Tombstone Tuesday : Faney Languell, Owen County, Indiana

 Over the weekend, as I attended a Patriot Grave Marking for a Revolutionary War patriot at the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana, I located the tombstone of my maternal 4th-great grandmother.

Fanny Reynolds was born circa 1830 in Indiana, the daughter of Jesse Reynolds and Mary "Polly" Putman.  Some records spell the surname as Runnels.  Fanny married my 4th-great grandfather, Austin Davis on 9 February 1850 in Monroe County, Indiana.  They were the parents of two children.  After Austin died, Fanny married Joseph Languell, whose surname is sometimes spelled Langwell in records.  They were the parents of six children.  While the tombstone has her name as "Faney", census and other records have it as Fanny.

Joseph's marker was on the opposite side of Fanny's.  Interesting to note that both of them died in 1883.  Fanny in June and Joseph in June.  Perhaps there was some illness that brought them down.

There marker was located in Section N of the cemetery.  

Perry Langwell (1853-1916) at Indiana Central Hospital for the Insane

While searching through the Indiana Death Certificates database at Ancestry, I found this one for Perry Langwell (1853-1916), who was my maternal 3rd-great granduncle, the son of Joseph & Fanny (Reynolds) Langwell.

I was particularly interested in the fact that his place of death was the Indiana Central Hospital for the Insane, and a contributing factor in his death was listed as manic depression.

Perry Langwell death certificate, Marion County, Indiana, April 28, 1916

The reason I found his stay at the hospital interesting is that my ancestor, James Austin Davis (1850-1909) also suffered from mental illness, having spent time in the Owen County Asylum and the Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane at Logansport, where he died.  

James and Perry were half-brothers, both were sons of Fanny (Reynolds) Davis Langwell (c1830-1883) of Owen County, Indiana.  

There were no family stories of any mental illness passed down in the family, whether by design or the fact that these facts were not known until I uncovered them.  James Austin Davis' mental illness may have set off the chain of events that led to his daughter Ida's life choices, as chronicled at my Ida Davis Mystery page.

Regarding Perry's stay at the hospital, the Indiana State Archive had some information on their website:

I wrote off to the archives to see what the cost would be to obtain the information they had for Perry.  

Mr. LeMaster:  thank you for your inquiry.  Perry Langwell did not leave a very big paper trail.  We do not have his commitment papers.   His medical case file was not preserved.  We do, however, have his entry in the Hospital’s admission book.  It does contain both personal/family history and his diagnosis.  Also cause of death.

For a small fee, they will be able to provide me with copies of the records they have for Perry.  I will be writing off this week to obtain them and see what personal information and diagnosis is contained in the admission book. 

Exploratory Data Analysis : James Austin Davis (c1850-1909)

James Austin Davis (c1850-1909) was my maternal 3rd-great grandfather.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          James was born circa 1850 in Indiana, according to census records^1,2, although it was also reported as 1851³ or 1852⁴.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If James' birth was recorded in a newspaper, I've not located it yet.  Will need to check with local libraries and state archives to see if they have any newspapers from the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I'm not aware of any surviving Davis family Bible that might record his birth.  Will continue to reach out to  family members in the hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I do not know of the church affiliation of the Davis family.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that James was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          James married Mary Ellen Swafford on July 3, 1873 in Monroe County, Indiana⁵.  Mary Ellen was born August 30, 1854 in Monroe County, Indiana. They had two children and apparently were divorced before 1880.  Mary Ellen died January 28, 1932 in Monroe County, Indiana.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of James and Mary's wedding.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               James and Mary's marriage lasted less than 10 years.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               Need to search court records in either Monroe County, Indiana or Owen County, Indiana for divorce record of James and Mary.  By the 1880 census, Austin was no longer living with the family, and Mary was remarried in November of 1884.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          James died June 12, 1909 in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana.  I thought I had a copy of his death certificate, but apparently have not sourced it in my database.  Will need to add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper records to see if mention was made of James' death.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Somewhere in my files I have the records of the funeral home who handled James' body after his death.  I thought I had sourced that data in my files, but apparently I have not. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               There is no tombstone for James. His body was sent to the Indianapolis Anatomical Board. A memorial page has been set up at the FindAGrave website and can be seen here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 2, 1900, James was enumerated in Cass County, Indiana at the Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane³, as James A. Davis, inmate, born 1851 in Indiana.

