Funeral Record: Eli Weldon Haley (1866-1957)

Source: Eli Haley Funeral Record, Baird Freeman Funeral Home, Jay County, Indiana 1956-1958, Schindler & Saxman, ed., 1996

The Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana has several books of funeral home records of the Baird Freeman Funeral Home, compiled by local editors.  I was glad to find the records of my paternal great-grandfather, Eli Weldon HALEY (1866-1957).  Eli died July 14, 1957 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  His wife, Cora, had died in 1955.

I was glad to have located this record, as I found out that I had his death in the wrong month (I had it as June) in my database.  I need to go to the Health Department and obtain an official death certificate on my next visit.

Eli's date of death was July 14th at 6 a.m.  He was 91 years of age, being born March 24, 1866 in Erie County, Ohio.

His residence was listed as Madison Township, and his death occurred at the Stuber residence.  Vera (Mrs. Clarence) Stuber was his eldest daughter, and I know that they were taking care of them in their older years.

The record lists his father as George W. Haley and mother as Mary Jane Sherrick, which correlates to records that I have found.  He was buried in the Mt. Zion cemetery in a casket manufactured by the Batesville Casket Co., an Indiana company still in operation today.

I found it interesting to see the miscellaneous charges listed on the record, including charges for wires to Troy, Ohio and Cleveland(?) and a phone call to Marine City, Michigan.  I assume that these were made to notify relatives.  The phone call to Marine City, Michigan could have been to Eli's sister, Carrie Mae (HALEY) GRAVES, wife of Arthur GRAVES.  The Haley's were from the Cleveland area, so this might be to some other relatives.  I'm not sure who may have been in Troy, Ohio.  

The funeral record lists who to charge the bill to : Mrs. Clarence STUBER, Route 3 Ft. Recovery (Ohio); Mrs. Galen Miller, Muncie; Mrs. E.C. Kunce, Danville, Illinois; Mrs. Waymon Thornburg; and Mrs. Ord LeMaster.  These are the surviving children, all daughters.

Public Auction : Stuber Farm

Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, September 10, 1944, page 26.

Public Sale

The Stuber farm having been sold and as I am moving to Indiana I will offer at Public Auction at my home located 2 miles North and one-half mile West of Lima, Ohio, on State Route 81, on 

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1944 Commencing at 1:00 PM., Slow Time

12 Head of Cattle

Consisting of 6-year-old Guernsey and Holstein cow, fresh 10 weeks; 5-year-old Guernsey cow, fresh 12 weeks, 5-year-old Guernsey and Holstein, to freshen November 15, 4-year-old Guernsey cow, with calf by side, one Bundle heifer, bred; two Guernsey heifers, bred; four nice Guernsey heifers, under 6 months old.

11 Head of Sheep

Consisting of five 3-year-old Shropshire ewes and six Shropshire lambs. 15 ton mixed hay.

Machinery

Consisting of International manure spreader in A-1 shape; John Deere walking plow, 7-ft. McCormick grain binder; spring tooth harrow; Dane hay loader; Osborn hay tedder, 6-ft. tandem disc, two sets of harness; four collars; McCormick mower, 5-ft; 1 brooder house.

Household Goods

Consisting of medium size Sunny Home base burner, good condition; medium size Renown heating stove, coal or wood, good condition; square extension dining room table; 100-lb. side icer refrigerator; wood bed and springs; leather davenport; Aladdin lamp; three oil lamps; clothes wringer; vacuum cistern cleaner; oven for oil stove and miscellaneous articles.

Terms - Cash

Come And Spend The Afternoon

Clarence Stuber, Owner

Dorsey P. Miller, Auctioneer

Robert Hahn, Clerk

-----

This was the auction sale of my paternal great aunt & uncle, Clarence and Vera (Haley) Stuber.  They sold their property and moved from Ohio to Salamonia in Jay County, Indiana to help take care of Vera's parents, Eli and Cora (Metzner) Haley.  According to my uncle, Paul LeMaster, when Vera and Clarence made the move of nearly 50 miles, they did it with a wagon and a Ford tractor.

Finding Luman: Part Two

Sometimes after spinning your wheels trying to find a record for an ancestor, you just need to sleep on it.  Such was the case in finding my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMASTERS and his family in the 1870 census.


I woke up this morning feeling as if I had received a bit of "divine revelation" on how to look for him.  Previously, I had no luck in searching for him at the Ancestry.com database for the 1870 census by name, or even a line by line browsing of the township where I thought he should be.  This morning I tried a different tack.


Focusing on his wife, Mary, I entered information in the search parameters only for her name, date of birth within 2 years, state of birth and then the presumed locality of Darke County, Ohio.  There was only one result found for the 1870 census that matched my parameters.

When I clicked on the image, I had found my family :

Source: Luman Lemasters household, 1870 census,  Allen Twp., Darke County, Ohio, dwelling 79, family 79, Ancestry.com [database on-line]

The handwriting is not good, and I can see why it was transcribed as Pemantus instead of Lemasters.  Also, for some reason, the image is indexed as Brown Township, Darke County, Ohio when it is clearly Allen Township.  I submitted an indexing correction to Ancestry.com so that others will be able to find the image in the future.

