteria will exclude individuals who do not have a death date, I plan to go back after I get through the alphabet and de-select the death date criteria.

So far, I've managed to get into the "C" in my database, finding and adding many new records and individuals.  My database has grown from just my family and in-laws to include DNA matches as well as one-name study members.  

I'm not concerned that some of these people added might not be blood relatives, as I will be using them as "cousin bait" when I update my family tree on the public sites, such as Ancestry.  Having a more robust family tree (or family bush) with all of the interconnected families will also be helpful in identifying where DNA matches tie into the family.

Why 1880?  Because the 1880 census is the first one that identifies every individual in relationship to the head of household.  Unlike the 1850-1870 census, you don't have to assume that people are married or that all the children are from the same set of parents.  Of course, I've come across a few interesting clues along the way and some mysteries that will need further research.

Of great interest are the clues generated when the enumerator captured the birthplace of the father and mother. These are merely clues, however, and are only as good as the person who gave the information.  I've seen many listed as "unknown" or just left blank.

I'm trying to stick to the schedule I previously set for myself, but i find that adding the census records are addictive.  Currently, I'm using the hints from RootsMagic into the FamilySearch database to add the records.

Marriage Record : Marie Chew to Glenn Overholt, 1934, Huntington County, Indiana

"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXNX-TMX : accessed 4 September 2015), Edes Plafair Chew in entry for Glenn Overholt and Marie Chew, 1934.

While working through my RootsMagic database for people with missing information, I located the marriage record of Marie Chew, daughter of Edis Playfair and Bertha (Caupp) Chew, who was my paternal first cousin 3 times removed.  Marie married Glenn Overholt in Huntington County, Indiana.

According to their license, they applied for a marriage license and were married on the same day, Valentine's Day, February 14, 1934 in Huntington County, Indiana.  Glenn's parents were Milward and Mary (Rupley) Overholt, who both lived in Huntington County.  Glenn had been born June 21, 1914 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Marie's mother, Bertha, was still living in Huntington County, Indiana, but her father was deceased.  Marie was born September 12, 1913 in Darke County, Ohio.

Prior to finding this record, I did not know that Bertha's maiden name was Caupp, or that she and Edis had any children.  There may yet be more children to discover.  

If you have any additional information or are related to this family in any way, I would love to hear from you.

Administration Docket, Henry Wherley, 1846, Tuscarawas County, Ohio

"Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-31213-26339-60?cc=1992421&wc=S2CN-ZNR:266417001,266437201 : accessed 22 August 2015), Tuscarawas > Administration dockets 1817-1857 vol 1-3 > image 390 of 486; county courthouses, Ohio

Searching at FamilySearch through Ohio Probate records, I located the Administration Docket for my paternal 4th-great grandfather, Henry Wherely, who died in 1846 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

The record lists the estate case number as 848A and the administrator as Samuel Shawver.  I'm not sure at this point what the relationship is between Shawver and the Wherley families.

April 1846 - Letters issued. Bond $500.00 - Henry Wherley & Phillip Datts, security - George Bugher, Daniel Brideman, John Yingling, appraisers.

May 6, 1846 - Bond filed & letters issued

June 26, 1846 - Appraisement & sale bill filed and recorded.

March 24, 1848 - Final account filed.

Aug. term 1848 - Account passed & recorded.

The record gives some book and page references to where these records are filed.  I will be continuing to search the court records at FamilySearch to see if I can locate the additional information about Henry's estate.

Henry was 70 years old when he died on January 15, 1846 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

Marriage Record: Robert F. Gilliland to Mary Davis, Owen County, Indiana, 1884

"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XXFV-S4Q : accessed 15 August 2015), Robert Gilliland and Mary Davis, 15 Nov 1884; citing Owen, Indiana, United States, county clerk offices, Indiana; FHL microfilm .

Located the marriage record of my maternal 3rd-great grandmother, Mary Ellen (Swafford) Davis to her second husband, Robert F. Gilliland in Owen County, Indiana while searching at FamilySearch.  Prior to this find, I had thought they were married in neighboring Monroe County.

Mary was the daughter of Peter Kirkpatrick and Mary Ann (Crockett) Swafford.  Robert was the son of William John and Margaret Ann (Wilson) Gilliland.  Both had been previously married.  Robert was previously married to Sarah Kellar in 1879 in Monroe County, Indiana.  Mary was previously married to James Austin Davis in 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana.  Both of these earlier marriages ended in divorce, though I've not yet discovered the records.

