Elsner and Dunham photos provide clues

 

“Charles” Carl Friedrich August Elsner, 1852-1941

     Years ago, someone gave me, Selma, this 1940 photo of “Charles” Carl Friedrich August Elsner, 1852-1941. Charles lived in Frankfort, Will County, Illinois. The photo shows great-grandpa Elsner holding baby Selma on his lap in a rocking chair in his parlor. Why is this important to me? This connects me with my paternal ancestors. If you had time to read my first blog in this #52ancestors series, you will remember that I do not have verbal stories passed down from the families. This tells me great-grandpa cared enough to want a photo with me. In this family, the men provided for their families by working hard. The families were not physically demonstrative as some people today.

     My mom expressed at one time her difficulty in asking for or giving hugs. Mom said, “My father provided for our family, but I never saw him hug anyone.” She added that her father never told her that he loved her, yet she did not doubt his love because of his provision for his family. My own experience with my family of several generations was the same.

     When I went to Lockport, Illinois, (maternal side) with the family, I went outside and played, usually by myself. When I went to Frankfort, Illinois, (paternal side) with the family, I was given the choice to play outside, wonderful old summer kitchen or in the home, Grandpa Kampe had a very large roll top desk.  Between the side drawers, a box of toys included a large top and a wooden turtle with a pull string which keep me playing for hours. Grandpa would set in his rocking chair and watch me play while the adults visited. My son enjoyed playing with the toys; and I have a photo of my son sitting on his great-grandpa Kampe’s lap in a rocking chair. Great memories!!!

Who is Aunt Sarah Dunham? As the generations passed, I received more family photos; so “Aunt Sarah” started my genealogy climb. In the early 1990s, I posted her photo on every site that allowed questions. Was this “Aunt Sarah” by birth or by marriage? In 1993 my conclusion with thanks to P.C. Alger, Ann Eldred and others in New York who shared photos, “Aunt Sarah” was born a Dunham who married a Hickok. With this information, I joined the Dunham family association, again great help from Gratia Dunham Mahony and others. (I am currently a Dunham board member and V.P., check us out) Next challenge is what branch of the family? Thanks to DNA and my Dunham cousins Rich Capen and Christina Strieff, I have been added to the William F. Dunham branch of the family. Please for more family articles, read blogs or contact me.

    Great-grandpa Charles Elsner is probably my favorite photo, yet “Aunt Sarah” deserves credit for introducing me to the world of genealogy with enjoyment of 30+ years and still searching for more family and memories. Thank you everyone!!!

Couch Family 1900 Christmas Photo Album

 

Couch Family 1900 Christmas Photo Album

 1900 Christmas Album, a gift to family members from Carrie Couch, 1856-1927, photographer. Carrie is Nettie's aunt. This photo book belonged to Nettie Ethel Couch Schuler. The photos include her family and friends. Each photo has been identified if possible. Dates are approximate. Some photos were added after 1900. 

