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| Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters |
Barbara Isabel (Wehrly) LeMasters (1869-1930) was my paternal great-grandmother. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical facts I have discovered about her.
1. Vital records
1.1. Birth certificate
Barbara was born March 14, 1869 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana1. 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 Barbara'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 Wehrly family Bible. If one has survived to the present day, I am unaware. I will continue to reach out to extended family hoping that one does exist.
1.1.3. Baptismal record
I have reached out to local researchers in Jay County, hoping to find a record. One source states that she was a member of the United Brethren faith1. The LeMasters were members of the Salamonia Methodist Episcopal church.
1.1.4 Adoption record
There is no indication that Barbara was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Barbara was married on November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Luman Walker LeMasters2. 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 November 13, 1911. They did not survive to reach their 50th anniversary. Have added this 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
Barbara died February 6, 1930 in Union City, Randolph County, Indiana.3 She died at the hospital there. For many years, I had assumed that she had died at her residence at Salamonia, and at least one published genealogy contains this fact. However, obituary research uncovered the true location. I need to obtain a copy of her official death certificate from the Randolph County Health Department.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Barbara's obituary appeared in the February 7, 1930 edition of the Portland, Indiana Commercial-Review. She died after complications from an operation for gall stones.3
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
Barbara's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery has been photographed. The tombstone spells the surname as "LeMasters". It lists her as "Barbara Isabel 1869-1930".4
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census
Barbara had died a few months prior to the 1930 census and was not enumerated.
2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census
On January 12, 1920, Barbara was enumerated in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana5 as Barbara I. Lemaster, age 50, married, born in Indiana. Her father was born in Ohio, her mother born in Indiana. She could read and write and speak English. This was the last federal census she appeared in.
2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census
On May 5, 1910, Barbara was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana6 as Barbara I. Lemaster, age 41, married, born in Indiana. She was listed as being married for 24 years and was the mother of 12 children, 11 of whom were still living. Her father was born in Ohio, her mother born in Michigan. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census
On June 1, 1900, Barbara was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana7 as Barbara I. Lemasters, age 31, married, born in Indiana. She was listed as being married for 13 years and was the mother of 8 children, 7 of whom were still living. Both parents were listed as being born in Ohio. She could read and write and speak English.
2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census
On June 3, 1880, Barbara was enumerated in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana8 in the William Wherhly household, as Isabell Wherhly, age 11, single, attended school within year, born in Indiana. Her father's birthplace was blank, but her mother was listed as born in Michigan.
2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census
On August 2, 1870, Barbara was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana9, in the William P. Werly household, as Barbary I. Wehrly, age 1, born in 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 Wehrly family.
3.1. Draft Registration
Not applicable, as Barbara was a female.
3.2. Penison Records
Not applicable.
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 Valley County, Nebraska. The family moved to Nebraska for a brief period and one record was located. However, none of these records have been sourced in my RootsMagic database.
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 the search for more information on Barbara. Currently, I have access to the 1887 and 1901 maps only.
5. Supplemental records
Supplemental records available to search for Barbara include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Searching these will be on my next "to-do list" research trip to Jay County.
Sources:
1. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, p. 385.
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Book C-F, page 180, Clerk's office, Portland, Indiana.
3. Mrs. Lemaster Dies Thursday From Operation article, The Commercial Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, February 7, 1930, page 1.
4. Barbara Isabel LeMasters tombstone, Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana, transcribed by writer, 26 March 2009.
5. Luman Lemaster household, 1920 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, ED 72, SD 84, sheet 5, dwelling 103, family 103; National Archives micropublication T625.
6. Cooper Lemaster household, 1910 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, ED 67, SD 1, sheet 1, dwelling 170, family 175; National Archives micropublication T624.
7. Luman C. Lemasters household, 1900 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, ED 62, SD 67, sheet 3, dwelling 59, family 60; National Archives micropublication T623.
8. William Wherhly household, 1880 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Salamonia, Madison Township, ED 169, SD 6, page 28, dwelling 6, family 6; National Archives micropublication T9.
9. William P. Werly household, 1870 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Madison Township, Salamonie P.O., page 27, dwelling 197, family 200; National Archives micropublication M593.
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.
