Daniel J Shaw (1854 - 1898)

Daniel J Shaw was born 20 October 1854 in Union county, Georgia, USA to Hezekiah Daniel Shaw and Mary Croft. He was the fourth of six known children, though the 1900 census indicates that Mary & Hezekiah had 15 children.

I cannot locate the family in the 1860 census, they were possibly moving to Florida during that time. In 1870, the family is in Bradford County, Florida, USA near the Sanderson post office. (You can see the original image on Hezekiah's post linked above.)

1870 US census Bradford County, Florida Sanderson post office, stamped page 278


Shaw H D 46 M W Farmer 500 400 Georgia illiterate
Mary 43 F Keeping House SC illiterate
Vina 16 F FL 
Daniel 14 M Farm laborer FL Illiterate
Massouri 9 F FL
Robert 8/12 M FL

Sometime between 1870 and 1875, Daniel married Joan Diana Wester, daughter of Elias Wester and Penelope Driggers Wester. Their first known living child, Penney Viney Shaw, was born on the 14th of July 1875. Next came a son, Hezekiah K Shaw, born 12 Mar 1877. Third child born before the 1880 census was Virginia, born sometime in 1879. Their fourth known child Virginia was born sometime in 1880 after the census, as she is 5 years old in the 1885 census.

In the 1880 census, the Daniel Shaw family appears in Lake Butler, Bradford, Florida, USA, next door to his father, Hezekiah.

Daniel Shaw   Male, 24 years, Georgia,
Dianna Shaw, Wife, Female, 23 years, Florida
Vinie Shaw, Daughter, Female, 4 years, Florida
Hezekiah Shaw, Son, Male, 3 years, Florida
Virginia Shaw, Daughter, Female, 1 year, Florida

On Jan 28, 1885, Diana died. She is buried in South Prong Cemetery in Baker county, Florida. Her tombstone says "J Diana, wife of Daniel J Shaw" and gives her birth and death dates. You can view the memorial at Find A Grave here.

Daniel is a widow in Florida 1885 census in Bradford County with his four children.

SELF	Dan Shaw	M	36y
DAU	Vinie Shaw	F	10y
SON	Hesekiah Shaw	M	8y
DAU	Virginia Shaw	F	6y
DAU	Caroline Shaw	F	5y

Notice that his age is possibly listed as 36, but I believe its just a misformed 0 in a 30. Also, if you look at the whole page, four families before Dan Shaw is the Judson Vining family with an 18 year old daughter named Susan.

A little over a year later,possibly on 17 February 1886, Daniel remarried. His new bride was Susan Ella Vining, daughter of Judson Vining and Charlotte Alcox. (The marriage date is listed in a personal family tree but I have been unable to find the source for verification.)

The existence of an 1890 census or 1895 state census would be extremely helpful here, but from several sources, including the 1900 and 1910 censuses, I have pieced together seven children born to Daniel and Susan Ella, the last one born after he died in 1898.

Annie J Shaw (1886-1912)
Willie D Shaw (1888-1891)
Charley J Shaw (1889-1936)
Bert Agusta Shaw (1892-1942)
Elizabeth Shaw(1894-?)
Noah Shaw(1896-?)
Emily Shaw(1898-?)

Daniel dies in 1898, on April 7 in Lake Butler, Union, Florida, USA. He is buried in a dual grave with Susan Ella in Swift Creek Cemetery in Lake Butler, Union county, Florida. Daniel's parents, some of his siblings and some of his children are also buried in this cemetery. You can view the tombstone at Find A Grave here.

The tombstone contains an error - it lists his birth year as 1844. Reviewing the other records of his life, his estimated birth year is 1856, 1856 and 1855 or 1849. The last one depending on if you interpret the 1885 census as him being 30 or 36. Tombstone errors happen, the most famous one being this one: Februay 31 birthday on Tombstone.

(Susan E. Vining full name can be verified on this death certificate :https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FPSY-B22)

(Susan Shaw in 1900 census: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3D5-VYM)

(Susan Shaw in 1910 census: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MVVT-P32)

Jessie B Coder Sylvester (1873 - 1950) A genealogy puzzle of sorts

I spent the better part of Sunday this week researching and investigating Jessie B Coder Sylvester at the request of my mother-in-law. The reason she ask for my help is because of the birth records. There are two records of births of Jessie Coder's to her parents, David S Coder and Catherine Coder. One in 1873 and one in 1876. The one in 1873 is listed as a male, and the one in 1876 is listed as a female.

You can click this link to see the 1876 female birth info and free image of the record book: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQ44-V4C
(The picture isn't easily cut and pasted since you need parts of the whole document, and the image is freely available to all to see, it is easier to include a direct link.)
She is listed as Jessie L Coder, female, born 8 Jan 1876 to David Coder and Cathrin Coder in Charlotte, Eaton, Michigan.

