Tombstone Tuesday: Charles A.W. and Rebecca F. (Shumaker) Chew

Charles Alexander West and Rebecca F. (SHUMAKER) CHEW are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Charles is my paternal 2nd-great granduncle.


Charles was born August 18, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio, the son of Dr. Ezekiel  Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW.


Rebecca was born April 1861 in Ohio, according to census records.  I do not know her parentage.


Rebecca died September 23, 1916 in Wabash Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Charles died July 16, 1925 in Boyne City, Charlevoix County, Michigan.


Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Charles A.W. and Rebecca F. Chew marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.




Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

A Cheerful Thanksgiving To You: November 22, 1910

Miss Vera Haley
Portland, Ind.
R.R. 9


11,22,10


Hello Vera, -


This is Tue eve 4:30 my last class is over for the day, & will now pack suit-case for South Bend in the morning. I'm O.K. in studies. rec'd your card today. must close.


Your friend


Otho


----


This postcard was sent to my paternal greataunt, Vera HALEY, by a friend, Otho, a student at Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana.  Postmarked November 23, 1910 Angola, Indiana.

Thanksgiving Greeting : November 21, 1909

Nov. 21, 1909  Ashland, Ohio -


Dear Vera and all the rest. I rec'd your very welcome letter some time ago and could not get time to answer it.  We are all well Nin & Geo. started home yesterday morn. was going to stop at Lima over Sunday. We are going to begin packing up tomorrow and then when we get moved I will ans. your letter.  It is a bad rainy day and we are lonesome.  Zada and Rinda Hayes from Burbank are coming over here to night.  Zada's little boy is here now.  I wish I was out at your house for Thanksgiving dinner.  We may get packed up in time to be at Grandpas and visit them a day or two. Write soon from your Aunt Carrie & all.


----


This postcard was sent to my paternal greataunt, Vera HALEY, from her aunt, Carrie (HALEY) GRAVES.  Nin & Geo. mentioned in the card would be Carrie's sister Nina and her husband George ZORN.  The Grandpa referenced here could be Vera's grandfather, David SHERRICK (1823-1914), who lived in Ashland, Ohio.


The reference to packing and moving could be related to Arthur and Carrie (HALEY) GRAVES move to Midland, Michigan.  By the 1910 census, they were living in the 2nd ward of the city of Midland.


Interestingly, November 21, 1909 was also a Sunday just as this year.

Sunday's Obituary : Charles Alexander West Chew (1860-1925)

Source: C.A. Chew obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, July 17, 1925, page 1

C.A. CHEW IS DEAD AT BOYNE CITY, MICHIGAN

Word Received Here Late Yesterday Comes As Shock To Relatives And Friends

Was Here On Visit Six Weeks Ago

Was Injured in Automobile Accident While on Return Trip to his Home.

Word was received here late yesterday telling of the death at Boyne City, Mich., of C.A. Chew, 75, former well known Jay county resident, living near Salamonia and New Corydon.  Particulars concerning the death were not received.  Local relatives left here yesterday afternoon via auto for Boyne City.

It is conjectured that Mr. Chew may have died from injuries received in an automobile accident a few weeks ago while returning to Boyne City, following a visit to this locality.  The Chews came here from Michigan about six weeks ago on a visit.  At that time Mr. Chew was in the best of health.  On the return trip they were in an accident and Mr. Chew was injured.

The deceased had been a resident of Jay county for many years.  He was engaged in the store business at Salamonia for many years, later selling the store and moving on a farm near New Corydon.  Later he went to Geneva, where he organized the Chew Overall factory, which he sold a few years ago and moved to Michigan.

------

Charles Alexander West CHEW was born August 18, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio, the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW.  

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Review: Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

After what to me seemed like an eternity, today my Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner arrived at the post office.*

Can you tell I was excited?  My wife was like "Really?, You're taking pictures of the box? C'mon and open it already..."

I was surprised to find no Styrofoam peanuts, bubble-wrap, etc. in the box.  However, when I pulled it out, I realized that my new toy was well packaged.

I'm impressed that the company gives you batteries.  In today's age of "batteries not included" it was nice to be able to open up the package and get started without hunting around the house for suitable batteries.  The 2 GB SD memory card is a nice plus as well.


I was prompted to purchase this scanner due to the review of fellow GeneaBlogger Susan Petersen of Long Lost Relatives.  Susan wasn't exaggerating when she said that the scanner was able to be producing images within a couple of minutes.  This scanner is very fast!  I've been used to using my combination printer/scanner and frankly it was sooo slow.

The first photo I scanned was one of Megan and her grandmother.  The scanner did a good, fast scan.  I quickly popped in a few more photos and was impressed with the ease and speed of the scanner.

I was impressed with how light weight this scanner is.  At less than 2 lbs. this is going to be a great tool to use at the courthouse for research and for taking to family get-togethers and holidays.

