Trying to track down my wifes great grandfater. Her grandfather was adopted at the age of 12. Russel Roland Allen was his adopted name. Can't find anything about his real father and mom. The name Titus keeps coming up when you talk with the older memebers of the family but no one is sure. Any ideas out there? Thanks in advance for your help. Should be from Iowa or Indiana.

Russel is my father and we are having a difficult time trying to find his father. We don't think Titus, Charles, is his father, as he married Minnie in 1905 in South Dakota. Dad was born in 1901 in Iowa, to Minnie Mae Lawrence (her Maiden name). She was 13 in 1901, we think she married a man by the name, Rascelus P Hamilton, he was a black man according to the Iowa census. He was a barber in Dow City where Minnie's family lived. If all this is correct, Dad's birth name was Rusal R Hamilton.

We grew up believing Dad's father was Albert Allen, it was within the past few months we found all this out. Albert's family­ told us that they all knew he was adopted. But they aren't sure if the adoption was legal or just a changing of the last name. Minnie was married at least 3 times or more. The Hamilton marriage was in 1901, the Titus marriage was in 1905, the Allen marriage was 1910, then in 1930's she married John Rhinesmith, who we knew. Trying to find divorces for the first two. I know Titus continued to live in South Dakota, Hamilton total blank.

Sorry to overload with info, but when I saw Dad's picture, whew! So your wife is which of my brother and sisters children?

Wife is Lois's daughter?

Yes...Nancy Noble Miller is my wife. Lois and Bob's daughter. Thanks for all the great info! Who am i speaking with?

Dale

This is Aunt Susie, in South Bend. Hi, nice chatting with you. If I get any more info I'll be sure to let you know. Tell Nancy I found the indian in the family 'cept it was on her Grandma Allens' side. The Barshall-Bergeron to Prevost to Marie Olivier Sylvestre Manithabehick. She married Prevost which was the first recorded French - Huron marriage. More info in my Allen,Deal, Lawrence family tree. Check it out.

Very nice! I will check that out tonight. Nancy said to tell you hi! Thanks for all the info...it gets overwhelming at times...lol...

Dale

Hi Aunt Susie... this is Peggy. I believe Rasculus was buried under the name Richard P. Hamilton. He died on December 19, 1915 in Crawford County and was buried in Dow City. I have some info regarding him but I gave it all to my dad for his review. I will get that info back from him soon. I have a couple new leads that I hope to research soon.

Take Care!