The thing to notice is all the births were recorded on June 7, 1877 into the book. These are not original entries from when the parents came and told the county clerk. Could the L have been a B originally? It is possible.

You can click this link to see the 1873 male birth info and free image of the record book:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQCM-PQ7
He is listed as Jessie Coder, male, born 4 Nov 1873 to David Coder and Catharine Coder in Charlotte, Eaton, Michigan.

Again, these are not original entries. The date recorded column says June 3, 1874, as do most of the entries. Could the gender have been incorrectly recorded? Maybe.

What we can conclude is that there were two babies born to David and Catherine Coder and since they named the second one the same name as the first, it is likely the first baby died. While there is a record of another baby named Howard being born in 1871 and dying in 1873, there is no record of baby Jessie Coder dying, at least in the Michigan records.

However, when we get to the 1880 census, we find the David and Catherine Coder family in Parker county Texas (just west of Fort Worth) with three children, Minnie, Corl & Jessie. (Corl is transcribed as Carl, but clearly reads Corl in the original record, which is consistent thru his life, but that's another topic).

1880 United States Census,  Precinct 7, Parker, Texas, United States (click any of the names to link to the source, and you can see the original image)

Self	David S. Coder	M	46	Pennsylvania, United States
Wife	Catharine Coder	F	37	Pennsylvania, United States
Daughter	Minnie Coder	F	18	Ohio, United States
Son	Carl Coder	M	15	Ohio, United States
Daughter	Jessie Coder	F	6	Michigan, United States
Other	John S. White	M	42	Pennsylvania, United States(Laborer)
Other	Aldro B. Stout	M	23	New York, United States (Laborer)

Notice that we have a female Jessie who is 6, which matches up with an 1873-1874 birth. But he was listed as male! Also, where is the female child born in 1876? Is she the Jessie listed here, or did she die?

The next document we have is the 1900 census where Jessie is already married and has a daughter of her own. How do we know it is her when we can't find the marriage record? The 1910 census holds a key. But first, the 1900 census.

1900 United States Census, ED 72 Justice Precinct 3 (voting precinct 11), Parker, Texas, United States (click any of the names to link to the source, and you can see the original image)

Head	Richard Sylvester	M	26	Texas
Wife	Jessie B Sylvester	F	27	Misigan
Daughter	Vera Sylvester	F	1	Texas

So we learn several things in this census. First, we learn that they have been married about 1 year and have 1 child who is already 10 months old, so really we can guess they have been married at least 19 months, and were probably married in the second half of 1898.  Richard is listed as a farmer here. The 1900 census gives us month and year of birth. Jessie's says Nov 1873. Interesting since that coincides with the birth of the male Jessie Coder!

1910 United States Census Justice Precinct 7, Parker, Texas

SELF	D R Silvester	M	37y	Texas
WIFE	Jessie B Silvester	F	37y	Michigan
DAU	Vera Silvester	F	10y	Texas
SON	Loyd Silvester	M	8y	Texas
SON	Herbert Silvester	M	6y	Texas
SISTER IN LAW	Minnie Coder	F	47y	Ohio

Not only do we have Jessie B Sylvester's single spinster sister Minnie Coder living with the family, they are right next door to her brother Corl F Coder, his wife and 7 children! Can we just say a big thank you to them for being so nice and thoughtful to do that for us?

Notice that D R & Jessie B are listed as having been married for 12 years now. Even though this census was in April 1910, while the 1900 census was in June 1900. After less than 2 years of marriage, they were more exact about how long they'd been married. After 12 years, more time has passed and they are not as exact in dating the length of marriage. Notice again, that she is listed as 37, indicating an 1873 birth. It is also possible that the info was obtained from someone not in the family (maybe the brother next door even!), since we have the age of Herbert as 6 with a 7 over the top, and he was 7.5 at that point. D R (Richard) is listed as a farmer again.

The next interesting document is actually the death record for Jessie's husband, Richard Sylvester, or D R. He dies just 2 years later in February 1912 in Waco, Texas from a gunshot wound, with his occupation listed as traveling salesman. Was the farming unsuccessful? Was the traveling salesman job a secondary job to bring in extra money? Was he robbed or did he die in a saloon fight? So many unanswered questions about an interesting and early, untimely death. He left behind a wife and 4 children, aged 13,11,9 and a baby born that year he probably never met. There are no Waco papers from the time archived to search, and Parker county was too rural to have a paper. It is possibly in one of the Fort Worth paper archives, I would have to travel to the state archives to look through them.

As far as death certificates go, it has very little personal information, even though the informant is his brother in law, C.F. Coder.

In the 1920 census, Jessie is a single mother, still next door to her brother, and we see the fourth child Elizabeth, born in 1912.

