Trim That Tree! - Rollin Coffee Lykins Edition, part 2 - Harrison and Harry J.

Harrison Lykins (born c. 1851) and Harry J. Lykins (born c. 1851 or c. 1853) - sons of Rollin Coffee Lykins and Sarah Buffington.

Dozens, maybe hundreds, of family trees have these family members. But I don't think they ever existed.

I firmly believe they are the results of transcription errors from the 1860 census.

Why do I believe this? It started with the census records. I found these names and birth dates only in the 1860 census. No other census record for any other member of this family included these individuals. In addition, the girls Narcissa (born c. 1851) and Mary J. (born c. 1853) appeared in 1870 and subsequent census records - but not in 1860. Where were they?

Other hypotheses occured to me, but they seemed a bit far-fetched:

• these were two sets of fraternal twins, and in 1860 the girls were in a different household (or two different households) [could not find any evidence]
• the boys died and the girls are adopted [no evidence]

FamilySearch has a name-only index, no access to the film, that runs from 1839 to 1860. It includes the following entries for this family and no other that I can locate:

Name James B. Lykins

• Gender Male
• Birth Date 27 Oct 1856
• Birthplace , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY
• Father's Name Roley C. Lykins
• Mother's Name Sarah Buffington

"Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWVS-CZ1 : 11 February 2018), James B. Lykins, 27 Oct 1856; citing , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference ; FHL microfilm 216,835.

Name Mary J. Lykins (indexed twice)

• Gender Female
• Birth Date 15 Mar 1853
• Birthplace , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY
• Father's Name Rodey_ Lykins
• Mother's Name Sarah Buffeton

"Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWVS-QG4 : 11 February 2018), Mary J. Lykins, 15 Mar 1853; citing , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference ; FHL microfilm 216,835.

Name Granville Lykins

• Gender Male
• Birth Date 15 Feb 1855
• Birthplace , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY
• Father's Name Rolly C. Lykins
• Mother's Name Sarah Buffington

"Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWVS-DJY : 11 February 2018), Granville Lykins, 15 Feb 1855; citing , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference ; FHL microfilm 216,835.

Name Rebeca Lykins (indexed twice)

• Gender Female
• Birth Date 30 May 1859
• Birthplace , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY
• Father's Name Raleigh Lykins
• Mother's Name Sally Buffington

"Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWVS-N2B : 11 February 2018), Rebeca Lykins, 30 May 1859; citing , , MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference ; FHL microfilm 216,835.

It is not simply birth records that I cannot find for "Harrison" and Harry J.", I have not found any other record for them at all. No death records, no marriage or any other kind. So, I theorized that these two boys were actually Narcissa and Mary J. Lykins.

What follows is the additional evidence that I do have that I believe supports this theory. It is not much, especially in the case of Harry (other than a birth record for Mary and not Harry).

The Evidence

This is the family in the 1860 census - this image is from the census uploaded to the Internet Archive - it is a "raw" file image, not cleaned up or processed. An image of the full census page is at the end of this blog post.

"Population Schedules Of The Eighth Census Of The United States, 1860, Kentucky [Microform]". United States. Bureau of the Census,United States. National Archives and Records Service 2018. Archive.Org. Accessed July 7 2018. https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu385unit#page/n37/mode/1up

Below is the transcription of this household on FamilySearch.

Household                     Sex       Age       Birthplace
Rolly C Lykins                M        30        Kentucky
Sarah Lykins                   F         28        Kentucky
Wm S Lykins                  M        10        Kentucky
Harrison Lykins               F         9         Kentucky
Harry J Lykins                 M         9         Kentucky
Green Lykins                  M         5         Kentucky
James Lykins                  M         3         Kentucky

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZ19-DLQ : 14 December 2017), Rolly C Lykins, 1860.

