RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => Topic started by: wcd2203 on Tuesday 13 January 15 15:50 GMT (UK)
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I am looking for information on the parents/ancestors of Andrew Benjamin Elder (1875 - 1963). He was born in Missouri (8 Mar 1975) and died in Portland, Oregon (4 Feb 1963). His first wife Christina Rosen Elder (1876 - 1925) died in California. He moved to Portland in 1925 where he married his second wife Bertha Goetten Elder. According to some family records his parents may have been Drew and Alma Elder.
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He is elusive in 1880. His Oregon death certificate should give the names and birthplaces of his parents, if the informant knew them. Do you have that?
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I have a copy of the death certificate. It lists Drew Elder and Alma Davis as his parents, but no birthplaces.
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It looks like the census records from 1900-1930 give his parents' birthplace as Missouri, except for the 1910 census, which says they were born in Ohio.
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1900 shows his parents born Illinois: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11615-80762-17?cc=1325221
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Marriage for Drury Elder and Alma Davis in Carroll, MO:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V28Q-WJF
US Census of Union Veterans & Widows 1890
Drew and Alma Elder in Carroll, MO:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K83S-DWX
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. He moved to Portland in 1925 where he married his second wife Bertha Goetten Elder. According to some family records his parents may have been Drew and Alma Elder.
Andrew and Christina are on the 1910 and 1920 census in Portland :
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLYL-Y9R
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M48V-9G9
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Possible second marriage for Alma Elder :
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V28Q-4PZ
I have been able to access the Marriage Licence for the above elsewhere and it states John Croft and Mrs Alma Elder of Carrollton, Carroll , Missouri
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Marriage for Drury Elder and Alma Davis in Carroll, MO:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V28Q-WJF
The 1879 marriage date suggests Andrew Benjamin was born before the marriage, so a search for him as Davis might be worthwhile.
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The Alma & John Croft marriage record says that John was of Davies County.
There's a divorce for Jno. & Alma Croft in Daviess County from 1886. http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~livcomo/davimarr/divorces.html
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Kansas City Directory 1894
Elder Alma wid Paris r 708 Charlotte
Elder Andrew driver r 708 Charlotte
Elder Elmer E lab r 708 Charlotte
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There seem to have been two Drury Elders in the area, father and son.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=53884359
One b. 1808 d. 1881 (the 1890 veterans & widows entry does show that he was deceased by then - it shows Alma widow of Drury Elder).
the other, his son, b. 1844 d. 1904
The son b. 1844 was married in 1867 and seems to have remained so, which means that Alma was married to the elder Drury (whose wife died earlier in 1879).
However, in 1880 they are listed separately:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66K-LPB
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M66K-NFL
Probate for Drury Sr:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ejc/
(administration assigned to widow Alma Elder)
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ejb/
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ejd/
(Alma wife of Drury Elder deceased asking for a supplemental order to the above, regarding personal property of her husband not covered originally)
This is not helping much figuring out Andrew, though! Natural child of Alma, or adopted (from within the family or out?)
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This appears to be the grave for Alma's parents - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Davis&GSiman=1&GScid=30931&GRid=73408957&
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I found a copy of Andrew Elders military records in a box of old papers. He enlisted in the U. S. Army on April 27, 1898. He listed William Davis (Alma's eldest brother) of Braymer, Missouri as parent or guardian in his military records.
He is definitely tied to Alma Davis, Drew/Drury Elder's (1808 - 1881) second wife, but was born before their marriage.
Lots of room for speculation.
Interesting aside: He was three days AWOL 24 - 27 Aug 1898. Fined $5.00 and sentenced to 10 Days in guard house
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And, if the information on Find a Grave is right, he would have been born while Drury's 1st wife Mary was still alive. :-\
The Carrollton library has some cemetery information, including about the one where Drury was buried. It looks like they charge a fee for research, but it might be worth looking into. http://www.carrolltonlibrary.com/genealogy/