Burial info from the cemetery register in Monroe Library Genealogy room but might possibly refer to another Secrest cemetery, this is under investigation.

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She was the daughter of John Kissiah and Esther Hargett. She was born around 1833 in North Carolina. Kissiah or Keziah is spelled both ways in the this family.

She married Ellison L. Starnes, Sr. They had the following children: Ellison Leander Starnes Jr. (d. 1930), Margaret J. Starnes (b. 1856), Rachel C. Starnes (b. 1959) and twins Edith Roxanna Starnes (b. 1860), Esther A. Starnes (b. 1860). After Ellison's death, she remarried to Eli Johnston in 1872.

Her son, Ellison Leander Starnes Jr. married Mattie Elizabeth Kissiah. Mattie was the daughter of Thomas Allison Kissiah. Thomas was the sister of the above mentioned Sarah Annie Keziah and son of John Kissiah (1785-1860) and Esther Hargett (b. 1812). They had the following children: Lily Mae Starnes (Mrs. James Dennis Smith), Martin Luther Starnes, John Issac Starnes, Andrew Jackson Starnes, Jesse Jess James Starnes.

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*** Many thanks to Dave Bennett (#48519213) who writes:

I believe that Ellison Starnes changed his name and was originally known as Ellison Cagle. In the 1850 census in Union Co., NC, 15 year old Ellison L. Cagle is living in the household Esther Starnes. A marriage record in Union Co., NC shows that E.L. Cagle married Sarah Ann Keziah in 1857. He is listed in the 1860 census in Union Co. as Ellison Starnes. They have 4 children: Margaret J. (4), Rachel C. (1) and twin daughters Roxanna E. (1m) and Esther A (1m). Ellison Starnes enlisted in the Confederate Army on 26 March 1862. He was present or accounted for through October 1864. He was captured near Savannah, Ga., December 21, 1864 and confined at Fort Delaware, Del., where he died March 24, 1865 of chronic diarrhea. His son Elias Leander Starnes was born 16 June 1863; 15 months after Ellison enlisted.

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North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
Name: Eli Johnston
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 9 Dec 1872
Event Place Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Birth Year (Estimated): 1848
Father's Name: David Johnston
Mother's Name: Sarah Johnston
Spouse's Name: Sarah Ann Keziah
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 30
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1842
Spouse's Father's Name: John Keziah
Spouse's Mother's Name: Esther Keziah

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Sarah A Starnes
United States Census, 1860
Name: Sarah A Starnes
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1860
Event Place Union, North Carolina, United States
Gender: Female
Age: 26
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1834
Birthplace: North Carolina
Page: 92
Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Ellison Starnes Male 26 North Carolina
Sarah A Starnes Female 26 North Carolina
Margaret J Starnes Female 4 North Carolina
Rachail C Starnes Female 1 North Carolina
Roxanna E Starnes Female 0 North Carolina
Esther A Starnes Female 0 North Carolina

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North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979
Name: E. L. Cagle
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 04 Feb 1857
Event Place: , Union, North Carolina, United States
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Unknown
Spouse's Name: Sarah A. Keziah
Spouse's Gender: Female

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Sarah A Keziah
United States Census, 1850
Name Sarah A Keziah
Event Type Census
Event Year 1850
Event Place Union county, part of, Union, North Carolina, United States
Gender Female
Age 17
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1833
Birthplace North Carolina
House Number 634
Household
John Keziah M 47 North Carolina
Esther Keziah F 40 North Carolina
Sarah A Keziah F 17 North Carolina
Wm Keziah M 15 North Carolina
Thomas A Kiziah M 14 North Carolina, U S A
Phebe J Kiziah F 11 North Carolina, U S A
George W Kiziah M 9 North Carolina, U S A
Rebecca C Kiziah F 8 North Carolina, U S A
Menerva A Kiziah F 6 North Carolina, U S A
Susan E Kiziah F 0 North Carolina, U S A

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