Maude Mae Jones, c. 1925/1930
Telephone Exchange
Pine Apple, Wilcox County, Alabama
Mary McGibboney
note: photo of Mary McGibboney used with permission from Ann Woodson. photo of headstone used with permission from Virginia Albrecht.
My relationship to Mary McGibboney:
Me
Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)
Ruth May Craft (grandmother)
Henry Corbit Craft (g-grandfather)
Epanetes “Eppy” Willhite (gg-grandmother)-not exactly sure how her first name is spelled!
Mary McGibboney (ggg-grandmother)
Mary McGibonney was born May 1, 1822 in Guilford County, North Carolina to parents David McGibboney and Elizabeth Allison (note: the marriage record of David and Elizabeth have Elizabeth listed as “Ellison”). Though Mary doesn’t appear on a census record by name until 1850, her father is shown in 1820 and 1830 as living in Guilford County, North Carolina.
By 1840 Mary had moved with her parents to Warren County, Tennessee.
On September 11, 1849 Mary McGibboney married William M Willhite in White County, Tennessee. She gained a (step)son, James E Willhite, from William’s first marriage to Jane Bennett.
In 1850 the little family is found living in District 8, White County, Tennessee. Mary is listed as 28 years of age, born in North Carolina. She is listed as a person over the age of 20 years that cannot read and write. William is listed as 28 years of age, born in Tennessee and a farmer (who could read and write). James E is listed as 5 years of age and born in Tennessee.
In 1860 the family was still living in District 8, White County, Tennessee, Post Office New Ark. The family had grown considerably by then. Both Mary and William are listed as 38 years of age. The children living in the household are: James E (age 15 years), Elizabeth J (age 9 years), Barcelona (age 8 years), Martha C (age 7 years), John D (age 5 years) and William D (age 2 years). Something interesting to note is that according to the census William had no real estate and $200 personal estate. The household listed just before his family had Daniel England who owned $8,000 in real estate and $12,000 in personal estate. Just below William and Mary’s family is John Willhite who owned $600 in real estate and $400 (if I am reading that correctly) in personal estate. My first guess is that William Willhite probably worked for Daniel England, but then again he could have lived on John Willhite’s land and worked for him.
By 1870 the family had moved across to West Tennessee. They are found living in Civil District 8, Humphreys County, Tennessee, Post Office Waverly. James E had already left home at the time. Mary and William are both listed as 48 years of age. William’s occupation is farm laborer and Mary is “keeping house”. The children living in the household are: Elizabeth J (age 18 years), Bossey L (Barcelona, age 17 years), Martha C (age 16 years), John D (farm laborer, age 15 years), William D (farm laborer, age 12 years), Eppenetus (“Eppy”, age 9 years) and Travis P (age 5 years). Something I found curious about this census record is that Mary is marked as “deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic”.
I am unable to find Mary on the US Federal Mortality Schedule, but from her headstone in Shannon Cemetery/Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Humphreys County, Tennessee I know that she died on March 7, 1879 when her youngest, Travis, was only 16 years of age.
W.M
WILLHITE
HIS WIFE
MARY WILLHITE
BORN MAY 1 1822
DIED MAR 7 1879
I wish I knew more about Mary McGibboney. I know she was loved dearly by her family and is buried alongside most of them.
Shannon Cemetery, Hurricane Mills, Tenn.-Willhite, Craft, Baker, Shannon and Pickard
Well, this is one of the more interesting posts I’ve done on a cemetery. When my mom and I were up in Hurricane Mills, Humphreys County, Tennessee with my great-aunt Kat a little over a month ago we were directed to the Shannon Cemetery (also known as the Pleasant Valley Cemetery) by my cousin Ann. We went there to find Crafts, and we ended up finding a lot of Willhites, too. I wasn’t able to take photos of all of the headstones in the cemetery, but I did get all of the Willhites, Crafts and a few others, including Pickards (which tie into my Cathey and Craft lines!).
The following are the photos I was able to get. I can’t wait to go back! I put as much information about the family relations as I could find. Also, if I was able to find a cause of death (from death certificates or records) I added that.
note: my relationship to the Willhite family is:
Me
Virginia Marie Stalls (my mom)
Ruth May Craft (grandmother)
Henry Corbit Craft (great-grandfather)
Eppy (Epanetes) Willhite (gg-grandmother), daughter of William M. Willhite and Mary McGibboney.
Jennie Willhite 1892-1909, daughter of William Harrison Willhite and Mary Elizabeth Jones.
Cause of death was consumption.
