Shaky Leaves : Bertha Alberta (LeMaster) Hercules (1892-1962)

Bertha Alberta (LeMaster) Hercules (1892-1962) was my paternal grandaunt, the daughter of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMaster.  Ancestry.com is currently showing 7 hints from historical records for her in my LeMaster and Allied Families member tree.

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

There are a lot of records to update in my RootsMagic database, including census records.

In the 1940 census of Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, Bertha was living with her husband, Russell, son Murvel and daughter-in-law Margaret.  They owned their home and had lived at the same residence in 1935.  Russel was a woodworker in a lumber yard and Murvel was a life insurance salesman.

1940 US Census, Wayne County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 5, Richmond, enumeration district (ED) 89-32, SD 10, sheet 9B, 625 Sheridan St., family 190, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

I already had the 1930 census sourced in my database for the family, they were living in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana in the Bertha's father's household.  Likewise, I already had the 1900 census record where Bertha was a 7 year old living in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

In the 1921 city directory of Richmond, Indiana lists the family as :

Hercules, Russel J (Bertha A), woodwkr Louck & Hill Co, h 79 State

"U.S. City Directories", database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 Augst 2015), 240; citing "Richmond, Indiana City Directory (Indianapolis, Indiana: R.L. Polk & Company, 1921–1922)."

 Because of this find, I now know the company that Russel was working for, Louck & Hill.  A brief search online found some photographs of the company site.

There was a hint to Bertha's FindAGrave memorial page, which I currently maintain.

Another database was Indiana Births, 1880-1920, which takes information from the WPA birth indices.

Name:	Lemaster
Father:	L C
Mother:	B J Wherley
County:	Jay
Gender:	Female
Birth Date:	26 Jun 1892
Reference:	Jay County, Indiana Index to Birth Records 1882 - 1920 Inclusive Volume I Letters A - Z Inclusive
Book:	H-5
Page:	78

This gives me the exact book and page for Bertha's birth certificate, which I currently do not have a copy.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

The most interesting find was the database Wayne County, Indiana, Quaker Funeral Home Records, 1939-1974, which contained a copy of Bertha's death certificate.

ame:	Bertha Alberta Hercules [Bertha Alberta Lemaster]
Gender:	Female
Birth Date:	26 Jun 1892
Birth Place:	Indiana
Death Date:	30 Dec 1961
Death Place:	Spring Grove, Wayne, Indiana
Age at Death:	69
Father:	Luman C Lemaster
Mother:	Barbara J Wehrley
Spouse:	Russell J Hercules

This is the funeral home's copy of her death certificate, showing that Bertha died in Spring Grove, Wayne County, Indiana at Reid Memorial Hospital on December 30, 1961.  She lived at 625 Sheridan Street, same address as found in the 1940 census.  Her occupation was listed as the co-owner of Builders Supplies.  She died of acute pulmonary edema.  She was 69 years old and died at 10:25 p.m.  Her burial date was January 3, 1962 at Salamonia Cemetery, Salamonia, Indiana.

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

Marriage Record : David Sherick and Margaret Rosenberger, 1884, Seneca County, Ohio

"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDLH-KF3 : accessed 9 August 2015), David Sherick and Margaret Rosenberger, 29 Apr 1884; citing Seneca, Ohio, United States, reference ; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 388,639.

Located the marriage record of my paternal 3rd-great grandfather, David Sherick, to his 3rd wife, Mrs. Margaret (Zimmerman) Rosenberger.  Their marriage took place on April 29, 1884 in Seneca County, Ohio.  Prior to this find I did not have an exact date or location of their marriage in my database.

David was 58 years old and Margaret was 49 years old, both were widowers. Margaret's husband Anthony David Rosenberger had died October 27, 1879 and David's 2nd wife Amy Byers had died December 30, 1883.

Margaret was the daughter of Barney and Sarah (________) Zimmerman.  David was the son of  David and Eve (_________) Sherick.

David's occupation in the census records listed him alternatively as a farmer and a minister.

Census Sunday : Albert F. Adams household, 1940, Monroe County, Indiana

My maternal 1st cousin 3 times removed, Gladys Marie (Gilliland) Adams, was enumerated in the 1940 census of Washington Township, Monroe County, Indiana in her husband, Albert's household.  

