Pure Dumb Luck and Lots of Gut Instinct

I'm sure a professional genealogist would run for the hills if they read what I am about to post but here goes anyway. I am convinced that a LOT of genealogy success is the result of dumb luck and gut instinct. Over the years, I have fallen into more finds just out of dumb luck or being in the right place at the right time or thumbing through just the right book. I also have had a lot of instances of having a gut instinct about something and sure enough, I find out it is true. Yesterday was an example of both of these occurrences.

I went to our local library to do some research for a friend. Our library has a rather extensive genealogy/local history section. This is the same library that was closed from last August 13 to sometime in December because of our 100 year flood, This was the first time I had been there since the flood and I was amazed to find that the underground parking garage and basement where all of the electrical, phone, etc. plus used bookstore, offices etc was still being worked on. And because of this, the library has no AC. The upstairs area where the main library is was not affected by the flood--thankfully. Anyway, I digress.

I did my research for Bob and as I was getting up to leave I noticed that right in front of me there were quite a few books on Monroe County, Ohio, I have done more research than I care to think about in and about this county. Unfortunately, it is one of the two counties I'm researching (Wabash County, Illinois being the other) where the courthouse was burned down in the 1800's. Well, in Wabash County's case, it was a tornado. Anyway, I noticed that there were a few books about Monroe County that I hadn't seen before. So, I sat down and started going through them.

I am looking for my g.g.grandfather, Isaac Pearce--not Pierce but Pearce, it seems. Isaac was born about 1780 supposedly in Delaware but it could have been Pennsylvania and died April 29, 1861 in Monroe Co., Ohio. My g.g.grandmother Mary (don't know her surname) died Jan. 15, 1846 in Monroe County. I got this date from the local Monroe County newspaper, The Spirit of Democracy. The article didn't give her birth date but said she was 50 making her born in 1796. Isaac remarried between 1846 and 1850 to a Lydia (didn't now her surname). Lydia had been previously married to a Mr. Agin.

A couple of items I found in one of the books yesterday were the following:
#1 Spirit of Democracy (newspaper from Monroe Co., Ohio) April 6, 1869 Vol 26 #6 "Legal Notice-Will of Isaac Pearce dec'd-destroyed by fire, copy admitted to record March 30, 1869"

#2 Spirit of Democracy Dec. 1, 1868 Vol 25 #40,"Settlement Accounts for Hearing Dec. 17, 1868 J.R. Pennington Executor for Isaac Pearce partial".

I was curious who this J.R. Pennington was and why he would be the executor of my g.g.grandfather's estate. So of course I started looking up the Penningtons. I found that J. R. was John R. Pennington, the son of Thomas Pennington and Sarah Randolph.

Then I found this:
Ancestors of Monroe County, Ohio
Thomas Pennington Jan 10, 1803-Nov 7, 1890 md Sarah Randolph born Nov 18, 1802-died July 1, 1871 or 1874
Their child: Maria Jane Pennington born May 13, 1839-died Dec. 8, 1901 Monroe Co., Ohio
Maria Jane Pennington married James Randolph Agin born Nov 22, 1835-died March 16, 1912 Crane Nest, Monroe co. Oh. They were married 1863 Crane Nest, Ohio
James Randolph Agin was the son of Jacob Agin born 1811-died Feb 16, 1876 and Phoebe born 1812-died Feb 1882.

So here was the link between the Penningtons, the Agins, and my g.g.grandfather, Isaac Pearce and step g.g.grandmother, Lydia.

When I got home, I started going through my old notes and found that Lydia was living with Thomas Pennington in 1880 and although his wife was dead, Lydia was listed as his sister in law.(And why didn't I catch this before?? Who knows!) So, I did some online research and found that Lydia was indeed the sister of Sarah Randolph Pennington and was born September 16, 1813 in Redstone, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Richard Fitz Randolph and Lydia Mackay. Richard and Lydia had 12 children, several of whom ended up in Monroe County, Ohio.

And guess what, their oldest daughter was named Mary and was born in 1796!! My g.g.grandmother, Mary, who died in 1846 was born in 1796 in Pennsylvania. I got that information from the 1880 census of my great grandmother--Isaac and Mary's daughter, Elizabeth D. Pearce Sayers.

