Followup: A chance meeting, Part 2: clues to Benjamin Avery Posten’s parents

November 1, 2021 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 1 Comment

A chance meeting, multiple researchers and a tenuous hint. What do these things have in common? All lead to the same question and, possibly, a partial answer. Who are the parents of Benjamin Avery Posten? In my last post, I related the story behind my joining this search. In this post, I share some of what I, and others, have found Including a possible link to Benjamin’s parents.

The chance meeting was between my dad, Daniel Richard Posten, and George Avery Posten in the rural town of Mannford, Oklahoma. Dad and George had similar family stories of two immigrant brothers. Dad was born and raised in Pennsylvania. George’s grandfather, Benjamin Avery Posten, was born in Pennsylvania. The two families could be related!

As I became more adept at genealogy, I started a family tree for George. I admit that I was curious. Other researchers have traced the family back from Oklahoma to Pulaski county, Missouri. Census records for Benjamin consistently recorded Pennsylvania as his birthplace. The paper trail seems clear and accurate.

At least one researcher asserted that Benjamin was born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania. The evidence? Volunteer Enlistment papers for B.A. Posten, dated 15^th August 1862. [1] Handwritten information (underlined here) on the document: “State of Pa town of Mercer, I, B.A. Posten, born in Huntingdon Co. in the state of Pa and now a resident of Mercer County, aged 24 years. . . .” While not conclusive (first name would have been nice!), information is consistent for Benjamin’s birth year and state of birth.

One tenuous hint has been linked to Benjamin in online trees. The identity of Benjamin’s mother was based on a single 1850 census record from Mercer county, Pennsylvania. [2] The family includes:

Caleb Corbin, 64, M, farmer, value of real estate $400, birthplace: MD.
Sarah Corbin, 63, F, birthplace: MD.
Delia Corbin, 36, F, birthplace: Pa.
Benjamin Corbin, 10, M, birthplace: Pa, attended school.

As I look at these records now, I would have guessed that Delia was Caleb and Sarah’s daughter-in-law and possibly a widow. Perhaps those who researched Benjamin’s ancestry had information that they did not share online? Perhaps this was a best guess with the hope of finding more evidence later? Either way, I accepted their inference at face value and continued infrequent searches about this family.

The 1860 census record for Mercer county shows 68-year-old Sarah Corban [sic] living with 45 year-old Delia Hanna and 4 year-old Sarah Hanna. [3] The two census records led researchers to speculate that Benjamin’s mother was “Sarah Delia/Adelia Corbin Hanna.” The name of Benjamin’s father was also speculation and included a man named Benjamin.

Editorial comment: Family trees are often built on such speculation and “best guesses.” It seems reasonable that a male child would be named after his father. Genealogists search for evidence to support or deny such claims.

NOTE: Benjamin appears to have married in 1859 possibly in Mercer county[4] although I haven’t found an 1860 census record for him. If anyone has found this record, please share!!

Return now briefly to Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. B.A. Posten himself, in his 1862 enlistment papers, reported that he was born in Huntingdon county. I compiled a history of our Posten family in 2012.[5] As I researched Dad’s family, I found other Posten families in various parts of Pennsylvania and included an appendix for “Possibly related families”. Several Posten families lived in Huntingdon county through the 1800s and early 1900s. Heads of household appearing on a single page of 1850 census for Cass Township[6] included Cornelius Posten, age 72, John Posten, age 36 and James Posten, age 31. I suspected that John and James were sons of Cornelius. I did not pursue that question.

Back to the present. I started Genealogy Do-over in 2017. My genealogy files were a mess! Organizational goals led me to genealogy standards and the realization that my 2012 effort at writing our family history was a good start but far from meeting those standards. I continue to revise my original work. Looking for new information about those ‘possibly related families’ is one part of that revision. And, that circles back to a possible link between Benjamin Avery Posten and other Huntington county families. STAY TUNED!

Reflection

This has certainly been an interesting journey. As I wrote, I realized the many twists and turns of this search. Benjamin Avery Posten’s family may or may not be related to us. I met other researchers along the way. I guess it’s partially the thrill of the hunt.

One goal is to keep blog posts under 1500 words. With about 860 words here, I met that goal here. Being concise is not one of my strong points!

What I learned (again). Value of sharing research with others. Share your guesses and the reasoning behind them.

What helped? Previous work done on Benjamin Avery Posten family and Huntington county, Pennsylvania families.

What didn’t help? Incomplete citation of sources. Not having contacted other researchers sooner. My initial idea to submit this information for publication in a genealogical journal.

To do: share findings that link the families, and identify Benjamin’s parents, in next post.

© Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Family Roots blog, 2021

SOURCES:

[1] Member Photos & scanned documents, Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/74239198/person/46291952904/media/ :accessed 21 Oct 2021), “Volunteer Enlistment B.A. Posten, 1862,” document copied at Gettsyburg NMP, posted 11 Jul 2016 by k30galla1; provenance and date copied uncertain; believed to have been found by an older family member and handed down with family papers.

[2] 1850 U.S. Census, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Mill Creek, p. 263B, dwelling 192, family 192, Delia Carbin [Corbin] age 36; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed & downloaded 17 June 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M432, roll 796.

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Mill Creek, p. 163 (ink pen),p. 459 (stamp), dwelling 1165, family 1121, Sarah Corban age 68; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 12 August 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M653.

[4] Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/991207/person/-2019792105/media : accessed 4 October 2020. “Posten Marriage License,” handwritten scanned copy, posted 30 Jan 2007 by”‘kdbrown300.”

[5] Susan Posten Ellerbee, A Posten Family of Northeastern Pennsylvania, typed manuscript (Yukon, Oklahoma, 2012); copy available from author on request; descendants of Thomas Postens (1782-1854); collateral and possibly related families.

[6] 1850 U.S. Census, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Cass township, p. 209 (stamp), dwelling 66, family 66, Cornelius Posten age 72; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed & downloaded 17 June 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. , microfilm M432, roll 784.

A namesake for Nana

July 26, 2021 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 1 Comment

Families hand down names through generations. In Nana’s case, the family tradition may have been all but forgotten but still lies deep within memory. This post describes how Barbara (Friddle) Reed’ s marital identity emerged. In my next post, I will report how I determined Barbara’s maiden name of Friddle.

Back to my mother-in-law’s family tree. Nana’s first name was Barbara although she was known by her middle name. Not unusual. When Nana looked at a revised family scrapbook last year, she commented about the possible origin of her first name. Had Nana’s mother heard from her father, Virgil, that his grandmother’s name was Barbara?

Barbara and her husband, John Reed, were not immediately apparent when I began researching Nana’s family tree. Their identity emerged when I asked: who are the parents of William Wylie Reed, Nana’s great-grandfather on her mother’s side? A summary of the evidence follows. Conflicting evidence about William’s birthdate muddied the waters.

According to his obituary, William W. Reed died on Sunday, 29 April 1928 at the age of 71 in Cold Springs, Texas. [1] Although the family lived in both Cherokee and Rusk counties, Cold Springs is located in San Jacinto county. The front page obituary stated: “Mr. Reed was born in Tennessee, near Nashville in October of the year 1857, but immigrated to East Texas with his parents when he was about 3 years old.” Neither his parents nor siblings were named in William’s obituary. Next step: request William’s death certificate.

What information is on William’s death certificate? I haven’t found the certificate. Search of Texas Death Index for 1928 produced no results. I looked under surname variations (Reed, Read and Reid) and given name variations (W.W., William, William W., William Wiley, William Wylie and Wiley). Similarly, letters to Texas Department of Health and Cherokee County produced negative results. Go to census records, beginning with 1920 and move back in time.

1920 Census, William W. Reed, 64, b. Tennessee, with wife, Sammie, age 51, (maiden name Williamson) and six of their children living close by. [2] Estimated birth year 1856, consistent with obituary. If true, parents moved to east Texas about 1869-1870. The ‘m2’ designation for William suggests that this was his 2^nd marriage.

1910 Census, William W. Reed, head, 62, m2, years married: 27, birthplace: Tennessee, father born: Tennessee, mother born Tennessee. [3] Wife, Sammie, age 42, with seven of their 8 children. William’s estimated birth year 1848 is inconsistent with obituary and 1920 census. Why the change? Because of the age difference between William and Sammie?

1900 census: Wm W Reed, age 52, birthdate October 1847, birthplace Tennessee, married 17 years. [4] Wife, Sammie, age 32, born June 1867 in Texas; mother of 6 children. Ages consistent with 1910 census; birthplaces consistent with 1910 and 1920 census records. William and Sammie married 4 April 1883 in Rusk county, Texas.[5]

1880 census: Name: William Reid, age 32, son, born about 1848 in Tennessee, living with Jno [John] A Reid, head, age 62, born about 1818 in Tennessee; Josie Reid, 24, daughter, born about 1856 in Texas and grandson, Willie E. Reid, age 3, born in Texas. [6] William’s age consistent with 1900 & 1910 census. Was Josie his first wife? Is John father of William or Josie? John is presumed to be a widower since there is not an older woman in the household.

Marriage record for W.W. Reed and Josephine Reid: married 2 December 1876 in Rusk county, Texas.[7] Josie is a derivative of Josephine. Conclusion: Josie in 1880 census is William’s wife. Josie probably died after 9 June 1880 (census date) and before 4 April 1883 (William and Sammie’s marriage date).

1870 census: Rusk County, Texas. [8] John, age 52; Barbary, age 48; William, age 21, born Tennessee; Mary, age 18, born Texas; Sarah, age 12, born Texas. John, Barbary, William born Tennessee. Suggests move from Tennessee to Texas between 1849 and 1852. William’s age consistent with 1880 (age 32), 1900 (age 52) and 1910 (age 62) census records. Barbary alive in 1870 and presumed dead before 1880.

1860 census: Rusk County, Texas. [9] John Read, age 41, born in Tennessee. Married to B.A., age 37, with 3 children: Wm. W, age 14, born Tennessee; Mary A, age 10, born Tennessee and Sarah, age 1, born Texas. Family includes William Faddle, 30, a farm laborer, born in Tennessee. Family lived next to Andrew Read whose family includes 3-year-old Josephine Read. Analysis: suggests William’s birth year circa 1845-1847, within 2 years of birth as suggested by other census records. Suggests move to Texas between 1850 and 1859. Combined with 1870 census data, move to Texas by 1852. Suggests that Andrew Read was Josephine’s father. Similar surnames imply a relationship between John and Andrew.