1940 U.S. census, Monroe County, Indiana, population schedule, Washington Township, enumeration district (ED) 53-52, SD 7, sheet 8B, dwelling 164, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The family consisted of Albert F., age 40, Gladys M., age 31, and children Wilma, age 14, Eugene, age 12, Colleen, age 8, and Loyd, age 6.  All were born in Indiana.  Albert's occupation was listed as a grader of roads.  Perhaps he worked for the local highway department.  All of the children had attended school within the year and their residence in 1935 was the same location.  Gladys had completed one year of high school, while Albert had completed the 8th grade.

Prior to this find, I didn't have the names of the children in the family, other than Lloyd.  Lloyd and I have corresponded, and he supplied me with many fantastic family photos of my Gilliland relatives.

Gladys was the daughter of William Everett Gilliland and Maude Arthur.  Our common ancestor is Mary Ellen Swafford,

Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Surname Saturday : Cheney

The CHENEY surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the family are English.  There is much more research needed on the early English lines.

Stories and history :

Ahnentafel # 3077 : Margaret Cheney (1656-1717).  Margaret was born November 26, 1656 in England.  She married Nicholas Fessenden (1650-1719) on January 1, 1674 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Nicholas was born 1650 in Canterbury, England.  They had 14 children in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Nicholas died February 24, 1719 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts and is buried in the Old Burial Ground in Cambridge.  Margaret died December 10, 1717 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massaschusetts and is buried in the Old Burial Ground in Cambridge.

Anhentafel # 6154 : Thomas Cheney (1633-1694).  Thomas was born 1633 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.  He married Jane Atkinson (   -1724).  Jane's birth is unknown.  They had 7 children in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Jane died July 29, 1724.  Thomas died in 1694.

Ahentafel # 12308 : William Cheney (1603-1667).  William was born July 31, 1603 in Lanbourn, Berkshire, England.  He married Margaret Cole (c1604-1686).  William immigrated to America in 1633.  Margaret was born circa 1604 in England.  They raised 6 children in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.  Margaret died July 1686 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.  William died January 31, 1667 in Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Ahentafel # 24616 : William Cheney (1584-   ).  William was born 1584 in England.  Nothing further is known.

Ahnentafel # 49232 : John Cheney Nothing further known.

Ahnentafel # 98464 : Robert Cheney.  Nothing further known.

Related blog posts :

• Today in my database : William Cheney (b. July 31, 1603)

• My connection with Dick Cheney

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 : Margaret (Zimmerman) Rosenberger Sherick (1835-1911)

Margaret (Zimmerman) Rosenberger Sherick (1835-1911) was the wife of my 3rd-great grandfather, David Sherick (1832-1914) on my paternal side.  Ancestry.com is currently showing 10 hints from historical records for her in my LeMaster & Allied Familes tree.

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

There are a lot of records to update in my RootsMagic database, including the census records.

In the 1910 census of Pleasant Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Margaret was living with her husband David.  They owned their home free of mortgage, and had been married for 25 years.  One fact I hadn't noted before was that she was the mother of one child who was still living.

1910 US Census, Seneca County, Ohio, population schedule, Pleasant Township, enumeration district (ED) 167, SD 12, sheet 1A, dwelling 7, family 7, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

In the 1900 census of Pleasant Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Margaret was living with her husband David, a minister.  They owned their home, but the enumerator wrote that they had been married for 57 years!  There was also a servant boarding in the home, Sally Simmons, age 28 born in Ohio.

1900 US Census, Seneca County, Ohio, population schedule, Pleasant Township, enumeration district (ED) 114, SD 12, sheet 8B, dwelling 178, family 182, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

Another database was the Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center Obituary Index, 1810-2013 where they listed the following:

Name:	Margaret Sherrick [Margaret Rosenberger]
Death Date:	1911
Spouse:	David
Newspaper Information:	Newspaper: Seneca Advertiser; Newspaper Date: 17 Apr 1911; Newspaper Page: 8 Column: 5; Repository: Tiffin Seneca Public Library - Tiffin, OH ; Years Available: 1842-1919
Newspaper Information:	Newspaper: Seneca Advertiser; Newspaper Date: 17 Aug 1911; Newspaper Page: 8 Column: 5; Repository: Tiffin Seneca Public Library - Tiffin, OH ; Years Available: 1842-1919
Notes:	1ST HUSBAND WAS DAVID ROSENBERGER
Library Link:	Order Copy

Also was a link to Maggie's memorial at the FindAGrave site.  She is buried in the Fairmont Cemetery in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio at the grave site with her first husband, Anthony David Rosenberger.

