52 Ancestors – Sarah Malonia Rhinehart (71-2016)

Wedding photo
Sarah Malonia Rhinehart Sutton

Sarah Malonia Rhinehart, daughter of William Dearnald Rhinehart and Roda Elizabeth Sneed, was born March 7, 1887 in Sevier County, Tennessee. She was the oldest child of five—Sarah Malonia Rhinehart, Ollie C. Rhinehart, James Daniel Rhinehart, Arlie Mack Rhinehart, and Hattie Jane Rhinehart.

On June 11, 1900, Malonia and her family lived in Sevier County. Her last name was spelled Rinehart. Malonia’s parents had been married for 14 years. Her father was a farmer. At age 13, Malonia was able to read but not write.

Malonia was 21 when she lost her father who died in Tennessee on April 19, 1908. He was 44 years old. William was buried at Catons Chapel Cemetery in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Sadly, William didn’t live to see his eldest daughter walk down the aisle the next month when she married Ashley B. Sutton, son of an unknown father and Sarah M. Sutton, in Sevier County on May 10, 1908. Together they had four children—Georgia Lee Sutton, Mapher Sutton, Daisy Gladys Sutton, and Dixie Roena Sutton.

Ashley B. Sutton

On April 29, 1910, Malonia and her family lived in Civil District 13 of Sevier County. She was enumerated as Lona Sutton, married for one year, and the mother of one child—Georgia, age 1. The Sutton’s were surrounded by family at that time. Malonia’s family was enumerated as family number 165. Family number 166 was Bettie Rhinehart, Malonia’s mother, and Malonia’s siblings—Ollie, James, Arlie, and Hattie. Hattie, age 16, was married to James S. Shields (age 18), who was also living in Bettie’s home. Hattie and James had been married for one year. They were my great-grandparents. Family number 164 was Malonia’s brother-in-law George Sutton. He lived next door with his wife Onie (or Ollie) and son Ashley. There was also a William S. Sutton, enumerated as George’s father, living in the home but I believe he was actually Ashley and George’s grandfather. In 1900, William was enumerated as the head of household in Sevier County with his wife Mary, daughter Sarah, and grandsons George, Ashley, Arnel, and James. The William in 1910 was 75 years old (born May 1836) and was the same age as the William enumerated in 1900. Ashley and George, both 14 years old born in April 1886, were apparently twins.

Marriage bond

Malonia’s only son, Mapher, was born in Sevier County on October 3, 1910. Sorrow came to the Sutton house a little over three months later on January 23, 1911 when Mapher died of whooping cough. The location of his grave is unknown to me. A second daughter, Daisy, was born in Sevier County on October 15, 1913. Malonia’s youngest sister Hattie also named her first daughter Daisy which was apparently a popular name in the early 1900s. According to the Social Security Administration, it was in the top 100 names at that time. Malonia’s youngest child, a daughter she named Dixie, was born in Sevier County on April 26, 1915. Young Dixie would never know her mother though. Sorrow came once again to the Sutton household when Malonia died of unknown causes (to me anyway) on November 25, 1916 in Georgia, most likely Whitfield County. She was

buried at Deep Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia.

52 Ancestors – William Dearnald Rhinehart (70-2016)

William D. Rhinehart family

William Dearnald Rhinehart was born August 22, 1863 in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. His parents have been a mystery for me. Early in my research on William, census records told me his mother’s name was Elizabeth Rinehart (also spelled Rhinehart; born about 1826 in Tennessee) and that he had several siblings. In all census records, Elizabeth was never recorded with a husband and she always had the last name of Rinehart. I’ve looked for records in William’s name that might record his father but kept coming up with nothing. It wasn’t until last weekend when I finally found a death certificate for William’s sister, Sarah E. Rhinehart Thomas, that I had a breakthrough. Sarah’s death certificate listed her mother as Betsy Rinehart, born in Tennessee. It listed her father as “Elegetmalmate” and had a big “X” beside the location of his birth. Now what in the world did that mean? Who would name their child Elegetmalmate? I’m thinking that’s an awful weird name to give someone.

