15 Jan 2009 Descendants of: William Melton 1 William Melton m. Hannah ? 2 William Michael Melton m. Mary Hopwood 3 Richard Melton m. Mary Melton b. 1675 New Kent, VA 4 William James Melton b. 11 Dec 1698 Parish of St Peter's and St Paul, New Kent Co, VA m. Elizabeth Farrar b. abt 1698 5 William Samuel Melton b. 23 Nov 1729 Surry Co, VA d. 14 Mar 1772 Albemarle Co, VA m. Lettice White m. 1748 Albemarle Co, VA b. 9 Apr 1732 d. 26 Feb 1785 [daughter of Jeremiah White and Mary Martin] Note: Notes from Coming to America The Melton/Milton's Compiled by Michael Leisure I have seen William's birth location as Albemarle County, this is incorrect as Albemarle was not formed untill 1744. ALBEMARLE - WAS FORMED IN 1744 from Goochland and Louisa, and certain islands in the "Fluvanna River" (later known as the James River). * * * * * ****************************************************************************** pg. 279 of William Melton's Will: " during her life or widowhood all my estate real and peronal except One hundred Acres of Land Issuing to my brother Silas Melton Which land I bequeath to him the said Silas Melton & his heirs forever. Note this hundred Acres of Land is to be in a square form and after his decease or marriage What is left of my Estate real or personal I require that it may be Equally divided among all my Children who shall them Survive Note if any of my Children having married of had issue & deceased before Said division of my Estate, their issue shall Enjoy what would have Fallen to them Present if he or she were alive. I appoint as Executrs my brother Silas Melton, and my wife and my Eldest Son Reuben Melton. ___ this Instrument is Interlined in the Sixth line with the word goods. In Witness whereof I let my hand and affix my Seal this Eleventh day of February In the year of Our Lord One Thousand and Seven hundred & Seventy two. Witnesses Samuel Leake (signed) william Melton (L.S.) Mark Leake Thomas Melton At Albemarle June Court 1772 This Will was proved by the Oath of Mark Leake & Thomas Melton Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded and On the motion of Silas Melton an Executor theren Named _____ is granted him for ........ * * * * * ****************************************************************************** Deed Albemarle Co., Deed Book 11, p. 196. showing that Daniel Melton, heir of William Melton lived in Rutherford Co., NC. Deed: Albemarle Co., Deed Book 9, 108, showing that Lettice Melton is the wife of William Melton. Will of William Melton, Albemarle Co., VA Will Book 2, 278. * * * * * ****************************************************************************** Cavaliers And Pioneers; Patent Book No. 33 William Melton, 160 acs. Albemarle Co. on the S Brs. of the South Fork of Hardware Riv. adj. William Lee & Thomas Fitzpatrick; 20 Sep 1759, p.649. L1 ************************************************ LAND GRANT DEED; Melton, William 20 Sept. 1759 Albemarle County 160a. On the south branches of the South fork of Hardware River. Patents No. 33, 1756-61, p. 649 William Melton 160 Acres George the second & To all & Know ye that for divers good causes and considerations but more especially for and in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty Shillings of good and Lawful Money for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony of Dominion of Virginia We have Given, Granted and Confirmed and by the presents for us our Heirs and Successors Do Give Grant and Confirm onto William Melton One Certain Tract of parcel of Land Containing one hundred and sixty Acres lying and being in the County of Albemarle on the South Branches of the South fork of Hardware River and Bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning at a Hickory Saplin and running South seventy two Degrees East thirty four poles to a Rock. North fifty Degrees East seventy two poles to pointers North fifty eight Degrees East forty eight poles to pointers North forty two Degrees East One hundred and thirteen poles crossing a Branch to pointers, North eighty one Degrees West thirty eight poles to pointers, North seven Degrees East One hundred and fourteen poles to pointers North sixty five Degrees West Twenty eight poles in William Sees line and with the same South forty two Degrees West sixteen poles to a Hickory North forty seven Degrees West nineteen poles to pointers in Thomas Fitzpatrick's line and with his line South forty four Degrees West One hundred and two poles to pointers, thence new lines South One hundred and eighty poles to pointers and South thirty Degrees West One hundred and twelve poles to the first Stations. With all & To have hold & To be held & yielding and Paying & Provided & In Witness & Witness our Trusty and Wellbeloved Francis Fauquier Esquire our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburg Under the Seal of our said Colony the Twentieth Day of September One thousand seven hundred and fifty nine. In the thirty third year of our Reign. (SEAL) (signed) Fran Fauquier * * * * * ****************************************************************************** Melton, William 7 Augt. 1761 Albemarle County 144a. On the branches of the south fork of Hardware River. Patents No. 34, 1756-62, p. 906 (906) William Melton 144 Acres George the third, To all & Know ye that for Divers good Causes and Considerations but more Especially for in Consideration of the Sum of Fifteen Shillings of good and lawful Money, for our use paid to our Receiver General of our Revenues in this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia. We have Given, Granted, and Confirmed, and in the presence for us our Heirs and Successors. Do Give, Grant, and Confirm, Unto William Melton One Certain Tract or Parcel of Land Containing One hundred and forty-four Acres. Lying in being in the County of Albemarle on the Branches of the South fork of Hardware River and Bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning at Thomas Fitzpatrick's Corner Black Gum then on his Line North fifty Degrees, West, forty six poles to a red Oak, then new lines South thirty five Degrees, West, Fifty two Poles to Pointers on James Ireland's Line then on his line South fifty Degrees , East Eighty Poles to a Chestnut Oak, then South sixty seven Degrees, East seventy nine Poles, to Red Oak, then North, seventy nine Degrees, East, fifty two Poles to Pointers, then North thirty eight Degrees, East twenty three Poles to a Chestnut Tree on his own line, then on it, North sixty six Degrees, West thirteen Poles to a Hickory then North twenty seven Degrees, West ninety three Poles to a Chestnut Tree, then a new line, North forty Degrees, West eighty eight Poles to Pointers on the said Fitzpatricks line, then on his line, South, fifty one Degrees, West one hundred and thirty-three Poles to the first station. With all. & To have, hold, & To be held, & yielding and Paying, & Provided, & In Witness, & Witnesses our Trusty and Well beloved Francis Fauquier., Esquire, our Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburg. Under the Seal of our said Colony the Seventh Day of August One Thousand seven hundred and sixty one. In the first Year of our Reign. SEAL (signed) Fran Fauquier \\ * * * * * ****************************************************************************** 9 September 1767 Witnefseth that William Melton in consideration of the love I bear my couson. William Melton, Son to my Brother, Thomas Melton. ( from Albemarle County Deed Book., 1764-1768; pp. 433-434) * * * * * ****************************************************************************** MELTON William Melton b. VA. ca 1730 d. 1772 in Albemar1e Co., Va. Md. Lettice Wbite ca l753. Lettice White b. 27 Jan 1736 - d. after l785. William left a considerable estate that wasn't settled for several years, His wife and oldest son were named executors. In the settlement of the estate the followig children were named: 1. Reuben Melton (nicknamed Buck) md Sarah Jones 2. Jobn Melton Jr. md Lydda ? (or Lydia) 3. Sarah Melton md John Melton (a cousin) 4. Mildred Melton md James Eubanks, (the only child to remain in Albemarle Co., Va.) 5. Jesse Melton md Sarah (?) - went to Kentucky - Indiana -and died there. 