FADED INTO the MISTS of TIME

John Walton
(Photo Courtesy of Lynne Sims)))

John Walton and Margaret Jane Downen, my great-great grandparents were both born in Wayne County, IL but migrated with their family to Phillips County, KS about 1879, with several other Wayne County families. This is their history I have created from many facts obtained from my grandmother, Ola Young Simpson, and by my own research. My grandmother was very close to this family as her Mother was the oldest child of John and Margaret. Her Mother died when she was only 16 and many trips were made to Kansas to visit all her cousins. I have many postcards and letters from several of these cousins. Others that contributed to my research on this family are  Lynne Sims,  Betty Beeson and Jan Green. Thanks to all of you, especially Lynn. She also  contributed some of the pictures and most of the information on Margaret Etta Walton. If anyone  can contribute to any of the families’ information here or have photo's, please contact me. I want to  make this as complete and accurate as possible so if anyone finds an error, please let me know.

 JOHN WALTON was born October 31, 1833 in Big Mound Township, near Fairfield, Wayne County, IL. He was the last child of George Walton and Nancy McClelland Walton. George and Nancy came to Wayne County before 1828. George was born about 1802 in England and died 1833 in Wayne County. Nancy was born about 1806 in Scotland. It is not known when they  immigrated from Europe nor when they married. They had 5 children all born in Wayne County.

John married Margaret Jane Downen Dec. 20, 1854 and they had 6 daughters. John died in Logan, Phillips, Kansas on July 3, 1885 and is buried in the Old Logan Cemetery there.

Margaret Jane Downen

(Photo Courtesy of Lynne Sims)

MARGARET JANE DOWNEN was born May 15, 1834 near Fairfield in Wayne County, IL. She was the daughter of Alfred Downen born about 1805 in Kentucky and died after 1870 in Wayne County. He married Melinda Warren about 1826 in Wayne County. She was born Jan. 3, 1811 in Christian, Kentucky and died July 18, 1887 in Wayne County. Margaret died Sept. 10, 1923 in Columbus, Stillwater, Montana while living with her daughter Rebecca.. She is buried in  the Columbus Cemetery.

The children of John and Margaret are as follows. All were born in Wayne County, IL with the  exception of Jamie, the last child, born in Nebraska.

CHILDREN OF NANCY EMMA WALTON AND ROBERT E. YOUNG ARE:

1.  Luther Young born March 14, 1876 but died within a few weeks.

Mamie Young

(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

2.  Mamie Young, born May 7, 1878 in Wayne County, IL and died Apr. 6, 1882, Logan, Phillips, KS. She died of the flu and pneumonia.

Harvey Herman Young

(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

3.    Harvey Herman Young born March 7, 1881 and died April 24, 1944, Benton, Franklin, IL of Coronary Thrombosis. He married Bertha Beattie Dec. 25,1904 and they lived in Arrington Township, Wayne County, IL, Colorado and Benton, Franklin, IL. Harvey and Bertha did not have any children of their own but  raised 2 of Bertha's nieces, Geneva and Hilma Robertson after their own Mother died.

Viola May Young

(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

4. Viola May Young (called Ola) born Jan 9, 1890. Ola married Harvey A Simpson on Dec 9, 1909. They lived in Lamard, Wayne County and their first child Walton Young Simpson was born  there July 1, 1911 . They moved to Crockett's Bluff, AR about 1914 and farmed there for a couple of years then moved to Buchanan County, Iowa where they had 2 daughters, Mina LaToria born July 28, 1918 and Georgia Emma, born April 15, 1920. About 1949 they returned to Wayne County to be with their remaining families. Harve died Nov. 6, 1968 and Ola died Sept. 28, 1974 in  Alexandria, LA. They are both buried in Oak Valley Cemetery in Wayne County, IL

REBECCA JANE WALTON was born February 18, 1858, in Wayne County, IL. She married Joseph C. Craven about 1876 in Wayne County. Joseph was the son of  Henry Dawson Craven and  Eleanor White Williamson. He was born April 14, 1854 in Wayne County. In 1879 they moved to Phillips County, Kansas with their parents, Henry Dawson Craven and John Walton families. Joseph died June 7, 1919 at Columbus, Stillwater, Montana and was buried June 30, 1919 in Davenport, Iowa. Rebecca died Sept 13, 1935 in Potlatch, Latah, Idaho and was buried Sept. 14 in  Palouse, Washington.

