Wathena Kennedy Miller, Honored by the Meade County Alumni Association
by Ann Sipes, #49
ATHS Member #812, Wathena Miller, was honored on Saturday, June 6, 2009, by being named one of two Alumni of the year along with Robert Clinton Roberts. Both Mrs. Miller and Mr. Roberts are native Meade Countians. Robert Clinton Roberts is a centenarian now living in Mississippi with his wife of over 71 years. Long known as a teacher and coach in the Meade County School System, (particularly at the old Ekron High School) two of his nephews received his plaque on his behalf. Two other nephews, Jim and William H. Roberts, have long been members of ATHS.
The annual Meade County High School Alumni Association banquet was held this year at the Brandenburg United Methodist Church. This setting has special significance to Wathena’s own heritage. Behind the church is a cemetery long known and recorded as the Walker Cemetery. It had been grown up in weeds, but was restored by the Methodist Men’s Club in 1973. The cemetery was dedicated and renamed the Wathen Cemetery in 1988 because of Wathena’s research of and documentation of her Wathen forebearers’ activities in early Meade County. She proved that the cemetery had first been established in 1835 by Gabriel Wathen when he set aside a piece of his land to be used as his family’s final resting place. It had become known as the Walker cemetery, probably because the last person to be buried there was John C. Walker, who had married into the Wathen family. Gabriel Wathen was Wathena’s second great grandfather.
Mary Stephenson, a member of the selection committee for the Alumni Association, introduced Wathena to the participants at the banquet as “the genealogist of Meade County.” Wathena was fondly called “my wife, the genealogy nut” by her late husband, Bill Miller.
Wathena has been a genealogy angel to many people through her help to so many potential DAR members tracing their lineage to become members of that society. She served either as Co-registrar, Registrar or Genealogical Records Chairman for the Ambrose Meador Chapter in Brandenburg for many years. She was State Genealogical Records Chairman for six years and served on the State Credential Committee for three years. While working in the Ambrose Meador Chapter, Wathena sent over 1200 pages of local records on to the state. She remains active in that organization even though she has become more confined after Bill’s death in 2003. When Wathena joined the DAR in 1984 she “went in on” the patriot, Ambrose Meador. She has researched and proven descent from seven additional patriots since then:
Nathaniel Lightner, Leonard Wathen, Justinian Mills, William Childs, Christopher Bewley, John Board, and John Dent.
Wathena also became a member of Ancestral Trails in 1984 and served one year as our vice-president under President Jack Bewley in 1989. She served as Meade County representative for several years and has written and published an article about early Meade County history. This was printed in the 1991 Summer Issue of Ancestral News. Her transcriptions of Meade County Court Minute Records have been published in this newsletter beginning in 1998 and again continued in 2006 and 2007. The complete compilation of those Court Minute Books from 1824 through 1828 can also be found in the John Fox Memorial Library in the old Duncan Tavern in Paris, Kentucky. The old Duncan Tavern houses the offices of the Kentucky State DAR headquarters. Through her efforts as Genealogical Records Chairman, she has contributed many volumes of other Meade County records to DAR, to include Bible records and family records, as well as her published books.
Her biggest legacy to Ancestral Trails and to Meade County researchers encompasses the publication by the society of three books of Meade County vital statistic records which Wathena transcribed from the microfilm herself and also two census record books compiled with her cousin, Jane Meador Newton. Those publications include:
Meade County Records, Vol. I, Births 1852-1908, published in 1987 Meade County Records, Vol. II, Marriages, 1824-1884 published in 1988 Meade County Records, Vol. III, Marriages, 1885-1934, published in 1989 Meade County Census, 1870, published in 1991 Meade County Census, 1880, published in 1995
Wathena maintained a stock of these books in her own home and sold many of these books to people who had corresponded with her for many years. We continue to sell copies of the Meade County Record series, and have reprinted several times. Because of the availability of the federal census through several internet venues, the Census Records have been allowed to go out of print.
