Denise's Life in the Past Lane

Wordless Wednesday - Boyd W. Spurlock and son

2012-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson,
[ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Louisiana. 1999

Boyd W. Spurlock with son,

Boyd, Jr.

c1930

Amanuensis Monday - Franklin Brothers Quitclaim Deed 1874

2012-03-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

This week I have transcribed an 1874 quitclaim deed between three of the sons of my maternal 3^rd great-grandfather Arad Franklin—Arad W., Asahel, and Culwell. For $50, Arad W. and Asahel, along with their wives, relinquished to brother Culwell their title in two acres in Union County, Ohio. I haven’t yet discovered how the brothers acquired this land and whether the fourth son Joseph (my 2^nd great-grandfather) also held an interest. It is possible that, in 1874, Joseph was living in another county (probably Marion), and I need to research deeds there to see if a quitclaim deed was recorded.

“A W Franklin & wife )

To Deed )

Colwell Franklin )

Know all men by these presents that we A W Franklin Nannie M Franklin this wife & Acel Franklin Madora Franklin his wife in consideration of the Sum of fifty Dollars to them paid by Culwell Franklin do hereby remise[?] release and forever quit claim unto the said Culwell Franklin his heirs and assigns forever all our title interest and estate legal and equitable in the following premises with the appurtenances situate in Union County & State of Ohio and bounded and described as follows to wit Being part of survey No 3696

Beginning at the south west corner of the Farm[?] former owned by richard Hoskins de(s)cribed running thense easterly with Delaware & Bellfountain Road and in the center thereof twenty Rods to a stone thence N 7^o50" sixteen Rods to a stone thence westerly parallel with the aforesaid Road twenty Rods to the west line of the said Richard Hoskins Farm thence with the said west line Southerly to the Beginning containing two acres more or Less.

In Testimony whereof we the said A W Franklin & Nannie M Franklin his wife & Acel Franklin & Medora Franklin his wife have hereunto set their hands and seal the twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four

A W Franklin {seal}

Nannie Franklin {seal}

Acel Franklin {seal}

Medora Franklin {seal}

Executed & Delivered in presence of

G. W. Cray

O Mirrel[?] Jewett

The State of Ohio Union County, SS..

Before me a Justice of the peace in and for said Coun[t]y personally came the said A. W Franklin Nannie M. Franklin his wife & Acel Franklin Medora Franklin his [wife] and acknowledged the signing and sealing of the within quit Claim Deed to be their voluntary act and Deed for the uses & purposes therein mentioned and the said Nannie M Franklin & Medora Franklin being at the same time examined by me separate and apart from their said husbands and the contents of said instrument being by me made known and explained to them they then declared that they did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and are still satisfied therewith as their free act and deed

this the twenty fifth Day of February AD 1874

O Merrill Jewett Justice of the Peace

Rec^d March 10^th 1874 Recorded March 17 1874

Hiram Rouey Recorder”

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 1819-1877, 39: 235, A. W. Franklin & wife deed to Colwell Franklin, 17 Mar 1874; FHL microfilm 572,564.]

Sunday's Obituary - Daniel R. Upton

2012-03-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Daniel Richard Upton was married to my paternal grand-aunt Lucy Alice (Martindale) Upton in 1891. He died 26 March 1929 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

“UPTON—Funeral services for D. R. Upton, 64, who died at his home, Twelfth and Waxahachie at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Fogle-West chapel. Rev. S. P. Wright officiating. Burial was in Hollywood Cemetery under the direction of the Fogle-West Company. He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Mrs. R. M. Hurst, Mrs. E. Whitsitt and Miss Bessie Upton; and one son R. B. Upton.”

[SOURCE: Undated clipping from unknown newspaper, Spurlock, Mamie Olive (Martindale), Scrapbook, ca 1950-1970; privately held by Cheryl Anne (Chaney) Beaver, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lone Grove, Oklahoma. 2010. Photocopy in possession of Denise Spurlock.]

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #11 – Sarah Belle Forshee

2012-03-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

One of my goals for 2012 is to use the Surname Saturday blogging prompt as a way to assure that I spend some time researching each of my family lines and that I have appropriate source citations for the genealogical facts related to my ancestors. I’ve decided to use my ahnentafel report and work back through the generations starting with my grandparents, writing a summary of each ancestor. If you discovered this post through a search engine and find one of your ancestors listed here, please leave a comment to let me know.

My paternal great-grandmother Sarah Belle FORSHEE was born 11 April 1856 in Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri,[1] the youngest child of James B. FORSHEE and Sarah A. PARKER.[2]

She grew to maturity in Missouri, and on 1 June 1879, married Ambrose B. MARTINDALE in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[3] A.B. and Sarah had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood:

William Clarence (1880-1889)[4]
Maude Alberti (1881-1958)[5]
Walter Ivan (1883-1958)[6]
Mamie Olive (1884-1971)[7]
Mamie Viola (1886-1886)[8]
Arthur Bryant (1887-1961)[9]

I know little about her life, except that she raised two step-children from A.B.’s first marriage along with her own. It is likely that she was active in church activities, probably at the Methodist church in Cushing, Texas, for which her husband donated most of the lumber to build and where two of her daughters were organists.[10]

She died on 17 February 1923 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, and was buried the following day at Hollywood Cemetery.[11]

Although I have found many records regarding the life of Sarah’s husband, nothing has surfaced with details of her life. As I continue to review materials already in my possession and continue to conduct research about this family, I hope to find additional clues to my great-grandmother’s life.

[1] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 2 May 2011).

[2] 1860 U.S. census, Washington, Missouri, population schedule, Concord, p. 45, dwelling 274, family 296, household of James Foshee; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll M653_659.

[3] Martindale-Forchee marriage, 1 Jun 1879, Washington Co., MO, Marriage Book C, p. 363.

[4] Wayne County, Missouri Cemeteries (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Genealogical Society, n.d.), 26.

[5] Hopewell Cemetary Listing (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mowashin/cemetery/).

[6] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 21812 (1958), Walter Ivan Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[7] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin.

[8] Wayne County Cemeteries, 26.

[9] Spurlock, Mamie Olive (Martindale), Scrapbook, ca 1950-1970; privately held by Cheryl Anne (Chaney) Beaver, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lone Grove, Oklahoma. 2010. Photocopy in possession of Denise Spurlock.

[10] Mina Beth Seelbach Helpinstill, “Cushing, Texas – The Piney Woods Town,” p. 14; unpublished manuscript dated 1956, a copy of which was obtained from City Hall, Cushing, held by Denise Spurlock, {ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY], Lomita, California, 2012.

[11] Texas death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale.

Wordless Wednesday - Spurlock Girls

2012-03-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson, [ADDRESS WITHHELD
FOR PRIVACY], Louisiana, 1999.

Easter, Freda, Rita and Jewell Spurlock

with Hobson Boddie

c1918

Amanuensis Monday - 1829 Deed - Roberts to Gandy

2012-03-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

This deed conveying land in Union County, Ohio, from William Roberts and others (through an agent) to Henry H. Gandy, my 4^th great-grandfather, in December 1829 is very similar to the one transcribed last week which conveyed land from Roberts to Ephraim Cary, my 3^rd great-grandfather and Henry Gandy’s son-in-law. The land description in this deed is quite involved, and I should attempt to plat it with Cary’s parcel to see how they adjoin. An interesting marker in this description is Sandusky Road. A descendant of John Wood, whose land adjoined Henry’s parcel, may have been David Wood who married Ephraim’s daughter Ruth, but I have not verified the relationship.

