Who is in my tree?

A fellow genealogy blogger Genea-Musings posted a Saturday night fun challenge to see how many people were in everyone's trees. I use Family Tree Maker software and it's interesting to run reports about different facts in my tree.

I learned by going to Publish>Person Reports>Surname Report>choosing the "Details" tab at the top. I can then customize the report to include different categories of people.

I learned that as of today I have 173 surnames, 1205 people, 610 males and 582 females. The top 10 surnames are;
1. McDaniel
2. Jones
3. Denby
4. Skeen
5. Hancock
6. Baker
7. Gannaway - my stepfather's family
8. Pollack
9. Maris
10. Skidmore

First page of nine of the surname report. The _____ is five underscore where the surname, usually the maiden name of women, is unknown.

The report also gives me the total count of each surname plus the numbers of males and females as well as the earliest and most recent dates associated with the name.

In the publish feature I can also do charts of all sorts; genealogy report, relationship reports, place reports, media reports, and source reports. I need to spend more time running reports, I think it will help me find "holes" I need to work on and it's just plain interesting!

Virginia "Jennie" Smith, Born 14 Sep 1906 - Died 26 Apr 1916, the daughter of Virginia "Jennie" Shaw Baker Smith

 Two of nine.

I now know what happened to two of the nine children my great grandmother Virginia "Jennie" Shaw Baker Smith gave birth to.

Her first child was Roy Henry Baker, my Grandpa Baker. I want to do a timeline post on him sometime soon that is going to be a challenge!

Roy Henry Baker Born 05 Jul 1888 - Died 08 Dec 1965
Harry E Baker Born in about 1892 - Died after 1900
Edith M Baker Born in about 1894 - Died after 1910
Ella B Baker Born in about 1898 - Died after 1900 She is missing from the 1910 census when she would have been only 12

There was another child that died by 1900, the census says Virginia Baker was the mother of 5, 4 still living. That child might have been between Roy and Harry but more likely between Edith and Mary.

Then along came Mary Baker in 1902 - Died after 1910

A second husband....

Virginia "Jennie" Smith Born 14 Sep 1906 - Died  26 Apr 1916
Charles Smith Born about 1909 - Died after 1920
and finally
Marguritte Smith in about 1912 - Died after 1920

I was looking at different resources to try to find more about what happened to these Grand Aunts and Uncles, hoping to be able to locate some of their descendants, my cousins. I was poking around on Missouri Digital Heritage last night and found young Jennie Smith's Death Certificate. I can cross her off my list to research.

Jennie was a "schoolgirl", age 9 years 7 months 12 days when she died.She was sick with measles for over a week before she was admitted to the Kansas City General Hospital. She died 9 days later of empyema, a complication of measles and lobar pneumonia. If you are curious you can read about empyema here at Healthline and about measles and pneumonia in The Archives of Internal Medicine in 1918.  I can not imagine watching a child die of complications of measles. The antibiotics that could have likely saved her were still over a generation away. Under Place of Burial on her death certificate it looks like Unknown is crossed out and above it Forest Hill is written. It says she was buried on April 28th 1916. I have not been able to confirm her place of burial.

Postcard from 1916

Actual photo from the 1920s

Jennie's siblings, Mary age 14, Charles age 7, and Marguritte age 4,  would have been at home at this time and seem to have escaped her fate. I could not locate any death certificates for them around the time of Jennie's death.

If she had lived she would have been 51 when I was born.

Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree

June 6 - 8, 2014 Burbank California

http://www.genealogyjamboree.com.

Virginia "Jennie" Shaw, even more questions

Virginia "Jennie" Shaw
My Great Grandmother
Interesting fact; Jennie was "Deaf and dumb", I don't know if she was born this way or lost her hearing as a young child.

Born October 1869 in Missouri, USA

Sources; 1870, 1880, 1900, 1920 US Censuses

1870 Residence; Campbell, Greene County, Missouri, USA.

She is living with her father William Shaw, age 61, her mother Mary (Oldham) Shaw, age 24, and her sister Frances, age 3. They are living next door to Mary's mother. William is a “Teamster”.

