There is conflicting information as to where Melissa was born. Melissa's obituary states that she was born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. A McMurry family note reads that Melissa was born in Shannon, Carroll County, Illinois. Her death certificate states that she was born in New Hampton, Pennsylvania.
Melissa was the youngest of 10 children born to James Alexander McMurry and Elizabeth Moore.
Melissa McMurry was married to Benjamin "Ben" F. Barnes in Burrton, Harvey County, Kansas on Jan. 15, 1880. Ben F. Barnes was the youngest of 12 children born to Armstead Barnes (1809-1854) and Elizabeth Dowell (1814-1896) in Meade County, Kentucky on Aug. 3, 1855, so Ben was born almost 8 months after his father died. According to the 1880 Census, Ben and Melissa were farming in Lake Township in Harvey County, Kansas, but soon moved to Newton, Kansas. Later, they moved to Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.
Ben and Melissa had 4 children:
1. Maud Retta Barnes (1891-1954) First married to William F. Weaver (1871-1914) and they had a son Bert F. Weaver. Maud was next married to Millard Smith and they had a daughter, Dorothea M. Smith. Maud is buried at White Chapel Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas.
2. Frank Benton Barnes (1883-1959) Frank married Elizabeth "Grace" Adams. Grace died of influenza in 1918. Frank and Grace had a son Eugene Barnes. Frank was living in Dodge City, Kansas when he died. Frank and Grace are buried at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
3. Clarence Clinton Barnes (1886-1953) Clarence married Bessie Elizabeth Moore on Dec. 25, 1908 in Hutchinson, Kansas. They had 2 children Howard Clinton Barnes and Helen Lucille Barnes. Clarence and Bessie are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
4. Harry O. Barnes (1892-1930) Harry married Gladys Hortense Teter on Apr. 17, 1917 in Hutchinson, Kansas. No known children. Harry is buried next to his brother Frank and Frank's wife Grace at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
According to two family sources (Ben's nephew Charles L. Barnes and Ben's niece Mollie Barnes Gauld), in about 1895, Ben F. Barnes left his family and went to Texas to see his sister and mother and was never seen again after he left his sister Barb's. According to Melissa's 1929 obituary, it states that Ben was deceased, yet no evidence of this can be found in death records or cemetery records in Kansas. In the 1930's, Ben's son Clarence, as an heir of Ben, claimed Ben's share of the estate, Ben's share of his parents' old family farm in Meade County, Kentucky. This Meade County document stated that Ben F. Barnes, if alive, would be 102 yrs. old. This would appear to further indicate that neither this court record nor family members were aware of when or where Ben Barnes died. In addition, the court, and Ben's son Clarence, if he had any input, didn't have any accurate idea of when Ben was born, which according to family Bibles and family notes was August 3, 1855. Click on the family members link below to read more about the mystery of what I (Larry Barnes) think the evidence shows actually became of Ben F. Barnes.
By April of 1895 Melissa Barnes and her children were living in eastern Kansas in the town of Fort Scott. It is not yet known why that location was chosen.
A photo of Melissa and her children displayed here shows the photographer was located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
The following important items were found in the Fort Scott Daily Monitor newspaper;
Apr. 4, 1895 - Melissa Barnes files a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty.
Apr. 6, 1895 - Melissa Barnes sues B. F. Barnes for custody of children.
May 16, 1895 - Divorce hearing is scheduled, Melissa Barnes vs, B. F. Barnes.
(Fort Scott newspaper information courtesy of Gwen Barnes, granddaughter of Clarence C. Barnes and great granddaughter of Ben F. and Melissa Barnes.)
On March 21, 1907 Melissa Barnes, age 40 [should be age 45], of Hutchinson, Kansas, married George W. Van Natten, age 33 also of Hutchinson. Just as Melissa is buried next to her parents, George Van Natten is buried with his parents and other family members in Wildmead Cemetery in Nickerson, Reno County, Kansas.
