Finding a woman’s parents is often difficult, but sometimes it can be easy if you use good technique. Thanks to Newspapers.com, Family Search, and Ancestry.com, I was able to quickly determine the parents of Catherine Thomas, who are a set of second great-grandparents in my Angley atDNA Project. The difficulty in finding women’s parents is often compounded when the surnames are extremely common.
1930 Census – Showing James E. Jones was a Union Organizer Ancestry.com
From several other documents, I know that James E Jones had married Catherine Thomas in 1890[i] in Luzerne County, PA. I also know that they lived in various places in Luzerne County into the 1930s. I had neither of their death dates. The 1930 Census provided the breakthrough for both of them. The census said that James owned a home on Huntsville Street in Dallas, PA, and that he was an Organizer, Miner Union.
I then went to Newspapers.com and searched for: “James E Jones” Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, 1930-1950. There it was, the 4th out of 15 articles. It was an interesting article about him and his life as a United Mine Workers organizer and chapter president[ii].
The Wilkes-Barre Record March 6, 1944, Page 8 via Newspapers.com
Then, I turned to looking for Catherine. Again, a simple search for: “Catherine Jones” wife “James E Jones” returned three matches, one of which provided an obituary’s listing of children and siblings[iii]. The obituary mentioned three brothers, Thomas R Thomas, John R. Thomas, and William R. Thomas. Again, perfect. Switching to Family Search, I searched the 1880 Census for someone with the surname of Thomas and three children Thomas, John, and William. Again, there it was. The head of the household was Thomas Thomas and was married to Hannah. Catherine was also in the details. I needed to go to Ancestry.com, where I have a subscription, to see the image to glean additional information[iv]. So, in a matter of about 30 minutes, I had determined two more ancestors for the project. Then, of course, I spent another four hours documenting my sources, and adding events and individuals to my project. It was a good day.
Suggestions:
Pay attention to street names when you see them in census records. They provide a great clue to use when searching elsewhere, particularly newspapers.
When using newspapers, always do a search for Name and street if known. Also, search for “Name” “wife of Name.”
When searching census records, remember using advanced search, you can search for no first name, then add children’s names to your search parameter. You might find something helpful.
ENDNOTES
[i]Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004), Year: 1900; Census Place: Edwardsville, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1431; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1241431.
This week I write about 2nd Great Grandmother Elnora Busby Vincent, who’s child, Susan R. Vincent/Vinson married Peter Fletcher Howell.
Elnora Busby[1] (aka Ellenior Busbee) has a confusing birthdate. It is possible she was born about 1818 in Halifax County, North Carolina; however, it is more likely she was born in 1825 or 1826 in Nansemond, Virginia. United States)[2],[3]. The census records are conflicting. The 1850 Census indicates her name as Lenora, age 32 born in Virginia, but the 1860 and 1870 Censuses suggest she was born in 1825 or 1826. Her parents are unknown.
Some records indicate the Busby surname may have been spelled Busbee sometimes.
1850 Census – Leanora
via Family Search
In the 1850 Census, “Lenora” is 32 and living with her husband and first three children.
In the 1860 Census, “Ellenior” is 35. The change in name from Lenora and the 7 year change in age makes me think that Lenora and Ellenior might be two different people and that John married again between 1850 and 1860. I have found records for two children which indicate that Elnora is their mother. I have not, however, found birth records for any of the children born before the 1850 Census, so I’m not convinced that Lenora and Elnora are two separate individuals, yet, but I expect that to be the case.
1860 Census – Ellenior
Via Ancestry.Com
Marriages:
Marriage : She, presumably, married John Vincent, the son of Burkett and Elizabeth Vincent sometime before the birth of their first child Virginia in 1844.
The Vincent surname is somewhat problematic as it appears to have been interchanged often with Vinson in several records. As such, I consider Vinson to be a variation of Vincent.
Children:
Child #1: Virginia was born between 2 Jun 1844 and on 1st Jun 1845 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She died on 20 May 1923 in Faucett, Halifax County at age 77, at least. She has no known descendants.
Child #2: Elizabeth Vincent was born between on 2 Jun 1846 and on 1st Jun 1847 in Halifax, North Carolina, United States). She had no known descendants.
