Dorothy, I believe the chances of your Kewley line and mine being connected are probably pretty good.
I descend from James Eli Kewley, born 25 Dec 1826 Douglas, IOM, married 1851 Kirk, Parish of Marown, IOM to Beulah Ann McClure. James and his new bride, Beulah came to the United States ca 1851/52, in the first year of marriage. They settled in Bureau County, Illinois.
Here is the obit of James Kewley, along with various notes on him and his family. I hope to hear from you.
Mr. James Kewley
Mr. James Kewley was born at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, Dec 25, 1826, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Myers, of Volga City, Iowa, November 15, 1913, at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 20 days.
Mr. Kewley grew to young manhood in his native land and in 1851 he was married to Miss Beulah Ann McClure, and after their first year of wedded life, they came to America in 1852, and settled in Illinois, where they lived for a number of years and in 1881 they moved to Iowa. To their married life were born five children, four daughters and one son.
In 1871 his wife died and her mortal remains were laid to rest in Illinois.
In 1873 he was united again in marriage to Emily Self. No children were born to this union, but after 29 years of happy wedded life he was agin bereft of his companion, who died August 20th, 1902. Since then he made his home principally with his daughter of this city.
Mr. Kewley was a religious man of christian character. From his birth until he left his native country he was a member of the Episcopalian church. On coming to this country he united with the Methodist Episcoopal church of Princeton, Illinois, where his membership has remained. he was a man quiet and unassuming in his temperment, but kind, true and hoenst in all of his relations as husband, father, and neighbor. A man highly respected by all who knew him, and a good citizen.
but his days have been numbered. His labors are ended and he has been called by the great Judge of all men to his reward. Peace to his memory.
He leaves to morne their loss, one son, Eli Kewley, of Bonesteel, S.D.; three daughters, Orpha Russel of Burlington, Iowa; Hattie Dennison, of Rock Falls, Illinois; Ruth Myers of Volga City, Iowa; and twenty-two grandchildren.
He rests from his labors and his works do follow him.
The funeral service was held in the M.E. church on Monday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. Walter Piper, pastor of the M.E. church. His mortal remains were laid away to rest in the beautiful cemetery on the hill of Volga City.
James Kewley
The Kewley family originated in Douglas, Parish of Kirk Marown, Isle of Man. Parents of James Kewley are not certain, but could have been James Kewley and Isabella (QUIRK) Kewley.
James Kewley married Beulah Ann McClure. Her parents were William Thomas McClure and Ann (Kermode) McClure. William McClure was born 19 March 1801 at Douglas, Kirk Marown, Isle of Man. Some of the children born to William and Ann McClure were:
Betsy McClure b 7 Jan/Feb 1823
Ann McClure b 6 Nov 1825
James McClure b 5 June 1828
Jane McClure b 13 Feb 1831
Robina McClure 7 July 1833.
The above Ann McClure was used as short for Beulah Ann McClure.
James Kewley and Beulah Ann (McClure) Kewley were both born, raised and married in Douglas, Kirk Marown, Isle of Man. They were married in 1851 and later in 1852 came to America, settling in Illinois, Bureau County, Fairfield Township. Found: Kewley, Jas. Section 7; rents 40 acres: Dem; Meth; from Isle of Man. Inserted is a map showing the location of 40 acres occupied by James Kewley in Fairfield Township.
James Kewley was born 25 December 1826 at the Isle of Man. he died 15 November 1813 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John (Ruth Kewley) Myers at Volga City, Iowa, Clayton County, Sperry Township. He was buried in Hill Crest Cemetery, Volga City, Iowa, Clayton County, Sperry Township.
Beulah Ann (McClure) Kewley was born 6 November 1825 or 1 Nov 1824 at the Isle of Man. Beulah Ann died 9 October 1871, at an early age of 47 years. She is buried in a well kept cemetery north of New Bedford, Illinois, Greenville Township. Her Lot is #51 E. division in the Greenville Fairfield Cemetery, also called Whittington Cemetery.
Beulah's father, William and her brother James' wife, Rosa (Dunbar) are also buried there.
James married secondly to Mrs. Emily (Hunt) Self on 8 May, 1873, Bureau County, Princeton, Illinois. Emily was born 2 December 1836; died 20 August 1902; buried in Hill Crest Cemetery, Volga City, Iowa. She died near Osborne, Iowa at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Peake.
1910 census - James Kewley living in Volga City -- day laborer.
The following children were born to James and Beulah Ann (McClure) Kewley:
1. Ruth Kewley b 6 Dec 1853
2. Orpah Kewley b 10 Nov 1858
3. Eli Kewley b 13 Apr 1860
4. Elizabeth Ann b 28 Feb 1862
5. Hattie Jane b 10 Aug 1865
Ruth Kewley, born 6 Dec 1853 was married to John Myers of Bureau County, the 15 June 1873, by N.S. Bastian, J.P. Bureau County, Illinois, Fairfield Township. John and Ruth (Kewley) Myers lived here until in the year 1884, they moved to Volga City, Iowa, Clayton County, Sperry Township.
