Hope this Halloween brings you lots of treats. I will spend my evening giving out candy and researching.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Happy Halloween
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
Hope this Halloween brings you lots of treats. I will spend my evening giving out candy and researching.
Hope this Halloween brings you lots of treats. I will spend my evening giving out candy and researching.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Yarberry Siblings, Children of Thomas N Yarberry
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
Thomas Newton Yarberry married Elizabeth Renfro, daughter of John Renfro, in Gibson County, Tennessee in 1841.
Their known children are as follows:
1. Mary A. Lavinia Yarberry b. c. 1843
2. John Newton Yarberry b. c. 1844
3. Joseph Abner Yarberry b. c. 1846
4. George W. Yarberry b. c. 1848
5. Calvin Wiley Yarberry b. c. 1850
6. William J. Yarberry b. c. 1853
7. Nancy Emily Yarberry b. c. 1855
A surprising number of these siblings had death notices or obituaries. Their obituaries are presented here in the order in which they died.
1. Calvin Wiley Yarberry is said to have died in 1861. No death notice has been found for him.
2. Nancy Emily (Yarberry) McCullough married Talbert Fanning McCullough. She died sometime before 1900.
3. John Newton Yarberry died near Tucumcari, New Mexico on 30 March 1908. Unfortunately, his obituary does not provide any of the names of his family.
4. Joseph Abner Yarberry died 25 January 1919 near Arkadelphia, Arkansas when he was struck by a train. So far, I've only found references to the train accident.
5. George W. Yarberry died 5 January 1922 in Texarkana, Miller County, Texas. No death notice or obituary has been found for him. However, there were death notices for his wife Sarah Davis who died of burn injuries on 4 June 1912 in Miller County. The only stated family relationship is to her husband, G. W. Yarberry.
6. Mary A. Lavinia (Yarberry) Davis, wife of Eli Van Buren Davis, died 14 March 1923 in Tulia, Swisher County, Texas. She was the eldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Renfro) Yarberry. Her obituary names her husband, E. G. [sic] Davis, and her daughter, Mrs. W. J. [Mary Elizabeth] Hardy. It states that she had seven children by her marriage to Eli Davis and that two of them survived. However, at this point a surviving child from each of her two marriages. Those two children were Laura Ann (Bittick) Smith, daughter of John Washington Bittick, and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Hardy, daughter of Eli Van Buren Davis. The 1900 U.S. census states that she was the mother of six live births with four surviving at that time. This means that she had two to three other children who likely were born and died between census years.
7. William J. Yarberry died 4 January 1932 and is buried in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Unfortunately, his obituary does not name any other family members.
Thomas Newton Yarberry married Elizabeth Renfro, daughter of John Renfro, in Gibson County, Tennessee in 1841.
Their known children are as follows:
1. Mary A. Lavinia Yarberry b. c. 1843
2. John Newton Yarberry b. c. 1844
3. Joseph Abner Yarberry b. c. 1846
4. George W. Yarberry b. c. 1848
5. Calvin Wiley Yarberry b. c. 1850
6. William J. Yarberry b. c. 1853
7. Nancy Emily Yarberry b. c. 1855
A surprising number of these siblings had death notices or obituaries. Their obituaries are presented here in the order in which they died.
1. Calvin Wiley Yarberry is said to have died in 1861. No death notice has been found for him.
2. Nancy Emily (Yarberry) McCullough married Talbert Fanning McCullough. She died sometime before 1900.
3. John Newton Yarberry died near Tucumcari, New Mexico on 30 March 1908. Unfortunately, his obituary does not provide any of the names of his family.
4. Joseph Abner Yarberry died 25 January 1919 near Arkadelphia, Arkansas when he was struck by a train. So far, I've only found references to the train accident.
5. George W. Yarberry died 5 January 1922 in Texarkana, Miller County, Texas. No death notice or obituary has been found for him. However, there were death notices for his wife Sarah Davis who died of burn injuries on 4 June 1912 in Miller County. The only stated family relationship is to her husband, G. W. Yarberry.
