Thursday, March 29, 2018

52 Ancestors, 52 Weeks Week 13

Della Mae Long

I did a blog on Monday about the Carmer/Kermer line of my son-in-law. I think I will continue this instead of use the prompt.

I wrote that I knew very little about Della Mae Long. I did a little research to see what I could find about her in a gemealogical way. She was born in Jennings County, Indiana on May 18, 1894 to James William Long and Rebecca Partlow. This date was found on her death certificate and in the later census. Her first marriage listed her as having been born on May 18, 1892. It made her 16 when she got married. But I believe she was only 14. Her mother gave the information in her first marriage to George Harrison Canfield, and signed for her to marry. George was born in Jennings County on September 1, 1887.  The marriage took place on August 22, 1908 in Jennings County. George was the son of John Albert Newton Canfield and Nancy Sutton.

The first census that Della appears in is the 1900, Jennings County, Indiana. She is with her parents, James and Rebecca Long, her sisters; Ella, age 3 and Mattie, age 3 months. Della is listed as age 6, which would put her birth date at 1894.

In the 1910 census, Bigger Township, Jennings County, Indiana, Della is with George H. Canfield. He is 22 and she 18. He is listed as farm labor. One son, John H. is listed as 9 months.

George Harrison Canfield died on November 30, 1918.

In 1920, in North Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana, Della is 26 (birth 1894), and a widow. In the household is Della, John H., age 10, Albert, age 8, Emerson, age 5, Clyde, age 3, Leo, aged 11 months and Rebecca Long, her mother is 66 and widowed.

On August 25, 1922 Della married Clyde Carmer. He was born on August 21, 1876 in Bartholomew County, Indiana. His parents are James C. Carmer and Lavina Harris.

In 1930, Della and Charles Clyde Carmer are in Jennings County. Clyde is 54 and listed as farm labor. Della is 35. John Canfield, age 20, Emerson Canfield age 16, Leo W.  Canfield is 11, Elmer R. Carmer is 7, Margaret Carmer is 3 and William Carmer is 3 months old. Both John and Emerson are working outside the house.

On December 7, 1935, Charles Clyde Carmer died.

In the 1940 Jennings County, Indiana census, Della Carmer is 45 and widowed. In the household is Elmer R. Carmer, age 18 and employed as labor at a junk yard; Margaret J. Carmer is 13, she is my son-in-laws grandmother. There is also William, age 10, Arthur age 7, James age 4, Albert Canfield, age 28 and listed as divorced. He is employed as farm labor. And Clyde E. Canfield, age 24 and employed as labor at the WPA.

Della Carmer died at age 93, at 12:07 p.m. on June 16, 1987 in the Jennings Community Hospital in North Vernon, Indiana. Her son William was the informant. She was buried in Baldwin Cemetery in Vernon, Indiana.  Her obituary is in The Republic, a Columbus, Indiana newspaper, on June 17, 1987 on page 12.

Other Information:
John Harrison Canfield July 3, 1909 - June 5, 1993
Leo Wesley Canfield January 12, 1919 - July 11, 1974
Elmer Russell Carmer January 1, 1923 - September 14, 1991
Arthur Charles Carmer February 19, 1933 - February 28, 1999
William Franklin Carmer December 29, 1929 - September 17, 1997
Margaret Jeanette (Carmer) Bannister March 15, 1927 - April 2, 1994

Now to enter her information and try to flesh her out later. I still have so much to do on this family.

#52 ancestors


Monday, March 26, 2018

Slow Research Week

This week has been slow on family history work. Many other things going on. But my current work is on my son-in-laws family. In particular his Carmer/Kermer line. Starting with Charles Clyde Carmer and Della Mae Long. Charles is the son of James C. Carmer from Ohio and Mary Lavina Harris. Mary was born in Indiana.  I don't know the family of Della Mae Long yet.

I have looked into the Carmers before. Quite a long line in the United States. The were in New York in the 1670. Isaac Kermer married Styntje Keyser about 1695 in Ulster New York. It was called New Amsterdam at the time.

This is going to be a fun family to look into. I love the Dutch. Such good record keepers!

The next 2 weeks is going to be busy. I am hoping I get some research time in. There are a lot of appointments coming up.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

52 Ancestors, 52 Weeks Week 12

Misfortune

Toliver White was born about 1817, somewhere in Tennessee. I don't know a lot about him, but I do know that he had 3 wives. Not at the same time, of course. His first wife was Mary "Polly" Hicks. They produced 5 children: Sarah Ann born in 1837, Judith Caroline born in 1840, George Washington born in 1843, Mary Jane born in 1846, and Harriet born in 1850. Mary "Polly" died in 1850, I was told when Harriet was born, but that is not true. The death certificate for George W. White lists Margaret Hicks as his mother. But I believe it was a mistake.