From The Hutchinson News, dated Saturday, July 3, 1915;
"HUTCHINSON'S OLDEST BARN WAS OPENED BY M'MURRY'S - Mrs. VanNatten Tells of the Smallest Bus Driven in Hutchinson - The reference to the first horse cabs driven on the streets of Hutchinson reminds some of the old-timers of the first livery barn in the city.
The first livery stock was shipped to Hutchinson from Shannon, Ill., by the McMurry brothers, who opened a livery barn on Sherman street at the corner where the post office now stands. Later they conducted a barn at the corner of Avenue A and Main.
Mrs. Melissa VanNatten, a sister of the McMurry boys, who still lives here, told The News today about the smallest bus ever seen on the streets of Hutchinson.
'It was over forty years ago,' said Mrs. VanNatten, 'Tom Thumb and his wife and Admiral Dott and lady, who were supposed to be the smallest people on earth, gave a show in the old court house, which at that time was used as a theatre.
'They rode in a coach or bus that was so small it looked like a coconut shell drawn by two Shetland ponies, driven by a colored coachman. They put up at the McMurry barn, which at that time was where the drug store is now at Avenue A and Main.'"
George W. Van Natten died September 5, 1929.
Just 10 days later, Melissa Van Natten died at her home, located at 114 N. Jefferson Street in Hutchinson, Kansas, on September 15, 1929. She had been a resident of that city for 35 years. Her place of birth was listed as New Hampton, Pennsylvania [Other info. lists Illinois.], and her parents were James McMurry and Elizabeth Moore. The undertaker was Friesen Funeral Service of Hutchinson. Cause of death was apoplexy. She was buried at Star Cemetery in Harvey County, Kansas on September the 17th. The informant was Clarence Barnes of Hutchinson, Kansas. (State of Kansas Certificate of Death.) Melissa is buried next to her sister Nancy (McMurry) King and their parents.
Note that medical dictionaries list apoplexy as; 1. A copious effusion of blood into an organ. 2. Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis caused by hemorrhage into brain, formation of an embolus or thrombus that occludes an artery, or rupture of an extracerebral artery causing subrachnoid hemorrhage.
Melissa was the youngest of 10 children born to James Alexander McMurry and Elizabeth Moore.
Melissa McMurry was married to Benjamin "Ben" F. Barnes in Burrton, Harvey County, Kansas on Jan. 15, 1880. Ben F. Barnes was the youngest of 12 children born to Armstead Barnes (1809-1854) and Elizabeth Dowell (1814-1896) in Meade County, Kentucky on Aug. 3, 1855, so Ben was born almost 8 months after his father died. According to the 1880 Census, Ben and Melissa were farming in Lake Township in Harvey County, Kansas, but soon moved to Newton, Kansas. Later, they moved to Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.
Ben and Melissa had 4 children:
1. Maud Retta Barnes (1891-1954) First married to William F. Weaver (1871-1914) and they had a son Bert F. Weaver. Maud was next married to Millard Smith and they had a daughter, Dorothea M. Smith. Maud is buried at White Chapel Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas.
2. Frank Benton Barnes (1883-1959) Frank married Elizabeth "Grace" Adams. Grace died of influenza in 1918. Frank and Grace had a son Eugene Barnes. Frank was living in Dodge City, Kansas when he died. Frank and Grace are buried at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
3. Clarence Clinton Barnes (1886-1953) Clarence married Bessie Elizabeth Moore on Dec. 25, 1908 in Hutchinson, Kansas. They had 2 children Howard Clinton Barnes and Helen Lucille Barnes. Clarence and Bessie are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
4. Harry O. Barnes (1892-1930) Harry married Gladys Hortense Teter on Apr. 17, 1917 in Hutchinson, Kansas. No known children. Harry is buried next to his brother Frank and Frank's wife Grace at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
According to two family sources (Ben's nephew Charles L. Barnes and Ben's niece Mollie Barnes Gauld), in about 1895, Ben F. Barnes left his family and went to Texas to see his sister and mother and was never seen again after he left his sister Barb's. According to Melissa's 1929 obituary, it states that Ben was deceased, yet no evidence of this can be found in death records or cemetery records in Kansas. In the 1930's, Ben's son Clarence, as an heir of Ben, claimed Ben's share of the estate, Ben's share of his parents' old family farm in Meade County, Kentucky. This Meade County document stated that Ben F. Barnes, if alive, would be 102 yrs. old. This would appear to further indicate that neither this court record nor family members were aware of when or where Ben Barnes died. In addition, the court, and Ben's son Clarence, if he had any input, didn't have any accurate idea of when Ben was born, which according to family Bibles and family notes was August 3, 1855. Click on the family members link below to read more about the mystery of what I (Larry Barnes) think the evidence shows actually became of Ben F. Barnes.
