Family history

Research Log

Chronological record of every archive searched, every query run, and every result (positive or negative). Negative results are as important as positive ones.

2026-03-20: Walter J Eggers III Cross-Reference Audit

Walter Henry Eggers Sr.: FaG Memorial Found (#14767572)

Source: Find a Grave memorial #14767572 Results: Significant find. Walter Henry Eggers has his own FaG memorial with detailed family information:

  • Born: 25 Feb 1895, Dittmer, Jefferson County, MO
  • Died: 12 Sep 1955, St. Louis County, MO
  • Burial: Local Cedar Hill Cemetery, Cedar Hill, Jefferson Co, MO (same cemetery as parents)
  • Veteran (war unspecified; WWI likely given age)
  • Spouse: Alma C. Schmidt Eggers (1899-1989), married 1923
  • Parents: Henry David Christian Eggers (1861-1943) and Henrietta Rose Eggers (1868-1937)
  • Siblings: Arthur C. (1893-1982), Edwin William (1897-1972), Frederick Emil (1899-1971), Wilhelmine Marie "Minnie" (1901-1963), Martha Ann (1903-1968)
  • Children listed: Florine Ida Eggers Bohle (1924-2021), Walter Henry Eggers Jr. (1927-1936), Marie Caroline Eggers Mathis (1932-2003)
  • Walter J Eggers III and Jim Eggers are NOT listed (alive when memorial created June 2006)
  • Created by contributor "Missouri Duv" (same contributor for Henry Dan #14767570 and Henrietta #14767563)

Key finding: Walter Henry Eggers Jr. (1927-1936) was a previously unknown child who died at age 9. This explains the "III" suffix for Walter J Eggers III (born 1930): he was the third Walter in the family (Sr., Jr., III), despite having a different middle initial (J vs H).

Implication for Open Question #24: The FaG memorial independently confirms the Henry Dan Eggers → Walter Sr. link (same parents listed as on Geni). However, the same FaG contributor "Missouri Duv" created all three Eggers memorials, so this may not be a truly independent second source. The parentage above Henry Dan (Henrich Eggers + Maria Gronholt) remains from FaG only. Jeff's reported errors may be at that level rather than the Henry Dan → Walter Sr. link.

Next step: Walter Sr.'s MO death certificate (d. 12 Sep 1955, St. Louis County) is the definitive record. It falls within the 1910-1975 window available at s1.sos.mo.gov. Searching that database with the exact death date should locate it.

Eggers & Company (Farrar, MO): Ruled Out as Same Family

Source: lutheranmuseum.com (Eggers & Company article) Results: A different Eggers family in Farrar, Perry County, MO. Their Henry Eggers married Katherine Soehl (not Henrietta Rose). Their Walter Eggers had children Fred and Cal (not Walter III and Jim). This is the Eggers & Company general store family, NOT our Eggers line.

Henry D. Eggers Death Certificate: Mother's Maiden Name CONTRADICTS Tree (PRIMARY SOURCE)

Source: Missouri Death Certificate #8250 / State File 2925 (s1.sos.mo.gov) Results: Critical finding. Mother's maiden name does not match tree.

Field Death Certificate Value FaG/Geni Value Assessment
Full name Henry Dan Eggers Henry David Christian Eggers "Dan" was his known name; "David Christian" from headstone
Birth date Dec 24, 1861 24 Dec 1861 Match
Birthplace Dittmer, Missouri Hillsboro, Jefferson Co, MO Death cert corrects FaG. Both in Jefferson Co, ~10 mi apart.
Death date March 27, 1943 27 Mar 1943 Match
Death place St. Louis (3416 Chippewa) City of St. Louis Match
Father's name Henry Eggers Henrich Eggers (1837-1908) Consistent. "Henrich" is German form of "Henry."
Father's birthplace Germany Germany Match
Mother's maiden name "Grupe" (per death cert) Maria E. Gronholt (1844-1918) DISCREPANCY. Not plausible variants of each other.
Mother's birthplace Germany Germany (implied) Match
Spouse Henrietta (widower) Henrietta Rose Eggers (1868-1937) Match
Marital status Widower (wife died 1937) Consistent
Occupation Farmer - New detail
Informant Mrs. Frieda Hersby, 2317 Russell Blvd - Daughter Freda Eggers (1920 Census), married name Hersby
Cause of death Chronic myocarditis, senility - New detail
Burial Cedar Hill, MO Cedar Hill Cemetery, Jefferson Co Match

Implication: The mother's maiden name "Grupe" (or similar reading) contradicts "Gronholt" from FaG/Geni. This is likely the error Jeff Eggers reported. The death certificate is a primary source (filed by daughter who knew the family). The FaG/Geni "Maria E. Gronholt" may be from a different family or a contributor error. The 1880 Census (Henry Dan ~age 19 in parents' household) could provide further evidence.

New individuals confirmed: Mrs. Frieda Hersby (nee Freda Eggers, ~1907) as Henry Dan's daughter and informant.

Grupe Family in Dittmer: "Gronholt" Error Explained

Source: Find a Grave memorials at Saint Martins United Church of Christ Cemetery, Dittmer, Jefferson Co, MO Results: The "Gronholt" mystery solved.

  • Margaret Gruenholtz Grupe (20 Mar 1839 - 24 Jan 1918, FaG #32689333), born Germany, buried Dittmer. Married Christian J Grupe (3 May 1839 - 10 Nov 1922, FaG #32689326). Both from Germany.
  • Their children: Emma (1863), Louis (1866), Henry Christian (1869), George (1874), Hannah (1876), Tillie (1878).
  • "Gruenholtz" is phonetically very close to "Gronholt." Margaret's death year 1918 exactly matches the "Maria E. Gronholt (1844-1918)" in the FaG tree.
  • The FaG contributor confused Margaret Gruenholtz (Mary Grupe's probable mother, Henry Dan's maternal grandmother) with Henry Dan's own mother.
  • Mary Grupe (Henry Dan's mother per death cert) was likely a daughter of Christian and Margaret, not listed among the 6 children on the FaG memorial (she may have died before the others or simply been missed by the contributor).

Also found at Saint Martins Cemetery: Christopher Eggers (1833-1905, FaG #32231174), a different Eggers patriarch from Germany. Married (1) Lisette M. Dittmer (1850-1877) and (2) Wilhelmine Springmeier (1858-1926). His son Henry F Eggers (1868-1934) is NOT the same as our Henry Dan Eggers (1861-1943). Our Henry/Henrich Eggers (father) is not buried at Saint Martins or Cedar Hill cemeteries.

Also found at Cedar Hill Cemetery: Helen Eggers (1920-1941, FaG #14767551), previously unknown, buried with the Henry Dan Eggers family. Possibly Walter Sr.'s daughter who died young. Mabel H. Lietz Eggers (1896-1981, FaG #31020848), likely Arthur C. Eggers' wife.

Henrich Eggers (FaG #41494583) and Maria Gronholt (FaG #154831082): WRONG FAMILY

Source: Find a Grave memorials Results: Henrich Eggers (1837-1908) is buried in Becker County, Minnesota (Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery). He served in the Ohio 22nd Infantry during the Civil War. Maria E. Gronholt (1844-1918) is buried in Adams County, North Dakota (Rose Hill Cemetery, Reeder). These people lived in a completely different part of the country from our Henry Dan Eggers, who lived and died in Jefferson County, MO / St. Louis.

The FaG contributor who linked Henry Dan to these parents confused two different families. Henry Dan's actual parents were "Henry Eggers" and "Mary Grupe" (per death certificate), both from Germany, living in Dittmer, Jefferson County, MO.

The FaG-listed siblings (Frederick 1873-1958, Matilda 1877-1957, Emma 1890-1902) are likewise children of the Minnesota/North Dakota family, not our Henry Dan's actual siblings.

Saint Martins UCC Church Records: Key to Henry Dan's Parents

Source: St. Louis County Library catalog; FamilySearch catalog item 776869 Results: Saint Martin's United Church of Christ, Dittmer, MO has baptism records from 1857-1907 digitized on FamilySearch. Henry Dan was born Dec 24, 1861 in Dittmer, so his baptism record should be in these records and would name his parents (Henry Eggers and Mary Grupe). A baptism index for 1857-1871 exists. Records are in German and English.

Next step: Search FamilySearch for catalog item 776869 / FHL Roll 2047661 to find Henry Dan's baptism record.

Implication: The "Gronholt" error is fully explained. The FaG contributor mixed up Henry Dan's mother (Mary Grupe) with his maternal grandmother (Margaret Gruenholtz Grupe). The names are similar (Gronholt ≈ Gruenholtz), the death year matches (1918), and both families lived in Dittmer.

1920 Census: Walter H Eggers in Henry D Eggers Household (PRIMARY SOURCE)

Source: 1920 US Census, Meramec Township, Jefferson County, Missouri (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:M8HR-388) Results: Definitive confirmation of the Henry Dan → Walter Sr. link.

Name Sex Age Born ~ Birthplace Father's BP Mother's BP Role
Henry D Eggers M 58 1862 Missouri Germany Germany Head
Henrette Eggers F 54 1866 Germany - - Wife
Walter H Eggers M 24 1896 Missouri Missouri Germany Son
Ella Eggers F 13 1907 Missouri - - Daughter
Freda Eggers F 13 1907 Missouri - - Daughter

Key findings:

  • Walter H Eggers is listed as Son of Henry D Eggers. Federal census is a primary source. This link is now proven.
  • Henry D's parents both born Germany (consistent with Henrich Eggers b. 1837, Germany and Maria Gronholt b. 1844, Germany).
  • Henrietta ("Henrette") born Germany, age 54 (~1866), consistent with FaG (b. 1868). Census ages often approximate.
  • Two previously unknown daughters: Ella Eggers and Freda Eggers (both 13, born ~1907, Missouri). Likely twins. Not listed on FaG memorial for Henry Dan.
  • Walter was single in 1920 (married Alma Schmidt in 1923).
  • Household located in Meramec Township, Jefferson County (near Dittmer and Hillsboro).

