Thursday, November 01, 2012

Exploratory Data Analysis : William Francis Pierce (1865-1950)

William Francis Pierce (1865-1950) was my maternal 2nd-great grandfather.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          William was born July 10, 1865 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana1.

          The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates prior to 1907.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               I have not been able to locate any contemporary accounts of William's birth.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Pierce family.  I will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that such a record does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for William at this time, nor am I aware of the family's church affiliation.  Later in life, they were members of the Methodist church.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that William was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage license

          William married on January 14, 1892 in Madison County, Indiana to Clara Penisten2.

          William married on March 4, 1909 in Madison County, Indiana to Vida Maddox3.

          Their marriage license was the subject of a previous post.

          1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper

               Will need to search out contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of William's marriages.  Have added this to my research "to-do" list.

          1.2.2. Anniversary notice

               William and Vida's 25th wedding anniversary would have been March 4, 1934.  Need to search local newspapers to see if mention was made.

          1.2.3. Divorce decree

               There is no indication of any divorce by William from either wife.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          William died September 21, 1950 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana1.  The cause of death listed in his obituary was stroke. I need to obtain a copy of his death certificate from the Madison County Health Department.

          1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper

               William's obituary was published in the September 21, 1950 edition of the Alexandria, Indiana Times-Tribune1.

               Need to search out other local newspapers to see if his death was also mentioned in their publications.

          1.3.2. Funeral home records

               According to his obituary, the funeral arrangements were handled by the Davis and Strickler funeral home.  Need to search at the local historical society to see if they have any of the records.

          1.3.3. Tombstone photograph

               William's tombstone in the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana has been photographed.

               The tombstone lists him as "William F. 1865-1950".

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 24, 1930, William was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana4, as William Pierce, age 64, married Farmer born in Indiana.  He was aged 25 at the time of his first marriage.  He could read and write and spoke English.  Both of his parents were born in Indiana.  He owned his own home.

          2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 23, 1920, William was enumerated in Frankton, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana5, as William F. Pierce, age 53, married, Farmer born in Indiana.  Both of his parents were born in Indiana.  He could read and write and speak English.  He owned his home and it was mortgaged.

          2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 22, 1910, William was enumerated in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana6, as W.F. Pierce, age 45, farmer, born in Indiana.  Both of his parents were born in Indiana.  He had been married for 1 year, and it was his second marriage.  He owned his home and it was mortgaged.

          2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 15, 1900, William was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana7, as William F. Pierce, age 35, born July 1866 in Indiana, farmer.  Both of his parents were born in Indiana. He had been married for 8 years. He could read and write and speak English.

          2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 3, 1880, William was enumerated in the Catharine Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana8, as William Pierce, age 14, son, born in Indiana.  He worked on the farm and had attended school within the year.  Both parents were listed as being born in Indiana.

          2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census

               On July 15, 1870, William was enumerated in the E.G. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana9, as W.F. Pierce, age 4, 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 1921.  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 light it might shed on the Pierce family farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          William was too old to be included in the draft for World War I or World War II.  He would have been subject to the draft for the Spanish-American War.

     3.2. Pension Records

          Not applicable, as I have found no evidence that William served in the military.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as I have found no evidence that William served in the military.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana.  Have added this to my "to-do" list on my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Madison County published a plat map in 1880, 1891, 1893, 1901, 1910, 1915, 1921, 1923, 1931 and 1940 that might be relevant to my search for the Pierce family.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available to search for William include county/city directories, court records and will and probate records.  Have added these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip into Madison County.

Sources:
1. William Pierce obituary, Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, September 21, 1950.
2. Madison County Indiana Marriage Book C4, page 112, Madison County Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.
3. Madison County Indiana Marriage Book 20, page 216, Madison County Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.
4. William Pierce household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 48-45, SD 5, sheet 13B, dwelling 321, family 327; National Archives micropublication T626.
5. William F. Pierce household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 6A, dwelling 127; family 129; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 449.
6. W.F. Pierce household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 106, SD 8, sheet 5A, dwelling 86, family 86; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 364.
7. William F. Pierce household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 90, SD 67, sheet 11B, dwelling 220, family 235; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 386.
8. Catharine Pierce household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 1, ED 23, SD 3, dwelling 2, family 2; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 293.
9. E.G. Pierce household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 32, dwelling 235; family 235; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 336.


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.

On This Day : November 1

1705 - John CLARKE married Mary BEEBE in Westerly, Rhode Island.  John was the son of Joseph CLARKE and Bethiah HUBBARD.

1734 - James BABCOCK born.  James was the son of James BABCOCK and Content MAXSON.

1736 - Mary ALLEN born.  Mary was the daughter of John ALLEN and Amy COX.

1741 - Nathan ROGERS born.  Nathan was the son of Nathan ROGERS and Martha DAVIS.

1743 - Hubbard BURDICK married Avis LEWIS.  Hubbard was the son of Hubbard BURDICK and Hannah MAXSON.

1748 - Richard BEESON died in Frederick County, Virginia.  Richard was the son of Richard BEESON and Charity GRUBB.

1752 - Caleb MAXSON born.  Caleb was the son of John MAXSON and Tacy ROGERS.

1755 - John MAXSON born.  John was the son of Torey MAXSON and Martha LANPHERE.

