"Inmates"

Recently, I discovered the world of Census Records and the word "inmate". I always identified this word with prisons or jails. However, this is not the case when it comes to Census Records! I've discovered that the key term "inmate" is much more than that. 

The actual definition of inmate is: a person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital; one of several occupants of a house. (Google)

I decided to do a general search on Ancestry.com using just the last name and the keyword "inmate". I had no results for the surname Jeckering, but I had several results for the surname Mendenhall. I found the following individuals in my tree:

~Sarah D. Overman (1840-aft 1900)- married my 2nd cousin, 7x removed- John S. Mendenhall (1838-1864). She and John had 2 children: Alice and Stephen. 

Sarah was a mental hospital in 1900, at the age of 60- Central Asylum 
Hospital for Insane in Wayne, Marion, Indiana.



~Paris/Paras Mendenhall (1876- aft 1920)- 6th cousin, 5x removed. He is the son of Joshua Mendenhall (1849-1921) & Sarah "Emma" Hunter (1850-1936). 

Starting in the 1900 Census Record (age 24), Paras is living in the Iowa Institution for Feeble Minded Children- located in Glenwood, Mills, Iowa. He continues to show up in the 1910 and 1920 Census Records, still in this same institution. One can only assume he was born disabled- maybe down syndrome or some other type of permanent mental problem. He never married.


~Mordecai Mendenhall (b. 1826)- 3rd cousin, 6x removed. Mordecai was my first case that wasn't in a mental institution. Mordecai was in the 1910 Census Record, listed as an inmate in the Tipton County Almshouse (Poor House) in Cicero, Tipton, Indiana. 



~John Burnside Mendenhall Jr. (1839-1914)- 5th cousin, 7x removed. John was first seen as an inmate in the Census Records in 1910 at the age of 71. He was living in the U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was admitted at the age of 54 in 1893. 


~Cornelius Mendenhall (b. 1851)- 3rd cousin, 5x removed. Cornelius was in the 1910 Census Record as an inmate of the Morgan County Infirmary in Washington, Indiana. This is all I know about his case.


~Ida Lawrence Cowle (1856-1916)- Nephew of husband of 2nd great grand aunt (that's a mouthful!). 

Ida married John Cromwell Mendenhall (1855-1935) in 1880 and they had 12 children- only 7 of them lived into adulthood. In 1910, she is listed as an inmate in the Southern Indiana Hospital for the Insane in Evansville, Indiana. 


~James Edgar Mendenhall (1874-1953) & Charles A Mendenhall (b 1879) (brothers)- 5th cousins, 4x removed. 

James and Charles show up in 3 Census Records together (1910, 1920, 1930) as inmates of the Hamilton County Poor Farm in Orville, Nebraska. I thought this was just a sad case(s) because both brother's didn't have any type of future. It wasn't as if they were ill (enough) to be in a hospital or asylum...they were just poor. I doubt either one ever married.


~Robert P. Mendenhall (1876-1918)- 5th cousin, 7x removed. Robert was in the 1910 Census Record as an inmate of the Hamilton State Hospital in Perry, Ohio at the age of 34. I don't know if this was just a regular hospital where he was ill (he didn't die until 8 years later) or if this was a mental hospital (I doubt because of the name).


~Ethel Mae Mendenhall (b. 1885)- 7th cousin, 4x removed. Ethel is another case similar to Paras. She was first seen in the Census Records as an inmate in 1910 (age 25) at the Nebraska Institution for the Feeble Minded Youth in Midland, Nebraska. She continues to be there until 1930. 


~Cora Belle Mendenhall (1894-1926)- 6th cousin, 5x removed. Cora's case surprised me. She shows up in the 1910 Census Record (age 16) as an inmate in the House of the Good Shepherd (nun) in Dubuque, Iowa. I am curious about her because not only was she a nun at such a young age, but she died young also- at the age of 32.


