The date of birth at the top of this memorial should be treated as an estimate -- a compromise based on multiple conflicting pieces of evidence. The "30 Apr" is from her death certificate and agrees with the "Apr" in the 1900 Federal Census. The "1861" agrees with the 1900 Federal Census and is consistent with the ages reported for her in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1930 censuses.

The maiden name is left as unknown despite multiple conflicting pieces of evidence explained below.

Thanks to rg16CCZ71, we have a beautiful photograph of Mary Belle's burial site, but rg16CCZ71 has himself searched unsuccessfully for any grave marker and has talked to a Wayne Twp trustee and was told that the cemetery's burial records burned long ago, so "Unknown" appears to be the best we can do in identifying a plot number.

Mary Belle's maiden name appears in various records as SANDERSON or RANKIN or CHANEY. If we define "maiden name" as the surname she used most frequently prior to marriage, it would be Rankin (the name of her stepfather). If we define "maiden name" as the name she used when she first married, it would be Chaney (the maiden name of her mother). If we define "maiden name" as the surname of her biological father, then it is unknown.

DISCREPANCY re maiden name and date of birth: The Clinton Co cemetery database (2018) (see below) apparently followed Mary Belle's death certificate in identifying William A. Rankin as her father, and also on her date of birth of "1868," but the 1880 Federal Census (image uploaded to this memorial), identifies her as Mary B. Sanderson and as the stepdaughter of W. A. Rankin. Sanderson is the "maiden name" she listed when she married Daniel Suttles, and Sanderson is the maiden name listed for her on the birth record for her son Daniel [Jr.], but Sanderson is the surname of her first husband. In the 1870 Census (image uploaded to this memorial), she is identified as Mary Rankin, age 10 -- which would mean her mother must have been about age 15-16 when Mary was conceived, and about age 16-17 when Mary was born. The 1900 Census says Mary B. was born in Apr 1861.

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Clinton Co cemetery database (2018) says, "Fayette Co. OH, B. 4-30-1868, D. 3-5-1931, husband Daniel Suttles; daughter of William A. and Harriett Chaney Rankin; 10 children - 5 sons - Charley, Fredie, Orley, Edward, Alva and 5 daughters - Della M., Louisa, Bessie, Ella and Edith Suttles." See above re contradictions in the database's listing for Mary Belle.

When was Mary Belle born?

Abt 1860 --- if you believe the 1870 Federal Census saying she was age 10.

Abt 1861 --- if you believe the 1880 Federal Census saying she was age 19.

Apr 1861 --- if you believe the 1900 Federal Census saying she was born Apr 1861.

Abt 1861 --- if you believe the 1910 Federal Census saying she was age 49.

Abt 1861 --- if you believe the 1930 Federal Census saying she was age 69. Also, the 1930 census says she was age 20 at the time of her marriage, which we know to have been on 12 Aug 1880, so that would mean she would have had to have been born on or before 12 Aug 1860. An Apr 1860 date of birth would be consistent with the age of 10 reported for her in the 1870 census, and current best practices in genealogy suggest that the first government record of someone's age is the one most likely to be accurate.

On or before 12 Aug 1862 --- if you believe her sworn statement on 12 Aug 1880 that she was at least 18 years of age.

Abt 1862 --- if you believe the 1920 Federal Census saying she was age 58.

30 Apr 1868 --- if you believe the death certificate.

30 Apr 1868 --- if you believe the Clinton Co cemetery database (2018).

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The following was sent as a SAC from rg16CCZ71 on 4-13-2024, and rg16 CCZ71 is the "I" below -- the person who asserts that Solomon Sharp is the probable biological father of Mary Belle..

