Reverend Boyd Ward Fielder 1855-1895

Currently working on one of Evalina Sanders Wampler and John Randolph Fielder's sons, Boyd Ward Fielder.

I have Boyd Ward Fielder listed with being born 4 March 1855 in Grayson county, Virginia. He became a Methodist minister before, or around, 1879 time frame as he is mentioned to have attended a Holston conference held in Abingdon, Virginia in that year and a sketch (essay) of his is shared, in 1913 within Volume 4 of Holston Methodism. for the years 1844 to 1870, about another attendee's speaking style.

Boyd Ward Fielder married Frances Elizabeth Davis on 15 October 1884 in Wythe county, Virginia. Frances Elizabeth, who went by her middle name, was born 20 January 1866 in Virginia to William J. Davis and Sarah A. Jackson.

Boyd most often appears by his initials, so B. W. Fielder. His wife went by Elizabeth Davis Fielder and she appears to have written at least two newspaper articles during their marriage. This becomes relevant later on with Elizabeth.

B. W. Fielder and his wife had at least 4 children attributed to them. Anna Saunders Fielder, born 1891 in Atchison county, Kansas, Helen Ward Fielder, born 1893 in Missouri, and I have seen a son listed with them on family trees - William Fielder - with a vague note that he died young (but no mention of year or location for his birth or death), and a child said to been stillborn (again, no mention of year or location for this child).

Rev. B. W. Fielder died from paralysis, or a stroke, which occurred almost a week earlier, on 22 September 1896 in Moberly, Randolph county, Missouri. He was buried in Saint Jude Cemetery at Monroe City, Monroe county, Missouri.

Stricken with Paralysis.

Rev. B. W. Fielder, a Methodist minister well and favorably known in this city, now of Moberly, was stricken with paralysis last Sunday morning while on his knees in prayer in his pulpit. His condition is regarded as critical.
Marion County Herald - 17 Sep 1896 - Page 7

Rev. B. W. Fielder, pastor of the Methodist Church, South, at Moberly, was engaged in his first service at that place last Sunday, and while at prayer was stricken with paralysis. He was conveyed to his home and last reports say he in a precarious condition.
Shelbina Democrat - 23 Sep 1896 - Page 1

Rev. B. W. Fielder died of paralysis in Moberly Tuesday morning. Rev. Fielder was an educated gentleman and consecrated preacher, whose death will be a great loss to the Methodist church. His remains were interred in Monroe City.
The Macon Republican - 25 Sep 1896 - Page 3

His widow, Elizabeth Davis Fielder, remarried at least three times. Her marriages took her from Missouri to Illinois and eventually to Texas. She married a W. D. Waller in September of 1899 in Missouri. She is listed as being a widow when she married Charles J. Montouck in 1903, also in Missouri. He was employed in the insurance industry when they married and in 1906 he was assigned to northeastern Illinois. It appears that she and Charles Montouck divorced, possibly in Illinois, as in 1908 she married an Elbert C. Hendrix, employed as an inspector for the US Immigration Department, in Texas and it is stated, about a week after they married, that he was being transferred to El Paso area and she was going to Illinois to 'attend to business' before joining him in El Paso.

A SURPRISE TO MANY.

W. D. Waller a leading businessman of Hannibal and Mrs. Fielder formerly of this city were united in the holy bonds of matrimony in St. Louis, Thursday 21st.
Monroe City Democrat - 28 Sep 1899 - Page 4

Married In St. Louis.

Mr. Charles Monckton and Mrs. Elizabeth Fielder Waller were quietly married in St. Louis last Saturday afternoon. The wedding was quite a surprise to the friends of both parties. Mrs. Waller left Louisiana Saturday morning telling her friends that she was going to St. Louis on business. Saturday evening she wired some friends in Louisiana that she was married. Both formerly resided in Hannibal and both are well and favorably known here. Mr. Monckton is engaged in the insurance business and was recently promoted to state manager of his company. The bride was the widow of the late E. D. Waller and is a lady of rare literary attainments. - Hannibal Journal.
Monroe City Democrat - 2 Apr 1903 - Page 1

MARRIED AT HIDALGO.
Popular Immigration Agent and a Lady Magazine Writer.

The marriage of E. C. Hendrix, the popular immigration inspector of Hidalgo, and Mrs Elizabeth Monckton, of Aurora, Ill., the well known magazine writer, took place at Hidalgo Friday, Jan. 31. The bride has returned north to attend to some business matters, but will rejoin Mr. Hendrix shortly.

The many friends of Mr. Hendrix are congratulating him, upon his good fortune, and wish him and his talented bride a life of happiness and prosperity.
The Brownsville Herald - 5 Feb 1908 - Page 4

Her marriage to E. C. Hendrix appears to being her last marriage. Elizabeth C. Hendrix is listed in the 1910 US census being widowed in El Paso, Texas and her occupation being editor of a newspaper. In 1940 census she is listed, as Elizabeth C. Hendrix, living with her daughter Helen's family in California. She doesn't appear to have any children with her other husbands.

Elizabeth established herself as a writer, and besides at least two novels/books (one as early as 1906/1907 and it appears she was still married to Charles J. Montouck at the time of the publication), she also wrote a variety of articles, or stories, for newspapers and magazines. She is also credited as a writer in 1917 for the movie "Polly Put The Kettle On". She wrote under several names - Elizabeth Davis Fielder, Elizabeth Fielder Waller, Elizabeth C. Montouck, Mrs. C. J. Montouck, Elizabeth C. Hendrix and Elizabeth Chandler Hendrix to name a few attributed to her. Which coincides with her marriages. I don't know where the name Chandler came from, it may been a second middle name she had or it may been E. C. Hendrix's middle name? She is also mentioned to having written under the name of Elizabeth Roberts and one or two others. Hints of other marriages? I don't know.

On Elizabeth C. Hendrix's IMDb page, she is listed to passing away 23 June 1951 in Los Angeles county, California. There is very little information shared about her on that page. I have her living in California prior to her oldest daughter's second marriage in 1931 in California. I will hazard a broad guess that Elizabeth C. Hendrix and her daughter, Helen Fielder, may have moved to California between 1912 (year of Anna's first marriage) and 1917 (year of the movie) time period.

Boyd Ward Fielder and Frances Elizabeth Davis's oldest daughter, Anna, married a William Brand in El Paso, Texas in 1912 and they had two daughters before their divorce. Anna later married Henry Bates Willis in 1931, they married in California but they both resided in El Paso prior to and following their marriage. Anna appears to followed her mother's footsteps in terms of having a writing career, she is credited with at least one book but she appears to built her career through writing magazine articles. Anna passed away in El Paso in 1961.

Boyd Ward Fielder and Frances Elizabeth Davis's younger daughter, Helen, married Ferdinand J. Lopez and they had one son. She is said to also been a writer to magazines. Helen passed away in Los Angeles county, California in 1958.

Harvey S. Wampler 1828 - 1885

Harvey S. Wampler is a descendant of Hans George Wampler, son of Hans Peter Wampfler Sr., and Elizabeth Stephan/Steffey, daughter of Johannes Ulrich Stephan/Steffey and Anna Schirmer. Harvey is also one of the brothers of Rufus Morgan Wampler, who would been my 2x great-grandfather.

[hg3-57] Harvey S, WAMPLER
  b. 1828
  m. Martha HARRISON
  l. [he1-8]Hans->[hg2-9]Jacob=>
-- Source: Wampler/Wampfler database

Harvey is hinted to being born in Virginia, probably Wythe county, in 1828 or 1829. I listed the 1828 year on my side based off majority of census reports that leaned to that year. US Census reports listed both Indiana and Virginia for his place of birth, however, I am leaning to Virginia due to his siblings.

