52 Ancestors Challenge - Sara Jane Patterson 1841-1866 Missouri - Week 33

Copy from Gibson Family Bible.  Copy provided by
my Great Aunt Vicki (Sara Jane's great granddaughter).

This post is dedicated to Sara Jane Patterson, my 3rd great grandmother.  Sara Jane lived a very short life.  She was born August 7, 1841.  From census records, I believe she was the daughter of James Patterson and Sara Ann Thompson.  I haven't found a birth record, so I can't be sure.  But, in 1850, we find a Sara J M Patterson, age 9, living in the household of James Patterson.  The family was living in Madison, Missouri.

Sometime before 1860, Sara Jane's mother, Sara Ann, must have died.  Her father, James, is found remarrying Martha E. Morrow (or Morron) in Ste. Genevieve..

The Patterson family may have been in the Ste. Genevieve area for a while, because, August 15, 1858, Sara Jane Patterson married Herod Gibson.  Two years later, on the 1860 Federal Census, they are both living with Herod's parents, Alexander and Melinda Gibson, in Ste. Genevieve.  Here we see their first child "Francis" or William Francis, who was born February 7th 1860.  Also in the household was James Patterson, age 9.  I believe this might have been Sara Jane's younger brother.

Sara Jane's husband, Herod, is shown to have been on both sides of the Civil War.  First enlisting in the Confederate Army, and later drafted into the Union Army.  You can read more about Herod and his time in service on his post I wrote for Week 6.

Between his time in service with the Confederate and Union Armies, Herod and Sara had 2 more children: Ida Ann born December 17, 1863, and Mary Emma born March 20, 1864.  Unfortunately, Ida Ann died on July 5, 1865, just prior to Herod's discharge.  After he returned, the couple had one more child, Sara Jane born October 19, 1866. However, on October 19, 1866, Sara Jane Patterson Gibson passed away (possibly due to complications of the birth). She lived to be only 25 years old.

In 1980, in DeSoto, Missouri, there was a Gibson family reunion.  There was a wall with different stories posted, the following was one of those posts, by Olive Gibson (Sara Jane's granddaughter):

"Great Grandfather Herod Gibson was in the fields a working and one of the little Gibson children (a girl) was left to watch the baby.  She was sitting before the fireplace, holding the baby, and it tumbled from her lap and rolled into the fireplace and it died."

The infant that died was the youngest, Sara Jane Gibson.  She died November 5, 1867.  She would have been just over one year.  The girl watching her might have been Mary Emma, however, it could have been a Gibson cousin, we just aren't sure.  Mary Emma would have only been 3 years old, so I hesitate to believe she would have been watching her younger sister.

I'm not exactly sure where Sara Jane would have been buried.  The family was in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri before the Civil War, but were living in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri in 1870.  Herod, her husband, was buried in the City Cemetery in DeSoto, Jefferson County, but he lived until 1926, 60 years later!  As of today, I haven't found a death record for her.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

52 Ancestors Challenge - Malinda who married Alexander Gibson in South Carolina around 1830 - Week 32

I've had several posts on my Gibson line.  This week I'll continue this line as I discuss my 4th great grandmother Melinda (or Malinda).  I have been unsuccessful in locating a maiden name for Melinda.  The only name I have for her is her married name.

According to the death record I have for Melinda, she lived to be 79 years old.  She died November 12, 1889 at 11:30 am, in DeSoto, Missouri.  If this is correct, then we can determine that she was born in the year 1810.  The record also states that she was born in South Carolina.  Her husband, Alexander, was also believed to be from South Carolina. As of today, I am not able to find who her parents, or Alexander's, parents were.  Still looking into that.

We believe Alexander and Melinda had the following children:

• William H. born 1832 in South Carolina
• Margaret or Martha E. born 1834 in Tennessee
• Herod born 1836 in Tennessee
• John A. born 1839 in Tennessee
• James J. born 1841 in Tennessee
• Jefferson (or Green BJ) born 1843 in Tennessee

We believe Alexander and Melinda were probably married in South Carolina based on census records, and the state listed for the birth of their first child, William.  They must have moved to Tennessee sometime between 1832 and 1834.  They resided in Gibson County, Tennessee according to the 1840 census.

The 1850 Federal Census is the first time we see Melinda's name.  In 1850, the family is shown living in Carroll County, TN, which is next to Gibson County, TN.  But, by 1860, the family had moved about 200 miles to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.  According to Melinda's death record, she had been a resident of the state of Missouri for 35 years.  So I'm guessing, the family must have moved around 1854.

Then 1870 Melinda and Alexander are living in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Sometime before 1880, Alexander must have passed away.  Melinda is seen on the 1880 census living with Herod, their son, in De Soto, Jefferson County, MO, and listed as a widow.  The 1880 census gives us some additional information about her as well.  It shows where her parents were born.  Her father was born in Pennsylvania, and her mother was born in Maryland.

Melinda is said to be buried next to her son, Herod, in the De Soto City Cemetery.

As always, if you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a message. I'd be happy to answer any questions or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

**UPDATE: We've found Melinda's maiden name!  It is Cunningham according to her daughter, Martha Elizabeth Gibson Naren's, death certificate.  Looking at the census records we see in 1820 in Union District, SC, next to Herod Gibson (who I believe is related to Alexander Gibson) is James Cunningham.  James Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania.  He moved to Gibson Co., TN by 1850.  Melinda and Alexander were in Gibson Co., TN in 1840 before eventually moving to Ste. Genevieve, MO.  Not 100% sure James is Melinda's father though.  I'm still looking for more proof.

52 Ancestors Challenge - Anne Grissom Griffaw Divine Davis lived to be 104 years?? - Week 30

My last post was on Mary Elisabeth Griffaw.  This week, I'm going to talk about her mother, Anne Grissom.

