Granny's Genealogy

The Incredible Shrinking Task – and Another Correction

February 21st, 2012 | Posted by Granny Pam in Organize! | What's going On - (5 Comments)

I am down to 575 items to enter into my database. I have not worked on that task much since I last reported in. I did make a trip up to my hometown of Cadillac, Michigan, and looked through a large collection of yearbooks that the high school librarian there has archived. The earliest one was 1918, and I wished they had started just a little earlier. I did enjoy them, and they helped me sort out which family pictures were from which year in high school. I have been side-tracked working on a genealogy society project. We are also sliding down hill to my husband’s retirement.

I recently wrote about affidavits files to correct or change information on the birth records of Eliza J. Murray, and Ina Belle Murray, her sister. The Lamunion bible transcription also listed Etta Murray born March 29, 1883 died July 20, 1964. Etta was the last child listed for this family, and was born after the 1880 census. Two children were born between Ina and Etta. Arthur was born 29 June 1879 and died 8 November 1879, and George was born 16 June 1881 and died 21 August 1881.

I searched for Etta’s birth record and found this:

Etta’s birth record, #1269, recorded on Page 39 of the birth returns of Allegan County, Michigan has a correction, too! The date is changed from March 30, 1883 to March 29, 1883, and her name is changed from Etta M. To Etta May. Her parent’s name’s are also corrected, the H in her father’s name changed to Henry, his last name changed from Murry to Murray, and her mother’s name changed from Mary A Murry to Mary Ann Lemunyon. Etta filed for the correction on the same day as her sister Ina’s, “5-29-1941″.

I really don’t have any conclusions about this. It does make me wish I had known the three sisters, who were obviously interested in having these records mirror the bible record.

Lamunion, Murray

More on the Murrays

February 1st, 2012 | Posted by Granny Pam in Organize! | Papa's Ancestors | What's going On - (2 Comments)

I left off with the saga of Eliza J. Murray’s name, or names as the case may be. In earlier days before a birth certificate or some other legal ID was required for everything, there are many cases of names being changed, or people using a different variation of their name on every record we find. I have found several cases of men who have reversed the order of their middle and first names on different records.

As I moved on in the Murray family, the next document I had to enter was the birth record for Ina Belle Murray, shown below (click to enlarge).

Surprise, surprise. She was listed as Belle I. on the 1880 census, and she also filed an affidavit to change her name, on 29 May 1941. Bell is crossed off on the record, and “Ina Belle” written in. John Murray’s name has a middle name of Henry added in, and Mary’s maiden name is added below a crossed off Murray. The Lamunion Bible transcription lists “Innia Bell Murray”, born March 19, 1875.

Ever curious, I dropped my data entry project and searched for a birth record for Mary Ann and John Murray’s first child. For this firstborn, the bible transcriptions says, “William H. Murray born May 11, 1875″. The 1880 census says, “Murray, Wm. H.” age 5.”

The biggest surprise here is that “Wm T Murray’s” father is listed as Geo. H. The fact is, I would have never found this birth record if I had searched using “William”. I found it my searching for “Murray” in the father’s name, and using the year, 1875.

There’s more to learn, stay tuned.

One victory at a time, I am down to 690 items to enter into my genealogy database. When I started cleaning up and entering, the number stood at 1419. Moving right along, I hope to finish in 2 weeks or so. Maybe, if I don’t get side tracked looking for more records.

Lamunion, Murray

Mary Ann Lamunion

January 30th, 2012 | Posted by Granny Pam in Organize! | Papa's Ancestors - (0 Comments)

I’ve been entering data into my genealogy program. These are files which I had collected in a folder on my computer. I started with 1419 on January 19th, and worked my way down to ~~1440~~ 1140 on January 23rd. Today I am happy to report that I have 837 items left to deal with.

To be absolutely fair, I have found that some of the data had been dealt with, kind of. That means that perhaps an obituary was transcribed, but the reference wasn’t entered, or the files weren’t linked. And, some of these files were simply gravestone photos to be linked, not a heavy-duty job. But, others were wills to transcribe, and I am holding off on a group that will take some heavy duty transcription. Anyway, it does look good to see my tally list down to 837, meaning I have completed 582.

What does that have to do with Mary Ann Lamunion? I ran across her in the pile. Mary Ann was the second of eight known children of Rescum Lamunion/Lamunyon and his wife Miranda Jones, an older sister of Papa’s great-grandmother, Belle Lamunion. Mary Ann and John Henry Murray were married 4 January 1874, according to a transcription of the Rescum Lamunion family bible. The marriage probably took place in Allegan county, where the family appeared in the 1880 census:

Year: 1880; Census Place: Wayland, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: 569; Family History Film: 1254569; Page: 223A; Enumeration District: 012; Image: 0449 at Ancestry.com:

dwelling 5, family 5,

Murry, John, white, male, 33, head, married, farmer, unemployed 3 months, born Ohio, father born Ireland, mother born Germany.
Mary A., white, female, wife, married, keeping house, born New York, both parents born New York.
La Munyan, Rescum, 73, father-in-law, widower, farmer, born New York, both parents born Rhode Island.
Murry, Wm H., 5, son, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.
Louisa J., 3, daughter, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.
Belle I., 2, daughter, single, born Michigan, both parents born New York.