1920 United States Census , Parker, Texas

SELF	Jessie Slyvester	F	45y	Michigan
DAU	Vera Slyvester	F	20y	Texas
SON	Loyd Slyvester	M	18y	Texas
SON	Herbert Slyvester	M	16y	Texas
DAU	Elizabeth Slyvester	F	8y	Texas

Now here, she is listed as 45, which would be a 1874-1875 birth, the closest we ever get to another document agreeing with the 1876 birth year.

I cannot find Jessie in the 1930 census, she is not with her three children I have located. I cannot find Elizabeth either though.

In the 1940 census, Jessie is living in Yuma, Arizona with her eldest daughter Vera.

1940 United States Census,  Supervisorial District 2, Yuma, Arizona, United States

Head Marvin Fox M  41  Texas Wife Vera Fox F 40 Texas Mother-in-law Jessie B Sylvester  F 66 Michigan

Jessie is 66 here, indicating an 1873-1874 birth still. The consistency is surprising to some extent. The 1940 census also tells us that she lived here with her daughter in the same house in 1935, so we know she has been here at least 5 years. It also tells us she went to school through 4th grade.

The last document is her death certificate. It is a lovely filled out with lots of information death certificate.

The informant was her daughter, "Mrs. Marvin Fox" in other words, Vera. It is interesting because it lists the exact birth date "Nov 4 1873" of the male Jessie Coder birth record! So the likelihood that her gender was accidentally changed in the birth records seems possibly high based on all the other documents. But we just can't be sure. But why another child, a daughter no less, clearly also named "Jessie Coder" in 1876? Why?

So I've added a lot of commentary to these records to share my thoughts and what I noticed as I looked at the documents. Hopefully it is helpful to someone and not confusing.

Lastly we have her tombstone, she was buried next to her husband in Aledo, Texas, you can visit the memorial here: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=SY&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSsr=1001&GRid=66344723&

I have tracked three of her children, their spouses and descendants also. But I cannot find information about the youngest, Elizabeth.

There you have it, the story of Jessie B Coder, who while clearly a female, was either recorded as a male in the birth records, or told the wrong birthday her whole life by her family.

Elijah G. Jeffries biography

Text:

E.G.Jeffries
The life of any true, upright citizen is of value to that locality in which he may reside, but of how much greater value must that person be who gives to the community and world at large a worthy family of children, who grow up to be useful men and women and respected members of society. Mr. Jeffries has been twice married and his first wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Winfrey, born in Kentucky July 5, 1831, daughter of John B. Winfrey, bore him three children: John B., born December 5, 1853; Thomas E., born March 4, 1856; and Elizabeth P., born November 19, 1858. Mrs. Jeffries died December 4, 1858, and on December 27, 1859, Mr. J. was united in marriage with Miss C.A. Heaton, daughter of Daniel and Mary *Cunningham) Heaton, Virginians by birth; she was born December 27, 1844 in Ohio, and her parental grandfather served as major in the Revolutionary War. By this last union there have been fourteen chidlren, the names and date of birth  of whom are as follows: James W., August 6, 1860; Samuel M., October 22, 1861; Mary M., December 31, 1862; Nannie H., March 12, 1864; Jeff. D., May 2, 1866, Robert Lee, October 11, 1867; Eliza G., May 7, 1869; Minnie A., February 25, 1871; George m., July 29, 1872; Charles B., May 29, 1874; Lettie J., April 28, 1876; R.A., March 20, 1878; Ivan C., February 2, 1880; and Jesse J., September 13, 1882. Mr. Jeffries is of Kentucky nativity, born in Hardin county, March 19, 1833. His father, Elijah Jeffries, of Jamestown, Va., was a Baptist minister, and after moving to Missouri preached in various counties in the northern part of the State for many years, organizing churches almost without number and winning many soulds from the world of sin. He died in Carroll county, where now resides his widow. The latter, formerly Elizabeth Marshall, was born in Hardin county, Ky., February 25, 1803, her marriage to Mr. J. occurring March 26, 1832. Her father was John M. Marshall, Esq., and her mother was a daughter of Col. B. Long, of Alabama, a colonel in the Revolutionary War. Their children besides Elijah were John M., Frances, Elizabeth R. B. G., H. B., Nannie C. and Zerilda C. Mr Jeffries accompanied his father on various moves made by that person and when the war broke out he enlisted from Carroll county June 16, 1861, in Col Pritchard's regiment, under command of Gen. William Y. Slack, taking part in all the engagements participated in by his company up to the surrender at Shreveport. After this he went to Illinois and in February 1879, settled in vernon county, Mo., where he now owns 240 acres of good land, which he is improving in an excellent manner. Politically he is a Democrat and he and his wife and six children are members of the Christian Church.