6. Eli Melton md Sarah Barnette - went to N. C. with his brothers, then to eastern Kentucky and later to Harrison Co.. In. and died there. 7. Daniel Melton b 1767 - d Ca l8~8. Md Elizabeth Norvell 8. Mary Melton md William Jones All children were born in Albemarle Co., Va. All except Mildred went to Rutherford Co., N. C. Sarah Jones (l) and William. Jones (8) were no doubt brother and sister. November 5, 1793; Albemarle Co., VA. Deeds Bk 10, p. 296. Eli Melton, Daniel Melton, William Jones & Mary his wife, of Rutherford Co., NC, sell portion of estate of William Melton, deceased. Lettice is mentioned in this deed. Feb. 1794; Court Albemarle County, Eli, Daniel Melton and William and Mary Jones deed to William Melton, acknowledged in Rutherford Co., NC and recorded in Albemarle. A.W. Burns, compiler. Records of Will Abstracts -- vol 6, p.9 has William Milton in Abemarle Co. VA bequeathing estate to wife, son Reuben and "bro" Salias Milton -- witnessed by Thomas Milton and Samuel Leake, dated 2-11-1772; probated 6-?-1772. * * * * * * * * ****************************************************************************** Virginia Land Grants, Albemarle County: 1765-William Melton, 100 acres to John Sutherland. Book 4 Page 159. 1765 - William Melton, 100 acres to William Appleberry. Book 4 Page 157. 1766 - William Melton, 600 acres from John Smith, Jr. Book 4 Page 271. 1767 - William Melton, 144 acres to Wm. Melton, Jr. as gift. Book 4 Page 433* 1768- William Melton, 100 acres from Samuel Binge. Book 4 Page 518. 1785 - William Melton, 322 acres to John Wharton. Book 9 Page 108. 1785 - William Melton, heirs to John Coles 377 acres. Book 9 Page 111. 1785 - William Melton, heirs to Samuel Hensley 160 acres. Book 9 Page 134. 1792- William Melton, from Wm. Melton's heirs 160 acres. Book 9 Page 134. 1792- William Melton, to Samuel Dyer, 100 acres by mort[g]age. Book 10 Page 433** 1794-William Melton's heirs to Samuel Hensley, 160 acres. Book 11 Page 1%. 1796 - William Melton to Musk Leak(Mark Leak), 23 acres. Book 12 Page 109. 1799- William Melton to John Melton, 50 acres. Book 13 Page 118. 1799- William Melton, Sr. to Wm. Shumaker, 100 acres. Book 13 Page 96. * In the Deed Book #4 at Albemarle, VA This reads - William Melton to William Melton, son of brother Thomas. Dated 9 Sep 1767. ** In Deed Book 10 and on Page 423 at Albemarle, VA. This reads - William Melton, Samuel Dyer on 19 May 1792 for 150 lbs., 100 acres on Green Creek. Purchased from the estate of William Melton Dec'd. Also by the lands of John Melton, son of John.(brother to William) * * * * * * * * * ****************************************************************************** ALBEMARLE LAND RECORDS / ABSTRACTS Commonwealth Grant Book M p134-135, 15 May 1784, 8th year of the Commonwealth, to Mark Leek [assignee of Richard Woods] by Virtue and in Consideration of part of a Land Office Treasury Warrant #8,104 and Issued the 19th day of January 1782 and Assigned by Richard Woods to Mark Leek re 28a by Survey bearing date the 28th day of January 1783, Lying and being in the County of Albemarle on some of the South waters of the South fork of Hardware River and is bounded as followeth, to wit, Beginning at pointers corner of William Melton Deceased then on his lines ln S3E; 108P; pointers ln S27W; 13P; a Chesnut tree ln N42W; 89P; pointers siad Meltons corner of Betty Leeks line then on her line ln N49E; 37P; pt E) a Chesnut tree corner between said Betty Leek and Samuel Hamner thence on said Hamners line ln N41E; 48P; to the Beginning re 449a by Survey bearing date the 26th day of February 1783 400a part thereof being by Virtue of an Entry made preceeding the Opening of the Land Office and 49a the residue thereof was by Virtue of the Warrant aforesaid lying and being in the County of Albemarle on the Waters of Green Creek and Hardware River and bounded as followeth to Wit: Beginning at a pine on his own line corner of John Wilkinsons running thence with the same ln S53W; 286P; crossing Several branches a Spanish oak thence new lines ln S15E; 50P; a Gum ln S38W; 60P; a pine ln S8W; 103P; crossing a branch of Green Creek Several times pointers in John Wilkinsons line thence with the same ln S33W; 169P; crossing the sd Branch a white oak ln S63E; 183P; crossing the said branch of Green Creek pointers in William Hensley's line thence with the same ln S40W; 120P; crossing a branch a Chesnut oak Saplin ln N70W; 41P; pointers ln S10W; 22P; crossing Green Creek a dogwood thence new lines ln N45W; 47P; pointers ln S31W; 105P; a black oak on the top of a Mountain ln N35.5W; 114P; a Chesnut Tree ln N15E; 68P; a Chesnut oak ln N35E; 30P; a poplar on the said Creek ln N23E; 174P; pointers corner to John Ubanks same course continued with his line 80P ln ;; pointers ln N37.5E; 148P; crossing a branch a Chesnut Tree ln N44W; 57P; pointers on Several Bushes at the edge of an oldfield William Meltons corner thence with his lines ln N76E; 45P; pointers ln N35E; 23P; a small Chesnut in an old field corner to Jesse Melton thence with his lines ln S69E; 21P; a Rock ln N47E; 72P; pointers in an old field ln N55E; 48P; pointers ln N39E; 113P; pointers in his own line thence with the same ln S81E; 21P; a Chesnut oak ln S3W; 92P; pointers in S61E; 41P; crossing two branches to the Beginning. (In the above land records, Mark Leek(Leak)(Mark & Betty Leak is found living next door to Jesse Melton in the 1785 Census of Albemarle) was a witness to William's Will and proved it in court. Richard Woods was Rev. Woods. The Jesse Melton mentioned was William's son.) 6 Elijah S. Melton, Sr b. 1760 Charlotteeville, Albemarle Co, VA d. 1823 Harrison Co., IN m. Sarah Barnette m. 1785 Rutherford Co, NC b. 1755 Albemarle Co, VA d. 1822 Corydon, Harrison Co, IN [daughter of David Barnette and Lucinda Miller] Note: Notes from Coming to America The Melton/Milton's Compiled by Michael Leisure Under 21...on Feb 22, 1785 Indenture. Age over 45 on 1810 & 1820 census. Eli went to NC with his brother Daniel. Eli's brother John II became the guardian of Eli, Daniel and their sister Mary on the same day. 11 Oct. 1767 See Guardians' Bonds of Albemarle Co., VA 1783-1854, loose bounds page 1. Daniel recorded as David. The following is listed in Rev. Woods' book; Eli and Daniel moved to Rutherford Co, N.C. Eli moved to Kentucky in the 1790s, then to Harrison County, Indiana where he lived most of his life. He spent his declining years in the home of his son, David, in Knox County, IL. Eli listed as father on marriage record of his son Eli enumerated 1790 US census Morgan District, Burke Co, NC as 1 wm >16, 2 wm <16, 1 wf info from Larry Wright: Eli and Sarah went from Albemarle Co. VA to Rutherford Co. NC, then to Danville, KY, then to IN. May have died in Knox Co. IL 7 David O. Melton, Sr b. 14 Jan 1786 Rutherford Co, NC d. 19 Aug 1859 Rio, Knox Co, IL m. Catherine Pfrimmer m. 4 Nov 1810 Corydon, Harrison Co, IN b. 10 Oct 1793 Susquehanna Co., PA d. 10 April 1875 Rio, Knox Co., IL [daughter of John Pfrimmer and Elizabeth Senn] info from The Melton List: Note: enumerated 1850 US census Knox Co, IL pg 407 as 63 yo farmer born in NC with Catherine 57 born in PA, John 20, Jesse 18 born in IN, Eli 13, Issac 9, Eliza 15 born in IL Will dated July 25, 1859 and probated September 12, 1859 in Knox Co, IL Catherine: info from Larry Wright: May have been born in 1788 according to compilation of Lucy Ellis 8 William Henry Melton Sr b. 25 Dec 1814 Harrison County, IN d. 22 May 1878 m. Malinda Hall m. 28 Feb 1835 Harrison Co, IN b. 1 Jan 1814 info from Larry Wright: Born: 25 Dec 1814 according to the family bible in the possession of Edith Louise Stoner. Resides: Moved from Indiana after their marriage and moved to Rio, Knox Co., Illinois with other family members. In 1854 they were in Marshall Co., Iowa. By 1860 they had moved to Harrison Co. Missouri. It is believed that he died in Harrison Co. MO but the place of burial is unknown. 