The Barker/Strait Connection

John and Mary (Chamberlain) Barker, had four sons who married into the Strait family. Two of them married daughters of William and Sophia (Imel) Strate and two married daughters of Peter and Catherine Hummel (Myers) Strait.

William Franklin Barker married Barbara Ellen Strait/Strate, daughter of William and Sophia (Imel) Strate. They had nine children: Samuel P., John H., Sophia, Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary, William C., Enoch and Sarah Ella.

Samuel Barker married Elizabeth Strait/Strate, daughter of William and Sophia (Imel) Strate. They had 11 children: Mary A., William J., John W., Christopher S., Samuel, Sophia E., James P., Joseph Creighton, Minerva Elizabeth, Meliva B. and Harriet.

Richard H. Barker married Elizabeth Strait, daughter of Peter and Catherine Hummel (Myers) Strait. They had eight children: George, Maria, Melchi "Blackie", Albert William, Milton, Jemima, Clara and Franklin "Frank".

Lewis A. Barker married Anna Strait, daughter of Peter and Catherine Hummel (Myers) Strait. They had six children: Enoch, Eliza, Melissa, Amy, Mary Catherine and Martha Ann.

Another Barker/Strait connection: Milton Barker, son of Richard H. and Elizabeth (Strait) Barker, married his first cousin, Mary M. Strait, daughter of John "Curly" and Rachel B. (Strait) Strait.

Tombstone Tuesday

This is the tombstone for my great-grandparents Johann (John) Joseph "Joe" and Emma Cornelia (Strait) Becker. It is located in Woodlawn Cemetery (now Great Bend Cemetery) in Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas. Johann Joseph was b. 18 Dec 1860 in Bischofsdhron, Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, the son of Johann "John" and Anna Maria (Martini) Becker. He d. 15 Sep 1944 in Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas. He m. Emma Cornelia Strait 26 Aug 1844 in Hodgeman, Ness Co., Kansas. Emma Cornelia was b. 10 Sep 1867 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois, the daughter of James S. and Rachel (King) Strait. She d. 3 Dec 1920 in Eureka Twp., Barton Co., Kansas. They had nine children: Joseph Frederick "Fred", William, Nannie, Mabel Mary, Mathilda "Tillie", Albert Leo "Bert", Lewis Lewelling "Lew", Esta Leona, and Edna May.

A Tale of Two Emma's

Emma Delphenia Baldwin (my great-grandmother) was born 26 Mar 1855 in Seymour, Wayne Co., Iowa. She was the daughter of William Alonzo and Clarissa Rebecca (Cook) Baldwin, Sr. Emma grew up in Seymour. On 19 Jan 1873, she married John Franklin Smith in Appanoose Co., Iowa. They had nine children: Etta Delphenia, William Orvis, Viola Anastasia, Alvie Adolphus, Franklin Phosent, Clara Ellen, John Orton, Ray Ross (my grandfather), and Edna Mae. In 1879, the family moved to Kansas where they homesteaded northwest of Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas. In 1919, they moved into Great Bend. She became a member of the Christian Church in Hoisington, Barton Co., Kansas. John Franklin died 16 Nov 1923 in Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas and was buried in Walnut Valley Cemetery, Barton Co., Kansas. Emma died 20 Oct 1947 in Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas and is buried in Walnut Valley Cemetery alongside her husband, John Franklin.

Emma Cornelia Strait (my great-grandmother) was born 10 Sep 1867 in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois. She was the daughter of James S. and Rachel (King) Strait. She came to Kansas in 1878 with her parents. She was a member of the Baptist church. On 26 Aug 1884, she married Johann (John) Joseph "Joe" Becker in Hodgeman, Ness Co., Kansas. They had nine children: Joseph Frederick, William, Nannie, Mable Mary, Mathilda, Albert Leo, Lewis Lewelling, Esta Leona and Edna May (my grandmother). Emma died 3 Dec 1920 in Eureka Twp., Barton Co., Kansas and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery (now Great Bend Cemetery). Joe d. 15 Sep 1944 in Great Bend, Barton Co., Kansas and is buried alongside his wife, Emma.

Notice anything weird about this information (besides the fact that they are both named Emma)? How about the fact that they each had nine children.

Tombstone Tuesday

My great-great grandparents, James S. and Rachel (King) Strait.

Riverside Cemetery

Ness Co., Kansas