“Lawrence Ashton )

Attorney in fact for )

W^m Roberts & Others)

Deed to )

Henry H. Gandy )

This Indenture made this twenty fourth day of December eighteen hundred and twenty nine between Lawrence Ashton agent and atorney, in fact for William J. Roberts and Martha Robberts his wife, Thomas Lunsford Lomax, Edward Penn and Jane Penn his wife and Elizabeth Smith all of the State of Virginia as will appear by a Power of Attorney now on Record in Union County Ohio of the one part and Henry H. Gandy of the County of Madison and State aforesaid of the Other part. Witnesseth, that the said L. Ashton agent and attorney as afforesaid for an in consideration of the sum of four hundred and fifty Dollars to him in hand paid by the said Henry H. Gandy before the signing, ensealing and Delivery of these presents the receipt Whereof is hereby acknowledged and for which the said Henry H. Gandy, and his heirs are forever discharged and acquited hath granted bargained and sold and doth by these presents grant bargain sell ailen[?] and convey unto the said Henry H. Gandy all the right title interest and Estate of the said William J. Robberts and Martha his wife, Thomas Lansford Lomax, Edward Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith in and to a certain tract or parcel of Land, Lying and being in the County of Union and State of Ohio, Containing three hundred acres being part of a tract of one thousand acres entered in the name of Falvory Frazier N^o 3692 and pattented to Robbert Campbell and bounded as follows towit. Beginning at a stake in the center of Bokes ^^creek in the East line of the Original Survey N^o 3692 and South easterly corner to the land sold out to John Wood running thence with Woods line up the creek with the meanders thereof of N 73 W 48 poles, S 73 W 40 Poles, S 51 W 14 poles, N 86 W 10 poles, S 54 W 20 poles, S 45 W 26 poles, S 80 W 19 poles and N 50 W 28 poles to a stake in the Center of the Creek near a sugar tree and bur oak standing on the south side of the Creek, thence S 7 @ 23 poles to a stake in the south line of the original survey near two ash saplins, thence South 83 E 189 poles crossing the Sandusky road to two sugar trees, thence N 7 E 29 poles to the beginning. Together with all and singular the rights, issues, benefits, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining. To Have and to Hold. the said tract or parcel of land With the premises aforesaid until the said Henry H. Gandy, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said L. Ashton agent and atorney as aforesaid by virtue of the power vested in him by the Letter of Attorney before alluded to and according to the true meaning and Intent whereof does hereby bind the said William J. Roberts and Martha his wife, Thomas Lansford Lenox to warrant and defend the said tract or parcel of Land with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belong or in any wise appertaining unto the said Henry H. Gandy free from all claim of them the said, William J. Roberts and Martha his wife, and Lunsford Lenox, and all and every person or persons claiming by through or under them, and the said Edmund Penn and Jane Penn his Wife, and Elizabeth Smith are hereby bound to warrant and forever defend the before described tract of land with its appertenances free from the claim of them the said Edmund Penn, and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith and all and evry person or persons Whatsoever.

In Testimony Whereof the said L. Ashton as agent and attorney as afforesaid has hereunto set his hand and seal, and the names and seals of William J. Roberts and Martha his wife, Thomas Lunsford Lenox, Edward Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith the date in the Indenture first above written.

Singed in the Presence of

Ira Wood

James Reed 2^nd

William J. Roberts {seal}

Martha Roberts {seal}

Thomas Lunsford Lenox {seal}

Edward Penn {seal}

Jane Penn {seal}

Elizabeth Smith {seal}

By their agent and atorney in fact

Laurence Ashton

The State of Ohio )

Union County SS )

Personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County Lawrence Ashton signer to the above deed and acknowledged the signing and sealing the same to be his act and deed for the purposes therein contained as Attorney in fact for the above named persons.

Given under my hand officially this 25^th day of Dec. A.D. 1829.

Ira Wood, Justice of the Peace

for said County

This deed was filed for Record May 12^h and Recorded June 26 1830.

Silas G. Strong, Recorder”

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 1819-1877, 2: 420, deed, Roberts-Gandy, dated 24 Dec 1929, 26 Jun 1930; FHL microfilm 571,795.]

© 2012 Denise Spurlock

Sunday's Obituary - A. B. Martindale

2012-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

My great-grandfather, Ambrose B. Martindale, died in Houston, Harris County, Texas, on 29 October 1918. According to this obituary, he had been an invalid for four years, but his death was caused by the flu.

“A. B. MARTINDALE.

A. B. Martindale, age 74, a native of Alabama, died at his home in Houston Harbor addition Tuesday, age 74. He had been a master Mason for 52 years, and in addition was a member of the Royal Arch chapter and of the Knights Templar. He had resided in Texas for 35 years, but had been an invalid for the past four years. He was a member of Trinity Methodist church. Funeral services will be held from the home at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, with Rev. Heisig officiating. Holland lodge of Masons will have charge and burial will follow at Hollywood cemetery.”

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #10 – Ambrose B. Martindale

2012-03-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

My paternal great-grandfather Ambrose B. MARTINDALE was born about 26 May 1844 in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri,[1] the third child of Howell B. and Mary Elizabeth (EATON) MARTINDALE.[2]

The Martindale family moved to Arkansas some time before the 1860 federal census was taken.[3]

A.B. (as he was known) served in both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. From July 1862 until January 1863, he served in Co. A, Crawford’s Battalion of the 1^st Arkansas Infantry (CSA). He was taken prisoner of war at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, on 11 January 1863. [4] He later served in Co. E of the 50^th Missouri Infantry (USA).[5]

A.B. first married Zilla Melissa Robinson on 13 January 1872 at Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[6] Three children were born before Melissa died 2 June 1877:[7]

Lucy Alice (1873-1957)[8]
Robert Ellis (1875-1946)[9]
Frances Lee (1876-1877)

He next married Sarah Belle Forshee on 1 June 1879 in Bismarck, St. Francois County, Missouri.[10] A.B. and Sarah had six children, four of whom lived to adulthood:

William Clarence (1880-1889)[11]
Maude Alberti (1881-1958)[12]
Walter Ivan (1883-1958)[13]
Mamie Olive (1884-1971)[14]
Mamie Viola (1886-1886)[15]
Arthur Bryant (1887-1961)

A.B. died on 29 October 1918 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, and was buried the next day at Hollywood Cemetery. He was a victim of the influenza epidemic of 1918.[16]

I have written three blog posts related to Ambrose B. Martindale:

On This Day – May 26 – his birthday
On This Day – June 1 – the anniversary of his marriage to my great-grandmother Sarah Belle Forshee
Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo – you just have to read it!

Because he left so many records, he is one of my favorite research subjects, and I have many records to analyze and much more to write!

I have done extensive research on Ambrose, particularly in Texas, where he lived the latter part of his life. At the present time, I have no specific research plans other than to continue to periodically do Google searches and watch for newly-digitized records for the areas in which he lived.

[1] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 20 Apr 2010).

[2] 1850 U.S. census, Washington County, Missouri, population schedule, Concord Township, p. 126 (stamped), dwelling 525, family 525, H. B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 421.

[3] 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Clear Creek Township, Sevier County, Arkansas, p. 122 (penned), dwelling 850, family 854, Howell B. Martindale; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll 51.