Luman Lemasters was a 27 year old farmer, born in Ohio, with real estate valued at $1000 and personal property valued at $700 and a U.S. citizen.  His wife, Mary, was aged 23, born in New Jersey and keeping house.  Daughter Eula (Beulah) was aged 5, born in Indiana, and son Luman was aged 3, also born in Indiana.  With their daughter listed as Eula it was no wonder I couldn't find her when I searched for "Beulah" before.

I thought I had tried all the possibilities, but for some reason I hadn't found them.  In this case, it was good that I listened to my intuition.

Tombstone Tuesday: Forrest L. and Lelia E. (Ehrhart) Chew

Forrest L. and Lelia E. (Ehrhart) CHEW are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Forrest is my first cousin 3 times removed.


Forrest was born May 1894 in Ohio, the son of William Anderson and Emma Susan (STRAIGHT) CHEW.


Lelia was born September 23, 1898.  I do not know her parentage.


Forrest and Lelia were married on September 1, 1920 in Jay County, Indiana.


Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Forrest L. and Lelia E. Chew marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.


Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Portland, Indiana Directories : LeMaster

I found the following entries for my LeMASTER relatives in the various Portland, Indiana directories available at the Jay County Public Library.  I didn't search all of the directories that they had, nor did I research my other Jay County surnames.  Those will wait for later days.


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey Directory, Baldwin & Son, 1941, Parsons, KS


Le Master Arth (Maude) h 624 N Meridian 632J
Le Master John L Co Aud res Ft Recovery Ohio RD 3
Le Master Nadine mach opr Jay Garment Co h 3 Bryson Apts 286J
Le Master Ord W (Ruth) 3 prs mn Sheller Mfg Corp r 507 E Walnut


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey City Directory, 1949, The Mullin-Kille & Son, 1949, Columbus, OH


LeMaster Chesley F (Clara L) carp Chas L Sanders & S h 609 W High 997W
LeMaster Dale W (Grace C) 1 bodymn Minch Body Co h 609 1/2 W High
LeMaster Donald C (Luella M) 3 h 1100 W Arch
LeMaster Garth L (Ora L) 2 clk Kroger Co h 234 W Votaw
LeMaster Mary M opr United Tel Co r 716 W Arch 614M
LeMaster Ord W (Ruth P) 4 fcty h 1107 W Water 27F02


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey City Directory, 1960-61, The Mullin-Kille & Graphic, Chillicothe, OH


LeMaster Dale (Grace) bodymn Wehrly Mtr Sls h RD 5
LeMaster Garth L (Ora Lee) 4 heater Portland Forge h 234 W Votaw 726-8432
LeMaster Grace C (Mrs Dale) ofc mgr Steed Business Serv r RD 5
LeMaster Helen (Mrs John) emp Jay Garment r RD 6
LeMaster Kenneth P (Mary) heater Portland Forge res Ridgeville Ind
LeMaster Ord W (Ruth P) 3 case dept Delco h 1107 W Water 726-4504
LeMaster Paul W (Betty E) 4 slsmn Hayes Milling h 222 W 7th 726-8317
LeMaster Wanda F opr United Tel h 518 W Arch 726-4379

Amanuensis Monday: Sketch of Luman W. LeMasters

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today I'm looking at the biographical sketch of my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMASTERS, which appeared in the book "History of Jay County, Indiana: including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History", by Milton T. Jay, 1922, Historical Publishing Company, page 195.