In the Charter Baptist Church Cemetery is a headstone for Anna Griffaw, who died at age 104.  I believe this is the grave of my 4th great grandmother.  The stone says she was 104 years old when she died in 1885!!  The record of her death is also found on Missouri Digital Heritage, you can see it here (the original can be seen on Ancestry.com, if you have a subscription, look up Annie Griffaw under the database Missouri death records, 1834-1910).  I have a newspaper clipping regarding the death of her son, John Baptiste Joseph Griffaw, written around August of 1920.  In the clipping, it states that his mother lived to be 104 too.  But is that correct?  They may have just copied what was on the headstone or death record.  Every census record I have found on her says otherwise.  Death records aren't always right, and tombstones aren't always right either.  For now, I'll just fill you in on what I do know, and where I received my information.

Newspaper clipping on the death of John Baptiste Joseph Griffaw.  Not sure which paper it came from, but someone wrote August 1920 on it.  This copy was given to my mother from her Aunt Vickie.  John was not our great grandfather, as it was written above.  From family notes, it is said the children of William Gibson and Nancy Louise Carolyn Cotner would travel out to visit their "grandparents" on their farm in Plattin.  Their grandmother, Mary Elisabeth Griffaw Cotner was a widow by the time they were born, and was living with her brother John, their great uncle in Plattin.

I don't have any true proof stating Anne's maiden name was Grissom (i.e. birth record, marriage record, etc.), so I can't be sure.  I do have a copy of a family history book that was completed by the Ste. Genevieve Project Pioneer on the Griffard family that settled there around the 1780s.  In that book, it states "Jean Michel Griffard married Anne Grissom.  She was born 1804."  It also states the names of their children along with their birth dates.  These children were the same children written on a piece of paper I received from my mom, who received it from her Aunt Vickie back in 2003.

Back in 2003, my Gibson family had a reunion back in De Soto, Missouri.  I wasn't able to attend, but my Great Aunt Vickie sent my mom some copies of paperwork from the event.  One of those papers was a list of children and their birth dates.  No mention of a mother or father though.  Here is a copy of that paper.

Where this came from, I'm not sure.  But the first name is indeed the name of my 3rd great grandmother, Mary Elisabeth Griffaw.  Mary Elisabeth married a man named Hezekiah Cotner, a man of German decent whose family settled in the Cape Girardeau and St. Francois county areas of Missouri in the early 1800s.  Together, they had my 2nd great grandmother, Louisa Nancy Carolyn Cotner.  I've written briefly about Nancy in an earlier post that was about her husband William Francis Gibson.  There you can see a picture of Louisa and William.

I'll start by saying, I'm not sure where Ste. Genevieve Project Pioneer received their information.  There are no references for any of it.  So, this hunt is a work in progress.

The first census document we see with the Jean Michel Griffard family may be found in 1830.  On Ancestry.com, we find an entry for a Michael Grifford, or Michael Griffard, living in Ste. Genevieve City, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.  In his household there was one male under 5, one male, age 50-60, 2 females age 5-9, and one female age 29-29.  If you go to the next page, it clearly says there are 5 people in the household.  Above his name something was written, but I can not read it.  It is too faint to see on the online copy.

I believe this is the family of Jean Michel Griffard.  He was born in 1780, which puts him at about 50 years old.  His birth is well documented in church records, and in several book that I have seen (more about him in a future post).  If Anne was born in 1804, then she would have been about 26.  Mary Elisabeth and Susan Mary would have been 9 and 6.  Finally, Micheal would have been 4, so under the age of 5.

According to the information found in the family book by Ste. Genevieve Project Pioneer, we see Jean Michel Griffard dies January 1, 1836 in Ste. Genevieve.  I'm hoping there is a record of this somewhere, but again, I don't have that record.  So I'm not 100% sure of this.  But I do know there is a record for a marriage for "Mrs. Ann Griffan" to Nathaniel Divine in the neighboring county of Perry, Missouri, on July 18, 1836.  In addition, Anne's daughter, Mary Elisabeth, named her first born son Nathaniel J. Cotner.  Could she have named him after her stepfather??  There are no other Nathaniels that I can find in the family.

Later, in the 1840 Federal Census, we see a Nathaniel Divine living in Perry County, Missouri with the following people living in the household (the actual ages of the Griffard family in 1840 are in parenthesis - they are not listed on the census, I'm just making a comparison):

• one male age 5-9 (John Baptiste Joseph Griffard age 9)
• one male age 10-14 (Michael Griffard age 14)
• one male age 40-49 (Nathaniel Divine)
• one female age 5-9 (Ann Griffard age 5)
• two females age 15-19 (Mary Elisabeth Griffard age 19 and Susan Mary Griffard age 16)
• one female age 30-39 (Anne Grissom Griffard Divine age 36 if born i 1804)

February 26, 1844 there is another marriage record that I believe belongs to our Anne.  It shows Ann Divine married Spencer B.R. Davis in Perry County, Missouri (info from Ancestry.com, Missouri Marriages to 1850).  Nathaniel Divine must have died between 1840 and 1844.  Spencer B.R. Davis may have died not long after the marriage too.  Because in 1850, we find and Anne Davis living with John B. Griffan (or Griffau) and Ann Griffan (or Griffau) in Brazeau Township, Perry County, Missouri.  Not far from them are Mary Elisabeth and her husband Hezekiah Cotner with their family.

I have searched high and low to find the family on the 1860 Federal Census, but haven't been able to yet.  We do find Anne on the 1870 Federal Census though.  She is now living in Plattin Township, Jefferson County, Missouri, and listed as Anna Griffaw age 50.  Her son John is living with her.  The ages for her and John are not correct.  But it says they were both born in Missouri.  It also says both of her parents were of foreign birth.  Notice too, she is using the last name of Griffaw, not Davis.  

In 1880 we find Anne and John both living in Plattin still.  This time, John's age is listed as 30 years old, and Anne is listed as 65.  John is now listed as head of household, and Anne listed as his mother.  Her place of birth is now listed as Kentucky, with her father being born in Virginia and mother born in Pennsylvania.  They are both listed as having the last name of Griffaw.  

