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Note: LEOTA WAGGONER was born Feb 21, 1871 and married Gabriel E. Reynolds on Dec 21, 1893. She died June 29, 1931. Trying to find any record of Leota or Leotta Waggoner has been difficult. Unsure of her date of birth, when she was married, and when she passed away. Unfortunately, birth records are not accessible, or do not even exist, before 1880. But here are what other documents show... From the 1880 U.S. Federal Census records of Martin Co. IN, from Baker Township, District 148. Source: FHL Film 1254298 National Archive Film T9-0298 Page 261C: JOSEPH WAGGONER, male, married, white, age 32, born in IN, occupation Farmer, father born in KY, mother born in VA. SARAH F., wife, female, married, white, age 26, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN LETTY (LEOTA), dau, female, single, white, age 9, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. LINZY, son, male, single, white, age 6, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. LARIA, dau, female, single, white, age 4, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. SINTHY, dau, female, single, white, age 1, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. This 1880 Census record shows Leota "Letty" at the age of 9, which makes her birth year to be 1871.
From the 1900 U.S. Federal Census records of Lawrence Co. IN from Indian Creek Township: House visitation #96. GABRIEL E. REYNOLDS, head, white, male, b. Nov, 1865, age 34, married 6 yrs, born in IN, father born in KY, mother born in KY. Occupation was a Farmer. LEOTA, wife, white, female, b. Oct, 1875, age 24, married 6 yrs with 2 children, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. PEARL, daughter, white, female, b. Oct, 1994, age 5, born in IN. LISKER, son, white, male, b. June 1897, age 2, born in IN. This 1900 census record shows Leota's age of 24 and birth date as Oct, 1875, being 10 yrs younger that Gabriel, which also seems to be the case in the 1920 census. If this is true, then it is the latest possible year that is feasible, concerning the births of Pearl and Lisker. Yet it conflicts with the Death Certificate and the 1880 census.
From the 1910 U.S. Federal Census records of Lawrence Co. IN from Indian Creek Township (difficult to read): House visitation #29? GABRIEL E. REYNOLDS, head, male, white, age 44?, married 16 yrs, born in IN, father born in KY, mother born in KY. Occupation was a Farmer, farm schedule #28. LEOTA, wife, female, white, age 38, married for 16 yrs, born in IN, father born in IN, mother born in IN. PEARL, daughter, white, female, age 15, born in IN. LISKER, son, white, male, age 12, born in IN. DONNIE, son, white, male, age 3. This 1910 census record shows Leota's age of 38, which coincides with the birth date on the Death Certificate and the 1880 census, yet conflicts with the 1900 and 1920 census.
From the 1920 U.S. Federal Census records of Lawrence Co. IN from Indian Creek Township: Dwelling #49, visitation #51. GABRIEL E. REYNOLDS, head, male, white, age 54, married. LEOTA, wife, female, white, age 44, married. DONALD, son, male, white, age 14. HERMAN, son, male, white, age 8 or 9. Once again Leota is 10 years younger than Gabriel, like the 1900 census. If this is true, then it is the latest possible year that is feasible, concerning the births of Pearl and Lisker. Yet it conflicts with the Death Certificate and the 1880 census.
As for a Marriage Record, my search for a "Gabriel E. Reynolds" brings up a "Louie Waggoner" (!!!) married Dec 21, 1893, on Ancestry. Com and GenealogyLibrary.com marriage records of Martin County, Indiana, Volume , book page: 5-526. This "Louie" is most certainly a misspelling of her first name by the County Clerk at that time. Because of this unfortunate problem, I have requested and received a Certified copy of the Marriage Lisence and it is definitely written by one person, most likely the Martin County Clerk (which - I have been told by the Lawrence Co. Health Dept. - is primarily all they did at that time) and he (David Garvey) has unfortunately written "Louie" as Gabriel's spouse. An unforgivable mistake. According to the Waggoner, Wagoner, Wagner History Document, her first marriage is to Evan Reynolds (first name Gabriel missing) and second marriage was to Logan B. Waggoner (Wagoner on Leota's death cert. and Wagner on other sources.) This is also verified on Leota's Death Certificate and mentioned in the letters by Donald C. Reynolds, that Leota had remarried after Gabriel's death. I have found various spellings of Leota's last name: Lisker spells "Wagner" on his Soc. Sec. Application and his brother Don spells it "Wagoner" on his Soc. Sec. Application. I'm pretty sure that it was originally Waggoner, before all the different spellings occurred. Her first name either appears with two "t's" or sometimes with only one "t".
