Finding your ancestors in the U.S. Census

The census can be one of the best places to find your ancestors. In the 1790 - 1840 the census only included the heads of household. But, from 1850 - 1930 the census included all members of the household and a variety of other useful information.

Most of the 1890 census was destroyed by fire, so most people will not be able to locate ancestors. The 1940 census will be available in mid April 2012, but will not include an index at first.

Always look for the latest census available for your ancestor, then work backwards. Looking in the census will provide you with a location for your ancestor so you can then search for other records in that location.

Be aware that census enumerators did not always get the information correct. Sometimes they were told wrong information and sometimes they wrote down the information incorrectly or how they thought a name should be spelled. So when you look in the indexes and don't find your ancestors don't give up. Try different surname spellings and keep an open mind about how your ancestor may be listed. Also, try different indexes from different companies.

Here is an example, my Great-Great-Grandfather Curtis Alexander Galttana is found in the 1870 census indexed with the name Goltahne. But, another company indexed it as Goltatine, which is the way I read it.

I was able to find Curtis Galttana because he was listed directly below his brother-in-law on the census. Which is another tip you should always do, when you find an ancestor on the census always look at the whole page and a few pages before and after to see if other family was living nearby. Many times families lived near each other.

This census also shows his occupation, which was a salt maker. He was working for his brother-in-law who owned the salt mine.

Searching the census is a great way to learn about your ancestors. Such as, name, age, spouse, children, occupation, home value, immigration dates, other marriages and much more.

Archives.com has recently announced the addition "of the complete U.S. Census to its already billion-record-strong database." Remember the census started in 1790 and currently  runs through 1930.

Thanks to geneabloggers for having a contest to win a year membership with Archives.com.

Black Sheep Sunday - John Galttana arrested for "Intoxicating Liquors"

Imagine my surprise when I found this article on my Great Grandfather John Galttana from Texas in1922.

Apparently, my grandfather and Mr. Miller were arrested for "possessing intoxication liquor for the purpose of sale"

I can just imagine my ggrandfather John Galltana and Mr. Miller sitting in the front of the wagon with their "load" tucked under blankets in the back, while driving their horses down Weatherford Road in Fort Worth.

My cousin (once removed from my Hardee side) Mary Galttana told me that her husband, "Bill" Galttana (also my first cousin once removed from the Galttana side) had told her about when the police came to the house and searched for the still. Bill was about eight years old and was scared to death with all the commotion. He said the police found the still and took it apart and hauled it away.

When I was in Fort Worth I went to the courthouse and asked how to get information on this and the lady took my name and number and said she would call me, but never did. I need to follow up on this because I would love to find out what happened. Did he serve time?

I had been told by family that John Galttana liked to party. The family would take the wagon to town and then the kids would be tucked into bed under blankets in the back of the wagon and then John would go off to party. I do not know if his wife, Mary Jane went with him or stayed with the kids. Then the next day they would pick up their supplies from town and head back home.

Here is the article transcribed:
Fort Wort Star Telegram Dated Jan 22, 1922, page 5

Thirty Gallons of Liquor and Still Captured
Thirty gallons of corn whisky loaded on a wagon which S.E. Miller and J.C. Galttana admitted was enroute to Fort Worth, were it was to have been sold, were confiscated on the Fort Worth-Weatherford road Saturday afternoon by Constable A. B. Carter of Azle and Constable  J. C. Payne of Newark.
Charges of possessing intoxicating liquor for the purpose of sale were filed in the Justice Court against Galttana and Miller. In statements they made to Assistant District Attorney Will R. Parker they admitted that it was "two run" corn and that they had intended it for the Fort Worth market.
A fifty-gallon still was taken by the officers. It was in Parker County near the county line and is believed to have been used in making the thirty gallons of confiscated liquor. It was still warm indicating that the thirty gallons had just been made.

