Apr 26, 2013

Where is James Parks?

I am still completely bewildered by the lack of records and my inability to locate my great great grandfather, James Parks, of Indiana.  At this point, I find it quite likely that he was removed from Earth by aliens and was never seen again.  I know that he was in Indiana in 1850 and 1860 and in both of those censuses, it is stated he was born in Virginia.  He was married in 1845 (at age 55 when my great great grandmother was 36), which is generally supposed in our family to be his second marriage.  He and Eliza Jane Clevenger Thornburg (her first husband being Isaac Thornburg) lived first in Blackford County and later in Delaware County, Indiana.  

Property records indicate Eliza had property (or rather, her children from her first marriage had property) in Delaware county, but James does not seem to have had property of his own.    

For a number of years the family has searched for a trace of him, DNA has been submitted and some close matches have turned up indicating the earlier connection is likely in Northern Ireland, but I find no indication of the deaths of James and Eliza in Indiana or any other place. I have no photos, no indication of his parents names, no indication of a "first" family and no record of an earlier marriage, just his 1845 marriage to Eliza Jane.  It is believed Eliza died around 1863 and I find no record of James in 1870.  There seem to be no cemetery records for these two in Indiana, with just a suspicion that they were buried in the old, abandoned Swingley-Clevenger cemetery.

All I have is a photo of my Grandpa, a grandson of James Parks, who may or may not bear some resemblance to his grandfather.

I also have a few photos of Isaac Parks, James' son by Eliza Jane.  They are not very clear photos, but I will post one below in case there is a likeness that someone would recognize.




This is a steel reinforced concrete|brick wall, befuddling all of us who are searching for this ancestor.  Please, GGGrandpa, let us hear from you!

If you might have a clue, please e-mail me at dtoole[at]sunrivertoday[dot]com!

Apr 18, 2013

Addie Pearl

One of my most favorite names in my family tree is that of my grand aunt, Addie Pearl Parks.  Addie, born 24 June 1894, was the daughter of Isaac J. and Cathryn Ortman Parks.  She married Oscar Wright when she was 18.  They had a son, George P. Wright in 1913.  Addie died at age 26 of tuberculosis.  Her obituary was sent to me by a cousin, Jennifer.  It reads as follows:

The friends and neighbors of Mrs. Oscar Wright were saddened to hear of her passing away Monday afternoon at her home southwest of Correctionville.  She had only been confined to her home for a few days and death came rather unexpectedly.  Addie Pearl Parks was born in Danbury, Iowa, June 24, 1894 and passed away at her home south of Correctionville January 10, 1921, being at the time of her death 26 years, six months and 17 days of age. When a little girl of 12 years she with her mother and sisters moved to Correctionville where she grew to womanhood.

 June 26, 1912 she was united in marriage to Oscar Wright at Sioux City, Iowa after which they removed to the farm where they have since resided.  To them was born one son, George, who survives her.  Besides her husband and little son she leaves her mother, Mrs. Mary Parks, her father having preceded her to the Great Beyond a number of years ago.  She also leaves six sisters and two brothers. They are: Mrs. Olive Jarman [sic, Jermann], of Remsen, Mrs. Nettie Watson of Canova, S.D.; Mrs. Mae Warn of Battle Creek, Mrs. Cora Leetch of Danbury, Mrs. Cleo [sic] Utesch and Mrs. Alice Cohrt of Correctionville, William Parks of Portland, Ore., Arthur Parks of LeMars, who mourn her untimely death.  The illness which resulted in her death extended back nearly five years, being tuberculosis.

She was a very kind and affectionate in disposition, a loving mother and an affectionate wife.  It seems most sad that this beautiful young life should be taken, but God in his wisdom knows best.  She was conscious to the last and told the loved ones that all was well with her.  May the memory of the passing of this wife and mother remain with the family, and may the little seven-year-old son who is left, emulate the character of the mother who has taught him so many beautiful lessons.  The sympathy of the entire community is with the family in their sad bereavement.  The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the M.E. church, Rev. E.T. Gerkin officiating, and the remains were interred in the Correctionville cemetery.

All of the out-of-town sisters and one brother attended the funeral, the brother at Portland, Ore., being unable to attend.  Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Wright of Sioux City, and Mr. and Mr. Carl Heppner and daughter Roma of Remsen also attended the funeral.

Mystery Woman

This woman's photo was in my husband's mother's collection.  We have no idea if it is friend or family.  If a friend of Bill's mom, it would be around Stamford, Connecticut.  Bill's mom was born 1905.  However, this may be a 1905 photo, making a birth date about 20 years earlier than 1905.  The rattan chair shows up in some baby photos of Bill's mom so this woman may have been a friend of her mother's, Mary Ann Connors Beck.  If you recognize this woman, please let us know who you think it is!

Free Ancestry Marriage Records

  • Ancestry.com has made its marriage records collection free to search through April 21 at midnight ET. These records are great sources for female ancestors' maiden names and sometimes the couples' parents' names, in addition to the marriage date and place. You'll need to register for a free account, if you don't already have one, to view records.

Edna Elizabeth Sites Barr

I am looking for an obituary for Edna Elizabeth Sites Barr, born in 1888 in Adams County, Pennsylvania.  She married Dr. Charles F. Barr (a dentist) and lived in Wichita, Kansas, dying there in 1976.  I have Charles' obituary but need Edna's.  This is a quest for my Pennsylvania cousin, Carol.

Here is Dr. Barr's obituary; now I just need Edna's.

1966 Dec 21, The Gazette, P6, Emporia, Kansas
Dr. Charles F. Barr Dies
Dr. Charles F. Barr, a retired dental surgeon and a brother of Everette Barr, Rt. 5, and Mrs. H. W. Spencer, 925 Chestnut St., died Tuesday evening in Wichita where he had lived for the past 46 years.  A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Oliver F. Barr, Doctor Barr was born in Chase County and reared in Chase County and Reno County.  He was graduated from the Western Dental College in Kansas City and served during World War I as a captain with the 89th Infantry Division.  Doctor Barr, who had practiced in Wichita from 1920 until he retired, was a member of several professional organizations, among them the American College of Dental Surgery, the International College of Dental Surgery, and the Kansas State Dental Association.  He is survived by his wife, of the home, 1475 Woodrow, Wichita; one brother, Everette; three sisters, Mrs. E. J. Dealy, Sylvia, Mrs. Marshall Maupin, Hutchinson, and Mrs. Spender[sic], and several nieces and nephews.  Funeral arrangements have not been completed.