Elisha Tompkins Couch, 1820-1896, parents and siblings

Elisha Thompkins Couch 1820-1896

My second great-grandfather, Elisha Tompkins Couch, was born in Green's Corner, Oneida County, New York on 14 April 1820 according to Find a Grave. E.T. was married to Jane Angeline Dunham on 24 December 1846 in Oneida County, New York, according to family notes. At this time, May 2020, I am unable to verify this with county records. E. T. died 6 December 1896 in Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois. He is buried in Mt Hope Cemetery, Seneca, Illinois.








Since the early 1990s, I have been searching for his parents and siblings. Thank you to DNA, I have connected with several descendants of his siblings. In February while researching and expressing my frustration at my family searches at the Family History Library, Lawrenceville, Georgia, Oria Kelly asked for family information. Within a very short time, Oria Kelly found a newspaper interview with Julia Couch Fraser. The full interview is in the Rome Daily Sentinel newspaper found on The Old Fulton New York Post Cards site.  Below is a small part of the full article.

Using this newspaper article, I have attempted to reconstruct my direct line ancestor to his parents and siblings. For the full details, see my tree Roots Digger (Under Construction) on Ancestry and Roots Digger2020 on MyHeritage.

E T Couch parents: Elisha Couch, about 1776 - 1854 and Lucy Loveland 1778 - 1853, dates need verification.

E T Couch siblings:

Sophia, 1802-1879

Nancy Ann 1804-1840

Solomon 1805-

Elisha 1808-1808

Joab 1809-

Jemima 1811-1900

Lucy 1812-

Joel 1813-

Julia A 1816-1911

Sarah 1818-1910

Adelia 1822-1910

More information and my sources are on my trees. This is only my research, please share your thoughts.  PLEASE, I would like to share with any family member that has photos or documents or stories on these family members. Thank you!!! Happy tree climbing and roots digging, Selma

Jane Angeline Dunham 1823-1906, parents William F Dunham & Sarah Metcalf

Green Bay Press-Gazette. 10 August 1893. Newspapers.com

William F Dunham and Sarah Metcalf have been connected as the parents of Jane Angeline Dunham 1823-1906. WE now have a paper trail and DNA trail. The reason I choose “WE” is because it has taken many years and many “cousins.” This hunt started in about 1990 with several photos from a 1900 Christmas album gift to my grandmother, Nettie Couch, 1884-1965. The hunt never ends. Now, I am looking for more cousins and more information on Jane’s parents. Along the way, I have found the names of DNA matches with every one of the siblings, several other Dunham families and several Metcalf families.

Special thanks to:

• Dunham’s of Rome including Ann Eldred (1935-2003), Phyllis KItson, P.C. Alger, and Bill Wood, these people put my original question, “Dunham by birth or by marriage?” to rest with many photos and family group sheets
• Beth for sharing a family group sheet from her research, especially on the Hickok line
• Rich for all his DNA hours and for answering my basic DNA questions
• Christina for this wonderful newspaper clipping that finally joins OUR family, for meeting me in Wisconsin several years ago, for introducing me to her sister, for sharing their family stories
• Jane Wilcox, Forget-MeNot Ancestry, for guiding me in my searches
• MyHeritage and Ancestry for DNA match suggestions
• NGS research trips, especially a full packed week in Madison, Wisconsin
• Gratia for sharing her vast knowledge of the Dunham family and her hours of research
• Many, many friends and family who have listened to me whine for 20+ years because I could not find Jane’s parents 

Jane A Dunham Couch

Jane Angeline DUNHAM (1823 - 1906)
2nd great-grandmother

Eugene Deloss COUCH (1851 - 1925)
Son of Jane Angeline DUNHAM

Nettie Ethel COUCH (1884 - 1965)
Daughter of Eugene Deloss COUCH

Mildred Louise SCHULER (1919 - 2008)
Daughter of Nettie Ethel COUCH

Selma Ethel KAMPE
You are the daughter of Mildred Louise SCHULER

Now, more questions:

• How come family Bible and all censuses except 1900 census list New York or Rome, New York as birth?
• How come the 43 year lack of family contact?
• How come migrated to LaSalle County, Illinois instead of Wisconsin?
• Who are Jane’s grandparents?

