Mrs. Hercules Routs Robber With Retort

Searching for more information about my grandaunt and uncles roofing company in Richmond, Indiana, located the following snippet (1950) :

Mrs. Hercules Routs Robber With Retort

Richmond, Ind. Dec. 7 - (AP) Mrs. Bertha Hercules told police she thought a man was joking when he walked into her husband's roofing company office, pointed a gun at her and said: "Sister, I need some money and I need it bad."

She had a snappy comebakc:

"Brother, if you can find any money here just go ahead and take it."

She said the man didn't pursue the subject of money any further but walked out.

That snappy comeback might give a little insight into her character.  My dad said that his dad sold roofing for them.  Will have to see what other stories I can find.

Bertha (LeMaster) Hercules was the wife of Russell, and the daughter of Luman and Barbara (Wehrly) LeMaster.

Since this story was picked up by the Associated Press, Newspapers.com has mention of it all across the country.

Found this add in another newspaper, the address 625 Sheridan Richmond Indiana matches where Bertha's residence was listed on her death certificate.  Today, this location is a bar known as the Sheridan Pub.

Shaky Leaves : Bertha Alberta (LeMaster) Hercules (1892-1962)

Bertha Alberta (LeMaster) Hercules (1892-1962) was my paternal grandaunt, the daughter of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster.  Ancestry.com is currently showing 7 hints from historical records for her in my LeMaster and Allied Families member tree.

I have ignored the Ancestry Member Tree hints for now and will concentrate on the records.

There are a lot of records to update in my RootsMagic database, including census records.

In the 1940 census of Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, Bertha was living with her husband, Russell, son Murvel and daughter-in-law Margaret.  They owned their home and had lived at the same residence in 1935.  Russel was a woodworker in a lumber yard and Murvel was a life insurance salesman.

1940 US Census, Wayne County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 5, Richmond, enumeration district (ED) 89-32, SD 10, sheet 9B, 625 Sheridan St., family 190, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

I already had the 1930 census sourced in my database for the family, they were living in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana in the Bertha's father's household.  Likewise, I already had the 1900 census record where Bertha was a 7 year old living in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

In the 1921 city directory of Richmond, Indiana lists the family as :

Hercules, Russel J (Bertha A), woodwkr Louck & Hill Co, h 79 State

"U.S. City Directories", database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 Augst 2015), 240; citing "Richmond, Indiana City Directory (Indianapolis, Indiana: R.L. Polk & Company, 1921–1922)."

 Because of this find, I now know the company that Russel was working for, Louck & Hill.  A brief search online found some photographs of the company site.

There was a hint to Bertha's FindAGrave memorial page, which I currently maintain.

Another database was Indiana Births, 1880-1920, which takes information from the WPA birth indices.

Name:	Lemaster
Father:	L C
Mother:	B J Wherley
County:	Jay
Gender:	Female
Birth Date:	26 Jun 1892
Reference:	Jay County, Indiana Index to Birth Records 1882 - 1920 Inclusive Volume I Letters A - Z Inclusive
Book:	H-5
Page:	78

This gives me the exact book and page for Bertha's birth certificate, which I currently do not have a copy.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

The most interesting find was the database Wayne County, Indiana, Quaker Funeral Home Records, 1939-1974, which contained a copy of Bertha's death certificate.

ame:	Bertha Alberta Hercules [Bertha Alberta Lemaster]
Gender:	Female
Birth Date:	26 Jun 1892
Birth Place:	Indiana
Death Date:	30 Dec 1961
Death Place:	Spring Grove, Wayne, Indiana
Age at Death:	69
Father:	Luman C Lemaster
Mother:	Barbara J Wehrley
Spouse:	Russell J Hercules

This is the funeral home's copy of her death certificate, showing that Bertha died in Spring Grove, Wayne County, Indiana at Reid Memorial Hospital on December 30, 1961.  She lived at 625 Sheridan Street, same address as found in the 1940 census.  Her occupation was listed as the co-owner of Builders Supplies.  She died of acute pulmonary edema.  She was 69 years old and died at 10:25 p.m.  Her burial date was January 3, 1962 at Salamonia Cemetery, Salamonia, Indiana.

