“That Marshall Woman” In a Lonely Grave

I recently undertook a personal project to get GPS readings for the many small cemeteries in the Carter County section of the Williams Creek Basin.  Even in this relatively small area this cemetery count is up to about 30.  I chatted with numerous residents of the area to determine and locate these mostly small to tiny cemeteries.

Several locals informed me of a one-grave cemetery on a ridge near the mouth of Mill Road Branch (CR – 1030) at Music.  This one grave is on a point on the left hand ridge line as you proceed toward the head of the hollow but near the mouth of Mill Road Branch Hollow.  When I asked who was buried in this grave without a tombstone the typical answer was repeatedly “that Marshall Woman”.  I was curious as to the identity of this “that Marshall Woman” and asked some Marshall’s and others that lived in the area about this.  Nobody seemed to know any additional info like a first name or approximate date of death, etc.  I realized that without a bit more info it would not be likely I could determine this identity.

Months later while chatting with another longtime resident of this area, James Wilburn, about locating another cemetery, I asked him about “that Marshall Woman” grave.  James indicated that he had heard “that Marshall Woman” possibly had a maiden name of Minnehan or something spelled close to that.  This was my break.

In the 1900 US Census I found a married couple living in the general area named James Marshall (45 at the time) and Eliza Marshall (54 at the time) with two others, a William Winneham (38 at the time) and Ellis Winneham (16 at the time).  William and Ellis Winneham were cited as stepsons of James Marshall. Note that “Minnehan” and “Winneham” look a lot alike.  This looked promising but I was still not positive that I had the complete story.

Additional research revealed a 20 years earlier 1880 US Census with a local family with Eliza Manahan, a widow, 36 at the time, as the head of the house and a son William Manahan (17 at the time), Anna Manahan (10 at the time) and Samuel Manahan (5 at the time).  Again Winneham, Minnehan, and Manahan all sound close.

I also found in the 1880 US Census another family in the area with a James Marshall, about 27, a widower, as the head of the house and three children under 5.  A Bettie Glancy, cited as James Marshall’s sister-in-law, is also living in the household. This is Glancy just like in Glancy Fork on the other side of the hill from Music.

There is no 1890 US Census to help sort this out; it was destroyed by fire.

Also note that misspelled names, transcription errors and approximate ages are extremely common on census forms.  The census forms were filled out by the census official just visiting the household called an enumerator.

The 1900 US Census also had a Samuel Minehan age (25) as head of another household in the area.  This is LIKELY the same “Samuel Winneham” in the 1880 US Census since the ages match up (5 in 1880 would be 25 in 1900).

Eliza Marshall and James Marshall had both been married before.  James likely to someone with a last name Glancy and Eliza to someone with the last name something like Minnehan.

I discovered a June 20, 1861 Carter County marriage record for an Eliza Ann Davison and a Samuel Mennihan.  Note there was a son of Eliza also called Samuel.  So the maiden name was likely Davidson not Minnehan. Minnehan was Eliza’s married name from her 1st marriage.

So we now have Minnehan, Winneham, Manahan, Minehan, and Mennihan all LIKELY referring to the same family.

I also found an 1850 US Census in the same general area with an Elizabeth Davidson 7 years old.  The Father was Isom Davidson and mother also named Elizabeth.

And finally with all this background I located a March 5, 1914 death certificate for Eliza Ann Marshall, born Nov 8, 1841 with a Father Isom Davidson, Mother Elizabeth Williams.  James Marshall, her husband, of Music, KY acts as the “informant” for the death certificate information. Here is that death certificate.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Robert Lucas, Music KY, is listed as the “undertaker” on this death certificate. Robert Lucas (1856 – 1937) is the Great Grandfather of the current owners of this property, Robert “Tim” Lucas and his wife Lisa.  Carter County deed records also indicate that A. D. and Maggie Marshall,^{Carter Deed, Book29, p481} and a few months later, James Marshall,^{Carter Deed, Book29, p482} owned and sold this property in 1918. Robert Lucas, the undertaker, had owned the property in the early 1900’s.^{Carter Deed, BookV, p35}  On the 1902 Robert Lucas deed this farm is referred to as “The Thomas Gallion Farm”.^{Carter Deed, BookV, p35}

The fact that James Marshall, Eliza’s last husband, owned this property in 1918, only 4 years after Eliza died, gives greater probability that is Eliza buried in this lone grave.

The death certificate place of burial has “Lucas Graveyard” listed, but “Lucas” has been lined out and “Marshall” Graveyard has been substituted.  The Lucas Graveyard is straight across the Mill Road Branch Hollow on the opposing ridge from this one-grave Marshall Cemetery.

So I think “that Marshall Woman” is Elizabeth (Eliza) Ann Davidson Mennihan Marshall born on Nov 8, 1841 and died on March 5, 1914 of paralysis.  Note that I am not absolutely positive that Eliza is occupying that lonely grave, but I am reasonably confidant as all the info lines up pretty nicely.  Note that I am still not sure on the definitive spelling of “Mennihan”.

The grave of “that Marshall Woman”, Eliza Marshall, is located here (click for Google Maps Link).

Here is an image of the one grave; note the hard to see sandstone grave marker in the lower left of the image.  Click on the image for a larger view.

This graveyard has a spectacular view looking north along the Williams Creek Valley.  The dirt road in the center of this image leads to the Lucas Cemetery on the opposite ridge line. Click on the image for a larger view.

For those that would like a quick declarative recap:

Elizabeth (Eliza) Ann Davidson was born in 1841 to parents Isom Davidson and Elizabeth Williams Davidson.

Eliza Ann Davidson married Samuel Mennihan in 1861 and they likely had a few children.

Eliza Davidson Mennihan was widowed sometime before 1880.

James Marshall, born in about 1853, was a widower with a few children by 1880.

By 1900 Elisa Davidson Mennihan had married James Marshall and they were living in general area of Music on Williams Creek.

On 5th March 1914 Elizabeth (Eliza) Ann Davidson Mennihan Marshall died of paralysis at age 72 and was buried in a one-grave cemetery called “Marshall Graveyard” on a flat spot on the south ridge line near the mouth of Mill Road Branch in the community of Music in Carter County Kentucky.

One interesting and very personal side note to this story.  The doctor that signed the death certificate for Elizabeth (Eliza) Ann Davidson Mennihan Marshall (1841 – 1914) was Dr. George Burton from Rush, KY.  Dr. George Burton delivered my Father, George Coleman (1912-1991).  My Father was named after Dr. George Burton.

A big thanks to James Wilburn for the extra bit of info that gave me some traction and to all those that initially informed me of that lonely grave of “that Marshall Woman”.  And, for Lisa Lucas for showing me exactly where this grave is located.

This “Marshall Cemetery” with only one grave has been added to the “Williams Creek Basin Interactive Map”.  Over 140 other features in the Williams Creek Basin are marked with icons on this map. These icons can be clicked on and information about that particular location can be reviewed. Many of these features have associated photographs.  For info and access to the “Williams Creek Basin Interactive Map” just click on the link below:

The Williams Creek Basin Interactive Map

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