9 Martha Jane Melton b. 8 Sept 1849 Knox Co., IL d. 21 Oct 1917 Chandler, OK m. Charles William Stoner m. 3 Dec 1865 b. 16 July 1847 Zanesville, Muskingum Co, OH d. 18 Jan 1928 [son of Levi Harrison Stoner and Christina Henrietta Lambert (Lambrecht)] Charles: info from Shirley Wilson: He moved, with other members of his family, to Harrison Co, MO in 1857, where he grew to manhood. At the age of 18, in Feb 1865 he enlisted in the Union Army, receiving his discharge on Aug 30, 1865 at St. Louis, MO. On Dec 3, 1865 he married Martha J Melton. He was a prominent farmer, living on a farm of 226 acres in Harrison Co on Panther Creek about three miles northwest of Mt. Moriah, from about the time of his marriage until the Fall of 1910, when he moved to Chandler, Lincoln Co, Oklahoma. His wife died Oct. 21, 1917. He lived there nine years and then returned to Harrison Co. where on Feb. 18, 1920 he married Mrs. Emeline Whisler and took up his residence at Ridgeway, remaining there until the time of his death on Jan 18, 1928. He was buried in the Lloyd Stoner Cemetery. This information came from a book by Amber Stoner Culp, from research by her father C. A. Stoner. Stoner, Charles W.Charles W. Stoner - {STONER} Company: D Rank In: Private Rank Out: Private Roll-Box: 390 Roll-Exct: 47 Roll-Rec: 592 Allegiance: Union Misc: Unit: 51 Missouri Infantry. 10 Jennie Henryetta Stoner b. 12 Oct 1866 Harrison co, MO d. 28 Jan 1932 Harrison co, MO m. George Lewis Wright m. 3 Jun 1883 b. 26 Mar 1861 Harrison co, MO d. 29 Jan 1950 Bethany, Harrison co, MO [son of John Sylvester Wright and Polly Scott Bridge] More About JENNIE HENRYETTA STONER: Burial: Lloyd/Stoner Cemetary, Mt Moriah, MO George: info from Larry Wright: Notes for GEORGE LEWIS WRIGHT: Listed in An Account of the Descendents of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 - 1924, by William D. Bridge, Page 359. George and Jennie were fortunate enough to be able to give each of their living children at marriage, a start with a small farm or money to move to their own household to build a new life. In about 1916, George, Jennie, Guy and Garland moved to Baker, Montana for a short period of time. They then moved to Chandler, OK in 1917. Then in 1920, they moved back to the old home place west of Mt Moriah. In 1925, George, Jennie and Garland moved to Akron, Colorado, where they lived in a sod house out on the wide-open prarie. The winter was cold, the closest neighbor two miles, mail box 1 mile and jack rabbit the daily menu, cooked on a stove fed with cow-chips. In 1927 they moved back to Mt Moriah. In early 1928, George, Jennie and Garland moved to Atchison County, Missouri. In the school year 1928-1929, Garland graduated from Daleview High School, Fairfax, MO. In late 1929, they moved back to Mt Moriah, north of town. This was the last home that George, Jennie and Garland had together. Jennie passed away at this little home in 1932. (From notes provided by Garland Wright Sep 16, 2000) More About GEORGE LEWIS WRIGHT: Burial: May 1950, Lloyd/Stoner Cemetary, Mt Moriah, MO Jennie: 11 Theodore Wright b. 13 Mar 1884 Harrison co, MO d. 31 Mar 1962 m. Alma Edith Emery b. 24 Apr 1881 Harrison co, MO d. 8 Oct 1961 [daughter of Josiphiah Emery and Eliza ?] 12 Carlos Paul Wright b. 5 May 1909 Mt Moriah, MO d. 2 Feb 2002 Harrison County Hospital, Bethany, MO m. Nellie Evelyn Linville m. 5 Mar 1931 b. 25 July 1912 Mercer co, MO d. 8 Mar 2006 info from Larry Wright: This is from the Bethany paper. C. Paul Wright C. Paul Wright, 92, Mt. Moriah, Mo., died February 2, 2002, at Harrison County Community Hospital. Mr. Wright was born May 5, 1909, in Mt. Moriah, the son of Theodore and Edith (Emery) Wright. He married Nellie Linville on March 5, 1931, and she survives of the home. Mr. Wright was part owner of the Mt. Moriah Elevator, and had worked as a cattle buyer for the Lamoni Livestock Auction for the last 35 years. He was a 1927 graduate of Mt. Moriah High School. His parents, a son Billie Raymond and a brother Reed Wright preceded him in death. In addition to his wife, he leaves son Jim Wright and wife Patricia Ann of Bethany; two grandchildren, Dwane Wright, Mt. Moriah, and Diane Shields, Kansas City, Mo.; two great-grandchildren, Rick Lee and Erika Jo Shields, Kansas City, Mo. Services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Roberson Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial will be in the Lloyd Cemetery, Mt. Moriah. Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. The family will receive friends after 6 p.m. Tuesday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. 13 Billy Raymond Wright b. 29 Mar 1933 d. 29 Mar 1933 13 Jimmie Lee Wright b. 6 Jan 1936 Mt Moriah, MO d. 11 Mar 2002 Des Moines, IA m. Patricia Ann Updegraff (details excluded) [daughter of Lloyd Updegraff and Doris Todhunter] info from Larry Wright: Subject: Jimmie Lee Wright's Obit Jimmie Lee > Carlos Paul > Theodore > George Lewis > John Sylvester > Elisha Cone for those who might not know. He was in the hospital recovering from a heart attack so that he could have a triple bypass operation. The obit is from the Bethany paper. Jimmie Lee Wright Jimmie Lee Wright, 66, Bethany, Mo., and formerly of Lincoln, Neb., died March 11, 2002, at a Des Moines, Iowa hospital. Mr. Wright was born in Mt. Moriah, Mo., on Jan. 6, 1936, the son of C. Paul and Nellie (Linville) Wright. He married Patricia Ann Updegraff on Oct. 8, 1954, and she survives of the home. He was 1954 a graduate of Mt. Moriah High School, and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He later worked as a truck driver and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. His father and brother Billy Raymond preceded him in death. In addition to his wife, he leaves a son, Dwane Wright, Mt. Moriah; daughter Diane Shields and husband Butch; mother Nellie Wright, all of Kansas City, and grandchildren Rick and wife Kelly, and Erika Shields. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2002, at the Roberson Funeral Home in Bethany. Burial will be in the Lloyd Cemetery, Mt. Moriah. Military honors will be conducted by the V. F.W. and American Legion Posts of Bethany and Albany. Masonic rites will be conducted by Bethany Lodge #97 A.F. & A.M. Memorial gifts may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children and/or the American Diabetes Association. 14 Patricia Diane Wright (details excluded) 14 Jimmie Dwane Wright (details excluded) m. Velma Newman 13 Johnnie Merle Wright b. 6 Jan 1936 d. 21 Mar 1936 12 Porter Reid Wright b. 3 Oct 1913 d. 2 Oct 1958 11 Essie J. Wright b. 28 July 1887 Harrison co, MO d. 11 Feb 1902 Harrison co, MO More About ESSIE J. WRIGHT: Burial: LLoyd Cemetery Near Mt Moriah, Harrison County, MO 11 Zelma Bernice Wright b. 16 Aug 1892 Mt Moriah, MO d. 18 Oct 1988 Maitland, MO m. William Edgar Larason m. Mt Moriah, MO b. 21 Aug 1892 Mercer co, MO d. 29 Apr 1980 Maitland, MO 12 Evah A. Larason b. 29 May 1911 Mt Moriah, MO 12 Mildred Larason b. 30 Sept 1912 12 Garvin Leonard Larason b. 25 Sept 1914 Mt Moriah, MO 12 Maxine Larason b. 17 Apr 1916 Mt Moriah, MO d. 5 Feb 1991 Kansas City, MO 11 Arthur McKinley Wright b. 26 Mar 1896 Mt Moriah, MO d. 20 June 1970 La Junta, CO m. Elsie May Downey m. 3 Mar 1917 Mt Moriah, MO b. 25 July 1898 Mt Moriah, MO d. 23 Apr 1995 La Junta, CO [daughter of John Downey and Ida Wooderson] info from Larry Wright: Notes for ARTHUR MCKINLEY WRIGHT: Died of a heart attack brought on by over-exertion and excitement. Suffered from diabetes for many years, but never took any medication for it. Listed in An Account of the Descenents of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 - 1924, by William D. Bridge, Page 359. This is a story about Dad courting Mom. In those days, the normal mode of transportation was by horse, or