1849 Journal of Algernon Hilton - Introduction

I grew up with parents who loved genealogy and history.  My dad was an electrician in Alexandria, Louisiana, and back in the 1960's while he was working in the attic of a customer, that gentleman showed him a handwritten journal that he had found in that very same attic of that house.  The problem was that the journal was written in a strange phonetic language that the finder of the journal could not read or understand.  I'm not sure how it all came about, but in the end, my parents were allowed to borrow the journal and my mother lovingly and painstakingly deciphered and typed the journal and put it into a nice book form.  The original went back to the finder of the journal, but I have in my possession the typewritten book my mother made.  Since I first began typing this introduction, I found xeroxed copies of the original journal among my mother's things, and I can now really appreciate what a laborious undertaking this really was!

The writer of the journal was a man named Algernon Hilton, and because so many of my early years were spent with my mother's work on the journal, Algernon Hilton felt like part of the family.  My sisters and I knew where Algernon was buried and visited him.  We knew where he had lived and went past his house.  Based on the date of a cover page my mother wrote, I believe her work was finished in 1970, when I would have been 12 years old.  That means the work was ongoing when I was younger than that, and my sisters were even younger.  I mention that as a preface to the fact that none of us ever read this journal at the time!  I don't know why, too young to read an adult book of so many words, I suppose.  Since my mother passed away, the book is now in my possession, and I have read it for the first time.  I now find it a fascinating historical look into the family of a man in the early years of my hometown, Alexandria, Louisiana.  It needs to be shared!

The book that my mother wrote includes a preface that also included Algernon Hilton's obituary in March, 1909; a glossary of some of the phonetic words used in the journal that were difficult to decipher; an index of the names and places mentioned in the journal; a diary from June 1849 through December 1849; expense records from January 1847 through February 1850; a short combined diary and expense record from June 1844 through January 1846; and many pages of prose and poetry, a few of which are identified by the author, most of which are not, but I have no way of knowing if Mr. Hilton wrote the ones that are not identified.

In this blog, I plan to copy the diary and a few other pages of the journal that may be of historical or genealogical interest or significance, beginning with the next post:

1849 Journal of Algernon Hilton - Obituary and Preface

Finally, Proof!

I am ecstatic to finally have what I consider to be proof that our Spence line descends from Robert Spence, and specifically, his son, Hugh Young Spence!  For 12 or so years I have searched for the father of my husband's great-great-grandfather, John Spence.  A few years ago, I finally decided I had enough circumstantial evidence to assume it was Hugh Young Spence.  Recently, my friend and Barkley cousin, Ken Wagers, found this photo among his mother's things.  It is a photo of Bernice McCalister Spence and her husband, Hugh Young Spence:

It's the old inscription on the back of the photo that really proves the relationship:  Aunt Bernice Spence and Uncle Hugh Spence.  The photo was owned and inscribed by Cora Barkley Nance, daughter of Anah Lucinda McCalister Barkley, Bernice's sister.

Hugh Young Spence was the fourth of twelve children of Robert Spence and Mary Ann Hall Spence.  His siblings were John, Robert Jr., Margaret, Mary, Nancy, William, Andrew Perry, Mary Jane, Samuel, Henry Tennessee, and David.

Following are brief family history reports showing the connection between my Barkleys and Spences.  Please feel free to comment or contact me as I may have more recent updates to these family trees.

Descendants of Hugh Young "Hewie" Spence

Hugh Young "Hewie" Spence, son of Robert and Mary Ann Hall Spence, was born 25 May 1827, in Laurens Co., South Carolina, and died 11 May 1913, in DeKalb Co., Alabama.  He married Bernice McCalister, daughter of John and Nicey McCalister.  She was born 18 July 1831, and died 26 February 1928, in Rosalee, Jackson Co., Alabama.

Children of Hugh Spence and Bernice McCalister are:
1. John W. Spence, born 03 December 1849, in South Carolina; died 18 May 1890, probably in Cherokee Co., Alabama, dying from yellow fever 7 days before his wife died.
2. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spence, born 28 October 1851, in South Carolina; died 28 January 1917.
3. Mary Jane Spence, born about 1854, in South Carolina; died before 1910.
4. Elip Spence, born 01 February 1859, in South Carolina; died 04 March 1896.
5. Martin V. Spence, born about 1864, in Georgia; died before 1910.
6. Rufus Spence, born 28 August 1868, in Polk Co., Georgia; died 01 September 1921, in Milton Co., Georgia.
7. Decie Spence, born 25 May 1871, in Georgia; died 07 January 1900.
8. James Ira Spence, born about 1874, in Alabama; died before 1910.
9. Dorah Spence, born about 1876, in Georgia; died before 1910.

