Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:

It’s Saturday Night again –
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment, should you decide to accept it (you ARE reading this, so I assume that you really want to play along – cue the Mission Impossible music!):

1) What genealogical or historical societies have you joined to pursue your family history research over the years?

Oh, Randy, this is a hard one! It’s hard because I don’t know if I can name them all.

I was brought up in a household where professional memberships were valued. Thus, as a teacher, I joined the professional society associated with my teaching assignment. Thus, when I started my genealogy journey, I joined several organizations. Over the years I’ve continually maintained my membership in two national organizations:

As I began to identify where my ancestors lived, I sought out the relevant genealogy societies. If they offered a life time membership, I purchased one if affordable. Thus, I have life time memberships in the following:

Over the years, I have been a member of many other societies. However, most of those memberships were dropped when my job provided little time for genealogical research. Over the years I belonged tot he following at various times:

After retirement, I elected to re-join the Topeka Genealogical Society since it offered opportunities to learn which included an annual conference and study groups. When Covid hit, this society moved those study groups to Zoom. Since they continue to offer those study group opportunities via Zoom, I can participate without having to spend an hour and a half in travel getting to the meeting. Thus, I have continued to join this society.

When the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society offered a discounted membership during a previous RootsTech, I took advantage of the offer. I have continued to renew my membership since I’m discovering several New York lines in my tree.

Saturday Tidbits

Continued from last week

Recently, the Nemaha County Historical Society received a copy of pages 1 and 2 of the November 11, 1946 issue of the Courier Tribune. While this copy of the paper was in poor condition, we were able to piece it back together for display in the Military Museum of Honor.
This issue of the paper was unique in that it identified those from the county who were killed during World War II, provided details about their death and often included a picture.
This week’s post contains those service men and women featured on page 2 of the paper. Unfortunately, the photos in the digital copy of the newspaper are of low quality. Thus, they will not be used in this post.

The Courier-Tribune
November 11, 1946

A Memorial Issue Today
For Armistice

Leander A. Haug, M. M. 1-c
Leander Haug, 1st class Machinist’s mate, U.S. Navy. Son of Mrs. Mary Barney Haug, now of Hiawatha, formerly of Vermillion. Born Nov. 2, 1910. Served his country almost nine years, most of that time in submarine duty. Served on the U.S.S. Sailfish which with the Bowfin sank seven Jap ships under persistent counter-attack. Met death in an accident April 1, 1943 ashore, near Davis, Calif. while returning to base at Mare Island.

St. Sgt. Lewis L. Barrett
Sergeant Barrett served in the air corps. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Barrett, Wetmore, Born May 6, 1920 and entered service in January, 1943. He went to the European theater in Feb. 1844, and there med death in action, August 12, 1944.

Tech 4 Jonas E. Smith
Jonas E. Smith gave his life in the battle of the Belgian Bulge on January 24, 1945. The son of Roy E. and Harriet Smith of Centralia, he was born August 5, 1918. He entered the army Oct. 8, 1941, and served with the 291st infantry Co., 75th Division. HE was married June 20, 1942 to Betty Jean Long and she and their little son, Maurice Elmer, live at Salina.

Joseph Martin Boeding
Joseph Martin Boeding, torpedoman’s mate third class, U.S. Navy, was on the submarine U.S.S. Tr[?] with which contact was lost March 27, 1945 when she was in [?] waters, presumably near Okinawa. Joseph, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Boeding of Corning was born Oct. 5, 1920 and enlisted in the navy July 1942.

Staff Sgt. Earl J. Meyer
Staff Sgt. Earl J. Meyer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Meyer of Sabetha, entered service March 29, 1942 and was in Co. E, 358th infantry. He went overseas in the spring of 1944, and was wounded in France, hospitalized, returned to the front again and was killed in the St. Lo area, leading his platoon in an attack July 23, 1944 at the River Severs. Earl’s birthday was Independence day, July 4, 1919.

St. Sgt. Moses F. Tate
St. Sgt. Moses F. Tate, born May 22, 1920, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A Tate of Seneca, was in the 9th air force. He was lost in the bombing of the strategic Ploesti oil fields, source of German fuel, August 1, 1943. He was on his sixth mission. He had earned his distinguished flying cross in his fifth raid. Entered service in ‘40.

St. Sgt. Bernard A. Becker
Benard J. Becker, son of Ed. J. and Katherine Becker, Seneca, born Nov. 15, 1917, was another fine man engaged in the hazardous air battle against the enemy. He was a member of the 560th Bomb Squadron, 388 Bomb group. His plane was lost in enemy territory in Europe. For a time there was hope he might be alive as a prisoner but he was not found.

Lieut. Haley William Skinner
Lieut. Haley Skinner, talented young Sabethan, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Skinner, was a member of the 66th Pursuit squadron, group 57. HE received his commission and wings Oct 31, 1941, before the war started; left for Australia, January 11, 1942. He was reported missing on the U.S.S. Langley, April 4, 1942.

F/O Raymond B. Woltkamp
Flight Officer Raymond B. Woltkamp of the army air force was first pilot on a B-24 (Liberator) shot down June 16, 1944, over Italy. Raymond was born December 4, 1921, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Woltkamp of Seneca. He enlisted in the air corps in the spring of 1941.

George Bieri
Fire Controlman First Class George Bieri served with the navy from January 1938. George’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Bieri, long of the Oneida and Bern communities, now at Lansing where Mr. Bieri is a superintendent. Geo Bieri lost his life on the aircraft carrier Liscombe Bay, sunk in the Pacific by Japanese attack. Born April 6, 1919.

Eldon Welliever
Eldon Welliever, trained in radio work and member of crews of B-17s and B-29s, lost his life on Sept. 27, 1944, when he and four of his officers were making a non-combatant trip over the “hump” to an air base in China, ferrying gasoline. Their plane crashed at the air base. Eldon leaves his wife, small son, Holton; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Welliever, Mayetta.

