Photo of headstone in file of Vernie Etherton.
I found an newspaper article about the automobile accident that killed 16 year old Diane Marjorie Etherton. Her parents are shown as Frank and Margaret Etherton. It was in some news clipping I found in some old family papers. If you are interested in the details please email me. It took place in Jefferson County, Indiana. Sincerely Kelly Sargent
Marriage record found in Jefferson Co IN book B 4 Aug 1880 to Killis A. R. Lee.
Photo of headstone in Napoleon Etherton file.
e-mail from Earl Buchanan to HDE 28 Dec 2003:As for the rest of the siblings, I only knew Vernie, Hannah and John. Hannah wrote often and she lived to well over 100, she lived to see her children die of old age. Vernie was busy on his farm so didn't hear from him. John in his later years moved in with Ida and stayed with her until she came to California to live with my mother. John stayed with Frank until his death. John stayed with us for a while in 1937, that's when I got to know him and like him, he kept asking me to come back to Indiana and he would by a farm and I could run it, and was still saying that in the early 1950's. At that point in life I was not interested in becoming a farmer, but many years later I did have a cattle ranch for 20 years, unfortunately I had a heart attack and had to sell it.
Lucy is identified as the wife of James in many Trimble County land records. No marriage license has been found, and her surname is unknown. She is listed in the census for 1850 and 1860 as wife of James. In the 1870 census, James's wife is listed as Mahala. Mahala is 27, and James is 78.
-HE.Lucy is shown as 58 years old in the 1850 Trimble Co Ky census.
31 Dec 1989:
Letter from Iona White to HE dated 9 Aug 1986 identifies Lucy as previously married to UNGLES. She is looking for information on Ungles. Letter is filed in James Ethington of Trimble Co Ky file. She says she has record of James' marriage to Lucy. I ask for copy in TELCOM 26 Aug 1986.21 Sep 1990:
Found this day the marrage bond of James and Lucy - Oldham county KY (borders on the south of Trimble Co KY. Lucy identified as widow of Hillary Ungles.Dear Mr. Ethington-
I understand from my cousin Ron Lewis that you might have information on
Lucinda Ungles Ethington. I am her descendent from her marriage to Hillery
Ungles. Her daughter Lucy Ungles (same name) married Harvey Redden in 1838
Trimble Co. when Lucy was only 14. James was never young Lucy's guardian-
that was Loving Garrett, who had to give his permission for her to marry.
Fortunately, the Ungles-Redden marriage lasted and they had 8 children.Can you tell me more about Lucinda Ungles Ethington?
Thank you.
Charlotte Redden
In 1871 we find that three of the children of James and Nancy (Roberson) are taken as wards by Nancy Sparks and her husband William Sparks. This couple are the parents of their son-in-law, Stephen Sparks (married to their daughter Mary Elizabeth "Molly" Ethington). The bond is as follows:
Guardian's Bond
The Commonwealth of KentuckyWhereas Nancy Sparks has been appointed by the County Court of Trimble County and qualified as Guardian to [initial not clear] E. Etherington age 11 years, Elizabeth Etherington 8 years, Polly J. Etherington 5 years old,
Now, we Nancy Sparks as principal, and Wm. Sparks his surities, do hereby covenant to and with the Commonwealth of Kentucky that the said Nancy Sparks will faithfully discharge the trust of Guardian to said minor, in all respects as required by law.
Signed this 17th day of October 1871.
Attest J. W. Lee clerk of Trimble County Court
(Signed) Nancy Sparks (mark)
Wm Sparks (mark)
Because of the ages of the children as given in this bond, I think we can match them with the known children of James and Nancy as follows:Per 1871 Bond Per Census
[Initial not clear] E. Etherington, age 11 years Sallie C. Etherington born 1859
Elizabeth Etherington age 8 years Mary Elizabeth Etherington born 1862
Polly J. Etherington age 5 years Polly Etherington born 1864
Mary Elizabeth "Mollie" Etherington later marries the son of William Sparks, Stephen Sparks. Nancy Sparks, noted in the bond above, is the second wife of William Sparks. His first wife, Katherine Tiller, is the mother of Stephen Sparks who married Mary Elizabeth Ethington. It appears that Mary Elizabeth Etherington and her future husband Stephen Sparks, were raised in the same household. Note that Mary and Stephen were married in November 1884. Their first child, Molly, was born in May of 1884.
Information on the marriage of Mary "Polly" J. Ethington comes from FGS submitted by Marguerite Miller to HDE Jan 2001. It will be filed in the file of Mary Polly J. Ethington. Her sources are 1850 census, and 1870 census where Mary Elizabeth and Polly are living with Samuel and Sarah Roberson.
While we were in Sullivan in January we received word of the declining health of Mom’s sister, Lois Whitely. Aunt Lois passed away just a few weeks later, on March 6, 2008.
It had been a few years since the last time I had seen Aunt Lois. I had returned to Sullivan to conduct a funeral. On the way into town I stopped off the grocery store to pick up the most recent copy of the local paper. After purchasing the paper, on my way out of the store I hesitated after passing another check-out station. The woman purchasing her grocery looked so much like my Mother, and I was sure it was Aunt Lois. I waited for her to complete checking out to visit with her, and we had a very pleasant visit.
After returning home I received the most beautiful card with the nicest handwritten note from her. She, too, continues to live in our memories of the days when the family would congregate at Grandpa Ethington’s Allenville farm, or at our home for Thanksgiving and other special occasions.
Now, only three sisters from the Luther and Mercedes Ethington family survive: Irene Parker, Mary Bragg, and Eva Ethington. Although it has been three months, we want to again express our sympathy and prayers to Aunt Lois’ children, Neal Whitely and Donna Bornhoff, and their families as well as to the sisters who deeply miss her.