Story of Oscar Edward Westerhouse and Margaret Esther Lamont Story - Part 2

Margaret Lamont was the youngest child of Edwin and Cora Lamont. Hazel Lamont was the oldest child of Edwin and Cora Lamont. Hazel Lamont was born 26 Sep 1898.

Margaret was born 13 Mar 1900 in South Seward, Stafford, Kansas at her parents homestead. She lived her first three years at a 160-acre school land homestead that her father, Edwin, acquired at the Northwest Quarter of Section 32, Township 22S, Range 13W (SE Corner of NW 100th & NW 20th, South Seward, Stafford, Kansas).

 The farm was located west and south of A J Williamson and Ida Lamont Williamson two farms. Ida was Edwin’s older sister and Margaret’s Aunt. They had four children, with the youngest, Ivan, being about the same age as Margaret and Hazel.

Margaret Lamont - 1902

(L-R) Hazel Lamont, Ivan Williamson, Margaret Lamont - 1902

At the age of three, Margaret moved with her family to an 80-acre farm in Chester, Sarcoxie, Jefferson, Kansas during April 1903. The farm was located at 2180 Republic Road in the Chester community of Sarcoxie, Jefferson, Kansas. Margaret and her older sister, Hazel, helped with farming chores and house duties. She attended the Chester one-room school near her home between 1907 and 1914, from first to seventh grade. The school burned to the ground 12 Feb 1913 and classes were dismissed for the rest of the school year. The school was rebuilt and ready for the 1913-1914 school year in August 1913. 

Jefferson County Tribune - 28 Feb 1913

Jefferson County Tribune - 24 Jul 1913

(L-R) Hazel and Margaret Lamont - Bringing in cows at Chester farm

Margaret moved with her family to a home, located at 701 Missouri Street, Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas during the spring of 1914 at the age of fourteen.  She attended eighth grade at Central School in Lawrence and was promoted to high school 9 June 1915.  

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 27 Jun 1913

The summer of 1915, Margaret moved with her family to a homestead farm at the South Half of Section 29, Township 24S, Range 49W (South of County Road Y And West of County Road 26, Caddoa, Bent, Colorado). The family moved their belongings on a flatbed rail car and traveled by train to Colorado.  The family struggled to survive because of the drought conditions.  Margaret attended high school at Bent County high school in Las Animas, Bent, Colorado between September 1915 and June 1919. The homestead was twenty-five miles from the high school in Las Animas, and unlikely Margaret traveled back and forth every day. In these days, it was common for the students to stay in Las Animas during the week and come out to the homestead on the weekends. No information has been found on what Margaret did. The 1918 junior yearbook describes her being a member of the D.W.G club, a secret organization promoting social life of the members. Singing the second soprano in Glee Club, playing Professor Timothy Addles in "My Cousin Timmy". Playing running center on girls’ basketball team.  Family stories describe that Margaret lost a year of school because of her sickness with scurvy caused by lack of vitamin C with symptoms of weakness, curly hair, sore arms, and legs.

Junior Class - Margaret Lamont, sitting third from right 

Bent County High School Yearbook (1918)

D.W.G Club - Margaret Lamont, sitting second from right 

Bent County High School Yearbook (1918)

Glee Club – Margaret Lamont, sitting third from left 

Bent County High School Yearbook (1918)

Bent County High School Basketball Team - Margaret Lamont (right) 

Bent County High School Yearbook (1918)

1918 Bent County High School Roster

After Margaret finished her junior year at Bent High School in Las Animas May 1919, she moved back to her parents’ home at 701 Missouri Street in Lawrence. Her parents already had moved back earlier in the month. She transferred her school records and enrolled in Lawrence high school for her senior year between Sept 1919 and May 1920, graduating 28 May 1920.  

Lawrence High School Yearbook (1920)

Lawrence High School Yearbook (1920)

Margaret Lamont – Guard - Lawrence High School Yearbook (1920)

Margaret Lamont - Lawrence High School Record Card - 1920

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 3 May 1920

After Margaret graduated, during July 1920, she went with a few girlfriends on a vacation to Southern California, sightseeing.  When she returned, Margaret attended one year at the University of Kansas, while living at home on Missouri Street. May 1921 Margaret attended Kansas State Normal School of Emporia in Emporia, Lyon, Kansas to earn a one-year teaching certificate. She received a one-year teaching certificate #5301 after completing summer school session and graduating 29 Jul 1921.

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 25 May 1921

Between September 1921 and April 1922, she taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Fairmont, Jefferson, Kansas. 

