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Obituary of Belle Sparks McKenney

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Belle Sparks McKenney obit

Belle Sparks McKenney was the daughter of James Sparks and Carrie Burch, and wife of George W. McKenney Jr.

Larry McCombs supplied Belle’s obituary:

Mrs. G. W. McKenney

Belle M. SPARKS, daughter of James and Carrie SPARKS, was born January 14, 1868, in Shelby County Illinois, and departed this life, December 28, 1935, at the home of her son, J. A. MCKENNEY in Sedan at the age of 67 years, 11 months and 14 days.

She, with her parents, came to Kansas in 1873, where they settled on a claim on Limestone Prairie, where she lived until June 3, 1883, when she was united in marriage to George W. McKENNEY at Elgin, Kansas.

To this union, four children were born: James Albert, of Sedan; Mabel Clair TRIPP of Sidler, Okla; and two daughters, Cleo May, who died in childhood; and Carrie Isabel HAMPTON who preceded her mother in death a few years ago.

She, together with her husband, united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Kay County, Oklahoma in 1897. She later transferred her membership to the Methodist Episcopal church of Sedan, where she was a member.

She was a member of both the Rebeckah and Eastern Star Lodges.

Besides her companion and children, she leaves to mourn her death, two sisters, Mrs. Mary TRIPP and Mrs. Martha THOMAS, both of Pawhuska, Oklahoma; eight grand-children and two great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was a loving wife and mother and a friend to all who knew her.

Funeral services were conducted at the United Brethren church at Chautauqua, Kansas, at 3:00 o’clock p.m., Sunday, December 29, 1935, with Rev. Howard C. BENTON officiating, assisted by Rev. WILSON.

A mixed quartet composed of Misses Dorothy TULLOSS, Inez BUTTERFIELD, B. J. FUNK and T. E. HESS, rendered the following numbers: “Asleep in Jesus,” “In the Garden” and “The City Foursquare.” They were accompanied at the piano by Mrs. J. O. TULLOSS.

A short memorial service was conducted by the Easter Star Lodge at the church.

The pall-bearers were: Arthur BRUNGER, G. K. CROCKETT, C. M. HUNT, J. M. GWALTNEY, Wm. BRUNER and A. B. COOVER.

Those from out-of-town attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. F. B. TRIPP and daughter, Georgia, of Shidler; Mrs. Mary TRIPP, Mrs. Martha THOMAS, and Mrs. Nannie WHITEHORN of Pawhuska; Mrs. Adda MCWHIRT and Mr. Harry MCWHIRT of Hominy; Mrs. Hattie MOORE of Oklahoma City; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph SPRAY of Catoosa, L. C. MCKENNEY of Ponca City; Thelma MCKENNEY of Wichita; Mr. and Mrs. Paul BLAKE of Shidler; Mr. B. COOK of Kaw City; and Mr. CAMPBELL of Ponca City.

Interment was in the Chautauqua cemetery with Baird Funeral Home in charge.

It may be incorrect but Mabel Claire’s obituary gives the family as having moved to Pawhuska OK when she was young, which would have been in Osage Indian Territory. But Belle’s obituary places them in Kay County, next to the Osage Indian Territory, in 1897, the year Carrie Isabel was born.

Martha Catherine Sparks

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Martha Catherine Sparks, daughter of James E. and Carrie E. (Cary Ann) Burch Sparks, was born 1859 Oct in Indiana. Her birth family being covered in another post, this one will be concerned with her life after her marriages.

On 1878 June 24, at Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas, Martha married Philemon Thomas.

They would have 7 children:

  1. Clara Gertrude b. 1880 in Kansas married William T. Moore on 1898 Feb 6 in Chautauqua Co. Kansas.
  2. Edith b. 1881 in Kansas
  3. Arthur b. 1881 March 23 in Kansas married Florence Glen who had previously been married to a John L. Cross and was in Spokane, Washington with him in 1910. 1920 finds them in Strike Axe, where John must have died. Before 1924 she married Arthur. He died 1965 July 3 and is buried at the Pawhuska cemetery. They had one son, Arthur Thomas Jr. b. abt. 1925.
  4. Carrie B. b. 1883 in Kansas married June 24 1902 in Sedan, Chautauqua Co. Kansas to Joseph Elkins who was born about 1876 in California. His parents were John W. and Mary Elkins and the 1880 census shows them in Oregon, Butte, California. Joseph and Carrie moved to Colfax, Whitman, Washington, where they are shown in the 1910 census.
  5. James Alfred (or Alfred James) was born 1885 in Kansas. On 1907 Oct 7 in Chautauqua County he married Ida Rae Tripp, daughter of James Preston “Jim” Tripp and Jennie M. Susan McWhirt. Jennie was a sister-in-law of Addie McWhirt McKenney. James Preston Tripp had married in 1899, after Jennie’s death, Mary Elizabeth Sparks, sister of Mary Catherine. This family is covered in another post.
  6. Henry Josephus was born Nov 1887 in Kansas.
  7. Noah was born 1890 Dec 14 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas and died 1959 Oct 12 in , Osage, Oklahoma. He is buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery.

The family of Philemon Thomas

Philemon Thomas was born July 14 1857 in Monroe Count, Iowa, son of Alfred Thomas and Isabella Emeline Haley. Alfred Thomas was from , Rush, Indiana, and Isabella from Illinois. They were married in , Monroe, Iowa. Philemon’s father having died in 1857, the 1860 census finds him with his mother in the household of a James W. Boyd.

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Monroe, Monroe, Iowa; Roll: M653_336; Page: 167; Image: 400. PO Albia
1168 James W. BOYD 34 farmer $560 $1000 b. TN
? BOYD 30 domestic IL
Elizabeth 26 IA
John T.23 farming
Julia 19 domestic
James W. 16 farming b. IL
Eleanore H. MOORE 44 domestic $600 $0 TN
Isabel THOMAS 25 $0 $350 b. IL
Philemon THOMAS 3 IA

In 1870 in Green, Lawrence, Missouri, the Thomas family is again in the household of the Boyds.

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Green, Lawrence, Missouri; Roll: M593_787; Page: 445; Image: 60.
134/129 BOYD James W. 62 farmer $0 $900 TN
Louisa M. 40 keeping house IL
Julia A. 29
James W. 26 works on farm
MOORE Elen… H. 54 TN
THOMAS Isabell T. 36 IL
Philaman 13 IA

The Boyd and Haley families had been long associated. In 1850 in , Sangamon, Illinois, we find them living side by side. Isabel Emeline Haley, yet to be married to Alfred Thomas is in the Boyd household.

