Educational Level of Our Ancestors

One of the more interesting tidbits of family history I have been dealing with recently has been the various educational levels of my ancestors and family members. In looking at the census images from 100+ years ago, I find it fascinating to see the differences between life in the 1900s (and earlier) and life today.

Today we take it for granted that the majority of our citizens can read and write or speak English. Yet many of the family records that I have been working with, particularly in the rural areas, the educational opportunities were severely limited. Many times the wife was the one who could read and write, and perhaps the children already had jobs working on the farm by the time they were sixteen or so. Contrast that with today and my own children, who do not have a job at that age, but yet have been receiving an excellent education.

Most of the families I've been dealing with have been native born, so speaking English was not a problem. Yet I wonder how they were able to communicate in their daily lives when so many of them could not read or write. I imagine that for many of them, the Bible was their primer, and they were self taught or taught by other relatives, as the demands of farm life didn't allow for organized schooling.

Today in my database : Ruth Anne Duffey (b. November 17, 1847)

Today's featured relative in my database is my wife's maternal 2nd-great grandmother, Ruth Anne Duffey.

Ruth was born November 17, 1847 in Logan, Hocking Co., OH, the daughter of Daniel and Susanna (Freese) Duffey. Ruth married on September 17, 1863 in Dora, Wabash Co., IN to Thomas Jefferson Pefley, son of Solomon and Francis (Roof) Pefley. Thomas was born May 24, 1840 in Eaton, Preble Co., OH and died February 9, 1935 in Dana, Jackson Co., IN. Ruth died January 9, 1942 in Dora, Wabash Co., IN.

Children of Thomas Jefferson and Ruth Anne (Duffey) Pefley are as follows :
i. Sherman John Pefley b. October 17, 1864 Wabash Co., IN, d. May 9, 1962 Wabash Co., IN., m. Rose Tucker
ii. Albert Duffey Pefley b. January 12, 1867 Wabash Co., IN., d. April 20, 1964 Wabash Co., IN., m. Sarah May Peoples
iii. Florence Belle Pefley b. October 16, 1869 Wabash Co., IN., d. 1958 Wabash Co., IN.

My wife descends from Thomas Jefferson and Ruth Anne (Duffey) Pefley through their son, Albert, as follows :
Ruth Anne Duffey and Thomas Jefferson Pefley
Albert Duffey Pefley and Sarah May Peoples (her great-grandparents)

Today in my database : Clara E. Cook (b. November 16, 1848)

Today's featured relative in my database is my maternal 3rd-great grandmother, Clara E. Cook.

Clara was born November 16, 1848 in Ohio, the daughter of William and ________ (Hirbarger) Cook, according to her death certificate. Clara married on October 1, 1869 in Butler Co., OH to Carey W. Lambertson, son of John and Sarah A. (Willson) Lambertson. Carey was born April 29, 1847 in Butler Co., OH and died March 18, 1918 in Elwood, Madison Co., IN. Clara died January 23, 1943 in Atlanta, Hamilton Co., IN.

Children of Carey W. and Clara E. (Cook) Lambertson are as follows :
i. Charles Wilson Lambertson b. January 25, 1872 Preble Co., OH, d. May 24, 1958 Madison Co., IN., m. Pearl May Beals
ii. Samuel S. Lambertson b. January 11, 1875 Preble Co., OH, d. October 15, 1911 Madison Co., IN, m. Ida Stone, m(2) Nellie ________
iii. Maud Lambertson b. June 19, 1878 Darke Co., OH, d. April 9, 1952 Jefferson Co., IL, m. Francis F. Fisher
iv. Lola May Lambertson b. June 28, 1883 Hamilton Co., IN, d. November 26, 1964 Hamilton Co., IN., m. Omer A. Whisler
v. Bert Sigler Lambertson b. August 29, 1886 Tipton Co., IN, d. June 4, 1971 Madison Co., IN, m. Marie Williams m(2) Lula McNett m(3) Susie Smith m(4) Leah Mae Dumont

I descend from Carey W. and Clara E. (Cook) Lambertson through their son, Charles, as follows :
Clara E. Cook and Carey W. Lambertson
Charles Wilson Lambertson and Pearl May Beals
Clemon Beals Lambertson and June Kirk Davis (my great-grandparents)