Page was last updated on August 27, 2003

Martha Jane Singleton was born on September 22, 1835, probably in Russell County, Virginia. Her parents were Joshua Singleton (born around 1812 in Virginia) and Elizabeth McPeak (born April 24, 1815, probably in Russell County, Virginia) [1]. On March 27, 1853, at the age of 18, she married Antoine Dominique Canivet, with whom she had four children [2].

Not much is known concretely about Martha's parents. Arthur Kent Hall attempted to find information concerning Joshua's parents, yet found little documentary evidence existed, probably due to many courthouses that burned in Virginia. He did note that one Singleton family in Virginia could possibly be ancestors of Joshua's. James Singleton who appeared in the 1830 Russell County, Virginia census may have been Joshua's father. This same Singleton was later found in the 1840 Hardin County, Tennessee census. It is known that Joshua and his siblings lived in Tennessee for a time. Elizabeth McPeak's family is just as elusive. Arthur Hall speculates that a James McPeak may have been Elizabeth's father, based upon the 1830 US Census of Russell County, Virginia [1]. Hopefully, by placing this information on the Internet, I may locate other researchers who are looking for information on these individuals and will be able to trace back even further.

The 1850 census of Belleview Township in Washington County, Missouri, lists Elizabeth Singleton as being born in Virginia. Joshua had already passed away by this time in 1850 of influenza in Washington County at the age of 38. The children of Joshua and Elizabeth were also listed as follows: 1) Henry, age 17, born in Virginia; 2) Martha, age 15, born in Virginia; 3) Sarah, age 14, born in Virginia; 4) Susannah, age 12, born in Virginia; 5) Joshua, age 11, born in Tennessee; 6) Elizabeth, age 9, born in Missouri; 7) John, age 6, born in Missouri; 8) Mary, age 4, born in Missouri; and 9) Drusilla, age 1, born in Missouri [3]. It should be noted that the census was inaccurate regarding Elizabeth's age; she should have been 45 years of age.

Martha married Antoine on March 27, 1853 in Washington County, Missouri by the Justice of the Peace (Thomas Brock). She and Antoine may have lived in Washington County for some time, and it appears they lived there long enough to see the formation of Iron County (Iron County was formed in 1857 from several counties, including Washington) [4]. Land documents that showed the sale of the land that Antoine purchased indicated that he was a resident of Iron County, Missouri [5]. Perhaps Antoine made his way as a potter, as family oral history indicates, and he may have worked in the mines as well. In 1858, Antoine was the owner of 160 acres of land situated in the northwest corner of Shannon County, and he had moved his family there. The 1860 census taken in Shannon County in Moore Twp, lists Antoine "Kinnevat" as a farmer, 38 years old and born in France, Martha as Mistress of the House, 26 years old, born in Virginia, and James, 8, born in Missouri [6].

Allen Jones recounted to Arthur Hall that there were two springs on the land, with one being near the house and the other in a pasture. Martha decided that the water in the spring in the pasture, which was some distance from the house, tasted better and thus she made a low wall from some of the rocks on the land (which are quite abundant) so that she could retrieve water with a bucket. As such, life on the land was probably not real easy. Most of the land was not able to be plowed, but the family is said to have raised sheep and to have grown cotton.

Family history has also noted that "battles" were fought on the Canivet land, although Arthur Hall's research disputes this. However, skirmishes could have occurred, and one strong story indicates that one of the children took a bayonet from a fallen soldier after one of the skirmishes. It is also believed that Martha help nurse soldiers from both sides who wandered onto the land seeking help. Soldiers from both sides often stopped at the house to ask for supplies. Martha was aware that soldiers would take whatever they wanted from the local populace. Once, two soldiers arrived and requested coffee. Martha kept only enough coffee in the house for one pot, and the rest she kept in a jar in a mudhole in the yard. Martha gave what coffee she had in the house, and as the men were leaving, one of them kick the jug in the mudhole and stated, "I wish that jug was full of whisky" [1]. They did not ever know that it was, in fact, filled with the coffee that they were foraging.

