Virginia Maud Prater

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Virginia married Nelson Thomas Richards 04 Dec 1937, Las Vegas, Nevada. Nelson (son of Thomas Richards and Carolyn Hambley) was born 31 Oct 1901, Amador City, Amador, Ca; died 02 May 1981, Merced, Ca. [Group Sheet]

1. Gayle Nelson Richards
2. Carolyn Richards

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Walter married Grace Lee Dennis 07 Sep 1910, Of, Stockton, San Joaquin, California. Grace (daughter of Mr Dennis and Mrs Dennis) was born Jan 1880, Shelbyville, Ca; died 13 Feb 1920, Escalon, Sj, Ca; was buried 13 Feb 1920, Evergreen Mem, Merced, Ca. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!The Dennis Family by Fanchon Leeker Altnow
This is a story as it was told to me by my mother and to her before by Bill Dennis and the Leekers.
The Dennis family came from Missouri.It was a rather large family with several boys. In the same town another family lived with a daughter. One of the Dennis boys and the daughter of the other family fell in love and wished to marry,but her fam ily objected ( I don't know why).So the young couple decided to marry anyway and move to California.They came to Merced. All of this happened a pretty long time ago in the 1800's. They had two little daughters---Maude and Grace. And then the youn g husband and father took to drinking. His wife was devastated
and did not want her family in Missouri to know. She had a good friend in town,though,a lady by the name of
Elizabeth Leeker who was her mother's age and treated her as a daughter. In Fact,both Elizabeth and Henry Leeker were very fond of her. Their own daughter had died of diphtheria.
Another brother ,still living in Missouri,decided to come to Merced to visit. His name was William,"Bill",Dennis.
Bill Dennis had not been visiting for long when he realized that his brother was drinking heavily and neglecting his family.
I don't know the details,but Bill Dennis "kicked his brother out",I was told and married his sister-in-law. They were happy. Bill Dennis helped Raise the two little girls and loved them as his own. Bill Dennis bought a ranch in Merced and becam e prosperous.
The two girls grew up and Grace married Walter Prater and Maude married John Saunders. Unfortunately,both girls died young,but before her death,Grace gave birth to a little girl,Virginia Prater. Bill Dennis was very fond of both of his sons-in- laws and kept his ties with them throughout his life.
At some point,Mrs Dennis died also,and Bill Dennis dearly loved his little grandaughter,Virginia. She called him "Grandpa Bill". John Saunders had no children from his first marriage to Maude,but he,in due course,married a very nice girl from Sa n Francisco,I believe,and they had a long and happy life together and had two children,Frances and Jack. Frances lives in Merced now and Jack in Australia.
Vtrginia grew up and married Nelson Richards. They had a long and happy marriage and two children,Gayle and Carolyn. Gayle lives at Rancho Murietta and Carolyn lives in Upland,Ca.
Note: Henry and Elizabeth Leeker were my great grandparents.

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• Reference Number: 8
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Grt Reg S J Co.gives Moses Jay Prater age 21 b.Mo.laborer,27 aug 1875.He is
listed under Joseph Marven's #3446.The 1880 census has him living with the
Marvens and give his age as 26.Makes him b.1854.

!Grt Reg S J Co.gives Moses Jay Prater age 21 b.Mo.laborer,27 aug 1875.He is listed under Joseph Marven's #3446.The 1880 census has him living with the Marvens and give his age as 26.Makes him b.1854.

Moses married Laura Ellen Marven 20 Aug 1882, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., Ca.. Laura (daughter of Joseph Marven, Marvin and Emmaline Garwood) was born 14 Jan 1862, Stockton, Sj, Ca; died 06 May 1928, Escalon, Sj, Ca; was buried 06 May 1928, Five Corners, Stockton, Sj, Ca. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 9
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!name meaning,Marvin (Eng)r.s.Meri-Finn (O.G.) Finnish man from the sea.

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Mr — Mrs Dennis. Mrs was born , Mo. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Reference Number: 16
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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!LDS Film says He m.Emeline Taylor in MO.Film # 1036313 Item 5.GRS-CD-5 has
this m.Greene Co. MO.also has m.to Mary Lain[sp] 25 Dec 1858.Polk Co.MO.No
record of m.to Nancy Henson.

