ALICE ELLEN DOLTON
Richmond Dolton (1815-1899) born in Kentucky
This is the story of Alice Dolton, has nothing to do with a looking glass and everything to do with a woman born and raised in Galesburg, Illinois, and then moving her family west to the Golden State. Alice was born in December of 1846 to Richmond and Priscilla (Hahn) Dolton. When she was born Richmond, was 31, and Priscilla, was 23. Her parents had twelve children together in twenty years.
Galesburg, Illinois, was founded by George Washington Gale, a Presbyterian minister from New York state, who dreamed of establishing a manual labor college which became Knox College. A manual labor college was one in which students and staff was required to spend half of each day doing manual labor. Galesburg's success and growth was tied to the railroad industry. Local businessmen were major backers of the first railroad to connect Illinois' two biggest cities - Chicago and Quincy.
In 1850 Alice and her eight siblings were living in Township 13 N 1 E, Knox County, Illinois. She took a year off now and then, but for the most part Priscilla had a child every year from 1843 to 1854. They had 12 children in 20 years. Priscilla died when she was thirty-seven years old. One author writing about Priscilla's labors said she would have died a lot sooner. All of Priscilla's children had been born in Illinois. All the children were born in Illinois. In 1950, Alice was three years old, just out of the terrible two's, really starting to learn, and be her own person. She was one of the seven or eight children at home with mom. Her dad was a farmer.
By 1860 Richmond had moved his large family to Washington township, DeKalb County, Missouri. Did he know that war was coming? He left Illinois which was up north and was not a slave state. He went to Missouri which was a slave state ever since it adopted statehood in 1821. But, there is no indication that the Dolton's ever had slaves. If he was moving to Missouri to get away from the War, then he made a mistake because Missouri was a hotly contested border state during the American Civil War. And much of the fighting was done by irregulars or bushwhackers, so you never knew if a body of men riding across the countryside were soldiers likely to burn your farm or just a group of men riding together for mutual protection. But, Richmond was just interested in farming and that's what he and his boys did. In 1860, Alice had just become a teenager and was attending school. There were six children under ten so Alice had to do what her three older sisters told her to help take care of them. She was caught in the middle with three older sisters to boss her and six younger brothers and sisters that she had to help take care of. Richmond and Priscilla had eleven children: Abigail, Euphaemia, Lucetta, Thiron, Alis, Nahum, Araminta, Loradumia, Edward, Kate, and Ennis. If she was still alive, the eldest daughter, Elizabeth Dolton, was seventeen years of age and was no longer in the home. She may have married and setup her own household.
The American Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1864. While the War boiled up around them Alice's family appears to have remain unscathed. No one in her immediate family was killed during the War.
In 1863, in the midst of the American Civil War, Alice Dolton found love. She married John W. Highfill and they set up housekeeping together. They didn't stay in Missouri long. There were opportunities across the border in Kansas and John was going to get his own farm.
The 1870 US Federal Census for Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, enumerated the 6th day of July 1870, has a record of the John and Alice Highfill household. John Highfill was a 27 year old, white, male, farmer, born about 1843 in Indiana. Alice Highfill was a 23 year old white, female, keeping house, born about 1847 in Illinois. Julia Highfill was a six year old, white, female, born about 1864 in Kansas. L. J. Highfill was a four year old, white, male, born in Kansas. J. R. Highfill was a two year old, white, male, born about 1868 in Kansas. Thos. Highfill was a 9/12 year old, white, male, born in September 1869 in Kansas.