Major Arlie W. Higgins
Major Arlie W. Higgins, son of Mrs. W. H. HIggins and the late Judge Higgins of Seneca, was a reserve officer, called to service when war threatened. He was in the Philippines when they fell to the Japs and was taken prisoner of war. The Japs began taking prisoners of war out of the Philippines when it become apparent they would lose the islands. Record indicate Major Higgins lost his life October 24, 1944, when a Japanese ship, bearing Americans, was sunk in the South China sea. Mrs. Arlie Higgins lives at San Antonio.

to be continued

William Evans Family

While trying to locate information on descendants of James Evans who might have migrated from Warrick County, Indiana to Iowa along with Thompson family members, I stumbled on the article, “Another Troy Township ‘First Family'” about the William Evans family. Unfortunately, I don’t think this article applies to my EVANS family.

Milestone 100

Another Troy Township ‘First Family’

The picture furnished by Walter Evans of Cedar Rapids shows Mrs. Sarah Evans (seated in left center foreground) with her grand children and great grandchildren. Mrs. Evans was the widow of William Evans with whom she came in 1844, along with her husband’s brother, Evan Evans, his wife, and his sister Ann and her husband, Richard Pugh, to found the first white settlement in Troy Township. Many descendants of the William Evans family are to be found all over the nation. There are twelve remaining in Iowa County. Fred Jones is a grandson. Truman Jones, Eardley Thomas and Mrs. Floyd Williams are great grandchildren. Bobbie Williams, David Davies and Mrs. Virginia Davies Grimm are great-great grandchildren, John and Linda Davies, and Kevin, Carol Jean and John Grimm are great-great-great-grandchildren. Out of town descendants present at the Congregational Church Centennial last Sunday were Walter Evans, Nell Tuttle, Mae Tuttle Whilock, Ermal Evans, Ethel Evans Tomasek, John and Miriam Tomasek, and Etta Evans Hodgson.

We will attempt an identification of those in the picture. Starting on the back row left to right: Aubrey Jones, Will Evans, Ann Evans Boland, Fred Jones. Seated at left is Nellie Jones. At the right of the bush from left to right are Will Jones Grace Davis Shearer and Walter Evans. In front of them are Alice Davis Black and Will Williams. At the left of the grandmother Mrs. Sarah Evans is Irene Evans Acker. At her right is Ernest Evans. In front of the bush are George Jones, Mae Tuttle Whilock and Miles Jones. Seated and holding the baby (Leighton Thomas) is Edith Jones Thomas. Beside her is Irene Thomas Jones. On the ground in the foreground left to right are Lena Jones Brodie, Gertrude Evans and Etta Evans Hodgson. In the group of three from front to back are Helen Evans Johnston, Everett Jones and Lyle Evans. Then again from center to right are Nell Tuttle , Arnold Tuttle, Arthur Jones, and Marcus Evans.

The picture was taken at about the year 1894. The place was the old William Evans home in Evansville.

Reminiscences of a ‘First Family’ Descendent

The above picture and following article were turned over in your Milestone 100 Editor by Walter Evans of Cedar Rapids, grandson and MR. and Mrs. William Evans, who were among the first three families to settle in Troy Township in 1844:

“My grandparents were natives of Wales. In 1840 they cam to the United States and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1844 they decided to move further west. They came by boat to Muscatine and were taken across country by a team of oxen. They settled in the timber land near Old Man’s Creek east of the present site of Oak Hill Cemetery. They had only a few hand tools and very scanty supplies to keep them from starvation and death from exposure to the very cold winter. As it was already the middle of November, they immediately had to provide shelter by building log cabins.

There were three families consisting of my grandparents, William Evans and his wife, Sarah, his sister and husband Richard Pugh, and his brother Evan Evans and his wife. A year or two later they were followed by other settlers, including the father and mother of William and Evan Evans and Mrs. Richard Pugh.

To my grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. William Evans) were born twelve children. Two died in infancy; nine grew to maturity and raised families of their own. Of about thirty cousins that lived to maturity, I was the fourth oldest. There are now only thirteen of us left, of whom I am the oldest.

My father Henry was the oldest of the William Evans’ children. He was two years old when his parents arrived in Troy Township. That made him the first white boy to live here. His sister Mary (Fred Jones’ mother) was the first child born here.

My grandfather, William Evans, who ran a saw mill, was seriously injured and later died in 1870. My grandmother had to carry on in raising the foamily. Father and his brother John did the farm work. It is hard to realize the hardships with which they had to contend. There was no doctor within many miles to come in case of sickness. But neighbors those days were good to help each other.

The pioneers hauled their grain to Muscatine. Wheat was worth twenty five cents per bushel. They traded it for food and other provisions. These trips by ox team took about a week’s time. They were across country where there were no well marked roads and where there were streams to cross.

My father served three years in the Union Army. He was seriously wounded and also contracted Malaria fever. He was consequently in poor health until his death at the age of forty-eight. I was fifteen years old when he died.

