The topic for this week of
52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Overlooked. Frequently in my genealogy research I find that my ancestors that don't marry or don't have children are overlooked. So, I decided to research one of those ancestors for this week's prompt.
William " Will" John Lendman is the ancestor I chose. Below is what ancestry shows for his life story. That isn't much to go on.
When William John Lendman was born in 1872in Iowa, his father, John was 33 and his mother, Ann was 29. He had four brothers and 5 sisters. He died on May 2, 1944, in Duncan, Iowa, at the age of 72. - Ancestry
I thought I could do better than that. My biography of William " Will" John Lendman is below.
William "Will" John Lendman was born to John Lendman and Ann "Anna Kerr in 1872 in Sperry, Clayton County, Iowa. This was the year of the 1872 presidential election and Ulysess Grant won. William's father, John, immigrated from Germany and his mother, Anna immigrated from Ireland and settled in Iowa. William was the last child born to Anna and John. He had 1 older brother and 2 older sisters.
In 1886, his mother, Anna died. William was 14 years old at the time. His father, John would remarry in 1889 to Ida Schadwell from this union they would have 6 children - 3 boys and 3 girls. John and Ida moved to Hancock County, Iowa shortly after marrying in Sperry Iowa. It appears that Will moved with them.
In the 1900 census, he is listed as a laborer. In the 1910 census, Will's occupation is listed as draying. Draying was moving heavy loads by cart. Also in 1910, his sister, Maria Ftizpatrick died. Will was notified by telegram according to the local newspaper, Britt News Tribune. Also, according to the newspaper. William attended his sister's funeral in Sawyer, North Dakota. William's father John died in 1914 in Marion, Indiana
A funny article in the local newspaper, the Britt News Tribune on Oct 7th, 1920 made light of the accidental death of "Old Bob" the dog. In the article "Are you Leading a Dog's Life, " it describes Old Bob accidental death by chasing the mower that Will was using which resulted in his death.
In the 1930 census, Will is listed as laborer who does tilling, and he owns his own place in Brit, Iowa. William would die May 2, 1944. William was 72 years old. The death certificate indicates it was his prostate. His death certificate shows he was to be buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Britt Iowa. His older brother, Thomas, would die later that year in December.
