The Whiteman & Kirk Family History

Continued Whiteman Family History Page Four

Continuing the Whiteman Family History

A letter from a family researcher: (follow up to earlier letter.)

I looked in my old file in which I had collected tid bits of information over the years about my ancestors & found my mother's letter in which she described in more detail the death of her grandfather William Cline. She wrote that an uncle, Sarah Cox Cline's brother drowned at the same time.

Also, I didn't remember that my grandpa's younger brother John was also rescued, having been dumped in the river along with the others. My 16 yr old grandfather was holding the horses on the bank. I have spoken by telephone to historians in the St. Louis area & am in the process of getting the microfilm of the current newspaper for Fox Creek the year of the tragedy--1886.

My city library is requesting it from the UN of MO library. It seems logical that it made the newspaper at that time.

I expect there are 4 lonely graves somewhere near Fox Creek---for William Cline, for Lenora & Sarah Cline (assuming they retrieved the bodies) as well as for the little brother Simeon who had already died. How sad it all is. And how sad that I have no record of the mother Sarah. I searched on the net w/ Geneology.com for a Rundell w/ a spouse named Sarah & came up w/ nothing. I enjoyed reading the history you shared w/ me about Simeon. I wonder if he knew what happened to his older brother? I was only 10 years old when my grandpa (Thomas Cline) died. I do remember it well & I missed him very much. He had lived w/ us as long as I could remember, either in our home or in the little house my father built for my mother's parents across the creek. I would surely ask him a lot of questions if I had him around now. Even my mother could answer questions I have...but she passed away in 1993.

My daughter goes to college in Michigan (same as where my parents & my husband & I went) so I go w/in a few miles of Fox Creek, MO. on I-44 when I drive her out or back. Next time I go that way I hope to have details so I can know where to stop & find the graves & the homestead (if they had one) in Fox Creek. I wish my mother were here to tell her what I have learned about her lost relatives. I know my parents visited some of her cousins in Rolla, MO. many years ago. Who might that be? Connie May
Patrick Kirk

Much of the early information on this family comes from a diary written by Julia Ann Kirk, found in the hands of a relative (Martha Hellman, to whom the journal is written). Irma Whiteman Rohrabacher (later Dryden) visited Kansas and learned of the existence of this journal. She brought a copy home, but much of it is incomplete, being in a damaged condition.

Catherine Mitchell, born in Sligo, Ireland, was the daughter of John Mitchell. (Her death certificate says she was daughter of Thomas Mitchell, but family diary says John Mitchell. Since death certificates are often wrong, we will trust the diary). She was born on Sept 1, 1837. He death certificate says her mother was Constance Mitchell. At this point we do not know more about Catherine's parents.

Children of John Mitchell:
James Mitchell
Winney Mitchell
Catherine Mitchell, our ancestor
She had one brother (name?), plus a half brother, James Mitchell and a half-sister, Winney Mitchell. Her father must have been married more than once. She had an uncle, brother to her father, named Thomas Mitchell. Thomas migrated to the United States, settling in New York City, and became a well known coal dealer. John Mitchell continued to live, and die, in Sligo. In 1886. he was 83 years old.(1) How difficult it must have been to have his daughter move to another country! And how brave of her to go. It was a hard time in Ireland then, as we shall see. We don't know whether Catherine married Patrick in Ireland or America.

We hope that in the future more information about this family will be found.

Patrick and Catherine(Katherine)Kirk

Patrick Kirk, born in County Caren, Ireland (Milborn Post office), was the son of Julia Ann Kirk. He was born on March 17, 1831, when his mother was 23 years old. He was one of 13 children. His mother died on March 1, 1886, at the age of 79.

Patrick and Catherine met, fell in love, and married. It is unknown at this time if it was in Ireland, or the United States. A letter from their church, St. Anthony's in Davenport, states they have no record of the union taking place in Davenport:

ST. ANTHONY CHURCH
417 MAIN ST. DAVENPORT, IOWA 52801
1637 - 1987



150 YEARS ANNIVERSARY



"July 17, 1990 Dear Ms. Whiteman,



After searching the marriage records of this church for the years 1850 through 1860, we could find no record of the marriage of Patrick Kirk and Catherine Mitchell.



However, in the baptismal records, there are the following baptisms:



John, son of Pat Kirk and Catherine Mitchell, born May 19, 1858, baptized May 30, 1858. Sponsors: Roger Kerrigan and Margaret Ryan.



Catherine, daughter of Patrick and Catherine Kirk, born June 5; 1859, baptized June 26, 1859. Sponsors: John and Ann Killion. AKA Kitty Kirk.



Charles, son of Patrick and Catherine Kirk, born January 14, 1864, baptized January 17, 1864. Sponsors: Terence Riley and Bridqet Riley.

Julia Ann, daughter of Patrick and Catherine Kirk, born July 8, 1865, baptized July 16, 1865. Sponsors: Jeremiah Harrington and Bridget Harrington.

Margaret, daughter of Patrick and Catherine Kirk, born Feb. 22, 1867, baptized March 11, 1867. Sponsors: John Mehan and Margaret Killion.

James, born June 3, 1870, baptized June 11, 1879. Sponsors: Michael Keilfeather and Mrs. Nolan.

Patrick Francis, son of Patrick Kirk and Catherine, born October 10, 1872, baptized October 13, 1872. Sponsors: Bridget Nolan and Owen McNamee.

The fact that there are no children's births recorded between 1859 and 1864 may signify that they were not in the parish during those years. Also, in contrast to your information, their first child seems to have been born in 1858. We hope this information is helpful."
Welcome to St. Anthony's
St Anthony's Catholic Church is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. St. Anthony's is a Roman Catholic community with a wonderful, historic church built in 1837. From their website: " St. Anthony is the patron of the poor and we do our best serve the less fortunate in our community with our McAnthony's window that serves meals on weekdays as well as our holiday food basket programs that deliver meals to over 1,000 families in our community Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas."

Note the picture of Catherine and Patrick Kirk. Her hair is pulled back tightly. He wears a beard. The Irish influence clearly shows.
They lived in Davenport, Iowa, after emigrating from Ireland. Their children were all born in Davenport. A little confusion exists concerning the first two children. Family records (a journal written by Julia Ann, one of Patrick and Catherine's children) show John Joseph as having been born on April 6, 1861. However, the records of the family church, St. Anthony's, shows that John (no middle name) was born on May 19, 1858 and baptized by Rev Louis DeCailly on May 30, 1858. His godparents were Roger Kerrigan and Margaret Ryan. The parents are shown as Patrick Kirk and Catherine Mitchell. The next record provided by the church shows the birth of a child named Catherine, born to Patrick Kirk and Catherine Kirk, on June 5th, 1859. She was baptized by Rev J.A.N. Pelamourgues, and her sponsors (godparents) were John and Ann Killion. The family record shows the birth of a child named Kitty Agness on June 21, 1862. Either Kitty is a nickname for Catherine in this case, or there was a child not mentioned in the family journal. There may have been two, John and Catherine, before the ones mentioned in the journal, but if there were, we do not know what happened to them.

You may note that Patrick and Catherine came to America, and to Iowa, just before the Civil War. The reason for their coming is covered later in our story, but the following is interesting in that it could affect our ancestor.

LISTS OF MEN SUBJECT TO CIVIL WAR DRAFT
AUGUST 1862 (2)
By early 1862 the Union Army had suffered tremendous losses, so it became necessary to recruit more men. However, a problem arose when those who did enlist joined new regiments and companies being formed instead of filling the vacancies in the old ones, such as the 16th or the 8th Iowa, which had suffered heavy losses at Shiloh.

Unfortunately, Gov. Kirkwood's call for volunteers in July 1862 didn't get the needed results because many men were working on their farms getting ready for harvest. Also, after Shiloh and Corinth, and the events in the East, it became obvious that it wasn't going to be a short war and the war was much worse that anyone had anticipated. Some of that initial patriotic fervor was weakened, and the country wasn't as naive as it had been.

Ultimately, Lincoln decided on a draft and passed it into law in August, 1862. The actual drafting of the men was the responsibility of the states, which usually used a lottery system. When the government issued a call for more troops, each state would be given a quota to fill based on its
population. The number of volunteers would be subtracted from the quota and the difference would be drafted.

In this era, being drafted was considered humiliating. The prevailing attitude was that able-bodied men should want to fight for their country, and only cowards would not enlist. In August of 1862, shortly after the draft law was passed, the Daily Gazette published a list of the names of hundreds of men who were eligible draftees, perhaps in an attempt to embarrass some of them into enlisting. This list is alphabetized and grouped according to Ward. Someone asked me a number of good questions regarding the Gazette's Civil War conscription eligibility list. I decided to post the answers to the list in case others might have similar questions.

I don't believe many newspapers published the names of eligible draftees, as a rule. At the point that this list was published, the union was still trying to avoid the very unpopular conscription by encouraging men to enlist. All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 were eligible. Noexemptions were made due to family size or ages of family members. I assume the Gazette probably took from the 1860 census, a list of all those men who fell in the age category of 18 to 45.

Counties were assigned quotas of needed men. If a county could provide that quota (as determined by legislature) through enlistment, they did not have to draft men, or would only have to draft the difference. Many thought this quota system, and conscription in general was unfair, prompting several large "Draft" riots throughout the country.

Counties offered bounties as rewards to men who enlisted. This practice was not devoid of problems. Men would hop from county to county, signing up and collecting the bounty money, and then skip out and head for the next county and another bounty. From what I've seen, Scott's bounties were very good compared to many others in the country. I'll be posting more articles addressing these issues.

Various state rules exempted those afflicted with heart and lung disease, hemorrhoids or chronic diarrhea, hernia, 'loss or imperfect vision of the right eye'--presumably the rifle-sighting eye --loss of the front teeth and molars, or 'loss of more than one fingerof the right or more than two fingers of the left hand.'

Regarding deferments, if one was wealthy, or could somehow scrape up $300, he could legally buy his way out. If one could find a substitute to fight in his place, that was also allowed. All kinds of problems arose from these practices. Most folks could not come up with $300 and therefore, the Civil War was considered by many to be a "poor man's war." Although mental and physical disabilities could cause exemption, the substitutes were often discovered to be physically or mentally deficient, or many times they signed up and quickly "skedaddled."

Men with occupations such as teachers, judges, telegraph operators, railroad engineers, skilled munitions workers in public arsenals and certain other government employees were exempt. Members of certain religious factions, such as Mennonites and Quakers, were exempt at first, but later on Congress passed a law that men of those faiths had to serve in non-combative roles, such as in hospitals, supply depots, etc.

The Daily Gazette
City of Davenport
August 29, 1862
In the LIST of Persons Subject to DRAFT In Davenport City and Township found this one:

Patrick Kirk, Davenport, IA

Patrick Kirk's arrival in the U. S. was during the time of the Great Hunger in Ireland. It is important to have a short description of 'The Great Hunger' which began in Ireland around the Fall of 1845, continued up to 1851, and ended in the deaths of an estimated one million Irish (or one out of every nine inhabitants). To understand the Great Famine, one must realize the expanding population of early 1800's Ireland and the growing dependency on a single crop - the Potato. To realize why it lasted for five years one must understand the politics, culture and economics of the time, since full crop failures did not occur every year between 1845 and 1850.

In 1800, some four and one-half million people lived in Ireland. By the autumn of 1845, when the Great Famine struck Ireland, there were more than eight million. This was the largest increase in the population of Ireland in its history, an increase estimated at 172%. By the time of the Famine Ireland's population of poor was very high, and its population of landlords was very low (est. 5000).

The "white" potato, known today as the Irish potato, originated in the Andean Mountains. In 1532 the Spanish arrived in north Peru and it is speculated that they brought the potato to Europe in the second half of the 16th century. By 1800, the potato had taken root and ninety percent of the Irish population was dependent on the potato as their primary means of caloric intake and as an export.

In September of 1845, a fungus called Phytophthora infestans was infecting Ireland's potato crops, devastating the potato population. About half the Irish potato crop failed in 1845. This event is what began The Great Famine in Ireland.

The next year, 1846, the crop was destroyed again. By 1847 (Black '47) the impact of the famine spelled doom for Ireland. A large proportion of the population died from disease or starvation, while a great number of the people fled the country, largely occurring in a five year period between 1846 to 1851. This event is well noted as one of the greatest catastrophes of the 19th century.

Many Irish landlords sent badly needed grain to England for profit, instead of retaining it for the poorer classes (cottiers and labourers). Without crops or employment the tenants could no longer pay rent, so many lost the lands they may have rented while their landlords exported grain and cattle to offset their losses. The effect of this was multiplied by the fact that the English parliament was reluctant to send any food to Ireland. One official declared in 1846, "It is not the intention at all to import food for the use of the people of Ireland."

Although the net export of food out of Ireland actually decreased over the Famine period, shipping records indicate that 9,992 Irish calves were exported to England during Black '47, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. Irish grain was exported, while cheap Indian meal was (sometimes) imported to feed the poor population. What was not known at the time, however, was the Indian meal contained little or no nutrients and only contributed further to the spread of disease. A majority of Famine victims died from malnutrition-related diseases such as dropsy, dysentery, typhus, scurvy and cholera, rather than directly from starvation.

For many the only alternative to disease and starvation, and the only option to eviction from their tenant lands, was emigration. The Passenger Act of 1847 was passed and it granted each [eligible] emigrant 10 cubic feet and a supply of food and water. Realistically captains didn't obey this act and many people starved or died of disease in cramped quarters aboard the emigrant ships. An estimated one and one-half million Irish emigrated from 1845 to 1851, upwards of 20-45% dying in the "coffin ships" on their journey or shortly after their arrival in their new home.

The overall impacts of the Famine included: the decline of the Irish language and customs (in 1835, the number of native Irish speakers was estimated at four million -- in 1851, only 2 million spoke Irish as their first language) the devastation of the landless laborer class and small tenant farmer. a treeless landscape in many parts of Ireland. the shells of homes and "mud" cabins that were rendered uninhabitable. massive decrease in farms of 15 acres and less. The 1841 census showed that 45% of land holdings were less than five acres. In 1851 this was 15%. Irish emigrants scattered around the globe.

Today there are over 5 million people in Ireland, while it is estimated there are upwards of 70 million people of Irish descent throughout the world.

The famine is still a highly sensitive issue in Ireland and has left a bitter legacy in Anglo-Irish relations. Historians agree that the British Government could not be held solely responsible for the calamity. When the potato crop failed through blight every year between 1845 and 1850, food was shipped to Ireland by the Government and charities but the profitable export of grain and cattle was allowed to continue. As wealthy farmers and landowners profited, their tenants starved to death and London was widely accused of doing too little too late by way of relief.

Ireland lost a quarter of its eight million population in six years. In addition to those who perished in Ireland, a million fled abroad to North America, Australia and New Zealand. Thousands died in horrific conditions on the Famine Ships.

