So I have been working hard on trying to figure out what happened to Grandpa Ralph. I will someday solve this mystery that plague's my every waking hour and sometime my sleeping ones too. But in the meantime I had planned on working on Grandma Nina's family to whittle away some time till I can make a trip to Montana to do some "on the ground" research. And I found some very interesting things about the relationship between the Adamson's and the Coen's. They were a lot closer than I realized. I have gotten copies of the pages from the Coen Family Bible that is in my Dad's possession. In it was, the birth & death dates of Grandma Nina and her siblings and her parents marriage record....sweet! right?!?! So armed with this information I have been diligently trying to verify and prove all this information. Also learn as much as I can about her brothers and sisters. I have learned a lot but am still working.
But in my search I notice two things: One, that when trying to find a place of death for Nina's father Levi Coen, I was searching in the wrong places. He had a farm in South Dakota at the time of his death but had just barely moved there and still had family living in Minnesota...so I was looking those two places and North Dakota thinking maybe he had gone for a visit to Nina's. Well turns out I was so wrong. He died in Portland, Ore. Wow ! wasn't expecting that. And so I sent off for his death certificate and find out that Grandpa Ralph was the informant on his death cert. and possible the undertaker! What! Crazy is what I said. What was Levi and Ralph doing in Portland, Ore. in 1908?? Where was the rest of the family?? So here we have them in Portland from Jan-Feb 1908. Wow.
The second thing I notice is that Grandma Nina's twin brother's Roy and Ray stayed pretty close to the family. Even following Nina to North Dakota. Where Roy lives with his wife and son. Ray living either with Roy and his new family or right next door. I can follow Roy for the rest of his life. Along with most of the brothers. But Ray disappears about the same time as Ralph does!!! So do they go off together leaving behind their families??? I haven't quite figured it all out. All I know now is that I now have to find two people who just vanish. :)
Another brother disappears for quite a few years until he gets married in 1943. Then I can follow him for the rest of his also. Interesting no?!?!
I am deeply interested in the relationship between Ralph and his in-laws. What were they all doing in these years after North Dakota?? I want to find Ralph and Ray now. Someday I will to.....
Showing posts with label Ralph Henry Adamson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ralph Henry Adamson. Show all posts
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Saturday, May 8, 2010
John and Kate
OK, All....I am so excited to tell you what I know about John and Kate (not plus 8, hehe) and what I have learned about them lately. First, I want to start with what I already told you about that wasn't complete. When telling the story of Ralph I said that he had one sister, Ida M., that I knew about. But I have been working on some stuff and I learned even more. They had one more sister her name was Leah. Here is why I didn't know about her before: she was born in 1881, which would mean she wasn't in the 1880 US Federal Census. And since most of the 1890 US Federal Census was burned in a fire, I didn't have that to go off. But I did find her in two places one in the 1900 US Federal Census and in Kate's obituary. So yay, for finding new Aunts.....lol. I promise that there will be more to come on all of Ralph's siblings later. I think for now it's good to give you your direct line so you will understand stuff like how important Uri Mulford really was to our history. Well now that I have given you that good news I will go on to John and Kate's story.
John Adamson was born on 19 May 1836 in Steuben County to John and Minerva Adamson. The date I have is really an about date as I need to verify it a little more. John had one brother Mulford Adamson, and two sisters Louisa and Barentha. I will tell you this Barentha once she was about 8, I think, started going by her middle name Edith which I agree is a better name...lol. I believe that at the time of his birth they lived somewhere around Thurston, New York. But with all things, I could be wrong....alright nobody tell my husband I just said that.
Kate is a little bit harder. I think she was born abt 1843 in New York. I also think her maiden name may have been Yost. But like with all women it's hard to research them unless you know there maiden name. I am working on verifying the last name of Yost.
Sometime before 1864 is when John and Kate married. I think they could have met in either Thurston or in Rathbone. John lived in Thurston in 1860 but could have moved to Rathbone and there met Kate or they could have gotten married and moved together. I will keep you updated if and when I get more information about this time in their lives.
By 1870, they were living in Rathbone, New York and had already had three of their children: Ida M., Arthur and Walter. They also had a farm of around 160 acres with a little more than half still being wooded. They had 2 horses, 4 milk cows, 5 cows, and 3 pigs. They grew wheat, Indian corn, oats, potatoes and hay. In 1873 they had Ralph, followed by their last daughter Leah in 1881. By 1891 they had started a lumber mill in Cameron, which was Rathbone, with about 100 acres. They had about 6 employees including Arthur and Ralph.
John died sometime around 1895 in Cameron. At the time of his death Leah would have only been about 14 years old. So Kate left alone with a child to support became a dress maker. Kate and Leah are living together in 1900 in Dunkirk, Chautaugua County, New York. Walter dies in 1909, how hard that must have been for her losing one of her children. By 1910 Leah is married and Kate being about 67 years old is living with her oldest daughter Ida M. Bailey in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York.