Second Generation:

1. John W. Spence was born 03 December 1849, in South Carolina, and died 18 May 1890, probably in Cherokee Co., Alabama, dying from yellow fever.  He married Amanda Josephine Barkley on 11 January 1880, daughter of Jasper Barkley and Mary Rains.  She was born 28 December 1859, in Alabama, and died 25 May 1890, from yellow fever 7 days after her husband died.

Children of John Spence and Amanda Barkley are:
10. Pearl F. Spence, born December 1880, in Alabama; died 27 January 1903, in Hunt Co., Texas.  She married John F. Decker on 09 February 1902, in Hunt Co., Texas; he was born April 1873, in Arkansas.
11. Willie Jasper Spence, born 30 July 1885, in Cherokee Co., Alabama; died 08 October 1964, in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas.
12. Alonzo Hugh Spence, born 18 January 1889, in Cherokee Co., Alabama; died 17 May 1957, in Juarez, Mexico.

2. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spence was born 28 October 1851, in South Carolina, and died 28 January 1917.  She married David White.

Children of Elizabeth Spence and David White are:
13. Lucy Frances White, born 06 February 1882, in Jackson Co., Alabama; died 24 March 1951.
14. Eula White; she married Mr. Meeks.
15. Mattie White.

3. Mary Jane Spence was born about 1854, in South Carolina, and died before 1910.  She married John Garren.

Children of Mary Spence and John Garren are:
16. Howard Garren.
17. Arthur Garren.

4. Elip Spence was born 01 February 1859, in South Carolina.  He never married.  He went west and died 04 March 1896.

5. Martin V. Spence was born about 1864, in Georgia, and died before 1910.  He married Ida Elrod on 27 October 1889, in DeKalb Co., Alabama.

Children of Martin Spence and Ida Elrod are:
18. Foshen Spence; disappeared when young.
19. Horace Spence.

6. Rufus Spence was born 28 August 1868, in Polk Co., Georgia, and died 01 September 1921, in Milton Co., Georgia.  He married Cornelia Moore December 1889.  She was born 16 June 1869, in Georgia, and died 22 October 1950, in Fulton Co., Georgia.

Children of Rufus Spence and Cornelia Moore are:
20. Nora B. Spence , born about 1891.  She married Mr. Coleman.
21. Aytch B. Spence, born 24 August 1892; died 13 March 1963, in Fulton Co., Georgia.  He married Hattie Crowe.
22. Alvarado Spence, born about 1895.  She married Jeff Nuth.
23. Lizzie Spence, born about 1899.
24. Ena L. Spence, born about 1902.  She married Guy Tolbert.
25. Sallie Spence, born about 1906.  She married Chet Coleman.
26. William Cody Spence, born about 1909.
27. Rufus Jeff Spence, born 13 March 1911; died 17 October 1969.
28. Christine Spence, born about 1915; died about 1929.

7. Decie Spence was born 25 May 1871, in Georgia, and died 07 January 1900.  She married Hardy Smith on 29 September 1887, in DeKalb Co., Alabama.

Child of Decie Spence and Hardy Smith is:
29. Joe Smith.

Third Generation:

11. Willie Jasper Spence was born 30 July 1885, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 08 October 1964, in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas.  He married (1) Effie Gertrude Adams 19 August 1906, in Hunt Co., Texas, daughter of Henry Adams and Ellen Lowery.  She was born June 1891, in Texas, and died 05 October 1926, in Bowie, Montague Co., Texas.  He married (2) Dovie Huff 26 July 1936, in Rains Co., Texas, daughter of James Huff and Mary Fuston.  She was born 12 September 1898, in Texas, and died 16 October 1963, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas.

Notes for Effie Gertrude Adams:
Effie died in a gruesome accident.  The family was moving to Mountain View, Oklahoma, when their truck broke down and they all transferred to the truck of Max Barker, who was traveling with them.  Effie and the children had to sit in the back of the truck.  Effie sat in a rocking chair facing the traffic behind.  They were traveling through Bowie, Texas, at night, when they went under a too-low bridge, and Effie was hit in the back of the head and nearly decapitated.  Burial: 07 October 1926, Elmwood Cemetery, Montague Co., Texas.