New individuals added: Ella Eggers (~1907), Freda Eggers (~1907) (+2)

WWII Draft Registration Card (27 Apr 1942)

Source: FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:QKVS-VNZF Results: Walter Henry Eggers, born 25 Feb 1895, Dittmer, Missouri. Registered in Hillsboro, Jefferson County. Occupation: Consolidated School District No 3. Complexion: Ruddy. Height: 5'6". Weight: 175 lbs. Brown eyes, brown hair. Wife: Alma Eggers.

NUMIDENT (Social Security)

Source: FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:6KWS-GPP6 Results: Walter H Eggers. Birth: 25 Feb 1895. Death: 12 Sep 1955. SS claim date: 23 Sep 1955 (11 days after death, filed by survivor).

Additional Census Records Available (not yet accessed)

FamilySearch tree person KCHX-RTZ has attached records for 1900, 1930, 1940, and 1950 censuses. The 1900 census would show Walter as a child (~5) in his parents' household, further confirming the link and potentially listing additional siblings.

Negative Results

Query Source Result
Walter Henry Eggers death 1955 obituary Web search No obituary found
Walter Eggers + Jean Eggers 1930 census Web search No indexed census result accessible
Florine Eggers Bohle obituary 2021 Web search No obituary found
Marie Mathis Eggers obituary 2003 Web search No obituary found
Jim Eggers brother Walter Eggers Web search No matching obituary; one Jim Eggers photographed in St. Louis 2008 (with parrot) may be same person
FamilySearch Walter Henry Eggers 1895 FamilySearch Requires authentication; could not access
MO death certificate database s1.sos.mo.gov 403 error; requires browser access

2026-03-20: DAR Membership Record and Patriot Identification

Doris Vaughan Fulghum: DAR National Number 511175

Source: DAR Library Copy Services (email response, 2026-03-20); DAR GRS Member Search Results: DAR confirmed Doris in their database. National Number 511175, Chapter 6035MO, joined October 1965.

DAR Patriots Identified (SURPRISE)

Source: DAR GRS Descendant Listings for National Number 511175 Results: Doris claimed descent from TWO Revolutionary War patriots, neither of which we had predicted:

  1. Bailey Anderson (A002346): Private, South Carolina and Virginia. Born 13 Nov 1754, Stafford County, Virginia. Died 1840, Harrison County, Texas. Pension S30826. Served under Cols Brandon, Richardson; Capt Price, Col Christian. Daughter Lucina Anderson married William Kirby (Add Volume 725). Note: GRS shows a problem notice: "PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED WITH AT LEAST ONE PREVIOUSLY VERIFIED PAPER."

  2. Jesse Kirby (A065510): Private, Virginia. Born 23 Oct 1757, Halifax County, Virginia. Died 17 Dec 1852, Warren County, Kentucky. Pension S*W9489. Served under Capts George Waller, James Terrance, James Conden; Cols Faulkner, Lyon, Holcombe, Penn. Son William Kirby married Lavinia Anderson.

Implication: The DAR lineage runs through the Kirby line, not the Shortridge or Vaughan lines. The Anderson and Kirby families intermarried (Bailey Anderson's daughter Lucina married a William Kirby; Jesse Kirby's son William married Lavinia Anderson). The connection to Doris runs: Jesse Kirby → William Kirby → ... → John Kirby → Hettie Adeline Kirby Carter → Walter M Vaughan → Roy Wallace Vaughan → Doris Vaughan Fulghum. The gap between William Kirby and John Kirby (our tree's current limit) will be filled by the application record.

What we got wrong: We hypothesized John Shortridge (A207508) as the most likely patriot, with Capt. Reuben Vaughan (A118329) as a secondary candidate. Both are legitimate Rev War ancestors in Doris's tree, but she chose the Kirby/Anderson line instead. This is a reminder that DAR applicants choose which line to prove, and it may not be the most obvious one.

Next step: Order the application record copy ($20, copyservices@dar.org, National Number 511175). Also pursue the pension files: S30826 (Bailey Anderson) and S*W9489 (Jesse Kirby) via Fold3 or NARA. Both pension files likely contain sworn testimony with family details.

DAR Application Records Received and Transcribed

Source: DAR Copy Services. Three PDFs purchased and downloaded.

  • RC-A065510-M511175-090141.pdf: Kirby application (original, June 19, 1965)
  • RC-A002346-M511175-090140.pdf: Anderson supplemental (May 1, 1992)
  • RC-A065510-M511175-SD-090140.pdf: Supporting documentation (10 documents)

New individuals added: ~10 (Wyatt Kirby, Elizabeth Graham, William Kirby, Lavinia Anderson, Jesse Kirby, Sophia Chise, Bailey Anderson, Mary Anderson, John Anderson Sr., Sarah Crossey, Rev. James Anderson)

Key findings from application transcription: See Family_Tree.md for full proven lineage (10 generations, Doris to Rev. James Anderson of Scotland). Supporting documents include 5 marriage bonds/licenses (Jackson Co MO, Warren Co KY, Franklin Co KS), Mrs. A.T. Hardcastle research note, and original Warren County bond document. Roy & Blanche married in Ottawa, Kansas (not Missouri). John Abner Kirby born in Warren County, KY (migrated to Jackson Co, MO). Jesse Kirby's wife Sophia Chise was born in Scotland and married in Southampton, England. Jesse's pension number was 317665.

Corrections to vault: Walter Vaughan birth year 1873 (not 1874). Walter death October 14 (not 17). Roy death date September 24, 1977 (new). Hettie marriage date May 10/13, 1894 (license/ceremony). John Kirby & Sarah Johnson married October 3, 1872 (not October 13 as on Doris's lineage sheet).

2026-03-20: Tree Expansion (Iteration 1)

Baseline: ~110 named individuals in Family_Tree.md

Fulghum Deep Ancestry: Isaac Fulghum's Parents

Source: Find a Grave #26576157 (Isaac), #26576164 (Caroline), #5711658 (Charity Ruth Marine), #51772338 (Calvin) New individuals added: 8 (William Fulghum, Charity Ruth Marine, Jesse Fulghum, Phebe Arnold, Jonathan Marine, Hannah Moorman Marine, Benjamin Arnold, Zella Parker Arnold) Key findings: Isaac's parents were William Fulghum (1804-1881) and Charity Ruth Marine (1805-1882). Quaker family at New Garden Monthly Meeting. New Paris is in Preble County, Ohio (not Elkhart County, Indiana as previously recorded). Caroline Arnold's parents were Benjamin Arnold and Zella Parker Arnold of Randolph County, Indiana. The Arnold surname appears on both sides (Phebe Arnold was Isaac's paternal grandmother).

Jones/Samples Family: William Arthur Jones and Maude Samples Confirmed

Source: Find a Grave #66027560 (William Arthur Jones), #63979898 (Maude Samples Jones), #63464510 (Ernest Jones), #52670152 (Harriet Samples Jones) New individuals added: ~15 (William Arthur Jones, Maude Samples Jones, Ernest Jones, W. K. Jones, Marinda R. Wrightman, Charles Jackson Samples, Mary Laura Taylor Samples, plus siblings) Key findings:

  • William A Jones's full name was William Arthur Jones (b. 28 Jun 1865, Jackson County, MO; d. 7 Dec 1927). Buried Salem Cemetery (same as Frances and Roy).
  • Parents: W. K. Jones (1832-1904) and Marinda R. Wrightman (1838-1905). "W. K." unresolved.
  • Maude Samples Jones (b. 2 Jul 1866, Indiana; d. 9 Dec 1941). Parents: Charles Jackson Samples (1828-1906) and Mary Laura Taylor (1838-1866). Mary Laura died the year Maude was born.
  • Ernest Jones (1890-1956), Frances's brother, never married, farmer. His FaG memorial lists "Mrs. Roy Vaughan" as sister and "Mrs. Gale Fulghum" as niece, definitively confirming the family connection.
  • Harriet Samples (Maude's sister) also married a Jones and is buried at Salem Cemetery.
  • The Samples family was large (8 siblings spanning 1857-1878). Elizabeth B. Samples born 1878 is 12 years after Mary Laura Taylor's death, indicating Charles Jackson Samples remarried.

2026-03-20: Tree Expansion (Iteration 2)

2026-03-20: Tree Expansion (Iteration 3)

Holt Line: Eliphaz's Parents, Julia's Parents, Calvin Rogers Holt

Source: Find a Grave #38024736 (Eliphaz), #38024668 (Julia Ann Miller), #38120677 (Dora Lou Copeland) New individuals added: ~7 (Drury Holt Jr., Sarah Cassel, Calvin Rogers Holt, William Malcolm Miller, Arrena Howell, Ruby Fern Holt, Sarah Ann Kendall) Key findings:

  • Eliphaz Holt's parents: Drury Holt Jr. (1801-1883) and Sarah Cassel (1802-1839). Eliphaz had a first wife Sarah Ann Kendall before Julia.
  • Julia Ann Miller's parents: William Malcolm Miller (1817-1892) and Arrena Howell (1823-1900), Daviess County, Indiana.
  • Julia's first husband was Calvin Rogers Holt (1818-1866), Eliphaz's first cousin. They married 10 Aug 1859. Calvin died 1866. Julia married Eliphaz 7 Sep 1867.
  • John William Holt was Calvin's biological son (b. 1864, before Calvin's 1866 death). Noah Caswell Holt was Eliphaz's biological son (b. 1869, after 1867 marriage). They were half-brothers, not full brothers.
  • Dora's full name: Dora Lou Copeland. Buried Wilmot Cemetery, KS (not Jefferson, TN). Previously unknown daughter: Ruby Fern Holt (1894-1952).
  • Dora's parents: NOT FOUND.