PATRICK KIRK'S CHILDREN:
Charlie (Charles) Kirk
Kittie Agness Kirk
Julia Ann Kirk
James Kirk
Maggey Kirk
John Kirk
Mary Kirk
Patrick Francis Kirk
One child known to be born to our couple was Charlie Kirk. His date of birth is not given, but he met a tragic end. He was playing with a childhood playmate, John Nolan, on the banks of the Mississippi river at half past nine 0 clock: in the morning. John was the son of his parent's friend, Bridget Nolan, who ran a boardinghouse in the community. She was also godmother to at least two of the Kirk children.

Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Friday, November 21, 1873
INQUESTS
From February 17, 1871 to the present time there have been fifty one inquests held over dead bodies in this county-bodies of persons who came to their death by violent means; either by murder, suicide or accident. They were as follows: (in this list is found the following.)
.Charles Kirk...June 18, 1872

John and Charley were playing On a barge, and John accidentally pushed Charley into the water. The accident took place between Brady and Perry Street. Charley could not swim, and was drowned as there was no one around to pull him out. He was found at 3:30 p.m. later that day. It was June 17, 1872. The family buried the little boy in a graveyard near St. Mary's church. It was probably St Marguerites Cemetery, which stands on 20 acres of land donated by Antoine Le C1aire in the summer of 1861. He was the co-founder and land owner of Scott County, who died in Sept., 1861.

Kittie Agness, mentioned earlier, was born on a farm owned by her mother about 4 miles west of the city. The house burned down after the family moved. A Mr. Mi1ler lived there when it burned, and his son was lost in the flames.

Kittie was confirmed in the church in May, 1870 by Father Flavin and Bishop Rev. John Hennessy, D.D., Bishop of Dubuque, Iowa. She received her first communion in the church on May 30, 1870. Her brother, John, and little sister Julia Ann were in the same confirmation class and they were confirmed together.

Julia Ann (writer of the journal) was also born on the farm, on July 8, 1865 and was baptized on July 16th, 1865 by J.A. N. Pelamourgues, v.C. Her godparents were Jeremiah and Bridget Harrington. Her first communion was in 1887, the spring the family left Davenport and moved to Kansas. In 1880, she is shown living in the house of her father, Patrick Kirk, in Fall River, Greenwood, Kansas, keeping house and single. She was 14 years old.

The next child mentioned is James, born on May 9, 1870 on Second St., east of Rock Island St., near the bridge. He was born in the "King Home". It is not known if the house was rented by the Kirks, or if it was actually the home of the Kings. James was baptized in St. Anthony's by father Rev. Maurice Flavin (head of St. Anthony's from 1868-1872) on June 11, 1870. Again we have a discrepancy. The church record shows his birth date as June 3, 1870. His sponsors were Michael Kilfeather and Bridget Nolan, who was mentioned earlier.

Maggey Kirk was born on August 4, 1867. She died in her father's arms of the "summer complaint" on May 2, 1870 ... not quite 5 years old. The family lived on the corner of 6th and Rock Island St. at that time. She was buried in the same graveyard as other members of the family, near St. Mary's.

Once again tragedy struck the family. Little Mary, born on March 14, 1869, died on July 16, 1871, of scarlet fever. The family was still in the house at 6th and Rock Island. She died less than a year after her sister. She was only two.

Francis Kirk, whose baptismal certificate shows him as Patrick Francis Kirk, child of Patrick and Catherine Mitchell (apparently some record-keepers used the mother's maiden name, some did not) was born on October 10, 1872. This was the year Charley drowned. Apparently his mother was about 5 months pregnant at the time of the accident. Francis was born on First St. (which is the same as Front Street, meaning it runs along the river), between Brady and Perry. The business journal of the day shows Patrick, his father, as a saloon keeper, living at the same address as the saloon. Francis was baptized the week he was born in St. Anthony's by Father Flavin. His godmother was Bridget Nolan, mother of the child who was playing with Charley the day he drowned.

According to James Albert Kirk, son of Laura Cline Kirk, the family left Davenport about 1887. This disagrees with some printed material, such as obituaries. School records show they attended Hallett School, Greenwood County, in August 1891. Patrick F was 18; James was 19 years old.

At the time the family appeared, Greenwood county had, according to a Government survey, 20 per cent of bottom and 80 per cent of upland. It was also divided in 5 per cent of forest and 95 per cent of prairie. Watered by Verdigris and Fall Rivers, which flow southwesterly, and by numerous creeks, of which Willow, Slate, Homer and Bachelor flow into the Verdigris, and Otter, Spring, Salt and Honey into Fall River. The average width of the river bottoms is one mile. The principal timber belts fringe these streams, and are about seventy-five feet in average width. The varieties found are oak, walnut, hickory, hackberry, elm, cottonwood, sycamore, mulberry and ash. Cultivated timber, i. e., timber claim plantings, is principally cottonwood, box elder and soft maple. Coal is found in thin veins at a distance of from four to eight feet below the surface, and is used for domestic consumption and to a small extent for blacksmithing and other purposes. Both limestone and sandstone are found in great abundance, and are of excellent quality for building purposes, fully compensating for the lack of large belts of timber fitted for such use. It was into this setting the Kirk and Cline families moved and lived.

At the close of the war, emigration set in with great rapidity. A new Town Site Company was organized at Eureka, and settlement was very rapid all over the county.

Upon the formation of Greenwood County, a part of it was included in the reservation of the Osage Indians. This reservation was a strip twenty by seventy miles and took in parts of Elk, Wilson and Butler Counties as well as Greenwood. In the latter, it cut a strip ten miles in width from the southern part of the county, the line running about four miles south of Eureka City. These lands were by the treaty of 1870 placed in trust with the United States to be disposed of for the Indians who had removed to the Indian Territory. This was done by placing it for preemption and homesteading at the regular Government price of $1.25 per acre. Many of the best farms in the county are located in this tract as is also the thriving town of Gould or Severy.

We also know that Julia Ann Kirk married George B. Karns on August. 12, 1883. She was married by a probate judge in Greenwood County. She died in 1924 in an institution. More on that later. In the 1880 census, George B. Karns was living in the home of his father Isaiah Karns in Eureka, Greenwood County, Kansas. He was 21 at that time. He was a laborer and born in New Jersey.

Francis Kirk died in Eureka, Kansas on March 19, 1934, at the Eureka Community Hospital.

His Obituary:
Francis Patrick Kirk, son of Patrick and Katherine Kirk, was born at Davenport, Iowa October 10, 1872 and passed away at the Eureka Hospital May 19, 1934 after a short illness.

The family moved to Kansas in 1873 where he grew to manhood on the farm ten miles southeast of Eureka. For the past two years he has made his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He as the youngest of 8 children of which only one, John Kirk, survives. He also leaves six nephews and nieces, Ray, Frank and Roland Karns, Albert Kirk, Zelma Hellman, and Gladys Whiteman.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 O'clock Tuesday, May 22, in the mausoleum in Greenwood Cemetery, conducted by Rev. W. Wilbur Klover. Interment was made in Greenwood Cemetery."
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MENTIONED IN THE JOURNAL

Patrick Kirk had a sister, Ann, who was the oldest of the 13. She was born in County Caren, Galmora Post Office. She married John Elliott. They lived in Borahvill, Conn., for 40 years. She died on Sept 16, 1895 of congestion of the stomach. She had it only 6 weeks. She lived in the same house 40 years. At the time of her death, only one of her children was living, Mary Ann. Mary Ann was born in Boyrahvill (?). Five other children of Ann Elliott and John Elliott died of scarlet fever. In 1880, we find Ann and John Elliot in the census of Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.(3) Ann is shown as a wfie and housewife, born in Ireland. Nearby was Jeremiah Elliot, born in Ireland, who had a young girl, Mary Elliott, age 9.

John Mitchell died in his beautiful home in Sligo of old age. He is buried there near his first and second wives. His son James lived there after his death. Thomas Mitchell became very wealthy as a coal dealer in NYC. He died in his 70's, leaving a widow and 5 children in his mansion there. Charley Curry was with them in 1890, according to the journal.

Other people mentioned in the family journal: Mr. Patrick Geraghty of NYC is a relative of Grandfather Mitchell, and there is a Mrs. Curley (could this be Curry) from the family of Geraghty (supposedly) had a maiden name of Mary Garney. She lived at 221 West 126th St., NYC. She had 4 children, 2 boys and two girls. Her oldest daughter Kittie married a Mr. Douglass. Joe Curley was born in NYC (her husband or son?). Both the Curleys and Geraghtys are from the family of John Mitchell.

Winnie (Winifred) Mitchell, mentioned earlier as the half-sister of Catherine Kirk, married a man named John Currey and lived in Pittston, Pa. Her children were, according to the family journal,
Corley Curry,
Winnie Curry,
Morey, or Mary Curry,
Hanna Curry,
Lingrey Curry,
and Maggey Curry. According to the 1880 census, Winifred Curry was born about 1835 in Ireland. She was shown as age 45, a wife keeping house. She died in July, 189?, of paralysis brought on by cleaning house "while the change was working on her," according to the journal. Her will was probated in 1898. Her husband, John, died on Good Friday, 1889, of congestion of the lungs caused by a very bad cold or Lagrippe.

John Curry was living in Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1880. The census shows him as being 51 years old, born in 1829 in Ireland, and working as a mine laborer. He was married. That "congestion of the lungs" could have had something to do with his occupation. His daughter, Hannah Curry was 21, (born 1859 in Pennsylvania) and single. John Curry, Jr., was living with them as well. He was 15 and worked as a "slate picker." He, too, was born in Pennsylvania.

Winnie's son in law , the husband of Norey, or Nary, was Thomas Murphy. Little is known about him except that he died in 1890. He was killed by his train (he was the conductor) near New York City. The family lived in Beth Amber, New Jersey. He is buried in Pittston, Pa near his father and Winnie Mitchell Currey. There are two of his children buried there as well. One died of scarlet fever, the other died of "grippe". The doctor gave it quinine, but it died "anyway" according to the journal.(4)

Back to Patrick and Catherine and Family:
Patrick Kirk received a land grant from Osage Trust lands in Greenwood County, Kansas by President Chester A. Arthur. December 15, 1882. (5) This was by patent.

A picture of a Kirk farm shows the family lined up outside the one story building, with a large barn in the distant yard. A friend is there, too. Paul Jones (a friend), James Kirk, Laura Kirk, Gladys Kirk and Zelma Kirk (looking almost like twins) were in the lineup. This was probably the homestead of James and Laura Kirk.

Simeon Cline had a farm. A picture exists of the farmhouse, a simple two story with tall chimney. Grandmother Cline and another woman are standing out front. This photo is printed in this book.

Remember Julia Kirk and George (Karns)? They became the parents of Freddey (Frederic), Frankey, Ray, Charles and Roland.
Freddy was born in Eureka, Ks. The dates are unclear in the journal, so the dates here are not verified. It appears that Freddey was born in 1883. He was ill for two years before he died, probably in 1893, on January 1. He died on New Year's morning in his home near the River bridge west of the Court house in Eureka, Kansas. The cause of his illness was a fall from his grandmother Karns' shed. He hurt his hip, and that brought on "White Swelling", which caused the blood poisoning that finally caused his death at about 10 years of age. He is buried in the Eureka cemetery, south east corner near the center of that quarter of the cemetery.



Frank Karns was born on March 17, 1886, in the family home, south and east of the city of Eureka. Ray was born on April 5, 1887, less than a year after his brother Frank. He was born in his Grandfather (Patrick) Kirk's home 10 miles south and east of Eureka. Roland was born June 28, 1898 in Eureka one block south on the corner of Mapacific Depot, during President McKinley's term, and also during the Spanish-American war. He was born after the sinking of the Maine on the Havana shore, while we were at peace with Spain. It was also the year the Dewey sunk. Another note from the journal: "Ceveress Fleet at Manly Bay Cuba our American soldier of note as of this date". According to the obituary for Julia Kirk Karns, Charlie died in infancy.



Frank Karns was well known in Eureka. He was a butcher.



Obituary:



"KARNES, Julia Kirk as born in Davenport, Iowa, July 8, 1865 and was baptized in St. Anthony's Church by Father Palemon. On May 5, 1883, she was married to Frank Karns of Eureka, Kansas. To this union five children were born, Frederic, Frank, Ray, Charles and Roland. Frederic died at the age of 7 years. Charles died in infancy. She is survived by three brothers, John, James and Francis Kirk, and one sister, Kittie. Mrs. Karns died at Osawatamie, Kansas, February 3, 1917. The body was returned to Eureka Sunday, February 4th. Short funeral services were held at the cemetery chapel and at the grave at 2:30 Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E. T. Rice, pastor of the Methodist Church. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery."



Note: Both Catherine Kirk and Julia Ann Karns were in the institution Osawattamie. Both died there.

Roland Karns died of accidental electrocution on Oct 4, 1958. He was a foreman for the Kansas Electric Power Company of Eureka, and he handled a 12,000 volt line on that date, south of Eureka. (6) He married Ruby Pennington in Eureka, Ks., in 1855 on February 28th. Ruby worked with relatives of Roland's, Gladys May Kirk Whiteman and Zelma Jane 'Kirk Hellman, at the telephone company.

Roland Karns (some documents say Roland) spent his whole life in Eureka, except for the time served in the U.S. army during W.W.I. He was a member of the Lutheran church. At the time of his death, he was an experienced electrician ,and had been with the Power company for several years. Roland, accompanied by James Branstetter and A.Z. Barkus, other company employees, was on his way to Severy on company business. When they reached a point near Climax, Roland noticed a power line that had been strung nearer the ground than he thought it should be. He carried with him a flexible cloth tape measure to which he tied a weight. He tossed the weight over the wire and as it touched the high voltage line he received a shock which threw him to the ground. He was killed instantly. Branstetter and Barkus are said to have pried the tape measure from his fingers by using a long handled shovel and immediately began applying artificial respiration, but to no avail. The tape measure Roland had used had small wires running through its entire length and, although covered with cloth, the wire made contact with the powerful electrical current. Ray and Frank Karns were both living at that time.

George Karns, father of Roland, had a brother living at that time by the name of W. S. Karns.

Obituary for Mrs. Ray Karns:
Mrs. Ray Karns, 72, of Eureka following a prolonged illness, passed away at the Greenwood County hospital last Friday afternoon at 5:15 p.m.

Grace M Karns was born Sept 11, 1890, near Potwin in Butler County, Kansas. She was the daughter of J. H. and Rebekah Poffenbarger.

She was married to Ray Karns of Eureka,s KS, July 6, 1939 at Osceola, Missouri. She assisted her husband in the dry cleaning business in Eureka for many years until they retired from active business. The plant was known as the Vapor Cleaners. Mrs. Karns was an ardent fisherwoman and she and her husband were frequent vistor to ponds, streams and lakes in this are, producing many fine catches. She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothes and one sister. Mrs. Karns is survived by her husband and two nephews, Owen Graham of St. Louis, Missouri and Howard Poffinbarger of Potwin, Kansas.



