Monthly Archives: March 2010

Samuel Bartow and Mary S. McKenney

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BARTOW, Samuel
born in Ohio, April 18th, 1818. When nineteen, bought a farm in Monroe county. Lived there until the fall of 1849, when he located in Bartholomew county, Indiana. Lived there three years, teaching school part of the time, then went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and St. Louis, Mo.; from there by steamer to St. Paul and to Minnetonka. Made a claim to the farm on which he now lives, located on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka. Married in 1839 to Mary McKenney. They have five children. He has held the office of county commissioner and has been prominent in the affairs’ of the town.

Source: http://hennbios.tripod.com/surnameb.htm

Samuel Bartow is currently believed to be the son of Eli Bartow and Charity of Harrison County, Ohio. He was born April 18, 1818 in Ohio. He married, 1839 in Ohio, Mary S. McKenney who was born 1810 in Pennsylvania and died before 1870. She is currently believed to the the child of Robert and Margaret McKenney of Belmont, Guernsey and Monroe Counties, Ohio.

Samuel and Mary had five children:

  1. Robert W. Bartow b. May 10, 1845 in Ohio, married first, in July 1869 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, E. M. (Alice) Page born abt 1848 in Wisconsin, died March 17, 1879. They had two children, Robert and Horace. Rbert second married Ella, who had been born Jan 1854 in Indiana. Their children were Joseph A. and Thomas C.
  2. Luther B. Bartow b. Dec 1846 in Ohio, married a woman named Annie who was born May 1857 in Iowa. They had at least 5 children, Sidney Bruce, Jenette, Clifford, and two others who the 1900 census gives as having deceased.
  3. Margaret A. Bartow was born 1848 in Ohio.
  4. Mary S. Bartow was born Feb 1855 in either Minnesota or Indiana.
  5. Samuel Milton Bartow was born 1856 in Minnesota. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Rathdrum, Indiana.

Samuel’s 1838 Noble County, Ohio land patent shows his land in proximity of Robert McKinney, one of the reasons for which he is believed to be the father of Samuel’s wife, Mary S. McKenney.

Samuel BARTOW took his land in the same area in W1/2SE on Sept 1 1838.
Robert MCKINNEY took his land also Sept 1 1838 in the same area W1/2NW.

The 1840 Cadiz, Harrison, Ohio census doesn’t reflect yet Samuel’s marriage to Mary S. in 1839.

In 1840 in Monroe Co., Samuel’s father Eli is living by Robert MCKINNEY/McCLUNEY.

Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: , Harrison, Ohio; Roll: 402; Page: 146.
Benjamin MCFADDEN
Charles ROBINSON
Samuel BARTOW – – – – 1
John LAWTON
John JOHNSTON
Nichoast JOHNSTON
Edward CAWTHORN?
Edard CLIFFORD
James McADAM
Samuel HUGHES
Jesse HAYES
Samuel DRUMMOND

The 1850 Redding, Jackson, Indiana census.

Robert SUTHERLAND? b. KY and Esther and family
William A. MAYBE 29 upper Canada and Sarah
497/507 Samuel BARTO 32 teacher b. OH
Mary 40 b. PA
Robert W. 5 b. OH
Luther B. 3
Margaret A. 2
Eli 50 farmer b. NY
Nicholos MEGER? Germany and Catherine
George WOLFMAN Germany and John

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Redding, Jackson, Indiana; Roll: M432_152; Page: 131; Image: 264.

By 1852, Samuel Bartow was residing in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

The 1857 Township 188, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

21 Sept 1857
Searched only for the name “Samuel” and was able to find in 1857 Hennepin and found in Townsyip 118 on page 25
Saml Bartlow 45 PA
Mary 35 PA
Robert 12 PA
Lushon 10 PA
Margaret illegible age PA
Mary 4 PA
John 1 Minnesota
Then did a handsearch for Robert McKenney in the 25 pages of that census and didn’t find

Samuel’s land entry, 1857, in Hennepin, Minnesota.

Name: SAMUEL BARTOW
Land Office: MINNEAPOLIS
Document Number: 915
Total Acres: 96.65
Signature: Yes
Canceled Document: No
Issue Date: April 02, 1857
Mineral Rights Reserved: No
Metes and Bounds: No
Statutory Reference: 3 Stat. 566
Multiple Warantee Names: No
Act or Treaty: April 24, 1820
Multiple Patentee Names: No
Entry Classification: Sale-Cash Entries
Land Description:
11 5TH PMNo117 N22 W8
23 5TH PMNo117 N22 W7
34 5TH PMNo117 N22 W7

He appears to be a neighbor of Robert Eugene McKenney whose homestead was “the S.W. quarter of section 19 in
township 117 N. of range 22 in the district of lands
subject to sale at Minneapolis, Minn. containing 158
acres and 60-100th. of an acre”.

