Wedding Wednesday - The Smith's, Brown's & Garland's of Danville, Illinois

There's nothing I find more sad than to see actual family history documents lost.  And today's items are truly lost.  I'm sure they have ties to Michigan, but I'm also sure someone out there must be missing these.  The papers have roots in Danville, Illinois, but somehow ended up in Pontiac, Michigan.  I'm hoping someone will read this and help me find the family that these belong to. 

I have three (3) pages, they have been laminated - although not by me.  These were found by a good friend of ours.  They were found in the home they bought.  As they were cleaning a very high shelf, these papers came fluttering down.  If you click on the images they will open in a new window. 

 The above image is a marriage record between Charles F. Brown & Clara E. Smith,

both of Danville, Illinois.  The date on this certificate is 17 JULY 1912.  Written on the back of this one are the words, "Dorothy Brown's (Garland) mother and real  father's marriage certificate.

 The above marriage certificate is between Bernard C. Smith (?), piece on end of name is missing.

His bride is Luella Belle Jones.  The marriage took place in Danville, Illinois on 24 DEC 1885.

The back of this has, "Dorothy Louise Brown's (Garland) Grandmothers marriage certificate. Clara Smith (Jennings Brown) mother.  Also notes this was Clara's second marriage?

Finally,  this birth register shows births for 7 persons, Caroline Belle Smith, Mary Bernice Smith, Walter Roy Smith, Clara E. Smith, Bernice E. Smith and Paul Edwin Smith.  There are dates for each birth except for Mary Bernice Smith.  The back of this has the words, "births of Grandma Garlands - Dorothy Louise Brown family on mother's side."

I'd really like to see these in the hands of family members again.  Can you help?  If this is your family, I'll be happy to send them to you.  Contact me via this blog and I'll get them to you.  Sure hope these can go HOME to the family they belong with. 

Wedding Wednesday - Prince & Ligon (1900)

The Bee, (Earlington, Kentucky), 18 OCT 1900, Pg. 7 -

    Phoenix Hotel the Scene of a Wedding Wednesday

  Mr. John T. Prince, a young farmer from Peacher's Mill, Tenn., and Miss Laura E. Ligon, a pretty young school teacher, were married at the Phoenix Hotel, Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, by Elder H.D. Smith of the Christian Church.  The bride is a sister of Elder J.W. Ligon, of Slaughterville, and Elder Henry Ligon, of Hanson.

  She has been teaching school in the Peacher's Mill neighborhood.  They were accompanied to the city by several couples of young people. -- Hopkinsville Kentuckian

   Miss Ligon has many friends in Earlington, where she had made her home for some time, who offer congratulations and best wishes.

Tombstone Tuesday

Elmira Melzine Kessler Boomershine

  Elmira Melzine Kessler was born near Winfold, Indiana, on May 25, 1864.  She was the daughter of Levi and Hannah Kessler.  While still a young child the family moved to West Manchester, Ohio.  On Sept. 5, 1889, she was united in marriage with William Boomershine of near Farmersville.  To this union eight children were born, namely: Flora, Perry, Bert, Hannah, Harry, Orpha, Hazel and Lewis.
   Eighteen years ago the family moved to a farm west of Carlisle where the husband and father passed away five years ago.  For a short time Mother Boomershine made her home with her daughter, Hazel, at Germantown, later coming back to the old home where the son, Lewis, lived and where she has stayed until Nov. 7th, when she passed away suddenly, during the night.  The deceased leaves besides her eight children, twenty grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, also two brothers, Edwin and John Kessler, and three sisters, Jennie Miller of Eldorado, Stella Kessler and Lillie McGriff of Eaton.  Also a large circle of friends who will sadly miss her.

                                DEATH OF WELL KNOWN MAN

     William F. Boomershine, 72, died early Saturday morning at his home, 4 miles south of Germantown, on what is known as the old Anderson farm.  He had been ill only a few days.  Surviving him are his wife, four sons, Perry, Bert, Harry and Lewis, all of this vicinity, four daughters, Mrs. Geo. Kreitzer, Mrs. Hiram Smith, Mrs. Ralph Brandenburg of Germantown and Mrs Guy McCoy of Dayton; 18 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

   Funeral services were held from the home at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon and burial was made in the Germantown Cemetery.

 **William Boomershine actually had two different obits, the one trannscribed above, which I have no source for at all, and the one with the photo which was sent to me by a Boomershine researcher early in my research journey.  This one is from Farmersville News, Thursday, 14 JAN 1932, pg 8.



William & Elmira are my maternal great great grandparents.

Tricks & Tips Thursday

So your ancestor's name is just too common - Smith, Jones or some other name that you just can't seem to narrow down the field with?  Look at the neighbors find the most outrageous name,  either given or surname and search for that.

Yes, I know if they moved or if your family moved you'll be out of luck.  Chances are you'll be fine and hopefully successful in your search.  Sounds better than going thru 975,689 entries searching for John Q. Smith. 

Happy Researching!

