Bondurant Family – Page 2 – Digging Up Your Family

A Little Newspaper Blurb

I ran across a little blurb concerning my great-grandfather James Paul Stalls, Sr and my 3rd great-grandmother Francis Elizabeth Brewer.

From the Paducah Sun in the November 24, 1905 issue:

Mrs. F.E. Bondurant and grandson, of Memphis, Tenn., are visiting Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Bondurant, of North Sixth.

This is a pretty exciting find for me! Mrs FE Bondurant is Francis Elizabeth Brewer, wife of Joseph M Bondurant and mother of my 2nd great-grandmother Mary J “Annie” Bondurant. The grandson mentioned is my great-grandfather James Paul Stalls, Sr. Mr and Mrs JK Bondurant are James Knox Polk Bondurant, the brother of Joseph M Bondurant, and Mary Jane Brewer, the sister of Francis Elizabeth Brewer.

I’m still looking for a birth announcement for James Paul Stalls, Sr. Since no one is really sure whether he was born in Obion County, Tennessee or McCracken County, Kentucky, I sure would love to find a record of birth for him somewhere!

Lawless 2012

Yay! August 31, 2012 the movie Lawless about my gg-grandmother’s Bondurant cousins will be in theaters! Here’s the trailer for it!

Marriage of Joseph Bondurant and Sarah “Sally” Hunt, 1829

I haven’t been on here much in the past couple of weeks. I have been busy finishing up my Spring cleaning, finishing up some projects around the house and getting ready for my great-aunt’s visit. Now that things are settled (and my great-aunt is here for the next week!) I can work on a few interesting tidbits of information that I found, and some that were sent to me.

Going back to the Bondurant Family, I was sent a packet of information dating back to 1797. One of the records contained in the packet is dated March 16, 1829 and is the marriage record for Joseph Bondurant and Sarah “Sally” Hunt.

I thought that I had already posted this record, but while searching for it to make sure before placing copies from my general Bondurant file into separate personal files I realized that I had not, in fact, posted it (though if I did and I am just not seeing it I apologize!).

Again, I have to thank the Bondurant family Association and it’s members for helping me obtain this information. I am forever grateful to them!

Know to all men by these presents that we Joseph Bondurant and Daniel B Hunt are held and firmly bound unto William B Giles Esquire Governor of Virginia in the sum of $150 Dollars to the payment of which we bind ourselves and each of us, our Heirs be jointly and severally firmly by these presents Sealed with our Seals and dated this 16^th day March 1829.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas the above bound Joseph Bondurant hath this day obtained from the Clerk of the County Court of Franklin a license for his intermarriage with Sally Hunt of said County Now if there shall be no lawful excuse to Obstruct the said Marriage then this Obligation to be void else remains in full force & Virtue.

(illegible)

Joseph Bondurant (Seal)

Daniel B Hunt (Seal)

Joseph M Bondurant

My relationship to Joseph M Bondurant:

Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

James Paul Stalls, Sr (g-grandfather)

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant (2nd g-grandmother)

Joseph M Bondurant (3rd g-grandfather)

Joseph M Bondurant was born June 20, 1843 in Kentucky (most likely Marshall County) to parents Joseph Bondurant and Sarah A “Sally” Hunt.

The 1850 census is the first time Joseph shows on the census. The family is living in Marshall County, Kentucky. He is listed as Joseph Bondurant, age 8 years. The others in the household were: his parents Joseph (merchant, age 42 years) and Sally (age 42 years); brothers William M (farmer, age 15 years), James KP (age 12 years) and John M (age 10 years); Elacia P (age 4 years) is also listed, but I haven’t seen her on any other records after this census.

By 1860 Joseph’s father had passed away and his mother had remarried to Abram Cross. The family is found living in Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky. Joseph is listed as J Bondurant (farmer, age 17 years). The others in the house are: A Cross (Abram, farmer, age 62 years), S Cross (Sally, age 47 years), JM Bondurant (John M, farmer, age 18 years) an GW Bondurant (George Washington, age 9 years).