6. Mary A. Lavinia (Yarberry) Davis, wife of Eli Van Buren Davis, died 14 March 1923 in Tulia, Swisher County, Texas. She was the eldest child of Thomas and Elizabeth (Renfro) Yarberry. Her obituary names her husband, E. G. [sic] Davis, and her daughter, Mrs. W. J. [Mary Elizabeth] Hardy. It states that she had seven children by her marriage to Eli Davis and that two of them survived. However, at this point a surviving child from each of her two marriages. Those two children were Laura Ann (Bittick) Smith, daughter of John Washington Bittick, and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Hardy, daughter of Eli Van Buren Davis. The 1900 U.S. census states that she was the mother of six live births with four surviving at that time. This means that she had two to three other children who likely were born and died between census years.
7. William J. Yarberry died 4 January 1932 and is buried in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Unfortunately, his obituary does not name any other family members.
Monday, October 28, 2019
Yarberry Sibling Obituaries, Children of John Newton Yarberry
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
The U.S. and a collection of family obituaries can be used to establish the identities of most of the children of Sarah Blevins and her husband John Newton Yarberry.
John Yarberry and Sarah Blevins married on 13 January 1870 in Hempstead County, Arkansas:
This would indicate that no children were born of this marriage prior to 13 January 1870.
In 1880, John and Sarah Yarberry were still living in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Their children were Charles Yarberry, age 4; George Yarberry, age 7; and the twins, Lilian Yarberry and Lela Yarberry, age 1. That is a roughly three-year gap between births, which is a reasonable birth pattern.
In 1900, the Yarberrys were living in Cleveland County in the Oklahoma Territory. John Newton Yarberry, born in Tennessee, was 46 years old. Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry, born in Alabama, was 41 years old. The census notes that they had been married for thirty years. Significantly, it notes that Sarah had given birth to nine children with six of them still living in 1900.
The children listed in the household with them were George Yarberry, born in 1873; Charles Yarberry, born in 1876; and Lizzie Yarberry, born in 1881. The other children were continued on the next page with Lula Yarberry, born in 1883; and Alve [Alex] Yarberry, born in 1886. Living next door to them was their married daughter Lelar (Yarberry) Warner, born in 1879. That accounts for their six children who were living in 1900.
The known child missing from this list is one of the twins, Lillian (Yarberry) Lowe, who died 3 March 1899, shortly after giving birth to her second child.
That leaves two unidentified children of John Newton and Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry who must have either been born and died between the 1870 and 1880 censuses or between the 1880 and 1900 censuses. It is possible for an unidentified child to have been born on or after 1880, to have lived long enough to marry and to have a child or two. If that is the case, that child is still unidentified. There also do not seem to be any tombstone inscriptions of possible candidates in Hempstead County, Arkansas or Cleaveland County, Oklahoma, but as a poor, farm family, they probably could not afford to purchase tombstones for these children.
John Newton Yarberry died on 30 March 1908 in Quay County, New Mexico and was buried in the Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery. I have visited his gravesite myself, and he has an unmarked grave. His death notice does not include two children who were still living at the time. This miss count might not be taking into consideration any children who did not remove to New Mexico.
Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry died on 21 May 1914 at the home of her in Aransas Pass, Texas. It reinforces the information on the 1900 census, which stated she was the mother of nine children with six surviving.
The following obituaries for the Yarberry children are in the order of their deaths.
1. Lillian Dell (Yarberry) Lowe, wife of William Jacob Lowe, died on 3 March 1899 in Pike County, Arkansas. No death notice for her has been found yet. She was deceased before the 1900 census, and she predeceased her parents.
2. Charles Luther Yarberry died 9 June 1947. No obituary with family information has been found for him.
3. Lela Bell (Yarberry) Warner, wife of Charles O Warner, died 11 April 1953 in Houston, Texas.
Her surviving siblings were Alec Yarberry, George Yarberry, Lula (Yarberry) Dooley, and Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling. Those who predeceased her are not mentioned.
4. Lula Malinda (Yarberry) Dooley, wife of Henry E. Dooley, died 24 May 1955 in San Patricio, Texas.
Her surviving siblings were Alex Yarberry, George Yarberry, and Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling.
5. Alexander Campbell Yarberry died on 1 August 1955 in Aransas Pass, Texas.
His surviving sibling was listed as George Yarberry. His sister Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling is omitted from his obituary.