"107 HARVEY S. WAMPLER, b. ca 1829; d. in Knox County, Indiana on 21 Sep 1885. He could have been the Harvey S. Wampler who was married in Knox County, Indiana, on 30 Oct 1862, to Martha J. Harrison. He was enumerated in the 1880 Census of Knox County. They had six or more children..."
-- Source: Page 55 of "Wamplers in America" by John E. Shouse; 1981

Martha J. [Jane?] Harrison is said to been the daughter of James H. Harrison and Mary Jane Steffey. Her mother, Mary Jane, is listed as being a child of Henry Steffey Jr and Christine Staley. Henry Steffey Jr's father was a brother of Elizabeth Stephan/Steffey - so he was a son of Johannes Ulrich Stephan/Steffey and Anna Schirmer. Sharing that in fo for those who try to keep some track of the intermarriage that occurred in Wampler and/or Steffey family trees.

Martha Jane is said to been born in 1840 and probably in Virginia. An H. S. Wampler and M. J. Harrison married in Knox county, Indiana on 30 November 1862. Martha is said to passed away in February of 1914 in Knox county, Indiana. On the Indiana death certificate her name is listed as Mary, not Martha, and mother is listed to being Mary Jane Steffy but her father's first name not listed and he is listed being a Wampler, not a Harrison. I am not discounting the death record to being for Martha Jane Harrison Wampler, however with the intermarriage that went on between the lines/generations, I am going to see if I can find something else to help confirm it is her. So far I have not come across an obit or death notice shared for her in the local papers.

A Harvey Wampler is listed in the 1870 US Census in Knox County with a wife, Martha, and 2 children, Joseph, age 6, and Elizabeth, age 2. I have seen Joseph and Elizabeth listed being born in 1854 and 1859, but that clashes with the marriage info and with the 1860 and later US census reports, in terms of age listed for them. So, on my side, I am basing those two children's birth years off the 1870 US Census that they first appear in; Joseph Wampler, 1864, and Elizabeth, 1869.

Also, Harvey S. Wampler did not pass away in Knox county, Indiana and he did not die on 21 September 1885. Per a local newspaper, Harvey was hospitalized in May of 1885 and he died in Indianapolis, Marion county, Indiana on 17 September 1885, a Thursday, at the Insane Hospital. His body was shipped to Bruceville, Knox county, Indiana and it arrived on 18 September 1885, a Friday. The 21 September date is a Monday, and I am assuming, given the time line, the date of his burial in Knox county, Indiana.

Here is the information, from a local newspaper, that I used to base the dates of Harvey S. Wampler's hospitalization being on/about 27 May 1885, death being 17 September 1885 in Indianapolis, and subsequent burial thoughts in Knox county, Indiana on my side of working on the family tree:

From Wednesday's Daily, May 20
... Harvey S. Wampler, who was about town, this morning, apparently insane, ought to be restrained. He has been locked up.
-- Source: The Vincennes Weekly Western Sun - Page 3 - 22 May 1885

From Friday's Daily Mail, May 29
... Sheriff Seddelmeyer took H. S. Wampler to the Insane Hospital at Indianapolis, Wednesday. He was accompanied by Jo Keifer.
-- Source: The Vincennes Weekly Western Sun - Page 1 - 5 Jun 1885

The remains of Harvey Wampler were shipped to Bruceville last Friday. He died in the Insane Hospital, at Indianapolis, the day before.
-- Source: The Vincennes Weekly Western Sun - Page 3 - 25 Sep 1885

I have come across names of six children attributed to Harvey S. Wampler and Martha Jane Harrison: Joseph [1864-?], Elizabeth [1869-?], Mary [1871-1938], (Flora?) Della [1872-?], Lillian "Lillie" [1876-?] and Dove N. [1881-?]. If following the intermarriage chain, the children would be descendants of Hans George Wampler Sr and Elizabeth Stephan/Steffey and Elizabeth's brother, Henry Stephan/Steffey and Louisa/Levicy [Phillippi?]. I am currently working on picking up the paper trail of the children, I know at least of 2 of the daughters married and one had at least 8 children and the other had 6 to 7 children.

John W. Martin 1835-1902

In the prior post I shared, about Johann Leonard Wampler and two of his eight children, John W. Martin makes his appearance into the family tree's branches.

He first appears in the 1840 US census for his grandfather's household. However, 1840 censuses only listed - by name - the head of the household (and sometimes not always by their name but in some instances as Widow [Surname] which there are a few of those in the 1840 census, if curious). John W. Martin is listed with the tally mark for "Males under the age of 10" line.

Birth year remains consistently listed, in later census reports, to being 1835. Location of his birth flips back and forth between Indiana and Illinois. But I am getting ahead of myself...

I have not located any records of Ann(a) Catherine Wampler's first marriage outside of what is shared in an obit someone shared on her FindAGrave Memorial page. From the obit we get the following information about the marriage:
·   She remained in the Illinois/Indiana area after her parents decided to return to Preble county, Ohio,
·   It may been a short marriage that ended due to the death of John W. Martin's father, John Martin, from cholera in Louisiana. The obit's wording is unclear if he died prior or after their son's birth. The marriage may have taken place between 1832 to early 1835 time frame,
·   Due to the death of the elder John Martin, Ann(a) Catherine returned to her parents' home in Preble county, Ohio.

John W. Martin's own paper trail shares that his parent's marriage was possibly interracial. In census reports, John W. Martin's father is listed to been born in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and "unknown".

His mother's parents and oldest brother went from Preble county, Ohio to Wabash county, Indiana around 1847/48. He and his mother are listed, with the surname of Wampler, on the 1850 US census of his Uncle William Wampler along with another nephew of his uncle (and his mother) named William M. Wampler. In the 1850 US Census he is marked as Mulatto.

In the 1860 and 1880 US Censuses, where he is living in his mother's home, he is listed as White. 1870 US Census he is listed as White and to be living next to his mother's residence/farm. Then in the 1900 US Census he is listed as Black, as he is also listed on his 1902 Indiana death certificate.

John W. Martin appears to have married only once. His wife, whose Find A Grave memorial page shares a headstone cared with the name Mary M., died in July of 1883 at the age of 24. According to my personal research, the head stone is incorrect about her name. John W. Martin is mentioned in the North Manchester Journal as to marrying Helena Fultz in February of 1883. A later notice, in the same newspaper in August of 1883, shares an "in memory of" advertisement placed by a social organization for Lena Martin who died July 25, 1883 and left a husband, John Martin, and a child. She is buried in the family cemetery of John W. Martin's stepfather's family. I have not come across a copy of the marriage record, they are said to have married in Canada. We see Lena Fultz in the 1880 US Census as she is listed in Ann(a) Catherine's household as "servant". When we get to John and Lena's child, further in the post, it helps further piece things together that John's wife was Helena "Lena" Fultz.

Mrs. John Martin died yesterday morning leaving a babe but a few days old. Funeral at the house to-day at 10 o'clock. Services by the Rev. E. D. Smith.
The Journal North Manchester IN - 26 Jul 1883 Page 3

The "babe" mentioned in the death notice is John W. Martin's daughter, Lena Martin, who appears with him in the 1900 US Census. It is after that census Lena Martin becomes a bit of a mystery.

