Mystery Monday - Moller/Moeller/Mueller in Cole County, Missouri

I am working on solving a mystery I found by accident when perusing the Anderson County, Kansas court index online.

Here is the page from the Kansas guardianship of John F. Rockers, age 4.

The man is listed as John G F Moeller in the Kansas record.

Here is the Missouri estate settlement record listing the heirs.  Notice in Missouri the name is written as Moller.  J G Moller died Intestate and George T. White, Attorney at Law, was appointed Letters of Administration.

I cannot read the name of the deceased heir, * H. Moller.  The first letter is not 'J' but could be an 'A' as there was an Anton Moller in Jefferson City.

I then found this Notice of Sheriff's sale listing the heirs.

 Mary Moeller married John B. Schneeders.  I haven't identified Anne M. Moller but did find her in the census with the children listed here.  

So, was John G. F. Moller/Moeller a brother, uncle, father or grandfather to the heirs?  Harman H. Rockers married Margaret Anne Mueller at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Taos, Cole County, MO on 11 June 1861.  I haven't been able to identify the burial place for John Moller.  There is a will for Johann Gerard Moeller but it was written in 1868.  

I will be visiting the church above later today.  Any suggestions??

Funeral Card Friday - Lyle Miller WWII Vet

Following the Paper Trail - Moller/Moeller/Mueller/Miller

I visited the Anderson County, Kansas courthouse in Garnett to read the guardianship file on John F. Rockers.

Probate Court, Anderson County, Kansas, Estate of Jno R Rockers minor heir of Harmon H. Rockers.   Harmon H. Rockers, Guar. 

Filed, Dec. 2nd 1869

State of Kansas, Anderson County}

Harman H Rockers being duly sworn says that upon information garnered from a creditable source His minor son John F. Rockers of the age of Four years has by the death of John G. F. Moeller late of Cole County, State of Missouri became heir to certain property in said state of Missouri.  (signed) H. H. Rockers.

Subscribed and sworn on this 2nd day of December AD 1869. M A Paye, Probate Judge

Another page in the file dated April 28, 1870, states that John F. Rockers was the heir of $110 dollars and Harmon H. Rockers was appointed guardian.

I knew John F. Rockers mother was Anna Margretha Mueller.  I didn't know when she married Harmon H. Rockers and I could only find her listed with him in the 1865 Kansas Census.  In February 1869, Harmon married Elizabeth Meimers in Anderson County, Kansas.  While visiting in Anderson County, we stopped at the St. Boniface Cemetery in Scipio.  This is where most of the Rockers ancestors are buried.  I forgot my camera so I didn't get a photo of the tombstone I found.  It states "Margareth A. Rockers 5 June 1830 - 15 July 1866"

I returned home to Missouri and following a job interview, I paid a visit to the Missouri State Archives.  I browsed microfilm of estates in Cole county looking for the surname Moeller.  I found a will for Johann Gerhard Muhler dated 1868 and read through it.  The grandson mentioned in this will was John Bernard Rockers of Germany.   I switched to another source I found in the index which was on microfiche.  It was the estate settlement of John G. Moller filed in 1866 in Cole county.  I found John Rockers among the heirs in the settlement.

"To be distributed as follows:

J. B. Schneeders & wife $58.19 2/3

Minor heirs of John H. Moller, dec $58.19 2/3

Guardian of John Rockers $58.19 2/3"

Dated April 23, 1869 on the previous page.

J G Moller's estate was quite large and I have yet to decipher the handwriting on all of the pages.  There were in total, three settlements.



The Missouri State Historical Society has digitized some of the newspapers and made them available for searching on their website.  I searched for Moller and found a notice of Sheriff's Sale of Real Estate in Partition.

Now I have the names of all of the heirs.  I still don't know anything about John G. Moller.

In the Missouri State Archives is a book of Baptisms and Marriages from St Francis Xavier Church in Taos, MO.  In this book I found the marriage of Harmon H Rockers and Anna Margaret Mueller on 11 June 1861. Why Harmon went back to Taos, MO at that time, I have yet to determine.  I am still looking for the death time and place of his mother, Anna Catherine ( nee Wolken) Rockers. I have not found her following the 1860 census.  Her husband, Herman Federick Rockers, is buried in St Boniface Cemetery, but haven't found a tombstone for Catherine.

Still have plenty of mystery to solve in this line but excited to find this connection!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motivational Monday - Visiting a Courthouse

Many years ago, I received a GedCom file from one of my husband's cousins on their Rockers line.

This line of Germans from the Hanover area used the same given names repeatedly through the generations.  I didn't make any attempt to verify the information in this file for that very reason.  This family arrived at the Port of New Orleans on 2 January 1841. According to the ship's manifest Herman Friedrich Rockers was  traveling from Twist, Hanover to Jefferson City, Missouri.  Those arriving with him were Catharine Wolken age 49, Maria age 22, Herman age 20, Helen age 19, Addelaide age 17, Gerhardt age 14, Henry age 12, John age 9, and Gesine age 5.  This family sailed up the Mississippi to St. Louis and then down the Missouri river to Jefferson City.  Some stayed in Jefferson City and other sailed down the Osage river to Taos, Missouri.