Next, I decided I would take the lid off of the scanner and try to scan something that was not a standard photo.  I was eager to test out the 'stitch' technology used by the Flip-Pal to merge individual scans together.

My first attempt was a colossal failure.  I tried to scan an 8X10 printout of an obituary I had received from the library and attempted to 'stitch' them together.  The software that comes with the scanner is fairly straight-forward:

My first attempt to stitch images together did not work because I failed to read the instructions.  I didn't allow for the proper overlap in my images, and the software failed to recognize and properly stitch it together.  Undaunted, I read the instructions and tried again, this time with an 8x10 photo of my nephew.  Here are the individual images:

Using the 'Stitch Scans' option, you select the images that you want to put together.  The software then does its magic and puts them together.  Finally, you can open the image and edit it in your photo editing software.  Here is the finished image produced by the Flip-Pal:

Now all I have to do is trim up the edges, and I have a nice, clean scan of my nephew, Eli.  The best part is that it took less than 5 minutes!


I cannot wait to dive into scanning the photo albums, postcards, etc. around the house.


The Flip-Pal website


Disclaimer: I purchased this product directly from the Flip-Pal website.  I received no compensation for this review.


* Eternity is defined in this case as the time it took from order to arrival.  I ordered on November 4th, and the product arrived November 20th.  The company shipped using FedEx SmartPost, which for some reason took the package from Indianapolis (FedEx hub) to Cincinnati to have the USPS deliver.  The distance from my house to Indianapolis is 65 miles.  The distance from my house to Cincinnati is 170 miles.  Go figure.

Surname Saturday : MAXSON

The MAXSON surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are English.


Stories and history :


Ahnentafel # 39 : Prudence Maxson (1817-1890).  Prudence was born June 15, 1817 in Green County, Ohio.  She married October 3, 1836 in Clark County, Ohio to William P. Smith (1815-1894).  William was born July 25, 1815 in Clark County, Ohio.  They had 4 children and lived in Cass County, Michigan, Jay County, Indiana and Richardson County, Nebraska.  William died April 19, 1894 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Prudence died February 22, 1890 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 78 : Jesse Maxson (1772-1851).  Jesse was born October 8, 1772 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  He married February 23, 1797 in Harrison County, Virginia to Sarah Sutton (1779-1863).  Sarah was born January 3, 1779 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  They had 12 children and lived in Harrison County, Virginia and Clark and Greene Cos., Ohio.  Sarah died March 18, 1863 in Clark County, Ohio.  Jesse died March 24, 1851 Clark County, Ohio.  Both are buried in the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 156 : Ephraim Maxson (1743-1795).  Ephraim was born in 1743 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  He married April 27, 1764 in Monmouth County, New Jersey to Elisabeth Davis (1746-1807).  Elisabeth was born in 1746 in New Jersey.  They had 6 children.  Elisabeth died 1807 in New Salem, Virginia.  Ephraim died September 10, 1795 in New Salem, Virginia.


Ahnentafel # 312 : Joseph Maxson (1692-1747).  Joseph was born March 10, 1692 in Westerly, Rhode Island. He married circa 1715 to Bethia Maxson (1693-1747), his first cousin.  Bethia was born July 31, 1693.  They had 10 children.  Bethia died in 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Joseph died in 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.


Ahentafel # 624 : Rev. Joseph Maxson (1672-1750).  Joseph was born in 1672 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He married in 1691 to Tacy Burdick (1670-1747).  Tacy was born in 1670 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  They had 7 children.  Joseph was a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.  Tacy died in 1747 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Joseph died September 1750 in Westerly, Rhode Island.


Ahnentafel # 1248 : Rev. John Maxson (1637-1720).  John was born in 1637 in Newport, Rhode Island.  He married in 1665 in Westerly, Rhode Island to Mary Mosher (1641-1718).  Mary was born in 1641 in Westerly, Rhode Island. They had 6 children.  John was a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.  Mary died February 2, 1718 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  John died December 17, 1720 in Newport, Rhode Island.


Ahnentafel # 2496 : Richard Maxson (1602-1639).  Richard was born 1602 in England.  He married before 1637 to Rebecca ________(c1602-????). They had 3 children.  Richard was killed by Indians in 1639 in Westerly, Rhode Island.


Related blog posts :

• Today in my database: Jesse Maxson (b. October 8, 1772)

• Tombstone Tuesday: William P. and Prudence (Maxson) Smith

Family Recipe Friday: Stuffed Franks

My grandmother, Bonnie (Lambertson) Wright was always using leftovers in creative ways, according to my mother.  Perhaps this came from being raised during the Depression where you never wasted anything.  This recipe was a cheap meal to fix and easy, too.


This recipe is a great use for left over mashed potatoes.  It's a generational favorite, now being served to Bonnie's great-grandchildren.  Bonnie always served baked beans and wilted lettuce with stuffed franks.

