I am not one who relies on other researchers to validate work I have done on my family tree. In the age of social media, however, you sometimes can't help giving a peak to what others say about your ancestor. Not to mention, collaboration is a good thing. Anyway, 99% (I use this percentage loosely; it's not likely I've seen all that is available) of what other researchers have posted online about my Frederick Yount is that he was married once (to my 4th great grandmother Polly Mayfield) and died in 1850 at Benton County, Missouri.
I debated on whether or not to add this viewpoint, and please note my opinion is not intended to offend anyone. It is, however, my opinion that of all the posters of information about my Frederick Yount that I browsed, it is likely only a handful are original thinkers. There are far more people out there that copy and paste or click and claim their family history. If you are a new researcher, I would take that as a "buyer beware" statement.
Anyway, the original point of my post is this: I challenge it all.
The first bit of information I have suggesting my 4th great grandfather was alive after 1850 is a land record. Ancestry's "U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907" lists five entries resulting from a search of Frederick Yount. I believe the first four are about my great grandfather. The entries show all the land was located in Bollinger County, Missouri. This is inconsistent with the date of the very first entry, however. Bollinger County was not formed until 1851, and the first entry is for 14 November 1837. If you view the image, however, you will see the document pertains to Frederick Yount "of Cape Girardeau County." This makes much more sense. That time, Frederick purchased forty acres. The next two entries are dated 10 August 1841 and 1 January 1850. Both say he was from Cape Girardeau County, and he purchased forty acres each time.
Then comes the final entry. It is dated 3 January 1856. This time Frederick was "of Bollinger County," and he purchased 320 acres. All of the logistical information about the land, which I admit I do not understand, fits with each entry. All are from the 5th PM Meridian, Township 32-North, Range 9-East, and Section 20. The final entry adds sections 21 and 29. This fits nicely since Bollinger County was created from Cape Girardeau County. Frederick probably did not move from one county to the other. The county in which he lived changed names. Finally, it may seem like a large jump in the amount purchased. I don't think it is a stretch, though, since census records show Frederick's real estate value was always increasing.
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Census records taken 9 July 1860 for Bollinger County, Missouri show Frederick Yount with wife Elisabeth. Some of the children listed are from Frederick and Polly's marriage. I contend the rest belong to Elizabeth and her first husband.
This last one is the most tenuous. In the 1870 census for Bollinger county, Missouri is a listing for Frederick Yount, born about 1816 in Missouri. The birth year is four off of what I believe to be true, and I cannot positively account for the other individuals listed. Nonetheless, I still think this might be my 4th great grandfather. The real estate and personal values have gone up significantly, but that could mean the 320+ acres he acquired not long before the 1860 census have begun to consistently bear fruit.
I would like to check census records for Elizabeth and her first husband to compare the names of individuals listed in the 1860 and 1870 census records, but I cannot seem to get the correct surname spelling. Is it Kneringer? Knerringer? Kremminger? Something totally different? UGH!
Lastly, I submit to you that Frederick did not die in Benton County, Missouri. I don't have sound findings to support this, it's just a hunch. Frederick spent all of his time in southeast Missouri. This small clip of a Missouri county map shows the counties in which he inhabited and those surrounding him. Benton County, Missouri is located in the west central portion of the state. Now I have found death locations for other ancestors that have shocked me, so I'm not saying it's impossible. Maybe this tidbit will prove to be true, but I'm not buying it just yet.OK. I've laid out why I think Frederick Yount was alive and farming after the year 1850. Is there no one that agrees with me?
