Letter From Willie Winfrey Sept 1985: 1st Reunion In Iowa 1971

Mystery Photo Of Four Children: Who could They Have Been?

Who are the children in this photo? It's a  mystery.

This photo is of  Isabella V. (LANKFORD) NICKERSON.
Daughter of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD

I was looking at the children in the above photo. And I thought about Isabella (LANKFORD) NICKERSON's children. Are these children of Ezekiel's and Isabella's?

On the 1930 census Ezekiel and Isabella were listed with 5 children.
All born in Colorado.

Nathan NICKERSON born about 1922
Katherine was listed as Nathian. Error on census.

Vivian NICKERSON born about 1923
Lankford NICKERSON born about 1924
Betina NICKERSON born about 1927
Robert NICKERSON born about 1928

I believe that Ezekiel and Isabella had other children after 1930. As I was searching, I came across a Bettie NICKERSON in TX with her Aunt Ruth WHITE. Ruth was listed on Ezekiel's funeral home info as next of Kin.

After farther searching, I discovered that Ruth's maiden name was what I thought. It was Nickerson. She was Ezekiel's sister.

I was searching for Betina Nickerson  on a census record. I came across Bettie NICKERSON. She was one of four NICKERSON children listed with the WHITE household in TX. All were born in Colorado. Bettie could have been Betina.

Bettie NICKERSON 
Doris NICKERSON 
Freddie NICKERSON 
Leona NICKERSON 

Isabella Nickerson passed on Sept 15, 1938. On the funeral home info it stated that the baby was in the casket with Isabella. One can assume that Isabella give birth and died afterward.

I had always thought that when I read, "child was in the casket" with Isabella, and that Isabella died after giving birth.  On December 5, 2013, I came across a death record of Freddie NICKARSON. He passed on April 9, 1941. Ruth White was the informat on the death record.

I checked to see who his parents were. E. W. Nickerson from Denver, Colorado and Elizabeth Langford from St. Joseph, Missouri.  I thought to myself and wondered. That's Ezekiel's and Isabella's son. He was born in Sept 15, 1938. So, it appears that Isabella had more than one baby before she passed on. Twins perhaps.

It appears that Ruth White cared for the four NICKERSON children after Ezekiel couldn't. Perhaps that was why the children were with Ruth and her husband in 1940. I can't locate where E.W. Nickerson was in 1940. That still leaves a question.  Why was Isabella's name listed as Elizabeth who was from St. Joseph, MO?

As for the above photo, the children could have been the NICKERSONs. The young boy does look like Isabella. The girls look like sisters. 

I came across  a photo  of Freddie NICKERSON as a child. The year of Freddie birth on the 1930 census was about 1935. But on his birth record the year was 1938. I don't think that there were two Freddies.

Also, Leona the youngest child, she was listed for her year of birth as about 1939. She could have been born in 1938. I don't think  Isabella had triplets.  It could have been. Leona, Freddie were the same age on the 1940  census.

 Isabella (LANKFORD) NICKERSON was the sister of Leo LANKFORD. The photo of the children were found in the home of Leo and Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD./ LANKFARD.

Family Mysteries are fun. I'm not for sure who the children were in the photo. But the description matches the NICKERSONs. How knows? It could be someone else children. They all look like siblings. But who's? Could they have been Ruth (NICKERSON) WHITE's children?

What about the connections between the 1930 and 1940 census? It give clues to who some of the NICKERSONs where about. I discovered that Nathan NICKERSON passed on in 2007 in Oregon . According to his obituary, he had a sister name Doris. And brother named Robert NICKERSON. Nathan Nickerson was born in Colorado.

I don't know any additional info on the E.W. and Isabella NICKERSON's Children. I'm hoping that some of the NICKERSON descendants will come across this blog. I have come across photos of Nathan NICKERSON and one I believe was of Vivian NICKERSON.  Nathan looked like his father.

Thanks for reading: Family Connections
S.A. Blakley

In Loving Memory Of Mary Jane (Blakey) Ligthner And Lucinda Mary (Kinney) Blakey

This photo of Mary Jane (Blakey) Lightner was taken in July of 1985 in her home in Yankton, South Dakota.
She was  the daughter of Leroy Everette Blakey and Thelma Jane Trudell. Mary was married James Zell Lightner.  

Mary Jane Lightner passed on September 15, 2003. She was one of my South Dakota cousin. I first got in contact with her during the Summer of 1981. We corresponded with one another through the mail.

 I was searching for my Blakey Family Connections. Mary Jane and her Grandmother, Lucinda Mary (Kinney) Blakey were helping me on my search. Through our correspondence, Mary Jane in visited me to come to Yankton. I met Mary and some of her family on Saturday, October 31, 1981 in Yankton.

I'm so thankful that my cousin, Mary and my Great Aunt Mary took the time to help me on my family quest. They shared with me what they knew about the Blakey family history. I heard some things I didn't know about my Great Grandfather, Isaac Blakey. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to travel to South Dakota to met them in 1981.

 As I look back on that day, I have come across more info on my Blakey Family Connections. I don't think I could have made it this far in my journey without the help of my cousin Mary and Great Mary. I learned a lot on that visit.

I thank God for the people he has placed in my life to assist me on my family history journey. There were some who help me so dearly. They gave my inspiration to continue on my search.

Cousin, Mary Jane and Great Aunt Mary are missed. But not forgotton.  I believe that we will see one another again. Thank God for family reunions.

Thanks for reading.
Susan




Making New Discoveries Along The Journey

Welcome to September!

Happy Labor Day U.S.A.!
Wishing all a Safe and Happy Labor Day!
May you have a wonderful month of September.

As for my Family Connections journey:
I've been making a lot of new discoveries.
It's been a great joy.
I'm needing to do some updates.
I'm hoping to find more clues.
Here's In Family History: September
There are updates from when this was first posted in 2013.

Thanks for reading.
S.A.Blakley