If you are related or have any additional information or corrections, I'd love to hear from you.

Marriage License & Return: Russell J. Hercules & Bertha A. LeMaster, 1911

Source : Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage License, "Russel J. Herchules to Bertha A. LeMaster, 1911"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

MARRIAGE LICENSE

State of Indiana, Jay County, ss:

To any Person Empowered by Law to Solemnize Marriages, Greeting:

You are hereby authorized to join together as Husband and wife

Mr. Russel J. Hercules

and

Miss Bertha A. LeMaster

according to the laws of the State of Indiana

In Testimony Whereof, I, Frank Gillespie, Clerk of the Jay Circuit Court, hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at my office in Portland, this 10" day of June A.D. 1911

Frank J. Gillespie Clerk

Jay Circuit Court

STATE OF INDIANA, JAY COUNTY, SS:

This Certifies, That I joined in Marriage as Husband and Wife Russell James Hercules and Bertha Alberta LeMaster on the tenth day of June 1911.

J.W. Kerr Minister

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage Return; "Russell J. Hercules to Bertha A. LeMaster, 1911"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

RETURN OF A MARRIAGE TO COUNTY CLERK

1. Full Name of Groom Russell James Hercules

2. Place of Residence Richmond Ind.

3. Occupation Employee in Piano Works

4. Age Next Birthday 22 years. Color White Race Cauc.

5. Place of Birth Darke Co Ohio Nationality American

6. Father's Name James Butler Hercules

7. Mother's Maiden Name Martha Jane Mullenix

8. Number of Groom's Marriage 1

9. Full Name of Bride Bertha Alberta LeMaster

10. Place of Residence Jay Co. Occupation [blank]

11.  Age next Birthday 19 years. Color White Race Cauc.

12. Place of Birth Jay Co. Nationality American

13. Father's Name Luman Cooper Lemaster

14. Mother's Maiden Name Barbara Isabelle Wehrly

15. Number of Bride's Marriage 1

16. Married at Salamonia in the County of Jay  and State of Indiana, the 10th day of June 1911.

17. Witnesses to Marriage L. C. LeMaster

Marriage solemnized by J.W. Kerr

Pastor, M.E. Church

Dated at Salamonia Ind., this 10th day of June 1911

This record of the marriage of Russell James Hercules and Bertha Alberta LeMaster was located at the Jay County Historical Society in Portland, Indiana.

Bertha was my paternal grand aunt, the daughter of Luman Cooper LeMaster and Barbara Isabel Wehrly.  I could not make out the full place of Russell's employer at first, but checking out his WWI Draft record, I knew he was a wood worker with the Starr Piano Company. I knew that he was from Richmond, and they lived there after their marriage.  Now with this record, I also have his parent's names.

On This Day : December 30

1725 - Samuel JEWETT born in Bradford, Massachusetts.  Samuel was the son of Samuel JEWETT and Ruth HARDY.  Samuel was my 6x-great grandfather.

1730 - Jonathan COLLINS died in Hardwick, Sussex County, New Jersey.  Jonathan was my 8x-great grandfather.

1740 - Charles WRIGHT born in Fife, Scotland.  Charles was the son of Robert WRIGHT and Elizabeth HENDERSON.

1772 - Cyllania WOOLSTON died in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Cyllania was the daughter of John WOOLSTON and Sarah POWELL.  Cyllania was my 7x-great grandmother.

1791 - Robert Beverly CHEW died in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Robert was the son of Robert CHEW and Mary PERROTT.

1809 - Mary HAWORTH married Thomas DOAN.  Mary was the daughter of Absalom HAWORTH and Mary WEST.

1809 - Lavinia Moore McPHEETERS born.  Lavinia was the daughter of William McPHEETERS and Lavinia MOORE.

1810 - David RINEHART born in Boutetourt County, Virginia.  David was the son of Peter RINEHART and Margaret MINGA.

1825 - Samuel SCHLOTHAUER died.  Samuel was the son of Johann Michael SCHLOTHAUER and Elizabeth PETRY.