On August 11, 1862 Joseph M Bondurant enrolled in the Union Army, Company A, 15th Kentucky Calvary. Something I don’t understand about it is the image below. It’s the only card for him in the file and it says Rejected. *Name, age, and date of enrollment cancelled by line drawn through them. I’m not actually sure what that means.

In 1863 Joseph’s name appears on a Civil War Draft Registration (seen below). This says that his name is Joseph Bondurant, age 20 years. He is listed as white, a farmer and born in Kentucky. When it asks about previous military service he is listed as discharged U.S.A. I just don’t understand this.

Joseph M Bondurant married Francis Elizabeth Brewer on November 17, 1863 in Marshall County, Kentucky.

In 1870 Joseph and family appear on the census living in District 5, Brewer’s Mill, Marshall County, Kentucky. Joseph is shown as Joseph Bondurant, a merchant, age 28 years. Frances is listed as Elizabeth, age 24 years). Their children are: Thomas M (age 6 years), Mary J (Annie, age 4 years) and John W (age 2 years). Joseph’s mother is living with them listed as Sarah Cross (age 50 years) and his brother George W Bondurant (farmer, age 20 years) is, too. Daniel Hunt, Joseph’s grandfather (Sally’s father, farmer, age 87 years) is living in the house and so is someone I haven’t yet connected: Andrew J Hunt (farmer, age 19 years).

The last census that Joseph appears on is the 1880 census. The family is found living in Precinct 8, Smiths, Marshall County, Kentucky. Joseph is shown as 37 years of age and a trader and buyer of stocks. Francis is shown as Francis, age 35 years. Their children listed are: Thomas (works on farm, age 15 years), Annie (age 14 years), John W (age 13 years) and Clifton M (age 4 years). There is also a boarder living with the family named Rosa Kline (age 21 years). She doesn’t appear to have a job due to “spasms”.

Due to census records for Francis in the 1900s we know that at least three more children were born to Joseph M Bondurant. We also know that after the 1880 census sometime Joseph moved his family to Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky.

Joseph M Bondurant passed away on December 21, 1886 in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky. I cannot find anything concerning his death (yet), but I am still hoping to find an obituary. He is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky.

Francis Elizabeth Brewer

I’m really not sure why it takes so long to research and write a post on each member of the Bondurant family (so far). Maybe there’s just a lot of information about them? Anyway, you’ll notice discrepancies in names and dates. What I am presenting is what I know as fact. If anything is not correct, please let me know (and provide the proof)!

My relationship to Francis Elizabeth Brewer:

Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (my granddaddy)

James Paul Stalls, Sr (great-grandfather)

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant (2nd great-grandmother)

Francis Elizabeth Brewer (3rd great-grandmother)

Francis Elizabeth Brewer was born March 4, 1845 (according to the 1900 US Census) or March 24, 1846 (according to her headstone) in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee to William Brewer and Elizabeth McPeak.

By the time the 1850 census was enumerated the family had moved to Marshall County, Kentucky. Francis is listed as Francis E. Brewer, age 5 years. Also in the household are her parents William (farmer, age 30 years) and Elizabeth (age 39 years, though this may have been a mistake), and her siblings Mary J (age 6 years) and James M (age 2 years).

In 1860 the family is listed as living in Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky. Francis is listed as E, age 15 years. Her father is listed as W Brewer (farmer, age 40 years) and her mother is listed as just a dash “-“ (age 38 years, which leads me to believe the 1850 census was wrong). Her siblings are listed as MJ (age 17 years) and M (age 13 years).

Francis Elizabeth Brewer married Joseph M Bondurant on November 17, 1863 in Marshall County, Kentucky.

In 1870 the Bondurant family is found living in Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky. Francis is listed as Elizabeth F Bondurant, age 24 years. Her husband is listed as Joseph Bondurant, a merchant, age 28 years. They had a full house, too! Their children living in the household: son Thomas M (age 6 years), daughter Mary J (“Annie”, age 4 years) and John W (age 2 years). Joseph’s mother Sarah Cross (maiden name Hunt, married Bondurant, then married Cross, age 50 years), and Joseph’s brother George Bondurant (farmer, age 20 years) lives with them, as well as Joseph’s grandfather Daniel Hunt (Sarah’s father, farmer, age 87 years) and a man named Andrew J Hunt (not sure how he is related, age 19 years).