Sometime during this busy transcription period, Wathena and her cousin, Jane Meador Newton, also wrote a family research book about their ancestor, Ambrose Meador from Bedford County, Virginia to Breckinridge County, Kentucky.
This immense amount of work has been accomplished by a very plucky lady. Wathena and Bill started their family in the mid-1950's, having their two oldest children, Keith and Yvonne, within the first few years of their marriage. As a young wife and mother aged only 22 years, Wathena was struck with Polio in 1958. This devastating disease left her partially paralyzed and unable to walk very easily for many years. After experimental surgery in 1966, she was able to use special crutches for several years,
but used a hand-powered wheelchair many times to save her strength (since 1994 she has used a motorized wheelchair). With help, she continued to care for their two small children, Keith and Yvonne, in the early years of her illness. A third child, Dawn, was born to Wathena and Bill four years after her contracting the disease. Her second child, Yvonne, became very ill at age 5 and ½ with a rare neurological disorder and required careful and loving care until her death at age 15 in 1972.
Several years after Yvonne’s death, Wathena began her family research. Sometime in the mid 1980's she learned to use the microfilm viewer and the computer to read many rolls of microfilm and then transpose her written notes into typescript. She learned to use Brian Harney’s indexing program and indexed her own work. We still benefit from her careful transcriptions because of her knowledge of so many of Meade County’s families and her skillful interpretation of very “difficult to read” handwriting. Many people have benefitted from Wathena’s work compiling county records that can be easily used, and from her help to others to accurately record and document their family history. Many of our members who live far away from Kentucky have had no idea about the challenges that she has overcome to benefit so many of us in our own research efforts. She is one of my heroes. Wathena’s and Mr. Robert’s portraits will be added to others already displayed at Meade County High School. There is no one more deserving to be a member of the Hall of Fame of the Meade County Alumni Association. Wathena, all of us in Ancestral Trails Historical Society congratulate you. We salute you and we thank you!
AHNENTAFEL OF WATHENA KENNEDY MILLER
1. Wathena Kennedy, b. 28 Apr 1936 m. William N. “Bill” Miller on 20 Aug 1954. Bill died 28 May 2003. He was the son of Christopher Edward Miller and Lucy Vashti Brown. Wathena and Bill are parents of three children: Norman Keith Miller, Peggy Yvonne Miller (1957-1972), and Dawn Renee Miller. They have four grandchildren.
2. Wathen Richard Kennedy b. 17 Nov 1894, Breckinridge Co., KY, d. 26 Mar 1977, Hardin Co., KY, bur. In Cap Anderson Cemetery, Brandenburg, Meade Co., KY. He m. 19 Feb 1919, Jefferson Co., KY
3. Beulah Jane Mills b. 19 Oct 1895, Meade Co., KY d. 5 Feb 1988. Wathen and Beulah Jane Kennedy are buried in Cap Anderson Cemetery in Brandenburg, KY.
4. James Richard Kennedy b. 25 Sep 1866, Breckinridge Co., KY d. 21 Jan 1941, Meade Co., KY. He m. 27 Dec 1893, Breckinridge Co., KY
5. Anna Board Wathen b. 7 July 1963, Meade Co., KY, d. 23 July 1938, Meade Co., KY. James Richard and Anna Board Kennedy are both buried in Cap Anderson Cemetery, Brandenburg, KY.
6. Charles Henry Mills b. 9 Feb 1849, Meade Co., KY, d. 19 June 1922, Meade County, KY, m. 30 Sep 1891, Jefferson Co., KY
7. Sarah Elizabeth Neafus b. 1 Jun 1867, Meade Co., KY d. 20 May 1965, Jefferson Co., KY, buried in Meade Co., KY. Charles Henry and Sarah Mills are buried in
Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Meade County, KY.