13 May 1902 John W. Martin passes away, from brain fever, in a Wabash county poor farm. He has two Find A Grave Memorial pages, one that says he is buried on the grounds of the county poor farm is not correct as his death certificate shares his body to be buried in the North Manchester area - which leans to the Find A Grave Memorial for him being buried in the Swank (family) cemetery, nest to his wife and in with other family members, being the right one. An Ervin Thompson was the informant for John W's death certificate, which may be why the parents are listed as "unknown". What is curious is that neither of John's half-brothers (Daniel D. Swank and Jacob L. Swank), any of their children nor his own daughter listed as the informant - but somehow the county poor farm and/or the informant got the information on where the body was to be buried. I have not located a death notice, or obit, for John W. Martin to be able to see if his daughter is mentioned in it.

So, from this point on, it is speculation only on if the Lena Martin listed in two marriage records for Marion county, Indiana is John W. Martin's daughter who was born in Wabash county, Indiana in 1883. A Lena Martin marries a Wilson in Marion county in 1903 - she lists her father to being John W. Martin and mother's maiden name to being Foltz. Her birth year is listed as 1882. In the second marriage record, before 1910, Lena Martin (that name) lists she is a widow and that her father was John W. [Surname not listed] and her mother's maiden name was Felts. I come across a Richard Shaw in the 1920 census for marion county, Indiana - he is listed as a boarder and being widowed, I don't see him nor Lena in the 1910 census.

What we do know, thanks to his mother's obit and his paper trail, is that John W. Martin is a descendant of Johannes Christian Wampfler and, his wife, Anna Tritten; their son Christian Wampler and, his wife, Justina Magdalena Cristillus; their son, Johannes [John] Wampler and his wife, Dorothea Hiller; their son, Johann Leonard Wampler and his wife, Ann(a) Mary (Maria) Martin; and their daughter, Ann(a) Catherine Wampler.

Johann Leonard Wampler and two of his eight children

From one of Roy H. Wampler's book, which appears to be the same information, for the most part, on the Wampler/Wampfler database website, I started off on "what can I find" quest with this:

"85 v. Joh. Leonard WAMPLER b 3 Dec. 1782, York Co., PA; d 31 Jan. 1857. mar. ca. 1806, Ann Mary MARTIN b 25 Feb. 1784, Frederick Co., MD; d 17 May 1874; daughter of Matthias MARTIN (1745-1815) and Anna Barbara (TROXELL) MARTIN (d 13 Sep. 1823 (or 1825) aged 73 years 5 days) of Frederick County, MD.[44,50,72,74,75,76]

In 1810 Leonard Wampler and family lived in Germany Twp., Adams Co., PA; in 1819-1820 they lived in Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore City diectory of 1819 lists Leonard Wampler, tanner, corner of Saratoga and Pearl. In 1840 he and his family lived in Gratis Twp., Preble Co., OH. He and three of his sons were taxpayers in Preble Co. OH, between 1838 and 1846, but their whereabouts afterwards are unknown. [77,78,79,80,165]

Issue :
1) William WAMPLER baptized 14 June 1807, Christ Reformed Church, Littlestown, Adams County, PA; d 1861.
2) Joshua WAMPLER b 1808, Adams Co., PA; d 1865.
3) John M. WAMPLER (twin) b 1810, Littlestown, PA; d 1886.
4) Lewis WAMPLER (twin) b 1810, Littlestown, PA.
5) Ann Catherine WAMPLER b 1813, Mechanicstown (now Thurmont) , MD; d 1888;
mar. SWANK.
6) Maria Magdalena WAMPLER b 1815, Mechanicstown, MD; d 1838.
7) Savilla WAMPLER b 1819, Baltimore, MD; d 1833
8) James WAMPLER b 1823, Millerstown, Adams Co. , PA.
mar. 1846 Catherine LUDY b 1823, OH; d 1887, Lincoln, NE.
Res.: 1847-60; Dayton, OH; 1867-71: Peru, IN.
Had at least 9 children (born 1847 to 1867)"
-- Source: A Wampler family history: with allied families of Kemper, Zumbrum, Angel, Craumer, Mayer and Ruhlman : descendants of William Wampler (1813-1886), together with ancestors of William J. Wampler (1838-1906) and his second wife, Mary S. Kemper (1855-1936) ; 1999 by Roy H. Wampler

Not a lot to work with, but definitely enough to help kick start a search to find more about this couple and/or their children. A fun genealogical endeavor on my side, even if Johann Leonard Wampler descends from Johannes Christian Wampfler and Anna Tritten's side and my genealogical ties to this family stems from the Hans Peter Wampfler and Anna Lung's side of things.

Records I can find for this family is the 1800, 1810, 1820 and 1840 US Census reports Leonard Wampler is listed as head of household. I also found William Wampler's christening record, his name is listed as Wilhelm, along with christening records for Joshua, Ann(a) Catherine, Maria Magdalena, and Savilla (name transcribed at Sybilla).

The above records show the family moved around a bit as they go from Adams county, Pennsylvania to Frederick county, Maryland then to Baltimore before going back to Adams county, Pennsylvania. Between 1820 and 1840 they go to Ohio as by the 1840 census they are listed in Gratis, Preble county, Ohio. Which, so far, what I am coming across matches up to what Roy H. Wampler shared in his book.

[jc3-3] Johann Leonard, WAMPLER
  b. 3Dec1782, York County PA
  d. 31Jan1857
  m. Anna Mary MARTIN (25Feb1784-17May1874)
  n. Anna born Fredrick Co MD; parents Mathias Martin and Barbary TROXTEL
  sc. {bsw-j} 3p13 (1891 report of John Calvin Wampler)
l. [he0-8]Johann->[jc1-2]Christian->[jc2-1]John=>
-- Source: Wampler/Wampfler Database

I located Leonard and his wife, Ann, listed in the household of their son, William Wampler, in Wabash county, Indiana for the 1850 US census. Also listed in William's household is Ann C. Wampler (b. 1813 Maryland), John W. Wampler (b. 1835 Indiana) and William M. Wampler (b. 1843 Ohio).

Did William Wampler marry? It doesn't appear that he did, nor have any children in what I have managed to locate about him. Which matches up to Roy H. Wampler's and the Wampler/Wampfler Database site's information for William.

[jc4-1] William, WAMPLER
&nsbp; b. 14Mar1807, Littlesetown, Adams County PA
&nsbp; d. 2Aug1861
l. [he0-8]Johann->[jc1-2]Christian->[jc2-1]John->[jc3-3]Johann=>
-- Source: Wampler/Wampfler Database

The 1850 census taker, although correct in majority of the information listed for the family, listed 2 family members with the incorrect surname, which is revealed when seeing the obit for one of Leonard Wampler's daughters that someone shared on her FindAGrave memorial page ... and her obit shares a bit more about her parents, as well as herself, which helps to put some things into place.

