Roots home / Evidence
The evidence
The documents behind the tree, shown exactly as they were found: death certificates, a marriage certificate, court opinions, and the rest of the paper trail as the archive grows. Every claim in the tree stands on records like these. Where a record has not been found yet, the tree says so plain, and when it is found it will stand here. The reports that work from these records are in the research library.
Cochran line
17 documents
Benjamin T. Cochran Jr
Obituary index
Benjamin Thomas Cochran Jr. Obituary index record page "Cochran, Ben," 105 Bercado Place, Mishawaka; died 07/12/1981; Tribune 07/13/1981 p. 26
Open the documentBenjamin T. Cochran Jr and Sr
Numident abstract
Benjamin Thomas Cochran Jr. and Sr. Numident abstracts SortedByName Cochran file, p. 59 Jr.'s Numident names parents Benjamin T Cochran + Leora Etter the proof link ; VA BIRLS: U.S. Army Aug 6, 1953 to Jun 9, 1955, d. Jul 12, 1981; Sr.'s Numident b. Dec 23, 1892
Open the documentBenjamin T. Cochran Sr
Obituary index
Benjamin Thomas Cochran Sr. Obituary index record page Death Feb 1959, address 708 Sorin St. Cochran's Grocery , Tribune notices Feb 9-10, 1959
Open the documentBernice J. Cochran Ricker
Obituary
Bernice J. Cochran Ricker Obituary funeral home page B. Apr 15, 1930; d. Jan 3, 2022; parents Benjamin and Leora Etter Cochran; siblings Betty and Benjamin predeceased
Open the documentBetty Jane Cochran Reeder
Guest book
Betty Jane Cochran Reeder Guest book page Guest-book note from Betty's daughter Leora Reeder recalling growing up at Cochran's Grocery with her grandmother
Open the documentBetty Jane Cochran Reeder
Obituary
Betty Jane Cochran Reeder Obituary funeral home page B. Apr 26, 1927; m. Max A. Reeder Jun 1, 1947; d. Dec 2011; raised at Cochran's Grocery; burial Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park
Open the documentHarley Delos Reeder
Obituary
Harley Delos Reeder Obituary page Max Reeder's brother; South Bend Fire Department service 21 years, retired 1973 and family placement
Open the documentJean Ann Young Cochran
Obituary index
Jean Ann Young Cochran Obituary index record page Jean A. Young Cochran, b. 03/28/1934, d. 08/06/2005, Mishawaka
Open the documentLeora Belle Etter Cochran
Numident abstract
Leora Belle Etter Cochran Numident abstract SortedByName Cochran file, p. 478 Exact death date VERIFIED: b. Apr 29, 1898, d. May 3, 1989
Open the documentLeora Belle Etter Cochran
Obituary index
Leora Belle Etter Cochran Obituary index record page Leora's Tribune notices May 3-4, 1989; spouse Benjamin T. Cochran
Open the documentMartha L. Cochran Mull
Obituary index
Martha L. Cochran Mull Obituary index record page Candidate Martha: wife of Clifford L. Mull, d. 07/26/1946 not merged; initial conflict V vs L
Open the documentMax A. Reeder
Council minutes
Max A. Reeder Council minutes, full document PDF 2 pp., City of South Bend Laserfiche doc 41704, captured 2026-10-25 in a live browser session doc 41704, "05-25-71 Council Special Meeting Minutes" Page 2 return of service signed "Sgt. Max A. Reeder, Member of the South Bend Police Department" the SBPD sergeant proof
Open the documentMax A. Reeder
Obituary index
Max A. Reeder Obituary index record page Max Reeder's Tribune obituary index entry d. May 24, 2009
Open the documentSamuel E. Cochran
City directory 1921
Samuel E. Cochran City directory, full text Polk's South Bend City Directory 1921, Internet Archive Street guide line "1406 Samuel E Cochran" Marine St. : Samuel's 1921 South Bend residence as a widower
Open the documentSamuel S. Cochran
Obituary index
Samuel S. Cochran Obituary index record page Death about late Nov 1960, 1717 McKinley Ave., South Bend
Open the documentVallerie Lucille Niles Cochran
Numident abstract
