Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sam the Music Man


When I think of musical ancestors, I think of the LAMBERTSON family. My grandmother told me that the family was very musically inclined and mentioned that many members were talented with the piano, banjo, etc.

The above photograph is of my maternal 2nd-great grand-uncle, SAMUEL S. LAMBERTSON (1875-1911). Every time I see this photograph, I'm intrigued by the man. Obviously, he was very proud of his banjo - wonder why this picture was taken? Did he play publicly? If so, I've been unable to discover any articles that give details.

Samuel LAMBERTSON was born January 11, 1875 in Preble County, Ohio, the son of Carey W. and Clara E. (COOK) LAMBERTSON. He married Ida M. STONE on March 19, 1897 in Tipton County, Indiana. They had one child, name yet unknown, who died between 1897-1900. They were enumerated in Hamilton County, Indiana in the 1900 census. Ida died June 19, 1900 of spinal meningitis in Hamilton County. Samuel remarried to Nellie H. LEARY on July 22, 1908 in Marion County, Indiana. They were enumerated in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana in the 1910 census. Samuel died October 15, 1911 in Elwood and is buried in the Elwood City Cemetery.

Samuel's obituary in the Tipton Tribune stated that he was a sufferer of Bright's disease, but that his friends didn't think he was in so serious a condition.

There are others in the family who are descended from the Lambertson line who have displayed musical talent, but my piano playing days ended rather early in my career. Today I wish I had stuck with the lessons I took in elementary and junior high. Music is great for the soul and I wish I could express some of the songs I have in my head.

Written for the 83rd Carnival of Genealogy(COG 83).



Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972)

Virgil Lee WRIGHT was my maternal great-grandfather. He died when I was young, and I have no memories of him. I need to interview my mother and other relatives that might have 'family stories' about him. I know that he was a farmer and that he worked for the county highway department. The farmhouse where he raised his family in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana is where I grew up as a boy.

The following facts about Virgil's life are known:
  • Birth: He was born July 6, 1894 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana, son of John William & Ellen (KING) WRIGHT
  • Census: 1900 - appears in the household of John W. WRIGHT in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana
  • Census: 1910 - appears in the household of John W. WRIGHT in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana
  • Graduation: 1912 - graduated April 16th from Monroe Township Public Schools (8th grade) in Madison County, Indiana. He was aged 17 at the time.
  • Marriage: He married Edna Muriel PIERCE on June 19, 1915 in Alexandria, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. I will be posting a copy of his marriage license application later.
  • Census: 1920 - appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana
  • Census: 1930 - appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana
  • Death: He died March 25, 1972 of hypostatic pneumonia in Alexandria, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. See the link to a copy of his death certificate below.
The following facts need further research and/or documentation to complete my research:
  • Birth: Need to obtain a copy of Virgil's birth certificate from the Madison County Health Department. Though I have the date of his birth from other sources, for some reason I have failed to collect an official record of his birth.
  • Draft Records: With my new access to Ancestry.com databases, I hope to locate draft board records for Virgil.
  • Obituary: Somewhere in my files I have his obituary from the Anderson and Alexandria newspapers, but in my database have only sourced one from the Elwood newspaper. Need to fix this.
Ancestry of Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972), Ahnentafel # 12 in my ancestry :

Ahnentafel # 24: John William WRIGHT (1860-1945); Brown Co., OH>Madison Co., IN

Ahnentafel # 48: Joseph W. WRIGHT (1838-1919); Brown Co., OH>Madison Co., IN

Ahnentafel # 96: John WRIGHT (1814-1890); Brown Co., OH

Ahnentafel # 192: George WRIGHT (1780-1853); Pennsylvania>Brown Co., OH

Ahnentafel # 384: John WRIGHT (1755-1810); Middlesex Co.,MA>Brown Co., OH

Ahnentafel # 768: Deacon John WRIGHT (1727-1772); the immigrant; Fife, Scotland to Cambridge, MA

Related blog posts:

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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