On April 20, 1885, the death of Annie Griffaw was reported.  On this death record (which can be found on Ancestry.com, Missouri Death Records 1834-1910) it states she died March 12, 1884.  Did they really wait a year to report it?  Her tombstone, which you can see here at findagrave.com, says she died March 14, 1885.  So which is it?  The number 4, on 1884, is underlined in the record.

This death record also says she was 104 years old.  Would that be right?  It also states she was a widow, of Irish decent, and born in Kentucky.  The record says she had been living in Missouri for 90 years, and died at her son John Griffaw's residence in Plattin Township.  Cause of death was Angina Pectoris.  She was buried at Charter Cemetery (now Charter Baptist Church Cemetery in Festus, Jefferson County, Missouri) March 14, 1885.  So she probably did die in 1885, not 1884 like the other part of the record states.

If Anne was 104 in 1885, she would have been born in 1781.  Which means she would have been 54 years old when her youngest daughter, Ann, was born.  Not impossible, but I'm not buying it!!  I'm guessing she was born around the early 1800s.

I've done a little research on the last name of Grissom, trying to find any family she may have had living nearby.  There was a Nelson Grissom living in Perry County in 1840, 1850, and 1860.  He was born in Kentucky about 1804.  Could they be related?  I haven't found a link.  There are a few Grissom families residing in Kentucky in the early 1800s.  I'm still looking into a connection, but I know I may never find it.

If you have any questions, or concerns, about any of the information listed above, please leave a comment.  I'd be happy to share any additional information I have.  Thanks for reading!

52 Ancestor's Challenge - Minnie T. Tracy - DeSoto, Missouri - Week 19

Week 19 of the 52 Ancestor's Challenge is on my great grandmother, Minnie T. Tracy.  She was the only great grand parent that was still living by the time I was born.  I remember visiting her once when I was a child.  She was very tiny for an adult, I thought.  Of course, I was about 7 years old at the time.

Minnie was born in August 16, 1899 in DeSoto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  She was the daughter of Harmon Augustus Tracy and Martha Jane Ross.  Her parents were both married multiple times, and between them, they had about 20 children.  So Minnie had about 19 siblings!!  According to family, she always stated she had Indian blood in her.  Haven't found the link on her side of the family yet, but still looking. 

In 1900, the family was living in Valle Township, City of DeSoto, Jefferson County, MO (from 1900 Federal Census, page 11 of 61 found on Ancestry.com).  The household consisted of her father, Harmon, and mother, Martha, 2 of her half siblings from her father's previous marriage, Olive and Matthew, her full sibling Mark, and her half siblings from her mother's previous marriage, Willie, Ivy, Myrtle, and Lester Hopson.

In 1910, the family is still living in the City of DeSoto, living in District 45.  In the house is Harmon, Martha, Mark, Minnie, and 2 more full siblings of Minnie's, Arbelle, and Grace (from 1910 Federal Census, page 4 of 22 found on Ancestry.com).  There is a third sibling born in 1906, Byron Earl Tracy, but he isn't shown with the family on this census...not sure why?

Frances, Vicki, and Minnie

November 1, 1916, Minnie married William Frank Gibson in DeSoto.  She was just 17 years old.  The couple went on to have 9 children:

• Ethel Louise (1917-1993)
• Kenneth Earl (1919-2007)
• Dorothy Lucille (1921-2004)
• William Frank (1922-1990)
• Frances Wilma (1924-1994)
• Violet Marcella (Vicki) (1927-2011)
• Louis Marie (1930-2001)
• Thelma Mildred (1931-1931)
• Vivian June (1933-1977)

I can't seem to locate the family in the 1920 Federal Census, the family was known for moving around a lot.  According to my notes, every child was born in a different house.  I do know my grandfather, William Frank Jr. (went by the name Bill), was born in DeSoto.  One note I have in my files says the family moved after my grandfather, Bill, was born.  Either way, by 1930, they were definitely living in St. Louis.  According to the 1930 Federal Census, they were living at 1461 Benton Street, St. Louis, Missouri (1930 Federal Census, page 7 of 21 on Ancestry.com).  William Sr. worked as a shoe maker in a factory.

Sometime before 1937, William Sr. left the family.  He tried to get a divorce from Minnie, but she refused for 7 years.  In that time he had two more children with another woman named Elnora Spencer.  Their divorce was not completed until 1945.  In the 1940 Federal Census, you can find Minnie living with 6 of her children: Bill, Frances, Vicki, Lois, June, and Dorothy, along with Dorothy's husband Nick Marino (1940 Federal Census, page 20 of 36 on Ancestry.com).  They were living at 1225 Chambers Street, in St. Louis.  There is a Frank Gibson living at 905 Chambers Street, in St. Louis.  If this was William Sr., then he probably wasn't far.

Great Grandma Minnie with 4 of her children.
Left to right: Dorthy, Lois, Bill, Minnie, and Frances.

Minnie remained in Missouri the rest of her life.  In the early 80's she made a trip out to California, which is where I remember visiting her with a bunch of my cousins.  I thought I had a photo of all of us with her, but can't seem to locate it at this time.

In my records and notes, it says according to her daughter Vicki, Minnie added the T as a middle initial because there was another Minnie Gibson living in DeSoto, and the post office kept getting them mixed up. So she added the T in order to get her mail. I'm guessing the T stood for Tracy, but not certain.

Tennie Belle Holcomb Gibson, Minnie Tracy Gibson, and
William Frank Gibson, Jr.
Photo taken at the home of William and Tennie Belle
in Baldwin Park, CA

Minnie passed away April 17, 1982 at the Normandy South Hospital, in Des Peres, St. Louis County, MO.  She was 82 years old.  I have a copy of her obituary.  The date of the paper is April 19, 1982, but not sure which paper it is from.  It reads:

"Minnie Gibson

The funeral for Minnie Gibson, 82, De Soto, will be at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) in a chapel of Mahn Funeral Home, De Soto, with the Rev. James Lillie officiating. Burial will be in De Soto City Cemetery.

