Descendants of Thomas STITH Aug 12 1998.  From Jim Fletcher.

  (Jim, I'm not sure of a good way to contact you.  If you want this taken down, let me know and I'll take it down right away.  Jess)  (more: see userdata\todo\kenstith.max)

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FIRST GENERATION

1 Thomas STITH was born about 1788 He died prior to 1843 in Menard County, Illinois.

Thomas STITH and Mary Polly MACGRIFFIN had the following children:

2 i. William B. STITH.
+3 ii. Moses STITH.
4 iii. Sally STITH.
+5 iv. John Thomas STITH.
+6 v Elzy Creel STITH.
+7 vi. Thomas Milton STITH.
8 vii. Lucinda STITH.

SECOND GENERATION

3. Moses STITH died in Nov 1858 in Mason County, Illinois.

5. John Thomas STITH was born in 1811 in Kentucky. He died in 1869 in Iowa. There is a story about John Stith. While he was living in Kentucky and married to his first wife, he had an affair with Jane Scott. Jane's family owned slaves at the time, and John also had an affair with on of their slave women. The affairs ended when John moved on to Illinois in about 1839. When John's second wife Rachel Young died in about 1853, Jane Scott came to Illinois to see John. Jane had with her a young girl about 14 years of age named Missouri. Jane told John that Missouri's black mother had urged her to bring the child to John who was her father. The little girl must of had light skin as she passed for a white child. Jane Scott and John were married, and had three more children. Missouri grew up as the child of John and Jane.

He was married to Rachel YOUNG on Apr 19 1850 in Menard County, Illinois. Rachel YOUNG was born in 1824 in Tennessee. She died prior to 1854.

UNKNOWN died between 1848 and 1850 in Kentucky. John Thomas STITH and UNKNOWN had the following children:

9 i. Milton STITH was born in 1837 in Kentucky.
+10 ii. William P. STITH.
11 iii. Creel STITH was born in 1842 in Menard County, Illinois.
12 iv. Newton S. STITH was born in 1844 in Menard County, Illinois. He died in Sonoma County,
California. Newton died of old age at an old soldier's home. He had been a career soldier, having been
stationed at the Fort at Alcatraz during the Civil War.
13 v. Missouri S. STITH was born in 1847 in Kentucky.
14 vi. John STITH was born in 1848 in Menard County. Illinois.

He was married to Jane SCOTT in 1854 in Menard County, Illinois. Jane SCOTT was born in 1822 in Kentucky. John Thomas STITH and Jane SCOTT had the following children:

15 i. Louisa STITH was born in 1855 in Menard County, Illinois. 16 ii. Belle STITH was born in 1856 in Menard County,Illinois. 17 iii. Dora STITH was born in 1859 in Menard County, Illinois.

6. Elzy Creel STITH was born on Oct 13 1818 in Kentucky. He died on May 9 1894 near Atterberry IL. He was buried in 1898 in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois.

He was married to America WITT (daughter of Jesse WITT and Mary SMITH) on Nov 3 1842 in Atterberry, Illinois. Elzy Creel Stith came to Menard County Illinois in 1839 when he was 17. He came to Illinois from Adair County Kentucky with his two brothers, William and Milton. He married America Witt in 1842. They acquired land just north of Atterberry, Illinois where they raised a family of ten children. In 1868 they built an 11 room home approximately two miles north of Atterberry with brick fired from clay in a field just east of the location of the home. The family lived in a fog house nearby, when work was started on

1

Descendants of Thomas STITH Aug 12 1998

the new home. The contractor of the house was Gaines Greene from Petersburg who had moved to the area from Mason County. Gaines Greene was the brother of William G. Greene of Tallula, Illinois. The house still stands, but has been remodeled and covered with aluminum siding. The original house had a solid walnut staircase which was removed by a thief at one point in time when the house stood empty. After the death of his mother, John Jenkins (Jink) Stith occupied the home until his death in 1943.

The story has passed that America was born on a ship coming to America and was named for the country where the family was going to make their new home. America WITT was born on Nov 19 1822 in Jackson County, Tennessee. She was buried in 1901 in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois. She died on Dec 12 1901 near Atterberry IL. Elzy Creel STITH and America WITT had the following children:

+18 i. Mary STITH.
+19 ii. William H STITH.
+20 iii. Eliza Jane STITH.
+21 iv. Thomas Lincoln STITH.
+22 v. John Jenkins (Jink) STITH.
+23 vi. Richard Yates STITH.
+24 vii. James Andrew STITH.
+25 viii. Charles David STITH.
+26 ix. Elzy Creel STITH Jr
+27 x. Catharine STITH.

