Honoring the Veterans in My Family

Anyone who has lived in Emporia, Kansas realizes that Veteran’s Day is a MAJOR holiday. Today, we take time to honor those who have served and who are serving. Thus, I would like to take a walk thru my family tree to honor my veteran ancestors.

World War II

Eugene Crawford

Between 15 Feb 1945 and 1 Aug 1946, Eugene served at the Naval Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi and at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois. He shipped out on the USS Oneida (APA-221) towards the end of the War in the Pacific as seaman 1st class in the U.S. Naval Reserves. He received the Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

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Esther Crawford Noll

Esther served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps in the European Theater between 1942 and 1945.

Hugh Judson Crawford

Hugh Crawford served in the U.S. Navy Seabees

Walter Emery Briles

Walter enlisted in March 1942 in Los Angeles, California serving in the U.S. Army. Walter was discharged in 1944 but re-enlisted in 1946 and served until 1958.

World War I

Leon Crawford

LeonCrawford began his military service on 26 April 1917 in Dodge City, Kansas. He was appointed wagoner 2nd class gunner in the 25th AA Battery, 1st AA Sector. Leon was a wagoner at St. Misner 2nd Battle of the Marne from 31 March 1918 to 31 May 1918 in France.

Leon served with others from Dodge City including his brother-in-law Russel Horton and his brother, Marion.

War between the States

Washington Marion Crawford

Washington Marion Crawford enlisted in Company H of the 2nd Regiment of the New York Calvary Volunteers on 3 August 1861 serving as a sergeant. W. M. Crawford was captured in September 1863 and was imprisoned in Andersonville and Belle Isle. He was paroled on 7 Dec 1864 in Florence, South Carolina.

Richmond Fisk Hammond

Richmond Fisk Hammond enlisted as a private in Company E 177 Illinois Volunteers on 26 May 1861. He also served in the 1st Illinois Calvary Volunteers and in Company D 14th Regiment Illinois Calvary. Richmond Hammond was captured near Atlanta, Georgia on 5 Aug 1864 and was imprisoned at Andersonville.

Richmond Hammond and Washington Marion Crawford both moved to Dodge City, Kansas after the war. Richmond’s daughter, Josie, married Washington’s son Judson in Dodge City.

Other Civil War Veterans

Hiram M. Currey served as a private in Company B of the 12th Regiment of the Kansas State Militia in 1864.

Albert Hutchi(n)son began his military service on 1 Sept 1862 in Independence, Iowa. He served as a private in Company D of the 1st Regiment of the Iowa Calvary Volunteers. Albert re-enlisted on 1 Jan 1864 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Noah Washington Briles enlisted on 13 Jun 1861 in Ottumwa, Iowa serving in Company I of the 1st Regiment Iowa Calvary Volunteers. His father, Alexander Briles served in 1864 under Captain John Douglas in Company I of the Kansas State Militia.

James Marshall Ricketts enlisted 11 Sept 1863 in Indianapolis, Indiana serving in Company K of the 7th Indiana Cavalry.

George Mentzer began his military service on 25 Sep 1861 serving in Company C of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry.

Alexander Briles served with the Kansas Militia under Captain John Douglas in Company I.

Revolutionary War

Nathaniel Hammond served the revolutionary cause by supplying provisions to the soldiers families between 1776 and 1783 in Bolton, Connecticut.

There could easily be other revolutionary war ancestors in my tree. However, I haven’t proven my descent from any of the other known patriots.

100 Years Ago

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible! music) is to:

1)  Determine where your ancestral families were on 18 May 1919 – 100 years ago.

2)  List them, their family members, their birth years, and their residence location (as close as possible).  Do you have a photograph of their residence from about that time, and does the residence still exist?

My Grandparents

• Leon Crawford was living with his parents at 504 Ave G in Dodge City
• Winnie Letha Currey was likely living with her sister, Myrtle. Winnie traveled from Kansas City to Dodge City in 1918 to help Myrtle with the birth of her first child, Dorothy. Winnie and Leon were married on Christmas Eve in 1919 at Myrtle’s house.
• Edward O. Briles and his wife Pauline (Mentzer) Briles were likely living in Woodson County in 1919. Edward’s World War I draft card indicated they were living in Everett Township, Woodson County in June of 1917. By 1920, they had moved to Allen County.

