April 8th, 1838 Birth of Elizabeth H. W. Carson

Today's ancestor is Elizabeth H. W. Carson. She was born on April 8, 1838 in either Newport (formerly known as Clifton), Tennessee (per her headstone) or in Haywood County, North Carolina (per other sources); where her parents were married the previous year. Elizabeth died December 12th, 1914 in Geary County, Kansas and is buried at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetary in Wingfield Township, Geary Co., Kansas. Her grave marker is pictured below and lists her death as December 3, 1914...not sure which is correct.

The photo is pulled from a photo of Elizabeth with her daughters; I believe they are (left to right) Sarah Elizabeth, Rose Helen, Elizabeth H. W., Martha Jane and Mary Catherine.

Elizabeth H. W. Carson is my Great Great Grandmother on my Father's side:

• Donald Martin (1930-1975); son of Henry Franklin Dockins and Elsie May Horne
• Elsie Mae (1903-1988); daughter of William August Horne and Martha Jane O'Neill
• Martha Jane (1861-1940); daughter of Anthony Daniel O'Connell O'Neill and Elizabeth H. W. Carson

What do we know about Elizabeth H. W. Carson? She was the eldest daughter of Andrew Jackson Carson (1820-1860) and Mary "Polly" Catherine Williamson (1820-1892). Andrew Jackson Carson died at about 40, supposedly drowned in the Nolichucky River (a fate shared by at least one Carson ancestor!); Mary "Polly" Catherine Carson was residing in Georgia by 1872 and died in Texas in 1892, probably having gone with one or more of her children west in her later years.

Elizabeth H. W. married Irish immigrant Anthony Daniel O'Connell O'Neill (from Waterford, Ireland) on June 10, 1852 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1853, Anthony and Elizabeth's first child, Mary Catherine, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1855, a second daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, was born in Tennessee (per census records) or in Illinois. By 1857 the family had relocated to Kansas as all of their remaining children (13 more children) were born in Kansas. In 1857, Judith C. was born in Lecompton, Kansas. From 1859 to 1863, 3 children were born in Douglas County, Kansas; Anthony Andrew, Martha Jane and Margaret Adaline. And from 1864 to 1879 the remainder of their 9 children were born in Douglas County, Kansas.

Below are Anthony Daniel O'Connell O'Neill and Elizabeth H. W. Carson (seated); standing I believe, (left to right) daughter Sarah Elizabeth, Uncle John Carson (I have not been able to ascertain whether he is the brother or a cousin to Elizabeth H. W.) and possibly daughter Mary Catherine (I am unsure).

Anthony Daniel O'Connell and Elizabeth H. W. O'Neill's children were:

• Mary Catherine O'NEILL  Born:  17 Nov 1853   Place:  Chattanooga, , TN. Mar: John Standage
• Sarah Elizabeth O'NEILL Born:  26 Aug 1855   Place:  TN or IL
• Judith C. O'NEILL Born:  13 Jul 1857   Place:  Lecompton, , Ks 
• Andrew O'NEILL Born:  13 Sep 1859   Place:  , Douglas Co, KS
• Martha Jane O'NEILL Born:  22 Mar 1861   Place:  , Douglas Co, Ks
• Margaret Adeline O'NEILL Born:  17 Jan 1863   Place:  , Douglas Co, Ks  Died:  23 Jan 1864   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Buried:    Place:  Mcdowell Cr Cem, Geary Co, Ks
• Owen Roe O'NEILL Born:  6 Mar 1864   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Died:  7 Oct 1864   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Buried:    Place:  Mcdowell Cr Cem, Geary Co, Ks  Mar: Mary Dale WILLIAMS
• Emma Elizabeth O'NEILL Born:  25 Jul 1865   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Died:  18 Sep 1892   Place:   Mar: 17 SEP 1889 William Thomas ABBOTT
• James Alexander O'NEILL Born:  18 Jan 1867   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks
• Thomas Matthew O'NEILL Born:  21 Sep 1868   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks
• David Edward O'NEILL Born:  8 Jul 1870   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks
• Bridget Ann O'NEILL Born:  22 Feb 1872   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Died:  Oct 1880   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Buried:    Place:  Mcdowell Cr Cem, Geary Co, Ks
• Rose Helen O'NEILL Born:  8 Feb 1874   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Died:  22 Oct 1934   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Buried:    Place:  Mcdowell Cr Cem, Geary Co, Ks
• Teresa Matilda O'NEILL Born:  11 Mar 1877   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks
• Cecelia May O'NEILL Born:  8 May 1879   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Died:  15 Mar 1880   Place:  , Geary Co, Ks  Buried:    Place:  Mcdowell Cr Cem, Geary Co, Ks  

Finally, we have a fantastic family photo of four O'Neill sons. Check out those mustaches! They are to the best I can determine (left to right) James Alexander, David Edward (seated), Anthony Andrew (standing), and Thomas Matthew.

  That's all I have!