Where Are Your Records Hiding ? ~ Katherine Wilkie Orth

I am about 70% sure that the woman in this picture is my 2nd maternal great grandmother, Katherine "Kate" (Wilke) Orth. I would love to have met the woman who captured Conrad's heart! I know very little about her and my questions are boundless.

She was born November 1st, 1858 and according to the 1920 US Census, she was born in Hannover, Germany, all other records just list her place of birth as Germany. I have had limited success in finding immigration and/or passenger lists for her. However, according to the 1900, 1910 and 1920 US Census she arrived in the United States between 1876-1891. My math skills along with marriage and birth records of her children say she had to have immigrated to the United States between 1878 and 1881 at the very latest. 
Katherine married Conrad Orth on Thursday, August 31st, 1882 at St. Paul's Evangelical Church in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. Katherine's last name is spelled Welker on their marriage record. 

The first of their three children and their only son, is Henry Conrad Orth who was born on January 3, 1886. Following him is their daughter and my great grandmother, Pauline M Orth who was born in February 1888 and then their daughter, Anna May Orth who was born on July 2, 1890. All three of the children were born in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. 

In the 1900 U.S. Census, Katherine and her family are listed in the 5th Magisterial District of Louisville, Kentucky. The enumerator for this census record made many mistakes and crossed out things only to write above it and it is difficult to make out his handwriting. The 1900 U.S. Census, line 98 lists Katherine as "Kate" and her age is listed as 42, her place of birth is listed as Germany and her parents are listed as being born in Germany as well, she and Conrad have been married for 18 years and she is the mother of three living children, her immigration year is listed as 1877 and her age at that time is listed as 23.  

There is also a servant listed with the family by the name of Annie Wilkie who was born in March of 1885 in Ohio. Is she related? Probably too young to be a sister but perhaps a niece or cousin.

In the 1910 U.S. Census, Katherine and her family are listed in Louisville's 3rd Ward and living on Clifton Avenue. She is now age 51, married only once and for 28 years. Still the mother of three living children and still lists her birth place and that of her parents as Germany. Her immigration year is now listed as 1878 and she speaks English.

The 1920, U.S. Census record gives me the most information I have about my 2nd great grandmother, Katherine but I still lacking supporting documents to prove of disprove the information. Katherine and Conrad are now "empty nesters" and living beside their daughter, Pauline, her husband Ray and my grandmother, Myrtle. 

According to the census record Katherine and her husband are still living in Louisville's 3rd Ward, Precinct 4 and are living at 114 Jane Street. Katherine is now 61 years old. The 1920 Census asks specific questions regarding citizenship. Katherine is listed as having arrived in the United States in 1871, that she is a naturalized citizen and that her naturalization took place in 1883 (possibly 1888). This census also asked particular questions about your place of birth, the language you speak and whether you can speak English and these questions apply to her parents as well even though I have no names.

Where are Katherine's immigration and naturalization records hiding? I have found a few passenger records that could be her but there are enough differences to make me hesitate in saying yes, this is her! I have looked through passenger lists until I can no longer see straight. I have to wonder if I will find her naturalization records that are now more than 100 years old.

Sources: 

1900 United States Federal Census, Louisville City, Jefferson County, Kentucky, 5th Magisterial District, 3rd Ward, pop. schedule, enumeration district (ED): 36, sheet no.: 11B, dwelling no.: 207, family no.: 217, entry for Kate Orth, database and images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 24 September 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C., RG 29, T623, Roll 529.
1910 United States Federal Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, 3rd Ward, pop. schedule, enumeration district (ED): 0077, sheet no.: 4A, dwelling no.: 74. family no,: 77, entry for Katherine Orth, database and images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 24 September 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C., RG 29, T624, Roll 484.
1920 United States Federal Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, 3rd Ward, 44th precinct, pop. schedule, enumeration district (ED): 79, sheet no.: 7B, dwelling no.: 146, family no.: 160, databases and images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 24 September 2015); National Archives, Washington, D. C., RG 29, T625, Roll 579.
"Kentucky Deaths, 1852-1963, database and images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 24 September 2015) entry for Katherine Orth, d. 24 October 1929; citing Kentucky. Vital Statistics Original Death Certificates – Microfilm (1911-1955). Microfilm rolls #7016130-7041803. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky.
"Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4S1-5LW : accessed 25 September 2015), entry for Conrad Orth and Katharine Welker, 31 Aug 1882; citing St. Paul'S Evangelical Church, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. 

Breakthrough on a Monday ~ Yes, No or Maybe?

Yes! What a way to start a Monday! Today I spent some time looking through a new database, U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 on Ancestry.com. I found my paternal step-grandfather, Glenn L. Hammond. There was much more information for him than others I have been looking up today.

This index provided me with an accurate birth date and year, the place where he was born, the names of his parents, date and place of death, his social security number and under notes were listed alternate name variations for him. I have been wondering what had happened to him for many years now. The last time I had seen him would have been in March of 1974 about three months after my grandmother, Peggy Rich Hammond died. 

The picture of above is the record I found, I took the picture so that you can see what I am talking about. I have blocked the social security number for privacy reasons. As you can can see I found a wealth of information on this record. Here is what I already knew (1) he was born in Saline County, Illinois, (2) his father was Walter L. Hammond and his wife's name was Emma M (no maiden) and I knew from census records that he had siblings and (3) I knew from conversations with his daughter that he possibly died in Alabama, but she wasn't sure at the time we exchanged emails many years ago.

This record now gives enough information to order his death certificate from Alabama and hopefully I can also get his birth certificate from Illinois. I already have the marriage certificate between Glenn and Peggy. It also gives me the opportunity to now search for his maternal lines.

While I still have more research to do on his family and I know I may order his records from the Social Security Administration to see if he remarried after the death of Peggy, if so perhaps she is still alive and can tell me how he spent the last years of his life. 

Sources: 

U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, database and image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 17 August 2015) citing Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007 

Meet My Brick Wall ~ John Benjamin Field Minott

John Benjamin Field Minott is one of my children's 4th paternal grandfather's and he drives me CrAzY! I have been researching him since 1980. I can find census records, a few of the census records I am unsure of because of the location listed in the census record. I have been unable to find a marriage record for him and his wife, Susan C. Cox. Census records list his occupation as a planter. Slave census records seem to support that he may have had a very large plantation.

John was too young to have served in The War of 1812 and died before the Civil War started. It is possible that he fought in the Seminole Wars but as of yet I have found no evidence to support this.

John and Susan were married about 1824 or 1825. I have the following children for John and Susan: Susan Jane Minott (1826-1905) and she never married; Mary Elizabeth Minott* (1829-1911) and she married Constant H. Rivers; Anna Coffin Minott (1832-1904) and she never married; Margaret Anne Minott (1832-1833); William Butler Minott (1836-1898) and married Anna Margaret Chaplin; John Cox Minott (1838-1887) and he married Harriet Kinloch Lowndes; Eliza Dill Minott (1838-1845); Thomasine C. Minott (1843-1920) and Eugenia Perry Minott (1844-1845).

Are you researching the Minott Family of Charleston, South Carolina? If so, please leave a comment or contact me through Facebook and let's see if we can help each other.