Photo	Page	Notes
	1	Nettie Ethel COUCH 1884-1965, Illinois relationship to Selma Kampe: maternal grandmother see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	2	Verne Ernest EDWARDS 1898-1957, Illinois Verne was born 9 November 1898, age about 2 months relationship to Nettie Couch: nephew relationship to Selma Kampe: maternal 1st cousin 1x removed see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	3	Verne Ernest EDWARDS 1898-1957, Illinois age between 1-2 hears old relationship to Nettie Couch: nephew relationship to Selma Kampe: maternal 1st cousin 1x removed see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	4	Ole ANDERSON & George COUCH 1860-1928, Illinois Ole Anderson, UNABLE TO IDENTIFY George Couch, relationship to Nettie Couch: uncle relationship to Selma Kampe: great granduncle see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	5	Martha and Ole ANDERSON UNABLE TO IDENTIFY See Ancestry.com for several possibilities
	6	George R. WILLIAMS, two possibilities George, 1850-1900, lived in Oneida County, New York relationship to Nettie Couch: husband of 1st cousin relationship to Selma Kampe: 1st cousin 3x removed George, born Dec 1862 in Indiana, was a schoolteacher in LaSalle County, Illinois, according to the 1900 U.S. census relationship to Nettie Couch: teacher relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	7	Grace COUCH 1895-1971, Illinois age about 5 years relationship to Nettie Couch: 1st cousin relationship to Selma Kampe: 1st cousin 2x removed see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	8	THAYER, Charles Edward 1886-1900, Charles Fremont 1856-1931, Etta 1886-1970, Louella Armstrong Thayer 1866-1950 twins: Charles Edward and Etta relationship to Nettie Couch: Charles Edward and Etta 1st cousin, Charles Fremont husband of aunt, Louella Armstrong aunt relationship to Selma Kampe: Charles Edward and Etta 1st cousin 2x removed, Charles Fremont husband of great grandaunt, Louella Armstrong great grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	9	George COUCH 1860-1928 relationship to Nettie Couch: uncle relationship to Selma Kampe: great granduncle see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	10	Jane Angeline DUNHAM 1823-1906 relationship to Nettie Couch: grandmother relationship to Selma Kampe: 2nd great grandmother see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	11	Elisha Tompkins COUCH 1820-1896 relationship to Nettie Couch: great grandfather relationship to Selma Kampe: 2nd great grandfather see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	12	Anna and Myrtle ALLEN Anna 1890-1945 Myrtle 1887-1951 relationship to Nettie Couch: neighbors relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	13	Mrs. & Mr. Andrew THOMPSON Minnie Knutson Thompson 1874-1907, Illinois Andrew Thompson 1865-1941, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: friends relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	14	Etta Thayer Van ZANDT 1887-1970, see #8 relationship to Nettie Couch: 1st cousin relationship to Selma Kampe: 1st cousin 2x removed see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	15	Spot & Mildred COUCH 1889-1970, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: sister relationship to Selma Kampe: grandaunt seeRoots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	16	Mr. & Mrs. Roy KILMER James Monroe Kilmer "Roy" 1862-1921 Mary Jane Armstrong Kilmer 1864-1906 relationship to Nettie Couch: aunt relationship to Selma Kampe: great grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	17	Cora MOONEY 1890-1912, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: friend relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	18	Laura E. ARMSTRONG 1857-1931 relationship to Nettie Couch: mother relationship to Selma Kampe: great grandmother see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	19	Eugene Deloss COUCH 1851-1925 relationship to Nettie Couch: father relationship to Selma Kampe: great grandfather see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	20	Clarence & Helen WOODIN Clarence Able Woodin 1899-1960, Illinois Helen Elizabeth Woodin 1900-1996 relationship to Nettie Couch: cousins relationship to Selma Kampe: 1st cousin 1x removed see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	21	Willie DAVIS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY
	21	Mildred COUCH 1889-1970, Illinois see #15 relationship to Nettie Couch: sister relationship to Selma Kampe: grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	21	Nettie COUCH & Gertrude HAYNES Nettie Couch owner of photo album Florence Gertrude Haynes 1885-1944 relationship to Nettie Couch: by marriage, sister's daughter's daughter relationship to Selma Kampe: niece of husband of grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	21	Reuben HAYNES 1881-1944 relationship to Nettie Couch: by marriage, sister's daughter's son relationship to Selma Kampe: nephew of husband of grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	22	May THAYER Many ladies named May Thayer both by birth and by marriage NEED TO SEPARATE, UNIDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME seeRoots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	22	Mrs. Jennie KIENLEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY
	22	Jno. EDWARDS [John] 1877-1955 relationship to Nettie Couch: sister's husband relationship to Selma Kampe: husband of grandaunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	22	Nettie COUCH owner of photo album relationship to Nettie Couch: self relationship to Selma Kampe: maternal grandmother see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	23	Mr. THOMPSON relationship to Andrew Thompson UNKNOWN see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	23	Edna BARKER 1884-1903, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: friend relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	23	Eleanor SCHULER 13 months relationship to Nettie Couch: daughter relationship to Selam Kampe: aunt see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry.com
	24	Helen KIMBERK ANDERSON 1884-1972, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: by marriage to the wife of Lewis Couch relationship to Selma Kampe: niece of wife of great granduncle see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	24	Marshall SOLBERG 1887-1949, Illinois relationship to Nettie Couch: friend relationship to Selma Kampe: none see Roots_Digger on MyHeritage or Ancestry
	24 24	Ole ANDERSON, standing #4 George COUCH, right sitting #4, #9 Left sitting UNKNOWN George COUCH, sitting #4, #9 Ole ANDERSON, standing #4

Nettie COUCH 1900 Christmas Album. Possession of Selma Kampe Blackmon [address private], given to the Archives at the Coastal Community College, Brewton, Alabama in June 2022.
relationship to Selma Kampe: maternal grandmother

DNA Autosomal: Dunham/Metcalf & Williams/?

