A Tribute to our Ancestors on this day of Thanksgiving. THEY did not choose us, nor we them; we never knew them, nor they us; yet we are inextricably bound together for all eternity and there is no law in the universe, no metamorphosis physical or spiritual, that can ever alter this inalienable truth. OFTEN we may wish for different ones and feel moved to deny the ones we have, but this is as futile as it is foolish to invent spurious ones, for our deception will surely be unmasked, if not by others, ultimately by our own conscience. WE owe everything, our very existence, to our ancestors, and yet we know next to nothing of them because mostly their lives were so humbly recorded. It is good that we seek to expand our knowledge of their lives so that we may better understand our own. THEY made us, body and soul, and we must accept without complaint or rancour what they were and what we are, for nothing and no-one can ever change this fact and it is barren folly to dwell obsessively upon it. WE recognize that the legacy of genetic inheritance is a double-edged sword. We should be grateful for those gifts of personality and disposition our ancestors bestowed upon us which we find beneficial and not rail against those traits we find less appealing, for it is surely in our own hands to change them. WE should take pride in our ancestors and their achievements wherever possible, whether high-born or low, rich or poor, prince or pauper, and not seek arbitrarily to revile or condemn them for acts of which we know nothing of the causes. WE must learn from them, from their mistakes as well as their successes; from their tragedies as well as their triumphs; from their sins as well as their virtues; from their hopes as well as their fears. POSTERITY and history are irrevocably interwined in the present. No coherent vision of the future can exist without an affinity for the past and cognizance of the lives of our forebears. REMEMBER that we, too, are the ancestors of those yet unborn and we should seek to leave for them a heritage of which they can be as proud as we are of that which our forebears bequeathed to us. WE bless and thank our ancestors for the legacy of the good things they gave us, forgive them their errors and pray that we will endeavor to use wisely the knowledge which they handed down to us. © Roy Stockdill 1997 My best wishes to each of you and yours on this Thanksgiving day. Kathleen Burnett List Mom

Dear List Members, Thank you for taking such good care of your list while I was gone. I checked in each evening and was needed only a couple of times. I appreciate all you do to help this list run as smoothly as it does. Kathleen Burnett List Mom

Dear List Members: I can't even begin to describe how very proud I am of each of you. Today was a day that we could have had major problems on our mailing lists due to improper postings, and wouldn't you know it, I was also out of town attending a meeting and could not keep an eye on the computer to stop problem postings if they happened. When I got home this evening, the first thing I did was to check my e-mail to make sure all of you were ok. I want you to know that I am the list mom 121 mailing lists and there was not one political message posted on any of them, but on some of the lists that I am just a member of, I saw complaints regarding political postings and out of control conversations. Again, I am touch at your support of me and your support of the manner I choose to run your lists. I bow my head in awe at you as a group. Thank you! Kathleen Burnett List Mom

My Decatur County, KS families came from Decatur Co, IA in the late 1800's and include the Samuel Riddle and Gabriel Marick/Merrick family.

I am looking for a Samuel McCluster and family that moved to Decatur and most likely Oberlin between 1880 and 1890. They had two adopted children of which at least one came with who was known as either Jennie Oats or Sarah Puffenbarger. Jennie married in 1892 in McCook NE a Richard Carroll who died about 1900. I am trying to find the death dates of the McCluster man and woman and would like an obituary to see if it tells anymore about Jennie. They came from West Virginia, Lewis County. Thanks. Jerilyn Jerilyn Lappin Koskan Cook Co., Illinois [email protected] FTM user Searching BREWER, COOK, DAVIDSON, DUSATKO, DYE, FISHER, GRAY, GREENE, HANNA, KIRK, KOSKAN, LAPPIN, LEAK/LEEK, MITCHELL, MONROE, MONTGOMERY, OATES, PORTER, PUFFENBARGER, SLUSHER, SMITH, STARBUCKS, STARKEY, TODD, WADSWORTH, WILSON, and many more.