The land for Oak Hill Cemetery was donated by my grandfather, William Evans. In this cemetery are buried he, and my grandmother (who lived to be eighty four), my great-grand-grandparents, my father, mother and sister and many of my other relatives. All of this family were

“Another Troy Township ‘First Family’,” Williamsburg Journal Tribune (Williambusrg, IA), available on Newspapers.com

Messy Family

Do you have a ‘family’ in your genealogy file that doesn’t seem to be correct? That’s my case with the family of James Evans and his wife Sarah (Sally) Garret. James and Sarah were married in 1818. According to the FamilySearch tree and multiple Ancestry trees, they had the following children:

  1. Polly Hannah Evans (1805-1851) married Moore McIntosh (1800-1883)
  2. Polly Ann Evans (1816-1875) married John Jesse Hubbard (1813-1895) on 21 Sep 1836 in Indiana
  3. William Evans (1818-?)
  4. Jane B Evans (1820-1886) married William A. Ross (?-?) married 22 Mar 1838 in Warrick County, Indiana
  5. Mary Ann (Polly) Evans (1821-1896) married William T. Thompson (1820-1898) married 30 October 1842 in Warrick County, Indiana
  6. Rhoda Evans (1823-1893) married Jacob Thompson (1822-1905) married 16 Nov 1844 in Indiana
  7. Elizabeth Evans (1825-1856) married Milton Harger (1817-1896)
  8. James Evans (1826-1903) married Rhoda Jacks (1826-1907) married Rhoda Jacks on 23 Sep 1846 in Indiana
  9. Mary Ann Evans (1826-1911)
  10. Isadore Elizabeth Evans (1827-1893) married Thaddeus S. Davis (1813-1905) married 5 May 1862 in Spencer County, Indiana
  11. Henry Evans (1827-1909) married Mary Elizabeth Thompson (1834-1917) married 22 Aug 1850 in Wapello County, Iowa
  12. Varteli Ann Evans (1830-?) married William Alva Wells (1839-?) married 5 Jan 1865 in Indiana
  13. Isaac E Evans (1841-1861)

So why do I think this family is ‘messy’?

  • Three daughters going by the nickname of Polly
  • Two daughters named Mary but with different birth / death dates
  • Two children born before the marriage of the parents
  • Eldest son, William, supposedly born in the same year the parents were married

Unfortunately, I have very little ‘proof’ that ties any of this family together. So far, I haven’t found a will, a probate file or even a deed that ties James to any of these children. I haven’t even been able to locate an obituary of one of the children that names siblings.

So what do I have? I have a biography of W. T. Thompson published in the Portrait and Biographical Album of Wapello County, Iowa that identifies his wife’s parents. Unfortunately, she is one of the ‘Polly Evans’.

W. T. Thompson, a prosperous farmer and stock-grower of Richland township, may be found on section 36, following his peaceful pursuits successfully, and enjoying the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. He was born in Ohio County, KY., Dec. 29, 1820, and is a son of John and Sarah (Iglehart) Thompson, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Maryland. At quite an early day the family removed form Kentucky to Indiana, and lived there till 1844, when they came to Wapello County, Iowa, and were thus numbered among the pioneers of this county. Here they lived until 1857, when they moved to Adams County, Iowa, where the father died soon after, the  mother surviving him until February, 1877.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and on the 30th day of October, 1842, in Warrick County, Ind., was united in  marriage to Miss Polly Ann Evans. Mrs. Thompson was born July 25, 1821, and is the daughter of James and Sarah (Garret) Evans. Her father was a farmer and moved with his family from Indiana to this State, where he remained a short time and then returned to Indiana, where himself and wife subsequently died. In 1847 Mr. Thompson came from Indiana to Wapello County, making the journey with team. On his arrival he bought 120 acres of land of the Government, which comprises his present farm. Of tis eighty acres are under cultivation and he owns thirty-eight acres of wood and pasture land on section 17, Dahlonega township. The home farm is well improved; on it is a tasteful and substantial dwelling, good barn and a fine orchard.
Mr. And Mrs. Thompson are the parents of nine children: Sarah J. Who married N. W. Bliles, is now a widow, living in Kansas; John E. Married Miss Mary Dunn, and lived in Adams County, Iowa; he was a member of the 29th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war; William F. Married Miss Loisa Falkner, and is living in Wapello County; Martha is the wife of c. C. Ingersoll, and lives in Republic County, Kan.; Julia is deceased; Ellen is the wife of J. F. Gowdy, living in Cass County, Iowa; Polly Ann, Mrs. Albert D. Rickett, is living in Keokuk County, Iowa; Belle is the wife of Lewis N. Gowdy, of this county; Arsena is living at home with her parents. Politically Mr. Thompson is a Republican.

I also have Ancestry DNA ThruLines matches not only for myself but for my two brothers and my mother.

JAMES EVANS ThruLines

Descendant LineEvans Matches
to me
Evans Matches Brother1Evans Matches
Brother 2
Evans Matches Mom
Polly McIntosh
Mary Polly Hubbard1111
William Evans
Jane Ross3335
Polly Thompson
(my line)
9141413
Rhoda Thompson
Elizabeth Harger
James Evans11
Mary Ann Evans
(spouse unknown)
Isadore Elizabeth Davis
Henry Evans121015
Varteli (Vashti) Ann Wells
Isaac Evans
Anderson Evans
(1822-1900)
11
Nancy Brewster22
Sarah Ann Evans Martin
(1829-1908)

SARAH GARRET ThruLines

Descendant LineGarret Matches
to Me
Garret Matches
to Brother1
Garret Matches
to Brother 2
Garret Matches
to Mom
Polly McIntosh1
Mary Polly Hubbard1111
William Evans
Polly Thompson
(my line)
0141413
Rhoda Thompson
Elizabeth Harger
Mary Ann Evans
(spouse unknown)
Isadore Elizabeth
Davis
Henry Evans11914
Varteli (Vashti)
Ann Wells
Isaac Evans
Anderson Evans
(1822-1900)
1
Nancy Brewster22
Sarah Ann
Evans Martin
234

While the DNA results might support these matches descending from James and Sarah (Garret) Evans, they alone do not prove that our common ancestral couple is James and Sarah Evans. Since my tree is heavily colonial, it is possible that a common ancestor is on a different line. Those who match my mother and myself or one of my siblings at least support our common ancestor being on my maternal line.

So, what are my next steps?

