5 Unlocking the Mystery of Elizabeth’s Father: A Genealogical Challenge

 

Maternal Great-Grandfather Coon – Moore or Neal

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 5 – January 27, 2025

Prompt: Challenge

Who was Elizabeth Moore’s father?

My maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Moore Nolen, grew up in the Sand Springs Home in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, a home for children whose parents couldn’t support them. Growing up, I was told that my grandmother didn’t know her parents, and the mystery of her origins lingered in our family for years.

The first breakthrough came from my cousin, Robbin, who found a reverse image of a page from an old family Bible. The text read:

My Family Record – August 10, 1908

Joe Moore born 1870 W VA

Lucinda born 1873

Married in old I.T. in Tulsa Town in 1889

Charlie Walter born in 1890 in Springfield, MO

Frankie Francis born Feb 19, 1898

My twins born in Tulsy Town I.T. Aug 1st 1905 cross street in old house from rr tracks

Dr. McGinis named them Billy Antonio and Lizzie

Annie was born in new house in Kendal Addition in Tulsa Town in 1907

Frankie Francis is my mother’s “Uncle Frank,” but he went by the last name Coon. Charlie Walter is her “Uncle Charlie” Moore. Lizzie’s twin, Billy Antonio, is my mother’s “Uncle Bill” Moore. Annie is her “Aunt Annie” Moore.

Elizabeth was known to have said, “Don’t call me a Coon.” We never thought to ask why she and Frank had different last names.

A review of Oaklawn Cemetery records revealed that Elizabeth’s brother, Frank, is buried in Section 17, Block 516, SW Quarter, Grave 3. Just next to him, in Grave 4, lies Joe Moore Coon. Josiah’s wife, Lucinda, is buried in Grave 1 under the name Lucinda Scott, as her third husband was William Scott. Grave 2 holds Baby Boone, Lucinda’s child from her second marriage to Lew Boone.

This section is also known as the Joe Moore Section.

Robbin’s sister, Paula, visited the cemetery and found that Joe Moore Coon’s plot was marked with a military headstone under the name Josiah Coon.

Could Josiah Coon and Joe Moore be the same person?

This was the first time we had heard the name Josiah Coon.

A search of census records found Josiah Coon and Lucinda in Tulsa in 1900. Both were listed as widowed (W) under marital status. Strangely, Lucinda and five children were recorded with the surname King. Her relationship to Josiah was listed as “servant,” and all the children were listed as “wards.”

Elizabeth’s brothers, Charlie and Franklin, appeared in the household, along with three girls I have never found in any other record—Onie, Alpha, and Bertie.

This census record directly conflicts with Lucinda’s handwritten family record in the Bible, which stated she married Joe Moore in 1889.

With the information from Josiah’s military headstone, Robbin was able to research his military records. She found Josiah Coon listed among the Unclaimed Union Civil War Medals held by the West Virginia State Archives. She was able to prove her descent from him and received the medal, which she presented to my mother along with all her research.

Josiah Coon filed for his Civil War pension from Indian Territory on August 13, 1884, and his widow, Lucinda Coon, filed for a widow’s pension on August 11, 1908—coincidentally, the day after she recorded My Family Record in the Bible.

Robbin requested Josiah’s pension file from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and I requested it through the National Archives (NARA) and multiple researchers. No one has been able to locate the file.

However, I did obtain Josiah’s probate file from storage at the Tulsa County Warehouse. The file contained an affidavit signed by Lucinda, stating that Josiah Coon also used the name Joe Moore. His will listed his children, including Elizabeth, confirming the familial connection.

Later, I found a 1936 newspaper article detailing an effort to obtain grave markers for Civil War veterans buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. The article stated that during the investigation, a veteran was discovered buried under the name Joe Moore, who was, in reality, Josiah Coon.

We don’t know why he had two names, but this explained why Elizabeth and Frank had different last names.

So, we had finally solved the mystery of Elizabeth’s father—until a surprising DNA match appeared.

After gathering extensive documentation on Josiah/Joe (or JJ, as I fondly referred to him), I discovered that my mother had a fairly high DNA match with someone I didn’t recognize. The match, known only as R.N., shared 599 cM with my mother—close enough to be a first cousin, meaning they likely shared grandparents.

