I am following a February writing challenge that I have followed for the last few years. I stumble in the beginning trying to set the focus on which ancestor I want to tell about. I focused on my maternal grandmother several years ago. It involved talking to my mom to get details of which I had no knowledge.
This year I am going to focus on a young Scottish girl, my third great grandmother, Anna Jane Haddow Louthan. I won't have anyone to ask questions, I will have to rely on my research and county history books to tell her story.
Stay tuned!
Inspirational Message
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Monday, June 11, 2018
52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Father's Day
He was born on the farm nearly 80 years ago, the first child born to Lester L and Leota J (Hedrick) Louthan, homesteaded by his grandparents, Samuel O and Emma J. (Hurt) Louthan. Named Gerald Ray by his parents but nicknamed Bud by his grandpa. Throughout his lifetime he has been known as Bud to all who know him. Most don't know his legal name, he is just Bud.
Bud was a teenager of the 1950s; drag racing cars, chasing girls, drinking beer. Except when he was working. He picked cotton when he wasn't in school. His grandpa had a few cows and horses and his mother milked a Jersey cow. His dad worked for the county road and bridge department. He graduated from high school in 1956 and married my mother a few weeks later. Together they reared five children and lived in three states. Bud was always a hard worker. He worked for Pigley Wigley in 1956 in Enid, Oklahoma and then transferred to the Lubbock, Texas store as a manager. They moved back to Oklahoma a few years later and Bud worked three part-time jobs: running a route for Coca Cola, working the sale ring at the local stock yards and selling 33 rpm records. He began selling H&B items to small mom and pop stores in Oklahoma and Kansas. Making quite an impression on his supervisor and those on up the chain. After a couple of years, he moved his family to Kansas while still working for the same H&B company. Bud was offered a promotion with the H&B company that required moving to Kansas City. He turned it down because he didn't think it would be good for his kids. He went to work in the local wire manufacturing plant during the Vietnam War. The plant made concertina wire (barbed wire) that the military used to keep the enemy at bay. I am sure you've all seen those photos of coiled barbed wire. After the war he went on to work construction; building homes. He followed this trade for many years. In the late 1970s he bought a piece of property on which an old school house sat. He remodeled it into a hamburger joint complete with an awning and us girls worked as carhops. A few years later he bought more property across the road and built a car wash and a gas station/convenience store. In 1995 he retired, after selling the gas station/convenience store to me, and traveled between Kansas and Texas with Mom. He always enjoyed hunting and fishing. He hunted Elk in Colorado, deer in Kansas and Oklahoma as well as game birds. He fished in the Gulf of Mexico with his own boat. He and Mom lived in Texas until this past year after a hurricane hit the area where they had purchased a home. There home was not damaged by the winds and rain but they no longer loved South Texas so they moved back to Oklahoma to live close to their daughters.
I would say my dad has lived a very interesting life. He never met a stranger and has many stories to tell anyone who takes time to listen. He may not always be able to finish the story these days...his memory is not what it once was. He dreams of hunting and fishing again like he did on the farm as a kid and in the mountains of Colorado as an adult.
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Bud was a teenager of the 1950s; drag racing cars, chasing girls, drinking beer. Except when he was working. He picked cotton when he wasn't in school. His grandpa had a few cows and horses and his mother milked a Jersey cow. His dad worked for the county road and bridge department. He graduated from high school in 1956 and married my mother a few weeks later. Together they reared five children and lived in three states. Bud was always a hard worker. He worked for Pigley Wigley in 1956 in Enid, Oklahoma and then transferred to the Lubbock, Texas store as a manager. They moved back to Oklahoma a few years later and Bud worked three part-time jobs: running a route for Coca Cola, working the sale ring at the local stock yards and selling 33 rpm records. He began selling H&B items to small mom and pop stores in Oklahoma and Kansas. Making quite an impression on his supervisor and those on up the chain. After a couple of years, he moved his family to Kansas while still working for the same H&B company. Bud was offered a promotion with the H&B company that required moving to Kansas City. He turned it down because he didn't think it would be good for his kids. He went to work in the local wire manufacturing plant during the Vietnam War. The plant made concertina wire (barbed wire) that the military used to keep the enemy at bay. I am sure you've all seen those photos of coiled barbed wire. After the war he went on to work construction; building homes. He followed this trade for many years. In the late 1970s he bought a piece of property on which an old school house sat. He remodeled it into a hamburger joint complete with an awning and us girls worked as carhops. A few years later he bought more property across the road and built a car wash and a gas station/convenience store. In 1995 he retired, after selling the gas station/convenience store to me, and traveled between Kansas and Texas with Mom. He always enjoyed hunting and fishing. He hunted Elk in Colorado, deer in Kansas and Oklahoma as well as game birds. He fished in the Gulf of Mexico with his own boat. He and Mom lived in Texas until this past year after a hurricane hit the area where they had purchased a home. There home was not damaged by the winds and rain but they no longer loved South Texas so they moved back to Oklahoma to live close to their daughters.