  • Continue searching for documents that either identify the children of James and Sarah or identify siblings of one of the children.
  • Figure out who Anderson Evans, Nancy Evans Brewster and Sarah Evans Martin are and how else we might connect.
  • Color code these matches for my brothers and my mothers. (I have finished color coding my matches)
  • Place notes on the FamilySearch tree seeking proof of the family structure
  • Contact DNA matches and people working FamilySearch tree asking if they have anything supporting family structure.

Otterville

Do you have civil war soldiers in your tree? If so, have you encountered a Find a Grave memorial that suggests the soldier died during a battle? That’s what I thought when I looked at the Find a Grave memorial for Isaac E. Evans.

This thought was reinforced when several of the Ancestry hints for Isaac Evans suggested he served in Company H of the 25th Indiana Infantry. Armed with this information, I tried locating any information about the 25th regiment in a battle at or near Auterville, Missouri. According to the battle unit details, the 25th Infantry was stationed on duty at Ottervile until December 1861.

Fremont’s Campaign against Springfield, Mo., September 22-November 3, 1861. Duty at Otterville and at LaMine Bridge till December. 

https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UIN0025RI

However, nothing mentioned a battle or deaths. Thus, I turned to newspapers to see what I could find about the Otterville battle. That’s when I uncovered details that suggest that Isaac Evans did not die in a battle but from disease.

The Evansville Daily Journal (Evansville, IN)
25 Oct 1861
page 2

The 25th Regiment— Recent letters form Major Foster of the 25th Indiana Regiment, state that the health of the men in that regiment is deplorable. Over three hundred are in the hospital at Otterville, and the Major says that not over 500 men are fit for active duty. The numerous friends of this gallant regiment will regret to learn that so large a proportion of the regiment will be prevented by sickness from taking part in the coming contest in South Western Missouri.
P.S. — Since writing the above, we have received a letter from a member of this regiment, written a few days since and Dated Otterville, Mo. The letter states that the whole regiment is at that point, and only two hundred men in the regiment were able to drill. Among the sick were Col. Veatch and Lt. Col. Morgan, who had left the camp and were living at the house of a Unionist. Major Foster was in command.

Newspapers.com

Evansville Daily Journal
2 Nov 1861
Page 2

From the 25th Regiment
From recent letters from the 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, stationed at Otterville, Mo., we learn that sickness is still prevailing in the camp to an alarming extent. Major Foster writes that, up to the date of his letter, “one had died every day for the last fifteen days.” The sufferings of the sick are described as terrible, and a call is made upon the friends of that regiment to forward immediately such supplies as would alleviate their condition. We hope that our Evansville ladies will prepare a box of articles suitable for sick men, and send it at once. Mr. Fish of the Express Company will forward packages of this character free of charge. We have received the following notice of death of one of the members of this Regiment:
Camp Anna, Near Otterville, Mo.,
October 27th, 1861
Messrs, Editors: You will please announce in your paper the death of Randolph Lob[a]her, formerly a resident of Vanderburg county, but at the time of his death a private in Company B, of the 25th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He departed this life on the 26th inst., after a very brief illness. He was a good soldier, and was respected by all his fellow soldiers, and his loss we all deeply regret. May God give the bereft parents that consolation which will enable them to bear their loss with Christian fortitude; and although they are separated here on earth, may they have a happy reunion in that clime where there is no more separation.
C. C. Waring, O. S.
Our Sick in Missouri
Col. D. G. Rose arrived in Indianapolis on Thursday and reports he has had the sick belonging to the Indiana regiments in Missouri taken from Otterville, Tipton, Georgetown, Sedalia, Jefferson City, and other places to St. Louis, where they are now receiving every attention it is possible to bestow upon them. They have been placed in a comfortable and wholesome hospital, and are doing much better than where they have been heretofore.

Newspapers.com

Joliet Signal (Joliet, Illinois)
5 Nov 1861
page 2

The War in Missouri
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times
St. Louis, Oct. 31
The sick at Otterville are being removed as rapidly as possible to St. Louis.

Newspapers.com

Indiana State Sentinel
6 Nov 1861
page 2

We find the following in the St. Louis Democrat of the 31st of October:
Thirty-six patients were brought in from Otterville last evening by the Pacific road, of whom seventeen were members of the 25th Indiana, 2 of the 22d Indiana, two of the 9th Missouri; of the 1st, 2d and 6th Missouri regiments one each, and one of the 1st Iowa regiment. Altogether, there are now under treatment at the Clay General Military Hospital four hundred and seven patients. Of those who have lately been admitted, the largest number are afflicted with typhoid or intermittent fever. It is said that about three hundred men of the 26th Indiana Regiment (Col. Veach’s) are now laid up in Otterville, with measles, under the general charge of Dr. Younghand. The disease made it appearance in the regiment when encamped south of the fair grounds, a few weeks ago.

Newspapers.com

Lancaster Gazette (Lancaster, Ohio)
7 Nov 1861
page 1

Important from Price’s Army
Tipton, Oct. 28

At Otterville there is still quite a number of sick — 500 of the Twenty-fifth Indiana alone.

Newspapers.com

Jonesboro Gazette
9 Nov 1861
page 1

Sick Soldiers at Otterville, Mo
The St. Louis Democrat of Wednesday furnishes the following information concerning the sick soldiers of the Union army, left at Otterville:
From Otterville, between Tipton and Sedalia, on the line of the Pacific Railroad, we have unquestionable information relative to the condition of the sick and disabled of the army, necessarily left there. — They are some nine hundred in number and are quartered in the houses of the town, with the most meagre accommodations and inadequate attention. Many of them are crowded together, and others are poorly sheltered from the weather. All are deplorably in want of the necessaries of sickness. Beds and bedding are scanty, and poor in quality. Much distress is occasioned by these lamentable deficiencies, and a considerable loss of life must ensue unless a remedy is promptly applied. It is clearly imperative duty of the government to attend at once to these sufferers, and administer relief. But humanity and patriotism alike appeal to the citizens of St. Louis to afford immediate succor to their defenders in distress.

