I just wanted to say how very, very much I have enjoyed the articles that Frank Myers has shared.. They are so beautifully written and I do so appreciate having the opportunity of knowing more about this family. A Huge Round of Applause -- Frank.. I'm looking forward to more; with my best regards, Nancee

This response was posted at the Curtis board of ancestry.com just today! Re: OBIT: Death of Moses Horton Curtis ~ born Monroe County, Ohio   Author: Betty White Date: 21 Oct 2004 11:13 AM GMT   Surnames: Curtis, Henderson, King, Lighty/Leighty   Classification: Query   In Reply to: OBIT: Death of Moses Horton Curtis ~ born Monroe County, Ohio  by:  Deborah Brownfield Stanley Post Reply | Mark Unread  Report Abuse  Print Message I have Moses Horton Curtis' parents as: Ezra Curtis and Elizabeth Livermore. But I also have a Moses born in 1863 to Amos Curtis and Elizabeth Smith. I have him married to a Josephine Weaver. I have both of their middle names as being Horton. Will have to check into this. Thanks for the posting of the obit. Betty W. of Guernsey Co. Oh. Deborah

Gosh, Deb -- You are 'on the ball'!! That's great.. Thanks.. Don't know if Jerilyn is part of the Lucas County List or not -- she had addressed her note to me. So, if not too much trouble, would you send this to her at [email protected] (I'd bet a dollar you already have.. ha.) You're great, Deb -- Nancee ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 5:00 PM Subject: [IALUCAS] Parents of Moses Horton Curtis? > This response was posted at the Curtis board of ancestry.com just today! > > Re: OBIT: Death of Moses Horton Curtis ~ born Monroe County, Ohio > Author: Betty White Date: 21 Oct 2004 11:13 AM GMT > Surnames: Curtis, Henderson, King, Lighty/Leighty > Classification: Query > > In Reply to: OBIT: Death of Moses Horton Curtis ~ born Monroe County, > Ohio by: Deborah Brownfield Stanley > Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message > I have Moses Horton Curtis' parents as: Ezra Curtis and Elizabeth Livermore. > But I also have a Moses born in 1863 to Amos Curtis and Elizabeth Smith. I > have him married to a Josephine Weaver. I have both of their middle names as > being Horton. Will have to check into this. Thanks for the posting of the obit. > Betty W. of Guernsey Co. Oh. > > > Deborah > > > > ==== IALUCAS Mailing List ==== > David, [email protected]: Lucas County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Lucas County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas/Main.htm > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 9:00 AM Subject: Moses Curtis Does anyone know who the parents of Moses Curtis were? Jerilyn

Hello, John Hewes writes: Thank you for posting this transcription. I have identified John Franklin McMains as the son of Leroy and Mary McMains. John's grandparents were Alexander McMains and Nancy Griffin. I have posted the transcription (with credit) on the McMains Research and Collaboration Site. The URL is http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hewes/index.html Deborah The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, April 26, 1906 The remains of J.F. MCMAINS, who passed away at his home in Ottumwa on Wednesday morning, April 18, 1906, after an extended illness with dropsy of the heart, were brought to this city on Thursday afternoon and on Friday at 2 p.m. funeral services conducted by Rev. Fred B. Palmer were held at the Baptist Church after which interment took place in the Chariton Cemetery. JOHN FRANKLIN MCMAINS was born in Mahaska County, Iowa, on Sept. 4, 1852. In 1872 he was married to GEORGIANA WRIGHT, who survives him. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living. They are MRS. GRACE CARTER of Des Moines, MRS. IDA CARTER and LEROY MCMAINS of Chariton, CARL MCMAINS, MRS. NINA TROXELL and little CARMEN of Ottumwa and MRS. MARIE HENSEN of Wichita, Kas. He is also survived by his mother, MRS. LEROY MCMAINS of this city, and three sisters and one brother, MRS. M.G. RATCLIFF of Albany, Mo., MRS. ROSE HOGUE of Corydon, MISS MOLLIE MCMAINS of this city and MR. WILL MCMAINS of Cambria. To these sorrowing ones the deepest sympathy of a host of friends is extended. Deceased resided in Chariton for many years and was employed at the mill as engineer. About five years ago he moved to Ottumwa. He was honest, upright, kind and generous and was highly regarded by all who knew him. He was an active member of the A.O.U.W. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 10, 2004 [email protected] http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas/Main.htm

Here's a description of the home Jessie purchased in Orlando, now known as the O'Neal House, No. 25 on a tour of the Orlando Lake Cherokee Historical Trail: 25. O'Neal House This Queen Anne style home was built in 1884 by banker Oliver T. Poyntz. It is the northernmost of the "Honeymoon Row" houses on Lake Minnie (Cherokee). The second owner was Jessie Malory (sic; Mallory) Thayer, who wed William R. O'Neal in 1914. The home was shown near the beginning of the 1985 motion picture "D.A.R.Y.L.", which also used the lake across the street for the splashdown scene near its end.

