Exploratory Data Analysis : Edmund G. Pierce (1837-1875)

Edmund G. Pierce (1837-1875) was my maternal 3rd-great grandfather.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     Edmund was born April 30, 1837¹ in Wayne County, Indiana.  

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates at this time.  

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

                If Edmund's birth was mentioned in a local newspaper, it has been lost to time.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving family Bible that would record the birth of Edmund.  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 bapitsmal record for Edmund, nor the church affiliation of the family at the time.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for future research trips.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

                There is no indication that Edmund was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Edmund married Lydia P. Duell on October 17, 1858 in Preble County, Ohio^1,2.  Lydia was the daughter of Joshua and Abigail (Borton) Duell.  She was born March 26, 1838 in Pilesgrove, New Jersey and died September 14, 1860³.  They had no known children.

          Edmund married secondly to Catherine Groenendyke on May 5, 1864¹ in Madison County, Indiana.  Catherine was the daughter of Elias and Nancy (Jenkins) Groenendyke.  She was born February 4, 1843 in Madison County, Indiana and died December 10, 1913 in Madison County, Indiana.  They raised 5 children in Madison County, Indiana.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

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

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Edmund was deceased before reaching the 25th year mark for either of his marriages.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that Edmund and Lydia or Edmund and Catherine were ever divorced.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Edmund died January 8, 1875 in Madison County, Indiana, according to my database.  The State of Indiana did not require death certificates at this time.  Will need to seek out additional sources to determine his exact date of death.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Edmund's death.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Will need to search the local historical society to see if they have records of funeral homes that might shed some light on Edmund's funeral.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Edmund's tombstone in the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana⁴ has been photographed.  A link to his memorial page at FindAGrave is here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1870 Federal Census

               On July 15, 1870, Edmund was enumerated as the head of household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁵, as E.G. Pierce, age 33, farmer.  He was born in Indiana and was a U.S. citizen.  The value of his real estate was $3200 and the value of his personal estate was $750.

          2.1.2. 1860 Federal Census

               I have not yet located Edmund in the 1860 federal census.  He should be living in Preble County, Ohio.  He was married two years earlier in that same county.  His wife, Lydia, died in 1860 as well.  Will continue to search for the record.

          2.1.3. 1850 Federal Census

                     There is a record of an Edmund Pierce, age 13, living in Wayne County, Indiana living in the James Walker household in Washington Township, Wayne County, Indiana.  This is where I would expect to find the Pierce family, but the rest of the family has not been found.  I do not know of any relationship with the Walker family.  Much more research needs to be done to locate Edmund's father, Francis, and the rest of the family in the 1850 census.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931.  These, however, were merely for the purposes of legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

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

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          I have not yet located any draft registration records nor military service for Edmund.

     3.2. Pension Records

          Not applicable.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Preble County, Ohio and Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Edmund.  Will add that to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat maps of Preble County, Ohio and Madison County, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information can be gleaned that might be relevant to my search.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on Edmund 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. Pierce, Frederick Beech, "Pierce Genealogy...posterity of Thomas Pierce...", Press of Chas. Hamilton, Worchester, MA, 1882, page 327.
2. http://www.usigs.org/library/vitals/oh/preble/prebmarr.htm.
3. Lydia B. Pierce, FindAGrave.com online [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9257485], accessed 3 October 2010.
4. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 September 2015), Edmund G. Pierce tombstone.
5. E.G. Pierce household, 1870 U.S. census schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 32, dwelling 235, family 235; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 336, page 184.


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.

Surname Saturday : Generation Eight

For this edition of Surname Saturday, I'm going to list generation eight of my family tree in hopes of making a connection.  Many times people find my blog through Google searches, and I'm hoping to reach more cousins.  If you are related to any of these families, I'd love to hear from you.

