Not everything is on the Internet – Arthur R Hatfield (1865-1931)

One of the big genealogical research problems relates to making the jump between 1900 and 1880.  Without the 1890 Census, it can often be difficult to make the leap and it seems like a wall that needs to be overcome.  Sometimes there is a gate that takes you past the wall, sometimes the gate is locked. Such is the case with my Hatfield project.

Arthur R Hatfield was born in May 1865 in Indiana.[i] The Census indicates that both his parents were born in Indiana as well and that is all we know. No parents’ names, or anything else.

Arthur married Rebecca Leona Crawford on 29 Mar 1893 in Holt County, Missouri.[ii] Leona, as she was known, was born in Holt County. The couple lived in Holt County through the births of their first two sons Clyde Raymond Hatfield (1894-1959) and Guy C. Hatfield (1875-1964.

Unfortunately, I have been unable to use census or other records available on-line to determine his parents. That means back to the not-on-line resources. First, we’ll order a death certificate from Nebraska and see if that yields any information.  Next, we try to order a marriage certificate from Missouri and see if that yields any information.  Either way, we are off the internet using “old school” methods. Here is what I think I know about Arthur Hatfield.

Arthur R Hatfield was born in May 1865 in Indiana[iii]. He died in 1931[iv]. When he was 27, he married Rebecca Leona Crawford, daughter of Charles Crawford and Margaret Rebecca Collins, on 29 Mar 1893 in Holt, Missouri, USA[v].

Arthur R Hatfield was enumerated, in the 1900 Census, being in Wakefield, Dixon County, Nebraska.)[vi]. Hew was the head of the household, a farmer renting his farm. He could read, write, and speak English. With him are his wife their two boys, Clyde and Guy.

During the 1910 Census he lived in Daily, Dixon County, Nebraska. He was the Head of the household and married. With are his wife and two sons.  Also living in the house hold are a border, Lura Harrington, and a hired man, Silas Foster. I can’t tell if they moved between 1900 and 1910. Wakefield and Daily, Nebraska, are only about 15 miles apart and there are no towns between them. I’ll need to do a neighbor analysis to determined if they moved. In any event, Arthur was a farmer and renting his farm.[vii]

I have been unable to find Arthur in the 1920 Census. His wife, Leona, is living with their son, Guy, in Dry Creek, Pierce County, Nebraska. With them are a niece and a nephew of Guy, Leona and Albert Crawford.[viii]

The 1930 Census shows Arthur and Leona living together again in North Dry Creek, Pierce County, Nebraska. Again, he is the head of the household who is farming on a rented farm. Living with Arthur and Leona is a hired hand, Harry(?) Bau.[ix]

Arthur R Hatfield died in 1931. He was buried in Pleasant View Cemetery, Plainview, Pierce County, Nebraska[x]. We have ordered a copy of his death certificate to confirm the date and place.

Arthur R Hatfield and Rebecca Leona Crawford had the following children:

Order death certificate for Arthur R Hatfield. (Underway.)

Order marriage certificate for Arthur R Hatfield and Rebecca Leona Crawford.

Do a “neighbor analysis” to determine if Arthur & Leona moved between 1900 and 1910 or if the change of location was due to census districting.

Find Arthur’s parents names. (Key Goal)

Find Arthur in the 1880 and 1870 censuses.