Documents of John L. O'Neal Family

A Work in Progress: It's like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle, fitting in one piece at a time and wondering at the lovely picture of our kin when they finally reveal themselves.

John L. (S.) O'Neal (1811-1857) + Martha Green Freeman (1819-1909)
son of ?
daughter of Silas Freeman (b. 1790) + Sally Cooke (1797-1874)
Findagrave 175610201 

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Marriage Record
John Oniel + Martha Freeman. Executed on this 20th Dec 1838 By B. Tarver, J. P. for Wilson County, TN. (Age 27)
Source: Marriage Record, Retrieved from Ancestry.com

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Bet. 1845-1848. John and Martha moved from Tennessee to Illinois. 
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1850 US Federal Census for Virginia Twp., Cass Co, IL

Head of Household, Age, Sex, Color, Profession (over 15 years of age) Value of Real Estate, Place of Birth, Married w/in the year?, Attended School w/in the year/ 

John L. Oneal, 29, M, Laborer, ?, TN
Marsha G ", 30, F, TN
Josephus ", 10, M, TN, School
Ann E. ", 8 F, TN, School
Prander L. " 5, M, TN, School
Janette F. " 2, F, IL
John F, " 2, M, IL
Source: 1850 US Federal Census for Virginia Twp., Cass Co, IL. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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1857 - 2 Jun. John L. O'Neal died. (age 45)
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1860 Census - Twp. 20, Range 8, Mason Co, Illinois
Martha Oneil, 39, F, Farmer, Value of Real Estate $2800, Value of Personal Estate $800, Born in Tenn.
Josephus, 20, M, Born in Tenn.
Sarah A., 17, F, Born in Tenn. Attended school within the year - yes.
Peranda S. 15, F. Born in Tenn. Attended school - yes.
Jennetta F. 13, F, Born in Illinois, Attended School-yes.
John F. 13, M, Born in IL, Attended school - yes
Philander P, 9, M, Born in IL., Attended school - yes
Elizabeth E., 7, F, Born in IL, Attended school - yes. 
Source: 1860 Illinois Census, Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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1870 US Census:
O'Neal, Martha, 51 F. W, Farming, Value of Personal Estate, $936, Born in TN.
ONeal, J. F., 22, M, W, Farm Laborer, Born in IL
ONeal, P. P., 19, M, W. Born in IL
ONeal, E. E., 16, F, W. Born in IL
Close, Wm. D, 24, M W, Farmer, $825, Born in IL
Close, F. J., 22, F, W, Keeping House, Born in IL
Close, Warden W. 2, M, W. Born in IL.
Source: 1870 Missouri Census, Wakenda Twp., Carroll Co, Mo, USA Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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CHILDREN:

Joseph Oneal (1839-1867)

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Susan P. Oneal (1841-1843)

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Ann Eliza O'Neal Millison (1843-1929) + Abel Millison (1820-1894) = 4 children

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Prander S. O'Neal (1845-1924) + Lydia Blakeley (1844-1912) = 7 children

Civil War Record: Corporal, Capt. Melville H. Musser's Co A, 2nd Reg., IL Cavalry.

Obituary:

Noah J. O'Neal, 90, passed away Friday morning at St. Margaret's Hospital. He was a retired farmer and a member of the United Methodist Church of Fredonia.

Funeral services were held Monday at 1 pm in the Cason-Knickerbocker Chapel with the Rev. Jim Waugh of the United Methodist Church officiating. Burial was in the Fredonia cemetery.

He was born January 2, 1884 at Carrollton, Mo, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Perander O'Neal. He was married Feb. 7, 1912 to Eva Griffith of Pratt. She passed away in 1971.

Survivors include three sons, Russell O'Neal of Kansas City, Carl O'Neal of Fredonia, and Glen Brown of Marquette, Mich., one daughter, Mrs. Mildred Harris of Tucson, Ariz., five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Source: unknown newspaper clipping received from Mrs. Cindy Bridges.

