Josephine (Moore) McKeehan (1882 - 1950)

Born 29 Apr 1882 in Ozark, Franklin, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 9 Nov 1950 at age 68 in Cass, Texas, United States

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Biography

Josephine Moore was the daughter of James Morgan Moore (b. MS 1849-1925) and Nancy Priscilla Touchstone (b. MS 1851-1934). Known as Josie and the first born outside Mississippi during the odyssey wanderings of James and Priscilla Moore, Josephine grew into womanhood after they settled in Miller County, Arkansas near the Charles Coffner McKeehan family with children of similar ages. Exactly how James Washington McKeehan and Josephine Moore met is unclear, but most agree that his brother Braxton Bragg was the first to court her. They likely met after James Washington returned home, or on visits to brother Braxton, after an abortive first marriage when he became interested in the young Josephine and began to court her. James Washington swept the 18 year old maiden off her feet. Soon after James Washington and Josephine Moore McKeehan were married^[1] and produced a family of thirteen children. Legend is that Braxton Bragg never married because he could never find another equal to Josephine Moore that he had lost to brother James Washington. He remained a close friend of the family, like a second father according to some James and Josie's children, and lived nearby throughout his life. ^[2]

Supported by her faith in God, Josephine Moore McKeehan raised a family of 13 children over a period of 20 years. In addition, she raised two grandchildren, Neil and Henrietta (Boots) Phillips (children of Seth and Glenn Marie McKeehan Phillips). Doctors in the period were few and far between and in some cases were beyond the means of simple families to pay. Rugged women like Josephine Moore McKeehan of necessity learned how to perform health care duties. Her skills saved her son (WCM), an author of this article, when a boy of twelve from death from pneumonia. To her credit is the fact that two of her sons were called to the ministry which resulted in many souls turning to God. Josephine Moore, together with James Washington, gave to their children, not only the basic needs, but set the examples and passed on the values that stayed with each throughout their long lives. All children that have passed on through 1999 have lived an average of 85 years and until 1985 all were alive and in good health. All children were healthy from birth, never deprived of basic needs and all grew into adulthood without benefit of gas, electricity or running water.

Josephine Moore McKeehan passed away at the age of 68 due to diabetes, a disease that is now manageable or even curable. The descendants cannot say thanks enough, but keep her memory alive by visiting her resting place in Old Harmony Grove Cemetery, Miller County, Arkansas. Her memory and that of husband James Washington has been kept alive in a memorial family reunion for over 35 years

Sources

1. ↑ "Arkansas, County Marriages, 1837-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9QZ-T29 : 18 March 2019), Josephine Moore in entry for J W McKeehan, 25 Mar 1900; citing Marriage, Miller, Arkansas, United States, county offices, Arkansas; FHL microfilm 1,005,451.
2. ↑ The Odyssey of Josie Moore McKeehan, by Wallace C. & Wallace L. McKeehan, accessed May 24, 2017

See also:

• Source: The Odyssey of Josie Moore McKeehan, by Wallace C. & Wallace L. McKeehan, accessed May 24, 2017
• Find A Grave: Memorial #47941371 accessed on 30 Jul 2019
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKV6-TVY : accessed 22 August 2020), Josephine Mckeehan in household of J M Mckeehan, Garland, Miller, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 67, sheet 8A, family 82, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 57; FHL microfilm 1,374,070.

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDXR-NS1 : accessed 22 August 2020), Josephine McKeehan in household of Jas W McKeehan, Sulphur, Miller, Arkansas, United States; citing ED 76, sheet 1A, line 38, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 72; FHL microfilm 1,820,072.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C771-RZM : accessed 22 August 2020), Josephine Mckeehan in household of J W Mckeehan, Precinct 4, Cass, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 17, sheet 3A, line 5, family 46, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2306; FHL microfilm 2,342,040.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWJH-VQ7 : 28 February 2020), Josephine Mckeehan in household of Jim W Mckeehan, Justice Precinct 4, Cass, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 34-19, sheet 7A, line 4, family 114, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4002.

Census List

1920 - Sulphur, Miller, Arkansas