1850 Illinois, Sangamon Co.
774/774 Thomas HALEY 44 farmer $1600 b. VA
Malvina 33 b. KY
Benjamin 9 b. IL
Edward 8
775/775 James BOYD 42 farmer $300 b. TN
Louisa 21 b. IL
Narcisa 16
John 13
Julia Ann 9
James 6
William MOORE 77 b. SC
Edna C. 37 b. TN
Emily 35
Emeline HALEY 16 b. IL

Philemon Thomas and Martha Catherine Sparks in the Censuses

A Willis G. Hays lives next to the family of James Sparks in 1880 in Chautauqua County Kansas. His parents were John Hays and Elizabeth Hays, found in the 1860 Iowa, Monroe County census. This Willis Hays married the above Elizabeth Narcissa Boyd, daughter of James, in Iowa in 1866. Looking further down the page? We find the Boyds.

The Illinois Marriage database shows a Thomas J. Haley marrying a Mirassa Moore on May 16 1832 in Sangamon County, Illinois. The 1850 census shows a 44 year old Thomas with a 33 year old Malvina. It’s likely this is that couple and that Marissa/Malvina married Haley when she was but 15 years of age. I have seen girls married that young and even younger. Emeline Haley was perhaps a daughter. And Tabitha Moore, wife of James W. Moore, was likely a sister of Malvina/Mirassa Moore.

We find the family of Philemon and Mary Catherine living next to her parents.

1880 Belleville, Chautauqua, Kansas
(4) or (294 B)
28/29
ELDRIDGE Isaac 45 Farmer b. NC parents b. NC
Icey T. 33 wife b. NC parents b. NC
Charlie B. 14 son b. NC
Emma M. 12 daughter b. NC
William A. 10 son b. MO
Ellie W. 7 daughter b. KS
Kenny H. 4 son b. KS
Robert D. 2 son b. KS
29/30
THOMAS Philemon 22 farmer b. IA father b. IN mother b. IL
Martha C. 20 wife b. IN parents b. IN
Clara C. 11/12 daughter b. KS
Isabelle E. mother b. IL father b. KY mother b. TN
NOTE: Martha C. is Martha C. SPARKS, daughter of James E. and Carrie SPARKS, of the next household.
30/31
SPARKS James E. 47 stone mason b. IN Parents b. KY
Carrie 45 wife b. IN Father b. IN and mother b. MD
John 27 son b. Indiana
Belle M. 12 daughter b. Illinois
William E. 3 son b. Kansas
NOTE: Belle M. SPARKS will marry George Washington McKINNEY Jr. They appear in the 1900 Chautauqua Co. Belleville Township Census.

31/32 HAYS Willis S. 40 Farmer b. IN parents b. IN
Elizabeth 46 b. IL parents b. TN
Mary T. 13 b. IA
Lemontt 12 b. MO
M…? (f) 8
Elmina? 6
Talitha M. ? 2 b. KS
32/33
WOOLSEY (?) George W. 50 widowed physician b. TN parents b. TN
Jerimiah 25 son single farmer b. MO parents b. TN
Jane E. 14 daughter at home, rheumatic fever at time of census b. MO parents b. TN
…
35/37 BOYD James W. 72 b. TN father b. NC
Louisa W. 50 daughter b. IL parents b. TN
Julia A. 40 daughter
William J. 37 son
MOORE Eleanor 64 sister-in-law b. TN parents b. SC

I’m unable to locate the Thomas family in 1885 and 1895 in Chautauqua, the sons born during that time however have their birth places as Kansas. They may have been moving back and forth between Chautauqua and the Osage Reserve.

In 1900 we find them back in Belleville. Daughter, Clara, was already married and living in Leavenworth, Kansas. Daughters Edith and Carrie B. are not with the family. Edith was on the Osage Reserve, as I show below.

The couple is living with Philemon’s widowed mother.

1900 CHAUTAUQUA BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP CENSUS
100/100
THOMAS Philimon July 1857 42 md. 21 yr. b. IA father b. IN mother b. IL farmer rents
Martha Oct. 1859 40 7 children 7 surv. b. IN parents b. KY
illegible son 1881 19 b. KS
Alfred J. son 1885 15 b. KS
Henry J. son Nov 1887 12 b. KS
Noah son Dec 1890 9 b. KS
Emaline mother July 1834 65 widow 1 child 1 surv. b. IL father b. VA mother b. TN

Edith was over on the Osage Reserve living in the household of her cousin, Mae McCormick (mother was Mary Elizabeth Sparks) who was married to Antoine/Antwine Rodman. The families beside them were related to the Nemaha Reserve Roys. Frank Denoya was a son of Francis Denoya and Marthat Lessert, and Martha a daughter of Clemment Lessert and Julia Roy. Moses Plemondon was married to Clementine Denoya, another daughter of Martha Lessert and Francis Denoya. Elizabeth Baylis was Elizabeth Loise, whose parents were Edward Paul Loise and Mary Jane Barada. Mary Jane and Elizabeth were Nemaha Reserve allottees. (I note this because of the McKenney connection with the Ioways of the Nemaha Reserve.)

