But First, What Does DNA Reveal?

 While I wait for record look-ups from Osborne County, Kansas, and the Missouri State Archives that should give more insight about my 2nd Great Grandmother Estella Cordelia (Davis) Smith and the various names she went by, I thought I'd talk about what the DNA reveals about Harrison Blacketer and Martha Jane Smith.

TL;DR (Too long; Didn't read)

It seems to confirm the relationships.😅 I mean, given all the secrecy about James's out-of-wedlock birth, one might have thought he possibly had had another father, right? Below is my analysis from my Starting Point Analysis Report for Martha Jane Smith. However, parts of it are anonymized to protect privacy of living individuals. It is a little dense, but I tried to break things down as much as possible.

Autosomal DNA (atDNA)

Genetic Genealogy testing can help to identify relationships and specific ancestors who have not been added to the family tree and also confirm already-known relationships. It can also reveal clues and family trees (that need to be verified), which can provide new avenues for research. However, it cannot tell us how family lines are connected to each other, and that is why documentary research is also needed. They work hand-in-hand.

Additionally, tests for autosomal DNA (abbreviated as atDNA), like the AncestryDNA tests considered in this analysis, analyze all a person's atDNA. Therefore, it is possible to locate matches to any ancestor across many different lines in a person's family tree. This is because atDNA is randomly inherited from one's parents. (1) It is most useful for exploring a person's more recent ancestors, usually within five generations. (2)

The measurement for atDNA shared between two individuals is called a centimorgan, usually abbreviated to cM. Everyone inherits approximately 50 percent of their atDNA from each parent. That 50 percent includes about 25 percent from each grandparent, about 12.5 percent from each great-grandparent, and so on and so forth. (3) Based on those estimates, different genetic relationships will share predictable ranges of centimorgans. However, as the relationships get farther away from a parent-child relationship, the more the predicted ranges overlap. Using mathematical probabilities, hypotheses can be created that give the best possible likelihood of relationships based on groups of atDNA test results when they are compared to each other. Further, calculating statistics for each relationship and comparing it to the average for each relationship can lend more weight to the evaluation (standard deviation).

Blacketer-Smith Autosomal DNA (atDNA) Descendants

There are ten identified shared atDNA matches at AncestryDNA who descend from James Wesley Blacketer and Mary Alice Truitt. There are more who are identified, but some are from younger generations and are represented by older testers. Others have tested at 23andme, but the rest of the testers did not so detailed comparisons are not available for all testers with each other. There are also three identified adoptees who were not selected for this analysis.

There is only one identified atDNA shared match descendant of James Wesley Blacketer's sister Mildred I. (Blacketer) Black, this test-taker has since passed away, but left a public family tree attached to his AncestryDNA kit. While more descendant atDNA testers who descend from James's two siblings would be preferable, this one atDNA test-taker is rather close relationship-wise to the descendants of James Wesley Blacketer and that improves analysis. Hopefully more will test in the future! More data points are always preferable.

Thus, there are a total of eleven descendants of James's and Mildred's parents, Harrison Blacketer and Martha Jane Smith, who tested their atDNA at AncestryDNA who were selected for this analysis. Their places in the Blacketer—Smith family tree are depicted in Figure 1 below. For privacy, the documentary proof for each relationship will not be published. However, it has been documented. No one is related to each other in more than one way. This is important to note because if people are related to each other in more than one way, they would share more autosomal DNA than expected for their known or documented relationship. (4). To maintain privacy, living test-takers are anonymized except for myself. Three of the test-takers have passed away.

Figure 1: Blacketer-Smith atDNA Descendant Chart

Standard Deviation Analysis of atDNA Shared Matches

But first, here are some definitions to help understand my analysis.

Glossary:

Standard Deviation: the symbol for Standard Deviation is σ. The standard deviation is a statistical measure of data's spread from its average. A low standard deviation indicates the data is tightly clustered around the average. A high standard deviation indicates the data is spread out over a range. Basically, the tighter the data around the average, the better. (5)

cM: abbreviation of Centimorgan which is the unit of measure for autosomal DNA (atDNA). (6)

Sibs: abbreviation for Siblings; two people who share both parents.

