Seasons Past

December 1971 @ Grandma Wright's

[L-R : Kellie Wright, Jim Wright, Travis LeMaster, Jason LeMaster (seated)]

Christmastime is full of many traditions and memories in my family. I remember as a child going on Christmas Eve to my Grandma Wright's house in Alexandria, and then on Christmas day, after opening presents at home, we would travel to Grandma LeMaster's in Portland.

One of the family traditions that I recall from my youth at Christmastime was gathering together for a family photo. My cousins and I would gather next to the plastic Santa, who had our names written on his list, and pose for a group photo. The Santa is now at my mom & dad's, and they've tried to carry on the tradition by adding the grand kids names to Santa's list. I'm not sure when the Santa tradition started, as he is not in the 1971 photo above.

Another tradition I can recall from Grandma Wright's was the famous red punch that was a hit with the kids. If I remember correctly, it was Hawaiian Punch with ice cream. Many of the photographs from that time will show us kids with red punch smiles!

Early Christmas morning we had to eat breakfast before we could open any presents. I remember dad getting out the old Super 8 movie camera and the big light that it had. We each had to take a turn opening presents, so that everyone could see what was being opened. After everything was opened, we each placed all of our loot on the bed for a photograph that would show all of the things that we received. When we would get dressed to head over to Grandma LeMaster's we could take one or two things with us to play with.

At Grandma LeMaster's I remember a big meal with lots of cousins around watching football on television or playing games. Many times that would be the only time of the year that I would see these cousins.

Christmas continues to be a special time of the year for me, but for different reasons now. I wonder what the kid in the picture above was thinking about.

Submitted to the 61st Carnival of Genealogy :: Traditions

Nancy Byars Power (1802-1876)

Received an email from another researcher who found my WorldConnect database and sent me an addition for my records. So many times I have been given additional information and corrections to data through postings online.

David Alsup sent me information on the death date and place of Nancy (Byars) Power, my first cousin 6 times removed. She was the daughter of John and Catherine (Heck) Byars, and died August 14, 1876 in Bracken County, Kentucky. Many of the Heck family were in this area.

This is a family that I didn't have much information on, nor would I have time to dig into, but it is nice that someone took the time to add to and make corrections to my data.

Creating and sharing memories

This weekend my daughter, Corinne, and her boyfriend, Ryan, were here from Evansville for a visit to Alexandria. Staying at her grandparents gave her the opportunity to show her boyfriend some of the highlights of the Alexandria area, and I had the privilege of going along.

One of the highlights of the tour was a visit to the World's Largest Ball of Paint, a roadside attraction that no one should miss. Both Corinne and Ryan had the opportunity to add a coat of paint to the ball, sign their names in the registry, and obtained a certificate showing that they had placed another layer of paint on the ball. Corinne even bought Ryan a T-shirt so that he would always remember the visit.

We toured the area of Orestes and Alexandria, showing them the old Orestes Elementary, the famous Oak Tree, Red Gold and the county landfill. As we came into Alexandria down Harrison Street, we showed them some of the old storefronts and stopped by the library. A trip to Gaither Family Resources to show one thriving business that Alexandria is famous for and a trip by the old ball diamonds.

As we drove, mom started talking about the old mill in Alexandria and remembering when her grandfather would haul grain into town and she would ride along. At that time the roads were all gravel. This was a memory that she hadn't shared before, or I hadn't remembered. We drove by where the old Armscamp Speedway was and she told me that her dad used to qualify the cars for her uncle to drive, another story that I need to find out more about. We drove by the old abandoned Lippincott glass factory and pointed out where the Alexandria Hospital used to be, as well as the old paper mill, etc. It is hard to believe that the town had so many factories at one time.

Memories like this need to be written down and I plan to 'interview' mom over the holidays and the coming weeks to get these types of stories written down.

They counted him twice

My maternal 2nd-great granduncle, Jesse WRIGHT, was counted twice in the 1910 census of Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. Jesse (1878-1919) was the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Heaton) Wright.