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Osage Indian Reservation, Osage and Kaw Indian Reservation, Oklahoma; Roll: T623 1344; Page: 64A; Enumeration District: 255.
43/43 RODMAN Antoine IN Dec 1872 27 OK father b. KS mother b. OK Osage, father white, mother Osage
M… B. ? Nov 1881 28 KS parents b. IN
THOMAS Edith white 1882 March 18 b. KS father b. IA mother b. IN
44/44 Frank A Denoya Feb 1857 43 b. OR Osage, parents Osage 15/16 white father b. Canada mother b. MO
Mary J Denoya 1868 Oct white31 b. KY parents b.KY
Joseph F Denoya 22 June 1877 22 Osage, father Osage
Jacob A Denoya 21 Oct 1878 21
Hurbert Denoya 19 Dec 1881 19
Martha Denoya 16 July 1883 16
Ida Denoya 15 Jan 1885 15
Mable Denoya 14 May 1886 14
James E Denoya 9 June 1890 9
Clara Denoya 8 July 1891 8
Grace L Denoya 7 Nov 1892 7
Alfred R Denoya 6 ? 1894 6
Charlotto m Denoya Dec 1895 4
Myrtle G Denoya 1 Sept 1898
45/45 PLOMONDON Mose ? 1840 60 md 32 b. WA Osage, father white, mother Osage, 15/16 white parents b. Canada
Clemey ? wife Jan 1855 45 32 10 of 12 children b. WA, Osage, father white, mother Osage, 15/16 white father b. Canada mother b. MO
Louis C. son Jan 1885 15 b. OK
Rosa M. daughter IN April 1886 14 b. OK parents b. WA Osage father white mother Osage 15/16
Stella daughter IN Sept 1889 10 b. OK parents b. WA Osage father white mother Osage 15/16
Daniel B. son IN 1892 8 b. OK parents b. WA Osage father white mother Osage 15/16
Julia A. daughter IN 1894 6 b. OK parents b. WA Osage father white mother Osage 15/16
Louise C. daughter IN 1897 3 b. OK parents b. WA Osage father white mother Osage 15/16
46/46 BROCK Williwam C.
Philmone
47/47 ?
48/48 BAYLIS Elizabeth May 1845 55 widow b. NE father b. MO mother b. NE Osage, father white, mother Osage, 1/4 white
Harry D. son 1882 17 b. NE father b. VA mother b. NE Osage, father white, mother Osage 1/8 white
Charles D. son June 1886 13 b. NE father b. VA mother b. NE, Osage, father white, mother Osage 1/8 white
SCOUT Weslie? nephew April ? 26? b. NE father b. IN mother b. NE, Osage, father white, mother Osage, 1/4 white

By 1910 the family is over in Pawhuska. The Indian and white families were still on separate schedules. By 1920 we find the Thomas family living beside the John and Nannie Tripp Whitehorn.

Philemon’s widowed mother continues to live with the couple.

In the census is Nannie Tripp WHITEHORN whose father was James Preston TRIPP and stepmother was Mary Elizabeth SPARKS.

A DRAKE lives beside both Philemon (given here as Phillip) THOMAS and Martha SPARKS THOMAS and James Preston TRIPP and Mary Elizabeth SPARKS THOMAS.

1910 OSAGE PAWHUSKA #168 OK CENSUS
14/14 WHITEHORN John Ind 27 married 6 years b. OK parents b. KS (Osage full blood)
Nana 22 4 children 2 surviving b. MO father b. IL mother b. MO
Arthur b. OK
Charley

1910 OSAGE, PAWHUSKA, OK CENSUS #ED 168
(17 of 53 ancestry.com) pg. 292 or 9A
116/117 DRAKE ? K 45 married 22 years b. KS father b. IL mother b. US
Maggie 38 8 children, 6 surviving b. KS father b. US mother b. OH
John WW 17 b. KS
Ray A 9
George M 6
Gladis 1 b. OK
117/118 MAINE or MAINS WIlliam W. 35 married 7 years b. KS father b. Michigan
Ella 30 4 children, 4 surviving b. KS father b. English mother b. IL
Andew A. 5 b. KS
Charles E. 3 b. OK
Loyd W. 1 and 2/12
…MORE Evert L. stepson 19
118/119 THOMAS Philip 50? married 31 years b. IA father b. IN mother b. IL
Martha C. 53? 7 children, 7 surviving b. IL parents b. IN
Isibell 72 mother widowed 1 child, 1 surviving b. IL father b. KY mother b. TN
119/120 SAVAGE Amos? 27 b. IL parents b. IL
Mary 21 b. KS father b. ? mother b. IA
BAKER J. W. boarder 35 b. Texas parents b. US
(NOTE: On previous page is William SAVAGE 36 b. IL parents b. IL with Ida)
120/121 FISHER Valez M. ? 30 b. Texas father b. KY mother b. MO
France? 28 b. IL
FARQUIER brother-in-law 15
121/122 ENYART Leroy W. 43 and Alice 39 and children

In 1920 they are in Strike Axe living next to John and Nannie Tripp Whitehorn. Son Alfred and his wife Ida Rae Tripp live nearby. (I’ve been unable to locate James Alfred Thomas in 1910, and have been unable to locate Arthur Thomas in either 1910 or 1920. Ditto Henry Josephus, I’ve been unable to find him in 1910 or 1920 either. Noah Thomas likewise can’t be found in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. Where did they go?? And yet in 1917-1918 when son Noah registered with the military, he was living in Pawhuska and was a “transfer driver” for “J. P. Thomas” who is likely his father. Josephus also registered out of Pawhuska, giving his birthdate as Nov 28 1887, born in Sedan. He was farming and working for Jim Brown? The name is illegible. But he was employed at what looks like C. S. W. Pawhuska.)

Alfred THOMAS and Ray TRIPP THOMAS, Philemon THOMAS and Martha SPARKS THOMAS, John WHITEHORN and Nannie TRIPP live in a cluster.

1920 Osage Co. OK Srike Axe census:
43/48 PLUMMER James F. and Bertie C. (and children)
44/49 THOMAS Phil rent 62 b. IA father b. IL mother b. IL farmer
Martha 60 b. IN parents b. IN
45/50 WHITEHORN John Indian 39 b. OK parents b. IL
Nannie 24 b. MO father b. IL mother b. MO (and children)
Arthur J. 14
Charles 12
Waneta 7
Christie or Christine?? 4
John M. 2
Walker K. 8/12
NOTE: Nannie is Nannie TRIPP, a daughter of James Preston TRIPP, who married 2nd Mary SPARKS, a sister of Martha SPARKS.
46/51 GAREN Thomas Indian 52 b. NY father b. NY mother b. Canada
Ida Indian 40 b. Minnesota father b. NY mother b. Illinois (and children)
47/52 BROWN Frank and Clara E. and children
48/53 HENDRICKS William Indian b. OK parents b. OK
May white b. Nebraska parents b. IA
49/54 THOMAS Alfred 27 b. KS father b. IN mother b. IL
Ray 24 b. KS father b. IL mother b. MO
Henry 11 b. OK
Martha J. 4 b. OK
NOTE: Ray is the daughter of James Preston TRIPP
50/55 BROWN John A. b. AR parents b. AR
Minnie M. b. MO father b. unknown mother b. MO

