Digging Up Your Family

Hill’s Horse Meat and a Mystery Photograph

Here’s a random ad I found for Hill’s Horse Meat. I don’t know how old this particular ad is, but I am guessing 1940s.

Not only is it healthful, it’s also nourishing! Not only is it economical, but it is also high in value! And if that doesn’t persuade you to buy it you should also know it’s easy to use! It doesn’t say that your dog will love it, though.

Now for the mystery photograph. Amongst the belongings of my stepfather, Edward Kenneth Albrecht (1949-2004), was this photograph.

The moment was captured at the Ansley Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The photograph was tucked inside of this sleeve:

The back of the sleeve:

We know the picture was taken sometime after 1953. According to the Atlanta History Center the Ansley Hotel was sold to the Dinkler hotel in 1953 and the name of the hotel was eventually changed to Dinkler Plaza Hotel.

Do you know who these people are? My mom is guessing one of them is Ed’s mother, Eunice Mozelle Matthews, but she isn’t certain.

Katie Clady Cathey

Katie Clady Cathey was born on December 18, 1897 in Indian Bayou, Lonoke County, Arkansas to parents William Glenn Cathey (1861-1906) and Margaret Elizabeth “Lizzie” Summers (1870-1952). She was the only child of her family that was not born in Tennessee.

On the 1900 census Katie is living in Indian Bayou with her parents and three older brothers: Riley, Acra Archie and George Arlee. She is listed as two years old. The occupation of her father is, if I am reading this correctly, “tipping blocks”. I’m not really sure what that means. Under occupation for her brother Riley it says “play only”, which is pretty amusing. This census also says that Katie was born in December of 1887.

By 1910 Katie’s father had passed away. When the census was enumerated that year she was living in Humphreys County, Tennessee with her widowed mother; older brothers Acra Archie (listed as “Alvy”) and George Arlee, both of who were employed as farm laborers; and younger siblings Ludie Mae (listed as “Lorine”), William Richard and Maggie.

(note about Maggie: on the 1910 census it has Maggie Cathey age 2 1/2 years. on the 1920 census, after Lizzie remarried to Bill Smith, there is a Maggie Smith age 9 years. I am not sure at this point if they are the same Maggie or two different Maggies. some sources have said that Lizzie married Bill in 1909, yet he is not living with her and her last name is still Cathey on the 1910 census. Maggie on this census may still be his and they may be the same person.)

Katie Clady Cathey married Henry Corbett Craft on July 18, 1915 in Humphreys County, Tennessee.

It took a while to find the family on the 1920 census. One reason, though not the most obvious for location difficulty, is that their name is written in as “Croft”. Their first names made the search take longer, though. Henry Corbett is named as “Aubrey”, though the reason behind that is not apparent to me right now. Katie is listed as “Katty”. That’s not terribly different, so I think the Aubrey threw off the search. On this census Katie and Corb are living in Gibson County, Tennessee with two daughters, Nettie Sue (2 years and 10 months) and Louise (one month).

On October 25, 1923 we know that Katie gave birth to a stillborn daughter. The cause of death was due to strangulation. This child, who was not named, was buried in Bethel Cemetery in Gibson County, Tennessee.

I think the 1930 census is by far the most fun to deal with. Family Search has the last name correct as Craft. Ancestry has it as “Eraft”. I can see, kind of, where the transcriber would see the C as an E, though. The family is living in Madison County, Tennessee. Katie’s name on the census is listed as “Kati”. Her children living with them are Nettie S (age 13), Louise (age 10), Maggie N (age 8), my grandmother Ruthie M (age 4 years and 7 months, listed as “Raethi” on Family Search and “Rarthi” on Ancestry) and Jessie P (age 1 1/2 years).

Katie Clady Cathey passed away November 25, 1935 in Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee from peritonitis due to a ruptured appendix. She was buried in Double Springs Cemetery in Gibson County, Tennessee. As far as I know there is no headstone for Katie.

Katie and Corb had at least three more children after 1930: Mary Katherine in 1931 and twins, one named John, in 1934. John’s twin, as we understand it, was a stillborn calcified fetus, not very large. Katie or my grandmother apparently buried the twin in a kitchen matchbox.

We are not really sure how many other stillborn children Katie may have had. The doctor had told her that she should not get pregnant anymore because it could kill her, but she did anyway.

