Here are the relatives of Christine Rosamond Benton, and her daughter, Drew Benton.Jon Presco

“Our cousin, Jessie Benton Fremont, was even more than a Southern Belle. She came from a long line of aristocrats with all the cultural traits that comes with that title. From her mother’s side she learned elegance, sophistication. She was idealistic, with great passion and energy. Above all, she was… ambitious.
Her mother was spoiled rotten. Elizabeth McDowell was well bred, delicate with gentile manners. She summered at the White Sulphur Springs Resort and wintered in Richmond. Her relations were the governors, senators, and congressmen. As late as the 1880s the family still counted two senators and six congressmen. These were the uncles, cousins, and brothers. That does not include their other nobles.”

As we have seen, the McDowells were a powerful family in American history. Fortunately, there is a living McDowell genealogists who has published a massive masterpiece of research on the McDowell line. Her name is Dorothy Kelly MacDowell, and her 609 page book is titled McDowells in America, a Genealogy. It is almost impossible to read a single page without finding someone listed with a government title, from a lowly sheriff to US Senators and Congressmen. In between are the untold numbers of military officers from Lieutenants to Generals.

Descendants of William GOOCH, Sr.

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM1 GOOCH, SR. was born Bet. 1714 – 1722 in Virginia, and died 22 December 1802 in Caswell Co., NC. He married (1) KEZIAH ANN HART Abt. 1744, daughter of THOMAS HART and SUSANNAH RICE. She was born Abt. 1725 in Virginia, and died Abt. 1760 in Virginia. He married (2) FRANCES RICE Abt. 1762, daughter of JOHN RICE. She died Unknown.

Children of WILLIAM GOOCH and KEZIAH HART are:

i. MARY2 GOOCH, b. 30 May 1745, Hanover Co., VA; d. 14 December 1842, Pike Co., MS; m. JOHN SNEAD, 25 March 1765; b. 27 June 1739, Hanover Co., VA; d. 06 September 1793, Wilkes Co., GA.

2. ii. WILLIAM GOOCH, JR., b. Abt. 1750, Hanover Co., VA; d. 09 January 1832, Caswell Co., NC.

iii. ELIZABETH GOOCH, b. Abt. 1754, Hanover Co., VA; d. 1826, Rutherford Co., TN; m. WILLIAM KIMBROUGH, Abt. 1770; b. Abt. 1750, Virginia; d. 1816.

3. iv. ANN “NANCY” GOOCH, b. Abt. 1755, Hanover Co., VA; d. 03 January 1838, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO.

v. JAMES GOOCH, b. 1757, Hanover Co., VA; d. 1820, Greenville Co., SC; m. ELIZABETH KELLY, 03 August 1785; d. Unknown.

Children of WILLIAM GOOCH and FRANCES RICE are:

vi. DAVID2 GOOCH, b. 11 April 1763; d. 21 September 1831, Williamson Co., TN; m. (1) JANE —?—; d. Unknown; m. (2) —?— LANE; d. Unknown; m. (3) JENNY WILLIAMS, 19 December 1788; d. Unknown.

vii. NATHANIEL GOOCH, b. 10 October 1768; d. 30 October 1841, Rutherford Co., TN; m. MARTHA “PATSEY” TAIT, 07 December 1797; d. Unknown.

viii. SARAH GOOCH, b. Abt. 1775; d. Unknown; m. WILLIAM H. RICE, 07 September 1795; d. Unknown.

ix. JOHN CLAIBORNE GOOCH, b. Abt. 1777; d. April 1804, Caswell Co., NC.

x. THOMAS GOOCH, b. Abt. 1778; d. Unknown; m. ELIZABETH ANTHONY, 13 August 1799; d. Unknown.

xi. MARY “POLLY” GOOCH, b. Abt. 1780; d. Unknown; m. HENRY WILLIAMS, 31 December 1799; d. Unknown.

xii. SISLEY GOOCH, b. Abt. 1782; d. Unknown; m. JAMES BIRK, 31 July 1802; d. Unknown.

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM2 GOOCH, JR. (WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1750 in Hanover Co., VA, and died 09 January 1832 in Caswell Co., NC. He married SARAH “SALLY” KERR Abt. 1772 in Orange Co., NC, daughter of ALEXANDER KERR and MARY RICE. She was born 12 October 1755, and died 1830 in Caswell Co., NC.

Children of WILLIAM GOOCH and SARAH KERR are:

i. ABNER3 GOOCH, b. Abt. 1773, Orange Co., NC; d. Unknown.

ii. WILLIAM GOOCH, b. Abt. 1775, Orange Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. MARY FANNING, 05 December 1798; d. Unknown.

iii. MARY GOOCH, b. Abt. 1777, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. —?— RICE; d. Unknown.

iv. JAMES GOOCH, b. Abt. 1779, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. SALLY PORTER, 29 November 1801; d. Unknown.

v. JOHN GOOCH, b. Abt. 1782, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. POLLY WALTERS, 25 August 1807, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown.

vi. FRANCIS GOOCH, b. Abt. 1786, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. ALICEY KING, 30 December 1837; d. Unknown.

vii. SUSANNAH GOOCH, b. Abt. 1788, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. HOWELL BOSWELL, 22 December 1813; d. Unknown.

viii. NATHANIEL GOOCH, b. Abt. 1790, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. JENNY BOSWELL, 23 January 1816; d. Unknown.

4. ix. SICILY GOOCH, b. 17 September 1792, Caswell Co., NC; d. 17 October 1858, Webster Co., MO.

x. MARTHA GOOCH, b. Abt. 1796, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown.

3. ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH (WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1755 in Hanover Co., VA, and died 03 January 1838 in St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO. She married JESSE BENTON Abt. 1777 in North Carolina. He was born Abt. 1744, and died August 1791 in Orange Co., NC.

Children of ANN GOOCH and JESSE BENTON are:

i. MARGARET3 BENTON, b. 1778, Orange Co., NC; d. 1806, Williamson Co., TN.

ii. MARY BENTON, b. 1780, Orange Co., NC; d. 1817, St. Louis Co., MO.

5. iii. SENATOR THOMAS HART BENTON, b. 14 March 1782, Orange Co., NC; d. 10 April 1858, Washington, DC.

iv. JESSE BENTON, b. 1783, Orange Co., NC; d. September 1843, Tennessee; m. MARY CHILDRESS, 1808; d. Unknown.

v. SAMUEL BENTON, b. 1785, Orange Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. MARY HUNTER; d. Unknown.

6. vi. NATHANIEL BENTON, b. 1786, Orange Co., NC; d. Unknown.

vii. ANN “NANCY” BENTON, b. 1788, Orange Co., NC; d. 1807, Williamson Co., TN.

viii. SUSANNAH BENTON, b. 1791, Orange Co., NC; d. 1811, Williamson Co., TN.

