Guess I shouldn’t have made that the title of the post, so you get that answer, before how I got there.
The problem, genealogical question, is Where is the 120 Acre Farm, owned by this Civil War Soldier?
Before I get there, what I learned is, not only have another set of eyes look at the problem and where you are, but another discipline set of eyes. What I learned is that a person at a Historical Society might approach a problem (or Genealogical Question) from a different angle.
I had been emailing two members of the Washington Township Historical Society and their approach was certainly different. One program that they offer, at least once a year, is a Historical House Tour. So, they might use Deeds far more than I would or have. They know where to look. Very helpful hints.
Today, I knew that some one was going to be at the Museum so I stopped by to see what else I might find. I had mentioned that the father of my soldier “rented the Dufford farm”, from a reference book they had in their collection.
I was presented with a 2” wide box for that surname, as there is a local family organization in the area, as the family has been around for a very long time.
While I was looking through that collection, another person went to look at maps. A similar map from want I had been looking at. Much clearer, but know knows the historic area better than I, but I heard “I found something”. There is was … all I can say …. “spelling doesn’t count”.
Who would have looked at Woertz, when I was looking for Ort, on the map. I had seen that on the map, but had not oriented by mind to where that was in reality.
Now, I had found my Civil War Soldier’s family with a street name, so I knew where the property was from the Census Record. The Map showed the same location.
I had done the Census, back a page or two, forward a page or two, so I knew the neighbors. The bad part of that is, the combination of names are very similar around the township.
The 1880 Census was my next stop (again).
Then I remembered, no “next page”. But, the answer is on the previous page
Across the street on the map, very nicely shows D. Dufford, as does the Census.
A different set of eyes, different way to research, AND “Spelling doesn’t count”, helped me identify the 120 Farm that was talked about in that Pension File.
Thanks to the Washington Township Historical Society for helping resolve this Genealogical Question.