I would say my dad has lived a very interesting life. He never met a stranger and has many stories to tell anyone who takes time to listen. He may not always be able to finish the story these days...his memory is not what it once was. He dreams of hunting and fishing again like he did on the farm as a kid and in the mountains of Colorado as an adult.
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Long Distance Relatives - Holly and Graves
My daughter and her family are preparing to move to Hawaii in late July. They have seven children ages 4 to 15 and I am very close to all of them. I enjoy watching their sporting events and celebrating their special occasions. This move is really touching my heart and it got me to thinking about my great great grandmother leaving Jefferson County, New York to homestead on the wide open prairies in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Sarah (Holly) Graves was living in Jefferson County in 1880 with her husband, Gilbert A Graves and their children Burleigh and Florence. Sarah had lost one child by 1870, a daughter named Adella born 1860/5. They moved to Barber County, Kansas where their daughter, Florence, married Jared Hoag on the 25th of January in 1888. The 1900 census revealed that Sarah had lost two children, the second child is still a mystery.
Sarah and Gilbert went on to Oklahoma in the 1893 Land Rush. Thanks to Old Fulton Postcards, I have been able to follow Sarah's family until the death of each individual. Sarah outlived all but her brother Anson N Holly.
I have no knowledge of Sarah traveling back to New York, but there were several estate notices in which she and her siblings were named. Newspapers are a very valuable resource for tracing the activities of our ancestors.
I will be visiting my daughter and her family in person annually and via a video link on the Internet as often as possible.
Sarah (Holly) Graves was living in Jefferson County in 1880 with her husband, Gilbert A Graves and their children Burleigh and Florence. Sarah had lost one child by 1870, a daughter named Adella born 1860/5. They moved to Barber County, Kansas where their daughter, Florence, married Jared Hoag on the 25th of January in 1888. The 1900 census revealed that Sarah had lost two children, the second child is still a mystery.
Sarah and Gilbert went on to Oklahoma in the 1893 Land Rush. Thanks to Old Fulton Postcards, I have been able to follow Sarah's family until the death of each individual. Sarah outlived all but her brother Anson N Holly.
I have no knowledge of Sarah traveling back to New York, but there were several estate notices in which she and her siblings were named. Newspapers are a very valuable resource for tracing the activities of our ancestors.
I will be visiting my daughter and her family in person annually and via a video link on the Internet as often as possible.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Oklahoma Wildifires - Hoag Genealogy
This passed two weeks has been a nightmare for the residents of Dewey County, Oklahoma as the Rhea fire raged across from the west to the east. My elderly aunt has a farm in Dewey County and lost her home of 73 years.
She is the eldest of seven children and was the original family genealogist. For many years her attic was filled with her research and memorabilia she kept after her parents passed away. She also used chest freezers that no longer worked to keep her research safe from the elements. Several years ago at a family reunion, my cousin and I visited with her about all these records. She wanted them to go to the only male Hoag in the family. Fortunately, not long afterwards she gave it all to him. I am eternally grateful, for if she had not, all would be lost.
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| The house as it caught on fire. |
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| All that remains are ashes. |
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| Dewey County, Oklahoma after the fires. |
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Remembering Grandma Hoag
This weekend I will be celebrating a milestone birthday. This day always brings to mind the memories of my Grandma Hoag. She lived on a farm in Oklahoma with her husband, Mitchell William Hoag and her seven children. They raised chickens, hogs and cattle and grew wheat and hay crops. My mother was the youngest of the seven and didn't like farm chores; "slopping through the muck to the barn" was the least thing she wanted to do.
Her name was Mary Steinmetz and she was born in Pond Creek, Oklahoma in 1899. Her parents were immigrants from Russia. I have always wanted to learn more about the land and customs of her parents, my great grandparents. Her eldest brother, John, was the only child to come to America from Russia. They buried several other children in their ancestral homeland.
Mary's parents were John (Sr.) and Anna Catherine (nee Hergert) Steinmetz. They enter the United States through the Port of Baltimore in September of 1892. In 1970 Mary wrote a narrative of her family history. This is an excerpt from her story:
My grandpa Hoag passed away when my mom was twelve years old on a cold snowy night coming home from a school board meeting. The doctor presumed he had a heart attack before getting stuck in the snow. Grandma Hoag passed away on my thirteenth birthday, so she always comes to mind as the annual day approaches.
