In need of some Help.?

Question

Please help. I need information on a Carrie Woods born in 1864 or 1865 (that area) on March 1. She was born in Ohio. Her father was from NYS. I know she married a man named James/Oscar Harris who was born in 1852. I'm primarily looking for information pre-1900, such as blood family members. Any help at all would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

Is this the family you are trying to trace?

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 18, Erie, New York; Roll: T623 1030; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 151.

Household Members: Name Age

James Harris 48  Head White male born september 1851  married abt 20 years born in New York father born in Canada mother in New York  occupation boat builder

Carrie Harris 36  wife white female born March 1864  married 20 years mother of 7 children, 7 alive at the time of the census born in Ohio father born in New York, mother born in Ohio

Bertha Harris 18   White female born June 1881 in Canada

Harry Harris 15   White male born August 1884 in Canada

Arthur Harris 13  White male born October 1886 in Canada

Herbert Harris 12  white male born January 1888 in Ohio

Mary Harris 8  White female born May 1892 born in New York

Hattie Harris 5  White female born August 1894 in Canada

Kenerson Harris 2 White  male born  August 1897 in New York

According to the census the first group of children born in Canada immigrated to the states in 1887 and Hattie who was born in 1894 came to the states in 1895.  

Here is the family in 1910

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Buffalo Ward 18, Erie, New York; Roll: T624_946; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 175; Image: 826.

Household Members: Name Age

James o Harris 58  

Carrie W Harris 46  

Mary P Harris 17  

Harriett A Harris 15  

V Kennerson Harris 12  

Kittie F Harris 8  

Willis A Harris 4  



Here is the family in 1920

Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Tonawanda, Erie, New York; Roll: T625_1111; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 336; Image: 402.

Household Members: Name Age

Ostar Harris 68  

Carrie Harris 55  

Kenerson Harris 22  

Frances Harris 17  

William Harris 14  



In 1930, Carrie was widowed and was living with the family of her daughter Frances who married  Elmer Pfonner.

Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Tonawanda, Erie, New York; Roll: 1437; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 463; Image: 370.0.

Household Members: Name Age

Elmer Pfonner 38  

Frances Pfonner 28  

William Pfonner 9  

Carrie Pfonner 6  

George Pfonner 4  

Richard Pfonner 1  

Carrie Harris 62  



What does it all mean?  Based on the information from the censuses, I would say that James Oscar Harris and Carrie Woods were married in Canada abount 1880 and had their first child in Canada about 1881. Do you know which part of Canada he was from?  That would be the best place to center your search. If Carrie was in fact 16 when she married, you will likely find her parents in the vicinity of their marriage.  ALSO, they had a child born in Ohio according to the 1900 census.  If you can find out where in Ohio he was born, then you might nail down the are of Ohio where Carrie was born.  This isn't guaranteed, but it would be an educated guess. If James was a boat builder, I would likely check the counties  and cities that line Lake Erie. You will noice that they lived in Buffalo, New York which falls on Lake Erie. A couple of Ohio cities that come to mind are Toledo and  Cleveland as possible places to look.  Some canadian spots on lake Erie are  Port Stanley or Port Erie. Do you have any canadian connections to these towns?  Any extra information you could provide may help us help you.

EDIT:  I found a family tree online that has Carrie Woods listed as Carrie Woods DUSENBURG .  It also lists James Oscars parents as  James Oscar Harris and Mary E Bush.  If this is the case, then this must be Oscars family in the 1881 Canadian census

Household:

Name  Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion

James HARRIS      Male   English   55   Ontario      Church of England  

E. Mary HARRIS      Female   Scottish   55   USA      Church of England  

Theodor Lorenzo HARRIS      Male   English   20   Ontario      Church of England  

Charles Elmer HARRIS      Male   English   18   Ontario      Church of England  

Antenett Jenie HARRIS      Female   English   13   USA      Church of England  

Babli MOONON      Female   English   1   Ontario      Church of England  

May I. MOP      Female   English   18   Ontario      Church of England  

Oscar HARRIS      Male   English   28   USA      Church of England  

Lillie HARRIS      Female   English   20   Ontario      Church of England  

Marion MOP      Female   English   15   Ontario      Church of England  

--------------------------------------...

Source Information:

  Census Place Port Erie, Welland, Ontario

  Family History Library Film   1375889

  NA Film Number   C-13253

  District   142

  Sub-district   D

  Page Number   1

  Household Number   3



This tree also says that  James Oscar was married two other times, one was to a  Priscilla Ann Moss and the other to  Mary E Moss.   Apparently, Bertha was the child of  Priscilla and  Harry and Elmer were children of  Mary Moss..  IF this information is correct, then that means that Carrie and James Oscar would have had to have married around  1887  and if I were a betting girl, that would have meant that they would have been likely married in Ohio since THEIR first child was born in Ohio...  Also, I would look for a marriage for a Carrie Woods, marrying a Dusenburg. It is funny how this research meshes together to paint a picture, isn't it?   If you e-mail me privately, I will send you the contact information of the  tree I referenced.  This gentleman may be able to help you out further.  

Cheers!