Lecompton Sun - 29 Dec 1921

Perry Mirror - 6 Apr 1922

Margaret attended Kansas State Teaching College of Pittsburg in Pittsburg, Crawford, Kansas between Jun and Jul 1922 and received another one-year teaching certificate.  This time, she was selected to teach students at Greenwood Valley School in Lecompton, Douglas, Kansas between Sep 1922 and Apr 1923.  This was a one-room schoolhouse with thirteen boys and fifteen girls.  While teaching, she also coached the basketball team.  Margaret rented a room at the S.L. Dark home, where they cooked her meals.  She spent her weekends with her grandmother, Margaret Tenpenny, and her husband, David Tenpenny in Lecompton, as her parents were living in Colorado.  After the school year was over, she was selected to teach another year.  

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 19 Dec 1922

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 23 Nov 1922

Margaret returned to Kansas State Teaching College of Pittsburg between Jun and Jul 1923 and earned a three-year teaching certificate on 30 Jul 1923.  She taught another year at Greenwood Valley School, between Sept 1923 and Apr 1924.  During the 1922-1923 school year she was paid a wage of $720 for teaching eight months.  During 1923-1924 school year she was paid a wage of $840 for teaching eight months.

Margaret Lamont – bottom right 

Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg Yearbook (1923)

Margaret Lamont (back row, second from left)

Greenwood Valley School - 1923

Margaret was chosen to teach fifth and sixth grade at Eudora Grade School in Eudora, Kansas 29 Apr 1924. She moved to Eudora, living with two girls above the drugstore on Main Street, and taught fifth and sixth grade between Sep 1924 and May 1925. The school building had six rooms, and she taught 90 boys and 88 girls. Margaret was paid a wage of $100 a month for nine months.

Margaret Lamont - 1924

Next week I will share about Oscar Westerhouse and Margaret Lamont marriage

Story of Antonia Gineste and Margaret Rollins (After Divorce)

Antonia and Anna Stanley Marriage (1896-1919)

Antonia married Anna L. Robb Stanley 7 Apr 1896, she was twenty-five years younger than him and had been married before.  Family stories describe Antonia was very "old country" in his farming practices, meaning he did not believe in machines. Supposedly, everything had to be done by hand. 

Antonia Gineste and Anna Stanley marriage license - 21 Apr 1896

Oil Discovered on Antonia Farm
The Iola Register newspaper from Mar 21, 1904, describe Osage Valley Co-operative company struck oil after drilling an 871 deep well on Antonia's farm 17 Mar 1904.  It further shows the well could produce ten to twenty barrels of oil a day.  More research needs to be done to determine how this impacted Antonia and Anna Gineste.

Humbolt Union - 26 Mar 1904

Antonia Death and Burial
Antonia died on the farm and his body taken by wagon to the Kincaid Cemetery for burial at Section 4, Lot 19.  At the time of his death, his children by his first marriage transferred their rights of personal property to his second wife, Anna, via an Agreement and Bill of Sale dated 7 Apr 1919.  Assets listed included the following: kaffir fodder $39.40, two hogs 2001 pound $32.00, one cow $50.00, one horse (18 years old) $10.00, four ton of hay $80.00, kaffir 80 bushels $80.00, corn 40 bushels $50.00, harness $5.00, wagon $15.00, mower $5.00, disc harrow $2.50, disc cultivator $2.50, plow $5.00, surrey $2.00, cash $61.76, six war savings stamps valued at $25.50. 

Antonia and Anna's son Leo and his wife Otha owned the farm until Otha death in 1990.  Leo and Otha son, Russell Harry Gineste, received a quick Claim Deed for the farm 4 May 1990 and farm was sold out of the family on 11 Jan 1993. 

Antonia Gineste obituary - Moran Hearld - 7 Mar 1919

Antonia and Anna Gineste gravestone at Kincaid Cemetery (Kincaid, Kansas)

Margaret and Leonard Jewell Marriage (1895-1906)
While Margaret was living in Topeka, she met and married a railroad worker, Leonard Jewell, in approximately 1895.  Based on a 1900 census, they were living in a rented home in Augusta, Butler, Kansas, and Leonard was a brakeman for the railroad.  Family stories describe Leonard working for the railroad and was a lady's man.  Margaret suspected his activities, so she followed him on one of his trips and caught him with another woman. They soon separated, and he later quit the railroad to begin working at a powder mill in Arkansas City, Cowley, Kansas.  An explosion at the mill on 17 Jan 1906 killed Leonard. A possible burial of him was found in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri at Block 48, Lot 20, Space 14. Unfortunately, records are blocked from viewing to confirm it is him.  

