Great-Uncle Demands $3,000 in Slander Suit

Located the following article regarding my paternal great-uncle and a slander lawsuit while conducting newspaper research.  It seems great-uncle Gerald was slandered and took the man to court in Adams County, Indiana.  Will have to add research of these court records to my list of 'to-do' items to find out what happened.

JAY COUNTY MAN DEMANDS $3,000 IN SLANDER SUIT

Decatur, Ind., Mar. 13 - Gerald W. LeMaster of Jay county, has filed suit in the Adams circuit court against Oswin F. Gillom of Berne, demanding judgment for $3,000 for alleged slander.  The plaintiff states in his complaint that he is an insurance agent.

He alleges that on January 31, 1929, in Jay county in the presence and hearing of Daniel Corle, M.V. Hutchinson and other persons, the defendant falsely and maliciously spoke concerning the plaintiff as follows: "Such a crook as Mr. LeMaster could not work for any company any length of time for he would be fired." and "a justice of the peace was asking for G.W. LeMaster at Redkey."  LeMaster alleges further that the defendant made the following remark in the presence of George W. Bailey: "He (meaning the plaintiff) was fired from the service of the Prudential Insurance company."

Garrett Clipper (Garrett, Indiana).
14 March 1929., page 8

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Gerald was an older brother of my grandfather, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster.  I was not aware that he sold insurance, as occupations listed his as an auto salesman, mechanic or garage operator.

Military Monday : Clarence Harrison LeMaster, World War II Draft Registration, 1942

Working my way through the hints in the Ancestry database for World War II Draft Registrations, 1942 and located this registration in Darke County, Ohio for Clarence Harrison LeMaster, my paternal granduncle.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data : United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group Number 147. National Archives and Records Administration., Clarence Harrison LeMaster, Darke County, Ohio.

This draft record adds to the information I've collected about Clarence, who was the son of Luman Cooper Lemasters and Barbara Isabel Wehrly.  Clarence's draft registration gives his exact date of birth as June 14, 1888 in Nebraska, the city looks like Millis or Miller.  This is another area to research, as the information previously I had showed the family in Ord, Valley County, Nebraska.

Clarence was 53 years old at the time of the registration, and his nearest living relative was his wife, Ferry Mae (Bickel) LeMaster, of Rural Route 3, Fort Recovery.  Fort Recovery is in Mercer County, Ohio - and this must have been the closest post office.  The LeMaster's were actually living in Mississinawa Township, Darke County, Ohio.

Clarence's employer was listed as Ora Livingstone of Darke County, Ohio, with a postal address of Rural Route Union City.  I'm assuming that Clarence was working as a farm laborer, as the 1940 census lists Ora Livingston as a farmer in Mississinawa Township, Darke County, Ohio.

Physically, Clarence was described as having a dark complexion, white male, 5' 8", with brown eyes and grey hair.  He weighed 175 lbs.

Military Monday – We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Wehrly Family Photos

Used my Flip-Pal scanner a couple of weeks ago and was able to scan some photographs from cousin Judy (Wehrly) Solms that were in an album her mother had made.  Her brother, Frank Wehrly had told me about the photos and we were able to spend an afternoon together. Frank & Judy are my second cousins once removed. The photos were glued in an album, and I was able to stitch the family photograph together.

Frank & Kathryn (Migron) Wehrly family
Back row : Janice, Paul
Front row : Judy, Frank Sr., Kathryn, Frank Jr.

Several other photos I was able to scan in full.  It was good to be able to scan these and then share them digitally.

 

Frank & Kathryn (Migron) Wehrly in Ft. Recovery, Ohio

Frank's parents were Alva Monroe & Emma C. (Yaeger) Wehrly.  Alva was the younger brother of my great-grandmother, Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters.

Alva M. & Emma C. (Yaeger) Wehrly

This photograph was of several members at a reunion in 1960.

Wehrly Family 1960
Hollis & Betty, Lisle & Cora, Frank & Kathryn, Norval & Mary & Grandma W.

These are the children of Alva & Emma and spouses.  Lisle married Cora Baldauf, Frank married Kathryn Migron, Mary married Norval DeLauter and Betty married Hollis Steen.

There are more photographs to sort through and scan, but it was nice to see these distant family members I had never seen before.

On This Day : November 2

1655 - Robert BURDICK married Ruth HUBBARD in Newport, Rhode Island.  Ruth was the daughter of Samuel HUBBARD and Tacy COOPER.  They were my 9x-great grandparents.

1678 - Ebenezer CHENEY born in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Ebenezer was the son of Thomas CHENEY and Jane ATKINSON.

1719 - Barbara ANTONIDES married Dirck VAN VECHTE.  Barbara was the daughter of Vincentius ANTONIDES and Anatie VAN COUVENHAVEN.

