1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2 May, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 13A, Hse/Fam #2 Kennedy, Jerome F Son M W 28 Single AR AR AR Farmer Kennedy, Isabel Mother F W 54 Widow 5 children/4 living AR AL MS Kennedy, Zula H Sister F W 16 AR AR AR Houghton, Walter Hired Man M W 19 AR AR AR Kennedy, Shannon A Son M W 20 AR AR AR Farm Laborer Living next door to Jerome Frank in 1910 is his uncle Junius C. Also we find his grandmother, Junius' mother Sarah J (Sally) and another of her sons James Byron living in the household of Junius. Junius is still single. His WWI Draft Registration information gives us his specific birth date. Jerome Frank Kennedy, Birth 20 Nov 1881, residence Arkansas, Arkansas Jerome Frank Kennedy is a single man at least until age 49, when he is still farming and maintaining a household with his mother. See details on their census information under his mother, Nancy Isabel (Nolastname) Kennedy, wife of Edwin D Kennedy. Jerome's gravestone provides both his birth and death dates: Kennedy, Jerome Franklin b. Nov. 20, 1881 d. Feb. 24, 1950 -- Find a Grave, Bayou Meto Cemetery, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSsr=401&GScid=1524308&
Junius C is living next door to his brother Edwin's son Jerome Frank. In Junius' household we find their mother Sarah J (Sally) and their brother James Byron. Junius is still single. We now also learn about a sister of Sarah, also a member of this household. Enumerated as Junius' aunt, Clarissa A Peters is the widowed sister of Sarah. Unfortunately, this is her married name, so we still have not learned Sarah's maiden name. Two nephews and a niece in the household likely indicate that one of Sarah's married daughters and her husband have died, leaving these three children, named Cummings. Athel (listed as Athiel in 1900) was already living in his grandmother's household in 1900. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2 May, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 13A, Hse/Fam #3 Kennedy, Junious Head M W 39 Single AR KY KY Farmer Kennedy, Sarah J Mother F W 70 Widow KY VA VA [no report on # of children] Kennedy, James B Brother M W 36 AR KY KY Farmer Peters, Clarissa A Aunt F W 72 Widow 0 children AR AR AR Cummings, Athel Nephew M W 15 AR AR AR Cummings, Vennis Nephew M W 12 AR AR AR Cummings, Arvilla Niece F W 6 AR AR AR In 1920, Junius has finally married. From the age of their oldest child, it looks like he and Elizabeth married about 1911. His mother and brother James B are still in his household. Clarissa A Peters seems to be a sister of Sarah, but she is widowed without bearing any children. We cannot tell the maiden name from this information. I have no clue to indicate who the parents of the Cummings children are. They would presumably be the children of one of Junius' sisters who married a Cummings. The oldest, Athel, was in the household of his grandmother Sarah J in 1900. Vennis is not with them, though he was about 2 years old at the time, and Arvilla was born since the last census. So even though her mother does not show up in any of our family groups up to now, she was still having children. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 January, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A, Neighborhood Rd, Hse/Fam #7 Kennedy, J C Head Owns farm M W 48 AR KY KY Farmer Kennedy, Elizabeth Wife F W 27 AR AR AR Kennedy, Ruth Dau F W 8 AR AR AR Kennedy, Kelly Son M W 7 AR AR AR Kennedy, Sally Mother F W 80 Widow KY VA VA Kennedy, Byron Brother M W 44 AR KY KY Farmer In 1930, Junius (called June C) is hosting his mother and James Byron but now his brother Oscar has also moved in. Oscar is now widowed. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7 Kennedy, June C Head Owns farm M W 57 First married at 38 AR KY KY Farmer Kennedy, Lizzie Wife F W 38 First married at 18 AR AR AR Kennedy, Kelly R Son M W 18 AR AR AR Kennedy, Junius C Son M W 10 AR KY KY Kennedy, Sallie J Mother F W 89 Widow KY VA VA Kennedy, Osker L Brother M W 65 Widowed AR KY KY Laborer Kennedy, J Byron Brother M W 54 Single AR KY KY Laborer Wilson, Alvin W Hired Man 57 Widowed AL AL AL Laborer The ages at marriage indicate that June and Lizzie married in either late 1910 or early 1911, matching the earlier estimate from 1920, based on the age of Ruth. The enumerator has now demoted James Byron from Farmer to Laborer.
