Caroline Dunham (1834-1887), case study or do NOT assume relationships

LaSalle County, Illinois

Who is Caroline Dunham? Who belongs in her family and what are their relationships? Are there more than one Caroline's? Every search offers more research questions. This article happens to involve my elusive Dunham family in LaSalle County, Illinois. A quick look down my list of Caroline's reveals Caroline born 1822, Caroline born 1834, Caroline born 1890 and Caroline R. This can be confusing enough, but add in the 1850-70 U.S. census without relationships.

My example draws on the 1850-1870 U.S. census for LaSalle County, Illinois. The point to remember is that these early census records do NOT provide a relationship between listed household members. The following census information is from Ancestry.com.

The 1850 census for Brown County, Ohio lists the following Dunham names for family number 1184: Elizabeth age 60, Sophia age 32, John age 21, George age 19 and Caroline age 16. [Year: 1850; Census Place: Byrd, Brown, Ohio; Roll: M432_662; Page: 78A; Image: 597]

The 1860 census for Eagle, LaSalle County, Illinois list the following Dunham names for dwelling number 4379 and family number 4387 and 4388: Asa age 41, Elizabeth age 69, Sophia age 43, Caroline age 25 and Newton age 22. [Year: 1860; Census Place: Eagle, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll: M653_197; Page: 1217; Image: 562; Family History Library Film: 803197]

The 1870 census for Richland, LaSalle County, Illinois list the following Dunham names for dwelling 32 and family 29: Asa age 51, Sophia age 52, Caroline age 35 and John R age 24. [Year: 1870; Census Place: Richland, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll: M593_244; Page: 673A; Image: 136824; Family History Library Film: 545743] The previous household and family are also Dunham.

Remember, no relationship, finally the 1880 census so we can connect these people! Richland, LaSalle County, Illinois dwelling 92 family105 lists the following Dunham names: Asa age 61, Sophia age 63, Caroline age 45. Wait! Where is the important relationship information? It is missing for this family. The Dunham neighbor is complete. So again, the relationship is not known. [Year: 1880; Census Place: Richland, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll: 224; Family History Film: 1254224; Page: 664A; Enumeration District: 087; Image: 0049]

Thanks to the LaSalle County Genealogical Guild, the following obituary solved the mystery. "Miss Caroline Dunham died at the home of her brother Asa Dunham, in Rutland, on Tuesday, the 21st...." "Tonica News." 1887 June 25. Vol. XIV. Number 17. Page 4. microfilm. Caroline's parents are Samuel and Elizabeth, her siblings are Asa, John Lee and Sophia. Many gaps remain between children, more research. The only known relationship from this brief search is Asa and Caroline. Article goal, DO NOT assume relationships from census records!!!

How to use Ancestry.com and their ‘suggested records’

Have you noticed the “suggested records” on the right side of the screen on Ancestry.com? Do you know how to use them? These suggestions can lead to new and fascinating discoveries or lead down the blind rabbit hole.  My example is the Schuler family of Lockport, Will County, Illinois. While researching for Genealogy: How to research family relationships from census records,part 4, the 1860 U.S. population schedule census index lists an Eliza  Shuler and Elizabeth Shuler. As a family historian, I want to place Eliza and Elizabeth in their correct family.

Next to the 1860 census index page for Eliza Shuler, the “suggested records” refer to the John Shuler family of Lockport, Illinois in 1850. Another suggestion refers to Elizabeth in the John Shuler family of Ottawa, Illinois in 1850. Can the family historian assume the suggestions are correct? Always search for more verification and documentation. These suggestions may be correct; these suggestions may be mixed up, these suggestions may be completely wrong.

Matching the 1860 and 1850 census indexes, reveals that the 1860 Eliza is the 1850 Elizabeth. Others in the same home in both censuses include John, Charles, and Mary. Family records identify Eufen in 1850 as Ann in 1860. The Schuler family has resided in Lockport, Illinois since 1840.

Who is Eliza Shuler, 17, servant to Stephen Douse? Could Elizabeth enumerated in the John Shuler home and Eliza the servant enumerated with Stephen Douse be the same person?  Is she working? What became of her after 1860? More research is needed to answer these questions.

Who is Stephen Shuler in the 1860 U.S. census?

In the 1860 U.S. population schedule census, Stephen Shuler is enumerated with Ann Shuler. Who is Stephen Shuler? The census is for Lockport, Will County, Illinois. Stephen would have been born about 1859. During past interviews with family members, no one remembers an infant named Stephen.

The 1850, 1860, and 1870 U.S. censuses are relationship clues only. They do NOT state the relationship to the head of the house as found in future censuses. From the census page it is impossible to state that the seven names below Ann Shuler are her children. Other documents offer relationship information that John, Elizabeth, Charles, Mary, Caroline, and Agnes are her descendents. But, who is Stephen?

Several possibilities:

• ·         Stephen died as an infant. Infant graves have been found, but none are unaccounted.
• ·         In 1870, Stephen Kirchner lived in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The Kirchner surname pops up while researching collateral kin. Could this be a relative visiting the home?
• ·         Eunice Gooding, 43, was enumerated next to Ann Shuler, 41, they be neighbors and friends? The Schuler property on Madison Street, Lockport, was originally owned by Gooding. This researcher has linked a Stephen Gooding to the Lockport family. Could this be the neighbor child playing next door at the Shuler home?
• ·         Remember, Ann’s native language is German. She may not have understood the enumerator’s question.

The answer to this question is very elusive. But as a researcher, I must NOT jump to conclusions and say that Stephen is the son of Ann.