horse and buggy. Dad loved to tell how he had trained an old mare to pull a buggy and follow the road without him having to hold the reins. This allowed him to use both hands and pay full attention to Elsie. When he would start telling the story, Elsie would invariably disappear into the kitchen to find something to do. It is utterly impossible to list the residences where Art, or as most of his relatives called him, "Hoof", took his family. After their marriage in 1917, George L, Art's father, gave them a part of his land, which was the same land that John S., George L's father, had purchased from the US Government in 1857. They lived with Hoof's parents until they finished building their own home. They built this home on this land by cutting trees, hauling them to a sawmill by horse and wagon, then hauling the lumber back from the sawmill the same way, and then built the house. Several pictures of this house still exist, although the house was torn down in the 1980's. Larry has a piece of the foundation of this house in his possession. Garland Wright, Hoof's youngest brother, who was about 7 years old at the time, related how he was at the house while Hoof was working on the construction. He needed a special tool that was located at George L's place and Hoof offered him a dime if he would go get it. Garland took him up on it and went to get the tool, but couldn't find it, so he asked his dad, George L, telling George L about the dime. George L got the tool for him, but made him give back the dime because he was supposed to be helping and not making money. Garland said he would never forget that dime. Then, sometime before 1922, Dad took the family to live in Blythedale, MO, where Harold was born in 1922. During the Blythedale phase of their life, which lasted until about February 1929, Dad was a bank clerk, a teacher, owned a garage, and was a farmer. The bank clerk phase and the teacher phase are interesting. The bank where Dad worked was robbed. Uncle Garland related that, at that time, he, his father and mother, George L and Jenny Henryetta, lived in Akron, CO, and that Jenny was beside herself because they learned that all the bank employees had been locked in the bank vault and she was sure that Dad had been shot and killed. Harold remembers Dad telling that the robber had a gun that had a barrel that looked like it was a stove pipe Art was definitely a school teacher. In those days, there were many one room school houses where all grades were together, and this was probably true in Dad's case. It is also true that teachers did not need a teaching certificate to get hired. At any rate, there was this school near Bltyhedale that had a reputation of running the teachers off if the older boys didn't like them. This is the school that Dad taught, probably no more than 2 years. We don't know if Dad succeeded, or if the boys did so. Story as related by Harold L. and Garland Wright, son and brother of Dad, and Doris Miller, his daughter. Next, back to Mt Moriah where Larry was born. Soon thereafter, they moved to a farm near Cimmaron, Kansas, the year 1931, where Art worked for Guy Scott, a large wheat farmer. In 1932,because the crops were so good, Dad decided to work for himself, so, they bought their own farm in Colorado. From about 1932 until 1937, Art and his family lived 9 1/2 miles north of Towner, Kiowa County, Colorado. This is where Doris was born (see her file for the story of this event). These were very hard times - initially, the Depression, and, later, a terrible drouth called "The Dust Bowl". The family had about 1 section of land, 1 mile by 1 mile. In those days, little was known about conservation, so grasslands were plowed to create fields which were then destroyed by drouth and wind. Terrible dust storms were common. Just before Dad and Mom decided they had had enough, one dust storm lasted for one week. When it was over, the family used wheat shovels to remove the dirt from inside the house. During dirt storms, Mom would prepare the family meals on the old wood cook stove, but would leave the food in covered pans on the stove to keep the food from being contaminated with dirt. Each would take their plate to the stove, get their food, and eat at the table. We ate a lot of cornbread and milk and cornbread and beans, with a few raw onions thrown in. This is not to imply, however, that we were ever hungry. Almost everything we ate was raised on the farm, plenty of garden vegetables, hogs and calves to butcher, and cows to milk. Dad was very skilled at directing the milk from a cow's udder directly into a waiting child's mouth. After another dirt storm, there was enough accumulated dirt on the table that Larry, who was 5 or 6 at the time, made play fields on the table with his toy tractor. In 1937, after losing the farm and almost everything else, Dad took his family to La Junta, CO, where he found a job at the Commodity Credit Corporation. Sometime later, he got a better job at Stauffer's Market in Swink, CO, probably in about 1939. After working there for some time, Dad bought the store from the elderly owner. That started a series of 4 different grocery stores in Swink, with a population of less than 200 at the time - we only lived in 3 houses. Next, Dad bought a grocery store in La Junta, CO, which again started a series of Wright Grocery Stores in La Junta, interrupted by one in Vroman, CO, population less than 15. It is at this point that things start getting fuzzy. During WWII, both Rus and Harold were in the service, and after the war, they were briefly united with the family, but both soon married and were on their own. In 1950, the Korean War removed Larry from the family, and in 1952, Doris married. Art and Elsie lived in several houses in La Junta after all the kids had left, but finally settled down in North La Junta where Dad died in 1970. He was not able to be a pioneer like so many of his ancestors, but he did inherit a good deal of the wanderlust that was a part of their makeup. To illustrate, during WWII, the family once lived in a house in La Junta for 3 weeks. The smell of the new paint had not yet begun to dissipate before we moved. More About ARTHUR MCKINLEY WRIGHT: Burial: June 23, 1970, Cheraw Menonite Cemetary, Cheraw, CO Elsie: info from Larry Wright: Notes for ELSIE MAY DOWNEY: Elsie was both the main pillar, and the guiding light of this family. Each of her kids were born at home, as was very common in those days. And at least one, Doris, was born without the benefit of a doctor being present (See Doris's notes). Her first priority in everything she did was the well-being of her family. Normally, Mom did not show her feelings outwardly. But, one time during WWII when she received a picture of Harold in his army uniform just before he went overseas, she broke down completely when she saw the picture. Usually, however, during times of stress, she just worked that much harder on whatever project she was involved in at the time. This illustrates Mom's character. After one of her major operations, she was being wheeled from the recovery room to a regular hospital room. She was lying in the bed and noticed that it was stopped near the door of one of the rooms. She noticed a black woman in the bed in the room, and, who was looking at her. After a while, the orderly wheeled the bed into the room and Mom thought nothing of what had happened. A day or two later, after Mom had recovered a bit, the two women started talking and became good friends. At one point while they were both still in the hospital, the other woman asked Mom about the bed incident. Mom told her she had noticed that there was a considerable wait in the hall with no one doing anything, but did not think much about it. The black woman told her that they were waiting to see what kind of a response Mom had when she saw a black person in the room. Mom's response was "That's foolish. We are all on this earth together, so, we all have to live together". After