The first Ota

Names run through our family like branches off a river. Lots of Williams, lots of James, lots of Michaels, lots of Mays and Sarahs. There were at least three Otas that I was aware of. You could have knocked me over with a feather this week when I discovered that there was a fourth Ota! Her birth predates the first one I knew about by 16 years. 

This new information is why I love genealogy.  Always new facts, new clues, new paths to follow. So much fun. Such a voyage of discovery!

Here's what appears at Ancestry. I have not proven every detail but as often as possible the primary source is included.

Otillio Ida Best (Ota) was born about 1859 in IL, the first daughter of Henry Abram Best and Margaret E, Powers. The 1860 Census for Madison, IL, shows her as "Ottilia Ida," one year, living with her parents Henry and Margaret. It's fair to assume that she was born near there, as most of the Bests lived in that area—previous and following Census pages show an abundance of Bests.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4213713_00327?pId=36599813

The 1870 Census shows that the Henry and Maggie have moved to Macoupin County with their family: Otta, 11 (note the spelling), David, 9; Richard, 7; Owens, 5; Annie, 3, Tay, (Fay, male), 8/12. Henry's father Joseph, 76, is also in the household as well as Newton Powers, 26, a school teacher; and Lizzie Maxe, 17, a domestic servant.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4263684_00026?pId=17323856

On December 9, 1879, Otilis married George T. Rhoads (B. 1857) in Montgomery County, IL. 

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=ArchILMarriageRecs&h=1518378&indiv=try&o_cvc=Image:OtherRecord

Haven't found them in the 1880 Census yet—looks like no one else has, either. 

The 1900 Census finds George and Otillio in Lincoln, Keokuk, Oklahoma. No kids.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4119024_00192?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.213206359.212497269.1602194759-2104802773.1602194759&pId=57930580

1910 in Stroud Ward 1, Lincoln, OK:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4119024_00192?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.213206359.212497269.1602194759-2104802773.1602194759&pId=57930580

1920 in North Keokuk, Lincoln County, OK. No kids.

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/170287646/person/162212754062/media/4384977_00068?_phsrc=YnU3&usePUBJs=true

George Rhodes died in 1924 and was buried in the Stroud Cemetery, Lincoln County, OK:

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FindAGraveUS&h=93860969&indiv=try&o_cvc=Image:OtherRecord

The first Ota died in 1925 and was buried beside her husband in the same cemetery:

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=FindAGraveUS&h=93860974&indiv=try&o_cvc=Image:OtherRecord

OMIGOSH!!! OMIGOSH! OMIGOSH!!!

I began to research George T. Rhoads history before he married Otillis Best. Here he is in 1870, and look what his mother's name is!!

It's Otillis, too!

George Rhoads married his mother—no wonder they couldn't have kids!

Rather, he married a woman surnamed "Best" and turned her into a woman with the same name as his mother. 

Don't you think that's kinda creepy?

To be continued...

Grandmother's visit to Watonga, OK

In the last post I shared a picture of Miss Cleo Powers of Watonga, OK. That's the only information I had about her until I searched and found this clip at Newspapers.com:

The date of the marriage was May 14, 1917, so obviously the photo from the previous post was taken before May 14, 1917.

It turns out that my great-grandmother was in Watonga, OK, for a family reunion in 1911. While I cannot prove without a doubt that Miss Cleo's photo was taken in 1911, it seems likely for many reasons. 

First, let's look at the postcard written by my grandmother:

From what I can read of her handwriting, it says (I have added punctuation for clarity):

"10-2-11 AM. Well have not been sick since I left home. We had a reunion at Flora's Saturday and at Otis Sunday. There were twenty-three at Ot's for dinner. My we are having a good time but ah the parting will be soon. We expect to leave Watonga Thursday & go to Woke {??} Okla to see Aunt Ell Whithing {Whittington??} & will write you from there. I hope you & Edd are well. Probably {?} Aunt Mary and Myrt hate to see us go. {have to see us in Ga??} We will go to Floe'sWed, Thursday & start with her a day & night. I will write again soon. Mother." 

All of these names fit what I know about the James Best family tree. Short version: James Best married Anna Tatum in IL in 1826. First surviving child Susan Maria Best married W. C. Purdy in IL, 1849.  Sixth child Mary Ann Best married Paul Hampton Powers in IL, 1860, then moved to OK by the 1900 Census. 

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7602&h=57761232&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=6742

WCP & SMB first surviving daughter was Sarah Ann Purdy, who wrote the postcard. PHP & MAB children Flora Lee Powers ("Floe"), Otis Milton ("Otis," "Ot"), Mary Ann Best Powers ("Aunt Mary") and Myrtle Powers ("Myrt').