*Jeremiah lived in Mo. during the Civil War and during hard times when
Mo. "red legs" were stealing and killing. Jeremiah was one of the unluckey
farmers who watched his home being burned and livestock stolen by such men.
They even stole the coat he was wareing.He lost everything during the Civil
War.
He moved to Mo. from Tn. by Oxcart between 1840 and 1850.

!LDS Film says He m.Emeline Taylor in MO.Film # 1036313 Item 5.GRS-CD-5 has this m.Greene Co. MO.also has m.to Mary Lain[sp] 25 Dec 1858.Polk Co.MO.No record of m.to Nancy Henson.

Jeremiah married Nancy J Henson 1854, ,Polk, Mo. Nancy (daughter of John G. Henson and Mary Cottrell, Polly) was born 20 Jan 1834, of Knoxville, Knox, Tn; died 06 Sep 1855, Redtop, Polk, Mo; was buried , Glover Cem, Polk, Mo. [Group Sheet]

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• Ancestral File Number: 1L9T-FZV
• Reference Number: 17
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Her family information was received from John Porter Henson III,1105 Plymouth
Rd.Niles,MI 49120-Ph 616-684-6898.He has her b. 1839.This would make her 14
years old when Moses Jay was b. This is in line with what we were told by our
MO relatives.She was brought home to take care of Jeremiah's kids after he had
shot his second wife.She d.abt three weeks after giving birth to Moses Jay.I
have been able to find the record of Jeremiah's second and fourth m.but not of
Nancy's.She is buried next to Jeremiah and the family acknowledges that she was
m.
I have since found more information on Nancy,I found a census record where she came to MO.with
her brother John C.and is listed as his oldest child (only 9 years difference in their ages).I also found
her death date and where she is buried,6 Sep 1855.This changes the family story,she was 21 when
she died not 15,and she died 9 months after Moses Jay was born,not 3 weeks.

!Her family information was received from John Porter Henson III,1105 Plymouth Rd.Niles,MI 49120-Ph 616-684-6898.He has her b. 1839.This would make her 14 years old when Moses Jay was b. This is in line with what we were told by our MO relatives.S he was brought home to take care of Jeremiah's kids after he had shot his second wife.She d.abt three weeks after giving birth to Moses Jay.I have been able to find the record of Jeremiah's second and fourth m.but not of Nancy's.She is buried nex t to Jeremiah and the family acknowledges that she was m.

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• Reference Number: 18
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Joseph came across the plains with Kit Carson as a guide. Emaline was in that wagon train also. They came behind the Donner party, but Kit Carson, being more experienced as a quide, decided to go to California through what is now Kit Carson Pas s to the Escalon area and to spend the winter there and then go on to Oregon. They liked it so well there, they stayed in Escalon. Joseph and Emaline were married in California.His marriage license gives Ohio as birth place.(S.J.marr,rec.1854-18 62).Probate filing 6 Dec.1898.#2604-Book E-S.J.Co. Grt.Reg.S.J.#3636 Gives Joseph Marvin age 41,b.Ohio,farmer,Kerrick precinct,21 Mar 1879.Also gives Joseph Marven,age 32 yr. b.Ill,farmer,Dent Twp.6 sep 1866.#3446.This Kit Carson story doesn't hol d up,they were nearly 10 years behind the Donner party.Another family story tells of comming up the valley from Tulare Lake area and having the Valley Elk driving along with there cattle.This way into the state makes more sense if you are lat e in the fall. Carson Pass is worse than Donner.

Joseph married Emmaline Garwood 10 Oct 1858, Stockton, San Joaquin, California. Emmaline (daughter of Samuel Garwood and Eliza) was born 12 Dec 1838, ,Rhea Co., Tn; died 17 Oct 1904, Stockton, San Joaquin, Ca; was buried 17 Oct 1904, Five Corners, Stockton, San Joaquin, Ca. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 19
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

We are unsure of the birth place of Emaline. It could have been Memphis, Nashville, Tenn; or in Kentucky.