Another database was Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1900 where I located the marriage date of Margaret's marriage to her first husband.

Name:	Margaret Zimmerman
Gender:	Female
Spouse:	Anthony D. Rosenberger
Spouse Gender:	Male
Marriage Date:	20 Nov 1870
County:	Seneca
State:	Ohio

I still need to locate the marriage date between Margaret and my 3rd-great grandfather, David Sherick, but it must have happened after 1879, when her first husband died.

Add caption

In the 1860 census of Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Margaret was living in her father, Barney Zimmerman's household.  Her age was 24 and she was born in Maryland.

1860 US Census, Seneca County, Ohio, population schedule, Tiffin P.O., page 128 (penned), dwelling 912, family 904, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

In the 1850 census of Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Margaret was living in her father, Barney Zimmerman's household.  Her age was 16 and she was born in Maryland and had attended school within the year.

1850 US census, Seneca County, Ohio, population schedule, Liberty Township, dwelling 215, family 215, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 August 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

One thing I found through these records was that the name of Margaret's mother was Sarah.  I've yet to find the name of her child with David Rosenberger.  I've updated my RootsMagic database.

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

Exploratory Data Analysis : Clara E. (Cook) Lambertson (1848-1943)

Clara E. (Cook) Lambertson (1848-1943) was my maternal 3rd-great grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Clara was born November 16, 1848 in Preble County, Ohio^{1, 2}.  The State of Ohio did not require birth certificates at this time.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Clara's birth was mentioned in a newspaper, I've not yet located it. Will need to check with state and local archives to see if they have any newspapers of the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I'm not aware of any surviving Cook family Bible that mentions Clara's birth.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I'm not aware of any baptismal record for Clara.  She was a member of the Quaker church and the Dunkard church later in life.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Clara was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Clara's marriage record to Cary W. Lambertson has not been located.  My database has the date as October 1, 1869 in Butler County, Ohio, without a source listed.  However, a search of Ohio marriage records in Butler and other nearby counties has not turned up any evidence.  Will continue to seek out a marriage record.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Once I can confirm their actual wedding date, I will be able to search to see if mention was made in any local newspapers for their marriage.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Clara and Cary's 25th wedding anniversary would have been October 1, 1894.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebration.  Will add this to my "to-do" list.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication of divorce, will need to search court records in Hamilton and Madison Counties, Indiana to make sure there aren't any records I might have missed.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Clara died January 23, 1943 in Atlanta, Hamilton County, Indiana^2,3.  Her death certificate listed the cause of death as arteriosclerlosis.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Clara's obituary appeared in the January 25, 1943 edition of the Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger³, as well as the January 23, 1943 edition of the Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader⁴.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               According to her obituary⁴, the Schaffer funeral home in Atlanta, Indiana handled the arrangements.  Will need to contact the local historical society to see if any records of the funeral home still exist.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Clara's tombstone in the Elwood City Cemetery has been photographed⁵  The link to her memorial at FindAGrave is here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 8, 1940, Clara was enumerated in the W.H. Hayse household in Mt. Vernon Township, Jefferson County, Illinois⁶, as Clara Lambertson, mother-in-law, age 92, widow, born in Ohio.  She had completed the 6th grade in education and her residence in 1935 was the same place.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 18, 1930, Clara was enumerated in the Harley Fisher household in Ward 2, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois⁷, as Clara Lambertson, grandmother, age 81, widow, born in Ohio.  Her father and mother were both born in Virginia.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On February 6, 1920, Clara was enumerated in the Frank F. Fisher household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana⁸, as Clara Lambertson, mother in law, age 72, widow, born in Ohio.  Her father and mother were born in the United States.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 25, 1910, Clara was enumerated in the Carey Lambertson household in Ward 2, Elwood, Madison County, Indiana⁹, as Clara Lambertson, wife, age 63, born in Ohio.  She had been married 41 years, and was the mother of 5 children, all living.  Her mother and father were both born in Virginia.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 16, 1900, Clara was enumerated in the Carey Lambertson household in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana¹⁰, as Clara Lambertson, wife, age 52, born October 1847 in Ohio.  She had been married for 28 years and was the mother of 5 children, all living.  Her mother and father were both born in Virginia.  She could read and write and speak English.