1C: abbreviation for 1st Cousin; the child of one's aunt or uncle.

1C1R: abbreviation for a 1st Cousin Once Removed; in this analysis, the first cousin once removed is a child of one's first cousin.

2C: abbreviation for 2nd Cousin; the grandchild of one's great aunt or uncle.

2C1R: abbreviation for a 2nd Cousin Once Removed; in this analysis, a second cousin once removed is a child of one's second cousin.

Grand Aunt/Uncle/Niece/Nephew: the term "grand" is interchangeable with "great." A grand (or great) aunt or uncle is a sister or brother of one's grandparent. Likewise, a grand (or great) niece or nephew is a grandchild of one's sibling. (7)

The Shared Centimorgan Project provides the calculated average of shared centimorgans of autosomal DNA (atDNA) for each specific relationship based on crowd-sourced data. The project also provides a range of shared atDNA centimorgans for each relationship. As of March 202, there have been more than 60,000 submissions to the project. (8) The more submissions there are, the closer to accuracy the data analysis can be. Having all this data allows one to make sure the shared atDNA supports the known or supposed relationship with each match the DNA testing company provides for each test-taker.

Figure 2 below shows the relationships analyzed for this study as well as the average and range for each relationship. Siblings can share between 1613-3489 centimorgans (cM) with an average of 2613 cM. An aunt or uncle can share with their niece or nephew between 1201-2282 cM of atDNA wit h the average shared of 1741 cM. A grand (or great) aunt or uncle can share with their grand (or great) niece or nephew between 330-1467 cM with the average shared being 850 cM. First cousins can share between 396-1397 cM and an average of 433 cM with each other. First cousins once removed can share between 102-980 cM and an average of 433 cM. Second cousins can share between 41-592 cM with an average of 229 cM with each other. And second cousins once removed can share between 14-353 cM with an average of 122 cM. (9)

Figure 2: Relationships & the Correlating Average and Range in Centimorgans

All relationships proven in the documentary evidence are supported by the atDNA evidence analysis. Figure 3 below details all eleven Blacketer—Smith descendant atDNA test-takers, how much atDNA they share with each other shown in centimorgans (cM), the relationship between each other supported by documentary evidence, and the calculated standard deviation for each relationship.

While there are a few outliers—meaning some share more than 1 or less than -1 of atDNA with each other— none share more or less than the range of shared atDNA with each other. The outliers are those who share a little more or a little less atDNA due to the random inheritance of atDNA. (10) (These outliers are marked in bold black in the chart.) In fact, most of the atDNA test-takers share close to the average (smaller standard deviation) for each relationship which is strong supporting evidence for the relationships. (These are marked in bold green in the chart.)

Most importantly, 7 of the 10 test-takers who descend from James Wesley Blacketer share close to the average (lower standard deviation) of shared atDNA with the one descendant test-taker of James's sister Mildred, Gary Fred Moore, a.k.a., Test-Taker 11. The other 3 of the 10 share a little less atDNA but are still within the range for the given relationships. Notably the two oldest test-takers, Mary Ann (Blacketer) Halsell (Test-Taker 5) and Patrick Blacketer (Test-Taker 10), who are the closest in relationship to Gary Fred Moore (Test-Taker 11), share very close to the average for their relationship to him, first cousin once removed (1C1R), which makes sense. (These are marked in the yellow cells in the chart.) (11) 

Figure 3: Relationship and Standard Deviation Analysis

So, the autosomal DNA (atDNA) appears to support the documented relationships at this point. I cannot tell with this data if, say, one of Harrison's brothers or half-brothers fathered James. More data points (testers) would be helpful. And I do have more atDNA data to support earlier generations, but I'll share that later. That's enough math and science intersecting with family history for today, right?

~Caroline

Sources:

1. “Autosomal DNA,” FamilyTreeDNA ( https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4411196877327-Autosomal-DNA : accessed 25 September 2025).

2. “Autosomal DNA,” FamilyTreeDNA ( https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4411196877327-Autosomal-DNA : accessed 25 September 2025).

3. “Autosomal DNA,” FamilyTreeDNA ( https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4411196877327-Autosomal-DNA : accessed 25 September 2025).

