USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 48
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
N. B. Claypool is located on 320 acres of good land in Ingham township, all of which he acquired by purchase and which is under the best improvements. His first investment in land in Franklin county was the purchase of 120 acres in 1873. His house is surrounded by a thrifty grove. In 1879, he commenced raising stock, for which his farm is particularly adapted. He started with ten head of cattle and now has six times that number. In 1882 he built a barn 24x28 feet in dimensions.
Mr Claypool is a republican and has held the office of township trustee for seven years. He has also been a member of the school board. He was born in JoDaviess Co., Ill., May 14, 1836. His parents, Milton and Rosanna (Higgins) Claypool, removed to Illinois from Kentucky and were among the pioneers of JoDaviess county. Mr. Claypool remained on the farm until he was nineteen years of age. He was married July 4, 1854, to Annette Townsend and for the thirteen ensuing years rented farms. He then bought 200 acres of land. In 1865, Mr Claypool en- listed in company K, 96th Illinois Infantry and served eleven months. He was dis- charged at San Antonio, Texas, and re- turned to Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Claypool have eight children-Ernest E., Rosanna, Edward B., George M., Mintie A., Elfie, N. B., Jr. and Phil. H
C. Roemer, a farmer of Ingham town- ship, who is among her most prominent and energetic agriculturists, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on the 24th of November, 1831. He came to the United States when not quite twenty years of age and . first located at Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y. He remained there six years and learned the carpenter's tr de. He next went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and worked at his trade until the fall of 1875, when he settled in Ingham township on section 19. He own 167 acres of good land, with 115 acres under cultivation. His place has on it a large spring of living water, which he intends to convert into a fish pond, and will stock it with carp. Mr. Roemer is interested to some extent in fine stock and owns forty-five head of graded cattle. He markets annually about 100
146
2
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
hogs. In 1882, he erected a good barn and his farm is considered one of the best managed and improved in the township. He values his land at $30 per acre. Mr. Roemer owned eighty acres at Cedar Falls, which he sold for $31 per acre. He was married, Jan. 4, 1854, to Katie Humbert. Her father was born in France and mother in Bavaria The former is now living at Cedar Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Roemer have had eleven children, ten of whom are liv- ing and of the following ages-Charles C., 24; George Solomon, 19; Edward A., 17; Claudie F., 12; Daniel K., 10; Harvey H., 9; of the girls, Amelia C., is the wife of Edward Kiefer, of Hampton; Lydia A., is the wife of George Kugler, of West Fork; Julia N., is aged 15 and Christina A. is 13. The two last named are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Roemer are members of the Zion Evangelical Church of Mott township. Mr. Roemer cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont and has always re- mained a republican. He has held the office of justice of the peace for three years and also has held other local offices.
William Hamilton has been a resident of Iowa since about 1855, when he came to Scott county, and located about twelve miles from Davenport, which was his home until he came to Franklin county, in 1876. He bought a farm in the township of West Fork, which he has rented since the fall of 1882, when he took up his resi- dence at Hansell station. Mr. Hamilton was born near Philadelphia, Aug. 20, 1834. His parents, William and Rose (Calhoun) Hamilton, were natives of Ireland and emigrated to Pennsylvania at an early day. The father was a farmer and Mr. Hamilton was reared to the same profes-
sion. He was educated in the common schools and received three terms of in- struction at an academy. Mr. Hamilton was married Dec. 17, 1856, to Mary Paul, of Philadelphia. She died Sept. 8, 1868, leaving four children-Eva, John, George and James. June 20, 1869, Martha Quig- ley became the wife of Mr. Hamilton. Their children are-Ada, Willie, Mary and Benjamin. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the M. E. Church Mr. Ham- ilton is a republican in political faith, and has held the office of justice of the peace, beside the several school offices.
G. H. Stackhouse first came to Franklin county in 1877. He rented a farm, re- mained on it one year, then removed to Kansas and lived on a claim there one year, but the next year came back to Franklin county and settled permanently on section 6, Ingham township, where he owns sixty-six acres of good land. He was born in Washington Co., Ohio, on the 17th of April, 1845. His father was a farmer and removed from Ohio to Deca- tur Co., Ind., where he remained eighteen years, then moved to Champaign Co., Ill., where G. II. lived for thirteen years. He there owned 160 acres of land. In August, 186z, G. H. Stackhouse enlisted in com- pany F, 68th Indiana Infantry, being at that time only a little over sixteen years of age. At the battle of Mumfordsville, after being engaged with the enemy for two days, he was taken prisoner. He was taken to Bowling Green, Ky., and after being paroled, he, with his regiment, was sent to Indianapolis, where they were in camp until their exchange, in 1863. He then returned to the service, but on ac- count of his youth, his father took him
447
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
from the army on a writ of habeas corpus. In 1865, he moved to Illinois and the next year, was married to Sophina Anship, of Indiana. He remained in Illinois until July, 1877, when he came first to Franklin Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Stackhouse have three children-John Owen, born in Indi- ana; Ida and Carrie, born in Illinois. The parents are members of the United Brethren Church. Mr. Stackhouse has always been a democrat.