Child #3: Susan R Vincent was born about 1847 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She died on 1st Mar 1910 in North Carolina, aged about 63. She married Peter Fletcher Howell on 10 December 1866. She had 7 children: Anna, John, Augusta, Martha, James, David and G.
Child #4: James W Vincent was born between 2 Jun 1851 and on 1 Jun 1852 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He has no known descendants.
Child #5: Benjamin J Vincent was born about 1855 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He died on 3 July 1931 in Roanoke Rapids (Halifax, North Carolina, United States), aged about 76. He married Bettie [Unknown], next he married Sally. He had one known child: Georgin[?].
Child #6: Joseph Burkett Vincent was born between on 2 Jun 1857 and on 1st Jun 1858 in Halifax County, North Carolina. He died on 31 Aug 1917 in Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County, North Carolina aged 59, at least. He had no known descendants.
Child #7: Ellen B Vincent was born between 2 Jun 1860 and 1 Jun 1861 in Halifax County, North Carolina. She married Wanick S Hockaday. She had 2 children: Nathe and Alice.
Child #8: There may be an eighth child born to John and Elnor, Jennie.
Census Records
Seamore [Lanora]
via Family Search
Census : On 1st Jun 1860 she lived near Weldon, in the Western District, Halifax County, North Carolina with her husband, five children, and what appears to be her mother-in-law. [4],[5],[6],[7]
1880 Census – Elnora
via Ancestry.Com
Census : On 1st Jun 1870 she lived near Weldon, in Halifax County, North Carolina with her five children,. Her husband has apparently passed away by then as his is not present in the household. [8],[9],[10],[11]
Census : On 1st Jun 1880, the widow Vincent lived near Weldon, Halifax County, North Carolina, with three of her children and a son-in-law.[12],[13]
Death
There are no other references to Elnora in later census records, so it is presumed she died before 1900; (There was no 1890 Census Record.) however, I have been unable to find a definitive death record.
TIMELINE of Elnora Busby Vincent
Birth
About 1818 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~7
Birth
About 1825 – Usa (North Carolina)
<>8&9
Birth
Between 2 Jun 1826 and 1 Jun 1827 – ? (Nansemond, Virginia, United States)
<>26&27
Birth of her child Virginia Vinson
Between 2 Jun 1844 and 1 Jun 1845 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~27
Birth of her child Virginia Vinson
9 February 1845 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>28&29
Birth of her daughter Elizabeth Vinson
Between 2 Jun 1846 and 1 Jun 1847 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~29
Birth of her daughter Susan R Vinson
About 1847 – Usa (North Carolina)
~30
Birth of her daughter Susan R Vinson
22 Aug 1848 – Usa (North Carolina)
~30
Birth of her daughter Susan R Vinson
22 Aug 1848
~32
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1850 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>33&34
Birth of her son James W Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1851 and 1 Jun 1852 – Usa (North Carolina)
<>34&35
Birth of her son James W Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1852 and 1 Jun 1853 – Usa (North Carolina)
~37
Birth of her son Benjamin J Vincent
About 1855 – Halifax County,USA – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>39&40
Birth of her son Joseph Burkett Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1857 and 1 Jun 1858 – Usa (North Carolina)
~42
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1860 – Western District,USA – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<>42&43
Birth of her daughter Ellen B Vincent
Between 2 Jun 1860 and 1 Jun 1861 – Usa (North Carolina)
~44
Birth of her daughter Ellen B Vincent
1862 – Usa (North Carolina)
~48
Marriage of her daughter Susan R Vinson with Peter Fletcher Howell
10 December 1866 – ? (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
<52
Death of her spouse John Vincent
Before 1870
~52
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1870 – USA – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~62
Census (Participant)
1 Jun 1880 – Weldon (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
~92
Death of her daughter Susan R Vinson
1 Mar 1910 – Usa (North Carolina)
~99
Death of her son Joseph Burkett Vincent
31 Aug 1917 – Roanoke Rapids (Halifax, North Carolina, United States)
Endnotes:
[1] Note: Benjaman Vincent’s Death Certificate indicated mother as Elnora Busby. In the 1850 Census an Eliza Beasley, age 30 is also living with bly a sister. In the 1860 Census Ellenior is 35. The change in name from Lenora and the 7 year change in age make me think that Lenora and Ellenior are two different people and that John married a again between 1850 and 1860.