• 1 package of "hot dogs"
• mashed potatoes cold
• mustard
• Velveeta cheese
• paprika

Split each hot dog lengthwise.  Squirt mustard down the middle of each hot dog.  Fill with cold mashed potatoes.  Put 2 slices of Velveeta cheese lengthwise in the mashed potatoes.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.

There's also an interesting story to go with this recipe.  When my uncle, Terry Wright, had to give a demonstration speech in college he decided to demonstrate how to make stuffed franks.  When he made up the entire package of hot dogs, the professor asked him if that wasn't a lot of stuffed franks.  Terry replied, "I eat the entire package by myself."


Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of  The Armchair Genealogist.

Funeral Record: Cora Belle (Metzner) Haley (1868-1955)

Source: Cora Belle Haley Funeral Record, Baird Funeral Home, Jay Co., Indiana 1954-1956, Saxman & Schindler, compiler, n.d.

At the Jay County Public Library I was able to locate the funeral record for my paternal great-grandmother, Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY, who died April 28, 1955.

Cora died in Madison Township, at the Stuber residence.  Vera (Mrs. Clarence) STUBER was her eldest daughter, and was taking care of her.  It is my understanding that Cora had been blind in her later years.

Cora died April 28th at 6:40 p.m. in the evening, aged 86 years.  She was born August 21, 1868 in Jay County.

The name of her father was given on this record as Adam Haley, an obvious error, as Haley was her married name.  Her father's name was John Adam METZNER, known more often in records as Adam.  Her mother is listed as Clara Metzner, which was her married name - her mother's maiden name was Clara MOULTON.

Cora was buried in an oak casket manufactured by Hutton.  I'm wondering if this was the J.M. Hutton Company of nearby Richmond, Indiana.

There were miscellaneous charges for wires to Chicago and Marine City (Michigan), and a phone call to what looks like Evast, Michigan.  These were probably to notify relatives.  More than likely, these were relatives on the Haley side, as I haven't discovered any surviving out-of-town Metzner relatives.

The bill for the funeral was to be charged to Mrs. Clarence Stuber, Route 3 Ft. Recovery, Ohio; Mrs. Galen Miller, Muncie; Mrs. E.C. Kunce, Lawrenceville, Illinois; Mrs. Waymon Thornburg; and Mrs. Ord LeMaster.  These were the surviving children (all daughters) of Cora and Eli Haley.

Frank Haley called to Portland, Ind.

From: Sandusky Daily Register, Sandusky, Ohio, December 7, 1892, page 2

This snippet in the personal column of the Sandusky Daily Register is referring to the death of my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, George Washington HALEY, who died December 4, 1892 in Jay County, Indiana.


George and Frank were brothers of George J. and Rachel (GARY) HALEY.  My George was 21 years older than Frank, who was the youngest in the family.


George Washington HALEY was born May 16, 1840 in Hardin County, Ohio; was married October 14, 1862 in Ashland County, Ohio to Mary Jane SHERRICK and is buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.

Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home Records : Portland & Pennville, Indiana

One of the books I examined while in Portland last weekend at the Jay County Public Library was the title Williamson & Spencer Funeral Homes, Inc. Portland and Pennville, Indiana Burial Records, Book One 1892-1899, compiled and edited by Jane Ann Spencer.  This book had quite a few mentions of my family members, and has provided me with clues for more research.


One of the more interesting ones to me was the mention of Benjamin Franklin WEHRLY, who died in 1895 at age 21 years, 11 days of typhoid fever, son of William P. and Olive Jane (SMITH) WEHRLY.  According to the Day Book of Accounts at the funeral home, his father paid the account by supplying lumber.  That is just something you don't think of happening these days.  William Wehrly had a sawmill in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.


The book provided me with some extracted obituaries from early newspapers, but I want to follow up and get to the original sources for my database.

Funeral Record: Eli Weldon Haley (1866-1957)

Source: Eli Haley Funeral Record, Baird Freeman Funeral Home, Jay County, Indiana 1956-1958, Schindler & Saxman, ed., 1996

The Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana has several books of funeral home records of the Baird Freeman Funeral Home, compiled by local editors.  I was glad to find the records of my paternal great-grandfather, Eli Weldon HALEY (1866-1957).  Eli died July 14, 1957 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  His wife, Cora, had died in 1955.

I was glad to have located this record, as I found out that I had his death in the wrong month (I had it as June) in my database.  I need to go to the Health Department and obtain an official death certificate on my next visit.

Eli's date of death was July 14th at 6 a.m.  He was 91 years of age, being born March 24, 1866 in Erie County, Ohio.

His residence was listed as Madison Township, and his death occurred at the Stuber residence.  Vera (Mrs. Clarence) Stuber was his eldest daughter, and I know that they were taking care of them in their older years.