Funeral service was held at the Baird Funeral Home Monday, June 10at 2 p.m. conducted by the Rev. Charles Hargrave, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Eureks. Interment was in the Greenwood Cemetery."

A matter regarding the estate of Catherine Kirk:
On June 20, 1911, John Kirk appeared in court in the matter concerning the estate of Patrick Kirk (deceased) and Catherine Kirk (feeble-minded) in which he borrowed $600 on a guardian's mortgage against said estate.

A request sent to the hospital for records brought the reply that they only kept records for ten years.

Catherine Kirk was in the hospital at Osawatamie. A little information on the place might be proper here. From the Kansas Encyclopedia: Concerning building a new part of the hospital: Epileptic Hospital.-In the establishment of this institution the intention of the legislature was to make it a third insane asylum, in order to relieve the crowded condition of the hospitals at Topeka and Osawatamie. It was authorized by an act of the legislature of 1899, which provided that a site should be selected by a committee of the legislature-four senators and five representatives-and appropriated $100,000 for the erection of buildings. There was a spirited rivalry among a number of cities for the new hospital, and when the committee decided to locate it at Parsons, the citizens of Clay Center instituted proceedings. The question was finally settled by the supreme court, which sustained the action of the committee. but the litigation delayed the erection of the buildings so much that the appropriation lapsed. The legislature of 1901 reappropriated the unexpended balance of the $100,000 so that the work could proceed without further delay.

STATE HOSPITAL FOR EPILEPTICS, PARSONS.
In the meantime, the state board of charities, in its report for 1900, said: "In the judgment of the board, it would be better to establish an epileptic colony, and thereby relieve the congested condition of the asylums, than to build a new asylum" Following this suggestion, the trustees of the state institutions reported in 1902, that "After a careful investigation of the subject, we decided to make the Parsons institution one wholly for the treatment of epileptics, both sane and insane. The Parsons purchase is especially adapted to an institution of this character. The large acreage of land gives us plenty of work, and the epileptic patients are not only capable of work, but are benefited thereby."(7)

With the appropriation a dormitory capable of accommodating 70 persons, two cottages capable of accommodating 30 each, and two capable of accommodating 16 each were erected, the institution being modeled after the epileptic hospital at Sonyea, N.Y. The legislature of 1903 made an additional appropriation of $200,000, with which the original five buildings were fully completed and five similar buildings were erected for women. In Oct., 1903, the institution was ready for occupancy and more than 100 epileptic patients were removed from the insane hospitals at Topeka and Osawatomie, and the hospital was opened with M. L. Perry as superintendent. Since the opening an administration building has been erected at a cost of $70,000; a barn, laundry, heating and power plant and a superintendents residence have been built, and in 1910 the property of the institution was valued at $500,000. The legislature of 1905 designated the institution as the "State Hospital for Epileptics."
Sane persons who are merely epileptics are admitted and many of these acquire a good common school education, as the hospital is educational as well as curative. Nearly all the inmates can be taught some simple form of manual labor, and many leave the hospital improved in both mind and body. The institution has been under the charge of Mr. Perry ever since it was established.

Pages 595-596 from volume I of Kansas: a n encyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc..... I with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago:l912. 3 v. in 4.: front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-Il edited by Frank W. Blackrnar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.

Since Catherine Kirk died June 27, 1912, she lived for a year after the aforementioned petition was made . John Kirk was appointed as her guardian in a letter of guardianship for the insane on February 19, 1900. She was judged "feeble-minded" as opposed to insane. Today we would probably call this "incompetent". In 1900 she was 63. She was judged incompetent about 22 days after her husband died, causing one to wonder if she had been ill before that time, or if her husband's death unnerved her. Also, it was common for menopausal women who acted strangely to be institutionalized. Catherine lived to be the ripe old age of 75, 12 years after the declaration.

According to her death certificate, she died with no doctor in attendance, probably cause heart attack and general debility. John Kirk gave the information on the death certificate, stating she was a housewife, widow, female, and white. She was born in Ireland, father was Thomas Mitchell, and mother as Constance Mitchell. Born Sept 1, 1837. She died June 27, 1912, at the age of 74 years, 9 months and 26 days.

Her obituary read:
"Died:
Mrs. Catherine Kirk, aged 75 years, died suddenly of heart failure this morning at 6:00 in her home in East Eureka. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 4 o'clock at the home. Her sons, James Kirk of Western Kansas and Francis Kirk of Arkansas City, have been sent for and are expected to arrive in time for the funeral services. Eureka Herald, June 27, 1912."

Of our little family, this much more is known: Kittie Agness married John Black, a judge in El Dorado, KS. She was known as a "rounder" by the family, and it is whispered she spent some time in a mental institution, but this is not verified. She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery under the name Kittie Kirk, but burial records show her as Kittie Black.
John Kirk was administrator of the estate of Patrick Kirk as of the 7th day of June, 1901 as there is an approval of an extension of a mortgage in the file as of that date.

Patrick Kirk died Jan 29, 1900 at his son's home on North Main in Eureka. The new century had just arrived. He was 68, and died of pneumonia. He had a catholic service. (the only Catholic church in Eureka was at 514 N. Elm, the only one in Greenwood County insofar as my source knew.)

John Kirk died January 5, 1935. His death certificate (8)shows his birth date as April 28, 1860. He was white, male, married. He lived 74 years 8 month and 7 days. He died about 8 a.m.. He was a self-employed teamster. Apparently retired after 20 years in 1924. The cause of death was Uremia plus influenza with bronchitis as a contributing cause. Rolland Karns gave the information. John is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Remember James Kirk, son of Patrick and Catherine? He married Laura Alice Cline, age 23 on December 23. 1899(9), in Eureka, Kansas. He was 27. Laura was born January 28, 1876, in Eureka Kansas. Allen Emmerson did the ceremony. Laura was the daughter of Simeon J. and Martha Jane West Cline. A picture of James Kirk, Sr. shows a man who does not appear too tall, in a nice suit, hair neatly parted. A picture of Laura Kirk shows her to be perhaps on the stout side, with a pleasant face and dark hair. On February 9, 1922, the James Kirk residence on the corner of 4th and Maple burned to the ground.



Laura and James settled on a farm close to the city of Eureka and had three children, Zelma Jane, born Sept 27, 1900 (who died April 28, 1997 in San Joaquin, California)(10); Gladys May, born Nov 21, 1901(11), delivered by Mrs. Colvin, a midwife, and James Albert Kirk, born Feb. 14, 1911. In 1905 the family moved to Western Kansas where they proved up on a homestead, moving back to Eureka in 1913. In pictures we have, the two girls look almost like twins insofar as size and coloring is concerned. They were nice dressed as proper young women of means would be.



When Zelma graduated, the school yearbook "The Eurekan" had this to say about her ... "Good goods in a small package." Her nickname was "Zeke." Her school course was "Normal, " as opposed to "College Prep." The same book mentions Gladys, who was a sophomore.
A letter from Zelma's daughter Martha Strong to Marvin and Anne Whiteman of February, 2002, read as follows:

"Sorry I'm so late in sending my Christmas notes. I had good intentions but got a cold that made me so tired and put me behind. My 93 year old aunt (who??) got out of the hospital in Wichita and I needed to come over here and stay with her a few days. I took off Thursday and Friday from work. She doesn't have anybody but me, family wise, who lives close. She has a friend who drives, her car after me. I don't drive and my husband doesn't drive on the highway any more. (this is Martha's second husband, she was widowed before.) Your Christmas letter sounds like you've ahd a lot of sickness in your family. The story about your grandchildren sounds interesting. You'll have to share it with me one day. I'll send you my e-mail at work. I put you in my address e-mail. It is hard for me to be gone from home. There are so many things he can't do for himself. I have to fix all his insulin needles and medicine before I leave. He gives the cats dry foot but they have to wait until I get home for canned food. (Martha writes a great deal about her cats, whom she loves, in other letters.) ." Martha faithfully sent out newsletters detailing her entire year, each year for a long time.



James Kirk, husband of Laura, died March 20, 1925. Laura gave the death certificate information. He died of arterial sclerosis. He was a farmer. Male, White, Married at time of death. James Kirk died on the Kirk Farm in Eureka, Ks. He died on a Friday evening at 11:30 from heart failure at the age of 51 years, 10 months and 12 days. He had lived in Greenwood county since he was 5 years old. The family filed a homestead there. He lived in western Kansas from 1905 to 1913. At the time of his death, his brothers John and Francis were both living.



The marriage index of Greenwood County, Kansas shows a marriage between a John Kirk and Mae E. Rohlin on December 24, 1908. John Joseph Kirk ran freight from the train by horse team. Although his death certificate says "uremia" as cause of death, it was exacerbated by Influenza with Bronchitis. The informant was Roland Karns. He was a teamster, worked for "self", male, white, single. He had been retired for 11 years and worked at his occupation for 20 years. He was the oldest child of 8. The funeral was on Tuesday after he died on Saturday, Rev W Wilbur Klover of Christ's Lutheran Church presiding. Age 74 years, 8 months, 7 days. He died of Uremia.

Obituary:
"James Kirk, son of Catherine and Patrick Kirk, was born in the city of Davenport, Iowa, May 9, 1872. He passed away unexpectedly Friday evening at 11 0 clock from heart failure at the age of 51 years, 10 months and 12 days. When he was five years old he moved with his family to Greenwood County, KS where a homestead was taken, and which was also the place of his death. There were three brothers and four sisters: John, of Eureka, Francis of Tulsa, OK, Julia, who passed away in 1924, and Mary, Maggie and Charles who passed away in the state of Iowa before the family moved to Kansas. In 1905 the family moved to Western Kansas where they proved up on a homestead, moving back to Eureka in 1913 living on the Kirk homestead since that time. Other than the children mentioned above, and Mrs. Kirk, Mr. Kirk is survived by two grandchildren and two brothers, John and ------- Kirk, three nephews, Frank, Ray, and Roland Karns. Funeral services were held from the home Saturday afternoon at one o'clock officiated by Mr. Johnson. Burial took place in the Greenwood Cemetery. "(copy)

Old Baldy, their horse, nipped Laura Kirk on the breast. Her grandchildren thought this caused the cancer she had, but she died of cancer of the stomach. Her daughter, Gladys Whiteman, once said the horsebite caused her mother's cancer. According to her grandson, James Albert Kirk, she delivered the mail in Kansas.. .on horseback! Her husband, James, was a blacksmith in Kansas. He had a livery around 1919-20.

Her sister-in-law, Kitty Agness Kirk, reportedly married a judge, Mr. John Black in El Dorado, Kansas. Apparently they were separated or divorced. In 1880, Kittie Kirk was shown living, age 18, in Fall River, Greenwood Co., Kansas, in the home of Patrick Kirk. She kept house and was single.

His obituary in the Eureka paper read:
" January 1908:
Former Citizen Dead . John Black, a former citizen of Eureka, died in a hospital at Ann Arbor, Michigan, last Friday morning. The facts concerning Mr. Black's illness are very meager and all that can be learned is that he was taken to a hospital where an operation was performed and he later died from the effects. He left Eureka about 20 years ago. Mr. Black was a son-in-law of Mrs. Patrick Kirk of Eureka."

Kittie was known as a "rounder" by the family, and spent some time in a mental institution, (Osawattamie). She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery under the name Kittie Kirk. Her death certificate states she died of cerebral hemorrhage. (stroke) The name on the certificate was Kittie Black. Female, white, widowed. The informant was State Hospital, Osawattamie. Born in Iowa. Died Feb. 12, 1924. She was 62. Death occurred about 12:30 a.m. Last seen alive on February 11, 1924. We have a picture of Kitty dated Feb 12, 1848, taken in Eureka, Kansas. She was a raw.boned woman .
Laura Cline Kirk's brother-in-law John Joseph Kirk ran freight from the train by horse team. He died somewhere around the age of 35 to 37. His obituary states: John Joseph Kirk died at Eureka Jan 5, 1935. He came to Kansas in 1875.
Laura's brother-in-law Frances Patrick Kirk, born 1872 in Davenport,died May 19, 1934 in Eureka. He ran a livery, in El Dorado County where his sister Kittie Black lived. He had a stable in Butler County, then had a Yellow Cab Franchise in Tulsa. He had about 50 cabs. He was a gambler who died a pauper at the foot of Brady near the railroad tracks in Eureka. He died of acute gangrene and cholicyatistis. (information given by nephew R.R Karns). He was married and had a child, possibly in Tulsa.

Laura's father-in-law, Patrick Kirk, was a stonemason who helped build the Kirk home. Patrick Kirk, born 1835 and 45 years old in the 1880 census, was a farmer in Fall River, Greenwood, Kansas. In that census he was shown as married and born in Ireland.

From Laura Cline Kirk's death certificate: Information provided by John Kirk; Mother Martha West, Father Simeon Cline, Born in Indiana (both mother and father). She was a widow, white, female, housewife. Age 50, 8 months, 21 days. B Jan 28, 1876. She died of Cancer of Stomach. (Carcinoma) In a postcard to her daughter Gladys 9/15/24, she stated her side was hurting her. (12)Died 10/19/1926. She had the cancer about two years.



After her death, the court was petitioned for the care of James Albert Kirk, her minor son, and to handle his finances and inheritance. (copies on file.) In later years Albert would complain he felt the inheritance was improperly handled, but there appears to be no evidence to the fact. In probate court was entered that property located as lot 7 in block 48 in the city of Eureka was to be transferred to Albert. Its value was $400 (later appraisal $600), and it had a 3 year mortgage at 8%. W. H. Hart was ordered to sell the real estate in order to pay "debts against the estate of said minor and the mortgage and interest of said real estate." The guardian (presumably Mr. Hart) was to put a bond of $500 up to secure the assets arising from the estate.



Albert also received an undivided one third interest in lots 3,4,5, and 6 of Block 15, Tucker's addition to Eureka. Purpose: For the support and education of said minor and to make said minor's contribution to the indebtedness of the joint estate. His sisters, Zelma Jane Hellman and Gladys May Whiteman, received the other two-thirds.



A petition to mortgage other properties in the estate (see copies in file) was permitted, and $3000 was borrowed for 7 years at 5% interest, this done by Laura Kirk on October 2, 1926. Albert was 15. She died soon thereafter.



It is confusing, but it appears that Laura was handling the inheritance for James Albert Kirk until her death. Gladys M. Whiteman petitioned the court for Mr. Hart to be guardian. He had to put up a bond, apparently. Laura died intestate, and so an administrator was appointed. Zelma J. Hellman, age 26, Gladys Whiteman, age 25, and Albert Kirk, 15, were her heirs. One property was worth $7200 with a mortgage of $3000. A final accounting of all real estate showed $5408, and the household goods were appraised at $15. A Ford Motor car worth $100 was split in value to all three heirs.



