Eli W. McKinney, son of William and Esther


Eli b. 1847, died when 99 years of age.


Adding some color did well.

Are you a descendant down the line of Eli W. b. 1847 in Monroe county, Ohio, and 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!

This isn’t “our” Eli W. McKenney, for those reading who are of the family line this blog is primarily concerned, instead this is of a related Eli W., son of William McKenney (1827-1862) and Esther Yarnell (1825-1891). I cover this family in another post, but my belief is that William was a brother of our George W. McKenney Sr. and Eli W. would have been his nephew. George W. McKenney Sr. named one of his own children Eli Wilson.

Eli W. McKenney was born 1847 March 2 in Monroe County, Ohio and died 1946 Feb 21 in Los Angeles, California. His wife was Melissa Ann Edwards b. 1846 Aug in Iowa. She died 1921 June 21. The two were married 1865 May 6 in Van Buren County, Iowa.

Children of Eli and Melissa were:

  1. Mattie b. 1865, died 1865 Sept 7 in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa
  2. Lottie b. abt 1868, died 1937 March 8 in Bellfower, Los Angeles, California. She married Gideon B. Glascock born about 1867 in Iowa and had at least 3 children: Delbert, Curtis and Milfred.
  3. George C. born abt. 1870 in Iowa.
  4. Charles E. b. 1876 Oct 24 in Iowa
  5. Maud b. 1870-1880, died in infancy
  6. Kate b. 1870-1880, died in infancy

Eli served in the Civil War in Iowa’s Company K, 45th Infantry.

A bio was published on Eli, 1935 Aug 15 that fortunately gives us his Monroe County, Ohio birthplace.

Taken from 80 year Anniversary The Keosauqua Republican 1855-1935 Thursday, August 15, 1935 Page Five.

E. W. McKINNEY

E. W. McKinney, son of William and Esther McKinney, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, March 2, 1847, one of nine children. He moved with his parents and grandfather, to Columbus, in Van Buren county, Iowa, in April, 1851, the year of the big flood. His grandfather, Eli Yarnell, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father enlisted in the Civil war August, 1862, in C. I. 19th Iowa and was killed the eighth day of December, 1862. E. W. enlisted in 1864 in Co. K. 45th Infantry, and was stationed at Marce, Tenn., at Fort Hendricks, guarding the fort and three railroad bridges and one wagon bridge. He was on guard duty 24 hours out of every three days. There were five detailed in each company as scouts. He was one of the five in his company.

Mr. McKinney writes, “we were not in every battle as the rebels were afraid to come in gun shot of our regiment. I mustered in at Keokuk May 16, 1864, and mustered out at Keokuk September 16 on account of expiration of the term of service. I was a member of Shirvere Post No. 77, at Vernon, Iowa. There were 11 names on the register and theer (sic) are only two of us living that I know of today, M. H. Carnes, of Bentonsport, and myself.

After we disbanded I joined W. C. Harper Post No. 7, at Keosauqua, and I am the only living member that I know of today.”

Mr. McKinney claims to be the oldest living member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Van Buren county. He joined the Des Moines Valley Lodge February 13, 1875, over 60 years ago.

Mr. McKinney was married on May 15, 1865, to Malissia Ann Edwards. Five children were born to them, two of whom, Katie and Maud, died in infancy. The three living are: Mrs. G. B. Glascock and C. E. McKinney, both of Southgate, Calif., and G. C. McKinney, of Casmere, Wash.

The obituary of Eli W. McKinney.

Source: Rootsweb, Van Buren Iowa obits, posted By: Volunteer – Harold Jamison

Record-Republican dated Feb. 28, 1946.

PASSING OF THE LAST CIVIL WAR VETERAN.

Eli W. McKinney, Van Buren County’s last Civil War Veteran died in California only a few days before the date on which he would have reached his 99th birthday anniversary.

A son of William and Esther McKinney, he was born March 2, 1817 (sic: should be 1847), in Monroe County, Ohio, one of nine children. He moved with his parents and grandfather to Columbus, Van Buren County, Iowa in April of 1851. His Grandfather, Eli Yarnell was a veteran of the war of 1812.

His Father enlisted in the Civil War in August 1862 in Company I, 19th Iowa, and was killed December 8 of the same year.

Eli W. enlisted in 1864 in C. K. 45th Iowa Infantry, and was mustered in at Keokuk. He was also mustered out at Keokuk after serving with the Union Army for several months on guard duty in Texas.

He was a member of Shriver Post G.A.R. of Bentonsport, and when that post was disbanded he transferred his membership to Harper post of Keosauqua.

On May 15, 1865, he was united in marriage with Melissa Ann Edwards and to them were born five children, two of whom, Kate and Maud, died in infancy.

One Daughter, Mrs. G.B. Glascock of California preceded him in death. He is survived by two sons,George C. McKinney of Cashmere, Wash., and Charles of Bentonsport.

Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, March 1, with internment in Bentonsport cemetery, on the 99th anniversary of his birthday. He passed away on Feb., 22, Washington’s birthday.

The 1870 Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa website shows Eli’s family:

pg. 412
76/74 FULTON Abram 56 from Ohio with Eliza
77/75 BARBER Austin 32 b. England with Joanna
78/76 BARR James 59 b. PA with Mary b. NJ
79 —
80/77 CASTLEMAN Levi 29 b. NY
A C 24 female b. IL (Abbey)
May 3
Frank 7/12
81/78 MCKENNEY Eli 23 works in paper mill b. OH
Melisa 24 b. IN
D 3 (f) b. IA
L E? or Eli 2/12 (m) b. IA
Marriages in Van Buren County Iowa show Eli McKenney marrying a Melissa Edwards on May 6th 1865.
82/79 PARKER Samuel 23 b. IA with Catherine
83 —
84/80 BRAGG Willis 71 b. VA with Jane
85/81 BLAKELY MA 33 b. VA
86/82 FULTON WS 33 b. Ohio with Elizabeth

The 1880 Washington, Van Buren county, Iowa census:

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.
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:

47/48 Eli W. MCKINNEY 36 Com. Laborer father b. Ohio
Melissa 38 father b. IN
Lottie 17 b. Van Buren
George C. 14 going to school b.Van Buren
Charles E. 8 going to school b. Van Buren

I seem to be unable to locate him in 1900.

The 1905 census:

169. Chas. D. MCKENNEY
178 Mary STRICKLIN
179. Eli W. MCKINNEY
180. Malissa MCKINNEY
181. Geo W. MCKINNEY

The 1910 census shows him in Black Hawk county, Iowa living beside his daughter, Lottie.

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Waterloo Ward 1, Black Hawk, Iowa; Roll: T624_392; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 582.
512/134/153 GLASCOCK Gideon B 44 m 24 b. IA parents b. VA illegible occupation
Lottie wife 43 3 of 3 children surviving b. IA parents b. OH
Delbert 24 b. IA parents b. IA merchant auto company
Gustas? 17 laborer auto company
Milfred? son 15 laborer auto company
MCKINNEY Eli father in law 65 m 45 b. OH parents b. unknown engineer motor company
Melissa 65 3 of 3 children surviving

The 1920 census has Eli back in Van Buren county.

1920 Iowa, Van Buren County, Washington Township
Page 4B
(Given as W. C. in the census index but is Eli W.)
80/81 DAUGHTY Paul C. 28 and wife Lena and family
81/82 WEAVER Mary J. 73 b. PA and family (Irish parents)
82/83 COOPER THomas J. 73 born IL, fishing
83/84 MCKINNEY (scratched out name) C. owns home 71 b. OH parents b. OH no occupation
Melissa N. wife 74 b. IN parents b. TN
George C. son 49 b. IA father b. OH mother b. IN miner in coal mine
84/85 BENTON Martha V. 59 b. IA father b. KY mother b. OH

In the 1930 census, Eli is in Los Angeles.

