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Conversations, Emotions and Events

11/29/2014

 
I love reading genealogy mysteries, and there are more and more of them being written, so that I can hardly keep up! But it's rare that a genealogy mystery makes me think about it for days afterward, applying the deeper lessons in the book to my own research.


Such a book was The Lost Ancestor, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin.
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    The story is fascinating, and takes place in the present, and in the past. Present-day genealogist Morton Farrier (with his own family history puzzle to solve) is hired by Ray Mercer to find out what happened to Ray's grandmother's twin sister, Mary Mercer, who disappeared in 1911. The story switches back and forth, from Morton's detailed and meticulous research, to back in the past, where we find out what happened in Mary's life that led to her disappearance.
   What impressed me the most, and what I found myself thinking about for days afterward, is how events and conversations and emotions that occurred in 1911 that were not recorded led to events that were recorded. In Ray's telling the professional genealogist about his grandmother Edith and her twin sister Mary, we have no idea that there was any sort of rift between them. Edith goes for an interview to be hired as a housemaid at Blackfriars Manor, but Mary is hired instead. Why? It's the conversations and emotions that lead to events, that Morton eventually tracks down.


   In thinking of "reading between the lines" in my own ancestors' lives, I can think of two good examples. My mother Mary Elizabeth Stoelt was born on 2 August 1931, to Arnold and Bessie (Randall) Stoelt. Records give the facts of her birth, and of Bessie's death five months later, on 20 December 1931. Bessie's mother, Claudia Grace (Thompson) Randall died just two months earlier, on 27 October 1931. And curiously, in the obituary for Claudia Thompson Randall that was published in the Manistee (MI) News-Advocate on 28 October 1931, there is no mention of her daughter or granddaughter. The only survivors listed were her husband Herbert and son Ray.


Why?


It's not in the records, but in oral tradition, told to me by my mother's stepmother, Ervilla Stoelt, who heard it from her husband Arnold, who was there at the time. Apparently shortly before Claudia died, Herbert came to visit Arnold and Bessie. There was a huge argument, and Herbert shouted epithets at his pregnant daughter Bessie and stormed out of the house. Although Herbert died in 1946, when my mother was 15 years old, he never made an attempt to see or visit his her.


The other example is a lot farther back in time, and involves emotions, conversations and events that I can only guess at. In June 1880 my great-great grandmother Rhoda Prosser Jones was living in Hillsdale, Michigan with her second husband, Henry Jones, and her two children.
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Just three years later, in June 1883, Mrs. Henry Jones was found along the railroad tracks outside of town, with a fractured skull. The Hillsdale Standard reported it as "A Sad Case of Suicide," although the coroner's jury in the case seemed a little puzzled that her stockings (she wasn't wearing shoes) were not soiled.
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    As a result of reading The Lost Ancestor, I'm now trying to imagine the conversations, events and emotions that led to Rhoda Jones' death. Although the verdict was suicide, I am leaning toward the theory that she was murdered. What were the conversations in that house? Does the fact that Henry Jones remarried in October 1883 have a bearing on it? What happened to her youngest daughter, Mary Almeda Jones?  Why did her son Charles Douglas Prosser flee to Chicago?


Just as Morton Farrier solved his mystery using just the records he found, without having any idea of the conversations, emotions and events, if I look for the records, eventually I will find the truth of what happened.

Writing Up the Incorrect

11/27/2014

 
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(Or: Will the Real Ida Kube Please Stand Up?)


Not long ago I was working on researching the family of John and Ida Kube, who settled in Watertown, Wisconsin after emigrating from Germany in the 1850s. According to The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin (published in 1879) they had four children who grew to adulthood:
                  Laura, born 7 Jan 1861
            Alfred, born 15 November 1863
            Ida, born 25 July 1867
            Adolph, born 26 May, 1871

   It was fairly easy for me to research three of these children: there were plenty of records online providing direct evidence for the marriages and children of Laura (m. Charles Stickney), Alfred (m. Levina Showalter) and the youngest son Adolph (m. Estella Ash). However, the youngest daughter Ida was a bit of a puzzle - there was conflicting evidence all over the place, with family trees (sourced and unsourced) providing misinformation. As I went through the evidence, and discarded one theory after another, it struck me - it wasn't enough for me to know that these were incorrect. I needed to write up my findings, in order to direct future generations to the correct family. 


