329 – Cheneys 1880s

Mark Jarvis

William and Eliza Cheney had claimed their homestead in McPherson County, Kansas in 1877. By 1880, they had a house and barn, gardens and an orchard.

The family had grown too. In 1880, William Cheney was age 42. Eliza was 40. Their children were Sarah Margaret, age 14, Enos Ralph, age 9, and James William, age 5.

William and Eliza are our 3rd great-grandparents.

As they had done in Illinois, William and Eliza Cheney got involved in their community.

School

The Cheney children were expected to do well in school. William had been a teacher in Illinois, and maintained an atmosphere of discipline and order.

Sarah (Maggie) and Enos were of school age, and attended School No. 41. It was one mile west and a half-mile north. Maggie was the better student, with an average grade of 89. Enos had a grade of 80.

School Report – District No. 41 – McPherson Republican – December 12, 1878

“As is the teacher so is the school”

Public education wasn’t standardized in 1880s rural McPherson County. There was no standard curriculum, and no diplomas were given. The course content was pretty much up to the teacher.

The school term was 20 weeks. Only about two-thirds of eligible children attended school, and those who did had attendance rates below 60%.

McPherson County School Statistics – 1870 to 1892

Sunday School and church

McPherson Republican – April 22, 1880

William and Eliza had been among the founders of their church in Illinois.

In McPherson County, they were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in the city of McPherson. The preacher was Reverend J.A. Simpson, shirttail kin of the Cheneys.

William and Eliza were also among the founders of a Sunday School in Groveland Township. It was an all-day session of lectures, praying, and singing.

Politics

McPherson Republican – September 30, 1880

William Cheney was also involved in politics. He was secretary of the Republican County Central Committee, and occasionally was a delegate to the state convention.

William ran for County Clerk several times, but wasn’t elected.

Maggie Cheney

Maggie Cheney – ca age 16

Sarah Margaret (Maggie) Cheney was the eldest child of Will and Eliza. Born in 1865, she was six years older than her brother Enos.

McPherson Freeman – December 28, 1883

Maggie Cheney married James Poulson on December 19, 1883. Maggie was age 18, James was 22.

The Poulsons were close neighbors, so Maggie and James had known each other since childhood.

Marriage – Maggie Cheney and James Poulson – December 19, 1883
Poulsons – James, Lena, Vera, Maggie – ca 1900
James and Maggie Poulson – ca 1915

The Poulsons had two daughters, Vera (b. 1886) and Lena (b. 1890).

Maggie and James Poulson would stay on the Poulson farm for many years, moving to McPherson in their later years.

Charles Cheney, William’s brother

Charles Cheney was the youngest child of Shadrach and Mary Cheney. He was born in 1848, so ten years younger than his brother William.

Charles married Laura Alice Wilson in Illinois in 1874. They had three children – Nellie, Glenn, and Nuna.

In 1883, Charles and Laura Cheney were moving to McPherson to join his brother. They arrived in McPherson in the fall of 1883.

McPherson Republican – June 25, 1884

Charles died suddenly the morning of June 23, 1884, at age 36.

After Charles’ death, his wife Laura and daughters Nellie and Luna continued to live in a house in McPherson.

Son Glenn, on the other hand, spent most of his time living with his aunt and uncle, Eliza and William Cheney. So much so that he was often referred to as their son instead of their nephew.

“Wm. T. raised a nephew, Glenn.  His father was Charlie, youngest brother of Wm’s and his mother was a niece of Wm’s wife.  They were moving to Mc. from Ill.  Glenn had been staying at the farm, one Sun the folks had been out to the farm when Charlie said to Gma “auntie, keep our boy another week and we’ll be ready for him.”  Gma ans. him that they’d keep Glenn till he came for him.  That night Charlie died very suddenly —so of course never came for him.  Glenn is dearer to me than either of the uncles.  Gpa practically kept Aunt Laura, Nellie and Nuna.  Aunt Laura did sewing and as soon as Nellie was old enough, went to work in the post office.”

Undated letter from Vera Cheney Mitchell

Illinois Cheneys

Cheney siblings – 1880

While four of the Cheney siblings had moved to Kansas, most of the eight others remained around Greenwood Township in Christian County, Illinois.

When Shadrach Cheney died in 1866, his wife Mary continued to live on the Cheney farm in Christian County, Illinois. She was still living there in 1880 at age 73. Her granddaughter Jessie Simpson was living with her and was teaching school.

Mary would continue living on the Cheney farm until she died in 1895 at the age of 91.

James Cheney, eldest son of Shadrach and Mary Cheney, was living on the northwest quarter of the Cheney farm, as he had since 1866. James and his wife Elizabeth had eleven children.

Wesley Simpson was still living on the farm east of the Cheney place, as he had been since 1866. His wife Sarah Cheney had died in 1873 and Wesley had married Sarah’s niece Martha Cheney. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Cheney, noted above.

Asa Cheney and family had a farm northeast of the Cheney home place. Asa died in 1872.

Matilda Cheney married Peter Brown, and they farmed northwest of the Cheney home place.

Benjamin Cheney and family had a nearby farm. Benjamin died in 1879.

Timeline

Sources:

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