1850 census: McCracken, Kentucky. [10] John A Reed, age 31; Barbara A. Reed, age 27 and Wm W Reed, age 2, all born in Tennessee. Ages consistent with census records for 1860 through 1910.

CONCLUSION: John and Barbara Reed are the parents of William W Reed (census records-1850, 1860, 1870, 1880). William was born in Tennessee (all census records, 1850 to 1920, obituary). William was born in October 1847 (1900 census; suggested by 1850 to 1880, 1910 census records). Why was his age reported differently on the 1920 census? The later birth year of 1857 was obviously believed by family members as reflected in William’s obituary and on his gravestone. Other information, i.e. “immigrated to East Texas with his parents when he was about 3 years old”, appears probable.

REFLECTION

I reported these findings in chronological order. However, I probably didn’t find the records in that order. I am still searching 1870 census for Andrew Reed family. Writing this post, and the next one, are one way of remembering my mother- in- law. Her comments about the scrapbook led me to delve deeper into this specific family. Post is longer than I intended.

What I learned: repeat database searches. new information and documents are constantly being added. Review sources for previously overlooked information.

What helped: previous work done on Nana’s family tree.

What didn’t help: incomplete records and citations.

To-Do: write letter to funeral home requesting copy of William W. Reed’s death certificate. Continue search for Andrew Reed family in 1870 starting with Rusk county Texas.

SOURCES:

[1] ‘William W. Reed died Sunday’, Alto Herald, Alto, Cherokee County, TX, 3 May 1928, p. 1, column 4. Portal to Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ : accessed & printed 9 October 2020.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Texas, pop. sch., Justice Precinct 2, enumeration district (ED) 20, p. 12A, Family #260, William W. Reed; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed, downloaded 30 March 2017); National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Microfilm publication T625_1786..

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Texas, population schedule, Alto, enumeration district (ED) 0014, p. 17A, dwelling 319, family 3232, William W Reed 62; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 July 2021); citing National Archives & Record Administration, Washington, D.C., Roll: T624_1538.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Rusk county, Texas, population schedule, , enumeration district (ED) 0082, p. 9, dwelling 166, family 168, Wm W Reed age 52; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 July 2021); citing Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623.

[5] “Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : viewed 7 July 2021), Sammie Williamson & W.W.Reed; citing Rusk, Texas, United States, county courthouses, Texas; FHL microfilm 1,020,948.

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Rusk Co., Texas, population schedule, Overton, enumeration district (ED) 074, p. 58A, dwelling 140, family 142, William Reid age 32; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 July 2021); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C., T9, roll 1325.

[7] “Texas, U.S., Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing Family Search and Texas county records.

[8] 1870 U.S. Census, Rusk county, Texas, population schedule, Precinct No. 1, p. 345 (ink pen); p. 301 (stamp), dwelling 128, family 131, John A. Reid [Reed] 52; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 11 November 2020); citing Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, microfilm publication M593_1603.

[9] 1860 U.S. Census, Rusk county, Texas, population schedule, Beat 11, Bellevue Post Office, p. 108 (ink pen), dwelling 691, family 709, John Read age 41; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 11 November 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M653.

[10] 1850 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, population schedule, , p. 190B, dwelling 399, family 400, John A Reed 31; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2 July 2021); citing National Archives, Washington, D.C., M432, roll 211.

Challenge or invitation? Search for C.W. Black

April 28, 2020 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 1 Comment

Pick a word to describe a difficult genealogy task. Here are some of my choices -challenge, convoluted, dare, elusive, incentive, invitation, obstinate, resistant, provocative, recalcitrant, reluctant, uncooperative. Most have negative connotations. The terms incentive and invitation shed a more positive light. I described the task of finding C.W. Black, reported father of Nellie Black Johnson, my husband’s great-grandmother, as a challenge. Looking at it as an invitation into his life could reveal new insights. In this post, I invite you to follow one possible lead with me.

William and Mary Black, Falls County, Texas

I discovered this hint early in my search. I disregarded it until a blog follower reminded me about it. Remember Nellie’s reported mother, Mary Bull? Falls county, Texas, was home to several Bull families. I found William and Mary Black in Falls county, Texas, in 1900 [1] with their family:

William B. Black, head, age 49, born April 1851 in Texas, married 35 years (? 25 years). Father & mother born in Alabama;
Mary A. Black, wife, age 43, born 1857 in Texas, mother of 6 children, 5 living. Father born in Georgia; mother born in Alabama;
Pearl Black, daughter, age 18, born 1881 in Texas;
Elisha Black, son, age 14, born 1885 in Texas;
Nellie Black, daughter, age 13, born February 1887 in Texas;
David C. Black, son, age 21, born November 1878 in Texas, married 2 years;
Nellie M. Black, d-in-law, age 18, born Feb 1882 in Texas, mother of 1 child, 1 living; and
Vera M. Black, g-daughter, age 1, born May 1899 in Texas.

C.W. ‘s middle name could be William. Nellie Black, daughter, born February 1887 per this census record. According to our Nellie’s death certificate[2] and other records, she was born January 1888 in Montague county, Texas. The birthdate inconsistency led me to initially discount this family as belonging to our Nellie.

Elisha Black’s death certificate[3] presented interesting information. Elisha’s parents are recorded as W.B. Black and Mattie Bull. Elisha lived in Montague county, Texas at the time of his death.

Mary A. Black’s birth information is partially consistent with an 1870 census record for Marianne Bull. [4] (NOTE: Based on DNA match and other records, I believe that Marianne Bull is likely Nellie’s mother. Read “Who is Mary Bull?” for more information).

In 1900, Mary A. Black’s age of 43 places her birth year as about 1857 and lists her birthplace as Texas. In 1870, Marianne Bull’s age of 15 places her birth year as about 1855 and her birthplace as Texas. The two year age discrepancy is not unreasonable but sheds some doubt.

Marianne Bull’s presumed parents, Isaac Bull and Sarah Neel, were born in Mississippi per 1860 census.[5] This fact presents another discrepancy. Mary A. Black, wife of William B. Black in 1900, reported that her parents were born in Georgia and Alabama. Mollie Black’s parents (from 1880 census) were reported as born in Texas.

Several online trees connect the William B. Black family on 1900 census, cited above, with a family headed by William Black, in Montague county, Texas, 1880. [6]

1880: William Black, age 25, born Texas; father & mother born Alabama. Wife, Mollie, age 24, born Texas; father & mother born Texas. Children, William, age 6 and Corbin, age 3. Rosie Williams, age 6, niece and James Williams, age 4, nephew.
1900[7]: William B. Black, age 49, born Texas; father & mother born Alabama. Wife, Mary A. Black, age 43, born Texas; father born Georgia, mother born Alabama.

Age discrepancies on subsequent census records are not uncommon. The reported birthplace of William’s parents as Alabama appears to be the only connecting data. Family trees are built on such slim links.

To reconcile these differences, I searched the 1870 census. William Black, age 20, born in Texas, resided with James and Mary Black.[8] His age is consistent with the 1900 census but not the 1880 census. The record shows James Black, age 49, born in Tennessee and Mary Black, age 44, born in Alabama. Further down on the same page and continued on the next page are entries for James Williams, age 19 and Georgiana Williams, age 17, married in August.

Hmm! Rosie and James Williams, niece and nephew, are listed with William and Mollie Black on the 1880 census.

Step back another 10 years. In 1860, James and Mary Black lived in Bell County, Texas[9] with 6 children- J.W., age 13; J.M., age 11, Wm, age 8, Georgiana, age 6, E.E., age 4, and Benjamin, age 1. Names and ages are consistent with children listed on 1870 census. James reported as born in Tennessee and Mary reported as born in Alabama.

To summarize, three census records (1860, 1870, 1900) support William’s birth year as circa 1850 or 1851. Three census records (1860, 1870, 1880) suggest that William Black and Georgiana Black Williams are siblings. William’s father’s birthplace as Alabama (1880 & 1900 census) is inconsistent with reported birthplace of Tennessee per 1860 and 1870 census. Mary’s birthplace is listed as Alabama on all these records. Conclusion: The 1880 and 1900 census records for William Black apparently represent the same man with two different wives. Mary A. Black, wife in 1900 census (born Texas, parents born Georgia and Alabama) does not appear to be the same person as Marianne Bull (born Texas, parents born Mississippi).

What about Pearl Black and David C. Black? Online searches haven’t yet revealed any relevant information about the name of their mother. Specifically, because of inconsistent data, I believe that William B. and Mary Black (as recorded on 1900 census cited above) are probably not Nellie’s parents.

Reflection

I revised this post more times than usual. As I wrote, I saw new patterns and pursued those clues. An initial discovery of Mattie Bull seemed promising. Men named William Black who married women named Mary or Mollie produced an almost unsolvable puzzle. I feel like I am running in circles. I am ready to move on.

What helped: Lessons learned through Genealogy Do-over. Using Research logs, family group sheets and other research notes. Reminder from blog follower to look at 1900 census again.

What didn’t help: Repeated viewing of the same documents confused me more. Time for a break.

To-do: Take a break from this search. Keep copy of this post with paper files for later review.

© Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Family Roots blog, 2020

SOURCES

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Falls County, Texas, population schedule, Marlin, Enumeration district 0016, sheet 6, , dwelling 107, family 113, Nellie Black, age 13; William B. Black, head; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 March 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication T623.

[2]“ Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 27 February 2020), entry for Nell Johnson; citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas; certificate no. 37422.

[3] “Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : printed and viewed 27 February 2020), entry for Elisha Monroe Black (1885-1957); citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, certificate no. 39398.

[4] 1870 U.S. Census, Falls county, Texas, population schedule, Precinct 4, page 15 (ink pen); sheet 91A (stamp), dwelling 121, family 122, Isaak Bull, age 41; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 March 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication M593_1584; includes Isaak, born Mississippi; Mariane, age 15, born Texas.

[5] 1860 U.S. Census, Falls county Texas, population schedule, Marlin post office, page 149, dwelling 84, family 84, Isaac Bull, age 28; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 March 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication M653_1293.

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Montague county, Texas, population schedule, Precinct 3, page 47 (ink pen), page 418C (stamp), dwelling 363, family 364, William Black, age 25; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 April 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication T9.

[7] 1900 U.S. Census, Falls Co., TX., population schedule, Marlin, ED 0016, sheet 6, dwelling 107, family 113, William B. Black, age 49.

[8] 1870 U.S. Census, Falls County, Texas, population schedule, Precinct No. 4, Marlin post office, page 25 (ink pen), dwelling 191, family 193, William Black, age 20; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 April 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication M593_1584.

