Stalls Family – Page 2 – Digging Up Your Family

James Paul Stalls, Jr by Milloy 1918

This photograph of my granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr was taken in 1918 by the photographer Milloy. I researched the name and came up with Paul Neil Milloy from Michigan.

Both Paul and his wife Lottie/Lotta (Cornell), also from Michigan, are listed as photographers on the 1920 census, though only he is listed as such on the 1900 census and the 1910 census. There are two marriage records for Paul and Lottie (one I assume is a bond, the other the solemnization), one for December 31, 1895 and the other for January 1, 1896 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. They then somehow ended up in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee by 1900 and can be found through the enumeration of the 1920 census (still in Memphis). It doesn’t appear that they had any children, unless a birth occurred between the 1920 census enumeration and Paul’s death. A death certificate for Paul was issued April 23, 1921 in Memphis. His cause of death was percussion anemia.

What’s interesting about this photograph is that it is hand signed by the photographer. Now, whether it was Paul or Lottie, I’m not sure. I had thought that descendants of theirs, or family in general, would find it interesting to see the signature, but I have quickly realized that no one is researching either of them. At all. And it’s sad. I hate to think that they may have been forgotten. Hopefully someone out there has been searching and just hasn’t found anything yet. And if that’s the case then I hope this can help lead them in the right direction.

Pearl Harbor Day (aka Semi-Wordless Wednesday-Part Two)

Disclaimer: I know this is Wordless Wednesday, but I felt the need to point out that I do not condone racial slurs of any kind and therefore have removed them from the image. However, I did find this today, December 7, and thought it interesting that I did. It is on the back of the US Navy Seabee (CB) Christmas menu from 1944 that my granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr had kept. Below the image I have transcribed it, leaving the offensive words blank, for those that may have a difficult time reading the image.

“Merry Christmas, _______

December seventh-forty one,

Pearl Harbor Day-a war begun.

They hit us hard below the belt,

A fouler blow has ne’er been dealt;

While talking peace in Washington,

They sank our ships-killed our men;

They strafed our planes, caught unprepared,

Bombed our homes-few lives were spared.

They crippled our fleet without a doubt;

“The Yank is licked”, the _____ did shout;

“We’ve finished him off, now he’ll quit,

The world is ours-on top we sit”.

So _____ thought, but he didn’t know

Uncle Sam was riled and rarin’ to go;

With his dander up-ready for fight,

He started working day and night;

He rolled up his sleeves-took a deep breath

For every _____ his goal was death.

He turned out planes and guns and ships,

And trained the men, the _____ to whip;

He built the strongest fleet in the world,

A might force with flag unfurled;

He gathered an army unexcelled

In strength and power-a flawless weld;

December seventh-forty four,

We’re on the march to end the war.

We’ve given them hell on every front,

They’re on the run, the _____ _____.

We’ll make them cringe and cry for peace;

And on our terms, this war will cease;

Over all the world, we’ll have again

God’s “Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men”.

Bob Greenfield”

Peter McQueen 1.0

Note: to see a post for Robert Haskins Crozier CLICK HERE

While I continue to track down the parents of Peter McQueen I suppose putting some information up about him would keep me from writing one very, very long post about him. †

My relationship to Peter McQueen:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mother)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (g-grandmother)

Jerome E Richards (2nd g-grandfather)

Caroline McQueen (3rd g-grandmother)

Peter McQueen (4th g-grandfather)

According to census records Peter McQueen was born about 1795 in South Carolina. I do know (due to a court case involving one of his daughters and his niece) that he had at least one older sister named Ann McQueen who married Stephen Wood. Ann McQueen, also from South Carolina, died in Meriwether County, Georgia.

Peter McQueen is not on any census records until 1840 for some reason, so tracking his exact whereabouts is difficult.

Peter married Elizabeth Freeland in 1820 in West Feliciana, Louisiana. They had (according to the divorce papers) three daughters: Louisa in 1822, Melissa in 1824 and Caroline in 1826. By 1827 the family was living in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

In 1827, when Caroline was about a year old, Peter deserted his family. He had previously sold many of their belongings. When he left he took two slaves that Elizabeth’s father had given her, telling Elizabeth he would sell the slaves and return with the money. He disappeared for 10 years. I have been unable to find him on the 1830 census (or 1820 census, for that matter).

Peter apparently returned sometime in 1837 and took the two oldest daughters, Louisa and Melissa, from their home against their will, though why he did not take Caroline is not known (unless, as might be suspected, Caroline is not actually his daughter…). According to records he took the girls up to Marshall County, Mississippi and enrolled them in school.

