Luman C. LeMasters
Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933) was my paternal great-grandfather. What follows is an exploratory data analysis of the biographical facts I have discovered about him.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth Certificate
Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana 1, 2. The State of Indiana didn't require state-wide registrations of birth until after 1907. Prior to this date, they were only recorded in the counties where the event occurred. Jay County, Indiana only has birth records from 1882.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
If Luman's birth was announced in a local newspaper, it has been lost to history. The Jay County Public Library has newspapers from the late 1880s, and there was a book by Rex Bertram "Jay Co., IN Newspaper Clippings, 1871-1887", but I haven't discovered anything earlier. The holdings of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis do not indicate any newspapers of the period.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of the survival of a Lemasters family Bible. Luman's father, Luman Walker Lemasters Jr., mentioned a family Bible in his Civil War pension paperwork, but if it has survived to the present day, I am unaware. I will continue to reach out to extended family hoping that it does exist.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
The Lemasters were members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana. The church is no longer in existence. I have contacted the Jay County Historical Society, and they do not have the records of this church. I have reached out to local researchers in Jay County to see what they can find out as well. I have contacted the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Conference church via email to see if they have any records of this church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Luman was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Luman was married on November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Barbara Isabel Wehrly3. A copy of this record was the subject of a previous post. They were married by S.J. Mellinger.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
I have not searched in Jay County Newspapers to see if Luman and Barbara's nuptials were announced in the newspaper. Have added this to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
I have not searched in Jay County Newspapers for mention of Luman and Barbara's anniversaries either. Their 25th would have been on November 13, 1911. They did not survive to reach their 50th anniversary. Have added this search to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.
1.2.3. Divorce decree
There is no indication that a divorce ever occurred, and a recent search of court records during the time period did not turn up a divorce record.
1.3. Death certificate
Luman died on February 11, 1933 at Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana3. A copy of this record was the subject of a previous post. His age was listed as 65 years, 8 months and 15 days. The cause of death was listed as "carcinoma bladder". He passed away at 8 o'clock in the evening. His funeral was handled by the Williamson funeral home in Portland, and he was buried February 14, 1933 in the Salamonia Cemetery. By re-examining this record I discovered I had been reporting Luman's death date erroneously as February 10, 1933 for a number of years, relying on a secondary source4.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Luman's obituary appeared in the February 13, 1933 edition of The Commercial-Review in Portland, Indiana5. The obituary appeared in a Monday edition and the obituary was a subject of a previous post. The obituary referred to him by his middle name, Cooper, which is probably how he was called. The obituary states that he was "in failing health for four years and seriously ill the past four months". The obituary states that he was a rural mail carrier and farmer and mentions there were 29 surviving grandchildren.
1.3.2. Funeral home record
The Jay County Library has some of the records from the Williamson Funeral Home in Portland, Indiana. Will add this to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Luman's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery has been photographed. The tombstone spells the surname as "LeMasters". It lists him as Luman Cooper 1867-1933, and his wife, Barbara is also listed.6.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
On April 9, 1930, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana7, as Cooper Leamasters, age 63, widowed farmer, aged 63, born Indiana. Both parents were listed as being born in Indiana. He could read and write and spoke English. He also owned his own home. This was the last federal census he appeared in.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 12, 1920, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana8, as Luman Lemaster
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On May 5, 1910, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana9, as Cooper Lemaster, age 41, married rural route mail carrier, born Indiana. Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey. He could read and write and spoke English. He owned his own home. He had been married for 24 years.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 1, 1900, Luman was enumerated in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana10, as Luman C. Lemasters, age 33, born May 1867, married farmer, born in Indiana. Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey. He could read and write and spoke English. He rented his home, and lived on a farm. The family was living on Main Street in Salamonia.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
On June 5, 1880, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana11 in the Walker Lemasters household, as Luman Lemasters, age 13, single, working on farm, born in Indiana. Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On June 15, 1870, Luman was enumerated in Allen Township, Darke County, Ohio12 in the Luman Lemasters houshold, as Luman Lemasters, age 3, single, born Indiana.
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 determining legislative apportionment.
2.3. Agricultural Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what information might be shed on the Lemaster family farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft Registration
Luman was too old to register for the draft during World War I, however, his sons did and will be discussed later.
3.2. Pension Records
Not applicable, as Luman didn't serve in the military.
3.3. Service Records
Not applicable.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed records
Deed records need to be researched more thoroughly in Jay County, Indiana, as well as Darke County, Ohio. The family moved to Valley County, Nebraska for a brief period, and one record was located. However, none of these have been sourced in my RootsMagic database.
The following records in the Jay County Circuit Book 2 need researched:
LeMaster, Luman C., James F. Eley, Replevin, June 7, 1930, Box 724, Record No. 20867
4.2. Plat map / county map
Jay County published a plat map in 1874, 1881, 1887, 1901, 1910, and 1920 that may be relevant to my search for Luman. I have access to copies of the 1887 and 1901 plat maps in Jay County, and need to see what information they hold regarding Luman.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available to research for Luman include county/city directories, court records and will and probate records. Searching these will be on my next "to-do list" research trip in Jay County at the library.
Luman's will was filed in Jay County, Indiana. Though I have a copy of it, I do not have it properly sourced by book and page in the Probate Office.
Sources:
1. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977, page 385.
2. Luman Cooper LeMaster, death certificate, Book H-8, page 18 (1933), Jay County, Indiana Health Department, Portland, Indiana.
3. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Book C-F, page 180., Clerk's Office, Portland, Indiana.
4. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977, page 385.
5. Cooper LeMaster obituary, Portland Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 13, 1933, page 1.
6. Luman Cooper LeMasters tombstone, Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana, transcribed by the writer, 26 March 2009.
7. Cooper Leamaster household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 38-8, SD 5, sheet 4A, dwelling 82, family 82; National Archives micropublication T626.
8. Luman Lemaster household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 72, SD 84, sheet 5, dwelling 103, family 103; National Archives micropublication T625.
9. Cooper Lemaster household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 67, SD 1, sheet 8, dwelling 170, family 175; National Archives micropublication T624.
10. Luman C. Lemasters household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 62, SD 8, sheet 1A, dwelling 4, family 4; National Archives micropublication T623.
11. Walker Lemasters household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 161, SD 6, page 4, dwelling 47, family 48; National Archives micropublication T9.
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 draw in this article are welcomed.
