Stalls Family – Digging Up Your Family

Jerome E Richards’ Obituary

I have been working on identifying men in a photograph with Jerome E Richards, and I discovered I may have to turn to newspapers for possible identification (the photo is from a convention). Along the way I remembered that Newspapers.com has offered an upgrade from their basic subscription to a subscription that offers papers that are still under copyright. And within those papers I found Jerome’s obituary.

Some things of note:

1. According to the obituary Jerome died of dropsy. According to his death certificate he died of cirrhosis of the liver. After some research I discovered that the cirrhosis could have caused dropsy, in which case you’d think that the death certificate would have said “Cause of Death was as follows: Dropsy. Contributory: Cirrhosis of Liver.”

2. A new way to spell DeMumbrie/Demonbruen! (spoiler: Demurry”")

3. I don’t know if the three initials for Jerome, Jr or wrong or not. Lucky for me, I have someone I can ask!

4. I can’t help but wonder if Jerome, Sr and Jerome, Jr actually had the middle name of Edmund/Edmond, and not Edward. On Jerome, Sr’s death certificate, Jerome, Jr provided the information. He said Jerome, Sr’s father was Edward Richards, yet we already know it was Edmond/Edmund. Just a thought.

Read away!

From August 15, 1922 issue of The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee). The_Tennessean_Tue__Aug_15__1922_

PROMINENT SHELBY CO. MAN DIES AT MEMPHIS

Jerome Edwards Richards Is Victim of Dropsy’s Ravages.

(Special to the The Tennessean.)

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Aug. 14. – Surrounded by his immediate family, Jerome Edward Richards, poll tax collector, and one of Shelby County’s most prominent political figures, died at 1:50 o’clock this morning at this residence, 493 Lucy avenue. Dropsy was the contributing cause.

Mr. Richards had lived in Memphis 40 years and each of these were milestones will marked with usefulness.

He was born in Crittenden County, Ark., February 24, 1858. He was former chief of police here and served as criminal court clerk for 1902 until 1914. He was appointed poll tax collector in 1919.

At the outbreak of the World War Mr. Richards attempted to get into service, but on account of his age the government would not take him, so he went to Nashville and offered his services in the construction of the Old Hickory powder plant.

Mr. Richards married Miss Minnie Demurry at the Central Baptist church and they have four children, Judge J. E. R. Richards, and Bluford Richards, Clegg D. Richards and Mrs. J. Paul Stalls, all residing in Memphis.

Wedding of Minnie Virginia Richards and James Paul Stalls, Sr

I honestly thought I had already transcribed this article describing (in great detail) the wedding of my great-grandparents Minnie Virginia Richards and James Paul Stalls, Sr. Apparently I had not, so here it is!

(I actually wish that a photo of the wedding party were included with the article. If anyone is researching any members of the bridal party, and happens to have photos of a stranger’s wedding, please contact me! PLEASE!)

Published in the Commercial Appeal, Tuesday July 28, 1914:

WEDDINGS

RICHARDS-STALLS

The McLemore Avenue Christian Church was the scene of a very pretty wedding last evening at 8:30 o’clock when Miss Minnie Virginia Richards became the bride of J. Paul Stalls, the Rev. Milo Atkinson officiating in the presence of a large gathering of friends and relatives.

For the occasion the church was prettily decorated with a profusion of plams (sic),ferns and garlands of southern smilax, caught with graceful bows of pink tulle. Electric lights shone through the ferns and palms and lighted tapers glowed through the white shades of the candelabra.

A beautiful programme of wedding music was rendered by Enoch Walton, who presided at the organ, assisted by Mrs. C. W. Parke, soprano, and Mrs. S. H. Lambert, violinist. The Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin” was used as the processional, with Mendelssohn’s wedding march as the recessional, and during the ceremony Mr. Walton softly played “To a Wild Rose.