Children of Willie Spence and Effie Adams are:
30. Hallie J. Spence, born 01 June 1907, in Texas; died 31 August 1982.  She married (1) Silas Jabus Burleson between 1920 and 1925; he was born 28 September 1904, in Grand Saline, Texas; died 28 May 1960, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas.  She married (2) Lannie Moore after 1960.
31. Grace M. Spence, born 1909, in Texas; died 07 June 1939, of typhoid fever, in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.  She married Bryan Miller before February 1938.
32. Rachel May Spence, born 1910, in Texas; died 24 October 1970, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas.  She married Ernie Bunk Adair about 1925; he was born 09 August 1904, in Hopkins Co., Texas; died 18 March 1965, in Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., Texas.
33. Joe L. Spence, born 29 July 1913, in Parvin, Kaufman Co., Texas; died 18 August 2003.  He married Bennie Mersedese Davis 23 September 1933, in Mt. View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.
34. Raymond Eugene Spence, born 10 August 1915, in Rosser, Kaufman Co., Texas; died 24 August 1994, in Wood Co., Texas.  He married Verba Mae Richardson 20 June 1936, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas; born 23 December 1921, in Garden Valley, Texas; died December 2008, in Rains Co., Texas.
35. John Doss Spence, born 22 January 1918, in Texas; died July 2005.  He married (1) Lena Mae Williams; born 02 February 1920; died 17 July 2004.  He married (2) Lillian.
36. Stanley Jay Clark Spence, born 07 May 1921, in Texas; died 25 February 2012.  He married (1) Margaret Aileen Miller 21 February 1948, in Caddo Co., Oklahoma; she was born 22 October 1922; died 04 October 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He married (2) Janice LaTrell who was born 16 October 1930; died 01 June 1989.  He married (3) Anabelle Routin 10 August 1991.

Children of Willie Spence and Dovie Huff are:
37. Willie Ray Spence, born and died about 1938.
38. Barbara Ann Spence, born 06 July 1940, in Rains Co., Texas.

12. Alonzo Hugh Spence was born 18 January 1889, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 17 May 1957, in Juarez, Mexico.  He married Nettie F. Jennings 30 January 1909, in Kaufman Co., Texas, daughter of George and Lisa Jennings.  She was born 04 September 1894, in Tennessee, and died 31 May 1965, in Monrovia, Los Angeles Co., California.

Children of Alonzo Spence and Nettie Jennings are:
39. Thurman L. Spence, born 17 November 1909, in Texas; died 15 October 1974, in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles Co., California.  He married (1) Neva Belle Moore about 1935, in Clinton, Oklahoma, divorced in 1940, died 2003.  He married (3) Ernestine N. Anderson Schmid 27 December 1973, in Los Angeles, California; she was born in 1923.
40. Odessa Athelene Spence, born 05 September 1915, in Texas; died 04 January 1980, in Sacramento Co., California.  She married Theodore D. Bell; he was born 21 May 1913, in Illinois; died 29 June 1967, in Sacramento Co., California.

13. Lucy Frances White was born 06 February 1882, in Jackson Co., Alabama, and died 24 March 1951.  She married John Thornhill 17 March 1901.

Children of Lucy White and John Thornhill are:
41. Claude Emerson Thornhill, born 28 April 1902; died 08 September 1968, in New Home, Jackson Co., Alabama.
42. Mabel Gladys Thornhill, born 19 May 1904.  She married Gay Hembrie.
43. Ila Elizabeth Thornhill, born 06 June 1912.  She married Blake Peek.
44. John Ralph Thornhill, born 11 October 1916.  He married Maggie Ann Bouldin.

Descendants of Jasper Barkley

Jasper Barkley, son of  J. M. and Zilpha Rains Barkley, was born 16 March 1838, in Alabama, and died 26 March 1904, in Hunt Co., Texas.  He married Mary Elizabeth Rains 13 July 1856, in Cedar Bluff, Cherokee Co., Alabama, daughter of Larkin Rains.  She was born 17 January 1838, in South Carolina, and died 28 December 1905, in Hunt Co., Texas.