    Was Ida Kube the wife of Otto Gericke? In 1930 Otto and Ida D. Gericke were living in Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.[1] Their children were Wesley (1898-1974), Sarah (b.1902) and John C. (1906-1969).[2] The birth record for John Carlyle Gericke states that his mother’s maiden name was Ida Strauss.[3] In addition, Wesley Gericke’s 1974 death record also states his mother’s maiden name as Strauss.[4] On the 1900 census of Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin, Ida D. Gericke indicated her birth date as Nov. 1869.[5]


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(1) 1930 U.S. census, Jefferson, Wisconsin, population schedule, Lake Mills, enumeration district (ED) 0022, sheet 3B, dwelling 78, family 84, Otto Gericke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication 2576, FHL microfilm 2342310.
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(2) “Swift Family,” Public Family Tree, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014), entry for Ida Kube.
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[3] “Wisconsin Births and Christenings index, 1826-1908,” birth record for John Carlyle Gericke (1906); Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014).
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[4] Minnesota Historical Society, death certificate #MN-018039 for Wesley O. Gericke (1974); database, “Minnesota Death Certificates Index,” Minnesota Historical Society (http://people.mnhs.org: accessed 24 Nov 2014).
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[5] 1900 U.S. census, Jefferson, Wisconsin, population schedule, Lake Mills, enumeration district (ED) 0146, sheet 8A, p.192 (stamped), Otto Gericke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1793, FHL microfilm 1241793.
   I should note here that even without this Ida's children's records, I would be suspicious just because of her stated birth month on the 1900 census. In my experience, years are often incorrect; months, not so often.
    Other family trees on Ancestry state that Ida Kube became the wife of Frank Gherke. In 1920 Frank and Eda Gherke were living in Waterville, Le Sueur County, Minnesota; Frank was 42 (b. about 1878) and Eda was 34 (b.1886).[6] Their children at the time were Ester (8), Agnes (7), Albert (5) and Ellen (2).  Agnes’ 1912 birth record states her mother’s maiden name as Eda Freitz.[7]

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[6] 1920 U.S. census, Le Sueur, Minnesota, population schedule, Waterville, enumeration district (ED) 81, p.4A, dwelling 86, family 84, Frank Gherke; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: access 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 843.
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[7] “Minnesota, Births and Christenings Index, 1840-1980,” database entry for Agnes Minna emma Gehrke (1912), Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014).
     Even without the children's evidence, the fact that Eda was born about 1886 is a dead giveaway - this is not the person I'm looking for.

    Another possible candidate for Ida Kube is the wife of William Gehrke; in 1920 they were living in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail, Minnesota with their children Rudolf (35) and Selma (18).[8] However, the 1910 census of Fergus Falls reveals that these were children from William Gehrke’s first marriage, to Maria Gerke.[9] Maria Gehrke died in 1911 and is buried in Western Cemetery in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.[10]

    William Gehrke died in 1936, and is also buried in Western Cemetery.[11] His second wife Eda is buried there, also, having died in 1941.[12] However, she shares a gravestone with Herman Bartelt, who died in 1911.[13]   A look at the 1910 census shows Herman and Ida Bartelt living in Lawrence, Grant County, Minnesota.[14]  On the 1900 census, Ida Bartelt indicated that she was born July 1866, which most closely matches the information we have.(15) 



    Evidently after Maria Gehrke and Herman Bartelt died, their widower and widow married. Eda Bartelt Gehrke’s death certificate needs to be obtained, with the knowledge that the accuracy of that information depends upon the informants, who may have been her stepchildren. It does not appear as though Ida/Eda had any children. She is the most likely candidate for the daughter of John and Ida Kube.

