Missouri Ann Lavender

Photos above courtesy of lorileisiemens via Ancestry.com

Photo courtesy of John Nance

Missouri "Sue" Ann Lavender was born March 25, 1873 or 1874 in Missouri. She married George Baker Croley on Dec 9,1891 in Jasper County, Missouri. They had ten children:

1. Effie Mae Croley, b. ~1893 in Missouri

2. Harry Robert Croley, b. January 29, 1895 in Nevada, Vernon, Missouri.

3. Dottie Angus Croley, b. ~1900 in Kansas

4. Arley Francis Croley, b. 1903

5. Infant (Boy) Croley, b. 1905

6. Kenneth Croley, b. 1907

6. Creta Christina Croley, b. Jul 20, 1907 in Missouri

8. Wendell Joseph Croley, b. Jul 12, 1914 in Missouri, d. Aug 14, 1983 in Lake, California

9. Hazel Margaret Croley

10. Chester L. Croley, b. ~1911 in Missouri

Missouri died on June 12, 1953 in Alameda, California. She is buried with her husband in Evergreen Cemetery in Alameda.

Marriage Certificate

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMRB-1QR : accessed 25 June 2012), Missouri Croley in household of George Croley, ED 6 Elm Townhip La Harpe city, Allen, Kansas, United States.

1910 Vernon County, Missouri Census

1920 Vernon County, Missouri Census

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M88V-QZM : accessed 25 June 2012), Missouri A Croley in household of George B Croley, , Vernon, Missouri.

1930 Jasper County, Missouri Census

Source Citation

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHFK-2W3 : accessed 25 June 2012), Missouri Croley in household of George B Croley, Marion, Jasper, Missouri.

Burial:

Evergreen Cemetery

Oakland

Alameda County

California, USA

Plot: Garden of Memory

Created by: B J

Record added: Jul 18, 2014

Find A Grave Memorial# 132980703

California Death Index:

Source Citation

"California, Death Index, 1940-1997," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VP2G-DN3 : accessed 25 June 2012), Missouri Croley, 1953.

The following is a theory regarding Missouri's parentage. I have yet to substantiate these ideas, so when using the following information, for the time being please view it as suspect and not fact.

I believe that Missouri is the daughter of Jesse Angleton (her stepfather) and Amanda Lavender since the death index lists her parents as Angleton and Lavender. I need to find record of them living together before I can verify this theory. The following is information I've gathered on this couple.

Photo of Amanda Lavender and Jessie Angleton with the following note by lorileisiemens on Jan 9, 2014 via Ancestry.com with the following note: "I do not know Amanda Lavender's maiden name. I believe her first husband's last name was Lavender. From stories my mother has told me, Amanda's first husband was half-Indian and was a scout for the troops or for settlers. I'm told he was killed on one of those scouting events by Indians, but cannot find any facts to support this information."

This fits with the information provided from John Nance: He sent me an email stating that Missouri was full-blooded Cherokee. While the evidence does not support her being full-blooded Native American, there is usually a bit of truth to some family stories, and two separate family myths support her having some Native American blood.

Information for Amanda (Missouri's mother):

Robert R. Lavenger m. Manda M. Smith on October 6, 1872 in Ozark, Missouri.

There was a Robert Lavender (b. 1853, age 7, white, born in Virginia) in the 1860 Federal Census for Truxton, Lincoln, Missouri living with Robert Smith (age 30), Elsa Smith (age 21), Felix Smith (age 2), and Phillip Nichols (age 19). If this is Missouri's father, he would have been 19 at the time he married Amanda Smith. The question is whether the family this Robert Smith was living with was in some way connected to Amanda Smith's family.

Robert either died or abandoned the family around 1875-1876 as Amanda is married to her second husband James Copehart on June 2, 1876 in Ozark, Missouri.

Amande M. Smith appears in the 1870 Census for Bridges, Ozark, Missouri. 17 years old at the time (born about 1853). Family Members are GW Smith age 54, Marry(Looks like Nancy) Smith age 53, Amande M Smith age 17, Mortis R Smith age 13, Harrison Smith age 12, and Vicia J Smith age 6. Source Citation: Year 1870; Place Bridges, Ozark, Missouri; Roll M593 796; page 194B, Image 417174; Famly History Library Film 552295

1860 Census for Ozark Co., Missouri once again shows GW Smith and Manda Smith, age 7 (b. 1853 in Missouri). GW born in Indiana and Nancy born in Kentucky.

1850 Census for Ozark Co., Missouri. GW Smith is seen here as "George W Smith." Birthplace Indiana. I believe this is the same GW Smith that might be Amanda's father. Mother Nancy is born in Kentucky here, as well. Mary and Patrick are born in Indiana and all other children were born in Missouri.

Source Citation

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 45, Ozark, Missouri; Roll: M432_409; Page: 5A; Image: 15

George Washington Smith

Amanda Lavender m. James Copehart on June 2, 1876 in Ozark, Missouri.

Amanda Lavender m. Jesse Angleton in 14 May 1880 in Webster, Missouri. Source: Missouri, US Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900. They had a child: Nettie Angleton, who married Steven Jones on 20 Jun 1912 in White County, Indiana.

Amanda Angleton died January 3, 1899 from stomach cancer.