Who Was Chas Langford? (1885 - 1937)

 CHAS LANGFORD
(1885 - 1937)

I came across this tombstone a while ago. I can't recall the year. Perhaps, it was between 1989 to 2000.  I was walking and looking for graves in the sections where my relatives were buried.  While I was there, I took photos of all the surnames of Lankford, Lankfard and Langford that I could find.

Back when I came across the above tombstone, I thought that he was a relative. I checked the Missouri Death records. I couldn't locate this Chas Langford.  But, as I came across more info, he didn't match up with my relatives.

Well, that was what I thought. Through years of searching, I stumbled across  more information in February 2016. This Chas Langford was related to my family.  But, it's ironic. There were some things on the tombstone that didn't match up.

How strange. I had forgotten all about this photo. It wasn't until the week I came across that info on Charles that this photo came to my thinking.  And I thought as I saw it again, This was Charles Edward Lankford / Lankfard's tombstone.  He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANFORD / LANKFARD.

Another mystery uncovered. I don't know why Charles' surname was spelled LANGFORD. He's birth year was incorrect. He was born in the year 1890. It was 5 years older according to the tombstone. 

The only thing that I can think of....the informant on Charles' death info gave this info. I'm assuming that this person was Charles' 2nd wife whose name was Lula. The burial place was incorrect as well. Charles was buried in Ashland Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri not in  Greenville Cemetery.

I hope to find more on this Lula Langford. Now, I have another mystery.  I can't locate any more info on this Lula. It's strange. There were 2 other Lula Lankford's in this family. So many same name relatives.

Thanks for reading.
Who Was Chas Langford?
Here's another blog on Chas.
a.k.a Charles Edward Lankfard
S.A. Blakley

Siblings: Charles Edward Lankfard and Isabella V. Lankford Nickerson

 

Mr. Charles Edward Lankfard

Mrs. Isabella V. (Lankford) Nickerson  

Through the years of searching, I discovered more about Charles E. Lankfard and Isabella Nickerson.  They were two of the children of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) Lankford / Lankfard.   Both were born in St. Joseph, Missouri. Both married and had off springs.

I've discovered that Isabella passed on Sept 15, 1938 due to complication of giving birth to twins.  She was buried with one of  her babies in Denver, Colorado. Her husband, Ezekiel Nickerson passed in 1942. I don't know when but, the Nickerson younger children lived with their Aunt Ruth NICKERSON WHITE in  Texas. Ezekiel wasn't able to care for his children due to his illness.

 I came across more info on Charles during late February of 2016. I stumble across info and discovered that he passed on Sept 13, 1937 in Manhattan, New York. He was married to a lady by the name of Lula. Charles' body was brought back to St. Joseph, MO for burial.

It's sad to discover that these siblings passed with a year and two days apart.  Charles, at age 47, was the first adult sibling to pass. Isabella, at age 40, was the first adult sister to pass. Their lives were cut too short.

I've come across some of Isabella's descendants on facebook. Charles had descendants by his  first wife, Meta (HUGHES) LANKFARD BEARD. Their daughter was Lelia Laura (LANKFORD) THOMPSON HILL. Lelia had a son named Charles LANKFORD. I hope come across some of Charles Edward LANKFARD's descendants.

I'm still searching for info on the deaths of the other siblings: Frederick A. LANKFARD, Nymadula "Nym" LANKFARD and  Anna Alice (LANKFORD) SMIITH.  Frederick and Nym most likely passed in NY. Anna Alice passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. The info on these siblings has been hard to track down.

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Coming Across Discoveries On the Life of Nymadula Nym Lankford / Lankfard:

I can't recall when I heard about my Great Uncle "Nym" Lankford. I knew little about him. He was mother's father's brother.  Nym was his nickname. His real name was Nymadula.  That's an unique name. I see why he went by Nym.

This photo of Nym Lankford / Lankfard was taken in NY.
The year is unknown. Perhaps in the late 1940's - 1950's.

I've been searching for info on Nym for years. I've discovered that he was born on Leap Day of 1896 in St. Joseph, Missouri.  He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANFORD / LANKFARD.

It was in 2010, I heard that Great Uncle Nym was married to Hattie McDaniel, the actress. I don't know how I missed this while I was growing up. I watched "Gone With The Wind." I didn't know that Hattie had family connections with the LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

And so, I continue to search for info on Nym.  Through the years, I stumbled across more info. I started to compile what I discovered about him. Here's my last blog on  Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Family Surname: Through Nymadula / Nym.