Children of Jasper Barkley and Mary Rains are:
1. Kinion Cicero Barkley, born 21 August 1857, in Alabama; died 30 October 1924, in Clay Co., Texas.
2. Amanda Josephine Barkley, born 28 December 1859, in Alabama; died 25 May 1890.
3. Andrew J. Barkley, born 19 September 1862, in Alabama; died in infancy.
4. Julia Florence Barkley, born 24 February 1864, in Alabama; died in infancy.
5. Theodosia Genevieve Barkley, born 01 September 1871, in Alabama; died after 1920.
6. Oscar Lee Barkley, born 30 December 1873, in Cedar Bluff, Cherokee Co., Alabama.
7. Leora Elizabeth Barkley, born 08 September 1876, in Alabama.  She married (1) Edgar Craig 09 June  1897; he died before 1900.  She married (2) George L. Barkley 24 December 1900, in Hunt Co., Texas; he was born January 1855, in Alabama; he died 11 August 1906.

Second Generation:

1. Kinion Cicero Barkley was born 21 August 1857, in Alabama, and died 30 October 1924, in Clay Co., Texas.  He married Sarah E. McDaniel 03 August 1879, daughter of Fleming and Sidney McDaniel.  She was born 10 November 1861, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 21 June 1937, in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Children of Kinion Barkley and Sarah McDaniel are:
8.  Burtis M. Barkley, born about 1881, in Alabama; died before 1910.
9.  Mertis R. Barkley, born about 1881, in Alabama; died before 1910.
10. Effie C. Barkley, born 02 November 1892, in Alabama; died 04 July 1967, in Clay Co., Texas.
11. Grover Cleveland Barkley, born 11 January 1885, in Alabama; died 04 March 1938, in Wichita Co., Texas.  He married Clara about 1924; she was born about 1901 in Tennessee.

2. Amanda Josephine Barkley was born 28 December 1859, in Alabama, and died 25 May 1890.  She married John W. Spence 11 January 1880, son of Hugh Spence and Bernice McCalister.  He was born 03 December 1849, in South Carolina, and died 18 May 1890.

Children of Amanda Barkley and John Spence are:
12. Pearl F. Spence, born December 1880, in Alabama; died 27 January 1903, in Texas.  She married John F. Decker 09 February 1902, in Hunt Co., Texas; he was born April 1873, in Arkansas.
13. Willie Jasper Spence, born 30 July 1885, in Cherokee Co., Alabama; died 08 October 1964, in
Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas.
14. Alonzo Hugh Spence, born 18 January 1889, in Cherokee Co., Alabama; died 17 May 1957, in
Juarez, Mexico. 

5. Theodosia Genevieve Barkley was born 01 September 1871, in Alabama, and died after 1920.  She married (1) James H. Hewitt 23 October 1887, in Cherokee Co., Alabama.  He died 14 January 1889.  She married (2) H. Frank Phillips 12 July 1891.  He was born May 1864, in Georgia, and died between 1907 and 1910.

Child of Theodosia Barkley and James Hewitt is:
15. Charles Hewitt, born January 1889, in Alabama.

Children of Theodosia Barkley and H. Phillips are: 
16. May Phillips, born May 1892, in Alabama.
17. Bonnie F. G. Phillips, born May 1894, in Texas. 
18. Ellis F. A. Phillips, born March 1896, in Texas.
19. Lester Harder "Hardy" Phillips, born 23 November 1898, in Texas.
20. Marie Phillips, born about 1902, in Texas.
21. Opal C. Phillips, born about 1908, in Texas.

6. Oscar Lee Barkley was born 30 December 1873, in Cedar Bluff, Cherokee Co., Alabama.  He married Minnie Belle Ferguson 05 January 1902, in Hunt Co., Texas.  She was born 15 October 1880, in Cornersville, Mississippi.

Children of Oscar Barkley and Minnie Ferguson are:
22. Homer Larkin Barkley, born 11 January 1903, in Texas; died 11 May 1959, in Orange Co., California.
23. Madge Gertrude Barkley, born 18 August 1905, in Texas; died 1976, in Carnegie, Oklahoma.  She married Arthur Clark Black 31 October 1928.
24. Leonard Hershel Barkley, born 12 April 1909, in Oklahoma; died 07 October 1999, in Woodlake, Tulare Co., California.
25. Mary Ruby Barkley, born 06 August 1911, in Oklahoma.  She married Andy Flippin; born 03 January 1911; he died 09 September 1988, in Mountain View, Oklahoma.
26. Alma Madeleine Barkley, born 14 August 1914, in Oklahoma; died 08 May 2002.
27. Jasper Roy Barkley, born 02 March 1916, in Oklahoma; died May 1984, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co., Oklahoma.  He married Bertie Jean.
28. Orville Horace Barkley, born 19 February 1920, in Oklahoma; died 01 January 1992, in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.

