The Inman Redheads

   Descendants of Loren Inman frequently refer to the "Inman Redheads", implying that this was general and long-established characteristic of the Inman Family. It is true that all three of Loren's six children whose hair color is known were redheads, and of his fourteen grandchildren, ten of the eleven whose hair color is known were also redheads. (This trait faded rapidly in subsequent generations, only eight of twenty-three great-grandchildren and three of fifty-five great-great- grandchildren bear this distinguishing mark.)

    It appears, however, that red hair was not an Inman characteristic in Daniel Inman's family. Red hair seems to have been totally absent among the descendants of Willard, Loren's brother. Furthermore, Bernice Inman was certain that her mother had told her Loren himself had black hair. On the other hand, Beula (Inman) Kitts was told by her mother that Loren's wife, Lucy (Carpenter) Inman, had red hair and brown eyes. Hence, Lucy and not Loren must be given credit for the "Inman Redheads".

    The hair color of the first four generations from Loren and Lucy is indicated on the following chart.     R = Red Hair     U = Unknown Hair Color    N = Not Red

Loren (N) and Lucy (R)
    1. Harvey (U)
    2. Joseph (U)¹
    3. Alonzo (R)
        a. Loren (R)
            i. Harold (R)²
            ii. Forrest (R)³
            iii. Lloyd (N)
            iv. Lelah (R)
            v. Gordon (R)
        b. Charles (U)
        c. Martha (R)
    4. Ephraim (R)
        a. Louis (N)
            i. Jesse (N)
            ii. Glenn (N)
            iii. Esther (N)
        b. Harry (R)
            i. Lula (R)
            ii. Olive (R)
            iii. Gladys (R)
        c. Harvey (R)
            i. Levi (N)
            ii. Harriet (N)
            iii. Beula (N)
            iv. Eunice (N)
            v. Frances (N)
        d. Nellie (R)
        e. Lucy (R)
            i. Galen (N)
            ii. Daniel (N)
            iii. Robert (R)
        f. Bernice (R)
    5. Charlotte (U)
        a. Edward (U)
    6. Dora (R)
        a. Lucy(R)
        b. Charles (R)
            i. Phoebe (N)
            ii. S. Carlton (N)
            iii. Robert (N)
        c. Robert (R)
            i. Robert (N)
        d. Fay (U)

1. Photographs show freckles, suggesting red hair.
2. Red hair only when young.
3. Forrest's only child, Charles, and Charle's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, represent the only unbroken line of six generations of redheads from Lucy (Carpenter) Inman