John Senate, Vital Stats

John Elijah Senate (1826-1929) was the father of Charlottie Senate (1861-1952), Oklahoma territorial pioneer. In my last blog post, I examined his obituary and found several clues to John’s vital statistics.

Birth

First, let’s look for corroboration of his birth. The newspaper obituary¹John E. Senate Obituary. Milan (MO) Republican, September 26, 1929, page 1, column 6. stated that John E. Senate was born in Christian County, Illinois on April 24, 1836.

In Christian County, Illinois, there is an active genealogical society. Unfortunately, their earliest birth records for the county are 1877. The 1900 U. S. Census recorded birth month and year for each person. John Senat [sic] provided his birth as April 1836, which gives credence to what was printed in the obituary.

1900 U.S. Census²1900 U.S. Census, Missouri, Sullivan County, Polk Township. SD 143 2, ED 161, Sheet 199A, June 23, 1900. Family #392. John E. Senat [sic].

John’s death certificate gives his birthdate as April 24, 1836 and birth location as Christian County, Illinois, exactly like the obituary.

Middle Name

The newspaper obituary did not give John’s middle name, only the initial E. Where did I come up with the full name John Elijah Senate?

Reviewing federal census records, he is listed as:

• John (1840, 1850, 1860, 1880)
• John E. (1900, 1910, 1920)
• J. E. (1870)

My grandmother, Gert Rector Gentzkow, kept family records in her Bible, but only listed her great grandfather as John Sennate.

The middle-name mystery is solved with his Missouri death certificate: John Elijah Senate.

John Senate death certificate

Marriage

The newspaper obituary simply stated that John Senate was married to Margaret Hawkins. Their marriage record supports that fact.

Marriage Record for John E. Senate and Margaret N. [sic] Hawkins³Tazewell Co IL Marriage Book A, page 353. familysearch.org film #007730385, image 574. Senate-Hawkins marriage #3274.

Marriages in Tazewell County, Illinois were reported to the Clerk of Court by the person solemnizing the event. In Marriage Book A, page 574, the Justice of the Peace’s notation is listed. The three different dates are:

• Possibly the license application date: August 7, 1858
• Marriage performed: August 8, 1858
• Minister’s Return date: August 11, 1858

Death

Again, John’s death certificate (above) provides details that back-up what was printed in the obituary. He died September 19, 1929 in Sullivan County, Missouri. Both Polk Township and the city of Milan are given as a death location. He died at his youngest daughter’s house.⁴ Census 1930 Missouri, Sullivan County, Polk Township, City of Milan. ED 106-23, SD 3, sheet 7A, line 44. Chas Smith and wife Florence live at 348 Baker Street; Polk Township/City of Milan.

John Senate Death Notice⁵Uncle John Senate Died This Morning. Republican (Milan MO), September 19, 1929, page 1,column 5.

John Elijah Senate⁶Photo of John Elijah Senate (1836-1929). Digital copy made by Karrie Blees. Original owner unknown. Please contact Karrie Blees if you have ownership information.

What’s Next?

Who were John’s parents?
What do we know about John’s wife, Margaret Hawkins?

SOURCES

• 1
  John E. Senate Obituary. Milan (MO) Republican, September 26, 1929, page 1, column 6.
• 2
  1900 U.S. Census, Missouri, Sullivan County, Polk Township. SD 143 2, ED 161, Sheet 199A, June 23, 1900. Family #392. John E. Senat [sic].
• 3
  Tazewell Co IL Marriage Book A, page 353. familysearch.org film #007730385, image 574. Senate-Hawkins marriage #3274.
• 4
  Census 1930 Missouri, Sullivan County, Polk Township, City of Milan. ED 106-23, SD 3, sheet 7A, line 44. Chas Smith and wife Florence live at 348 Baker Street; Polk Township/City of Milan.
• 5
  Uncle John Senate Died This Morning. Republican (Milan MO), September 19, 1929, page 1,column 5.
• 6
  Photo of John Elijah Senate (1836-1929). Digital copy made by Karrie Blees. Original owner unknown. Please contact Karrie Blees if you have ownership information.