Children of Rebecca Walton and Joseph Craven are as follows:

1.   MINNIE BELLE CRAVEN was born Aug 14, 1877 in Cisne, Wayne County, IL. On Feb. 27, 1899 in Phillipsburg, Phillips County, Kansas she married Walter States. Walter was the son of James V States and Florida Leak States. He was born May 25, 1877 in Cisne, Wayne County, IL. Minnie and Walter had 3 children, Coy Vaughn, Layland S. and Palmer DeVail. Minnie and Walter went to Chiropractor School at the Palmer School in Davenport, Iowa and were both Chiropractors  as were their 2 children Coy and Layland. They were divorced about 1922 and Minnie remarried  George Finley on Oct 18, 1931 in Denver, Colorado. Walter remarried Nellie L Terry and they had  2 children. Minnie died Aug. 17, 1938 in North Platte, Lincoln, NE and is buried in Denver, Colorado. Walter died Mar. 22, 1952 in Ravenna, Buffalo, NE and is buried there.

John Henry Craven

2.   JOHN HENRY CRAVEN, born Oct .28, 1880 in Prairie View, Phillips, Kansas. He married  Mable Portia Proctor in 1904. She was born in 1881 in Kansas and died in 1930. John died Jan. 1, 1940, maybe in Washington State. The 1910 Census for Plum, Phillips County, Kansas showed  John as Methodist Minister which must have been short lived because by 1915 he was at the Palmer Chiropractor School as a Teacher. In 1921 he wrote a text book called Chiropractic  Orthopody while he was head of the Philosophy Department at the school. John and Mable had 2  children, Joyce Dalton Craven born 1905 and Portia Lucille Craven born 1907.

Nora A. Craven

(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette) 

3.    NORA A CRAVEN, born Sept., 1884 in Phillips County, Kansas. About 1910 she married J. Roy Ingle and they had one son John Craven Ingle (called Jack) born Sept .17, 1916 in Montana. Nora and Roy divorced in May, 1926 and Nora went to Davenport, Iowa and enrolled in the Palmer Chiropractor School where her brother was a teacher. She went back to Laurel, Montana and on   June 30, 1933 in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana she married C. L. Lamberson. I have been unable  to locate any death records for Nora or Mr. Lamberson. The death record for the son Jack Ingle was found  in Ventura County, CA on July 11, 1995.

4. FLETA LUCILLE CRAVEN, born May 3, 1899 in Phillips County, KS. She married  Fredrick Martin Jakob Eyrich abt. 1921. Fred and Fleta lived in Montana when their children were  born but sometime between 1927 and 1930 they moved to Potlatch, Idaho. Fred died Mar. 9, 1963  in Idaho and Fleta July 9, 1960 also in Idaho. Fleta and Fred had 3 children as follows::

1.   Lucile, born about 1922 in Montana. We discovered Lucile in the 1943 Year Book attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

2.   Nancy Eyrich born about 1925 in Montana. We also discovered Nancy in the 1943 Year Book attending the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

3.    Joseph F. Eyrich born Apr. 6, 1926 in Montana. I believe he was an engineer. I found information  in a Newsletter of the Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers memorializing the death of  Joseph F. Eyrich in the Dec., 2001 issue. He was a formerly licensed by this board. Social Security Records show he died May 12, 2001 in Folly Beach, South Carolina. I also found references to a son born 1964 in the Idaho Journal Newspaper, his name was David A. I have found no information regarding Joseph’s wife.

William Edwards  (Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)		Mary Walton Edwards  (Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

MARY ELIZABETH WALTON, born Dec. 1, 1860 in Wayne County, IL. She moved with her  family to Phillips County, KS about 1879. She married William Edwards Aug. 22, 1880 in Logan, Phillips, Kansas. William was born May, 1860 in England. Their first three children were born in  Phillips County, KS and then Mary and Edward headed to Denver Colorado where two more children were born. By June of 1892 they were back in Kansas where 3 children were born. In the 1910 Census they were in Alamogordo, NM where postcards from their children to Ola Young had  them living there as early as Aug., 1908. Two children later they were back in Kansas where the 1920 Census shows they were in Liberty City, Kansas. On March 8, 1922, William died and was  buried in Liberty Cemetery. In the 1930 Census Mary was living with her daughter and her husband, Hal and Mary Reid and their son, Homer in Seward, Kansas. Mary died May 21, 1951 in  Connersville, Fayette, Indiana. Their 10 children are as follows:

Ira John Edwards

1. Ira John Edwards was born Sept .26, 1881 in Logan, Kansas. He married Cosetta B. Stewart, probably in Alamogordo, New Mexico about 1907 and they had one child. Mary E. was born 1911 in Fairfield,  Ohio where they lived at that time. Sometime before 1925 they moved to St Petersburg, Florida. Cosetta died there Dec. 2, 1925 and Ira died there April 22, 1934. They are buried in the Royal  Palm Cemetery and his lifetime occupation was a mechanic.

Grace Edwards
(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

2.  Grace B. Edwards, born Jan., 1884 in Kansas. I have a postcard from Grace sent to my grandmother dated Aug. 17, 1908 from Alamogordo, New Mexico. I have not been able to locate  any further information on her life.

Mary E. Edwards
(Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

3. Mary L. Edwards, born in Jan 1885 in Kansas and married Hal G. Reid about 1906 in Kansas. Hal and Mary lived in Liberal, Seward County, Kansas as shown in the census from 1905 to 1930.  He was a jeweler, watch maker and photographer with a store in downtown Liberal.  He also published a series of over 200 real photo postcards from about 1908-1912 with scenes from around Liberal, Kansas.    They had two children, Homer born Feb 13, 1904 in Liberal, Kansas and died Sept 1971 in Telluride, Colorado.  Homer was a watch maker, gunsmith and photographer and moved to Telluride, CO around 1937.  Halbert George was born June 29, 1910.in Liberal, Kansas and died May 27, 1996 in Kern, California.  Halbert lived an interesting life.  He joined the Merchant Seaman at age 19 as a Radio Operator on various ships and was then employed by Pan American Airways as a Radio Operator working out of California.  Hal died March 21, 1960 and Mary died in March 26, 1957, both in Delta, CO where they had moved to be closer to their son.

Eber Robert Edwards
 (Photo courtesy of Marylea Gazette)

4.    Eber Robert Edwards, born Oct. 31, 1886 in Denver, CO. He married Leta Inez Chamberlain  Nov. 5, 1909 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Leta was born about 1888 in Iowa. They had 7 children: Muriel J. born 1910, New Mexico and married Walter Marshall; Lowell M. born 1912, New Mexico; Wilfred E. born 1915 in Oklahoma; Ira C. born 1917 in Kansas, Erma E born 1922 in  Kansas; Neva I. born 1924 in California; Paul W born 1928 in California; William died in Utah  Sept., 1962.

5.      Charlotte Edwards born June, 1891 in Colorado. She was living with her sister and husband, Hal  and Mary Reid along with her Mother, Mary in the 1930 Census. I assume she never married and  died in Liberty, Kansas.

6.      Minnie Edwards born June 3, 1892 in Liberty, Kansas and died Nov. 21, 1919 in Liberal, Kansas  at age 27. She is buried in Liberal Cemetery next to her father William.

Elbert Walton Edwards

7.  Elbert Walton Edwards, born Jan. 8, 1894 in Smith, Kansas. Elbert married Nadia Agnes Unknown about 1918. Nadia was born March 29,1895 in Kansas. Elbert was a plumber  most of  his life and except for a couple of years in Ohio, he lived mostly in Liberty, Kansas. He also served in World War I. They had one child, Norma Jean born in 1924 in Liberal, Kansas. Elbert died April 27, 1964 in Liberal, Kansas and is buried in the Liberal Cemetery along with Nadia who died  December, 1977.

8.      Joseph D. Edwards, born May, 1897 in Kansas. I assume he died between 1900 and 1910 as he  was on the 1900 Census but not the 1910. If this is correct he probably died in Alamogordo, New Mexico and is buried there but this has not been confirmed.

9.      Doritt Edwards, born 1902, in New Mexico was living in Kansas with her parents in 1920 but in 1930 she was living with her brother Eber's daughter, Muriel and husband Walter Marshall in Compton, CA. Nothing else is known about her at this time.

Arthur Herbert Edwards

10. Arthur Herbert Edwards, born June 3, 1903 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. He married Naomi Adell Sappington Apr. 12, 1935 in Pratt, Kansas. Naomi was the daughter of James K Sappington  and Emma Louellen Brownell and was born Sept. 30, 1902. Arthur and Naomi had one daughter, Joyce Ann Edwards born June 24, 1936 in Los Angeles, CA. She Married Merlin DeCamp Nov. 25 ,1956 and died July 2, 1992 in Aurora, Colorado. Arthur died May 28, 1938 in Cunningham,  Kingman, Kansas and Naomi died June, 1952 in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas.

James & Margaret Walton Lightfoot
(Photo Courtesy of Lynne Sims)

MARGARET ETTA WALTON, born Aug 27, 1864 in Wayne County, IL, the daughter of John Walton and Margaret Jane Downen. She moved with her parents to Phillips County, Kansas about  1879 and on Dec. 18, 1881 she married James Hugh Lightfoot. They had 8 children, 3 being born in  Kansas. In 1890 they were in Denver, Colorado where two more children were born and in 1895 they moved to New Mexico. Two children were born in New Mexico and the last child in Gila  County, AZ. In 1920 they moved on to California and on  Jan 4, 1931 James Lightfoot died in Santa  Barbara, CA. Margaret died June 26, 1953 in San Bernardino, California.

The Children of James Hugh Lightfoot and Margaret Etta Walton are:

1.  Olive Belle Lightfoot, born Oct 9, 1882 in Phillips County, Kansas. She married Arthur E Williams May 8, 1899 in Tularosa, New Mexico. They had one child, C.A.E Williams born May ,1900 and were divorced soon after. She married 2nd Charles Wesley Sheppard on March 8, 1907 in  Globe, AZ. Olive and Charles had one son, Charles Wesley Sheppard, Jr. born Apr 25, 1911 in  Globe, AZ. Either Charles died or they divorced and Olive married 3rd Paul Schwalback about 1917 and they lived in California. Paul died April 30, 1955 in Riverside, CA and Olive died May 25, 1958 in Stanislaus, CA

2.  Carrie Mae Lightfoot born Oct 5, 1885 in Phillips County, Kansas. She married first to James  Thornton Price about 1902 probably in New Mexico. James and Carrie had 2 children Elthel born Feb 23 1903 in New Mexico and Robert William born July 28, 1912 in San Bernadino, CA. Between 1910 and 1920 Carrie and James divorced. He is listed in the 1920 Census with daughter  Ethel in Phoenix, AZ. Around 1920 Carrie married Stanley S Simpson who was born Mar 17, 1888  in Colorado. They were living in Needles, Calif. in 1930 Census, with Ollie's child from marriage to  James Price, Robert William Price. Carrie died Apr 8, 1965 in Stanislaus, Calif.

