Thursday, March 28, 2019

Disqualified by Marriage


Recently I came across an item in the Livingston County, Kentucky court minutes that was new information to me.   Let me give you a little background information.  

In October 1901, Miss Linnie Crewdson was appointed administrator of the estate of her mother, Susan M. Crewdson. [1] She proceeded to have the estate inventoried and appraised and then she was relieved of her duties. 

What happened?  Did she not perform her duties properly?  Not at all.  It seems she got married. That's it.  Nothing more.  She got married.  The  explanation is found in the county court minutes: "By reason of marriage of Miss Linnie B. Crewdson since her appointment as administrator of the estate of Mrs. Susan M. Crewdson, which disqualified her of acting further."   When Linnie was appointed administrator, her securities on the bond were G.M. Wilson Jr. and T.H. Wilson Jr. [2]  Replacing Linnie as administrator of the Crewdson estate was G.M. Wilson Jr., who, by the way, was Linnie's new husband.

 Are you dizzy yet? 



[1] Livingston County Court Order Book S:626-627,  1 May 1902.
[2] Livingston County Court Order Book S:541,  16 Oct 1901.

Published 28 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

John B. Nunn and Sarah C. Martin




Nunn
Sarah C.
1861 - 1961

John B.
1859 - 1940

Buried Pythian Ridge Cemetery, north of Sturgis, Union County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 3 December 2012.

According to her death certificate, Sarah Catherine Nunn was born 27 December 1861 Union County and died 24 July 1961 in Sturgis Hospital. Her parents were William Martin and Elizabeth Dial.[1]  She married John Benton Nunn 27 December 1882 in Union County.[2] On the marriage bond,  the following information was given for John Benton Nunn: age "23 past," first marriage, born Union County, father born Crittenden County and mother born Spencer County, Kentucky. Sarah C. Martin, the bride, was age "20 past," born and lives Union County, father born Hopkins County and mother born Tennessee. They were married at Wm. Martin's.

The 1870 Union County census shows John B. Nunn enumerated in the household of Hugh Nunn, age 50, and Mildred Nunn, age 39, who  are shown as the parents of John B. Nunn in Nunns of the South , edited by Alexander Nunn and the Team Group Committee.[3]  This book lists the children of John B. and Sarah Catherine (Martin) Nunn as follows:  Carol Walton Nunn, Susie Casey Nunn, Alvil Clifton Nunn, Georgia Stella Nunn, Byers Nunn and Ira Coutrell Nunn.





[1] Kentucky Death Certificate #61-18166, Sarah Catherine Nunn, Ancestry.com.
[2] Kentucky County Marriage Records 1783-1965, Union County, Ancestry.com.
[3]   Alexander Nunn and the Team Group Committee. Nunns of the South, (Montgomery, AL: Paragon Press, 1974) 76.


Published 26 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Summer Marble, Lawyer of Western Kentucky


Several  excerpts were taken from an address delivered before the Kentucky State Bar Association at Middlesborough, Kentucky on 12 July 1910 by Judge W.A. Berry. These excerpts were published in the Paducah News-Democrat on 13 July 1910, p. 6.  One excerpt concerned Summer Marble, which is published here.


Summer Marble
A Western Kentucky lawyer who is entitled to be classed among the great lawyers of Kentucky is Summer Marble. He came from sturdy puritan stock, his ancestors being of the pioneers of New England, and a direct descendant of revolutionary heroes. He was born January 20, 1816, near Northampton, Mass. and died at Princeton, Kentucky in May 1881.

Judge Marble received his education at the country schools  of Northampton and  never had the advantage of a college education. He left home at an early age and went to New Jersey, where for a while he taught school. Soon after this Mr. Marble and a younger brother came to Kentucky and settled in Henry County, where he taught school and studied law at night under the instruction of Judge Rowan, in his office at New Castle. He afterward read law until he obtained his license in 1840. He then moved to Salem, at that time county seat of Livingston County, and Livingston County at that time embraced all the present county of Livingston and the territory now comprising Crittenden County. The bar at Salem was an exceedingly strong one, having among its members Henry Dallam, afterwards of Henderson, Kentucky; George W. Barbour, Robert A. Patterson, Wiley P. Fowler and others of equal prominence and ability; the circuit judge of his district at that time was Judge James Campbell, father of Judge Campbell, now living in Paducah.