 -- Taken from History of Vernon County, Missouri, 1887. Published by Brown & Co., St. Louis, Missouri. pp472-473

Charles H Duff biography

Text:
Charles H. Duff, a resident of this county for a length of time sufficient to give him a wide and extended acquaintance, was born in Cass county, Indiana, September 5, 1854, the son of David L. amd Mary (McBride) Duff, whose marriage was consummated January 8, 1851.  The former was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., December 19, 1821, his wife's birth occurring in Newark, N.J., May 14, 1830. Only one child beside Charles was given them, John A., born January 14, 1853, who died October 25, 1854. On leaving Indiana the family went to Nebraska, but one winter satisfied them there and in the spring a location was chosen in Anderson county, Kas., and that county continued to be their home from 1855 to 1868, a period of some thirteen years. On January 1, 1868, after another move they settled in this county, where Charles H. Duff now resides (in section 1). The latter in growing up was favored with good educational advantages and for four years he attended the Osage Mission school in Neosho county, Kas. Subsequently he was engaged in teaching school in Texas, and while thus occupied was married to Miss Madora Houts, daughter of William Houts and Emma, nee Poston, both natives of Missouri. Mrs. Duff died February 23, 1879, leaving one child, David L., born December 28, 1877. Mr. D. was again married January 7, 1886, when Mrs. Mary M. Jeffries became his wife, her birth having occurred December 31, 1862. She was the daughter of E.G. Jeffries, a sketch of whose life appears more prominently in another portion of this work. He is a respected citizen of this county, as is also his worthy wife. Mrs. Duff's grandfather, Elijah Jeffries, was a pioneer in North Missouri, where he was engaged for years in the ministry of the gospel. He was a man beloved by all who knew him, and his friends could hardly be numbered. The present landed estate of Mr. Duff embraces 120 acres, 40 of which are situated  in section 1, and 80 acres in section 3. This is well improved and thoroughly managed. his political preferences are with the Democratic party. He has been brought up as a Catholic.

 --Taken from History of Vernon County, Missouri 1887 pp 462-463, published by Brown & Company, St. Louis, Missouri.

Updated Randall posts

I have updated my posts on Ida May Randall and also her grandfather Leonard Lake Randall with new information. The newspaper articles about Ida May's disappearance are quite interesting. I also received some photos relating to Leonard.

Only 44 days until the 1940 census is released!

Hezekiah Daniel Shaw (1824 - 1902)

Hezekiah Daniel Shaw was born 17 Sep 1824 in Liberty county, Georgia to Daniel K Shaw and Elizabeth Morgan. He was second known son of at least eleven children.

He would be living with his parents in the 1830 census in Decatur County, Georgia and the 1840 census in Lowndes County, Georgia. (Only head of household was named in 1830 and 1840 censuses.)

You can see Liberty County Georgia near where present day Savannah, Georgia is, on the Atlantic coast. Decatur, Lowndes and Thomas counties are in the south western corner of Georgia, on the border with Florida.

He marries Mary Croft, the daughter of Jacob Henry Croft and Abigail Hunter. Possibly on Dec 20 1849, though that doesn't match up with the ages of his children in the 1850 census. Together they have fifteen children according to the 1900 census, I have names for nine.


He appears in the 1850 census in Thomas County, Georgia already married and with two children.

1850 US Census District 81, Thomas County, Georgia
Hisekiah Shaw 25 Male Farmer $400 illiterate
Mary 21 Female
Elisa 3 Female
William 1 Male

I cannot locate the family in the 1860 census.

Hezekiah does join the Confederate Army in 1863. He enlists in Lake City, Columbia, Florida on 2 Nov 1863 as a Corporal in Company E of the Florida 9th Regiment. He is mustered out on 15 Dec 1864. Physical description from the record:  He was 5'6", brown eyes, black hair, dark skin.

In the 1870, 1880, 1885 and 1900 censuses he is in Bradford county, Florida.

1870 US census Bradford County, Florida Sanderson post office, stamped page 278
Shaw H D 46 M W Farmer 500 400 Georgia illiterate
Mary 43 F Keeping House SC illiterate
Vina 16 F FL
Daniel 14 M Farm laborer FL Illiterate
Massouri 9 F FL
Robert 8/12 M FL

1880 US census Lake Butler, Bradford County, Florida
Hezekiah Shaw W M 56   Married Farmer GA SC SC
Mary W F 52  Wife Married Keeping House SC SC SC cannot read/write
Robert L W M 10 Son FL GA SC
Elen Jordan W F 18 Servant Single Servant cannot read/write FL FL SC
Henry Croft W M 14 Board boy Laborer cannot write FL SC GA

1885 Florida Census District 2, Bradford County, Florida
H D Shaw W M 60 Married Farmer GA SC SC
Mary W F 56 Married SC SC SC
Robert W M 15 Son FL GA SC

1900 US Census  Lake Butler, Bradford County, Florida
Hezekiah D Shaw head W M Sep 1824 75 M 55 GA GA GA
Mary wife W F May 1828 72 M 15 5 SC SC SC
Della Hall servant W F Aug 1870 30 S FL FL FL

Hezekiah Daniel Shaw died 30 Oct 1902 in Union county, Florida. He is buried with his wife in the Swift Creek Cemetery across from Mt Zion Baptist Church in Union county, Florida. His gravestone has a mason symbol on it.

