Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933), Nebraska Years, 52 Ancestors # 9

Luman Cooper LeMasters

The ninth ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my paternal great-grandfather, Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933).  Previously, I'd written about the details of his life in an Exploratory Data post.

Shortly after his marriage in November 1886 to Barbara Isabel Wehrly in Jay County, Indiana, my great-grandparents moved to Valley County, Nebraska.

Valley County is situated right in the center of Nebraska, and the county seat is Ord.  The city was named after Civil War general Edward O.C. Ord, who commanded the Department of the Platte.  The name Ord in my family has it origins from this man and time period.

Though I don't know the exact reason for the move to Nebraska, I can speculate that it was likely due to cheap land and the fact that Luman already had family in the area.  Luman's uncle, Jacob Lemasters (1845-1922) had moved to Valley County, Nebraska in March of 1883.  As a young couple starting out on their own, the lure of "going west" may have held a strong appeal.

I've only managed to find a few records of Luman and Barbara's time in Valley County, Nebraska.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the book or page for these records and need to get that information recorded.

Receipt for land purchase in Valley County, Nebraska

Final Receipt United States to Luman C. Lemasters, No. 4993, Receivers Office at Grand Island April 10, 1888

Received from Luman C. Lemaster of Valley County Nebraska the sum of Two Hundred Dollars and --- cents being in full for the North East quarter of Section No 20 in Township No 20 North of Range No. 13 West containing 160 acres and --- hundreth at $ 1.35 per acre.

A.H. Baker Reciever

 $200 Filed for Record April 19 1888 S.A. Patton

It would appear from the record above that they were already residents of Valley County by the year 1888 when they purchased the land.  When they first moved to Nebraska they were likely renters.

Family tradition, and at least one published genealogy¹ related that Luman and Barbara's first child, an unnamed infant, was born and died in Ord, Valley County, Nebraska in 1887.

The name of this child has been lost to history.  Even whether it was a boy or a girl is not known.  I've been unsuccessful in locating any information about the child.

The second child of Luman and Barbara, Clarence Harrison LeMaster, was born June 14, 1888 in Nebraska.  His middle name was likely chosen in honor of 1888 Presidential candidate Benjamin Harrison, an Indiana native, due to the fact that the LeMaster family were staunch Republicans.

Whether it was the economy, the struggles of losing one of their children, or a longing for home, Luman and Barbara decided to move back to Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  They were back by May 25, 1890, when their son Chesley Franklin LeMaster was born.

A quit claim deed was filed in Valley County from Luman C. Lemaster & wife to A.M. Robbins dated August 10, 1891.

Know all men by these presents that we Luman C. Lemaster and Isabelle B. Lemaster, husband and wife, of the county of Jay and State of Indiana, for the consideration of six hundred Dollars, hereby quit claim to A.M. Robbins of the county of Valley, and State of Nebraska the following described real-estate, situated in the county of Valley and State of Nebraska, to wit : North East Qt Section twenty (20), township twenty (20) Range thirteen (13) west.  In witness whereof we have set our hands this tenth day of February 1890.  Luman C. Lemasters Isabelle B. Lemasters

In presence of Geo. Theurer

State of Indiana, Jay County, SS : Be it remembered, that on the tenth day of February 1890 before the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said county, personally came Luman C. Lemasters and his wife Isabell B. Lemasters to __ known to be the identical person described in and who executed the foregoing Deed as grantor, and acknowledged said instrument to be their voluntary act and deed.  Witness my hand and official seal the day and year last above written.  D. Skinner, Notary Public 

The time spent by the family in Valley County, Nebraska was less than three years, likely from mid-1887 to early 1890.  They bought 160 acres and were able to sell it for three times what they paid for it.  While there are many LeMaster relatives who stayed in Nebraska, for my direct line, the Nebraska years were a small blip in their lives.

Sources : 

1. Rummel, Merle & Madeline Olt, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977, p. 385.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

June Kirk (Gilliland) Lambertson (1898-1951), Adoptive Surname, 52 Ancestors # 8

June Gilliland

The eighth ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project is my maternal great-grandmother, June Kirk (Gilliland) Lambertson (1898-1951). Previously, I'd written about the details of her life in an Exploratory Data post.