Kate dies 29 Mar 1917 in Schenectady. She is survived by her two daughters and her two sons. I found her obituary, and it lists two sons living in North Dakota. This has been an important discovery because that means that Ralph was still alive in the first part of 1917. This little bit of information will hopefully help me find some clue in finding out the real story behind Ralph's disappearance. We were always under the impression that he disappeared in 1916 but now we know that maybe he was still alive then. I am ever looking for that one little piece of information that will help me figure out what happened to our Great Grandfather.
OK, so no news on my little pet project but as soon as I have more to report, I promise I will let you all in on my little secret. This will keep you all wondering and checking back often.....bahahaha. That's the way my twisted little mind works. :)
I wish that I knew more about the people themselves. Like what kind of personality they had, what was some of their experiences, how they interacted with each other. But I can only speculate that they were a loving family that lived in a hard time. Kate becoming a dress maker to me is fascinating. I am going to look more into that part of her life and see what kind of experiences she may have had trying to support her young daughter in a time in history when that was really hard for women. She lived 22 years after her husband died and never got remarried. I wonder was it true love they had for each other that she never had interest in another man. Or was she a bitter woman, past her prime in life that never attracted anyone. One can only wonder.......
John Adamson was born on 19 May 1836 in Steuben County to John and Minerva Adamson. The date I have is really an about date as I need to verify it a little more. John had one brother Mulford Adamson, and two sisters Louisa and Barentha. I will tell you this Barentha once she was about 8, I think, started going by her middle name Edith which I agree is a better name...lol. I believe that at the time of his birth they lived somewhere around Thurston, New York. But with all things, I could be wrong....alright nobody tell my husband I just said that.
Kate is a little bit harder. I think she was born abt 1843 in New York. I also think her maiden name may have been Yost. But like with all women it's hard to research them unless you know there maiden name. I am working on verifying the last name of Yost.
Sometime before 1864 is when John and Kate married. I think they could have met in either Thurston or in Rathbone. John lived in Thurston in 1860 but could have moved to Rathbone and there met Kate or they could have gotten married and moved together. I will keep you updated if and when I get more information about this time in their lives.
By 1870, they were living in Rathbone, New York and had already had three of their children: Ida M., Arthur and Walter. They also had a farm of around 160 acres with a little more than half still being wooded. They had 2 horses, 4 milk cows, 5 cows, and 3 pigs. They grew wheat, Indian corn, oats, potatoes and hay. In 1873 they had Ralph, followed by their last daughter Leah in 1881. By 1891 they had started a lumber mill in Cameron, which was Rathbone, with about 100 acres. They had about 6 employees including Arthur and Ralph.
John died sometime around 1895 in Cameron. At the time of his death Leah would have only been about 14 years old. So Kate left alone with a child to support became a dress maker. Kate and Leah are living together in 1900 in Dunkirk, Chautaugua County, New York. Walter dies in 1909, how hard that must have been for her losing one of her children. By 1910 Leah is married and Kate being about 67 years old is living with her oldest daughter Ida M. Bailey in Schenectady, Schenectady County, New York.
Kate dies 29 Mar 1917 in Schenectady. She is survived by her two daughters and her two sons. I found her obituary, and it lists two sons living in North Dakota. This has been an important discovery because that means that Ralph was still alive in the first part of 1917. This little bit of information will hopefully help me find some clue in finding out the real story behind Ralph's disappearance. We were always under the impression that he disappeared in 1916 but now we know that maybe he was still alive then. I am ever looking for that one little piece of information that will help me figure out what happened to our Great Grandfather.
OK, so no news on my little pet project but as soon as I have more to report, I promise I will let you all in on my little secret. This will keep you all wondering and checking back often.....bahahaha. That's the way my twisted little mind works. :)
I wish that I knew more about the people themselves. Like what kind of personality they had, what was some of their experiences, how they interacted with each other. But I can only speculate that they were a loving family that lived in a hard time. Kate becoming a dress maker to me is fascinating. I am going to look more into that part of her life and see what kind of experiences she may have had trying to support her young daughter in a time in history when that was really hard for women. She lived 22 years after her husband died and never got remarried. I wonder was it true love they had for each other that she never had interest in another man. Or was she a bitter woman, past her prime in life that never attracted anyone. One can only wonder.......
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Ralph Henry Adamson
Ralph Henry Adamson and Nina Mae Coen are Laura and mine connecting ancestors. Let's start with Ralph because for me he started it all. I just needed to know more about him and it spiraled from there. I think if it wasn't for Ralph's story, Laura and I probably wouldn't have met.
Ralph Henry was born in Rathbone, Steuben County, New York in abt 1873. He was born to John Adamson and Kate. In Steuben County, Ralph was surrounded by family. I am sure that he had cousins galore there. John Adamson owned and operated a lumber mill and a farm in Steuben County. Ralph worked there with his brother Arthur, whom we will learn more about later. He had two other siblings a sister named Ida M. and a brother named Walter G. I believe sometime in his late teens, early twenties he migrated with his brother Arthur out of New York. They went west. I am not sure where exactly he met Nina Mae (I am still working on the specifics). But by 1905 he had made it to Hagali, Minnesota. Since Nina was from Wisconsin and had been living in Minnesota with her first husband, John Hower. I have strong feelings this is where they met. I am pretty sure that they married sometime between 1900 and 1903.
