Some time before the Revolutionary War, three brothers living in Alsace-Lorraine left there and came to America. One of them settled in Virginia, another stopped in New Jersey, and the latter in New York.

We descended from the one who settled in New Jersey. We don't know his name. Jacob Hight, a Lutheran Minister, moved from Hightstown, NJ, near Trenton, when Samuel Hight, a son, born 4 Jan. 1803 at Hightstown, was about 10 or 12 years old. They came down the Ohio River on a flatboat, stopping at Cincinnati crossing the river and settling in Jamestown, Campbell Co., KY.

Samuel Hight m. Nancy Thompson in Cincinnati, OH. Samuel and Nancy eight children and four of them came to Arkansas City they were Jacob, James, Emily and Rachel.

Samuel Hight

Jacob Hight

Jacob Hight was a ward one city councilman and police judge in Arkansas City from about 1881 to 1895. He was married to Catherine Smith who was born in Coleraine, Ireland and sister to James' wife Sarah.

James Thompson Hight m. Sarah Jane Smith who was b. in Coleraine, Ireland. Their children were: Edwin b. and d. 1869 in Jasper Co. IN Lona Florence b. April1870 Cass Co. IN Anna Louise b. March 1872 Cass Co. IN John b. March 1875 Cass Co. IN Lawrence b. Dec. 1876 Cass Co. IN Philip Kearney (My Grandfather) b. 8 Feb. 1879, in Logansport, Cass Co., IN.

James Hight

James took his family and moved to Cowley Co.KS in 1880 and settle in East Bolton Township.
Emily married John Shoup.
Rachel was married three times, first to Jesse Stewart, then William Hathaway and finally to Smith Winchel.

Lona, who went by Flora was a bookkeeper at the Chilocco Indian School.

Anna was a teacher, principal and finally the County Superintendent. Flora and Anna never married and live together.

Lawrence was a veteran of the Spanish American War. He married Lillian Belle Hamm. He became a Methodist minister.
John left home and was the Sheriff in Kaw City, OK.

Philip Kearney or P.K. worked for the KATY railroad in Vinita, OK and Parsons, KS. He returned back to Arkansas City in 1920 and works for the Kanotex refinery and took over the family farm.

Philip Kearney m. Stella Chambers in 1902 in Kay Co. OK, she was the daughter of James Wesley and Mary (Barnett) Chambers of East Bolton.

Their Children:
Addie Ruth b. 1903 in Vinita, OK
Blanche Louise b. 1906 in Parsons, KS
Mary Elizabeth b. 1909 in Parsons, KS
Philip Kearney Jr. b. 1911 in Parsons, KS
Helen Catherine b. 1917 in Parsons, KS
Lorene Esther (My mother) b. 1920 in Arkansas City, KS

Click on photos for larger view

Blanche - 1924

Helen - 1935

Lorene -1938

Mary - 1926

Ruth - 1922

Phil Hight graduated from St. John's Military Academy, Salina, KS, in 1929.

© 2004 Submitted by Jeff Palmer

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State Coordinators Tom & Carolyn Ward, Columbus, KS tcward@columbus-ks.com