When sources collide

Sometimes research is a pretty cut and dry process.  You have sources with a higher "value" or reliability rate than others, i.e. legal documents vs. newspaper accounts.  (Somethings never change, right?)  This would lead one to assume that sources would be consistent throughout the lifetime of the
person being researched and everything will be neat and orderly.  Sometimes that is in fact the case and sometimes we have instances like those to follow.

Case #1:  Ephraim Rudes.  "Ephraim" was born in 1800 in New York and died sometime around 1846 in Medina County, Ohio.  He married Hannah Hudson sometime about 1821 and together they were the parents of 7 children.  Sources for this information include the 1840 census where the family is living in Medina County, Ohio.  A biography on his son previously published here.  And that is where
the trail starts to run cold.  There aren't a lot of official source records that early and apparently Mr. Rudes was not big on leaving a paper trail.  That brings us to his wife, Hannah.  She lived a great deal longer than he placing her death date in 1890.  She is buried in Woodville, Ohio and much like her husband left little behind besides her descendants and census records.  No obituary that I can find and a headstone in Woodville Cemetery...that clearly lists her husband as ISRAEL?!?!  So what was her husbands name?  I can't seem to find anything on Israel so it isn't making life easier in that regard.  Good grief! 

Case #2:  Engle Milton "Jack" Taylor.  Engle, who went by Jack his entire life, was the son of Walter Taylor & Martha McMurray.  He was born, well, he was born and we'll just leave it at that for now.  He died January 19, 1940 in Pool Hospital, Port Clinton, Ohio.  His older sister claims his date of birth was January 1, 1926 but his death certificate says he was born April 13, 1926.  The sisters family Bible supports her claim that he was a New Years baby however if she was the one filling it out it would be logical that she would remain consistent.  However while a death certificate is a primary source for death dates, it isn't necessarily the most accurate when it comes to birth dates, birth locations and the parents of the deceased.  To further complicate matters, the children were
born in Ohio, Virginia, and Tennessee so narrowing down where to look for a birth certificate is difficult at best.  Not to mention that his eldest sister had to file her own well into her adult years as there was none on record and with him dying at 13 I wouldn't think he would have had need of it by the time of his death.  His headstone simply states 1926-1940.  The death certificate could easily be right considering six of the thirteen children were born in either April or May but there is nothing solid enough to hang ones hat on. 

Case #3:  Staying with the same Taylor family but jumping back a generation.  This is regarding Martha's brother, who shall remain semi-nameless.  Here's that I've got.  James I. McMurray & Mary Blair were married 11 August 1888 in Scott County, Virginia.  Since the 1890 cesus records were destroyed the first census record we would have that would offer any clue as to their family is the 1900 census:

McMurry, Mary born 1867
", Matilda born Apr. 1891
", Mattison D. born Mar. 1893
", Kiza E born Mar. 1895
", Cornelius M born Mar. 1897
", Coy born May, 1899

Martha Matilda was born April 25, 1891 so I called Matilda a match and moved on to the next child.
DeWitt was born March 20, 1893 so I assumed he was Mattison Dewitt, called it a match and moved on to the next child.
Ethel was born March 10, 1895.  Unsure of where the Kiza came from I assumed the E was for Ethel and moved to the next child.
Cornelius was born March 8, 1897.  No guessing needed for that one.  JACKPOT!  Next kid.
Coy was born May 15, 1899.  Two jackpots in a row. 

I thought I was hitting the nail on the head until I saw the comments from Jaunita Rhoten & Betty Schmiesing (thank you very much ladies and I hope you'll be able to help sort this out for me) claiming his name is Dewitt Clinton.  Oh snap!  Back to the drawing board.  I headed back to my sources and started the job of sorting Mattison D. & Dewitt out.  With the goal of untangling these two men I found a birth record for Dewitt McMurray listing his parents as Jas. I McMurray & Mary B. McMurray with the birth date of April 25, 1892.  WIN!  Woah, wait a second.  I thought Mattison/Dewitt was born in March 1893.  Ok, maybe something else will clear this up a little for me.  Ah, here is the draft record for Dewitt and it lists his birth date as April 25, 1893.  *cocks head to the side*  Wait.  What?!  I now have it down to Dewitt being born sometime between April 25, 1892 & April 25, 1893.  Oddly enough, April 25th was the birth date of his older sister so talk about a
birthday present.  Did Martha get a brother for her birthday one year?  Maybe a little more digging will help?  As follows are how he appears in the census records:

1900, POSSIBLY him, Mattison D and born March 1893 so he is age 7
1910, Dewitt, 17 and living with his grandparents
1920, Dewitt, 26
1930, Dewitt, 37

Maybe if I try breaking it down by birthdate and sources?

April 25, 1892 - birth certificate for Dewitt
March 20, 1893 -  headstone which matches his Social Security Death record.  That would also
                 make him a match for the Mattison D. listed in the 1900 census
April 25, 1893 - draft record, marriage record only says estimated birth year is 1893

HELP!  If Dewitt Clinton & Mattison Dewitt are the same man, then when was he born?  If they aren't the same man, where was Dewitt in the 1900 census and why wasn't
he listed among his mother and siblings?  Where did Mattison end up disappearing to as I can't find a death record or headstone?  Was Mattison just a ghost?

Margaret Kuhlman (1918-2017)

ELMORE: Margaret Kuhlman, 99 of Elmore, OH passed away Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Riverview Health Care Campus, Oak Harbor, OH. Margaret, the daughter of Boy Andrew and Amanda (Unger) Japsen, was born on July 26, 1918 in Port Clinton, OH. The Japsens' came to the United States from northern Germany in 1905, bringing Margaret's sister, Frieda, age 3 years, with them.

Margaret graduated from Port Clinton High School in 1936 and from the Cleveland City Hospital School of Nursing in 1939, having achieved a degree as a Registered Nurse. Her classmates at Cleveland Hospital became lifelong friends. About that time, she was introduced to Howard Kuhlman of Elmore, by a mutual acquaintance. She married Howard on August 31, 1940 and moved from her membership at Peace Lutheran Church, Port Clinton to Saint John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Elmore. Saint John's later became the St. John's United Church of Christ where Margaret was the eldest living member.

Mrs. Kuhlman worked early in her career for Fremont Hospital and spent the last 16 ½ years of her working life at the Ottawa County Riverview Nursing Home. In the intervening years, she was a stay-at- home-mom until both children graduated from Harris- Elmore High School. She was a faithful worker at Elmore Bloodmobiles for over 50 years. Margaret was the last living member of the Rice Street Card Club that was very active in the 40's & 50's. She was also a longtime member of St. John's Honor Workers.

Survivors include her children Richard E. (Judy) Kuhlman of Elmore, OH and Linda (Calvin) Jennings of Sidney, OH; grandchildren: Bret Kuhlman, Justin Jennings, and Lisa Kay Jennings; great- grandchildren: Luke and Jillian Kuhlman. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Howard, and sister Frieda Anderson.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-8pm at the Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Elmore- Genoa Chapel. Funeral Services will begin at 11am on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Funeral Home, with the Rev. Margaret Mills officiating. Burial will be in Harris- Elmore Union Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ General Fund. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserfuneralhome.com.

Published in the News Herald on Nov. 1, 2017

Where it fits:  Margaret is the daughter of Boy Japsen & Amanda Unger.  Boy was the brother of Caroline Japsen, wife of Julius Johannsen.  Thank you for all your help identifying your Johannsen & Japsen relatives.  Your help has been greatly appreciated!