1884 - Princess Rosetta BOYER married Marin YOUNGBLOOD.  Princess was the daughter of Isaac B. BOYER and Elizabeth J. CHEVALIER.

1890 - Cora E. GROENENDYKE born.  Cora was the daughter of Thomas GROENENDYKE and Emily SMITH.

1900 - Samuel YOUNG married Lulu VINSON.  Samuel was the son of Leroy YOUNG and Mary Jane KING.

1903 - Ida Laura WEHRLY married Edward SCHOLER.  Ida was the daughter of William P. WEHRLY and Olive Jane SMITH.

1909 - Sarah Alice SWAFFORD married John JONES in Ray County, Missouri.  Sarah was the daughter of Samuel Richard SWAFFORD and Susan Isabell McGAUGH.

1944 - Bertha Ewing BRITTON died in Hunterdon, New Jersey.  Bertha was the daughter of Josiah Cole BRITTON and Elenor Creveling EWING.

1949 - Judy Darlene CUMMINGS died in Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri.  Judy was the daughter of Luther St. Patrick CUMMINGS and Frances Bernice PURDUE.

1961 - Bertha Alberta HERCULES died in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana.  Bertha was the daughter of Luman Cooper LeMASTERS and Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.

1962 - Cloyd J. PIERCE died.  Cloyd was the son of William Francis PIERCE and Vida MADDOX.

1963 - James Sheman SWAFFORD died in Sedalia, Missouri.  James was the son of Clyde Andrew SWAFFORD and Mary Maxine BENTLY.

1981 - Daniel Wayne LEWIS died in Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana.  Daniel was the son of Lawrence Solomon LEWIS and Ruth Alice SILLS.

On This Day : July 15

1672 - Anne Margueritte VIELLARD born in Otterberg, Bayern.  Anne was the daughter of Pierre VIELLARD and Catherine BOYE.  Anne was my 8x-great grandmother.


1855 - Benjamin Franklin BOTTS married Melissa CHILDERS in Monroe County, Indiana.  Benjamin was the son of Benjamin BOTTS and Frances PUTMAN.


1865 - Eliza Annette MAXON died.  Eliza was the daughter of Alexander Young MAXON and Margaret ROSE.


1868 - Willard S. MAXSON born in Iowa.  Willard was the son of Thaddeus Warsaw MAXSON and Lydia H. YATES.


1872 - William Eli COFFELT born in Cole County, Missouri.  William was the son of Daniel COFFELT and Rebecca A. SWAFFORD.


1878 - Maud LAMBERTSON born in Madison Township, Butler County, Ohio.  Maud was the daughter of Carey W. LAMBERTSON and Clara E. COOK.


1890 - Joseph Glass McPHEETERS died in Monroe County, Indiana.  Joseph was the son of Joseph Glass McPHEETERS and Clara M. DUNN.


1883 - Matilda Gregg MAXON married Solomon Elija CHALFANT.  Matilda was the daughter of Alexander Young MAXON and Margaret ROSE.


1894 - Evert Raymond COX born in Rayville, Missouri.  Evert was the son of Henry Luther COX and Martha Angie LEE.


1894 - Anna Margaret MAXON born in Greene County, Pennsylvania.  Anna was the daughter of Thomas Alexander MAXON and Lenora Belle BROWN.


1897 - Ben F. BRADLEY born.  Ben was the son of Isaac M. BRADLEY and Manerva Lavonia SWAFFORD.


1908 - John William LEE married Addie Mae RIMMER.  John was the son of William Burrell LEE and Margaret Jane SWAFFORD.


1912 - Merrill Russell HERCULES born in Burketsville, Ohio.  Merrill was the son of Russell J. HERCULES and Bertha Alberta LeMASTER.

Sunday's Obituary : Bertha A. Hercules (1892-1962)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, January 2, 1962, page 1.

SALAMONIA NATIVE DIES


Mrs. Bertha A. Hercules, 69, died Saturday night at her home in Richmond, apparently as the result of a heart attack.


