Exploratory Data Analysis : Rebecca Ann (Heaton) Wright (1841-1890)

Rebecca Ann (Heaton) Wright (1841-1890) was my maternal third great-grandmother.  What follows is an exploratory analysis of the biographical data I have discovered about her.


1. Vital Records

     Rebecca was born 1841 in Ohio, likely in Brown County¹.

     1.1. Birth Certificate

           The State of Ohio did not require birth certificates at the time of Rebecca's birth.  Statewide recording of births started in 1867.

          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper

               If Rebecca's birth was mentioned in a newspaper, I've not yet located it.  Will need to check with state and local archives to see if they have any newspapers from the time period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record

               I'm not aware of any surviving Heaton family Bible that mention's Rebecca.  Will continue to reach out to extended family in hopes that one can be located.

          1.1.3. Baptismal Record

               I'm not aware of any baptismal record for Rebecca. I am not sure of the church affiliation of the Heaton family at this time.

          1.1.4. Adoption Record

               There is no indication that Rebecca was adopted.

     1.2. Marriage License

          Rebecca married Joseph Wright on November 1, 1857 in Schuyler County, Missouri².  Rebecca's parents had moved to Liberty Township, Schuyler County, Missouri in the mid-1850s, along with others from Brown County, Ohio.

          1.2.1 Marriage Notice in Newspaper

               I have not yet searched out available newspapers from the time period to see if Rebecca and Joseph's nuptials were mentioned.

          1.2.2. Anniversary Notice

               I have not yet searched out available newspapers from the time period to see if mention was made of Joseph and Rebecca's anniversaries, either.  Their 25th wedding anniversary would have been November 1, 1882.  Rebecca passed away before their 50th.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next research trip.

          1.2.3. Divorce Decree

               There is no indication that a divorce ever occurred, and a recent search of court records during the time period did not turn up a divorce record.

     1.3. Death Certificate

          Rebecca died March 25, 1890 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana³, from german measles.  The State of Indiana did not require death certificates at this time.

          1.3.1. Obituary in Newspaper

               Record of Rebecca's death has not been found in any extant local newspapers from the time period.

          1.3.2. Funeral Home Records

                Will need to search records of the local historical society to see if they have any records of funeral homes that might pertain to Rebecca.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items for my next trip.

          1.3.3. Tombstone Photograph

                Rebecca's tombstone in the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana has been photographed
^4.  A link to her memorial page at FindAGrave can be found here.
2. Census Records

     2.1. Federal Census Records

          2.1.1. 1880 Federal Census

               On June 18, 1880, Rebecca was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁵ in the Joseph Wright household as Rebecca Wright, wife, female, age 42, Keeping House.  Rebecca was born in Ohio, as were both her parents.

          2.1.2. 1870 Federal Census

               On September 13, 1870, Rebecca was enumerated in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana⁶ in the Joseph Wright household as Rebecca Wright, female, age 31, Keeping House.  Rebecca was born in Ohio.

          2.1.3. 1860 Federal Census

                On June 28, 1860, Rebecca was enumerated in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio⁷ in the Joseph Wright household as Rebecca Wright, female, age 20.  Rebecca was born in Ohio.

          2.1.4. 1850 Federal Census

               On August 23, 1850, Rebecca was enumerated in Scott Township, Brown County, Ohio⁸ in the James Heaton household as Rebecca A. Heaton, female, age 9, born Ohio.  Rebecca had attended school within the year.

     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.

          No state census records in Ohio are known to exist.

     2.3. Agricultural Census Records

          I have not yet examined these types of records to see what light they might shed on the Wright farm.

3. Military Records

     3.1. Draft Registration

          Not applicable, as Rebecca was female.

     3.2. Pension Records

          I am not aware of any military service by her husband that would make Rebecca eligible for pension benefits.

     3.3. Service Records

          Not applicable, as Rebecca was female.

4. Land Records

     4.1. Deed Records

          Deed records need to be thoroughly searched in Madison County, Indiana and Brown County, Ohio to see see what records might mention Rebecca.  Will add this to my list of "to-do" items 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 that can be gleaned that might be relevant for my search.