View my Roots_Digger tree on Ancestry and Roots_Digger Related on MyHeritage. Join me in our search for more family members, stories, photos. Contact me a sbgenealogy@gmail.com

Lewis A. Armstrong, author “Oklahoma Boy on the Bumpy Road of Life” Review

“Tis so delightful to tell stories and share the fun of it with others…” Written by the author, Lewis A. Armstrong, on the back cover of Stories By An Oklahoma Boy. Retired Colonel Armstrong writes about what is important to him: family, church, career. He has self published topics from cookbooks to humor books; hopefully more are in the works. For this blog, I have chosen three of his family books: Oklahoma Boy on the Bumpy Road of Life, published 2018, Stories By An Oklahoma Boy, published 2014, The Writings of Leonard E. Armstrong, published 2012.

In The Writings of Leonard E. Armstrong: Stories, Poems, and Letters, Lewis compiles his brother’s poems, letters and stories. The dedication reads, “Although he no longer walks on the face of the old earth, yet he would dedicate this work to his grandchildren and great grandchildren whom he loved dearly…” The reader catches a glimpse of Leonard’s closeness to his family. One chapter titled, Big Red, puts in plain words the love of a grandma to let her three year old grandson fed the chickens and gather eggs. The rooster decided to scare the three year old. The rooster ended up invited to Sunday dinner. Another chapter, Merry Christmas, Christmas in Florida, rewrites The Night Before Christmas, “They knew that Santa was well on his way, In a shiny red sports car instead of a sleigh…”

Stories By An Oklahoma Boy provides many wonderful memories of hours spent listening and/or reading Han Christian Anderson, Brothers Grimms’ and others. My dad’s copy of Grimms’ sits on my shelf today. My personal favorites are the Bobbsey Twins and Winnie the Pooh; this may be because my cousin read to me. Later, I shared Winnie the Pooh with my son.

Oklahoma Boy on the Bumpy Road of Life makes available a glimpse into the author’s family. The author acknowledges people who have contributed to the person he turned out to be. Lewis shares the bumps and high points in his life. He starts with his 1941 smiling baby photograph. He ends with, “I will be 77 on August 18, 2018. There are benefits with age, but there are limitations as well… You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.”

Thank you, Lewis A. Armstrong, for sharing your life and family with your readers! We are no longer strangers, we are now friends too!

My connections with Lewis A. Armstrong: 

• Mr. Armstrong has been a member of Our Genealogy Group, Morrow, Georgia, for several years. This is where I met Lewis and Linda.
• Lewis is two years younger than I am, this provokes my childhood memories.
• We both are interested in the Armstrong surname. My direct Armstrong family came from Pennsylvania to New York then to LaSalle County, Illinois. Did any travel further west to Oklahoma?

Your narratives encourage others to share their family!

Colonel Armstrong, Thank you for your service to our country!

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!!!

Laura Armstrong Couch 1931 death certificate correction

Laura Eleanor Armstrong COUCH died 11 March1931. A transcription error occurred between the filed death certificate from the Illinois State Archives and the certified copy.
In the Medical certificate of death, a "3-" appears. This may be for $3 or some other notation. In my certified copy the "3-" was transcribed as death date. This makes for an interesting document as the doctor stated she was last seen alive on 11 March 1931.

If possible, always try to find an original document. We all make mistakes.

Happy tree climbing and roots digging!!!

Jane Angeline DUNHAM (1823-1906)

 

Attempting to verify Jane A DUNHAM COUCH birth and parents always brings more questions than answers! 

Name:	Jane Angeline DUNHAM
Sex:	Female
Individual Facts
Birth	26 Nov 1823	Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States
Land	bet 1849 and 1856 (between about age 26 and about 33)	Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1850 (about age 27)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; , Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1855 (about age 32)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Verona, Oneida County, New York, United States
Census-wife	1860 (about age 37)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Brookfield Township, Lasalle County, Illinois, United States
Census-wife	1870 (about age 47)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Census-wife	1880 (about age 57)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH; Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Residence	1896–1899 (about age 73–about 76)	230 Locust, Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States
Obituary-wife	1896 (about age 73)	Elisha Tomkins COUCH
Census	1900 (about age 77)	Crotty, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Misc	27 May 1905 (age 81)	Eugene's birthday; Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Illness	Apr 1906 (about age 82)	Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States
Death	27 Apr 1906 (age 82)	Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Burial	29 Apr 1906 (age 82)	Mt. Hope Cemetery, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Obituary	4 May 1906 (age 82)
Death-mother	10 Mar 1925 (age 101)	Eugene Deloss COUCH; Cerebral Hemorrhage; home, Seneca, LaSalle County, Illinois, United States
Alt. Name		Jane A. HICKOCK
Alt. Name		Jane Angeline COUCH
Marriages/Children
1. Elisha Tomkins COUCH (1820-1896)
Marriage	24 Dec 1846 (age 23)	, Oneida County, New York, United States
Children	Harriet S. COUCH (1848-1848)
	Lewis Augustus COUCH (1849-1937)
	Eugene Deloss COUCH (1851-1925)
	Charles COUCH (1855-1857)
	Carrie S. COUCH (1856-1927)
	George H. COUCH (1859-1928)

Who is the mother of Sarah Caroline Couch (1856-1927)?

