George Washington McKenney Jr. and Belle Sparks

George Washington MCKENNEY, son of George Washington MCKENNEY Sr. and Isabella LOVE was born 2 Sept. 1861 in Iowa. He died 3 March 1947, at the age of 85, in Sedan, Chautauqua Co. KS, and is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Chautauqua Co.

On 3 June 1883, in Elgin, Chautauqua Co. KS, George Jr. married Belle M. SPARKS, daughter of James E. SPARKS and Carrie BURCH. She was 15 and he was 21.

Belle was born 14 Jan 1868 in Shelby Co., Illinois and died 28 Dec. 1935, at the age of 67, in Sedan, Chautauqua Co. KS. She is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Chautauqua, along with G. W.

George and Belle were married 52 years and had the following children:

1. James Albert b. 22 March 1884 at Sedan, married Vera CROCKETT. Direct line.
2. Cleo May b. Chautauqua Co. KS. Born 9 April 1885, died 22 May 1892. (My family had Elsa May. Descendants of Mable Clair have Cleo May and birth and death dates.)
3. Mabel Clair b. 16 Oct. 1888 at Chautauqua Co. KS, died 11 Sept. 1972, married Frank TRIPP. James Preston TRIPP, who married Mary Sparks MCCORMICK, was father of Frank TRIPP by his first wife Jennie McWhirt.
4. Carrie Isabel b. Nov. 1897 in OK, died 1931. In 1916 she married Jessie C. HAMPTON, b. 24 August 1885 and died 8 March 1965.

A couple of stories survive about G. W. McKenney Jr., but that’s it. I was told by family of his sibling Addie that he was attached to family and kept in close contact with family in the Osage area, visiting them. Down our line is the story that he was a deputy and as a teen I saw an old photo of him with a bullet dangling from his pocket watch chain. I’ve also been told that, as a deputy, one night they came by to get him for something that was going on, and that when he returned he said he was quitting but never spoke about the events of the night. What that was about, we’ll never know.

My grandfather said he was five feet six inches tall.

A newspaper article survives of George Jr’s trip to visit his half-brother Eli in 1937.

“Brothers to Meet in Culkin after Seventeen Years

“Major and Mrs. Eli W. McKenny, of the Culkin neighborhood, are Expecting a visit from Major McKenny’s brother George McKenny Former mayor of Chataqua, Kansas, and his wife and son, of Sedair, Kans., who will arrive here next week. They are traveling by auto.

“The visit will be the first time the two brothers will have met since Major McKenny came south about seventeen years ago. The Kansans Wish to visit the National Military Park while here. This will be the First time that George McKenny and his son have been south. After staying here for a short while, the visitors (torn) New Orleans for a few(torn). ”

G. W. Jr. was never a mayor of Chautauqua Kansas. The federal censuses given him in 1900, 1910 and 1920 as living in Belleville in Chautauqua, whereas the the state census in 1905 and 1915 has the family in Chautauqua in Chautauqua county, which is confusing to me. I’ve considered the confusion may have something to do with a known mayor of Chautauqua, a James Bird Jones, who the 1920 census shows next to G. W.’s family. James Bird Jones was, sometime after 1915, a mayor of Chautauqua. He was part Chahta (Choctaw) Indian and his wife was Laura Mae Revelette, daughter of Frederick “Frank” Revelette and Emma Frances Davenport. The Revelettes and McKenneys would have been acquainted with each other prior this, according to the census. 1905 shows the James S. Revelette and Annie Rhatigan family (James was a brother of Laura) living at household 9 in Chautauqua and the McKenneys at household 14. The 1915 census records the family next to Benjamin Sparks, a brother of Belle Sparks.

Frederick “Frank” Revelette’s parents were Pierre Carbaneau Revelette and Mary Louise Roy, daughter of Louis Roy and Julia Royer (French, Osage and Kansas descent), and sister of other Roys who had a number of Osage descendants in the area, including John Baptiste Roy who had married Pagrachenah, said to be Ioway-Osage. Other relations of this family were living beside George’s sister Addie as well as other relatives. For instance, the family of Joseph Richmond Pearson and Rosa Lee Denoya had been residing between Addie in the Osage area in 1910. Rosa was a granddaughter of Julia Roy, Mary Louise Roy’s sister, through Francis Denoy and Martha Lessert.

With the story of G. W. Jr’s mother being Ioway, and with their location in the Osage area, I have considered that the story of G. W. Jr. having once been a mayor of Chautauqua is instead perhaps garbled knowledge that G. W. Jr. was in some way related to the family of James Bird Jones and Laura Mae Revelette.

