The Unforgotten - Joseph P BELL

 When you've been doing genealogy for any amount a time, you will occasionally come across people who time, it seems, has forgotten. They fall off the map after a census record places them with family, never to be seen or heard from again. Sometimes, if you're lucky, and/or diligent in your research you find evidence of them and it turns out they didn't marry or have children, so nobody came looking for them or proof of their existence. This post and maybe a few more that follow, will be my attempt at remembering the lost and forgotten members of our families. 

Subscriptions that aide in genealogy research can be pretty expensive. I've been able to justify that expense when I'm making loads of progress, but when I seem to have stalled out, I discontinued those services and when I felt the urge to research I used free services like Family Search. After going a few years without Ancestry, Fold3 and Newspapers accounts, I decided to re-subscribe to see if there were any new records. I found some, but quickly ended up where I had been before. Most of my tree filled out and no new records on the horizon. 

It's cheaper to pay by the year rather than the month so here I was with the majority of the year left on my subscription but nobody to research. In order to get the most of my money I started researching various unrelated branches of cousins, in-laws, half-siblings, step-parents etc... 

I also discovered upon my return to my Newspaper subscription that several new papers had been added. So whenever I found a paper that seemed to have a lot of "hits" regarding family names, I decided to dig in and dig deep. 

That's what has lead me to here. 

My husband descends from Quincy A. Bell. He is his 3rd great grandfather. Quincy is the father of at least 7 children. I have them as Mary, Cordovia J, John L, Surrena, Eliza Emoline, Joseph P. and Samuel M. Three of these children, before last week, had just disappeared in my research.

According to Civil War records, Quincy was born March 1825 in McMinn County, Tennessee. The first census record that lists him by name places him in Dallas, Greene County, Missouri in 1850 with several other adult members with the same surname: BELL. Including a Sarah listed one household before him who is old enough to be his mother with a young female named Sirina [sic]. *Note that on the following page is also a Mary E. BELL age 4.




Then in the 1860 census he is found in Washington, Webster County, Missouri. But if you click on the image you will see that it's actually still Dallas Township. This family most likely did not move. In 1855 Webster County was created from part of Greene County.

Back to the census. Quincy this time is living with Sarah BELL who is 19 years his senior (again, most likely his mother) and other BELL siblings, a few names are the same as were found in the previous census. 




Then in 1865, when Quincy is 40,  you can find a marriage record to a Matilda A FRAZIER in Webster County, Missouri. Image below you can read Quincy A Bell and Tilda Frazier married in July 1865.

But, when you find Quincy five years later in the 1870 census, he is now living in Upton, Texas County, Missouri. He is 45, his assumed wife is Elizabeth not Matilda. She is 28. Then the following children are listed: Mary (9), Cordovia (4), John (2) and Sereny (1). The ages of the children, specifically Mary, quickly put a kink in things. She would have been born 4 years before his marriage to Matilda. And I've never found any other marriage record for Quincy and Elizabeth or any marriages to anyone else for that matter. 




As we move on, there's the Missouri State census of 1876. Quincy is still in Texas County, Township 31. Elizabeth is now Emaly E. and Mary A.  has a different last name. Is it Tiry (Tyree?) Did she marry? Is she a widow? *The name Tyree is important because one of Quincy's daughter's death certificates lists her mother's maiden name as Tyree* But other siblings' death certificates have listed Moody as well as Stevens. And later, in 1935 a newspaper article disclosing a lawsuit claiming relation to Jackson Barnett, by the Bell descendants, states her maiden name was NEWMAN*

Next, we have the 1880 census. They're still in Texas County, Missouri. Living in the town of Upton. Mary A. is now nowhere to be found. Quincy's wife, Elizabeth is now Emiline E. There's a new child, Josephus P. and a cousin James M. Sitton living with the family. 

