Question

Seeking orphaned JOHN TODD b Minnesota 1878 disappeared west to become a lawman.

Comments

Can you provide any additional information?

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Your response is so much appreciated.

John*s father disappeared in a snowstorm in North Dakota, while looking for lost neighbours.  His wife Julia Merry Todd, died in childbirth shortly after.  John was cared for by William and Caroline Merry and then his grandparents, Lorenzo and Julia Merry.  The family has no record of who took John when he was 10 years old and one of my great aunts heard years later that he was out west/ Montana? and a lawman.

Again, thanks for your professionalism !

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What was location of Lorenzo and Julia Merry and are any of the family in WikiTree? I did not find John in WT.

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They were in Washburn, Mclean I believe. John Todd was with them in 1885 and Lorenzo and Julia passed away in 1888.  So, the mystery is, where did the 10 year old boy go?

Thanks so much again!

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I don't see anything useful on this so will make a few suggestions (roads you may have already been down). I don't think there was an 1895 state census for the new state of ND so the next census records you might find would be 1900. If he was adopted around age 10, whether his surname was changed is an open question. Does the story of the great aunt say anything about the name he may have used later in life? (A search for a lawman named John Todd produced nothing but that was a long shot.) So, back to the suggestions. 1/ check 1900 US Census records on all family, even extended family, particularly those that may have moved further west; 2/ I would contact the McLean County Historical Society and see if they can point you toward church records or newspapers that might provide some information. They (or the State society) may also be able to give you information on what sort of adoption process, if any, was in place there in that time period. If there was a process there are likely to be records. If there was not a process, church records and newspapers are the best avenue.

Answer 1

You did not say that any of this family is on WikiTree.  His mother, Julia A. Merry, daughter of William Merry and Carolina English married again after her first husband's death.  She died in 1955, at the age of 70, in Montana:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70214473/julia-a.-cross

She is also found on FamilySearch.org, however, there is no record there of her marriage to Mr. Todd.  I just did a cursory search, so if you need more assistance, please let us know.

Answer 2

My curiosity got the best of me and I did a little more research today.  I created a profile for Azetta Julia Merry, who married William Todd and then died in childbirth in Washburn, McLean, North Dakota.William Merry, who married Caroline English is her brother.  See: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Merry-824

You may wish to contact the McLean County Historical Society.  Amazingly, they posted a request for donations for the first burial in the RiverView Cemetery, in Washburn, belonging to Azetta (Merry) Todd and her infant daughter.  See:  https://www.facebook.com/McLeanCountyHistoricalSocietynd/

If you do not have a Facebook account, please reach out to me, because my interest is piqued!

Comments

So much appreciated.  I will use your ideas and get back on the trail.  cheers!

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Best of luck.  jan