Mary Sophia Harvey, left her family and moved to Michigan

Sometime between 1866 and 1869, Mary disappeared from her family in Pennsylvania and moved to Pierson, Montcalm county, Michigan.  She took her youngest child Archie with her.

How could a woman leave 8 children behind and disappear from her family?  What circumstances would cause this? Did she really leave or have we found a different Mary S. Harvey Kingsley in Michigan?

The letter from Belle Barnes Conquer, grand daughter of Mary Sophia Harvey gives no hint of any disappearance.  In fact, she does what she can to cover up a disappearance if anyone were to guess it by her language.

"Asa Harman Barnes my father's father who owned 'the tavern' and store and a quite well-to-do man and his wife Letitia Force Barnes had lost 4 girl babies and wanted another girl.  So since Elihu K had 5 children besides Katheryn Emily, they wanted her to come and live in the tavern with them.  She was raised as one of their own (as a little orphan Annie of the time.)  There were many such trade-ins of children of poor families to rich families.  She was not adopted-- just lived there as one of Asa H's family and on June 20, 1891 Kate and Frank were wed in [Illeg.]"  Note how she explains away that the family gave Kathryn Emily Kingsley to another family to raise.  Also note that she said Elihu had 6 kids, when there were really 9.  She is counting the children alive and living there at the time of the foster/adoption:  Herbert, Rose, Fremont, Charles and Kathryn Emily.  Francis had died, and Emma died in 1871.  Archie left with his mother.  Does this give us a date for when Kathryn Emily was fostered/adopted out?  After 1871?

But Mary Sophia Harvey Kingsley had disappeared.  Michigan kept excellent records, especially compared to Pennsylvania.  (For one, Pennsylvania didn't keep marriage records until 1885.)  And Michigan records show that it was our Mary Sophia Harvey Kingsley and our Archie Warner Kingsley who arrived sometime before December 1869.

I have to add that a railroad was extended into Howard City, very near where Mary settled, in 1869.  It is possible that she took this train from Pennsylvania to Michigan.  More research needs to be done to see if this information is significant.

We can place Mary Sophia Harvey in Pierson, Michigan as early as December 1869 because that's when she married Levi Leonard.  We have not found the marriage record, but it is listed on the census. 

On the Reynolds, Montcalm Michigan census of 1870 (taken 22 August 1870) we find Levi Leonard, age 45, Male, Farmer, property $500; personal $230.  Born Massachusetts, married within the year 'December' in box.  Mary Leonard, age 30, female, keeping house, born Pennsylvania, married within the year 'December.'  Archie Leonard, age 4, male, born Pennsylvania.  Mary would have been 33 years old, Archie is listed as the correct age.  It must be noted here that Mary shows up on the same census back in Pennsylvania as if she was still in Sheffield with her husband Elihu and children.

Levi shows up in the 1860 census for Medina, Lenawee county, Michigan, again reporting he was born in Massachusetts, age 35.  He also registered for the Civil War draft on 1 July 1863, reporting he was born in Massachusetts, age 38, and was unmarried.  He registered in Cambridge, Lenawee, Michigan.  These are consistent with our Levi Leonard. 

Levi purchased land on 14 August 1867 as part of the homestead act.  He wrote a will on 24 June 1871 in which he gave his house, household good and homestead of 80 acres to Mary S. Leonard and at her death it was to go to her son Archie Leonard.  (Liber Z, p. 636)  In his will he says he arrived in Reynolds in 1869, same year he married Mary.

Just 5 days after writing his will, Levi died.  His will was probated 18 Sept 1871 and Mary remarried within 2 weeks to William Amey.

"No. 104, 30 Sept 1871, Reynolds.  William Amy of Reynolds, age 35 and Mrs. Mary S. Leonard, widow (maiden name Mary S. Harvey) married , mechanic, Reynolds, Montcalm, MI.  Ages both listed as 35.  Married by Justice of the Peace A. T. Stevens, witnessed by Edward and Elizabeth Hallock of Reynolds."  Recorded 6 Nov 1871."  (Montcalm Marriages Book A, p. 32)

Mary did inherit the land that Levi had originally homesteaded.  She finalized the purchase on 10 April 1873 under the name of Mary S. Amey.

In June 1880, the census was taken.  Reynolds, Montcalm, Michigan; William Amey, Wagon maker, age 44 born Vermont (both parents as well) and Mary age 44, wife, keeping house, born Penn, dad Penn, mom NY.  Archie age 14, works at home, born Penn, dad Vermont, Mom Penn.

It must be noted here that Elihu in 1880 census back in Pennsylvania lists himself as widowed.  He is living with his brother Elias in Conewango, Warren, PA. 

Updated 7/6/2015

Tags:  Mary Sophia Harvey Kingsley Leonard Amey, William M. Amey, Archie W. Kingsley, Susie Kendall Kingsley, Harriett Susanna Kendall Kingsley, Rose Adelle Kingsley Bloss, Richard Bloss, Elihu Beckwith Kingsley, Elias Kingsley, Mabel Edith Kingsley, Mary Amy Kingsley, Archie Bloss,  Archie Leonard, Archie Amey, Sheffield, Warren Pennsylvania, Howard City, Montcalm, Michigan, Kathryn Emily Kingsley, Herbert, Fremont, George, Charles, Belle Barnes Conquer, Asa Harmon Barnes, Letitia Force Barnes, Levi Leonard