Gilbert Harvey Cheney (1859 - 1958)

Born 4 Jan 1859 in Mount Perry, Perry County, Ohio

Ancestors

Husband of Josephine (Blatchford) Cheney — married 13 Apr 1884 in Dickinson County, Kansas

Husband of Christina (Munro) Cheney — married 4 Jan 1894 in Dickinson County, Kansas

Husband of Harriet (Bennett) Cheney — married 4 Nov 1934 in Del Norte, Rio Grande County, Colorado

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1958 at age 99 in Scott City, Scott County, Kansas

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Neal Cheney [send private message] and Jeff Cheney [send private message]

Biography

Gilbert Harvey Cheney was born 04 Jan 1859 in Mount Perry, Perry County, Ohio^[1][2]. His parents were Jeriah Cheney and Martha Jane Harvey^[3], who were married 31 Mar 1858 in Deavertown, Morgan County, Ohio.

Before the birth of his brother he was taken in by his maternal grandmother, Mary Martin Harvey, who raised him until he was ten years old.

His brother Clarence Elmer Cheney was born 23 Sep 1860 in Deavertown, Morgan County, Ohio.^[4]

When Gilbert was three and a half years old his father enlisted in the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On 31 Dec 1862, during the Battle of Stones River, Jeriah was captured by Confederate forces. He was taken 19 Jan 1863 to the infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. He was paroled 26 Jan 1863 and taken to U.S. General Hospital in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland where he died of typhoid fever on 8 Feb 1863. At the time of his death, he was 26 years old, 6'1" tall, with fair complexion, blue eyes, and auburn hair. Ironically his 4th great-grandfather, Richard Cheney, arrived in Anne Arundel County, Maryland in 1649.

Amongst Richard Cheney's other descendants are:

A 9th great grandson, the 46th Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney.

A 10th great grandson, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Dick and Gilbert are 6th cousins 4 times removed.

Barack and Gilbert are 6th cousins 5 times removed.

Martha, received an Army Widow pension. Starting in February 1863 she received $8 per month, plus $2 per month for each of her children, for a monthly total of $12, and an annual total of $144.

In the Spring of 1869 Martha (31), Gilbert (10), Clarence (8), and Martha's younger brother Hiram Cable Harvey and his new bride, Margaret A. Marshall Harvey moved west by covered wagon. They crossed half of Ohio, all of Indiana and Illinois, took a ferry across the Mississippi river near Hannibal, Missouri, then on across to Sibley, Jackson County, Missouri. They rented a farm and stayed two years, raising hogs, potatoes and turnips for their push westward. The men folk went ahead west for the summer months, establishing their homesteads, and returned to Sibley for the winter when they slaughtered and cured hogs. Martha continued to receive her Army Widow pension until she married Asa Teal Iliff on 26 Nov 1870 in Jackson County, Missouri. Asa was from Perry County, Ohio and may have been a friend of Jeriah's. In the Spring of 1871 they moved to their homestead near Talmage, Willowdale Township, Dickinson County, Kansas.

Martha and Asa had two daughters, Gilbert and Clarence's half-sisters:

• Anna L Iliff (20 May 1871 - 03 Sep 1892)
• Ella Belle Iliff Jones (14 Jun 1875 - 11 Mar 1905)

Eventually the entire Deavertown, Morgan County, Ohio, Harvey clan joined them -- except for Gilbert's uncle Austin, who was killed in 1866 while working on a steam engine which exploded^[2]. They were also joined by a contingent of the McLuney, Perry County, Ohio, Iliff clan. Amongst the more famous of the Iliff clan was Asa's first cousin, the Colorado retail pioneer, cattle baron, and namesake of Iliff, Colorado, the Iliff School of Theology, and Iliff Avenue in Aurora and Denver, Colorado, John Wesley Iliff, Sr..

Gilbert and Clarence didn't get along with their step-father, so their uncle Hiram Harvey was appointed their guardian. Hiram was a Civil War veteran — purported to have a metal plate in his head — he was qualified as an invalid for his Army pension. Apparently Martha didn't get along with Asa either — she divorced him in 1906. Except for Gilbert, they all lived in Dickinson County the rest of their lives.

Gilbert had very little formal education. Maybe three months a year at most. However he was a voracious reader. The first money he earned was used to buy a history book. He set a goal for himself to read 100 pages of history every night.

