That's likely one of the reasons I work with the tree on FamilySearch. On this tree, I can look at the changes made to an individual. If those changes differ from information I have compiled, I can message the user making the changes and/or post a discussion about the change.
Thus, I utilize the 'watch' button to mark individuals I'm researching. Not only have I marked my ancestors to 'watch' but I've also marked other individuals in my research that I'm having trouble finding sources. Each week, I get notified of changes to those 'watched' individuals.
This morning's notification list included Eliza Honor Van Valkenburg, the second wife of my ancestor, Albert J Hutchinson. That's when I discovered that there are TWO of them in the Family Search tree.
Since I haven't found birth or death information for her, I have no idea which Honor Van Valkenburg is the correct one. However, I do believe that these are the same women and that they are the same person I have in my database as Eliza Honor Van Valkenberg.
Unfortunately, Eliza (or Honor Eliza) may have been married multiple times. Thus, it becomes difficult to locate information for her since her name changes constantly.
Eliza Phay applied for a pension for her minor son, Elmer E. Hutchinson, based on the service of Albert Hutchinson. This file contains information that helps in identifying some of these marriages. In an affidavit by Eliza Phay dated July, 17, 1913, Eliza Phay states she was married to Henry Nouland prior to her marriage to Albert Hutchinson.
Honor L Vanvolkenberg was married to Henry H Nolen on 25 March 1885 in Doniphan County, Kansas.
In 1893, Miss Eliza Valkenburgh married Albert Hutchinson. The marriage took place August 8, 1893 in Buchanan County, Missouri.
The 1895 Kansas census for Doniphan County shows the family of Albert Hutchinson. Listed in the household are Eliza Hutchison, Howard Noland and Peter Noland.
In 1898, Mrs. Honor E Hutchens married Samuel King in Buchanan County, Missouri.
On 7 August 1900, Mrs. Eliza Nolan was married to John McColgin.
On 23 May 1906, Mrs Eliza McColgin married Osceola Phay.
In 1910, Eliza Phay was listed in the household of Osceola Phay on the census for Buchanan County, Missouri. Also listed in the household was 13 year old Elmer Hutchinson along with Howard Nolan and Peter Nolan.
The family of Osceola Phay and Eliza, his wife is found on the 1920 census living in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. Also listed in the household was a son, ----- Elmer.
The divorce of Oceola and Eliza would explain why records for Eliza are difficult to find after 1923. Since no one has shared a source for her death, it is difficult to determine when she died and thus difficult to determine which Eliza Van Valkenberg is the correct one.
I've been using familyserach.org to track all this myself. Okay, some of the trouble I run into is that Honor Lisa VanValkenburg was married to my great grandfather Henry Howard Noland. He had some kind of feud with his family at some point and would sign his name Henry Nolen or Henry Nolan. The weird thing is it seems like Honor took the kids with her when she divorced because they were Howard and Peter Noland, which Peter later dropped the D from his name and all his descendants are Nolan. I think the complication is wither there was an Eliza and an Honor Lisa, because I hear her nickname was Elzie. Now, this just might make things worse, but I think they're the same person just married multiple times. I have no reason other than their birth data. I'd love to find out, so come on on to familysearch.org for free and look me up under dbyron2
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