1930 shows them again in Strike Axe, sons Noah and Josephus both in the household, Noah a veteran of WWI. Son Arthur is living next to Lloyd McWhirt and his wife Dora Strikeaxe.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Strike Axe, Osage, Oklahoma; Roll: T626_1923; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 0429.
93/95 WHITEHORN James 30 and June (probably brother of John who is by now divorced from Nannie TRIPP)
98/100 THOMAS, Philemon 72 md at 19 b. IA parents b. IA Farming General Farm
Martha wife 70 md at 18 b. IN father b. KY mother b. IN
Noah son 38 D md at 21 b. KS father b. IA mother b. IN Labor on General Farm Veteran of WWI
Josephus son 40 S b. KS father b. IA mother b. IN Laborer on Cattle Ranch Veteran of WWI
99/101 CUMMING WIlliam and Susanna and family
100/102 BARKER Lile
101/103 POSTON Thomas and Naomie and family
102/104 STRIKEAXE Pendleton 50 Full blood Osage and Mamie E. wife full blood Winnebago (probably relations of Dora Strikeaxe. Son Arthur THOMAS lived near Dora Strikeaxe MCWHIRT)

Year: 1930; Census Place: Strike Axe, Osage, Oklahoma; Roll: T626_1923; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 0402.
3/3 THOMAS Arthur 49 md at 44 b.KS parents b.KY
Flora M. 46 md at 15 b. MO parents b.MO
Arthur Jr. son 4 b. OK father b. KS mother b. MO
FRESE? Mildred stepdaughter 15 b. OK father b. KS mother b. MO
Jimmie ? Lee Stepson 8 b. OK father b. KS mother b. MO
5.5 MCWHIRT Lloyd Head R mw 23 md at 20 b. OK father b. MO mother b. OK
Dora J. wife Indian 24 md at 16 b. OK Mixed blood mother b. OK
MURPHY Bourdon? Indian stepson 7 b. OK father b. KS mother b. OK, Osage
MURPHY Roscoe Indian stepson 5 b. OK father b. KS mother b. OK, Osage
MURPHY Norma Jane Indian step daughter 4 b. OK father b. KS mother b. OK, Osage
MCWHIRT Helen Marie Indian Daughter 1 and 6/12 b. OK Mixed blood Osage
LONG Leo Lodger 26
EDWARDS Noah Servant (Race “Neg”) 27 md. md at 20 b. OK parents b. OK
NOTE: Lloyd MCWHIRT was a nephew of Addie MCKENNEY MCWHIRT.

Philemon died 1936 May 21 in , Osage, Oklahoma. Martha died 1942 Aug 14 in , Osage, Oklahoma. Both are buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery.

Mary Elizabeth Sparks

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Photoshopped to try to make the photocopy look more like a photo.


Mary Elizabeth Sparks McCormick Tripp
Image courtesy Francis Partch

I’m going to cover a lot of ground here with these families, and it gets a bit complex.

Mary Elizabeth Sparks and First Husband Samuel McCormick

Mary Elizabeth Sparks was born 1857 June 13 in Indiana to James E. Sparks and Carrie E. (Cary Ann) Burch. She married first, about 1872, in Kansas, Samuel McCormick who was born about 1852 in Indiana.

The best possible I’ve had so far for Samuel McCormick is in an 1870 census in Johnson, Knox, Indiana, but it’s yet unconfirmed if this is the right Samuel, and may not be.

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Johnson, Knox, Indiana; Roll: M593_331; Page: 82; Image: 164.
248/256 MCCORMICK John 59 farmer $1000 $500 b. IN
Jane 55 OH
Samuel 22 day laborer IN
Julia A. 18
William 15
Marion 12
BENSON Mary 37
Marcellus 13
Emma 9
Minnie 5
Martha A. 8/12
249/259 MCCORMICK George 30 Farmer
Amanda 25
Alice 3
Laura B. 1

Francis Partch writes:

“My great grandfather was Samuel MCCORMICK, born about 1852, and was supposed to have driven a wagon from somewhere near the Wabash River to Kansas for a James and Carrie SPARKS. Samuel married Mary SPARKS about 1872 and they had children James, George and Carrie listed on the 1850 census for the town of Belleville, Chautauqua County, KS. They later had Katherine, and a set of twins Weltha and Amanda. (Amanda was my grandmother.)”

“Sam MCCORMICK died in the 1880’s and Mary MCCORMICK later married James Preston TRIPP and they had a son Johnny who had an accident during childhood which caused a paralysis. He walked somehow with his hands. Family tradition said the family was related to Cyrus MCCORMICK, the invented of the reaper. I believe Mary MCCORMICK had a maiden name of SPARKS. She also had two sisters with first names of Martha (who married THOMAS) and Belle who married MCKINNEY. My grandmother was Amanda MCCORMICK who married Conner and they moved to CO. He died in 1915 and then Amanda married Sherrill WEST in Springfield, Colorado on May 10, 1920.”

In 1875, Samuel and Mary are living not far from James Sparks and Carrie, the parents of Mary.

1875 Sedan, Howard, Kansas
Pg. 26
4/2 James SPARKS 67 Farmer $100 KY from IL
M. 66 KY from IL
5/6 I. F. ELDRIDGE 40 NC from MO
I T? 28 NC
C B 9 NC
E M 7 NC
W A 5 MO
S V 2 KS
6/2 M MURPHY 38 and S E Murphy 34
7/2 L. LEGITT and A M LEGITT
8/4 G SHEEK from NC
9/3 S MCCORMICK 24 b. IL from MO
M. E. MCCORMICK 21
G. MCCORMICK 1 b. KS

Mary and Sam are in the 1880 Sedan census. Mary’s uncle, Benjamin Sparks, is living several households before them.