4. For documentary proof for all relationships: Caroline M. Pointer, Starting Point Analysis Report for Martha Jane Smith, report to file, 29 August 2025, p. 75-77. For multiple relationships: Diana Elder, “Endogamy, Pedigree Collapse, and Multiple Relationships: What’s the Difference and Why Does it Matter?,” Family Locket, 2 September 2022, (https://familylocket.com/endogamy-pedigree-collapse-and-multiple-relationships-whats-the-difference-and-why-does-it-matter/ : accessed 25 September 2025).

5. Ed Williams, “Estimating Confidence Intervals in the Shared cM Project v4,” Counting Chromosomes: The Blog, 28 March 2020, (https://countingchromosomes.com/blog/75-estimating-confidence-intervals-in-the-shared-cm-project-v4 : accessed 25 September 2025).

6. Annelie Hansen, “Untangling the Centimorgans on Your DNA Test,” FamilySearch Blog, 6 April 2020, (https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/centimorgan-chart-understanding-dna : accessed 25 September 2025).

7. Jessica Grimaud, “What Is a Second Cousin?–Cousin Relationships Explained,” FamilySearch Blog, 23 July 2019, (https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/what-is-a-second-cousin : accessed 25 September 2025.

8. Blaine T. Bettinger, “Version 4.0! March 2020 Update to the Shared cM Project!,” The Genetic Genealogist, 27 March 2020, (https://thegeneticgenealogist.com/2020/03/27/version-4-0-march-2020-update-to-the-shared-cm-project/). 

9. Jonny Perl, The Shared cM Project 4.0 tool v4 (https://dnapainter.com/tools/sharedcmv4 : accessed 25 September 2025); citing Blaine T. Bettinger, The Shared cM Project.

10. “Autosomal DNA,” FamilyTreeDNA ( https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/articles/4411196877327-Autosomal-DNA : accessed 25 September 2025).

11. All atDNA comparisons were made at AncestryDNA using shared matches of shared matches. For detailed citations for each comparison, see: Caroline M. Pointer, Starting Point Analysis Report for Martha Jane Smith, report to file, 29 August 2025, p. 73-75.

Where was James Wesley Blacketer Born?

This might be a silly question. Especially when I reveal most of the documentation I can find is in agreement. James Wesley Blacketer was born in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, on 22 March 1894.

His dad Harrison Blacketer said so in 1898 and 1915. (1)

James Wesley Blacketer said so numerous times. (2)

Over the years, the census recordings for him do not disagree. (3)

His last wife, Rose, seemed to believe he was born in Joplin, Missouri, on 22 March 1896. (4) From what I've seen in my research a third wife is usually the last to know about her husband's origins whether on purpose or not. They're far removed usually from their husband's origins and family. And James Wesley may not have told her the truth. Or maybe Rose was grieving and made a mistake. 

James Wesley Blacketer Tombstone with incorrect birthdate.

And, actually, I believe James Wesley and Harrison, about this at least. The information is consistent throughout his life. However, the State of Iowa could not find a birth record for him. (5) But maybe Martha didn't register his birth, though the State of Iowa had started registering births in 1880. (6) So, why this blog post?

Why Council Bluffs?

Because I'm really wondering WHY he was born in Council Bluffs. Spoiler alert: I don't know. 

But if he was a full-term baby, James Wesley was most probably conceived between 27 June 1893 and 1 July 1893. (7) I always feel like things are really getting serious in my research when my ancestors make me use the Pregnancy Conception Calculator. Don't make me get the Pregnancy Conception Calculator out!😅 Where was everyone in 1893? Again, I don't know. I'm still working on that.