It's taken all of this to get us to the subject or "missing/forgotten child" of this post. We're going to focus on Joseph P. BELL, who according to this 1880 census was born about 1879 in Missouri (most likely Texas County).

The 1890 census isn't around; therefore, we fast forward 20 long years. A lot can happen in two decades. In Dec 1883 Cordovia Jane BELL marries James W. Rose and before the next census they will have six children. John L BELL has married Mary "Emma" Owen in Feb 1889 they will have had three children by the next census. Surrena has married Benjamin Lee Fielden in 1883, and they have five children by 1900. And lastly, we have my husband's ancestor, Eliza Emoline who has married Samuel Williams and they have at least six living children by 1900. 

In 1900 we find Quincy is widowed and living with him are his youngest two sons, Joseph P. who is listed as being 22 and Samuel, who is 18. He also has his married daughter Cordovia ROSE's family living with him. And his eldest son John is listed right above him. I want you to look closely at how all of the adults and most of the children are able to read and write... except for Joseph.

Before now, this was the last record I could find for Joseph. But now, because of a few newspaper articles, I think I have found him. And because he was recorded as unable to read or write, I have a theory. There is no definite record, that I have found for a death date for Quincy or for his wife Elizabeth for that matter. But we know, because he is listed as a widow, she died before 1900. This is also the last census record for Quincy and the article below from page 6 of The Houston Herald dated May 15 1902, makes be believe he died around this time.





This article from the same source dated 16 May 1907 gives us a better picture as to why Joe BELL was adjudged a county charge, keeping in mind that he was the only one of his siblings unable to read or write.

Then sadly, one year later, one more article that bring us to the end.

The Houston Herald, 16 July 1908

I don't have any definitive proof that this is indeed Joseph P. BELL, son of Quincy A. Bell but I feel pretty sure that it is. 

Find-A-Grave has no one with the last name BELL added to their database for the Ozark Cemetery in Houston, Texas County, Missouri. But I feel like it's a good place to look for further information. Using the articles above, I did go ahead and create a memorial for him.

My next post will be about Joseph's brother Samuel who also seemed to have disappeared after the 1900 census.

Until then, 
Becky

Sisters; Gone But Not Forgotten

Today's prompt for September 4th is SISTER, and I wanted to do a short little write up on two different sisters a generation apart that disappear without a trace. I always wonder about the people I come across in my research that just fall out of the story line, often without any children, and therefore no descendants to come searching for them.

The first sister is Caroline CONNER. She was the sister of my 3x great grandmother, Jane CONNER.

I first came across Caroline CONNER living with her parents Joseph and Jane CONNER and four siblings: William, Thomas, Jane and Joseph in Taylor, Greene, Missouri during the 1850 census. She was 10 and her birth state is given as Missouri.

Ten years later she is unmarried and living at home with her parents in 1860 but has only aged eight years ,sigh. By 1860 the family had moved to Finley, Webster, Missouri. They actually may not have moved all that much because the county lines were moved in 1855 when Webster County was created out of Greene County. Besides Caroline, her younger brother Joseph, is also still living at home.

After 1860 I find no other records that I'm certain are her. There's a marriage record out of Morgan County, Missouri, but I don't think that is her.

I was tickled pink to be able listen to my great grandmother tell a story about Caroline. *Thank you Tarona!*

In Grandma Zulie's story Caroline goes by "Line, Line CONNER". You can listen to it here.  Or try watching it below....

The second sister to go missing is Caroline's niece, Rebecca EVANS, who was the sister of my 2x great grandmother, Clara India Evans. Rebecca would've been Grandma Zula's aunt. Looking at when she disappeared, it's possible Grandma never even knew her.

Rebecca E EVANS was the sibling closest in age to my ancestor Clara India EVANS. I did a post on the name Rebecca  where I mentioned that my maternal grandmother was named after her paternal grandmother but I wonder if she could have also been named after this sister.

