Exploratory Data Analysis: Cloyd J. Pierce (1916-1962)

Cloyd J. Pierce (1916-1962) 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

          Cloyd was born May 22, 1916 in Madison County, Indiana, according to my database.  I do not yet have a copy of his 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 newspaper accounts for mention of Cloyd's birth.  The Alexandria-Monroe Public Library has newspapers from the early 1900s.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          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 in hopes that one does exist.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

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

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Cloyd was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Cloyd married Anna M. Robertson on June 12, 1937 in Libertyville, Indiana.  I do not yet have a copy of their 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 Cloyd and Anna's nuptials.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Cloyd and Anna's 25th wedding anniversary would have been June 12, 1962.  Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebration.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication of divorce, but a thorough search of Madison County, Indiana court records would need to be completed.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Cloyd died December 30, 1962, in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana¹.  I do not yet have a copy of his death certificate.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

                Cloyd's obituary appeared in the December 31, 1962 edition of the Anderson Daily Bulletin¹.

                Will need to search other contemporary newspaper accounts to see if I can locate additional obituaries.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

                According to his obituary, the funeral arrangements were handled by the Karl M. Kyle Funeral home in Alexandria, Indiana.  Will need to check with the funeral home to see if they have any additional records regarding Cloyd's funeral.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

               Cloyd is buried in the Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  I do not have a photograph of his tombstone.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census

               On April 24, 1940, Cloyd was enumerated as the head of household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana² as Cloyd Pierce, age 23, Farmer.  He was renting his home.  He had completed four years of high school.  His residence in 1935 was Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  

          2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census

               On April 24, 1930, Cloyd was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana³, as Cloyd J. Pierce, son, age 13, born in Indiana.  He had attended school within the year.  He could read and write and speak English.  His father was born in Indiana and his mother was born in Kentucky.

          2.1.3. 1920 Federal Census

                On January 23, 1920, Cloyd was enumerated in William F. Pierce household in Lafayette Township, Madison County, Indiana⁴, as Cloyd Pierce, son, age 4 years and 7 months.  He was born in Indiana, his 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 census records to see what light they might shed on the Pierce family farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          I have not discovered any draft registration records for Cloyd.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by Cloyd or his father that would have made him eligible for this benefit.

     3.3. Service Records

          I have not discovered any military service by Cloyd.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Cloyd and his 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 to my search on the Pierce family.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available to search for Cloyd 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. Cloyd Pierce obituary, Anderson Daily Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, 31 December 1962, page 6.
2. 1940 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Lafayette Township, enumeration district 48-49, SD 11, sheet 8A, dwelling 152, digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 December 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
3. 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 T 626.
4. 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.

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.

Robert Canaday (1777-1836), Wayne 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.

Robert Canaday (1777-1836) was the son of John Canaday and Margaret Thornburgh.  His second marriage to Sarah Sumner (1788-1865) on September 15, 1827 in Wayne County, Indiana was found in the database.  Prior to this find, I did not have the date or place of their marriage.  Sarah was the sister of Robert's first wife, Amy.

"Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/27VG-M5R : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Robert Canaday and Sarah Sumner, 1827.

Robert was my maternal 2nd cousin 7 times removed.  Our common ancestors were John Beals and Sarah Bowater.  Robert died August 5, 1836 in Wayne County, Indiana.

Tax Protest : Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana, 1887

Portland Commerical, Portland, Indiana, March 3, 1887, page 1

SALAMONIA

Ed. Comeercial [sic] : -  This day closes February, and it will be long be remembered as one of the most unfavorable for work and business ever experienced in Jay county.  The bad weather and other things that I will mention in this letter, has completely taken possession of the people in this, Madison, and Noble township.  The County Commissioners, on the 3d day of this month, in special session, made a levy of 100 per cent. on the tax payers along the Bellfountain and Salem pike.  This added to the first estimate, making a tax that is ruinous to the farming interests.  The tax on the first quarter mile is five to six dollars per acre, and in proportion as it goes back.  There was a meeting of tax payers held in Brake & Beard's Hall, the 16th, for the purpose of counseling as to the best course to pursue, in order to secure relief from such oppression.

The meeting was largely attended, resulting in the appointing of a committee of five of the tax payers, as follows: Esq. Birkhammer, David Banta, L.W. Lemaster, D.W. Atkinson, and Dr. Morehouse, who were to go to Portland, and examine all records, and take counsel as to the best thing to do, and report at an adjourned meeting, to be held the 24th.  This committee reported at the last named meeting, with an itemized report, which shows beyond a doubt that "there is something rotten in Denmark."  N. McCoy bid this pike off for $ 12,999.  The records show that he has been allowed over $ 18,000.  After allowing him this, and as liberal for everything pertaining to the pike, there are from six to eight thousand dollars they are asking the tax payers to pay into the treasury that the committee could not find out what would be done with it.  The committee finds a contract signed by two commissioners, but not the engineer.  This contract is on file, but not on record; the Auditor stating that it was not a proper document for record, as it was not properly signed.  Following the committee's report, there was another committee appointed to take proper steps to bring it before the courts and see if there is any relief for us.

There is almost a universal uprising.  The feeling here is, that men who hold office must hue to the line, if they want the respect and support of the people.  The acts of our new commissioner will be examined with others, and if he is wabbling, he had better straighten up or get out of the way.  There will be a cyclone overtake some of the boys if they don't look sharp.  The pike has never been completed; it is the poorest excuse for a pike there is in Jay county.  In order to comply with the specifications, it would take 1 1/2 yards to the rod for the entire line.  If there is no relief from such oppresions as this, we will go west and grow up with the country.

TAX PAYER.

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Apparently, my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker Lemasters (1842-1931), was part of a group of tax protesters in the Salamonia area upset at the high tax levied by the Jay County Commissioners in 1887.  Luman was a farmer, whose taxes were definitely affected by the tax increase.