Louisiana’s Name Mystery
Lee County, Iowa
Louisiana and Lemuel’s Marriage Record
Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJG3-GYT : 3 December 2014), Leonard Mccracken and Louisianna Bagley, 15 Jan 1859; citing Lee, Iowa, reference 2:3P3MBJH; FHL microfilm 959,168. (No image is available)
Arrival in Lee County
Louisianna is first recorded as being in Lee County Iowa, when she marries Lemuel (transcribed as Leonard) in Lee County, Iowa in January 1859.
The obvious questions are: How & when did Louisiana lose or part ways with James Badgley? When did Louisiana arrive in Lee County, Iowa? Why did she come to Lee County?
It was reasonable to assume that something happened to Louisiana’s husband by 1858 at the latest so that she had time to travel to Lee County, Iowa, meet Lemuel, and decide to marry.
The “why,” however, was answered by recognizing that Mathias Matteer was her father as he arrived in Lee County prior to 1854 as he is listed in the state census for that year in Jefferson Township with 4 males and 2 females in the household.
1860
In 1860, Lemuel, Louisiana (written in the record as Rosannah), his son Delarma, her daughter Mary, her son Louis, and their oldest son Lemuel are living in Jefferson Township, Lee County, Iowa. Matthias Matteer was also living in Jefferson Township. Lemuel & Louisianna were family number 446 and Matthias was family number 438. Side note: The father of Lemuel’s first wife was family number 451.
1870
In 1870, Lemuel and Louisiana have moved westward to Van Buren Township, Lee County, Iowa. At this point, Lemuel’s son with his first wife has moved out of the home and is living with another family. Likewise, Louisiana’s children are no longer in the household. Mary had married John Macklin and was living in Adams County, Illinois. No record of Louis has been found and it is possible that he died prior to 1870. About 1871 (or possibly slightly later), Lemuel and Louisiana moved to Kansas. Lemuel’s son with his first wife remained in Iowa.
In 1870, Matthias Matteer had also moved westward although not as far. He is living with his wife and youngest child in Charleston Township. (Shown below) His son Francis is also living close by.
Matthias remained in Charleston Township for the remainder of his life. Although Matthias had a will and lengthy probate records, they provide no additional evidence as he left his property to his wife for the remainder of her life. After she died, his two living children Lucette and Sarah were to divide the property. He did not mention any of his other children in his will.