Luman W. LeMasters, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the best known farmers and landowners of Jay county, proprietor of "Lookout Hill Farm" in Madison township, where he makes his home, this farm being on rural mail route No. 6 out of Portland, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of this county practically all the time since he was twelve years of age, a period of about seventy years, and thus has been witness to and a participant in the amazing development that has taken place in this community since what might properly be regarded as pioneer days, for there was still much of the primeval wild here when he first came to this county.  Mr. LeMasters was born on a farm in Shelby county, Ohio, October 19, 1842, and is a son of Luman W. and Nancy (Young) LeMasters, Virginians, who became residents of Ohio in their childhood days and were there married. The elder Luman W. LeMasters was born in that section of the Old Dominion that came to be organized as West Virginia in Civil War times.  He was reared as a farmer and also became a "local" preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church.  After his marriage he made his home on an eighty-acre farm which he owned in Shelby county, Ohio, and there remained until 1854, in which year he moved with his family over into Indiana and located on a quarter section of land he bought in Madison township, this county, the west "eighty" of which is now owned by his son Luman, the subject of the sketch.  On that place the elder Luman W. LeMasters and his wife spent the remainder of their days, their influence for good in that community continuing a pleasant memory in the neighborhood.  He died on April 15, 1888, and his widow survived until August 26, 1904.  They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Phebe J., Mary P., and Martha J., and two brothers, Jacob and John LeMasters.  As noted above, the junior Luman W. LeMasters was twelve years of age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1854.  He grew to manhood on the home farm in Madison township, completing his schooling in the neighborhood schools and by two years of attendance at the old Farmers Academy at College Corner, and was living on the farm when the Civil war broke out.  On July 21, 1861, he enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company C of the 39th regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which presently was reorganized as the 8th Cavalry, and with that gallant command was serving when on July 3, 1863, while on a charge against the enemy at Deckers Forge, two and one-half miles south of Winchester, Tenn., he was shot through the left breast, receiving a wound which terminated his further usefulness as a soldier, putting him on the invalid list.  In March, 1864, Mr. LeMasters received his discharge and in the following fall was married and began farming for himself as a renter of land in this county.  Three years later he moved over into Darke county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county and took charge of the home farm in Madison township.  In 1904 he bought the west "eighty" of that quarter section and is still living there, practically retired since 1907, renting his fields.  Mr. LeMasters is a Republican,  is a member of Henry McLaughlin Post, No. 516, Grand Army of the Republic, at Salamonia, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of that village.  It was on October 2, 1864, that Luman W. LeMasters was united in marriage to Mary K. Chew, who has thus been his helpmate for more than fifty-seven years.  Mrs. LeMasters was born in Camden county, New Jersey, February 13, 1847, and is a daughter of Dr. Ezekiel and Caroline B. (Woolston) Chew, both of whom were born in that same state.  In 1855 Dr. Ezekiel Chew moved with his family from New Jersey to Farmersville, Ohio.  Two years later he moved to Ft. Jefferson, in Darke county (Ohio) and after a sometime residence there came to Indiana.  He made several changes of residence after coming to this state, but finally located in St. Joseph county, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there in August, 1888.  His wife died on February 27, 1879.  They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, Mrs. LeMasters having one sister, Sarah F., and five brothers, Nathaniel D., Cooper, Charles, Virgil and Donald Chew.  To Luman W. and Mary K. (Chew) LeMasters have been born ten children, Beulah S., Luman C., William C., Elsie, Bertha, Ord O., Edith, Maude, Arthur and Vernon, all of whom are still living.  Beulah S. LeMasters married L.L. Rockwell, who is engaged in the garage business at Ft. Recovery, Ohio, and has four children, Claude, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Loy and has two children, Catherine M. and Duetta; Opal, who married Daniel Grile, who is operating a garage at Geneva, Ind., and has two children, Lester and John Lynn; Edith, wife of Cecil Bickel, a Madison township farmer, who has one child, and Anna.  Luman C. LeMasters, a farmer of Madison township, married Belle Wehrley and has twelve children, Clarence, a Madison township farmer, who married May Bickel and has three children, Kenneth, Mary I. and Luman; Chesley, now living at Richmond, Ind., who married Clara Burkey and has two children, Donald and Doris; Bertha, who married Russell Hercules, of Richmond, Ind., and has two children, Mervil and Isabella; Floyd, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Gagle and has one child, Remonda; Gerald, who is the garage business in Pennville and married Mabel Kantner and has one child, Maxine; Stanley, who is at home; Dorothy, wife of Charles Hunt, of Richmond, Ind.; John, a teacher in the schools of the county, making his home in Madison township, and who married Dorothy Delauter and has one child, Geraldine, and Freda, Ord, Mary O., and Elvin C., who are at home.  William C. LeMasters, who is now living at Victor, Col., where he is the proprietor of a moving picture theater, married Lella Lewis and has four children, Gladys, who married Lloyd G. Moser, of Mt. Rosa, Col., and has two children, Carrie and Bobby; Lella, who married Earl Slinkard and is living in California, and Ralph and William, at home.  Elsie LeMasters married M.J. Adkinson, a farmer of Madison township.  Bertha LeMasters married John Yaeger, who is now principal of schools at Brazil, Ind., and has six children, Clarence, Mary, Helen, John V., George W., and Luther L.  Dr. Ord O. LeMasters, now a practicing physician at Sidney, Ohio, married Emma Garmenhouser.  He and his wife have an adopted daughter, Isabella.  Edith LeMasters married Henry Mineholtz, who is now engaged in the mercantile business at Alamosa, Col., and has four children, Wilhelmina, Lucile, Helen E. and Marjorie M.  Maude LeMasters married Dr. S.W. Phillips, a veterinary surgeon, now living at David City, Neb., and has two children, Donald and Louise.  Arthur LeMasters married Maude McLaughlin and is now engaged in the garage business at Geneva, Ind.  Dr. Vernon LeMasters, a veteran of the World war and a practicing physician, now living at Sidney, Ohio, married Helen Garmenhouser and has one child, a son, Robert.  Doctor LeMasters was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States army during the war and served for eighteen months overseas.  Mr. and Mrs. LeMasters were among the most active promoters of the movement which led to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in 1876 and thus for more than forty-five years have been prominently identified with that congregation.  Mr. LeMasters served as a member of the board of trustees of this congregation until 1920 and for more than forty years was class leader, while for many years Mrs. LeMasters was one of the leading teachers in the Sunday school.




John Newmark at TransylvanianDutch started this Monday genealogy meme, which has quickly spread throughout the Geneablogger community. I am excited to be a participant and transcribe the records of my family.

Finding Luman

According to the biographical sketch found in History of Jay County, Indiana:including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History [author Jay, Milton T., 1922], my ancestor Luman W. LeMASTERS returned to farming in Jay County, Indiana after his discharge from the Civil War in 1864.  The biography also states that :

Three years later he moved over into Darke county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county and took charge of the home farm in Madison township. 