In 1842, the county was divided and Crittenden County was cut off and Smithland then became the county seat of Livingston and Marion, the county seat of Crittenden. Mr. Marble moved to Marion and became the first county attorney of the new county; he represented his county in the General Assembly in 1849. He moved to Princeton in 1851 or 1852 and in 1858 to Chicago, but in 1864 he came back to Kentucky on account of his southern proclivities; while in Chicago, however, he was recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the city. In 1875 he went to the state senate.

Mr. Marble ranked among the leading lawyers of his time. He has one son living in Kentucky, a practicing attorney in Western Kentucky courts, Judge William Marble.

Published 21 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Elizabeth Lake Dunn 1885 - 1978


Elizabeth Lake Dunn
Apr. 29, 1885
Mar. 4, 1978

Buried Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 9 April 2012.
   
Elizabeth Lake Dunn was a daughter of David Andrew Dunn and his first wife, Addie Haynes, citizens of Smithland. Elizabeth's father was a sheriff of Livingston County and organized Smithland's first bank, the Livingston County Bank. He was president of that bank and of Smithland Bank, which he also organized.[1]

Elizabeth was living in Smithland with her father, step-mother and eight siblings in 1920.[2] At that time Elizabeth had completed four years of high school.  By the time of the 1940 census, Elizabeth was living in Frankfort, Kentucky and was a clerk doing government work.[3]

Miss Elizabeth Dunn was age 92 when she died in 1978. Survivors included two brothers and four sisters and several nephews and nieces. She was a life member of Smithland Methodist Church.[4]




[1] "David A. Dunn of Smithland Is Called By Death," The Paducah Sun-Democrat, Thurs., 25 June 1931, p. 11.
[2] 1920 Livingston County, Kentucky census, Smithland, Roll T625_587, p. 3B, E.D. 112, Ancestry.com. Head of household was David Dunn, age 71. His wife was Laura (Champion), whom he had married 4 Nov 1906 following the death of his first wife, Addie.
[3] 1940 Franklin County, Kentucky census, Frankfort, Roll M-0627-1307, p. 30A, E.D. 37-7, Ancestry.com. At that time, Elizabeth was a lodger at 104 Watson Court, Frankfort. It was stated that Elizabeth was living in Smithland in  1935.
[4] "Miss Dunn, 92, Dies Saturday," The Paducah Sun, Sunday, 5 Mar 1978, p. 16.


Published 19 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Burials Outside the Tomb


A  recent post on this blog provided the names and dates of family members  listed on the H.F. Given Tomb in Smithland Cemetery in Livingston County, Kentucky.  That listing did not include relatives buried within the family plot, but outside the tomb. The entire plot is enclosed within a wrought-iron fence. Let's take a look at those who are buried there.

James B. Ferguson and Catharine Haydock.  They are listed together as they were married from January 1832 until James died in November of that same year.  Catherine then married Joseph Haydock  before she died in 1840 at the age of 30.  Catharine's story is more than the names of her husbands, though. She was the daughter of John P. Given, brother of Dickson Given and Joseph R. Given, whose names are inscribed on the front of the Given tomb.  John P. Given was born by 1784 and died after 1814,[1] possibly in Pope County, Illinois.  He married Mary "Polly" Johnson 30 December 1807 in Livingston County.[2] John P. and Polly Given had the following children: William T. Given, born 16 December 1808; Catherine F. Given, born 25 March 1810 and Elizabeth J. Given, born 22 December 1812.[3]

Four Children of D.A. and C. Given: two unnamed infants plus  Ann Given (3 January 1848 - 29 December 1849) and Mary Given (died 11 June 1848).  D.A. Given was Dickson Augustus "Gus" Given, son of Dickson and Nancy Given. He obtained a bond to marry Clarissa H. Goodall, daughter of Turner Goodall, 11 January 1838 Caldwell County, Kentucky. D.A. and Clarissa "Clara" Given lived in Paducah after their marriage before moving to New Orleans, where his brother, Henry F. Given, had settled and where both were involved in Given, Watts & Co., a commission house. D.A. Given died in New Orleans.  He and Clara are buried in a Given tomb, along with some of their descendants, in Metairie Cemetery. [4]