          2.1.2. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 3, 1880, James was enumerated in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana², as Austin Davis, age 30, inmate, insane, born Indiana.  He could not read or write and had no occupation.  He was a resident at the Owen County Assylum.

          2.1.3. 1870 Federal Census

               On August 22, 1870, James was enumerated in the Lewis Walden household Stinesville, Monroe County, Indiana⁴, as Austin Davis, age 18, born in Indiana.  His occupation was listed as hired labor.
          2.1.4. 1860 Federal Census

               On June 18, 1860, James was enumerated in the Joseph Langwell household in Washington Township, Monroe County, Indiana¹, as James A. Davis, age 10, born in Indiana.

     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 examined these types of census records to see what light they might shed on the Davis family.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          No draft records have been located for James.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by James or his father that would make him eligible to receive military pension benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          No service records have been located for James.  He was too young for the Civil War, and by the Spanish-American War was in an asylum.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Owen and Monroe Counties, Indiana to see what records might mention James.  Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat maps of Owen and Monroe Counties, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information might be relevant to my search for James.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on James include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

Sources :

1. Joseph Langwell household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Township, Monroe County, Indiana, page 14, dwelling 46, family 46; National Archives micropublication M653, roll 282, page 687.
2. Owen County Assylum, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana, ED 259, SD 4, dwelling 28, family 28; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 303.
3. Northern Indiana Hospital for the Insane, 1900 U.S. census, Cass County, Indiana, population schedule, Clinton Township, ED 131, SD 11, sheet 3; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 362.
4. Lewis Walden household, 1870 U.S. census, Monroe County, Indiana, population schedule, Bean Blossom Township, page 1, dweling 1, family 1; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 344.
5. Monroe County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book 5, page 442.


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.

Perry S. Langwell (b. ca 1854), 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 S. Langwell (b. ca. 1854) was the son of Joseph Langwell and Fanny Reynolds.  His marriage record to Hannah J. Carter on September 16, 1876 in Owen County, Indiana was found in the database.  Prior to this, I didn't have her maiden name.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXFJ-2ZB : accessed 25 Jun 2013), Perry Langwell and Hannah J Caster, 1876.

Perry was my maternal 3rd-great granduncle.  His mother, Fanny, was my 4-great grandmother.  Have not researched his life much beyond this record, in the 1880 census he was living in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana and working as a railroad worker.

Surname Saturday : Reynolds

The REYNOLDS family is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are unknown at this time.  The surname is sometimes found as RUNNELS.

Stories and history:

Ahnetafel # 125 : Fanny Reynolds (c1830-1883).  Fanny was born circa 1830 in Indiana.  She married February 9, 1850 in Monroe County, Indiana to Austin Davis (c1824-bet1850/51).  Austin was born circa 1824 in Indiana.  They were the parents of two children.  Austin died between November 1850 and August 1851 in Monroe County, Indiana.  Fanny married seconldy to Joseph Langwell (c1830-1883).  Joseph was born circa 1830 in Kentucky.  They were the parents of six children.  Joseph died June 16, 1883 in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana.  Fanny died February 2, 1883 in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 250: Jesse Reynolds (c1809-1891).  Jesse was born circa 1809 in Tennessee.  He married August 18, 1830 in Monroe County, Indiana to Mary "Polly" Putman (c1809-1884).  Mary was born circa 1809 in Kentucky.  They raised 7 children in Monroe County, Indiana.  Mary died February 2, 1884 in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, Indiana.  Jesse died August 1891 in Monroe County, Indiana.

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

On This Day : February 11

1541 - John CLARKE born in Westhorpe, Suffolk, England.  John was the son of John CLARKE and Margaret ________.  John was my 11x great-grandfather.


1637 - Elizabeth CLAYTON born in Boxgrove Parish, Susex, England.  Elizabeth was the daughter of William CLAYTON and Joan SMITH.


1677 - Elizabeth ROBEY died.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas PHILBRICK and Elizabeth ________.


1720 - Remember BABCOCK born.  Remember was the daughter of Robert BABCOCK and Lydia CRANDALL.


1745 - James WRIGHT died in Scotland.  James was the son of Alexander WRIGHT and Mary FERGUS.


1742 - Sarah CHAMNESS born in Frederick County, Maryland.  Sarah was the daughter of Anthony CHAMNESS and Sarah COLE.


