In Part I of my series, “Who was Louella Otten?” I presented 3 sets of documents that outlined the history of my 2nd great grandmother, Louella Otten.
1. Marriage record from Sharp Co., AR: Ella DAVIS married Alvin GODWIN, 1899
2. 1900 Sharp Co., AR census report: Lou A CARPENTER, daughter of Wm CARPENTER (step-sister Osieola DAVIS, daughter of Wm CARPENTER’s second wife, Dora NIX DAVIS, was also enumerated)
3. Obituary of Ella Otten: survivors included 3 CARPENTER brothers – Marlin, Ernest, and Willie; one half-sister, Nellie CARPENTER ECKERT, and one sister, Osieola DAVIS CLARK.
These sources put together indicate that Lou Ella was either a DAVIS or a CARPENTER. At first I thought she was a Carpenter because that is what the census report indicated and I have a bad habit of putting lots of stock in what census reports say. I learned my lesson this time.
I received a copy of Ella Otten’s death certificate obtained from the OK Department of Health this week. It clearly states that Ella’s father was Bill DAVIS and her mother was Dora NIX.
So lessons learned: Don’t believe everything you read!
Related Posts:
Lou Ella Godwin Otten (1882-1947), Part I
