Photoshopped version. This would be their wedding photo from 1904. Vera’s in a lovely dress.
Original version courtesy of Mabel Tripp family.
James Albert McKenney, son of George Washington McKenney Jr. and Belle Sparks, was born 1884 March 22 in Sedan, Chautauqua, Kansas and died 1971 May 30 in the same.
On 1904 Oct 23 he married (1) Vera Crockett, daughter of Samuel Kelly Crockett and Sarah “Sadie” Elizabeth Hackney. She was born 1886 March 1 and died 1933 March 6 in Chautauqua County, Kansas. After Vera’s death, on 1935 Oct 26 James married Ada Brunger who was born 1891 July 21 in Chautauqua County, Kansas and died August of 1985.
Ada’s first husband was Robert L. Sanborn, born 1889 Sept 12, died 1929 Dec 4. Robert and Ada had a son, Meredith B. Sanborn b. about 1922 in Kansas. *
Continuing on. James Albert McKenney and Vera had 4 children.
- Mildred May was born 1907 May 15 at the old Crockett farmhouse in Belleville, Chautauqua, Kansas. She died 1907 May 18 and is buried at El Cado Cemetery in Chautauqua.
- Lloyd Clinton was born 1909 Jan 28, again at the old Crockett farmhouse. He would marry Dorothy Nadeen Noyes. DIRECT LINE.
- Thelma Allena was born at the new Crockett farmhouse on 1911 May 11, the old one having been destroyed by fire Oct 12 1909, killing Vera’s grandfather, James Kelly Crockett.
- Lela Muriel was born 1914 July 19 at the new Crockett farmhouse and died 1991 May 30 in , Bexar, Texas. On 1935 June 5, she married John R. Ziegler who was born 1913 July 27 in Texas and died 1988 Feb 12 at , Kerr, Texas.
Other than the fact he had a farm and was part owner of a feed store in Sedan, I don’t know much about the life of James Albert McKenney. He spent his childhood between 1888 and 1897 on the Osage Reserve and in Kay County, Oklahoma. By the 1900 census his family is back in Chautauqua. In 1904 he married Vera there.
MARRIAGE AFFIDAVIT:
State of Kansas, Chautauqua County, ss.
In the Probate Court of said County and State.
James A. McKinney, who now here makes application for marriage license, addressed to any person authorized by law to join in marriage the said James A. McKinney, aged 21 years and Vera Crockett, aged 18 years, being by me first duly sworn doth say, that they have the unqualified consent of their parents in their marriage, and that neither of said parties has been divorced by the decree of any Court in this State within six months last past.
And that they, the said James A. McKinney and Vera Crockett are not related to each other in the degrees prohibited by law, to wit: Parent and child, grandparent and grandchild of any degree, broth and sister of either of the one-half or of the whole blood, uncle and niece aunt and nephew, nor first cousins; and that there exists no legal impediment to said marriage.
Signed: J. A. McKinney
In testimony whereof, I the undersigned, Judge of the Probate Court in and for Chautauqua County, and ex-official Clerk thereof, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court, at my office this 22 day of October 1904.
No. 376
Sig. W. Stucky
FIled 22 day of October
MARRIAGE LICENSE
State of Kansas Chautauqua County ss.
Sedan, Kansas, October 22 AD 1806
To any Person Authorized by Law to Perform the Marriage Ceremony, Greetings,
You are hereby authorized to join in marriage
James A. McKenney of Chautauqua, aged 21 years
and Vera Crockett of Peru Kansas aged 18 years,
and of this License you will make due return to my office within thirty days.
Sig. W. Stucky
Probate Judge
State of Kansas, Chautauqua County SS.
I, W. Stucky do hereby certify, that in accordance with the authorization of the within license, I did on the 23rd day of October A.D. 1904, at Sedan, in said County, join and unite in Marriage the above named James A. McKenney and Vera Crockett.
Witness my seal the day and year above written.
W. Stucky, Probate Judge.
Filed 23 day of October 1904.
W. Stucky
In the 1905 census, James Albert and Vera are living next to James’ parents. On the other side are the Godwin’s with Weltha McCormick in the household. Weltha was a daughter of Samuel and Mary Elizabeth Sparks McCormick, Mary Elizabeth being a sister of Belle Sparks, so Weltha was a first cousin of James.
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
James and Vera were 23 and 21 at the time of Mildred May’s birth and dead in the spring of 1907.
They were about 24 and 22 when Lloyd Clinton was born in 1909.
Again, in 1910, James and Vera are living next to James’ parents. To either side are relatives of the Crocketts, the Stricklins and Jacks.