~Sarah Mendenhall (b. 1901)- 3rd cousin, 4x removed. Sarah's case was interesting as well. She shows up in the 1910 Census Record at the age of 9 as an inmate of the Institution for the Feeble Minded in Columbus, Ohio. This case is interesting because she was only 9, but I imagine she was there because of some mental condition and her siblings couldn't/wouldn't care for her - her parents died in 1904 and 1906.


~Meek Mendenhall (1865-1935)- 5th cousin, 7x removed. Meek (interesting name) shows up in the 1930 Census Record as an inmate at the North Carolina State Hospital for Insane in Morganton, North Carolina. 


~Lillian L. Hibbs (1866-1933)- married my 4th cousin, 4x removed- Jessie J. Mendenhall (1861-1899). She and Jessie had 2 sons- Leland and Otho and her husband died really young, just after the children were born. Lillian raised them alone and through the Census Records, I could track her through household to household- living as a boarder and with "friends". In 1930, she shows up as an inmate at the Clarinda State Hospital in Nodaway, Iowa at the age of 64.

New Grave Found!

Happy Sunday everyone! I am very excited because I have discovered where my great grandfather Earl Dwight Mendenhall (1894-1972) is buried! :)

Since I did the Ancestry.com DNA, I have met some of my distant cousins! One in particular, has been researching this for some time and discovered where Earl and his second wife, Olive (Olive Ruth Crowl) are buried...
                         Shiloh Park Cemetery in Harrison, Montgomery, Ohio
                         Section 3, Lot 276 and 251
                         (Olive is in 251, but her grave site is unmarked)

I have made several contributions to the Findagrave.com website, so I HAD to add my great grandfather's memorial, check it out:

Earl D Mendenhall on Findagrave.com

Surname Saturday: Munn

Louella Ida "Ella" Munn (1872-1958) was my 2nd great grandmother. She married Marion Richard Mendenhall (1873-1948) on 12 Aug 1893 and they had 3 children. 

John Park Munn and Family

Her parents: John Park Munn (1841-1908) & Caroline Beams (1844-1900)
G-parents: Silas Munn (1800-1884) & Sarah Park (1808-1872)
2xG-parents: Thomas A Munn (1778-1850) & Mary Wolcott (1779-1869)
3xG-parents: Isaac Munn (1749-1811) & Mary Baldwin (1751-1820)
4xG-parents: Joseph Munn (1721-1815) & Sarah Williams (1724-1798)
5xG-parents: John Munn (1682-1745) & Mary Richards (1704-1763)
6xG-parents: John Munn (1652-1684) & Abigail Parsons (1666-1689)
7xG-parents: Benjamin Munn (1619-1675) & Abigail Burt (1623-1707)

Benjamin and Abigail both came to America from England.

MUNN

Ancestry.com:

"All U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s results for Munn":

There are 1,549 results- too many to list, but here are a few:

Name                   Birth Year         Arrival Year       Arrival Place

Munn                                              1607-1657         America

Margt Munn                                    1663                 Virginia

Mathew Munn                                 1663                  Maryland

Jno Munn                                        1665-1666         Virginia

Jno Munn                                        1678                  Virginia

Munn                                               1695                  Virginia

Alexander Munn                              1713                   Boston, Mass.

Findagrave.com

I was surprised to find that there are 6,670 individuals with the surname Munn on this website. I thought there would be less for some reason. 

Houseofnames.com

This history of the name Munn began after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066- Moion, near St. Lo, Normandy. 

Spelling Variations: Moyon, Moion, Mohun, Moyne, Munn, Munns, Munson, Munton, Mwn, Mun, Munds, Mouns, Muns, Munnes, Munnson, Munnsen, Munning and more!

Contemporary Notables of the name Munn:

~Harold Warner Munn (1903-1981)- American writer of fantasy, horror and poetry.

~Olivia Munn (b. 1980)- American actress, model, and television personality.

~John Calvin Munn (1906-1986)- 8th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Aviator.