Now, by my reckoning, that would place him in Darke County, Ohio from between 1867 through 1876.   So I should be able to find him in the 1870 census in Darke County, Ohio.  

For some reason, he is being elusive and I have not been able to locate him in Darke County, Ohio or anywhere else for that matter.  

Darke County, Ohio and Jay County, Indiana are contiguous counties.  Luman was married in Darke County on October 2, 1864 in Versailles to Mary Keziah CHEW, daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper CHEW.  In 1870, Dr. Chew and his family are in New Madison, Twin Township, Darke County, Ohio.  In 1870, Luman's parents (another Luman) are in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  So the parents are right where I expected them to be, but the young family was not found living with or near either set of parents.


The 1880 census of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana lists the children of Luman and Mary as follows [listed as Walker Lemasters household]:

• Beulah, age 14, born Indiana [est. birth year 1866]
• Luman, age 13, born Indiana [est. birth year 1867]
• William, age 9, born Indiana [est. birth year 1871]
• Elsie, age 8, born Ohio [est. birth year 1872]
• Bertha, age 6, born Ohio [est. birth year 1874]
• Ottie, age 4, born Indiana [est. birth 1876]
• Mabel, age 8mos., born Indiana [est. birth 1879]

These dates and places of birth would make me think the family was still in Jay County until around 1871/72 and then back into Indiana between 1874/76. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that a county history was incorrect.


In other census records, son William is stated to have been born in Ohio circa 1871.  There was also another son, Philip D. LEMASTERS, who my database states was born January 28, 1869 in Darke County, Ohio and died May 1, 1869 in Darke County, Ohio.


Daughter Elsie was said to have been born [1872] in Rose Hill, Darke County, Ohio.  Rose Hill is in Mississinawa Township.  I searched line by line through 1870 census of that township on the hunch that the family may have been there.


Right now, I have a gap in the records for Luman between September 16, 1867 when he recorded his discharge from the U.S. Army at the Jay County Recorder's office [Jay County Indiana Deed Records, Miscellaneous Book 1, page 97] and the 1880 census when he was enumerated on June 5, 1880 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.


My search continues to find him in the 1870 census....

Sunday's Obituary : Dr. Margaret S. Chew

Today's obituary is of Dr. Margaret S. CHEW, my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed.  I came across it during a Google search for key names relating to the Chew family.


La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconisn, Thursday July 17, 2003 [online]


Dr. Margaret S. Chew


Dr. Margaret Sarah Chew, 93, of La Crosse passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.


Margaret was born in Evanston, Ill., Aug. 20, 1909, on the Northwestern University campus to Nathaniel Durbin and Nettie Jane (Trumbauer) Chew, where her father was a seminary student.  She lived in Korea with her family from age 3 months to 7 years as her father was a missionary until they returned to Evanston, where she graduated from Evanston High School in 1926.  


Northwestern University recognized her work with a bachelor of science degree in 1930, and a master's in geography in 1936.  She was granted a Ph.D. from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in 1960, having received an educational loan from PEO Chapter AL in La Crosse and also a Fellowship on two separate occasions during the ensuring years of study.  Her Ph.D. dissertation was "Urban Service Areas" showing how to map the influence of a middle size city in its surrounding area using La Crosse as an example.  The Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce published the maps and a major part of the dissertation in 1961 and included this publication in its bid for La Crosse being selected an All American City.  The city won the honor in 1966 and the then-Mayor Loveland gave Dr. Chew a key to the city of La Crosse, which was presented to the officials in Anchorage, Alaska, which also won that year.


Her high school teaching experiences included mathematics, history, geography and women's physical education at Iron Belt High School in 1930; social studies and women's physical education at Haven Intermediate School in Evanston.  The opportunity to teach geography began at New York State College, Buffalo, College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minn., and an initial summer (1945) appointment at La Crosse State College.  She continued to teach geography and earth science at La Crosse from 1945 to 1979, serving as chairwoman of the department from 1952 to 1965.


Dr. Chew ran the first field trip experiences at UW-L for the Wisconsin geography classes with an airplane field trip over the Coulee Region.  Three students at a time were taken after approval from their parents and class preparation.  Later Granddad's Bluff, the U.S. Conservation Farm and Devils Lake were added to the field offerings that the faculty in geography provided for students.  In 1946, Dr. Chew began offering tours around the world for teachers taking summer school courses.  They had to be three weeks in length with required readings and papers.  Her tours covered five continents and most of the countries of the world.  She traveled on her own to the other two continents and the South Pacific.  Many others, e.g. doctors, farmers, engineers also joined her.  She became La Crosse's ambassador to the world.


The last travels were in 1989, at the age of 80, when she visited Easter Island, Pitcairn, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands and Fuji.  Because she was an excellent photographer, the pictures and slides she took and her delightful educational way of presenting programs, found her a popular and often sought-after speaker.  Her special services to the college and university included many important committees including the responsibility of the selection of students for scholarship, faculty senate, and president of the La Crosse State College Foundation (1954-1979).  Building committee memberships included the Florence Wing Library, Cowley Hall and Cowley Annex.  In addition, she advised numerous student groups such as Delta Zeta and the Wesley Foundation.  Her records and photos are included in the anniversary of Wesley United Methodist Church this year.