Joan Olsson gives Melissa as dying 21 June 1921. The census below seems to show an older female having lived in Los Angeles with the family who was known as a mother-in-law.

1930 CA, Los Angeles Co., Long Beach
pg. 5A
121/60 MARKER Bert and Carolyn from Nevada (Danish origin)
122/161 GLASCOCK Delbert $37 rent no radio 42 md at 41 b. IA parents b. IA machinst at oil supply company
Ruth 30 md at 28 b. Washington D.C. father b. England mother b. VA
123/162 MARKER John and Georgia from Nevada (Danish origin)

pg. 12A
(U.S. only given for places of birth and over this something written that looks like “moved….no forwarding address)
281/370 GLASSCOCK, Giddion rent $32 no radio unknown age
Lottie unknown age
MCKINNEY unknown father-in-law unknown age
unknown mother-in-law unknown age

Eli’s son, George C., appears to have never married. He is in the 1930 census in Cashmere, Chelan, Washington, 59 years old, listed as single, and working as a waiter in a restaurant. He was still living in Cashmere at the time of his father’s death in 1946.

I am unable to get a fix on son, Charles E. after 1905, and don’t know whether he married and had children. He was reported living in Bentonsport, Van Buren, Iowa in 1946 at the time of his father’s death.

Lottie married Gideon B. Glascock (Glasscock) who was born 1867 in Iowa.

They were in Van Buren, Iowa, in 1900 with their three children, Delbert, Curtis and Milfred.

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Bonaparte, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: T623 462; Page: 3B; .
80/82 GLASSCOCK Gideon B. Jan 1866 34 b. IA parents b. VA
Lotta June 1867 32 b. IA parents b. OH
Delbert May 1885 15 b. IA parents b. IA
Curtis May 1893 7
Milfred May 1895 5

As already noted above, they were in Black Hawk county, Iowa in 1910 with Eli.

1920 found Lottie and Gideon in Montgomery county, Ohio.

1920 Ohio, Montgomery County, Dayton
Pg. 6A
Appear to be in large hotel or apartment building on Main St. #340
#124 GLASCOCK Delbert rent 33 b. IA parents b. IA Tool Maker at Tool and Die Shop
Loa E. ? 26 b. IN parents b. IN

#138 GLASCOCK Curtis 26 b. IA father b. KY mother b. IA machinist (can’t read employer)
Georgiana 26 b. IL father b. IL mother b. Sweden works in a garment factory

#153 GLASCOCK Gideon 53 b. IA parents b. VA millwright (can’t read employer)
Lottie 52 b. IN parents b. OH

Again, as noted above, in 1930 Lottie and Gideon were in Los Angeles with Eli.

Franklin B. Tripp and Mabel Clair McKenney

Franklin B. Tripp was born 1884 March 17 in Osage Oklahoma Indian Territory and died Feb 1966 in Oklahoma. He was buried at the Pawhuska Cemetery.

1908 Nov 30 he married Mabel Clair McKenney b. 1888 Oct 16 in Chautauqua County, Kansas. She died 1972 Sep 11 in the Ponca City hospital and was buried at the Pawhuska City Cemetery as well.

Mabel was a daughter of George Washington McKenney Jr. and Belle M. Sparks.

Frank TRIPP was the son of James Preston TRIPP and Jennie MCWHIRT. James Preston TRIPP also married Mary SPARKS, a sister of Belle SPARKS, Mable’s mother. Jennie MCWHIRT was a sister of Samuel MCWHIRT, husband of Addie MCKINNEY, G. W. MCKINNEY JR’s sister.

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 inventor 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 Colorado.

James Preston TRIPP, who married Mary Sparks MCCORMICK, was the father of Frank TRIPP who married Mabel Clair MCKENNEY. James TRIPP’s parents were Horace B. TRIPP and Elizabeth WOOD.

Franklin and Mabel had two children:

  1. Jennie Belle b. 1909 October 6 in Chautauqua County, Kansas, died December 25, 1914. She is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Chautauqua County, Kansas.
  2. Georgia Delores Tripp b. 1914 in Pawhuska, Osage, Oklahoma, died 2003 June 28 in Ponca City, Kay County, Oklahoma, was buried at the Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City. She married, 1937 June 25 in Claremore, Rogers, Oklahoma, Edlward L. Cook.

Larry McCombs notes that after the death of Mabel’s sister, Carrie Isabel (MCKENNEY) HAMPTON, Frank and Mabel Clair (McKinney) Tripp adopted Helen Lois, a daughter of Carrie, but he’s unaware if it was a legal adoption or not.

THE CENSUS DATA

1-WD FORESTER, Osage, Oklahoma
Series: T624
Roll: 1268
Part: 2
Page: 2A
Year: 1910
24/24 TRIPP Frank 26 md 1 year b. OK father b. IL mother b. MO House carpenter
Mabel wife 22 b. KS father b. US mother b. IA
Jennie B. daughter 6/12 b. KS father b. Pawhuska mother b. KS

1915 Chautauqua, Chautauqua, Kansas
Pg. 12
Pennell, Anderson, Moffit
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

1920 KS COWLEY CO.
ARKANSAS CITY
PART OF 3RD WARD OF CITY
15 DAY OF JANUARY 1920 by Mrs. Mary Bridges
(unable to read house number, is a multi-family dwelling)
27/27 TRIPP Frank Head Rents 35 m b. KS parents b. IL, mechanic for a garage, wages
Mable Wife 31 f b. KS father b. ID mother b. IL (gives her dad as born in Idaho)
Georgia Daughter, appears to read 3 yoa b. KS parents b. KS

Not related to the other Tripps in Cowley County.

1930 OK, OSAGE CO., SHIDLER, DISTRICT 37
INCORPORATED PLACE: SHIDLER TOWN
TOWNSHIP OR OTHER DIVISION: FORAKER TOWNSHIP
Enumerated April 7 – 8 , 1930
Page 3b
220/98/88 TRIPP Frank O $150 45 married at 24 b. OK parents b. IL mechanic and engineer in oil field, wages, working, not a veteran
Mable 42 married at 21 b. KS father b. IA mother b. IL
Georgia 14 b. OK father b. OK mother b. KS

Following is Mabel TRIPP’s obituary, furnished by Frances Partch:

9-12-72

Mabel Tripp dies; services here Wednesday

Funeral services for Mrs. Mabel E. Tripp, 83, Newkirk, formerly of Pawhuska, have been set for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel, under the direction of the Shidler Funeral Home with the Rev. Leland Peterson of the Kaw City First Christian Church, officiating.

Born October 16, 1888 in Chautauqua County, Kansas, Mrs. Tripp died Monday in the Ponca City hospital. She moved with her family to Pawhuska when she was a young girl. She was married to Frank Tripp, November 30, 1908 and moved to Shidler where he worked in the Burbank Oil Field. After his retirement in 1954 the couple moved to Wynona and then to Kaw City in October 1965. Her husband preceded her in death in 1966.

Mrs. Tripp lived in Newkirk since May 1971. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Wynona.

Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Edward (Georgia) Cook of Kaw City; two grandchildren, Bud Cook of Kaw City and Carol Sue McComb of Newkirk, and four great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in the Pawhuska City Cemetery with Shidler Funeral directors in charge.

Orrin Ellie Harmon, Who Loved Poetry and to Gaze Upon the Stars

One has to like a man who desired to give up the practice of law for writing poetry and studying the stars, which can be in itself a poetic pursuit of grand visions and soul refining reflections on the nature of one’s place in the grand scheme of things.