The specially selected programme included the following numbers:

Organ-Pilgrim’s Chorus from “Tannhauser”………………..Wagner

Voice-“The Rosary”………………………………………………………..Nevin

Organ-Andante in G………………………………………………………Batiste

Voice-“All For You”…………………………………………….…D’Hardelot

Organ-“Evensong”……………………………………………………….Batiste

Voice-“Because”…….…………………………………………..…D’Hardelot

Organ-“Spring Song”……………………………………….….Mendelssohn

Violin-“Evening Star”………………………………………..……..…Wagner

Organ-Humoresque……………………………………………..….……Dvorak

Voice-“O, Promise Me”…………………………………………….De Koven

Organ-(a) Bridal Chorus from “Lohengrin”……………….…Wagner

(b) “To a Wild Rose”…………………………………..MacDowell

Voice-“At Dawning”

Organ-(a) Wedding March…………………………………..Mendelssohn

(b) March from “Tannhauser”……………………………Wagner

The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, Jerome Richards, was gowned in a robe of white duchess satin with draperies of Chantilly lace, with she wore a filmy veil of tulle, falling from a Juliet cap and caught with orange blossoms. She carried a shower bouquet of Bride roses and valley lilies and wore as her only ornament a diamond and pearl pendant: the gift of the groom.

Miss Zella Smith of Meridian, Miss., acted as maid of honor, gowned in pink crepe de chine with a draped cape and carrying a French basket filled with Bride roses.

Misses Annie Sites, Katherine Lawless and Dorothy and Laura Richards served as bridesmaids, gowned in pink crepe de chine and lace and carrying French baskets filled with pink Killarney roses.

Little Misses Alice Rogers and Ruth Frances Parke acted as flower girls, wearing dainty frocks of lace over pink satin and carrying small baskets filled with pink rose petals, while Master Clifton Drane Bondurant served as ringbearer, wearing an Oliver Twist suit of white and pink and carrying the ring in the heart of a lily.

The groom was attended by W. Franklin Robinson as best man, Robert Love and Clarence Banning as groomsmen and Earle F. French and Lin Sheffer as ushers.

Following the ceremony an informal reception for the immediate relatives and members of the bridal party was held at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Richards, on Lucy Avenue, where the decorations were of pink and white, carried out in garden flowers, ferns, and palms.

A cordial welcome was extended to the guests by Mr. and Mrs. Richards, the latter gowned in black crepe de chine and lace, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Curtius, the latter gowned in hand-embroidered voile.

Many handsome presents attested the popularity of the young couple, who left last evening for New Orleans, en route to New York and points along the Great Lakes. For traveling the bride was gowned in a tailored suit of blue serge, with a hat of white straw.

After the middle of September Mr. and Mrs. Stalls will be at home to their friends with the parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Richards, on Lucy Avenue.

A Few Stewart County, Tennessee Court Records

These are just a few interesting court records/minutes from Stewart County, Tennessee that I noticed while I was clicking around doing research. These and more can be found by clicking HERE. Also, the links to the pages where they were actually found are listed.

I will most likely have several posts like this, mainly as a reminder of what I need to look up the next time I go up that way!

May 5, 1829 (click here)

Thomas Lankford-(also mentions Alexander Brown and William Trousdale) “Appointed commission to settle with Alexander B. Outlaw, guardian of Indiana Wilson, formerly Indiana Outlaw.” (I wonder if Indiana Outlaw was the sister of Tennessee Porter Outlaw?)

May 6, 1829 (same link as above)

Valentine Stalls-the State v. Valentine Stalls on the charge of bastardy (who is this!?)

August 4, 1833 (click here)

Thomas Lankford and William Lankford-transfer of deed for 112 acres, mentions John Lankford and James Lankford

August 8, 1833 (same link as above)

Thomas Lankford-appointed as a juror

November 4, 1833 (same link as above)

James Stalls-“Allowed $50 for keeping Susan Wooden, pauper, for 12 months”

November 2, 1835 (click here)

LM Manning-assigned work as overseer on road

March 3, 1845 (click here)

Allen Duffel-assigned work as overseer on road

Joseph Duffel-assigned work on road

William A Duffel-assigned work on road

FM Lankford-assigned work on road

James Lankford-assigned work on road

John Lankford-assigned work on road

A Newly Found Cousin and More McQueen!