Generations 1 through 6
Generation 7

Generation 8
132. CHARLES YOUNG : born Apr 1757 in Germany; married before 1787; died circa 1848 Berkeley Co., Virginia (West Virginia).
133. CATHERINE ELIZABETH KINT : born 29 Jul 1768 in Germany; died 17 Apr 1841 in Auglaize County, Ohio.
134. JACOB McLANE : born before 1770 in Virginia; died Pickaway Co., Ohio.
135. unknown
136. NATHANIEL CHEW : born 1765 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey; married circa 1784 in New Jersey; died 16 Jul 1841 in Gloucester Co., New Jersey.
137. SARAH SPRINGER : born 1762; died 1845.
138. JOB WEST : born circa 1771 New Jersey; died after 1850 in Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
139. SARAH JACKSON
140. JOHN WOOLSTON : born 1766 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; married 1793 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died 12 Apr 1838 in Mt. Holly, Burlington Co., New Jersey.
141. BEULAH BRIGGS : born 1773 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died 29 Apr 1854.
142. SAMUEL WOOLSTON : born 22 Aug 1768 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; married 26 Feb 1795 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died 3 Nov 1814 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
143. HANNAH HAINES : born 21 Jan 1768 in Burlington Co., New Jersey; died 7 Feb 1813 in Burlington Co., New Jersey.
144. HEINRICH WEHRLY : born circa 1740; died Tuscarawas Co., Ohio.
145. CATHERINE MOSER : born in 1743; died 1834 in York Co., Pennsylvania.
146. JOHN PETER SAUBEL : born 21 Feb 1758 in Saar Basin, Germany; married before 1775; died 15 Aug 1831 in York Co., Pennsylvania.
147. BARBARA ________ : born circa 1758.
148. STEFFAN PETRY : born 18 Jun 1729 in Germany; married before 1754; died 11 Jan 1793 in York Co., Pennsylvania.
149. unknown
150. DUVALD KALTREIDER : born circa 1740 in Germany; married circa 1760.
151. ELIZABETH CATHERINE ________ :born circa 1740.
156. EPHRAIM MAXSON : born circa 1743 in Monmouth Co., New Jersey; married 27 Apr 1764 in Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died 10 Sep 1795 in New Salem, Virginia (West Virginia).
157. ELISABETH DAVIS : born in 1746 in New Jersey; died 1807 in New Salem, Virginia (West Virginia).
158. CORNELIUS SUTTON : born 21 Oct 1750 in Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died 30 Sep 1850 in West Union, Doddridge County, Virginia (West Virginia).
158. ELIZABETH APPLEGATE : born circa 1758.
168. DAVID SHIRK : born circa 1753 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; circa 1827 in Windsor Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
169. BARBARA ERB : born circa 1755; died Mar 1831 in Windsor Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
172. MICHAEL JACOBS : born 20 Nov 1772; died 23 Jan 1846 in Warrington Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
173. MARGARET ________ : born 23 Oct 1769 in Pennsylvania; died 23 Feb 1864 in Warrington Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
174. ABRAHAM BYERS : born 31 Dec 1771; married circa 1795; died 21 Jan 1823 in Warrington Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
175. MARY STICKEL : born 28 Aug 1768 in Warrington Township, York Co., Pennsylvania; died 24 Sep 1842 in Warrington Township, York Co., Pennsylvania.
184. JOHN MOULTON : born 27 Dec 1755 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut; married 24 Jul 1781 in Castleton, Rutland Co., Vermont; died circa 1808 in Vermont.
185. AVIS HURLBUT : born 11 Nov 1762 in Woodbury, Connecticut.
186. EDWARD FINEL : born 27 Oct 1748 in Granville, Massachusetts; married in Saratoga, New York; died 19 Jun 1821 in East Poultney, Rutland Co., Vermont.
187. ANNA MORGAN : born 22 Oct 1760 in Sargent, New York; died 3 Dec 1833 in Poultney, Rutland Co., Vermont.
188. JOHN PHILBRICK : born 23 Feb 1748 in Hampton, Province of New Hampshire; married 6 Dec 1770 in Hollis, New Hampshire; died 31 Jul 1840 in Weare, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire.
189. SALLY JEWETT : born 7 Mar 1749 in Hollis, Province of New Hampshire.
190. JOHN FOX : born in 1755; died 1841.