Orrin Ellie Harmon, who authored The Story of Liberal, Missouri, the earliest known book on Liberal’s history, was the son-in-law of ancestor James Allan Noyes and Caroline Atwell Noyes who were early settlers in the free-thought community of Liberal, the Noyes moving there in August of 1882 (I’ve a diary of Caroline’s chronicling part of their journey). Orrin had married the Noyes’ eldest daughter Emma Viola Noyes on July 9, 1878 in Anna, Union, Illinois, but to the best of my knowledge Orrin and Emma didn’t make the move to Liberal with the Noyes, instead relocating from Anna to Chehalis, Lewis, Washington about 1882.


View Larger Map
From Anna, Illinois to Chehalis, Washington, Google style

They remained in Chehalis a number of years, where Orrin practiced law, taught school, wrote poetry and gazed at the night skies. When Orrin was told his health merited a change, in the Spring of 1897 Orrin and Emma migrated to Liberal.

Orrin was born Dec 3, 1854 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Asa and Lucy Snow Harmon. The family had moved to Van Buren, Michigan and had then relocated to Anna, Illinois about 1866. We find them in the 1870 census living three households from the Noyes.

The Noyes were long time residents in Kalamazoo, and by 1866 James Allen Noyes and Caroline were in Anna, Illinois where a photo of them was made. One would guess the Harmon and Noyes families had known each other in Kalamazoo, perhaps even migrated together, but Orrin’s obituary anticipates our suspicions and notes that despite both coming from Kalamazoo, the families weren’t acquainted until living in Anna.

Orrin and Emma were in Washington when on Oct 18 1887 Emma’s sister, Cora Rachel Noyes Greene, died in Liberal with the birth of her first child at the age of 24, a boy named Robert.

Perhaps Robert’s father, Frank Greene, felt he would be unable to care for his son as a widower (I’ll address this letter in a post on Robert, who became a well known baseball player) but Orrin and Emma adopted him. Orrin and Emma never did have biological children.

When 32, Orrin published a volume of poems titled, “Voices from the Cascades”. I have the text of that and will be putting it up on the blog at some point.

He loved poetry–writing it, discussing it, teaching it.

And he loved the stars. Orrin loved astronomy. From 1893 to 1898 he furnished planetary predictions to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. People would look in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for information on the heavens and there would sometimes be O. E. Harmon’s name telling them what they could expect.

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Volumes 1 – 26 shows the following articles of Orrin’s that were published:

The Solar Eclipse of June 6, 1891
Solar Eclipse, October 20, 1892
Solar Eclipse, October 9, 1893
The Harvest Moon (date not given)
Predictions for the Transit of Mercury, November 10, 1894

He also published, “Position of the Earth’s Axis”.

The photo that was selected to depict Orrin in his book The Story of Liberal, Missouri shows him gazing at the planet Saturn.

Attempt at photoshopping to make the image look a bit better.


Unknown if this is a studio shot but likely is.
From what my father says, his house was…unpretentious.

The biographical sketch of Orrin in the same book was perhaps written by Orrin himself and is fairly detailed, revealing a person whose dream was to study the stars but was required to give it up for reasons of health that made it necessary for he and Emma to leave Washington and move to Liberal.

O. E. Harmon was born in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, December 3, 1854. His father, Asa Harmon, was a native of Vermont, and descended from John Harmon, a native of England, who settled in Springfield, Mass., about 1640. John Harmon was the first Harmon to settle in America, and his descendants are widely scattered over the United States. Among them may be mentioned ex-Governor Harmon of Ohio, and Mrs. Cleveland, the wife of President Grover Cleveland.

A short time before the breaking out of the Civil War, Asa Harmon removed to Van Buren County, Michigan. Here he lived when the fire on Fort Sumter sounded the beginning of the war. He enlisted in the Union Army, first in the 2nd Michigan Cavalry, the regiment of which Phil Sheridan was the colonel; and later was transferred to the 3rd Michigan Cavalry, of which regiment he became chaplain.

He was mustered out of the service in the spring of 1866, and in that year moved to Union County, Illinois. Here O. E. Harmon lived with his parents until the spring of 1881, excepting a period (1874-1876) which he spent in Colorado. O. E. received his education in the district school and in the high school at Anna, in Union County.

In 1878 he began the study of the law, and in June of that year married E. Viola Noyes, the daughter of James A. Noyes, and sister of Ray Noyes, who lives near Libearl.

He was licensed to practise law by the Supreme Court of Illinois in October, 1880. After a few months spent in the practice of the law at Anna, he moved to Washington, and after teaching school in Lewis County one year, settled at Chehalis, the county seat of Lewis County. This was in the spring of 1882. Here he practised law, and at different times served as deputy in the offices of County Auditor and County Clerk. He lived in Lewis County until the spring of 1897. He became interested in Astronomy in 1888, and his calculations on the solar eclipse of June, 1891, drew complimentary letters from the astronomical staff of the Lick Observatory located at Mount Hamilton, California. He contributed articles to the publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and to “Popular Astronomy” published at Northfield, Minn. He furnished the planetary predictions to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for five years (1893-1898). Besides the above astronomical work while a resident of Washington, he brought out in 1886, a little volume of poems entitled, “Voices from the Cascades.”

The cordial reception his astronomical writings received encouraged him to look forward to the career of the professional astronomer, and he planned to take a course of special training for that purpose. But in the winter of 1896-7, his health failed and he was obliged to give up his plans. The doctors advised a change of climate, and this brought him to Barton County, Missouri, in the spring of 1897. Here he has lived ever since with the exception of three years (1916-9) spent in Louisiana. During his residence in Barton County, he has lived on a little farm southeast of Liberal, which he has named “Lyrian Farm.”

His later writings have been published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Springfield, (Mass.) Republican and Shreveport Times. He has also contributed to the local papers of Barton County, both on astronomical and literary subjects.

Among his literary writings may be mentioned “The Astronomy of Shakespeare” in which knowledge of the great poet relating to astronomy is very fully developed. This work was published in “Popular Astronomy.”

Mr. Harmon has always been a close student and has ever taken a deep interest in educational matters. His addresses to the schools and teachers’ meetings in Barton County bear ample testimony to this feature of his character.

J. P. Moore’s “This Strange Town – – Liberal Missouri” had this to say about Orrin:

“A History of Liberal” written by O. E. Harmon and titled, “The Story of Liberal, Missouri,” was published in 1925. The work was excellent, but much shorter than this treatise. Unfortunately, not a great many copies of the book had been sold when the bulk of the edition was destroyed by a fire that burned a business building in which the books were stored.

In the limited size of the work, Mr. Harmon gave only a few accounts of specific happenings. But there was one which I take the liberty to quote in part. It indicates that it was not always “all sweetness and light” in the Freethinker’s camp…

Note: And I’ll skip those few paragraphs as they’re in the book transcription online and have to do with Walser rather than Harmon.

Mr. Harmon was a finely educated man, but withal, he was something of an eccentric. He had been a lawyer and a college professor. However, on account of ill health, he had abandoned professional life, came to Liberal from the state of Washington in 1897 and settled on a small farm in the vicinity. But he did little farming; instead, he devoted himself to his main interests, astronomy and poetry, feature writing and what seemed to be a hobby, speaking at the school.

He had a propensity to frequent the school to lecture the pupils on astronomy, and poetry. All this came to be regarded as something of a bother by the faculty, but not so by the pupils. One who was a pupil in the time, Mrs. Alta Moore, remarked to this writer: “He talked over our heads, but we liked it; for when he talked we didn’t have to study, and sometimes we got to skip a recitation.” He had written articles on astronomy for scientific magazines, and he was a frequent contributor to local newspapers.