SWANK, Mrs. Ann Catharine         March 29, 1888
After a long and painful illness Mrs. Ann Catharine Swank departed this life at her home the 25th inst. The subject of this notice was the daughter of Leonard and Anna May Wampler, born in Mechanicstown, Frederick County, Maryland, May 2nd, 1813. When five years old her parents moved to the city of Baltimore, remaining hter three years, thence again to Adams County, Pennsylvania, and in 1828 emigrated to the state of Ohio, finally settled down in Preble County, near Winchester. Her parents being in straightened circumstances Catharine in company with the Rev. Joseph Wampler and family emigrated to Easton, Illinois, not far west of Terre Haute, and set up in the millinery business. She then united with the Presbyterian Church (being a child of the Covenant). Shortly after that she became the wife of Captain John Martin who was plying a steamer between the above city and New Orleans. In his last trip he was taken with Asiatic Cholera and died at the latter city. John W. Martin ws the fruit of that marriage. After the death of her husband she disposed of her goods, received her dismission from the church and returned to Preble County, Ohio, the home of her parents, where she again entered the church on presentation of her certificate. After the lapse of years the family moved to Wabash County, Indiana. About the year 1848 or 49. In 1851 Catharine became the wife of Daniel Swank, Sr., who died in 1860, she bore him three sons, Viz: Daniel D. and William H. and Jacob L. The second of whom died in early childhood. She entered the Lutheran Church some 20 years ago, remained an active member and a liberal contributor to the end of her useful life. Mrs. Swank during the last six months which she bore with wonderful christian fortitude till the messenger of death, like an angel of mercy came to her relief. Funeral at the Lutheran church, Tuesday noon, burial at the Swank Cemetery. Sermon preached Rev. C. W. Maggart.
Find A Grave Ann Catharine Wampler Swank's Memorial Page
; Obituary image shared by Find A Grave contributor: OPP Sheryl

Per Ann(a) Catherine Wampler's obit, in the 1830s her parents and some of their children (as in Ann(a) Catherine at least) moved briefly to Illinois, and where they weren't far from Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana area. It was during this move that Ann(a) Catherine Wampler is said to marry a John Martin. Sometimes around the time of her marriage, her parents moved (back?) to Preble county, Ohio area. After her parents moved to Ohio, Ann(a) Catherine's first husband passed away and, per the obit, she sold her belongings and took her son (the John W. listed with the 1835 birth year) and was residing in her parents' home by the time of the 1840 census. Leonard Wampler's 1840 census appears to back that bit of information up:

Males Under 5: 1     [ <== John W. Martin, b. 1835 ]
Males 20 & under 30: 1     [ <== John M, Lewis or James Wampler? ]
Males 30 & under 40: 1     [ <== William Wampler, b. 1807 ]
Males 50 & under 60: 1     [ <== Johann Leonard Wampler ]
Females 20 & under 30: 1   [ <== Ann(a) Catherine Wampler Martin, b. 1813 ]
Females 50 & under 60: 1   [ <== Ann Mary Martin Wampler ] -- Source: 1840 US Census for the household of Leonard Wampler in Gratis, Preble, Ohio

The daughter's obit shared that around 1847 to 1849, her parents, older brother, her and her son, John W. Martin, went to Wabash county, Indiana and they are present in that area for the 1850 US Census. Ann(a) Catherine is the Ann C. Wampler listed in William's household and I've already established that John W. is her son from a prior marriage, the census taker just listed everyone with the same surname.

In 1851, Ann(a) Catherine marries for a second time a Daniel Swank, which that marriage is noted in Roy H. Wampler's book and on the database website, although the database shared skeptical wording. Ann(a) Catherine had three sons with her second husband: Daniel D, William Henry (who passed away about the age of 5), and Jacob L. Swank. Daniel Swank [Sr.] passed away in 1860.

[jc4-5] Ann Catherine Swank, WAMPLER
  b. 2May1813, Mechanick Town MD
  d. Mar1888
  m. SWANK (?)
  n. not clear if SWANK is married name or given name
l. [he0-8]Johann->[jc1-2]Christian->[jc2-1]John->[jc3-3]Johann=>
-- Source: Wampler/Wampfler Database

[Johann] Leonard Wampler passes away 31 January 1857 and is buried in his daughter's second husband's family cemetery in Wabash county, Indiana. William Wampler passes away 2 August 1861 and is also buried in his sister's second husband's family cemetery. This contradicts with many online trees, on FamilySearch, WikiTree, Ancestry, MyHeritage and et al, that list Leonard Wampler passing away in Gratis Township, Preble county, Ohio; however the information from Find A Grave more closely matches with the paper trail of Leonard Wampler.

Ann Martin Wampler is stated, in Roy H. Wampler's book and the Wampler/Wampfler database, to passing away in 1874. I cannot find her in the 1860 (she may been in her son's, William, household as she is not listed with Catherine or with another son, who resided in Cass county, Indiana, in 1860) nor the 1870 US census (as of this point in time). The FindAGrave's memorial page for her husband hints she is buried wih him in the same cemetery and is in an unmarked grave.

Ann(a) Catherine Wampler Martin Swank passes away in March of 1888 in Wabash county and is buried in the same cemetery (her grave is said to also be unmarked).

George W. Wampler 1838-1915

[hg4-8] George W, WAMPLER
b. 1838
d. 1915
m. Mary WILSON
l. [he1-8]Hans->[hg2-2]John->[hg3-1]Jeremiah=>
Source: Wampfler/Wampler Database

On my side of family tree researching, I have George W. Wampler's birth info as 24 Novermber 1838 in Indiana. I haven't pegged down what town and/or county.

For the death information I have George passing away 8 January 1915, most likely in Putnam county in Indiana. He is buried in Bainbridge, Putnam, Indiana in the Bainbridge Cemetery.

To fill in the middle, George W. Wampler married Mary Elizabeth Wilson on 8 November 1868 in Putnam county, Indiana. Mary was the daughter of Abraham P. (1821-1859) and Mary E. (1823-1915) Wilson. Mary Elizabeth Wilson was born 20 November 1843 in Lawrence county, Indiana. I have her listed as to passing 31 August 1881 and buried in Bainbridge, Putnam Indiana.

George W. Wampler is said to have served in the Civil War, but to date, I have not located information about dates or other details.

George is listed in his father's household for the 1850 US Census for Gosport, Owen, Indiana. In the 1880 US Census, for Bainbridge, Putnam, Indiana, Jeremiah P. Wampler is recorded with George's household. I have not located George's censuses for 1860 and 1870.

I have George W. and Mary E. (Wilson) Wampler having 5 children: Martin Tilman Wampler, Dora A. Wampler, Mary Emeline Wampler, Otto Wampler, and Grace Wampler. Grace Wampler passed away around the age of 13 and is buried in Bainbridge, Putnam, Indiana.

Otto Wampler 1876-1962

[hg5-11] Otto, WAMPLER
b. 1876
n. Was this the Otto of Parker Co IN who married Eva E. Peters and had daughter Dora E. (3Nov1910)--BSW #5, p 10
l. [he1-8]Hans->[hg2-2]John->[hg3-1]Jeremiah->[hg4-8]George=>
Source: Wampler/Wampfler Database

In answer to "Was this the Otto of Parke[r] Co IN who married Eva E ...", it appears that it is indeed the same Otto. His 1962 obituary states he was born in Bainbridge, Indiana. At the time of his passing his obit shared he had six daughters surviving him along with his widow, Eva.

OTTO WAMPLER
FRANKFORT - Otto Wampler, 85, of 458 Center drive, died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday in the Clinton county hospital after an illness of one week.

Mr. Wampler was a retired foreman of the Nickel Plate railroad and was a member of the Grace EUB church, Indianapolis. He was born at Bainbridge.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Eva (Petty) Wampler; and six daughters, Mrs. Ralph Fisher and Miss Dorothy Wampler, bot of Indianapolis, Mrs. Leola Johnson, of Chicago, Mrs. Homer McKinsey, Mrs. Marguerite Gould, and Mrs. Pauline Kellner, all of Frankfort.
Source: Journal and Courier, 22 Feb 1962, Page 4

In 1880 US Census Otto is listed in his parents' household (George W. Wampler and Mary Elizabeth Wilson). I have not located the 1900 US Census for Otto Wampler at this time. I did come across his 1910 - 1930 US Census reports for when he lived in Parke County and Clinton County. There is a 1940 Census where Otto is listed with an Edith and a Russell Wampler, this may be the same Otto Wampler and Eva was still alive at the time, as she passed away in 1973, so she may been erroneously listed as Edith.