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Francis Jeannette O'Neal Close (1848-1931)

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John Frank Oneal (1848-1937)

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Philander H. Oneal (1850-1920) = See "Documents  of Philander's Family" 

bet. 1861-1865 - The Civil War Soldier Details

O'Neal, Philander
Battle Unit Name: 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry
Side: Union
Company: M.A.
Soldier's Rank In: Private
Soldier's Rank Out: Corporal
Plaque Number: General Note - Original filed under Prander S. O'Neal

Source: National Park Service Civil War Soldier Details. Film Number: M539 Roll 68 Retrieved from website

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Ella E. O'Neal Glaze (1853-1924)

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More to Read: 

* The O'Neal Family History. Compiled by Milton D. O'Neal. 

* White Family & Their Kin. By Mrs. Gladys Esther White O'Neal & Elma Leota White Stoops. Paper Graphics, Garden City, Ks, 1983. p.419. Repository: Midwest Genealogy Center, Independence, MO.

Compiled by Dolores J. Rush. Updated: 9/29/2019.

It Might Be In Your Genes!

What’s your family disorder (abnormalities) heritage? While doctors cannot predict 100% of the time you or your descendants will have certain disorders, the predisposition to some seem to be genetic in nature, depending on your combination of inherited DNA genes. I have listed some of the patterns or tendencies towards inherited conditions that I've observed in our family tree, both mine and my husband's below. 

Which makes me curious to know where I inherited my pigmentary glaucoma from, because I’ve never heard of any ancestor who has had this disorder. It’s a birth defect. Mom said she really messed me up! LOL! I also have several other conditions that I live with on a daily basis. The blue eyes I was born with will eventually turn brown. Right now they are a hazel color.

Two national health months that have come into my horizon (I'm sure there are many more) is January which is National Glaucoma Month and October which is National Breast Cancer Month. Just like you get your breast exams in October (men shouldn’t be excluded from this as they also can get breast cancer), so January should be your month to get your eye exams, so add them to your planner.


I was diagnosed several years ago with the pigmentary glaucoma. It usually pops up in a persons' middle age and mine did too, right on schedule. It’s a fairly rare disorder I’m told. My eye doctor told me to think of it this way = 100% is the population of the United States = 5% of that 100% have some type of glaucoma, whether they are aware of it or not. 1% of that 5% of all glaucoma patients have my type of glaucoma. And just recently one of my sisters was told she is losing the pigment cells in her irises, a precursor to this condition, since then, she has been diagnosed with macular telangiectasia, a retinal eye disorder and has been enrolled in the Mac Tel Project study (link below). 

I don’t live my life as a hypochondriac in fear, but I’ve become more aware of the physical legacy handed down from my ancestors. I’ve also told our son of the disorders and diseases (infectious) that we know about, so that he can inform his doctor should anything crop up. If you are one of my relatives and know of an ancestor or of another descendant in our generation who has or might have had this eye condition, please drop me a line in the comment section below. 

If you are healthy, Thank God for it! 

Dolores' crooked pinky! 

Update: Scientists found something huge that all blue-eyed people have in common!

Update: Since some members of our family have taken their DNA tests (click here to learn more), we've learned of two adopted-out family members. I have interviewed several of our cousins via email during the updating of this article and some of the disorders below are ones that have been observed being passed down through the generations. 

HER MATERNAL SIDE: addictions, allergies (environmental & food), big bones, blue eyes, bipolar, cleft lip and palate, gallstones & gallbladder removal, depression, diabetes, hypoglycemia, neuropathy, pacemaker, senior dementia, sleep apnea plus nocturnal hypoxia, skin barnacles or seborrheic keratosis, stroke, widow's peak hairline,

HER PATERNAL SIDE: ADD, allergies, baldness, blue eyes, Bright's disease, cancer, color blindness, early grey hair, medium sized bones, glaucoma plus super nuclear palsy, lazy eye, leukemia, metal allergies, nearsightedness, senior hearing loss, sleep apnea, stroke, Type 1.5 Chiari Malformation, Syringomyelia, a retroflexed odontoid plus Ehlers Danlos Syndrome,