The 1880 census has the family living in Smiths, Marshall County, Kentucky. The household has shrunk considerably. Francis is listed as age 35 years. Joseph is listed as a trader and buyer of stocks, age 37 years. The children are: Thomas (age 15 years), Annie (age 14 years), John W (age 13 years) and Clifton M (age 4 years). There is also a boarder living with the family named Rosa Kline (age 21 years).

Francis became a widow when her husband Joseph passed away on December 21, 1886. Three years later her son-in-law James Franklin Stalls, husband of her daughter Annie, passed away on November 19, 1899. From James’ obituary we know that Francis (named as Betty Bondurant in the obituary) lived on Seventh Street near Clay Street in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky (note: the part of Clay Street that crossed Seventh Street is now Martin Luther King Jr Drive). I’m not certain when the Bondurant family moved to Paducah, but it was prior to April 30, 1888 (the marriage date of James Franklin Stalls and Mary J “Annie” Bondurant).

I assume that plans were made then for Francis to move to Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. In 1890 her sons John and Clifton both lived in Memphis, working as messengers for the Southern Express Rail Company (according to the 1890 Memphis telephone directories). I assume that Francis moved to Memphis in 1893 with her daughter and grandson. She can be found in the Memphis telephone directories through the 1890s:

1894 Polk Directory:

Bondurant, Francis E. (wid Joseph), res 45 Mosby. – Annie, James Paul, Clifton and John W also lived in the household

1895 Polk Directory:

Bondurant, Elizabeth F. (wid Joseph) res 45 Mosby. – Annie, James Paul, Clifton and John W also lived in the household

1896 Polk Directory:

Bondurant, Frances E. (wid Joseph), bds 83 Market. – Annie, James Paul, Clifton, John W and a Nellie B Bondurant also lived in the household

1897 Degaris Directory:

Francis is not listed in this telephone directory, but her daughter is listed as Annie living at a boardinghouse at 59 Poplar. – James Paul, Clifton and John W also lived in the household

1898 Degaris Directory:

Bondurant, Francis M. (wid Joseph), bds 59 Poplar. – Annie, James Paul, Clifton and John are shown living in the household, however

1898 Polk Directory:

Bondurant, Francis (wid Joseph), bds 59 Poplar. – Annie, James Paul and Clifton reside in the household, and John W is shown living at 504 Union Avenue

1899 Polk Directory:

Bondurant, Frances E. (wid Joseph), bds 59 Poplar – Annie, James Paul and Clifton also lived in the household

It took a second to find Francis on the 1900 census. Her name had been transcribed incorrectly, but as you can see in the photo the last part of it had been scribbled over. This census tells us information that wasn’t known before, and also leaves some questions that I will have to figure out the answers to. Francis is listed as France E Bondurant. She is shown living in District 65, Ward 2, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. Her age is listed as 55 years and her birthdate is given as March 4, 1845. She is listed as having seven children, with only three still living. Also, living with her is a child previously unknown: Sam Bondurant, age 18 years. His birthdate is shown as December 6, 1881. He would have been almost 5 years of age when his father passed away. This also means that he was living with her in all of the above mentioned locations from the telephone directories. Also living in the household was a boarder named John A Stoke, age 45 years.

This leaves me wondering. We know from census records that her children named are: Thomas M Bondurant
, Mary J “Annie” Bondurant, John W Bondurant, Clifton M Bondurant and Sam Bondurant. So who were the other two unknowns? When and where did they die?

In 1910 Francis was most definitely running a boarding house. She lived in District 107, Ward 2, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. She is listed as Fannie W Bondurant, age 65 years, widowed, and still seven children with three still living. Living with her were: her grandson James Paul Stalls, Sr (age 21 years), son-in-law Frank A Curtiss (Curtius, age 50 years) and daughter Mary J Curtiss (“Annie” Curtius, age 44 years). The boarders, listed as “roomers” in the household were: Warren M Taylor (age 27 years), Hazel Taylor (age 22 years), Frank L Mitchell (age 56 years), Sallie J Mitchell (age 47 years), Henry Z Lewis (age 56 years), Laura S Lewis (age 56 years), Charles D Lewis (age 34 years), Phil H Lewis (age 29 years), Phil Thatch (age 69) and Ella Thatch (age 58 years).

