Lincecum Lineage

Stabbing Death of Paul Lincecum (1930)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 08 May 2025 02:25:00 +0000

Paul Lincecum was born 23 October 1907 in Washington County, Texas, son of Dinah Coleman (d. 1960) and Bowie Lisanders Lincecum. Paul died just eleven days before his 23rd birthday. According to his death certificate, Paul was "stabbed to death in an encounter with Burley Matson." And this finding was the conclusion of an inquest held 12 October 1930.

The informant on Paul's death certificate was his younger brother Charlie, who had to handle that blow at the age of just 20 years.

(Via Ancestry)

A local newspaper chronicled the broad strokes of what happened:

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Tuesday, 14 October 1930

FOUR NEGROES ARE CHARGED MURDER IN DEATH BY STABBING

Sheriff H. L. Reese and County Attorney Albert Stone went to Burton Tuesday morning to attend the examining trials of Virlie Matson, Jesse Matson, Eddie Matson, and Ernest Thomas, who were charged jointly with murder in connection with the stabbing death of Paul Lincecum, another negro. Bond in each case was fixed at $1,000, which the negroes are expected to furnish, but at present they are being held in the county jail by Sheriff Reese until they make bond.

The cases of these negroes will come up for investigation by the grand jury when district court meets for the spring term in March. It is said that the killing resulted from a...[unreadable]...dice game.

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Saturday, 25 October 1930

HABEAS CORPUS HEARING IS HELD IN MURDER CASE

A habeas corpus hearing was held before Judge J. B. Price of the district court Saturday morning in the cases of Eddie Matson, Virlie Matson, Jesse Matson and Ernest [T]homas, negroes of the [Burton?] community charged with murder in connection with the slaying of Paul Lincecum, another negro...

After some consideration the bond of Virlie Matson was fixed at $1,000, and that of the other three negroes at $500 each...

The case grew out of an affray in which Lincecum met his death from stab wounds, and the four negroes held in jail were charged with the stabbing.

Brenham Banner-Press (Texas)

Saturday, 3 October 1931

VIRLIE MATSON GIVEN FIVE YEARS IN MURDER CASE

Virlie Matson, negro, charged with murder in connection with the death of Paul Lincecum, another negro, was given a sentence of five years in the penitentiary by a jury in district court Friday afternoon.

Jesse Matson, another negro, was recently sentenced to two years in the penitentiary on a similar charge.

Testimony showed that Virlie Matson stabbed Lincecum with a knife and that Jesse Matson struck him with a stick.

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Jessie (b. 1908) and Verlie (b. 1911) Matson were received at the Huntsville Unit (Walker County) of the Texas State Penitentiary on 6 October 1931. Four days later, they were sent to the Darrington Unit in Brazoria County. Jessie served about 17 months of his sentence, being discharged 2 March 1933.

Verlie served 2 years before receiving parole, granted by the first female governor of Texas, Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson. He was finally discharged 12 August 1935.

Further research shows Eddie, Jessie, and Verlie Matson were brothers. All were possibly sons of Jim Matson and Lureda (nee Thomas?) Newsome. For the 1920 Washington County, Texas Federal census, the Matson brothers and Paul Lincecum resided on neighboring farms.

Jessie served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and both he and Verlie married and had children. Jessie died 6 August 1972 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Verlie was about two months shy of his 90th birthday when he died on 30 July 2001.

Upon his death, Jessie was laid to rest in the same cemetery -- Zion Hill -- as Paul had been some 40-plus years earlier.

The Dickey Clinic and Pearl Lee Punchard, Daughter of Eunice Lincecum

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 06 May 2025 01:54:00 +0000

Pearl Lee Punchard was born 12 July 1884 in Texas to Eunice Lincecum and Paul Punchard. She died 7 March 1950 at the Dickey Clinic in Taylor, Williamson County, Texas. Burial was a few days later in St. Mary's Cemetery of Lee County, Texas.

According to Pearl's death certificate, she was divorced at the time of her death. Her gravestone at St. Mary's Cemetery indicates she was a mother.

The cause of Pearl's death was "Peritonitis (due to) intestinal strangulation." A little less than six weeks before her death, Pearl underwent an operation in which a significant finding was "twisted intestines -- gangrene."

