Francis Marion was the son of Hiram and Cassander (Crosley) Kinnaman born on April 12, 1845 in Madison County, Indiana. Hiram and Cassander had thirteen children ; Daniel (1830), Conrad (1835), Walter (1837) , Henry Madison (1838), Hannah Jane (1840), Emily (1841), Lane (1843-1844) Francis Marion, (1845), Sarah Ann (1847), Margaret (1849), Hiram (1852), William Andrew (1855), Richard (1858). In the 1850 Federal Census in Madison County Indiana, Hiram and Cassander have nine children; Daniel, Conrad, Walter, Henry M., Hannah J., Emily, Francis, Sarah and Margaret. Hiram was a farmer. In the 1860 Federal Census, Francis remains with his parents and six of his sibings; Henry, Hannah, Emily, Francis, Sarah, Hiram (1853), William (1855), Richard (1858).
Francis Marion married Malissa Catherine Kinsey September 13, 1868 in Madison County, Indiana. Francis and Malissa are found in Carroll County, Missouri in the 1870 Federal Census. Francis is farmer. They have one son, David Leabeth, who was born in September 1869. Malissa’s brother, John, is also living with them and helping Francis on the farm as a farm laborer. They live next door to Henry Madison Kinnaman and his family. By the time of the 1880 Federal Census , Francis and Malissa have three sons; David,. (1869) LeRoy (1873) and Mark (1878). Living next door to them are Francis’s brother David with his family and Malissa’s brother, John and his family.
By the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Francis and Malissa have three sons living with them; Harry (1886), Grover (1889), Nellie (1897). In the 1910 Federal Census, Francis and Malissa are living in Bosworth, Missouri. They have one daughter who remains at home, Nellie and she is thirteen years old.
Francis died on June 22, 1911 in Bosworth, Missouri according to his death certificate. He is buried at Big Creek Cemetery.
Rest in peace, Francis!
Love, Jan
Francis Marion Kinnaman is the brother of my three time Great Aunts, Hannah Kinnaman Smith and Emily Kinnaman Smith.
Hans Henrik Andersen was born on September 26, 1856 in Tjome, Vestfold, Norway. He was the son of Andres Hansen and Olava Hansdattra. They lived in Grimstad, a small farm town on the island of Tjome which is located in the Oslo Fjord. Andres was a sailor. Andres and Olava had two children; Hans Henrik (1856) and Kristine (1860). In the 1865 Norwegian Census, Andres, Olava, Hans and Kristine are found in Grimstad. Andres Hansen died four short years later in 1869. I believe that he died at sea having been washed overboard during a storm. By the time of the 1875 Norwegian Census, many things have changed in Olava’s family with the loss of her husband and her daughter, Kristine. She has also remarried a man whose name is Kristin Jorgensen. Kristin, Olava and Hans are listed together in Grimstad in the 1875 census from Notteroy, Norway.
Ingeborg and Hans on their Wedding day in 1882
Han Henrik Andersen married Ingeborg Helene Jakobsen on February 7, 1882 in Notteroy, Vestfold, Norway. Hans and Ingaborg had three sons; Andres, (1883), Hans Jakob (1888), Haakon Ingwardo(1891). At this time in Tjome men were either sailors or farmers, they went to sea or stayed on land. Hans was a sailor. His early sailing days started in March of 1880 with a trip to America. I was able to obtain information thru the Tjome Historical Society about Hans Henrik sailing career. Listed below is a chart of his sailing trips. I can not be certain that this is a complete list but as you can see he sailed the world and it included at least seven trips across the Atlantic to America.
Date Embarked – Ship Name – Departing Port – Destination – Disembarked – Where
On September 18, 1894, twelve short years after they were married, Ingeborg Helene died suddenly leaving three sons to be cared for by their Grandmother, Olava Jorgansen while their father was at sea. Hans had set sail in May of 1894 and did not learn of his wife’s death until he returned the following February of 1895. On March 13 1898, Hans Henrik married Mathilde Kristine Zainer.
When Hans decided to no longer sail he returned to Tjome and bought a sailboat and started a tourist style Tour Company in the early days of the tourist industry on Tjome. He provided tours of the Oslo Fjord to tourist and summer residence of his seaside home town. He also conducted fishing excursions. Hans was “at home” on the water.
This is a photo of Hans and Mathilde Anderson. We can not be certain of the date of the photo but it is likely the mid to late 1930’s. Long after his working days were done Hans could be found almost daily in a small fishing boat, in the cove by his Mother’s small home.
Mathilde died on June 19, 1940, shortly after the Germans had invaded and occupied Norway. Hans befriended some of the German soldiers which initially angered many of the local people. Hans had hidden a radio from the Germans and since they had established a bit of trust with him, the German soldiers did not search his home. He kept his radio out of sight and he listened to it every night for news from the war front. In time, many of the local men would learn that Hans had a radio and come to his house to listen to the radio with him. I have been told that sometimes they would bring him alcohol so they could bribe him to listen other stations on his radio. Eventually, the Nazi’s discovered that Hans and the local men were listing to the radio each night and the Nazi’s confiscated the radio.
In letters to his son, Andrew ( born Andres, my Grandfather), Hans states that life on Tjome was not so bad during the war but one must remember that the Nazi’s opened and read all mail which was sent to other countries. Hans told his son that he must be very careful what he writes in his letters . This is the envelope from Hans’ letter to his son informing him that his wife, Mathilde, has died in 1940. As you can see the Germans opened it before sending it on to Andrew in America.
Hans survived the war but died on June 15, 1946. He was buried in the Tjome Kirke Cemetery with his wives.
Rest in Peace, Hans
Love, Jan
Hans Henrik Andersen was my Great Grandfather. I wish I had known him. The wonderful people of the Tjome Historical Society have helped me bring my Great Grandfather to life for his descendents. I appreciate all the help I received from Inger Zainer ( Great Niece of Hans thru his marriage to Mathilde.) and the Tjome Historical Society.
Forrest Denney was the son of Milo and Lydia May (Mutton) Denney. He was born on December 6, 1914 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Milo and Lida (Lydia) had ten children; Forrest (1915), Nellie (1920), Ethel (1921), Agnes (1924), Elizabeth (1926), James (1927), Milo Elvia (1930), Elva (1934), Rolandis (1934), Frank (1936).
In the 1920 Federal Census, Milo and his family live on Sheldon Road in Lafayette Township, Allen County Indiana. They have two children; Forrest and Nellie. By the time of the 1930 Federal Census, Milo and Lydia are found in Franklin Township, Lenawee, Michigan with seven children; Forrest, Nellie, Ethel, Agnes, Elizabeth, James and Milo. Milo (Sr) is a farmer.
On October 1, 1935, Forrest married Dorothy Ellen Rau in White Pigeon, Indiana. On March 12, 1938, a prison record was recorded for Forrest Denney in Huntsville, Texas. According to this record, he was born in 1914 in Indiana. He was charged with felony theft and sentenced to two years. He plead guilty on October 13, 1938. The record also indicated that he was release on October 13, 1939 after serving one year.
In the mean time, Dorothy Denney filed for divorce from Forrest in January of 1938 and the divorce was granted in March of 1938. And I also find a Forrest Denney in a record for an inmate in Jackson Prison in Michigan for the 1940 Census. This is all a bit puzzling. I find a Social Security record for Donald L Denney which states that his parents are Forrest and Dorothy Ellen Rau.
On October 8, 1941, Forrest registered for the WWII Draft . He registered in Adrian, Michigan. He stated that he was twenty six years old and that he was working on a Dam Project in Tipton, Michigan. He listed his father, Milo Denney, as his contact. The document does not state if he is single or married. There are at least two men named Forrest Denney during this time period.
On September 30, 1946, Forrest married Lucy May Tobias. I do find a 1956 Adrain, Michigan Directory which shows Donald L Denney and Lucy M Denney . This directory record implies that Forrest is dead and that Lucy is his widow. Is this an error? With multiple men whose name is Forrest Denney in this time period who were both born in Indiana and are likely descendants of this Denney line, this research has been confusing to say the least. I find no death record for Forrest in Michigan to substantiate that Lucy May was a widow. Usually an unusual name like Forrest make research an easy task, no so this time!
In this Obit, it states that he died on June 8, 1999. He was living in Florida. His wife’s name is Vivian. He had five sons; Donald, Victor, Chad, Brandon, and Todd. He had two daughters; Liz and Karen. He was cremated and I find no burial location information.
This was a difficult blog due to the fact that there were several men named Forest/ Forrest Denney in this time period. It is my hope that the information published here is correct and not a jumble of information confusing these different men. It was also difficult because my research revealed so many difficult life situations. I decided to go ahead with it because this was the story that the research presented. Not everyone has a smooth life. Todays blog presents a perfect example of this. I hope that if someone reads this blog and finds that I did confuse these men in my research that they will reach out to me so I can set the record straight.
Rest in peace, Forrest!
Love , Jan
Forrest Denney was my second cousin twice removed.
Tombstone Tuesday 