Born in Michigan on December 3, 1854; he passed away here many years ago. His wife was a daughter of James A. Noyes, a pioneer farmer of the vicinity. It was because of this relationship that Mr. Harmon came to this locality.

Orrin was probably blind to the real reason some of the students enjoyed his lectures, probably blind to the teachers finding his intrusions annoying, which I like, because without resentment he was able to continue going in and giving his lectures, building this story of his life as a tolerant person who held no rancour, as is stated in his obituary. Then again, if he did sense why the students enjoyed his lectures, and the irritation of the teachers, the keen sense of humor he’s given as having may have been one part of however many reasons that led him to continue returning to the school to lecture.

Orrin died in 1940. Unfortunately, his obituary doesn’t say when he died.

O. E. HARMON OBITUARY
THE END FOR LIBERAL’s NOTED POET SAGE AND PHILOSOPHER

O. E. Harmon passed at His Home at 10 o’clock, Saturday night – had Been a Student All of His Life – When A Very Young Man He Was Admitted to the Bar But he did Not Like the Law – Came to Liberal and Settled on a Small Farm, Forty Three Years Ago – Devoted Much of His Time to Study – Loved the Poets, Wrote Excellent Verse and Was a Life Long Student of Mathematics – Had a Fine Mind and a Frail Body – Was a Bold and Free Thinker, But was Ever Kindly and Tolerant – Bob Harmon, for Some Years a Pitching Ace for the St. Louis Cardinals Was His Adopted Son – Faithful Wife Who Had Stood by his Side for Sixty two Years, Cared for Him Tenderly During the years While He Was an Invalid

O. E. Harmon, student, poet and philosopher, died at his home in Liberal at 10 o’clock, Saturday evening. Mr. Harmon was eighty five years old. He had been in feeble health for the past eight years. But until three days before the end he was able to sit up in a chair. He was conscious up until the last though he was so weak it was difficult for him to speak. When Mrs. Harmon would come about the bed where he lay he was inclined to repeat the short, all embracing phrase, I am done!

Mrs. Harmon had cared for him during the long years of his illness, much as she would a child. His food required special preparation and finally had to be strained. No labor nor care was too great for her (…) everything was (…) him that could be done.

Orin Elliot Harmon was born in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, December 3rd, 1854. When he was a lad of ten, his father Asa Harmon moved to Illinois and settled on a farm near Anna. The elder Mr. Harmon had come from Vermont to Michigan. James Allen Noyes had moved from Vermont to Kalamazoo County in Michigan, and went from there to near Anna in Illinois. But the Noyes and the Harmon families had never known each other. But when they settled in Illinois, they found themselves on adjoining farms. Then they became acquainted.

Viola Noyes a lassie of sixteen and Orrin became sweethearts, and January 9th 1878, when Viola was seventen and Orrin was twenty three they were married. The young man had gone through the schools at Anna. He went to college for a time but not for so very long. But he was a great student and all his life put much of this time upon his books.

He had been admitted to the law bar, when he married Viola, and he opened an office in Anna. But he didn’t like the law. They moved in the course of a year, to Chehalis, Washington. There he taught school, and for some time, during their sixteen year stay at this city, he practiced law.

Forty three years ago, he and Viola moved to Barton County and settled down on a small farm where they lived until his death.

He early became an amatuer astronomer. He learned to calculate the planetary conjunctions and eclipses. His greatest study was Mathematics.

His next love was verse. He delighted to read the great English and American poets, and he wrote excellent verse. He did this chiefly as a passtime. He got out a series of poems relating to Barton County, which he had published in a handsome little volume.

His verses were bold and free, but he was ever kindness and toleration themselves. He held no rancor.

Further, Mr. Harmon had a very keen sense of humor and a pen that could portray it piquantly as well as vividly.

He was a small frail man, but he had a fine mind and a great soul. He leaves his beloved wife who cared for him so tenderly and his foster son Bob Harmon, long an ace pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, now owner of a big plantation in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The body was taken to Burkey Mortuary at Mulberry to be prepared for burial.

Services were held in Liberal Methodist church Liberal at 4 o’clock, Monday afternoon, followed by interment in the Liberal cemetery.

Mr. Harmon’s widow is a sister of the well known citizen Ray Noyes of Liberal. The father, the late James Allen Noyes, moved to Liberal forty eight years ago.

Note: The obit erroneously gives the month of marriage as January.

Oh, how I wish I had Orrin’s book of poems he wrote on Liberal. I’ve checked with the Barton County libraries and unfortunately none are shown as having it, which is too bad as he was a citizen. It seems the Liberal library should have a copy just as a matter of an interest in the history of Liberal.

Obituary of James Allen Noyes

AN AGED CITIZEN DEAD

Yesterday (Thursday) morning, January 24, 1901, at 10:30 o’clock, James Allen Noyes died, at the home of his son, Ray Noyes, three miles southeast of town, after an illness of several weeks. The burial will take place today (Friday) at 1 o’clock.

The deceased was 76 years of age, was a most estimable citizen and neighbor, and his friends numbered by the score. He came to Barton county in 1882 and settled on the old homestead, where his son, Ray, now lives, and where he died.

Three sons and a daughter, Messrs. Allen, Paul and Ray Noyes, and Mrs. O. E. Harmon, survive him.

The family have the sympathy of the entire company.

John Tripp Obituary

Supplied by Francis Partch, following is the obituary of John TRIPP, son of James TRIPP and Mary E. SPARKS TRIPP.

* * * *

NEWSPAPER PUBLICATION
4-3-1974

John Tripp dies; services set Fri.

John Lee Tripp, 73, 400 West Eleventh Street, died at his home Tuesday. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Johnson Funeral Chapel.

Born October 14, 1900 in Pawhuska, Mr. Tripp was the son of Jim and Mary E. Sparks Tripp. He was married on December 16, 1933 in Pawhuska to Della Beeson. He was a mechanic and a lifelong resident of Pawhuska.

Survivors include his widow, Della Tripp, of the home, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Burial will be in the Pawhuska City Cemetery with the Johnson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Arthur Thomas Jr. Obituary

Arthur Thomas Jr. was the son of Arthur Thomas Sr. and Florence Glenn. Arthur Thomas Sr. was a son of Philemon Thomas and Martha Catherine Sparks.

* * * * *

Sedan Times-Star – June 01, 2005

MR. ARTHUR THOMAS, JR.

SEDAN, Kan. – Arthur Thomas, Jr. 79, of Sedan, Kan., died Sunday night, May 29, 2005, at Sedan City Hospital.

He was born Dec. 20, 1925 at Pawhuska, Okla. to Arthur, Sr. and Florence Virginia (Glenn) Cross Thomas. He was raised in the Pawhuska area.

On Dec. 20, 1943, he married Juanita Lois Cables at Pawhuska. Following their marriage, they made their home in the Hula, Okla. area, where they were both employed at the Cross Bell Ranch. He was a ranch hand and she was a housekeeper in the main house.

He was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a Private with the 387th Infantry in the European Theatre. While serving in the Rhineland campaign, he was one of only seven survivors of a group of 48 Infantryman that crossed the Rhine River on a mission. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1945.

Following his discharge, he returned to Osage County, Okla., where he continued in his fathers’ footsteps as a cowboy. He worked for over 30 years on ranches in the Pawhuska area, including the famous Chapman-Barnard Ranch. In the mid 1950’s, they started a dairy in Pershing, Okla. When the venture did not work out as planned, they moved to Sedan in 1956, where he was employed by Tru-Flavor. Later they operated Art’s Conoco Service Station and also operated the last dairy in Sedan that bottled and delivered raw milk.