1880 SEDAN CHAUTAUQUA CO KS CENSUS.
pg. 382a
COPPLE John 36 b. NC parents b. NC and Sarah 44 b. MO parents b. TN and SC and family
CALL Marquis 52 b. NY parents b. VT and OH and Nance E. 41 b. KY parents b. IRE and KY (and family)
CASEMENT J. C. 41 b. ENG farmer and Mary 39 b. MI parents b. MI and NY (and family)
FOGLE John 30 b. IN parents b. OH and Millie 25 b. IL parents b. OH and IN (and family)
JOHNSON L. P. 26 b. IN and Rebecca 26 b. IN and parents b. KY (and family)
HAMON Frank 36 b. OH parents b. VA and Nancy 39 b. KY and parents b. VA and SC (and family)
KENDALL T. C. 38 b. IN parents b. VA and PA
KENDALL A. S. 27 b. IL parents b. VA and PA and Elizabeth 22 b. WI parents b. IN and NC (and family)
NOTE: A March 8 1999 Chautauqua Co. KS genealogy posting by sjpbjp at swbell.net gives the above T. C. as Tubal C. KENDALL. G. W. MCKINNEY Sr’s daughter, Martha, married Marion CAMPBELL, son of a John CAMPBELL and Nancy KENDALL. I don’t know if there’s any relation to these KENDALLs who are living near Mary Sparks MCCORMICK and Benjamin SPARKS, both siblings of Bell, G. W. MCKINNEY Jr’s wife.
pg. 382b
CHILL Zebulon 45 b. IN and Minnie 28 b. WI and father b. MD and mother b. NC (and family)
COPPLE William 35 b. MO and parents b. NC and Ida 20 b. IL and father b. OH and mother b. IL (and family)
COPPLE Millard 23 b. MO parents b. NC
COPPLE Addis 18 b. KS parents b. unk
Sylvester 2 months b. KS father b. MO mother b. KS
SPARKS Benjamin Divorced 40 b. IN farm laborer parents b. KY
FLOYD Martin V. 37 b. IL father b. IL and mother b. IN, and Nancy 32 b. IL with parents b. IL (and family)
BUTLER J. H. 26 b. IA father b. OH and mother b. IN and Katie 28 b. NY with parents b. IRE (and family)
MCCORMICK Sand (sic) 28 b. IN parents b. unk. farmer
Mary 23 b. IN parents b. IN
Guss 6 b. KS parents b. IN
James 4 b. KS parents b. IN
Carrie 1 b. KS parents b. IN
MCKNIGHT C. 63 b. IN father b. NC and mother b. IN and Rebecca 51 b. KY with father b. VA and mother b. KY. Their children from the eldest (29) all born in MO.
HOUSTON J. B. 59 b. TN parents b. NC and Mary 56 b. TN parents b. NC and TN (and family)
(and family)

I’m unable to locate the pair in the 1885 census in Kansas, indicating they were probably then in Oklahoma.

Children of Sam and Mary were:

  1. George Gus McCormick b. 1874 July in Kansas
  2. James McCormick b. 1876 in Kansas. Died about 1905 in El Paso, Texas.
  3. Katherine “Carrie” McCormick b. abt. 1879 in Kansas. Katherine is understood by Frances Partch’s father as having married an Ed McMann. He is possibly the Edward McMahoney boarding in the household of Kate and siblings in the 1900 census (see below). Chautauqua County, Kansas Marriage books give Catherine McCormick, living in Pawhuska, marrying 1901 Feb 9 to Edward H. McMahon. They had three children in the 1910 census, Edna B. 8, Floyd E. 6 and Gordon E. 7/12, in Pawhuska where they ran a rooming house, but by 1920 Ed is in Tulsa with 45 year old Allie b. Illinois for a wife, a 17 year old Floyd in the household and a 10 year old Allie. The mother of both children is given as born in Illinois. I’m assuming that Catherine had died, but I don’t know yet where or when. She isn’t buried in the Pawhuska Cemetery.
  4. May McCormick b. 1881 November in Kansas married Antwine Rodman on 1898 July 4 in Chautauqua County, Kansas. The “Osage Star” reported on May’s death: Mrs. May Rodman died at the home of Peter Spirling, Saturday morning March 11, from chronic Suppurative Salpigitis [sic], age twenty-three. The disease was of nine years standing, and deceased had been confined to her bed almost continually for the last five months. She was a sister of James McCormack who died a few days since at El Paso, Texas. [The Osage Journal 18 Mar 1905]
  5. Weltha b. Dec 1884 in Kansas. The Chautauqua County, Kansas marriage books give her as living in Sedan and marrying a Harry Jennings of Sedan on 5 June 1906, however I’ve not found them in the 1910 census and in 1920 and 1930 Harry is living with birth family and gives himself as single.
  6. Amanda “Mandy” Emelia McCormick b. 1884 Dec 13 in Kansas, died 1949 June 11 in Springfield, Baca County, Colorada (buried at Minneapolis Cemetery north of Walsh, Colorado) married first Elmer T. Conner 1899 Dec. 24 in Chautauqua Co. Kansas, then Sherrill West. I’ll write of this family in another post.

Samuel McCormick died in 1887, the exact date unknown.

The Birth Family of James Preston “Jim” Tripp, Mary’s 2nd Husband

On 1889 Dec 6 at Pawhuska, Osage, Oklahoma, Mary married 2nd James Preston “Jim” Tripp, son of Horace Baron Tripp and Elizabeth N. Wood. They would have one son together, John Lee “Johnny” born Oct 14 1900 at Pawhuska. Johnnie married Della Beeson Dec 16 1933 in Osage County and died 1974 April 3 at Pawhuska. Both he and Della are buried at the Pawhuska City Cemetery.

Johnny had an accident in childhood which had caused him to be paralyzed. He learned to walk with his hands.

Horace and his wife, Elizabeth, were both born in Newry, Oxford, Maine. Horace’s family is in the 1850 census in Lima, Adams, Illinois, then in 1860 he has married to Elizabeth and is in the census again there, but I can’t find their marriage in the Illinois online database. Serving in the 18 Illinois Infantry, Company D, as a private, Horace died in the Civil War and his wife and two children, James and Rufus, moved to the Hewins, Chautauqua Co. KS area in the 1860s or 1870s.

The Drakes, Step Family of James Preston Tripp

What happens then is fuzzy. It seems Elizabeth married an Isaac N. Drake who was 12 years her junior, a son of Ithamer Drake and Mary Ann McCalip, who were married in Shelby, Indiana. James Preston Tripp would be “William” in the below census.

1880 KS, CHAUTAUQUA HARRISON
pg. 327C
Isaac N. DRAKE male 27 IL farmer parents b. IN
Elizabeth DRAKE wife 39 b. IN parents b. OH
John W. son 8 KS parents b. IL
Charley 7
Frank 4
Mary H. 2
William P. TRIP stepson 17 b. IL farm laborer father b. ME mother b. IL

The pair are observed again in 1900.

Year: 1900 Census Place: Harrison, Chautauqua, Kansas; Roll: T623 473; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 5.
35/35 DRAKE Isaac M. Feb 1851 49 md 28 years b. IL parents b. IN
Elizabeth H. wife Dec 1838 61 md 28 yr 5 of 6 children surviving b. IL parents b. IL
Frank L. son Jan 1876 24 b. KS parents b. IL
Mattie D. daughter-in-law March 1879 21 0 of 1 children surviving b. TX father b. OH mother b. Canada

Elizabeth Wood Tripp Drake died and was buried in the Ozro Falls, Chautauqua, Cemetery.

