He was the illegitimate son of Sarah Ann Neal. His father is not known. At the time that Joseph was born, his mother had recently married Merrill Tyra, but Merrill was probably not Joseph's father. Sarah Ann probably just wanted a father for her unborn child, and so she married Merrill when she was about six months pregnant.
It was well-known throughout the county that Sarah Ann Neal had at least three illegitimate children, including Joseph, who was her second child. (Her first child was a daughter named Mariah, who she had with her first husband.) Sarah Ann Neal had two other illegitimate children, after Joseph: a son named Green, and a daughter named Loulie. In fact, Sarah Ann had a reputation for having illegitimate children. (A retired gentleman who had lived where Sarah Ann lived reported this information about her.)
In 1878, she married William Campbell (her third husband), and he adopted her three illegitimate children (including Joseph) and he gave them his last name. She and William had one child together, a son named Art.
Joseph later married Hattie Hon, and they moved to Menifee County, and lived in the small community of Rothwell. Everyone knew that Joseph had been an illegitimate child, and so his children were probably mocked for that, which typically happened, back at that time.
Joseph died at a young age, probably from an accident, and probably while working at one of the furnaces, out in the woods.
He left a wife (Hattie), who was pregnant with his fifth child. She and her children struggled to live, for many years, living on next to nothing.
NOTE: His mother Sarah Ann was seen in the 1870 Census Report, which was taken in mid-August. It showed that she had married Merrill that May. Joseph was not listed on that report, meaning that he was probably born after the census was taken. It is suspected that he was born in late August of 1870. So his month of birth on his gravestone (April) is probably not correct.
It was well-known throughout the county that Sarah Ann Neal had at least three illegitimate children, including Joseph, who was her second child. (Her first child was a daughter named Mariah, who she had with her first husband.) Sarah Ann Neal had two other illegitimate children, after Joseph: a son named Green, and a daughter named Loulie. In fact, Sarah Ann had a reputation for having illegitimate children. (A retired gentleman who had lived where Sarah Ann lived reported this information about her.)
In 1878, she married William Campbell (her third husband), and he adopted her three illegitimate children (including Joseph) and he gave them his last name. She and William had one child together, a son named Art.
Joseph later married Hattie Hon, and they moved to Menifee County, and lived in the small community of Rothwell. Everyone knew that Joseph had been an illegitimate child, and so his children were probably mocked for that, which typically happened, back at that time.
Joseph died at a young age, probably from an accident, and probably while working at one of the furnaces, out in the woods.
He left a wife (Hattie), who was pregnant with his fifth child. She and her children struggled to live, for many years, living on next to nothing.
NOTE: His mother Sarah Ann was seen in the 1870 Census Report, which was taken in mid-August. It showed that she had married Merrill that May. Joseph was not listed on that report, meaning that he was probably born after the census was taken. It is suspected that he was born in late August of 1870. So his month of birth on his gravestone (April) is probably not correct.
He was the illegitimate son of Sarah Ann Neal. His father is not known. At the time that Joseph was born, his mother had recently married Merrill Tyra, but Merrill was probably not Joseph's father. Sarah Ann probably just wanted a father for her unborn child, and so she married Merrill when she was about six months pregnant.
It was well-known throughout the county that Sarah Ann Neal had at least three illegitimate children, including Joseph, who was her second child. (Her first child was a daughter named Mariah, who she had with her first husband.) Sarah Ann Neal had two other illegitimate children, after Joseph: a son named Green, and a daughter named Loulie. In fact, Sarah Ann had a reputation for having illegitimate children. (A retired gentleman who had lived where Sarah Ann lived reported this information about her.)
In 1878, she married William Campbell (her third husband), and he adopted her three illegitimate children (including Joseph) and he gave them his last name. She and William had one child together, a son named Art.
Joseph later married Hattie Hon, and they moved to Menifee County, and lived in the small community of Rothwell. Everyone knew that Joseph had been an illegitimate child, and so his children were probably mocked for that, which typically happened, back at that time.
Joseph died at a young age, probably from an accident, and probably while working at one of the furnaces, out in the woods.
He left a wife (Hattie), who was pregnant with his fifth child. She and her children struggled to live, for many years, living on next to nothing.
NOTE: His mother Sarah Ann was seen in the 1870 Census Report, which was taken in mid-August. It showed that she had married Merrill that May. Joseph was not listed on that report, meaning that he was probably born after the census was taken. It is suspected that he was born in late August of 1870. So his month of birth on his gravestone (April) is probably not correct.
It was well-known throughout the county that Sarah Ann Neal had at least three illegitimate children, including Joseph, who was her second child. (Her first child was a daughter named Mariah, who she had with her first husband.) Sarah Ann Neal had two other illegitimate children, after Joseph: a son named Green, and a daughter named Loulie. In fact, Sarah Ann had a reputation for having illegitimate children. (A retired gentleman who had lived where Sarah Ann lived reported this information about her.)
In 1878, she married William Campbell (her third husband), and he adopted her three illegitimate children (including Joseph) and he gave them his last name. She and William had one child together, a son named Art.
Joseph later married Hattie Hon, and they moved to Menifee County, and lived in the small community of Rothwell. Everyone knew that Joseph had been an illegitimate child, and so his children were probably mocked for that, which typically happened, back at that time.
Joseph died at a young age, probably from an accident, and probably while working at one of the furnaces, out in the woods.
He left a wife (Hattie), who was pregnant with his fifth child. She and her children struggled to live, for many years, living on next to nothing.
NOTE: His mother Sarah Ann was seen in the 1870 Census Report, which was taken in mid-August. It showed that she had married Merrill that May. Joseph was not listed on that report, meaning that he was probably born after the census was taken. It is suspected that he was born in late August of 1870. So his month of birth on his gravestone (April) is probably not correct.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