Problems with this transcription:

1. Narcissa is missing
2. Mary J. is missing
3. both Harrison and Harry are 9 years old, but not marked twins
4. Harrison is marked "F", female

MyHeritage has a similar transcription:

Relation to head            Name                  Age
Head (implied)        Rolly C Lykins           30
Wife (implied)         Sarah Lykins              28
Son (implied)          Wm S Lykins             10
Daughter (implied) Harrison Lykins            9
Son (implied)          Harry J Lykins              9
Son (implied)          Green Lykins                5
Son (implied)          James Lykins               3

Source:

1860 United States Federal Census

MyHeritage.com [online database]. Lehi, UT, USA: MyHeritage (USA) Inc.

https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10127/1860-united-states-federal-census

Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860, Population Schedule. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls.

Look closely at "Harrison":

Now compare the first letter of this name to the first letter of Nancy J from line 11 on this page:

Now compare it to the "H" in Harry and this other "H" from the profession column on line 24 on the same page:

This first letter of "Harrison" looks a great deal more like an "N" than a "H".

Now consider the fact that "Harrison" , a female child  born about 1851, does not appear in any other census record for this family, but "Narcissa" a female child born about 1851 does.

Harrison never existed, this 1860 census record is Narcissa at age 9.

Now on to "Harry J." vs "Mary J."

First - "Harry's" age.

"Harry's" age is not 9. Compare the "9" for Narcissa to the number for "Harry J.". They are not the same. Look at this number "7" from line #39 on the same page:

Second - "Harry J." is "Mary J."

There is no way I can argue that "Harry J." in the 1860 census is not "Harry J." The letter to letter comparison above clearly shows that the "H" in "Harry" is an "H", not an "M", and the child is clearly marked "M" for male.

I believe that this transcription error happened when the census was originally transcribed from the pages collected from the enumerators by the clerks in the county offices.

I believe this because "Harry J."

1. never appears in any other census record for this family, and 
2. because "Mary J." about age 7, should be in this record, but she is not
3. I can find "Mary J. Lykins" in 1870
4. Mary J. Oney in 1880
5. Mary J. Oney in 1900 
6. and Mary J. Oney in 1910. She dies in 1916.

Full Census Page

"Population Schedules Of The Eighth Census Of The United States, 1860, Kentucky [Microform]". United States. Bureau of the Census,United States. National Archives and Records Service 2018. Archive.Org. Accessed July 7 2018. https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu385unit#page/n37/mode/1up

Conclusion

I am going to trim my tree, and combine any "Harrison" and "Harry J." entries with "Narcissa" and "Mary J,", respectively. If evidence to the contrary surfaces I will re-evaluate my conclusions.

Larkin Howard 1802-1852, son of John Howard and Mary Ann Risner, Grandchild of Thomas Howard and Letty Durham

1850 Kentucky Counties

Harlan County is on the right, at the bottom edge of the state, along the Virginia border.

1850 Census, Harlan County

"United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M65W-87Y : 12 April 2016), Larkin Howard, Harlan county, Harlan, Kentucky, United States; citing family 404, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Transcription

1) Larkin Howard, age 47, male, white (blank), farmer, real estate value $2000, born Tennessee.
2) Elizabeth Howard, age 40, female, white (blank), born Kentucky, person over the age of 20 who cannot read and write.
3) Elizabeth Howard, age 20, female, white (blank), born Kentucky, person over the age of 20 who cannot read and write.
4) George Brock, age 22, male, white (blank), farmer, born Kentucky, person over the age of 20 who cannot read and write.
5) Green Brock, age 20, male, white (blank), farmer, born Kentucky, person over the age of 20 who cannot read and write.
6) John J. Howard, age 16, male, white (blank), farmer, born Kentucky, attended school within the year.
7) Matilda Howard, age 14, female, white (blank), born Kentucky, attended school within the year.
8) Hester Howard, age 11, female, white (blank), born Kentucky, attended school within the year.
9) Jane M. Howard, age 7, female, white (bank), born Kentucky.
10) Green A. Howard, age 5, male, white (blank), born Kentucky.