Searching the following surnames in Decatur Co.: Bosler, Clark, Headley Jackson, Morton, Nalley, Wilson, & others. Robert Moses Johnston homesteaded there in 1883 and lived near Oberlin, where he married Jennie E. Morton. They raised the following children: Marvin (m. Ada Wilson), Anna (m. Hill), Orpha (m. Bosler), Oren, Millard, & Josephine (m. Bosler). Robert M. Johnston had a sister named Etta Mae who supposedly married a man by the name of Clark & died in a "pest house" in Coolidge, KS--I have found no institution in Coolidge that might have been known as a "pest house." Anyone have any ideas on this? Robert D. & Nancy E. (Jackson) Wilson homesteaded in Decatur Co., Prairie Dog Township, in 1883, having migrated from Hebron, Thayer Co. NE. They lived out their lives there and are buried in the Shibboleth cemetery, Prairie Dog Township. Their children: Robert "Jake", Charles, (These two did not marry), Frank (m. Headley), Lavina (m. Jackson), John (m. Headley), Leroy (m. Neruda), & Ada, who married Marvin Johnston. Nancy E. Wlson's sister, Mary, & her husband, David Nalley, came to the Prairie Dog Community along with the Wilsons and died at Wilson's home ca. 1887. He is supposedly buried in the Shibboleth cemetery but I have not been able to locate his death record and his grave is not marked, if buried there. Does anyone know if the Selden or Dresden newspapers are available for that time period? The Oberlin paper did not carry a death notice. Thanks for keeping this site for us. Keith Johnston

Per ZACHRISSON and Eva ISAKSDOTTER came from Sweden in 1870. Eva is buried in the old Swedish Cemetery by Herndon with no marker. Records? Found her as a widow on the 1900 Rawlins Census with daughter and family--Erick & Christine JOHNSON came from Sweden in 1887 and 1888, she followed him with first of their children, Anna, Karl, Mary (married into the HOKENSON family--John, both buried in Oberlin Cemetery) to MN then to KS about 1894. Farms in Rawlins County, but did business in Oberlin... Daughter Anna married in 1899 to Oscar Theodore PETERSON (immigrated in 1887 from Sweden with mother and siblings, some lived in Decatur County), their youngest daughter, my mother Ethel Larena PETERSON, graduated Decatur County H.S. in 1938. When I have been to Oberlin to visit, I have tried to find out who maintains the Covenant Cemetery out by Midway where my ancestors are buried? My Aunt Alice and Uncle Ole Sabin ran Midway Station and Texaco station in Oberlin for many years, worked at the Oberlin nursing home and then retired to TX. Any family history information would be welcome. Mary Ann Bolton Mililani, HI

Surnames: Jessy K. LOCY and Elizabeth Jane BARNETT I have no dates on LOCY -- Elizabeth BARNETT was born April 27, 1860 died April 18, 1944. A history report written by my Great Aunt said that Jessy and Elizabeth were buried in the Jennings Cemetery. At 06:56 PM 10/30/00 -0700, you wrote: >Due to the fact this list has not had a List Mom or owner for a while >and the activity has been slow fairly slow, I would like to call a Roll >Call for this week only. > >Please post your surnames, name of county and dates your ancestors were >in the county. > >Kathleen Burnett >List Mom > > >============================== >Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases >http://www.ancestry.com/search >Search over 2500 databases with one easy query!

Due to the fact this list has not had a List Mom or owner for a while and the activity has been slow fairly slow, I would like to call a Roll Call for this week only. Please post your surnames, name of county and dates your ancestors were in the county. Kathleen Burnett List Mom