[2] Note: John Vincent – Age 33 – Farmer – Property value $50 – Born Halifax County. Lenora – 32 – Born Halifax County Virginia – 5 – Born Halifax County Elizabeth – 3 – Born Halifax County Susan – 1 – Born Halifax County Eliza Beasley – 30 – Born Halifax County – Could not read & write. — Family 637 — Elizabeth Vincent – Age 64 – Born Halifax County Nancy – Age 25 – Born Halifax County – Could not read & write.
[3] Source: 1850 Census / John Vincent – Family Search (Other)
[5] Note: Farmer – Real Estate Value: $800 – Personal Estate Value $538 – Cannot Read & Write.
[6] Mentioned: John Vincent (Participant), 43 , Head – Farmer -Real Estate Value: $800 – Personal Estate Value $538 – Cannot Read & Write. – Elnora Busby (Participant), 35 , Seamstress. – Virginia Vinson (Participant), 14 , Attending School – Susan R Vinson (Participant), 12 , Attending School – James W Vincent (Participant), 8 , Attending School – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 5 , Attending School – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 2 – Elizabeth (vinson) (Participant), 75
[7] Source: 1860 Census / John Vinson – Family Search (Other)
[9] Note: Farmer, Property value: $1,800, Personal Property value: $600, Born in Virginia.
[10] Mentioned: Elnora Busby (Participant), 43 – Elizabeth Vinson (Participant), 23 , Keeping House – James W Vincent (Participant), 17 , Farm Labor – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 14 , Farm Labor – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 12 , At Home – Ellen B Vincent (Participant), 9 , At Home
[11] Source: 1870 Census / Lanore Vincent – Family Search (Other)
[13] Mentioned: Elnora Busby (Participant), 50 , Widowed – Farmer – Benjamin J Vincent (Participant), 25 , Working Farm – Joseph Burkett Vincent (Participant), 21 , Working Farm – Ellen B Vincent (Participant), 18 , At Home – Wanick S Hockaday (Participant), 18 , Married – Working Farm
My continuing problems with Family Tree Maker (FTM) for Mac 3.0 occurred again. I saw that my synchronization to my on-line tree was broken once again. In addition, I found that several of my sources were corrupted. Therefore, I decided to give up. Interestingly, the same morning I made that decision I received an email from Heredis letting me know that their new 2015 product for the Mac was now available. It is also on sale for 50% off until July 19th. It seemed like a sign, so I purchased it.
Heredis Installation & Import
Heredis give you to option to purchase from their site or purchase through the App Store. I purchased from the App Store. It downloaded and installed automatically. I used Time Machine to restore my FTM to a version before it corrupted. Then opened up FTM and exported my file in GED 5.5 format.
Next, in Heredis, I opened a GEDCOM file, selected the file I had exported and it imported successfully. Then Heredis asked if I wanted to import my media. I said yes and selected the appropriate Media folder. It pulled in all the media that it knew about. Very easy to do.
Heredis Features
I then began looking at some of the features of Heredis. I was immediately impressed with the way it handles sources. When you open a source, besides the expected basic information that you would expect, a huge note area allows you to format the text you write nicely. I like using the “vertical display” which puts the image on the left and the note text on the right. I found usage to be smooth and easy. For example, I went to Family Search, found a record I was looking for. On Family Search, I selected copy and I downloaded the image. When I went back to Heredis, I just pasted the copied information into the note, and then dragged and dropped the image into Heredis. I added the header information based upon what I had copied — Just a series of copy & pastes.
Title: 1940 Census – Document: [Head of Household’s Name] – Repository: Family Search – Author: NARA – Date: [Today’s date] (‘cause I found it today), Website: I entered the exact familysearch.org URL. I was done. I did add the address of the individual, which the person rented, and a couple other items but it was good to go.