Mrs. Gibson died at Normandy Osteopathic Hospital South, Des Peres, on Apr. 17, 1982. She was a daughter of the late Harmon and Martha Jane (Ross) Tracy, born Aug. 16, 1899 at De Soto.

Her husband, was the late William Frank Gibson. They were married at De Soto on Nov. 2, 1916.

She was a resident of Jefferson County all of her life and was a housewife.

Survivors include seven children, Kenneth E. Gibson, De Soto, Dorothy Wood, Hillsboro, Ethel Louise Albers, St. Ann, William Gibson, Jr., Baldwin, Calif., Frances Wilma Durham, Jefferson City, Violet Marcella McManness, Cedar Hill, and Lois Marie Grimett, Anaheim, Calif.; sister, Grace Pilger, St. Louis; 29 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren"

According to her death certificate, she was living at 602 S. 2nd Street, DeSoto, Jefferson County, MO. 

Minnie Tracy Gibson
Not sure when or where this was taken, but isn't she cute!!

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

52 Ancestors Challenge - Week 15 - Mamie Estelle Locke - 1888-1972

This weeks 52 Ancestors post is on my great grandmother, Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb.  This is one ancestor I've heard so many stories of, that I feel as if I knew her, even though we never met!  Every story I've been told about her has always been to the highest regard.  She was a sweet and caring lady.  Most people in our family referred to her as "Mama."  Those that new her outside the family called her Ms. Mamie.  We'll just refer to her as Mamie.

 

Mrs. Mamie Estelle Locke Holcomb
Christmas 1949

My mother remembers her grandmother fondly.  Says she was a fabulous cook.  Remembers her out tending her rose garden in her dresses, gloves, hat, and heels.  My mom also remembers attending church with her as a young girl.  She was a very religious woman, who would be known to correct the preacher when he made a mistake in his sermon.  Being the daughter of a Minister of the Gospel, she was well educated on religion, and would sometimes teach Sunday school as well.  One thing that seems obvious, is everyone seemed to love her.

 

Mamie was born June 15, 1888 in Rosebud, White County, Arkansas.  She was the second child, and oldest daughter, of a blind preacher/piano teacher, Francis Marion Locke, and his wife Nancy Elizabeth Vines.  The family resided in White County, Arkansas for several years.  The last known document I've seen with their residence of White County was a letter sent to her mother, Nancy Elizabeth, from Benjamin J. Vines of Alabama in 1892.  Benjamin J. Vines was Mamie's great uncle and brother to her grandfather, John H.M. Vines, who died during the Civil War.  As far as we know, all of Mamie's siblings were born in White County as well.  They were:

• Grover William Locke 1885 - ?
• Vida Gertrude Locke 1890 - 1974
• Pearl Locke 1892 - 1975

Census records for the family have not been found.  But Mamie did have an autograph book that her friends and relatives signed.  The earliest dated signature was March 9, 1898 by her mother and father, and it reads "Peaster, Texas."  We believe this book was given to her by her parents on this date.  It also provides us with other dates and other locations.  We can't be certain the family lived in these areas, however, they must have lived nearby.  Here is a list of names, dates, and places in her book (some of them are hard to read, due to the age of it):

• 3/9/1898 - Peaster, Parker County, Texas - written by her mother and father, Nancy Elizabeth Vines and Francis Marion Locke
• 1/26/1903 - Stephenville, Erath County, Texas - written by her brother Grover Locke
• 2/15/1903 - Morgan Mill, Texas - written by Abbie Davis
• 1/19/1904 - Stephenville, Erath County, Texas - written by Zuela Evans

Other names written in this book are:

• ?? Hubbard
• Her sister Vida Locke
• Ruby Owens
• 12/2/1899 - Maude (or Mando) Sherrill
• 1/24/1903 - Jessie Dickerson
• ?/20/1903 - Martin Mall
• Elsie Reeves - Peaster, Texas
• Pearl Benson ?
• Blanche Smith - looks like in Rogers, Texas
• Rudolph W? - looks like 4/10/1890, but its faded a bit, and we think it was possibly 1898
• Rupert Wilson
• Laila Ashford

Parker and Erath County are near one another, so it is safe to assume they lived around that area.  With her father's job, he traveled around to different places, preaching and teaching piano.  She would tell stories of how she would drive him around in the "buckboard" since he could not see.



Wedding certificate for Benton Rogers
Holcomb & Mamie Estelle Locke
July 21, 1908, Tarrant Co., TX

Then, at a local barn dance, she met a man playing the fiddle, named Benton Rogers Holcomb.  They were married July 21, 1908 in Tarrant County, Texas.  Benton, or Jake as he was called by everyone, was the son of Thomas William Holcomb and Hannah Jane Coburn.  He was born December 9, 1885 in Bell County, Texas.  She would say he could fit his hands all the way around her waist.  From what I've been told, she was a very petite woman.

 

By 1910, they were living in Justice Precinct No. 4, in Shackleford County, TX.  According to the Federal census, they were living next to Benton's brother Alford and his son Barney.  Benton was working as a farm laborer.

 

Then 3 years later, they had the first of 5 children.  The children are listed below:

• Clyde 1913 - 1981
• Mary Inez 1915 - 2005
• Jake Jr. (Buck) 1919 - 2000
• Chester Lee (Chet) 1922 - 1988
• Tennie Belle 1927 - 2001

Mamie and her 2 sisters
possibly at the funeral of their
mother Nancy Elizabeth Vines Locke
Unknown location in Texas

The family was living in the same area during the 1920 Federal census as well, but this time it says "Anson & Albany Road."  Mamie's sister Pearl and her family (husband, Grover C. Dumas), were living just a few houses away.  Their other sister, Vida, along with her family (husband, C.H. McAlister), were living in nearby Haskell County.  Their father, Francis Marion Locke, was living with Vida and her family.