After the divorce, Martha Lois moved to Summerville, Tennessee. -- George Oliver McSwain U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1 Martha L Houston [Martha L McSwain] Birth Date 2 Feb 1947 8900 Jernigan Dr, Somerville, TN, 38068 (1996) 3297 Keeshond Cv, Bartlett, TN, 38134-3322 8870 Jernigan Dr, Somerville, TN, 38068-6350 (1993) RR 3 POB 262a, Somerville, TN, 38068 Her Social Security records report that she was living in Somerville, Tennessee and was still receiving benefits at that address at the time of her death. Social Security Death Index Martha L. Houston Born 2 Feb 1947 Died 11 Sep 2011 Last Residence and benefit Somerville, Fayette, Tennessee 38068 SSN issued Arkansas (1963) But her obituary states that she was a resident of Benton, Saline County, Arkansas, when she died in Little Rock, Arkansas, under cancer treatment and hospice care. I found her obituary online at the Saline Courier, Benton, Arkansas. The Benton reference appears to be the address of her daughter Holley Little. ----------------------------------------- Martha Lois Kennedy Houston September 13, 2011 Martha Lois Kennedy Houston, 64, of Benton died September 11, in Little Rock. She was born February 2, 1947 in DeWitt, AR. Martha was self-employed and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Martha also loved to teach reading, was a Master Gardener, a lifetime member of the Home Extension Club and was a volunteer firefighter in Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin and Sarah Helen Kennedy, husband, Jim L. Houston, and a sister, Rita Kennedy Purdy. She is survived by her daughter, Holley Little and husband, Greg of Benton; son, Russell McSwain and wife, Charity of Arlington, Tennessee; sister, Susan Coit, of Stuttgart; three granddaughters, Olivia Russell Little, Addison Grace McSwain, and Avery Claire McSwain. Graveside services will be Thursday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m., at Forest Hills Cemetery by Ashby Funeral Home. Minister will be Chris Treat. Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 13, 6 to 7 p.m. at Ashby’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or to Carti. Family wishes to give a special thank you to Dr. Brad Baltz and his staff, the Oncology Unit at St. Vincent Medical Center and to Arkansas Hospice for their love and support during this time. -- Saline Courier, Benton, Arkansas, http://www.bentoncourier.com/content/martha-lois-kennedy-houston -----------------------------------------
1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 January, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A-B, DeWitt Rd, Hse/Fam #12 Kennedy, Shannon Head Rents M W 29 AR AR AR Farmer [b abt 1891] Kennedy, Martha Wife F W 25 IL Germany MO [b abt 1895] Kennedy, Marvin Son M W 7 AR AR IL 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7 Kennedy, Shannon A Head Owns M W 40 First married at age 21 AR AR AR Farmer [b bet Jan and Apr 1890] Kennedy, Martha E Wife F W 35 First married at age 17 IL Germany MO [b abt 1895] Kennedy, Marvin C Son M W 17 AR AR IL U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 Marvin Kennedy Born 20 Dec 1912 Died22 Jul 1990 SSN 432-12-2162 issued Arkansas (Before 1951) Gravestone of Marvin C and Addie Minor Kennedy Thompson Cemetery, DeWitt, Arkansas, Arkansas Addie L Minor Jan 24 1909 Oct 5 1976 Marvin C Kennedy Dec 20 1912 July 22 1990 -- Find a Grave, http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/ViewPhoto.aspx?tid=10877462&pid=-564420494&oid=90f94752-152b-4ea4-b058-32c7a6964254&pg=32768&idx=1