On April 15, 1871, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok became Marshal of Abilene, Kansas — just over 10 miles south-southeast of Talmage. One day Gilbert and his uncle Hiram were in Abilene with a colt following its mother, and one of the police tied it up. When they were ready to go home, the policeman would not let them have the colt unless they paid a fine — by that time Abilene had an ordinance against loose livestock in town. Gilbert and Hiram went to Wild Bill and told him, so Wild Bill told the policeman that it did not mean a colt following its mother and turned it loose. No shots were fired and no animals were harmed. This will forever be known in the annals of western justice as the Case of the Incarcerated Colt.

In 1873, when Gilbert was 14, his uncles Hiram and George Harvey took him buffalo hunting around Hutchinson, Kansas. He also visited Dodge City.

In 1876 their uncles Hiram and George Harvey helped Gilbert and Clarence claim a quarter section of land in recognition of their father's military service. This was the southeast quarter of Section 2, Township 12 South, Range 1 East of the 6th P.M. — a quarter of a mile north and one mile west of Talmage. Gilbert farmed the north 80 acres and Clarence the south 80 acres. These divisions are still clearly visible 138 years later.

Gilbert married Josephine Blatchford^[3] on 13 Apr 1884. She was probably 17 years old. Her family had moved from Peoria County, Illinois to Dickinson County, Kansas in 1876. They stayed two years, then settled in Chapman Township, Clay County. Her father, John Blatchford was born in Cornwall, England and had immigrated at age 17, spending a year in Montreal, Canada before settling in Peoria County, Illinois where he met and married her mother Grace Mitchell Blatchford 11 Sep 1863.

Gilbert and Josephine had five children:

• Clarence Elmer Cheney (1 Feb 1885 – 16 Sep 1967)
• Mary Ellen May Cheney Luke (22 Jan 1886 – 3 Nov 1967)
• John Willie Cheney (18 Nov 1887 – 11 Dec 1889)
• Gilbert Hiram Cheney (1 Sep 1889)
• Martha Grace Cheney Neaderhiser (19 Sep 1890 – 28 May 1991)

Starting around the time of the birth of his first nephew, Clarence (Gilbert's brother) became known as Claude Elbert Cheney. Gilbert named his first son Clarence Elmer Cheney 01 Feb 1885. This must have been the last straw for Claude. Apparently their falling out was due to their mutual romantic interest in a certain woman, most likely Josie. They never spoke again for most of their lives even though they lived in neighboring townships in the same county.

Josephine died 22 Feb 1891. She was buried in Prairiedale Cemetery, Dickinson County, Kansas.

Around this time Gilbert had befriended two bachelor brothers, Archie and Donald Munro, who ran a failing grocery store in Talmage. Apparently he liked them because he invested in their store. Archie and Donald had a sister, Christina Munro, who participated in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 19 Apr 1892 (less famous than the 1889 Land Rush). She staked a claim, but a man claimed the same spot. He paid her $700 to release her claim. She moved to Talmage to keep house for her bachelor brothers, but not for long. Gilbert decided that it would be better for her to keep house for him. He married Christina Munro on 04 Jan 1894.

Also in 1894 Gilbert sold his 80 acre homestead and bought out his brothers-in-law Archie and Donald's grocery store. He soon began operating an independent telephone company out of the front of the store. He also ran the local Post Office and served as Justice of the Peace and veterinarian. It was a one stop shop.

G. H. Cheney Trade Token Obverse

Gilbert and Christina had eleven children^[3]:

• Gilbert Howard Cheney (25 Apr 1895 – 5 Jan 1955)
• Esther Anna Cheney Brindle (5 May 1897 – 5 Jan 1983)
• Alexander H Cheney (21 Sep 1898 – 19 Apr 1993)
• Ruth Christina Cheney (20 Dec 1899 – 7 Apr 1992)
• Irving Donald “Bill” Cheney (16 Feb 1901 – 26 Jan 1995)
• Hiram Archie Cheney (19 May 1902 – 15 Jan 1903)
• Agnes Blanche Cheney Sickler (07 Dec 1903 – 06 Jan 1991)
• Victor Ninnian Cheney (18 Oct 1905 – 9 Mar 1946)
• Dorothy Mae Cheney Sauer (13 Dec 1907 – 6 Nov 1997)
• Gladys Pearl Cheney Sauer (18 Jun 1909 – 1 Jul 1995)
• Jeriah Warren Cheney (5 Oct 1912 – 17 Sep 2002)

Gilbert's immediate family lived 2 miles west and 2 1/4 miles north of Talmage in Flora Township — along the Santa Fe line between Talmage and Manchester. His mother, Martha's farm is shown on this 1909 plat of Flora Township, Dickinson County. Her place is the 12 acre sliver at the western end of the northern half of the northeast quarter of section 34. The remaining 68 acres belongs to her son Claude, who also owns another 80 acres to the northwest. To the northeast is Martha's brother, Hiram Cable Harvey's quarter, which is crossed by the Santa Fe railroad. A quarter of a mile east of Hiram is their sister Lizzie.

