Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas Mrs. F. M. Byrd Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

MRS. F. M. BYRD

(Transcribed by Lori DeWinkler)

On August 27, 1903, Mr. Byrd was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Merle Gray, at Lane. Mrs. Byrd was born in Franklin County, July 3, 1883, and is the daughter of R. J, Gray (born, October 6, 1849; died June 21, 1930) and Sarah Elizabeth (Worley) Gray, born July 30, 1852; married January 19, 1871. Sarah E. (Worley) Gray was the daughter of David Worley (born May 18, 1807; died March 31, 1880) and Elizabeth (Shinkel) Worley, born May 22, 1812; died May 5, 1895; married March 12, 1833. Elizabeth (Shinkel) Worley was the daughter of John Linenger Shinkel (born February, 1783; died August, 1827) and Mary Magdalena Shinkel, the latter dying in 1878. John Linenger Shinkel was the son of Phillip Shinkel (born October 25, 1753; died May 29, 1829), who assisted in establishing American Independence and who served in that historic conflict in the Heidelberg Company (Pennsylvania) commanded by Captain Hudson. Phillip, the Revolutionary patriot, was the son of Phillip Carl Schenkel, born June 8, 1717, at Edenkoben, Germany, and who came to America in 1752, landing at Philadelphia.

In addition to devoting much time to welfare work, Mrs. Byrd finds time for activity in many organizations. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the General Aid Society, Circle Number Six, the Foreign and Home Missionary societies; is a charter member of the Cheer-Up Band Sunday School class, the Social Order of the Beauceant, Hospital Auxiliary and Book Lovers Club. She has served the Hospital Auxiliary as treasurer for seven years. Mrs. Byrd organized Job's Daughters of El Dorado, was the first guardian and is a member of the council. Among other organizations in which Mrs. Byrd is an interested and active member are Susannah French Putney Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of which she formerly was regent; Order of the Eastern Star; Past-Matrons club of the Eastern Star; is president of the El Dorado chapter of the Needlework Guild of America; a member of the Chamber of Commerce; El Dorado Country Club, Business & Professional Women's Club; Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Woman's Relief Corps, State Funeral Directors' Association, American Red Cross, El Dorado Community Chest and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Three children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Byrd. They are: Pearl Olive Emmogene, born July 16, 1905, at Lane, and now the wife of Clarence G. Wilke; Ruby Evelyn Gray Byrd, born at Lane, January 14, 1907, the wife of Harry M. Harris, and Adaline Eleanor Elizabeth Byrd, born at Parnell, Missouri, August 19, 1916, now a student in Northwestern University, Chicago. There are two grandchildren, Richard Byrd Wilke, named for the famous Admiral Byrd and born in El Dorado June 18, 1930, the date his distinguished kinsman returned to New York .from his first successful South Pole expedition; and Patricia Jane, born October 20, 1930, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harris.

Mrs. Byrd became the active head of the Byrd Funeral Home after the death of Mr. Byrd. Associated with her in this concern are her sons-in-law, Clarence G. Wilke and Harry M. Harris.