Spencer Turner

Happy Birthday today to Spencer D. Turner who was my Great Great Great Great Grandfather on my mother's side. He was born May 22, 1816 in Clark, Ohio.

Spencer died April 26, 1896 at Wapella, Illinois at the age of 79. He was married to Nancy Hoblit on April 14, 1836 at McLean, Illinois.

They had 12 children, 7 girls and 5 boys. Their oldest was a daughter, Margaret Jane.

Margaret Jane was my Great Great Grandmother. Margaret and her husband moved to Kansas in 1880 and lived at Bernard, Kansas. I have photos of Margaret and her husband Asa Harrison Murphy.

Margaret and Asa's Daughter, Nancy Ellen married Thomas Burr Williams and their daughter Della Elnora was my Great Grandmother.

Edna Estella Maxwell Edwards

Aunt Edna, who passed away just 10 months ago at age 97 was born today in 1910. She was quite a lady and very much admired. Edna was my grandfather Karl Edwards brother Thornton's wife.

Edna brought PEO into our family. She proposed my grandmother's name for membership 51 years ago. Today my mother, aunt, sister, cousin and I are all members.

When I was in high school Edna and her husband spent the summers working in Yellowstone at one of the stores. They asked if I'd be interested in going along and working there too and I declined. I've always kind of regretted that.

Here's to you Aunt Edna!

Obituary:

Edna Estella Edwards, age 97, of Manhattan, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Meadowlark Hills-Lyle House in Manhattan.

She was born on May 15, 1910, in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of James H. and Jesse I. (Spence) Maxwell.

Mrs. Edwards had been a Manhattan resident since 1922 and was a 1928 graduate of Manhattan High School. Following high school she went on to attend college at Kansas State, in what was then the department of Home Economics, earning her degree in 1932.

Mrs. Edwards was a school teacher for many years and had taught for 9 years in Alta Vista and Chapman grade schools. Later she was a substitute teacher for several years for the Manhattan school district.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and for many years sang in the church choir. Other memberships include Chapter DE of PEO, La Sertoma Club, and the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

On June 7, 1941, in Manhattan, Kansas, she was united in marriage to A. Thorton Edwards. Following her husband’s retirement in 1973, they worked for 16 summers at Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park. Mr. Edwards proceeded her in death on December 24, 2001. She was also proceeded in death by one brother: William Maxwell and one sister: Frances Cilek.

She is survived by two daughters: Annette Kay Huff and her husband Steven of Omaha, Nebraska and Bette Lu Rogers of Queen Creek, Arizona. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Sevrin Huff Praeger, Andrew Huff, Stefanie Huff, Tana Schlund and Amy Hatcher, and eight great grandchildren: Jakson Praeger and Ava Praeger, Cassidy Huff, Samuel Huff, Abigail Huff, Mason Rama-Schlund, Emma Schlund, Esme Hatcher.

Adolf Beeler

February 25, 1913
Death of A. Beeler, Sr.
One of the Well Known Men of the County Passes Away

A. Beeler, Sr., aged 74 years, one of the best known farmers of this county, died last evening at his home west of this city. Mr. Beeler had been sick a short time with pneumonia. He is survived by a wife, G. W. Beeler, of Chicago; Henry Beeler, A. Beeler, Jr., O.C. Beeler, Mrs. Ed Reitz of this city and Mrs Edwards of Wreford, on Friday.

Mr. Beeler had resided in this county for 34 years. He was a hard worker, a prosperous farmer, a man that made the friendship of everyone.

Obituary:
Junction City Union, February 26, 1913
Funeral of A. Beeler

The funeral services of Mr. A. Beeler who died Monday night at his home west of the city after a brief illness will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the Beeler home. Rev. Line will be in charge of the ceremony and interment will be made in Highland cemetery.

Adolf Beeler was my Great Great Grandfather. His daughter Hattie was my Great Grandmother Edwards.

Lloyd James Williams

Obituary - Chapman Advertiser, September 26, 1940

Lloyd James Williams was born in Cork, England, February 18, 1847 and departed this life September 21, 1940 at the age of 93 years, 7 month and 3 days.

His parents came to the United States and settled in Illinois while he was still an infant.

At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army and served as a teamster for the duration of the war.

After the war he settled in Grinnell, Iowa where on August 1, 1875 he was united in marriage to Bertha Julie Larson. To this union two children were born, Charles Oliver, who died in infancy and Viola Anna.

After residing in Iowa for a number of years they moved to Pierce, Nebraska. Here he worked as a bridge contractor. The last years of his life were spent in Chapman, Kansas.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his daughter Mrs. Viola Lambert of Lahunga, California; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and one brother T.B. Williams of Chapman and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday with the Rev. C. M. Nutter in charge.

The American Legion had charge of graveside services at the Indian Hill Cemetery where interment was made.

Pall bearers were: G. A. Morris, H. E. Leatherman, Perry Frazier, Finley Collier, Wm. Thomas and Glen Osburn.

Lloyd James Williams was my Great Great Great Uncle. Lloyd's brother Thomas was my Great Great Grandfather.

Happy Birthday Today To Two Great Great Uncles

Today, January 30 is the birthday of two of my Great Great Uncles.

