Two days ago – August 30th – was the 168th wedding anniversary of my great great grandparents Catherine Tyler and John Buchenau.
Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of John but I do have this picture of Catherine.
John and Catherine were married on August 30, 1848, in Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois. I remember the day – way back in 1981 – when their marriage record came in the mail. I was beyond excited! (The family mystery is discussed below the images and transcriptions.)
Transcription of handwritten portion, right side of page:
2035A
John Buckman [sic]
&
Catherine Tyler
_______
Filed Sept 20, 1848
[illegible]
Certif. – Aug. 30, 1848
License – Aug 29, 1848
Page 99
Transcription:
State of Illinois
La Salle County
The People of the State of Illinois to any
person legally authorized to solemnize the
vows of Matrimony Greeting
You are hereby Licensed and authorized
to Solemnize the vows of Matrimony
between Mr. John Buckman [sic] and Miss Catherine
Tyler now both of La Salle County and State of Illinois
and hereof make return together with a [illegible]
of the Marriage within Thirty days from date
of the Marriage and this will be your sufficient
justification for so doing.
In testimony Whereof I hereunto
set my hand and have affixed the
Seal of this Court at Ottawa
Aug 29th 1848
M[illegible] Murphy Clerk
John Buckman [sic]
to
Catherine Tyler
Aug 30, 1848
Transcription:
State of Illinois
Lasalle [sic] County
Be it remembered that on this 30th day of
August A.D. 1848 by Virtue of my office
as a Justice of the Peace, in and for the
said County of Lasalle [sic], and in accordance with the
within License, I performed and joined together a man
and wife Mr. John Buckman [sic] & Miss Catherine Tyler
in the holy bond of Matrimony.
Witness my hand and seal the day and year
above named. Warner Brown (Seal)
Justice of the Peace
John and Catherine went on to have six children, including my great grandmother Ada Cordelia (Buchenau) Blacker – born in 1853 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
By 1865, the family was living in Kansas.
In 1871, Ada married my great grandfather David Lyman Blacker and moved with him to the Montana Territory.
And here’s where the mystery comes in.
- Some time between 1880 and and 1890, Catherine left her husband – and moved to the Montana Territory to live with her daughter Ada and son-in-law David Blacker in Helena.
- Records for John seem to indicate he died between 1900 and 1910, probably in Kansas. I have been unable to locate where he is buried.
- Catherine died in Helena, Montana on April 21, 1923. She is buried next to her daughter Ada and three of her granddaughters at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena.
Catherine never returned to Kansas to rejoin her husband – not even for a visit.
Hmmm . . .
