Searching for Mary Graf’s Maiden Name Through Her Children’s Death Certificates

Source: Indiana State Board of Health, "Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011," database, Ancestry.com (ancestry.com : accessed 14 May 2022), entry for Philapena Foust; Certificate Number Stamped 8809; Indiana State Board of Health. Death Certificates, 1900–2011. Microfilm. Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Death Certificate Summary: Philapena Graf Foust

Date of Death: March 13, 1921

Place of Death: Harrison Township, Miami County, Indiana

Age: 65 years, 9 months, 12 days

Cause of Death: Chronic Myocarditis (duration 1 year)

Occupation: At Home

Birth Date and Place: June 1, 1855, Miami County, Indiana

Parents: Casper Graf (Germany), Mary Wrightwesner (Germany)

Informant: William Foust, Amboy, Indiana

Burial Info: March 15, 1921, Bond Cemetery, Miami County, Indiana

Funeral Home: T.C. Peasrod, Undertaker

Certificate Number: 8809

Source: Indiana Death Certificate, 1921, No. 8809, Indiana State Board of Health

One of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of genealogical research is unearthing the hidden stories of our ancestors, especially when the paper trail goes cold. A couple of years back, I dedicated several days to diving into the Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899–2017 collection, which is available online and is a treasure trove for anyone researching family history in the Hoosier State. These records are packed with details, including parents' names, birth and death dates, causes of death, burial locations, and even the informants who reported the deaths. Each certificate has the potential to advance your research, and I was hoping it would do just that for me.

This time around, my focus was on the Graf family, particularly the descendants of Caspar Graf and his wife, Mary. I was keen to examine the death certificates of their children to see if they could shed any light on Mary’s maiden name. Some documents refer to her surname as “Wrightweasner,” while others simply state “unknown.” I’ve noted Wrightweasner in parentheses in my own records because I haven’t yet found solid proof to confirm it as her maiden name. In fact, I’ve come up empty-handed when searching for any record of Mary before her marriage to Caspar, which has turned her into a bit of a brick wall in my research.

Caspar and Mary had eight children: Caroline, Philippina, Jacob, Philip, Henry, George, Valentine, and Elizabeth, all Grafs. Their eldest, Caroline, was born in New York, while the rest were born in Indiana. This move from New York to Indiana adds another layer of intrigue to the family’s history and might just hold the key to tracing Mary’s origins, which I know only goes back to Germany.

So far, the death certificates I’ve uncovered for their children haven’t provided a clear answer. Some list Mary's maiden name as Wrightweasner, while others leave it blank or mark it as unknown. I’m hopeful that the answer is just one record away.

As I continue sifting through the records, I’m reminded that genealogy is a journey that requires time, determination, and piecing together small clues bit by bit. Sometimes, it only takes one tiny detail to unlock a whole new chapter in the story.