Gladys May, one of the Kirk children, met and married a man with a red mustache by the name of Phillip Ivan Whiteman. (Or, Ivan Phillip Whiteman.) They had seven children, Ivan Venton, born on June 5, 1924; Irma Marie, born Nov. 1, l926, Ina May, born Sept 23, 1928; Melvin Phillip, born Sept. 13, 1931, Marvin Kirk born May 10, 1936, Maynard Lee, born July 7, 1939, and Corafay (Cody) Alice, born August 1, 1941. Ivan and Gladys were married in 1923, in Kansas, and were divorced in California in 1944. (The family moved in 1940 to California, along with many other Americans who had trouble finding work in the Bible belt states at that time.) Ivan remarried, to a Gladys Wright, who had children.. They married in Eureka, Kansas, and Ivan died by drowning in the Fall River 10 miles east and 2 miles south of Eureka. He had been fishing on the city side of the river and was found downstream on the opposite bank. His son, Melvin, felt that there might have been "foul play" due to the fact that his father could swim the Mississippi River easily. The Sheriff, an old friend of Gladys, his ex-wife, informed his family some time later. Ivan had been drinking while fishing that night. Apparently Ivan died intestate, since no record of a probate exists.



When wife #2 Gladys died, she left an estate to her own five children of $548.28 each, mostly from the sale of real property.



Gladys Kirk Whiteman passed away on April 19, 1979, in Sun Valley, California of a heart attack. She was survived by all seven of her children, as well as her brother and sister. There were many grandchildren, as well, and she is buried next to one of her grandchildren, Roger Sherman, in Glen Haven cemetery.



When Gladys passed away, there were quite a few postcards in her possession. Her daughter, Cody Sherman, has them. These were postcards written in the early 1900s when the mail arrived and went out twice a day. A lot of the information gleaned from them is quite interesting.



S.T. Cline was called "Paw" by the grandchildren. He must have spoken Dutch. On July 16, 1909, he wrote Gladys that Gute Mutter had died on June 13. Further research is needed to determine who this "grandmother" was. That card was from Eureka to Folsom, Kansas.



On June 17, 1908, Zelma and Gladys sent a card wishing S.T. a happy birthday, and saying they had "too much rain." A later card said it was dryer, and that Zelma and Gladys were attending school but it kept "Momma busy going after us and she don't get anything done." While the communicants were able to read and write, some of the spelling is pretty primitive. Artie Zeebee wrote while out of town that she was staying a few more days to help Roy get his corn in.



Someone named Reba (Harwood, Kansas) sent a message to James Kirk stating she wished they could come and visit while Grandpa Cline was there (Chester, Kansas) but they had a lot of feed to cut by hand, and wheat to grind. October 8, 1908.



Cousin Pearl (Hite?) sent a message to Zelma and Gladys December 14, 19 ..? from Cedarville, Kansas to Chester, Kansas. She had received a card from them and was glad they had a good time at "Aunt Janes." She wondered what they were doing for Christmas, and thought she (Pearl) would go to Maggie's. A card from Pearl on March 6, 1909 said they had all had the grippe but were about well now, except Grandma. She didn't think she was very well. Pearl went to a club party and had a fine time.



Gladys' husband, Phillip Ivan Whiteman, was born in Polk City, IA, on March 22, 1901. He was one of 12 children of George Samuel and Cora Edith Sprague Whiteman. Before George and Cora were married, it is said according to family legend, that they visited a fortune-teller who told them, "...and to your greatest of joys, Six little girls, and Six little boys". And so it happened.. Pearl Beatrice was born on Dec 8, 1889 in Lehigh, Iowa. She died On January 4th, 1890, less than a month old. Leo Gerald was born Dec 15, 1892 in Lacon, Illinois, Roy Donald on July 19, 1894 in Bradgate, IA, Guy Ronald on Aug 20, 1896 in Leon, IA.: Gladys Evangeline on Sept 15, 189? in Decatur City, IA; Arthur George Clement ( always called Clement), on Jan 4, 1899 in Polk City, IA; then Phillip Ivan; Erma Fern on Feb 8, 1903 in Granger, IA; Eula Fay on March 16, 1904 in Dayton, IA (called Toodles); Hal Oliver on Nov 13, 1905 in Lindley, Mo; Frances Edith on July 26, 1907 in Lindley, Mo and Myrle lola on Dec 5, 1911 in West Fork, Ark.

Children of George and Cora Whiteman:
Pearl Beatrice Whiteman
Leo Gerald Whiteman
Roy Donald Whiteman
Guy Ronald Whiteman
Gladys Evangeline Whiteman
Arthur George Clement Whiteman
Phillip Ivan Whiteman, of our direct line
Erma Fern Whiteman
Eula Fay Whiteman
Hal Oliver Whiteman
Frances Edith Whiteman
Myrle Iola Whiteman
Cora Sprague Whiteman is said to have been on the stage, and to have taught each of her children musical instruments. She painted and was a good artist. Phillip Ivan could play guitar, banjo, violin, clarinet, and harmonica, for example.. all very well. Cora must have been on the stage prior to her marriage because it appears she was pregnant a good deal of the time. However, the different cities of birth suggest the family moved a great deal. Cora's father, Daniel Sprague, was a riverboat entertainer and some have suggested that the riverboat "Sprague" was named for him, but there is no proof of that. It is also said that Daniel levitated Cora on stage.

The Story of .Mathias Whiteman
Mathias Whiteman is our oldest known Whiteman at this point. (2003) . He was born in Greene Co, Pa. about 1814. He died in Stratford, Hamilton County, Iowa. According to other researchers, he was the son of Isaac Whiteman. This has not been proved to total satisfaction, however, but it does seem to be accepted among researchers.



Patricia Williams, a researcher on the Internet, suggests:" The name of the father to your Mathias was Isaac Whiteman, b 1764 in Washington County, PA. He was married to Eleanor Maughman born March 7, 1766 and had children: Mathias, Esther, Susan, John, Isaac and Andrew. I descend through Andrew, who was my maternal gggrandfather."(13)

Descendants of Isaac Whiteman
Generation No. 1
1. ISAAC WHITEMAN was born 1764 in Washington Co., PA, and died 1823. He married ELEANOR MAUGHAMAN Abt. 1793. She was born March 07, 1766 Children of ISAAC WHITEMAN and ELEANOR MAUGHAMAN are:
i. ESTHER WHITEMAN.
ii. SUSAN WHITEMAN.
2. iii. ANDREW WHITEMAN, b. April 19, 1795, Washington Co. , PA; d. July 02, 1882, Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA.
3. iv. MATHIAS WHITEMAN, b. Greene Co., PA; d. September 10, 1880, Hamilton Co., IA. (We show a birth date of 1814 for our Mathias.) We know that our Mathias Whiteman was born about 1814 because the 1880 census gives an approximate year of 1815 for him, which should have been accurate information from Mathias himself.. It also says his father was born in Maryland, and his mother in New York. So mistakes can be made, either from the census informant, or family historians.

Important note: One researcher showed Isaac as having two Mathias Whiteman sons. This is most likely a mistake, but it can send researchers traveling down the wrong road. Maybe he did, since one of the two Mathiases was shown born about 1797. Andrew Whiteman was born in 1795, so this is a sensible date. However, Isaac Whiteman II is shown as being born in 1820, so it would also make sense for this Mathias to have been born in 1814. Research continues on this issue.

5. v. ISAAC WHITEMAN II, b. March 01, 1820, Razortown, Canton Twp., Washington Co., PA; d. March 10, 1901, pos. Dallas, Marshall Co., WV. Proof:
Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County PA, 1893 by Beers:(14)
"Mr Whiteman is a son of Isaac Whiteman, who was born in 1764, in Washington County, PA and was raised on his fathers farm to the noblest of all occupations, the cultivation of the soil. He was here married to Miss Eleanor Maughaman, also a native of the county, born March 7, 1766, and by her he had seven children, viz; Andrew, Matthias, Esther, Susan, John, Issac, and one that died in infancy." The rest of this text can be found on the notes page for son Isaac Whiteman.
Children of Isaac and Eleanor Whiteman
Andrew Whiteman ... 1795
Matthias Whiteman ... 1797 or 1814
Esther Whiteman ...
Susan Whiteman ...
John Whiteman ...
Isaac Whiteman II ... 1820
Baby Whiteman ...
Andrew Whiteman
Brother of Mathias Whiteman

We begin first with the brother of our ancestor, Mathias Whiteman. This information sets the stage for the family life of Mathias. At this point we ponder some questions about the certainty of Mathias descending from Isaac Whiteman's family. As far as our best information goes, our Mathias was son of Isaac Whiteman, yet some of the information does not correlate. You be the judge.

ANDREW WHITEMAN was born April 19, 1795 ( about 19 years before one of the dates we have for our Mathias Whiteman) in Washington Co. , PA, and died July 02, 1882 in Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA at the age of 87. This agrees with the location of our Mathias Whiteman's birthplace. He died two years before Mathias.



Andrew Whiteman married ELEANOR (POSSIBLY DOUGHERTY) about 1823 in probably Washington Co., PA. He was 28, she 27. She was born October 06, 1796 in Washington Co. , PA, and died February 23, 1866 in Donegal Twp., Washington Co. , PA.
She lived to be 70 years of age.

Children of ANDREW WHITEMAN and ELEANOR WHITEMAN are:
Eleanor Whiteman ... 1824
Susan Whiteman ... 1829
Sarah Jane Whiteman ... 1832

i. ELEANOR WHITEMAN, b. October 06, 1824 when her father was 29; and died April 04, 1859 at the age of 35. She married JOHN KIRK. She is buried in Dallas, WV Presbyterian Church graveyard..

ii.SUSAN WHITEMAN, was born May 27, 1829, Washington Co., PA; and died September 02, 1899, Geneva Twp., Franklin Co. IA at the age of 70.. She married. NICHOLAS CLEMENS, in about 1855, in Washington Co. PA. Nicholas was born. June 15, 1831 in Washington Co., PA; and died March 04, 1902 inGeneva Twp., Franklin Co. IA. We are not sure when they moved to Iowa.
iii.SARAH JANE WHITEMAN, was born December 15, 1832 when her father was 37; and died October 13, 1893 in Pittsburgh, PA just before her 61st birthday. She married SANSUM PATTERSON; who was born about 1830.
Notes for ANDREW WHITEMAN:
The will of Andrew Whiteman provides much of our information;(15)
"I , Andrew Whiteman of the Township of Donegal, County of Washington and the state of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make this my last will and testament, making void all wills by me heretofore made.



I will and bequeath my household and kitchen furnature to my Daughter Sarah Jane (Patterson), and my granddaughter Adeline (Snodgrass), Daughter of Susan Whiteman entermarried with Nicholas Clemens to be divided equally between them. I will one cow and one bed and my family bible to Adeline ( Clemens?), and one cow to Sarah Jane Patterson. Then I will and direct that my executor sell the residue of my personal property and real estate, and after paying my debts and putting a decent head and foot stone to my grave, I will the residue of my estate to be equally devided between the following named heirs; to wit. Susan Whiteman entermarried with Nicholas Clemens, Sarah Jane Whiteman entermarried with Sansum Patterson, Adeline and the heirs of my deceased daughter Eleanor Whiteman entermarried with John Kirk, thus deviding the estate into four equal parts after paying the first mentioned legacy to Adeline and Sarah Jane.



I appoint N. Bearly my executor to carry out the design of this my last will and testament.



In witness thereof, I Andrew Whiteman, the testator, have to this my will set my hand and seal this 14th day of July A. D. 1876, signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Andrew Whiteman as and for his last will and testament, in the presents of us who have hereto subscribed our names as witness thereto in the presents of said testator and each other.
Andrew Whiteman #*#
his X mark seal
N. B. Bookman
S. White
Commonwealth of Pennsylvanin, Washington County S. S.
Be it remembered that on this 25th day of August, 1882 before me, John F. Cooper Register for the Probate of Wills granting Letters of Administration within and for the said County, I csuse N. B. Brockman and S. White the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing attached will of Andrew Whiteman, deceased, who after being duly gratified according to law, depose and say that they were present at the execution of said will, saw the testor sign the same and heard him publish it as and for his last will and testament. That they at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribe their names thereto as witness.



Sworn and Subscribed before;



John F. Cooper / N. B Brockman



\



Register / S. White



And now August 25th A. D. 1882, It being adjudged that said will has been duly proved and N. Bearly Esq. the executor named in the will, having renounced Letters of Administration, c. t. a. are issued to N. B. Brockman who gave an approved bond and who was duly gratified by,



John F. Cooper



Register"



Bible Records for Andrew Whiteman, brother of Mathias.



"Records from the bible of Andrew Whiteman, (see will) published 1854 by Carlton and Phillips, 200 Mulberry St., NY, found in the attic of my cousin William R. Dennison of Washington, PA, who sent the bible to Patricia P. Williams, June 17, 1998. The bible measures 10x12x3'' and is now in the posession of Patricia P. Williams, 10304 Kingfisher Rd., Bradenton, FL, 34209. (16)



Births



Andrew Whiteman b April 19, 1795 (brother of Mathias)



Eleanor Whiteman b Oct 6, 1796 (wife of Andrew)



Eleanor Whiteman Kirk b October 6, 1824 (daughter of Andrew)



Susan Whiteman (Clemens) b May 27, 1829 (daughter of Andrew)



Sarah Jane Whiteman (Patterson) b December 15, 1832 (daughter of Andrew)



The next column, same page contains:



(Family of Eleanor Whiteman?)



Mary Dougherty b July 12, 1802



Charles Dougherty b May 11, 1806



Elizabeth Dougherty b December 12, 1808



Isabel Dougherty b April 21, 1811



John Dougherty b July 19, 1813



Bridget Dougherty b March 19, 1816



Michael Dougherty b January 30, 1819



Next page;



Births:



(Family of Adeline Whiteman aka Adeline Clemens)



Robert Graham Snodgrass, October 31, 1854, her husband



Adeline Snodgrass, June 1, 1856 (Adeline Whiteman or Clemens)



Matilda Snodgrass, December 19, 1880,



Susan Snodgrass, Aug 3rd, 1882



Jennie May Snodgrass, Sept. 3rd, 1884



Archie E. Snodgrass, July 29, 1889



Robert G. Snodgrass Jr.,May 21, 1893



Josephine A. Snodgrass, Oct 9 1897



Next entered page,



Deaths



Eleanor Kirk



Eleanor Whiteman, Feb 23, 1866 (wife of Andrew)



Andrew Whiteman, July 2, 1882



Sarah J. Patterson, Oct 13, 1893 (or could be incomplete, 8 making it 1898)(daughter of Andrew Whiteman)



Compilers note: Its been very difficult finding anything on this Whiteman line so I leave most to future compilers to untangle. Perhaps some time in the future more information will be available to pick up where this leaves off with Isaac the first known member. Have found no explanation for the Dougherty family births being listed on the initial page of the Whiteman bible other than Eleanor Whiteman possibly having the maiden name of Dougherty.



