Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

John A. and Euphema (Rhea) Crawford, 7 South 51 West


JOHN'S FAMILY

One tree said John Alfred Bingham Crawford was born in Kirkwood Towhship, Belmont County Ohio on November 27, 1864.

In 1870 Belmont County, Ohio, John Crawford is 42, Sarah 39, George W. 15, Charles S. 10, Martha A. 8, JOHN A.B. 6, Anna B. 3, nd William W. Crawford 70.

In 1880 Belmont County, John is 52, Sarah A. 48, Martha 17, John 15, Anna B. 13, Linna M. 9, Rosa K. 7, Thomas M. 4, and Verlon M. five months.

John A. Crawford 1828-1900 is buried in Belmont County # 70713148, with Sarah Ann (Kiger) Crawford 1831-1892 # 117488683.

1890 - thanks to the Crawford family


J. A. Bingham Crawford and Sarah J. Harris married on Sept 8, 1892 in Morgan County, Ohio.

John is divorced in 1900 Morgan County, Ohio, 36, a farm laborer for John and Nancy Fitch.
Sarah Crawford is widowed, 36, living with her parents James Harris and Hanna, both 69. Vincent Crawford is 6, Vernon 4.

EUPHEMA'S FAMILY

In 1870 La Salle County, Illinois, Euphema Rhea is 1, Estella 2, with George W. 35 and Martha 34 .

G.W. Rhea is farming in Section 23, La Salle County. in 1877.

Mattie (Lamb) Rhea 1836-1873 is buried in LaSalle County # 130432146, with George 1812-1898 # 130432136.

George "Ray" is in La Salle County in 1880, 45, now married to Anna 41. Stella is 12, Prema 11, Robert 8, Samuel 7, Fred 4, and Henry 1.


Francis Brooks and Ann E. Rhea married in LaSalle County on August 6, 1899.

HENRY

Henry Almon Rhea was born October 11, 1878 in Mentoda to George W. Rhea and Anna R. Rife, 40, born in Pennsylvania.

In 1900 Henry E. Rhea is 21, with mother Anna Brooks 61, now married to Francis Brooks 68.

Henry E. Rhea claimed a quarter in section 17, 8S 51W in 1914.

PREMA

Prema "Forester" is in Chicago in 1900, born June 1861 in Illinois, no occupation with brother Fred Dec 1875 Illinois a bank clerk. They're with Otto Forester March 1852 in New York, married to Estealla Dec 1867 Illinois.

Prema Rhea claimed a quarter in section 4, 8S 51W in 1910.

THIS IS ANOTHER PREMA RHEA


Prema Rhea and John A. Crawford married in Kit Carson County on December 15, 1909.

In 1910 Kit Carson County, Prema is 40, born in Illniois, married to John A. Crawford 43 born in Ohio.

They're in Salina, Kansas in 1920, John 55, Prema 50, and Helen 9.

Euphema Crawford, 1869-1947 is buried in Salina, Kansas, , daughter of George W. Reha .

1942 Mendota, Illinois "One hundred 25 guests honored Miss Prema Rhea, formerly rural mail carrier, on route three out of Mendota. at a party Saturday evening in the community hall. Triumph. Five hundred and euchre were played and prizes won by Mrs. William Sibigtroth. Floyd Davis. Mrs. Floyd Davis and Lowell Dilbeck In 500: Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Davis. Mark Setchell and Sherman Andrews in euchre. Miss Rhea was presented with a purse of money. Miss Rhea has been transferred from Mendota to Grand Ridge."

" In 1918, a Mendota rural carrier's appointment was first awarded to a woman, Miss Prema Rhea.
Miss Rhea drove her own team of horses, and took personal care of them after the completion of her route each day. In later years, when the automobile replaced the horse on the mail routes, snowbound roads and mud were handicaps to the early autos and offered a new challenge to rural carriers. Miss Rhea met this challenge as capably as any other carrier, however, and always got through roads that seemed impassable.
In 1941, Miss Rhea was transferred to Grand Ridge and it was there that she met Ira Lightner, the man who was soon to become her husband. They met, curiously enough, at his mail box. He was a patron on her route. They were later married and are now living on a farm near Hinckley.