The McQueen family is something that is always on my mind, only because there is so much documented about my McQueen line, but none of it leads me back to the next generation…my 5th great-grandparents in the McQueen family. I may, however, have gotten a new clue. And, I have my brand-spankin’ newly found fifth cousin once removed to thank.

I was contacted the other day by J. Craven, who just happened to be researching his grandmother, and he stumbled across Digging Up Your Family. He sent me an email, and after a bit of confusion on my part it was figured that he is the 3rd great-grandson of Ann McQueen. Just to refresh your memory of my relationship to the McQueen family (including the unknown 5th great-grandfather):

Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (g-grandmother)

Jerome E Richards, Sr (gg-grandfather)

Caroline McQueen (ggg-grandmother)

Peter McQueen (gggg-grandfather and Ann McQueen’s brother)

Unknown McQueen (ggggg-grandfather and father of Ann and Peter McQueen)

The great thing about his contacting me, besides gaining a new family member, is that he has pictures of his ancestors. I was also able to add new information to my tree. And adding that new information caused me to look into a few other people I have on my tree that I had kind of given up on after trying to contact descendants and getting nowhere. And when I looked into one person in particular, Arthur Lemuel Hardy (who would be Ann McQueen’s great-grandson), I found that a work of fiction, apparently based on fact, had been authored by him. And though the book was free on Google Books, I purchased it anyway (because I enjoy having paper books in hand). I read half of the book online, so when it arrived yesterday I was able to read the rest of it (it’s only 137 pages, so a quick read). The book is The Clutch of Circumstance by, of course, Arthur Lemuel Hardy. Apparently there are other books out there with the same title, but you can find this book to read online here or you can purchase the book from Amazon here.

After reading the book I learned several things:

1. Views on racial equality in parts of the South haven’t changed that much since the close of the Civil War, which is kind of sad.

2. Due to the dedication of the book, I assume that a large part of this “fiction” may hold more truth than would normally be thought had the dedication not been so…pointed. The dedication says: TO MY WIFE, WHOSE PITY FOR A HELPLESS BABE, AND WHOSE INDIGNATION TOWARDS AN UNNATURAL PARENT SUGGESTED AND INSPIRED THE STORY, I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME. Once you read the book you’ll understand.

3. I am pretty sure the “McQuinton” characters in the story are actually representative of “McQueen”. And because of that I am pretty confident that my McQueen line can be traced back to the Charleston, South Carolina area.

I’m excited to learn more of what my new cousin has and to be able to share more of what I have with him. And I am really excited to start researching the history of the McQueen families in Charleston!

Finally A Photograph Of Annie Bondurant!

After hoping and hoping and hoping, I am thrilled to say that today my mom and I got to see a picture of Mary J “Annie” Bondurant, my second great-grandmother, for the first time. A distant cousin, Joanne Stephens, through marriage (through the Curtius family, Annie’s second husband’s family) found a photo and emailed it to my mother.

Written on the back is:

left to right-

Frank, Myself, Minnie

Mrs Richards Minnie’s Mother

lady who was a visitor from

Brownsville Tenn,

My dear son Paul.

front-

Baby Paul, 6 years old.

Household

Kitten

Made June 3rd 1923-

For Nellie & Joe, Ed. as Nellie knows these people-

So the people in the photo are:

Frank Curtius-Annie’s second husband

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant-my 2nd great-grandmother

Minnie Virginia Richards-my great-grandmother and Annie’s daughter-in-law

Minnie DeMumbrie-my 2nd great-grandmother and Minnie Virginia Richards’ mother

I’m not sure who the woman from Brownsville, Tennessee is, but she is a relative of some sort, I’m sure

James Paul Stalls, Sr-my great-grandfather, Annie’s son and Minnie Virginia Richards’ husband (first husband)

James Paul Stalls, Jr-my Granddaddy, Annie’s grandson, J. Paul and Minnie Virginia’s son, my mom’s daddy!