Since this last blog, I've come across more info.  I stumbled across a record listing a Nym Langford in New York. He and an Irene GRAHAM had a son named Frederick Langford born about 1932 in NY. However, Frederick passed at the age of 5.

I believe that this Nym and Irene are connected with the Lankford / Lankfard Family. I created a Find A Grave Memorial for my cousin, Frederick Langford.  I have noted that there are a lot of Fredericks in the Lankford / Lankfard family connections.

I still wonder about my Great Uncle Nym. His life still has mysteries. When and where did he pass on? He was living in Sept. 1961 in NYC. I have not located his death record. And it appears that he didn't have a social security number.  He most likely died in New York.

My Great Uncle Nym is on my mother's father's side:
A Descendant of Isaac and Frances (OVINGTON) DADE

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname Through Research And Thoughts

It's been a journey Tracing the Lankford / Lankfard Surname Through the children of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard. With all the documents and what each child left behind as a paper trail, it still leaves a mystery.



On the back of this photo, the surname was spelled LANKFARD

I wasn't out to prove which surname was the family surname. I don't which one is the correct spelling. As I searched the records, the surname could have been Lankfard. It's in records.

What stands out the most isn't what was recorded in records, it was how the surname was recorded. The most important thing was how the siblings wrote on the postcards and how they signed their surname. That's evidence in itself.

As for the tombstones, that's another story. I would think, when a person orders a tombstone, the person who orders it, spells the name out. I don't think it was by accident that the LANKFARD surname was on Robert, Charlotta, Leo and Mary's tombstones.


 Here's the list of the links to the blogs on each child of
Robert and Charlotta (Dade)Lankford / Lankfard

James Andrew LANKFARD
Frederick A. LANKFARD
Isabella V. (LANKFORD/ LANKFARD) NICKERSON
Lula Mae Russell (LANKFARD) MADISON
Anna Alice (LANKFARD) SMITH
Charles Edward LANKFARD
Nymadula / Nym LANKFARD
Louis Adward LANKFARD
Leo LANKFORD /  LANKFARD

 I honor both spelling. My linage spelling is LANKFORD. But, I believe most of the earlier family spell their surname LANKFARD. Somehow the LANKFORD spelling stood out.

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname Through Leo

Who was Leo Lankford Sr. / Lankfard?

He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard. 

He was born on May 30, 1884 in Canton, Missouri.

He passed on Sept 14, 1954 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

 

Leo Lankford Sr. / Lankfard
(1884- 1954)

On the 1900 census

He was 16 listed as Sea Sankford

LIVED with parents at 2413 Edmond

 

Age 17 in 1901

 he was Listed as Leo Lankford;

Address 2413 Edmond: Job Tmstr

 

Age 18 in 1902  

Listed as Leo Lankfard;

Address 2411 Edmond: Job Tmstr

Age 20 in 1904

Leo Lankfard lived at 2413 Edmond

 

Age 21 in 1905 

Leo Lankford lived at 2412 Edmond listed as a tmstr

 

Age 25 in 1909 

Leo Lankford lived at 2412 Edmond

On April 16, 1909 

Mary WALTERS married Leo LAUKFORD on index

 

On the 1910 Census  

Listed as Lea Lankford / Can't read place where LIVED

Age 26 in 1910

Leo Lankford lived at 2413 Edmond

 

Age 27 in 1911

Listed as Leo Lankfard; no c after name mentioning that he was colored.

Address 2722 Mary; Job Tmstr

 

Age 28 in 1912

Listed as Leo Lankford at 2414 Sylvanie

Age 29 in 1913

 Listed on other directory Leo lived at 2616 Locust:

Surname spelled Lankfard

 Age 30 in 1914

 Listed Leo Lankford at   2616 Angelique as a tmstr

On the 1930 Census

listed as age 46

 Leo Lankford lived at 2622 Locust with wife Mary.

He was a teamster.

 

Age 53 in 1937 

 Listed as Leo Lankford 2616 Locust

Age 55 in 1939

 Listed with Surname spelled Langford on census record

LIVED at 2616 Locust

Age 55 in 1939

listed as a Hauler

On the 1940 Census as age 55,

Listed as Leo (Mary) Lankford

lived with wife and children at 2616 Locust.

