HAPPY BIRTHDAY ~ Edna Mabel Bowden January 1st 1890

 

I’d like to wish a Happy Heavenly Birthday to my maternal grandaunt, Edna Mabel Bowden, who went by the nickname Denny.

She was a younger sister to my maternal grandmother, Florence Lee Nora Bowden, our family historian. My Grandmother’s Journal

Until last week, I had never seen a picture of her. Read to the end to find out how I obtained one.

Edna was born in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio to parents Robert Edward Lee Bowden (1863-1906) and Florence Hunter (1869-1946).  Her father made a living by working as a brakeman for the railroad. I have no census records of this family living together.  As Edna’s parents married in 1887 and there is no 1890 census available (insert sad genealogist). 

Her parents divorced 17 Jul 1899, when Edna would have been 9 yrs. old. Her mother then operated a boarding house in Covington, Kenton, Kentucky, until at least 1906.

Edna married John Brown Duncan (1883-1945) on 11 Jul 1907 in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. They had one child a daughter, Ruth Estelle Duncan, born 23 Mar 1908 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. In 1910 John was working as a Clerk in Automobile Works. Edna was listed as not working.

Edna and John were married just 4 years when they divorced in 1911. This would leave Edna alone, raising a 3 yr old daughter. At the time of her marriage in 1907, Edna had been working as a telephone operator. By 1910 she had no occupation. I have looked, but not located her in any city directories between 1910 and 1920.

By the time of the 1920 census, Edna was remarried to a man named Elmer W. Cunningham (1891-1946). They had married on 16 Nov 1918 in Bibb County, Georgia. Georgia! How did she end up down there?

The couple was living with her sister, Florence and family (Joseph, Dorothy, Robert and Joan). Edna’s daughter Ruth Duncan, age 11 was living in the household as well as Edna’s mother Florence and her husband George Bell.  A very full household.  They lived at 300 Clarendon Ave. in Detroit, Michigan. This particular home is one my mother recalls from when she was a young girl – she was born in 1924.

The house no longer stands. I drove by the location in 2012 during a visit to Detroit.

1920 census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

It seems that marriage didn’t work out for my grandaunt Edna, as she and Elmer Cunningham divorced and she went on to marry a man named C. W. Wood. At least that’s what I think his name was. I spent hours yesterday trying to find a marriage record for Edna to anyone named Wood.  The myriad of ways I searched should have uncovered some kind of record.

Today, I looked again at her death certificate from 1932 and am wondering if his name could have been E.W. Wood?  Now the search will begin anew.

Sadly, Edna only lived to age 42. She died 23 Feb 1932 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri.  She is buried in Mt. Moriah Cemetery. You can visit her memorial here #102913411. She is resting next to her mother Florence Hunter Bowden Bell who died in 1946.  Florence does not have a headstone, but Edna does.

According to her death certificate she died of Toxemia from arsenical dermatitis. No idea who she would have been exposed to arsenic that would have seeped into her skin.

Edna’s only child, Ruth was 23 when her mother died.  Two years later she married Edward C. Hogue in Jackson Co., Missouri. The couple had no children. So, this becomes the end of the line for Edna.

Just how did I finally obtain a photo of Edna Mabel “Denny” Bowden?

I went to our mailbox week before last and found several Christmas cards.  One envelope was from my cousin, Rick & his wife, Mary in Michigan.  I opened it and was SHOCKED to find it contained, not only a Christmas card, but also a smaller envelope which contained a very old and damaged photo.  I called and spoke to Mary who told me she found this among some of my grandmother’s belongings a few months ago and had been meaning to send it. Everything belonging to my maternal grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne, who died in 1986 in Michigan, had been left at my cousin’s home.

Florence Hunter Bowden with her daughter, Florence on the left and sweet Edna with her dark curls on the right - this would have been probably 1894-1895

I immediately recognized my grandmother as a young girl and my great grandmother. I knew the other younger girl in the photo couldn’t be anyone but Edna.

There she was with her Mom and older sister. To say I was thrilled is to put it mildly.

I was able to use MyHeritage to clean up and repair this photo. I was amazed at how good it came out.