Katie worked in fields and picked cotton. My grandmother, who adored her mother, was always with her “fast on her heels”. Katie was a dog lover, too. Katie was a religious woman who once said “damn” and fell to her knees begging my grandmother and God for forgiveness.

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.

Will Knoles

Before I get started on Will Knoles I just want to put out there that I cannot verify that all of these records are the same person. I also can’t verify that all of these records pertain to the person my granddaddy, James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987) viewed as a father figure. That said, tracking African American families can be a very difficult task. Due to social views of the times it appears that it was not as important to document our African American citizens. So what follows is what I have found and what I know.

On the 1910 Memphis, Tennessee census Will Knoles is found living with the Richards family. He is documented as Black, age 22 years, born in Alabama. His occupation is servant. He is single. It says that his parents were both born in the United States, but it doesn’t give an exact location. I don’t know if this means that he didn’t know, or the enumerator didn’t care. Will is able to read and write. He is working on his own account. He had been out of work for 8 weeks in 1909.

With that information I can only assume that the “Old Will” my granddaddy spoke about so fondly is Will Knoles. Of course, if it is, then we can’t figure out why my granddaddy would refer to him as “old” being that he was only 29-30 years older than granddaddy (unless, as my mother pointed out, any adult was seen as old…and of course, the older Granddaddy became the older Will would get, too!). I also can’t figure out where he was living when my granddaddy was small since he is not found on the 1920 census (but then of course, neither is my granddaddy! Maybe they were off together somewhere!).

When searching for Will Knoles born in Alabama about 1887/1888 I find a 1900 census record enumerated in Girard, Russell County, Alabama. On this census “Willie” Knoles is 13 years old and living with his grandparents, Frankney Knoles(66 years), a day laborer, and Axie Knoles(57 years) and his siblings, Charlie Knoles (10 years), Alburta Knoles (8 years) and Lewsile Knoles (6 years). Interestingly enough living next door to them are “Pe Ke” Knoles and Sallie Knoles. I suspect that “Pe Ke” is Willie’s uncle, Frankney and Axie’s son. Axie is listed as being the mother of two children, one of whom is still living.

The only other record I can find of this family is in 1910 in Girard, Russell County, Alabama. The family, now listed as “Knowles”, consisted of head-of-household “Frank”(79 years, now widowed), son “PK” (32 years, also widowed), grandson Charlie (19 years), granddaughter Alberta ( 18 years) and granddaughter Jennie (16 years).

So, back to Will.

The next time I am able find anything for Will Knoles is a WWI Draft Registration Card, signed in 1917 (the year my granddaddy was born). The information provided on this document is: his name is Will Knoles, age 28, and he lives at 519 Edith Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. His birthday is September 15, 1889 (which is a reason I question the 1900 census as being him seeing as it gives a birthdate of May 1887-unless his grandparents just didn’t know). He is shown as a “natural born” citizen and it shows his place of birth as Memphis, Tennessee (again, raising questions since the 1910 census says he was born in Alabama). He works as a concrete finisher for James Perryman. He is married with a wife, children and brother that are solely dependent on him for support. He is shown as “negro” and has not served in the military, nor is he exempt from draft. He is 5’2 and of medium build with dark hair, dark eyes and he is not bald. It doesn’t actually say if he has all of his appendages, but we will assume he does.

So, is this the same “Old Will”?

The only other record I can find for any Will Knoles born around 1887-1889 in Alabama listed as “Black” is the 1930 census enumerated in Miami, Florida. This man is listed as “William Knowles” and it says that he was 34 years old the first time he was married. I don’t believe that this is our guy at all, but strange that he is the only other person with a similar name, date of birth and place of birth as who I am looking for.

So what ever happened to “Old Will”? Where are his descendants? Granddaddy used to follow him around everywhere he went. He taught him how to catch birds with a box, a stick and a string. Granddaddy’s grandmother, Minnie, would have “Old Will” catch birds in the yard for her to cook. They used to hunt rabbits on the land around what is now Graceland.

I will keep looking for him and his family. I hope I can find them.

Louise Craft

Louise Craft was the daughter of Henry Corbett Craft and Katie Clady Cathey. She was born on December 12, 1919 in Gibson County, Tennessee. Louise only lived to the age of 26 years, so I don’t really have any stories about her.

Louise can be found on the 1920 census in Gibson County, Tennessee. It has her listed as a month old. Her sister, Nettie Sue, is also on the census, listed age 2 years and 10 months. Her parents are listed as “Katty” and “Aubrey”. The family’s surname is misspelled as “Croft”. I have no idea why Henry Corbett is listed as “Aubrey”.