THE CENSUS INFO

So far I’ve only located George Washington McKenney Jr. and Sr. in the 1885 census, not George Jr’s family, which makes me wonder if they could possibly be in Oklahoma at this time.

KS State Census – 1885 KS Chautauqua Co. Center
G. W. McKenney 48 carpenter widowed b. OH from Iowa
George McKenney 22 married carpenter b. Iowa
Ancestry.com

Mable Clair was born in 1888. Her obituary gave the family as living in Pawhuska when she was a child. By 1897, with Carrie Isabel was born, they were in Kay County, Oklahoma.

The family was back in Chautauqua County, Oklahoma by 1900.

1900 CHAUTAUQUA BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP CENSUS

120/120
SPARKS James w m 1832 age 68 b. Ind. Father-KY Mother-KY
Carrie w f Aug 1834 65 b. Ind. father-Ind. mother-Maryland
John L w m Dec 1852 47 single b. Ind. Father Ind. Mother-Ind.
William E. w m Aug 1876 23 single b. Kansas father-Ind. Mother-Ind.

(19) or (10 A)
ATKINSON Benjamin ? (uniintelligible, written through) and Mary E.
HOPKINS John and Mariam

198/198
JACK James A. Sept. 1869 30 md. 7 yrs. b. IA parents b. OH lumber and hardware owns
Carrie wife Feb. 1878 23? 3 children b. MO parents b. IL
Selma daughter 1895 4 b. KS
Russell son 1896 3 b. KS
Ransom son 1898 1 b. KS

199/199
JAY Fred H. Aug. ? 31 md. 5 years b. IA parents b. unk
Gray M. or Mary? wife Apr. 1873 27 1 child b. IL father b. VA mother b. OH
Hazel L. daughter July 1887 2 b. KS
JOHNSTON Thomas and Eveline

201/201
MOFFET John N. Apr 1864 36 md. 5 yrs. b. KS father b. OH mother b. MO farmer rents
Cora E. wife Oct. 1872 27 4 children b. IN father b. IA mother b. IN
Mamie L. daughter Aug 1895 4 b.KS
Clarence E. son Oct. 1896 3 b. I.T.
Kittie L. daughter Oct. 1897 2 b. I.T.
Norma daughter Oct. 1898 1 b. KS

202/202
MCKINNEY George Sept. 1861 38 md. 17 yrs. b. IA parents b. OH house carpenter rents
Belle wife Jan. 1868 32 4 children 3 surv. b. IL parents b. IN
James A. son Mar. 1884 16 b. KS farm laborer
Clare M. daughter Oct. 1889 11 b. KS
Carrie daughter Nov. 1898 2 b. OK

203/203
ECRET (?) Harry Sept. 1871 28 md. 5 yrs. b. IN parents b. IN day laborer rents
Lula wife May 1875 25 3 children 3 surv. b. MO parents b. MO
Viola M. daughter Nov. 1898 2 b. KS
Herbert W. son Apr. 1900 3/12 b. KS

MYER or MYERS A. stepson Mar. 1893 7 b. KS parents b. KS

204/204
RYERS ? ROGERS? BYERS? William May 1835 65 md. 42 yrs. b. OH parents b. PA Post Master owns
Eliza wife 1837 62 10 children 4 surv. b. KY father b. Scotland mother b. England
SHOBE Lila J. (grandson) 1889? 11 b. KS father b. OH mother b. IA

220/220
CROCKETT James K. w m sept 1832 67 b. Mo. Father-Va. Mother-KY
Millie A. (STRICKLIN) w f Dec. 1835 64 b. Mo. Father-Tenn. Mother-Ky.
FOSTER Lulu (daughter) w f Oct. 1875 age 24 b. Missouri father-Tenn and mother-KY.
221/221
CROCKETT Samuel w m Oct. 1855 age 44 b. Mo. Father-Mo Mother-KY
Sarah E. (HACKNEY) w f Dec 1857 age 42 b. Iowa Father-Ohio Mother-Ohio
William D. w m Sept 1883 age 16 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa
Buell K. w m Feb 1885 age 15 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa
Vera w f Mar. 1886 age 14 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa
Clifford R.w m May 1888 age 13 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa
George K. w m Sept 1886 age 14 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa
Sadie D. w f Oct 1892 age 7 b. Kansas f-Mo m-Iowa

The 1905 lineup shows the Osage Revelettes. The Lynns. J. L. Henderson with a Rena Canville in the household and she would have been Osage. Then the family of William Leo Callahan whose mother was Louisa Monica Julia Canville, Osage, daughter of Andrew Bernard Canville and Mary Louise Tayrien, and was in the household as M. Ferrell. (Cornelius Callahan, another child of Julia Canvilles, was residing a couple doors from George and Belle in 1930).