Shortridge Line: Three Generations to 1688 London, England

Source: WikiTree Shortridge-183, Shortridge-113; Buffalo.edu Shortridge history New individuals added: ~6 (Nancy Wren, William Shortridge, Mary Stubblefield, John Shortridge II, Mary Gilbert, Michael Gilbert) Key findings:

  • John Shortridge's wife: Nancy Wren (b. 1761, Shenandoah, VA). His will (1819, Montgomery Co KY Will Book B p. 334) names 11 children.
  • John's father: William Shortridge (~1707-1783), first Shortridge born in America. Fairfax County, VA farmer and tobacco grower.
  • William's father: John Shortridge II (b. 25 Dec 1688, St. Botolph without Aldgate, London, England). Immigrant ancestor, appeared in Westmoreland County, VA court records 1704.
  • Birth year discrepancy: DAR says ~1740; WikiTree says 1752.
  • Nancy Wren may connect to DAR patriot James Christopher Wren Jr. (A134792), but this is Speculative.

2026-03-20: Tree Expansion (Iteration 4)

2026-03-20: Tree Expansion (Iteration 5)

Alma Caroline Schmidt (Jean Eggers): Parents Found

Source: FaG #14767546 New individuals: William Henry Schmidt (1863-1950), Ida Caroline Pruesner Schmidt (1866-1948)

Vaughan Deep Ancestry: CORRECTED and Extended to 1704

Source: WikiTree Farrar-1923, Vaughan-634, FaG #25783656, #225536876 CORRECTION: George Albert Vaughan's father was Woody Vaughan (1772-~1813), NOT James Washington Vaughan (who was George's brother). FaG memorial conflated father and son. New ancestors: Woody Vaughan, Sarah Farrar (dates confirmed), Capt. Reuben Vaughan (1732-1817, DAR A118329), Elizabeth Ingram, James Vaughan (1704-before 1750). Reuben is a THIRD confirmed DAR patriot.

Holt Line Extended to 1607 Prestbury, England

Source: WikiTree Holt-3175, Holt-1016, Holt-1014, Clanton-268; FamilySearch LCMM-XDF New ancestors: William Holt (1666-1726), Elizabeth Seward, Randall Holt Jr. (c.1629-1679, House of Burgesses 1656), Elizabeth Hansford, Randolph Holt I (1607-c.1650, Jamestowne Society), Mary Bayley, Samuel Judkins III (will 1740), John Clanton, Amy Wyche Clanton.

Jonathan Jones: Death Date, Wife's Maiden Name, Migration Route

Source: 1881 Jackson County biography (genealogytrails.com/mo/jackson/bio_j.html) -- near-contemporary source, Strong Signal Key findings: Jonathan died 14 Oct 1865. Wife: Anna Beets (d. 2 Apr 1881). From Hawkins County, TN. Migrated spring 1843 to St. Charles Co, MO (1 year), then Jackson Co 1844. W.K. married Marinda Writsman 1 May 1864. Fifth child confirmed: Maudie E. (= Maud Coldsnow).

Elizabeth Ann O'Nan Walker: Parents Identified

Source: Ancestry, Geni, WikiTree (Moderate Signal) Parents: John O'Nan (~1790, VA) and Rebecca Carrico (m. 2 Apr 1813, Shelbyville, KY).

Franklin Parsons: Birthplace Found, Parents Unknown

Source: Rootsweb genealogy page Finding: Born 9 Jan 1826, Agawam, Hampden County, Massachusetts. Parents not found.

Dora Lou Copeland: Parents and 4 Generations Found via FamilySearch Tree

Source: FamilySearch tree profile G6TH-9K2, 1900 Census (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:M3BN-GF1) New individuals added: ~15 (Jacob Tipton Copeland, Nancy Jane Scott, Hamilton Copeland, Margaret Irwin, Richard Copeland, Mary Polly Grier, John Irwin, Anne, Robert H. Scott, Prudence Brazelton, James Scott, Levina McCuistion, Jacob Brazelton, Rachel Armstrong) Key findings:

  • 1900 Census confirms: Dora L Holt, age 28, born July 1872, Tennessee. Both parents born Tennessee. Married 7 years. 1 child (Ruby, b. Dec 1894). Living Richland Township, Cowley County, KS.
  • FamilySearch tree (G6TH-9K2) gives parents: Jacob Tipton Copeland (1831-1910) and Nancy Jane Scott (1837-1898). Ancestors traced back to Richard Copeland (1767-1844) and James Scott (1745-1827).
  • Also reveals additional children of Noah and Dora: Beth Goldyne Holt (1911-), plus Vada's birth year may be 1908 (not 1905 as in vault).
  • Confidence: Unverified (user-contributed FamilySearch tree). Needs corroboration from census records or FaG memorials. Jacob Tipton Copeland (1831-1910) should be findable in Jefferson County, TN census and FaG.

Drury Holt Line: Six Generations to 1694 Virginia

Source: WikiTree Holt-1771 (Drury Sr.), Rogers-1235 (Thomas Rogers), Clanton-268 (Abigail), Geni (Peter Cassel) New individuals added: ~13 (Drury Holt Sr., Sarah Elizabeth Rogers, Nathaniel Holt, Abigail Clanton, Charles Holt, Sarah Judkins, Thomas Rogers, Henry H. Holt, Catharine Jane Gray, Peter Cassel Sr., Elizabeth Gragg, plus details) Key findings:

  • Drury Holt Jr.'s father: Drury Holt Sr. (b. 29 Dec 1759, Sussex Co, VA; d. 16 Feb 1835, Whitley Co, KY). Revolutionary War militia veteran and War of 1812 veteran (Battle of the Thames). Another potential DAR patriot!
  • Drury Sr.'s parents: Nathaniel Holt (~1736) and Abigail Clanton (1742). Nathaniel's parents: Charles Holt (1694-1773) and Sarah Judkins (~1711-1756).
  • Drury Sr.'s wife: Sarah Elizabeth Rogers (~1765-~1852), daughter of Thomas Rogers (~1740-1811) of Hawkins Co, TN.
  • Calvin Rogers Holt's parents confirmed: Henry H. Holt (1787-1879) and Catharine Jane Gray (1790-1875). Henry was Drury Jr.'s brother.
  • Sarah Cassel's parents (Moderate Signal via Geni): Peter Cassel Sr. (~1775, VA) and Elizabeth Gragg (1775-1849), Greene County, TN.
  • The Holt line now goes back to Charles Holt (1694-1773) in Virginia.

W. Kenneth Jones Parents: Jonathan and Anna Jones (1850 Census)

Source: 1850 US Census, Blue Township, Jackson County, MO (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:MDZ8-QPV) New individuals added: 2 (Jonathan Jones, Anna Jones) Key findings: W. Kenneth Jones (listed as "Wm K Jones," age 19) was living with parents Jonathan Jones (45, TN) and Anna Jones (43, TN) in Blue Township, Jackson County, MO. All older children born in Tennessee; Sarah (~1844) and Emily (~1846) born in Missouri. Family migrated ~1842-1844. Blue Township is where the Jones Cemetery is located. Thomas Jones connection RULED OUT: W. Kenneth was born in Tennessee, not Kentucky. His father Jonathan was also from Tennessee. The Thomas Jones (1791-1871) of Montgomery County, KY married Frances Miller is a different family.

Jones Family: Claude Lynch, Maud Coldsnow, Osla Sehrt Details

Source: FaG #53601717 (Claude M. Jones Lynch), #62319260 (Maud Elizabeth Coldsnow), #91541270 (Osla Sehrt Jones) Key findings:

  • Claude M. Jones Lynch (b. 31 Jan 1873; d. 19 Feb 1911, influenza). Married Joseph Bernard Lynch (1871-1959). MO death cert #6278. Buried Woodlawn Cemetery (not Salem).
  • Maud Elizabeth Coldsnow (b. 3 Jun 1877; d. 16 Nov 1956). Death cert #38342 lists parents as "Kenny Jones" and "Ethel Lanphere Jones." NOT listed as sibling on other Jones memorials. Possibly a half-sibling from a second marriage. John Jones's 1945 obituary called her his sister. Needs census/death cert verification.
  • Osla Sehrt Jones (b. 29 May 1881, Augusta, St. Charles Co, MO; d. 29 Sep 1967). Wife of Charles F Jones. Parents: F.C. Julius Sehrt (1830-1897) and Lena Scholle Sehrt (1843-1925).
  • MO death certificate site blocks automated access. Manual browser search needed for William Arthur Jones (d. 1927), Charles F Jones (#23754), Claude Jones Lynch (#6278), Maud Coldsnow (#38342). Negative: No FaG memorial exists for William Arthur Jones (1865-1927). His death cert is the priority.

Nancy Wren Parentage: Unresolved

Results: Nancy Wren (b. 1761) CANNOT be daughter of James Christopher Wren Jr. (born 1755, only 6 years older). She could be a daughter of James Christopher Wren Sr. (b. 1728, DAR patriot A130667), who was a Colonel and architect (Falls Church, Christ Church Alexandria). A gap in his children between Shadrack (1760) and John S. (1766) could fit a Nancy born 1761. But no source confirms this. Susannah Shortridge dates found: b. 6 Nov 1779, VA. Married Elexius ("Alexius Elias") Harris on 15 Feb 1798, Fairfax County, VA. Michael Gilbert will confirmed: 1717 Westmoreland County will names wife Jane, sons William/John/Michael, and grandson William Shortridge. Source: Fothergill, Wills of Westmoreland County, Virginia, 1654-1800 (1925).

William Malcolm Miller and Arrena Howell: FaG Memorials Found, Parents Not Found

Source: FaG #38025982 (William), #47000792 (Arrena) Results: William born 26 Dec 1817, Tennessee (not Indiana). Civil War veteran: Co. C, 31st Indiana Infantry. Both buried Wilmot Cemetery, KS. Middle name discrepancy: "Malcolm" (FaG) vs "Michael" (WikiTree). Arrena's parents NOT FOUND.

