Individual Notes
Note for: Ruby Jewel Muskrat, 19 JAN 1900 - SEP 1987
Index
Event: Type: 1902-07 Dawes Roll
Place: Card #4137, roll# 24439
Individual Note: Thelma Muskrat Lee told that Jewell had rickets as a child and also when she was 8 years old was blind from granulated eyelids. Thelma led her around and supposedly everyone told Jewell tall tales. Jewell was blind for a year until a doctor finally cured her.
From Heritage of the Hills, p. 398: "Jewell married Charles L. Mason from Arkansas who was engaged in the operation of heavy equipment in construction at the time of his death."
p. 424: "In 1920-21, Ruby Jewell Muskrat taught at the Riverside school. She and her father went by buggy to a school board member's home to apply for the job. This was her first teaching job. She earned $100.00 per month -- a good salary in those days -- and boarded with the Jim Colvin family. Ruby kept a saddle horse and rode the eighteen miles home to the Olympus community each weekend.
In the fall of 1920 a pie supper was held to raise money for Christmas treats. A young man named Charles Mason bought the teacher's pie. Romance blossomed and soon Charles Mason and Ruby Muskrat were married.
Charles' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Mason had come from Arkansas and had settled in Buzzard's Bend many years before. Mrs. Mason was Cherokee so she and the children, Charles and Ava received their allotments there . . . Ollie Mason took the census in 1900. When he [Ollie] came to the Muskrat home in Olympus community a newborn girl had not yet been named. Mr. Mason suggested the name "Ruby" and put that on the census records. Twenty-one years later Ruby became his daughter-in-law.
Charles Mason took over his parents' farm after World War I. Charles and Ruby Muskrat Mason lived in the Riverside Community a few years then moved to Arkansas."
[Kelly History.FTW]
Ruby Jewel Muskrat, daughter of James Ezekiel and Ida Lenora (Kelly) Muskrat, appears on the 1900 Federal Census in Indian Territory, Cherokee Nation (enumeration district 16, township 24 NR 24 East, sheet 16). That census shows Ruby as "Rubie", and that she was born in 1900 in Indian Territory.
She appears on the 1910 Federal Census in Delaware County, Oklahoma (Enumeration District 63). That census shows her as Jewel (Ruby) Muskrat. She was 10 at the time of the census and born in Oklahoma.
Ruby appears as "Jewel" on the 1920 Federal Census in Delaware County, Oklahoma. That census shows she was 20 years and born in the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma.
She married Charles L. Mason. She appears with him on the 1930 Federal Census in Mason Valley Township, Benton County, Arkansas (enumeration district 4-36, sheet 1A). That census shows 30 year-old "Jewell R. Mason" and her parents were born in Oklahoma. Ruby reported that she was married at age 22.
Individual Notes
Note for: Thelma Muskrat, 26 APR 1902 - 9 SEP 2005
Index
Event: Type: 1902-07 Dawes Roll
Place: Card #4137, roll# 24440
Event: Type: Dawes Roll
Date: 1902
Place: #4137, roll# 24440
Individual Note: Thelma was a charter member of the Delaware County, Oklahoma Historical Society and also served on their board of directors. She contributed to the book, Heritage of the Hills, A Delaware County History.
As told by Thelma to Jim & Lorene Muskrat in August, 2000:
In the visit, she mentioned that some of her family had been up a couple weeks ago and took her on a boat. She said there were too many boats, they were too fast, and they had her sit where she could not see out. She vowed never to get on a boat again. I asked her if she could swim if she got overboard. She said she could not swim. In her younger days, around the time she was married, she was swimming with some family members, brother Claude being one of the group. They all had inner tubes, and were using them to stay afloat. Claude coaxed her to dive into the water with the inner tube around her waist. She said when she hit the water headfirst, the inner tube slipped down around her feet. There she was, her head under and her feet caught in the tube. Everett had to pull her out. Claude thought it was great fun, and had a laugh at her expense. She had to be pulled out of the water one other time, and never got in the water again.[Kelly History.FTW]
Thelma Muskrat, daughter of James Ezekiel and Ida Lenora (Kelly) Muskrat, appears on the 1910 Federal Census in Delaware County, Oklahoma (Enumeration District 63). That census shows eight year-old Thelma was born in Oklahoma.
She also appears on the 1920 Federal Census in Delaware County, Oklahoma. That census shows she was 18 years old and born in the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma.