Hezekiah Daniel Shaw died at age 78. He had 15 children with his wife Mary Croft according to the 1900 census. 10 children and his wife preceded him in death. He was survived by his daughters Eliza B (John) Brown, Missouri (Jack) Mann, Melvina (Henry) Douglas and sons William Henry (Lydia) and Robert Lee (Mary).

Other possible names of children who preceded him in death: Elizabeth C Lewis, Leavy Shaw, Daniel F Shaw, Leleigh Mann.

Jerry Jackson McKeehan (1878 - 1933)

Despite living relatively recently, I have had a hard time locating records about Jerry Jackson McKeehan. Always looking for more information.

Jerry Jackson McKeehan was possibly born 4 Dec 1878 in Georgia, the second youngest child of eleven born to John William McKeehan and Sarah Loudusty Myers.

His birth date is different in every source. The 1880 census lists him as 4 years old. The 1900 census says he was born in Dec 1879. The 1910 census has him as 31, or born in 1879. His WWI registration draft card in 1918 gives a birthdate of 4 Dec 1878. The 1920 census lists him as 45 years old, or born in 1875. His tombstone says he was born 12 Dec 1877. When was his actual birthday? Perhaps even he was not sure.
 
He is listed as Jackson McKeehan, age 4 in 1880 census in Trickum, Whitfield, Georgia.

His sister Cornelia Ann Williams dies 9 Mar 1885.

His brother Porter Pledger marries Mollie Brookshire in 1892.

His brother Dock marries Melvina in 1896.

He married Minnie Belle Wigley (1882 - 1959) in Decatur County, Alabama on Nov 23, 1898. (Listed as J J McKeehan and Muriel Wigley in Alabama Marriage Collection 1800-1969 at Ancestry.com.)

He is listed as Jesse J Mckeehan, born Dec 1879 and living in Walker's Chapel, DeKalb, Aabama in the 1900 census.

His first son Troy Clayborn was born 24 may 1903 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

His second son Roy Dock was born 13 Sep 1906 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

His third son Fred Doster was born 5 Nov 1908 in Dekalb Co., Alabama and is named after his neighbor.

He is listed as Jessie J Mckins, age 31 in 1910 census in District 36, Walkers Chapel, Dekalb Co., Alabama - good friend Frederick Doster lives nearby (though not on the same page).

His fourth son Benjamin is born 12 may 1911 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

His father John William McKeehan dies in 1912 in Georgia

His first daughter Belle is born and dies 28 Feb 1913 in Dekalb Co., Alabama. She lived only three hours.

His second daughter Gladys C is born early August1914 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

His third daughter Estelle is born 26 Feb 1917 and dies 3 days later on 1 Mar 1917 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

He registers for the draft in Sept 1918, listed as Jessey Jackson McKeehan, age 40, residence, Fort Payne, DeKalb, Alabama. Eyes blue, hair black, medium height, medium build.

His fifth son Glenn Alexander is born 23 Aug 1919 in Dekalb Co., Alabama.

His mother Sarah Loudusty Myers McKeehan dies 2 Apr 1920 in Whitfield Co., Georgia

He is listed as Jackson Mckins age 45 in the 1920 census in District 67, Walkers Chapel, Dekalb Co., Alabama

His brother Andrew Jackson McKeehan dies on 4 May 1921 in Whitfield county, Georgia.

His fourth daughter Blanche is born 9 Aug 1922 in Dekalb Co., Alabama

His daughter Gladys dies 1 Sep 1922 in Dekalb Co., Alabama from spinal meningitis at age 8 years and 28 days.

His son Troy is married to Lettie E Burt on 22 Oct 1922 in Alabama

His granddaughter Inez is born to son Troy on 24 May 1923 in Alabama

His wife moves to live with son Troy & Lettie & Inez about this time, with their daughter Blanche (according to family stories, Jerry Jackson stayed in their homeplace until he died.)

His grandson Leroy is born to son Troy on 21 Apr 1925 in Alabama.

His son Roy is married to Stella Foy about 1926.

His granddaughter Louise is born in 1927 to son Troy in Alabama.


His brother Captain S K "Cay" McKeehan dies 17 Nov 1927 in Grant county, Arkansas.

His granddaughter Lynette is born to son Roy in 1928.