On the April 15, 1910 return, Jesse was living in the Virgil S. DAY household as a roomer. Jesse was listed as male, aged 32, single, born in Indiana and both parents born in Indiana. His occupation was listed as a postal clerk for the railroad, and he could read and write.

Virgil S. DAY was the husband of Jesse's niece, Myrtle M. (Jones) DAY. Myrtle was the daughter of William Alpha and Elizabeth (Wright) Jones.

On the April 22, 1910 return, Jesse was living in the Albert VINSON household as a boarder. Jesse was listed as a male, age 32, born in Indiana with father born Ohio and mother born in Indiana. His occupation was listed as clerk in mail dept., and he could read and write.

Albert VINSON was the husband of Jesse's sister, Anna L. (Wright) VINSON.

Though I'm sure he's not the only member of my family who has been counted twice in the census, at least in Monroe Township in 1910, the count is off by at least one.

Nuggets from the verticle files

I went to the Alexandria-Monroe Public Library on Wednesday during my lunch hour and did a quickie search for more family information. My main focus was to look for the 1901 atlas of Madison County, Indiana because I had seen some of its' color plat maps of the various townships.

I quickly found maps showing the locations of family farms in Monroe and Pipe Creek townships. Will have to return to this atlas for copies of the maps and co-ordinate that will research at the recorder's office. It was very interesting to see how different the towns such as Alexandria, Orestes, Frankton, etc. appeared in 1901 versus today. At that time, there was a boom due to the discovery of natural gas and many factories in the towns.

I also took a peek at the vertical files in the library - and they are a treasure trove of unpublished information. Buried among the photos and newspaper clippings were some handwritten and typewritten histories of the town of Alexandria and the people who built it. Fascinating stuff that I will have to come back to again to dig into.

One interesting item I found was a 1964-65 typewritten directory of the First Christian Church. In it I found my grandfather, William Wright, listed as an elder and my grandmother listed as a deaconess. Now I knew that my grandmother had been in the choir, etc., but I was under the impression that my grandfather was not active in the church. When I mentioned this to my mother, the paper brought up memories of the pastor at the time, and she stated that her dad did serve as an elder - it was a rotating position. She also mentioned that the whole family was baptized in 1960, right before her brother had gone off to college, and that my grandmother had moved her membership from a church in Elwood. Mom thought grandma's church in Elwood may have been a Baptist or a E.U.B. church, she wasn't sure. I knew that the Wright's had been involved in this church for awhile, but this was about the most insight my mother has ever mentioned about her faith experience. She quickly changed the subject to other things. Will have to explore this area of research another day.

Research Trip : Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN

On Election Day, after voting, I headed up to the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne to spend the day doing genealogical research. It had been several years since I had been to the library. Geographically speaking, the trip to the library is only about an hour's drive, yet for a number of reasons I've been unable to break away and visit since they remodeled.

I was pleasantly surprised with the changes to the library - the parking garage for one was a nice addition. Previously, I remember parking a few blocks away at a fast food chain restaurant and walking a couple of blocks. I was expecting to pay to park, but on Tuesday I was not required to pay for parking. This may have had something to do with Election Day.

I arrived just before the library opened at 9:00 a.m. and quickly found my way upstairs to the genealogy section. The last time I was at the library I didn't have a laptop and I was looking forward to being able to have my database right in front of me as I searched. The reference librarian help me with questions that I had, including giving a nice map of the facility that showed the locations of all of the stacks. On previous visits, I remember the searching the enormous card catalog, filling out a paper slip to request a book, dropping it off and then having to wait for someone to retrieve the book from the stacks. Having the ability to wander around the stacks freely was a pleasant surprise.

I had tried to prepare as much as possible for this trip by limiting the family I was focusing on to the Wright and allied families of the Clermont and Brown County, Ohio area. I had already printed out a listing of several local history works from their card catalog that I wanted to research, and I eagerly dove in to my research. Although I was joined by others throughout the day, I was able to have a research table to myself, my laptop plugged in and ready to go.

