Genealogy Crowd Sourcing (with family)

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One of the tasks in my quest to organize and scan all the hundreds of photographs in my personal collection is to label the photographs as much as I am able. Many of the photographs from the Yegerlehner collection are labeled. Between my father and my grandmother, they did a great job overall. However, there are still hundreds of unlabeled photographs. This is where my genealogy crowd sourcing comes into the equation.

The Yegerlehner family was very good at staying in touch. They regularly had family functions and reunions. They were great about taking group photographs and not necessarily great at labeling all the individuals in the pictures. I have dozens of pictures from family reunions over the decades. Many of the individuals in the photographs are no longer living. There are children and grandchildren still living who can still identify them. While I don’t know many of my Yegerlehner second and third cousins, I am trying to connect with them. Facebook has been a great tool for finding long lost cousins and I have been relatively successful with this strategy.

After scanning the original photographs for preservation, I made a second copy in which I numbered all the people. Since I had two pictures from differing viewpoints, I numbered the people the same between them. People shifted and moved around (or left the photo). In one picture, it was easier to see an individual and in the other not.

This weekend I posted a few photographs on Facebook in an effort to start identifying the people in the photographs. It was great to see the various family members agreeing as to “who was who.” To reach a broader audience, I am going to share some of the pictures here as well.

These four photographs were taken in November 1940 when Roscoe and Gladys celebrated their housewarming party for the house on E. Dunlop street in Kentland. All of the Yegerlehner siblings came with their families.

: Group pose #1

: Group pose #2

: Roscoe and Gladys (with an unknown girl in window)

: The house on E. Dunlop Street, 1940

For those readers who have been following along with the letters, here are some of the faces that go with the familiar names.

#1 – Caroline Mary Yegerlehner
#2 – Mark Yegerlehner
#3 –
#4 –
#5 – John Yegerlehner
#6 –
#7 –
#8 – Ruth Yegerlehner (Floyd’s wife)
#9 – Dolores Yegerlehner?
#10 – Silvester Schiele
#11 –
#12 –
#13 –
#14 –
#15 –
#16 – John Henry Yegerlehner
#17 –
#18 – Jesse Schiele
#19 – Emma Foster
#20 – Floyd Yegerlehner
#21 – Romaine Mutchler
#22 – Gladys Yegerlehner
#23 – Clarence Yegerlehner
#24 – Ruth Mutchler
#25 – Earl Mutchler
#26 – Lovina Yegerlehner
#27 – Ralph Yegerlehner
#28 – Samuel Yegerlehner
#29 – Roscoe Yegerlehner

Photographs from the private collection of Deborah Sweeney.

© Deborah Sweeney, 2014.
Post originally found: http://genealogylady.net/2014/04/28/genealogy-crowd-sourcing-with-family/‎

Chicken bones (Roscoe)

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: April 21, 1943 envelope

: April 21, 1943, p. 1

: April 21, 1943, p. 2

: April 21, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943 [April 21, 1943]
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
Fleet P.O. San Fran

Dear Mother,

Maybe I can do a little better today than yesterday but I’m a little pressed for time because I’m going out for dinner. I forgot to mention that a package came today yesterday. The chicken bones and its contents. The candy in the packages was very soft but and the ants beat me to it so unless things are in cans it is just no go. Anyway thanks. The end was out of the box so don’t know how much

[page 2] might have been lost. There were was the bone, two tubes of insect repellent, 3 other small packages of candy and some funnies. No sardines.

Got a letter from Ruth Y today telling me that Glenn Hofman was coming out but she hadn’t gotten the word of my change when she wrote and I’m afraid we won’t come in contact with each other.

Next Sunday being Easter I’ll wish you a happy one. Of course this is late but I did mention it before

[page 3] and while I’m on the subject the same for a happy mother’s day – which I guess is coming along sometime next month.

It’s about time for me to be shoving off to the dinner date so solong

Lots of Love
Daddy

P.S. The chicken bones are good but not crisp as at home – make a good slow chewing candy.

