When You Break The Microfilm Reader, It's Time To Go Home

Microfilm reader at Jay County Public Library

My first research trip of 2011 turned out to be a productive one.  I had planned a visit to the Jay County Public Library in Portland, Indiana in order to obtain copies of obituaries from the local newspaper.  Prior to my trip, I had created a "to-do list" using the features of my RootsMagic database.

Though my focus was going to be strictly on obituaries, I decided to contact the Jay County Historical Society via email to see if by chance someone could come in on Saturday and let us look around.  Normally, the museum is only opened through the week.  On my last research trip, the microfilm reader at the library stopped working, and I wanted to have a back up plan in case it was broken again.

My dad wanted to go with me on this trip, and I was excited to have him come along.  He's been getting interested in family history again, reading my blog daily, doing off site research and preparing mini-history books on our ancestors.  We met at 7 a.m. in the morning and headed out to Portland.

Arriving at the library, my cell phone rang and it was Tom Young from the Historical Society letting me know that he could open the museum for us and let us do some research.  We agreed to meet at 10 a.m., so that still gave dad and I a few hours at the library.

As I quickly began to scour the local newspapers, which stretch back into the 1880s, I was pleased with the rate of success.  At only $0.15 per copy, these obituaries are a bargain.  I only wish that the entire collection of these small town newspapers were online somewhere, such as Ancestry, so that I could do an every name search and locate tidbits of information about the daily lives of the families.  The society notes in the earlier newspapers are great sources of information.

Just before 10 a.m., we headed down the Historical Society, where we met Tom.  My dad and Tom graduated from Portland High School in the same class, and as we talked we also realized that we have a distant connection through the Haley-Easterday families.  Tom mentioned that he has read my blog, always nice to hear that as well.  Will have to see what more information I could share with Tom about the Haley and Easterday families.

I wanted to focus on the records of the township schools at the museum, and right away dad found a school photo from 1931-32 of Mt. Zion school in Noble Township that had included his mother, Ruth Pauline Haley.  Fortunately, someone had taken the time to identify each and every person in the photo.  Very serendipitous to find such a picture right off the bat.

We spent about two hours at the museum, where I obtained copies of anniversary notices from the local newspapers, recipes submitted by family members to locally-published cookbooks, funeral home records and marriage supplemental transcript records.  Someone had taken the time to print these from the courthouse and place them in binders at the Historical Society, giving me access to information that normally would have been locked up at the courthouse on a weekend.

It's easy to get so involved in your research that you forget to eat, but around noon we decided that we'd better not overstay our welcome with Tom. We thanked him for letting us research on Saturday, and headed to lunch for a sandwich.

After lunch, we called my aunt Juanita and uncle Harold, and found out they were home.  We were able to visit with them for a good couple of hours, sharing the information we had just discovered.  Dad gave Juanita a booklet he had put together on the Lemasters family, including records on our ancestors' Civil War service.  Harold and Juanita shared some memories about the members of the families in the obits I had discovered.  My cousin Mark and his wife and daughter showed up right as we were leaving, and it was good to see them again.  Dad told them about this blog, so hopefully they will check it out and see some of the information we've discovered.

Then it was back to the library for a couple more hours of research.  Dad was digging into the plat maps and the city directories while I was burning up the microfilm reader printing obituaries.  As in the morning, was able to make great headway.  Just around 4 p.m., however, the microfilm reader decided it was time to surrender.  The reel just refused to advance forward or backwards. That was my cue that it was time to call it a day.  After notifying the staff of the problems, we decided to pack it in and call it a day.

We called my uncle Paul and aunt Betty, found out they were home, and stopped by for a visit on the way out of town.  We again shared the research and gave them a copy of the family history dad had put together.  Uncle Paul remembered some stories and shared a few tidbits about the family members whose obituaries I had obtained.  Cousin Nancy stopped by and we found out she is getting married in June; also saw cousin Phil briefly.