5. Supplemental Records

     Supplemental records to research for Rebecca 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. Heaton, Dean, "The Heaton Families : 350 Years in America", Gateway Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 1982, page 120.
2. Ancestry.com. Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
Original data: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
3. Sandra Freeman, "John William Wright - Ellen King family group sheet," compiled [n.d.] (Alexandria, Indiana, USA). Notes say information from Zelma Cooper & Gloria LeMaster.
4. FindAGrave, Inc., FindAGrave.com (www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 Oct 2016), Rebecca Ann (Heaton) Wright memorial.
5. Joseph Wright household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Twp., Madison Co., IN, ED 21, SD 3, Page 39, dwelling 329, family 330; National Archives micropublication T9, roll 293., Page 106.
6. Joseph Wright household, 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, Monroe Twp., Madison Co., IN, Page 38, Alexandria P.O., dwelling 275, family 270; National Archives micropublication M593, roll 336., Page 210.
7. Joseph Wright household, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Washington Twp., Brown Co., OH, Sardinia P.O., dwelling 360, family 360; National Archives micropublication M653, roll 938., Page 25.
8. 1850 U.S. Census, Brown County, Ohio, population schedule, Scott Township, page 338 (stamped), dwelling 921, family 926, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 October 2016); 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.

Wordless Wednesday : William Lee Wright, 1933

Photo of my maternal grandfather, William Lee Wright, taken in 1933 (age 13-14).

Wordless Wednesday: Bonnie Lambertson & William Wright, 1941

Bonnie Lambertson & William Wright, 1941

Photo of my maternal grandparents, Bonnie Lambertson and William Wright, taken in 1941 before they were married.

Colorful Family Stories

The Monday before last, a gathering was held at my parent's house because my uncle & aunt were up from Tennessee and mom wanted to gather all of the cousins together for a cookout.  It was a gathering of first cousins on both my Lambertson and Wright side.

It was nice to see everyone again, a few of whom I hadn't seen in quite some time.  The best part of the evening for me was the chance to share some stories on the Wright side with my mom's 1st cousins.

Since the house I grew up in used to be the farm house where my great-grandparents, Virgil and Muriel (Pierce) Wright lived, the cousins had memories to share of the farm when it was a working farm as well as tales of my great-grandparents.  I have no direct memory of my great-grandparents, and the stories I've received from my mother were not the same memories that her cousins shared - partly because they grew up next door and were at the farm more.

It was interesting to hear that my great-grandfather Virgil told my great-grandmother that he had quit smoking, yet was hiding cigarette cartons out in the grain so he could smoke in the barn, to the stories of great-grandmother testing the cousins urine for blood sugar levels (diabetes runs in the family), before allowing them an ice cream treat.  Those type of stories make them a bit more colorful than just names and dates.

Joseph Wright's land : Madison County, Indiana

Atlas and Directory of Madison County, Indiana, American Atlas Co., Cleveland, Ohio, 1901, 

Here is a section of the plat map of Madison County, Indiana showing Section 25 where Joseph Wright had his land.  You can see by this representation that his land was located on both sides of the railroad tracks.

You can see that he had 79 acres on one side and a 39 acre piece on the other.  This atlas was from 1901 and the land that he bought from his dad in 1867 was only 80 acres, so the section to the west had been added on to by later purchases.

Notice that there was also a 40 acre parcel next to this owned by Jas. & Joseph Wright - this was Joseph's son, James.  Next door you will also find land owned by William Hicks, who was James' father-in-law.

The homestead that stood there was torn down in the late 1980s.

The farmhouse that I grew up in was located on this map in Section 36 on the parcel that was owned by Margaret Starr.  The land in Section 36 didn't come into Wright hands until approx. 1915 or so.  Will have more on that later.

John Wright to Joseph Wright, Deed Book 33, page 280, Madison County, Indiana

Located the following deed at the Madison County, Indiana Recorder's Office that concerns my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Joseph Wright, and pinpoints when he came to be in Madison County.  As a bonus, the document shows that the land was owned by his father, my 4th-great grandfather.

THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH, That John Wright of Brown County, in the State of Ohio, CONVEY AND WARRANT TO Joseph Wright of Madison County, in the State of Indiana for the sum of Five Hundred Dollars the receipt of whereof is hereby acknowledged, the following Real Estate, in Madison County, in the State of Indiana: to wit  The South West quarter of the South East quarter, and the South East quarter of the South West quarter of Section Twenty Five (25) in Township Twenty One (21) North of Range Seven (7) East, containing Eighty Acres more or less.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Said John Wright has hereunto set his hand and seal this 1st day of November, 1867.