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/28/chicken-bones-roscoe/

Letter to Mr. Louis Horthy

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Letter transcription:

Indianapolis. Ind. Dec. 31, 1909
Mr. Louis Horthy 6320
Leavenworth Kas. U.S.P

Dear sir:

As requested I have employed a competent Atty. here, Mr. Morgan in connection with whom I am working, regarding your parole case and other legal matters in connection there with but as I will have to go to Mansfield and Loraine Ohio it will incur considerable expense. We would have to exact a retainer and expense fee of $100 and we will act promptly in your case. We can then advise you fully. You know that we fully understand all about your case.

We will write you fully as soon as I hear from you which you had better attend to at once

Yours Truly,
Wᵐ B Schwartz – Atty. at Law
Rooms, 1 and 2
1346 E. Washington St.
cr.of Morgan
Indianapolis, Ind.

Source:

Letter to Mr. Louis Horthy, 31 December 1909, William B. Schwartz, Prisoner no. 5476; Inmate Case Files, U. S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 1895-1931, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri.

No letters today (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-20-43

Dear Daddy – No letters today – but this is Mon evening and probably tomorrow some will come. Some come in 10 days – others 2 weeks. I didn’t get much done this evening after school – it rained. The Zell’s went to Laf. today so Betty & Virginia came here after school. We went over and checked up on the chickens – they have about 300 – They keep them in the brooder house until they are ready for market. – Mrs. Z. and I went to church this evening – There is to be services every evening this week till Fri. There is a concert at the grade school Thurs. evening and Mark is to play a solo. John is going with the band to North Manchester to the contest – D. came out today – she said Nick took an exam at Kokomo but has to go to Chicago for a final – He was told he may not pass due to his crooked arm – and if so will not have sea duty. Dr. M. told me they were going to buy Staton’s house, had theirs sold then Link & Irene backed down. I think Dr. M. was disappointed. Dorothy said they were trying to buy it if they could sell their place. Ralph B. & Socky W. were working on it, but it looks like Statons will stay. Newell Lamb didn’t pass so he won’t be in the Navy, but may have to go into the Army – – I sent Wilma a present for graduation – I forgot to get it sent last week. The boys are all upstairs and I am getting sleepy. J. & M. have to take a bath so I needn’t hurry. Mark is still as pokey as ever unless I hurry him along. Thanks again for the lawn suggestions.

Love – Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

© 2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/27/no-letters-today-gladys/

Schwartz is Released

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SCHWARTZ IS RELEASED

William B. Schwartz, who pleaded guilty to counterfeiting and was sentenced to the Federal prison in 1906 was released Christmas day. His sentence, which had been shortened by good behavior, expired then. Schwartz expects to travel around the country on legal business in the behalf of some of the prisoners at the prison, and will visit his brother on Kelly’s Island in Lake Erie for some time. He expects to return to Indianapolis.

Source:

“Schwartz is Released,” Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana), 28 December 1909, p. 14, col. 4; “Historical Newspaper Collection,” digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 April 2014).

This will have to be short (Roscoe)

1 Reply

: April 20, 1943 envelope

: April 20, 1943, p. 1

: April 20, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Apr. 20, 1943
Lieut R. S. Yegerlehner USNR
Navy 60
% F.P.O.
San Fran

Dear Mother,

This will have to be short and sweet because we are very busy with and have some censoring to do.

There was mail this morn. but I didn’t get much due to the fact that most of it was old. I did get one from you date Feb 19 and you asked in that for suggestions on the lawn and I did do that some time

[page 2] ago. Hope you have all the particulars.

The other letter was from Ruth M. but it was also old although all of that mail is still appreciated.

You will certainly have to excuse this but I wat want you to get the usual daily letter

So solong
Love Daddy

Russell Islands
Image by Kelisi at Wikipedia.com (Wikipedia Commons license)

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/26/this-will-have-to-be-short-roscoe/

Violations

1 Reply

Violations:

(1908) Oct 20 – Refusing to work – I told this convict to get a shovel and load cinders, he said he could not do it as he was not able to do anything, he would not try. (Stephenson) P117 Solitary 10 – a.m. Released 7-45 on Oct 22.

