Abijah DONHAM and Margaret DONHAM were the parents of Ferdinand Lee DONHAM. Abijah DONHAM was born 30 January 1812 in Clermont County, OH, the son of William DONHAM and Sarah ARTHUR. Margaret DONHAM was born 11 June 1815 in Clermont County, the daughter of John DONHAM and Elizabeth BROWN. They were married 15 August 1833 in Clermont County, OH.32
Abijah DONHAM and Margaret DONHAM were related twice. They were half first cousins since they were both grandchildren of Nathaniel DONHAM Jr.: Margaret from his first wife Mary SUTTON and Abijah from his second wife Keziah CROSSLEY. They were also second cousins since they were also both great-grandchildren of Thomas BROWN and Mary Osborn BALL.
In 1842, John DONHAM, father of Margaret, sold land in Clay County, IN, to Abijah and Margaret DONHAM that he had originally bought in 1837.33
Abijah DONHAM died 16 October 1864 in Clay County.34 He was buried at the Conaway-Cade Cemetery. His will was written 9 September 1864 and probated 24 October 1864.35 He left everything to his wife Margaret and gave her guardianship of his minor children Robert, Lafayette, Ferdinand, Isaac, Melissa, and Alice. He appointed his wife Margaret and his son John as executors.
Twelve years later, on 13 October 1876, Margaret DONHAM remarried to Robert BENNETT.36 Robert BENNETT was previously married to Tolitha LAYCOCK, daughter of Reuben LAYCOCK Sr. and Sarah JORDAN. Robert and Tolitha had children Elisha, William P., Charles H., Scott (m. Mattie B. CRABLE), Benjamin J. (m. Viola PARKER), Jordan, Lee Ann, Sarah Jane, and Martha BENNETT (m. ADAMS). Robert BENNETT died 25 April 1890 in Cory, Clay County, IN.
Margaret (DONHAM) BENNETT died 29 August 1895 in Cory, Clay County, IN. After Margaret's death it seems that there was disagreement among the children as to their portions of land she distributed to them. The siblings went to the Clay County Circuit Court, May term 1896: John S. DONHAM, Elizabeth WYATT, Nathaniel DONHAM, Janetta HAPPENNY, Ferdinand L. DONHAM, Margaret Alice STONEBURNER, Ollie M. MILLER, and John J. WITTY, versus Oliver JAMES, Melissa D. JAMES, and Isaac H. DONHAM.37
One eleventh of the land was given to each of Margaret's children or their heirs. But Oliver and Melissa (DONHAM) JAMES bought the lands of her brothers James L. DONHAM and Robert L. DONHAM, thus she owned three elevenths of the land. It further appears that brother Isaac H. DONHAM was left out of the divisions. The court proceedings are complicated and need further studying. This is the same land that John DONHAM originally bought from the U.S. government almost sixty years prior.
CHILDREN OF ABIJAH DONHAM & MARGARET DONHAM
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1 NAME: John Singleton DONHAM
BORN: 4 May 1834 PLACE: Perry Twp,Clay,IN
SPOUSE: Calista A. KESLER
MARR: 25 Dec 1866
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2 NAME: Elizabeth DONHAM
BORN: 27 Mar 1838 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
BUR.: PLACE: Oak Hill Cem,Clay,IN
SPOUSE: Hiram WYATT
MARR: 27 Aug 1854 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
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3 NAME: William C. DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1839 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
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4 NAME: Sarah A. DONHAM
BORN: 3 Aug 1840 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
DIED: 8 Nov 1891 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
BUR.: PLACE: Oak Hill Cem,,IN
SPOUSE: William J. WITTY
MARR: 20 Sep 1863
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5 NAME: Nathaniel DONHAM
BORN: 8 Nov 1841 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
DIED: 14 Jan 1916
SPOUSE: Alena ARMSTRONG
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6 NAME: Janetta DONHAM
BORN: 2 Dec 1844 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
DIED: 16 Apr 1911 PLACE: Newman,Douglas,IL
SPOUSE: John Giles HAPNEY
MARR: 19 Oct 1862 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
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7 NAME: Robert L. DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1847 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
SPOUSE: Mattie
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8 NAME: James Lafayette DONHAM
SPOUSE: Malcena
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9 NAME: Ferdinand Lee DONHAM
BORN: 3 Mar 1851 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
DIED: 11 Aug 1927 PLACE: Santa Rosa,Sonoma,CA
BUR.: 13 Aug 1927 PLACE: Cypress Hill Cem,Sonoma,CA
SPOUSE: Florella Jane "Jenna" RECTOR
MARR: 4 Sep 1880 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
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10 NAME: Isaac H. DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1853 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
DIED: 10 Mar 1900 PLACE: Cory,Clay,IN
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11 NAME: Melissa DONHAM
BORN: May 1855 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
DIED: Aft 1920
SPOUSE: Oliver JAMES /Dr.
MARR: 22 Jul 1876 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
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12 NAME: Erasmus DONHAM
BORN: 11 Feb 1857 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
DIED: 22 Mar 1857 PLACE: ,,IN
BUR.: 1857 PLACE: Conaway Cem,Clay,IN
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13 NAME: Margaret Alice DONHAM
BORN: Abt 1859 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
SPOUSE: Hartley D. STONEBURNER
MARR: 9 Feb 1876 PLACE: ,Clay,IN
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Of Abijah and Margaret's children, John Singleton DONHAM, born 4 May 1834, was the oldest.38 Blanchard's History of Clay County gives the following account of his life:
He took a contract for the construction of the Terre Haute and Cincinnati Railroad grade, and finished the first mile in Clay County in 1872. In autumn 1856 he taught his first term in Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Indiana, and continued teaching in that county for three years. He then taught at Perry Township for three years, Posey Township for seven years, and back to Perry Township where he taught in winter of 1870-1871, his last term of teaching. He retired because of failing health. He then farmed for one year.
He was a Democrat and was active in politics. In 1860, he was before the Democratic Convention for the nomination of County Treasurer, but was unsuccessful. In 1862, he again made an effort, but was unsuccessful. In 1864, he was before the Democratic Convention for Recorder, but failed again. In 1865, he was elected Trustee of Perry Township, and served one term. In 1868, he was for the third time before the Democratic Convention for the nomination of County Treasurer, and again suffered defeat. In 1859-60, he was Assessor of Perry Township in 1869, Real Estate Appraiser of Perry Township, and in 1880 again Appraiser of Perry Township.
DESCENDENTS OF JOHN SINGLETON DONHAM & CALISTA A. KESLER
1 - John Singleton DONHAM, BORN: 4 May 1834 Perry Township, Clay County, IN
sp- Calista A. KESLER, BORN: 24 May 1842
MARR: 25 Dec 1866
2 - Laura M. DONHAM, BORN: 30 Oct 1867
2 - Sarah Ellen DONHAM, BORN: 22 Apr 1871
sp- James Wallace PHILLIPS
3 - Herschel Edward PHILLIPS
4 - Wallace Hall PHILLIPS
4 - Elizabeth Jean PHILLIPS
4 - James Raymond PHILLIPS
2 - Robert A. DONHAM, BORN: 13 Nov 1873
2 - Margaret Bell DONHAM, BORN: 6 Jul 1876
2 - George Edward DONHAM, BORN: 7 Aug 1879
On 27 August 1854 Elizabeth DONHAM married Hiram WYATT, born 20 September 1823 in Bryan Station, KY, son of Dickerson WYATT and Jane ROZZIEL. This was probably the correct Hiram WYATT because in the 1896 land dispute, Elizabeth was named as "Elizabeth WYATT" and The Cory Story said that this Hiram WYATT married an Elizabeth DONHAM. But the date given by the book was 1844, when Elizabeth was six years old. Family group sheets by Joyce OEHLER, a WYATT researcher in Clay County, IN, gave the date as 1854 which would make more sense.
DESCENDENTS OF DICKERSON WYATT & JANE ROZZIEL
INCLUDING THE DESCENDENTS OF HIRAM WYATT & ELIZABETH DONHAM
1 - Dickerson WYATT, BORN: 1797 DE
DIED: 25 Jun 1853 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Rhule Cem, IN
sp- Jane ROZZIEL, BORN: Abt 1798
MARR: 21 Jun 1821 Burlington, Boone County, KY
DIED: 2 Aug 1876 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Rhule Cem, IN
2 - Hiram WYATT, BORN: 20 Sep 1823 Bryan Station, KY
DIED: 29 Dec 1891 IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, IN
sp- Elizabeth DONHAM, BORN: 27 Mar 1838 Clay County, IN
MARR: 27 Aug 1854 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, Clay County, IN
3 - Laura A. WYATT, BORN: Abt 1859 Clay County, IN
sp- William D. DENNY
MARR: 19 Mar 1876 Clay County, IN
3 - Rosa (or Rosan) WYATT, BORN: Abt 1872 Clay County, IN
DIED: Nov 1939
sp- Edward KIEFNER
MARR: 29 Mar 1891 Clay County, IN
3 - Octavus "Tav" WYATT, BORN: Abt 1866 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, Clay County, IN
sp- (never married)
3 - Willard N. WYATT, BORN: 3 Jul 1866 Clay County, IN
sp- Ella WAFLE
MARR: 12 Jun 1907 Vigo County, IN
3 - Erasmuth WYATT, BORN: Abt 1861 Clay County, IN
2 - Solomon M. WYATT, BORN: Abt 1824 Warren County, OH
DIED: 22 Apr 1882 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Rhule Cem, IN
sp- (never married)
2 - Alfred WYATT, BORN: 17 Mar 1826/1828 Warren County, OH
DIED: 31 Jul 1909 Clay County, IN
BUR.: Rhule Cem, IN
sp- Ellen MURRAY, BORN: Abt 1827 OH
MARR: 27 Mar 1852 Clay County, IN
DIED: 25 Mar 1881 Clay County, IN
2 - Mary Elizabeth WYATT, BORN: 1829 Warren County, OH
DIED: Clay County, IN
BUR.: Cade Cem, Clay County, IN
sp- Abel M. DONHAM, BORN: 1803/1829
MARR: 3 Mar 1861 Clay County, IN
Son of William DONHAM & Sarah ARTHUR
3 - Richard D. DONHAM
3 - William DONHAM
3 - George DONHAM
3 - John DONHAM
3 - Annie DONHAM
3 - Peter DONHAM
3 - Belle DONHAM
3 - Mollie DONHAM
2 - John Tyler WYATT, BORN: 1832 Warren County, OH
DIED: OK
sp- Jane QUICK
MARR: 3 Mar 1861
2 - Lydia Ann WYATT, BORN: 17 Feb 1836 Warren County, OH
DIED: 27 Aug 1917 Clay County, IN
sp- Thomas MCGRIFF
MARR: 11 Oct 1860 Clay County, IN
2 - William WYATT
DIED: Clay County, IN
BUR.: Rhule Cem, IN
2 - Nelson WYATT
BUR.: Potters Field Cemetery, IN
sp- (never married)
2 - Jeremiah Myer WYATT, BORN: 17 Jun 1826 Warren County, OH
DIED: 30 Aug 1879 Wise County, TX
BUR.: Wise County, TX
sp- Mary Elizabeth FERGUSON, BORN: 4 Sep 1836 OH
MARR: 1 Apr 1852 Clay County, IN
DIED: 7 Jan 1881 Wise County, TX
Dau of James FERGUSON & Mary "Polly" DONHAM
3 - Robert Nelson WYATT, BORN: 1857 IN
sp- Sarah J., BORN: 1862 IL
3 - John A. WYATT, BORN: Abt 1859 IL
3 - Mary Jane WYATT, BORN: Abt 1861 IL
sp- Henry W. FORD
3 - James Ferguson WYATT, BORN: Abt 1863 IL
3 - Zachariah Alfred WYATT, BORN: Mar 1865 IL
DIED: Abt 1921 TX
sp- Nancy Elizabeth GREGORY, BORN: 12 Nov 1880 Bryson, Jack Co., TX
MARR: Abt 1897 Graham, Young County, TX
DIED: 10 Feb 1965 Wichita Falls, Wichita County, TX
3 - Jeanetia WYATT, BORN: Abt 1868 IL
3 - Simon K. WYATT, BORN: Abt 1870 IL
3 - Fedocia WYATT, BORN: 17 Jun 1872 Wise County, TX
DIED: 2 Nov 1941 of Macon, Jones County, GA
sp- Samuel Melton SINGLETON, BORN: 12 Jan 1870 Pickens, SC
MARR: 1898 Wise, TX
DIED: 26 Sep 1928 Lee, GA
3 - Sarah Ella WYATT, BORN: Abt 1875 TX
3 - Emma WYATT, BORN: Abt 1879 TX
Nathaniel DONHAM, son of Abijah DONHAM and Margaret DONHAM, was probably married to Alena "Alma" ARMSTRONG. Deed Record 74, Page 366, says "Nathaniel DONHAM and Alma M. DONHAM, husband and wife...." Previous information had said Nathaniel's wife was an Alena ARMSTRONG. Alena and Alma could be different spellings of the same name or they still could be two different people.
DESCENDENTS OF SARAH A. DONHAM & WILLIAM J. WITTY
1 - Sarah A. DONHAM, BORN: 3 Aug 1840 Cory, Clay County, IN
DIED: 8 Nov 1891 Cory, Clay County, IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, IN
sp- William J. WITTY, BORN: 1 Feb 1838 Clay County, IN
MARR: 20 Sep 1863
DIED: 10 Sep 1887
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, IN
Son of Baldwin H. WITTY & Elizabeth WALKER
2 - Mary Olive WITTY, BORN: 20 Nov 1864 Cory, Clay County, IN
DIED: 8 Mar 1925 Cory, Clay County, IN
sp- John M. MILLER
MARR: 14 May 1891
DIED: 6 May 1898
3 - Lela Belle MILLER, BORN: 22 Jun 1884
DIED: 19 May 1946
sp- WITTY
sp- GRAHAM
3 - William Frederick MILLER, BORN: 4 Apr 1892
DIED: May 1912
sp- William Christian UTTER, BORN: 25 Aug 1879
MARR: 1901
DIED: 10 Jan 1951 Cory, Clay County, IN
Son of George Carlton UTTER & Mary Isabel LEATHERMAN
3 - John Russell UTTER, BORN: 4 Jul 1902
DIED: 9 Jun 1932
3 - Herbert Wilbur UTTER, BORN: Aug 1904
DIED: 9 Jul 1936
3 - Dorothy Rose UTTER, BORN: 6 Jun 1907 Cory, Clay County, IN
sp- Selbert Theodore MOORE, BORN: 6 Oct 1906 Brazil, Clay Co., IN
DIED: 16 Aug 1983 Brazil, Clay County, IN
Son of John M. MOORE & Elizabeth J. WAGLE
4 - Gerald Lee MOORE, BORN: 5 Apr 1932 Brazil, Clay County, IN
sp- Bette J. LARK, BORN: 16 Oct 1933 Clinton County, IN
3 - Kenneth Glenn UTTER, BORN: 14 Apr 1909
DIED: 1987
2 - John Jasper WITTY
BORN: 27 Mar 1873
DIED: 6 May 1902
DESCENDENTS OF JANETTA DONHAM & JOHN GILES HAPNEY
1 - Janetta DONHAM, BORN: 2 Dec 1844 Cory, Clay County, IN
DIED: 16 Apr 1911 Newman, Douglas County, IL
sp- John Giles HAPNEY, BORN: 28 Oct 1839
MARR: 19 Oct 1862 Clay County, IN39
DIED: 19 Dec 1926 Rockville, Parke County, IN
2 - William Riley HAPNEY, sp- Laura CLARK
2 - Silas Ferdinand HAPNEY, sp- Anna FEASEL
2 - Margaret Isabelle HAPNEY, sp- James WEAR
2 - John Franklin HAPNEY
2 - Carry Alice HAPNEY, sp- Joseph ROBINSON
2 - Ira Jasper HAPNEY, sp- Nancy UTERBACK
2 - Laura Melissa HAPNEY, sp- Wesley MULHOLLAND
2 - Noah Giles HAPNEY
2 - Anna HAPNEY, sp- Charles COMPTON
2 - Clara Mae HAPNEY, sp- George C. SHUMAKER
Robert L. DONHAM married a woman named Mattie, as Deed Record 63, Page 192 says, "Robert L. DONHAM and Mattie DONHAM, husband and wife...." The will of Abijah DONHAM gave James L. DONHAM's middle name, Lafayette. Deed Record 62, Page 297 says "James L. DONHAM and Malcena DONHAM, wife and husband...."
Melissa DONHAM was the aunt that Goldie wrote her WWI letters to. She was born May 1855 in Clay County. She married Dr. Oliver JAMES, born in Carroll County, OH, on 22 July 1876.40 He had been previously married to Eliza B. HARPER41, daughter of Hugh HARPER and Rebecca Love SEMPLE, by whom he had a son Howard T. JAMES. Oliver and Melissa had at least two children, Herbert and Floy JAMES. They were on the 1880, 1900, and 1920 censuses.42
DESCENDENTS OF HUGH HARPER & REBECCA LOVE SEMPLE
INCLUDING THE DESCENDENTS OF OLIVER JAMES & MELISSA DONHAM
1 - Hugh HARPER, BORN: 1797 Monahan, IREL
DIED: 28 Mar 1872 Monroe, Carroll County, OH
sp- Rebecca Love SEMPLE, BORN: 28 Sep 1812 DC
MARR: 24 Mar 1831 Tuscawarus, OH
DIED: 26 Jan 1862 Monroe, Carroll County, OH
2 - William HARPER, BORN: 14 Apr 1832 Carroll County, OH
2 - Lewis HARPER, BORN: 27 Jun 1833 Carroll County, OH
2 - Margaret HARPER, BORN: 9 Mar 1835 Carroll County, OH
DIED: Mashaska, IA
2 - Sarah HARPER, BORN: 9 Jan 1837 Carroll County, OH
DIED: Jul 1889 Carroll County, OH
2 - (female) HARPER, BORN: 17 Apr 1838 Carroll County, OH
DIED: 17 Apr 1838 Carroll County, OH
2 - John HARPER, BORN: 1 May 1839 Carroll County, OH
2 - Nancy Jane HARPER, BORN: 21 Feb 1841 Carroll County, OH
sp- Robert MCINTOSH
3 - William Ira MCINTOSH, BORN: 16 May 1870, DIED: 25 Sep 1949
sp- Ruth Rae LEE, BORN: 13 Jan 1892, DIED: 14 Nov 1962
Dau of Burlin Edward LEE & Catherine JEFFERS
2 - Robert HARPER, BORN: 19 Feb 1843 Carroll County, OH
DIED: 27 Feb 1926
2 - Eliza Belle HARPER, BORN: 18 Dec 1844 Carroll County, OH
DIED: 1 Sep 1872 IN
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, Vigo County, IN
sp- Oliver JAMES /Dr. ============== 1 - Oliver JAMES /Dr.
BORN: Jul 1841 Carroll Co., OH BORN: Jul 1841 Carroll, OH
MARR: 28 Apr 1868 Clay Co., IN DIED: Aft 1920
DIED: Aft 1920 sp- Melissa DONHAM
3 - Howard T. JAMES BORN: May 1855 Clay County, IN
BORN: 1870 IN MARR: 22 Jul 1876 Clay Co., IN
sp- Nina RECTOR DIED: Aft 1920
BORN: IN 2 - Herbert JAMES
MARR: Bef 1890 IN BORN: Feb 1880 IN
Dau of Elijah O. RECTOR 2 - Floy L. JAMES
& Hattie MEWHINNEY BORN: May 1882 IN
3 - Ethel B. JAMES sp- Charles F. ENGLE
BORN: 18 Mar 1890 IN BORN: Worthington, IN
sp- Charles J. GUIRL MARR: 3 Oct 1901 Clay, IN
MARR: 10 Aug 1908 Clay, IN
3 - Birchie JAMES
2 - Laura Rebecca HARPER, BORN: 11 Jun 1846 Carroll County, OH
DIED: 4 Jun 1872
BUR.: Oak Hill Cem, Vigo County, IN
2 - Mary Elizabeth HARPER, BORN: 29 Feb 1848 Dellroy, Carroll County, OH
DIED: 17 Jun 1879 Riley, Vigo County, IN
sp- Isaac Madison LEE, BORN: 24 Feb 1844 Riley, Vigo County, IN
MARR: Jan 1871 Clay County, IN
DIED: 18 Feb 1910 Cory, Clay County, IN
Son of David Sutton LEE & Anna A. FERRAL
3 - Harland David LEE, BORN: 17 Dec 1871, DIED: 19 Oct 1872
3 - Howard Berlin LEE, BORN: 5 Jul 1873 Vigo County, IN
DIED: 29 Dec 1949 Canton, Starke County, OH
sp- Sophia FLAGG, MARR: 8 Jul 1903, DIED: 1905
sp- Anna Elsie RIDENOUR, BORN: 7 May 1874 Hicksville, Defiance, OH
MARR: 9 Mar 1907 Spokane, WA
DIED: 14 Dec 1962 Alliance, Starke County, OH
3 - Harry Delmer LEE, BORN: 21 Mar 1875, DIED: 6 Jan 1950
sp- Ella DONHAM
3 - Anna Ethel LEE, BORN: 20 Jan 1882, DIED: 4 Oct 1976
sp- ARMSTRONG
2 - Thomas HARPER, BORN: 6 Apr 1852 Carroll County, OH
DIED: Bef 4 Feb 1879 Carroll County, OH
BUR.: Deep Springs Cem, Carroll County, OH
2 - (male) HARPER, BORN: 9 May 1853 Carroll County, OH
DIED: 9 May 1853 Carroll County, OH
BUR.: Carroll, OH
Erasmus DONHAM died young. The Conaway Cemetery records (page 4A) shows that Erasmus DONHAM, an infant son of "A. & M. DONHAM", died 22 March 1857, age 1 month, 11 days.
DESCENDENTS OF JOHN HENRY STONEBURNER & SARAH FRY
INCLUDING THE DESCENDENTS OF HARTLEY D. STONEBURNER & MARGARET ALICE DONHAM
1 - John Henry STONEBURNER, BORN: VA
sp- Sarah FRY, BORN: VA
2 - Joseph H. STONEBURNER, BORN: 4 Mar 1829 Loudon, VA
DIED: 22 Apr 1888
sp- Arletta HARTLEY, BORN: 24 Mar 1833 Warren County, NJ
MARR: 22 Sep 1851
3 - Hiram STONEBURNER, BORN: 1852, DIED: 1854
3 - Charles STONEBURNER
3 - Hartley D. STONEBURNER, BORN: 15 Dec 1855 OH
DIED: 2 Jan 1937 KS
sp- Margaret Alice DONHAM, BORN: Abt 1859 Clay County, IN
MARR: 9 Feb 1876 Clay County, IN43
4 - Allen, Rudolph, Joe, Dudley, and Paul STONEBURNER
3 - Emma STONEBURNER
3 - Joseph Edgar STONEBURNER
3 - Etta STONEBURNER
3 - James C. STONEBURNER
3 - John STONEBURNER
