Genealogy: Case of mistaken identity LEWIS COUCH

 

"Fatal Ending of a Poker Game" April 24, 1888 found on GenealogyBank

Credits: 

downloaded & scanned by Selma Blackmon

This genealogist presents a case for mistaken identity or how to separate Lewis Couch from Lewis Couch. Fast, quick and easy describes an internet search. The family historian types in a name, location, and maybe a date and with one keystroke floods of information popup on the monitor. Everything from grave markers, photographs, death certificates, and newspaper articles clamor for the reader’s attention. Read each piece thoroughly! Only the researcher will be able to evaluate the material. Compare all information with a timeline and against other verified information. Is this the person of interest? Is this another person with the same name?

In this search example, Lewis Couch (1849-1937) was born in Oneida County, NY and died in Joliet, Will County, IL.

The headlines read “Fatal Ending of a Poker Game” and continue with “William Bowley or Rowley Stabbed by Lewis Couch Who Was Caught Cheating.” The newspaper article is found on GenealogyBank.com (see photograph) a newspaper subscription site.

Similarities between search name and newspaper name:

• Same name – Lewis Couch
• Same generational timeline – newspaper article 1888
• Location – Lockport
• Occupation – blacksmith

Could this be the same person? The family historian must know more about the search person; the family historian must read every detail of the newspaper article.

The newspaper digital image is from the Daily Inter Ocean dated April 24, 1888, Erie, PA. The article reads “…at Lockport, this county,…” According to Samuel P. Bates, Lockport was a borough in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The Lockport connected with the search subject is Lockport, Will County, Illinois..

According to the U.S. census, the search subject lived in Illinois from 1860 until his death in 1937. According to the LaSalle County, Illinois, marriage license, he married Susannah Kimberk on October 31, 1883 in Ottawa, Illinois. According to family records, his family started growing in 1885 and continued until 1889 with all children born in Illinois.

Given the above information, the researcher believes that two men named Lewis Couch existed at that time. The Lewis Couch in the newspaper article and the Lewis Couch search subject are not the same person.

Relationship to me, Lewis Couch of Lockport, Will County, Illinois, is my 2nd great uncle.

Comments or questions, contact Selma Blackmon.

Emma L BAUMGARTEN 1896-1970 married William F ZIELKE

   ZIELKE
William F. Zielke, veteran of World War 1, June 10 [1966], beloved husband of Emma, nee Baumgarten; dear father of the late Gilbert; fond grandfather of Mark;... read the rest of his obituary in the Chicago Tribune, 11 June 1966 on Newspapers.com.
   ZIELKE
Emma Zielke, nee Baumgarten, of Brighton Park, beloved wife of the late William; loving mother of the late Gilbert; dearest grandmother of Mark; dear sister of Walter (Emily) Baumgarten and Marie (William) Schrader;... read the rest of her obituary in the Chicago Triune, 10 December 1970 on Newspapers.com.

Emma L Baumgarten is my second cousin two times removed. I do not like the expression "removed." but that is the technical wording. The whole Baumgarten family has been a series of twists and turns. It appears that each generation has the same names recycled over and over again. Emma presented a different problem. Beside Emma L, I also have Emma Emelie in the same generation. Now back to Emma L and my confusion with her family. Emma was born 9 July 1896 in Lockport, Will County, Illinois. In 1919 according to the Cook County marriage index, Emma married William F. Zielke of Chicago. This should be simple, just find an Emma and William about their age in the U.S. census in Chicago.

Who would have planned for two different Emma's marring two different William's. Naturally, I only found one in the beginning in the 1930 census, so attached the wrong census to my family. My family was married in 1919, the other Emma and William were married in 1911.One family, the one I wrongly added to my tree, had five children. The correct family had only one son, Gilbert.
It has taken several full days of research to finally correct my mistake. I was able to find Zeilke obituaries on Newspapers.com. What are the odds of two Emma and William Zeilke would be raising families in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois at the same time.

My lesson is to always look for more than one source for information. Question my own research. Do NOT believe trees or census, these are only hints. AND apologize to the Zielke family for adding the wrong people to my Baumgarten tree. If it were not a question from a cousin, I would not have found this mistake. We all need to work together!!! Any suggestions for my tree, see Roots Digger family tree (under construction) on Ancestry.com. happy tree climbing and roots digging, Selma