[4] A. B. (Ambrose B.) Martindale; Unfiled Papers and Slips Belonging in Confederate Compiled Service Records; National Archives Records Administration, Publication M347; digital images, "Civil War Soldiers - Confederate - Misc," Fold3.com (www.fold3.com : accessed 10 May 2010).

[5] Ambrose B. Martindale (Sgt., Co. E., 50th U.S. Infantry), pension no. Inv. 1,107,478; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington.

[6] Martindale-Robinson marriage, 13 Jun 1872, Washington Co., MO, Marriage Book C, p. 231.

[7] Caledonia Methodist Cemetary (htt p://www.rootsweb.com/~mowashin/cemetery/cdoniam-m.html).

[8] Texas, death certificate no. 55565 (1957), Lucy A. Upton; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 3 May 2010).

[9] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 11104 (1946), Robert Ellis Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[10] Martindale-Forchee marriage, 1 Jun 1879, Washington Co., MO, Marriage Book C, p. 363.

[11] Wayne County, Missouri Cemeteries (St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Genealogical Society, n.d.), 26.

[12] Hopewell Cemetary Listing (http://www.rootsweb.com/~mowashin/cemetery/).

[13] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 21812 (1958), Walter Ivan Martindale; digital image, Fold3.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.fold3.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[14] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin.

[15] Wayne County Cemeteries, 26.

[16] Texas death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale.

Wordless Wedneday - Guys and Cars

2012-02-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by Arnold Sherrell, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Dripping Springs, Texas, 2011.

My brother, Arny Sherell, and

Gary Hutchcraft,

c1955, California.

Digital image. Original held by Cheryl Beaver, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Lone Grove, Oklahoma, 2011.

My brother-in-law, Dale Chaney, and

unknown driver,

c1955, California.

Amanuensis Monday - 1829 Deed - Roberts to Cary

2012-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

On Christmas Day 1829, my maternal 3rd great-grandfather Ephraim Cary purchased 100 acres of land for $150 from Wm. J. Roberts (and others) of Virginia. The land was situated along Bokes Creek in Union County, Ohio, and adjoined land purchased by his father-in-law Henry H. Gandy.

Several aspects of this deed were particularly interesting to me. It is the first deed that I have encountered where the transaction was handled by an attorney-in-fact for the seller; in this case, that individual was Laurence Ashton acting on behalf of Wm. J. Roberts and others who are named in the deed.

It also was the first time that I remember encountering so many individuals involved in the sale. Besides Ephraim as purchaser and Laurence Ashton as attorney-in-fact, these are the people that Ashton represented:

Wm. J. Roberts
Martha Roberts
Thomas Lunsford Lenox (or Lomax)
Edmund (or Edward) Penn
Jane Penn, and
Elizabeth Smith.

Spelling was clearly a challenge! In addition to numerous spelling variations of words such as "attorney," names were spelled differently throughout the document. Roberts is also Robberts, Lenox is Lomax, Edmund became Edmond and Edward, Ephaim is also Ephriam. At least Martha, Jane and Elizabeth were spelled the same way throughout!

And a name I have never encountered: Falvory! This is the given name of the Mr. Frazier who held the original land patent.

My transcription of the document appears below the images:

“Laurence Ashton

Attorney in fact for

W^m J. Roberts & Others

Deed to

Ephraim Cary

This Indenture made this twenty fifth day of December, eighteen hundred and twenty nine, between Laurence Ashton agent and Atorney in fact for William J. Roberts, and Martha Roberts his wife, Thomas Lunsford Lenox, Edmund Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith all of the State of Virginia as will appear by a Power of Atorney now on Record in the County of Union and State of Ohio of the one part and Ephraim Cary of the County of Union and State of Ohio of the other part. Witnesseth, That the said L. Ashton agent and attorney, as afforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty Dollars to him in hand paid by the said Ephraim Cary, before the signing and ensealing of these presents, the receipt, whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained and sold, and doth by these presents, grant bargain, sell [--?--] and convey unto the said Ephraim Cary all the right title interest, and estate of the said William J. Roberts and Martha his wife Thomas Lunsford Lenox Edmond Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith in a to a certain tract or parcel of Land lying and being in the County of Union and State of Ohio, containing one hundred acres being a part of a tract of one thousand acres entered in the name of Falvory Frazier N^o 3692 and pattented to Robert Campbell and bounded as follows To wit. Beginning at a stake in the center of Bokes creek near a cluster of Lymns and Two sugar trees standing on the sound side of said creek thence running down said creek with the meanders thereof S70E 32 poles. N 80 E 23 poles South 22 poles S 50 ED 7 poles to a stake inm the center of the creek, near a sugar tree and bur Oak standing on the south side of the creek North westerly corner to Henry H. Gandys' land. thence with said Gandies line S 7 W 273 poles to a stake in the south line of the Original survey, near two ash saplins, thence N 83 W 34 poles to a stake near a large berch, thence N & E 200 poles to the beginning. Together will all and singular the rights, issues benefits hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining. To Have and to Hold the said tract or parcel of land with the premises aforesaid until the said Ephraim Cary his heirs and assigns forever and the said L. Ashton agent and Atorney, as afforesaid by virtue of the power vested in him by the Letter of Atorney before alluded to and according to the true meaning and intent thereof does hereby bind the said William J Robberts and Martha his wife Thomas Lunsford Lomax to Warrant and defend the said tract of Land with its apertenances unto the said Ephriam Cary his heirs and assigns free from the Claims of them the said William J Roberts and Martha his wife Thomas Lunsford Lomax and all persons, claiming by through and under them, and the said Edmond Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith are hereby bound to warrant and defend the said Tract of Lane with its appurtenances unto the said Ephraim Cary free from all the claim or claims of them the said Edmund Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth and all persons whatsoever.

In Testimony whereof the said L. Ashton agent and attorney as afforesaid has hereunto set his hand and seal and the names and seals of the ssaid William J. Roberts and Martha his wife, Thomas Lunsford Lomax, Edward Penn and Jane his wife and Elizabeth Smith the date of this Indenture first written.

William J. Roberts {seal}

Martha Roberts {seal}

Thomas Lunsford Lomax {seal}

Elizabeth Smith {seal}

By their agent and attorney in fact

Laurence Ashton {seal}

Signed and acknowledged in the presence of

Levi Phelps

N Adamson

State of Ohio )

Union County ) ss

Personally appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for said County, Laurence Ashton signer to the Within deed of conveyance and acknowledged the signing and sealing thereof to be his act and deed for the purposes therein Expressed as Atorney in fact for the persons therein mentioned. Given under my hand officially this 25^th day of Dec. A.D. 1829

Ira Wood. Justice of the Peace

for Union County

The above deed was filed for Record May 17^th and Recorded June 26^th 1930

Silas G. Strong. Recorder.”

[Source: Union County, Ohio, Deed Books, 1819-1877, 2: 422, deed, Roberts-Cary, dated 25 Dec 1929, 26 Jun 1930; FHL microfilm 571,795.]

Sunday's Obituary - Sarah Belle (Forshee) Martindale

2012-02-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

The following obituary is for my great-grandmother, Sarah Belle (Forshee) Martindale; she died 17 February 1923, in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

“MORTUARY

Mrs. Sarah Belle Martindale, aged 66, died at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mamie Spurlock, corner of Gainesville and Harbor. The body was taken in charge by the Sid Westheimer Company and the funeral will be held from the residence at 4 this afternoon. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

Surviving are two sons, W. I. Martindale of Houston and A. B. Martindale of Tyler; two daughters, Mrs. R. A. Thompson of St. Louis and Miss Mamie Spurlock of Houston; a stepson, R. E. Martindale of Houston, and a stepdaughter, Mrs. D. R. Upton of Gallatin.”