You can learn more about the Volga Germans through the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University in Portland, OR. You can also find them on Facebook.
I have never been able to determine which part of Germany they lived in prior to their migration to Russia.
I love genealogy, there is always something more to find!
Her name was Mary Steinmetz and she was born in Pond Creek, Oklahoma in 1899. Her parents were immigrants from Russia. I have always wanted to learn more about the land and customs of her parents, my great grandparents. Her eldest brother, John, was the only child to come to America from Russia. They buried several other children in their ancestral homeland.
Mary's parents were John (Sr.) and Anna Catherine (nee Hergert) Steinmetz. They enter the United States through the Port of Baltimore in September of 1892. In 1970 Mary wrote a narrative of her family history. This is an excerpt from her story:
This is a family history of John Steinmetz (Sr.). His parents were Adam and Marie Elizabeth (nee Kester) Steinmetz. There were farmers and lived near Saratov, Russia near the Volga River. They lived in villages but went outside the village to farm the land which the Czar had issued to them for their use. Their capitol was Moscow. Their ancestors had migrated from Germany; therefore, their language was German although the Russian language was spoken in various places. Only the Catholics and Lutherans were allowed to build churches; however, prayer meetings were allowed in the village homes. Through these meeting and Bible reading, people became Christians and later adopted other faiths
The Steinmetz and Kister families were probably among the original founders of the mother Colony of Walter which was established August 25, 1767.My aunt inserted the italic statements into her mother's story after her death. My aunt was the first family genealogist and researched her lineage to join NSDAR and Mayflower Descendants.
Adam and Marie's son John was born on July 13, 1863 at Bruenendale (sic), Russia. His fiance' was Anna Katherine Hergert who was born Jan. 11, 1865 at Bruenendale (sic). They were married in Dec. 26, 1882 at Moore Village, Russia. Their minister was Rev. Julius Holtz. In Russia the parents did the match-making. Weddings always meant celebrations and most of them were performed during the long winters because there was time for leisure and sleigh rides.
Brunendale is a reference to the daughter colony of Brunnental founded in 1855. It was centrally located in the Volga Colonies approximately 18 kilometers east of the Volga River.
John and Anna's first child was a son who was born on Oct. 17, 1883. Since it was the custom to name the first son after the father, he was named John. Later in life he added an H for Henry to distinguish himself from his father, John.
Soon after the birth of John (H). John (Sr) entered the armed services. He served there for five years in the Russian army without any compensation. His duties were cook and housekeeper for an officer. The Czar did not think it was necessary under their laws to compensate or pension soldiers. After completing his term of service, he was released in the summer of 1888
A daughter, Katherine, was born on June 24, 1889. There was quite an epidemic of smallpox at this time and consequently Katherine died Jan. 24, 1890. However, John H survived. Amelia was born prematurely on February 16 of that same year (1890). She died two days later, Feb 18. A son Jacob was born on Dec. 21.1891. He died six days later on Dec 27.
Mother Anna Katherine had two brothers, Jake and George Hergert, who had come to the USA prior to 1891. George lived a Woodbine, Kansas from 1877 to 1894 when he moved to Pond Creek, Oklahoma. His older brother Jake joined him at Woodbine in 1886 and then moved to Albert, Kansas about 1890. She also had a brother who was farming with his father in Russia. George sent him the passage money to come with his family to Woodbine, Kansas. He refused to come so John and Anna Steinmetz decided to come to America because they had read in letters that there was an opportunity to become a land owner there. After several weeks sailing the stormy Atlantic Ocean they landed in Baltimore, Maryland on Sept 16, 1892. They lived in an empty box car for several weeks because they were quarantined. The had to be vaccinated for cholera and stay long enough to see the reaction. Since no illness nor side effects developed, the box car was coupled to a through train to Woodbine, Kansas near where George Hergert lived.In all the records I could find, Katherine was always written as Catherine. John Steinmetz filed on a claim in Oklahoma and was able to realize his dream of land ownership.
My grandpa Hoag passed away when my mom was twelve years old on a cold snowy night coming home from a school board meeting. The doctor presumed he had a heart attack before getting stuck in the snow. Grandma Hoag passed away on my thirteenth birthday, so she always comes to mind as the annual day approaches.
You can learn more about the Volga Germans through the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University in Portland, OR. You can also find them on Facebook.
I have never been able to determine which part of Germany they lived in prior to their migration to Russia.
I love genealogy, there is always something more to find!