Elizabeth filed for divorce in May of 1838. She assumed that Peter had fled west of the Mississippi River and was possibly living in Arkansas. A notice went out in the paper in Jasper County, Mississippi asking him to come forward and face the accusations. Of course he didn’t and the divorce was finalized May 1839.

In 1840 Peter is found living in Northern Division, Marshall County, Mississippi. Listed in the household are:

1 white male between 15 and 19 years of age

1 white male between 40 and 49 years of age

3 male slaves under 10 years of age

1 female slave under 10 years of age

1 female slave between 10 and 23 years of age

1 female slave between 24 and 35 years of age

It is not clear who the white male between 15 and 19 years of age is, nor at this point do I know if the female slave between 10 and 23 years of age and the female slave between 24 and 35 years of age are the two that he took from Elizabeth.

It was about 1840 when Peter brought Louisa and Melissa to live with him. According to court records between 1840 and 1850 Peter became upset when his daughters attended a Methodist Church and kicked them both out of his house. It’s not clear whether he kicked them out for attending church, for attending a Methodist Church or attending the night meetings at the Methodist Church. However, Reverend Robert Haskins Crozier wrote a novel based on the incident titled Fiery Trials: Or, a story of an Infidel's Family, Rogers and Company, 1882. The book paints Peter as an atheist who forbid his family to even think about religion.

On April 24, 1843 Peter, who had been named the administrator of William M Bostwick’s estate, reported that the estate was insolvent. Peter may not have been forthcoming in filing a list of the assets of the estate until October 1846. (William Trezevant et al. vs. Peter McQueen, Administrator of William M. Bostwick, deceased)*

The January Term of 1849 found Peter in court again when Theodore Bostwick sued him for wages he felt Peter owed him. The judge found for the defendant (Peter) and awarded a new trial. Bostwick had failed to present evidence to prove his case and the judge declared that Peter had shown kindness in providing clothes, food and medical attention. (Peter McQueen vs. Theodore D. Bostwick)*

In 1850 Peter is found on the census still living in Northern Division, Marshall County, Mississippi. He is listed as Peter McQueen, 55 years of age, a farmer and born in South Carolina. This is the first time that it is shown where he claims to have been born. Also living in the household with him is a man named John Bogan, 23 years of age from North Carolina who was a carpenter. It’s not clear his relationship to Peter. The slave schedules also list Peter as having twenty-one slaves between the ages of 9 months and 33 years.**

The year 1850 found Louisa living with the Grey family in Marshall County, Mississippi. She would go on to marry Thomas Cottrell, then Jeremiah Elder. In 1850 Melissa was living with the Benjamin Cottrell family in Marshall County, Mississippi. Benjamin Cottrell owned the Sylvestria Girls School in Marshall County and Melissa taught there. Melissa died in 1851 and is buried in the Cottrell Family Cemetery in Marshall County, Mississippi. Her headstone reads “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up”.

The census enumerated in 1860 finds Peter living in Town 2 Range 5, Byhalia, Marshall County, Mississippi. He is living by himself, age 65 years, a farmer, extremely wealthy and still from South Carolina. He is again on the slave schedules as having 30 slaves between the ages of 8 months and 40 years.

In 1860 Peter’s niece, Mary Ann Wood Mullins lost her husband Patrick Henry Mullins to a brain inflammation leaving her to raise four children on her own. Peter’s will, dated September 3, 1863 appoints Mary Ann as executrix. Peter’s entire estate was left to her and her children, but nothing to his last living child Louisa. According to a Mississippi Supreme Court case, October Term 1866 between Mary Ann and Louisa (Mary A. Mullins et al. v. Louisa Cottrell) concerning the validity of the will Peter lived in Choctaw County (it is not clear whether Choctaw County, Mississippi or Choctaw County, Alabama, though Mississippi seems to be the most obvious) two years prior to his death. The record of the case*** goes on to say that in Choctaw County he “killed a man in that county, and was killed in attempting to escape”. It goes on to state that Peter died in the “autumn of 1865”, but it doesn’t give an exact date of death. It also doesn’t tell us where he is buried.

Questions:

-Who are Peter McQueen’s parents?

-Where was Peter McQueen prior to 1820?

-Where was Peter McQueen between 1827 and 1837?

-Is Caroline actually Peter McQueen’s daughter?

