Exploratory Data Analysis : Jane Ann (Alderman) Penisten (1843-1919)

Jane Ann (Alderman) Penisten (1843-1919) was my maternal 3rd-great grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical information I have discovered about her.

1. Vital Records

     Jane was born September 1843 in Indiana^{1,2,3,9, according to census records.  Her tombstone lists her year of birth as 18427.}

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          The State of Indiana did not require birth certificates at this time.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Jane's birth was mentioned in a local newspaper, it has been lost to time.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I am not aware of any surviving Bible record of the Alderman that would record the birth of Jane.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I am not aware of any baptismal record for Jane, nor do I know the church affiliation of the Alderman family.  Later in life she was associated with the Methodist Episcopal church.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Jane was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          I have been unable to locate a marriage record for Jane and John Penisten.  Based on the birthdate of their children, I have assumed that it took place circa 1868 in Madison County, Indiana.  The courthouse in Madison County suffered a fire in 1880 and earlier marriage records were lost.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

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

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               Until I can locate the specific date of their marriage, I will be unable search for mention of their anniversary in local newspapers.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that John and Jane were ever divorced.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Jane died April 8, 1919 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana⁴.  I need to request a copy of this death record for my files.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Jane's obituary appeared in the April 9, 1919 edition of the Alexandria Times-Tribune in Alexandria, Indiana⁵.  Mention of her funeral appeared in the April 10, 1919 edition⁶.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

               Will need to search the local historical society to see if they have records of funeral homes that might shed some light on Jane's funeral.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

              Jane's tombstone in the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana⁷ has been photographed.  A link to her memorial at FindAGrave is located here.

2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1910 Federal Census

               On April 20, 1910, Jane was enumerated as the head of household in Ward 1, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana⁸, as Jane Pennisten, female, white, age 79, widowed.  She was the mother of 3 children, only 1 of whom was still living.  She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents.  Her occupation was that of a laundress.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.2. 1900 Federal Census

               On June 15, 1900, Jane was enumerated in the John Penisten household in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana⁹, as Jane A. Penisten, female, white, born September 1843, age 58, married.  She was the mother of 3 children, 2 of whom were living.  She was born Indiana, her father was born in Ohio and her mother was born in Indiana.  She could read and write and spoke English.

          2.1.3. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 15, 1880, Jane was enumerated in the John Penniston household in Fall Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana³, as Jane A. Penniston, female, age 37, wife, keeping house.  She was born in Indiana, as were her mother and father.

          2.1.4. 1870 Federal Census

               I have not yet located John or Jane in the 1870 census.  I would have expected to find them in Madison County, Indiana, either in Richland Township (where Jane's father was) or in Fall Creek Township (where they were in 1880).  Will continue to search in the hopes that they were mis-indexed.

          2.1.5. 1860 Federal Census

               On June 5, 1860, Jane was enumerated in the Richard Alderman household in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana² as Jane Alderman, age 17, female, born in Illinois.  This was the only record found listing a birthplace in Illinois.

          2.1.6. 1850 Federal Census

               On October 9, 1850, Jane was enumerated in the Richard Alderman household in Anderson Township, Madison County, Indiana¹ as Jane A. Alderman, age 7, female, born in Indiana.

     2.2. State Census Records

          The State of Indiana conducted 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 Penisten family.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Jane was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service for Jane's husband or father that would have made her eligible to receive pension benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Jane was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

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

     4.2. Plat map / county map

           Plat maps of Madison County, Indiana will need to be searched to see what information can be gleaned that might be relevant to my search.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records available for research on Jane 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. Richard Alderman household, 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Anderson Township, Madison County, Indiana, dwelling 917, family 917; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 158, page 64.
2. Richard Alderman household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, Anderson P.O., dwelling 112, family 112; National Archives micropublication M563, roll 277, page 241.
3. John Penniston household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Fall Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana, page 228, ED 31, SD 3, dwelling 195, family 204; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 293.
4. "Indiana Death Index, 1882-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ7M-KYD : accessed 29 March 2016), Jane A. Penniston, 08 Apr 1919; from "Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2003); citing Alexandria, Indiana, City/County Health Office, Anderson or City Health Office, Elwood/Alexandria, The source of this record is the book 2CH-8 on page 64 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration., Indiana Words Projects Administration.
5. Mrs. Jane Ann Pennisten obituary, Alexandria Times-Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, 9 April 1919, page 1.
6. Mrs. Jane Ann Pennisten funeral, Alexandria Times-Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, 10 April 1919, page 1.
7. FindAGrave, Inc., FindAGrave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 March 2016), Jane Ann Alderman Penisten tombstone.
8. 1910 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 1, Alexandria, enumeration district 111, SD 8, sheet 4B, 616 South Wayne, dwelling 88, family 88; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 March 2016); National Archives, Washington, D.C.
9. 1900 U.S. census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Monroe Township, enumeration district 96, SD 67, sheet 11B, dwelling 226, family 241; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 December 2015); 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.