My name is Kathleen Burnett and I am your new List Mom. I want to take a moment and let you know who I am and a little about myself. I am a mother of four and grandmother of nine. I work outside of the home during the day. I am a list Mom to several other Mailing Lists including the KS-Cemeteries Mailing List. I am also very actively involved in my own family research. Many of my ancestors migrated to and through Kansas, Batman, Daggett, Loomis, Kellett to name a few. I am a hands on List Mom, meaning I keep track of what is going on with the mailing list. If you are ever in need of me during the day, while at work, you can reach me at [email protected] - in the evenings or on Sunday I can be reached at [email protected] My goal for your list is to keep it a safe place for you to research your Kansas surnames and history. Safe meaning a place where you are not subject to postings other than posting related to the subject of the list. The lists that I take care of follow the following guidelines: Posting of virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, current events, items for sale, personal messages, flames, etc. (in other words - spam) is NOT ALLOWED and will be grounds for removal. Consideration for exceptions, contact me at [email protected] I look forward to getting to know each of you in the future. One more note. I adopted these lists because there was a need for someone to watch over them and help them grow. If you have been taking care of it un-officially and would like to take it over officially - I will most willingly give it back to you. Just let me know. Kathleen Burnett List Mom

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/DecaturObits/3 Surname: RELPH, BECKLER ------------------------- Newspaper unknown - June 1952; Resident of Decatur Co., KS OBITUARY MRS. JAMES RELPH DIES IN COLORADO Mrs. James Relph of Pueblo, Colo., passed away June 14. Mrs. Relph was born in Cedar Bluffs, Kans., Sept. 29, 1880. It was there she spent her early youth and married James G. Relph on Jan. 1, 1896. The Relphs spent most of their lives in Cedar Bluffs, they then moved to Laird, Colo., until Mr. Relph passed away in January, 1950. Mrs. Relph then made her home in Pueblo. She is survived by five sons: Wilber Relph of McCook, Ted of Spokane, Wash., Elmer of Cheyenne, Wyo., Willard of Laird, Colo., and Archie of Pueblo, five daughters: Mrs. Dolly Rhodes of McCook, Mrs. Bessy Clayton of Hasty, Colo., Mrs. Berthy Ryan of Pueblo, Mrs. Regina Mitchell of Pueblo and Mrs. Grace Kennaman of Trenton. Mrs. Relph is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Herrmann Funeral Home, with Rev. L. C. Hicks officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Bluffs cemetery with the Herrmann Funeral Home in charge. *Note: Her Death Certificate has State of birth as Iowa. OBITUARY FLORA B. RELPH Flora M. Bechler was born near Blairs Town, Ia. She died June 14 at Pueblo, Colo., where she had been living for more than a year. Interment was in the Cedar Bluffs cemetery. She was a child when her parents moved to the vicinity of Cedar Bluffs. She was married to James G. Relph, Jan. 1, 1896. The couple had 12 children. The Relphs made their home near Cedar Bluffs until 1939 when they moved to Laird, Colo. After his death in January, 1950, she moved to Pueblo. Surviviors include 10 children, Wilber and Dollie Rhoad of McCook; Ted of Spokane, Wash.; Elmer of Cheyenne, Wyo., Willard of Laird, Colo.; Archie, Bertha Ryan and Regina Mitchell, all of Pueblo; Bessie Clayton of Hasty, Colo.; Grace Kinnaman of Trenton; 28 grandchildren and 14 great granchildren. OBITUARY RITES TO BE HELD HERE FOR MRS. JAMES RELPH Funeral services for Mrs. Jame Relph, 71, who died Saturday at Pueblo, Colo., will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Herrmann Funeral home. Burial will be made in the cemetery at Cedar Bluffs. Services will be conducted by the Rev. L. C. Hicks. Born and reared at Cedar Bluffs, Mrs. Relph was married there Jan.1, 1896, to James G. Relph who died in January, 1950, at Laird, Colo. After his death she moved to Pueblo. She is survived by five sons: Wilber of McCook, Ted of Spokeane, Elmer of Cheyenne, Willard of Laird and Archie of Pueblo; five daughters, Mrs. Dollie Rhoad of McCook; Bessie Clayton of Hasty, Colo., Bertha Ryan and Regina Mitchell, of Pueblo; Grace Kinnaman of Trenton; 28 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Hi My great grandmother was a Locy. We think that her parents Jessie(Jesse/Jessy) Locy and Elizabeth Barnett Locy are buried there in the Jennings cemetery. Do you have any information on this? Is there a way someone would be able to find their tomb stones and get that information for me? I don't have a birth date or death date on either one. Nor do I have a marriage date. The information I have came from my Grandmother Ethel Locy Sisler's bible. Thank you for all your help Diane Sisler Kupar