1910 CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY BELLEVILLE TOWNSHIP CENSUS
22 April pg. 6A
5/5 BROCKEY Nathaniel head mw (age unable to read) md 29? b. OH father b. PA mother b. PA Farmer owns
Lula Wife fw 39 md 8 3 children 3 surviving b. MO father b. MO mother b. MO
Estill Son mw 7 b. KS father b. OH mother b. MO
Gladys Daughter fw 5 b. KS father b. OH mother b. MO
Burris Daughter fw 3 b. KS father b. OH mother b. MO
CROCKETT Milly mother-in-law fw 74 wd b. MO father b. MO mother b. MO
6/6 CROCKETT Samuel Head mw 54 md 27 b. MO father b. MO mother b. MO Farmer owns
Sadie Wife fw 52 md 27 7 children 5 surviving b. IA father b. OH mother b. OH
George Son mw 30 s b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA Farm laborer on Home Farm
Dorothy Daughter fw 17 s b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA
7/7 CROCKETT Buell head mw 25 md 2 b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA Pumper at Oil Field for wages
Lillian Wife fw 21 md 2 b. KS father b. IA mother b. NE
8/8 CROCKETT Charles head mw 22 md 1 b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA Pumper at oil field for wages
Dena Wife fw 22 ? md 1 b. MO father b. MO mother b. AR
22 April pg. 6B
12/12 STRICKLIN James head m w 32 md 11 b. MO father b. MO mother b. IA Pumper Oil lease wages
Sadie wife f w 29 md 11 3 children 3 surviving b. KS parents b. IL
Sadie daughter f w 10 b. KS
Russell son m w 8 b. KS
Glendon son m w 4 b. KS
13/13 SHOBE John and family
25 April 7B
3/3 STRICKLIN Michael Head mw 67 md 35 b. MO father b. TN mother b. KY Farmer on own farm
Gormelia Wife fw 55 md 35 11 children 9 surviving b. IA parents b. OH
Thomas Son mw 30 s b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA
William Son ms 23 s b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA
Ivy? Son mw 17 s b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA
13/13
McKENNEY Albert m w 26 b. Kansas father-Iowa mother-Indiana
Vera (CROCKETT) f w age 24 b. Kansas father-Missouri mother-Iowa
Loyd w m 1 b. Kansas father-Missouri mother-Missouri
Pg. 18
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
p. 20
51/51 JACK William G. b. IA father b. Ireland mother b. Iowa
Ermie wife 2 children 2 surviving b. KS father b. Ohio mother b. Missouri
George E. b. KS
Pauline b. KS
Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Belleville, Chautauqua, Kansas; Roll: T624_433; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 1; Image: 1229.
1010 CHITTENDON John J. 51 md 30 y b. IL father b. KY mother b. TN
Sada 49 4 of 4 children surviving b. IL parents b. OH
Fay 29 b. IA parents b. IL
Ross 22 b. KS parents b. IL
Everett 14
Dora 16
In 1911 Thelma was born, then Lela in 1914.
The 1915 census shows the family living in Chautauqua now beside Vera’s parents and Elouise Crockett Brockey and her husband, Nathaniel, Eloise an aunt of Vera’s.
1915 Chautauqua County, Kansas
pg. 34 of 82
John W. DARNELL family
John HULL family
M. THOMPSON
G. W. WOODEN
Burt THOMPSON
J. A. MCKENNEY 31 KS Farmer
Vera 29
Loyd 6
Thelma 3
Lela 9 months
S K CROCKETT 59 MO Farmer
Sada 57 IA
M. BROCKEY 66 OH Farmer
Louisa 44 MO
Estel 12 KS
Gladis 10
Bernice 8
The 1920 census shows James and his wife sharing the household with Vera’s parents.
1920 Belleville, Chautauqua County, Kansas
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
In 1928 their son Lloyd Clinton married Dorothy Noyes.
In 1930 James Albert is living in the household of Vera’s parents.
1930 KS, CHAUTAUQUA CO., SEDAN, DISTRICT 15
(Image 7) pg. 4a
West Beadley Street
84/91 SHREVE Larry H. $4600 57 b. PA father b. PA mother b. NY
Della 46 b. KS father b. OH mother b. IN
Eveline 24 b. KS
Edythe U. 21
Martha A. 16
DRAKE Noama M. mother-in-law 68 married at 20 b. OH parents b. OH
95/92 CROCKETT Samuel K. $3000 74 married at 27 b. MO parents b. MO
Sarah H. 72 married at 25 b. IA parents b. OH
/95 MCKENNEY James A. $15 46 married at 20 b. KS parents b. IA Retail Market, Flour & Feed
Vera 44 married at 18 b. KS
Thelma 18
Lela M. 15
Thelma, their daughter, is instead recorded in the 1930 census in Cowley Co. in the household of Buell Kelly Crockett, her uncle.
