Catch-Up

No, not the stuff that goes on french fries. I'm behind, with all the neat stuff I'm finding at the Family History Library I've neglected to tell all. So here it is in a nutshell:

1. Bates Co. Missouri. DH's mother's family was from here, and after reading the county history and checking records, looks like they have been here anywhere from 1842-1856. Surnames are DeWeese, Wix, Beghtol, Bruner. The Beghtol's and Bruner's don't appear to have made much of a presence in the area, but there were a lot of DeWeese's and Wixes. Found marriages, cemeteries, obituaries (again--those useless old ones with little to no information), and more. My folder for these families runneth over.

2. Union Co., Oregon. I actually researched microfilm here before I turned to Bates Co., to go along with the onsite research I'll be doing on my way home next week. Found death records for Ora McDonald Smith Lindsay's husband, which listed his parents. Found some other deaths in the family too, so I can look for obituaries in newspapers. This family's temple work has not been done yet, for the most part. Permelia Belden Smith (great grandma's sister) had her work done by descendants of another sister who died in a housefire in Marysville, Kansas, but "Aunt Millie's" husband has not. Well, his baptism is done, his endowments and sealing to spouse is in the works. I've got enough information on Ora & Frank to do their work too, since it appears there are no descendants for either of them. Interesting how things come about, isn't it?

3. I may be on the verge of a break-through for one of my dead-end lines: Paxton's in Franklin Co. Ohio in the early 1800's. We've been at a stopping point for my 3gg grandfather for more years than I care to think of, but locating some deed and court records today has given me a couple of possibilities to check out. Seems 3gg grandfather's father was already deceased in 1823 when Samuel Paxton (the 3gg grandpa) married Amy Wilcox. At least that is what is mentioned on his application for a marriage license. He was apparently under age 21, as his mother had to give her consent for his marrying. But in checking early deed and court records, I've come up with three possible fathers for ggg grandpa Sam. One was apparently still living after 1823 since he was wheeling & dealing in land up to at least 1850. That was Jonathan Paxton. The next one was James, who was dead by 1826 when his heirs were buying some more land. Then in 1840 they apparently decided to sell it all for the tidy little sum of $3,050.00. Most of the heirs were from Mason Co. KY. A new place to search? The third one seems to be the most likely candidate (IMHO). Charles Paxton and his associates took one of the founding fathers of Franklinton, Ohio to court twice in 1817 and won both judgements. That's the only mention of him I have come across. There is no 1820 census for Franklin County, unfortunately. But we now have 2 possibilities to check out.

I met a lady today who needs some research done in Clark County WA. She's on a family history mission for the Church. Her family seems to have disappeared between 1920 & 1930. While she & I were discussing her family, she thinks she has located the woman in 1930 in Chico CA, as a servant in an apparently unrelated household. No children with her, no husband. Of course by 1930 the children are probably grown. She is a widow, so the husband died, but did he die in WA or CA? There may be a gentleman by his name in the WA State Death Index, but I have to bring my magnifying glass with me because I can't read whether the last name is Hill or Hall. If it's Hill, I'll check out the death certificate. If it's Hall, he probably died in California between 1920 & 1930.

Tomorrow is day 4. What will I find tomorrow?