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #9 – Dialtha Jane OWENS

2012-02-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

My paternal great-grandmother Dialtha Jane OWENS was born about 1847 in Alabama, the fourth child of Houston T. and Sherreldia J. (HAMMONTREE) OWENS.[1]

While she was a young child, the Owens family moved from Alabama to northwestern Louisiana, settling in Bienville Parish. The Owens family were near neighbors of the Spurlocks in the 1850s and probably stayed close throughout the years. Dialtha’s sister, Missouri Ann, married M. D. L. Spurlock in 1860.[2]

Dialtha married John F. Spurlock about 1875[3] and they had six children:

Jasper Jackson (1876-1940)[4]
William Martin (1878-1973)[5]
Era (1880-1961)[6]
Lucy Jane (1882-1912)[7]
John Thomas (1887-1969)[8]
Sarah Elizabeth (1890-1970)[9]
Jefferson Owens[10]

Dialtha died in 1893 and is buried in Hurricane Cemetery in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.[11] She was only 46 years old when she died; I heard from someone that she had some kind of blood disease (leukemia, perhaps?).

It is said that I have so little information about Dialtha and her life. Here are some of the things than I plan to do to try to learn more:

I have searched the marriage records of Bienville, Claiborne and Jackson parishes for a record of Dialtha’s marriage to John Spurlock but have been unable to locate one.
I will attempt to locate digitized images of historical newspapers to see if I can find any reference to her death; if digital copies cannot be found, I will add it to the list of things to research when, and if, I have the opportunity to visit the area again.
I will try to find living descendants of her children and see if any has any artifacts or information about Dialtha’s life. Foster Spurlock, a descendant of Dialtha’s sister, may have some additional information.

[1] 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Western District, Bienville, Louisiana, p. 288A, family 559, household of Huston T. Owens; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 16 Jan 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 230.

[2] Spurlock Family Association, database, family group sheet dated 23 Jul 1996.

[3] 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, 6th Ward, Claiborne, Louisiana, enumeration district (ED) 14, p. 30B, dwelling 266, family 301, household of J. F. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 451.

[4] Los Angeles, California, death certificate no. 19-442238 (1996), Jasper Jackson Spurlock; County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

[5] Texas, death certificate no. 23575 (1973), William Martin Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[6] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Era S. Crawley. Eva (Spurlock) Crawley Photograph of tombstone, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, California. 2012.

[7] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[8] Texas, death certificate no. 95183 (1969), John Thomas Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[9] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Sarah S. Conville.

[10] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[11] Dialtha Owens Spurlock Photograph of grave marker, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, Callifornia. 2012.

Wordless Wednesday - Grandma at Five Points

2012-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by Arnold Sherrell, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR
PRIVACY], Dripping Springs, Texas, 2011.

My maternal grandmother,

Myrtle Arminta (Snider) Yawman,

at "Five Points," El Monte, California,

c1940.

Surname Saturday - Ancestor #8 - John Fedrick Spurlock

2012-02-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

As I begin to write about my great-grandparents, I find that I have more documentation, but much more work to do in terms of transcribing documents and writing proof summaries/arguments to support my conclusions regarding their lives. As a result, these posts may not be as well documented as I would like and I may not be able to keep up the pace of a post each week.

My paternal great-grandfather John Fedrick SPURLOCK was born on or about 22 August 1850[1] probably in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. He was the 8^th of ten children born to Ransom and Ellender (VICKERS) SPURLOCK.

He married first Dialtha Jane OWENS probably in 1875.[2] John and Dialtha had six children:

Jasper Jackson (1876-1940)[3]
William Martin (1878-1973)[4]
Era (1880-1961)[5]
Lucy Jane (1882-1912)[6]
John Thomas (1887-1969)[7]
Sarah Elizabeth (1890-1970)[8]
Jefferson Owens[9]

After Dialtha’s death in 1893,[10] John married second Annie Lee CONVILLE on 3 July 1894 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.[11] John and Annie had twelve children:

Boydston W. (1894-1938)[12]
Allen Herman (1896-1971)[13]
Dayton (1898-1898)[14]
Gus Hobson (1899-1968)[15]
Zell (1901-1983)[16]
Velma Frances (1902-1989)[17]
Halbert R. (1904-1971)[18]
Claude Dudley (1906-1996)[19]
Senorita (1908-1991)[20]
Easter (1910-1988)[21]
Freda E. (1913-2003)[22]
Jewell S. (1915-1997)[23]

Wow, that’s a lot of mouths to feed! How did he do it?

In addition to farming,[24] John was a minister with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.[25] He served as constable in Claiborne Parish in 1880[26] and was elected a Justice of the Peace in Bienville Parish in 1900.[27]

However, it appears that money was always tight because he appeared on the delinquent tax list in 1877[28] and notices of sheriff’s sales for nonpayment of taxes appeared in newspapers in 1920,[29] 1921,[30] and 1922.[31]

John died on 18 March 1945 in Jonesboro, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, and is buried next to his second wife Annie at the Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetery.[32]

Although I have a great deal of information about John’s life, there are still several areas that need further research:

I need to continue to search for early records of John in order to establish more precisely when he was born. The earliest record on which he appears is the marriage certificate for M.D.L. Spurlock (his brother) and Missouri Owens in 1868; he was a witness to the marriage.
I have searched the marriage records of Bienville, Claiborne and Jackson parishes for a record of John’s first marriage but have been unable to locate one.
I have several deeds that need to be transcribed and/or ordered from courthouses in Bienville and Claiborne parishes.
My cousin Archie Spurlock told me that John collected a small pension for his work as a minister for the Cumberland Presbyterian church; I need to contact the church historical foundation to see if they have any information on this.
In the early 1930s, John filed a fraudulent application for a Civil War pension on the basis of his brother George Spurlock’s service; George died in Texas in 1880. I have the pension file and need to write an article about it.
There are only a few individuals still living who knew him personally. One is Loretta Spurlock with whom I am in touch regularly. I need to formally interview Loretta regarding her memories. I have some taped conversations recorded in November 2011 which I have yet to transcribe.

[1] Various documents point to this date including census records from 1880-1930 and his death certificate; however, I am still looking for additional evidence and need to write a proof argument.

[2] 1880 U.S. census, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, 6th Ward, enumeration district (ED) 14, p. 30B, dwelling 266, family 301, household of J. F. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 451.

[3] Los Angeles, California, death certificate no. 19-442238 (1996), Jasper Jackson Spurlock; County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

[4] Texas, death certificate no. 23575 (1973), William Martin Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[5] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Era S. Crawley. Eva (Spurlock) Crawley Photograph of tombstone, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, California. 2012.

[6] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[7] Texas, death certificate no. 95183 (1969), John Thomas Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths 1890-1976," FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 21 Apr 2010).

[8] Maxine Morgan, "Driskill Cemetery," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/bienville/cemeteries/driskillcem.txt : accessed 21 Apr 2010), entry for Sarah S. Conville.

[9] Descendants of Bartholemew Ranson Spurlock (Received Aug 2000 via email from Sandra Childs Haynie - schaynie@aol.com).

