Family History Research of a SAHM

Friday, April 25, 2014

Parents of Alice Jennie Gurley Nelson

Parents of Alice Jennie Gurley Nelson

1870 U.S. Census, Macon County, Ohio, Macon, Poplulation Schedule, Page 36, Column 3, Line 13, dwelling 277, family 279, Allice Gurley; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 552289, roll M593_790.

1900 U.S. Census, Ten Mile, Macon County, Missouri, Population Schedule, enumeration district (ED) 87, Page 8, Column 3, Line 36, dwelling 168, family 168, Alles Nelson; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 1240873, roll 873.

Missouri State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificate 24427 (15 August 1910), Alice Jennie Nelson; Missouri Digital Heritage, www.sos.mo.gov/archives.

Alice Gurley was first seen in the 1870 US Census at the age of 9 in the household of J D Gurley and Jane Gurley. The census does not list her relationship to J D and Jane. She does not show up again with either J D or Jane until the 1900 US Census where she is shown in the household of Mark Nelson and listed as his wife with several children. James D Gurley is also listed in the household and is listed as her uncle. James D Gurley's obituary mentions that he had been living with Mrs. Mark Nelson, his niece, at the time of his death. Alice's death certificate states that she was the daughter of James Gurley and Marie Gurley.

In conclusion we find that Alice Gurley was raised by her uncle James Gurley. Her mother was possibly Marie Gurley who was James' sister. Marie was living in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio at the time of Alice's birth and was unmarried. James was living in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio at that time. It is possible that Marie gave birth to Alice and gave her to James and Jane to raise. At this time, no documents have been found that prove the parentage of Alice Jennie Gurley Nelson.

Please see the following spreadsheet that lists all documents relating to the parentage of Alice: Spreadsheet

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Marriage of James D. Gurley

Marriage Information for James D. Gurley

Link to spreadsheet with condensed version of documents and information: James Gurley Marriage Spreadsheet.

Huron, Ohio, Volume 13, page 108-109 File , James Gurley to Frank Nahm, For "James Gurley of Lucas County, Ohio," 5 June 1861; Huron County Recorder Deeds, Norwalk, Huron, Ohio.

State of Wisconsin Rock County Records, Registration of Marriages, Pre-1907 Wisconsin Marriage Records: Page 44, Volume 1, Line number 1303, James D Gurley, 1859; State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.

James D. Gurley's marriage record show that he married Louisa Jane High on February 2, 1859 in Janesville, Wisconsin. James then came to Norwalk, Ohio in 1860 where a Huron County Recorder Deed clearly shows that James Gurley's wife was Jane L. and they were currently residing in Lucas County, Ohio. The final document is James D. Gurley's obituary that states he married Jennie High in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1861.

In conclusion, we find that James married Louisa Jane High who went by the name Jane or Jennie. Although his obituary says he married Jane in 1861, we know that they were married before the deed was record in 1860 and therefore the marriage date of February 2, 1859 is a more accurate date. Also, the marriage record is an original record with primary information. We therefore can accurately state that James D. Gurley and Louisa Jane High were married on February 2, 1859 in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Compare and Contrast - James Gurley

This post is to compare and contrast my previous post about the location of James Gurley after 1850. This post is meant to be a more concise explanation and should be easier to read. Please refer to the previous post for the documents and their citations.

Concise spreadsheet of documents and information

The 1860 court records for a James Gurley in Norwalk, Huron, County stated he was a resident in Lucas County, Ohio and had a wife named Jane L. We then find him in the 1860 U. S. Federal Census in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. His name was indexed wrong and is listed as Jas Gerly, age of 32, and a birthplace of New York instead of Ireland. James Gurley can not be found in the 1870 census in Lucas County. There is a James Gurley living in Macon County, Missouri in 1863 that may be him. This was a Civil War Registration record and it lists James D. Gurley as being 37 years old and being born in Ireland. This would put him as being born in 1826. He lived in the city of Macon in Missouri in the 1870 census and had a wife named Jane Gurley and a daughter named Allice who was 9 years old. This census record listed James as J D Gurley, age 41 and a birthplace of New York. The 1880 census lists James as J D Gurley, a 50 year old farmer who was born in New York and living in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri. The last census was in 1900 where James is listed as a widow living with the family of Mark Nelson in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri. He is listed as being 64 years old and birthplace as New York. The census isn’t completely correct, but we do find the daughter, Alice, as the wife of Mark Nelson who was the head of household.

