LeMaster Alumni File at Oberlin

The archives at Oberlin responded about the LeMaster alumni that they had found records for.  I'm going to pay for the copies of the records to see how we might be related.

I was able to locate one small alumni file for Ralph LeMaster, but nothing about Mary. This is pretty common with students who only attended the college for a short time, especially in the earlier days of Oberlin.

Ralph's file contains a few address cards (most of them contain the same address: 213 E. Rush St, Kendalliville) and a nice alumni questionnaire sheet. These sheets would have been sent out by the college for different purposes, mostly to keep records updated about alumni. This was filled out by Ralph in 1922, while he was still a student at De Pauw. 

The archivist's fiancee has a grandmother who was a LeMaster as well.  She's passing on to her future m-i-l about the blog, and I'm still looking for a connection.

LeMaster Family Ephemera

Dad found these old checks that my grandmother had written to the IRS and the Indiana Dept. of Revenue and gave them to me to scan.  Nice example of her signature to have on file.  Back in the days when the banks would return your cancelled checks to you each month.

Exploratory Data Analysis: Chester Arthur Wright (1896-1955)

Chester Wright & Virgil Wright, undated photo

Chester Arthur "Mike" Wright (1896-1955) was my maternal great-granduncle.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Chester was born October 18, 1896 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana¹.  I do not yet have a copy of his birth certificate.  Will add obtaining a copy to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of Chester's birth.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Wright family.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Chester, nor am I aware of the church affiliation of the family at the time.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Chester was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Chester married Erma Violet Hayes on March 5, 1920 in Madison County, Indiana.  I do not have a copy of his marriage license.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

         Chester married in Mamie Lawson in 1939 in Madison County, Indiana.  I do not have a copy of this marriage license.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Chester's marriages.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Neither of Chester's marriages lasted long enough to reach the 25th anniversary mark.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               Chester and Erma Hayes did divorce, but I do not have a copy of the record.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip. Likely the divorce occurred in Madison County, Indiana.  Erma was remarried circa 1922, so the divorce had to have taken place in the 1920-1922 period.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Chester died June 20, 1955 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio².  He was a patient at the Ohio University Hospital there for just a few days prior to his death.

          I do not yet have a copy of his death certificate from Ohio. Will add obtaining this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Chester's obituary appeared in the June 21, 1955 edition of the Alexandria Times Tribune in Alexandria, Indiana².  This obituary was the subject of a previous post.

               Chester's obituary appeared in the June 21, 1955 edition of the Anderson Herald in Anderson, Indiana³.

               Chester's obituary appeared in the June 22, 1955 edition of the Alexandria Times Tribune in Alexandria, Indiana⁴.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               According to his obituary³, the funeral arrangements were handled by the Stricler Funeral Home in Alexandria.  Will check with the local historical society to see if they have any surviving records.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Chester is buried in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana⁵.  I do not have a photograph of his tombstone.  Will need to add this to my list of "to-do" items.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 18, 1940, Chester was enumerated in the John W. Wright household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁶, as Chester A. Wright, son, age 40, born in Indiana.  He was married, and had completed the 8th grade in education.  His residence in 1935 was the same place.  His occupation was listed as farmer.  His wife, Mamie, age 40, born in Indiana was also living in the household.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 15, 1930, Chester was enumerated in the John Wright household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁷, as Chester A. Wright, son, age 33, born in Indiana.  He was divorced.  He could read and write and spoke English.  His father was born in Ohio and his mother born in Indiana.  His occupation was listed as farmer.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 15, 1920, Chester was enumerated in the John W. Wright household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁸, as Chester A. Wright, son, age 23, single, born in Indiana.  His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Indiana.  He could read and write and spoke English.  His occupation was listed as farmer.

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On May 5, 1910, Chester was enumerated in the John W. Wright household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁹, as Chester Wright, son, age 13, single, born in Indiana.  His father was born in Ohio and his mother in Indiana.  He could read and write and spoke English, and had attended school within the year.

          2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 27, 1900, Chester was enumerated in the John W. Wright household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana¹⁰, as Chester A. Wright, son, age 3, single, born in Indiana.  His father and mother were both listed as being born in Indiana.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913 and 1921.  These, however, were merely for the purposes of legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what light they might shed on the Wright family farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          On June 5, 1918, Chester registered with the Selective Service in Madison County, Indiana¹¹.  He listed his date of birth as October 18, 1896 in Madison County, Indiana.  The name of his employer and nearest relative were one and the same, his father, John W. Wright, RR # 20, Alexandria, Indiana.  His eyes were listed as light blue and his hair as black.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Chester that would make him eligible for pension benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Chester.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Chester.  Will add this to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

         Plat map and county maps for Madison County, Indiana will need to be searched.  Will contact the local historical society to see what maps they might have in their collection.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on Chester include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my "to-do" list for my next research trip.

Sources:

1. Sandra Freeman, "John William Wright - Ellen King family group sheet", compiled [n.d.] (Alexandria, Indiana, USA).  Notes say information from Zelma Cooper and Gloria LeMaster.
2. Chester (Mike) Wright obituary, Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, USA, June 21, 1955, page 1.
3. Mike Wright dies in Ohio article, Anderson Herald, Anderson, Indiana, USA, June 21, 1955, page 2.
4. Chester (Mike) Wright obituary, Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, USA, June 22, 1955, page 1.
5. Chester (Mike) Wright obituary, Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, USA, June 23, 1955, page 1.
6. 1940 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, enumeration district 48-59, SD 11, sheet 3A, dwelling 60; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. John Wright household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 48-46, SD 5, sheet 11A, dwelling 246, family 258; National Archives micropublication T626, roll 605, page 231.
8. John W. Wright household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 122, SD 8, sheet 4A, dwelling 81, family 81.
9. John W. Wright household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 17, SD 8, sheet 11B, dwelling 259, family 259; National Archives micropublication T624, roll 364, page 364.
10. John W. Wright household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 96, SD 8, sheet 21B, dwelling 398, family 432; National Archives micropublication T623, roll 386, page 38.
11. "U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2013); citing World War I Selective Service Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918: Indiana.


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.