Mary and Daniel had 2 additional children not listed on their Memorial pages, whose interment locations are Unknown:

1. Della M Suttles

• Birth 24 JAN 1886 • Fayette County, Ohio, USA (pg. 331, Record of Births, Probate Court)
• Death 5 MAY 1905 • Clinton County, Ohio, USA (unable to locate death record)
• Married 29 JAN 1905 * Clinton County, Ohio, USA (pg. 62, Marriage Record)
• Husband - Charles Albert Conger
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141279313/charles-albert-conger
• Obituary * Sabina-News-Record-May,10-1905-p-3 (last name and her father's first name both are typos in this obituary)

1. Ethel Suttles ("twin" with Edith May Suttles)

• Birth 1 SEP 1898 • Clinton County, Ohio, USA (pg. 177, Record of Births, Probate Court)
• Death 18 OCT 1899 • Clinton County, Ohio, USA (pg. 176, Record of Deaths, Probate Court)

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Mary's step-father was William Rankin, per the 1880 Census record for Jasper, Fayette, Ohio. Her mother, Harriet Chaney, married William Rankin on Dec. 29, 1864

Mary's biological father is believed to be Solomon Sharp.

As a direct descendant of Mary (2nd great-grandson), I've made this conclusion despite the apparent lack of paternity records from 1861 to support this claim. On March 30th, 2024, I contacted a Sharp family historian (Gary Sharp) to review my findings with the following reply, in-part: "Illegitimate children cause serious issues when it comes to genealogy research. I see no issues with the conclusions that you have drawn."

Designating Solomon Sharp as Mary's alleged father is based on the following supporting evidence, which included a thorough analysis of family timelines, locations, probate records, and contemporary DNA matches available on Ancestry.com:

1. 1860 U.S. Census Record - Dated August 9th, Solomon is listed as a "farmhand" in the Eli Chaney household, age 24.
2. Harriet Chaney, age 17, is one of two minor females listed in the 1860 Census record with her parents, Eli and Hannah. The other female is Martha, age 1.
3. Mary Belle Chaney's birth date is most likely April 30, 1861, which puts her legally-accepted period of conception in June/July/August 1860.
4. Oct. 18, 1860 - Order of attachment - Eli Chaney vs. Solomon Sharp. Unable to locate original court case, but the timeline would have likely meant that Mary's mother, Harriet Chaney, was 2-4 months pregnant at the time. Source: Washington-Herald-Oct 18, 1860-p-3 (Transcription: "Eli Chaney, Pl'f. vs. Solomon Sharp, Def't. Before Smith Rankin, J.P. of Jasper township Fayette county, Ohio. On the 5th day of October, A.D. 1860, said Justice issued an order of attachment in the above action for the sum of sixty-two dollars and ninety cents and probable costs. And said action is continued to the 24th day of November, 1860, at one o'clock, p.m. for final hearing. ELI CHANEY. Jasper township, Oct. 10, 1860-46-3w."). Equivalent of $2,367 in 2024 dollars.
5. Mary Belle's mother, Harriet, and step-father, William Rankin, are buried in Milledgeville Cemetery. Mary Belle and her 2nd husband, Daniel Suttles, are both buried in Evans Cemetery. Upon further research, it was discovered that Solomon Sharp's mother and father, John Sharp & Keziah Brewer, as well as other Sharp family members, are buried in Evans Cemetery.
6. After placing Solomon in my Ancestry family tree as Mary's father, I have 23 DNA half-cousin matches to the Sharp family in my ThruLines results as of April 14, 2024 (ThruLines shows you how you may be related to your DNA matches through ancestors you share. You get ThruLines when ancestors from your tree are also in a match's tree).

• Celia Ann Sharp (Half 2nd great-grandaunt) - 2 DNA matches
• Charles Lester Sharp (Half 2nd great-granduncle) - 4 DNA matches
• Joseph Thomas Sharp (Half 2nd great-granduncle) - 3 DNA matches
• Mary Ella Sharp (Half 2nd great-grandaunt) - 7 DNA matches
• Robert Lee Sharp (Half 2nd great-granduncle) - 7 DNA matches