1758 - Sarah CHEW married David ELDRIDGE.  Sarah was the daughter of Jeffrey CHEW and Amy DRIVER.

1786 - Jonathan HODGSON married Abigail STANLEY.  Jonathan was the son of John HODGSON and Mary MILLS.

1787 - Mary MAXSON married Amherst CRANDALL.  Mary was the daughter of Samuel MAXSON and Mary DOWNING.

1809 - Asa Smith CHEW died.  Asa was the son of Elisha Dunham CHEW and Mary HERITAGE.

1824 - John GROENENDYKE died in Eugene Township, Vermillion County, Illinois.  John was the son of Johannes GROENENDYKE and Sarah Ann LAKE.

1857 - Joseph W. WRIGHT married Rebecca Ann HEATON in Schuyler County, Missouri.  Joseph was the son of John WRIGHT and Anna WARDLOW.  Rebecca was the daughter of James R. HEATON and Elizabeth JACOBS.  They were my 3x-great grandparents.

1861 - Alice L. HADLEY born in Mooresville, Morgan County, Indiana.  Alice was the daughter of Zimri HADLEY and Luretha Jane BROWN.

1874 - Sarah Fidelia CHEW married David ELEY in Marshall County, Indiana.  Sarah was the daughter of Ezekiel Cooper CHEW and Caroline Bishop WOOLSTON.

1883 - Jason Perry PROCTOR born.  Jason was the son of John Henry PROCTOR and Sarah Elizabeth BOYER.

1890 - Alzina FISHER died in Henderson, Iowa.  Alzina was the daughter of George FISHER and Hannah WRIGHT.

1905 - Ella E. SYFERT married Walter W. WOOD.  Ella was the daughter of George B. SYFERT and Margaret Ann McLANE.

1914 - David KING died in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  David was the son of Daniel KING and Elizabeth SHAW.

1918 - Robert Aron SWAFFORD died in Ray County, Missouri.  Robert was the son of Allen Aaron SWAFFORD and Anna S. COVEY.

1928 - Thomas John RICHARDS died.  Thomas was the son of John Thomas RICHARDS and Mary Jane CROCKETT.

1957 - Mary Ellen HAWLEY died in Pendleton, Oregon.  Mary was the daughter of James William ALDERMAN and Vashti KIMBRO.

1972 - Myra Christina PEFLEY died in Atlanta, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Myra was the daughter of Albert Duffey PEFLEY and Sarah May PEEPLES.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

On This Day : October 31

1671 - Ebenezer FIELD born.  Ebenezer was the son of Zechariah FIELD and Sarah WEBB.

1701 - Hannah BROWN born.  Hannah was the daughter of William BROWN and Catherine WILLIAMS.

1703 - Bethiah CLARKE married Thomas HISCOX in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Bethiah was the daughter of Joseph CLARKE and Bethiah HUBBARD.

1763 - John FESSENDEN married Abigail HOWE.  John was the son of William FESSENDEN and Martha BROWN.

1771 - Elinor MAXSON married William BLIVEN.  Elinor was the daughter of John MAXSON and Thankful RANDALL.

1788 - Charity JACKSON born.  Charity was the daughter of John JACKSON and Phebe BEALS.

1792 - Enoch PIERCE married Molly SNOW.  Enoch was the son of Enoch PIERCE and Mary MASON.

1815 - Gideon MAXSON born in Green Brier Run, Virginia.  Gideon was the son of Zebulon MAXSON and Mary DAVIS.

1817 - Mandley PIERCE born.  Mandley was the son of Samuel PIERCE and Persis BARROWS.

1827 - Susan YOUNG born in Sandusky County, Ohio.  Susan was the daughter of Charles YOUNG and Nancy SCOTHORN.

1832 - Beulah HUNT married John MACY.  Beulah was the daughter of Isom HUNT and Margaret BUNDY.

1832 - Sutton MAXSON married Lavina LIPPINCOTT in Clark County, Ohio.  Sutton was the son of Jesse MAXSON and Sarah SUTTON.

1849 - Rachel BISHOP died in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rachel was the daughter of Robert HAINES and Rachel VENICOMB.

1855 - James OLIPHANT died.  James was the son of John OLIPHANT and Hannah AMOS.

1858 - Thomas Jefferson BUCHER born in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Thomas was the son of John B. BUCHER and Catherine WEHRLY.

1875 - Merrick C. HALEY born in Claridon Township, Marion County, Ohio.  Merrick was the son of William HALEY and Jane Elizabeth OWEN.

1889 - Mose Thompson TOLLETT born.  Mose was the son of Major C. TOLLETT and Amanda SWAFFORD.

1890 - Edith Alene MAXON born in Mt. Morris, Greene County, Pennsylvania.  Edith was the daughter of John Winfield MAXON and Pleasant Jane BAREMORE.

1900 - Clara Elnora HALEY born in Jay County, Indiana.  Clara was the daughter of Eli Weldon HALEY and Cora Belle METZNER.

1904 - Mary Irene KING born.  Mary was the daughter of David Victor KING and Rosie Myrtle ETCHISON.

1943 - John Marlin SWAFFORD died in Rayville, Missouri.  John was the son of James SWAFFORD and Rebecca Ann BALLARD.