Where Have You Gone -- Isaac "Shelby" Kirtley

Isaac "Shelby" Kirtley, my first cousin four times removed, was married to Susan "Anna" Chinn, my second great grand aunt, November 27, 1856 in Lafayette county, Missouri. 

Shelby was born in 1833, probably in Kentucky to William Kirtley and Elizabeth Shelby.  Anna Chinn was born July 15, 1838 in Fayette county, Kentucky to Dr. Joseph Graves Chinn and Barbara Garland Graves, the tenth of their twelve children. 

The last mention of Shelby in Lafayette county, Missouri was the 1860 census. I presume he hung around a little later than that since two of their children were born after the 1860 census. Their four children were:

1. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kirtley, born May 21, 1858 in Lafayette county, Missouri and died March 18, 1867 in Lexington, Lafayette, Missouri.

2. Kelly C. Kirtley born October 1859 in Lafayette county, Missouri and committed suicide September 3, 1926 in Lexington, Kentucky.

3. Sterling Price Kirtley, who was known as Price, born June 6, 1862 in Lexington, Missouri and died in Lexington, Kentucky September 28, 1937. She married Harvey J. Parker. 

4. Hester Kirtley born about 1866 in Lexington, Missouri and died Sept 29, 1885 at Joseph Chinn's house, Lexington, Missouri. Since her grandfather was living in Lexington, Kentucky at this time, I presume she was at her uncle Joseph Chinn's house.  

There's a lot of yack over on ancestry that has Shelby dying in 1860s. I don't think so. There are a couple reasons behind that. First, is that there are pension records in Arkansas re: Shelby Kirtley, born 1833 in Kentucky as late as 1899. Second, his mother, Elizabeth Shelby Kirtley died February 22, 1899 and left him One Dollar to be paid at the end of 1900. Third, and this one shocked me, he married in 1876 and his marriage is recorded in the colored pages of the Arkansas marriage books. I've not found any other records of him other than this. 

However, in his wife's obituary in 1872, they talk of her having the raising of 4 small children, which to me indicates that Shelby abandoned her. The eldest of their children, Lizzie died at the age of eight, not quite nine years old. Kelly was living in 1880 with his cousin, Jacob Graves, in Dog Fennel, Kentucky; Price was living with her Aunt Hester Chinn Trapp in 1880 and Hester Kirtley was living with her uncle Joseph Chinn in Lexington, Missouri. 

This is another "Gee, I wish I knew the whole story." 

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes

Elected Enrolling Clerk

From the Lexington, Missouri Intelligencer, 8 January 1915:

Frank Bowman of this city was elected Enrolling Clerk last night of the House of Representatives at Jefferson City. Mr. Bowman served in this capacity two years ago, and gave such general satisfaction that his election this time was without opposition.

The other two composite photos are courtesy of the Missouri State Archives from the Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 1913-1914 and The Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 1915-1916.  My ancestor, Frank Bowman, Enrolling Clerk, is in the fourth row, column 1 in 1913-1914.  In 1915-1916, he is in the right row, second from the bottom. 

(Author's note: the actual date of the paper was elicited from Genealogybank.com. As you can see, Intelligencer 1915 is written on the side. I was lucky on this one as most of the articles I find are not sourced.)

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes

Grandfather's Letter: Alex Maitland to John S. Percival, 1911

The following is a letter to my grandfather, John Stearns Percival from his grandfather (my great-great grandfather) Alexander Maitland (June 13, 1839 - April 22, 1924). 

Richmond, Mo. 6-18-11. (June 18, 1911)

Mr. John S. Percival

  Gering Neb

My Dear Grandson

Your card conveying good birthday wishes for me, was recd on the day I entered my 73rd year, and I assure you was greatly appreciated. It is exceedingly pleasant to be so kindly remembered. I hope you are succeeding well in your job this summer, although your Mother says you get a little lonesome at times, but that will wear off.  With best wishes for your success, I am

Your Affectionate Grandfather

Alex Maitland

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes

Speaking of Weddings - Frank Bowman and Lizzie Webb

The Lexington (Missouri) Intelligencer, 3 April, 1883, page 2 c 6:

Married - In Dover township, Lafayette county, Mo., at the residence of the bride's father, J. Garland Webb, Esq., Tuesday evening, April 3, by Elder C. S. Lucas of this city, Mr. Frank G. Bowman and Miss Lizzie C. Webb. Attendants, Mr. J. G. Webb, Jr., and Miss Bettie Mountjoy; Mr. Henry Bascom and Miss Daisy Webb.

The wedding was a most elegant affair. A large concourse of friends and relatives were in attendance to see the young people married, quite a number being present from Lexington, St. Louis and Kentucky where they have relatives. The host and hostess with true old fashioned hospitality made all their guests feel at home, and the occasion was in every way a very enjoyable one. Quite out of the ordinary custom the bridal party was ready promptly at the time announced, and the guest having formed a circle for them in the spacious parlor the bridal party appeared, one groomsman and bridesmaid forming on each side, and the bride and groom facing the company. Mr. Lucas then proceeded to make them man and wife in a most solemn manner, which impressed not only the fair lady and the gentleman most nearly concerned, but all who heard it. The ladies of the bridal party, in their fresh young beauty, were pleasant to look upon. The bride was dressed in a pearl colored silk, point lace trimmings, diamond jewelry and water lily garniture. Miss Betty Mountjoy, first bridesmaid, wore a cameo-pink silk, with Spanish lace trimmings, diamond earrings and pansies. Miss Daisy Webb, of Dover was dressed in blue silk, Spanish lace overdress, silver ornaments and daisies. After warm congratulations from all present, the company was invited to the dining room, where a feast of good things awaited them. The table was beautifully arranged, and from the substantials to the cakes highly decorated by Mrs. Webb herself, the confections and tropical fruits, there was everything there to make glad the heart of a hungry man or woman, and it was a gay and happy party that partook of the feast. The bride is a beautiful and accomplished young lady, the daughter of one of our worthiest citizens. The groom is the son of the late Col. Jno. P. Bowman, known to all our old citizens, and honored by them time after time with public trust and confidence. He is a worthy son of a worthy sire. As a steady and reliable young business man, a printer who is fast becoming a master of his art, we have known him by the intimate association of years. The two young people start life with fairest prospects - health, strength, energy, friends, love, honor, good training and good disposition. May all these promises be more than realized in the fruition of their fondest hopes. They received a very large number of unusually elegant and costly presents, but request that a list of them be not printed

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes

You Are Invited!

This is a wedding invitation for my great grandparents, John Henry Percival and Helen Maitland. They were married on December 24, 1889 in Richmond, Missouri.  This is one of the items that was loose in the scrapbook my Aunt Shirley Kardux Percival put together. 

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes

Christmas Cards from the Front

In December of 1918, my father's uncle, John Bowman, was an army sergeant stationed in France. He sent this card home to his family at Christmas. I don't know where the card came from, but it was embroidered, which I find intriguing. Thanks to my cousin Sally, for sharing the scrapbook with me.

Copyright 2010-2022, ACK for Gene Notes