Oscar L Kennedy is first reported in the 1870 census in the household of his father Jerome B Kennedy in La Greux (later spelled LaGrue) Township. 1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 12 July, La Greux Township, page 5 (scan 59), PO DeWitt, Hse #43, Fam #41 Kennedy, Jerome B 37 M W Bricklayer Kentucky Cannot read or write Kennedy, Sarah J 30 F W Kentucky Cannot read or write Kennedy, Edwin D 9 M W Arkansas Cannot read or write Kennedy, Corrilla N 7 F W Kentucky Cannot read [or write?] Kennedy, Oscar L 6 M W Arkansas Kennedy, Mary E 3 M W Arkansas Kennedy, Ada R 9mos M W Arkansas born Oct 1869 Oscar's father died before the 1880 census. 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 24 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 5, page 38, Hse #403, Fam #418 Kennedy, Sarah J W F 44 (Self) Keeping House [widow] KY VA VA (note that Sarah has gained 14 years since 1870) Kennedy, Edwin D W M 19 Son AR KY KY Farm Laborer Kennedy, Corilla W F 17 Daughter AR KY KY Kennedy, Oscar W M 16 Son AR KY KY Farm Laborer Kennedy, Mary W M 12 Daughter AR KY KY Kennedy, Ada W F 10 Daughter AR KY KY Kennedy, Junius W M 8 Son AR KY KY Kennedy, Kate W F 6 Daughter AR KY KY Kennedy, Byron W M 4 Son AR KY KY Kennedy, Hettie W M 1 Daughter AR KY KY In 1900, we find Oscar has been married about 5 years and has established his home on a farm he owns, next door to his mother Sarah J. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 6 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 3B, Hse/Fam #59 Kennedy, Oscar L Head W M June 1864 35 AR KY KY Farmer, owns farm Kennedy, Kate L Wife W F Aug 1869 31 AR AL MS Kennedy, James B Son W M Jan 1896 4 AR AR AR Kennedy, John W Son W M Mar 1899 1 AR KY KY Kemp, Lecil W Stepson W M 13 AR TN AR Farm Laborer Kemp, Jessie Stepdaughter W F Sept 1890 9 AR TN AR Simpson, Little J Brother-in-law W M Mar 1874 26 AR AL MS Simpson, Willie A Brother-in-law W M Nov 1877 22 AR AL MS Simpson, Georgie S Sister-in-law W M Dec 1882 17 AR AL MS Simpson, Leona Sister-in-law W M Jan 1890 10 AR AL MS From this we learn some helpful facts. The Simpson individuals are the siblings of Oscar's wife. This tells us that her maiden name was Simpson. The Kemp stepchildren indicate that Kate L Simpson was married to someone named Kemp before she married Oscar. In 1880, there was a Kemp family living next door to Oscar's mother Sarah and her children. This was James M Kemp age 26 and his wife Elizabeth age 22, with one child Albert M 8 months old. James' father was born in Tennessee, just as the Kemp father of Kate's children. I have not seen a copy of the 1910 census record for Oscar and his family. A partial transcription of the 1910 gives us the names and ages of the family members at that time. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, LaGrue Township, District 9, page 13B. Kennedy, Oscar L 45 Kennedy, Kate 43 Kennedy, Kemp Lecil 23 Kennedy, John W 11 Kennedy, Mark G 8 Kennedy, Stella May 5 Kennedy, Ada J 2 The entry for Lecil is confusing. He is listed in 1900 as a stepson under the name Lecil W Kemp. I imagine the listing under Kennedy means that he has now been adopted and taken the name Kennedy, but it is unclear why the name Kemp is included here. I have not found Oscar and his family at all in 1920. In 1930 he is a widow living with his brother Junius, along with his other brother James Byron and their mother. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7 Kennedy, June C Head Owns farm M W 57 First married at 38 AR KY KY Farmer Kennedy, Lizzie Wife F W 38 First married at 18 AR AR AR Kennedy, Kelly R Son M W 7 AR AR AR Kennedy, Junius C Son M W 10 AR KY KY Kennedy, Sallie J Mother F W 89 Widow KY VA VA **Kennedy, Osker L Brother M W 65 Widowed AR KY KY Laborer** Kennedy, J Byron Brother M W 54 Single AR KY KY Laborer