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[8] 1920 U.S. census, Otter Tail, Minnesota, population schedule, Fergus Falls, enumeration district (ED) 143, sheet 4A, p.34 (stamped),, dwelling 69, family 84, William Gehrke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 849.
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(9) 1910 U.S. census, Otter Tail, Minnesota, population schedule, Western, enumeration district (ED) 0130, sheet 10A, p.10 (stamped), William Gehrke; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 714, FHL microfilm 1374727.
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(10) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474726 for Mary Gehrke (1859-1911), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
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(11) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474725 for William F. Gehrke (1855-1936), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
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(12) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474729 for Eda B. Gehrke (1863-1941), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
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(13) “Find A Grave,” memorial page #40474709 for Herman Bartelt (1853-1911), Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 24 Nov 2014); citing records of Western Cemetery, Western, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
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(14) 1910 U.S. census, Grant, Minnesota, population schedule, Lawrence, enumeration district (ED) 0028, sheet 1A, p.37 (stamped), dwelling & family 9, Herman C. Bartelt; digital image; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 25 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 699, FHL microfilm 1374712.
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(15) 1900 U.S. census, Grant, Minnesota, population schedule, Lawrence, sheet 6A, p.76 (stamped), dwelling & family 9, Herman C. Bartelt; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 24 Nov. 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 765, imaged from FHL microfilm 1240765.

Grandma Ruby's Pumpkin Pie

11/27/2014

 
I don't have many clear memories of my Grandma Ruby Reed, since she died when I was just eight years old. I think of her often, but especially at this time of year, when I am making pumpkin pies from her recipe that has been handed down, that she had been making since the early days of her marriage in the 1920s.


Spicy Pumpkin Pie
2 T. butter
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
1/4 t. ground cloves
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
2 eggs
2 T. flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 t. salt


Melt butter and mix with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and pumpkin in a large bowl. In a separate smaller bowl, beat eggs until they are frothy and light. Stir in flour, sugars, salt and milk into beaten eggs. Then mix the eggs into the pumpkin, stirring with a light hand. Pour filling into pie shell and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn oven down to 375 and bake 45 minutes longer, or until a knife inserted into center of pie comes out clean. Cool and serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.


I have made this recipe every year since I've been married, and no other pumpkin pie recipe even tempts me. My mother made it every Thanksgiving since the 1950s - in sunny Albuquerque, New Mexico, snowy Cincinnati, Ohio, and humid Merritt Island, Florida. My children have grown up with this pumpkin pie, and though my daughter doesn't care for it (much), my son's favorite dessert of all time is this pumpkin pie. I'm making sure they have this recipe, and I fully expect that a hundred years after my grandmother first started making it, this pie will continue to be part of our Thanksgiving tradition.

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Grandma Ruby Reed with Chris and Claudia at Columbine Cottage, Beulah, Michigan - about 1959.