His second wife was a McLemore. I do not know her name, unfortunately. There was a lot of chatter that she was a native American. I don't believe this to be true. But I haven't been able to prove either of those suppositions. She and Toliver has 2 children: Sarah Elizabeth born in 1852, and Matilda Marie born in 1857. Matilda is my  second great-grandmother. My Unknown McLemore died during Matildas birth, according to many.

The third wife of Toliver was a sister to the first Mrs. White, Mary "Polly" Hicks. Nancy Caroline Hicks married Toliver White sometime in 1858. They produced 3 children: Louise Adaline born in 1859, Margaret Isadore born in 1862, and Martha C. born in 1863.

In the 1850 US Census in Monroe County, Tennessee, household number 906, Toliver White, age 31, a farmer, is married to Polly, age 31. The children listed are: Sarah, 13; Caroline, 10; George, 6; Mary, 3; and Harriet, 4 months. Next door, or really down the road at household 907, is Sarah Hicks (57), head of household, and the children listed are Sarah(30), William (18), Jane (16), Caroline (5), and Margarett (2). If this is the same Hicks family that he married into, then I believe that it must be Mary that was called Polly, and Sarah(30) must be the sister to the first and third Mrs. White. The parents of Polly and Nancy are Isaac White and Sarah Long Walker. Household number 909 belongs to John and Delilah McLimore. There are no girls that would be of an age to marry Toliver in 1851. The eldest daughter would be 11 years old.

In the 1860 US Census in Monroe County, Tennessee, household number 1180 is Toliver White (43) with wife Nancy (26) and the children: G.K. (15),June (12), Harriet (10), S.E.(8), Matilda (6) and Adaline (7 months. He's farming still and has a property worth 2000 and personal worth 1000. So he is doing very well for the time period.

All of this marrying up and birthing was done in the Monroe County area of Tennessee. I also was sent the information that Toliver ran a trading post in Indian Territory. I have found no information about that and he is listed in the census as a farmer. A few years back a researcher from Texas (Richard Henry) sent me some information about Toliver that I can not prove or disprove yet, at least not all of it.

Richard wrote:
The story is that Toliver was shot when hearing noises he got out of bed to investigate and when he lit a lamp he was shot. His killers were a group of die-hard southern sympathizers led by a man named Kirkland. Supposedly the shooting was a mistake as the gang was actually looking for Tolivers son, George, who had deserted from the Confederate Army. Tolivers daughter, Martha C., actually witnessed the shooting. This is all the info I have concerning this incident.

Well, I do know that Toliver White died on October 16, 1867, a couple of hours after he was shot. I found this:

The Knoxville Whig.
Brownlow & Haws, Publishers.

Knoxville, Tenn., October 23, 1867



Sources:
-1850 US Census, 12th Civil Dist., Monroe County, Tennessee; Dwelling 906 Family 906, FamilySearch
-1860 US Census, 13th Civil Dist., Monroe County, Tennessee; Dwelling 1180 Family 1200, FamilySearch
-The Knoxville Whig, Brownlow & Haws, Publishers, Knoxville, Tenn., October 23, 1867

#52 Ancestors

Monday, March 19, 2018

George Washington Hines

Let's take a look at my second great-grandfather, George W. Hines.

I have not found a exact date of his birth. His gravestone says he was born in 1832.

In the 1850 census, George is 16 years old and in the home of his parents, Cadwell and Susan (Angleton) Hines. They are living in Craig Township, in Switzerland County, Indiana. Cadwell was born in Virginia, and Susan in Kentucky. The children were all born in Indiana. Cadwell is farming.

On October 17, 1852, he applied for a marriage licsence with Agnes Joyce in Switzerland County, Indiana. On the 26th day of November, 1852 the marriage certificate was filed in Switzerland County, Indiana that George Hines and Agnes Joyce were married on October 26, 1852.

Agnes was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1832. She was the daughter of Geoge Washington Joyce and Jane Iden. Joyce is sometimes spelled Joice.

In June of 1855, George and Agnes become parents to Susan F., who was born in Switzerland County, Indiana. In July of 1857, this time in Neoga, Illinois  George P. is born, in March of 1860 Mary Jane, 1862 brought Jennie, 1865 Louisa. My great-grandmother, Cora, was born March 8, 1870, and Nancy Ellen in November of 1872. All of the children after Susan were born in Illinois. Agnes Joyce Hines died in 1872. I have not been able to find a death cert, so I do not know why she died. She was 40 years old.