Later he moved his family to Ontario, Ore., where he bought and sold horses. They also lived in Picabo, Idaho, where he worked on the Crown Ranch. Art and his family made a two week trip to Chicago and ended up staying for four years. He worked for a Wire Company while they were there.

In 1969, Art moved his wife and family back to Chautauqua County, where they bought 80 acres between Sedan and Peru, and they raised hogs and registered dogs. He also worked at Jones Feed Store. During this time, he began a long career as an Auctioneer, operating Art’s Auction Service. His wife preceded him in death on Nov. 16, 1993. He retired from the Auction business shortly after his wife’s death and continued to make his home in Sedan…

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Johnnie Lee Thomas, in 2002 and one grandson, Aaron Scott Thomas, in 2003.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in the Ackarman Chapel, behind the First Christian Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Sedan. Friends may call on Monday, June 6, 2005, from 9-8 p.m. at David W. Barnes Funeral Home of Sedan is in charge of arrangements.

Martha Elizabeth McKenney and her children, Alfred Washington Campbell and Nancy Isabel Campbell

This post covers both Martha Elizabeth McKenney and her daughter’s marriages into the same Campbell family. If any descendants ever happen this way, I would love a little more information on the families and, if they are had, some photographs.

Martha McKenney, daughter of George Washington McKenney Sr. and Isabella, was born, according to census data, abt. 1852 in Ohio. She died before 1874.

Martha married Marion CAMPBELL, son of John Campbell and Nancy Kendall, 1867 Sep 12 in Wapello County, Iowa. Their marriage is indexed in “Iowa, County Marriages, 1818-1934”.

Larry McCombs supplied the following Marion CAMPBELL obit:

Forty-four years ago Marion CAMPBELL homesteaded a quarter section of land and established his home just beyond the bridge over the Rattlesnake Creek west of St. John, and until his death last Saturday morning has been known among the leading citizens of the community. His high standard of integrity and sterling qualities as a man drew him numerous friends, and he was honored and respected by everyone. A brief life sketch as given to us by a friend of the family is reproduced in the following paragraphs:

Marion CAMPBELL was born in Marion County, West Virginia, Oct 4, 1843. He died at St. John, KS., March 8, 1919, aged 75 years months and 4 days.

He came with his parents to southwestern Missouri at the age of nine years.

He served in a Missouri regiment during the Civil War.

In 1866 he moved to Iowa and there married Miss Martha MCKINNEY. To this union two children were born, Alfred CAMPBELL, now of Albion, Idaho, and Nancy CAMPBELL, deceased. Martha MCKINNEY CAMPBELL died in 18xx (unreadable). A short time later, Marion CAMPBELL came to Eastern Kansas.

In 1873 he was married to Adelia SWAFFORD of Wilson CO., KS. To this union nine children were born: Amos CAMPBELL married Mrs. David PATON of Portland, Oregon; Ether CAMPBELL (sic) of Ingalls, KS; Mrs. G. W. CAMPBELL of San Francisco, California; Mrs. L. E. ROBERTSON of Montezuma, Kansas; John CAMPBELL, Mrs. J. D. SMITH, Mrs. W. H. MINEAR, and Alma CAMPBELL of St. John Kansas.

Left to mourn his loss, besides his widow and children are two sisters, Mrs. Geo. BRECKENRIDGE of Utah, and Mrs. G. W. MATTHEWS of Dodge City, 31 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.

He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ, April 6, 1876 and has been a faithful member from that time until the day of his death. He was always active in church work and was consistent in upholding and practicing the doctrines and ordinances of the church.

The funeral service was conducted by the Elders of the Church at … grave in Fairview Cemetery at 2:.. o’clock Wednesday afternoon, March 12th.

I will cover Martha’s family in a separate post and just write of the Campbells and her situation post marriage here.

Marion Campbell was born 1843 Oct 4 at Mannington, Marion, West Virginia. The Campbell family had gone out to Iowa in 1846 but had returned east to Western District, Marion, Virginia by 1848. Before 1854 the migrated to Putnam Missouri where we find them in the 1860 census in Richland, Putnam, Missouri.

The census shows two interesting things. One, they are living a couple of doors from a Peter Probasco who was in Farmington, Van Buren, Iowa in 1850, and the McKenneys and family were in Van Buren. Then, two households away we also have a Bryant Flanegin.

1860 MO Putnam Co Richand
741/621 Jno Flanegin and Ruth and family
742/622 S. B. King and Ann and family
743/623 J. P. Freeman and family
744/624 Wm LOPEMANN 23 farmer and Lydia, PA and OH
745/625 Peter PROBASCO 58 NY and Sarah 58 children born IA. 1850 census shows in Farmington, Van Buren IA.
746/626 Sandford BACCHUS 40 b. OH and Nancy b. OH
747/637 John CAMPBELL 48 farmer 1200 200 VA
Nancy 42
Dennis 24 invalid VA
Marion 16
David 14 IA
Lucy 12 VA
Virginia 9
Margaret 6 IA
James 1 MO
748/638 Saml CAMPBELL 21 VA
Jane 29 VA
Adaline 6 IA
William 4
Mary G 13
Martha 5
Martin WATSON 18 VA
749/639 Charles BATSON 32 VA and Clarissa
750/640 Bryant FLANEGIN

In the 1850 census in , Putnam, Missouri, this was the line up.

1850 District 29, Putnam, Missouri
Michael YOUNG
James SPARKS
Brightwall MARTIN
George YOUNG
Daniel SPARKS
William LEVEL
John SHADDON
Hiram SUMMEN?
John FLANEGEN (with Bryant FLANEGIN in household)
Joseph HOLEMAN
William TRIPLET

A William Level is three households from the John Flanegin family in which is Bryant. Always looking for Nemaha Reserve connections close to the McKenneys and relations, we find one here with William Level. By 1854, about the time of the migration of the Campbells to Putnam, the Level household moved to Archer, Richardson, Nebraska.

IOWA RESERVE

John Speery, b. in N. Y., blacksmith; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 1 f. und. 16.
John P. Roy(a), b. in Mo., trader; 2 m. 21 up.; 1 m. und. 16.
Thomas Little, b. in 0., carpenter; 1 m. 21 up.

ARCHER

William Levell(a), b. in Ill., farmer; 2 m. 21 up. 2 m. und. 16; 4 f. 16 up.; 10 f. und. 16.
F. Helling, b. in Germany, farmer; 1 m. 21 up; 1 f. 16 up.
John C. Miller(a), b. in S. C., farmer; 5 m. 21 up.; 3 m. und. 16; 4 f. 16 up.
William McDonald, b. in 0., farmer; 3 m. 21 up.; 1 f. 16 up.
Mrs. F. E. Davenport(a), b. in 0., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 m. 16 up.; 1 f. 16 up.; 2 f. und. 16.
Louis Missplay(a) (b), b. in France, farmer; 2 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 2 f. und. 16.
Joel Harper, b. in Ind., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 3 f. und. 16.
John Herkendorff(a), b. in Germany, farmer; 2 m. 21 up.; 2 m. 16 up.; 1 f. 16 up.; 1 f. und. 16.
William Tramell, b. in Tenn., farmer; 3 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 3 16 up.; 1 f. und. 16.
R. Leachmans(a), b. in 0., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.
A. Shelly, b. in III., farmer; 4 m. 21 up.; 2 f. 16 up.
N. J. Sharp(c), b in Ill., farmer; 2 m. 21 up.; 1 f. 16 up.
Jessee Crook(d), b. in Tenn., farmer; 6 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 1 f. und. 16.