1860 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: M653_570; Page: 0; Image: 253.
Listed as BARTON in index
78/77 Samuel BARTOW 40 farmer $1500 $200 OH
Mary 40 b. PA
Robert 16 b. OH
Luther 15
Margaret 12
Mary 8 b. IN
Milton 5 b. MN
Wyant VANDTSEIN 30 farmer b. NY

The 1865 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

1865 Minnesota Hennepin County, Minnetonka
Samuel BARTOW
Robert W.
Luther B.
Maryaceth A.
Mary C.
Saml M.
Robert E. MCKENNEY
Mary
Rebecca E.
Charity A.
Samuel B.
Mary

The 1870 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

Year: 1870; Census Place: Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: M593_5; Page: 617; Image: 634.

WHIPPLE Knight
CHOWEN Joseph
ROBINSON Alfred
44/46 BARTOW Samuel 52 farmer $1200 $300 b. OH
Margaret 22 b. OH
Luther 23 b. IN
Mary 18 b.MN
Milton? 14

Next page

49/52 BARTOW Robert 25 Farmer $1200 $225 b. OH
Alice 22 b. Wisconsin
PAGE Albert 24 farm laborer b. Wisconsin

Allan McKenney’s notes on Samuel Bartow’s residence:

“I was looking at a plat map of Minnetonka twp. (1874) and found Samuel Bartow’s property according to the BLM coordinates. He did indeed live on the south side of Lake Minnetonka that borders with Gray’s Bay.These old maps have the persons name who lives on the land at that time (owners). This is also interesting as, just south of his place and a little east, is Groveland. This shows an unidentified church and cemetery. I think that this is where Sam’s wife Mary is buried. Groveland cemetery goes back to 1852 to the presant day. I also came across all of the burials for Bloomington cemetery (over 2,000) burials. Checked all who are there, and no Bartows nor Macs show up.”
Allen McKenney

1875 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

Handsearched Minnetonka, Hennepkin for 1875 and found…

1875 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota
Pg. 4
Samuel Bartow 57 O father b. P mother b. O
Mary 23 b. illegible parents b. OH
Milton 19 b. MN parents b. OH

Pg. 6 Robt W. Bartow 24 b. OH parents b. OH
Alice M. 26 b. Wisconsin father b.NY mother b. Wisconsin
Robert 1 b. MN father b. OH mother b. Wisconsin

1880 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: T9_623; Family History Film: 1254623; Page: 153.4000; Enumeration District: 220; Image: 0309.

113/116 BARTOW Robert W. 35 OH OH PA
Robert 6 MN OH WI
Horace 1 MN OH WI
Samuel 65 father OH NY NY
Mary S. 26 sister IN OH PA

The 1885 Minnetonka, Hennepin, Minnesota census.

54 Mary J. Whipple and family
55 Samuel Bartow 67 b. Ohio
Luther B 38
Anne 32 b. Iowa
Sidney B 0 b. Minnesota
56 R. W. Barto 39 b. Ohio
Bert 11 b. Minnesota
(illegible) 6

Please, if you are a descendant and have further information on Samuel Bartow or Mary S. McKenney, we’d love to hear from you. See the contact page.

William McKenney (McKinney) and Esther Yarnell

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Are you a descendant down the line of William McKenney and Esther Yarnell of Van Buren, Iowa? If you are, please get in touch with me. We need info down this line to organize genealogical ties back to Ohio and hopefully a male descendant who will take a yDNA-37 test at FTDNA. So, please, if you’re related, get in touch!

William McKinney was born 1827 in Ohio and died 1862 Dec 7 in Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas. Circa 1844 he married Esther Yarnell in Monroe County, Ohio. She was born 1825 in Pennsylvania and died 1891 in Iowa. She’s buried at the Bentonsport Cemetery in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa.

Right now, my belief is that William McKenney/McKinney was a brother of my George W. McKenney Sr. They are both placed in Monroe County, Ohio, they were neighbors in Van Buren County, Iowa, and Esther Yarnell’s father, Eli, in the 1840 Monroe Co., Ohio census lives a couple of households from a Robert McKenney who, based on census research of McKenneys of the area, I believe to be a grandfather or very close relation of both this William and my George McKenney.

Esther Yarnell’s father, Eli Yarnell, was born 1790 in Pennsylvania and died 1856 in Van Buren, Iowa, having moved out to Van Buren with William McKenney’s family. Her mother is unknown but she had, it seems (according to census data), only one sister, and she is unknown. Eli Yarnell is, sadly enough, a Yarnell who is unaccounted for. No one appears to know his lineage.

