Exploratory Data Analysis : Elizabeth Caroline (Poe) Beals (1856-1935)

Elizabeth Caroline (Poe) Beals (1856-1935) 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

          Elizabeth was born September 28, 1856 in Morgan County, Indiana¹.  The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates until 1907.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Elizabeth's 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 Poe family Bible that might record her birth.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Elizabeth.  The family were members of the Society of Friends (Quaker) church.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Elizabeth was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Elizabeth married Nathan Thomas Beals on September 26, 1876 in Hamilton County, Indiana².  Nathan was born February 17, 1856 in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.  They raised three daughters in Hamilton County, Indiana and Richardson County, Nebraska.  Nathan died February 16, 1915 in Leola, Grant County, Arkansas.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Elizabeth and Nathan's nuptials.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Elizabeth and Nathan's 25th wedding anniversary would have been September 26, 1901.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if there was mention of any anniversary celebration.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

                  Though there is no indication of a divorce, will need to search court records in Hamilton County, Indiana to be sure there aren't records I've missed.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Elizabeth died September 27, 1935 near Greentown, Howard County, Indiana³.  I do not yet 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

               Elizabeth's obituary appeared in the September 28, 1935 edition of the Tipton, Indiana Daily Tribune³.  The cause of death was listed as paralysis and the obituary stated that she died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Lambertson.   This obituary was the subject of a previous post.

              Elizabeth's obituary appeared in the September 30, 1935 edition of the Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger⁴.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Will need to search for funeral home records at the local historical society to see if there is any more information I can obtain about Elizabeth's funeral.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Elizabeth's tombstone in the Cicero Cemetery in Cicero, Indiana has been photographed⁵.  A link to her memorial at FindAGrave is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census

              On April 22, 1930, Elizabeth was enumerated as head of household in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana⁶ as Elizabeth Beals, age 73, widow.  She was renting her home for $23.00 per month.  Also living in the household were her daughter, Nellie Stober, aged 40, widow, and her granddaughter, Ruby Stober, aged 16, single.  Her address was 1963 Tallman Avenue.  Elizabeth could read and write and spoke English.  She was born in Indiana, her father was born in North Carolina and her mother was born in Indiana.

          2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 27, 1920, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Marion Blanton household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana⁷, as Elizabeth Beals, age 63, widowed, servant.  Elizabeth could read and write and speak English.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.

          2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 16, 1910, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Nathan T. Beals household in Cicero, Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana⁸, as Elizabeth C. Beals, wife, age 52.  She had been married for 33 years, and was the mother of 1 child who was still living.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.

          2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census

                On June 1, 1900, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Nathan T. Beals household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana⁹, as Elizabeth C. Beals, wife, born September 1856 in Indiana.  She had been married 24 years and was the mother of 3 children, 2 of whom were living.  Her father was born in South Carolina and her mother in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 12, 1880, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Nathan Beales household in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska¹⁰, as Elizabeth Beales, wife, age 24, born Indiana.  Her father was born in Indiana and her mother was born in North Carolina.

          2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census

               On August 17, 1870, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Isaac S. Poe household in Washington Township, Hamilton County, Indiana¹¹, as Elizabeth Poe, age 13, born in Indiana.  She had attended school within the year.

          2.1.7. 1860 Federal Census

               On August 3, 1860, Elizabeth was enumerated in the Isaac Poe household in Monroe Township, Morgan County, Indiana¹², as Elizabeth Poe, age 3, female, born in Indiana.

     2.2. State Census Records

          On June 4, 1885, Elizabeth was enumerated in the N.T. Beals household in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska¹³, as Elizabeth Beals, age 28, wife. 

