Exploratory Data Analysis: Ethel May (Wehrly) Shreeve (1886-1951)

Ethel May (Wehrly) Shreeve (1886-1951) was my paternal great-grandaunt. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Ethel was born June 17, 1886 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana¹.  I do not have a copy of her birth certificate.  Will add this to my list of things "to do" for my next research trip.  The State of Indiana did not require statewide registration of births until 1907.  Jay County, Indiana Health Department has birth records from 1882.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Ethel's birth was announced in the local newspaper, it has been lost to history.  The Jay County Public Library does has some newspapers from the late 1880s.  The State Library in Indianapolis does not indicate any newspapers from the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving record of the Werhly family.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Ethel, nor the church affiliation of the Wehrly family.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Ethel was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Ethel married William Shreeve on December 19, 1906¹, probably in Jay County, Indiana.  I do not yet have a copy of their marriage license.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

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

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Ethel and William's 25th wedding anniversary would have been December 19, 1931. Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if any mention was made of anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that Ethel and William were ever divorced, but a search of Jay and Allen County, Indiana court records needs to be done.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Ethel died April 12, 1951¹, probably in Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  I do not have a copy of her death certificate.  Will need to add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Will need to check local newspapers in Allen County and Jay County, Indiana to see if Ethel's obituary was mentioned.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Once I've obtained her obituary, I might be able to identify the funeral home that handled the arrangements and then contact them to see if they have more records.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Ethel's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery in Jay County, Indiana has been photographed².  The stone reads "Ethel M. 1886-1951 Mother".

               Her memorial page at FindAGrave site is here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 15, 1940, Ethel was enumerated in the William A. Shreeve household in Ward 1 of Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana³, as Ethel Shreeve, wife, age 50, born in Indiana.  She resided in the same place in 1935.  She had completed the 8th grade.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 5, 1930, Ethel was enumerated in the William A. Shreeve household in Ward 1 of Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana⁴, as Ethel Shreeve, wife, age 43, born in Indiana.  She was 19 years old at her marriage.  Her father and mother were both born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.  Their residence was at 1325 Dodge Avenue.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 7, 1920, Ethel was enumerated in the William A. Shreeve household in Ward 3 of Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio⁵, as Ethel M. Shreeve, wife, age 33, born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.  Her father was born in Ohio and her mother born in Indiana.  No occupation was listed.  Their residence was at 419 Euclid.

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 15, 1920, Ethel was enumerated in the William A. Shreeves household in Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana⁶, as Ethel M. Shreeves, wife, age 23.  She had been married for 3 years and the mother of 1 child who was living.  Her father and mother were both born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 2, 1900, Ethel was enumerated in the William P. Wehrly household in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana⁷, as Ethel M. Wehrly, daughter, born June 1886 in Indiana.  Her father and mother were born in Ohio.  She could read and write and spoke English.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913 and 1921.  These, however, were merely for the purposes of legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

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

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Ethel was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by her husband or father that would have made Ethel eligible for benefits.  Her father did serve during the Civil War, but I don't believe she was ever eligible for minor's benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Ethel was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Allen and Jay County in Indiana and Van Wert County, Ohio to see what records might mention Ethel and her family.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat and county maps for Allen and Jay County in Indiana and Van Wert County, Ohio will need to searched.  Will contact the local historical societies to see what maps they might have in their collection.

5. Supplemental Records

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

Sources:

1. Wehrly, Blaine & Gladys, "Wehrly & Smith Family History." Report to the Wehrly Reunion, New Castle, Indiana, 16 August 1970.  Photocopy held by author.
2. Ethel May Wehrly Shreeve Memorial Page, FindAGrave, Inc. online [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68874455], accessed 17 July 2013
3. 1940 U.S. census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 1, Ft. Wayne, enumeration district 94-54A, SD 4, sheet 63A, household 190; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
4. 1930 U.S. census, Allen County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 1, Ft. Wayne, enumeration district 2-4, SD 3, sheet 5B, 1325 Dodge Avenue, dwelling 129, family 129; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
5. 1920 U.S. census, Van Wert County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 3, Van Wert, enumeration district 132, SD 4, sheet 6B, 419 Euclid Avenue, dwelling 150, family 155; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. 1910 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Wayne Township, enumeration district 80, SD 8, sheet 12B, dwelling 16, family 16; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. William P. Wehrly household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 62, SD 67, sheet 2B, dwelling 44, family 45; National Archives micopublication T623, roll 380, page 77.


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.

Family Books in the Jay County, Indiana Historical Society Library, Letters K-L

Received this list of the family books at the Jay County, Indiana Historical Society Library and wanted to share.  The Library is located at 903 East Main Street, Portland, Indiana 47371.  Email : research@jaycountyhistory.org

Kalsch
Katterjohn
Keene
Kelso
Kendall
Kesler
Ketron
King
Kinley
Kinsey
Kirby
Kizer
Koehen
Koehn
Kopp
Kraft
Krieder
Kunce
Kunkel
Kuntz

Lake
Lamb
Landers
Lanning
Lantz
Lare
Latham
Laudig
Lauff
Lawrence
Leininger
Lemaster
Lewis
Ley
Linder
Lineberry
Locker
Long
Lotz
Loy
Lutes

Webster Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

Back on July 8th, while on vacation, I managed to slip over into Darke County, Ohio and work in a little genealogy research.  The Darke County Visitors Bureau puts out an excellent map of the county, including townships, and the locations of cemeteries.  While we were driving around, I decided to see if I could locate the Webster Cemetery in Allen Township where some of my relatives were buried.  According to the sign, this cemetery was established in 1842.

Sadly, this cemetery is in need of some repair.  Many of the tombstones were knocked over.   The cemetery is right on the corner of the county road and corn fields.  Unfortunately, I didn't have materials I needed to make a rubbing of some of these tombstones, as it was hard to read the inscriptions regarding "years, months and days" on the children.  

Edward Chew (1870-1870) was the son of Nathaniel Durbin and Margaret H. (Heistand) Chew.  The tombstone reads "Edward, son of N.D. and Maggie Chew died January 27, 1870." It appears that his tombstone says aged 1 day.  Also inscribed is the phrase "blossomed on earth to bloom in heaven."

Phillip D. Lemasters (1869-1869) was the son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (Chew) Lemasters.   The tombstone reads "Phillip D. son of L.W. and M.K. Lemasters died May 1, 1869."  I cannot make out the number of months and days.

Rev. Nathaniel Chew (1786-1866) was the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Springer) Chew.  He was my 4th-great grandfather.  His tombstone reads "Rev. Nathaniel Chew born in Gloucester Co. N.J. Nov. 10 1786 died Jan. 24 1866 Aged 79 Y 2 M 14 D."  Now for some reason, I have him dying in Mahaska County, Iowa - where several Chews had settled, but I sincerely doubt they would have transported him back to Ohio for burial.  More investigation needs to be done on this.

Mary E. Chew (1868-1869) was the daughter of Abel Woolston and Salome H. (Holdeman) Chew.  Her tombstone reads "Mary E. dau. of A.W. and S.H. Chew died Sept. 3 1869 aged 1 Y 5 M 21 D."

Caroline Bishop (Woolston) Chew was the daughter of Abel B. and Rachel (Woolston) Woolston.  She was my 3rd-great grandmother.  Her tombstone reads "Caroline B. wife of Dr. E.C. Chew died Feb. 27 1879."  I was unable to read the aged remarks without a rubbing.

All of these tombstones were together in one section, probably a family plot since they were related and all died within a ten year period.  They were all lined up in a neat little row.