In 1930 Louise is on the District 3, Madison County, Tennessee census. She’s 10 years old and living with her father, listed as Henry C Craft; her mother, listed as Katie Craft; and her siblings: Nettie S (age 13), Maggie N (age 8), Raethi M (misspelled or misread, actually Ruthie M, age 4) and Jessie P (age 1). (Ancestry has them listed as surname “Eraft”)

Louise married AG Harris (born in Gibson County, Tennessee 1915/1916-possibly 2010). Together they had a daughter, Wretha Jane Harris, on January 26, 1939 in Gibson County, Tennessee. At age one month and eleven days, on March 7, 1939, Wretha Jane died in Gibson County, Tennessee of streptococcus endocarditis.

Louise was admitted into John Gaston Hospital, the Memphis City “charity” hospital, in Memphis, Tennessee on December 29, 1945. Four days later, on January 2, 1946 at 8:30pm, Louise passed away from toxemia (“type and cause undetermined”) due to lung abscesses and basilar meningitis.

Louise Craft is buried in Double Springs Cemetery in Gibson County, Tennessee. Also buried in Double Springs is her daughter, Wretha, and her parents, Henry Corbett Craft and Katie Clady Cathey.

Augustus Powell

I am at a total loss for Augustus Powell. I really hope someone pops up with more information on him than what I have.

The first time I have been able to find Augustus Powell is on the Indiana State Library Genealogy Database (thank you Mary Taylor for pointing me in that direction!). On June 15, 1845 Augustus married Alice Bean (1824-?) in Union County, Indiana. His name was recorded as, or misread as, Augustus Powers and Alice’s name was spelled “Allice”. As Mary Taylor pointed out, the handwriting may have been difficult to read on the marriage record.

The US census records didn’t start recording all family members separately until 1850 (though a few states that had their own census reports did). It is on the 1850 census that I find Augustus alive (for certain). He is listed as living in Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana. His wife is Alice and he has two children, Hepseba (Hepsy)-daughter, age 2 years, and “Alameen” (Alanson)-son, age 1 month. We learn from this census record that Augustus was born in Pennsylvania. He was also a carpenter. The age given for him is 24 years, putting his birth about 1826. One of his neighbors, interestingly enough, is a John B Powell, age 40 years, married to Caroline (maiden surname unknown). John was also from Pennsylvania. He was also a carpenter and something else, but I can’t quite make it out (possibly a jailer? I don’t know!). Living in his household was Elijah Brewington or Bronington, age 31 years, Hester Ann Brewington or Bronington, age 8 years, and Louisa Ann Powell, age 8 years. Elijah was a teamster.

I am sure that Augustus and John are related, but I cannot figure out how.

I can find no other record of Augustus alive. He is not on the 1860 census. HOWEVER, between 1850 and 1860 two more children were born: Sarah A Powell (1852-?) and John Powell (1853-1923). John’s death certificate lists his parents as August Powell and Alice Bean (though the handwriting looks like “Breens”).

Augustus is also not on the 1870 census, but by then Alice has had another child, Frederick (1862-1939). Alice is widowed at this point. Frederick’s death certificate says that his mother is Alice Bean, but it says his father is William Powell.

Is this a clue? Maybe his real name is William Augustus. Or maybe Augustus did pass and Alice married a William Powell in late 1860 or 1861 that passed before 1870. Or maybe she had her last child out of wedlock. I just don’t know. I have looked up every imaginable mix of names I could think of. I cannot find this guy anywhere! I have found several men named William Augustus Powell, but the dates and locations don’t match up with mine. I have not yet located the death records of Hepsy, Alanson and Sarah to see how their father’s name is listed.

Augustus Powell is my 4th great-grandfather through his daughter Hepsy.

I would really like to be able to trace this family back further. If anyone has any information,PLEASE let me know!

Minnie DeMumbrie

On May 13, 1858 Minnie DeMumbrie was born in Mississippi, most likely in Tunica, to (John) Spencer DeMumbrie (1821-?)and Cornelia A McMillan (1833-before 1870). She was the granddaughter of Jean Baptiste DeMonbreun (1788-1872) and the great-granddaughter of Timothy Demonbreun (Jacques-Timothée Boucher, Sieur de Montbrun) (1747-1826), the man considered the “first citizen of Nashville”.