Sports Center Saturday - Lee Hefley Football Player

Lee Hefley

This is a photo of my grandfather Lee Hefley from 1935. He played football for Downs High School in Downs Kansas. He also played basketball and ran track. From looking at the background of this photo I would guess this photo was taken on the farm owned by his parents John and Grace Hefley.

Seems Lee started a life long love of sports as his son played football, basketball and ran track too.

Lee's son, ready for football

The love of sports has continued in my son too. He has played baseball, basketball, football, soccer and ran track. He currently plays his favorites sports of ice hockey and lacrosse.

Lee's grandson, ready for hockey.  Photo from 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Organized helped me find another generation back

My goal lately has been to get organized. I have tons of papers floating everywhere and digital files that need renamed and organized. I decided to use my bookmarks and make a Resource Toolbox as suggested by Thomas MacEntee from GeneaBloggers. If (when) my computer dies I will still have my favorite genealogy sites listed on my blog.

My bookmarks are not organized so I started there. I made folders for States, Surnames, and other titles. I then went through my bookmarks and put them in the right folders.

Then I created a page on my blog titled Research Toolbox. I then listed out the sites I like to access under headings. (Go ahead, you know you want to look at them.)

Focused? What's That?
Of course in the process of this I got distracted and started looking at  the site Genealogy Book Links. I had saved this long ago, but never really looked at it. It lists all the States that have digital books and I clicked on Kansas. At the bottom was a link for Wilson County Marriages, Kansas. I clicked on the link and searched for the name Parsons.

I knew my 2nd Great Grandmother Mary M. Scates had married William Parsons but I knew nothing else about him. They had five children between 1893 and 1898, but he did not show up on any census. 

I did find Mary listed in the 1900 census in Wilson Co., Kansas as a widow with her five children, but I wanted to find out more about William Parson.

Success with searching
Searching the book for Parsons came up with 8 hits. I was ecstatic to find William Parsons marriage record to Mary Scates. (I did the happy dance a little too loud as my husband walked into the room to see what was the matter.)

They married on 14 May 1891 in Benedict, Wilson Co., Kansas by H. White. In parenthesis there is more information added by the author. It states that his father was James Parsons and his mother was Mary J. Fincher and that William was born in Missouri. She also correctly states that Mary Scates father was Samuel Scates and her mother was Eliza Bearden and Mary was born in Tennessee.

Great Clues for me to work on
I then transcribe the information for William and Mary. I also transcribed all the other Parsons so if they end up related I will have the info, or if they are not related I can know who lived in town and who belongs to who. (Or is that whom belongs to whom?)

I also transcribed all the hits for Fincher and Scates. I spent most of the day searching and transcribing and entering info into my database. Lots to follow up on now.

I haven't finished my Research Toolbox yet but I did get another generation back and lots of good info. I know I have to organize, but the searching and finding is just the best part of genealogy.

Wouldn't you agree?

Here is my Parson Line:


1.) James Parsons m. Mary M. Fincher


2.) William Parsons b. abt 1859 in Missouri married Mary M. Scates b. Dec 1867 in Tennessee
m. 14 May 1891 in Benedict, Wilson Co., Kansas

A. Ruth Parsons b. Jan. 1893 Kansas
B. Cress Parsons b. 25 July 1894 Kansas m. Flossie F.
C. Ora Parsons b. 16 Dec. 1896 Kansas m. Adam Stegman  (My line)
D. Opal Parsons b. Oct. 1897 Kansas
E. Osie Parsons b. Dec. 1898 Kansas m. Marion Walker

Wedding Wednesday - Hefley and Stegman

Here is the wedding announcement of my grandparents, Lee Hefley and Irene Stegman