UNKNOWN: AB positive, anemia, asthma, astigmatism, clinodactyly (crooked pinkies), colitis (autoimmune disorder), extra vertebra (L-6), fructose malabsorption, gastritis/GERD, lactose malabsorption, osteoarthritis, macular telangiectasia (MacTel Project) pigmentary glaucoma,  congenital short leg (1/2"), situs inversus dextrocardia (rare),  straight-neck syndrome, segmental vitiligo (autoimmune disorder), Triple X Syndrome, ulcer 

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HIS MATERNAL SIDE: allergies, endometriosis, male pattern baldness, gallbladder removal, hypertension, nearsightedness, pancreatic cancer, scoliosis, 

HIS PATERNAL SIDE: appendix ruptures, camptodactyly (bent pinkies), complex febrile seizures, diabetes; neuropathy, O negative, one first cousin has "complete heterochromia" (two different colored eyes), pancreatitis, skin barnacles or seborrheic keratosis

UNKNOWN: chest bone abnormalities, eczema, Osgood-Schlatter,  straight neck syndrome, strawberry hemangioma birthmark, sleep apnea; 

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More to Read:
Old Names of Diseases 

Compiled by Dolores J. Rush, Updated: 6/9/2022.

Ancestry DNA Test Results

I'm kind of skeptical about DNA testing, but David was curious to know about his, especially since Ancestry.com was offering a sale on the test.  So, he spit into the test tube provided, sent the box off and these are the results that came back today:

HIS TEST RESULTS: 

44 % Great Britain 
40 % Ireland, Scotland & Wales
11 % Western Europe
4 % Scandinavia

(No surprises on any of those, however, the one below is! Hum!)

1 % Middle East 

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HIS UPDATED TEST RESULTS ON 9.23.2020

54% England & Northwestern Europe

24% Scotland

9% Ireland

7% Wales

6% Norway

(9/2/2021)

England & Northwestern Europe 54%

Scotland 24%

Ireland 9%

Wales 7%

Norway 6%

(20 Sep 2021)

England & Northwestern Europe 45%

Scotland 17%

Ireland 14%

Wales 12%

Norway 10%

Sweden & Denmark 2%

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A cousin who has had the DNA testing done said: "Ancestry uses an autosomal DNA test. It's the best of both worlds in that it tests for maternal and paternal ancestors." 

Remember that the DNA test is a tool to further your genealogical research. For instance, if you have hit a brick wall and haven't figured out how to get over it or around it, this might give you clues as to where to go next in your search for the next piece of the family jigsaw puzzle. Your family tree will probably not be all laid out for you unless you happen to find the treasure of a genealogical book compiled by a relative. It will take a little work on your part, beginning with yourself and working backward to make your personal family tree. Of course, there will be cousins along the way who have been on a similar genealogical journey that you can exchange information with. That's the fun part - getting acquainted with cousins whose ancestors knew your ancestors and either died or moved and lost touch with each other. 

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I finally received my test results from Ancestry.com.

HER DNA TEST RESULTS ON 4.16.2018. Born Brunette with Blue Eyes.

England and Wales - 70%
Ireland and Scotland - 27%
Norway - 3%

Additional Communities in the USA"

1. Lower Midwest & Virginia Settlers (includes northern Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Northern North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.) 

The closest DNA match was a previously unknown nephew. My match list grows longer day by day and has become overwhelming. Some of my matches have family trees, but many do not. 

I heard that the DNA results only measure back approximately 500 years, which for me would indicate the ancestors who lived about 1521. DNA may help with brick walls. One of our brick walls is James White. My grandmother said her parents told her that the Whites came over on the Mayflower (a Fletcher also). It would be nice to compare a known Mayflower White descendant's DNA with mine.

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MY DNA UPDATE (15 November 2019) 

1. English, Wales, & Northwestern Europe (66%)
Includes Belgium, the Channel Islands, Denmark, England, France, Switzerland and Wales.

2. Ireland & Scotland (24%)
Includes both North & South Ireland, Isle of Man, and Scotland.

3. Germanic Europe (10%)
Includes Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands & Switzerland. 

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MY DNA UPDATE (17 September 2020) 

Supposedly my DNA doesn't change, but Ancestry's science results do, so here's my Ethnicity Estimate to date (you will see some overlap in the countries represented). 