Generation No. 3

4. SICILY3 GOOCH (WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 17 September 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, and died 17 October 1858 in Webster Co., MO. She married DEVEREUX HIGHTOWER, SR. 13 January 1816 in Caswell Co., NC, son of JOSHUA HIGHTOWER and DELILAH SLADE. He was born 10 June 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, and died 21 September 1872 in Webster Co., MO.

Children of SICILY GOOCH and DEVEREUX HIGHTOWER are:

i. WILLIAM4 HIGHTOWER, b. 16 December 1816, Caswell Co., NC; d. 1869, Missouri; m. MARY STAMPS, 16 December 1844; d. Unknown.

ii. DELILAH HIGHTOWER, b. 11 December 1817, Caswell Co., NC; d. 06 May 1880, Troup, TX; m. EPSOM/EMPSON FITCH, 24 November 1834; d. Unknown.

7. iii. DEVEREUX HIGHTOWER, JR., b. 22 December 1818, Caswell Co., NC; d. December 1884, Webster Co., MO.

8. iv. FRANCIS HIGHTOWER, b. 1820, Caswell Co., NC; d. October 1862.

9. v. SARAH “SALLY” HIGHTOWER, b. 15 November 1821, Caswell Co., NC; d. 07 March 1885, Webster Co., MO.

vi. JOSHUA HIGHTOWER, b. 01 January 1823, Caswell Co., NC; d. May 1898, Missouri; m. (1) FRANCES CHANDLER, 17 November 1843; d. Unknown; m. (2) NANCY ROWE, 05 July 1857; d. Unknown.

vii. MARTHA HIGHTOWER, b. 1824, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. BENJAMIN F. SIMPSON, 13 October 1843; d. Unknown.

viii. NANCY HIGHTOWER, b. 1826, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. M.B. POTTER, 07 January 1853, Springfield, Greene Co., MO; d. Unknown.

ix. SUSAN “PATSY” HIGHTOWER, b. 1827, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. JOYNER PALMER, 16 February 1850; d. Unknown.

x. ISABELLA HIGHTOWER, b. 1829, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown; m. THOMAS B. RICE, 20 February 1847; d. Unknown.

xi. EPAPHRODITUS D. HIGHTOWER, b. 18 October 1830, Caswell Co., NC; d. 16 October 1912, Wright Co., MO; m. MARELDA FRANCES DAUGHERTY, 06 November 1868; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

xii. ? JOSEPH ? HIGHTOWER, b. 1831, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown.

10. xiii. ABNER HIGHTOWER, b. 25 August 1833, Caswell Co., NC; d. 23 November 1917, Webster Co., MO.

xiv. NICEY HIGHTOWER, b. 1835, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown.

xv. AZARIAH HIGHTOWER, b. 1837, Caswell Co., NC; d. Unknown.

11. xvi. THOMAS RUSSELL HIGHTOWER, b. 01 May 1838, Caswell Co., NC; d. May 1899, Webster Co., MO.

5. SENATOR THOMAS HART3 BENTON (ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 14 March 1782 in Orange Co., NC, and died 10 April 1858 in Washington, DC. He married ELIZABETH MCDOWELL 20 March 1821 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA. She was born 08 July 1794 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA, and died 10 September 1854 in Washington, DC.

Children of THOMAS BENTON and ELIZABETH MCDOWELL are:

12. i. ELIZABETH “ELIZA” C. P.4 BENTON, b. 12 February 1822, Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA; d. 10 December 1895, Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD.

13. ii. JESSIE ANN BENTON, b. 31 May 1824, Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA; d. 27 December 1902, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA.

14. iii. SARAH MCDOWELL BENTON, b. March 1826, Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA; d. 04 January 1863, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY.

iv. JOHN RANDOLPH BENTON, b. 11 November 1829, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO; d. 1852, St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO.

v. JAMES MCDOWELL BENTON, b. June 1831; d. 1836.

15. vi. SUSAN TAYLOR VIRGINIA MCDOWELL BENTON, b. 1833, Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA; d. 08 March 1874, Paris, France.

6. NATHANIEL3 BENTON (ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 1786 in Orange Co., NC, and died Unknown. He married DOROTHY BRANCH. She died Unknown.

Child of NATHANIEL BENTON and DOROTHY BRANCH is:

16. i. THOMAS HART4 BENTON, d. Unknown.

Generation No. 4

7. DEVEREUX4 HIGHTOWER, JR. (SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 22 December 1818 in Caswell Co., NC, and died December 1884 in Webster Co., MO. He married (1) MARTHA JANE MAUPIN 06 January 1853, daughter of ARCHIBALD MAUPIN and MARGARET ADAMS. She was born 1834 in Arkansas, and died 29 March 1862 in Webster Co., MO. He married (2) MARGARET LEE 01 October 1865. She died Unknown.

Children of DEVEREUX HIGHTOWER and MARTHA MAUPIN are:

17. i. NANCY JANE5 HIGHTOWER, b. 17 October 1853, Springfield, Greene Co., MO; d. 18 August 1931, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS.

18. ii. MARGARET HIGHTOWER, b. 15 November 1855, Webster Co., MO; d. 19 January 1883, Neodesha, KS.

iii. ARCHIBALD HIGHTOWER, b. 1856, Webster Co., MO; d. 1865, Webster Co., MO.

19. iv. LUCINDA HIGHTOWER, b. 13 September 1857, Webster Co., MO; d. 13 August 1895, Gainesville, MO.

20. v. JAMES MILTON HIGHTOWER, b. 13 April 1860, Webster Co., MO; d. 09 May 1939, Dora, Ozark Co., MO.

vi. RUSSELL HIGHTOWER, b. 1862, Webster Co., MO; d. 1862, Webster Co., MO.

8. FRANCIS4 HIGHTOWER (SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 1820 in Caswell Co., NC, and died October 1862. He married MARTHA BOSWELL 28 September 1850. She died Unknown.

Child of FRANCIS HIGHTOWER and MARTHA BOSWELL is:

21. i. JOHN STADLER5 HIGHTOWER, b. August 1852, Webster Co., MO; d. Aft. 1910.

9. SARAH “SALLY”4 HIGHTOWER (SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 15 November 1821 in Caswell Co., NC, and died 07 March 1885 in Webster Co., MO. She married THOMAS BOSWELL CHANDLER 28 November 1838. He died Unknown.

Child of SARAH HIGHTOWER and THOMAS CHANDLER is:

22. i. JAMES DEVEREUX5 CHANDLER, b. 28 September 1844, Caswell Co., NC; d. 19 August 1921, Webster Co., MO.

10. ABNER4 HIGHTOWER (SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 25 August 1833 in Caswell Co., NC, and died 23 November 1917 in Webster Co., MO. He married MARGARET JANE ELMORE 25 December 1856 in Webster Co., MO, daughter of JOHN ELMORE and NANCY GARDNER. She was born 14 July 1838 in Monroe Co., TN, and died 03 March 1920 in Webster Co., MO.