W. Kenneth Jones: Full Name Resolved, FaG Memorials Found

Source: Find a Grave #14518930 (W. K. Jones), #14518939 (Marinda), #63979301 (Charles F Jones bio), #52670030 (Jonathan R. Jones) Key findings:

  • W. K. Jones's full name: W. Kenneth Jones (from Charles F Jones memorial: "Son of W. Kenneth Jones and Miranda Wrightsman Jones")
  • FaG #14518930: b. 2 Feb 1832, d. 18 Jan 1904. Buried Salem Cemetery, Independence.
  • Marinda: FaG #14518939: b. 28 Apr 1838, d. 23 May 1905. Alternate spellings: Wrightman/Wrightsman.
  • Jonathan R. Jones (FaG #52670030) married Harriet Samples Jones (1869-1920). Two Jones brothers married two Samples sisters.
  • Charles F Jones (FaG #63979301) married Osla Sehrt Jones. MO death cert #23754.
  • John's 1945 obituary mentions "Mrs. Maude Coldsnow of Atherton" as a sister. Unknown if this is Claude M. Jones Lynch or a new sibling.
  • Jones Cemetery (FaG #2333480) in Blue Township near Atherton, established on Jones family property, has 110 memorials. Thomas Jones connection: Still unproven. "W. Kenneth" does not match any known child of Thomas Jones (1791-1871). The 1850 census of Montgomery County, KY would be the key record.

Jean Eggers Maiden Name: NOT FOUND

Searches: Walter Eggers obituary (2023), FaG for Walter Henry Eggers Sr., St. Louis census/marriage, Jim Eggers. Results: Walter J. Eggers III obituary (Legacy.com/Kansas City Star, d. 16 Jul 2023) lists parents as "Walter and Jean Eggers" with no maiden name. No FaG memorial for Walter Sr. or Jean. No obituary for Jean found online. Jim Eggers (brother) still living as of Jul 2023. Best next steps: (1) Search Missouri death certificates 1910-1975 online for "Walter Henry Eggers" d. 1955. (2) Search 1930 census on FamilySearch for Walter H. Eggers in St. Louis. (3) Search St. Louis marriage records on FamilySearch (~1920s).

W. K. Jones and Marinda R. Wrightman: No Online Presence

Searches: Find a Grave for W.K. Jones (d. 1904), Marinda Wrightman, Jonathan R. Jones (1867-1945), Charles F Jones (1870-1949), Claude M. Jones Lynch (1873-1911). All returned zero results. Thomas Jones connection: Investigated but NOT CONFIRMED. Thomas Jones (1791-1871) of Montgomery Co, KY married Frances Miller. Their daughter Lucy Ann Jones (1820-1848) married James William Harris. W.K. Jones (b. 1832) could plausibly be Thomas's son (dates fit, both families ended up in Jackson County, MO), but no document names W.K. as a child of Thomas. Important clarification: There are two different Thomas Jones families being conflated online. Family A: Thomas Jones (1785-1859) married Frances Bybee (moved to Indiana, 15 children). Family B: Thomas Jones (1791-1871) married Frances Miller (Montgomery Co KY, daughter Lucy Ann married Harris). Our line is Family B. Negative results: No FaG memorials for any of W.K. Jones's family. No Wrightman/Wightman records in Jackson County. No death certificates accessible online (W.K. died 1904, before MO death cert coverage). Next steps: Search 1870/1880 census on FamilySearch for W.K. Jones household in Jackson County. His children's Missouri death certificates (William Arthur d. 1927, Jonathan d. 1945, Charles d. 1949) would name parents and are within the 1910-1975 online window.

Eva Eleanor Wiley Fulghum: Dates Confirmed, Parents Not Found

Source: Find a Grave #51772361 Results: Born 22 Sep 1867, died 25 Jul 1948. Buried Highland Cemetery, Winfield, KS. No parents listed. No WikiTree profile. Ancestry remains unknown.

Henrietta Rose Eggers: Maiden Name and German Parents

Source: Find a Grave #14767563 New individuals added: 2 (Henry Rose, Mary Tubbesing) Key findings: Maiden name was Rose. Born 25 Sep 1868, Germany. Parents: Henry Rose and Mary (nee Tubbesing). Both German.

John David Gibson: Rev War Service Unconfirmed

Results: Identity as Silas Gibson's father confirmed. Revolutionary War service remains Speculative (FaG veteran flag unsourced). No pension, no DAR ancestor number found. Death location disputed (Simpson Co KY vs Franklin, TN). The DAR patriot is now identified as John Shortridge (A207508) via separate research. See DAR GRS search log entry.

Samples Deep Ancestry: Charles Jackson Samples

Source: Find a Grave #223475261 (Charles Jackson Samples) New individuals added: 3 (Charles Lewis Samples 1792-1873, Anna "Ann" Young Samples 1797-1857, plus detailed dates/locations for Charles Jackson) Key findings: Charles Jackson Samples (b. 10 Jul 1828, Greene Co, MO; d. 11 Sep 1906, Rocky Ford, CO). Had four wives. Parents: Charles (Lewis) Samples (1792-1873) and Anna "Ann" Young (1797-1857). Father reportedly from "Ben County Kentucky" (probably Benton County). Large sibling group. Buried in Colorado, not Missouri.

Parsons/Walker Ancestry

Source: Find a Grave #35001848 (Frank DeWitt Parsons), #159366954 (Carrie Myrtilla Walker Parsons) New individuals added: 4 (Franklin Parsons 1826-1908, Sarah Bullard Parsons 1828-1869, Henry Dennis Walker 1830-1864, Elizabeth Ann O'Nan Walker 1836-1913) Key findings: Frank DeWitt Parsons (b. 2 Sep 1854, Galesburg, Knox Co, IL; d. 26 Jun 1926). Parents: Franklin Parsons (1826-1908) and Sarah Bullard (1828-1869). Married Carrie Myrtilla Walker 25 Oct 1881, Galesburg, IL. Carrie's parents: Henry Dennis Walker (1830-1864, died when Carrie was 7) and Elizabeth Ann O'Nan (1836-1913). Both Frank and his daughter Margaret died in 1926.

Orrill Ancestry: Three Generations to Warwickshire, England

Source: Find a Grave #37543673 (William Orrill), #37543715 (Sarah W. Tebbett), #84803952 (George A. Orrill), #37543621 (Annie L Orrill), WikiTree Orrill-26 New individuals added: ~12 (William Tebbett Orrill, Eliza F. Miller Chitwood, William Orrill, Sarah W. Tebbett, plus siblings) Key findings:

  • Frederick Thomas Orrill's parents: William Tebbett Orrill (b. 1834, Warwickshire, England) and Eliza F. Miller Chitwood (b. 1842; d. 1921). Strong Signal from multiple cross-referencing FaG memorials.
  • Grandparents: William Orrill (1811, Warwickshire; d. 1874, Pike Co IL) and Sarah W. Tebbett (1806, Warwickshire; d. 1878, Pike Co IL). Married 5 Nov 1832 in Bulkington, Warwick, England. Both buried Bethel Cemetery, Newburg Township.
  • The Orrill family immigrated from Warwickshire, England to Pike County, Illinois.
  • 41 Orrill memorials found in Pike County cemeteries.
  • "Harriet M." from 1880 census does not match any FaG memorial. Unresolved.
  • Eliza's "Miller Chitwood" name suggests either maiden name Miller with prior marriage to Chitwood, or double-barreled maiden name. WikiTree says "born in England" but this may be a census misread.

Gibson/Harris/Henry Deep Ancestry

Source: Find a Grave #48443658 (John David Gibson), #155435248 (Nancy Henry Harris), colonial-settlers-md-va.us (Elexius Harris/Susannah Shortridge F18487) New individuals added: ~10 (John David Gibson, James Henry, Drucilla Henry, Elexius Harris details, Susannah Shortridge siblings, Gibson siblings) Key findings:

  • Silas Gibson's father identified as John David Gibson (b. 1755, Laurens County, SC; d. ~1825, Simpson County, KY). FaG #48443658. Listed as veteran. Born 1755, he was of Revolutionary War age. If his military service is confirmed, he is likely Doris Vaughan Fulghum's DAR patriot ancestor. This is the most significant lead on the DAR question.
  • WikiTree Gibson-2930 has a disputed profile for John David Gibson with different death date (1823 vs 1825). Wife possibly Mary Elizabeth Locke. Not reliable without corroboration.
  • Nancy Henry Harris's parents identified as James Henry and Drucilla (surname unknown). Per FaG #155435248.
  • Elexius Harris and Susannah "Sukey" Shortridge marriage recorded in Virginia marriage records. Elexius's estate appraised Feb 1844 in Montgomery County, KY. Colonial Settlers database (F18487) has their family.
  • Susannah Shortridge's siblings identified from a will: Betsy, Sally Hopper, Nancy Hedges, Melissa Fuqua, Polly Butler.
  • Elizabeth Lane Gibson's parents: NOT FOUND. This remains a gap. Negative results: No FaG memorial for Silas Gibson himself. No WikiTree profile for Silas Gibson (1797-1861). Elizabeth Lane's ancestry completely unresolved.

2026-03-20: Frances Blanche Jones Vaughan Parents Identified

FamilySearch NUMIDENT: Blanche Jones Vaughan

Query: FamilySearch search for Frances Blanche Jones, born 1903, died 1997 Source: United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 (FamilySearch ark:/61903/1:1:6KW3-SY9Z) Results: Blanche J Vaughan (alias). Birth: 20 Jan 1903, Independence, Missouri. Death: 6 May 1997. SS application filed 6 Sep 1972. Residence: Independence, Jackson, Missouri. Race: White. Parents identified: Father: William A Jones. Mother: Maude Samples. Confidence: Strong Signal. This is self-reported data from Frances herself on her Social Security application. Primary source. Impact: Resolves Open Question #2. Opens two new family lines for research: the Jones line (William A Jones in Independence, MO) and the Samples line (Maude Samples, maiden name). The "A" middle initial for William needs to be resolved (could be Andrew, Albert, Arthur, etc.). Next steps: Search 1910/1920 census for William A Jones household in Jackson County, MO with daughter Frances/Blanche. Search FaG for William Jones and Maude Samples in Independence area. Search Missouri birth/death records for both parents. Connection to investigate: James William Harris's first wife was Lucy Ann Jones (1820-1848), daughter of Thomas Jones (1791-1871) and Frances Miller of Montgomery County, KY. Whether William A Jones descends from this same Thomas Jones line is unknown but worth investigating. The name "Frances" in Frances Blanche Jones could be a family naming pattern from Frances Miller.