Individual Notes
Note for: Joseph Patrick Kelly, 5 MAR 1823 - 13 JUN 1898
Index
Residence: Date: 1880
Place: Batie, , Benton, Arkansas,
Burial: Place: Olympus Cemetery, Grove, Delaware, Oklahoma
Burial: Date: JUN 1898
Place: Olympus Cemetery, Grove, Delaware County, Oklahoma
Individual Note: [Kelly History.FTW]
Joseph Patrick Kelly, Sr., the eldest child born to Thomas H. and Nancy (Zumwalt) Kelly, married Dorcas Sophronia Thornhill, daughter of Reuben and Mary "Polly" (Gray) Thornhill. Their marriage is recorded in "Index to the St. Charles, County, Missouri marriage records from 1840 through 1853," compiled from records of churches and county court (volume 3, page 16).
Joseph Patrick Kelly, Sr. appears on the 1850 Federal Census in St. Charles County, Missouri and the 1860 Federal Census in Campbranch, Warren County, Missouri (page 184). Both census records show Joseph was a farmer.
Joseph Patrick Kelly, Sr. acheived the rank of 1st Sergeant in the 59th Regiment, Company F., in the Enrolled Missouri Militia (EMM) during the Civil War. The EMM was a state force, organized under the militia law of the State for State service. He enrolled April 17, 1863 in Warrenton, Missouri and was relieved of duty on June 20, 1863, serving 54 days.
Locating he and his family in 1870 has been a challenge. They do not appear on the census index in Arkansas, Kansas, or Missouri that year.
Joseph Patrick Kelly, Sr. owned 81.45 acres (described as 4 20N 34W) in Benton County, Arkansas on June 24, 1878 (Source: www.rootsweb.com).
The 1880 Batie Township, Benton County, Arkansas Federal Census (page 53) includes a list of children living with Joseph and Dorcas at the time the census was taken; John 19, Obretter 17, Virginia 15, Benjamin 13, and Ida 10. Their grandson, Edward Madding, age 7, also lived with them at that time. This census indicates Joseph Patrick Kelly, Sr.'s father was born in Kentucky.
He raised race horses around Echo Valley near Grove, Delaware District, Oklahoma.
His death is recorded in "Obituaries of Benton County, Arkansas" (volume I; 1884-1898; page 393.
He is buried in Olympus Cemetery in Grove, Delaware County, Oklahoma.
Individual Notes
Note for: Dorcas Sophronia Thornhill, 26 OCT 1828 - 16 APR 1890
Index
Burial: Place: Twin Grove Cemetery, Carl Junction, MO
Burial: Date: APR 1890
Place: Twin Grove Cemetery, Jasper County, Missouri
Individual Note: Dorcus Sophronia Thornhill was the daughter of Reuben and Mary "Polly" (Gray) Thornhill. Her heritage is briefly described in the book Pioneer Families of Missouri (on page 212):
"GRAY.--When Robert Gray was a small boy he lost his father, while they were moving from North Carolina to Tennessee. He had four sisters -- Polly, Dorcus, Elizabeth and Jane. After the death of his father, his mother proceeded on her way to Tennessee, with her children; and they remained in that State until 1809, when they came to (now) Warren County, Mo. During the Indian war they lived the greater portion of the time in Castlio's Fort, in St. Charles county. Polly Gray married Rueben Thornhill..."
She is also mentioned in her father's (Reuben Thornhill) will, filed May 5, 1835 in St. Charles County, Missouri, wherein he directs that "...the balance of the lands I now possess to be equally divided among my children...."
Dorcus appears on the 1880 Federal Census in Batie Township, Benton County, Arkansas, giving her age as 53. That census shows Dorcus was born in Missouri, but her parents were born in Virginia.
The only obituary for Dorcuas Sophronia (Thornill) Kelly appeared in the April 20, 1890 edition of the Joplin Sunday Herald (page 8), stating simply: "Mrs. Kelly, an aged lady, the mother of Joseph Kelly, died Wednesday morning." Dorcus is buried in Twin Grove Cemetery in Jasper County, Missouri. [Kelly History.FTW]
Dorcus Sophronia Thornhill was the daughter of Reuben and Mary "Polly" (Gray) Thornhill. Her heritage is briefly described in the book "Pioneer Families of Missouri" (on page 212):
"GRAY.--When Robert Gray was a small boy he lost his father, while they were moving from North Carolina to Tennessee. He had four sisters -- Polly, Dorcus, Elizabeth and Jane. After the death of his father, his mother proceeded on her way to Tennessee, with her children; and they remained in that State until 1809, when they came to (now) Warren County, Mo. During the Indian war they lived the greater portion of the time in Castlio's Fort, in St. Charles county. Polly Gray married Rueben Thornhill..."
She is also mentioned in her father's (Reuben Thornhill) will, filed May 5, 1835 in St. Charles County, Missouri, wherein he directs that "...the balance of the lands I now possess to be equally divided among my children...."
