Family Milestones: March 18th

My paternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Rachel LEMASTERS, was married on this date in 1860 in Jay County, Indiana to William E. CUNNINGHAM.  Rachel was the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS Sr. and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS Jr.  Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio.  William was born February 1835 in Indiana, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.  William was a farmer and shoemaker in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  They had 6 children.  William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.  Both are buried at the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

Family Milestones: March 17th

My maternal 4th-great granduncle, Austin PIERCE, married on this date in 1826 to Mary Ann STERLING.  Austin was born September 2, 1799 in Thetford, Orange County, Vermont, the son of Gordon and Thirsa (SMALLEY) PIERCE.  I do not have the dates of birth or death for Mary Ann.  They had 8 children.  Austin died June 17, 1861 in Villenova, New York.

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Elizabeth J. BEALS, was born on this date in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Elizabeth was the daughter of John T. and Mary (DAVIS) BEALS, and the older sister of my Nathan T. BEALS.  Elizabeth married May 1, 1867 to Solomon HINSHAW.  Solomon was born November 1841 in North Carolina, the son of Michael and Rachel (________) HINSHAW.  They raised 3 children in Washington Township, Hamilton County, Indiana.  Solomon died November 29, 1929.  Elizabeth died September 9, 1928.  Both are buried in the Summit Lawn Cemetery, Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana.

Family Milestones: March 16th

My paternal 4th-great grandaunt, Anne WOOLSTON, was born on this date in 1796 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Anne was the daughter of Samuel and Cyllania (WOOLSTON) WOOLSTON, and the older sister of my Rachel WOOLSTON.  Anne married September 20, 1817 in Burlington County, New Jersey to Joshua WOOLSTON.  Joshua was born circa 1797 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  They had 5 children.  Joshua died 1800 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  I do not have Anne's date of death.

My maternal 5th-great granduncle, Daniel PIERCE, was born on this date in 1786.  Daniel was the son of Seth and Bethiah (FIELD) PIERCE, and the younger brother of my Gordon PIERCE.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 6th-great grandaunt, Hannah HAINES, was born on this date in 1749.  Hannah was the daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (BONNELL) HAINES, and the younger sister of my Robert HAINES.  Nothing further is known at this time.

 

Tombstone Tuesday: William E. and Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham

 

William E. and Rachel (LEMASTERS) CUNNINGHAM, my paternal 2nd-great grandaunt & uncle, are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

William was born February 1835 in Indiana, the son of Benjamin and Margaret (CLINE) CUNNINGHAM.

Rachel was born July 16, 1838 in Shelby County, Ohio, the daughter of Luman Walker and Nancy (YOUNG) LEMASTERS.

William and Rachel were married on March 18, 1860 in Jay County, Indiana.

William's occupation was shoemaker and farmer.  They lived out their lives in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.

William died June 4, 1912.  Rachel died March 12, 1913.

Known children of William and Rachel (LEMASTERS) CUNNINGHAM:

• Nancy M. CUNNINGHAM (1861-1938); married David F. RANTS
• Catherine E. CUNNINGHAM (1862-1863)
• Phillip L. CUNNINGHAM (1865-     ); married Eana BRAKE
• John William CUNNINGHAM (1868-     ); married Leona DRAKE
• Orinda CUNNINGHAM (1869-    ); married Elmer I. PAULING
• Martha J. CUNNINGHAM (1873-    );married Elsworth BEARD

To Add Another Online Tree Or Not?

Currently, I have an online database of my entire genealogical database, tjlgenes, online at WorldConnect. While I use this primarily as a source of backup for my data, I've also been contacted by distant cousins who've been kind enough to share corrections and additions through the "post-em" service.

Now that I'm an Ancestry.com subscriber, I've also been able to find others who share a common ancestry and have posted their family trees and photos on the site.  Just recently, I was able to connect with a member of my wife's extended family, and we are in the process of sharing information.  Since Ancestry.com gives you an option to post a family tree on the site as well, I'm debating whether I should create one.

