BLEVINS
My Ezra Dalrymple married a Martha Blevins in Nodaway County in 1866. We've found various Dalrymple information in Nodaway county, but we're at a loss regarding the Blevins'.  I've found land patents taken out in 1953 and 1859 by Daniel and Joseph Blevins' respectively. Do you know where I might scare up some more information on these families? Is there an individual with a copy of the 1860 census willing to do look ups?  Any leads would be most appreciated.  Lois Card   Sun, 06 Sep 1998

From Pat O'Dell: Hi Lois, I don't remember if we touched base about this before or not, but...Daniel Blevins was a son of Vardamon Blevins. They had previously lived in Green co, Ky..where also David and Ruth (Blevins) Workman had lived. Ruth was supposedly an aunt of our Martha Blevins and her twin sister; David and Ruth took the twins to live with them after Catherine Younce Blevins, their mother, died in 1852. I have wondered if the Blevins in Atchison county were the calling-card that brought David and Ruth and our grandmother Martha to Nodaway co, Mo?

In the obituary of Marelda Blevins Harrington, it states: she was born in Green co, Ky 29 Jan 1822; moved to Jackson co, Mo; wed John Harrington in 1842; moved to Atchison county, Mo in 1845; died 28 Dec 1903 Atchison county, Mo. Maryville Republican, Jan 07, 1904.

All of these Blevins from Green co, Ky (and Ashe co, NC before that) seem to be related. Some of them also settled in Buchanan co, Mo and later many of them moved to Guthrie, Okla.

BURNS, AMEN
Christopher and Rachel BURNS (with eight children, including John, Simon Pierce, James, Adam, Silas, and Mary Ann) moved from Muscatine County, Iowa, to "Upper Missouri" about 1843-45, where "Christ. Burns was shot and killed in a gunbattle with someone he was imposing on," according to Josiah P. Walton, an early settler of Muscatine County, Iowa.  I presume that by "Upper Missouri" Walton may have meant Atchison County (or one of its neighboring or parent counties).  I speculate that the gunbattle may have been over a disputed land claim.  Is there any record of land claims registered in Atchison County before 1846?

By 1850, Rachel BURNS was married to James AMEN and living in Holt County, with the last three BURNS children mentioned above.  I believe that Simon Pierce BURNS had gone to Texas, John BURNS had gone to California, and James Burns had gone to Montana and Oregon by 1850.

Were any newspapers published in Atchison County or any of the neighboring counties as early as 1845?  Is there any mention of  Christopher or Rachel BURNS or their children in the newspapers or other early records?  Are there reports of gunbattles over disputed land claims in Atchison County before 1846?  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!    Steve Olsen  Fri, 05 Jun 1998 17:44:46

CASLER
I am very interested in Atchison County. My great-grandparents lived there and both died in the area. Rebecca Warford Casler is buried in Hunter's Cemetery in Rock Port. She died in 1870 at about 28 years of age leaving a young son and husband. Her husband, John H. Casler was killed by a train in Tarkio in 1889 but have not been able to find any record of his death. I was in Rock Port on Labor Day, 1995 and visited the grave of Rebecca. There is a stone for her but none for John. There is room next to her grave where he might have been buried. I was able to purchase a copy of "Gone But Not Forgotten: Directory of the Deceased Atchison County, Missouri," published in 1991 by the ACHS. I also spoke to a person at the court house but she could find nothing on John, only a reference to the above information about Rebecca. I have spoken and visited with Eva Mae Gaylor, not recently. At the time I simply didn't know the best questions to ask so my research did not get beyond the gravesite visit. Could you recommend the best place to trace this family? Another family member, Clinton B. Casler lived in Tarkio for a while. He was the one who informed my grandfather of John's death(I have the telegram). John was Clinton's uncle. John and Rebecca were married in Tipton, Indiana where their only child, William Lincoln Casler was born in 1861. In return for any information I would be most happy to look up requests in the above mentioned cemetery directory--I will anyway! Marilyn Casler Riesbol Santa Maria, California Marilyn Casler Riesbol.

From Pat O'Dell: As soon as I saw the above query, I knew that I had info about it somewhere. Sure enuf...in my Abstracted Newspaper Index of Nodaway County, Missouri, 1867-1900, page 62: John Casler died at Tarkio, 69 yrs old, run over by the cars (meaning railroad cars); an uncle of C.B. Casler. Nodaway Democrat, Jun 12, 1890

GILLASPIE; HUGHS
Looking for any information concerning John R. GILLASPIE, wife unknown but married in Atchison Co., sons Sylvaner and Elijah. Sylvaner married Harriet HUGHS daughter of John HUGHS and Melinda CRAIG. HUGHS family is listed in the 1850 federal census for Atchison county. Harriet was 20 years at this time. By 1854 she was in Nebraska City, Otoe, Nebraska married to Sylvaner. Any information on either of these two families would be greatly appreciated. Would be happy to share any info I have. Nancy Corey tcorey@swnebr.net
Nancy Corey--Fri Nov 28 17:52:43 1997

HARMON; SHIELDS
Nancy Shields age 55 born Ky is on the 1850 census Atchison co with children David age 21 m born Ky and Angeline age 14 born Ky. David married in Atchison co to Rebecca Harmon and never has been heard of again,although he's buried in the Cain cemetery next to Angeline in Nodaway co. He has a military stone that has no dates on it.Angeline married Jefferson Broyles 16 Mar 1856 in Atchison co..lived and died in Nodaway co. Is this Nancy Shields the same person who was on the 1840 census of Montgomery co, Il.and what happened to her or to David?   Pat O'Dell   Thu, 10 Sep 1998

From Pat O'Dell: I finally found David Shields...he died in Grundy county, Mo, Feb 24 1882. However, Nancy still hasn't called home.