8. Stephen B. Kennedy b. 22 Nov 1838, Breckinridge Co., KY, d. 10 May 1914, Breckinridge Co., KY, m. 31 Oct 1860, Breckinridge Co., KY
9. Letitia Jane Bandy b. 8 Jun 1843, Breckinridge Co., KY d. 6 Jul 1902, Breckinridge Co., KY. Stephen B. And Letitia Kennedy are buried in Sandy Hill Cemetery near Guston, Meade Co., KY.
10. Horace Gates Wathen b. 6 July 1828, Meade Co., KY d. 29 Dec 1890 m. 24 Nov 1853. He is buried in the Wathen Cemetery, Brandenburg, KY.
11. Seana “Seany” Mary Little b. 24 Nov 1836, Green County, KY d. 20 Aug 1921, Hardin Co., KY. She is buried in Hardin Co., KY, cemetery not named on her death certificate.
12. Joseph Mills b. 30 Oct 1824 d. 19 Mar 1891, Meade Co., KY m. 24 Nov 1846, Meade Co., KY. He is buried in the Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Meade County, KY.
13. Rebecca Ann Childs b. 21 Jun 1830, Meade Co., KY d. 27 Jun 1900, Nebraska City, NE. She m/2 a Hayden and moved away from Meade County.
14. Cornelius Neafus b. 18 Mar 1817, Nelson Co., KY d. 1 Sep 1882, Meade Co., KY
m. 2 May 1848
15. Mary Jane Bewley b. 25 Mar 1833, Breckinridge Co., KY d. 15 Jun 1885, Meade Co., KY. Cornelius and Mary Jane Neafus are buried in Sandy Hill Cemetery, Meade County, KY.
16. James Kennedy b. 24 Feb 1816, Breckinridge Co.,. KY d. 7 Sep 1905, Breckinridge Co., KY m. 5 Nov 1835, Breckinridge Co., KY
17. Polly Ann McCoy b. 24 Nov 1816, Bedford Co., VA d. 12 Dec 1901, Breckinridge Co., KY. James Kennedy and Polly Ann are buried in the Freedom Presbyterian Cemetery, Breckinridge Co., KY.
18. Richard Bandy, Sr b. 16 Dec 1799, Bedford Co., VA d. 29 July 1845, Breckinridge Co., KY m. 25 Jan 1818, Breckinridge Co., KY
19. Elizabeth Adkisson b. 7 Jan 1799, Bedford Co., VA d. 21 Jul 1878, Breckinridge Co., KY
20. Gabriel Wathen b. 25 Jun 1789, Montgomery Co., MD d. 17 Apr 1857, Meade Co., KY m. 19 May 1814, Hardin Co., KY
21. Charles Seany Little b. 28 Feb 1798, Berkley Co., VA d. 25 Sep 1835, Meade Co., KY
22. John Parrot Little b. 15 Jul 1801
23. Joanna Brown b. 31 Mar 1809. John Parrot Little was a doctor. John Parrot Little and Joanna moved to Marion County, KY before their deaths and are buried there, exact place unknown.
24. Joseph Francis Charles Mills b. 24 Aug 1770 St. Mary’s Co., MD d. 1832, Nelson Co., KY m. 2 Nov 1799 Nelson Co., KY
25. Anne Brown
26. William Childs b. 14 Feb 1796 Prince George Co., MD d. 6 Oct 1846 Meade Co., KY m.11 May 1819, Nelson Co., KY
27. Nancy Bridwell b. 20 June 1794 VA d. 26 Oct 1858, Meade Co., KY
28. George W. Neafus, Sr. B. 1787, VA d. 1844, Meade Co., KY m. 9 Apr 1805, Nelson Co., KY
29. Sarah Richmire
30. John Bewley b. 19 Feb 1794 Bedford Co., VA d. 21 May 1866 Meade Co., KY m. 13 Mar 1820, Breckinridge Co., KY
31. Elizabeth Dent b. 10 Aug 1803, Bedford Co., VA d. 6 Apr 1877, Meade Co., KY. John and Elizabeth Bewley are buried in the Anderson/Cundiff/Bewley cemetery near Guston, Meade Co., KY
32. Unknown Kennedy
33. Unknown wife of Mr. Kennedy, but she was b. ca 1783 and d. 19 Nov 1863, buried in Freedom Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Breckinridge Co., KY, according to the church records.