they had recovered, the two women corresponded until the black woman died several years later. Another example of Mom's character took place while she was in the nursing home about 1 year before her death. Larry was visiting her and they were talking about "old times". Mom had made a comment about her mother and said that Ida Bell was the guiding light of her life because she always thought of others before thinking about herself, and never said a bad thing about anyone. Larry told Elsie that there were many people that said the same thing about Elsie. Mom was truly embarrassed and motioned with her hand at Larry, saying "don't say that about me, I could never be that good". Another example was when Larry told his parents about getting married. He was in the Army in Japan at the time and had said very little about getting serious. In his letter, Larry described his intended and at the end, told his parents to sit down before they read any further because she was Japanese. Mom fired a return letter right back saying that if she was his choice, then she was Mom's choice also, no questions asked. Hoof (Dad) later responded the same way. In both hard times and good times, she always maintained a positive outlook on life, and did whatever was within her power to follow that philosophy. She spent little time complaining about her predicament. Rather than that, she found ways to fight back. Out on the farm during the Dust Bowl, when she saw a dirt storm coming, she would gather papers and rags to stuff in cracks around doors and windows to keep the fine dust from getting into the house. Many things were made at home to conserve what little money was available. We always had a good supply of home canned food that she had made. She made soap. And, since there was no water in the house, taking a bath was special. Once a week in an old fashioned wash tub (for laundry) out in the yard where no one could see us. Don't remember how Mom and Dad did it. The soap, used for laundry, dishes and bathing, was made from lard, wood ash, lye, water, and maybe something else. It removed all the accumulated dirt, sweat, and the outer layer of skin, and if you didn't get it rinsed off quickly, it could go deeper. The ingredients were all cooked in a large tub on an open outdoor fire and then poured into a shallow container where it hardened and was then cut into cakes. At the end of the day, she always had time for the kids, reading by means of a "coal oil lamp" (kerosine), rocking and/or telling stories. And she was continually singing lots of hymns and other old songs like "She'll be commin round the mountain when she comes". There is a family story about her that on her birthday, and I don't know if it was before or after She and Dad were married, her father gave her a choice of presents - either a silver dollar or her choice of one of his cows. In those days, a dollar was a lot of money, but she chose the cow because she knew that in the long run, the cow would produce much more than she could get from the dollar. This same outlook continued after the family moved away from the farm and had achieved a small measure of success. Mom always remembered the hard times and did what she could to ensure that they never returned to her family. Everyone in the family accused her of being tight. Yet, she never hesitated to try to give something to her kids. According to Elsie, she was 1/16th Indian through her father, John Franklin Downey. If that is true, and Mom surely believed it to be so, and the lineage followed the Downey family, then the mother of her great grandfather, George W. Downey, would have been that indian. Unfortunately, George W. is where the lineage stops at this time (Nov 2000). If the lineage did not follow the Downey family, then there are about 12 or 13 other possibilities, none of which have been checked out at this time. According to Irene (Franklin) Wright, Rus's wife, Ida Bell (Wooderson) Downey, Mom's mother and wife of John Downey, told Rus and Irene that John's indian ancestors were the indians that were from Oklahoma, and that the Downey that married the indian was ostracized by all the other Downeys. When Rus and Irene were first married, they lived in Bethany, MO, near Mt Moriah where Ida Bell lived. As a matter of fact, it was Ida Bell that introduced Rus and Irene. Rus had just returned from WWII and was visiting relatives in Mt Moriah at the time. Both Rus and Irene thought the world of Ida and visited her often. If Dad wanted to get the best of her, he would call her a Comanche. Doris said that when that happened, you could just see her black eyes crackle. Mom wouldn't say anything, but would just disappear. Major Illnesses: In December 1969 Mom had a major cancer operation. Larry believes that it was cancer of the uterus that resulted in a hysterectomy and the removal of a part of the colon because the cancer had spread there. This resulted in a colostomy that was removed about 3 years later. Others in the family believe that Mom had cancer of the colon that had spread. At any rate, the surgeon told Larry that the type of cancer was a very slow growing type that might not have any effect on the length of Mom's life, and at this stage of our lives, none of those remaining have memories that are that reliable, so there are doubts about what is actually true. Because of the type of the cancer, the surgeon, himself, may not have definitely known. Larry bases his belief on the fact that he found 5 or 6 bloody pads (no hard, brown material on them) , that Mom had evidently made from material, in their bedroom when he cleaned the house while staying with Dad during and after Mom's operation. Right hip replacement - about 1973. Left knee replacement - about 1975. Declined to have other hip and knee replaced due to old age. Breast cancer resulting in removal of left breast - 1985. Dementia starting about 1992 Doctors diagnosed it as Alzheimers, but Larry believes she simply had a serious case of age-related dementia. On the day she died, April 23, 1995, Doris related that in the afternoon, the nursing home called to say that Mom was talking quite a bit and that they felt that Doris should visit Mom. She and Darrell did so, and when they entered Mom's room, Mom said "Well, lets just visit a while". They did, and Doris said that Mom was very much like her old self. She was alert and very normal, talking a great deal about old times. Doris and Darrell left Mom about 6:30 PM to go home to eat. About 11:30 that night, the nursing home called to say that Mom and just died. More About ELSIE MAY DOWNEY: Burial: April 26, 1995, Cheraw Menonite Cemetary, Cheraw, CO 12 Lawrence Eugene Wright (details excluded) m. Reiko Hiramatsu (details excluded) Japan [daughter of Soichi Hiramatsu and Tomeko Wakai] 12 Russel Raymond Wright b. 14 June 1918 Mt Moriah, MO d. 19 Oct 1993 Montrose, CO m. Etta Irene Franklin m. 30 June 1946 Bethany, MO b. 16 June 1918 Mt Moriah, MO [daughter of Charles Franklin] info from Larry Wright: Notes for RUSSEL RAYMOND WRIGHT: Diagnosed with diabetes about 1983. Rus was legally blind the last 3 - 4 years of his life due to his inattention to the illness. Listed in An Account of the Descendents of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 - 1924, by William D. Bridge, Page 359. As related by his uncle, Garland Wright, Rus was born in a house that his parents built. At the time, Garland was about 8 years old, and during the construction of the house, everyone lived with George Lewis and Jenny, Art's parents. Garland told of how, even while he was a small baby, they discovered that Rus had a hernia. Elsie made him a truss to help solve the problem, but he lived with the problem until he was about 24 years old when he had it repaired surgically so he could enlist in the US Navy. Rus was very independent (his wife Irene and probably the kids also might even say stubborn). Yet, he was as hard on himself as he was on anyone in his family. In