S. W. PHOENIX and AMELIA PHOENIX

The autograph book of
Lovina Jane Record Carson

 

According to a copy of the plat map of Richland Township, Cowley County, KS, dated from 16 Feb 1891 to 12 Dec 1894, provided to me by my late great aunt, there is a Phoenix Ins. Company in the Town of Floral, Richland Township, Cowley County, KS. The Phoenix family also owns ½ of the southwest quarter of Section 8 of Richland Township, Cowley County, KS. The railroad runs through their property.


The 1875 Kansas state census shows S. W. Phoenix, his wife Amelia and son Mark residing in Richland Township, Cowley County, KS. One of the questions on that particular census was from where did the residents migrate. The Phoenixes had moved to Kansas from the state of Michigan. 


The 1880 US federal census shows S. W. Phoenix and his wife, Amelia, living in Richland, Cowley County, KS. Mr. Phoenix was born 16 Jul 1836 in Pennsylvania. The census indicates that S. W. Phoenix said that his father was born in Ireland; S. W. Phoenix’s mother was born in Pennsylvania. He and his 45 year old wife Amelia have an 11 year old son Mark, born in Michigan 1 Jul 1869 (www.findagrave.com) 


(Living next to the Phoenix family are William M. Miller and Arrena Howell Miller who were the parents of Julia Ann Miller Holt, the mother of Alfred Lewis Holt who became the husband of Harriet Esther Carson, the daughter of Thomas R. Carson and Lovina Jane Record Carson who owned the autograph book. According to the plat map of Richland Township, Cowley County, KS, dated from 16 Feb 1891 to 12 Dec 1894, provided to me by my late great aunt, this information is correct. The Phoenixes owned 160 acres of Section 34, Richland Township west of the Millers.  Bleu) 


An 1888 picture of Mark Phoenix can be seen at www.eccchistory.org/wilmot.htm.  He was member of The Pickwick Club of Wilmot, KS.  He is standing on the back row, second from left.  His wife, Clara Stephens Phoenix, born 21 Jan 1866, is standing to the right of Mark.

Also living with the Phoenixes are 22 year old William Yandiwalker, born in Michigan, and 21 year old Evelyn Yandiwalker, born in Indiana. William is a hired hand and Evelyn is a servant living with the Phoenixes.

According to the 1850 census 2 year old S. W. Phoenix lived in Waterford Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania with his parents Aaron and Nancy (Skinner) Phoenix. On 4 Jan 1877, the Winfield Courier noted that “jolly Sam Phoenix” had been elected Master of the Floral Grange. According to the Winfield Courier, dated 1 Nov 1877, S. W. Phoenix acted as secretary for the Republican committee of Richland Township.

Mrs. Amelia Phoenix was in the choir as of 1 Apr 1877, according to the Winfield Courier. 9 Aug 1878, S. W. Phoenix threshed wheat with a Westinghouse Vibrator. The Vibrator needed a team of 10 horses to run it. The 1885 Kansas State census shows the Phoenixes still residing in Richland township, Cowley County, KS. They have 3 children. 

The Phoenix family moves from Cowley County, Kansas, sometime between 1885 and 1900.  The 1900 US census shows S. W. Phoenix and Amelia Phoenix living with their son Mark and his family in Surface Creek, Delta County, CO. By 1910, Samuel W. Phoenix is dead, having passed away 13 Jan 1907 (www.findagrave.com).  His wife Amelia lives with their son Mark, who is also now widowed, and is living with his young son and two daughters, and a boarder by the name of William Austin.  (1910 US Census) Mark’s wife, Clara Stephens Phoenix, died 13 May 1909. (www.findagrave.com)

Amelia passed away 14 Apr 1918 and is buried in Cory Cemetery, Delta County, CO.  A picture of her headstone appears on www.findagrave.com.  Mark Phoenix is buried there also, passing away on 15 Sep 1958.