R.N. had no family tree. I contacted another DNA match with the Neal surname, and she identified R.N. as Raymond Neal—her father. Shared matches linked us to several other Neal family members. At this point, I had enough information to add them as a floating branch in my family tree, but I still didn’t know how they fit into our lineage.

Since Elizabeth’s mother’s maiden name was unknown to me at the time, I wasn’t sure if this Neal line was connected to her mother or her father.

After months of collaboration with Shelley, the daughter of Betty Neal, another close match, we came to a stunning conclusion:

My grandmother’s biological father was George Neal, not Josiah Coon.

Elizabeth was conceived after George’s wife had passed away. Shelley’s mother recalled that George was known to have had children outside of his marriage. The timeline and geography also fit: at the time of conception, George lived just across the Tulsa County/Osage County line—closer in proximity to Elizabeth’s mother than any of his brothers.

With this new understanding, I was able to correctly identify Raymond Neal as my mother’s half-first cousin and Betty Neal as a second cousin.

It was difficult to let go of JJ. A fellow researcher, Nancy, who had collaborated with me on Josiah’s history, was so unwilling to accept the DNA evidence that she refused to speak to me after I determined that George Neal was Elizabeth’s biological father.

However, after entering all the Neal DNA matches into the What Are The Odds? tool, I am confident in the conclusion:

Elizabeth Moore Nolen’s biological father was George Neal.

This research journey was full of challenges—contradictory records, missing files, and an emotional shift from a well-documented ancestor to an unexpected biological connection. In the end, DNA helped reveal the truth, showing that family history is often more complex than it seems.

What started as a search for Elizabeth’s father led to an entirely new understanding of our family’s story.

4 Revisiting McCorkle: Searching for Overlooked Clues

My Maternal 3rd Great-Grandfather McCorkle

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks

Week 4 - January 20, 2025

Prompt: Overlooked

This week’s prompt suggested writing about an ancestor I have not paid much attention to. However, I am taking a different approach—focusing on an ancestor I have paid a lot of attention to: my maternal 3rd great-grandfather McCorkle. His name remains unknown.

Over the past week, I have meticulously reviewed documents and notes in my three-inch binder labeled “MCCORKLE RESEARCH” to determine if I have overlooked any clues.

Who Was Martha McCorkle’s husband?

My maternal 3rd great-grandmother, Martha McCorkle, first appears in historical records in the 1850 census for Warren County, Tennessee. This was the first U.S. census to list all household members by name, sex, and age. Martha is listed first, suggesting she was the head of household, followed by her six children, ranging in age from 1 to 15 years old. Her husband was not present.

Clues from the 1850 Census

Although the 1850 census lacks many details, it still provides valuable clues about Martha’s life and, potentially, her missing husband.

Clue #1: No Husband Listed

• My maternal 3rd great-grandfather is not present in the household.

• The 1850 census did not record marital status, so it is unclear whether Martha was widowed or divorced.

Clue #2: Youngest Child’s Birth Year and Location

• The youngest child, Rachel Margaret, was one year old in 1850, meaning she was likely conceived in 1848.

• This suggests that Martha was still married in 1848, and her husband likely died or left the family after this child was conceived.

Clue #3: Oldest Child’s Birth Year & Location

• The oldest child, Richard, was 15 years old and born in Tennessee, indicating that Martha was likely married around 1834 in Tennessee.

Clue #4: All Children Born in Tennessee

• Since all of Martha’s children were born in Tennessee, both before and after 1840, it is logical to assume that her husband should appear in Tennessee in the 1840 census.

Review of the 1840 Census for Tennessee

In the 1840 census only the head of household was named and members of the household were recorded as tick marks in age range categories. I reviewed the 1840 Census for Tennessee looking for households that met the following criteria:

• A male aged 20-29 in 1840 (potential husband).

• A female aged 20-29 in 1840 (potentially Martha).

• A male child under 5 or 5-9 (potentially Richard, born ~1835).

I identified 22 heads of household with the McCorkle surname (or variations). The household structure of three potential matches closely aligns with what I would expect for Martha’s young family. However, all three also have additional household members.