          2.1.6. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 1, 1880, Clara was enumerated in the Carry Lambertson household in German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio¹¹, as Clary E. Lambertson, wife, age 32, born in Ohio.  Her occupation was listed as house keeping.  Both her father and mother were born in Virginia.

          2.1.7. 1870 Federal Census

               On July 29, 1870, Clara was enumerated in the Cary Lambertson household in Madison Township, Butler County, Ohio¹², as Clara Lambertson, age 22, keeping house, born in Ohio.

          2.1.8. 1860 Federal Census

              On July 24, 1860, Clara was enumerated in the James Cook household in Lanier Township, Preble County, Ohio¹³, as Clarasy Cook, age 11, born in Ohio.  She had attended school within the year.

          2.1.9. 1850 Federal Census

               On July 27, 1850, Clara was enumerated in the James Cook household in Washington Township, Preble County, Ohio¹⁴, as Clarissa Cook, age 2, born in Ohio.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted state 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 Cook or Lambertson families.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Clara was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by her husband or father that would have made Clara a beneficiary of a pension.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Clara was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Hamilton and Madison Counties, Indiana to see what records might mention Clara.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Plat maps of Hamilton and Madison Counties, 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 Clara include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my "to-do" lists for my next research trip.

Sources:

1. Ancestry.com, U.S. Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data :Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.
2. Hamilton County, Indiana Death Records, Book H-7, page 59.
3. Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger, Obituary of Clara Lambertson, January 25, 1943.
4. Mrs. Clara Lambertson obituary, Elwood Call-Leader, Elwood, Indiana, USA, January 23, 1943, page 1.
5. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 July 2015), Clara E. Lambertson tombstone.
6. 1940 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Illinois, population schedule, Mt. Vernon Township, enumeration district 41-28, SD 23, sheet 4A, dwelling 71, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. 1930 U.S. census, Jefferson County, Illinois, population schedule, Ward 2, Mt. Vernon, enumeration district 41-18, SD 26, sheet 12A, dwelling 297, family 344, 822 North Fourth Street; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
8. Frank F. Fisher household, 1920 U.S. Census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson Township, ED 99, SD 9, sheet 8, dwelling 174, family 174; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 435.
9. Carey Lambertson household, 1910 U.S. Census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Pipecreek Township, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 13, dwelling 314, family 328; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 365.
10. 1900 U.S. census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Jackson Township, enumeration district 84, SD 9, sheet 2B, dwelling 345, family 371; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
11. Carry Lambertson household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, German Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, ED 165, SD 2, page 14B, dwelling 119, family 138; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 1052.
12. Cary Lambertson household, 1870 U.S. census, Butler County, Ohio, population schedule, Madison Township, Jacksonborough P.O., page 22, dwelling 173, family 168; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1177.
13. 1860 U.S. census, Preble County, Ohio, population schedule, Lanier Township, Eaton P.O., page 156 (stamped), dwelling 998, family 962; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
14. 1850 U.S. census, Preble County, Ohio, population schedule, Washington Township, page 262 (stamped), dwelling 434, family 442; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C.


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.

Shaky Leaves : Daniel S. Albright (1827-1892)

Daniel S. Albright (1827-1892) is my maternal 4th-great granduncle, the husband of Sarah Beals.  Ancestry.com is currently showing my 8 hints for him in my LeMaster & Allied Families member tree from historical records.

One record was from the database Indiana, Marriage Collection, 1800-1941.

Name:	Daniel Allbright
Spouse Name:	Sarah Bales
Marriage Date:	12 Sep 1850
Marriage County:	Howard

This data matches what I have for Daniel and Sarah in my RootsMagic database, though I didn't have a source listed.  The collection at Ancestry references the WPA.  I will need to search in Howard County to obtain an actual copy.

Another database was the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-current.