Sarah E. Rhinehart Thomas death certificate

But then I did what I often do when I want answers—I Googled it. The top word in the query was “legitimate.” That’s when the lightbulb went off. Since the word started with an “E,” did the person recording the information on the death certificate mean to write “illegitimate” and just didn’t know how to spell it? That’s what I’m thinking. After making this discovery, I looked for Elizabeth in earlier census records—I wanted to find her with her parents. That would at least tell me what her maiden name was. I found them living in Sevier County, Tennessee in 1850. Her father was Conrad (enumerated as Conard) Rinehart and her mother was Rachel. Elizabeth was 25 years old. Her father was born in Virginia and her mother was born in Tennessee.

Tennessee state marriage records for Greene County record the marriage of Conrad Rinehart to Rachel Shaver on February 15, 1813.

1813 Greene County, Tennessee marriage record

This information matches what I find in later census records so this must be William’s mother and her maiden name was actually Rinehart. That would explain why I never find her with a husband. And, since all of her children have the surname Rhinehart, I’m assuming their father was also “Elegetmalmate.” I’ll keep looking for a record that provides the name of William’s father, but for now, I believe I’m on the right track with regards to his mother and his surname.

If all this is correct, William’s siblings were Sarah E. Rhinehart (born about 1845), Louisa Rhinehart (born about 1848), Elizabeth Rhinehart (born about 1856), George L. Rhinehart (born about 1876), and Hattie Jane Rhinehart (born about 1878). There was an 18 year age difference between Sarah and William.

Three years before William’s birth, his mother and sisters lived in Sevier County, Tennessee.

1860 Sevier County, Tennessee census record

On June 10, 1870, William lived with his mother Elizabeth and sisters Sarah E. and Elizabeth in Flat Gap, Jefferson County, Tennessee. The census enumerator spelled their last name “Rineheart” and enumerated William (age 6) with the middle initial “A.” Elizabeth at age 50 was keeping house. Her daughters Sarah (age 25) and Elizabeth (age 14) were both enumerated as “at home.” Elizabeth and her daughters were able to read and write. There was no adult male in the home. There was also no sign of Louisa in this census record. She would have been 22 years old by this time so perhaps she had married and moved out of the home. Daughter Elizabeth wasn’t enumerated in the 1860 census record but she shows up in 1870. She would have been 4 years old then so why wasn’t she living with the family. Was she living with someone else at the time? Or had something else happened to her?


1870 Jefferson County, Tennessee census record

On June 3, 1880, William and his family lived in the 15th Civil District of Sevier County, Allensville, Tennessee. There was still no adult male in the home. Elizabeth was enumerated as the head of the family. Her father was born in Virginia, her mother in Tennessee. At age 17, William was a farm laborer. Sarah is 35 years old and enumerated with “no occupation.” A brother and sister has been added to the family since the last census was taken—George L. (age 4) and Hattie Jane (age 2). William named his youngest child Hattie Jane (my great-grandmother), I assume after his youngest his sister. Again there was no sign of William’s sister Elizabeth. The census enumerator recorded the birthplace of William’s father as Tennessee. 

1880 Sevier County, Tennessee census record


William married Roda Elizabeth (Bettie) Sneed, daughter of William Sneed and Mary Fine, in Sevier County, Tennessee, on March 22, 1886. Together William and Bettie had five children—Sarah Malonia Rhinehart, Ollie C. Rhinehart, James Daniel Rhinehart, Arlie Mack Rhinehart, and Hattie Jane Rhinehart. William was 12 years older than Bettie.

William’s son James was born in Sevier County in 1890. James filed for a Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records in 1942 stating that both of his parents were born in Sevier County.

On June 11, 1900, William and his family were enumerated in Sevier County. William and Bettie had been married for 14 years. William, at age 36, made a living by farming. Bettie had five children, all of which were living. They were enumerated as Sarah M. (age 12), Ollie C. (age 11), James D. (age 10), Arlie M. (age 8), and Hattie J. (age 5). Their last name was spelled Rinehart.

1900 Sevier County, Tennessee census record

William died in Tennessee at the age of 44 on April 19, 1908. He was buried at Catons Chapel Cemetery in Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Bettie went on to live until the age of 77 when she died from breast cancer in Sevierville, Sevier, Tennessee on July 23, 1945. She was buried two days later at Catons Chapel Cemetery.

William was my 2nd great-grandfather.