[10] Kelly Christian Priestly, "Hurricane Cemetery, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/claiborne/cemeteries/hurrican.txt : accessed 12 Apr 2010), entry for Dialtha Owens Spurlock. Dialtha Owens Spurlock Photograph of grave marker, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, Callifornia. 2012.

[11] Bienville Parish, Louisiana, (Bienville Parish Courthouse, Arcadia), vol. G, p. 111, marriage certificate (1894), J. F. Spurlock-Annie V. Conville; FHL microfilm 266,031.

[12] State of Louisiana, Secretary of State, Division of Archives, Records Management, and History, "Louisiana Statewide Death Index, 1900-1949," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Boyd W. Spurlock.

[13] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Allen Spurlock, 1971, SS no. 433-36-4758.

[14] Dayton Spurlock photograph of grave marker, 1999; digital image, privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, California. 2012. Also, Conville Family (The) (Published circa 1985).

[15] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Gus Spurlock, 1968, SS no. 433-16-1526.

[16] John L. Hinton Jr., "Antioch Cemetery, Jackson Parish, Louisiana," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/jackson/cemeteries/antioch.txt : accessed 12 Apr 2010), entry for Zell S. Thrasher.

[17] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Velma S. Vance, 1989, SS no. 438-60-0193.

[18] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for H. Spurlock, 1971, SS no. 433-58-2643.

[19] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Claude D. Spurlock, 1996, SS no. 433-16-7814.

[20] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Senorita Thompson, 1981, SS no. 429-06-8324.

[21] John L. Hinton Jr., "Antioch Cemetery, Jackson Parish, Louisiana," transcription, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/jackson/cemeteries/antioch.txt : accessed 12 Apr 2010), entry for Ester S. Lamb.

[22] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Freda E. Donaldson, 2003, SS no. 434-72-6609.

[23] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Dec 2009), entry for Jewell S. Carson, 1997, SS no. 435-26-9220.

[24] 1880 U.S. census, pop. sch., 6th Ward, Claiborne, Louisiana, ED 14, p. 30B, dwell. 266, fam. 301, household of J. F. Spurlock.

[25] "Funeral Services Held March 20 for Rev. John Spurlock", undated, unknown newspaper; privately held by Denise Spurlock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lomita, CA. Bettye Lou (Conville) Gleason, granddaughter of John Fedrick Spurlock, gave this newspaper clipping to me in Dec 2000; Mrs. Gleason is now deceased.

[26] "Ward Officers," Claiborne Guardian, 30 Jun 1880, p. 4, col. 6; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[27] "Election Proclamation for the Parish of Bienville," The Daily Advocate, 3 May 1900, p. 4, col. 4; digital images, GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[28] "Delinquent List," Claiborne Guardian, 21 Nov 1877, p. 3, col. 3; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[29] "Sheriff's Sale," The Bienville Democrat, 23 Dec 1920, p. 4, col. 4; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[30] "State Tax Sale of Immovable Property," The Bienville Democrat, 18 Aug 1921, p. 3, col. 7; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[31] "State Tax Sale of Immovable Property," The Bienville Democrat, 10 Aug 1922, p. 3, col. 5; digital images, Chronicling America (chroniclingamerica.loc.gov : accessed 17 Feb 2012).

[32] Louisiana State Department of Health, death certificate 519 68 (1945), John Fred Spurlock; Louisiana State Archives, Baton Rouge.

Wordless Wednesday - Grandpa and a Chicken

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by Arnold Sherrell, [ADDRESS WITHHELD
FOR PRIVACY], Dripping Springs, Texas, 2011.

My maternal grandfather, William Lee Yawman,

probably early 1940s in El Monte, California.

Amanuensis Monday - Alexander Brandon Power of Attorney to Ransom Spurlock - 1857

2012-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

While in Utah for the Salt Lake Institute for Genealogy, I added 291 scanned images to my collection of items to be transcribed! I am going to be busy for quite a while.

The document I have chosen to transcribe this week is the Power of Attorney granted by Alexander Brandon to Ransom Spurlock in 1857.

Because one does not grant power of attorney to just anyone, I decided to research Alexander Brandon to see if I could determine the nature of his relationship to Ransom. I discovered that Alexander was living in Bienville Parish in 1850; a 37-year-old farmer, born in South Carolina, he had four children under 10 in his household, but no apparent wife.[1] On 9 January 1851, he married Tabitha Ann Vickers in Bienville Parish; on 19 November 1855, he married Nancy Person.[2] In 1860, Alexander was living in Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas. He was enumerated as a 47-year-old farmer, born in South Carolina; also enumerated were Nancy, age 34 born in Georgia, and seven apparent children, ages 18 down to 1, with the youngest born in Texas and the others born in Louisiana.[3]

So how does this all relate to Ransom? Not sure exactly. Ransom was also in Bienville Parish in 1850, but not exactly a near neighbor to Alexander. (Ransom’s family was #553 in the census enumeration and Alexander’s family was #522.) Ransom’s wife was Ellender Vickers; was there a familial relationship between Ellender and Tabitha Ann? Did Tabitha Ann die soon after her marriage to Alexander? So many unanswered questions, but continued research may lead to the discovery of Ellender Vickers Spurlock’s parents.

Whether there was a family relationship or not, Alexander Brandon trusted Ransom Spurlock enough to grant him power of attorney. Here’s the transcription of the document with the image below.

“The State of Texas)

County of Vanzandt )

Know all men by these presents that I Alexander Brandon of the county of Vanzandt, and State of Texas have made, constuted[constituted], and appointed and, by these presents, do make constitute and appoint Ransom Spurlock of the state of Louisiana and Bienville Parish my True and Lawful agent for me and in my name, place and stead, to sue for and collect, all monies that may be coming to me in said state of La. hereby giving and granting my said Attorney full power and authority to do and perform all and every act, and any thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the collecting of any and all debts, as fully to all Intents and purposes as I might or could do if personally present, with full power and authority hereby Ratifying and confirming all that my said agent, or his substitute, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by Virtue hereof. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and [--?--] for seal on the 7^th day of March A.D. 1857. Signed in presence of

W. L. T Burnes) (signed) Alexander Brandon {seal}

T. M. Allen )

The State of Texas )

Vanzandt County )

Before me A. G. Parker, Clerk of this County court of Vanzandt County, this day personally appeared Alexander Brandon, to me Well Known, and acknowledged, to me that he signed and sealed the within and foregoing power of attorney for the purposes therein Set forth and that it was his own free act and deed. In Testimony of which I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of the county court thereon done at Canton on the 7^th day of March A.D. 1857.

(signed) A. G. Parker, Clerk, of County court Vanzandt County.

I certify that the foregoing is a true Record of the original Power Atty. as filed & Recorded March 24^th A.D. 1857.

John G. Noles Recorder”

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, E: 115,

Alexander Brandon Power of Attorney to Ransom Spurlock, 24 March 1857;

FHL microfilm 266,008.]

[1] 1850 U.S. census, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Western District, page 285-A, no dwelling number, family 522, Alexander Brandon; online images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 February 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M432, roll 230.

[2] Art Lewis, transcription, “Bienville Parish Marriage Book A & B; 1849-1872”; USGenWeb (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~labienvi/b_groom.htm : accessed 10 February 2012).

[3] 1860 U.S. census, Van Zandt County, Texas, population schedule, Canton, page 17, dwelling 128, family 133, A. Brandon; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 February 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M653, roll 1307.

