Cousin Bait : Mengle - Lambertson

Publishing a family history blog definitely works for 'cousin bait'.  Even the old posts are out their in the search engines and people will find you.  Recently, I was contacted by a cousin who saw what I had posted on the Mengle and Lambertson families, and it helped him solve a family mystery.

Friday night I had a great conversation with my distant cousin, Ed, about David L. Mengle and Ellen Lambertson.  Ellen was my maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, the younger sister of my Carey W. Lambertson, and the daughter of John Lambertson and Sarah A. Willson.  Ed is going to send me the details on how he descends, we are probably 3rd or 4th cousins.

As we discussed the Mengle and Lambertson families, Ed shared that he had been in touch with others of the Lambertson side, and promised to give them my information.  I don't have as much information on those that stayed in Ohio, as my ancestor came to Indiana in the 1880s and was child number nine of ten.

There is an air of mystery that needs to be sorted out as well.  Both of us have been led to believe that Ellen was married prior to her marriage to David L. Mengle.  The surname may be Sockey.  As of yet, I've located no record of the marriage in any of the indices on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org.  Ellen married David L. Mengle on November 10, 1870 in Butler County, Ohio when she was 20 years old and David was 21.  In the 1870 census, Ellen was living with her sister and brother-in-law, Samuel and Mary Snively, in Wayne Township, Butler County, Ohio.   If she had been married previously, she would have been pretty young.

In the 1900 census, Ellen is listed as the mother of four children, with only two living.  Known children are George Mengle (c1872-1948), Osa Mengle (1873-1875) and Lionel C. Mengle (1881-1961).

Notice the age gap in the children?  That is one of the mysteries that Ed has been working on.  There is an interesting marriage record found at the FamilySearch.org database for a Luella Mengle to a John Runck that took place December 1, 1900 in Montgomery County, Ohio.  This record lists her parents as David L. Mengle and Anna Lehman, and states her birth as taking place in 1880 in West Carrollton, Ohio.  West Carrollton is just done the road from where the Mengle and Lambertson family was living.

Could it be that David and Ellen separated/divorced or that David had an illegitimate daughter with Anna Lehman?  Is this the right David L. Mengle?  Perhaps they split up and then got back together and had one more child, Lionel in 1881.  Who knows?  Interesting avenues to research but it will take some digging in the courthouse.

Interestingly, Ed's Mengle ancestors had been in Madison County, Indiana, where I'm from, though the name is spelled Mingle.  Several family members are buried at the Mendon Cemetery in Fall Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.

I look forward to seeing what information Ed sends to me, and I'm ready to start digging into the Lambertson line over in Ohio a little bit more.

On This Day : November 28

1620 - Peter STICKEL married Margaretha GROSSMANN in Egenhausen, Würrtemberg.  Peter was the son of Peter STICKEL and Wallburga ________.  Margaretha was the daughter of Ulrich GROSSMANN.  They were my 10x-great grandparents.

1637 - Naomi HUBBARD died in Wethersfield, Connecticut.  Naomi was the daughter of Samuel HUBBARD and Tacy COOPER.

1681 - Samuel HEATON born in Wrentham, Massachusetts.  Samuel was the son of Nathaniel HEATON.  Samuel was my 7x-great grandfather.

1685 - John BEALS born in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  John was the son of John BEALS and Mary CLAYTON.  John was my 8x-great grandfather.

1701 - Joseph CRANDALL born.  Joseph was the son of Samuel CRANDALL and Sarah COLBY.

1769 - James WRIGHT died in Stirling, Scotland.  James was the son of James WRIGHT and Janet GALLOWAY.

1778 - John HILLYARD born.  John was the son of John HILLIER and Frances HAINES.

1780 - Magdalene ERB married David BRICKER.  Magdalene was the daughter of Jacob ERB and Magdalena SCHRANTZ.

1789 - Joel MAXON born in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Joel was the son of Stephan MAXON and Margaret BRANNON.

1792 - Isaac COOK married Rachel UNTHANK in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Isaac was the son of Abraham COOK and Phoebe MILLS.

