Davis family

[caitlin]

Hello! I am not sure this is the right forum to post in, sorry if it is not.

I am hoping, even though it's very long odds, that someone can help me. I'm looking for my husband's ggreat-grandmother. I don't know what tribe she belonged to. If I could find out, I would love to raise our children with the language and culture. I want them to feel connected to their family history... but I am stuck.

Her name was Julia E Davis (maybe Emmaline). She was born around 1885-7. She was probably born in Iowa, although I'm not sure I can trust her answers on the censuses. (She changes them all the time, but she does say Iowa consistently.) I don't know her parents names. I found a marriage certificate that lists her last name as "Rogers" and it seems she was married twice.

I do have 2 photos. I don't know how to post them.

She just appears one day, around 33 years old, in the 1920 census in Colorado. She is passing as white and is married to a white shoemaker named Frank Leslie Perrine. She stays in Colorado until her death.

I have searched censuses, school rolls, BIA rolls, etc. I am stumped. I have found a couple of Julia Davises, but have no idea how to tell if it's her. For all I know, she was born with a totally different name. My guess would be she was taken away to an Indian school and after that moved and started passing as white. I can't blame her at all. But I feel bad her culture was stolen from her and her great-grandchildren should get it back.

I _know_ she is Native American, based on family stories, and backed up by DNA results of my husband. It's not anyone else in his family, they all have lots of records, and the family says it's her. I just don't know how to proceed, or if I should give up. I don't even know what tribe she belonged to.

I'm hoping somehow to find a native Davis family that might have a missing branch, or even a missing Julia from that time period.

Thank you.

[hermin1]

Caitlin:
when did she die and where in Colorado?
where in Colorado did you find her on the 1920 US Census? You can send me a copy of the marriage certificate to Mr. Davis, at my email: [e-mail], and I will post it for you, if you want.
We can't help you if you won't provide us with the info we need.
it would help if we knew your husband's name and how he is related to Mrs Davis-Perrine( on his mother's or father's side?).

[caitlin]

She died 17 Dec 1975 in Jefferson, CO. In the 1920 census she lived in Kit Carson, CO.

Her maiden name was Davis, she married a man named Frank Perrine. Since I posted this I discovered that she was adopted at the age of 5 by Samuel and Susan Rogers. That's why I couldn't find her marriage certificate - it says Julia Rogers. Still no birth certificate that I can locate. I don't think they were required in Iowa in 1885/6 so there may just not be one. For all I know, the name Julia was given to her by the Rogers family. If so, I guess I'm out of luck. As a researcher this is painful!

My husband's name is Michael Wolff and this is his maternal ancestor.

I know it's a long shot. I know she might be another tribe, like Sauk or Fox or something else. I'm just being hopeful. I think about how I would feel if I were in her position and I think I would be glad for my great-great-grandchildren to at least know where we came from. Maybe it seems silly and like too long ago. But that's just how I feel. Also, I have an adopted son from a different country, and we work hard to connect him to his heritage and culture - it seems strange to not do the same for my biological kids.

[caitlin]

Oh, I emailed you the information I have on her.