Notes for ELEANOR POSSIBLY DOUGHERTY WHITEMAN:



In 1850 census Charles Dougherty lived on the next farm which leads us to believe Dougherty might have been Eleanor Whiteman's maiden name.



Notes for JOHN KIRK, husband of Eleanor Whiteman, daughter of Andrew (niece of Mathias Whiteman): Will abstract of John Kirk. Donegal Twp., Washington Co. PA vol 5 p 372, Jun 6, 1837, probated Oct 3, 1837. Executor, son Isaac Kirk. Witnesses: David Frazier Esq.; Samuel Flack. Beneficiaries; sons Isaac Kirk, William Kirk, Alexander Kirk, Jesse Kirk, Thomas Kirk, Samuel Kirk, John Kirk; daughter, Sarah, wife of John Mills, Other: bound girl Elizabeth McNeal.



This would suggest that John and Eleanor Kirk had a sons Isaac, William, Alexander, Jesse, Thomas, Samuel and John Kirk. Then a daughter, Sarah Kirk Mills. He also left a legacy to Elizabeth, the bound girl.



From researcher Patricia Williams: "After 14 years of looking, as well as a cousin who lived in the area looking, I have very little. My mother was the child of Adeline Whiteman, who's mother was the daughter of Andrew Whiteman, son of Isaac. Adeline Clemens went by Whiteman because she was raised and lived with her grandfather Andrew, after her parents Susan Whiteman and Nicholas Clemens went to Iowa. After land they bought in Washington Co proved to be an illegal transaction, sold by a person with no title to sell, they moved. Susan and Nicholas had 7 more children after they homesteaded in Geneva, Franklin Co., Iowa. Susan Died in Iowa" (She included the following)(17):



Notes for SUSAN WHITEMAN, daughter of Andrew: THE HAMPTON CHRONICLE



Thurs, Sept. 7, 1899



"Geneva, Iowa: On last Sunday occured the death of Susan Clemens, wife of Nicholas Clemens, living two miles north of this place. Funeral services were held at the Four Mile Grove church at 2 o'clock on Monday conducted by Rev. Smith of Hansell. The remains were interred in the Geneva cemetery."



More information was received from Harley D. Clemens, Naperville IL, May 1998



"In about 1940 as a young teenager, I visited the Geneva and nearby Four Mile Grove Cemetery with an old man named Ezra Benson. He was born perhaps late 1850's and grew up on the farm next to Nick and Susan Clemens .He said that Susan spoke with an Irish accent and that she frequently smoked tobacco in a white clay pipe. She was an invilid in her later years. I dont know what her problem was. Catherine (Kate) Nicks, her sister, cared for her." Another early smoker! Was Catherine a sister or sister in law? ( Martha Jane , wife of Simeon Cline also supposedly smoked a clay pipe.)"At Four Mile Grove Cemetery nearby, there were many graves of sisters etc. of Nick Clemens and others with names such as Horn, Horner, Caldwell, Carbaugh, Crew, etc but at that time I could not comprehend the relationship."



More About SUSAN WHITEMAN: In 1858 removed to Iowa with husband Nicholas Clemens. Her Cemetery stone reads; Susan, wife of N. Clemens died Sept. 2, 1899, age 67 yrs.



Notes for NICHOLAS CLEMENS and Susan Whiteman:



Grandchildren of Andrew Whiteman



The Children of Nicholas and Susan Whiteman Clemens are:



Adeline Clemens, aka Adeline Whiteman ... 1856



Sarah E Clemens ... about 1859



Francis K. Clemens ... about 1863



Andrew Clemens ... 1865



James Clemens ... 1867



William Clemens ... 1870



George W. Clemens ... about 1873



Allison Clemens ... about 1877



Jesse Clemens ... 1889



This appears to be 33 years of child bearing! Susan died 10 years later. If she is in fact Jesse's mother, she would have been an unlikely 56 or 57. Nicholas was 78 in the 1900 census, so perhaps Jesse is a grandson. Something is wrong here.



The 1870 census shows Nicholas age 38 in Franklin Co. Geneva Twp. Iowa with Susan age 27 (note age descrepancy), Sarah E. age 11, Francis age 7, Andrew age 5, James age 3, and William age 5 mo



The 1880 census shows them as living in Franklin Co., Geneva Twp. Iowa, Nicholas age 48, Susan age 48, Sarah age 18, Francis age 16, Anderw age 13, James age 12, William age 10, George age 7, and Allison age 3. Again, the ages are off.



The 1895 State census found on film at Hampton Public Library on film;



Nicholas Clemens age 60, Susan age 58, Francis age 33, James age 27, Will age 24.



In the 1900 Federal census Clemens, Nicholas age 78, William C. age 30, James F. age 32, Jesse age 11 (b Feb 1889) In 1883 George W. Clemens was deceased.



Found in the History of Franklin Co. Iowa, 1883 p 353:



Among others who came to the township during the next ten years (1860's) were: Edward McClelland, N. Clemens, Henry Andrews, Henry Ihde, Isaac Appelby, James W. McDougle, Adam Knau and John G. Herbster. N. Clemens (Nicholas) is of German descent, born in Washington Co. PA, in 1833. There he grew to manhood, and was married in 1858 to Susan Whiteman, born in 1832. In 1862 they came to Franklin County and now live on section 2 in Geneva township. His farm consists of 240 acres, valued at $20 per acre. They have had seven children, six of them are now living - Sarah E., Francis K., Andrew, James, William, George W., (deceased) and Allison.



Adeline Clemans, aka Adeline Whiteman, first child of Susan and Nicholas Clemens remained in Washington Co. PA., 1870 census for Franklin Co. Iowa shows that Sarah E. and Francis Kelly Clemens had also been born in Washington Co. PA 1860 census shows Nicholas age 27 and Susan Clemen age 26 in Geneva Twp. Iowa with one child Sarah.



Descendants of Adeline Susan Clemens Whiteman, granddaughter of Andrew Whiteman



Adeline Susan WHITEMAN Clemens (or Clemens WHITEMAN) b: June 01, 1856 Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. died February 12, 1941 Moravia, Donegal Twp., Washington Co.,PA. Buried Claysville Cem, Claysville, PA, Sec. B, Lot 62. Adeline was raised by her grandparents, Andrew and Eleanor Whiteman, as Adeline Whiteman. Why?



Apparently because her parents could not take her with them when they fled to Iowa. It may be that the land deal that went awry had legal complications they could not deal with, or they may simply have needed a new start.



Adeline married on February 24, 1880 Robert Graham SNODGRASS, Sr., Born: October 31, 1854 in Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. He died March 29, 1937 Moravia, PA. at the advanced age of 83. He was the son of Samuel SNODGRASS and mother: Matilda LAMBORN; He was buried Claysville Cem, Claysville, PA, Sec. B, Lot 62. Adeline's daughter, Matilda Lamborn SNODGRASS was born ten months later on December 19, 1880 Claysville, Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA d: July 01, 1956 Washington, Washington Co., PA.



Matilda Snodgrass married William Reed Dennison, Sr. who was born in 1879 in Washington Co., PA. They married June 27, 1907 in Claysville, Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. William Dennison Sr died May 21, 1954 Washington Co., PA.



Another daughter of Adeline and Robert Snodgrass was Susan Bearley Snodgrass, born August 03, 1882 Claysville, Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. She died in 1974 in West Pittsburgh, Lawrence Co.,PA.



Susan Snodgrass married Jacob Russell Brodbeck, born July 23, 1877 in Lawrence Co. PA. They married on June 28,1903 in Claysville, PA when she was 21 and he was 26 . He died West Pittsburgh Lawrence County, They had a daughter, Jennie Mae Snodgrass, born September 03, 1884 in PA. Jennie Mae married John Wesley Ross, born about 1883, on July 4, 1903 . The fourth of July!



Archie Everett Snodgrass, son of Adeline Snodgrass, was born July 29, 1889 in Claysville, Washington Co., PA. He died: February 19, 1963 in New Castle, Lawrence Co., PA. He is



buried in Mahoningtown, PA.



"Railroading was Archies first love. Uncle Pat (Clarence A. Patterson) said he was very much like his father, quiet, reserved, friendly and a perfect gentleman" . (Comments by Maudress Snodgrass Errett). In 1912 he started work on B and O R.R. while living with sister, Susan Brodbreck.. Archie married Blanche Florene McMahan, born October 28, 1895 inWest Pittsburgh, Taylor Twp., Lawrence Co., PA. They married March 03, 1913 in Moravia, Lawrence Co., PA. She died September 21, 1988 Hartville, Stark Co., Ohio. Her parents were: Father: William Alexander McMahan, Mother: Clara Jane MILLER.



Adeline's son Robert Graham SNODGRASS, Jr. was born: May 21, 1893 in Washington Co., PA. He died October 23, 1937 in New Castle, Lawrence Co., PA.



Josephine Adeline SNODGRASS, Adeline's daughter, was born October 09, 1897 Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA Lived over 100 yrs.



Josephine Adeline Snodgrass married Clarence Arthur Patterson, Sr. born July 07, 1897 in New Castle, Lawrence Co., PA. They married April 19, 1924 when Josephine was 27 in Washington, Washington Co., PA. He died November 27, 1979 in Sun City Center, FL.. His parents were: Father: William Clendenin Patterson and Mother: Eda Liken Belles.



Note by Harley Clemens: By this time (1900 census) David's daughter Sarah had moved to Oregon, Eva L. Clemens married Simeon Boots, Francis Clemens returned from many years out west and soon married Lena Heeren. (Not sure who these people represent.)



Note by researcher Harley Clemens; "Jesse Clemens (son of Andrew Clemens) was staying with his grandfather temporarily.(Aha! So he was a grandson.) Mary Heeren (sister of Lena Heeren) married Cornelius Fisher and her younger brother George lived with them.



Fisher, Cornelius age 27, Mary (Herren) age 17, George Heard sp.(Herren) age 15



Copied from information passed on from James W. Clemens of Columbia Station, OH., through Harley D. Clemens of Naperville, IL."



File #859 Nicholas Clemens died intestate at Hansell, Iowa, Franklin County, on March 4,1902



Heirs at Law P.O. address Relationship Age



Sarah E. Simpson Thornton, IA daughter 55



Francis K. Clemens Barnesville, MN son 53



Andrew J. Clemens Mason City, IA son 50



James L. Clemens Dumont IA son 47



William C. Clemens Fivemile, WI son 44



Administrator - James L. Clemens



Letter from Harley D. Clemens: Naperville, IL



April 7, 1998



"Dear Patricia,



I am 73 years old and am a direct descendant of David and Mary Clemens in the following manner:



Gr-gr grandparents; David and Mary Magdalena buried Geneva, IA



Great grandparents; Nicholas and Susan Clemens, buried Geneva, IA



Grandparents; Francis Kelly and Lena, buried Dumont, IA



Parents; Harry Earl and Elizabeth now 93, buried Dumont, IA



I'm sending along information which may be of interest to you, Please tell me your age and how you think fit into this family. The name Adeline appears once in a while -- it seems she might have been a daughter of Susan Whiteman. But, this Adeline was born in the 1850's and probably not the same Adeline as your grandmother. If you need more information, let me know.



P.S. I have pictures of Nicholas Clemens but not of Susan Whiteman. Harley D. Clemens. Please let me know if you have pictures The Frances Clemens you wrote to is my uncle and a brother of Harry Earl Clemens."



pg 2



"More on Adeline -- My son Roger Clemens reviewed the records in the Washington County courthouse in Pennsylvania. He thinks Adeline was a first child of Nicholas and Susan Whiteman and that she stayed in Pennsylvania with her grandparents Whiteman when the parents went to Iowa. Also he found that the reason for moving to Iowa was that the land they were on in Washington, Co, just south of Pittsburgh was purchased from a crooked realtor and they did not have clear title. They were evicted from the land and went to Iowa where they homestead a beautiful farm near Geneva, Iowa. I grew up several miles from this farm.



Harley



May 3, 1998



Naperville, IL



More from our researcher Harley:



"Dear Patricia,



I am reviewing your letter of April 10, 1998 and no comments except that yes I would like a copy of pictures of your grandmother Adeline and husband Robert.



I am not keeping track of what I sent to you so don't be surprised if I send you something a second time. This time I am sending:



1. Picture of Nicholas (probably taken about 1890s) picture of tombstones - Nick and Susan and 2 young sons in Geneva, Iowa cemetery



2. Pictures tombstones in Geneva cemetery, David and Mary Magdaline Clemens. I took the pictures when I was a teenager in about 1939. The stones cracked and fell soon afterwards and are now in the shed at rear of cemetery.



3. Pictures of Francis, (Frank) and Lena Heeren Clemens with son Harry Earl - my father.



4. Pictures of Sarah, Andrew, Will and Jim. I had 2 pictures of Jim so am sending you an original photo taken in about 1938'.



p 2



"About our family;



I am sending you a picture of our family taken several months ago.



At the center myself and wife Ruth O'Kelly Clemens



Left side Son Martin and wife Joyce with children Elizabeth, Jeffrey and



baby Mitchell



Center rear Son Daniel and wife Kyle - no children



Right rear Son Roger and wife Andi with children Ryan and Erik



Education;



My father Harry Earl 7 years country school



Mother Elizabeth Bessie same



Me, Harley BS mechanical engineering, Iowa State



Son, Martin same Purdue



son Roger on same Univ. of IL



son Daniel BS vocational education Northern IL



wife Ruthe BA education Univ. of IA



Daughters-in-law all have college degrees



"I worked all my life with a large engineering company (Sargent & Lundy) designing power plants. My sons Martin and Roger work in nuclear power plants and Dan is in charge of power plant at college of DuPage so you can see we all have similar aptitudes and interests. My wife Ruth taught school (Jr High) for 20 years"



About brothers and sisters of Adeline; Sarah - the four brothers Frank, Jim, Will and Andrew always refered to her as their big sister who took care if them. She married a successful farmer."



'Frances (Frank) Clemens - He left home when about 18 to work out west on the railroad. I think he saved his money. At the age of 35 he married Lena Heerne (only 16) and my father Harry Earl was born in 1899. He moved to Bainesville, MN and was a successful farmer. He returned to Dumont IA in 1920 to retire."



James (Jim) Clemens - an average farmer near Dumont, IA; William (Will) - and average farmer in Wisconsin; Andrew (Andy) - first farmer then real estate trader. I remember all of these since I visited them frequently when I was a child



"About James Clemens - Jim Clemens and wife Mary Carberry lived on a farm about 2 miles from my home in Dumont, IA. They had the following children; Forrest - a highly successful business man. He was the Caterpillar tractor dealer in Cincinnati, OH. His son James W. researched the Clemens family in Washington County, PA. I am sending as a separate group of papers he sent me 40 years ago.