Name:	Daniel S Albright
Birth Date:	15 Feb 1827
Birth Place:	Ohio, USA
Death Date:	2 Sep 1892
Death Place:	Miami County, Indiana, USA
Cemetery:	Albright Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:	Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, USA
Has Bio?:	N
Spouse:	Sarah Albright
Father:	Rev William Albright
Mother:	Elizabeth Albright
URL:	http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-...

Following the outside link took me to Daniel's memorial page at FindAGrave, which lists his parents and gives complete birth and death date.  It also confirms his Civil War service.

Another database was U.S., National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938.

Ancestry.com. U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Original data: Historical Register of National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1749, 282 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

This record shows that in 1891, Daniel was living in Marion, Grant County, Indiana at the home for disabled veterans.

His birthplace was listed as Tennessee, he was 64 years old, 5'10" tall, with a fair complexion and black eyes and grey hair.  His occupation was listed as a mason.  His residence subsequent to discharge was Xenia, Indiana and his nearest relative was Mrs. Sarah Albright of Xenia.  Xenia is the former name of today's Converse, Indiana.

Daniel's rate of pension was $17.00.  He was admitted July 21, 1891 and discharged June 3, 1892 by his own request.  His pension certificate was number 103.803.

Other database records included the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 census in Howard County, Indiana which listed Daniel.  These were added to my Family Member Tree after making sure they had been updated in my RootsMagic database.  In each of these, Daniel's birth place was listed as Tennessee.  In 1870 they were living at Fairfield and in 1880 they were in Xenia.

If you are related and/or have additional corrections or information, I'd love to hear from you.

Census Sunday : John Boyd household, 1940, Jay County, Indiana

My paternal 1st cousin 3 times removed, Martha (Wehrly) Boyd, was enumerated in the 1940 census in Pike Township, Jay County, Indiana.  She was living with her husband, John, and two boarders.

1940 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Pike Township, enumeration district (ED) 38-12, SD 5, sheet 8A, dwelling 165, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 July 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The household consisted of John, age 73, born in Ohio and Martha, age 73, born in Indiana, as well as boarders Done Harker, age 17 born in Indiana and Leroy Chapman, age 57, born in Indiana.  Harker and Chapman were listed as farm laborers.  John's occupation was listed as farmer.  Both Martha and John had completed two years of high school.

John and Martha's residence in 1935 was listed as Pena Blanco, Sandoval County, New Mexico.  Before finding this record I did not know they had lived there, though in 1910 they were living in Oregon.  Apparently, they had returned to Jay County in the old age.


Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Breakthrough in my Cook line

The ancestry of my maternal 3rd-great grandmother, Clara (Cook) Lambertson (1848-1943) has been a mystery to me for a number of years, but thanks to newspaper research I've made a major breakthrough.

Years ago, I obtained her death certificate from the Hamilton County, Indiana Health department which listed her parents as William Cook and _____ Hirbarger.  At the time of her death, she was living with her daughter, Lola May (Lambertson) Whisler and husband, Omer, so it is likely that one of them was the source for the information about Clara's parents.  Clara's birthplace has been listed as Ohio in various census records with her parents born in Virginia, and her obituary adds to the confusion as it states that she came from Virginia to Ohio with her parents in a covered wagon.

Needless to say, searching various census records in 1850 for a family of a William Cook born in Virginia with a daughter named Clara or some variant was highly frustrating.  I searched for German variants as well, thinking that Cook might have been Kuch, etc. with no success.

Preble County, Ohio was where Carey and Clara's oldest two children, Charles and Samuel, are listed as being born.  It borders with Butler County, Ohio, where they were living in the 1870 census with Carey's father, John.  I have yet to discover a marriage record for Carey and Clara in either county, but since the first two children were born there, I considered it likely that Clara's family was from there.

A search of the 1850 census in Preble County finds a family in Washington Township consisting of James M. Cook, age 37 born in Virginia; Mary, age 36 born in Virginia; Amanda, age 14 born in Virginia; Elizabeth, age 13 born in Virginia; Sarah, age 10 born in Ohio; Mary, age 8 born in Ohio; Thaddeus, age 4 born in Ohio; and Clarissa, age 2 born in Ohio.  

This was the closest match I had found for Clara, assuming that this Clarissa might be her. Yet the fact that the death certificate said her father's name was William, not James, had me keeping this record in my list of "close, but no cigar".  That is, until a couple of recent hints made me re-think who her parentage might be.