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Gregory Family Living in Kansas City 1900 to 1960
I chose the map above based on the 1930 Federal Census entry for Leonard L Gregory in Kansas City, Jackson County, MO. They are enumerated at 3206 East 23rd Street, between Waldron Ave and College Ave. This house is no longer standing when you look at Google maps. There is a business built where this house once stood.
In 1940 Federal Census the Gregory family is living at 2320 Chestnut Ave. This home is located a few blocks West of their location in 1930. The house is in the middle of the block. The house is still standing today and can be seen using Google maps.
Leonard was living with his parents at 1715 College Ave in the 1900 Federal Census.
Leonard's mother passed away in 1904 and he went to live with his aunt and uncle in Iowa. By the 1910 Federal Census they had taken Leonard to Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine. This was the home state for his uncle, Orrin Moore.
Leonard returned to Kansas City and joined the Army in 1913 at the age of 17. He sister, Pansy, was appointed guardian since he was under age and the whereabouts of their father was unknown to them. He served for five years as a private in the field artillery unit according to his WWI draft registration paper. He moved back to Kansas City and married Virgie Snoddy in Jackson County, Missouri on 3 Feb. 1917.
Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas is his location when he filled out the draft registration form on 5 June 1917.
When he registered for the second WWI draft, 12 Sept 1918, he was back in Kansas City living at 1006 Harrison.
By the 1960s this family was living on Flora Ave. I don't know how many times the family moved; however they stayed within the city of Kansas City in Jackson County and didn't move more than a few blocks.
All of these locations are found on this one map from the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Collection.
Maps are a great tool for genealogy research!
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Mapping Railroad Migration Routes for Louthan Family
Using the maps found on David Rumsey Map Collections
I plotted the possible route that my Louthan ancestors could have taken from Columbiana County, Ohio to Linn County, MO. I used four maps:
Ohio
I marked the locations they lived in with yellow. The railroad routes are followed with a color that stands out. The Louthan family is first found in Beaver County, PA across the state line from Columbiana County. After(?) the death of Hiram Louthan the family left Colubiana County. The father of his wife (Harriett) Edmund Hayes moved to Washington County, Ohio. I do not know if he moved first and Harriett followed or if Hiram in fact moved to Washington County before his death. Hiram was in the 1840 census and earlier tax lists but I haven't been able to find him since 1840 in Columbiana or Washington County. I also do not have clarification on his burial. Harriett, now Ormiston, and three of her four children show up in Washington County, OH in the household of William Ormiston in the 1850 Census. The eldest son, Oliver Louthan is living with the Cope family. I believe Harriett's sister or niece married a Cope. After the Civil War, William Harriett and their children along John and Anna Jane Haddow Louthan and Oliver and Elizabeth Vernon Louthan moved to Linn County Missouri. They crossed Indiana and Illinois to get there.
They could have crossed Indiana as shown on this map.
And then across Illinois as shown on this map
They moved to Northern Missouri so I chose Hannibal as the destination to cross the Mississippi River. The railroad does go to Linn County. I stopped marking their path here because family lore states they took a covered wagon from Linn County to Barber County, Kansas. The map below doesn't have roads on it only shows waterways. I would need to do a lot more research to figure out how long this journey would have taken. I rode a steam engine on vacation and learned they travel 10 -20 mph. Taking into account they followed the rivers and streams so they could take on water, the routes were not straight.
Kansas and Missouri 1869 map:
This map from 1884 shows the railroads and roads across Missouri. John and his second wife, Mary Ann Hale Louthan, left Missouri about this time. Anna Jane died in 1881 and is buried at Purdin, MO. John and Mary's first child died and is buried in Mumford Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas. I am not aware of the route they took across Missouri into Kansas.
They resided in Barber County until the Land Run into Oklahoma Territory. There they homesteaded in Major County where many descendants still reside. John and Anna Jane had three children survive to adulthood while he and Mary had nine children survive to adulthood.
It could also be that the Louthan family traveled by covered wagon from Ohio to Missouri. Or perhaps on the waterways of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. I need to research these other travel options.
There is always more to learn and placing my ancestors into the context of history brings them into perspective.
I plotted the possible route that my Louthan ancestors could have taken from Columbiana County, Ohio to Linn County, MO. I used four maps:
Ohio
They could have crossed Indiana as shown on this map.
And then across Illinois as shown on this map
This map from 1884 shows the railroads and roads across Missouri. John and his second wife, Mary Ann Hale Louthan, left Missouri about this time. Anna Jane died in 1881 and is buried at Purdin, MO. John and Mary's first child died and is buried in Mumford Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas. I am not aware of the route they took across Missouri into Kansas.