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Ks/Decatur/10 Surname: Krack ------------------------- Does anyone know how I can get a copy of the book Life on a Homestead in Western Kansas 1880 to 1910 by Allen E. Ecord. It was published by Elwood M. Ecord and Copyrighted in 1982. My grandparents are mentioned several times in the book and we would like to have a copy.

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/Decatur?read=9 Surname: Fringer, Bryan, Pryor ------------------------- I have been digging on the Pryor roots and have new information to share with any descendants of Archie Pryor of Decatur CO KS.

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/Decatur?read=8 Surname: Vernon McNeal Haddow Shepard Kinsey ------------------------- Hattie Vernon moved to Decatur County as a teenager, she taught school and married Grant McNeal. Hattie was my Grandmother's(Mattie {Vernon} Shepard) Aunt. Searching for any and all information on the McNeal family. Hattie's father was David Vernon and mother was Mary Haddow. Hattie and Grant (Mac)children names Grace, Gertrude, Earl and Glenn, Glenn was killed in a mine fire in MT. Please reapond by e-mail with any info, and would be happy to share any and all info I have, which includes pictures and original newspaper stories on Hattie and Grant. To read about Hattie and Grant's life go to this link. There are many surnames listed in her story, would also like to learn of the familes she has mentioned. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~c1debbi/Vernon/Hattie.htm Link: Hattie Vernon McNeal's Life Story URL: <http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~c1debbi/Vernon/Hattie.htm>

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/Decatur?read=6 Surname: Price Kinsey Vernon Bailey Shepard ------------------------- This is the Obituary of Mary Ann Price, daughter of Jacob Price and Hannah Bailey. Wife of Mark Bouge Kinsey. Mary Ann was my gg grandmother. Mary Ann's daughter Emma, was my grandmothers, Mattie F (Vernon) Shepard, mother. Please if you have any info to share respond by e-mail to me. Have many Decatur county relitives and info. (From newspaper article) OBITUARY Mary Ann Price was born near Alexander, Green co., Indiana, June 28, 1838. Died April 21, 1929 at the home of her son, Fred, near Montrose, Kan., aged 90 years, 9 months and 24 days. When about seven years of age she, with her widowed mother, brothers and sisters moved to Henry Co., Iowa and later to Harden Co. In her early womanhood she became a Christian and united with the Christian church. She was married M. B. Kinsey at Marshaltown, Iowa in November 1859. In 1862 they, with their baby daughter on year old went with an ox team and covered wagon to California where they resided for eleven years. In 1873 they came to Jewell co., and settled on a homestead in Buffalo township. Here they lived, sharing the toil, inconveniences and disadvantages of the early settlers, rearing a family of boys and girls and contributing their part in the development of a new country. In 1911 they sold their home farm and moved near Formoso, where Mr. Kinsey died in the fall of that year. Since that time, Mrs. Kinsey and the daughter, Hattie, who has always lived with, or near, Fred and Anna, except the six years they were in Decatur county. The family of nine children consisted of six daughters and three sons. One son, john dying at the age of seven, in 1888 and one daughter, Emma dying April of this year. Those remaining are Samantha Betts, Brownsville, Neb., Matilda Robinette, Jewell, Kan., Hattie of the home address, Nellie Edwards, Oberlin, Kan., Fred of Montrose, and Frank of Topeka, also 30 grandchildren and 53 Greatgrandchildren. Mrs. Kinsey has lived to a ripe old age, yet a loving mother will be sadly missed. In the later years of her live she renewed her early faith, spending much time in prayer and reading her Bible, dying in the full faith in Christ. The funeral services were held in the M. E. Church at Montrose on April 23rd, conducted by Rev. Fred Blandin of Mankato.