Marriage Announcement in The Downs Times September 5, 1940

Stegman - Hefley
Two of Downs' most popular young people, Miss Irene Thressa Stegman, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Stegman, and Lee Earl Hefley, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hefley, of rural Downs, were united in marriage on August 31 at the Saint Peter and Paul church in Cawker City, Father Wahlmeir using the single ring service at low mass, Saturday morning at 7:00 o'clock.
Miss Irene was lovely in a street length dress of sailor blue. She wore a matching picture hat with black accessories. She carried her rosary.
The groom wore a suit of dark green. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Ahrenes, young friends of the couple. Close relatives were also in attendance.
Irene and Lee are both Downs high school graduates. She, of the class of '36, and he, of the class of '35. She has been employed as clerk for the past three years. He has been employed by the Metz Packing Company for the past two years.
Immediately after the ceremony they started for a brief wedding trip, which took them to various points in Nebraska. They returned home Sunday evening. The happy couple have rented an apartment at the Hotel Lipton. They are receiving congratulations from a large circle of friends.

The funny story behind my grandfather wearing a dark green suit is that he was colorblind and the salesman told him it was black. My grandmother was not happy when she saw him in his green suit. But, when he explained what happened she calmed down.

They were happily married for 53 years.

Military Monday - Civil War Ancestor - Whitson Hefley

Whitson Hefley is my Union ancestor. He was born about 1830 in Montgomery County, North Carolina but moved to Montgomery County, Illinois sometime before 1837.

He married Elizabeth H. Eckler on August 3, 1849 and they had one child, Frances Luella Hefley born May 5, 1853. Elizabeth died September 20, 1854 and Whitson remarried Louisa Catherine Lipe on Christmas day December 25, 1856. They had one child William Arthur Hefley born February 18, 1858 in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Illinois.

Whitson Hefley enrolled in the Civil War on August 15, 1862 in Irving, Montgomery Co., Illinois, by L. R. Slaughter for three years. He was mustered into service as a Sergeant on September 4, 1862 at Alton, Illinois in Company D, 126th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteers by Lt. Curtiss.

The126th Regiment was initially in charge of guarding Confederate prisoners being held in the State Penitentiary at Alton, but when the prisoner were moved on November 20 the Regiment moved down the Mississippi River by the steamer B. M. Runyan  to Columbus, Kentucky. From there they marched to LaGrange, Tennessee and had duty there till January, 1863. From there  4 Companies were on duty at Jackson, Tenn., and 6 Companies at Humboldt, Tenn., from January to March 25; then at Jackson till May 25, 1863.The companies then moved to Vicksburg, Miss., May 25-28, and fought in the Siege of Vicksburg May 28-July 4. They then moved to Helena, Ark., July 24. Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., August 1-September 10. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10.

Whitson was in the Civil War for 14 months. But, according to his discharge papers he was "unfit for duty sixty days" and "Has done no duty for four months." So it looks like he became sick around June of 1863. In June of 1863 according to records Whitson and his unit were at the Siege of Vicksburg  from May 28 to July 4, 1863.

According to the book: The Big Book of Civil War Sites, Morris Book Publishing, 2010, Ulsses S. Grant began his siege operation on May 25 and had all lines of supply, reinforcements and communications successfully cut from Vicksburg. Grant intended to blast his way through by using mines and tunnels and by late June he was ready. I wonder if Whitson helped dig the tunnels? Is that when his sickness started? Working in dark, damp conditions with other soldiers? On June 25, 1863 the powder was fired. The entire top of the hill was blown off and a crater 50 feet wide and 12 feet deep was created. The Confederates had already moved back and immediately started shooting. Hand to hand combat followed but the "Illinois infantrymen attempted to stay in the crater, throwing up a hasty wall in front of them and forming in a double line of battle to keep up a continuous volley fire of their own." If Whitson was still well he would have participated in this fight. On July 4, 1863 the Confederates surrendered Vicksburg.

I do not know when Whitson was sent to Jefferson Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. On July 24 his unit went to Helena, Arkansas which is also on the Missouri River, so he may still have been with them there. Most likely he did not participate in the Expedition against Little Rock, Arkansas. He probably continued sailing up the Mississippi to Jefferson General Hospital in St. Louis. But, this is a guess on my part.