The last census that Francis appears on is the 1920 census enumerated in District 179, Ward 2, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. She is shown as Francis Bondurant, age 74 years. Her son-in-law Frank Curtis (Curtius, age 56 years) is head-of-household. Also living in the house are: her daughter Mary Curtis (“Annie” Curtius, age 52 years), her grandson Paul Stalls (age 30 years), Paul’s wife Mamie (Minnie Stalls, age 22 years) and Paul’s son Paul (James Paul Stalls, Jr, age 2 1/2 years).

Francis Elizabeth Brewer passed away January 21, 1922 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The cause of death was bronco-pneumonia.

A Bondurant cousin sent me copies of both of her obituaries from Paducah newspapers:

Mrs. Bondurant Dies in Memphis; Related to Paducah Family

Messages received in this city Saturday evening announced the death of Mrs. Bettie Brewer Bondurant, 76 years of age, which occurred at 7 o’clock Saturday evening at her home in Memphis, Tenn. Mrs. Bondurant’s death resulted from a brief illness of pneumonia. She was born in Marshall county, Ky., and resided in this city for many years, where she is remembered by a wide circle of friends. She was the widow of the late Joseph Bondurant, of Paducah. Mrs. Bondurant has resided with her daughter, Mrs. Annie Bondurant Curtis, of Memphis, a number of years. She was a member of the Christian church and a woman of many beautiful traits of character. Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. Curtis, two sons, Clifton and William Bondurant, all of Memphis. The body will be brought to Paducah and will be taken to the home of her sister, Mrs. J. K. Bondurant, 501 North Sixth street. The message did not state the time of the arrival and no funeral arrangements have been announced. The burial will take place in Oak Grove cemetery.

FORMER PADUCAH WOMAN BROUGHT HERE FOR BURIAL

Funeral services for Mrs. Bettie Brewer Bondurant, 76 years old, who died Saturday evening at her home in Memphis, Tenn., was held Monday morning from the residence of Mrs. J. K. Bondurant, sister of the deceased, 501 North Sixth street. Burial was in Oak Grove cemetery.

Mrs. Bondurant’s death resulted after a brief illness of pneumonia. She was born in Marshall county and made her home in Paducah for a number of years. She had many friends here. She was the widow of the late Joseph Bondurant and of late years had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Annie Bondurant Curtis, of Memphis. She was a member of the Christian church.

The surviving children just confused me even more. There are three children listed: Annie, Clifton and William (John). So what about Sam? Something seems fishy here!

Another interesting thing to note: while the census records say she was born in Tennessee, and her parents lived in Tennessee at the time of her birth, her obituaries state she was born in Marshall County, Kentucky. This, obviously, is incorrect.

Diving into the Bondurant Family

Though the Bondurant family is an interesting family to research they have more or less been sitting on the back burner for a while now. I think I might be slightly intimidated by the thought of researching them for two reasons: 1) there’s an incredibly rich history of the family and 2) the Bondurants have been researched almost as much as the Boucher de Mont Brun/DeMonBrun/Demonbreun/DeMumbrie family. I’m almost afraid that I might get something wrong!

But, I have to start at some point. I know I already did a post for Mary J “Annie” Bondurant, but I need to go back further. The Bondurant Family Association and it’s members are extremely helpful when it comes to tracing Bondurants. And they are pleased to learn more to add to their growing database! I have not only received records in the mail for my Bondurant line tracing back into the late 1700s, but I also have a line that was given to me to start my research that goes back into the 1600s.

My line through the Bondurants to “The Immigrant” and beyond is as follows:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

James Paul Stalls, Sr (g-grandfather)

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant (2nd g-grandmother)

Joseph M Bondurant (3rd g-grandfather, was married to Elizabeth Brewer)

Joseph Bondurant (4th g-grandfather, was married to Sarah E “Sally” Hunt)

Jacob P Bondurant (5th g-grandfather, was married to Jane Punty-need to check on that last name)

Reverend Thomas Bondurant (6th g-grandfather, was married to Rhoda Agee)

John Bondurant (7th g-grandfather, was married to Sarah Rachel Taylor)

Jean Pierre Bondurant (The Immigrant, 8th g-grandfather, was married to Ann Tanner)

Jean Pierre Bondurant (9th g-grandfather, was married to Gabrielle Barjon)

Isn’t this fantastic!? This is a lot of information to work with. And knowing that the family has been traced out of America will make it easier for me to find records.

