How to find the ancestry of Robert Minyen?

Question

I wanted to share this family photo of Robert Minyen with the community. Location: Oklahoma, USA. Date: unknown.

I keep coming up with DNA matches on Ancestry to people related to Robert Minyen, yet I do not have him in my tree. However, I do have brick walls for family members from Arkansas and Missouri, so I suspect the connection is to be found there.

All I know is the bio from the "Find a Grave" site tells us Robert was born in Arkansas around 1856 and believed to have been orphaned at the age of 2, along with an older brother named William. He was likely adopted by the Harringtons (Peter and Susan) and resided in Ozark County, Missouri in 1870. Last name on 1870 census was Minium. He was still in Ozark County in 1880 when he married Martha Pitcock. He passed away in 1929. At this time, no record of the parents probate records has as yet been located.

Any suggestions?

Click here for the image details page or here for the full-sized version (2048 x 2864).

Comments

Hi Linda,

I can see a few census records that might be helpful on Familysearch.com. They seem to show Martha and the children, but there may be others.  

Have you tried contacting the profile manager at FindAGrave?  

I'm not sure where you're located, but when I reach a dead end online, I've had some luck in the paper archives.  Sometimes it changes my vacation plans, but I've never regretted it!

Answer 1

Here is the 1870 Census record you cited, in case you want to add it to his prolfile:

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M46F-897 : 12 April 2016), Robert Minium in household of Peter Herington, Missouri, United States; citing p. 25, family 178, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,286.

And here is their marriage record.  If the marriage is in an index, there's a good chance a certificate is available, and said certificate may or may not have info on parents, witnesses, etc, that could prove valuable.

"Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V28B-XDW : 11 February 2018), Robert Minions and Martha Elender Pitcock, 18 Mar 1880; citing Ozark,Missouri; FHL microfilm 929,570.

I'll keep hunting.

Both FindaGrave memorials are 'Non-Cemetery Burials.'  They have specific info, but no indication of the sources.  A death certificate would show his parents, if the person reporting knew who they were.  OK.gov website is having some issues right now.

OK record search is a no-go for now.  At Ancestry, there are seven 'private member photos' related to him.  Have you tried contacting that Ancestry user?

Comments

Thanks for the star, Susan! 

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The Oklahoma website is back up at https://ok2explore.health.ok.gov/App/DeathSearch

They have Martha's death with the same date and place as FindaGrave.  I could not find Robert's at all.  Their search engine requires accurate spelling, but it does allow wildcard searches.  I tried variations such as Min* and even M*, with no luck.  They have no record of anyone dying in McCurtain County (as stated in FaG) 15 Aug 1929.  The only person who died in Garvin County that date was Maggie Newton.  And so on.