WILLIAM MARIAN “MARIAN” PRIEST, NANCY CATHERINE PRIEST, AND ULYSSES S. GRANT “GRANT” PRIEST

William Marian “Marian” Priest. Little is know about Marian Priest. He was born in 1866 after John came home from the Civil War. In his sister Minerva’s affidavit for Mahala’s Civil War Widow’s Pension Application she states that he is living in Arkansas, but his whereabouts are unknown. The special examiner states in his report “It is doubtful if the Post office address of William M. Priest can be obtained as he appears to be a wayfaring man.”

Since finding the Widow’s Pension File I have learned a little more about Marian but he still remains a mystery.

In October 1889 Minerva bought Marion and Mary Jane’s share of the family homestead. Their Father had been dead for two months so one can assume they needed the money. Marion must have been in Floyd County at the time because he signed the document.

Floyd County Court Records October 25, 1889 This Deed made between Marion Priest and Jane Priest of the first part and Minerva Priest of the second part both of Floyd Co. Witnesseth: That for and in consideration of Fifty five dollars, thirty five in hand paid and twenty secured by note this day executed by Marion Priest and Jane Priest and parties of the first part have this day sold and conveyed to the said Minerva Priest all their rights, title and interest in their Father John Priest Deceased undivided estate. Said land lies on the Kitnor branch on Brushy Creek in Floyd Co. KY. The said Minerva Priest to have and to hold said land free from us and all others claiming under us.

/s/ Marion Priest

her

Jane x Priest

mark

Then in the Floyd County Court about 1908 I found the following: “It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that Marion Priest of Mag. Dist. No. 3 stands charged upon the assessor books of Floyd County with personal property valued at $55. Equalized value $57. Gone to Pike County left nothing to make said tax or any part thereof. Ordered that he be exonerated from payment of tax on this amount. Same ordered certified to sheriff & auditor.” So apparently he was back in Floyd County around 1908. He must have traveled between Arkansas and Kentucky because Paulene Priest who grew up on the same property as her grandfather Monterville remembers her relatives talking about Uncle Marion and she remembers him coming to visit.

Nancy Catherine Priest was born in 1869. She married John T. Smelser in 1892 in Carrol County, Arkansas. They lived in Barry County, Missouri in 1900 and had no children. Nancy died Jan. 1908. In the 1909 map of Barry County J. T Smelser is listed on the plat map very close to the Robertson’s who are the in-laws to Monterville and Robert H. Priest and the Easley’s who also married into the family. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mobarry/1909Plat/T21nR26w-b-r.jpg

Ulysses S. Grant “Grant” Priest was born in 1872. When Mahala moved to Arkansas after her husband’s death in 1889 she lived with Grant. I think he had a brief marriage to Ollie Powell in 1891and then later married a lady named Nora Stone and they had a daughter Georgette “Georgie”. She married Charles Faber and died in January 2002. She kept in touch with my Grandmother. Had also had a son out of wedlock. His last name was Blackwell and Grant recognized him in his will.

Grant is a common thread through the family. Although the “Kentucky” Priest’s and Crider’s didn’t really know much about he “Arkansas” Priest’s and vice-versa, they all knew Grant, so he must have kept in touch with all the family.