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My mysterious line
Hi all, I have been tracing the Evans family of North Branch Village, Lapeer County for a while, but much still remains a mystery. For one thing, I have been unable to find the parents and youngest child in the 1910 census, even though they all reappear in 1920 so I know they were all still alive. I've tried many tricks and have looked through the entire North Branch Village census (as well as the censuses where their adult children were living) and still haven't found them. For another, I've yet to find out the death date for the parents, nor whether they even died in Michigan, and have yet to find their mystery fifth child, who was reported as still being alive on one census but for whom I have literally yet to find a single record. Lastly, one of the adult children whose name I do know, abruptly drops off records after the 1900 census! I think this family has been the hardest I've yet tried to trace. For having been working on them for several years, it's hard for me to believe how little I still know. If anyone has any ideas for me, please share them. Thank you so much.
Their names and basic info:
Joseph Evans (sometimes in records as John)
born in England (place unknown) c. 1856, parents listed on marriage record as John and Grace Evans
moved to Ontario, Canada, unknown date and initial residence
Occupation of farmer by 1879
was living in East Nissouri, Oxford County, Ontario at time of marriage and on 1881 census
had moved to North Branch Village by 1900 census. Census records list date of entry as 1886 and naturalization as 1895
Have not found on 1910 census
Listed in North Branch Village again in 1920
Have not found on 1930 census - died prior?
married Mary Adams on 1 Jan 1879 in Perth, Ontario, location of ceremony listed as St. Mary's (apparently the major spot in the area, as all the couples on the page are listed at the same location regardless of what sect they were)
both listed on marriage record as Baptists
Witnesses listed: Samuel Evans and Mary Hawkins Blanshard (I am still not sure how they connect up with the line)
Mary Adams
also born in England (place unknown), c. 1861, parents listed on marriage record as William and Elizabeth Adams
also moved to Ontario, Canada, date and initial residence unknown
Same census info as Joseph
Children:
William Henry Evans
b. 17 Nov 1897 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
on 1881 census with parents
on 1900 census for Clark Town, Clark County, South Dakota, living with younger brother on a farm
Have not found any records for him beyond that.
Unknown Evans
No information known beyond their supposed existence (according to the census: lists Mary as having had 5 children, all 5 still alive), not even a name. Possibly a mistake?
Have fairly complete records for three Evans children:
Ernest Joseph Evans
b. 5 Oct 1881 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
on 1900 census in SD with brother William
married Grace (maiden name unknown) c. 1905 (before SD marriage records began)
1910 census Thorpe, Clark County, South Dakota
1918 Lapeer, Michigan, according to WWI draft card
1920 census Flint Ward 5, Genesee, Michigan
1930 census Flint, Genesee, Michigan
Death date and place unknown
Samuel Lawrence Evans
b. 7 May 1883 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
1900 census living with parents in North Branch Village, Lapeer, Michigan
1910 census Thorpe, Clark, South Dakota
1918 (WWI draft card) Clark County, South Dakota
1920 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1930 census Faulkton, Faulk, South Dakota
d. Sep 1971; last SS benefit to Faulkton, Faulk, South Dakota
married three times; first wife died, divorced second wife, third wife outlived him
Ada Ella Evans
b. 28 Oct 1894 in North Branch Village, Lapeer, Michigan
1900 census living with parents in North Branch Village
1910 census whereabouts unknown
1 May 1913 married in Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1920 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1930 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
d. Apr 1974, last SS benefit sent to Henry, Codington, South Dakota
Their names and basic info:
Joseph Evans (sometimes in records as John)
born in England (place unknown) c. 1856, parents listed on marriage record as John and Grace Evans
moved to Ontario, Canada, unknown date and initial residence
Occupation of farmer by 1879
was living in East Nissouri, Oxford County, Ontario at time of marriage and on 1881 census
had moved to North Branch Village by 1900 census. Census records list date of entry as 1886 and naturalization as 1895
Have not found on 1910 census
Listed in North Branch Village again in 1920
Have not found on 1930 census - died prior?
married Mary Adams on 1 Jan 1879 in Perth, Ontario, location of ceremony listed as St. Mary's (apparently the major spot in the area, as all the couples on the page are listed at the same location regardless of what sect they were)
both listed on marriage record as Baptists
Witnesses listed: Samuel Evans and Mary Hawkins Blanshard (I am still not sure how they connect up with the line)
Mary Adams
also born in England (place unknown), c. 1861, parents listed on marriage record as William and Elizabeth Adams
also moved to Ontario, Canada, date and initial residence unknown
Same census info as Joseph
Children:
William Henry Evans
b. 17 Nov 1897 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
on 1881 census with parents
on 1900 census for Clark Town, Clark County, South Dakota, living with younger brother on a farm
Have not found any records for him beyond that.
Unknown Evans
No information known beyond their supposed existence (according to the census: lists Mary as having had 5 children, all 5 still alive), not even a name. Possibly a mistake?
