Mellissa (Manear) Gephart (1865 - 1943)

Born 27 Jan 1865 in Salt Lick, Bath, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Sanders Powers — married 8 Oct 1887 in Menifee, Kentucky, United States

Wife of John William Gephart — married 20 May 1916 in Hamilton, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Jun 1943 at age 78 in Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Mellissa (Manear) Gephart was born in Appalachia, in Kentucky.

Mellissa Manear was born on 27 Jan 1865 to Mary Ann Steele and William Manear. Her parents were listed in the marriage application to John William Gephart (see below). She went by the name Mellissa Steele. This can be seen in the 1870 and 1880 US Census records and in her marriage to Sanders Powers. On the death certificate her son Walker (Walter) Powers indicated that Mellissa's father was Robert Steele, but this is not accurate. Mellissa's mother remarried a Robert Becraft which is perhaps why Walker used the name Robert on his mother's death certificate.

She signed her name as 'Melissa' on the marriage application to John William Gephart in 1916, but spelling on the death certificate was Mellissa. Alternate spellings were Malisa, Malissa, and Melisse.

In the 1870 census Malissa (age 5) and her mother Mary (age 26) were in the home of Mary's parents, Fielden B Steele (age 54) and Nancy Steele (age 52) at Menifee, Kentucky, United States.^[1] Also in the household were Mary's younger sisters, Sarah (age 17) and Martha (age 12).

In the 1880 census Molisa (age 15) and her mother Mary (age 27) were in the home of Mary's parents, Fielden B Steele (age 64) and Nancy Steele (age 62) at Precinct 4 Slate, Menifee, Kentucky, United States.^[2] Also in the household was Mary's sister Martha (age 22) and several grandchildren of Fielden and Nancy.

Malissa married Sanders Power(s) on 8 October 1887 at Menifee, Kentucky, United States.^[3][4] She was reportedly married a couple times before marrying Sanders Power(s). This information is from verbal conversations with descendants of Melissa and Sanders. There was a 30 year age difference between the couple. Sanders had been previously married to Susan Warner and they had seven children together. Malissa and Sanders had three children together:

1. Holly Powers b. 1893, d. 1897 (son, died in house fire) ^[5]
2. Mary Leah (Powers) Geary b. 1899, d. 1991
3. Walker Walter Powers b. 1902, d. 1963

In the 1900 census Melisa (age 35) was the wife of Sanders Powers (age 65) at Magisterial District 5, Menifee, Kentucky, United States.^[6] Also in the household was Sander's son John (age 26) from his prior marriage and daughter Mary L. (age 0).

In the 1910 census Malissie (age 45) was the wife of Sannders Powers (age 74) with children Mary L (age 10) and Walker (age 7) at Magisterial District 5, Bath, Kentucky, United States.^[7] It is interesting that Sanders and Melissa were residing on a rented farm near Owingsville, Bath County, KY in 1910. Sanders was 75 years old.

Sanders died on 24 Apr 1915 and is buried at the Powers Cemetery, Denniston, Menifee County, Kentucky, United States. His tombstone reads, "Erected 1921 by Mary Geary & Walker Powers". ^[8]

After Sanders' death, Melissa married John William Gephart on 20 May 1916 in Butler, Ohio, United States.^[9] They did not have children together.

In the 1920 census Melissa (age 55) was the wife of John W Gebhart (age 52) at Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States.^[10]

In the 1930 census Mellisa (age 66) was the wife of John W Gephart (age 63) at Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States.^[11]

John W Gephart died (age 70) on 18 Nov 1939 at Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States and is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Poast Town, Butler County, Ohio, United States.^[12]

In the 1940 census, Melissa (age 75) was the widowed head of household at Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States. ^[13]