Unknown Child Willhite, born 1896, son of William Harrison Willhite and Mary Elizabeth Jones.
James Calvin Willhite, Jr (Buddie) 1926-1931, son of James Calvin Willhite, Sr and Bessie Mae Page.
Cause of death was purulent pericarditis (secondary to pneumonia).
Willie Bryan Willhite 1914-1943, son of Christopher Columbus Willhite and Mary Stella Hodge.
Cause of death was lobar pneumonia.
Jimmie C. (James Calvin)Willhite (Sr) 1903-1967, son of Christopher Columbus Willhite and Mary Stella Hodge.
Bessie Mae Willhite 1910-1968, daughter of Jefferson Nathaniel Page and Adelia Bowman.
C.C. (Christopher Columbus) Willhite 1869-1937, son of James E. Willhite and Easter S. Baker.
Cause of death was carcinoma of lower lobe of right lung
(Mary) Stella Willhite 1882-1917 (death certificate lists parents as Calaway Hodge and Elline Hodge, but I have yet to find either of those names on a census with Stella, let alone Stella herself in 1900).
Cause of death was tuberculosis of the lungs.
Unknown Willhite, died October 1908.
Infant Willhite 1906-1906, daughter of Christopher Columbus Willhite and Mary Stella Hodge.
Dorris Willhite, born and died June 28, 1927, son of Bell Willhite and Ollie Page.
Easter Willhite 1847-1924, daughter of William Baker and Mary Ann Willhite.
Cause of death was scrofula of lungs and old age.
James E. Willhite 1839-1912 (there appears to be an issue with who his parents are-there are several James E. Willhites all born about the same time, but no one has actual birth dates for any of them. He was born in White County, according to his death record.)
note: my cousin Ann told me that James E. Willhite's parents are William M. Willhite and his first wife, possibly Jane Bennett (I think I have that right!).
Cause of death was old age.
Bell Willhite 1900-1974, son of William Harrison Willhite and Mary Elizabeth Jones.
Ollie (Adelia) Page Willhite 1901-1981, daughter of Jefferson Nathaniel Page and Adelia Bowman.
Mary E. (Elizabeth) Willhite 1869-1942, daughter of Jimmie Jones and Unknown.
Cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis.
W.H. (William Harrison) Willhite 1866-1936, son of James E. Willhite and Easter Baker.
Cause of death was cancer of the liver.
Ella Willhite 1900-1917, daughter of William Harrison Willhite and Mary Elizabeth Jones.
Cause of death was cerebrospinal fever with typhoid complications.
J.J.(Jesse) Boss Willhite 1887-1913, son of William Harrison Willhite and Mary Elizabeth Jones.
(John) J.D. Willhite 1855-1894, son of William M. Willhite and Mary McGibboney.
Cynthia E. (Ellen) Willhite 1842-1934, daughter of William Harris and Margaret Shannon.
Cause of death was was not listed on her death certificate, but it was probably old age.
Mary Craft Smith 1901-1982, daughter of James Monroe Craft and Mary Alice Green.
Evie Craft Beecham 1910-2008, daughter of James Monroe Craft and Mary Alice Green.
Frances Baker 1885-1915, daughter of Unknown, wife of Perry Baker.
Dr. James J. (Joseph) Shannon (Jr) 1862-1929, son of James Joseph Shannon, Sr and Nancy Young.
Cause of death was chronic interstitial nephritis.
Josie B. Shannon 1880-1969, daughter of John D. Willhite and Cynthia Ellen Page.
(Henry) Franklin Pickard 1899-1904, son of James David Pickard and Dicey Elizabeth Dunn.
Obie Pickard 1899-1901, son of John Franklin Pickard and Elvie Miranda Dunn.
Wordful Wednesday: Martin Stove & Range Company, Florence, Alabama
So, the stove was finished last week and I am super excited about it.
Originally I tried using naval jelly on it to remove the rust, but it actually didn’t do anything. At all. So my husband rented a sandblaster! And it worked so well that we now have stove part shapes sandblasted onto our driveway.
But that’s ok.
So anyway, the stove is rust free and painted. And sitting in my dining room.
You want to know what is so special about this stove? Well, I will tell you:
This stove is a Martin Stove & Range Company (Florence, Alabama) wood burning stove. It had been sitting upside-down behind a house in Hurricane Mills, Humphreys County, Tennessee for years. The house it sat behind was a house that my great-great grandmother Margaret Elizabeth “Lizzie” Summers lived in at one point. I do not yet know what year this stove was produced, so I can’t be certain if she used this stove. HOWEVER, because of the dates when the stove was most likely made (based on information from the grandson of Mr. Martin of Martin Stove & Range Company) AND based on the dates when Lizzie lived in the house it is highly probable that she did use this stove.