JESSIE (MALLORY) THAYER/O'NEAL Part 4 of 4 Frank D. Myers Jessie (Mallory) Thayer/O'Neal seems to have lived a rich, fulfilling and luxurious life in Florida, both before and after her marriage to William R. O'Neal. During 1920, she decided to sever one of her final ties to Lucas County by returning to Chariton to supervise the removal of her father's body from the Chariton Cemetery, its cremation and transfer to Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery. The tombstone that had marked his grave, in the shape of a large cross, also was removed and shipped to Orlando, although the remains of her first husband, Deming J. Thayer, were left undisturbed. The final disposition of Smith H. Mallory's body was reported as follows in The Chariton Leader of Thursday, 24 June 1920, Page 1: MALLORY BODY REMOVED "The body of S. H. Mallory, buried for seventeen years in the Chariton cemetery, which was recently taken from the grave, has been cremated and the ashes sent to Orlando, Florida, where the family resides. "Mr. Mallory, at the time of his death, owned "Illion" (sic, Ilion), at the north edge of town, which has become known for its association with the things of the day in which he lived. Mr. Mallory was for many years a railroad contractor, a man widely known, and frequently were the doors of "Illion" opened to receive as guests men of state and national reputation. "He was at that time president of the First National Bank of Chariton, which in later years became and is now known as the Lucas County National. "The body was taken up from the local cemetery on June 9. A daughter, Mrs. Jessie O'Neal, of Orlando, was in Chariton and went with the body to Des Moines, where cremation took place on the following Friday. The monument which had been placed here was shipped to Orlando, where it will again perpetuate the memory of this man who was one of Chariton's foremost citizens." Three years later, on the 21st of March 1923, Jessie's mother, Annie Louise (Ogden) Mallory, died in Orlando, in her 82nd year. She was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, next to the relocated remains of Smith H. Mallory. Although no obituary was published in Lucas County, her death was reported as follows in The Chariton Patriot of 22 March 1923: MRS. MALLORY PASSES AWAY "A message received in Chariton yesterday morning by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stroud announces the death of Mrs. Annie L. Mallory, widow of the late S.H. Mallory, which occurred at her home in Orlando, Florida. She had been in ill health for some time. Funeral services will be held at Orlando this afternoon, followed by interment at that place by the side of her husband, who passed away on March 6, 1903. She is survived by one daughter, Miss Jessie O'Neil (sic), of Orlando. Mr. and Mrs. Mallory and daughter came to Chariton in 1867 and were prominent residents of this place for many years. About sixteen years ago the mother and daughter went to Orlando, Florida, where they have since resided. Many old time friends will learn of the death of Mrs. Mallory with sorrow and will extend sincere sympathy to the surviving daughter, Mrs. O'Neil." A few months later, Jessie Ogden (Mallory) Thayer/O'Neal became critically ill herself, and died on 16 November 1923, about two months past her 60th birthday, in her 61st year. The following obituary was published on Page 6 of The Chariton Herald-Patriot of 22 November 1923. It is elaborately embroidered and contains a few obvious errors, but despite that, it portrays a remarkable woman. Notes within brackets are mine. DEATH OF MRS. JESSIE MALLORY O'NEAL "A message was received in this city last Friday afternoon conveying the sad intelligence of the death of Mrs. Jessie Mallory O'Neal, which occurred that afternoon at her home in Orlando, Florida. She underwent an operation about ten days previous for appendicitis, which revealed other complications of a serious nature. With her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Mallory, she came to Chariton in 1867, when but a little girl, and grew to young womanhood in this city, residing here until about sixteen years ago. She was always prominently identified with the affairs of this community, and her passing away has brought sadness to the hearts of many friends here. From the Evening Reporter-Star of Nov. 17th, published at Orlando, we take the following sketch: "Yesterday afternoon there was a wave of grief passed over the city when it was rumored that Mrs. W. R. O'Neal had passed away and this grief widened when the rumor crystallized into sorrow-bearing certainty. Though her previous condition had been known for several days, many shared her own hopefulness, for she said she did not feel she would die as long as she was being upheld by the fervent prayers of her friends. Though she had been ill for a long time, there was no immediate danger, but she considered her condition from all sides, and decided that to increase her powers of usefulness to her fellow man, which was being cramped by her sickness, she would go to the hospital for the needed operation. "She did not burden her friends with any knowledge of her condition or of her plans. "On Tuesday of last week, she attended the Sorosis Club and was as bright and useful in her work as treasurer as she always was. At the close of the meeting she told Mrs. Shearer, the president, that she found she would not be able to do her work for some weeks, so wanted to turn in her papers, which were made up to date, over for some one else to care for, and it was not until Wednesday night that she told Mrs. Shearer, who stood close among her friends, that she was going to the hospital the next morning. "She was operated upon on Thursday, and stood it well, and for two or three days she improved. Then a local paralysis began, and a second operation became necessary, since which time there seemed but slight hope, though she herself never despaired. "Jessie Mallory O'Neal was the daughter of Stephen (actually Smith) and Anna L. Mallory, and she was born in Napierville (Naperville), Ills., where her father was one of the pioneers in the development of the state. "Her parents moved to Chariton, Iowa, when she was very young, and here she was reared. She was educated entirely abroad, chiefly in Germany (?!?). She was fond of travel and visited Europe many times, as well as seeing her own country thoroughly, and her travels broadened a mind already rich in character. "She was married twice. Her first husband was D. J. Thayer, of Boston. It was after his death that she first came to Florida, locating at Florence Villa. After the big freeze, in 1894-95, she came to Orlando, later buying the handsome home of Mr. Ollie Poyntz, on what is now known as Lake Cherokee. This home she beautified with exquisite taste, placing in it gems of art collected from her travels and here with her mother and adopted daughter she lived with an ever widening circle of admirers. In October, 1914, she married Mr. W. R. O'Neal. "It seems impossible to gather all the lines of her usefulness, for these were so widespread and so important. It was her ambition that women should be given the