In 1854, Benjamin Jones came to Frank- lin county with his father and brother, and together entered 200 acres in Geneva township, also eighty acres of schoolland, where the father lived until his death in 1882. Benjamin was a resident of that township until the fall of 1881, when he moved to his present farm in Ingham, which he had purchased in 1879. He also owns eighty acres on section 35, val- ued at $30 per acre. He was born in West Virginia in 1813, being the son of Jabish Jones, born in Virginia in 1792, and Mary (Llewellyn) Jones, a native of Pennsylva- nia. In 1834, the family emigrated to Delaware Co., Ind., where he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed sev- eral years, and then removed to Iowa. He married, in 1845, Sarah Thorpe of Dela- ware Co., Ind., a native of Ross Co., Ohio, born in 1821, and who removed to Indi- ana in 1831. They have had ten children, eight of whom are living-Beersheba, William H., Alexander, Nancy, Andrew, Samuel, Emeline and Amanda. The farm is under the management of their son Andrew. Alexander was a member of company HI, 32d Iowa Infantry, and served through the war.
ORGANIZATION.
The original township comprised town- ships 92 and 93, range 19, and were set apart by Judge Reeve in 1858, and an election ordered to be held at the house of Simon Selix, April 5, 1858, with Henry Meyer, president; G. II. Ingham, Lemuel Armstrong and J. H. Allen, as judges; Isaac Stover and J. A Staley, as clerks. At their election, Henry Meyer and J. A. Staley, were elected justices of the peace: Simon Selix and L. H. Cooley, constables: Isaac Stover, clerk; L. Armstrong, Simon Selix and J. H. Allen, trustees.
May 17, 1858, the trustees held their first meeting, and divided the town into two road districts. The township then embraced the territory known as West Fork; but in 1868, was sub-divided. The first election, after the division, was held Nov. 3, 1868, and resulted as follows: Trustees, Hugh Clark and T. H. Wil- liamson, the other members holding over. At the special election of 1882, on the prohibitory amendment question, their were eighty one votes cast for, and twelve against-three blanks-leaving a majority of sixty-nine for prohibition.
The township officers for 1883 were: N. B Claypool, M. Menzie and J. S. Sil vius, trustees; G. W. Trindle, assessor; George Sutton, clerk; Horace Hance and William Wright, constables; William Hamilton and J. T. Gans, justices of the peace. At this date, there were 122 voters in the township under forty-five years of age, and forty-five who were over that age, 167 in all.
448
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first birth in the township, was Peter, son of John R. Hartgraves, born Feb. 2, 1856.
The first death of a resident of Ingham township, was that of Mr. Jones, before referred to as suffocating in a well in But- ler county in 1857. Mrs. Jones" father came to the county and removed the widow and family. Mrs. Jones afterward mar- ried a man named Ward, in Mahaska county.
The first marriage in the township, was that of James W. Allen and Susan Harlan. The ceremony was performed at the house of the bride's parents in Butler county, Sept. 10, 1857. The next marriage was in 1858, that of George Harlan and Charlotte Stacy, who, in 1883, were living in Wash- ington territory.
The first preaching service in the town- ship, was at the house of Jonathan Allen, on section 1, in 1855. Services were held in the Hartgraves school house, in 1857.
The first blacksmith shop in the town- ship was started by G. Mickel, in 1869, who was still engaged in the business in 1883, at which time there were two other shops in the township-one at Hansell station, conducted by W. H. Anway, and one on the farm of J. S Silvius.