Here is what I do know:

On 18 March 1891, a surgeon's examining board examined Harrison Blacketer in Maryville, Nodaway, Missouri, for his Civil War pensions claim.(8) According to Harrison's affidavit taken the day before on 17 March 1891, he lived in Maryville. (9) The month before that in 1891, Andrew J. Davis of Maryville provided an affidavit for Harrison's pension claim. He stated they had been "near neighbors" for about eleven years. (10) I've yet to find any documentation for Harrison after that until he married Martha Jane Smith in 1898. (11)

Partial Timeline for Martha Jane (Smith) Blacketer (12)

Gap in Martha Jane's Timeline

And I have a gap in Martha Jane's timeline between the photocopied photo of her labeled as 1882 and her marriage to Harrison in 1898, except for James Wesley's birth in Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1894. (13) If I go back further to 1880 in Maryville, Harrison Blacketer and Martha Jane Smith are living together, but not as husband and wife, but as stepfather and stepdaughter. And the enumerator recorded Estella C. Blacketer as Harrison's wife. Martha Jane was only 10 years old then. (14) This record implies that Estella C. is Martha's mother. Next door is Andrew J. Davis, Estella's father. Also, Harrison Blacketer's half-brother Jacob M. Blacketer lived on the other side of Andrew. (15)

Another Marriage for Harrison?

So, was Harrison first married to Estella C. and then her daughter Martha Jane Smith? Maybe. Why did Martha Jane give birth to James Wesley Blacketer in Council Bluffs? I still don't know, but I wonder if she ended up pregnant in 1893 and was sent away as an unmarried pregnant girl to have her baby? Or maybe she ran away? Or maybe she and Harrison ran away. I just don't know and likely never will.

But that does make me wonder. Were Harrison and Estella C. married? If so, did they ever divorce? What was going on?

For Jane Blacketer's widows pension claim, Stella C. Smith stated on 7 May 1918 she was Jane Blacketer's mother. (16) Is Stella C. Smith also Estella C. Blacketer? And that's what I'll tackle next, Estella's name. Clarity is needed. 😅

~Caroline

Sources:

1. Pensions Bureau Family Data Circular, 3 May 1898, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256 but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read. Pensions Bureau Family Data Circular, Harrison Blacketer, 16 April 1915, Ibid.

2. "United States World War I Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1968530 : accessed 28 Jun 2017) card for Wesley Blacketer, serial no. 126, Local Draft Board 44, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri; NARA microfilm publication M1509. Washington D.C., n.d. James Wesley Blacketer is the most likely informant: "Soldiers' Records: War of 1812—World War I," database, Missouri Digital Heritage, (http://sos.mo.gov/mdh/ : 22 Mar 2020), entry for Wesley Blacketer, Army serial no. 1514137; Office of the Adjutant General of Missouri. Also, St. Mary's Church (San Antonio, Texas), Baptisms, 1914-1919, p. 457, entry for Wesley James Blacketer baptism, 7 Jun 1919; imaged "Texas Births and Christenings, 1840-1981," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1681015 : accessed 13 Mar 2020) > digital film 007600001 > image 929 of 953; imaged from FHL film no. 25467. Also, "U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1174/ : accessed 11 Oct 2010), application image, James W. Blacketer, 12 Jul 1920, no. 71442; National Archives microfilm M1372, Roll 1307. And, James Wesley Blacketer, SS no. 459-34-5587, 3 Feb 1943, Application for Account Number (Form SS-5), Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland.

3. 1900 U.S. census, Clinton County, Missouri, Shoal Township, Cameron City Ward 1-2,  population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 41, p. 164 (stamped), sheet 12-A, dwelling 268, family 272, Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/: accessed 8 September 2025). 1910 U.S. census, Clinton, Missouri, Cameron Ward 1, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 42, p. 147 (stamped), sheet 5-B, dwelling 127, family 124, Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1910 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/ : accessed 8 September 2025. 1920 U.S. census, Bexar County, Texas, San Antonio, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 90, p. 65 (stamped), sheet 1-B, dwelling 26, family 29, James W. Blacketer household; imaged, "1920 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : accessed 11 Oct 2010). 1930 U.S. census, Bexar County, Texas, San Antonio, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 142, p. 140 (stamped), sheet 5-A, dwelling 75, family 81, James J. Blacketer household; imaged, "1930 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : accessed 11 October 2010). 1950 U.S. census, Bexar, Texas, San Antonio, Enumeration District (ED) 265-28, sheet 72, household 81, lines 24-25 James W. Blacketer household; imaged, "1950 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62308/ : accessed 2 April 2022.)

