THE POLSON-CHENEY FAMILY

        Husband: John Maxwell Cheney
           Born: 20 MAY 1839 in Cheney's Grove, McLean County, Illinois
        Married: 15 OCT 1866 in Sonoma County, California
           Died: 19 NOV 1929 in Sonoma County, California
         Buried: in Mountain Cemetery, Sonoma, CA
         Father: Thomas R. Cheney
         Mother: Susan Maxwell
        Spouses: 
     Occupation: Farmer and Postmaster in Sonoma, Calif
           Wife: Tammy Amplias McHarvey
           Born: about 17 MAR 1850 in Randolph, Crawford County, PA
           Died: 15 DEC 1914 in Sonoma County, California
         Buried: 18 DEC 1914 in Mountain Cemetery, Sonoma County, CA
         Father: Charles McHarvey
         Mother: Arvilla Ann Near
        Spouses: 
      Residence: Corner of Vallejo & Second Street West, Sonoma, CA
Children
01          (F): Arvilla Cheney
           Born: 15 SEP 1868 in Sonoma County, CA
           Died: 26 AUG 1888 in Sonoma County, CA (1)
         Buried: in Sonoma Mountain Cemetery, Sonoma, California (3)
        Spouses: 
 Cause of Death: Galoping Tuberculosis (2)
02          (F): Susan "Susie" Cheney
           Born: 02 JAN 1870 in Sonoma County, CA
           Died: 05 MAY 1949 in Sonoma County, CA
        Spouses: John Craig Revie
03          (F): Clara Cheney
           Born: 04 OCT 1872 in Sonoma, California
           Died: 09 SEP 1962 in Sonoma, California
        Spouses: Claude Eugene Johnson
04          (M): Charles Near Cheney
           Born: 14 OCT 1875 in Sonoma, California
           Died: 19 JUN 1946 in Sacramento, California
        Spouses: Margaret Ellen Durrant
05          (M): Clarence Maxwell Cheney
           Born: 21 MAR 1878 in Sonoma, California
           Died: 17 APR 1955 in San Mateo, San Mateo, Ca
        Spouses: Anna Marie Langpaap

Additional Information

John Maxwell Cheney:

Notes:
John came to California with his parents in 1854. He went into partnership with his father and brother on a ranch of 300 acres in Sonoma County upon attaining maturity. From 1864 to 1888, John owned his own ranch engaged in mixed farming. John was found on the 1880 census for Sonoma County, California. All children are from that census. He was listed in the "Great Register of Sonoma County" in 1890 as a farmer in the Sonoma Township.

John was a staunch Republican, and was elected Justice of the Peace on that party's ticket. He served for 12 years, until resigning to become Postmaster.

In March of 1910, John and Tammy made the trip to Coalinga, California to attend the 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration of R.J. and Martha Cheney. (From the Daily Coalinga Times, March 9, 1910)

John was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows from 1878 until his death. March 23, 1928 was the date of an Odd Fellows ceremony and banquet in honor of John. He received his 50 year jewel. (From the Sonoma Inter Tribune)

On his 89th birthday, John enjoyed a picnic lunch with family and friends at the home of his daughter Susan and her husband John Revie. His boyhood friend, W.H. Ball, came from Denver, Colorado to attend the event. Mr Ball recalled the day in 1854 when he watched the Cheney family leave Illinois with a wagon train.
(From the Sonoma Index Tribune)

"For a man of his age, Mr Cheney is wonderfully well preserved, especially in the sense of sight, being able to read and prosecute his affairs without the aid of glasses." (From "The History of Sonoma County" by Tom Gregory in 1911, p340)


Tammy Amplias McHarvey:

Notes:
At about 4 P.M., Tammy Cheney was preparing to light a fire in the kitchen stove to prepare the evening meal. The fire in the front room was going, so she took a small sauce pan into the front room to get a few coals. As she put the coals in the cooking stove, Tammy apron caught on fire. The fire quickly spread to the rest of her clothes. Tammy ran outside, and screamed for help. Two neighbors ran to her aid, extinguished the fire, and carried Tammy inside. The Doctor came, but the burns were too great. Tammy regained consciousness, and explained how the accident happened. She knew her injuries were fatal, and expressed a wish that the end would come soon. Tammy McHarvey died at 10:30 p.m. (From the Sonoma paper, 1914)

(01) Arvilla Cheney:

Notes:
Arvilla was a wonderful artist. she died at 19, never having married.

Footnotes

  1. Sonoma County Tribune (Healdsburg California).
    September 1888.
  2. Sara Falkinham.
  3. Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Sonoma County, California Death Records 1873-1905 (2nd Edition, 2000 by Heritage Books Inc), 49.

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Revised: August 13, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Lisa Sorensen. All rights reserved.