Monthly Archives: May 2014

Margaret Priscilla Kingery: A Lesson in Names (52 Ancestors #21)

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Last week, I talked about my great-grandfather Linton Alfred Johnson. This week, I’d like to introduce you to his wife, my great-grandmother Margaret Priscilla Kingery.

There’s a lot I could say about Margaret (or Maggie, as she was called). But because it’s late on Tuesday night and I don’t want to break my streak of posting to the 52 Ancestors challenge in a somewhat timely manner, I’ll share just the basics.

Maggie was born 19 December 1871 in Lawrence County, Ohio to John Peter and Elizabeth Jane (Murnahan) Kingery. She and Linton married 11 June 1893, also in Lawrence County.

The 1940 census shows her living in Ross County, Ohio with her daughter and son-in-law, Rufus and Orpha Turner. (Warning: Genealogy tip coming up!) When you’re working with a common name — like “Margaret Johnson” — you need to be careful that you’re not combining two people of the same name. You do this by (1) connecting your person with others and (2) looking at all of the records you can.

Let’s say that when I found this Margaret Johnson in the 1940 census, I didn’t know she had a daughter named Orpha. How could I be sure that this Margaret was my Margaret? I could look for her with Linton and see who their children are. For example, the 1920 census lists Margaret with husband Linton and daughter Orpha. Looking at other records, I find Margaret listed in the 1940 Chillicothe, Ohio directory. (Chillicothe is in Ross County, which is where she was in the 1940 census.) This record leaves no doubt that this is the right one:

1940 Chillicothe, Ohio City Directory.

1940 Chillicothe, Ohio City Directory.

Translating from “directory-ese”: Margaret P. Johnson, widow of Linton A., residing with Rufus M. Turner.

Maggie died 6 December 1948 in Columbus, Ohio and is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery in Lawrence County.

Linton and Margaret Priscilla (Kingery) Johnson.

Linton and Margaret Priscilla (Kingery) Johnson.

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week 20 Recap

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52ancestors-week20We’re up to Week 20! How are you doing with the Challenge? Are you finding it easier as the weeks go on or is it getting more challenging?

This week, Pam shares a wonderfully romantic elopement. Cheryl wonder if a man in her family tree left one family to start another.

My contribution this week was my great-grandfather Linton Alfred Johnson.

Linton Johnson: Big Hands and a Big Man (52 Ancestors #20)

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My great-grandfather Linton Alfred Johnson was born in Lawrence County, Ohio in 1869. He was the son of Eber and Ann (Stevens) Johnson. He married Margaret “Maggie” Priscilla Kingery in Lawrence County on 11 June 1893. Together, they had four children: Zelma, Alice, Stanley (my grandfather), and Orpha.

This is the earliest photo I have of Linton. It is in front of the home in Lawrence County. In the front row (L-R): Maggie, Murnahan boy (I don’t have the original photo with me right now and I don’t recall his first name), “Grandmother,” Orpha, Linton, and Stanley. Standing in the back are Zelma and Alice. I need to do some research to see if I can figure out if “Grandmother” is Linton’s mother (Ann Stevens Johnson) or Maggie’s mother (Elizabeth Jane Murnahan Kingery).

johnson-family

Johnson family, Lawrence County, Ohio, circa 1912.

What strikes me about Linton in this photo are how big his hands are.

Linton is also in the photo at the top of No Story Too Small. He and Maggie are the couple on the right, below the photo of the car. What you don’t see in that picture is that he is in a wheelchair. My dad has said that all of his memories of his grandfather are of him in his wheelchair.

Linton died 2 January 1938 in Huntington Township, Ross County, Ohio and is buried at Locust Grove Cemetery in Lawrence County.

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week 19 Recap

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52ancestors-week19Still trying to get caught up from being at the NGS conference. This recap covers Wednesday May 7 – Tuesday, May 13.

Jackie Holloway has 3 ancestral birthdays on one day. Brian remembers his crabby Uncle Bill. Also, last week must have been “Williams Family History Week.” Four different bloggers posted about a Williams ancestor!

Beverly McGowan Norman of the “Roots, Branches, and a Few Nuts” blog recently lost her daughter-in-law, Deandra Stanley Norman, in a car accident. Her post this week is a beautiful tribute to her. Beverly, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

My contribution for Week 19 was a very short post about my 4th-great-grandmother Mary (Darling) Young.

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week 18 Recap

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52ancestors-week1818. Does this mean the Challenge is officially an adult now?

Denise Hibsch Richmond tells about her ancestor the ice cream maker. (You know you’re jealous 😉 ) My favorite ancestor name this week has to be Pam Schaffners’ Stephen Blizzard Bustin. Karen Acker shares the tragedy of her great-uncle’s death in WWII.

My contribution this week was my 3rd-great-grandmother Martha Harris Orr Starkey, who is a twist in my family tree.

NOTE: I am posting this a week late, due to not being able to get caught up while at the National Genealogical Society conference last week. These posts cover the week ending Tuesday, May 6. I will post Week 19 in a couple of days.

 

Oh My Darlin’ Mary Darling (52 Ancestors #19)

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How can you not like an ancestor named Mary Darling? My 4th-great-grandmother was born in 1770 in Scotland. On 3 June 1796, she married John Young in Crichton, Midlothian, Scotland.

Mary and John moved to Washington County, Ohio. They are enumerated there in 1850. Mary died 11 March 1855 and is buried in Lynch Cemetery in Fearing Township.

The Twist in the Tree: Martha Harris Orr Starkey (52 Ancestors #18)

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It’s not unusual to find a female ancestor who has married more than once, especially those whose husband died while there were young children at home. What’s unusual about Martha Harris Orr Starkey, my 3rd-great-grandmother, is that I descend from both of her husbands. (Does that make me my own grandma?)

Martha Harris was the daughter of William and Mary (Myers) Harris. She was born in 1817, likely in Licking County, Ohio. Around 1839 (based on the age of her first child), she married William Orr. William died in 1850, leaving Martha to raise five children under the age of 10. One of those was infant daughter Susan, who became my great-great-grandmother.

Between 1860 and 1870, Martha had remarried John Starkey. John was a widower, his wife Mary having died sometime after 1860.

Here’s the twist: John Starkey is my 3rd-great-grandfather through his son Peter.

My tree showing Martha Harris with her first husband William Orr and her second husband John Starkey.

My tree showing Martha Harris with her first husband William Orr and her second husband John Starkey.