As mentioned at the top, Pearl passed away at the Dickey Clinic in Taylor, Texas. It was run by Dr. James Lee Dickey (1893-1959), one of the only practicing Black physicians in Williamson County, Texas, in the 20th century. He settled in Taylor after graduating from medical school in 1921. The following is from a blog post by Preservation Scholar Jae'la Solomon, hosted by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission:

"One of Dickey’s goals was to combat the disparate rates of disease amongst Black Americans in Taylor. Ailments like tuberculosis, typhoid, and infant diarrhea all plagued the rural Black community in the area. Dickey acted and showed results. For instance, in 1933, rates of typhoid fever, a potentially fatal bacterial infection, rapidly increased in rural Taylor. Many African Americans worked as sharecroppers and were unable to afford the cost for clean city water, so they borrowed from a local ranch. This water, unsafe for consumption, spread the sickness and many were left without proper treatment. Dr. Dickey noticed a spike in typhoid and talked with city officials, explaining to them the link between typhoid and the ranch water. His advocacy made a great difference, and officials authorized the opening of fire hydrants. Families came out with buckets, filled them with water from the hydrants, and took them home. Dickey also began to treat willing patients of the infection, making house calls and walking through the mud to get to those in need.

Eventually Dickey realized that he needed a space to treat more patients, so he bought an empty rooming house at 401 Bland Street and renovated the space into what would become the Dickey Clinic. Dr. Dickey did remarkable work at the clinic. He and a staff of predominantly Black nurses offered critical care to the Black folks of Williamson County. Dickey treated patients with venereal diseases, offered free prenatal care, and helped to nearly eliminate tuberculosis and cases of infant diarrhea amongst African Americans in Taylor. In 1952, his service to the community granted him Taylor’s Citizen of the Year, a very rare feat for a Black man in the Jim Crow South."

Photograph of the Dickey Clinic at 401 Bland Street, Taylor. The clinic opened in 1936; this
picture was taken in 1955. Dr. Dickey was the African American doctor in Taylor who worked
with city leaders to stop a typhoid epidemic in Taylor's poor districts.
- The Portal to Texas History

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Ode Grover Lincicome and Neola Grace Jameson Dawson (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:50:00 +0000

Image by Juanita Brock Galindo (2008) via FindAGrave.

Ode Grover Lincicome was born 2 April 1888 in Bellwood, Butler County, Nebraska.

He died 4 April 1967.

Burial was at Resthaven Memorial Park in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

Neola Grace Jameson Dawson Lincicome was born 27 September 1896 in Hornick, Woodbury County, Iowa.

She died in 1965.

Burial was at Resthaven Memorial Park in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

Ode was a son of Aluria Scrogham (1861-1938) and Silas L. Lincicome (1855-1945). Silas and his family lived in several different places in his "younger years" -- Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, and Arkansas. At about age 50, however, Silas finally seemed to reach a territory he liked: Oklahoma. Ode was a teenager when they arrived, but it seems he remained loyal to the state the rest of his days.

Ode served as a mechanic with the 358th Infantry, 90th Division of the US Army during the waning months of World War I. He and his regiment also remained on occupation duty after the war and returned home in June 1919. In November the following year, Ode married Neola Grace Jameson, widow of Hal George Dawson, Sr. (1893-1918).

Neola was the daughter of Maude Natalie Phelps (1876-1961) and John Jameson of New York. She married Hal at the age of 19, on 22 March 1916 in McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. This young couple would have two children -- Bettie Sue and Hal, Jr. -- before tragedy struck in the form of the 1918 flu pandemic. Both Hal Sr. and Jr. battled the virus. Hal Sr. lost the battle, but Jr. survived. Following from a burial notice regarding Hal Sr:

"The young man's death occurred Friday from influenza, but a delay was occasioned by the fact that the seven-weeks' old child of the family was also in a critical condition from the same malady."

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I have no evidence of any biological children born to Neola and Ode, but it seems the latter stepped in and accepted the two from Neola's previous marriage as his own. In fact, a decision was made to change Hal George Dawson, Jr.'s name to Grover Ode Lincicome, Jr. My assumption is that this was done officially and legally, since Grover Jr. also served in the United States military.