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what light they might shed on the Beals family.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Elizabeth was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          Elizabeth's father, Isaac S. Poe, served during the Civil War in Co E, 12th Indiana Infantry.  I need to check and see if she received any benefits as a result of his service.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Elizabeth was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Hamilton County, Indiana and Richardson County, Nebraska to see what records might mention Elizabeth.  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 County, Indiana and Richardson County, Nebraska to see what information might be relevant to my search for Elizabeth.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on Elizabeth 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. Beals, John, "Chronology of the Beals Family", Butler Printing House, Noblesville, Indiana, 1912, page 49.
2. "Indiana Marriage, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXPP-TJB : accessed 15 Oct 2013), Nathan T Beal and Elizabeth E Poe, 1876
3. Mrs. Elizabeth Beals obituary, Tipton Daily Tribune, Tipton, Indiana, September 28, 1935, page 4.
4. Mrs. Elizabeth Beals obituary, Noblesville Daily Ledger, Noblesville, Indiana, September 30, 1935.
5. FindAGrave, Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 8 December 2014), Elizabeth Caroline Beals tombstone.
6. 1930 U.S. census, Marion County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 1, Indianapolis, enumeration district 49-11, SD 8, page 20B, dwelling 312, family 317; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 January 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. Marion Blaton household, 1920 U.S. census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson township, ED 99, SD 9, sheet 5, dwelling 89, family 89; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 435.
8. Nathan T. Beals household, 1910 U.S. census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Cicero, ED 104, SD 9, sheet 2, dwelling 33, family 34; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 353.
9. Nathan T. Beals household, 1900 U.S. census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson township, ED 85, SD 9, sheet 1, dwelling 15, family 18; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 375.
10. Nathan Beales household, 1880 U.S. census, Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraska, population schedule, ED 320, SD 1, page 27, dwelling 61, family 63; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 754.
11. Isaac S. Poe household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, page 76, dwelling 597, family 583; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 319, page 216.
12. Isaac Poe household, 1860 U.S. census, Morgan County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, Mooresville P.O., page 62, dwelling 433, household 442; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 January 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
13. "Nebraska State Census, 1885," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X3F4-G2K : accessed 22 January 2015), N T Beals, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M352 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 499,573.

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.

On This Day : December 3

1641 - John WOODBURY died in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.  John was the son of John WOODBURY.  John was my 11x-great grandfather.

1737 - Hannah MAXSON born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Hannah was the daughter of John MAXSON and Hannah MAXSON.

1740 - Sarah CHEW married John WILD in Waterford Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Sarah was the daughter of John CHEW and Sarah JENNINGS.

1742 - Jonathan TAYLOR born.  Jonathan was the son of George TAYLOR and Rachel GIBSON.

1760 - Heinrich Hermann KAHRE born.  Heinrich was the son of Johann Jurgen KAHRE and Anna Catherine Elisabeth OBERMEIER.

1788 - Hur HODGSON married Elizabeth THORNBURGH. Hur was the son of John HODGSON and Mary MILLS.

1810 - John ERB died.  John was the son of Jacob ERB and Magdalene SCHRANTZ.

1811 - Aaron BALES married Alice MANIFOLD in Knox County, Tennessee.  Aaron was the son of William BEALS and Rachel GREEN.

1815 - William Marcellus McPHEETERS born in Raleigh, North Carolina.  William was the son of William McPHEETERS and Margaret Ann Curry McDANIEL.

1833 - Anna FINEL died in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont.  Anna was the daughter of Jonathan MORGAN and Ruth MILLER.  Anna was my 5x-great grandmother.

1835 - David G. GROENENDYKE born in Indiana.  David was the son of James GROENENDYKE and Barbara BUCK.

1861 - Martha J. METZNER died in Jay County, Indiana.  Martha was the daughter of John METZNER and Catharine YOUNG.

1869 - Lydia MOULTON died in Licking County, Ohio.  Lydia was the daughter of Edward FINEL and Anna MORGAN.  Lydia was my 4x-great grandmother.

1880 - Otto H. SAUER born in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Otto was the son of George F. SAUER and Agnes Barbara HOFFHER.