Although the source page does show what events are associated with it there isn’t a way to add an event through that page, however, I went to the Head of the household in my people entry form and input a Census record for 1 Apr 1940 with the key information for the head. A really cool feature is to share that event with other individuals. That feature keeps you from needing to reenter the same information on the records for everyone in the household. In a comment line, it is easy add the information that is different from the head, such as wife, son, daughter, or mother-in-law as appropriate. I like the system.
Heredis default on-line search locations.
Another very cool feature is the Search. They populate several popular web search engines, Ancestry.Com, FamilySearch.com, Find-a-Grave, etc. You can add more or disable them as you wish. On the next tab over from the Search is “Research Note.” It is a great place to enter notes regarding what you have searched already. I like it.
I found the selection criterion for finding people is flexible. For example, you can select by surname individuals whose parents are unknown.
Another awesome feature is to work on a branch. Select a person then you can select ancestors or descendants of that individual. It is kind of like an automatic filter system. You can also show just the treetops, which can give you a visual look at individuals you may want to spend more time researching. Reports are everything you would expect or want. It is very impressive software.
It is perfect, no. There isn’t a way for an individual to have multiple surnames. In my family, there are several (male) individuals who had multiple surnames and for whom the surname wasn’t related. Using a “nickname” or considering it an alias doesn’t work well. My grandfather was born Clifford Brown, Married and had children as Richard Durand, and went by Richard Brown in his later years. I’ve never encountered a reasonable explanation for the name changes. In addition, of course, he did have the nickname of “Dick,” as do many Richards.
The bottom line is I’m really happy (so far) that I made the switch to Heredis.
I was cleaning up my computer files and came across an old directory, “/From old Compaq.” I switched to Mac in 2008, so I didn’t hold much hope that anything I found there would be of help. Was I ever wrong! Apparently, I found some interesting things about Donna back in 2007, downloaded them for future analysis, and then forgot about them when I changed computers. Two of the files were clippings from “The Dallas Review” which showed Donna playing at the Melba Theatre in Dallas Texas in 1924. I may have wondered, at the time if it was really my Donna as there was so much wrong in the person’s history. I know a lot more about Donna’s career and know it is the right person, but there are still many items that will require additional research.
Although I don’t recall where I downloaded “The Dallas Review” from, I was able to find the exact same articles in the Dallas Morning News from Genealogy Bank.
Another set of files, that I’ll write about later, indicate Donna and Earl probably came to Dallas from Nebraska. Certainly, we know she was in Oakland, CA in early June and in Sheboygan, WI in the fall so this is a newly discovered venue for Donna to be at. In fact, this is the first venue I’ve found for Donna in the South.
The only advertising I’ve found was a large ad showing Donna Darling and Earle as an Extra Added Attraction in a “Song and Dance Romance” (See below).
An article on the 21st indicates, “Donna Darling and Earle in a song and dance revue have pep and good appearance. They seemed to enjoy doing their bit and deserved hearty applause.”[i]
The following day, 22 July 1924, has a very interesting article, which says:
DONNA DARLING AT MELBA
BEAUTY CONTEST WINNER
– – – – –
Donna Darling, who is one or the bright spots on the vaudeville stage at the Melba Theater this week, was the 1919 winner of the beauty contest conducted at the New York Hippodrome. This was at the time she was engaged as the prima donna of Charles Dillingham’s notable musical comedy, “Chin Chin.” Prior to this honor Miss Darling had been judged first in the Boston beauty contest
The famous screen star, Grace Darling, is a sister of Miss Darling, who was herself a movie actress at one time. Her vaudeville act is a song and dance revue and she is assisted by Murray Earle, late or George White’s “Scandals,” and is properly called a “dancing fool.”
Of course, the “Chin Chin” promotional materials were always careful to not say there were any leading ladies, let alone a “prima donna.” I, of course, still wonder about her winning any contests. I know of one contest in Boston that she entered and didn’t win. I suppose there may be another contest I don’t know about yet, but I definitely can do more research there. Also, I’m yet to find confirmation that she actually won a contest in New York. I’ve only found press releases for Donna that indicate she won.