1758 - Sarah MAXSON born in Hopkington, Rhode Island.  Sarah was the daughter of John MAXSON and Sarah BURDICK.


1779 - Charity MILLS married Samuel HOGGATT.  Charity was the daughter of Henry MILLS and Hannah THORNBURG.


1758 - Milety BURDICK born.  Milety was the daughter of Nathan BURDICK and Goodeth MAXSON.


1758 - Esther STILLMAN married George STILLMAN.  Esther was the daughter of Joseph STILLMAN and Mary MAXSON.


1790 - Prudence MAXSON married Benjamin STILLMAN.  Prudence was the daughter of Torey MAXSON and Martha LANPHERE.


1790 - Mary ROBINS born.  Mary was the daughter of Obadiah ROBINS and Susannah HODGKINS.


1838 - Mehala NAUSLER married Bill ALLISON in Hendricks County, Indiana.  Mehala was the daughter of Bostin NOSLER and Sarah KIRK.


1839 - Margaret JACOBS born in Congress Township, Wayne County, Ohio.  Margaret was the daughter of David JACOBS and Barbara BYERS.


1840 - Jemima UNTHANK died in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Jemima was the daughter of Thomas HUNT and Ann BEALS.


1849 - Nancy J. PENISTEN born.  Nancy was the daughter of George PENISTEN and Amanda Melvina CAWGILL.


1852 - Mahlon WILLSON died in Sussex County, New Jersey.  Mahlon was the son of Samuel WILLSON and Deborah COLLINS.  Mahlon was my 6x great-grandfather.


1857 - Jethro Randolph DAVIS born.  Jethro was the son of Cornelius S. DAVIS and Elizabeth Johnson SUTTON.


1858 - William Dorson JACOBS born in Perry Township, Ashland County, Ohio.  William was the son of William JACOBS and Catherine EICHELBERGER.


1869 - Mary BYERS married William HAGEN in Wayne County, Ohio.  Mary was the daughter of Abraham BYERS and Mary STICKEL.


1869 - James A. SLOAN married Laura Elizabeth SANDERSON.  James was the son of Henderson SLOAN and Rebecca A. SWAFFORD.


1885 - Minnie Belle LANGWELL married John M. DAVIS in Owen County, Indiana.  Minnie was the daughter of Joseph LANGWELL and Fanny REYNOLDS.


1888 - Cleta SWAFFORD born.  Cleta was the daughter of James J. SWAFFORD and Elizabeth Ann Gant HANKINS.


1900 - Ethel Mabel BEALS died in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Ethel was the daughter of Nathan Thomas BEALS and Elizabeth Caroline POE.

On This Day : February 2

1638: Rowland CLARKE died in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.  Rowland was the son of John CLARKE and Katherine COOKE.


1691: Isaac HAINES born.  Isaac was the son of John HAINES and Esther BORTON.


1712: Rebecca HURLBUT died in Woodbury, Connecticut.  Rebecca was my 9x great-grandmother.


1718: Mary MAXSON died in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Mary was the daughter of Nicholas MOSHER.  Mary was my 8x great-grandmother.


1724: George MENDENHALL died.  George was the daughter of Thomas MENDENHALL and Joane STROADE.


1740: Martha NEWLIN married Isaac HARVEY.  Martha was the daughter of Nathaniel NEWLIN and Jane WOODWARD.


1748: Sarah BEALS married Alexander UNDERWOOD.  Sarah was the daughter of Thomas BOWATER and Sarah Edge.  Sarah was my 8x great-grandmother.


1749: Abraham BEALS born.  Abraham was the son of Jacob BEALS and Elizabeth GRIEST.


1786: Thomas DAVIS died.  Thomas was the son of William DAVIS and Elizabeth PAVIOR.


1797: Sarah BEALS married John CARTER in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Sarah was the daughter of John BEALS and Susannah JOHNSON.


1797: Lucy POTTER married Rogers CRANDALL.  Lucy was the daughter of George POTTER and Content MAXSON.


1800: Rachel HIATT married William KERSEY.  Rachel was the daughter of William HIATT and Charity WILLIAMS.


1809: Rachel PIERCE born.  Rachel was the daughter of Robert PIERCE and Charity THORNBURGH.


