Elizabeth Catherine Dry was born about 1829, a daughter of Peter Dry and Hetty Elizabeth A. Teeter. She was the 5th of five children borne to Peter and Hetty Dry. No document could be found that showed here exact birth. The 1839 birth year is based on her reported age of 21 in the 1850 Census for Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
At age 22, Elizabeth Catherine Dry married Martin Kees, age 19, on 24 May 1851. Martin Kees was borne about 1832 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Martin’s occupation was a farm laborer. Elizabeth's father Peter Dry was alive at the time of her wedding but died a short time later. Her mother, Hetty, lived until the late sixties.
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This was a short-lived marriage. The 1860 Census for Cabarrus County shows Martin and Elizabeth with 1 child their 10-month-old daughter Eve. A war was on its way and on August 20, 1862, Martin enlisted with Co G, 7th NC Infantry. Earlier this year his 2nd Child, a son, Adam N. Kees, was borne on 4 April 1862. Elizabeth Catherine was left with 2 young children to care for while he was away. Sadly, Martin Kees would not be coming home. He died either in November or December of 1862 of disease. Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees was now a widow with 2 young children.
KEES, MARTIN, Private
Resided in Cabarrus County and enlisted at age 30, August 20, 1862, for the war. Reported absent sick in hospital at Winchester, Virginia, October 13, 1862. Died in November-December 1862. Place, exact date, and cause of death not reported.
NC TROOPS
Book 4, Page 478
Martin Lees enlists into the Confederate Army on 20 August 1862, five months later he has died leaving Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees, a widow with two small children under the age of five.
For the next 17 years, Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees raised her two children alone. Sometime between 1860 and 1870 her young daughter Eve A. Kees passed away. During the time period of 1862 to 1870, Hetty Elizabeth A. (Teeter) Dry the mother of Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees passes away. She does have two sisters and a brother living at this time.
In the 1870 Census, the widow, Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees and her son Adam, can be found in the Elias MISENHIMER household doing duty as his housekeeper.
Then on 2 April 1879, Elizabeth Catherine Kees marries Levi Hinseman. Levi was a farmer and I believe him to be about the same age as his new bride Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) Kees. I have found 3 documents for his age and each of them shows him born in a different year.
Levi Hinseman was borne:
- 1828 -- Civil War document [https://www.fold3.com/image/52029283/hinseman-levi-page-12-us-civil-war-service-records-cmsr-confederate-north-carolina-1861-1865]
- 1831-- the 1880 Census Cabarrus County, NC age 49 = 1831
- abt 1842 -- NC Marriage to Catherine (Dry) Kees
All we know of Elizabeth Catherine Hinseman is that she died after 14 January 1891 and is not listed in the 1900 Censes for Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
Her only living child, Adam N. Kees can be found in Cabarrus County, NC and his Mother is not listed in the household.
1900 CENSUS: Kings Creek, Cabarrus, North Carolina; Enumeration District #24; Page 25A/228 (Stamped); Line 39; Dwelling 428, Family 428; Adam KEES, Male, age 38, born Apr 1862 in NC and Adlaid KEES, Wife, age 38, born Jan 1862 in NC; Married 4 years, 1 child, none living.
Elizabeth Catherine (Dry) (Kees) Hinseman is my 1st Cousin 4X Times Removed.
