Mary Jane (Sherrick) Haley Kimble (1844-1916) was my paternal 2nd-great grandmother. What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.
1. Vital Records
1.1. Birth certificate
Mary was born January 13, 1844 in Ashland County, Ohio1. There were no birth certificates required at this time, as the State of Ohio did not begin requiring them until 1867.
1.1.1. Birth notice in newspaper
I have not been able to locate any contemporary news reports of Mary's birth.
1.1.2. Bible Record
I am not aware of the survival of a Sherrick family Bible. I will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.
1.1.3. Baptismal Record
I have not located a baptismal record for Mary. I believe that the Sherrick family were Mennonite/Anabapist, so there would not be an infant baptism record.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Mary was adopted.
1.2. Marriage license
Mary married George Washington Haley on October 14, 1862 in Ashland County, Ohio1.
Mary married Robert N. Kimble on May 8, 1897 in Jay County, Indiana2. A copy of their marriage license was the subject of an earlier post.
1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper
I have not searched contemporary newspapers in Ashland County, Ohio to see if the nuptials of George and Mary were mentioned. Likewise, I have not searched Jay County, Indiana newspapers for mention of Robert and Mary's marriage. Have added this to my "to do" list on my next research trip.
1.2.2. Anniversary notice
I need to search newspapers in Jay County, Indiana for mention of George and Mary's anniversaries. Their 25th would have been October 14, 1887.
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
Mary died January 15, 1916 in Jay County, Indiana3. I need to obtain a copy of her death certificate from the Jay County Health Department.
1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper
Mary's obituary appeared in the January 15, 1916 edition of the Portland Commercial-Review.3. Her married name was mispelled as "Kimball" in the obituary, rather than Kimble. Mary's obituary was the subject of a previous post.
1.3.2. Funeral home records
The Jay County library has some funeral home records from the various funeral homes in the area. Will add this to my "to do" list for my next research trip to the area.
1.3.3. Tombstone photograph
Mary's tombstone in the Mt. Zion cemetery has been photographed. I need to make it the subject of a "Tombstone Tuesday" post.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1910 Federal Census
I have yet to find Mary in the 1910 census. She should probably be in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana. She should be living in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana, but I've not found her in any index. Will have to do a line by line search in Noble Township.
2.1.2. 1900 Federal Census
On June 16, 1900, Mary was enumerated in the Robert Kimble household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana4, as Mary J. Kimble, wife, age 56, born January 1844 in Ohio. She had been married for 3 years. She was the mother of 7 children, 6 of whom were living. Both of her parents were born in Pennsylvania. She could read and write and spoke English. Living in the household were husband Robert, age 58, born in Ohio, step-son John, age 20, born in Indiana, and Mary's daughter Ora, age 15, born in Indiana.
2.1.3. 1880 Federal Census
On June 22, 1880, Mary was enumerated in the George W. Haley household in Liberty Township, Seneca County, Ohio5, as Mary J. Haley, wife, age 36, born in Ohio. Her occupation was listed as keeping house. Both her parents were born in Pennsylvania. Living in the household were husband George, age 40; son Andrew F., age 16; son Eli W., age 14; son David E., age 11; daughter Rachel A.P., age 10; son Charles W., age 7; and daughter Carrie M., age 3.
2.1.4. 1870 Federal Census
On June 6, 1870, Mary was enumerated in the George Haley household in Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio6, as Mary Haley, age 26, born in Ohio. Her occupation was listed as keeping house. Living in the household were husband George, age 30; son Andrew F., age 6; son Eli W., age 4; son David age 1; and Emma P., aged 6 months.
2.1.5. 1860 Federal Census
On August 2, 1860, Mary was enumerated in the David Sharack household in Vermillion Township, Ashland County, Ohio7 as Mary J. Sharack, age 17, born in Ohio. She had attended school within the year.
2.1.4. 1850 Federal Census
On September 19, 1850, Mary was enumerated in the David Scherick household in Vermillion Township, Ashland County, Ohio8 as Mary Jane Scherick, age 7, born in Ohio. She had attended school within the year.
2.2. State Census Records
Many states took their own enumerations, unfortunately, Ohio state census records are not known to exist.
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 legislative apportionment.
2.3. Agriculture Census Records
I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what information they might shed on the Haley farm.
3. Military Records
3.1. Draft registration
Not applicable, as Mary was female.
3.2. Pension records
I am not aware of any military service by either of Mary's husbands.
3.3. Service records
Not applicable, as Mary was female.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in a number of counties, including Jay County in Indiana as well as Ashland, Medina, Seneca and Marion counties in Ohio.
4.2. Plat map / county map
Jay County published a plat map in 1874, 1881, 1887 and 1901, 1910 and 1920 that may be relevant to my search for the Haley homestead.
Will also need to add searching for maps of the various Ohio counties where Mary lived to my "to do" list for my next research trip.
5. Supplemental Records.
Supplemental records available to research for Mary include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Searching these items will be on my next "to do" list on my research trip to Jay County and/or the Allen County Library in Ft. Wayne.
Sources:
1. Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1887, page 665.
2. Jay County Indiana Marriage Records Book C-H, page 310.
3. Mrs. Kimball Died Saturday obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, January 15, 1916, page 1.
4. Robert E. Kimble household, 1900 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Noble Township, ED 63, SD 67, sheet 9, dwelling 180, family 182, National Archives micropublication T623, roll 380.
5. 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, roll 1065.
6. George Haley household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Harrisville Township, Medina County, Ohio, Lodi P.O., page 10, dwelling 90, household 101; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 1241.
7. David Sharack household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Hayesville P.O., Vermillion Township, Ashland County, Ohio, dwelling 974, household 1009; National Archives micropublication M653, roll 930.
8. David Scherick household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Vermillion Township, District No. 1., Ashland County, Ohio, page 419, dwelling 359, family 367; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 658.
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.