In July, 1858, a flood, occasioned by the bursting of a cloud up the creek, causing an overflow of water which spread over the ground south of the creek to a depth of four feet, caused great loss to crops of grain, which were nearly ready to harvest. The f mily of Mr. Armstrong were at breakfast, when Mr. Staley, who was building a bridge across the creek, warned them of the rising flood,
and before the family could leave, the water came into the house as high as the windows, giving them scarcely time to place a few of their goods in the attic and escape to higher ground Horses and cattle were obliged to swim to the up- lands. This flood so discouraged Mr. Armstrong that he left his claim and ini- provements, removing to the northern part of the township. Another such a flood has never been known in the county since.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was taught by Leonard Lockwood in David Allen's house in the winter of 1856-7. This was a private school. The first public school was taught by John A. Staley, in a school house erected on the southwest corner of section 25, in the fall of 1857. The house was moved several times and now stands in Butler county. Only seven scholars were in attendance at Staley's school, nearly all of whom were members of the Hartgraves family. In 1883 there were nine school houses in the township, with school prop- erty valued at $4,500. The districts were all independent, and the total number of scholars in the township was 201.
CHURCHES.
The Methodists held meetings at the Union Ridge school house, at intervals, after 1860, but there was no organization until 1866, since which time the class has been in existence. Rev. J. G. Wilkinson formed the class, which consisted of T. W. Bailey and wife, M. L. Bailey, James and Margaret Prindle, B. S. Chambers and wife, Thomas Lewis and wife. The class was organized under the title of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of
449
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Franklin County. Rev. Wilkinson was suc- ceeded by Rev. Cooley, and during his pastorate there was a revival by which the membership was increased to thirty. This society was supplied, up to 1883, in the following order : Revs. Isaac Hall, J. A. Kerr, W. F. Dorwin, William Gough, A. J. Northrng, J. W. Gould, M. L. Whit- more, J. M. Beal, G. W. Lutz, O. H Sproul, W. A. Pottle, W. S. Dorwin and S. A. Camp. The society has held service in school houses, and in 1883 worshipped at the Chambers school house. Dur- ing the winter of 1882-3, a revival was held, resulting in the conversion of twenty-one, who united with the church, making thirty-nine in all. The society has a parsonage at Hansell.
The United Brethren organized a class under the leadership of Elder Stone, of Wright county, in 1875. The first mem- bers were: O. A. Hilliker and wife and his father and mother; James Trindle and wife, William Trindle, James Wrightman and wife. In 1883 the society numbered about thirty, holding meetings every two weeks at the Chambers school house, under the charge of Rev. W. R. Benson, who also preached at Bristow. During the revival meetings of 1882-3 over twenty were added to the church.
The German Baptists, or Dunkards, organized Jan. 1. 1883, as a branch of the Cold Water Church, of Green, Butler Co. Regular services were held, how- ever, from 1875, in the Chambers school honse, under the leadership of Rev. John F. Eidenberry, of Green. The officers of the organization in 1883 were: J. M. Hanawalt, pastor; Mrs. Hanawalt, Joseph Allen and Levi Reed, deacons. The
society then numbered about a dozen, services being held every other week.
J. M. Hanawalt is the officiating minis- ter of the. Brethren or so-called Dunkards, of this section. He came to Franklin county in the fall of 1875, and bought the place where he now resides, including sixty-one acres of land in this county and 124 acres in Bu ler county. He was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., April 24, 1850. His parents, Joseph R. and Mary (Surgart) Hanawalt, were natives of the Keystone State. The father was a farmer, and for thirty-five years was an elder in the Brethren or Dunkard Church. For six- teen years previous to his death he was a bishop. Mr. Hanawalt was reared on a farm and attended the seminary in his native State four months, after which he went to Salem College, Indiana, returning to Pennsylvania in the spring of 1873. He went back to Indiana in September of the same year, and in December was married to Caroline, daughter of bishop Jacob Shively. He remained in Indiana until October, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Han- awalt have had four children. Those now living were born as follows: Emanuel E., in 1876; Rosa Ann, in 1878, and Lilly May, in 1881. Mr. Hanawalt has been director and secretary of the school dis- trict seven years.
A Union Sunday School was organized in the spring of 1883, which had an aver- age attendance of over 100 scholars, which was in charge of Oscar A. Cham- bers, superintendent.
The Union Ridge Baptist Church was organized May 27, 1865, with fourteen members. Adrian Gillett was the first clerk of the society, and Calvin Gillett,
450
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
deacon. The first pastor was T. H. Jud- son. The society was never very strong, and on account of several removals, dis- banded in February, 1868, under the pas- torate of Rev. C. A. Smith.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
A Good Templars lodge was organized in 1867 with thirty-eight members, char- tered by order of the grand lodge. The society met at Union Ridge school house. The first officers of this lodge were: O. A. Chambers, worthy chief; Justice Selix, secretary; R. S. Chambers, chaplain. The society flourished for a time but gradually lost interest and finally ceased.
VILLAGE OF HANSELL.