2026-03-20: Robert Edgar "Bob" Fulghum Research

Find a Grave: Robert Edgar "Bob" Fulghum (#135422906)

Query: Find a Grave search for Robert Fulghum, born ~1925, Kansas Source: Find a Grave memorial #135422906 Results: Robert Edgar "Bob" Fulghum (b. 28 Aug 1924, Winfield, Cowley County, KS; d. 20 Aug 2003, Kansas City, Jackson County, MO). Buried Mount Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. TEC 5, US Army Air Forces, WWII, 860th Engineer Aviation Battalion, South Pacific. Career in carpentry/construction from 1946. Spouse: Dora Deane Fulghum (1925-2022), married 57 years. Life member VFW Post 30. Sibling listed: Aura Gale Fulghum (1923-2007), confirming identity. Key finding: Parents listed as Fred Forest Fulghum (1895-1966) and Margaret Parsons Fulghum (1897-1926). Bob was NOT Sybil's biological son as previously assumed; he was Fred's son from his first marriage. Birth year correction: Born 1924 per headstone/FaG, not 1925 as estimated from memoir.

Find a Grave: Fred Forest Fulghum (#25618094)

Query: Find a Grave search for Fred Forest Fulghum Source: Find a Grave memorial #25618094 Results: Fred Forest Fulghum (b. 21 Sep 1895, New Paris, Elkhart County, Indiana; d. 20 Dec 1966, Kansas City, MO). Buried Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, Independence, MO (same cemetery as Sybil). Corporal, US Army, WWI. Physical (1917): medium height, medium build, dark blue eyes, dark brown hair. Occupation: Gas Fitter, then Superintendent/Assistant Supervisor at Gas Service Company. Address: 1222 North Liberty, Independence, MO (confirms memoir). Spouses: (1) Margaret Parsons Fulghum (1897-1926); (2) "Dora Sybil Holt Fulghum" (1900-1989). Note: Sybil listed as "Dora Sybil" on this memorial; elsewhere "Sybil Dora." Parents: Calvin A. Fulghum (1867-1945) and Eva Eleanor Wiley Fulghum (1867-1948). Siblings: Marshall Wiley Fulghum (1894-1962), Eugene Fulghum (1898-1993), Agnes Lorea Fulghum Robbins (1900-1999). Implication: Resolves Open Question #6 completely. Fred was from Indiana, not Kansas. The Fulghum family (Calvin) settled in Cowley County, KS (buried Highland Cemetery, Winfield).

Find a Grave: Margaret Parsons Fulghum (#35001878)

Query: Find a Grave search for Margaret Fulghum, born ~1897 Source: Find a Grave memorial #35001878 Results: Margaret Parsons Fulghum (b. 14 Jul 1897, Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois; d. 14 Dec 1926). Buried Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Winfield, Cowley County, KS, with Parsons family. Parents: Frank DeWitt Parsons (1854-1926) and Carrie Myrtilla Walker Parsons (1857-1935). Siblings: Lelia Blanche Parsons (1882-1902), Guy Victor Parsons (1887-1964). Note: Both Gale and Bob listed as her children on FaG, but Gale's birth name was Aura Gale Orrill (WikiTree Orrill-24). FaG listing reflects Fred's role as father of both, not biological parentage. Note: Margaret's Parsons family is distinct from Alice Ada Orrill's husband Alva Hall Parsons (b. 1893). Both families were in Cowley County, but no confirmed connection.

Find a Grave: Calvin A. Fulghum (#51772338)

Query: Find a Grave search for Calvin Fulghum Source: Find a Grave memorial #51772338 Results: Calvin A. Fulghum (b. 5 Jan 1867, Indiana; d. 29 Nov 1945). Buried Highland Cemetery, Winfield, Cowley County, KS. Spouse: Eva Eleanor Wiley (1867-1948, m. 1890). Parents: Isaac Fulghum (1830-1914) and Caroline Arnold (1833-1932). Siblings: Zeri H Fulghum (1855-1934), Eliza Adeline Fulghum Lambert (1858-1929). Children: Marshall Wiley (1894), Fred Forest (1895), Eugene (1898), Agnes Lorea (1900). Implication: Fulghum line extends 3 generations back from Bob: Fred Forest → Calvin A. → Isaac Fulghum (1830-1914). All from Indiana originally; Calvin settled in Cowley County, KS.

860th Engineer Aviation Battalion

Query: Web search for 860th Aviation Engineers South Pacific WWII Source: ibiblio.org/hyperwar, apps.dtic.mil Results: The 860th EAB served in MacArthur's Southwest Pacific campaign. Participated in the assault on Biak (27 May 1944) and built the airfield on Owi Island in 10 days under difficult conditions. The Owi airfield enabled the first bombing of the Philippines in over two years.

Negative result: Dora Deane Fulghum

Query: Find a Grave and web search for Dora Deane Fulghum Source: Find a Grave, web Results: No Find a Grave memorial found. No obituary found online. Per Bob's FaG memorial, she lived 1925-2022.

2026-03-19: Vault initialization

Family tree assembly from existing documents

Query: Consolidated family data from available source materials Source: Family_Tree.md, Fulghum memoir, Eggers death certificate photograph Results: Assembled 13 named individuals across Fulghum, Vaughan, Eggers, Britt, Giles, and Warnke families. Birth/death years documented for 11 of 13. Two individuals (Walter Eggers Sr., Jean Eggers) have no dates. Implication: Core direct line is documented back to ~1900 on both sides. Pre-1900 ancestry is unknown. Next step: OCR the Fulghum memoir for additional names, dates, and locations. Examine death certificate for informant name, cause of death, and burial location.

2026-03-19: Iteration 1, Tree Expansion (Web Research)

Gale Fulghum (b. 1923, d. 2007)

Query: "Gale Fulghum" born 1923 died 2007 parents genealogy Source: Speaks Chapel obituary (speakschapel.com) Results: Confirmed: born 19 Feb 1923 in Kansas City, MO; died 2 Oct 2007 in Independence, MO. Spouse Doris (Vaughan) Fulghum. Son Gary, grandsons Clay and Jordan. Naval officer WWII. Metallurgical Engineering, Univ. of Missouri at Rolla. Burial: Salem Cemetery (cremation). No parents named in obituary. Implication: Fulghum paternal line remains a dead end via obituary. Need census records or Missouri vital records to find Gale's parents. Next step: Search 1930/1940 census for Gale Fulghum in Kansas City, MO to identify parents in household.

Roy Wallace Vaughan (b. 1901, d. 1977)

Query: "Roy Wallace Vaughan" born 1901 died 1977 parents genealogy Source: Web search (WikiTree, Ancestry, Rootsweb) Results: No results. General Vaughan genealogy pages returned, but no specific match. Implication: Roy Wallace Vaughan not indexed in free web sources under this exact name. Next step: Try broader search with location (if discoverable), or search for Blanche Jones maiden name to find her family and locate Roy through marriage records.

Blanche Jones Vaughan (b. 1903, d. 1997)

Query: "Blanche Jones Vaughan" born 1903 died 1997 parents Source: Web search Results: No results matching this individual. One false positive (Blanche Meredith Otterstrom, b. 1907). Implication: Name may be too common or records not digitized. Next step: Search for Vaughan/Jones marriage record in Missouri.

Walter J Eggers III (b. 1930, d. 2023)

Query: "Walter J Eggers" obituary 2023 parents born 1930 Source: Legacy.com / Kansas City Star obituary Results: Major find. Born 23 Aug 1930 in St. Louis, MO to Walter and Jean Eggers. Wife Jackie (72 years). Children: Terri Fulghum (Gary) and Jeff Eggers (Deb). Grandchildren: Clay (Kristin) and Jordan (Mary Kate) Fulghum, Erin Aparicio, Cassidy Osbourne, Nate Eggers. Great-grandchildren: Maya, Leighton, Amelia, Bear, Piper, Jackie. Brother: Jim Eggers. Resided in Overland Park, KS. Implication: Confirms existing tree. Adds Jeff Eggers (sibling of Teresa), Jim Eggers (brother of Walter III, therefore also child of Walter Sr. and Jean). Teresa is called "Terri" in the obituary. New individuals added: Jeff Eggers, Deb Eggers, Jim Eggers (+3)

Ira Mollett Giles (b. 1902, d. 1970)

Query: "Ira Mollett Giles" born 1902 died 1970 parents genealogy Source: Web search (WikiTree, FamilySearch, Ancestry index pages) Results: Search summaries suggest born 28 Dec 1902 in St. Louis, MO; died 15 Jun 1970 in San Benito, Cameron County, TX. Parents possibly John Giles and Maude Estrella Dickenson. Single source only; not yet corroborated. Implication: Promising lead on Giles parents but needs independent verification before adding to tree. Next step: Search for John Giles and Maude Dickenson in St. Louis records. Find a Grave or obituary for Ira to corroborate.

Adeline G Warnke (b. 1906, d. 1987)

Query: "Adeline Warnke" born 1906 died 1987 parents genealogy, "Adeline G" Warnke Giles Kansas born 1906 Source: AncientFaces.com, web search Results: Found "Adeline Britt" (b. 18 Dec 1906, d. Sept 1987) in Lenexa, KS. Dates match exactly. "Britt" may be a married surname (connecting to Jacqueline Britt Eggers' middle/maiden name). No parents found. Implication: Adeline may have married someone named Britt before or after Giles. The "Britt" in Jacqueline's name likely comes from Adeline's married name. Next step: Search for Adeline Warnke marriage records in Kansas/Missouri. Search for "Britt" family in Lenexa, KS.

