Visual Text : What Is That Name?

 My Great Uncle John White and his wife Katie were listed on the 1900 United States Federal Census with five of their children.. And for years, I’ve been trying to figure out one of the names on that census. The census taker recorded one of the daughter’s first name in a way its unreadable. But the indexer transcribe the name as LEBURTER.

I couldn’t make that name out for nothing. Indeed, it was a name that the census taker couldn’t spell and the indexer couldn’t figure out the interpretation. However, a name was recorded for whosoever to see. I’m one of those whosoever.

For years, I have tried to see that name. And through the years, I would look at the name on the census. I would wonder. How was the name spelled? And I would write the name as I saw the letters The indexer wrote. Leburter, What about Le bertia / Lebertia , Luberta., Laberta?

The first cropped photo is of the 1900 United States Federal census for Chariton County Missouri. John’s and Kate’s daughter wasn’t listed on the 1910 or 1920 censuses. So, I assumed that she passed.



There were some clues from the relatives listed on the 1910 and 1920 censuses. These clues led me to see how the name on that 1900 census could have been spelled. I stumble across an obituary of one of the relative on the 1910 and 1920 censuses. I believe that the relative’s mother was the same person on the 1900 census.  

The second cropped photo was from the 1910 Untied States Federal Chariton County Missouri census.



On the 1910 census, John and Katherine “Kate” White were listed with daughters Arena / Irene and Erma. There was a grandson listed with the name Leo KAYSON. I thought to myself: Who was Leo’s parents. I started searching for Leo KAYSON or Leo CASON.

The third cropped photo is of the 1920 United States Federal Chariton County Missouri census.




On the 1920 census, Mrs. John White a.k.a. Kate White was listed with her two daughters, Irene WHTIE,, Emma WHITE and, two grandchildren; Leo WHITE and Louise WHITE.

Questions: Who were Katie’s grandchildren’s parents? And what was Leo’s surname?

Note that on the 1910 census Kate White was listed with having 11 children in which 3 were living living at that time.. This narrows it down to who the parent could have been. Which one?

Well, Irene / Arena had no children Alice and Emma / Erma were too young to have children. So, was the parent, Earnest? or Leburter? Or perhaps each had a child?

What Was Leo’s Surname?
I wasn’t for sure if Leo’s surname was KAYSON / CASON or WHITE. I had searched for both surnames. Some years ago, I came up with Leo CASON and Leo CASIN who was born in Missouri but, lived in Illinois. I couldn’t make the connections until the end of the first week of May 2022. And with further searching the newspapers, I see the family connections.

I discovered a Leo CASON on the 1950 Illinois census. He was the same Leo in whom I was searching years ago. And then on Friday, May 6, 2022, I stumbled across his obituary.

Leo’s full name was Leon Moline CASON. He was born on June 1, 1903 in Forest Green, Missouri. His parents were Sidney “Sid” Cason and Lee Berta (WHITE) Cason. Leon passed in April 1979 in Moline Illinois.

I believe that Leo CASON’s mother was Lee Berta (or Leberta) White who was the daughter of John White and Katherine (Estill) White. The WHITEs cared for Leo (and Louise after their mothers passed). When I saw Leo’s mother’s first and maiden name, I saw the connections. The place of birth and the father’s name were other clues.

More Family Connections
Sidney “Sid” Cason had some family connections with the WHITE family. Sidney’s sister Dora (Cason) White Craig and she had d a daughter Obenetta “Benetta” Craig who was the daughter of Spencer WHITE.

Spencer WHITE was Lee Berta’s uncle. Sidney also knew relatives Andrew WHITE and Patrick “Pat” White who was the son of Martha “Matt” White . “Mattie” was the sister of Spencer WHITE.

Sid CASON was shot by Lorman “Lawman” Bentley. ” Lawman” was the father of Bob Ella (BENTLEY) CARR/ Bob Ella was the daughter of Martha “Mattie” WHITE.

NOTE: Spencer and Martha “Mattie” were the brother of John WHITE.
That Andrew WHITE was believe to have been a sibling as well.

It’s a small world when we search for relatives and find more connections while searching. The names that I’ve been seeing in the past are popping up with other people. I say to myself, “I’ve seen that name before.” The family was connected to other families where they resided..

I hope to discover more on my family connections. I have more unsolved mysteries out there. I wonder, whatever happened to Lee Berta’s sisters: Alice, Irene / Arena and Emma? May there be clues to follow up on. I hope so.

Who was Louise White’s Parents?
As I was searching for Louise WHITE, I stumbled across her parents. I believe that her father was Earnest WHITE and Kate (NICHOLS) WHITE. I’m working on that story. It’s an amazing discovery

Blakey Blakley WHITE In Remembrance June 

Thanks for reading.
Visual Text : What Is That Name?
God Bless
S.A. Blakley

I changed the theme from TEXTILE to Visual TEXT.

Week 20 ~ Amy Johnson Crow ~ Generations Café ~ #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Week 20’s theme is “Textile.” Clothing, quilts, weaving — there are so many ways to talk about textiles in our family history! Be creative with this week’s theme!