6. George W. Yarberry died 29 June 1956 in Grayson County, Texas. So far, no obituary has been found for him.
7. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Florence (Yarberry) Lewelling died on 9 October 1964. So far, no obituary has been found for her.
The U.S. and a collection of family obituaries can be used to establish the identities of most of the children of Sarah Blevins and her husband John Newton Yarberry.
John Yarberry and Sarah Blevins married on 13 January 1870 in Hempstead County, Arkansas:
This would indicate that no children were born of this marriage prior to 13 January 1870.
In 1880, John and Sarah Yarberry were still living in Hempstead County, Arkansas. Their children were Charles Yarberry, age 4; George Yarberry, age 7; and the twins, Lilian Yarberry and Lela Yarberry, age 1. That is a roughly three-year gap between births, which is a reasonable birth pattern.
In 1900, the Yarberrys were living in Cleveland County in the Oklahoma Territory. John Newton Yarberry, born in Tennessee, was 46 years old. Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry, born in Alabama, was 41 years old. The census notes that they had been married for thirty years. Significantly, it notes that Sarah had given birth to nine children with six of them still living in 1900.
The children listed in the household with them were George Yarberry, born in 1873; Charles Yarberry, born in 1876; and Lizzie Yarberry, born in 1881. The other children were continued on the next page with Lula Yarberry, born in 1883; and Alve [Alex] Yarberry, born in 1886. Living next door to them was their married daughter Lelar (Yarberry) Warner, born in 1879. That accounts for their six children who were living in 1900.
The known child missing from this list is one of the twins, Lillian (Yarberry) Lowe, who died 3 March 1899, shortly after giving birth to her second child.
That leaves two unidentified children of John Newton and Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry who must have either been born and died between the 1870 and 1880 censuses or between the 1880 and 1900 censuses. It is possible for an unidentified child to have been born on or after 1880, to have lived long enough to marry and to have a child or two. If that is the case, that child is still unidentified. There also do not seem to be any tombstone inscriptions of possible candidates in Hempstead County, Arkansas or Cleaveland County, Oklahoma, but as a poor, farm family, they probably could not afford to purchase tombstones for these children.
John Newton Yarberry died on 30 March 1908 in Quay County, New Mexico and was buried in the Tucumcari Memorial Park cemetery. I have visited his gravesite myself, and he has an unmarked grave. His death notice does not include two children who were still living at the time. This miss count might not be taking into consideration any children who did not remove to New Mexico.
Sarah (Blevins) Yarberry died on 21 May 1914 at the home of her in Aransas Pass, Texas. It reinforces the information on the 1900 census, which stated she was the mother of nine children with six surviving.
The following obituaries for the Yarberry children are in the order of their deaths.
1. Lillian Dell (Yarberry) Lowe, wife of William Jacob Lowe, died on 3 March 1899 in Pike County, Arkansas. No death notice for her has been found yet. She was deceased before the 1900 census, and she predeceased her parents.
2. Charles Luther Yarberry died 9 June 1947. No obituary with family information has been found for him.
3. Lela Bell (Yarberry) Warner, wife of Charles O Warner, died 11 April 1953 in Houston, Texas.
Her surviving siblings were Alec Yarberry, George Yarberry, Lula (Yarberry) Dooley, and Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling. Those who predeceased her are not mentioned.
4. Lula Malinda (Yarberry) Dooley, wife of Henry E. Dooley, died 24 May 1955 in San Patricio, Texas.
Her surviving siblings were Alex Yarberry, George Yarberry, and Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling.
5. Alexander Campbell Yarberry died on 1 August 1955 in Aransas Pass, Texas.
His surviving sibling was listed as George Yarberry. His sister Lizzie (Yarberry) Lewelling is omitted from his obituary.
6. George W. Yarberry died 29 June 1956 in Grayson County, Texas. So far, no obituary has been found for him.
7. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Florence (Yarberry) Lewelling died on 9 October 1964. So far, no obituary has been found for her.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Hardy Sibling Obituaries
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
This sibling obituary study focuses on the children of Mary Elizabeth Davis and her husband William James Hardy. They lived in Donley County and Swisher County, Texas after relocating from Bowie County, Texas. Mary Elizabeth Davis was my great-grandmother Louise (Davis) Dendy's sister. As a collection, these obituaries add to what is known about the family.