Walter Eggers Sr. and Jean Eggers

Query: "Walter Eggers" "Jean Eggers" parents New York New Jersey genealogy, "Walter Eggers" "Jean" St. Louis Missouri parents Source: Web search Results: No specific results. General Eggers genealogy resources found. Eggers surname present in NJ/NY area historically. Implication: Without dates or locations for Walter Sr. and Jean, searches are too broad. Next step: Use Walter III's St. Louis birthplace (1930) to search for Walter Eggers in 1930 St. Louis census.

2026-03-19: Iteration 2, Tree Expansion (Doris Vaughan Fulghum obituary, corroboration attempts)

Doris Vaughan Fulghum (b. 1922, d. 2014)

Query: "Doris Vaughan" "Fulghum" obituary Independence Missouri 2014 Source: Signature Funerals obituary (signaturefunerals.com) Results: Major find. Born 20 Nov 1922 in Buckner, MO. Died 6 Aug 2014. Parents: Roy Vaughan and Blanche Jones Vaughan. Only child. Married Gale Fulghum 14 Sep 1944 in Chicago. DAR member (documented Revolutionary War ancestry). Descendant of early Jackson and Clay County settlers. First cousin: Kaye Vaughan, Knowlton, Quebec. 1940 graduate William Chrisman High School. Implication: DAR membership means there exists a documented lineage application proving Revolutionary War ancestor on the Vaughan or Jones line. Kaye Vaughan in Quebec suggests a branch of the Vaughan family moved to Canada. "Early Jackson and Clay County settlers" places the Vaughan/Jones families in western Missouri since at least the mid-1800s. New individuals added: Kaye Vaughan (+1) Next step: Search DAR records for Doris Vaughan Fulghum's lineage application. Search for Kaye Vaughan in Quebec. Research Jones family of Jackson County, MO.

Ira Mollett Giles corroboration attempt

Query: "John Giles" "Maude Dickenson" St. Louis Missouri children Source: Web search Results: No results. Could not corroborate the parent names from iteration 1. Implication: Ira Mollett Giles parents remain single-source (likely user-contributed tree). Not adding to vault per guard rules. Next step: Search for Ira Mollett Giles in 1910/1920 census to find parents in household.

Adeline Warnke / Britt corroboration attempt

Query: "Adeline Warnke" OR "Adeline Giles" OR "Adeline Britt" Kansas 1906 parents Warnke Source: Web search, AncientFaces.com Results: Confirmed Adeline Britt (b. 18 Dec 1906, d. Sept 1987) in Lenexa, KS. Dates match Adeline G Warnke exactly. No parents found. No Find a Grave memorial found. Implication: Adeline likely used married name "Britt" at some point. Warnke was likely maiden name. Next step: Search Kansas marriage records for Adeline Warnke. Search for "Britt" surname in Lenexa/Johnson County, KS.

1940 Census for Blanche Vaughan

Query: Ancestry.com 1940 census link for Blanche Vaughan in Missouri Source: Ancestry.com (blocked by paywall) Results: Could not access. Ancestry returned 403. Implication: Census data behind paywall. Next step: Try FamilySearch free census images.

2026-03-19: Iteration 3, Tree Expansion (Eggers ancestry, DAR, Fulghum parents)

Walter Eggers Sr. ancestry

Query: "Walter Eggers" "Jean" St. Louis Missouri 1930 children family, "Henry Eggers" "Walter" St. Louis Missouri children family tree Source: Geni.com (via web search summaries), Find a Grave Results: Found Walter John Eggers (1905-1949) on Find a Grave, but his spouse was Miriam Sara Cotton, NOT Jean. Wrong person. Separately found Henry Dan Eggers (1861-1943) in St. Louis with son "Walter H. Eggers" on Geni. This is a potential grandparent of Walter J Eggers III, but single-source (user-contributed tree). Implication: The "H" in "Walter H. Eggers" could indicate the middle name. Need corroboration before adding. If Henry Dan Eggers is the grandfather, the Eggers family was in St. Louis since at least the 1860s. Next step: Search for "Walter H Eggers" marriage to "Jean" in St. Louis. Search for Henry Dan Eggers in census records.

DAR lineage for Doris Vaughan Fulghum

Query: "Doris Vaughan" OR "Doris Fulghum" DAR lineage application Missouri Source: DAR website, FamilySearch wiki Results: DAR lineage applications are not freely searchable online. The DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) requires visiting the DAR website directly. Implication: Cannot access DAR lineage application through web search. This would be a high-value record if accessible, as it documents Revolutionary War ancestry. Next step: User could access DAR GRS directly or request Doris Fulghum's application number.

Gale Fulghum's parents

Query: "Gale Fulghum" OR "Gale F" father mother born 1923 Kansas City Missouri, Missouri Birth Index search Source: Web search, missouribirthindex.com Results: No parents found. Missouri Birth Index exists (1910-2024) but requires direct website access. Implication: Gale Fulghum's parents remain unknown through free web sources. Next step: Direct search on missouribirthindex.com. OCR the Fulghum memoir for family details.

Jim Eggers identification

Query: "Jim Eggers" "Walter Eggers" St. Louis brother obituary Source: Legacy.com, various obituary sites Results: No matching obituary found. Multiple Jim/James Eggers from various states, none clearly matching. Implication: Jim Eggers not findable through web search alone without more identifying details. Next step: If Jim is still living, he may not have an obituary. Would need other records.

2026-03-19: Iteration 5, Tree Expansion (Fulghum memoir OCR, photo captions)

"The Best of Times" memoir by Gale Fulghum (2004), photo captions

Query: OCR/read of scanned PDF memoir, pages 1-80 Source: "The Best of Times" by Gale Fulghum (January 1, 2004), family memoir dedicated to grandson Clayton Vaughan Fulghum Results: Major breakthrough. Photo caption page (p. 63) reveals Gale's entire parentage:

  • Photo #1: "With Jack and Sybil Orille, assumed biological parents, Fairmount, Mo, 1925"
  • Photo #2: "With Fern Orille, 'Grandma Orille', Sybil, and Nina and Bob Tucker, Wichita, 1927"
  • Photo #3: "With Bob Fulghum on Holt farm, Wilmot, Kansas, 1928"
  • Photo #4: "With 'Grandma' Holt on Holt farm, 1928"
  • Photo #6: "'Grandfather' Holt with Queenie and Glory, 1928"
  • Photo #12: "With Fred and Sybil (now) Fulghum hunting jackrabbits near Holt farm, 1928"
  • Photo #14: "With Bob, Augusta, Kansas, 1929"
  • Photo #16: "Fred's 1930 Ford Model 'A' company car, 1932"
  • Photo #17: "With Bob and Bobby Smith, 1222 N. Liberty, Independence, Mo. 1935"

Chapter 1 confirms: Gale lived with foster grandparents on a quarter-section farm in Cowley County, Kansas (near Wilmot) from age 3 to kindergarten age (1926-1928). He refers to "my brother" throughout.

Implication: Gale was born to Jack Orille and Sybil Orille in 1923 (Kansas City). By 1925, he was with them in Fairmount, MO. Between 1926-1928, he and brother Bob were placed with the Holt foster grandparents on a farm near Wilmot, KS. By 1928, Sybil had married Fred Fulghum, who gave the boys the Fulghum surname. Fern Orille was "Grandma Orille" (Jack or Sybil's mother), located in Wichita. The word "assumed" before "biological parents" suggests Gale himself was not entirely certain of his parentage.

New individuals added: Jack Orille, Sybil Orille/Fulghum, Fred Fulghum, Bob Fulghum, Fern Orille, "Grandfather" Holt, "Grandma" Holt (+7)

Next step: Search for Jack Orille and Sybil Orille in Missouri records. Search for Holt family in Cowley County, Kansas. Search for Fred Fulghum in Independence, MO. The Orille surname is distinctive and should be searchable.

Holt family identification

Query: "Holt" farm Wilmot "Cowley County" Kansas family 1920s Source: Cowley County Heritage Book (ksgenweb.org), Wilmot Cemetery records (ksgenweb.org) Results: Strong corroboration. John William "Will" Holt (b. ~1856, d. 10 Feb 1938) and Clara Effie Kennedy Holt (b. 15 Nov 1869, d. 13 Apr 1953) owned 80+ acres in Richland Township, Cowley County, KS, near Wilmot. They had 12 children. Clara's parents: Alexander B. Kennedy and Rachael Kennedy. Farm size, location, surname, and generation all match memoir's "Grandfather" and "Grandma" Holt. Implication: Foster grandparents now identified by full name with birth/death dates from two independent sources (Heritage Book + cemetery records). Clara Holt's parents are also documented. New individuals confirmed: Alexander B. Kennedy, Rachael Kennedy (+2, from published county history)

Query: "Jack Orille" OR "Sybil Orille" Fairmount Missouri Kansas City 1920s, "Orille" family Missouri Kansas genealogy Source: Web search Results: No results. The Orille surname returned no matches in any genealogical database searched. Implication: "Orille" may be misspelled in the memoir, or an uncommon/anglicized surname. Possible variants: O'Rille, Orrill, Oriel, Orella. Next step: Try variant spellings. Search Missouri birth/marriage records. Try Fairmount, MO specifically.

Query: "Fred Fulghum" Independence Missouri obituary family Source: Web search (Legacy.com, Speaks Chapel) Results: No specific obituary found for Fred Fulghum. Only Gale Fulghum's obituary returned. Implication: Fred Fulghum may have died before the digital obituary era, or may not have lived in Independence. Next step: Try Missouri death certificates (1910-1975 available from Missouri State Archives).

