One Person or Two — Elizabeth Harding

Since I hadn’t worked Ancestry’s ‘shaky leaves’ until recently, they have provided a ‘golden opportunity’ for a go-over. I have done a lot of research for my tree and have sources cited in my database — much of it based on paper/microfilm research. Since following Ancestry’s hints to access the online records is quicker than searching for the same record, I’ve been using them to locate the  digital record, save the image and update my computer database.

This is a slow process and I’m not sure I’ll ever get done but I do appreciate the challenge — both of getting rid of a leaf and of checking my research for errors. Over the weekend, I switched to my Harding line. My 3rd great-grandfather, William G. Harding, settled in Black Hawk County, Iowa prior to 1860. The 1860 census contains lots of clues about the family:

• came from New Brunswick (birthplaces of Harding children)
• blended family (both Ponsford and Harding children in home)
• wife is likely a 2nd wife (Ponsford children)
• family was in Wisconsin around 1857 (birthplace of Hattie)

(Iowa. Black Hawk County. 1860 U.S. Census, population schedule. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2016.)

This census led me to New Brunswick where I found the Harding family living in Westfield Township, Kings County, New Brunswick. Noticeably absent from the 1851 census is his wife, Elizabeth and the Ponsford children.

(Canada. New Brunswick. Kings County. 1851 Canadian Census, canadian census. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2016.)

Based on these two census records, I concluded that William G. Harding was likely married twice. I associated the Elizabeth Harding listed in the 1860 census as the mother of Hattie Harding and the Ponsford children. However, based on the fact that she is missing from the 1851 census, I did not associate her as the mother of the other Harding children.

Thus, began my hunt for the mother of my ancestor, Julia Harding. In my search for William’s wife, I came across an extensive history of the Harding family in New Brusnwick by Mrs. Raymond Caron and Brenda Beryl (Harding) Caron. (Caron, Mrs. Raymond, author. Life and Times of George and William Harding: Newburgh, New York 767-1783 and Saint John, New Brunswick; vol. 2. Canada: n.p., n.d..)

According to this book, the New Brunswick branch of the Harding family was Loyalists during the revolutionary war. After the war, they migrated to New Brunswick. Since this 2 volume work includes descendants of these Loyalist families, I searched it for William and found that William was a family name. However, there were only a handful of Julia Hardings in the index — most of them dying as infants. The possible match to my Julia Harding was the daughter of William Gillies Harding and Elizabeth Fowler. Unfortunately, the book only identifies 2 children when there were 7 children in the 1851 census.

I was able to locate the marriage record on Family Search. William G. Harding and Elizabeth Fowler were married in Kings County, New Brunswick in 1830. Thus, Elizabeth Fowler could be the mother of the children in the 1851 census.

(New Brunswick Marriage Registers, 1789-1889. Provincial Archives, Fredericton. database with images. Family Search. http://www.familysearch.org.)

If that is the case, then she either died or left the family sometime between 1846 (birth of William Henry Harding) and the 1851 census. Since the census records (including those past 1860) consistently list either New Brunswick or Canada (Eng) as the birthplace of the children, it is likely that the family did not leave New Brunswick until sometime after the 1851 census.

Thus, I am working with the theory that William had TWO wives: Elizabeth Fowler and a second Elizabeth that he married sometime after 1851. Yesterday, I located the marriage record for his daughter, Hattie, who was born in Wisconsin. According to this record, her mother was Eliza HENDERSON.

(“Iowa, Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996.” Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : Sept. 2016.)

If only I could find a similar marriage record for one of the older Harding children identifying their mother!

