The Descendants of James Winton Rhudy

James Winton Rhudy and Mary Jane Shepherd had five children. The following memories are about their oldest daughter, Lottie Melissa Rhudy, and was written by Lottie Melissa's granddaughter, Donna Louise Hamilton.

Lottie Melissa Rhudy Brown

My maternal grandmother, Lottie Melissa Rhudy Brown lived with my family in California for a few years while I was in High School (1968-1971). I enjoyed listening to her stories about her family growing up. There was one story about being attacked by Indians while they traveled by covered wagon. I'm not sure when/where this happened, but it was a vivid memory of hers, so it probably did happen. She also had a brother, Basil, who was kicked in the head by a horse. They lived way out in the country and no doctor was available, so that was that. He "wasn't right" after that. Lottie also taught me to embroider pillowcases, and warned me that I should never sew on Sunday, or I'd have to "take it out with my nose!" Embroidery and sewing are now hobbies, but in Lottie's day, sewing was "work," and Sunday was to be a day of rest![1]

Lottie Melissa with Donna Hamilton

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[1] Donna Johnson, [private] to Julie Stoddard, e-mail, 5 November 2014, “Lottie Melissa Rhudy Brown.”

The Grandparents and Great-Grandparents of James Winton Rhudy

Grayson County, Virginia

In the book, Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia, by Benjamin Floyd Nuckolls, he talks about the grandparents and great-grandparents of James Winton Rhudy. He explains that William Cornett Senior and Jennie Sutherland and their children settled on Elk Creek in Grayson County, Virginia. "William Cornett, in the early days, built a mill for grinding grain, also a saw mill, and a carding machine for carding wool. These mills were on the banks of Elk Creek, and were used by the settlers for many miles around."[1]

Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia

The Pedigree of James Winton Rhudy

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[1] Nuckolls, Benjamin Floyd, Pioneer settlers of Grayson County, Virginia. (Bristol, Tennessee: King Print. Co., 1914), page 166; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?id=xkkSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=pioneer+settlers&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dox7T7fQIZLW2wXskICaAw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=pioneer%20settlers&f=false : accessed 16 February 2012).

The Death of Stephen Floyd Rhudy and Thursa Ann Cornett Rhudy

After performing multiple searches for a death certificate for Thursa Ann with no results, I then began searching cemetery records and obituaries. I finally placed a request for a death record lookup for DeKalb, Missouri through USGenWeb. I received the following transcription of an obituary for Thursa Ann Cornett Rhudy:

“Rhudy, Mrs Thursey A(nee Cornett) died 12 Jun 1909.  She was born in Grason County, VA, 25 Sep 1838.  She grew to womanhood in VA.  She married Floyd Rhudy 22 May 1862.  To this union were born –

Mrs Etta Bourn of Paradise, Kansas; Winton Rhudy of Elk Creek, Virginia; Thomas Rhudy of Fargo, Oklahoma; Mrs Sina Asberry & Fillow Rhudy & Callie Perkins of King City, Missouri; & Leander, who died in infancy. 

Burial at Winslow Cemetery.”[1]

Stephen Floyd Rhudy died on 20 February 1910 and the image of his death certificate is shown here along with an abstract of the key information.[2]

Death Date: 20 Feb, 1910

Place of Death: Polk, DeKalb, MO

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

Place of Burial: Winslowe, MO

Date of Burial: 21 Feb, 1910

Length of Residence: 12 years

Widower

Date of Birth: 11 Dec, 1841

Birthplace: Virginia

Name of Father: William Rhudy

Birthplace of Father: Virginia

Maiden Name of Mother: Charlotte Cornett

Birthplace of Mother: Virginia

Informant: Tallow Rhudy

Address King City, MO

The Death Certificate for Stephen Floyd Rhudy - 1910

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[1] Tricia Jones to Julie Stoddard, e-mail, 30 March 2012, "DeKalb County Missouri Deaths from Area Newspapers 1907-1910, published by the Northwest Missouri Genealogical Society” for Thursa Ann Cornett Rhudy

[2] Missouri State Archives. “Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1961”, www.sos.mo.gov, (http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/#searchdeat : accessed 17 March 2012), entry for Stephen Floyd Rhudy, file number 1323.