[9] 1860 census for Jas & Mary Black. 1860 U.S. Census, Bell County, Texas, population schedule, Belton post office, page 463 (ink pen), page 317 (stamp), dwelling 298, family 295, Jas Black, age 38; http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 April 2020); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication M653.

The genealogy goes on. . . with negative findings

March 31, 2020 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 5 Comments

Review any death certificate and obituary. In many cases, the person’s birth information, including names of parents, is correct. You can easily find more about the family from census and other records. What if the information is not that easy to find? Negative evidence and information can still provide clues. In this post, I describe my frustrating search for C.W. Black, presumed father of Nellie Black Johnson, and one of my husband’s maternal great-great grandfathers.

According to Nellie’s death certificate[1], her parents were C.W. Black and Mary Bull. Nellie’s oldest daughter, Katie Jean Johnson Brannon, provided the information. Nellie’s obituary[2] stated that she was born in Montague county, Texas and spent most of her life in Limestone county, Texas. I begin an attempt to prove that the information is correct. A DNA Match with Nellie’s granddaughter (my husband’s mother) led to the possible identification of Marianne Bull, born about 1855 and daughter of Isaac L. Bull and Sarah Neel, as Nellie’s mother.

Discovering C.W. Black has been more difficult. What can I expect to find? Start with the 1900 census.

Evidence for Nellie’s birth year of 1888: Census records for 1920 through 1940 plus Nellie’s death certificate support this date, plus or minus one year.
Evidence for Nellie’s reported birth place: Nellie should be with one or both parents in either Montague county or Limestone county, Texas. Search criteria: families with Black surname, females 11 or 12 years old with first name of Nell, Nellie or Nettie.

NEGATIVE EVIDENCE or NEGATIVE FINDINGS?

Transcription errors are possible. Handwriting can be hard to read. Faded ink creates illegible entries. Online databases do not always capture the person or family that you are searching for. I searched the 1900 census for selected Texas counties page-by-page. So far, I found six families with surname of Black in Montague county and 19 families with surname of Black in Limestone county. I recorded all individuals on blank census forms. [3] Results to date? None that described Nellie or her reported family.

These are negative findings. According to Elizabeth Shown Mills, negative findings are “the absence of information we hoped to find.” [4] I hoped to find Nellie and at least one parent in either Montague or Limestone counties. Negative evidence, as defined in Genealogy Standards, is “a type of evidence arising from the absence of a situation or information in extant records where that information might be expected.”[5] My search is not complete so I cannot label it as negative evidence.

Example, 1900 census form, Montague county, Texas, families with Black Surname. Compiled by Susan Posten Ellerbee, March 2020.

One genealogical standard is termed “evidence mining”.[6] We look for items to answer our research questions. In this instance, the findings are negative. The standard encourages us to not ignore any potentially useful evidence or information even if it’s negative. Pay attention to all of the evidence not just evidence that is direct or indirect.

These preliminary negative findings suggest that Nellie and her parents did not live in either Montague or Limestone counties in 1900. At this time, I cannot confirm where they lived in 1900. Alternative hypotheses:

Nellie and her parents (or at least one parent) lived in another county in Texas in 1900.
Nellie and her parents (or at least one parent) did not live in Texas when the 1900 census was taken.
Nellie and her parent/ parents were not counted in the 1900 census.
Nellie’s father died before 1900 and her mother remarried. Nellie is listed with surname of her stepfather.
Both of Nellie’s parents died before 1900. Nellie lived with another family.

My research question remains the same: Where did Nellie and her parent/ parents live at the time of the 1900 census? Where to next? Search Falls county, Texas, home of many in the Bull family, and next door to Limestone county.

As my frustration mounts, I temporarily halt this search. Next post: My continued search for C.W. Black.

Reflection

This post is shorter than many. I am stumped and need to take a break. These negative findings take more time than expected as I process the information. Searching census records page by page is not difficult but is tedious. Initially, I wrote a short post about genealogy during this Corona Virus crisis but decided not to post it. Others have done so. I just keep on working.

I questioned my mother-in-law about her dad’s mother’s family. She does not remember Nellie’s family ever being discussed or visited – no mention of aunts & uncles or cousins. Nellie died when mother-in-law was in her early 20s. I don’t remember if I knew the names of my great-grandparents when I was that age. But, my parents freely shared that information with me later. And, I heard the names of cousins, aunts and uncles (such as Dad’s Uncle Frank, his mother’s brother) on both sides. Tracing my parents’ families seems easy compared to this brick wall. Was there some scandal? Possible that Nellie was an only child? Possible that Nellie’s mother died in childbirth and Nellie was taken in by other family members? Possible that Nellie might be found in an orphanage in 1900? Is Nellie’s maiden name really Black? Given the DNA connection, I believe that Nellie’s mother was a Bull. The identity of her father remains a mystery.

What helped: Blank census forms from NARA, mostly legible handwriting on census records.

What didn’t help: feeling overwhelmed by this and our nation’s current health crisis.

To-do: Search 1900 census in Falls county, Texas for families with Black surname. Complete page-by-page search of 1900 census in Limestone and Montague counties. If no relevant findings, expand searches to other counties. Write post about limited findings for C.W. Black as found in online databases.

©Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Your Roots blog, 2020.

SOURCES:

[1] “Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 27 February 2020), entry for Nell Johnson; citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas; certificate no. 37422.

[2] “Funeral services for Mrs. Johnson set for Wednesday,” obituary, Mexia Daily News, 3 May 1960; digital image, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed & printed 6 March 2020); citing Mexia Daily News (newspaper), Mexia, Texas.

[3] . “Resources for Genealogists, Charts and forms, Federal Census Forms, 1900 census,” The National Archives and Records Administration ( https://www.archives.gov/files/research/genealogy/charts-forms/1900-census.pdf : accessed 1 February 2020).

[4] Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained, 3d ed. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2015), 25.

[5] Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 2d ed. (New York, New York: Turner Publishing Company, 2019), 81-82.

[6] Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 24-25.

“Mother’s daddy was Clay Simmons”

June 24, 2019 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / Leave a comment

“Here’s my mother’s parents—Clay Simmons and Deedie Bailey.” My father-in-law, Jerry D., paused before the granite grave marker at Mount Hope Cemetery in Wells, Texas. Having just begun doing genealogy, I feverishly wrote the information in my notebook. We visited multiple graves that hot summer day in the late 1990s. This post describes, in chronological manner, what I discovered about Clay Simmons and his family. Throughout the post, I reflect on how my research practices changed.

SimmonsClayDeedie11July2013MtHopeCemWellsTX009

Clay & Deedie Simmons grave marker. Mount Hope Cemetery, Wells, Cherokee county, Texas. Picture taken by Jerry L. Ellerbee, 11 July 2013. [1]

Jerry D. recalled only that his maternal grandfather’s name was Clay Simmons. [2] He did not know the names of Clay’s parents. So, Simmons ancestry became my focus of inquiry in January 2013. A scrapbook, presented to Jerry D. as a Christmas gift that year, described my findings. My husband and I traveled to east Texas in July 2013 to search further.

Start with what you know. I began with Clara Doris Simmons and her father, Clay Simmons. A file review yielded previous online searches and a Texas death certificate for “H.C. Simmons”. [3] An early record shows the name “Richard”, followed by a question mark. Was Clay’s other name Richard or one that begins with “H”?

Simmons_HC_b1885_d1946_DC

Disclaimer: This work was done PGDO (pre Genealogy Do-Over). I did a lot of point-click-save genealogy. As I found documents, I printed and placed in a folder. I did not keep a research log or a list of what records I found. Fortunately, most databases also printed names and dates on the page. I did not recognize the value of thorough and systematic record-keeping until much later!

In January 2013, I printed an online gravesite index which listed his name as “Henry Clay Simmons”. [4] I still needed proof. Note: We again visited his grave, among others, at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Wells, Cherokee county, Texas during our genealogy field trip.

A marriage record index entry for H.C. Simmons and Dedie Bailey offered little new information[5]. We obtained a copy of the original certificate on our genealogy field trip. The certificate is now scanned and in an acid-free sleeve.

Using “Clara Simmons” as key word, I had previously found 1930 census record for the family. [6]

Simmons, Henry C., head, age 43. 
Deedie D, wife, age 40. 
Lester, son, age 20. 
Otha F, daughter, age 18. 
Morris C, son, age 14. 
Clara D, daughter, 14. 
Mildred, daughter, age 13. 
William J, son, age 8.

“Henry C. Simmons”? Yes, this could be Clay’s other name instead of Richard. Maybe the online grave index entry was correct? I don’t have any notes about my initial review of this record. Did I even recognize his name? Now, I mark or highlight the name and write a note or analysis in research log. Notes include comments about the consistency or inconsistency of information.

Back another decade to the 1920 census, same county (February 2013): [7]

Simmons, H.C., Head, M W, 34, M[arried], born Texas, father born Alabama, mother born Mississippi.
__________, Deedie, wife, F W 29, M[arried], born Texas, father born Texas, mother born Texas
_________, Lester, son, M W 9, S[ingle], born Texas
_________, Opal F, daughter, F W 7, S[ingle], born Texas
_________, Morris, son, M W 4 6/12, S[ingle], born Texas
_________, Dorris, daughter, F W 4 6/12, S[ingle], born Texas
_________, Mildred, daughter, F W 3 2/12, S[ingle], born Texas.

Yes, Morris and Dorris are twins (confirmed by Jerry D)! Their full names are Clay Morris and Clara Doris. Information is consistent with marriage record, death certificate and 1930 census record. To summarize, I had found:

Known as Clay by family and friends
Death certificate for H.C. Simmons, buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Wells, Texas. Known burial location for Clay and Deedie.
Marriage record index: H.C. Simmons and Dedie Bailey.
1930 census: entry for Henry C. Simmons, Deedie, and children.
1920 census: entry for H.C. Simmons, Deedie, and children.

The search continued for additional documents with both names—Henry and Clay. We found no new records during our field trip. Finally, Henry’s World War I Draft Registration card surfaced: [8]

Simmons_HC_b1885_d1946_WWI Draft regis_card

Richard can definitely be ruled out as part of Clay’s name.

I presented Henry Clay Simmons, a.k.a. H.C. Simmons, a.k.a. Clay Simmons in a scrapbook dedicated to the Simmons family ancestry. Jerry D. said that he had never heard his grandfather called “Henry” or even “H.C.” After confirming the identity of “H.C. Simmons” from the death certificate found years earlier, I traced the Simmons line from Texas to Georgia to North Carolina in the late 1700s. And, that is a story for another day!

