Help me figure out who her parents were
I'm wondering if someone can take a peak at my research to see if my suspicions may be right and see if you can find anything more concrete about her parents. I am looking into Louisa Johnson KZW9-STF to find out more about who her parents are, specifically her mother who is currently listed as Celia.
Here are some records
Marriage Record
Death record
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6VF-KP5?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=KZW9-STF
Additionally this pension index showing James Johnson as father
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KD1L-GWR?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=KZW9-STF
My Theories on her parents and childhood
-There is a 1870 agricultural census listing a James JOHNSON in Galatin Illinois
If you look at the 1870 census for that same township 9, range 9, you can look by house order at the neighbors. In the exact same place as the agricultural census there is a James SMITH living with a Louisa Smith (age 28) and a Louisa Smith (age 2). I believe the census recorder misrecorded their last name. It is interesting to note they are living with a Hester FUNKHOUSER and a George FUNKHOUSER.
1870 Census record
Now if you look at the 1880 Census for William Kelums (her future husband she marrys in 1885) You can see there is a Tiny Johnson (age 11) on the previous page living with her aunt and uncle John and Catherine ANDREWS. Now if you look into Catherine her maiden name is FUNKHOUSER.
1880 Census
There is also this record showing that maybe she went by Tiny/Tina as a nickname
In this record she is called "Tina L. Johnson"
Originally I thought her mothers maiden name was Funkhouser, but I am stuck with no real evidence of that. I am also unsure if her mothers name is also Louisa or Celia (like so many people seem to think on their trees) I started looking into her mother's maiden name being Andrews. John Andrews is potentially on a 1850 census living in Galatin, Illinois. He has a sister Lucinda Andrews, which could potentially be who we are looking for.
1850 Census https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M855-G5G
Comments
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A lot of quality research has been done on Louisa Johnson KZW9-STF - I spent several hours trying to confirm her parents without feeling comfortable about making conclusions, partially due to inconsistences in referred to sources:
1850 Census - Lucinda Andrews is age 6 implying birth about 1844, but for her to be Celia (Louisa's mother and sister to uncle John M Andrews of the 1880 Census), Lucinda needs to be 8 and born about 1842. Two years is within the realm of possibility in US Censuses, but the 1850 Census already shows Lucinda has an 8 year old sibling born about 1842 (Mariah);
1870 Census: The transcribed middle initial for Louisa is "G" and the image appears to be a "G", but is definitely not a "C", which is Louisa's middle initial. The father's transcribed name is "James J" but the image indicates an "i" in the given name, so it may be "Jami J" instead - this is not a big inconsistency. But, it seems doubtful that the census taker would get in the same household the surname "Funkhouser" correctly and mistake the surname "Smith" for "Johnson".
1880 Census: Tiny's age is stated as 11 in the column "Age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880", but as of June 1, 1880 Louisa (born 13 April 1868) would be 12. A one year error is certainly within the realm of possibility, but under a "Age at last birthday" column heading, it is less likely an error.
I'm sorry I haven't been more help in confirming parents, but after a few hours of research I certainly can empathize with your frustrations.
Ronald H Olson
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Thank you for looking into it. I really appreciate it. I've decided to order the pension application that Louisa filed for James Johnson. I agree that there are so many inconsistencies and not anything concrete. Hopefully I'll have answers in a few months.
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God bless!
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