Then in 1855:

[p. 1] Charles Robinson(a) (b), b. in Tenn., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 f. 16 up.
Davids Robinson(a), b. in Tenn., farmer; 3 m. 21 up.; 1 m. 16 up.; 1 m. und. 16; 2 f. 16 up.
Joseph Boyd, b. in Mo., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 f. 16 up.; 6 f. und. 16.
Joshua Boyd, b. in Mo., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 2 f und. 16.
William Level(c), b. in Ky., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 2 f. 16 up.: 8 f. und. 16.
Frank Purket(a)(d), b. In Mo., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 f. 16 up.
John Strumbo, b. in Va., farmer; 2 m. 21 up.; 1 m. 16 up.; 1 m. und. 16.
George Mayfleld(e), b. in Del., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 1 f. 16 up.; 2 f. und. 16.
James Miller(c), b. in Va., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1f. 16 up.
David Boyd(c)(f), b. in Mo., farmer; 1 m. 21 up.; 2 m. und. 16; 1 f. 16 up.; 1 f. und. 16.
William Boyd(g)(h), b. in N. C., farmer; 2 m. 21 up.; 2 f. 16 up.; 2 f. and. 16.

In 1857, Dec. 6, the daughter of William Level (William S. Leavel) married Thomas C. Lytle, who we can see in the 1854 census is working on the Nemaha Reservation.

It appears, at least from the census, that the Campbells may have moved into the approximate location where the Leavels had been in Missouri up to 1854. They are at least several households from John Flanegin and Bryant Flanegin, with whom the William Leavel family would have been acquainted.

By 1866-1867, Marion Campbell had married Martha.

The 1870 census shows Marion Campbell and Martha Elizabeth in Neosho County, Kansas, where both the parent McKenney and Campbell families are observed.

1870 KS, NEOSHO CO., LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
POST OFFICE: Erie
1st day of August by Jonus Fletcher
pg. 185 (171 ancestry.com)
101/101 FOSTER R. F. 33 b. OH and children 15 to 1 b.IA
102/102 MORFORD Jeremiah 28 ? b. PA, Mary 50 b. PA and a 14 and 10 year old b. IA
103/103 PAGET Jaccob L. 32 b. IL and Eliza and family.
104/104 NICHOLS Joseph B. 51 and wife b. PA and James 16 b. IA
NOTE: 1852 Wapello Louisa township IA census page 5)
105/105 HIGGINS John 38 b. OH and Drucilla 22 b. IL and 5 and 2 year olds b.IA
106/106 ELLIS Albert 34 b. OH and Alice 24 b. IA and 2 year old child b. IA
107/107 CAMPBELL John 61 b. V
Nancy 54 b. VA
David 23 b. IA (family gives as born 1846 Des Moines Polk IA)
Virginia 18 b. VA (family gives as born Mannington, Marion Co. WV)
Margaret 16 b. IA (family gives as born Putnam, MO in 1854)
James 11 b. MO
108/108 CAMPBELL William 28 b. VA
Mary 28 b. VA
Thomas 11 b. MO
Martin 9 b. IA
A. G. (male) 4 b. IA
James M? 1 b. KS
ANDREW? Johnathon 29 b. MO
NOTE: John is father of Marion and William. The family was in IA in 1847, back to VA then back to IA by 1854. Then were in MO in 1859 then back in IA by 1861. John’s family is on page 400 of the WV Marion co. Western distrct census for 1850.
109/109 HUDSON? Thomas 27 b. OH and family
110/110 SANN or GANN Wm 21 KY and Emma 18 IA and Mina age 1 born Iowa
111/111 LACOMA John 35 Island of Jesus/James and wife Nancy. Children 9 t0 1 born IA. (Found it and it’s a Canadian Island way out in the Atlantic.)
112/112 CAMPBELL Marion 27 wm Farmer, real estate $300, personal $200 b. VA unable to read or write
Elizabeth 19 wf Keeping House b. OH (is not listed as illiterate)
Alfred W. 2 wm b. MO
Nancy I. 4/12 wf b. KS b. Feb
Note: Marion Campbell and Mary Elizabeth McKenney
113/113 CHAPMAN William or Millian? 68 b. KY and Martha 65 b. VA and family
114/114 CHAPMAN James 50 and Martha 47 and family all born KY

Marion and Martha had two children:

  1. Alfred Washington b. 1868 Aug 16 in , Jackson, Missouri, died 1938 July 19 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, will marry about 1892 Ida Louisa Bake who was born 1876 Sep 19 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas. Her parents are perhaps Squire and Martha Baker, observed in the St. John, Staford, Kansas census in 1880. Alfred and Ida will be in Rocky Ford, Otero, Colorado in 1910, then Albion, Cassia, Idaho in 1920, and Seaside, Clatsop, Oregon in 1930. A listing of their children is below.
  2. Nancy Isabel b. 1870 Feb 14 in Kansas, dies 1892 April 10, on 1887 April 24 in Kansas married Thomas W. Campbell b. 1852 March 18 in Clover Gap, Marion, West Virginia. He was a first cousin of Marion Campbell, Nancy’s father. I’ll list their children below.

After Martha’s death in the early 1860s, Marion married Adeline Swafford in 1873. She was born 1854 June 29 in Indiana and died 1937 Aug 8 in St. John, Stafford, Kansas. They had 9 children together: Amos Lanson b. 1874, John William b. 1877, Emma Evelyn b. 1881, Mary Elizabeth b. 1881, Rhoda May b. 1883, Esther E. b. 1886, Zelpha Etta b. 1888, Alma L. b. 1892 and Lille A. b. 1894. The family resided in St. John, Stafford, Kansas. After Marion’s death, Adeline married again, this time to John Morgan b. abt. 1848 in Pennsylvania, died 1930 July 31 in , Stafford, Kansas.

Adeline’s parents appear to be John Swafford b. 1817 in Tennessee and Mary b. 1827 in Virginia, who are observed in the 1860 Bean Blossom, Monroe, Indiana census. Adeline was listed as “Nancy A”, 6 years of age. They were still there in 1870 but by then Adeline was out of the household and I’ve yet to locate her in the 1870 census. This is my best guess on her family and has as yet been unconfirmed.

The children of Alfred Washington Campbell and Ida Louisa Baker were:

  1. Their children are Floyd Oren b. 1893 Oct 19 in St. John, Stafford, Kansas, married Nora L. Beckstrom 1920 June 24
  2. George Otto Campbell b. 1895 Feb 25 in Kansas, married Edna A. Neighbors, died 27 Feb 1982 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, served in the military from 11 Aug 1917 to 11 Aug 1919
  3. Harlow Henry Campbell b. 1897 March 7 in Kansas, died 1963 Feb 9 in San Francisco, married Ruth Elvina Wood
  4. Orville Raymond Campbell b. 1899 March 29 in Kansas
  5. Irving/Irwin b. abt. 1905 in Colorado.

Just as Martha Elizabeth’s life was short, so too was that of her daughter, Nancy Isabel, dying at the age of 22. Her children with Thomas W. Campbell were:

  1. Edith M. b. 1888 in Kansas. I’ve no further info on her after the 1900 census
  2. Eleanor Adaline b. 1890 Oct 12 in Kansas, died 1893 Nov 21 in Kansas, married Ferdinand Love Hall 1908 Aug 22 in Kansas and had children Lewis M., Elva L., Donald M., Owens P. and Ferdine E. In 1900 they were in Liberal, Seward, Kansas.

