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)

Evaline Virgina Surface (1844 - 1928)

Evaline Virginia Surface was born 15 June 1844 in Virginia. Her parents were Jacob Surface & Catherine Gowans. (see death certificate)

She appears in the 1850 census in the 41st district of Montgomery county, Virginia with her parents and siblings. She is listed as Virginia Surface, female, age 6, born in Virginia.

She appears in the 1860 census as Evaline V Surface, age 15, female born in in Virginia.

It is recorded that she married George Milton Stalnaker on 30 Jan 1866 in Montgomery County Virginia.

Her first child, and only son, Andrew Jackson Stalnaker is born 4 Feb 1868 in Virginia.

Her second child, a daughter, Susan Catherine Stalnaker is born 11 Feb 1869 in Virginia.

The family is listed in 1870 as the last family in Tyler, Hickory, Missouri. (You can see the affidavit from the marshal pasted on the page, thank goodness its not covering up any vital information!)

Her third child, a daughter, Mary Hampton Stalnaker is born 17 Feb 1871 in Elkton, Hickory, Missouri.

Her fourth child, a daughter, Anna Lee Stalnaker is born 25 Jul 1874 in Elkton, Hickory, Missouri.

Her fifth child, a daughter, Victoria Virginia Stalnaker is born 23 Feb 1877 in Elkton, Hickory, Missouri.

Her sixth child, a daughter, Sarah Ellen Stalnaker is born 25 Mar 1878 in Elkton, Hickory, Missouri.

Her husband, George, dies 30 Mar 1880. He leaves her alone with 6 kids, ages 2-12. She appears in the 1880 census in Elkton, Hickory, Missouri.

On 24 Aug 1882, Evaline marries Robert J Rader in  Hickory county, Missouri. This is listed in Marriage records, 1865-1919  Hickory County (Missouri). It is a short lived marriage, perhaps he dies. Very little is known about it. In fact, the only information I have found so far on Robert J Rader erroneously lists Evaline as dying in 1883.

This is inaccurate as less than 2 years later, Evaline marries Edward H Stalnaker on 8 May 1884 in Hickory county, Missouri. It is also listed in the same marriage database. I have not discovered his parentage yet, was he related to her first husband? He is younger than her by 20 years. 

In 1885, they are living in Elwood, Barber, Kansas with her 4 youngest children. Susan is already married to her first husband, John Greaver. Andrew is perhaps working on a farm somewhere?

In 1895, they are living in Avon, Sumner, Kansas as empty nesters - none of the children are with them. All the daughters are married by this time, Susan to her second husband Samuel Musgrove, Mary to Silas Scranton, Anna to James Hudson Vaughn and Sarah to Marvin Harp.

In 1900, Evaline & Ed are living in Hackberry, Labette, Kansas. The have been married for 16 years, she has 6 children, all of whom are living. (So no new children by either her second or third husbands.)

Her son Andrew Jackson Stalnaker is married to Anna Kendall Norton in 1900. I am not sure where he is between 1880 and 1900. Her daughter Mary remarries in 1901 to William Anderson Karnes. 

In 1905, Evaline is alone in the census with a boarder. She is in Caney, Montgomery, Kansas.

In 1910, Evaline is alone with 4 boarders in Caney, Montgomery, Kansas. However, it lists her as on marriage two and having been married for 26 years. So perhaps Ed has gone off to work somewhere and is not dead? Perhaps the marriage to Robert J Rader was annulled? Questions to find answers to some day. 

In 1915, Evaline has her daughter "Mrs S E Harp" living with her in Caney, Montgomery Kansas. Sarah remarries that year to Fred Kock.

In 1920, Evaline is living with her daughter Susan Musgrove in Harmony, Stevens, Kansas.

I have not located her in the 1925 Kansas census.

Evaline Virginia Surface Stalnaker died 9 Jun 1928 in Neosho, Newton, Missouri, in the home of her daughter Mary H Karnes, whom she had been visiting. An obituary (full of spelling and date errors) reads:

STALNAKER, MRS. E. V.
(14 Jun 1928, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Mrs. E. V. Stalnaker, grandmother to Mrs. W. H. Reynolds, died in Neosho,
Mo., June 9, 1928.  Was born in West Virginia, June 15, 1840, aged 87
years, 11 months and 24 days.  She leaves one son and five daughters
living, Mr. Jack Stalnaker of Ruford, Idaho; Mrs. Musgrave, Moscow,
Kansas; Mrs. Anna Vaun of Dolton, Kansas; Mrs. Mary H. Harnes of Neosho;
Mrs. Victoria Eldridge, Carpenter, Oklahoma, Mrs. Ella Hock, Crow Agency,
Mont., also leaves a host of grand and great grandchildren.  She lived in
the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.  She was an invalid for many
years until her death.  Her last days spent with her daughter, Mrs. Mary
H. Karnes (sic), of Neosho, Mo., where she died.

It does give a lot of great clues and information, but let's list errors: Rupert, Idaho is misspelt, Musgrove is misspelt, Vaughn is misspelt, Karnes is listed as Harnes, Ellen Kock is listed as Ella Hock. Most importantly, Evaline is listed as being born in West Virginia and as 4 years older than she was at her death. Her age and birth location is consistent throughout the census images and her death certificate with 1844, not 1840 and Montgomery, Virginia was not part or close to West Virginia.

It is fascinating to find this obituary though, which I found by chance - it was published in Oklahoma where her granddaughter Edith Karnes Reynolds lived and I found it while searching for information on William Anderson Karnes. I also find it interesting that her husbands aren't mentioned at all in the obituary and on her death certificate, her first husband is listed. That may be because of the informant - Mrs Ellen Karnes Reynolds. (Whom I could not figure out who she was or how she was related until I found out about Mary Hampton's second marriage to William Karnes.)