That then is the story of my grandaunt Edna. I am hoping this will be the first of more stories/blog posts about ancestors, this year.  I have been woefully neglectful over the past 2 yrs in keeping up with my posts.  I blame it on this beautiful place I moved to in 2023.  Montana makes me want to be outside all the time.  Darn hard to write blog posts when I’m outside.  LOL!

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2026   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TREASURE CHEST THURSDAY ~ The 1906 church record of the marriage of my grandparents, Joseph A. Milne (1883-1957) & Florence L. Bowden (1888-1986)

Today I’m featuring the church marriage certificate for my maternal grandparents, Joseph Albert Milne & Florence Lenora Bowden.

This certificate was rolled up in a box of papers & other items I retrieved from the home of my  maternal first cousin, during a visit, several years ago.

TIP - I did not put this old, delicate document in a scanner.  Instead, I took a photograph of it.

This certificate offers many good genealogical clues as follows:

• Date of marriage
• Where the couple have their residence
• Place of marriage
• The denomination and name of the church to which the officiant belonged
• Name of the person who married the couple
• Names & signatures of both witnesses to the marriage

It’s been a while since I’ve looked at this document and in reading it again I see that I will be entering new information into my Legacy database.

Here is a transcription of the certificate

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost…Amen

This certifies that Mr. Joseph Albert Milne of Detroit, Michigan and Miss Florence Lenora Bowden of the same place were united by in Holy Matrimony on Wednesday the Eleventh day of April A.D. nineteen hundred and six at the residence of the bride’s mother 187 Townsend Ave. in the diocese of Michigan according to the Rites of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Unites States of America, in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan.

Dated Detroit this Eleventh day of April A.D. 1906

The witnesses are Fred Henry Gillespie, 1st cousin to the groom and Edna Mabel Bowden, sister of the bride

Here is a photo of my grandmother, Florence, in her travel outfit upon leaving for their honeymoon.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

My grandmother, Florence was the genealogist in the family before me.  I have written several blog posts from the notebook/journal she left.  Here is a link to those posts: My Grandmother's Journal

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #4–Who Would I Like to Talk to?

Isn’t that a question we often ask ourselves?  If only we could talk to _______fill in the blank.  Maybe we could get answers to our family mysteries or just a better background on who, what, when and where.

Since the theme for this week doesn’t say we have to pick just one person, I am going to name a few of my beloved ancestors and why I’d like to (need to) speak to them.  If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you will recognize these names. I apologize for bringing them up again.  However, we all know that it only takes one person/reader to say “hey, I know the answer to that question!”  It’s what we all hope for.

William "Val" Gould - my great grandfather, son of John C. Gould

FIRST AND DEFINITELY AT THE TOP OF MY LIST – My paternal great grandfather, William V. Gould (born Vivaldo William Gould) (1859-1924).  I know, from many sources, who is father & mother were.  HOWEVER, I am completely stuck as to who his paternal grandparents were.  Who were the parents of John C. Gould?   What could William tell me about his own father?  Did he know who his paternal grandparents were?  Did he ever meet them?  What stories did his father tell about the family?  And lastly, why doesn’t there seem to be a single photo of his parents in family pictures?  They were alive until 1911 and probably 1919.  And, the next question would be – is the John Gould on the death certificate I’ve located, the correct person?  Is this William’s father?

I’ve written about this nearly two decade brick wall mystery and you can read it here MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? John C. Gould 1833-1919?

THE NEXT ANCESTOR I NEED TO TALK TO – My maternal great grandfather, Robert Edward Lee Bowden, 1863-1906.  Who were his parents?  Did he have siblings?  I know absolutely nothing about his family.  

Interestingly, it was his daughter, Florence Bowden (my grandmother) who was the family historian/genealogist before me.  She kept meticulous records of family births, marriages and many deaths.  She drew a family tree by hand.  However, back in the 1970’s she wrote me a letter and in that letter is a response to a question I’d asked about her family.  Who were her father’s parents?  She could only say that she thought Robert Bowden’s mother was named Susan and that she died when my grandmother was 4 yrs. old, which would have been about 1892.  Since Robert and his wife divorced when my grandmother was about 11 yrs. old and he died when she was just 18 yrs. old, there may not have been a time when she could ask questions. Robert was a railroad brakeman and I expect he was often gone from the home.
  

 I’ve never found a picture of him and surely there must have been one taken at some point.