1738 - Ruth FESSENDEN married John HUNT in Boston, Massachusetts.  Ruth was the daughter of William FESSENDEN and Martha WYETH.

1778 - Prudence HIATT born in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Prudence was the daughter of William HIATT and Charity WILLIAMS.

1786 - Lydia BEALS married Aaron TYSON.  Lydia was the daughter of William BEALS and Rachel GREEN.

1793 - Henry KEENEY born.  Henry was the son of John S. KEENEY and Magdalena PETRY.

1796 - Joseph SUMNER married Abigail JESSOP.  Joseph was the son of Thomas SUMNER and Hannah HIATT.

1797 - Catherine MAXSON born in New Salem, Virginia.  Catherine was the daughter of Zebulon MAXSON and Mary DAVIS.

1817 - William MILLS born.  William was the son of William MILLS and Sarah MAULSBY.

1829 - Samuel J. PEPPER born.  Samuel was the son of William PEPPER and Eliza PIERCE.

1834 - Ezra BUCHER born.  Ezra was the son of Nicholas BUCHER and Catherine PETRY.

1839 - Nancy A. SWAFFORD born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.  Nancy was the daughter of Aaron SWAFFORD and Maria MILLS.

1844 - Levi W. PETRY born in Preble County, Ohio.  Levi was the son of Charles PETRY and Susannah WEHRLY.

1845 - William P. WEHRLY born in Preble County, Ohio.  William was the son of Johannes WEHRLY and Barbara PETRY.  William was my 2x-great grandfather.

1847 - Stephen M. YOUNG married Mary WOODRUFF.  Stephen was the son of Phillip YOUNG and Nancy Ann McLANE.

1848 - Sarah Margaret BECKETT born in Polk County, Iowa.  Sarah was the daughter of Lemuel Daugherty BECKETT and Sarah Springer CHEW.

1855 - William Aaron SWAFFORD born.  William was the son of John Daniel SWAFFORD and Mary Elizabeth KEARLEY.

1856 - William A. PENISTEN born.  William was the son of George PENISTEN and Amanda Melvina CAWGILL.

1856 - Thomas SWAFFORD died in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.  Thomas was the son of Peter James SWAFFORD and Rennie HOWARD.

1867 - Rufus Aaron LEE born.  Rufus was the son of Robert E. LEE and Frances A. CROWLEY.

1872 - John Elmer PETRY died in Jay County, Indiana.  John was the son of Levi W. PETRY and Susannah COFFMAN.

1879 - Wilbur E. YOUNG born.  Wilbur was the son of Chauncey YOUNG and Ellen HUSS.

1887 - Ira F. HENDRIXSON died in Brown County, Ohio.  Ira was the son of Allen HENDRIXSON and Sarah Ann WRIGHT.

1892 - Emma Dorothy Sophie RITT married Henry Herman BISHOFF in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Emma was the daughter of Karl Ludwig RITT and Anna Maria Louisa Catherine KAHRE.

1895 - James WRIGHT married Clara B. HICKS in Madison County, Indiana.  James was the son of Joseph W. WRIGHT and Rebecca Ann HEATON.

1899 - Orpha Mable HALEY died in Jay County, Indiana.  Orpha was the daughter of Eli Weldon HALEY and Cora Belle METZNER.

1911 - Lula Iona DAVIS died.  Lula was the daughter of Stillman Coon DAVIS and Keziah DAVIS.

1935 - Peter SCHAEFFER died in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  Peter was the son of Charles SCHAEFFER and Mary Victoria RIEBER.

On This Day : October 12

1666 - John MAXSON born in Westerly, Rhode Island.  John was the son of John MAXSON and Mary MOSHER.  John was my 7x-great grandfather.

1667 - Judith CLARKE born in Newport, Rhode Island.  Judith was the daughter of Joseph CLARKE and Bethiah HUBBARD.  Judith was my 7x-great grandmother.

1709 - Timothy PIERCE married Hannah BRADHURST.  Timothy was the son of Thomas PIERCE and Eliza ________.

1716 - William FESSENDEN married Martha WYETH in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  William was the son of Nicholas FESSENDEN and Margaret CHENEY.  William was my 8x-great grandfather.

1722 - Isaac PIERCE born.  Isaac was the son of Isaac PIERCE and Grace TUCKER.

1723 - Ann CHEW married William JOHNSTON.  Ann was the daughter of Larkin CHEW and Hannah ROY.

1754 - Tacy BURDICK born.  Tacy was the daughter of Nathan BURDICK and Goodeth MAXSON.

1762 - Josiah GARFIELD born.  Josiah was the son of Samuel GARFIELD and Abigail PIERCE.

1769 - Ruth MAXSON married Rowse BABCOCK.  Ruth was the daughter of John MAXSON and Martha PROSSER.

