Steven Guthrie Nees (1863-1940) – A Historical Timeline
This is the first of many timelines I’ll post about several key members of my family, in order for search engines to pick up and possibly connect with other family members. I call this a “Historical Timeline” and have found putting together these charts extremely helpful in doing my genealogical research. I simply start by putting the information I know in 3 columns – Year, Location and Event. (Events include birth, death, marriage, children, etc.) I also include a line for each year of the census. This helps me to quickly see what information I’m missing in a particular timeline, and gives me insight on where to look. (For example, if I know one child was born in one state, then a census occurred, and then another child was born in another state – I will look on the census records for both states.)
Steven Guthrie Nees is the father of my great-grandmother Minnie Bell Nees who married William Ingram.
Historical Timelines: Steven Guthrie Nees
| YEAR | LOCATION | EVENT |
| 1863 | Mattoon, Coles Co., Illinois | Born: 1863 son of James and Sarah NEES |
| 1870 | Coles Co., Illinois | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census (age 10) living with his father James (age 42) mother Sarah (age 49) and siblings Austin (age 15) Owen (age 13) Oscar (age 10) and Laura (age 1) – His age as 10 is suspicious. |
| 1878 | Coles Co., Illinois | Mother and brother die and are buried |
| 1880 | ? | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census…? |
| 1881 | Washington Co., Arkansas | Married: Anna Eliza NEAL on 8 Jul 1881 |
| 1883 | Arkansas | Daughter: Maggie NEES on 6 Mar 1883 |
| 1883-1884 | Missouri | Relocated to Missouri. The question is why…? |
| 1884 | Missouri | Son: William Albert NEES on 14 Nov 1884 |
| 1887 | Missouri | Son: Charles Edward NEES on 20 Sep 1887 |
| 1887-1888 | Indian Territory | Relocated to the Indian Territory. |
| 1888 | Tahlequah, (Indian Territory) Oklahoma | Daughter: Minnie Bell NEES on 6 Sep 1888 |
| 1889 | ? | Application denied for Cherokee lineage 12 Feb 1889 |
| 1891 | Indian Territory, Oklahoma | Son: Hugh Tinnan NEES on 2 Dec 1891 |
| 1894 | Indian Territory, Oklahoma | Daughter: Ethyl NEES on 10 Jun 1894 |
| 1896 | Indian Territory, Oklahoma | Daughter: Mary Ann NEES on 20 Dec 1896 |
| 1899 | Indian Territory, Oklahoma | Daughter: Bessie NEES on 6 Feb 1899 – died a year later in Inola, OK |
| 1900 | Township 22 N, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census as Stephen G. Nees (age 38, b. Aug 1861) with his wife Annie E (age 38, b. Jun 1861), and children Maggie (age 21, b. Mar 1882 AR), Albert (age 15, b. Nov 1884 MI), Charles (age 12, b. Sep 1887 MI), Minnie (age 10, b. Sep 1889 IT), Hugh (age 8, b. Oct 1891 AR), Ethell (age 5, b. Jun 1894 IT), Mary (age 3, b. Oct 1896 IT), Bessie (age 1, b. Feb 1899 IT). His birthplace is listed as Illinois, his father: Tennessee, his mother: Georgia. Annie was born in Arkansas, her father: Illinois, her mother Georgia. His occupation is listed as a farmer, married 21 years, 8/8 children born living. |
| 1901 | Oklahoma | Son: Richard NEES on 19 Aug 1901 |
| 1904 | Indian Territory, Oklahoma | Son: Robert NEES on 9 Jan 1904 |
| 1908 | Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | Daughter: Julie NEES on 13 Jan 1908 |
| 1910 | Township 5, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census as S.G. Neice (age 47) with his wife A.E. (age 47), and his children C.E. (age 22, MI), M.B. (age 20, OK), H.T. (age 18, AR), Ethel (age 16, OK), Mary (age 10, OK), Richard (age 9, OK), Robert (age 6, OK), Julie (age 2, OK). His occupation is listed as Farmer, his birthplace Illinois, parents: Illinois. Annie’s birthplace is Arkansas, her father Tennessee, her mother Mississippi. Married 27 years, 10 out of 12 of their children born are living. |
| 1920 | Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census as S. G. Neese (age 56) with his wife Anna (age 56) and children Julia (age 18), Richard (age 12). His occupation is listed as Shoe Repair / Own shop. He is listed as born in Illinois, his parents both in Virginia. Anna is listed as born in Arkansas, her father: Arkansas, her mother: Tennessee. |