 

The family moved to Lubbock, Texas, for a brief time, before moving to New Lynn, Lynn County, Texas.  This is where we find them on the 1930 Federal census.  Benton was still working as a farmer, but for a brief time it is said he was a deputy sheriff.

 

The 1940 census we find them in Lynn County, again.  This time, their two oldest children had moved out, and were living with their spouses.  About a year later, Benton and Mamie bought a grocery store and gas station, which they ran with the help of their children.

 

 

Around 1946, Benton became sick, and was suffering from very bad asthma.  He and their son Buck went to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to seek treatment.  However, Benton died suddenly on March 11, 1946.  They laid him to rest in the Tahoka Cemetery, in Tahoka, Lynn County, Texas. 



In the 1940s, their daughter Inez, along with her husband Hurley Grady Meeks and their children, moved out to California.  By the time Benton died, they were living by Long Beach.  About a year after Benton's death, Mamie sold the grocery store and gas station, and eventually moved out to California too.  Tennie Belle and Buck went as well.  By this time, Tennie Belle was married to William Frank Gibson.

 

Eventually, in the early 1950s, Mamie would make her home at 4629 Center Street, Baldwin Park, CA.  She shared the 1 bedroom house with her son, Buck, who suffered from his time in WWII.  Mamie had the only bedroom, while Buck slept on a pull-out sofa in the front room.  By 1955, Her daughter Tennie Belle, and Tennie Belle's family, moved into the 2 bedroom house next door.

 

 

Locke sisters: Vida Gertrude McAlister,
Pearl Dumas Maahs, and Mamie Estelle
Holcomb

The picture above is of Mamie in front of her little 1 bedroom home.  She could be found outside in her garden tending her rose bushes or watering her apricot tree.  Even though she died before I was born, Buck still lived in the little house.  I remember playing in the yard with my brothers and cousins.  The trees and plants were a lot bigger by then.  It isn't there anymore.  The little old house was torn down, and new house sits on the lot.

 

Ms. Mamie passed away in California on April 4, 1972.  She was laid to rest next to her husband, Benton. 

 

Obituary for Mamie Estelle Locke
Holcomb found in family files



 

If you have any questions, or concerns, about the information in this post, please leave me a comment. I'd be happy to answer any questions, or share what information I have on the individuals listed above. Thanks for reading!!

 

Mamie with her children, 1971
Clyde, Mamie, Buck, Chet, Inez, and Tennie Belle

 

#52Ancestors - Week 7 - Who is Alexander Gibson from South Carolina to Missouri?

Again, its time for the 52 Ancestors Challenge.  I am just throwing this post together...I'm a little behind this week.  This time, I'm going to finish up my Gibson Family line.  I'll show what I do know, then discuss what connections I think might be possible.

What we do know...

The earliest known Gibson ancestor I can verify is Alexander Gibson, born about 1804 in South Carolina and died between 1870 and 1880 in, or near, Jefferson County, Missouri.  His wife was named Melinda, but have not been able to locate her maiden name.  We believe Alexander and Melinda had the following children:

• William H. born 1832 in South Carolina
• Margaret or Martha E. born 1834 in Tennessee
• Herod born 1836 in Tennessee
• John A. born 1839 in Tennessee
• James J. born 1841 in Tennessee
• Jefferson (or Green BJ) born 1843 in Tennessee

We believe Alexander and Melinda were probably married in South Carolina based on census records and the state listed for the birth of their first child, William.  They must have moved to Tennessee sometime between 1832 and 1834.  They resided in Gibson County, Tennessee according to the 1840 census.  Gibson County, TN was named after Colonel John H. Gibson, who served in the war of 1812 and the Creek Wars in 1813.  He was in the Tennessee militia and was from Bedford, TN.  I have nothing supporting a relationship between Alexander Gibson and Col. John H. Gibson of Tennessee.

1850, the family is shown living in Carroll County, TN, which is next to Gibson County, TN.  But, by 1860, the family had moved about 200 miles to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.  Then 1870 Alexander and Melinda are living in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Sometime before 1880, Alexander must have passed away.  Melinda is seen on the 1880 census living with Herod, their son,
in De Soto, Jefferson County, MO, and listed as a widow.  Melinda died November 12, 1889 and is buried next to her son, Herod, in the De Soto City Cemetery.  I do not know where Alexander would have been buried.

Here are possible connections...this might get a bit confusing

Doing research online, I've found a Gibson Family DNA Project hosted by WorldFamilies.net.  On this site, you will find a kit submitted by a descendant of William Frank Gibson, Alexander's great grandson.  Who submitted this, I don't know.  The kit, or ID, number is GX-3.  Alexander is listed under Gibson Lineage VIII on the Patriarch's page.  Here we see another Gibson, George Washington Gibson, born June 17, 1800 in Union County, SC.  I'm not a DNA expert, but I would guess that these two Gibson men would be related in some way...how, I don't know??

By clicking on the kit number, you are taken to the Y-results page.  Here we see Alexander listed under the Haplogroup R1b - Lineage XVI.  What this means, I'm not sure.  However, there are other Gibson men listed in this group:

• Jos... (years ago, I saw this online and my notes have it listed as Joseph Gibson of Union County, SC who died in 1804, but currently, it just says "Jos...")
• Alexander Gibson b.1804
• George Washington Gibson b.1800 SC
• Mr. Samuel Gibson b. 1850
• Robert Gibson 1853-1934
• William L. Gibson 1846-1905

Could these people all be related?  Still not sure.