1798 - Phebe SUMNER married Moses GRIGG.  Phebe was the daughter of Thomas SUMNER and Hannah HIATT.

1823 - Ephraim MAXSON married Mary SMITH in Clark County, Ohio.  Ephraim was the son of Jesse MAXSON and Sarah SUTTON.

1826 - Elizabeth WEST died.  Elizabeth was the daughter of John DAVIS and Bethia ROGERS.

1836 - Elizabeth GROENENDYKE born in Indiana.  Elizabeth was the daughter of James GROENENDYKE and Barbara BUCK.

1848 - James Moore CHEW born.  James was the son of Ezekiel Cooper CHEW and Caroline Bishop WOOLSTON.

1850 - David Wilson CROCKETT born.  David was the son of Joseph CROCKETT and Elizabeth JAMES.

1853 - Amanda LEWIS born in Jefferson Township, Huntington County, Indiana.  Amanda was the daughter of Solomon LEWIS and Margaret RINEHART.

1863 - Mary S. LAMBERTSON married Samuel SNIVELY in Butler County, Ohio.  Mary was the daughter of John LAMBERTSON and Sarah A. WILLSON.

1864 - Henry H. SNIVELY born in Peoria, Illinois.  Henry was the son of Samuel SNIVELY and Mary S. LAMBERTSON.

1868 - Jesse R. DAVIS born in Long Run, West Virginia.  Jesse was the son of Stillman Coon DAVIS and Keziah DAVIS.

1868 - Ulysses Grant LeMASTERS born.  Ulysses was the son of Isaac LEMASTES and Sarah Ann HESTON.

1874 - Charles Albert HAGAMAN born.  Charles was the son of Charles Sherman HAGAMAN and Lydia MOULTON.

1876 - Dora Alice BIRDWELL born in Pine Hill, Rusk County, Texas.  Dora was the daughter of William Ezekiel BIRDWELL and Dora Alice FLANAGAN.

1878 - Jacob LEWIS married Marietta COOK in Wabash County, Indiana.  Jacob was the son of Solomon LEWIS and Margaret RINEHART.  Marietta was the daughter of Robert COOK and Sarah DOLES.  They were Eileen's 2x-great grandparents.

1878 - Pina BOYER born in Indiana.  Pina was the daughter of Christopher C. BOYER and Amanda F. ________.

1881 - John Stevens LeMASTERS married Sarah I. WILSON in Jay County, Indiana.  John was the son of Luman Walker LeMASTERS and Nancy YOUNG.

1898 - Rutha SWAFFORD married Jim C. EDMONDS in Bradley County, Tennessee.  Rutha was the daughter of Aaron SWAFFORD and Sarah SWAFFORD.

1906 - Albert Smith RICHARDS married America Katherine CRISPIN.  Albert was the son of John Thomas RICHARDS and Mary Jane CROCKETT.

1909 - Blaine Pearl WEHRLY married Ermina Gladys ASHCRAFT.  Blaine was the son of William P. WEHRLY and Olive Jane SMITH.

1910 - Pina BOYER married William Logan PETTICORD.  Pina was the daughter of Christopher C. BOYER and Amanda F. ________.

1914 - Daniel LEWIS died in Warren, Huntington County, Indiana.  Daniel was the son of Solomon LEWIS and Margaret RINEHART.

1917 - Parthena Bertha HUMMER died in Huntington County, Indiana.  Parthena was the daughter of Jacob SHELLY and Elizabeth RICKERT.

1933 - Mary Ann GILBERT died in Hennessey, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.  Mary was the daughter of John T. BEALS and Mary DAVIS.

1951 - Faith Shree CHATFIELD died in Belleville, Kansas.  Faith was the daughter of Wilson Wade CHATFIELD and Francis Jean McCARTY.

1963 - Clarence Harrison LeMASTER died in Union City, Randolph County, Indiana.  Clarence was the son of Luman Cooper LeMASTERS and Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.

Cousin Bait - It Works!