Gilbert Cheney Image 2

Around 1902 Gilbert acquired the northwest quarter of Section 13, Township 12 South, Range 1 East of the 6th P.M., southwest of Talmage and moved the family out to his new farm while continuing to operate his various enterprises in town.

On 22 May 1903 and F4-F5 tornado hit Flora Township, northwest of Talmage, passing a mile east of Gilbert's mother, brother, and half-sister's home, destroying the homes of his uncle Hiram and aunt Lizzie.

In 1904 there was a flood on Mud Creek that washed out the bridges, except the railroad bridge, which Gilbert used to walk to his store. In 1908 he sold the store and went back to farming full-time.

Gilbert’s mother, Martha, died on 25 Sep 1917 in Manchester, Dickinson County, Kansas at age 79, and was buried in Prairiedale Cemetery, Flora Township, Dickinson County, Kansas.

In late 1919 or early 1920 Gilbert sold his farm and moved to a farm two miles west of Scott City, Scott County, Kansas — Township 18 South, Range 23 West of the 6th P.M. — arriving on 15 Mar 1920. This is where he would spend the rest of his life. He dug a well and became one of the first in western Kansas to irrigate his crops. He claimed to have the best quarter in Scott County.

Gibbs and his irrigation well

Christina died 1 Oct 1932. She was buried in Scott County Cemetery.

Gilbert married his third wife, Harriet Bennett Peters of Del Norte, CO, 04 Nov 1934. She was born 04 Nov 1876 in Iowa. She was the widow of John Logan Peters (1873 - 1926) with whom she had 10 children, the youngest then 12. It was the during the greatest depths of the Great Depression and they were living near the epicenter of the Dust Bowl. She was 58, he was 75. She was his niece, he was her uncle. Her mother, Agnes Munro Bennett, who lived until 25 Aug 1953, was Christina's older sister. Gilbert's sister-in-law became his mother-in-law. Harriet brought with her a step-daughter:

• Ida Peters (1922 - )

Harriet died 16 Apr 1954. She was buried with her first husband, John Logan Peters, in Del Norte, Rio Grande County, Colorado.

Gilbert died 20 Nov 1958, just 45 days short of his 100th birthday. He outlived three wives and was survived by ninety descendants — 11 children, 29 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.^[3]

Gilbert was buried in Scott County Cemetery, Scott City, Scott County, Kansas.

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Footnotes

1. ↑ Biography of Gilbert Harvey Cheney by his eldest daughter, Mary Ellen “May” Cheney Luke.
   The following is a transcription of an undated typed document created by Gilbert's second child and eldest daughter, May Luke, a.k.a. Mary Ellen Cheney, born January 22, 1886 in Willowdale Township, Dickinson County, Kansas and died November 3, 1967 in Scott City, Scott County, Kansas. It appears to have been written sometime after 1958, as it includes the death of her father. It is verbatim, including peculiar punctuation, and sometimes odd grammar, copied with particular attention to preserve the essence of my great-grand-aunt, the younger sister of my great-grandfather, Clarence Elmer Cheney.