It was a long day, but a good day from a research standpoint.  Now I just have to source the data, and will post copies of the obituaries on the blog.

Finds from the visit to the Jay County Public Library:

• Information regarding the 1949 polio epidemic in Portland, something I want to document as it affected my family
• Obituary of Patty Lou LeMaster, age 12, from the November 1, 1945 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Maxine Elizabeth LeMaster, age 10, from the April 4, 1931 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• LeMaster, Sr., age 77, from the January 14, 1980 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Clarence Harrison LeMaster, age 75, from the November 29, 1963 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Elvin Cooper LeMaster, age 87, from the May 17, 2000 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Garth Luman LeMaster, Sr., age 76, from the February 6, 1998 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Bertha A. (LeMasters) Hercules, age 69, from the January 2, 1962 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of John Leland LeMaster, Jr., age 50, from the March 28, 1973 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of William A. LeMaster, age 54, from the October 16, 1978 edition of The Commerical-Review.
• Obituary of Roger A. LeMaster, age 45, from the March 6, 1972 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Bertha (LeMasters) Yaeger, age 47, from the March 17, 1922 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Beulah S. (LeMasters) Rockwell, from the July 18, 1940 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Catherine Elizabeth (Lemasters) Wehrly, from the December 26, 1911 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ralph V. LeMaster, age 73, from the February 1, 1996 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Floyd LeMasters, Sr., from the February 12, 1982 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Mary Elsie (LeMasters) Atkinson, age 70, from the June 5, 1942 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ord Otterbein LeMasters, from the September 15, 1937 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Rachel (Lemasters) Cunningham, from the March 12, 1913 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Maude (LeMasters) Phillips, from the September 16, 1968 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Matthias Jefferson Atkinson, age 59, from the August 25, 1923 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ferry Mae (Bickel) LeMaster, age 86, from the July 21, 1978 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Ora Lee (Brady) LeMaster, age 87, from the April 16, 2008 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Clara L. (Burkey) LeMaster, age 90, from the October 31, 1985 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Dr. William Anderson Chew, from the January 7, 1914 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Carrie V. (Haley) Thornburg, age 98, from the August 6, 2003 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Obituary of Larry LeMaster, age 24, from the February 28, 1974 edition of The Commercial-Review.
• Wedding announcement of Ora Lee Brady and Garth L. LeMaster from the May 11, 1942 edition of The Commercial-Review.

Finds from the visit to the Jay County Historical Society:

• Photograph of my grandmother, Ruth Pauline Haley, int he Mt. Zion School of Noble Township, 1931-32.
• Funeral record of Frank Haley, August 1, 1937 from the Baird Funeral Home.
• Marriage supplemental record of Pearl M. Metzner to Edward H. Baumgartner from June 2, 1915.
• Marriage supplemental record of Archibald E. Chew from October 27, 1909.
• Marriage supplemental record of Mamie Petry from October 12, 1907.
• 45th Anniversary announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Lisle Wehrly, from April 1, 1969.
• 50th Anniversary announcement of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Haley, from March 3, 1966.
• LeMaster entries in the 1927 Jay County Directory
• LeMaster entries in the 1941 Portland, Indiana City Directory
• LeMaster entries in the 1949 Portland, Indiana City Directory

I'm looking forward to planning out my next research trip.  

Surname Saturday : YOUNG

The YOUNG surname is in my paternal line. The origins of the surname are German.  There is no known connection to my other YOUNG family line.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 45: Catherine YOUNG (1819-1910).  Catherine was born July 18, 1819 in the Alsace region of France/Germany.  She married November 4, 1839 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio to John METZNER (1805-1888).  John was born October 2, 1805 in Saxony.  They lived in Licking County, Ohio until just before the 1850 census when they moved to Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.  They had 11 children.  John died January 10, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  Catherine died June 22, 1910 in Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahntentafel# 90: Nicholas YOUNG (1790-1855).  Nicholas was born in 1790 in Alsace.  He married Salome ________ (c1793-1887) circa 1813.  They had at least 3 children and came to Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Salome died September 3, 1887 in Jay County, Indiana.  Nicholas died in 1855 in Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.