Some traveled on to Anderson county, Kansas Territory. I found in the 1859 Kansas Territorial Census the following:

Voters:

1. H. H. Rockers, arrived 25 April 1856, total in household 1
2. J. H. Rockers, arrived 25 April 1856, total in household 1
3. Frederick Rockers, arrived 25 April 1856, total in household 1
4. John Rockers, arrived 25 May 1856, total in household 1
5. George Rockers, arrived 25 may 1857, total in household 4.

Heads of Household, Non-voters

1. Mary Rockers is listed on the same line with George Rockers above and she has 2 minor children.

I followed these men in the subsequent censuses for Anderson county, Kansas.  Two mysteries have materialized in my husband's direct line:

1. 1865 Kansas Census, Anderson county, Monroe Twp.
1. H. H. Ruckers age 46 born in Hanover
2. Margaret Ruckers age 34 born in Hanover
3. Elizabeth Mimas, age 14 born in Missouri
2. 1870 Federal Census, Anderson county, Monroe Twp.
1. Harmon H. Rockers age 50 born in Europe
2. Elizabeth Rockers age 19 born in Missouri
3. John Rockers age 4 born in Kansas

In my PAF program, I have Margaret Mueller listed as Harmon's first wife and John as their son.  

I found online at Anderson County District Court that John F. Rockers has a guardianship file dated 2 December 1869.  I have never found a marriage record for Harmon H. Rockers to Margaret Mueller.  Harmon married Elizabeth Mimas 10 Feb 1869.  Today, I plan to visit the District Court office and get a copy of the guardianship to see who the parent(s) of John F. Rockers were.  When I imported the GedCom file, there weren't any notes included, perhaps this is an option that must be chosen? 

That is what is motivating me today!  I love mysteries and hunting for clues!  My husband and I will be visiting his uncle in Anderson county, Kansas today as well.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Great Grandpa's Scrapbook

When my uncle passed away in 2003, my aunt asked me if I would like to have some family treasures.  I was pleased to receive my great grandpa's scrapbook.  She showed me his college photo album which is still in pristine condition!  She is the "family treasures archivist" for my mother's side of the family.

Great Grandpa Hoag, Jared, was the son of William Cushing Hoag and Electa Ann Mitchell Hoag.  He was born in Danvers, McLean County, IL on 23 December 1857.

Jared attended the college in Danvers and participated in the theater.  Inside his scrapbook begins with newspaper clippings of poetry and notices of plays presented by the Danvers Dramatic Club.  He also clipped marriage notices of his friends while still living in Danvers.


After I received the scrapbook, I enclosed each page in archive safe sheet protectors.  The clippings were in pretty good shape for the most part, but you can see spots on them.  I scanned the pages that have notices regarding his family and burned them to a CD to share with other family members.

 Page 20 begins with clippings of his marriage to Florence Graves at the home of her parents, Gilbert and Sarah Graves in Mingona Township, Barber county, Kansas on the 25th of January in 1888.  On the same page is Florence's death notice, in 1897.    Jared had a nice set of horse called 'trotters,' as another clipping on this page points out.  Jared and Florence had three children, Mitchell William, Elsie May and Ray.  Ray was two years old when his mother died of consumption. Her parents had gone to Oklahoma Territory in the Land Rush and came back for the funeral.  The children were taken to their farm in Oklahoma Territory and remained with their grandparents.  My grandfather was Mitchell.  When a teenager, he traveled back to Barber county, Kansas in search of his father.  He didn't stay once he found him but they did keep in touch.  Jared lost his land, horses, cattle, etc. in a Breach of Promise suit filed against him, which he lost.  Jared lived with the Gano family on their ranch and later at the hotel they purchased and operated in Belvidere, Kansas.

Jared (left) in later years in front of the hotel in Belvidere, Kansas.

Jared went to stay with his son in Webster Township, Woodward County, Oklahoma sometime prior to his death on the 18th day of June in 1938.

There are a total of 33 pages of clippings in this book covering 1873 to 1937.  It includes the death notice of Alice Gano and an article with photo of Mrs. W. A. Espy holding her "Stradivarius" violin.

 This is the last clipped article in Jared's scrapbook.  The Espy family was not related to Jared.  The article, I believe, was printed in the Wichita, Kansas newspaper and is quite interesting.  The violin was rescued from a burning home during "Sherman's march to the sea."  It was found by John Loftenhizer, Mr. Espy's brother-in-law.










I feel blessed to be in possession of this scrapbook.  The poems, lyrics and published writings that were clipped and pasted into it are a reflection on the personality of my great grandpa.  I will always treasure it!