Vallerie Lucille Niles Cochran Numident abstract SortedByName Cochran file, p. 766 B. May 11, 1900, Elkhart; d. Sep 16, 1990; parents Claude Niles + Neva Weybright; name form "Vallerie Niles Honer"
Open the documentWalter E. Cochran
Obituary index
Walter E. Cochran Obituary index record page Died June 20, 1965 single-source date for Walter
Open the documentEtter line
17 documents
Charles and Lewis Etter
Court opinion
Charles E. Etter and Lewis A. Etter Court opinion PDF, People v. Etter, 72 Mich. 175 1888 , Caselaw Access Project Charles and Lewis tried together as co-defendants in Cass County brother corroboration at record level
Open the document
Charles E. Etter
Death certificate
Charles E. Etter Death certificate image asset 005362047 02995 D. Dec 20, 1938, Detroit; b. May 1, 1858, Pennsylvania; father John Etter, mother "Mary"; wife Gertrude Fragee Etter; buried Marcellus Bly Lot 107
Open the documentDe Verne R. Etter
Court opinion
De Verne R. Etter Court opinion PDF, McMillan v. Etter, 229 Mich. 377 Dec 31, 1924 , Caselaw Access Project De Verne DeVern Etter as defendant in the Nicholsville dam and water-rights case; places him at Nicholsville 1920-1924
Open the documentEdith M. Colborn Tuffts
Obituary
Edith M. Colborn Tuffts Obituary page Verna's daughter: b. Sep 11, 1912, Marcellus; d. Apr 11, 2001, Traverse City; her children as named
Open the document
Ellsworth J. Etter
Death certificate
Ellsworth John Etter Death certificate image asset 005237599 00129 D. Jan 30, 1946, Mount Pleasant; parents Lewis Etter + Jane Cropsey; wife at death Veda Wagner; burial Bly Cemetery Feb 2, 1946
Open the documentEllsworth J. Etter
Numident abstract
Ellsworth John Etter Numident abstract SortedByName Etter file, p. 27 Numident names his parents Lewis A. Etter + Jane Cropsey independent corroboration of Jane's maiden name
Open the document
Gertrude Fragee Etter
Death certificate
Gertrude Fragee Etter Death certificate image asset 005237617 00489 Charles E. Etter's WIFE not daughter/sister ; b. Feb 2, 1875; d. Aug 1, 1933, Kalamazoo; parents Fred Fragee + Lillian Vincent
Open the document
Iva Iona Burket Etter
Death certificate
Iva Iona Burket Etter Death certificate image asset 706528 Ellsworth's first wife: b. Dec 9, 1889; d. Dec 6, 1911, Marcellus Twp; parents Porter P. Burket + Mary E. Cox
Open the document
Jane Cropsey Etter
Death certificate
Jane Lucinda Cropsey Etter Death certificate image asset 005363576 00943 Cropsey maiden name PROVEN; b. Dec 18, 1858, Cass Co.; d. Jun 22, 1925, Volinia; parents Elexander Cropsey + Mary Rogers; buried Marcellus Jun 25, 1925
Open the documentKenneth W. Colborn
Obituary
Kenneth William Colborn Obituary page Verna's son: b. Jul 3, 1916, South Boardman; d. Nov 15, 1999, Plainwell; children Kenneth Dale Colborn and Judy Gauld
Open the documentLarry Lee Etter
Obituary
Larry Lee Etter Obituary funeral home page Lyndon Etter's children as named Larry, Lynn predeceased, Linda Salisbury and Larry's own children Toni Brumitt, Jeffrey Etter . Death year printed 2026 in the report pass; flagged UNVERIFIED there
Open the document
Lewis A. Etter
Death certificate
Lewis A. Etter Death certificate image Archives of Michigan / Preservica asset 005363576 01519 B. Sep 28, 1854; d. Jan 2, 1928, Volinia; father John Etter b. New York State ; mother "Dont Know" per informant Ernest Etter; buried Marcellus Jan 11, 1928
Open the documentLewis A. Etter Jr and Richard Etter
Numident abstract
Lewis A. Etter Jr.; Richard Ernest Etter Numident / DMF abstracts SortedByName Etter file, p. 59 Lewis Jr.: d. Aug 1984, last residence Elkhart, IN; Richard: b. Feb 2, 1936, Cassopolis; d. Feb 20, 2004; the file carries NO parents-naming abstract for Lewis Jr. son-vs-grandson question stays open
Open the documentLyndon A. Etter
Numident abstract