The record lists his father as George W. Haley and mother as Mary Jane Sherrick, which correlates to records that I have found.  He was buried in the Mt. Zion cemetery in a casket manufactured by the Batesville Casket Co., an Indiana company still in operation today.

I found it interesting to see the miscellaneous charges listed on the record, including charges for wires to Troy, Ohio and Cleveland(?) and a phone call to Marine City, Michigan.  I assume that these were made to notify relatives.  The phone call to Marine City, Michigan could have been to Eli's sister, Carrie Mae (HALEY) GRAVES, wife of Arthur GRAVES.  The Haley's were from the Cleveland area, so this might be to some other relatives.  I'm not sure who may have been in Troy, Ohio.  

The funeral record lists who to charge the bill to : Mrs. Clarence STUBER, Route 3 Ft. Recovery (Ohio); Mrs. Galen Miller, Muncie; Mrs. E.C. Kunce, Danville, Illinois; Mrs. Waymon Thornburg; and Mrs. Ord LeMaster.  These are the surviving children, all daughters.

Public Auction : Stuber Farm

Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, September 10, 1944, page 26.

Public Sale

The Stuber farm having been sold and as I am moving to Indiana I will offer at Public Auction at my home located 2 miles North and one-half mile West of Lima, Ohio, on State Route 81, on 

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1944 Commencing at 1:00 PM., Slow Time

12 Head of Cattle

Consisting of 6-year-old Guernsey and Holstein cow, fresh 10 weeks; 5-year-old Guernsey cow, fresh 12 weeks, 5-year-old Guernsey and Holstein, to freshen November 15, 4-year-old Guernsey cow, with calf by side, one Bundle heifer, bred; two Guernsey heifers, bred; four nice Guernsey heifers, under 6 months old.

11 Head of Sheep

Consisting of five 3-year-old Shropshire ewes and six Shropshire lambs. 15 ton mixed hay.

Machinery

Consisting of International manure spreader in A-1 shape; John Deere walking plow, 7-ft. McCormick grain binder; spring tooth harrow; Dane hay loader; Osborn hay tedder, 6-ft. tandem disc, two sets of harness; four collars; McCormick mower, 5-ft; 1 brooder house.

Household Goods

Consisting of medium size Sunny Home base burner, good condition; medium size Renown heating stove, coal or wood, good condition; square extension dining room table; 100-lb. side icer refrigerator; wood bed and springs; leather davenport; Aladdin lamp; three oil lamps; clothes wringer; vacuum cistern cleaner; oven for oil stove and miscellaneous articles.

Terms - Cash

Come And Spend The Afternoon

Clarence Stuber, Owner

Dorsey P. Miller, Auctioneer

Robert Hahn, Clerk

-----

This was the auction sale of my paternal great aunt & uncle, Clarence and Vera (Haley) Stuber.  They sold their property and moved from Ohio to Salamonia in Jay County, Indiana to help take care of Vera's parents, Eli and Cora (Metzner) Haley.  According to my uncle, Paul LeMaster, when Vera and Clarence made the move of nearly 50 miles, they did it with a wagon and a Ford tractor.

Finding Luman: Part Two

Sometimes after spinning your wheels trying to find a record for an ancestor, you just need to sleep on it.  Such was the case in finding my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMASTERS and his family in the 1870 census.


I woke up this morning feeling as if I had received a bit of "divine revelation" on how to look for him.  Previously, I had no luck in searching for him at the Ancestry.com database for the 1870 census by name, or even a line by line browsing of the township where I thought he should be.  This morning I tried a different tack.


Focusing on his wife, Mary, I entered information in the search parameters only for her name, date of birth within 2 years, state of birth and then the presumed locality of Darke County, Ohio.  There was only one result found for the 1870 census that matched my parameters.

When I clicked on the image, I had found my family :

Source: Luman Lemasters household, 1870 census,  Allen Twp., Darke County, Ohio, dwelling 79, family 79, Ancestry.com [database on-line]

The handwriting is not good, and I can see why it was transcribed as Pemantus instead of Lemasters.  Also, for some reason, the image is indexed as Brown Township, Darke County, Ohio when it is clearly Allen Township.  I submitted an indexing correction to Ancestry.com so that others will be able to find the image in the future.

Luman Lemasters was a 27 year old farmer, born in Ohio, with real estate valued at $1000 and personal property valued at $700 and a U.S. citizen.  His wife, Mary, was aged 23, born in New Jersey and keeping house.  Daughter Eula (Beulah) was aged 5, born in Indiana, and son Luman was aged 3, also born in Indiana.  With their daughter listed as Eula it was no wonder I couldn't find her when I searched for "Beulah" before.

I thought I had tried all the possibilities, but for some reason I hadn't found them.  In this case, it was good that I listened to my intuition.

Tombstone Tuesday: Forrest L. and Lelia E. (Ehrhart) Chew

Forrest L. and Lelia E. (Ehrhart) CHEW are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Forrest is my first cousin 3 times removed.