A recent Ancestry.com hint for Clara led me to the database U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940, which showed the following:

Ancestry.com. U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Original data: Hinshaw, William Wade. William Wade Hinshaw's Index to Unpublished Quaker Records. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College.

This is a membership card from the Hinkles Creek Monthly Meeting in Hamilton County, Indiana, recording the marriage of Carey Lambertson to Clara Cook.  It lists Carey's birth date as April 29, 1847 as the son of John & Sarah of Butler County, Ohio and Clara's birth dated as November 16, 1848 as the daughter of James and Mary of Preble County, Ohio.  Since this membership record was made by Clara and Carey, it is likely that they supplied the information to the church clerk and would have known who their parents were.

So this makes me think that the death certificate informant was wrong, and that Clara's father was James, not William.  At the time of her death, Clara was 94 years old and had spent many years as a widow living with her various children.  It's quite possible the informant at the time of death simply had the wrong names in their memory.  Not to mention that death is a stressful time for families and it would be easy to give the wrong name.

A newspaper find from the Alexandria Times-Tribune of November 4, 1924 also adds some interesting information.

Alexandria (IN) Times-Tribune, November 4, 1924, page 1

ATTEND FUNERAL OF COUSIN AT GERMANTOWN 

Charles Lambertson and Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lambertson were at Germantown, Ohio, Sunday to attend the funeral of the Messrs. Lambertson's cousin, the late Charles Martin.

Charles Lambertson was my 2nd-great grandfather, and Bert was his brother.  They are both the children of Carey and Clara (Cook) Lambertson.  Until this find, I was not aware of any cousins with the last name Martin on the Lambertson side, so this clue might lead to a cousin on his mother's side.  Germantown is in Montgomery County, Ohio another known location of Lambertson relatives as well.

A search of FamilySearch.org for the death record of a Charles Martin that would fit the search criteria found the following record:

"Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X696-RXQ : accessed 2 August 2015), Chas A Martin, 31 Oct 1924; citing Germantown, Montgomery, Ohio, reference fn 56258; FHL microfilm 1,992,606.

Charles A. Martin died October 31, 1924 in Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio of pulmonary tuberculosis.  He was the son of Francis M. Martin and Laura Cook of Astoria, Butler County, Ohio.  

A search of the FindAGrave site led me to Charles Albert Martin's memorial page, with links to his parents memorials as well.  His father was Francis Marion Martin (1846-1910) and Laura Ann (Cook) Martin (1853-1904).  He also had a sister named Minnie L. Martin (1873-1932).

Laura's memorial page states that she was born February 1853 in Gratis, Preble County, Ohio and that her parents were James M. Cook (1812-1860) and Mary Jane Cook (1814-1891).

The James M Cook memorial page states that he was born November 13, 1812 in Virginia and died September 26, 1860 in Preble County, Ohio.

These clues line up with the family of James and Mary Cook found in the 1850 census of Preble County, Ohio.

In addition, a quick search of Ancestry.com Member Trees finds a couple of trees with this James M Cook, listed as James Madison Cook and his wife as Mary Harsbarger.  Could this be where Clara's parentage was garbled on her death certificate - Hirbarger from Harsbarger?  I think so.  James was born in the Shennandoah Valley of Virginia and died 1860 in Preble  County, Ohio.

I've located the family of James and Mary in the 1860 census of Lanier Township, Preble County, Ohio as James Cook, age 49 born in Virginia; Mary, aged 47 born in Virginia; Elizabeth, aged 22 born in Virginia; Thadius, aged 14 born in Ohio; Clarissy, aged 11 born in Ohio; Susan, aged 9 born in Ohio; Laura, aged 7 born in Ohio, Martha, aged 5 born in Ohio; and Henry, aged 3 born in Ohio.

This would tie the family groups from the 1850 and 1860 census together, and by the 1860 census we have Laura in the family who looks like a fit to be the one who married Francis Martin.  In addition, both of these records contain a Clara the right age to be my Clara in the right family group.  I'm pretty sure we have a match.

I've a lot more digging to see where the rest of these Cooks were in the ensuing years and possibly connect with folks researching the trees online, but I'm excited to be knocking down a brickwall.

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