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Reflection:

This year, I am reviewing and cleaning up files for families of my in-laws. As I pulled files for this story, I realized (again) how inconsistent my recordkeeping has been. I do not always find chronological records in the exact sequence in which events happened. In my opinion, keeping track of when you find a record is as important as placing that record within the person’s biographical timeline. Access to records change. Websites disappear or change names. Records transfer from one agency to another. Agencies move to another address.

What am I doing different? Trying to be more systematic and thorough in approach. I create research logs and/or fill out research checklists and individual worksheets more often. I track the sequence in which I find records.

What I learned: Reinforced previous experiences of person being called one name but having one or more additional names. Keep complete records of all sources and include date on which you accessed the source. Take time with record and file clean-up process.

What helped: Printed copies of sources and records in file. Scrapbook done in 2013. Individual worksheets and research checklists begun in January 2017 but not complete.

What didn’t help: Incomplete record keeping and analysis.

To-do list: Continue file clean-up. Check scans of certificates. Place originals in appropriate BMD notebook. Create Research logs for Clay and Deedie – DONE.

SOURCES:

[1] Mount Hope Cemetery (Wells, Cherokee, Texas), Clay & Deedie [Bailey] Simmons; photograph by Jerry L. Ellerbee, 11 July 2013.

[2] Personal knowledge of [living] Ellerbee, shared with Susan Posten Ellerbee, daughter-in-law, ca. 2010-2011; handwritten notes in vertical file, Clay Simmons family, privately held by Ms. Ellerbee, [address for private use,] Yukon, Oklahoma. Mr. Ellerbee stated his grandfather’s name of Clay as a fact.

[3]. Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, “Standard certificate of death,” digital images, Footnote (now Fold3) (http://www.fold3.com : accessed, printed, downloaded 23 July 2011), entry for H.C. Simmons.

[4] Find A Grave, database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : viewed 30 January 2013), memorial page for Henry Clay Simmons, Find A Grave Memorial # 88689404, citing Mount Hope Cemetery (Wells, Cherokee, Texas), memorial created by Eleanor Baker.

[5] Marriage record for Mr. H.C. Simmons & Miss Deedie Bailey, (18 February 1909), Cherokee County Marriage Records: ; County Clerk’s Office, Rusk, Texas; obtained 11 July 2013.

[6] U.S. Census, Cherokee county, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 6, enumeration district (ED) 37-34, p.3B (penned), dwelling 62, family 62, H.C. Simmons head; digital images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed, printed & downloaded 2011); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T626, roll 2307.

[7], U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Texas, pop. sch., Justice Precinct 8, enumeration district (ED) 35, p. 6A (penned), family # 103, H C Simmons; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed & printed 22 March 2017); National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Microfilm publication T625_1787.

[8] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1919,” digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed ,downloaded 2 December 2013), entry for Henry Clay Simmons; citing United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M1509.

© Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Family Roots, 2019

A case of mistaken identity

May 21, 2019September 28, 2021 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / Leave a comment

The name on the state death index is the same. The woman died in the same county where my ancestor lived. If the death date is correct, then she was over 100 years old. Possible? Yes. Post the information to online family tree and mark it as tentative. Others copy the information but leave out ‘tentative’. Add ‘order death certificate’ to my to-do list. Three years later, I finally retrieve her file. It’s time to follow-up.

Is Martha Catherine Ellerbee, who died in 1929, actually Martha Love Ellerbee?

SOURCE: http://clipart-library.com/question-mark-face.html

In 2016, I found this listing on the Florida Death Index[1]:

Name Place Sex Col. Vol. Number Year

Ellerbee, Martha Catharine Tampa F W 459 16971 1929

Tampa is in Hillsborough county, Florida. Before ordering her death certificate, I reviewed the records and information already in my file about Martha Love Ellerbee. I remembered that Martha certainly lived in Hillsborough county, Florida.

Martha Love married John Ellerbee in 1842 in Randolph County, Georgia. [2] By 1850, John, age 42, and Martha, age 26, lived in Baker county, Georgia. [3] The census record lists 8 presumed children- Edward, age 19; Elizabeth, age 14; James, age 12; Sanderlin, age 6; Smith, age 5; Jasper, age 4; not named female, age 3; and Martha, age 2. Birthplaces ranged from Houston county, Georgia for the first three to Randolph county for Sanderlin and Smith to Baker county for the others. Given estimated birth years and Martha’s marriage to John in 1842, she would not be the mother of Edward, Elizabeth, and James. Martha’s estimated birth year of 1824 suggests that she was about 18 years old when she married John.

Note1_May2019_post2 The year 1860 finds John E. Ellerbee, age 52, and Martha, age 36, in Calhoun county, Georgia. [4] Six more children were added to the family. Ten years later, John Ellerbee, age 63, and 47-year-old Martha lived in Jackson county, Florida with nine children. [5] The family moved again by 1880, now living in Hillsborough county, Florida. [6] John’s recorded age was 72 and Martha’s recorded age was 56. Four separate censuses, conducted 10 years apart, reveal consistent birth information about John and Martha. John was born circa 1807-1808 in Georgia . Martha was born circa 1823-1824 in North Carolina.

John Ellerbee died in Hillsborough county, Florida, on 6 April 1884.[7] Martha was now a widow. Individual states, including Florida, conducted a census in 1885. The census taker recorded M. Ellerbee, age 68, boarder, widow, living with the J.L. Carter family in Hillsborough county, Florida in June 1885. [8] J. L. Carter is Jesse L. Carter, husband of Eliza A. Ellerbee. Eliza, born about 1855 in Georgia, is listed on the 1860 and 1870 censuses with her parents, John and Martha. On the 1885 census record, Martha’s birthplace is reported as North Carolina, consistent with previous records. The only inconsistency is her recorded age of 68 which suggests birth year about 1817. Although her first name is not recorded, I believe that ‘M. Ellerbee, 68, boarder, widow, born N.C.’ is Martha Love Ellerbee, mother of Eliza A. Ellerbee and 11 other children.

Note2_May2019_post2 Worth Marion Ellerbee (1856- 1932) filed as administrator of his father’s estate in Hillsborough county, Florida on 24 July 1886.[9] Why did he delay two years to file? Did he wait until his mother died? The probate records do not mention Martha Ellerbee, John’s widow. Did Martha die between June 1885 and July 1886?

I have not found any records for 70+ year old Martha Ellerbee after the June 1885 census. Online searches included multiple databases of census and death records as well as newspapers. I now come full circle to the 1929 Florida Death Index entry for Martha Catherine Ellerbee.[10] The answer is obvious – obtain a copy of the death certificate.

Fortunately, a copy of Florida Death Certificate number 16971 for Martha Catherine Ellerbee was available online. [11] Pertinent information includes:

Martha Catherine Ellerbee. Single.
Date of birth: Feb’y 25, 1911.
Age: 18 years, 8 months, 27 days. 
Birthplace: Pasco county,Fla.
Father: Marion Ellerbee, Birthplace Ga.
Mother: Ruby Kersey, Birthplace: Fla.

Her father was Worth Marion Ellerbee, son of John E. Ellerbee and Martha Love. Big sigh! This Martha Catherine Ellerbee was NOT Martha Love Ellerbee.

I removed the reference to 1929 death of Martha Love Ellerbee from online family tree. I added the information to Martha Catherine Ellerbee, daughter of Worth Marion Ellerbee. Martha Love Ellerbee died after June 1885, probably in Hillsborough county, Florida. The search continues to confirm exact date and place.

To summarize, an entry on the Florida Death Index led to review of previous information found for Martha Love Ellerbee. A copy of the death certificate, found online, confirmed that Martha Catherine Ellerbee, who died in 1929, was NOT Martha Love Ellerbee.

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REFLECTION

I was disappointed that I did not find death information for Martha Love Ellerbee. If she died in 1929, she would have been about 105 years old, which is possible. Not finding information for her after 1885 means only that she died after June 1885. No mention of her in husband’s probate suggests that she died before July 1886. Since her husband died in Hillsborough county, Florida, and many of her children continued to live there, I believe that she died in Hillsborough county.

What I learned: Post information as ‘tentative’ (preferably in BIG RED LETTERS) if not confirmed. Keep copious notes when and where information is found as well as analysis. A Research Log is a good place for this. New information requires careful review of previous information.

What helped: Previous work on this family from 2010-2011 and again in 2016. Paper copies of documents.

What didn’t help: Research logs just now being done for this family. Inconsistent notes/ analysis of previous findings.

TO-DO: Keep looking for Martha Love Ellerbee’s death information. Review previously searched databases again. Look for unusual sources such as newspapers and county history books.

NEXT BLOG: John Ellerbee’s Probate record

SOURCES

[1] “Florida Death Index, 1877-1998,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed 23 October 2016), entry for Martha Catherine Ellerbee, 1929; citing Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.

[2] “Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978,” marriage record, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded & printed 5 January 2018), entry for John Ellibee & Martha Love; citing County Marriage Records, 1828–1978; The Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia.

[3] 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Baker County, Georgia, population schedule, District 3, p. 49 B (penned), dwelling 1111, family 141, John E. Ellerbee; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed, downloaded 3 January 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Roll M432_61.

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Calhoun county, Georgia, population schedule, District 3, p. 42 (ink pen), dwelling 289, family 289, John E Ellerbee; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 3 May 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M654_113.

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Jackson county, Florida, population schedule, Marianna, p. 54 (ink pen), dwelling 586, family 587, John Ellerbee age 63; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed, downloaded, printed 3 May 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M593_130.

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Hillsborough county, Florida, population schedule, Precinct 5, enumeration district (ED) 061, p. 33 (ink pen); p. 407C (stamp), dwelling 402, John Ellerbee age 72; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed, printed, downloaded 1 May 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T9, roll 128.

[7] “Florida, County Judge’s Court (Hillsborough County),” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed & printed 5 May 2019), entry for John Ellerbee; citing “Florida, Wills and Probate Records, 1810-1914” [database online], Florida County, District and Probate Courts; administrator: W.M. Ellerbee

[8] 1885 Florida State Census, Hillsborough county, population schedule, , page 4 D (ink pen); page 105D, family 35, J L Carter age 37 head; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed, printed, downloaded 1 May 2019); citing “Schedules of the Florida State Census of 1885”, National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C., microfilm publication M845, roll 4.