If you have any Bondurants in your family you should definitely check out the Bondurant Family Association website. It’s a wealth of information.

I need to get started on this now!

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant

My 2nd great-grandmother Mary J “Annie” Bondurant was born in Marshall County, Kentucky on February 24, 1867 to parents Joseph M Bondurant (1842-1886) and Elizabeth Francis “Bettie” “Fannie” Brewer (1845-1922). Annie’s father, a well known merchant, was of the Snow Creek Bondurants.

The first census Annie appears on is the 1870 census in District 5, Marshall County, Kentucky. She is listed as Mary J, age 4 years. She is living with her parents, listed as Joseph (merchant) and Elizabeth. Her siblings in the household are Thomas M (age 6 years) and John W (age 2 years). Other people living in the household are Sarah Cross (listed as “at home”, age 50 years), George W Bondurant (farmer, age 20 years), Daniel (Thurt?) (farmer, age 87) and Ann J (Thurt?) (farmer, age 19 years).

In 1880 the family was living in Smiths, Marshall County, Kentucky. Annie, listed as such, was 14 years old. Her father Joseph is listed as a “trader, buying stocks” and her mother is listed as Francis. Her siblings in the household were Thomas (age 15 years), John W (age 13 years) and Clifton M (age 4 years). The family also had a boarder named Rosa Kline (age 21 years).

On April 30, 1888 Annie married James Franklin Stalls.

The following year on June 12, 1889 Annie gave birth to her only child, James Paul Stalls, Sr. Sadly, when James Paul Stalls, Sr was 6 months old his father passed away from pneumonia.

No census record for 1890.

About 1892 Annie moved to Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee with her young son and her mother (who had been widowed in 1886). We can track Annie throughout the 1890s through the Memphis City directories:

1894 Polk Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James F), bds 45 Mosby.

1895 Polk Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James), res 45 Mosby.

1896 Polk Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James), res 83 Market.

1897 Degaris Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James), boardinghouse 59 Poplar.

1898 Degaris Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid J F), res 59 Poplar.

1898 Polk Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James F), boarding 59 Poplar, res same.

1899 Polk Directory:

Stalls Annie (wid James F), boarding 59 Poplar, res same.

And actually, you can track her throughout the directories in Memphis for quite a while after that. Also to be noted, her mother is listed separately in the directories at the same addresses as Annie.

In 1900 Annie appears on the census in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee as running a boarding house. She is named as Annie. The only other person in the household is her son listed as James P Stalls (age 10 years). Annie gave her birthdate as February 23, 1868, shaving an entire year off of her age. Also, though not represented on the census, Annie’s mother is living with them. The 1900 Polk Directory has both of them living in the same household.

Annie married Frank A Curtius January 18, 1906.

In 1910 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee Annie’s mother is listed as head of household. Her occupation is running a rooming house. Annie’s son, James P Stalls (age 21 years) is listed next. Frank is shown as “Frank A Curtiss” (bookkeeper for the railroad, age 50 years) and Annie is shown as “Mary J Curtiss” (age 44 years). The roomers in the household were: Warren M and Hazel Taylor (ages 27 and 22 years, respectively); Frank L and Sallie J Mitchell (ages 56 and 47 years respectively); Henry Z, Laura S, Charles D and Phil H Lewis (ages 56, 56, 34 and 29 years respectively); and Phil and Ella Thatch (ages 69 and 58 years respectively).

In 1920 the family is still living in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, though apparently no longer running a boarding house. Frank is listed as head of household and the family name is spelled “Curtis” Frank is now a manager at an auto company. Annie is listed as Mary (age 52 years). Also living with them, oddly, are Annie’s son and his family: Paul (age 30 years), Minnie (listed as “Mamie”, age 22 years) and Paul Jr (age 2 years 2 months). Annie’s mother is still living with them, listed as Frances Bonderant (age 74 years). What’s odd about Annie’s son living with them is that in the same year he and his wife are listed as living with her parents, but Paul Jr is only on this census record in 1920.