Ira Mollett Giles death certificate (PRIMARY SOURCE)

Query: OCR of death certificate photograph in Eggers/death-certificate.jpg Source: Texas Department of Health, Certificate of Death #39734, State File 2509, Registered #23 Results: Critical primary source. Confirms:

  • Full name: Ira Mollett Giles
  • Born: December 28, 1902, St. Louis, MO
  • Died: June 15, 1970, San Benito, Cameron County, TX (age 67)
  • Father: John Giles
  • Mother's maiden name: Maude Dickinson
  • Occupation: Sales Rep., Missouri Pacific Railroad (retired)
  • Residence: 208 Poinciana, San Benito, TX (9 years)
  • Burial: June 18, 1970, Mont Meta Cemetery, San Benito, TX
  • Funeral home: Thomae Funeral Directors, Harlingen, TX
  • Informant: Mrs. Ivy Poules
  • Cause of death: Acute myocardial infarction (suspected), arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus Implication: Death certificate (primary source) corroborates earlier web search that identified parents as John Giles and Maude Estrella Dickenson. Two independent sources now confirm. "Dickinson" vs "Dickenson" is a minor spelling variant. New individuals added: John Giles, Maude Dickinson (+2)

Query: "Orille" OR "Orile" OR "O'Rille" genealogy United States Source: Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, Forebears.io, Geneanet Results: The surname Orille exists in US records (38 census records, 124 immigration records found between 1840-1911). Rare but real surname. No specific Missouri/Kansas results. Implication: Orille is a genuine surname, not a misspelling. Jack and Sybil Orille remain searchable but not found in free online records. Next step: Direct search of Ancestry or FamilySearch census records for Orille in Missouri.

Query: "Bob Fulghum" Independence Missouri obituary brother Gale Source: Web search Results: No results. A Robert Fulghum obituary from Memphis, TN (2024) appeared but is not the right person. Implication: Bob Fulghum not found in web search. May be deceased under a different name or location. Next step: User may know Bob Fulghum's current status or full name.

2026-03-19: Iteration 8 (FINAL), Tree Expansion (Holt ancestry, final push)

Eliphaz Holt and Julia Ann Miller (John William Holt's parents)

Query: "Eliphaz Holt" Cowley County Kansas genealogy family Source: WikiTree (Holt-11387, profile of Cora Belle Holt Stephens), 1880 US Census (Richland, Cowley, KS) Results: Significant extension of the Holt line. Eliphaz Holt (b. 23 Oct 1824, Hawkins County, TN; d. 21 Dec 1897) married Julia Ann Miller (b. ~25 May 1840, Daviess, IN; d. ~26 May 1901). John William Holt was Julia's son from a prior marriage (listed as "half-sibling" on WikiTree, "stepson" in 1880 census). Eliphaz was a farmer in Richland Township, Cowley County. Two independent sources (WikiTree family profile backed by census transcription + 1880 census listing). Implication: The Holt foster line now extends to the early 1800s. Eliphaz was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1824 and migrated through Indiana to Kansas. Julia Ann Miller was from Daviess County, Indiana. John William Holt was born in Indiana and moved to Kansas with the family. New individuals added: Eliphaz Holt, Julia Ann Miller Holt (+2)

Query: "John Giles" "Maude" St. Louis Missouri children born 1870 1880 genealogy Source: Web search Results: No specific results. General St. Louis genealogy resources returned. Implication: John Giles and Maude Dickinson remain identified only by the death certificate and web genealogy. No further details found about their origins or dates.

2026-03-19: Iteration 9, Tree Expansion (Eggers grandparents, Orille surname analysis)

Henry Dan Eggers and Henrietta Rose (Walter Sr.'s parents)

Query: "Henry Dan Eggers" 1861 1943 St. Louis children "Walter" wife, "Walter H Eggers" St. Louis Missouri wife "Jean" family children Source: Geni.com (Henry Dan Eggers profile), Walter J. Eggers III obituary (Legacy.com, 2023) Results: Henry Dan Eggers (b. 1861, d. 27 Mar 1943, St. Louis, 3416 Chippewa) married Henrietta Rose. Children included Walter H. Eggers, Arthur C., Edwin William, Fredrick Emil, Wilhelmine Marie. Separately confirmed: Walter J Eggers III was born in St. Louis to "Walter and Jean Eggers." Walter H. Eggers (son of Henry Dan) matches Walter Eggers Sr. who married Jean. Implication: Two sources corroborate: Geni lists Walter H. as son of Henry Dan; obituary confirms a Walter Eggers in St. Louis married Jean and had Walter J III. The "H" middle initial distinguishes Walter H. from a different Walter John Eggers (1905-1949) who married Miriam Cotton. Geographic and timeline match is strong. New individuals added: Henry Dan Eggers, Henrietta Rose Eggers (+2) Caveat: Geni is user-contributed. The corroboration is indirect (geographic/timeline) rather than a second primary source.

Orille surname analysis

Query: FamilySearch surname page, "Orille" Missouri Kansas 1920 1930 census Source: FamilySearch.org Results: Orille surname has 18,539 historical records on FamilySearch. Most common in Spain (26 people), Philippines (12), US (4). Only 4 people in US family trees. Very rare surname. No census results for Missouri/Kansas. Implication: With only 4 US individuals in FamilySearch trees, the Orille family is extremely rare in the US. Jack and Sybil Orille may be findable through targeted census image browsing or Ancestry subscription. Next step: Try Ancestry census search directly for "Orille" in any US state.

2026-03-19: Iterations 10-11, Tree Expansion (DAR, remaining leads, free sources exhausted)

Query: DAR ancestor search, Missouri patriots list Source: mssdar.org, services.dar.org Results: Two Jones patriots buried in Missouri: David Jones (A062039) and William Jones 2nd (A062809). Either could be Blanche Jones Vaughan's Revolutionary War ancestor, but no county or family connection can be confirmed. Implication: DAR records require direct access to the GRS database or a DAR member's assistance to search by descendant name.

Jean Eggers maiden name

Query: "Jean Eggers" St. Louis Missouri maiden name wife Walter Source: Web search Results: No results. Jean's maiden name remains unknown.

Adeline G Warnke parents

Query: Multiple searches for Warnke family in Kansas/Missouri, marriage records Source: Web search, Wyandotte County records Results: No parents found. Adeline confirmed as "Adeline Britt" in Lenexa but parents remain unknown.

Fred and Sybil Fulghum

Query: "Fred Fulghum" "Sybil" Kansas Missouri Independence, "Fulghum" Augusta "Butler County" Kansas, "Fred Fulghum" OR "Frederick Fulghum" obituary Source: Web search Results: No results. Fred Fulghum not indexed in any free online source. Implication: Fred Fulghum may need to be searched via Ancestry subscription (census records) or Kansas/Missouri vital records.

Fairmount, MO location

Query: Fairmount Missouri Kansas City neighborhood community 1920s history Source: City of Independence website, neighborhood history Results: Fairmount is a neighborhood of Independence, MO (and also overlaps with Kansas City). This places Jack and Sybil Orille in the Independence area in 1925, the same area where the Fulghum family later lived.

Roy Wallace Vaughan burial

Query: Multiple searches for Roy Vaughan burial, cemetery, obituary in Missouri Source: Web search, Find a Grave Results: No results. Roy Vaughan (1901-1977) not found on Find a Grave or any online obituary database.

Free web source assessment

After 11 iterations, the remaining leaf nodes (Orille parents, Vaughan parents, Jones parents, Warnke parents, Jean Eggers maiden name) cannot be resolved through free web sources. The following paid or in-person resources are recommended:

  1. Ancestry.com subscription: Census records for Orille, Vaughan, Jones, Warnke families
  2. FamilySearch census image browsing: Free but requires manual browsing of census pages
  3. DAR Genealogical Research System: Search for Doris Vaughan Fulghum's lineage application
  4. Missouri State Archives: Death certificates (1910-1975) for Roy Vaughan, Fred Fulghum
  5. Jackson County Recorder of Deeds: Marriage records for Vaughan/Jones, Fulghum/Orille
  6. Midwest Genealogy Center (Independence, MO): Local records, directories, newspapers

2026-03-19: Web Research Session (Open Questions + Document Transcription)

Vaughan Deep Ancestry Breakthrough

Query: Find a Grave search for Joseph Vaughan, born ~1839, died ~1918, Missouri Source: Find a Grave #88078489 Results: Major breakthrough. Joseph Gibson Vaughan (b. 5 Aug 1839, MO; d. 24 Apr 1918, Buckner, MO) found with own memorial. Parents: George Albert Vaughan (1812-1889, Virginia) and mother "Gibson." Wife: Sarah Bell Harris (1852-1915, Bourbon Co, KY). 7 children with FaG links. Civil War: Quantrill's guerrillas per Carl Breihan. Buried Oak Grove Cemetery, Jackson Co, MO.

Cascading FaG memorial discoveries:

  • George Albert Vaughan (FaG #69396081): b. 3 Apr 1812, Virginia; d. 8 Mar 1889, Hill County, TX. Wife: Minerva Gibson (1817-1880), m. 21 Jan 1836 Jackson Co, MO. Parents per Geni: James Washington "Woody" Vaughan and Sarah Baugh Farrar (Moderate Signal).
  • Minerva Gibson (FaG #159635575): b. 1817, Tennessee; d. 1880, Jackson Co, MO. Parents: Silas Gibson (1797-1861) and Elizabeth Lane Gibson (1798-1881). Census: Simpson Co, KY then Jackson Co, MO.
  • Sarah Bell Harris (FaG #88078577): b. 7 Jun 1852, Bourbon Co, KY; d. 14 Feb 1915, Oak Grove, MO. Parents: James William Harris (1817-1875) and Nancy "Nannie" Henry (1833-1868). 9 children, 5 living at death. 6 siblings + 2 half-siblings.
  • James William Harris (FaG #155434069): b. 30 Apr 1817, Montgomery Co, KY; d. 26 Sep 1875, Levasy, Jackson Co, MO. Parents: Elexius Harris and Susannah Shortridge. 1st wife: Lucy Ann Jones (1820-1848). 2nd wife: Nancy Henry.
  • Frances Blanche Jones Vaughan (FaG #92372894): exact dates confirmed (b. 20 Jan 1903, d. 6 May 1997). No parents listed.