 As 57 in 1951

 listed as Leo Lankford at 2616 Locust

Age 59 in l953

listed as Leo Lankford lived with wife at 2616 Locust St

Age 70 in 1954

LIVED at 2616 LOCUST 

Surname spelled LANKFORD on death record
Surname spelled LANKFARD on his tombstone

Tombstones at Ashland Cemetery 

St. Joseph, Missouri.

The family surname has been spelled Langford / Lankfard.

However, only one child  of Leo and Mary, Robert, spelled his surname LANKFARD

His off spring carried on with the LANKFARD spelling also.
 

There is no doubt that Leo used the LANKFORD surname majority of his life.
It's ironic that his surname on his tombstone is spelled LANKFARD.

Leo and Mary Allen LANKFORD / LANKFARD have descendants with both spellings.

 

Thanks for reading.

S. A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname Through Louis "Add"

Who was Louis Adward Lankford / Lankfard?

Louis was the son of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.

He was born on Jan 20, 1882 in Canton, Lewis, Missouri

He passed in Jun of 1967 in New York, New York, New York,

 

Mr. Louis Adward "Add" Lankfard

(1882 -1967)

On the 1900 census

He was listed as  Addie S. SANKFORD / SANDFORD

He was a laborer.

 

City Directories in St. Joseph, MO

1901 ~ He was listed as Louis A Lankford               

He was a laborer at 2413 Edmond

1902 ~ He was listed as Louis A. Lankfard,
He lived at 2411 Edmond

Louis had a daughter by Leola PETERSON.
Thelma Rowena Lankford JACKSON.
(1902 - 1961)

Louis' Occupation ? 1908 - 1920Professional Baseball Player 

1909 ~ He was listed as Add Lankford, moved to Idaho

On the 1910 census
He was listed as Louis A. Lankford
He was a laborer at 2412 Edmond

 

1911 City Directory of St. Joseph, MO

Louis as listed  with LANKFARD surname

He was as a laborer at 2412 Edmond

Louis had a daughter and a son by Sarah Elizabeth WRIGHT.

Children born in Pocatello, Idaho

Adlene H. Lankford (1912 - 1931)

Charles "Puffy" Addison Lankford (1915 - 2009)


World War I Draft Reg Card 1917-1918

He lived in Manhattan, New York, New York on 160 West 142nd St.

Next of kin wife Virginia LANKFARD
Louis Adward LANKFARD was the name spelled and signed on record

 

  Louis Lankford married Virginia "Virgie" B Hill on Sept. 3, 1918 .
Louis had no children by Virgie.

On the 1920 Census
He was listed as Louis LANKFORD
He lived on 160 West 142nd St.
with wife Virgie
His Job: Attendant R.R. Station
Soundex: spelled surname: LAUKORD / LAUTFORD

City Directory NY

He was listed as  Louis A. Lankford at h160 W 144th
He was a porter

On the 1925 NY Census
He was  listed as Louis Lankford with wife Virgie and mother in law at 160 West 142nd St

On the 1930 census
He was listed as Louis  LANGFORD
He live on St. Nicholas St.
 with wife Virgie
His Job: Porter at apartment house

 

 

Source World War II Draft Reg Card 1942

Louis lived on 824 St Nich Ave #24 NY.

Next of kin Nym Lankford.

Virgie was not listed.
Louis signed his surname Lankford.

 

Louis and Virgie Lankford

Re  married on 32nd Wedding Anniversary 1944.

Source Newspaper article

Louis was mentioned in two of his sibling's obituary. 

 

His surname was spelled Lankford on his, brother Leo Lankford's obituary in 1954.

And Lankfard in Lula Madison's obituary in 1961.

As I began searching for info on Louis, it was a task in doing.

I didn't know that he went by two names.

In St. Joseph, MO, he was Louis Lankford and Louis A. Lankfard. 

There were times he went by Add Lankford.

Add and Addie appears to have been  his nicknames.

When he became a professional baseball player his name was Add Langford.

 When he moved to NY, his name was some times Add Lankford.

He also went by Louis Lankford. 

Add Langford
a.k.a. Add Lankford

Louis Adward "Add" Lankford / Lankfard

It appears that Louis spelled his surname three ways.

 Langford / Lankford / Lankfard.

He was Louis Adward Lankfard.

He was Louis A. Lankford.

He was Add Langford.

He was Add Lankford.

However, Louis children spelled their surname LANKFORD.

It appears that the Langford and Lankford surname stood out.

Louis would mail post cards to his siblings.

