A Question the Records Can't Answer

             Thinking about this and I do have some questions for my paternal great grandparents.  I raised these questions on my blog entry about A Big Decision.  In fact, it was my opening statement.

I also want to ask Emanuel Swinehart why he moved around so much.  The Swinehart’s’ started out in Wyandot County, Ohio.  Then sometime prior to 1865, they moved to Noble County, Indiana.  Several of Emanuel’s children were born in Indiana.  However, a couple were born in Kansas.  He moved sometime prior to 1880. He ended up in Clatsop County, Oregon where he died in 1926.  There is a family lore that says he worked for the railroad.  But can’t find proof.  His son, Harry (also a paternal great grandparent), ended up in Idaho then Washington State.

I’m sure there are others, I just haven’t worked in depth on those lines. 

Working for a Living - more farmers

             I thought about me but have done so previously.  So, let’s see if there is an individual that I may have covered.  I’ve written several posts about my paternal grandfather.  And I’ve written about my dad.  I’ve written about several other immigrant ancestors but never really covered what they did for a living.

·      Taking Care of Business in June 2024

·      Earning a Living in February 2024

·      Jobs I Have Held in Aug 2014

·      Achievement in May 2024

·      Father’s Day – My Dad in June 2018

So, who do I want to research further?  I’ve talked about my brick walls I’ve been working on so don’t really want to write about them.  I think I will write about my Swinehart family.  I’ve only mentioned them a total of three times.

·      Migration – March 2025

·      Changing Names – May 2024

·      S Surnames – February 2018

Harry Everett Swinehart was born 1 Nov 1880 in Clay County, Kansas (KS).  He married Bertha Davis 1 Nov 1903 in Hagerman, Lincoln/Gooding County, Idaho (ID).  He died 9 Aug 1934 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington (WA).  Harry & Bertha had a total of 5 children (four girls and one boy).

Harry’s parents were Emanuel S Swinehart and Mary Jane Secore.  They had a total of six children.  In the June 1880 Federal Census for Oakland Township, Clay County, Kansas, Emanuel is listed as a farmer with his wife and daughter, Sarah E. The 1885 Chapman Township, Ottawa County, Kansas has Emanuel listed as a farmer with his wife (Sarah) and three children (Mary, Harry, & Pearly).  In the June 1900 Federal Census for Maled Precinct, Lincoln County, Idaho, Emanuel (listed as M.S.) still has his occupation listed as a farmer.  Three children are listed along with his wife.  This census indicates that she had six children.  Children listed include Sarah E, Harry E, and Pearley E.  Harry is listed as a farm laborer.  The 1910 Census for Hagerman Precinct, Lincoln County, Idaho still has Emanuel as a farmer.  His wife (now indicates 3 out of 5 children living) and his daughter, Sarah (or Sadie) as living with him.

Harry has his own place close by and is listed as a farmer.  Living with him is his wife, Bertha and three daughters (Rita E, Juanita L, and Lorica E).   What’s interesting is the census reflects that Harry was born in Indiana.  Whereas, the 1900 census had listed Kansas.

Harry’s 1918 WWI Registration Card indicates he was living in Fruitland, Payette, Idaho and his occupation was farming.  The 1920 census has Harry and Emanuel living next door to each other in Eaton Precinct, Washington County, Idaho.  Harry owns a farm (mortgaged) and Emanuel is renting a home.  Harry is living with his wife and five children (four daughters and one son).  It indicates that Harry was born in Kansas.  Emanuel has his wife, a daughter (Pearl E) and a granddaughter (Ruby E) living with him.  No occupation listed.

Emanuel’s death certificate indicates his occupation was farmer.  Harry’s death certificate indicates his occupation was farmer as well.

Another family of farmers . . .

Migration

   

             My family tree is full of people who have moved away from where they were born. The map shows my DNA regions.  For the most part, it has been validated.

         Some I have covered in prior blog posts, others I haven’t done a deep dive research.  Listed below are just a few of the surnames.

Kludt – Several family members have moved. Came from Germany, settled in Wisconsin, then Iowa, then Washington State.

·      Heinrich Johann Ludwig was born in 1832 in Goldenbow, Mecklenburg.  He immigrated with his sister and brother-in-law in 1852, ending up in Barton, Wisconsin.  From there, he moved to West Bend, Wisconsin, then Cedarburg, Wisconsin before ending up in Hawkeye, Iowa.