1809 - Elizabeth STANLEY married Cadwaller PITTS.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel STANLEY and Sarah WILLIAMS.

1814 - Eleazer BEALS married Ann MILLIKEN.  Eleazer was the son of John BEALS and Susannah JOHNSON.

1831 - Caleb SUMNER died in Hendricks County, Indiana.  Caleb was the son of Robert SUMNER and Phoebe BEALS.

1833 - Elizabeth HEATON born in Brown County, Ohio.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Alexander S. HEATON and Jemima SHAW.

1837 - Lydia MAXSON married Caleb AYERS in Clark County, Ohio.  Lydia was the daughter of Jesse MAXSON and Sarah SUTTON.

1842 - Amer Jackson BEALS married Harriett HIGGINBOTHAM in Randolph County, Indiana.  Amer was the son of Daniel BEALS and Catherine JACKSON.


1854 - Edward F. MOULTON married Ziltha WILLIAMS in Putnam County, Ohio. Edward was the son of Selah MOULTON and Lydia FINEL.

1859 - Edwin YOUNG born in Green Creek Township, Sandusky County, Ohio.  Edwin was the son of Noah YOUNG and Orlintha BROWN.

1876 - Margaret Jane SWAFFORD married William Burrell LEE in Ray County, Missouri.  Margaret was the daughter of John B. SWAFFORD and Nancy Rowena MILLARD.

1881 - Warren KING married Kitty BLACK in Marion County, Indiana.  Warren was the son of Cornelius KING and Mary Ann BARNETT.

1881 - Isaac Luther ERVIN married Edith Katherine BEAM in White County, Indiana.  Isaac was the son of Moses ERVIN and Martha SMITH.

1893 - William Mathias MILLER born in Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  William was the son of Mathias MILLER and Elizabeth SCHAEFFER.

1894 - Ruth Eleanor WEHRLY died.  Ruth was the daughter of John William WEHRLY and Esther L. WHITE.

1917 - Rufus Aaron LEE died in Rayville, Missouri.  Rufus was the son of Robert E. LEE and Frances A. CROWLEY.

1919 - Elizabeth SCISM died.  Elizabeth was the daughter of William SCISM and Lucinda McPHEETERS.

1929 - James David COFFELT died in Jefferson City, Missouri.  James was the son of Daniel COFFELT and Rebecca A. SWAFFORD.

1967 - Frances E. SEXTON died in Tuscumbi, Alabama.  Frances was the daughter of James WRIGHT and Clara B. HICKS.

Luman C. & Barbara I. (Wehrly) LeMasters: Are There Other Surviving Photos?

Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters, my great-grandparents

While working on updating my LeMaster family tree at Ancestry.com, I noticed that the above cropped photo is the only one I have of my paternal great-grandparents, Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS.  The photo is from a larger one taken at a family reunion:

I don't have the date of the photo, but Luman died in 1933 and Barbara in 1930, so the photo must have been taken before then.  Was it a family reunion, a holiday, or some other event?  It is likely that the photo was taken at Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.


My hope is that other LeMaster cousins out there might have other photos of either Luman or Barbara that they would be willing to share.  If so, please contact me.

Levi Petry Family - 1900 census Jay Co., IN

Today I sourced the data on the Levi W. Petry family in the 1900 census of Jay Co., IN. They were living in Madison Twp. in the town of Salamonia. Levi is my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed. Levi was the son of Charles and Susannah (Wehrly) Petry.

Levi's occupation was that of a carpenter, he and his wife Susannah had been married for 33 years, and they had 13 children - 7 of whom were still living by 1900.

Levi W. PETRY b. November 2, 1844 Preble Co., OH, d. August 18, 1930 Jay Co., IN., m. January 13, 1867 to Susannah COFFMAN, dau. of John and Margaret (WEIMER) COFFMAN. Susannah b. December 1846 Ohio, d. August 26, 1928 Jay Co., IN.

Known children of Levi W. and Susannah (Coffman) Petry are as follows :
a. Mary Estella Petry b. October 10, 1867 Jay Co., IN., d. October 5, 1900 Jay Co., IN.
b. John Elmer Petry b. February 4, 1869 Jay Co., IN., d. November 2, 1872 Jay Co., IN.
c. Lula Belle Petry b. May 24, 1870 Jay Co., IN., d. January 2, 1939, m. David Corle
d. Charles Francis Petry
e. Daisy Petry
f. Gracie C. Petry
g. Harriett Petry
h. ______ Petry
i. Sarah Agnes Petry
j. Susannah Gertrude Petry
k. Jesse C. Petry b. September 1881 Indiana
l. Blanche D. Petry b. September 1885 Indiana
m. Chauncy Orlo Petry b. September 1888 Indiana