James A. McHenry (Biography)

[genealogynut]

Taken from History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler

JAMES A. MCHENRY, attorney at law, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1872, remained there until 1862, on his father's farm, thence to Portage County, Ohio.  Took a course in Hiram and Mount Union colleges.  In 1868, commenced reading law, and was admitted to the bar in Painesville, Ohio, in 1869; then emigrated to Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., and began the practice of law, and in 1870 came to Kansas, locating in Wilson County, where he was engaged in law practice until 1882.  In 1876, he was elected County Attorney of Wilson County, serving two years, was City Attorney of Neodesha for one term, and was editor of the Free Press at that place.  In June 1882, he located at Howard, where he opened an office for the practice  of law, and in company with R. Simins organized Elk County Immigration Co., for the purpose of settling up the county.  They have 12,000 acres of wild and improved land ranging from $200 to $20,000 per farm, consisting of grazing, grain, bottom and up land, and can suit men of moderate means as well as men of ample means, in the selection of a farm, and take great pains in showing strangers around the country whether they buy or not, and willingly answer all letters of inquiry, taking great pains not to overdraw the natural advantages of the country.  Mr. McHenry and his partners are energetic men, and will be sure to make a success of this great enterprise.  They also loan money on short time at a low rate of interest; also issue a quarterly sheet entitled the Real Estate Index, which they send to all parts of the United States and to Europe.  In 1872, Mr. McHenry and Miss Myra G. Warren, of Lexington, Mo., were united in marriage.  They have been blessed with three children -- Josephine, Lee Ella and J. A., Jr.

[Marcia Moore]

Does anyone know how to contact a descendant of Myra McHenry?  Myra was a prohibitionist who worked alongside Carry Nation, as well as on her own.  She lived in and around Howard, Severy and Wichita and was the wife of James A. McHenry.

[genealogynut]

From what brief scanning I have done on the internet, it sounds like Myra was "one angry mamma!!!"  The Wichita State University has a special collection regarding some of Myra's correspondence, but you probably already know about that.  They also had a newpaper clipping telling about Myra being arrested at least 40 times, mostly for disturbing the peace, etc.

I checked the Rootsweb.com entries (although that data is not always reliable) and seen where Myra and James A. McHenry were divorced.  I wonder if there may be a record of that divorce in the Elk County courthouse.  I also checked the 1920 census, and James A. McHenry was still living in Elk County, Howard township, age given was 77.  So chances are good that you may find an obit that will tell about his children, and their approximate locations at that time.  I don't think Mr. Zimmerman has much time to do look ups, from his records, for people.  I have seen where there were two sons of James A. and Myra--James, Jr. and Cornell W.  They may possibly be marriage records in Elk County for Myra's children. (There were a couple of daughters, as well.)

Just thought maybe this would help in trying to trace any descendants.

[Marcia Moore]

Thanks, Lois.  I already have obtained the information and a photo of Myra from the Wichita State University special collection.  Myra was arrested several times in Elk County, Greenwood County and Sedgwick County.  In April 1908, Mr. McHenry applied for a divorce but Myra said she would fight the divorce proceedings and if the case came to a hearing in Elk County she was going to make some mighty interesting history.  She said she did not want a divorce trial, as she was not willing to let her children be humiliated.  In 1910, she was arrested for the 34th time.  It was against her principals to pay any fines - she always served her time and was soon turned out again.  Mrs. McHenry said what hastened her release at Howard that time was the fact that if they had kept her any longer they would have had to bought her some winter clothes, so they turned her out.  Then she made another speech to some of those who were instrumental in having her jailed.  Myra was still crusading against liquor in 1930. 

[genealogynut]

I am finding this very interesting.  In 1910 census, James stated he was divorced.  In 1920, he stated he was single.  I cannot find James, Jr. or Cornell in the 1920 census. In 1910 I find a James McHenry, age 30, living in Coffeyville. He was a boarder and worked as a cashier.  But nothing of Cornell in the 1910 census, either.

In 1900, Myra is listed in the census, living with her family. It listed daughter, Josephine, James, Jr. age 30 and Cornell, age 16.

Can you just imagine the embarrassment that James, Sr. went through, being a prominent lawyer?

[Marcia Moore]

Here are a few of the articles about Mrs. McHenry I found in the Severyite --

August 9, 1901
     Mrs. McHenry, of Howard, prohibitionist and follower of Mrs. Nation, was in Severy last Saturday on her way to Wichita with a young wayward girl to put her in a home for girls.  While here, of course, Mrs. McHenry hunted up something to do in her line, and, gathering a few ladies, proceeded to Dr. J.W. Kessinger's place on Kansas Avenue, and commenced praying.  Some of her prayer was all right, and some parts of it should have been left unsaid.  Dr. Kessinger listened to her all the way through without saying a word, and when she had finished, he asked her to listen to his talk.  He commenced, but Mrs. McHenry started off, and the Dr. lost his temper and said things, like Mrs. McHenry, that should have been left unsaid.  Marshal Brown arrested Dr. Kessinger and he was found guilty in Police Judge Webster's court and fined $8 plus costs.  The Dr. refused to pay, and that night Marshal Brown took him to the county jail at Eureka.  Arriving at Eureka, the Dr. concluded to give bond and appeal his case to the district court, and was brought back to Severy, but by Monday evening, having failed to give his bond, he was again taken to Eureka and placed in jail.  No one blames the Dr. for getting mad at what Mrs. McHenry said, and if he had been a little more careful in his language, everything would have been running along smoothly.  Bond was given yesterday, and Dr. Kessinger was released.

September 13, 1901
     The case of the City of Severy vs. J.W. Kessinger, appeal from Police Court was tried in the district court this week, and the jury brought in a verdict in favor of Kessinger.  It will be remembered that on the third of August, Mrs. McHenry went to Kessinger's place in this city and prayed, letting her prayer go, we believe, beyond the limit of a prayer generally offered up by a Christian person.  Mr. Kessinger took exception to this prayer, and used some profane language for which he was arrested and found guilty in the police court.  The cost in the case will amount to about $225, which will have to be paid by the city.  The main cause of his acquittal is said to be a weak part in the city ordinances not sufficiently defining just what constitutes a disturbance of the peace.

Oct. 11, 1901
     Mrs. McHenry, of Howard, in company with one of Carrie Nation's partners in the joint smashing business, was in Severy last Saturday on their way from Wichita to Howard.  Mrs. McHenry took advantage of the stopover to give her opinion of the editor of this paper and some more of our citizens whom she does not like, and also told us that a number of people here and elsewhere were worse anarchists than the man who shot McKinley.  The old lady is quite harmless.

Aug. 14. 1902
     Mrs. McHenry of Howard, was arrested by the officials at Howard last week on the charge of insanity.  She was left in charge of her daughter and during the night made her escape.  The sheriff of Elk County would like to know where she is.  Mrs. McHenry is well known at Severy, having made our city a number of visits.

[genealogynut]

Do you suppose that Myra may have embarrassed her descendants so much, that none of them would want to claim being a descendant? 

[Marcia Moore]

That is quite possible.

[genealogynut]

Maybe her sons have changed their names, and that's why I can't find them in the census records.