Another US Census conundrum is that in the 1920 US Census there is a Noah R. Moore, age 2, listed to being Otto and Eva's grandchild - then in the 1930 US Census there is a Roy Wampler, age 12, listed as their son - who wasn't in the 1920 US Census. Could Noah R Moore be Roy Wampler? It does indeed seem that Noah R. Moore was actually Roy Robert Moore who would been would been around 12 for the 1930 US Census. Further research had me come across that Jessie Wampler married a Clyde Earl Moore in 1917, they divorced sometime after Roy's birth in 1918 and before the 1920 US Census. Clyde Moore was born in 1896 and passed in 1953. Following Roy R. Moore's paper trail - he passed away 1976 in Missouri.

What relation is Russell Lee Wampler, who appears in the 1940 US Census, to Otto and Eva (Petty) Wampler? He was another grandson of the couple. His birth record and death certificate list his parents to being Clint Gayle Hite/Hiatt and Dora Ellen Wampler. On his social security application he listed Otto Wampler as his father and Leola to being his mother, but I put a little more credence on the birth record listing Dora E. Wampler. Russell passed away in 2004. It appears he was part of Otto and Eva's household up to the very early 1950s.

So, if I am correctly cross-matching the census reports to the obits shared, I have the six daughters as follows: Jessie O. Wampler, who married Ralph Fisher, Leola Wampler who married 3 times - at the time of her parents' deaths she was married to Michael Johnson, Mary Marguerite Wampler, who married Doyle Olster then Ivan Jesse. Gould, Ruby Pearl who married Homer McKinsey then an Edwards, and Merle Pauline who married Alton Kallner. They had another daughter who died at 1 year in age in 1908.

As a side notation, Eva's middle name was Elizabeth according to the information Otto supplied, along with his birth date being 9 April 1876, in the World War I Selective Draft Registration for him in September, 1918 and Eva's own obit. One of their daughters, Ruby to be exact, set of marriage records has Eva's maiden transcribed as Petty and, in Otto's obit, her maiden name is also said to been Petty versus Peters. Otto and Eva (Petty) Wampler married 4 Feb 1900 in Bainbridge. Eva's obit follows:

MRS. EVA WAMPLER
FRANKFORT - Mrs. Eva Elizabeth Wampler, 93, of 551 E. Walnut St., Frankfort, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Clinton County Hospital following a lingering illness.

Mrs. Wampler, a native of Page Corner in Boone County, had lived most of her life at Frankfort. In 1900 she was married to Otto Wampler, who died in 1962. She was a member of the First Wesleyan Church.

Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Leola Johnson of Chicago, Mrs. Ruby McKinsey, Mrs. Marguerite Gould and Mrs. Pauline Kellner, all of Frankfort, and Dora Wampler of Indianapolis; and one sister, Mrs. Lena Brant of Sarasota, Fla.
Source: Journal and Courier, 31 Mar 1973, Page 4

Radley : Who's Your Daddy?

I have a Hannah Radley in the family tree who is a bit of a riddle - and she likes to present riddles at times, too.

The particular Hannah Radley I am interested in is stated to be born around 1800 to 1802 time frame and she is often stated to having been born in the Ripley County, Indiana area. In August of 1824, in Ripley County, Indiana, Hannah Radley married a Andrew Hamilton, who is said to been born in Kentucky in 1802. As far as I currently know, Andrew and Hannah (Radley) Hamilton had three daughters and two sons: Nancy Jane in 1825, Isaac Newton in 1827, Mary Margaret in 1828, John Benjamin in 1830, and Sarah Elizabeth Hamilton in 1833 - all stated to been born, and later marry, in Ripley County, Indiana. After marriage some of the children, and their children, left the Ripley county area.

Andrew Hamilton is said to passed away in 1838 in Ripley County. Hannah, however, is vaguely listed to passing away, in Indiana, after him. I have seen it just simply stated as "after 1840" ... and I have seen her listed with an 1850 passing year, but in each instance the location broadly given as "Indiana".

Andrew Hamilton, per my research, was the son of Benjamin A.Hamilton [Jr.] and Nancy Wallace. Benjamin Hamilton, due to being a Junior, was the son of Benjamin Hamilton [Sr.], who died in 1782 in Warrick Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Sarah LNU. I have not yet gone further back than that on the Hamilton side.

I came across information, in a book of sorts, that suggested Hannah Radley may been the daughter of Ichabod Radley, born in New Jersey, who married a Hannah Bush, daughter of Christopher Bush, in Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky. Although Ichabod Radley did marry Hannah Bush in Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky and they did indeed have a daughter named Hannah Radley - their Hannah, who was born around 1792, married John Sawyer in Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky. Ichabod and Hannah (Bush) Radley's daughter is also said to been born around 1790/1792 and passed away in Paradise, Coles, Illinois area later in life. Second marriage thoughts are out as the Hannah Radley, in my tree, was having children around the same time as Harriet Radley Sawyer was having some of her children in a different area (or state). Also, Ichabod Radley's wife and daughter are bit "known" as John Sawyer was a good friend of Tom Lincoln and Ichabod's sister-in-law, Sarah Bush, later became Tom Lincoln's second wife after the death of Nancy Hanks Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln's childhood is written about just as much as his years as President of the United States ... and his fondness toward his stepmother helped have some of her family, like Ichabod and his daughter, being included in many of those writings - which would include mentions of John Sawyer.

In other words: no. Ichabod Radley and Harriet Bush's daughter, Harriet, is a totally separate individual.

So then I come across a message board post that states John Radley (son of William Radley) and Sarah Denham as to being the parents of Hannah Radley. This naturally prompts me to start snooping around on my side for more information about John Radley and Sarah Denham.

WikiTree has the following for John Radley and Sarah Denham:

John Radley Sr.
Born 1768 in Essex, New Jersey, USA
ANCESTORS
Son of William Radley and Sarah Van Winkle
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of Sarah Denman — married 16 May 1791 in West Field, Essex, New Jersey, USA
Husband of Sarah (Jones) Radley — married 7 Aug 1798 in Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
DESCENDANTS
Father of Benjamin Radley, Mary Ann Radley, James Radley, John Radley Jr., Elizabeth Radley, Hannah Radley and Jacob Radley
Died 1837 [location unknown]
... Sources: WikiTree profile Radley-39 created through the import of Godfrey non-living.ged on Jun 14, 2011 by Jim Godfrey. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jim and others.

Now we have Hannah Radley listed so I go to the WikiTree page for her:

Hannah Radley Born about 1800 in Ripley, Indiana, USA
ANCESTORS
Daughter of John Radley Sr. and Sarah (Jones) Radley
Sister of Benjamin Radley [half], Mary Ann Radley [half], James Radley [half], John Radley Jr., Elizabeth Radley and Jacob Radley
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died before 1850 in , Indiana, USA
... Sources: WikiTree profile Radley-26 created through the import of Godfrey non-living.ged on Jun 14, 2011 by Jim Godfrey. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jim and others.

So, noting she is listed being a half-sibling to some of the children listed. According to the file at WikiTree she was the daughter of the second wife:

Sarah Radley formerly Jones
Born [date unknown] in , Kentucky, USA
Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of John Radley Sr. — married 7 Aug 1798 in Colerain Township, Hamilton, Ohio, USA
Mother of John Radley Jr., Elizabeth Radley, Hannah Radley and Jacob Radley
Died [date unknown] [location unknown]
... Sources: WikiTree profile Jones-6182 created through the import of Godfrey non-living.ged on Jun 14, 2011 by Jim Godfrey. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jim and others.

Ok, so Hannah is listed, but not with her husband or children and with another Sarah listed as her mother. So I hop over to another site to see what I can find since I now have two places saying "John Radley is da' man!" ... and that's when I encounter the differences, clashes, and Hannah sometimes listed as a child or not mentioned.