Children of ABNER HIGHTOWER and MARGARET ELMORE are:

i. NANCY A.5 HIGHTOWER, b. 1858, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

ii. ELIZA J. HIGHTOWER, b. 1860, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

iii. MARGARET E. HIGHTOWER, b. 1866, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

iv. MARTHA L. HIGHTOWER, b. 1868, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

v. SARAH ALICE HIGHTOWER, b. 1870, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

vi. SAMANTHA HIGHTOWER, b. 1872, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

vii. WILLIAM HIGHTOWER, b. 1875, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

11. THOMAS RUSSELL4 HIGHTOWER (SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 01 May 1838 in Caswell Co., NC, and died May 1899 in Webster Co., MO. He married (1) MARTHA WALKER 04 March 1860, daughter of ROBERT WALKER and SUSANNAH CURL. She was born 05 June 1843 in Cedar Co. MO, and died 25 October 1882 in Webster Co. MO. He married (2) MARTHA HARRIET HYDE 19 November 1883, daughter of JOHN HYDE and SARAH —?—. She was born 19 November 1850 in Webster Co. MO, and died 25 July 1903 in Webster Co. MO.

Children of THOMAS HIGHTOWER and MARTHA WALKER are:

i. MATILDA A.5 HIGHTOWER, d. Unknown; m. GEORGE TORY; d. Unknown.

ii. JOHN R. HIGHTOWER, d. Unknown.

iii. —?— HIGHTOWER, d. Unknown.

iv. MARY SUSAN HIGHTOWER, b. 15 August 1863, Webster Co. MO; d. 17 September 1869, Webster Co. MO.

v. SISILY LAVENA HIGHTOWER, b. 10 May 1866, Webster Co. MO; d. 21 September 1869, Webster Co. MO.

vi. MARTIN D. HIGHTOWER, b. 10 May 1871, Webster Co. MO; d. 17 April 1876, Webster Co. MO.

Children of THOMAS HIGHTOWER and MARTHA HYDE are:

vii. ALBERT CLEVELAND5 HIGHTOWER, b. 07 January 1886, Webster Co., MO; d. 01 October 1887, Webster Co. MO.

viii. IRVIN EARL HIGHTOWER, b. 28 April 1887, Webster Co., MO; d. 25 July 1898, Webster Co. MO.

ix. PORTER HYDE HIGHTOWER, b. 27 March 1889, Webster Co., MO; d. 19 October 1975, Webster Co., MO.

x. EVA MAE HIGHTOWER, b. 29 April 1891, Webster Co., MO; d. 03 December 1969, Webster Co., MO.

12. ELIZABETH “ELIZA” C. P.4 BENTON (THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 12 February 1822 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA, and died 10 December 1895 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD. She married WILLIAM CAREY JONES 18 March 1847 in Washington, DC. He was born 19 February 1816 in Thomaston, Lincoln Co., ME, and died 05 November 1867 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA.

Children of ELIZABETH BENTON and WILLIAM JONES are:

23. i. ELIZABETH MCDOWELL BENTON5 JONES, b. 28 October 1848, Washington, DC; d. 30 May 1924, Gretna, Pittsylvania Co., VA.

ii. THOMAS HART BENTON JONES, b. 13 April 1852, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA; d. 06 November 1916.

24. iii. WILLIAM CAREY JONES, b. 15 October 1854, Washington, DC; d. 02 October 1923, Peking, China.

iv. MCDOWELL BENTON JONES, b. 18 December 1856, Washington, DC; d. 11 April 1858, Washington, DC.

13. JESSIE ANN4 BENTON (THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 31 May 1824 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA, and died 27 December 1902 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA. She married THE PATHFINDER – GENERAL JOHN CHARLES FREMONT 19 October 1841. He was born 21 January 1813 in Savannah, Chatham Co., GA, and died 13 July 1890 in New York City, New York Co., NY.

Children of JESSIE BENTON and JOHN FREMONT are:

i. ELIZABETH MCDOWELL BENTON5 FREMONT, b. 13 November 1842, Washington, DC; d. 28 May 1919, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA.

ii. BENTON FREMONT, b. 24 July 1848, Washington, DC; d. 06 October 1848, Steamboat “Martha” between St. Louis and Westport, MO.

25. iii. ADMIRAL – US NAVY JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, b. 19 April 1851, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA; d. 07 March 1911, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.

iv. ANNE BEVERLY FREMONT, b. 01 February 1853, Paris, France; d. 12 July 1853, Silver Springs, Prince George’s Co., MD.

26. v. MAJOR – US ARMY FRANCIS PRESTON FREMONT, b. 17 May 1854, Washington, DC; d. September 1931, Cuba.

14. SARAH MCDOWELL4 BENTON (THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born March 1826 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA, and died 04 January 1863 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY. She married RICHARD TAYLOR JACOB 17 January 1848 in Washington, DC. He was born 13 March 1825 in Oldham Co., KY, and died 13 September 1903 in Oldham Co., KY.

Children of SARAH BENTON and RICHARD JACOB are:

i. RICHARD TAYLOR5 JACOB, b. 20 November 1849, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; d. 24 December 1923, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., OK.

ii. ELIZABETH MCDOWELL JACOB, b. July 1850, Cooper Co., MO; d. Aft. 1930.

15. SUSAN TAYLOR VIRGINIA MCDOWELL4 BENTON (THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 1833 in Cherry Grove, Rockbridge Co., VA, and died 08 March 1874 in Paris, France. She married BARON CHARLES HENRI PHILIP GAULDRÉE DE BOILLEAU 04 June 1855 in Washington, DC. He was born 1823 in Toulouse, France, and died February 1894.

Children of SUSAN BENTON and CHARLES DE BOILLEAU are:

i. PENSÉE5 DE BOILLEAU, b. Abt. 1856; d. Unknown.

ii. BENTON GAULDRÉE DE BOILLEAU, b. February 1858, Calcutta, India (British); d. Unknown; m. MARIE BEDIENT DE GUION, 14 June 1898, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, NY; b. 14 May 1861, New York City, New York Co., NY; d. Unknown.

iii. CHARLES GAULDRÉE BOILLEAU, b. Abt. 1862; d. 29 December 1901, Loughborough Junction, England.

iv. ARTIST – PEGGY GIRL PHILIP GAULDRÉE BOILLEAU/BOILEAU, b. 17 July 1863, Quebec, Canada; d. 18 January 1917, New York City, New York Co., NY; m. EMILY GILBERT, 09 October 1907, The Church of the Transfiguration, Manhattan, New York City, New York Co., NY; b. 02 August 1886, Quakertown, Bucks Co., PA; d. 13 May 1951.

v. DESIRÉE DE BOILLEAU, b. Abt. 1866; d. Unknown.

vi. HUBERT LÉON MACDOWELL DE BOILLEAU, b. 19 September 1868, Versailles, France; d. Unknown.

vii. MARY DE BOILLEAU, b. Bet. 1870 – 1872, France; d. Unknown.

viii. PAULINE DE BOILLEAU, b. Bet. 1870 – 1872, France; d. Unknown.

