The Marriage of William Fletcher King and Mary French (Oregon Co., Missouri)

Here is the marriage license between William Fletcher King and Mary French that was emailed to me by Wanda Watson in March 2012. She obtained a copy of it from the Alton Courthouse in Alton, Missouri.

Fletcher King was my 2nd great-grandmother, Dora King's brother. Dora and Fletcher King were the children of Tabitha House and Robert King. Information and a photo of Fletcher King can be found here.

This license was issued to solemnize marriage between William F King of Alton [the license says "Attie" but it should be Alton since there is no such place as Attie], County of Oregon and state of Missouri; It states that William is over the age of 21 years and Miss Mary A French, also from Attie [sic], County of Oregon and state of Missouri; Miss Mary A French is over the age of 18. Permission was granted by verbal assent of J F French for his daughter Mary A French.

The license was signed by J. Felix Normand, Circuit Clerk, Alton, MO, 29 Nov 1893;

With certification that the "Local Elder" at the residence of J F French in Oregon Co., MO on the 3rd of Dec 1893, united in marriage the above named persons, signed by Joseph M Willards.

The license was filed for record 26 Dec 1893 by W. A. Norman Deputy and J. F. Norman, Circuit Clerk.

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From this marriage license I learned that William King's wife's name was Mary French and that she was the daughter of J F French. Other records have indicated that Mary's father's name is John Frederick French. I also learned that they received their marriage license on November 29th, 1893 and were married on December 3rd, 1893 at the home of Mary's Father, John.

I am not the best at reading local records, so I am wondering if Joseph Willards was the man who married this couple or did he just witness the marriage? I checked the 1900 census report and there was a Joseph M Willard living next door to John French, but he was only 34 years old, certainly no "elder." He would have only been about 27 years old at the time of William and Mary's marriage. He was listed as a farmer on the census, not a minister.

What do you think? Was Joseph a witness or a minister?

Update: You can read my later post, "My Introduction to a Methodist Circuit Rider" for more information about Joseph Martin Willard, the man who married Fletcher and Mary King and who was a 2nd cousin of Fletcher's. 

William Fletcher King

Photo of William Fletcher KING sent to me by Wanda Watson, 2005.

William Fletcher King was born June 28, 1873 in Missouri.¹ He was the brother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Dora KING PETERS. Fletcher and Dora KING were the children of Robert "Bob" KING and Tabitha HOUSE. Robert and Tabitha were married July 28, 1870 in Howell County, Missouri.² In 1876, Bob King died and Tabitha remarried to Samuel H WATSON Nov 16, 1879 in Highland Township, Oregon County, Missouri.³ In 1880, Dora and Fletcher were enumerated as "Watsons" on the 1880 Oregon County, Missouri census report while living with their mother, Tabitha and her new husband, Samuel Watson.⁴

This photo is undated, however Samuel Watson is actually in the photo with young Fletcher King, but he has been cut out. So this photo was probably taken between 1879-1890. Fletcher would have been about 6 years old in 1880. It was probably taken in Oregon County, Missouri.

In 1893, William Fletcher King married Mary FRENCH, daughter of John and Cynthia (Pace) FRENCH.⁵ In 1900, they were enumerated on the Highland Township, Oregon County, Missouri census report with two young children, William and Nancy King.⁶ Fletcher’s mother Tabitha Watson, step-father Samual Watson, and 7 step-siblings lived nearby.⁷

Fletcher’s sister Dora KING had given birth to a baby boy in March of 1900 and has not yet been found on the 1900 Missouri or Arkansas census report (taken in June). She married my 2nd great-grandfather, William E. Peters on November 3, 1900⁸ and was enumerated with him on the 1910 Highland Township, Oregon County, Missouri Census Report.⁹

William Fletcher King, wife Mary, and 5 children were also living in Highland Township, Oregon County, Missouri, not far from his sister Dora Peters in 1910.¹⁰ However, in 1918, Fletcher King signed up for the Draft in Gilchrist, Weld County, Colorado ¹and was enumerated TWICE in 1920! He was enumerated January 26, 1920 in Precinct 29 of Weld County ¹¹ and then again on March 4, 1920 in Precinct 22 of Weld County, Colorado. ¹² He had different neighbors on each census and he was renting each time, so that leads me to believe he moved to a new house sometime between Jan and Mar of 1920.

According to the census reports and his WWI draft card, Fletcher King was a farmer and worked on a general farm. He was of medium height and build, had blue eyes and dark hair. Unfortunately I cannot locate him or his family after the 1920 census. He seems to have disappeared into thin air, kind of like his sister, Dora Peters.

If you have information about this family or would like to contact me personally, please feel free to email me Ginger R. Smith.