 
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but I’ve also written a blog post about this brick wall and you can read it here MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Robert L. Bowden 1863-1906

Catherine Dorsey - my 2nd great grandmother with her children Annie & Horace Jr.

NEXT ON MY LIST -  My paternal 2nd great grandmother, Catherine C. Dorsey about 1842 – 1898.  She, by all records I’ve obtained, was born in Dublin, Ireland about 1842.  Her death cert lists her parents as Jno and Mary.  She lies in an unmarked grave at Mt. Elliott Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  

She was the wife of Horace Henry Thorp (1836-1907) and the mother of 10 children.  I have a picture of her.  I also have most of the information on 9 of her 10 children.  When did she arrive in the U.S.?  Was she really born in Dublin?  What were the full names of her parents and did she have any siblings?  How did she meet Horace?  
As you might guess, I’ve also written about her before and you can read it and see her picture here - MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Catherine Dorsey about 1842-1898

My Dad - Harry Norman Gould

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST – My own Dad, Harry Norman Gould 1912-1991.  He absolutely loved to tell family stories and talk about when he was growing up.  He was an only child, and the grandchild of William & Mae Gould (although they had 6 children, he was the only grandchild).  I did listen to his stories growing up and when I became an adult.  I did ask him questions and we sat down and I had him label family photos for me.  But, you know how it goes.  Until we begin doing actual family research we don’t know what questions we should have asked.  

I didn’t begin my genealogy journey until 12 years after he died.  Now I have a hundred questions that I would be willing to bet he could answer for me.  And, we would have such a good time, laughing and talking about his beloved Mema and Bepa (what he called William & Mae Gould), his grandparents.  If only…….if only. 

There are dozens more ancestors that I’d love to sit down with, but for now, I’d settle for all or one of the four I’ve mentioned here.

Who would you like to talk to?  And why?
  
If you find that you are related to anyone mentioned in this post or have information for me, please get in touch.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #2–Challenge is the theme–what are my challenges?

Research challenges.  We all have them.  Whether it’s the missing 1890 census, burnt courthouses, records being held that are not available to the public or any number of other reasons.

My biggest challenges have come from my brick walls.  After 16+ years of research (on a weekly and daily basis) you’d think “what else is there to find?”  Let me tell you.

I haven’t been able to take my own maiden name, Gould, past my 2nd great grandfather.  I also haven’t been able to find my maternal great grandfather’s family.  Both of those families remain a mystery to me as of this day.  I’m hoping with DNA I will break down those brick walls and open some floodgates to my ancestors in those lines.

What I’d like to do today is share with you here, my blog posts about John C. Gould, my paternal 2nd great grandfather (1833- ?) and Robert L. Bowden, my maternal great grandfather (1863-1906).

Wm. V. Gould (John Gould's son), my great grandfather

GOULD Rd. sign in Macomb Co., Michigan

2nd page of the article about how they discovered Robert Bowden's body in a hotel

The posts are titled MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO’S YOUR DADDY? By sharing the links with you here, I’m hoping someone, anyone, can help me solve these brick walls.  I’ve carefully outlined what I’ve done to find the families of these two men.  It’s pretty extensive.  I encourage you to read it carefully and perhaps you can tell me what I’ve missed.  I’ve covered a lot of bases….and databases….and libraries.

Here’s the link to the post for John C. Gould Mystery Monday - Who's Your Daddy? John C. Gould

Now on to my great grandfather, Robert Lee Bowden also known as Robert Edward Lee Bowden.  Born 8 Feb 1863 in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier, Virginia – died 8 Oct 1906 in McKees Rocks, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.  I’ve just re read this post and the comments associated with it.  We all know that a second, third or fourth or tenth look at anything we have on our ancestors can reveal information we missed.  I see a comment by Miriam Robbins about a possible maiden name for Robert’s mother.  I never followed that lead and will do so today.
 
That being said, here is the link to my post about Robert.

MYSTERY MONDAY - Who's Your Daddy? Robert L. Bowden 1863-1906  IMORTANT NOTE:  There is a Robert Lee Bowden about the same age, living in the same area, born to Elias & Sarah Bowden.  I have followed him forward in time and HE IS NOT MY ROBERT.

I respect the opinion of other researchers and I welcome your input.  Maybe this will be the year one or both of these walls are knocked down.  I sure hope so.