What I Have Been Doing Lately

1. I had purchased several hundred photos on eBay that all turned out to be a family collection. After hunting around for a while I finally found the family to which they belong. I scanned roughly 70 of the photographs and mailed those off to the family on Tuesday. In the coming weeks I will scan the rest of them so I can get those mailed off, too. I am extremely happy that I found the family, and I am extremely happy that they are getting their precious heirlooms back. I had started a blog regarding the photos just in case I wasn’t able to find family. I will be keeping it going so you can check it out here.

2. My mom and I went up to Tennessee to visit with family again. After picking up Great-Aunt Kat we drove up to Clarksville to visit Grandmother and Granddaddy’s graves. Then we drove down to Hurricane Mills (our usual spot) and visited with Donny and Bobbie. We didn’t stay long because Bobbie wasn’t feeling well (luckily she is feeling much better now). While there we had decided that instead of buying Nan Nan’s fried pies from Cissie Lynn’s store, we would go to Nan Nan’s store and buy them directly from her. After driving out of our way (you can tell from the start of this that it ended badly) we got to the location only to find out that the location was moved. The sign (of which I wish I had taken a photo) gave the address of the new location and said to stop in and visit. So we drove even further out of the way. Come to find out the new location was the original location: the owner’s home. She (I assume Nan Nan, but it might just be named Nan Nan by using her grandmother’s recipe or something) was not pleased to see us. She seemed to be miffed that we pulled into her driveway. After telling us she didn’t really have many pies to sell I asked her if she took credit cards. No, she said, she didn’t even take them at the other location. By now I was angry. Their website (which is just their Facebook page from what I can tell) didn’t have the new address listed which caused the looooong drive. They also didn’t have payment options on the page, so I didn’t know I should have stopped for cash. But in the end, you know what? Her attitude ruined the entire thing anyway. Had she been more pleasant I may have considered driving out to an ATM and getting cash just to buy a fried pie. Will I ever purchase another Nan Nan’s Homemade Fried Pie again? Nope. (I just checked out the Facebook page, and they now have that they don’t accept credit cards and failed to use spell check…ok, that’s just me being bitter and mean)

3. A couple of weeks ago my mom and I got to meet new cousins who live here in Georgia: Valerie Craft and her mom Ruby! Valerie has the genealogy blog Begin With Craft, which is chock-full of great information and research tips. Due to the shared Craft surname we think that may be how we are related. Through DNA Valerie’s father matches up to Great-Aunt Kat an estimated 4th cousin. That means to find out how they are related we would need to go back to, at the very least, Prestly Ezekiel Craft’s father. I think it has been figured out that his name was John Craft (don’t hold me to that because I am not positive). Kat’s Craft family goes back:

Henry Corbit Craft (1895 TN-1971 TN)

John Craft (1859 TN-1936 TN)

Thomas Craft (abt 1810 NC-aft 1880 TN)

Prestly Ezekiel Craft (abt 1786 NC-btwn 1850 and 1860 TN)

Several people have that Prestly married his wife Mary Thaxton in Surry County, North Carolina. I guess I will have to look into that more.

4. My mom and I are getting ready for the Bondurant Family Association Annual Meeting next week. I’m pretty excited about it!

5. I recently applied to go back to school. I have thought about it for a while, and now with the imminent closing of the Georgia Archives to the public I decided to just do it! I applied to American Public University online school for history. Who knows, maybe I will eventually become an archivist!

6. In my genealogy research I am currently working on (ready for this? It’s like it is never-ending!):

-Who are Peter McQueen’s parents? It really is driving me crazy not knowing. The earliest I can find him is on an 1818 bill of sale for a slave named Daniel. Peter doesn’t appear on any census record (by name at least) until 1840, though.

-What happened to Spencer DeMumbrie? When and where did he die? Where is he buried? Why is he being difficult?