OK, I don't have proof that my g.g.grandmother Mary was indeed Mary Randolph, especially since Mary Randolph supposedly married a Maxwell Edwards. Isaac Pearce and Mary did not marry until about 1821 when he was about 40 and she was about 25. I have been totally unable to find anything on a Maxwell Edwards from that time and place so there is every possibility that Maxwell died and Mary then married Isaac Pearce. And when she died, Isaac married her sister who just happened to be a widow.

Anyway, being in the right place and the right time and finding those books on Monroe County helped me to find the Agins, Penningtons and Randolphs. And, my gut instinct is working overtime telling me that my Mary was indeed Mary Randolph. Now, I just have to find out how Mary Randolph met Isaac Pearce and got married. Then I have to be in the right place at the right time and find out who Isaac's parents were.

Later: Well, shoot!!! I just did some more searching and found that Maxwell Edwards was the son of Thomas Edwards and--you guessed it--Mary Randolph. And they settled in Perry County, Ohio where Mary died in 1862!!! NOT my Mary! Oh well, so much for gut instinct. Back to the drawing board. BUT, I did find out who my step g.g.grandmother, Lydia, was at least.

My Dad's Mom-Amanda Jane Sayers

Boy, I didn't realize how hard it would be to keep up with two blogs. It's been awhile since I posted (except for Wordless Wednesday) about some genealogy stuff. So, back to my family.

My dad's mom was Amanda Jane Sayers. She was born December 16, 1856 in Marshall County, West Virginia (actually Virginia at the time.) She married my grandfather, Edwin Amos Brooks on April 12, 1877 in Ritchie County, West Virginia. She died November 21, 1919 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia. Her death certificate states that she died from TB. I had heard that she was in and out of mental institutions much of her married life and did in fact find her listed as a patient at the W.Va. Hospital for the Insane in Lewis County, W.Va. in the 1910 census. It was my understanding that she would come home long enough to get pregnant and have a child then would head back to the institution. Now, I'm not sure if this is right or not but she did have 10 children in 22 years.

Amanda Jane was the daughter of William Sayers, Sr. and Elizabeth D. Pearce. William was born about 1814 in Pennsylvania and died between 1880 and 1890 probably in Wirt County, West Virginia. He supposedly was killed by a falling tree. I have never been able to find a death certificate or tombstone for him. According to the 1880 census, both of his parents were born in Ireland. This is where I hit a brick wall as far as tracing this family. I have found various spellings of the name-Sires, Syers, Sayer, etc. I would LOVE to be able to find any of his siblings or his parents.

William married Elizabeth D. Pearce about 1854 in West Virginia. I have found no marriage certificate for them. Elizabeth D. was the daughter of Isaac and Mary (unknown last name) Pearce. Elizabeth was born December 1831 probably in Monroe County, Ohio and died April 1903 in Ritchie County, West Virginia. Elizabeth had 3 siblings-Rachel J. born about 1823 married and divorced Presley J. Martin, John F. Pearce born about 1825 married Louisa Moffitt, and Isaac born about 1825 married Nancy (last name unknown). They all lived in Monroe County, Ohio.

Isaac Pearce, Sr. was born about 1790 in Delaware and died April 29, 1861 in Monroe County, Ohio. His wife, Mary, was born about 1796 in Pennsylvania and died January 15, 1846 in Monroe County. Isaac married #2 Lydia Agin in Monroe County.

Back to Amanda Jane and her sibs.
#1. She had a sister, Mary, born April 14, 1855 and died December 28, 1855 in Marshall County, West Virginia.
#2. Amanda Jane
#3. William Winfield born August 14, 1859 in Marshall County and died January 20, 1928 in Ritchie County, W.Va. He married Ursula Haney and had 6 children, Cora D., Mary Elizabeth, Rosa, William Arthur, Bessie and James F.
#4. Isaac Newton (Pearce?) Sayers born January 1861 in W.Va and died January 3, 1930 in Wood County, W.Va. He was unmarried.
#5. Charles H. Sayers born July 1864 in West Virginia and died after 1930. Probably unmarried.
#6. Child. In 1900 Elizabeth stated that 4 of 6 children were living. This means that there was a 6th child somewhere along the line.

This is all I have on the Sayers and Pearces. No pictures, not much information. It is making me crazy!! I sure would appreciate ANY help on this family.