Trim That Tree! - Rollin Coffee Lykins Edition, part 1 - Bud and Riley

There are more children than can be accounted for in this family.

First on the list - Bud Lykins. I found Bud Lykins on FamilySearch - with a different family. So why is he on my family list? I added him in 2012, from a list of the children of Rollin and Sarah in an online family tree. (Citation 1 below)

Bud Lykins on FamilySearch had four sources - a 1910 census and three copies of a marriage record for two of his children.

First - the 1910 census record...

Bud is 39 years old, was born about 1871 in Kentucky and has a wife named Alice and children. The family is living in Grape Creek, Magoffin County, Kentucky.

Household      Role        Sex  Age  Birthplace
Bud Lykins Head M 39 Kentucky - born about 1871
Alice Lykins Wife F 36 Kentucky - born about 1874
Carlie Lykins Son          M 20 Kentucky - born about 1890
Ollie Lykins Son          M     16 Kentucky  - born about 1894     Watch these names.
Ingram Lykins Son          M 14 Kentucky - born about 1896
Rhode Lykins Daughter F 8 Kentucky - born about 1902
Vechie Lykins Daughter  F 5 Kentucky - born about 1905
Luna Lykins Daughter F 2 Kentucky - born about 1908
(Citation 2)

This 1930 census map shows the location of Grape Creek, in the upper left in District 3. It was in the same District in 1910. Look above the red label.

Here is the location of Grape Creek, which is an actual river, not a town. It travels from the lower left to the upper right, where it meets the Licking River.

Co Rd 1593
Salyersville, KY 41465
37.777437, -83.178349

Grape Creek

This is the location of Magoffin County in Kentucky. Wikimedia Commons

The Marriage Record...

The first marriage record listed under Bud's name is a double wedding - his sons Ollie and Ingram are marrying Cassie and Gracie, daughters of Miles Kirk Ball and Josephine Ida Jackson. (citation 3)

The wedding is on 24 January 1919, nine years after the 1910 census. It takes place in Harper, Magoffin County, Kentucky. The grooms are listed as having been born in Magoffin County. The grooms' parents are Bud Lykins and Alice Coffee, and the signatures are R. M. Lykins and Miles Ball.

Double Wedding of Ollie Lykins + Cassie Ball and Ingram Lykins + Gracie Ball (citations 4, 5, 6)

The wedding takes place in Magoffin County, Kentucky, where the grooms were born. The grooms' parents are Bud Lykins and Alice Coffee, and the witnesses are R. M. Lykins and Miles Ball.

The Other Family...

The family that Bud was listed with on Familysearch was the household of James Henry Likins and Mariah York. (citation 8)

He was attached with no documentation so I checked the census records.

In 1880, if Bud was born about 1871, he should be about 9 or 10 years old. There is no Bud in the family. If Gabriel's or John's middle initials stand for "Bud", they are too young and too old by at least two years each way.  David might be Bud.

Household              Role        Sex      Age    Birthplace   Approximate Birth Year
James H Likens Self         M          42      Kentucky   - born about 1838
Mariah A Likens Wife        F           39      Kentucky   - born about 1841
Marion T Likens Son         M          15      Kentucky   - born about 1865
Gabriel B Likens Son         M         13      Kentucky   - born about 1867
Cindrilla Likens Daughter F           11      Kentucky   - born about 1869
David Likens           Son         M           9       Kentucky   - born about 1871
John B Likens         Son         M           7       Kentucky  - born about 1873
Mary C Likens Daughter F            5       Kentucky  - born about 1875
Emma T Likens Daughter F           3       Kentucky  - born about 1877
(Citation 8)

This census was taken in Ohio County, Kentucky, and all of these children are listed as being born in Ohio County, Kentucky.

Ohio County, Kentucky - Wikimedia commons

In 1910, when Bud is in Magoffin County, are any other members of this family found in Magoffin county?

Nope, not in Magoffin County.