Related blog posts:

• Tombstone Tuesday: John and Catherine (YOUNG) METZNER

• John Metzner household, Jay County Indiana

• Obituary : Salome Young

• Today in my database: Catherine YOUNG (b. July 18, 1719)

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

The Councilman Objects: William Clifford LeMaster (1871-1922)

Apparently, it didn't take long for my relative, William Clifford LeMaster, newly elected councilman of the city of Elyria, to become involved in a bit of political controversy.  Perhaps it was his opposition to this gentleman that prompted him to run for office.

Source: Elyria Republican, Elyria, Ohio, May 17, 1900, page 1.

COUNCIL ENDORSES CHAPIN

His Waterworks Estimate Is Re-Adopted

TWO COUNCILMEN OBJECTING

LeMaster and Eady Fear that Bond Issue Will Be Defeated at Polls if Chapin Is Employed

Engineer Chapin, away in Canton, must have felt a warm sensation about the ears on Tuesday evening.  He certainly was being talked about.  The council reviewed his career, discussed his moral, social and professional standing.  Most of all, his popularity was questioned.

Councilman Eady and LeMaster took part in the effort to get another engineer.  They were afraid that a proposition involving the employment of Chapin would  not carry at the polls, and said that they represented popular opposition to him.  In justice to Chapin it may be said that not a single reason was given for such opposition.  The council very properly refused to take notice of opposition unfounded in reason and re-adopted Chapin's estimate with only one dissenting vote, that of LeMaster.  The resolution of necessity calling for the bond election was voted to be taken up at a special meeting Wednesday night.

At a special meeting of the council on Wednesday night the resolution calling for the bond election was taken up and passed.

Election Day, 1900 : The Vote in Detail

Source: The Elyria Republican, Elyria, Ohio, April 5, 1900, page 1

Thanks to Ancestry.com, I've found out that my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER, was elected as the Fourth Ward Councilman for the city of Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio in 1900.  Republicans only one two of the four wards in the city, and William received more votes than any other councilman.  He received 247 votes to his opponents 119 votes.

The article was fascinating, not so much for the family history, but for the grandstanding and spin that the editors put into their articles.  Granted, this was a Republican house organ, but the manner in which they complained about the democratic shenanigans was pretty funny.  Makes what goes on today seem tame.

The article is partially transcribed below:

TWO WOMEN WERE ELECTED

Will Serve On Elyria's Board of Education.

MANY BALLOTS WERE REJECTED

School Bond Issue Approved By Large Ward Majorities - Democrats Make Slight Gains

Monday's election in Elyria, while not without its surprises, was generaly satisfactory to republicans under the existing conditions.

The advantage which the democrats gained in keeping the republican nominees off the ticket served to elect democratic councilmen in the second and third wards, democratic assessor in the second ward, and made the margins in other contests closer than is consistent with the customary republican majorities.

The conditions affecting the election were such as to make both sides active in getting out the voters, and a large vote was polled.

WOMEN ATTEND THE POLLS

For the first time in the history of local politics the women exercised the franchise in the selection of members of the school board, and the two women candidates were triumphantly elected.  All day long they thronged the polling places, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather.  They came in pairs, or small groups, singly and with male escorts.  Their vote aggregated 334, being highest in the fourth ward, where 124 women voted.  Many republicans voted for the women's ticket.  It is alike flattering to the chivalry and sense of the voters that Miss Metcalf and Mrs. Young were elected.  In affairs which pertain to the welfare of the young, the counsel of women is never to be despised.

BALLOTS IMPROPERLY MARKED

Many ballots were thrown out as being improperly marked.  In some wards tickets all written out and voted straight with an X under the eagle were accepted, and in others thrown out.  The intention of these will be probably made matters of contest before the proper authorities.