I'm all in favor of sharing my information as far and as wide as possible, but I'm not sure of the best way to create a tree on Ancestry.  Should I upload the whole GEDCOM, or just create a tree one branch at a time?  Should I make it one big tree, or several smaller, independent branches.  Perhaps I'm over thinking the whole process.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster

Disappointing news from Arkansas: N.T. Beals research

I received a response yesterday to my inquiry of the Grant County, Arkansas library in Sheridan, regarding an obituary for Nathan T. BEALS.  Unfortunately, they have no records that old, but they did suggest that I try the Arkansas History Commission in Little Rock.

According to their website, a newspaper in Grant County published during this time was the Sheridan Headlight.

I'm still hopeful that there is an obituary out there in an Arkansas paper for Nathan T. or N.T. BEALS, who died February 16, 1915 in Leola, Arkansas. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster

John William Wright (1860-1945)

John William WRIGHT (1860-1945) was my maternal 2nd-great grandfather.  The WRIGHT line has Scottish origins, immigrating from Fife before 1752.

The following facts about John's life are known:

• Birth: He was born February 21, 1860 in Brown County, Ohio, the son of Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (HEATON) WRIGHT.
• Census: 1860 - He appears in the Joseph WRIGHT household in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio.
• Census: 1870 - He appears in the Joseph WRIGHT household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.
• Census: 1880 - He appears in the Joseph WRIGHT household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.
• Marriage: He married Ellen KING on May 13, 1888 in Madison County, Indiana.
• Census: 1900 - He appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Occupation listed as farmer.
• Census: 1910 - He appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Occupation listed as farmer.
• Census: 1920 - He appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Occupation listed as farmer.
• Census: 1930 - He appears as head of household in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana. Occupation listed as farmer.
• Directory:1931 - He is listed as living at Rural Route 6, Alexandria.
• Directory:1932 - He is listed as living on Wm. Cochran Road, Alexandria.
• Directory:1934 - He is listed as living on Wm. Cochran Road, Alexandria.
• Directory:1935 - He is listed as living on Wm. Cochran Road, Alexandria.
• Directory:1938 - He is listed as living on Wm. Cochran Road, Alexandria.
• Death: He died June 5, 1945 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Cause of death: mitral regurgitation.
• Obituary: His obituary appeared June 6, 1945 in the Alexandria Times-Tribune.

The following facts need further research and/or documentation to complete my research:

• Death: Need to obtain a copy of his death certificate from the Madison County, Indiana Health Department.
• Obituary: Need to seek out obituaries printed in other local newspapers (Anderson, Elwood, etc.)
• Deeds: Need to seek out land records in Madison County, Indiana.

Ancestry of John William WRIGHT (1860-1945), Ahnentafel # 24 in my ancestry:


Ahnentafel # 48: Joseph W. WRIGHT (1838-1919); Brown Co., OH>Madison Co., IN


Ahnentafel # 96: John WRIGHT (1814-1890); Brown Co., OH


Ahnentafel # 192: George WRIGHT (1780-1853); Pennsylvania>Brown Co., OH


Ahnentafel # 384: John WRIGHT (1755-1810); Middlesex Co., MA>Clermont Co., OH


Ahnentafel # 768: John WRIGHT (1727-1772); Fife, SCT>Anamaboo, New Guinea


Ahntentafel # 1536: Robert WRIGHT (1688-1749); Perth, SCT>Fife, SCT


Related blog posts:

• Tombstone Tuesday: John William and Ellen (King) Wright 

• Obituary: John William Wright (1860-1945) 

• John William Wright (b. February 21, 1860)

Family Milestones: March 15th

My paternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Jane LEMASTERS, married on this date in 1831 in Shelby County, Ohio to Thomas McVAY.  Jane was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah (________) LEMASTERS, and the older sister of my Luman Walker LEMASTERS.  Jane was born 1807 in Mason County, Virginia.  Thomas was born July 25, 1805 in Rockingham County, Virginia, the son of John and Elizabeth (MILLER) McVAY.  They had 4 children. Thomas died December 25, 1884 in Franklin Township, Shelby County, Ohio.  Jane died November 25, 1865 in Shelby County, Ohio.