Third Generation:

13. Willie Jasper Spence was born 30 July 1885, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 08 October 1964, in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas.  He married (1) Effie Gertrude Adams 19 August 1906, in Hunt Co., Texas, daughter of Henry Adams and Ellen Lowery.  She was born June 1891, in Texas, and died 05 October 1926, in Bowie, Montague Co., Texas.  He married (2) Dovie Huff 26 July 1936, in Rains Co., Texas, daughter of James Huff and Mary Fuston.  She was born 12 September 1898, in Texas, and died 16 October 1963, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas.

Children of Willie Spence and Effie Adams are:  
29. Hallie J. Spence, born 01 June 1907, in Texas; died 31 August 1982.  She married (1) Silas Jabus Burleson between 1920 and 1925; born 28 September 1904, in Grand Saline, Texas; died 28 May 1960, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas.  She married (2) Lannie Moore after 1960.
30. Grace M. Spence, born 1909, in Texas; died 07 June 1939, in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.  She married Bryan Miller before February 1938.
31. Rachel May Spence, born 1910, in Texas; died 24 October 1970, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas.  She married Ernie Bunk Adair about 1925; born 09 August 1904, in Hopkins Co., Texas; died 18 March 1965, in Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., Texas.
32. Joe L. Spence, born 29 July 1913, in Parvin, Kaufman Co., Texas; died 18 August 2003.  He married Bennie Mersedese Davis 23 September 1933, in Mt. View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.
33. Raymond Eugene Spence, born 10 August 1915, in Rosser, Kaufman Co., Texas; died 24 August 1994, in Wood Co., Texas.  He married Verba Mae Richardson 20 June 1936, in Emory, Rains Co., Texas; born 23 December 1921, in Garden Valley, Texas; died December 2008, in Rains Co., Texas.
34. John Doss Spence, born 22 January 1918, in Texas; died July 2005.  He married (1) Lena Mae Williams; born 02 February 1920; died 17 July 2004.  He married (2) Lillian.
35. Stanley Jay Clark Spence, born 07 May 1921, in Texas; died 25 February 2012.  He married (1) Margaret Aileen Miller 21 February 1948, in Caddo Co., Oklahoma; she was born 22 October 1922; died 04 October 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  He married (2) Janice LaTrell who was born 16 October 1930; died 01 June 1989.  He married (3) Anabelle Routin 10 August 1991.

Children of Willie Spence and Dovie Huff are:
36. Willie Ray Spence, born and died about 1938.
37. Barbara Ann Spence, born 06 July 1940, in Rains Co., Texas.

14. Alonzo Hugh Spence was born 18 January 1889, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 17 May 1957, in Juarez, Mexico.  He married Nettie F. Jennings 30 January 1909, in Kaufman Co., Texas, daughter of George and Lisa Jennings.  She was born 04 September 1894, in Tennessee, and died 31 May 1965, in Monrovia, Los Angeles Co., California.

Children of Alonzo Spence and Nettie Jennings are:
38. Thurman L. Spence, born 17 November 1909, in Texas; died 15 October 1974, in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles Co., California.  He married (1) Neva Belle Moore about 1935, in Clinton, Oklahoma; died in 2003.  He married (3) Ernestine N. Anderson Schmid 27 December 1973, in Los Angeles, California; born 1923.
39. Odessa Athelene Spence, born 05 September 1915, in Texas; died 04 January 1980, in Sacramento Co., California.  She married Theodore D. Bell; born 21 May 1913, in Illinois; died 29 June 1967, in Sacramento Co., California.

16. May Phillips was born May 1892, in Alabama.  She married Sanford V. Lawson.  He was born about 1869 in Tennessee, and died 15 March 1942, in Kaufman, Kaufman Co., Texas.

Children of May Phillips and Sanford Lawson are:
40. Jewel Lawson, born about 1911 in Texas.
41. Sanford Lawson, Jr., born about 1913 in Texas.
42. Theodocia Lawson, born about 1916 in Texas.
43. Robbie Mae Lawson, born about 1917 in Texas.