The partisan complexion of the council remains unchanged, two democratic members going out this spring.

The school bond issue carried by large majorities in each ward.  The vote on the issue of bonds was 934 for and 258 against.

Carlisle, which is in this school district, gave for the board of education, Chamberlain, one vote, Miss Metcalf, two votes, Dr. Sampsel and Thos. Seward two votes each.

MAJORITIES OF WINNING CANDIDATES

The winning candidates with their respective majorities follow:

Water Works Trustee

P.H. Boynton, R.............................37

Councilmen

First Ward - R.B. Dersch, R.............93

Second Ward - Grant Grundy, D.....93

Third Ward - Martin Mueller.............61

Fourth Ward - W.C. LeMaster.......128

[end of transcription]

Republicans In Trouble

Source: Elyria Republican, Elyria, Ohio, March 29, 1900, page 1.


REPUBLICANS IN TROUBLE


Voters in Elyria Must Write Their Tickets


USUAL CAUTION REQUIRED


Because of Technical Error the Party Ticket Cannot Be Printed by the Election Board.


The ticket nominated by the republicans of Elyria at the recent city and township primaries has been thrown out by the Lorain County Board of Elections.  Elyria republicans will therefore have to write in the names of their party's choice on each ballot which they vote.


The trouble was occassioned by the failure of the city republican committee to certify the nomination up to the board within the statutory time, fifteen days before election.


Arthur J. Laundon, a democratic nominee for council, filed a protest with the board and a hearing was given the republican candidates Monday.  The entire ticket was thrown out.


The ticket will be printed with the republican emblem and designation of each office to be filled, but with no names.  Each republican voter must therefore write in the names of the republican candidates, and mark an "X" in the circle under the eagle.


The first ward ticket, for example, should read as follows:


For water works trustee,
P.H. Boynton.
For councilman,
Robt. B. Lersch.
For assesor,
Wm. A. Garford.
For township trustees
John Langton, 
E.L. Disbro.
For township clerk,
W.H. Park.
For cemetery trustee,
J.A. Jacob.
For justice of the peace,
A.E. Lawrence,
For constable,
R.E. Braman,
C.A. Cahoon.
For township assesor,
A.E. Baus


In the other wards the republicans will write their tickets just the same, except that they will substitute the name of their party's choice for councilman and assessor in their respective wards. These are:


SECOND WARD
Councilman - M.N. Terry
Assessor - Chas. Chandler
THIRD WARD
Councilman - Chas. J. Smith
Assessor - Frank Quayle
FOURTH WARD
Councilman - W.C. LeMaster
Assessor - Wm. Sage


The republican ballot for board of education will be also blank and the names must be written in. The republican choice for these officers were E.E. Williams and Geo. H. Chamberlain.


There is reason to believe that this technical irregularity will make no appreciable difference in the result and should if anything make the republican voters more vigilant than ever to get out and write their ticket.


---
W.C. LeMASTER was my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMASTER (1871-1922), son of Luman Walker and Mary Keziah (CHEW) LEMASTERS.

Wordless Wednesday: School Days

Weldon LeMaster, 1951-52

Weldon LeMaster, 1957-58

Weldon LeMaster, 1960

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Tombstone Tuesday: Orville Bernand and Ada (________) Chew

Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Bernard and Ada Chew marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.

Orville Bernard and Ada (________) CHEW are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Bernard was my paternal 1st cousin 3 times removed.

Bernard was born August 5, 1896 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of William Anderson and Emma Susan (STRAIGHT) CHEW.

Ada was born in 1901 to unknown parentage.  I do not yet know when and where they were married.

Bernard died in 1947 and Ada died in 1986.

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.

Amanuensis Monday: The Fish Story

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

Undated news clipping, possibly Alexandria, Indiana Times-Tribune

Bill Wright, employee of the post office, was telling the folks back home this week about the "ones that got away" while on his vacation.  Mr. and Mrs. Wright were fishing at Tippecanoe lake last Saturday night and had a string of six fish tied on the back of the boat.   The boat drifted into some weeds and the fish became tangled in the weeds and broke loose.