I'm not aware of any children that Robert had with Sarah Kellar, but Mary and James Austin Davis had two daughters, Ida (b. 1874) and Delia (b.1877).  Together, Robert and Mary had two children, William Everett Gillilland (b. 1885) and Mary Florence Gilliland (b. 1887).

Later, Robert and Mary helped raise the orphaned daughters of Ida, Pansy and June (my great-grandmother).

Research Notes : May 25, 2015

Research has been limited lately due to work commitments and working on the getting our house ready for market.  On this Memorial Day weekend, I spent more time outside on yard work and painting than doing much in the way of genealogical research.

• Explored how RootsMagic and FamilySearch work together by matching up those in my database with individuals already in FamilySearch.  Concentrating on those ancestors within four generations, have been adding to the information at FamilySearch from my RootsMagic database.  It will be interesting to see if by doing this, it generates more contacts and "cousin bait".

• Over the weekend, I updated how my Dropbox files, primarily family photographs and census images, are named.  My plan is to make sure that I have everything named in a sensible format, and then to make sure that I have taken the time to add these images to my RootsMagic database as well as to the tree I have at Ancestry.

• While cleaning out my garage and burning some old files (from 2006!), I came across some genealogical correspondence that I had misplaced regarding the Groenendyke and the Lambertson families.  Will be sorting through this hopefully in the next few weeks and adding the information to my database.

Somedays I find I spend more time organizing or cleaning up my database than I do in actually researching.

Linked my Rootsmagic to FamilySearch

I finally decided to take advantage of one of the features of my Rootsmagic 7 software and link my genealogy database with FamilySearch.  I'd read the helpful posts Randy Seaver had written about using the software with FamilySearch's Family Tree and am eager to see what online collaboration brings to my database.

The first step was to log into FamilySearch with my free account and then have RootsMagic do an auto-match to find matches between my database and the online database.  My database is quite large, as it contains not only my ancestors, but Eileen's and Corinne's as well as unconnected Lemaster family members.  Of the over 31,000 names in the file, RootsMagic matched 20,694 with FamilySearch.

Now that I've synched the two databases, FamilySearch has gone behind the scenes and notified me that it has new information on over 3000 of my people.  These would be hints to documents in their databases.  My next step is to start going through these hints and seeing what information they find, as well as sharing information from my database to the online tree at FamilySearch.

I already have a small tree online at Ancestry, but am looking forward to using the free tree at FamilySearch, as many of my contacts don't have an Ancestry subscription.

Upgraded to RM7

Christmas came a few days early for me this year, as I downloaded version 7 of the RootsMagic genealogy software.  After watching the YouTube video on What's New in RootsMagic 7, I couldn't wait to try it out and take it for a spin.  I haven't even been using all of the features in RM 6, but am eager to dig into this version right away.

Notice the screen shot above of my database in RM7 and the yellow lightbulbs.  Those are the web hints from both FamilySearch (free site) and MyHeritage (commercial site).  The software API work behind the scenes to check out these databases and show that you have possible matches in the record to the people in your database.  

I'm really impressed with the way technology can be utilized to do the searching in the background for these hints.  Playing around on Saturday morning, I jumped from family to family, seeing what types of hints the software would show me.  I haven't added them to my database yet, but RM7 will allow you to add the sources and images right into your database!  Easy as pie!

I am not a subscriber to MyHeritage, but if I find that the hints are worth it, I may be adding that to my arsenal.  With a free site like FamilySearch having so many records  (and growing all the time), having the software do the hard part of searching will make adding information to my database a snap.

The data clean feature of the software will aid in cleaning up the names and places in my tree by eliminating problems such as invalid characters, same names as spouse, etc.

After watching the video, I'm also looking forward to using the web publishing, a feature from earlier versions I didn't use.  This version looks easy to use, and will allow me to upload and update a family tree easily that can be searched by others. This will be particularly helpful for my DNA matches, many of whom do not have an Ancestry.com subscription.

Leander Lewis (1855-1929), Huntington County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Leander Lewis (1855-1929) was the son of Solomon Lewis and Margaret Rinehart.  He married Emley M. Adams on November 18, 1877 in Huntington County, Indiana.  Searching this database allowed me to find a copy of their marriage license.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXJ9-Q97 : accessed 27 Jun 2013), Leander Lewis and Emley M Adams, 1877.

Leander Lewis was Eileen's maternal second great granduncle.  He spent his life in Jefferson Township, Huntington County, Indiana as a farmer.  They had at least one son, Ernest.

