Exploratory Data Analysis: Ora Amanda (Haley) Bittikofer (1884- 1961)

Ora Amanda (Haley) Bittikofer (1884-1961) was my paternal great-grandaunt.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

           Ora was born August 25, 1884 in Jay County, Indiana¹.  The Jay County Indiana Health Department has birth records from 1882.  I do not yet have a copy of her birth certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Ora's birth was recorded in a newspaper, I have not yet discovered it.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if she is mentioned.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

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

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               The Haleys were members of the Evangelical Association.  I am not aware of any baptismal record for Ora at this time.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Ora was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Ora married Franklin Oliver Bittikofer on February 20, 1904 in Jay County, Indiana².   A copy of their marriage license was the subject of a previous post.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of Frank and Ora's nuptials.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Ora and Frank's 25th wedding anniversary would have been February 20, 1929.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if there was any mention of anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that Ora was ever divorced, but a thorough search of Jay County, Indiana court records needs to be completed.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Ora died in 1961, according to her tombstone.  I do not have a copy of her death certificate.  Since the family was living in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, assume that she died there.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Once I obtain an exact date of death, will search contemporary newspapers to see if I can locate an obituary for Ora.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Once I have a copy of Ora's obituary, I can contact the funeral home mentioned and see if they have any additional records of Ora's funeral.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Ora's tombstone in the Riverside Cemetery, Troy, Miami County, Ohio has been photographed.  A link to her memorial page at Billiongraves.com is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 1, 1940, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bittikofer household in Ward 3, Troy, Miami County, Ohio³, as Ora Bittikofer, wife, age 55.  She was born in Indiana.  Her residence in 1935 was the same location.  She had completed the 5th grade in education.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 323 Summit Avenue.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 18, 1930, Ora was enumerated in the Frank O. Bittikofer household in Ward 3, Troy, Miami County, Ohio⁴, as Ora M. Bittikofer, wife, age 46.  She was married at age 23. She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 517 Court Street.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 3, 1920, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bitteroffer household in Bradford, Miami County, Ohio⁵, as Ora Bitteroffer, wife, age 35. She was born in Indiana, and both her parents were born in Ohio. She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.  Her residence was 314 Main Street.  The census enumerator spelled the surname as Bitteroffer.

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 30, 1910, Ora was enumerated in the Frank Bittikofer household in Recovery Township, Mercer County, Ohio⁶, as Ora Bittikofer, wife, age 26.  This was her first marriage and she had been married for 6 years.  She was the mother of 2 children, 1 of whom was living.  She was born in Indiana, her father born in Indiana and her mother born in Ohio.  She could read and write and spoke English.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.5. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 16, 1900, Ora was enumerated in the Robert E. Kimble household in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana⁷, as Ora M. Haley, stepdaughter, age 15.  She was born August 1884 in Indiana.  Her father and mother were born in Ohio.  She could read and write and spoke English.

     2.2. State Census Records

          No state census records in Ohio are known to exist.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet examined these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Kimble/Haley farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Ora was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Ora's husband or father that would have made her eligible for military benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Ora was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Mercer and Miami Counties, Ohio to see what records might mention Ora and her family.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

          Will need to search out plat maps in Miami County, Ohio to see if I can locate her family and obtain any additional information.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records to search for Ora include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records.  Will add these to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

Sources :

1. Jay County, Indiana Birth Records, Book H-1, page 107.
2. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Records, Book C-J, page 19.
3. 1940 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 3, Troy, enumeration district 55-10, SD 4, sheet 2B, 323 Summit Avenue, dwelling 34; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 June 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
4. 1930 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 3, Troy, enumeration district 55-7, SD 11, sheet 20A, 517 Court Street, dwelling 551, family 5551; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 June 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.

5. 1920 U.S. census, Miami County, Ohio, population schedule, Bradford, enumeration district 220, SD 3, sheet 4B, 314 Main Street, dwelling 91, family 102; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 October 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. 1910 U.S. census, Mercer County, Ohio, population schedule, Recovery Township, enumeration district 122, SD 9, sheet 11B, dwelling 224, family 226; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
7. 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.

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.

Nancy Bales (1844-1866), Henry County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Nancy Bales (1844-1866) was the daughter of Aaron and Susannah (Russell) Bales.  Her marriage on September 8, 1860 in Henry County, Indiana to Amos Main was found in the database.  Prior to this find, I knew the date of their marriage but not the location.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXFY-SLD : accessed 15 Aug 2013), Amos Main and Nancy J Bales, 1860.

Nancy was my maternal third cousin six times removed.  Our common ancestors were John Beals and Sarah Bowater.  Nancy died September 17, 1866 in Blue River Township, Henry County, Indiana.  Nothing further is know about the family at this time.

Joel Bales (1849- ), Randolph County, Indiana

Working on filling in some gaps in my database by utilizing the "Indiana Marriages, 1811-1959" database at Familysearch.org to see what updates and corrections I could find.

Joel Bales (1849-    ) was the son of Amer Jackson and Harriett (Higginbotham) Bales.  His marriage to Mary C. Abbott on March 21, 1871 in Randolph County, Indiana was found in the database.  Prior to this find, I did not have the date or place of their marriage.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V5PM-9RT : accessed 14 Aug 2013), Joel F Bales and Mary C Abbott, 1871.

Joel was my maternal fifth cousin five times removed.  Our common ancestors are John Beals and Mary Clayton.  Nothing further is known of Joel and Mary's family at this time.