Annie’s mother passed away in 1922. In 1926 Annie’s son divorced his wife and remarried to Evelyn Fitzgerald in 1928.

In 1930 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee Annie, now age 61 years (as seen on the census) is living with her husband Frank, now a machinery salesman (age 73 years), her son Paul J Stalls (age 39 years) and his wife Evelyn (age 24 years). Just a side note: this census asked how long a person has been married and at what age was their first marriage. Paul, interestingly enough, must have forgotten about his first marriage that included a son because he has that he had been married for 2 years and he was 37 years old at the time of his first marriage.

There are no other census records (currently) for Annie.

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant passed away on May 16, 1950 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The cause of death was hypostatic pneumonia due to left hemiplegia-involving speech and mentation, bladder and bowel function, along with senility. Her body was returned to Paducah, Kentucky where she is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Her obituary reads:

MRS. CURTIUS DIES:

SERVICES TODAY

Memphis Resident

For Many Years

Mrs. Annie Bondurant Curtius, Memphis resident most of the time since 1892 and mother of J. Paul S
talls, widely known and talented Memphis musician, died yesterday at St. Joseph’s Hospital after about a year’s illness. She was 83.

Mrs. Curtius was born and educated near Paducah, Ky., and also lived in Obion, Tn., before moving to Memphis. Her husband, Frank Curtius, retired railroad man, died last November.

For a few years, shortly after the turn of the century, Mrs. Curtius lived in Chaffee, Mo., where she helped organize the Chaffee Christian Church but, except for her stay there, she had maintained her residence in Memphis since first coming here in 1892. She was active in Linden Avenue Christian Church until about 20 (23?) years ago. She lived at 202 N. McNeill.

She leaves her son: her grandson J. Paul Stalls Jr, and two great-grandchildren.

Services at 4 p.m. today at National Funeral Home, Dr. Howard T. Wood officiating. Services and burial in Oak Grove Cemetery at Paducah, Ky., at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Annie’s will named her daughter-in-law Evelyn as executor. She requested that first all funeral expenses and debts be paid. Then $500 was to go to Linden Avenue Christian church. The rest of her estate was to go to her son and her daughter-in-law.

Solving One Mystery Can Lead To Another

The question kept coming up of why wasn’t my granddaddy, James Paul Stalls Jr (1917-1987) on the 1920 census with his parents. I just couldn’t understand where he could have been, since he would have been about 3 years old (depending on what month the census was enumerated). The Census record I found that his parents were on was done on January 17, 1920 in Memphis, Tennessee. You can plainly see that his parents are living with the Richards family (James Paul Stalls Jr’s mother’s family). Listed are Jerome Richards (Minnie’s father), Minnie Richards (Minnie’s mother), Paul Stalls (granddaddy’s father), Minnie Stalls (granddaddy’s mother), Bluford Richards (granddaddy’s uncle), Willie Richards (Bluford’s wife) and Nannie Taylor (the servant/nanny).

The possibilities of why he wasn’t living with them were A) perhaps that’s when he had scarlet fever and maybe he was in the hospital-but you would assume they would still have listed him as living in the household with the family, or B) maybe he was living with his grandparents, James Paul Stalls Sr’s family. So I looked them up.

Lo and behold, there he is. But wait! His parents are there, too! Listed (and misspelled) are Frank Curtius and Mary Curtius (JPS Sr’s step-father and mother). Mary’s mother is also there, Francis Bondurant. What’s this? The STALLS family is listed as Curtis’? Crazy! But there they are! Paul Curtis, Mamie Curtis and Paul Curtis Jr. That’s not right, is it? Nope. As you can see, Curtius is misspelled. As is Bondurant. Minnie’s name is written as Mamie. And Paul Sr, Minnie and Paul Jr should all be Stalls. I’m not even going to get into the age differences (only two of the ages listed are correct).