By April of 1895 Melissa Barnes and her children were living in eastern Kansas in the town of Fort Scott. It is not yet known why that location was chosen.
A photo of Melissa and her children displayed here shows the photographer was located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
The following important items were found in the Fort Scott Daily Monitor newspaper;
Apr. 4, 1895 - Melissa Barnes files a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty.
Apr. 6, 1895 - Melissa Barnes sues B. F. Barnes for custody of children.
May 16, 1895 - Divorce hearing is scheduled, Melissa Barnes vs, B. F. Barnes.
(Fort Scott newspaper information courtesy of Gwen Barnes, granddaughter of Clarence C. Barnes and great granddaughter of Ben F. and Melissa Barnes.)
On March 21, 1907 Melissa Barnes, age 40 [should be age 45], of Hutchinson, Kansas, married George W. Van Natten, age 33 also of Hutchinson. Just as Melissa is buried next to her parents, George Van Natten is buried with his parents and other family members in Wildmead Cemetery in Nickerson, Reno County, Kansas.
From The Hutchinson News, dated Saturday, July 3, 1915;
"HUTCHINSON'S OLDEST BARN WAS OPENED BY M'MURRY'S - Mrs. VanNatten Tells of the Smallest Bus Driven in Hutchinson - The reference to the first horse cabs driven on the streets of Hutchinson reminds some of the old-timers of the first livery barn in the city.
The first livery stock was shipped to Hutchinson from Shannon, Ill., by the McMurry brothers, who opened a livery barn on Sherman street at the corner where the post office now stands. Later they conducted a barn at the corner of Avenue A and Main.
Mrs. Melissa VanNatten, a sister of the McMurry boys, who still lives here, told The News today about the smallest bus ever seen on the streets of Hutchinson.
'It was over forty years ago,' said Mrs. VanNatten, 'Tom Thumb and his wife and Admiral Dott and lady, who were supposed to be the smallest people on earth, gave a show in the old court house, which at that time was used as a theatre.
'They rode in a coach or bus that was so small it looked like a coconut shell drawn by two Shetland ponies, driven by a colored coachman. They put up at the McMurry barn, which at that time was where the drug store is now at Avenue A and Main.'"
George W. Van Natten died September 5, 1929.
Just 10 days later, Melissa Van Natten died at her home, located at 114 N. Jefferson Street in Hutchinson, Kansas, on September 15, 1929. She had been a resident of that city for 35 years. Her place of birth was listed as New Hampton, Pennsylvania [Other info. lists Illinois.], and her parents were James McMurry and Elizabeth Moore. The undertaker was Friesen Funeral Service of Hutchinson. Cause of death was apoplexy. She was buried at Star Cemetery in Harvey County, Kansas on September the 17th. The informant was Clarence Barnes of Hutchinson, Kansas. (State of Kansas Certificate of Death.) Melissa is buried next to her sister Nancy (McMurry) King and their parents.
Note that medical dictionaries list apoplexy as; 1. A copious effusion of blood into an organ. 2. Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis caused by hemorrhage into brain, formation of an embolus or thrombus that occludes an artery, or rupture of an extracerebral artery causing subrachnoid hemorrhage.