It could also be that the Louthan family traveled by covered wagon from Ohio to Missouri. Or perhaps on the waterways of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. I need to research these other travel options.
There is always more to learn and placing my ancestors into the context of history brings them into perspective.
Monday, July 31, 2017
Mobile Society: Is it really more mobile today?
I wonder if my ancestors moved as much as I do. Seems I move every five years or so for my spouses job. I am between places of employment so this is the perfect time to do some more research and the history of travel from 1800-1900 is going to be my focus. I am aware it is faster to relocate today than it was 200 years ago, but swiftness didn't appear to a factor in migration. Who doesn't dream of carving out their own place in the woods or mountains?
My ancestors lived in New York in the 1700s but they didn't stay there. As the West opened up they loaded up their belongings and moved West. Some stopped in Ohio and others moved on West into Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. One spent a brief time in Iowa, between censuses of course so I cannot track him.
I can only imagine the weeks or months of preparation. The head of the household would often go first and find the place to build a home. After some time had passed he would go back and bring his family along. Sometimes the son ventured west with friends or business associates. All of them were looking for new opportunities.
The hardships my ancestors endured on there sojourn is something I can only conjure up in my imagination. I didn't have to load a covered wagon, hitch the team and drive for days to arrive in my new destination city. No one died along the way or suffered illnesses. I didn't have to gather firewood, build a fire or cook a meal along the trail. I certainly didn't have to live on hard tack and soup.
I plan to plot on a map the route that each of my ancestors may have taken to arrive at their ultimate destinations. I have purchased tiny colored dots that I plan to use to designate each surname. I will need to research what common trails of their day existed and also consider they may have traveled by river part of the way. I know from census records when and where my ancestors were in a particular location. So I have points to plot on the map, I need to figure out the route they took. The National Parks System is a good place to begin. Here is a map of the historical trails. I have found or down loaded many county histories for the places my ancestors lived. I think I am well prepared for this journey.
In America most of my ancestors settled in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. The boundaries changed as new states were formed so I need to plot their location and see if they moved or if the boundary changed; county and state boundaries evolved over time as land was added or taken away by Congress.
This should be an interesting endeavor!
My ancestors lived in New York in the 1700s but they didn't stay there. As the West opened up they loaded up their belongings and moved West. Some stopped in Ohio and others moved on West into Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. One spent a brief time in Iowa, between censuses of course so I cannot track him.
I can only imagine the weeks or months of preparation. The head of the household would often go first and find the place to build a home. After some time had passed he would go back and bring his family along. Sometimes the son ventured west with friends or business associates. All of them were looking for new opportunities.
The hardships my ancestors endured on there sojourn is something I can only conjure up in my imagination. I didn't have to load a covered wagon, hitch the team and drive for days to arrive in my new destination city. No one died along the way or suffered illnesses. I didn't have to gather firewood, build a fire or cook a meal along the trail. I certainly didn't have to live on hard tack and soup.
I plan to plot on a map the route that each of my ancestors may have taken to arrive at their ultimate destinations. I have purchased tiny colored dots that I plan to use to designate each surname. I will need to research what common trails of their day existed and also consider they may have traveled by river part of the way. I know from census records when and where my ancestors were in a particular location. So I have points to plot on the map, I need to figure out the route they took. The National Parks System is a good place to begin. Here is a map of the historical trails. I have found or down loaded many county histories for the places my ancestors lived. I think I am well prepared for this journey.
In America most of my ancestors settled in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. The boundaries changed as new states were formed so I need to plot their location and see if they moved or if the boundary changed; county and state boundaries evolved over time as land was added or taken away by Congress.
This should be an interesting endeavor!
Monday, May 22, 2017
Seeking Royal Hazelton
It's been a long dry spell here on Ancestry Search since I have been working on other projects, namely sewing a quilt top. I have set it aside for the moment as I received an email from Sue about our common ancestor, Royal Hazelton. The affidavit signed by Royal's son, Thomas, states that Royal died aboard ship at Baton Rouge, LA. Nancy Browning descendant of Mary Ann Hazelton states that her grandfather William LeRoy Browning, who lived 1879-1981, wrote that Royal died in Panama. Traveling with him at the time was a family name Britain. G E Briton is found on ship manifests that I found on www.familysearch.org. An R H Hazelton did travel to San Francisco in 1879. I don't know who he is or how he fits. Royal is reported to have died in 1851. His widow received a land patent in Polk County, Iowa after his death.