Mrs. Hercules was the daughter of Luman and Barbara LeMaster, Salamonia.  In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by three sisters and seven brothers including five who live in the area.  They are Ord W. LeMaster, Portland; Clarence H., Gerald W., and John L. LeMaster, all of Salamonia; and Floyd LeMaster, Union City.


Immediate survivors are the husband, Russell J. Hercules, who with his wife owned and operated Hercules Builders Supplies, Richmond; also a daughter, Mrs. William Spears, Eaton, and a son, Murvel, Williamsburg.


Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jones and [?]lacke Funeral Home, Richmond.  Burial will be in Salamonia.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. today.


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.  

Amanuensis Monday: Sketch of Luman W. LeMasters

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today I'm looking at the biographical sketch of my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMASTERS, which appeared in the book "History of Jay County, Indiana: including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History", by Milton T. Jay, 1922, Historical Publishing Company, page 195.





Luman W. LeMasters, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the best known farmers and landowners of Jay county, proprietor of "Lookout Hill Farm" in Madison township, where he makes his home, this farm being on rural mail route No. 6 out of Portland, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of this county practically all the time since he was twelve years of age, a period of about seventy years, and thus has been witness to and a participant in the amazing development that has taken place in this community since what might properly be regarded as pioneer days, for there was still much of the primeval wild here when he first came to this county.  Mr. LeMasters was born on a farm in Shelby county, Ohio, October 19, 1842, and is a son of Luman W. and Nancy (Young) LeMasters, Virginians, who became residents of Ohio in their childhood days and were there married. The elder Luman W. LeMasters was born in that section of the Old Dominion that came to be organized as West Virginia in Civil War times.  He was reared as a farmer and also became a "local" preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church.  After his marriage he made his home on an eighty-acre farm which he owned in Shelby county, Ohio, and there remained until 1854, in which year he moved with his family over into Indiana and located on a quarter section of land he bought in Madison township, this county, the west "eighty" of which is now owned by his son Luman, the subject of the sketch.  On that place the elder Luman W. LeMasters and his wife spent the remainder of their days, their influence for good in that community continuing a pleasant memory in the neighborhood.  He died on April 15, 1888, and his widow survived until August 26, 1904.  They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Phebe J., Mary P., and Martha J., and two brothers, Jacob and John LeMasters.  As noted above, the junior Luman W. LeMasters was twelve years of age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1854.  He grew to manhood on the home farm in Madison township, completing his schooling in the neighborhood schools and by two years of attendance at the old Farmers Academy at College Corner, and was living on the farm when the Civil war broke out.  On July 21, 1861, he enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company C of the 39th regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which presently was reorganized as the 8th Cavalry, and with that gallant command was serving when on July 3, 1863, while on a charge against the enemy at Deckers Forge, two and one-half miles south of Winchester, Tenn., he was shot through the left breast, receiving a wound which terminated his further usefulness as a soldier, putting him on the invalid list.  In March, 1864, Mr. LeMasters received his discharge and in the following fall was married and began farming for himself as a renter of land in this county.  Three years later he moved over into Darke county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county and took charge of the home farm in Madison township.  In 1904 he bought the west "eighty" of that quarter section and is still living there, practically retired since 1907, renting his fields.  