Weekly Puzzle - Stephen Davis Trindal

Nearly every Record for Stephen comes with a different spelling of his surname, but the last, his tombstone reads Trindle.

According to most records, Stephen was born about 1830 in Ohio.  Before 1858 he married Orilla Littlefield, whether that marriage took place in Ohio or in Minnesota is unknown.  Stephen and Orilla had eight children between 1858 and 1872. (1)

• Infant (1858-1858)
• William (1859-1932)
• Mary (1860-1879)
• Silas (1865-  )
• James (1866-1867)
• Anna (1867- )
• John (1871-1871)
• Emory (1872-1879)

The children were all born in Pilot Mound, Filmore, MN.  Stephen and Orilla were divorce by 1880.  Emory was born in 1872 and Stephen was not living with Orilla in 1875 or 1880 (3), so that time period can probably be refined to 1872-1875.

In 1880 Stephen is living in Wabasha, Wabasha, MN with Emily and two children. 

Theron (1872 - 1939)

Wilmer (1875 -   )

As Theron was born only ten months after Emory, it seems probable that Stephen left Orilla shortly after Emory's birth.

Stephen served with Company C MN 2nd Infantry from May 1964 to Jul 1865.  He filed for a pension on 25 Jan 1886.  His application number was 560003 and his certificate number was 351057.

It is possible that this compilation is for two Stephen Trindal's, but no record gets in the way of it being one man and Orilla's 1880 census record states she is divorced.

Who are Stephen's parents?

• One census record suggests they were born in New Jersey.  
• Family researchers suggest that he is the son of William Trindal bn abt 1804 in Canada and Sarah (Susan) Russell (1808-1832).  Siblings are listed as Daniel, Westley, Mary Ann and Ruth.  Ruth is listed as being born in 1834 two years after Sarah's death.  Daniel and Westley have no birth dates listed.
• Add to the mix, William Wesley Trindal living in Beaver Dam WS in 1880.  He married Harriette Spaulding in 1857 in Beaver Dam (2).  William was supposedly born in Wales on 8 Aug 1799.  Known children of William and Harriette (3) are:

• Daniel H (1852-1928)
• Belle Harriet (1860-1931)
• Wesley Willliam (1861-1944)
• John W (1863-  )
• Henry Ferdinand (1868-1925)

The two William Trindals listed here could be the same person.  No records conflict.  The listing of Daniel and Wes(t)ley as siblings of Stephen creates a tie as the only Daniel was born well before the marriage of William and Hariette, so is more likely to be the child of a first wife.  There are no records supporting a birth of a Wesley to Sarah, but we do have records supporting the connection to Harriette.

The multiple places of birth for William does create confusion.  If these records are for the same man, where was he born?  Canada, New Jersey, Wales?

It would be wonderful if researchers would list all their sources as they put those families together. 

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1. Minnesota Historical Society. Minnesota State Population Census Schedules, 1865-1905. St. Paul, MN, USA: Minnesota Historical Society, 1977. Microfilm. Reels 1-47 and 107-164 . v 1865
2. Ancestry.com. Wisconsin Vital Records, 1820-1907. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original Data: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. Wisconsin Vital Record Index, pre-1907. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services Vital Records Division, 19xx.  William Trindle 09 Aug 1857 Dodge 01 0301
3. Bureau of the Census RG29 Micropublication T9 1.454 Rolls, Tenth Census of the United States 1880, population schedules (Washington, National Archives and Records Administration)  Roll 1419     Page 314C; Orilla Roll: 636; Family History Film: 1254636; Page: 448D; Enumeration District: 178