(Click on the links to find the citations)

1. James Henry Likins and Mariah York
1. 1900 - no census listed
2. 1910 - Hartford, Ohio, Kentucky.
3. 1911 - James dies in Hartford, Ohio County, KY
4. 1915 - Mariah York is buried in Hartford, Ohio County, KY
2. Sarah L. Likins
1. 1862 - born in 1862, in Ohio County, KY.
2. 1864 - passed away, apparently in Ohio County, KY
3. Buried in Hortan , Ohio county, KY
4. 1910 - no census
3. Marion Thomas Likins
1. 1900  - Ohio County, KY.
2. 1910 census record is not listed 
3. 1954 - dies in Owensboro, Daviess County, KY
4. buried in Hartford, Ohio County, KY
4. Gabriel B. Likins: 
1. 1900 -  Hartford, Ohio County, KY.
2. 1910 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY. 
3. 1920 - Washington D.C.
4. 1930 - Washington, D.C.
5. 1940 - Washington, D.C.
6. 1945 - passed away, buried in Hartford County, KY
5. Cindrilla Likins
1. 1889 - marries Francis Black, in Hartford, Ohio County, KY
2. 1900 - Hartford, Ohio county, KY
3. 1910 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY
4. 1920 - West Hartford, Ohio County, KY
5. 1930 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY
6. 1940 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY
7. 1941 - passed away in Ohio county, KY
6. David Will Likins 
1. (no other census, birth, marriage or death records listed as of this posting)
2. 1900 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY
3. 1910 - Hartford, Ohio County, KY
7. John B. Likins
1. 1880 - Rosine, Ohio County, KY
2. 1892 - passed away, buried Horton, Ohio County, KY
3. 1910 - no census
8. Mary C. Likins
1. 1880 - Rosine, Ohio County, KY
2. 1910 - no census listed
3. 1954 - Dies in Owensboro, Daviess County, KY (no record).
9. Emma (Edna)T. Likins
1. 1880 - Rosine, Ohio County, KY
2. 1890 - buried in Ohio County, KY
3. 1910 - no census
10. George H. Likins
1. 1879 - born in January, Ohio County, KY
2. 1879 - dies in September, Ohio County, KY
3. 1910 - no census

Marion Thomas Likins and Mary C. Likins go to Daviess County, Kentucky. Gabriel B. Likins goes to Washington D.C. All the other records for this family are in Ohio County, mostly in and around Hartford. If Bud is a member of this family, it is very strange that he has no records in Ohio County, Kentucky.

How far is Hartford from Grape Creek?

The shortest path is 252 miles, other choices are 261 and 169 miles.

And Now... Riley M. Lykins

Riley M. Lykins spent almost his entire life in and around Magoffin County, Kentucky. He spent the last years of his life with his daughter, Fredie Amix, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he passed away. All of his census records are listed under "Riley" or "Riley M", except for the 1910 census, which was missing.

1. Riley M. Lykins
1. 1900 - Johnsons Fork, Magoffin County, KY
2. 1910 - not under this name
3. 1920 - Grape Creek, Magoffin County, KY
4. 1930 - Caney, Morgan County, KY
5. 1940 - Magisterial District 3, Morgan County, KY
6. 1951 - Cincinnati, Ohio

Let's look at Riley's 1900 census:

Household               Role        Sex    Age  Birthplace

Riley M Lykins Head        M      28    Kentucky age matches

Allis Lykins            Wife          F       32    Kentucky name, but not age, match

Green Lykins          Son           M      10    Kentucky name doesn't match, age does

Myrtie Lykins         Daughter   F        8    Kentucky

Ollie Lykins             Son          M        6    Kentucky Remember these guys?