4. Mrs. Rose Blacketer as the informant: "Texas Deaths, 1890-1977," database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GY18-V4R : accessed 19 Mar 2020) > Image Group Number [IGN] 005145635 > image 363 of 3460 > image certificate no. 39348, James Wesley Blacketer, 6 Aug 1951; State Registrar, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Austin. Mrs. Rose Blacketer as next of kin and birthdate corrected in green: "U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962," database with images, Ancestry, (http://ancestry.com : accessed 22 Mar 2020), form image, Wesley Blacketer, Army serial no. 1514137; National Archives, "Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985," RG 92, College Park, Maryland. Tombstone has incorrect birthdate: Caroline Martin Pointer, "James Wesley Blacketer Tombstone Image," privately held by C.M. Pointer, [Address for Personal Use.], Conroe, Texas, 2010.

5. Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics, "Notification of Record Search," 23 May 2016, James Wesley Blacketer, searched 1 January 1890 to 31 December 1899. They were unable to locate the record.

6. "Revised and Annotated Code of Iowa …in Force July 4, 1880," (Des Moines: Mills & Company, Publishers, 1880), 421; imaged The Iowa Legislature (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/shelves/code/ocr/1880%20Iowa%20Code%20(Miller%20Edition).pdf : accessed 10 September 2025).

7. Maple Tech International LLC, “Pregnancy Conception Calculator,” Calculator.net (https://www.calculator.net/pregnancy-calculator.html : 16 October 2025) > search "22 Mar 1894" based on "Due Date."

8. Surgeon's Certificate, 18 March 1891, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho, in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256, but the photocopy is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read.

9. Harrison Blacketer, General Affidavit, 17 March 1891, Ibid.

10. Andrew J. Davis, General Affidavit, 5 February 1891, Ibid.

11. Buchanan County, Missouri, "Marriage Record from June 5, 1897 to Dec. 28, 1899," vol. N, p. 326, Harrison Blacketer–Jane Smith, 27 April 1898; imaged "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/2060668 : accessed 28 August 2025) > IGN 007425041 > image 425 of 505; citing Buchanan County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds, St. Joseph.

12. Caroline Martin Pointer, "Starting Point Analysis Report for Martha Jane Smith," Report to File, 29 August 2025.

13. Martha Smith and her mother Estella C., photocopy of a photograph, annotated by unknown author, but likely Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones: “Martha Smith Born 1869-Died 1944, Estella C mother, Photo 1882”; privately held by C.M. Pointer [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,” Conroe, Texas, 2025. The photocopy is black and white and depicts a formal studio portrait of two women taken by an unknown photographer at an unknown location. Either the photograph itself or a photocopy of it was given to Mary Alice Blacketer by Norma Jean (Blacketer) Jones. In about 1985, Norma Jean found Mary Alice. A photocopy of the original photograph was given to Lois Blacketer who then gave a photocopy to John Blacketer and C.M. Pointer. For James Wesley's birth: Pensions Bureau Family Data Circular, 3 May 1898, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256 but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read. For James Wesley's birth: Pensions Bureau Family Data Circular, Harrison Blacketer, 6 April 1915, Ibid.

14. 1880 U.S. census, Nodaway, Missouri, Maryville, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 261, p. 31 (penned), p. 205 (stamped), dwelling 279, family 288, Harrison Blacketer household; imaged “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : 8 September 2025).

15. Ibid. For father-daughter relationship: Family Data Circular, 4 May 1898, Andrew J. Davis, (Private, Company I, 4th Iowa Cavalry, Civil War), pension no. S.C. 654,177; Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, D.C. Also, Andrew as implied father of Estella: 1870 U.S. census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Quincy township, page 13 (penned), dwelling 91, family 91, Estella C. Smith in Andrew J. Davis household; imaged "U.S. Federal Census Collection," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : 12 March 2024). For sibling relationship of Jacob of Maryville to Harrison: Jacob M. Blacketer General Affidavit, 5 June 1915, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256 but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read. For it being a half-relationship: Special Examination Report, p.17-18, Harrison Blacketer Deposition B, 11 June 1914, Ibid.

16. Stella C. Smith General Affidavit, 7 May 1915, Jane Blacketer Widows Pension File, Ibid.