 

Sarah Metcalf/Wm Dunham

In researching our families, we may be able to successfully combine paper with dna. The following two examples demonstrate my success. The Dunham line I started researching in the early 1990s with two photographs. The Williams line of research started recently with matches from several dna “cousins.”  Both lines need more work and more “cousins.”

Starting with two photos, I wrote many letters. The Dunham family in Oneida County, New York, was very helpful.  Fast forward to dna, I now have 21 cousins from the branches of the William F. Dunham 1799-abt 1880s/Sarah Metcalf 1799-1887 union:

Dunham, Lindsey 1820-1899 married Esther Ann Baldwin 1826-1878

Dunham, Sarah 1821-1911 married Alanson Hickok 1815-1875

Dunham, Jane Angeline 1823-1906 married Elisha T. Couch 1820-1896

Dunham, Augusta  1825-1903 married Charles Boyden 1804-1890

Dunham, Louisa 1834-1913 married William Hempton 1824-1904 

My Dunham connection: dna and paper connection through my 3rd^th great grandparents, William F. Dunham, 1799-abt 1880s, and Sarah Metcalf, 1799-1887.  

An 1896 newspaper article provided the paper connection. With the help of dna, this family is progressing back on the Metcalf side with Metcalf, Pond, Platts and Wetherbee. The paper trail stops with William F. Dunham’s parents. Who are they? Does anyone out there have the answer or a potential clue that may help me/us?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT HELP AND SUGGESTIONS!!!

WILLIAMS update!!! more to follow

The Williams genealogy started with one dna match that connected to the 1850 New York census. Aaron Williams, 1778-1858, lived with John Shelden.  Aaron’s daughter Lucy Ann Williams married John Shelden. I have her paper trail. The surname is Sheldon or Shelden. The searches lead me to 26 other “cousins” with a paper and dna trail. Aaron Williams, 1778-1858, and ? [Electa Durham]:

Huldah Williams 1807-1885, daughter Lucy A. Williams 1844-1880 father unknown, 1855 census adopted, NY Gazetteer for Richard Capwell and Huldah had only one child, James.

Eda C. Williams 1810-1873 married Margaret Ann “Peggy” Wiles abt 1817-?

Sarah “Sally” Williams 1814-1850 married John Wauvle/Wavle 1810-1870

James G. Williams 1814-1892 Married Mary ? abt 1817-?

Malinda Williams abt 1820-1892 married Seth Bean 1815-1900

William Williams 1823-1902 married Elizabeth McMullen 1835-?

Lucy Ann Williams 1828-1874 married John Shelden 1829-1905

 At this time [March 2021], I find NO paper or dna crumbs for Electa Durham married to Aaron Williams. I am unable to link the family with my family. I do see a probate in Oneida County, New York, again, at this time; I am unable for find this record, just an index. After looking at many public trees for Electa Durham and Aaron Williams and attempting to contact owners for help, still no conclusions. Some public trees offer Asa Durham as a possible father for Electa. Asa Durham and Aaron Williams with son Eda are buried in the Freetown, Cortland County, New York cemetery.  The early New York census place Aaron and Asa in the same locations.  Searching for Asa offers his surname as Durham, Dunham or Dorwin.

Other family names may be missing from this article. Except for Electa and Asa, the people named are connected both by paper and dna. If we connect, please contact me with your name. Thank you!  Please help me connect this family to my tree! Thank you dna and paper cousins. If you are connected to my Dunham dna, please, let’s get acquainted.

 My connection: ?

Updated 25 March 2021. Thanks for your suggestions, I am finding new clues and information, MISS Electa or Lecta Williams, b abt 1823 d 1902 is the person for the Oneida County will from book 53, page 378. A digital copy of this will was provided by the surrogate clerk's office of Oneida County, New York. THANK YOU!!!

For my public tree see Roots_Digger family tree (Under construction, help!) on Ancestry.com and Roots_Digger on MyHeritage.com. My dna is on both sites as well as GedMatch and FTDNA (mtdna and autosomal). Please contact me on either MyHeritage or Ancestry or sbgenealogydna@gmail.com, thank you!!!

 

Carrie S. Couch, 1856-1927, from photographer to inventor

 

Carrie S. Couch, Sarah Caroline Couch, or Sarah C. Couch, her life is full of conflicting information. Was she born in Rome, Oneida County, New York, or Rochester, Monroe County, New York? Carrie’s death certificate and obituary agree on a birth date of 2 October 1856. The obituary reads Rochester and her death certificate reads Rome. As the family arrived in LaSalle County, Illinois, in approximately January 1857, she was a very young baby.