Tombstones of children of D.A. and Clara Given


There are two more tombstones that puzzle me. Just inside the gate to the Given plot, on the right side next to the fence is a large footstone with the initials J.C.G. This stone was not included in any of the earlier recordings of Smithland Cemetery so it is assumed the headstone has been missing for many years.  The style of the stone indicates it is from the 1840s.   Dickson and Nancy Given had a daughter, Mary Lucinda Given, who married James Campbell. I would almost bet that J.C.G. was, in fact,  James Campbell Given and was a son of D.A. and Clara Given.




J.C.G. Footstone

The other mystery tombstone is that of Margaret Ashmore, an infant who does not appear to have any connection to the Given family. Her tombstone is on the ground. Was it moved it from another location or is there some unknown connection to the Given family ?

The Given family was among the most influential families of early Smithland. Although all moved away, they certainly left their mark on the town.





[1] Livingston County, Kentucky Deed Book C:325, 16 July 1814, John P. Given, Joseph R. Given and Dickson Given, all of Livingston County; James A. Whyte and wife Mary, late Mary Given, of York Dist., South Carolina, surviving children and heirs of William Given dec'd, declare Negro man Cato a free man. On 19 July 1814 Hamlet Ferguson of Johnson County, Illinois Territory released all claim to Cato. John P. Given did not sign this conveyance, indicating he may have died between 16 July 1814 and the recording date of October 1817.
[2] Joyce McCandless Woodyard. Livingston County, KY Marriage Records, Vol. 1  Oct 1799-July 1839, (n.p., 1992) 20.
[3] Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book H, 3 October 1831 lists the legal heirs of John P. Given, late of Pope County, Illinois, and their birthdates.
[4] Find A Grave Memorial #107922635, D.A. Given born in Salem, KY Nov. 24, 1815; died July 1, 1882.  Also Find A Grave Memorial #107923800, Clara H. Goodall Given, Relict of D.A. Given  Born in KY Nov. 7, 1818, died Jan. 20, 1897.

Published 14 March 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Cloa Ann Hazel 1851 - 1907




Mother
Cloa Ann Hazel
1851 - 1907

Buried Bells Mines Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 20 May 2015.

Cloa Bean/Beane  and Hiram L. Hazel were married 12 October 1866 in Union County, Kentucky by Father Durbin, Roman Catholic priest. [1] They were living in Webster County in 1880[2] and, by 1900 had moved to Bells Mines in the northern part of Crittenden County.[3] In 1900, Cloa Ann Hazel was age 48, born August 1851 and had given birth to nine children with only five of them living.

After Cloa Ann's death, her husband moved to Arkansas, where he died 11 July 1924 and is said to be buried in Sebastian County, Arkansas.[4]



[1] Kentucky County Marriage Records 1783-1963, Union County, Ancestry.com.
[2] 1880 Webster County, Kentucky census, Clayville, Roll 446, p. 106B, E.D. 028, Ancestry.com.
[3] 1900 Crittenden County, Kentucky census, Bells Mines, p. 10, E.D. 0036, Ancestry.com.
[4] Find A Grave Memorial #44758289, Hiram L. Hazel.


Published 12 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Livingston County, Kentucky Indentures of Apprenticeship 1849


Children who were orphans were often apprenticed or "bound out" to someone in the community to learn a trade. Males were usually bound out until they were 21 years old and females until they were age 18. In addition to teaching the child a trade, the master was to provide the apprentice with food, clothing, lodging, medical attention and was to see that the apprentice was taught to read, write and learn arithmetic to and including the "Rule of Three." At the end of his service, the apprentice often was given a new suit of clothing and sometimes received a sum of money in lieu of receiving an education. On his part, the apprentice was to keep his master's secrets and obey his commands, must not waste his master's goods or lend them without consent or visit taverns or tippling houses and could not contract marriage. The following information for 1849 has been abstracted from Livingston County Court Order Book K  and Indentures of Apprenticeship Book 1834-1877 in the county clerk's office, Smithland, Kentucky. The letter and number at the end of each entry refers to page in Order Book K. For example, K:69 refers to Order Book K, page 69.