Lyndon A. Etter Numident abstract SortedByName Etter file, p. 62 Son of Ernest L. Etter + Stella G. Cooper: b. Apr 7, 1917, Marcellus; d. May 31, 2003; page also carries the Lyle L. Etter DMF line kept as CANDIDATE
Open the document
Lynn B. Etter
Death certificate
Lynn B. Etter Death certificate image asset 86225 Infant son of Ernest L. Etter + Stella written "Cooke" ; b. Oct 5, 1915; d. Dec 3, 1915, Volinia
Open the documentRoger Alan Etter
Numident abstract
Roger Alan Etter Numident abstract SortedByName Etter file, p. 58 Son of Lewis A. Etter Jr. + Marie Fox: b. Jun 4, 1933, Cassopolis; d. Jan 1, 1988
Open the document
Verna Etter Colborn
Death certificate
Verna Etter Colborn Death certificate image asset 005237774 01057 D. Nov 20, 1923, Boardman Twp., Kalkaska Co. certificate governs over the index's Kalamazoo reading ; parents Louis Etter + Jane Cropsey
Open the documentCropsey line
5 documents
George Ottis Cropsey
Death certificate
George Ottis "Otis" Cropsey Death certificate image asset 005363576 02866 B. Aug 7, 1886, Volinia; d. Apr 4, 1934; son of George Cropsey + Elsie McNinch; wife "Kittie"
Open the documentHarmon G. Cropsey
Obituary
Harmon G. Cropsey Obituary, text capture Lansing State Journal, Mar. 16, 2009 Son of Elvaro Cropsey + Marie Coble Cropsey; b. Aug 16, 1917, Volinia; Michigan State Senator; his children and siblings Dale, Bethel, Mac as named
Open the document
John Delbert Cropsey
Death certificate
John Delbert Cropsey Death certificate image asset 005363576 01458 Second VERIFIED son of the elder Elvaro + Ellen Etter: b. Oct 16, 1874; d. Sep 19, 1927, Volinia; wife Lizzie; father written "Elvero," born New York State birthplace conflict flagged
Open the documentLee Roy Cropsey
Obituary
Lee Roy Cropsey Obituary, text capture Kalamazoo Gazette, Aug. 30, 2014 Son of Sherman Dewey Cropsey + Bessie Irene Griffis Cropsey; b. May 4, 1924, Wakelee; d. Aug 29, 2014; his children as named
Open the document
Samuel C. Cropsey
Death certificate
Samuel C. Cropsey Death certificate image asset 005363577 00306 B. Mar 24, 1876, Volinia; d. Oct 5, 1941; son of the elder Elvaro Cropsey + Ellen Etter; wife Pearl Skinner informant
Open the documentYoung and Robrecht lines
5 documents
Carolyn J. Robrecht
Obituary
Carolyn J. Robrecht Obituary funeral home page The unplaced New Jersey Robrecht family Charles J. Robrecht Jr. + Carolyn, m. 1958, seven children , kept as a CANDIDATE descendant line, not merged
Open the document
Donald N. Young
Marriage certificate
Donald Nelson Young + Dorothy Jeanne Robrecht Marriage certificate image WV Vital Records film 862704, frame 00146, via dach-image-proxy License Sep 22, 1921; married Sep 24, 1921, Wheeling, Ohio Co., WV; officiant O. L. Moye; no parents named
Open the documentDonald Nelson Young
Numident abstract
Donald Nelson Young Numident abstract SortedByName Young file, p. 963 Donald's Social Security record facts: b. Jun 6, 1899; d. Jun 1, 1978
Open the documentHubbard v. Robrecht
Court opinion
John Robrecht; Henry Robrecht Court opinion PDF, Hubbard, Executor v. Robrecht, 75 W.Va. 566 1915 , Caselaw Access Project Henry VERIFIED as John's son; Henry took title to the St. Charles Hotel Jan 2, 1883; John died testate at Wheeling between 1898 and Oct 1912
Open the documentRobrecht v. Robrecht
Court opinion
John Robrecht; Henry Robrecht Court opinion PDF, Robrecht v. Robrecht, 46 W.Va. 741 1899 , Caselaw Access Project The 1898-1899 interlocutory appeal in John's secret-trust suit against Henry over the hotel property
Open the documentNiles and Weybright lines
3 documents
Claude Niles
Numident abstract
Claude Niles Numident parent reference SortedByName Niles file, p. 29 "Claude Niles father and Neva Weybright had a daughter Vallerie, b. May 11, 1900, Elkhart, d. Sep 16, 1990"; also carries the excluded too-young Claude entry