this same vein, he was not known as a religious person. Sometime after he had retired and he and Irene were living in the senior citizens housing in Olathe, CO, one Sunday morning, while Irene was getting ready to go to church, Rus appeared behind her and said "If you are going to church with me, you better speed up. And why don't you call Karen & Pat and Ronnie & his wife to see if they want to go too. We'll all meet at the restaurant for breakfast before church." After Irene had gotten over her surprise, she called Karen whose response was "who are you talking about?" At the restaurant there was Rus decked out in his Sunday Best, when in walked on of his co-workers, whose response was "where are you preaching today?" Rus told him that the sermon would be over in the corner of the dining room and that he would be obligated to listen to the whole thing. Rus was subsequently a hard working contributor to the church until the diabetes forced him to stop several years later. In 1939, during his senior year at Swink High School, Rus joined the Colorado National Guard, enlisting with the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Division. On Sep 1, 1940, the 45th Division was called to Active Duty. The unit was initially stationed at Ft. Sill, OK, and, during one of the physical examinations that he had to undergo, the doctors discovered that Rus had a hernia. He was discharged and given a draft classification of 4F (physically unfit), which meant that he would not be drafted. He was home for awhile, but his draft status affected his feelings so much that he had the hernia repaired at his own expense and then enlisted in the Navy. He was trained as a Sonar operator and was assigned to a Submarine Chaser that saw service in the Pacific, ending up around Saipan. During one of his port calls, Rus acquired a pet monkey from another sailor. He took the monkey aboard and taught it many tricks, one of which was to annoy some of the officers. Rus's connection with the monkey came to an end when it bit the Commanding Officer. This was written by Hutch, a fellow Brand Inspector, and read at Rus's funeral. The story of Russel Wright is one of life on horseback, miles in the saddle, back-breaking labor, long days and nights, of lonely back roads, and snowbound ranches. No books or college degree taught of the sweat and smell of the livestock, of catching rustlers or tracking down fraud, the tough living, and tougher decisions. Russel's education was schooled in the ways of the land, people, and the weather. Russel Wright, Brand Inspector, was called many things; "Old Injun Fighter", "Musty", and many unprintable names because he was called to be tough and run things by the book. The job also called for him to know everyone. Being outgoing he knew the ranchers, drinking coffee around a ranch table, as well as he knew the cattle brands and the land. As a child, and it's hard to think he ever was, when his folks went to town he and his brothers and sisters rode the steers in the corral just for fun. Getting dumped in the dirt or water trough added to the fun. When tired of that there was alswys the old pony his father had bought from the Indians. During the Depression you made your own fun. As kids in school Russel sat in front of his future wife Irene the entire 4th grade. She had been born next door to him just two days apart. You could find Russel as a young man in the middle of the Pacific in the Navy aboard a Destroyer Escort. As a Sonar operator he would pass the time playing with the ships dog or monkey as well as "pinging" dolphins and whales with the Sonar. Russel and Irene were married five months after getting out of the service. After leaving Missouri they moved to La Junta, Colorado where Kenny was born. They then moved to Montrose where Russel became brand inspector and Ronnie and Karen were born. As Russel grew older and his voice got deeper imagine him saying "don't just stand there, grab a broom and get to work". He liked to give advice like that to anyone! His work took Russel away from Irene and home but the family did things together whenever they could. The last 20 years of his life he was bothered with diabetes but still enjoyed story telling of the situations he'd had to face in his life. Russel and I always gave each other a verbal rough time, as friends often do. On our trips through the back roads, even when his eyesight was badly failing, he relived many of his experiences that he shared with me which I'm grateful for. In fact I'm grateful that I knew Russel Wright. I can vision him sitting up in Cowboy Heaven astride a horse swapping stories to anyone who would listen ----- even now. Hutch During the Dust Bowl years starting in the mid-30s, Rus joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, probably after he was 18 years old. These were very hard times, and Rus probably sent most of his earnings home to the family. He was assigned to the Soil Conservation Service code SCS-4-C. Colorado State internet site. More About RUSSEL RAYMOND WRIGHT: Burial: October 23, 1993, Olathe Cemetary, Olathe, CO 13 Kenneth Raymond Wright (details excluded) 13 Ronald Charles Wright (details excluded) 13 Karen May Wright (details excluded) 12 Harold Lee Wright b. 8 July 1922 m. Jean Burgoon m. 21 June 1946 Notes for HAROLD LEE WRIGHT: Listed in An Account of the Descendents of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 - 1924, by William D. Bridge, Page 359. 13 Bekka Jo Wright (details excluded) 13 Kathy Lea Wright (details excluded) 12 Doris May Wright (details excluded) m. Darrell Dean Miller 13 Roger Dean Miller (details excluded) 13 Rex Douglas Miller (details excluded) 13 Henry Arthur Miller (details excluded) 13 Jeffrey Kent Miller (details excluded) 13 Mark Ray Miller 11 William Sylvester Dean Wright b. 25 Apr 1897 Mt Moriah, MO d. 13 Feb 1974 m. Nora Mae Kenly b. 25 Apr 1897 d. May 1961 12 Kenneth De Veryl Wright b. 28 Oct 1916 Ridgeway, MO m. Eleanor H. Evanson m. 26 May 1946 Camas, WA b. 5 Apr 1918 Amegard, ND 13 Keith Dennis Wright (details excluded) 13 Dale Gene Wright (details excluded) 13 Nore Ivedia Wright (details excluded) m. Spencer Donald Hess 13 Chris Dean Wright b. 3 Jan 1952 Thermopolis, WY d. 26 Oct 1954 Washougal, WA 13 Gary Lee Wright (details excluded) 12 George Louis Jr Wright b. 20 July 1918 12 Geraldine Bea Wright b. 11 Mar 1920 12 Marvin Kenley Wright b. 9 Apr 1922 12 Virgina Rae Wright b. 14 July 1924 d. 2 July 1970 m. Orville Wilson 12 Dollie Lorrie Wright (details excluded) 12 Verlin Dean Wright (details excluded) 12 Donnie D. Wright b. 31 Mar 1931 d. 23 Sept 1947 12 Betty Dorline Wright (details excluded) 11 Florence Fern Wright b. 4 Apr 1898 Mt Moriah, MO d. 7 Apr 1989 Ridgeway, MO m. Robert Milton Bennett b. 3 Sept 1896 [son of Charles D. Bennett and Mattie Lou Crabb] 12 Clell Evertt Bennett b. 22 July 1917 12 Cyle D. Bennett b. 21 Dec 1918 Ridgeway, MO d. 9 Dec 2008 Kansas City, MO m. Mary L. ? m. 1939 d. 2006 13 Mary Darlene Bennett m. John Roper 13 Alice Orlene Bennett m. ? Yunghans 13 Hal Gene Bennett m. Carol ? 