The birth order for the Hardy children is as follows:
1. Willie Myrtie (Hardy ) Bain b. 20 June 1889 in Texas
2. William Thomas Hardy b. 8 October 1891 in Texas
3. Charles James Hardy b. 21 November 1893 in Texas
4. Dollie Mae (Hardy) Wheeler b. 30 July 1898 in Texas
5. Kate Louise (Hardy) Carson b. 30 May 1901 in Texas
6. Alice (Hardy) Newby b. 13 September 1903 in Donley Co., Texas
7. Dora Ethel (Hardy) McGlaun Hankins b. 6 June 1906 in Texas
This first obituary, however, is for Mary (Yarberry) Davis, mother of Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Hardy. Besides revealing her birth date of 2 July 1844 and her marriage to E. V. Davis, misspelled here as E. G. Davis, it relates a bit about her death. She died of the flu in Tulia, Texas at daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy's house on the evening of Wednesday, March 14, 1923, just a week and a half after the death of her granddaughter Myrtie Willie (Hardy) Bain in Slaton, Texas. Daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy would have been instrumental in caring for her after attending the funeral of her own daughter. The funeral services for Mary (Yarberry) Davis were held on Thursday, March 15, 1923, the afternoon following her death.
A few light cases of the flu had been reported by The Tulia Herald in early February.
The remaining obituaries are in the order of the Hardy children's deaths:
1. Willie Myrtie (Hardy) Bain must have developed the flu a couple of weeks prior to her grandmother. When Myrtie developed pneumonia as a complication, her sister Dollie (Hardy) Hutson went to care for her. Mary Elizabeth and Bill Hardy arrived shortly after she died. Myrtie's obituary reveals that she was born in Bowie County, Texas in 1889 and that she married Sam Bain in Hedley, Texas in 1907. This follows the migration pattern of the Davis and Hardy families. They were living in Bowie County, Texas and then removed to Donley County, Texas after 1900. All of her siblings are listed - Dollie, Kate, Alice, Dora, Charles, and Bill Hardy.
2. Dollie Mae (Hardy) Wheeler's obituary appeared in the 9 November 1967 Tulia Herald. Dollie's obituary provides further insights. She had been born in Donley County, Texas in 1898. This reflects the census which places the Hardy family in Donley County by 1900. Dollie's grandparents Eli and Mary (Yarberry) Davis were still in Bowie County, Texas in 1900 as was her uncle William T. Davis. Note the Hardys lived in the Bray community until 1911 when they moved to McKnight. By 1912, they were in Goodnight. By 1910 the Davises had joined the Hardys in Donley County. Dollie, her father, and sister removed to Swisher County in 1918 to start their ranch there.
Dollie's surviving siblings are listed as W.T. Hardy, C.J. Hardy, Mrs. Roy Carson, Mrs. Amos Newby, and Mrs. Blake Hankins,
3. Alice (Hardy) Newby died 23 June 1980 in Amarillo, Texas. Like her sister Dollie, she was born in Donley County, Texas. She married Amos Newby in Plainview, Texas in 1926. She also removed to Tulia from Goodnight in 1918, so she is probably the "other sister" who ranched with Dollie and their father. Her surviving siblings as listed as two sisters and two brothers.
4. William Thomas Hardy died on 20 July 1983 in Tulia, Texas. So far, an obituary for him has not been found. An extensive article was written about him during his lifetime, which can be read here.
In the lead up to the bicentennial, W. T. Hardy was interviewed by a seventh-grader from the local school. I wonder if the dust storm he relates here was Black Sunday, April 14, 1935.
5. Charles James Hardy died on 15 July 1984 in Tulia Texas. Charlie James Hardy was born in Bowie County, Texas in 1893. He married Maude Jobe on 26 May 1918 in Hart, Texas. His obituary states that he came to Swisher County from Donley County in 1916. If true, that places him in Swisher County two years before his father and sisters moved there. His surviving siblings were Kate Carson and Dora Hankins.