1. England & Northwestern Europe 55%

Includes the communities of Belgium, Channel Islands, Denmark, Faroe Islands, England, France, Germany, Isle of Man, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland and Wales. 

2. Scotland 20%

3. Ireland 16%

Includes the Channel Islands, England, Faroe Islands, France, Iceland, Isle of Man, and Northern Scotland.

4. Germanic Europe 7%

Includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. 

5. Sweden 2%

Norway and Sweden are on the same peninsula arm of Europe. Norway is on the West side and Sweden is on the East side. This Swedish DNA result includes not only Sweden, but also Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands and Norway.

Now wait a minute. Why change it to Sweden when my first results said Norway? What gives? I'd say that their science ain't perfect yet. 

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MY DNA UPDATE (24 September 2021) 

England & Northwestern Europe 44%

Scotland 24%

Ireland 15%

Sweden & Denmark 9% 

Germanic Europe 5%

Norway 2%

Basque 1%

Well, the UK results are about the same, but they have thrown in Basque and we're back to Norway results. I have no idea who may be Basque in my background 500 years ago. 

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No.1 Blonde Sister's 23andme DNA results

British & Irish 78.5%

French & German 17.6%

Broadly European 3%

Italian .2%

Cypriot .7%

and

Neanderthal - less than 2%

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MY DNA UPDATE (20 May 2022)

Indicates distant origins (500 - 1,000 years ago).

Me:

England & Northwestern Europe 54%

Scotland 15%

Ireland 11%

Sweden & Denmark 6%

Germanic Europe 6%

Norway 4%

Wales 4%

The newest thing is figuring out which parent gave me what ethnicity without them ever haven taken a DNA test themselves. I got 1/2 of each of my parent's DNA that combined to make ME! I wonder how many different combinations can be created from just two people's whole DNA?  Here are my results. 

Parent 1 = 

England & Northwestern Europe 33%

Scotland 3%

Sweden & Denmark 6%

Germanic Europe  6%

Wales 2%

Parent 2 =

England & Northwestern Europe 21%

Scotland 12%

Ireland 11%

Norway 4%

Wales 2%

                             =====================================

MY DNA UPDATE (26 Aug 2022)

My DNA Results Have Been Shuffled Around Again!  

England & Northwestern Europe 43%

Scotland 27%

Wales 9%

Germanic Europe 8%

Sweden & Denmark 6%

Ireland 6%

Norway 1%

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MY DNA UPDATE (18 Apr 2023)

This time they have added the two DNA matches that are closest to me and compared our DNA with each other. One is a nephew and the other is a maternal first cousin.

My results again:

England 43%

Scotland 27%

Wales 9%

Germanic Europe 8%

Sweden/Denmark 6%

Ireland 6%

Norway 1%

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Fine Tuning My Test Results (8 Jan 2024)

England and Northwestern Europe 50%

Scotland 23%

Germanic Europe 8%

Ireland 7%

Sweden and Denmark 6%

Wales 4%

Norway 2%

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Okay, I had another kind of genetic test done last August 

and got the results in January 2024.

I am positive for Trisomy X Syndrome. All that means is that I have an extra X chromosome. Women generally have two XX and men have an XY. That’s the gender genes. In my case, either mom’s or dad’s X chromosome that were blended together at my conception, divided before it was supposed to, giving me an extra X at conception. According to the stuff I’ve read online, about 1 in 1,000 girls are born with an extra X. I’ve joined the ranks of the special. 😇 Oh, and mind you, boys can also have a similar condition where they get an extra Y. Also according to what I’ve read, I can’t pass my extra X down to the next generation. Whew! Son missed that bombshell!!!

I also have a variant on another gene, but I don’t know much about it. So when I find out more, I’ll update this post. 

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If you are related to either one of us and feel comfortable sharing here, please feel free to tell us your results in the comments below.

Article updated on 1/8/2024.