He would address the surname as LANKFARD.

He would sign his name Add.

 

Well, it appears that Add added something different to the family connections.

He left  us a paper trail to discover who he was.

 Thanks for reading.

S.A. Blakley

R.I. P. Great Uncle Add.

 

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Family Surname: Through Nymadula / Nym

Who was Nymadula Lankford / Lankfard?

He was the son of Robert L. and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.

He was born on Feb 29, 1896 in St. Joseph, Missouri.



Nymadula Lankfard



 

On the 1900 census.

Name spelled MYMADUAL / MUMADULA SANFORD

 LIVED with parents and siblings at 2413 Edmond

On the 1910 Census

Name spelled: Nymmadula LANKFORD

LIVED with parents and siblings at 2413 Edmond.

City Directory St. Joseph, MO

1912 and 1913

2412 Edmond name Nymadula Lankford.

 He was a laborer

City Directory St. Joseph, MO  in 1914

2412 Edmond name Nymadula Lankfard.

He was a teamster for R. L. Lankfard

City Directory St. Joseph, MO in 1918

2412 Edmond name  Nym Lankfard.

He was a teamster.

Nym was a laborer.

Lived at 2414 Edmond.

 He was listed as single
 

SOURCE : World War I Draft Reg Card 1917-1918
On this record Nym surname was written both ways.
The first surname on paper spelled LANKFARD
Nym signed the record LANKFORD.

City Directory Denver in 1919

Lived in  Denver, Colorado, USA 2100 Arapahoe Listed as Nym Lankford a porter

He married Hattie McDaniel

Listed on 1920 census Nannie?

Hattie was a singer/ entertainer wife of Nym LANGFORD in WY.

They were lodgers in Casper, Wyoming

1923 Denver City Directory

Nym and Hattie Lankford r 2928 Downing.

WY 1924 and 1925

Believed to lived in Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA

On the 1930 Census

He lived in Manhattan, New York, New York:

Surname spelled: LANGFORD

LIVED with wife Irene and daughter, Marjorie Lankford
They lived  at 146th Street

Marjorie passed as a young child.

In 1938 ~ Divorced

from Hattie McDaniel: Source from Hattie McDaniel's bio

 

On the 1940 Census.

New York, New York, New York, United States

Surname spelled LANKFARD.

 Source World War II Draft Reg Card 1942
Nym was 46,

Married to Irene Lankford.

Lived at 246 W 14 6 Stapt 6 in New York

Worked: at Rome Concession, Penn Sta /

 Surnamed spelled LANKFORDBut, signed LANKFARD

 Nym was married to Gertrude "Gertie"

She was a German.

They lived in New York, New York

Mrs. Nym Lankfard
Mrs. Gertrude "Gertie" Lankfard

 The last mention of Nym:

He was mentioned on his brother Leo Lankford's obituary Sept of 1954 as a survivor...

also on sister's Lula Mae Maddison's obituary Sept 26, 1961. 
His surname was spelled Lankford in his brother Leo's obituary.
 Nym's surname was spelled Lankfard in Lula' s obituary.

 Nymadula's death was perhaps in NY NY;
There was a website stating that Nym was killed in a shot out.
I can't verify that.

I can't locate his death record.

It appears that Nym went by the surname of LANKFARD.

There is a book that mentions Nym's with the LANKFARD spelling.

Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood

Thanks for reading.

S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankford Surname: Through Charles

Who was Charles Edward Lankford / Lankfard?  

 He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.  

He was born on Jan 4, 1890.

He was the first Lankford / Lankfard in his family to have been born
in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Charles Edward Lankfard

On the 1900 Census
He was listed as Charlie Sanford.

He was living with his  parent at 2413 Edmond

On the 1910 Census
 He was listed as Charles Lankford.

He was a laborer worked odd jobs

He lived with parents at 2412 Edmond.

On the St. Joseph City directories
He was listed...
In 1910 Chas C. Lankford.
In1912  Charles Lankford
In 1913 Chas Lankford

On the U.S. WWI Registration Card 1917-1918
He was living with his wife and 2 year old daughter.
They were living at 2619 Locust St., St. Joseph, MO.
  Charles signed his surname LANKFARD. 

On the 1920 Census
Charles was listed as Mulatto,

Married: Wife and daughter weren't mentioned with him.

Charles' Job: house cleaning and working out.

He lived with mother and sister at 516 N 24th St.