rights to a position side by side with men. "She was a most enthusiastic leader in the great suffrage question, and since the passage of the amendment, has never failed to cast her vote on the side she felt was the right, nor faltered in upholding the man or woman who could advance humanity. "She never considered herself, but gave freely of her strength and intelligence in every cause she espoused. She was a born leader, and led not by aggressiveness, but by force of personality and the upholding of the right. Her work as president of the Church Service League was its chief upbuilding, and she was a power in the Sorosis Club, as well as in the Rosalind, where she served as president. She was a prominent D.A.R., having been its regent for several years and was foremost in the Federation of Women's Clubs, having held a state as well as a national office in this, and at one time was state director of the International Relations Committee. "During the call of the Red Cross for the war, she was among the leaders here in all the work. It was she who organized the Cemetery Improvement Association, serving as its president till a short time ago, and she belonged to numerous societies and associations for the advancement of the city. She also held prominent positions in various organizations in her native state and she was national president of the P.E.O., one of the strongest societies in the West. "In character she was gracious and courteous with a personality that won friends wherever she went. She was friendly to all, but held only a few close to heart, grappling these few to her with such strong affection that to them must be given the deepest sympathy in their sorrow. "Her judgment was clear and unbiased and her justice was never failing; even her own feelings did not prevent her seeing clearly another's viewpoint and she was ever at the service of those who sought her advice. "When she decided to make Orlando her home, Mrs. O'Neal had the body of her father brought from Chariton, Iowa, with the monument that was over him, and placed in Greenwood cemetery, where last year her mother was laid beside the husband, who had gone before so long ago. With her parents, she will rest in Greenwood, the funeral service to take place on next Tueday at 4 o'clock. Pending this long rest in the cemetery she has done much to make beautiful, she lies in a quiet, beautiful sleep in her own room in her loved home, with about her the many flowers that represent the love of friends and relatives. "She leaves beside her husband, an uncle, Mr. A. D. Mallory, with his sons, Dr. Meredith Mallory, of Orlando, and Richard and Bolton Mallory, of Omaha; Mr. John Harvey, another uncle, and her cousins, Mr. George Harvey, Mrs. S. A. Johnson and Mrs. Thomas Brodwater, and Mrs. William Crossley, whom she reared and held as her own daughter." Jessie was buried on the O'Neal lot in Greenwood Cemetery, where her second husband, William R. O'Neal, joined her in death 23 January 1946. The woman she apparently looked upon as her daughter, Polly, Mrs. William Crossley, survived at least into the 1950s. A letter from Polly describing life at the Ilion was read during the April 1955 party that was the last social event held there, shortly before its demolition. Because Jessie had neither children nor siblings, her death firmly closed the door on many aspects of a fascinating chapter in Lucas County history. We do not know now, at least, if artifacts of the Mallory lives survived. In Lucas County, other than the courthouse clock, Deming Thayer's grave and a few battered souvenirs, nothing is left other than newspaper accounts, court records and legends. Sic transit gloria mundi.

JESSIE OGDEN (MALLORY) THAYER/O'NEAL Part 3 of 4 Frank D. Myers Deming J. Thayer was buried the afternoon of 23 June 1898 in a lot in the northwest corner of the Chariton Cemetery that his father-in-law, Smith H. Mallory, had purchased during 1887 from the Stanton partnership, which had purchased the cemetery's hilltop site above the Chariton River valley many years earlier, commissioned its park-like design and continued to operate as a business until after the turn of the 20th Century. I visited the grave early Tuesday before the fog had lifted, driving down the long approach lined with over-arching trees in autumn dress, and thought of John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery and, as the sculpted woman atop the Bates tombstone emerged on the cemetery's highest point, of the "Bird Girl" statue featured both in the film and on "Midnight's" cover. To reach Deming's grave, drive straight from front to back of the cemetery on the lane that commences at the entrance gate, follow the lane's curve southward for a car length, stop, then walk west for approximately 12 feet. The low gray granite stone is inscribed in raised lettering, "Deming Jarves Thayer, 1852-1898." It is likely that Deming's father-in-law, too, was buried here during the 17 years his body was interred in Chariton since the Mallorys owned no other lot. Today, Deming seems alone and stranded in death, half a continent from his Massachusetts birthplace and from the Florida graves of his wife and parents-in-law. The Lucas County Historical Society has in its possession a small but beautifully-crafted drafting set encased in an inlaid walnut box. It was left behind when the Mallory belongings were removed from the Ilion, retrieved by a caretaker, Henry Stroud, and donated many years later to the museum. I wonder if it was among the possessions of civil engineer turned farmer Deming J. Thayer. Jessie had assumed management of Brook Farm during her husband's illness, and continued those duties after his death. She also traveled extensively, occasionally writing letters that were published in The Chariton Patriot. During February and March of 1900, for example, she wrote from Havana and Puerto Rico, respectively. Following the death of Smith H. Mallory during March of 1903, Jessie and her mother assumed many of his business responsibilities. Annie Mallory became president of First National Bank and Jessie, one of its directors. They continued to rely, as the family had for many years, on Frank R. Crocker to manage their bank and superintend many of their assets. They continued to make Chariton and Ilion their headquarters, and to travel extensively. Jessie's 1923 obituary suggests that the family also may have acquired its first property in Florida during this period between Deming's death and the financial disaster that would sever their ties with Lucas County. When First National crashed during November 1907, Annie and Jessie were on board a ship bound for Egypt, where they planned to winter. A telegram announcing Frank Crocker's suicide and the bank's failure caught up with them in Naples, and they turned toward home. By late November, Annie and Jessie had reached Batavia, Ill., which was the home of Smith H. Mallory's brother, A. D. Mallory, and the following was published on 5 December of 1898 in The Chariton Patriot: STATEMENT BY THE MALLORYS They Cannot Put the Bank On Its Feet Again "The Patriot is in receipt of the following communication from Mrs. Jessie M. Thayer