LAVALETTE KINNEY, (1826 - 1894): Lavalette Kinney was born on May 6, 1826, in Buffalo, New York. He was the son of Joseph Kinney and Priscilla Richmond. I am particularly interested in learning the origin of the fascinating name, "Lavalette", I suspect it was from someone's surname, now forgotten. In a letter that he wrote in 1892, Lavalette said that his father ran a tavern in Buffalo from 1829 to 1837. Sometime shortly after 1837, Joseph moved his family to Hancock Co., Illinois. Joseph died here in 1843. The marriage license of Lavalette states that he married Miss Jane Butler on Oct. 18, 1849, in Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois. The family appears on the 1850 Census in Hancock Co., Lavalette's first name was spelled "Livelot". They were living with the family of William Cook. The first of the couple's children was born on Aug. 17, 1850, a daughter named Cordelia. Crissey Ann was born on March 21, 1853, but died on Sept 2, 1855. William Marion was born on Sept. 5, 1855. Henrietta was born on May 11, 1858. The 1860 Census identifies the place as St. Albin's Twp., and this time the father's first name is spelled "Lavelett". My great great grandfather, Joseph Richmond, was born Nov. 9, 1860. A Kinney family Bible also calls this place in St. Albin's Twp by the name of West point. Lavalette's mother Priscilla died the next year. Lavalette appears not to have served during the Civil War. His next child, Elizabeth May, was born on Aug. 7, 1863. On Oct. 20, 1867 twins were born, Warren Didamus and Lucinda Bell. I am told that Didamus/Didymus means twin, and is a name that was handed down in the Kinney family. In Hancock Co. Lavalette was not just a farmer but also served as a Justice of the Peace, Township Collector and Township Assessor. He was also a Free Will Baptist. In the 1870 Census, Lavalette's name is still spelled "Lavalett". In about 1871, Lavalette and his family said goodbye to Illinois and headed west through Missouri. They stayed for a short time in Richardson Co., Nebraska. Here the last child of the couple was born, a son named John Alva/Alvia, on April 20, 1873. The family reached it's destination in 1874, Mitchell Co. Kansas. They settled in the Beloit area. In the 1880 Census they were living in Salt Creek Twp. the father's name was spelled "Lavalett". In 1884 Lavalette's name appeared in the Atlas of Mitchell County. I have a photo of Lavalette and his wife taken from this time period in Beloit. In 1894 tragedy occurred when Lavalette died of an illness. His obituary of 11/2/1894, "The Western Call", states that he died of malaria fever, but the Early Death Register of Mitchell County recorded that it was Typhoid Fever. His grandaughter, Blanche I. Kinney, got Typhoid about the same time. She lived but it was said that her hair fell out. His funeral was held in the Brown Chapel and given by B. F. McMillan, who also wrote the obit. It was stated that Lavalette had been a Free Will Baptist for 44 years. He was buried at the Pleasant View Cemetery. -Mark Vernon Seattle, WA