DNA and Direct Evidence

11/10/2014

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Last month I decided to tackle another clients' brick wall. In 1870 his great grandmother Katherine Marie Cluny was living in a Catholic orphan asylum in Manchester, Passaic County, New Jersey. She was just seven years old.
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1870 U.S. census, Passaic, New Jersey, population schedule, Manchester, p.176, dwelling 150, family 197, Catherine Clunney; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 3 April 2013); citing NARA microfilm M593, roll 884, imaged from FHL microfilm 552383.
By 1880 17-year old Kate was in service in a private home in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. She (or her employers) indicated that her parents were born in Ireland.
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1880 U.S. census, Mercer, New Jersey, population schedule, Trenton, enumeration district (ED) 101, p.232C, dwelling 208, family 229, Kate Cluney; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 3 April 2013); citing NARA microfilm T9, roll 788, imaged from FHL microfilm 1254788.
She married John Gallavan, presumably in Trenton. In 1900 she (or someone in the household) indicated that she was born in August 1862 and was 37 years old, and that both her parents were born in Ireland. Katherine and John would have thirteen children: John Jr., Mary Katherine, Margaret Ida, Joseph, Katherine, Elizabeth, Agnes Cecelia, Alice Beatrice, Ida, Helen, Grace, Richard, and Madeline.
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1900 U.S. census, Mercer, New Jersey, population schedule, Trenton, enumeration district (ED) 0096, sheet 3A, p.259 (stamped), dwelling 60, family 65, John A. Gallavan; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 20 Dec 2012); citing NARA microfilm T623, roll 983, imaged from FHL microfilm 1240983.
Katherine Cluny Gallavan died 23 March 1953 in Long Branch, Monmouth, New Jersey. Her death certificate (informant unknown) indicated that her mother's name was Catherine Burns; her father's name was left blank.In 1918 her married daughter Elizabeth Gallavan Hackethal died of influenza in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; her husband was the informant and said that Elizabeth's mother's maiden name was Clooney.
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New Jersey State Dept. of Health, death certificate 12261 (1953) for Catherine M. Gallavan.
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Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 88238 for Elizabeth G. Hackethal (1918); digital image, "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 6 Oct 2014).
So, in re-visiting this puzzle (who were Katherine's parents?) I came upon another puzzle. Figuring that her parent's surnames were some variation of Cluney/Clooney and Burns, I took a look at the collection of New Jersey marriage records for 1678-1985 in Family Search. And I found a marriage record that looked promising. On 11 December 1853, James Clouny married Margaret Byrnes in Patterson, Passaic County, New Jersey.
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"New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 3 Oct. 2014), James Clouny and Margaret Byrnes (1853).
In 1860 James and Margaret were living in Paterson with their three children, John (5), Anna (3) and Dennis (6 months). James Clooney died 21 October 1866 in Paterson.
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"New Jersey Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988," database, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 3 Oct 2014), James Clooey (1866).
By 1870 Margaret Cluny was nowhere to be found, but her children John, Anna, Dennis and 3-year old James were living in the household of Ellen McLaughlin there in Paterson, with Ellen's children, John, Kate, Margaret and Dennis, all born in Ireland.
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The 1880 census of Paterson made it clear that Ellen McLaughlin was the Cluny children's aunt.
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At this point, I was cautiously excited, building my theory that Katherine Cluny was the daughter of James and Margaret, and the sibling of John, Anna, Dennis and James. But there were still questions: why would Katherine, alone of all the children, be placed in an orphanage? A look at the 1870 census provided a possible answer - Ellen McLaughlin had her hands full, with four children of her own, ages 10 to 16, and her niece and nephews. 3-year-old James was probably the only one left at home, since the other children were at work or at school during the day. There may have been no room for Katherine. Then there is the fact that the 1870 census is a snapshot in time - she could have been there for just a couple of months, waiting for one of the older children to move out.


As I wrote the report for my client, I was thinking that this would make a good case study for publication - there was plenty of conflicting evidence, and no real direct evidence linking Katherine to her parents or siblings. And just because I want to know everything about everyone, I started doing descendant research on the Clooney children. The oldest, John Cluny, married Mary McCarthy about 1882, and they had six children: Mary, Margaret, James, Catherine, Helen, and John. Anna Cluny died unmarried in 1892. Dennis Cluny married Mary Skelly in 1887, and they had Helen (b.1888), Margaret (b. 1891) and James (b.1897). There were several names in common with Katherine's children (Margaret, John, Helen...) but perhaps not surprising in an Irish Catholic family.