22. Homer Larkin Barkley was born 11 January 1903, in Texas, and died 11 May 1959, in Orange Co., California.  He married Edna Faye Beddo 24 December 1924.  She was born 03 June 1905, and died 02 November 1992, in San Bernardino Co., California.

Children of Homer Barkley and Edna Beddo are:
44. Alvin Lee Barkley, born 20 March 1927, in Oklahoma; died 28 February 1997, in Boswell, Choctaw Co., Oklahoma.
45. Elbie Gene Lee Barkley, died in infancy.
46. Homer Darrel Barkley.

24. Leonard Hershel Barkley was born 12 April 1909, in Oklahoma, and died 07 October 1999, in
Woodlake, Tulare Co., California.  He married Minnie Olive Willcox.  She was born 27 December 1912, in Checotah, Oklahoma, and died 29 November 2001, in Woodlake, Tulare Co., California.

Children of Leonard Barkley and Minnie Willcox are:
47. Richard Ray Barkley, born 27 June 1938, in Carnegie, Oklahoma.
48. Hershel Royce Barkley, born 09 November 1940, in Carnegie, Oklahoma; died 25 October 1999.
49. Ronald Clayde Barkley, born 29 June 1942, in Porterville, California.
50. Rita Lynne Barkley, born 1945, in Visalia, California.

26. Alma Madeleine Barkley was born 14 August 1914, in Oklahoma, and died 08 May 2002.  She
married Hilmer L. Adkisson.  He was born 11 July 1914, and died 19 July 1998.

Children of Alma Barkley and Hilmer Adkisson are:
51. Arnita Yvonne Adkisson.  She married Lloyd Weber.
52. Cheryl Lynne Adkisson.  She married Rick Zimmerman.

28. Orville Horace Barkley was born 19 February 1920, in Oklahoma, and died 01 January 1992, in Mountain View, Kiowa Co., Oklahoma.  He married Minnie Pauline Fletcher 02 October 1951, daughter of John Fletcher and Bessie Carbough.  She was born 14 January 1925, in Cowden, Oklahoma, and died 22 February 2004, in Enid, Oklahoma.

Children of Orville Barkley and Minnie Fletcher are:
53. Iris Elaine Barkley.  She married Tony McGrew.
54. Rhonda Denise Barkley.  She married Butch Johnson.
55. Sheryl Lynn Barkley.

Links to Additional Surname Labels

Blogger will only allow 20 labels per post, and as there were many more than 20 surnames listed in this post, I have placed the surnames not appearing in the labels for this post on additional pages where they can be included in labels for those separate pages:

Additional Labels for Surnames Listed on This Page

Second Page of Additional Labels for Surnames Listed on This Page

Additional Labels for Surnames Listed in "Finally, Proof!" Post

Because Blogger only allows 20 labels for each post, I have created additional posts/pages for more surnames listed in the blog post entitled "Finally, Proof!"

Here are 20 more surnames included in the aforementioned post which will allow me 20 more labels to enable fellow genealogists to find their surnames:  Adair, Anderson, Barker, Bell, Bouldin, Burleson, Craig, Davis, Fuston, Hembrie, Huff, Jennings, LaTrell, Miller, Peek, Richardson, Routin, Schmid, Thornhill, Williams

Second Page of Additional Labels for Surnames Listed in "Finally, Proof!" Post

Return to the Original Post Entitled "Finally, Proof!"

Second Page of Additional Labels for Surnames Listed in "Finally, Proof!" Post

Because Blogger only allows 20 labels for each post, I have created additional posts/pages for more surnames listed in the blog post entitled "Finally, Proof!"

Here are 16 more surnames included in the aforementioned post which will allow me 16 more labels to enable fellow genealogists to find their surnames: Adkisson, Beddo, Black, Carbough, Ferguson, Fletcher, Flippin, Hewitt, Johnson, Lawson, McDaniel, McGrew, Phillips, Weber, Willcox, Zimmerman

Link to first page of Additional Labels for Surnames Listed in "Finally, Proof!" Post

Return to the Original Post Entitled "Finally, Proof!"