16. THOMAS HART4 BENTON (NATHANIEL3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) died Unknown. He married MARY ELLEN EASON. She died Unknown.

Children of THOMAS BENTON and MARY EASON are:

27. i. COLONEL MAECENAS EASON5 BENTON, b. 29 January 1848, Dyer Co., TN; d. 27 April 1924, Springfield, Greene Co., MO.

ii. JESSIE BENTON, b. 1857; d. Unknown.

iii. THOMAS BENTON, b. 1859; d. Unknown.

iv. DOLLY E. BENTON, b. 1861; d. Unknown.

v. SAMUEL A. BENTON, b. 1863; d. Unknown.

vi. FANNY M. BENTON, b. September 1869; d. Unknown.

Generation No. 5

17. NANCY JANE5 HIGHTOWER (DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 17 October 1853 in Springfield, Greene Co., MO, and died 18 August 1931 in Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS. She married REV. JOHN MILTON “DICK” GARDNER 26 March 1871, son of SOLOMON GARDNER and EMELINE WORTHY. He was born 17 March 1848 in Monroe Co., TN, and died 01 December 1890 in Webster Co., MO.

Children of NANCY HIGHTOWER and JOHN GARDNER are:

i. SOLOMON LORENZO6 GARDNER, b. 07 September 1873, Webster Co., MO; d. 24 August 1876, Webster Co., MO.

ii. FRANCES “FANNY” GARDNER, b. 02 April 1877, Webster Co., MO; d. 12 March 1879, Webster Co., MO.

iii. MARY MELISSA GARDNER, b. 01 April 1879, Webster Co., MO; d. 20 June 1891, Webster Co., MO.

iv. LEOLA “OLA” GARDNER, b. 19 December 1881, Webster Co., MO; d. 08 March 1897, Webster Co., MO.

v. LEON GARDNER, b. 27 June 1884, Webster Co., MO; d. 09 August 1885, Fort Worth, TX.

28. vi. FRONA GARDNER, b. 14 February 1890, Webster Co., MO; d. 14 January 1968, Marshfield, MO.

18. MARGARET5 HIGHTOWER (DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 15 November 1855 in Webster Co., MO, and died 19 January 1883 in Neodesha, KS. She married ANDREW MCKEEL 03 August 1871. He was born 29 July 1851, and died 20 January 1943.

Children of MARGARET HIGHTOWER and ANDREW MCKEEL are:

i. WILLIAM DEVEREUX6 MCKEEL, b. 05 April 1873; d. Unknown.

ii. ZACHERIAH MCKEEL, b. 09 October 1874; d. 07 December 1875.

29. iii. MARY M. MCKEEL, b. 31 August 1876; d. 08 February 1968.

iv. MARTHA I. MCKEEL, b. 25 December 1878; d. 11 May 1967; m. WALTER L. BOGUE, 05 January 1905, Howard, Elk Co., KS; b. 1875; d. 22 November 1957.

v. JAMES M. MCKEEL, b. 16 February 1881; d. Unknown.

vi. —?— MCKEEL, b. 17 December 1882; d. 17 December 1882.

19. LUCINDA5 HIGHTOWER (DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 13 September 1857 in Webster Co., MO, and died 13 August 1895 in Gainesville, MO. She married ROBERT BENTON COY 02 February 1879 in Webster Co. MO. He was born 01 September 1844 in Marshall, TX, and died 17 January 1913 in Gainesville, MO.

Children of LUCINDA HIGHTOWER and ROBERT COY are:

30. i. JAMES MILTON6 COY, b. 25 August 1881, Marshfield, Webster Co. MO; d. 06 April 1950, Keota, OK.

ii. PERRY URBIN COY, b. 05 April 1884, Half Way, Polk Co., MO; d. 22 December 1957, Los Angeles, CA.

iii. HOSEA B. COY, b. 16 May 1886, Half Way, Polk Co., MO; d. 1944, Gainesville, MO.

iv. ABRAHAM LINCOLN “LINK” COY, b. 29 February 1888, Half Way, Polk Co., MO; d. October 1960, Muskogee, Muskogee Co., OK.

v. CHARLES T. COY, b. August 1893, Missouri; d. Bef. 1910, Ozark Co., MO.

20. JAMES MILTON5 HIGHTOWER (DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 13 April 1860 in Webster Co., MO, and died 09 May 1939 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO. He married ELDORA MCCLELLAN GARDNER 30 September 1880, daughter of SOLOMON GARDNER and EMELINE WORTHY. She was born 21 February 1865 in Webster Co., MO, and died 30 December 1933 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO.

Children of JAMES HIGHTOWER and ELDORA GARDNER are:

31. i. DAVID MILTON6 HIGHTOWER, b. 08 April 1882, Webster Co., MO; d. 05 January 1952, Mountain Grove, Wright Co., MO.

32. ii. JAMES AUSTIN HIGHTOWER, b. 08 February 1884, Webster Co., MO; d. 27 January 1973, West Plains, Howell Co., MO.

iii. ESTELLA HIGHTOWER, b. 17 April 1887, Ozark Co., MO; d. 05 February 1900, Dora, Ozark Co., MO.

iv. MINNIE P. HIGHTOWER, b. 03 November 1891, Ozark Co., MO; d. 19 December 1892, Ozark Co., MO.

33. v. ALANDO ANTIN HIGHTOWER, b. 09 December 1893, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; d. 08 June 1957, Barnsdall, Osage, Co., OK.

34. vi. BEULAH HIGHTOWER, b. 15 July 1897, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; d. December 1986, Missouri.

vii. FORA LEE HIGHTOWER, b. 23 September 1900, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; d. 09 July 1919, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; m. NELLIE BUSHONG; b. Abt. 1895, Ozark Co., MO; d. Unknown.

viii. LORA AGNES HIGHTOWER, b. 07 June 1904, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; d. Unknown; m. THOMAS R. STOREY; d. Unknown.

21. JOHN STADLER5 HIGHTOWER (FRANCIS4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born August 1852 in Webster Co., MO, and died Aft. 1910. He married MARY TENNESSEE GARDNER 04 April 1875 in Webster Co. MO, daughter of SOLOMON GARDNER and EMELINE WORTHY. She was born 22 April 1854 in Webster Co., MO, and died 18 June 1901.