Nina Mae had a daughter from her previous marriage, Florence. As far as I can tell Ralph raised Florence as his own. I am unsure the extent of involvment from her biological father. In 1903, Ralph and Nina had a son Elmer. Elmer died at the young age of 9, unknown causes. He was born in Minnesota and died in North Dakota. Before getting to North Dakota though they lived in South Dakota. Where they had two more children: Douglas Henry b. abt 1903-1905 and Goldie (May?) b. abt 1906. They then moved to Keffler, McKenzie, North Dakota around 1910. Somewhere on a little homestead near there Nina gave birth to Walter John "Buster" Adamson. Buster as he was known to everyone was born 5 Jun 1910. Then on 21 May 1912 they had their youngest son Kenneth Vern "Bill". Bill was born in Beach, Golden Valley, North Dakota.
The reason I find Ralph so intriguing is because in 1916 he disappeared. There are numerous family stories as to what happened to him. One thing I am almost positive about is that he didn't "walk out" on his family. In those days, that sort of stuff happened but I don't believe that that is what happened with Ralph. Many have different versions of the same story though, that he went to work and just didn't come home. I am currently in the process of trying to find newspaper articles or anything that might aid me in my search for the truth of what happened to Ralph. I will keep you undated as I find information. One such rumor was that he was living in Sun Valley, NV in the 1960's. While there was a Ralph Adamson living there at that time, I have proved that it was not our Ralph Adamson. I know that not knowing haunted my grandfather, Kenneth or Bill as he was known to family. He thought about going to Sun Valley to see but decided that if it was his father he had made the choice to leave them. I wish I could have reassured him and his siblings that that was not the case. But what did happen?????
I will be posting pictures of Nina and the kids soon. I don't have any pictures of Ralph though. What a find that would be! As far as I can tell any pictures there might have been of Ralph was stolen from Nina shortly before or immediately after she died. Watch for Nina's story soon also. Then I think I will touch on the kids before going back farther.
Just for general information: Douglas Henry is Laura's Grandfather, and Bill is mine.
Ralph Henry was born in Rathbone, Steuben County, New York in abt 1873. He was born to John Adamson and Kate. In Steuben County, Ralph was surrounded by family. I am sure that he had cousins galore there. John Adamson owned and operated a lumber mill and a farm in Steuben County. Ralph worked there with his brother Arthur, whom we will learn more about later. He had two other siblings a sister named Ida M. and a brother named Walter G. I believe sometime in his late teens, early twenties he migrated with his brother Arthur out of New York. They went west. I am not sure where exactly he met Nina Mae (I am still working on the specifics). But by 1905 he had made it to Hagali, Minnesota. Since Nina was from Wisconsin and had been living in Minnesota with her first husband, John Hower. I have strong feelings this is where they met. I am pretty sure that they married sometime between 1900 and 1903.
Nina Mae had a daughter from her previous marriage, Florence. As far as I can tell Ralph raised Florence as his own. I am unsure the extent of involvment from her biological father. In 1903, Ralph and Nina had a son Elmer. Elmer died at the young age of 9, unknown causes. He was born in Minnesota and died in North Dakota. Before getting to North Dakota though they lived in South Dakota. Where they had two more children: Douglas Henry b. abt 1903-1905 and Goldie (May?) b. abt 1906. They then moved to Keffler, McKenzie, North Dakota around 1910. Somewhere on a little homestead near there Nina gave birth to Walter John "Buster" Adamson. Buster as he was known to everyone was born 5 Jun 1910. Then on 21 May 1912 they had their youngest son Kenneth Vern "Bill". Bill was born in Beach, Golden Valley, North Dakota.
The reason I find Ralph so intriguing is because in 1916 he disappeared. There are numerous family stories as to what happened to him. One thing I am almost positive about is that he didn't "walk out" on his family. In those days, that sort of stuff happened but I don't believe that that is what happened with Ralph. Many have different versions of the same story though, that he went to work and just didn't come home. I am currently in the process of trying to find newspaper articles or anything that might aid me in my search for the truth of what happened to Ralph. I will keep you undated as I find information. One such rumor was that he was living in Sun Valley, NV in the 1960's. While there was a Ralph Adamson living there at that time, I have proved that it was not our Ralph Adamson. I know that not knowing haunted my grandfather, Kenneth or Bill as he was known to family. He thought about going to Sun Valley to see but decided that if it was his father he had made the choice to leave them. I wish I could have reassured him and his siblings that that was not the case. But what did happen?????
I will be posting pictures of Nina and the kids soon. I don't have any pictures of Ralph though. What a find that would be! As far as I can tell any pictures there might have been of Ralph was stolen from Nina shortly before or immediately after she died. Watch for Nina's story soon also. Then I think I will touch on the kids before going back farther.
Just for general information: Douglas Henry is Laura's Grandfather, and Bill is mine.
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