Margaret Dove (1853- )

Charts | Probate | Marriage | Census

Daughter of James Dove and Mariah McKinney √
Wife of Lafayette Stephens √

Facts (with source information): Narrative Report

What's so interesting about these records?
The 1860 and 1870 census records illustrate what happens to a family when father dies without a will. In 1860 James Dove has real estate valued at $17375. He died in 1866 and his estate was distributed during probate. In 1870 Maria Dove heads the household, and she has real estate valued at $4000. No wonder Maria married again!

Sadly, we do not know when or where Margaret Dove Stephens died. Or where she is buried. Some researchers say on the Internet that she is buried in Kirkwood, Missouri, with her husband. That makes sense, because he died in Alabama and the family had his body sent back to Kirkwood for burial. However, the cemetery says there is no record of a burial of Margaret Stephens. And there is no Missouri death certificate.

Charts:

1867 Probate, page 1

After the death of James Dove, who did not write a will, his estate went through probate. The petition filed in January of 1867 asks for a partition of his land (265 acres in Fountain County and 143 acres in Montgomery County). Maria Dove, his widow, received 1/3 of the estate. The remaining 2/3 was equally divided among his ten children. Margaret Dove was his daughter, and she was a minor when her father died. The court appointed a guardian for the minor children, and his name also appears in this record.

James Dove, deceased
names the widow and 10 children
right side

1867 Probate, page 2

left side

1872 Marriage to Lafayette Stephens

Fountain County, Indiana
lower right side

Census Records

1860 Census

Fountain County, Indiana
Margaret is 6, has 2 younger siblings.
Older children’s mother was Esther Kellogg.
lines 6-15

1870 Census

Fountain County, Indiana
Her mother heads the household. She has 4 children.
Next door is Margaret’s step-brother, Christopher Dove, who has Margaret’s grandparents in the household.
lines 24-28

1880 Census

Fountain County, Indiana
She is married and has 3 children.
lines 32-36

1900 Census, page 1

St. Louis, Missouri
Margaret says she was born in March of 1853. She’s had 5 children, 3 are living.
Two of her children are shown on the next page.
lines 49-50

1900 Census, page 2

lines 51-52

1910 Census

St. Louis, Missouri
Margaret says she has had 5 children, 3 are living.
In the household are Jefferson Quillin and his wife Lou Vella. His wife is Margaret’s daughter.
lines 45-50

1920 Census

Jackson County, Illinois
lines 80-81