Have fairly complete records for three Evans children:
Ernest Joseph Evans
b. 5 Oct 1881 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
on 1900 census in SD with brother William
married Grace (maiden name unknown) c. 1905 (before SD marriage records began)
1910 census Thorpe, Clark County, South Dakota
1918 Lapeer, Michigan, according to WWI draft card
1920 census Flint Ward 5, Genesee, Michigan
1930 census Flint, Genesee, Michigan
Death date and place unknown
Samuel Lawrence Evans
b. 7 May 1883 in East Nissouri, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
1900 census living with parents in North Branch Village, Lapeer, Michigan
1910 census Thorpe, Clark, South Dakota
1918 (WWI draft card) Clark County, South Dakota
1920 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1930 census Faulkton, Faulk, South Dakota
d. Sep 1971; last SS benefit to Faulkton, Faulk, South Dakota
married three times; first wife died, divorced second wife, third wife outlived him
Ada Ella Evans
b. 28 Oct 1894 in North Branch Village, Lapeer, Michigan
1900 census living with parents in North Branch Village
1910 census whereabouts unknown
1 May 1913 married in Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1920 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
1930 census Elrod, Clark, South Dakota
d. Apr 1974, last SS benefit sent to Henry, Codington, South Dakota
Views: 44
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Harold Henderson on
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Liz --
It might be interesting to compare their census neighbors in 1900 (say, 20 households on each side) with their census neighbors in 1920. Anybody on both lists? And where are those neighbors in 1910?
Have you consulted land records? Mortgages? Sometimes a death can be detected when the property is all sold. If they were too poor to own land, try any local welfare records -- or court cases if they were sued for debt. Digitized newspapers (not sure if there are any from that area) could help that way too. And of course a household in Flint should show up in a city directory. Good luck!
Harold -
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Permalink Reply by Liz Loveland on
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Thank you for responding! No, I have not checked land records or wills yet; it's one of the things still on my "to-do" list for this line. Your neighbor idea is a good one that I think I will try next. I think it would be especially helpful to see if anyone on both lists is also on the 1910 census. I have yet to find any digitized newspapers from North Branch Village, but I'm not sure if that's because there aren't any yet or just because I haven't looked in the right place yet. Thanks for all your ideas.
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Permalink Reply by Roz Edson on
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Hi Liz,
A few pieces for you:
Ernest Evans married Grace Middleton
Marriage Record
Groom's name: Ernest Evans
Groom's race or color (on document):
Groom's age: 23 years
Groom's birth year: 1882
Groom's birthplace: Canada
Bride's name: Grace Middleton
Bride's race or color (on document):
Bride's age: 19 years
Bride's birth year: 1886
Bride's birthplace: Mich
Marriage type:
Marriage date: 01 Feb 1905
Marriage place: North Branch, Lapeer, Michigan
Groom's father's name: Joseph Eva...
Groom's mother's name: Mary Adams
Father of bride's name: Sylvester Middleton
Mother of bride's name: Emma Nelson
Marital status:
Groom's previous wife's name:
Bride's marital status:
Bride's previous husband's name:
Additional relatives:
Film number: 2342671
Frame number:
Digital GS number: 4208682
Image number: 288
Reference number: item 3 p 228 rn 3601
Collection: Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
Samuel Evans married Mabel Day
Marriage Record
Groom's name: Samuel E Evans
Groom's race or color (on document):
Groom's age: 22 years
Groom's birth year: 1883
Groom's birthplace: Canada
Bride's name: Mabel Day
Bride's race or color (on document):
Bride's age: 18 years
Bride's birth year: 1887
Bride's birthplace: Mich
Marriage type:
Marriage date: 10 May 1905
Marriage place: Burlington, Lapeer, Michigan
Groom's father's name: Joseph Evans
Groom's mother's name: Mary Adams
Father of bride's name: Jason Day
Mother of bride's name: Emerilla Harrington
Marital status:
Groom's previous wife's name:
Bride's marital status:
Bride's previous husband's name:
Additional relatives:
Film number: 2342671
Frame number:
Digital GS number: 4208682
Image number: 291
Reference number: item 3 p 231 rn 3646
Collection: Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
Millie Evans, daughter of Samuel Evans and Mable Day
Millie's Death Record
For consideration – ?Possible missing child of Joseph and Mary:
There is an Anna Evans, born abt 1901 in Michigan, who married Milton Wilson in 1918 in Lapeer County. Anna’s residence (at the time of her marriage) was North Branch. And, in the 1920 census (Pontiac, Oakland Co, Michigan) it says that this Anna's parents were both born in England.
Marriage Record
Groom's name: Milton E. Wilson
Groom's race or color (on document):
Groom's age: 21 years
Groom's birth year: 1897
Groom's birthplace: Mich
Bride's name: Anna G. Evans
Bride's race or color (on document):
Bride's age: 17 years
Bride's birth year: 1901
Bride's birthplace: Mich
Marriage type:
Marriage date: 12 Dec 1918
Marriage place: Lapeer, Michigan
Groom's father's name: Thomas W.
Groom's mother's name: Mary A. Phillips
Father of bride's name: Joseph
Mother of bride's name: Mary
Marital status:
Groom's previous wife's name:
Bride's marital status:
Bride's previous husband's name:
Additional relatives:
Film number: 2342727
Frame number:
Digital GS number: 4210019
Image number: 40
Reference number: v 10 p 277 rn 169414
Collection: Michigan Marriages 1868-1925
Godspeed, Roz -
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