Then I got an email from my client. He had had DNA testing done with both Ancestry and FamilyTreeDNA, and gave me the username and password so I could go take a look. And lo and behold, one of his top matches in Ancestry had this family tree:
 
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I was so excited to receive this confirmation that my theory was correct! I immediately emailed my client's match, to explain their connection, and give them the information I had about James Cluny and Margaret Byrnes. Further research in Irish records online revealed the baptismal dates of John, Kate, Margaret and Dennis McLaughlin, children of Patrick McLaughlin and Ellen Clooney.


Much more research lies ahead, but DNA has provided the direct evidence I needed to let me know I'm on the right track.
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There's Value in Volunteering

11/9/2014

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When I was first starting out as a professional genealogist, one of the pieces of advice I heard from other established pros was "volunteer for your local society." Back then, I didn't have either the time or the inclination to volunteer anywhere. I was working part-time outside the home, I had three teenagers to keep tabs on, and all of my spare time was spent in doing genealogy research, for clients, for a fee. We really needed the extra income, and I was intent on improving my knowledge of genealogical records, resources, citations, and reports. Our local genealogy society met on Saturday mornings, which was time I reserved for my family.

Fast forward several years, and my, how things have changed. We downsized and moved to a different part of Western Washington. I no longer have teenagers at home, and I'm working full-time as a genealogical researcher, writer, and speaker. I joined the local society, which meets on Wednesday afternoons, and began volunteering my time. I staffed the reference desk in the Genealogy Center at the library where the society meets, and taught a standing-room-only class on DNA. I'm scheduled to teach another class for my society early next year, on Historic Newspapers.

This past weekend I presented 3 lectures at the Family History Fair in Bellevue, Washington: a 2-part session on DNA, and one on Finding and Using Historic Newspapers. Two of them were held in the Chapel, as that was the only room large enough to hold all those who registered. In between sessions there was a steady stream of people coming by the APG table, to ask urgent questions about their family situation and which DNA test to order. I no longer need the client work - instead I'm seeing an increasing need for professional genealogists like myself to teach. Classes in finding and using records, resolving conflicting information, writing a captivating family history, using source citations, and navigating the new frontier of DNA testing - these are wanted and needed. And that is why I volunteer.
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It Pays to Ask an Expert

11/6/2014

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Whenever I have research (for myself or for a client) in an area where I'm not familiar with the records, I go to the APG Directory and look for someone who is there in the area. Although I was in Pittsburgh this last summer for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh I did not get a chance to explore the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh as I had planned. So when I got home I checked the directory to get the email address for Suzanne Johnston, in order to request research. I needed some obituaries from the Pittsburgh newspapers, and it wasn't long after I'd emailed her until I had a link to a Dropbox folder filled with records:
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This created a terrific opportunity for me to illustrate how to hire another researcher for the presentation I'm preparing on Finding and Using Historic Newspapers. (Multitasking at its finest!) I went to look at Suzanne's directory entry again, and was immediately struck by her educational background: a BS in Speech and Hearing, and an MA in Audiology.
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This was very significant to me, because the same client that I had Suzanne do the Pittsburgh research for, has a set of great-great grandparents who were deaf, and who attended the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf between 1848 and 1858.
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I sent her another email, explaining what I needed, and asking if she knew where the records for the school were. She sent me the link to the Gallaudet University Library Archives, which has the records for the school from 1816-1984.
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In no time at all, I had the answer to my question - and all I had to do was ask another expert!
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Ancestry Doesn't Have All the Answers