His granddaughter Lois is born 27 Mar 1929 to son Troy in Alabama.

His granddaughter Duette is born in 1929 to son Roy.

His son Fred is married to Ora Alcie Shaver on 8 Mar 1930 in Menlo, Chattooga Co., Georgia.

His wife Minnie is living in the1930 census in District 24 Tucker, Cherokee Co., Alabama with their son Roy and his family. Jerry Jackson has not been found or does not appear in the 1930 census.


His brother William "Bill" McKeehan dies on 7 Feb 1931 in Whitfield county, Georgia.

His granddaughter Mary is born to son Fred 6 Apr 1931 in Fort Payne, Dekalb Co., Alabama

His granddaughter Violet is born to son Fred 25 Jan 1933 in Trion, Chattooga Co., Georgia

He dies 12 Dec 1933,  in Calbran, Dekalb, Alabama. His death certificate lists him as Jerry J McKeehan.


He is buried in Walkers Chapel Cemetery in Dekalb Co., Alabama
McKeehan, J.J. " Jack" b. Dec. 12, 1877, d. Dec. 12, 1933.

Jerry Jackson McKeehan died at approximately age 56. He was preceded in death by three daughters, one sister and three brothers. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, one daughter, five sons, nine grandchildren, five brothers and one sister.

Samuel Hall "Hal" Conkey (1899 - 1996)

Samuel Hall "Hal" Conkey was born 26 Jan 1899 in London, Ontario, Canada while his mother was visiting her sister. The family home was in (Caseville), Lake township, Huron county, Michigan and he was considered a native born US citizen. (Even listed as born in Michigan in censuses.)

He is the youngest of five children, and only son born to Samuel Conkey and Amanda Melvina Fitzgerald Hall. He had two young sisters die before he was born, Zelma (1890-1897) and Valerie Leslie (1896-1896). Two other sisters lived to be adults, Alice Blanch (1892-1977) and Hope Jean (1897-1977).

He is listed as Samuel H Conkey in the 1900 census, born Jan 1899. In the 1910 census he is Hall Conkey, and in the 1920 census he is Hal Conkey. 

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

One of the many careers Hall had was as a school teacher. He had ideas ahead of his time. He wanted the students to work together in groups. It was a scandal when he married one of his older students.

Hall Conkey and Christine Walker

Hall married Christine Margaret Walker. They were married 30 Jun 1926 by Rev. Glenn Carpenter at the home of the bride's parents in Sheridan Township, Huron, Michigan. They had four children and were married for seventy years before his death.

In the 1930 census he is listed as Samuel H Conkey again. He is also listed as a salesman. According to his son, he sold generators so that people could have electricity in their homes.

1930 census

His oldest son writes: "A teacher for many years, he left teaching during the depression and returned to his fathers farm so he could feed his family. And he did. He rebuilt a run down farm by buying baby calves and raising them. At one time they had over 100 head of cattle. Each spring they would buy 300 to 500 baby chicks and raise them for the lake shore trade, selling them during the depression for a dollar a bird, a lot of money in those days."

The Conkey farm was in the same family for over 100 years and was designated a Michigan Centennial Farm by the Michigan Historical Commission. Though the last of the farm was sold shortly after Hal and Christine died, the family still owns a small area of land where the original house stood.

Hal was an inventor. Among his inventions are the sugar beet harvester, the beet lifter that pulled
behind the tractor, with a riding board for the holder; and a portable conveyor to move beans or grain from the threshing machine into the bins, long before conveyors became popular. Probably his most popular invention with his grandchildren and great grandchildren was the Happy-go-round.

Happy-go-round at the Conkey farm 1988

Hal became a painter later in life and many of his paintings are family treasures. He and Christine were also very active in local politics. Hal had a clear and active mind until shortly before he died when he developed Alzheimer's. He died peacefully 29 Nov 1996 at the Sunny Acres Nursing Home between Bad Axe and Elkton in Michigan.

Hal Conkey 1994

Willard Knowles Hopkins (1812 - 1878)

I am excited because my sister has started doing some genealogy too! It's so fun to share the excitement of research! Together we have been learning more about our Hopkins ancestors.

Willard Knowles Hopkins was born 19 Jun 1812 in Harwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts to Joshua Hopkins and Bridget Small. He is one of ten kids, eight of which I have names for so far. He had an older brother named John, and two baby brothers named Joshua and Samuel. The four sisters, Orpha, Juliana, Sarah Jane, and Mary Amanda. The other two children I don't know anything about yet. It is said there were 5 girls and 5 boys, so possibly the two unknown children died young, one boy and one girl? (Speculation.)

In 1817, Joshua & Bridget moved their small growing family to Tuckertown, New Jersey.