~Lisa Olivia Munn (b. 1980), American comedic actress and model.

~Allison Munn (b. 1974), American Actress.

One Person at a Time...Elizabeth

~Even though I have a lot of people in my family tree, I also have a lot of "holes" that need more research. Over the next few months, I am going to attempt to patch up those holes by doing research one person at a time- starting at the beginning of the list~


Today's Name: Elizabeth

I have 22 women in my tree named "Elizabeth" (or some spelling variation of the name) that I need more research on. This name will probably take up the next 6-7 posts:

#1 Elisabeth
Before Research:
Elisabeth was born about 1665. She married Heinrich Fehring and they had at least 1 son: Rudolph (d. 1765).

After Research:
I didn't find too much on Elisabeth. She was born about 1665 in Kirchspiel, Germany and died after 1697 in Germany. She married Heinrich Fehring (1655-after 1697) in 1688 in Emsburen, Germany. They had at least one son: Rudolph (1693-1765).



#2: Elisabeth
Before Research:
Elisabeth married Joseph Hawksworth and they had at least 2 daughters: Ellen (b. 1843) and Esther (b. 1848). 
Ellen married John Fletcher Mendenhall (1838-1896)- my 6th cousin, 6x removed.
Esther married Amos Henry Mendenhall (1842-1898)- also my 6th cousin, 6x removed.

After Research:
Elizabeth Ellam was born in 1816 and died in Jul 1850 in Yorkshire, England. Her father was James Ellam (b. 1788). 
Elizabeth married Joseph Hawksworth (b. 1811) on 10 Nov 1841 in All Hallows, England. They had 4 daughters:
1. Ellen (b. 1843)
2. Eliza Ann (b. 1847)
3. Esther (b. 1848)
4. Mary Lane (b. 1850)



#3: Eliza
Before Research:
Eliza was born about 1832. She married Joseph Myers (b. abt 1828)- had one son- Charles H. (1864-1948)- he married Iva Lenore Seaver (1866-1917)- my 2nd cousin, 3x removed.

After Research:
This name was a very successful search indeed. Eliza was a nickname, her real name was Achsah Elizabeth Brigham. She was born on 10 Apr 1832 in Massachusetts and died on 04 Apr 1882. Her parents were Dexter Brigham (1786-1870) & Mary Ann Gould (1804-1889). 
Eliza had 8 siblings:
1. Angeline (1824-1896)
2. Mary Ann (1829-1889)
3. Charles Edmund (1834-1896)
4. Henry Pierpont (1837-1896)
5. Francis Augustus (1841-1841)
6. Sarah Louise (b. 1845)
7. Rockwood (b. 1848)
8. Emma Augusta (1849-1875)

Eliza married Joseph Milton Myers (1830-1897) on 01 May 1860. They had 2 children:
1. Charles H. (1864-1948)
2. Mary Emma (1866-1941)




#4: Eliza
Before Research:
Eliza married James Mildenhall (b. 1858)- had 7 children: Ida Sula, Rose, Henry, Eliza, Francis, Sidney and Harold. James is my 12th cousin, 6x removed.

After Research:
Eliza Julia Gale was born in 1861 in Collinbourne, Wiltshire, England. Her parents were Thomas Gale (1820-1909) & Jane Matthews (1824-1903). She had 6 siblings:
1. David (b. 1851)
2. Elizabeth (b. 1852)
3. Mary Jane (b. 1854)
4. William (b. 1857)
5. Alfred Thomas (b. 1862)
6. Sarah Ann (b. 1864)

Eliza married James Mildenhall (b. 1858) and they had 7 children- mentioned earlier.

Friday Funny! Happy First Friday of Family History Month!

