Tinkler Ancestry Update

John Henry and Lizzie (Wright) Tinkler in 1930s Los Angeles, from family photo collection.

Several months ago, my aunt and I noticed a John Henry Tinkler [my second great-grandfather] listed on the California Death Index at Rootsweb. He was born in Ohio on June 13, 1859 and died in California on March 4, 1942. The mother's maiden name was listed as Kline. This threw us for a loop since Uncle Leslie Tinkler's family tree listed John Henry's mother's maiden name as Phoebe Carey.

Anyway, through postings on genealogy message boards, I got a reply listing a marriage date for John H. Tinkler and Susan E. Wright in Bethany, Illinois. I sent away for their marriage register and the birth register for [their son] Clancy Bradford Tinkler, Sr. The marriage register shows they were married in Bethany on April 29, 1888. His mother's maiden name is listed as JULIA A. KLINE and his father's name is listed as CHRISTOPHER TINKLER. He was born in Stark County, Ohio where many Tinklers lived in the 1800s.

Susan's parents are listed as GEO. J. WRIGHT and JANE MILTON [MELTON]. (Uncle Leslie's book listed the name as SUSAN MORGAN). Susan E. Wright was born in Indiana (county may be Monroe, it is difficult to read) in approximately 1870. 

This is certainly good news, because now we have more avenues to research. The same Christopher Tinkler listed above was a veteran of the Civil War and received a pension. Next item on the agenda is to send away for the pension records.

[In about 1983, my great uncle Leslie Tinkler compiled a family album, including a family tree and photographs. Uncle Leslie sent copies to his nieces and nephews, including my mother. Her copy is among my possessions, though the magnetic photo album is no longer intact.]

Originally published on my personal MyFamily.com website on February 10, 2001. Edited for clarity. Comments are in brackets.

Categories: Christopher Tinkler, Civil War, Kline Family, Melton Family, Tinkler Family, Wright Family