Forrest was born May 1894 in Ohio, the son of William Anderson and Emma Susan (STRAIGHT) CHEW.


Lelia was born September 23, 1898.  I do not know her parentage.


Forrest and Lelia were married on September 1, 1920 in Jay County, Indiana.


Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Forrest L. and Lelia E. Chew marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.


Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Portland, Indiana Directories : LeMaster

I found the following entries for my LeMASTER relatives in the various Portland, Indiana directories available at the Jay County Public Library.  I didn't search all of the directories that they had, nor did I research my other Jay County surnames.  Those will wait for later days.


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey Directory, Baldwin & Son, 1941, Parsons, KS


Le Master Arth (Maude) h 624 N Meridian 632J
Le Master John L Co Aud res Ft Recovery Ohio RD 3
Le Master Nadine mach opr Jay Garment Co h 3 Bryson Apts 286J
Le Master Ord W (Ruth) 3 prs mn Sheller Mfg Corp r 507 E Walnut


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey City Directory, 1949, The Mullin-Kille & Son, 1949, Columbus, OH


LeMaster Chesley F (Clara L) carp Chas L Sanders & S h 609 W High 997W
LeMaster Dale W (Grace C) 1 bodymn Minch Body Co h 609 1/2 W High
LeMaster Donald C (Luella M) 3 h 1100 W Arch
LeMaster Garth L (Ora L) 2 clk Kroger Co h 234 W Votaw
LeMaster Mary M opr United Tel Co r 716 W Arch 614M
LeMaster Ord W (Ruth P) 4 fcty h 1107 W Water 27F02


From: Portland, Indiana Con-Survey City Directory, 1960-61, The Mullin-Kille & Graphic, Chillicothe, OH


LeMaster Dale (Grace) bodymn Wehrly Mtr Sls h RD 5
LeMaster Garth L (Ora Lee) 4 heater Portland Forge h 234 W Votaw 726-8432
LeMaster Grace C (Mrs Dale) ofc mgr Steed Business Serv r RD 5
LeMaster Helen (Mrs John) emp Jay Garment r RD 6
LeMaster Kenneth P (Mary) heater Portland Forge res Ridgeville Ind
LeMaster Ord W (Ruth P) 3 case dept Delco h 1107 W Water 726-4504
LeMaster Paul W (Betty E) 4 slsmn Hayes Milling h 222 W 7th 726-8317
LeMaster Wanda F opr United Tel h 518 W Arch 726-4379

Amanuensis Monday: Sketch of Luman W. LeMasters

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today I'm looking at the biographical sketch of my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Luman Walker LeMASTERS, which appeared in the book "History of Jay County, Indiana: including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History", by Milton T. Jay, 1922, Historical Publishing Company, page 195.