DRAKE, Effie M. (Logsdon) Land 1877 1950 “Mother”
DRAKE, Isaac Newton 14 Apr 1863 07 Sep 1934
DRAKE, Ithamer 13 Sep 1829 17 Jan 1908 Co. H, 118th Ill. Inf.
DRAKE, Iva May 18 Aug 1892 11 Oct 1909 d/o Isaac & Laura M.
DRAKE, Laura May (Land) 19 Sep 1867 06 Apr 1926 “Mother”
DRAKE, William Edward 1887 1938 “Father” Vet.
TRIPP, Rufus 06 Apr 1858 25 Oct 1900 (“Dive”)
TRIPP, Elizabeth H. (Wood) Tripp 11 Dec 1839 27 Apr 1908 w/o I. N. Drake

Isaac and Elizabeth had 4 children who would have been half-brothers then of James Preston Tripp. (1) John W. Drake b. 1872 Oct. married a Bertha M. Pugh 1892 Jan 31 in Chautauqua. (2) Charley Drake married Hattie Pugh, a sister of Bertha. (3) Frank L. b. abt. 1875 married Mattie D. (4) Mary H. b. 1877.

James Preston Tripp’s First Marriage to Jennie M. “Susan” McWhirt

Now, returning to James Preston Tripp. He had been married previously to Jennie M. “Susan” McWhirt, b. 1862 in Illinois, daughter of Cornelius Sullivan McWhirt and Mary L. O’Brine. She was a sister of Samuel Alvin McWhirt who married Addie Mae McKenney abt 1881.

James and Jennie had the following children:

  1. Franklin B. Tripp b. 1884 March 17 in , Osage, Oklahoma Indian Territory, married Mabel Clair McKenney. (I’ll cover this family in a separate post.)
  2. Nannie Lee Tripp b. 1886 Jan 4 in Missouri, died 1957 July 16 and was buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery. On March 30 1904 she married John Whitehorn b. 1885 Jan 1 on the Osage Reserve, died 1939 Jan 27 and was buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery. They had 5 children: Arthur James, Charles, Wuanita, Christine, John M. and Walker K. They were apparently divorced and John was remarried to a Flora in the 1930 census.
  3. Ida Rae b. 1896 in Missouri, died after 1930, on 1907 Oct 7 married James Alfred Thomas, son of Philemon Thomas and Martha Catherine Sparks. (I’ll cover this family in another post.)
  4. Dessie Mae. b. abt. 1887 in Kansas, died 1967, buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery, married Francis Marion Roebuck. Francis Roebucks parents, Thomas Jefferson Roebuck and Lydia Ann Bailey, were married Shelby County, Indiana.
  5. Fred Tripp b. abt. 1892 in Oklahoma
  6. Jessie F. b. 1893 in Oklahoma

James and Jennie appear in the 1885 Center, Chautauqua Co., Kansas census together, but not in 1895 so I’m assuming by then they were in Oklahoma.

1885 Center, Chautauqua, Kansas
102 Preston TRIPP 22 b. IL from IL
Jennie 22
Frank 1 b. Osage Nation from Osage Nation
103 William HEAD 25 b. GA from TX
Anna 18 b. IN from IN
104 Charles TENNENT 26
Malinda 21 b.
John 1 b.
105 C S MCWHIRT 57 b.PA from IL
Mary 46 b. IL from IL
Sensa 16 b. AR from MO

Census Data Following the Marriage of James Preston Tripp to Mary Elizabeth Sparks McCormick

In 1900 we find James Preston Tripp with his 2nd wife, Mary Elizabeth Sparks. Both had been married previously and it’s not uncommon in such situations to find children from those previous marriages not all in the household. At the time of their marriage, Mary’s eldest, George, would have been 25, James would have been 24, Katherine would have been 20, May would have been 18 (she had married in 1898 to Antwine Rodman), Weltha would have been 15 and Amanda would have been 15 (twins). James’ son Frank would have been 15, daughter Nannie would have been 13, Dessie Mae would have been 12, and Ida Rae would have been 3.

The 1900 Osage Oklahoma census shows on page 15B, Mary Elizabeth’ children by Sam MCCORMICK, George, James, Kate and Wealthie are in household 270 with an Edward McMahoney who I believe to have married Kate. Addie McKenney McWhirt is in household 273 with her family. Daughter Amanda is married to Elmer Conner and observed in household 332. James Preston Tripp and Mary Elizabeth are in household 337. James Tripp’s half brother, John W. Drake, is in household 338.

Franklin Tripp Jr. is in the James Preston Tripp and Mary Elizabeth Tripp household, as is James Preston Tripp’s youngest daughter, Ida Rae, but she is given as 10 rather than 4, and 14 year old Nannie and 13 year old Dessie aren’t observed. A 7 year old Jessie F. is in the household.

1900 Osage Indian Reservation, Oklahoma

Mary’s children by Sam MCCORMICK are in household 270. Addie MCKENNEY MCWHIRT is in household 273 with her fmaily. James Preston TRIPP and Mary SPARKS MCCORMICK TRIPP are in household 337 beside John DRAKE.