"Aunt Ell Whithing" would probably be James & Anna Best's daughter Ellen Nora Best who married Thomas Whittington 1866, IL. She was in OK by the 1910 Census.

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/4450022_00062?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.153382776.1320789974.1596493864-1936791666.1596493864&pId=170389261

And referring back to my last post, the photo of "Miss Cleo Powers," it turns out that she is the daughter of Otis Milton Powers, who happens to be mentioned in my grandmother's postcard—twice, even. 

Actually there's more to the story than this. But that's another post by itself.

Stay tuned.  

Miss Cleo Powers, 1911

Just found a postcard from my great-grandmother that mentions a family reunion in Watonga, OK. The card is dated 1911. Luckily I was able to match it with an undated photo in which the subject was named but there was no date added. 

Here are both sides of the photo labeled "Miss Cleo Powers":

I will add a little more about the circumstances around this and another photo in the next post. 

Funeral notice of Susan Marie Best Purdy

Funeral notice W.C. Purdy & E. E. Purdy

Honestly, the Purdys saved EVERYTHING!

Not kidding.

Every single piece of correspondence. Every stamp. Empty envelopes. Old chairs. Bent nails. Empty jars. Most of this stuff is junk and triggers my allergies.

There is an upside to their habit of holding on to stuff. One person's OCD hoarding behavior provides another person's treasure trove.

And that's what all this stuff is to me: treasure.

There are some real nuggets here, including the one below.

I am rich in genealogical treasure.

Asa Best baby photo?

The photo below was identified as Asa Best. Apparently there were at least two Asa Bests. My strong hunch is that this is Asa Josiah Best, but really I don't know.

Asa Josiah Best, born 1859, was the son of Michael Stephen Best and Nancy Ann Purdy. There's also Asa Newton Best, born 1860, the son of William Best and Fredonia Baird. So many Bests and Purdys and they're all related!!!

The young age of this child would put the photo's year taken between 1860 and 1861.

I strongly believe this is Asa Josiah Best because of the Purdy connection. 

Anybody able to say for sure??

Monroe Camp photo

The image below is from a tintype that my dad identified as Monroe Camp. Camp was the first husband of Eudora "Dora" Purdy, daughter of W. C. Purdy and Susan Best. He was father of Winnifred Camp.

They got married in 1884 when she was 19 and he was 22. At some point they got divorced or annulled because Dora married Charles W. Piper in 1898, and Monroe lived until 1917.

Handsome dude, wasn't he?

Photos of Dora Camp

More of the family tintypes. Both of these have been identified as "Dora Purdy Camp."

Here's the younger one:

The older woman:

Certainly looks like the same person, doesn't it?

Assuming that the ID is correct, the girl in the first photo looks about 11 or so. Since Dora was born in 1865, the photo would have been taken about 1875. In the second photo Dora looks maybe 18 - 21 or so, which would date the picture about 1883 - 1887. These are just guesstimates, folks!

Dora married twice, first to Monroe Camp and then to Charles W. Piper. According to the Census, she had four children and two lived. Her surviving child with Camp was Winnie May (b. 1890). With Charles Piper she had Gladys (b. 1899 - d. 1904) and Thelma Fern (b. 1907 - d. 1998).

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/M-T0627-00851-00230?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.210065239.355251433.1593736074-892951649.1593736074&pId=141581096&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ancestry.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fsse.dll%3Fdb%3D1940usfedcen%26h%3D141581096%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage%3AOtherRecord

From the same Ancestry tree—which I have not proven, BTW—here is an image of Dora Purdy Piper and her daughter Winnie Crosby:

Love the glasses.

From the Ancestry tree of Chasedenver, originally posted by Christia Middlestaedt 2008.

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/16608859/person/1247819040/media/88b18d44-9ff8-4eb9-a0cb-6e8b39302cf8?_phsrc=raz2&usePUBJs=true

If a descendant of Dora contacts me and asks for them, I'd be happy to send the originals out. These are family photos, and photos belong with their families.

More photos soon!

Who are these dudes?

One of the scrapbook's tintypes is these two spiffy dudes. The tintype has fallen out of its position and doesn't seem to fit any label at all. The best clues: in the same scrapbook as the earlier tintypes of Purdys, so most likely Purdys or Bests or associated families. Probably taken around 1865 - 1875, but that's not for sure. Probably from IL.

Here's the image:

Any ideas? All comments welcome!

Tintype of WCP3?

Below is a photo of a tintype. The name attached to this image is William Collins Purdy III. I have not independently verified this and may never be able to. However, my father IDed this photo as WCP3, and I have no reason to doubt the identification as my father knew him.

Here's the image:

 



































William Collins Purdy III was born in 1853 about "3.5 miles south of Staunton, Illinois." He worked on the farmhand and in a sawmill. My dad recalls Uncle Col never having being married or even having a girlfriend. As far as I can tell, he never had children. He died in 1928 and was buried in Staunton City Cemetery. Known as "Collins" or "Uncle Col."