6. Kate (Hardy) Carson died on 23 November 1992. Her obituary appeared in the Tulia Herald on 3 December 1992. She was born in 1901 in Donley County, supposedly in Goodnight. She also moved to Tulia in 1918. Kate Carson is near and dear to my heart. When I began researching in my late teens, I contacted her, and she helped me with our Davis family. We corresponded for several years. Her obituary lists one surviving sister: Dora (Hardy) Hankins. It also lists the siblings who predeceased her: Charlie Hardy, W.T. "Bill" Hardy, Myrtle Bain, Dolly Wheeler, and Alice Newby.
6. Dora Ethel (Hardy) McGlaun Hankins died on 29 June 1997 in Randall, Texas. Her obituary states that she was born in Hedley, which would have been in 1906. None of her siblings are listed.
This sibling obituary study focuses on the children of Mary Elizabeth Davis and her husband William James Hardy. They lived in Donley County and Swisher County, Texas after relocating from Bowie County, Texas. Mary Elizabeth Davis was my great-grandmother Louise (Davis) Dendy's sister. As a collection, these obituaries add to what is known about the family.
The birth order for the Hardy children is as follows:
1. Willie Myrtie (Hardy ) Bain b. 20 June 1889 in Texas
2. William Thomas Hardy b. 8 October 1891 in Texas
3. Charles James Hardy b. 21 November 1893 in Texas
4. Dollie Mae (Hardy) Wheeler b. 30 July 1898 in Texas
5. Kate Louise (Hardy) Carson b. 30 May 1901 in Texas
6. Alice (Hardy) Newby b. 13 September 1903 in Donley Co., Texas
7. Dora Ethel (Hardy) McGlaun Hankins b. 6 June 1906 in Texas
This first obituary, however, is for Mary (Yarberry) Davis, mother of Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Hardy. Besides revealing her birth date of 2 July 1844 and her marriage to E. V. Davis, misspelled here as E. G. Davis, it relates a bit about her death. She died of the flu in Tulia, Texas at daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy's house on the evening of Wednesday, March 14, 1923, just a week and a half after the death of her granddaughter Myrtie Willie (Hardy) Bain in Slaton, Texas. Daughter Mary Elizabeth Hardy would have been instrumental in caring for her after attending the funeral of her own daughter. The funeral services for Mary (Yarberry) Davis were held on Thursday, March 15, 1923, the afternoon following her death.
A few light cases of the flu had been reported by The Tulia Herald in early February.
The remaining obituaries are in the order of the Hardy children's deaths:
1. Willie Myrtie (Hardy) Bain must have developed the flu a couple of weeks prior to her grandmother. When Myrtie developed pneumonia as a complication, her sister Dollie (Hardy) Hutson went to care for her. Mary Elizabeth and Bill Hardy arrived shortly after she died. Myrtie's obituary reveals that she was born in Bowie County, Texas in 1889 and that she married Sam Bain in Hedley, Texas in 1907. This follows the migration pattern of the Davis and Hardy families. They were living in Bowie County, Texas and then removed to Donley County, Texas after 1900. All of her siblings are listed - Dollie, Kate, Alice, Dora, Charles, and Bill Hardy.
2. Dollie Mae (Hardy) Wheeler's obituary appeared in the 9 November 1967 Tulia Herald. Dollie's obituary provides further insights. She had been born in Donley County, Texas in 1898. This reflects the census which places the Hardy family in Donley County by 1900. Dollie's grandparents Eli and Mary (Yarberry) Davis were still in Bowie County, Texas in 1900 as was her uncle William T. Davis. Note the Hardys lived in the Bray community until 1911 when they moved to McKnight. By 1912, they were in Goodnight. By 1910 the Davises had joined the Hardys in Donley County. Dollie, her father, and sister removed to Swisher County in 1918 to start their ranch there.
Dollie's surviving siblings are listed as W.T. Hardy, C.J. Hardy, Mrs. Roy Carson, Mrs. Amos Newby, and Mrs. Blake Hankins,
3. Alice (Hardy) Newby died 23 June 1980 in Amarillo, Texas. Like her sister Dollie, she was born in Donley County, Texas. She married Amos Newby in Plainview, Texas in 1926. She also removed to Tulia from Goodnight in 1918, so she is probably the "other sister" who ranched with Dollie and their father. Her surviving siblings as listed as two sisters and two brothers.