My Great Grandparents

• Judson Foster Crawford and Josie Winifred (Hammond) Crawford were living at 504 Avenue G in Dodge City, Kansas.
• Hiram Miles Currey was living at 4108 Penn Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. His wife, Winnie May (Hutchinson) Currey, was no longer living.
• Edward Grant Briles and Frances Artlissa (Ricketts) Briles were living in Liberty Township, Woodson County, Kansas
• Charles Oliver Mentzer and Nettie Adell (Wells) Mentzer were living in Everett Township, Woodson County, Kansas.

My Great-great grandparents

• Mary Foster Crawford was living at 911 Second in Dodge City, Kansas. Her husband, Washington Marion Crawford, was no longer living.

• Richmond Fisk Hammond was living in Sawtelle Soldier’s Home in Los Angeles, California. His first wife, Sarah Ellen (Ralston) Hammond was no longer lving.
• Sarah Jane (Thompson) Briles was living in Neosho Township, Coffey County, Kansas. Her first husband, Noah Washington Briles, was no longer living.
• James Marshall Ricketts and Rachel Elmeda (Christy)Rickets were living in Liberty Township, Woodson County, Kansas.
• Emeline (Minnick) Mentzer was living in Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas. Her husband, George Mentzer, was no longer living.

ThruLines Validating Research

I’ve seen several negative posts and comments about Ancestry’s new DNA tool, ThruLines. I haven’t come close to looking at all of my lines, let alone verifying them. However, I am thrilled Ancestry developed this new tool.

With 231 ThruLines, it will take me some time to document them all, let alone verify the other lines. However, I have started the process of ‘archiving’ the various lines using a spreadsheet format suggested by Diahan Southard. (See: DNA Thru Lines Potential Breakthrough)

As I was entering the information from my various BRILES ThruLines into my spreadsheet, I realized that all of these DNA matches are verifying the information I found in two family genealogies: Keith Typescript and Briles Family by Max Briles.

These two genealogies were my starting points for the Briles side of my tree and thus the backbone on which I added other sources. Over the years, I’ve added census records, marriage records, wills, land records, etc to help document the various Briles families. Not only did these genealogies provide a starting point, they also helped separate individuals of the same name. My Briles research was easier because I had these genealogies as the foundation. My realization that my DNA ThruLines are confirming these genealogies was not only reassuring but also freeing.

I believe my realization is freeing because it validates the practice of using family genealogies, biographies in mug books and even online trees as a starting point to search for the additional records to verify the information found in those sources. So to the nay-sayers who reject online trees, mug books, etc. as being inaccurate, I say forget that. I’m going to use any and all sources of information, including online trees and mug books, to see if I can find additional sources to prove/disprove family relationships. Then I will use my DNA ThruLines to see whether DNA supports my research.

12 Generations

Last week’s ’52 Ancestors’ prompt was ’12’ Based on that prompt, I decided to try and figure out what 12th generation ancestors I had identified. I have 7 generations identified on all lines. However, do I have any 12 generation ancestors.

I was somewhat surprised to find that I do have TWELVE generations for a few of my lines.

Hammond Line

• Thomas Hammond (1603-1675)
• Henry Kingsbury – father of Joseph Kingsbury, grandfather of Nathaniel Kingsbury (1684-1763)

Briles Line

• Martin Breuel (1622-1691)
• Anna Duerr (1600-1682)

Ricketts Line

• Thomas Ricketts Sr (1659-1722)
• Margrit _____ (? – 1707)
• John Nicholson (abt 1651-?)
• Rebeckath_____ (1655 – ?)

These lines are NOT the lines I slave over trying to find information. Instead they are lines others slaved over – and either published or shared their research. 

Celebrating 50 years

Do you enjoy some of the online genealogy prompts to look at your data from a different viewpoint?

I know I do. Two of my currents sources for blogging prompts are Amy Johnson Crowe’s #52ancestors and Randy Seaver’s #SaturdayNightGenealogyFun.

As I was working on a blog post about love, I found I have several of my ancestors who celebrated 50 years of marriage. Thus, I thought it would be fun to suggest a ‘Saturday Night Genealogy Fun’ challenge:

1) How many of your ancestors were married for FIFTY years?
2) What is the longest marriage in your tree?

I’m approaching my 45th wedding anniversary and my parents were married for over fifty years.

Grandparents:

• Leon Crawford and Winnie Currey — married Dec 1919; They were married 56 years before Leon passed away in Oct. 1976.
• Edward Osmond Briles and Pauline Mentzer were married Oct 1915. They were married 40 years when Edward passed away. Pauline never remarried.

Great Grandparents

• Judson Crawford and Josie Hammond were married Dec 1890. They were married 58 years when Judson passed away.