James Winton Rhudy in the Census with his Parents

The 1870 U.S. Census for Elk Creek, Grayson, Virginia was taken on 14 July 1870. Floyd S. Rhudy, age 28, was born in Virginia; Theresa, age 31, was also born in Virginia. The other three individuals listed on the census for that household were Mary Rhudy, age 6; James Rhudy, age 4; and Wm E. Rhudy, age 1. Below Floyd S. Rhudy on the Census is James W. Rhudy, age 26. It is possible that this is Stephen Floyd’s brother, James Washington Rhudy, who was born in 1844.[1]

Beginning with the 1880 census, additional information was recorded, including the relationship of the individual to the head of household, the birthplace of parents, and whether or not the individual attended school that year. For this census page, you will notice that the census taker chose to record most of the names by just using their initials, but the initials match up with each of the children we have listed so we can be sure we have the correct household. Both Stephen and Thursa’s parents were born in Virginia. Seven children are listed, including “J.W.,” who attended school during the year.[2]

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1870 U.S. Census 

[1] 1870 United States Federal Census, Elk Creek, Grayson, Virginia, Page: 159A, Dwelling 356, Family 356, Floyd S. Rhudy; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com :  accessed 13 January 2012); from National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 1649.

1880 U.S. Census

[2] 1880 United States Federal Census, Elk Creek, Grayson,Virginia, Population Schedule,Enumeration District [ED] 35; Page: 328A, dwelling 40, family 40, S.F. Rhudy; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 January 2012); from National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 1368.

The Birth of James Winton Rhudy

Finding a birth record for someone in 1866 is considered lucky, even in Virginia. The earliest birth records in Virginia were in 1853, but statewide registration didn't start until 1912. This birth record is from  Grayson County where the commissioner of the revenue registered the births and then turned over his books to the clerk of the County Court. The entry for James Winton Rhudy shows "Ja W RHUDY was born May 10, 1866 to S.F. & Thursy RHUDY in Grayson Co.,Virginia."[1]

The Birth Entry for James Winton Rhudy, 10 May 1866

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[1] Virginia. Bureau of Vital Statistics. “Birth records (Virginia), 1853-1896”. FHL microfilm 2,046,939, p. 93. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Parents of James Winton Rhudy

James Rhudy's parents were Stephen Floyd Rhudy and Thursa Ann Cornett who were first cousins, as shown in the pedigree chart below. Their marriage record shows they were married in Grayson County, Virginia, where James was born. They were married 22 May 1862; both were age 21 and were born and living in Grayson County.  Stephen was a farmer and single and Thursa was widowed.  Stephen’s parents are William J. & Charlot Rhudy and Thursa’s parents are Eli & Lena Cornett. [1]

The Pedigree of James Winton Rhudy

The Marriage of Stephen F. and Thursa Ann Rhudy

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[1]  “Marriage registers, 1793-1906; general indexes to marriage registers, 1793-
1974.” FHL microfilm 31758. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

James Winton Rhudy Married Mary Jane Shepherd

James Winton Rhudy and Mary Jane Shepherd were both 25 years old when they were married on 4 September 1890 in Maysville, DeKalb, Missouri.[1] Notice in the marriage license he listed his name as Wint Rhudy and he was living in King City, Gentry, Missouri. Mary Jane listed her residence as Maysville, DeKalb, Missouri. Even though they lived in different counties, they only lived about 20 miles apart.

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[1] Missouri State Archives, “Missouri MarriageRecords, 1805-2002,” database, Ancestry.com.(http://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed  8 March 2012), entry for James Winton Rhudy [record #550, book F-76].