Thomas D. Givler and Sarah Givler

The autograph book of
Lovina Jane Record Carson

The following is what I learned about Thomas D. Givler and his wife Sarah Givler.  They signed the autograph book of my great great grandmother, Lovina Jane Record Carson.


By 1 Mar 1875, Thomas D. Givler and his wife Sarah are living in Richland Township, Cowley County, KS, according to the 1875 Kansas State Census. Thomas was born in Ohio and his wife was born in 1848 Pennsylvania. Mr. Givler is a farmer. 


Thomas D. Givler was the son of David Givler and his wife Mary J. ?. He was 10 years old when the 1860 Federal census was taken. He, his siblings and parents were living in Decatur Ward 1, Macon County, IL on 4 Jun 1860. Thomas’s father is listed as a merchant with $2,000 in real estate and $1,500 in personal property. Both of Thomas’s parents were born in Pennsylvania. 


Sarah Givler’s maiden name was Larkin as evidenced by the 1880 US Federal Census. In that census N. J. Larkin is living with the Givlers in Richland Township, Cowley County, KS. Mr. Larkin is 61 and is listed as father-in-law of the head of the household, Thomas D. Givler. Mr. Larkin was born in New York State. Mr. Larkin also signed Lovina Jane Record Carson’s autograph book.  He will be discussed in more detail in a separate posting.  


The 1880 US Census shows the Givlers as having two daughters, Nellie and Amie. Thomas Givler is a farmer as is Mr. Larkin. In 1900 the Givlers have their daughters Nellie, age 27, and May, age 23, living with them. Nelson J. Larkin is still living with them at the age of 81. He is listed as widowed and his occupation is a fruit grower. Their daughter, May, is listed as a teacher.



The 1920 US Federal Census, taken 12 Jan 1920 by George A. Wilson shows Thomas D. Givler, age 70, and his wife Sarah, age 71, living in Richland Township, Cowley County, KS.


Sarah Larkin Givler, aged 82, outlived her husband and her friend, Lovina Jane Record Carson, as evidenced by her appearance on the 1930 US Census, taken 16 Apr 1930, in Windsor Township, Cowley County, KS. 


Husband Thomas Givler passed away in 1929.  His headstone can be view at http://www.findagrave.com/   Sarah is living with her daughter May Givler Brown and her husband Henry E. Brown and her grandson Thomas.  Sarah Givler died in 1936 and is buried in Wilmot Cemetery, Cowley County, KS.  Her headstone can be viewed at http://www.findagrave.com/


According to a plat map of Richland Township, Cowley County, KS, dated from 16 Feb 1891 to 12 Dec 1894, provided by my late great aunt, the farm of Thomas Givler covered three quarters of a section of land. His father-in-law, Nelson J. Larkin, owned the southwest quarter of that section. The Givler family lived just south of Lovina Jane Record Carson and Thomas Riley Carson.