Rebecca EVANS first shows up in the 1880 Boston, Madison County, census as the youngest child of Josiah and Jane EVANS. She is one year old and her birth state is Texas. Her birth is the only record I have that the EVANS family was ever in Texas.

She shows up again as Beckie E EVANS in the 1900 Hill, Johnson County, census living with her mother, Jane, her sister and my ancestor, Clarenda and a very young niece, Etha M Evans (I believe this is Jody's daughter).


There was a marriage between a Rebecca EVANS and an Adison J. ROBINSON from Coal Hill, Johnson County, two years earlier in 1898 but that is not her. California Death records indicate that Rebecca to be Sarah Rebecca EVANS, and her mother's maiden name was HESS not CONNER.

AND there was a marriage record for a Becky EVANS and Marion GILBERT. They were married July 1913 in Friley, Johnson, Arkansas. THIS MUST BE HER, right? Or is it?  This Becky Evans is about 10 years too young. But the Friley community is spot on.





Beckie GILBERT born 1898 in Arkansas and her husband FM (Francis Marion) with young daughter Kate are found living in Batson, Johnson County in 1920 so I guess this really isn't her either.



If anyone out there knows anything else about Caroline CONNER or Rebecca EVANS I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time,
Becky

Marriage(s)

Today's blogging prompt is once again coming to you from the Instagram photo-a-day prompt put out by Genealogy Girl Talks #brickwall

If you're a regular here you know I am not a consistent blogger and not even a consistent Instagram-er these days. Sometimes it feels like I've gathered up all the information I can find that can be proven that is within my financial reach. I've just recently had to cancel many online subscriptions, limiting my research even more. But let's not focus on the have nots but expand and dissect the haves, shall we?

I can remember years ago when I stared researching this branch of my tree. It started with my 2nd great grandmother Julia Emaline Bohannon. She was the second wife of my 2nd great grandfather, Benjamin Harrison Melson. Those who can recall him, called him 'Grandpa Harrison'.

I found their marriage license showing they were married 2 June 1912 in Johnson County, AR by his father Francis Marion Melson who was a JP.  Both resided in Oark. He was 22. She was 20.

Here's the part of the story you may not pick up on if you don't know to look for it. Or haven't been privy to some old time gossip. It was only a few weeks earlier on the 15 May 1912 that an unwed Julia had given birth to her eldest child, Odis Earl Melson.

You may have noticed earlier when I said she was the second wife of Benjamin Harrison. He was first married to a Miss Ethel M. Roberts. She was from Catalpa. They were wed on 7 June 1908. Rumor has it she gave birth to a child and the babe did not survive. The marriage didn't last and Grandpa Harrison moved on to another love interest. But he refused to marry Julia until he knew her child would survive. And luckily for those of us who descend from this union, the baby survived and at least 3 more children were born. My great grandfather Obie Zearl, another son, James Francis, and a daughter Della Marie.

But this isn't the marriage that first popped into my mind when I decided to write today. I want to go back one or two generations further. Try to keep up as I myself can get lost quickly with all the information I'm about to lay out.

Julia was the daughter of James Pleasant Bohanon and Oma Boen. This marriage was the first time I remember using my investigative skills as a genealogist.

In the 1900 Boston and Goodwill Townships of Madison County, AR Julia is listed with her parents James P and Oma. James was 45 born Sept 1854. Oma was 43 born Dec 1856. They had been married 20 years and she was the mother of 9 children. Only 8 surviving. Children living in the home were: Nathanial (Sept 1882), Mary L (Aug 1885), Sarah E (Feb 1888) Julie E (Oct 1889) Madamie (June 1893) and William J (July 1896). That's six children.

