Five daughters, one son–two families

joynealkidney

6 months ago

O.S. Neal was the only son in a family with five girls. He married Nellie Keith, who was the oldest of five daughters in a family with only one son.

O.S. and Nellie Neal and family, L-R: O.S. (Orlando Swain), Mary Margaret (Neal) Lenocker, Kenneth Neal (my grandfather), Nellie (Keith) Neal, Keith John Neal, Maurice Marshall (M.M.) Neal (Mary Margaret’s twin).

The Keiths

I discovered this photo (below) of the John Washington Keith and Mary (Harkin) Keith photo on findagrave. Nellie Edith is the oldest daughter. I think she may be standing, second one from left.

The label with the photo says that in the back row, the first person is Mabel Marcella Keith, with George Keith center back. The young girl in the middle is listed as “Sade.” Front: George Washington Keith and Mary Harkins [sic] Keith. Mary Harkin was born in Canada, as her parents headed to the United States from Ireland.

I wonder if the person who posted this photo on John Washington Keith’s findagrave page noticed that John is called George on the photo. Anything you find on findagrave should be used only as clues to locate better documents.

John W. and Mary Keith family. Mabel Marcella Keith is on the left, George B. Keith standing center, the youngest is Sadie Keith. (There was another daughter, Idella Regina Keith, who died as a child in 1881.)

Nellie Edith Keith married O.S. (Orlando Swain) Neal, the only son of John and Rhoda (Marshall) Neal. (John Neal was a Civil War veteran. Several of Rhoda’s brothers also served.)

The Neals

Back: Dora Ellen (Neal) Andrew, Hannah Jane (Neal) Doling), Ida Minerva (Neal) Andrew, Nancy Belle (Neal) Andrew, Cynthia Magnolia (Neal) Miller Front: Rhoda L. (Marshall) Neal, Orlando Swain “O.S.” Neal, John Neal

Yes, three of Neal sisters married three Andrew brothers. Do you suppose those sisters spoiled their younger brother?

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