John Wright
Anna (her mark) Wright

Attest Jacob Hubbard, R.M.C.

STATE OF INDIANA, Madison County, Sct: Before me, James Mohan Recorder in and for said County, this 1st day of November, 1867, personally appeared John Wright and  acknowledged the execution of the annexed Deed.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.  James Mohan R.M.C.

I certify that the deed of which the above and foregoing is a true copy, was stamped with $ 0.50 Revenue, and recorded this 4th day of November, 1867 at 1 o'clock P.M.

James Mohan, Recorder of Madison County.

In the margin:  State of Indiana, Madison County, SS : Personally appeared Anna Wright, on this 29" day of Nov. 1870 and acknowledged before me the signing of the within Deed to be her free and voluntary act.  Witness my name and seal as Recorder date aforesaid - Jacob Hubbard R.M.C.

----

This was a good find for me, pinpointing land purchase by Joseph in Madison County.  The first record I have for him in Madison County prior was the 1870 census.  I knew that he had come to Madison County sometime just after the Civil War, as his son James was born 1868 in Madison County.  Now I have a definitive date.

Interesting to me that Anna (Wardlow) Wright, wife of John, had to come to Madison County from Ohio in 1870 to acknowledge the deed signing.  

Grantor & Grantee Research in Madison County, Indiana

Deed Records, Madison County, Indiana Recorder's Office

Went last Friday to the courthouse in Anderson to do some research on my Madison County, Indiana families.  Unlike other times when I've spent researching there, this time I had a plan.  I was focusing on four families : Alderman, King, Penisten and Wright and called them my AKPW group.  My goal was to start with the earliest records and see if I could discover when they came into the county and find transactions related to my direct lines.

I met with some success, mainly in getting the book and page numbers for future reference, but did also manage to obtain a couple of copies.  They only charge $1.00 per page, but those big books are hard to copy from.  Currently, they are in the process of imaging their records.  Anything from 1958-on is currently imaged, but of course, the records I am looking for are about 100 years earlier.  Below is a listing of what I did find, have not identified all of these records as my family.  Spelling may be off as well, some of that handwriting was difficult to read.

GRANTOR BOOK 1 1827-1850

ALDERMAN, Richard to SHAUL, William February 22, 1837 Book 4, page 372
ALDERMAN, James to NELSON, Andrew August 26, 1840 Book 6, page 369
ALDERMAN, John to GUSTIN, John November 2, 1844  Book 9, page 165 or 168
ALDERMAN, John to GNASH, Stephen   May 8, 1848  Book 11, page 472
ALDERMAN, J to GNASH, S April 22, 1850 Book 13, page 633

KING, Thomas to KING, David  December 11, 1844 Book 9, page 133
KING, Daniel to BRAY, Edward  February 16, 1849 Book 12, page 111
KING, D to KING, T  August 9, 1848 Book 13 page 65
KING, G S to DAVIS, J February 6, 1850 Book 13 page 104
KING, G S to MANN, A J September 6, 1850 Book 13, page 342
KING, Thomas to RUTH, Jesse January 28, 1850 Book 13, page 362
KING, Daniel to SIGLER, Francis November 23, 1850 Book 13, page 557

PENISTEN, Isaac to PENISTEN, Martha October 29, 1834 Book 2, page 228
PENISTEN, Isaac to PENISTEN, George May 21, 1836 Book 3, page 105 or 106
PENISTEN, Isaac to PENISTEN, George May 25, 1836 Book 3, page 106
PENISTON, John B to OOTON, Jordan March 24, 1838 Book 4, page 305
PENISTO, Washington to WILFONDG, George  September 24, 1838 Book 4, page 460
PENISTEN, George to PENISTEN, George B August 10, 1840 Book 6, page 417
PENISTEN, John B to PURGET, Henry June 11, 1841 Book 6 page 422
PENISTON, John B to SNELSON, Isaac P July 29, 1845 Book 9, page 88
PENISTON, H to WILSON, J.A. et al February 22, 1850 Book 13, page 121

WRIGHT - my Wrights were not in the county until the Civil War era, did not search Book 1