William McKenney and Esther had 9 children:

  1. Hannah b. 1845-1846 in Ohio was alive in 1860 and likely survived into adulthood and married, who is unknown
  2. unknown child probably deceased in infancy
  3. unknown child probably deceased in infancy
  4. Eli W. b. 1847 March 2 in Monroe County, Ohio (according to his bio), died 1946 Feb 21 in Los Angeles, California, is covered in another post
  5. Francis M. b. circa 1850 in Iowa, is only known to have survived to 1860
  6. William S. b. 1852 in Van Buren, Iowa, died 1928 in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa, married before 1884 Hettie (Jenetta) M. She was born 1862 March in Missouri and died 1921 in Iowa and is buried at the Bentonsport cemetery in Van Buren, Iowa. Their children were John b. 1884, Dairy b. 1887 and Elsie b. 1890.
  7. Luther B. b. 1854 in Iowa, is known to have survived to 1863, when he was placed in an orphanage with Esther and William, but I have nothing on him after this
  8. Esther Anna b. 1859 Oct. in Van Buren, Iowa, married 1876 June 6 in Van Buren, Iowa to Josephus Barr. Josephus was born 1851 March in Ohio. They remained in Iowa and had at least one child, Carrie A. Barr b. in 1876 who married a man named Burt Hall who was born about 1877 in Kansas.
  9. Viola R.

Upon William McKinney’s migration to Van Buren County, Iowa (people believed to be relatives were already located here) the family is reported to have initially settled in Columbus, then Bentonsport.

The Rootsweb Van Buren County page remarks on the abandoned Columbus:

COLUMBUS. A pioneer village in section 27, Washington Township, on the northeast side of the Des Moines River, about two miles above Bentonsport. The government surveyors in 1837 report in their notes its existence.

William McKinney and Eli Yarnell are in the 1849 Van Buren County, Iowa census.

William SIMMONS
Mrs. BARKER
Josen PRICE
Arch CAMPBELL
Jacob SCHAEFFER
John SCHAEFFER
William ROGERS
Elizabeth ORR
William H. BOLANDER
Andrew FRANKLIN
William SHEPHERD
Nathan SHEPHERD
Martin STALEY?
Bartley SCHOORT?
Hugh GILLESPY
Anna MILLER
?
Samuel WHEELER
Wm. McKENNY 5 (WA)
William APPLETON
John W. BURTON
Judith CARSON?
Sam GASSITT
Eli YARNELL 3
? MCCUTCHEON
Arnold CARTER
Elias WALRAVEN
Joseph INGLES
Ira KELSEY
John SHEPHERD

They are observed in Washington in Van Buren in 1850.

1850 IA Van Buren Co. Washington Township

81/81 Thomas Trigg and Ellen from KY
82/82 Daniel and Celeste CRAWFORD 24 PA and OH
83/83 Jane MCCUTCHEON 50 NY
84/84 Mary NICHOLS 29 and family NY
85/85 James MCCUTCHEON 56 and family NY
86/86 Ira KELSEY 41 NY and Caroline 40 and family (oldest child, 14, born OH)
87/87 Wm. MCKINNEY 22 OH
Esther 26 PA
Hannah 4 OH
Eli 3
Francis 3/12 IA
Eli YOUNG 60 PA (is believed to be Eli YARNELL)
88/88 John SHEPHERD 29 and Jane and family VA and PA
Beniah BARRING 66 (in above house)
89/89 Nancy INGLES PA and Wesley and Margaret b. OH
90/90 Esther McCRACKEN PA and family from PA
91/91 Jacob W…ff? NY

The 1852 Washington, Van Buren, Iowa census.

Jacob SHARP
Charles SIMMONS
Robert M. WILLIAMS
Andrew FRANKLIN
Joseph LINDROW
William MCKINNEY 4 males 2 females 2 voters
Charles L. ALDEN
Peter DOHERTY
James McCUTCHEON
Malen MOORE or MOON
Thomas TRIGG
Richard CARTER
William SHEPHERD

The 1856 Washington, Van Buren, Iowa census shows my family’s George W. McKenney living next to William.

Iowa, Van Buren County, Washington Township Roll: IA_66
Andrew and Elizabeth FRANKLIN, he from Germany
Nathan SHEPERD 44 ? of OH with Jemima and family
David S. LEE and Jane household
Luther McCRACKIN household
David and Sarah ASKINS family 24 and 23 from IN and Ohio
Thomas and Mary ASKINS family, 63 and 60 from PA and KY
24/24 William MCKINNEY 28 Ohio laborer (family has been in the state 8 years)
Esther 30 PA
Jane 11
Eli W. 9
Francis M. 6
William S. 4
Luther B. 1
25/25 George W. MCKINNEY 25 Ohio carpenter (familyh as been in the state 9 years)
Isabelle 24 PA
Martha E. 4 OH
Margaret J. 2
Lucinda W. 1
Next household Felix and Angeline WILLIAMS, 40, from KY with several children born Missouri. (In 1850 they are in Schuyler MO District 91)
Harriet GILBERT 40 from KY with children William and James born Missouri
John BURTON 44 and his family, he born in KY
Thomas and Mahala TRIGG family, 40 and 33, from KY

The 1860 Washington, Van Buren, Iowa census.

