A message from cousin Paula at Linnea's Legacy prompted me to search my files to see if I had any information regarding the cause of death of our common relative, John Metzner (1805-1888) of Jay County, Indiana. John was a brother of Paula's ancestor, William Metzner.
John was my paternal 3rd great-grandfather, an immigrant from Saxony who showed up in Licking County, Ohio in 1839 where he married another immigrant from Alsace, Catherine Young (1819-1910). They moved between 1848-1850 to Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana where they raised their 11 children.
Eventually, I fully intend to do a working analysis of John's information, but right now I have his date of death as January 10, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana, aged 82. My Rootsmagic database shows two sources cited for his death, one a family group sheet from Paula, the other is Jay County, Indiana Death Records, Book H-1, page 67.
I have searched through my digital files and cannot locate where I have ever requested a copy of his death certificate from the Jay County Health Department. So there is one avenue of research that will be on my "to-do" list for 2014.
Using my subscription to Newspaperarchive.com, I decided to see what newspapers they might have for this time period. Early Jay County, Indiana newspapers are not always extant. I was able to find some editions of the early Portland Commercial, but none for the month of January 1888, when John died.
I did find mention of grandpa John in the December 22, 1887 edition of the Portland Commercial. On page one, under the social happenings of the Fair Haven area, is stated :
Mr. John Metzner, who lives north east from this place is seriously sick.
So while this doesn't give an exact cause of death, it does at least put him on the sick roll at the time shortly before his demise. Now I will need to follow up with a trek to the Jay County Health Department for a copy of the official record.
I'm also not familiar with the neighborhood of Fair Haven, so am unsure what the connection to the Metzner clan. I had always known them to be around the Westchester area of Jay County.
Wondering also if John might have been suffering from the flu, though that may just be because in 2014 I'm stuck at home doing the same.
James Louis Pierce (1931-2002) 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
James was born September 10, 1931, probably 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 to see if mention was made of James' birth. 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 Pierce family Bible. 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 James. The Pierce family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that James was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
I do not have any details yet on James' marriage, though I do know that he was divorced from his death record in North Carolina. Will continue to search for record of his marriage.
1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper
Once I have a date range to search for James' marriage, will be able to search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of it.
1.2.2. Anniversary Notice
Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of any anniversary celebrations once I've determined the date of marriage.
1.2.3. Divorce Decree
Although I know that James was divorced from his death record, I do not know when or where the divorce was granted. Will need to continue to search for documentation of the event.
1.3. Death Certificate
James died January 19, 2002 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. My source for this data is from email with a correspondent. The cause of death was not listed on the record I was provided. Will need to request a copy and add this to my "to-do" list.
1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspapers to see if mention was made of James' death. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.
1.3.2. Funeral Home Records
Once I've obtained the obituary information, will contact the funeral home that handled the arrangements to see if they can provide any additional information.
1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph
James' tombstone in the Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Madison County, Indiana1, has been photographed.
A link to his memorial page is here.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On May 3, 1940, James was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana2, as James Pierce, son, age 8. He had attended school within the year, his residence in 1935 was the same place. He was born in Indiana. Note : the line for education indicated "C-3", which according to the instructions would have been 3 years of college, based on his age, assuming that the enumerator meant that James had completed the third grade.
2.2. State Census Records
The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931. 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
I have not been able to locate any draft records for James.
3.2. Pension Records
I do not yet know if James received a pension for his service in the U.S. Air Force.
3.3. Service Records
According to his tombstone, James served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. I have not yet investigated his military service. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana and Forsyth County, North Carolina, to see what records might mention James. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for 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 for my research for the Pierce family.
5. Supplemental Records
Supplemental records available to search for James include city/county directories, court records and will and probate records. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
Sources:
1. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com: accessed 31 December 2013), James Pierce tombstone.
2. 1940 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, ED 48-58, SD 11, sheet 8B, dwelling 166; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 December 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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 F. Pierce (1923-2005) 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
Robert was born April 21, 1923, probably 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 Robert'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 for 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 Robert. The Pierce family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
1.1.4. Adoption Record
There is no indication that Robert was adopted.
1.2. Marriage License
Robert married Blance ________ on August 31, 1946. Her surname is currently unknown.
1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper
Will need to search contemporary newspaper accounts for mention of Robert and Blanche's wedding.
1.2.2. Anniversary Notice
Robert and Blanche's 25th wedding anniversary was August 31, 1971. Will search contemporary newspaper accounts to see if mention was made of any anniversary celebrations.
1.2.3. Divorce Decree
There is no indication of a divorce, but thorough search of Madison County, Indiana court records needs to be completed.
1.3. Death Certificate
Robert died June 11, 2005 in Alexandria, 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
I have not yet located Robert's obituary in the newspaper. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.
1.3.2. Funeral Home Records
Once I've located Robert's obituary, I can contact the funeral home to see if they have any additional records. Will add this to my list of "to-do" items.
1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph
Robert's tombstone in the Park View Cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana2 has been photographed.
A link to his memorial page at FindAGrave is located here.
2. Census Records
2.1. Federal Census Records
2.1.1. 1940 Federal Census
On May 3, 1940, Robert was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana3, as Robert Pierce, son, age 17, born in Indiana. He had attended school within the year and had completed 3 years of high school. His residence in 1935 was the same location. He lived on a farm and was born in Indiana.
2.1.2. 1930 Federal Census
On April 24, 1930, Robert was enumerated in the William Pierce household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana4, as Robert F. Pierce, son, age 7, born in Indiana. He had attended school within the year. His father was born in Indiana and his 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 Robert.
3.2. Pension Records
I do not yet know if Robert received a pension for his service during World War II.
3.3. Service Records
On January 6, 1943, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Army in Indianapolis, Indiana5 for the duration of the war plus six months. According to his memorial page at FindAGrave, Robert served in the Philippines.
4. Land Records
4.1. Deed Records
Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana to see what records might mention Robert.
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 Robert 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. "U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-current," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2013); citing Social Security Death Index, Master File.
2. FindAGrave Inc., FindAGrave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 December 2013).
3. 1940 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, enumeration district 48-58, SD 11, sheet 8B, dwelling 166, digital images; Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
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. "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 December 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration, Electronic Army Number Merged File 1938-1946.
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.
