Leah C. Stutes

Leah Christina (Tena) Stutes was born January 2, 1854.

Leah's  parents were James Perry Stutes, and her mother was Mary Ann H Obryant


Leah C. Stutes married Norman Samuel Spencer on December 30, 1869 in Olathe, Johnson, Kansas.

They had 5 children
1. George Emmett Spencer: May 23, 1872 - January 23, 1873
2. Marcus Perry Spencer: April 1 1874 - ?
3. Julius H. Spencer: February 6, 1876 - ?
4. Orpha May Spencer: December 2,1877 - June 15, 1956
5. Alta Spencer: March 17, 1881 - ? 

According to the 1870 federal census Olathe, Johnson, Kansas, Leah was 16 years old, and living with her husband Norman this census say Norman is 22, but in reality he was eight year older than Leah.  It says Norman was working on a farm, and that he was born in Michigan
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In the 1875 Aubry, Johnson County, Kansas Census Leah was 21 and living with husband Norman 30, and Marcus Perry their son aged 1 year.  It says Norman was a farmer at this time and that he was born in Indiana.

During the 1880 U.S. Federal Census Leah was living in the Banner Township in Fulton County, Illinois with her children  Marcus 6, and Julius H. 4, and Orpha May 2. They were living with George Stutes (leah's brother), his wife, and their first two daughters.  Leah's husband Robert Wilson was not living with them at this time.  They lived on a farm, and George was a farmer.

In 1880s Federal Census Norman was living in Steuben, Indiana. 
Norman has Leah, Marcus their son, Julius, and Orpha living with him in Indiana.  I don't know if they moved during 1800, or if Leah decided to leave Norman.  They probably divorced, because later Leah was married to someone else.

There is  a census for 1895 in Parsons, Labette, Kansas.
Here Leah is 40, and is married to Richard Combs 36, Perry 21 (Marcus Perry) her son, Julius 19 her son **She has the boys with Combs as their last name here**  Orpha Spencer 17, and Alta Spencer 14.  I don't know why she has the boys as Combs, and the girls as Spencer.  

In 1900 Paragould, Greene, Arkansas Tena is saying she is 46, and a widow.  She is using Spencer as her last name in this census.  She is living with Perry (Marcus Perry) 26 her son, Julius H 24 her son, Orpha 22 her daughter, and Flora A 2 years old her daughter by Richard Combs. By 1904 Leah is living in St. Louis, Mo.

I have a letter from Robert H. Wilson, her son in law to Leah dated 9 January 1905.  Here is a link to the full transcription.
http://heathersgenealogyguide.blogspot.com/2017/08/9-january-1905-letter-from-robert-h.html
Robert says to send his regards to Flora in the letter, I am having trouble finding her, or any mention of her after this letter.


Leah C. Stutes died on February 10, 1909 in Redondo Beach, California at 54 years old, Norman died in Redondo Beach in 1915.  I am not sure whether they came out together and remarried, or came out separately. Norman is buried next to Leah, but has no marker.