-Why am I unable to locate James Franklin Stalls’s grave in Oak Grove Cemetery in Paducah, McCracken County, Kentucky? His obituary says he is there, but there is no record of him as being buried there.

-Is the research I did on Brett’s Murphy family correct? It seems perfectly logical to me, but I was presented with something extremely different that is completely illogical to me.

-The Craft line (as mentioned above).

-The search for Eppy Willhite Craft’s death record. I will have to write a whole post for this fun headache. Let’s just say that no one is actually sure of her first name anymore, and her death cannot be found (and she had to have died unless she’s still alive at the ripe old age of about 150 years-old…which you never know, I guess).

-William Glenn Cathey: where are you buried exactly?

-Amanda Summers: when, where and how did you die and where are you buried? Oh, and who exactly is Lizzie’s father? Or do you not even know?

-And let’s just say many other research subjects, such as who are the parents of John B Smith? Where exactly was Elizabeth Brownlee from? Where is t
he Stalls family from? And many, many more questions.

I’m going to go watch movies now!

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!

James ML Stalls

My relationship to James ML Stalls:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

James Paul Stalls, Sr (g-grandfather)

James Franklin Stalls (gg-grandfather)

James ML Stalls (ggg-grandfather)

*please see note at bottom of post concerning the children of James ML Stalls and Georgia Anna Manning

*family photos and cemetery photo used with permission of Robert Stalls

James ML Stalls was born May 22, 1831 in Stewart County, Tennessee to parents Elijah Stalls and Edna Barrow.

Though each individual in a household was not listed on US census records until 1850, he is represented on the 1840 census. The family is found living in Stewart County, Tennessee. Elijah Stalls is listed as head of household. James ML Stalls is represented as

Free White Persons-Male-5 thru 9– 1.

Also represented in the household were:

Free White Persons-Male-Under 5– 1

Free White Persons-Male-20-29– 2 (one was Elijah, I’m not sure who the other was)

Free White Persons Female-Under 5– 1

Free White Persons-Female-10-14– 1

Free White Persons-Female-20-29– 2 (one was Edna, I’m not sure who the other was)

In 1850 the family is still living in Stewart County, Tennessee. James is listed as James Stalls, age 19 years, no occupation listed. His parents are listed as Elijah Stalls (farmer, age 39 years) and Edna Stalls (age 40 years). James’ siblings living in the house are listed as: May (or Mary, age 22 years), Margaret (age 14 years), George (age 13 years), Elisabeth (age 7 years) and William (age 7 months). Two others living with the family are: May Robins (age 45 years) and Zachary Gastin (not sure about last name, age 1 year). I’m not sure how they are related to the family, if at all, yet.

James ML Stalls married Georgia Anna Manning on September 27, 1851 in Stewart County, Tennessee.

James and Georgia have moved by the enumeration of the 1860 census. They are found living in Post Office Paris, District 4, Henry County, Tennessee. James is shown as 30 years of age and an “overseer”, most likely of a farm. Georgia is listed as Georgian, age 25 years. Their children listed are James (age 2 years) and Daniel (age 8 months?).

By 1870 the family moved to Dover, District 7, Stewart County, Tennessee. James is listed as Jas Stalls, age 39 years. His occupation is shown as “Ferryman”. Georgia is listed as Georga, age 34 years and keeping house. The children listed are: Jas (James, in school, age 13 years), John (?, in school, age 11 years), Elizabeth (age 9 years), Elladene (age 6 years) and William (age 5 months).

Once again the family moved so that in 1880 they are found on the census living in Clarke River, District 2, McCracken County, Kentucky. James is listed as age 49 and working in a sawmill. Georgia is listed as Georgie A., age 45 years and keeping house. Their children living with them are: James F (works in sawmill, age 23 years), Don F (works in sawmill, age 21 years), Nelly (at home, attended school within the year, age 16 years), William (at home, attended school within the year, age 11 years), Miny (attended school within the year, age 8 years) and Dasy (age 5 years).