If I ever doubted whether or not anyone ever read these posts, I just have been blown away in the past few months by the number of people who have found my blog and written me to share information.  From distant cousins to fellow researchers, my inbox has been crammed.  I'm slowly trying to dig out from the deluge and post updates to the blog.


Most recently was correspondence from a distant cousin researching the SNIVELY family, which shares common descent from my LAMBERTSON line.  The extent of my database had this person's great-grandmother, without dates of death and only a name for the spouse - nothing else.  Now, thanks to the blog, I've received email with more names, dates and clues and a connection to a branch of the family that had been lost.


Each and every blog post has the potential to reach an audience who may be "googling" the surnames you are working on.  You never know who you will catch.

1893-94 Directory Finds : Madison County, Indiana

Spent the early part of today researching Knight & Co.'s Elwood, Alexandria, In and Madison County Biennial Directory, 1893-1894 as found online at Internet Archive.  I was able to add some occupational and residency data to my Rootsmagic database.


Found information regarding the following families: Cochran, King, Lyst, Shaw, Sigler and Snively and added their residency and occupational information to my database.


In the town of Elwood, I found Dr. Daniel SIGLER listed as the President of the local board of education.  His residence was at 305 South Anderson Street.  He was also listed as the President of the Elwood Natural Gas and Oil Company, which had offices at 513 South Anderson.  Daniel was the husband of my maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Minerva PIERCE.   His son Bert V, was also listed in the directory, though I have his death occurring December 20, 1892 in Elwood.


Also in Elwood, I found John LYST, listed as a brick contractor, residence and business both at 2021 Main Street.  John was the husband of my maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Sarah Wilson LAMBERTSON.  


Also in Elwood, I found Henry H. SNIVELY, seller of drugs, watches, clocks, jewelry and musical instruments, business at 112 South Anderson, residence at  1415 South E. Street.  Henry was a maternal 1st cousin 4 times removed, the son of Samuel and Mary S. (LAMBERTSON) SNIVELY.


The town of Frankton held several relatives of the King family, including a curious listing for Elizabeth KING, widow.  I believe this refers to my maternal 3rd-great grandmother, Elizabeth (SHAW) KING, widow of Daniel.  However, by the time of this directory she had been married for several years to William COCHRAN, also listed in the directory as a carpenter living in Frankton.  Perhaps there is another Elizabeth, or they were still references to her as the "widow" King long after her remarriage.


Also in Frankton, I found David KING, listed as a drayman; Benjamin KING, listed as a carpenter; and Frank M. KING, also listed as a carpenter.  These were ones I could identify as relatives.


I'm enjoying exploring the works digitized in the Internet Archive and hope to find more mentions of my relatives.

A Lot Can Happen Between The Census

In the 1900 census, my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Carey W. LAMBERTSON was living in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana.  By the time the 1910 census rolled around, the family was living in the 2nd ward of the city of Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  

I'm not sure why they moved to Elwood, although it could be the fact that two of his older sisters, Sarah LYST (husband John) and Mary SNIVELY (husband Sam) were already living in the area.

I was hoping that city directories could help nail down a more precise date for the arrival of the Carey LAMBERTSON family to Elwood.  The Elwood Public Library had a city directory for the year 1907, but no Lambertson entries.  The earliest city directory I was able to find that lists Carey LAMBERTSON was the 1916 R.L. Polk & Co. city directory, living at 1906 North F Street in Elwood.

1906 North F Street in 2010

Through readings of the city directories of Elwood, I was able to track Carey LAMBERTSON living in this house on North F Street up until his death in 1918.  The library had the 1916 directory, which listed the family living there.  In addition, I was able to locate newspaper articles stating this was the family residence.

After Carey's death, his grandson, Clemon Beals LAMBERTSON somehow came to posses the home on F Street.  I need to research deed records and mortgage records in Madison County, Indiana to find out all of the details.  City directories for 1924, 1925, and 1929 list Clemon and his family living at 1906 North F Street.  His daughter, my grandmother Bonnie, told my mother about growing up at the F Street house.  The house was right behind the city pool where she learned to be a lifeguard.  Clemon and family were living in the residence at the time of the 1930 census.  City directories for Elwood in 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1938 show Clemon and family at the residence.