A final note on my research for William if you’re also researching this family—I’ve assumed the above information to be true so keep that in mind when you do your own research and help me find proof! Census records show William’s father was born in Tennessee so that’s a start.
______________


Tombstone photos from Find A Grave Memorial# 44211930. The photos were taken by Tangled Web Weaver (#46967364) who added this piece of information: I could not find any other Rhinehart graves in this cemetery and he had lots of open space around him so wife could possibly be buried there also but I did not see a stone at all. Hope I helped! :) Teresa

52 Ancestors – Samuel C. Murphy (no. 69-2016)

Samuel Murphy's tombstone

Samuel C. Murphy, parents unknown, was born on September 15, 1825 in Monongalia County, Virginia (eventually becoming West Virginia). Unfortunately, I can’t take this Murphy line any further back than Samuel. If anyone can, I’d love to hear from them. Samuel was my husband’s second great-grandfather.

Samuel married Nancy Daugherty, daughter of John P. Daugherty and Catherine Brannon. I haven’t found a marriage record for Samuel and Nancy yet but the census enumerator for October 1850 recorded them together and their first child was born in November 1850 so that gives you an idea of when they may have married. Together Samuel and Nancy had five children—Mary C. Murphy, Martin William Murphy, Margaret Emily Murphy, Elmer Elsworth Murphy, and Nancy E. Murphy. Our Murphy line runs through Martin.

Nancy (Daughtery) Murphy's tombstone

On October 12, 1850, Samuel and Nancy, both 25 years old, lived in the 33rd District of Marshall County, Virginia. Samuel was a farmer. Three of their children were born during the 1850s—Mary in 1850, Martin in 1854, and Margaret in 1859.

On September 6, 1860, Samuel, Nancy, and their three children lived in the community of Adaline in Marshall County, Virginia. Samuel was a farmer with real estate valued at $375 and a personal estate valued at $150. Nancy’s parents lived five houses away. His son Elmer was born in 1862.

Samuel was drafted and mustered into service as a private on September 20, 1864 at West Brighton, Pennsylvania to serve for one year in Company D, 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. He appeared on the muster roll for the months of September and October 1864. Near the end of October or the first of November 1864, the regiment was drilled hard at Yellow House, near Richmond, Virginia. Samuel was forced to lay out on the damp ground at nights and suffered from exposure. He was sent to the field hospital near Yellow House on the Weldon Railroad where he was treated for rheumatism for about 10 days. That was followed by a bout of chronic diarrhea so Samuel was removed to Depot Field Hospital in City Point, Virginia where he was treated another 10 days. He was then sent to Harwood Hospital in Washington, DC where he was treated for phthisis pulmonalis (later known as tuberculosis) by Dr. Bucher about five or six months. He was next taken to Whitehall Hospital near Bristol, Pennsylvania where he was treated for intermittent fever about 30 days. Samuel was finally sent to McClellan General Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for treatment of diarrhea and anemia from intermittent fever. He remained at McClellan until he was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865 suffering from lung disease, liver affection, and derangement of the stomach.

Samuel returned home from the war a broken man and suffered the rest of his life. In early September 1865, he saw Dr. Owens of Wetzel County, West Virginia. Dr. Owens, who had been Samuel’s family physician for at least 20 years, found Samuel’s disease to be chronic hepatitis with considerable hypertrophy subject to severe spells of hepatic colic. Dr. Owens determined that Samuel was not able to perform manual labor and that his disease was not curable. Dr. Owens felt that Samuel had been a sound man at the time of his enlistment and stated that he had every reason to believe that Samuel had contracted his disease while in the service.

Samuel and Nancy added to their family in 1866 when daughter Nancy was born. The following year, his wife Nancy died in Marshall County on February 7, 1867. She was buried at Greenfield Ridge Cemetery in Marshall County. Her parents are buried beside her.

Samuel married Tabitha A. (Boner or Bonar) Clark, daughter of David Bonar and Elizabeth J. Core (at least that’s what it looks like on Tabitha’s death certificate), on November 27 or 28, 1867 or 1868 (I see both dates on pension records) in Pennsylvania. This was a second marriage for Tabitha who was first married to James Clark on August 13, 1846 in Marshall County, Virginia. James served as a private in Company K, 17th Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Tabitha and James had five children together—Eliza J. Clark (born 1848), Emiline Clark (born 1853), Charles W. Clark (born 1856), Ann R. Clark (born 1861), and Artimace Clark (born 1864). James died of chronic diarrhea contracted while in the service of the United States on July 29, 1865 at Fish Creek in Marshall County. Tabitha was drawing a widow’s pension on James at the time of her marriage to Samuel.