Jonathan Adams (1849-1883), St. Joseph County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Jonathan Adams (1849-1883) was the first husband of Mary Jane Riddle (1845-1921), who later married my ancestor, Ezekiel Cooper Chew.  This marriage record at FamilySearch shows her listed as "Jennie Riddle".  Their marriage took place on January 7, 1873 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZC2-W4K : accessed 30 Jun 2013), Jonathan Adams and Jennie Riddle, 1873.

Jonathan died November 30, 1883 in Granville Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Mary Jane 'Jennie' Riddle married Ezekiel Cooper Chew sometime between then and 1888, when their son Wiley Riddle Chew was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Alonzo "Lon" John Wehrly (1880-1960), Jay County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Alonzo "Lon" John Wehrly (1880-1960) was the son of John P. Wehrly and Catherine E. Lemasters.  He married Bertha B. Lyons on March 15, 1902 in Jay County, Indiana.  Prior to searching this database, I did not have her maiden name and the exact date of the wedding.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6RG-WDN : accessed 27 Jun 2013), Lon J Wehrly and Bertha B Lyons, 1902.

Lon was my paternal double first cousin three times removed.  Our common ancestors were Johannes Wehrly and Barbara Petry and Luman Walker Lemasters and Nancy Young.  Lon was the Jay County Sheriff in 1930 census.  

Perry Reynolds (b. ca. 1838), Owen County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Perry Reynolds (b. ca 1838) was the son of Jesse Reynolds and Mary Putman.  The surname is sometimes found as Runnels.  He married Isabella Miller on December 3, 1863 in Owen County, Indiana. Prior to searching this database, I did not have her maiden name.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXFJ-MXQ : accessed 27 Jun 2013), Perry Reynolds and Isabella Miller, 1863.

Perry was my maternal fourth great granduncle.  Our common ancestors are Jesse Reynolds and Mary Putman.  In the 1870 census, the family was living in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, Indiana.  Have not researched the family further.

Kenneth P. Metzner (b. 1901), Jay County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Kenneth P. Metzner (b. 1901) was the son of Wesley F. Metzner and Mary Nora Axe.  I found his marriage to Goldie B. James on March 22, 1924 Jay County, Indiana.  Prior to searching this database, I did not have her maiden name and the exact date of their wedding.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6RB-JW4 : accessed 27 Jun 2013), Kenneth P Metzner and Goldia B James, 1924.

Kenneth was my paternal first cousin twice removed.  Our common ancestors were John Adam Metzner and Clara Moulton.  I haven't researched the family beyond the 1930 census, when they were living in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Millard F. Lyst (1856-1886), Randolph County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Millard F. Lyst (1856-1886) was the son of John Lyst and Sarah Wilson Lambertson.  I found the record of his marriage to Hettie Oliver on December 24, 1878 in Randolph County, Indiana.  Prior to searching this database, I didn't have the exact date of the marriage nor Hettie's maiden name.  They later had a son named Oliver.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5G1-Y7H : accessed 27 Jun 2013), Millard F Lyst and Hettie Oliver, 1878.

Millard was my maternal first cousin four times removed.  Our common ancestors were John Lambertson and Sarah A. Willson.  Millard was living in Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana in the 1880 census.  He died April 4, 1886 and is buried in the Elwood City Cemetery, Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.

Jacob Eiler (1829-1903), Henry County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Jacob Eiler (1829-1903) was the son of Samuel Eiler and Susannah Snider.  His marriage to Phebe Crull occurred April 5, 1850 in Henry County, Indiana. Prior to searching this database, I didn't have the maiden name of his wife, nor the exact date of their marriage.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXFT-PXS : accessed 25 Jun 2013), Jacob Eiler and Phebe Crull, 1850.

Jacob was Eileen's maternal first cousin five times removed.  The common ancestor is through John Snider and Elizabeth ________.  The couple was living in 1850 census in Jeffferson Township, Wayne County, Indiana.  Haven't yet done any further research on this couple, but believe they ended up in Arcadia, Hamilton County, Indiana.

Leo Lyford Chew (1900-1964), Jay County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Leo Lyford Chew (1900-1964) was the son of William Anderson Chew and Emma Susan Straight.  Prior to searching this database, I only had him as Lyford L. Chew in my database.  This marriage record to Hazel May Harmon on June 12, 1929 in Jay County, Indiana gave me her maiden name, as well as her parents, Thomas Harmon and Rebecca Huston.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6RT-D6X : accessed 24 Jun 2013), Leo Lyford Chew and Hazel May Harmon, 1929.