    After the death of Isabel, Thomas W. married Minnie Rouse. The 1900 census finds them in Liberal, Seward, Kansas, then in 1910 in Harmony, Township, Stevens, Kansas, 1920 in , Otero, Colorado, and in 1930 in Timpas, Otero, Colorado.

Larry McCombs has a notation on an Emeline or Ermeline HALL that was in the McKenney things: “Ermeline Hall wife of Lewis Hall married Apr 26, 1851. Another date on the notation could be 1858 or 1830, can’t be sure.” So, because of this, I was curious about Ferdinand Love Hall, wondering if here I might find something about Emeline Hall and if there was anything of especial significance to this family.

After much searching I find that Ferdinand Love Hall was the son of Louis Austin Hall b. 1841 July 14 in , Bates, Missouri, who married abt 1866 in , Council Bluffs, Iowa, Martha Ann Parson b. 1847 March 4 in Covington, Kenton, Kentucky.

Louis Austin Hall’s parents were William Hall b. 1815 March 11 in Kentucky, married 1840 July 13 in Missouri to Emaline Wright who was born abt 1818 in New York.

The census finds them in 1850 in , Lee, Iowa.

1850 Iowa Lee County, District 29
Pg. 447
900/906 Henry HENKLE 25 and family
901/907 George WILSON 41 b. TN and Rebecca and family
902/908 Noah HEWITT 34 and Maryand family
903/909 Thomas WILSON 36 Farmer b. TN
Mary 30 b. MO
Elizabeth 4 b. IA
James 3
Thomas 2
Susan WILSON 65 b. MD
Jane COLEMAN 25 b. OH
Richard DUNN 19 laborer b. IL
Benjamin DROLLINGER 19 laborer b. MO

1049/1055 William HALL 35 b.KY
Emaline 32 b. NY
Lewis A. 9 b. MO
Asbery 7 b. MO
Anna M. 5
William D. 4 b. IA
child 1

In 1860 and 1870 the are in Des Moines, Lee, Iowa.

In 1880 they are in Lindley, Mercer, Missoouri.

1880 Missouri, Mercer County, Lindley
229/230 DUNN George 32 b. KY father b. VA mother b. KY
Martha 35 b. KY parents b. KY
Wiley 10 b. MO
James 8
Margaret 6
Malcom 9/12
230/231 STANTON Hardy 21
Mary 18
George 3/12
231/231 MORRIS Jarret
232/233 PETERS W. E.
233/234 HOWARD James
235/236 H (illegible) William
236/237 HORTON O H
237/237 PARTRIDGE Hiram
238/239 HALL William 66 b. KY father b. KY mother b. VA
Emeline 51 b. PA parents b. NY
George 31 b. IA father b. KY mother b. PA
Owen 24
239/240 GRANDSTAFF James
240/241 HALL Lewis 39 b. MO father b. KY mother b. PA
Martha 33 b. KY father b. IN mother b. PA
William 16 b. IA
Nellie 14
Bruce 10
Emeline 7
Charlie 5

Seven degrees of separation department. In 1870 Mercer the family of the George Washington Martin and Mary Cutler Martin and Thadeus Cutler are living beside George Dunn. George Washington Martin was the son of John J. Martin and Mary A. Wilson. His uncle, via his mother, was Thomas Valentine Wilson m. Mary Bilkey Justus who is observed in the 1850 Lee County, Iowa census above. I 1880, George Washington Martin and his wife Mary Cutler Martin are living beside George Washington McKenney Sr. in Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas.

So, is this the Louis/Lewis Hall family in question? Are facts remembered incorrectly and Emaline is the mother of Louis/Lewis as opposed to the wife? (I have seen this happen several times, where two generations were compressed into one.) If this is the Louis/Lewis Hall, was there another wife before Martha who was named Emaline? The timing would fit. And if so, who was she? What we have found, rooting around, is that long before Ferdinand and Eleanor married, the Halls were brushing shoulders with a family who seems to have been long associated with the McKenneys, which I write of elsewhere on this blog. It’s all a bit of a mystery and maybe one day we’ll know a little more about it.

Jesse C. Hampton and Carrie Isabel McKenney

If you’re a descendant, before reading any further why don’t you contact me? Press the contact link right up there in the navigation bar above.

Daughter of George Washington McKenney Jr. and Belle M. Sparks, Carrie Isabel was born Nov. 1897 in Kay County, OK, died 1931 March 7 in Shidler, Osage County, Oklahoma and was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery at Belleville, Chautauqua County, Kansas.

1916 Nov 30 at Elgin, Chautauqua Kansas, Carrie married Jessie C. HAMPTON, son of Lewis R. Hampton and Nancy Hudgens. He was born 24 August 1885 at Marion, Illinois and died 8 March 1965 at Imperial, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. He was buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Belleville, Chautauqua County, Kansas. His name and birth and death dates were in the family record. SSDI gives last residence as Imperial, Pennsylvania.

Jessie is seen int the 1900 census:

Year: 1900; Census Place: Southern, Williamson, Illinois; Roll: T623 354; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 123.
81/81 HAMPTON Louis head June 1843 58 b. TN parents b. TN
Nancy wife Oct 1841 59 b. TN father b. NC mother b. TN
Gertie daughter June 1872 b. IL parents b. TN
Johnie son Feb 1883 17 b. IL parents b. TN
Jessie son Aug 1885 14 b. IL parents b. TN

Then again, Jesse is in the 1910 census:

1910 AR Clay Co Oak Bluff
Series: T624 Roll: 46 Part: 1 Page: 157B Year: 1910
HAMPTON Jesse boarder 22 b. IL parents b. TN bookkeeper for stock company

Series: T624 Roll: 46 Part: 1 Page: 183A Year: 1910
114/114 HAMPTON Lew R. 67 married twice 2 years b. TN parents b. TN
Maggie wife 45 married twice 2 years 1 child 1 surviving b. TN parents b. TN
Micke Mitchell hired hand 23 b. TN parents b. TN
Jessie son 24 b. IL parents b. TN

After their marriage, the family is seen in the 1920 Chautauqua Co. Belleville census at household 70/79. Jesse C. gave himself as born in IL and his parents in TN. He was a retail salesman. In that census they had two daughters: Marie M. 1 year of age, b. KS, and Doris who was 3 months old.

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
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

A John R. HAMPTON (also born in IL, as was Jesse), married an Opal MCKENZIE, daughter of Joseph MCKENZIE and Florence PERSHALL. As Jesse had a brother, Johnnie, I’m considering it a good possibility that this was the Hampton who married Opal. Florence was the sister of John Wesley PERSHALL m. Lucretia Jennie Kirkpatrick, whose mother Zilpha STRICKLIN was the sister of Millie Ann STRICKLIN who married James Kelly CROCKETT who was the grandfather of Vera who married James Albert MCKENNEY, son of Belle and George, in 1904.

Children of Carrie Isabel and Jesse were:

  • Marie Maxine b. 14 June 1918 Chautauqua Co. KS
  • Doris L. b. 18 Sept. 1919 Chautauqua Co. KS
  • Jess (Mac) b. 17 Nov. 1920 Chautauqua Co. KS d. abt. 1970.
  • George b. 14 Nov. 1923 Chautauqua Co. KS.
  • Helen Lois b. 20 April 1928 in Chautauqua CO., Kansas, d. 25 Sept. 1933 in Ponca City, Osage, Oklahoma and is buried at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Belleville, Chautauqua, Kanas. Mabel Clair descendants, who have provided birthdates, note that after the death of Carrie, Frank and Mabel Clair adopted Helen, but it’s not known if it was a legal adoption or not. She is buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery listed as Helen L. HAMPTON.