• Hiram Currey and Winnie Hutchinson were married 22 years when Winnie passed away. Hiram never remarried
• Edward Grant Briles and Frances Artlissa “Artie” Rickeets were married in Feb 1890. They were married 57 years when Artie passed away.

• Charles Mentzer and Nettie Wells were married in Oct 1893. They were married 46 years when Nettie passed away.

2nd Great Grandparents

• Washington Marion Crawford and Mary Foster were married in March 1860. They were married 29 years when Washington Crawford passed away. Mary Crawford never remarried.
• Richmond Fisk Hammond and Sarah Ellen Ralston were married in Jan 1867. They were married 25 years when Sarah passed away. Richmond married Mary McClure in 1897. In 1906, Richmond married Mary Reynolds.
• Hiram M Currey and Angelina Jane Burke were married in 1856. They were married 44 years when both Hiram and Angelina passed away.
• Albert Hutchinson and Julia Harding were married in 1859. They were married 33 years when Julia passed away in 1892. Albert passed away in 1896.
• Noah Briles and Sarah Thompson were married in August 1866. They were married 13 years when Noah passed away. Sarah married J. D. Davis but later divorced him.
• James Marshall Ricketts and Rachel Christy were married Jul 1866. They were married 54 years before James passed away in 1920. Rachel passed away 7 years later.
• George Mentzer and Emeline Minnick were married in 1867. They were married 45 years when George passed away in 1912. Emeline never remarried.
• Thurston Kennedy Wells and Salme Adell Crandall were married in May 1861. They were married 35 years when they both passed away. This was Thurston’s second marriage after the death of his first wife, Sarah Hall.

3rd Great Grandparents

• Nelson G. Crawford and Martha Smith were married in 1833. They were almost married 32 years when Nelson passed away. Martha never remarried.
• Zebulon Foster and Caroline Ostrander were married in 1833. There were married 38 years when Caroline passed away. Zebulon then married Juliet Fleming.
• Horatio Hammond and Louisa Fisk were married in 1825. They were married 49 years when Louisa passed away in 1874. Horatio died in 1879.
• James Barr Ralston and Nancy Jane McCormick were married in 1836. They were married 68 years when James passed away in 1904. Nancy died three years later.
• Hiram M. Currey married Rachel Harris in 1824. Death dates are unknown since records cannot be found for 1850 or later.
• Henry F Burke married Elizabeth Bland in 1835. They were married 10 years when Henry passed away. Angelina may have remarried but documentation has not been found.
• William G Harding and Elizabeth Fowler were married in 1830. They were married 16 years when Elizabeth passed away. William then married Eliza Henderson.
• Alexander Briles married Sarah Rush in 1836. They were married 36 years when Sarah passed away. Alexander then married Elizabeth Ellsworth.
• William Taylor Thompson and Polly Ann Evans were married in 1842. They were married 46 years when Polly passed away in 1896. William died in 1898.
• John Lewis Ricketts and Orilda Reed were married in 1846. They were married 42 years when John passed away in 1888. Orilda died in 1900.
• Samuel Christy and Lyda Gallimore were married in 1842. They were married 22 years when Lyda passed away. Samuel then married Mariah Burk and Mary Susan Amos.
• Phillip Andrew Mentzer and Orinda Miles were married in 1816. They were married 29 years when Phillip passed away.
• John Minnick and Elizabeth Mary Jones were married before 1850. They would have been married at least 16 years when Elizabeth passed away. John then married Phebe Tripp in 1870.
• Ozias Wells and Mary Keneedy were married in 1818. They were married 14 years when Ozias passed away.
• A marriage date for Lewis Crandall and Almira Nafus is unknown at this time. Almira passed away prior to 1846 when Lewis Crandall married Anna Tuttle.

Counting my parents, I have SIX sets of ancestors married for 50 years. The longest marriage in my tree was for James Barr Ralston and Nancy Jane McCormick.

Two Degrees

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music):1)  Using your ancestral lines, how far back in time can you go with two degrees of separation?  That means “you knew an ancestor, who knew another ancestor.”  When was that second ancestor born?

My first thought was that I knew my great-grandmother, Josie Crawford.

Crawford Line: Josie Hammond Crawford was born in 1874. She would have known her grandfather, Horatio Hammond (1798-1879) and grandparents, James Barr Ralston (1811-1904) and Nancy Jane McCormick (1818-1907).

Josie would have also known her in-laws: Washington Marion Crawford (1838-1889) and Mary Foster Crawford (1842-1929). Josie’s father-in-law was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, as was her father, Richmond Fisk Hammond (1840-1928).

