 |
| Eli & Cora (Metzner) Haley, 50th Anniversary (1938) |
Eli Weldon Haley (1866-1957) was my paternal great-grandfather. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical facts I have discovered about him.
1. Vital records
1.1. Birth Certificate
Eli was born March 24, 1866 in Erie County, Ohio1. The State of Ohio did require the keeping of birth records until 1867. State law required the probate courts to record these births from 1867 through 1908, according to the Ohio Historical Society webpage.
1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper
If Eli's birth was recorded in a newspaper, I have not yet discovered it. There are editions of the Sandusky Register in existence, and that is one avenue of research in the future.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I'm not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Haley family. My father has the Bible he carried to church, but it doesn't contain any genealogical information.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
The Haley's were members of the Evangelical Association. I am not aware of any records of baptism for Eli at this time.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Eli was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Eli was married on July 21, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana to Cora Belle Metzner2.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
I have not searched in newspapers of Jay County, Indiana to see if mention was made of Eli and Cora's nuptials. Have added this to my 'to-do' list for my next research trip.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
Though I have copies of anniversary notices from the newspapers, they are not sourced, and I need to add that to my 'to-do' list. Need to determine if the notices are from the Portland Commercial-Review or the Graphic.
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
Eli died July 14, 1957 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana3. He died at the residence of his daughter, Vera (Haley) Stuber. I need to obtain a copy of his official death certificate from the Jay County Health Department.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Eli's obituary is one of my "missing" pieces. I need to add finding this to my research "to do" list.
1.3.2. Funeral home record
The funeral home record was the subject of a previous post. Eli died at 6 a.m. and was 91 years of age. He was buried at the Mt. Zion cemetery in a casket manufactured by the Batesville Casket Co.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Eli's tombstone in the Mt. Zion cemetery has been photographed. It lists him as Eli W. 1866-1957 and his wife, Cora, is also listed4.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
On April 11, 1930, Eli was enumerated in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana5, as Eli W. Haley, married farmer, age 64, born in Ohio. Both parents are listed as being born in Ohio. He could read and write and spoke English. Eli owned his home and it was valued at $4000.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 2, 1920, Eli was enumerated in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana6, as Eli W. Haley, married farmer, age 53, born in Ohio. Both parents are listed as being born in Ohio. He could read and write and spoke English. He owned his home and it was mortgaged.
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On April 16, 1910, Eli was enumerated in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana7, as Eli W. Haley, married farmer, age 44, born in Ohio. Both parents are listed as being born in Ohio. He could read and write and spoke English. He owned his home and it was mortgaged. He had been married 21 years.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 16, 1900, Eli was enumerated in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana8, as Eli W. Haley, married farmer, age 34, born in Ohio. Both parents are listed as being born in Ohio. He could read and write and spoke English. He owned his home free of mortgage. He was born in March 1866.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
On June 22, 1880, Eli was enumerated in Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio9, in the household of his father, George W. Haley. He is listed as Eli W., age 14, at home, born in Ohio and attended school within the year. Both his father and mother are listed as being born in Ohio.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On June 6, 1870, Eli was enumerated in Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio10, in the household of his father, George Haley. He was listed as 4 years old and 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 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 Haley family farm.
3.1. Draft Registration
Eli was too old to register for the draft during World War I.
3.2. Pension Records
Not applicable, as I have found no evidence that Eli ever served 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. The family lived most of their adult life in Noble Township, though did live for a while in Madison Township.
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 Eli. I have access to copies of the 1887 and 1901 plat maps in Jay County, and need to see what information they hold regarding Eli.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available to research for Eli 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.
One interesting record that needs more research was Eli's mention in the following court case11:
Greer vs. State of Indiana (1929): alleged that Eli as a juror was guilty of misconduct, because before the trial, it was alleged that Eli had stated to a James MILLER, that GREER was guilty, and that if he (Haley) was on the jury, he "would stay until the last dog was hung that he was guilty".
Sources:
1. Saxman, Nancy & Gloria Schindler, comp., Baird Freeman Funeral Home Jay County Indiana 1956-1958. (Portland, Indiana, n.p., 1996).
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book C-F, page 357.
3. Saxman, Nancy & Gloria Schindler, comp., Baird Freeman Funeral Home jay County Indiana 1956-1958. (Portland, Indiana, n.p., 1996).
4. Mt. Zion Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Eli W. Haley marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster.
5. Eli W. Haley household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 38-9, SD 5, sheet 4B, dwelling 97, family 97; National Archives micropublication T626.
6. Eli W. Haley household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED [?], SD 40, sheet 1, dwelling 11, family 11; National Archives micropublication T625.
7. Eli W. Haley household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 69, SD 8, sheet 1, dwelling 15, family 15; National Archives micropublication T624.
8. Eli W. Haley household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 63, SD 67, sheet 9, dwelling 179, family 181; National Archives micropublication T623.
9. George W. Haley household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio, ED 193, SD 1, dwelling 401, family 405; National Archives micropublication T9.
10. George Haley household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio, Lodi P.O., page 10, dwelling 90, household, 1010; National Archives micropublication M593.
11. Indiana Case Law, New York State Bar Association online [http://www.loislaw.com/advsmy/doclink.htp?alias=INCASE&cite=201+Ind+434], accessed 10 March 2010.
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.