I love a mystery! The best resource I know of for online newspapers is Chronicling America. I searched for the terms "California Gold Panama" in Louisiana Newspapers from 1850-1851. I received a lot of hits and the nice thing about these articles is they list the name of the ship, the passengers aboard and where they were headed and if someone died along the way, it tells that too! Chagres is the port in Panama where the ships sailing from New Orleans were headed and then they had to cross over to the other ocean and board a ship to San Francisco. It will take some time to read all the newspapers I can find. Stay tuned!
If you know of other non-subscription sites, please comment below.
I love a mystery! The best resource I know of for online newspapers is Chronicling America. I searched for the terms "California Gold Panama" in Louisiana Newspapers from 1850-1851. I received a lot of hits and the nice thing about these articles is they list the name of the ship, the passengers aboard and where they were headed and if someone died along the way, it tells that too! Chagres is the port in Panama where the ships sailing from New Orleans were headed and then they had to cross over to the other ocean and board a ship to San Francisco. It will take some time to read all the newspapers I can find. Stay tuned!
If you know of other non-subscription sites, please comment below.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Alta and Edith Wilhite
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| Alta & Edith Wilhite |
Sure enough! Living in the household of James W. Wilhite and his wife, Martha J, are Laura, Henry, and Altie. I found both images on FamilySearch.org
Altie is indexed as Attie. Laura and Henry are the same age, but I don't know if they are twins. The 1900 census gives the month of birth so a check for Henry and Laura should answer this question.
I found Henry easy enough, but I don't know who Laura married. The only clue I have is this photo.
I looked to see if they are in the 1910-1940 census records. In 1910, they are enumerated next to Henry and Mary Wilhite in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. However, they live on N. Park and Henry lives on Reynolds.
I found them in the 1930 census living in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. Alta states he was first married at age 19, he is currently 60. Edith states she was first married at age 18, she is now 49. This hints at a previous marriage for Alta. In the 1900 census Edith was 20 with her birth month being April and they had been married nine months as of June. That would set the marriage month as Sept of 1899.
I searched all of Ward 5 for house number 723 and came up empty. Here is a plat map for Kansas City and Vicinity in 1907.
It shows KCK as well as KCMO. More Kansas maps are linked from KSHS.org
I didn't find answers to all my questions, but I did fit Alta and Edith into the family tree.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Ough Photos
Percy Crowther Ough immigrated to the United States from England in 1900. His ticket was paid for by his uncle in Emporia, Kansas. He married Florence Bishop and they moved to McKenzie County, ND. There they remained for the rest of their lives. Ernest Manks Ough was their first born son. Manks was the name of Percy's father. You can find all of this information on www.familysearch.org.
These photos were in the collection left by Leonard L. Gregory, Jr. to his nephew. The connection to the Gregory/Whilhite family was unknown until a thorough search was conducted. The family was found in the US Federal Census for the years 1920-1940. The WWI draft registration for Percy in 1918 was also discovered. They had two other sons, Edwin Thomas and Robert Louis as listed in the census schedules. Edwin died in 2012 and his obituary can be found online. Williston Herald Online
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| Summer 1929, Edwin is 8 years old |
According to the obituary, his mother was Florence Bishop and his father was Percy Ough. It lists all of his living nieces and nephews; children of his brother Robert. He had a special friend but no children. He is buried in the Rawson Cemetery.
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| April 1918 Ernest Manks Ough |
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| June 1920 Ernest Manks Ough |
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| Florence, Ernest and Percy Ough June 27, 1920 |
Florence and Percy are buried the the Rawson Cemetery along with Edwin. Florence was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bowles) Bishop who immigrated to the United States from England in 1872. According to the 1880 US Census taken in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas; the children were listed in order oldest to youngest: Mary age 16; Hannah age 13; Sarah age 11; William age 8; James age 5; John age 3 and Frank age 1. Mary, the eldest daughter married Henry E. Wilhite and move to Kansas City. In the 1900 US Census in the same location, Frank is still at home and three younger siblings are listed: Harry age 17 (born June 1882), Bessie age 17 (born Jan 1883) and Florence age 16.
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| This is all that remains of this photo of Thomas and Elizabeth Bishop and their family. Only six of the nine living children are visible. No names are listed on the back of the photo. |
Robert Louis Ough enlisted in the army in WWII at Fort Snelling, MN for the duration of the war.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Moore Family Photos
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"Dad went to live with his uncle Orrin Moore in Skowhegan, Maine after his mother died."
I have written about Leonard Gregory more than once here on my blog. The reason for today's post? Well, I had the good fortune to go through a box of old family photos with my brother-in-law. Figuring out who the people were even though there were names written on the back was made easier by the research I had already completed on the Gregory/Moore/Havens line.