When I go to find the marriage record of "Pleas" and Oma I find a record in Newton County dated 30 July 1881 for a J P Bohannon (age 26)  to a Miss Oma Horton. (age 23)

When I began to search for Oma Horton born about 1856 I found the 1880 Newton County Census had an Oma Korton living with the Robert Mooney family-- household 64 family 67. Oma is grouped as household 64 family 68 with two young boys William T  (age 7) and John R (age 3). It says she is married (not widowed) but no other people are listed in this family group. These two boys adds her total to 8 children living. I'm not certain if the baby that died was a Boen or a Horton.

So what was Oma's maiden name and how is she connected to the Mooney's? Are these her parents?

There is a marriage record transcribed as Nely A Mooney to David Horten found on Family Search.  I believe it to be my Oma and her fist marriage.



When I added Oma's parents to my tree, Robert and Zilpha from the 1880 census, I discover something doesn't fit.

A marriage record shows up transcribed as W N Mooney and Zilpha Bowen

I believe the 'N' is actually an 'R' for William Robert Mooney. They married in Webster County,  Missouri, in 1865 when my Oma was 9 years old.

A little more research reveals that Zilpha was first married to James Boen and they had the following children. William Spencer, Sarah, Oma N, Christopher Columbus, and Nancy Emaline.

James died in 1862 and ten years later in Oct 1872 his eldest son William Spencer became the guardian of Oma, and Christopher Columbus and  three years later in September 1875 was appointed guardian of the youngest sibling Emaline. (records found on Family Search : Arkansas Probate Records, 1817-1979; Johnson; Guardian bonds and letters 1856-1913 vol A-C; images 154/496 & 171/496)

And yet all of this is still not what I had planned to write about in the beginning.

James 'Ples' Bohanon.

With a common name like James we can go back to that 1900 Boston and Goodwill Townships of Madison County, AR census. We know he is born about 1854 in Arkansas. And in 1910 you can find the family again living in the Mulberry Township of Johnson County household #14. Did you know that starting in 1910 you can often find a little number beside the 'M' for married indicating the number of marriages a person has had. And interesting enough this census shows that both James and Oma are on their second marriage.




I know that he and Oma married in 1881 so now to find him in 1880.

Strangely enough I find him (age 24) all the way up in Ozark, Lawrence County, Missouri married to a Perline Bohannon (age 44) and her father Elijah H Bohannon.(age 61)

Can that be right? His wife's maiden name was the same as her married name? And she is 20 years older than him?

A little more digging and I can find a marriage record out of Newton County, Arkansas for Perlinia W. Bohannon and James P. Bohannon (twenty years age difference) married in February 1875

Were James and Perlinia related? And how strange for a young man to marry a much older woman.

I can place young James with John J (1821)  and Julia E Bohannon (1833) living in Richland Township, Newton County, AR in 1860 with siblings Mary, Holly, Mira, William, Sarah, and Nathaniel.

And in 1870 living in Jefferson Township with his parents and siblings.


Perlina is found in 1850 living with her father Elijah and mother Lucinda and several siblings in War Eagle, Madison County and in Kings River in 1860 no record of the family at all in 1870.

Now finally here we are at the #brickwall.

James Pleasant Bohannon's father was John J "Ibe" Bohannon. His mother was Julia Elizabeth LNU. Records indicate that John was from White County TN the son of John Bohannon Sr. and Holly 'Holla' Bohannon. In fact John's middle name comes from his Uncle Pleasant Robinson who married his father's sister Lucinda Jane. The only  marriage record I can find for a John Bohannon and Julia Elizabeth are out of Roane County TN in 1842 to specifically an Elizabeth Easter who in later census records also goes by Julia E Bohannon I believe that to be a completely different John and Julia who end up settling in Missouri.


Julia Elizabeth was the daughter of ??? I believe she is the namesake of my 2nd great grandmother Julia Emaline Bohannon Melson and I would love to fill in the missing branches of her tree.

Julia Elizabeth married John J "Ibe" Bohannon:

Their children were:

Mary, Holly Louisa, Myra, William, Sarah Cazada, James Pleasant and Nathaniel Jobe.

Until Next time,
Becky Drake