The village of Hansell was laid out by George W. Hansell in the summer of 1881. Fifteen acres were platted on the northwest quarter of section 28, and a part on 29 The Dubuque & Dakota railroad established a station there one year after the line was finished through the township, and named it in honor of Mr. Hansell. The business of the place in 1883 consisted of a general store, kept by M. L. Whitmore, who established his business in 1881. A blacksmith shop which was run by W. H. Anway. An elevator with a capacity of 14,000 bushels, built in a circular form, was erected by George W. Hansell in 1880. Lumber and stock was handled by Mr. Hansell in connection with the grain business. During 1882 he paid $20,000 for grain alone, and this station has been noted as the best corn market in the county, and large numbers of cattle are annually fed within Ingham township. The rail- way books show the following for the year ending July, 1883: 58 car loads of
cattle shipped; 21 car loads of hogs, and 63 of grain besides many car loads of cattle shipped in from Chicago and other points, to be fed by the farmers and stock men of Ingham township.
In 1883, George W. Hansell was erect- ing a large store building, to be stocked with general merchandise, the business house to be managed by a firm composed of Hansell, Son & Sweet, who were also to keep agricultural implements in another large warehouse, being built in July, 1883. G. W. Hansell is a heavy land holder and one of the most prominent citizen, from his connection with the progress and growth of the county, from its incipiency to the present time. He came to Franklin county in July, 1855, and located land on sections 6 and 7, in Geneva township and immediately commenced improving. He remained in Geneva township until 1873, when he removed to Ingham township, where he has since been an important factor in its general welfare. He owns 1100 acres of first-class land, and the splendid residence he occupies, built in 1873 at a cost of $5,200, is rated the finest building in the township. Mr. Hansell is also engaged extensively, as a stock farmer. He has always taken an active interest in county affairs generally, and was one of the voters who helped locate the county seat at Hampton, in 1856. In the summer of 1881, he laid out the village of Hansell, and the ensuing year, erected the elevator there. Mr. Hansell was born near Xenia, Ohio, Jan 15, 1830. Michael Hansell, his father, was a farmer at New Vienna, Ohio, and reared his son to the pursuit of agriculture. In 1850, the latter went to Keokuk, Iowa, and after a year's tarry
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.
.
G
453
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
went to Ohio. In the spring of 1855 he was married to Laura B. Smith of Ohio. Her parents went, at an early period, from Rhode Island to the Buckeye State. Mr. and Mrs. Hansell have four children- Othello V., James W., Ida M. and Colonel. They were all born in Franklin county. James W., second son, has been station agent and telegraph operator at Hansell since the station was established. He is also acting postmaster.
M. Whitmore, merchant at Hansell station, was born in Onondago Co., N. Y., in 1816. He was brought up on a farm, and after completing his education he be- came an itinerant minister of the Metho- dist Church. He came to Iowa in 1855, and had his first charge over a church at at Wankon. He officiated successfully at Elkader, Decorah, Dubuque circuit and Cottage Hill. He was connected with the Upper Iowa Conference and remained a minister there until 1877, when he went to the western coast and engaged in the same work. He preached there, chiefly in Washington territory, for three years. after which, he came to Franklin county, and engaged in his present business at, Hansell. Mr. Whitmore was, during two years, in charge of the Union Ridge Meth- odist Episcopal Church, at Ingham. He has been twice married. His first wife died at Monmouth, Iowa, leaving one daughter, now in the east. Mr. Whitmore was married to Mary L. Deuel, in Jackson Co., Iowa. They have two children. Mr. Whitmore has been a traveling minister for thirty-two years, and previous to com- ing west, he was seven years a member of the Black River Conference.
POST OFFICES.
The first postoffice in the township was established in 1860, with Isaac Stover as postmaster. It was called Union Ridge and located in the northeastern part of the township. After several changes in postmaster, during which the office was moved to the residences of the postmasters, James Harlan was the next incumbent after Stover, the office being held at his house in Butler county. When the railroad was built, the office was re- moved to Dumont and the name changed.
Cream Hill postoffice was established with a man named Smith as postmaster, but upon the establishment of the office at Hansell was discontinued in 1880.
Menzie postoffice was established in 1867, with Mr. Hall as postmaster. Ile was followed by Lemuel Armstrong, who held the office until it was discontinued.
Hansell postoffice was established in 1880, when the station was decided upon, and George W. Hansell appointed post- master ; his son, J. W. Hansell, however, always had charge of it, as well as of the railroad business of the place.
SPRING VALLEY FARM.