Further research into the census records of Union County, SC we find the following names:

• 1790: Robert, John
• 1800: Gideon, John, Joseph, Robert (2), William
• 1810: George, Herod, Robert, Salley, Soloman, William
• 1820: Herod, John (2), Matthew, William
• 1830: James, John (3), Martha, Washington, William, Herod

Also, research online into estates in Union County, SC we find the estates of Joseph and Juda (Judith) Gibson in 1804, William Gibson in 1820, George Gibson in 1827, and John Gibson in 1837.  We see there is a Herod Gibson as the executor of the estate of John Gibson.  There is also paperwork showing a John Gibson who fought in the Revolutionary War.  This John Gibson entered the war while residing in Bedford Co., VA and  was living in Union County, SC when filing for a pension around 1833.  The age listed is 84 years, and he received $20 per year.  I believe the Revolutionary War John is the same as the John Gibson who died in 1837.

There is also a John Gibson living in Union Co., SC, born about 1801 in SC.  In the 1850 census, we see him in Union County and in his house is a 13 year-old Alexander.  This John Gibson is shown as the son of Herod Gibson of Union County, SC on some family trees online.  This Herod is also listed as the son of John Gibson who died in 1837 in Union County, SC.  Of course, this is just what people have put online, and I don't have absolute proof of it.  I'm using it as a starting point.

I've had a lot of luck in the past with different lines by using naming patterns to locate family members.  By looking at records of names shown often in the family, we've been able to find the paper trail leading to our ancestors.  By looking at the names of Alexander's children, we can assume he had family members by the names of William, John, James, Herod...all of which show up often in the Union County, SC records.  This compiled with the DNA results, I am leaning toward the assumption that our Alexander Gibson came from this area.  Of course, this is all theory. 

Could Alexander be the son of Herod of Union County, SC.  Based on naming practices, the first son would have been named after the mother's father.  So, could Melinda's father be named William???  The second son would be named after the father's father.  This is what I'm basing my theory on.  Hopefully, I can find the paper trail to prove, or disprove, that Alexander is the son of Herod Gibson of Union County, SC, and possibly the grandson of John Gibson, Revolutionary War veteran, who died in Union County, SC.

If you have any questions, or comments, please feel free to leave them.

#52Ancestors Challenge - Week 6 - Herod Gibson - Gibson County, TN to De Soto, Jefferson County, MO

Well, I've had a bit of a dilema on who to write about this week.  Originally, I thought I would alternate each week from my maternal side of the family to my paternal side.  However, I think I'm going to stick to one side for a while.  This way I can just keep researching the same line as I go instead of jumping back and forth.

With that said, we'll continue the 52 Ancestors Challenge that was proposed by Amy Johnson Crow.  Last week, I wrote about William Francis Gibson.  This week, we'll take a look at his father, Herod Gibson.

Herod was born October 10, 1836 in Gibson County, Tennessee.  He was the son of Alexander Gibson and Melinda (unknown).  Both of his parents are believed to be from South Carolina.  It is my guess that they may be from Union, South Carolina, but that is speculation at this point.  We believe his possible siblings were:

• William H. - b.1832 in South Carolina
• Margaret (or Martha) - b. 1834 in Tennessee
• John A. - b. 1839 in Tennessee
• James J. - b. 1841 in Tennessee
• Green B.J. (or Jefferson) - b. 1843 in Tennessee

In 1840, we can find the family of Alexander Gibson living in Gibson County, Tennessee (at this time, I do not know if they are related to Col. John H. Gibson, who the county was named after).  There are 2 boys under the age of 5, one age 5-10, one girl age 5-10, one adult male age 20-30 and one adult female age 20-30. 

The 1850 census has the family living in District 2, Carroll County, Tennesee.  Here we see Alexander and William working as farmers.

By 1858 we know the family moved to Missouri.  There is a marriage record for Herod Gibson and Sarah Jane Patterson.  They were married on August 15, 1858 in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.  We aren't sure who Sarah's parents were, however, there is a James Patterson and a Sarah A. Patterson living in Madison County, Missouri (Madison is near Ste. Genevieve).  This James and Sarah A. have a daughter named Sarah J M Patterson, and she is the same age as the Sarah who married Herod.

In 1860, we find Herod and wife Sarah living in the household of Alexander Gibson in Ste. Genevieve Township, Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.  We also see their first child, William Francis, living with them at the age of six months.

In 1861, we can see Herod enlisted for the Confederacy, as a private in Company C, of the 5th Regimental Infantry, 1st Division, Missouri State Guard.  He enlisted for the term of 3 months and 21 days.  His brother John also enlisted in the State Guard.  On Fold3.com, there is a "Union citizen File" on John A. Gibson.  Apparently, John was "arrested upon the charge of giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States, and of other acts of disloyalty."  This was signed by John, Herod, and William (Herod's older brother) on June 25, 1862 in Ste. Genevieve.  Herod and William were acting as security for the sum of $1,000, and John was instructed not to leave the county of Ste. Genevieve.  We can see by the signatures that Herod and John signed with a mark, while William signed his name.  Herod could not read or write.

Also found on Fold3.com, we find Herod was drafted into the Union Army on September 22, 1864.  He is shown in Company H of the 18th Missouri Infantry.  They describe him as having a dark complextion, brown hair, brown eyes, and 6 feet 1/2 inch.  He was enlisted in Ironton, Missouri for the term of 1 year.  We also see he filed for pention on July 15, 1890.  According to his obituary, he was in "Sherman's march to the sea.  He served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged from the service."  According to The Civil War Archive, online, the 18th MO Inf. was mustered out July 18, 1865 from Louisville, Kentucky.

Between his time in service with the Confederacy and Union Armies, Herod and Sarah had 2 more children: Ida Ann born December 17, 1863, and Mary Emma born March 20, 1864.  Unfortunately, Ida Ann died on July 5, 1865, just prior to Herod's discharge.  After he returned, the couple had one more child, Sarah Jane born October 9, 1866.  However, just after the birth of their daughter Sarah Jane, Herod's wife Sarah passed away (possibly due to complications of the birth), on October 19, 1866.  Now Herod, just back from war and ready to carry on with his life, was left widowed with 3 small children.

