Do These Names Make You Dizzy?

An article about a married couple with Caldwell County, Kentucky connections appeared in several newspapers in 1880. [1] The parties were Drury Mitchuson Kevil and his wife, Lucretia Kevil Mitchuson. The article stated they were about to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary and lived in Milan County, Texas.  Their names were very similar, but the article says they were not related.   

Drury M. Kevil was born in 1808  in Kentucky[2] and named for the father of his future wife. She was born in South Carolina in 1810[3] and  was named for the mother of her future husband. When she married Drury Mitchusson Kevil, her name became  Lucretia Kevil Mitchussson Kevil.   Are you dizzy or confused yet? I will let you try to figure it out if the couple was related..

On the 11^th day of September 1830, Drury M. Kivell and Miss Lucretia Mitchusson married in Caldwell County. Giving consent for the bride was Jonathon Stevens, her guardian. [4] They lived in Caldwell County through 1870, at least, and then are found on the 1880 Milan County, Texas census. [5]  

In 1880, Drury M. Kevil was age 70 and living with his son, Uriah Kevil. Drury’s wife, Lucretia, was not listed in this household, but was listed as living near by with another son, Jesse P. Kevil.[6]

Lucretia Mitchusson Kevil died 5 February 1896[7] and Drury M. Kevil died 18 October 1898.[8] Both are buried in Old City Cemetery, Rockdale, Milam County, Texas.

          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Original Marriage Bond and Consent of Drury M. Kevil and Lucretia Mitchusson. Click on Bond for an enlarged view.                                                                                                                      

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[1] One newpaper in which the article appeared was the Evening Visitor in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wed., 6 October 1880, p. 4.

[2] Find A Grave #124712918, Drury M. Kevil. The newspaper article gives his birth year as 1778, which would make him 52 when he married Lucretia, very likely incorrect.

3.  1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky census, Dist., 2, Roll M. 432_194, p. 377B, Ancestry.com.

[4] Original Marriage Bond and Consent note for marriage of Drury M. Kivell and Miss Lucretia Mitchusson, Caldwell County Clerk’s Office, Princeton, Kentucky, accessed 2019.

[5] 1880 Milan County, Texas census, Rockdale, Roll 1319, p. 269 B, E.D. 104, Ancestry.com.

[6] 1880 Milan County, Texas census, Dist. 103, Roll 1319, p. 261A, E.D. 103, Ancestry.com

[7] Find A Grave #124712949, Lucretia K. (Mitchusson) Kevil.

[8] Find A Grave #124712918, Drury M. Kevil.

Published 2 April 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog,  http://wkygenealogy.blog.spot.com/

Charles and Bess Mitchusson

Charles Mitchusson

1862 - 1894

On the 1880 census, Charley Mitchusson, age 18, is listed as the son of Ning and Maria Mitchusson. Also in the household are daughters, Mary, age 12; Bessie, age 9 and Maggie, age 5.[1]  On that census, Charley was listed as born in Kentucky and currently  "at school."  Unfortunately, Charley died as a young man. His obituary shows that  he was "of fine business qualifications and was for several  years a prominent merchant tailor of Henderson."  He left a young wife to mourn his loss.[2]

Buried next to Charles in Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky, is his sister, Bess Mitchusson, who was born 19 July  1870 and died 15 March 1940. According to her death certificate, she was the daughter of N.E. Mitchusson, born in Caldwell County, Kentucky,  and Maria Rudy, born in Henderson. Her occupation was listed as "clerk." [3]

Bess Mitchusson

1870 - 1940

Bess Mitchusson left a will dated 4 March 1940 and it was admitted to probate 25 March 1940. The  executrix of her estate was her sister, Margaret Rudy Johnson.[4]

Charles and Bess Mitchusson are both buried at Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky.

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[1] 1880 Henderson County, Kentucky Federal census, Roll 419, , p. 411A, E.D. 043, Ancestry.com.

[2] "Charles Mitchusson. Death of a Hendersonian Well Known in Owensboro," The Owensboro Messenger, Sat., 7 April 1894, p. 1.

[3] Kentucky Death Record #7027 (1940), Bessie Mitchusson, died in Henderson Hospital, Ancestry.com.

[4] List of Executors and Administrators Book 3 (1939-1963); also Will Book H, pp 15-16, Ancestry.com.

Published 29 August 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Hubbard J. Landram 1889 - 1925

Hubbard J.

Landram

Oct. 9, 1889

Apr. 19, 1925

Buried Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Livingston County, Kentucky. Tombstone photographed 2015.

According to his death certificate,[1] Hubbard J. Landram was born in Grand Rivers, Kentucky and died in Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky. He was the son of George W. Landram (born Livingston County) and Dora A. Mitchusson (born Lyon County, Kentucky). He was married at the time of his death.