I found some paydirt almost right away in the first work I looked into that showed the location of my relatives in Clermont County in the 1802 census prior to the Enabling Act that established Ohio as a state. I quickly made copies of these pages and others that I found, trying to make sure that I hit every work on my list and marking those that yielded negative research. More on this information later.

The family history stacks were another area that I was glad I could wander around. Though I had a few on my list to look into, as the day wore on and I was closing out the research on the Wright line, I decided to stray a bit from my research path and look into some other family genealogies. I managed to locate some possible further research on a line that ties into my wife's family.

One thing that I forgot to prepare for was more photocopy money. The library charges $.10 per copy, a really cheap price, and also offers you the option of purchasing a copy card where you can put the denomination you would like on the card. I did not do that this time, as I didn't know if I would use it all, nor did I know when I would be able to get back up to the library.

I didn't plan my lunch time well either, around 2 p.m. I was really getting hungry, was done with the research that I had originally come to the library to do, and decided to leave. I was conflicted in having a whole day to research in the library and yet here I was ready to leave so early. My wife was surprised when I called her and told her I was heading home early. I could have very easily grabbed something to eat and then returned to the library, but in the end I decided to head back home so I could watch the election returns. Now I wish I had just stayed at the library until it closed.

Overall, it was a good experience to get back to the ACPL and I didn't even touch on the microfilms, etc. this trip.

Obituary : Carey Lambertson (1846-1918)

Source : Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader, March 18, 1918, page 1.

Carey Lambertson

Cousin of President Wilson Died Here This Morning

Carey Lambertson, aged 72, died at his home at 1906 North F street, this morning at 6 o'clock, after an illness of two weeks, of bronchial pneumonia.

He was one of Elwood's best residents, held in high esteem by all who knew him and there was a general regret expressed by his long time friends and neighbors on learning of his death.

Mr. Lambertson was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 29, 1846, and was the son of John and Sarah Wilson Lambertson. He was a first cousin of President Wilson.

Thirty-seven years ago he removed to Indiana, locating in Hamilton county, where he was married to Clara E. Cook in 1848. Five children were born to this union, a son, Samuel, dying about six years ago. The surviving children are Charles W. and Bert of this city, Mrs. Frank Fisher, near Arcadia, and Mrs. Omer Whisler, of Atlanta. The family removed to this city from Cicero, where they have since resided.

Mr. Lambertson met with an automobile accident last September, since which time he has been in failing health.

He was a member of the Quaker church at Providence, Hamilton county, and a consistent christian man all of his life, enjoying the regard of all who knew him.

The arrangements for the funeral were not announced this afternoon.

Obituary : Paul W. Wright (1905-1994)

Source : Anderson Herald Bulletin, December 12, 1994.

Paul W. Wright, 89, formerly of 1310 Brown St., died Dec. 10, 1994 at Community Hospital following an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 22, 1905, in Alexandria, and lived all of his life in this area. He graduated from Alexandria High School in 1923 and retired in 1965 from the U.S. Postal Service after 42 years as a rural mail carrier.

He was a member of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge for 66 years and was a member of Rural Carriers Union.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy May Wright; three sons and daughters-in-law; Gene and Sue Wright of Anderson, Maurie and Elizabeth Wright of Anderson, and Robert and Rebecca Wright of Indianapolis; eight grandchildren, David Wright, Linda Wright, Laura Krivoshia, Cathy Wright, Scott Wright, Greg Wright, Kimberly Wright and Jeff Wright.; two great-grandchildren, KateLyn and Cameron Krivoshia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Bertha Wright; a brother, Fred Wright, and a sister, Erma Johnson.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Home, Anderson, with Dr. Robert Jackson officiating. Burial will be in East Maplewood Cemetery.

May - Wright wedding

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, May 23, 1928, page 1.