1900 OKLAHOMA OSAGE CENSUS EXCERPT
sheet 15 B “a part of the Osage Nation”, pg. 31 ancestry.com
265/270 MUISON? Jim? W. and Mamie and family
266/271 HORSLEY J. G. b. 1856 IL and family BROWER? I. T. boarder
267/272 B..STER, William b. 1862, b. MI, parents b. Canada, and Mary E.
268/273 MAZE A. M. b. 1860 b. IL parents b. IN and Annie W. G.
269/274 BAIR, Reg. L.
270/275 MCCORMICK George b. July 1874 age 25 b. KS, parents b. IL, farmer
Jim brother b. 1876 age 23 b. KS parents b IL
Kate sister b. 1874 25 b. KS parents b. IL (error here, BD is not the same year as George)
Welthie sister b. Dec. 1884, 15 b. KS parents b. IL
MCMAHONEY Edward boarder b. April ? 23 b. IL parents b. IL
NOTE: George, James, Kate and Welthie were children of Mary SPARKS and Samuel MCCORMICK. Mary SPARKS was the sister of Belle SPARKS who married George W. MCKINNEY Jr., brother of Addie MCKINNEY MCWHIRT. Welthie is the twin of Amanda who is seen with her husband at household 332. Frances Partch believes Edward McMahoney, the border, may have married Katie as she was understood by Frances’ father as having married an Ed McMann.
271/276 KENWORTHY Frank A. b. Dec. 1876 IN, father b. PA mother b. IN
Martha A. b. 1879 25, b. IL father b. IN mother b. IL
HAMOND Toney O. (or Torey) brother-in-law b. 1877 IL
272/277 TALLEY J..? M. or N. b. Dec. 1852 b. IL parents b. KY
Elizabeth b. 1862 b. IA parents b. OH
Frank son b. 1878 IL
James son b. 1881 MO
WOODLAND, Arch. boarder b. 1879 IN
KNICKBOCKER? Charles boarder b. 1866 IL
(next page)
273/278 MCWHIRT Sam Dec. 1862 age 38 b. IL father b. VA mother b. PA farmer
Addie b. Oct. 1865 age 32 married 18 years, 6 children, 5 surviving, b. IA parents b. OH
Clyde, June 1884 16 b. KS father b. IL mother b. IA
Harry, ? 1886 14 b. MO
Mamie Feb. 1889, 10, b. OK
Jurdy ? 1892, b. OK
Hattie Aug. 1894 5 b. OK
NOTE: Addie MCKINNEY MCWHIRT is the wife here. 274/279 MARKS Thomas b. 1856 44 b. IL father b. IA, mother b. PA
Mary b. 1855, 44, b. IL father b. PA mother b. OH
275/280 WOODARD Thomas B. b. 1861 MO and Mary C.
276/281 WARD S? B. Jan. 1860 b. WV and Ida
277/282 WELLS Columbus C. b. 1869 MO and Effie
278/283 BURSON William b. 1872 MO and Delia?
279/284 MCGAER Edward S. b. 1861 IN and Margaret E.
280/285 PEARSON Alex b. 1863 SC and Alice
281/286 MCKENZIE Charles E. Dec. 1868 b. KS father b. IL mother b. IN
Mamie Oct. 1874 b. KY father b. KY mother b. TN
Ethel b. 1895 KS
Dorothy b. 1897 KS
Aaron father b. 1836, 64 b. IL
sheet 19 B, Osage Indian Reservation, 39 of 236 at ancestry.com
331/336 SHED Newton and Mattie
332/337 CONNER Elmer head b. 1877 age 23 b. Nebraska, father b. Indiana, mother b. PA, farmer
Mandy wife Dec. 1884 15 b. KS, parents b. IN
NOTE: Mandy is Amanda McCormick. Her siblings are seen at household 270.
333/338 BRYANT Charles A. Nov. 1873 age 26 b. KS, parents b. MO, and Effie
S? Al.. W. Boarder
334/339 ELLIS George b. 1864? 36 Indiana, parents b. OH., and Fannie, 27, b. IL, parents b. IL
335/340 WHITE Dewitt, age 35, and Mary E. b. 1880? 19, b. IA, father b. PA, mother b. Canada
BURNS Mary A. mother-in-law b. Canada BURNS Mattie sister
336/341 MCWHIRT ? b. Feb 1849 41 married 8 years, b. IL (no birthplace parents) farmer
Jenns L. (?) wife b. Sept. 1849 3 children with 3 surviving, b. MO, parents b. MO
William J. son b. Dec. 1877 22 b. IL parents b. IL
John W. son 1892 7 b. MO father b. IL mother b. MO
May daughter b. July 1896 age 3, b. MO, father b. IL mother b. MO
WOODSON Mattie daughter b. June 1877, 22 married 6 years, 2 children with 2 surviving, b. MO, father b. IL, mother b. MO
William L. March 1897, 3, b. MO, parents b. MO
Verny L., b. Sept. 1899 b. MO., parents b. MO
337/342 TRIPP James P. head b. March 1842, age 68, b. MO, no birth place for parents, farm laborer
Mary E. wife b. June 1859, age 40, 6 children, 6 surviving, b. IN, father b. KY, mother b. IN
Frank B. son b. April 1884, age 16, b. KS, parents b. MO
Ray I. daughter b. Jan 1890, age 10, b. OK, parents b. MO
Jesse F. daughter b. March 1893, age 7, b. OK, parents b. MO
338/343 DRAKE John W. b. Oct 1872, age 27, married 8 years, b. KS, parents b. IL, farmer
Bertha M., wife, b.? 1874, age 26, 4 children, 4 surviving, b. KS parents b. IL
Daisy P. b. Dec. 1892 7 b. KS, parents b. KS
Stella E. b. Oct. 1894, age 5, b. OK, parents b. KS.
Virgil W. b. Oct. 1896 age 3, b. KS parents b. KS
Zella b. August 1898, age 1, b. OK, parents b. KS

Looking over in Harrison, Chautauqua County, Kansas, we find Frank’s daughter, Nannie, living in the household of his half brother, Charles.

168/170 DRAKE Charles head Feb 1872 28 married 7 years b. KS parents b. IL farmer
Hattie M. wife April 1872 3 of 4 children surviving b. IL father b. IL mother b. IN
Roy E. son 1896 3 b. KS father b. KS mother b. IL
Lizzy A. son 1897 2 b. KS
Thedra daughter 1899 1 b. KS
HALLADAY Edward Boarder 1834 66 widowed b. NY parents b. NY
PUGH Marcus R. Brother in law 1879 29 b. IL father b. IL mother b. IN
TRIPP Nannie L niece 1886 13 b. MO father b. IL mother b. MO
DRAKE Mary L. Daughter of illegible April 1871 29 widowed b. OH father b. Germany mother b. OH

In 1905 we find Weltha McCormick back in Kansas living next to the McKenneys. I have no information on her after this.