His surname spelled LANKFARD...

Census date Jan 10, 1910.

Charles married Meta Hughes The year of marriage is unknown.
Meta was born in 1896 and passed on in 1931.

They had a daughter named Lelia Laura (Lankfard )Thompson Hill  (1914 - 1960.)

Lelia resided in Kansas City Missouri where she passed on May 19, 1960.

 Lelia had a son named Charles Langford / Lankford.

It was believed, Lelia's  father, Charles passed on in Kansas City.  

On Lelia Hill's death record her father, Charles' surname was spelled Langford.

Note that Charles and Meta were divorce. 

Record states that Meta LANKFARD married Hanceford Beard.

 Hanceford was born on Oct 12, 1889

 and he passed on July 9, 1970 in KS at the age of 80

 

Charles Lankford passed sometime around 1937 and before September of 1954.

There is no record of his death in MO. 

 He wasn't listed on his brother, Leo's obituary in 1954.

Note about Charles Lankford / Lankfard
He wasn't listed on the U.S. WWII Registration Card in 1942.

The last known record of Charles
He was listed in the U.S., Social Security Applications

and Claims Index, 1936-2007.

His name was  Charles Edward Lankfard.

His parents names were Robert L. Lankfard and Charlotta Dade.
 

Note on photo: His first name was spelled Charlie. a. k. a. Charles Edward Lankfard

 It appears that Charles' surname was LANKFARD.

I hope that some of Charles' descendants could addmore to the family history.

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley 

Tracing The Lankford / Lankford Surname: Though Anna Alice Smith

Who was Anna Alice Smith?

She was born the daughter of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) Lankford / Lankfard.
According to the 1900 census she was born in May of 1886 in Missouri.
Anna went by her middle name Alice.

The family surname was index with the Sandford surname on the 1900 census.
On the 1910 census, Alice's  surname was spelled LANKFARD.

Mrs. Anna Alice Smith

 Miss Annie Alice LANKFARD married Christopher Columbus Smith on April 11, 1912.
Annie must have been her nickname.
The index spelling was LANKFORD.
If you read the actually document, it reads LANKFARD.



Anna Alice Smith addressed this July 22, 1924 post card to her sister in law,
Sallie who was Mrs. James LANKFARD.
Note: neither Anna or Sallie had any children.

 Another post card with the LANKFARD spelling.

This is a mystery!
This is one of 3rd postcards with the LANKFARD spelling.

Was it LANKFARD?

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname: Through Lula Mae Madison

Who was Lula M. Madison?
Lula was born the daughter of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) Lankford / Lankfard
on Oct 11, 1875 in Canton, Missouri.

Lula Mae LANKFARD MADISON

1875 - 1961

Lula was listed with the LANGFORD surname on the 1880 census.

Lula married William Emmanuel Madison Sr. on May 26, 1896.

Lula's maiden name was spelled either LANKFORD or LANKFARD.

The ending of the surname isn't clear.

The index has her surname LANKFORD.

 The only connections with the LANKFARD spelling were on other records of relatives.

On  the   U.S. Social Security Application and Claim Index 1936 - 2007, 

William E. MADISON Jr's mother was listed as Lula LANKFARD.

 

On Lula M. Madison's 1961 obituary in the newspaper,

listed her 3 surviving brothers' surname was spelled LANKFARD.

It appears that Lula went by the LANKFARD surname.

Thanks for reading,

S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname Through Isabella Nickerson

Who Was Isabella NICKERSON?

Isabella V. NICKERSON was the daughter of Robert and Charlotta
 (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD. She was born in St. Joseph, MO.

Mrs. E.W. Nickerson
1889 - 1938

 On the 1900 census,
Isabella was listed born in Sept 1898.
Her age appeared to be first written as 2 but, marked over to be a one.
She would have been two in Sept of 1900.

Her name was spelled: Isabell SANKFORD / SANDFORD LIVED with parents
 and siblings at 2413 Edmond., St. Joseph, MO.

 

On the 1910 Census

Her name was spelled Isabelle V. LANKFARD. She lived with her parents
and siblings at 2412 Edmond.

On the 1920 Census
Her name was listed as Isabel V. LANKFORD on the index.
However, her mother, Charlottie,  household, her surname was spelled LANKFARD.
 Isabel lived with mother and brother, Charles at 516 N 24th St. in St . Joseph, MO.
They were listed as mulatto.
The census was taken on Jan 10, 1920.

