Mabel Norton Lashbrook May, The Hunt is Over, Maybe?

Copyright 2021, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

So, this is what we know about you my dear:

Per the 1900 census (see additional reference below) you were born about May 1880.

In 1898 there is a marriage license taken out to marry one James O. Lashbrook, small issue, the certification by whomever married you never was returned or recorded.  Therefore, marriage license #16400 of Jackson County, Missouri has the return section totally blank.  The newspaper report of the license being issued states your groom’s name as, David Lashbrook.  Ooopsie.  For a matter of interest, the official Jackson County Recorder of Deeds Web Access, at the Marriage Document Access tab, shows this marriage license as "unused".  (URL not provided as it is more likely to change than not, a search will bring up the records.)

We find you in the 1900 census of Kansas City Ward 9, Jackson, Missouri, United States, enumerated as the wife of James and mother of one year old James.

From the December 12, 1904 issue of the Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri:

     "Divorces Granted at Independence.

     The following decrees of divorce were granted in the circuit court in Independence yesterday:

     ………  John From Mabel Lashbrook……..."  

     Yes, John, not James, sigh, I even pulled the article to check on that once more, yep, says John.

There is a Mabel Lashbrook in the 1905 city directory of Kansas City, Missouri,  so far, this is the only directory entry found for you in the research.

Mabel E. Lashbrook marries Orrie May, 7 November, 1905 Leavenworth County, Kansas.

From The Leavenworth Times, Leavenworth Kansas    8 Nov 1905, page 8:

     "THREE MARRIAGES TUESDAY

     Probate Judge Johnson issued licenses to and married Tuesday:

     …..

     Orrie May and Mabel E. Lashbrook, both of Jackson county, MO.

     …."

After this we find nothing on you Mabel.  You are not in any additional city directories or census enumerations or marriage indexes from Kansas, Missouri or anywhere that we have found. I used Lashbrook, May and Norton for searches. 

I have searched for you on and off for well over 15 years, heavens, it might be 20 years, maybe longer?  Maybe.

Till the other night when I was digging deep in the digital newspapers I subscribe to and this lone, singular small article shows up in my searches.

From the Moberly Weekly Monitor, Moberly, Missouri, published on October 1, 1907:

     "FORMER MOBERLY GIRL DEAD

     Mrs. Mabel May, aged 27 years, died at her home in Kansas City, after an illness of only three days with peritonitis, and was buried Friday afternoon.  Deceased was formerly Mabel Norton, of this city and is a granddaughter of Mr. Margaret Norton, now residing on north Fourth street.  She was a beautiful girl and is remembered by many of our people." 

We note, from this short death notice:  No mention of your husband's name. No mention of your parents names.  And, for the record, who is Margaret Norton?  She does not appear on the 1900 census of Randolph County Missouri under that name.  She's not on the 1910 for Randolph County Missouri either.  

Now, these peeps might be part of your core family. Preliminary research leads me to believe it is possible.  More research might help, but, the lack of census records and vital records and/or news articles with lots of family names, make this quite difficult.  I cannot find one document or news article (YET) that links you to this family.  Marriage records do not indicate parents.  Death records, not helpful.

Home in 1880: Salt River, Randolph, Missouri, USA, enumeration date is June 3 and 4, 1880.  

William C. Norton 53 Self (Head)

Rebeca Norton 42 Wife

Sarah Norton 16 Daughter

Robert Norton 14 Son

Stella Norton 8 Daughter

James W. Norton 5 Son

Geo. T. Norton 3 Son

     You do NOT appear here, but on the 1900 census with your hubby James, your birth month and year are stated to be May 1880.  

     Note:  From the actual image of this 1880 census enumeration, right at the top of the page, it states:

     "The Census Year begins June 1, 1879 and ends May 31, 1880.

All persons will be included in the Enumeration who were living on the 1st day of June, 1880."  

     Just.  SIGHHH.  I have lots of possible explanations for this conflict.  None of which I see how to prove or disprove.

 

Missouri death certificates start about 1910.  There are some earlier death records and I have located a possible entry for you.  I may order it, although I do not expect to learn anything more.  No memorial found at Find A Grave - as of this week.

I have had the newspaper article open on one of my tabs for several weeks, I keep looking at it, thinking, you are found.  

Hopefully, now you rest, even though I have been unable to fully reunite you with your family.

* Please remember to check my Disclaimers page and the fact that I pay for my use of the web site Ancestry dot com and newspaper subscriptions.  FamilySearch dot org is a free site to all users.

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