So the Curtius census was enumerated on January 3-4, 1920, also in Memphis, Tennessee.

The questions this raises are: was the Stalls family actually living with the Curtius family and moved within the 14 days between enumerations to the Richards household? Was granddaddy living with them after the move or was he in the hospital (we need to find out when he had scarlet fever)?

This isn’t the first time that someone is listed on more than one census record for the same year. Another example (which this may or may not be the same person, but the names and ages are the same):

My mom noticed on the House of Proctor website that someone had cited the 1870 Nashville, Tennessee census, enumerated July 15, 1870, as listing Amanda Summers. She is 18 years old and is a boarder in the Wyatt household.

In the 1870 Stewart County, Tennessee census, enumerated August 22, 1870, Amanda is living with her parents, Pink and Emily, her siblings, Greenberry and Clementine, and two boys that may or may not be her siblings, Anderson and Rufus (in another post I mentioned that they were not on the 1860 census, even though they would have been 5 and 3 in that year). On this census Amanda is 18 years old, but it isn't actually listed how she is related to the Summers family (but we know she is the daughter, according to other census records).

So, the questions raised by these census records: if the Nashville, Tennessee census is our Amanda, is it possible that she went to Nashville to give birth to Lizzie? If so, where is Lizzie (that question is going to haunt me until I find the answer!)? Either way, Lizzie isn’t listed as living with her on either census. It’s just so strange.

James Paul Stalls, Sr

Though the death certificate, and obituary, for James Paul Stalls, Sr says he was born in Obion, Tennessee, no proof has yet been found confirming that. In fact, Obion County Historical Society has no record at all of his parents, James Franklin Stalls (1857-1889) and Mary J “Annie” Bondurant (1867-1950), or him ever being in Obion or Obion County (though according to his father’s marriage bond and obituary, that’s where James Franklin Stalls was “from”). And census records report that he was born in Kentucky. What we do know for certain about the birth of J. Paul is that it occurred on June 12, 1889. Six months and 7 days after his birth his father passed away due to pneumonia.

When J. Paul was 3 years old he moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his mother and his grandmother, Elizabeth Francis “Betty” “Fannie” Brewer (1845-1922) (widow of James M Bondurant (1842-1886)). On the 1900 census he is living with his mother, who ran a boarding house. By 1910 his mother had remarried to Frank A Curtius and they were living with Annie’s mother, who was running a boarding house. J. Paul’s occupation was Professor of Music.

He married Minnie Virginia Richards July 27, 1914. It was a large affair, including a write up in the Commercial Appeal concerning the musical playlist, performed by Enoch Walton (organist), Mrs. CW Parke (soprano) and Mrs. SH Lambert (violinist). In 1917 his son, James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987), was born.

In the 1920 the census J. Paul is living with his bride, her parents, two of her brothers, a sister-in-law and Nan, the nannie. Oddly enough, though, his son isn’t listed on that census.

J. Paul’s WWI Draft Registration Card says that he is of medium height, medium build, blond hair, blue eyes, is not bald and has all of his appendages.

In 1921 he opened the J. Paul Stalls Studio at Third and Jefferson in Memphis, Tennessee. He later moved his school into his home and continued teaching for many years, even after he was bedridden. His students would be in the other room and he would know which one made a mistake and call out to them.

J. Paul and Minnie divorced August 10, 1926. He married Evelyn Mozelle Fitzgerald (1905-1994), a music teacher, in 1928. They appear on the 1930 census together living with his mother and stepfather.

James Paul Stalls, Sr died on January 21, 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee from broncho pneumonia due to Parkinson’s Disease. He had a Masonic funeral and was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. In his will he left all but one dollar to his wife, Evelyn.

J. Paul had quite an impressive list of accomplishments under his belt. He was an organist and pianist and he taught organ, piano and violin. He was associated with all music events that occurred in Memphis. He was the organist and choir director for McLemore Avenue Christian Church, Idlewild Presbyterian Church and Christian Science Church, all in Memphis. He studied piano under Mrs. ET Tobey of Memphis and was a pupil of R Jefferson Hall of Memphis, studying organ and harmony. He completed his formal education over the course of six summers in Chautauqua, New York under Mr. William H Sherwood.