Alonzo Hugh Spence

I would have never dreamed I would start my Spence genealogy blog pages with "Uncle Lon" Spence, but I very recently found that he held a secret clue to the identity of his father's father, someone I have sought for over 10 years now. I still can't say I have absolute proof, but finding a death record for Alonzo Hugh Spence in Juarez, Mexico, gave me his middle name. It appears he was named after his grandfather, Hugh Young Spence, someone I have suspected to be the father of Lon's father, John W. Spence, for some time, but only because of circumstantial evidence. Finding this middle name is the circumstantial straw that has finally met my standard for burden of proof, I am thrilled to say! Anyone interested in the specific circumstantial evidence of this line is welcome to contact me, and I will gladly detail it all for you. The record of death in Juarez, Mexico, was found by my Barkley cousin and big-time researcher of the Barkleys and related lines from Alabama and South Carolina, Ray Barkley. Ray has a blog page on our Barkley line at http://barkleyancestorsearch.blogspot.com/. Here's the death record for Alonzo Hugh Spence:


Alonzo Hugh "Lon" Spence is the brother of my husband's great-grandfather, Willie Jasper Spence, who was orphaned when he was only 4 years old, and his baby brother, Lon, was only 16 months old. They had a sister, Pearl, who was 9 when their parents died, but she died as a young adult. Their parents, John W. Spence and Amanda J. Barkley, died within days of each other in a yellow fever epidemic. The Spence children were raised by their maternal grandparents, Jasper Barkley and Mary Elizabeth Rains, daughter of Larkin Rains.

Will never spoke of his parents, nor his sister, and with so many of the family dying so young and leaving no paper trail, it has been most difficult to trace this family. In addition, add to the mix a brother who moved around a lot and died in Mexico, where up until recently, it seemed impossible to find a record, and this has been a most frustrating search! Even though Will Spence is our direct line, I will begin my posting of Uncle Lon's family tree. What I know is fairly limited, but I'd like to get it online in the hopes there are descendants of his who might be interested. I welcome any correspondence from anyone interested in this line.

The picture of the little boy above is the only photo our family has of Alonzo Hugh Spence, taken from a larger family portrait. The photo was taken about 1895 when Lon was about 6 years old.

Genealogy Report of Alonzo Hugh Spence and Descendants:

Alonzo Hugh Spence was born 18 January 1889, in Cherokee Co., Alabama, and died 17 May 1957, in Juarez, Mexico.  He married Nettie F. Jennings 30 January 1909, in Kaufman Co., Texas, daughter of George Jennings and Lisa.  She was born 04 September 1894, in Tennessee, and died 31 May 1965, in Monrovia, Los Angeles Co., California.

Notes for Alonzo Hugh Spence:

Census: 1900, Hunt Co., Texas
Census: 1910, Scurry, Kaufman Co., Texas
WWI draft registration card dated June 5, 1917:  Alonso Spence signed up in Clinton, Custer Co., OK, indicated he was born Jan. 18, 1889, in Cherokee, Alabama, and he had a wife and two children.  He could not write, but applied his "X" mark.
Census: 1920, Clinton, Custer Co., Oklahoma
Residence: 517 Wild Rose St., Monrovia, California, at the time of his death.

Notes for Nettie F. Jennings:

Burial: 04 June 1965, Live Oak Memorial Park, Monrovia, Los Angeles Co., California

Children of Alonzo Spence and Nettie Jennings are:

1. Thurman L. Spence, born 17 November 1909, in Texas; died 15 October 1974, in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles Co., California.  He married Ernestine N. Anderson Schmid 27 December 1973, in Los Angeles, California; she was born in 1923.

Notes for Thurman L. Spence:

Census: 1910, Scurry, Kaufman Co., Texas
Residence: 1952, Los Angeles Co., California
Burial: Cremated
Cremation: 23 October 1974, Los Angeles Co. Crematory

2. Odessa Athelene Spence was born 05 September 1915, in Texas, and died 04 January 1980, in Sacramento Co., California.  She married Theodore D. Bell, son of Mr. Bell and Miss Waters.  He was born 21 May 1913, in Illinois, and died 29 June 1967, in Sacramento Co., California.