·      William Edward was born in 1862 in West Bend, Wisconsin.  He met and married Susan Reisner in West Union Township, Fayette Co, Iowa.  He briefly moved his family to Fulda, Minnesota before returning to West Union.  Then in 1906, he moved his family to the Chehalis area in Lewis County, Washington.  They lived in Adna before moving into the town of Chehalis.

·      Edward William was born in 1900 in Fulda, Minnesota.  He moved around a lot as a young adult.  He worked for a while in Tacoma, Washington (WA).  Then he worked at a mill in Chehalis, WA.  When that closed due to a fire, he went to work for Weyerhaeuser.   His job required him to move around a lot – Ritzville, WA; Pendleton, Oregon; St Marys, Idaho before settling down in Centralia, WA then Galvin, WA then back to Centralia (in Zenkner Valley) then a house between Centralia and Grand Mound.

·      William Edward was born in 1937 in Pendleton, Oregon.  He spent a few months living in Seattle, Washington after his marriage to Joyce Keesee.  Then he took over the family farm in Zenkner Valley in Centralia for a few years before striking out on his own farm  in Rochester, WA.  Five years later, he sold that place and went back to Zenkner Valley.

·      Marcella Jean (me) was born in 1959 in Centralia, WA.  After graduating from high school, moved into town (lived in 3 different places) before moving to Olympia, WA.  After getting married to David Belles, we rented a house in Tumwater before buying a place in Littlerock, WA.  In the Fall of 2023 we moved to Centralia, WA.

 

Reisner – Henry immigrated from Bavaria, settled in Wisconsin, then moved to Iowa. Most of his children stayed in Iowa but some moved. Several of his grandchildren moved to other locations.

Ahrent – Johann Christian immigrated from Germany and settled in Wisconsin.  Some of the family moved to South Dakota.

Swinehart – Gabriel immigrated from Germany and settled in Ohio.  His son Joshua moved to Indiana.  His son, Emmanuel, was a nomad – he moved around a lot including Kansas, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and even New Zealand.

Keesee – This family lived in Kentucky/Virginia/West Virginia area.  Some of the family moved from there to Washington, Oregon, and Iowa.

2024 Week 9 Changing Names

 Ok . . . let’s see if there were any name changes in my family history.  Not all have been totally researched or proven.

·      Keesee – maybe.  People do have a hard time spelling (as well as pronouncing).  Not proven but it was possible it was originally spelled Keesey.  Prior to that La Cozee.

·      Swinehart – sometimes it is spelled as Swineheart.  Appears to not be changed from the Old Country.

·      Reisner – also spelled as Reissner

·      Ahrendt – various spellings like Ahrent, Ahrendts, Ahrends, Ahrend

·      Secore – Secor

·      Maynard – Mainor

·      Sparr – Spawr

·      Lowe – It could be Low.  However, there is a story that one of the ancestors (not my direct line) changed it to Noe.

·      Caines – Cains, Cain

Of course, there’s always my maiden name (Kludt).  People can’t spell it (or pronounce).  However, the actual spelling never changed from the Old Country (Mecklenburg-Schwerin).

And there’s my husband’s surname – Belles.  Somewhere between 1744 and 1777 it got shortened from Bellesfeld.  Also spelled Bellesfelt, Bellowsfelt, Bellows,  and Bellasfeldt.

Surnames A-Z: S Surnames

This idea of listing surnames over the coming weeks comes from The Olive Tree Genealogy Blog.  I think this will be fun.

Some of my surnames I have already posted information on . . . others I'm still working on.

Continuing the blog list of surnames for both mine and my husband's family that I'm doing genealogical research.  Maybe we connect, maybe not.

So . . . here are the S's:

Sampler - Kentucky
Saunders - England
Schacke/Shockey - Germany, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia
Schoefer - Germany
Schrauger - 
Scott - Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia
Secor - Indiana, New York
Sellen
Shelton/de Shelton - Virginia, Maryland, England, Bermuda, France
Shontz/Shantz - Pennsylvania, Switzerland, Ohio
Simpson - Virginia, Scotland
Skinner - 
Skipwith - 
Smith - Indiana
Smithers/Smothers - Maryland
Sparks - Kentucky, North Carolina
Sparr - Ohio
St John - 
Standley/Stanley - Virginia, Kentucky
Stauffer - Pennsylvania
Stead - Illinois, England, New York
Stennard - Virginia
Stovall - England, Virginia, North Carolina
Swinehart - Idaho, Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, Germany