Chautauqua County had its share of mixed Indian families–in particular, French-Indian families, lines extending back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who tended to be listed as white in the Chautauqua County census, but were Osage enrolled and listed as Osage when down in the Osage area, for they moved back and forth or had family in the Osage area that was listed in the census as Osage.

1905 Chautauqua, Chautauqua, Kansas
9/9 REVLETT J S 28 b. Osage Nation from Osage Nation
A L 28 b. IA from IA
Tessie 6 b. KS from KS
L 4
10/10 LYNN RS 40 b. IN from COL
F E 41 b. IL from COL
Lura 11 b. IL from IL
Edith 9 b. IL from COL
11/11 HENDERSON J L 33 b. PA from OH
ME 31 b. IL from IL
CANVILLE Rena10 b. Osage Nation
12/12 CALLAHAN W L 23 b. Osage Nation
Anna (line 6) 26 b. Iowa from Osage Nation
Leo 7 b.Osage Nation from Osage Nation
Charles 5 b. Osage Nation
Mary 3 b. KS from KS
Gertrude 1 b. KS from KS
FERRELL M 49
SHAW Adie 20 b. Osage Nation from ON
AVERY Emma 23 b. KS from KS
SHAW Robert 15 b. Osage Nation from ON
13/13 NESSELROAD W B 26 b. WV and LB 20 b. KS
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 1908 their daughter Mable married Frank Tripp.

G. W.’s father is living in the household in 1910. They are both given as James. Clara Sparks is also in the household. This would seem to be Belle’s mother, Carrie, given as widowed, though she was still married and was also enumerated with her husband in this census. A peculiar situation, I’m not sure what’s going on there.

1910 Belleville, Chautauqua, Kansas
7/7
McKENNEY James m w 47 m. 26 years b. Iowa f-Ohio m-Pennsylvania
Bell f w 42 b. Illinois f-Indiana m-Indiana
Carrie f w 12 b. Kansas f-Iowa m-Illinois
James W. (father) m w age 78 b. Ohio f-Ireland m-Pennsylvania
SPARKS Clara (reads may be mother’s sister) f w 76 had 9 children, 4 surviving, b.Ind father-Ohio mother-Maryland. Born about 1836. Haven’t a clue who this is unless it is Belle’s mother, Carrie, enumerated twice in this census for she is observed living with her husband (noted below). Carrie’s parents were however born in NC and MD. And then also the Clara here is given as a widow. Belle and G. W. did name a daughter Mable Clair. Is it possible she is named for this Clara?

(forgot to write the number)
SPARKS James E. head m w 78 married 52 years b. Indiana, parents b. KY
Carrie A. wife f w 75 married 52 years, having had 9 children with only 4 surviving b. Indiana and parents b. in KY
John L. son m w 56 single

1915 Chautauqua, Chautauqua, Kansas
Pg. 12
HE Pennell 40 and family, Anderson, S E Moffit 73
Geo W McKENNEY 53 IA
Belle 45 IN
Carrie 17 OK
J E SPARKS 83 IN
Carrie 81
H. B. TRIPP 31 OK
Mable 26 KS

In 1920 G.W. McKENNEY and Belle are living next door to daughter Carrie Isabel. Georgie’s sister, Addie, is a few households away, giving herself as widowed, though she is still married (her husband gives himself as widowed in the 1930 census).

1920 CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP CENSUS
NAME OF UNINCORPORATED PLACE: CHAUTAUQUA CITY
14 January 1920 by Carl H. McDonald
Pg. 9B
Kiles Street
66/75 MCKENNEY George W. Head OF mw 56 md. b. IA father b. OH mother b. PA house carpenter own business
C. Belle Wife fw 50 md b. IL father b. IN mother b. IN
SPARKS James E. Father-in-law mw 87 wd b. IN father b. KY mother b. KY
67/76 JONES James B. head white 40 b. OK father b. MS mother b. unknown
Laura M. wife 33 b. OK parents b. MO
James F. son 14 b. KS parents b. OK
Aubrey C. son 10 b. OK parents b. OK
Mary F. daughter 7 b. KS parents b. OK
…
70/79 HAMPTON Jesse C. Own, Free mw 34 md b. Illinois and parents in Tennessee Retail salesman, general merchandise, wages
Carrie I. fw 22 md b. Oklahoma. Father-Iowa and mother-Illinois
Marie M. fw 1 6/12 b. Kansas father b. IL mother b. OK
Doris R. (daughter) fw 3/12 b. Kansas father b. IL mother b. OK