Children of JOHN HIGHTOWER and MARY GARDNER are:

35. i. EMALINE6 HIGHTOWER, b. 04 April 1876, Webster Co., MO; d. 22 March 1939, Webster Co., MO.

ii. ELBERT FRANKLIN HIGHTOWER, b. 05 May 1878, Webster Co., MO; d. April 1966, Webster Co., MO; m. ELLA LOUISA FRANKLIN, 26 July 1903, Niangua, Webster Co., MO; b. 29 July 1884, Fayette, Fayette Co., IA; d. 1964, Webster Co., MO.

iii. JOEL CHRISTOPHER HIGHTOWER, b. 05 April 1880, Webster Co., MO; d. 14 December 1906, Webster Co., MO; m. SARAH LUCY JAMES, 05 May 1904, Niangua, Webster Co., MO; b. 30 March 1884, Niangua, Webster Co., MO; d. 15 December 1969, Springfield, Lane Co., OR.

iv. JOHN LINCOLN HIGHTOWER, b. 1882, Webster Co., MO; d. November 1902, Webster Co., MO.

v. MARY SUSAN HIGHTOWER, b. 16 June 1886, Webster Co., MO; d. 16 December 1956, Sanford, Seminole Co., FL; m. (1) JAMES EUGENE BOWMAN, 1905, Marshfield, Webster Co., MO; b. 1852, Illinois; d. Unknown; m. (2) VERN SCHOONMAKER, 22 June 1921, Elberta, Benzie Co., MI; b. Abt. 1883, Michigan; d. Unknown; m. (3) GEORGE RAYMOND, Aft. 1930; b. Unknown; d. Unknown; m. (4) FRANK POST, 29 October 1948, Owosso, Shiawassee Co., MI; b. 10 November 1883; d. Unknown.

vi. JESSIE ELLEN HIGHTOWER, b. 16 April 1889, Webster Co., MO; d. 06 January 1977, Webster Co., MO; m. ROBERT PHILLIP ARNOLD, 24 March 1909, Scottville, Mason Co., MI; b. 22 October 1883, Sugar Grove, Mason Co., MI; d. 26 March 1967, Webster Co., MO.

vii. MOLLIE HIGHTOWER, b. 1891, Webster Co., MO; d. 1892, Webster Co., MO.

viii. VIRGEL HIGHTOWER, b. 1894, Webster Co., MO; d. 1894, Webster Co., MO.

36. ix. CLAUDIA ESTHER HIGHTOWER, b. 10 March 1896, Webster Co., MO; d. Unknown.

22. JAMES DEVEREUX5 CHANDLER (SARAH “SALLY”4 HIGHTOWER, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 28 September 1844 in Caswell Co., NC, and died 19 August 1921 in Webster Co., MO. He married SARAH ANN ROSETTA GARDNER 29 October 1865, daughter of SOLOMON GARDNER and EMELINE WORTHY. She was born 18 October 1845 in Monroe Co., TN, and died 17 August 1926 in Webster Co., MO.

Children of JAMES CHANDLER and SARAH GARDNER are:

i. JOHN MILTON6 CHANDLER, b. 05 April 1867; d. Unknown.

ii. THOMAS SOLOMON CHANDLER, b. 23 April 1870; d. Unknown.

iii. MARY ISABELLE CHANDLER, b. 20 August 1874, Webster Co., MO; d. 09 October 1953, Wright Co., MO; m. ROBERT LEE ELLIS, 04 November 1894, Marshfield, Webster Co., MO; b. 09 October 1875, Webster Co., MO; d. 29 August 1930, Webster Co., MO.

iv. MALISSA FLORENTINE CHANDLER, b. 04 December 1876; d. Unknown.

v. WILLIAM LORENZO CHANDLER, b. 26 March 1880; d. Unknown.

vi. ELIZA JANE CHANDLER, b. 19 February 1883; d. Unknown.

vii. JAMES WALTER CHANDLER, b. 04 August 1887; d. Unknown.

23. ELIZABETH MCDOWELL BENTON5 JONES (ELIZABETH “ELIZA” C. P.4 BENTON, THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 28 October 1848 in Washington, DC, and died 30 May 1924 in Gretna, Pittsylvania Co., VA. She married WILLIAM B. HUGHES 28 October 1870 in Trinity Church, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA. He was born Abt. 1832 in Tennessee, and died 28 September 1896 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD.

Child of ELIZABETH JONES and WILLIAM HUGHES is:

i. ELSIE6 HUGHES, b. Abt. 1871, California or Italy; d. 30 May 1907, Holborn, London, England.

24. WILLIAM CAREY5 JONES (ELIZABETH “ELIZA” C. P.4 BENTON, THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 15 October 1854 in Washington, DC, and died 02 October 1923 in Peking, China. He married ALICE HARRIET WHITCOMB 17 October 1880 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., CA. She was born 01 April 1856 in Sierra Co., CA, and died 09 December 1882 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., CA.

Child of WILLIAM JONES and ALICE WHITCOMB is:

37. i. ALICE BENTON6 JONES, b. 03 October 1882, Berkeley, Alameda Co., CA; d. 16 October 1951, San Mateo Co., CA.

25. ADMIRAL – US NAVY JOHN CHARLES5 FREMONT (JESSIE ANN4 BENTON, THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 19 April 1851 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA, and died 07 March 1911 in Boston, Suffolk Co., MA. He married SARAH “SALLIE” ANDERSON October 1877. She was born 1856 in Tennessee, and died 23 October 1946 in Washington, DC.

Children of JOHN FREMONT and SARAH ANDERSON are:

i. JOHN CHARLES6 FREMONT, b. 1880, New York; d. 13 October 1957, United States Navel Hospital, St. Albins, Queens, NY.

ii. JESSIE BENTON FREMONT, b. 16 April 1883, Ossinging, Westchester Co., NY; d. 21 January 1979, Washington, DC.

iii. JULIET VAN WYCK FREMONT, b. 20 August 1884, New York City, New York Co., NY; d. 03 March 1971, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., CA; m. HENRY WATTERSON HULL, 1913; b. 03 October 1890, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; d. 08 March 1977, Cornwall, England.

26. MAJOR – US ARMY FRANCIS PRESTON5 FREMONT (JESSIE ANN4 BENTON, THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 17 May 1854 in Washington, DC, and died September 1931 in Cuba. He married CAROLINE DRAKE TOWNSEND 14 November 1883 in New York City, New York Co., NY. She was born Abt. 1855 in New York, and died 14 June 1931 in Atlantic City, Atlantic Co., NJ.

Child of FRANCIS FREMONT and CAROLINE TOWNSEND is:

i. FRANCIS TOWNSEND BENTON6 FREMONT, b. 28 August 1888, Fort Snelling, MN; d. 08 October 1960, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA.

27. COLONEL MAECENAS EASON5 BENTON (THOMAS HART4, NATHANIEL3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 29 January 1848 in Dyer Co., TN, and died 27 April 1924 in Springfield, Greene Co., MO. He married ELIZABETH WISE 24 June 1888. She was born July 1866 in Texas, and died 1952.