The wedding of Miss Dorothy May, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas May, and Paul Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, of Alexandria, will take place this evening at the home of the bride's parents, east of Anderson. The single ring ceremony will be read at 8 o'clock by Rev. Alva Lindsay, before an altar arranged in the living room of the home, formed of palms, ferns and other spring flowers. The young couple will be unattended and will take their places before the altar, while Miss Eveylyn Martin plays the wedding march from Lohengrin. The bride will wear a smart frock of peach georgette with rows of black velvet ribbon as trimming on the rather full skirt, with basque waist. A corsage of bride's roses and ferns will complete the ensemble, together with shoes and hose in peach shade. Following the wedding ceremony, an informal reception will be held and a buffet luncheon will be served. A bride's cake, wreathed in cut flowers will form the decoration for the centerpiece of the serving table, where Mrs. Orville Stohler and Miss Velma Bronnenberg will assist the hostess in entertaining. The invited guests include : Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. May, Mr. and Mrs. I.N. May, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie May, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wright, Mr. and Mrs. M. May, and Mrs. Mary May, all of Alexandria; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard of Pioneer, O.; Mr. and Mrs. P. May of Shirley, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. John Hay, of Windfall and Miss Velma Thomas, of Linville, Ind. After a brief wedding trip the couple will be at home to their friends in the Loan apartments at Anderson. Miss May is a graduate of the Anderson high school, and has been employed as a stenographer at the city hall there. Mr. Wright who is a mail clerk at the Anderson post office, formerly lived in Alexandria where he was graduated from the Alexandria high school. Both young people have a number of relatives and friends in the vicinity.

Wrong Anniversary Date : Joseph Wright - Dorothy Palmer

In my database, I have always had the marriage date of my maternal 3rd great grandfather, Joseph WRIGHT to his second wife, Dorothy PALMER as taking place on April 9, 1891 in Madison County, Indiana.

Secondary sources, such as Dorothy's obituary, backed up this data by stating that they were also married on April 9th.

Which is why you should always try to go back to the original sources - as in looking through my files, I found that I had the copy of the actual marriage record from the Madison County, Indiana clerk's office - and it shows that the license was issued on April 9th but the couple was united in marriage on Apirl 11th by Benjmain F. McCarty.

Obituary : John William Wright (1860-1945)

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, June 6, 1945


The body of the late John W. Wright, who died Tuesday morning at his country home, was moved Tuesday afternoon from the Roger C. Gipe funeral home to the residence of his son, Virgil Wright, 2 1/2 miles southwest of the city, where friends and neighbors may call. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the First Christian church, of which he was a member. Rev. G.W. Winfrey, the pastor, will speak and interment will be in I.O.O.F. cemetery.

Obituary : Jesse Wright (1878-1919)

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, April 1, 1919, page 1.

JESSE WRIGHT DIES ON TRAIN WHILE SORTING THE MAIL

Former Resident of Alexandria Expires Suddenly This Morning Near Linwood - Body Taken to Anderson

Jesse Wright, age 41 years, a mail clerk in the employee of the U.S. government on trains between Anderson and Elkhart, Ind., died suddenly after 10 o'clock this morning while the train was speeding on its way to Anderson. He was afflicted with heart trouble.

Mr. Wright formerly resided in Alexandria and a few months ago he returned to work after a serious attack of sickness. After the death of his wife, who was formerly Miss Hazel O'Bryant, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford O'Bryant, Mr. Wright frequently visited relatives in Alexandria.

The body was taken on to Anderson and prepared for burial. The funeral will either be held here or Anderson. Mrs. Bradford O'Bryant went to Anderson this morning.

Mr. Wright was a member of the Alexandria Lodge of Masons.

Joseph Wright, father of Jesse Wright, is a well-known farmer living south of Alexandria. Charles Wright, Edward Wright, James Wright and John Wright are brothers. Mrs. Thomas Fox, of near Pendleton, is a sister.

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana , April 2, 1919, page 1.

The body of Jesse Wright, railway mail clerk, who died suddenly of heart trouble while distributing mail on a Big Four train between this city and Linwood Monday morning, was brought here this afternoon from the home of a sister at Anderson and buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery. Members of the Masonic Lodge here met the body at the cemetery.

Will of George Wright (1853), Brown County, Ohio

Source : Brown County, Ohio Probate Court, Georgetown, Ohio, Will Book 3, page 99.