On July 26, 1870, Samuel and Tabitha lived in the Center Township of Wetzel County, West Virginia. He had a full house with both his children with Nancy and Tabitha’s children with James Clark all living in the home. Samuel was a farmer with real estate valued at $500 and a personal estate valued at $200. There was a William Murphy (age 27) family living next door to Samuel and a James Murphy (age 50) family living next door to William. I’ve yet to determine whether James and William were an extension of Samuel’s family. It’s conceivable that James was his brother based on his age. William, at age 27, could have been James’ son. Something to work on.

On June 24, 1880, Samuel, Tabitha, and their family lived in the Liberty District of Marshall County. Samuel was a farm laborer. According to this census record, Samuel’s father was born in Ireland and his mother in Virginia. This is the only record I’ve found that reflects his father’s birthplace. I once found a researcher on the Internet that recorded Samuel’s father as David Murphy from Ireland but for the life of me don’t know what that record was. I keep that tidbit in the back of my mind as a place to start though. At least this census record confirms the location as Ireland. His daughter Emily, age 21, worked as a domestic. Martin, age 24, worked as a farm laborer, possibly helping his father. Elmer, enumerated as Emmer, age 18, worked as a laborer. Tabitha’s son Charles, age 23, was a farmer. Her daughters Rebecca, age 18, and Arte, age 16, were both enumerated as “at home.” There was a six year old grandson named James L. Blake living in the home as well.

1880 Soundex Cards for the Samuel C. Murphy family

Samuel applied for an Invalid Pension on July 12, 1879 alleging disease of the liver, stomach, and lungs. On July 7, 1882, he requested an increase in his pension of $4 per month stating that the disease increasingly caused general debility, rendering him unable to perform manual labor of any kind and preventing him from following his usual occupation of farming. Samuel stated that he lived in New Martinsville, Wetzel County, West Virginia at the time of the request. An increase to $6 was approved on November 15, 1882. On December 10, 1883, now a resident of Flint, Doddridge, West Virginia, Samuel again requested an increase in his pension. This request was rejected on June 17, 1884.

Samuel was examined by doctors in 1882 and 1884. Both doctors found that Samuel weighed 140 pounds and was 5 feet, 10 ½ inches tall. He had a fair complexion. Samuel was again examined on May 14, 1890 and stated that he had pain in his left breast, his stomach, and under his left shoulder. He was unable to work to any extent due to the pain in his left side. He slept with great difficulty, often remaining awake most of the night. He coughed a good deal. He further stated that he had been confined to his bed about four weeks that spring. The doctor found Samuel to be rather thin and poorly nourished. The left lobe of his liver was enlarged and tender. Samuel’s pension was increased to $10 that same day.

According to a Veterans Schedule in June 1890, Samuel was enumerated in the McElroy District of Tyler County, West Virginia. On February 3, 1892, Samuel, now living in Booher’s Mills, Tyler County, West Virginia, applied for another pension increase. He stated that he was unable to work. His lungs pained him. He was short of breath and coughed a great deal. He spit up “thick corruption of mornings” but did not spit up any blood. His stomach swelled and pained him. His liver pained him. He had pain under the point of his right shoulder blade. He believed his liver was badly affected and his heart fluttered at times. Doctors examined him and found him to be thin, weighing 135 pounds. His skin was clear and free from eruption. Samuel had a debilitated appearance and from indication was unable to do but very little labor. They found him to have roughened breathing over both lungs. He had hypertrophic nasal catarrh, with his mucous membrane being congested, thickened, and inflamed. The pharynx was in a catarrhal condition—an inflammation of the mucous membrane. He had catarrhal trouble of the whole respiratory tract, caused probably by exposure and cold. His tongue was flabby and slightly coated and had tenderness over the gastric region as well as prominence from gaseous distension. Samuel had chronic gastritis as a result of a bad diet.

Samuel died from “liver trouble” on December 18, 1899 in Booher, Tyler County, West Virginia. He was 74 years old at the time of his death. Samuel was buried on December 20, 1899 at Victory Cemetery in Shirley, Tyler County, West Virginia. An Administrator’s Bond in the amount of $1,000 was filed on December 23, 1899 in Tyler County naming John S. Booher (principal) and James W. Booher (surety) as administrators of Samuel’s estate. His estate was charged for taxation on the Land Books for Tyler County for the year 1900 with 11.3/4 acres of land on Indian Creek, valued for taxation at $74 and for 58.1/2 acres of land on Indian Creek, valued for taxation at $366. On February 12, 1900, Tabitha filed for a widow’s pension in Tyler County which she continued to receive until her death on May 15, 1921.