James' obituary includes a statement that states in 1837 he immigrated with his parents to Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. It also goes on to say that he married his wife, Jennie, in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1861 and then came to Missouri in 1863 where he located in Callao, Macon County and then to Macon and finally to Ten Mile where their farm was located and where his wife died 12 years earlier. The marriage of James Gurley and Lousia Jane High took place in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin on 2 February 1859.

Susan Gurley, James’ sister, had an extensive 1895 Will that contained the names and locations of each of her surviving siblings. They were Thomas Gurley who still lived on the family farm in Ohio, Matilda Hurlbut who was living in Jasper, Michigan, Maria Hurlbut who was living in San Diego, California and James Gurley who was living in Macon, Missouri.

In conclusion we find that James left home in the 1850’s and lived in Wisconsin where he married his wife Jane. In 1860 he moved back to Ohio to settle a court case and lived in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio until 1863 when he moved to Missouri. He registered for the Civil War at this time in Callao, Macon, Missouri. He then moved first to Macon City and then later to his farm in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri where he lived out the remainder of his life with his wife and daughter.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Location of James Gurley post-1850

What was the location of James Gurley after 1850?

Huron, Ohio, Volume 13, page 108-109 File , James Gurley to Frank Nahm, For "James Gurley of Lucas County, Ohio," 5 June 1861; Huron County Recorder Deeds, Norwalk, Huron, Ohio.

1860 U.S. Census, Lucas County, Ohio, Toledo, Population Schedule, page 218, column 3, line 8, dwelling 1982, family 1982, James Gurley; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 805003, roll M653-1003.

U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, Consolidated Enrollment Lists, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : 1 July 1863), James D. Gurley, age 37, birthplace Ireland, registration in Callao, Macon, Missouri, ARC ID: 4213514; National Archives.

1870 U.S. Census, Macon County, Ohio, Macon, Poplulation Schedule, Page 36, Column 3, Line 11, dwelling 277, family 279, J D Gurley; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 552289, roll M593_790.

1880 U.S. Census, Ten Mile, Macon County, Missouri, Population Schedule, enumeration district (ED) 121, Page 1, Column 3, Line 8, dwelling 2, family 2, J D Gurley; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 1254701, roll 701.

1900 U.S. Census, Ten Mile, Macon County, Missouri, Population Schedule, enumeration district (ED) 87, Page 8, Column 3, Line 42, dwelling 168, family 168, James D. Gurley; digital mage, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2014); citing NARA microfilm 1240873, roll 873.

Norwalk, Ohio, [Series], Estate of Susan Gurley, application for appointment of administrator (22 January 1895), Next of Kin: Thomas Gurley of Olena, Ohio; James Gurley of Macon, Missouri; Matilda Hurlbut of Jasper, Michigan; and Maria Hurlbut of San Diego, California, 23 January 1895; Huron County Courthouse, Norwalk, Huron, Ohio.

Searching for James after the 1850 census proved to be quite difficult. I first got a clue to where he was when I found 1860 court records for a James Gurley in Norwalk, Huron, County that stated he was a resident in Lucas County, Ohio and had a wife named Jane L. I was pretty sure this had to be him because Norwalk was where many of his family lived. However, I didn't have any proof that this was him. Using this information, I started searching for him in the 1860 U. S. Federal Census in Lucas County, Ohio. This would've been an easy task, but his name was indexed wrong and is listed as Jas Gerly. I was lucky to have found that record. It had this particular James living in Toledo at the age of 32, however it said he was born in New York. It was close, but the birth place was wrong. Then the trail went cold. I couldn't find a James Gurley in the 1870 census in Lucas County or for any other censuses. I did find a James Gurley living in Macon County, Missouri in 1863, but I had no proof that this was him. This was a Civil War Registration record that lists James D. Gurley as being 37 years old and being born in Ireland. It very well could be him, but the age was a little off. This would put him as being born in 1826. I continued following this particular James throughout Missouri. He lived in the city of Macon in Missouri in the 1870 census and had a wife named Jane Gurley and a daughter named Allice who was 9 years old. This census record listed James as J D Gurley, age 41 and a birthplace of New York. Still no concrete evidence that we had found the right James Gurley. So, I continued my search into the 1880 census. This one lists James as J D Gurley, a 50 year old farmer who was born in New York and living in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri. Still that New York birth place that doesn't match up. The next census was in 1900 where James is listed as a widow living with the family of Mark Nelson in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri. He is listed as being 64 years old and birthplace as New York. Everything looks a little off, but we do find the daughter, Alice, as the wife of Mark Nelson who was the head of household. So, now I have traced this James Gurley through the 19th century, but still no proof that I had found my James.