Margaret was an active member of many organizations throughout the community and state.  She was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Geographical Society.  Other memberships included the American Association of University Women, National Council on Geographic Education and Lutheran Auxiliary and PEO Chapter AL to name only a few.  She was recognized as a person who enjoyed people and places and loved sharing this joy with all who came to hear and see the programs and lectures she freely gave.  Her travels throughout the world made her "a traveler of the world and an educator exceptional."  All who knew her have many wonderful memories.


She is survived by a niece, Ms. Carol Crabbs of Evanston; and a nephew, Terry (Paula) Crabbs of Kansas City, Mo.


Her parents, a sister, Elizabeth Crabbs, and a brother, Nathaniel Jr., preceded her in death.


Memorial services will be Monday, July 21, at 3 p.m., from Wesley United Methodist Church, 721 King St., La Crosse.  The Rev. Donald Iliff will officiate. Burial will be in the family plot in Caledonia, Mich.  There will not be a visitation.  Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation for the Margaret Chew Scholarship or Wesley United Methodist Church, La Crosse for the Margaret Chew Memorial.  Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.






Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Boundary Lines

Researching my paternal lines lately has taught me valuable lessons about geography.  On the recent trip back to his boyhood haunts with my dad, I learned a little bit about how the geography of the area in which they lived shaped their lives, and consequently, the places where the records would be located.


For instance, though Portland, Indiana is the county seat, my ancestors were predominately in Madison Township near Salamonia.  Though many of the records  for the family are to be found in Portland, they were closer to the Ohio state line than they were to the county seat.



View Larger Map


Because of this, the stories from my dad involve trips into Ohio towns such as Ft. Recovery and even further northwest into Celina.  In researching records such as census and obituaries, I have found that my families tended to hop across the state line quite frequently.


I recently found the 1941 Portland Indiana Con-Survey Directory, which listed my granduncle, John Leland LeMASTER, serving as the County Auditor, with a residential address of RD 3 Ft Recovery, Ohio.  I asked my dad how this could be - that someone could be serving as the Auditor of an Indiana county with an  Ohio address.  He quickly pointed out to me that the entire rural area around Salamonia, Madison Township had a Rural Route address out of Ohio.  


My modern-day ZIP code + 4 mind hadn't registered this possibility when I had examined the record.  Because this was explained to me, I understood other records I have found, such as funeral home records, which also listed that same rural route address.  Without this understanding, it would be very easy for me  to place someone in the wrong state of residence.


To the south of Salamonia is the Randolph County, Indiana line, and Union City.  I remember last year when I was at the Jay County Health Department looking for the death record for my great grandmother.  She wasn't found there, though I was sure she must be, since she was buried next to her husband in the Salamonia cemetery.  Finding her obituary, I discovered that she actually died in Union City, the county to the south.  Why Union City?  Possibly due to the ability of that hospital to treat her particular condition.  The distance was not much greater to Union City than Portland from where she lived.


Though this is just one example in one of my families, I am going to use this experience to re-examine the "geographical filter" of the records I discover in my other lines as well.


Taking a more wide-eyed view of the geography of the area has helped me to understand the "why" of the location of a record.  State lines and county lines were not insurmountable walls.  Failure to comprehend the physical geography of an area can lead to genealogical brickwalls, created by our own blind spots.

One for the good guys

Sometimes it's nice to know that there are people out there who are the "good guys" and keep their word.  I want to take a moment and thank the staff at the Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana for helping me out and keeping their word.


On my last research trip there, I started searching for obituaries and found one that I wanted to print.  Actually, I found two obits on the same page - for different family lines, so I put in my change ($.30) to print out the two copies when the machine didn't work.


Turns out the printer function was broken.  The nice staffer tried to help me getting it working, and when it was obvious that it wouldn't be working that day, offered to mail me copies of the obituaries.  She took down my name and address and the relevant information and I went on to searching for other items.


Yesterday, copies of the obituaries arrived in the mail as promised.  I will transcribe them later for a future post, but wanted to publicly thank the library for going the extra mile.  They could have just given me my money back and that have been all.  Offering to make the copies for me was a step beyond.

Surname Saturday : WEHRLY

The WEHRLY surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are supposed to be Swiss/German.