I visited the National Archives in Washington, DC several years ago and had them pull the Civil War pension records for Samuel. I don’t know what they do now but at the time you were not allowed to take anything into the room where you view the records except the debit card you used to make copies of the records. They provided lockers so I left my belongings in one and made my way to the room at my scheduled time. Once there I was handed a huge file for Samuel. I remember the excitement of holding the original post-Civil War records. I had to be very careful as the pages were very brittle. I didn’t want them disintegrating in my hands while I made my copies. If you ever visit DC, be sure to include a trip to the Archives during your visit. Just be sure to do your homework before you go.

52 Ancestors – A special Christmas ornament (week 52 – 2015)

My mother-in-law, Mary (Athya) Murphy

It’s Christmas day—a special day to spend with family, but also a bittersweet day for me. Christmas Day 2006 was the last time I saw and talked to my mother-in-law, Mary (Athya) Murphy. She suffered from emphysema and was in the final stages of the disease that year. We knew her time on Earth was drawing to a close. On Christmas morning 2006, we made the hours’ drive to my in-laws house to spend the day with the two of them. We arrived mid-morning and found Mary still in bed, not wanting to get up. Rather than forcing her out of bed, I pulled up a chair, sat down, and put her hand in mine. We talked when she felt like it and sat quietly holding hands when she didn’t. Eventually, my father-in-law convinced her to get up and she moved into the living room to join the rest of the family. It was obvious though that she wasn’t in any shape to celebrate the joyous day. She was incoherent part of the day, hallucinating at one point—having a conversation with presidents from the 1800s when she was actually talking to my youngest son and me. When we left their house that night I knew in my heart that she wouldn’t make it through the night. I prayed for her at bedtime, asking God to end her suffering. He must have heard my prayers because she passed away early the next morning.

Last night after dinner, I sat in my chair gazing at all the ornaments on the Christmas tree. Each one has a memory attached to it, including one I made for Mary many years ago. I knew then that my last blogpost of the year would be to share the story of the special ornament I made for Mary.

We once got into a heated discussion as to whether Disney’s Goofy was a dog or a horse. She was adamant that he was a horse and I told her she was crazy, that of course he was a dog. We argued and argued about this until I finally decided to end the argument and wrote a letter to Disney asking for their help. I knew they were the only people that could end this argument. Disney responded by sending me a copy of Goofy’s bio—yes, Goofy has a bio—stating in no uncertain terms that he was a dog. There was my big “I told you so” moment! Feeling the need to gloat later that year, I cross-stitched a Christmas ornament for Mary featuring Goofy wearing a Santa hat and ringing a bell and gave it to her for Christmas. We had a good laugh when she opened her gift and then every Christmas when it came time to hang Goofy on her tree.

I was fortunate enough to have a mother-in-law that I loved. I know many people can’t say that but I honestly can. I was happy to inherit the ornament after her passing and now I smile every year when hanging the ornament on my tree of memories.

52 Ancestors – Max B. King Jr. (week 51 – 2015)

Max B. King Jr., son of Max B. King Sr. and Blanche Cornelia Ellison, was born March 18, 1925 in Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina. He was the second child of seven—Frances Marian King, Max B. King Jr., Laura Jean King, Sherry King, Brenda King, Larry Randolph King, and James Donald King.

Max’s story is a sad, tragic one. According to the Anderson Independent and Tribune, at about 7:30 p.m. while playing with other children in front of his home in Greenville, South Carolina on May 27, 1929, young Max darted around a parked Standard Oil Company truck and was struck by a new “Ford Machine.” The Ford was driven by 14 year old Carol Campbell, the son of Dr. S. D. Campbell of Piedmont, and rolled about 75 feet before coming to a stop. Max died instantly from a fractured skull. A coroner’s jury, led by Coroner Joe Wooten, determined the accident to be unavoidable with witness testimony “indicating that the driver was powerless to prevent striking the small boy” who was just four years old.



Max was buried at Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Cheddar, a rural neighborhood located in Belton, at 4 p.m. the next day. He was survived by his parents, two sisters, Frances Marian King and Laura Jean King, and his grandparents Walter Monroe King and Minnie Lee (Holland) King of Belton.