According to the death certificate received as a digital image from Family Search, Sarah Caroline Couch born 2 October 1856, Rome, N.Y. died 4 July 1927, Joliet, IL.Further information lists her father as Elisha T. Couch, N.Y. and her mother as Angeline Hempton, N.Y. The informant is Mrs. W.J. Schuler (Nettie Couch). Carrie is the informant's aunt. The purpose of this search is to verify the name of Elisha's wife and the mother of Carrie. 

• WI, Eau Claire County. Marriage certificate. George H. Couch and Mrs. Mary E. Fish. Volume 2, page 59.  10 December 1883. George names his father as Elisha Couch and mother Jane Denham. 
• IL, LaSalle County, Probate for Sarah C. Couch, alias Carrie S. Couch. Started 4 June 1928 filed 5 March 1929. In the will, Eugenia Couch Woodin, states that Carrie's parents were Elisha T. Couch and Jane A. Couch. Neither of her parents were married more than once. 
• IL, LaSalle County. Death Certificate for Eugene Couch. 4704. Father's name is Elisha Couch of Hartford, CT. Mother's name is Jane Dunham of Rome, N.Y. informant Mrs. Eugene Couch (wife).
• IL, LaSalle County. Marriage certificate. Lewis A. Couch and Susannah R. Kimberk. 655. 31 October 1883. Lewis names his father as Elisha T. Couch and mother Jane A. Dunham.
• IL, Will County, Death Certificate for Lewis Augustus Couch. 46886. Father's name Couch of New Haven, CT. Mother's name Jane Angeline Dunham of Rome, N.Y. Grace Couch is informant and daughter.

Hempton connection:

William Hempton (1826-1904) married Louisa Dunham (1834-?). I am unable to connect them to my direct line.

After completing the request form to Family Search for Sarah Caroline Couch (1856-1927), I received the digitized copy of her death certificate. According to family records, her mother’s name is Jane A. Dunham Couch. The index name is Angeline Hempton. The death certificate name is Angeline Hempton. The informant in 1927 is my maternal grandmother, Mrs. W.J. Schuler or Nettie Couch Schuler, the niece of the deceased. Carrie went into the hospital for an appendix and gall stone operation and died of a heart attack. This one document has started the search for other family documents. After searching land records, marriages, death certificates and other family records, the only conclusion at this time, is that Nettie was under stress due to Carrie’s unexpected death on 4 July 1927. Only the complete record will reveal all the information. Only the comparison with other records has led me by analysis to conclude that Angeline Hempton is not the mother of Sarah Caroline Couch. Aunt Carrie’s mother is Jane Angeline Dunham, the same mother for all children of Elisha T. Couch.

Sunday's Obituary - Armstrong, Catherine (1855-1914)

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Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL. XXXII-NO. 10,726, Wednesday, march 11, 1914, pg 2

READING

  The remains of Mrs. Dume [Doom] Armstrong were laid to rest in Moon cemetery Tuesday afternoon. A number from here attended the funeral services.

Sunday's Obituary - Armstrong, D. H. (circa 1808-1879)

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Streator Free Press Weekly, Streator, Illinois

VOL. VI. NO. 28, Saturday, March 1, 1879, WHOLE NO. 288

NOTES.

D.H. Armstrong, of Gibson, county superintendent of schools for Ford county, died Tuesday evening of pneumonia, after a short illness. He was a young man but was esteemed a very efficient school officer.

Sunday's Obituary - Shuler, J. N. (1831-1902)

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Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL. XXII – NO. 6700 Saturday, October 11, 1902 pg 1

IN OTTAWA 66 YEARS

Ottawa’s Oldest Citizen Arrived on October 10, 1836.

  Many of the older citizens of Ottawa have been here for a long term of years, but none so long as our fellow townsman, Mr. J.N. Shuler. Sixty-six years ago today he came to Ottawa with his father’s family from near Harrisburg, Pa. They came by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to LaSalle. From there the journey was by wagon to Ottawa. Says the Rep. Times.

