Peter W. Decker & Pansy (Davis) Decker, undated photograph
Pansy (Davis) Decker Timm (1894-1968) was my maternal great-grandaunt. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
Pansy was born December 11, 18941. The location is not definitely known, probably Monroe County, Indiana or Owen County, Indiana. A search of the W.P.A. index for these counties has been fruitless. One source stated that Pansy was born December 11, 1895 in Ellettsville, Monroe County, Indiana2.
The father of both Pansy and her sister, June (my great-grandmother) is unknown and has been the subject of a previous post.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of Pansy's birth.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of any surviving Bible record for the Davis or Gilliland family. Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one might be located.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
I am not aware of any baptismal record for Pansy at this time, nor do I know for sure any church affiliation. Her grandmother, Mary, was associated with the Baptist denomination.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
I have found no official record of any adoption of Pansy or her sister June. However, both were raised by their maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Robert and Mary Ellen (Swafford) Gilliland, and used the Gilliland surname. Whether or not this adoption was made official through a court, I do not know and will have to seek out records in both Owen and Monroe Counties, Indiana to be sure.
1.2. Marriage license
Pansy married on December 11, 1912 in Monroe County, Indiana to Peter W. Decker.
Pansy married in 1955 to Raymond Fred Timm.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
Will need to search out contemporary newspapers to see if their nuptials were mentioned.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
Pansy and Peter's 25th wedding anniversary would have been December 11, 1937. Need to search out the local newspapers to see if mention was made.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
There is no indication of any Pansy and Peter were ever divorced.
1.3. Death Certificate
Pansy died on January 26, 1968 in Monticello, White County, Indiana. I do not have a copy of her death certificate. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Pansy's obituary was published in the January 27, 1968 Crawfordsville Journal-Review3. I've written about her obituary in a previous post.
I need to search out other area newspapers to see if they also mentioned her death.
1.3.2. Funeral home records
According to her obituary, the Anfenberg Funeral Home in Monticello handled her funeral arrangements. I need to add contacting them for more information to my list of "to-do" items.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Pansy's tombstone has been photographed in the Freedom Cemetery. Her memorial page at the Find A Grave website contains a photograph.
The transcription reads: "Pansy Decker Timm Dec. 11, 1894-Jan. 26, 1968".4
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On April 1, 1940, Pansy was enumerated in the Peter W. Decker household in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana5, as Pansy L. Decker, age 45, housewife, born in Indiana. Living in the household were her husband, Peter W., age 50, and daughter Wandalee, age 16. According to the handwritten notes on the margin of the census, the information was provided by Peter Decker's sister-in-law. I am not sure who this might be. According to the census, the family was living at 702 Mill Street, and was living at the same location in 1935.
2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census
On April 28, 1930, Pansy was enumerated in the Peter W. Decker household in Brown Township, Montgomery County, Indiana6, as Pansy Decker, age 36, born in Indiana. She was age 17 at her first marriage, could read and write and spoke English. Her mother and father were born in Indiana, and no occupation was listed. Also in the household was husband, Peter W., age 39, born Indiana; son Wilbur, age 12, son Jeane, age 9, daughter Wandalee, age 9, and daughter Virginia, age 4 and Pansy's mother, Mary Gilliland, age 75.
2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census
On January 6, 1920, Pansy was enumerated in the Ernest Patton household in Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana7, as Pansy Decker, sister-in-law, age 25, born in Indiana. She could read and write and spoke English; and both parents were listed as born in Indiana. Also in the household were her husband, P.W. Decker, age 29, born in Indiana; and son Wilbur, age 1 1/2 years.
2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census
On May 3, 1910, Pansy was enumerated in the Robert F. Gilliland household in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana8, as Pansy L. Gilliland, stepgranddaughter, age 15, born in Indiana. She could read and write and spoke English. Both of her parents were born in Indiana.
2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census
On June 9, 1900, Pansy was enumerated in the Robert Gilliland household in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana9, as Pansy Davis, granddaughter, born December 1894 in Indiana. She could read and write and spoke English. Both of her parents were 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 1921. These, however, were merely for the purpose of determining legislative apportionment.
2.3. Agricultural Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what light it might shed on the Gilliland or Decker farms.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Pansy was female.
3.2. Pension Records
I am not aware of any military service by father or husband that would have made Pansy eligible to receive a military pension.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable, as Pansy was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Monroe County, Indiana and Montgomery County, Indiana, to see what records might mention Pansy. Will add this to my "to-do" list for future research trips.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Monroe County published plat maps in 1920, 1923, 1927 and 1928 that might be relevant to my research.
Montgomery County published plat maps in 1936, 1941, and 1947 that might be relevant to my research.
5. Supplemental Records
Supplemental records available to research for Pansy include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add these to my "to-do" list for future research trips.
Sources:
1. Pansy Timm, no. 307-26-2546, Social Security Death Benefits Index of the U.S. Social Security Administration.
2. Pansy L. Timm obituary, Herald-Journal, Monticello, Indiana, January 27, 1968.
3. Mrs. Pansy Decker Timm obituary, Crawfordsville Journal-Review, Crawfordsville, Indiana, January 27, 1968.
4. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave.com, photograph, tombstone for Pansy Decker Timm (1894-1968), Waveland, Ind., memorial no. 42709136.
5. Peter W. Decker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Montgomery County, Indiana, 4th Ward, Crawfordsville, Indiana, Union Township, SD 6, ED 54-26, sheet 15B, household 331, dwelling 702, micropublication T627, roll 1080; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. Peter W. Decker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Montgomery County, Indiana, Brown Township, ED 54-3, SD 6, sheet 8B, family 198, household 198, micropublication T626, roll 620; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. Ernest Patton household, 1920 U.S. Census, Monroe County, Indiana, 3rd Ward, Bloomington, Indiana, Perry Township, ED 184, SD 2, sheet 4, dwelling 89, family 100, micropublication T625, roll 457; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
8. Robert F. Gilliland household, 1910 U.S. Census, Monroe County, Indiana, Richland Township, ED 40, SD 2, sheet 15, dwelling 289, family 296, micropublication T624, roll 371; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
9. Robert Gilliland household, 1900 U.S. Census, Owen County, Indiana, Clay Township, ED 106, SD 2, sheet 4, dwelling 92, family 93, micropublication T623, roll 396; 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.