Implication: Vaughan line now documented 5 generations from Roy (to George Albert Vaughan, Virginia, 1812). Harris line extends to Kentucky (1817). Gibson line extends to Tennessee/Kentucky (1797). Joseph Gibson Vaughan was a founding Quantrill guerrilla. James William Harris's first wife was Lucy Ann Jones, raising potential connection to Frances Blanche Jones line. DAR patriot ancestor still unidentified.

Joseph Gibson Vaughan Gun Affidavit (1965)

Query: OCR of Fulghum/vaughan-gun-letter.png Source: Sworn affidavit by Samuel Gibson Vaughan, notarized 22 Apr 1965; from GunsInternational.com Results: Samuel authenticates a Civil War gun carried by his father Joseph Gibson Vaughan. Key facts: Joseph was "one of the first eight men to join Quantrell (1861)." Nickname "Dan Vaughn" (confirmed by Burch book citation, p. 261). 19 named engagements including Lawrence Massacre and Centralia Massacre. Gun belonged to Joseph's father (George Albert Vaughan). Scabbard taken off Union soldier. Death date given as April 20, 1918 (4 days off from death certificate). Implication: Primary source for Joseph's detailed Civil War service. "Dan Vaughn" alias explains why he appears in published histories under that name.

Joseph Gibson Vaughan Death Certificate (MO, 1918)

Query: OCR of Fulghum/vaughan-death-certificate.jpeg Source: Missouri State Board of Health, Certificate of Death #12983 Results: Definitive primary source. Death: 24 Apr 1918. Birth: 5 Aug 1839. Father: Albert Vaughan (Virginia). Mother maiden name: Gibson (birthplace unknown to informant). Cause: cirrhosis of liver. Informant: Elsie Maloney, Kingsville, MO (daughter Elsie May Vaughan Maloney). Township: Ft. Osage, Jackson County. Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, 26 Apr 1918. Implication: Resolves death date discrepancy (cert says 24th, affidavit said 20th). Confirms father "Albert Vaughan" from Virginia (corroborates George Albert Vaughan, FaG). Mother "Gibson" confirmed. Informant identification connects to Elsie May Vaughan Maloney (FaG #32299789).

Negative Results (Searches Attempted, No Findings)

Query Source Result
"Jack Orille" / "Sybil Orille" + variants Web search No records in any state
"Fred Fulghum" Missouri/Kansas Web search, MO death index No results
"Jean Eggers" + "Walter Eggers" marriage Web search, St. Louis records No results
"Gale Fulghum" Missouri Birth Index 1923 missouribirthindex.com No results (may not be digitized)
DAR GRS for Vaughan/Jones ancestors services.dar.org Interactive JS; could not scrape results
"Kaye Vaughan" Knowlton Quebec Web search No results
"Bob Fulghum" Independence Missouri Web search No results
"Blanche Jones Vaughan" obituary 1997 Web search No results

2026-03-20: Sybil Holt / Orrill Identification (WikiTree Breakthrough)

WikiTree Holt-14739 discovery

Query: User identified WikiTree profile Holt-14739 showing "Sybil Dora Fulghum, formerly Holt aka Orrill" Source: WikiTree (wikitree.com/wiki/Holt-14739) Results: Major breakthrough resolving the #1 open question. "Sybil Orille" identified as Sybil Dora Holt:

  • Born: 29 Jul 1900, Wilmot, Cowley County, Kansas
  • Died: 27 May 1989, Jackson County, Missouri (age 88)
  • Burial: Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, Independence, Jackson County, MO
  • Parents: Noah Caswell Holt (1869-1935) and Dora L. Copeland (Jul 1872 - 12 Feb 1940, Jefferson, TN)
  • Sister: Vada Emily Holt Langton (b. 1905, Wilmot, KS)
  • First husband: Clinton Woodward Orrill (m. 24 Nov 1920, Wichita, KS)
  • Son from first marriage: Leo Eugene Orrill (b. 9 Mar 1922)
  • Second husband: Fred Fulghum (by 1930 census)
  • 1930 census household includes: Gale Fulghum (b. 1923, MO) and Robert Fulghum (b. 1925, KS)

Implication: Resolves multiple open questions simultaneously:

  1. "Orille" was phonetic misspelling of married name "Orrill"
  2. Sybil's maiden name was Holt, born in Wilmot, KS
  3. The Holts were NOT unrelated foster family: Noah Caswell Holt (Sybil's father) and John William Holt (the "Grandfather Holt" of the memoir) were brothers, both sons of Julia Ann Miller and (step)father Eliphaz Holt
  4. Gale had a previously unknown half-brother: Leo Eugene Orrill (1922)
  5. Sybil lived until 1989 in Jackson County, MO, the same area as Gale
  6. New family lines opened: Copeland (Jefferson, TN) and Orrill (Cowley County, KS)

New individuals added: Sybil Dora Holt (+identity), Noah Caswell Holt, Dora L. Copeland, Clinton Woodward Orrill, Leo Eugene Orrill, Vada Emily Holt Langton (+6)

WikiTree Orrill-24 discovery (Clinton's profile)

Query: User identified WikiTree profile Orrill-24 for Clinton Woodward Orrill Source: WikiTree (wikitree.com/wiki/Orrill-24), plus linked profiles Orrill-25, Orrill-26, Orrill-27, Orrill-28 Results: Second major breakthrough in same session. Resolves the "Jack" question and opens the entire Orrill family line:

  • Clinton Woodward Orrill was also known as "Jack", resolving the memoir's "Jack Orille"
  • Gale's birth name was Aura Gale Orrill
  • Clinton died 13 Mar 1926 at age 25 from burns suffered in a tar still explosion at the Standard Oil refinery in Sugar Creek, MO. Died at Independence Sanitarium.
  • Leo Eugene Orrill (b. 9 Mar 1922) died at 6 days old (15 Mar 1922, Wichita). Not a surviving sibling.
  • Clinton's parents: Frederick Thomas Orrill (b. 8 Jul 1869, Pike, IL; d. 4 Jun 1926, Arcadia, CA) and Mary Alvira Woodward (b. 16 Jul 1866; d. 3 Aug 1950). Frederick died 3 months after Clinton.
  • Frederick's 1880 census (Pike Co, IL) shows siblings: George A., Alice J., Minnie N., Harriet M., Arbella A., Arthur H. Orrill. Parents' names unknown.
  • Clinton's siblings: Alice Ada Orrill Parsons (1896-1966, Wilmot/Winfield, KS) and Price Vinton Orrill (1898-1990, Blue Springs/Independence, MO). Price lived in Jackson County from 1930 until death, same area as Gale.
  • "Fern Orille" (memoir) does not match Mary Alvira Woodward. May be misremembered name (Gale was 4).

Implication: Clinton's death in the refinery explosion explains the entire sequence: Sybil widowed at 25 with two children, sends them to her uncle's farm, later remarries Fred Fulghum who gives the boys a new surname. The Orrill line traces to Pike County, Illinois (1860s-1870s) and should be traceable further through 1880 census.

New individuals added: Frederick Thomas Orrill, Mary Alvira Woodward, Alice Ada Orrill Parsons, Price Vinton Orrill, Edith Blanch Adams Orrill, Dale Adams Orrill, Alva Hall Parsons (+7)

DAR GRS search for Shortridge ancestors

Query: Searched DAR Genealogical Research System (services.dar.org) for Shortridge ancestors Source: DAR GRS, Ancestor Search Results: 6 Shortridge patriots found. Two geographic matches to our Harris/Shortridge family:

  • John Shortridge (A207508): b. ~1740, d. before 5 Jun 1819, Montgomery County, KY. Patriotic Service, Virginia (Fairfax County). Furnished supplies. Wife: Nancy.
  • George Shortridge (A026089): b. ~1756, d. before 1818, Bourbon County, KY. Private, Virginia militia.

John Shortridge's descendant list shows children: Sarah "Sally" Shortridge (b. 2 Apr 1788, Fairfax Co, VA; m. John Hopper) and William Shortridge (m. Elizabeth Wren). Our vault independently lists Susannah Shortridge's siblings as including Sally Hopper. Sally Hopper appears in both sources, confirming John Shortridge as Susannah's father.

DAR application #987569 preview confirms: Sarah Shortridge (b. 2 Apr 1788, Fairfax Co, VA) married John Hopper (b. 1787, VA; d. 1823, Wayne Co, IN). Their descendant line goes through James R Hopper → Susan Louisa Hopper Howard → applicant.

Implication: John Shortridge (A207508) is almost certainly Doris Vaughan Fulghum's DAR patriot ancestor. Lineage: John Shortridge → Susannah Shortridge → James William Harris → Sarah Bell Harris → Walter M Vaughan → Roy Wallace Vaughan → Doris Vaughan Fulghum. Confidence: Strong Signal.

Other DAR searches (negative results)

Query Results Assessment
Gibson, John, South Carolina, birth ~1755 2 results (A044808 Culpeper VA/Greene VA, A135397 Georgetown SC/Warren GA) Neither matches our John David Gibson (Laurens SC → Simpson Co KY). Not in DAR system.
David Jones, A062039 Found: Halifax Co VA → Cooper Co MO. Children: Robert, Anna, Lydia, Elizabeth, Margaret, David, Martha, Lavinah No clear connection to our Jones line (Jackson Co, MO). Different migration pattern.
Vaughan, Virginia 650+ results Too many to filter without more specific information

Next step

Email copyservices@dar.org to request Doris Vaughan Fulghum's DAR application record copy ($15). This would confirm the patriot identity and document every generation.

Logging Convention

Every search gets logged, positive or negative. Use this format:

  • Date: When the search was performed
  • Query: Exact search terms (so you can avoid repeating the same search)
  • Source: The database, website, or archive
  • Results: What was found. "No results" is a valid and important entry.
  • Implication: What the result (or lack thereof) means for the research
  • Next step: What to do next based on this result