 

Isabella married Ezekiel W. Nickerson on August 16, 1920 in Denver Colorado.
Her surname was spelled LANKFORD on marriage index.

Isabella gave birth to a son on  Nov 14, 1924.

 His name was spelled,  LANKFORD J. NICKERSON.

Info from the Nickerson children records Mother's name was
 Elizabeth LANKGFORD
 Isabell V. Lankford
Isbell Langford

I need to update Isabella NICKERSON's information. I have discovered more.
The above names were from 3 of the NICKERSON records.
Her children were young when their mother passed.
Perhaps the informant on the records didn't know how the surname was spelled.

 

Mrs. Isabella V. NICKERSON

It appears that Isabella with by the LANKFORD surname.
She named one of hers son LANKFORD.

Thanks for reading
S.A. Blakley


Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname: Through Frederick

  I've been searching for info on the life of Fredrick A. Lankford / Lankfard through...

census records, city directories and any records that are available.
I'm thankful that I have some photos of him.

Mr..Frederick A. Lankford / Lankfard

 Who was Frederick A. Lankford / Lankfard?

According to U.S. WWI and WWII Draft registrations, Frederick A. LANKFARD was born  on Jan 28, 1878 in Canton, Missouri.  On one of the registrations, he signed his name Fred LANKFARD and the other Frederick LANKFARD.

This is believed to be Fred's signature.

 

The earliest record of Frederick, was in June of 1880. His name was recorded on the  Missouri Census. On the original record, he was listed as the two year old son of Lewis  and Charlottie LANGFORD in Canton, Missouri.

In the 1891 city directory for St. Joseph, Missouri, he was listed as Fred LANKFORD. In the 1894 - 1897, he was listed as Fred LANGFORD and Fred LANKFORD. He was a porter at Carson Drug Store at 602 Felix. 

In 1897 his surname was spelled LANKFORD. In 1898 / 1899 Frederick LANKFORD was listed as a porter at Joel E. Gates. Frederick lived with his brother James at 1824 Angelique.

On the 1900 Missouri census, he was listed as Freddie SANDFORD a porter. He was the son of R. S. and Charlottie Sandford. He was born in Jan of 1878 in MO.  Yes, the family name was misspelled.

In 1902  his name was Frederick LANKFARD. He was listed with brothers, Leo and Louis A. LANKFARD at 2411 Edmond. In 1904 his name was Frederick LANKFARD, a cook at Lewis Thompson. In 1909,  he was listed as Fred LANKFORD as a Janitor.   

 

On the orginal 1910 Misssouri census, he was listed Fred LANKFARD, he worked odd jobs. In the City Directory for St. Joseph, Missouri, he was listed a Fred LANKFARD, a janitor. In 1911 as Fred LANKFORD as a laborer. In 1912 Frederick LANKFORD as a laborer. In 1914 as Fred LANKFARD as a porter.



 

In 1915,  Fred LANKFARD was in Denver Colorado: wks 1328 California. On the U.S.  WWI Draft registration  1917- 1918, Frederick was listed in Lordsburg Grant, NM. He was listed as a cook in a saloon. Next of Kin, Lottie LANKFORD, Mother;  RESIDED at 921 20th St. Denver Colo;

In some point in his career, Frederick became apart of a musical group. I don't know when he began or how long he was apart of this group. But, he began in St. Joseph, Missouri.
 

Frederick LANKFARD was the leader of the  "Ideal Musical trio".
 He was a professional tango banjoist playing Colordo, New Mexico area  .  
In his time, he was well know to orchestra circles.

On the 1920 census he was listed as Frederick LANKFORD with his brother, Louis LANKFORD in New York, New York. Fred worked as an attendant at R.R. Station NY. On the 1930 census he was listed as Fred LANGFORD as an attendant at R.R. Station, NY. In 1931 he was listed as Frederic LANKFORD. 

On the 1940 census, he was listed as Frederick LANKFORD at Warwick Court Apartment. He worked at Red Cap.  In 1942 he lived at 141 W 139th St NY, NY Next of kin Louis LANKFORD 824 St Nich Ave. Frederick signed name LANKFARD.

Photo of Frederick A. LANKFARD and his wife Mollie B. WHITNEY.
They were married on Jun 25, 1942 in Kansas City, Missouri.

On the marriage record, his name was spelled: Fredrick A. LANKFARD, age 64 from NY, NY. His wife, Mollie was from Denver, Colo. Not for sure if Whitney was Mollie's maiden name. She was listed as divorced in the 1930 and 1940 census.

