Tombstone Tuesday: Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters

My paternal 3rd-great grandparents, Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman was born March 11, 1808 in Mason County, Virginia (now West Virginia), the son of Jacob and Hannah (________) LEMASTERS.

Nancy was born August 26, 1904 in Pickaway County, Ohio, the daughter of Philip and Nancy Ann (McLANE) YOUNG.

Luman and Nancy were married on January 19, 1832 in Shelby County, Ohio. They lived in Shelby County, Ohio until around 1854 when they purchased land in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana and settled there. Luman was a farmer and a Methodist Episcopal minister.

Luman died on April 15, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana and Nancy followed him on August 26, 1904 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.

Luman and Nancy were the parents of the following children, all but John were born in Shelby County, Ohio:

• Hannah Lemasters (1832-1838)
• Nancy Ann Lemasters (1834-1838)
• Philip Lemasters (1836-1915) married Elizabeth C. HOOVER; 1 child
• Rachel Lemasters (1838-1913) married William E. CUNNINGHAM; 6 children
• Catherine E. Lemasters (1840-1911) married John P. WEHRLY; 8 children
• Luman Walker Lemasters (1842-1931) married Mary K. CHEW; 11 children
• Jacob Lemasters (1845-1922) married Sarah A. HALFHILL; 10 children
• Phebe Jane Lemasters (1847-aft1873) married William R. WILSON
• Mary Lemasters (1849-1929) married John PETRY; 2 children
• Martha Julesa Lemasters (1852-1936) married William W. LOOFBOURROW; 5 children
• John Stevens Lemasters (1855-aft1920) married Sarah I. WILSON; 7 children

Begin at the beginning...

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. - said by the King to the White Rabbit, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

I've been tempted with my new birthday present - a subscription to Ancestry.com - to do the "shotgun" approach to my genealogy, grabbing something here, something there, until I lose myself in the euphoria of discovery. So far, just within the first 24 hours, I've been plugging in the names of my brickwalls and finding bits and pieces for further research.

I need to refocus not only my research but this blog as well. Who is my audience? Hopefully, other researchers who share my surnames. Maybe someday my kids will be interested and these postings will get them started. Perhaps some far-flung cousin will stumble across these pages and find a new connection.

My new resolution - it's never too early or late to start one - is to stay more focused on my research by beginning with what I know and working backwards on just a few lines at a time. I intend to participate more in the daily blogging memes and blog carnivals. Already I've created some future posts for Surname Saturday and Tombstone Tuesday in order to get me going. I need to stay focused and try to write a bit every day on this blog.

The continued success of my research will depend on my ability to stay focused and organized. I have a great software program, Rootsmagic, that offers me the ability to make 'to do' lists. I have not used those to the fullest, and have spent too much time re-discovering information that I already have! I have a research trip planned in a couple of weeks that I need to prepare for as well.

I say all of this with great intentions....only time will tell how well I do. Stay tuned.

Chews of Ohio and Indiana

Andrew CHEW was my maternal 6th great grandfather. I have him born circa 1770 in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, the son of Major James and Mary (CALDWELL) CHEW. My database has his death in 1827 in Highland County, Ohio, but does not have a source.

I have nothing on his wife, Anna, and find that this post gives an interesting clue - stating that she was living with a sister-in-law in Hamilton County, Indiana at age 83. Hamilton County, Indiana is where some of Andrew's children ended up settling.

Found her in the 1860 census of Hamilton County, Indiana, aged 83 on Footnote.com http://www.footnote.com/image/37990123/

in reference to: Chews of Ohio, IN - Chew - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - rootsweb.com (view on Google Sidewiki)