Notes for Odessa Athelene Spence:

The Sacramento Bee
Tuesday January 8, 1980, page D17:

BELL, Odessa A., in Sacramento January 5, 1980. Beloved wife of the late Theodore Bell. Loving mother of Carol Stevens of Wheatland, Ca., Lillie Fay Gordon of Garden Grove, Ca., Jan Marie Shumate of Oklahoma, Barbara Jean Bell of Wheatland, Wyoming and the late Neva Ann Moreland. Also survived by 6 grandchildren. A native of Texas. Aged 64 years. Friends are welcome at the Mission Chapel of Anrews & Greilich, 3939 Fruitridge Rd. and are invited to attend the funeral Wednesday at 1:30 PM. Interment East Lawn.

More notes for Odessa Athelene Spence:

Census: 1920, Clinton, Custer Co., Oklahoma 
Burial: East Lawn, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California

Children of Odessa Spence and Theodore Bell are:

1. Carol Bell; she married (1) Mr. Ward before 1957.  She later married (2) Mr. Stevens.

2. Jan Marie Bell; she married Mr. Shumate.

3. Lillie Fay Bell; she married Mr. Gordon.

4. Neva Ann Bell, born 26 March 1940, in Oklahoma; died 09 October 1976, in Sacramento Co., California.  She married Mr. Moreland.

5. Barbara Jean Bell, born 15 September 1955, in Los Angeles Co., California.

Obituary for Ellis Temple Null

E. T. Null

COLMESNEIL - Funeral for E. T. Null, 61, of Colmesneil will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Edwards Funeral Home in Woodville with burial in Colmesneil Cemetery in Colmesneil.

He died at 10:30 p.m. Monday at his home after an illness.

A native of North Carolina, he had lived in Colmesneil 12 years and was a retired helicopter mechanic for Petroleum Helicopter Corp.  He was also a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife, Irma Cowart Null of Colmesneil; two daughters, Paula Snodgrass of Colmesneil and Jackie Henderson of Festus, Mo.; son, Steve Null of California; three sisters, Mary Murphy and Nancy Bradley, both of Lake Charles, La., and Virginia Warner of Alexandria; five brothers, Rufus Null, Bob Null and Ted Null, all of Arkansas, Ed Null of Oakdale, La., and Dick Null of Tennessee; and eight grandchildren.

Martha Jane Batson Fleming Odom & Family Photo About 1910

This is a photo of my maternal grandfather, N. D. Fleming, in about 1910. He is the young boy, and pictured with him are his sisters, Alma and Nancy. His mother is Martha Jane Batson. The man is her second husband, James T. Odom. They were married in 1909, in Marion Co., Mississippi. Martha's first husband, and her children's father, Benjamin Franklin "Pat" (I have no idea why he was called Pat, but he was) Fleming, died in 1908.

Here's a family group sheet with what I know about this family:

Benjamin Franklin "Pat" Fleming, deceased, not pictured.
Born Dec. 1878, in Calhoun Co., Alabama.
Married Martha Jane Batson on 19 Sep. 1900, in Calhoun Co., Alabama.
Died 1908, in Pinebur, Marion Co., Mississippi.

Martha Jane Batson Fleming Odom:
Born 09 March 1885, in Alabama.
Married second husband, James T. Odom, in 1909, in Marion Co., Mississippi.
Died on 06 Sep. 1966, in Columbia, Marion Co., Mississippi.
Buried at Woodlawn Cem., Columbia, Marion Co., Mississippi.

James T. Odom:
Born about 1887, in Mississippi.
Married Martha Jane Batson Fleming, in 1909, in Marion Co., Mississippi.
Martha's second husband, his first marriage.

The three children pictured are Martha's and Pat Fleming's children:

N. D. Fleming (initials only, named for Martha's parents, Nan and Dan Batson):
Born 10 Aug. 1902, in Gadsden, Calhoun Co., Alabama.
Married Lula Mae Mason on 10 Nov. 1924, in Forrest Co., Mississippi.
Died 11 July 1977, in West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.
Buried at Hasley Cemetery, Ouachita, Louisiana.
Sometimes shown as Norman Dee Fleming, a name he gave himself when the army insisted he must have more than initials.

Alma R. Fleming:
Born 07 March 1904, in Alabama.
Married James R. Grist in 1925.
They had no children.
After her husband's death, married Alton W. Newburn.
Aunt Alma is deceased, but I don't know the date.

Nancy Lee Fleming:
Born about 1906 in Mississippi.
Married George Mullins.
Deceased, date unknown.

Nellie Fleming, not pictured.
Born 1908 in Mississippi.
Died in 1910.

I welcome any comments and information on this family.