This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Miller, Poteet, DuPree, Johnson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/WMB.2ACE/4776 Message Board Post: Usually it is best to make a query short and to the point and that is usually what I do BUT, in this particular case, I cannot possibly do that and make this completely understandable so here's my story: Many years ago I was given an old family bible. In the bible was a picture of a woman that I just knew had to be a long ago family member so I asked several members of my family who she might be. Finally, my father told me that she was his father's (my grandpa's) sister. Her full and maiden name is 'Lela Dorothy Gay DuPree'. She was born Aug. 18, 1893 in Stillwater, Payne Co., Ok. to Edward DuPree and Nettie Johnson DuPree. Lela, I was told, married a man by the name of ? Miller. Well, after several years I finally found that she did indeed marry a Miller and here is that marriage info: Lela Gay DU PREE - Arthur M. MILLER (I think the 'M' should be a 'W') May 21, 1914 (book 59, page 462, file #62272) Kansas City, Jackson Co., Mo. What I haven't told you, up to this point, is that I had also heard from my family that Lela had been kicked in the stomache by her husband and died as a result of it! Her funeral record says she died of an "intestinal obstruction". At least they worded it nicely, hum? So, I then started looking for obituaries for Lela and found two of them. One was in the Stillwater, Ok. newspaper and the other one was in the Kansas City, Mo. newspaper. Following are those two obituaries. Note the last name given for Arthur in these two obits: Notice Stillwater Gazette (Payne Co., Okla. Lela's hometown.) Mrs Arthur Miller, formerly Lela DuPree, died in Kansas City Monday, age 23. The body arrived in Stillwater Thursday noon and funeral services were held at the home of her father, Edward DuPree at 3:30 in the afternoon. Her husband survives her. There were no children. End Obituary- Funeral of Mrs Lela Miller Funeral services, conducted by Rev. S. A. Phillips, of U.B. Church END "The Kansas City Times" Wednesday, July 19, 1916 Mrs. Lela Dorothy POTETT (should be Poteet), wife of Arthur W. POTETT, a musician, died yesterday morning at the Wesley Hospital. She was born in Stillwater, Ok. She lived at 1200 Paseo, and had lived in Kansas City three years. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward DUPREE of Stillwater, survive. The funeral will be at 4 o'clock this afternoon at the home. Burial will be in Stillwater. Mrs. POTETT was 22 years old. END There are a few problems that I can see at this point and that is that: Lela's residence was listed as 'Fern St.' on her death record and 'Paseo' in the K.C. obituary. The difference in last names for Arthur is confusing but (I rationalize), since he is a 'musician' he must have gone by, at times, a 'stage' name . Since his name is listed as 'Miller' on his marriage certificate I assumed that 'Miller' must be his actual last name. With that settled I decide it's time to try and find him on the censuses and here is what I have come up with: 1920 Federal Census St. Louis (Independant City), St. Louis Co., Mo. E.D.# 456 January 10th & 12th 1920 Household# 304 Page# 12 B Poteet, Arthur W. Head 24 yrs. Single B. Mo. F.B. Ky. M.B. Tx. Musician- Own agent Sarah M. Mother 55 yrs. Widowed B. Tx. F.B. Ky. M.B. Ky. Housekeeper-Hotel After trying everything, known to modern genealogist, to find Arthur MILLER I tried the 'Poteet' name and there he was! What I now know is that 4 years after his wife's death, Arthur is living in St. Louis and his 'born in Tx.' and named 'Sarah M.' mother is living with him. Now here they are (with an additional family member) in 1930: 1930 Federal Census Dist# 36, Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Mi. House# 51 Poteet, Arthur W. Head Rents- $56 mo 39 yrs. Salesman- Automobile b. Mo. f.b. U.S. m.b. Tx. Hazel J. Wife 38 yrs. Stenographer- Real Estate b. Mi. f.b. Mi. m.b. Canada- English Miller, Cynthia M. Mother 55 yrs. b. Tx. f.b. U.S. m.b. U.S. Hum... Arthur's age is off by a few years, when compared to the 1920 census, but that happens all of the time on the censuses. I see that he is still 'born in Mo.' and his mother is still 'born in Tx.' But, why is 'mom' listed as 'Cynthia M.' instead of 'Sarah M.'? Must be a another mistake by the census taker. That happened alot. Oh oh, mom's last name is now 'Miller' instead of 'Poteet' and I have to wonder just how many mistakes can possibly be made by those poor census takers?!! It finally dawns on me that some of the blame must be placed with the people in this family who gave the info to the census takers! And, these people made alot of them!! Oh well, I now know that they are living in Michigan, Arthur is a musician/car salesman and mom is Sarah M./Cynthia M. and they both are Poteet/Miller. Bear with me please as this is my last bit of info: St. Clair County (Michigan) Index to Deaths 1933-1958 Surname- First Name- Year- Book- Page Poteet Arthur William 1937 8 107 Poteet Hazel J. 1943 8 474 Poteet Sophia M. 1956 10 373 I see from this that the 'W' in 'Arthur W.' stands for 'William' and his mother outlives him and his wife and he and his wife both died in thier mid 40's. Only one little glitch here and that is the fact that Sarah M./Cynthia M. Poteet/Miller is now Sarah M./Cynthia M./Sophia M. Poteet/Miller! That clears it up.... If anyone who reads this has any type of information that might shed a little light on any of this for me then I would be very greatly appreciative!!! Sure would appreciate knowing: Which last name is the true and actual name? What is Arthur's father's name? What are the full death dates for Arthur, Sophia & Hazel J. Poteet? Would it be possible for me to acquire obituaries for these people? Where are these people buried? And, just anything else that you might be able to add! Thanks alot for listening! Karla