The box of photos had been given to him after the death of his uncle, Leonard Jr.
"Dad" (Leonard Gregory) was eight years old when his mother died in Kansas City, MO in 1904. He was the youngest of four children. I don't know who the other children went to live with. His aunt Ida and uncle Orrin were living in Iowa at the time. See the first census record below. Orrin was born in Maine and the family moved back to Maine by the time of the 1910 Census.
Here is one of the photos of Leslie and Lyle Moore taken at an unknown time and unknown place.
Ten years later, the family with Leonard Gregory are enumerated in the 1910 Census, Lyle is 18 and Leonard is 14.
A search on www.familysearch.org reveals a birth record for Robert L Moore, son of Orrin C. and Ida Havens.
I have many more family units to put together from the 122 photos that I scanned. I also have a ziploc bag of unknown/unmarked photos. I hope by comparing the ones we know with these we don't, we may be able to place them in a family.
Photos are a precious thing especially these old ones from the turn of the 20th century and before.
"Dad went to live with his uncle Orrin Moore in Skowhegan, Maine after his mother died."
I have written about Leonard Gregory more than once here on my blog. The reason for today's post? Well, I had the good fortune to go through a box of old family photos with my brother-in-law. Figuring out who the people were even though there were names written on the back was made easier by the research I had already completed on the Gregory/Moore/Havens line.
The box of photos had been given to him after the death of his uncle, Leonard Jr.
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| Ida and Orrin Moore |
"Dad" (Leonard Gregory) was eight years old when his mother died in Kansas City, MO in 1904. He was the youngest of four children. I don't know who the other children went to live with. His aunt Ida and uncle Orrin were living in Iowa at the time. See the first census record below. Orrin was born in Maine and the family moved back to Maine by the time of the 1910 Census.
Here is one of the photos of Leslie and Lyle Moore taken at an unknown time and unknown place.
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| Leslie and Lyle Moore |
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| Back of the photo |
Lyle and Leslie Moore were the sons of Ida Havens and Orrin Moore (pictured above). There is no photographer name on the photo so it is hard to place the location. Robert L Moore was born in Iowa in 1889 (see record below).
Here is the family in the 1900 US Census living in Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa. The boys are listed as Leslie age 11 and Lyle age 8. Living with them is Ida's mother Keziah Havens listed as widowed.
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| 1900 Fontanelle, Adair County, Iowa |
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| 1910 Census Skowhegan, Maine |
A search on www.familysearch.org reveals a birth record for Robert L Moore, son of Orrin C. and Ida Havens.
Name: Robert L. MooreOrrin was a silversmith by trade. This is also child #2, so there is a mystery child. I found no other records in this database.
Name Note: child #2
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 13 Apr 1889
Event Place: Fontanelle, Adair, Iowa, United States
Registration Date:
Registration Place:
Gender: Male
Age:
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated):
Birthplace:
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Christening Age:
Death Date:
Death Age:
Father's Name: Orrin C. Moore
Father's Titles and Terms:
Father's Birthplace: Maine
Father's Age: 33
Mother's Name: Ida A. Havens
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: Iowa
Mother's Age: 23
Paternal Grandfather's Name:
Paternal Grandmother's Name:
Maternal Grandfather's Name:
Maternal Grandmother's Name:
Spouse's Name:
Spouse's Gender:
Spouse's Age:
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Note: Jeweler; Residence: Fontanelle; child #2
Certificate Number:
Reference ID: v 1 p 143
GS Film Number: 1034814
Frame Number:
Digital Folder Number: 004661073
Image Number: 00575
Citing this Record:
"Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHTT-3B8 : 20 May 2016), Orrin C. Moore in entry for Robert L. Moore, 13 Apr 1889; citing Fontanelle, Adair, Iowa, United States; county district courts, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,034,814.
I have many more family units to put together from the 122 photos that I scanned. I also have a ziploc bag of unknown/unmarked photos. I hope by comparing the ones we know with these we don't, we may be able to place them in a family.
Photos are a precious thing especially these old ones from the turn of the 20th century and before.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
California Gold Rush 1848-1851 and the Hazeltons
I watched a documentary on television recently that sparked my interest in travel to and from the gold fields in California. Those miners could travel overland, sail around South America or cross the Isthmus of Panama. Thomas Hazelton stated that his father, Royal H Hazelton had died aboard a steamship at Baton Rouge in June 1851.
There is an account of Thomas and Royal Hazelton traveling to the goldfields of California in a Greene County, Missouri history book.
