George William Rakestraw: The One with the Confusing Timeline (52 Ancestors #13)

Posted on April 1, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Rakestraw Family, Research Process, Tombstones

George William Rakestraw was the brother of my great great grandmother, Zerilda Rakestraw Springer. Unlike his sister, he is very well documented. Even so, I’ve had a difficult time researching him. He had an uncle who was also named George William, so he went by William or Willie, but he also had a son named William, who seemed to go by Willie as a child. Willie also had a son, Charles Marion and a cousin, Charles Marion. I understand wanting to honor family members, but at some point, it’s just too much. After hours upon hours of searching, deciphering, and some math, I have Willie mostly figured out.

George William Rakestraw, circa 1900.

George William “Willie” Rakestraw was born on August 20, 1873 in New Albany, Indiana, to parents Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. He had dark hair and blue eyes. He was the baby of the family, as his sister was five years older.

An article appeared in the New Albany Evening Tribune, saying that Willie had married a Mamie Haine on February 2, 1891.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Tuesday, 3 February 1891, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

I could not find a marriage record for them in Floyd county, surrounding counties, or Illinois, where I though Mamie might be from. Willie would’ve been seventeen at the time, so he also would’ve needed parental permission to marry.

I did find that Willie married Mamie Haney in Floyd County, Indiana on October 9, 1891. It also appeared in the paper the following day.

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Vol. 10, p. 55, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 10 October 1891, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

It seems their honeymoon period was short-lived because the paper on October 24, 1891 reports that Mamie had filed suit against Willie for support.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 24 October 1891, p. 8, columns 2-3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

I couldn’t find what became of that suit, but I believe that Mamie went to Illinois without Willie and was pregnant at the time. I’ve looked at several family trees that say Mamie gave birth to Otto William Rakestraw in Mound City, Illinois on December 25, 1891. I have a copy of a photo of Otto Rakestraw that I got from my grandfather, but I have no proof of his relationship. I’ve sent letters out to try and obtain a copy of a birth record and I hope to hear from someone soon. Willie is listed as being in New Albany in both the 1890 and 1892 Caron’s City Directories, which is how I know he didn’t go with Mamie.

Here is where the timeline gets messy. That’s right, it wasn’t messy before. On October 8, 1893, William W. Rakestraw was born, the son of Willie by Lillian Margaret Bennett. At least, according to both of William W.’s marriage records (1917 and 1933). The 1900 Census and the transcription of the Rakestraw Family Bible both give October 8, 1894. I’m inclined to believe the marriage records, as Census are often wrong and I don’t have access to the original Rakestraw Family Bible to know if there were any transcription errors. There is no birth record on file for him, and his death record gives his birth date as October 8, 1898 (I’m thinking this was written by the informant as 1893 and misread by the clerk as 1898). I’m still holding out hope for a primary source to prove one or the other.

In those same family trees that mention Otto’s birth, it is written that Willie and Mamie were granted a divorce from Mound City on October 23, 1893. I have inquiries out on this as well, but it seems logical to me that infidelity would cause Mamie to file for divorce.

Willie married Lillie Bennett on April 14, 1894 in Floyd County, Indiana.

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Vol. 10, p. 363, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

There are articles (I’ll get to them in a bit) that give marriage dates of January and April 1893, but since Willie and Mamie were still married that wouldn’t be possible, or at least not legal. I also couldn’t find any marriage records for Willie and Lillie on those dates.

Charles Marion Rakestraw was born on January 22, 1896 in New Albany, Indiana. He is the second son of Willie and Lillie.

Things go downhill for Willie and Lillie the following year. On April 9, 1897, Lillie filed suit against Willie for maintenance. The suit was dismissed on June 11, 1897.

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 9 April 1897, p. 7, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 11 June 1897, p. 7, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Lillie then filed for divorce on December 1, 1897. This must have been a long process. It was listed on the court docket on January 14, 1898 and then again on October 1, 1898 and still the divorce was not granted.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Wednesday, 1 December 1897, p. 4, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 3 December 1897, p. 5, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 14 January 1898, p. 7, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 1 October 1898, p. 4, column 5, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

On February 20, 1899, Louise Rakestraw was born. Three weeks later, Lillie petitioned to dismiss the divorce case.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Tuesday, 14 March 1899, p. 4, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

On May 24, 1899, Willie filed for divorce and it was granted by the court on June 17, 1899. He asked for and was granted custody of William and Charles.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Wednesday, 24 May 1899, p. 4, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Public Press, Wednesday, 31 May 1899, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 17 June 1899, p. 4, column 1, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Lillie and baby Louise went to live with Lillie’s mother. Willie, William, and Charles moved in with Willie’s parents and his niece, Mildred Springer.

On June 5, 1902, Willie married Lorena Bender in Louisville, Kentucky. By 1910, Willie and Lorena were living in Madison County, Illinois, but William and Charles were still living with Willie’s parents. Charles did spend some time in Illinois with his dad, as this letter, dated December 15th, indicates.

