The Dale Family
Lucy Margaret Dale was born in Randolph Co., Missouri on May 13th, 1862, to Jacob and Minerva (Chitwood). She was 19 years old when she married Francis Newlin Powers. Lucy was the only female in her household, giving birth to 5 sons. Francis and Lucy were married 34 years before Francis died. There is very little information about their family unit, however, each of the 5 sons left home at a rather early age, which might give one the idea that home life wasn't too grand. It is true that their son, Robert, had quite a gruff mannerism and hot temper. It is possible that was inherited from one of both of his parents. Their son, Lonnie, left home and joined the military.
After Francis died, Lucy remarried a Mr. Barnard and moved with him to Neosho, Missouri. In the early part of the century, divorce was almost unheard of, however, Lucy did divorce Mr. Barnard after just a few years. It is rumored that he was quite active in the Ku Klux Klan in southern Missouri. It is unknown whether or not that played a part in her decision. She then moved to Ranger, TX to live with son, Robert and his family, but only stayed there a short time. She missed Missouri and packed up to move in with her son, Irvia and his wife, Lola, in Moberly. Sometime after 1930, she married a Mr. Creed. They continued to live in Moberly for the rest of their lives.
Jacob Dale, born in 1822, came to Missouri as a boy. In 1847, he married Minerva Chitwood. Shortly after the birth of their 8th child, Minerva died. Within a year, he had remarried Nancy Downey. Together they had 7 more children. The History of Shelby County, Missouri states: "Jacob Dale was a native of MO and was one of its prosperous and progressive farmers. He was an active working Democrat during the whole of his mature life, zealous in the service of his party and also in reference to every form of public improvement of the locality in which he had his home".
The parents of Jacob were Abraham and Effie (Fletcher) Dale. They married in Kentucky in 1814, but moved their family to Missouri prior to 1830. There they had a farm and 15 children. Abraham was born in Kentucky in 1795. Effie had been born in North Carolina. It is unclear if Effie's family had migrated to Kentucky, but seems the most likely.
Abraham was a Jr., his father also named Abraham Dale (1760-1826). Abraham Sr. was also born in Kentucky, so it is apparent the Dale's moved west sooner than most families. Abraham Sr. married Katharine Shake in Kentucky in 1781. They apparently went to Missouri at the same time as Abraham Jr. and his family.
William Dale, the father of Abraham Sr., left his home in Virginia and headed west. First to Kentucky where he married, then on to Tennessee where he spent his last days. William fathered 13 children and he was married twice, but it is unclear whether Jemima or Margaret Elizabeth was the mother to his children.