Washington Township
560 Lonzo SHEPHERD 26 KY
561/569 Thomas TRIGG 49 and Ellen and family KY
562/570 James JACKSON 30 and Mary England and IL
560/571 Ira KELSEY 53 and Catherine OH and NY
8 564 572 McKinney Wm 33 M Labourer 50 Ohio
9 564 572 McKinney Esther 35 F Pa
10 564 572 McKinney Hannah 15 F Ohio
11 564 572 McKinney Eli W 13 M Ohio
12 564 572 McKinney Francis M 10 M Iowa
13 564 572 McKinney William S 8 M Iowa
14 564 572 McKinney Luther B 6 M Iowa
15 564 572 McKinney Esther A 2/12 F Iowa
565/573 Wm QUAINTANCE 39 and Harriet PA and NY
566/574 Allen LIPPENCOTT 54 and Sarah NY and England to OH
567/575 B. RIGGSBEE 25 and family MO and IA
568/576 Dudley HARDY 56 and Amelia NH and NY

William MCKINNEY is counted twice in the 1860 census. He is also in the Van Buren Village Township census, not far from my G. W. MCKINNEY. He is listed with his son Eli among a number of railroad workers:
9 137 137 McKinney Wm. 37 M Labourer O.
10 137 137 McKinney Eli 12 M Labourer O.

William McKenney enlisted 13 August 1862 in Company I, Iowa infantry. He died Dec 7th of 1862 at Prairie Grove, Washington, Arkansas.

His son, Eli, enlisted in Company K, 45th infantry.

For some reason, three of William’s and Esther’s children are found in an orphanage in 1863.

With William’s death, though Esther was still alive, in 1863 we find 3 of the children in an orphanage. Anna is given as 8 at the time though she would have been 4. Luther was given as 10 and would have been about 9. The 3rd child was likely William S., given as 12. Children thus not in the orphanage were 1 year old Viola, 13 year old Francis. The eldest child, Hannah, was old enough to have been married and Eli was in the army

LIST OF SOLDIERS AND ORPHANS WHO HAVE ENTERED THE SOLDIERS ORPHANS HOME AT DAVENPORT IOWA UP TO THE 1st of JAN 1867:
Reported by Maj. M.B. Cochran (late Surg. USA) Supt.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iascott/sohome.htm
McKINNEY, Wm – Co I,19th IA Infantry – Van Buren Co – 12/07/1863
McKINNEY, ? 12
McKINNEY, Anna 8
McKINNEY, Luther 10

In 1870, William and Viola are back with their mother. I have yet to locate the daughter, Esther, in this census. She would have been about 11.

Bentensport, Van Buren, Iowa
pg. 408
2/2 MCCRACKEN Isaac 31 b. OH and Emma
3/3 MCKENNEY Esther 44 $100 b. PA
William 17 laborer b. IA
V. R. 8 (f) attending school b. IA
4/4 FRANKLIN Mary 52 or 58? b. OH
Sarah 21 b. IL
Benjamin 18
4/5 CARTER B F 38 b. IA and Amelia
5/6 STEVENS G. W. 60 b. Nova Scotia and Sarah
6/7 LAGLE J A 45 b. NC and Catherine
7/8 DOAN Thomas 46 b. IN and Mary
8/9 JACK J. F. (or J. T.) 30 paper peddler b. OH
Nellie F. 18 b. IA
L. F. 8/12 b. IA

In 1880, again, William and Viola are with their mother, Esther, but the daughter, Esther, has reappeared and is now living next door, married to Josephus Barr.

1880 IOWA VAN BUREN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
pg. 2 ancestry.com
J. D. or S. D. or I. D. Rergrin? on one side
16/16
McKINNEY Esther 55 Penn. Penn. Penn. (wd)
Wm S 27 common laborer Iowa Ohio Penn.
Viola 18 Iowa Ohio Penn.
17/17 BARR Esther A. 21 (daughter) married Iowa Ohio Penn
Carrie A. 3 (granddaughter) Iowa Iowa Iowa
Next McVITY Thomas and APPLETON Ann
Pg. 6
59/59 McKINNEY (no given name) 33 common laborer Ohio Ohio Penn.
Melisa A. 34 Indiana Vir Vir
Lottie 12 Iowa Ohio Ind
George C. 10 Iowa Ohio Ind
Charles 4? Iowa Ohio Ind
NOTE: I am assuming this unnamed McKINNEY is Eli, son of William and Esther.
60/60 OLINE-SMITH Luther 30 common laborer Iowa Ohio Ohio
Gertrude M. 30 Virginia virginia virginia
Bertie 7/12 b. Oct. Iowa Iowa Virg
61/61 CORNS or COMS? Martin 33 common laborer Ohio p-ohio
Mary E. 23 Iowa p-Ohio
Clara F. 1 Iowa Ohio and Iowa
62/62 BURNS or BUNS? James 37 common
laborer Iowa Ill. Ky
Mary 36 can’t read or write Iowa p-Ohio
Alice 10 Kansas Iowa Iowa
Lidia 8 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Rose 6 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Mattie 4? Iowa Iowa Iowa
Josephine 1 Iowa Iowa Iowa
Baby 1/12 April Iowa Iowa Iowa
MILLER Sarah aunt 69 (no marriage designation) KY P-VA

The 1885 census shows Esther living at 3rd and Benton Street in Bentonsport.