4. William Thomas Hardy died on 20 July 1983 in Tulia, Texas. So far, an obituary for him has not been found. An extensive article was written about him during his lifetime, which can be read here.
In the lead up to the bicentennial, W. T. Hardy was interviewed by a seventh-grader from the local school. I wonder if the dust storm he relates here was Black Sunday, April 14, 1935.
5. Charles James Hardy died on 15 July 1984 in Tulia Texas. Charlie James Hardy was born in Bowie County, Texas in 1893. He married Maude Jobe on 26 May 1918 in Hart, Texas. His obituary states that he came to Swisher County from Donley County in 1916. If true, that places him in Swisher County two years before his father and sisters moved there. His surviving siblings were Kate Carson and Dora Hankins.
6. Kate (Hardy) Carson died on 23 November 1992. Her obituary appeared in the Tulia Herald on 3 December 1992. She was born in 1901 in Donley County, supposedly in Goodnight. She also moved to Tulia in 1918. Kate Carson is near and dear to my heart. When I began researching in my late teens, I contacted her, and she helped me with our Davis family. We corresponded for several years. Her obituary lists one surviving sister: Dora (Hardy) Hankins. It also lists the siblings who predeceased her: Charlie Hardy, W.T. "Bill" Hardy, Myrtle Bain, Dolly Wheeler, and Alice Newby.
6. Dora Ethel (Hardy) McGlaun Hankins died on 29 June 1997 in Randall, Texas. Her obituary states that she was born in Hedley, which would have been in 1906. None of her siblings are listed.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Nelson Kavanaugh Loses His Papers
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
The last location that I can document for Nelson Kavanaugh is Madison County, Kentucky in 1839. On 25 April 1838, he was in Houston in the Republic of Texas petitioning to be allowed to remain in the Republic. That petition was denied. Next, he appears back in the records of Madison County, Kentucky on 27 May 1839 when he requested a copy of his emancipation papers which were lost due to "casualty."
Presumably, he left the Republic of Texas when his petition was denied. Houston is 1,001 miles from Richmond, Texas. Today that is a drive of 15 hours and 5 minutes. We might guess that in 1839 Nelson was likely to be traveling afoot. He would have had rivers to cross. Inclement weather to contend with. Plus, he would have had to forage and hunt for food. A man traveling 20 miles a day on horseback could make the trip in 50 days. I would think a free black man, who had lost his emancipation papers somewhere along the way, would be keeping out of sight as much as possible.
I have not found Nelson Kavanaugh on the 1840 census. There were no free blacks living at Charles Kavanaugh's in Madison County, Kentucky in 1840. Nelson may have still been in Madison County, but living on someone else's farm.
It would be nice if I could say that I found this record through a methodical search, but I literally stumbled across while looking for records on Charles Kavanaugh.
Transcript:
On the motion of Nelson Kavanaugh a person of color, who has been by an order of this Court Emancipated. It is ordered that the Clerk of this Court issue to said Nelson an other certificate of Emancipation. It appearing to the said Court that his certificate heretofore obtained has been lost by casualty.
Nelson, A Slave in the Family
Nelson Kavanaugh Gets His Freedom and His Land
Nelson Kavanaugh's Emancipation
Nelson Kavanaugh in the Republic of Texas
Nelson Kavanaugh Owes Land Tax
The last location that I can document for Nelson Kavanaugh is Madison County, Kentucky in 1839. On 25 April 1838, he was in Houston in the Republic of Texas petitioning to be allowed to remain in the Republic. That petition was denied. Next, he appears back in the records of Madison County, Kentucky on 27 May 1839 when he requested a copy of his emancipation papers which were lost due to "casualty."
Presumably, he left the Republic of Texas when his petition was denied. Houston is 1,001 miles from Richmond, Texas. Today that is a drive of 15 hours and 5 minutes. We might guess that in 1839 Nelson was likely to be traveling afoot. He would have had rivers to cross. Inclement weather to contend with. Plus, he would have had to forage and hunt for food. A man traveling 20 miles a day on horseback could make the trip in 50 days. I would think a free black man, who had lost his emancipation papers somewhere along the way, would be keeping out of sight as much as possible.