This prisoner #5476 W. B. Schwartz has been reported the 2nd time in two days for refusing to do the light kind of work, shoveling cinders in carts. He was taken before Dr. Yohn who states he is able bodied and can do the work.
(signed) F. H. Limon [?] Dpy War-

(1908) Oct 19 Refusing to do work assigned to him. This man refused to do the only work that I could assign him to and give for his reason that he was not able to do this work (Dellinger) R116 Rep & Ex.

Source:
Violations, William B. Schwartz, Prisoner no. 5476; Inmate Case Files, U. S. Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, 1895-1931, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Missouri.

Monday morning (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

MRS. R. S. YEGERLEHNER
KENTLAND
INDIANA
4-19-43

Dear Daddy – Monday morn and no letters – but got five Fri & Sat – and one I had been looking for – about the yard. (Mar 25 & 26 – Apr 4-5-6) We spaded up more flower beds, but the space between the garage & tree was a run way for the children and that kept the grass from growing so I decided to do something about it. I wanted to work out in the yard today but so far it is cloudy & cool. When it is warm I put D. in his buggy and I can go outside and work but don’t like to leave him inside alone. I’ll be glad when Mother gets back so I can dash out when I want to. We took a long walk yesterday – it was so nice out – We made several calls, stopped at Plummers but Mrs. P. was in bed with a touch of flu – coming home to this chilly weather gave them both colds – so we didn’t stay long there. We called on Jimmy Ed – I wish you could do something for him – his skin is like sand paper and the back of his head is a mass of dry scales – his red hair (and he had so much) is all gone in the back. Lucile said they were thinking about going to someone else with him but Dr. M. thinks when he gets old enough to take foods other than milk he will get better. Dr. M. changed him to lactic acid sometime ago but it doesn’t seem to do much good. Mrs. Zell, Lucile & I went to an Easter Cantata at the Methodist last nite. J. & M. stayed with D., but he sleeps so they weren’t bothered with him. I must send Wilma a graduation gift. She is going into nurses training at the union.

Love Mother

Yegerlehner home, E. Dunlop Street, Kentland, circa 1943

©2014 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2014/04/25/monday-morning-gladys-3/

Lawyer Became Counterfeiter

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LAWYER BECAME COUNTERFEITER; IN UNITED STATES PRISON
W. B. Schwartz of Indianapolis, Inventor of Visible Typewriter

His fortune dissipated in an effect to perfect a typewriter which he had invented, and driven to desperation by the need of money to support an insane wife and two grown daughters, William B. Schwartz, a prominent attorney of Indianapolis, Ind., resorted to counterfeiting when his practice failed to bring in a sufficient revenue and now he is in the United States penitentiary to serve four years for counterfeiting. He is 47 years old. He arrived Friday morning with a bunch of convicts from Indianapolis, Ind. Schwartz was arrested last May and put up a pitiful pleas to obtain his freedom, but failed.

The product of Schwartz’s mold consisted chiefly of 50-cent pieces and they were the nearest perfect of any that ever came under the notice of the secret service men in Indiana. For over a year the spurious coins had worried the United States officers, both on account of their being difficult of detection and the trouble in ascertaining their source.

It was by mere chance that suspicion was directed toward Schwartz, bue [but] even then it was a year before the officers were able to obtain convicting evidence against the lawyer. In the meantime, while he had not grown reckless in putting the coins into circulation, the fear of detection had grown less and less, so that, when the officers arrested him in his office as he was bending over his desk engrossed in some legal work, the surprise was so great he gave a shriek, like a wild animal at bay.

His arrest was the culmination of all his woes, and for a moment Schwartz seemed on the verge of losing his reason. When told quietly that indisputable evidence had been obtained against him, there was little difficulty in getting the man to admit his guilt.