I cannot upload a copy of the death certificate, but you can view it at the Missouri state archives. Type in Evaline Stalnaker and it will come up. 

Evaline was buried in the IOOF cemetery in Neosho Missouri. IOOF stands for International Order of Odd Fellows. I went to the cemetery, visited with the caretaker and he found the index card with her name on it, but it did not tell where her tombstone was in the cemetery. It is a huge cemetery! I walked around the older parts for over an hour looking and hoping to find it, but was unsuccessful. You can view an index of the cemetery here - she is listed as Stalnamen, Evaline, d.6/9/1928.

Here is a google map of all the known places Evaline lived.

View Evaline Virginia Surface Stalnaker (1844 - 1928) in a larger map

Sources: 

1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 US Censuses
1885, 1895, 1905, 1915 Kansas state censuses

Death certificate online at Missouri state archives

Obituary online at USGenweb archives for Beckham county, Kansas

Index to IOOF cemetery in Neosho, Missouri at Interment.net

Marriage Records of Hickory, Missouri 1865 - 1919

Sarah Loudusty Myers (1836 - 1920)

I keep putting off publishing this hoping I will have more info to add. I've decided to go ahead and share what I have and remember that I can always add more later and share that it's updated!

Sarah Loudusty Myers is the first ancestor I helped find something about as an adult. I attended a university with excellent census records (before they were all digitized online) and my dad had me look for possible parents for her and work on her name possibilities.Together we worked thru whether or not she was the same person or different wives each year.

Sarah Loudusty Myers is a great example of the fun and joy of finding and using information about your ancestors from census records. She ages 10-15 years between each census, her birth location and that listed for her parents changes. She is unsure of her month and year of birth, and how long she's been married. Her name is spelled many different ways. Some years she is "Sarah L". Other years she is "Loudusty" which was spelled a different way every time. McKeehan has many possible spellings as well. The only thing that makes it easy for us is that she doesn't move around but stays in the same area.

Sarah Loudusty lived in Whitfield County, Georgia for almost all of her life and wasn't far from it as a babe in Walker County.

Sarah Loudusty Myers was born 9 January 1836 in Georgia. Her parents are believed to be William & Eliza Ann Myers.

She appears in the 1850 census in East Chickamauga, Walker county, Georgia as Sarah L Myers, age 12, born in GA

She married John William McKeehan in about 1854 in Georgia.

(Whitfield GA in 1855.)

Her first child, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann "Betty " McKeehan is born 7 Aug 1855.

Her second child, a daughter, Cornelia Ann McKeehan is born in 1857.

Her third child, a son, Benjamin McKeehan is born in Oct 1859.

In the 1860 census in Trickum district, Whitfield county, Georgia, she is listed as Sarah L McKeehan, age 23, born in AL.

Her fourth child, a son, James William "Bill" McKeehan is born 12 Nov 1861.

Her husband, John joined the 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry in the Confederate Army March 10 1862. He was a prisoner of war at Vicksburg from July 4th to July 8th 1863. He swore an Oath of Allegiance to the USA on Mar 2 1864 in Chattanooga, TN.


Her fifth child, a son, Charles P "Charlie" McKeehan is born 27 Aug 1864.

 

(Whitfield, GA in 1865 - Trickum is listed!)

Her sixth child, a son, Andrew Jackson McKeehan is born 8 Mar 1869.

Her seventh child, a son, S K "Cay" McKeehan is born 12 May 1870.

In 1870 in 27th district (Tunnel Hill Post office) Whitfield County, Georgia, she is listed as Lodisca McKehan, age 36, born in GA. She is listed as being able to read, but not write in this census.

Her eighth child, a son, Porter Pledger McKeehan is born 18 Dec 1872.

Her ninth child, a son, Dock L McKeehan, is born 11 Apr 1874.

Her tenth child, a son, George W McKeehan is born 2 Jan 1878.

Her eleventh child, a son, Jerry Jackson McKeehan is born 12 Dec 1879.

1n 1880, in Trickum, Whitfield County, Georgia she is listed as Lodis Key Mc Keehan, age 44, born in GA. She can read and write, though her husband can't.

 

(Whitfield GA in 1885, Trickum is listed!)

In 1885, her daughter Cornela Ann McKeehan Williams dies of T.B. (unverified family story)

 

(1899 map of Whitfield, GA, can see Trickum)

Sometime between 1880 and 1900, her son S K "Cay" McKeehan & her daughter Cornelia Ann McKeehan Sarrett move out west to Arkansas.

In 1900, in Trickum, Whitfield County, Georgia she is listed as Lodisky McKeehan, age 60, born in GA, but unknown year or month of exact birth.  11 children, 10 living.

In 1910, in Trickum, Whitfield County, Georgia she is listed as a widow, Loduca McKeehan, age 75, born in GA, living with her son George W McKeehan. Still 11 children, 10 living.

Her husband died in 1912 according to the tombstone. Her tombstone must be wrong, listing her death in 1919.

Because in 1920, in Trickum, Whitfield County, Georgia she is listed as a widow, Sarah L McKeehan, age 85, born in AL, living with her son George W McKeehan.

She must have died 2 April of 1920, instead of 1919 as listed on her tombstone at Dunagan Cemetery, in Whitfield, Georgia.

Sources:
US Federal Censuses, 1850 - 1920
http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/histcountymaps/whitfieldhistmaps.htm (Georgia Historical Maps)
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prsjr/families/ar/nevada/sam-aj01.htm (Elizabeth "Betty" Ann McKeehan Sarrett birthdate, marriage, move to Arkansas)
Footnote.com -  Confederate Soldier Service Records
Hester McKeehan Sosebee's family bible