ONE MORE THING – I have met with 2 professional genetic genealogist in the past two years and they weren’t able to solve these cases during our time together.  They did give me excellent tips on doing DNA research.  We are all thinking these men could be the result of unrecorded adoptions and their birth names were not the names they went by throughout their lives.  Anything is possible.

Thanks for listening.  I hope 2019 is the year we all break through our brick walls.

For a list of all my WHO’S YOUR DADDY posts, click HERE.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

MATRILINEAL MONDAY ~ Richard Gillespie & Eliza Jane Patterson–My maternal 2nd great granduncle & aunt–England

Signatures of Richard Gillespie & Eliza Patterson from their marriage record in 1854

There is no shortage of ancestors to research, on my maternal side.  In spite of having 3 pretty big brick walls, I still find plenty of family to research.

Today I will focus on my 2nd great-granduncle and aunt, Richard Gillespie and Eliza Jane Patterson.

Richard Gillespie was the 8th of 9 sons born to Thomas Gillespie and Susannah Barrowcliff of England.  Richard was baptized on 28 May 1835 in the parish of Tiverton, County of Devon, England.  His baptismal record gives his date of birth as 7 May 1835.  Both of Richard’s parents are named on the baptismal/birth record and his father’s occupation is Cotton Spinner.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Richard & married Eliza Jane Patterson on 5 Nov 1854 in North Petherton, Somerset, England.  I located a record and image of their marriage record on Ancesty.com.

Here is the image and transcription.

I’ve learned a little about Eliza’s family while conducting research for this blog post.  Her father was George Patterson (abt 1790-1856), he is listed as a Mariner in the 1851 census.  This may be why he is not with his wife and children in the 1841 census.  Was he out to sea?  That seems a likely conclusion.  Eliza’s mother was Eleanor Bowden (1836-37-Oct 1910).  NOTE:  My maternal grandmother’s name was Florence Lee Nora Bowden.  I have not come across any other Bowden’s in my family lineage.  I have been unable to learn who my great grandfather, Robert Lee Bowden’s parents were.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if I someday learned that his Bowden family was connected to Eliza’s mother’s family?

Richard & Eliza had four children; Frederick George born about 1856 (he may have died young as I don’t find him living with his parents in the 1861 or any other census), William Henry abt 1860-1927, Sarah Ann born about 1862 and Susan born about 1865.

Richard worked as an Iron Fitter or Eng. Fitter in the five census records in which he is enumerated.  I looked up the definition for Iron Fitter and the closest I could come was “fitter.”  Someone who adjusts machines.

I wonder what the wages were for such an occupation?  I notice that Eliza didn’t have an occupation listed on any of the census records.  Many women worked in England in the 19th century.  They worked in factories or as seamstresses or laundresses.  So, it would seem that Richard made enough of a living that Eliza could stay at home.

As far as the children of Richard & Eliza, I have found minimal records for them.  William married Emily Jane Collard (1864-1945) on 24 Dec 1881 and they had 8 children.  William was 67 years old when he died of Influenza and bronchial asthma. 

I have found no record of either Sarah or Susan marrying.  In the 1891 census Sarah, age 28 is living with her parents, Richard & Eliza and there is a one month old child, Beatrice, listed with her on the census.  Is this her child?  The child’s last name is given as Gillespie.  Did Sarah not marry?  That’s the last record I can locate for Sarah.

As for Susan I last find what I believe to be her, working as a servant in the Toogle household in 1891.

If you are connected with this family, I’d love to hear from you.  Maybe you have information on Sarah & Susan?  Perhaps a photo of someone in the family?  Are we cousins?

OTHER POSTS ABOUT THE GILLESPIE FAMILY

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week #2 - Thomas Gillespie - My 3rd great grandfather 1794-1868 This is Richard Gillespie’s father

AMANUENSIS MONDAY - BIRTH & DEATH DATES FROM MY GRANDMOTHER'S JOURNAL – APRIL  Includes Richard’s younger brother, Joseph who is my 2nd great grandfather

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

AN INTERESTING FIND TODAY ~ Author/Professor - Ida Gertrude Riley Duncan 1892-1989

I began poking around in my Legacy database this morning trying to figure out which ancestor I wanted to work on.

On my desk was a blank application for a vital record for Ruth Duncan Cunningham Hogue.

