William Walter McWethy

Notes:

Billy was born at the Lying in Hospital. His birthday has also been given as 14 Apr 1925 and 14 April 1926. He enlisted at the age of seventeen and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during WWII and the Korean conflict.

3142 Carolina Drive, Charleston Heights, S.C. 29405

William married Mildred Francis Chichester on 3 Apr 1954. Mildred was born on 3 Jan 1926 in New York; died on 17 Jan 1999 in Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina; was buried in Carolina Memorial Gardens, North Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
FindAGrave shows them as the parents of Michael Brian, Thomas M., Emma L., William Walter Jr, and Richard S McWETHY.

Notes:

Mead was also born northeast of Guthrie.

Franklin married Velma Lucile Richards on 8 Mar 1925 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. Velma (daughter of Walter Scott Richards and Emma Katherine Knauss) was born on 30 Mar 1903 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; died on 15 Aug 1976 in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas; was buried on 18 Aug 1976 in Memorial Park Cemetery, Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Known as Lucile.

Notes:

Married:
Married at 721 Duncan in Stillwater.

Notes:

William Mead McWethy was born in Dark County, Ohio, near Dallas, after his father returned from the Civil War.

Following his mothers death the three younger children and their father lived among the three elder children's homes. William remembered living with his older sister "Aunt Mag," in Joplin, Missouri. He attended school here but never completed the third grade.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Oklahoma, Lincoln County, Osage Twp
Enumerated 15 Jun 1900
SD 219 (lined through) ED 125 Sheet 9B
170-174
McWethy, William Head W M Feb 1867 33 M 3 Ohio Ohio Ohio Farmer
McWethy, Ethal Wf W F May 1874 26 M 3 1/1 Kansas Ind Iowa
McWethy, Faye Dtr W F Aug 1898 1 S Ok Ohio Kansas

William married Ethel Arretha Phenis on 29 Sep 1897. Ethel (daughter of William Riley Phenis and Flora Jane Norton) was born on 11 May 1874 in Madison, Greenwood County, Kansas; died on 3 Dec 1965 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery, Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The family data below needs confirmation;

Ethel listed her gt.uncles and aunts (children of William, son of Marmaduke Coats) as John, Thomas -whom she personally knew as Uncle Tom, William, her grandmother Sally, Esley Coats Hayworth and Hester Coats McCool.

John Coats had offspring George, Harmon (who had four children), Marthy and Sindy.

Thomas Coats had offspring Oliver, Albert, Hester, Lotta and Sinda.

Esley Coats Hayworth had offspring Rodssanna, Lottie, Rilla, Henry and John.

Hester Coats McCool had offspring Henry (husband of aunt Maggie? Phenis) and Emeline (mother of Mrs Paxton).

Walter married Emma Katherine Knauss on 30 Jan 1901. Emma was born on 20 Dec 1873 in Pennsylvania; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The information below was all compiled by Ken Harvey:

Stephen McWethy and his wife Margaret Alexander adopted John, the infant son of a Graham. John was thought to have been born in Dallas, Darke Co. This recollected place of birth was probably incorrect.

The 1830 birth of a John Graham (significantly no parents are listed) is recorded in Butler [Co.], Ohio.

There is no suitable (or otherwise) unmarried Miss Graham, recorded in the Ohio census of 1830, who could have been the mother.

It now appears that John McWethy was probably the legitimate son of John J. Graham and his wife the former Mary Graham. He would appear to have been born twenty-nine months after their marriage and for some reason he was given up for adoption almost immediately.

It is possible that Mary, or John, died -or that the couple simply could not provide for the infant.

Other possibilities:

1830 - Hezekiah Graham (ca. 35) of Reily Township, Butler Co., Ohio and his wife Sarah Smith (ca. 29) had five children, all under ten years of age. They had married 5th Mar. 1820 in Butler Co. Clearly Hezekiah could have been John McWethy's father but he was probably a happily married man, at least when it came to procreation.

1830 - Thomas Graham (ca. 45) and his wife (ca. 45) of Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio, had one boy of about eight years of age. Also a possiblity.

Later John McWethy was a volunteer in the Union Army and served during the Civil War in Company C-187 in the Ohio Infantry Volunteer's Regiment. He was under Capt. John Manuel. This regiment was used in the mopping-up campaign in Georgia following General Sherman's march to the sea. He was discharged on 20th January 1866 at Macon, Georgia at the age of 37.

The John McWethy and Elizabeth Strait family moved from Darke County, Ohio, to Avilla, Jasper County, Missouri and later Duenweg, Missouri. This relocation occurred between 1867 and 1877

A grand-daughter of John McWethy, Miss Faye McWethy, ordered on 15 Aug. 1962 a "blue grey granite" tombstone to be inscribed - John McWethy Sept. 7. 1829 Nov. 14. 1913 and to be delivered to the Osage Cemetery, Oklahoma. The size was 1-8 X 0-8 X 0-6. Presumably this was feet and inches. Total purchase price was $61.80.

A photograph of John McWethy is in the possession of Judith Keeth (1997).

John married Elizabeth Strait on 23 Sep 1852 in Ohio. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Strait and Rachael Jennings) was born on 12 Dec 1832 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio; died on 25 Aug 1877 in Nebraska; was buried in Avilla, Jasper County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

For some reason the I.G.I. gives her date of birth as 1829 in Darke Co., Ohio. Her parentage needs to be proven.

Notes:

Known as Riley. The I.G.I. records April 21 as his birthday. This was probably the day he was baptised. Made the "run," with his brother Isaac, on 22 April 1889 and each filed on a 160 acre farm about eight miles north-east of Guthrie, Oklahoma. Using his father's watch he timed his last dose of medicine.

Phenis family information is based in part on Ethel Arretha Phenis bible entries (initiated circa 1930) in THE HOLY BIBLE CONTAINING OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, translated out of the original tongues: and with the former translations diligently compared and revised. "International" series, self-pronouncing edition-International Bible Press, Philadelphia, USA The John C. Winston Co., Philadelphia. Small pica. octavio. clear type edition 1223 pages plus 17 maps [Holy Bible Self Pronouncing inscribed on spine] green cloth board cover, is in very fragile state. This family Bible, of which edition there is no copy in the Library of Congress, was passed down in the family Mrs. Ethel Arrentha McWethy to her daughter, Faye McWethy. Collection of Judith Keeth of Wichita (1998).

William married Flora Jane Norton on 3 Jul 1873 in Kansas. Flora (daughter of William Norton and Sarah Freer) was born on 8 Jun 1855 in Mohaska County, Iowa; died on 12 Apr 1929 in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma; was buried in Ripley Oak Park Cemetery, Ripley, Payne County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From FindAGrave:

Obituary:

Flora Jane Norton was born in Mohaska County, Iowa near the town of Oskaloose, on June 8, 1855 being 73 years, 10 months and 4 days of age at her death, April 12 1929. She was united in marriage to William Riley Phenis, near Madison, Kan., on July 3, 1873 and to this union six children were born, three having preceded her in their infancy to that better world. The other three being Mrs. Ethel McWethy, Mrs. Orpha Thomas, and Evart C. Phenis. Besides these three children she leaves one brother, Charles R. Norton of Madison, Kan., one sister, Mrs. Elnora Lyman, of Emporoa, Kan.; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a number of relatives and a host of friends to mourn her loss.

Her husband, William Riley Phenis, departed this life on May 26, 1909, just twenty years ago.They both united with the Christian church at Guthrie, Okla., thirty-five years ago, and were both charter members of the Christian churches at Perkins and Agra, Okla.

She lived a faithful Christian life, always devoting her time and strength to the welfare of others, forgetting herself in doing good to them.

She expressed herself as being ready to go and longed to meet her husband and loved ones over there.

The funeral sermon was preached in the Christian church in Ripley by Evangelist J.W. Garner to a crowded house, after which her mortal remains were laid to rest in the Ripley cemetery.