My Brooks Great Grandparents-Brooks Genealogy

Nicholas Brooks, Jr. 1832-1918

Ok, lets go back a generation. My great grandparents were Nicholas Brooks, Jr. and Eliza Rebecca Dye. Family tradition says that Nicholas left home at an early age "to fend for himself" and went to live with Samuel Dye, an uncle of his future wife. Considering the fact that his father was 80 years old when Nicholas was born might have had something to do with it!! (But more about Nick Sr. in another post). Nicholas was the son of Nicholas Brooks, Sr. and Sarah Ice. He was one of 9 children. He did have some half brothers and sisters but I'm not sure how many. Apparently Nicholas Jr. served in the Civil War when he lived in Wheeling, West Virginia for several years.

Eliza Rebecca Dye was the daughter of Amos Dye and Maria Taylor. She was one of 11 children. The Dye line was one of my favorite lines to research early on. I collected tons and tons of material on them. Eliza Rebecca played the organ at the Moss Run Church in Washington County, Ohio. I inherited the little brass lamp that she used to carry to church and place on the organ. I also inherited some monogrammed silverware and a stoneware pitcher belonging to Nicholas and Eliza Rebecca.

Nicholas Brooks Jr. Born January 15, 1832 Washington County, Ohio Died May 19, 1918 Washington County, Ohio. You would hardly recognize this good looking gent as the same one with the long white beard at the top of this page, would you?

Eliza Rebecca Dye born December 28, 1835 Washington County, Ohio Died June 21, 1904 Washington County, Ohio. Notice that she is pregnant in this picture. I like to think she is pregnant with my Grandpa.

Nicholas and Eliza Rebecca are buried in Eddy Cemetery in Washington County, Ohio

Nicholas and Eliza Rebecca were married in Washington County, Ohio November 9, 1854 and they had 8 children.

#1 My grandfather, Edwin Amos Brooks, was born July 23, 1855 in Washington County, Ohio and died January 24, 1940 in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. He married Amanda Jane Sayers April 12, 1877 in Ritchie County, West Virginia. She was born December 16, 1856 in Marshall County, West Virginia and died November 21, 1919 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia.

#2. Their second born was John Henry Brooks born January 24, 1859 in Washington County, Ohio and died May 19, 1918 in Washington County, Ohio. John Henry never married. He apparently died of Epilepsy.

#3. Anna M. Brooks was born April 3, 1862 when the family lived in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. She died August 12 of that year in Wheeling.

#4. Dudley William Brooks was born August 14, 1864 in Wheeling, West Virginia and died March 23, 1932 in Washington County, Ohio. He married Lucinda Jane Hood September 5, 1904 in Washington County. They had 4 sons-Nicholas James, Gerald Walter, Clarence Elmer, and Delbert Ira.

#5. Charlotte Brooks was born about 1866. It is not clear when she died. Family tradition said that she was engaged to be married and died before her wedding. However, I never found her in the 1870 census.

#6. Elmer Nicholas Brooks was born February 3, 1868 in Washington County, Ohio and died May 22, 1937 on Cow Run, Washington County, Ohio. He married April 1, 1899 to Lillie Fredonia Knutty. They had 3 children-Eliza, Merl, and Lulu.

#7. Maria Brooks was born and died in 1869 in Washington County, Ohio

#8. Era (a boy) was born February 2, 1872 on Cow Run and died February 8, 1872.

This was the Brooks homestead where all 8 children were born. I took this picture in the 1960's sometime. It has since been torn down.

In my next post I will talk about Nicholas Brooks, Sr. or "Old Nick" as we lovingly call him. He has to be one of my all time favorite ancestors. He lived to be 108 years old, was apparently married 4 times, fathered I don't know how many children, and had his last kid when he was 99 years old!!! I've always wished that I could go back in time and meet him and find out so much more about him.

Let Me Introduce You to My Brooks Family-Part 1-Brooks Genealogy

My grandfather, Edwin Amos Brooks. There are no pictures of my grandmother, Amanda Jane Sayers.

I was born--many, many years ago--actually in 1938--to George Edwin Brooks and Opal Clark. George was the youngest of 10 children born to Edwin Amos Brooks and Amanda Jane Sayers-- 8 boys and 2 girls. All but Daisy Elizabeth lived to adulthood. All of the children were born in Finch, Ritchie County, West (By God) Virginia. As my dad always said, he was born on Whiskey Run and Dog Trot. You gotta love those names. John Henry, the first born, was born in 1878. Lillie Elizabeth was born in 1879. Following were: Charlie William in 1881, Delbert Nicholas in 1884, Daisy Elizabeth in 1888, Harry Arthur in 1890, Hobert Clarence in 1893, Knols Curtis in 1895, Earl (no middle name poor guy) in 1898 and my dad, George Edwin, in 1900. It seems, according to family history, that my poor grandmother had a history of mental problems. (And with 10 kids, who can blame her!!). She would go into an institution, get better, come home, get pregnant, have another kid, go back to the institution and start the whole cycle over again. My poor aunt Lillie, being the only girl, ended up raising her brothers.