[9] “Florida, County Judge’s Court (Hillsborough County),” digital images, Ancestry, entry for John Ellerbee.

[10] “Florida Death Index, 1877-1998,” digital images, Ancestry, entry for Martha Catherine Ellerbee, 1929.

[11] Hillsborough county, Florida, Florida Deaths, 1877-1939, , entry for Martha Catherine Ellerbee, 21 November 1929; digital images, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FP3Z-FN4 : viewed & printed 5 May 2019); citing Tampa, Hillsboro Co., Florida, reference volume 435, no. 16971.

©Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Family Roots, 2019

Are Samuel and Elizabeth the parents of Narcissa?

March 27, 2019 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 1 Comment

March brings spring flowers and Women’s History Month. My narcissus are blooming, one of the few flowers that thrive in spite of not inheriting my Dad’s green thumb! From my husband’s family tree, Narcissus/ Narcissa Rutherford Holcomb, first wife of George Creager Holcomb, became the logical choice for this post.

narcissus_2019 George Creager Holcomb is my husband’s 3 times great grandfather on his mother’s side. My husband is descended from George and his second wife, Mary Ann Selman. Why write about Narcissus when we aren’t directly related? My husband shares a genetic link with the children of George and Narcissus. And, I know little about her. Writing posts help me focus as I search for more information.

According to an extensive history of the Holcombe family, as published [1] :

D-3-4-2-1-4-1 George Craiger [sic] Holcombe, p. 499.2, had a grant of 
640 acres in Cherokee Co., Tex. June 24, 1851. He was the pioneer 
in Tex. of is family, having come from Ark. In 1842 with his 
father-in-law, Samuel  RUTHERFORD. . . . m. 1^st in Cherokee Co., 
Tex._____, 184_, Narcissus RUTHERFORD, who d. _____, 185__,
 dau. of Samuel, b. Va.,  ____1801 and Elizabeth, b. in Tenn. ____,1802.
 Ch. (b. Mt. Pleasant, Nacogdoches (now Cherokee) Co., Tex. )
1- John Lewis,  ____ 1843, d. _____1865, 
2- W.____ Harrison, _____ 1845, _______, 
3-Sarah, _______, 1848, _______, 
4-George Washington, _____ 1850, ______.

Question 1: Who were Narcissus Rutherford’s parents?

Samuel Rutherford and Betsy Brown married on 12 October 1828 in Greene county, Tennessee.[2] Betsy is a common nickname for Elizabeth.

The Holcombe history suggests that Samuel Rutherford lived close to George C. Holcombe’s parents, Joseph Holcombe and Sarah Creager, in Arkansas. Both families are on the same page of the 1840 census for Washington county, Arkansas[3]:

Name: Saml Rutherford
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Mountain, Washington, Arkansas
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 5

NOTE: Listed only male children. If Narcissa’s suggested birth year of 1827 is correct, then she would have been 13 years old in 1840. Birth years for the older male and female were between 1801 and 1810.

Name: Joseph Hanleen [Joseph Holcomb] [Joseph Haulcom]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Mountain, Washington, Arkansas
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 2
Free White Persons - Under 20: 7
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 9

NOTE: 1840 census for Joseph is consistent with census and other records for his family.

George Holcomb and Narcissa [sic], his presumed wife, lived in Cherokee county, Texas in December 1850. This census[4] is the only one with Narcissa [sic] specifically named:

Holcomb, Geo, 29, M, farmer, value $1,280, born AR
Holcomb, Narcissa, 23, F, born TN
Holcomb, John L, 5, M, born TX
Holcomb, Wm. H., 4, M, born TX
Holcomb, Sarah E, 2, F, born TX

Also listed in Cherokee county in 1850 were Samuel Rutherford, his presumed wife, Elizabeth and presumed daughter, Leona [5]:

Saml Rutherford  47 M  land value 640 birthplace: Tenn
Elizabeth  "     46 F  birthplace:  Tenn
Leona      "     20 F  birthplace: Tenn

George Creager Holcomb married his second wife, Mary Ann Selman, on 4 May 1853 in Cherokee county, Texas. [6]

In June, 1860, 8- year-old George W. Holcomb was living with Samuel & Elizabeth Rutherford [7] , presumably his grandparents. His age suggests birth year about 1851-1852. On the 1900 census, George W. Holcomb’s birth is listed as Dec 1851.[8] George’s death certificate[9] records his birth date as 23 December 1850. His parents are listed as “ G.C. Holcomb, born Mo [Missouri]” and “Nacis Relarford, born Mo [Missouri].” Informant was W.F. Garrison or Miles Foss Garrison, husband of George’s daughter, Ethel. As indirect information, George W. Holcomb’s death certificate plus the 1860 census back the assertion that Samuel and Elizabeth Rutherford were Narcissa’s parents.

Question 1: Who were Narcissus Rutherford’s parents?

Based on indirect evidence, Samuel Rutherford and Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Brown were likely the parents of Narcissus/ Narcissa Rutherford. The assertion has not been definitely proven.

Based on 1850 census record, Narcissa was born about 1827 in Tennessee. The 1840 census for Samuel Rutherford suggests that he lived close to Joseph Holcomb’s family. Perhaps the assertion that Samuel was George Holcomb’s father-in-law is true. The troublesome information is “3 males ages 10-14” on the 1840 census. Ages of both Narcissa and her presumed sister, Leona, would be in this age range at that time.

Evidence to answer other questions remains elusive:

question

1. When and where did George and Narcissa marry? Based on birth of 1^st child in 1843, probably in 1842.
2. When and where did Narcissa die? Where is she buried? Narcissa died between December 1850 (birth of last child) and May 1853 (date of George’s 2^nd marriage). Possibly in Cherokee county, Texas. Perhaps she died from complications of childbirth.
3. When and where did Samuel and Elizabeth Rutherford die? Where are they buried? Samuel and Elizabeth certainly died after June 1860, possibly in Cherokee county, Texas.

George, Mary Ann, and the other 3 children of George and Narcissa remain “lost” in the 1860 census. I searched images for Cherokee, Nacogdoches and Angelina counties with no results. Relatives found in Cherokee county in 1860 included George’s parents, Joseph and Sarah Holcomb, Mary Ann’s widowed mother, Ann Selman, and all of George’s siblings. Are pages missing from these records?

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REFLECTION

Much of Narcissa Rutherford Holcomb’s life and death remains a mystery to me. I hoped to discover more answers in a timely manner. I started a research log for Narcissus and documented what I had already found. I tracked my searches and recorded findings. I added the names of Narcissa’s descendants to my RootsMagic program. Maybe I’ve been spoiled because of previous successes with minimal effort? This brick wall shows only one very small crack. I’m not sure if I met the ‘reasonably exhaustive research’ genealogy standard this time.

What I learned: Census record index on Fold3 easier for me to review than index on Ancestry. Fold 3 has census records for 1860 and 1900 through 1930. Another free website found : Cemeteries of Texas (https://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com)

What helped: Holcomb history. Family tree last updated in 2016.

What didn’t help: Not having list of references cited in Holcombe history. Limited time to complete research and post per my own self-imposed deadline. Taking information in Holcombe history as fact. Cursory searches of newspapers for obituaries and other information.

Next steps: Search 1830 Tennessee census for Samuel Rutherford. Search 1860 census images again for Angelina, Cherokee and Nacogdoches counties. Are pages missing? Broaden search to other nearby counties- Anderson, Henderson, Houston, Rusk, Smith, Trinity. Identify and search other cemeteries in the three target counties. If no results, expand to cemeteries in other identified counties.

SOURCES:

[1] Hannah Elizabeth Weir McPherson, The Holcombes. Nation Builders.: A Family Having as Great a Part as Any in the Making of All North American Civilization (Washington, D.C.: Elizabeth Weir McPherson, 1947), 500.

[2] “Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNZG-PWG : accessed 19 March 2014), Samuel Rutherford and Betsy Brown, 12 Oct 1828; from “Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 446, Greene, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

[3] 1840 U.S. Census, Washington County, Arkansas, population schedule, Mountain, p. 261, line 4, Saml Rutherford, Joseph Hanleen; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 20 March 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration,Washington, D. C. microfilm publication M704.

[4] 1850 U.S. Census, Cherokee county, Texas, population schedule, , p. 927B, household 847, family 847, Narcissa Holcomb age 23; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded ); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M432_909.

[5] 1850 U.S. Census, Cherokee county, Texas, population schedule, , p. 897B, dwelling 641, family 641, Saml Rutherford age 47; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 20 March 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M432_909.

[6] “Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 20 March 2019), entry for George C. Holcomb and Mary Ann Sellman,Cherokee county, Book B, p. 142.

[7] 1860 U.S. Census, Cherokee county, Texas, population schedule, Beat 2, p. 431, dwelling 268, family 268, Samuel Rutherford; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 20 March 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M653_1290.

[8] 1900 U.S. Census, Anderson county, Texas, population schedule, Palestine, p. 6A (ink pen), George W. Holcomb; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 March 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. , microfilm publication T623.

[9] Johnson County, Texas, Death Certificate no. 37184, George Washington Holcomb, 7 July 1937; digital image in “Texas Deaths, 1890-1976,” Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed & printed 3 March 2017); Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin, Texas.

©Susan Posten Ellerbee and Posting Family Roots, 2019

Valentine in Mom’s Family Tree

February 12, 2019January 15, 2021 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / Leave a comment

Do you have a Valentine in your family tree? In February 2018, I posted the story of Valentine Creager, my husband’s ancestor. Now, I relate the story of Valentine Maurer, my mother’s ancestor. The story begins in Germany and ends in New York.

How do you pronounce “Maurer”? According to mom, the name sounded like “more- er”. As with other stories about mom’s family, I started with Great-Aunt Viola’s handwritten family history. [1] Part of my grandmother’s ancestry reads:

GRANDPARENTS
Valentine Maurer, 2/12/1827 – ?
[Born] Alsace-Lorraine Germany
[Wife] Kathrine Korzelins 11/4/1824- 2/14/ ?
(She died on Valentine Maurer’s namesake day one year after his death. She was born in Baden-Baden Germany)
GREAT GRANDPARENTS
Philip Jacob Maurer
Born in Kolncolnge Germany. Date unknown
Anna Metzger
Born in Holland. Date Unknown

My focus was clear – to discover the story of Valentine and Kathrine. Spelling of Kathrine’s name varies and is reported here as spelled on each document.