1811: Joseph Glass McPHEETERS born in Fayette County, Kentucky.  Joseph was the son of Charles McPHEETERS and Martha GLASS.


1815: Daniel DUFFEY born in Virginia.  Daniel was the son of John M. DUFFEY and Catherine WALDECK.  Daniel was Eileen's 3x great-grandfather.


1818: Dorcas HOGGATT died.  Dorcas was the daughter of Richard WILLIAMS and Prudence BEALS.


1820: Rebecca HIATT married William UNTHANK.  Rebecca was the daughter of William HIATT and Charity WILLIAMS.


1824: Esther STILLMAN died.  Esther was the daughter of Joseph STILLMAN and Mary MAXSON.


1836: William Berry TAYLOR born.  William was the son of Jonathan TAYLOR and Ann BERRY.


1840: Jane Maria ANDERSON born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania.  Jane was the daughter of William Earl ANDERSON and Frances AUSTIN.


1852: Elizabeth COOK born.  Elizabeth was the daughter of George COOK and Matilda JACOBS.


1862: William F. HALEY born in Claridon, Marion County, Ohio.  William was the son of William W. HALEY and Jane Elizabeth OWEN.


1868: Sarah Jane HINSHAW died in Hamilton County, Indiana.  Sarah was the daughter of John BARKER and Anne COX.


1873: Edith Mabel HUBER born.  Edith was the daughter of Walter F. HUBER and Emeline YOUNG.


1883: Fanny LANGWELL died in Spencer, Owen County, Indiana.  Fanny was the daughter of Jesse REYNOLDS and Mary PUTMAN.  Fanny was my 4x great-grandmother.


1884: Mary REYNOLDS died in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe County, Indiana.  Mary was the daughter of James PUTMAN and Elizabeth KENDRICK.  Mary was my 5x great-grandmother.


1894: Floyd LeMASTERS born in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Floyd was the son of Luman Cooper LeMASTERS and Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.


1904: Jesse Walter SWAFFORD married Ollie Mae BIRD in Reno County, Kansas.  Jesse was the daughter of Aaron W. SWAFFORD and Elizabeth SHIRLEY.


1905: Charles YOUNG died.  Charles was the son of Noah YOUNG and Orlintha BROWN.


1907: Lester L. JACKLEY born in Madison County, Indiana.  Lester was the son of Mark O. JACKLEY and Cora Della KING.


1961: Margaret Elizabeth WARNER died.  Margaret was the daughter of William Perry ALDERMAN and Elizabeth Ann LEE.

Joseph Langwell Family : Monroe & Owen Cos., IN

The Joseph LANGWELL family appears in the 1860 census of Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN. Joseph was the second husband to my maternal 4th-great grandmother, Fanny REYNOLDS. Joseph and Fanny had six children together after their marriage circa 1851. Fanny was the widow of Austin DAVIS, who died between November 1850 and August 1851 in Monroe Co., IN. Joseph was the son of Solomon and Eleanor (________) LANGWELL.

In the 1860 census, Joseph was listed as a 30 year old laborer, born in Kentucky, with a personal estate valued at $120. Fanny was listed as a 28 year old female born in Indiana. Their two children, Perry and America, were listed as well as Fanny's son from her first marriage, James A. Davis, aged 10. James A. Davis was my 3rd-great grandfather.

In the 1870 census, Joseph was listed as aged 43, a farmer, born in Indiana. The family was living in Bean Blossom Twp. of Monroe Co. at this time. His surname was spelled LANGUELL in this census. Wife Fannie was listed as age 39, born in Indiana. The family had grown to include Perry, aged 16; America, aged 14; David, aged 9; Minne Belle, aged 5; and John W. , aged 1 year.

In the 1880 census, Joseph and family were living in Spencer, Owen Co., IN. He was listed as being 50 years old, born in Kentucky, and his occupation was listed as teamster. Wife Fanny was 47 years old, born in Indiana and keeping house. The children included David, Minnie Belle, John W., and Arminta, who was aged 8 years old. Son Perry was living next door and was married with a family of his own.

Joseph LANGWELL b. ca. 1830 Kentucky, d. June 16, 1883 Spencer, Owen Co., IN., m. ca. 1851 to Fanny REYNOLDS, b. ca. 1830 Indiana, d. February 2, 1883 Spencer, Owen Co., IN. Fanny was the daughter of Jesse and Mary (PUTMAN) REYNOLDS.