Coins in His Office.

A search of his office revealed a number of counterfeit coins, which it was almost impossible to distinguish from genuine. Schwartz had a method of taking away the “newness” by the aid of an electric battery. This he had fitted up at his office and he had just “finished” a run a short time before he was arrested. It was found later that he kept his molds, which were of his own workmanship, at his home where he cast the coins to be finished up at his office.

It is believed that Schwartz did not market his product in Indianapolis, but that he had dealings with large gangs of counterfeiters in other parts of the country.

At one time Schwartz was well-to-do, owned considerable property, had a good law practice and was well known in a wide circle of acquaintances. Then he became interested in typewriters. He conceived the idea of a “visible” machine and, after long labor and much expense, took out a patent and made an effort to market the product. He then found that the machine had many imperfections and drawbacks and he set about removing them. He was of a mechanical turn of mind and spent much time in his workshop. It was while thus engaged that the foundation was laid for his counterfeiting. In making patents for his typewriter he learned the art of making molds and one day one of his workmen jokingly remarked how easy it would be to make molds for counterfeiting coins. The workman showed him just how it could be done and they talked about it for a few minutes and then returned to the work in hand.

His Troubles Grew.

The typewriter business did not prosper, and about this time Schwartz’s wife became mentally deranged. He employed the best physicians he could find and sent her to sanitariums in an endeavor to cure her, and this expense, together with the losses he had sustained on his typewriter and the failure of his practice through inattention, made it necessary for him to give up his home. Still further pressed, he was forced to sell his patent, and it was not long until he did not know from one day’s end to another where the next day’s meals were coming from. It was then he turned to counterfeiting.

Schwartz’s wife is in an asylum and his daughters are crushed by the disgrace and shock of their father’s exposure. One of them said that had they known of his dire need for money they would have helped him in some way, but that he had always provided for them without complaint and that though they knew he had lost heavily in investments, they were not acquainted with his real need. – Leavenworth (Kan.) Times

Source:

“Lawyer Became Counterfeiter; In United States Prison,” Commercial Stamp Trade Journal 16 (January 1907): 7-8; digital images, Google (http://www.google.com : accessed 23 April 2014).

A Mystery Solved? (Part 6)

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Digging even further back in time and place reveals some interesting findings. So far, the family of Joseph Laughead has been pieced together by circumstantial evidence. The discovery of two documents from early Pennsylvania court records adds more weight to the evidence.

Conclusions from the Circumstantial Evidence

Joseph’s parents were likely James and Bathsheba Laughead.
Joseph had several siblings, of which Susannah (Lawhead) Glover and Ruth (Laughead) Coen, are likely candidates.
James Laughead likely had siblings as well, namely William and Elisha, who lived in physical proximity to James in Ohio.
James Laughead moved his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio between the years 1817-1820.

Jumping back to the 1810 census of Pennsylvania reveals thirteen Laughead households:

Laughead Families in Pennsylvania – 1810
Adam Laughead	Salem, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania
B Laughead	Warriors Mark, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
James Laughead	Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania
James Laughead	Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania
John Laughead	Cumberland, Adams, Pennsylvania
John Laughead	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania
John Laugheed	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania
Nathan Lawhead	Salisbury, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Thomas Laughead	West Salem, Mercer, Pennsylvania
Thos Laughead	New London, Chester, Pennsylvania
William Laughead	Versailles, Allegheny, Pennsylvania
William Lawhead	Hopewell, Washington, Pennsylvania
William Laugheed	Union, Fayette, Pennsylvania

These thirteen Laughead families are spread out over nine Pennsylvania counties. The 67 Pennsylvania counties have now been narrowed down to 9. The adjoining counties of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington are in the southwestern section of the state. They are located south of Pittsburgh and are physically very close to West Virginia.