The 1860 census[3] for Valentine and Catharine Maurer provided an early clue. The family appeared in Galloway, Atlantic county, New Jersey on 15 August 1860:

Valentine Maurer, age 31, laborer, born Germany
Catherine Maurer, age 31, born Germany
Valentine Maurer, age 2, born New Jersey
Herman Maurer, age 7/12, born New Jersey (my great-grandfather)

Since both children were born in New Jersey, Valentine and Catharine apparently immigrated to the United States by about 1857.

By 1863, the family had moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn, Kings county, New York. Valentine Maurer, age 34, birthplace Germany, appears on a Civil War Draft Registration Record. [4] I haven’t found any Civil War service records for him.

Where was the family in 1870? I am still looking! See “Name variations in census records: Maurer & Klee” In 1880 [5], they still lived in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York. Four children had joined the family (as transcribed):

Mauiner, Valentine, W M, 52, head, machinist, born Baden, father born Baden, mother born Baden.
Annie C, wife, W F, 32, born Prussia, father born Prussia, mother born Prussia
Valentine, son, W M, 22, machine building shop, born New Jersey
Herman, son, W M, 20, brass moulder, born New Jersey.
Kattie, daughter, W F, 14, paper box maker, born New York.
Rosie, daughter, W F , 12, at home, born New York.
Joseph, son, W F, age 9, at school, born New York.
Edward, son, W M, 5, at home, born New York.

The six years difference between the births of Herman and Kattie suggest that Valentine may have served in the Civil War. Names of the children on these two census records correspond to Viola’s information except for one item. She did not record any information about the oldest son, Valentine. Viola may not have known about Herman’s older brother or had forgotten him.

Valentine Maurer II died on 21 March 1888 at the age of 29 years 10 months and 21 days in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York.[6] Cause of death? “Asthema”. Calculated birthdate is 1 May 1858. This is consistent with his age of 2 years on 1860 census. Residency in Brooklyn for 25 years further supports the family’s move to New York by 1863.

DISCREPANCY: According to his death certificate, Herman was born on 16 October 1858. [7] However, Herman’s age of 7/12 in August 1860 suggests birth in February 1860. Did I identify the correct family on 1860 census? If so, why the difference?

Family origins: Baden is in the southwest corner of Germany near France. This western German border, also known as Alsace-Lorraine, alternated between French and German rule throughout its history. Prussia, in the northeast corner of Germany, is now part of Russia.

In 1883, Valentine and Anna Katharina wrote in the autograph book of Anna Klee, Herman’s future wife. Read more about Anna’s autograph book in “Sources” section of this post. Both entries were written in German. Her signature as “Anna Katharina Maurer” confirms use of both names. [8]

Valentine may have traveled back to Germany in June 1888 [9] then returned to the United States in September 1888.[10] The traveler’s age of 61 suggests a possible identification. Did this journey occur because of the death of his oldest son in March 1888?

The 1892 New York State census fills a gap left by the mostly destroyed 1890 census records. Valentine, age 65, and Annie, age 64, lived on Hopkins Street in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York at that time.[11] Three of their children still lived with them: Rosie, age 24, box maker; Joseph, age 23, brass worker; and Edward, age 17, mechanic. Valentine and Annie’s status as “C” or “citizen” suggests that both were now naturalized American citizens.

Valentine Maurer, age 71 years 7 months 9 days, died on 21 September 1898 in his home, 169 Hopkins Street, Brooklyn, Kings, New York. [12], [13] His calculated birth date is 12 February 1827, same date recorded by great-aunt Viola. I don’t know how she learned of his birthdate. She didn’t report a death date so she possibly did not have a copy of his death certificate. Other interesting items from Valentine’s death certificate:

Occupation: surgical instrument maker
Birthplace: Baden, Germany
How long in U.S.: 43 years [estimated immigration year 1855]
How long a resident in City of New York: 37 years [estimated year 1862]
Father’s name: Leonhan Maurer. Father’s birthplace: Baden Germany
Mother’s name: Marie Maurer. Mother’s birthplace: Baden Germany
Cause of death: Asthenia following pneumonia

Now, I turn to Valentine’s wife, Anna Katharina. Her name is listed as Catherine Korselious[14] and Katherine Korzilous[15] on the death certificates for two of her children. Viola’s spelling of her surname as Korzelins is similar. Census records suggest that she was born in 1827 or 1828 rather than 1824 as reported by Viola. The actual date of 4 November is perhaps true. When did she immigrate to the United States? Did she and Valentine “meet on the boat” per oral family history? Anna Maurer died on 12 February 1899 in Brooklyn, New York. [16] Probate records, both filed on 12 March 1899, name their children and current residences- “Herman Maurer. . . Katie (wife of Stephen) Scheffel, Joseph Maurer and Edward Maurer of the Borough of Brooklyn, County of Kings, New York and Rosina (wife of Jacob) Schnitz of Jersey City, New Jersey.”

Biographical Timeline –Valentine Maurer (1827, Baden, Germany – 1898, Brooklyn, New York, USA)

Birth– 12 Feb 1827 in Baden, Germany to Leonhard Maurer and Marie Metzger.
About 1855- Immigration to United States
About 1856 – Marriage to Anna Katharina Korselious
1858- Birth of son, Valentine, New Jersey
1859- Birth of son, Herman, New Jersey
1860 – Living in Galloway, Atlantic county, New Jersey
About 1862/1863- move to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
1870 – Possibly living in Brooklyn (not confirmed)
1880 –Living in Brooklyn
1883- Marriage of son, Herman, to Anna Klee, daughter of Louis Klee and Anna Wolf
March 1888 – Death of oldest son, Valentine
June 1888 – September 1888–Travel to and return from Germany
1889 – Marriage of daughter, Katie, to Stephen Scheffel
1892 – Living in Brooklyn
1895- Marriage of daughter, Rosie/ Rosina, to William Jacob Smetts
1897- Marriage of son, Edward, to Margaret “Maggie” Roper
21 Sep 1898—Death of Valentine Maurer
12 Feb 1899 – death of wife, Anna Katharina Korzelins Maurer
1905 – Marriage of son, Joseph, to Emma Beck

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Writing this post helped me with a timeline perspective. Clarified some items. How did Viola know about Valentine Maurer’s birthdate? Is there a missing family Bible? When did Anna immigrate? I continue to be thrilled that great-aunt Viola was such a good historian. Even though her manuscript lacked sources, I have found many documents that support her information. I share my information with cousins through this blog and other written materials. As always, there are still questions. I partially met the reasonably exhaustive criterion of the Genealogical Proof Standard.

What helped: Having copies of death certificates for Valentine, Valentine II, Herman, Katie and Joseph. Probate records for Valentin and Anna Katharina, both filed on the same day. Recent careful review of research.

What didn’t help: Not having 1870 or 1875 census for family. I looked again on two databases. A page by page review of the Brooklyn census seems to be the next step.

Future plans: Search Civil War Records again for Valentine Maurer. Continue search for family in 1870 and 1875 census records. Locate naturalization records for Valentine and Anna Katharina. Order Anna Katharina Maurer’s death certificate-done 6 Feb 2019.

SOURCES:

[1] Viola Blanche Maurer Tucker, “Maurer-Tucker Family History,” 2 sections; MS, 1800s to 1980s, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York; privately held by great-niece, Susan Mercedes Posten Ellerbee, [address for private use], Yukon, Oklahoma, 2017. Carbon copy of original document created ca. 1975-1980 and sent to Viola’s niece, Eunice Bertha Tucker Posten, Ms. Ellerbee’s mother.

[2] “Deutschland Gerburten und Taufen, 1558-1898,” database, Family Search (https: //familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1: J8H : accessed 11 February 2019), Valentin Maurer, 09 February 1827; citing FHL microfilm 936,825. NOTE: I found this record as I was re-checking sources for this post.

[3] 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Atlantic county, New Jersey, population schedule, Galloway, p. 291 (penned), dwelling 2238, family 2205, Herman Maurer age 7/12; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, downloaded, printed 14 November 2017); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C., microfilm publication M653_682.

[4] “Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed & downloaded 24 November 2018), entry for Valentin Maurer, age 34; citing Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives at Washington, D.C.; original source: Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General’s Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110. NAI: 4213514; Archive volume number: 3 of 5.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district (ED) 182, p. 42B (ink pen), sheet 325B (stamp), dwelling 161, family 465, Mauiner [Maurer] Valentine, age 52; digital images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6HS : accessed, printed, downloaded 13 August 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T9, roll 0852.

[6] Brooklyn, New York, Department of Health of the City of Brooklyn, certificate of death no. 4076 (21 March 1888), Valentin Maurer; New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[7] Brooklyn, New York, Department of Health of the City of New York, certificate of death no. 10424 (1927, Hermann Maurer, New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[8] Anna (Klee) Maurer . “Autographs Album” ( book, Brooklyn, New York, ca 1883); privately held by Susan M. Posten Ellerbee, [address for private use,], Yukon, Oklahoma, 2017. Ms. Ellerbee is Anna’s great-granddaughter. The book was found in the personal effects of Ms. Ellerbee’s mother, Eunice Bertha (Tucker) Posten and was probably given to her by her mother, Charlotte A. (Maurer) Tucker, daughter of Herman and Anna. Unnumbered page, written in German, “An Anna, dated Oktober 19, 83, [signed] Anna Katharina Maurer.”

[9] “U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 November 2018), entry for Valentin Maurer 07 June 1888; citing “Passport Application, 1795 – 1905, National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. : microfilm publication M1372, General Records Department of State, Record Group 59.

[10] “New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 November 2018), entry for Valentin Maurer, birth date abt 1827; citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M237_524; Line 38; List number 1200.

[11] New York State Department of Health, “New York, State Census, 1892,” database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, downloaded 31 January 2018), entry for Valentine Maurer, age 55; citing New York State Education Department, Office of Cultural Education, Albany, New York; 173 Hopkins Street.

[12] Brooklyn, New York. Department of Health of the City of New York. Certificate of death no. 16339 (1898), New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[13] “New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999,” digital records, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com  : accessed and printed, 9 December 2015); probate case file for Valentine Maurer, filed 21 March 1899; citing New York. Surrogate’s Court (King’s County), Probate case files, Kings County, New York. Filed by son, Herman Maurer; names children.

[14] New York, Bureau of Records, Department of Health, Borough of Brooklyn, Certificate of Death no. 23456 (4 December 1941), Katherine A. Scheffel; Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[15] New York, Bureau of Records, Department of Health, Borough of Brooklyn, Certificate of Death no. 24968 (14 December 1929), Joseph Maurer; Municipal Archives, York City, New York.

