Brick Wall

Who was Dora before marrying Robert C Fueston in 1898

 Dora M Haskins (1881-1936)

Breaking Down the Brick Wall: The Mystery of Dora M. Haskins

Every family historian has faced it—that seemingly impenetrable brick wall that halts progress and leaves questions unanswered. For me, that wall stands firm in the form of Dora M. Haskins, born in 1881 in Holden, Missouri. Despite tracing her life through three marriages, four sons, and a final resting place in San Francisco, the identities of her parents remain a stubborn mystery.

Determined to uncover Dora’s origins, I’ve crafted a research plan to chip away at this wall, brick by brick. From birth records and census data to probate files and DNA matches, this checklist is my map for navigating the gaps and shadows in Dora’s story. With each clue, I hope to turn this brick wall into a doorway, leading back to the generations before her.

The following checklist outlines the steps I’ll be taking to reveal the roots of Dora M. Haskins—because every wall, no matter how solid, has a weak spot waiting to be found and thread to be attached to the quilt of the family story. 

Research Plan for Brick Wall Dora Haskins

1. Re-examine Key Records for Clues

Goal: Identify overlooked details or errors in existing records.

• Birth Records:
• Search Missouri Birth and Christening Records for Holden, Johnson County, around 1881.
• Check for variations of the surname (Haskins, Hoskins, Haskin, Haskens) and given name (Dora, Dorothy, Dorie).
• Marriage Records:
• Revisit the 1898 marriage record to Robert Clemens Fueston for information about Dora’s parents, witnesses, or any clues about her maiden name.
• Investigate Missouri's marriage applications, which might list her parents’ names or places of origin.
• Death Records:
• Obtain a full copy of Dora’s California death certificate for parental information  sadly, no parents named other than father "Haskins"
• Search funeral home records to find details of who purchased plot and to see if parents names listed at all. 
• Search obituaries in San Francisco newspapers around March 11, 1936, for potential family names or locations.

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2. Investigate the Haskins (or Variant) Families in Johnson County, Missouri

Goal: Identify possible parents or relatives.

• Census Records:
• Search the 1880 and 1900 federal censuses for Haskins families in Johnson and surrounding counties (Lafayette, Henry, Pettis).
• Look for households with a female child matching Dora's age or a possible widow with children in 1900.
• Land and Tax Records:
• Check land ownership or tax records for Haskins in Johnson County between 1860–1900.
• Local Histories and Directories:
• Explore county histories or directories for mentions of the Haskins family.
• Investigate church or cemetery records in Holden for potential family burials.
• Family Search:
• Do full Text Search for Haskins, Hoskins, in Johnson and surround counties. 

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3. DNA Testing and Analysis

Goal: Use genetic connections to identify Dora’s parents.

• Test Recommendations:
•  AncestryDNA or 23andMe for a broad match pool recheck and search.
• Analysis Strategy: Learn how to isolate and cluster. 
• Focus on shared matches with known Fueston descendants to isolate Haskins-specific matches.
• Create a DNA cluster to identify groups of matches potentially linked to Dora’s parents.

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4. Newspaper Research for Clues and Context

Goal: Find mentions of Dora or Haskins family in local news.

• Newspapers.com and Chronicling America:
• Search for birth announcements, marriage notices, obituaries, and social columns mentioning Haskins in Holden or nearby towns.
• Investigate articles from Spokane during her time there, particularly around 1916.
• Key Search Terms:
• “Dora Haskins,” “D. Haskins,” “Haskins Holden Missouri,” “Haskins Johnson County.”

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5. Church and Cemetery Records

Goal: Identify religious affiliations and burial sites for clues about family ties.

• Local Churches in Holden:
• Methodist, Baptist, or Presbyterian records (baptism, marriage, membership lists).
• Contact local historical societies for archived church books.
• Cemetery Records:
• Examine Find a Grave,  local cemetery databases for Haskins funeral home records
• Check for family plots that might include her parents, probably not San Francisco where she is buried

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6. Explore Alternative Surname Theories

Goal: Address the “Smith” and “Makins” surname confusion.

• Birth Certificate Insight:
• Investigate why Glen Millard Fueston's birth certificate suggests “Makins.”
• Search for Missouri families with similar surnames (Makins, Mackins, Hoskins) in census and land records.
• Smith Surname:
• Review census and probate records for Smiths in Johnson County to rule in/out a connection.
• reach out to cousin Lehman to see why /where she found Smith Connection

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7. Collaborative Research and Message Boards

Goal: Leverage other researchers' knowledge.

• Genealogy Forums:
• Post inquiries on Ancestry.com, RootsWeb, and Reddit’s r/Genealogy about Haskins in Johnson County.
• Facebook Groups:
• Join Missouri-specific genealogy groups to connect with local researchers.
• Local Historical Societies:
• Contact the Johnson County Historical Society for unpublished resources or knowledgeable volunteers.

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8. Document and Reassess Regularly

Goal: Organize findings systematically to spot new patterns.

• Research Log:
• Create a log detailing sources checked, findings, and next steps.
• Reevaluate Annually:
• Revisit brick wall strategies every year as new databases and DNA matches become available.

"And That's a Wrap

Keeping our family story alive one 

thread at a time."

Barbara 

next week #12 prompt: Historic Event