Henry Hill, infant orphan, has no estate and is hereby bound to B.J. Ross to learn the trade of a farmer until he is age 21, being 11 years old now.  5 Mar 1849  [K:69]

William Sparks, infant orphan who has no estate, is bound to Alexander Dixon to learn the trade of a farmer until he is age 21, being age 15 in November last. 2 Apr 1849  [K:74] On motion of Lucinda Sparks and William Tillery with consent of Alexander Dickson & for reasons given to the court, Alexander Dickson is released from Articles of Indenture apprenticing William Sparks to him.  3 December 1849  [K:115]

Daniel Patterson, infant orphan of this county has no estate, and Francis Vincent signified his willingness to take Daniel as an apprentice to the business & occupation of a carpenter. Daniel apprenticed to Vincent until he arrives at age of 21 years, he being 4 years of age on the [blank] day of October next.  2 Apr 1849  [K:77]

Samuel R. Dalton is bound to Denby Mezell until he is age 21 to learn the grade of a farmer. When he is 21 years old, which will be 24 November 1855, he being 14 on the 24th day of November 1848, Samuel is to receive a decent suit of new clothes, $20 in money and a good horse, saddle & bridle worth $60 and cause him to be learned [sic] to  read and write and learn arithmetic to the Rule of Three. 4 June 1849  [K:82]

James Dickson, infant orphan of Elizabeth Dickson, has no estate and is bound to Thomas K. Dickson to learn the trade of a farmer until  James is age 21, he being 11 years old the 12th of February 1849. 9 August 1849  [K:92]

James Henry Williams, infant who was bound at the March term 1849 to Walter Burns, who has departed this life. James, an infant 8 years old on 2 May last, child and heir of [blank] Williams and his wife Sarah, the father having departed this life at the Cumberland Hospital, is at this time destitute of a home or friend to take care of him. Ordered that the Clerk of Court bind James Henry to J.A. Brown to learn the trade of a carpenter and house joiner until he is age 21.  1 Oct 1849  [K:109]





Published 7 March 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Kirk Family of Ireland and Caldwell County, Kentucky




Jane
Wife of
David Kirk
Born
Mar. 20, 1808
Died
Jan. 28, 1859

Buried Cedar Hill Cemetery, Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 10 December 2018.

Jane Kirk and her children appear on the 1850 Caldwell County census.[1] As the youngest child was born ca 1840 in Ireland, it appears the family left Ireland after that year and traveled to America.  There is no mention of Jane's husband, David Kirk.

Jane Kirk, daughter of David and Jane Kirk,  died 3 July 1858 in Caldwell County and is also buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery. [2] In 1860, David Kirk Jr. and his sister, Nancy Kirk, and brother Alexander Kirk, are living together in Princeton. [3]

David Kirk, son of David and Jane Kirk, married Sarah Jane Guess 6 September 1860 in Caldwell County. On the marriage bond he listed his parents as David Kirk and Jane Henry.[4] Was she related to Joseph Henry, who is also buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery?  Nancy Kirk married John Garrett 16 November 1864.[5]  Alexander Kirk married Miss Bettie J. Maxwell 19 January 1870. On the marriage bond he listed his occupation as a merchant and was living in Leavenworth, Kansas.[6]



[1] 1850 Caldwell County Census, Roll M432_194, p. 369A, Ancestry.com. Jane, age 32, was born in Ireland as were her children Jane, age 17; Nancy, age 15; David, age 12 and Alexander, age 10.
[2] Gregory L. Watson, compiler. Caldwell County, KY Ancestors  Vol. 1, Cedar Hill Cemetery, (Melber, KY: Simmons Historical Publications, 1998) 112.
[3] 1860 Caldwell County Census, Roll M653_359, p. 24, Ancestry.com.
[4] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky Marriages 1854-1865, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 1997) 51.
[5] Ibid., 80.
[6] Brenda Joyce Jerome. Caldwell County, Kentucky Marriages 1866-1873, (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 2002)76.

Published 5 Mar 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/