Currey Line: I kne my grandmother, Winnie Letha Currey (1903-1992). Winnie did not know any of her grandparents since they all died prior to her birth. Her mother, Winnie Mae Hutchinson, died in 1913, when my grandmother was ten. My grandmother did not know much about her heritage. Her thirst for knowledge about her mother’s family is what started my genealogy quest.

Briles Line: I knew my grandfather, Edward Osmond Briles (1891-1956). His grandfather, Noah Washington Briles (1840-1879) died before he was born. His grandmother, Sarah Jane Thompson Briles (1843) was still living in Coffey county, Kansas near where his parents lived. Also living in the area were his other grandparents,James Marshall Ricketts (1847-1920) and Rachel Elmeda Christy (1845-1927). Also living in the area was E. O. Briles’ great grandfather, Alexander Briles (1813-1900). Several of his other great granparents were living, but not in Coffey county, Kansas. William Taylor Thompson (1820-1898) and his wife, Polly Ann Evans (1821-1896) were living in Wapello County, Iowa. Orilda Matilda Reed Ricketts (1828-1900) was living in Clinton county, Indiana. Samuel Christy (1819-1904) was also living in Clinton county, Indiana. Whether the families visited each other is unknown.

Mentzer Line: I knew my great-grandfather, Charles Oliver Mentzer (1869-1955). He would have known his grandfather, John Minnick (1822-1903).

I connect within two degrees of separation to my third great grandfather, Horatio Hammond. Horatio Hammond was living in Knox county, Illinois where Josie Winifred Hammond was born.

Pauline E. Briles

Emporia Gazette
Wednesday, July 18, 1984
page 2 column 4-5

Film E1506

KS State Historical Society

Pauline E. Briles
Funeral services for Mrs. E. O.
Briles, who died Tuesday at her
apartment in Horizon Plaza, will
be held in the chapel of Roberts-
Blue-Barnett Funeral Home. Ser-
vices will be Friday at 10:30 A.M.
conducted by the Rev. William Im-
hoff of the Christian Church.
Burial will be in Memorial Lawn
Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the First Christian
Church, to which Mrs. Briles be-
longed, and may be sent in care of
the funeral home.
Pauline Edith Mentzer was born
March 28, 1896 at Yates Center,
the daughter of Charles O. and Net-
tie Wells Mentzer. She married
E. O. Briles on Oct. 29, 1915, at
Yates Center, and he died May 28,
1956. Mrs. Briles had lived in
Emporia since 1930.
She is survived by two daugh-
ters, Roberta Crawford, 2314 West
21st Ave., and Letha Doolittle of
San Bernadino, Calif.; a brother
Leslie Mentzer of Neosho Falls,
and 12 grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Briles was a member
of the Whittier Extension Home
Unite and the Birthday Club.
She was preceded in death by a
daughter, Barbara Thompson;
two sons, Walter Briles and Ken-
neth Briles; her parents and sever-
al brothers and sisters.

150 Years Ago

This weeks ‘Saturday Night Genealogy Fun’ challenge is to determine which ancestors were living 150 years ago (Jan 1869).

In order to figure this out, I had to look at the data I had for each likely ancestor. Working from the pedigree view in Roots Magic, I clicked on each potential ancestor to open their data.

With that information on one side, I then worked with a spreadsheet on the opposite side and entered their information.

By using the spreadsheet, I was able to collect all of the information into one place. I tried to copy/paste the spreadsheet into my blog post but it reset the column widths making it difficult to read. So, I’ve resorted to screen shots of each generation.

By having this information in a spreadsheet, I was able to sort it by location.

The second part of the challenge asked whether I have a picture of their residence in 1869. Unfortunately, the answer to that question is mostly NO. However, I do have a picture of the Briles residence in Coffey County, Kansas.

This home was built on the original homestead. The land has been passed down thru the generations and is still owned by members of the BRILES family.

This was an interesting way to look at my data. Thank you Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings for this challenge!

Artie Ricketts

     Frances Artlissa ‘Artie’ Ricketts was born on 7 Apr 1868 in Clinton, Indiana, United States.^1–13

She lived in Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States on 1 Jul 1870.¹⁴ Artlissa Rickets was listed on the 1870 census in the household of James Rickets. According to the census, she was two years old. She lived in Everett Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 1 Jul 1880.¹⁵ Frances A Ricketts was listed on the 1880 census as the daughter of James M Ricketts. According to the census, she was twelve years old. Frances lived in Everett Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 1 Mar 1885.¹⁶ Artlissa Ricketts was listed in the household of James M Ricketts on the 1885 Kansas census. According to the census, Artlissa was 16 years old.