Genealogy Etiquette

Have you ever stepped on a wad of freshly chewed gum on the sidewalk? And when you realized what was stuck to your shoe, you became disgusted at the thoughtless person who threw it down there? Tackiness, like that spit out gum, shows lack of honor and integrity and will reflect poorly on your roots, so it behooves you to become aware of basic genealogical manners. Following the GOLDEN RULE is a good beginning --

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." ~ Matthew 7:12. 

That said, here are some gummy pitfalls to be aware of: 

1.  It is really tacky to use pre-1940's papers in mixed media paper crafting [excluding a family tree heritage scrapbook -- scrapbook archivists use vintage papers to accompany their ancestor's photos, not using it as a background paper layer to paint over]. 
As family researchers we use a paper trail to prove our ancestors lived. If it is an original document that has a name, date, and location on it, it is a primary document. If it comes from a biography, genealogy, or history book or magazine article, then it is a secondary document. I would love to have a photograph of my 3rd great-grandparents, but I have nothing personal of theirs except the story told by their descendants which I must pair with outside records to prove their life history.  You know,  if it wasn't for paper ephemera, we would know nothing about our USA and world history that we were taught in school because it comes from the very same type of primary and secondary sources that were saved. 

2. It's really tacky to create a memorial for somebody before they have had their funeral in order boost your memorial stat count on cemetery websites. So, unselfishly think of the grieving family's feelings and have a little respect and self-control. After the funeral, if a loving family member hasn't created a memorial, then go ahead and create it. 

3. It's also tacky to harvest surnames from somebody's family tree in order to find all the corresponding surname tombstones in local cemeteries in order to make memorials to boost your memorial stats too on interment sites and then refuse to add in information or transfer to family.

In addition, gleaning names from non-family trees to create an artificial family for yourself is really tacky! I believe it could be called identity theft or a mental disorder. 

4.  To find all the ugly stories about someone's ancestor and publishing them on a website whether they are true or not to publically humiliate the descendants is definitely tacky! Be  graciously kind! 

5. ASK before taking screen shots of photos from genealogy websites and family blogs to put on your family tree. I will appreciate that and will think more highly of you.  Credit me and/or other people as your source and thank us for sharing. (see my citation note up in side menu). 

6. Impatience is tacky and a bully! Kindly share what you know and then back off. Breathing down people's necks isn't conducive to loving family relationships. Building a family tree is time-consuming as good researchers must check and pair all the details with other documents, some of which may be harder to find.  Also mistakes may appear from time to time. Correct in love. 

7. Plagiarism is tacky too! For example, plagiarism is copying a poem word for word and sending it to a magazine to be published as yours. Call it what it is -- it's stealing. Write your own poem, using your own words! You never know, give yourself some credit; yours might actually be better than the one you wanted to copy. 

Also, cite your sources. It's tacky if you don't. 

8.  Playing games often includes taking turns. You throw the ball back and forth. Just as it is poor sportsmanship to hang onto the ball and not throw it to the next person, it is tacky to take and take and never return the favor. However, on the other side of the coin, it is also tacky to ask someone to fill in your family tree for you and then accuse them of hoarding information when they refuse, when you can very well find it for yourself, just as they have done. 

9. If you make a mistake, it is tacky not to apologize and correct it. 

10. It is tacky to not respond as soon as possible to email or snail-mail, even if you don't know the answer to the question posed. At least, acknowledge that you received their query. We're all busy. . . 

11. And as I'm discovering by following hints on Ancestry, it's really tacky of you to borrow the information that I've presented here for your family tree and not stop and say howdy to your cousin. See that little "comment" word down below - click on it and introduce yourself. 

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. What you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me -- put it into practice." ~ Philippians 4:8-9

Don't be the gum stuck to somebody's shoe! 

More to Read:
1.  Cemetery Etiquette
2. Christa Cowan's video of "Black Sheep in Your Family" 
3. DAR Victoria Pratt's Genealogy Etiquette 
4. Everplans Funeral Etiquette
5. Family Reunion Etiquette
6. Kristen's Guide to Genealogy Etiquette
7.  Ted's Obituaries and Etiquette