Sometime between 1938 and 1940, the family moved to Greentown, Howard County, Indiana.  During this time, Clemon was still listed in the city directory of Elwood as being employed by the Sellers cabinet company, but residing in Greentown. Clemon's parents, Charles and Pearl (BEALS) LAMBERTSON, were living in the Greentown area at that time as well.  It is assumed that the house on F street was sold out of the family during this time.

Clemon and family came back into Elwood at the close of the war, and the 1945 Elwood city directory lists them at 221 North 12th Street.

 221 North 12th Street in 2010

Clemon and family only stayed at this home for a year or so, for by the 1947/48 city directory, the family was living at 717 South A Street.  The family appears at 717 South A Street in 1949 and 1952, the last year Clemon was recorded in Elwood.  My great-grandmother June had died in 1951, and by 1952 he was remarried to Helen (DUNCAN) FISHER.  After that he lived in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.

717 South A Street in 2010

Clemon's son, Harold LAMBERTSON begins to show up in the city directories in 1941, where he was living at 1303 South D Street.  In the 1945 directory, he is shown living at 902 1/2 South Anderson Street, but is listed as being away in the Army (actually, he was in the Navy).  Harold is back at 1303 South D Street in the 1947/48, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1972 directories for Elwood.  I hadn't continued into searching the phone directories, but I know he lived there for many more years.

 1303 South D Street in 2010

There was a previous house that stood in front of where the house in this photograph stands.  I remember helping haul away some of the bricks from the old house that once stood there.  

Clemon's other son, Floyd LAMBERTSON, shows up in the Elwood city directory in 1947/48 and 1949 at 902 South B Street.  From 1950 on, he was listed living in nearby Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana at 618 West Adams.

I have since visited the Elwood library many times over the past few weeks, trying to track the members of my LAMBERTSON family down and watching with interest as they change jobs and residences through the years.  Ancestry.com also has recently placed many U.S. directories online which can help fill in the gap between the census years.

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: December 25th

My maternal 4th-great grandaunt, Elizabeth Jane JACOBS, was married on this date in 1845 in Ohio to Abraham Duncan ELLIS.  Elizabeth was the daughter of James Thomas and Isabella (FEILY) JACOBS, and the younger sister of my Elizabeth JACOBS.  Elizabeth Jane was born August 13, 1824 in Ripley, Ohio.  I do not know the birth and death dates of Abraham.  Elizabeth died April 29, 1919 in Brown County, Ohio.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal great-grandaunt, Orilla Catherine WEHRLY, was married on this date in 1893 to Arthur B. ANDREWS.  Orilla was the daughter of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY, and the younger sister of my Barbara Isabel WEHRLY.  Orilla was born April 6, 1872 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  I do not know the birth and death dates of Arthur.  Orilla died December 26, 1970.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My matneral 2nd-great granduncle, Edward E. WRIGHT, was married on this datein 1899 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana to Martha Jane STARR.  Edward was the son of Joseph W. and Rebecca (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger brother of my John William WRIGHT.  Edward was born April 18, 1875 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Martha was born May 24, 1878 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana, the daughter of Mark and Mary (CHITWOOD) STARR.  They had 3 children.  Martha died March 29, 1948 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Edward died June 7, 1960 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, Elias A. PIERCE, was married on this date in 1895 in Madison County, Indiana to Flora J. CURTIS.  Elias was the son of Edmund G. and Catherine (GROENENDYKE) PIERCE, and the younger brother of my William Francis PIERCE.  Elias was born February 14, 1867 in Madison County, Indiana.  Flora was born November 1871 in Indiana.  Flora died between 1920 and 1930.  Elias died March 1963.

