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Part 1 

     The photo above was taken some time after January 23, 1908, but not long after.  I know this because the baby is my mother - Helen Houk nee Rulaford.  The lady holding her is Helen Amanda Rulaford Burnham nee Clark.  Seated on the right is her son George A. Rulaford; on the left is his son Cecil Clark Rulaford.  Standing behind their husbands are Edna May Rulaford nee Anderson on the left, and Martha Jane Rulaford nee Ford on the right.  I have had this photo in my possession since October 1997.  The names are written on the back, but for Helen it simply says, "Grandma Burnham".  How did a Burnham fit into this picture?  (Until 11-27-1999 there was a question about Helen's name.  On some documents it is written Helena Clark.  Helen Amanda Clark is the correct name given at birth.)
 
 

     I think that answers that question.  You'll notice her name is given as Helen.  I must assume that Mr. Burnham died about 1906.  This obit also gives a clue as to the date of marriage of Helen to her first husband James Rulaford; about mid 1850.  Wait a minute! George was born in 1848!!

     A copy of Cecil's death certificate is how I identified George.  His death certificate is how I first identified my great great grandmother as Helena.  This trail ends with Helen's death certificate as her parents are not listed on it.  In addition her name is spelled, "HelenA Burnham", and if you take only a quick glance at it it reads, "Helena  Burnham".  George's father is listed as James S. Rulaford.  There's another problem. Who the hell was James S. Rulaford?  Who the hell was George A. Rulaford?

     On April 21, 1871 one Edgar McMullin, married Mary  Willhelmina Jones, in Franklin Co., OH.  On or about April 13, 1874 Edgar deserted Mary and their two girls.  Mary was granted a divorce May 11, 1878.
 
 

     On the divorce decree granted Mary (near the bottom of this page), the year of marriage is given as 1870, and the name is given as McMullin.  That decree is a transcribed copy while the marriage license is a photo copy of the original.  In an affidavit given by Mr. and Mrs. Moran (lower on this page), Edgar's surname is McMillan.  Nineteenth century hand writing can be hard to read, but the name on the marriage license is clearly McMullen in two places.  It might be his signature in the center panel, but I cannot be 100% sure how the name is spelled.

     My mother told me something about George A. Rulaford and Ulysses S. Grant being drinking buddies while he was in the Army.  There is a problem with that.  Grant was commissioned in 1843, and vacated commission of General, U. S. Army, Mar. 4, 1869.  Grant was president of the United States March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1877. (look here) George/Edgar served in the Cavalry 1875-1880; they did not serve together.  I question the president of the United States socializing with a Private.
 
 

     On June 18, 1880 one George A. Rulaford married Martha Jane "Mattie" Ford in Walla Walla County, Washington Territory.  She was the first white girl born in that area.  Her father Nineveh Ford crossed the Oregon Trail in 1843.
 
 

     About 1923 or 1924 it was discovered that George and Edgar were one in the same person!  I have yet to discover exactly  how  this happened.
 
 

     I'm sure you spotted the minor error in the spelling of Edgar's surname; McMillin instead of McMullin.  If you really can't read what the affiants wrote I might translate it later.  It's a good thing this was NOT written by a Doctor!

     After George A. Rulaford died his wife Martha applied for the widows pension due her for his service in Company L, First United States Cavalry 1875-1880.  George died in 1914, but it is unclear when the claim was made.  At this time I will take a guess at 1918, 1923, and again in 1924.  The copies of Mary W. McMullin's divorce are dated 1924; this makes me think that his dual identity became known in 1923/24.  This explains the three applications, and Mattie did receive $27.00 a month until her death in 1933.
 
 

     Below are some maps to give you an idea just where Brighton still exists.  I have not as of this date (11-26-1999), located any Rulaford or McMullin in Clark County.

     Now for the dirty Laundry.  Below is a copy of the divorce granted to Mary W. McMullin in 1878.  As you can see the copy was made on March 12, 1924, and received by the U. S. Pension Office on March 26, 1924.  These pages were scanned at 100 dpi so you can read them.
 
 

     On close inspection of the back of the photo mount it is clearly visible that the names have been rewritten.  The original "Eddie taken when 28" is very faded.  The handwriting is not that of his son Cecil or my mother.  The "G. A. Rulaford" looks like Mattie's signature.  Did Martha Ford know who he was when she married him?  We will never know for sure,  but I'll bet that is why she put "unknown" for the parent's data on the death certificate of Helen Burnham (Mattie Rulaford is listed as informant).  I find it difficult to believe that Helen lived with Mattie for about ten years and never discussed her background.
 
 

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