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/Decatur?read=5 Surname: Shepard Mason Vernon ------------------------- Aden Wickham was the second husband of my Great Grandmother; Cora Dell Mason Shepard. Her Daughter-in-law was Mattie F Vernon, my Grandmother. Please respond by e-mail with any questions or information. Searching for leads to my Great Grandfather John Shepard, Coras First husband. Obituary, Aden Wickham Aden Wickham was born at Oleny, Ills., December 24, 1874, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Wickham, who with their family moved to West Norton Co., Kansas, in 1882, locating on a farm east of Clayton, Kansas. A number years later the family moved Norcatur, and Aden became the first rural mail carrier, and held that position for 27 years, being absent from duties only at short intervals, the longest stretch, from July, 1930 to the pierod of his death, on March 4, 1931, because of illness. During the period of his mail service he traveled more than 200,000 miles, or the equal of eight times around the world. Punctual, always serving to the very best of his ability, consicientious and willing to assomodate at all times, Aden was a popular and beloved servant of the public. His age was 56 years, 2 months and ten days. He was married on October 15, 1825 to Mrs. Cora Shepard, who survives, A brother, Del Wickham of Manhattan, Kansas, Mres Hattie Carter of Denver, Colo., and Mrs. Lottier Baldwin and Mrs. Maye Williams of Kanorado, Kansas, theree sisters also survive. Mr. Whickham was a member of the Odd Fellow lodge, joi8ning that fraternal order almost twenty-five years previous to his death. Had he hived a little longer her would have received from that order his jewel. Funeral services were held from the M. E. Church, the sermon by the pastor, Rev. J A McClellan, anb burial in the Norcatur cemetry by the father and mother. CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our appreciation to all who so kindly assisted and rendered helpul service during the illness, death and furial of out brother. Especially do we wish to thank the members of the Odd Fellows, and the post office employees, for their namy kindness' and to all , for beautiful flowers and kind words of sympathy. Del Wickham Lottie Baldwin Hattie Carter Maye Williams ____________ We can scarcely express in words our deep appriciation to all who were so helpful and kind during the illness, death and burial of our brother, and especially we extend thands to the Odd Fellows, and to all for the fesutiful flowers, songs at the funeral and words of sympathy, and for many favors extended by Rev. McClellan. George Hughes and family. _________________________ We want to express our sincere thatnks to all good friends who were so kind and helpful during the tillness, death and burial of our husband, and especially do we thankd the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs for their good deeds, and for the flowers and many expressions of sympathy form all. Mrs. Aden Wickham Mr. and Mrs. Carl Shepard Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shepard

Aloha Fonda and All, I haven't been working on my Erick JOHNSON or Oscar PETERSON families for a long time. This email just reminded me that I didn't renew my membership since I retired and moved from Colorado. Please tell me how much the dues are and the membership renewal date and I will mail a check to the address you give me. I found some good information in your newsletters in the past on my Swedish folks. Would it be possible to catch up on the issues I have missed? Thanks for helping me. Regards, Mary Ann Bolton Mililani, HI > ==== KSDECATU Mailing List ==== > This KSDECATU list is currently available for adoption! > Interested in becoming the list manager? Go here: > http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/clusters/adoptcounty.html > > ============================== > Personalized Mailing Lists: never miss a connection again. > http://pml.rootsweb.com/ > Brought to you by RootsWeb.com.

Posted on: Decatur Co. Ks Deeds Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ks/DecaturDeed?read=2 Surname: Roe, Hinkle ------------------------- Looking for available information on family and relation of William B. Roe and wife Mary May Hinkle buried in Norcatur Cemetery, Decatur County, KS. They lived over the line in Norton County, KS beside the Rosehill School. Thanks for any help

Looking for information on Eli Robinson (d)3-19-1880 in western KS.