Louis - a farmer



Donald - a farmer



John - Had a successful business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, manufacturing umbrellas for farm tractors. "



"Shortly before I was drafted into the army in 1943 at the age of 19, I went out to the farm and visited with Mary Carberry Clemens and received a lot of papers which Nick and Susan left to James Clemens. She also had a large bible which belonged to David and Mary Magdelene Clemens. At the front it listed all their children and their birth dates. I think David and Mary were illiterate so I wonder who wrote this information. Shortly after my visit the house burned to the ground and all was lost."



"Final notes. Your questions have caused me to go back and review this subject which I dropped many years ago for the following reasons;



1. I was never sure of the reliability of information on ancestors past David and Mary Magdelene.



2. I believe that the first Clemens came from an area in Germany called the Palatinate, just north of Switzerland. My grandfather Frances (Frank) Kelly Clemens used to tell me that his family was "Pennsylvania Dutch" and some still spoke German although he could not. In spite of this some of my relations insisted that I should determine that we were related to Mark Twain. This was silly because Mark Twain came from an English line of Clemens.



The name Clemens is of Latin origin and means "merciful". Out word clemency comes from this. There were several popes named Clemens. As the Romans conquered Europe and Britain they gave the name Clemens to groups who were especially peaceable. This occurred in Switzerland, Germany, France and England."



"Also --



You might try to contact James W. Clemens. I don't know if he still lives in Columbia Station, Ohio. I haven't had any contact with him in about 40 years. (Talked to my sister Glenora tonight and she said James W. is dead.)" *



Sent by Ken Kothe, Alexander, Franklin Co., IA:



Copied from cemetery records at Hampton Library, Franklin Co., IA



Linwood Cemetery, Geneva, Iowa



# 81 Enter north gate and Clemens lot is a little southeast.



(Copied from records at Hampton Library)



Father and Mother stones



Clemens Nickolas died Jan. 4, 1902 aged 70 years



Susan wife of N. Clemens died Sept. 2, 1899 aged 67



(Cemetery book says Susan died 1879. Stone clearly reads 1899 Correct spelling is Nicholas.)



George W. Clemens died Jan 1, 1882 aged 9 years 19 days



Allison B. Clemens died March 301889 aged 11 years 10 mo. 7 days



Children of N. and S. Clemens



(Cemetery book says George's (George W. Clemens) age at death was 9 yrs. 19 days. Stone clearly reads 9 yrs 19 days.)



Just east of Nicholas and Susan are David and Mary Clemens.



Also buried in Linwood Cemetery;



Clemens



Father -- David M. 19 Oct. 1854 -- August 8, 1908



Mother -- Harriet S. 10 Sept. 1843 -- 22 Feb. 1908



Perry L. __ 28 Nov. 1868 __ 1 April 1918



More About NICHOLAS CLEMENS:



Fact 1: About. 1855, Married Susan Clemens aka Whiteman



Fact 2: 1862, Removed to Geneva Township, Iowa



Fact 3: 1902, Stone at grave reads; Nicholas Clemens died Mar. 4, 1902 aged 70 yrs



Fact 4: Possible middle initial "C"?



Fact 5: Occupation, farmer



One request for information on the Internet read as follows:



"Need to know who actual birthparents of Adeline Clemens raised as Adeline Whiteman were.....can anybody help? Descendants anxious to learn which genetic lines to trace.



1 David CLEMENS b: Abt 1795 d: Abt 1855 Donegal, Washington Co. Pennsylvania. (Of the Germanic Clemens family of Washington Co. as opposed to the English Clemens family.) +Mary Barbara FELTY b: 1798 m: 1820 d: Donegal, Washington Co., PA 2 Nicholas CLEMENS b: Abt 1833 Washington Co PA. d: March 04, 1902 Geneva, Iowa (Was he previously married?) +Susan WHITEMAN b: Abt 1830 Washington Co. PA. m: October 22, 1858 Claysville, Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. d: Abt 1925 Washington Co. PA. 1914 Returned to Washington Co. to spend the rest of her life. Father: Andrew WHITEMAN Mother: Eleanor ? 3 Adeline CLEMENS b: June 01, 1856 Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. d: February 12, 1941 Moravia, PA. Buried Claysville Cem, Claysville, PA, Sec. B, Lot 62. Adeline was raised by her grandparents, Andrew and Eleanor, as Adeline Whiteman. +Robert Graham SNODGRASS, Sr. b: October 31, 1854 Donegal Twp., Washington Co., PA. d: March 29, 1937 Moravia, PA. Buried Claysville Cem, Claysville, PA, Sec. B, Lot 62. Father: Samuel SNODGRASS Mother: Matilda LAMBORN



By now the reader may be tired of this little side trip in the history of Mathias Whiteman. But there are still siblings to review. These people are also blood relatives of ours, and their travels and marriages affect our lineage.



Before we go to Mathias Whiteman, our ancestor, information on his brother Isaac Whiteman is in order.



As stated earlier, Isaac Whiteman married Eleanor (BAUGHMAN) MAUGHAMAN



Married in the area now Washington Co., PA . Their son Isaac Jr.Whiteman, brother of our Mathias Whiteman, was born about1820, and died in 1901. Isaac "Jr." WHITEMAN, wed spouse Sarah Ann BEDILLION on December 20, 1840, in Washington Co., PA



The Children of Isaac and Sarah were:



Christian B. (1841-1843)



Mathias J. (1843-1904)



Eleanor "Ellen" (1845-1931)



Mary Jane (1848-1879)



Elsie Margaret (1850-1909)



John Bearley (1852-1938)



Susannah (1855-)



Sarah Elizabeth (1859-1930)



Phoebe Brockman (1861-1938)



Here is a matter of interest. Mathias John Whiteman, son of Isaac (probably named after his brother) married a Ruhanna "Ruey" Shepherd on April 12, 1869 in Wetzel Co., WV. He had a second spouse, Elsa, "Alice" Newberry Our Mathias named one of his children Ruhanna. And there is that name "Bearly" again.



The children of Mathias John Whiteman are:



John Marshall "Marsh" Whiteman (1828-1922)



Phoebe Hannah Whiteman (~1830-)



Elvira Whiteman (~1834-)



Robert W. Whiteman (1836-1900)



Here is a lineage of Mathias John Whiteman from Rootsweb.com: Be prepared, it is repitious. Just skim through the names, and check out the line. Generations are repeated, so do not be confused.



Ahnentafel, Generation No. 1



1. Mathias John WHITEMAN was born 27 Jul 1843. He was the son of 2. Isaac WHITEMAN and 3. Sarah Ann BEDILLION. He married Mary E. RYAN in Razortown, Wash. PA



Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2



2. Isaac WHITEMAN (father of Mathias John) was born 1 Mar 1820 in Canton Twp. Wash. Co, Razortown, PA, and died 1901 in Beham, Wash. Co. PA. He was the son of 4. Isaac WHITEMAN and 5. Eleanor MAUGHAMAN.



3. Sarah Ann BEDILLION was born Aug 1821, and died Nov 1890. She was the daughter of 6. Phillip BEDILLION and 7. Christianna Barbara NYE.



Children of Sarah Ann BEDILLION and Isaac WHITEMAN are: i. Christian B. WHITEMAN was born 1841 in Razortown, Wash. Co PA, and died 1843 in Wash. PA.



1. ii. Mathias John WHITEMAN was born 27 Jul 1843. He married Mary E. RYAN in Razortown, Wash. PA.



iii. Eleanor WHITEMAN was born 15 Aug 1845. She married Thomas RYAN 1867 in Washington Co. PA.



iv. Mary Jane (Molly or Martha) WHITEMAN was born 13 Mar 1848, and died 16 Mar 1879 in see notes.



v. Elsie Margret WHITEMAN was born 1 Feb 1850 in Majorsville,, WV, and died 19 Mar 1909 in Washington,, PA. She married William K. JONES 31 Dec 1872 in Enon Baptist Church, Washington, PA. He was born 2 Jun 1848 in Simpson Store, Washington Co., PA.



vi. John Bearley WHITEMAN was born 29 Dec 1852, and died 1938. He married Margret J. HERTZOG, daughter of Solomon HARDSOCK and Sarah Ann UNKNOWN. She was born 1853, and died 1936.



vii. Susanna WHITEMAN was born 5 May 1855. She married Josiah G. DINSMORE. viii. Sarah (Sadie) Elizabeth WHITEMAN was born 20 May 1859, and died 1930. She married Collin NEWLAND.



ix. Phoebe Brockman WHITEMAN was born 23 Sep 1861, and died 1938. She married Andrew EWING.



x. Abby M WHITEMAN was born 1850.



Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3



4. Isaac WHITEMAN was born 1764 in Washington County,, PA, and died 1823.



5. Eleanor MAUGHAMAN was born 7 Mar 1766 in Washington county,, PA.



Children of Eleanor MAUGHAMAN and Isaac WHITEMAN are: i. Matthias John WHITEMAN was born 1797 in Twp. of Finley, Wash. Co. PA. He married Elsa "Alice" NEWBERRY Abt 1820. He married Ruhanna SHEPHERD 12 Apr 1869 in Wetzel Co, WVA. ii. Hester (Ester) WHITEMAN was born 1800. She married George DAVIS.



iii. Susan WHITEMAN was born 1803.



iv. John B. WHITEMAN was born 1809. He married Jane JOHNSON Abt 1860 in Wetzel Co, WVA.



2. v. Isaac WHITEMAN was born 1 Mar 1820 in Canton Twp. Wash. Co, Razortown, PA, and died 1901 in Beham, Wash. Co. PA. He married Sarah Ann BEDILLION 20 Dec 1840, daughter of Phillip BEDILLION and Christianna Barbara NYE. She was born Aug 1821, and died Nov 1890.



vi. Andrew WHITEMAN was born 19 Apr 1795 in Washinton co., and died 2 Jul 1882 in Donnegal wp, Wash. PA. He married Eleanor UNKNOWN. She was born 17906. Phillip BEDILLION was born 1785 in Londonderry Twp, Dauphin Co. PA, and died 14 Mar 1857 in Canton Twp. Washington Co. PA. He was the son of 12. Abraham BEDILLION and 13. Elizabeth WEIRICH.



7. Christianna Barbara NYE was born 12 Oct 1783, and died 1867.



Children of Christianna Barbara NYE and Phillip BEDILLION are:3. i. Sarah Ann BEDILLION was born Aug 1821, and died Nov 1890. She married Dec 1840, son of Isaac WHITEMAN and Eleanor MAUGHAMAN. He was born 1 Mar 1820 in Canton Twp. Wash. Co, Razortown, PA, and died 1901 in Beham, Wash. Co. PA.



ii. Elizabeth BEDILLION was born 1806.



iii. Peter BEDILLION was born 1807.



iv. William James BEDILLION was born 1810, and died 20 Feb 1895 in Mt. Pleasant, Wash. Co. PA.



v. Phillip BEDILLION was born 1811, and died Aft 1836 in Black Partridge Twp. Woodford.



vi. Susanna BEDILLION was born 1812.



vii. Daniel BEDILLION.



viii. David BEDILLION.



ix. Jonathan BEDILLION was born 22 May 1818 in Canton Twp. Washington Co. PA, and died 1907 in Franklin Twp. Wash. Co PA.



x. Margaret Jane BEDILLION was born 26 Aug 1823, and died 2 Feb 1918.



xi. Jacob W. BEDILLION was born 10 Oct 1826, and died 21 Jan 1917.



xii. May Jane BEDILLION was born 1830.



Ahnentafel, Generation No. 4



12. Abraham BEDILLION was born 1757,and died 18 Jul 1827 in Canton Twp. Wash. Co PA.



13. Elizabeth WEIRICH was born 1756, and died 24 Mar 1838 in Canton, Wash. CO. PA.



Children of Elizabeth WEIRICH and Abraham BEDILLION are:6. i. Phillip BEDILLION was born 1785 in Londonderry Twp, Dauphin Co. PA, and died 14 Mar 1857 in Canton Twp. Washington Co. PA. He married Christianna Barbara NYE 1805. She was born 12 Oct 1783, and died 1867.



ii. Jacob BEDILLION was born 1787.



iii. Elizabeth BEDILLION was born 1787, and died Bef 1830 in Hopewell, TWP. Wash. Co. PA.



iv. Anna Barbara BEDILLION was born 1789.



v. Catherine BEDILLION was born Abt 1793, and died 10 Sep 1868.



vi. Abraham (Jr) BEDILLION was born Abt 1795, and died Abt 1860 in Wheeling Creek Valley, Ohio Co. WV.



vii. Susanna BEDILLION died 8 May 1878 in Canton, Stark Co. OH.



viii. Mary BEDILLION.



Now you can see where information comes from when other researchers compile records and make it available to others.







Mathias Whiteman, Son of Isaac Whiteman. Our Ancestor



WE fnally reach our ancestor, Mathias Whiteman!



MATHIAS WHITEMAN was born in Greene Co., PA, (Washington County was the parent county of Greene) and died September 10, 1880 in Hamilton Co., IA. He married LYDIA GOODEN. She was born April 05, 1824 in Loudenville, Richland Co, OH, and died November 30, 1907 in IA .



The Children of MATHIAS WHITEMAN and LYDIA GOODEN are:



Calvin Leo Whiteman ... 1844



Amanda Elizabeth Whiteman ... 1845



Mary Jane Whiteman ... 1848



John F. Whiteman ... 1849



Sarah Ellen Whiteman ... 1852



William Riley Whiteman ... 1856



Albert Ransom Whiteman ... 1859



Ruhama (Hattie) Whiteman ... 1860



George Samuel Whiteman ... 1863



Celestia Alwilda Whiteman ... 1866



I. (M) Calvin Leo Whiteman was born in 1844, in OH. He died 1884; II. (F) Amanda Elizabeth Whiteman as born. March 22, 1845, and died in 1883. III .(F) Mary Jane Whiteman was born in 1848 in Ohio, and died in 1932. IV.(M) John F. Whiteman was born in 1849, OH. And died ? V. (F) Sarah Ellen Whiteman was born January 30, 1852 in Indiana. She died ?. She married a Henderson. VI.(M) William Riley Whiteman was born in 1856. He married Mary J. Atkinson, born. July 03, 1878 in Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa. He died August 15, 1921 VII. (M) Albert Ransom Whiteman, born. MARCH 11, 1859, in Schuyler, IL. He died January 6, 1920 in PINE BLUFFS WYO.viii.(f) Ruhama Whiteman , b. 1860. Schuyler Co., Illinois. ix (M) George Samuel Whiteman, born June 23, 1863, and died Dec 4 1936. x (f) Celestia Alwilda Whiteman, born March 17, 1866, in Marion Co., IL., died young.



Another find was the Obituary for John Whiteman



RICHLAND SHIELD AND BANNER: 01 June 1895, Vol. LXXVIII, No. 3 "John Whiteman, aged 92 years, died last night at his home on South Adams Street. He was one of the pioneers of Richland County." This is the county where Lydia Gooden was born, so this is possibly a Whiteman relative of ours. He would have been born in 1802. Quite possibly Mathias Whiteman's brother John, whom we show as born in 1809. But remember, those mistakes by the census takers and some researchers. Still there are a number of John Whitemans.