Until someone provides documentation to disprove it, my current theory is that William G. Harding was married twice, with his first marriage occurring in New Brunswick and his second marriage occurring after 1851. So my quest continues:

• Locate marriage record for William G. Harding and Eliza Henderson Ponsford
• Locate records supporting or disproving Elizabeth Fowler as the mother of the Harding children
• Locate marriage record for Eliza Henderson and ? Ponsford
• Locate death information for Elizabeth Fowler Harding
• Work to keep these two ladies from being merged

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Tackling the Hirams – Dodge City Bunch

Children of Hiram Miles Currey and Winnie Mae Hutchinson Currey

• Henry Currey – 1893-1906
• Herbert Miles Currey – 1895-1971
• Hiram Currey – 1897-1898
• Myrtle Irene Currey – 1899-1970
• Mary Lela Currey – 1901-1977
• Winnie Letha Currey – 1903-1992
• Earnest Oran Currey – 1906-1979
• Alma Jean Currey – 1912-1989

At the ages of 18, 14, 12, 10, 7 and 1, these siblings were separated when their mother, Winnie Mae (Hutchinson) Currey died in 1913. According to Winnie Letha (Currey) Crawford, the two youngest, Alma and Earnest, were placed with families while Winnie, Mary and Myrtle were sent to a children’s home.

By 1925, the youngest children,  Earnest and Alma, were  living with their father in Gray County. Myrtle and Winnie had married and were living in Dodge City just to the East of their father. Mary and Joseph Walters were living a bit further west in Finney County. (1925 Kansas State Census)

Herbert does not appear to be living in Western Kansas at the time. By 1930, he is living in Bannock County, Idaho. Since his daughter, Dorothy, was born in 1920 in Utah and his youngest daughter, Ellen, was born in Bear Lake County, Idaho in 1926, it is likely that Herbert and his family were either in Utah or Idaho in 1925. (1930 U.S. Census Bannock County, Idaho)

Tackling the Hirams – Pt 1

Recently, I was notified by Ancestry of a DNA match for a descendant of Jane Currey Gutridge who lived in Champaign County, Ohio. Since Jane Currey is a known descendant of Hiram Mirick Currey – the treasurer of Ohio in 1820, this match was HUGE news.

I have a lot of data to support my ancestor also being a descendant of Hiram Mirick Currey. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a will or probate record to provide direct evidence of this relationship.

Now, that I have DNA evidence to support the lineage, I’m doing a ‘go-over’ on this line starting with my great-grandfather, Hiram Miles Currey.  Please let me know if you have CORRECTIONS or have additional information to share.

Hiram Miles Currey

Hiram was born on 23 Oct 1866 in Missouri.^1–3,4

He was enumerated with Hiram M. Currey on the census on 20 Jul 1870 in Kickapoo Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 3 year old white male born Kansas and was listed as Hiram Curry.^{4, 5}

He was enumerated with Hiram M. Currey on the census in Jul 1875 in Kickapoo Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 7 year old male born Kansas and was listed as H. M. Curry Jr.^{5, 6}

Hiram was enumerated with Hiram M. Currey on the census in Jul 1880 in Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 13 year old white son born KS and was listed as Hiram Currey.⁶

In  7 May 1881, he was educated  at Nine Mile School in Leavenworth County, Kansas.^{7, 8}

He was enumerated with Hiram M. Currey on the census in Jul 1885 in Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 15 year old single male born KS and was listed as Hiram Curry.⁸

Hiram was educated  between 1890 and 1891 at William Jewell College in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri.⁹

He  and family visited his parents the Saturday and Sunday before 3 Jan 1896 in Lansing, Leavenworth County, Kansas.¹⁰

He is head of household on the census in Jun 1900 in Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 33 year old married white male magnetic healer who was born in 10/1866 in Kansas and has been married 11 years and was listed as Hiram Carrey. Enumerated with Hiram were Winnie Mae Hutchinson, Henry Currey, Herbert Miles Currey, and Myrtle Irene Currey.¹¹

He  resided in 1902 in Lansing, Leavenworth County, Kansas .¹²

He is head of household on the census in Jul 1905 in Lansing, Leavenworth County, Kansas as a 34 year old white male born KS who came to KS from MO and was listed as H. M. Curry. Enumerated with Hiram were Winnie Mae Hutchinson, Henry Currey, Herbert Miles Currey, Myrtle Irene Currey, Mary Lela Currey, and Winnie Letha Currey.¹³