 Hubbard J. Landram went to California before 1910, the year he was enumerated on the census in San Francisco.  He was married to a lady named Maria and gave his occupation as a motorman.[2] That same year, he registered to vote and stated he was a Republican and lived at 124 Lakeview Avenue, San Francisco.[3]

Landram moved back to Kentucky before 1916, at which time he was living in Paducah and was working at M.V.L. Motor Car Company.[4]   When he registered for the military draft in 1917, he was single, working in Benton and living in Paducah. [5]

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[1] Kentucky Death Certificate #10299, Hubbard J. Landram, Ancestry.com

[2] 1910 San Francisco County, San Francisco Assembly Dist. 33, Roll T624_97, p. 3A, E.D. 0082, Ancestry.com

[3] California Voter Registration 1900-1965, San Francisco 1910, Hubbard J. Landram, Ancestry.com

[4]  U.S. City Directories 1822-1995, Paducah 1916, Hubbard J. Landram, Ancestry.com

[5] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, Registered 15 June 1917 Paducah, Kentucky, Ancestry.com

Published 23 Apr 2019, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Land Rental Agreement 1819

Land rental agreements were not always recorded in early Kentucky and, thus, are sometimes hard to find. The following document between Edward Mitchusson Senr. and William M. Phelps affords us a look at the terms of a rental agreement in early Caldwell County .  It was located in the loose county court bundles of 1819. The original spelling and punctuation have been retained.

"Articles of agreement made & Entered into this 14th day of January 1819 between Edward Mitchusson Senr. of the one part & William M.  Phelps both of the county of Caldwell & State of Kentucky  Witnesseth that the Said Mitchusson hath this day Rented & let unto the said Phelps the farm on which he now lives together with all and Singular the priviledges & appurtenences thereunto belonging for & during the term of three years from & after the first day of february next on the following terms to wit  the Said Phelps binds himself to repair the fences and to leave the Same in good repair at the End of Said term, for which he is to have the Said farm & all the appurtences for the term of two years rent free and for the third year he is to pay Said Mitchusson two barrels of Corn or two dollars in Cash per acre for all the lands now under Cultivation and Should Said Phelps Clear any more ground on Said land he is to have it   two years rent free & pay rent the third year the same as or the lands now under Cultivation and leave the fences of the same in good repair, and Should Said Phelps make any improvements on the buildings on Said farm Said Mitchusson is to pay him a reasonable price for the Same at the End of Said term  Witness our hands Seals this date aforesd.  Teste: Reuben Rowland.  [signed] Edwd. Mitchusson, Wm. M. Phelps.

 Published 18 February 2017, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Tombstone Tuesday - Elijah T. Mitchusson

E. Turner
Mitchussson
Nov. 24, 1883
Dec. 28, 1911

Buried Lot 1394, Space 2, Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky. Woodmen of the World emblem. Photographed 6 June 2009.

Elijah Turner Mitchusson was the son of William W. Mitchusson and Addie Sellars, who moved to Cincinnati from Henderson in the 1920s. E. Turner Mitchusson was the descendant of two pioneer Kentucky families – the Mitchussons being from Caldwell County and the Sellars being early settlers of Henderson County.

Tombstone Tuesday - Ning Mitchusson

Ning Edward Mitchusson
1832 - 1908

Buried Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson, Kentucky.
Photo courtesy of Marty Hodge.

The following obituary is taken from the Henderson Daily Gleaner on Friday, 11 September 1908.

Ning E. Mitchusson, an old and well known citizen of this city, died at his home, corner of First and Ingram streets, last night at 10 o’clock, from the effects of a paralytic stroke received 15 months ago and from which he never recovered.

Starling’s History of Henderson County says in its sketch of Mr. Mitchusson, “He is one of those peculiarly good, big hearted men whom all respect, and who, in return, lets his light shine, that he is universally liked by all with whom he is acquainted.”

The subject of this sketch was born in Princeton, Ky., August 29, 1832, and was 76 years of age last August. He received his education at Cumberland College. He married Miss Maria Rudy in 1861 at her home in Lyon county. Mr. Mitchusson followed farming in Caldwell county after reaching his majority until 1862, when he moved to this city. He engaged in farming here and led a Christian life and was well thought of by all who knew him.

He was very fond of children and could be seen on the streets with several around him up to the time he was stricken with paralysis and was unable to go out upon the streets.

The deceased is survived by his widow and three daughters, Mrs. Ignatius Spalding, of Paducah; Mrs. J.D. Johnson, Hot Springs, Ark. and Miss Bessie Mitchusson, of this city.

The funeral arrangement will be made today.