Ohio County Guardianships - Part III

 16. Mar 23, 1887, pg 3, under Ohio County Court Notes. HOCKER and MONTAGUE

17. Jan 11, 1888, pg 3, under Court Notes. MADDOX and LILES

18. Mar 4, 1887, Part 2,pg 2, under County Court Notes. BARNETT

19. Apr 25, 1888, pg 2, under County Court Notes. CAMPFIELD

20. May 30, 1888, pg 3,  under County Court Notes. RAINS

21. Nov 6, 1889, pg 3, under Ohio County Court. NEIGHBORS

22. May 23, 1888, pg 3. Public Guardian appointed

23. June 15, 1887, pg 3, under county Court Notes. ROWE

24. Feb 23, 1876, pg 3. KINSOLVING

25. July 10, 1889, pg 1, under County Court Notes. RIAL

Ohio County Guardianships

 Ohio County Guardianships

          Guardianship proceedings occurred when minor children were orphaned or when the father or "bread winner" died. The mother was allowed to retain guardianship if officials considered her circumstances sufficient to provide for the children. Another person appointed as guardian may have been a relative, a friend of the family, or one who could teach the minor(s) a trade. In some cases guardians or administrators were appointed to handle the affairs of adults who were deemed incompetent.

          County officials (County Court/County Judge) appointed guardians to provide minor children with education or training, making it more likely that the minors would become contributing members of the community rather than wards of the county or state.

          The guardian must file periodic reports with the Court detailing all actions taken by the Guardian, especially when the Guardian is handling money belonging to the child or the incompetent adult (sometimes referred to as the Ward).

          Guardianship records usually give the name of the deceased parent(s) and the names and ages of the minor children. The records have been kept by the clerks of either the county courts or the circuit courts in Kentucky. They are most often intermingled with probate or court records.

          I am unable to search the Ohio County courthouse records for guardianship data but I have searched the online records for the Hartford Herald (1875-1926) and the Hartford Republican (1891-1926) and found ninety-five mentions of guardianships, which (I assume) would be substantially less than the actual total.  It would be a good project for someone to search those records and write a book on this subject. 

          I will post all ninety-five items that I found.  I will highlight the surname of the Ward to help you search.  These are not in chronological order, but as I found them when searching the online site for the newspapers.  It will take several weeks to post all ninety-five items.

Here’s what I found in the Hartford Herald:

1. Jan 9, 1889, pg 4, under County Court Notes, Jan Term. BARNETT, HUFF, LACEY, DOUGLAS, and WRIGHT.

2. Mar 5, 1890, pg 3, under County Court Notes. POOL, HAMILTON, HOLBROOK, WHITELY, AUSTIN.

3. May 25, 1921, pg 8. MADDOX, MILLER

4. May 11, 1921, pg 1. KERKOF, FAUGHT, SMITH

5. Sept 7, 1904, pg 3. WRIGHT, HODGES, RHOADS

John L. Barnett

     John Langdon Barnett was born 8 Jul 1850 in Ohio County, the son of David L. & Sallie A. (Baird) Barnett.  John married Pauline Barnett 12 Nov 1874 and they had six children: Luther Cotrell, Zana Alexandra, Somers Edward, Mary Jane, Junius Lowery, and David Emmet.  Pauline died 28 Jun 1907, a few years after her youngest child, David, died in 1904.

    Apparently John L. remarried to a Mrs. Brown, from Arkansas, a short time before he died.

    John L. died 17 Sep 1913 in Arden, Arkansas and is (apparently) buried in Marvin Cemetery, which is located near his home in Little River County, Arkansas.  His son, David, is also buried in Marvin Cemetery.

    There are monuments for Pauline and for John L. located in Hartford but John L.'s says he is buried near Foreman, Arkansas.  The following is from the Hartford Republican 19 Sep 1913.

The following is from a newspaper in Arkansas, the Foreman Sun:

J. L. Barnett

Foreman Sun 

Wednesday, September 24, 1913 

J. L. Barnett died at his home at Arden Wednesday morning at the age of 63 years, after an illness of several days duration. 

Mr. Barnett formally resided in Foreman and has many friends here who will regret to learn of his death.  He was born in Hartford, Kentucky, but moved to Foreman about nine years ago which place he made his home until a short time ago, moving to Arden after being married to Mrs. Brown of that place. 

He leaves five children to mourn his death, two of whom were at his bedside when death came, S. E. Barnett, of Idabel Oklahoma, and Mrs. R. M. Thornberry, of Owensboro, Kentucky, a daughter.  Three children who reside at Louisville, Kentucky, did not arrive. 

