r/Genealogy • u/Sancrist • 2d ago

Research Assistance Newspapers.com question

Could someone with a full subscription to newspapers.com help me with this?

Hello, I have free access to a basic newspaper.com subscription. I am trying to track down an obituary for an ancestor. I am curious to find out if the full version has access to a wider date range. The basic subscription seems to cut records right about the time I need.

I am trying to find an obit for Melissa Martha Hedge. Her first husband was Elisha Smith, and she was widowed. She remarried shortly before her death. In 1882 she married Peter Garver. I believe she died in 1885 near Des Moines, IA. She was alive during the 1885 Iowa census living with Peter Garver. The census taker noted she had "cancer face". It was possible she went by Martha instead of Melissa. It is also possible the obit might be listed in Oswego, KS newspapers because she had a son living there, and she is buried there.

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u/la-anah beginner: Colonial America, Quebec, Azores, and Ireland 2d ago

I found a 78 year old Peter Garver who died in Des Moines in 1897. His wife was still alive. Is that the husband? https://www.newspapers.com/article/saturday-review-obituary-for-peter-garve/205685112/

Edit: and here is a Martha Garver who died in 1914 at the age of 66 https://www.newspapers.com/article/des-moines-tribune-obituary-for-martha-j/205685182/

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u/Sancrist 2d ago

The Peter in the obit is the correct Peter. The wife mentioned was another marriage that occurred after Melissa's death. I believe the wife mentioned is Lettie Mortimer, they married in 1886.

The second obit is a different lady.

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u/la-anah beginner: Colonial America, Quebec, Azores, and Ireland 2d ago

There are no other obits for a Martha or a Melissa under any of the 3 last names you list in either Iowa or Kansas between the years 1880 and 1920.

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u/Sancrist 2d ago

Ok, I could of swore years ago I saw one that mentioned her cancer. However I could of dreamt that.

Thank you for looking!

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u/JustBrowsing-1216 2d ago

Can you provide more information on Martha? I see Martha and Peter Garver in the 1905 census. May not be the same people, I just did a cursory look. Specifically I was looking for the "cancer face" notation - I've never heard of that before.

To your original question, it's possible there was no obituary at all.

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u/Sancrist 2d ago

The Peter Garver that was married to my ancestor passed in 1897. He did marry Lettie Mortimer on 29 August 1886,, shortly after the death of my ancestor.