J. Paul had also been a member, registrar and examiner of Tri-State Musical Examining Board. He was a member and former president of the Memphis Federation of Musicians and former dean of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and he was also a member of the Beethoven Club.

A Scottish Rite Mason, he was a member of the Leila Scott Lodge and he was a Shriner.

In hopes of alleviating the symptoms from his Parkinson’s Disease, J. Paul joined the Christian Science Church. He was, at one time, at a Christian Science asylum for treatment of the disease and one of the treatments was to eat peels from the fruits and vegetables. From my mother: “Presumably at the Christian Science Church he would sit in the organ loft in his wheel chair, perhaps to oversee the organist. The organist was particularly concerned about one particular piece to be played, so JPS was wheeled up to the organ where he stretched his hands out over the keys. He was so focused that there wasn't any tremor visible as he flawlessly played the piece. At the conclusion of it he pretty much collapsed and resumed the tremors.”

I hope to tell more stories of James Paul Stalls, Sr in the future!

James Franklin Stalls

James Franklin Stalls is my Great-Great-Grandfather. And until now he has been a mystery to the family. Actually, he still kind of is!

According to census records JFS was born in Tennessee, though I can’t really say where in Tennessee. I will assume, for now, that he was born in Stewart County since a plethora of Stalls lived there and he was in some census records there.

A Stalls Bible gives his date of birth as August 29, 1857. The same bible record gave his death as November 19, 1889, yet we had nothing else to go by for that date. However, after researching, and searching, I finally found his obituary.

The Life of James Franklin Stalls (as is currently known)

James Franklin Stalls was born August 29, 1857 to James ML Stalls (1831-1912) and Georgia Ann Manning (1835-1918) in Tennessee. At some point he and his family moved to the Clark’s River area of Paducah, Kentucky.

The next documentation I have on JFS, after census records, is a marriage bond/certificate for him and Miss Mary J “Annie” Bondurant, daughter of Joseph Bondurant (dates currently unknown) and Elizabeth Francis Brewer (dates currently unknown). JFS and Annie Bondurant married in Paducah, Kentucky on April 30, 1888. According to the bond/certificate JFS was living in Obion County, possibly the town of Obion, in Tennessee and he was in the lumber business, presumably a sawmill worker.

The presumption has always been that JFS’s son, James Paul Stalls, Sr (June 12, 1889-January 21, 1951) was born in Obion County, Tennessee because JPS’s death certificate had states that (as informed by Evelyn Mozelle Fitzgerald Stalls, 2nd wife of James Paul Stalls, Sr). However, my Granddaddy, James Paul Stalls, Jr, always said that his father was born in Kentucky. Because Obion County was unable to find anything concerning either JFS, Annie or JPS I turned my attention back to Paducah, Kentucky. As of today I still haven’t found any documentation other than his death certificate as to whether JPS was actually born in Tennessee or Kentucky.

One of the family stories, that has yet to be disproven, is that an accident of some sort happened to JFS at a sawmill. Whether or not that meant he had an arm chopped off or was killed, we didn’t know. For all we knew it could have been another Stalls that had the accident. We do know now that he didn’t die directly of a sawmill accident, if he had one at all.

I finally have in my possession his obituary. James Franklin Stalls died at 4:30 in the afternoon on November 19, 1889 of pneumonia. I believe he was still living in Obion County, Tennessee, at least part time, because the obituary states he is from Obion and that his body was sent to Paducah for burial in Oak Grove Cemetery. I’m wondering if it is possible that he was in Obion for work, yet returned often to Paducah to be with his bride, and then bride and child.

I currently have two lovely ladies at the parks department in Paducah that oversee Oak Grove Cemetery on the case trying to find out exactly where JFS is buried. he is not listed on their interment list.

All I know is that if the newspaper that printed his obituary had spelled his name correctly then the family would have had this information long ago. I don’t know if the newspaper had a telephone at the time, but it is possible that if his death was called in then errors were bound to happen.

If anyone else has any information about James Franklin Stalls, please feel free to let me know! I would almost hope that a long lost relative or the descendent of a neighbor that has stories would be wonderful!

Category: Bondurant Family