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STEPHEN PRESTON HEATH (b. 2 Mar 1812 Cabell Co. VA-d. 29 Aug 1888 in Leavenworth, KS), m1. 25 May 1840 Mary Mildred KAYS b. 8 Dec 1819 KY. They married in Benton County. They were married by his brother Jonas Blue Heath, MG. In the History of Benton County she is listed as Mary Rayse. Mary died before June 1848), and Stephen Preston Heath m2. 29 June 1848 in Platte County, Martha Jane (MOORE) FOSTER (d.1916). She was the daughter of Elijah Moore born in IN. Stephen was 28 at the time of his 1st marriage. He was born in Cabell Co. VA on March 2 1812 and died 29 August 1888 at the age of 76. He was a minister. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1826 while in Cabell Co VA. He received his license as a local preacher in 1833 and was admitted to the Ohio Conference in 1834. He was ordained a Deacon in 1836 and an Elder in 1853. Along with other members of his extended Heath family and members of the Moses McComas family from Cabell Co. VA he moved to MO. in 1839. Mary Kays was a daughter of William KAYS b. 7 Dec 1782 Lincoln Co. KY and his wife Elizabeth Dickerson b. 30 Jan 1783 in Barren Co. KY. William Kays was one of the earliest settlers in Benton Co. MO.
Stephen age 28, along with his brothers Jonas Blue Heath and Richard Blue Heath were all listed in the 1840 census for Tom Township, Benton Co. MO. They all owned land in the same adjacent area in sections 14, 17, 18,19 and 20. These sections had the Grand River to the north and Osage River to the south., as well as an indian village. An old road that ran from Warsaw to Finley and Mt. Zion in Henry County ran through their sections. The nearest town was Tackner. In 1840, Stephen Preston on the census lists living with him one male between 60-70 and one female between 50-60. These are believed to be Israel Heath the patriarch of the family, and his wife Elizabeth (Blue) Heath. Two older adults do not appear in the 1840 census with any of the other siblings, nor do they show living alone as head of household. (They do not reappear with him in the 1850 census when he is enumerated in Andrew County, MO. )
While in Benton County, Stephen’s older brother Jonas B. Heath died unexpectedly when a tree fell on him, leaving a widow and many children. None of them were very old at that time and it must have been a devastating blow. Jonas B. Heath was also a minister for the Methodist Episcopal Church and by his probate we can tell he was doing very well as a farmer and stockman too. His brother Richard Blue Heath is tangled up in court regarding a land dispute. This early period in Benton County history was an exciting period of many new beginnings for the three Heath men and their families. Their other six siblings were living primarily in early Platte County and one in Howard County during the same period of time, having their own ‘new beginnings.’ Heaths end up living and working in both Benton and adjacent Hickory County MO. In this early period there were great hopes for Benton County.
On 1 Oct 1845 at age 33, Stephen Preston Heath recorded the purchase of 40 acres in Tom Township, Benton Co. MO. (This land was adjacent to the 107 acres purchased the year before by his brother Richard B Heath). Stephen Preston’s first wife Mary died in 1848, perhaps in childbirth as she had their last child in 1848. He was left a widower with 5 young children, the oldest being only 7 and one a newborn. He married again the same year to Martha Jane (Moore) Foster on 29 June 1848 in Platte Co. MO. She was born in IN, a daughter of Elijah MOORE.
Stephen’s brother Richard, now his only brother left in Benton County with him, departed for Texas sometime after January 1846, most likely in the spring when weather permitted. Early historical accounts of Benton County mention that the expectations for the county did not turn out as a lot of folks had expected. Texas was taking out advertisements urging Missourians to move to early Texas, help them battle the Mexicans, and gain land. Richard Blue Heath took the bait. Stephen Preston Heath and his family moved out of Benton County as well. What happened to Israel Heath and Elizabeth (Blue) Heath who were living with him is not known, nor can we be certain these two older adults were Israel and Elizabeth. I found no one else they could have been, though. Israel would have been 67 in 1840. Did they die in Benton County or travel back to Platte County with him and stay there with other siblings while he went to Andrew County? Did they die in Platte County between census? In Andrew County between census? They never show in any census, they show on no death records, and what actually happened to them remains a mystery.
After remarrying in June of 1848, Stephen, his 2nd wife Martha Jane and his children lived in Savannah Township, Andrew Co. MO, This is just above Platte County and borders Kansas where he ends up later serving in his capacity as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal. The fact that he chose the Methodist Episcopal , as did all of the Heaths who became ministers, is significant. The division within the Methodist Church back then (1844) was over the issue of slavery. Those who supported slavery went with the Methodist Episcopal, South. So it is known that Stephen Preston Heath was against slavery. Stephen Preston Heath and family appear in the 1850 census in Andrew Co. MO. This move may have had to do either with his new wife’s family or perhaps Stephen’s needs regarding the Methodist ministry as he was working his way up the Methodist hierarchy.
He then moved back down to Platte Co. MO. and records the purchase of 159 acres on 1 Jan 1851 (Twp 53, Range 34, Sect 23 NE quarter for $199.87. His brother (and also a minister) David M. Heath recorded on the same day the purchase of the adjacent property (Range 34, Sect 23, SE quarter for $199.87), so they were next door neighbors at that time. (Stephen later moves to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and David M Heath moves to Benton Twp, Daviess Co. MO where the Heath Church and graveyard still stand). Stephen Preston Heath joined the Missouri (Methodist) Conference in 1853. He was admitted to the Kansas Conference in 1867 at age 55, but a fall from a buggy in 1872 when he was 60, resulted in his complete disability three years later. His motto was to “live a Christian life, do good and go to heaven.” He died in Leavenworth KS just across the river from Platte Co MO where other family members lived. He is buried in the Retired Minister Cemetery in Leavenworth KS.
I have full information on their children if anyone is interested.
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