It is somewhat amazing to discover that I have been a CAOA member now for
over three+ years and I've just realized the PRIMARY reason I joined was to
try and obtain help in discovering one of my ancestors. It wasn't until I
received a phone call last night from Patricia Caster that one of the
remaining seven (7) lineages she still hasn't finished is MINE!!!! We had a
good laugh and both agreed that we've been too involved in the CAOA
organization that we haven't taken the time to work on our own lineages.
So, I searched my files last night and uncovered what I had sent (don't know
who exactly received it and where it ended up) when I first joined the CAOA.
Hopefully, by now, there's someone out there that might be able to help
Brenda, James C. Randall Jr., Johnnie Faye Varner (our Uncle Arthur Brown's
oldest daughter and CAOA member) and myself (and our whole Custer branch)
get properly "connected"... any help will be MUCH appreciated! Here goes:
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From: Kenneth (Ken) Stephen Custer
Owen Kenneth Custer (11Aug1915-04Nov1977); Riley Oscar Custer (1878-1933);
Edward Richard Custer (1851-1914); John M. Custer, Sr. (1805-?); George
Custer/Custard (1778-1850); Paul Custer (1730-1820); Conrad Custer
(1695-1739); Arnold Custer (1669-1739); Paulus Kuster (1644-1708).
First of all, let me introduce myself. Just call me "Cuzin' Ken". I was
born and raised in Northeast Louisiana in a small community called Calhoun.
Calhoun is located along the Interstate 20 (I-20) about 10 miles west of
Monroe and 30 miles east of Ruston. My Mom's (Doris Foster Custer) parents
(Murphy James Foster and Florence Alvie McDaniel) had a 52-acre farm and
they gave my parents an acre to build a house on in 1947. I was born at
Wright-Bendell Clinic in Monroe on December 11, 1948. I married Mary Monica
Blunschi on 30 Dec 1972. We were divorced in May of 1982. We had no
children together. I have one sister, Brenda Gayle Custer Randall, who is
married to James Carl Randall Sr. They have two sons, James Carl Randall
Jr., and Michael Stephen Randall. They live in West Monroe.
My father (Owen Kenneth) was the youngest of seven (7) sons. His brothers
are: Edward Wallace, Roy Arthur, Percy Oscar, Arthur Brown, Frank Richard
and Paul Edgar. They are all deceased.
My grandfather, Riley Oscar Custer, was born on January 8, 1879 (Champaign
CO, IL). He married Nannie Bell McWilliams (b08Aug1882) on 06 Jan 1901.
Riley died on 12 Oct 1933 in Shreveport, LA from a Malarial Coma, according
to the Certificate of Death. According to my records, Riley Oscar had two
brothers: Lloyd K. (Kenneth?), b1873 and Arthur B. (Brown?), b. 1876. We
have NO information on Lloyd K. and Arthur B. and their families.
My great-grandfather, Edward Richard Custer, was born in 1851 (don't know
where but we think it was Champaign, IL). He married Sarah M. (Sadie) King
on 07 Apr 1872 in Champaign, IL. Sarah was born in Georgetown, TX in 1852
and is thought to be of the famous "Texas King" lineage (but we have yet to
prove that).
Here's where our records are NOT exactly clear (and we're looking for
help!). Back in 1972, Donald M. Custer of Salida, CO, helped to "link" our
limb of the tree up to Paulus and Gertrude. However, he did say that the
records were a bit vague and that he had several dates of birth on John M.
(Sr.) and Edward... Donald did know that we were the descendants of one of
these two brothers... which we'd REALLY like to find out for sure.
It looks as though it was probably John M. (Sr.), who was born in Virginia
around 1805 and married Mary Brown. It is possible that this is where our
Authur Brown Custer gets his name. They had three sons: John M. Jr., born
on 3 Apr 1831, in Virginia and died on 03 Jun 1904, in Colorado. He married
Lauretta Long on 20 Apr 1858, and lived at Rocky Ford, CO; Martin B., born
on March 27, 1829 and died on 30 Aug 1906. He moved from Fayette CO, Ohio
to Homer, IL in 1853; Edward, born in 1851. This is possibly our Edward
Richard. However, according to the findings of Donald M. Custer, there is a
20-year span between John M., Jr. and Edward.
Edward (John M. Custer Sr.'s brother) was born about 1803. He may have been
the Edward Custer who married Amanda Zorn on 20 Nov 1851 in Champaign CO,
IL. If this is accurate, she may have been a second wife. (NOTE: this
would be about right for our Edward to have been their son, as he was born
in 1851 or 1852. The census records of 1880 gives his age as 29, but
records of this period were often off one or two years.) Due to fires and
the failure of attendants to complete death forms, we will possibly never
know if Edward Richard was the son of Edward or John M. Custer, Sr.
My great-great-great grandfather, George Custer Sr., was born in Maryland or
Virginia (probably the latter) on 01 Jun 1778. He married Margaret (last
name not known) and died near Danville, IL in 1850. He lived in Fayette CO,
Ohio, before moving into Illinois and is probably the George Custar(d)
listed in the 1820 census of that County. George and Margaret had the
following children: George Jr., born in Virginia about 1801; married Rachel
Allen, died 18 miles west of Danville, IL in 1881. George Jr. and Rachel
lived in Vermilion CO, IL in 1850, had seven children. John M. Sr. (our
ancestor); Edward (also could be our ancestor); Jacob, born in Virginia
around 1805; married Elizabeth Ochiltree around 1833; lived near Homer, IL,
where he died on 13 Sep 1865; They came to Illinois about 1848 from
Virginia; he erected the first hotel, called Homer House. Samuel, born
about 1807 (no info). Mary, born in Ohio in 1810; married Jesse Mantle;
lived in Fayette CO, Ohio until 1850, then moved to Vermilion CO, IL.
Thomas, born in 1818; married Eleanor; lived in Fayette CO, Ohio; possibly
married a second time in Champaign CO, IL, to Sarah F. Cooley on 25 Jul
1857; they had 2 children.
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