Surname Saturday - Ancestor #7 - Myrtle Arminta SNIDER

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

My maternal grandmother, Myrtle Arminta SNIDER, was born 26 January 1878 in Ohio,[1] the oldest daughter of David A. and Ruth (FRANKLIN) SNIDER.[2]

On 26 September 1897, she married William Lee YAWMAN in Lincoln Township, Neosho County, Kansas.[3] William and Myrtle had eight children:

Joyce Opal YAWMAN (1899-1967)[4]
Eunice Evangeline YAWMAN (1901-1999)[5]
Hazel Agnes YAWMAN (1904-1993)[6]
Juanita Marie YAWMAN (1907-2004)[7]
Myrtle Gertrude YAWMAN (1909-19995)[8]
Clarence Leonard YAWMAN (1912-1912)[9]
William Howard YAWMAN (1914-1990)[10]
Beaulah Belle YAWMAN (1915-1999)[11]

After William and Myrtle married, they lived in the southeastern Kansas counties of Labette and Crawford.[12]^,
[13] Between 1915 and 1920, they moved to Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.[14] To my knowledge, they remained in Kansas City until about 1939, when they moved to California.[15] William and Myrtle lived at 3304 Freer, El Monte (in Los Angeles County) from about 1940 until his death.[16] Sometime after William’s death, Myrtle moved to Washington where she lived with her daughter Joyce.[17]

Myrtle died on 20 June 1958 in Clarkston, Asotin County, Washington, and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California.[18]

While I have the basic research covered for Myrtle, there are additional areas I need to research:

1. Land and property records in the counties in which she and William lived.

2. Newspapers for communities in which they lived.

My brother Arny had several photos of my grandparents that I scanned when I visited him last fall. I have an original of their wedding picture which I have scanned and shared with my siblings.

My grandmother was an accomplished seamstress, and I am fortunate to have in my possession a skirt that she made for my oldest sister sometime in the early 1950s. I seem to recall hearing that she made her own wedding dress, but I need to verify that with someone—perhaps my older sister will know.

Arny told me that Grandma Yawman loved to listen to the Los Angeles Angels’ baseball games on the radio. (The Angels were a farm team at the time.) She was not happy when the Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, because she could no longer hear the Angels’ games!

[1] Washington State Department of Health, death certificate 10617 (1958), Myrtle A. Yawman; Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, Olympia.

[2] 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Leesburg, Union County, Ohio, enumeration district (ED) 81, p. 181A, dwelling (unreadable), family (unreadable), David A. Snider; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Feb 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 1073.

[3] Neosho, Kansas, marriage certificate (no number) (1897), Yawman-Snyder; Neosho County Courthouse, Erie.

[4] Washington State Department of Health, "Washington Death Index, 1940-1996," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for Joyce Y. Seely.

[5] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for Evangeline Y. Waddell, 1999, SS no. 547-34-7828.

[6] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Feb 2012), entry for Hazel A. Yockey, 1993, SS no. 511-24-8870.

[7] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Dec 2009), entry for Juanita M. Moerer, 2004, SS no. 486-26-1188.

[8] State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, "California Death Index, 1940-1997," online database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Dec 2009), entry for Jean Y. Taylor.

[9] findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Aug 2011), Clarence Leonard Yawman, Memorial #34314994, created by Mary Parmele, 1 March 2009.

[10] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Feb 2012), entry for William H. Yawman, 1990, SS no. 495-01-4244.

[11] Kern County, California, death certificate no. (no number) (1999), Beaulah Belle Yawman; Kern County Department of Public Health, Bakersfield.

[12] Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925, Crawford, Kansas, 1905 population schedule, Osage, p. 43, family 292, household of W. L. Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009).

[13] "Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925," online database and images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for W. L. Yawman.

[14] 1920 U.S. census, Jackson, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, enumeration district (ED) 34, sheet 11A, dwelling 121, family 306, household of William Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 924.

[15] Los Angeles County, California, death certificate no. 1659 (1948), William Lee Yawman.

[16] El Monte City Directory - 1940 (N.p.: n.p., 1940).

[17] Washington death certificate 10617 (1958), Myrtle A. Yawman.

[18] Washington death certificate 10617 (1958), Myrtle A. Yawman.

Wordless Wednesday - Grandparents and Grandchildren

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by Arnold Sherrell, [ADDRESS WITHHELD FOR PRIVACY],
Dripping Springs, Texas, 2011.

My maternal grandparents, William Lee and

Myrtle Arminta (Snider) Yawman,

with my siblings,

Arnold and Deanna Sherrell,

c1941, probably El Monte, California.

Amanuensis Monday - 1900 Deed - Owens Heirs to R. W. Caskey

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

My 2^nd great-grandfather Houston T. Owens died 15 September 1895; his wife Sherreldia J. (Hammontree) Owens died on 31 December 1896. In the following deed, their children, as heirs, convey the parcel of land owned in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, to R. W. Caskey. I am not sure of the relationship of R. W. Caskey to the heirs, but the Caskey, Hammontree and Owens families in the area were closely related. Two of Houston and Sherreldia’s known children predeceased them and are not represented in the succession: Andrew J. Owens, who died during the Civil War, and Dialtha Jane (Owens) Spurlock, my great-grandmother, who died in 1893.

"State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Know all men by these presents that we the following named parties Hugh R. Owens, Sarah A. Owens, Rebecca U Sims ~~wife~~ nee, Owens wife of Geo. Sims who aids, authorizes, joins his wife herein, Gabral H. Owens, Stewart S. Owens, Sarilda Angeline Owens, Charles T. Owens, John D. Owens, Nancy C. Owens, each owning an undivided one twelfth interest in & to the following described tract or parcel of land lying & situated in Bienville parish Louisiana, viz N E [?] of Sec ³ & Sw ⁴ of SE ² Section 5 & NW⁴ Section 8 less ten acres off of the Sw⁴ of NW⁴ Section 8 Tp 18N Range 5W together with all & singular the appurtinances & improvements thereto belonging, said tract of land belonging to the succession of our deceased father & mother, H. T. & S. J. Owens & Geo. W. Sims who owns two twelfths interest in said land having bought the one undivided twelfth interest of T. A. Owens & Missouri A. Spurlock nee, Owens, both also children of the said H. T. & S. J. Owens, deceased have this day & do by these presents for & in consideration of the price & sum of thirty five dollars for one undivided twelfth of said land to each of us paid cash in hand, the receipt of which is by each of us is hereby acknowledged, granted, bargained sold & delivered with full guaranty unto R. W. Caskey each of us our above mentioned undivided interest in said tract of land to have & to hold to his own use & benefit & his hiers & assigns forever, thus done & signed on this the 4 day of Jan. A.D. 1900.

Attest: J. D. Owens

C. Emery Tooke C. P. Owens

H. N. Upton _her

Sarah A X Owens

^mark

S. A. Owens

G. W. Sims

S. S. Owens

_her

Nancy C. X Owens

^mark

_his

R. N. X Sims

^mark

G. W. Sims

_his

G. H. X Owens

^mark

E. G. Owens

_his

H. R. X Owens

^mark

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Personally came & appeared before me the undersigned authority H. N. Upton, who on oath says he saw E. G. Owens & H. R. Owens sign the within deed for the purposes therein expressed & now recognizes all the signatures to be genuine.

