My "dead-end" ancestors are Asa and Catherine Menear. Here is what I know about them:

Asa Menear was born in 1813 in Or Possibly Oct 13., 1816 In Virginia (Or 1813 - 1880 Census), died in Dec 1888 in West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa, United States at age 75, and was buried in Neodesha, Wilson Co., Kansas, United States.

General Notes: Possibly spelled ASARIAH Menerve, OR Manear.
According to notes from Margaret Franz Faulkner, he was born in 1815. He moved to KS around end of war, had sons on both sides, so went to KS from VA. Possibly had a second wife "Olive ?" before going to KS.

Historical Atlas of Wilson Co., KS, 1881 -Asa came from IA in 1870, originally from VA; Polly came in 1869, originally from NY

In the book "CHO O-NEE to High Iron" - the Hidden years of the town of Neodesha = 1865 - 1886 by Joseph W. Allen - land given for the church built in 1881 - Original Christian Church on NW corner of 6th & Wisconsin streets. Also references to "Aunt Polly", page 28

FILM # 90022498, West Liberty Enterprise newspaper, Dec. 13, 1888:
The funeral services of Mr. "Minier" will be held at the residence of L. Dotson tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. There will also be a service held at his home in Neodesha, KS on Sunday morning.

• 1840 Census: Monongalia County, West Virginia, 1840, Eastern district. Azariah Menear - male 20 -30, females= 2 under 5, 1 female 15 -20, 1 female 20 - 30. WHO is age 15 - 20 ? Under 5 would probably by Margarette Jane, born 1837 & Anna J. (or S) born abt. 1839/

• 1850 Census: VA , 13th District, Doddridge County, 1850, Household 35. Azariah MANIER, age 35, farmer, ALL born VA
Catherine, age 34,
Margaret J, age 17,
Anna J, age 11
Joshua (H ?), age 9 - male
Rachael, age 6
Elizabeth, age 5
Adaline, age 2
Elisha (T ?), age 1 - male

• 1860 Census: West Union P.O., Doddridge Co., Virginia, 1860. A. MENEAR, age 47, shoemaker, value of personal property = 200, ALL born VA
Catherine, age 45
Rachael, age 16
Elizabeth age 14
Adeline, age 12

• 1875 Census: Kansas State Census, 1 Mar 1875, Neodesha, Wilson Co., Kansas, United States. Line 30, Roll ks1875_20 Ancestry.com
Asa Menear, age 64, shoemaker real estate = 300, personal property - 57, born VA, came from Iowa. Polly age 69, born Mass, came from Penn.

• 1880 Census: FHL film 1254399, T9-0399, page 106C, 1880, Neodesh , Wilson Co., Kansas, USA. Asa Menear, age 67, shoemaker, born VA, Mother's birthplace VA, father's ? Polly, age 73, born NY, Father born CT, Mother born CT.

Asa married Catherine(No surname). Catherine was born in 1815 in VA and died in WV Or West Liberty, Muscatine Co., IA ???. They had eight children: Margarette Jane, Anna J., Joshua, Rachel, Elizabeth, Adaline, Elisha, and Floyd.

Margarette Jane Menear was born in 1837 in Dotson Run, Doddridge Co., WV (Or Parkersburg, VA), died on 17 Mar 1919 in West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa, United States at age 82, and was buried in Oakridge Cemetery, West Liberty, IA - Blk 19/Lot 2, Sp 2.

(Great)? uncle of hers was in the Confederate army - some of the family didn't move North with the rest of the family.

OBIT, found on film # 90022507, at the West Liberty Library, Muscatine Co., IA
West Liberty Index newspaper dated March 20, 1919:
Mrs. Margaret Dotson, one of the aged residents of West Liberty, passed away early Monday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E.J. Hawker, where she was visiting. Mrs. Dotson had been in feeble health for some time and shortly after midnight Sunday was stricken with heart failure. Her death occurred about 8 o'clock Monday morning.
She was a native of WVA where she married Lafayette Dotson. They came to this vicinity more than 50 years ago and spent the remainder of their lives in this immediate vicinity. Mr. Dotson died several years ago & surviving are the following children: George & Bart & Mrs. Jennie Hawker of West Liberty, Fred of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Ida Franz of Fairfield' Mrs. Sadie Chapman of Pueblo, CO, and Frank of Kansas City.
Mrs. Dotson, who was more than 81 years of age, was the oldest member of the local Presbyterian church and the funeral services are being held there this afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Robert McInturff. Burial will be made at Oakridge cemetery.

Margarette married Lafayette Dotson, son of Unknown and Margaret Peg Dotson, on 12 Aug 1857 in Doddridge Co., West Virginia. Lafayette was born on 21 Nov 1834 in Or 1834- 1836 In Wood County, Virginia, died on 3 May 1910 in West Liberty, Muscatine County, Iowa, United States at age 75, and was buried on 5 May 1910 in Oakridge Cemetery, West Liberty, IA - Blk 19/Lot 2, Sp 1. The cause of his death was Nephritis, Uraemic convulsion, loss of sight; valvular disease of the heart. They had 11 children: Bart, Ida Katherine, Fred Mortimer, Sarah (Sadie) Elizabeth, Lucy May, Gilbert (Bert) Lafayete., Cyrus M., Maddy, Frank, Virginia (Jennie) Margaret, and George Raymond.

Anna J. Menear was born about 1839 in Monongalia Co., Virginia, USA.
Anna married George Clice on 6 Jul 1856 in Doddridge Co., West Virginia, USA. George was born about 1835 in Allegany Co., Maryland, USA.

Joshua Menear was born between 1840 and 1841.

Rachel Menear was born in Dec 1842 in W. Virginia.
• 1880 Census: Neodesha, Wilson, KS, Keeping House.
Rachel married Elias M. Haynes., son of Haynes and ??. Elias was born in Dec 1831 in W. Virginia. They had four children: Frank, Kate, Annie, and Asa M..
• He appeared on the census in 1880 in Neodesha, Wilson, KS, Teamster, Lists Rest Of Family.
• He appeared on the census in 1900 in Missouri, Greene, Taylor Twp., Series T 623, Roll: 856, Page 176.


Elizabeth Menear was born in 1844.
Elizabeth married Orris Duckworth on 3 Aug 1862 in Doddridge Co., West Virginia. Orris was born about 1833 in Allegany Co., Maryland, USA and died in Andersonville Prison. Another name for Orris was James O.

Adaline Menear was born between 1847 and 1848.

Elisha Menear was born between 1848 and 1849.
General Notes: Not in 1860 census, Possibly died ?

Floyd Menear was born about Apr 1853 in West Union, Augusta Co., Virginia, United States and died on 9 May 1853 in West Union, Augusta Co., Virginia, United States.

Asa next married Polly Ray on 16 Sep 1871 in Neodesha, Wilson Co., Kansas, United States. Polly was born on 4 Oct 1806, died on 25 Nov 1886 in Neodesha, Wilson Co., Kansas, United States at age 80, and was buried after 25 Nov 1886 in Neodesha City Cemetery, Wilson Co., Kansas - Lot 251, Part 1 Old.