When I initially discovered Hal, Jr.'s name change, I felt a bit sad for Hal, Sr. It seemed a shame that his part of the Dawson surname lineage would be truncated. Another casualty of the 1918 flu pandemic, perhaps. But, really, who am I to say? The only reason I have an opinion at all, perhaps, is that something similar happened in my direct line, although more generations have passed, and I am far more removed from it. A direct ancestor of mine took his mother's surname, instead of his father's. So, following the normal course of things, my surname should not be what it is. Furthermore, I don't even know what my surname "should" be. Hopefully, that is not the fate of future Jameson-Dawson-Lincicome researchers.

In a way, though, it's fitting that Hal, Jr. became Grover, Jr. since Ode Grover Lincicome (Sr.) is the only father he really knew.

Nancy Elizabeth Kenyon Lincecum, 1833-1904 (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:53:00 +0000

Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kenyon Lincecum was born 27 January 1833 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

She died 5 November 1904 in Missouri.

Burial was in Kenyon Cemetery at Delta, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

Nancy was one of at least thirteen children born to John Kinyon/Kinion (1805-1860) of Missouri. Her mother was his first wife, Mary Brooks.

Nancy married Benjamin A. Lincecum 20 December 1849 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. I believe the couple had at least four children, but am only confident of three: Mary Lucinda (1851-1874), Francis Marion (1857-1931), and Marcella Ann (1862-1947).

Nancy's gravestone in Kenyon Cemetery has been off its base for many, many years. My guess is that an inscription was added for her husband, Benjamin, at the time the stone was placed for her. (His info is on the flip side.)

Image by Bob (2014) via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Image cropped slightly.
Original by Courtney Marquis (2022) via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

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Marie Louise Durham, Granddaughter of Cassandra Lincecum (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:55:00 +0000

Image accompanying wedding
announcement in 2 September
1917 Austin American-
Statesman (Texas).

Marie Louise Durham was born 8 March 1893 in Austin, Travis County, Texas. She was a daughter of Marie Augusta Packenius (1868-1947) and Walter Winn Durham (1855-1929), and a granddaughter of Cassandra Lincecum (d. 1877) and George John Durham (1820-1869).

The Durhams were among the first settlers of Austin, and Marie's grandfather, George John Durham, was once Austin's mayor.

Marie Durham married Alexander James Gouldie (1891-1938) of New York, son of Eliza Fife and James Gouldie, on 1 September 1917 in Cameron County, Texas. In a wedding announcement published in the Austin American-Statesman (Texas), Maried was described as "a brunette of the blue-eyed type."

I believe the young couple had five children, though I can only name four: George Alexander (1918-1920), Marie Louise (1919-2000), Hubert David (1922-1982), and Charles Durham (1927-1987).

Marie became a widow in 1938 when her husband died mere hours after having surgery to extract five abscessed teeth. His son from a previous marriage, Alexander James Gouldie Jr., remained close to stepmother Marie after his father's death.

Marie Louise Durham Gouldie died 10 November 1956 at Hermann Hospital in Houston, Harris County, Texas. After Catholic funeral services, she was laid to rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery of Dickinson, Galveston County, Texas.

Lycurgus, Lascassas, and Leander Lincecum (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 23:33:00 +0000

A father and two sons with difficult-to-determine death dates.

Lycurgus Lincecum was born 1815 in Cotton Gin Port, Monroe County, Mississippi. He was the first-born son of Sarah "Sallie" Bryan (1796-1867) and Gideon Lincecum II (1793-1874). Lycurgus married Mary Jane Cox 28 May 1838 in Franklin County, Tennessee. This young couple had five children, including a set of twins, Lascassas and Leander. They were born about 1846 in Mississippi.

Lycurgus fought in the Mexican War; he was enlisted in a Texas group. According to Texas Veterans in the Mexican War: Muster Rolls of Texas Military Units compiled by Charles D. Spurlin, Lycurgus (age 31) was part of Company G, 1st Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers. The same reference noted Lycurgus "died at Mexico City, Mexico on December 22, 1847."

