Reflections From the Fence: Alexander McFarland, Research Report, the As It Is Series

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Alexander McFarland, Research Report, the As It Is Series

This continues a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors. This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report. It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let's begin - -

Meet - - Alexander McFarland:

What we know, he was a writing professor/teacher and we can find nothing about him after the 1880 census, at least as of today:

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published October 11, 1877:

Prof. A. McFarland begins his writing school this week. As a teacher of penmanship he has a good reputation, and we heartily commented his efforts, and consider them worthy of success.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published December 20, 1877:

A. McFarland closes his second term of writing school this week, which has been successful and every body is satisfied.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published December 27, 1877:

“WRITING SCHOOL. - - Prof. McFarland holds his school Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at the M.E. Church, Mitchell. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights at Wardall School House, 5 miles east of St Anagar. 27w2”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published January 3, 1878:

“Prof A. McFarland is having his usual success in his writing school. He has about 125 pupils in his Mitchell school.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published January 10, 1878:

“Prof. McFarland is meeting with success. He has a large class and is giving good satisfaction. We understand he will commence next Tuesday to teach the Osagers to make hieroglyphics. We recommend him as one who throughly understand the profession he teaches.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published February 14, 1878:

“WRITING SCHOOL - - Prof McFarland will open his writing school at Armory Hall next Monday night.

AND, same paper, same date:

“Prof. McFarland’s writing school is in progress and is being largely attended.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published February 21, 1878:

“Stacyville

…

Prof McFarland has a large class of students, whom he is instructing in the science of penmanship. Now the prof not only likes his profession, but, he has taken a very strong liking for Miss Lashbrook, so strong indeed that about fifty guests were invited to witness the ceremony by which the Rev. Mr. Barrows made them though twain one. This was a very interesting affair, and reflects considerable credit on Mr. and Mrs. Grettenburg at whose residence the party was, for their careful and judicious management in the way of invitations and entertainment.”

AND, just a few lines later in the same column, same paper, same date:

“FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT

The event of the season has come off at last. Prof McFarland, who has for the last few weeks been teaching writing in Stacyville, was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Annie Lashbrook, of Mitchell. The wedding took place at the residence of Mr S. E. Grettenburg, brother-in-law to the bride. Over a hundred invitations were issued and accepted, and everything passed off very pleasantly.”

In 1880 Alexander McFarland and Ann, his wife appear on the census of West Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa enumerated just before Julia's mother, Jane, and her brother, George B. This entry shows Ann McFarland age 25, born Wisconsin, father born England, mother born New York. It also shows a one year old son, Ernest. Alexander is shown as 32 years of age, a writing master, born in New York, father born Scotland, mother born Iceland.

In his son Ernest's obituary (provided by Marilyn O'Connor of Mitchell County, Iowa), it is stated that Alexander died when he (Ernest) was very young. Julia was remarried (October 15, 1883, Mitchell County, Iowa) and had a daughter, Pearl Celestial Cummings, by July of 1884.

In the 1925 Iowa Census, Ernest states Alexander was born in Michigan, and shows no age, indicated Alexander was deceased.

That is it. Even after numerous research dives at Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, and Find A Grave as well as digitized newspapers via the CommunityHistoryArchive project. Frankly, I am befuddled. Alexander was seemingly a popular teacher/professor, who after his marriage had one child and then goes poof into the upper stratosphere of a place unknown.

I searched the Mitchell County Death Registers for 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884. Zip, nadda, newp.

Mystery man, what happened to you? Are you really Alexander McFarland? Did you change your name before or after your marriage? Where were you before you start teaching in Mitchell County Iowa? Oh, the questions.

Now and then, I will revisit Alexander and search again. Hopefully some day - - -

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors. I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct. Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink. Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs. As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed. If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

**** I hope the usual happens, within hours, sometimes minutes, I do another search and something shows up. Well, I can hope.