Among the catch was the largest fish ever caught by Mrs. Wright, a one and one-fourth pound crappie.

That's the story!

---

Bill Wright was my maternal grandfather.

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

Sunday's Obituary: Lawrence Spence (1863-1961)

Lawrence Spence obituary, Anderson Herald, Anderson, Indiana, April 1, 1961, page 2

SPENCE FUNERAL IN ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria - Military funeral services for Lawrence Spence, 98, Indiana's oldest member of the American Legion, were held Thursday afternoon at the Karl M. Kyle Funeral Home with the Rev. Herschel M. Reed, pastor of the First Christian Church, in charge.

Organ music was provided by Mrs. Martin Burden.

Pall bearers were Earl Stage, Harry Beardsley, Garland Shafer, Irl Gorden, Herschel Swindell and William A. Lewis.  Chaplain was Sam Allen and color guards were Charles Cummins, Sam Allen, Fred Marston and Virgil Holford.

At the IOOF Cemetery, where interment was made, the firing squad was comprised of James Donahue, Donald P. Jones, Richard Hall and Neal Johnson. Buglar was Robert Hiatt, Jr.

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.

Surname Saturday : JACOBS

The JACOBS surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are believed to be German.

Stories and history:

Ahnentafel # 43 : Susan Jacobs (1825-1864).  Susan was born August 18, 1825 in Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania.  She married March 23, 1843 in Wayne County, Ohio to David Sherrick (1823-1914).  David was born October 18, 1823 in York County, Pennsylvania.  They raised 9 children in Wayne and Ashland Counties, Ohio.  David died September 30, 1914 in Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio.  Susan died February 24, 1864 in Mifflin Township, Ashland County, Ohio.

Ahnentafel # 86 : David Jacobs (1796-1857).  David was born October 3, 1796 in York County, Pennsylvania.  He married circa 1817 in York County, Pennsylvania to Barbara Byers (1798-1874).  Barbara was born January 5, 1798 in Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania.  They raised 10 children in York County, Pennsylvania and Wayne County, Ohio.  Barbara died December 4, 1874 in Congress Township, Wayne County, Ohio.  David died June 20, 1857 in Wayne County, Ohio.  

Ahnentafel # 172 : Michael Jacobs (1772-1846).  Michael was born November 20, 1772.  He married Margaret ________ (1769-1864).  Margaret was born October 23, 1769.  They raised 8 children in York County, Pennsylvania.  Margaret died February 23, 1864.  Michael died January 23, 1846 in Warrington Township, York County, Pennsylvania.

Ahnentafel # 344 : Johan Michel Jacobs (c1742-bef1790).  Johan was born circa 1742 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He married July 18, 1771 in Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania to Maria Catherine Cherdron (bef1730-af1790).  Maria was baptized February 16, 1730 in Otterberg, Bayern.    She was previously married to Johann Peter Gutling. Maria died after 1790 in Dover Township, York County, Pennsylvania.  Johan died before 1790 in Dover, York County, Pennsylvania.

Related blog posts:

• Today in my database: Michael Jacobs (b. November 20, 1772)

• Today in my database: Susan Jacobs (b. August 18, 1825)

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Exploratory Data Analysis: Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933)

Luman C. LeMasters

Luman Cooper LeMasters (1867-1933) was my paternal great-grandfather.  What follows is an exploratory data analysis of the biographical facts I have discovered about him.

1. Vital Records

     1.1. Birth Certificate

          Luman was born May 27, 1867 in Jay County, Indiana ^{1, 2}. The State of Indiana didn't require state-wide registrations of birth until after 1907.  Prior to this date, they were only recorded in the counties where the event occurred.  Jay County, Indiana only has birth records from 1882.