191. SARAH WORCESTER : born in 1765; died in 1849.
192. GEORGE WRIGHT : born 31 Jul 1780 in Pennsylvania; married 27 Jan 1812 in Adams Co., Ohio; died 5 Aug 1853 in Brown Co., Ohio.
193. ELIZABETH ROBINS : born 16 Jun 1781 in Pennsylvania; died 23 Nov 1857 in Brown Co., Ohio.
194. SAMUEL WARDLAW : born 23 Nov 1773 in Augusta Co., Virginia; married before 1800 in Rockingham Co., Virginia; died 6 May 1848 in Brown Co.,Ohio.
195. ELIZABETH NESBIT : born circa 1776 in Virginia; died after 1850 in Brown Co., Ohio.
196. THOMAS HEATON : born 1761 in Harper's Ferry, Virginia; married 11 Mar 1789 in Faquier Co., Virginia; died 17 Sep 1858 in Brown Co., Ohio.
197. SUSAN TAYLOR.
198. JOHN THOMAS JACOBS : born 20 May 1789 in Virginia; married 5 Aug 1808 in Adams Co., Ohio; died 1 Sep 1847 in Brown Co., Ohio.
199. ISABELLA FEILY : born 10 Jun 1793 in Pennsylvania; died 5 Sep 1876 in Ohio.
202. CORNELIUS SULLIVAN 
203. SUSANNA ________
206. GODFREY HECK : born 1777 in Maryland; married 28 Apr 1802 in Bracken Co., Kentucky; died 30 Nov 1858 in Fayette Co., Indiana.
207. ELIZABETH KIMMER : born 2 Mar 1786 in Pennsylvania; died 1860 in Fayette Co., Indiana.
208. GORDON PIERCE : born 31 Aug 1777 in Hardwick, Worchester Co., Massachusetts; married in 1796 in Thetford, Orange Co., Vermont; died 7 Feb 1875 in Pitcher, Chenango Co., New York.
209. THIRSA SMALLEY : born circa 1775 in Massachusetts; died in 1861 in Pitcher, Chenango Co., New York.
212. JAMES GROENENDYKE : born 1770 in New Jersey; married 4 Jun 1797; died Sep 1836 in Fayette Co., Indiana.
213. JOHANNA ANTONIDES : born 28 Aug 1778 in New Jersey; died in 1825 in Fayette Co., Indiana.
216. ISAAC PENISTEN : born 1762 in New Jersey; died after 1850 Madison Co., Indiana.
217. SARAH ELIZABETH ________ : born circa 1773 in Pennsylvania.
220. JAMES ALDERMAN : born in 1774 in Shenandoah Co., Virginia; died between 1850 and 1854 in Greenville, Bond Co., Illinois.
221. MARTHA CANTELL : born before 1775.
226. SAMUEL WILLSON : born circa 1780 in New Jersey; married before 1805 in New Jersey; died between 1835 and 1850 in Butler Co., Ohio.
227. ELIZABETH ________ : born circa 1780 in New Jersey; died after 1850 in Butler Co., Ohio.
232. NATHAN C. BEALS : born 3 Sep 1789 in Lost Creek, Jefferson Co., Tennessee; married 25 Nov 1820 in Clinton Co., Ohio; died 5 Sep 1867 in Humboldt, Richardson Co., Nebraska.
233. ELIZABETH CHEW : born 29 July 1802 in Clinton Co., Ohio; died 26 Jan 1881 in Converse, Miami Co., Ohio.
234. JOHN W. DAVIS : born 31 Oct 1794 in Chatham Co., North Carolina; married 12 Oct 1814 in Chatham Co., North Carolina; died 2 Aug 1877 in Hamilton Co., Indiana.
235. MARY BARKER : born 24 Nov 1793 in Randolph Co., North Carolina; died 30 Jan 1890 in Westfield, Hamilton Co., Indiana.
236. JOHN W. POE : born 1781 in North Carolina; married 15 Oct 1807 in Randolph Co., North Carolina; died 1 Sep 1850 in Morgan Co., Indiana.
237. ELIZABETH RAINS : born 20 Sep 1789; died 22 Mar 1840 in Morgan Co., Indiana.
238. HENRY MILLS : born 31 March 1780 in Guilford Co., North Carolina; married 10 Jan 1810 in Jefferson Co., Tennessee; died 16 Mar 1833  in Morgan Co., Indiana.
239. HANNAH WOODWARD : born 3 Sep 1790 in Guilford Co., North Carolina; died 22 Jun 1862 in Morgan Co., Indiana.
248. JOHN DAVIS : born in Virginia; died before Nov 1845 in Monroe Co., Indiana.
249. SUSANNAH _________ : born circa 1801 in Virginia; died after 1860 in Monroe Co., Indiana.
250. JESSE REYNOLDS : born circa 1809 in Tennessee; married 18 Aug 1830 in Monroe Co., Indiana; died Aug 1891 in Monroe Co., Indiana.
251. MARY PUTMAN : born circa 1809 in Kentucky; died 2 Feb 1884 in Bean Blossom Township, Monroe Co., Indiana.
252. LARKIN SWAFFORD : born 1790 in Greenville Co., South Carolina; married before 1817; died 1839 in Indiana.
253. NANCY ________ : born circa 1790 in Tennessee; died after 7 Oct 1850 in Monroe Co., Indiana.
254. DAVID CROCKETT : born circa 1794 in Virginia; married circa 1820 in Anderson Co., Tennessee; died Aug 1854 in Owen Co., Indiana.
255. MARY ANN NOSLER : born 7 Sep 1802 in Montgomery Co., Virginia; died 7 Aug 1872 in Owen Co., Indiana.


Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Shaky Leaves : Chesley Franklin LeMaster (1890-1960)

Chesley Franklin LeMaster (1890-1960) was my paternal granduncle, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster.  Ancestry.com is currently showing 8 hints from historical records for him in my LeMaster and Allied Families Member Tree.

I have ignored the Ancestry Member Tree hints for now and will concentrate on the records.

One of the databases is U.S., FindAGrave Index, which leads to his memorial page.  

Name:	Chesley F. LeMaster
Birth Date:	1890
Death Date:	1960
Cemetery:	Salamonia Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:	Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana, USA
Has Bio?:	N
Spouse:	Clara L. LeMaster
Children:	Dale W. LeMaster
URL:	http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-...

Looks like his memorial page needs some updating and biographical information submitted.

In the 1940 census of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, Chesley, age 47, was renting a farm for $8 per month.  The household consisted of his wife Clara, age 45 born Indiana; son Ralph, age 17 born Indiana; son Dale, age 12 born Indiana; and daughter Patty Lou age 7 born Indiana.  Two older children were not in the household, daughter Doris was married in 1935 and son Donald was married in 1932.

1940 US census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, enumeration district (ED) 38-8, SD 5, sheet 5B, dwelling 179, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 August 2015); National Archives, Washington D.C..

In the 1930 census of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, he was enumerated as "Chessley Leamaster", age 39, renting a farm.  The household consisted of Clara, age 35 born Indiana; son Donald, age 16 born Indiana; daughter Dora, age 15 born Indiana; son Ralph, age 7 born Indiana; and son Dale, age 2 born in Indiana.

1930 US Census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, enumeration district (ED) 38-8, SD 5, sheet 9A, dwelling 204, family 204, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 August 2015); National Archives, Washington D.C..

I was surprised that I didn't already have these census records in my RootsMagic database.  I've since updated his file.

Another hint that was provided listed the exact date of his birth (which I already had), and provided the location of his birth record with the Jay County Health Department.

Ancestry.com. Indiana Births, 1880-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
Original data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Birth Records. Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.

One new record that I didn't have sourced in my database was the record of his draft registration during World War I.  He registered on June 5, 1917 in Midland, Midland County, Michigan.  He was a laborer with the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, was married with two children.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

If you are related or have any additional information, I would love to hear from you.