7. Thomas Milton STITH was born on Sep 20 1820 in Adair County, Kentucky. He died on Dec 24 1887 in Atterberry, Illinois. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois.

He was married to Susanna COLSON in Menard County, Illinois. Susanna COLSON was born in 1827. She died on Aug 25 1895 in Atterberry, Illinois. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois. Thomas Milton STITH and Susanna COLSON had the following children:

+28 i. William D. STITH.
+29 ii. Isaac Colson STITH.
+30 iii. Jane STITH.
+31 iv. Thomas McClure STITH.
+32 v. Nance Ann STITH.
+33 vi. John T. STITH.
+34 vii. Mary Ellan STITH.

THIRD GENERATION

10. William P. STITH was born in 1838 in Kentucky.

He was married to Mary J. DAVIS on Jan 16 1871 in Menard County, Illinois.

18. Mary STITH was born in 1844 in Atterberry, Illinois.

She was married to James V. THOMAS on Feb 7 1865 in Menard County, Illinois.

19. William H STITH was born in 1846 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Dec 17 1928 in Amarillo' Texas.

He was married to Eliza Jane HAVENS (daughter of unknown HAVENS and Mary UNKNOWN). Eliza Jane HAVENS was born on Jun 4 1858. She died on Mar 27 1896 in Menard County. Illinois. William H STITH and Eliza Jane HAVENS had the following children:

+35 i. Alex D. STITH.

20 Eliza Jane STITH was born on May 27 1848 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died on Nov 17 1920 in Atterberry, Illinois.

She was married to William D. DAVIS on Aug 12 1866 in Atterberry, Illinois. Eliza Jane STITH and William D. DAVIS had the following children:

+36 i. Kate DAVIS.

21. Thomas Lincoln STITH was born on Oct 5 1850 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Jan 9 1929 in Menard County, Illinois. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois. Thomas' younger brother Charles David Stith was living with him in 1880 when he was courting Emma Brown. Emma gave birth to Laura Belle Stith, but Charles never married her.

He was married to Rebecca SMITH (daughter of Jacob SMITH and UNKNOWN) on Jan 9 1872 in Menard County, Illinois. Rebecca SMITH was born on Mar 25 1856. She died on Apr 14 1937 in Menard County, Illinois. Thomas Lincoln STITH and Rebecca SMITH had the following children:

+37 i. Nellie A. STITH.

+38 ii. Julia ST I'I'H was born m 1877 m Menard County, Illinois.

22. John Jenkins (Jink) STITH was born on Jun 21 1853 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on May 19 1943 in Atterberry, Illinois.

He was married to Sarah Lucette GERARD (daughter of Sherrod M. GERARD and Louisa Jane UNKNOWN) on Dec 23 1888 in Atterberry, Illinois. Sarah Lucette GERARD was born on Jul 11 1863 in Vandalia, Illinois. She died on Jul 291939 in Menard County, Illinois. John Jenkins (Jink) STITH and Sarah Lucette GERARD had the following children:

39 i. Infant (died at birth) STITH.

23. Richard Yates STITH was born on Jul 10 1855 in Atterberry. Illinois. He died on Dec 11 1929 in Petersburg, Illinois.

He was married to Sidney COOK on Oct 18 1877 in Cass County, Illinois. Sidney COOK was born on Jul 14 1854. She died on Nov 23 1945 in Petersburg, Illinois.

24. James Andrew STITH was born on Jun 30 1858 in Menard County Illinois He died on May 2 1934 in Menard County Illinois.

He was married to Joanna (Josie) M. BURTON on Mar 15 1888 in Atterberry, Illinois. Joanna (Josie) M. BURTON was born on Feb 8 1865. She died on Oct 1 1924. James Andrew STITH and Joanna (Josie) M. BURTON had the following children

+40 i. Harry STITH.

25. Charles David STITH was born on Jul 18 1861 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Dec 6 1944 in Springfield, Illinois. At age 19 he had a girl friend by the name of Emma Brown who became pregnant. For reasons known only to Charles, he refused to marry Emma Brown. He and Emma Brown signed a legal "article of agreement" on the fifth day of October, 1881 in which Charles paid Emma $50 in settlement of a "charge of bastardy" which she brought against him. When the baby was born, she was named Laura Belle Brown.