1. Robert McCaskle (Warren County)

✔ 1 male aged 20-29 (potential husband)

✔ 1 female aged 20-29 (potentially Martha)

✔ 1 male aged <5 (potentially Richard)

✔ In Warren County – aligns with Martha’s location in 1850

Five additional household members are:

• 1 male aged 10-14

• 1 male aged 15-19

• 2 females aged 5-9

• 1 female aged 30-39

Issues:

• Five additional household members whose identities are unknown.

• I had previously associated this record with a different Robert McCorkle, who appears in the 1850 census in Warren County, married to Margaret Peggy Overturf.

Despite these concerns, the Warren County location makes this a strong lead worth investigating further.

2. Jas McCorkle (Shelby County)

✔ 1 male aged 20-29 (potential husband)

✔ 1 female aged 20-29 (potentially Martha)

✔ 1 male aged 5-9 (potentially Richard)

One additional household member:

• 1 female aged 5-9

Issues:

• Located in Shelby County, not Warren County.

• Has one additional household member.

3. Andrew McCorkle (Tipton County)

✔ 1 male aged 20-29 (potential husband)

✔ 1 female aged 20-29 (potentially Martha)

✔ 1 male aged 5-9 (potentially Richard)

One additional household member:

• 1 female aged 15-19

Issues:

• Located in Tipton County, not Warren County.

• Has one additional household member.

Next Steps

With this information, my next steps include:

• Further investigation of Robert, Andrew, and Jas McCorkle.

• Searching land, probate, and tax records for McCorkles in Warren County.

• Exploring marriage records from the 1830s in Tennessee.

• Continuing DNA analysis to identify any overlooked connections.

• Reviewing additional notes in my “McCorkle Research” binder.

Although my 3rd great-grandfather remains unknown for now, I hope that continuing a fresh review of overlooked clues will bring me one step closer to solving this mystery.

3 Leonard Nolen? No, He Was Always Uncle Sonny

 

Uncle Sonny Nolen

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 3 -  January 13, 2025

Prompt: Nickname

Uncle Sonny was my mother’s baby brother. Born Leonard Page Nolen on February 2, 1931, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sonny was the third of four children of Leonard Nolen and Elizabeth Moore and their only son.

Betty Ann, Leonard Page, and Margaret Ella; Martha Sue would come later.

A newspaper search for “Leonard Nolen” paints a picture of a typical mid-20th-century American childhood. Growing up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, he attended birthday parties, participated in Scouts, and played football for the Sandites. During World War II, he supported the home front by collecting 1,640 pounds of scrap metal—a feat that earned him recognition in the local paper.

Young Sonny Nolen, smiling proudly with the American flag in the background—capturing a moment of his all-American childhood in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

Sonny graduated from high school in 1950. He initially worked for Frank Wheatly Pumps and Valves before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in March 1951 with two of his high school buddies. After completing his recruit training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, Sonny, a machinist mate, was assigned to LST 758, a transport ship that moved prisoners of war across the Sea of Japan.

Sonny’s proud parents, Leonard and Elizabeth Nolen, standing by their prized television set with their sailor boy’s service photo proudly displayed—a heartwarming snapshot of pride and love in the family home.

Sonny Nolen in his Navy uniform, standing proudly with his parents, Elizabeth and Leonard Nolen—a cherished moment capturing their pride and support for their sailor boy.”

After four years in the Navy, Sonny married Phyllis Jo Lane on February 4, 1955, in an evening ceremony at her parents’ home and resumed working at Frank Wheatley. 

Sonny and Phyllis, a couple building a life together in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.  

Sonny and Phyllis’s children—Julie Ann, Steven Page, John Mark and Jill Lane —in a family portrait that reflects the next generation of their legacy.

Sonny, in one of the last photos taken of him, captured in a rare quiet moment—but those who knew him will always remember his jolly, funny personality that lit up every room.

On January 26, 1970, he suffered a fatal heart attack as he was leaving work. He was just 38 years old.

Sonny’s military service left a lasting impression on his family. His son, Steve, and his nephew, Storm, were both inspired to follow in his footsteps and serve in the U.S. Navy.