Mr. LeMasters is a Republican,  is a member of Henry McLaughlin Post, No. 516, Grand Army of the Republic, at Salamonia, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of that village.  It was on October 2, 1864, that Luman W. LeMasters was united in marriage to Mary K. Chew, who has thus been his helpmate for more than fifty-seven years.  Mrs. LeMasters was born in Camden county, New Jersey, February 13, 1847, and is a daughter of Dr. Ezekiel and Caroline B. (Woolston) Chew, both of whom were born in that same state.  In 1855 Dr. Ezekiel Chew moved with his family from New Jersey to Farmersville, Ohio.  Two years later he moved to Ft. Jefferson, in Darke county (Ohio) and after a sometime residence there came to Indiana.  He made several changes of residence after coming to this state, but finally located in St. Joseph county, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there in August, 1888.  His wife died on February 27, 1879.  They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, Mrs. LeMasters having one sister, Sarah F., and five brothers, Nathaniel D., Cooper, Charles, Virgil and Donald Chew.  To Luman W. and Mary K. (Chew) LeMasters have been born ten children, Beulah S., Luman C., William C., Elsie, Bertha, Ord O., Edith, Maude, Arthur and Vernon, all of whom are still living.  Beulah S. LeMasters married L.L. Rockwell, who is engaged in the garage business at Ft. Recovery, Ohio, and has four children, Claude, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Loy and has two children, Catherine M. and Duetta; Opal, who married Daniel Grile, who is operating a garage at Geneva, Ind., and has two children, Lester and John Lynn; Edith, wife of Cecil Bickel, a Madison township farmer, who has one child, and Anna.  Luman C. LeMasters, a farmer of Madison township, married Belle Wehrley and has twelve children, Clarence, a Madison township farmer, who married May Bickel and has three children, Kenneth, Mary I. and Luman; Chesley, now living at Richmond, Ind., who married Clara Burkey and has two children, Donald and Doris; Bertha, who married Russell Hercules, of Richmond, Ind., and has two children, Mervil and Isabella; Floyd, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Gagle and has one child, Remonda; Gerald, who is the garage business in Pennville and married Mabel Kantner and has one child, Maxine; Stanley, who is at home; Dorothy, wife of Charles Hunt, of Richmond, Ind.; John, a teacher in the schools of the county, making his home in Madison township, and who married Dorothy Delauter and has one child, Geraldine, and Freda, Ord, Mary O., and Elvin C., who are at home.  William C. LeMasters, who is now living at Victor, Col., where he is the proprietor of a moving picture theater, married Lella Lewis and has four children, Gladys, who married Lloyd G. Moser, of Mt. Rosa, Col., and has two children, Carrie and Bobby; Lella, who married Earl Slinkard and is living in California, and Ralph and William, at home.  Elsie LeMasters married M.J. Adkinson, a farmer of Madison township.  Bertha LeMasters married John Yaeger, who is now principal of schools at Brazil, Ind., and has six children, Clarence, Mary, Helen, John V., George W., and Luther L.  Dr. Ord O. LeMasters, now a practicing physician at Sidney, Ohio, married Emma Garmenhouser.  He and his wife have an adopted daughter, Isabella.  Edith LeMasters married Henry Mineholtz, who is now engaged in the mercantile business at Alamosa, Col., and has four children, Wilhelmina, Lucile, Helen E. and Marjorie M.  Maude LeMasters married Dr. S.W. Phillips, a veterinary surgeon, now living at David City, Neb., and has two children, Donald and Louise.  Arthur LeMasters married Maude McLaughlin and is now engaged in the garage business at Geneva, Ind.  Dr. Vernon LeMasters, a veteran of the World war and a practicing physician, now living at Sidney, Ohio, married Helen Garmenhouser and has one child, a son, Robert.  Doctor LeMasters was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States army during the war and served for eighteen months overseas.  Mr. and Mrs. LeMasters were among the most active promoters of the movement which led to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in 1876 and thus for more than forty-five years have been prominently identified with that congregation.  Mr. LeMasters served as a member of the board of trustees of this congregation until 1920 and for more than forty years was class leader, while for many years Mrs. LeMasters was one of the leading teachers in the Sunday school.