Leonard Jewell gravestone at Forest Hill Cemetery (Kansas City, Missouri)

After Leonard's death, Margaret moved to Sunnyside area of Sarcoxie, Jefferson, Kansas, near the farm of her daughter, Cora Lamont, family.

Margaret and David Tenpenny Marriage (1908-1928)

At the age of 54, Margaret Jewel married David Tenpenny on 2 Dec 1908. A marriage certificate from the courthouse in Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas was found but does not indicate where the ceremony was held.  David was an Indian Agent and a Civil War Union Veteran from Woodbury, Cannon, Tennessee. He had outlived his two-prior wife's, Mary Ann Alexander, and Matilda Ann Curtis. He brought six adult children into the marriage.  David and Margaret initially lived at his farm in Oskaloosa, Jefferson, Kansas and later moved into a home at 322 Isacks Street in Lecompton, Douglas, Kansas, located up the hill from Constitution Hall.

Valley Falls New Era – 31 Dec 1908

David Tenpenny and Margaret Jewell marriage license - 29 Dec 1908

David Tenpenny and Margaret Tenpenny

Infront of home in Lecompton, Douglas, Kansas (322 Isacks Street)

David Tenpenny Death and Burial
David died at their home 10 Oct 1928 and is buried next to his first wife, Mary Ann, in the Underwood Cemetery at southwest area.  Following David's death, Margaret continued to live at the home in Lecompton and managed her affairs. David's will show real estate given to his children after Margaret's death and personal property can be sold for Margaret's benefit.  It further describes that Margaret can occupy their home until her death.

David Tenpenny Obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 16 Oct 1928

David and Mary (first wife) Tenpenny gravestone

at Underwood Cemetery (Williamstown, Kansas)

Margaret after David Death (1928-1948)

Margaret was known to smoke and drink. She preferred to smoke Prince Albert cigarettes while sipping an alcoholic drink.  She enjoyed listening to music on her Victrola while quilting, sewing, and reading.  Family stories tell of her using Prince Albert cigarette packages to make a quilt.  She belonged to a group in Lecompton, that made many quilts.  One such quilt is preserved at the Territorial Capital Museum in Lecompton.  The Lecompton United Brethren Church Ladies Aid Society from 1933 made the quilt. It is a friendship quilt, with Margaret in the center square, with four names on each side, for a total of seventeen names. 

In 1936, Margaret's youngest son, Edward, and his new bride, Billie B. Alsdorf visited her.  Billie reported in an interview that she was welcomed with open arms by Margaret, and they visited every fall for several years. Billie also stated that a lot of the houses, including Margaret's, were on hills above the town and as a result, there were no fat people to be seen.

In Feb 1944, following a visit, Edward wrote a letter to his brother, and described Margaret's assets as follows.

Checking Account $1,897.29

Savings Account $500.00

Cash in Safety Deposit Box $1,580.00

Various Bonds $3,075.00

Time Certificate of Deposit $1,772.52.

Moving in with Cora, her daughter (1944-1948)

At the age of 90, Margaret relocated to North Lawrence area of Grant, Douglas, Kansas, due to her age and health.  She stayed in the home of her oldest daughter, Cora, and husband, Edwin Lamont.  She had a bedroom and a kitchen on the first floor. While staying with Cora and Edwin Lamont, she was not allowed to smoke in the home.  She would roll her own Prince Albert cigarettes and smoke in her closet. Smelling the smoke in the closet upset Edwin and Cora Lamont.  She maintained her apartment, was always alert to national affairs, and spent many happy hours with her radio and visiting with friends.  Her family never tired listening to her share about early pioneer days of Kansas. 

1944 Five Generations (L-R) Hazel (Lamont) Heizer, Margaret Neil (Heizer) Majors, 

Emma Majors, Margaret (Rollins) Gineste-Jewell-Tenpenny, Cora (Ginest) Lamont

Margaret Death and Burial

Margaret died at the home of her daughter, Cora Lamont in North Lawrence, Kansas 12 Feb 1948 of cardiac insufficiency. She was 93 years old and has been a residence of Kansas for over 81 years. Funeral services were held at the United Brethren Church in Lecompton, Kansas 15 Feb 1948 and burial at Underwood Cemetery in Williamstown, Kansas. Margaret’s burial was not near her last husband, David Tenpenny, up the hill and at the back of the cemetery. 

Margaret Tenpenny funeral card - 15 Feb 1948

Margaret Tenpenny gravestone 

at Underwood Cemetery (Williamstown, Kansas)

Margaret Tenpenny obituary 

Lawrence Daily Journal World - 18 Feb 1948

Margaret Tenpenny - age 80's