On the 1860 census in Tunica, Mississippi she is 2 years old and living with her parents on a plantation (value of the real estate was $10,000 and the value of the personal estate was $6000). Her father is listed as “S. DeMumbrie”, a farmer, her mother is listed “C.A. DeMumbrie”. Minnie is listed as “C.A.M. DeMumbrie”. I read my aunt’s post on a genealogy forum that the full name of Minnie’s mother was Cornelia Ann Minerva McMillan. If so Minnie may have been named after her and “Minnie” may have been a nickname. Their neighbors in 1860 were the Owens family and the Roberts family.

In 1870 Minnie (listed as “Clara”) age 13, is living in Tunica, Mississippi with her father, who by now is widowed and listed as a “planter”, and three other people. Jane (Gilcris?) is one member of the household that, at some point, married Spencer. I believe Mary McMillan, listed as a housekeeper, is Minnie’s maternal grandmother. The third person is Ellen Johnson. I haven’t quite figured out how she is related to the family yet. She is listed as 60 years old and no occupation. The DeMumbrie’s neighbors are the Johnson family and the Richard’s family. Included in the Richards family is Jerome Richards, age 14-Minnie’s future husband.

By 1880 Minnie had married Jerome E Richards. The Tunica, Mississippi census for that year shows that she is listed as “C.A. Richards” and she is living with Jerome (a farmer), her son JE (Jerome Jr-Eddie), MH McMillan (her maternal grandmother again, I believe), and three others listed as farm laborers and a servant, or boarders: JA Matthews, Ellis Sholly and Barbara Shipp. Their neighbors are the Bullock family and, if I am reading it correctly, the Shearings family.

There is, of course, no record of the family for 1890.

In 1900 the Richards are living in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerome, by now the Chief of Police for the City of Memphis, and Minnie have five children: Eddie (Jerome Jr), Claud E, Bluford (Napoleon), Clegg, and Minnie (Virginia). Also living in the household are Frank Macon, John Smith and George Smith, who are all three listed as servants. This census also tells us that Minnie is the mother of six children, five of whom are living. The sixth child was George Richards, born in 1892 and died in 1894, no further information on him (buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee). The neighbors of the Richards family were the Kean family and the Piaggo family.

In 1905, on December 4th, Minnie watched in horror as her son, Claud E, shot himself in the parlor of their home. She held him in her arms as he lay dying.

The year 1910 leaves Minnie living with her husband Jerome, now a criminal court clerk, Bluford, Clegg, Minnie Virginia, cousin Dick Richards and servant, Will Knoles (post about him to come soon!). This census, too, was enumerated in Memphis, Tennessee. Their neighbors were the Borner family (if I am reading it correctly) and Old Widow Hall (Jane Hall).

By 1920 Minnie, now reported at age 61 and still residing in Memphis, Tennessee, is living with husband Jerome, son-in-law James Paul Stalls, Sr, daughter Minnie Virginia, son Bluford Napoleon, daughter-in-law Willie D and Nannie Taylor, servant/nanny. Oddly enough James Paul Stalls, Jr, Minnie’s grandson, who would have been 3 years old in 1920, isn’t on the census with them. I wonder where he was? The families that were their neighbors were the Borners and the Maingaults.

I found a property record that shows that Minnie sold a tract of land to a Nannie Brown on January 15, 1927. I can’t quite make out the record, but here is what I was able to get from it:

The _____ 33 1/3 feet of dist Eight, Block “B” of Stephens Subdivision beginning in _____ side of Wicks (Ave?) __5 1/2 feet _____ of H____ road. Hence _____ with Wick’s Avenue _____, 33 1/3 feet. Hence _____ 136 ?/10 feet to use _____; Hence _____ with said _____, 33 1/? feet; Hence northbound 136 8/10 feet to the point of beginning.

I will need to do more research, but I think that this Nannie Brown might be the nanny, Nannie Taylor, listed in the 1920 census with the family.

Minnie DeMumbrie passed away at 8:35pm on November 6, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of death was myocarditis, which, according to the death certificate, she suffered from for 2 years.

Minnie DeMumbrie is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

One story that my mother can remember her father telling her about Minnie: Granddaddy referred to Minnie as his “French Grandmother” and he told of how she would have Will Knoles trap birds (sparrows and such) in the yard. He said that she would keep the little dead yard bird bodies in the ice box. Apparently when he would eat chicken it reminded him of those little birds!