GRANTEE BOOK 1 1827-1850
Book is missing from the Madison County courthouse *

GRANTOR BOOK 2 1850-1858

ALDERMAN - No Aldermans found

KING, W to WHITEHEAD, G November 21, 1853 Book 16, page 205
KING, Wm to KING, J A December 3, 1853 Book 16, page 443
KING, D to KING March 11, 1854 Book 16, page 442
KING, D to DOUGLASS, T.H. March 11, 1854  Book 16, page 446
KING, Jno T to VORE, Jacob October 22, 1853 Book 17, page 160
KING, Danl to BECKWITH, T L January 21, 1856 Book 18, page 359
KING, Naten to SEEMANS, Saml April 7, 1858 Book 20, page 545

PENISTON, J B to PENISTON, Allen April 11, 1855 Book 17, page 396
PENISTON A to PENISTON Jr  April 13, 1855, Book 17, page 397
PENNISTON, Isaac to HUNT, Wm. February 11, 1856 Book 18, page 530
PENISTON, J. W. to PENESTEN, Allen September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 189
PENISTON, J. W. to PENESTEN, Allen September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 190
PENISTON, Allen to PENISTEN, G W September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 192
PENISTON, J. O. to PENISTEN G W September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 198

WRIGHTS - My Wrights were not in the county until the Civil War era, did not search Book 2

GRANTEE BOOK 2 1850-1858

ALDERMAN - No Aldermans found

KING, N from SMILY, R May 26, 1851 Book 14, page 266
KING, W from SIKES, Jesse December 30, 1851 Book 14, page 624
KING, Dnl from Smily, R October 17, 1851 Book 14, page 655
KING, T from KING, D August 9, 1848 Book 13, page 65
KING, D from Auditor M Co August 2, 1853  Book 16, page 197
KING, D from DEBOY, J  December 21, 1853 Book 16, page 441
KING, N from KING, D March 11, 1854 Book 16, page 442
KING, J A from KING, Wm December 3, 1853 Book 16, page 443
KING, J O from DAVIS, A G September 9, 1854 Book 17, page 73
KING, Daniel from RASS, R et al may 22, 1855 Book 17, page 475
KING & NICHOL from SMITH September 15, 1855 Book 17, page 552
KING & NICHOL from SMITH September 15, 1855 Book 17, page 556
KING, JOHN O from SCHALLBERGER January 26, 1856 Book 18, page 286
KING & HOPKINS CO   February 12, 1856 Book 18, page 387
KING, J W from COMER, Wm April 23, 1856 Book 19, page 622-624
KING, Newton from WILSON M H December 27, 1857 Book 20, page 261
KING, John from HADEN PARISh November 27, 1856 BOok 20, page 299

PENISTEN, Allen from PENISTEN J B April 18, 1855 Book 17, page 396
PENISTEN, Isaac from PENISTEN Allen April 18, 1855 Book 17, page 397
PENISTON, A from PENISTEN J W September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 189
PENISTON JW from PENISTON A September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 190
PENISTON JW from PENISTON A September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 192
PENISTON JW from PENISTON JB September 29, 1856 Book 19, page 192
PENNISTON Wash from KELLER, John March 28, 1857 Book 19, page 728
PENNISTON Wash from STANLEY, Thomas January 30, 1854 Book 19, page 730

WRIGHTS - My Wrights were not in the county until the Civil War era, did not search Book 2