11/2/2014

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One day last week I decided to tackle a client's brick wall.  In 1850, her 3x great grandfather Marshall Rumbaugh was living in Perry, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, with his wife Cassandra, next to his brother Simeon and his wife Eveline.  
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1850 U.S. census, Armstrong, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Perry, p.9A, dwelling 116, family 116, Marshal Rumbaugh; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 749.
By 1860 Marshall is living in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, evidently widowed, with 3 daughters: Martha, Annie and Laura.
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1860 U.S. census, Clarion, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Toby, p.663, dwelling 190, family 190, Marshal Rumbarger; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 Nov 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 1095.
A check of Find A Grave revealed the grave of Cassandra Reynolds Rumbaugh, in the Truby-Rumbaugh Cemetery in Hillville, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
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"Find A Grave," database and images, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 2 Nov 2014), memorial page #15,476,910 for Cassandra Reynolds Rumbough (1829-1858); citing records of Truby-Rumbaugh Cemetery, Hillville, Armstrong, Pennsylvania.
And two of his daughters' death certificates verified that their mother's maiden name was Reynolds.
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Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, death certificate 17166 for Fanny Lucina Buzard (1936); digital image, "Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1963," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 Nov 2014).
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Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, death certificate 14487 for Laura Jane Painter (1942); digital image, "Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1963," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 Nov. 2014).
But who were Cassandra Reynolds' parents? A look at several (unsourced) online family trees told me that Marshall's brother Simeon had married Eveline Reynolds, and that she was the right age to possibly have been Cassandra's sister. In order to verify Eveline's maiden name, I went looking for records, and found both the death record and the marriage record for her youngest daughter, Malissa: 
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Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, death certificate 35765 for Mellissa Rumbaugh Davis (1941); digital image, "Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1963," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 2 Nov. 2014).
Since the maiden name of Melissa Davis' mother on her death certificate is considered secondary information, I needed the marriage record to verify that - which it did.
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Gallatin County, Montana, marriage license application #24172 for Phil Davis and Melissa Rumbaugh (1910), digital image, "Montana County Marriages, 1865-1950," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 23 Oct 2014).
I was still left with my initial question - who were Cassandra's (and possibly Eveline's) parents? A thorough search of online records showed me that no one else had a clue. I looked at county histories (online at Archive.org), and birth, death and marriage records on Ancestry and FamilySearch, as well as several newspaper databases. It was clear - I would have to rely on probate or land records. 
Since FamilySearch has digitized and put online Pennsylvania probate records, I started there, with the probate records for Armstrong County. While there were some wills written by Reynolds men (David, Richard, Absalom and Alexander), none of them named Cassandra. Richard Reynolds had a daughter Evaline, but her married name was Frampton. 


I had struck out on Armstrong County, so I took a look at the map of Pennsylvania Counties as they were in 1850, on the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp) 
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According to the map, Armstrong County is surrounded by several other counties: Clarion, Jefferson, Indiana, Westmoreland, Allegheny, and Butler. Since Marshall Rumbaugh was living in Clarion County in 1860, I began there. The "Register's and Orphans' Court Record Index" for Clarion County did not reveal any Reynolds wills, but then, to make a thorough search, I looked at the Will Dockets for 1841-1868, vols. A & B. Fortunately there was an index in the front of the volume, which named James P. Reynolds as having a will in Vol. B, page 364.And there I hit pay dirt.
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Clarion County Will Book B:364, will of James P. Reynolds (1863); digital image, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: accessed 30 Oct 2014); imaged from FHL microfilm 1315279.
In this will, written in 1862 and proved in 1863, James P. Reynolds leaves to "my daughter Ureta Jane Boyles one dollar, and this to be in full of her Legacy; and further, I give and bequeath to my daughter Evaline Rumbaugh one dollar, this to be in full of her Legacy; And further, I give & bequeath unto Marshall Rumbaugh, All that Tract of Land, on which I now reside, Containing Sixty one acres & three tenths of an acre, more or less, lying and being in Madison Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, to him, his heirs & assigns forever, and further, I give and bequeath unto the said Marshall Rumbaugh, all my good, Stocks, Chattels, rites and Credits, household & kitchen Furniture & Etc...." While James Reynolds does not specify his relationship to Marshall, it's fairly evident that Marshall was his son-in-law, especially since later in the will James binds Marshall, his executor, "for to keep the said James Reynolds & his wife, Martha Reynolds for and during both their natural life times comfortably."

The answer to my question was found in an original record that was not on Ancestry. Any genealogist who relies only on Ancestry is really, really missing out.
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