Luman W. LeMasters, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the best known farmers and landowners of Jay county, proprietor of "Lookout Hill Farm" in Madison township, where he makes his home, this farm being on rural mail route No. 6 out of Portland, is a "Buckeye" by birth, but has been a resident of this county practically all the time since he was twelve years of age, a period of about seventy years, and thus has been witness to and a participant in the amazing development that has taken place in this community since what might properly be regarded as pioneer days, for there was still much of the primeval wild here when he first came to this county.  Mr. LeMasters was born on a farm in Shelby county, Ohio, October 19, 1842, and is a son of Luman W. and Nancy (Young) LeMasters, Virginians, who became residents of Ohio in their childhood days and were there married. The elder Luman W. LeMasters was born in that section of the Old Dominion that came to be organized as West Virginia in Civil War times.  He was reared as a farmer and also became a "local" preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church.  After his marriage he made his home on an eighty-acre farm which he owned in Shelby county, Ohio, and there remained until 1854, in which year he moved with his family over into Indiana and located on a quarter section of land he bought in Madison township, this county, the west "eighty" of which is now owned by his son Luman, the subject of the sketch.  On that place the elder Luman W. LeMasters and his wife spent the remainder of their days, their influence for good in that community continuing a pleasant memory in the neighborhood.  He died on April 15, 1888, and his widow survived until August 26, 1904.  They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters, Phebe J., Mary P., and Martha J., and two brothers, Jacob and John LeMasters.  As noted above, the junior Luman W. LeMasters was twelve years of age when he came to Jay county with his parents in 1854.  He grew to manhood on the home farm in Madison township, completing his schooling in the neighborhood schools and by two years of attendance at the old Farmers Academy at College Corner, and was living on the farm when the Civil war broke out.  On July 21, 1861, he enlisted his services in behalf of the cause of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company C of the 39th regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which presently was reorganized as the 8th Cavalry, and with that gallant command was serving when on July 3, 1863, while on a charge against the enemy at Deckers Forge, two and one-half miles south of Winchester, Tenn., he was shot through the left breast, receiving a wound which terminated his further usefulness as a soldier, putting him on the invalid list.  In March, 1864, Mr. LeMasters received his discharge and in the following fall was married and began farming for himself as a renter of land in this county.  Three years later he moved over into Darke county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county and took charge of the home farm in Madison township.  In 1904 he bought the west "eighty" of that quarter section and is still living there, practically retired since 1907, renting his fields.  Mr. LeMasters is a Republican,  is a member of Henry McLaughlin Post, No. 516, Grand Army of the Republic, at Salamonia, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of that village.  It was on October 2, 1864, that Luman W. LeMasters was united in marriage to Mary K. Chew, who has thus been his helpmate for more than fifty-seven years.  Mrs. LeMasters was born in Camden county, New Jersey, February 13, 1847, and is a daughter of Dr. Ezekiel and Caroline B. (Woolston) Chew, both of whom were born in that same state.  In 1855 Dr. Ezekiel Chew moved with his family from New Jersey to Farmersville, Ohio.  Two years later he moved to Ft. Jefferson, in Darke county (Ohio) and after a sometime residence there came to Indiana.  He made several changes of residence after coming to this state, but finally located in St. Joseph county, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there in August, 1888.  His wife died on February 27, 1879.  They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living, Mrs. LeMasters having one sister, Sarah F., and five brothers, Nathaniel D., Cooper, Charles, Virgil and Donald Chew.  To Luman W. and Mary K. (Chew) LeMasters have been born ten children, Beulah S., Luman C., William C., Elsie, Bertha, Ord O., Edith, Maude, Arthur and Vernon, all of whom are still living.  Beulah S. LeMasters married L.L. Rockwell, who is engaged in the garage business at Ft. Recovery, Ohio, and has four children, Claude, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Loy and has two children, Catherine M. and Duetta; Opal, who married Daniel Grile, who is operating a garage at Geneva, Ind., and has two children, Lester and John Lynn; Edith, wife of Cecil Bickel, a Madison township farmer, who has one child, and Anna.  Luman C. LeMasters, a farmer of Madison township, married Belle Wehrley and has twelve children, Clarence, a Madison township farmer, who married May Bickel and has three children, Kenneth, Mary I. and Luman; Chesley, now living at Richmond, Ind., who married Clara Burkey and has two children, Donald and Doris; Bertha, who married Russell Hercules, of Richmond, Ind., and has two children, Mervil and Isabella; Floyd, a Noble township farmer, who married Opal Gagle and has one child, Remonda; Gerald, who is the garage business in Pennville and married Mabel Kantner and has one child, Maxine; Stanley, who is at home; Dorothy, wife of Charles Hunt, of Richmond, Ind.; John, a teacher in the schools of the county, making his home in Madison township, and who married Dorothy Delauter and has one child, Geraldine, and Freda, Ord, Mary O., and Elvin C., who are at home.  William C. LeMasters, who is now living at Victor, Col., where he is the proprietor of a moving picture theater, married Lella Lewis and has four children, Gladys, who married Lloyd G. Moser, of Mt. Rosa, Col., and has two children, Carrie and Bobby; Lella, who married Earl Slinkard and is living in California, and Ralph and William, at home.  Elsie LeMasters married M.J. Adkinson, a farmer of Madison township.  Bertha LeMasters married John Yaeger, who is now principal of schools at Brazil, Ind., and has six children, Clarence, Mary, Helen, John V., George W., and Luther L.  Dr. Ord O. LeMasters, now a practicing physician at Sidney, Ohio, married Emma Garmenhouser.  He and his wife have an adopted daughter, Isabella.  Edith LeMasters married Henry Mineholtz, who is now engaged in the mercantile business at Alamosa, Col., and has four children, Wilhelmina, Lucile, Helen E. and Marjorie M.  Maude LeMasters married Dr. S.W. Phillips, a veterinary surgeon, now living at David City, Neb., and has two children, Donald and Louise.  Arthur LeMasters married Maude McLaughlin and is now engaged in the garage business at Geneva, Ind.  Dr. Vernon LeMasters, a veteran of the World war and a practicing physician, now living at Sidney, Ohio, married Helen Garmenhouser and has one child, a son, Robert.  Doctor LeMasters was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the United States army during the war and served for eighteen months overseas.  Mr. and Mrs. LeMasters were among the most active promoters of the movement which led to the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in 1876 and thus for more than forty-five years have been prominently identified with that congregation.  Mr. LeMasters served as a member of the board of trustees of this congregation until 1920 and for more than forty years was class leader, while for many years Mrs. LeMasters was one of the leading teachers in the Sunday school.




John Newmark at TransylvanianDutch started this Monday genealogy meme, which has quickly spread throughout the Geneablogger community. I am excited to be a participant and transcribe the records of my family.