GRANTOR BOOK 3 1858-1868

ALDERMAN - No Aldermans found

KING & NICHOL to DAVIS, Rebecca December 17, 1858 Book 21, page 470
KING & NICHOL to WILLIAMS A M December 28, 1858 Book 21, page 531
KING, Thomas to PURRELL E J October 18, 1858 Book 21, page 545
KING, Jno S to HOPKINS E November 27, 1858 Book 21, page 614
KING, Jno S to HOPKINS E November 27, 1858 Book 21, page 615
KING, Thomas to KING, Washington January 14, 1861 Book 24, page 151
KING, Amos to FRASTER R D October 3, 1861 Book 25, page 114
KING & NICHOL to SMITH, Jno April 30, 1862 Book 26, page 62
KING, Henry to DEHORITY, Jas M October 25, 1861 Book 26, page 162
KING, A J et al to GUSTIN December 31, 1860 Book 26, page 187
KING, John R to SHELTON, John August 29, 1863 Book 25, page 370
KING, Daniel to KING, Newton October 10, 1863 Book 25, page 478
KING, Newton to SUMMERS, Sml January 25, 1864 Book 27, page 520
KING, Amos to WALDEN E J June 13, 1864 Book 28, page 122
KING, Sarah E to LEE, Wm H October 5, 1864 Book 29, page 123
KING, Daniel to WILLIAMS Jas B December 21, 1864 Book 29, page 244
KING, Sarah E to HEFLER G December 27, 1846 Book 28 page 461
KING & NICHOL to BROTHERS, Wm February 11, 1865 Book 28, page 495
KING, A J to WILLIAMS, W W August 1, 1865 Book 31, page 228
KING, A J et al to WARD, Thomas December 5, 1864 Book 31, page 581
KING, A J to DOHNER June 5, 1866 Book 32, page 30
KING, A J to WALDEN, E J August 13, 1866 Book 32, page 137
KING, Mary J to CONNELL, J R March 18, 1867 Book 30, page 578
KING, A J et al to CRAIG, John February 17, 1866 Book 33, page 429

PENISTEN, Wm to BRONENBERG, M December 25, 1854 Book 21, page 211
PENISTON, M.J. to PENISTON, B.F. March 11, 1859 Book 23, page 497
PENISTON J W to LAWLER, James January 26, 1861 Book 24, page 53
PENISTON J W to ADAMS, Robert January 26, 1862 Book 24, page 492
PENISTON J W to ADAMS, Robert January 26, 1862 Book 24, page 493
PENNISTEN F D to FOOS, Alex January 1862 Book 26, page 330
PENISTON H M to SLIMMER, William February 24, 1863 Book 25, page 240
PENISTEN Wash to CLARK, S B June 13, 1864, Book 29, page 24
PENISTON H to KIRK, William April 17, 1865 Book 29, page 354
PENISTON John to CROAN, D E March 21, 1866 Book 31, page 609
PENISTON John to PENISTEN Mary July 17, 1866 Book 32, page 267
PENNISTEN W H H to HUNT, Wm A November 18, 1867 Book 33, page 308
PENNISTEN W H H to SHELLY, W H February 13, 1868 Book 33, page 461

WRIGHT - Only searched for Joseph Wright, none found

GRANTEE BOOK 3 1858-1868

ALDERMAN - No Aldermans found

KING, Thomas from DAVIS, George April 16, 1858 Book 21, page 181
KING, Amos J et al from JACKSOn, J H April 5, 1858 Book 21, page 56
KING, Thomas from OBRIEN,Thomas April 22, 1857 Book 21, page 180
KING, Thomas from DAVIS, George April 16, 1858 Book 21, page 181
KING & NICHOL from WILLIAMS A M February 18, 1859 Book 21, page 538
KING, Thomas from KING, Washington January 14, 1861 Book 24, page 151
KING, Amos J from GUTHRIE, William November 20, 1860 Book 25, page 113
KING, Wm M from BUCK, Henry December 27, 1867 Book 26, page 58
KING, Wm M from LAKE, Richard May 30, 1862 Book 26, page 179
KING, H N from WILSON, J W July 11, 1864 Book 25, page 442
KING, Newton from KING, Daniel October 10, 1863 Book 25, page 478
KING, Amos J from WILLIAMS, R N July 18, 1864 Book 28, page 163
KING, Amos J from McKINNEY Jacob July 17, 1864 Book 28, page 164
KING, Amos J from BROW A February 12, 1866 Book 32, page 27
KING, Amos J from SANDERS, Wm May 30, 1866 Book 30, page 73
KING, George W from JARROLL, Joseph May 2, 1866 Book 30, page 75