-Who are these Mystery McQueens living with Robert Hoyle in 1860, Township 2 Range 4, Byhalia, Marshall County, Mississippi: Peter McQueen (age 2 years) and Infant Boy McQueen (age 4 months) who don’t appear to have any parents and there aren’t any other McQueens living in the area?

† information on court cases concerning him will be separate posts…he apparently was not at all unfamiliar with what the inside of a court room looked like…

* both William Trezevant et al. vs. Peter McQueen, Administrator of William M. Bostwick, deceased and Peter McQueen vs. Theodore D. Bostwick cases can be found in Cases argued and decided in the Supreme Court of Mississippi, Volume 20, Mississippi, EW Stephens Publishing Company, 1849

**I am going to go ahead and say that what I learned about this guy concerning slaves makes me really dislike…no, hate him…he truly disgusts me

***found in Mississippi Reports-edition, publisher and publishing year unknown-photocopied pages found in research files of Hubert H McAlexander, the McAlexander-Marshall County Collection, JD Williams Library, University of Mississippi-information can also be found in The Southwestern Reporter, Volume 149, West Publishing Company, 1912

Malcolm McMillen and Minerva Worsham

If I have tracked down this couple correctly then this is my relationship to Malcolm McMillen and Minerva Worsham:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (g-grandmother)

Minnie DeMumbrie (2nd g-grandmother)

Cornelia Ann McMillen (3rd g-grandmother)

Malcolm McMillen/Minerva Worsham (4th g-grandparents)

I searched and searched and searched (and searched some more!) and I *think* I have found Cornelia A McMillen's parents. I haven’t been able to trace them back to any particular McMillen or Worsham families, so anyone out there in internetland, feel free to help! (and, of course, when I find information I will post it)

(note: after searching around on the internet I discovered that Cornelia A McMillan is probably actually McMillen. unless all of the records are wrong, in which case I apologize. the only place I have found it as McMillan is in my Granddaddy’s baby book and the 1860 census. that baby book also has Caroline McQueen as Carolyn, but all records I have found are Caroline.)

On January 19, 1831 Malcolm McMillen and Minerva Worsham married in Maury County, Tennessee.

Within about two years after their marriage their daughter Cornelia was born. However, it is not until 1850 that she shows up by name on a census with them. This is because up until 1850 only head of household was named on the US Federal Population Census, though there are some states that conducted their own census reports that listed other family members.

In 1840 the family is found in Tipton County, Tennessee. Head of household is Malcolm, listed as M.G. McMillon. Everyone in the household:

2 males between 20 and 29 years of age

1 male between 30 and 39 years of age

1 female between 5 and 9 years of age

1 female between 20 and 29 years of age

1 female between 60 and 69 years of age

1 male slave under 10 years of age

1 male slave between 10 and 23 years of age

1 female slave between 10 and 23 years of age

I’m guessing that one of the males between 20 and 29 years of age and the female between 20 and 29 years of age are Malcolm and Minerva. The female between 5 and 9 years of age would be Cornelia. I’m not sure who the others are, though.

In 1850 the family is found on the census living in District 14, Shelby County, Tennessee. They are listed as:

M.C. McMillen, age 41 years, born in Tennessee

Manerva McMillen, age 40 years, born in North Carolina

Cornelia McMillen, age 18 years, born in Tennessee Also living with the family is a man by the name of William P Day, age 24 years. Not a single person living in the household has an occupation listed. In fact, under occupation for Malcolm (M.C.) it actually says “none”. This is also the very first time we get to see in which state they told the enumerator they were born.

The 1860 census has the whole family moved to Mississippi. While Cornelia had married (John) Spencer DeMumbrie and was living in Tunica, Tunica County, Mississippi, her parents weren’t that far from her. Malcolm and Minerva are shown living in Austin, Tunica County, Mississippi. They are listed as:

M.G. McMillan, age 50 years, a farmer, born in North Carolina

M.H. McMillan, age 50 years, born in Virginia So the place of birth changed for both of them.

Sometime between 1860 and 1870 Malcolm died, most likely in Tunica County, Mississippi. Cornelia had also died within the same time frame. By 1870 Spencer DeMumbrie had moved with his daughter to Austin, Tunica County, Mississippi and Minerva is living with him, most likely to help raise his and Cornelia’s daughter Minnie. In the household are:

S. DeMumbrie, age 49 years, a planter, born in Tennessee (this is Spencer)

Clara DeMumbrie, age 13 years, born in Mississippi (this is Minnie)

Jane Gilcris, age 19 years, born in Tennessee (this is Spencer’s future 2nd wife listed as Effee Jane Gilchrist on the marriage record)

Mary McMillen, age 62 years, housekeeper, born in North Carolina (this is Minerva)

Ellen Johnson, age 60, born in South Carolina (I don’t have a clue who this is) Again, the place of birth changed.