Notes for MATHIAS WHITEMAN:



Census Place: Marion, Hamilton, Iowa 1880(18)



Source: FHL Film 1254342 National Archives Film T9-0342 Page 268A



Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace



Mathias WHITEMAN Self M M W 65 PA



Occ: Farmer Fa: MD Mo: NY



Lyddia WHITEMAN Wife F M W 56 OH



Occ: Keeping House Fa: PA Mo: OH



George WHITEMAN Son M S W 18 IL



Occ: Works On Farm Fa: PA Mo: OH



Celestia WHITEMAN Dau F S W 14 IA



Note that this census agrees with the 1814 birth year for Mathias Whiteman.



A notation from the records of Civil War Soldiers Buried In Hamilton County, found on Iowa county Genweb site.



STRATFORD CEMETERY



Mathias Whiteman, L, 62nd Ill. Inf. This is our Mathias.



Our Mathias Whiteman was born January 1, 1814 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. He married Lydia Margaret Gooden in Loudenville, Ohio June 8, 1843. He was 10 years her senior, he being 29 and she only 19. The rnarriage certificate was acknowledged by Albert Whiteman.(19) (The name Albert is obviously a family name. Who was this Albert?) When Lydia and Mathias took out their marriage license they had to swear they were not first cousins, and that neither had been married before. There is a copy of the marriage license in file.



Mathias and Lydia Whiteman are the parents of George Samuel Whiteman, who married Cora Edith Sprague. These are our direct ancestors.







Mathias Whiteman was a Civil War veteran. He enlisted at the same time his son, 18 year old Calvin Whiteman, did. Mathias was captured and was in prison as a POW. We have the pension records on file. Both he and Calvin applied for pensions. Mathias was injured in the war, and so was Calvin. Mathias is described as having Black hair and blue eyes, and 5 feet 11 inches tall. More: Mathias had chronic rheumatism.



Calvin Leo Whiteman, son of Mathias Whiteman, married first a woman named Lovey. Lovey Whiteman died May 12, 1873. His second wife was Mrs. Laura E. Cornell, (widow of George Cornell who died Nov 1, 1874 at Hooker's Point, Iowa) born in 1848. They wed June 27, 1875. She had been a widow for seven months, he a widower for one year and six months. Calvin died October 2, 1884, in Freemont, Dodge County, Nebraska. Laura Cornell Whiteman was also married to a Gilbert Winnett after being widowed for 17 years.



While researching the family line in Nebraska for the Siders family, we found the burial place of C. L. Whiteman, probably Calvin Leo.C L Whiteman. It said: Co I. 62nd Ill Inf . And nearby were two Whiteman graves:



Harry Earl Whiteman wife, Nellie Irene Whiteman



20 July 1900 17 Oct 1935 1 Dec 1896 3 May 1974



.This was RIDGE CEMETERY - Fremont Nebraska 68025 west edge of Fremont, Nebraska at the



west end of Linden Avenue.



Lovey and Calvin Whiteman had a daughter, Mary Jane Whiteman. She was born January 25, 1873. Lovey Whiteman died the following May.



Calvin's children with Laura were Harvey Whiteman, born March 16, 1876; Fred C. Whiteman, born March 25, 1878; and Rosey Pearl Whiteman, born August, 1882. Isn't that a pretty name? "Rosey Pearl" Rosey was only two when her father died. Laura then married Gilbert Winnette, on March 20, 1908 at Union College, Nebraska. He died Feb 10, 1910 at Marshall Town, Iowa.



Children of Calvin Whiteman



Mary Jane Whiteman ..1873



Harvey Whiteman ... 1876



Fred C. Whiteman ... 1878



Rosey Pearl Whiteman ... 1882



Lydia and Mathias Whiteman had 5 girls and 5 boys. Two children died in childhood. George Samuel (more later), Calvin Whiteman (listed above) was born in 1844 in Ohio, and died Oct 2, 1884 at age 40. Married twice, once to Lovey ?, and later to Mrs. Laura Cornell. He joined the army the same day as his father during the Civil War.; Rhuanna Happie (Hattie) Whiteman, was born in 1848 in Marshalltown, IA and who married George Larson; John F Whiteman was born about 1850 in Humansville, Missouri; Bill (William) R Whiteman was born about 1852 in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Mary J. Whiteman was born in 1849 in Ohio; Amanda E Whiteman was born in 1846 in Ohio; Albert Ransom Whiteman, was born March 11, 1859 in Illinois, and married Celia Bloom (born May 15, 1873 - died Feb. 3, 1921) on April 14, 1891 in Lehigh, Webster, Iowa. He married Laura E. Retalick as a second wife. Albert is buried in Pine Bluffs, Laramie, Wyoming.; and Celestia Ana Awilda.



Mary Jane Whiteman, daughter of Calvin Whiteman, married Cyrus W. Siders Sept 28, 1869 in Marion Co., Iowa. Her children were Walter, Myrtle and Wesley Siders. ages 9, 8 and 6 in the 1880 census. We located Mary Jane and Cyrus (probably Wesley) Siders burial places in RIDGE CEMETERY - Fremont Nebraska (20)



RIDGE CEMETERY - Fremont Nebraska 68025 west edge of Fremont, Nebraska at the



west end of Linden Avenue.



Other Siders found in this cemetery are:



.Viola Estella Siders, daughter of Andrew & Mahala Siders



died 11 Nov 1881 23 yr 10 mo 11 days



Walter Raleigh Siders



4 Dec 1870 25 Oct 1940



Mahala Siders Ralph Emerson Siders



1818 - 1895 25 Nov 1889 2 Apr 1919



Mary E Siders, wife of F M Siders



27 Oct 1860 30 Nov 1911



Cyrus Wesley Siders Mary Siders, wife of C W Siders



22 Apr 1843 17 Apr 1917 GAR 1847 - 1939



This shows the birth date of Mary Jane to be 1847, our records state 1849. Either may be correct. We do not know how Cyrus and Mary Jane came to be in Fremont, Nebraska at the time of their deaths. There are other Sider family members buried nearby; they may have moved to Nebraska to be near his family.



Children of Mary Jane Whiteman and Cyrus Siders:



Walter Siders (see above re gravesite) ... 1870 or 1871 in census



Myrtle Siders ... 1872



Wesley Siders ... 1874



These were the great grandchildren of Mathias Whiteman.



If Walter Raleigh Siders is the son of Cyrus and Mary Siders, which he probably is, then he died at age 70 and is buried near his parents.



Upon further investigation, we discover that Walter R. Siders, born December 4, 1871 in Marion, Iowa, and died October 25, 1940 in Omaha Nebraska married Ethel Vinata Sparks on December 26, 1904. He was about 33, and she was born in 1879, so she was about 25.



The Children of Walter Raleigh Siders and Ethel Sparks Siders were



:Siders, Walter Raleigh ... 1906



male born January 13, 1906



Siders, Bernard Whiteman ... 1908,



Died 1911, only about 3 years old. (This basically proves the Whiteman connection).



Bernard was born 19 AUG 1908 in Pocatello, Idaho and died July 13, 1911 in Salt Lake



Siders, Carol Knox ... 1916. She died in 1991.



From a KNOX researcher on the internet, this information was found:



Carol Knox (b. 1916 Pocatello ID d. 1991 Medford OR)



To make it complete, they included the lineage of Carol Knox Siders in relation to their family. Here, from James Thomas Rolls, is that information. Note how many locations these people lived in!.



"James Knox (born in County Antium Ireland and emmigrated to Charlston about 1761) married Elizabeth Craig. They had 12 children, one of whom was John Knox. John Knox (born in County Antium Ireland died in 1818 in Pulaski County Kentucky). He married Elizabeth Eoff in 1789 in Madison County Kentucky. One of their children, Mary Knox (born in 1788?, died in 1874 in San Saba County, Texas) married Joel Coffey (born. 1790 - from Daingerfield, TX - died in 1850 in Idaho) in Kentucky.



Mary Knox and Joel Coffey also had twelve children, one of whom was Cyrus Coffey (born in 1825 in Alabama and died in 1866 in San Saba TX). Cyrus married Mary Ann Matilda Gibson (born in 1827 in Washington Co. Arkansas and died in 1908 in Lampasas TX) in 1852.



Cyrus and Mary Gibson Coffey had six children, one of whom was Alice Eugenia Coffey (born in 1853 in Daingerfield, Tx and died in 1932 in American Falls ID). Alice married Thomas Sparks (born 1841 in Tuscaloosa MS died in 1892 in Pocatello ID) in 1870 Lampasas, TX.



Alice and Thomas Sparks had some children, one of whom was Ethel Vinata Sparks (born in 1879 in Lampasas, TX and died . about 1963 in Medford OR). Ethel married Walter Siders (born 1871 in Marion LA and died in 1940 in Omaha NE) sometime in 1904. They had three children:Walter Raleigh (b. 1906, d. ?); Bernard Whiteman (b. 1908 d. 1911); Carol Knox (b. 1916 Pocatello ID d. 1991 Medford OR)



"Carol Knox Siders was my mother. My father, James Woodrow Rolls (b. 1918 Paradise CA d. 1989 Medford OR) was a friend of Paul Sparks (not certain where he comes in - apparently a cousin of Carol) and served in WWII with him. They both settled in or around Medford, OR, where Paul introduced Carol to my father.



I was born 1954 as one of triplets - William David, Robert Jonathan, and your's truly, James Thomas Rolls. My mother wanted me to keep the Knox name through the kids, but it never happened!" So we see that Carol Knox Siders, great granddaughter of Mathias Whiteman, Married James Woodrow Rolls. They lived on the West Coast, in California and Oregon, so our family descendants are getting closer together. Many of the Whiteman family live on the west coast today.



Walter Siders born 1906, married Helen Day Smith, born in 1910. They had a child named Cyrus Siders. He was obviously named for his grandfather.



John F. Whiteman, brother of George Samuel Whiteman, married Anabeth E. ? from Virginia. Their children were Marvin Whiteman, b 1874 and Clyde Whiteman, b 1878; Richard who married Ida Williams (no children); Jack Whiteman who married Ona Black (no children); Lora Whiteman married a Mr. McPherson. She had a son named Ted McPherson. She was married twice. This would be the great uncle of our Marvin Whiteman, son of Ivan.



In 2003, Marvin and Anne Whiteman, while on vacation, inadvertently found the grave of Clyde Whiteman and his wife Anna Whiteman, (second marriage? Or is Anna short for Anabeth?) buried in Clinton, Missouri. Driving through Evergreen Cemetery, (and being in the area to look at vacation spots), they came upon a red granite headstone shining out in the sunlight. They took a picture and discovered it was of a relation!



.WHITEMAN, Anna - b: Jul 29 1883 - d: Dec 22 1954 - sp: Clyde WHITEMAN - 71Y - bur: Dec 24 1954 Blk:411.5 Lot:0483.75 Gr:11



WHITEMAN, Clyde - b: Feb 18 1878 Boone Co, IA - d: Aug 17 1957 Benton Co, MO - sp: Anna - bur: Blk:411.5 Lot:0483.75 Gr:12



Children of John F. Whiteman and Anabeth E Whiteman



Marvin Whiteman ... 1874



Clyde Whiteman ... 1878



Jack Whiteman ... ?



Lora Whiteman







William R. Whiteman's obituary appeared in the Lehigh Iowa Argus newspaper. Sept. 1, 1921: He was born near Peoria, Illinois, July 24, 1855, died age 66 years, 22 days at Webster City, Iowa. (Hamilton County - 20 miles east of Fort Dodge.) He was ill for two years and had a stroke that spring.



In Dayton, Iowa in 1888, he married Mary J. Atkinson and had two children. H. E. Whiteman (Is this Harry Earl Whiteman?) of Webster City and Mrs. C. E. Petersen, whose husband was a junior proprietor of the Lehigh Argus. William's parents, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. He is survived by two children and two grandchildren; two brothers, George Whiteman of Corbin, Missouri and John Whiteman of Purdy, Missouri; and four sisters: Mrs. L. M. Larson (This would be Hattie or Happy Whiteman) of LaMoille, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Siders (Is this sister Mary Jane Whiteman?) of Fremont, Nebraska; Mrs. Clarence Tyson (Celesta Alwilda Whiteman) of Brownsville, Oregon; and Mrs. Ellen Henderson (this would be Sarah Ellen Whiteman) of Pittsburgh, Kansas. William came to Iowa with his parents, at 13 years near Pleasantville later to farm northeast of Stratford, Iowa to the present Nels Erickson place. He went to Texas as a young man, returned to Hooks Point, and to Lehigh, Iowa in 1879 and was a blacksmith for a number of years then went to Webster City, Iowa in 1896 and was a blacksmith there. (William R. was brother of George Samuel Whiteman)



William R. and Mary J. Atkinson Whiteman's children were



H. E. Whiteman



C. E. Whiteman



An article in the Fort Dodge newspaper said that Mary J. Whiteman was granted a divorce from William Whiteman in December, 1895.



A William R. Whiteman, married to Nancy, was the father of a man named Granville Whiteman. This family could connect with ours as they were in Kansas. At this point we don't know. I only mention this because it is worth pursuing for future researchers.



WHITEMAN, Granville M. Was born in 1860, in Ohio. He married Ada L. Applegate,



1888. Noted events in his life were:



Residence, 1880, Walnut, Crawford County, Kansas. 1101 living with his parents. Occupation, 1880, Walnut, Crawford County, Kansas. where he helps on the farm.



Residence, 1930, Harvey, Cowley County, Kansas.



Occupation, 1930, Harvey, Cowley County, Kansas. a farmer.



The following article, found on the Internet, shows that this Whiteman family had names similar to those in ours ... Albert, Charles, William. Of course, lots of families used those same names. Note that their William R. (Albeit Rapier) married a Mary J (albeit McFarland).



Ada and Granville Whiteman



My grandfather. Granville Moody Whiteman, and his brothers, Albert Leroy, Charles (Charlie) and William Elmer all settled in Cowley County, in what is known as the Upper Timber Creek community, in the northeast corner of the county. Except for Elmer, who never married, they raised their families in that community, within a few miles of each other and their children attended the Upper Timber Creek rural grade school.



Their father, William Rapier Whiteman, had two marriages. His first wife, Mary J. McFarland, was the mother of Martha Ann, Albert Leroy,, Granville Moody and another daughter, Althea J. (Allie). After Mary died, he married Nancy Elizabeth Applegate. Children of his second marriage were Jennie M., Benjamin Franklin, Charles Edward, Levi D. William Elmer. and Annie Laura.



All his children except Annie Laura were born before he moved to Kansas. William Rapier Whiteman's first location in Kansas was in the vicinity of Walnut, Kansas in Crawford, County.