   My father G. H. Cheney was born January 4, 1859 at Mt. Perry, Ohio. Had one brother Claude who was two years younger. Later lived at Zanesville, Ohio, when at the age of 3 1/2 he could remember his father training with a company of men in the streets of that town. Said he remembered watching them march. His father went to war -- was taken prisoner and imprisoned in Libby prison where conditions were terrible and food scarce. He became ill and was finally released there, died and was buried in the National Cemetery at Annapolis, Maryland. My sister Ruth went to the Congressional Library some years ago in Washington D.C. and searched for the record of his death, finally found it. My grandmother, left with two small boys to support found it a difficult task. I don't know she did it. Several years later she married Asa Iliff and with her two sons and husband and a brother of his joined a wagon train going to Kansas. My father, Gilbert, was 12 years old. They decided to stop at Independence, Missouri and there rented land and grew a crop of corn and raised some hogs. Thus they had meal and meat stored up for their food supply next spring. The men of the group come on to Kansas and took homesteads north of Abilene, Kansas about 10 miles. The families came on the next spring. My father, Gilbert, and his step-father didn't get along very well together so his uncle, Uncle Hiram Harvey was appointed guardian for the two boys, Gilbert and Claude. He took a claim for them because of their father being a soldier. Each one got 80 acres. It was on this place I was born a mile west and 3/4 miles north of Talmage, Kansas. My father sold that farm about 1893 but Claude kept his until a few years before his death in 1952. My father had very little schooling, only a few months each year, possibly 3 months, but had a burning desire to learn. The first money he ever earned he spent for a book, a history book, and I've heard him tell how often he had read it over. Later he bought more and more books. "The rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" in 6 volumes and dozens of others, mostly history. He married my mother, Josephine, at the age of 25. She died at the age of 23 years leaving my brother, Clarence, age 6, me 5 years and my sister Martha 6 months old. We went to live with my grandmother, my father's mother, and Uncle Claude. My father was so very lonely those days with all of us gone. He told me he set a goal for himself to read 100 pages of history every night. After 3 years my father married again, Christine, the sister of 2 bachelor friends of his. She had come from Oklahoma to keep house for her brothers. My father sold the farm and bought a general store in the little town of Talmage, north of Abilene, where we lived for many years. He had the post office also the first telephone exchange in the front of his store. He had studied law considerably and many were the decisions he was called upon to make as Justice of the Peace. He married one young couple, I remember, also was called on often as a veterinarian, because of his information along that line. He was a man of very determined opinions, and was noted for his honesty and integrity far and near. He served on the school board for years and held a few political jobs. I forgot to say at the age of 14 he went with 2 uncle and another man on a buffalo hunt out where Hutchinson now is and was also at Dodge City. He has told me of a few buildings that composed Hutchinson in those days. He remembered the wild cattle days at Abilene and often told us stories of those times. About characteristics, he was honest, was both father and mother to me for years, loyal, just, rather pessimistic especially in later years. He loved to argue politics or most any subject, was very well read. You could hardly mention a subject he had not read about, was a man who never left home unless really urged. He sold the store about 1908 I think, and farmed until 1920 when he sold out and come to western Kansas where we were living then and bought a nice farm 2 miles west of Scott City. He put down an irrigation well and irrigated his crops. Had one of the best quarters of land in Scott Co. he always said and perhaps it is. He missed his old friends at Talmage after moving out here with his second family and was delighted to have any of them come to see him but seldom went any where himself. He expected his children to do what was right and we respected him enough to do it. I can't remember him ever slapping or spanking a one of the whole 13 of us. He was an excellent checker and chess player and enjoyed playing evenings in his little country store which was never closed before 10 or 11 o'clock at night. He loved to play the violin, used to play for dances when he was young. It was the loafing place for country shoppers and visiting. I well remember the peanut hulls we had to sweep up especially after a Saturday night. I worked at the store as did my brother, Clarence, while we ere in high school and my brother did ever since he was old enough to count eggs. That was his job. The farmers from them in in cases or buckets and he had to transfer them to egg cases and nail on the tops. I don't know what kind of a trait you would call it but my father was a good judge of character, seemed like he could see right through a person to tell if they were sincere or a sham. He was real proud of his ancestry and often told us of his relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. He could not talk of his father without tears. I read the letter my grandmother received from the Government telling of my grandfather's death after being liberated from Libby prison and expressing their deep regret at having to inform her. If I don't forget I'll ask Allie if he remembers some of the stories my dad used to tell. I just can't recall one now but perhaps Allie will. He lacked 41 days of being 100 years old. He died Nov. 20 1958 I remember he wasn't a very good driver. Instead of putting on the brake he would go around the corners so fast he would lean away over. Most of the family was afraid of his driving. Guess he drove horses too long. He really loved horses. He had a rather large grey horse he called Silver which he rode back and forth to the store after he bought the farm and moved the family out of town. Probably 2 miles out from town. This horse was a pacer and he was so proud of him. He raised cattle on the farm and his cattle and forses both were rolling fat. He really loved to feed them. His Sunday on the farm he spent remodeling the stalls in the barn or other bins or granaries. He was very handy with the saw and hammer.

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} As Told To Me By Uncle Hiram, Grandma, Uncle George, and Papa by Alexander Harvey Cheney.
   The following is a transcription of an undated typed document created by Alexander Harvey Cheney. It appears to have been written sometime after 1958, as it includes the death of his father, Gilbert Harvey Cheney, who is the primary subject of this family history. It is verbatim, including peculiar punctuation, sometimes odd grammar, terrible spelling, and historical malapropisms copied with particular attention to preserve the essence of the author — who happens to be my great-grand-uncle, the younger half-brother of my great-grandfather, Clarence Elmer Cheney.

   NOTE: Uncle Hiram is Hiram Cable Harvey, the brother of Grandma, a.k.a. Martha Jane Harvey Iliff, Uncle George, a.k.a. George Harvey, and Austin Harvey, Papa is of course, Gilbert Harvey Cheney.