Further, Spurlin lists Lycurgus (age 35) as part of "Benjamin McCulloch's Company, Texas Mounted Volunteers (Spies)," in Federal service from January to July 1847.

This death date for Lycurgus is questionable, however, given his daughter Mary Eliza was born about 1848. Lois Burkhalter gets to the truth in her biography [affiliate link] of Lycurgus's father:

"Lycurgus, the first born, was the first of numerous Lincecums to be buried in Washington County. He died on February 3, 1849. Eleven years after his death Gideon was amazed to receive a letter from J. H. H. Woodward, a Houston lawyer, inquiring about Lycurgus' death in the Mexican War and mentioning the possibility that his widow and children were eligible for a pension. Gideon explained that his son enlisted in a Texas group, was discharged and paid off in Monterrey, Mexico, in August, 1847, and died two years later in Long Point...

Cropped image from original
by Margie LoneStarB via
FindAGrave

Gideon wrote Woodward:

'I had not moved to Texas then...My son, from the heavy service and exposure in guarding a train of wagons on their route from Laredo to Monterrey, contracted what he denominated the Mexican bowel complaint, was never well and of which complaint he finally died...He left five children who are all living...'

Colonel Dancy [commander of a regiment raised by Ben McCulloch (same as above)] cleared the situation, remembering that Lycurgus became ill after arriving at Monterrey with the Texas volunteers and that he hired a substitute to answer his name for the remainder of his term. The unknown substitute was killed in battle."

The final resting place for Lycurgus Lincecum is disclosed in the part of the biography pertaining to the death of Gideon's wife of 52 years, Sarah: "She was buried by the side of her first-born, Lycurgus, at the Baptist Meeting House between Long Point and Union Hill." Today, that location is known as Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Burton, Washington County, Texas.

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Leander "Andy" Lincecum, one of Lycurgus's and Martha's twin sons, married Mary Catherine Yontz/Yonts (d. 1872) September 1867 in Washington County, Texas. I have no record of any children from this union.

Lascassas "Lass" Lincecum, the other twin, married Mary E. Jameson 22 July 1869 in Washington County, Texas. I have no record of any children from this union, either.

I had no information regarding the deaths of Andy and Lass until I came across a page from a family Bible connected to the Yonts family. Neal St. Martin uploaded an image of this page to his Ancestry [affiliate link] Family Tree. About halfway down on the right side of this page dedicated to family deaths are handwritten entries regarding Leander and Lascases. They died just days apart — Leander on 22 January 1870 and Lascassas on 31 January 1870. (Oh, how I wish I knew what happened!)

I don't know for certain where Leander and Lascassas were laid to rest, but my first theory would be in the family lot at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.

Monument dedicated by Wm. Mark Lincecum,
great great great grandson of Gideon.
(Originial image credit same as above.)

Katherine Mae Moore and Ellis Elcie Colbath (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 01:36:00 +0000

Slightly cropped and enhanced image.
Original by Bill and Denise via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Ellis Elcie Colbath was born 20 February 1886 in Hye, Blanco County, Texas.

He died 8 September 1968 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

Burial was in Mission Burial Park at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

Katherine Mae "Kate" Moore Colbath was born 14 July 1885 in Devine, Medina County, Texas.

She died 13 October 1976 in Bexar County, Texas.

Burial was in Mission Burial Park South at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.

Kate was a daughter of Susan McCombs and Haywood M. Moore (1849-1929). Her paternal grandparents were Emily Lincecum (1813-1884) and Daniel Boone Moore (1805-1889).

Kate and Ellis were married 7 January 1912 in Comal County, Texas. I know the couple had a son, born 12 February 1923 in Stephens County, Texas, but I find no evidence he survived to adulthood. He is not even listed with the couple in the 1930 Bexar County, Texas Federal census.

The couple did, however, seem to take in a nephew. Winston Wallace Moore (b. 1917) was a son of Leonidas "Leon" Moore (1877-1960) and Mattie Crouson (1890-1918). Since Winston was less than a year old when his mother died, and Leon was already caring for three other children, maybe Kate and Ellis stepped in to help. Winston W. Moore was noted as a son in each of Ellis's and Kate's obituaries.