The 1880 US Federal Census for Easton, Leavenworth County, Kansas, has a record of the John and Allice Highfield family. Of course, the census taker got it wrong; their surname is Highfill. The census taker, C. D. Oliphint, visited the Highfill household on 18 Jun 1880, probably during the day, so he probably spoke to Alice. I wonder if she had an accent that somehow made Highfill sound like Highfield because this happened fairly often. Anyway, in the household were: John Highfield 36 year old, white, male, farmer, born about 1844 in Indiana. Whoever was giving the information to the census taker said that John's father was born in Indiana and his mother in Illinois. Allice (Sic.) Highfield, 32 years of age, white, female, wife, born about 1848 in Illinois. She said that her father was born in Indiana and her mother in Illinois. [Note: Alice consistently gave this answer in each of the census'. But, her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana.] Lulie Highfield, 14 year old, white, female, daughter, born about 1866 in Kansas. Jinni Highfield, white, male, age 12 years, son, born about 1868 in Kansas. Thomas Highfield, ten year old, white, male, son, born about 1870 in Kansas. Mintie Highfield, eight year old white, female, daughter, born about 1872 in Kansas. William Highfield, seven year old, white, male, son, born about 1873 in Kansas. Norah Highfield, five year old, white, female, daughter, born about 1875 in Kansas. Cora Highfield, four year old, whte, female, born about 1876 in Kansas. Martha Highfield, four month old, white, female, born February 1880 in Kansas.
In 1900 this Highfill family was living in South Wichita, Lincoln, Oklahoma. John W. Highfill, head of household, white, male, born Dec 1842, age 57 years, married 37 years, born in Indiana. John cannot read or write and is working as a farmer. Alice E. Highfill, wife, white, female, born Dec 1846, age 53 years, married 37 years, had twelve children and eleven of them survive, she was born in Illinois. Ellis Highfill, son, white, male, born Jan 1882, age 18 years, single, born in Kansas. Robert Highfill, son, white, male, born Dec 1884, age 15 years, single, born in Kansas. Nettie Highfill, daughter, white, female, born September 1887, age 12 years, single, born in Kansas.
In a separate family and dwelling is listing William Highfill, head of household, white, male, born September 1873, age 26 years, married for three years, born in Kansas, working as a farmer. Lena Highfill, wife, white, female, born Jan 1878, age 22 years, married for three years, born in Illinois.
South Wichita, Lincoln, Oklahoma; now, there's a mixed metaphor for ya'. Wichita is in Kansas, Lincoln is famous for being in Nebraska, and yet they're in Oklahoma. There is a map of "Land Ownership, Map of Lincoln Counties, Oklahoma Territory, Copied from an Original printed in 1903" (The map was given as a gift to each person renewing their subscription to THE CHANDLER NEWS in December, 1903, is very large - about 36" square - and is in colors.)[http://www.skypoint.com/members/jkm/oklincoln/first_names.html#p2] J. W. Highfill and Wm. Highfill are listed on this map in South Wichita Township which was Township 12 North, Range 3 East. South Wichita Township is in the southwest corner of Lincoln County, Oklahoma, on its border with Pottawatomie County. J. W. Highfill owned the southwest 1/4 of section 29 and Wm. Highfill owned the southeast 1/4 of section 29.
In 1910 John and Alice are still living in South Wichita, Oklahoma. All ten of their surviving children are out of the house and on their own. But, John and Alice have three grandkids living with them: Otis, Edgar, and Audra. The US Federal Census for 1910 shows John W Highfill, 68 years of age, head of house, male, white, married 47 years, born in Indiana, his father was born in Tennessee and his mother in Indiana. Alice E Highfill, 64 years of age, female, white, married, had 12 children of whom ten are still alive, born in Illinois, her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana. (She finally got this right. I wonder if she talked to one of her brothers or sisters and got the right information.) Otis Highfill, age 11 years, grandson, male, white, born in Oklahoma, both parents born in Kansas. Edgar Highfill, grandson, male, white, age seven years, born in Oklahoma, both parents born in Kansas. Audra Mccarney, granddaughter, white, female, age five years, born in Oklahoma, her father was born in the United States and her mother in Kansas.
In 1918 Alice's husband of 55 years died. He was 76 years old. He and Alice had twelve children together. They had farmed in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. They had lived through wars, blizzards, grasshopper plagues, depressions, and the death of children, but they had the good times too. They had each other, wonderful children and grandchildren, their family, many friends, their health, a good farm, plenty of food, the rain after a long dry spell, the beauty of God's natural world.