Newspapers.com

This event was even reported in England!

Nottingham Daily Guardian (Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England)
12 Nov 1861
page 3

Reports reach us from Missouri that there is much suffering among the troops west of Syracuse. There are 700 sick at Otterville, and 175 at Georgetown, for whom neither nurse, medicine or other comfort is provided.

Newspapers.com

While I haven’t located an obituary for Isaac Evans and do not have his military/pension file, it appears that Isaac Evans may have been one of the soldiers who was ill at Otterville.

Memorial Day

Do you have memories of Memorial Day as a child? Do those memories involve a special weekend trip or barbecue? Or, do they involve flowers and tombstones?

My childhood memories involve Peonies, Iris and Sweet William, coffee cans and coat hangers.. My mother and grandmother would spend the early morning hours picking flowers from our gardens. My grandmother’s refrigerator would even contain a bunch or two of peonies that she bought at the local grocery store.

Then we would venture to the cemetery where those flowers were placed in coffee cans with water. Then the bent coat hangers were used to anchor the coffee cans to the ground so the Kansas wind would not blow them over.

At the cemetery, we would decorate the CRAWFORD plot which included graves for my great grandparents, my grandmother’s baby daughter, my baby brother and later my uncle.

Block 95 Section 3

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:

It’s Saturday Night again –
time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment, should you decide to accept it (you ARE reading this, so I assume that you really want to play along – cue the Mission Impossible music!):

1) What was your first foray into genealogy social media on the computer?

When I first read the question, I was thinking in terms of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. With that in mind, my answer would be My Space. Do you remember My Space? While I was a My Space user, it wasn’t for genealogy. Instead, it was job related.

However, when I read Randy Seaver’s answer to the question, I realized he was using a broader definition of ‘social media’. So, I looked it up. According to Wikipedia, social media

are interactive technologies that facilitate the creating and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks

Investopedia identifies six types of social media

  • Social newtorking
  • Bookmarking
  • Social News
  • Media sharing
  • Microblogging
  • Online forum sites

While Randy mentions AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy those were ‘big city’ applications. Because the connectivity in rural America was slower to develop, these services did not take off in my area.

If I go back to the definition of social media and look at ways in which information was shared with the technology available in my rural area at the time, then mailing lists and listservs would have been my first foray into using ‘social media’ for genealogy. Thankfully, different entities were willing to allow their Internet servers to be used for some of these listservs. As the Internet evolved, most of those listservs were consolidated on RootsWeb. One could subscribe and unsubscribe from these listservs at will. A wide variety of listservs existed including surnames, locations and genealogy software. Thankfully, Facebook groups have evolved to replace these now unsupported listservs.

About the same time that listservs were popular, two web sites had online forums or message boards where genealogists could place queries: Ancestry and Genealogy.com. While the website, genealogy.com, is no longer active, the forum has been preserved. I was able to find one of my posts from 2001.

Like the genealogy.com forum, Ancestry message boards allow Ancestry users to post queries.

In the late 1990s a movement took off in the genealogy community encouraging genealogists to connect via websites. This collection of websites was called GenWeb. Many of these sites hosted a ‘page’ where researchers could post queries.

Many of these county GenWeb sites also created a bibliography of sources for the county. Associated with the GenWeb sites was an archive site where records were transcribed and shared.

While a web site is not usually considered ‘social media’, my personal web site has allowed me to share my research. Over the years, I have used a variety of (mostly free) sites to host my research. This has included GeoCities, and RootsWeb. As I learned to use The Master Genealogist, I also started using the software Second Site to generate a web site from my genealogy file. That’s when I started using Family History Hosting to host my genealogy web page.

When I switched to RootsMagic, I switched to using RootsMagic to generate and host my data. I continue to share my research in a variety of ways:

  • this blog
  • Ancestry public tree
  • WikiTree profiles
  • Uploading events, memories and sources to FamilySearch profiles

When it comes to my current social media usage, I’m working on connecting to Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn and Mastodon, but my ‘go to’ sites are still Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you Randy for this walk thru Internet history!

Saturday Tidbits

Recently, the Nemaha County Historical Society received a copy of pages 1 and 2 of the November 11, 1946 issue of the Courier Tribune. While this copy of the paper was in poor condition, we were able to piece it back together for display in the Military Museum of Honor.

This issue of the paper was unique in that it identified those from the county who were killed during World War II, provided details about their death and often included a picture.

Since tomorrow is Memorial Day when we honor those who have died while serving their country, I thought it would be appropriate to interrupt the transcription of draft records to recognize these individual who gave their all during World War II. This week’s post contains those service men and women featured on page 1 of the paper. Next week, those featured on page two will be covered. Unfortunately, the photos in the digital copy of the newspaper are of low quality. Thus, they will not be used in this post.


The Courier-Tribune
November 11, 1946

A Memorial Issue Today
For Armistice

Today’s paper will have special interest to all of Nemaha county, for it contains as many photographs as it was possible to collect of young people from the county who gave their lives in World War II.
A short sketch taken from files of the paper and from other information at hand is given with each.
This was a global war. It will be noted some gave their lives in the far Pacific, some in Germany, some in Italy, some in France, some at almost all points where the Stars and Stripes were carried in battle — in the air, on land and on the sea.
This issue lists one young woman, 43 young men who gave their lives. It is hoped that no omissions were made. If so, the paper will feature photographs that are turned in, and the V.F.W. and Legion will make pictures to go with the group of photographs in the V.F.W.-Legion room.
The paper thanks those whose regular advertisements were moved from the second page to make way for the service section.
A number of extra papers are being printed for families who may wish to have a few additional copies.