          1.1.1. Birth Notice in Newspaper


               If Luman's birth was announced in a local newspaper, it has been lost to history.  The Jay County Public Library has newspapers from the late 1880s, and there was a book by Rex Bertram "Jay Co., IN Newspaper Clippings, 1871-1887", but I haven't discovered anything earlier.  The holdings of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis do not indicate any newspapers of the period.

          1.1.2. Bible Record


               I am not aware of the survival of a Lemasters family Bible.  Luman's father, Luman Walker Lemasters Jr., mentioned a family Bible in his Civil War pension paperwork, but if it has survived to the present day, I am unaware.  I will continue to reach out to extended family hoping that it does exist.


          1.1.3. Baptismal Record


               The Lemasters were members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salamonia in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  The church is no longer in existence.  I have contacted the Jay County Historical Society, and they do not have the records of this church.  I have reached out to local researchers in Jay County to see what they can find out as well.  I have contacted the Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Conference church via email to see if they have any records of this church.


          1.1.4. Adoption Record


               There is no indication that Luman was adopted.


     1.2. Marriage license


          Luman was married on November 13, 1886 in Jay County, Indiana to Barbara Isabel Wehrly³.  A copy of this record was the subject of a previous post.  They were married by S.J. Mellinger.


          1.2.1. Marriage notice in newspaper


               I have not searched in Jay County Newspapers to see if Luman and Barbara's nuptials were announced in the newspaper.  Have added this to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.


          1.2.2. Anniversary notice


              I have not searched in Jay County Newspapers for mention of Luman and Barbara's anniversaries either.  Their 25th would have been on November 13, 1911.  They did not survive to reach their 50th anniversary. Have added this search to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.


          1.2.3. Divorce decree


               There is no indication that a divorce ever occurred, and a recent search of court records during the time period did not turn up a divorce record.


     1.3. Death certificate


          Luman died on February 11, 1933 at Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana³.  A copy of this record was the subject of a previous post.  His age was listed as 65 years, 8 months and 15 days.  The cause of death was listed as "carcinoma bladder". He passed away at 8 o'clock in the evening. His funeral was handled by the Williamson funeral home in Portland, and he was buried February 14, 1933 in the Salamonia Cemetery.  By re-examining this record I discovered I had been reporting Luman's death date erroneously as February 10, 1933 for a number of years, relying on a secondary source⁴.


          1.3.1. Obituary in newspaper


               Luman's obituary appeared in the February 13, 1933 edition of The Commercial-Review in Portland, Indiana⁵.  The obituary appeared in a Monday edition and the obituary was a subject of a previous post.  The obituary referred to him by his middle name, Cooper, which is probably how he was called.  The obituary states that he was "in failing health for four years and seriously ill the past four months".  The obituary states that he was a rural mail carrier and farmer and mentions there were 29 surviving grandchildren.


          1.3.2. Funeral home record


               The Jay County Library has some of the records from the Williamson Funeral Home in Portland, Indiana.  Will add this to my "to-do list" on my next research trip into Jay County.


          1.3.3. Tombstone photograph


               Luman's tombstone in the Salamonia Cemetery has been photographed.  The tombstone spells the surname as "LeMasters".  It lists him as Luman Cooper 1867-1933, and his wife, Barbara is also listed.⁶.


2. Census Records


     2.1. Federal Census Records


          2.1.1. 1930 Federal Census


               On April 9, 1930, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana⁷, as Cooper Leamasters, age 63, widowed farmer, aged 63, born Indiana.  Both parents were listed as being born in Indiana.  He could read and write and spoke English.  He also owned his own home.  This was the last federal census he appeared in.


          2.1.2. 1920 Federal Census


               On January 12, 1920, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana⁸, as Luman Lemaster


          2.1.3. 1910 Federal Census


               On May 5, 1910, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana⁹, as Cooper Lemaster, age 41, married rural route mail carrier, born Indiana.  Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey.  He could read and write and spoke English.  He owned his own home.  He had been married for 24 years.