Prema (Rhea) Lightner 1897-1969 is buried in Mendota # 112044393.
"Mrs. Prema Rhea Lightner, 71, of 716 Castle Street, Sandwich, formerly of Hinckley, died Tuesday, April 8, 1969 in the Elmwood Nursing Home, Aurora.
She was born June 11, 1897 at Triumph, the daughter of Samuel and Margaret Pink Rhea. She was educated in the Triumph school and had been a rural mail carrier from Mendota and Grand Ridge for 20 years.
March 31, 1942 she was united in marriage to Ira Lightner at Grand Ridge, and he preceded her in death in 1964.
Surviving are two stepsons, Russell of Manville and Wilford of Pontiac; three stepdaughters, Mrs. Nick (Gladys) Appel, Cedar Point, Mrs. Olis (Geneva) Hayes Blackstone and Mrs. Tom (Jean) Ficht, Atlanta, GA; two brothers, Walter Rhea and George Rhea, both of Paw Paw; two sisters, Mrs. Leonard (Ethel) Abel, Hinckley and Mrs. Orrin (Evaline) Wright, Leland; also 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
She was a member of the Triumph Improvement Club.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11, in the St. Paul's Catholic Church with the Rev. Thomas Kane officiating. Interment was in Restland Cemetery, Mendota"

Samuel Rhea claimed a quarter in section 3, 8S 51W in 1912, near Flagler, Colorado.


Samuel 1873-1960 is buried in Mendota # 101037905, with Margaret 1879-1928.

JOHN AND PREMA

John A. Crawford and Prema Rhea were married in Kit Carson County on December 15, 1909, by Ernest Blodgett, minister.
"husband previously married and divorced May 9, 1898 in Morgan County, Ohio "

In 1910 Kit Carson County, John is farming, 43, born in Ohio, with Prema 40, Illinois, first marriage for both.

John claimed a quarter in section 33, 7S 51W in 1911.


In 1920 Salina, Kansas, John A. B. Crawford is 55 Prema 53, with daughter Helen 9 born in Colorado.

They're still in Salina in 1930, John a gardener for his brother, 64, with Prema 60. Helen is 19, a clerk in a mercantile store.

John 1864-1947 #9411021 and Prema 1869-1947 # 94710964 are buried in Salina

HELEN

Helen # 42077847 is buried in Salina.
"Helen Lucille Minneman, 94, Salina, died Wednesday, December 1, 2004.
Mrs. Minneman was born Helen Lucille Crawford on Nov. 5, 1910, near Flagler, Colo. She was a homemaker. She married Theodore C. Minneman in 1930 in Kansas City, Mo. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Salina.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997 and a daughter, Amaryllys Newby, in 1969.
Survivors include four sons, James and Jeff, both of Salina, John of Washington, Iowa, and Joseph of Peoria, Ill.; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 255 S. Seventh, Salina, the Rev. Kent Happel officiating. Burial will be in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina."

Carroll K. Crawford 1919-2010 is buried in Lucas Cemetery # 67407110.

His father Scott Crawford is buried in Kirk 1881-1947 # 67354373, with his mother Anna Lenore (Hyatt) Crawford


In 1910 Morgan County, Ohio, Sarah J. Crawford is 46, Vernon 13, living with Abraham Barnes 86 and Hanna J. 79.

In 1920 Morgan County, Sarah is 55, Vincent Crawford 25.


Sarah is widowed in 1930 Morgan County, 65, living alone on Main Street.

Sarah J. Crawford Cope is buried in Morgan County 1864-1930 # 1131432e.

So are James Harris 1830-1901 and Hannah Smith Harris 1831-1914.

VINCENT

Vincent is living with grandmother Hannah Harris in 1910 Morgan COunty, 16, a farm laborer.

VERNON
Vernon C. Crawford 1896-1966 is buried in Morgan COunty, Ohio # 6493741, wtih Hazel 1896-1988.

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