No matter, though, it’s an awesome stove that was in a house where she lived.
I love the little heart detail all over the stove. Hearts on the legs, in the corners and on the door. There are still cracks that need to be repaired, but that will come in time.
I think it looks pretty awesome in my dining room!
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 16th 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)
JC
Joseph Bondurant (Seal)
Daniel B Hunt (Seal)
Special Project: Wood Burning Stove
Martin Stove & Range Company, Florence, Alabama.
Date still unknown (though I am awaiting a call back!).
Before:
During:
After:
Coming Soon!
The Frazer Family in Kentucky ca. 1909
I wish I knew what newspaper this write-up was in, or the year (though from the article we know the photograph was taken in 1909). I’m actually not even sure why this was written, except to announce the children all lived to adulthood.
Realizing that they had been blessed to the limit of God’s goodness in the gift of twelve children, all living and all highly respected men and women who with their respected parents appear in the above picture the proud father and mother concluded for once since their birth to have them home for a family reunion, which took place at their home near Dalton, Ky., July 11th, 1909, when the above picture was made. Surely there are few parents in Kentucky so fortunate to rear to noble man and womanhood, an even dozen children to call them blessed. The re-union was a happy and long-to-be-remembered one with every member present and in splendid health.
They are, from left to right, bottom row, Annie L. born Nov. 12th, 1871; Lizzie O. born Jan. 6th, 1878; the father, Thos.. A Frazer born Jan. 22nd, 1835; the mother, Mary J. Frazer, born March 24th, 1849; Kitty H. born Jun 11th, 1883; an Mattye B. born Oct. 23rd, 1892.
Top row, left to right, Jos. H. born Jan. 1st, 1868; Dr. T. Atchison, a highly respected physician, of Marion, and president of the board of health, bon Nov. 12th, 1869; Isaac S. born Nov. 17th, 1871; Jno. S. born Nov. 1875; Thadens A. born Nov. 18th, 1880; Wm. A. born July 3rd, 1884; Clifton R. born Oct. 19th, 1887; and George P. born May 1st, 1890.
Three of the twelve children were born in January, 1 in May, 1 in July, 2 in October and five in Novembe. If there be a more remarkable family than this in Kentucky let their pictures appear.
The Search Continues…
At this point I have pretty much exhausted my searches for direct family members in 1940 with the exception of my granddaddy, his parents and grandparents in Memphis, Tennessee. I will just need to wait for the census records to be indexed because I just cannot figure out where everyone was!
I spent most of yesterday making phone calls in order to find records pertaining to Acra Archie Cathey’s death. Since the murder happened in Madison County, Tennessee I called the Madison County Archives, the Madison County Circuit Court and the Madison County Sheriff Department. The gentleman at the archives searched and then called to let me know he hadn’t found anything but would resume his search on Monday. The Sheriff Department said that they had nothing and assumed I was looking in the wrong county. The circuit court told me that I would have to call the archives (which, by the way, the archives said that if they don’t have anything then the circuit court should).
Since originally Gibson County, Tennessee was where everyone thought his body had been found I made a phone call to the Gibson County Sheriff Department (though I may need to call the Humboldt Police, since I think that may have been the department that responded to the initial call). I left a message for an investigator, and I am waiting for a call back.
The final calls I made were to the FBI. It is the family’s understanding that the evidence found had been sent to the FBI for testing. I first called the Jackson office in Madison County. The agent I spoke with initially seemed slightly excited, asking if I had new evidence. He then seemed slightly down when I told him I didn’t have new evidence but was instead searching for information. He had said that I would have to request information from the headquarters. I tried to look it up, but I couldn’t find who to contact. So I called the Memphis headquarters of the FBI and left a message for an agent. Man, the FBI are super prompt! I got a call back within an hour from an agent. He told me exactly how to request the information. So later today I will do that. I’m really hoping that the evidence was sent to the FBI so that I could get the report on what they found, if anything.
I’m bound and determined to find out what happened. Since I am fairly certain that all parties involved are now deceased (from Acra to the investigating Sheriff, including those that murdered Acra) I feel that it should be a bit easier to find the information than it is seeming to be. In fact, because no one seems to have any records on the case, it makes me believe the family story that there may have been a political cover-up. And that really saddens me. To think that this man, a man who was loved so much by everyone he knew, was brutally murdered and then thrown out on the highway, the murder weapon and other evidence found in a suspect’s vehicle and the suspect(s) released-no other information about it to be found-a man who had a wife and young children who, after his death, felt the need to leave the State of Tennessee out of fear…to think that his murder may never be resolved is heartbreaking. I hope to find the truth before his last living children pass.
