Jennie Bartlett Lyles and Mary Anna Lankford: Friends

 My mother, Lula mentioned to me that her mother, Mary Anna Lankford and Jennie Blakley Lyles were friends. Later, I discovered that Mary and Jennie were neighbors. I could only imagine that their children grew up together and attended the same school.

I began to search the city directories to see where the early Blakleys / Lyles and Lankfords were living. around the 1900’s to the teen years. I noticed that they lived not to far from one another. I wondered, when could they have met?

As I searched the directories and located where the Blakleys and Lankfords were living in 1911. The Blakleys lived at 751 S 28th Street. The Lankfords were living at 2722 Mary Street. That’s about less than six houses a part from the next block. They could have met then.

Where did the early Blakleys and Lankfords come from?
Jennie Bartlett was born in Carrollton, Missouri in May of 1883 while her husband John Blakey Blakley was born in Woodville Mississippi on June 21, 1871 with his twin Andrew Blakey. Jennie was in St. Joseph, Missouri around 1902. And after Jennie married John, he came to St. Joseph from Carrollton, Missouri in 1902.

Mary Anna Allen was born in St. Joseph on December 21, 1889 while her husband Leo Lankford / Lankfard Sr. was born in Canton, Missouri on May 31,1884. Leo Sr. made his way to St. Joseph with his family when he was about 4 years old. I’m not for sure if Leo was paralyzed on the left side of his body before or after coming to St. Joseph.

What my mother mentioned to me about what her mother told her about Mrs. Blakley?

Mrs.. Blakley was a hard worker.
Mrs. Blakley looked like Mrs. Iona Mae Hedge.
Mrs. Blakley had 19 children.

Jennie’s husband John left and moved to South Dakota.
He was very sick and had to move northward. That was where his siblings were living.
It was more likely John moved to northward and didn’t want his family to catch what he had.
John passed on July 10, 1918 in a covered wagon near his brother Henry Blakey Sr’.s home.
Jennie marred Chelton Lyles in 1920 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Mrs. Blakley called for her daughter, Mary Jane to come as she was dying.
Mary Jane didn’t make it in time before her mother passed.
Jennie Bartlett Lyles passed on Wednesday, December 29, 1926.

I’m not sure if Jennie would have known that she would become in laws with Mary.
A few years after Jennie passing, her son Isaac Blakley would marry Anna Charlotte in 1928 who was Mary’s first born. And Lula, Mary’s daughter would marry David Blakley, Jennie’s son in 1937.

As for Mary, she was giving the honor to see Jennie’s sons come apart of the Lankford / Lankfard family. Mary and Jennie shared 21 Blakley grandchildren and their off springs. Mary passed in November 7, 1975. Mary’s husband Leo Sr. passed on September 14, 1954.

Thanks for reading
Jennie Bartlett Lyles and Mary Anna Lankford: Friends

R.I.P. Grandma Jennie and Grandma Mary
R.I.P Grandpa John and Grandpa Leo

I posted this blog on another website October 20 2023.


Week 42 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2023
The theme for Week 42 is “Friends.” We all get by with a little (or a lot) of help from our friends. What about the friends of your ancestors? What about a friend who has helped you with your genealogy?

Week 43 (Oct. 22-28): Dig a Little Deeper
Week 44 (Oct 29-Nov. 4): Spirits