Martha Moore Horne1

b. circa 1834
FatherHenry Horne2,1 b. abt 14 Jul 1799, d. 14 Aug 1843
MotherMartha "Patsy" Edmondson2,1 b. abt 1806, d. aft Jun 1880
BirthCircacirca 1834 Martha Moore Horne was born in Washington County, Virginia, circa 1834.2 
Marriage2 Oct 1861 She married Rev. James Robinson Keys, son of Samuel Keys and Frances Gentry, on 2 Oct 1861 in Washington County, Virginia.2 
  Martha was the first cousin of James's first wife, Mary Edmondson (Martha's mother and Mary's father were siblings). 
  Martha and James remained in Washington County where James established the Liberty Hall Academy at his own expense and served as its first principal [for years a portrait of him hung at the school]. James's daughter Martha (from his first marriage) served as an assistant teacher for several years. In 1878 James retired and the property was purchased by representatives of the Presbyterian Church. Although not strictly a church school, Liberty Hall became well known as the institute of choice for future ministers of the Presbyterian faith. Following James's retirement his son-in-law, Rev. Thomas Hughes, took over as principal. He had married James's daughter Martha in 1872.3,4,5,6 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880 Six years before his death James and Martha were enumerated living in the in Holston district of the county. James listed himself as a farmer. The couple's eldest son Samuel had died in 1874, but their 4 surviving sons helped on the farm.7 
1886  James died in April 1886, a few months after the death of son David. Another son, Bascom died shortly thereafter.8 

Research Comment:

Prior to Dec. 2007 Martha's page included this statement following the reference to James's death:
"Family tradition states that Martha took her two surviving children, boarded a train, and headed west to visit relatives who lived beyond the Mississippi River. She is not known to have returned to Virginia"

However in November 2007, while visiting the Washington County courthouse in Abingdon, Martha Keys (descendant of Rev. James Keys and his first wife) discovered an old bond book stacked among other items in the basement. It covered the years 1884-1891. An entry dated 28 Dec. 1891 included a $600 bond for R.W. Keys and J.K. Keys as administrator of Martha Keys, deceased. Additional research located Martha's son James Keys living in Oklahoma in 1900; however his children's place of birth through 1897 was recorded as Virginia.

In light of this additional information it seems unlikely Martha and her sons went west and "disappeared" in 1886. However, no headstone has been located for Martha in Washington County which does leave room for speculation. Was Martha living in Washington County when she died? Did the family tradition actually stem from her son's move west after her death?9

Family

Rev. James Robinson Keys b. 24 Feb 1817, d. 8 Apr 1886
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Edmondson and Martha Moore
Last Edited18 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S702] Elizabeth E. Horne will (1851), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 12: 168. The will was dated 14 Aug. 1851 and recorded 27 Oct. 1851. Elizabeth's will names her mother Martha and sisters Catharine C. Horne, Martha Moore Horne and Amanda Caroline Horne.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 198. Record abstracted as: James Keys, 44y, wid, b. Rutherford Co., TN, resid WCV, teacher, s/o Samuel & Frances Keys AND Martha Horne, 27y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Henry & Martha Horne; marr 2 Oct. 1861 by Joseph Hasken.
  3. [S23] "Liberty Hall School" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, 42. Source for article cited as Washington County News, 16 April 1981, Big Farewell Party For Famed Old School - Washington Co. News, 10 Nov. 1965.
  4. [S622] Martha Keys, "Questions," e-mail to Diana Powell, 25 Jul 2005.
  5. [S1703] Memoir - Obituary of Mrs. Pattie E. Hughes, undated & unidentified newspaper clipping.
  6. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 12. From the writings of Rachel Smyth Scott.
  7. [S165] James Keys household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, page 245A (stamped), dwelling 75, family 75, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Jul 2005, image 9 of 54. Enumeration includes: James Keys, 63, farmer, b. TN, father b. VA, mother b. NC; Martha M. [?], 46, b. VA, parents b. VA; David H. 16, son; Robert W., 14, son; James K. 12, son; Bascon H., 10, son; all sons listed as farm laborers; all listed as b. VA, father b. TN, mother b. VA.
  8. [S1288] Letter, George Keys to Bob ____, May 18, 1994.
  9. [S622] Martha Keys, "Thanksgiving," e-mail to Diana Powell, 20 Nov. 2007. Martha located a Bond Book (1884-1891) in the basement of the Washington County courthouse. It included an entry for R.W. Keys and J.K. Keys as administrator of Martha Keys, deceased. The bond amount was $600; dated 28 Dec. 1891.