There is no census for 1890.

Though I have not yet located James ML Stalls in the 1900 census I do know he was living in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee at the time. Checking the Memphis City Directories he first shows up in 1898, so he probably moved to Memphis in 1897. The directory shows his listing as:

Stalls, James M, carp, res 35 Peyton ave.

1910 is the last census James ML Stalls shows up on. He is listed as James M Stalls, age 78 years. No occupation is listed, so I assume that means he is retired. Georgia is listed as George A., age 71 years. This census also tells use their address! James and Georgia lived at 231 Looney Avenue, District 157, Ward 2, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

James ML Stalls died March 30, 1912 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The cause of death was Apoplexy. Something interesting on the burial certificate is that it looks like it says his length of residence in Memphis was 30 years, but that can’t be correct unless he was unlisted for some reason.

James was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis Shelby County, Tennessee.

*note about the children of James ML Stalls and Georgia Anna Manning – the children listed in the Bible of Daisy Dean Stalls are:

Calvina Stalls (April 6, 1853-March 22, 1857, Scarlett Fever)
Lucy Stalls (June 9, 1855-March 18, 1857, Scarlett Fever)
James F Stalls (James Franklin Stalls, August 29, 1857-November 19, 1889)
Don F Stalls (September 14, 1859, Paris, Tennessee-January 16, 1910)
Bettie Davis Stalls (Elizabeth, June 22, 1861-April 13, 1925)
L Stalls (December 22, 1862-July 12, 1863)
Nellie L Stalls (April 13, 1864-March 8, 1945)
Willie L Stalls (William Franklin Stalls, August 5, 1869-October 7, 1914)
Georgia Anna Stalls (“Minnie”, February 1, 1872-April 11, 1944)
Daisy Dean Stalls (only marriage date listed, birth and death dates are April 16, 1875-December 3, 1848)

What’s interesting is how the names change throughout the census records. Also, on the 1910 census it says that Georgia had 11 children, 5 of who are still living. The Bible only lists 10 children. I wonder who the 11th child was?

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday, Mommy!

So, this will not be wordless at all!

Happy 16th Birthday to my mom Virginia Marie Stalls! She was born on February 29, 1948 in Memphis, Shelby County Tennessee. And being the first Leap Year baby born that year, she got her photo in the paper!

WOW! – The first Leap Year baby born in Memphis is shown above with her mother, Mrs. James Stalls of West Memphis. And you can see the new baby girl doesn’t like it much. She gave a lusty howl when the photographer asked her to pose at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Stalls haven’t yet chosen a name for their Leap Year champion, born at 12:01 a.m. yesterday. Eighteen new members have joined the Leap Year Club in Memphis. Nine boys and nine girls were born at Baptist, Methodist St. Joseph’s and John Gaston Hospitals yesterday.

Also, according to my grandmother, my mom wasn’t howling, she was yawning!

James Paul Stalls, Jr at the Li Po Lounge, Chinatown, San Francisco, California 1944

I have searched and searched for information on the Li Po Lounge, 916 Grant Avenue, Chinatown, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California and from what I understand the place is still as rockin’ a bar as it was when it opened in 1935 with really great cocktails. From what I understand, also, is that the decor has not changed since it first opened, with the exception of a new door.

When my granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr was in the Seabees he had shore leave in San Francisco. He went to the Li Po Lounge where there were women who were there specifically to have their photos taken with the servicemen. I have tried to research this to see if the women worked for the bar or the photographer, but so far no one has information on this, including the owner of Li Po Lounge. She told me that the bar has changed owners several times, and she is sure that anyone who would know has probably passed.

So, here is the photo card and the photo, dated September 16, 1944. The inside of the photo envelope says “May your evening at Li Po’s be a most pleasant one,,, Your Host Wilbur Wong”. The photo was taken by Coronet Pictures. The address for Coronet Pictures is now the Hotel Abri. Before that it was was several hotels, also, going all the way to the early 1930s.

Category: Stalls Family