pg. 10a
73/82 JACK William G. 45 b. IA father b. Ire mother b. Ohio Doctor in General practice Ermie W. 39 b. KS mother b. MO
George A 11 b. KS
Pauline 9 b. KS
Willard F 1 and 7/12 b. KS
74/83 ALEXANDER John W. 78 b. PA parents b. PA Garage
75/84 ELDRIDGE John E. 39 b. KS parents b. NC Farm laborer
76/85 MCKENZIE Joseph 70 b. OH parents b. PA
Florence 61 b. IA father b. IA mother b.IN
77/86 HARPE, Carter H. 42 b. MO father b. MO mother b. AR Rail builder, oil gas drilling rig
Bertha A. 39 b. KS father b. IL mother b. OH
Russell H. 11 b. KS father b. MO mother b. KS
Averil E. 9 b. CO father b. MO mother b. KA
78/87 REID Henry N 64 b. MO parents b. KY farmer
Amanda 53 b. MO parents b. KY
Julia N. 21 b. KS parents b. MO
79/88 MCWHIRT Harry B. 33 b. MO father b. IL mother b. IA … dresser, oil and gas well
Adda M. mother 54 widow b. IA father b. OH mother b. PA
Mary sister 15 b. OK father b. IL mother b. IA
NOTE: In this census, Addie MCKINNEY MCWHIRT, sister of George Washington MCKINNEY Jr., is living four households down from Joseph MCKINSEY.
80/89 GREGORY John F. 44 b. MO parents b. MO works at oil and gas field
Sarah A. 42 b. KS mother b. IL father b. IN

2nd Feb. pg. 20B
188/188
MCKENNEY James A. Rents 35 b. KS father b. IN mother b.IL farmer
Vera C. wife 33 b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA
Loyd C. son 11 b. KS
Thelma E. daughter 8 b. KS
Lela M. daughter 5 b. KS
188/189 CROCKETT Samuel head owns free mw 64 md b. MO parents b. MO Farmer owns own farm #125
Sadie H. wife fw 62 md b. IA parents b. IA

The 1930 census.

1930 KS, CHAUTAUQUA CO., CHAUTAUQUA DISTRICT 1
58/58 CALLAHAN Cornelius head $3000 Indian 55 md. 20 b. OK mixed blood Osage
Sadie wife 68 md 16 b. MO father b. OH mother b. IA
59/59 ELDRIDGE John E. head 49 b. Kansas father NC mother US (brother of Effie who married William Fronkier)
60/60 MCKENNEY George W. Own $700 68 married at 22 b. IA father b. OH mother b. PA Carpenter
Bell A. 62 married at 15 b. IL parents b. IN
61/61 JACK William G. Own $800 55 wd. b. IA father b. Ireland mother b. OH physician in general practice
George 21 b. KS father b. IA mother b. KS
Pauline 20
William F 11
NOTE: Martha Eliza CROCKETT, sister of Samuel Kelly CROCKETT (James Albert MCKENNEY’s father-in-law), married W. F. LEMMON. A daughter, Ermie LEMMON, married William G. JACK.
62/62 MCKENZIE Joseph Own $375 80 married at 28 b. OH parents b. PA
Florence 72 married at 17 b. IA father b. US mother b. MO
HAMPTON Opal 32 married at 18 b. KS father b. OH mother b. IA
Florence O. granddaughter 13 b. KS father b. IL mother b. KS
Joseph R. grandson 10 b. KS father b. IL mother b. KS
NOTE: A daughter of Joseph is shown as being an Opal HAMPTON, who had married John R. HAMPTON. Belle’s daughter Carrie married Jesse C. HAMPTON in 1916 and it is possible John R. was a brother.
Florence PERSHALL MCKENZIE was the sister of John Wesley PERSHALL m. Lucretia Jennie Kirkpatrick, whose mother Zilpha Strickland was the sister of Millie Ann STRICKLIN who married James Kelly CROCKETT who was the grandfather of Vera who married James Albert MCKENNEY, Belle’s son, in 1904.