Capt. Dorothy Swart Tatum
Dorothy L. Swart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Swart, now of Oakley, was born Dec. 25, 1917, entered the Women’s Auxiliary Corps in 1942, and was one of the first two WACs to join the European theater of operation. Served in communications in the Eigth air force. She was married to John M. Tatum of Mississippi in England. Returned to the states in 1945. Died at Mitchell Field hospital, New York, Feb. 12, 1946 from illness believed contracted in war work underground.

Lieut. Ernest Swart
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George M. Swart of Oakley, born Jun 11, 1919, near Seneca. Entered army service Feb. 19, 1941, joined air corps in 1943 and trained to pilot B-24’s. Served with the Flying Tigers in China and flew the “hump.’ Killed instantly Jan. 18, 1945 when engine trouble forced abandonment of plane.

George E. Guilford and William E. Guilford
Two sons were lost in World War II by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Guilford, Centralia, now living at Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.
George E. Guilford, born July 22, 1921, was a cadet engineer in the Maritime Reserve. His death was October 14, 1942 in the Pacific area.
Private William E. Guilford, born Jun 8, 1925, served in the infantry and met his death near Aachen, Germany, on Sept. 16, 1944.

Private Adrian Rettele
Adrian Rettele, born May 5, 1922, died in a cave-in at Camp Carson, Colo., April 26, 1943 where he was serving with the 64th Medical Training Battalion. He entered service in November, 1942. Besides his mother, Mrs. Theresia Rettele, Centralia, Pvt. Rettele left his wife, the former Betty McCaig and a son eight months old. His burial was at Centralia.

Pvt. Paul Donald Boeding
Mr. and Mrs. August Boeding, Seneca, had four sons in service. Paul lost his life Oct. 3, 1944 in a truck accident near Dinant, Belgium. He was born Feb. 11, 1925, was nearing 20 years of age. He served with an infantry division.

Sgt. Roy L. Fund
Sgt. Roy L. Fund of Goff enlisted at Holton with the National Guards, which were called into camp at Little Rock in January of 1941. Sergeant Fund served with the 137th Infantry, E Company, 35th division; gave his life at Normandy, July 14, 1944. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Fund.

Pvt. Joseph A. Enneking
Joseph A. Enneking lost his life October 13, 1944, in the European theater. He had been overseas only a few months and was believed to have gone directly to France from the United States. He had been in service two years and was in an infantry division of the army. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Enneking, Kelly.

Staff Sgt. Francis A. Kokenge
Staff Sgt. Francis A. Kokenge, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kokenge of Seneca, was killed October 15, 1942, in a flight from Sedalia airport at Warrensburg, Mo., to Chicago, the plane crashing near the Chicago municipal airport. A heavy fog and high tension wires were believed to have contributed to the accident. A snapshot of Francis was made into a nice picture and is placed in the Legion-V.F.W. room but it was not thought a newspaper plate could be made.

St. Sgt. Lawrence Winderscheidt
Lawrence Winterscheidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wintersheidt of Seneca, entered service in July 1942 and was radioman on a B-25 with the Fifth Air Forces under General Douglas MacArthur. He was killed in action near Jaoquinot Bay, New Britain Island on January 16, 1944. Lawrence was born Dec. 17, 1919, near Fairview.

S Sgt. Elgin Strahm
Staff Sergeant Strahm was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed B. Strahm of Sabetha. He entered service in 1042 and was in the Amphibious boat service of the U.S. army. He lost his life in action in the Southwest Pacific on July 1, 1943. He was born January 3, 1919.

Pvt. George A. Weeks
George A. Weeks, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Weeks, Sabetha, formerly of the Baileyville community, was killed in action, November 9, 1944 in France. Was in army about seven months and never had a furlough before going overseas.

Sgt. Virgil F. Brown
Sgt. Virgil F. Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Brown, Sabetha. He was an engineer on a B-24 Liberator Bomber. He failed to return from a bombing mission to Brunswick, Germany about 150 miles from Berlin, Feb. 20, 1944.

Sgt. Frank Schafer
Sgt. Frank Schafer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schafer of Seneca, was killed in action January 25, 1945 in southern France. He was commander of a tank. He was holder of the Purple Heart and commendations before he met death.

Pvt. Bernard Schultejans
Bernard Schultejans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Schultejans, Kelly, died December 26th in action in Luxembourg. He was 20 or 21 years old, and had been overseas only a few months and in action one month. Bernard was with the Third Army.

Corporal Cyril P. Nolte
Corporal Cyril P. Nolte, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Nolte of Seneca, lost his life somewhere in France on Sept. 8, 1944. He was born Feb. 21, 1910. He was in service two and a half years and was in one of the first infantry divisions to enter France.

to be continued

Friday Find

As I’ve been updating my THOMPSON family research, I’ve come across several sets of handwritten notes from a visit to the Iowa Historical Society in Des Moines. One set of notes is for Wapello County, Iowa marriage records.

Fortunately, I wrote down enough of the information about the book to locate a copy of the original work on FamilySearch.

Armed with my original notes, I located the entries in the books.