Next I started to search for death records for James and his Jane. I wanted to see if their obituaries would give me any indication if I have the right James Gurley. I did finally find James' obituary which gave some wonderful information including a statement that said in 1837 he immigrated with his parents to Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio. It also goes on to say that he married his wife, Jennie, in Janesville, Wisconsin in 1861 and then came to Missouri in 1863 where he located in Callao, Macon County and then to Macon and finally to Ten Mile where their farm was located and where his wife died 12 years earlier. So, no mention of any of his family beyond his wife and daughter who it actually says was his niece!

Will the information about his marriage to Jane, I thought maybe his marriage record would give us more information about whether or not this was our James Gurley. I found the marriage of James Gurley and Lousia Jane High in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin on 2 February 1859. The obituary was a little off on the year of the marriage, but this had to be them. However, once again the record gave me no indication if I had finally found my James Gurley. At this point I didn't know where else to search. There was no death certificate, will or probate, burial records or anything else I could find to prove this was him.

I ended up setting it aside for awhile and focusing my research a little more on his siblings. I had ordered the court records for his sister Susan's will. I was very surprise to find that Susan's will was my final piece of information for James. Susan's will had some problems and therefore produce many more documents than were usual for that time frame. One on document they wrote all of her next of kin. Susan never married or had children, so her next of kin were her living siblings. Four of them were still living in 1895 when the document was produced. Thomas Gurley who still lived on the family farm in Ohio, Matilda Hurlbut who was living in Jasper, Michigan, my 3rd great grandmother Maria Hurlbut who was living in San Diego, California and then the final sibling, James Gurley who was living in Macon, Missouri. The final piece of the puzzle that proved that James Gurley left home after the 1850 and was living in Wisconsin where he met his wife Louisa Jane High and was married in 1859. In 1860 he moved back to Ohio to settle a court case and at that time was living in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio until 1863 when he moved to Missouri. He registered for the Civil War at this time in Callao, Macon, Missouri. He never actually served in the Civil War. He then moved first to Macon City and then later to his farm in Ten Mile, Macon, Missouri where he lived out the remainder of his life with his wife and daughter. We had finally found uncle James!

Birth of James D. Gurley

Birth information for James Gurley

Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls. www.ancestry.com. (http://search.ancestry.com: accessed 15 June 2014), entry for James Gourley, age 7, arrived New York, New York, 17 June 1836, aboard the Scotland.

Ohio. Huron. 1850 U.S. Census, Index and Images. Digital Images, line 3. FamilySearch.org. (https://familysearch.org: accessed 14 May 2013), entry for James Gurley, age 21, Bronson Township, Huron County, Ohio.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Toledo, Lucas, Ohio; Roll: M653_1003; Page: 218; Image: 440; Family History Library Film: 805003, entry for James Gurley, age 32, line 8.

The ship passenger lists shows James Gurley traveling aboard the ship Scotland from Ireland with his family in the year 1836. It lists his age as 7 which would give him a birth year between 1828 and 1829. In the 1850 census, 14 years later, he is listed with his family living in Bronson, Huron, Ohio at the age of 21 years old and birthplace of Ireland. Calculated it would would put his birth once again between 1828 and 1829 depending on his birth date and the date the census was taken. The last document is James, now married, living in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio in 1860. He is listed with an age of 32, this time with a birthplace of what is indexed as New York. This information would put his birth between 1827 and 1828.

In conclusion, I have determined that James Gurley was born in Ireland between 1827 and 1829. So far, there is no document that lists his exact birth date. We do know that he was born in Ireland and came from that country with his family in 1836. He was not born in New York.