He was placed on ballot for office of clerk district court by socialist party in Leavenworth County, Kansas on 20 Sep 1906.^14–15

In Jul 1908 in Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas,  he has purchased a wagon, team and harness and is trying to purchase another team before leaving for western Kansas.^16–17

Hiram is head of household on the census in Jul 1910 in Rooks County, Kansas as a 44 year old white male born KS and was listed as Hiram M. Currey. Enumerated with Hiram were Winnie Mae Hutchinson, Herbert Miles Currey, Myrtle Irene Currey, Mary Lela Currey, Winnie Letha Currey, and Earnest Oran Currey.¹⁸

He lived at South Chestnut in Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas on 2 Oct 1913.¹⁹

He lived at 3840 Euclid Av in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri in 1915.²⁰

Hiram lived at Euclid in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri in 1916.²¹

He lived at 4108 Penn Av in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri in 1919.²²

He was  on the census in Jan 1920 in 5th Precinct, Kansas City Ward 4, Jackson County, Missouri as as a 50 year old widower born in Kansas and employed as a baker at a cone factory who was listed as Hiram Curry.²³

Hiram is head of household on the census on 1 Jul 1925 in Logan, Gray County, Kansas . Enumerated with Hiram were Earnest Oran Currey and Alma Jean Currey.^{24, 25}

He was enumerated with Myrtle Irene Currey on the census on 19 Apr 1930 in Dodge City, Ford, County Kansas as a 63 year old male born Kansas who works as a carpenter in building construction and was listed as H. Miles Curry.²⁵

He was enumerated with Leon Russel Crawford on the census on 1 Apr 1940 in Dodge City, Ford, County Kansas as as a 74 year old widower living in the household of Leon Crawford who was identified as Hiram M. Currey, father-in-law.²⁶

Hiram died on 15 Sep 1943 in Dodge City, Ford, County Kansas at the age of 76.^2–3,27

He was buried on 18 Sep 1943 at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City, Ford, County Kansas.^3,28–30

Endnotes:

1. Hiram Currey, Hiram Currey Family Bible (New York: American Bible Society, 1880); Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, KS, Family Record — Births: Children of H.M. and A. J. Curry “Hiram Miles was borned October the 23d AD 1866”. Bible does not indicate place of birth.
2. Hiram M. Currey, death certificate (Standard Certificate of Death) 229 2924 (18 September 1943), Division of Vital Statistics, Kansas State Department of Health, Topeka, Kansas.
3. Hiram M. Currey Funeral Program, Dodge City, Kansas, 18 Sept 1943, Philbrick Family Collection, privately held by Marcia Philbrick, , Seneca, Kansas, 2016. passed down from Winnie Crawford to Marcia Philbrick.
4. 1870 U.S. Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, population schedule, Kickapoo Township, Leavenworth County, page 16 (image 16 of 47), household 125, Hiram M. Curry; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2016); NARA microfilm publicatin T132.
5. 1875 Kansas Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, kansas state census, Kickapoo Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, page 31, household 1, H. M. Currey; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); Kansas State Historical SOciety.
6. 1880 U.S. Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, population schedule, Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, enumeration district (ED) SD 3, ED 147, page 78 (image 15 of 34), household 141, Hiram M. Currey (continued on next page); digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2016); NARA microfilm publication T9.
7. , “Nine Mile School 7 May 1881,” Rootin Around newsletter of the Leavenworth County Genealogical Society,7 (October 1867): .
8. 1885 Kansas State Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, state census, Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, page 61 (image 31 of 133), household 129, H. M. Curry; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2016); Kansas State Historical Society.
9. William Jewell College, “William Jewell College Catalog – Academic Department,” 1891 – p. 12 / 1890 – p. 11, Hiram M. Currey; William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri.
10. Lansing News, Lansing, KS, “Nine Mile Items” 3 Jan 1896 page 8 col. 2.
11. 1900 U.S. Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, population schedule, Delaware Township, Leavenworth County, Kansas, enumeration district (ED) SD , ED 83, sheet 20A, household 364, Hiram M. Currey; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA T623.
12. 1902 Wing’s City Directory of Leavenworth, Kansas with an Alphabetical List of Its Residents (N.p.: Fred C. Wing & Co., 1902), (image 168 of 185), image 168 of 185; leavenworth, kansas, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016), Lansing Directory – Currey Hiram M.
13. 1905 Kansas State Census, Leavenworth County, Kansas, state census, Lansing, Leavenworth County, Kansas, page 2, line 17, H. M. Curry; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); Kansas State Historical Society.
14. “Socialist Ticket for Coming Election,” The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas), 20 September 1906, nominees for office; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2016).
15. “Socialist Ticket,” The Leavenworth Post (Leavenworth, Kansas), 28 September 1906, list of nominees; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2016).
16. “Delaware,” Local News, The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas), 24 July 1908; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2016).
17. “Delaware,” local news, The Leavenworth Times (Leavenworth, Kansas), 17 July 1908; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2016).
18. 1910 U.S. Census, Rooks County, Kansas, population schedule, Twin Mound Township, Rooks County, Kansas, enumeration district (ED) SD 6, ED 168, Sheet 11A, houeshold 201, Hiram M. Currey; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA microfilm publication T6224.
19. , Olathe Mirror, Olathe, Kansas, 2 October 1913, page 3, col. 5.
20. 1915 Kansas City Missouri City Directory containing an Alphabetical List of Business Firms, Coroporations and Private Citizens: 1915 Kansas City Missouri City Directory (Kansas City: Gate City Directory Co., 1915), image 314 of 1403, Curry, HIram; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (: viewed online September 206).
21. 1916 Kansas City, Missouri City Directory Containing an Alphabetical LIst of Business Firms Corporations and Private Citizens: 1916 Kansas City, MIssouri Citi Directory (Kansas City: Gate City Directory Co., 1916), image 292 of 1278, CUrrey, HIram and Currey, Myrtle; digital image, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (: viewed online September 2016).
22. 1919 Kansas City Missouri City Directory (Kansas City: Gate City Directory, 1919), imae 357, Hiram M. Currey; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016).
23. 1920 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, 5th Precinct, Ward 4, Kansas City, Jackson County, Kansas, enumeration district (ED) SD 5, ED 62, sheet 5A (image 9 of 23), dwelling 78, Hiram Curry; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA microfilm publication T625.
24. 1925 Kansas Census, Gray County Kansas, state census, Logan, Gray County, Kansas, image 8 of 30, household 43, H. M. Currey; digital image, Ancestry.Com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016).
25. 1930 U.S. Census, Ford County, Kansas, population schedule, 1st Ward, Dodge City, Ford County, Kansas, enumeration district (ED) SD 7, ED 29-5, Sheet 16B, household 362, Gaskill Myrtle; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA T626.
26. 1940 U. S. Census, Ford County, Kansas, population scheudle, Ward 1, enumeration district (ED) SD 7, ED 29-6A, page 17A, Hiram M. Currey; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online March 2016).
27. Dodge City Daily Globe, Dodge City, Kansas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1943, page 2, col. 3.
28. Tombstone, Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City Kansas read by Marcia Philbrick, 1996. ()
29. Computer Printout for Maple Grove Cemetery (Dodge City, KS: Dodge City, Kansas, 5/29/1985), Rec. 9399 22 lot 10 block 73 section 9 (Crawford.KS.080)
30. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online June 2016), memorial for Hiram Miles Currey (1866-1943), Find a Grave Memorial no. # 35623901, created by Jason Townsend, citing Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, Ford, Kansas United States; accompanying photograph by Kathy Hesser, Hiram Miles Currey.