Name: Esther McKinney
Age: 59
Gender: F
Birth State: PA
Township Number: 69
Range: 9
Section: 36
Location: Corner Third Street and Benton Street
Marital Status: W
Can Read or Write: X
Line Number: 27
Dwelling Number: 61
Family Number: 62
Page Number: 619
State: IA
County: Van Buren
Township Name: Washington
Town: Bentonsport
Family History Film: 1020187
Volume: 269

In this census, Esther is living next to her daughter, Esther McKenney Barr.

1885 Iowa, Van Buren County, Bentonsport
60/61 Andrew and Sarah St. STEPHENS
61/62 Esther MCKINNEY 59 b. PA
62/63 Josephus BARR 36 ? Laborer b. OH
Esther 27 b. Van Buren
Carrie A. 8 b. Van Buren
63/64 Edward J. JIPHEY?

Esther (the mother) died in 1891 and was buried at Bentonsport Cemetery.

Before 1884, William S. McKinney married a Hettie (Jennetta) M. who was born March 1862 in Missouri.

William S. and Jennette (Hettie) are observed in the 1900 census with their three children, John, Dairy and Elsie. William’s sister, Esther Barr, is also observed in this census. Her daughter, Carrie Barr, has married and is living with her parents with her 3 year old daughter, Hazel.

1900 IOWA VAN BUREN COUNTY WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP CENSUS:
7/7
MCKINNEY William June 1852 47 m 16 yr. Iowa Ohio Penn
Hettie M. March 1862 38 m 16 yr 3 children and 3 surviving Missouri Missouri Ohio
John Dec 1884 15 s Iowa Iowa Missouri
Dairy Aug 1887 12 s Iowa Iowa Missouri
Elsie Sept 1890 9 s Iowa Iowa Missouri

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: T623 462; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 105.
62/62 Emma GIBSON 1873 and son
63/63 BARR Josephus March 1851 49 md 25 b. OH father b. Delaware mother b. NJ
Annie E. Oct 1859 40 md 25 1 of w children surviving b. IA father b. OH mother b. PA
HALL Carrie I. Sept 1876 23 md 4 years 1 child b. IA father b. OH mother b. IA
Hazel I. grand daughter May 1897 3 b. IA father b. KS mother b. IA

By 1910, all three children have left the household and are listed in the census as still living.

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Washington, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: T624_425; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 118; Image: 1224.
1/1 MCKINNEY William S. 58 md 26 b. IA father b.OH mother b. PA
Jennette M. 47 3 of 3 children b. MO father b. MO mother b. OH

William S. and Jennette were also in the 1920 census in Washington, Van Buren co., Iowa:

Image 9
CARTER Charles O. 79 and Martha
STEINMEYRER John O. 40 and Ettie
OWINGS John W. 80 and Harriett
DAVIS Anthony O. 35 and Irene
MUSSES Frank P. 67 and Addie C.
HUBBARD Chester A. 29 and Mary
FRAIZER Warren 44 and Grace
CORNS Martin 75 and Mary
DANIELS Albert R. 61 and Rossie
102/103 MCKINNEY William S. 67 b. IA father b. OH mother b. PA
Jennetta M. 57 b. MO Father b. Holland mother b. Holland
103/104 JACK George L. 51 b. IA father b. OH mother b. OH
Mattie A. 48 b. IA father b. VA Mother b. MA
Charles A. 39

Jennette died in 1921. William S. died in 1928. They are both buried at Bentonsport.

Where did John, Dairy and Elsie go? I’ve been unable to track them any further. I’m hoping one of their descendants will eventually find this post and get in contact.

M. D. Leahy, the head of Freethought University in Liberal, Converts to Anarchy, 1888

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The below is from the publication Liberty, March 31, 1888. Advocating individualist anarchism, “Liberty” was published by Benjamin Ricketson Tucker from August 1881 to April 1908.

* * * * *

LIBERTY
Not the Daughter But the Mother of Order

Boston, Mass., Saturday, March 31, 1888
Whole No. 121

Of recent conversions to Anarchy the most surprising to me is that of M. D. Leahy, who is at the head of the Freethought University in Liberal, Missouri. Until lately I had supposed him to be simply an Infidel of the ordinary type “playing second fiddle” to that founder of Liberal and hater of Liberty, G. H. Walser. And when he associated himself with C. M. Overton for the publication of the “American Idea,” he did not rise much higher in my opinion, for the character of that paper as it first appeared, with its Anarchistic opposition to prohibition, its Authoritarian opposition to free love, and its moral horror of Egoism, gave no evidence of power to intelligently follow a principle. But dissensions came, Overton went out, and now the paper appears under the management of M. D. Leahy and W. S. Allison. It is much reduced in size and is far from a model of elegant typography, but it has gained those immense virtues, — intelligence, manliness, and consistency. It is now a stanch and straight advocate of Anarchism, as is shown by the article elsewhere reproduced from its columns. To take such a step in the bigoted town of Liberal requires no small degree of courage, and I should much like to see Mr. Leahy encouraged in his course by generous subscriptions to his paper, which is issued weekly at one dollar a year. Address “American Idea, Liberal, Missouri.”