Open the documentNeva Weybright
Numident abstract
Neva Weybright Numident parent reference SortedByName Weybright file, p. 4 Neva's only appearance in the Numident file, as Vallerie's mother with Claude Niles
Open the documentVallerie Niles Honer
Numident abstract
Vallerie Niles Cochran Numident abstract SortedByName Honer file, p. 17 Vallerie's own record filed under the name form VALLERIE NILES HONER
Open the documentVanLue line
6 documents
Daniel Marvin Vanlue
Obituary
Daniel Marvin VanLue Obituary funeral home page Harry VanLue's son 1941-2026 as printed in the research pass; the death year carries a DATE FLAG, unverified
Open the documentFrancis A. Vanlue
Obituary
Francis A. VanLue Obituary, text capture Niles Daily Star, May 27 and 28, 1938, via Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery D. May 26, 1938; wife Elizabeth Pettit, m. Dec 16, 1882, Rochester, IN; all nine children named, incl. "Mrs. Emma Cochran, Los Angeles" Emma's parents VERIFIED
Open the documentJames Vanlue
Obituary
James VanLue Obituary collection page Tombaugh, Fulton County Public Library, Obits-Biogs 1901-1904 James VanLue's obituary Rochester Sentinel, Feb 21, 1901 : b. Aug 11, 1828; d. Feb 17, 1901; m. Malinda Clemmans 1847
Open the documentVanlue Family
Obituary file 1931
VanLue family Obituary collection page Tombaugh, 1931 file Tombaugh obituary file year cited by the VanLue descendancy research
Open the documentVanlue Family
Obituary file 1960
VanLue family Obituary collection page Tombaugh, 1960 file Tombaugh obituary file year cited by the research Nona VanLue Keesey's Dec 1960 obituary, which renames Emma as "Mrs. Arnold Ronneberg"
Open the documentVanlue Family
Obituary file 1963
VanLue family Obituary collection page Tombaugh, 1963 file Tombaugh obituary file year cited by the VanLue descendancy research
Open the documentChopko line
6 documents
Andrew J. Chopko
Obituary
Andrew J. Chopko Obituary, text capture Citizens Voice, May 31, 2021 Documents the SEPARATE Wilkes-Barre family Andrew Chopko + Mary Petro kept unmerged from George F. Chopko's family
Open the documentBernice M. Kulick
Numident abstract
Bernice M. Kulick Numident / DMF abstract SortedByName Kulick file, p. 4 Strong CANDIDATE for Bernice Rusek Kulick: b. Apr 17, 1915; d. Nov 15, 2009 age flag kept open in the research
Open the documentChristopher Chopko
Court opinion summary
Christopher Chopko Court opinion summary, text capture Chopko v. Kijakazi, M.D. Pa. 2023 CANDIDATE record only: a Christopher Chopko's disability/SSI appeal, ALJ denial affirmed same name and district; no source ties the plaintiff to the family
Open the documentFrank Walter Rusek
Obituary
Frank Walter Rusek Obituary, text capture The Westerly Sun, Oct. 4, 2014 Son of Bernice Rusek Kulick of Carbondale; predeceased by brother Joseph Kulick and "his sister, Joyce Chopko Ceccarelli, of Jermyn" Joyce's death before Oct 2, 2014 VERIFIED
Open the documentJoseph Kulick
Numident abstract
Joseph Kulick Numident abstracts SortedByName Kulick file, p. 13 The Joseph Kulick entries read and excluded while hunting Joyce's father's household
Open the documentRobert James Chopko
Numident abstract
Robert James Chopko Numident abstract SortedByName Chopko file, p. 3 B. Jul 30, 1961, Scranton; d. Mar 14, 1996, Scranton; parents George F. Chopko + Joyce A. Kulick the record that identifies Janice's deceased brother and both parents
Open the documentMore documents
1 document
Charles I. Clemens
Obituary
Charles I. Clemens Obituary collection page Fulton County Public Library, obits 1940 Clemens/Clemmans candidate kin cluster for Malinda Clemmans VanLue: Charles I. Clemens, b. Jan 6, 1872, Athens community, son of Jesse and Emaline Clemens neighborhood note only, not merged
Open the document