SOURCES

1. "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," digital image, Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 7 March 2012), William Fletcher King; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, National Archives and Records Administration Publication M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm No 1561803. ↩
2. Ancestry.com, "Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 7 March 2012), The solemnization of marriage between Robert King and Tabitha House, Howell County, Missouri; From the microfilm of the Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives; Notes: Howell County, MO. Tabitha was indexed as “Tabetha Couse.” ↩
3. Ancestry.com, "Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : downloaded 7 March 2012), Marriage Certificate of Samuel H Watson and Tabitha King, Oregon County, Missouri; From the microfilm of the Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives; Notes: Tabitha was indexed as “Talitha King.” The marriage certificate of Samuel H Watson of Oregon Co., and Tabitha King of Oregon Co., MO: joined in matrimony in Highland Township, Oregon Co., MO on 19 Nov 1879 by B E H Warren LM? and filed in this office on 17th Dec 1879. ↩
4. 1880 US Federal Census, Oregon County, Missouri, population schedule, Highland Township, Page 326A, Samuel Watson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2005); NARA Film T9, Roll 707, FHL Film 1254707. ↩
5. Wanda Watson, Yakima, Washington, [E-MAIL FOR PRIVATE USE], to Ginger R Smith, email, 28 November 2005, "Family," King; privately held by Smith, [E-MAIL & ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Durham, NC 27713, 2005. ↩
6. 1900 US Federal Census, Oregon County, Missouri, population schedule, Highland Township, enumeration district (ED) 80, Page 7a, Lines 8-11, dwelling 112, family 113, taken Jun 1900, William F King; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2005); NARA Film T623. FHL Film 1240879. ↩
7. 1900 US Federal Census, Oregon County, Missouri, population schedule, Highland Township, enumeration district (ED) 80, Page 5A, Lines 42-50, dwelling 83, family 84, taken Jun 1900, Samuel Watson; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2005); NARA Film T623. FHL Film 1240879. ↩
8. William Bill Rogers, [E-MAIL FOR PRIVATE USE], to Ginger R Smith, email, 28 February 2006, ","; privately held by Smith, [E-MAIL & ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Durham, NC 27713. ↩
9. 1910 US Federal Census, Oregon County, Missouri, population schedule, Big Apple Township, enumeration district (ED) 117, Page 7B, Line 67, dwelling 130, family 133, William Peters (head); digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 February 2012); NARA Film T624, Roll 804, FHL Film 1374817. ↩
10. 1910 US Federal Census, Oregon County, Missouri, population schedule, Highland Township, taken 28 Apr 1910, enumeration district (ED) 122, Page 6A (penned), Lines 3-9, dwelling 104, family 108, William F King; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2005); NARA Film T624, Roll 804, FHL Film 1374817. ↩
11. 1920 US Federal Census, Weld County, Colorado, population schedule, Taken 26 Jan 1920, Precinct 29, enumeration district (ED) 239, Page 4A (Penned), Page 206 (stamped), Lines 16-24, dwelling 78, family 87, Fletcher W King; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : downloaded 8 March 2012); NARA Film T625, Roll 172. ↩
12. 1920 US Federal Census, Weld County, Colorado, population schedule, Taken 2, 3, and 4 Mar 1920 Precinct 22, Beebe Draw, enumeration district (ED) 246, Page 13A (penned), Line 32, dwelling 258, family 259, Fletcher King; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : downloaded 8 March 2012); NARA Film T625, Roll 172. ↩

Tombstone Tuesday - Charley King

- Photo of tombstone taken by Ginger R. Smith, May 1, 2006, and is copyright 2011 by Ginger R. Smith.

The inscription reads: 

Charley Son of W. F. & Mary King, Born Dec. 7, 1895, Died Nov. 27 1898

Sleep on sweet babe and take thy rest God called thee home. 

Charley King was the son of William Fletcher King and Mary French. William Fletcher King was the brother of my 2nd great-grandmother, Dora King who died around 1912 of a snake bite. Charley and his brother Alvy King died at a very young age and are buried next to one another at Joliff Cemetery in Rover, Oregon Co., MO. Other tombstones I have photographed in this cemetery include French, House, Huddleston, Joliff, Judd, Kimbrough, King, Nichols, Peters, Richards, and Willard.

This cemetery is approximately 1 mile north of Koshkonong on Highway 63. From Highway 63, take M Highway and go approx. 10 miles on M Highway to 160 Highway. Go approximately 3/4 mile east on highway 160 to first dirt road south. Keep bearing east for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Look for a sign post for the cemetery. 

Information on William Fletcher King can be found here

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This post is part of the daily blogging theme hosted by GeneaBloggers.

Tombstone Tuesday - Alvy King

This tombstone inscription reads the following: "Alvy King Son of W.F. & Mary King, 19 Nov 1905 - 11 Jun 1907" - Photo of tombstone taken by Ginger R. Smith, May 1, 2006, and is copyright 2010 by Ginger R. Smith.

 
W. F. King was William Fletcher King, the brother of Dora King who was the mother of my great-grandmother Nova Peters. Poor Alvy was only 2 years old. William F. King married Mary French and they had 12 children. Their first son, Charley King, also died young. He was born 1895 and died 1898. He is buried next to his brother Alvy.

Their tombstones are located in Joliff Cemetery near Rover, Oregon Co., MO. Other tombstones I have photographed in this cemetery include French, House, Huddleston, Joliff, Judd, Kimbrough, King, Nichols, Peters, Richards, and Willard.

This cemetery is approximately 1 mile north of Koshkonong on Highway 63. From Highway 63, take M Highway and go approx. 10 miles on M Highway to 160 Highway. Go approximately 3/4 mile east on highway 160 to first dirt road south. Keep bearing east for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Look for a sign post for the cemetery.

Read my post on William Fletcher King.

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This post is part of the daily blogging theme hosted by GeneaBloggers.