In honor of October being Family History Month, enjoy your Friday Funny~

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 21: John Bartram (1699-1777)

John Bartram- husband of my 1st cousin, 11x removed

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.com 

"America's First Recognized Botanist"


b. 23 May 1699 in Darby, Pennsylvania
d. 22 Sep 1777 in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania 

Parents: William Bartram (abt 1677- 1712) & Elizabeth Eliza Hunt (1674-1701)


John was a farmer and a botanist. He is considered "America's First Recognized Botanist". His son William followed in his footsteps. John has his own page on Wikipedia explaining his contributions in the botany world. You can read about it Here. 

He had an 8 acre botanic garden in his home in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania on the west bank of the Schuylkill river. It is now a museum and garden. It's located at 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can view and find more information on this Garden Here.

John was such a huge influence in Philadelphia that in 1939, there was a high school named in his honor: John Bartram High School.  It's located at 2401 S. 67th St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Because of his huge interest in Botany and science, there was some question as to whether he still had faith in God, so he was excluded from membership in the Quaker faith; he was viewed as Unitarian. 

Here is a transcription of a letter of disownment to John from the Darby Monthly Meeting (Quaker church):

"Whereas by the prevalence of a report concerning John Bartram (who had his birth and education amongst Friends and made profession with us from his youth, up to this time) viz. that he believed in the divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as being perfectly God as well as man, it became the tender concern of Friends to inquire of him whether he had given occasion for such a report by believing and uttering as above, that which he did not deny but rather appeared to vindicate and notwithstanding our earnest labor of love form time to time, cannot be prevailed to decline such a belief and by public testimony clear our Society form the great reproach of being unsound in the Christian faith. 
Wherefore fully believing in the miraculous conception birth, miraculous death, glorious resurrection and ascension of our blessed lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as recorded in holy writing; we can do no less for the clearing of truth than give the same that which we sincerely desire he may give forth by our Monthly Meeting held at Darby the 1st day of the 2nd month, 1758 and on behalf and by order of the same."
Abram Bonsall (signed).



Family #1: 

He married Mary Elizabeth Maris (1703-1727) on 25 Apr 1723. Her parents were Richard Maris (1672-1745) & Elizabeth Hayes (1672-1720). 
Mary is my 1st cousin, 11x removed.
John and Mary had 2 sons: 

1. Richard Bartram (1724-1728)
2. Isaac Bartram (1725-1802)


Family #2:

John married Ann Mendenhall (1703-1789) on 11 Oct 1729. 
Her parents were Benjamin Mendenhall (1662-1740) & Hannah Pennel (1673-1721).
Ann is also my 1st cousin, 11x removed.
John and Ann had 9 children:

1. James Bartram (1730-1824)
2. Moses Bartram (1732-1809)
3. Elizabeth Bartram (1734-1734)
4. Mary Bartram (1736-1817)
5. Elizabeth Bartram (1739-1824)
6. William Bartram (1739-1823)
7. Ann Bartram (1741-1824)
8. John Bartram Jr. (1743-1812)
9. Benjamin Bartram (1748-1826)




John died at the age of 78 years old. He is buried in the Darby Friends Cemetery in Darby, Delaware, Pennsylvania. 

Wednesday's Portrait: Erk M. Cottrell (1892-1918)

Today's Portrait:

Erk M. Cottrell   (not a spelling mistake)
b. 24 Mar 1892 North Star, Darke, Ohio
d. 09 Oct 1918 France (WWI)

I love these pictures but at the same time, the one on the right totally creeps me out! He goes from super happy, chubby baby to "I'm gonna murder you in your sleep!" ...just sayin' :)



How I'm related to Erk:

Carrie Jeckering Smith (Me)
My Parents
Harold Earl Mendenhall & Helen Ruth Seaver
Earl Dwight Mendenhall & Edna Grace Niles
Marion Richard Mendenhall & Louella Munn
Richard Mendenhall & Margaret F. Pierron
Richard was my 3rd great grandfather. He and Margaret had a daughter- Mary Lydia Mendenhall.
Mary married James Asher Cottrell and their son was:
Erk Cottrell ---1st cousin, 3x removed