There is conflicting information as to where Melissa was born. Melissa's obituary states that she was born in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. A McMurry family note reads that Melissa was born in Shannon, Carroll County, Illinois. Her death certificate states that she was born in New Hampton, Pennsylvania.
Melissa was the youngest of 10 children born to James Alexander McMurry and Elizabeth Moore.
Melissa McMurry was married to Benjamin "Ben" F. Barnes in Burrton, Harvey County, Kansas on Jan. 15, 1880. Ben F. Barnes was the youngest of 12 children born to Armstead Barnes (1809-1854) and Elizabeth Dowell (1814-1896) in Meade County, Kentucky on Aug. 3, 1855, so Ben was born almost 8 months after his father died. According to the 1880 Census, Ben and Melissa were farming in Lake Township in Harvey County, Kansas, but soon moved to Newton, Kansas. Later, they moved to Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.
Ben and Melissa had 4 children:
1. Maud Retta Barnes (1891-1954) First married to William F. Weaver (1871-1914) and they had a son Bert F. Weaver. Maud was next married to Millard Smith and they had a daughter, Dorothea M. Smith. Maud is buried at White Chapel Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas.
2. Frank Benton Barnes (1883-1959) Frank married Elizabeth "Grace" Adams. Grace died of influenza in 1918. Frank and Grace had a son Eugene Barnes. Frank was living in Dodge City, Kansas when he died. Frank and Grace are buried at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
3. Clarence Clinton Barnes (1886-1953) Clarence married Bessie Elizabeth Moore on Dec. 25, 1908 in Hutchinson, Kansas. They had 2 children Howard Clinton Barnes and Helen Lucille Barnes. Clarence and Bessie are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
4. Harry O. Barnes (1892-1930) Harry married Gladys Hortense Teter on Apr. 17, 1917 in Hutchinson, Kansas. No known children. Harry is buried next to his brother Frank and Frank's wife Grace at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
According to two family sources (Ben's nephew Charles L. Barnes and Ben's niece Mollie Barnes Gauld), in about 1895, Ben F. Barnes left his family and went to Texas to see his sister and mother and was never seen again after he left his sister Barb's. According to Melissa's 1929 obituary, it states that Ben was deceased, yet no evidence of this can be found in death records or cemetery records in Kansas. In the 1930's, Ben's son Clarence, as an heir of Ben, claimed Ben's share of the estate, Ben's share of his parents' old family farm in Meade County, Kentucky. This Meade County document stated that Ben F. Barnes, if alive, would be 102 yrs. old. This would appear to further indicate that neither this court record nor family members were aware of when or where Ben Barnes died. In addition, the court, and Ben's son Clarence, if he had any input, didn't have any accurate idea of when Ben was born, which according to family Bibles and family notes was August 3, 1855. Click on the family members link below to read more about the mystery of what I (Larry Barnes) think the evidence shows actually became of Ben F. Barnes.
By April of 1895 Melissa Barnes and her children were living in eastern Kansas in the town of Fort Scott. It is not yet known why that location was chosen.
A photo of Melissa and her children displayed here shows the photographer was located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
The following important items were found in the Fort Scott Daily Monitor newspaper;
Apr. 4, 1895 - Melissa Barnes files a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty.
Apr. 6, 1895 - Melissa Barnes sues B. F. Barnes for custody of children.
May 16, 1895 - Divorce hearing is scheduled, Melissa Barnes vs, B. F. Barnes.
(Fort Scott newspaper information courtesy of Gwen Barnes, granddaughter of Clarence C. Barnes and great granddaughter of Ben F. and Melissa Barnes.)
On March 21, 1907 Melissa Barnes, age 40 [should be age 45], of Hutchinson, Kansas, married George W. Van Natten, age 33 also of Hutchinson. Just as Melissa is buried next to her parents, George Van Natten is buried with his parents and other family members in Wildmead Cemetery in Nickerson, Reno County, Kansas.