1952 Hudson Hornet and Hudson Wasp

Who doesn’t want a new Hudson Hornet or Hudson Wasp?

The couple is thrilled! At least, the man is. The woman seems to be looking in the distance at another car.

Isaac T Vincent

Many times when people begin researching their ancestors they have a very difficult time locating individual persons or entire families. Sometimes it’s just a matter of the ancestors not being in the location that the researcher believed. Other times it is due to mistakes made on paperwork, whether the fault of those mistakes fall on the person in charge of getting the correct information or the person giving the information.

This is one of those instances.

According to an 1854 record Isaac T Vincent was born in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on September 23, 1854 to John Vincent (1815-1865), a day laborer, and Paulina (Polina) Groves (1828-1880).

On the census taken in 1860 in District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Post Office: Greenville) he is listed as Isaac Vincent, age 6 years, living with his parents and siblings.

On the census taken in 1870 in Boggess, District 2, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky (Post Office: Greenville) he is listed as Isaac Vincient, age 14 years, living with his mother and siblings (his father, remember, passed away five years before) and his occupation was as a farm laborer. So in 10 years he managed to change the spelling of his last name AND shave 2 years off of his life.

I am unable to find him at all on the 1880 census (possibly due to further mangling of his name that I haven’t figured out yet), but he married Emmie (Emma) A Stewart in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on August 2, 1880.

There is also no record of him in 1890 due to the fire, damage and eventual government destruction of that particular census.

On the 1900 census for Boggess, District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky he appears again with his wife, having been married for 20 years, and 11 of his 12 children (the 12th child was not born until after 1900). His occupation is listed as farmer. His name on this census is correct, however his age is listed as 49 years. So he somehow aged an additional 3 years! The other family members listed on the 1900 census:

Emma A (wife) age 40

Martin R (son and my great-grandfather, Martin Riley) age 18

Linnie M (daughter) age 16

Ada P (daughter) age 15

Dely A (daughter) age 11

Pallis L (son) age 9

Viney E (daughter) age 8

Onea (daughter) age 6 (looks like “Oma” to me)

Sam H (son) age 5

Maggie M (daughter) age 2

Jennie (daughter) age 1

The 1910 census is even more exciting, and confusing. Here his name is Isace Vincent. He lives in District 1, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky with his wife, that he has now been married to for 28 years (losing 2 years from his marriage somehow), and 7 of his children. He is a farmer and his age is 53 years. So he not only lost the previous three years he had gained from ten years before, but he lost an additional three years! The other family members listed in the household in 1910:

Emma A (wife) age 50

Delia A (daughter) age 21

Palac L (son) age 19

Oma (daughter) age 16

Harrison (son, I’m guessing his name is Samuel Harrison, since the 1900 census had him as “Sam H”) age 15

Maggie M (daughter) age 13

Jennie (daughter) age 12

James S (son, the “S” looks like an “L” to me) age 7

The last census that Isaac Vincent is listed on is the 1920 census. On this census his name is Isac Venson. He is a farmer living with his wife and two of his children in District 1, Hopkins County, Kentucky. He is now 65 years old, having aged an extra two years from the last census, but still off a year from his birth. The family members living in the household with him are:

Emma (wife) age 59

Jennie (daughter) age19

Leslie (son, I assume that “James S” was actually “James L” and his name was “James Leslie”) age 15

In general when looking at census records the date that the census was enumerated compared to the birthdate of the individual can solve age inconsistencies. Many times the age of a person will be off by a year since most census records ask for the age at their last birthday. But for the age to be off by 2 or more years is a mistake that could have been avoided. When looking at the 1920 census compared to the 1910 census it can be seen that Jennie lost three years of her life somewhere and Leslie lost two years.

The other issue is how the names are spelled. We can see that Isaac’s name is spelled Isaac, Isace, Isac. Vincent is spelled Vincent, Vincient, Venson. On Emma’s death certificate it is spelled Vinson.

Sadly, this guy couldn’t catch a break even on his death certificate. Isaac T Vincent passed away in Depoy, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on December 31, 1921 at the age of 67 years and 3 months of influenza. The informant (I can’t make out the name) on his death certificate gave his birthdate as August 31, 1853, which we know from his birth record is wrong. They got his parents names correct, though!

Isaac was interred at Yeargins Chapel Cemetery in Graham, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky on January 1, 1922.

I am looking for pictures of Isaac T Vincent. I hope someone out there as one or two or more!

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!

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