Mary M. Evans
  b: 24/Oct/1848 - Casey Co., KY
  d: 29/Apr/1920 - Oakland, Alameda Co., CA - bur: Shepherd Cem., Athens Twp., Gentry Co., MO

Father: John Thomas Evans
Mother: Elizabeth Miller

Spouse-1: George W. Norris - b: 12/Dec/1843 - MO
   d: 25/Mar/1898 - Gentry Co., MO - bur: Shepherd Cem., Athens Twp.
  m: 3/Jun/1866 - Gentry Co., MO

Child-1: Henry A. (Allen) - b: 1867/1868 - Gentry Co., MO
          2: James Hugh - b: Oct/1869 - Gentry Co., MO
                                   m: Emma Smith
          3: (unnamed child)
          4: (unnamed child)
          5: Jessie Vera - b: 23/Jul/1881 - Gentry Co., MO
                                   d: 9/Jun/1957 - Kings Co., CA
                                  m: William Edward McCulley - 7/Oct/1900 -  Athens Twp., Gentry Co., MO

Spouse-2: Levi Bremen Spainhower - b: 7/Jan/1845 - Athens Twp., Gentry Co., MO
                                                            d: 9/Jan/1925 - Gentry Co., MO - bur: Shepherd Cem., Athens Twp.
                                                           m: 9/May/1900 - Athens Twp., Gentry Co., MO

Biographical Details:

Mary M. Evans was the second child of John T. and Elizabeth Miller Evans and was born in Casey County, Kentucky, on October 24, 1848.  Her middle name is not known.  Evidently, she moved to Gentry County with her parents and older sister when she was just two years old.  This is explicitly stated in her obituary and, since it is unlikely that such a move would have been made in the cold winter months, this supports the presumption that the Evans family moved to Gentry County in the early spring of 1851, i.e., March or April.1  She was left an orphan by the deaths of both of her parents by the time she was an adolescent.  Mary M. Evans married George W. Norris on June 3, 1866, in Gentry County.  Subsequently, she became a member of the Christian Church in Albany in 1868.  George and Mary Evans Norris reportedly had five children, only three of which appear to have survived into adulthood and can be documented in relevant census and civil records.  Their oldest known son is listed, respectively, as "Henry A." and "H. A." in the population schedules of the US Censuses of 1870 and 1880.  Moreover, when Mary Evans Norris Spainhower died in 1920, a son, Allen, is reported to have been living in Montana.  This suggests that the oldest son's name was Henry Allen Norris.  However, this contradicts the earlier obituary of George Norris in which a son, Willie, was said to be living in the West.2  Nevertheless, in this same source it was also explicitly stated that only three children were then living, therefore, either this name must be in error or the oldest son must have also been called "Willie" for some reason.  The name of the second son is given as James H. in both 1870 and 1880 population schedules.  Moreover, he seems to have been enumerated twice in the US Census of 1900 for Gentry County, viz., as a stepson, Hugh, in the household of his mother and stepfather and as a boarder, James H. Norris, in the household of  S. G. and Florence Clark.  (Samuel Grant Clark was Hugh Norris' second cousin.)  In addition, it appears that he was disabled since, at age ten in the 1880 Gentry County Population Schedule, it was stated that he was "deaf and dumb".  Even so, subsequent census records indicate that he married Emma Smith and lived in Putnam County, Ohio.  George and Mary M. Norris also had one known daughter, Jessie V., who married William E. McCulley in 1900 and later moved to California.3  Her year of birth is given as 1880 in California vital records, however, in the US Census of 1900, it is given as 1881, which is also in agreement with subsequent census records.  Therefore, 1881 seems more likely to be correct than 1880.  It is probable that the two children that did not survive were born sometime in the 1870's since, there are no existing records of their births and between July 1, 1883 and 1893, statewide birth records were mandated to be kept at the county level in Missouri.  George W. Norris died on March 25, 1898.

After the death of her husband, Mary M. Evans Norris married Levi B. Spainhower in May of 1900.  He was an early settler of Gentry Couny and had also been previously married to Eliza E. Cameron with whom he had three children, two in California.4  Eliza Cameron Spainhower died in Missouri in 1885, after which it seems that Mr. Spainhower left the state for a considerable length of time and, again, traveled to the West Coast or, perhaps, the Pacific Northwest, but returned to Gentry County sometime in 1899.  (Clearly, he and Mary Norris were married shortly thereafter.)  It appears that Levi and Mary Spainhower remained in Gentry County until June 4, 1919, when they moved to Oakland, California.  At that time each of them had at least one or more of their adult children living in California.  Sadly, Mary M. Evans Norris Spainhower died in Oakland less than a year later on April 29, 1920.  Her body was brought back to Gentry County and buried in the Shepherd Cemetery, which is located just south of Albany along the road to Evona.  Apparently, her husband again returned to Gentry County where he died in early January of 1925.5,6