On Family Search, in their "one world tree" section, shared for Ichabod Radley and Phoebe/Phebe Broadwell, who is listed with three sons (James, John and Ichabod) where:
·   one listing has John Radley listed without birth year, but passing away in Ripley County, Indiana. I have to relocate the URL for that page, but this has me going, "Hmmm." Only info shared is that he died sometime around, or after, 1860 in Ripley County, Indiana and nothing about wife or children...
·:   another has that linked John Radley, who married Sarah Denham and listed 3 children for the couple (my Hannah not included). In this tree Sarah Denham passes in 1821, which would have her being the mother of Hannah (not Sarah Jones)?
·   Not done yet, another has John Radley being Ichabod Radley's son who married a Phebe Spinning in 1788 (which matches to an 1850 US Census shared below?, and passing in 1854).

But WikiTree and the message board post shared John was the son of William Radley, so I click to see what Ichabod Radley [Sr]'s brother, William, information and yes, indeed, he is listed with a son named John Radley
      who married Sarah Denham in 1786, she is listed to pass in 1821
            but this has him marrying Sarah Jones in 1798
                  while this one has him without a wife
                        and all three say he passed around, or in, 1837.

Family Search shares two pedigree files for John Radley, but this time (both) have him being the son, and only child, of William Radley and Sarah Van Winkle:
·   one that has him passing 1837 in Ohio or Indiana.
·   the other one has him passing 1854 in New Jersey.

Find A Grave doesn't help untangle it as Ichabod Radley (b. 1731) has a bio sharing he had a son named John Radley - again said to be born in July of 1768 and passing away in 1854 and buried in New Jersey. However, John Radley's memorial page, with the same birth and death information, states he was the son of William Radley.

Here is the popular cited/used records, with two mentioning the Essex or Union County area, that I found so far on FamilySearch which are also for the John Radley said to be the father of Hannah Radley Hamilton:
... a 1768 New Jersey Christening record for a John Radley, son of a William Radley,
... a New Jersey marriage record for John Radley and Sarah Denham,
... and a FindAGrave burial record for a John Radley born in 1768, passing in 1854, and buried in New Jersey.

I also found these records, also for in/around the Essex County area, for a John Radley:
... 1830 US Census for John Radley and
... New Jersey marriage record for William Radley, born in 1828, son of John Radley and Elizabeth Sands.
... 1850 US Census for John Radley, born around 1770, in Essex County. He is listed with a Phoebe Radly who is around 3 years younger than him. This conflicts with a link shared above that had John Radley, who married a Phebe Spinning, passing in 1837,
... New Jersey death record for Benjamin, a son of John Radly. Benjamin stated to been born around 1790,
... and a handful of other records for a John Radley and War of 1812, pension, and a couple other things when I used a birth range of 1765 to 1770.

Then, going outside of Family Search and WikiTree tree's, Sarah Denham Radley has two different years for death, per the some other online trees: 1821, but some online trees have her listed passing in Indiana, Ripley county IN, or in Hamilton County OH but in 1840. My particular Hannah Radley, if using the 1802 birth year, would been around 18/19 years old in 1821 and in 1840 she would been a widow (or possibly deceased also?) when her mother passed (if Sarah Denham is her mother).

If John Radley decided to go back to New Jersey, after the death of Sarah in 1821, that could explain the 1830 and 1850 US census for a John Radley and the 1854 burial being in New Jersey. Hannah Radley, who is not said to been married yet for the 1821 date, could lived with one of her siblings that remained in Hamilton County or Ripley County area while a son, Benjamin (said to been born in 1792), could have decided to go to New Jersey with his father. But if John Radley went back to NJ due to the death of his wife, and she passed later to 1840, then there's that 1830 US Census unexplained being for a different John Radley living in NJ? And if it's a different John Radley in the 1830 and 1850 US Census, who could have died after the 1850 census - say like, to pull a possible death year out of thin air, 1854 in the same area of New Jersey.

Phebe Spinning Radley is not mentioned to leaving New Jersey area during her marriage, so the Benjamin Radley who passes in 1870s, and is listed with John Radley being his father, may been her son. Which wouldn't be confusing except John Radley and Sarah Denham are said to have a son named Benjamin around the same time Phebe had her Benjamin.

The one thing agreed upon, it seems, is that folks feel John Radley was a grandson of John Radley and Elizabeth Clark. After that, on my side so far in collecting data, there lacks pretty much any agreement about him with John Radley being credited to two different sets of parents from the same Radley branch, with having three different wives whom he married between 1788 to 1798 - two in New Jersey, and one in Ohio, and two different death locations. Either way, per the trees and those folk's prior research, my Hannah Radley, through her father John, would been the great-granddaughter of John and Elizabeth (Clark) Radley?

The records, I listed above, do not help and online sharings clash with each other - sometimes with the same researcher, on their side, ascribing John Radley with same birth/death info to having more than one set of parents. So, for now, I have Hannah Radley having the parent slots essentially still blank on her side as even though I listed John Radley and Sarah Denham with her, to share and compile information about the individuals (and ascribed children), I added a notation that there are still question marks about the association therefore it is still "up in the air" about who Hannah's parents were. Her parents may indeed been a John and Sarah Radley ... but which John Radley as it would determine who she was the grandchild of: William or Ichabod? Or is a totally different male Radley her grandfather? And which John Radley marriage may help with determining Hannah's mother as well.

Sandford Palmer Theory Revisited

In a previous post about Sandford Palmer, in relation to a theory that he is a relative of Blaney Palmer, Sr., I listed Robert Sandford Palmer [Sr.] to having two wives, Mary Ann Davies and Mary Catherine Reeves.

I was wrong. The elder Palmer did not have two wives.

I have come across an entry, for Sandford Palmer, on page 492 in The County Families of the United Kingdom by Edward Walford published in 1882. The entry was for Sandford Palmer born in 1803 (the blank Christening record I mentioned in the previous posting that many want to ascribe to being for a William Palmer) and he is listed to being the one who married Mary Catherine Reeves in 1826 and his father is listed to having married Mary Ann Davies.

In FamilySearch.org family trees section, someone has linked (or merged) Blaney Palmer Sr. and his brother, John Palmer, to being linked to William Palmer and Jane Martin (daughter of John Martin and Jane Craig), who married in Mallow Parish, and then linked (or merged) the same William Palmer to being a twin of Sandford Palmer who was born in 1803. The only citation used to link William Palmer to Sandford Palmer and Mary Ann Davies is the 15 Jun 1803 Christening record that does not list the child's name on it, only that is for a male child of the couple ... and the certificate does not mention twin males either.

And somehow in the process William Palmer has also gained a middle name of James. Which may been done as a way to link William to being the James and Jane [Morton] Palmer who had a son, named John, in 1822 in County Antrim.

I am still not sold on the connection that William (James) Palmer is the twin brother to Sandford Palmer (b. 1803) therefore the son of [Robert] Sandford Palmer [Sr.] and Mary Ann Davies due to it appears to be some hammering of square pegs into round holes to force things to "fall into place" or "fit".

I am not saying that William Palmer, who married Jane Martin, may have not been somehow related to Sandford Palmer - just that it may not been as a son or brother. James Palmer, in County Antrim, may been a totally different Palmer who happened to have a wife named Jane whose maiden name was "close to" Martin. Jane's age is not listed on the christening record for a son, named John, born in 1822 and we know the Jane, who married William Palmer in Mallow Parish in Cork, was born in 1805 due to her Christening record. And if James Palmer is not William Palmer, who married Jane Martin in Mallow Parish, and William was born to another Palmer branch (so not a twin brother of Sandford Palmer) then all the force fittings to try to make the pieces fit is not leading us anywhere - let alone figuring out Blaney and John Palmer's lineage.