John Thompson

John Thompson was born on 4 Mar 1797 in Kentucky. [14]

In Sep 1810, he was a  apprenticed to George Brown in Ohio County, Kentucky. [5]

In Nov 1810, he was a released from apprenticeship to George Brown in Ohio County, Kentucky. [6]

In May 1811, John was an apprenticed to John Taylor to learn the art of a blacksmith in Ohio County, Kentucky. [78]

He was listed on the tax rolls in 1820 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [9]

He married Sarah Iglehart on 1 Feb 1820 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [1016]

He lived with 1 male 16-25 and 1 female 16-25 who was listed as John Thompson in Ohio County, Kentucky in Jun 1820. [17]

John was the father of William T. Thompson who was born on 29 Dec 1820 in Ohio County, Kentucky, [3,1819]

He was listed on the tax rolls in 1821 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [20]

He was listed on the tax rolls in 1822 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [21]

John was the father of Jacob Thompson who was born on 17 Aug 1822 in Ohio County, Kentucky, [3,2223]

He was listed on the tax rolls in 1823 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [24]

He was listed on the tax rolls in 1824 in Ohio County, Kentucky. [25]

John was the father of Benjamin Franklin Thompson who was born on 12 Mar 1824, [3,26]

He was the father of Levi I. Thompson who was born on 8 May 1826, [3]

He lost a child, Levi I. Thompson, on 4 Jul 1828. [3]

John was the father of Martha Jane Thompson who was born on 5 Dec 1828, [3]

He purchased land being the Northwest quarter of section twenty five in Township five south on 20 Sep 1829 in Warrick County, Indiana. [27]

He was the father of Andrew J. Thompson who was born on 10 Feb 1832, [3]

John was the father of Mary Elizabeth Thompson who was born on 7 Apr 1834, [3,28]

He was the father of John Lowe Thompson who was born on 6 Mar 1836 in Indiana, [3,2937]

He made final payment of fifty dollars and cents being in full for the north west quarter of the south of range number nine west containing forty acres on 11 Apr 1836 in Warrick County, Indiana. [38]

John purchased land being the Northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section number twenty five in township number five South of Range number nine west estimated to contain fifty acres on 8 Sep 1836 in Warrick County, Indiana. [39]

He purchased land being the east half of the south west quarter of section twenty five in township five south of range nine west containing eighty acres on 3 Dec 1836 in Warrick County, Indiana. [40]

He filed certificate for the purchase of the Northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section twenty three in township five south of range nine west on 5 Aug 1837 in Warrick County, Indiana. [41]

John filed a certificate for the purchase of the Southwest quarter of section 25 in township 5 South of Range 9 West on 7 Nov 1837 in Warrick County, Indiana. [41]

He was the father of Francis Marion Thompson who was born on 16 Apr 1838 in Warrick County, Indiana, [3,29,4246]

He was the father of Sarah Ellen Thompson who was born on 17 Feb 1841, [3]

John was the father of James Allen Thompson who was born on 17 Feb 1841 in Indiana, [3,47]

He lived in Wapello County, Iowa in 1844. [18]

He lost a child, Sarah Ellen Thompson, on 16 Jul 1844. [3]

John sold land being the West half of section number 25 and the Northwest quarter of Southeast quarter of section number 23 in township 5 south of range nine west containing 360 acres on 11 Apr 1845 in Warrick County, Indiana. [48]

He lived in Wapello County, Iowa in 1846. [49]

He lived in Wapello County, Iowa in 1847. [50]

John lost a child, Martha Jane Thompson, on 4 Apr 1848. [3]

He sold land being the West half of section no twenty five (25) and also the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section no twenty three all in township no five (5) South of Range No nine (9) west on 19 Jun 1850 in Warrick County, Indiana. [51]

He lived at District 13 in Wapello County, Iowa on 19 Oct 1850. [5253]

John lived in Wapello County, Iowa in 1852. [54]

He lived in Competine Township, Wapello County, Iowa in 1854. [55]

He lived in Wapello County, Iowa in Jul 1856. [56]

John lived in Adams County, Iowa in 1857. [18]

He died on 14 Aug 1857 at the age of 60 in Adams County, Iowa. [14,18,34]

He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Mount Etna, Adams County, Iowa. [1,34,57]

ENDNOTES:

1. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online November 2016), memorial for John Thompson (1797-1857), Find a Grave Memorial no. #27423393, created by Irish Eyes are smiling, citing Forest Hill Cemetery, Mount Etna, Adams County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by Cindy Baldogo, John Thompson.

2. Works Project Administration, “Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999,” database online, Graves Registration Project, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016), John Thompson.

3. Adams County History Book Committee, History of Adams County, Iowa 1984 (Corning, Iowa: Corning Departmental Club and Civic Department, 1984), p. 554-555 John and Sarah Thompson.

4. The Adams County Iowa Cemeteries, Compiler, Adams County Iowa Cemeteries (Prescott, Iowa: The Adams County Genealogy Society, 1986), p. 64; digital images, FamilySearch, familysearch.org viewed online 11 May 2023.

5. Kentucky, Ohio County. Order Books 1799-1904.  Film #1912998 DGS 7646780. John Thompson, Sept 1810; Book 3: page 39; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.com : viewed online May 2023.

6. Kentucky, Ohio County. Order Books 1799-1904.  Film #1912998 DGS 7646780. John Thompson, Nov 1810; Book 3: page 50; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.com : viewed online May 2023.

7. Kentucky, Ohio County. Order Books 1799-1904.  Film #1912998 DGS 7646780. John Thompson, May 1811; Vol. 3: page 82; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.com : viewed online 30 April 2023.

8. Michael L. Cook and Bettie A. Cummings Cook Ohio County Kentucky Records Volume 1 (Evansville, IN: Cook Publications, 1986), page 242.

9. Kentucky, Ohio County. Tax Books, 1799-1845.  Film #Film #007834494. John Thompson, 1820; image 469; digitized microfilm, Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007834494?cat=156804 : viewed online December 2018.

10. Bettie Cummings Cook, Ohio County Kentucky Records Volume I (Evansville, IN: Cook Publications, 1986), p. 94 (Thompson.KY.004)

11. Dodd, Jordan, “Kentucky Marriages, 1802-1850,” database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016), John Thompson / Sarah Ingleheart.

12. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com). : viewed online 11 May 2023.

13. Kentucky, County Marriages, 1783-1965, Sarah Iglehart, 1 February 1820; database with images, Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017).

14. Kentucky, County Marriages, 1783-1965, John Tomson, 1 February 1820; database with images, Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com.

