The Genealogy Search

Great Grandparents Mary Elizabeth Durbin Clark and husband Charles Henry Clark

I came across this copy of a 1891 Plat Map of Avena, Fayette, Illinois.  I thought it would be interesting to highlight all the landowners with names in my family - here is the result: Alden, Ogle & Company. (1891).  Plat book of Fayette County, Illinois . Chicago: Alden, Ogle. So now I know why the Durbin's, Dial's, Clark's and Logue's intermarried. Looks like some in depth Fayette County research is necessary.  

Mary Elizabeth (Durbin) Clark, with Charles and Margaret Dial late 1940's? in Fayette County, Illinois. Photo from Cora Miley.

Otis Clark, Mary Elizabeth Durbin Clark, Iva Clark and Louis Clark unknown date

I am in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, the current home of my parents.   I have confiscated mom and dad's pictures and I have been busy scanning.  I can't wait to share some of the pictures I located.  I found one of my Uncle Bruce, my Aunt Maxine's high school graduation, some interesting pictures of my Aunt Wilma and Uncle John, some wonderful blackmail pictures of my cousins.   I visited Illinois prior to North Carolina and had a wonderful time catching up with my family at the reunion. The picture above was shared by my Cousin Zena of her Grandfather, Grandmother, Aunts and Uncles.  My Grandfather Otis Clark was her Grandfather Charlie Dial's half brother.   I visited the folks at the Decatur Genealogy Society Library in Decatur, Illinois. They have a nice sized library that includes periodicals, Illinois county books, state books, and clip files.  The best part of the library is the people that volunteer their ...

The last few weeks have been tough.  One of my daughter's was in a car wreck, hit by a red light runner with out a license.  Another one of my other daughters is having serious health issues.  The Social Security Administration returned my request for my Grandfather William Skibbe's SS-5, they say there is no proof that he has passed (he died in 1961) and I just sent in a copy of his death certificate.  The good news is my syllabus for the class Barbara and I are teaching is done. The garden is growing and tomatoes should be ready in a week or so.  I am working on getting my research list in order for my trip in June to Indiana and Illinois.  My to do list seems to be getting bigger and bigger.  My quick trip back home will include a wedding, the Clark family reunion and meeting new cousins found because of this blog, Facebook, and Ancestry.  It is indeed exciting! 

Pam, Dad (Lloyd Clark) and Steven summer of  1967 I enjoyed the summers at my grandparents, often Mom and Dad would leave us at our Grandparents for a week or so.  It was a great time to see my numerous cousins.  The picture above is of my cousin Pam, my Dad and my cousin Steve.  I haven't seen Pam since she was married years and years ago.  Steve passed away in a auto accident in 1982.  Perhaps I last saw Pam at Steven's funeral.  Pictures like this remind me to cherish my cousins and other family members.

I am trying to plan a quick trip to Cass County Indiana while visiting Illinois for our family reunion.  Problem is I don't know when it is!  I also need to hook up with some cousins and do a little courthouse stomping in Illinois.  All of that and try to keep expenses down!  Let's hope the family firms some plans up soon - I also hear that one of my cousins children is getting married soon and another cousin's child is getting married in June.  Kinda feel out of the loop here in Arizona (or maybe I just annoy my cousins too much for an invite to the weddings!)  I know I will need at least a day in Cass County to do some Poundstone research.  I would like to have a few days to visit Cousin Zena and her folks and do some research and then there is the Clark/Damery family - I certainly need a few days to catch up with them and  do a little digging around.  Here is what I wish to accomplish for my Poundstone line- My Cass County Indiana list i...

Pearl Belle Hale Birch Clark was Grandpa Clark's 3rd wife.  She is buried with her first husband Chauncey R. Birch at the Harshbarger Cemetery (also known as Lake Fork Cemetery) in Atwood, Piatt County, Illinois.  I find it interesting that she is buried with her first husband with no mention of her remarried name of Clark.  Grandpa's name is listed as Odes Elmer Clark on her death certificate shown below.  She died of  pulmonary tuberculosis at age 22.  Their marriage date has not yet been located.  Grandpa Clark was living with his 2nd wife's family in January of  1920 (the Butts), Viola Gladys Butts Clark died in  February of  1920 and Pearl died in May of 1924 - so sometime between Viola's death and Pearl's death they were married.  I will need to search the Piatt County Courthouse marriage records the next time I get to Illinois.

It was fifty years ago today, January 28, 1961, that my parents Lloyd and Lorraine (nee Skibbe) Clark married.  How wonderful to see a marriage last.  My father has a tendency to make up silly songs, one such song he sings as he picks up the dog poop (full out when I was a child, the neighbors used to slam their windows shut) but doesn't talk too much ; Mom can cook zucchini 150 different ways and loves to talk - on the phone or in person. Some how the two of them combined their quirkiness to create a workable marriage.     PS - Did I mention Gary married me knowing that I sing silly songs especially to my animals and I talk to much?  Hopefully we will find each other just as unique as my parents have found each other, love you honey!

Grand Aunt Nellie Lapearl (Clark) Tipsword and her husband Edward R. Tipsword.  Grand Aunts Nellie and her sister Jennie married two of  the Tipsword brothers.  Nellie married Edward, Jennie married John.  Nellie and Edward along with John and Jennie are buried at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Beecher City, Effingham, Illinois.

Jenny L. and John H. Tipsword Spring Hill Cemetery Beecher City, Illinois Jenny (Clark) Tipsword is my Grandaunt.  She was a sister to my Grandfather Otis Elmer Clark.  Jenny married John H. Tipsword.  They had seven children Maude M., Lewis C.,  Jack,  Gladys, Robert, John and Dorothy.  

This past week has been a busy one.  I sent out a letter to the Fayette County Court in Illinois to locate additional court filings on my Great Grandfathers probate file.  Previously I had located some records on a film at the Family History Library, however, the film noted that several record books were not filmed.  I requested a copy of an entry for Richard Poundstone of Bement in the 1929 Roll of Honor at the Illinois State Archives. I also sent away for death certificates on some collateral relatives.  I was lucky to connect with a new Clark/Dial relative on Ancestry and Facebook.  If all goes well I will be meeting a new cousin on my next visit to Illinois.  A status hearing for the accused murderer of my Uncle Bruce will be taking place on June 17 at the Macon County Courthouse in Decatur, Illinois.  Once the trail date is set I'll visit Illinois to attend the trial, meet new relatives and do some more sluething in the area, and deliver some of...

Above is the death certificate for my Grandfather's second wife.  Listed under cause of death does it say: Pneumonia (both lungs) following  Influenza and complicated birth  chronic bronchial asthma?  Now the family argument is did she give birth or suffer a complication during her birth?  Any suggestions?   I cannot locate a baby in the cemetery, her mother died prior to her.  It seems my Grandfather left the farm after her death and wandered around the county until he married his third wife in 1924. 

February 14, 1949, St. Elmo, Fayette, Illinois