April 13, 1940 Death of Martha Jane O'Neill

Today's ancestor is Martha Jane O'Neill. She was born on March 22, 1861 in Douglas County, Kansas and died on April 13, 1940 in Alta Vista, Wabaunsee County, KS.

Martha Jane O'Neill is my 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

What do we know about Martha Jane O'Neill? She was the 5th child of of Irish immigrant, Anthony Daniel O'Connell O'Neill and Elizabeth H. W. Carson. Martha married William August Horne on July 31, 1886 in Junction City, Kansas. They were wed by Probate Judge James Franklin Ayars pictured below (as recorded in a family bible).

After William and Martha married they settled on a farm in eastern Geary County on McDowell Creek.  While William came from a fairly well appointed family I can only surmise that farm life in Kansas at this time was not easy. Below is a photo of their very small home probably about 1890 or so. In September of 1919 they left the farm to reside in Alta Vista.

Below is a family photo of William and Martha with their sons William (standing) and Purley.

William August Horne and Martha Jane O'Neill's children were:

• Frances Myrtle Horne born June 6, 1887 and died November 9, 1887
• William Henry Horne born August 15, 1888 and died Oct 1962. He married Elizabeth Ellen McArthur on November 27, 1913 by Reverend Holshouser
• Purley Martin Horne born April 24, 1890 and died July 16, 1971. He is buried at Welcome Cemetary in Alta Vista, KS. He married Beulah Anita Sisson on October 18, 1911 by Reverend Holshouser
• Clarence Lester Horne was born February 28, 1892 and died May 19, 1898
• Elsie Mae Horne born June 1, 1903 in Geary Co., KS and died September 3, 1988 in Encinitas, San Diego Co., CA. Married Henry Franklin Dockins on June 13, 1924

Here is a wonderful photograph of my Grandmother Elsie with her mother Martha Jane O'Neill Horne.

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!