13 Bonnie Bennett 13 Joyce Bennett m. Alvin Macko 11 Ethel Evelyn Wright b. 7 Jan 1900 Mt Moriah, MO d. 14 Jan 1978 Hamburg, IA m. Glen Wood Prater b. 10 Dec 1897 MO d. 23 Dec 1976 MO [son of John Allen Prater and Emma Rosette Dill] Glen and Ethel are buried in Walkup Grove cemetery, near Fairfax MO Glen: Glen and Ethel are buried in Walkup Grove cemetery, near Fairfax MO 12 Harlan Rex Prater b. 2 Sept 1918 d. 10 Dec 1998 m. Neva Dean Brewer m. 10 June 1937 m. Charlotte Puett m. 26 Sept 1970 b. 31 May 1921 buried Fillmore Cemetery, Fillmore, MO 13 George Russell Prater (details excluded) 13 Philip Wayne Prater (details excluded) 13 Harlon Eugene Prater (details excluded) 12 Avis Lucille Prater b. 31 Oct 1920 Bethany, MO d. 24 Jan 2006 m. Willard Powell m. 21 May 1945 b. 3 Aug 1918 d. 18 Apr 1979 Maryville MO [son of Earl Monroe Powell and Zula Wiley] 13 Glennda Lou Powell (details excluded) 13 Earl Lyn Powell (details excluded) 13 Charles Dale Powell (details excluded) m. Patty Calfee 13 Wilda June Powell (details excluded) 12 George Allen (Jim) Prater b. 15 Feb 1923 d. 16 May 1994 MO m. Dorothy Margaret Craig m. 8 May 1941 b. 14 Oct 1923 Jim hosted bluegrass music festivals on his farm near Bolckow, MO. buried Fillmore Cemetery, Fillmore, MO 13 Lon Craig Prater (details excluded) 13 Ramona June Prater (details excluded) 13 Alan Ray Prater (details excluded) 14 Josh Prater m. Kim Schuman 14 Stephanie Prater m. Warren Clark 12 Lois Pauline Prater b. 7 June 1925 Fairfax, MO d. 31 July 2006 St. Joseph, MO m. Jack Owens m. 1943 m. Drexel Eldon Gray m. 16 Jan 1958 b. 27 Oct 1915 Pickering, MO d. 11 Apr 2000 Savannah, MO 13 Basil Dean Owens (details excluded) m. Linda Sue Griffin (details excluded) 13 Glen David Owens (details excluded) m. Tommasine Lynette Kirsch 13 Connie Sue Owens (details excluded) m. Curtis Taylor 12 Jerry Dale Prater b. 24 May 1928 Fairfax, MO d. 17 Jul 2008 St Joseph, MO m. Mary Ellen Gilland (details excluded) De Kalb, MO Prater, Jerry AGENCY, Mo. - Jerry Dale "J.D." Prater, 80, Agency, formerly of St. Joseph, Mo., passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the Living Community of St. Joseph, with his beloved grandson, Jeff, at his side. J.D. was born May 24, 1928, in Fairfax, Mo., to Glen and Ethel (Wright) Prater. In 1951, he married Mary Ellen Gilland. They were divorced in 1992 after 41? years of marriage. Both remained close. J.D. worked for the Rock Island Railroad and retired from Western Dairy after 35 years of service. He enjoyed the outdoors, coon hunting, trading, and his grandson, Jeff, who was his greatest joy. As Jeff was growing up, you didn't see one without the other; and then came his great-grandson, Jordan, who became his second greatest joy. J.D. was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Ruben; brothers, Harlan, George A. "Jim" and John Prater; and sisters, Avis Powell and Lois Gray. He is survived by his former wife, Mary Ellen; daughter, Mary Dale Colwell, and husband, Joe; grandson, Jeffrey Dale Hamilton, and wife, Pam; great-grandson, Jordan Dale Hamilton; brother, Richard "Dick" Prater of Tarkio, Mo.; sister, Jennie Lee Grace of Des Moines, Iowa, and their families, along with a host of nieces and nephews; and his companion, Georgia Adkins of Agency. The family will like to give a special thank you to Kendallwood Hospice and the Living Community, which made his final hours peaceful. The funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Interment will be at the Agency Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are requested to Kendallwood Hospice. Online condolences and obituaries are at www.ruppfuneral.com. Published in the St. Joseph News-Press on 7/19/2008 13 Mary Dale Prater (details excluded) 12 Ruben Prater b. 21 Mar 1931 Atchison co, MO d. 21 Mar 1931 Atchison co, MO buried Walkup Grove Cemetery, near Fairfax, MO info from Missouri State Archives-Death Record Certificates: Death record states date of birth and death to be 21 Mar 1931. Grave marker incorrectly reads 1932. Cause of death listed as "blue baby" (stillborn) 12 Jennie Lea Prater (details excluded) m. Weldon Wilbur Grace (details excluded) Nodaway co, MO [son of Harvey Alexander Grace and Mary Ellen McIntyre] 13 James Weldon Grace (details excluded) m. Cynthia Diane Sotter (details excluded) Los Angeles, CA [daughter of Thomas Raymond Sotter and Rose Blount] m. Joan Marie (Bruch) Lewis (details excluded) Carroll, IA [daughter of Leo Julian Bruch and Betty Haverman] 14 Joshua James Grace (details excluded) 14 Jennilee Rose Grace (details excluded) m. Aaron Scott Anderson 15 Jackson Weldon Anderson (details excluded) 13 Jan Lawson Grace (details excluded) m. Phyllis Lloyd 14 Jeremy Grace (details excluded) m. Adrienne Wiebe 13 Pamela Sue Grace (details excluded) m. Dean Ague m. Tom Mehalovich m. Ed Tam 13 Patricia Lue Grace (details excluded) m. Randy Wilson m. Gary Adams m. Don Richards 14 Sarah Adams 14 Jacob Adams 13 Jon Richard Grace (details excluded) 12 John Lewis "J.L." Prater b. 21 July 1938 Fillmore, MO d. 17 Apr 2008 Council Bluffs, IA m. Arlene June Grace (details excluded) [daughter of Harvey Alexander Grace and Mary Ellen McIntyre] Prater, John HAMBURG, Iowa - John Lewis "Bub" Prater, 69, Hamburg, formerly Burlington Junction, Mo., passed away on Thursday evening, April 17, 2008. Born July 21, 1938, in rural Burlington Junction, he was the son of Glenn and Ethel (Wright) Prater. He was united in marriage to Arlene June Grace on Nov. 28, 1958. Survivors are wife, Arlene of Hamburg; children, Gena Prater of Hamburg, Jayson (Lisa) Prater of Milo, Iowa; and Jerald (Katrina) Prater of Platte Woods, Mo.; three grandchildren; siblings, Jerry D. (Georgia) Prater of Agency, Mo.; Richard E. (Connie) Prater of Tarkio, Mo.; and Jennie Lea (Weldon) Grace of Des Moines, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at the United Methodist Church in Hamburg. Burial will follow in Mount Olive Cemetery at Hamburg, Family visitation will be Saturday, April 19, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Rash-Gude Funeral Home, Hamburg. Memorials may be made to Nishna Productions in Shenandoah, Iowa. Published in the St. Joseph News-Press on 4/19/2008 13 Gena Grace Prater (details excluded) 13 Jayson Lewis Prater (details excluded) 13 Jerald Harvey Prater 12 Richard Eugene Prater (details excluded) m. Connie Sue Brummitt 13 Shawna Kaye Prater (details excluded) 11 Letha Rose Wright b. 29 Feb 1902 d. 11 Jan 1905 More About LETHA ROSE WRIGHT: Burial: Lloyd Cemetery near Mt Moriah, Harrison County, MO 11 Guy Hannah Wright b. 28 Nov 1903 Mt Moriah, MO d. 12 Apr 1969 Mt Moriah, MO m. Mattie Prater m. Apr 1923 b. 15 July 1904 MO d. 25 June 1951 Bethany, MO [daughter of John Allen Prater and Emma Rosette Dill] Guy: info from Larry Wright: More About GUY HANNAH WRIGHT: Fact 1: 1969, Died in tragic Accident Mattie: SOURCE: Newspaper clipping from unidentified newspaper (Probably Bethany Republican-Clipper) Handwritten date of 6-27-51 written on clipping Mrs. Guy Wright Dies; Mt. Moriah Rites Today Mrs. Mattie Wright, 46, wife of Guy Wright, living east of Bethany and with a Ridgeway rural address, died Monday at a local hospital. Mrs. Wright had been ill for several months and in and out of the hospital at times. Besides her husband, Mrs. Wright is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Colleen Hartman of Ridgeway address. Mrs. Wright was a daughter of John A. and Emma (Dill) Prater. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 o'clock this Wednesday at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. The Rev. Marvin T. Judy of Cainsville will officiate. Burial will be at Lloyd Cemetery (Mt. Moriah). info from Missouri State Archives--Death Record Certificates 12 Maizie Lavern Wright b. 12 Oct 1923 Fairfax, MO d. 28 Dec 1941 Excelsior Springs, MO m. Luther C. Musser Jr m. 1941 buried Lloyd cemetery Mt Moriah info from Larry Wright: More About MAIZZIE WRIGHT: Fact 1: 1941, Died in car accident right after marriage. info from Missouri State Archives--Death Record Certificates 12 Elsie Colleen Wright (details excluded) m. Robert Lee Hartman b. 17 Dec 1924 d. 8 July 2006 13 Christy Elaine Hartman (details excluded) 13 Bobby Gene Hartman (details excluded) 13 Richard Wayne Hartman b. 9 Nov 1959 d. 6 Feb 1968 info from Larry Wright: More About RICHARD WAYNE HARTMAN: Fact 1: February 06, 1968, Died of Kidney Disorder 11 Ada Charlotte Wright b. 20 Oct 1905 d. 4 July 1914 Notes for ADA CHARLOTTE WRIGHT: Died in a house fire at her sister Zelma's Burial: Lloyd Cemetery Near Mt Moriah, Harrison County, MO 11 Garland Wayne Wright b. 11 Aug 1910 Mt Moriah, MO d. 21 Dec 2001 Leavenworth KS m. Lucretia Louise Vermillion b. 23 Dec 1907 d. 7 Feb 1965 m. Mary (Hooper) Carpenter info from Larry Wright: Notes for GARLAND WAYNE WRIGHT: Has diabetes obituary: Garland W. Wright, of Leavenworth, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001 at Cushing Memorial Hospital. He was 91. He was born Aug. 11, 1910 in Harrison County, Mo., the son of George L. and Jennie H. (Stoner) Wright. He married Mary E. Hooper on Feb. 11, 1966 in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home. Mr. Wright worked as a farmer before joining the United States Army in May 1942 and served until September 1945. He then went to work at Fort Leavenworth in civil service. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Other survivors include his daughter, Roberta West, Leavenworth; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were 11 brothers and sisters. Visitation for Mr. Wright will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Belden-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapels. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Belden-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapel with burial following at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. The Rev. Randall Terrill will officiate. Memorial contributions may be sent in lieu of flowers to the National Kidney Foundation in care of the funeral chapel. 10 Rosa Neola Stoner b. 27 Oct 1872 Mt Moriah, MO d. 6 May 1952 Kansas City, MO m. Jessie Grant Phillips m. George Lewis Wright m. abt 1935 b. 26 Mar 1861 Harrison co, MO d. 29 Jan 1950 Bethany, Harrison co, MO [son of John Sylvester Wright and Polly Scott Bridge] George: info from Larry Wright: Notes for GEORGE LEWIS WRIGHT: Listed in An Account of the Descendents of John Bridge, Cambridge, 1632 - 1924, by William D. Bridge, Page 359. George and Jennie were fortunate enough to be able to give each of their living children at marriage, a start with a small farm or money to move to their own household to build a new life. In about 1916, George, Jennie, Guy and Garland moved to Baker, Montana for a short period of time. They then moved to Chandler, OK in 1917. Then in 1920, they moved back to the old home place west of Mt Moriah. In 1925, George, Jennie and Garland moved to Akron, Colorado, where they lived in a sod house out on the wide-open prarie. The winter was cold, the closest neighbor two miles, mail box 1 mile and jack rabbit the daily menu, cooked on a stove fed with cow-chips. In 1927 they moved back to Mt Moriah. In early 1928, George, Jennie and Garland moved to Atchison County, Missouri. In the school year 1928-1929, Garland graduated from Daleview High School, Fairfax, MO. In late 1929, they moved back to Mt Moriah, north of town. This was the last home that George, Jennie and Garland had together. Jennie passed away at this little home in 1932. (From notes provided by Garland Wright Sep 16, 2000) More About GEORGE LEWIS WRIGHT: Burial: May 1950, Lloyd/Stoner Cemetary, Mt Moriah, MO Jennie: 10 Mary Malinda Stoner b. 16 June 1869 d. 23 Mar 1947 m. William Herbst m. 1886 m. John Phillips b. 4 Feb 1870 d. 1 Apr 1888 m. Grant Collins 11 Edith Luecretia Herbst b. 3 Mar 1887 10 Minnie M. Stoner b. 4 Sept 1873 Harrison co, MO m. Calvin Simpson Bridge 10 Charles Jessie Stoner b. 23 May 1876 d. 21 Apr 1966 m. Etta Missouri Dennis m. 16 Feb 1895 b. abt 1878 OH d. 6 Apr 1946 10 Joseph O. Stoner b. 7 Oct 1878 d. 3 July 1879 10 Grace Ellen Stoner b. 10 Aug 1880 d. 29 Jan 1971 Chandler, OK m. Henry Alonzo Bridge 10 Samuel Arthur Stoner b. 21 Mar 1883 Ridgeway, MO d. 1 Nov 1967 Kansas City, MO m. Gladys Lural Brown m. 31 Oct 1908 [daughter of Henry Emanuel Brown and Queen Victoria Booth] 11 Keith Virgil Stoner b. 25 Nov 1920 Harrison Co., MO d. 9 Dec 1934 Harrison Co., MO info from Missouri State Archives--Death Record Certificates : accidental gunshot while hunting 10 June Bertha Stoner b. 29 May 1885 d. 12 Feb 1919 m. Carl Omer Whisler m. 29 Mar 1903 10 Dollie Viola Stoner b. 22 July 1887 Mt Moriah, MO d. 6 Dec 1940 Chandler, OK m. Charles Sumner Cochran m. George Howland m. Oct 1919 9 William Henry Melton Jr b. 8 Oct 1846 Harrison Co, IN d. 8 April 1902 m. Elizabeth Catherine Stoner m. 10 Mar 1867 Cainsville, MO b. 20 Sept 1850 West Lebanon, IN d. 8 July 1932 Wolf Point, MT [daughter of Levi Harrison Stoner and Christina Henrietta Lambert (Lambrecht)] Elizabeth: info from Larry Wright: . Here is what is in Amber Stoner Culp's Stoner History on Aunt "Lib". Elizabeth Catherine Stoner, only daughter of Levi Harrison and Christiana, was born at West Lebanon, Indiana, Sept. 20, 1850. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Maggie Shotsman, near Wolf Point, Montana, July 8, 1932. She is buried at Prairie Elk, Mont. After her father's death, which occurred when she was a very small girl, her mother, finding herself among strangers in a strange neighborhood where they had recently moved, decided to go to her relatives in Wisconsin. They lived in that state, however, only a few years before deciding to move to Missouri where the Stoner family had located. In Missouri, Elizabeth grew to womanhood and married William Harrison Melton, born Oct. 8, 1846, died April 8, 1902, buried in Lloyd cemetery. They were married March 10, 1867 at Cainsville by Samuel H. Glaze, a Justice of the Peace. They soon bought a farm of 160 acres about four miles northwest of Mt. Moriah and legally described as the Southwest Quarter of Section Four in Township Sixty Four, Range Twenty Six, Harrison County, Missouri. She lived there many years and reared her family, occupying the farm for some time after her husband's death before the farm was sold. She then moved to Unionville to be near her children and remained there a few years until she decided to accompany her youngest son to Prairie Elk, Montana, where they entered a claim and began all over the old pioneer days through which she had once gone. She lived there with her son until after his marriage, then she spent her time in the different states to which her children had scattered, and with them. "Lib" as she was always familiarly called, was always of a jolly disposition (a Stoner trait) and was greatly loved by all, for she was always cheerful. She was a very devout Christian, always attending church and seeing that her membership was where her home was. Always happy; always jolly; liking everybody; everybody liking her; hers was indeed a good life. She and her husband were the parents of nine children: (1) Newton Levi; (2) Jasper Harvey; (3) Edward Warren; (4) Julia Henrietta; (5) Maggie Elizabeth; (6) Rhoda May; (7) Millard Ellis; (8) Boston Gilbert; (9) Orval Earnest. 10 Rhoda May Melton b. 21 Oct 1881 Harrison co, MO m. Harvey Markwood Wright m. 15 Aug 1897 b. 7 Dec 1875 Harrison co, MO d. 15 July 1926 [son of John Sylvester Wright and Polly Scott Bridge] 10 Newton Levi Melton 10 Jasper Harvey Melton 10 Edward Warren Melton 10 Julia Henrietta Melton 10 Maggie Elizabeth Melton 10 Millard Ellis Melton 10 Boston Gilbert Melton 10 Orval Earnest Melton 9 Francis Merion Melton b. 1836 9 Jesse H. Melton b. 1837 9 Eliza Melton b. 1838 9 Sarah E. Melton b. 1840 9 Emily A. Melton b. 4 Nov 1841 9 Cathryn Melton b. 1843 9 Elizabeth Melton b. 1845 8 George Washington Melton, Sr b. 5 Sept 1811 Harrison Co, IN 8 Elizabeth Melton b. 1814 IN 8 Amos Melton b. 1813 8 Hirum Melton b. 1819 Harrison Co, IN 8 Samuel Melton b. 21 Nov 1821 IN 8 Daniel Melton b. 1824 IN 8 David Melton b. 1828 IN 8 John William Melton b. 1830 IN 8 Jesse Melton b. 1832 IN 8 Eliza Melton b. 1835 IL 8 Eli Melton b. 1836 IL 8 Isaac Melton b. 28 Aug 1839 Knox Co, IL 7 James Melton b. 1791 Rutherford Co, NC 7 Judith Melton b. 1792 Rutherford Co, NC 7 Elizabeth Melton b. 1793 7 Mildred Melton b. 19 June 1796 Rutherford Co, NC 7 Jesse Melton b. 1800 Rutherford Co, NC 7 Eli S. Melton, Jr b. 6 Apr 1801 Danville, Boyle Co, KY 7 Edmund Shackleford Melton b. 1806 IN 6 Sarah Melton b. 1749 6 Richard Melton b. 1750 Charlotteville, VA 6 Rueben Melton b. 1751 6 John Ball Melton, Sr b. 21 June 1753 6 Jesse E. Melton b. 1760 6 Mildred Melton b. 1761 6 Daniel Farrar Melton b. 27 Oct 1767 6 Mary Melton b. 1769