My curiosity was sparked to learn more about the events that took place for the Hazelton men during this time period. I searched on Ancestry.com and found one passenger list with two Hazelton men aboard, R H age 18 and A age 35. They were traveling from Chagres to New Orleans in March 1851 aboard the Brig Roselin.
My curiosity was sparked to learn more about the events that took place for the Hazelton men during this time period. I searched on Ancestry.com and found one passenger list with two Hazelton men aboard, R H age 18 and A age 35. They were traveling from Chagres to New Orleans in March 1851 aboard the Brig Roselin.
This page doesn't state the date, the previous image in the set is dated March 7, 1851. The National Archives website states that record group M259 is a chronological set of records. So we assume the date is close to March 7, 1851. The Royal H Hazelton who died at Baton Rouge would have been 65. His sons, Royal H and Alpheus are most likely the men on this passenger list.
Chagres was the river they traveled on to cross the Isthmus of Panama. Once they reached the Pacific Ocean they would have traveled North to San Francisco. A google search returned this result: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/ports/centralAmericaPanama.html with transcriptions of news paper articles that are quite revealing!
I hope to find more records in Louisiana, Panama, and California to reveal more about my Hazelton ancestors during the California Gold Rush.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Proving Catharine Cushing Merritt and her daughter Catharine Merritt
Catharine Merritt inherited from her grandfather, Stephen Cushing as her mother, Catherine Merritt, had died. I found the marriage record abstract showing Catharine Cushing married a Daniel Merritt in Sherman, CT on 26 May 1816. I have the Bible record showing Catharine Cushing Merritt died 7 April 1821. Stephen Cushing died 16 October 1825. In Stephen's will he bequeaths $1,000 dollars to his granddaughter, Catherine Merritt, "heir of my daughter Catharine Merritt deceased." Hmmm. It doesn't say anything about the granddaughter being a minor child. Interestingly, I found a Catharine Merritt in the 1820 US Federal Census in Beekman, Dutchess County, New York.
Catharine Merritt is head of household, but is she 16 to 18 or 26 to 45? Catherine Cushing Merritt would have been around 27 years of age in 1820. Would she have had a 16 year old daughter? Or is Catharine Merritt the daughter of her husband Daniel Merritt? The will doesn't say and no mention is made of Daniel either. There are two men by the name of Daniel Merritt buried in the Quaker Burial Ground in Dutchess County, NY.
Neither of their death dates match up with the Catharine in this census. On Find-A-Grave their memorials don't mention the name Catharine.
They Were Married Where? Why You Need To Know Your Geography.
Stephen Cushing married Rachel Foster on the 12th day of July in 1773 in Tisbury, Massachusetts. Stephen served in the American Revolution then moved to Dutchess County, New York. In looking for the marriages of their daughter, Catharine, I came across an entry in the North Congregational Church Record Abstracts from Sherman, CT. Not only was Catharine married here but three of their other daughters as well: Elizabeth, Jemima and Rachel!
This is why it is important to know the geography for the location you are researching. I have always loved maps and I save all of them I find of the areas where my ancestors resided. Looking at the map it makes perfect sense now.
Bible Records of Jane Cushing Hoag
My previous post was my transcription of Stephen Cushing's will. I discovered I had omitted Catharine Cushing as a child of Stephen Cushing and Rachel Foster in my PAF file. Today I pulled out the storage tote that holds the binder for the Hoag genealogy that I have compiled. Flipping through the pages of photocopies I found the copies of the Family Record pages from a Bible. My aunt sent these to me many years ago when I became interested in genealogy. I believe she is in possession of the original. The odd thing about these pages is that there is type faced (stamped) entries along with handwritten ones. Jane Cushing was born on 18 May 1776 and according to the handwritten entry under Deaths "Jane Hoag Wife of Solomon Died June the 30.. Monday 12 o'clock at night aged 80 years one month 13 days." That would make it 31 June 1826. She and Solomon were married 9 June 1789. This entry is partially type faced (stamped) and handwritten just like most of the other entries. By the spacing, I believe the same person completed all of the entries. Perhaps there wasn't enough space to stamp the entire entry so some of the data was handwritten. Someone continued the same style after Jane's death of stamping and handwritten entries. Take a look at the Marriages page to see entries made after Jane's death. It still remains a mystery for who completed the entries into the Family Record.
The interesting thing to note is the entry in Deaths for Catharine Merritt. In my transcription of Stephen Cushing's will, I read it as Catharine Merrill. I don't know who the original owner of the Bible is. William Cushing Hoag would have had it in his possession at some point and passed it down to his son Jared, my great grandfather.
Now I will see if I can find the surname Merritt in the records of Pawling, Dutchess County, New York!
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