in which she states the present attitude of herself and her mother, Mrs. Mallory, in the matter of the bank failure, based upon such information of conditions as have so far come to their knowledge: "Batavia, Ill., Dec. 2nd, 1907 "E. H. Lewis, Esq., Editor, Chariton Patriot, "Dear Sir: "I am in receipt of your favor of late date, requesting that I write out for publication in your paper, in behalf of my mother and myself, a statement pertaining to the affairs of the First National Bank. "As far as we are informed of the situation, about the only thing that I can say is, that as to taking any steps towards reopening the bank or paying depositors out in full, to do either one of these things is entirely beyond our power. This indeed would be a very satisfactory thing to do, but it is simply useless for us to attempt the impossible. "We expect to meet our legal liabilities as far as same are known to us, but there seems to be a possible contingent legal liability, the amount of which we are now unable to determine, which makes it impossible to say anything further at this time. "Very truly yours, Jessie Mallory Thayer "Mrs. Anna L. Mallory, president of the defunct First National bank, her daughter, Mrs. Jessie M. Thayer, one of the directors, accompanied by Miss Polly Wolcott, arrived last week from their interrupted trip to Egypt and are in Batavia, Illinois, at the home of Mrs. Mallory's brother-in-law, A. D. Mallory. As a result of the suicide of F. R. Crocker, the cashier of the bank, and the failure of that institution, Mrs. Mallory is quite ill and will be taken to Florida in hope of regaining her health. Mrs. Thayer and Mr. Mallory were here from Batavia late Friday night to learn of the condition of the bank, and the situation they may be in as the result thereof and the ill doings of Crocker. The names of Mrs. Mallory and Mrs. Thayer are on the $350,000 M.W.A. Bond and on the bond to the county for $50,000. They hold $47,000 of bank shares and are liable for that amount." Part of the difficulty the Mallory women faced following the bank failure seems to have been that many in Lucas County expected them to follow what they thought would have been Smith H. Mallory's course: Use their personal fortunes to reimburse depositors for their losses. Whether or not the Mallorys had sufficient assets to do this is questionable. In any event, they chose not to. Annie and Jessie seem to have complicated the situation for themselves by not returning to Chariton to face the situation personally. Some months later, during February of 1899, when Lucas County filed suit to seize the Ilion and other Lucas County assets as security for the $50,000 in county funds deposited in First National, the county alleged that "Mrs. Mallory and Mrs. Thayer have absconded, so that ordinary process cannot be served against them." The long and the short of the situation is this: In the end, the Mallorys were "convicted" indirectly in a series of lawsuits and rulings of gross carelessness in the failure of First National Bank and their assets in Lucas County, including the Ilion and its associated farmland, were seized and sold to help pay off depositors. As the dust settled in Iowa, Jessie and Annie set about establishing new lives for themselves in Orlando, Florida. There is no indication that they were short of funds, and by 1914, when Jessie, now past her 50th birthday, married Orlando businessman William R. O'Neal, a widower, they had established what seems to have been a comfortable, even luxurious, lifestyle for themselves. The following account of Jessie's second marriage was published in The Chariton Patriot of 22 October 1914: THAYER-O'NEAL "From the Evening Reporter-Star, published at Orlando, Fla., we take the following account of the marriage of a former well known Chariton lady, Mrs. Jessie Mallory Thayer, whose friends here will extend congratulations on this happy event: "Probably no marriage ever solemnized in Orlando has held the deep, true interest of as many friends and acquaintances, both here and elsewhere, as did the quiet event of last evening when Mrs. Jessie Mallory Thayer became the wife of Mr. William R. O'Neal. No cards were issued and the informal, personal invitations were extended only to relatives, a few very intimate friends and the "PollyAnna Club," of which the bride is a member. These gathered shortly before 8 o'clock at "The Tree Pines," the attractive home of Mrs. Thayer, and were shown into the long music room. Here, as throughout the house, quantities of roses were used, the lovely blossoms having been sent by their friends. With these flowers was used asparagus fern, and the feathery green was most effective upon the old rose hangings of the windows, and upon the casements and mantles, the artistic decorations being the work of Mr. John H. Harvey, uncle of the bride. Bishop Mann, clad in his robes of office, stood at the east end of the music room, and as Mrs. Thayer and Mr. O'Neal took their places before him, the gay chatter of the guests gave place to silence, which was more impressive than music, however sweet. The beautiful wedding service of the Episcopal church, so fraught with meaning, was used, and after the responses made by the bride and groom and the words of the bishop had ceased, the guests gathered close to voice their sincere congratulations and affectionate good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal. "The guests were led to the dining room and served with a salad course, ice cream and fruit cake. The dining table was bare, except for a handsome centerpiece of heavy lace. On this was a silver bowl, hand carved in the symbols of the natives of India, on a standard of ebony wood, molded in the shape of miniature elephants. The unique receptacle was filled with white roses and ferns. Mrs. George R. Newell poured coffee, which was passed by Mrs. Thomas Brodwater, Mrs. Bolton Mallory and Mr. Sidney Newell. Roses, of an exquisite shade of pink, held in brown willow baskets, were used in the drawing room. On the screened porch on the south of the house, red roses gave a bright touch to the dark green of the veranda furniture. "Although the request had been made that no presents be sent, many useful and handsome gifts were received. The bride was becomingly and very beautifully gowned in white brocaded charmeuce, over satin, with silvered lace. Her jewels were diamonds and rubies. Mrs. Mallory, mother of the bride, wore a gown of grey brocaded crepe de chine and Miss Mable O'Neal was prettily costumed in white net with lace. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal have hosts of friends wherever they are known, and have taken a prominent place in social circles. Both have labored for the welfare of the community in all matters relating to its advancement, and are active in civic and church work. Appreciation of their endeavors in such matters is expressed in many messages of congratulation and good wishes which have been received by them during the past few days. They will continue to live in Orlando." It would be interesting to know how this account was received in the farm living rooms and town parlors across Lucas County.