Ingram Lykins         Son          M        4    Kentucky name and age match

Laura Lykins          Daughter   F        0    Kentucky

Bud's 1910 census:

Household      Role        Sex  Age  Birthplace
Bud Lykins Head M 39 Kentucky - born about 1871 age matches
Alice Lykins Wife F 36 Kentucky - born about 1874 name, but not age, match (should be about 42)
Carlie Lykins Son          M 20 Kentucky - born about 1890 name doesn't match, age does
Ollie Lykins Son           M     16 Kentucky  - born about 1894 name and age match
Ingram Lykins Son          M 14 Kentucky - born about 1896 name and age match
Rhode Lykins Daughter F 8 Kentucky - born about 1902 name and age match
Vechie Lykins Daughter F 5 Kentucky - born about 1905
Luna Lykins Daughter F 2 Kentucky - born about 1908 name and age match

Riley's 1920 census:

Household                Role         Sex   Age    Birthplace

Riley M Lykins        Head         M     48      Kentucky age matches

Alice Lykins            Wife           F      45      Kentucky name, but not age, match (still remarkably young!)

Rhoda Lykins          Daughter    F      17      Kentucky name and age match

Lunie Lykins           Daughter    F      12      Kentucky name and age match

Fredie Lykins          Daughter    F        8       Kentucky

Woodrow Lykins Son           M        6      Kentucky

Stanley Lykins         Son           M       4      Kentucky

Jessie Lykins            Son           M       1      Kentucky

Please look at the witnesses on the marriage certificate again - R. M. Lykins - Riley signed it twice, once as Bud Lykins, and once as R. M. Lykins.

Time to Trim...

I will trim my tree, and merge Bud with Riley. I have not added Riley's wife Alice or their children to my Legacy database yet, so the process will go much faster.

Citations

1. Darlene M. MazurikGeneology.com, Family Tree Maker Online, database, Darlene M Mazurik, My Geneology Home Page(http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/a/z/Darlene-M-Mazurik-Norwalk/index.html : Updated July 17, 2004), accessed Jul 26, 2012), View Tree for Rolliy (Rollie) Coffee LykinsRolliy (Rollie) Coffee Lykins (b. February 13, 1832, d. 1860); Citing marraige and children. 
2.  "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M268-GYW : accessed 30 June 2018), Bud Lykins, Grape Creek, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 112, sheet 11A, family 192, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 494; FHL microfilm 1,374,507.
3. FamilySearch page for Miles Kirk Ball
4. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V65S-RDT : accessed 3 July 2018), Bud Lykins in entry for Ollie & Ingram Lykins & Lykins and Cassie & Gracie B Ball & Ball, 24 Jan 1919; citing Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 1,003,622.
5. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWT7-V46 : accessed 3 July 2018), Bud Lykins in entry for Ollie Lykins and Cassie Ball, 24 Jan 1919; citing Harper, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 988,583.
6. "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWT7-JPF : accessed 3 July 2018), Bud Lykins in entry for Ingram Lykins and Gracie B. Ball, 24 Jan 1919; citing Harper, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, Madison County Courthouse, Richmond; FHL microfilm 988,583.
7. James Henry Likins on FamilySearch
8. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCZ2-Z7M : 14 August 2017), James H Likens, Rosine, Ohio, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district ED 184, sheet 595A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0436; FHL microfilm 1,254,436.
9. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9HZ-D4B : accessed 27 June 2018), Riley M Lykins, Magisterial District 3, Johnson Fork, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 55, sheet 12A, family 210, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,541.
10. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHGP-PQ1 : accessed 3 July 2018), Riley M Lykins, Grape Creek, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States; citing  ED 75, sheet 7A, line 3, family 116, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 589; FHL microfilm 1,820,589.
11. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XMF8-LKH : accessed 3 July 2018), Riley M Lykins, Caney, Morgan, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 1B, line 68, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 771; FHL microfilm 2,340,506.
12. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K7YD-DYF : accessed 3 July 2018), R M Lykins, Magisterial District 1, Morgan, Kentucky, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 88-2, sheet 4A, line 27, family 58, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627.  Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1343.
13. "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6PM-Y2Y : 9 March 2018), Riley Menefee Lykins, 06 Dec 1951; citing , reference certificate; FHL microfilm 2,372,879.