Catherine Wehrly (1836-1881), Jay 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.

Catherine Wehrly (1836-1881) was the daughter of Johannes "John S." Wehrly and Barbara Petry.  Her marriage on December 13, 1857 in Jay County, Indiana to John B. Bucher was found in the database.  Her surname was spelled Worley in the record.  Prior to this find, I did not have the exact location of their marriage.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V6RR-VRZ : accessed 23 Nov 2013), John Bucher and Catharine Worley, 1857.

Catherine was my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt.  Our common ancestors were Johannes Wehrly and Barbara Petry.  Catherine and John had one son.  She died June 21, 1881.

Exploratory Data Analysis: Nehersta Edith (Pierce) Roberts (1910-1979)

Nehersta Edith (Pierce) Roberts (1910-1979) was my maternal great-grandaunt.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Nehersta was born January 4, 1910 in Madison County, Indiana, according to my database.  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

               Will need to search contemporary newspapers for mention of Nehersta's birth.  The Alexandria-Monroe Public Library has newspapers from the early 1900s.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

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

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Nehersta.  The Pierce family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Nehersta was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Nehersta married in 1949¹, to Howard Hyde Roberts,  although the location is not yet know.  The snippet of the news item I was able to see stated that her name was Nehersta Pierce Miller, of Columbus, Ohio.  This suggests that there might have been a previous marriage.  This notice was the subject of a previous post.  Later findings in the 1940 census indicate her first husband was named James A. Miller.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               Will need to search out contemporary newspaper accounts in Columbus, Ohio and Alexandria, Indiana area to see if mention was made of Nehersta's marraige.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Once I'm able to determine the exact date of their marriage, I can also search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebrations.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               The wedding mention with Nehersta having the surname of Miller indicates a possible first marriage.  Will need to search for records of a marriage and divorce in Madison County, Indiana or Franklin County, Ohio.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Nehersta died September 2, 1979 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California².  I do not yet have a copy of her death certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Nehersta's obituary appeared in the September 3, 1979 edition of the Anderson, Indiana Herald-Bulletin². 

               Will need to search other contemporary newspaper editions to see if additional obituaries can be obtained.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               According to her obituary, her funeral arrangements were handled by the Noffze Funeral home in Alexandria, Indiana.  Need to contact them to see if they have any additional records of the funeral.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Nehersta's tombstone in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana³, has been photographed.  A link to her memorial page at FindAGrave site is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

                On April 3, 1940, Nehersta was enumerated in the James A. Miller household in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio⁴, as Nehersta Miller, wife, age 30.  She had completed four years of college.  Her residence in 1935 was Marion County, Indiana.  She was born in Indiana.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 21, 1930, Nehersta was enumerated in the B. Louise Whiteside household in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana⁵, as Nehersta Pierce, age 20, single, lodger.  She had attended school within the year and could read and write.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  She could speak English.  No occupation was listed.  

               On April 24, 1930, Nehersta was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁶, as Edith Pierce, age 20, single, daughter.  She had attended school within the year and could read and write.  She was born in Indiana, her father born in Indiana and mother in Kentucky.  She could speak English.  No occupation was listed.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

               On January 23, 1920, Nehersta was enumerated in the William F. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁷, as Nehersta Pierce, age 10, single, daughter.  She had attended school within the year.  She could read and write and spoke English.  She was born in Indiana, her father was born in Indiana and mother born in Kentucky. 

          2.1.4. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 22, 1910, Nehersta was enumerated in the W.F. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁸, as Nehersta Pierce, age 4 months, daughter.  She was born in Indiana, her father born in Indiana and mother born in Kentucky.

     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 legislative apportionment.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

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

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Nehersta was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by her father or husband that would have made Nehersta eligible for this benefit.

     3.3. Service Records

           Not applicable, as Nehersta was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Franklin County, Ohio and Los Angeles County, California to see what records might mention Nehersta and her family.

     4.2. Plat map / county map

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

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available to search for Nehersta 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.

1. Pacific Oil World (Petroleum Publishers, 1949), Volume 42.
2. Anderson Indiana, Herald-Bulletin, September 3, 1979, Obituary of Nehersta Roberts.
3. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 November 2013).
4. 1940 U.S. census, Franklin County, Ohio, population schedule, Ward 17, Columbus, enumeration district 98-265, SD 12, sheet 2B, 1436 Kenmore Road, dwelling 22, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 November 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
5. 1930 U.S. census, Marion County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 2, Indianapolis, enumeration district 49-311, SD 8, sheet 1A, 321 Fall Creek, dwelling 5, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 November 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
6. 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.
7. William F. Pierce household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana, ED 119, SD 8, sheet 6A, dwelling 127, household 129; National Archives micropublication T625, roll 449, page 6B.
8. 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, page 131.

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.

Research Trip to Ft. Wayne

Last Monday I took a day off and completed a research trip to the Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne.  I always enjoy researching in this library, and manage to find something new every time.

Though I didn't prepare fully for the trip, and ended up using a 'shotgun' approach to research, jumping from family to family, I did manage to find some gems, a synopsis of which follows:

• Cummings family : Found plat maps of Winston County, Alabama locating the land where Eileen's ancestors bought land just before the Civil War.  These maps show the location of neighbors as well, many of whom married into the family, which may lead to making more connections.
• Wardlaw/Wardlow family : Found estate and guardianship records indicies in Clermont County, Ohio with references to original records for me to contact the court and obtain copies.  Also located records of deeds and mortgages in early Clermont County, Ohio and early tax records
• Wright family : Found estate and guardianship records referenced in Clermont County, Ohio with references to original records for me to contact the court and obtain copies.  Also located records of deeds and mortgages in early Clermont County, Ohio and early tax records.
• Stuber family : Located cemetery records in Spencerville, Allen County, Ohio that mark the resting place of two Stuber infants.
• Orcutt/Pierpont family : Located a family genealogy on the Orcutt ancestry that included the family of Harry Pierpont, through his mother, Lena (Orcutt) Pierpont.
• Fessenden/Wright family : Located the family genealogy on the Fessendean family and the section detailing the Hannah (Fessenden) Wright family.
• Freeze Family : Located mention of the family in early newspaper records of Wabash County, Indiana.
• Jarrett Family : Located court records of Corinne's line in Koscuisko County, Indiana.
• Chew Family : Located mention of the family in early newspaper records of Jay County, Indiana.
• Wehrly Family : Located mention of the family in early newspaper records of Jay County, Indiana.
• LeMaster Family : Located mention of the family in early newspaper records of Jay County, Indiana.
• Haley Family : Located mention of the family in early newspaper records of Jay County, Indiana.

Will follow up with more detailed posts as I input this information into my database.