Children of MAECENAS BENTON and ELIZABETH WISE are:

38. i. PAINTER THOMAS HART6 BENTON, b. 15 April 1889, Neosho, Newton Co.,MO; d. 19 January 1975, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.

ii. MARY ELIZABETH BENTON, b. November 1890, Neosho, Newton Co., MO; d. 1953.

iii. NATHANIEL WISE BENTON, b. November 1893, Neosho, Newton Co.,MO; d. 1946.

iv. MILDRED BENTON, b. 26 April 1896, Neosho, Newton Co.,MO; d. 28 August 1989, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA.

Generation No. 6

28. FRONA6 GARDNER (NANCY JANE5 HIGHTOWER, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 14 February 1890 in Webster Co., MO, and died 14 January 1968 in Marshfield, MO. She married JAMES HOWARD SYLVESTER ATKISON 26 November 1905 in Webster Co. MO, son of JESSE ATKISSON and SARAH FREEMAN. He was born 26 November 1884 in Wright Co., MO, and died 13 January 1968 in Marshfield, MO.

Children of FRONA GARDNER and JAMES ATKISON are:

i. ORA EVELYN “PAT”7 ATKISON, b. 17 June 1907, Mountain Grove, MO; d. 02 February 1985, Springfield, MO; m. (1) FREDERICK COGDILL, 17 December 1927; b. July 1894, Gentry County, MO; d. 06 September 1959, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO; m. (2) LAFE RANKIN, 1943; b. 28 December 1907; d. 19 April 1945, Italy.

ii. CARLOS OWEN ATKISON, b. 15 March 1910, Mountain Grove, MO; d. 11 June 1933, Kansas City, KS; m. FRANCES WOOD, Private; b. Private.

iii. DOROTHY ATKISSON, b. August 1912, Mountain Grove, MO; d. August 1912, Mountain Grove, MO.

iv. NANIE LEOLA ATKISON, b. 21 October 1913, Mountain Grove, Wright Co., MO; d. 07 June 2003, Kansas City, Platte Co., MO; m. (1) WESLEY WARREN PEARSON, 03 December 1932, Olathe, Johnson Co., KS; b. 10 October 1915, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS; d. 24 November 1974, North Kansas City, Clay Co., MO; m. (2) RAYMOND GRANT JONES, 24 July 1937, Marshfield, Webster Co., MO; b. 27 July 1903, Gashland, Clay Co., MO; d. 09 December 1969, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.

v. JAMES LEON ATKISON, b. 24 June 1918, Mansfield, Wright Co., MO; d. 18 April 2003, Marshfield, Webster Co., MO; m. LOIS YOUNG, Private; b. Private.

vi. RAYMOND GARDNER ATKISON, b. 29 August 1924, Mansfield, MO; d. 09 October 1967, Kansas City, MO; m. (1) DORIS GLIMPSE, Private; b. Private; m. (2) MILDRED FAYE PORTER, 13 September 1956; b. 05 October 1929; d. 25 August 2001, Independence, MO.

29. MARY M.6 MCKEEL (MARGARET5 HIGHTOWER, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 31 August 1876, and died 08 February 1968. She married JAMES WALTER LAFAYETTE BROWN 04 March 1903. He was born 27 July 1880 in Olpe, Lyon Co., KS, and died Unknown.

Children of MARY MCKEEL and JAMES BROWN are:

i. ANDREW A.7 BROWN, b. 04 January 1904; d. 19 May 1961.

ii. LESTER W. BROWN, b. 21 December 1905; d. 03 April 1958.

iii. MARGARET M. BROWN, b. 19 September 1907; d. 19 January 1943.

iv. ALMON J. BROWN, b. 12 February 1913, Warrensburg, Johnson Co., MO; d. 22 October 1984, Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL; m. (1) RUTH EILEEN HOLM, Private; b. Private; m. (2) JOSEPHINE EDITH WATSON, 26 March 1946; b. 21 July 1910; d. 1987.

v. ROBERT E. BROWN, b. 28 June 1914, Fredonia, Wilson Co., KS; d. 03 October 1954, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR; m. DORIS YVONNE LONG, Private; b. Private.

vi. BENJAMIN B. BROWN, b. 14 December 1915; d. 28 January 1997, Tigert, Washington Co., OR; m. LOIS LUCILLE MCDONALD; b. 06 May 1922, Sterling, Skagit Co., WA; d. 06 April 1996, Canby, Clackamas Co., OR.

30. JAMES MILTON6 COY (LUCINDA5 HIGHTOWER, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 25 August 1881 in Marshfield, Webster Co. MO, and died 06 April 1950 in Keota, OK. He married LINNIE LOU SHANKS 17 January 1902, daughter of VINCENT SHANKS and MANIZA GROFF. She was born 04 June 1886 in Osage, and died 25 December 1951 in Tulsa OK.

Children of JAMES COY and LINNIE SHANKS are:

i. RELIA PEARL7 COY, b. 05 November 1902, Ozark Co. MO; d. Unknown.

ii. LUCY JANE COY, b. 08 February 1905, Ozark Co. MO; d. Unknown.

iii. DORTHA EMMELINE COY, b. Private.

iv. OLA MAE COY, b. Private.

v. ARCH COY, b. Private.

vi. WILDA VERDA COY, b. Private.

vii. ART COY, b. Private.

viii. ROBERT VINCENT COY, b. Private.

ix. ROXIE BELL COY, b. Private.

x. ALTA JESSIE COY, b. Private.

xi. BURL MILTON COY, b. Private.

xii. HUGHTON COY, b. Private.

31. DAVID MILTON6 HIGHTOWER (JAMES MILTON5, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 08 April 1882 in Webster Co., MO, and died 05 January 1952 in Mountain Grove, Wright Co., MO. He married ROSA ANN OWENS. She was born 21 April 1881 in Astoria, Texas Co., MO, and died 25 February 1943.

Children of DAVID HIGHTOWER and ROSA OWENS are:

i. LOWEL7 HIGHTOWER, b. 1906; d. Unknown.

ii. NELL HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

iii. DARELL HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

iv. DALE HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

v. TROY HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

vi. SHIRLEY HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

vii. AMOS LEE HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

32. JAMES AUSTIN6 HIGHTOWER (JAMES MILTON5, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 08 February 1884 in Webster Co., MO, and died 27 January 1973 in West Plains, Howell Co., MO. He married LULA BELLE EPLEY 16 April 1906 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO. She was born 18 July 1890 in Ozark Co., MO, and died 27 January 1969 in West Plains, Howell Co., MO.