| 1930 | Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | U.S. Census: Listed in the Census as S. G. Neese (age 66) with his wife Anna (age 66), both married at 18 years of age. His occupation is listed as a proprietor of a shoe repair shop. He lists his birthplace as Illinois, his father: Illinois, his mother: Virginia. Anna lists her birthplace as Arkansas, her father: Texas, her mother: Texas. |
| 1935 | Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | Wife Dies on 17 Jun 1935 – Killed by a train. |
| 1940 | Inola, Rogers Co., Oklahoma | Died: 30 Jan 1940 |
Notes:
S. G. Nees is missing out of many census records. His father James Nees moved from Illinois down to Washington County, Arkansas shortly before the 1880 census after his wife and son died and were buried in Coles County, Illinois. James is listed in the 1880 census in Arkansas living 10 households over from the Neal family that contains S.G. Nees and future wife Anna. He is listed as a Cattle Dealer. I assume that shortly after this census, S.G. moved down to help his father, and met Anna then. After applying and being denied for Cherokee Citizenship, S.G. moved into the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) where US Census records were not taken until 1920. I need to review the Cherokee census records for both 1900 and 1910, which I’m sure I’ll find him in. From what I understand, everyone not living in the Indian Territory at the time of his or her application for Citizenship was denied and this is probably why he moved there before the 1900 Census to appeal. (His denial was in 1898)
(Update May 16, 2010 – Added the 1900-1930 Census records)
If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.
best regards, nice info
Steve Guthrie Nees is my great grandfather. His son, Charles Nees – shown in your timeline as born in 1887 – was my mother’s father.
I have a few old photographs that I would be willing to share with you and would love to hear anything more you might know about the Nees’s or the Tinkers. If you have any photo’s I would also love to see them. My mother is now 83 and living in an assisted living home near my house. I would love to be able to show her things that would prod memories and get her to tell me stories about her childhood.
My aunt is living Ok and has many more pictures.
In case you are interested, Charles Nees went to WW1 as a member of the 56th engineers – a company that maintained and operated searchlights at the front. He survived the war, but died later at the Muskogee VA hospital from long term effects of poison gas he inhaled during the war.
I too am a Nees relative. I descend from James Nees sister Mary Ann Nees that was born 26 Apr 1830 in Coles County Illinois. I have a lot of info and tried digging up the family lore that this family is of indian heritage(which I believe they were). I think the family left the tribe very early and when they did they were banned from ever returning. I was in contact with a lady who works as a tribal consel. She was very adament about the Nees family not being of indian heritage, but at the same time gave little hints here and there that lead me to the conclusion I did. My Great Aunt is the only sibling left out of 13 that was raised in Illinois area. She was the daughter to Edward Buchanan and granddaughter to Mary Ann Buchanan (Nees). They adamently deny anything to do with the indian theory, but it didn’t get passed and thrown around even when I was a child. My dad currently has a necklace that was given to his mother Kathryn Buchanan, she says she got it when she came of age but doesn’t remember who gave it to her. It is a hand made indian necklace (very beautiful).
Anyway I would be more then happy to share what I have. Very nice timeline you have but together.
Your distant cousin,
Alisa
I am the great granddaughter of Dick (Richard) Nees. He did not marry into the Tinker family. He married Pearl Cruz. They had four children, Clarence (my grandfather), Roger, Dorothy and Gene. I was told that Charles Nees was the one who married into the Tinker family marrying Ida Tinker.
But this timeline is wonderful. Our family bible was not this detailed and it is nice to have some of the spots filled in.
James Nees b.1780
Susan Miller b.1780
Married abt. 1800 in Kentucky
children:
William,James,Francis, Henry I don’t have the info in front of me there are more.
Francis Nees was married 3 times. Margaret Miller, Anna May Bell and Sidney Cartwright Rouse. Check 1880 census Coles Ill. Frances family is all there. Francis owned a billard hall in town.