Family Group Sheet
NameBenjamin Franklin “Frank” Conn
Birth21 Dec 1880 or 1881, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death5 Aug 1938, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialHayes Crossing, Rowan Co., Ky
FatherLewis K. Conn (1860-)
MotherMary Elam Reeves (1859-<1887)
Other spousesMecie McGlothlin
Marriage22 Dec 1922, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseMartha J. Stevens
Birthabt 1905, Kentucky
Deathabt 1931
FatherWilliam H. Stevens (?1881-1952)
MotherNancy E. Kelley (1886-1963)
Children
Birth23 Sep 1925, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death15 Mar 1998, Lewisburg, Logan Co., Kentucky
SpouseBoyd Lawrence Johnson
Birth22 Feb 1927, Rowan Co., Kentucky
4 FLorene [Conn] Whitaker (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
SpouseCosby C. McGowan
5 FMaude ? Conn (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
6 FMargaret ? Conn (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
Notes for Benjamin Franklin “Frank” Conn
His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Benjamin F. Conn, age 37, born 21 Dec 1880, residence Cranston, Rowan Co., Ky, occupation manufacturing, employer Haldeman Brick, nearest relatives Luther & Homer Conn, Cranston, Ky.
Luther and Homer must be his sons, who were only age 6 and 3 at the time.
His death certificate records Frank Conn, age 56 years 9 months 14 days, born 21 Dec 1881 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 5 Aug 1938 in Haldeman, Rowan Co., Ky, married, husband of Martha Conn, occupation kiln fireman for Ky Fire Brick Co., father Lewis Conn, mother’s maiden name Mary Reeves, both born in Ky, cause of death killed by eastbound C & O freight train about 2:45 a.m to 4 a.m contributory cause drunk when last seen, informant Martha Conn, Eadston, Ky, burial in Hayes Cemetery.
There is no stone for him (or any other Conn) in the Hayes (also known as Hayes Crossing) Cemetery, but there are almost 100 graves with no inscribed stone.
Luther and Homer must be his sons, who were only age 6 and 3 at the time.
His death certificate records Frank Conn, age 56 years 9 months 14 days, born 21 Dec 1881 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 5 Aug 1938 in Haldeman, Rowan Co., Ky, married, husband of Martha Conn, occupation kiln fireman for Ky Fire Brick Co., father Lewis Conn, mother’s maiden name Mary Reeves, both born in Ky, cause of death killed by eastbound C & O freight train about 2:45 a.m to 4 a.m contributory cause drunk when last seen, informant Martha Conn, Eadston, Ky, burial in Hayes Cemetery.
There is no stone for him (or any other Conn) in the Hayes (also known as Hayes Crossing) Cemetery, but there are almost 100 graves with no inscribed stone.
Notes for Martha J. Stevens
I cannot find a death record for Martha. She reportedly died about 1931 during the birth of twin daughters.
Notes for Benjamin Franklin “Frank” & Martha J. (Family)
Rowan Co., Ky marriage book 16, p. 2, records the marriage on 22 Dec 1922 of Frank Conn, age 40, widowed, occupation brick yard, son of Lewis & Mary Conn, to Martha Stevens, age 17, single, daughter of Bill & Nancy Stevens, both born in and residents of Rowan Co., at Cranston by A. J. Davis, minister of the Regular Baptist church, witnesses Richard Kelly and James Harris.
According to Joyce McGowan Wilson, daughter of Frank and Martha’s daughter Lorene, Martha had a pair of twin girls, with names beginning with M, possibly Maude and Margaret, and died shortly thereafter, perhaps in childbirth. Frank then took all five girls to an orphanage in Louisville because he could not care for them.
Joyce also said that she found an obituary for Frank that listed a surviving wife Martha Hall and several Hall stepchildren. This must mean that the wife Martha listed on his death certificate is not the same as Martha Stevens.
I cannot find any birth records for the twins. Either they were born in another state, perhaps West Virginia where the Social Security numbers were issued to Frank’s sons Luther and Homer from his first marriage, or else altered birth certificates were filed when the twins were adopted.
According to Joyce McGowan Wilson, daughter of Frank and Martha’s daughter Lorene, Martha had a pair of twin girls, with names beginning with M, possibly Maude and Margaret, and died shortly thereafter, perhaps in childbirth. Frank then took all five girls to an orphanage in Louisville because he could not care for them.
Joyce also said that she found an obituary for Frank that listed a surviving wife Martha Hall and several Hall stepchildren. This must mean that the wife Martha listed on his death certificate is not the same as Martha Stevens.
I cannot find any birth records for the twins. Either they were born in another state, perhaps West Virginia where the Social Security numbers were issued to Frank’s sons Luther and Homer from his first marriage, or else altered birth certificates were filed when the twins were adopted.
Census
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Haldeman precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 8B as family #135:
Conn, Frank, 49, age at first marriage 30, kiln fireman at brick yard; Martha, wife, 25, age at first marriage 17; Flosie, dau, 5 8/12; Myrtle, dau, 3 0/12; Lorine, dau, 10/12; Stephens, Nancy, mo-in-law, 41, widowed; Watson, Bill, bro-in-law, 10; Clelmer, bro-in-law, 7; Clina, sis-in-law, 1 11/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
Conn, Frank, 49, age at first marriage 30, kiln fireman at brick yard; Martha, wife, 25, age at first marriage 17; Flosie, dau, 5 8/12; Myrtle, dau, 3 0/12; Lorine, dau, 10/12; Stephens, Nancy, mo-in-law, 41, widowed; Watson, Bill, bro-in-law, 10; Clelmer, bro-in-law, 7; Clina, sis-in-law, 1 11/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.