15. Ohio, Kentucky, Marriage Bonds, V. A-F 1808-1865:Vol. A page 39, image 74, John Tomson – Sarah Iglehart, 1 Feb 1820; digital image, Clerk of the County Court, Morgantown, Kentucky. film 494956 DGS 6463424. digital image. Family Search (www.familysearch.org:  accessed Sept 2018).

16. “The Family Tree,” The Ohio County Times (Hartford, Kentucky), 6 April 1972, page 15; digital images, Ohio County Times News Newspaper Archive (tnh.stparchive.com : viewed online 8 June 2021).

17. 1820 U.S. Census, Ohio County, Kentucky, population schedule, Ohio County, Kentucky, page 126, Image 7 of 9, John Thompson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016); NARA Microfilm Publication M33

18. Portrait and Biographical Album of Wapello County, Iowa: Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), page 479 – W. T. Thompson; Digital copy, Archive.org, https://archive.org/details/cu31924050414295/page/n5/mode/2up viewed online 27 July 2022.

19. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online June 2017), memorial for William T Thompson (1820-1898), Find a Grave Memorial no. #88989671, created by Donna Wells, citing Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa; accompanying photograph by llanggin, William T Thompson.

20. Kentucky, Ohio County. Tax Books, 1799-1845.  Film #Film #007834494. John Thompson, 1821; image 494; digitized microfilm, Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007834494?cat=156804 : viewed online December 2018.

21. Kentucky, Ohio County. Tax Books, 1799-1845.  Film #Film #007834494. John Thompson, 1822; image 533; digitized microfilm, Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007834494?cat=156804 : viewed online December 2018.

22. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online November 2017), memorial for Jacob Thompson (1822-1905), Find a Grave Memorial no. #45064652, created by tjvon, citing Burns Cemetery, Burnes, Harney County, Oregon; accompanying photograph by tjvon, Jacob Thompson.

23. “Harney County, Oregon, Cemetery Records,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 19 March 2023), Jacob Thompson.

24. Kentucky, Ohio County. Tax Books, 1799-1845.  Film #Film #007834494. John Thompson, 1823; image 568; digitized microfilm, Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007834494?cat=156804 : viewed online December 2018.

25. Kentucky, Ohio County. Tax Books, 1799-1845.  Film #Film #007834494. John Thompson, 1824; image 596; digitized microfilm, Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/007834494?cat=156804 : viewed online December 2018.

26. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2018), memorial for Benjamin Franklin Thompson (1824-1875), Find a Grave Memorial no. #17132974, created by Burt, citing Gowrie Township Cemetery, Gworie, Webster County, IA;, Benjamin Franklin Thompson.

27. Warrick County, Indiana, Book 2: page 96, Hinman to John Thompson; FHL microfilm Film #1443659 DGS #929115.

28. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2018), memorial for Mary ElizabethThompson Evans (1834-1917), Find a Grave Memorial no. #9398861,

29. Adams County History Book Committee,  History of Adams County, Iowa 1984 (Corning, Iowa: Corning Departmental Club and Civic Department, 1984), p. 555; .

30. 1900 U.S. Census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Washington Township, Adams County, Iowa, ED 11, Sheet 12A, Image 23 of 26, family 241, Tompson John L; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2018)

31. “Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999,” Ancestry.com,  (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (September 2018), John L Thompson; Works Project Administration. Graves Registration Project.

32. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2018), memorial for John Lemmon Thompson (1836-1917), Find a Grave Memorial no. #28927349,

33. “Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990,” Family Search, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (September 2018), John L. Thompson.

34. “Death Honored Resident,” Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa), 15 December 1917, p. 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2018).

35. “Obituary,” Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa), 19 December 1917, page 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2018).

36. “Iowa, U.S., Armed Forces Grave Registrations 1835-1998,” Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (7 May 2023), John L Thompson.

37. Cemeteries, Adams County Iowa Cemeteries, page 53.

38. Warrick County, Indiana, Deed Book 5: page 549, Thompson final payment; FHL microfilm Film #1443660 DGS #8219116.

39. Warrick County, Indiana, Book 2: page 172.

40. Warrick County, Indiana, Book 2: page 262.

41. Warrick County, Indiana, Book 6: page 638-639.

42. Cemeteries, Adams County Iowa Cemeteries, p. 68.

43. “Iowa Civil War Soldier Burial Records,” Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : Sept 2018 (viewed online), Francis M Thompson.

44. “Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990,” Family Search, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : Nov 2017 (viewed online), Francis Marion Thompson.

45. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2018), memorial for Francis M. Thompson (1838-1921), Find a Grave Memorial no. #27423472,

46. “Obituary,” Adams County Free Press (Corning, Iowa), 12 January 1921, page 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online September 2018).

47. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2018), memorial for James A Thompson (1841-1868), Find a Grave Memorial no. #35201033,

48. Warrick County, Indiana, Book 6: page 348.

49. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925, John Thompson, 1846; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2018). Original Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.

50. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925, John Thompson, 1847; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com.

51. Warrick County Indiana, Deed Book 9: page 240, John Thompson and Sarah Thompson to Samuel C Bradford; FHL microfilm film 1443662 DGS 8219118.

52. 1850 U.S. Census, Wapello County, Iowa, population schedule, District 13, Wapello County, Iowa, Image 102 of 204, household 692, John Thompson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016).

53. 1850 U.S. Census, Wapello County, Iowa, Agriculture Schedule, District 13, Wapello County, Iowa, page 821, Image 8 of 24, John Thompson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2018)

54. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925, John Thompson, 1852; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com.

55. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925, John B Thompson, 1854; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com.

56. 1856 Iowa Census, Wapello County, Iowa, Iowa state census, Dahlonega, Wapello County, Iowa, p. 155, Image 19 of 20, household 107, John Thompson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2016); State Historical Society of Iowa

57. Works Project Administration, “Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999,” database online, Graves Registration Project, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017), John Thompson.