Children of JAMES HIGHTOWER and LULA EPLEY are:

i. BRITTA MAE7 HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

ii. DESSIE RUBLE HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. NOAH GIMLIN, Private; b. Private.

iii. JAMES RALPH HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. FLORENCE GRISHAM, Private; b. Private.

iv. BASIL WAYNE HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

v. BEULAH VIVIAN HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. RAY HELTON, Private; b. Private.

vi. DORA VELMA HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. (1) BENJAMIN LEE FREEMAN, Private; b. Private; m. (2) HORACE WALDO JOHNSON, Private; b. Private.

vii. BERTHA LOUISE HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. BASIL R. LUNA, Private; b. Private.

viii. LORAH GENEVIEVE HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. JAMES D. ESTERLINE, Private; b. Private.

ix. HOSEA RAY HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

x. GENEVA LUCILLE HIGHTOWER, b. Private; m. CLAY H. KING, Private; b. Private.

xi. DORYS PAULINE HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

33. ALANDO ANTIN6 HIGHTOWER (JAMES MILTON5, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 09 December 1893 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO, and died 08 June 1957 in Barnsdall, Osage, Co., OK. He married ATTA WELKER 22 April 1922. She was born 04 January 1904 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO, and died 17 January 1995 in Barnsdall, Osage Co., OK.

Child of ALANDO HIGHTOWER and ATTA WELKER is:

i. JOE EDWIN7 HIGHTOWER, b. Private.

34. BEULAH6 HIGHTOWER (JAMES MILTON5, DEVEREUX4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 15 July 1897 in Dora, Ozark Co., MO, and died December 1986 in Missouri. She married JOHN WILLIAM GORDON. He was born 24 August 1887 in Shannon Co., MO, and died 02 September 1947 in Missouri.

Children of BEULAH HIGHTOWER and JOHN GORDON are:

i. GLAIN W.7 GORDON, b. 28 November 1914, Dora, MO; d. August 1982, West Plains, Howell Co., MO; m. PAULINE CLEAVER, Private; b. Private.

ii. CLINTON EDWARD GORDON, b. 19 June 1917, Dora, Ozark Co., MO; d. May 1976; m. BESSIE MAE RAGSDALE, Private; b. Private.

35. EMALINE6 HIGHTOWER (JOHN STADLER5, FRANCIS4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 04 April 1876 in Webster Co., MO, and died 22 March 1939 in Webster Co., MO. She married (1) MARION BENJAMIN CLIFT 19 December 1895. He was born 18 March 1873 in Webster Co., MO, and died 30 November 1926 in Webster Co., MO. She married (2) CHARLES E. MANN Private. He was born Private.

Child of EMALINE HIGHTOWER and MARION CLIFT is:

i. RUBY GENEVA7 CLIFT, b. Private.

36. CLAUDIA ESTHER6 HIGHTOWER (JOHN STADLER5, FRANCIS4, SICILY3 GOOCH, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 10 March 1896 in Webster Co., MO, and died Unknown. She married FLOYD BERRYHILL 1923 in Benzonia, Benzie Co., MI. He was born 1892 in Ohio, and died Unknown.

Child of CLAUDIA HIGHTOWER and FLOYD BERRYHILL is:

i. MILFORD T.7 BERRYHILL, b. 05 January 1926, Michigan; d. 01 September 1993, Owosso, Shiawassee Co., MI.

37. ALICE BENTON6 JONES (WILLIAM CAREY5, ELIZABETH “ELIZA” C. P.4 BENTON, THOMAS HART3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 03 October 1882 in Berkeley, Alameda Co., CA, and died 16 October 1951 in San Mateo Co., CA. She married WILLYS RUGGLES PECK 26 July 1910 in PeiTaiHo, China. He was born 24 October 1882 in Tientsin, China, and died 02 September 1952 in Belmont, San Mateo, San Mateo Co., CA.

Child of ALICE JONES and WILLYS PECK is:

i. DAMARIS FLAGG7 PECK, b. Private; m. LINCOLN CAROL REYNOLDS, Private; b. 25 February 1906, Viola, Shasta Co., CA; d. 21 October 1985, Corvallis, Benton Co., OR.

38. PAINTER THOMAS HART6 BENTON (MAECENAS EASON5, THOMAS HART4, NATHANIEL3, ANN “NANCY”2 GOOCH, WILLIAM1) was born 15 April 1889 in Neosho, Newton Co.,MO, and died 19 January 1975 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO. He married RITA PIACENZA 19 February 1922 in New York. She was born 05 January 1896 in Italy, and died April 1975 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.

Children of THOMAS BENTON and RITA PIACENZA are:

i. THOMAS PIACENZA7 BENTON, b. Private.

ii. JESSE P. BENTON, b. Private.

http://righteousandrottenroots.us/gooch_descendants.htm

The father, the powerful US Senator from Missouri, Thomas Hart Benton.