I am guesstimating this photo was taken between 1865 and 1875. Collins could be 15 (1868) or 20ish (1873). Note the slight pink coloration in the cheeks, and extra fee effect, indicating that the Purdys were comfortable if not well to do.

1860 Census:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4213711_00547?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.176323941.153770080.1593380886-234541386.1593380886&pId=37438363&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ancestry.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fsse.dll%3Fdb%3D1860usfedcenancestry%26h%3D37438363%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_cvc%3DImage%3AOtherRecord

Death Certificate:

https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1928/1928_00002633.PDF

Well, here's a mystery~! The death certificate says that Collins was "widowed." THAT bears looking into!

Burial:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50788316

The more I dig, the more skeletons I find—if you can count an unknown marriage as a skeleton. I'll let you know if I find anything more.

Correction: new oldest photo

In digging through old and new family photos, I found a forgotten tintype today. At least 20 years ago my dad named the photo's subjects. The label is in my own handwriting. There's really no other way of verifying his identifications than to say that he was an extremely (extremely) precise man, and he always identified these subjects with these names. And so awaiting further proof, I must conclude that these photos are:

Susan Marie Best and William Collins Purdy II

And as the subjects are much younger than the first photo I have published, though it's new to this blog, it's the oldest one I have of them.

Here it is:

Note the curtain backdrop and the two chairs. Very typical of an itinerant photographer.

I scanned this at 1200 ppl for lots of detail, which doesn't show up here.

Though I'm anxious to dig into this photo a bit more, other duties are calling. So I'll catch you later. Y'all come back now, hear?

Unidentified man

Below is one of the family portraits that recently came to me. (Thank you, Cousin M).

It came via FL from the house in Litchfield, IL, where my family lived for many, many years. I have never seen it before and there are no identifying marks to indicate the name of the subject. Indeed, there is nothing on the frame or the backing to point towards one person or another.

Here's what can be said about the portrait's physical characteristics:

The frame is oval. The glass was broken when my cousin found it; the glass itself was convex. Cleaning the glass away ripped the portrait (or didn't, but I have "restored" it digitally below). The original photo has been altered with overmarkings. The convex glass, oval frame and over markings are typical of charcoal portraits popular from 1880 to 1920. There are no props in the photo. This is a vignette-style portrait. It might be a close-up of an earlier portrait.

I have often found that reducing a photo to black and white can reveal additional details, so here is the B&W version:

The subject is a middle-aged man. It is not clear if he is seated or standing. The over markings are done in gray, which might indicate an older man, perhaps 30 to 50. He looks slightly away from the camera. He is wearing a dark jacket with handkerchief or such; the "such" is drawn in. He is wearing a white shirt; the narrow collar has one button. He is wearing a vest or sweater inside the jacket. No hat.

He has prominent cheekbones, a full head of dark hair parted on his left. His ears are slightly away from his head. His eyes have circles underneath, but they are not prominent or swollen. His jacket hits him higher on the neck than is seen in modern portraits. This might indicate strong shoulders and a forward head position. Indeed, he seems to have a wide, shaggy neck, and the width of the jacket from the shoulders out might indicate strong/overweight arms or just extra material in the jacket.

His high, strong forehead reminds me of my dad and my uncle, who had the same feature. Greeeeat... I already know that this is one of my dad's/uncle's forebears...but which one??

Could be a Purdy...could not...I think it is. Stay tuned.

Emma J. Purdy & Ann Olive postcard

After a long break from Purdy genealogy, I have recently begun to dabble again. The reason for this is a major gift of family photos, many of which are Purdys from the Central Illinois area.

First up is a photo postcard of Miss Emma Josephine Purdy and Mrs. Ann Olive, wife of Edmund Olive of Worden, IL. Here's the front:

And here's the back.

These have been the easiest people to identify because the info is on the back.

Emma Josephine Purdy was the daughter of John Palmer Purdy and Malitta Parisher. Ann Olive was her niece; haven't figured out which sibling yet, but that won't be too hard. Both are mentioned in the will of Elias Purdy, EJP's brother, here:

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9048/images/004705431_00166?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.25776701.1457845910.1593041554-2039479161.1593041554&pId=2247694&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ancestry.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fsse.dll%3Fdbid%3D9048%26h%3D2247694%26indiv%3Dtry%26o_vc%3DRecord%3AOtherRecord%26rhSource%3D2542

It's my goal to share as many of these as possible in the coming weeks and years. As soon as I can ID the people, or at least figure out some clues as to their identities, I'll post them here.

Here's hoping my Purdy relatives will enjoy playing the Match Game—is this your forefather, or mine???

See ya.