Valuing Education

As a retired teacher, married to a retired teacher and surrounded by teachers in my family, education is the one political issue that I follow fairly closely.

As the election approaches and Kansans prepare to elect members of the Kansas House and Senate, education may be the one issue that separates the candidates.

No matter who is elected, the Kansas Legislature is scheduled to tackle the issue of how to fund education in Kansas beginning in January. As Kansans, we have been asked to contribute to the conversation thru email.

Education is expensive and figuring out a formula to fund it is complicated. Ask yourself how you would answer the following questions and then voice your opinion. Email StudentsFirst@ks.gov before Nov. 30th.

Should all high school students have the chance to become a Kansas State Scholar?

Students across Kansas are recognized as Kansas State Scholars if they take a set of required courses. The list of courses includes two years of the same foreign language and a set list of science courses: biology, chemistry and physics. Thus, high schools need to be able to offer their students the opportunity to take these courses. Because of the differing nature of biological and physical sciences, it is very difficult to find a science teacher that has the background to teach both the biology and the chemistry and physics. This is compounded by the fact that there might not be enough sections to fill a teacher’s schedule or the teacher would have smaller class sizes. Some districts have utilized interactive distance learning technology to help provide these courses — particularly the foreign languages. Thus, there can be an additional expense either due to lower pupil/teacher ratio or to increased cost for the technology or both to provide these opportunities.

Should all high schools offer career and technical education programs?

What used to be called vocational education is now called career and technical education. The choice of what CTE programs to offer is a local decision but may include programs in business, finance, marketing, consumer services, childhood education, computers, design, web design, engineering, health science, GIS, production, cabinetmaking, automotive and agriculture. Typically, each program includes at least three courses: introductory, technical and application. Often times the 3rd year courses (application level) will have smaller class sizes — especially when compared to required courses such as English. Thus, when the pupils/teacher ratio is used, they are considered more expensive. In addition, these programs often require specialized facilities, equipment or software which adds to the cost of offering a program.

Should schools offer programs in the fine arts?

Most schools do offer fine arts. However, quite a few districts cut their teaching staff and thus the offerings in these areas when the financial crunch first hit. Thus, we are limiting the ability for students to experience different areas of the fine arts or for those who enjoy the arts to have the opportunity to develop their potential and excel.

Should schools have technology?

I know there are a lot of people that don’t understand why school districts are working to give each student a device (tablet or laptop). However, I see people all of the time pulling out their phones to look something up. Whether as an adult or as a student information has moved to the Internet. This includes library card catalogs, magazine databases (think Readers Guide to Periodical Literature), encyclopedias and textbooks. Isn’t it our responsibility to teach students how to find accurate information? Yes, some schools do have classes share computer technology. However, that takes time away from instruction to get the students to a device. Providing access to this information is more than the device. Behind each device is some sort of connection — whether wireless or wired  — and an Internet account.

Should schools offer extra-curricular programs including athletics?

When discussing school funding, the cost of athletics always comes up. Athletics and other extra-curricular programs offer students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and to learn to work with others. For some students, athletics is what keeps them in school until graduation. Booster clubs, gate receipts and parents already shoulder a portion of the cost of athletic programs. This support would likely increase if districts cut the budgets for athletic programs.

Should students have to ride a bus more than an hour to get to/from school?

If you want small schools to close and consolidate with their neighbors, then you need to be willing to have children — especially younger children — on the bus for more than an hour one way.

Should schools have a full time counselor in the building?

Should schools have access to a school nurse?

Should schools offer all day kindergarten?

Should schools have smaller classes for grades 1-3?

Should schools offer pre-school?

Should every Kansas child have the right to an education?

This is just a few of the questions that have to be answered in regards to school funding — especially where my background is at the high school level and not elementary. There are no easy answers.

Voice your opinion by emailing StudentsFirst@ks.gov before Nov. 30th. You might also send your thoughts to current legislators and those seeking office.