Person Page - 473

     Marjory F. Kelly was born circa 1856 in Virginia.^1,2 She was the daughter of Henry Harrison Kelly and Susanna/Susan Teets.¹

     (?) Kelly was born circa 1861 in Virginia.¹ She was the daughter of Henry Harrison Kelly and Susanna/Susan Teets.¹

     Angeline Kelly was born circa 1863 in Virginia.¹ She was the daughter of Henry Harrison Kelly and Susanna/Susan Teets.¹

     Thomas P. Kelly was born circa 1865 in Virginia.¹ He was the son of Henry Harrison Kelly and Susanna/Susan Teets.¹

     Henry H. Kelly was born circa 1868 in Virginia.¹ He was the son of Henry Harrison Kelly and Susanna/Susan Teets.¹

     Mareva Ellen Rhodes was born on 4 January 1925.^3,4,5 She was the daughter of John Curtis Rhodes and Goldie Emma Wilson.³ Mareva Ellen Rhodes married Orval Lawrence Teets, son of George Harvey Teets and Arvetta Pearl Fearer, circa 1942.^1,5,4 Mareva Ellen Rhodes died on 17 May 2011 in Grantsville, Garrett, Maryland, at age 86.³ She was buried on 20 May 2011 in Oakland, Garrett, Maryland.³

     Warren William Teets was born on 26 April 1924 in Maryland.^2,6,1,7 He was the son of George Harvey Teets and Arvetta Pearl Fearer.^4,5 Warren William Teets married Nancy Douglas before 1978.^8,9 Warren William Teets and Nancy Douglas were divorced on 18 December 1978 in Miami-Dade, Florida.⁹ Warren William Teets married Rose Anne Blackstock, daughter of Henery F. Blackstock and Wallie C. (?), on 23 August 1980 in Miami-Dade, Florida.^3,4 Warren William Teets died on 22 November 2012 in Lakeland, Polk, Florida, at age 88.⁸
     He began military service on 9 June 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland.¹

     Jeffrey Ward Teets was born between 1955 and 1961.¹ He was the son of Kenneth Ward Teets and Encie Odell Rhodes.² Jeffrey Ward Teets died before 18 November 2007.^1,3,4

     Tracey Odell Teets married (?) Schwarze.³ Tracey Odell Teets was born on 1 November 1961 in Norfolk, Virginia.^4,2 She was the daughter of Kenneth Ward Teets and Encie Odell Rhodes.² Tracey Odell Teets died on 1 August 2010 in Hampton, Virginia, at age 48.^5,6

     James H. Bowman married Minerva Moyer.¹

     Minerva Moyer married James H. Bowman.¹

     H. Gus Muntzing married Verdie E. Bowman, daughter of James H. Bowman and Minerva Moyer.¹ H. Gus Muntzing died on 16 July 1991.¹

     James Winston Teets was born on 10 June 1930 in Hardy, West Virginia.^1,3 He was the son of Harry Wilson Teets and Verdie E. Bowman.² James Winston Teets died in August 1977 in Winchester, Winchester City, Virginia, at age 47.^4,2
      James Winston Teets was also known as Winston Teets.⁴

     Henry Teets was born before 1760; he most likely would not have been born in the Monongalia or Preston County area, based upon the 1800 census from Sandy Creek, Allegany County, Maryland. Given that census and that Henry and Mary were perhaps 18-19 years old at marriage at the earliest, that would place both Henry and Mary's marriage date to c1778, and their birth dates to c1760 or earlier. No credible source is yet available to substantiate or deny such claims. Their birth location is unknown.

It should be noted that Allegany County, Maryland was formed in 1789 (from Washington County), and in 1872, Allegany County was split up and Garrett County, Maryland was created. It is perhaps where the 1800 Allegany County Census was actually taken. Many Teets families are known to be from the Garrett County area.

Henry moved his family from Allegany County, Maryland where he appeared in the 1800 census, to Monongalia County, Virginia (Later Preston County, Virginia) between 1800 and 1802, where he first appears in the Monongalia County Tax Records (see Teets in Tax Records). He appeared many times between 1803 and 1832 in the Monongalia (before 1818) and in the Preston County Tax Records (after 1818). Several of his sons also appeared in these records.^2,1,3,4,5 He married Mary (?) circa 1778.^2,6,7 Henry Teets died after 1832; based upon his disappearance from the Tax Records.^8,5
     In past and present writings about the history and genealogy of Preston County (and especially on the family trees on Ancestry.com), Michael "Old Mike" Teets has been prominently mentioned as the first with that surname to settle in the county, immigrating from Germany. Further, all the Teets' from Preston and associated counties are said in most cases, to be his descendants. However, there is another we should consider as the first of that surname to settle in Preston; Henry Teets and his wife Mary. It is most probable that they are the ancestors from which all the Teets of Preston and other related counties descend.

Some background; Preston County was not formed until 1818, and all records prior to that year are located in Monongalia County (the mother county). Between 1785 and 1802, no Teets surnames or variations (Dietz, Tietz, or Teetz) are recorded in the Tax Lists for Monongalia County. Henry Teets is the first, recorded in the year 1803 (only Teets), 1804 with Jacob, and 1805 with Jacob and Henry Jr. Males over the age of 16 years were required to pay personal property tax. Henry and Jacob are most likely his oldest sons. On Apr 21, 1808, Henry Sr., his wife Mary, and Adam Teets are summoned to testify in the defense of Henry Jr. for horse theft. Monongalia Court Proceedings, further supporting this direction.

As the years go by until 1818 when Preston County is formed, Henry is always on the tax list, and is the first Teets to own land (1818 deed) in Monongalia County. The other Teets recorded during the period (1805-1818) besides Henry Sr, Henry Jr., and Jacob are; Adam, Michael, Christian, and John. In 1818 when Preston is formed, Abraham shows up, then in 1822 David, followed in 1823 by Andrew.

Two important records help to further conclude that Henry and wife Mary Teets are the first of their name to settle. One; when Jacob Teets marries Barbara Miller in 1806 in Shenandoah County, Henry is named as the bondsman. Two; Mary Teets marries John Wolf as reported in Oren Morton's "History of Preston County", and states that she is the daughter of Michael Teets. However, in the death register of Preston County for the year 1857 Mary Wolf (Teets) 68 years, is recorded and the named parents are Henry and Mary Teets. The husband, John Wolf is the informant, which gives great credibility, since he would surely have known his wife's parents.⁵ Henry Teets was also known as Henry Teats.²

Henry Teats appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Sandy Creek, Allegany, Maryland, with a household consisting of five males under age 10 (sons an unknown person ), two age 10 to 16 ( an unknown person ), one age 26 to 44 ((himself), two females under 10 (daughters an unknown person ), one age 16 to 25 ( an unknown person ), one age 26 to 44 (wife an unknown person ).²

     John O. Wilfong was born in 1899.¹ He is the son of Cain Wilfong and Ellen "Ella" Tenney.¹

     Abert Alonzo Bennett married Ora Dell Wilfong, daughter of Cain Wilfong and Ellen "Ella" Tenney.¹ Abert Alonzo Bennett was born on 1 June 1895.^1,2 He died on 2 November 1973 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, at age 78.^1,2