This day the last Will and Testament of George Wright late of Brown County Ohio deceased was produced in open Court and was duly proved by the oath of James Crawford one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and John J. Gregory and Joseph T. Gregory the other subscribing witnesses to said Will having departed this life their hand writing was duly proved by the oaths of William Tatman and James Crawford which testimony was reduced to writing and signed and it appearing from the Testimony that said Will was duly attested and executed and that said testator was at the time of executing the same of full age and of sound mind memory and sight and under no legal restraint it is ordered by the Court that said Will and Testimony be recorded. And Samuel P. Wright and Joseph Wright two of the Executors named in said Will declines to accept the trust of executing said Will and John Wright the other Executor having signified his acceptance of the trust of Executing the said Will. It is therefor ordered that Letters testamentary be issued to him on his giving bond in the sum of six hundred dollars, with Samuel P. Wright and Joshua Bratten his secure & conditioned according to law. The Court appoint Lewis Calvin, Noah Hite and Joseph McFadden appraisers of the personal estate of the said Testator.


Will: In the name of God, amen.
I George Wright of Washington Township Brown County Ohio being in health of body and sound mind and memory calling to memory calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and the possible suddenness of death do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I do recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth and touching such worldly interest wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form first it is my will that my wife Elizabeth shall have possession of one of the rooms of the house that I now reside in so long as she remains my Widow also I bequeath unto her all the household furniture to dispose of as she thinks proper and shall also draw sufficient rent of my farm for her support during her natural life or so long as she shall remain my widow lest if she marry she shall relinquish her claim to the room and rent all lands that I possess at my death I give unto my two sons John Wright and Samuel P. Wright to be equally divided between them Samuel is to possess the house in which I now live and Samuel to own the wagon that I bought of James Higgins. I bequeath my two daughters all the personal property that I have at my death it is also my will that my two sons shall pay my daughter Susanna ten dollars a year for three years which will make her thirty dollars. It is also my will that my two sons shall pay my daughter Sarah ten dollars a year for two years which will make her twenty dollars. Lastly I constitute and appoint my two sons John and Samuel and my brother Joseph Wright Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and disavow all former Wills by and made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and seal this 12th day of August A.D. 1845. George Wright


Signed and published and pronounced by the said George Wright as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have set our names
John J. Gregory
James Crawford, his mark
Joseph S. Gregory


Proof : State of Ohio Brown County:
This day came into open Court William Tatman who being duly sworn says that he was well acquainted with John J. Gregory in his lifetime and that he departed this life in the month of December 1850. He states that he was and is acquainted with the handwriting of said Gregory both by seeing him write and from instruments of writing acknowledged to be the genuine hand writing of said Gregory and as a witness to the last Will and Testament of George Wright deceased and from his knowledge of the handwriting of said Gregory he believes the signature of said Gregory as a witness to said Will to be his proper and Genuine hand writing and further says not. Wm. Tatman


Sworn to and ascribed before me this the 22nd day of August 1853
John J. Higgins, Probate Judge


State of Ohio Brown County :
This day came into open Court James Crawford one of the subscribing witnesses to the last Will and Testament of George Wright, deceased, who being duly sworn says that George Wright subscribed the paper writing purporting to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of this affiant and in the presence of John J. Gregory & Joseph S. Gregory the other subscribing witnesses thereto who are now both dead, that at the time he acknowledged the said papers writing to be his last Will and Testament, and was over twenty one years of age was of sound mind memory & judgement and under no restraint whatever and that this affiant and John J. Gregory and Joseph S. Gregory subscribed the said Will as witnesses thereto in the Presence of each other and in the presence of the said Testator and at his request James Crawford, his mark
Sworn to and ascribed before me this the 22nd day of August 1853
John J. Higgins, Probate Judge

George Wright, cabinetmaker?

You never quite know what you are going to find when surfing the net for your ancestors.