John Newmark at TransylvanianDutch started this Monday genealogy meme, which has quickly spread throughout the Geneablogger community. I am excited to be a participant and transcribe the records of my family.

Family Milestones: June 26th

My maternal 3rd-great granduncle, Nelson J. LAMBERTSON, married on this date in 1858 in Reilly Township, Butler County, Ohio to Eliza Jane JOHNSON.  Nelson was the son of John and Sarah A. (WILLSON) LAMBERTSON, and the older brother of my Carey W. LAMBERTSON.  Eliza's parentage is unknown.  Nelson was born April 4, 1838 in Stillwell Corner, Butler County, New Jersey.  Eliza was born December 1837 in Ohio.  They had 5 children and lived in Darke and Butler County, Ohio.  Eliza died July 6, 1899.  Nelson died October 3, 1929 at the National Military Home, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.

My paternal grandaunt, Bertha Alberta LeMASTER, was born on this date in 1892 in Jay County, Indiana.  Bertha was the daughter of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS, and the older sister of my Ord Wehrly LeMASTER. Bertha married June 10, 1911 in Jay County, Indiana to Russell J. HERCULES, son of James Bolton and Martha J. (MULLENUX) HERCULES.  Russell was born January 28, 1890 in Burkettsville, Ohio.  They raised 4 children in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana.  Russell died April 30, 1966 in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana.  Bertha died December 31, 1961 in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana.

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Catherine E. LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1840 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Catherine was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Catherine married February 3, 1861 in Jay County, Indiana to John P. WEHRLY, son of Johannes and Barbara (PETRY) WEHRLY.  John was born 1838 in Preble County, Ohio.  They raised 8 children in Jay County, Indiana.  John died 1910 in Jay County, Indiana.  Catherine died 1911 in Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Obituary: Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933)

Source: The Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 13, 1933, page 1

WELL KNOWN FARMER DIES

Cooper LeMaster Expires Saturday Night at Home Near Salamonia

In failing health for four years and seriously ill the past four months, Cooper LeMaster, 65, died Saturday night at 8 o'clock at his farm home, one mile southeast of Salamonia.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock from the Salamonia Methodist church in charge of Rev. Ewart Talley, pastor.  Burial in the Salamonia cemetery.  The body was returned to the home yesterday afternoon from the Williamson Shadow Lawn funeral home where it had been taken for burial preparation.

Mr. LeMaster was born May 27, 1867, in Madison township, the son of Walker and Mary K. (Chew) LeMaster, both deceased.  He was married November 13, 1866, to Barbara Isabelle Wehrly, who died February 7, 1930.  For years he was a rural mail carrier out of the Salamonia postoffice.

Twelve children survive, they being Clarence, Chesley, Gerald and Ord of Salamonia; Bertha, wife of Russell Hercules, of Richmond; Floyd of Portland; Stanley and Freda, wife of Orville LaFollette of Akron, Ohio; Dorothy, wife of Charles Hunt of Richmond; John of Oakville, Ind.; Mary Ollie and Elvin Cooper at home.

The following brothers and sisters survive: Arthur of Portland, Mrs. Elsie Atkinson of Sidney, Ohio, Maude, wife of Senator Phillips of David City, Neb.; Edith, wife of Henry Meinholtz of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Beulah, wife of Lin Rockwell of Ft. Recovery; Dr. Ord O. and Dr. Vern LeMaster of Sidney, Ohio.  There are 29 grandchildren.  One sister and two brothers are deceased.


Comment: Luman was my paternal great-grandfather.  The surname is spelled interchangeably as LeMasters or LeMaster in the records.

Obituary: Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters (1869-1930)

Source: The Commercial Review, Portland, Indiana, February 7, 1930, page 1.

MRS. LEMASTER DIES THURSDAY FROM OPERATION

FUNERAL WILL BE HELD MONDAY MORNING FROM SALAMONIA METHODIST CHURCH

Mrs. Barbara I. Lemaster, wife of L.C. Lemaster, of east of Salamonia, died at 4:25 o'clock Thursday evening at the hospital in Union City. She underwent an operation for gall stones on January 29, and it was thought that she was recovering until she suffered a sudden relapse.

The deceased was a daughter of William P. and Olive (Smith) Wehrly, and was born in Jay county, March 14, 1869, being aged at the time of her death, 60 years, 10 months and 23 days.

She was united in marriage to L.C. Lemaster, November 13, 1886, who survives with the following children: Clarence H. Lemaster, south of Brice; Chester W. Lemaster, west of Salamonia; Floyd Lemaster, of near New Pittsburg; Bertha, wife of Russell Hercules of Akron, Ohio; Gerald Lemaster of Ft. Wayne; Dorothy, wife of Charles Hunt, of Cincinnati; Stanley Lemaster; Freda, wife of Orville Lafollette, and Miss Mary Lemaster, all of Akron, Ohio; John Lemaster of Cowan, Indiana and Ord and Elvin Lemaster at home. One son preceded her in death.