Source; 1870 Us Census

1870 United States Federal Census, Campbell, Greene County, Missouri, USA

  

In 1880 she is listed in two US Censuses

1880 Residence 1; Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA.

She is listed as living at the “assylem Fulton”.

She is listed with her mother Mary J, age 34 and step father John M Stutzman, age 49, Occupation; Carpenter, along with several half and step siblings and her sister Belle (Frances), age 13, and brother Johnie, age 7. There are also boarders living in the house including Mary's mother and sister.

• When did her father William die? The only clue I have is from Ancetry.com “His grand-daughter told a story of how he was driving a wagon back from Boliver (to Springfield), and he was killed by bushwackers just outside of town (Springfield). It was on "Stagecoach" road, just as it crests out over a hill." 

1880 United States Federal Census, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA

1880 Residence 2; Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri, USA

She is a pupil at the Missouri Institute for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.

• When did she loose her hearing?
  
  

1880 United States Federal Census, Fulton, Callaway County, Missouri, USA

1888 - Marriage to John D Baker according to the 1900 census which states they have been married 12 years.

4 Jul 1888 - birth of Roy H Baker In Greene County, Missouri < my grandfather

26 Jan 1891 - Marriage to John D Baker (b. Feb 1861 in Illinois)

Source; Missouri marriage license, Springfield, Greene, Missouri

• Compare this to the 1900 Census marriage date?

Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002

Apr 1892 birth of Harry E Baker in Missouri

Dec 1894 birth of Edith Baker in Missouri

Sep 1898 birth of Ella B Baker in Missouri

Source; 1900 US Census

According to the 1900 census, census taker was very sloppy...

Enumerated on 4 Jun 1900

Address 1961 Benton Ave, North Campbell Township, Springfield, Mo

She is the wife of head of household (John D Baker)

Age 30

Married 12 years

Mother of 5, 4 still living

Her father was born in Tennessee

Her mother was born in Virginia

She can read, write and speak English

1900 United States Federal Census, Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, USA

1902 birth of Mary Baker in Missouri

Source; 1910 US Census

31 May 1904 – Marriage to Charles Smith in Clinton, Henry County Missouri, USA

Source Missouri Marriage Records, 1805- 2002 The copy is so poor it is almost unreadable.

• What happened to John D Baker? Did he die or did they divorce?

1907 birth of Virginia Jennie Smith in Kansas

1909 birth of Charles J Smith in Kansas

Source; 1910 US Census

1910 US Census Jennie is living in Topeka, Ward 2, Shawnee County, Kansas, USA

Address 112 Adams St

Wife of head of household Charles Smith, age 36, birthplace Michigan, parents birthplace, father; New York and mother; Germany, Occupation; Common Laborer, Odd Jobs

Age 45 (?)

Her second marriage (Charles' first)

Can read and write

Is Deaf and Dumb

Has three more children; Mary Baker age 8 born in Missouri, Jennie Smith age 3 and Charles Smith age 1 both born in Kansas.

John and Jennie's daughter Ella who would have been 12 is not on the census with her mother and step father. Edith and Mary Baker are with Jennie. Roy would have been 22, his whereabouts is unknown. Harry E. would have been 18 and his whereabouts is unknown.

• What happened to Ella?

1910 United States Federal Census, Topeka ward 2, Shawnee County, Kansas, USA

1912 birth of Marguritte Smith in New York

Source; 1920 US Census

1919 Residence - 1729 Holly St, Kansas City Mo, Chas T "grinder", can not find them in the 1920-21 directories.

Source; U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989

Add

U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

 

1920 US Census Jennie is living in Kansas City Ward 2, Jackson, Missouri, USA

Address;1729 Holly St, Kansas City Mo

Wife of head of household Charles Smith, age 48, Parents birthplace Germany, Occupation; Grinder, tool sharpener

Age 51

Can read, write and speak English

Parents born in Missouri.

Children; Charles J Smith 11, Marguritte Smith 8.

• Where is daughter Jennie Smith who would be about 13? 
  Edited to add Jennies fate. I posted about my find here in my post about her.
   

