Today I will provide my first general review of the data collected for Caroline Augusta (Kanistanaux) Horton. I need to assess what is known and what is missing for this family member. This will assist me in planning my next phase of research.
I have done reasonably well collecting data for Carry. I have her death date and location, so my priority will be to get the actual death record from Randolph.
I have an approximate marriage date for Carrie and I know she was in Stockton before and after that date. Stockton is the place to begin my search for her marriage record.
With luck, the death and/or marriage records will provide the names of her parents, a birth date or more specific age, and a specific place of birth – with LUCK!
Census records are pretty consistent about her birth location being Canada. In the 1910 Census she indicates she immigrated to the US in 1860, at which time she would have been about 3. If this is true, chances are she does not have much first-hand memory concerning her birth place.
I am not sure why I couldn’t find the family in the 1905 and 1920 census, but I am not too concerned at this time. I don’t think I would learn anything that would help identify her parents, so it is not a good use of time. I can revisit this issue later if need be.
The only census that identifies her as “Indian” is 1875 when she is living at home with her presumed parents. In all others, she is listed as white while her nearby siblings are still being identified as “Indian”. It is not at all uncommon to find Indian women listed as white when they are married to non-Native men. In fact, by law in most of North America, a Native woman lost any tribal right she may have had when she married a non-Native man. This is all white politics concerning money and has nothing to do with how tribes actually felt about interracial marriage. The census may also be nothing more then a statement about the census takers beliefs. There is oral history in at least one off-reservation Native family that suggests the census takers thought they were doing them a favor by not showing their true color in census. Bigotry and racism was at home in American society then, just as it is now.
The above chart shows the potential parents for Carrie. Lee-o-netto (elder) is shown as Lee1 with the 1846 birth year and Lee2 with the 1853 birth year. Clearly, she is not old enough to be Carrie’s mother. Marleah is currently the only candidate for the position of mother.
I have already ruled out Laton and Lewis as possible fathers because I can place them with other families in Wisconsin at the time of Carrie’s birth. I know almost nothing about Isaac and he is old enough to be her father.
I don’t believe it would make any sense to search land records or probate for Carry. If I run into dead ends looking for her marriage record, I might look for property owned by her and her husband. Land records may give me clues about where they lived at the time of marriage.
Top Priority To-Do List
Stockton, Chautauqua Co., NY
- Marriage record between 1875 and 1880
Randolph, Cattarugus Co., NY
Death record – 5-Jul-1931
Future To-Do List
Unknown Locations
- Birth record
- Additional census
Do you have any information to add or questions?
Please leave a comment.
The Ne-Do-Ba Research Journal 
Carrie and her husband Fred, he went by “Frank”, are on the 1920 census in Cattaraugus County, Township of Randolph (Series T625, Roll 1088, Page 122). She lists both her and her parents birthplace as Canada. Immigration date Unknown.
My dad is going to talk to his aunts who are Carrie and Fred's last remaining grand daughters to see if they remember anything or have any stories.
Carrie and Fred Horton are in the 1905 NY Census in Cattaraugus County, Township of Conewango, Pg 10. Also listed is their son, Leon F., who is my Great Grandfather.
Oh, you are good. I searched for both those years with no luck. Thank you very much for becoming involved is this research. This is a wonderful demonstration of how two sets of eyes looking for something are so much better than one.
Have your Dad ask about artifacts and old documents too – there must be a box of papers or memorabilia in someone's attic or basement somewhere – or at least I can dream of such a thing existing.
I would love to see Marleah's brochure mentioned in the Stockton History!