From The Hutchinson News, dated Saturday, July 3, 1915;
"HUTCHINSON'S OLDEST BARN WAS OPENED BY M'MURRY'S - Mrs. VanNatten Tells of the Smallest Bus Driven in Hutchinson - The reference to the first horse cabs driven on the streets of Hutchinson reminds some of the old-timers of the first livery barn in the city.
The first livery stock was shipped to Hutchinson from Shannon, Ill., by the McMurry brothers, who opened a livery barn on Sherman street at the corner where the post office now stands. Later they conducted a barn at the corner of Avenue A and Main.
Mrs. Melissa VanNatten, a sister of the McMurry boys, who still lives here, told The News today about the smallest bus ever seen on the streets of Hutchinson.
'It was over forty years ago,' said Mrs. VanNatten, 'Tom Thumb and his wife and Admiral Dott and lady, who were supposed to be the smallest people on earth, gave a show in the old court house, which at that time was used as a theatre.
'They rode in a coach or bus that was so small it looked like a coconut shell drawn by two Shetland ponies, driven by a colored coachman. They put up at the McMurry barn, which at that time was where the drug store is now at Avenue A and Main.'"
George W. Van Natten died September 5, 1929.
Just 10 days later, Melissa Van Natten died at her home, located at 114 N. Jefferson Street in Hutchinson, Kansas, on September 15, 1929. She had been a resident of that city for 35 years. Her place of birth was listed as New Hampton, Pennsylvania [Other info. lists Illinois.], and her parents were James McMurry and Elizabeth Moore. The undertaker was Friesen Funeral Service of Hutchinson. Cause of death was apoplexy. She was buried at Star Cemetery in Harvey County, Kansas on September the 17th. The informant was Clarence Barnes of Hutchinson, Kansas. (State of Kansas Certificate of Death.) Melissa is buried next to her sister Nancy (McMurry) King and their parents.
Note that medical dictionaries list apoplexy as; 1. A copious effusion of blood into an organ. 2. Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis caused by hemorrhage into brain, formation of an embolus or thrombus that occludes an artery, or rupture of an extracerebral artery causing subrachnoid hemorrhage.
Melissa was the youngest of 10 children born to James Alexander McMurry and Elizabeth Moore.
Melissa McMurry was married to Benjamin "Ben" F. Barnes in Burrton, Harvey County, Kansas on Jan. 15, 1880. Ben F. Barnes was the youngest of 12 children born to Armstead Barnes (1809-1854) and Elizabeth Dowell (1814-1896) in Meade County, Kentucky on Aug. 3, 1855, so Ben was born almost 8 months after his father died. According to the 1880 Census, Ben and Melissa were farming in Lake Township in Harvey County, Kansas, but soon moved to Newton, Kansas. Later, they moved to Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas.
Ben and Melissa had 4 children:
1. Maud Retta Barnes (1891-1954) First married to William F. Weaver (1871-1914) and they had a son Bert F. Weaver. Maud was next married to Millard Smith and they had a daughter, Dorothea M. Smith. Maud is buried at White Chapel Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas.
2. Frank Benton Barnes (1883-1959) Frank married Elizabeth "Grace" Adams. Grace died of influenza in 1918. Frank and Grace had a son Eugene Barnes. Frank was living in Dodge City, Kansas when he died. Frank and Grace are buried at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
3. Clarence Clinton Barnes (1886-1953) Clarence married Bessie Elizabeth Moore on Dec. 25, 1908 in Hutchinson, Kansas. They had 2 children Howard Clinton Barnes and Helen Lucille Barnes. Clarence and Bessie are buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sedgwick County, Kansas.
4. Harry O. Barnes (1892-1930) Harry married Gladys Hortense Teter on Apr. 17, 1917 in Hutchinson, Kansas. No known children. Harry is buried next to his brother Frank and Frank's wife Grace at Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson, Kansas.