1920 United States Federal Census,  Kansus City Ward 2, Jackson County, Missouri, USA

What happened to Jennie, Charles and the kids after 1920? The trail runs dry....

John D Baker, more questions than answers

John D Baker my Great Grandfather

Born Feb 1861 in Illinois

Source; 1900 US Census

1 May 1883 Possible marriage to Louise J Boyd; born about 1865, death ?

Source; Missouri marriage license, Springfield, Greene, Missouri

• Were there two John D Bakers in Springfield area?
  
  

Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002

1888 - Marriage to Virginia “Jennie” Shaw 

Source; 1900 US Census which states they have been married 12 years.

4 Jul 1888 birth of Roy H Baker In Greene County, Missouri < my grandfather

26 Jan 1891 - Marriage to Jennie Shaw; born Oct 1869 in Missouri, death ?

Source; Missouri marriage license, Springfield, Greene, Missouri

• Compare this to the census marriage date?

Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002

Apr 1892 birth of Harry E Baker in Missouri

Dec 1894 birth of Edith Baker in Missouri

Sep 1898 birth of Ella B Baker in Missouri

Source; 1900 US Census

1902 birth of Mary Baker in Missouri

Source; 1910 US Census

Information from the 1900 Census, census taker was very sloppy...

Enumerated on 4 Jun 1900

Address 1961 Benton Ave, North Campbell Township, Springfield, Mo
(They live very close to the Beckleys, Hazel Opal Beckley appears to be Roy's 1^st? wife)
Head of household

Age 39

John's parents were both born in Iowa

His occupation is Shoemaker

Months not employed 0

He can read, write and speak English

They rent

1900 United States Federal Census, Springfield, Ward 08, District 0044, Greene, Missouri, USA 

By the 1910 Census Jennie is living in Topeka, Kansas married to Charles Smith, birthplace Michigan, parents birthplace, father; New York and mother; Germany, and has three more children; Mary Baker age 8 born in Missouri, Jennie Smith age 3 and Charles Smith age 1, both born in Kansas. John and Jennie's daughter Ella who would have been 12 is not on the census with her mother and step father. Edith and Mary are with Jennie. Roy would have been 22, his whereabouts is unknown. Harry E. would have been 18 and his whereabouts is unknown.

• What happened to Ella?
  
  

1910 United States Federal Census, Topeka, Ward 2, District 0150, Shawnee, Kansas, USA

     

Possible that Roy was either Jennie's or John's (Louise) by another relationship?

I am looking at a DNA connection to Jennie's family that looks very probable.

What happened to John D Baker? Did he die or did he and Jennie divorce?

A genealogy crisis

 Wouldn't this be nice?

Long time... no post. I had a bit *cough* of a genealogy crisis.

Discussing DNA testing within a surname group led to a lady suggesting to me that I had my Grandpa Roy Henry Baker attached to the WRONG parents. I was incensed, shocked, and then I suspected she was right. *sigh*

I did my original research on him when I was just beginning my genealogy addiction. I took what I knew about him, which was not much, and started researching. I knew his name, his birth date and city, and that he had come from a big family.

I found a family on the correct state census that had a son Roy that was born the month and very close to the day of my Grandpa Roy (GR). The family size seemed to fit and even though they lived in the north central part of the state and GR was born in the southern part there was evidence that they had spent time (not much) in the southern town GR was born in. Several family trees on a well known site had GR attached to this family. Looked good to me... so I spent many, many hours researching that family... and I have a lovely tree for that family. The wrong family, Roy Elbert Baker's family.

The lady also pointed me in a direction that she thought might be right. There was a family with a boy named Ray Baker in the town I knew GR to be born in. Long story short, that was the right family. This was proven by sending off for GR's death certificate which listed his parents as the parents Ray Baker was living with. Lessons learned; have some documentation and don't believe other trees. Heck I even knew these things but it seemed so right!

I am so grateful that my mistake was pointed out to me and that the lady took the time to point me in an alternate direction. She was also a sounding board and seemed very interested in helping me find his true family.

There are mysteries in his true family which I will ponder in a later post. Hmmmm... why can't any of this be simple?