[16] New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999,” digital records, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com  : accessed and printed 20 May 2016); probate case file for Anna Katharina Maurer, filed 21 March 1899; citing New York. Surrogate’s Court (King’s County), Probate case files, Kings County, New York. Filed by son, Herman Maurer; names children.

The tinsmith- Louis Miller

January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / Leave a comment

SUBTITLE: Using occupation as a clue

Louis Miller, tinsmith, 2^nd husband of Anna Wolf Klee, my maternal great-great- grandmother. In my last post, I focused on Louis Klee, Anna Wolf’s first husband. Now, I continue Anna’s story with this report about Louis Miller. Great-aunt Viola recorded Anna’s 2^nd husband as Charles Miller [1] but his name was actually Louis Miller. In this post, I report the events of Anna and Louis’ lives in a chronological timeline rather than the actual discovery sequence as reported in other posts.

tinsmith

Anna Wolf was born about 1846 to Conrad Wolf and Margar Ackerman, both from Germany . [2] One record lists Anna’s birthplace as New York[3] but all other records indicate Germany. Immigration dates for Conrad and Margar remain undiscovered.

Anna Wolf married Louis Klee about 1862 or 1863. They had 5 children, all confirmed by census records: Fritz, Anna (my great-grandmother), Katherine, Louis Jr and Amalie ‘Mollie’. Louis Klee died in 1871[4] leaving his 26-year-old wife and the 5 children, ages 4 months to 8 years. In 1875, Anna married Louis Miller, born about 1836 in Germany to Carl Muller and Charlotte Petri. [5] Louis Miller and Anna had 3 children— Charles, William and Charlotte. Anna died in 1883 [6] per probate record filed in 1892 by Louis Klee Jr.

Pedigree Chart: Louis Miller, his 3 wives and their children. Margaret, Lise and Henry Miller are step-siblings of Charles, William and Charlotte Miller (same father). Fritz, Anna, Katie, Louis JR and Mollie Klee are step-siblings of Charles, William and Charlotte Miller (same mother).

Louis Miller’s occupation as a tinsmith provided an essential clue. Louis Miller married an unidentified woman about 1862. The 1870 census taker found 33-year-old Louis Miller, tinsmith, in Brooklyn Ward 16, Kings county, New York with 3 children, all born in New York – Margret Miller, age 7; Lise Miller, age 4 and Henry Miller, age 2. [7] In 1875, Louis married Anna Wolf Klee, a widow with 5 children. [8] The 1880 census shows Louis Miller, tinsmith, and Anna with a total of seven (7) children –four of the Klee children (Annie, age 16; Katie, age 14; Louis, age 11 and Emalie, age 9), one of Louis’ children (Lizzie, age 13) and three children born to Louis and Anna (Charles, age 4; William, age 3; and Charlotte, age ½ year). [9] Three years later, in June 1883, Anna Wolf Klee Miller died at the age of 39. [10] She left her 2^nd husband, Louis Miller, and eight (8) children aged 3 to 21 years.

Fast forward to 1892. According to the 1892 New York State census[11], Louis Miller, age 51, wife Susie, age 38, and three children –Chas [Charles], age 15; Willie, age 14; and Lottie [Charlotte], age 12—lived in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York. Names and ages of the children correspond to earlier records. By 1900, none of the children lived with Louis and Suzannah Miller who had been married for 16 years. [12] This suggests that Louis and Suzannah married about 1884 or approximately one year after the death of his 2^nd wife. Louis and Suzannah continued to live in Brooklyn in 1905[13] and 1910 [14]. Louis’ occupation as ‘tinsmith’ in 1900 and 1910 increases the probability that I have correctly identified him in all records.

The 1910 census also records 74-year-old Louis’ marital status as “M3”, suggesting that this is his 3^rd marriage, which I had already suspected. His age at first marriage is recorded as 26 which indicates that his first marriage occurred about 48 years earlier or about 1862. Again, my initial best guess, based on the 1870 census, now seems more probable.

Louis Müller, tinsmith, age 82, died 23 April 1918 in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York. [15] He was buried in Lutheran Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. His death record lists his parents as Christian Muller, born in Germany, and Charlotte Petry, born in Germany. Similar names – Carl Muller and Charlotte Petri– appear in the marriage record for Louis and Anna Klee Wolf. Louis’ surname appears as both Müller and Miller in various records with Miller being the Americanized version.

Story of Anna Wolf and the stories of her two husbands are now virtually complete. Of Anna’s 8 children, I can relate semi-complete stories for five of them. Questions about Louis Miller’s other wives and his other children remain unanswered.

Biographical outline — Louis Müller/ Miller

muller_louis_biographical outline

Narrative biography: Louis Miller was born 1835 in Prussia to Christian or Carl Müller and Charlotte Petri. Louis immigrated to the United States about 1860. He married about 1863; the name of his 1^st wife hasn’t been discovered. She died before 1870. They had 3 children-Margret, Lise/ Lizzie and Henry. Louis’ 1^st wife died about 1869. In 1875, Louis married Anna Wolf Klee, a widow with 5 children—Fritz, Anna, Catherine/ Katie, Louis and Amelia /Mollie. Louis and Anna had 3 children—Charles, William and Charlotte. Anna died in 1883. Louis remarried in 1884 to a woman named Suzannah or Susie. They did not have any children. Louis died in 1918 at the age of 82 in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York.

reflection-swirl-green-color-hi

REFLECTION:

I repeated myself several times in this post. Was the repetition really needed? I want to do a timeline for each of the adults that shows the intersections between them. I’m not sure why this family intrigues me. Perhaps it’s just because of the challenge! I am still surprised when most of the puzzle pieces finally fall into place. I feel a little sad about putting mom’s family aside for awhile. But, this kind of break may bring fresh perspectives when I resume the work. I often end with more questions than when I started. I guess that’s just what genealogy is about. Inquiring minds want to know!!

Have I met the “reasonably exhaustive research” Genealogical Proof Standard for Louis Miller? Partially.

What I learned: Be persistent. Continue to use variety of resources. Look at a variety of clues from all sources.

What helped: Multiple online resources. Taking time to fill in research logs and pose questions.

What didn’t help: Late night work sessions.

TO-DO: Confirm death date and place for Fritz Klee, Catherine Klee Reichert, Louis Klee JR, Mollie Klee Keenan, Charles Miller, and William Miller. Discover marriage, census, and death information for William Miller. Look for additional information about Margret, Lizzie and Henry Miller.

SOURCES:

[1] Viola’s history. Viola Blanche Maurer Tucker, “Maurer- Tucker Family History.” (Handwritten notes. Huntington, New York, ca. 1975-1980), Esbon J. Tucker, p. 2; carbon copy privately held by Susan M. Posten Ellerbee, [address for private use,], Yukon, Oklahoma, 2010. Transcribed by Ms. Ellerbee in 2012. Ms. Ellerbee is the granddaughter of Amalie Charlotte Tucker and great-niece of Viola Blanche Maurer Tucker. No sources in original document; most information has been confirmed by reliable sources. Pages 2 -3.

[2] “New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940,” database, Family Search (https://familysearch.org/ark:61903/1:1:VVF : accessed & printed 19 December 2018), entry for Louis Muller and Anna Wolf Klee; citing Marriage, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; marriage 5 September 1875.

[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Ward 16, p. 78 (penned), dwelling 288, family 762, Anna Kleh ; digital images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8NB-M8X : accessed, printed, downloaded 14 August 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M593. Anna Kleh [Klee], age 25, place of birth: New York, parents of foreign birth.

[4] “New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949,” database, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WC-845 : accessed & printed 20 December 2018), entry for Louis Klee, age 31; consistent with other records that Anna Wolf Klee was widow by 1876.

[5] “New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940,” database, Family Search, entry for Louis Muller and Anna Wolf Klee.

[6] New York, Probate case files, Anna Miller (formerly Anna Klee) deceased; “New York, Kings County Estate Files, 1866 – 1923,” digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1 : viewed, printed, downloaded 18 December 2018); filed 8 Jan 1892 in Kings County Surrogate Court by Louis Klee Jr.

[7] 1870 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn Ward 16, p. 803A (stamp), dwelling 267, family 720, Louis Miller age 33, b. Prussia, tinsmith; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed, downloaded 5 January 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M593_957.

[8] “New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940,” database, Family Search, entry for Louis Muller and Anna Wolf Klee.

[9] 1880 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district (ED) 149, p. 328A (stamp), p. 53 (ink pen), dwelling 159, family 585, Louis Miller age 45, tinsmith; digital images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ8-NVX : viewed, downloaded, printed 19 December 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, microfilm publication T9, roll 0850

[10] New York, Probate case files, Anna Miller (formerly Anna Klee) deceased.

[11] State of New York, “New York, State Census, 1892,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, printed, downloaded 5 January 2019), entry for Louis Miller, age 51, page 21.; citing New York State Education Department, Office of Cultural Education, New York State Library, Albany,New York; wife, Susie plus 3 Miller children born to Louis 2nd wife, Anna Wolf Klee.

[12] 1900 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, election district 27, New York City Ward 28, enumeration district (ED) 526, p. 14 A (ink pen), dwelling 144, family 349, Louis Muller age 64; digital images, Family Search (https://www.familyseach.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSN-DJY : accessed, printed, downloaded 21 December 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T623.

[13] State of New York, “New York, State Census, 1905,” digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, downloaded, printed 5 January 2019), entry for Louis Miller, age 69 (transcribed as 64); citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York; Page 36, lines 22-23.

[14] 1910 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Ward 28, enumeration district (ED) 0912, p. 2A (ink pen), dwelling 14, family 28, Louis Miller age 74, tinsmith; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed, downloaded,printed 5 January 2019); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T624_982.

[15] Louis Miller death record. “New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949,” database, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WN-TNK: accessed & printed 21 December 2018), entry for Louis Muller, b 1835, Germany; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York Municipal Archives, New York; ‘married”.

I can’t find Ludwig/ Louis Klee in 1880!