Dorcus appears on the 1880 Federal Census in Batie Township, Benton County, Arkansas, giving her age as 53. That census shows Dorcus was born in Missouri, but her parents were born in Virginia.
The only obituary for Dorcuas Sophronia (Thornill) Kelly appeared in the April 20, 1890 edition of the Joplin Sunday Herald (page 8), stating simply: "Mrs. Kelly, an aged lady, the mother of Joseph Kelly, died Wednesday morning." Dorcus is buried in Twin Grove Cemetery in Jasper County, Missouri.
Individual Notes
Note for: Alveretta Kelly, 5 FEB 1863 - JUN 1937
Index
Individual Note: [From Eric Andersen][Kelly History.FTW]
Alverretta Kelly (aka "Ret"), eighth child of Joseph Patrick and Dorcas Sophronia (Thonhill) Kelly, Sr., appears on the 1880 Benton County (Marysville), Arkansas census giving her name as Obretter and age 17.
She married Arthur William Denham, son of William Himpson and Harriet Elizabeth (Kimbell) Denham. Their marriage is recorded in "Marriages of Benton County, Arkansas, 1877-1886" by Verba Jo Pearce and Gail Scott (1978
DELIHAM, A.W. (age 24) and KELLY, Alveretta (age 19), married December 22, 1881 by S.[Sydney] H. Denham, MG (perhaps a relative?). These are Benton County records, with no information on exact place of marriage.
Alverretta appears on the 1900 Federal Census in Decatur, Benton County, Arkansas (enumeration district 8, sheet 21A) (as "Etta"), with her husband, Arthur, and their children. This census shows that Alverretta was born in Missouri.
She also appears on the 1910 Federal Census in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri (enumeration district 125), living with her husband, Arthur W. Denham. That census shows 47 year-old Alverretta was born in Missouri, like her parents, and that she had had nine children, seven of whom were still living in 1910.
Alverretta also appears on the 1920 Federal Census in Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas, giving her age as 56 and living with her son, Sidney G. Denham.
By 1930, Alverretta was living alone in Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas (Ward 3), and renting her home.
She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Shawnee, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.
Individual Notes
Note for: Dorcas Sophronia Kelly, 4 OCT 1858 - 8 JAN 1934
Index
Burial: Place: Kincaid, Anderson County, KS
Individual Note: [From Eric Andersen][Kelly History.FTW]
Dorcus Sophronia Kelly, daughter of Joseph Patrick and Dorcas Sophronia (Thornhill) Kelly, Jr., appears on the 1860 Warren County, Missouri census, presumably as the daughter of Joseph and Dorcus (Thornhill) Kelly. She was one year old at the time of the census.
When she was eight years old, the family moved to Vernon County, Missouri where they stayed for about four years. The family then moved on to Benton County, Arkansas, where she married William Milton Paradise, son of Isaac and Mary A. Paradise. There were four children born to their union.
Dorcas appears on the 1880 Federal Census in Middle Creek, Miami County, Kansas (page 361D) as Soprona Paradise. That census shows 21 year-old Dorcas was born in Missouri as were her parents.
She appears on the 1910 Federal Census in Rich Township, Anderson County, Kansas (enumeration district 30) as "Fronia", living with her husband. That census shows 51 year-old Dorcas had been married for 30 years and that she was born in Missouri.
Dorcus Sophronia (Kelly) Paradise appears on the 1920 Federal Census in Rich Township, Anderson County, Kansas (enumeration district 30). Sixty-one at the time of the census, she reported that she and her parents were born in Missouri.
She appears on the 1930 Federal Census in Kincaid, Anderson County, Kansas (enumeration district 13). That census shows 71 year-old Dorcus was 20 years old when she married and that she and her parents were born in Missouri.
Dorcus Sophronia (Kelly) Paradise is buried in Kincaid, Anderson County, Kansas.
Individual Notes
Note for: Virginia Eleanor Kelly, 19 APR 1865 - 28 JAN 1943
Index
Alias: /Jennie/
Individual Note: [From Eric Andersen][Kelly History.FTW]
Virginia Eleanor Kelly (aka "Jennie"), ninth child of Joseph Patrick and Dorcas Sophronia (Thornhill) Kelly, Sr., appears on the 1880 Benton County (Marysville), Arkansas federal census with her parents, giving her age as 15. She married Abraham H. Huffmire, son of James and Mary Elizabeth (Woodmansee) Huffmire.