   AS TOLD TO ME BY UNCLE HIRAM, GRANDMA, UNCLE GEORGE AND PAPA.

   Papas ancestors left England and moved to France and later later to Lord Baltimores Colony in Maryland and still later to Ohio. In early Kansas History, it tells of a William H. Cheney, whose father was born in Washington County, Maryland; the Cheneys had a Land Grant to come to Maryland, away back before the Revolutionary War.

   The Martins had a daughter who married a Mr. More, whos daughter married Mr. Harvey, who was Grandma father; Papa said that there was a relationship with the More family, whos house is where the Treaty of Independence was signed.

   Grandmas folks were the Harveys; they had three sons, Hiram, Austin, and George; and six daughters, Martha, Lou, Lizzie, Hester, Rosetti, and Anna. Papa father was name was Jeriah; Jeriah and Grandma were married in Ohio; They had two sons, Gilbert and Claud; After the Civil War Grandma remarried and had two daughters, Bell and Anna; Back in the 1840 or 50 the Harveys had a Millwright on the river, it may have been the Muskingum, as that river is east of Deavertown; Grandma said that one wet year there was a big flood on the river, and the tail gate in the mill race broke and started the mill to grinding and Uncle Austin said that it would ruin the millstones if there was no grain in them, so he swam across the river which was over a Quarter of a mile wide, to get the mill operating.

   Papa was born January 4 1859; at Mt. Pery Ohio. he died the last of nov. 1958

   After the Civil War started, the Governor of Ohio gave Uncle Hiram a Commission to form a company of Infantry there at Deavertown, they drilled for some time, but Uncle said they were not called, so he resigned and he enlisted in the Cavalry; Uncle Austin and Jeriah were in the Infantry; I don't know how long it was before Jeriah was captured, and as he was a wagon maker by trade; they wanted him to make wagons for them, but he refused so they sent him to Libby Prison; he was not treated very good, he was starved and sick and january they released him, he made it to Annaples, into the hospital by february 1 and he died feb. 8 1862, and is buried in the National Cemetery. he was only 26 years old.

   Uncle Hiram said one time when he was on patrol he met Uncle Austin crossing the road and Austins boots were wore out, so Uncle Hiram Traded boots with him, as his were good; another time on patrol he killed a pig had a time getting it on his horse, finely took the saddle off, tied the pig to the saddle, and got the saddle back on the horse, went to camp but was sent back out on another patrol and did not get to eat any of it; Uncle Hiram was in the Siege of Vicksburg, also with Sheridan on his March from Atlanta to the Sea; when they burned every thing along the way. I think he was wonded and had a plate in his head.

   After the war started, there were some men who favored the South threatened to burn Grandmas house as there were no men about, so she stood guard at night with a shot gun, so they left her alone.

   Papa said there was a family of Cheneys in a county west of Deavertown who was cousins of his. Later Lem Olinger who was a cousin of papa, said there was a Marian Cheney near Kansas City who was a cousin of him and papa; there were four of the Olingers, Lem, Gilbert, Homer and Ella.

   In the spring of 1867, Uncle Hiram, Aunt Mag and Papa loaded all there things on a wagon and started for Kansas; they had three horses to pull the wagon if needed, as it was very wet that spring; I dont know if their were others with wagons going with them or not; the roads were bad and not to many bridges, some times they had to go up stream to find a ford to cross on; some of the bigger rivers had ferrys to take them across; They crossed Indiana and Illinois and crossed the Mississippi River near Hannibal Missouri on a ferry, then across Missouri to Sibley east of Kansas City Mo. I think it was late fall when they got there. They stayed there for two years, when Uncle Hiram and others went out to Dickinson County, took homesteads, uncle built his house and returned to Missouri for the winter; That winter they butchered hogs and cured the meat to take with them the next spring; they had seed potatoes, turnips and other seeds with them; when they got to their homestead, they planted their garden, which did real good that summer, they had so many potatoes and turnips, that uncle made pits to put them in and covered them; More settlers came that summer, some came to late to make gardens and uncle let them have potatoes and turnips, just so they recovered them; uncle said that was about all some had to eat that winter; There were several men with their famileys going out to their homesteads the next spring, and one of me who wanted to be a cowboy; kept trying to lasso papa, so one day papa got the rope, lassoed him and set his heel yanked him off his horse; he was going to give papa a licking but the men would not let him.