Finding Luman

According to the biographical sketch found in History of Jay County, Indiana:including its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History [author Jay, Milton T., 1922], my ancestor Luman W. LeMASTERS returned to farming in Jay County, Indiana after his discharge from the Civil War in 1864.  The biography also states that :

Three years later he moved over into Darke county, Ohio, and was there engaged in farming for nine years, at the end of which time he returned to Jay county and took charge of the home farm in Madison township. 

Now, by my reckoning, that would place him in Darke County, Ohio from between 1867 through 1876.   So I should be able to find him in the 1870 census in Darke County, Ohio.  

For some reason, he is being elusive and I have not been able to locate him in Darke County, Ohio or anywhere else for that matter.  

Darke County, Ohio and Jay County, Indiana are contiguous counties.  Luman was married in Darke County on October 2, 1864 in Versailles to Mary Keziah CHEW, daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper CHEW.  In 1870, Dr. Chew and his family are in New Madison, Twin Township, Darke County, Ohio.  In 1870, Luman's parents (another Luman) are in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  So the parents are right where I expected them to be, but the young family was not found living with or near either set of parents.


The 1880 census of Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana lists the children of Luman and Mary as follows [listed as Walker Lemasters household]:

• Beulah, age 14, born Indiana [est. birth year 1866]
• Luman, age 13, born Indiana [est. birth year 1867]
• William, age 9, born Indiana [est. birth year 1871]
• Elsie, age 8, born Ohio [est. birth year 1872]
• Bertha, age 6, born Ohio [est. birth year 1874]
• Ottie, age 4, born Indiana [est. birth 1876]
• Mabel, age 8mos., born Indiana [est. birth 1879]

These dates and places of birth would make me think the family was still in Jay County until around 1871/72 and then back into Indiana between 1874/76. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that a county history was incorrect.


In other census records, son William is stated to have been born in Ohio circa 1871.  There was also another son, Philip D. LEMASTERS, who my database states was born January 28, 1869 in Darke County, Ohio and died May 1, 1869 in Darke County, Ohio.


Daughter Elsie was said to have been born [1872] in Rose Hill, Darke County, Ohio.  Rose Hill is in Mississinawa Township.  I searched line by line through 1870 census of that township on the hunch that the family may have been there.


Right now, I have a gap in the records for Luman between September 16, 1867 when he recorded his discharge from the U.S. Army at the Jay County Recorder's office [Jay County Indiana Deed Records, Miscellaneous Book 1, page 97] and the 1880 census when he was enumerated on June 5, 1880 in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.


My search continues to find him in the 1870 census....

Sunday's Obituary : Dr. Margaret S. Chew

Today's obituary is of Dr. Margaret S. CHEW, my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed.  I came across it during a Google search for key names relating to the Chew family.


La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconisn, Thursday July 17, 2003 [online]


Dr. Margaret S. Chew


Dr. Margaret Sarah Chew, 93, of La Crosse passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.


Margaret was born in Evanston, Ill., Aug. 20, 1909, on the Northwestern University campus to Nathaniel Durbin and Nettie Jane (Trumbauer) Chew, where her father was a seminary student.  She lived in Korea with her family from age 3 months to 7 years as her father was a missionary until they returned to Evanston, where she graduated from Evanston High School in 1926.  


Northwestern University recognized her work with a bachelor of science degree in 1930, and a master's in geography in 1936.  She was granted a Ph.D. from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in 1960, having received an educational loan from PEO Chapter AL in La Crosse and also a Fellowship on two separate occasions during the ensuring years of study.  Her Ph.D. dissertation was "Urban Service Areas" showing how to map the influence of a middle size city in its surrounding area using La Crosse as an example.  The Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce published the maps and a major part of the dissertation in 1961 and included this publication in its bid for La Crosse being selected an All American City.  The city won the honor in 1966 and the then-Mayor Loveland gave Dr. Chew a key to the city of La Crosse, which was presented to the officials in Anchorage, Alaska, which also won that year.


Her high school teaching experiences included mathematics, history, geography and women's physical education at Iron Belt High School in 1930; social studies and women's physical education at Haven Intermediate School in Evanston.  The opportunity to teach geography began at New York State College, Buffalo, College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minn., and an initial summer (1945) appointment at La Crosse State College.  She continued to teach geography and earth science at La Crosse from 1945 to 1979, serving as chairwoman of the department from 1952 to 1965.


Dr. Chew ran the first field trip experiences at UW-L for the Wisconsin geography classes with an airplane field trip over the Coulee Region.  Three students at a time were taken after approval from their parents and class preparation.  Later Granddad's Bluff, the U.S. Conservation Farm and Devils Lake were added to the field offerings that the faculty in geography provided for students.  In 1946, Dr. Chew began offering tours around the world for teachers taking summer school courses.  They had to be three weeks in length with required readings and papers.  Her tours covered five continents and most of the countries of the world.  She traveled on her own to the other two continents and the South Pacific.  Many others, e.g. doctors, farmers, engineers also joined her.  She became La Crosse's ambassador to the world.