My paternal 4th-great granduncle, Samuel WOOLSTON, was born on this date in 1797 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Samuel was the son of Samuel and Hannah (HAINES) WOOLSTON, and the older brother of my Rachel WOOLSTON.  Samuel died  December 7, 1802 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

Family Milestones: March 14th

My paternal great-grandmother, Barbara Isabel WEHRLY, was born on this date in 1869 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara was the daughter of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY.  Barbara married November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Luman Cooper LeMASTERS.  Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LEMASTERS Jr.  Luman and Barbara had 13 children.  They lived in Valley County, Nebraska and Jay County, Indiana.  Luman died February 10, 1933 in Salamaonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara died February 6, 1930 in Union City, Randolph County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

My paternal 3rd-great granduncle, Ephraim MAXSON, was born on this date in 1802 in Harrison County, Virginia.  Ephraim was the son of Jesse and Sarah (SUTTON) MAXSON, and the older brother of my Prudence MAXSON.  Ephraim married May 22, 1823 in Clark County, Ohio to Mary SMITH.  Mary was born November 28, 1804 in Virginia, the daughter of Peter SMITH.  They had 6 children.  Mary died August 20, 1886 in Clayton County, Iowa.  Ephraim died March 30, 1856 in Clayton County, Iowa.

My maternal 7th-great grandfather, Thomas BEALS, was born on this date in 1719 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.  Thomas was the son of John and Sarah (BOWATER) BEALS.  Thomas married in 1741, 9th month, 12th day at Monocacy, Prince George's County, Maryland to Sarah ANTRIM.  Sarah was born circa 1724.  Thomas was a minister of Society of Friends.  They had 13 children.  Sarah died in 1813, 7th month, 6th day in Highland County, Ohio.  Thomas died in 1801, 8th month, 29th day in Highland County, Ohio.

Family Milestones: March 13th

My paternal 4th-great granduncle, Abraham BYERS, was born on this date in 1803 in Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania.  Abraham was the son of Abraham and Mary (STICKEL) BYERS, and the younger brother of my Barbara BYERS.  Abraham married Louisa BOWER.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Louisa.  Abraham died December 31, 1867 in York County, Pennsylvania.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Jabesh HEATON, was born on this date in 1714.  Jabesh was the son of Samuel and Susan (HAWES) HEATON, and the older brother of my John HEATON.  Jabesh died in 1802.  Nothing further is known at this time.

Surname Saturday: Duffey

The DUFFEY surname is Eileen's maternal line.  The ethnic origins of the surname are not known at this time.

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel # 25: Ruth Anne DUFFEY (1847-1942). Ruth was born November 17, 1847 in Logan, Hocking County, Ohio.  She married Thomas Jefferson PEFLEY on September 17, 1863 at Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.  Thomas was born  May 24, 1840 in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio.  They raised 3 children in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.  Thomas died February 9, 1935 in Dana, Jackson County, Indiana.  Ruth died January 9, 1942 in Dora, Wabash County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 50: Daniel DUFFEY (1815-1879). Daniel was born February 2, 1815 in Virginia.  He married Susanna FREESE before 1843. Susanna was born October 7, 1820.   They raised 8 children in Wabash County, Indiana.  Susanna died Jun 7, 1893.  Daniel died May 17, 1879.

Related blog posts:

• Today in my database: Ruth Anne Duffey (b. November 17, 1847) 

 

Family Milestones: March 12th

My maternal 4th-great grandfather, William KING, married on this date in 1834 in Wayne County, Indiana to Nancy Ann OWENS/OWINGS.  William was born circa 1790 in North Carolina.  Nancy was his second wife.  Nancy was born November 17, 1817 in North Carolina, the daughter of James OWENS.  They raised 8 children in Madison and Wabash Counties, Indiana.  William died May 7, 1869 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Nancy died July 13, 1887 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Both are buried at the Dora Cemetery, Wabash County, Indiana.