On 21 Mar 1836, in Burlington county, New Jersey, Willard married Lucy Ann Read. We believe she was born in New York but don't know much about her yet. (Marriage record found at LDS family history centery on microfiche by my sister!)

Approx 1838-1840, the family moved to Greenwich, Ohio. Joshua & Bridget and their clan, John & his wife Levica, and Willard & Lucy. According to stories from Mary Amanda, (Joshua's youngest), written down in 1973 from the memory of her granddaughter,

"Joshua Hopkins left New Jersey because he didn't want his sons to be sailors.  For he said a sailor's life was a dog's life. Grandmother remembers walking over the hills of Pa.  Joshua Hopkins intended to go farther west, but when he got to Ohio the man who was bringing his furniture through by ox team got drunk one night and left their funiture out in the rain.  so they went no farther west. "

Willard & Lucy had 2 daughters and possibly a third child. Mary Ann Hopkins was born 31 Jan 1840 in Greenwich, Ohio. Lucy Maria Hopkins was born in early 1842 in Greenwich, Ohio. 


Sadly, Lucy died 2 Mar 1842 in Greenwich, Ohio and is buried in Ninevah Cemetery. 

On 5 Dec 1843, in Greenwich, Ohio, Willard married Jane Ursula Easterly. Jane was from Gloversville, New York, born 21 Sep 1822. Together, they had eight children, William W, Albert J, Francis T, Elizabeth Jane, Julia E, Isadora A, Armon Bartine, and George Halstead.

Willard and Jane are in the 1850 census in Greenwich, Huron, Ohio. On the previous page are his brother John & family and his father Joshua & family.

In 1860, still in Greenwich, Ohio! Father Joshua still next door. (Note that Willard is listed as Wm K, and Joshua is listed as Josiah.) Brother John has moved to the nearby town of Ripley.

 In 1870, still in Greenwich, Huron, Ohio.

June 1878 newspaper clipping mentioning his death. (From the Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Library)

Willard Knowles Hopkins died 18 May 1878 in Greenwich, Huron, Ohio and is buried in the Ninevah Cemetery, with both his wives and many other relatives.


Online book about Huron county, Ohio history with Hopkins family history in it! (First link, Second link). 


Another book resource: Genealogies of Mayflower Families" pub. 1985 pg. 365


I have recently connected to several people working on the Hopkins family and seen some pictures of relatives, but don't have any with known photos of Willard yet. If you are related and able to identify people in photos or interested in sharing information, please contact me!

Susannah Chenoweth (1812 - 1862)

Susannah Chenoweth was born 20 Apr 1812 in Randolph County, Virginia. (It is West Virginia now.) She was the first daughter of her father Robert's second marriage to Edith "Eve" Skidmore. She had three older half sisters and was the oldest of 12 kids born to Edith.

She married at age 18 in Randolph county to John W Stalnaker, a distant cousin of her father's first wife. Susannah and John had 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys. The oldest was born in Randolph county and then the family moved to Roane county, following an earlier move by her father and siblings.

They appear in the 1850 census in Wirt County, Virginia with all 7 children.

They appear in the 1860 census in Roane County, Virginia with just the youngest 3 children.

Susannah died about 3 weeks after her husband did in 1862 during the Civil War. Her youngest son was only 12. She died on 18 Apr 1862 in Reedy, Roane, Virginia.

Susannah's fifth child, George Milton Stalnaker, married Evaline Virginia Surface, read more here.

Read more about Susannah Stalnaker, sources for much of this information and some of her numerous descendants at The Chenoweth Site.

Chenoweth National Family Reunion

This weekend I am lucky to be able to attend the National Chenoweth Reunion. In honor of that, I will later post about one of the Chenoweth descendants I have researched. Tonight though we were lucky to get to listen to Tami Glatz lecture about Social Networking and Genealogy.  I learned a ton!

Robert Lee Shaw (1869 - 1929)

Robert Lee Shaw was born 12 November 1869 in Bradford county, Florida to Hezekiah Daniel Shaw & Mary Croft. (Source: Florida Death records at pilot.familysearch.org) He was the youngest surviving child that we have record of. (The 1900 census reports Mary as having 15 children, 5 living. I have names for 9: Eliza B, Elizabeth C, William Henry, Melvina Serrilda, Daniel F, Missouri, Leleigh, Leavy, & Robert Lee).

Robert appears in the 1870 census at age 8/12 in Bradford county, Florida. His parents are listed as H D Shaw & Mary. His siblings "Vina", Daniel & Missouri appear as well.

In the 1880 census, Robert is the only child living at home. He is 10 years old and his parents are 56 and 52.

Robert appears in the 1885 census with his parents as well. He is 15 and the only child at home.

On the 4th of May, 1890, Robert Lee Shaw & Mary Priscilla Sistrunk were married in Columbia County, Florida. Mary was the daughter of Stephen David Sistrunk and Sarah Catherine Cheshire.