Later, John and Mary Ann had three more children.

I was entering birth records for the children, when I ran across this (click to enlarge):

From the Michigan birth returns at familysearch.org, returns of births in the county of Allegan for 1876, page 55, #784. The record has been corrected by an affidavit filed on 29 May 1944. The name changed from Louisa to Eliza J, the date of birth changed from October 30 to October 31, and John Murray’s name has “Henry” added.

I went scrambling back for the bible transcription. the transcription was done by two descendents of another Lamunion line, in 1975. At that time the bible was in the possession of Hulda Aurilla Carter Terwilliger of Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Mrs. Terwilliger (1897-1977) was a granddaughter of Rescum through his daughter Emily, who married Andrew Jackson Carter. It said, “Eliza J. Murray, born Oct 31nd 1876.” Eliza can be a nickname for Louisa, or Elizabeth, or a name on it’s own.

So the census in 1880 said Louisa J., and the bible said Eliza J. The cards sent by the Murray family to Belle were signed, Eliza, so I know that is who Eliza thought she was. I wonder if there is any significance of the date of the correction to the birth record? Eliza would have been 68 years old in 1944. I wonder if she was applying for Social Security and needed a birth record to match the bible record? According to the Social Security website, “Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940.”

Next: Another correction.

Carter, Lamunion, Murray, Terwilliger

Funeral Card Friday – Frank Fellows

February 18th, 2011 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors - (3 Comments)

It is easy to see that writing is a habit, and I got out of it for a while. I am back, but probably will not be able to post daily, as I did for so long.

I am sharing funeral cards on Friday, following a Facebook meme which you an see here.

fellows frank memorial card

Frank A. Fellows was born in Grant, Newaygo County, Michigan, according to his birth record. He passed away at Mercy Hospital, Cadillac, Michigan as the result of a car-train accident.

Uncle Frank was Papa’s great-uncle; the youngest sibling in the family of Belle Lamunion and Henry H. Fellows, and the only son to survive to adulthood.

I have previously written a number of posts mentioning Uncle Frank.

Fellows, Funeral Card Friday, Lamunion

Funeral Card Friday, Charles E. Tinker

April 2nd, 2010 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors - (1 Comments)

I found this theme, which may also be considered a meme, over on Facebook, and decided participating was a good idea.

This Friday’s card is from the funeral of Charles E. Tinker. Charlie or sometimes, Charley, Tinker was the second husband of Belle Lamunion; she was one of Papa’s great-grandmothers. The grandchildren, at least all that I ever met, called the couple, “Grandma and Charlie”.

The actual cemetery where Charlie is buried is Hillside, it is just south-east of Grant.

Fellows, Lamunion, Tinker

Fellows Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 87 page 383

March 13th, 2010 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors - (2 Comments)

This entry is part 61 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update frequently, but probably not every day. This group pertain to Papa’s Fellows ancestors who resided in Wexford County, Michigan.

Date:	15 July 1914
Liber:	87
Page:	383
Location:	383
Grantor:	Lester E. Stone and Sarah E. Stone of Manton, MI
Grantee:	Charles E. Tinker & Belle Tinker of Manton, MI
Witnesses:	Addie Campbell, Guy W. Slack
Type of deed:	Warranty
Rec’d and recording:	15 July 1914
Clerk/registrar:	Slack
Location of land:	Colfax, Wexford, MI
Consideration:	$1,800
Notes:
Description:	N1/2 of SE1/4 of NW1/4 and NE1/4 of NW1/4 Sec 16 T23N R10W abt 60 ac

Belle and Charlie lived on this piece of of land when M-in-L was a child. This deed shows why I believe it is important to leave no STONE unturned while researching your family. If you look back at the post I wrote about Charlie Tinker, you can see that Charlie and Belle married on 15 July 1914. Interesting this deed was recorded the same day Charlie and Belle married, apparently in a judge’s chambers at the courthouse. A closer look shows that Lester and Sarah Stone were the witnesses. Oh. Although Charlie Tinker’s obituary gave an earlier year for their marriage, I am convinced that the actual date was 15 July 1914.

One little postcard shows how valuable various fragments of evidence can become. In the collection from Belle’s box, I wrote about a postcard from Mrs. Stone, which was postmarked 31 July 1914. Looks like Belle and Charlie got a dog with the house and property!

The location is marked in red from the 1914 atlas of Wexford County¹ which is online on a University of Michigan site. The blue outlined property was owned at various times by people associated with Belle. The northern most property was owned by Alfred Fenton, a brother-in-law of Belle’s daughter, Edna. Edna’s mother-in-law, Susie M. Burdick Fenton Longstreet and her husband Harmon H. Longstreet owned the remaining property outlined in blue.