Recently, I did a 'Google' search for my ancestor, George Wright, and came across an article located at http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/stories/index.html?id=732 that mentioned George Wright who had a wife Elizabeth Robins, and died in Brown County, Ohio in 1853. This matched with my ancestry, so I quickly shot off an email to my relatives telling of the wonderful new lead.

This George Wright, was written up in a magazine called American Furnitue 2007 in an article about his work as the foreman for Joseph B. Barry & Son in Philadelphia. Apparently, George's cabinetry is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and was purchased by such notables as George Washington, etc. Who wouldn't love that type of story? The article mentions that after leaving Philadelphia, George left for Pittsburgh before settling in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio after 1826 and then dying there in 1853.

After I had hit the 'send' button, bells and alarms started going off in my head. Yes, the name was the same and the name of the wife was correct. Even the death dates were right for George Wright and Elizabeth. But other dates didn't seem to add up. For instance, their son, John (my ancestor) was born in Pleasant Township, Clermont County (now Brown), Ohio in 1814, from a number of sources. So how could George be in Philadelphia/Pittsburgh and in Ohio at the same time?

I think that this is a case of someone mixing up two George Wrights with similar geographically locations. I have tried to contact the authors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but have not heard back from them. I also responded to my family that I think this may have been a mistaken identity, but you know how the rumors and internet go - already this 'fact' will be a family legend, and I'm the one who spread it.

I am now going to focus on obtaining more information about 'my' George Wright, as well as obtain the original article. I've found the magazine online for around $60, but perhaps I can obtain a copy through interlibrary loan.

Gloria Wright named winner at institue

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, [n.d.]



Gloria Wright named winner at institute


Gloria Wright, 1963-64 editor of the "Spectrum" yearbook of Alexandria-Monroe High School, is one of four first place winners in laboratories for yearbook editors at the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute.


Miss Wright, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wright, was recognized at closing ceremonies for the institute Friday night, following the completion of the two weeks course.


The Alexandria-Monroe High School senior attended the institute on a scholarship from the Times-Tribune.

Obituary : Chester Arthur "Mike" Wright (1896-1955)

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 21, 1955, page 1

"Mike" Wright, 58, Dies in Ohio; Rites Thursday

Chester (Mike) Wright, 58, well-known farmer near Alexandria, died at 7:30 p.m. Monday in University hospital, Columbus, Ohio where he was taken a few days ago. He had been ill for five months.

Mr. Wright lived on a farm on rural route 3 about 3 1/2 miles southwest of Alexandria.

He was born on the same farm on October 18, 1896, the son of John W. and Ellen Wright. He lived on this farm his entire life. He married Mamie Lawson in Alexandria in 1939.

Surviving besides the wife are two daughters, Mrs. June Harting of Elwood, and Miss Patricia Wright, at home; one brother, Virgil Wright, rural route 2, Alexandria; three grandchildren; and two uncles living in Alexandria, Charles and Ed Wright.

The body was taken to the Davis and Stricler Funeral Home, where friends will be received after 7 p.m. today.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Raymond Miller, pastor. The body will be taken to the church at 9 a.m., an hour before the time of service.

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 22, 1955, page 1

Wright Funeral To Be Thursday

Funeral services for Chester (Mike) Wright will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Raymond Miller, pastor.

Friends are now being received at the Davis and Stricler Funeral Home. They body will be taken to the church at 9 a.m., one hour before the time of the service.

Mr. Wright, a well-known farmer southwest of Alexandria, died at Columbus, Ohio. He was 58.

Source : Alexandria Times-Tribune, June 23, 1955, page 1.

"Mike" Wright Services Today

Funeral services for Chester (Mike) Wright (above) were held at 10 a.m. today at the Orestes Christian Church, conducted by the Rev. Raymond Miller, pastor.

Pallbearers were Harlon Scott, Gurney Scott, John Bangle, Warren Hicks, Ted Hosier and Lester Farmer.

Burial was in Park View cemetery. Davis and Stricler Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Wright, a well-known farmer southwest of Alexandria, died at Columbus, Ohio, on Monday. He was 58.

What ever happened to Uncle Mike?