In the 1900 census, Robert & Priscilla have been married 10 years and have 4 children, all living.They are in Lake Butler, Bradford, Florida.

In 1901 Robert's mother dies and then in 1902 his father dies as well.

In the 1910 census, Robert & Priscilla have all 6 children living with them in Pine Hill, Bradford, Florida. The record indicates that they only have had 6 children and all 6 are present. So nice of them!

In the 1920 census, Robert & Priscilla are living in Fort Meade, Polk, Florida. Only their youngest daughter remains at home.

Family story says that some time in his life, Robert had a crop dispute with another individual and was shot in the leg. He was crippled for the rest of his life and the bullet was still in him when he died.

Robert Lee Shaw died on the 27 Mar 1929 in Avon Park, Highlands, Florida.

David L Duff mention

A google search turned up David L Duff mentioned as a settler arriving in Anderson County, Kansas in the Spring of 1857. (Page 267 of The History of Anderson County from its first settlement to the Fourth of July 1876 by William A Johnson published in 1877 by Kaufmann & Iler.)

So the widows' pension said 1855, the book says 1857... somewhere in there they moved to Kansas and were there until about 1868. Still doesn't tell us why I can't find him in the 1870 census!

Leonard Lake Randall

Leonard Lake Randall was born 16 Nov 1814 in Rockingham, Windham Vermont to Martha Jerrolds & David Randall. His birthdate and parents names are given in his LDS patriarchal blessing. Leonard was an early Mormon pioneer and so you would think there was more information out there about him. But I have not found much out there and there are still many unanswered questions.

Leonard would be living with his parents as of the 1820 census. David Randall appears in Rockingham, Windham, Vermont. It is he, a sister, and his parents. From other sources I need to look into, I know he had several brothers and sisters who died young.

Based on the deaths of these siblings, sometime between 1822 and 1827, the family moved to Charlotte, Chatauqua, New York. They are locate in Charlotte, Chatauqua, New York in the 1830 census. Again, there is Leonard, one sister, and his parents. (Sadly the sister would die in a few years, though she did reach adulthood, Leonard is the only known child to have children himself.)

Leonard married Maria Louisa Warren on 28 Dec 1834 in New York. She was a New York native and daughter of Porter Warren & Lydia Howard.

They are living in Charlotte, Chatauqua, New York in 1840. They have 2 daughters and 1 son living with them, as well as a teenage boy and an older woman. Perhaps a mother or mother in law and brother/brother in law.

On 6 Aug 1841 Leonard and Maria are baptized into the LDS church and shortly thereafter the family moves to Nauvoo, Illinois. They receive LDS temple ordinances on 8 Jan 1846 in Nauvoo shortly before having to leave for Iowa. Leonard was probably instructed to stay in Lee, Iowa for a while to help other pioneers coming after them because they stay for several years in Iowa. Maria dies 22 Apr 1847 in Lee, Keokuk, Iowa and Leonard is a widow in the 1850 census.

Sometime after 1852, Leonard marries Mary Jane Brooks Williams, whose husband William Williams, dies in 1852 in Iowa. Mary Jane Brooks was a LDS emigrant from England. Some sources say Leonard married Mary Jane earlier than this, but I have found Mary Jane & William together in the 1850 census, so I disagree.

Leonard & Mary Jane have 3 sons, Leonard (1856), George (1859) and Joseph (1862).

Based on a small blurb in the Deseret News on July 27, 1859, we know that Leonard had land in the Great Salt Lake county that he needed to pick up a deed about. Link to blurb here. The blended family is living in Salt Lake, Utah in the 1860 census. 

There is a lovely biography of Harriet Banner here that includes a history of the settling of Upton, Utah. Leonard L Randall was the second settler in Upton and it talks about him. He also helped build the sawmill.

In 1870 for some reason, both Leonard L and his son Leonard W are listed as Levi Randall in Coalville, Summit, Utah.

In 1880, Leonard and Mary are empty-nesters in Upton, Summit, Utah. Their youngest two are not married yet, but living with an older half-sister's family as servants.

Mary Jane dies on 28 Aug 1893 and Leonard is a widow living by himself in the 1900 census (though next door to his youngest son Joseph). He dies 13 Jan 1901 and is buried in the Upton Cemetery in Upton, Summit, Utah.

Buried next to his wife Mary Jane.

View of Upton Cemetery in Utah

View of Randall Holler (Hollow) in Upton, UT.

Thank you to new found cousin Stephen for providing pictures of the grave, cemetery & hollow! If you have a picture of Leonard Lake Randall or his family, I'd love to see them! Hope you enjoyed reading what I have pieced together on Leonard Lake Randall. If you have more information to share, please do!

(Last Updated February 18, 2012)