They were found living in Rock Falls, Illinois in the 1880 State Census. Ruth Myers died 2 May 1920 at Volga City, Iowa. She and her husband, John Myers, who died 21 Apr 1929 at Volga City, Iowa are both buried in the Hill Crest Cemetery, Volga City, Clayton County, Iowa.
They had the following Myers children: (first 4 all born on the farm located South of Tampico, Illinois near Rock Falls and Tampico, Illinois.
1. Bert Myers b 3 Aug 1874
2. Peter Myers b 5 Jan 1878
3. Elizabeth Myers b 30 July 1880
4. Eli Myers b 13/15 October 1884
5. James C. Myers b 22 April 1886 (children 5 through 7 born Volga City, Iowa)
6. Jessie Myers b 24 August 1888
7. Clifton Myers b 29 May 1891
Jessie Myers m Myrl Page. Children were LeRoy, Ruth, Sidney and Warren
LeRoy Page m Bertha Burlingham. Children were: Brenda Ann (Page) Hare.
Orpha Kewley, born 10 November 1858, married Cornelius Welker/Walker Russell 31 May 1877 by Harlan Case, Clergyman, at Brimfield, Illinois, Peoria County, Illinois. Orpha used her middle name, Emma, on her marriage license. Orpha died in West Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California on 9 September 1950. The informant was a daughter, Mrs. Roy Miller. Orpha had lived in California 25 years. Her remains were cremated and returned to Burlington and her cremains were buried in the Aspen Grove Cemetery as is her husband, and two daughters. Aspen Grove Cemetery is located in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa.
Cornelius Russell was born in Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois in 1856 and died 22 December 1822 at Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. C.W. Russell invented and perfected a process for sewage disposal and organized the company named Russell Sewage Disposal Company.
They had three children: Myrtle (Russell) Cartwright 1876-1958; and Lucille A. (Russell) Miller 2 Feb 1891-2 Nov 1956; with their families, buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa.
Elizabeth Ann Kewley was born 28 Feb 1862 or 1 march, 1864. She was born in Bureau County, Illinois and died in Morrison, Illinois 23 March 1907. She was buried in the Tampico Cemetery, Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois. At age 17, she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Kimball of Tampico, Illinois. She was a devoted Methodist, choir member, and a member of the Eastern Star. Elizabeth married William Clarence Stilson 2 April, 1889 at Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois. William C. Stilson was from Sunderland, Vermont born in 1864. At the time of their marriage, WIlliam was a teacher in Tampico, Illinois. Later they moved to Morrison where he was a banker. William died in 1937 and was buried beside Elizabeth in the
Tampico Cemetery. They had the following children: Names of living children on estate settlement:
1. Marion Viola (Stilson) Kehr - b 7 Feb 1890 at Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois married Carl Kehr 21 May 1913; Marion died 2 September 1978, Orange County, California.
2. Lawrence (twin) Stilson - 1894-1894; buried beside parents - Tampico Cemetery, Illinois
3. Clarence (twin) Stilson - 1894-1895; buried beside parents.
4. May Orpha Stilson - b 17 Jan 1896, Tampico, Whiteside County, Illinois
5. Martha Stilson.
William Clarence Stilson was married a second time to Susan Ann Carlton on 16 September 1908. They had a daughter Alice Carlton Stilton born 15 June 1910.
Harriet Jane Kewley was born 10 August 1865 at Bureau County, Illinois. In the 1880 census of Illinois, Hattie Kewley was living in the Tampico home of J.Q. and Jane Wylie. She was 14 years of age. Hattie Kewley married Hubert Denison on the 28 November 1889 at Tampico, Illinois. They lived in Tampico, and at the time of her death, she was living in Rock Falls, Illinois. She died 15 November 1946 and is buried beside her husband, Hubert Denison, in the Tampico Cemetery, Whiteside County, Illinois. She has no stone. Hubert was born 24 February 1865 in Prophetstown, Whiteside County, Illinois. He was a butter maker teamster and butcher. His parents were William and Amanda (Wheelock) Denison. Hubert died 6 August 1907 and is buried in the Tampico Cemetery, Tampico, Illinois. They had the following children:
1. Namoi (Denison) Stultz - she lived in Dixon, Illinois; d 11 October 1957; m Frank Stultz; d 1951. Children of Frank and Naomi Stultz:
1. Hubert Stultz b 25 Jan 1916; m Phyllis Carson b 26 Jun 1916; d 27 Dec 1996. No children. burial Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon, Illinois