Willie and Lorena moved to Louisville at some point after 1918 (Willie’s draft registration shows he was still in Illinois). Willie and William ran a music store in Louisville until Willie’s death in 1935.

Tombstone, Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, George William Rakestraw, 1874-1935, photo courtesy of Rob M, Findagrave.com

I still have to wonder about Otto and Louise. Why did Willie not seek custody for either of them? Why didn’t he even acknowledge them? With all of my grandfather’s stories that had been passed down through the Rakestraw family, I had never heard of either one until I started researching Willie. William’s obituary said that he was survived by a sister, Louise, so I suppose he must have had some contact with her. I guess these are questions to which I may never know the answers.

Zerilda Rakestraw: Almost a Ghost (52 Ancestors #11)

Posted on March 17, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Rakestraw Family, Springer Family

If I had only official documents to go on, I’d know next to nothing about my great great grandmother. Using the usual vitals, census, and obituary, her life could be summed up as follows. Zerilda Eleanora Rakestraw was born circa 1869, the daughter of Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. She married Frank Springer on February 28, 1892. She gave birth to Mildred Gertrude Springer on November 20, 1892. She died of consumption on June 13, 1894 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery.

The biggest hurdles I had in my research were the lack of official documents. The state of Indiana didn’t require birth records until 1882. There was no birth record. The 1890 Census would’ve been the first census to list her occupation. There is no surviving copy of the 1890 Census for Indiana. For reasons I can’t fathom, her death was never reported to the city or the county Health Department. No death record. Another hurdle was that Zerilda changed her name, and not legally.

Fortunately, I had some good information from my grandfather, who had heard it from Zerilda’s mother. There are also a handful of more unconventional records for her. Additionally, the Rakestraws saved a lot of things, for which I am eternally grateful. And now, I present the life of Zerilda Rakestraw, as complete as I believe it will ever be.

1868

Serralda Ella Nora Rakestraw was born on June 5, 1868 in New Albany, Indiana to parents Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. (This is according to a transcription of the Rakestraw Family Bible. I don’t know where the Bible is currently located. I have been spelling it Zerilda Eleanora based on the official documents that bear her name. I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should change how I write it).

1870

She appears on the Census, with her parents, as Zerilda, age 1.

1880

On the Census, she is living with her parents and her younger brother. She is listed as Elnora, age 11.

1890 (ish)

Here, I have no documentation. My grandfather said that she taught school in Louisville for a year or so before she married. I could not find any mention of her in New Albany or Louisville City Directories. He also said that she hated her first name and, as an adult, decided to go by Ella Nora Rakestraw. This may have started before adulthood, since she seems to have gone by her middle name(s) on the 1880 Census. I have a couple of photos to share here.

Zerilda Eleanora Rakestraw (ca. 1890)

Grandpa said this is the photo she had taken for the school. Presumably for a yearbook or similar type of thing.

Zerilda Rakestraw’s desk bell. Purchased circa 1890.

1891

By December of 1891, Ella had met Frank Springer. It would seem that they were long-distance courting by this letter from Frank, dated December 17, 1891.

1892

Frank and Ella were married on February 28, 1892.

Frank Springer and Ella Rakestraw Marriage License

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Volume 10, p.114, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Monday, 29 February 1892, p.4, column 6, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Within a week, Frank and Ella had moved to his brother’s farm, outside of Paoli, Indiana.

Paoli Republican, Wednesday, 9 March 1892, p.3, column 5, NewspaperArchive.com

Ella’s mother, Mary, wrote to her on March 23, 1892. After receiving this letter, Ella wrote back, saying that she was very sick. She had weak spells and was often sick to her stomach.

In April, Ella received a letter from her cousin Othela, congratulating her on her marriage to Frank and expressing concern for her illness.

Sometime in May, Ella had gone back to New Albany to stay with her parents, probably having realized that she was pregnant and would need her mother’s help. Frank wrote to her shortly after her arrival.

It seems that Frank visited from time to time, but didn’t stay long. From a letter written circa June 1892 and a letter dated July 3, 1892, it is evident that Ella’s mother did not want Frank around.

On November 20, 1892, Ella gave birth to a daughter, Mildred Gertrude Springer. Frank was present for the birth of his daughter, as this letter dated November 27, 1892, suggests.

In December, both Ella and baby Mildred were sick.

Zerilda Springer, circa 1892.

Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to find this photocopy and not the original. Since the quality is so bad, I cannot tell if this is just Ella, or if Mildred is perhaps in a bassinet to the left.

1893

In a letter dated January 22, 1893, Frank writes that he is sorry to hear that Ella and the baby are both still sick. He also writes that he will come for them when the weather is better.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Thursday, 23 March 1893, p.4, column 2, NewspaperArchive.com

Here the letters have stopped and it would seem that Ella was home with Frank from here on, however, she must have gone back to stay with her parents before the end of May in 1894. And, in researching Frank’s story, I learned that he did leave home sometime in 1893 for the World’s Fair in Chicago, so it makes sense that Ella would not stay alone on the farm with the baby.