JESSIE OGDEN (MALLORY) THAYER/O'NEAL Part 2 of 4 Frank D. Myers Although the report of Jessie and Deming Thayer's marriage suggests that they were on the verge of launching an independent life, that was not to be the case. In fact, Jessie never really left home during her 63 years, and it seems almost as if the Mallorys swallowed Deming Thayer whole, absorbing his life into theirs. As Smith H. Mallory's fortune grew, he was able to spend less time engaged in railroad entrepreneurship and devote more time to his Chariton interests, especially to the farm north of Ilion house that grew to encompass nearly 1,200 acres. He called it Brook Farm and it included an orchard of approximately 8,000 trees that produced fruit, primarily apples, for the wholesale market; a dairy that produced milk and butter; an egg-laying operation; and a truck farm where vegetables were grown in large quatities. Mallory had specialized in purebred horses and cattle for years, and those operations continued, too, at Brook Farm. Apples apparently were marketed across a wide region, but the other produce was intended for sale in Chariton and to the dining cars of the many passenger trains that passed through Chariton daily during those golden years of railroading. As the farm expanded, son-in-law Deming Thayer abandoned his civil engineering career and became its manager, which no doubt seemed an ideal arrangement to the Mallorys. As they always had, Deming and Jessie continued to live at Ilion with her parents. On the 11th of June 1897, The Chariton Democrat reported, "Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Thayer celebrated the eleventh anniversary of their marriage Wednesday evening by giving a quiet little card party to a few of their friends." Soon after that quiet little card party, however, things would go horribly wrong, if they had not begun to do so already. Deming suffered a mental breakdown during the fall of 1897 and was institutionalized at Iowa's hospital for the insane in Mt. Pleasant. The following June, he killed himself. The Chariton Patriot of 23 June 1898 reported Deming's suicide as follows: DEMING J. THAYER'S DEATH The friends of D. J. Thayer were greatly shocked Tuesday morning on learning that he had shot himself in a sleeper near Burlington while on his way home from Eureka Springs, Ark., where he had gone some weeks ago in search of health. For the past ten months, up to the time of his untimely demise, Mr. Thayer had been under the care of a physician, and his continued ill-health is undoubtedly the cause of his death as above stated. The body was met at Burlington by Mr. F. R. Crocker, who arrived with it in Chariton Tuesday evening at 6:40. Deming Jarves Thayer was born in Boston, Mass., Oct. 3, 1852, where he was well educated, and where he graduated from the Girton School of Technology. He was a civil engineer of wide reputation, being most able and skillful in the art. He was interested in numerous construction companies at various times and was secretary and vice-president of the Fulton County Narrow Gauge R.R. Co. He was married June 9, 1886, to Miss Jessie Ogden Mallory, daughter of Hon. and Mrs. S. H. Mallory of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer have lived since their marriage with Mrs. Thayer's parents at the Ilion. Mr. Thayer was superintendent of Brook Farm previous to his ill health and was greatly beloved by those who worked under him. He was a man with an enterprising spirit, having a vast amount of energy, and "progression" was a watch-word with him. His disposition was inclined to be retiring and unobtrusive. From choice he had few near friends, and to them he was true and faithful. Deceased was a member of the Knights Templar, Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen Lodges. A private funeral service will be held at the Ilion this afternoon at two o' clock and will be conducted by the Rev. C. H. Lynch of Ottumwa, after which the remains will be laid in the Chariton cemetery. Mrs. Thayer and Mr. and Mrs. Mallory have the sympathy of a vast number of friends in the hour of their great sorrow. If The Patriot report was sensitive to the feelings of Deming Thayer's wife and parents-in-law, the Democrat's report of the next day, 24 June 1898, was a more blunt: DEATH OF MR. THAYER On Tuesday morning a telegram was received in Chariton from Superintendent Levy of the C.B.&Q., stating that D.J. Thayer of Chariton had killed himself by shooting, early Tueday moring while occupying a sleeping car on the way from St. Louis to Burlington. Further advices stated that on retiring Monday night, Mr. Thayer had requested the porter of the car to call him at 5:00 o'clock in the morning; that some time afterward the pistol shot which caused death had been heard, but had been regarded as the explosion of a torpedo on the track, and that upon going to waken Mr. Thayer at 5:00 o'clock the porter found him to be in a dying condition. Upon arrival of the train at Burlington, Mr. Thayer was taken to Mercy hospital, where he expired shortly afterward without having regained consciousness. The body was brought to Chariton Tuesday evening and the funeral occurred from the Mallory home Thursday, attended by a larger number of friends of the family. Some seven months ago Mr. Thayer was placed in the hospital for the insane at Mt. Pleasant for treatment for mental aberration. About six weeks ago he returned to Chariton considerably improved in mental condition, and at once departed for Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where, it was thought, the water treatment would aid in building him up physically. When the sad ending of his life occurred he was on his way home from that place. Boston, Massachusetts, was the birthplace of the deceased, and there he spent his early life, receiving a thorough education and being fitted for his avocation in life, civil engineering, in which he was unusually proficient. Years ago he was connected with engineering work in the building of some of the branches of the Burlington road. Later he had charge of important work in the line of his profession in building the railroads of South America, and in more recent years was associated with the Mallory & Fitzgerald Construction Company and other concerns in the work of railway construction. In 1886, he was united in marriage with Jessie Ogden Mallory, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Mallory of this place, and Chariton has been their home.