1892 - George Washington HALEY died in Jay County, Indiana.  George was the son of George J. HALEY and Rachel H. GARY.  George was my 2x-great grandfather.

1898 - Olivia E. WRIGHT born in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Olivia was the daughter of James WRIGHT and Clara B. HICKS.

1900 - Estella H. SLOAN born in Ray County, Missouri.  Estella was the daughter of John Henderson SLOAN and Rebecca Jane DRAVENSTOTT.

1907 - Luther Wesley LEE married Sarah L. HUBBARD in Ray County, Missouri. Luther was the son of Burrell Russell LEE and Elizabeth W. NAIL.

1926 - Christian Friedrick KAHRE died in Hoyleton, Illinois.  Christian was the son of Heinrich Hermann KAHRE and Anna Maria Sophia RULLMANN.

1933 - Nellie Myrtle STOBER died.  Nellie was the daughter of Nathan Thomas BEALS and Elizabeth Caroline POE.

1973 - Tiney Louetta LATHAM died in Franklin County, Alabama.  Tiney was the daughter of John Spencer CUMMINGS and Martha Addling PACE.

Family Milestones: July 16th

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Nellie Myrtle BEALS, married on this date in 1910 in Hamilton County, Indiana to Albert Edward STOBER.  Nellie was the daughter of Nathan Thomas and Elizabeth Caroline (POE) BEALS, and the younger sister of my Pearl May BEALS.  Albert was the son of Wilson and Susan R. (________) STOBER.  Nellie was born August 30, 1880 in Humboldt, Richardson County, Nebraksa.  Albert was born January 25, 1865 in Wabash, Wabash County, Indiana.  They had 1 daughter.  Nellie died December 3, 1933.  She is buried in the Cicero Cemetery, Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana.

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Rachel LEMASTERS, was born on this date in 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio.  Rachel was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Rachel married March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana to William E. CUNNINGHAM, son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.  William was born February 1835 in Indiana.  They had 6 children.  William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Nathan Thomas Beals Obituary & Funeral Notice (1915)

Thanks to the help of the sexton at the Cicero Cemetery, I had a date to search for the obituary of Nathan Thomas BEALS.  I headed out Tuesday evening after work and visited the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville.  I was pleased to discover that they had copies of the Noblesville Ledger going back to the time period I needed, February of 1915.

Paydirt was struck with the February 15, 1915 edition of the Noblesville, Ledger.  There on page 1 was the obituary of my 3GGF, Nathan Thomas BEALS, or N.T. as he was apparently known.

N.T. BEALS DIED IN ARKANSAS

Remains Brought To This County And Will Be Buried At Cicero

FORMERLY LIVED AROUND HERE

Fifty-Nine Years of Age and Spent Practically All of His Life in This Locality - Father at Sheridan.

Charles Lambertson, of Cicero, received a telegram, Saturday night, from Leola, Ark., announcing the death of his father-in-law, Nathan T. Beals.  The remains passed through Noblesville, Monday, enroute to Cicero, where the funeral will occur on Tuesday.

His death was a surprise to relatives in this county, although it was known that he had not enjoyed good health for several months.
He was fifty-nine years of age and is survived by a widow and two children - Mrs. Charles Lambertson, of Cicero, and Mrs. Nellie Beals Stober, of Huntington.  He was a son of John Beals, now nearly ninety years of age and who is living with his daughter, Mrs. Joel Hill, at Sheridan.  He was a brother of Mrs. Calvin Sturdevant, an uncle of Dr. J.D., Walter and Elmer Sturdevant, of this city, and a brother of Frank Beals, formerly City Attorney, but now a resident of West Virginia.

He lived in this county all his life until about ten years ago, when he went to Arkansas to engage in the sawmill and lumber business with Ed and Luther Hinshaw.  For many years he was a resident of Cicero.  At one time, he was interested in a hardware store there, but later spent most of his time traveling for a wholesale hardware firm.