According to two family sources (Ben's nephew Charles L. Barnes and Ben's niece Mollie Barnes Gauld), in about 1895, Ben F. Barnes left his family and went to Texas to see his sister and mother and was never seen again after he left his sister Barb's. According to Melissa's 1929 obituary, it states that Ben was deceased, yet no evidence of this can be found in death records or cemetery records in Kansas. In the 1930's, Ben's son Clarence, as an heir of Ben, claimed Ben's share of the estate, Ben's share of his parents' old family farm in Meade County, Kentucky. This Meade County document stated that Ben F. Barnes, if alive, would be 102 yrs. old. This would appear to further indicate that neither this court record nor family members were aware of when or where Ben Barnes died. In addition, the court, and Ben's son Clarence, if he had any input, didn't have any accurate idea of when Ben was born, which according to family Bibles and family notes was August 3, 1855. Click on the family members link below to read more about the mystery of what I (Larry Barnes) think the evidence shows actually became of Ben F. Barnes.
By April of 1895 Melissa Barnes and her children were living in eastern Kansas in the town of Fort Scott. It is not yet known why that location was chosen.
A photo of Melissa and her children displayed here shows the photographer was located in Fort Scott, Kansas.
The following important items were found in the Fort Scott Daily Monitor newspaper;
Apr. 4, 1895 - Melissa Barnes files a divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty.
Apr. 6, 1895 - Melissa Barnes sues B. F. Barnes for custody of children.
May 16, 1895 - Divorce hearing is scheduled, Melissa Barnes vs, B. F. Barnes.
(Fort Scott newspaper information courtesy of Gwen Barnes, granddaughter of Clarence C. Barnes and great granddaughter of Ben F. and Melissa Barnes.)
On March 21, 1907 Melissa Barnes, age 40 [should be age 45], of Hutchinson, Kansas, married George W. Van Natten, age 33 also of Hutchinson. Just as Melissa is buried next to her parents, George Van Natten is buried with his parents and other family members in Wildmead Cemetery in Nickerson, Reno County, Kansas.
From The Hutchinson News, dated Saturday, July 3, 1915;
"HUTCHINSON'S OLDEST BARN WAS OPENED BY M'MURRY'S - Mrs. VanNatten Tells of the Smallest Bus Driven in Hutchinson - The reference to the first horse cabs driven on the streets of Hutchinson reminds some of the old-timers of the first livery barn in the city.
The first livery stock was shipped to Hutchinson from Shannon, Ill., by the McMurry brothers, who opened a livery barn on Sherman street at the corner where the post office now stands. Later they conducted a barn at the corner of Avenue A and Main.
Mrs. Melissa VanNatten, a sister of the McMurry boys, who still lives here, told The News today about the smallest bus ever seen on the streets of Hutchinson.
'It was over forty years ago,' said Mrs. VanNatten, 'Tom Thumb and his wife and Admiral Dott and lady, who were supposed to be the smallest people on earth, gave a show in the old court house, which at that time was used as a theatre.
'They rode in a coach or bus that was so small it looked like a coconut shell drawn by two Shetland ponies, driven by a colored coachman. They put up at the McMurry barn, which at that time was where the drug store is now at Avenue A and Main.'"
George W. Van Natten died September 5, 1929.
Just 10 days later, Melissa Van Natten died at her home, located at 114 N. Jefferson Street in Hutchinson, Kansas, on September 15, 1929. She had been a resident of that city for 35 years. Her place of birth was listed as New Hampton, Pennsylvania [Other info. lists Illinois.], and her parents were James McMurry and Elizabeth Moore. The undertaker was Friesen Funeral Service of Hutchinson. Cause of death was apoplexy. She was buried at Star Cemetery in Harvey County, Kansas on September the 17th. The informant was Clarence Barnes of Hutchinson, Kansas. (State of Kansas Certificate of Death.) Melissa is buried next to her sister Nancy (McMurry) King and their parents.
Note that medical dictionaries list apoplexy as; 1. A copious effusion of blood into an organ. 2. Sudden loss of consciousness followed by paralysis caused by hemorrhage into brain, formation of an embolus or thrombus that occludes an artery, or rupture of an extracerebral artery causing subrachnoid hemorrhage.
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