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Baxter/Doty |
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Baxter/Doty |
July 30, 1995
Mrs. Estella Staton
Baxter Springs Historical Museum
Baxter Springs, Kansas 66713
Dear Mrs. Staton,
Please forgive me if I am spelling your name wrong. I was so tired and discouraged when I came to meet you in late June, that I forgot to write down your full name and address. If you will remember, I had gone to visit around Cassville Missouri to find the ancestors and family of a Martha A. Baxter Doty who was my grandmother's grandmother. The oral history from our family is that Martha Doty's brothers or family were the Baxter's that started Baxter Springs. When I spoke to you, I had found the Doty's and my grandmothers folks, but no reference at all to any of Martha A. Doty's connections to the Baxters.
Please find enclosed a transcript of materials that I received this week from Delores Rusche in Jenkin's Missouri (Mountain Township, Barry County Missouri). A lot of the confusion for me has been that Martha Ann Baxter Doty's mother and daughter were both called Martha. Martha Jane Malicote, daughter of James K. Malicote and Nancy Martin, born ca 1832 in Grainger County Tennessee - married John M. Baxter about 1859-1860. The one daughter by their marriage was Martha Ann Baxter, who married Davis Doty from whom we are descended. Both Martha Jane and Martha Ann were mid-wives, and Martha Ann received some additional training (or certification) as a "doctor".
Martha Jane Malicote was married six times. Her first marriage was to William Baxter on April 18, 1847 in Polk County, MO. William Baxter probably died in Greene County MO ca 1853-1854. There were several children by this union, but the record is confusing. From the dates of marriage, it appears that the children ascribed to William are the product of Martha's second marriage to Samuel Austin.
John M. Baxter, Martha Jane's third husband, had a son James A. Baxter born October 1858 by Mary Deskins who died within months of childbirth. After John died, she took care of James for a while until Aaron A. Baxter (John's brother) was appointed guardian.
The 1880 Census shows both Martha Ann Baxter Doty and Martha Jane Baxter----King. Martha Ann's father, John M. Baxter was apparently born in Kentucky. The James Baxter might be a son of William Baxter and Martha Jane. Since he was 30 in 1880, he would have been born about 1849-1850. The stepson living with Martha Jane, William Baxter - age 23, might be the George W(illiam?). (Austin) Baxter born Aug 20, 1857.
These are some of my speculations. At least it is more than nothing when I last spoke with you. I had begun to distrust my grandmother's rememberances, but several have been confirmed so I take her statement that her grandmother was related to the Baxter's of Baxter Springs more seriously again. I believe she confused Martha Ann and Martha Jane.
I hope this might give you some clues to a possible linkage. Do you have any reference to a
John M. Baxter, born in Kentucky, had a brother Aaron A. Baxter, married to Mary Destin (child James A. Baxter, b October 1858) and then to Martha Jane Austin about 1859-1860, who died about 1859-1860?Very sincerely yours,
Richard K. Collins
6627 Fisher Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 237-2446
Davis Doty, Oct 3, 1851 - Apr 24, 1936
Martha Ann Baxter, April 16, 1861 - Mar 10, 1922
cc: Delores Rusche, Rt 3 Box 171A, Jenkins, MO 65605
Copyright 1998-2005 Richard Collins, All Rights Reserved