Mom's DAR Process - Francis Smalley - Documenting Generations 1 & 2

It's been a little over a month since mom submitted her application to the National Society for membership through our ancestor, Francis Smalley.  Hopefully the line will be approved.  She was helped by the ladies of the Kikthawenund Chapter and enjoyed going with me to the courthouses and cemeteries.  Thought I would share some of the information we discovered throughout this process.

I had created a Dropbox folder so that mom and the DAR ladies could access the information from any location.  This also helped me to keep my files better organized and pointed out where I needed to obtain more information.  Each generation was placed in a folder working forward from mom to Francis Smalley.  I liked this method so well that I intend to use this for future lines and with applications to other societies.

For the first generation, the birth certificate of mom and dad, as well as their marriage certificate was used.  The marriage certificate she submitted was one that was signed by the witnesses as well as the minister.


The birth certificate for mom was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as Certificate 46-E562, Book ICH15 Page 13.  No real surprises here.  Her parents were listed, but their places of birth were not given.  Before this process began, I did not have her actual birth certificate listed as a source in my database.

The birth certificate for dad was issued not by the county, which I expected, but by the city of Portland, Indiana.  The record was filed in Book 6 page 90.  It states that dad was the fourth child of his parents.  Before this process began, I did not have his actual birth certificate listed as a source in my database.

For the second generation, that of my grandparents, the birth and death certificate of William Lee Wright, the birth certificate of Bonnie May Lambertson and the death certificate of Bonnie Mae Wright and their marriage license were used as source information.

The birth certificate for William Lee Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department in Book H-11, page 91.  The certificate stated that he was born in Monroe Township [misspelled on certificate] and that both of his parents were born in Indiana.

William Lee Wright, birth certificate no. Book H-11, page 91 (1919), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The birth certificate for Bonnie May Lambertson was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department in Book ICH9, page 64 # 315.  The certificate stated that she was born in the City of Elwood and that both of her parents were born in Indiana.  Her middle name was given as "May" on her birth certificate, though later in life she used the spelling "Mae" for her middle name.

Bonnie May Lambertson, birth certificate no. Book ICH9, page 64 # 315 (1924), Madison County Indiana Health Department, Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, USA.

The marriage license for William and Bonnie was filed in Madison County, Indiana as license number 66/255.  At this time, Bonnie was using the spelling of her middle name as "Mae".  William was residing at Rural Route 2 Alexandria and working as a factory worker, Bonnie was living at Rural Route 3 Elwood and unemployed.

William Lee Wright - Bonnie Mae Lambertson, marriage license no. 66/255 (1941), Madison County Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The death certificate for William Lee Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department in Book CH37 and filed 7/9/1973.  His date of death was July 9, 1973 at 12:44 a.m. at Community Hospital, Anderson, Indiana.  His age was 53.  The immediate cause was coronary occlusion and it was certified by Richard H. Shafer, MD of Alexandria, Indiana.  I have a vague memory of the night that he passed.

William Lee Wright, death certificate no. Book CH37 (1973), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The death certificate for Bonnie Mae Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department in Book H48, page 45 and filed April 10, 1984.  Her date of death was April 9, 1984 at 4:00 p.m. at R.R. # 4 Box 328.  Her age was 60.  The immediate cause was hypostatic punomia and myocardial weakness and it was certified by Richard H. Shafer, MD of Alexandria, Indiana.  I have many memories of grandma struggling with cancer and living with us before she passed.

Bonnie Mae Wright, death certificate no. Book H48, page 45 (1984), Madison County Board of Health, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

Working through this process has helped me to extract additional facts and information for my research.  Having the official documents to backup the facts was something that I should have done from the beginning of my research.  Working on these lineage society applications will be good for my overall research.

If you have any additional information or are connected to these families in any way, I would love to hear from you.

FTDNA Cousin Results

My two maternal first cousins recently tested at FamilyTreeDNA, and the above chart show the amount of DNA they share with me.

Cousin Kellie shares more DNA with me than her brother.  At 1204.82 cm, she is actually a little above the normal expected range for a first cousin.  Cousin James shares 1046.75 cm with me.

By comparison, great aunt Ruby shares 998.10 cm of shared DNA with me.

I am currently working on extracting the In Common With matches that Kellie and James have with me.  Any of these matches should match on either the Wright or the Lambertson side.

Likewise, by comparing their matches with myself and Ruby's matches, we can also narrow down those that match on the Lambertson or Davis side.  I'm hoping that their DNA is one more step towards solving the parentage of June Davis Gilliland Lambertson.