Clara E. (Cook) Lambertson (1848-1943) was my maternal 3rd-great grandmother. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
Clara was born November 16, 1848 in Preble County, Ohio1, 2. The State of Ohio did not require birth certificates at this time.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
If Clara's birth was mentioned in a newspaper, I've not yet located it. Will need to check with state and local archives to see if they have any newspapers of the time period.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I'm not aware of any surviving Cook family Bible that mentions Clara's birth. Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
I'm not aware of any baptismal record for Clara. She was a member of the Quaker church and the Dunkard church later in life.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Clara was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
Clara's marriage record to Cary W. Lambertson has not been located. My database has the date as October 1, 1869 in Butler County, Ohio, without a source listed. However, a search of Ohio marriage records in Butler and other nearby counties has not turned up any evidence. Will continue to seek out a marriage record.
1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper
Once I can confirm their actual wedding date, I will be able to search to see if mention was made in any local newspapers for their marriage.
1.2.2. Anniversary Notice
Clara and Cary's 25th wedding anniversary would have been October 1, 1894. Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebration. Will add this to my "to-do" list.
1.2.3. Divorce Decree
There is no indication of divorce, will need to search court records in Hamilton and Madison Counties, Indiana to make sure there aren't any records I might have missed. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
1.3. Death Certificate
Clara died January 23, 1943 in Atlanta, Hamilton County, Indiana2,3. Her death certificate listed the cause of death as arteriosclerlosis.
1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper
Clara's obituary appeared in the January 25, 1943 edition of the Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger3, as well as the January 23, 1943 edition of the Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader4.
1.3.2. Funeral Home Records
According to her obituary4, the Schaffer funeral home in Atlanta, Indiana handled the arrangements. Will need to contact the local historical society to see if any records of the funeral home still exist. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.
1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph
Clara's tombstone in the Elwood City Cemetery has been photographed5 The link to her memorial at FindAGrave is here.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On April 8, 1940, Clara was enumerated in the W.H. Hayse household in Mt. Vernon Township, Jefferson County, Illinois6, as Clara Lambertson, mother-in-law, age 92, widow, born in Ohio. She had completed the 6th grade in education and her residence in 1935 was the same place.
2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census
On April 18, 1930, Clara was enumerated in the Harley Fisher household in Ward 2, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois7, as Clara Lambertson, grandmother, age 81, widow, born in Ohio. Her father and mother were both born in Virginia. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census
On February 6, 1920, Clara was enumerated in the Frank F. Fisher household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana8, as Clara Lambertson, mother in law, age 72, widow, born in Ohio. Her father and mother were born in the United States. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census
On April 25, 1910, Clara was enumerated in the Carey Lambertson household in Ward 2, Elwood, Madison County, Indiana9, as Clara Lambertson, wife, age 63, born in Ohio. She had been married 41 years, and was the mother of 5 children, all living. Her mother and father were both born in Virginia. She could read and write and spoke English.
2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census
On June 16, 1900, Clara was enumerated in the Carey Lambertson household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana10, as Clara Lambertson, wife, age 52, born October 1847 in Ohio. She had been married for 28 years and was the mother of 5 children, all living. Her mother and father were both born in Virginia. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.6. 1880 Federal Census
On June 1, 1880, Clara was enumerated in the Carry Lambertson household in German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio11, as Clary E. Lambertson, wife, age 32, born in Ohio. Her occupation was listed as house keeping. Both her father and mother were born in Virginia.
2.1.7. 1870 Federal Census
On July 29, 1870, Clara was enumerated in the Cary Lambertson household in Madison Township, Butler County, Ohio12, as Clara Lambertson, age 22, keeping house, born in Ohio.
2.1.8. 1860 Federal Census
On July 24, 1860, Clara was enumerated in the James Cook household in Lanier Township, Preble County, Ohio13, as Clarasy Cook, age 11, born in Ohio. She had attended school within the year.
2.1.9. 1850 Federal Census
On July 27, 1850, Clara was enumerated in the James Cook household in Washington Township, Preble County, Ohio14, as Clarissa Cook, age 2, born in Ohio.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted state 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 census records to see what light they might shed on the Cook or Lambertson families.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Clara was female.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service by her husband or father that would have made Clara a beneficiary of a pension.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as Clara was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Hamilton and Madison Counties, Indiana to see what records might mention Clara. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Plat maps of Hamilton and Madison Counties, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information can be gleaned that might be relevant to my search.
5. Supplemental Records
Supplemental records available for research on Clara include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add these to my "to-do" lists for my next research trip.
Sources:
1. Ancestry.com, U.S. Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data :Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.
2. Hamilton County, Indiana Death Records, Book H-7, page 59.
3. Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger, Obituary of Clara Lambertson, January 25, 1943.
4. Mrs. Clara Lambertson obituary, Elwood Call-Leader, Elwood, Indiana, USA, January 23, 1943, page 1.
5. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 July 2015), Clara E. Lambertson tombstone.
6. 1940 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Illinois, population schedule, Mt. Vernon Township, enumeration district 41-28, SD 23, sheet 4A, dwelling 71, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. 1930 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Illinois, population schedule, Ward 2, Mt. Vernon, enumeration district 41-18, SD 26, sheet 12A, dwelling 297, family 344, 822 North Fourth Street; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
8. Frank F. Fisher household, 1920 U.S. Census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson Township, ED 99, SD 9, sheet 8, dwelling 174, family 174; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 435.
9. Carey Lambertson household, 1910 U.S. Census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Pipecreek Township, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 13, dwelling 314, family 328; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 365.
10. 1900 U.S. census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson Township, enumeration district 84, SD 9, sheet 2B, dwelling 345, family 371; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
11. Carry Lambertson household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, ED 165, SD 2, page 14B, dwelling 119, family 138; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 1052.
12. Cary Lambertson household, 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Ohio, population schedule, Madison Township, Jacksonborough P.O., page 22, dwelling 173, family 168; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1177.
13. 1860 U.S. census, Preble County, Ohio, population schedule, Lanier Township, Eaton P.O., page 156 (stamped), dwelling 998, family 962; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
14. 1850 U.S. census, Preble County, Ohio, population schedule, Washington Township, page 262 (stamped), dwelling 434, family 442; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); 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.