3.   Claude Wallace Lightfoot born June 5, 1887 in Nicodemus, Kansas. He married Madge Lorene  Bezzo on 18 Jan., 1914 in Blythe, California. She was born Oct. 18 1891 in Newbern, TN the daughter of Andrew Henry Bezzo and Edea Lou Dovie Flatt. Claude and Madge had 5 children. 1). Caudia Madge Lightfoot born Oct. 31, 1914 in Blythe, CA 2) Infant Daughter born Feb 11, 1917 in Bisbee, AZ and lived for one day. 3) Wallace Bezzo Lightfoot, born June 17, 1919 in Tombstone, AZ. 4). Margaret Evalyn Lightfoot born 17 Jul 1922 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5) Veva Raymelle  Lightfoot born Sep 16, 1924 in Compton, CA. Claude died Dec. 31, 1950 in Riverside, CA and Madge died July 6, 1976 in Riverside, CA. Interesting facts related by his daughter Margaret in 2000: He was a stage coach driver along the Butterfield stage route from Tombstone, AZ to Los Angeles, CA. He worked in the Copper Queen Mine in AZ as a miner. Had his own shop and was a car mechanic in  Compton, CA, logging in Oregon and dug water wells in Rialto, CA before he was married. His  ashes were scattered by son Wallace and son-in-law from an airplane in 1951 over Strawberry Creek,  Idyllwild, CA.

4.   Maude Ethel Lightfoot born Sept 22, 1890 in Denver, Colorado. She married Lewis Alfred Roberts May 30, 1909 in Globe, AZ. They had 3 children, all born in Globe, Dorothy born Apr. 3, 1910, Lewis Alfred Jr. born Oct. 27, 1911 and Raymond Lightfoot born Nov. 11, 1913. Maude died  Dec. 20, 1945 and Lewis died Jan 7, 1950 both in Globe where they are buried.

5.   Lulu Louise Lightfoot was born 1895 In Colorado. She married Nov. 30, 1909 in Globe, AZ, Charles  Mieyr born Jan. 25, 1877 in Calumet, MI. They had 4 children. John Frank born Sept. 6, 1910 in Globe, AZ; Charles Leonard born July 30, 1912 in San Bernardino, CA; Ethel born Aug 11, 1914 in  Bisbee, AZ and a male child that lived one day Mar. 20, 1919 in Bisbee. Lulu died Apr 13, 1950 in   For Fort Collins, Colorado and Charles died Mar. 4, 1947 in Bisbee, AZ.

6.   Lyman Gage Lightfoot born Feb 2, 1895 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He married June 27, 1925  in Lompoc, CA, Helen Anita McGee born Dec. 20, 1902 in Santa Barbara, CA and they had one child, Donald Lyman born Jun 24, 1926 in Santa Barbara, CA. He died Mar 2, 1996, Sparks, NV. Helen's father died and she and Lyman moved to be close to her mother and siblings at Sparks, NV  where they lived the rest of their lives. Lyman died March 7, 1982 and Helen died Feb. 16, 1972.

 7. Arthur Edwin Lightfoot born Aug 2, 1898 in New Mexico.   Edwin married Edith Shinly in 1925. She was born in 1905 in Nebraska.  They had one son Frederick James born Oct 1925 in Santa Clara, CA.  Edwin next married Louise Fowler in 1940.  She was born in California Dec 23 1896and died April 7, 1965 in Los Angeles, California.  Edwin and Louise had one son, Claude T. born about 1937.  Edwin died May 6, 1983 in Pismo Beach, CA.

8.   Charles Walton Lightfoot was born Sept 23, 1970 in Pinto Creek, AZ. He married first Nov. 10, 1928 Edith Ester Williams in Riverside, CA. They had 2 children, Helen Ruth born Dec. 23 1896 in  California and died April 7, 1965 in Los Angeles, CA. Helen married Robert Towers in 1950 and  they divorced in 1967. It is unknown if they had any children. Second child was Charles Walton Jr. born June 20 1931 in Riverside and died Oct. 8 1990. He married Pat Unknown and had 2 children. Charles married second Marian Dodge May 15, 1943 in Richmond, VA. They had 2 children.

IDABEL MARIE WALTON born March 10, 1870 in Wayne County, IL. When Bell, as she was  called, was about 17 she moved with her family to Phillips County, KS. About 1890 she married  James Cornelius Crowley born Dec. 24, 1850 in Ireland. He immigrated in May,1855 the son of  Thomas Crowley and Nora Howrahan. Bell and James had 7 children all born in Ogden, Utah. James died Dec. 17, 1905 in Ogden and Bell Walton Crowley died Feb. 24, 1951 in Ogden.