Margaret Priscilla Kingery: A Lesson in Names (52 Ancestors #21)

Last week, I talked about my great-grandfather Linton Alfred Johnson. This week, I’d like to introduce you to his wife, my great-grandmother Margaret Priscilla Kingery.

There’s a lot I could say about Margaret (or Maggie, as she was called). But because it’s late on Tuesday night and I don’t want to break my streak of posting to the 52 Ancestors challenge in a somewhat timely manner, I’ll share just the basics.

Maggie was born 19 December 1871 in Lawrence County, Ohio to John Peter and Elizabeth Jane (Murnahan) Kingery. She and Linton married 11 June 1893, also in Lawrence County.

The 1940 census shows her living in Ross County, Ohio with her daughter and son-in-law, Rufus and Orpha Turner. (Warning: Genealogy tip coming up!) When you’re working with a common name — like “Margaret Johnson” — you need to be careful that you’re not combining two people of the same name. You do this by (1) connecting your person with others and (2) looking at all of the records you can.

Let’s say that when I found this Margaret Johnson in the 1940 census, I didn’t know she had a daughter named Orpha. How could I be sure that this Margaret was my Margaret? I could look for her with Linton and see who their children are. For example, the 1920 census lists Margaret with husband Linton and daughter Orpha. Looking at other records, I find Margaret listed in the 1940 Chillicothe, Ohio directory. (Chillicothe is in Ross County, which is where she was in the 1940 census.) This record leaves no doubt that this is the right one:

1940 Chillicothe, Ohio City Directory.

1940 Chillicothe, Ohio City Directory.

Translating from “directory-ese”: Margaret P. Johnson, widow of Linton A., residing with Rufus M. Turner.

Maggie died 6 December 1948 in Columbus, Ohio and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery in Lawrence County.

Linton and Margaret Priscilla (Kingery) Johnson.

Linton and Margaret Priscilla (Kingery) Johnson.

3 thoughts on “Margaret Priscilla Kingery: A Lesson in Names (52 Ancestors #21)

  1. thegenealogygirl

    Those common last names can be a real pain. I have a whole bunch of James Youngs in a row. I can only stand to work on them for so long until I get tired of all the extra checking required. Then I take a little break and work on a Vickers or a Boles. :)

    Reply
    1. Amy Johnson Crow Post author

      I thought that once and started researching George Debolt. How many can there be?! Surprisingly, more than you’d think! 😉

      Reply
      1. thegenealogygirl

        Isn’t that the truth. Some names sound uncommon but they turn out to be common for an area. I suppose if my James Young was in Quebec he would be a piece of cake to track amid all those French names. George Debolt. That is a new one for me. I haven’t ever heard that surname before.

        Reply

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