I originally thought that it was just craziness that Donna’s sister was the actress Grace Darling. Donna didn’t have any siblings (except for a half brother that died as an infant). Then I thought I’d look into Grace Darling’s biography. Wow. Grace Darling was married to Patrick Rooney. ROONEY? Just last year, I learned that Donna married Thomas Valentine Rooney in 1915. She didn’t marry Sammy until 1926, so it is possible that she was still married to Thomas in 1924, that Thomas’ brother was the Patrick who married Grace Darling. That would mean that the occasional references to Grace Darling being Donna’s was, in part, true. It could be that Grace Darling was the wife of Donna’s brother-in-law — a “sister” of sorts. Again, more interesting research is necessary.
Melba Theater
The Melba Theater opened in 1921 as the Hope Theater[ii] ; however, the Julius Cahn – Gus Hill Theatrical Guide – 1922 Supplement does not list the theater. According to Cinema Treasures, it was taken over by the Interstate Theatre Circuit and renamed the Melba[iii]. This had to occur sometime before July of 1924 when Donna played there[iv]. About 1960 it was renamed the Capri Theatre and remained so until its closing in the 1970s and its later demolition.
Further Research
Confirm if Donna won a beauty contest at the New York Hippodrome in 1919.
Confirm if Donna was judged first in a Boston beauty contest (before she joined “Chin Chin.”)
Research Murray Earle and determine any relationship.
Determine if the Patrick Rooney that Grace Darling married is related to the Thomas Rooney that Donna married.
Endnotes:
[i] Dallas Morning News (Dallas, TX) July 21, 1924, Part 1, Page 4 – Via Genealogy Bank.
Sometimes, when we know virtually nothing about a person we think of the situation as a brick wall. It certainly is a wall, but my goal is to go over, under, around, or through the impediment. There is always a way to progress, albeit a very difficult way to get around it.
Kath. Stuckling Huber
Photo from
Personal Archive.
One of my walls is Kath Stuckling(er). Not only are there fewer records available online for Switzerland than US records, there is a language barrier, because I don’t read or speak German and what records I do find are brutally slow for me to go through.
Kath. Stuckling is one of those people. I don’t know when she was born, but because her eldest child, John [Johan] was born in 1880, we can guess that Kath was born sometime between 1845 and 1865 (that would make her between 15 and 35 at the time of his birth). Consequently, I use 1855 plus or minus 10 years.
Taken from Wisconsin Marriages 1836-1930
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRGX-6MQ
I’m not even positive that her maiden surname was Stuckling. An index for the above record indicates her name as Stucklinger. When I ordered the microfilm and reviewed it (see above) at my local Family History Library, I couldn’t see the “er” at the end. Maybe it is visible in the original document, but, I don’t see it in this microfilm version. So, either there is an error in the index or an error in the image on the microfilm, Anyway, because I can’t see the “er,” I’m sticking with Stuckling for now, although I do have Stucklinger as a possible alternative.
I suspect that Kath and Jacob were married one to two years before their oldest child, John, was born.
Jakob Huber Family c. 1900
Family Personal Photo Archive
Key for Jakob Huber Family Photo
We do have a photo of Kath as part of a family portrait taken about 1900., before her son John left for the United States. The children’s names are based upon that photo and the marks on the back.
Finally, I’m going to make a wild estimate that Kath died before she was 90, although I have absolutely no reason to make that speculation. Anyway, I’ll guess she died before 1945.
So here is what I have and/or speculate:
Katherine Stucklinger, born c. 1855 in Switzerland.
Married John Huber c. 1878.
Lived Windlach, Zurich, Switzerland.
Five children (Probably).
John – Born 1880
Ernie –
Hermann –
Alfred –
Frieda –
Died: (probably) before 1945.
I’ve tried finding out more about Katherine and Jacob. I’m not finding them or their children in any of the systems I use. I’m still looking though. But, I’m almost to the point of wanting to take a field trip to Switzerland to continue researching or hiring someone in Windlach to find birth, marriage, and death record for Kath, her husband, and four of her children.
, I was able to quickly determine the parents of Catherine Thomas, who are a set of second great-grandparents in my Angley atDNA Project. The difficulty in finding women’s parents is often compounded when the surnames are extremely common.