PENISTON Isaace W from HOLLINGSWORTH James July 29, 1861 Book 24 page 308
PENISTON H M from THOMPSON W A January 18, 1862 Book 24, page 561
PENISTON H M from BREWSTER RD October 18, 1862 Book 26, page 221
PENISTEN Wm B from PAINTER, Geroge March 19, 1863 Book 26, page 550
PENISTON John B from HAZLETT, James July 31, 1865 Book 31, page 211
PENISTON Allen from WRIGHT, Henry D October 23, 1860 Book 30, page 158
PENISTON Allen from HEINE Harris October 17, 1860 Book 30, page 160
PENISTON Allen from JACKSON Margaret October 4, 1860 Book 30, page 162
PENISTON Allen from YOUNG, Margaret February 24, 1863 Book 30, page 163
PENISTON Allen from VINYARD, Henry Aprill 11, 1860 Book 32, page 266
PENISTON Mary J from PENISTON John B July 17, 1866 Book 32, page 267
PENISTON Allen from ADAMS, Robert December 31, 1866 Book 32, page 334
PENISTON Wm H H from THOMPSON W A July 10, 1866 Book 33, page 190
PENISTON Wm H H from THOMPSON W A September 17, 1867 Book 33, page 206
PENISTON Wm H H from MOORE, Barkley Septmeber 28, 1867 Book 33, page 365

WRIGHT, Thomas from WRIGHT, Loretta September 17, 1862 Book 26, page 206
WRIGHT E B from VANCOUN, E J January 1, 1863 Book 26, page 328
WRIGHT John from CALVIN, Robert October 14, 1863 Book 27, page 164
WRIGHT Elijah from COON, Harrison August 22, 1863 Book 27, page 177
WRIGHT, Iradell from HENDRICK, Wm September 15, 1864 Book 28, page 201
WRIGHT, Iradell from Auditor M Co September 15, 1864 Book 1, page 5
WRIGHT, Iradell from Sheriff M Co February 23, 1865 Book 29, page 337
WRIGHT, Iradell from CHEVINGTON, William January 2, 1865 Book 29, page 234
WRIGHT, J from HOPPERWORTH, William October 9, 1865 Book 31, page 470
WRIGHT Iradell from BEESON September 23, 1865 Book 30, page 217
WRIGHT, W O from SUMPTER, James April 12, 1867 Book 30, page 325
WRIGHT, Joseph from WRIGHT, John November 1, 1867 Book 33, 280
WRIGHT, David from PREWITT, John H March 13, 1868 Book 33, page 504

* Though the courthouse no longer has a copy of Grantee Book 1, the State Archives and FHL has a copy in their catalog scanned - something to search at a future date.

Charles Pierce, Alexandria High School, 1936

1936 Alexandria High School Spectrum, Alexandria,, Indiana

This is the yearbook photo of my maternal great-granduncle, Charles D. Pierce (1918-1991), in the 1936 edition of the Spectrum, the yearbook of Alexandria High School in Alexandria, Indiana.

This edition of the yearbook didn't list the activities that the Senior class members participated in.

Charles was the son of William F. & Vida (Maddox) Pierce, the half-brother of my great-grandmother, Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright.

The yearbooks from this high school are available online at Alexandria-Monroe Public Library.

Mom's DAR Process - Francis Smalley - Documenting Generation 3

What follows is the documentation that was collected and submitted with mom's application to the DAR through Patriot ancestor Francis Smalley for Generation 3 of her application.

Previously, I had posted about the steps in documenting Generations 1 & 2.

For this generation, the death certificate of Virgil Lee Wright, the birth certificate of Edna Muriel Pierce, the death certificate of Edna Muriel Wright and their marriage application was used as source information.

The death certificate for Virgil Lee Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as certificate no 1972-C068.  The certificate stated his date of death was March 25, 1972 at Bradford N.H. (Alex) - this was the Bradford Nursing home in Alexandria.  His primary cause of death was listed as hypostatic pneumonia with myocardial infarction and arteriosclerosis - diabetes as contributing factors.  The death certificate states that his place of burial was Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana.

Virgil Lee Wright, death certificate no. 1972-C068 (1972), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The birth certificate for Edna Muriel Pierce was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as Certificate 97-H664 in Book H-1 page 38, filed on 2/16/1897.  The certificate states she was born February 16, 1897 in Orestes, Indiana, the daughter of William F. Pierce & unknown Penisten.  Both of her parents were listed as born in Indiana.  Previously, I had listed her as being born in Alexandria, as her obituary had stated she was born in Alexandria.

Edna Muriel Pierce, birth certificate 97-H664, Book H-1, page 38 (1897), Madison County, Indiana Health Department, Anderson, Indiana.

