We grew up hearing that Abicenia Johnson Sullard was of Cherokee Indian heritage but as of yet, have been unable to substantiate it. Many of us have done research on her so this page will be used to combine the 'pieces' that everyone has collected so far. If there is any information you have that isn't on this page, please send it to me and I'll include it.
If we are wanting to 'claim' our Indian heritage; we're running out of time to do that. Not only for ourselves but our children, and their children.
NOTE: All spelling of Abicenia Johnston Sullard contained herein is reflective of the spelling on the copies of documents as they were written or typed. Consequently, some times her first name was spelled as: Abicenia, or Abcenia, or Ab C., or Absenia, or Mrs. John Sullard. Some times her last name was spelled Johnson rather than Johnston. Also note that John Sullard's name was also mispelled on documents (i.e. John Sulard). Consequently, if you see a variation in spelling it is because THAT'S how it was spelled on the document itself and not because my fingers got lost!
Absena Johnson Sullard was born in 1858 in Andrew, Missouri, Rochester Township and she died on Sept. 24th 1890 in Sedgwick County, Wichita, Ks.. Her certificate of death reads as follows: This is the certify that Mrs. John Sullard died Sept. 24th 1890. Her 'color' is identified as "white." Her age: 32. Place of death: Corner of Second and Mosely. Cause of death: Paralysis. The medical attendant: Dr. Owens. The certificate was dated Sept. 25th, 1890. The undertaker was H.W. Kendle. H.W. Kendle's business location at the time was at 113 E. Douglas, Wichita, Ks.. She was buried on Sept. 26, 1890. Her parents were James Johnson and Mary J. Rose Johnson. James was born in Indiana in 1835. Mary was born in 1838. Absena/Absina also had an older sister named Margaret and she was born in 1855. The parents were married on Oct. 8, 1854.
At the time of her death (age 32), she had three sons: James age 6, Harry age 4, and Claude age 2.
On June 20, 1893 within the 18th Judicial Dist. State of Ks. Probate Case No. 1408 Abicenia Sullard's probate record was completed. (reference pg. 96 and identified as "Type D").
Marriages in Sedgwick County reflect: page A229 John W. Sulard (yes one "L") resident of Sedgwick County, KS. age 27 to Ab C. Johnson(ston) resident Sedgwick County, KS. age 21 on Oct. 25, 1876.
John Sullard was listed in 1885 as the proprietor of "Avenue Resort" located at 916 E. Douglas.
John Sullard and David Seibert were listed on the Oklahoma census of 1890 and employees of Guthrie Milling.
John W. Sullard was arrested two times in 1891 in Guthrie, OK. for operating a "house of gambling."
John W. Sullard was listed as a business owner in Wichita, Ks. in 1885.
1883 Wichita Directory
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/mhgs/1883dir.htm
Although they were married in 1876, this directory has John W. Sullard and Mrs. John Sullard at two different residences. It also shows them BOTH from being from Illinois.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/records#count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AAbsena~%20%2Bsurname%3AJohnson~
https://www.familysearch.org/search/recordDetails/show?uri=https://api.familysearch.org/records/pal:/MM9.1.r/MWRQ-QR2/p_203492670
https://www.familysearch.org/search/recordDetails/show?uri=https://api.familysearch.org/records/pal:/MM9.1.r/MWRQ-QRL/p_203492671
https://www.familysearch.org/search/recordDetails/show?uri=https://api.familysearch.org/records/pal:/MM9.1.r/MWRQ-QRG/p_203492672
http://genealogytrails.com/mo/andrew/marr_fhl_1006184/marr_fhl_1006184_j_1849_1883.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/andrew/census/1860/indxroch.txt
pg. 93 reads as follows:
Johnson James 25 m
Mary 22 f
Margaret 5 f
Absina 2 f