Ruth was the only daughter of my maternal grandmother’s beloved sister, Edna “Denny” Mabel Bowden.  I was debating whether I “needed” that death record from 1978, from Missouri, or could I live without it?
 
Next thing I know I’m looking at Ruth’s father John Brown Duncan.  He and Ruth’s mother divorced in 1911, after just 4 years of marriage.  John later married Ida Gertrude Riley.

Here’s a screenshot from Legacy. What stood out to me was the absence of a cause of death on either John Duncan or his second wife, Ida Gertrude Riley.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)  


I’m know I haven’t been able to locate an image of John’s death certificate, but I do have index records for it.  I also tried to locate an obituary for John Duncan, but was unsuccessful.

UPDATE - Thanks to a comment from a reader, I now have John's death certificate.  Thanks Marian.  It was on familysearch.org and I'm not sure how I missed it.  But, I'm sure grateful for the help.  I was able to fill in that space for his cause of death and here's the new screenshot.

  







As far as Ida, different story.  Remember from my recent post, I talked about the research notes I keep?  Here is my research note from Ida’s death notes.

12/30/12 - Date & place of birth and date & place of death are from the Lake Family Tree owned by tucker08 on Ancestry.com. 
The dates have not yet been verified.

This note tells me two things.  I last looked at Ida’s death information in Dec 2012 and that I have not verified the information.

Since that date, I know that the Detroit Free Press has been put online on Newspapers.com.  It’s allowed me to find over 100 obituaries and other articles for my family.
 
Maybe I could find an obituary for Ida Gertrude Riley Duncan, since she died in the Detroit suburb of Livonia.  If the information from that family tree I found on Ancestry is correct, then Ida lived for 44 years after John Duncan’s death.  She could have remarried.

I went to the newspapers.com website and here was the search criteria I used.

Screenshot from Newspapers.com search

There were 136 matches, but the first four were the ones I needed.

I selected the first article and was surprised to find it was quite a write up.  Not your normal, short obituary.  And….look there’s a photo included!

Compiled screenshot of article published in Detroit Free Press, 10 Jul 1989, page 23

Ida is not a blood relation to me, but I can’t help but find this interesting.  She was an author and a professor.  According to this article she was well liked and witty.  Sounds like a lady I would like to have known.

From this obituary I learned that she had remarried after John’s death in 1945.  I haven’t located any records on that marriage….yet.

Next, I thought I would take a look online and try to find some of Ida’s books, mentioned in her obituary.  I located all five of her books, available on Amazon.com

The Complete Book of Progressive Knitting
Knit to Fit: A Comprehensive Guide to Hand and Machine Knitting and Crocheting
Pattern Drafting and Foundation and Flat Pattern Design
The American woman's complete sewing book
The Complete Book of Needlecraft

In looking further I located a couple of knitting bloggers who have written about Ida’s wonderful books.  They give them high marks.

http://chicknits.com/rambles/?p=lehzeryrnjayzg&paged=506
https://string-or-nothing.com/2005/03/04/oop-book-review-knit-to-fit/

I don’t know what became of Ida’s second husband (whom I believe may have been a man named Harry Higginson).  That belief is only based on a couple of references in online trees and has not been verified.

Whatever happened, Ida is buried with her first husband, John Brown Duncan and their daughter Alice Jean Duncan Lake, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio.

Here are links to their memorials.  There is no way to send a message to the person who took the headstone photos so I cannot ask permission to use them.  Note:  I do find it frustrating not to be able to contact a FindAGrave contributor.

Memorial for John B. Duncan #131983103 (there is an error on this memorial page regarding a son named John Duncan born 1901)

Memorial for Ida R. Higginson Duncan #131983166

Memorial fo Jean Duncan Lake #131983221

Even though Ida was the second wife of the husband of my Grandaunt, this was an interesting story to research.  Sometimes…you just “have” to know more.

If you have any information relating to this family, I would love to hear from you. 
 
Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Brick Walls Post #2 - Robert L. Bowden 1863-1906

BOWDEN is my maternal grandmother’s maiden name.  I have not yet been able to locate the parents or any siblings of her father Robert Lee Bowden.  This mystery has been going on for well over ten years.  Here is what I have and what I’ve done so far.  I welcome your input.