52 Ancestors – Chris' Christmas stocking – a family heirloom (week 50 – 2015)

Today’s blog post won’t be a timeline of an ancestor’s life. Instead, I thought I’d share the story of my oldest son’s Christmas stocking—one of our newer family heirlooms.

Christopher was born in January 1984. At the time I did cross-stitch in my spare time so decided to make him a Christmas stocking. I hadn’t been doing cross-stitch for long and don’t think I really knew what I was getting into. If I had, I might not have started the project. It was a big project for a new mother and full-time working woman. But I didn’t let that stop me and got started that same year. As you can see from my signature in the photo below, it took two years to finish the stocking. Now that I look back, I wish I had signed it with my actual name instead of “Mommy” and added the “19” in front the “84/85.”I’ll consider that a lesson learned. Anyway, once the cross-stitch part of the project was finished, it was time to figure out the next step—turning it into a stocking. I didn’t sew so what was I thinking! But as luck would have it, my office mate Evelyn did. Another hobby I had at that time was making and painting ceramic Christmas ornaments. So Evelyn and I made a deal—I would make her 12 ceramic Christmas ornaments and she would turn my work of art into a stocking. Then I had to figure out what kind of material to use for the back and lining of the stocking. Again, as luck would have it, my co-worker and still friend Jan had an old red velvet dress lined with red satin which she contributed to the project. So Evelyn and I both got busy—she began sewing and I started pouring, cleaning, and painting the 12 ornaments. By the time Christmas rolled around in 1985, we had a beautiful stocking for Chris and it still hangs in our house today.

My youngest son Kevin was born in 1987. Of course, I thought about making a cross-stitch Christmas stocking for him as well. By this time though, I was just too busy raising two children and working full time. I had good intentions and actually bought a pattern and material to make the stocking—but it still sits waiting to be made. I eventually bought a “temporary” stocking for Kevin. I purposely picked one that was larger than Chris’ hoping that would make up for it not being handmade. We’re still using that stocking for Kevin and I feel a little guilt every year when pull it out of the box and hang it. Hopefully he doesn’t hold that against me!

The photo on the left shows the satin lining.
The photo on the right shows the red velvet back.

 

Kevin's stocking

52 Ancestors – James Close – (week 49 – 2015)

James Close, son of John W. Close Sr. and Margaret Athya, was born in Bellshill, Scotland in the year 1905. He was the oldest child of three—James Close, Ina (or possibly Jemima) Close, and John W. Close Jr.

James was only seven years old when he and his family left his home in Scotland on May 8, 1912 departing from the port of Glasgow via steerage on the S.S. Grampian, Allan Steamship Line. They arrived in Quebec, Canada on June 16. On the outward passenger list, they declared that their “Country of Intended Future Permanent Residence” was Canada. James’ father was a miner so upon arrival in Canada, they settled at Joggins Mines in Nova Scotia where they lived for two years.

In 1914, James’ father left the family behind in Nova Scotia and traveled to America, arriving on July 9, 1914 via Class D at the Port of Vanceboro, Maine. From there, he traveled to Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio where he joined his uncle, William J. McCandler. James, his mother, and his sister left Nova Scotia in November 1914 to join his father in Steubenville. They arrived in America via the Port of Buffalo, New York on November 8, 1914. Immigration papers record the address they were going to as 320 Reserve Avenue in Steubenville and that they planned to stay there permanently. His grandmother, Jemima Athya of Garndale Road in Glasgow, Scotland, was listed as his nearest relative “in country whence alien came.” James had a fair complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

James’ uncle David Athya, who served as a private in the Second Highland Light Infantry during the Great War, was killed in action at France and Flanders on May 10, 1915. David’s name is inscribed at the Le Touret Memorial in Pas de Calais in France.

James’ brother, John Jr., was born in Steubenville on July 30, 1917. He was the only Athya sibling born in the United States.

On January 22, 1920, James lived with his family in Steubenville. He was able to read and write and had recently attended school. The census enumerator listed him as an “Alien.” A family friend named Della L. Harvis, age 51 and divorced, lived in the home. A student in 1921, James lived with his parents at 641 Grandview Avenue in Steubenville. He still lived there in 1924. Both he and his father were tinworkers.

At the young age of 19, James died at home in Steubenville of bilateral lobar pneumonia on February 21, 1925. He was buried at Union Cemetery in Steubenville on February 24, 1925. James’ uncle George Athya was the informant on James’ death certificate. A Union Cemetery record listed James’ occupation as a chemist.