Reading County History Books - Clues In the Biographies

I took over the position of County Coordinator for the Lucas County, Iowa GenWeb project in 2010.  I do not live in Iowa and none of my ancestors ever lived in Lucas county. I browse the Internet for PDF files of books, microfilm of census records, etc. that I can transcribe and post on the Lucas county page. I just finished transcribing the biographies included in a history of Lucas county published in 1881. Check the "What's New" page for a link to these biographies. As I am transcribing, I find that I am learning alot about Iowa history.  It is very fascinating.    It is amazing the stories told in the biographies.  One man walked to the gold mines in Nevada, it took him a year to reach his destination.  Many of the men, were Civil War soldiers, some Confederate and some Union.  All of these sketches inform the readers of the locations where the subjects were born, how long they lived there, were they moved to and when, etc. Some went back to their previous home to marry and brought the new bride to his home in Lucas county. One man told of falling off of a wagon on their migration to Iowa when he was an infant.  His leg was crushed by the wagon wheel and his father had to amputate his leg nine days later, saving his life. There are so many great stories of courage and strength possessed by these pioneers.

I haven't taken the time to put together a migration time line for Lucas county, but I can imagine the wonderful data that could be presented!  I can envision a map with lines beginning at the point of origin.  Perhaps a table of locations and the names of the families who came to Lucas county from that location.  Not everyone who came to Lucas county stayed, many moved on to other locations. There is a later book that I  have transcribed and posted of Lucas county history published in 1913.  Both of these books offer many clues for those whose ancestors stopped in Lucas county, if even for a short time.

I enjoy reading county history books published 100 years ago and older.  They are less politically correct and you never know what you might find.  That's not to say that what is written is 100% accurate.  Skeletons may still be hidden from public view.  Still these county histories offer clues to the past and should not be overlooked!

Go find a county history!  You'll be glad you did!

Estate Record - John Cope, A Case Study

In browsing through the images of Ohio County Probate Records, on FamilySearch,  in search of my 3x great grandfather's estate, I found the will of John Cope.  This name interested me greatly since my 2x great grandfather is John Cope Louthan.  I will share with the what I found in the Estates Records 1841-1842 in Columbiana County. I found it very educational for me as to what may be found in these type of records.

Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996-Columbiana-Estate records 1841-1842 no 2353-2453

Case # 2362 Doc. CP 2, Pg 83

The will of John Cope was written 27 Aug. 1841 and  recorded in the probate court clerk's office on 19 Oct. 1841.   He left the farm to his widow, Mary Cope, but his personal property was to be sold.  Mary was allowed to live and collect the revenue from the farm so long as she remained a widow.  Upon her death the land would be sold and the proceeds divided among their children: Rebecca, Jason, Edmond, Elizabeth, Ann and Sarah.  His personal property was sold on 3 Nov. 1841 and an accounting of the sale recorded with the probate court on 19 Nov. 1841.   John Cope had borrowed money in the sum of $400 dollars and signed a binding agreement between him and the Fund Commissioners of Columbiana county, by the virtue of a Act of the General Assembly  entitled "An act providing for the distribution and investment of this state's proportion of the Surplus Revenue.  He had to pay $200 on demand with the balance at 7%  interest  was due within three years.  The agreement was made on 11 June 1840.  It doesn't state the his purpose for this money.    A letter filed with the probate court for the final accounting of his estate we find the death date of July 1854 for Mary Cope and a record of the money she received from John's estate.   Now the land is to be sold and the proceeds divided among John's children.  In this packet is a document dated December 23, 1855 noting the guardian, Jos. De Camp,  of the minors of Jason Cope; Charles, Jason and Amos, and  also mentions the two older sons of Jason and gives their ages: William age 24 years and John Clay age 22 years. All three men, Jos DeCamp, William Cope and John Clay Cope, signed the document.  Another document in this packet is from Van Buren County, Iowa appointing guardians for the minors of Sarah Jones, dec'd.  Harry Robb was appointed guardian of Margaret, David H, John M, Samuel, Roller, William and Appeline date 8 March 1858.  Amos H Levan was the attorney assigned to obtain the quit claim deeds from Rebecca Havil, Elizabeth Baker and Ann Hadley.  Emund Cope's attorney was James Crook.  The quit claim deed filed on behalf of Rebecca Havil of Hancock county, Ohio,  is the only one containing a description of the land; NE 1/4 Section 31 Township 12 Range 2  beginning at the Northwest corner then East with the section line forty chains and fifty links to the corner post then west until it strikes Gouchnaires South East corner (he owned 20 acres in the Southwest corner of the section) then round the lot to the west boundary of the quarter section, then along that line to the beginning, containing one hundred and forty acres and fifty-six hundredths of an acre.  The land sold for a total of $4,360.50 and a full accounting of the disbursement to the heirs was filed on 19 Sept 1860.
There are nearly 80 images in this packet, some of which are duplicated.

In a previous search in probate records for this county, I found a guardianship for Moses Louthan minor of John Louthan dec'd, appointing Joseph Hamilton his guardian.  There was nothing else in that packet.  After seeing the guardianship of the Jones' minors from Van Buren county, Iowa, I realized I need to find the county of death for John Louthan and search for his estate record in that probate court.  I will need to go back and read the history of Beaver county, PA to see if it states the county of John's death.   It was also informative in that the will was filed in 1841 but the estate could not be settled until after Mary's death as so stipulated in the will.  In this case it took nearly twenty years, but the packet is recorded not in the 1860 estate files but with the 1841 estate files.  While I didn't find a link to my 2x great grandfather, it was interesting to read.

Love the hunt, even when it leads me down a side road!