Leonard Page "Sonny" Nolen February 2, 1931 - January 26, 1970

2 A Favorite Photo and a Family Mystery

Lucinda Crull 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 2 - January 6, 2025

Prompt: Favorite Photo

My maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Moore Nolen, grew up in the Sand Springs Home in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The home provided care for children whose parents couldn’t support them. Growing up, I was told that my grandmother didn’t know her parents, and the mystery of her origins lingered in our family for years.

A few years after my grandmother passed away, I discovered a scrapbook at my mother’s house. Inside was a photo of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to my grandmother. I felt certain this had to be her mother. When I showed the photo to my mother, she recalled an elderly woman who would occasionally visit the family. However, she had never been told that this woman was her grandmother.

This discovery set off a quest to identify the woman in the photo. The first clue came from a cousin who found a page from an old family Bible. It identified the woman as Lucinda, wife of Joe Moore. Another cousin unearthed burial records for two plots owned by my grandfather, Leonard Nolen, in a cemetery section labeled “Joe Moore.”

The burial records revealed a fascinating story. In one plot owned by Leonard Nolen were Lucinda Scott and William Scott. Another plot contained Frank Coon, my grandmother’s half-brother. Meanwhile, the Joe Moore section included burials for Joe Moore Coon and Baby Boone. Further research showed that Lucinda had married multiple times: her second husband was Lew Boone, and her third was William Scott.

After years of digging through documents and conducting DNA research, I finally uncovered the truth. My great-grandmother’s name was Lucinda Crull, the daughter of Daniel Crull and Elizabeth Lent.

What began as a simple photograph has evolved into a story of resilience and connection. Lucinda’s journey and the legacy she passed down have added another layer of richness to our family history. This single photo—preserved by chance in a scrapbook—brought a lost part of our family’s story back to life.

1 It All Started with Mattie: My First Genealogical Discovery

Maternal Great Grandmother - Mattie McCorklke Nolen 

52 Ancestors in 52 week

Week 1 - January 1, 2025

Prompt: In the Beginning

One of the first ancestors I sought to uncover in my genealogy journey was Mattie E. McCorkle, my maternal great-grandmother.

I inherited a beautifully framed marriage license for P.J. Nolen and Mattie E. McCorkle, dated October 1, 1891, in Prairie County, Arkansas. P.J. and Mattie are my maternal great-grandparents, parents of Leonard Nolen. Leonard was raised in the Sand Springs Home. My mother told me that her father didn’t know his parents, so I was determined to learn who P. J. and Mattie were.

In August 1994, I attended a professional training conference at the Red Lion Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Knowing there was a family history library nearby, I took all the family history I had with me—namely, a tree my father’s cousin Wally had provided and the information from the framed marriage license.

The Red Lion Hotel was within walking distance of the Family History Library. After each day’s conference sessions, I would walk to the library and use one of their computers. I started by entering names from my father’s tree but didn’t uncover anything Wally hadn’t already documented.

On my last day in Salt Lake City, I switched gears and typed in “P. J. Nolen and Mattie McCorkle” with their marriage date. This search led to a microfilm call number for their marriage record, which indicated that the parents of the bride and groom were listed in the original record. The microfilm was in another building, and it was nearing closing time, but I found the original record in time to print it.

The record contained the marriage affidavit, bond for the marriage license, marriage license, and certificate of marriage. There was also a handwritten note that read:

October 1, ’91

Des Arc, Ark.

This is to certify that Mr. D.S. ^and wife^ McCorkle is willing for his daughter Miss Mattie E McCorkle be married to Mr. P. J. Nolen. Age 17 years old.

I was thrilled to have found the initials of Mattie’s father and thought it charming that “and wife” appeared to have been added as an afterthought, possibly a legal requirement. I was hooked.

Mattie’s Family History

“D.S. McCorkle” referred to Daniel S. McCorkle, born May 27, 1842, in Tennessee. His father is unknown.