The year 1920 was interesting. Alice shows up twice in the US Federal Census in 1920. She has moved to California to be close to her family there and let's face it, California has the weather. On the third of January 1920, Edwin Green was enumerating Modesto City, Stanislaus County, California, and took note of the Harry and Cora Sullins family at 113 Linden Street, Modesto City. Harry S. Sullins, head of household, owned his mortgaged home, was a male, white, age 45 years, married. Cora M. Sullins, wife, female, white, age 41 years, married. Harold D. Sullins, son, male, white, age 22 years, born in Oklahoma. Clyde E. Sullins, son, male, white, age 19 years, born in Oklahoma. Lloyd V. Sullins, son, white, male, age 17 years, born in Oklahoma. Paul J. Sullins, son, white, male, age 14 years, born in Oklahoma. Cecil Sullins, son, white, male, age 12 years, born in Oklahoma. Nancy J. Sullins, mother (of Harry), female, white, age 86 years, widowed, born in Ohio. Alice H. Highfill, mother-in-law (of Harry), female, white, age 75, widowed, born in Illinois. William P. Cummings, son-in-law, male, white, 27 years of age, married, born in Kansas. Cecelia M. Cummings, daughter (of Harry), female, white, 23 years of age, married, born in Oklahoma. Helen D. Cummings, grand-daughter (of Harry), female, white, age 5 years, born in Kansas. So, here we find Alice in the home of her daughter Cora on the third of January.
On the fifth of January 1920 Mr. Green is down at 111 Locust Street, Modesto City at the home of Robert and Irene Highfill. Robert J. Highfill, head of household, renting, he is a male, white, age 34 years, married, born in Kansas. Irene S. Highfill, wife, female, white, age 22 years, married, born in Ohio as were her parents. Laureta Highfill, daughter, female, white, age 2 2/12, born in Oklahoma. Robert J. Highfill, Jr., son, male, white, 11 months old, born in California. Alice E. Highfill, mother, female, white, age 73 years, widowed, born in Illinois and her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana. John Asa Atterberry, lodger, male, white, age 50 years, married, born in the United States as were his parents. George Turkoritz, lodger, male, white, age 35 years, single, immigrated in 1912 from Holland. Just two days later Alice is down the street at Robert's house. It takes about one minute to walk from one house to the other.
In the twenties. (1) Women could vote: The 19th Amendment to the Constitution had guaranteed that right in 1920. (2) By 1923 there were more than 500 radio stations in the nation. By the end of the 1920s, there were five national radio networks and radios in more than 12 million households. (3) About 1924 permanent plumbing and running water in the house was becoming increasingly affordable and therefore available. (4) The most important consumer product of the 1920s was the automobile. The Ford Model T cost just $260 in 1924. (5) On June 2nd 1924, the Indian Citizenship Act was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge. This act conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born in the United States. (6) About 1927 the average price of a refrigerator dropped from $275 to $154 with the synthesis of Freon. This lower price allowed ownership of refrigerators in American households to exceed 50%. (7) Sliced bread was first sold in 1928, advertised as "the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped". This led to the popular phrase "greatest thing since sliced bread."
The 1930 US Federal Census for Tracy, San Joaquin County, California, has a record of the Robert and Irena Highfill household. Robert J. Highfill, head of household, male, white, 45 years of age, married, age when first married was 32, born about 1885 in Kansas. Father born in Indiana and mother in Illinois. The family was renting their house at thirty dollars per month. Irena Highfill, wife, female, white, age 35 years, married, age when first married was 20, born about 1895 in Ohio as were her mother and father. Loreta Highfill, daughter, female, white, age 12 years, attending school, born about 1918 in Oklahoma. Robert Highfill, son, male, white, age 10 years, attending school, born about 1920 in California. Alice E. Highfill, mother, female, white, age 84 years, widowed, age when first married 20 years, born about 1846 in Illinois. The person responding to the census taker said that both her parents were born in Illinois. [That's incorrect. Her father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana.]
Alice Ellen (Dolton) Highfill died 6 February 1935 in Merced County, California, at the age of 88 years. The place of her burial is not known. She was survived by six of her children.