JESSIE OGDEN (MALLORY) THAYER/O'NEAL Part 1 of 4 Frank D. Myers Jessie Ogden Mallory, photographed as a young adult, appears serene and lovely, exquisitely dressed with brown hair upswept, looking directly into the camera with large and intelligent eyes framed by spectacles. Although photographs can lie, just as people do, there seems to be a presence about her, a determined but not unpleasant self-confidence. She looks as one would expect the most privileged, accomplished and widely-traveled women Lucas County produced during the last quarter of the 19th Century to look. Jessie was born during September of 1863 in Naperville, Illinois, during a period when her father, Smith Henderson Mallory, was engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from Chicago to Aurora, Illinois, headquartered in Chicago. Her mother was Annie Louise (Ogden) Mallory. Jessie was their only child. During 1867, when Jessie was 4, the family moved to Chariton. Although the Mallorys would become in later years Chariton's first family, there is no indication that Jessie was raised in a manner that differed significantly from the way other children of moderately affluent parents were raised in small but optimistic Midwest county seat towns only a few years away from pioneer days. Among the elaborate embroidery applied to Jessie's 1923 obituary is the statement that she was "educated entirely abroad, chiefly in Germany." Actually, she was an 1879 graduate of Chariton High School - the same year the family's new home, the Ilion, was completed on Chariton's north edge. The move into the Ilion, as well as Smith Mallory's increasing wealth and influence, cemented the Mallory's position in their hometown. The Mallorys were enthusiastic travelers, and so the years that followed were filled with extended trips, socializing at Ilion and, perhaps, more formal education for Jessie. During 1886, when she was 22, Jessie was married in Chariton to a civil engineer protégé of her father, Deming Jarves Thayer, who was about 10 years her senior.. The following account of their marriage was published in The Chariton Democrat of 10 June 1886. WEDDING BELLS: Thayer-Mallory Married at Ilion, the home of the bride's parents in Chariton, on Wednesday evening, June 9, 1886, Miss Jessie Ogden Mallory, only child of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Mallory, to Mr. Deming J. Thayer, of Neponset, Massachusetts. Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, of Davenport, Bishop of the (Episcopal) diocese of Iowa, performed the ceremony. At eight o'clock about seventy guests, the majority of whom were relatives of the parties from abroad, had assembled in the parlor to witness the happy event. Of those from a distance were: Mrs. Jane Mallory, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Smith, and their son Frank and daughters May and Jessie, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Van Nortwick and Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Van Norwick, all of Batavia, Ill.; Mr. Barnum Mallory, of St. Charles Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Harvey and their daughter Louise and son George, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mallory, Colonel and Mrs. Swain, Mrs. G. G. Cooke, Miss Young, Mr. J. C. Turner, Mr. George Harvey, all of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Morehouse, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Merrill and Miss Fessenden, of Burlington; Miss Florence Perry, of Albia; Rev. and Mrs. Wolcott and Miss McCormick, of Davenport; Clement Chase, Omaha; David Baum, Lincoln, Neb.; Miss Tuell, Lewistown, Ill.; Mrs. George C. Brownell, Frankfort, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. Allen Mallory and their daughters Josie and Ruth, Creston; and Mrs. And Mrs. A. D. Mallory, Lucas. At half past eight the bride and groom preceded by the bride's parents, entered the parlor and took their positions beneath the canopy of beautiful foliage and flowers, from the center of which hung an immense bell of white roses. The bride was elegantly attired in rich cream satin en train, and the groom in full evening dress. Bishop Perry immediately proceeded with the beautiful and impressive marriage service of the Episcopal church, and the happy couple received the congratulations and earnest well-wishes of their friends, after which all partook of the wedding feast. The presents were numerous, elegant and appropriate, well worthy of those who gave and those who received them. The house and grounds were tastefully decorated and illuminated, the weather was as delightful as could be asked, and all went merrily and happily. The special Pullman coach, which brought the Illinois visitors yesterday noon, started homeward with them at midnight. The bride and groom left on the night train for Southern Kansas where Mr. Thayer will immediately resume his duties as Chief Engineer of the D.M. & A.R.R. now building. Though pressed with the many duties of his busy position, he has learned that other duty: "Seek a good wife of thy God, for she is the best gift of his providence."