    Edward Grant Briles and Frances Artlissa ‘Artie’ Ricketts were married on 19 Feb 1890 in Woodson, Kansas, United States.^2,17–23 She was also known as Frances Artlissa ‘Artie’ Briles.

She was the mother of Edward Osmond Briles.^4,24–36 Frances was the mother of Ethel Frances Briles.^25,37–40 She was the mother of Glen Briles.^25,41–43

She lived in Neosho Township, Coffey, Kansas, United States on 1 Jul 1895.¹³

Frances was the mother of Lulu Belle Briles.^25,44–46

She lived in Pleasant Township, Coffey, Kansas, United States on 18 Jun 1900.⁶ Francis A. Briles was listed on the 1900 census as the wife of Edward Briles. According to the census, she was born March 1869 in Indiana. Francis A Briles had been married 10 years. She was the mother of 4 living children.

She lived in Pleasant Township, Coffey, Kansas, United States in Apr 1905.¹² F.A. Briles was listed on the 1905 Kansas census in the household of E. G. Briles. According to the census, she was 37 years old.

Frances lived in Liberty Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 20 Apr 1910.⁴⁷ Francis A. Briles was listed on the 1910 census as the wife of Eddie G Briles. According to the census, she was 42 years old and born in Indiana. Francis was married at age 20 and was the mother of four living children.

She lived in Liberty Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States in Apr 1915.⁴⁸ She lived in Center Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 6 Jun 1920.⁴⁹ Frances Briles was shown on the 1920 census as the wife of Eddie G. Briles. According to the census she was 51 years old and born in Indiana.

Frances lived in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 28 Nov 1920.^50–51 She lived at 612 N. Jefferson in Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States on 1 Jul 1925.¹¹ Frances A Briles was listed on the 1925 Kansas census as the wife of Edward G Briles. According to the census, she was 57 years old and born in Indiana.

She lived in Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States on 27 Jan 1927.⁵²

Frances lived at First Ward in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 2 Apr 1930.⁵³ F. A. Briles was listed on the 1930 census as the wife of E G Briles. According to the census, she was 61 years old and born in Indiana. She lived in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 19 Sep 1930.⁵⁴

She celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, Edward Grant Briles, on 18 Feb 1940 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States.⁵⁵

Frances lived in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States on 15 Apr 1940.⁵⁶ She appeared on the 1940 census as a 71 year old female born in Indiana and was listed as Frances A. Briles

     She died on 28 Apr 1947 at the age of 79 in Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States.^{4,7–10,57–58} She was buried on 30 Apr 1947 at Crandall Cemetery in Coffey, Kansas, United States.^3,7–9,59

1. James M. Ricketts file; James M. Ricketts; (: ), (Ricketts.Notebook).
2. Briles Genealogy (Crandall, Kansas: Max Briles, aft 1952), p. 7
3. “Emporian’s Mother Dies,” The Emporia Weekly Gazette (Emporia, Kansas), 1 May 1947; Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : online September 2015).
4. Ancestry.com, U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012).
5. Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004), Source number: 434.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: MP1.
6. 1900 U.S. Census, Coffey County, Kansas, population schedule, Pleasant Township, Coffey County, Kansas, ED 432, Sheet 7A, household 124, Briles Edward G; digital image, com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA T623. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7602/4120138_00678/4691472.
7. Crandall Cemetery (Crandall, Coffey County, Kansas), Francis Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts Briles; , 2013.
8. Crawford Family Papers; privately held by Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, Kansas, 2016. (N.p.: n.p., n.d.), Memorial Record of Frances Artlisa Briles.
9. Frances Artlissa Briles, death certificate 104 2930 (28 April 1947), Kansas State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Topeka, Kansas.
10. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online January 2019), memorial for Francis Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts Briles (1868-1947), Find a Grave Memorial no. #110405917, created by Marcia Philbrick, citing Crandall Cemetery, Coffey County, Kansas; accompanying photograph by Marcia Philbrick, Francis Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts Briles.
11. 1925 Kansas Census, Coffey County, Kansas, Kansas State Census, Iola, Allen County, Kansas, page 20, family 172, Briles Edward G; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2019); Kansas State Historical Society. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1088/KS1925_1-0415/8471005.
12. 1905 Kansas Census, Coffey County, Kansas, State Census, Pleasant Township, Coffey County, Kansas, page 18, family 130, Briles E G; digital image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2019). https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1088/ks1905_31-0220/2051934.
13. 1895 Kansas Census, Coffey County, State Census, Neosho Township, Coffey County, Kansas, p 17, E G Briles; microfilm, Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka, KS : viewed online January 2019). https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1088/ksv115_27-0552/7107548.
14. 1870 U.S. Census, Clinton County, Indiana, population schedule, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton County, Indiana, page 9, family 66, Ricketts James M; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T132. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4263290_00374/20274595.
15. 1880 U.S. Census, Center Township, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Everett Township, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 58, page 7, household 53, James M Ricketts; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T9. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6742/4241344-00027/26837457.
16. 1885 Kansas State Census, Woodson County, Kansas, Kansas State Census, Liberty Township, Woodson County, Kansas, page 11, household 49, James M. Ricketts; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); Kansas State Historical Society. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1088/ks1885_143-0118?pid=790948.
17. Lineage application of , , Newspaper Clipping “Celebrates 50 Years of Married Life” (Briles.KS.069).
18. Marriage License Record, Woodson County, Kansas, page 22 (Doc. # Mentzer.KS.016), Woodson County Courthouse, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas.
19. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Provo, UT: Yates Publishing, 2004), Edward Grant Briles – Frances Artlissa Ricketts / 1890. Found online at https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7836&h=1019355&ssrc=pt&tid=115166653&pid=270137692402.
20. Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911: Wilson Marriage Records 1872-1880 , v. B, Woodson County, Kansas, Edward Grant Briles, 19 Feb 1890; digital image, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org . viewed online July 2018. Original Source: Marriage Record Vol. B 1872-1880.
21. “Obituary,” undated clipping, from unidentified newspaper; Crawford Family Papers, passed down to Marcia Philbrick by Pauline Briles; privately held 2018 by Marcia Crawford Philbrick, [address for private use], Seneca, KS 66538.
22. “Married,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 28 February 1890, page 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online July 2081). Found online at https://www.newspapers.com/image/385304598.
23. “Local Intelligence,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 21 February 1890, page 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online July 2018).
24. Pauline Mentzer Briles family, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments King James Version (: The World Publishing Company, ); Letha Doolittle, San Bernardino, California, Transcription (Charles Mentzer Notebook). Hereinafter cited as The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments.
25. Briles Genealogy (Crandall, Kansas: Max Briles, aft 1952), p. 23
26. “Edward O. Briles Dead,” undated clipping, from unidentified newspaper; Crawford Family Papers, E. O. Briles Notebook; privately held 2015 by Marcia Philbrick, [address for private use], Seneca, KS.
27. Edward O. Briles Dead, The Emporia Gazette (Emporia, Kansas), Emporia, Kansas, 28 May 1956. (Briles.KS.068)
28. “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : online 15 February 2016), Osmund Edward Briles; citing , image 48 of 1757; NARA microfilm M1509.
29. 1900 U.S. Census, Coffey County, Kansas, population schedule, Pleasant Township, Coffey County, Kansas, ED 43, Sheet 7A, household 124, Edward Briles.
30. “Family Data Collections – Births,”  Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (Oct 2017), Edward Osmund Briles.
31. Ancestry.com, Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009), Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, Kansas; Roll: ks1915_258; Line: 3.
32. Ancestry.com, U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010), The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Kansas; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: Box 276.
33. Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925, Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, Kansas; 1925 Kansas Territory Census; Roll: KS1925_1; Line: 18.
34. Ancestry.com, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005), Registration State: Kansas; Registration County: Woodson; Roll: 1643943.
35. Ancestry.com, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015).
36. Edmund West comp., Family Data Collection – Births (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001).
37. “Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911,” database on-line, com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2016), Ethel Briles.
38. Social Security Administration, “U.S. Social Security Death Index,” database, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2016), Ethel Darby, 514142329, before 1951.
39. “Kansas, Births and Christenings Index, 1885-1911,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.om : viewed online October 2017), Briles.
40. Coffey County, Kansas, Register of Marriages and Births Vol. 4, page 138, Briles, 2 June 1893; digital images, Family Search http://www.familysearch.org . viewed online July 2018. Original Source: film #007579782 DGS 7579782 item 4.
41.  Cemetery Transcriptions (Briles.KS.002), Crandall Cemetery, , .
42. “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database, Ancestry (Ancestry.com : viewed online October 2016), Glen Briles.
43. “Obituaries – Glen Briles”, Yates Center News, (Yates Center, Kansas), 7 July 1983, p. 7, microfilm; Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS.
44. Edmund West, comp., “Family Data Collection — Individual Records,” database online, com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online October 2016), Lulu Belle Briles.
45. “Family Data Collections – Births,”  Lulu Belle Briles.
46. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2018), Lulu B Cope.
47. 1910 U.S. Census, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Liberty Township, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 147, Sheet 2B, household 39, Eddie G Briles; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T624. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7884/31111_4328344-00812/133267702.
48. 1915 Kansas Census, Woodson County, 1905 State Census, Liberty Township, Woodson County, Kansas, page 21, dwelling 1, Briles Ed; digital image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017). https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1088/ks1915_258-0116?pid=3001725.
49. 1920 U.S. Census, Woodson County, Kansas, population schedule, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, ED 160, Sheet 3A, household 46, Briles Eddie G; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); NARA microfilm publication T625. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6061/4300898_01045/96818119.
50. “Crandall,” The Daily Republican (Burlington, Kansas), 2 December 1920, p. 1; digital image, com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online July 2018).
51. “Died,” The Yates Center News (Yates Center, Kansas), 3 December 1920, page 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online January 2019).
52. “Yates Center News”, (Yates Center, Kansas), to (), “Died” Frday, Feb. 4, 1927, page 7 col. 4 (Ricketts.Notebook); ,
53. 1930 U.S. Census, Woodson County, Kansas, population Schedule, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, SD 10, ED 104-13, Sheeet 2A (image 3 of 42), household 710, Ed G. Briles; digital iamge, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online August 2016); NARA T626. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6224/4584655_00561/34044982.
54. “Yates Center News”, (Yates Center, Kansas), to (), Israel (Briles.KS.070); ,
55. “Yates Center News”, (Yates Center, Kansas), to (), (Briles.KS.069); ,
56. 1930 U.S. Census, Woodson County, Kansas, population Schedule, Yates Center, Woodson County, Kansas, SD 10, ED 104-13, Sheeet 2A (image 3 of 42), household 710, Ed G. Briles.
57. “Emporian’s Mother Dies,” The Emporia Weekly Gazette (Emporia, Kansas), 1 May 1947, page 2; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online July 2018).
58. Obituary, unidentified clipping, Crawford Family Papers.
59. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online August 2016), memorial for Francis Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts Briles (1868-1947), Find a Grave Memorial no. #110405917,