June's origin story has been the subject of the first major mystery in my genealogy research.  Her daughter, my grandmother, told me that June was an orphan, but there was more to that story.  June's father's name remains unknown at this point, and this post will tell how she came to have the Gilliland surname. 

June's birth certificate

June was born in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana on June 11, 1898.   Her birth announcement lists the fact that she was born at the "Door of Hope", which was associated with the Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis.  Her birth certificate lists her as "Infant (female) Davis" and her parents are listed as Atkinson and Ida Davis.  The search for just exactly who June's father was continues, with previous posts on the subject here and here. 

Ida (Davis) Hancock Morris (1874-1900), June's mother, has an entire section devoted to the mysteries of her life on this blog.  She died when June was just two years old, leaving her an orphan.  June also had older sister, Pansy.

Both June and Pansy were taken in and raised by Ida's mother, Mary Ellen (Swafford) Davis Gilliland (1854-1932).  Mary raised her two granddaughters, Pansy and June alongside the two children she had with her second husband, Robert Farrell Gilliland (1850-1916).

June Gilliland

I've not yet located any formal documentation that states that June was formally adopted by her grandmother and step-grandfather, or when exactly she started going by the Gilliland surname.  These records may either be located in Monroe or Owen Counties, Indiana.

June has not yet been located in the 1900 census, but her sister Pansy was found living with the Gilliland's and listed with the surname Davis in Clay Township, Owen County, Indiana.

At the time of the 1910 census in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, June was listed as the step-granddaughter in the Robert Gilliland household as "June Gilliland".  According to newspaper accounts of her baptism at the Ellettsville Baptist Church in 1911, June was using the Gilliland surname.  When she married my great-grandfather in Monroe County, Indiana on June 28, 1917, she listed her surname as Gilliland.  Pansy was also using the Gilliland surname when she married Peter Decker in 1912.

Clemon and June Lambertson

It's pretty evident that June clearly went by the Gilliland surname from a young age, whether or not she was formally adopted by her grandmother and step-grandfather.  Whether she ever knew who her father was or his surname will never be known.

This explains why we have the Gilliland surname in our family tree though we do not have Gilliland ancestry.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.

Clemon Beals Lambertson (1898-1994), Memories, 52 Ancestors # 7

Clemon Lambertson, 1916, likely Cicero, Indiana

The seventh ancestor in my 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks project is my maternal great-grandfather, Clemon Beals Lambertson (1898-1994), who married June Gilliland (1898-1951), on June 28, 1917 in Monroe County, Indiana. I had previously written about the events of his life in an Exploratory Data post.
Grandpa Clemon was the oldest ancestor that I have memories of having direct interaction.  Although we didn't interact very much, I do have a few memories of him.

The earliest memory I have of him was being at his house on Silver Street in Anderson, Indiana in the mid-1970s.  I don't remember the circumstances, but I do remember being at the house and seeing family pictures on the wall.  I also remember it not being too far to the Best-Ever Dairy, which was a great place to get ice cream.

Clemon Lambertson with Travis, Jason & Michelle LeMaster, 1979, Anderson, Indiana

I remember my dad borrowing Clemon's copy of the Chronology of the Beals Family and making copies from it for his genealogy research, which might have occurred around the same time as we hauled bricks away from Uncle Floyd's home in Elwood.  This was my first exposure to a compiled family genealogy - as an adult I purchased my own copy for my research.

I remember one time speaking with him on the phone when he called our house and we talked about baseball and the World Series.  The Dodgers were playing at the time, so this must have been around the 1978 series.

I also remember Grandpa Clemon coming to visit at my grandma's house.  As a little kid, I don't remember what we did or said.  Fortunately, I was able to find a copy of this photo of him at a birthday celebration.

Clemon Lambertson birthday, 1978, Bonnie Wright, Lynn Priest, Ruby Walsh, Martha Lambertson, Cissy Priest, Alexandria, Indiana

The last memory I have of him was when his daughter, my grandmother, passed away in 1984. At that time he would have been 86 years old.  I remember his comment that you weren't supposed to bury your child.  I can't imagine how painful that was for him.

I wish I could have talked to him about family history and share some of the things I've discovered over the years about his ancestors.

The 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge was created by Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small blog.  The premise is to write once a week about a specific ancestor - whether it be a story, a biography, a photograph or a research problem.