Source Notes and Citations:
1. "BROUGHT HOME FOR BURIAL   The body of Mrs. Levi Spainhower arrived in Albany, Wednesday noon from Oakland, California, accompanied by the bereaved husband, and was taken to the Christian Church, where funeral services were held at half past two conducted by Elder J. H. Coffey and J. W. Kilborn, and the burial was at Shepherd cemetery.
     The following obituary notice was prepared by Elder Coffey, who was a friend of long standing of the deceased.
     Mary M. Evans, daughter of John and Elizabeth Evans was born in Casey county, Kentucky, October 24th, 1848.  Moved to Gentry county with her parents when she was two years old and lived in this county continuously until June 4th, 1919, when she and her husband moved to California.  In 1865 she united in marriage with George Norris.  Five children were the result of this union.  Three are living and two dead.  The living are: Allen, who resides in Montana, Hugh, who lives in Ottawa, Ohio, and Jessie McCully, who resides in Dinuba, California.  She was united in marriage to Levi Spainhower (?), and for twenty years they passed through life in a home governed and ruled by love.  It is where the one man loves the one woman and the one woman loves the one man.  She united with the Christian Church in a meeting held by Bro. Coffey in the South Methodist church in Albany in 1868.  She died at six o'clock last Thursday morning at the age of 72.  She lived a quiet, peaceful life in all Godliness and honesty.  As a mother she manifested a patient love for her children and home and would make any reasonable sacrifice to make them happy.  She loved her neighbors with a devoted love and in return was highly esteemed by them.  She had strong convictions of right and wrong and when necessary, would firmly and humbly avow them.  The community where she lived was made better and brighter by her presence for she scattered sunshine on all she met, and caused joy to spring up in weary and overburdened hearts."  (obituary: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., May 6, 1920.)
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2. According to a contemporaneously published obituary, George W. Norris, first husband of Mary M. Evans, died April 1, 1898, at 54 years of age.  The cause of his death was said to be dropsy and it was further reported that he left a wife and three children, of which one son, Willie, was living in the West.  He was buried in Shepherd Cemetery.  Concomitantly, present burial records for this cemetery state the date of death of George Norris as March 25, 1898, which is exactly one week earlier than the date given above.  This suggests that an error was made in the newspaper account.  A plausible explanation is that the reporter was belatedly told of Mr. Norris' death as having occurred "last Friday" or some similar imprecise declaration, which resulted the incorrect date.  These same records give his age as fifty-four years, three months, and thirteen days.  (obituary: Darlington Record; Darlington, MO, Thur., Apr. 7, 1898.)
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3. Very little is known about Henry A. (Allen) Norris after he left Gentry County, Missouri, sometime before 1900.  It was later reported that he was living in Montana, but nothing definite has been found in either census or civil records.
     James Hugh Norris seems to have been disabled in some way since it was indicated that he was "deaf and dumb" in the population schedule of 1880.  He evidently lived with his parents until 1900, but by 1910 he had moved to Ottawa in Putnam County, Ohio, and married Emma Smith.  The couple lived with her mother, Irena Smith, until after 1920.  There does not seem to be a record of them in the 1930 census, but they do appear as a married couple in the population schedule of the 1940 US Census for Putnam County.  Hugh evidently was a general laborer and did odd jobs for support.  Emma Norris died in 1941 and is buried in Pomeroy Cemetery in Putnam County.  It does not appear that Hugh and Emma Norris had any children.
     William and Jessie McCulley married in Gentry County in 1900 and evidently remained living in the town of Albany until after 1910, but by 1920 they had moved to Tulare County, California, which lies just southeast of the city of Fresno.  (Contemporaneously, Levi and Mary Evans Norris Spainhower also moved to California, settling in Alameda County.)  In both censuses of 1910 and 1920, William's occupation was stated as "barber".  Subsequently, in 1930 the family was resident in Watsonville, in Santa Cruz County, California, and evidently William was then managing a dry-cleaning business.  Even so, by 1940, they had moved to Hanford in Kings County, California, which lies just south of Fresno and adjoins Tulare County immediately to the east.  Three children can be attributed to William and Jessie McCulley, viz., George Francis, Ruth L, and Margaret L.  Willaim McCulley reportedly died August 10, 1943, presumably in California.  His wife survived until 1957.  (unpublished notes)

a. The residence and marriage of James Hugh Norris can be confirmed by population schedules of 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1940 US Censuses.  (1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 159A, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 323); 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Putnam County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 124B, (microfilm: roll T624_1226; img. 255); 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Putnam County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 146A, (microfilm: roll T625_1429; img. 943); & 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Putnam County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 257B, (microfilm: roll T627_3133; img. 325).)