   Abilene was a wild town in those days, the trail herds came to Abilene for several years, they let their herds roam where they liked as there were no fences and not many settlers at first; they got into one womans garden several times, so one morning she took a bed sheet and waved it, It took them several days to round them up, they kept them out of her garden after that; One time they had a preacher who had never seen a prairie fire, so one windy day he set fire to the tall grass in a ravine it was a big one, he did not stay long after that.

   I think it was in the late 70 or early 80, that papa said was the bad grasshopper invasion from the north west, he said they filled the sky, big clouds of them, it was late summer that they came; they ate every thing in sight, chewed the siding on the houses and fence posts; some had their wheat up, one man had a hole quarter that was up good, he said they could never eat it but the next day he went out to see it and the ground was bare; there was some hoppers the next year but not so bad.

   Uncle said it was in 86 that the big blizzard came, it lasted three days it was powder fine snow that blew into every thing; he said it packed around the chickens on the roost; he got a rope stretched to the barn; they melted snow to water their cows and horses, as their well was an open one and 26 feet to water, the bucket froze in it.

   Uncle said there was a corral a half a mile south of his house; so one day the settlers bought a steer from one of the herds, they put it in the corral for them; they shot it several times, but it broke out, they killed it finely; Uncle said the skull had 28 bullit holes in it; they had their old rifles and pistels to kill it with;

   Uncle George hunted buffalos in southern Kansas for several years just for their hids, he thought the tongue was the best part to eat; One fall uncle George took papa on a buffalo hunt, but they did not find any. On one hunt there were four other men with him at camp when six indians came to their camp, wanted to have a shooting match, but Smith who was one of the men said never fire but one gun at a time or the indians might catch them off guard; Smith told them to keep them busy as they were setting in a line, he would go around the wagon and shoot them with one shot, but they would not let him. Uncle George had a Sharp, big 50 caliber rifle.

   After the war Uncle Austin was working on a big steam engine, it exploded and killed him, it was back in Ohio.

   Wild Bill Hickcock was marshel for a time in Abilene; they had an ordance against loose live stalk in town; one day uncle Hiram and papa were in town with a colt following its mother, and one of the police tied it up and when they were ready to go home, the policeman would not let uncle have the colt unless he paid a fine; uncle went to Wild Bill and told him, so Wild Bill told the policeman that it did not mean a colt following its mother and turned it loose.

   In those days Mud Creek was a big creek; papa did a lot of trapping for beavers, muskrats, otters and skunks also minks; there was a big spring on the south west part of uncle farm in mud creek that boiled up six inches above the water in the creek, which they rode in for drinking water, but the spring was gone before we left Dickinson County; there were lots of fish in it in those days; the creek dried up in the 90; and again in 1913, not many fish after that; us boys had fished in it before and after 1913; after 1913 mud creek dried up every year; but two weeks before the fall rains came the creek would start flowing and it still does;

   Papa and Uncle Claud got a quarter of land as a homestead, as their father was killed in the war; Uncle Hiram helped in that I guess; Papa had the north 80 and Claud the south 80; it was a quarter of a mile north and a mile west of Talmage to the near corner.

   Uncle Hiram and Aunt Mag had two boys, Harry and Willie and raised a girl, her name was May, she married Jerry Dilling; Willie had two kids, Eunice and Dale; Harry had one boy Leslie, who has one son Robert; Aunt Bell married Cloyd Jones, they had one son Clarence; Aunt Anna drawned. Papa married Josephine Blatchford, they had Clarence, Mary who we always called her May and Martha; Josephine died in 1891 when Martha was about five months old and Grandma raised her.

   Mothers people originally came to Canada, then to the United States, her fathers name was Alexander and her mothers name was Esther; Mother was born in Rome, Iowa; she had two brothers, Archie and Donald and two sisters Agnes and Mary; Mother went to school and became a teacher and taught school for a time; Uncle Donald and Archie bought a store in Talmage; Mother made the run into the Strip when it was opened, and filed on a peace of land, but a man also filed on it, he paid her 700 dollars to let him have it; Uncle Archie and Donald were not doing to well in the store, and as papa had sold his 80, he put some money in the store and finely bought them out, to keep from looseing what he had put in. Mother had come up wo see her brothers is how papa came to know her; They got married in 1893 or 94; they raised ten kids; Howard, Esther, Alex, Ruth, Irving, Agnes, Victor, Dorothy and Gladys and Warren; Victor was killed in an orange house accident; Howard in a car accident, Clarence and his wife were gasses with propane and May had cancer; Esther has had several strokes and cant talk.