Asa Lawrence Asa “Parksy” Park, who was my Great Grandfather Francis Edward "Ed" Park's brother, was born today in 1880. His birth place was McDonough County, Illinois. He died in 1949 and is buried in the Olive Branch Cemetary at White Cloud, Kansas.

On an antique "junking" trip to a flea market at White Cloud, where my Grandfather grew up, we asked at the historical society if there might be any information about the Park family. Turns out the man we asked is a relative! His Grandmother Ada was my Great Grandfather's sister. Ron told me the following about Asa. Ron remembers "Parksy" (Asa) fell dead in the Green Implement Building in downtown White Cloud, Kansas. His coffin was placed in his sister Ada Taylor’s living room. Ron Taylor remembers attending his funeral. Parksy is fondly remembered by many Ron said.

The other Great Great Uncle whose birthday is today is Ernest Earl Norman. Ernest's brother Harry was my Great Grandfather. Ernest was born today in 1886 and his birth place was Dickinson County, Kansas. He was a farmer and my Grandmother pointed out the house where he lived when we went on a genealogy road trip to see where she grew up. He and his wife Katie both died on Christmas Eve in 1960 from Carbon Monoxide poisoning in there home. He and his wife are buried at Good Hope Cemetery in Dickinson Co, Kansas near the community of Wellington.

John Bancroft

John Bancroft, who was one of my 14th Great Grandfathers, died January 24, 1557 in Chellaston, Derbyshire, England. I find that knowing that is incredible! Wow -- 14 generations back!

I have my Uncle Don to thank for this piece of information. He has been kind enough to share his extensive genealogical research with me. I am greatly appreciative. I do not at this point in time have the time to do much research myself and have gathered the information I do have through the kindness of many close and many distant relatives who have been kind enough to share what they know.

My database and website go back only one generation farther to an amazing 15 generations! So what line in my genealogy leads to John Bancroft? I had to look of course. John Bancroft is at the first of the line that ends up with my paternal Grandfather Park, through his mother's ancestors. Fascinating stuff indeed~

John Wesley Willey, Quantrill Raid Survivor - Born Today in 1836

John Wesley was a successful businessman with a stove dealership, but was best known for his flour mills. Several articles were published about his innovations in the fields of flour milling and enriched flour. Milling and Grain News, a trade publication, credited him in 1909 with being the first producer of bolted flour (in 1857) in the state of Kansas.

He enlisted in the army 14 May 1861 as a private in Company D of the 2nd Kansas Infantry, but he served for only three months.

RECOLLECTIONS -- AN EXPERIENCE OF MR. J.W. WILLEY RELATING TO THE LAWRENCE, KANSAS MASSACRE

Capture of SKAGGS Sullivan, Illinois
August 7th, 1913.

On August 21st, 1863 I was living on the Chamber’s place one half mile south of Franklin, Kansas.

On that memorable day I had just gotten up and started after water which was an eighth of a mile distant from the house. I met a man from Franklin who told me that Quantrill had gone to Lawrence and that he, was going to inform the people (I thought he was going to the woods).

At that moment I heard firing at Lawrence and immediately went back to the house told my wife what was going on, took my gun and what ammunition I had and started for Lawrence. On arriving at Franklin, I got a horse and started for the scene of the shooting. When I reached the spot where the cemetery now is I fell in with others who were watching the fray and started for town in company with John and Tom McFarland and By. Gilliland. We were the only ones mounted and about the ravine east of the Spears house we met Skaggs (one of Quantrill’s men) and challenged him. He said that he was a southerner and at that we fired on him; however, without effect, except probably, to slightly wound his horse.

He started to run and we told him that we had made a mistake and got him to follow us and led him past where the men were concealed near the Enos house. At that moment the men stepped out into the road back of him and he saw he was in a trap. Wheeling his horse he forced the animal to jump a high gate and started south, we in pursuit. We were obliged to dismount and open the gate before we could follow. We chased him south half a mile then east to a point south of Sparrcy’s with us in full chase. He started east toward Eudora and as we were getting close to him. At this moment a man appeared on the road ahead of him and stopped him. We came up and took him in charge, taking him back to Lawrence where we met a party of citizens near the Spear’s residence they took our prisoner from us and shot him to death. I believe that he was shot by an Indian. (White Turkey.)

We went on into town and passed through and saw the descruction and the dead and then followed on after Quantrill and his gang. We followed them until about Nine O’Clock when in company with others we camped for the night and returned to Lawrence the next day at about 10A.M.

As far as I am able to learn I am the only survivor of the party who assisted in this capture.
J. W. Willey, Jr.

John Wesley Wiley was my first cousin four times removed. His Aunt Mariamna “Abigail Mariamne” Willey Tuttle was my Great Great Great Grandmother.

Her Son William Lewis Tuttle and his wife moved to Douglas County, Kansas (where I live) on April 2, 1966 to be near John Wesley Willey. William Lewis' brothers Leonard and Dela also came to Kansas shortly after William Lewis and bought farms near Vinland. These young men were proceeded to the area by their uncle John Wesley Willey who settled at Blue Mound in 1857 and built a water powered saw mill on the Wakarusa River. William Lewis' farm stayed in the family until 1952.