My paternal 5th-great granduncle, William DAVIS, was born on this date in 1758.  William was the son of Thomas William and Tacy (CRANDALL) DAVIS, and the younger brother of my Elisabeth DAVIS.  William married Elizabeth JOHNSON.  Elizabeth was born July 11, 1762.  Elizabeth died January 6, 1845 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  William died January 6, 1845 in Shrewsubry, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal 3rd-great granduncle, William METZNER, was born on this date in 1807 in Saxony. William was the son of Jasper and Hannah (REISENBURG) METZNER, and the younger brother of my John METZNER.  William married circa 1848 in Ohio to Barbara POWELL.  Barbara was born July 10, 1828 in Baden.  They had 11 children.  William was a farmer and harness maker.  Barbara died January 27, 1908 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio.  William died June 8, 1882 in St. Louisville, Licking County, Ohio.

 

Family Milestones: March 11th

My paternal 3rd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LEMASTERS Sr., was born on this date in 1808 in Mason County, Virginia.  Luman was the son of Jacob and Hannah (________) LEMASTERS.  Luman married January 19, 1832 in Shelby County, Ohio to Nancy YOUNG.  Nancy was born June 2, 1812 in Pickaway County, Ohio, daughter of Phillip and Nancy Ann (McLANE) YOUNG.  They moved from Shelby County, Ohio to Jay County, Indiana circa 1854 and raised 11 children.  Luman was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Nancy died August 26, 1904 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Luman died April 15, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.

My paternal 3rd-great granduncle, Adam YOUNG, was married on this date in 1841 to Mary NOLAND.  Adam was born April 20, 1820, the son of Phillip and Nancy Ann (McLANE) YOUNG, and the younger brother of my Nancy YOUNG.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Mary.  They had at least 1 son.  Adam died December 10, 1893.  Nothing further is known at this time.


My paternal 4th-great granduncle, Nathan CHEW, was married on this date in 1819 to Sarah WARD.  Nathan was born November 24, 1789 in Gloucester County, New Jersey, the son of Nathaniel and Sarah (SPRINGER) CHEW.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Sarah.  Nathan died July 28, 1890.  Nothing further is known at this time.


My maternal 5th-great grandparents, Thomas HEATON and Susan TAYLOR, were married on this date in 1789 in Faquier County, Virginia.  Thomas was born in 1761 in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, the son of John and Abigail (PAXTON) HEATON.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Susan.  They had 6 children and lived in Brown County, Ohio.  Thomas died September 17, 1858 in Brown County, Ohio.

Family Milestones: March 10th

My paternal 6th-great grandfather, Joseph MAXSON, was born on this date in 1692 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Joseph was the son of Rev. Joseph and Tacy (BURDICK) MAXSON.  Joseph married circa 1715 to Bethia MAXSON, daughter of John and Judith (CLARKE) MAXSON.  Bethia was born July 31, 1693.  They had 10 children.  Bethia died 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Joseph died 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Thomas SWAFFORD, was born on this date in 1783 in Greenville, South Carolina.  Thomas was the son of Peter James and Rennie (HOWARD) SWAFFORD, and the younger brother of my Jacob SWAFFORD.  Thomas married before 1801 to Nellie HOWARD.  They had 13 children.  Thomas died November 2, 1856 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee.

My paternal grandaunt, Vera Delphene HALEY, was born on this date in 1890 in Jay County, Indiana.  Vera was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZER) HALEY, and the older sister of my Ruth Pauline HALEY.  Vera married Clarence Leroy STUBER on February 14, 1915.  Clarence was the son of Henry and Martha (________) STUBER. They had 1 child and lived in Allen County, Ohio and Jay County, Indiana.  Clarence died May 20, 1981 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  Vera died June 1987 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.

 

Biased Juror? Eli Weldon Haley: Mentioned in Indiana Case Law

While doing a Google search on my paternal great-grandfather, Eli Weldon Haley (1866-1957), I came across an interesting link that tied him to Indiana case law.  He was mentioned in the court case of Greer v. State of Indiana (1929) which went to the Indiana Supreme Court.