   Papa loaned a man 2000 dollars on a quarter of land south west of Talmage, he did not pay the taxes for several years or the interest, so he turned it over to papa for the $2000, interest and taxes that he owed on it; papa was in the store for 12 years; I think it was 1902 that we moved out to the farm, I was about 4 years old. in the spring of 1904 there was a flood on Mud Creek that washed out the bridges, except the railroad bridge, and as papa still had the store he walk to town to the store; it was in 1903 that the tornado took the Youngs farm home where they had their merry go round stored, on across to Uncle Hirams house they were in the cellar when it hit, tumble the stone wall in on them; the Santa Fe train crew saw the tornado and stopped the train went up and got Uncle and Aunt Mag out, uncle kept the stones off aunt Mag; the tornado picked up his house and jabed it in the ground three times before it went to peaces; Aunt Lizzie house was a quarter of a mile east of uncle house, she had an old one and was building a new one, it took the old one but left the new one. it took uncles barn and the horses ran out to pasture, did not hurt them. I was over to Grandma house, a mile west of uncle house at the time of the tornado.

   Papa sold the farm in Dickinson County in the late winter of 1919 or January of 1920, as we moved to Scott County in march of that year. We arrived in Scott County march 15 1920; that spring he put in a well, and later built the house and moved in it that fall.

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} News Chronicle, Scott City, Kansas, 27 Nov 1958:

   G. H. Cheney, Scott county's oldet citizen, died Thursday morning of last week, following failing health the past several months. He would have 100 years of age in less than two months.

   Gilbert Harvey Cheney was born to Jeriah and Martha Cheney in Mt. Perry, Ohio, Jan. 4. 1869. When he was five years old his father died as the result of being held in Libby prison as a Civil War prisoner of war.

   In 1876 Mr. Cheney, with his mother, moved by covered wagon to Abilene. As soon as he was of age, he homesteaded a piece of land 10 miles north of Abilene at Talmadge, where he farmed and later ran a general store.

   He was married to Josephine Blatchford in 1864, and to this union three children were born: Clarence of Grainfield, Mrs. May Luke of Scott City and Mrs. Martha Neaderhiser of Abilene. His wife preceded him in death when the children were quite small.

   He later married Christine Monroe, who also preceded him in death. To this union eleven children were born: Mrs. Esther Brindle, Formosa, Allie, Ruth and Irving of Scott City; Mrs. Agnes Sickler, Dodge City; Mrs. Dorothy Sauer, Port Orchard, Wash.; Mrs. Gladys Sauer, Modoc; and Warren of Odessa, Texas, Howard of Scott City and Victor of LaVerne, Calif., preceded him in death, as did Hiriam, who died in infancy.

   In 1920 Mr. Cheney and family moved to Scott county, where he bought land two miles west of Scott City. He was among the first farmers in this area to put in a well and practice irrigation.

   In 1937 he was married to Harriet Peters of Del Norte, Colo., who also preceded him in death.

   Mr. Cheney is survived by 11 children, 29 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.

   Funeral services were held Sunday from the Weinmann Funeral Home in charge of Rev. Harold C. Lambert, and interment was in the Scott county cemetery.

4. ↑ Letter written by Gibbs H. Cheney

   December 16, 1952

   Scott City, Kansas

   The Harvey ancestry involves the Martins and the Cheney's. They came to Pennsylvania while Wm. Penn owned that Colony.

   The Cheney's came to Maryland while Lord Baltimore owned that colony. All were English Puritans, who were driven from England by the Castrolics [sic]. Now, a part of every generation moved west.

   John Harvey was killed by the British at the Battle of Germantown in the Revolution. John left one son, who was killed by the British in the War of 1812-1815. That son left three son's. Matthew, oldest son, was a Methodist preacher. Lewelen, was a Baptist I remember Matthew. My grandpa, John, was the youngest. All town people. None were farmers.

   Gibbs Cheney, I was born January 4, 1859. When I was two years old, and before my brother was born, my grandmother, Mary Martin Harvey, took me home with her, and my mother never took me back. I lived with her most of the time, until I was ten years old.

   My grandmother was born Mary Martin, on her father's estate, six miles south of Zanesville, Ohio. The estate was located four miles west of the Muskingum River. Mary Martin's father was Captain Henry Martin. Her mother was Lucy Moore Martin, born on her father's plantation at Yorktown, Virginia. Lucy Martin's father was a slave owner, and his family belonged to Virginia Aristocracy. During the Siege of Yorktown, General George Washington made his headquarters in their house. Her brother, William Moore, was Washington's mounted orderly. William, at 18 years of age, was the first American Soldier to be awarded a Distinguished Service medal by the Congress.