Shortly after the birth of Laura, Emma Brown died. At Emma's funeral, her step-father, Charles Eliot told Charles that he would have to take responsibility for his child. When Charles protested that he had been relieved of any and all responsibility for the child by agreement signed by Emma, Eliot and Emma's mother, Eliza (Brown) Eliot left the baby at the cemetery setting on Emma's grave. Since Charles refused to take the baby, his father Elzy Stith and his good wife America who had a large family decided to take Laura Belle and raise her as one of the Stith family.

Charles married Sarah Anna Colson in 1883 and they had three children. These circumstances resulted in Laura Belle having two half- brothers (Carl and George Stith) and one half-sister Golda Mariah Stith Although Laura was a Brown by virtue of the legal settlement of the charge of bastardy, she was a Stith and her children of two marriages Helen, Oral and Harry Morgan and Victor and Leora Morris grew up as part of the Stith family and referring to Charles David's brothers and sisters as great uncles and aunts.

He was married to Emma BROWN (daughter of Unknown BROWN and Eliza BROWN) never married. Emma BROWN was born in 1863 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died in 1881 in Atterberry, Illinois. Charles David STITH and Emma BROWN had the following children:

+41 i. Laura Belle STITH.

He was married to Sarah Anna COLSON (daughter of Samuel COLSON and Mariah UNKNOWN) on Dec 27 1883 in Atterberry, Illinois. Sarah Anna COLSON was born on Feb 8 1865 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died on Dec 1 1939 in Petersburg, Illinois. Charles David STITH and Sarah Anna COLSON had the following children:

+42 i. Carl STITH.
+43 ii. Golda Mariah STITH.
+44 iii. George W STITH
+45 iv. Rose S. STITH.

26. Elzy Creel STITH Jr. was born on Sep 11 1864 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Dec 17 1942 in Atterberry, Illinois.

He was married to Etta Francis WATKINS (daughter of William WATKINS and Sarah ARMSTRONG) on Mar 17 1887 in Atterberry, Illinois. Etta Francis WATKINS was born on Mar 6 1868 She died on May 9 1927 in Menard County, Illinois. Elzy Creel STITH Jr. and Etta Francis WATKINS had the following children:

+46 i. Homer STITH.
+47 ii. Norma STITH.
+48 iii. Geraldine STITH.
+49 iv. Floy Lauria STITH.

27. Catharine STITH was born in 1867 in Atterberry. Illinois. She died on Jan 18 1907 in Atterberry, Illinois.

28. William D. STITH was born in 1846 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Apr 2 1918 in Kankakee Illinois

He was married to Sarah Cordelia SHORT (daughter of Jacob SHORT and Hanna CARR) on Sep 27 1868 in Menard County, Illinois. William D. STITH and Sarah Cordelia SHORT had the following children:

50 i. Roscoe Short STITH was born in 1869 in Menard County, Illinois.
51 ii. Edmund Thomas STITH was born in 1871 in Menard County, Illinois.
52 iii. Anna D. STITH was born in 1873 in Menard County, Illinois.
53 iv. Glover E. STITH was born in 1875 in Menard County, Illinois.
54 v. Fred Rice STITH was born in 1878 in Menard County. Illinois.
55 vi. Joseph Lincoln STITH.
56 vii. Paul STITH.
57 viii. Stella STITH.
58 ix. Ethel L. STITH.

29. Isaac Colson STITH was born on Mar 1l 1848 in Menard County. Illinois. He died on Feb 15 1917 in Mason City, Mason County, Illinois.

He was married to Mary Ellen HOHIMER (daughter of Elias HOHIMER and Sarah Cordelia SHORT) on Jan 25 1871 in Menard County, Illinois. Mary Ellen HOHIMER was born on Apr 8 1849 in Menard County, Illinois. Isaac Colson STITH and Mary Ellen HOHIMER had the following children:

59 i. Anna Elizabeth STITH.
60 ii. Joseph Hardy STITH was born on Jun 27 1872 in Menard County, Illinois.
61 iii. Hattie Mae STITH was born on Mar 31 1877 in Menard County, Illinois.
+62 iv. Harry P. STITH.

30. Jane STITH was born in 1849 in Menard County. Illinois.

She was married to Franklin C. NANCE on Dec 17 1868 in Menard County, Illinois.

31. Thomas McClure STITH was born in 1854 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Sep 16 1934. Thomas and his family went to Brownville, Nebraska in June, 1875. They traveled on the C.P.&St. Louis Rail Road.

He was married to Laura WATKINS (daughter of William WATKINS and Sarah ARMSTRONG) on Nov 12 1873 in Menard County, Illinois. Laura WATKINS was born in 1856 in Illinois. She died on Apr 23 1927 in Menard County, Illinois. Thomas McClure STITH and Laura WATKINS had the following children:

+63 i. Ona Mae STITH.

32. Nance Ann STITH was born in 1856 in Menard County, Illinois.

She was married to William WHEELER on Apr 2 1885 in Menard County, Illinois.

33. John T. STITH was born on May 17 1875 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Mar 27 1942 in Atterberry, Illinois. John may have married twice. Elizabeth Watkins 3/10/1885, and Minnie C. Sprinkle 2/23/1898.

He was married to Minnie C. SPRINKLE on Feb 23 1898 in Menard County, Illinois. Minnie C. SPRINKLE was born in 1875 She died in 1947. John T. STITH and Minnie C. SPRINKLE had the following children

+64 i. Hattie STITH.
65 ii. Dorothy STITH was born in Menard County, Illinois.
66 iii. Alice STITH was born in Menard County, Illinois.
67 iv. Robert STITH was born in Menard County, Illinois.
68 v. Esther STITH 1 was born in Menard County. Illinois.

34 Mary Ellan STITH was born about 1857 in Menard County, Illinois.

She was married to Charles PURKAPILE on Nov 15 1877 in Menard County, Illinois.

FOURTH GENERATION

35 Alex D. STITH was horn on Apr 16  1886 in Armington, Illinois. He died on May 6 1967 in Amarillo Texas.

He was married to Ora R. UNKNOWN on Nov 15 1905 in Tazewell County. Illinois. Ora R. UNKNOWN was born on Mar 12 1888 in Armington, Illinois. She died on Sep 25 1967 in Amarillo, Texas. Alex D. STITH and Ora R. UNKNOWN had the following children:

+69 i. Clara Ellen STITH.
+70 ii. Edith Floy STITH.
+71 iii. Hattie Lorene STITH.
+72 iv. William Abraham STITH.
+73 v. Nettye Jane STITH.
+74 vi. Hatty Lenora STITH.
+75 vii. Dorothy Maxine STITH.

36. Kate DAVIS.

37. Nellie A. STITH was born in 1874 in Menard County, Illinois.

She was married to Frank J. SPEER on Apr 19 1899 in Menard County, Illinois.

40. Harry STITH was born on May 4 1889 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Dec 8 1918 in Menard County, Illinois.

Harry STITH and lone UNKOWN had the following children:

76 i. Helena STITH.
77 ii. Infant Son STITH was born on Oct 16 1913 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Oct 16 1913 in
Menard County, Illinois.

41. Laura Belle STITH was born in May 1880 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died in 1941 in Peoria,Illinois. Laura was born out of wedlock. Her mother Emma Brown had become pregnant by Charles Stith from Atterberry, Illinois. Since Charles Stith
refused to marry her, Laura's mother was single when she was born. The story goes that the mother died while Laura was an infant. After the funeral, the two families (Browns and Stiths) met in the cemetery and the Browns told Charles Stith he would have to raise the child. When he refused any responsibility, the infant Laura was left setting on her mother's grave by the Brown family. Since Charles Stith denied any responsibility, his father, Elzy Creel Stith and his wife America took the child to raise with their own large family.

When Laura was 15, she married Charles Chandler Morgan. Although Charles was 32 years of age, he was fairly well established as a farmer in Cass County.

Unfortunately, Laura was not happy with this older man and after bearing three children by him, she ran away with a man named Victor Morris who was Charles Morgan's hired man. Laura took Helen who was four years old at the time. She left the two sons, Oral (5) and Harry ( 18 months) with their father. It soon became clear that she and Morris could hardly care for themselves, let alone care for a child. Helen told later that she heard the man trying to force Laura to drop her off a bridge to her death somewhere in Texas. She of course was quite terrified of the man. Her mother, knowing that she had to protect the child from this desperate individual, arranged for a man whom she learned was traveling to Illinois by train to take Helen with him to her father in Cass County, Illinois.

The story regarding Laura leaving with Victor Morris and marrying his brother Nelson Morris is unclear. We believe that Victor Morris was the one who wanted to get rid of Helen. However, we know that she married and spent the rest of her life with Nelson Morris who was the brother of Victor. Nelson and Laura Morris had two children so that Helen, Oral and Harry had a half sister named Leora Morris and a half-brother named Victor Morris. Leora was thought to have cancer and she threw herself in front of a fast moving train (the Rocket) in Peoria sometime in the mid 1930's. Helen and Leora were very close as half-sisters and the only girls born to Laura. As far as is known, all of Laura's five children continued to visit and remained close to the other Stith family members of their generation until their deaths.

She was married to Charles Chandler MORGAN (son of William Rief MORGAN and Sarah (Sally) THOMAS) on Jan 12 1896 in Atterberry, Illinois She was divorced from Charles Chandler MORGAN in 1902. Charles Chandler MORGAN was born in 1867 in Chandlerville. Illinois. He died in 1943 in Havana, Illinois. He was buried in 1943 in Mt Olive Cemetery near Chandlerville, Illinois. Charles died in the home of Ernie and Helen in Havana, Illinois of a bad heart. Lived on one of Robert D. Morgan's farms near Mt. Olive Church East of Chandlerville, Illinois in 1918. Laura Belle STITH and Charles Chandler MORGAN had the following children:

+78 i. Helen Jean MORGAN.
+ 79 ii. Oral Beason MORGAN.
+80 iii. Harry Cecil MORGAN.

She was married to Nelson MORRIS in 1903 in Atterberry, Illinois. Laura Belle STITH and Nelson MORRIS had the following children:

81 i. Leora MORRIS

82 ii. Victor MORRIS.

42. Carl STITH was born on Jul 26 1887 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Jan 20 1973 in Atterberry, Illinois.

Marie A. UNKNOWN was born on Jun 14 1896 in Menard County, Illinois. She died on Jul 12 1964.

43. Golda Mariah STITH was born on Sep 27 1885 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died on Feb 14 1981 in Atterberry, Illinois

She was married to Harvey Oran ATTERBERRY (son of Cyrus ATTERBERRY and Hanna BELL) on Feb 8 1905 in Springfield, Illinois. Harvey Oran ATTERBERRY was born on Jan 19 1884 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Nov 11 1963 in Atterberry Illinois. Golda Mariah STITH and Harvey Oran ATTERBERRY had the following children:

+83 i. Velda ATTERBERRY.

84 ii. Cyrus ATTERBERRY was born in 1905 in Menard County, Illinois.

44. George W STITH was born on Sep 18 1884 in Atterberry, Illinois. He died on Feb 28 1972 in Atterberry. Illinois.

Ona NANCE (daughter of Milton D NANCE and Emma UNKNOWN) was born on Jul 18 1885 in Menard County, Illinois. She died on Jul 15 1972 In Menard County, Illinois.

45. Rose S. STITH was born on Jan 28 1903 in Atterberry, Illinois. She died on Jan 25 1964.

She was divorced from GARDNER in Menard County, Illinois.

46. Homer STITH was born on Mar 3 1888 in Menard County, Illinois. He died on Aug 21 1955 in Menard County, Illinois.

Imogene T. THOMAS was born in 1895. She died in 1965. Homer STITH and Imogene T. THOMAS had the following children:

+85 i. Frewert Clinton STITH. +86 ii. Homer Wayne STITH.

47 Norma STITH was horn on Apr 2.4 1890 in Menard County. Illinois. She died on Apr 29 1963.

Henry MEYER was born in 1884. He died in 1974.

48. Geraldine STITH was born on Feb 1 1898 in Menard County, Illinois.

She was married to Wymer KING. Geraldine STITH and Wymer KING had the following children:

87 i. Infant Son KING was born on Nov 21 1922. He died on Nov 23 1922.

49. Floy Lauria STITH was born on Nov 6 1903 in Menard County, Illinois.

Floy Lauria STITH and Elmer PAGE had the following children:

+88 i. Barbara Jean PAGE.
+89 ii. Brenda PAGE.
+90 iii. Gloria PAGE.

62. Harry P. STITH was born on Aug 8 1879 in Menard County, Illinois.

Harry P. STITH and Mabel KEISTER had the following children:

+91 i. Harry J. STITH.

63. Ona Mae STITH was born on Jul 7 1875 in Menard County, Illinois. She died on Nov 5 1950 in Menard County, Illinois.

64. Hattie STITH was born in Menard County, Illinois.