Stories and history :


Ahnentafel # 9 : Barbara Isabel Wehrly (1869-1930). Barbara was born March 14, 1869 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  She married November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933).  Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana.  They lived in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana and had 13 children.  Luman died February 10, 1933 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara died February 6, 1930 in Union City, Randolph County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 18 : William P. Wehrly (1845-1909).  William was born November 2, 1845 in Preble County, Ohio.  He married August 4, 1866 in Jay County, Indiana to Olive Jane Smith (1846-1913).  Olive was born June 23, 1846 in Cass County, Michigan.  William was a mortician and sawmiller in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  William served in Company I, 130th Regiment, Indiana Infantry during the Civil War.  They had 13 children.  Olive died January 6, 1913 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  William died June 16, 1909 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 36 : Johannes "John S." Wehrly (1802-1876).  Johannes was born June 4, 1802 in York County, Pennsylvania.  He married in 1821 in Stark County, Ohio to Barbara Petry (1802-1880).  Barbara was born May 28, 1802 in York County, Pennsylvania.  John came to Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana circa 1854.  They had 9 children.  Barbara died August 27, 1880 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  John died November 10, 1876 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 72 : Heinrich "Henry" Wehrly (c1776-1846).  Henry was born circa 1776 in York County, Pennsylvania.  He married Christina Saubel (c1775-aft1870).  Christina was born circa 1775 in Pennsylvania.  They lived in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and had 6 children.  Christina died after the 1870 census of Jefferson Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.  Henry died January 15, 1846 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.  Henry is buried in the Stone Creek Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 144 : Heinrich Wehrly (c1740-????).  Heinrich was born circa 1740.  He married Catherine Moser (1743-1834).  Catherine was born in 1743.   They had at least 3 children.  Catherine died 1834 in York County, Pennsylvania.


Related blog posts :

• William P. Wehrly (1845-1909)

• Today in my database: William P. Wehrly (b. November 2, 1845)

• Marriage : William P. Wehrly to Olive Jane Smith

• Obituary : William P. Wehrly (1845-1909)

• Obituary : Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters (1869-1930)

Eley Public School : Jay County, Indiana

Though I only had about a half hour at the Jay County Historical Society before it closed when I visited last Friday, I did manage to find a tidbit of family history while searching the files for information on the schools of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  

Edith LeMaster, my paternal great grandaunt, was the teacher for the Eley Public School Number 4 in Madison Township.  Edith was the daughter of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LEMASTERS.  She was born September 24, 1879 in Jay County, Indiana.  While I knew she was a teacher, it was nice to find confirmation.  This may even be her picture in the souvenir.

1907 Souvenir, Eley Public School No. 4, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana

Eley

Public School

District No. 4

Madison Twp., Jay Co., Indiana

Edith Le Master, Teacher

W.R. Armstrong, Co. Supt.

Pupils

Mathias Theurer

Leota McLaughlin

Inez Eley

Nora Theurer

Mary Baldauf

Frank Kober

Carl Theurer

John Kochersperger

Wilbert Kochersperger

Paul Cook

Mabel Kantner

Dora Kober

Walter Griesinger

Andrew Degler

Inez Theurer

Inez Huder

Ray McLaughlin

Ada Cook

John Kantner

Albert Degler

Leona Beard

Anna Kochersperger

Glen Stoner

Rosa Klingel

Lella McLaughlin

Ara McLaughlin

Willie Klingel

Guy Kantner

Clara Kochensperger

Freddie McBride

Hilda Theurer

Arnold Cook

Walter Baldauf

Edna Kochersperger

Herman Griesinger

Garnet Schenk

Orla Shaneyfelt

School Board

Henry Kantner, Director

William Clough, Trustee

I believe that the Henry Kantner listed as the director is the father of Mabel Kantner, listed as a student.  This Mabel may be the same Mabel Kantner (b. 1898) who married Gerald Walker LeMaster (my paternal great-uncle).

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Sometimes I'm so impatient....I ordered the Flip-Pal mobile scanner for my birthday last week and it hasn't arrived yet. I placed the order on Thursday.  When I came home from work to find no package, I called the company's toll-free number to check on my order.


I spoke with a very nice customer service rep who verified that they do ship USPS, and that orders placed online take about one day to reach their shipping department.  So, that means the earliest they could have packed my order was Friday.  Then with Veteran's Day being a mail holiday it was probably delayed.  I shouldn't panic until Monday or Tuesday.....not that I'm a panicker!


It's really my fault.  I could have ordered it sooner...but I was afraid to pull the trigger because I didn't know if we could afford it.  I wanted it bad enough, so with my birthday coming it became my birthday present.


I have big plans for using this mobile scanner, and can't wait to try it out.

Veteran's Day

Thank you to all veterans, in peacetime and in war, who gave of themselves so that others might be free.

Source: Caisson at Arlington National Cemetery, photographed by Travis LeMaster 30 April 2009

Wednesday's Child: Stuber Infants

While searching the Family Search beta site, I located the death certificates of the infants of my maternal great aunt and uncle, Clarence Leroy and Vera Delphene (HALEY) STUBER.


I had previously known that they had a stillborn child, but now I realize how sad it must have been for them to lose two infants.  The first death certificate, November 9, 1915 indicates a stillbirth, while the second, June 6, 1918, indicates that the baby lived for 6 hours.


Elden Merl STUBER was the name given to the second child.  The first infant, a son, was unnamed. They are buried next to their paternal grandparents, Henry and Martha STUBER in the Spencerville Cemetery, Spencerville, Allen County, Ohio.  Thanks to a Find A Grave researcher, I was able to request photos of their tombstones.


Their parents, Clarence and Vera, were married February 14, 1915 in Jay County, Indiana.  Clarence was the son of Henry and Martha (________) STUBER.  Vera was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY.