The remains were interred at Marvin cemetery Wednesday afternoon, but will be taken up after and removed to the family burial ground in Kentucky. 

The Sun extends sympathy to the bereaved. 

Check the bottom words, "Buried near Foreman, Ark."

Note that in the article from the Foreman Sun it mentions that John L. married a Mrs. Brown from Arden, Arkansas.  I found that Sallie E. (Hanson) Brown from Arden became a widow in 1911 (her husband had been C. C. Brown); and I found the marriage info for John L. and Sallie:

Name:	Sallie E Brown
Gender:	Female
Age:	42
Birth Year:	abt 1871
Residence:	Arden, LIttle River, Arkansas
Spouse's Name:	J L Barnett
Spouse's Gender:	Male
Spouse's Age:	60
Spouse's Residence:	Foreman, LIttle River, Arkansas
Marriage Date:	20 May 1913
Marriage License Date:	20 May 1913
Marriage County:	LIttle River
Event Type:	Marriage
FHL Film Number:	1007918

LOCAL OBITUARIES

Local obituaries

            Most of you know how to find older obituaries from the Hartford newspaper(s) using online searches and I suspect that many of you know that the Daviess County Library (DCPL) has an online database of obituaries starting with deaths in 1842.  You can do your own searches fairly easy on the DCPL site and I encourage you to do so. I’ll give you the link at the end of this post.

            Interestingly, their database is broken into three groupings: 1842-1919; 1920-1989; and 1990 to present.  The information available in each is slightly different and is described as: 1842-1919 Detailed abstracts; 1920-1989 Brief abstracts; and 1990-Present Detailed abstracts.  You will understand that better when you start digging.

            Of course the data is not just for Ohio County residents – it covers several counties in the Owensboro area. So keep that in mind when you are searching.

            I have done some digging for you in the first category (1842-1919) by limiting my search for all data from Ohio County (not using any surname) and I got about 30 hits.  I will post all of these for you.

          The following is an example of one of those hits and in the example below I have circled (1) the name of the deceased, (2) the date of death, (3) cause of death, and (4) date & source of the info – which happens to be the Hartford News.  So, although we would prefer more info, this is a lot here and it might help anyone searching the Cummins' line.  One way to read the actual obit would be to go to the Ohio County library and read the actual newspaper (probably on micro-film, but I’m not positive of that).  Note that some of these “abstracts” have less information than my example because some came from very brief mentions of a death instead of a more formal obit, and some have a bit more info – it’s just hit or miss, but if you haven’t searched this site you should. 

EXAMPLE:

Here is a portion of what I found (various names; only filtered by "Ohio County") – too many for one post:

And here is a link to the site:  http://obits.dcplibrary.org/

Barnett, Bennett, and Morton

Alumni of DePauw University, started in 1837 near Greencastle, Putnam County, IN:

Class of 1877:

Class of 1897:

History of Daviess County - David L. Barnett

From History of Daviess County:

JAMES M. BARNETT

JAMES M. BARNETT, brother to John L. Barnett, was born in this county, October 6, 1854. At twenty years of age he commenced on his own account, entering the employ of Rhienhart & Co., tobacco dealers, at Owensboro, Ky., with whom he remained five years. He then engaged for himself in the same business in Grayson, and afterward in Daviess County, and in 1883 permanently located at Hartford, and established his present business. He has a thriving tobacco trade, and is successful in his line. Starting in life with no capital, his present financial standing is the result of his own unaided industry. March 10, 1884, he married Miss Alice Kimbley, of Hartford. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Barnett is a Cumberland Presbyterian and a stanch Republican.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

JOHN L. BARNETT

JOHN L. BARNETT is the eldest son of David L. and Sallie A. (Baird) Barnett and was born July 8, 1850, in this county. David L. Barnett, who was also born in Ohio County, was a farmer and tobacco dealer, and for several years government storekeeper at Owensboro, Ky. He and wife were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He died at Owensboro, March 16, 1883, and his wife died January 9, 1879. They had nine children, seven living: Rebecca O., now Mrs. J. W. Marks, of Louisville, Ky.; Sallie M., now Mrs. Amos Shown, of Ohio County; John L.; Felix B., on the home place; James M.; Clarence M., now in Louisville; and Jennie A.  John L., being the eldest son greatly assisted his father in the support of the family, which prevented him receiving a thorough school training, but by study and a few terms at school, he gleaned a practical education. At twenty-one years of age he began life for himself in the tobacco business, buying in this and other localities, as agent, until 1881, when he opened a tobacco establishment of his own, and is doing an extensive business. He was married November 12, 1874, to Miss Pauline Barnett of this county. They have two children — Luther C. and Zana. Mrs. Barnett is a member of the Methodist Church.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

