Grandfather and Grandson Share Tombstone

A.W. Sullenger

Born

June 1805

Died

June 5, 1876

James W.

Son of

J.A. & M.L. Gray

Born

Feb. 21, 1869

Died

May 8, 1876

A.W. Sullenger and his grandson, James W. Gray, are buried in Watson Cemetery, Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 8 May 2017.

Aaron Wilson Sullenger married Letta Watson 3 January 1831 Livingston County, Kentucky.[1] He is listed as a physician in Crittenden County in 1863.[2]

The 1860 Crittenden County census, lists Aaron W. and Letta Sullenger, along with Mary, age 12, and other children.[3] The 1870 Crittenden County census shows Joseph Gray and wife Mary L, children L.E. Gray, age 2, and J.W. Gray, age 7/12. [4]  Mary L. Gray, daughter of Wilson Sullenger, died 13 June 1929, age 82 years, 1 month and 2 days. She was also buried in Watson Cemetery.[5]

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[1] Joyce M. Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol 1. (Oct 1799 - July 1839), (m.p., 1992), p. 109. Consent was given by bride's mother, Elizabeth Watson. Bondsman was Ezra Watson.

[2] U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, A.W. Sullenger, Ancestry.com.

[3] 1860 Crittenden County, Kentucky Census, West Half of County, Salem, Roll M653_363, p. 366, Ancestry.com.

[4] 1870 Crittenden County, Kentucky Census,Roll 593_457, p. 405B, Ancestry.com.

[5] Kentucky Death Certificate #46389 (1929), Mary L. Gray, Ancestry.com.

Published 23 October 2018, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Jesse Olive 1830 - 1863

Jesse Olive 

Born 

May 25, 1830

Died

 July 13, 1863

In his 34 year

Gone from our home, but not from our hearts

Buried in Smithland Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 11 Oct 2017. Note the Masonic symbol and the "Handshake of Matrimony" engraved on the tombstone.

Jesse Olive, the son of Richard Olive and Evaline Rutter, married Barbara Ann Gray ca 1848/1849 and had the following children: Willie P., Bella, Leona and Jesse R. Olive.

In 1853, Jesse Olive was appointed postmaster in Salem.[1]  When his mother died in 1857[2], Jesse was named executor of her will.[3] By 1860, he was termed a "paralytic" and money was appropriated for the use of Jesse and his family.[4]

Jesse's widow, Barbara, married M.F. Dunn 20 December 1866 in Salem.[5]  This marriage ended in divorce in 1868.[6]

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[1] Appointment of U.S. Postmasters 1832-1971, p. 668, Ancestry.com, accessed 23 Feb 2018.

[2] Livingston County, Kentucky Will Book B, p. 169, Will of Evalina Olive.

[3] Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book L, p. 373,  28 Mar 1854.

[4] Livingston County, Kentucky Court Order Book M, pp 34 (1 Oct 1860), 92 (7 Oct 1861) and p. 140 (6 Oct 1862).

[5] Joyce McCandless Woodyard. Livingston County, Kentucky Marriage Records Including Marriages of Freedmen, Vol. II (Aug 1839-Dec 1871), (Evansville, IN: Evansville Bindery, 1994) 158.

[6] Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Order Book R, p. 174, Thurs., 13 Aug 1868. M.F. Dunn vs B.A. Dunn: Divorce. The case file was not located at the Kentucky Dept for Libraries and Archives.

Published 1 May 201, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Etna Nelson

Etna

Nelson

Oct. 13, 1870

June 8, 1942

Buried Alsobrook Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 30 July 2015. Etna Nelson died in Creal Springs, Williamson County, Illinois. [1]

Etna Nelson was the daughter of John Ramage and Jane Gray.[2]  She appears as a 9 year old in the household of John and Elizabeth Ramage in Dyers Hill Precinct of Livingston County. [3]  

Miss Etna Ramage married Mr. C.C. Nelson 11 October 1873 at her home in Livingston County. [4]

[1] Illinois, Deaths & Stillbirths Index 1916 - 1947, Ancestry.com <http://www.ancestry.com. accessed 28 September 2015.

[2] Ibid.

[3] John Ramage household, 1880 Dyers Hill, Livingston, Kentucky; Roll: 429; Family History Film: 1254429; Page: 359A; Enumeration District: 083; Image: 0162, Ancestry.com, http://ancestry.com: accessed 28 September 2015.

[4] Original 1873 marriage license and certificate, Livingston County, Kentucky Clerk's Office, Smithland, Kentucky.

Published 19 January 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Articles of Separation - 1847

After 11 years of marriage and several children, Nathan Gray and his wife, Lydia G. Gray, decided to separate.  Lydia agreed to leave "the bed and board of the said Nathan and he in full discharge and payment to her for all alimony, dower or other interest which she may have in and to his estate"[1] and Nathan promised to give her a gray mare with "Laydies" Saddle and bridle, blanket, a feather bed and furniture, spinning machine, a cow and a set of plates.  

Not only did Nathan and Lydia divide the household items, they also divided the children. Lydia was permitted to take Caroline, Elizabeth and Lucretia, the three daughters born of this marital union, and Nathan would take the [unnamed] sons born to him and Lydia. One has to wonder how one feather bed would be sufficient for Lydia and three young daughters.

 It was also agreed that Nathan and Lydia would have a divorce as soon as they wish or the law would permit.  Nathan signed his name to the separation agreement and Lydia signed by making her mark. The document was recorded the same day it was written - 2 September 1847.

And then ... something happened to change their minds. Less than two months later, the couple announced that a  "new order of things has taken place between them and Gray and wife having now thought better of it, they do mutually agree  ... to annul and make void the  ... articles of separation ..."[2]

"They do hereby pledge themselves to each other that they will henceforth faithfully and affectionately discharge their several duties as husband and wife and endeavor to live for the sake of themselves and their children in the affectionate and tender relation of husband and wife the remainder of their days."[3]

No clue is given in public records as to why the couple separated or reconciled, but they appear together with their children, including two born after the separation, on the 1850 Caldwell County census[4]. This isn't my family and I don't know many details, but Lydia was listed as married at her death on  28 November 1858.

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[1] Caldwell County, Kentucky Deed Book N:251, 2 September 1847.

[2] Caldwell County, Kentucky Deed Book N:279, 16 October 1847.

[3] Ibid.

[4] 1850 Census, Caldwell County, Kentucky, 2nd District, p. 368A, image 314, Ancestry.com, accessed 11 May 2015.

Published 25 June 2015, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Jesse & Sallie Olive

Jesse Olive

Feb. 8, 1858

Aug. 11, 1938

___

Sallie His Wife

Dec. 26, 1860

May 7, 1927

 

Buried Mapleview Cemetery, Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 9 June 2011.

 

According to his death certificate, Jesse Olive was born in Salem, Kentucky and was the son of Jesse Olive and Barbara Ann Gray. His birth  year is given as 1857 and he died in Louisville. Sallie Ann Olive was the daughter of Newton Walker, born Fords Ferry, Kentucky, and Jane Clement, born Marion, Kentucky. Sallie also died in Louisville. Jesse and Sallie married 21 September 1880 Crittenden County.

 

Published 10 September 2013, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/