Louisiana’s Name Mystery
First Marriage
Some years ago another researcher insisted to me that Louisiana’s surname was Mattser. He had gotten the name from someone that he felt was a good researcher and who had performed research in the local area. However, no records for a family named Mattser anywhere close to that area have been found with the exception of Louisiana’s marriage record to James Badgley, which does appear to be Mattser at least in the main text.
However, there is a second marriage record because Louisiana was under age. The surname isn’t completely clear; however, her father’s name is clearly Matthias.
A search of the name Matthias in the local area (Washington Co, Ohio) at that time led me to Matthias Matteer, who lived close to where Louisiana married. However, Louisiana married prior to 1850; thus, she is not listed by name in a census with her parents as only the head of the household was listed in federal censuses prior to 1850. Thus, I had to turn to other records to find evidence that this was her family.