The Williams Family (continued)

The Search Begins:

My search started in the Jasper County 1880 census, which included Sarcoxie MO. On it I found Samuel Williams, living at home with his parents; William Henderson Williams and Nancy (McClure), but the quality of the 1880 microfilm was some of the poorest that I have seen--. Very few of the names in much of the county were legible. The 1900 census of Taney county yeilded the birth place of the four children's mother; "Texas". I returned again to the 1880 census, now paying special attention to the "place of birth" column of the entries-- the right side of the copy was much better than the left, where the names were listed. I was very fortunate that few people living in Jasper County Missouri in 1880 were born in TX.

I was able to find and identified two of the three children; Francis and Joseph, shown as "servants" to the families they were living with. Another entry for "Mary A. born TX" who is married in 1880, and is still being checked out. The 1870 Index of the Head of Household/Other Surnames in Household for Missouri did not show any of the three Miller children.

In checking on the bible entry; "Bought of John Claybaugh, Leon Co", The Everton's Handy Book lists only two counties in the U.S. named "Leon"- one in FL and one in TX. I contacted Leon County TX Genealogical Society to ask for their help, and ordered the 1850 and 1860 census for that county. These sources yeilded nothing. I ordered the History of Leon County TX, and the only thing that I found was the listing of John Clabaugh as "a parttime preacher from Limestone Co TX". I ordered the 1850 and 1860 census for Limestone County- it yeilded nothing. About that time I learned that the entire state of Texas 1850 census was available, published in 21 volumes, with one (surname only) index to it. That was my next investment.

After I received the 21 volumes, I realized that the name "Chandler", while being well-represented in the index, would NOT be as difficult as searching all of the "Miller" entries. I photocopied the index page of "Chandler" listings and started to seach them one by one, striking those out that I had eliminated. Susan Caroline Chandler, in 1850, would have been about eighteen years old.

In Robertson County Texas I found the household of Eli Chandler and his wife, Mary. Their eighteen year old daughter was-- Susan C. Chandler. This was a thrill that only another family researcher would understand! She was REAL; she had PARENTS, and she had several sisters! I had found the next rung up the ladder to my mother's dream!

The family as shown on the 1850 Robertson County census:

Eli Chandler

age 52, born SC

Mary Chandler, age 55, born NC

Susan C. Chandler, age 18, born TN

Amanda Chandler, age 17, born TN

Laura Chandler, age 14, born TN

Narcissa Shoat, age 24, born TN

The date of this census was only four years before Susan's marriage, so my next step was to see if I could find my grandfather (her "future husband") living nearby at the same time. I followed the same method, but using the index page numbers as a guide (each county is listed seperatly with a range of page numbers), then spread out to cover the adjacient counties of Leon, Limestone, Brazos, Madison, Milam and Falls. While there were many Miller families listed, and I have traced several of those having sons named "William Miller", so far I have been unable to identify him on the 1850 census. In 1880 two of the children who were living in Missouri stated that their father was born in KY. I am still researching this.

Since it was obvious from the places of birth of the children that, at least in 1830, the Chandler family was in TN-- but where? The 1830 census (Sistler Publishing Co) shows that Eli Chandler was head of household and living in Madison County TN. In the same county were two other Chandler families-- we were on the way!

Meanwhile, I had posted an inquiry on Prodigy to the surname "Chandler", and then to the Robertson Co USGenWeb page, seeking others who were researching this family. A lady who lives in TX answered me, saying that her ancestor was yet another (older) daughter of Eli and Mary-- and gave me that information. She, her sister and I have become very close, because we are now not searching alone!

(to be continued)

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