          2.1.4. 1900 Federal Census


               On June 1, 1900, Luman was enumerated in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana¹⁰, as Luman C. Lemasters, age 33, born May 1867, married farmer, born in Indiana.  Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey.  He could read and write and spoke English.  He rented his home, and lived on a farm.  The family was living on Main Street in Salamonia.


          2.1.5. 1880 Federal Census


               On June 5, 1880, Luman was enumerated in Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana¹¹ in the Walker Lemasters household, as Luman Lemasters, age 13, single, working on farm, born in Indiana.  Father was listed as born in Ohio and mother as born in New Jersey.


          2.1.6. 1870 Federal Census


               On June 15, 1870, Luman was enumerated in Allen Township, Darke County, Ohio¹² in the Luman Lemasters houshold, as Luman Lemasters, age 3, single, born Indiana.


     2.2. State Census Records


          The State of Indiana conducted state census in 1853, 1857, 1871, 1877, 1883, 1889, 1901, 1913, 1919 and 1931.  These however, were merely for the purposes of determining legislative apportionment.


     2.3. Agricultural Census Records


          I have not yet investigated these types of census records to see what information might be shed on the Lemaster family farm.


3. Military Records


     3.1. Draft Registration


          Luman was too old to register for the draft during World War I, however, his sons did and will be discussed later.


     3.2. Pension Records


          Not applicable, as Luman didn't serve in the military.


     3.3. Service Records


          Not applicable.


4. Land Records


     4.1. Deed records


          Deed records need to be researched more thoroughly in Jay County, Indiana, as well as Darke County, Ohio.  The family moved to Valley County, Nebraska for a brief period, and one record was located.  However, none of these have been sourced in my RootsMagic database.


          The following records in the Jay County Circuit Book 2 need researched:


          LeMaster, Luman C., James F. Eley, Replevin, June 7, 1930, Box 724, Record No. 20867


      4.2. Plat map / county map


          Jay County published a plat map in 1874, 1881, 1887, 1901, 1910, and 1920 that may be relevant to my search for Luman.  I have access to copies of the 1887 and 1901 plat maps in Jay County, and need to see what information they hold regarding Luman.


5. Supplemental records


     Supplemental records available to research for Luman include county/city directories, court records and will and probate records.  Searching these will be on my next "to-do list" research trip in Jay County at the library.


     Luman's will was filed in Jay County, Indiana.  Though I have a copy of it, I do not have it properly sourced by book and page in the Probate Office.


Sources:


1. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977, page 385.
2. Luman Cooper LeMaster, death certificate, Book H-8, page 18 (1933), Jay County, Indiana Health Department, Portland, Indiana.
3. Jay County, Indiana Marriage Book C-F, page 180., Clerk's Office, Portland, Indiana.

4. Rummel, Merle & Madelaine Ott, comp., "Three Sons of Steffan Petry, 1729-1977", Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1977, page 385.
5. Cooper LeMaster obituary, Portland Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 13, 1933, page 1.
6. Luman Cooper LeMasters tombstone, Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana, transcribed by the writer, 26 March 2009.
7. Cooper Leamaster household, 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, USA, ED 38-8, SD 5, sheet 4A, dwelling 82, family 82; National Archives micropublication T626.
8. Luman Lemaster household, 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 72, SD 84, sheet 5, dwelling 103, family 103; National Archives micropublication T625.
9. Cooper Lemaster household, 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 67, SD 1, sheet 8, dwelling 170, family 175; National Archives micropublication T624.
10. Luman C. Lemasters household, 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 62, SD 8, sheet 1A, dwelling 4, family 4; National Archives micropublication T623.
11. Walker Lemasters household, 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, ED 161, SD 6, page 4, dwelling 47, family 48; National Archives micropublication T9.

This post was developed as part of the series relating to Building My 2011 Research Template, an attempt to systematically document and source the details of my ancestors' lives. Comments regarding this template and the conclusions draw in this article are welcomed.