MRS. AMANDA PHIPPS BARNETT

MRS. AMANDA PHIPPS BARNETT was born April 5, 1830, in Ohio County, and

is a daughter of Elijah and Harriet (Robertson) Phipps. She was liberally educated at Hartford College, and May 24, 1850, married Robert Emmitt Barnett. His father, Robert Barnett, was county surveyor for thirty years; was a captain of State militia and participated in the war of 1812. His death occurred in 1865. His son inherited many of his traits of character, was a natural mathematician, thoroughly educated, and was for many years county surveyor. He was a man of great influence and highly esteenjjed by all who knew him. His death occurred December 25, 1874. He left eleven children, as follows: Elijah, who was educated at the State University, Louisville, and is now county surveyor; Pauline, wife of John L. Barnett; Alexander, a graduate of Hartford,, now farming; Nestor, a graduate of Louisville Medical College, now practicing; Junius, a graduate of Carmi College (I11.), now in New Mexico; Ledru R., teacher of vocal music; Victor, Andrew M., Robert J., Alzien and Uzal C., all in school. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett were members of the Methodist Church. They took deep interest in the education of their children.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

JOSEPH C. BARNETT

JOSEPH C. BARNETT was born September 4, 1818, in Ohio County Ky., and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Conditt) Barnett. Robert Barnett came with his father's (Alexander Barnett's) family to Ohio County from Virginia in 1788. He was the only son in a family of seven children that lived to be grown. He was a successful farmer, was a captain in Hopkins' campaign against the Indians in the war of 1812, and afterward county surveyor for Ohio County for twenty years, in connection with farming; he died in August, 1865. Joseph C. was reared on the farm and was educated by his mother chiefly: a thorough scholar educated in the East. At twenty-two years of age he engaged in farming for himself, which has beea his principal occupation since. He now owns 350 acres of land, one-half improved. He holds various positions in the Methodist Church. His wife, who was a Miss Frances D. Bennett, was a member of the same denomination. He was elected magistrate, and served four years. He was formerly a Democrat, and now a stanch Republican. He has five children living: Matilda E., wife of W. Tinsley; George W., a Methodist minister; William B., also a Methodist minister; Fannie M., now Mrs. J. W. Taylor, and Cicero M. attending De Paw University, Green Castle, Ind. His present wife was the widow of Capt. Henry M. Bennett, who was an officer in the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry — her maiden name was Tinsley.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Historical Sketches of Kentucky - 1850

Historical Sketches of Kentucky : Embracing Its History, Antiquities, and Natural Curiosities, Geographical, Statistical, and Geological Descriptions

By: Lewis Collins; Published 1850

OHIO COUNTY

Ohio county was formed in 1798, and named from the Ohio river. It is situated in the west middle portion of the State, lying on the waters of Greene river, which forms its southern and a part of its southwestern boundary—Rough creek, quite a considerable stream, flowing, in a meandering course, through its northern territory: bounded on the north by Hancock; east by Grayson; southeast by Butler; southwest by Muhlenburg; and northwest by Daviess. The soil of this county is considered equal to that of the Greene river lands generally, producing excellent crops of corn, tobacco, oats, potatoes, clover and other grasses, but supposed not to contain sufficient lime for the profit- able growing of wheat. The timber is heavy and of a superior quality. Iron ore abounds in the county, and the beds of excellent coal are inexhaustible. The morus multicaulis flourishes here, and the culture of silk might be carried on to any extent. Some specimens of the manufactured article have been pronounced equal to the best Italian. Valuation of taxable property in Ohio county, in 1846, $1,280,- 237 ; number of acres of land in the county, 309,630 ; average value of lands per acre, $2.08 ; number of white males over twenty one years of age, 1,407 ; number of children between five and seventeen years old, 2,032. Population in 1840, 6,592—but supposed to be one-third greater in 1847. Hartford, the seat of justice, is situated on the bank of Rough creek, about twenty-eight miles by water from its junction with Greene river, and one hundred and sixty miles from Frankfort. Its location is pleasant and agreeable, remarkable for its fine water, and the general health of the population, which numbers about 400. It contains a brick court-house and other county buildings, two churches (Methodist and Free,) six lawyers, six physicians, two taverns, fifteen stores and groceries and ten mechanics’ shops. Established in 1808, Ohio was the first county formed below Hardin, and once included all of the present counties of Ohio, Daviess and Hancock, with portions of Breckinridge, Grayson and Butler. The immediate vicinity of Hartford was settled at a very early period, and was often the scene of bloody strife and acts of noble daring. Hartford and Barnett’s stations were about two miles apart, and although never regularly besieged, were frequently harassed by straggling parties of Indians, and a number of persons, who imprudently ventured out of sight of the stations, killed or captured. The following facts we have derived from Mr. Stephen Stateler, a pioneer and venerable and esteemed citizen of Ohio county: In April, 1790, the Indians waylaid Barnett’s station, and killed two of the children of John Anderson. One of the party assaulted Mrs. Anderson with a sword, inflicted several severe wounds upon her person, and while in the act of taking oft' her scalp, John Miller ran up within about twenty steps, and snapped his rifle at him. The Indian fled, leaving his sword, but succeeded in carrying off- the scalp of Mrs. Anderson. She however recovered and lived some ten or twelve years afterwards. The same party captured and carried oft' Hannah Barnett, a daughter of Colonel Joseph Barnett, then a girl of about ten years of age. They retained her as a captive until October of the same year, when through the instrumentality of her brother-in-law, Robert Baird, she was recovered and restored to her friends. In August, of the same year, three men were attacked by a party of Indians, near the mouth of Greene river. John Mcllmurray, one of the whites, was killed, a man named Faith was wounded, and Martin Vannada was made a prisoner.