In the 1860 census in the same place, George is 28, and married to Agnes Joyce, and they have 3 children, Susan age 4, George P. age 2, and Nancy E. age 6 months. It also lists Effa Joice, age 18, living in the home too. She was the sister of Agnes.  George is listed as a farmer. Listed right above George is Joseph and Mary Ann Sharp and family. Mary Ann was Mary Ann Hines, a sister of George.

In June of 1863 George is in Switzerland County, Indiana still. He is enumerated in the Civil War Registry. He's listed in Craig Township as George Hines, 28, white, farmer, married and born in Indiana.

The 1870 census has George and Agnes in Illinois. He is 39 and Agnes is 38. The children are: Susan, 15; George, 12; Elle is 11. I believe this is actually Effa.
Then there is Mary, 8; Louisa 5; and Cora 3 months.

In 1880 this family is found in Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois. Agnes has died by now and the family consists of George Jr., age 22, Jennie, age 18, Louisa age 15, and my great-grandmother, Cora, age 10. Both George Sr. and George Jr. are listed as Laborers, and Jennie is "keeping house". Right next door is listed a Marcus and Susan  Armstrong. This is the eldest daughter of George and Agnes.

In the 1900 census George is in Neoga Village, Neoga Township, Cumberland County, Illinois. George is 66 years old, and he is listed as Day Labor, 2 months without employment. He has a wife listed this time, and they have been married one year. Sarah M. is 46. She is Sarah Handke. I have yet to find her maiden name. There is also a s-daughter listed. She is Florence I. Handke, 11 years old. Sarah has listed having 5 children, 3 still living.

George Washington Hines died in 1909. He was 77 years old. He is buried in the Neoga Memorial Cemetery, in Neoga, Illinois.

There is still much to do on this family. I need death certs for George and Agnes. I have photos of their grave stones. They were sent to me years ago by Charles Hines. Mr. Mac McKinney sent me the photo above of George Hines.

Sources:
1850 US Census, Craig, Switzerland, Indiana, United States, (Craig Township, Switzerland County, Indiana); , GS Film Number: 442952, FamilySearch

Indiana. Switzerland County. , . Marriage Record.

1860 US Census, , (Craig Township, Switzerland County, Indiana); Page 160 Dwelling 127 Family 127, Series: M653 Roll: 299 Page: 160, Heritage Quest.

1870 US Census, 1870 US Census, (Illinois, United States); , FamilySearch.

1880 U.S. Census, 1880 U.S. Census, (Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois); , 184, Ancestry.com

1900 U.S. Census, 1900 U.S. Census, (Neoga Village, Cumberland County, Illinois); , 184, 

Friday, March 16, 2018

52 Ancestors, 52 Weeks Week 11

Lucky

I am a little late getting to this one. I know I am stretching this, but the prompt is "Lucky". I don't know any lucky. I have spent a week putting together a book on my step-fathers family for him. He is very lucky. I chose to do this. He has a great family. He found his way into our lives. Sunday is his 82nd birthday. He is indeed very lucky.

He's had a bad time this past year. His daughter died, another breast cancer victim. He lost the last of his siblings, too. 

I had some work done on his lines. I managed to find and source quite a lot. I also found several photos. It was very exciting!

I have William Henry Kiser back to Hiram Samuel Kiser, in his Kiser line. I have found this line very hard. I was unable to find any obits or paper items. I don't have access to newspapers in the Monroe County, Indiana area.

James Kiser was married to Ola Eaton. Her line goes back through Henry M. to William R. and finally to Samuel Eaton. They came from Virginia to Indiana. The line is most likely from England.

His Hunsucker line is a German/Swiss line. From Robert Henry Hunsucker back to George W. Hunsucker and beyond.

The Hughes line seemed to stop with his great-grandfather, Samuel Taylor Hughes. A confusing end, I'm afraid. On Ancestry it went from Samuel T. Hughes to James Snead? I have to assume there is a break in some way with Hughes. But what kind of break? In the records I was unable to find anything. In the trees there was conflicting information. This kind of break drives me crazy. I have to find the truth. There must be documents somewhere. I have to regroup and make a plan. I had a time limit on the book and what I could do in such a short time. Now I have more time I need to take the time and find what happened. Samuel Taylor Hughes married Hannah Elizabeth Dowling, daughter of James Dowling.

Anyone working these lines?

#52 Ancestors

Monday, March 12, 2018

Birthday Book

This week I have been working on my step-fathers family. He ask a long time ago about his family. Now I know. At least some of them. His 82nd birthday is coming up and I am going to do a book for him. I've found photos and lots of information.

One thing I think he will like is his great-grandfather, Samuel Taylor Hughes. According to many sources, this mans house still stands and is active. The house is a log cabin type house. When I say active I mean very active. It's the Samuel T. Hughes house in Spring Mill State Park in Indiana. How cool is that? I was so excited when I found that. But I would like to verify it. 