Recently, the Reynolds relatives have supplied me with a date when Leota passed away: June 29, 1931. According to Viola Reynolds, it had been written down by Leota's son, Don Reynolds, many years ago. This is verified by the following Death Certificate of Leota Wagoner, that I have acquired: I have a Certified copy of a "Local Record of Death" from the Lawrence County Health Department, Bedford, IN: Local No.: 41-98-387. LEOTA WAGONER, died June 29, 1931. Place of Death: Indian Creek Township, Lawrence Co., IN. Sex: Female. Age: 60 yrs, 4 months, 8 days. Marital Status: Married. Primary Cause of Death: Organic heart disease. Signed by: J. T. McFarlin, M.D., Williams, IN. Funeral Director: J. R. Roach, Undertaker, Bedford, IN. Place of Disposition: Old Shiloh, address not given. Date of Disposition: July 2, 1931. Our records show (on back of cert.): Leota's birth date: Feb 21, 1891 (This is a typo / mistake, and should be 1871, because of her age at the time of death on this very record AND Leota's daughter, Pearl, was born Oct, 1894 !!!!) husband: Logan B. Wagoner birthplace: Indiana father: Joe Wagoner, born in IN. mother: - - - Craig, born in IN. informant: D. Reynolds (This is most likely Don Reynolds, Leota's youngest son. - M.M.)
This document is vital information and shows Leota's age at death (60yrs, 4mons, 8 days) which means her birth date would be Feb 21, 1871, as does the 1880 & 1910 census records, which is what I have decided to use. I can only hope that the Lawrence County Health Dept. had used (if one even existed) her birth certificate at that time in order to come up with her exact age, to the day!. If not, a family member might have really known her exact date of birth. White River Cousins website agrees with this year of birth, 1871. I feel compelled to use the Death Certificate and the 1880 & 1910 census to affirm her date of birth, based on them showing the earliest possible dates with an older age. The 1900 & 1920 census records support a younger birthdate of Oct, 1875 (which is the next best record) but it is more probable that she was older. Having narrowed it down between Feb 21, 1871 and Oct, 1875 is good enough for now.
From the ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF PEOPLE BURIED IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, INDIANA - January 2001 Edition by Karen Baldwin: REYNOLDS, LEOTTA (WAGGONER) Feb 21, 1871 June 29, 1931 Shiloh Cemetery
From the helpful letters of Donald C. Reynolds: My dad (Don) was very angry, at his Mom, (Leota) for re-marrying, after Gabriel's death, and, her "new" husband - inheriting all the land!!! You must understand - my Mom & Dad, were divorced - before I was even born, ergo: I am able to only relay - 'bits & pieces' - as I can recall my few visits to my Dad!! As for Leota, Leotta, you are in for some luck there! Twenty + years ago, my aunt Cloy Reynolds, Wagoner, gave me a copy of a genealogy - which one of the younger Wagoners - had traced back ----- to Squire & Daniel Boone!! (Some "errors" are inherent, however, the "gist" of the genealogy is correct.)
Newspaper clipping provided by Viola Reynolds: DON REYNOLDS Don Reynolds, 68, R. 1, Williams, died at 12:10 A.M. today at Dunn Memorial Hospital. He had been in failing health for several years. He was born June 15, 1906 in Lawrence County to Gabriel Evan and LEOTA WAGNER REYNOLDS. He was a hooker and welder in local stone mills. He married Esther Hawkins in early life. Surviving are two sons, Sylvestal of California, and Donald C. of Seymour; one daughter, Phyllis Ione Massa, Richmond; eight grandchildren; one brother, Herman of R. 1, Williams; and a sister, Mrs. Pearl Mayo, Muncie. A brother, Lisker, died March 31, 1971. He was a member of New Pentecostal Church near Fayetteville. Services will be at 3 P.M. Thursday at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home with Rev. Merla Craig officiating. Burial will be in the New, Pentecostal Church Cemetery. Friends may call at anytime at the funeral home.
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