She is also survived by the following sisters and brothers: Kate, wife of Arthur Andrews of Hamilton, Ohio; Mrs. Delbert Jackson, William Wehrly and Blaine Wehrly of this city; Harry Wehrly, Ida, wife of Ed Scholer, and Martin Wehrly, all of New Castle; Alva Wehrly of near Salamonia, and Ethel, wife of William Shreeve of Fort Wayne.

The body was brought to the Williamson Shadow Lawn funeral home in this city and prepared for interment, after which it was taken to the home near Salamonia this afternoon.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday morning at 10:00 o'clock from the Methodist church at Salamonia. Interment will be made in the Salamonia cemetery.

Comment: Barbara was my paternal great-grandmother, wife of Luman Cooper LeMasters. The surname is alternatively spelled LEMASTER or LEMASTERS in the records.

Tombstone Tuesday: Luman Cooper & Barbara Isabelle (Wehrly) LeMasters

My paternal great-grandparents, Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (Chew) Lemasters.

Barbara was born March 14, 1869 in Jay County, Indiana, the daughter of William P. and Olive Jane (Smith) Wehrly.

Luman and Barbara were married on November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana. They moved shortly after their marriage to Ord, Valley County, Nebraska, but returned to Jay County, Indiana after the death of their first child. They lived out their remaining years on their farm in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman and Barbara were the parents of thirteen children, all but the first child were born in Jay County, Indiana.

• [unknown name] LeMasters (1887-1887) died in infancy in Valley County, Nebraska
• Clarence Harrison LeMasters (1888-1963) married Ferry May Bickel, had 5 children
• Chesleigh Franklin LeMasters (1890-1960) married Clara Louise Burkey, had 6 children
• Bertha Alberta LeMasters (1892-1961) married Russell J. Hercules, had 4 children
• Floyd LeMasters (1894-1982) married Shirely Opal Gagle, had 2 children
• Gerald Walker LeMasters (1896-1987) married Mabel Agnes Kantner, had 3 children; married Pearl Lovina Smith, had 2 children
• Stanley Duey LeMaster (1898-1982) married Anna Beard, had 4 children
• Dorothy Dot LeMaster (1900-1984) married Charles Glendon Hunt, had 3 children; married Glen Lock
• John Leland LeMaster (1902-1980) married Dortha LeEtta DeLauter, had 6 children
• Freda Claire LeMaster (1904-1979) married James Orville LaFollette; had 2 children
• Ord Wehrly LeMaster (1906-1971) married Ruth Pauline Haley, had 6 children. These are my grandparents.
• Mary Olive LeMaster (1909-) married Virgil Thornton Taylor, had 1 child.
• Elvin Cooper LeMaster (1912-2000) married Cleo Belle Hanks, had 4 children.

Russel J. Hercules Family - 1920 Wayne Co., IN

Today I sourced the census data for the 1920 census of Wayne Co., IN and the Russel J. Hercules family. Russel - I have it with two 'l's' - was married to Bertha Alberta LeMaster on June 10, 1911 in Jay Co., IN; she was my paternal great aunt.

Besides Russell's spelling of his name, there was also the interesting fact that his wife, Bertha Alberta, was listed a Martha in the census. Now it could just be that an error was made, as they did also have a daughter named Martha. This wouldn't have been the first time a census taker made an error. Perhaps she went by Martha, I just don't know. Russell was listed as a woodworker in a furniture factory; along with son Murrel and daughter Martha I. Hercules.

Russell J. HERCULES b. January 28, 1890 Burkettsville, OH, d. April 30, 1966 Richmond, IN., m. June 10, 1911 in Jay Co., IN to Bertha Alberta LeMASTER, daughter of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabelle (WEHRLY) LeMASTER. Bertha b. June 26, 1892 Jay Co., IN; d. December 13, 1961 Richmond, IN.

Known children of Russell J. and Bertha Alberta (LeMASTER) HERCULES:
i. Merrill Russell Hercules m. Eileen Debus
ii. Martha Isabelle Hercules m. William M. Spears
iii. Gerald Cooper Hercules
iv. Dorothy Olive Hercules