   On December 18, 1868, my Uncle Hiram Harvey became restless. He was a school teacher. So they all get ready to go west. Uncle Hiram married Margaret Mars. There was my mother, brother, Aunt Zette, and Aunt Lou. Aunt Lou was 8 years older than me. Uncle George was 12 years older. Uncle George had gone to Jackson County, Missouri. So we made the long trek in a covered wagon. We started in May and got to Sibley, Missouri on July 4, 1869. We lived there for two years and then moved to Abilene, Kansas on March 15, 1871. Uncle George had been there in the fall of 1870 and homesteaded 160 acres, and built a house. This was my 12th year.

   My mother had married Iliff and I hated his guts and he hated me. I left and went to Uncle Hiram's and lived until I had a home of my own.

   My two great grandmother's [sic], Lucy Martin and Betty Harvey. Lucy Martin was born Lucy Ware, at her fathers plantation at Yorktown, Va… Her father was a slave owner and her family belonged to the Virginia Aristocracy, when the British Army was surrounded in Yorktown, Virginia.

Sources

• First-hand knowledge of Niles Cheney.

• Find A Grave Memorial #46794806 Gilbert Harvey Cheney, Created by Paul North 17 Jan 2010.

• Descendants of Lemuel Cheney by Paul North.

• Biography of Gilbert Harvey Cheney by his eldest daughter, Mary Ellen “May” Cheney Luke (22 Jan 1886 – 3 Nov 1967).

• Family History As Told To Me By Uncle Hiram, Grandma, Uncle George and Papa by Gilbert Harvey Cheney's son, Alexander Harvey Cheney (21 Sep 1898 – 19 Apr 1993).

• Letter written by Gibbs H. Cheney December 16, 1952 courtesy of Carol Beauchamp — descendant of Hester Harvey Watts — Gilbert's Aunt.

• "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFPR-NF2 : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Gilbert Cheney in household of Asa T Iliff, Willowdale, Dickinson, Kansas, United States; citing sheet 309D, NARA microfilm publication T9.

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Flora, Dickinson, Kansas; Roll: 478; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0033; FHL microfilm: 1240478.

• "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMTX-DJG : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Gilbert Cheney, Flora & Willowdale Townships, Dickinson, Kansas, United States; citing sheet 8A, family 170, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240478.

• Year: 1910; Census Place: Willowdale, Dickinson, Kansas; Roll: T624_437; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0038; FHL microfilm: 1374450.

• Year: 1920; Census Place: Willowdale, Dickinson, Kansas; Roll: T625_530; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 36; Image: 195.

• "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MF67-CNG : accessed 06 Oct 2014), G H Cheney, Willowdale, Dickinson, Kansas, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 86, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820530.

• Year: 1930; Census Place: Scott, Scott, Kansas; Roll: 718; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 7; Image: 1102.0; FHL microfilm: 2340453.

• "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X77W-D7X : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Gilbert H Chaney in household of Clinton Brock, Scott, Scott, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0007, sheet 1B, family 23, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 718.

• "Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KN31-JBJ : accessed 03 Nov 2014), G H Cheney and Harriett Peters, 04 Nov 1934, Del Norte, Rio Grande, Colorado, United States; citing p. 2288, State Archives, Denver; FHL microfilm 001690062 .

• "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VR2H-8T6 : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Gilbert Cheney, Scott Township, Scott, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 86-7, sheet 3B, family 58, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 1258.

• "United States Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files, 1861-1934," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F9BV-BZJ : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Martha Jane Harvey Cheney, 1861 - 1934; citing "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War Veterans, ca. 1861- ca. 1934," Fold3.com; military unit 90 Ohio Infantry, company H, application number WC64297, ARC identifier 300020.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVS1-YZYG : accessed 06 Oct 2014), Gilbert H Cheney in entry for Agnes C Sickler, 06 Jan 1991, Port Orchard, , Washington; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database and images, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Hutchinson News, The (Kansas, United States), 10 Jan 1991.

• Find A Grave Memorial #77571063 Josephine "Josie" Blatchford Cheney, Created by Sue Henry 03 Oct 2011.

• Find A Grave Memorial #46794874 Christina Munro Cheney, Created by Paul North 17 Jan 2010.

• Find A Grave Memorial #80692242 Harriet Bennett Peters, Created by Polly Cox 19 Nov 2011.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kitty Smith for inspiring research of Presidential relations.

Thanks to Brenda Smith for nominating Gilbert Harvey Cheney for WikiTree's Profile of the Week.

Thanks to Eric Daly for seconding the nomination.

Thanks to Mary Richardson and Anne B. for helping to improve Gilbert’s profile.

Thanks to Al Adams for providing inspiring words of wisdom from Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Jeff and others.