H. N. Upton

Sworn to & subscribed before me on this 19 day of May 1900

C. E. Tooke Dy clk

& Ex. off. Not. Pub.

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Personally came before me C. E. Tooke who on oath says he saw all the parties to the foregoing deed except E. G. Owens & H. R. Owens sign it for the purposes therein expressed & now recognizes all the signatures to be true.

C. E. Tooke

Sworn to & subscribed before me on this 19 day of May 1900

J. W. Tooke clk D.C.

& Ex off. Not Pub.

Attest a true record of original this 14^h day of June 1900

C. E. Tooke Dy. Clk.

& Ex Officio Recorder for

Bienville Parish

Louisiana"

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, GG: 530, Heirs of H. T. and S. J. Owens deed to R. W. Caskey, 14 June 1900; FHL microfilm 266,022.]

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #5 – William Lee YAWMAN

2012-02-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

My maternal grandfather, William Lee YAWMAN, was born 15 August 1870 in Missouri,[1] the third child of Michael Heman YAWMAN and Nancy Elgin BURTON.[2]

It’s likely that William’s early childhood was spent in Meeker County, Minnesota. By 1880, the family had moved to Denison in Grayson County, Texas[3], and then about a decade later moved to Kansas.[4]

On 26 September 1897, he married Myrtle Arminta SNIDER in Lincoln Township, Neosho County, Kansas.[5] William and Myrtle had eight children:

Joyce Opal YAWMAN (1899-1967)[6]
Eunice Evangeline YAWMAN (1901-1999)[7]
Hazel Agnes YAWMAN (1904-1993)[8]
Juanita Marie YAWMAN (1907-2004)[9]
Myrtle Gertrude YAWMAN (1909-19995)[10]
Clarence Leonard YAWMAN (1912-1912)[11]
William Howard YAWMAN (1914-1990)[12]
Beaulah Belle YAWMAN (1915-1999)[13]

After William and Myrtle married, they lived in the southeastern Kansas counties of Labette and Crawford.[14]^,[15] Between 1915 and 1920, they moved to Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.[16] To my knowledge, they remained in Kansas City until about 1939, when they moved to California.[17] William and Myrtle lived at 3304 Freer, El Monte (in Los Angeles County) from about 1940 until his death.[18]

He followed in the trade of his father, working as a shoemaker throughout his life. According to his death certificate, he was not a veteran.[19]

William died 21 January 1948 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, and was buried 26 January 1948 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, California.[20]

While I have most of the basic research covered for William, there are additional areas I need to research:

Land and property records in the counties in which William lived.
Newspapers for communities in which William lived.

When I visited my brother in November, I scanned the few photos he had of William and I recorded his comments about our grandfather. I still need to transcribe the voice recording. Additionally, I need to interview my older sister about her memories of William and see if she has any pictures. I would also like to find any cousins who may have photos of William and his family.

[1] Los Angeles County, California, death certificate no. 1659 (1948), William Lee Yawman; County of Los Angeles, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Norwalk.

[2] 1880 U.S. census, Grayson, Texas, population schedule, Denison, enumeration district (ED) 8, p. 7, dwelling 24, family 26, household of Michael Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll T9_1306.

[3] 1880 U.S. census, Grayson, Texas, pop. sch., Denison, ED 8, p. 7, dwell. 24, fam. 26, household of Michael Yawman.

[4] Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925, Labette, Kansas, 1895 population schedule, Parsons, p. 30, dwelling 5, family 5, household of M. Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Nov 2009).

[5] Neosho, Kansas, marriage certificate (no number) (1897), Yawman-Snyder; Neosho County Courthouse, Erie.

[6] Washington State Department of Health, "Washington Death Index, 1940-1996," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for Joyce Y. Seely.

[7] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for Evangeline Y. Waddell, 1999, SS no. 547-34-7828.

[8] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Feb 2012), entry for Hazel A. Yockey, 1993, SS no. 511-24-8870.

[9] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Dec 2009), entry for Juanita M. Moerer, 2004, SS no. 486-26-1188.

[10] State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, "California Death Index, 1940-1997," online database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Dec 2009), entry for Jean Y. Taylor.

[11] findagrave.com, digital images (www.findagrave.com : accessed 23 Aug 2011), Clarence Leonard Yawman, Memorial #34314994, created by Mary Parmele, 1 March 2009.

[12] Social Security Administration, "Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Feb 2012), entry for William H. Yawman, 1990, SS no. 495-01-4244.

[13] Kern County, California, death certificate no. (no number) (1999), Beaulah Belle Yawman; Kern County Department of Public Health, Bakersfield.

[14] Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925, Crawford, Kansas, 1905 population schedule, Osage, p. 43, family 292, household of W. L. Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009).

[15] "Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925," online database and images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009), entry for W. L. Yawman.

[16] 1920 U.S. census, Jackson, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, enumeration district (ED) 34, sheet 11A, dwelling 121, family 306, household of William Yawman; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_924.

[17] Los Angeles County, California, death certificate no. 1659 (1948), William Lee Yawman.

[18] El Monte City Directory - 1940 (N.p.: n.p., 1940).

[19] Los Angeles County, California, death certificate no. 1659 (1948), William Lee Yawman.

[20] Los Angeles County, California, death certificate no. 1659 (1948), William Lee Yawman.

Wordless Wednesday - Halbert Spurlock

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson, 1999.

My grand-uncle

Halbert R. Spurlock

(1904-1971)

Amanuensis Monday - 1889 Tax Sale - H.T. Owens

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Times must have been hard for my 2^nd great-grandfather, H. T. Owens, in 1888 and 1889. The following deed represents the sale of property for delinquent taxes for 1888 and costs associated with the sale by the parish sheriff and tax collector.

“State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Be it known that this day before me J W Tooke Clerk & Ex officio Recorder & Notary Public in and for said Parish duly qualified came and appeared J A Mays Sheriff and Ex officio Tax collector of State and Parish taxes in & for said Parish, acting herein by virtue of the authority visited him by the constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana in such case made and provided and in the name of the State of Louisiana who declared that he does by these presents sell convey and deliver unto Southern land and improvement company the following described property assessed to H. T. Owens upon the tablet of taxes in & for said Parish for the year 1888 to wit. North West qua[r]ter of section Eight (8) south West qua[r]ter of south East qua[r]ter and North East qua[r]ter of South West qua[r]ter of Section Five (5) Township Eight (18) Range Five (5) The said property was advertised in the Louisiana Advance, a news paper published in said Parish from the 17^th day of May 1889 to the 22^nd day of June 1889 making full thirty ^[?] days from the date of first mention to the day of sale, announcing said sale to take place at the front door of the civil District court house of said Parish within the legal hours of sale on the 22^nd day of June 1889.

When on said sale day between the said legal hours of sale and at said ^courthouse ~~front~~ door after first having read the advertisement announcing the amount of Taxes interest and cost due on said property for the year 1888 he proceeded to offer said described property for sale for cash without appraisment[?] in legal tender money of the United States to pay and satisfy said taxes interest and cost.

When at said offering the said Southern Land and improvement company having big the sum of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars for said property they became the purchasers thereof for that price subject to redemption as provided by law.

This sale is therefore made for the consideration of sixteen & ³⁰/₁₀₀ Dollars cash in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said sale being for

taxes 8.14

Interest .97

Advertising 3.50

Cost 3.74

Making said sum of 16.35

Done and passed in said Parish of Bienville in the presence of the attesting competent witnesses, on this the 31^st day of July AD 1889.