The death certificate for Edna Muriel Wright was issued by the Madison County, Indiana Health Department as certificate 1968-0165.  The certificate stated she died March 3, 1968 at Community Hospital, which was in Anderson, Indiana.  Her primary cause of death was listed as pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.  The death certificate states that her place of burial was Parkview Cemetery in Alexandria, Indiana.

Edna Muriel Wright, death certificate no. 1968-0165 (1968), Madison County Health Department, Anderson, Indiana, USA.

The marriage license for Virgil and Edna was filed in Madison County, Indiana Clerk's Office Book 20, page 187 (1915). Virgil was a farmer and Edna was a doing house work.  Virgil's residence was rural route 20, Alexandria and Edna's was rural route 19.  Virgil's birth date was listed as July 6, 1894 in Madison County and Edna's as February 16, 1897 in Madison County.  Edna's parents were listed as William Pierce, a farmer, and Clara Pennisten, both were born in Madison County, Indiana.  Her father's residence was listed as Alexandria, Indiana; her mother's was blank (she was deceased).  Virgil's parents were listed as John W. Wright, a farmer, and Ellen King.  His father's residence was listed as Alexandria, Indiana; his mother was listed as deceased.  Note that Virgil's mother was listed as deceased, though Edna's had a line through the residence - both mother's were deceased.  This was the first marriage for both of them.  Virgil's father's consent was attached to the application, as he was under 21. The marriage was performed the day the license was issued, June 19, 1915, by Rev. Newton Wilson of Alexandria, Indiana.

Virgil L Wright and Edna M. Pierce marriage, (1915), Madison County Marriage Book 28: page 187; Clerk's Office, Anderson, Indiana.

A birth certificate was not available for Virgil, though one was available for his wife.  Indiana did not require birth certificates until 1907, so filing was rather optional before this time.  When mom was first meeting with the local chapter, it was thought this might be a stumbling block, and they suggested she send off to the state for the long-form death certificate.  In the end, they were able to use the date of birth for Virgil from his marriage license.

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

Fishing Story : The Ones That Got Away

Alexandria Indiana Times-Tribune, 31 Aug 1949, page 4

My grandpa liked to fish, and I found this mention of one of his trips to Lake Tippecanoe in Indiana in the Alexandria Times-Tribune of August 31, 1949 where my grandmother was mentioned as well.  Apparently, the fish got away!

Bill Wright, employee of the post office, was telling the folks back home about the "ones that got away," while on his vacation.  Mr. and Mrs. Wright were fishing at Tippecanoe lake last Saturday night and had a string of six fish tied on the back of the boat.  The boat drifted into some weeds and the fish became tangled up in the weeds and broke loose.

Among the catch was the largest fish ever caught by Mrs. Wright, a one and one-fourth pound crappie.

That's the story! 

These snippets of information from the local newspapers provide a lot of color to the lives of my ancestors and make for some interesting reading.

Clara Ellen Wright, Alexandria High School, 1935

1935 Alexandria High School Spectrum, Alexandria, Indiana

This is the yearbook photo of my maternal great-aunt, Clara Ellen Wright (1916-2005), in the 1935 edition of the Spectrum, the yearbook of Alexandria High School in Alexandria, Indiana.

She was a member of the Spectrum staff her Senior year, was a four-year member of the Girl Reserves, in the Health & Photography Club, the Booster Club, Mixed Chorus, Home Economics Club and served on the Student Council.

The yearbooks from this high school are available online at Alexandria-Monroe Public Library.

They Went Off To War Together

William Lee Wright (1919-1973)

Robert Earl Walsh (1922-2016)

One of the family stories I had heard for years related to my maternal grandfather, William Lee "Johnny Bill" Wright and my maternal great-uncle, Robert Earl Walsh going off to war together during World War II.  The two had married sisters : my grandfather married Bonnie Mae Lambertson in 1941 and my great-uncle married her sister, Ruby June Lambertson in 1944.

Both men served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and wanted to become pilots.  A heart murmur kept my grandfather grounded, and he became a radioman, while Bob was a pilot, though too late in the war to go overseas.

Thanks to Newspapers.com I was able to verify the story that they did, in fact, join up together.  In the January 6, 1944 edition of the Alexandria Times-Tribune in Alexandria, Indiana, I found the following :

Alexandria Times-Tribune, Alexandria, Indiana, January 6, 1944, page 1.