State Board of Agriculture Lecture in Liberal, Missouri, 1904

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MISSOURI STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
Monthly Bulletin
Vol. IV June, 1904 No. 3

The Institute.—Let me say a word here in favor of the commendable work now being done by our State Board of Agriculture. The farmers’ institute and the display car of products are working closer into the confidence of the older farmers than ever before. They have made a deep impression on many of the younger farmers, who are already beginning to take hold. They carry out their educational work in a manner that is readily grasped by the students of the public school, and never fail to say a good word for the work being accomplished by the Agricultural College.

Recently one of those institute meetings was held for us at Liberal, Missouri. The Liberal schools were dismissed in the afternoon for the occasion, and the interest shown by the students was intense. The young ladies were equally interested in the lectures, especially pleased with the contents of the display car, and many students expressed a desire to, at some time, succeed in attending the Agricultural College, and devoting themselves in that direction.

This is what is wanted. A stimulus to the ambition of the youth of the land in an agricultural direction, for let it be understood that a person never achieves anything which they have no ambition for. If a man has not an ambition to drive the best team in the county he will never drive it. If he has no ambition to raise ihe biggest crop of corn in the State he will never raise it. If he has not an ambition to accomplish something he will never accomplish it. Ambition must precede the accomplishment. Cause must precede the effect. No cause, no effect.

The recent lecture of the President of the Missouri Corn Growers’ Association at Liberal is already bearing fruit and more work in that line is now craved by the farmers.

This portion was from a report by P. E. Crabtree of Hannon, Missouri (in Barton County), “Indian Corn–From a Practical Farmer’s Point of View”.

“The Primitive Expounder” published out of Alphadelphia by R. Thornton and J. Billins

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Universalist Companion
with an
ALMANAC AND REGISTER
containing the
STATISTICS OF THE DENOMINATION
for
1846
A. B. Grosh, Editor and Proprietor

Periodical—The Primitive Expounder” is published every other Thursday, in Alphadelphia, on a medium sheet, octavo form, at $1.00 per annum in advance, by Revs. R. Thornton, and J. Billings, Editors.

New Society.—Convis, 24 ms., 1. Total, 27.

New Meeting Houses.—Jackson, Pontiac, 2. Total, 4.

Preachers – – P. O. Address
Adam, H…..Ann Arbor
Billings, J…..Jackson
Curtis, S S…..Wolfcreek
Gage, J, 2nd…..Wayne
Gage, W…..Grand Blanc
Goss, H A…..Kensington
Hard W…..Plymouth
Lockwood, J…..Jonesville
Miles, S…..Ann Arbor
Miner, J N…..Camden
Orton, J…..Groveland
Orton, Amos…..Groveland
Ravlin, D H…..Ann Arbor
Sanford, J H…..Detroit
Shephard, J…..Fentonville
Stebbins, J…..Detroit
Thornton, R…..Alphadelphia
West, C P…..Otsego
Wheeler, T…..Alphadelphia
New preacher, 1. Total, 19.

Violet by George H. Walser

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A sample of George H. Walser’s poetry. “Violet” is from The Bouquet, also published in 1897.

* * * * *

A LITTLE BOOK OF MISSOURI VERSE
Collected and Edited by J. S. Snoody
Press of Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co.
Kansas City, MO
1897

VIOLET

When Morning stole across the distant plain
To wreathe the peeping blooms with aerial
dye,
The first and foremost of the gaudy train
That made her welcome was the azure eye
Of Violet, whose modest blushes said:
“Come bless me, Morning, in my little bed.”

When Morning stoop’d to pay the want’d due,
She drop’d, from her heart, a jewel rich and
rare—
A jewel wrap’d in rays of golden hue:

And Morning said, “Fair one, this jewel
wear;
‘Twill ever be your truest, best defense;
It is Modesty rob’d in Innocence.”

George H. Walser.

GEORGE H. WALSER was born in Dearborn County, Illinois, May 26,1834. He practiced law at Middleport, Illinois, from 1857 to 1863. Since 1863 he has lived in Missouri. He founded the town of Liberal, Missouri, in 1880. Mr. Walser has published two volumes of verse, Poems of Leisure, 1891, and The Bouquet, 1897.

Liberal Mutual Telephone Company Didn’t Like People Sharing Their Service

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The people of the Liberal Mutual Telephone Company *really* didn’t want people sharing service with their neighbors and friends.

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From Telephony, The American Telephone Journal, July 2, 1910

Good Arguments Against the Borrowing Habit.

Mr. G. H. Dixson, secretary and manager of the Liberal Mutual Telephone Company, Liberal, Missouri, is embarked in an educational campaign against the folly and injustice of “borrowing” telephone service. He is using his directory to convince subscribers that it is to their disadvantage to allow this practice, and unfair to the company, and is producing some matter bearing on this point which is worthy of reproducing in the directories of other companies. There is no question but what it will pay to devote attention to the elimination of this nuisance and expense. The only point for discussion is that of method.

