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Classification: Query
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I am looking for information about my Great-Great-Great Grandfather Solomon Kenton. I
actually know quite a lot about him already. The main things I am missing is where did he
come from and where is he buried?
My Great Grandmother Jessie Louisa England Harter had a family tree in her bible which
says Great Grandfather Henry Harter's parents were Samuel Harter and Margaret
Elizabeth Kenton. It also says Margaret Elizabeth Kenton's parents were Solomon Kenton
and Mary Mallow.
I found a marriage record for Solomon and Mary in Jay County, Indiana on September 25,
1851.
I found a census record for them and their daughters Louisa J. 7, Margaret E. 3 (my great
great grandmother), and Eveline 1 in Jay County, Indiana in 1860.
In 1870 Solomon is in Wells County, Indiana with a different wife named Jane and 6
children:
Margaret E. 12
Eveline 10
John W. 9
Lydia M. 5
Sarah E. 3
Louisa 1
John Lydia and Sarah were born in Ohio which makes me think they might have been
Jane's from a previous marriage. Louisa was born in Indiana. The oldest daughter
Louisa is not listed which makes me think she may have died and they named their new
daughter after her. (lots of assuming and just plain guessing)
In 1880 Solomon is in Lagrange County, Indiana with no wife. The children with him then
are:
Eveline 21
William 19 (I think this is the same as John W. in 1870)
Lillie 16 (Probably the same person as Lydia in 1870)
Sarah 13
There is no more Louisa. My great great grandparents, Samuel and Margaret E. Harter
(Margaret E. Kenton) are living next door.
In 1890 Solomon is living either with or next to his daughter Eveline and her husband
Stephen Chrisman. Somebody copied the 1890 census in Lagrange County and kept it at the
court house so it didn't get burned up in the National Archives fire. All they copied
was name race age and birthplace. They didn't break it up into households so its just
a long list of names in the order they appeared in the census schedules. Solomon is listed
after the Christman children but there is no way to know if he was in a separate household
or living with them.
For sone strange reason Solomon is living as a boarder with the Thomas Bowen family in
DeKalb County, Indiana in 1900 and he died in Lagrange County in 1902.
I found his obituary in the Lagrange Standard dated March 27, 1902 the full text is as
follows:
Died of Heart Disease
A Mr. Kenton (they didn't even mention his first name) who was employed in Morris
Latta's logging camp four miles northeast of Topeka was found dead this morning. He
had been troubled with heart disease and that is supposed to have caused his death. The
deceased was the father-in-law of Stephen Cristman of the Hawpatch.
I haven't been to the court house to look for a death record yet. My experience with
death records of that time period has not been good. (very little info) I will look it up
next time I am in that part of Indiana.
I also know there was a Solomon Kenton who married a Ruth Ann Paxson in Elkhart County in
1844 and that Ruth Ann Kenton married a John Pickrell in 1847. Did this Solomon die or did
they divorce? Is this the same Solomon Kenton who married Mary Mallow in Jay County in
1851? Where did they bury the Solomon Kenton who died in Lagrange County in 1902 and where
did he come from?
If anybody has read this far and can answer any of these questions I will be eternally
greatful.