2. Lucile (Stultz) Gebhardt m. Sidney Gebhardt - both deceased.
Children of Lucile and Side Gebhardt:
1. Hubert 2. Barbara 3. Larry 4. Jeanine
3. Mable (Stultz) James - b 30 Oct 1921 m Miley James living in Leesburg, Florida
4. Frances (Stultz) Van Oosten b 12 March 1925 m. Paul Van Oosten living in Sterling, Illinois
5. Frank Stultz, Jr. b 5 July 1927 wife Pat, Carson City, Nevada
Children of Frank, Jr. and Pat Stultz:
1. David 2. Diane
2. Paul Eugene Denison - born 30 July 1898 at Tampico, Illinois. He died 30 December 1952 at the Dixon Public Hospital. He was buried in the Tampico Cemetery by his father, Hubert Denison.
3. Beulah Virginia (Denison) Minson - b 21 July 1905 at Rock Falls, Illinois; d 12 July 1974 Rock Falls, Illinois; m Berl Minson
4. Clyde Denison - buried in Colorado Springs, Colorado; m Helen Stultz; d 16 April 1976.
Children of Clyde and Helen (Stultz) Denison:
1. Lydia Denison b 8 Apr 1916 - living in a nursing home
2. Maratha (Denison) Gilchrist) - Redondo Beach, CA
3. William Denison b 26 Dec 1921; d Jan 1991; wife Ruth, lives in Muscatine, Iowa
4. Paul Denison b 26 Dec 1923; d 1991; wife, Betty lives in Carson City, Nevada
Children of Paul and Betty are: 1. Penny 2. Gene
Eli Kewley was the third child of James Kewley and Beulah Ann (McClure) Kewley. Eli was born 13 April 1860 in Fairfield Township, Bureau County, Illinois. In an 1880 census, Eli was listed as 19 years old, and a farm laborer, living with the R.J. Day family near Tampico, Illinois. A marriage license for Eli and Sarah Barnes has not been located at this time. A birth certificate shows that Eli Kewley and Sarah (Barnes) Kewley became the parents of a daughter, Esther Violet Kewley, born 18 March 1884 at Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois. Eli's age was 23 and Sarah's age was 16. His occupation was laborer. NO trace of Esther Violet Kewley has been found in marriges and/or death at this time. No divorce for Eli and Sarah was dicovered, either. Eli was living in Volga City, Clayton County, Iowa, in December 1884, the same year that Esther was born. In "A History of Volga City, Iowa" quoted Eli Kewley witnessed the accidental shooting of Alonzo Sherman in George Arnold's restaurant in Volga City, Iowa, 7 December 1884. Census 1885, Sperry Township, Volga, Eli living with James and Emily on a farm.
Taken from a book, "History of Whiteside County" quote: "After the death of her husband, Eli Kewley, Sarah married Frank Burke, and had 5 more children." But Eli Kewley had not died. He was venturing on to Western Iowa and South Dakota.
A 1920 census - Town of Rock Valley, Sioux County, Iowa, showed a Sarah (Wilson) Kessler Kewley, divorced, with all of Eli's and her children living there, except Pearl, the eldest child.
A marriage license for Eli Kewley and Sarah (Wilson) Kessler was found in Canton, South Dakota, 6 March 1897. Sarah was signed Mrs. Sarah Kessler, since she had married John Kessler on 15 December 1889. Sarah was born 20 October 1869 at Glenwood, Iowa. She died 29 September 1956 at Whitten, SD and buried at Winner, South Dakota. Her parents were Ira S. and Margaret E. Wilson.
Information on dates for Eli and Sarah Kessler Kewley's children came from two granddaughters of Eli: Delores (Kewley) Conley and Mrs. June (Kewley) Phillis Talkington - RR #1, Box 17, Matfield Green, Kansas 66862.
These girls said their grandfather, Eli Kewley, died 15 Jan 1935 at Kennebec, SD and was buried 18 Jan 1935 in the Kennebec Cemetery, Kennebec, SD. At the time of his death, he was staying in the basement of the court house when he became ill.
This is no doubt the way of life that Eli wanted - alone and with no responsibilities.
**Note: Death certificate states that Eli died in Oacoma, SD, not Kennebec, however the court house was located at Oacoma at one time, so that must have been that court house that he was living in at the time of his death. He was buried in the Kennebec Cemetery and has a nice stone. No other relatives are buried there, but he owns 3 grave spaces there, not used.
Taken from "Taxpayers and Voters"
Bureau County; Greenville Township
1877 Ed.
This book found in the Public Library at Princeton, Illinois.
Kewley, Jas. Section 7, farmer, rents 40 Acres
Dem., Meth.; from Isle of Man.
Kewley, James, Sec. 8, P.O. New Bedford;
brickmaker, Rep.; Ind.; born Isle of Man
Sec. 16 - Farmer & stock raiser - Isle of Man
Settled in County in 1855 Fairfield Township.