Kin and Konnections: A Family History Blog

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 Ti...

A few years ago, I obtained from the  National Archives and Records Administration  the civil war pension file for my ancestor, Christopher Tinkler (1834-1899)*, the first in this family line to be born in America.  In a family tree prepared by my great uncle Leslie Tinkler, Christopher's wife's name is given as Julia Carey.  Her name in the marriage record was Julia Ellen Carey.  It took some time to uncover her maiden name.  It can be challenging to find details about female ancestors.  Often the details of their lives are hidden in the records of their husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers.   Below is a transcription of an affidavit filed by Julia's brother, George Washington Kline, and sister, Lydia Ann (Kline) Nicholson, in support of Julia's widow's pension:   No. 707102   General Affidavit   Case of Julia A. Tinkler, Widow of Christopher Tinkler, Co. D 107 Ohio Infantry   ...