Whitson's Certificate of Disability for Discharge states that he was "born in Montgomery County, North Carolina, is 33 years of age, five feet ten inches high, Light complexion, Blue eyes, Light hair, and by occupation when enlisted a Blacksmith. During the last two months said soldier has been unfit for duty sixty days."    "...and find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Chronic Diarrhea and great emancipation, -Has done no duty for four months. Is not a fit Subject for Invalid Corps."
U.S. General Hospital Jeff Barracks Mo. Oct 15, 1863
Discharged this 16th day of October 1863 at St. Louis Mo.

It then shows that he would go to Irving, Montgomery Co., Illinois.

I had never heard of "Invalid Corps" before so I looked it up here. It says in April of 1863 the U.S. War Department created a Invalid Corps of men who were or had been in the Army. These were men who had been disabled in some way, by either by weapons, disease or accident. They would serve in a non-combat capacity, such as a cook or in a hospital. Whitson was so bad he could not even do this.


I also looked up chronic diarrhea in the Civil War and I learned that bowel disorders killed more men on both sides of the war than battle. It is sad that they had no idea what caused it or how to treat it.

Whitson was at the U.S. General Hospital Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis Missouri while he was ill. When I looked this up I learned that this was the largest Federal hospital in the country with over 3,000 beds. It was strategically located near a major city on a vital river and railroad transportation system. I could not find any information about the conditions of this hospital, but if it was like other hospitals during the war, the surgeons and nurses did what they could for the soldiers with limited supplies and education.


In his pension papers are an affidavit from his family physician William P. Marshall of Hillsboro, Illinois. He stated on the day Whitson came home from the army on October 18, 1863 he was "suffering from a very severe and unusually protracted attack of chronic diarrhea a disease which said Hefley must have contracted in the Army as he had there but-just returned home and the chronic character of the disease indicated that it was of long standing." He stated that Hefley died early the next day "on or about the 19th day of October 1863 at 4 OClock A.M."


He left a widow and two children ages 10 and 5.

One year later Whitsons brother Levi Liberty Hefley(I love his name) was drafted into Company H, 8th Infantry Regiment Illinois on 27 Oct 1864. Levi was 27 years old. He served one year and was mustered out on October 26, 1865. He was married at this time and I'm sure this was hard on the family, especially knowing that Whitson, his brother had died in the Civil War.

Thriller Thursday - Christ Stegman

I have to say I was very surprised when I found the following article on my Great Great Grandfather Christ Stegman. I know that Christ Stegman left Pfeifer, Russia in 1875 and settled in Pfeifer, Kansas. He married Apollonia Basgall in 1881 and they had 10 children.

This was printed in the newspaper, Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, on October 26, 1900 in Kansas.

Stegman Winds Himself Up. The case of a man who does everything himself.

The case against Christ Stegman, convicted in Ellis County of forging a bond has been appealed to the Supreme court. Stegman brought suit against a man, but failed to prove the charges and had to pay the costs, which amounted to $66. He gave bond for the sum with him as the principal and the name George Konrad attached as security. Konrad declaired he had never signed the bond and pronounced it a forgery. Stegman was convicted of forgery in the third degree and sentenced to three years and six months in the penitentiary. He then appealed the case.


I wonder if this is one of the reasons my Great Grandfather, Adam Stegman was said to have nothing to do with his father?
I would love to learn more about this case. I was unable to find any other articles about this.
Did he spend time in jail? What was the suit for that he brought against a man? Why did he forge a document? Did the Kansas Supreme court take the case and what happened?

I'm not quite sure how to find these answers. Should I contact the Ellis Co. Courthouse and ask if they have the records? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, since I am asking for help, I found this article using GenealogyBank and saved it. I cannot figure out how to make it a JPG so I can upload it to my blog. Any suggestions?