Before going more into the descendants of Carrie Isabel, here is her obituary:

MRS. JESSE HAMPTON CLAIMED BY DEATH

Carrie McKenney, daughter of G. W. and Bell McKenney, was born November 9, 1897 in Kay County, Oklahoma, near Ponca City. Her father moved his family to Chautauqua, Kansas, during her early childhood and she has resided in or near Chautauqua, most of her life. She graduated from high school in Independence, Kansas, in 1916 and in November of the same year was married to Jesse Hampton of Illinois. To this union five children were born, three girls and two boys. Mrs. Hampton was converted at an early age and united with the M. E. church and was always ready and willing to assist in the work of the church. For more than a year, just past, she had been a great sufferer and through it all has shown great patience and cheerfulness until it seemed that the Savior said, “It is enough, come up higher,” and at 3 o’clock on March 7, 1931, her spirit returned to God who gave it.

Her father and mother of Chautauqua, brother Albert McKenney of Sedan and sister Mrs. Mabel Tripp of Shidler, Okla., her husband and children of the home at Chautauqua and a large number of other relatives survive.

Funeral services were held at the U.B. church at Chautauqua Monday, March 9, conducted by Rev. J. B. Brown of Peru, who had performed the marriage service of Mr. and Mrs. Hampton nearly fifteen years ago while pastor of the M. E. church at Elgin, Kans.

Many relatives and friends of Oklahoma added their comforting presence to the large number of friends at Mrs. Hampton’s home town, Sedan and surrounding country who attended the funeral.

A lady friend, Mrs. Robinson from Shidler, sang a beautiful solo, two of the Chautauqua teachers Miss Dow and Miss Epperson sang “The City Four Square”, and a male quartet, composed of Messrs. Tom Burger, Mel Roberts, Earl and Raymond Delong sang “Sweet Hour of Prayer”, which was specially chosen by Mrs. Hampton and her children. “Asleep in Jesus” was also rendered by the full group of singers. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. Burial was in Chautauqua cemetery. Pall bearers were: Ed Anderson, H. R. Delong, Ernest Carr, Ed Findley, Bruce Findley and R. C. Gauer. Flower girls: Mary Delong, Elouise Schwab, Wiladine Smith, Nelcine Gibbons, Opal Mays and Norma Lee Loy.

Rebekah lodge members conducted the funeral service of the order at the grave.

The following was also published:

Sedan Times Star

CARD OF THANKS

We all want to offer our sincere thanks to all, who in any way extended help and comfort to our departed loved one, and to the bereaved friends and for the wonderful floral offerings.– Jesse Hampton and family, G. W. McKenney and wife, F. B. Tripp, wife and daughter, J. A. McKenney and family

Now, for descendants. Marie Maxine Hampton married Ralph Harland Spray, the son of Fred Manfred Spray and Claudia L. McClure who I see in the 1920 and 1930 censuses in Armstrong, Nowata, Oklahoma. He was born 1912 July 3 in Oklahoma and died 1973 July in Imperial, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. I believe they had at least two children. Other family names may be Haney and Hopkins.

Doris L. Hampton died 1998 May 7 at the Hays Medical Center in Norton Kansas. The following is her obituary:

OBIT for Doris GRAY, died at Norton County KS.

Doris L. Gray, 78, 2800 Augusta, died Thursday, May 7, 1998, at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 1, 1919, in Chautauqua to Jesse and Carrie (McKinney) Hampton. She was a mental health technician and counselor at the Norton State Hospital until her retirement in 1982. She was active in Alcoholics Anonymous and was a Senior Companion in Hays.

Survivors include (and as these are survivors I’ll remove that information here but two were Delong sons and one was a Montgomery son in Arizona. She was listed as having 13 grandchildren and and three great-grandchildren. That’s a lot of descendants! When will any happen upon this page? Hello!)

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine, with the Rev. William C. Miller officiating; burial in the Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Senior Companion Program, Hospice of Hays Medical Center or Alcoholics Anonymous.

So, it seems Doris was married to a Delong, a Montgomery and a Gray. I don’t know their names or the dates of marriage.

Jesse “Mac” Hampton who was born 1920, died 1970 in February. The family record gave him as marrying a “Rae”. That’s all the info I have on him! Contact me!

George B. Hampton b. 1923 Nov 14 in Chautauqua, died 1991 Nov 29 in Los Angeles, California. I show him as living in Venice, Los Angeles, California in 1965. Did he marry? Who did he marry? Did he have any descendants? Contact me!

Update on George Berl Hampton above. I received the following information on him, and appreciate it being sent along:

“George Berl Hampton, son of Jessie Hampton and Carrie McKinney, was born 14 Nov 1922 in Chautauqua County, Kansas and died 28 Nov 1981 in Los Angeles County, California. He was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Los Angeles. On 4 Jun 1951, in Los Angeles, California, George married Vera Mae Bradford, 1908-1966, daughter of Porter Theodric Bradford and Savannah Ann Holland. Vera had one daughter by a previous marriage. To my knowledge, George had no children. I remember him as being a rather large man with red hair who loved to sing and entertain. He and Vera owned a screen door and cabinet shop in Venice, California.”

Obituary of Estus Pete Simmons

Estus D. “Pete” Simmons died March 14 1960 at Sheridan, Washintgon, Louisiana.

Estus D. Simmons Dies at Sheridan

Estus D. Simmons of Sheridan died at 6:30 this morning at the family residence in Sheridan. He was 52.

The funeral party will leave the residence at 4 p.m. tomorrow for the Simmons Cemetery, where graveside rites will be conducted by the Rev. J. W. Magee and the Rev. J. B. Rocko. The Brown Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Simmons is survived by his wife, Mrs. Genieva Simmons; a son, Denman Simmons, serving in the Air Force at Clovis Air Force Base, N.M.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lucius Simmons of Sheridan; three brothers, Ezra of Slidell, Lloyd of Freeport, Texas, and Jim of Sheridan; and two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Hennesey of Camden, Ark., and Mrs. Fannie Lee Foil of Franklinton.

Mrs. M. E. CARHART

Obituary for Margaret E. Pettit Carhart, b. 1830 Jan 21 in Zanesville, Ohio. She married Elliot Carhart 1850 Sept 29.

* * * * *

Mrs. M. E. CARHART Obituary

Death Came to Aged Resident of Macon Monday Evening
Born in 1830

Mrs. Margaret E. CARHART, one of the pioneer residents of Macon, and a woman much beloved for her many excellent qualities, gently passed to the home beyond at 8:15 o’clock Monday evening, August 10, 1914, after a long illness, at their home on North Rutherford street.

She was born in Zanesville, Ohio, January 21, 1830, and at the time of her death was well past the three score and ten, and all of them were years of usefulness and well-doing till illness and feebleness, brought on my advanced age, caused her activities to slacken.

Deceased reared a large family of children, four daughters surviving: Miss Ida CARHART, Miss Edith CARHART, Mrs. R. G. MITCHELL and Mrs. Rosa PERRINE of Chillicothe. Three sons, reared to manhood, have gone before: Arlington, Carrington and Arthur, Arlington’s death occurring the past year: Mr. CARHART died December 29, 1905.

Many friends will unite with us in extending sympathy to the bereaved daughters who will deeply mourn the departure of their beloved mother and best friend.

The funeral services were held at the residence Wednesday morning at 9o’clock, conducted by the Rev. W. D. CATER of the M. E. church of this city. Deceased was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, but in the absence of her pastor, the Rev. Ira W. BARNETT, who is spending his vacation in Colorado, Mr. CATER officiated.

Internment was made in Oakwood cemetery.