Plot for the Upper Timber Creek Friends Church was donated by Orville John Whiteman, son of Granville Moody, and Orville's wife, Alberta Calvin Whiteman. Alberta had come to the community to teach the rural school there, her first position after graduating from High School in Winfield and receiving her credentials to teach in a rural school. It was there that she met Orville and after having taught the eight month school term, she and Orville were married in May of that year. They lived all their married life on their farm, adjoining the school and the church after it was located on the land they donated for that purpose Their children attended and graduated from the eight years of grade school there, before three of them went on to graduate from the high school in Atlanta.



After the church was made available (before this, services were held in the school house) then a parsonage was also put there. I know that at least part of this parsonage had formerly been a part of Charlie and Mary Whiteman's house. Mary was a sister to Jennie Parker, who lived in the community, also. She was the wife of George Parker. Their children attended Grand Center school, not far from Upper Timber Creek school. With larger families and less transportation, school districts were smaller and closer together in this period.



There is still land owned and in some cases lived on, that was a part of the property of the very early settlers of this time, including some of the Whitemans. A granddaughter and grandson of Charlie and Mary Whiteman, a widow of a grandson of Granville and Ada Whiteman, and a grandson of theirs as well, also land owned by a grand daughter.



My grandparents' house is no longer standing and there is little to remind me of how it used to be except the rose bushes (not really as they used to be) which will always be a part of my fond memories. My grandmother, Ada Lucinda Applegate Whiteman, always picked a bouquet of roses for her visitors before they left. However, she would never pick a stem which had a bud on it, and as a child, I could never understand that because the bushes were profuse with blooms. Since we lived maybe a half mile from their house, we children would often walk up the hill and visit. She always fixed us a snack before we left and then walk down the road with us. I thought it was a wonderful `grandmotherly' act and thoroughly enjoyed it every time. As a adult, I now understand why she walked with us - to get the snack, often Karo syrup on a thick slice of homemade bread, with her own churned butter- out of the house before we `dripped' on her kitchen floor.



There was a catalpa tree in the front yard. Since we did not have any of that kind of tree in our yard, its blooms and long `bean like' pods were something special to play with when we were there. When I went to see her without my brother and sisters, she always fried potatoes and made chocolate pudding for our lunch. It is a `comfort' food for me to this day.



My grandfather had a one seated model `T' ford and since at that time, I was the oldest granddaughter, it was my chore to ride to town with him when he went to get groceries. ( I don't know what I could contribute but I do know I have vivid memories of those trips.) The supply of gas for the motor was controlled by a lever on the steering wheel. That lever was never moved, so the speed was lessened by applying the brake rather than adjusting the lever. This means we went uphill and down, around corners, etc. with the same flow of gas, but our speed was lessened by application of the brake. In fact, we were stopped by a strong push on the brake. Fortunately since we were never going very fast ever, we were never in serious peril.by Helen Renz



Granddaughter of Granville and Ada Whiteman



This story is included only to help future researchers in the event they do "connect up.'



Amanda E. Whiteman married Thomas B Storts June 4, 1865 in Union, Marion, Iowa. In the 1880 census she was living with Thomas, a farmer, and she was a homemaker. Their children were Andrew L; age 13 who worked on the farm; Emma E; age 10; Effy, age 10; Camy, age 7; Florence, age 5; Orpha, age two months. Her brother, Albert Whiteman, was living with them in the 1880 census, which showed Thomas Stortes as HOH and Andrew as a Bro-in-law. Andrew was 23 and a The younger children were in school.



Children of Amanda E. Whiteman Storts, sister of George Samuel Whiteman, and Thomas B. Storts



Andrew L. Storts



Emma E Storts



Effy Storts



Camy Storts



Florence Storts



Orpha Storts



Happie, Hattie and Rhuanna are probably all the same person.



Ana Awilda is also named Celestia Ana Alwida Whiteman in one source. She married a Tyson. This should be the Clarence Tyson mentioned in her brother's obituary. The only Celestia Whiteman we found married Isaac Pitcher.



Celestia Ana Alwida Tyson of Clearwater, Antelope County, Nebraska, signed an affidavit for pension stating she is the daughter of Lydia and Mathias Whiteman. On February 2, 1903, Lydia was living with and cared for by her daughter, Hattie Larson.



In the 1850 Census, Mathias Whiteman was living in Morris Township, age 36, with Calvin, age 6, Amanda E, age 4, Jane M., age 3 (This must be Mary Jane), and John F, age 8 months. Then, shown next door with the Scales Family, was Lydia Whitman, age 26. What kind of mixup occurred here? In 1860, in the Schuyler County, Illinois, Census, Mathias and Lydia appear with 8 children, the youngest at 7 months named Rhuanna. Hattie is not mentioned here, but in 1870 she appears and the youngest is named Calista, age 4. In the 1860 census, there is a Sarah E. Whiteman, age 6 with Mathias.



In 1880, Mathias Whiteman is shown living in Marion, Hamilton County, Iowa. He is 65, born approx 1815, Head of household. Again, this agrees with our date for his birth. He was a farmer. The birthplace of his father as shown is Maryland, and his mother's is shown as New York.(21) Another Mathias, born in 1843 and age 37 at the time, is in the same census. It shows him living in West Finley, Washington, PA, head of household, and a boot and shoe maker. His parents are both shown as being born in Pennsylvania. So who is this fellow? Surely it is Mathias John Whiteman, son of Isaac II., a nephew.



There were Goodens in the census, but no clue as to whether they were related to Lydia or not. At present we have been unable to find much on her parentage. The name may be spelled incorrectly.



Albert Ransom Whiteman, brother of our George Samuel, was a farmer and a blacksmith. Albert married Laura Retalik and had a child, Bessie Ethel. (She married Fred Lee). Fred and Bessie had 3 children, Evald (Bud), Elda (Peggy) and Iwana (Dot). Bessie's second marriage was to Emerson Slingerland, and they had a child, Gene. Albert's wife Laura was born in England, according to her Certificate of Marriage. They were married April 20, 1884 in Webster County, Iowa. The groom was 24, the bride was 15. Her parents were John Retalik and Constance. The only John Retalik we have found was a polish man who moved to Minnesota.



Laura Retalik Whiteman died at age 21 following a fall down some stairs while heavy with her second pregnancy, and she hemorrhaged to death. Their little daughter Bessie Ethel Whiteman stayed with her grandmother until A. R. remarried. A tombstone in Oakgrove Cemetery gives the dates b Feb 2, 1868, d Feb 20, 1889 for Laura E. Whiteman. On April 15, 1891, Albert married his second wife Celia Bloom, born in Dayton. He and his new bride moved to Humansville, Mo for 2 or 3 years then to Iowa and back to Wyoming. They had a homestead one half of a section of land north of Pine Bluffs in the Salem area where he farmed. Albert and Celia are buried in the Pine Bluff Cemetery, Wyoming. Their gravestones face the road.



Other gravestones in the Oakgrove Cemetery bear the names of Bertha Whiteman; Lavinea Whiteman; and Billie Whiteman.



Her parents were (Alex according to marriage license for Celia, or Erick - {found elsewhere}Bloom and Bertha Johnson.} This was Celia's first marriage. He was then 32, she was 18. Joel Brown was the minister. Bertha Johnson, Celia's mother, was born about 1830 in Sweden. She died in 1874 in Dayton, Webster County, Iowa. Erick Bloom was from Estrickland, Sweden, born about 1830.



Celia had a sister, Christine Hagberg, wife of Andrew Hagberg, who witnessed their marriage.



The children of Albert Ransom Whiteman were: Bessie Ethel b Jan 4, 1886 in Lehigh, Iowa, and d June 12, 1972.; Mildred Fay, b Jan 23, 1912 in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, d April 19, 1961 in Salmon, Idaho; James Wesley (Jim) b Oct 9, 1902, d April 25, 1946; Robert Lee (Bob) b March 30, 1906 in Polk City, Iowa; Gifford Ransom b April 30, 1895 in Stockton, Missouri, d Jan 6, 1977 in Eugene Oregon; Ollie May, b May 26, 1898 in Polk City, Iowa d Jan 8, 1988 in Eugene Oregon; Mabel Helen, b July 7, 1892 in Lehigh, Iowa;4 d March 27, 1981 in Salmon, Idaho and Hazel Marie, b July 10, 1900 in Polk City, Iowa and d Nov 1935.(22)



Children of Albert Ransom and Celia Bloom Whiteman :



Bessie Ethel Whiteman



Mildred Fay Whiteman



James Wesley Whiteman



Robert Lee Whiteman



Gifford Ransom Whiteman



Ollie May Whiteman



Mabel Helen Whiteman



Hazel Marie Whiteman



Albert Whiteman's oldest daughter Bessie (Slingerland) said of her father "He liked to sing and sang all of the well known songs. His singing was a joy to his children. He was an honest and happy farmer and also a blacksmith.. One year he worked on the railroad and stayed at the sectionhouse." On 30 April 1919 he was stricken with paralysis (age 60) he died 6 Jan 1920 and was buried at Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. His wife died Feb 3, 1921 (age 48) and is buried in Pine Bluffs also.(23)



Hazel Marie Whiteman married Clark Slingerland. He was killed in the war (which?) and she then married Bill Bresnaham. Bill and Hazel had Beverly, who married Earl Sorenson and had 5 children. Billy Whiteman married Laurel Engleman and they had 4 children.



Ollie May Whiteman married Carlton Robert Matthews (1900-1984) (he was named after his maternal grandfatehr Carleton Luther Bishop. and was called Carl Matthews.)and they had 4 children. He knew the children of Hazel and Billy well, he grew up near them. Ollie and Carlton divorced after 20 years of marriage. He later had 3 more with his second wife, Mildred Fay Whiteman, sister of Ollie.



Mabel Helen Whiteman married Albert Cook and they had 4 children: William (Bill) David, Melvin Leon (Buddy); Dorothy Louise; and Donald Sinclair (Jack). My source said she married 3 times, but no more children, and always used Mabel Cook as her name.(24)



One may wonder why Albert went to this area. In "A History of Wyoming," it states that the Homestead Acts of 1909 and revised in 1912 encouraged dry land farming. The Christian Church at Dayton, Iowa, encouraged this move and Laramie County south east of Cheyenne in the Golden Prairie District grew wheat, oats, barley, flax, potatoes and corn that was shipped by rail out of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Marvin Mathews grew up in that area, being born there, and he remembers going to Prairie Baptist Church as a child. He feels this is why his grandparents (Albert and Celia) came to Wyoming.



While researching information for Albert Whiteman, we came across an interesting Whiteman family. Again, we digress to share this information. John Whiteman, born 1700 married Susanna Hills at Pensmarsh, England about 1725.They had three known children, Thomas, Sarah (born about 1731) and John (1733 - 1802). Thomas, (1729 - 1810) married Sarah Fowler in 1765 at Udimore, Sussex. England.



Thomas and Sarah Whiteman had John, Alice and William Whiteman. John married Sarah Mepham and had one known child ... Thomas Whiteman. Thomas married Mary (?).



This will sound familiar to those who know the Marvin and Anne Whiteman family. Tom and Mary Whiteman had seven children, (we have the information on file), one of whom was named Albert Whiteman. We finally get to the point ... researching any family name can be frustrating. It seemed apparent this family connected to ours ... and it may ... but on further research we learn that Thomas and Mary emigrated ... to Sydney, Australia!



Back to Mathias Whiteman: He applied for a pension based on his being an invalid following his Civil War service. Curiously, Mathias was mustered out of the service having been unfit for 36 days, and it was stated due to rheumatism. The rheumatism was said to have been contracted at Paducah, Ky.(25)



He stated he had been a farmer, and contracted rheumatism which became chronic and, at age 62, still greatly incapacitated him He signed by Mark, so he must have been illiterate. Later, after Mathias died, Lydia applied for a widow's pension. (copies in file). A party named E.S. Carpenter signed an affidavit stating that she knew the couple, and they were husband and wife. She further stated that she knew them well enough to know that neither had been previously married, and that they had not divorced.

The Widow's declaration gave the middle name of Margaret to Lydia Whiteman. It gave their wedding date, and listed two children still surviving, George Samuel (our ancestor) and Clestia Alwida Whiteman. Lydia was 79 years old when she asked for the pension..

Mr. Carpenter came forward and stated that he knew the couple, as well acquainted with Mathias. He was called to visit him on his deathbed, and attended his funeral.

Hattie Larson, daughter of Mathias and Lydia, also gave an affidavit. She said she knew her parents lived together up and unto the time of his death and that there had never been a divorce or separation. Hattie was literate and wrote her own affidavit. (If the original request showed only two living children, somehow Hattie was overlooked, or Hattie was Celestia Alwida. It is believed that Rhuanna "Hattie" Whiteman was Celestia Alwaida "Hattie" Whiteman. This makes sense, believe it or not, since other records state that Celestia died young.

One document read: "I am now an old woman and I am the claimant mentioned above. I have been married to my late husband a long time ago, in the month of June, 1843, this has been a good lifetime for many people. There is no one that I know of at this time that knew either myself or my late husband prior to our marriage, and the only people that I am able to prove that we have lived together as husband and wife for the longest time are the Carpenters (husband and wife) of Stratford, Iowa, and their affidavits are now on file in the pension office. I am not able to do better in the way of proofs of this class than I now have procured, she is not able to get any kind of evidence of the death of Mathis Whiteman other than that she has now filed of the Carpenters of Stratford, Iowa, as no record was kept in any shape whatever of the death, and she has no family record such as usually are kept in family bibles of births, marriages and deaths, so we will have to rely on the evidence now on file in her case, if that don't suffice she cannot help it, as she has done the very best she could. (This was written in both the first person and the third person). We were neither one ever married prior to our marriage, and we were never divorced from each other, but lived together as husband and wife until Mathias Whitemans death. " L M. Larson, Hattie Larson, Lydia X (her mark) Whiteman. copied as written March 25, 1903.

Ms. Carpenter then testified via affidavit that the only property owned by Lydia Whiteman was 40 acres and gave the location, stating this was her only source of revenue.

Then a Mr. Carpenter stated that he had handled business affairs for the family, and that she owned the aforesaid 40 acres, receiving rents of $45 to $55 per year from them. He further stated that her costs exceeded the revenue, and that he had handled her personal affairs for the last 6 years.

Next, her son in law L. M. Larson wrote an affidavit stating that Lydia Whiteman lived with he and his wife and they cared for her. The property was worth $85 per acre, and only 15 acres were tillable. The land was 80 rods from the highway, and 25 acres were under water during the rainy season. There was a cost of $10 to keep up building and fences, and $6 annual taxes. The income, $40-$60 per year.

Hattie Larson states that the land is in Hamilton Co, Iowa, and that she was raised on the place so she knows it well.

Use the Navigation lines at the top to go to the next page or back to another page. This information may be used for your own family research, but not published as some of it has been "loaned" by other sources. If you are looking for specific information, use your browser's "find" button.

This is the family history of Marvin K. Whiteman, his brothers and sisters. "Cousins" are welcome!