By 1880 Minnie had married Jerome Richards. Spencer had married Effee Jane Gilchrist and disappeared off the face of the planet (at least until I find where they went). Minerva is found on that census living with Minnie and her family in District 1 and 2, Tunica County, Mississippi. Living in the household are:

J.E. Richards (Jerome), age 24 years, a farmer, born in Arkansas, both parents born in Tennessee (this last bit of information is, of course, wrong)

C.A. Richards (Minnie), age 21 years, wife, keeping house, born in Mississippi, father born in North Carolina (wrong), mother born in Tennessee (wrong)

J.E. Richards Jr (Jerome Jr), age 2 years, son, born in Mississippi, father born in Arkansas, mother born in Mississippi

M.H. McMillen (Minerva), age 70 years, grandmother (to Minnie), at home, born in Tennessee, both parents born in Virginia (not yet sure) The other people found living in the household are boarders: J.A. Matthews, Ellis Sholley and Barbary Shipp. Once again, the place of birth has changed for Minerva.

There is no census for 1890, of course. Jerome and Minnie are found living with their family in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee by 1900 and Minerva is not living with them. I feel it’s safe to assume that she died sometime between the 1880 census and the 1900 census, especially since I can’t find her on any 1900 census (unless she was nice and spry and remarried).

So, now I just need to find the families of Malcolm and Minerva. I also have a feeling that Effee Jane Gilchrist is somehow tied into either the McMillens, the Worshams or both.

Cornelia A McMillan (McMillen)-UPDATED

My relationship to Cornelia Ann McMillan:

Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)

James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)

Minnie Virginia Richards (great-grandmother)

Minnie DeMumbrie (2nd great-grandmother)

Cornelia Ann McMillan (3rd great-grandmother)

Cornelia Ann McMillan was born about 1833 in Tennessee to parents MC McMillan (about 1808-?) and Minerva (Manerva) Unknown (about 1810-?).

The US Federal Census did not record the names of every person in a household until 1850, though a handful of state census records did. Because of this the first census record that Cornelia can be found on is the 1850 US Census enumerated September 25, 1850 in District 14, Shelby County, Tennessee. She is shown as 18 years of age and her place of birth is Tennessee. She is listed as living with her parents MC (age 41 years) and Manerva (age 40 years). The family name is spelled McMillen. Also living with them is a man by the name of William P Day (age 24 years). It doesn’t appear that any of them have a job, though I can see on the 1850 Slave Schedule that MC is the owner of one slave, a black female (age 11 years).

Cornelia married (John) Spencer DeMumbrie sometime between September 25, 1850 and May 13, 1858, though I don’t know what state they married. On May 13, 1858 Cornelia gave birth to her daughter Minnie (whose name, judging by what I know now and matching it up to the initials on the 1860 census, may have been Cornelia Ann Minerva DeMumbrie).

The second, and final, census record that I can find Cornelia on is the 1860 US Census enumerated July 23, 1860 in Tunica, Tunica County, Mississippi. Cornelia is listed as C.A. and 27 years of age. Also listed in the household is her husband Spencer (listed as S., a farmer, age 38 years) and her daughter Minnie (listed as C.A.M., age 2 years).

I believe Cornelia passed between the time the 1860 census was enumerated and the time the 1870 census was enumerated since she is not found in 1870 with Spencer and Minnie, nor can I find her anywhere else. I don’t know her death date, nor where she is buried, though I assume in Tunica is where she died. If the plantation they lived on was washed away by the Mississippi River slowly eroding the land around it then it is quite possible her grave is now under water.

I’m still trying to locate more records for Cornelia’s parents. Once I find more I will update!

UPDATE

I just went back and looked at the 1870 census record for Spencer DeMumbrie in Tunica, Mississippi. I had forgotten that two older women in their 60’s were living in the household. One of the women was named Mary Mcmillen, age 62 years and born in North Carolina. I believe this Mary was Minerva (Manerva), Cornelia’s mother. Since she was listed as “House Keeper” she may have moved in to help raise Minnie, who was 13 years of age at the time, before Spencer married Effee Jane Gilchrist.

