McADOO, Johnnie and Bessie

Johnnie and Bessie McADOO
Kittanning, PA
January 1893

This photo was located in the Stone Soup Antiques Gallery in Ballston Spa. The photo was taken in the Walter Otto Studio in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in January 1893. Johnnie appears to be around 1 or 2 years old. Bessie appears to be between 5 and 6.

There was a McAdoo family living in Kiskiminetas Township, Pennsylvania, in 1910, which is only about 20 miles from Kittanning.

They are found on the 1910 Census.
McADOO, Harriet, head, 60, widowed, born in Penn of Irish parents, occupation Farmer
McADOO, Bessie E., daughter, 24, born in Penn, Public School teacher
McADOO, John S., son, 21, farmer
HOOVER, Myrtle, servant, 30, born in Penn, private family servant

Mother Harriet's maiden name was Campbell. She was born Oct 1854, and died (after 1930 Census). Her husband was John McAdoo (born Oct 1837 - died 1900?) son of Irish parents.

The 1910 Census describes Harriet as a widow.

Little Johnnie McAdoo was born 4 Nov 1888 (so 4 yo in the photo).

NOTE - there is more than one McAdoo family in this area at this time. Research shows there was a different Johnnie McAdoo nearby, from a large family, and married, who died Apr 3, 1917 at age 25, with cause of death "killed by explosion in Conemaugh Coal Co. mine." But our Johnnie S. McAdoo appears on both the 1920 Census and the 1930 Census, still farming at home with mother Harriet and sister Bessie.

June 5, 1917, John Sylvester McAdoo registers for the WWI draft. Birthdate Nov 4, 1888 (he is age 28 at this time.) He claims exemption from military draft due to "only son of widowed mother and large farm to work."

1930 Census shows Bessie (44) is a public school teacher in Kiskiminetas.

1940 Census, Kiskiminetas, PA
McADOO, John S., head, 48, general farming
McADOO, Elizabeth M., sister, 52, public school teacher
HOOVER, Myrtle, servant, 57, housekeeper

Sister "Bessie" is seen on Census records as Bessie E., Elizabeth M., and Margaret E. From this I think we can determine her name was either Elizabeth Margaret McAdoo or Margaret Elizabeth McAdoo. According to Church records, Margaret Elizabeth McAdoo was born in Kiskiminetas township, Mar 15 1886 (thus not quite 7 in the photo) to parents John and Harriet T McAdoo, and baptized Sunday October 10, 1886 at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Kittanning PA.

April 27, 1942, John Sylvester McAdoo registered for the draft for WWII. He reports his birthdate as 4 Nov, 1888. He is 53 and farming in "Kiski Township". Closest relative is Elizabeth McAdoo of Avonmore PA, so we know that up to April 1942 she was still unmarried.

21 May 1956 - Bess admitted to hospital in Kittanning PA.

26 May, 1956, Death Certificate for Bess Elizabeth McAdoo, retired school teacher, never married, born 15 Mar 1886, died at Armstrong Memorial Hospital in Kittanning PA, but resided in Avonmore PA with her brother. She was 70 yo. Her mother's maiden name is shown as Harriett T. Campbell. Bess was buried at Edgewood Cemetery Saltsburg, Indiana County, PA.

12 Jan 1970 - John is admitted to the Indiana PA hospital.

__ Jan 1970 - John dies. Last residence was Avonmore PA.

Many thanks to FindaGrave.com volunteers Rob and Debi Felten for supplying the headstone photos.