Orville Horr and Mahala Caroline Dennis

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Orville Horr of Horr McKee married Mahala Caroline Dennis of Dennis Moore in 1872 in neighboring McDonough, Illinois. They were both born in Fulton County, Illinois around 1852 as were most of their siblings and many of their nieces and nephews later on. But for reasons unknown, this family would break-apart early on and seemingly none of the members recover into stable lives again. This even seemingly carried down to their children. This family had their troubles.

Their short time together saw some movement across state lines. Both came from large families that had emigrated to Illinois as the frontier pushed out. Mahala's family would settle here more permanently. Orville's parents and siblings would go to Missouri and Kansas with Orville and Mahala returning shortly after leaving. Was that frontier just too much for them? Why did most of their other family stay out there but Mahala and Orville return?

Of any family that has been researched and tracked, where nothing was really known of at the start, this one seems to have the most upheaval and hardship. This pattern seemed to continue with their children and their families as well and may explain some of the kids behavior. But the grandkids, for the most part, would break the cycle and create stable, growing environments for the generations beyond. What caused the strife in this particular family will likely never be known. But we document and recreate what we can here.

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The Children

Serilda C Farris (nee Horr) born 1873 in Kansas
Cora S Crosley (nee Horr) born 1876 in Fulton County, Illinois
Jesse Harr (nee Horr) born 1879 in Fulton County, Illinois

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Change in the early years

Serilda was born in October, 1873 in Kansas where many in the Horr extended family moved around this time. This after both parents were born and raised in Fulton County, Illinois and married just the previous year. Cora and Jesse were born back in Fulton in 1876 and 1879; respectively. So not much time was spent in Kansas.

In the 1880 census, Orville lists his trade as a Teamster. Likely a Stage Coach driver or possibly just horse trainer, wagon driver or even Pony Express rider like his brother. His father was a postmaster in many of the towns they lived in. So obtaining this "plumb" job was likely easier.

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Disruption and Kids Dispersion

In 1889, we find Mahala getting re-married to an Albert Hunnicutt in Keokuk, Iowa just an hours drive away today due West and across the river. Albert was married with at least two kids in Fulton County, Illinois before this. What was the real cause of all this we do not know. There are no records in these intervening years. And with the 1890 census non-existent, we have trouble tracking this family during this turbulent time for them.

The next we find of anyone is Mahala a widow in Rock Island, Illinois (Davenport, Iowa) and Orville living with his nephew in Keokuk, Iowa — both in the 1900 census. An 1895 Iowa census and 1900 US Census has Orville's nephew living with him in Iowa.

Serilda marries Edwin Ferris and has a daughter named Ruth in 1895 in St Louis, Missouri. This turns out to be the circus connection with Jesse. Serilda is a widow with Ruth in the 1900 census. We later learn that Serilda goes by Rilla and remarries a Clifford James around 1900 and has a son with him just outside St Louis, Missouri. Then remarries a Lewis Tucker in 1912 and is with him for many years; many of them in Durango, Colorado. Much of the confirmation on Rilla comes from finding Ruth's granddaughters (Anne and Susan) and perusing their family mementos. See Farris Horr for the full story here.

We find Cora marries a William Crosley in 1899 in Muscatine, Iowa. William dies there in 1901. She remarries his brother James in 1901. But them she dies in Burlington in 1905. In another twist, James Crosley then remarries Alta Hunnicutt in 1906. It is not yet known if there is any relationship between Alta and Mahala's second husband Albert Hunnicutt but the likelihood is there.

Jesse's early life discovery has been documented elsewhere as we uncovered his story. He basically is unknown, by records, from his birth soon before the 1880 census until this 1895 census. A little has been filled in with uncovering of his first two kids death and birth records; respectively, and then his 1901 marriage certificate that was found in daughter-in-law Agnes' things in 2010. For later information, see Harr Brooks for his married life.

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Unexpected Loss and Finding Mahala

Orville was visiting his brother Jasper in Butler, Missouri in 1904 when he had an unexpected heart attack at the young age of 54. He is buried there along with his father Peter who died while visiting Jasper in 1894 at the age of 74. They are the only two family members buried in Missouri as the family left for Kansas shortly after.

A great, historical find is a 1905 state census that captures Mahala, Jesse, his wife Sadie and their young son Walter in Burlington, Iowa. Timing seems to put them there for Cora's funeral. Did she die in childbirth at such a young age? Orville is dead by this time. Burlington is between Rock Island and Keokuk along the Iowa border. Did Mahala move there from Rock Island or was there just for the funeral also?

We have not found any record of Mahala after the 1905 census in Burlington, Iowa. By September, 1905 Jesse is in Cleveland as their daughter Mildred is born there. What happens with Mahala is unknown.

One of the family lore stories surrounding Jesse is that he had Native American blood in him. While it is possible this may apply to Sadie, his wife, who we know even less about — it appears this may be a story that does not pan out. Mahala was a popular name at the time and does appear to have Native American roots. But DNA testing of descendants show no native american markers, at all. So likely this is not factual-based lore as most has turned out to be.

We know from Jesse's grandkids that they visited Kutztown, Pennsylvania a few times — appears to be between Allentown and Reading in Eastern PA. Some relative of Jesse's? We have as yet to understand this.