Ever since I started working on my family history, there have been certain gaps in the family story that have intrigued me. Usually these mysteries have been compounded by the fact that none of the current generation was around at the time of the event or the stories were simply not handed down. One of those in my family is that of my maternal great-granduncle, Chester Arthur WRIGHT, whose nickname was "Mike".



Chester Arthur WRIGHT was the son of John William and Ellen (KING) WRIGHT, born October 18, 1896 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana. He was the younger brother of my great-grandfather, Virgil Lee WRIGHT. Why his nickname was "Mike", is a mystery, although I can imagine that it sounds better than being named after a U.S. President named Chester.



One mystery is why would he be named after this particular U.S. President. Although many babies are named after war heroes and politicians, in this case, Chester Arthur was no longer President. In fact, he had been deceased for 10 years by the time "Mike" came around. There is no known family connection to the Arthur family. Perhaps his parents were Republicans, or admired him for some other reason, but either way he was named for the 21st President.



A few colorful stories have been handed down to me regarding Uncle Mike - one of them being that his father, John, ran off his first wife. Apparently, there was some bad blood and he didn't care for his son's choice. Mike's first wife suppossedly burnt the Wright family bible in anger, so she receives the heresay blame for the loss of this treasure. Who knows what family jewels may have been in this Bible?



Recently, I began to try and piece together the story of Uncle Mike and his family. I knew that he had a daughter from his first marriage, Vivian, whose granddaughter I went to school with. But other than that, I didn't know where and when he died, the name of his second wife, or any other children.



Searching out the census records, in the 1920 census, Chester A. Wright, aged 23 years, single, Farmer who could read and write was living in his father's household, the John W. Wright household, in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. The enumeration date of the census was January 15, 1920, and Mike didn't stay single for too long, as he was married March 5, 1920 in Madison County to Erma Violet HAYES, daughter of John and Cora (Reason) HAYES.



By the 1930 census, Chester A. Wright, aged 33 years, divorced, Farmer was again living with in his father's household in Monroe Township. So, sometime between those ten years, he married, had a daughter, and was divorced. The search for the missing years was on - and I still needed to find out how the story would end.



Through newspaper sources, I was able to find the obituary of Mike's daugther, Vivian, in the Elwood, Indiana Call-Leader. In the obituary, it stated that Vivian was the daughter of Marvin and Erma (Hayes) Dailey, and listed her children and grandchildren, some of whom I already knew. One key fact was Erma's remarriage to Marvin Dailey. With this piece of information, I was able to find her obituary as well and learn that she had other children from her second marriage. Erma was born in nearby Frankton, Indiana on May 2, 1902, and would have been only 17 when she married Uncle Mike.



Searching in the Elwood Public Library, I was able to find birth records of the other children of Erma with Marvin Dailey and find out that she and Uncle Mike hadn't been married very long before the were divorced, perhaps only a couple of years. Maybe the story about her being run off by my 2nd-great grandfather was true. I still need to seek out the divorce records in the Madison County courthouse.



After the 1930 census, I didn't have any other records in my database that would shed any light on what had happened to Uncle Mike. I knew that he was still living at the time of his father's death in 1945, as he was mentioned in the obituary. For some reason, I had neglected to retrace my steps, as if I had done that, I would have found that I had his date of death, 1955, right under my nose.



The Alexandria-Monroe Township Public Library has an online database of obituaries from local newspapers, and I was able to find that the obituary for Chester Arthur Wright appeared on June 21, 1955 in the Alexandria Times-Tribune. I was quickly able to locate not only his obituary, but funeral notices over the next few days to piece together the end of the story. Interestingly, though he lived his entire life in the area, he was rushed to a Columbus, Ohio hospital where he died. The State of Ohio has many death certificates online, but they stop in 1953, just shy of the year I need to see this one, so I will have to write to them to obtain more details.



His obituary mentioned a second wife, Mamie, and a daughter Patricia. My mother said she remembers hearing that name, and thinks that Patricia may have been Mamie's daughter that Mike adopted and took the Wright name - but there is a whole new avenue to research.



