SEEKING PROOF FOR NAMES OF MATERNAL GR-GR-GRANDPARENTS
PARSONS, LOWE, VOSHELL
Posted By: Patricia (Boyer) Dickman (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 17:59:24
Hello from Wisconsin! I am hoping someone might be able to help me prove who the parents of my Maternal Gr-Gr-Grandmother were. Her name was Effa Louisa PARSONS-LOWE, b. 1867 Littleport,Clayton Co, IA. The family story is that her parents' names were Morgan PARSONS and Louisa GIFFORD, but that she was adopted in Volga City, at the age of 18 months, by a John LOWE. I have since located her on the 1870 & 1880 Clayton Co.,IA censuses and indeed, she is listed as "adopted daughter" in the household of John & Ellen LOWE. On the 1880 census there was also listed a John PARSONS, Age 24, but it did not state the relationship to head of household. I have also found a short biography on John LOWE, which states that he married Ellen Eliza PARSONS and that they had an adopted daughter.
So, was Ellen married before and Effa her daughter from that marriage that John LOWE then adopted when they married? Or was Ellen maybe a sister to Morgan PARSONS, & also sister to the John PARSONS listed on the 1880 census as well? There were several Parson families listing Morgans in Clayton Co at this time. Have not located any Louisa GIFFORD at all! Effa married to John David VOSHELL, 1884, in Fayette Co. IA where they lived out their lives. There are so many relatives that link to her on the internet. But they all seem to link to the others research without asking questions or having proof. It had to have been an open adoption, since she always is listed using both surnames. Please help if you can! Thanks.
Clayton Queries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen