James William Kendall, Kansas Farmer

This article is about Ancestor #31 for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

Carter County in eastern Kentucky was the land of salt extraction, iron furnaces and coal mining when my Kendall family lived there, long before tobacco became the main cash crop.  The geography in this foothill region of Appalachia was forested with deep cliffs, gorges and underground passageways (caves).

Source: FamilySearch.org Wiki
(click images to enlarge)

In Aug 1860, three year old James William Kendall lived with his parents Lewis Henry Kendall and Sarah Jane Harris Kendall and little sister Celia Ann in Carter County, Kentucky.  James was their first child to live beyond infancy.  He was born in Dec 1857 according to the 1900 U.S. federal census. 

James, my great-great uncle, had at least six brothers and sisters:

• Celia Ann Kendall, born 26 Aug 1859, Kentucky
• John Allen Kendall, born 5 Jul 1861, Kentucky
• Henry Martin Kendall, born 1864, Kentucky (my great-grandfather)
• Rebecca Susan Kendall, born 1866, Kentucky
• Elijah Kendall, born 1869, Kansas
• Melvin Hayden Kendall, born 1872, Kansas

Sometime before 1870, the Kendall’s moved to Morris County, Kansas where kin of Lewis already had settled in and around Morris County.  Most of James’s farming skills were probably honed here by helping his father on the farm.  At 17, James had to assume more farm operation responsibility after his father died in 1874.  The family moved a bit over the next few years but staying in Morris County – to Highland Township in 1875 then to Ohio Township in 1880.

Source: Cutler's 1883 History of Kansas

Source: Kansas State Historical Society

Twenty-six year old James married 18 year old Emma J. Ream in Jan 1884 in Morris County, Kansas.  

They had nine children, all born in Kansas:

• Lewis M. Kendall, born 1885
• Arthur S. Kendall, born Jan 1888
• Frank A. Kendall, born Nov 1889
• William M. Kendall, born Jan 1891
• Vera G. Kendall, born Jul 1893
• Viola M. Kendall, born Feb 1895
• James L. Kendall, born Oct 1896
• Charles E. Kendall, born Feb 1898
• Ivy M. Kendall, born Apr 1900

James was a farmer who purchased 160 acres of land in Ohio Township on 22 Jul 1885.  His crop was probably wheat, corn or both.  Seven of his children resided with he and Emma in 1910 as well as his mother Sarah.  James was 52.

James died sometime between 1910 (after the census) and 1915 (when Emma was listed as a widow in a 1916 Wichita, Kansas city directory).  A death record has yet to be found.

Future Research

• Research his siblings and his children
• Obtain records for farm schedules and death
• Determine the disposition of his land

Sources

The Kentucky Encyclopedia by John E. Kleber

Family Search Wiki

Kansas State Historical Society

U.S. Federal and Kansas State censuses

Morris County marriage records

U.S. Bureau of Land Management records

Kansas City Directories

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