I cannot imagine the grief that they must have felt losing a child.


Wednesday’s Child – Post photos of gravestones of children. A sad topic indeed but posts can give life to the stories of these young souls. This has been an ongoing series by Amy at Gravestoned.

Tombstone Tuesday: Thomas J. and Sarah J. BIGLEY

Thomas J. and Sarah J. (________) BIGLEY are buried in the Washington-Lawson Cemetery in Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana.  Thomas was Eileen's maternal 1st cousin 4 times removed.


Thomas was born April 1, 1851 in Indiana, the son of Edward and Amelia (FISHER) BIGLEY.


Sarah J. ________ was born February 4, 1851 in Indiana.


They had at least 3 children.  The family appears in the 1880 and 1900 census of Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana.


Thomas died December 20, 1925.  Sarah died December 15, 1935.


Source: Washington-Lawson Cemetery (Marshall County, Indiana), Thomas J. and Sarah J. Bigley marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 4 September 2010.

Amanuensis Monday: Feeling Better?

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

This get-well card was among the papers of my maternal great-aunt, Vera (HALEY) STUBER.  This undated card was probably from 1964, as indicated by the other card I located.


Feeling Better ?  Wanting to pay you a visit - But just now that can't be So here's a lovely thought bouqet To keep you company.  Hoping to remind you Each time you look at it Someone hopes that very soon You'll feel fine and fit!


Mildred & Harold


I think that this will be my first birthday that I haven't received a card from you.  Will be over to see you some night this week.  Take care of yourself.


Love, Mildred

John Newmark at TransylvanianDutch started this Monday genealogy meme, which has quickly spread throughout the Geneablogger community. I am excited to be a participant and transcribe the records of my family.

Penisten sketches of Pike County, Ohio

The following sketches about PENISTEN men in the Pike County, Ohio are were found in the book "History of lower Scioto Valley, Ohio..." by Andrew Roy, 1884, Chicago, Inter-state Pub. Co., page 769


George Penisten


George Penisten, Sr., was born in the State of New Jersey, and while still in his youth removed to Kentucky.  From there he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1797 and settled on what was then known as "Bullskin" near Cincinnati.  He afterward located in the present territory of Pike County (then a part of Ross County) where he died about the year 1847, at the age of 79 years, nine months, one day.  He reared a family of ten children; five boys and five girls, all of whom lived to rear families of their own.  George Penisten, Jr., the only surviving son of George Penisten, Sr., was born in 1804.  In 1833 he married Vienna Murphy.  They reared a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom are now dead except three.  Isaac C., the second son, died while a member of the Ohio Legislature.  He served two terms as Auditor of Pike County.  George Penisten lived all his life in Pike County with the exception of five years when he resided in Highland County, where he married his second wife, Rebecca Rains, who is still living.  Mr. Penisten filled many local offices and served in the militia five years as First Lieutenant.


Lewis Penisten 


Lewis Penisten, also a son of George, Sr., was born in 1809, in what is now Pike County; lived all his life in said county.  He was the father of twelve children, eight boys and four girls, nine of whom are now living, all in the West except Uriah.


Uriah Penisten


Uriah Penisten, third son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Boyles) Penisten, was born in Benton Township, Pike Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 1836.  His father was also born in Pike County about the year 1809, and after living out a lifetime of usefulness died at fifty-two years of age.  His widow still survives him.  Our subject assisted his father on the farm until attaining his majority.  The two years following he engaged with his cousin at farming.  At the close of the first year he married Elizabeth Henry, by whom he had three children, two daughters and one son - Amanda, William Henry and Agnes Alwilda.  Since the year 1877 he has been engaged in the mercantile business.  He located in Waverly in the fall of 1881 where he operates a general store and is also proprietor of the hotel known as the Penisten House, located on Market street.  Mr. Penisten comes of pioneer stock and is one of the substantial and enterprising business men of Waverly.  He is a member of the Idaho Lodge, No. 620, I.O.O.F.; was also one of the charter members.


On page 855:


George Wesley Pennisten


George Wesley Pennisten, junior member of the firm of Humphreys, Pennisten & Co., dealers in dry-goods, groceries and general merchandise, Brington, was born April 2, 1848, in Pike County.  He lived on a farm till seventeen years of age, and was educated at the common schools, after which he taught school during the winter seasons and farmed in the summer season for a number of years.  He was elected Assessor of Sunfish Township when twenty-one years old and served three years.  He was Township Clerk one year, and served as a member of the Board of Education of Pebble Township, and also School Director in Sub-district No. 9.  He also served as County School Examiner from 1872 till 1875, and was appointed to that position in the spring of 1883.  He has been Treasurer of Mifflin Township since 1879, and is serving his second year as member of the Board of Education of this Township.  He was Assistant Postmaster at Idaho, Pike County, two years, and in November, 1880, was appointed Postmaster of Brington.  In 1875 he engaged in his present mercantile business, with his father-in-law, under the firm name of Humphreys & Pennisten.  He was married Feb. 21, 1875, to Calverna M., daughter of John and Elizabeth A. (Mustard) Humphreys, of Brington.  They have five children - Clarence E., John W., Charles R., F. Grace, and Leroy H.  Mrs. Pennisten belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.  Our subject's father, William Pennisten, was born in Pike County and was married to Mary Ann E. Anderson, a native of Virginia.