An examination of the following abstracts from the directory of the Liberal Mutual Telephone Company will show that Mr. Dixson has given careful study to the subject, and produced some arguments which should bring results.

‘Important—A Mutual Understanding—We place an instrument in your house or office for the purpose of furnishing only you and your household—which includes your employees and guests stopping with you-—telephone service.

“The rate for this service is one dollar per month for residence, and two dollars for business telephones.

“When non-subscribers ask to use your telephone, it is your duty to see that Central is informed of the fact, that the operator may make arrangements with the party calling to pay the tolls to you, or go to Central or either of the hotels where public pay-stations are installed for their convenience.

“If you permit them to talk out of town without O. K.’ing the call, or talk for them, you will be held responsible for the tolls, which will be charged to your account.

“Telephone service is our stock in trade, and you have no more right to give it away than we would have to give some of your property to another.”

“It is a fact that is becoming more generally known by people who read that as the number of telephones increases, so does the cost of operating each instrument. Many persons may find it hard to credit such a statement, as it is not the usual principle that the increasing volume of business will also increase the average cost, it must be borne in mind, however, that it is the accumulation of calls of a large exchange over a small one that is directly responsible for the increase in cost.

“It is much like the old problem of shoeing a horse at one cent for the first nail, two cents for the second, doubling the price of each nail. The shoeing of a horse year after year would bankrupt a millionaire.

“That is why the non-paying telephone user is becoming a menace to telephone companies all over the land, causing some companies to discard the flat rate system for that of ‘measured service.'”

‘Would you like to pay for a telephone and not be able to use it, while your neighbor uses it and pays nothing?

“That is what you do when you let a non-subscriber use your telephone. He is enjoying the advantages of the whole telephone system without paying, but when you want the non-subscriber you have to go after him. You pay for the service but can’t use it.

“More than that, he keeps the lines busy so that others who are paying for the service can’t get it when they want it.

“Do you think it just?

“Every call put in costs the telephone company money.

“The telephone company needs the money to improve the service. It must all come from those who use it. Do you want to pay it all, or would you like to have the other fellow pay his share?”

“The man who wanted to talk to you on important business was likely in a hurry and couldn’t wait for the ‘dead head,’ who kept the line busy, to ‘ring off.’

“Your line won’t be busy so often if the idle gossiper had to pay for his service. Sava?”

Bee Journal advertised from Liberal, 1881

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Below is an ad for The Kansas Bee Keeper from 1881, Liberal, Missouri.

THE CANADIAN BEE JOURNAL
Vol. 1 BEETON, ONTARIO, APRIL 22nd, 1885, No. 4

KANSAS BEE KEEPER
Established 1881

A 24 Column WEEKLY journal. Devoted exclusively bee-culture, at

ONE DOLLAR A YEAR

Three months on trial for twenty-five cents. Address,
SCOVELL & POND
Liberal, Missouri

Allen Marble Noyes

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Allen Marble NOYES was born 30 Oct 1867 “4 o’clock AM” at Anna, Union County, Illinois to James Allen and Caroline Atwell Noyes. He married Susie REYNOLDS 1 May 1897 at age 29. He died, 21 April 1939, at Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri, at the age of 72 and was buried in Harvey Cemetery.

Allen made the land run into Indian Territory in 1889 and settled on a farm near Miller, OK. Since he had made the first run and was experienced, he was the teacher of a group of ten men who made the run into the Cherokee Strip in 1893. They met at Orlando, OK. several days before at the home of one of the men. They rode into the strip early to choose the place they wanted which was about midway or nearly a 30 mile ride from the border. The farms were adjoining ones in a bend of two streams called Red River and Bunch Creek. On the morning of September 16 1893 everyone lined up on the border. The only food they carried with them was bread.”
Source: Niece Grace Pinkerton

Allen and Susie had 8 children:

  1. Carrie Noyes b. 1902 in Oklahoma Territory
  2. Julian J. Noyes b. circa 904 in Oklahoma Territory
  3. Marble J. Noyes b. circa 1906 in Missouri
  4. Lincoln Noyes b. circa 1907 in Missouri.
  5. Victor Noyes b. circa 1911 in Missouri.
  6. Cephia Noyes b. circa 1913 in Missouri.
  7. Lawrence K. Noyes b. circa 1915 in Missouri.
  8. Drexel Noyes b. circa 1916 in Missouri.

A July 23 1887 letter from his mother Caroline places Allen in Sunny Dale.

Another letter survives that was written April 23 1892 from Caroline Atwell Noyes to Ray Noyes from Allen’s place in Miller, Oklahoma.

We have two or three letters from 1902 written by Allen’s mother, Bettie, when she was visiting.

I’ve been unable to locate Allen’s family in the 1900 and 1910 censuses. By 1920 they were in Elk, Stoddard, Missouri.