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 28, 1906 MOSES HORTON CURTIS died suddenly at his home in Norwood last Thursday, June 14. Death came while MR. CURTIS was out in his yard and without pain. He was 80 years of age. The funeral services were held at the U.B. Church in that vicinity, conducted by Rev. M. Hulbert of Oakley assisted by Rev. Olive Stark of Norwood, and Rev. Emma Myers of Lacona. Interment was made in the Fletcher Burying Ground. MR. CURTIS was one of the pioneers of Lucas County, having come from Ohio to Otter Creek, April 25, 1857. He was one of the builders of the county, an upright Christian man, a good citizen and neighbor and one, through industry and thrift, prospered as a farmer. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, May 15, 1826, but spent his boyhood years in what is now known as Noble County, Ohio. He grew to manhood accustomed to the industry of farm life. On December 28, 1847, he was married to MISS SARAH ANN SPENCE, of Monroe County, Ohio. To them were born sixteen children, seven of whom are numbered with their parents upon the death roll. His wife died some eleven years ago. The living children are: WILLIAM N.; EMERY W.; JONATHAN B; ZACCHEUS; MRS. ELIZA GRAY of Seibert, Col.; MRS. MARY E. BENNETT of Halgier, Neb.; MRS. MARTHA BARGER and ELMER and ELLA C. There are also twenty-one grandchildren and four great grandchildren. MR. and MRS. CURTIS were members of the Wesleyan M.E. Church in Ohio, but soon after coming to Lucas County, they united with the United Brethren Church of Christ, in which relation they continued until their death. When they came to this county, deer and other wild game were plentiful. First, the family lived in a slab house until it was blown down. Then, until a new log house was built they lived in a covered wagon. The present home place occupies the same site as the early log cabin which was built in 1857, 49 years ago. The youngest daughter, with her husband, DANIEL BARGER, will remain on the home place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected] *The original article should have read 'Mrs. Martha Barger' instead of Harger....

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, July 5, 1906 The following extract is from MRS. JESSIE MALLORY THAYER's address before the recent meeting of the Chariton Improvement Association: "Is it timidity, or stupid indifference that allows us to permit the old ruin of the Atlantic House to deface one of the best residence streets of our town for a period now extending into years. Don't tell me that nothing can be done about it because of legal complications among the owners. That corner is an eyesore and a nuisance and a disgrace to the city council and to the citizens of that part of town who suffer it to exist so long, when a little persistent, dogged courage, mixed with a large portion of energy and never-let-up-ness could surely find the remedy and use it. If all else fails us commend that ugly ruin to the tender mercies of the youthful vandals who annually are permitted by the city authorities to wreck and damage valuable property on Hallowe'en. We know there was nothing timid about our boy citizens that night at least." JOHN V. BONNETT was interviewed concerning this, on Saturday, and stated to a Leader reporter that under the "complications" he was powerless to do anything with the old ruin but though Chariton might turn it into an attraction from the eye sore which it now is by planting vines to trail up the stately old walls in their partial decay and institute a fountain in front with beautiful white swans floating in the eddys. Festooning mosses might be induced to grow where the broken bottles and tin cans now linger and the spray arising from the bubbling wells would lend a misty fascination, alike attractive to the seekers after the rare and beautiful. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifet October 20, 2004 [email protected] *O.K. Frank or Gary -- where and what was the 'Atlantic House'???

Thanks, Frank, for this, ahem, very interesting information. How did Virgil Ulysses get the nickname of Bert? I'm assuming they were some of your ancestors?! Regards, Nancee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Myers" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [IALUCAS] A STORY OF MASSACRE -- C.R. KIRK > Bert Simpson (Virgil Ulysses Simpson, 3 December 1865-2 March 1941) was a > son of Prof. Joseph Stout Parks Simpson and his wife, Elizabeth Adella > Myers. > He was widely known for his, ahem, exploits. > > C.R. Kirk was, also ahem, a business partner of Frank R. Crocker, of whom > we have been talking a lot lately. > > Frank > > > > > ==== IALUCAS Mailing List ==== > David, [email protected]: Lucas County List Administrator, > Website Coordinator, Lucas County IA Genweb - http://www.rootsweb.com/~ialucas/Main.htm > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 28, 1906 In December of last year, DR. J.C. BELL, of Lucas, through is attorney, W.B. Barger, secured a judgment against Lucas County for a sum aggregating something over $500.00, known as the small pox claim with which our readers are familiar. This resulted after several litigations, the foundation being the employment of DR. BELL by the trustees of Jackson Township during the scourge several years ago. No notice of appeal in the case tried in December has been filed and the limit has been run. Mr. Barger demanded payment of the county authorities but payment was not forthcoming -- in fact it is claimed the request has been ignored. On Monday execution was issued against whatever funds there might now be in the treasury and the depository at the First National Bank, and to make sure of it the cattle at the County Farm were levied upon. This may not shut off the milk supply out there but surely it is an unexpected sequal and unless that amount of judgment is paid, the delay, ho! wever, not being through any lack of funds, the county finances will be inoculated with the cow pox administered by the Sheriff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, July 5, 1906 'The Poor Farm Cows Redeemed.' The Leader mentioned last week, that an execution had been issued against the poor farm cows to satisfy a judgment against the county held by DR. J.C. BELL. This week we are happy to report that the judgment has been satisfied and the yoke of debt taken off the dairy stock. The board of supervisors, in their natural tendernesses of hearts, couldn't bear to have things go this way, so it is presumed they met and held council. Now there was Old Pide, the stripper, who hadn't gone dry since the spring freshet along in the 80s. Couldn't afford to risk a drowth by having her put up on the auction block. The pink heifer with the brindle