Twenty-one Men Leave Today to Learn Whether or Not They Will Soon be Wearing Uniforms

Another group of 21 men from the north part of Madison county left Alexandria this morning for Fort Harrison at Indianapolis to take their final physical examinations for entrance into the armed services.  This was the first call of the new year.

All of the men will return this afternoon, and those who are excepted for the Army will have 21 days furlough before starting their training. Some accepted for the other branches will have shorter furloughs before reporting to camps.

The group today included the following men:

Alexandria - Joseph Little, Earl Bramel, William Wilson, James Zetel, Paul Roby, Marvin Willis.

Elwood - Wallace Garret, Miton Hodson, Ralph Hartsock, William Wright, Marvin Call, Clifford Bryan, Clifford Bryan, Robert Walsh, James Murray, Paul McCord, James Beeman, Edgar Barnett.

Frankton - Harold Etchison.

Anderson - Herbert K. Closser, Harold Durham.

Three of the men were volunteer fathers, Ralph Hartsock, William Wright and Harold Durham.....

Noted that the article mentioned my grandfather was a volunteer who was a father.  He had married in 1941 and his son was born in 1942.  I was not aware that he was living in Elwood (where my grandmother's family was from) in 1944, unless the paper made a mistake. 

Another story I had heard was that my great-grandmother was upset when she found out her adult and married son had enlisted in the Army, and that she spent time writing letters to Congressmen to get him out of the Army.  Not sure if that one will ever be verified, but at least the one about Bob Walsh and "Johnny Bill" Wright signing up for the Army together was true and has been verified.

William L. Wright, Alexandria High School, 1938

1938 Alexandria High School Spectrum, Alexandria, Indiana

This is the yearbook photo of my maternal grandfather, William Lee Wright (1919-1973) in the 1938 edition of the Spectrum, the yearbook of Alexandria High School in Alexandria, Indiana.

He was a four year member of the Future Farmers of America, and it appears he was in the Booster Club for at least one year and Secretary his junior year.  Not sure if that means he was the secretary of the FFA or something else at this point.

The yearbooks from this high school are available online at the Alexandria Monroe Public Library.  

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.

Photo : Virgil Lee Wright (b. July 6, 1894)

This is a photo of my maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright, from a collection of photos that mom has.  Someone has written on the backside his name and date of birth - July 6, 1894.  He was born in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana.

In those days, infants of both sexes were photographed in what were dresses to aid in toilet training.  Wikipedia has a good article on breeching.  I'm glad that this photograph was identified, or I'd never figure out who it was.

Virgil was the son of John William and Ellen (King) Wright, the oldest of two sons born to them.

Mom's DAR Process - Picking an Ancestor

Met with mom on Monday to discuss the process for DAR membership and talked about which Patriot ancestor to choose from.  

Decided to use Francis Smalley-A105541 as the Patriot ancestor to start the process with for a number of reasons.  One reason is that his line comes through our Pierce line which should allow us to gather the necessary documentation.  Another reason is that Francis' father, Joseph Smalley and Francis' father-in-law Samuel Hutchinson Sr. are both recognized as Patriots by the DAR, so mom could later do supplemental applications for them.  Additionally, it is through the Smalley line that mom has a connection to the Mayflower and Stephen Hopkins, a future project.  So if we can get all of the documentation together on the descent from Francis Smalley we can take care of several things at once.

Mom filled out the contact form on the DAR main website and within a few hours was already contacted by the local chapter.  She has given the registrar a line of descent from Francis Smalley and hopes to meet with her next week for initial discussions on how the application process works.

In the meantime, I'm putting together a list of documents that I'm sure we will need and will work with mom on collecting the birth/death certificates, etc. 

If you have experience with this process and have any advice, I'd appreciate hearing it.

If you are related to any of the families on the line, I'd love to share information and update my database.

Our line of descent from the Patriot ancestor, Francis Smalley :

Francis Smalley & Sarah Hutchinson
Thirsa Smalley & Gurdon Pierce
Francis S. Pierce & Rebecca Page
Edmund G. Pierce & Catherine Groenendyke
William F. Pierce & Clara A. Penisten
Edna M. Pierce & Virgil L. Wright
William L. Wright & Bonnie M. Lambertson
mom