Roll: T625_964 Page: 12B ED: 208 Image: 0204
Enumerated 26 Jan
51 Fam 226/226 NOYES Allen M. Head Owns house, mortgaged, mw 52 md can read and write, father b. MI mother b. VT farmer
52 Susan Wife fw 44 md. can read and write, farmer
b. KY parents b. KY
53 Carrie Daughter fw 17 school, can read and write, b. OK father b. IL mother b. KY
54 Julian Son wm 16 school, can read and write, b. OK father b. IL mother b. KY
55 Marble Son wm 14 school, can read and write, b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
56 Lincoln Son wm 13 school, can read and write, b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
57 Victor Son wm 9 school, can read and write, b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
58 Cephia Daughter fw 7 school, can read and write, b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
59 Lawrence son wm 5 b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
60 Drexel ? Son wm 3 and 2/12? b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY

Year: 1930; Census Place: Elk, Stoddard, Missouri; Roll: T626_1248; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 10; Image: 0702.
Enumerated April 8
89 71/77 NOYES Allen M. Head own Lives on farm 62 md md at 28? can read and write b. IL father b. MI mother b. VT Farmer general farm
90 Susie Wife 54 md md at 21 can read and write b. KY parents b. KY
91 Julian J. Son 26 can read and write b. OK father b. IL mother b. KY Farmer General Farm
92 Marble J. Son 24 can read and write b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY Farm laborer General Farm
93 Victor Son 19 can read and write b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY Farm laborer General Farm
94 Cephia Daughter 16 school, can read and write b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY
95 Lawrence K. Son 15 school, can read and write b. MO father b. IL mother b. KYFarm laborer General Farm
96 Drexel Son 13 school can read and write b. MO father b. IL mother b. KY

That Bad Boy Again – Written for the MISSOURI SCHOOL JOURNAL by W. E. Condict, a Liberal, Missouri Teacher, 1896

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The below was written by W. E. Condict, a Liberal, Missouri teacher, and published in Missouri School Journal in 1896. As with other generations, it bemoans unruly conduct at school. O. E. Harmon’s

“The Story of Liberal” mentions W. E. Condict as an educator.

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MISSOURI SCHOOL JOURNAL
Vol. XIII Jefferson City, MO., January, 1896. No. 1

That Bad Boy Again.

Ed. Journal: One of your correspondents brings again to view the picture of the pleasant little school ma’m winning the proverbial bad boy by smiles and confidences. Strange that this picture always includes the same kind of teacher, a winsome little lady. The principle is not a sound one or it would win for others.

Your correspondent incautiously says: “The greeting astonished the pupils,” but he does not add what I have always found to be true, it disgusts the better ones and degrades the feelings of the majority of the school. Would any merchant, or other business man elevate to a foremanship a hand who had thwarted his schemes, interferred with sales, and disorganized his forces? Jf not, then why, in the name of common sense and common decency, elevate “Sam” to a tutor’s place for no other reason and with little other qualification, than that he is a bully and chooses to interfere with and interrupt whatever the teacher or classes undertake to do? The bully, vagabond, loafer, terror of the school is set to lord it over milder mannered and better disposed pupils. Instead of checking his evil tendencies the school ma’m’s smiles and confidences have given them an impetus and lent him a prestige. The chances are he never returns to school another term, but goes out into the community a domineering braggart.

But this is the least of the evil. Pete and Tom and Jack see that the worst boy in the school has gained the greatest success of any boy ever in the school; he has the favor of a charming little lady, he has a quasi authority higher even than the teacher, and they resolve to be like him the next year or the year after. To do this it is not necessary to attend school regularly, but to become as tough as possible.

What of the girls in that school? The teacher has been held up to them as a model. They see the partiality shown to one they know is bad and conclude there must be something nice or grand about scape-grace boys, and girls are in the greatest danger when they begin to doubt the propriety of proper and right things.

The end is not yet. The education of forty other children has been spoiled and their lives tinged with the sentiment that goodness and industry don’t amount to much if you can stalk rough-shod over the rights of others.

This is not a fighting age and it is not necessary for the teacher to thrash every big boy that comes to school. Patrick says the public schools are not reform schools for the reception of boys who are too big and too bad to be controlled at home. There is a breeze of anarchism in our land, and every boy who grows up triumphing in his disregard of parental and school authority throws missiles in the air to be carried onward. Let the teachers lead the people in a healthy sentiment by saying, “I will teach your school in all things right and just and honorable. If you insist on sending, and the school board allows you to send boys who repudiate my instruction and defy my authority, then I will seek employment elsewhere.'”

W. E. Condict, Liberal, Mo.

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The 1900 census shows Wayne E. Condict in District 18 in Central, Barton County Missouri. He was born in September of 1850 in Indiana and had been married 24 years. His wife was Susan E., born August 1854 in Illinois. She’d had 5 children, 3 living. In the household were Winnifred G., born 1884 in Missouri, a son, and Rhoda E., born 1886 in Illinois.

He is likely the Wayne Condict, 29 years of age, in District 262 in Union, Barton County, Missouri in 1880, there married to S. E., age 25, the eldest son being a William, 2 years of age.