Probably no farm in Franklin county is more worthy of extended notice than the Spring Valley farm, which lies in the sonthwestern part of Ingham, and the northwestern part of Geneva townships. It is devoted almost exclusively to stock. The farm contains abont 3,600 acres, and is owned by D W. and A. M. Mott. It had always been owned by the brothers in partnership, and it is only lately that it has been divided. But this division is in name only, as the land virtually com-
34
0
454
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
prises one farm still, and will be treated as such under this head.
The first piece of land going to make up this farm was purchased by Messrs. Mott, in 1868, of Mr. Wells, an Ohio man. The first tract purchased contained about 700 acres. During 1869 and 1870, nearly all of the balance of the farm was pur chased, making as stated, about 3,600 acres in all. In 1869, 600 acres were broken, making about 1,100 acres under the plow. At first a good share of the farm was devoted to the raising of wheat and other cereals common to this latitude, but it was not long until this idea was abandoned, and the owners devoted all of their attention to dealing in and fattening stock. They still adhere to this plan, and their success is attested by the ap- pearance of the place. The farm lies in one of the most beautiful sections of Franklin county, and is well worth a visit. In 1883, all of the farm was devoted to hay and pasturage, except 480 acres which were planted to corn, and 100 acres in oats.
The farm is fenced in excellent shape, having about fifteen miles of road fence and about twenty-eight miles of fencing in all.
There are several tenants living upon the farm, who attend to the work of feed- ing and the Messrs. Mott are kept busy attending to the oversight of the work. There are five dwelling houses on the place, A. M. Mott occupying one, and the rest occupied by the tenants. D. W. Mott resides in Hampton, which lies with- in a thirty-minute drive tothe west. Scat- tered over the place there are eight or ten barns and stables. The place is well wa-
tered, having over six miles of creek and three never failing springs, while three wind-mills bring the water to easy access. Almost all of the farm is made up of a beautifully rolling prairie, there being less than eight acres of the 3,600 taken up by marsh land. Then it is made more valuable by the fact that it has about 100 acres of natural timber. On the northern portion of the farm is seen the highest eminence between the Iowa and Cedar rivers. The mound raises its head far above the general level and from its sum- mit one can have a birds-eye view of the greater part of Franklin county, several of the most important villages being brought into sight. In the valleys below are seen the three streams winding their tortuous courses through and between the miniature hills, like golden threads, and finally merging into one and becoming the South Fork of the classic Cedar almost at your feet.
In the summer of 1883, D. W. and A. M. Mott owned 1,450 head of steers, 930 of which were being herded on the prairie west of here. The firm of Northey & Harrison were interested in 310 head of steers and 500 head of hogs which were being fed on the place. This made over 1,600 head of cattle the Messrs. Mott owned and were interested in. During the summer of 1883, 556 steers were being fed. and each day 260 bushels of corn were hauled to the fields and deposited in the feeding troughs. The brothers put up from 800 to 1,000 tons of hay each year.
No pretense nor attempt is made at raising cattle, but especial attention is paid to buying, fattening and selling them. Messrs. Mott are men of wide observation
455
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
and experience, and are careful business men. They have studied the business they follow and thoroughly understand it. Their theory is that every four feet of grass is worth more, intrinsically, than a hill of corn, and this without the expense and work of cultivating, planting and har- vesting, or wearing ont machinery. They demonstrate this by the fact that two acres of pasturage will fatten a steer, or, in other words, add 300 pounds to his weight, which is worth at least nine dol- lars. The theory is a new one and is, no doubt, one which is correct, and will bear thought.
In 1790, Jonathan Mott and wife moved from Connecticut to the State of New York and purchased a tract of land at fifty cents per acre, on the west side of the Unadilla river, in Madison county, and cut and cleared timber to make a farm. The old and original place is still owned by their grandson, Henry Mott. The family consisted of seven children-three sons and four daughters. The oldest son, Jon- athan Mott, who was born Aug. 8, 1799, married Charlotte, daughter of John W. Crumb, July 5, 1829, and moved to a new farm on the east side of the river, in Ot- sego county. While there they had four sons-Cromwell J., born March 8, 1830; Delos W., born Nov. 11, 1832; Damon, born Feb. 17, 1837; and Albert M., born Sept. 3, 1843. Charlotte, the mother of these four sons, died April 15, 1848. Jon- athan Mott was again married, July 13, 1848, to Celinda Colburn, who died in June, 1882. Being the second time a wid- ower, the father concluded to leave the place which had so long been his home, and spend the remainder of his days with
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.