I have had trouble getting very far with his Kiser line. There are so many spellings of the name and I can go not farther than his great-great-grandfather, Hiram "Samuel" Kiser, born about 1780. My feeling is that "Samuel" was the ancestor that moved into Indiana. Before that they were not in the state.

The Hunsucker line has not been hard to find. There are many sources, and many researching the line. It's a Swiss line, like one of my own line. 

A couple of weeks ago his brother died, so all of his siblings are gone. Last year he lost a daughter. 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 10

Strong Woman

There are many strong women in my family. It is hard to pick just one. Any woman that survived through the Great Depression was strong in my eyes. It was a very hard time.

My great-grandmother was Olive Martin Alexander. I have written a little about her over the years. She was born in 1885. She was the third child born to Samuel and Maggie Martin. In 1902 she married William Hays Alexander. They had 7 children. In 1928, William died, leaving her with 3 of the children still at home.

She went to work. She was, when she retired, a superviser at the local shirt factory. She got her family through the depression. She did not remary until 1934.


To the left is a photograph of Olive and her second husband, Fred Robertson.

In 1963 she had a devastating stroke. The stroke occurred
in the night but help did not arrive until morning. Fred, her second husband, was in a sanitarium for TB. She was partially paralyzed thereafter. I went with my grandmother, Della Jaynes, many times to visit her. I never once heard her complain about her situation. She was mentally sharp for the rest of her life. She survived to the age of 89, and passed away in 1975.

#52ancestors

Monday, March 5, 2018

RootsTech 2018

Everyone knows about RootsTech! This year, unlike years before, the videos went right up and were accessible for home viewers very quickly. There were more videos online after the days events, than were open to streaming. This was wonderful to me. I had wanted to see a few that were not streamed, and I was able to later. I still have many to see. Lots of information in the many videos available.

You can view the videos here.

So far my favorites are:
Google Photos: Collect, Organize, Preserve and Share by Michele Goodrum. I only saw half of it as life interrupted, so I went and watched the videos later. I hadn't looked at Google Photos. Now I am using them.

A Gift of Life: Who's Writing Your Story? by Deborah A. Abbott, Ph.D. I saw this one as it was streamed. She was so funny and interesting. Inspired me to get my stories down!

How Not to Leave Your Genealogy Behind by Amy Johnson Crow and Curt Witcher. This was so good. Love Amy, of course and Curt is very knowledgeable. Lots of thinking to do about just this. Need to watch it again and take notes!

Pain in the Access: More Web for Your Genealogy by Curt Witcher. This one was crazy good. He is funny and smart. I loved every minute of this one and certainly have a lot to put into action!

I have quite a few more to watch. I did not catch the Saturday General Session which was Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and I did want to see it.  I need to see several of the DNA ones. That is where I really need to learn.

Anyway, I will be busy for some time.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

52 Ancestors, 52 Weeks Week 9

Where There's a Will

Lilly Library  Frank M. Hohenberger Photograph Collectionon
This one is hard for me. Wills are not the thing I love to get. For me, I'd rather have a nice long obituary. Most of my people have very short wills, or die intestate. I've found that with wills, you don't always get a lot of information, such as an inventory list that would come with an ancestor dying intestate.

I have been transcribing the will of Henry Hovis, Sr. of late. It's a large, hand-written document which starts by leaving all his property both real and personal to his beloved wife, Sarah (Hoke/Hogg). He then dictates where the property will go upon her death. It is split up among all his children, and one grandson, William Bohall, but with some restrictions. His personal property divided equally among them all. I already knew where the land was, and who lived on it later. I knew the names of all his children, and their families. The only surprise was his leaving his grandson some of his land.

The photo is the Hovis family cabin located in Brown County, Indiana. I don't know if it still stands.

William Bohall is actually, John William Bohall, son of Mary Ellen Hovis and John Dudley Bohall. I don't know where the land was that he inherited, so that is something I need to find out. I do know he died in Jackson County, not Brown County. Some of Henry Sr. land was in Jackson. So it does inspire me to find the answer to that question. I'll see if I can find anything in the newspapers that would hint at what the relationship was with his grandfather.

I am only mentioning this will because it is on my desktop and being worked on right now. Reading handwriting is a pain sometimes. There are a couple of words I am having a problem with, so I go over it several times, trying to get it right.

#52Ancestors #genealogy

Sources:
Photo: Lilly Library  Frank M. Hohenberger Photograph Collection 1928. 
1200 East Seventh Street 
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500
http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/

Will: Ancestry.com. Indiana, Wills and Probate Records, 1798-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

RootsTech!

 Today is the day!!!!