Yes, the theory is interesting. However, on FamilySearch's family tree, it is not presented as a theory that has not been proven [as in no notations shared to share it is a theory and not proven to being fact], but now listed as a "fact" in a way that others will copy and carry on to have others copy while thinking "research has been done to confirm this". I, however, would like more than a blank Christening record pulling double duty for two different people to even give William Palmer a birth year thought of 1803, let alone being the son of Sandford Palmer and Mary Ann Davies. I also think, even the church was conserving on paper for the Christening record, that there would been a notation the record itself was for a pair of twins somewhere on it (to have it count for more than 1 child). However, right now, it appears that he name line was possibly left blank due to the male child being christened was a Junior (named after his birth father) and the person, writing the record, may have not felt necessary, on their side, to list the child's name due to the male child being a Junior.

It is about as bad as some family trees that list a James Palmer, whose wife may or may not be named Jane, being Blaney and John's parents and that same James listed to having two sons named John who were born within 2 years of each other (with the same wife, who is either a Hannah or a Sarah) ... and no explanation nor citations of how Blaney and his brother are linked to the James Palmer. With the latter, it may be due to latching on to a "naming of children" theory (where sons often named their 1st or 2nd son and/or daughter after their parents or grandparents) and some people erroneously think that Blaney and John Palmer each had a son named James due to the 1860 US Census where the census taker mistakenly listed Blaney's daughter, Jane, as a male named James. However some folks like to point that Blaney's 1st born 'son' was named James and John's 2nd son was named James therefore both men named a son after their father, who was therefore also a James. The census error, for Blaney's 1860 US Census, is revealed in the 1870 and 1880 US Census reports that list Jane with the same birth info originally ascribed to a "James" in Blaney's 1860 US Census. So Jane is the James Palmer listed in 1860 US Census and that makes Blaney's 1st born son being John P. and his 2nd born son was Blaney Jr. Looking at naming thoughts on John's side, the 1st born son was named after his wife's grandfather, David L., and his 2nd born son, per family lore, James Sylvanus, was named after the captain of the ship he came to America on ... his other two sons was named William Sherman and Robert Martin Palmer. Blaney's daughters were named, in order, Mary Elizabeth, Jane [middle name unknown], Mariah [middle name unknown], Eliza Ann[a], and Isabel[le]. John's daughter was named Sarah I. [unknown what the I was an initial for].

I suppose one could look at John's younger two sons and point to one named William and Robert and then Robert having Martin as a middle name then Blaney's 2nd daughter being named Jane as a way to then point to the Mallow Parish marriage record for a William Palmer and a Jane Craig to go "A-ha! Blaney and John were the children of William Palmer and Jane Martin!" I would like something more to help support it than a spreading of names across the two brothers' children [and none repeated across the two brothers].

In summation, I have not nixed the idea that William Palmer, who married a Jane Martin, may been related somehow to Robert Sandford Palmer. I am merely not convinced William Palmer was a son of Robert Sandford Palmer [Sr] and Mary Ann Davies, therefore William not being a brother to Jonathan Tanner, Simon Davies, Sandford Robert [Jr], Henrietta, or Mary Ann Palmer - let alone a twin to Sandford [Jr]. There is, so far, no proof found that William and Jane [Martin] Palmer was Blaney and John's parents. I am also not convinced a James Palmer who married a Jane, Hannah, or Sarah [spousal thoughts is dependent which James is listed on an online tree] was Blaney and John's father either due to "naming thoughts", which was already proven to being a flawed theory from the get-go ... and John Palmer, who came to America and settled in Ripley County, Indiana with Samantha Gray as his wife, was born closer to 1825. Blaney Sr. is said to been born in 1822 but the 1822 Christening record is for a child named John and I don't know how it could been for Blaney either (who was born in September and the record is for a December Christening). Therefore I still have Blaney and John's parents technically listed as Unknown - with William and Jane Martin listed, in notations, as "a theory only" due to when they married, but even the time frame of when they married may not help lead them to being Blaney and John's parents.

Samantha Nancy Gray Dickerson 1827 - 1905

Samantha Nancy GRAY DICKERSON^1,A was born on 12 March 1827, in Mixerville, Bathe Township, Franklin, Indiana, United States, to Mr. Unknown^2,B and Elizabeth "Liz" GRAY².

Samantha's younger sister, Julia A. Gray², is said to been born in Butler County, Ohio. This would seem to hint that Samantha Gray also lived, for a short period of time, in Butler County, Ohio, United States before she, her mother and sister start appearing in United States Census reports as to residing in Ripley County, Indiana, United States.

The United States Census, 1850 on 9 October 1850, in Otter Creek Township, Ripley, Indiana, United States, at age 23, Samantha and her infant son, David L. Gray^3,C, are listed in her mother's household. No occupation listed for Samantha Gray Dickerson (nor her mother).

In the United States Census reports for 1860, 1870, and 1880 for Center Township, Osgood, Ripley, Indiana, Samantha is listed as Samantha or Nancy Palmer. Her occupation was generally one assigned for house wife thoughts. Samantha was listed to not being able to read or write.

Samantha Dickerson^A,B and John Palmer⁴ married 28 February 1873 in Versailles, Ripley County, Indiana. Prior to the civil service it is unclear about their marital status, but they may possibly been in a common law marriage. John Palmer passed away in 1885.

Court Report. April Term.
... Samantha Palmer vs Peter Maschino, receivership. Report of receiver approved. Receiver discharged.
Source: Versailles Republican; 27 May 1886 - Page 5

In the United States Census reports for 1900 in Center Township, Osgood, Ripley, Indiana, Samantha Palmer, aged 73, is listed as Head of Household.

Samantha died on 9 September 1905, aged 78, in Center Township, Osgood, Ripley, Indiana, United States. Robert Martin Palmer³ was the informant for the State of Indiana death certificate and he listed "Nixerville, Franklin"^D as her place of birth. Cause of death was said to be due to an abdominal tumor.

Samantha Nancy Gray he was buried on 10 September 1905 in Otter Creek Cemetery (also known as Tanglewood Cemetery)^E in Ripley, Indiana, United States. Samantha Nancy Gray Dickerson and John Palmer were the parents of six or seven children: David L. [Gray] Palmer, James Sylvanus Palmer³, John Palmer^3,F

William Jesse Palmer³, Robert Martin Palmer, and Sarah I. Palmer³.

Samantha's brother-in-law, Patrick Michael McCormick^2,G, and Robert Martin Palmer handled her will and estate^H.

... Michael McCormich, of Osgood, was in town the first of the week and probated the will of Samantha Palmer deceased.
Source: Osgood Ripley Journal; 20 September 1905 - Page 8

Notations of Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:

A Samantha Gray appears on census reports and some earlier citations as to going by Samantha Gray. It is later, such as her 1873 marriage to John Palmer, where she starts appearing to list her maiden name being Dickerson. Presents a bit of a conundrum on how to list her name in the family tree since she went by Gray for over 20 years before she went by Palmer, even prior to the civil marriage, then Dickerson. I list her, on my side, with Gray and Dickerson both as her maiden names, which may seem a bit unwieldy, but given the circumstances, accurate in terms of how Samantha used the names while alive.
B First appearance of her father's name, in documents, is in 1873 when she lists a John Dickerson being her father on a marriage record. John Dickerson is also listed as her father on her later death certificate.
C David L. Gray appears in 1860 and 1870 census reports, for John and Samantha [Gray Dickerson] Palmer, as David L. Palmer. It is unclear if John Palmer was the birth father or "adopted" him.
D This is the first mentioning of exactly where she was born at in Indiana. Mixerville was an informal, unincorporated, area in Bathe Township, Franklin, Indiana area.
E Find A Grave memorial page, for Samantha Gray Dickerson Palmer, shares her grave site is not marked.
F Child's existence may be questionable.
G Husband of Julia A. Gray
H Robert Martin Palmer is said to inherited the bulk of the estate due to him taking care of Samantha after John Palmer's passing.