1894

New Albany Evening Tribune, Friday, 25 May 1894, p.3, column 2, NewspaperArchive.com

New Albany Daily Ledger, Friday, 26 May 1894, p.5, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

This one should read “adoption of Mildred G. Springer,” but as we all know, the papers sometimes get things wrong.

On June 13, 1894, just two and a half weeks after her parents adopted Mildred, Ella died of consumption. She was buried at Fairview Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Thursday, 14 June 1894, p.4, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Receipt from The Northern Cemetery (Fairview Cemetery) for payment on grave preparations.

Fairview Cemetery Index, Volume 4, p.71, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

It took me quite some time to find her in Fairview, as her tombstone reads “Ellen N. Springer” and Frank is not buried there.

Tombstone of Ella Springer, Fairview Cemetery, photo courtesy of Douser, Findagrave.com

So ends the short life of Zerilda Eleanora (Rakestraw) Springer.

Frank Springer: The Search Continues

Posted on February 26, 2015 by melissawiseheart under Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Springer Family

I’ve posted a few times before about my great great grandfather, Frank Springer. He disappeared from public records in 1893 and didn’t resurface until 1920. Family letters (which I will post as soon as I have them scanned and in chronological order) place him in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Indiana during these years.

The mystery still remains as to what happened to him after 1920. He does not appear on the 1930 or 1940 Census. My grandpa remembered having met him in about 1931, so I’m operating under the assumption that he died after 1931. A recently found letter reveals that Mildred Wiseheart, his daughter, did not know where he was or whether he was dead or alive in 1944.

Letter, Mildred Springer to Arthur Dillard, 25 Jun 1944, p.1

Now my questions are: When did he die? Where did he die? What happened to him between 1920 and the time of his death? These are questions to which I may never have an answer, but that won’t deter me from searching.

Following Up on Ezra Gilliland

Posted on February 11, 2015 by melissawiseheart under Divorce, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Gilliland Family

In the John Bridges Trial, two of his step-sons testified for him. It prompted me to learn more about them. I’m descended from their sister Mary Elizabeth. I have been unsuccessful thus far in finding anything on William. It seems he moved away. Ezra, however, stayed in New Albany, Indiana and there are some things I found for him.

From his trial testimony, he had been at Mr. Underhill’s house. John Underhill was a ship carpenter. Ezra’s brother William was a deck hand. His step-father was a shipyard watchman. In the 1860 Census, no occupation is listed for Ezra. His obituary says he was a steamboat engineer, and it’s easy to see where the influence came from.

One of the more colorful items was Ezra’s divorce. He married Ruth Helen Ruter on April 14, 1870. After twenty years of marriage, he filed for divorce.

New Albany Ledger, Saturday 1 Feb 1890, p.5, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Evening Tribune, Saturday 1 Feb 1890, p.4, column 3, NewspaperArchive.com

It’s far from a complete story on Ezra, but it does give me a sense of who he was.

Mary Katherine Wiseheart: Nearly Two and Too Young

Posted on February 8, 2015 by melissawiseheart under Death, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Research Process, Wiseheart Family

Mary Katherine Wiseheart died at the age of one year and nine months. She drowned in the neighbors’ fish pond. What little I knew of Mary Katherine came from my grandpa. Recently, as the family were going through things at Grandpa’s house, my uncle opened a book and found a piece of paper folded up. The note on the outside indicated that it was a lock of Mary Katherine’s hair. He opened it and it was indeed a lock of hair. I find it very hard to describe colors between blonde and brown, but I suppose it would be called ash.

This discovery prompted me to want to know all I could about her, but since she died so young, I felt sure that I wouldn’t be able to find much. As always, I began my search at the library. I looked for a death record. It didn’t yield any new information. It did, however, have a note that read “coroner inquest.” I looked for the coroner’s inquest, but she died in July of 1936 and the inquests on microfilm stop at February of 1936. I’ll have to check with the original repository to see if they have later inquests. I also checked the newspaper index to look for an obituary. Nothing had been indexed for Mary Katherine Wiseheart or variant spellings.

For a moment, I was at a loss. I thought about it and realized that I did have her date of death, 9 Jul 1936. I decided to look for the obituary manually. I pulled the roll for the New Albany Tribune that included July 1936. I started with the 9th and moved forward. To my surprise, there was a large, front page article on her death in the paper for the 10th. I believe that the only reason she was so prominently featured was because there had been another drowning the day before.

New Albany Tribune, Friday 10 July 1936, p.1, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

I cried as I read it, feeling only a small measure of what her family must have felt. And I wondered at Sanford’s reaction. For a father who just lost a baby girl, he seemed to me to be calm about it. But the paper did say he was shocked. More than that though, as I researched Sanford for a future post, I learned a lot about his character and the things he had been through before this point and I now understand his reaction.

Mary Katherine, though not quite two years old, touched lives in such a way that those of us who never had the opportunity to know her have still grown up hearing of her.

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