Louisiana’s Name Mystery
Children’s Names
Sometimes the names of children provide clues as to the grandparents or aunts and uncles of the children. Names that can be explained are in red.
Lemuel’s child with Sarah
Delarma Lawrence: No origin has been found for the name Delarma (several spellings) in either the Dufer or McCracken records. Lawrence is from Lemuel’s middle name.
Louisiana’s children with James Badgley
Mary Ann: Mary was likely named after Louisiana’s mother Mary Rodgers Matteer.
Louis: Unknown. It is possible that it is taken from Louisiana; however, boys weren’t often named after their mother except using the mother’s surname.
Lemuel’s children with Louisiana
Lemuel Franklin: Lemuel is named after Lemuel. Franklin could possibly be after Louisiana’s brother Francis. At least one record shows his name as Francis.
William Thomas: William possibly was named after Louisiana’s brother William who died in the Civil War.
Andrew Johnson: Given the time of Andrew’s birth, he was likely named for President Andrew Johnson.
Ida Belle: Louisiana had a sister with the middle initial B. It is possible that Belle came from that sister’s name.
Joseph (Henry): Of note is the 1875 Kansas Census that lists Henry as R.H. or B.H. It is clearly not J.H. One thing that was investigated is whether it could have been R.H. with the R standing for Robert since they lived near a Robert McCracken in Bates Co, Missouri. However, nothing was found to support it as anything other than an error. Later records clearly use J.H., Joseph Henry, or some combination of the names and initials.
Francis E./Minnie Alameda: Francis was Minnie’s original name. It changed for unknown reasons after 1880. Louisiana had a brother Francis.
None of the non-highlighted names can be traced to Louisiana’s family. None of the boys were named after her father, who lived in Lee County, Iowa and who she must have went west to be near. There are also very few ties to her sisters.