January 14, 2019January 14, 2019 / Susan M. Posten Ellerbee / 2 Comments

What do you do when the puzzle pieces don’t fit? Some pieces must be missing! You can’t find someone in 1920 census record and you are fairly certain that he or she was still alive. Later, you discover that the person died in 1922. Information in death record leads you back to 1920 census. Careful documentation helps to complete the puzzle.

following-every-clue-leads-to-genealogy-success — Image used with permission. Barry J. Ewell, “Genealogy: Following every clue leads to genealogy success,” blog post, GENEALOGY BY BARRY, posted 22 Dec 2015

Great-Aunt Viola ‘s eight-page family history, written in the 1980s, provided large pieces of the family puzzle.[1] She recorded names, events and dates for 4-5 generations of the Tucker-Maurer family. Specifically, putting the puzzle together for Ludwig (Louis) Klee and Anna Wolf, my maternal great-great grandparents (Generation 5) proved difficult. This post reviews the clues and missing puzzle pieces for the title concern: I can’t find Ludwig (Louis) Klee in 1880 census.

To begin, there is the matter of Anna’s marriage to Charles Miller which occurred ‘several years after Ludwig’s death’ , according to Great- Aunt Viola. [2] She recorded that Charles and Anna had 3 children. CLUE #1: Anna was still of childbearing age when she married Charles. She was certainly less than 40-45 years old and possibly closer to early or mid-30s.

In 2014, I found 1910 census record for Louis Klee, age 57, and wife, Anna, age 53, in Brooklyn. [3] ANALYSIS: Profile doesn’t fit if Anna had children with her 2^nd husband and is a negative finding. CLUE #2. ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS: The presumed children of Charles and Anna were Charles’ children with another woman. This doesn’t exactly fit but is possible.

In 2017, I found Anna Klee listed as ‘wid Louis’ in 1876 Brooklyn City Directory. [4] CLUE #3: Louis died before 1876. If true, then Ludwig (Louis) Klee and wife, Anna, will not be found in 1880 census.

Clean-up of mom’s family tree resumed in January 2018. Ludwig (Louis) Klee, Anna, and Charles Miller were among my targets. When did Louis die? When did Anna and Charles marry? The search tested new and rediscovered skills and did not follow the chronological timeline of actual events.

Great-aunt Viola reported three children for Charles and Anna – Charles, William, and Charlotte. Charlotte married Otto Stumpf and had 2 children- Oscar and Otto. The unusual surname seemed a good place to start. In July, 2018, I found a 1910 census record for Charlotte and Otto Stumpf in Queens, New York. [5] CLUE #4: Lottie’s age of 30 suggests birth year about 1880. This is a “Reverse Genealogy” strategy because I started by moving forward in time instead of back. [6] Using children to find out about parents falls into this category.

In August, 2018, I found 1870 census record for Louis Klee, age 30, and wife, Anna, age 25. [7] (See blog post, Name Variations in Census Records for details). CLUE #5: Ludwig was known as Louis and alive in 1870. Children listed on 1870 census are the same as the ones listed by Great-Aunt Viola.

After careful review, I began again in December 2018. I initially returned to Ancestry database but found no new information. Then, I moved to the Family Search database.

OBJECTIVE :

Find 1880 census record for Charles and Anna Miller. Rationale: Assume that Anna was a widow in 1876 and had remarried by 1880, birth year of Charlotte Miller Stumpf.

Multiple search criteria using various spelling of names with minimal results. Finally, a large puzzle piece emerged – New York Surrogate Court Probate Record for Anna Miller (formerly Anna Klee).[8] (CLUE # 6). Record includes several important items:
- Probate filed January 1892 by son, Louis Klee
- Anna died 23^rd June 1883 in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York
- Named 7 children – Anna Maurer, Katie Reichert, Louis Klee, Mollie Klee “all of full age”. Charles Miller, about 15; William Miller, about 14; Carlotta Miller, about 12.
- Husband, Louis Miller, renounced rights to Anna’s estate.
- Analysis: Anna’s 2^nd husband was known as Louis Miller, not Charles. Charles could be his given or middle name. Married names of Anna and Katie Klee are consistent with Viola’s history. Charles Miller, born about 1877. William Miller born about 1878. Carlotta Miller, born about 1880, certainly the same person as Charlotte Stumpf, age 30 in 1910.
- Why wait for 9 years to file probate after Anna’s death? Perhaps waited until Mollie, youngest child of Louis Klee and Anna, was ‘of age’ at 21 years? Dispute between children of first marriage and Anna’s 2^nd husband?
Changed husband’s name to Louis Miller for search. Still using Family Search database.
- Marriage record for Louis Miller, widower, age 39, and Anna Wolf Klee, widow, age 29. Married on 25 September 1875 in Brooklyn, New York. [9] CLUE # 7
- 1880 census record for Louis and Anna Miller in Brooklyn, New York. [10] Names and ages on census record: CLUE #8
  - Louis Miller, age 45, born Germany, tinsmith
  - Annie Miller, wife, age 35, born Germany
  - Annie Miller, daughter, age 16, born New York
  - Katie Miller, daughter, age 15, born New York
  - Louis Miller, son, age 11, born New York
  - Emalie Miller, daughter, age 9, born New York
  - Lizzie Miller, daughter, age 13, born New York
  - Charles Miller, son, age 4, born New York
  - William Miller, son, age 3, born New York
  - Charlotte Miller, daughter, age 6/12.
  - Analysis: Names of children and approximate ages, except for Lizzie, are consistent with other records. Census taker may not have asked if any of the children had a different last name. Louis Miller could have adopted the Klee children.
  - Lizzie Miller, age 13, born about 1867, is likely the child of Louis Miller and another woman. BSO Alert! Confirm parents of Lizzie Miller. Locate Louis in 1870 per census.

Recall my original objective – Find 1880 census record for Charles and Anna Miller. Objective was not met because Anna Wolf Klee’s 2^nd husband was known as Louis Miller, a previously missing puzzle piece. However, I did find Louis and Annie Miller in the 1880 census. the census record provides estimated birth years for the children. The probate record shows that Anna Wolf Klee Miller died in 1883, age about 37 years. She left seven children, ages 3 to 19. This section of the puzzle is almost complete!

Two days later, I renewed my search for information about Louis Klee’s death. I got a hit almost immediately. Louis Klee, age 31, died 25 October 1871. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings county, New York.[11] CLUE #9 and a missing puzzle piece.

FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER: Why couldn’t I find Ludwig/ Louis Klee in 1880 census? Many clues and irregular puzzle pieces later, I have the answer. Louis died in 1871, leaving his widow, age 26, with 5 children under the age of 8. His youngest daughter, Amalie, was only 4 months old when her father died. His son, Fritz, is believed to have died within a year or two of his father’s death. Anna married Louis Miller in 1875 and bore three more children. Anna Wolf Klee Miller died in 1883. Aunt Viola had recorded only one piece of misinformation – the name of Anna Wolf Klee’s 2^nd husband.

REFLECTION:

My search for this family has been long and difficult. Great-aunt Viola’s naming of Charles Miller as Anna’s 2^nd husband threw me off track. This is one of the few things that I haven’t been able to confirm. I believe that Viola wrote what she remembered. Louis Klee and Anna Wolf were Viola’s grandparents. Both had died more than 20 years before Viola was born. Viola’s other grandparents, Valentin Maurer and Anna Katharina Corselius, died about 8 years before Viola’s birth. Viola herself was an orphan at age 20. Piecing together the Maurer family story would be much more difficult without Viola’s history. This blog is my gift to the next generation by telling the family stories.

I feel sad. Men and women died so young and left young children to be raised by others. Children grew up without knowing their grandparents.

What I learned: Value of searching multiple databases. Systematic, careful documentation of everything, even negative findings. Use multiple names and dates as search criteria. I often use the Reverse Genealogy principle, although I didn’t know the term until recently. Be persistent. A record that wasn’t there last week may be there today. Or, maybe I didn’t use an appropriate search term last week? Possibly new source – The American Antiquarian Society.

What helped: Viola’s handwritten history as a base. Online resources and databases. Going back and forth in time as I searched. Used different name spelling. Writing more concisely to keep blog word count about 1500 words. Question everything!

What didn’t help: Frustration when hours of work turned up nothing. I was ready to give up more than once. This family’s story is still not complete. Piecemeal record keeping during early years.

TO-DO: Follow research plan to discover information about each of Anna Wolf Klee Miller’s children. Confirm parents of Lizzie Miller, age 13 in 1880 census. Confirm residence and death information for Louis Miller, born about 1835, died after 1892 (Anna’s probate date).

NEXT POST: Louis Miller’s story

SOURCES:

[2] Charlotte A. Maurer section, “Maurer-Tucker Family History,” page 3.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Ward 32, enumeration district (ED) 0988, p. 7B (ink pen), dwelling 124, family 159, Louis Klee age 57; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 30 December 2014); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T624_985.

[4] The Brooklyn City and Business Directory: for the Year Ending May 1st, 1876 (Brooklyn, New York: Lain & Co., Publishers, 1876), page 485, column 2, entry for Klee, Anna, wid, Louis, h 138 Johnson; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed, downloaded, printed 19 March 2017), microfilmed from the holdings of the American Antiquarian Society.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Queens, New York, population schedule, Borough of Queens, enumeration district (ED) 1255, p. 8B (ink pen), dwelling 133, family 187, Lottie Stumpf, age 30; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed & downloaded 17 July 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T624_1064.

[6] Jennifer Dondero, “More Reverse Genealogy”, The Occasional Genealogist, (https://www.theoccasionalgenealogist.com/2017/01/more-reverse-genealogy.html : accessed 1 December 2018).

[7] 1870 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Ward 16, p. 78 (penned), dwelling 288, family 762, Louis Rleh [Kleh]; digital images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8NB-M8X : accessed, printed, downloaded 14 August 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication M593. Surname transcribed as “Rleh” for Louis and “Kleh” for others in family. Recorded names and ages of children correspond to information in Aunt Viola’s family history.

[8] New York, Probate case files, Anna Miller (formerly Anna Klee) deceased; “New York, Kings County Estate Files, 1866 – 1923,” digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1: viewed, printed, downloaded 18 December 2018); filed 8 Jan 1892 in Kings County Surrogate Court.

[9] “New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940,” database, Family Search (https://familysearch.org/ark:61903/1:1:VVF : accessed & printed 19 December 2018), entry for Louis Muller and Anna Wolf Klee; citing Marrige, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

[10] 1880 U.S. Census, Kings county, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district (ED) 149, p. 328A (stamp), p. 53 (ink pen), dwelling 159, family 585, Louis Miller age 45; digital images, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ8 NVX : viewed, downloaded, printed 19 December 2018); citing National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C. microfilm publication T9, roll 0850.

[11] “New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949,” database, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WC 845 : accessed & printed 20 December 2018), entry for Louis Klee, age 31; consistent with other records that his wife, Anna, was widow by 1875.