Lyford would be my paternal first cousin three times removed.  Our common ancestors are Ezekiel Cooper Chew and Caroline Bishop Woolston.  Have yet to research him yet past the 1930 census.  Other than his burial in the Salamonia Cemetery, I haven't added any other facts.

Thomas Chew (b. ca. 1816), Hamilton County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Thomas Chew (b. ca. 1816 Ohio) was the son of Joseph Chew and Emile Chew.  He married Hannah Waller on November 5, 1848 in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Prior to searching this database, I didn't have Hannah's maiden name.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXPG-QCM : accessed 24 Jun 2013), Thomas Chew and Hannah Waller, 1848.

Thomas must have been married previously, as he has a son, William (aged 17) living with him in the 1860 census in Adams Township, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Thomas and Hannah had at least three more children. Have yet to add any further information on the family to my database.

Thomas was my maternal first cousin six times removed.  Our common ancestors are Andrew Chew and Anna Marie Barthus.

Thomas J. Bigley (1851-1925), Marshall County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Thomas J. Bigley (1851-1925) was the son of Edward Bigley and Amelia Fisher.  I found this record of his marriage to Sarah J. Benedict on October 13, 1875 in Marshall County, Indiana.  Prior to searching this database, I did not have her maiden name.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXGJ-65B : accessed 23 Jun 2013), Thomas J Bigley and Sarah J Benedict, 1875.

Thomas and Sarah were the parents of at least three children.  Have only cursory census information on the family in Maxinkuckee, Marshall County, Indiana.

Thomas was Eileen's maternal first cousin four times removed.  Her common ancestors were Daniel Fisher and Susannah Reeves.

Homer Herschel Beals,(b. 1874) Hamilton County, Indiana

Working today on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Homer Herschel Beals (b. 1874) was the son of Thomas Elwood Beals and Eliza Matilda Hodgin.  I found the record of his first marriage to Mable Clare Lindley in Hamilton County, Indiana while searching the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at FamilySearch.org.  Prior to searching this database, I didn't have Mabel's maiden name.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXPJ-51N : accessed 23 Jun 2013), Homer Herchel Beals and Mabel Clare Lindley, 1905.

Also located Homer's second marriage, at age 80, on August 16, 1954 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Mary Ruth Atkins, age 47, daughter of Fred Atkins and Kate Fryberger.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXPL-CZX : accessed 23 Jun 2013), Homer H Beals and Mary Ruth Atkins, 1954.

Not sure on the correct spelling of Homer's middle name, I have from the Beals genealogy as 'Herschel', but these databases have it as 'Herchel'.  Will need to obtain a copy of the original records from Hamilton County and examine.

Homer would be my maternal third cousin four times removed.  Our common ancestors are John and Mary (Carter) Beals.  Have yet to obtain his death information or add any census information to my database.

Correcting Birth Date Mary Elsie LeMaster (1873 Darke County, Ohio)

While preparing an analysis for my paternal great-grandaunt, Mary Elsie (LeMaster) Atkinson, I was searching for documentation of her birth in FamilySearch's birth record database for Ohio.  My database had her birth date as April 25, 1872 in Rose Hill, Darke County, Ohio, so I knew she should be listed.

Unable to find her in the index, I decided I would browse the individual county records for Darke County and see what they had.  Fortunately, they did have a birth volume that would cover the time period when she was born.

The volume had an index, and I was able to locate her.  Her name was mispelled as Mary E. Leamaster.  

Thinking that was why she wasn't indexed, I went back the main search screen at FamilySearch and tried to find her.  No such luck.

Going back to the index, and then paging through the volume, I did find her birth record, and a surprise.  The date I had was totally wrong.  Her birth was listed as February 15, 1873 instead of April 25, 1872, which was what her obituary had stated.  What a discrepancy.  Another good reason to seek multiple sources for a fact and dig until you get the original record.

Source : "Ohio, Births and Christenings, 1821-2003." Index and Images.  FamilySearch. (https://familysearch.org) accessed 18 April 2013, Darke County, Ohio Birth Registers with index 1863-1878 vol. 1.

Marriage Record: Lloyd G. Moser to Gladys LeMaster

Source: "Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939." "FamilySearch" (https://www.familysearch.org). Division of Vital Statistics, Department of Health. Colorado State Archives, Denver, Colorado. FHL microfilm, 106 reels.  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

While searching the Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at FamilySearch, I located the marriage record of Gladys LeMaster to Lloyd G. Moser, which took place in Montrose, Colorado on May 20, 1917.  Previously, I had only known the year of the marriage.

Gladys was the daughter of William Clifford and Lella Edith (LEWIS) LeMASTER.