The last travels were in 1989, at the age of 80, when she visited Easter Island, Pitcairn, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands and Fuji.  Because she was an excellent photographer, the pictures and slides she took and her delightful educational way of presenting programs, found her a popular and often sought-after speaker.  Her special services to the college and university included many important committees including the responsibility of the selection of students for scholarship, faculty senate, and president of the La Crosse State College Foundation (1954-1979).  Building committee memberships included the Florence Wing Library, Cowley Hall and Cowley Annex.  In addition, she advised numerous student groups such as Delta Zeta and the Wesley Foundation.  Her records and photos are included in the anniversary of Wesley United Methodist Church this year.


Margaret was an active member of many organizations throughout the community and state.  She was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Geographical Society.  Other memberships included the American Association of University Women, National Council on Geographic Education and Lutheran Auxiliary and PEO Chapter AL to name only a few.  She was recognized as a person who enjoyed people and places and loved sharing this joy with all who came to hear and see the programs and lectures she freely gave.  Her travels throughout the world made her "a traveler of the world and an educator exceptional."  All who knew her have many wonderful memories.


She is survived by a niece, Ms. Carol Crabbs of Evanston; and a nephew, Terry (Paula) Crabbs of Kansas City, Mo.


Her parents, a sister, Elizabeth Crabbs, and a brother, Nathaniel Jr., preceded her in death.


Memorial services will be Monday, July 21, at 3 p.m., from Wesley United Methodist Church, 721 King St., La Crosse.  The Rev. Donald Iliff will officiate. Burial will be in the family plot in Caledonia, Mich.  There will not be a visitation.  Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation for the Margaret Chew Scholarship or Wesley United Methodist Church, La Crosse for the Margaret Chew Memorial.  Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.






Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Boundary Lines

Researching my paternal lines lately has taught me valuable lessons about geography.  On the recent trip back to his boyhood haunts with my dad, I learned a little bit about how the geography of the area in which they lived shaped their lives, and consequently, the places where the records would be located.


For instance, though Portland, Indiana is the county seat, my ancestors were predominately in Madison Township near Salamonia.  Though many of the records  for the family are to be found in Portland, they were closer to the Ohio state line than they were to the county seat.



View Larger Map


Because of this, the stories from my dad involve trips into Ohio towns such as Ft. Recovery and even further northwest into Celina.  In researching records such as census and obituaries, I have found that my families tended to hop across the state line quite frequently.


I recently found the 1941 Portland Indiana Con-Survey Directory, which listed my granduncle, John Leland LeMASTER, serving as the County Auditor, with a residential address of RD 3 Ft Recovery, Ohio.  I asked my dad how this could be - that someone could be serving as the Auditor of an Indiana county with an  Ohio address.  He quickly pointed out to me that the entire rural area around Salamonia, Madison Township had a Rural Route address out of Ohio.  


My modern-day ZIP code + 4 mind hadn't registered this possibility when I had examined the record.  Because this was explained to me, I understood other records I have found, such as funeral home records, which also listed that same rural route address.  Without this understanding, it would be very easy for me  to place someone in the wrong state of residence.


To the south of Salamonia is the Randolph County, Indiana line, and Union City.  I remember last year when I was at the Jay County Health Department looking for the death record for my great grandmother.  She wasn't found there, though I was sure she must be, since she was buried next to her husband in the Salamonia cemetery.  Finding her obituary, I discovered that she actually died in Union City, the county to the south.  Why Union City?  Possibly due to the ability of that hospital to treat her particular condition.  The distance was not much greater to Union City than Portland from where she lived.


Though this is just one example in one of my families, I am going to use this experience to re-examine the "geographical filter" of the records I discover in my other lines as well.


Taking a more wide-eyed view of the geography of the area has helped me to understand the "why" of the location of a record.  State lines and county lines were not insurmountable walls.  Failure to comprehend the physical geography of an area can lead to genealogical brickwalls, created by our own blind spots.

One for the good guys

Sometimes it's nice to know that there are people out there who are the "good guys" and keep their word.  I want to take a moment and thank the staff at the Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana for helping me out and keeping their word.


On my last research trip there, I started searching for obituaries and found one that I wanted to print.  Actually, I found two obits on the same page - for different family lines, so I put in my change ($.30) to print out the two copies when the machine didn't work.


Turns out the printer function was broken.  The nice staffer tried to help me getting it working, and when it was obvious that it wouldn't be working that day, offered to mail me copies of the obituaries.  She took down my name and address and the relevant information and I went on to searching for other items.


Yesterday, copies of the obituaries arrived in the mail as promised.  I will transcribe them later for a future post, but wanted to publicly thank the library for going the extra mile.  They could have just given me my money back and that have been all.  Offering to make the copies for me was a step beyond.