JAMES CONLEY, son of JOHN CONLEY and ELIZABETH POWER, was born in April of 1838 in Kentucky, and died about 1908. He married CYNTHIA A. MONTGOMERY, daughter of JAMES MONTGOMERY and ELIZABETH PICKLESIMER, May 18, 1865 in Magoffin County, Kentucky. She was born February 14, 1844 in Magoffin County, Kentucky, died October 18, 1936 in Lakeville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, and is buried in Capt. Powers Cemetery in Magoffin County, Kentucky.
Notes: Information on this family can be found on page 196 of "The Conley Clan of Eastern Kentucky," published and sold by The Magoffin County Historical Society.
Cynthia Montgomery was the sister of Mary J. Montgomery and Edie Montgomery.
James Montgomery's 2nd wife was Nancy Jackson. This was verified by finding the birth records of 2 of her children. William James Montgomery was born May 24, 1856 in Licking, Floyd County, to James Montgomery and Nancy Jackson, and Ben Franklin Montgomery was born October 30, 1859 in Floyd County to James Montgomery and Nancy Jackson.
According to Kentucky marriage record transcripts, James Conley married Cynthia Montgomery on May 18, 1865 in Magoffin County at the home of Lewis Powers. The witnesses were John W. May and William Flint, and the minister was Wallis Bailey.
According to her death certificate, Cynthia Montgomery Conley died October 18, 1936 in Lakeville, Magoffin County, from senility. Also on this certificate, her birthplace is listed as Magoffin County, her birth date as February 14, 1844, her marital status as widowed, her husband as James Conley, her parents as Jim Montgomery (b. Magoffin County) and Elizabeth Pickle (b. Magoffin County), the informant as "Henry Huff Grand son," and the burial place as Capt. Power Cemetery.
According to Kentucky death record transcripts, Cynthia Conley died October 18, 1936 in Lakeville, Magoffin County, at the age of 92.
On page 90 of the 1850 census for My District in Floyd County, Kentucky (dated August 27, 1850), Cynthia Montgomery is found living in the home of her father and step-mother. James Montgomery is listed as the head of the household for house #562, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, and he's 29 years old. Also listed are Nancy (born in Kentucky, age 21), Eady (female, born in Kentucky, age 10), Nancy (born in Kentucky, age 8), Cynthia (born in Kentucky, age 7), Martha (born in Kentucky, age 5), John (born in Kentucky, age 4), and Isaac (born in Kentucky, age 2).
On pages 21 & 22 of the 1860 census for Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated June 21, 1860), James Montgomery is listed as the head of the household for house #144, he's a blacksmith, born in Kentucky, and he's 39 years old. Also listed are Nancy (born in Virginia, age 30), Cynthia A. (born in Kentucky, age 17), Martha (born in Kentucky, age 16), John (born in Kentucky, age 13), Isaac (born in Kentucky, age 12), Mary J. (born in Kentucky, age 5), William J. [William James Montgomery] (born in Kentucky, age 4), and Benjamin F. [Benjamin Franklin Montgomery] (born in Kentucky, age 6 months).
On page 8 of the 1870 census for Precinct 1 in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated August 20, 1870), James Conley is listed as the head of the household for house #55, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, and he's 32 years old. Also listed are Cyntha (born in Kentucky, age 24), Martha E. (born in Kentucky, age 4), John (born in Kentucky, age 2), William (born in Kentucky, age 1), and Martha Montgomery (domestic servant, born in Kentucky, age 20). They are living next to James' brother, Lewis.
On page 8 of the 1880 census for District 63 (Precinct 1 - Salyersville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated June 4, 1880), there is a mistake that lists this family's last name as "Power." They are living next to the Jilson Power family. In 1870 they were living 2 houses away from the same family. James Power is listed as the head of the household for house #59, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, and he's 42 years old. Also listed are Cynthia (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 36), Martha (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 14), John (son, born in Kentucky, age 12), William (son, born in Kentucky, age 10), Marry T. (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 8), Lurenia (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 7), Edia (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 5), and Henry (son, born in Kentucky, age 2).
On page 64 of the 1900 census for District 53 (Salyersville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated July 2, 1900), James Conley is listed as the head of the household for house #550, he's a farmer, born in April of 1838 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, married for 35 years, and he's 62 years old. Also listed are Cynthia (wife, born in February of 1845 in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, she's given birth to 9 children and 7 are still living, age 55), William (son, single, born in June of 1869 in Kentucky, age 30), Laurena (daughter, single, born in June of 1873 in Kentucky, age 26), Menifee Craft (grandson, born in August of 1892 in Kentucky, age 7), and Rose Lee Craft (granddaughter, born in June of 1894 in Kentucky, age 5). They are living next to son Thomas.
On page 3 of the 1910 census for District 110 (Lakeville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated April 18, 1910), Cynthia Conley is listed as the head of the household for house #23, she's a farmer, widowed, born in Kentucky, parents born in Virginia, she's given birth to 9 children and 7 are still living, and she's 66 years old. Also listed are Menifee Craft (grandson, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 17), and Rosa L. Craft (granddaughter, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 16). They are living next to Cynthia's son, Thomas.
On page 10 of the 1920 census for District 77 (Lakeville) in Magoffin County, Kentucky (dated January 28, 1920), Cynthia Conley is found living in the home of her granddaughter. Greely Arnett is listed as the head of the household for house #29, he's a farmer, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, and he's 29 years old. Also listed are Rosy (wife, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 26), Webster (son, born in Kentucky, age 8), Carl (son, born in Kentucky, age 6), Iva (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 4 years 7 months), Ulah (daughter, born in Kentucky, age 1), and Synthia (grandmother, widowed, born in Kentucky, parents born in Kentucky, age 76). They are living close to Cynthia's daughter, Martha.
The children of JAMES CONLEY and CYNTHIA MONTGOMERY are:
- MARTHA ELIZABETH CONLEY, b. February 25, 1866, Magoffin County, Kentucky, d. September 10, 1942, Lakeville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, buried in Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. JOHN HENRY HUFF.
- JOHN CONLEY, b. 1868, Kentucky, m. MARTHA CONLEY.
- WILLIAM CONLEY, b. June 1869, Kentucky.
- MARY T. CONLEY, b. 1872, Kentucky.
- LOURENA CONLEY, b. June 1873, Kentucky.
- EADA CONLEY, b. May 1875, Magoffin County, Kentucky, m. (1) ALVIN CRAFT, m. (2) WILKERSON K. "WICK" MONTGOMERY.
- HENRY CONLEY, b. 1878, Kentucky.
- THOMAS D. CONLEY, b. September 1881, Kentucky, m. MAUD (unknown last name).