Identifying Parents

Have you had a set of parents for an ancestor in your tree for years when you discover another researcher has a different set of parents? I recently made that discovery for my ancestor Sarah Rush Briles (KP93-T9C) on Family Search.

Seeing this other set of parents made me question whether I had made a mistake. I knew that my old research included a transcription  of a petition for dower that was printed in The Genealogical Journal of Randolph County, NC (Vol 3, #4, pages 5-6)

This transcript shows Sallie Rush as the plaintiff. Listed among the defendants is Alexander Briles and wife Sallie. The body of the petition identifies Sally Rush as the widow of Noah Rush deceased.

With the parentage of Sarah Rush Briles now in question and my documentation based on a transcript, I knew I had to either find the actual petition for dower or some other document to support my case. By searching Ancestry, I was able to locate the probate papers for Noah Rush in North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998.

Towards the first of the packet is a petition to sell land. This petition names Alexander Briles and Sallie Briles his wife as one of the defendants. Later in the petition, it indicates that Alexander Briles and Sallie live in Kansas.

Rush, Noah Probate Papers
from North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
available on Ancestry at
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9061/007384178_01104/1275983#?imageId=007384178_01105
Image 60901
——————————————————————————————————————

 

Superior Court ____ Randolph County
Ransom W Harris as
Admin of Noah Rush Pltff

Petition to Sell Lands to pay debts

against
Rev. Zebadee Rush
Milton Blair and wife Mary Blair
Franklin Johnson and wife Martha Johnson
Alexander Briles and wife Sally Briles
Branson Briles and wife Dorcus Briles
George G Rush, John C Rush
Noah Rush, Nancy Wade
Sallie Hatfield, Zebadee Rush Junr
George Gastinow and wife Mary
Martha Rush, Nancy Rush
Louix Rush and Laura Rush
The last three by their guardian Louis Rush
Defendants
To the honrable A. W. Lougee Judge of Said Court

The petition of R. W. Harris as Administrator
of Noah Rush deceased, respectfully showeth unto
your honor
I
That he qualified as administrator on the estate of the
said Noah Rush before B Bu Bulla Probate Judge of
said county during the year 1870
II
That the amount of the debts outstanding against the

