INMONROE-L Archives

Archiver > INMONROE > 2001-08 > 0996679286


From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: Re: [INMONROE] John Helenburg 1870
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 10:39:42 -0500
References: <4.3.2.7.1.20010728085041.02ad2e90@bluemarble.net><001a01c11771$50a1aa40$1ce51c18@triad.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <003601c11779$6e7493e0$1ce51c18@triad.rr.com>



>I think I have the answer to the question about John Hillenburg's marriages.
>
>I checked the genealogylibrary.com index to Monroe County marriages and
>found the following (typed as found in the index): Miller, Folix to Liana
>Sowders m. Aug 4, 1959 Book 3, page 457...
>
>So, it seems that Elinea/Linnie was the same person as Louisa/Liana Sowders.
>I think the name was probably Elinea because I downloaded a Gedcom that was
>created by a great granddaughter of Curtis Hillenburg and she listed his
>wife as Elinea Miller - probably wasn't aware of Elinea's first marriage.
>
>I still conclude that William Curtis Hillenburg was the son of Elinea/Linne
>Sowders Miller and John Hillenburg, not the son of John Hillenburg and
>Martha J. Deford.
>
>Randi, will you check the marriage index by the Monroe County Historical
>Society for the spelling of the names and verification of the date of
>marriage for Miller and Sowders? The first name for Miller was probably
>Felix. I'm anxious to see if the name Liana was transcribed the same way.

Norma,

According to MONROE COUNTY MARRIAGE RECORDS 1818-1881, Linna Sowders
married Felix Miller on 08/04/59 in Monroe County. Since the book only
includes records through 1881, obviously the '59 refers to 1859 and not
1959. The on-line index to Monroe County marriage records that I have seen
is SOOOO bad I would never go there and note anything. If you do much
research in Monroe County, the marriage record indices available from the
historical society are pretty great.

As for William being the son of Linna Sowders or Martha J. DeFord, I would
want to prove that both were wives of the same husband and exclude the
possiblity that there were two John Hillenburgs involved. Then I would
locate as many of William's records as possible in which his parents might
be identified, e.g., marriage record, funeral record, death record and
obit. You might also show that Linna died or divorced providing an
opportunity for Martha to be William's mother.

When a young child is raised by a loving foster parent or step parent, it
is not at all unlikely for that child to refer to the parent as his mother
or father. Assuming that Martha was the wife of John Hillenburg and she
married him after the birth of William, I would assume that William honored
his stepmother and referred to her as his mother.

Now if someone comes along and says adamantly that William was the birth
son of John Hillenburg and Martha Deford, I would ask what documentation
they have that proves the relationship. In the absence of documentation, I
would ignore the finding. If documentation was provided, I would obtain
copies and compare it with the information that you have. Then weigh the
evidence and make a decision. Contra-evidence should not be dismissed in a
research report but discussed in a larger context.

Randi





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