Fish Tail

From the Attica Democrat, Thursday June 15, 1893


It is finds like this that make the hump on by back from bending over the microfilm all worthwhile.

Marr Line

My poor, good-sport of a mother.  She volunteered to go on a scouting mission to the Fountain County Genealogical Society.  I gave her a list, but the folks at the FOCOSO were so amazingly helpful, that they tore through the list in no time flat.  She called with some info, and some questions.  she thought she hung up, but I was left yelling into the phone "No! No!!! Peter Smith was in the Civil War! Not 1812!  Not 1812! Civil!!! Hello? Civil War!!"  My husband is becoming immune to this behavior.

Normal people do not have an app on their phone to keep these names and dates straight.  Also, normal people do not have dreams about family history research.  So for you normal people, here is the makings of a family tree.  But it is just a baby start.  Direct line names are in yellow.  There is still years of work to be done.  The Hewitts and the Keefers, especially, have long roots here.

William Jennings Smith (1897-1968) married Margaret E Marr (1895-1958).  They lived in Fountain County, Indiana and had one son, Chester Lee Smith.

Margaret Marr was the daughter of John Edward Marr (1863-1940) and Mary "Molly" Belle Redman Marr (1863-1920).  Both lived their lives in Fountain County, Indiana.  Their children are Hester (b 1889); Sarah (1892-1959 m. Fred Gayler, mother to Harold and Hubert); David John (b 1893 m. Blanche Auter, c Donald J. Marr) ; Martha L  (b 1897 m. Mr. Wright); Mary A.  (b 1899 m. Borden Abolt, x Marvin Dean, Milford, and Robert Lee); Evalyn E Marr (b 1902 m. John R. Brown)

Molly Redman is the daughter of David and Sarah McConnell Redman.  David (b 1832 in Ohio) and Sarah (b. 1832 in Ohio) settled in Fountain County, Indiana.  The had two other children, John (b 1859) and Jane (b 1866)

John Edward Marr is the son of John C. Marr (b 1840) and his first wife, Hester A. Keefer (1840-1876).  John had two sisters: Mary B (b 18660 and Gertrude K. (b. 1878).  John C. Marr was born in Fountain County, Indiana.  Hester Keefer was born in Ross, Ohio.  After Hester's death, John married Ella m. Simpson (b 1857 in New Jersey, but moved for Fountain Country sometime before 1870).  John and Ella had 5 children: Roscoe Patrick (1887-1916); George Harold (b 1879 m Pansy); Thomas G (1881-1918,  m Ethel c Ruth, Milred); Cary D (b 1884); Ralph (1895); Ralph (1895)

John C Marr was the son of John Patrick Marr (1812-1860?) and Anna Shull (b1810). John Patrick was born in Ireland, and immigrated to first to Hagerston, Maryland then to Fountain Couny, Indiana about 1838.  Ann Shull was born in Hagerstown Maryland. Their children were James W. Marr (b 1833 and died as a child); John C (1840); Mary (1836); Sarah E (1838); Thomas (1845).

Ann Shull was the daughter of Jacob Sholl and Maria Bixler Sholl.  Jacob and Maria had three other daughters: Catherine, Elizabeth and Mary.

Common Name Headaches

Let's find out more about John Marr! He's from Ireland! He lived in Maryland! Magic computer find him!

I wish it would be that easy. do you know how many freaking John Marrs there ARE from Ireland?  Billions.  I just want to find out when he emigrated. 

John Marr was born about 1812 and left Ireland for America sometime before 1832.  John Marr was 20 years old in 1832 and was busy getting married in February of that year, so I assume he immigrated at least before New Year's (and knowing the rep of fiery Irish passions I did check for a a shotgun wedding.  Luckily we are safe from scandal in that department).

1830 Census records show a John Marr in Baltimore and one in Charles with 5 people under their roofs.  Probably not my John Marrs.  There are plenty of other John Marrs (22!?!?!?!) throughout the growing country.  This is going to take a lot of digging and a boatload of luck.

John Marr-crossing my fingers for this dude

The super-awesome Hagerstown, MD library historian suggested that I look for John Marr in Philadelphia Passenger lists.  I just assumed that there was a good chance that if you immigrated to Maryland your port of entry would be Baltimore. 

I have a bee in my bonnet that he immigrated between the ages of 16 and 18.  Maybe I dreamed about that.  Dreams are a TOTALLY VALID form of research.  Or maybe I read that in the Beckwith book. 

Family Search has a passenger list from Philadelphia in 1828 that started me cheering

"Smuggled himself on board"?!?!

Please let this be my John Marr. And let me figure out how in the heck to prove it.