This is a picture of Great-Grandma Myrtle Mae Kinzer Thomas' cousin. It was sent to me by Wendel Melrose, a descendant of Ella.
People who are just getting interested in genealogy often ask me how to find out about their family. The best way I know is to put what you know about your family out on the net and wait. Someone will find you and share what they know with you. That is how this photo and the following bio came to me, with very little effort on my part. Thanks, Wendell.
Biography on William Gregory written in the 1890 Jefferson County, Iowa
Portrait and Biographical Album.
On the 8th of October, 1865, Mr. Gregory was united in marriage with Massa Greeson,
a daughter of Henry and Charity Kinzer. Her father was a native of Virginia, and their marriage was celebrated in Hendricks Co., Indiana, in 1832. They removed to Iowa in 1847, locating in Keokuk County, where Mrs Kinzer died the following year (1848). but her husband is still living in that community. Their family numbered eight children: Benjamin, John and Susan are deceased; Hezekiah is living in Colorado; Massie, now Mrs. Gregory, is the next younger; Adam resides in Hardin County, Iowa; Jacob is now deceased; William, who completes the family, is living on the old homestead.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have been born three daughters: Ada “Addie” May, who is now the wife of Milton Hadley, a farmer of Keokuk County, Iowa; Vena Eldora “Dora”, wife of Oscar Hobson of Nebraska; and Mary Emma, at home..
The bio goes on to say that William gave each of his daughters eighty acres of land, part of his five hundred and ninety acres of land that he owned. William's first wife, Mary E. Jenkins, a native of North Carolina. born in March 1839, had died on December 30, 1864. leaving two children, Mandy J. , born on March 19,1860. now the wife of Joseph Patrick, and Sarah E., born on January 8, 1862, married to Joseph Kaufman.
William's parents relocated from North Carolina to Morgan County, Indiana, in 1838. where the remainder of their lives were spent. William was bound out at the age of 10 years to George Greeson, who removed to Keokuk Co., when William was 13 years old. Mr. Gregory remained with Mr. Greeson until he had attained his majority. .
Massa's first marriage was to John S. Greeson on 3 Sept 1860. Jefferson County , Iowa Marriages.
Milton B. Hadley, son of Joshua and Lydia (Hobson) Hadley, was born 30 June 1864, at Richland, Iowa. He married , 11 March 1883, Ada May Gregory, b. 27 Oct. 1866, she died Sept 1940, buried Sunnyside Cemetery, Yakima County, Washington/ daughter of William and Massa ( nee Kinzer ) Gregory. Children:
Frank, born Ottumwa. Iowa, abt. 1885 .
Don, Li Yakima, Washington
Oscar Hobson, age 28, was married on 25 August 1887 to Dora Gregory, 18 yrs of age.
They relocated to Beaver City, Furnes County, Nebraska, in February, 1890.
Two children are listed: Gregory Hobson & George Lee Hobson .
James A. Seaton, age 30, was married on 14 April 1897 to Mary Emma Gregory at Massa & William Gregory’s home in Jefferson County, Iowa. He was a merchant in Richland, Keokuk Co.
The Register of Births lists Ella P. Kinzer, born Oct 1, 1881. female, sixth child born in Jefferson County. Iowa. Mother's maiden name ..Rebecca Long . Father. H. Kinzer
Lola Kinzer was living in Conjos County, Rio Grande Rvr district, Colorado, in the 1900 census.
She was listed as born in Feb., 1879 in Iowa, age 21.
Ella was living in Pagosa Springs in the 1900 census. Ella was listed as born in Nov., 1881, in Iowa. Joe & Ella Melrose married at Pagosa Springs, Colorado, in 1900/01. They named their first child, a girl, Lola, born in 1902. Hugh was born in 1907 at Mancos, Montezuma Co., Colorado.
