LeMaster Cousins Gather

Yesterday, my mom & dad went to Portland and met with some of dad's cousins who were getting together to start off the New Year.  Unfortunately, I couldn't make it, but I was glad that they were able to go and talk about family history.

According to dad, it was a good visit, a lot of catching up over the years and sharing of some family stories and history.  A copy of some of the research that had been compiled (some from this blog) was given to them and now I have contact information to follow up and hopefully share some more research.

Here are a couple pictures that were taken.

L-R: Leland LeMaster, Weldon LeMaster, Doug LeMaster, Kay Addington, Gary LeMaster

The above is a picture of my dad with his first cousins' once removed, the children of John Leland and Helen Eileen (Pease) LeMaster.  Missing from the group was Terry, who was ill, and Larry, who passed in 1974.  Dad is also related to these brothers & sisters through their mother, Helen, who is a Wehrly descendant.  On that line they are third cousins twice removed to my dad.

Ann (LeMaster) Monger

Also at the gathering was Ann, who is my dad's first cousin, the daughter of John Leland & Dortha LeEtta (DeLauter) LeMaster.  She is the aunt of the group assembled above.

Hopefully the next time I am able to get over to the Portland area we can arrange to meet and maybe share some pictures, etc.  Once the weather warms in the spring I have plans to make some stops over there to the historical society and the courthouse.

Obituary : Peter Swafford, September 9, 1885, Republican Progress, Bloomington, Indiana

Thanks to the folks at the Monroe County, Indiana Public Library, I was able to obtain a copy of the obituary of my maternal 4th-great grandfather, Peter Kirkpatrick Swafford (1827-1885).  The obituary appeared in the September 9, 1885 edition of the Republican Progress in Bloomington, Indiana.

Peter Swafford, who lived on the hill (at Spencer) near Henry Keenes, died one day last week and was taken to Monroe county near Stinesville for burial.

That's not much of an obituary, but it does let me know that he was buried near Stinesville in Monroe County, even though he died in Owen County.  I have not yet located his burial location.

Peter was born June 12, 1827 in Mississippi and married April 3, 1853 in Owen County, Indiana to Mary Ann Crockett (1835-1865).  

Cousin bait : LaMaster

Just received an email from a LaMaster, trying to find out how we are connected.  Wrote him back and asked for as much information he has tracing his line back, so I can compare notes and see if I can find the line in the books I have on the family.  Spelling variations aside, if we are related, it's likely pretty distant.

The branches I'm aware of that spell the name LaMaster from the "Lemasters USA" book by Howard Lemaster would be at least 5th or more distant cousins, provided I can find the link of my branch in to those lines.  

I'm still working on the paper trail to that line, hoping to save my money and do a Y-DNA test to connect to others who have a better paper trail.

This blog continues to be good 'cousin bait' with people finding me and reaching out.