I also found Minerva (Manerva) living in Tunica, Mississippi with Minnie in 1880 after Minnie had married Jerome Richards. This census says that she was born in Tennessee rather than North Carolina as the other census records I found have said. Because her name is listed as M.H. McMillen (age 70 years) I am beginning to think that the spelling in my Granddaddy’s baby book of McMillan may be incorrect. I know that his baby book has Caroline McQueen’s first name spelled as Carolyn (see first photo above), which was incorrect.

Veteran’s Day 2011: James Paul Stalls, Jr

My Granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987) enlisted in the Seabees (US Navy) on November 4, 1943. When he told his mother Minnie Virginia Richards (1896-1974), she became very upset and worried. He told her that she had nothing to worry about because the Seabees went in after the fighting was over to rebuild. Shortly after telling her this an article appeared in the newspaper about the Seabees holding off an enemy until the troops arrived to defend.

Throughout his life Granddaddy went by his middle name Paul, but in the Seabees he was known as Jimmy.

Granddaddy was stationed in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. On the troop ship to the Aleutian Islands there were torpedo boats all around them. A lot of the men were crying, scared. Granddaddy decided to just go to sleep so that if they were hit by a torpedo he wouldn’t be awake for it.

Granddaddy fell in love with Alaska and years later wanted to return for a visit, but he never got the chance.

While he was stationed in the Aleutians he was assigned to the sign shop. Officers were impressed by his artistic talent and would ask him to do various artistic projects for them. As a result of these projects he and his friends were provided with special reserved seating for movies. There were frequent earthquakes in the Aleutians, and he said that it was difficult to watch a movie as the image would bounce from the ceiling to a wall and to another wall.

His best friend was William Yernipcut from Anadarko, Oklahoma. Once when Granddaddy and William were shooting craps, William refused to shoot. He told Granddaddy that friends don’t gamble against each other.

One day one of Granddaddy’s friends came into the sign shop to tell him that a Russian Navy ship had arrived at the harbor and there were women sailors aboard. Granddaddy had not seen a woman in so long that he ran right out to the dock. He said that there was only one woman on the deck waving to them. Even though it had been so long since he had seen a woman he still did not find this one attractive. He said, “She was the ugliest damn woman and had no teeth.”

Russian and American soldiers alike kept notebooks with them to exchange vocabulary. The pages of Granddaddy’s Seabee notebook are below.

James Paul Stalls, Jr WWII Russian Notebook

Wordless Wednesday: James Paul Stalls, Jr

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.

Mom’s Scrapbook: First Three Pages

My mother started saving this scrapbook in 1959. She thinks now that she should have called it her travel book because she saved a lot mementos from places she had been.

The first three pages:

The picture is of my mother, Virginia Marie Stalls, riding the lift to the top of Crockett Mountain. Why she never became a travel writer is beyond me when you read her most glowing and excellent review below. (just kidding!)

This picture and the pamphlets on the opposite page consist of Davy Crockett and his days. This picture was taken of me on Crockett Mountain in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the top of the mountain. From the top of this tall mountain you could see the Gatlinburg A., Nestle-In Motel, S&M Restaurant, and Smoky Laundry. Davy Crockett was born August 17, 1786. Davy is now, in 1959, 173 years old. He was born near Cove Creek, Tennessee and at the confluence of Limestone Creek and the Nolachuckey River. Soon Davy’s family moved to Cove Creek. In 1834 Davy’s gun “Betsy” was presented to him by the “Wings of Philadelphia”. You can visit Crockett Mountain in Gatlinburg or his home in Morristown, Tennessee.

Andrew Johnson National Monument government pamphlet. Below you can see why she should have become a political writer. (again, just kidding!)

Andrew Johnson was the 17th president of the United States. He became president after Lincoln was shot. Andrew was born in Raleigh, N.C. 1808. And was a Rep.

Brochure to visit boyhood home of “Our Frontier Hero Davy Crockett” and a Davy Crockett brochure with a map.

Category: Stalls Family

James Paul Stalls, Jr by Milloy 1918

Pearl Harbor Day (aka Semi-Wordless Wednesday-Part Two)

Peter McQueen 1.0

Malcolm McMillen and Minerva Worsham

Cornelia A McMillan (McMillen)-UPDATED

Veteran’s Day 2011: James Paul Stalls, Jr

Wordless Wednesday: James Paul Stalls, Jr

Mary J “Annie” Bondurant

Solving One Mystery Can Lead To Another

Mom’s Scrapbook: First Three Pages

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