Thanks for your reply! I am posting some additional information which fits right in. On Oct 13, 2005, at 8:00 PM, <[email protected]> <[email protected]> wrote: > Peter, > > The death of Alexander STODDARD is recorded in volume 3 of the > Trumbull County, Ohio Death Records on page 238. > > Particulars are as follows: > > Date of Death - 15 July 1896 > Age - 70 > Place of Death - Johnston [Twp., Trumbull Co., Ohio] > Place of Birth - Scotland > Occupation - Merchant > CoD - bladder catarrh [inflamation] This is very interesting. Just to show how badly genealogical information can get messed up, here is an article that appeared in the Grass valley California newspaper of the time: ########################## Daily Morning Union - Grass Valley Cal Thursday Morning July 16 1896 Transcribed from film in the California State Library by Peter J. Stoddard 12 October 2005 ########################## Death of Alexander Stoddard A telegram was received by Wm. Campbell yesterday appraising him of the death of his brother-in-law, Alexander Stoddard, which occurred at Latimer, Ohio, on Tuesday night. Deceased was one of the pioneer residents of Grass Valley, and was associated with Mr. Campbell in the Grocery business at Boston Ravine for twenty five years. He was the father of the late A.W. Stoddard [actually W.S. Stoddard-PJS], and was a highly-respected old gentleman. Deceased was about 79 years of age, and was a native of Scotland. He was a member of Madison Lodge, F. and A.M., of Grass Valley Chapter, R.A.M., and of Nevada Commandery, Knights Templar. ########################## > There are also 5 other STODDARDs listed in Johnston Twp.: > > Cornelia A, age 35, DOD 14 July 1891 > unnamed, age 9 days, DOD 29 February 1868 > George Alex, age 7, DOD 22 December 1896 > Jane, age 77, DOD 24 January 1872 > Walter, age 71, DOD 14 March 1868 > > I suspect that Walter's age may be incorrect since he died within > 15 days of the unnamed child, and they are listed as having the > same parents - George and Margaret. Well perhaps George's age is incorrect too. A George Stoddard witnessed Alexander Stoddard's will. The will ends: "In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal at Johnston Ohio, this thirteenth day of May A.D. 1896. /s/ Alexander Stoddard (Seal) Signed and acknowledged by said Alexander Stoddard as his last will and testament in our presence and signed by us in his presence , as witnefses to said will and at his request this 30th day of May A.D. 1896. George Stoddard Miles Skinner" I believe Alexander Stoddard had a brother named George who was baptized in Lesmahagow, Lanark, Scotland on 5 April 1823. This may have been the same George who witnessed Alexander's will. > You can check for an obituary for Alexander at the Trumbull County > Local History and Genealogy Center here: http://www.wtcpl.lib.oh.us/ > lh&g.htm I have sent them a note as follows: "I am looking for the wife of Alexander Stoddard. Alexander was born in 1825, Leishmahagow Parish, Lanark, Scotland, and died July 15, 1896 in Johnston Township, Trumbull County, Ohio. He travelled to America in about 1850. He had a son, Walter Scott Stoddard, born 30 November 1850 in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. I have never seen any reference to Alexander's wife, and am guessing she died in childbirth in Youngstown. I would love to find: 1 Walter Scott's birth certificate, or record of his death (which may list his mother); 2 A death certificate for Alexander's wife (name unknown, but date of death, I'm guessing, is 30 November 1859); 3 An obituary for Alexander Stoddard, which may mention his wife. Alexander and his son Walter Scott travelled to Grass Valley, Nevada County, Calif. where they both became prosperous, Alexander in the Grocery business with his brother-in-law William Campbell, and Walter Scott as a clerk in his father's store and later as the station master for the Nevada City Narrow Gauge Railroad. WS died in 1887 and Alexander travelled back to Ohio, where he died in Trumbull County as above." Peter Stoddard