In 1980, in De Soto, Missouri, there was a Gibson family reunion.  There was a wall with different stories posted, the following was one of those posts, by Olive Gibson (Herod's granddaughter):

"Great Grandfather Herod Gibson was in the fields a working and one of the little Gibson children (a girl) was left to watch the baby.  She was sitting before the fireplace, holding the baby, and it tumbled from her lap and rolled into the fireplace and it died."

The infant that died was the youngest, Sarah Jane.  She died November 5, 1867.  She would have been just over one year.  The girl watching her might have been Mary Emma, however, it could have been a Gibson cousin, we just aren't sure.  Mary Emma would have only been 3 years old, so I hesitate to believe she would have been watching her younger sister.

1870, we find Herod, William Francis, and Mary Emma living in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri.  They're living next door to William, Herod's brother, and his family.  Both Herod and William are shown working on the railroad.

By 1880, we see Herod and his 2 children living on Lewis Street in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  This time, Herod's mother, Melinda, is shown living with the family.  Herod is listed as working as a laborer.  Melinda died just nine years later on November 12, 1889.

By 1900 both William Francis and Mary Emma married and had children of their own.  On the 1900 federal census, we see Herod living in the household of William Francis on Cedar, in Valle Township, City of De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  I'm not sure how big the house was, but I'm guessing it would have been busy.  The census shows 14 people living in the house: William Francis, his wife, their 9 children, Herod, Mary Emma (Herod's daughter), and Mary Emma's two daughters.  Mary Emma was widowed by this time.  Her husband, William H. Brown, died in a caboose accident.  Herod was shown working as a day laborer in 1900.

If you recall my previous post on William Francis Gibson, then you know he and his wife died of "consumption" (tuberculosis) in 1904, leaving behind 9 children.  By 1910, we see Herod living on East Main Street in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri with his daughter Mary Emma Brown and her two daughters Cleo and Ethel.  He was working as a laborer for the railroad.  The family was still living on the same street (possibly the same house) in 1920, but Herod was not working anymore.  He could have retired, he was 83 years old at this time.

The picture to the right is of Herod.  The 3 women in the photo are unknown to me, but I'm guessing it is Mary Emma and her two daughters.  Mary Emma Gibson Brown died in 1923.  She is buried in the City Cemetery in De Soto, MO.

According to notes that were given to me from other family members, Herod was living with Ethel and Homer Milhouser (Ethel was Herod's granddaughter), at 1906 Missouri Avenue in St. Louis, MO, when he died July 13, 1926.  Cause of death was chronic bronchitus, non-tubercular, brought on by old age.  The note said he was 87 years 9 months and 3 days (but that does not match with the birthdate we have in our family records).  Herod is buried next to his mother, Melinda, in the City Cemetery, De Soto, MO.

Herod did indeed live a very long life.  He outlived his parents, his wife, all four of his children, and 2 grandchildren. 

#52Ancestors Challenge - Week 5 - William Francis Gibson - Ste. Genevieve and Jefferson Counties, Missouri

It's week 5, and I'm continuing the 52 Ancestors Challenge that was proposed by Amy Johnson Crow on her blog No Story Too Small.  This one is going to be about my great, great grandfather, William Francis Gibson.

William Francis Gibson was born February 7, 1860 in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri to Herod Gibson and Sara Jane Patterson.  He was their oldest child, and only son.  On the 1860 census we can find him listed as Francis at the age of 6 months, living in Ste. Genevieve County with his parents.  The family was living in the household of Alexander and Melinda Gibson, Herod's parents.  Because most records show his name as Francis, that is how we'll reference him in this post.

In 1861, Francis' father enlisted in the Southern Army and served in the Missouri State Guard for a short time.  After being honorably discharged and returning home to his family, he was then drafted into the Union Army.  I'll discuss this more in another post about Herod.

Back to Francis...we aren't sure where he and his mother were living during the war, but I'm guessing they were probably living with Herod's family.  Francis' parents had 3 more children, all girls: Ida Ann b. 1863 and d.1865, Mary Emma b. 1864, and Sara Jane b. 1866 and d. 1867.  In 1866, after giving birth, Sara Jane, Francis' mother, died. 

In 1870, we find Francis at age 11 and attending school.  He is living with his father, Herod, and sister, Emma, in Central Township, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Next door to them is Herod's older brother William and his family.  His father was working on the railroad, and his uncle was a foreman for the railroad.

By 1880, the family can be found in De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  At this time we see Melinda Gibson, Francis' grandmother, widowed and living with the family as well.  Both Francis and his father, Herod, were listed as laborers.

Years ago, my grandfather came back from a visit to Missouri with copies of marriage and bible records.  To the right is a copy of the marriage record of Frank Gibson and Louisa N. Cotner.  This is William Francis Gibson and Louisa Nancy Carolyn Cotner.  They were married June 24, 1881 in Plattin, Missouri, about 9 miles east of De Soto.  Louisa was born January 11, 1862 in St. Francois County, Missouri.  She was the daughter of Hezekiah Cotner and Mary Elizabeth Griffaw/Griffard (who will both be written about on a later post...tons of information on these two and their families).

Francis and Louisa went on to have 9 children:

• Claude Percy (1882-1956)
• Francis Pearl (1884-19510
• Leslie Lee (Lester) (1886-1898)
• Emma Clyde (1888-1981)
• Olive Louisa (1890-1986)
• Hazel Mae (1892-1988)
• William Frank (1895-1965)
• Isaac Herod (1897-1978)
• Stella Laura (1900-1923)

Years back, my Great Aunt Vicki sent my mother some copies of some notes she had from Betty Tracy Thayer, daughter of Emma Clyde Gibson, and granddaughter of Francis and Louisa.  In it Betty wrote about a fond memory her mother, Emma, had:

"She (Emma) recalled the times when she was a child that her father would rent a carriage (rig) with horses, and they would all pile into it, kids and mother and father, and drive out to the "Plattin" to her grandfather and grandmother Cotner's farm for the day, she said it was "great fun."