On page 869:


George Penisten, Jr.


George Penisten, Jr., was born in Pike County, June 8, 1825, a son of Joseph and Jerusha (Lunbeck) Penisten, his father a native of Kentucky and his mother of Ohio.  His mother died July 17, 1830, aged thirty years, leaving six children.  His father afterward married Sarah Ann Hill, by whom he had nine children.  He was magistrate for thirty years, and an officer in the State militia for many years.  He died May 2, 1866, at the age of seventy years, six months, twenty seven days.  George Penisten was married March 26, 1846, to Amanda Melvina Cawgill, a native of Virginia, who was born Feb. 10, 1827.  They have had ten children - Mary J., born Jan. 2, 1847; Nancy J. (deceased), born Feb. 11, 1849; Juliett (deceased), born Oct. 4, 1851; Ann Eliza., born March 25, 1854; William A., born Nov. 2, 1856; Daniel (deceased), born March 11, 1859; Harriet E., born March 30, 1860; Georgiana, born June 1, 1863; Flora Gale, born Sept. 11, 1866, and Virginia Maie, born April 28, 1869.


Each of these sketches will definitely give me more information to research and try to tie all of these various PENISTEN lines together.  Particularly the first three sketches appear closely related to the lines that came to Madison County, Indiana.

George T. Pennisten

From Samuel Harden's "Those I Have Met, or Boys in Blue", Anderson, Indiana, 1888, page 173:

George T. Pennisten was born December 23, 1842, in Pike county, Ohio, and came to Lafayette township, Madison county, Indiana in 1861, where he settled upon a farm.  In the month of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 75th Indiana Volunteers, and in common with the great majority of the soldiers of the late war, encountered many dangers and endured much suffering in defense of the flag.  During his term of service he participated in the battles of Murfreesborough, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Atlanta, Jonesboro and many skirmishes and engagements of less importance.  He was discharged June 16, 1865, and returned home, where he as married to Louisa Bodin, May 15, 1866.  She is the daughter of the late Alexander Bodkin, and a devout member of the United Brethren Church.  I first met Comrade Pennisten in 1874.  He was then living in Lafayette township, and the first impression I received of him was a good one, and has improved ever since.  A good soldier most always makes a good citizen; at least this holds good in Mr. Pennisten's case, and I gladly remember him among my friedns and wish him many years of happiness and prosperity.

Believe that this is the George T. PENISTEN, listed as the brother of Isaac C. PENISTEN, killed in a train accident.

I believe that I've also located the correct George T. in the 1850 census of Pike County, Ohio.  This would make his parents Lewis and Elizabeth PENISTEN.

Source: Lewis Peniston household, 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, District 117, Benton Township, Pike County, Ohio, dwelling 1626, family 1626, Ancestry.com [database on-line].

My database contains a Lewis PENISTEN, son of George and Rebecca (WHEATON) PENISTEN, who married an Elizabeth BAYLS on May 1, 1829.  Perhaps this is the same family.  More data will have to be searched.  I have some other PENISTEN data to input in my Rootsmagic database in order to sort it out.

Terrible Accident : Isaac C. Penisten

While updating and inputing copies of records I've located over the years into my database, I came across this record of Isaac C. PENISTEN, whom I've not yet connected to my PENISTEN line in Madison County, Indiana.

Anderson Democrat 23 Jul. 1880

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT

On Wednesday forenoon between 10 and 11 o'clock a terrible accident, resulting in the killing of a brakeman of the Bee Line Railway neear the depot in this city, took place.  The brakeman's name was Isaac C. Penisten.  He was on the top of a freight car at the time and was getting ready to couple the car with one in front, when a car to the rear of the one he was on came rolling along, striking it and knocking him off.  He fell on the track and was crushed at once by the wheels, which passed over his left arm and breast, killing him instantly, as he never breathed after being lifted from the ground.  Penisten was about 23 years of age, was married, his family consisting of a wife and two children.  He resided at Indianapolis.  He was well-known in this county, having resided here several years.  A brother, George T. Penisten, resides in Lafayette township, and a sister is the wife of Carroll Bronnenberg.  His mother also, we believe, is living in Lafayette township.  His wife is the daugher of Squire Heath, of Chesterfield.  His remains were taken to Indianapolis for interment.  He had been in the employ of the railroad company for a year or more, and was popular among the men all along the line.

Source :Zook, Haroldyne S.. Deaths and Administrations from Madison County, Indiana 1849-1880. Kokomo, Indiana, USA: Selby Publishing & Printing, 1988, page 363.

A cursory search of the 1880 census records on Ancestry.com has failed to locate him in the 1880 census.  Was also unable to locate him in the marriage records database for Indiana.  


There were numerous PENISTEN families in the Richland Township, Madison County, Indiana area.  My line comes from John PENISTEN (1839-1908), son of George Washington and Sarah (MUSTARD) PENISTEN of Pike County, Ohio.  The surname is spelled a number of ways, including PENNISTEN, PENISTON, etc.