b. The family of William and Jessie McCulley can be confirmed by population schedules of 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Censuses.  (1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 131A, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 261); 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Tulare County, California, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 123A, (microfilm: roll T625_152; img. 782); 1930 US Census Population Schedule for Santa Cruz County, California, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 146B, (microfilm: roll T626_215; img. 828); & 1940 US Census Population Schedule for Kings County, California, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 156A, (microfilm: roll T627_217; img. 322).)

c. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 5, pg. 233, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37664; img. 262)).

d. Pomeroy Cemetery, Putnam County, Ohio (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2195167&CScn=pomeroy&CScntry=4&CSst=37&CScnty=2108&, continuously updated).
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4. Anonymous, The History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri, National Historical Company, St. Joseph, MO, 1882:   pg. 333.  (Available electronically at cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/mocohist/id/42794)
     "L. B. SPAINHOWER, is a member of the firm of Twist, Spainhower & Co., proprietors of the Valley Mills, and was born in Gentry County, Missouri, January 6, I845.  His father, Daniel Spainhower, was a native of Kentucky, and was there married to Miss Polly Canaday, of the same state.  They are considered to be among the pioneers of Gentry County.  L. B. was engaged in farm ing till I868, when he embarked in the grocery business, which he continued for four years.  He was then interested in various branches of business till 1876, when he purchased what is now known as the Albany City Mills, which he continued to operate till December, I880.  Mr. Spainhower was married December 8, 1867, to Miss Eliza Cameron.  They have two children: Lillie J. and Gustavus M.  Mrs. S. was born in Gentry County, Missouri, August I7, 1849.  Her father, Elisha Cameron, was a native of Tennessee, and her mother, formerly Jane Maugnett, was born in Ohio."
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5. "L. B. SPAINHOWER DEAD  Well Known Citizen, 80 Years Old And a Native of Gentry County Passes Away  Levi B. Spainhower died at his home on West Jackson Street at half past 12 o'clock last Friday morning ... of cerebral hemorrhage.  His last sickness was of about ten days duration."  According to the obituary, he was born January 6, 1845, south of Athens (Albany).  He married Eliza Cameron who died in 1885.  They had three children, two born in California.  One boy was killed when young in a fireworks accident on the 4th of July.  He went to the "great northwest" after the death of his first wife and returned to Gentry County in 1899.  He married Mrs. Mary Norris after his return.  (obituary: Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Jan. 15, 1925.)
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6. The Albany Ledger reported that on 6 Jan 1893, Levi B. Spainhower was resident in the village of Ruby, Washington, in Okanogan County.  ("WHERE THEY ARE - FROM ABSENT FRIENDS", http://carnegie.lib.mo.us/sites/default/files/wheretheyare.pdf, 2015.)
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Additional Citations:

7. 1870 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 548B-549A, (microfilm: roll M593_776; imgs. 316-7).

8. 1880 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 484B, (microfilm: roll T9_687; img. 300).

9. 1900 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 141B, (microfilm: roll T623_855; img. 288).

10. 1910 US Census Population Schedule for Gentry County, Missouri, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 121A, (microfilm: roll T624_781; img. 242).

11. 1920 US Census Population Schedule for Alameda County, California, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 177B, (microfilm: roll T625_90; img. 911).

12. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. B, pg. 203; refiled: 11 May 1898, Bk. 1, pg. 7, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37663; img. 22)).

13. Marriage Records, Gentry County, Albany, MO:  Bk. 5, pgs. 204 & 236, (Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO (microfilm: roll 37664; imgs. 248 & 262)).

14. Ben Glick, "Shepherd Cemetery", unpublished.  (Gentry County MOGenWeb Archives, www.dropbox.com/sh/slhfvw5i4zjmxft/AADCTuRgvVuCGV_j9tOi_6twa/Shepherd.pdf?dl=0, 2014.)

15. Shepherd Cemetery, Gentry County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=31542&CScn=Shepherd&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1434&, continuously updated).

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16. California Death Index, 1940-1997, Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, P. O. B. 942732, Sacramento, CA, 94234-7320. (Available online at www.ancestry.com)

17. Robert L. Evans, "Our Family's History", November 9, 2001.

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