Fred and Molly
Note the trees and what Fred is wearing.

Fred with some children.
Similar setting with the other photo of Molly and Fred.

Last known contacts of Fredrick A. LANKFARD;
In 1942,  he lived at 141 W 139th St NY, NY Next of kin Louis Lankford 824 St Nich Ave. Frederick signed name LANKFARD.

Fred was listed as a survivor on his sister Lula Mae MADISON's obituary in Oct of 1961. Lula's brothers, Fred A. , Louis A. and Nym surname was spell LANKFARD in the obituary.

The date of Frederick's death and place is unknown. I believe that he spelled his name Frederick A. LANKFARD. He may have passed on in New York, New York.

I was starting the web for Frederick A. LANKFARD in early August. I came across an website be accident. Ironically, that website isn't there no more. Needless to say, I did search for Frederick Lankfard. And bingo! His name was listed as Frederick A. LANKFARD. His last known address was in at 601 167th St. Bronx, NY 10456.  Year unknown.

Frederick A. LANKFARD at a family gathering in NY.
It was at the home of WIlliam "BIlly" MADISON Jr.
Billy was his nephew.

 

I wonder, whatever happened to my Great Uncle Fred?  When did he pass on? And where was he laid to rest?  Someday, I hope that the mystery of what happened to Frederick A. "Fred" LANKFORD / LANKFARD would be solved. Frederick was the 2nd son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

                                                                Thanks for reading.

S.A. Blakley

Tracing The LANKFORD / LANKFARD Family Surname: Through James

Was his name, James Andrew Lankford?
James Andrew LANKFARD? Or both?

James was the son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.
He was their first born son, on October 26, 1874, in Monticello, Missouri. 
His year of birth could have been in 1873.



According to city directories, his surname varied from
 Lankford, Langford and Lankfard.
He was first listed on the 1894 city directory with the LANGFORD surname.
and 1894 - 1897 with the surname LANKFORD.
In 1898 he was listed with both the LANKFARD and LANKFORD surname.

James on the census records:
1880: Wasn't listed
1900 LANKFARD
1910 LANGFORD
1920 LANGFORD
1930 LANKFARD
1940 LANKFORD

According to the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
His name was James Andrew LANKFARD in the year 1943.
So which surname was the one for James?

Here's an excellent example.
 I noted it when I first read it. You should too.

This post card written on Feb 1, 1910. It was addressed to Mrs. Sallie J. LANKFARD. 
The sender was Louis "Add" LANKFARD, Sallie's brother in law.
Subject was on Sam LANGFORD, the boxer.
I haven't found any Lankfard family connections with Sam Langford.
 

According to the WWI draft registration signature:

James signed his name as James Andrew LANKFARD.

According to his death record the informant, stated his name as
 James Andrew LANKFORD.
In his obituary, surname spelled LANKFORD.

 

I believe that James' surname was spelled LANKFARD. Yes, there were other records with his surname LANKFORD.  I'm going by how James signed his surname on documents and how his sibling spelled the surname on the post card. And it was spelled LANKFARD.

 

(1874 - 1957)
James "Jim" Andrew LANKFARD

James was my Great Uncle.

Thanks for reading.

S.A. Blakley

Tracing The Lankford / Lankfard Surname

I'm working on some blogs on the Lankford / Lankfard Family Connections. I'm comparing how each family member in the Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard branch spelled their family surname. The first time I was aware of the different spellings, was on tombstones.
 

 Tombstone in Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri.

Tombstones in Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri

Over the years, I review on some documents on my Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD family. Recently, I was reviewing some new info. And I come up with this conclusion.  I believe at one point, the family began to spell their surname LANKFARD.

I don't know if the LANKFARD family choose this surname. Or if they discovered that the family spelt it that way. The first recording of surname the LANKFARD spelling, that I have come across, was in the St. Joseph, Missouri City Directory in 1898.  The first document with the LANKFORD spelling was on Lewis LANKFORD and Miss Charlotta DADE's marriage license in 1873.

I have found some documents on the surname spelling. I had been searching records on how some of the Lankfard siblings signed their surnames. There are documents from marriage licenses, U.S. WW I Draft Registration: 1917 - 1918, WW II Draft Registrations: 1942, Post Cards, 1908 / 1910.