11/11 HENDERSON J L 33 and ME (line 3)
CANVILLE Rena b. Osage Nation
12/12 CALLAHAN WL and Anna (line 6) b. Osage Nation
13/13 NESSELROAD W B 26 and LB 20 (line 16) b. Osage Nation
14/14 MCKINNEY George 43 (line 19) b. Iowa from Iowa carpenter
Belle 37 b. Illinois from Illinois
May Belle 16 b. KS from KS
Carrie 7 b. OK from OK
G W 73 b. OH from Iowa common laborer
15/15 MCKENNEY Albert 21 b. KS from KS carpenter
Vera 19 b. KS from KS
16/16 GODWIN J F 35 b. IN from IN
Emma 33 b. MO from MO
V… 7 female b. KS from KS
James 6
Arthur 7
Carl infant
MCCORMAC Weltha 20

In 1910, Jessie Tripp is out of the Tripp household and is a servant:

Big Hill Township, Forster, Osage, Oklahoma
18/19 BROWN Ephraim A. 68 married twice b. NC parents b. NC proprietor of restaurant
Mattie 59 married once b. IN parents b. TN
TRIPP Jessie servant 17 b. OK works in restaurant
DUNCAN William B. boarder 31 TN parents b. Tennessee house carpenter
EXEL? H. G. Boarder 41 b. TX parents b. TX cowboy on cattle ranch
NORDEN? Fred boarder 24 b. WI parents b. WI house carpenter
COLVIN James M boarder 55 b. MO father b. VA mother b. KY pasterer?

James and Mary Sparks McCormick Tripp are seen in the 1910 Osage Pawhuska Census with a Fred born 1882 and son John b. 1900. Ida Rae would have been 13 (from James Tripp’s first marriage to McWhirt) but she isn’t with them. I don’t know where Fred was in 1900. Living next to them is John Drake, James Tripp’s half brother.

1910 OSAGE PAWHUSKA OK CENSUS ED# 168:
161/163 DRAKE John 32 married 4 years b. KS parents b. IL
Cora 29 5 children 3 surviving b. VA parents b. VA
Vigil? 14 b. KS
Cornelius ? b. OK
Walter 4/12
162/164 TRIPP James C? 48? married 10 years b. IL father b. US mother b. IL
Mary E. 51 11 children, 8 surviving? b. IN father b. KY mother b. IN
Fred 18 b. OK father b. IL mother b. MO
John 10 b. OK father b. IL mother b. IN

In 1910, George Guss McCormick appears to be in the Kansas state asylum in Ward 1, Osawatomie, Miami, Kansas, which served both the mentally ill, and those with tuberculosis. I have no information on him after that.

I’m unable to find James and Mary Tripp in 1920.

After the death of James Preston Tripp, Mary is observed living with her son John.

1930 OK, OSAGE CO., PAWHUSKA, DISTRICT 33
TRIPP John O $600 28 b. OK father b. MO mother b. IN mechanic auto repair
Mary mother R $8 72 b. IN father b. KY mother b. IN

The Tripps in the Pawhuska, Osage, Oklahoma Cemetery:

Tripp, Frank B. 00/00/1884 00/00/1966 Sec 4 Rw 2
Tripp, Mabel C. 00/00/1888 00/00/1972 Sec 4 Rw 2
Tripp, Mary S. 00/00/1857 00/00/1939 Sec 6 Rw 1 Mother”
Tripp, Johnie Lee 00/00/1900 00/00/1974 Sec 6 Rw 1 Husband”
Tripp, Della B. 00/00/1902 00/00/1980 Sec 6 Rw 1 Wife”
Tripp, Nora B. 05/10/1888 11/02/1903 Sec 5 Rw 10 Dau of R.E. & N.A. Tripp
Tripp, James P. 00/00/1863 00/00/1928 Sec 5 Rw 10

The Sparks Sisters

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Courtesy of Francis Partch.

This image is said to be of the three Sparks sisters, daughters of James E. and Carrie Burch Sparks.

On the left is Martha Catherine b. Oct 1859 in Indiana, died 1942 August 14 in , Osage, Oklahoma, buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery. She married Philemon Thomas 1878 June 24 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas. The 1880 and 1900 census found them in Belleville, Chautauqua, Kansas, but by 1910 they were in Pawhuska, and then in 1920 and 1930 they were in Strike Axe, living beside the Osage Whitehorn family, Nannie Tripp having married John Whitehorn in 1904.

Children of Philemon Thomas and Martha Catherine were: Clara Gertrude b. 1880 m. William T. Moore 1898 Feb 6 in Chautauqua; Edith b. 1881; Arthur Thomas b. 1881 March 23 married Florence Glen; Carrie B. born 1883 married Joseph Elkins 1902 June 24 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas and moved out to Colfax, Whitman, Washington; James Alfred b. 1884 married Ida Rae Tripp (step daughter of Mary Elizabeth Sparks) 1907 Oct 7 in Chautauqua; Henry Josephus b. 1887 Nov; Noah b. 1890 Dec 14 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas.

Philemon Thomas was born 1857 July 14 in , Monroe, Iowa and died 1936 May 21 in , Osage, Oklahoma and was buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery.

The center woman is said to be Mary Elizabeth Sparks, born 1859 June 13 in Indiana. She died 1939 Nov 28 in Pawhuska. Her first husband was Samuel McCormick who she married about 1872 in Kansas and by whom she had 6 children: George b. July 1874, James b. 1876, Katherine “Carrie” b. abt 1879, married Edward McMahan (McMahoney), May b. 1881 Nov m. Antwine Rodman, Weltha and Amanda b. 1884 Dec 13 m. Elmer T. Conner then Sherrill West. After Samuel’s death, she married 2nd James Preston “Jim” Tripp 1899 Dec 6 in Pawhuska.

James Preston Tripp had previously been married to Jennie M. “Susan” McWhirt (sister of Samuel Alvin McWhirt who married Addie McKenney, George W. McKenney’s sister) and had with her Franklin B. b. 1884 March 17 who married Mabel Clair McKenney (daughter of Belle M. Sparks and George Washington McKenney Jr.), Nannie Lee b. 1886 Jan 4 married John Whitehorn, Ida Rae b. 1896 married James Alfred Thomas, son of Philemon and Martha Catherine Sparks, Dessie Mae b. 1887 married Francis Marion Roebuck, and Fred.

James Preston Tripp and Marty Sparks had John Lee “Johnny” Tripp Oct 14 1900.

James and Mary Elizabeth resided in , Osage, Oklahoma.

On the right is Belle M. Sparks. Belle M. Sparks was born 1868 Jan 14 in Shelby Illinois and died 1935 Dec 28 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas. She married George Washington McKenney Jr. Their children are covered elsewhere here.

A number of the more complex relationships in the Sparks, McKenney family revolve around these Sparks sisters.

There has been some confusion that Mary Elizabeth may instead possibly be the woman on the right, but I have a couple of earlier pictures of Belle and the woman on the right would appear to be her. Based on another photo I have of Belle that is circa 1926, I would date this photo as being close to 1935, the year of her death, and likely in the Osage area. As observed by the trees in the background, it would have been taken in fall or winter.