Attest. J. A. Mays

F. L. Mayfield Shff & Tax Coll

J. C. Thens

J. W. Tooke

CDC & Ex Of NP

Attest: a true record this August 2^nd 1889.

J. C. Thens Dy CDC

& Ex Of Recorder”

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, BB: 323, State of Louisiana (H.T. Owens) deed to Southern Land and Improvement Company, tax sale, 2 August 1889; FHL microfilm 266,017.]

Surname Saturday – Ancestor #5 – Mamie Olive MARTINDALE

2012-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

My grandmother, Mamie Olive MARTINDALE, was born 26 September 1884 in Colmanville, Carter County, Missouri, and died 7 January 1971 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.[1] She was the fourth child of Ambrose B. and Sarah Belle (FORSHEE) MARTINDALE.[2]

She married Jasper Jackson SPURLOCK on 15 November 1905 in Cushing, Nacogdoches County, Texas.[3] Jack and Mamie had four children:

· Dorothy Belle (1906-1987)[4]

· William Taft (1908-1974)[5]

· Arthur Bryant “Otto” (1911-1951)[6]

· Jasper Jackson “Jack” (1912-1978)[7]

Shortly after the birth of their youngest child, her husband left her and headed west. He never returned. Although it is believed that he married again, Mamie never did.

Mamie’s father, A. B. Martindale, died during the influenza epidemic of 1918.[8] Mamie and her children were enumerated in her mother’s household in the 1920 census.[9] Her mother died in 1923.[10]

In 1930, Mamie was enumerated with her three youngest children in Houston, Harris County, Texas. She was employed as a waitress in a school cafeteria.[11] Her oldest child, daughter Dorothy Belle, had married Walter Magee on 31 January 1924.[12]

Mamie is buried in Forest Park Cemetery, Lawndale, Harris County, Texas.[13]

I did not know my grandmother. When I was about 12, we went to Texas to visit family but we spent more time with the family of my dad’s first wife than we did with Gram. When she died in 1971, only my father and sister Jane went to the funeral. I have photocopies of the pages from her scrapbook which show that she was actively involved in church activities. She was apparently an avid reader as she had library cards for both the Houston Public Library and the Corpus Christi Public Library. I believe she had a companion, “Aunt Mary,” with whom she lived in her later years.

Here are some of the things I need to research about my grandmother:

Although the index to the Nacogdoches County, Texas, marriage books refers to a record for the Spurlock-Martindale marriage, the actual record does not appear on the Family History Library microfilm nor is it present in the marriage book in the county courthouse.
The newspaper clipping regarding the marriage found in my grandmother’s scrapbook is undated and from an unidentified newspaper. As with the marriage record, I have been unable to locate identifying information for the clipping.
I have not searched for a divorce record for my grandparents. The logical places to look are in San Diego and Los Angeles counties in California, where my grandfather lived, or in Harris County, Texas, where my grandmother lived.
Family tradition is that A. B. Martindale gave each of us children property. According to the 1930 census, Gram owned her home at the time, but I have not researched Harris County deeds to see what transactions are recorded.
It is possible that there might be more information about her in the records of the various churches with which she was affiliated.
I need to interview my cousin Jean to see what she can tell me about Gram.
I need to see if I can locate any other of her grandchildren to share information.

[1] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin.

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Nacogdoches County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 6, enumeration district (ED) 47, sheet 15B, dwelling 265, family 267, household of Bryan Martindale; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Nov 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll T623_1661.

[3] Spurlock, Mamie Olive (Martindale), Scrapbook, ca 1950-1970; privately held by Cheryl Anne (Chaney) Beaver, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Lone Grove, Oklahoma. 2010. Photocopy in possession of Denise Spurlock.

[4] "Texas Death Index, 1964-1998," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 7 Jan 1912), entry for Dorothy Belle Magee, died 22 September 1987; citing Death Records, Harris County, Texas; Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.

[5] Texas, death certificate no. 82719 (1974), William Taft Spurlock; digital image, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," FamilySearch (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/ : accessed 6 Jul 2011).

[6] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 52346 (1951), Arthur Bryant Spurlock; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 15 Jul 2010).

[7] Carter County, Oklahoma, death certificate no. 02625 (1978), Jasper J. Spurlock, Jr; Oklahoma Department of Health, Oklahoma City.

[8] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 41191 (1918), A. B. Martindale; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 20 Apr 2010).

[9] 1920 U.S. census, Harris, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 1, enumeration district (ED) 120, sheet 32A, dwelling 681, family 695, household of Sarah Martindale; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 Dec 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_1812; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 120.

[10] Texas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate 4483 (1923), Sarah Belle Martindale; digital image, Footnote.com, Texas Death Certificates (http://www.footnote.com/documents/19419207/texas_death_certificates/ : accessed 2 May 2011).

[11] 1930 U.S. census, Harris County, Texas, population schedule, Houston, enumeration district (ED) 144, sheet 15A, dwelling 311, family 336, Mamie O. Spurlock; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Jan 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 2351.

[12] FamilySearch database, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : accessed 24 Aug 2011), Walter Magee-Dorothy Spurlock marriage (1924).

[13] Harris County, Texas, death certificate no. 03613 (1971), Mamie Olive Spurlock; Texas Department of Health, Austin.

Wordless Wednesday - Easter Spurlock

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Digital image. Original held by J. D. Carson, 1999.

My grand-aunt

Easter Spurlock

(1910-1988)

Amanuensis Monday - 1886 Deed - H. T. Owins to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Today I have transcribed a deed in which my 2^nd great-grandfather, H. T. Owens, conveyed a parcel of land to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff at the end of 1886. In consideration he accepted her note for payment to be made 1 November 1887, nearly a year after he sold the property to her. The deed was not recorded until 1888.

“H. T. Owins

To } Deed

Mrs. D.C. Ratcliff

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Know all men by these presents that for and in Consideration of the Sum of ($140⁰⁰) one hundred and forty dollars payable Nover 1st 1887, which is hereby acknowledged I, H. T. Owens of the above named State and Parish have this day bargained and sold to D C Ratcliff of the same State and Parish a Certain tract or parcel of land viz: South wet fourth of the South West quarter of Section five, Township Eighteen, Range five west being and lying in the Parish of Bienville, To have and to hold the Said described property to the use of the Said. D C Ratcliff her heirs and assigns forever and the Said H T. Owens, for himself his heirs and assigns, Shall and will warrant and defend against the claims of all other persons whosoever by these presents in favor of the Said D C Ratcliff her heirs and assigns forever. Given under my hand and Seal, This December 13th A.D. 1886.

H. T. Owens

Attent:

D H Burt Sr

J C Ratcliff

State of Louisiana )

Parish of Bienville )

Before me the undersigned authority personally came and appeared J C. Ratcliff who on oath says he saw all theparties sign the above and foregoing deed for the purposes therein expressed and now recognizes the signature to be genuine.

J C Ratliff

Sworn to and subscribed before me this March 8th 1886.

A. J. Moore

Clk Dist Court

I hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true record of the Original Deed.

This the 16th day of July 1888.

A. J. Moore

Dey Clk Dist Court and Ex officio Recorder”

[Source: Bienville Parish, Louisiana, Conveyance Records, 1848-1900, AA: 544, H. T. Owens deed to Mrs. D. C. Ratcliff, 16 Jul 1888; FHL microfilm 266,016.]

© 2012 Denise Spurlock