Mellissa died (age 78) of colon cancer on 11 June 1943 at Middletown, Butler, Ohio.^[14] She is buried with husband John at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, also known as the Poasttown Cemetery, Butler County, Ohio. Note: The grave marker says death is 1942, but the death certificate clearly indicates 1943. ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   Citing Page: 5; Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 34; FHL microfilm: 000545987; Record number: 834;
   FamilySearch Record: MXW5-HDJ (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DYFS-JXH Image number 00025
   Malissa Steele (5) in Menifee, Kentucky, United States.
2. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   Citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: MCZN-36P (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBH-9QYX Image number 00591
   Molisa Steel (15), single daughter, in household of F. B. Steel (64) in Precinct 4 Slate, Menifee, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky, United States.
3. ↑ Marriage, Record1: "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979"
   Citing FHL microfilm: 808220; Record number: 75;
   FamilySearch Record: F4SZ-8J7 (accessed 7 June 2022)
   Malissa Steele marriage to Sanders Power on 8 Oct 1887 in Menifee, Kentucky, United States.
4. ↑ Marriage, Record2: "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954"
   Citing Marriage, Menifee, Kentucky, United States, various county clerks and county courts, Kentucky; FHL microfilm 808,357.
   FamilySearch Record: Q28D-3FCF (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9BN-G962-X Image number 00057
   Malisa Steele marriage to Sanders Power on 8 Oct 1887 in Menifee, Kentucky, United States.
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image).
   Find A Grave: Memorial #19624884 (accessed 7 June 2022)
   Memorial page for Holly Powers (1893-1897), citing Powers Cemetery, Denniston, Menifee County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Remembrance of Days Past (contributor 49200554).
6. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   Citing Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 10; FHL microfilm: 1240543; Record number: 42039;
   FamilySearch Record: M9H4-H61 (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6GY8-655 Image number 00872
   Melisa Powers (35), wife, in household of Sanders Powers (65) in Magisterial District 5, Menifee, Kentucky, United States.
7. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910"
   Citing enumeration district (ED) ED 9, sheet 7A, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 463; FHL microfilm 1,374,476.
   FamilySearch Record: M28W-PHJ (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RNT-VYC Image number 00539
   Matissie Powers (45), wife, in household of Sannders Powers (74) in Magisterial District 5, Bath, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.
8. ↑ Memorial, Sanders: Find a Grave (has image).
   Find A Grave: Memorial #19624887 (accessed 7 June 2022)
   Memorial page for Sanders Powers (29 Apr 1835-24 Apr 1915), citing Powers Cemetery, Denniston, Menifee County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Jonathan Masa (contributor 49142091).
9. ↑ Marriage: "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016"
   Citing FHL microfilm: 355790; Record number: 924;
   FamilySearch Record: XZY9-8YN (accessed 7 June 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 9392-91S5-GX Image number 00337
   Melissa Manear Powers (52) marriage to John William Gephart on 20 May 1916 in Butler, Ohio, United States.
10. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
    Citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Affiliate Film Number: 1352; Line: 24; FHL microfilm: 1821352; Record number: 43777;
    FamilySearch Record: MDP5-BLF (accessed 7 June 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RXG-6D2 Image number 00910
    Melissa Gebhart (55), wife, in household of John W Gebhart (52) in Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States.
11. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
    Citing enumeration district (ED) ED 32, sheet 16B, line 100, family 413, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1754; FHL microfilm 2,341,488.
    FamilySearch Record: X4SZ-TDP (accessed 7 June 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RH1-2B5 Image number 00801
    Mellisa Gephart (66), wife, in household of John W Gephart (63) in Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States. Born in Kentucky.
12. ↑ Memorial, John Gephart: Find a Grave (has image).
    Find A Grave: Memorial #13388856 (accessed 7 June 2022)
    Memorial page for John William Gephart (22 Mar 1869-18 Nov 1939), citing Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Poast Town, Butler County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by PastSearcher (contributor 46820451).
13. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
    Citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 21;
    FamilySearch Record: KWD1-B1G (accessed 7 June 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9MB-1NT5
    (75) in Middletown, Middletown, Butler, Ohio, United States.
14. ↑ Death, Mellissa: "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953"
    Citing Middletown, Butler, Ohio, reference fn 35575; FHL microfilm 2,024,134.
    FamilySearch Record: X83Q-WWR (accessed 7 June 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9PK5-9SF1
    Mellissa P Gephart death 11Jun1943 (age 78) in Middletown, Butler, Ohio.
15. ↑ Memorial, Mellissa: Find a Grave (has image).
    Find A Grave: Memorial #13388885 (accessed 7 June 2022)
    Memorial page for Mellissa “Matissie” Manear Gephart (27 Jan 1864-1942), citing Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Poast Town, Butler County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by PastSearcher (contributor 46820451).