In the 1850 census, Daniel appears in District 14, Warren County, Tennessee, with his widowed mother, Martha McCorkle (maiden name unknown), and five siblings:

• Richard (born 1835)

• Jesse Carroll (born 1842)

• Samuel (born 1853)

• Mary (born 1845)

• Rachel Margaret (born 1849)

By 1860, the family was in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee. Daniel was a 20-year-old student, likely attending Irving College, located eight miles south of McMinnville.

In 1861, Irving College closed due to the Civil War. The library was divided among the students as they left for their homes. Daniel joined his classmates and faculty in enlisting in the 16th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company H.

After the war, Daniel worked as a farm laborer with his future wife’s family. “And wife” referred to Hester Ann Estell Williams, whom Daniel married on September 12, 1870, in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee.

Mattie, born in May 1874, was the eldest of their four children, all born in Tennessee:

• Nita (born August 27, 1878)

• Thomas Gardner (born July 22, 1880)

• Elbert Nicholas (born August 5, 1883)

In 1896, Daniel’s Civil War pension application, filed from Lee County, Arkansas, was rejected for lack of proof of service.

Mattie's Adult Life

In 1900, Mattie and P. J. Nolen were living in Marianna Village, Independence Township, Lee County, Arkansas. They had started a family in Augusta, Woodruff County, Arkansas, with two sons:

• Robert Luther (born 1895)

• Leonard (born 1897)

A daughter, Pet, was born and died sometime between 1891 and 1900.

back row: P. J. Nolen, Mattie McCorkle Nolen, Thomas McCorkle, Nita McCorkle

front row: Leonard Nolen, Daniel S. McCorkle, Robert Luther Nolen

Sometime after 1900, Mattie and her sons left P. J. No divorce record has been found, but in 1907, she married William F. Jones, also known as Bill McCuiston. The license was issued in Carthage, Missouri, but the marriage took place in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The license stated that both bride and groom resided in Tulsa, Indian Territory, and it was a second marriage for both.

left to right: Leonard, Mattie, and Robert Luther

A Tragic End

The rest of Mattie’s story comes from A Fool’s Enterprise: The Life of Charles Page by Opal Bennefield Clark.

In 1909, Mattie and Bill were living in the Illinois Hotel in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. Leonard, then a newspaper boy, had missed delivering papers to Charles Page, an oilman, for a few days. Concerned, Mr. Page learned that Mattie was gravely ill with tuberculosis, and Bill was in the hospital. Leonard was left to care for his mother while continuing to sell newspapers.

Moved by their plight, Mr. Page asked Captain Breeding of the Salvation Army to bring Mattie and her sons to Sand Springs, west of Tulsa, where Page was building his dream industrial city. Captain Breeding and his wife cared for Mattie in a tent while her husband recovered, and Bill eventually joined them along with his three sons from a previous marriage. This act of compassion marked the beginning of the Sand Springs Home, which Captain Breeding and Charles Page established to care for widows and children.

On Christmas Day, 1909, Mattie passed away from tuberculosis. She was initially buried near a lake in Sand Springs, as there was no cemetery for white people nearby. Her grave was later relocated to Woodland Park Memorial Cemetery in Sand Springs, where her sons Robert Luther and Leonard are also buried.

Reflection

Finding Mattie’s story not only gave me insight into my great-grandmother’s life but also deepened my connection to the past. Her resilience and the kindness of Charles Page left a lasting legacy for our family.

Welcome to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Welcome to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, a blog dedicated to uncovering and sharing the lives of my ancestors. The name reflects the fascinating variety of roles they played throughout history—from a resourceful tinker to a skilled tailor, a brave soldier, and even, perhaps, a spy. Each story brings their unique experiences to life and connects the past to the present.

The title also pays homage to John le Carré’s iconic 1974 spy novel, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Beyond the novel, the phrase comes from an old nursery rhyme that many might recognize as a counting game for deciding who would be "it" in a game of tag. For me, it evokes childhood memories of skipping rope to its familiar rhythm:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief,
Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief.

Just as the rhyme lists a variety of roles, this blog celebrates the diverse lives of my ancestors. Their stories—their triumphs, struggles, and legacies—offer a window into the past and an opportunity to reflect on how they shaped the world we live in today. I invite you to join me as I explore their lives, one story at a time.