Relatives here had known for a few weeks that he had suffered some from malaria fever and nervous trouble and recently had a slight stroke of paralysis.  It is presumed that the latter affliction hastened his death.

Funeral at the M.E. church in Cicero, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  Rev. Amos Carson officiating.  Interment in the Cicero cemetery. 

The February 17, 1915 edition of the Ledger had a notice of his funeral, which shed a little more light on when he was in Arkansas.

SERVICES HELD FOR N.T. BEALS

Conducted by Rev. Amos Carson, Assisted by Rev. W.H. Jenkin - Aged Father Present

The funeral services for Nathan T. Beals were held at Cicero, Tuesday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at the M.E. church.  Rev. Amos Carson, assisted by Rev. W.H. Jenkin, the pastor of the church, conducted the services.  Mr. Beals was a member of the Friends church, of which Rev. Mr. Carson is a minister.

The church was well filled with relatives and friends, and the Masonic and Knights of Pythias orders were well represented at the church and in the procession to the cemetery, where the ceremonies were conducted.

The music was by a quartet composed of Miss Nellie Mendenhall, Mrs. Monte Meek, M.M. Hartley and Clyde Nichols.

The father, Capt. John Beals, although very feeble, was able to be present, and J.F. Beals, a brother, came from his home in West Virginia.  The words of Rev. Mr. Carson were based on the saying of Jesus to His disciples, that it was necessary that He should go away, but that he would send a Comforter.  The speaker had known the family and his words of sympathy were fitting and appropriate.  He drew lessons from the text for the benefit of all.

The obituary as read showed that Mr. Beals had been in business at Westfield and Cicero, before going to Arkansas, about five years ago, and that his birth place was at Grassy Branch, on the Beals farm, near Westfield.  Rev. Mr. Carson spoke of his good qualities, and the concourse of people at his funeral services showed that he was a man who made friends. 

------


I've already contacted the Grant County, Arkansas museum, hoping that they would have information on the business ventures of N.T. Beals and the Hinshaws.  Ed and Luther Hinshaw were first cousins of N.T. Beals.


I will need to seek a copy of his death certificate to verify the exact date and cause of death, but preliminary data from this obituary would place his death on Saturday, February 13, 1915 in Leola, Grant County, Arkansas.  Burial was three days later on February 16, 1915 in Cicero Cemetery, Cicero, Hamilton County, Indiana. 

Nathan Thomas Beals (b. February 17, 1856)

Today's featured relative in my database is my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Nathan Thomas Beals.

Nathan was born February 17, 1856 in Westfield, Hamilton Co., IN., the son of John T. and Mary (Davis) Beals. Nathan married September 26, 1876 in Hamilton Co., IN to Elizabeth Caroline Poe, daughter of Isaac S. and Hannah (Mills) Poe. Elizabeth was born September 26, 1856 in Morgan Co., IN, and died September 1935 near Greentown, Howard Co., IN. Nathan died in 1915 - his father's obituary states that he was late of Leola, AR.

Children of Nathan Thomas and Elizabeth Caroline (Poe) Beals are as follows:
i. Pearl May Beals b. May 11, 1878 Hamilton Co., IN., d. August 3, 1970 Madison Co., IN., m. Charles Wilson Lambertson
ii. Nellie Myrtle Beals b. August 30, 1880 Richardson Co., NE., m. Albert Edward Stober
iii. Ethel Mabel Beals b. November 27, 1885 Richardson Co., NE., d. February 11, 1900 Hamilton Co., IN.

I descend from Nathan Thomas and Elizabeth Caroline (Poe) Beals through their daughter, Pearl, as follows :
Nathan Thomas Beals and Elizabeth Caroline Poe
Peal May Beals and Charles Wilson Lambertson
Clemon Beals Lambertson and June Kirk Davis (my great-grandparents)