This was taken at my dad's funeral of the remaining Brooks boys. From left to right are Knols, Charlie, Earl and Hobert.

My dad only went as far as 4th grade in school. He started driving a wagon in the oil fields at the age of about 10 and continued working in the oil fields for most of the remainder of his live. He also had several brothers who worked in the oilfields also. Earl settled in Texas and Charlie settled in Crawford County, Illinois. John, Harry, Hobert and Knols all remained in Ritchie County, Wood County, and Harrison County, West Virginia. Aunt Lillie ended up marrying and settling in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. Ok, I say married. My Uncle Knols always contended that she never actually married Pawdaw (our name for her husband Charles Murray) but lived common law with him. Whatever, they were together for many, many years.

My dad and his brother Hobert Clarence Brooks. My dad is on the right. Boy was he a good looking dude or what?

My dad moved from oil field to oil field. He met my mother in Wabash County, Illinois where they were married. They moved to Texas and actually lived in a tent there, then back to Illinois where my brother was born. They then moved to Kentucky and finally to Michigan where I was born. My brother was in something like 10 different schools before he was 10 I think. Luckily, they stopped the moving when I came along.

I love this picture of my dad. He had the greatest smile.

You notice, I haven't mentioned my Uncle Delbert. There has to be a black sheep in every family and apparently Uncle Delbert was our black sheep. The family lost track of him for many years and thought he was somewhere in Utah but weren't sure. One of my cousins was a career man in the Navy. He had to have a background check for security clearance and thanks to the US Government, we learned a whole lot more about Uncle Del.

Uncle Del apparently found his way to Mexico and joined Panco Villa sometime after 1918 where I found his World War I draft registration. (Maybe he was a draft dodger.) Anyway, he apparently was made Lieutenant Governor of Sonora Province by Villa. When Villa was assassinated, Uncle Del left Mexico just one jump ahead of the revolutionaries. According to his ramblings late in his life, he fathered an illegitimate daughter with a Hispanic woman while living in Mexico. Uncle Delbert either did not know or could not remember her name. He just knew he had a daughter and he never married the mother. He bummed around Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona for a couple of years, then took a job as an Armed Guard in the mail cars of the Union Pacific Railroad. He kept this job (and his gun!) for several years, at least through the late 1930's. His record shows he was still employed by Union Pacific in 1935 when the Social Security System was started. He later left that job and moved to Utah to pan for gold. He thought he would make a fortune! He lived the rest of his life in Utah. After he retired, Uncle Delbert has the dubious distinction of being the first man to shoot up a Post Office. He claimed that the postmaster had taken his government check. What actually happened was, there was a holiday and the mail wasn't delivered. Uncle Delbert didn't believe the postmaster, so he pulled his gun and started shooting. Luckily, the postmaster wasn't killed. Uncle Delbert finished out his life in a Nursing Home mumbling about his "good ole days" when he was much younger and could "whip anyone who looked cross-eyed at him." Uncle Delbert died on August 30, 1966, and is buried in the Washington City Cemetery in Washington County, Utah. He has a small headstone with his full name, birth and death dates on it.

Delbert Nicholas Brooks 1884-1966. Now, doesn't this look like someone who would ride with Pancho Villa?

I never met Uncle Del but I know I would have loved him! I met all of the rest of my dad's siblings but my favorite was Uncle Earl. After my dad died, I always kind of looked to him as my second dad. He and Aunt Geneva never had kids of their own but really loved kids. We visited them several times in Texas and they came to Ohio to visit us several times. It was Aunt Geneva who got me started on genealogy.

Earl and Geneva (Neva Underwood) Brooks. Taken in 1978.

My mom died in 1953 in an accident caused by a drunk driver. My dad remarried in 1955 to Olive Biehl, a girlhood friend of my mom's, and lived out the rest of his life in Allendale, Wabash County, Illinois. He died in 1967. My parents are buried in Standish, Arenac County, Michigan where I grew up.

My parent's gravestone in Woodmere Cemetery in Standish.

In my next post, I will continue with the Brooks Family Part 2. Stay tuned.