If a relative goes “poof” and appears to have dropped off the face of the earth, were they later an heir to a deceased relative? If that relative owned property at their death, the missing relative may have “reappeared” or at least may have been mentioned in the estate settlement.
Arsulus Rampley disappeared in the 1920s somewhere “out West.” When his bachelor brother (who had no children) died in the 1940s, Arsulus had to be addressed since he was an heir. Arsulus never was found, but there was discussion of his disappearance in the court record and the court declared him dead before his brother–so the estate could be settled.
He was never found, but at least the court record gave me more about his disappearance and the search for him than I had before.
One response
I will keep that in mind.