Christina Wampler Graybill 1753-1844 (or maybe 1771-1844?)

This is likely going to be re-visited (to add in more) or oft-linked to posting, as part of this is like a can of worms in untangling dates and (similar) names and such, then throwing in family lore thoughts.

In trying to research For Christina Wampler, said to be a daughter of Hans Peter Wampler Jr and his 1st wife, Anna Barbara, I came across two to three birth years given - here and there - for her: 1753, 1760, and 1771. There are also marriage dates for her and Johannes/John Peter Graybeal/Graybill of 1779 and 1786. Which I guess leads to Johannes/John Peter Graybeal/Graybill getting multiple birth year thoughts as well as I have come across 1750, 1755, 1762 and 1768/69 shared for him.

Now, due to the family lore that Christina Wampler was one of the children of Peter Jr and Barbara who were kidnapped in 1757 and later returned, through a treaty, in 1764 ... that would lean folks to using the 1753 birth year to have her fit into that narrative. Which would lean to Johannes/John Peter Graybeal/Graybill having a birth year of 1750 to 1755 to have him being close to her in age.

John Peter Graybill died in 1842 and the headstone inscription says he was around 70 years old when passing. Which mathematically would give him a birth year thought of 1771/1772. However his FindAGrave memorial page shared 1762 as his birth year. Why? I don't know, the page manager did not explain the 1762 birth year thought shared.

Christina Wampler Graybill is stated to have died in 1844, and buried in same cemetery, has a headstone inscribed saying she was around 74 years of age at passing, which would mathematically place her with having a 1770/71 birth year.

So where does the 1760 birth year for her stem from? Maybe from some of the transcriptions shared on Ancestry** of her marriage records, for 1779 and 1786, listed her birth year being 1760. No image file is shared of the handwritten record used for the transcriptions to get a bit of a look at the handwriting. Problem I personally have with the online shared transcriptions is that two very different marriage years is listed for the couple and 6 to 7 years apart.

Decisions, at least on my side, come into play on which to use for "birth year" source: kidnapping year thoughts, the online shared transcriptions of marriage records or headstones where the inscription likely was based on information shared by Peter and Christina's family/children? The marriage record transcriptions would have her born after the other children were abducted and so would nix the kidnapping story, shared in later years by her children and their children, about her identity being confirmed due to her, after the return, singing a lullaby/children's song that her mother used to sing to her (and the other children). However, another tree branch also claims it was their mother whose identity was confirmed due to her recognizing/singing that same song - so can't really rely on the story if more than one branch is claiming it as "their (grand)mother did it". The headstone inscription itself, however, does not mathematically work with Christina and the kidnapping narrative though - she would had to been closer to around 94 when she died if using estimated birth year of 1753.

So, going back to touch base with birth year of 1771/1772 for Christina. Hans Peter Wampfler/Wampler Sr. had a brother, Johannes Christian Wampfler/Wampler, who came to America later, in 1747, who had a son named Hans Georg(e) Wampfler/Wampler - who had a daughter born September 7, 1771 in York county, Pennsylvania, named Christina. Could there been two Christina Wamplers born in 1771? Yeah, it's possible.

When looking at the marriage dates, which I came across two for this couple then bringing in the headstone inscriptions, for the same couple ... well, the headstone information nixes the 1779 marriage year. Which would also nix several children, attributed to them, being their children. The 1786 marriage year is slightly better, as Peter - if he had been around 70 years in age in 1842 - would been around 18 years old, if using the 1768/69 birth year, or around 15/16 years old, if going by 1771/1772 birth year via the headstone, when marrying in 1786. Which the 1760s and 1770z birth year thoughts would also work more easily in having him being a son of Johannes/John and Hannah - using the 1737 or 1747 birth year thoughts for the parents. In using the 1771/72 birth year for Christina would work for the 1786 marriage year as she would been around 14/15 when marrying. But they have children (Henry ~1778, John ~1780, and John Peter ~1783) attributed to them, but the birth years would only work with 1753 or 1760 birth year for Christina ... which would have to bump John Peter to the 1750/55 birth year as well.

One thing that is consistent, even with the marriage records' transcriptions on Ancestry, is that she is listed to being a daughter of Peter Wampler. Her mother's name is not listed, but Peter Wampfler/Wampler Sr. is not attributed to having a daughter named Christina - and his brother, Johannes Christian, did not have a daughter named Christina either. Hans Georg(e) Wampfler/Wampler's daughter, Christina, is said have passed away before 1817.

However, once past that, the rest is a can of worms. If I go with the headstones' information then it goes against the grain of those who feel she was born in time to been one of the kidnapped children but also the parentage thoughts of some children attributed to the couple. If I go with the 1753 date, that throws John Pater's parentage into a loop unless I have her marrying someone almost 10 years younger than her. If I go with 1760 date for Christina's birth thoughts, that doesn't work with the kidnap thoughts but does work for the kids attributions with either marriage year ... which the 1771 birth year doesn't work for the 1779 marriage year thoughts at all, so would have to go with the latter 1786 marriage year which doesn't work at all with at least 3 of the children.

So, for now, I am going with the headstone inscriptions, which - as I already said - likely was based upon information from her and/or her children closer to the time of Peter and her passing and will list the other year thoughts about birth in a notation for Peter and Christina. However, going this route would mean a 1779 marriage year would not work for either one of them and so throws parentage/age of three kids up in the air. Which means I will have rely more on paper trail thoughts to try helping have the children properly attributed. And I will have to see how it goes from there ...

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** as a notation, given majority of Ancestry's records require a paid subscription to view, I am debating on sharing links that some people would not be able to use/find of use due to not being paid subscribers of a site - so that goes for MyHeritage, FindMyPast, et al that also have paid subscriptions to view majority of the records. This is not a negative as it forces me to try to locate more citations to add from my side of the researching online thoughts.

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.