Estate of John Fonner (1849)

**John A. FONNER, farmer, sections 27 and 28, Root Township, owns 210 acres of land in one body.    He came to this county in 1841, with his parents, two brothers and five sisters, and one sister was born after coming. They settled in the woods, which were full of game of all kinds, and the river was full of fish. The first school Mr. Fonner attended in this county was held in a blacksmith shop. It was built of round logs and stood at Monmouth. The shop was filled with puncheon seats, and writing-desks were put around the wall. Mr. Fonner thinks there was no floor in the house either before or after it was converted into a schoolhouse. This was his first introduction to an Indiana school-room. It was a subscription school. Mr. Fonner was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1826. He lived in his native county until he was six years of age, when his family removed to Athens County, Ohio, settling upon an improved farm, which belonged to the Ohio University, which his father bought. When he was fourteen years old his father sold the land, leaving it in the fall of 1840. The father would not leave the State until he had voted for General Harrison for President. He had formerly been a Democrat, but having been a soldier under General Harrison he wished to vote for him for President, and he was a Whig ever after. The family spent the winter in Troy, Miami County, where corn was 12 cents a bushel. Provisions both for man and beast were very cheap. But when they came to Indiana they found corn was from 75 cents to $1.00 per bushel. They had five horses and several cows and young cattle, and they spent the winter, previous to coming here, in Ohio, because they could winter their stock so much cheaper in that State.

Mr. Fonner's parents were John and Mary (Crouse) Fonner. The father was born in New Jersey in 1788, and died in September, 1852. The mother was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1799, and died in 1854. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father is buried in Alpha cemetery and the mother in Monmouth cemetery. The mother was a noble Christian woman, and had a great love for her family. Her education was superior for that day, and she was a teacher by profession. Mr. Fonner, our subject, was married January 9, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Pillars, who was born and reared in Adams County. Her father, Benjamin Pillers, was born in Pennsylvania in 1816, and her mother, Sarah A. (Rice) Pillers, in Culpeper County, Virginia, May 27, 1815. Her family came here in 1839 and settled in Root Township, on section 14, which was then a wilderness. The farm is now owned by F. Kukelbam. The father built a sawill on the stream called �Seventeen-Mile-Creek,� which ran through his farm. There was an Indian trail through the farm, and the nearest neighbor was Jonas Pence, on the farm now owned and occupied by the subject of this sketch. They had to go to Fort Wayne for their milling.

 There were five children in her father's family, and all are living but one, Nancy Heartless, who died in Root Township a short time since. The others all live in the same township. Mr. and Mrs. Fonner have five children Edith May, born September 18, 1858, wife of J. Robert Christen; Sarah A., born February 12,1862, wife of A. J. Smith; Mary A., born July 27, 1864, living at home; Nellie E., born December 7, 1866; John H., born July 10, 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Fonner are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Fonner votes the Republican ticket. His grandfather, John Fonner, was probably born in New Jersey, and died in Pennsylvania. He has no knowledge of his grandmother Fonner. His maternal grandfather, John Crouse, was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Missouri. He knows nothing of his maternal grandmother. Mrs. Fonner's grandfather, William Pillers, was born in Pennsylvania and died in this county. Her grandmother, Mary (Baxter) Pillers, died this county, and both are buried in Alpha cemetery.

Estate of John Fonner

Name in Record  / Reason for being in Record  / Date of Record

John Fonner Makes his last will & testament 08 Sept 1849

John Fonner Second son: inherits black mare and colt, 150 acre plantation

John Fonner To support mother and minor children

Jacob Fonner Third son: inherits horse

Catharine M. Fonner Relation not stated; inherit one cow and one bed

Margaret Jane Fonner Relation not stated; inherit one cow and one bed

Ann M. Fonner Relation not stated; inherit one cow and one bed

Alvira A. Fonner Relation not stated; inherit one cow and one bed

Mary Fonner Wife; appointed executrix of will

John Lenhart Appointed executor of will

Zedekiah Brown Witness John Fonner making his last will

Alvan Randall, Jr. Witness John Fonner making his last will

Zedekiah Brown Oath of witnessing John Fonner making his last will 28 OCT 1852

Samuel L. Rugg Clerk

**Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887, No page listed

**Images by Jim Cox, Adams County, Indiana Probate records

Tombstone Tuesday - Isaac Roy Kreitzer

Last Will & Testament
  I, Roy Kreitzer, of the Township of Van Buren, County of Darke, and state of Ohio, being of full age, of sound mind & memory and not under any restraint hereby publish and declare this to be my last will & testament hereby revoking all wills and testaments by me heretofore made and executed.
  Item one:  I direct that all my just debts including my funeral expenses be first paid out of my estate as soon as practicable after the time of my decease.
  Item two:  All the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal of every kind and description wheresoever situate which I may own or have right to dispose of at the time of my decease, I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Amanda Kreitzer absolutley and in fee simple.
  Item three: Should my wife fail to survive me or should we be killed in a common accident then it is my will that all of said property set forth in Item number two hereof shall then pass to my children George Kreitzer,  Dale Kreitzer, Leonard Kreitzer, Mildred Troutwine, Mary Everman, Virginia Smith, Ralph Kreitzer, Irene Keller and Forest Kreitzer, share and share alike.
  Item four: I make, nominate my wife, Amanda Kreitzer to be the executrix hereof and should she fail to so qualify, then it is my will that George Kreitzer be appointed as executor of this my last will and testament.

  In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Greenville, Ohio, this eleventh Day of September, 1962.
     /s/ Roy Kreitzer