In 1866, Antoine decided to move Martha and the family to Illinois near her mother. Many families fled Shannon County during this time period, and Allen Jones believed the Canivet family left because Carpetbaggers were stealing everything from everyone. There is also the possibility that outlaws contributed to fear among the families of Shannon, such as Quantrill's Raiders. The decision to leave was made with Antoine's life in danger, presumably. In fact, they left so quickly that it is stated in family history that Martha left a set of dishes that Antoine made in a storm cellar or a cave on the land. Oral history also indicates that Antoine hid in a wagon by day with Antoinette riding on Martha's lap as she drove the wagon. Antoine and Martha expected to return to Shannon County one day once things returned to normal, but two years later Antoine passed away after a long illness. After the probate of Antoine's estate, she was permitted to retain household and kitchen furniture among many other items.

After Antoine's passing, Martha was left to raise her four children in Fulton County. On July 22, 1871, she married Jonas Scalf [7] , who became someone notorious for being a "ladies man" and married often in his life. According to some sources, Jonas Scalf was "rough" to Martha and Tandy, her youngest child. She eventually divorced Scalf and later married Dan Harris who would precede her in death. Martha died November 17, 1906 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The following is her obituary as it was published in 1906 (note that there are many errors in it):

"Mrs. Martha Harris, Nearly Eighty, Dies on Anderson Place, After Long Illness. Mrs. Martha Harris died at 8:30 o'clock Saturday morning, at her home, 570 Anderson Place. Death was due to lung trouble, and following several years of ill health. Martha Singleton was born in Tennessee, about 79 years ago, and was there married, when about 20 years of age to Anthony Canevit. The family came to Fulton county in 1865, settling near Lewistown, where Mr. Canevit died about 36 years ago. By this marriage there were four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. They are James Canevit, residing in McDonough County, and Tandy Canevit, Mrs. Rachel Pollitt and Mrs. Nellie Pollitt, all of Liverpool township. There are 24 grandchildren. The marriage of Mrs. Canevit to Daniel Harris, her second husband, took place in Liverpool township about 25 years ago. Nine years later they moved to Canton, where Mr. Harris' death occurred in February, 1904. Other near relatives surviving are one brother and one sister John Singleton whose home is in Kansas and who was with her sister at the time of her death, and Mrs. Truzella Winchell, who resides in Oklahoma...internment will be in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Liverpool township." [8]

Children of Antoine and Martha:

Children of Joshua Singleton and Elizabeth McPeak [1]

Note: All references to The Gin Ridge Clans are copyrighted by Arthur K. Hall. Any reprint or publication or use otherwise is prohibited without written consent of the author.

Picture of Martha Singleton Canivet (seated) and possibly Elizabeth McPeak Singleton (standing) courtesy of Arthur Kent Hall from The Gin Ridge Clans.

Sources Cited

[1]    Hall, Arthur K (1998). The Gin Ridge Clans. Decorah, IA: Anundsen Publishing Co.

[2]    Marriage License, 1853, Circuit Court Recorder, Potosi, Washington County, Missouri

[3]    US Census, Washington County, Missouri, dated 1850

[4]    Iron County, Missouri, Webpage at Rootsweb, www.rootsweb.com/~moiron2/

[5]    National Archive Record, Cash Entry Certificate Number 33917, Land Title Deed, Jackson County, Missouri, listed Antoine D. Canivet as owner of land, September 2, 1858.

[6]     US Census, Shannon County, Missouri, dated 1860

[7]    Fulton County Clerk of Courts, signed by O. L. Lillie, Justice of the Peace, dated July 22, 1871.

[8]    Canton Register newspaper, Canton Illinois, Saturday, November 17, 1906, as cited in The Gin Ridge Clans.

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