I believe this would have been their grandmother Mary Elizabeth Griffaw Cotner's place.  She was living in Plattin in 1880 with Louisa and Louisa's older brother Isaac, before Louisa married Francis.  Mary was also living in Plattin with her brother John Griffaw on the 1900 census.  Mary's husband, Hezekiah Cotner, died sometime before 1870 (the last record we can find of him is the 1860 census). 

The 1900 census we find Francis and Louisa, with 8 of their children, living in Valle Township, City of De Soto, Jefferson County, Missouri.  Also in the household are Francis' father, Herod, his sister, Emma Brown (she was listed as a widow), and Emma's two children: Cleo and Ethel.  Francis was working as a switch man for the railroad.

In 1980, there was a Gibson family reunion.  At that reunion was a wall, or mural, with notes from family members.  One note from Emma, Francis and Louisa's daughter, talked about the death of her brother Leslie.  The note I was given says "Leslie was found hanging in the shed by his mother.  He had been playing in the rafters and had his book strap round his shoulders and he fell and the strap caught on something and broke his neck.  He was 12 years old."  The note also says "Another story says he hung himself accidentally while putting up a swing.  November 4, 1898."  How very sad to lose a child, especially in this way.  I can't imagine what Francis and his wife must have went through.  But, unfortunately, the bad times don't end there...

On January 8, 1904, Louisa passed away.  Her obituary stated that she suffered from the disease "consumption" for 3 years before it took her life.  Consumption was what they called Tuberculosis.  She wasn't the only one to suffer it in the family.  Later that same year, on December 29, Francis died of the same disease.

The children were left without their parents.  Some were grown, but some were still very young.    In the note written by Betty Tracy Thayer, she also stated the following:

"Emma, Mom, also recalled that after her father, Wm. Frank Gibson died, her mother having preceded him in death by a year, she and her brothers and sisters were left alone in their home in De Soto.  She recalled that they "had no sens of money," and when the "rag man" came by at various times, calling "old rags and bottles" the children blithely sold articles of value to the man - I.E. down comforters for 10 cents each!  Later, they were taken care of by their Aunt Em Brown, who had lost her husband in a tragic caboose fire sometime before.  Aunt Em had 2 girls Ethel and Stella.  The good times were over thereafter!!" (The note says Emma's daughters were Ethel and Stella, but I think she meant Ethel and Cleo).

Not sure how long the children stayed with their Aunt Emma, but the 1910 census has them living in another part of town, with Claude as the head of household.  Writing this post, I did some additional research, and found that the Jefferson College Library has a searchable Probate File Index.  Listed on the index are two case numbers (6717 and 4841) for "Gibson Minors."  At this time I haven't contacted them to obtain a copy.  Hopefully in the near future.  I'm sure there must have been some court proceedings to determine who would take care of the minor children.  The youngest would have only been 4 years old.  Francis and his wife Louisa had such a short life.  At the ages of 44 and 42, they left so much behind.

The picture to the right was found online on Ancestry.com in the Gibson/Stockdale Family Tree.  I'm not sure when it was taken.

 

 

 

#52Ancestors Challenge - Week 1 - Tennie Belle Holcomb

I recently ran across a blog on Ancestry.com by Amy Johnson Crow called "The 52 Ancestors Challenge" and decided it would be a wonderful way to take my years of genealogy research to a new level.  I'm not a professional genealogist, but I've been researching my family for about 13 years.  To be quite honest, it's a bit of an obsession of mine, but I've accumulated about 2000 people in my records!!

I do not claim to be a great writer, and writing this has taken me completely out of my comfort zone!!  This is my very first blog...ever, so please bear with me. 

The first ancestor I'd like to write about is my beautiful grandmother, Tennie Belle Holcomb.  Don't you just love her name!!  I remember everyone calling her Tennie Belle, not just Tennie.

 

Tennie Belle Holcomb was the youngest of 5 children born to Benton Rogers Holcomb (or Jake as he was known) and Mamie Estelle Locke.  She was born on June 2, 1927 in Tahoka, Texas and shared a birthday with her older sister Mary Inez (aka Inie).  Her father was a farmer and owned a store.  In 1929 her father also worked as a deputy sheriff.  I remember a few times when her, and her brother Jake, or Buck as we knew him, would talk about when they were little.  One of the stories was about a horse named Tony.  Buck, and their brother Chester (aka Chet...everyone seems to have had a nickname), used to tease Tennie Belle and have the horse chase her around the outside of the house!!  The horse would even follow her into the house, at which point Mama (what everyone called Mamie, their mother) would shew him back outside.

 

 

 

 

 

After the death of her father in 1946, she went to California with Mama to visit some family who had moved there.  There at a dance, she met William (Bill) Frank Gibson.  He was in the navy and stationed in the area.  They wrote many letters to each other after that, and then on December 19th, 1946 they were married in Tahoka, Texas.  The ceremony was a double ceremony with her good friend Winnelle Meeks who married R.M. Dodson.

 

William Frank Gibson and Tennie Belle Holcomb 1946

 

Eventually, Tennie Belle and Bill would make their home in Baldwin Park, California.  There they raised 3 children.  She lived in Baldwin Park for about 50 years, until she became sick and had to move in with her daughter.  On December 30, 2001 Ms. Tennie Belle died in Kirkland, WA.

 

 

Mary Inez Holcomb Meeks and Tennie Belle Holcomb Gibson

 

My grandmother was a remarkable lady.  She could sing and play the guitar.  My grandfather and her were known to be pretty good on roller skates, and really great dancers too!!  Not to mention, she was a great cook!!  Everyone loved her fried chicken and homemade tacos.  Whenever I'm making tacos, the smell takes me back to her house, and every time I have a glass of sweet tea, I am reminded of her!  She was loved by everyone and is dearly missed.