  At the time of the arrival of Mr. Shuler the inhabitants of Ottawa were not very numerous. The houses on this side of the Illinois numbered only about a dozen and on the south side perhaps double that number. The business was all conducted on the south side, and at the time $18 was the price of a barrel of flour. On this side of the river the old barracks and log jail were situated at the site of the Fox River Hotel; the Mansion House – for years the leading hotel – was just being completed, and Mr. Shuler and his folks stopped there until the completion of their own home. The inhabitants all told numbered not more than 100.

  Even though many people feel that Ottawa has not developed nearly fast enough, there certainly have been many changes and much advancement during the period of Mr. Shuler’s citizenship.

Sunday's Obituary - Armstrong, Katherine Frances (1855-1914)

Armstrong, Katherine Frances, nee Koeppel (1855-1914)

Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL. XXXII-NO. 10,718, Monday, March 2, 1914 pg 1

MRS. ARMSTRONG A CHRISTIAN LIFE

DIED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON-LEAVES HUSBAND AND EIGHT CHILDREN.

  Mrs. Katherine  Frances Koeppel Armstrong died at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon from a complication of diseases. The funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon at the residence, 308 North Shabbona street and the remains will be buried in Moon cemetery.

  Mrs. Armstrong was born in Peoria and was 59 years old. She was united in marriage 35 years ago in Ottawa to Doom Armstrong. Surviving is the husband and eight children-Mrs. F.M. Frazier of St. Joseph, Mo.; Mrs. C.S. Ayers of Ottawa; Thomas, Elmer, Doom, Otto and Romayne at home. Also one sister, Mrs. Mary Ryster, and brothers, Chris, Joseph and Frank, all of Peoria, and one brother in Nebraska. Also eight grandchildren. After her marriage she came with her husband to reside permanently in this city.

  The decedent was a loyal, kind and devoted wife and mother and was loved and respected by all her neighbors and friends and lived a consistent and Christian life.

Sunday's Obituary - Armstrong, Earl (1913-1913)

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Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL. XXXII-NO. 10,873. Monday, October 13, 1913 pg 5

LOCAL NEWS

-Earl the five months old son of Mr. and Mrs. James Armstrong died at their home at 7:30 yesterday morning at Reading. The child had been suffering from a severe cold which developed into pneumonia. The funeral will be held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon at the house, interment in Moon cemetery.

Sunday's Obituary - Armstrong, Evelyn (1911-1913)

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Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL. XXXII-NO. 10,783 Saturday, March 1, 1913 pg 1

ARMSTRONG BABY SEVERELY BURNED

ACCIDENT HAPPENED LATE ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON WILL RECOVER.

  Evelyn, the fifteen months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dooma [Dume] Armstrong residing on East Bridge street was terribly burned late Thursday afternoon. Just how the little one’s clothes caught fire is not known. Mrs. Armstrong put the baby on the kitchen floor and while in another room, the clothes of the baby caught fire. When the mother reached the child the latter’s clothes were ablaze. Hastily picking her baby up Mrs. Armstrong ran from the house. This only aided the flames in burning the more fiercely. A neighbor seeing this and thinking Mrs. Armstrong was carrying a burning piece of clothing shouted to her to throw it in the snow. Obeying the command, Mrs. Armstrong put her baby in the snow. The flames were extinguished but the little one was badly burned. A doctor was called and the unfortunate child was hurried to the hospital.

  The fact that the baby was rolled in the snow made the effect of the burns doubly severe and at first it was thought that the recovery would be impossible. Reports from the hospital this morning are that the chances appear bright to save the life of the baby.

Streator Daily Free Press. Streator, Illinois

VOL.XXXII-NO. 10,784 March 1, 1913 pg 2

ARMSTRONG BABY DIES FROM BURNS

SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES SUSTAINED LAST THURSDAY AT HOME OF PARENTS.

  Evelyn, the sixteen months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doomdly [Dume] Armstrong died at about midnight on Saturday night as the result of injuries sustained from burns last Thursday. Owing to the nature of the cause of the death of the little one, a corner’s inquest was held. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

  The parents reside at 912 East Bridge street. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong formerly lived in Chicago, where the child was born October 29, 1911.

  The funeral services will be held at the residence at 2:30 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon and the remains will be buried in Riverview cemetery.

  The story is a sad one and was told in the Free Press of Saturday. Mrs. Armstrong had placed the baby on the kitchen floor and while in another room the clothes of the baby caught fire. When the mother reached the child the latter’s clothes were ablaze. Mrs. Armstrong ran with the child out of the house and succeeded in extinguishing the flames by placing the child in the snow on the advice of a neighbor, the neighbor thinking that the mother was carrying some burning rags.