Mary Ann Murphy

October 4th, 1870 is the date Mary Ann Murphy was born. She was one of the nine children of my Great Great Great Grandparents, Asa Harrison Murphy and Margaret Jane Turner Murphy. Five of their children died in childhood. Mary Ann was one day short of her second birthday when she died on October 3rd 1872.

Mary Ann's older brother James Merrit Murphy died in 1861 at the age of one year and nineteen days. Her brother Spencer Turner Murphy died on February 22, 1961 on his first birthday. Mary Ann's brother George D. Murphy died on November 5, 1873 at the age of two years and 9 months, and Mary Ann's sister Clara B. Murphy died on August 10, 1877 at the age of three. All the children were born and died in Wapella, Dewitt County Illinois.

Asa and Margaret moved to Barnard in Lincoln County Kansas in 1880. He died in November 1920 and Margaret died in September 1922. Their remaining four children lived to adulthood.

Here is a time line. Asa and Margaret had two children who lived to adulthood William Riley and Nancy Ellen, then lost James and Spencer, had Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Manford, who lived to adulthood, followed by Mary Ann, George and Clara all who died.

My grandmother Helen, who was born in 1914 remembers the surviving family members. Asa and Margaret's daughter Nancy Ellen was my grandmother's grandmother.

For more information see: http://susanpatton.net/wc02_132.html

George Frank Williams

My Great Great Uncle George Frank Williams, Frank, was born today July 10, 1888 at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was my Great Grandmother Della Williams Norman Neher's brother.

Frank's daughter Arlene Deihl was in my Grandmother's high school class. The class, 1932, celebrated annual reunions until recently. Arlene and my grandmother are both 94.

Frank died November 20, 1966.

Frank and his first wife Sophia had a son Carl Theodore who was born the same day and year as my Grandmother. Carl died January 19, 1919 at the age of five.

Obituary:

George F. Williams, 78, a former Chapman resident died Monday night at his home in Junction City. He had been in failing health for several years.

He was born August 10, 1888 in Minneapolis, Minn., and came to Kansas in his early youth. He was married to Sophia Framn. On September 13, 1946 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Cross at Lawrence.

Mr. Williams was a member of the First Christian church in Junction City, and Odd Fellows Lodge in Chapman.

Surviving are three children, Vera Watkins, Junction City; Ivan Williams, Huron, Kan.; and Arlene Diehl of Enterprise; 10 grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Della Neher of Chapman.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m. today at the First Christian chuch in Junction City. Burial was in the Bethel cemetery near Detroit.

Dale Leslie Stevenson

Uncle Dale passed away today, July 27, 1999. It was one of the saddest days ever. Dale was deeply loved by his family and missed very much.

Uncle Dale was married to Larry's mother's sister Ruth. They were married August 2, 1947 at Wellsville. Dale and Ruth had two daughters and lived at Lawrence since 1958.

Dale was my father-in-law Jerry's best friend. The two couples spent a lot of time together. When Jerry died it was very hard on Dale.

Obituary:
Dale L. Stevenson, 72, Lawrence died Tuesday, July 27, 1999 at the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. He had been a resident ot Lawrence since 1958.

Mr. Stevenson was a contractor. He retired in 1987. He also formerly owned Stevenson Olds GMC from 1964 to 1971. Prior to moving to Lawrence he owned the Clover Farm Grocery Store in Wellsville. He was a member of the Acacia Lodge #9, AF&AM, Lawrence,a life long member of Dorsey-Liberty Post #14, American Legion, Lawrence, and Mt. Oread Aerie, #309 FOE, Lawrence. In Wellsville he was a member and past Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star.

He was born December 26, 1925 in Ottawa, Kansas the son of Leslie a. and Pearl E. Oswald Stevenson.

He served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII. He married Ruth A. Head, August 2, 1947 in Wellsville, Kansas. She survives of the home. He is also survived by two daughters, Jo Elaine Blevins, Nancy K. Baker both of Lawrence; his father, Leslie Stevenson and step mother Edythe Stevenson, Lawrence; one sister Eloise Kerr, Lawrence; one brother, Raymond Stevenson, Hernando, Florida; and two grandchildren, Dale James and Kelly Diane Baker.

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Tolle

Happy Birthday today to Lizzie Tolle Buchmeier, who was Larry's Great Grandmother.

She was born July 19, 1873 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married August Z. Buchmeier on June 9, 1892 at Wellscreek, Kansas. Wellscreek is just south east of Wamego, Kansas. There is nothing there today except an old church and farm houses. We took a little road trip out that way a few years ago and it was quite interesting. Lizzie must have came to Kansas with her parents, Friedrich Tolle and Engel Dreiling Tolle because both are buried at Alma, Kansas.

Lizzie and August had seven children, including Sara Augusta Ida, who was born May 18, 1897 and was Larry's grandmother.

Lizzie died November 12, 1947 at Alma, Kansas and is buried there. She died just 11 months after her husband August who is also buried at Alma. Larry's mother has fond memories of her grandparents.

Happy Birthday Nancy Hoblit Turner

Born July 18, 1821 in Clinton County, Ohio was Nancy Hoblit, who was my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandmother.

She was married April 14, 1836 in McClean, Illinois to Spencer D. Turner. They had twelve children including their oldest, Margaret Jane, who was born January 8, 1838 at Adams, DeWitte County, Illinois.

Nancy died April 20, 1900 at Wapella, Illinois and is buried there.

Nancy and Spencer's photos were sent to me by Pearl Judd Turner who found my website and was kind enough to share her information with me. Pearl is a Great Granddaughter of Margaret Jane.

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.