A BRIEF BIO OF ROBERT LEE BOWDEN

Born 8 Feb 1863 in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier, West Virginia.  Married Florence HUNTER on 10 Mar 1887 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.  Two children born to this couple: Florence Lee Nora Bowden (my grandmother) born 31 Jan 1888 in Ashland, Boyd, Kentucky and Edna “Denny” Mabel Bowden born 1 Jan 1890 in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.  This couple divorced on 17 Jul 1899.  The divorce was filed in Kenton County, Kentucky.  Robert worked for the railroad in every record I have about him.  He possibly remarried to a lady named Bertie Kearney in 1900.  Robert died on 8 Oct 1906 in McKees Rocks, Allegheny, Pennsylvania at age 43.

Robert’s signature from his 1887 marriage record

Here is what I know about Robert’s life so far:

(Click on any image to enlarge it)




I know that Robert and Florence divorced in 1899.  I have that record and a record of her trying to get him to pay child support.

Here are a few records from the divorce, filed in Kenton County Circuit Court, Kentucky and granted on 17 Jul 1899.


My grandmother, Florence, who is Robert’s older daughter, left me a lot of genealogical information on our family.  She had his death date listed as Oct 1906.  Since I have found her information to rarely be incorrect, and this was her own father, I looked for death records based on that date.

Here is the page from her journal with him listed as the second person.  I have redacted this list for anyone who may still be living.
 

My brother, John and I believe we have found a record of a second marriage for Robert L. Bowden, shortly after the divorce from Florence was final.

MARRIAGE RECORD - R. L. BOWDEN TO B. C. KEARNEY ON 31 MAR 1900 IN HUNTINGTON, CABELL, WEST VIRGINIA

We do find Robert living with a woman named Bertie and her son, who’s last name is Kearney in the 1900 census.  He is a railroad brakeman, which is consistent with what we know about Robert’s occupation.  The record states they have been married only 4 months, which is consistent with the marriage record and Robert is said to have been born in February, which is also what we have on record.  The only thing different is the year of his birth being listed as 1865 instead of 1863.  But, we all know those years vary from record to record, especially in the census.  The other variant is the state of birth being Kentucky, when my grandmother stated it was West Virginia.  I have checked both the Kentucky and West Virginia birth records and not found anything....yet.

Here is that 1900 census record.

 




























My big AH HA! moment came when the Pennsylvania death records 1906-1944 were released last year on Ancestry.  One night I just decided to check these records for Robert.  Why?  I don’t really know, as I had no record of him ever being in Pennsylvania.   
NOTE:  You never know where you will find the record you need.

There it was!!!!  A death record for Robert L. Bowden on 8 Oct 1906 in McKees Rocks, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.  A railroad man who died suddenly of heart disease.  Of course no parents names are listed.



Thanks to the assistance of a researcher on the Allegheny County, PA Facebook group, I also found out there was a newspaper article about his death.  Can you believe it?

And, I saw that the death certificate was signed by a Coroner, so I sent for the Coroner’s record, which gave me no new information.  All the Coroner did was look over the body to rule out signs of foul play.  See my post about my analysis of the Coroner’s report here http://www.michiganfamilytrails.com/2014/06/coroners-case-file-robert-l-bowden.html

WHAT I STILL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY GREAT GRANDFATHER ROBERT LEE BOWDEN

• A birth record to verify when and where he was born (although due to the Civil War, this may not be available)
• Who his parents were?
• Who his siblings, if any, were?
• Any court records I may have missed regarding the guardianship of his daughters
• Information from the cemetery that could contain details I don’t have.  I have left two messages and will try calling again.

Please note:  There is a Robert L. Bowden of about the correct age in the 1870 census.  He is the son of Elias & Sarah Bowden and living in Hardy Township, Isle of Wight, Virginia.  I have followed this lead and this IS NOT my Robert.

Do you see anything I have missed?

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

MYSTERY MONDAY - Who's Your Daddy? Post #1 - John C. Gould

FACEBOOK - How it can be very useful in your research 

If you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog, please contact me!

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

IN HONOR OF GRANDPARENTS DAY

MY PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS
  
                  Harry Whipple Gould 1886-1960                                      Marie Wallace Lindsay 1888-1970

MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS

  
                    Joseph Albert Milne 1883-1957                             Florence Lee Nora Bowden  1888-1986

I miss each and every one of them. 

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION