Sunday's Obituary - Louis P. Lanctot

Louis Lanctot - he's the one with
the big arrow pointing at him.  I don't
know who the other gentlemen are in the car

LOUIS P. LANCTOT

Yankton Press & Dakotan.
Yankton, South Dakota,
23 October 1922

Louis P. Lanctot, formerly of Yankton, was instnatly [sic] killed near Casper, Wyo. Saturday afternoon, when a heavy auto truck, loaded with lumber, turned over pinning him underneath.  Such was the news that reached Louis Schneider, of 705 Pine St., yesterday morning, who was the father-in-law of the deceased.  Mrs. Eliza Lanctot, mother of Louis, and also a brother, Arthur, were in Yankton, as it happened, on their way west and were notified of the tragedy just as they were leaving.  The body will be brought to Yankton for burial, arriving tomorrow night if connections are made.

Louis P. Lanctot was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, Sept. 17, 1887 and was married at Sacred Heart church, this city, to Miss Alice Schneider, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schneider, of Pine street, and they resided here for several years.  About five years ago Mr. Lanctot took up land five years ago Mrs. Lanctot took up land in Wyoming, settling near Bucknam, 25 miles from Casper, and his family joined him there.  On Saturday Mr. Lanctot drive to Casper for a load of lumber and on his return, not far from Casper, his truck turned over,  It is understood here he was instantly killed or died very soon afterwards.  Mrs. Lanctot and four little children, aged from one year to seven, survive.  In addition to these relatives Mr. Lanctot leaves his mother, Mrs. Eliza Lanctot; three brother, Arthur and William of Armour; Elmer, of Parkston, and two sisters, Mrs. Fred Lichsinger [Luchsinger], of Wyoming, Minn., and Mrs. L. H. Barnes, of Armour.  Mrs. Lanctot left Casper today with the remains of her husband and funeral arrangements will be made here after her arrival.

Do we share any ancestors? 

Please email me at lostancestors [at] gmail [dot] com

Louis Lanctot's Date of Death - A Research Log

This is me, still playing catch-up with my research logs.  If anyone sees anything I missed or any flaws in my analysis, please let me know.

Subject Name:  Louis Phelisa Lanctot, b. 17 Sep 1888 d. Oct 1922

Question to be researched:  When did Louis die?

Date of Search:  11.10.11

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Place Searched:  Yankton Cemetery, Yankton, South Dakota, headstone

Results:  Shows Louis P. Lanctot’s death year as 1922.

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Place Searched:  Note attached to transcribed obituary – unknown date – from Josephine Lanctot, daughter of Louis Lanctot.

Results:  “Was killed when a truck loaded with lumber turned over and pinned him underneath.  The truck belonged to a neighboring homesteader in Casper, Wyoming.  They were hauling lumber to build the homestead for his mother, as time was running out to get her house built to secure the homestead claim.  It is unclear that they ever told her that it was her lumber.  The truck came around a curve and met another vehicle with bright lights, which blinded the driver.  Louis was in the back of the truck (the cabs weren't big enough for 3 in those days).  They thought Louis had tried to jump out of the truck, but his coattail caught on the lumber and it threw him under the truck.  His neck was broken and the hub of the wheel rested on his temple.”

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Place Searched:  Entry for the “History of Yankton County” submitted by Josephine Lanctot Swift – unknown date – written as short biography of Louis P. Lanctot and Alice M. Schneider.

Results:  States that Louis “lost his life in an automobile accident near Casper.”

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Place Searched:  Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=862804&docClass=SER&sid=qhz5sshl.myy)

Results:  Land patent #862804 for 320 acres dated 17 May 1922.

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Place Searched:  Transcribed obituary for Louis Lanctot – October 1922 – presumably published in the Yankton Press & Dakotan.

Results:  “Louis P. Lanctot, formerly of Yankton, was instantly killed near Casper, Wyo., Saturday afternoon, when a heavy auto truck, loaded with lumber turned over pinning him underneath.”

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Place Searched:  Louis Lanctot, death certificate 1922-1666 (21 October 1922), Bureau of VItal Statistics, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Results:  Death certificate gives date of death as 21 October 1922 at 10:00 p.m. at Wyoming Medical Center as a result of a fracture at the base of the skull caused by truck overturning.

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Analysis:  All sources agree that Louis died in 1922, probably October.  The land records show that it was obviously after May 17, 1922.  Unfortunately, none of the secondary sources provide a date within the month of October.  Therefore, (obviously) my most reliable source for the death date is the death certificate itself.

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Conclusion:  Louis P. Lanctot died on 21 October 1922 at 10:00 p.m. in Casper, Wyoming.          

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Next Steps:  I would still like to have a copy of the actual obituary to confirm the details of his death (the story given by Aunt Jo doesn't quite match the cause of death on the certificate).  The volunteer at the Wyoming State Archives did not find any mention of the wreck or Louis’ death in the Wyoming papers.  I will write to the Yankton Press & Dakotan to see if they still have the obituary among their archives.

Louis Lanctot's Date of Birth - A Research Log

This is me, playing catch-up with my research logs, in an attempt to narrow the search for my great grandfather's birth date without the benefit of a birth certificate.  If anyone sees anything I missed or any flaws in my analysis, please let me know.

Subject Name:  Louis Phelisa Lanctot, b. ??  d. Oct 1922

Question to be researched:  When was Louis born?

Date of Search:  11.6.11

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Place Searched:  ancestry.com (1900 U.S. Census, Charles Mix Co., SD, (Darlington Township), p. 8B, li. 54-60)

Results:  "Lewis" is shown as being 12 years old, born in Sept 1887 in Nebraska.  Son of "Jenophile" (b. Canada) and Elizabeth (b. Illinois).  However, the census was taken on 21 Jun 1900, placing Lewis’ birth date between 22 Jun 1888 and 20 Jun 1889.  This may be a mathematical error on the part of the enumerator, or incorrect information given.

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Place Searched:  Ancestry.com (1910 U.S. Census, Cedar Co., NE, (St. Helena/Precinct 2), p. 10B-11A, li.96-2.)

Results:  "Lewis" Lanctot is found working as a laborer at the household of Walter Lawson.  He is 22 years old, single, born in Nebraska, father from Canada, mother from Illinois.  His occupation is listed as well driller.  Census was taken on 13-14 May 1910, which translates to a birth date between 15 May 1888 and 12 May 1889.

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Place Searched:  ancestry.com (1920 U.S. Census, Natrona Co., WY, (Election District 8, Enumeration District: 84), p.2B, li. 75-59.)

Results:  Louis T. Lanctot, age 32, listed with wife Alice.  He was born in Nebraska, father from Canada, mother from Illinois; occupation well driller.  Census was taken on 17 Jan 1920, which translates to a birth date between 18 Jan 1888 and 16 Jan 1889.

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Place Searched:  ancestry.com ("World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital image [database online], Ancestry.com, card for Louis Phelisa Lanctot, no. 75, Converse, Wyoming.)

Results:  Louis Phelisa Lanctot of Yankton, SD, DOB: 17 Sept 1888 in Mead, Nebraska.  Occupation: independent well driller.  He is married with 2 children.

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Place Searched:  Edward John Lanctot, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, USA birth certificate 2686 (30 July 1921).

Results:  Louis Lanctot listed as age 33 at time of Ed’s birth, making his birth date between 31 Jul 1888 and 29 Jul 1889.

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Place Searched:  Yankton Cemetery, Yankton, South Dakota, headstone

Results:  Shows Louis P. Lanctot’s birth year as 1887.

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Place Searched:  L.P. Lanctot and Alice M. Schnieder, (15 July 1913), South Dakota Marriages, 1905-1949 [database on-line]: ; South Dakota Department of Health, Pierre, South Dakota.

Results:  Listed as age 25 at time of marriage (15 Jul 1913), making his birth date between 15 Jul 1888 and 14 Jul 1889.

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Analysis:  All the information I have to date provides a birth date for Louis between September 1887 and 29 Jul 1889.  I do not put a lot of weight into the date given on the 1900 census, because there is clearly some error there (mathematical or otherwise).  I also do not put a lot of weight into the information inscribed on the headstone, since I don’t know where that information came from, or who provided it.  Therefore, for all the ages used to be correct, I am left with a birth date range between 31 Jul 1888 and 16 Jan 1889.  I would tend to believe the date of birth on his WWI Draft Registration, except that it is considered secondary information (he would not remember the date of his birth), although that date does fall within the range of dates in my analysis.

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Conclusion:  Louis Lanctot was born between 31 Jul 1888 and 16 Jan 1889.

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Next Steps:  I have requested his birth certificate from Nebraska, but it's a long shot.  I'm hoping at the very least to get a delayed certificate.  I need to locate church records or something in the meantime.  If I can locate daughter Marie’s birth certificate, that may narrow the range a bit.

Ancestor Approved Award

Just a few days ago, I was so excited because my blog had gone "international" (meaning that folks from other countries were reading it ... Canada, Romania, South Africa, Germany, Russia, Australia, South Korea, and the U.K.).  Now I feel like I just won an Academy Award or something!  I've only been blogging for a short time, so I am quite humbled and honored.  Thank you, Leslie Ann!

The award comes with a couple of requests:

1.  List ten things that you have learned about your ancestors that surprised, humbled, or enlightened you.

2.  Pass the award to ten other genealogy bloggers.

I certainly won't have a problem finding 10 other bloggers who are quite deserving of this award (provided they haven't already received it, that is).  I have read some fantastic blogs over the last several months.  Where do you guys find the time?!

Ten things I've learned about my ancestors ... hmmm.  Let's see ...

1.  I was surprised to learn that my paternal great great grandfather, John Charles Slowey, may have been born a year earlier than everyone thought.  All of the documentation I've seen points to a birth date in 1861.  However, a U.S. Census taken in Lafayette County, Wisconsin in 1860 may prove otherwise.  I'm trying to obtain a birth certificate to confirm.

2.  I learned that my paternal great great grandmother, Theresa (Trasey) Burns Slowey, was a midwife.  Apparently, she was a good one too, because according to "Slowey History" compiled by Bob & Phyllis Hanson, she was "well known as a midwife and was much in demand at childbirth and other sicknesses."

3.  My paternal great grandfather, Thomas Patrick Slowey (son of John Charles and Theresa Slowey above), got his hand caught in some type of corn picking machine in his early adulthood and was never able to use his hand properly again.  While that's not all that unusual, here's what is: John Charles' brother, Barney Slowey, also got his hand caught in some type of corn picking/shredding machine and lost his arm in 1894 ... two decades before Thomas Patrick suffered the same type of accident!  (I have made a mental note to stay away from farm equipment).

4.  My maternal 3rd cousin, John W. Crow, was a member of the 10th Alabama Infantry Regiment in the Civil War.  He is said to have been present at the siege on Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg.  In 1864 he was taken prisoner at Reams Station and held at Point Lookout, Maryland, where he died.  He is said to be buried in a POW graveyard in Maryland, but I have not confirmed this. 

5.  John W. Crow's brother, Ferrington, was a member of the 28th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War.  In July 1862, his regiment was camped less than 10 miles from where I currently live.  Two days later, they camped at Tyner Station, about 10 miles on the other side of me, to await their trains and artillery.

6.  My paternal great grandfather, Louis Phelisa Lanctot, was killed in 1922 when a truck loaded with lumber turned over and pinned him underneath.  The truck belonged to a neighboring homesteader in Casper, Wyoming.  They were hauling lumber to build the homestead for his mother, as time was running out to get her house built to secure the homestead claim.  It is unclear that they ever told her that it was her lumber.  The truck came around a curve and met another vehicle with bright lights, which blinded the driver.  Louis was in the back of the truck (the cabs weren't big enough for 3 in those days).  They thought Louis had tried to jump out of the truck, but his coattail caught on the lumber and it threw him under the truck.  His neck was broken and the hub of the wheel rested on his temple.  (This is according to a letter written to me by my great aunt, Josephine Margaret Lanctot several years ago).  My grandfather was only a year old when his father died.  It made me very sad that he never knew his father.

7.  My paternal great great grandfather, Joseph Zenophile Lanctot, and his wife Elizabeth (Bourke) Lanctot, ran the first hotel in Armour, South Dakota.  It was called Armour House.  He ran the hotel until he died in 1913.  It is said that Elizabeth ran the hotel for a short time after that.  Records show that Hans Boock was the proprietor in 1916.  I wonder if this is some relation to Elizabeth Bourke.  Seems like more than a coincidence to me.

8.My other paternal great great grandfather, Louis Schneider, lived in Utica, South Dakota, and grew cane for sorghum, tobacco for his pipe, and broom cane and made brooms.  He used large beer pans to cook the sorghum and as roofs for his buildings.  I'm not sure what a beer pan is ... and apparently neither does Google.  It's a little scary that they are big enough to use as a roof for a building.

Wow ... this is harder than I thought!

9.  My paternal grandmother, who is still alive and kicking, was called "Mackie" when she was younger (her given name is Maxine).  She was a member of the Glee Club in high school, and performed in "The Whole Town's Talking" in her Junior year.

10.  My paternal grandfather, who is also still alive, played football and was on the track team in high school in Yankton, South Dakota.  He also served in the National Guard during World War II, re-enlisted and served during the Korean War.

Now I would like to present the Ancestor Approved award to the following deserving bloggers:

1.  Climbing My Family Tree
2.  Have You Seen My Roots?
3.  Greta's Genealogy Blog
4.  Mascot Manor Genealogy
5.  Finding Our Ancestors
6.  Branch Out Genealogy
7.  Caro's Family Chronicles
8.  Journeys Past
9.  Long Lost Relatives.net
10. Shakin' the Family Tree