Chester Arthur Wright, son of John William and Ellen (King) Wright was born October 18, 1896 Orestes, Madison County, Indiana, died June 20, 1955 Columbus, Ohio. He married Mamie Lawson in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana in 1939.

Obituary : James Wright (1868-1936)

Source : Alexandria Times Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, October 14, 1936, page 1.

JAMES WRIGHT AGED EXPIRED TODAY

Born South Of City And Had Lived Here All His Lifetime

James Wright, 68, who was born on a farm two miles south of Alexandria and who had lived in this community all of his life, died at 9:15 a.m. today at the family home at 515 South Wayne street after an extended illness with a complication of ailments.

The body was taken to the Davis & Stricler funeral home, and will be returned this evening to the Wright residence, where funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday. The minister who will have charge will be announced later. Interment will be in a local cemetery.

Mr. Wright was a son of the late Joseph and Rebecca Wright, and lived in the county south of Alexandria until eight years ago, when he and his wife retired from active farm duties and came to this city to live. Mrs. Wright was formerly Miss Carrie B. Hicks, and they were married 41 years last November.

She survives him, with four daughters, Mrs. Frances E. Sexton, Mrs. Olivia Jones, Mrs. Mabel Frees and Mrs. Helen McDermott, all living her, and five grandchildren.

He is also survived by three brothers, Charles Wright and John Wright, of Alexandria, and Edward E. Wright, of Fort Wayne. Mrs. Daisy Fox, of Delaware, O., is a surviving sister.

Obituary : Helen L. McDermitt (1908-1995)

Source : Anderson Herald-Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, March 21, 1995.

Alexandria - Helen L. McDermitt, 86, Rt. 4, died March 18, 1995, at Community Hospital in Anderson after an extended illness.

She was born May 21, 1908, in Alexandria, the daughter of James and Clara (Hicks) Wright and resided in Alexandria all of her life.

She worked at Mullins Shoe Store, Mahoney's Shoe Store and National Gypsum Corp., all formerly of Alexandria.

She was a member of First Christian Church of Alexandria, at one time was secretary-treasurer of Madison County Farm Bureau, member of Alexandria Eagles Auxiliary and Alexandria Senior Guild.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Basil Jr. and Betty McDermitt of Alexandria; two sisters, Olivia Frazier of Alexandria and Mabel Frees of Daleville; four grandchildren, Lisa Daniel of Marion, Mrs. Tom (Rita) Whitsel of Anderson, and Jimmy McDermitt and Mary Smith, both of Alexandria; two great-grandsons, Tracy Pine and Travis Pine, both of Alexandria.

Her husband of 62 years, Basil O. "Jack" McDermitt, died August 21, 1987.

Gravesite service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at IOOF cemetery with the Rev. Jerry Young, pastor of Alexandria Christian Congregation Church officiating.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Owens Funeral Home, Alexandria. Memorial contributions may be made to Alexandria Christian Congregation Church through the funeral home.

Mr. and Mrs. Ord Weldon LeMaster

Source : undated newspaper clipping, believed to be from Muncie Star, Muncie, Indiana

Mr. and Mrs. Ord Weldon LeMaster

The Dec. 7 marriage of Miss Gloria Jean Wright to Mr. Ord Weldon LeMaster of Portland, Ind., is announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, 610 W. Broadway, Alexandria, Ind.

The wedding ceremony was read in the Hazelwood Christian Church at Muncie, by Rev. Robert Sulanke.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hurst, of Muncie, served as best man and matron of honor.

A reception followed at the Patio, Muncie, after which the newlyweds left for a honeymoon to Tennessee and the Rice Bowl.

The bride is a graduate of Alexandria-Monroe High School in 1964 and Ball State University in 1967, with a B.S. degree in elementary education. She is employed by the Muncie Community Schools as a third grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School.

The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ord W. LeMaster, 1107 W. Water St., Portland, Ind. He is a graduate of Portland High School in 1962 and Ball State University in 1966 with a degree in history and geography. He is employed by Jay County Schools as a history teacher at Dunkirk High School.