Next door to the Crocketts and Thelma McKenney is Charles Fuller, a mixed-blood descendant of the Great Nemaha Reserve Loise/Baradas. That year (I believe) Charles will marry Cappie Trent, mixed blood Cherokee, her parents being Jefferson Trent and Sadie Bell McWhirt (who married second John Bigheart). Sadie was a daughter of James Marion McWhirt, brother of Samuel Alvin, and was a niece of Addie McKenney McWhirt.
Jefferson Trent was a nephew of Felix Quinton who was married to Julia Martin, daughter of Alexander Martin.
1900 , , Osage Indian Reservation, Oklahoma Indian Territory
pg. 92 (or 213) sheet no. 17?, 8 and 9 June
33/34 QUINTON Felix head Sept 1864 43 b. TX father b. TX mother b. IT Farmer Cherokee and parents Cherokee Blood=1/2
Julia wife (illegible) b. IT parents b. IT Rations Indian, Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Elizabeth daughter May 1884 16 b. IT father b. TX mother b. IT At school, Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Franklin son Dec 1887 13 b. OK School Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Joel son July 1888 11 b. OK School Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Lillian? daughter May 1892 8 b. OK Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Agnes daughter Feb 1894 6 b. OK Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
Pearlina daughter April 1897 3 b. OK Osage, father Osage, mother Cherokee, blood=1/2
TRENT Jefferson nephew Dec 1887 13 b. OK father b. TX mother b. IT Farm laborer, Cherokee, parents Cherokee, blood=1/2
DENTON John servant April 1886 14 b. IT parents b. IT Farm laborer, Cherokee, father Cherokee, mother white blood=1/2
Franklin Tripp, who married Mable Clair McKenney, James Albert McKenney’s sister, was living in Cowley Co. Arkansas City in 1920. He was a son of James Tripp and Jennie McWhirt (a sister of Samuel Alvin), who married second Mary Elizabeth Sparks, sister of Belle Sparks McKenney.
1930 KS, COWLEY CO., ARKANSAS, DISTRICT 7
SPRUCE
113/53/62
STONE, Murry Own $7000 R 38 b. NY parents b. NY
Sarah E. wife 35, married at 16 b. IL father b. VA mother b. IL
FULLER, Charles E. stepson 18 b. KS, mixed blood Osage, attended school
OTEY, Sarah E. mother-in-law 73 married at 15, b. IL father b. KY mother b. TN
111 CROCKETT, Buell K. head R $20 45 married at 22 b. KS father b. MO mother b. IA, Salesman at an automobile sales room
Lillian D. wife 40 married at 18 b. KS father b. IN mother b. IA
Marjorie D. 19 b. KS parents b. KS, attended school
Dorothy E. 17 b. KS parents b. KS, attended school
MCKENNEY, Thelma niece 18 b. KS parents b. KS, attended school
In 1931, James Albert’s sibling Carrie Isabel died. Then on March 6 1933 his wife, Vera, died after 28 years of marriage. She was only 47.
On June 5 1935, James’ last child marries. A few months later, in the fall, James married Ada. Two short months later James’ mother, Belle, died at the age of 67.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* Seven degrees of separation notes: a 1st cousin of Robert was Irvin Jay Sanborn who married Iantha May Copple in Chautauqua. Iantha’s mother was Elmira Belle Heavlin, granddaughter of a Samuel D. Heavlin from Harrison County, Ohio. Samuel’s brother appears to have been perhaps Stephen H. Heavlin who married Elizabeth McKinney in 1846 in Harrison. Elizabeth McKinney’s grandfather was a George McKinney Sr. b. 1760 in Ireland, died 1845 in same. No idea if he is related to our McKenneys. But it’s been considered a possibility.
Another possible former connection with the McKenneys is Iantha’s grandfather, John, had a brother named William in whose house Benjamin Sparks (James Albert McKenney’s mother) was living in 1880.
And there’s even another convoluted connection.
Rebecca Partelow (connected with the McKenneys and Hackneys beginning in Van Buren, Iowa) married a William Joshua Lovell in 1876. William’s mother was Catherine Murphy. Her brother Harvey married a Barbara Ann Logan, daughter of an Elizabeth Spoonamore. Their son, William Henry Murphy, married Margaret Copple, another daughter of William and Elmira Heavlin Copple’s.
Elizabeth Spoonamore’s brother, John Newton, was married to an Amanda Baxter. It was Thomas Merrit Baxter with whom George Washington McKenney Jr. was living in 1875, boarded out after his mother’s death. Elizabeth and John Newton Spoonamore’s first cousin was William Spoonamore, whose son Isaac married Emma Jane Franklin, first cousin of Emma Brien who married Perry Partelow, nephew of Rebecca.