Relationship to Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:

1 Maternal 3x Great-aunt through marriage
2 Indirect, through marriage
3 Maternal Cousin 3x removed
4 Maternal 3x Great-uncle

Resources for Samantha Nancy Gray Dickerson:

·   United Staes Census for Otter Creek Township, Osgood, Ripley, Indiana
· United States Census for Center Township, Osgood, Ripey County, Indiana
·   United States Census for Center Township, Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana
·   United States Census for Center Township, Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana
·   United States Census for Center Township, Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana
·   copy of marriage record, not yet digitized by the county or state, shared on Ancestry online family tree by a descendant of John Palmer and Samantha Nancy Gray Dickerson.
· &nsbp; State of Indiana death certificate for Samantha Dickerson Palmer; Record No. 131.
·   Will of Samantha Palmer
·   Find A Grave memorial pages for Samantha, her husband, and children.
·   Osgood Ripley Journal
·   Versailles Republican
·   Ancesty message boards and online trees
·   Rootweb forums
·   Genealogy forums

John Palmer 1826 - 1885

John PALMER^[1] was born in 1826^A, in Ireland, to [FNU] PALMER^{2, A} and [FNU] [LNU]^{2, A}. He is stated to been a brother of Blaney Palmer³.

On 23 May 1843, aged about 17, he immigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on the ship named [Bark] John Kerr^C. In 1843, aged about 17, John Palmer was naturalized^C in Indiana, United States.

In the United States Census taken on 9 October 1850, aged about 24, in Otter Creek Township, Ripley, Indiana, John Palmer is listed in the household of William H. Smith⁴ and with the occupation of Cooker.

United States Census for 1860, 1870, and 1880 John Palmer is listed to be living in Center Township, Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana. Each of these census reports has John listed with the occupation of farmer and being able to read and write. Blaney and John Palmer were also neighbors.

OTTER VILLAGE.
... John Palmer wants to buy two good horses to work in his stone quarry.
Source: Osgood Ripley County Journal; 14 April 1881 - Page 2

John Palmer is listed with Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson]^5,E as his spouse on the 1860 through 1880 US Census reports. They did not marry until 28 Fe 1873 in Versailles, Ripley, Indiana, United States. They may have been in a common law marriage prior to 1873 and had a civil marriage for other, perhaps legal, reasons later.

John died 15 April 1885, aged about 58, in Ripley, Indiana, United States. According to his death notice, in the local newspaper, he died from paralysis (a stroke).

CZ.[??]
John Palmer died at his home Saturday morning, April 15; was buried Sunday, the 16th, at 3 o'clock p.m.
Source: Osgood Ripley County Journal; 23 April 1885 - Page 2

John Palmer, after a short sickness, paralysis, died Saturday morning at 8 o'clock and was buried Sunday afternoon on his farm^E. Mr. Palmer was an old resident of Center township, locating here in the sixties, since then engaged in quarrying stone^G with Peter Maschino⁴. His age was 58 years.
Source: Versailles Republican; 23 April 1885 - Page 6

John Palmer was buried on 16 April 1885 in Ripley, Indiana, United States^E. John and Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson] Palmer were the parents of six to seven known children: David L. [Gray] Palmer⁶, James Sylvanus Palmer⁶, John Palmer^6,H, William Jesse Palmer⁶, Robert Martin Palmer⁶ and Sarah I. Palmer⁶.

Notations of Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:

^A People often cite a christening record for a John Palmer, born 22 Dec 1822 in Larne, Antrim, Ireland to a William Palmer and Jane Morton for the above John's birth. John Palmer, however, has consistently been listed, starting with his immigrating to America, with an birth year of 1825 or 1826. His age, shared in his death notices, also help support the 1825/1826 birth year. Therefore I, on my side, do not officially cite the particular christening record for Blaney's brother and broadly listed him to being born in Ireland. Vania Howell (vaniahowell76 on Ancestry) has an online family tree where she listed John Palmer to being to born in Larne and shared the basis of that was "Per the Violet Tophe Papers, Ripley County Historical Society, Versailles, Indiana". Interestingly a John Palmer immigrated from Londonderry to New York, in 1843, aboard the Superb and his birth year was estimated to being 1822 ... could that been the Antrim John Palmer? Hm.
^B Parents remain, technically, as "unknown", although the more popular theorized couple, often listed as "being" his, and Blaney Palmer's, parents are William Palmer and Jane Martin. The 1822 christening record mentioned in the prior notation has some wondering if the handwriting transcription was in error or something and the mother's maiden name being Martin versus Morton. Blaney Palmer Sr.'s post, on this site, I shared about the theories, and theorized names, for the brothers. I also have two separate blog posts, about Sandford Palmer and Mary Ann Davies being their paternal grandparents and, when I revisited the Sandford Palmer Sr. thoughts, how the brothers did not appear to follow Irish naming tradition when it came to their children, which has it hard to say if William Palmer and Jane Martin were their parents or not..
^C There were several John Palmers who immigrated to the United States. The John Palmer, arriving in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, is closer in age thoughts to the John Palmer in my family tree.
^D Have to double check to make sure this is the correct John Palmer. This would have him preceding Blaney in going to Indiana and, in fact, making pretty much a straight beeline to Indiana, whereas it is a known Blaney went to Butler County, OH area between 1843 to 1848 as Blaney married Eliza Ann Reed⁷ in that area then they went to Ripley County, IN where John Palmer would also be residing at.
^E Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson] listed her maiden name as Dickerson and father's name for the first time, in terms of a paper trail I have comes across for her, on the marriage record, John Palmer did not list his parents.
^F A memorial page for him, on Find A Grave, states John Palmer was buried in Otter Village Cemetery (also known as Tanglewood Cemetery) and that there is not a headstone or marker for his grave site. I am not certain if part of the family farm is included in the cemetery OR if his remains were later moved to the cemetery after Samantha or some of his children's passing OR if it is assumed he was buried there, since Samantha was, but he is still buried somewhere on what used to be part of his land.
^G Although John Palmer was consistently listed, in the United States Census reports, to his occupation being "Farmer", the newspaper advert from 1881 I came across help support he had been in the quarrying business as shared in his death notice and also family stories about him.
^H Child's existence could be questioned?

Relationship to Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:

1 Maternal 3x Great-uncle
2 Maternal 3x Great-grandparent
3 Maternal Great-great-grandfather
4 None to my knowledge
5 Maternal 3x Great-aunt through marriage
6 Maternal Cousin 3-times removed
7 Maternal Great-great-grandmother

Sources for Research on Blaney Palmer Sr.:

·   Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874
·   Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800-1906
·   Record about Naturalization on Ancestry
·   Find A Grave memorial pages for John Palmer, his wife, and children
·   United States Census in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Cooker
·   United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
·   United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
·   United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
·   Osgood Ripley County Journal
·   Versailles Republican
·   Ancestry.com online message boards and family trees
·   Rootweb forums
·   Genealogy forums

Updated in May 2018 to share ancestry links as I did not have those in 2016 to share and to also include a notation about one of the children. Links to the two articles about Sandford Palmer were added in the notations about John's parents.