Last Saturday my great-aunt Kat, my mother and I went to the cemetery where Acra is buried. We left two red roses on his grave. Kat stood there and cried. She said her Uncle Acra was the sweetest, kindest man and she sure did miss him.
The Road to Nolan Cemetery
The road to Nolan Cemetery, Hurricane Mills, Humphreys County, Tennessee.
On the Death of Acra Archie Cathey
These newspaper articles prove that Acra Archie Cathey, my great-grandmother’s brother, was not hit by a car as his death certificate states. In fact, it appears something sketchy was going on, especially when the death certificate and the facts of the case contradict each other. I’m curious to see if I can find any police reports or court reports regarding the case.
I have transcribed the articles exactly how they were published, including the incorrect names of family members and misspellings.
Jackson-Sun, Front Page and Page 5
January 1, 1945
Sheriff Investigates Death Of Man Found Near Gibson Line
Sheriff Tom Lewis stated today that he is holding a man listed as James A. McKenzie in cnonection with an investigation into the death of Acra A. Cathey, 51-year-old World War I veteran, whose body was found near the Gibson county line Sunday morning.
Cathey’s head appeared to have been hit by a blunt instrument, Sheriff Lewis said, the blow causing death. Officers believe that the body was then placed on the highway to make it appear that he was the victim of a hit-run driver.
Sheriff Lewis stated that a hammer was found in a car belonging to McKenzie, and that other items found there indicated there may be a close connection between the man’s death and occupants of the car.
Cathey’s body was found by an unidentified person and the find reported to Hunt Funeral Home in Humboldt. Sheriff Doe Garrison of Gibson county, some of his deputies and police officers of Humboldt first took up the investigation in the belief that Cathey had been found in that couny. Later investigations, however, disclose that the body was in Madison county and Sheriff Lewis was notified.
Officers found Cathey’s empty pocket book some feet from the body, leading to the theory that robbery may have been a cause of his death.
Tracing the movements of the car’s passengers, Sheriff Lewis reports that McKenzie and a woman giving her name as Mrs. Mary Depriest of Georgia spent the night in Humboldt. Mr. and Mrs. “Red” Glover, who are said to have been with them for a time, returned to Jackson.
While investigating the Humboldt angle of the matter, Sheriff Lewis was notified that a man was trying to drive the car from its parking place on the highway. Returning to the car, Sheriff Lewis found McKenzie and took him into custody.
Sheriff Lewis said at noon today that he is continuing the investigation with the assstance of Sheriff Garrison and other officers and hope to solve the case in the near future.
Cathey, who was born and reared in Hickman County, Tenn., served as a sergeant of Company B, 11th Infantry, during World War I. He moved to Humboldt soon after his discharge, and was married to Miss Annie Lou Prickard. He had engaged in farming.
Surviving are his wife; three daughters, Dorothy E. Cathey, Annie R. Cathey and Ruby Frances Cathey, of Humboldt; a son, Arthur D. Cathey of Humboldt; his mother, Mrs. Lizzie Smith of Waverly; a sister, Mrs. C. A. Daniels of Martin; two half-sisters, Mrs. Granville Baker of Waverly and Mrs. J. W. Rushing of Martin; two brothers, G. A. Cathey of Memphis and W. R. Cathey of Detroit, Mich.; and a half-brother, Walton Smith of Waverly.
Funeral services were held in Humboldt this afternoon at the chapel of Hunt Funeral Home with the Dr. S. R. Woodson, pastor of the First Baptist church of Humboldt, officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Zion cemetery.
Jackson-Sun, Front Page
January 5, 1945
Release M’Kenzie On Own Recognizance In Cathey Investigation
Sheriff Tom Lewis announced today that he has released James A. McKenzie of Jackson and Mrs. Mary Depriest of Georgia on their own recognizance pending outcome of an investigation into the death of Acra A. Cathey of Humboldt.
Mr. and Mrs. Bedford Glover had already been released in a similar manner as material witnesses to events preceeding the finding of Cathey’s body on the Humboldt Highway a short distance from the Gibson county line.
Sheriff Lewis stated that there is a necessary time lag at this point while certain tests needed in the inquiry can be made and their results known.