I have not found Nelson Kavanaugh on the 1840 census. There were no free blacks living at Charles Kavanaugh's in Madison County, Kentucky in 1840. Nelson may have still been in Madison County, but living on someone else's farm.
It would be nice if I could say that I found this record through a methodical search, but I literally stumbled across while looking for records on Charles Kavanaugh.
 |
| Madison County, Kentucky; Order Bk. G p. 409 |
Transcript:
On the motion of Nelson Kavanaugh a person of color, who has been by an order of this Court Emancipated. It is ordered that the Clerk of this Court issue to said Nelson an other certificate of Emancipation. It appearing to the said Court that his certificate heretofore obtained has been lost by casualty.
Nelson, A Slave in the Family
Nelson Kavanaugh Gets His Freedom and His Land
Nelson Kavanaugh's Emancipation
Nelson Kavanaugh in the Republic of Texas
Nelson Kavanaugh Owes Land Tax
Saturday, October 5, 2019
The Time My Father Sold a Depot
© Kathy Duncan, 2019
Genealogybank.com is currently beta testing a new search engine that connects to your account on FamilySearch.org. I could not resist taking it for a test drive. More on that later.
This little gem turned up in my search.
During the 1980s, my father, Doyal F. Duncan, was the Superintendent of the Middle Division of the Santa Fe railroad, headquartered in Newton, Kansas. Evidently, he was the point of contact for anyone wishing to purchase the old depot at Offerele, Kansas.
According to Kansas Remembers, which is run by the Kansas Historical Society, the depot at Offerle was built in 1907 and is no longer standing. If it sold, it would not be standing in the same spot. Did it sell or was it razed?
In the 1960s - 1970s, the little depot was still in pristine condition:
Later it was in need of paint. I wonder if this unknown newspaper clipping could have been in connection with the depot's sale or demolition:
I would love to hear from anyone who knows what became of the Offerle, Kansas depot.
As for Genealogybank's beta test, you can try it here.
I found it to be very limited and clunky. The system selects which individuals on your branch of the tree for which it will search. Most of these are direct ancestors. It seems to search for women by maiden name only. My husband turned up in my list of choices, but I could not search for anyone else in his family. It seems to search by time periods rather than locations, so there can be a discouraging amount of hits to search through, even more so if it's a fairly common name. If the individual has an unconventional name entered in FamilySearch like "Mary or Molly Thompson," don't expect to find much.
For the time being, I think I will stick to searching Genealogybank without this aid. For full disclosure purposes, I have a paid subscription to Genealogybank.
Genealogybank.com is currently beta testing a new search engine that connects to your account on FamilySearch.org. I could not resist taking it for a test drive. More on that later.
This little gem turned up in my search.
During the 1980s, my father, Doyal F. Duncan, was the Superintendent of the Middle Division of the Santa Fe railroad, headquartered in Newton, Kansas. Evidently, he was the point of contact for anyone wishing to purchase the old depot at Offerele, Kansas.
 |
| D.F. Duncan |
According to Kansas Remembers, which is run by the Kansas Historical Society, the depot at Offerle was built in 1907 and is no longer standing. If it sold, it would not be standing in the same spot. Did it sell or was it razed?
In the 1960s - 1970s, the little depot was still in pristine condition:
Later it was in need of paint. I wonder if this unknown newspaper clipping could have been in connection with the depot's sale or demolition:
I would love to hear from anyone who knows what became of the Offerle, Kansas depot.
As for Genealogybank's beta test, you can try it here.
I found it to be very limited and clunky. The system selects which individuals on your branch of the tree for which it will search. Most of these are direct ancestors. It seems to search for women by maiden name only. My husband turned up in my list of choices, but I could not search for anyone else in his family. It seems to search by time periods rather than locations, so there can be a discouraging amount of hits to search through, even more so if it's a fairly common name. If the individual has an unconventional name entered in FamilySearch like "Mary or Molly Thompson," don't expect to find much.
For the time being, I think I will stick to searching Genealogybank without this aid. For full disclosure purposes, I have a paid subscription to Genealogybank.
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