Bennet’s youngest son, Harvey, moved to Bath, Mason County, Illinois, on the Illinois River where he was not only a doctor of medicine, but also the manager of a railroad running through the county. 

Harvey met and married Ann B. Beesley on November 12, 1844 in Cass County, Illinois.  There were no children from this union, and Ann died prior to 1851. 

Harvey then married Charlotte E. West on September 23, 1851, in Cass County, Illinois.  From this union, 4 children were born, James, Josephine, Helen,
Charles, and Richard. 

Bennet, Ann, and Josephine were residing together in Barren County in 1850.  Frances Josephine married Robert L. Browning, a farmer, in 1857, and by 1870 had 5 children of their own, Mary, Sarah, Francis, Bettie, and Eliza.

In May of 1859, Bennet wrote a letter to his nephew, providing a brief genealogical history of his own parents and siblings.  The reproduction/transcription of Bennet’s letter gives the age of his daughter as “about 18 years of age”.  This is most likely an error in transcription for the last census listing has Bennet as 76 and his daughter Ann being 50.

Bennet and his daughter Ann are last found in 1860 living together in the newly formed Metcalfe County, Kentucky.  Bennet O’Neale died August 17, 1868, at the age of 84. 

Sources:

Adair County Kentucky Census 1810
Barren County Kentucky Census  1820, 1830, 1840, 1850
Metcalfe County Kentucky Census  1860 & 1870
Mason County Illinois Census 1860
llinois Statewide Marriage Index
Kentucky Marriages, Barren County Kentucky
Cumberland County Kentucky Wills

Bev Crowe, 01/25/2002

Below is the letter written by Bennett to a nephew, found in the Bedford Historical Library. In 1859 Bennet O'Neal(e) wrote a letter that provides a glimpse into the migration of members of the O'Neal family from St. Mary's County, Maryland, to VA, KY, Pennsylvania, IL and OH, as well as placing his parents and grandparents. 

This letter was found in a booklet titled "The O'Neals of Bedford Co., Pennsylvania" by Harry E. Smith. What follows is a reproduction of that letter. I have tried to ensure all grammar, spelling, etc. was reproduced exactly as it appeared in Bennet's original  letter.

Edmunton, Barren County, Kentucky May 9, 1859

Dear nephew,

I received your letter of March the 3 it gives me much pleasure to hear from you once more and to learn where you are living for its bin a good many years since I heard from any of the relations. I am still living in Edmunton, Barren Co; Kentucky. my family consists of myself and one daughter about 18 years of age, she has bin sickly many years and never would marry. 

I must let you know about my last 5 years my house burnt down and nearly every thing I had, I have bought an old house weather boarded it and sealed it which makes it quite comfortable, we are both tolerable well at the  present we both are afflicted with what is called asthma. I have had of it off and on about 12 years I am better at this time than I have bin in this 12 years.