 1860 – Brookfield Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, U.S. Federal Census

1870 – unable to find her as of this article

1880 – unable to find her as of this article

1896 – Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory lists Elisha T Couch, farmer, Carrie A, photographer, George H Couch, farmer, all reside at 230 Locust Street

1898 – Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory lists Jane A. Couch (widow of Elisha T) resides at 230 Locust, George H. Couch boards at 230 Locust,  Carrie S. Couch retoucher for C E Voss  boards at 230 Locust,

1900 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, daughter of Jane A., occupation photographer. Also, in the home is George, son of Jane A. U.S. Federal Census

1904 - Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, city directory, Carrie S Couch, retoucher, boards  192 Rosewood Ave

1906 – Marseilles Plaindealer, 20 April, page 2, newspaper notice of mother [Jane] ill and returned home to Seneca after living with her daughter [Carrie] in Kankakee

1910 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, Main Street, Carrie and George living together (sister and brother), Carrie, own income [no occupation given] U.S. Federal Census

1912 - Bumble Bee newspaper, quoted from TheStory of Seneca, Illinois, page 4-15 “In 1912, Couch’s touted their new art studio with ‘fine photographs and reasonable prices’ opposite the post office in Seneca.”

1917 – U.S. patient for flour sifter   

1920 – Crotty [Seneca], LaSalle County, Illinois, Carrie and George living together (sister and brother), Carrie occupation photographer, U.S. Federal Census    

1927 – Republican-Times, Ottawa, Illinois, 5 July 1927, obituary. Carrie went to the hospital in Joliet for surgery on 19 June. She was doing well, yet passed away 4 July 1927.

 Couch family photos have been printed on card stock from C. E. Voss. Carrie apprenticed and worked for Charles E Voss. Mr. Voss was a well known Kankakee photographer. His studio was located downtown next to the train station, great access for tourist traffic. The studio location would be within walking distance of Carrie’s home. My research trip to Kankakee many years ago did not produce success with finding further information on Mr. Voss. 

MaureenTaylor, The Photo Detective, thank you!!! Without your encouragement, I would never have attempted to follow Carrie all these years. We met years ago at a national conference. Your comment stuck with me for years; “the faces and the hands do not match.” You explained that the faces appeared the appropriate age, but the hands were way too young. This blog introduces my attempt to explain the photographer and the photograph. Would Carrie, age about 20, be working for Mr. Voss as early as the late 1870s in Kankakee? The photo in question is labeled Grandma and Grandpa Dunaham [Dunham]. These people would be Carrie’s grandparents. This photograph of grandma and grandpa deserves a blog of its own.

What is Carrie S Couch's relationship to me? Carrie is my great-grandaunt. She is the daughter of Jane A. Dunham, 1823-1906, and Elisha T. Couch, 1820-1896.

Genealogy: How to do a Surname Search, example DUNHAM surname

 

How to do a surname search is significant for linking the generations of your family history.

Answer these questions first:

• Who is in your tree (family history)? names, dates, places
• How do I know these names? birth certificate, obituary, census, family member
• What do I want to learn? origin of surname, places of surname concentration, ancestors, living family

Be prepared to share your information and documents, everything you know is a clue for you or someone else; nothing is unimportant.

My example is the DUNHAM surname. The project was started with two photographs and family records. My questions were: who is grandpa and grandma Dunham and is Aunt Sarah a Dunham by birth or marriage?

Start:

• Google your surname such as “Dunham” or “Dunham surname”
• Search Cyndislist for surname associations
• Contact FGS for surname associations
• Join surname message boards such as RootsWeb

Share your research information and documents:

• Write general information articles and use your family as examples
• Write a blog about your family an example on genealogicalhistoryresearch.blogspot.com information is shared about my Dunham family and my other surnames
• Write family articles for association newsletters or Facebook my example the Dunham Singletary Family Connections website and newsletter are asking for family interest stories and photographs; we encourage interaction between Dunham researchers on Facebook

Give back to surname research:

• DNA testing
• Post your unrelated family surname documents found while narrowing your research as an example the Dunham records found in Augusta, GA and Washington, D.C. These are unrelated families, but of interest to some other researchers.

Share your family! The more records and research you share, the more you will find. Let me know your questions,