It seems that grandpa Eli was on the juror during the original trial that resulted in the conviction of Frank GREER.  During the appeal, it was alleged that Eli was guilty of misconduct, because before the trial, it was alleged that Eli had stated to a James MILLER, that GREER was guilty, and that if he (Haley) was on the jury, he "would stay until the last dog was hung that he was guilty".  This statement was supposedly given in the presence of Wesley F. METZNER, Eli's brother-in-law.  It was alleged that grandpa HALEY had been biased and that GREER could not get a fair trial.


This trial took place in Jay County, Indiana and involved the act of receiving stolen goods from another state.  In 1925, Greer received stolen clover seed from Van Wert, Ohio and knowing that it was stolen, tried to sell it in Jay County.  He was convicted and sentenced to the Indiana State Prison.  The Supreme Court did not grant his appeal based on his claim that my ancestor was a biased juror.


This sounds like an interesting case to research.  On my next trip to the library in Portland, I am going to see what I can find out from the local newspaper articles.

Wordless Wednesday:

Family Milestones: March 9th

My paternal 7th-great grandfather, Ulrich SCHURCH, was born on this date in 1663 in Sumiswald, Canton Bern, Switzerland.  Ulrich was the son of Peter and Verina (EGGIMAN) SCHURCH.  Ulrich married about 1695 to Barbara GRUNDBACHER, daughter of Michael and Anna (BRAND) GRUNDBACHER.  They were Mennonites who emigrated to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  They had 8 children.  Ulrich died circa 1739 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

My maternal 5th-great granduncle, Obed WILSON, married on this date in 1822 in Sussex County, New Jersey to Elizabeth O. CARCUFF.  Obed was the son of Mahlon WILSON, and the younger brother of my Samuel WILSON.  Obed was born in 1788.  I do not know when Elizabeth was born or died.   They had 7 children.  Obed died in 1852 in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin Franklin Wehrly

 

Benjamin Franklin WEHRLY, son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY, is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.  Benjamin was my paternal great-granduncle.

Benjamin was born October 28, 1873 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  He died September 9, 1875 in Jay County, Indiana.

Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Benjamin F. Wehrly marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009. 

Family Milestones: March 8th

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Almira P. PIERCE, was born on this date in 1849, probably in Wayne County, Indiana.  Almira was the daughter of Francis S. and Rebecca (PAGE) PIERCE, and the younger sister of my Edmund G. PIERCE.  Almira married September 3, 1868 to Andrew Jackson SIGLER, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (SHANK) SIGLER.  Andrew was a farmer in Pipe Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana.  They had 4 children.  I do not have his date of death.  Almira died July 24, 1926 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.

My maternal 2nd-great grandaunt, Anna L. WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1864 in Brown County, Ohio.  Anna was the daughter of Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (HEATON) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my John William WRIGHT.  Anna married January 21, 1885 in Madison County, Indiana to Albert "Ab" Morris VINSON, son of James and Elizabeth (________) VINSON.  They had 1 daughter.  Albert was a policeman and deputy sherriff in Madison County, Indiana.  Albert died October 26, 1921 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Anna died June 6, 1914 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.

One Obituary Not Conclusive Enough

It seems like forever since I discovered the obituary for Nathan Thomas BEALS in the Noblesville, Indiana Daily Ledger.  

Now even though the obituary did state word was received from Leola, Arkansas he had died, the obituary didn't exactly state  he died in Leola.  A search of the Arkansas Death Index from Ancestry.com didn't locate him either, so all I really have is a date of death.  

One obituary record on this side of the country is simply not conclusive enough.

Today I finally sent out a letter to the Grant County Library in Sheridan, Arkansas, hoping that they might have a local obituary for Nathan that might shed more light on exactly where and how he died.

I also need to do more local research in Hamilton County, Indiana to find out what he was doing before he moved to Arkansas. 

The search continues....