The Indians immediately crossed the Ohio river, and, after traveling for some days in the direction of their towns, struck, as they supposed, the trail of some white men. In order to pursue them with the utmost celerity and without impediment, they tied Vannada to a tree. With the view of rendering his escape hopeless, during their absence, they spread a blanket at the root of a tree, and caused him to sit upon it, with his back against the tree. His hands were then pinioned behind him, and fastened to the tree with one rope, while they tied another rope around his neck, and fastened it to the tree above. In this painful position they left him, and commenced the pursuit of their supposed enemies. But no sooner had they departed, than he commenced the work of extricating himself. With much difficulty he succeeded in releasing his hands, but his task appeared then only to have begun. He ascertained that he could not reach round the tree so as to get to the knot; and it was so twisted or tied between his neck and the tree, that it was impossible for him to slip it one way or the other. Without a knife, he made powerful efforts to get the rope between his teeth, that he might gnaw it in two. Failing in this, he almost regretted having made any effort to effect his escape, as, upon the return of the Indians, the forfeit of his life would, in all probability, be the consequence. At this moment he recollected that there were some metal buttons on his waistcoat. Instantly tearing one off, he placed it between his teeth, and, by great efforts, broke it into two pieces. With the rough edge of one of these, he succeeded in fretting rather than cutting the cord in two which bound his neck to the tree, and was once more free. But in what a condition! In a wilderness and an enemy’s country, with no clothing save a shirt, waistcoat, breeches and moccasins!—no provisions, no gun, no ammunition, no knife, not even a flint to strike fire with! He did not, however, hesitate or falter, but instantly struck into the trackless forest, in the direction of home,— and, under the direction of a kind Providence, reached Hartford the ninth day after his escape, having subsisted upon such small animals and insects as he could catch and eat raw. He was nearly famished, and greatly emaciated; but having fallen into good hands, he was soon recruited, and returned to his family in fine health.

In the year 1786 or 1787, an incident occurred at a fort on Greene river, which displays the dangers which beset the emigrants of that period, and illustrates the magnanimity of the female character. About twenty young persons—male and female—of the fort, had united in a flax pulling, in one of the most distant fields. In the course of the forenoon two of their mothers made them a visit, and the younger took along her child, about eighteen months old. When the whole party were near the woods, one of the young women, who had climbed over the fence, was fired upon by several Indians concealed in the bushes, who at the same time raised the usual war-whoop. She was wounded, but retreated, as did the whole party, some running with her down the lane, which happened to open near that point, and others across the field. They were hotly pursued by the enemy, who continued to yell and fire upon them. The older of the two mothers who had gone out, recollecting in her flight that the younger, a small and feeble woman, was burdened with her child, turned back in the face of the enemy, they firing and yelling hideously, took the child from its almost exhausted mother, and ran with it to the fort, a distance of three hundred yards. During the chase, she was twice shot at with rifles, when the enemy were so near that the powder burned her, and one arrow passed through her sleeve; but she escaped uninjured. The young woman who was wounded almost reached the place of safety, when she sunk, and her pursuer, who had the hardihood, to attempt to scalp her, was killed by a bullet from the fort.