34. John Paine McCoy b. 17 Feb 1789, Bedford Co., VA d. 8 Aug 1845, Breckinridge Co., KY, m. 14 Feb 1815, Bedford Co., VA
35. Rachel Smelser
36. George Bandy b. 1758, Botetourt Co., VA d. 1838, Breckinridge Co., KY, m. in VA
37. Drucilla Meador b. 1760 Bedford Co., VA d. 16 Dec 1799, Breckinridge Co., Ky. She was a d/o Ambrose Meador.
38. Lewis Adkisson b. ca 1757, Bedford Co., VA d. 1824/25, Breckinridge Co., KY m. 15 Dec 1782, Bedford Co., VA
39. Rebecca Ellenton b. 1760 d. 24 Mar 1849, Breckinridge Co., KY
40. Henry Ambrose Wathen b. ca 1762 in Maryland. He d. Oct 1806, Washington Co., KY
41. Bethland Masie Chandler b. 12 Jun 1763.
42. Richard Little b. ca 1776 VA d. 1801-09, KY, m. 3 Apr 1796, Berkley Co., VA
43. Caroline Matilda Wintersmith b. 29 Sep 1780, York, PA d. 9 May 1856, Meade Co., KY. She is buried in the Wathen Cemetery, Brandenburg, KY, having m/2 Henry Yeaky.
44. Richard Little, b. ca 1776, VA d. 1801-09, KY m. 3 Apr 1796, Berkley Co., VA
45. Caroline Matilda Wintersmith b. 29 Sep 1780, York, PA d. 9 May 1856, Meade Co.,KY. She is buried in the Wathen Cemetery, Brandenburg, KY, having m/2 Henry Yeaky.
46. Daniel Brown b. 5 Sep 1765, d. unkn. m. 5 Sep 1799
47. Theresa Bartlet b. 14 Jan 1782
48. Justinian Mills b. 2 Apr 1728, St. Mary’s Co., MD d. 20 Mar 1795, MD, m. 26 Oct 1751, St. Mary’s Co., MD
49. Mary Dant b. 1 Sep 1736 in MD d. 8 Feb 1814, St. Mary’s Co., MD
50. Anthony Brown
51. Ann Brewer
52. William Childs b. ca 1750 Maryland, d. bef 30 Aug 1818, Montgomery Co., MD m. 13 Dec 1781, Prince George Co., MD
53. Mary Willett b. 21 Aug 1764, Prince George Co., MD d. bef 20 May 1819, Montgomery Co., MD
54. Unknown Bridwell
55. Unknown wife of Mr. Bridwell
56. Cornelius Neafus b. ca 1766 d. bef 6 Oct 1815, appraisal of estate in Nelson Co., KY
57. Susannah Bozaert
58. Unknown Richmire
59. Unknown wife of Mr. Richmire
60. Christopher Bewley b. 6 Apr 1756, Bedford Co., VA d. 20 Aug 1839, Breckinridge Co., KY m. 16 May 1782, Bedford Co., VA,
61. Nancy Agnes Patterson b.6 Mar 1765 d. 15 Sep 1822, Breckinridge Co., KY. Christopher and Nancy Bewley are buried near Bewleyville, KY.
62. William Dent b. 26 Dec 1773, VA d. 3 Sep 1855, Breckinridge Co., KY m. 23 Oct 1800 Bedford Co., VA
63. Esther Board b. Sep 1783, Bedford Co.,VA, d. 26 Apr 1860, Breckinridge Co., KY