Original map courtesy of the United States Census Bureau

Looking at the census table, two James Laugheads were located in Menallen, Fayette, Pennsylvania. James and Bathsheba were likely married around 1810, but it is possible that James had not established his own household when the census was taken. He might have been enumerated in his father’s household. Pennsylvania does not have easily accessible vital records from the early part of the 19^th century. Unlike its neighbor Ohio, there are no online county marriage records currently available for Pennsylvania. Finding a marriage record for James and Bathsheba has thus far been unsuccessful. However, focusing on the two James from Menallen Township, is a good place to start.

The elder of the two James had a household of six individuals: one male over 45, one male aged 16-25, one male under ten, one female over 45, one female aged 16-25, and one female aged 10-15.

1810 Census Menallen Township Fayette County Pennsylvania (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

The younger of the two James had a household of two individuals: one male aged 16-25 and one other free person (no age or sex is indicated). Coincidentally, this James matches the age range for James of Ohio. A 16-25 year old male in 1810 would have been born between 1785 and 1794.

1810 Census Menallen Township Fayette County Pennsylvania (Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Family Search has recently begun the push for digitizing county records across the country, focusing on wills and probates. The “Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994” database has some records available from Fayette County. The majority of the records are Orphans’ Court documents from 1783-1950. The elder of the two James Laugheads died intestate in 1814. His youngest son was not of legal age at the time of his father’s death and was assigned a legal guardian. An older daughter also chose her own guardian at the same time.

Laughead, Elisha & Mary - Guardians appointed, November 1814

Image courtesy of Family Search

“At the Orphan’s Court held in Union Town in and for the county of Fayette, the third Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen before the Honourable Samuel Roberts and his associate Justices of the same court –

Elizabeth Martin…[omitted in transcription]

Ellis Baily being chosen guardian of the person and estate of Mary Laughead minor daughter of James Laughead deceased, above the age of fourteen years, is appointed accordingly by the court.

Ellis Baily is appointed, by the court, guardian of the person and estate of Elisha Laughed, a minor son of James Laughead, Decᵈ, until he arrives at the age of fourteen years.”

Prior to the appointment of Elisha and Mary’s guardian, their brother James petitioned the court in regards to the partitioning of James Sr.’s estate:

Image courtesy of Family Search

“On the petition of James Laughead, representing, that his father James Laughead lately died intestate seized at the time of his death in his demesne [?] of fee of and in eighty eight acres of land situate in Menallen Township aforesaid, leaving his widow Mary and nine children, surviving him, to wit, Hannah, married to James McHarry, John Laughead, William Laughead, James the petitioner, Martha married to William Wells, Benjamin Laughead, Richard Laughead, Mary Laughead and Elisha Laughead – That he is of full age and is desirous that the said estate should be divided to and amongst the heirs and representatives of the said Intestate if such partition can be made without injuring and spoiling the whole, but if not that a just and conscionable appraisement thereof be made and to this end prays the court to award an Inquest, agreeably to the acts of Assembly in such case made and provided – The court thereupon award an Inquest agreeably to the prayer of the said petitioner – writ ifs & not paid [?]”

Conclusion:

James Laughead of Belmont County, Ohio, was formerly of Menallen Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was the third son of James Laughead, Sr. and his wife Mary. James Jr.’s older brothers, John and William, may have already migrated west to Ohio, leaving James Jr. to handle the affairs of their father’s estate. The children of James and Mary Laughead were: Hannah (wife of James McHarry), John, William, James, Martha (wife of William Wells), Benjamin, Richard, Mary and Elisha.

Sources:

1810 U. S. census, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Menallen Township, p. 1004 (penned), line 1, James Lawhead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 54.

1810 U. S. census, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Menallen Township, p. 1000 (penned), line 9, James Logshead; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 54.

“Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994,” digital image, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 April 2014), November 1814 Orphans’ Court, guardianship appointments of Mary and Elisha Laughead; citing Fayette County, Orphans’ Court Records 1783-1844, v. 1: 152.

“Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994,” digital image, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 April 2014), August 1814 Orphans’ Court, petition of James Laughead, Jr.; citing Fayette County, Orphans’ Court Records 1783-1844, v. 1: 149.