There were other records: the City directories: 1880's - 1900's, Tombstones, Newspaper Advertisements, some censuses and the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. The surname was spelled LANKFARD in most cases. 

 

 Here are some of the blogs that I'm working on.  
Tracing The LANKFARD surnames through the Siblings
James Andrew LANKFARD
Frederick A. LANKFARD
Isabella (LANKFORD/ LANKFARD) NICKERSON
Lula Mae Russell (LANKFARD) MADISON
Anna Alice (LANKFARD) SMITH
Charles Edward LANKFARD 
Nymadula LANKFARD
Louis Adward LANKFARD
Leo LANKFORD /  LANKFARD

 I honor both spelling. My linage spelling is LANKFORD. But, I believe most of the earlier family spell their surname LANKFARD. Somehow the LANKFORD spelling stood out.

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Mystery: Who Could Have Been The Children In This Photo?

I was looking through some photos. I came across this one.

 I was wondering. Who were the children in the photo? I've been thinking. 



The man in this photo has been idenified as Frederick A. Lankfard.
He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.

 I don't think my Great Uncle Fred had any children. He may have step children. These children could have been his step grandchildren. Or perhaps some of his siblings' children; nephews, niece or his cousins.

I have another photo that looks like the some background. Fred appears to have on the same shirt. pants and shoes. He was wearing a hat and tie in the other photo. I'll share that photo in another blog.

This is just a thought:
I  don't know why.  I think that they could have been Fred's sister, Isabella Nickerson's children. Fred was born in 1878. Isabella's children were born between 1921 - 1938. Fred appears older in this photo. The photo could have been taken in the mid 1930's. or 1940's.

I can't recall where I go this photo. I could have gotten it from my mother. Or it was found with some photos in my Grandmother's home in 1976.

Hope someone can identify these children.

Thanks for reading,
S. A. Blakley

Monday's Mystery: Matt White And The Great Grandmother

I've been searching for info on my slavery Blakey / White Family Connections for years. And through the years, I have found some info. I believe that there's more waiting to be discovered.

 In the beginning of my search,  I knew just little about my family connections.  Back in the mid 1970's, I became interested in my family history after reading an article. It was entitle: Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion.  

The above sections of the article is speaking of the family living in Forest Green, Missouri.
The family surname was WHITE. One of the children took the BLAKEY surname.

 Who was Matt White?  Matt was my Great Grandfather's Isaac Blakey's sister.  Her real name was Martha White.  Matt or Mattie was her nickname. The article stated that Matt White never married. I haven't found any record of her marrying.

Who was the Great Grandmother? I'm not for sure who the writer of the article was speaking of. The person or people being interviewed could have been speaking of their Great Grandmother. The mother's name wasn't mentioned in this article dated circa 1970.

 In 2015, I made the discovery the mother mentioned in this article was  my Great Grandfather's mother, Julia (Finney) White. She would have been the Great Grandmother who was buried in Forest Green, Missouri.

Monday's Mystery:
I can't locate Mattie White's death record. There were two relatives stating that she passed in Forest Green, Missouri in the 1940's.. I though maybe Mattie passed on in another state. Or perhaps Mattie or Martha wasn't her first name. Also she could have married.

I did make a lot of discoveries on Mattie. She did have off springs.  I have spoken with someone who knew her. He doesn't recall Mattie being married. But knew she had a daughter named Bob Ella Bentley.

If you like to read what I have discovered on Mattie, click on The Julia White Connection: The Assumption Of The Life Of Mattie White    I need to update some of Martha White Family Connections. I hope some of Mattie's descendants will come across this blog.

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley

Monday's Mystery: What's In A Name? Common Names:

There are many same name relatives on the Lankford / Lankfard Family Connections.
Robert Louis / Lewis Lankford / Lankfard,
Leo Lankford
Charles Lankford
Louis Lankford
Daniel Lankford
Frederick Lankford
and the list goes on.

Below are photos of some common name relatives.
I wondered.

The Lankford: Same Names:
Common middle names Adward / Edward.

Louis "Add" Adward Lankford,
son of Robert and Charlotta  (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.

Addison "Ad" Edward Lankford,
son of Leo and Mary (Allen) Lankford / Lankfard

Charles "Charlie" Edward Lankford,
son of Robert and Charlotta  (Dade) Lankford / Lankfard.
 
Monday Mystery:
What's In A Name?
Addison and Edward
Who was Adward / Edward?

Thanks for reading.
S.A. Blakley