Standard Map Company., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan : containing complete maps of all townships, names of property owners, maps of the county, city of Cadillac, United States and State of Michigan., Standard Map Company., Cadillac Evening News (Firm) (Cadillac, Mich.: Cadillac Evening News, c1914), page 20, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928167.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

Campbell, Fellows, Lamunion, Stone, Tinder

Fellows Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 54 Page 359

February 12th, 2010 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors - (3 Comments)

This entry is part 89 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

Date:	29 October 1903
Liber:	54
Page:	359
Location:	Wexford County, MI
Grantor:	Henry Fellows and Belle Fellows his wife, of Colfax, Wexford, MI
Grantee:	Elizabeth McCain of the same place
Witnesses:	Wm Jones, Isaac C. Wheeler
Type of deed:	Warranty
Rec’d and recording:	30 October 1903
Clerk/registrar:	Henry Hanson
Location of land:	Antioch Twp., Wexford Co., MI
Consideration:	$256
Notes:	have no record of this purchase, need to research
Description:	W 1/2 of NE1/4 Sec 15 T23N R11W

It is too bad that I didn’t go through these records sooner after I abstracted them. The first record I have in Wexford County for Henry and Belle Fellows is a sale, not a purchase. I am going to have a long list of goals when I can visit the Wexford Court house again.

What I noticed when I located this land in the old 1889 Atlas¹ is that Merritt Winfield “Scott” Lamunion lived nearby; Scott was Belle Lamunion Fellows’ brother. You can see his name outlined in blue just below The red-outlined location of the purchase. Also, a Sylvester Gilbert owned 40 acres in the NW1/4 of the section; I also outlined that 40 acres in blue. One of the Fellows daughters married Charles Gilbert, who may have been connected with Sylvester. More investigation is required.

E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations , Eli L. Hayes, (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 37; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

Fellows, Lamunion, Land Records, Wexford Co MI

Belle Fellows and Family

December 23rd, 2009 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors | Photos - (1 Comments)

These photos were posted on my old site, and I am adding them here. They are thumbnails, which you may enlarge.

Belle (Lamunion) and Charlie Tinker. Belle and Charlie married in 1914. Her grandchildren say, “Grandma and Charlie”. I’ll have to ask M-in-L the dog’s name. I forgot it.

Belle, and all her grandchildren who lived nearby at the time. One uncle told us that Bill Burgess would not sit down unless Uncle Hi was in the photo, so there is Hi. Hi was the husband of Eunice Fellows.

From the back left:L Laura Fenton (later married Pratt), daughter of Edna Fellows; Grandma (Belle Lamunion Fellows Tinker); standing: George Fenton, son of Edna Fellows; seated: Hiram Smith, husband of Eunice Fellows.

Front: Rachel Burgess, daughter of Hazel Fellows; Loren Fellows on Grandma’s lap, son of Frank Fellows; Frank Fenton in front of his brother George, son of Edna Fellows. Hiram is holding: Left: Bill Burgess, son of Hazel Fellows, right: Henry Smith, his son with Eunice Fellows.

Fellows, Fenton, Lamunion, Smith, Tinker

The Scott Lamunion Family

December 22nd, 2009 | Posted by Granny Pam in Papa's Ancestors | Photos - (4 Comments)

This Thumbnail can be enlarged. This is the family of Merritt Winfield “Scott” Lamunion. Scott married Emma Adelia Widger on 11 March 1876, according to a family bible transcription done by two Lamunion researchers in 1975. You may enlarge this thumbnail by clicking on it.

The Lamunions had a family of seven children, according to the same bible transcription: Ray Lester 2 May 1879 – September 1879, Glen Azel b. 24 Feb 1884, Bessie Ann b. 23 May 1885, Olive b 25 July 1887, Maude Belle b. 21 Feb 1889, Jack H. b. 24 March 1891, and Nellie May, b 1894. The older man, second from the left must be Glen, and the younger man with the bow tie on the right must be Jack. If you can identify the other family members, please contact me!

Thanks to Carolyn Stump (see comments) for identification of the people in this photo:

Bottom row left to right
Belle Lamunion French, Merritt (Scott) Winfield Lamunion, Emma Widger Lamunion, Nellie Lamunion Patterson
Top row left to right
Bessie Lamunion (married x3 Hammond,Stewart, Morrison) Glen Azel Lamunion, Olive Lamunion Bigelow (widowed) then Rev., Jack Harvey Lamunion went to Minnesota to work a harvest and died shortly after returning home from scarlet fever? He was about 22 when he died. My grandfather was Glen.

Lamunion, Widger

Lamunion Siblings

December 21st, 2009 | Posted by Granny Pam in Photos - (1 Comments)

Here is a photo from M-in-L’s scrapbook. I have some restoration work to do here, but wanted to show it now.

Back row: Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker, Emily (Lamunion) Carter.
Front row: George Lamunion, Mary Ann (Lamunion) Murray, Merritt Winfield “Scott” Lamunion.

Not pictured, Benjamin “Bije” Lamunion, 1856-1892; and Olive Josephine (Lamunion) Tufts, 1862-1882. Benjamin Lamunion died in an accident while working in a logging camp. Olive also died young.

Lamunion