She appears as Jennie Huffmire, with her husband Abe, on the 1900 Federal Census in Indian Territory, Oklahoma in Enumeration District 16 (sheet 15B, family number 344, line # 72.) The Township is 24 North Range 24. Jennie reported that she was born in June 1865 in Arkansas and that her parents were born in Arkansas.
Jennie appears on the 1910 Federal Census in Cherokee Township, Montgomery County, Kansas (enumeration district 157, imaged page 18). That census shows 44 year-old Jennie E. Huffmire and her parents were born in Missouri.
The 1920 Federal Census in Bigheart, Osage County, Oklahoma shows a Jennie Huffmire, age 53, with her husband, Abe H. Huffmire, age 52, with a son, Clarence, age 15. That census shows Jennie's parents were born in Missouri.
She was living in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma in 1937 when her brother, Joseph Patrick Kelly, Jr., died in Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas.
Virginia died east of Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. Her obituary appeared in the January 29, 1943 edition of the Bartlesville Examiner Enterprise and is transcribed here because the microfilm copy is poor:
"Mrs. Jennie Huffmire 77, a resident of the Ochelata community for 25 years, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Fred. J. Englund who lives east of Nowata late Thursday afternoon. She went to visit her daughter about three weeks ago and became ill. The body was removed to the Moore Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements. She was born in St. Charles, Mo. and spent her early life there. She moved to the Indian Territory in 1893 and was a member of the Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband, two daughters Mrs. Englund of near Nowata and Mrs. Lorena Austin of Amarillo, Tx., one son Charles of Billings, Okla., one sister Mrs. Ida Muskrat of Grove, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren."
Virginia is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville, Washington County, Oklahoma.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Duke Kelly, 20 FEB 1861 - 28 JAN 1936
Index
Burial: Date: 1936
Place: Zena Cemetery, Zena, Delaware County, Oklahoma
Individual Note: [From Eric Andersen][Kelly History.FTW]
John Duke Kelly, the seventh child of Joseph Patrick and Dorcas Sophronia (Thornhill) Kelly, Jr., appears on the 1880 Benton County, Arkansas (Marysville township) with his father and mother giving his age as 19 and occupation as a farmer.
His first marriage, recorded in Benton County, Arkansas, was to Mary Elizabeth Holland, on December 20, 1882. That marriage record shows John Duke Kelly as Jno D. Kelly and shows his age as 22.
John Duke Kelly's biography appears in the book Heritage of the Hills - A Delaware County History.
"John Duke Kelly, son of Joseph Kelly of Benton County, Arkansas, was born in 1861. On December 20, 1882, he married Mary Elizabeth Holland at Maysville, Arkansas. They moved to Delaware District in the Butler community where their four children were born: Frona 1884, John H. Kelly 1885, Thomas 1887, and Roy 1889. The children attended school at Chigger Hill south of Grove (Oklahoma). John Duke Kelly bought a farm near Zena, Oklahoma, in 1914. His sons followed suit as John (H.) and his wife Lillie Milstead, and Tom and his wife Lula Fields, daughter of George Fields, bought farms near Zena and moved there in 1915."
Following Mary Elizabeth's death in 1896, John Duke Kelly married Mary E. Dougherty, who had not been married previously. John Duke and Mary E. (Dougherty) Kelly appear on the 1910 Federal Census in Grove, Delaware District (township 6), Oklahoma. He reported that he was a 49 year old farmer and that he and his parents were born in Missouri. They also appear on the 1920 Federal Census in Delaware County, Oklahoma (enumeration district 32), where John was a farmer. They had no children.
John Duke Kelly is buried in the Zena Cemetery, Zena, Delaware County, Oklahoma.
Individual Notes
Note for: Nancy E. Kelly, 18 SEP 1849 -
Index
Alias: /Nan/
Individual Note: Thelma Muskrat Lee has a picture of Nan. She and baby rode off on a horse never to be seen by family again. Years later someone from Texas contacted Thelma -- he had the same picture.
From Eric Andersen:
Little is known about Nancy E. Kelly (aka "Nan"), the eldest child born to Joseph Patrick and Dorcas Sophronia (Thornhill) Kelly, Sr. She appears on the 1860 Warren County, Missouri census (page 184), presumably as the daughter of Joseph and Dorcus Sophronia (Thornhill) Kelly. She married William Madding, who had enlisted in the Civil War in 1863. He was in a hospital in Rolla, Missouri in 1864 and also in army prison in Little Rock, He was mustered out on July 27, 1865. She was reportedly disinherited due to her marriage to her cousin, William Madding. [Kelly History.FTW]
She appears with him on the 1870 Federal Census in Prairie Township, Pineville, McDonald County, Missouri. That census shows 21 year old Nancy was born in Missouri.