Our cousin, Jessie Benton Fremont, was even more than a Southern Belle. She came from a long line of aristocrats with all the cultural traits that comes with that title. From her mother’s side she learned elegance, sophistication. She was idealistic, with great passion and energy. Above all, she was… ambitious.
Her mother was spoiled rotten. Elizabeth McDowell was well bred, delicate with gentile manners. She summered at the White Sulphur Springs Resort and wintered in Richmond. Her relations were the governors, senators, and congressmen. As late as the 1880s the family still counted two senators and six congressmen. These were the uncles, cousins, and brothers. That does not include their other nobles.
She traveled in a custom London-built coach with an interior of scarlet leather, accompanied by a footmen and maid. When traveling by coach in Virginia she could stop almost anywhere and visit relatives at their “great estates.” Trailing behind the carriage would be a mule drawn wagon loaded with baggage.
“Staunton was also a great thoroughfare for travelers going to and returning from the Virginia springs. During the “spring season,” the town was alive with stagecoaches, besides the private carriages in which many wealthy people traveled. Some of the latter and all of the former were drawn by four horses, and occasionally there was a quite a display of “liveried servants.” (The movies never show these magnificent carriages always being trailed behind with an old mule drawn baggage wagon. I never saw this scene in “Gone With the Wind.”)
This was her world. They were our people, also… a long time ago.
Elizabeth and her husband hated slavery. When Elizabeth’s father died she freed the 40 family slaves. This hatred of slavery would carry through the family.
The romance between Elizabeth McDowell and Thomas Hart Benton is a classic study in opposites attracting. Benton was a frontier brawler, burly, pugnacious and boisterous. In their earlier days, he and his brother, Jesse (for whom Jessie was named) got into a brawl with Andrew Jackson and his friends. Everyone emerged alive after Jesse put a bullet into Jackson’s shoulder. Although the fight took place in a bar room, it was in an elegant hotel. One of the bullets went through the wall and into a room with a mother and her baby. It is not recorded how close the bullet came to the baby. However, no mother likes a bullet fired in anger entering her baby’s room.
Benton pursed the Southern Belle for many years. She finally agreed to marry him when she was at the advanced age of 27. He was older. She agreed to the marriage only after he had attained an acceptable social position and was elected US Senator from Missouri.
Elizabeth did not like the idea of giving up five generations of Virginia aristocracy to live on the wild Missouri frontier. She soon learned to love her adopted country. Such was the wealth that Elizabeth brought to the marriage that the family lived between St. Louis, Virginia, and Washington D.C. They would travel with all the servants money could provide. This shows the immense wealth that flowed from Magdelene.
It was into this family, on their plantation in Lexington, Virginia, that Jessie Benton was born in 1824. This was in the middle of our Woods-Wallace country. Jessie grew up among the powerful in Washington D.C. When her father visited with President Jackson at the White House, Jessie would sit by the president’s side. The president would run his hand through her curly hair.
Andrew and Thomas were now good friends and allies in politics. They laughed about the feud they had so many years before. It is said that no one could become a friend of Andrew Jackson unless they first had a fight with him.
To show you how history interconnects, this was the same Andy Jackson, who as a teenager helped to nurse the wounded after the Battle of Waxhaws. This was the battle where Jessie’s kin, Capt. Adam Wallace, was “hacked to pieces.”
Her mother developed poor health. This propelled Jessie, at a very young age, into the social whirl of Washington D.C. Not only did she attend parties but she also acted as the social hostess for the events given for her Senator father. Highly educated, she spoke both French and Spanish fluently. Her features at the age of 15: Her figure was slender. She had an oval face even described as being classic, dark eyes, knockout red hair. She was a classic Southern Belle.
It was at this tender age, for Jessie now an experienced young woman, that she gave a party to which was invited John C. Fremont. He was 11 years older, handsome, and well known for completing several western expeditions. They fell in love at first sight.
The parents were not pleased with the romance. Fremont had no money or social position, and he was of illegitimate birth. Jessie, as you will see, had a mind of her own. Her actions were considered unacceptable for a young lady of her social standing. Southern girls were expected to know their place and stay in that place. At the age of 17, they eloped and had a secret marriage.
The secret marriage was all anyone talked about in Washington. Her father was furious when he found out about it. Jessie, with great dramatics, left her father’s house on the arm of her new husband.
Cousin Jessie was an ambitious young woman, now married to an ambitious young man, and she had an ambitious father. She had everything going for her: beauty, intelligence, experience, and all of the right social and political connections. They were now the most sought after couple in Washington for parties, balls, social and political gatherings. They were a “handsome pair.”
In the frontier days it seems that all parents objected to their daughter’s choice of husbands, and all the daughters eloped. Then the parents would forgive and forget.
When Fremont was on his expeditions, Jessie would stay at her parent’s home in St. Louis.
One historian tells us the characteristics of the father that would make him successful: a grasp of mind, power of comprehension, and, most importantly, a tenacious memory. Jessie inherited from her father these same traits, which would make her famous.
When her husband returned from his expeditions she would probe his complex, moody, sensitive, speeding mind and pull out the stories of his adventures.
She put these experiences into exciting, understandable stories, which were grasped by the nation. The stories were best sellers. John C. Fremont was the “man of the hour.” Jessie stayed in the background for now, wisely knowing that her greatness would come only through her husband’s reputation, which through her writings she had made famous. She started creating her husband’s fame at the tender young age of 18. She made her husband “the Pathfinder.”
Each time her husband returned from an expedition, Jessie would make him famous, then more famous, then a hero. Her husband took California from Mexico. It was Fremont who instigated the Bear Flag Revolt. It was under his command that the Bear Flag was raised at the Mexican garrison at Sonoma. The Mexicans surrendered to John C. Fremont. The nation was elated at the news! (A footnote for our Moon cousins: John Fremont stayed on the Peter Lassen ranch for a few days in April of 1846, while preparing to take over California from Mexico. Remember, Lassen was a friend and across-the-river neighbor to Uncle Billy Moon.)
There was one small problem. The United States and Mexico were not yet officially at war. So Fremont, in disgrace and humiliation, was transported 3,000 miles back to Washington D.C. to face a court martial. He was found guilty and cashiered out of the army. This only made the people love him even more.
Fremont spent a great deal of time in California. Jessie and her 6-year-old daughter joined him. They made a harrowing journey across the Isthmus of Panama, but arrived safely.
Fremont, at one time, had left money with a business partner in California for the purpose of buying land. The partner bought the best land for himself and with Fremont’s money bought worthless land in the mountains.
All Fremont found on the worthless mountain was gold. He was now famous, wealthy, and became California’s first U.S. Senator. It was back to Washington for John C. Fremont and his wife.
By 1856, Jessie had made her husband so famous that he was asked to run for the presidency for the newly formed Republican Party. He accepted.
Jessie was now immensely popular, the most politically powerful, behind-the-scenes woman in America. She was the first woman to be involved in a presidential campaign. At rallies, conventions, and parades, the crowds screamed “Fremont and Jessie!” The vice-president’s name was not even mentioned.
“Our Jessie,” was shouted as much as her husbands name. After the nomination, the jubilant crowds refused to leave the street until she came to the balcony. There were songs of Jessie. Women started wearing her color, violet. New-born girls were named Jessie Ann.
Politics is a dirty business, campaigns are even dirtier. When it comes close to election time, it becomes vicious. The opposition raised the issue of Fremont’s illegitimate birth. Then they attacked Jessie’s reputation. Her father exploded at the charges, and turned his back on his son-in-law. Jessie was forced to chose between her husband and her father. She chose her husband. Some say the loss of support by her father cost John C. Fremont the election, for Thomas Hart Benton was a powerful senator.
Fremont lost the election to Buchanan. If he had taken the state of Pennsylvania he would have won. It seems that our people always come in a close second when running for the presidency.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Fremont was made a Major General and given command of the Department of the West.
After the war, he lost all of his wealth, which was not unusual for wealthy men of those times. Jessie supported the family with her writings which, she told her husband and readers, was merely a hobby.
Fremont would be appointed Territorial Governor of Arizona, which would provide a living for a few years. He died in 1890.
Jessie died in California in 1902. Her remains were cremated.
The famous portrait of Jessie was done in 1856 when she was in her early 30s. By this time she had put on a little weight and had children. I believe the painter used a little artistic liberty, going back in time a few years to portray Jessie the way she once was. For this I am grateful to the artists.

What does the famed genealogists/historian, Neander Woods, say of our mutual Cousin Jessie? What does he record for history of the most famous and powerful woman of her time, who almost transcended to the presidency through her husband?
What record does he leave of this part of the family who fought bitterly all of their lives to abolish slavery, the very institution that Neander Woods fought for on the Confederate side?

“Elizabeth McDowell; married Hon. Thomas H. Benton, the great Missouri Statesman, who was in the U.S. Senate a long time. Their children:
1. Miss Benton; married General John C. Fremont.
2. Miss Benton; married Colonel Richard T. Jacob of Ky.”
When researching a story, sometimes the story finds you;
At the California State Library, there is a secured research room behind a locked door. Entranced is by permission, and typical of research rooms, you are only allowed to use a pencil.