Rush, Noah Probate Papers
from North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
available on Ancestry at
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9061/007384178_01104/1275983#?imageId=007384178_01106
Image 60902
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————

estate from the best information and knowledge which
he has been enabled to obtain is about three hundred
and fifty dollars, that the charges of administration will in
his opinion amount to about two hundred and fifty dollars
and there was [apeped] to be paid to the
widow in cash towards her years support two hundred
and fifty eight 30/100 dollars, making the entire
liabilities of the estate from the foregoing sources about
eight hundred and forthy eight 30/100 dollars
III
That the value of the personal estate of his intestate is
about three hundred and eighty five dollars. that of
this form of three hundred and eighty five dollars, a
portion is outstanding as yet, uncollected; which wo
much thereof as your Petitioner has been enabled to
collect has been nearly all paid out on the costs and
charges of the administration and on the afforesaid
allowance to the widow.
IV
That the intestate at the time of his death was seized
and possessed in fee simple of the following tracts of lands
situate in said county
1 The Powel tract adjoining the lands of John Wilborn
and others lands of the deceased containing about one
hundred acres more or less and estimated to be worth
about one hundred dollars
2. A tract adjoining Benj. Rush and others containing fifty acres more or less valued at about fifty dollars
3. A tract adjoining P. Copple and others containing twenty four
acres more or less and worth about twenty four dollars.

Rush, Noah Probate Papers
from North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
available on Ancestry at
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9061/007384178_01104/1275983#?imageId=007384178_01107
Image 60903
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

4 A tract adjoining the lands of Robert Loftlin
and others containing fifteen acres more or less worth
about fifteen dollars
5 The home tract adjoining R W Harris and Lewis Johnson and others containing by estimation three hundred acres.

V
That the sale of all the above named tracts of land
except the one last mentioned, and also the sale of such
part of said last mentioned tract given or sold by the intestate
to George Rush and Reconveyed by said Rush to the
intestate and not covered by the dower. containing about
one hundred and fifty acres, and value at about three
hundred dollars, he believing to be necessary to enable
him to pay the debts and charges of Administration of
his intestate

VI
That the intestate in addition to the foregoing land, died
also seized and possessed in fee simple of one half interest
in a copper mine tract of one hundred acres more or
less adjoining N Spencer and others and no others.

VII
That upon the death of said intestate the said lands
descended to his children and grandchildren as follows the
defendant Sally Briles wife of Alexander Briles Post office
Leroy, Kansas, Darcas Briles wife of Branson Briles Post
Office Virdis Kansas George G Rush Post Office McCarion
Indiana, John C Rush, Noah Rush and Nancy Waid
post office of the last three Springville Indiana Mary
Blair wife of Milton Blair, Martha Johnson, wife of
Franklin Johnson, the last two of Randolph County

Rush, Noah Probate Papers
from North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
available on Ancestry at
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9061/007384178_01104/1275983#?imageId=007384178_01108
Image 60904
————————————————————————————————————————————————————

North Carolina Rev. Zebadee Rush Post Office Nashville
Nash County North Carolina. Sallie Hatfield, Zebadee
Rush Junr Mary Gastinow wife of George Gastinow and
Caroline Rush, the last four of Springville Indiana
and the following minors to wit: Martha Rush aged
20 years, Nancy Rush aged 18 years, Louis Rush aged
12 years and Laura Rush aged 9 years [I] and said
minors have for their guardian Louis Rush Post
Office Springville Indiana
To the ones therefore that the said tract of lands with the
exception herein before mentioned may be sold by your
petitioner upon such terms as your honor
may direct and that the process of sale may be
considered assets in his hands for the payment of debts
and charges of administration
Your petitioner brings
1st For and order for the sale of said lands for the purpose
aforesaid
2nd That the defendants may be duly notified according to
law to appear and show cause if any they can why the
prayer of your petition should not be granted
Jackson & Robins
Attorneys for Petitioner
R w Harris being duly sworn says I have herewit [?] the
foregoing petition,and know the contents thereof, the same is
true of my own knowledge, except as to matters state on
information and or to their, I believe it is to be true
R W Harris
Sworn to and subscribed
before me the 18th day
of July 1871
B B Bulla CSC

I will continue to search for documentation tying Sarah Briles of Coffey County, Kansas to Sallie Rush of Randolph County, NC. However, at this time, I believe that Noah Rush of Randolph County, NC is the father of Sarah (Sallie) Rush Briles.

I would love to hear from you about my Rush/Briles research in Randolph County, North Carolina. I can be contacted at mcphilbrick at gmail.com.