My paternal 6th-great grandparents (and 7th-great!), Samuel WOOLSTON and Cyllania WOOLSTON, were married on this date in 1749 at St. Mary's Church, Mt. Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.  Samuel was the son of Samuel and Susanna (BUDD) WOOLSTON.  CYllania was the daughter of John and Sarah (POWELL) WOOLSTON.  They were 1st cousins.  Samuel was born April 18, 1719 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Cyllania was born December 13, 1728.  They had 5 children.  Samuel died August 4, 1773.  Cyllania died December 30, 1772 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Mary S. LAMBERTSON, was born on this date in 1840 in Franklin County, Indiana.  Mary was the daughter of John and Sarah A. (WILLSON) LAMBERTSON, and the older sister of my Carey W. LAMBERTSON.  Mary married November 28, 1863 in Butler County, Ohio to Samuel SNIVELY.  They lived in Butler County, Ohio and Madison County, Indiana.  I do not have the death dates of either Mary or Samuel.  Nothing further known at this time.

Samuel Snively household - Butler Co., OH & Madison Co., IN

The Samuel SNIVELY household appears in the 1870 census of Butler Co., OH and the 1900-1910 census of Madison Co., IN. Samuel was my maternal 3rd-great granduncle, the husband of Mary S. LAMBERTSON.

In the 1870 census of Wayne Twp., Butler Co., OH, Samuel is a 27 year old Farmer, born in Ohio, with a personal estate valued at $1500. Wife Mary was 28 years old, keeping house, born in Indiana. Their son Henry, aged 5, was born in Illinois, and daughter Maude, aged 2, was born in Ohio. Mary's sister, Ella LAMBERTSON, aged 19, was also living with them.

In the 1900 census of Duck Creek Twp., Madison Co., IN., Samuel was a 57 year old Farmer, born August 1842 Ohio, with both parents born in Pennsylvania. He owned his home free of mortgage, and had been married for 36 years. Wife Mary S. was aged 59 years, born December 1840 in Indiana, with both parents born in New Jersey. Their son, Darrell, aged 18, born April 1882 in Ohio, was still living at home.

In the 1910 census of Duck Creek Twp., Madison Co., IN., Samuel was a 67 year old Fruit merchant, born in Ohio, with both parents born in Pennsylvania. Wife Mary was 68 years old, the mother of 6 children; 5 of whom were still living. Son Darrell was a 27 year old horseman, living with them as well.

Samuel SNIVELY b. August 1842 Ohio, d. after 1920, m. November 28, 1863 Butler Co., OH to Mary S. LAMBERTSON, daughter of John and Sarah A. (WILLSON) LAMBERTSON. Mary b. December 25, 1840 Franklin Co., IN., d. after 1920.

Known children of Samuel and Mary S. (LAMBERTSON) SNIVELY are as follows :
i. Darling SNIVELY
ii. Henry H. SNIVELY b. November 28, 1864 Peoria, IL, m. 1891 Madison Co., IN to Maggie GEBHART.
iii. Maude SNIVELY b. ca. 1868 Ohio, m. Paul BURNS.
iv. Thomas SNIVELY
v. Zadie SNIVELY
vi. Darrell SNIVELY b. April 1882 Ohio, d. after April 6, 1910

Happy Anniversary : John Lambertson & Sarah A. Willson

Happy Anniversary to my maternal 4th great-grandparents, John Lambertson & Sarah A. Willson, married July 6, 1822 in Belvidere, Sussex Co. (now Warren Co.), NJ.

Known children of John & Sarah A. (Willson) Lambertson :

Elizabeth W. Lambertson m. Carey H. Gilliland
Wilson Jackson Lambertson died young
Carmon W. Lambertson m. Mary Jane Vanlue
George G. Lambertson m(1) Harriet Jones m(2) Adelaide Hall
John Vorhees Lambertson m(1) Hannah Hudson m(2) Annie E. Oliver m(3) Margaret Jane Demonet
Sarah Wilson Lambertson m. John Lyst
Nelson J. Lambertson m. Eliza Jane Johnson
Mary S. Lambertson m. Samuel Snively
Carey W. Lambertson m. Clara E. Cook
Ellen Lambertson m(1) ____ Sockey m(2) David L. Mengle