I discovered Shannon Artis Kennedy while looking for information on his son Irvin Virgil Kennedy and descendants, in regard to their connection with the McSwains. I first found Irvin with his parents and siblings in the 1920 and 1930 censuses for Arkansas County, Arkansas. Then proceeding on information found there, I found Irvin's father Shannon in the 1900 and 1910 censuses, with additional information from draft registration records. I was not able to find any record of marriage or births. I first found this family in Bayou Meto Township of Arkansas County in 1900, when Shannon was a 10-year-old in the household of his father, Edwin D Kennedy. There were several other Kennedys nearby, some of whom I had earlier located in the same vicinity in the 1920 and 1930 censuses. As I analyzed the information on the individuals each household in these censuses in, I was able to work out some of the relationships between the various Kennedy households. For more details on the broader Kennedy family, see Edwin D Kennedy and Nancy Isabel Nolastname Kennedy. 1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 6 June, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 3B, Hse/Fam #61 Kennedy, Edwin D Mead W M Nov 1861 39 AR KY KY Farmer Kennedy, Nancy I Wife W F Dec 1955 44 AR TN MS Kennedy, Jerome F Son W M Nov 1881 18 AR AR AR Farm Laborer Kennedy, Annie L Dau W F July 1886 13 AR AR AR Kennedy, Shannon A Son W M Mar 1890 10 AR AR AR Farm Laborer Kennedy, Zula H Dau W F Feb 1894 6 AR AR AR Edward, Thomas Boarder W M Mar 1880 20 AR AR AR By 1910, Edwin has died, and widow Nancy Isabel is living with her children, but her oldest son Jerome is listed as head of the household. They are still in Bayou Meto. 1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 2 May, Bayou Meto Township, District 2, page 13A, Hse/Fam #2 Kennedy, Jerome F Son M W 28 Single AR AR AR Farmer Kennedy, Isabel Mother F W 54 Widow 5 children/4 living AR AL MS Kennedy, Zula H Sister F W 16 AR AR AR Houghton, Walter Hired Man M W 19 AR AR AR Kennedy, Shannon A Son M W 20 AR AR AR Farm Laborer We see here that the middle initial of Nancy I in 1900 stands for Isabel. I have not discovered Nancy Isabel's maiden name. Her middle name will be spelled Isabelle in 1920. Note that in 1910, the birthplace of Nancy Isabel's father has changed from Tennessee to Alabama. In 1920 and 1930, we will see it is also Alabama. (See notes for Nancy Isabel Nolastname). Edwin and Nancy Isabel's son Shannon married and established his own household with wife Martha Meiners in about 1911. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 January, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A-B, DeWitt Rd, Hse/Fam #12 Kennedy, Shannon Head Rents M W 29 AR AR AR Farmer [b abt 1891] Kennedy, Martha Wife F W 25 IL Germany MO [b abt 1895] Kennedy, Holland Son M W 8 AR AR IL Kennedy, Marvin Son M W 7 AR AR IL Kennedy, Irvin Son M W 5 AR AR IL Kennedy, Clarence Son M W 4 AR AR IL Kennedy, Eugene Son M W 2 AR AR IL Meiners, Martha Mother-in-law F W 59 Widow MO Eng Eng [b abt 1860] We see here that in 1920, Martha's recently-widowed mother, also named Martha, is living with them. Since she owns her own farm in 1930, it appears that she is living temporarily with her son-in-law until she can set herself up in her own farm. In 1930, Martha Meiners is head of the household and her son George and wife Effie are living with her. We can tell from the data in the censuses that Martha Meiners Sr was born in Missouri. Her parents were both from England. She married an immigrant from Germany. Their daughter Martha was born in Illinois. They later moved to Arkansas, Shannon's birthplace, where Martha and Shannon married. In the 1930 census, we again get middle initials. From the age of Shannon in 1920 and 1930, it appears his birthday is before April 15, 1890. We later learn from his draft registration that his actual birthday is 19 March 1890. Likewise his son Holland. Shannon was renting his farm in 1920, but now owns it. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7 Kennedy, Shannon A Head Owns M W 40 First married at age 21 AR AR AR Farmer [b bet Jan and Apr 1890] Kennedy, Martha E Wife F W 35 First married at age 17 IL Germany MO [b abt 1895] Kennedy, Holland H Son M W 19 AR AR IL Kennedy, Marvin C Son M W 17 AR AR IL Kennedy, Irvin V Son M W 15 AR AR IL Kennedy, Clarence D Son M W 14 AR AR IL Kennedy, Eugene S daughter [sic] M W 12 AR AR IL Kennedy, Mildred I daughter F W 9 AR AR IL Kennedy, Ruth E daughter F W 7 AR AR IL We learn Shannon's middle name from his WWII Draft Registration Card, which also gives us his exact birth date and confirms that he was born in Arkansas County, though the location is not reported: Shannon Artis Kennedy, Birth 19 Mar 1890 Arkansas County, Arkansas, Residence Rt 2, Almyra, Arkansas, Arkansas, wife Martha Kennedy; self-employed. I found the WWII registration before the WWI registration. The information reported in his registration for WWI in 1917 adds the location of birth, Almyra, Arkansas. Shannon A Kennedy, Almyra, Arkansas County, Arkansas, Birth 19 Mar 1890, Almyra, Arkansas, Arkansas; occupation farming for self; married with 4 children, Medium Build and Height, Gray Eyes, Light Brown Hair; Registration 5 June 1917, Bayou Meto Precinct, Arkansas County, Arkansas. Shannon was born, grew up, married, farmed and raised his family at Almyra, Arkansas. We see that when he was at home with his parents (ages 10 and 20) they lived in Bayou Meto Township. He reports he was born in Almyra, and 1917, he was in Almyra with his wife and family. I found a genealogy that reported Shannon's death as December 1954. Shannon Artis Kennedy, Birth 19 Mar 1890 in Arkansas County, Arkansas, Death Dec. 1954 in Arkansas County, Arkansas; Parents Edwin D Kennedy 1861-1910, Nancy Isabell Evans b 1855 -- Nelson Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12740315/person/-179139374?ssrc=&ftm=1 This tells us only part of the details, and gives no source. It seems likely he continued living in Almyra till his death, reported here only as in Arkansas County. However, I then found his burial information in a register of the Bayou Meto Cemetery in Arkansas County. His gravestone pictured there reports his death as 28 December 1953. I will take this as the correct record. Gravestone of Shannon A and Martha E Kennedy Kennedy Martha E, Jan 20 1895, Jan 18 1974 Shannon A, Mar 19 1890, Dec 28 1953 -- Find a Grave, Bayou Meto Cemetery, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=18087548&PIpi=5348787
1910 Federal Census, Newton County, Indiana, 27 April, Jefferson Township, District 132, page 5A, Hse #80, Fam #81 Timmons, Warner Head W M 43 Married 20 yrs IN OH OH Farmer Timmons, Josephine (Kenoyer) Wife W F 40 Married 20 yrs 4 children/3 living IN IN NJ Timmons, Ethel Dau W F 13 IN IN IN Timmons, Cecil (Cecile) Dau W F 7 IN IN IN Timmons, Dorothy Dau W F 3 IN IN IN 1920 Federal Census, Newton County, Indiana, 6 January, Kentland Township, District 135, Seymour St, page 5B, Hse #104, Fam #108 Timmons, Warner Head Owns M W 53 Married IN IN OH No Occup Timmons, Josephine (Kenoyer) Wife F W 50 Married IN IN NJ Timmons, Cecil (Cecile) Dau F W 17 Single IN IN IN Timmons, Dorothy Dau F W 13 Single IN IN IN