Dunham and Couch families found in Eureka, Missouri

 

The following brief quotes are from the Eureka, Missouri 150th Anniversary book. This excellent work provides historical narratives and photos of many families. The book may be ordered from the Eureka Historical Society, PO Box 4, Eureka, PO 63025.

Over half a page is dedicated to this family, since DUNHAM is my surname interest, I am focusing on Henrietta:

 ROBERT AND HENRIETTA (DUNHAM) STANTON

...[Robert] was born in DeKalb County, Missouri, on April 27, 1910, the son of William and Drusilla Stanton.... Bob married Henrietta Dunham on April 25, 1936. The Stantons first came to Eureka in 1950, when Bob got a job with the Eureka school system. "I remember that my salary was $300 a month and my title was elementary supervisor," said Stanton...

The narrative on page 265 continues with more interesting tidbits about their family and life. Henrietta died July of 1988.

   Several pages have been dedicated to the COUCH family, Charles, Sally and their sons Milton and Keller. Many interesting stories center around the Eureka Ice House build in 1871. Look on page 75 to read how ice was made and stored for the hot Missouri summers. Read about the attempted safe robbery. The building has been everything from a grain mill, restaurant, movie house to an exercise gym and antique shop.

Dunham and Couch were the only names familiar to me. But, I read most of this large book. Contact the Eureka Historical Society for more information or visit their Facebook page.

Genealogy: one set or one type of document does NOT tell the whole story

In genealogy, the researcher looks for as much documentation as possible and as close to the event date as possible. As with all documents, what is the history surrounding the event? Who provides the information? What is the age or physical/mental condition of the informant? One document does NOT tell the whole story!

 The Union Civil War Pension applications for James M. Son offer a great example of providing more questions than answers.

James M. Son filed two Union Civil War Pension applications Invalid No. 1142097 under the act of June 27, 1890 filed on December 20, 1892 and Invalid No. 1365582 under the act of February 6, 1907 filed on June 28, 1907.

The application similarities include:

            Enrolled from California, Missouri

            Born in Missouri

            Lived in Missouri

            Rejected on the grounds that the organizations were not in the U.S. service

 The application differences include:

Service Unit:

Company F, 43 Enrolled Missouri Militia

Legg’s Company, Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia

Company A, 43 Enrolled Missouri Militia

Disability:

from throat trouble, partial deafness of both ears, catarrh of head, heart trouble, and rheumatism

old age

Born:

24 October 1830 in Blackwater, MO

28 August 1835 at Cooper Co, MO near Boonville City

Residence:

1865-1900 High Point, MO; 1900-05 Rocky Mount, MO; 1906 Kennedale, TX

Moniteau County, MO 10 miles S.E. California, MO

Attempting to coordinate service dates and unit names with the rejections, may account for the differences. An affidavit is included for service under the direct order of a U.S. officer. Mr. Son’s disabilities may account for the differences in answering the other questions such as residence and age.

Always more research to do!!!

Dunham marriages in Grundy County, Missouri

Searching the surname DUNHAM? The following names are from the marriage records in Grundy County, Missouri between 1841-1864.

• Pg 8 Washington R. Young to Elizabeth Dunham, 22 July 1847 by Ira Blakely, Preacher of the Gospel 
• Pg 9 Samuel Dunham to Matilda Cooley, 14 Dec. I848 by Gordon H. Cooley, Minister of the Gospel
• Pg 26 John T. Anderson, Livingston County to Caroline Dunham, 3 March 1859 by Terry Bradley, Minister of the Gospel
• Pg 39 Henry C. Dunham to Theresa A. Vincell, 24 July I864 by Lewis Myers [no title given]

Thank you Vicki Evans from Our Genealogy Group, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA for sending me this list.

Ellsberry, Elizabeth Prather compiler. Marriage Records of Grundy County, Missouri 1841-1864. Family Search.org. https://familysearch.org. accessed by me [Selma] 11 September 2013.

Please read the Dunham Singletary Family Connections website or on facebook. Share your Dunham family related searches with us. Email comments to Selma Blackmon.