calf might have been spared -- but there was the calf. The board couldn't possibly stay out there to look after it -- besides "butter milch calves" are poor brutes anyway. Then there was a cow with the crumpled horn, Oft milked three times from eve to mourn -- Dismiss the thought! She was to remain a fixture -- especially right now in the midst of the berry season. Several others were considered -- but to no avail. There was a pale jersey which often pined away at weaning time, the old roan antique -- the one that watched every opportunity to kick the bucket -- and the giddy half breed known as the hooker -- well they all had their faults but it would be like Snapping apart -- The chords around the heart To bid farewell to any of them, so they concluded to square up the bill and beg pardon. True there was one animal on the farm that might have been dispensed with -- the New Jersey bull which wore the bell -- but then of what use would the bell be? The cows are in the clover patch; The debt of gratitude is paid -- The board is safe beneath its thatch And the closing scene is played. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 28, 1906 On last Thursday evening the Chariton Improvement Association met in the Library building and held a most interestong session. After the routine of business was gone through with, such as reports of committees, secretaries, treasurer, etc., discussions were listened to on the assigned subjects. Rev. F.B. Palmer spoke of "A town without a town hall." All decided that a place for public assemblage and entertainment was one of the necessities but just how to get it was not a problem (?) or solution. A joint stock company was suggested among the other plans. MRS. HICKMAN gave a strong address on "The legitimate use of school buildings." This brought out much interest and there were spirited responses. MRS. JESSIE MALLORY THAYER gave an address on "The timid city and its citizens." She protrayed several of the conditions in Chariton at the present time which through the timidity of its citizens were other than commendable, such as the blockading of highways, unkept grounds, and above all the evil reports constantly being sent out from Chariton. She thought the good qualities should have as much publicity as the evil. J.H. DARRAH made several good points in dealing with the "Knockers." He concluded the knockers were not confined to any particular class or avocation but too many otherwise enterprising people unconsciously fell into the habit and the results were not beneficial. Several others talked on the various subjects. These meetings do good. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 28, 1906 MOSES HORTON CURTIS died suddenly at his home in Norwood last Thursday, June 14. Death came while MR. CURTIS was out in his yard and without pain. He was 80 years of age. The funeral services were held at the U.B. Church in that vicinity, conducted by Rev. M. Hulbert of Oakley assisted by Rev. Olive Stark of Norwood, and Rev. Emma Myers of Lacona. Interment was made in the Fletcher Burying Ground. MR. CURTIS was one of the pioneers of Lucas County, having come from Ohio to Otter Creek, April 25, 1857. He was one of the builders of the county, an upright Christian man, a good citizen and neighbor and one, through industry and thrift, prospered as a farmer. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, May 15, 1826, but spent his boyhood years in what is now known as Noble County, Ohio. He grew to manhood accustomed to the industry of farm life. On December 28, 1847, he was married to MISS SARAH ANN SPENCE, of Monroe County, Ohio. To them were born sixteen children, seven of whom are numbered with their parents upon the death roll. His wife died some eleven years ago. The living children are: WILLIAM N.; EMERY W.; JONATHAN B; ZACCHEUS; MRS. ELIZA GRAY of Seibert, Col.; MRS. MARY E. BENNETT of Halgier, Neb.; MRS. MARTHA HARGER and ELMER and ELLA C. There are also twenty-one grandchildren and four great grandchildren. MR. and MRS. CURTIS were members of the Wesleyan M.E. Church in Ohio, but soon after coming to Lucas County, they united with the United Brethren Church of Christ, in which relation they continued until their death. When they came to this county, deer and other wild game were plentiful. First, the family lived in a slab house until it was blown down. Then, until a new log house was built they lived in a covered wagon. The present home place occupies the same site as the early log cabin which was built in 1857, 49 years ago. The youngest daughter, with her husband, DANIEL BARGER, will remain on the home place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]

Bert Simpson (Virgil Ulysses Simpson, 3 December 1865-2 March 1941) was a son of Prof. Joseph Stout Parks Simpson and his wife, Elizabeth Adella Myers. He was widely known for his, ahem, exploits. C.R. Kirk was, also ahem, a business partner of Frank R. Crocker, of whom we have been talking a lot lately. Frank

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 21, 1906 MARRIAGE LICENSES: HENRY PERFIELD, 43 to JULIA MULLIN, 34. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 21, 1906 Salem School closed on the 9th inst. On the evening preceding, the scholars of the school were very pleasantly entertained at the home of their teacher, ZORA BRYAN. Strawberries, ice cream and cake were generously served, many merry games were played and the evening passed away all too quickly All report a grand good time. Children's day exercises were held at Salem last Sunday. The Church was neatly decorated for the occasion. The program was an exceptionally good one and was rendered in a very pleasing manner. All without exception acquitted themselves well. Those having charge of the program certainly deserve words of praise for their untiring energy and zeal in bringing it to so successful a termination. Rev. Palmer of Chariton attended Children's day exercises at Salem Sunday. MRS. (?) and daughter, MRS. WILL CLARK of Chariton came out to Salem Sunday to attend Children's day exercises. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 21, 1906 The families of WESLEY and ED WALTON and MRS. FLORA W. BURKHART, left on Tuesday for Alice, Texas, where they will temporarily locate and may decide to permanently later. for many years the WALTONS have prominently been engaged in business in Chariton and have ever been among our best people and while wishing them success and health in their new location, regret to have them move away. It is their intention to secure land in the great southwest and may again enter the same business in one of the larger cities, that they conducted here. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert October 20, 2004 [email protected]