San Antonio Express-News (Texas)
Friday, 15 October 1976
[Snippet]

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Jerry O. Wristen, Son of Billie Jean Lincecum, Slain on Duty (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:33:00 +0000

Born	17 March 1959	Pomeroy, Meigs, Ohio, USA
Died	1 October 1981	Abilene, Taylor, Texas, USA
Buried	Ross Cemetery	Baird, Callahan, Texas, USA

*Cropped and enhanced image. Original image by
John and Diana Deason Wasson via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Jerry was the son of Billie Jean Lincecum (1929-2017) and Robert Carlton "Sonny" Wristen (1916-1993). At age 18, Jerry married, and he and his wife had two children. The youngest was born just a few months before Jerry's untimely, violent death.

Abilene Reporter-News (Texas)

1 October 1981

Security Guard Slain On Duty

By Paul H. Clolery

Staff Writer

An OSI patrol officer was shot and killed during an early morning shootout today when he interrupted a burglary at Bunkley Sound Systems, 3013 S. Danville, police said.

The victim was identified as Jerry Wristen, 22, of Baird. He was shot at least three times -- in the right temple, chin and throat.

"It's senseless to kill somebody over a damn radio," said Mark Bunkley, owner of the store.

...OSI announced it would post a reward in the death of Wristen, the father of two children, ages 3 and 3 months.

...Police discovered Wristen just after 3 a.m.

Police Lt. Jack Dieken said Wristen came upon his assailants and scuffled with them. He said there were scratch marks on Wristen's arm and his watch had been torn off.

Justice of the Peace Clarence Collins pronounced Wristen dead at 4 a.m. at Hendrick Medical Center, where he was rushed by AEMS ambulance after being found.

..."It had to be more than one man; he was a[s] big as a bull," Mrs. Cannon said. Wristen was a 6-foot, 3-inch, 240-pound former All-District football player at Baird High School, and also won the shot put in the district meet.

...Dieken said that Wristen was found slumped in the front seat of his patrol truck when police arrived. Unable to speak because of the throat wound, he could emit sounds over his radio, launching an emergency search for him by other OSI security officers, Dieken said.

...Mrs. Cannon said Wristen had the most arrests of any OSI patrol officers. He had been a patrol officer for 1 1/2 years.

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Other newspaper articles stated Jerry knew the risks associated with his job, but being in law enforcement and serving his community was something he wanted to do. Jerry's immediate cause of death was noted as Gunshot wounds to the head...was shot in the head by robbers.

Two young airmen from nearby Dyess Air Force Base were arrested and charged with burglary and Jerry's murder. One confessed to being the shooter and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. The other denied being involved with the shooting, went to trial, and was subsequently convicted of the burglary charge only. This latter one was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Jerry O'Brien Wristen was my 7th cousin. May he forever rest in peace. ✝️

Ida Cole Fiant, Daughter of Hannah Lincicum (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 22:45:00 +0000

Ida was born about 1868 in Indiana.

She died 19 March 1907 in Cherokee County, Kansas.

Burial was in an unmarked grave at Galena Cemetery in Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas.

Ida was a daughter of Hannah Lincicum (1840-1907) and Joseph Cole (1837-1916). Ida married Francis Oliver Fiant (1859-1942) sometime after the death of his first wife, Flora May Clark, which was in November 1888. Charley Fiant, in the image below dated 1909, was the son of May and Francis. Ida and Oliver were listed as husband and wife for the 1900 Walnut, Crawford County, Kansas, US Federal census, taken June of that year.

Ida and Francis did have one child together, Joseph Francis Fiant, born about 1904, before Ida's untimely death in 1907 caused by tuberculosis.

Image via Ancestry Member Trees

Galena Evening Times (Kansas)
Wednesday, 20 March 1907

Death at Shaw Hill
Mrs. Ida Fiant, aged 39 years, died Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the home of her mother, Mrs. Hannah Cole, at Shaw Hill. Death resulted from tuberculosis. Deceased is survived by a husband, F. O. Fiant, and three year old son. The funeral services conducted by Rev. Carey, took place at 4 o'clock this afternoon. Burial was made in Galena cemetery.

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Hannah Lincicum Cole, 1840-1907 (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:59:00 +0000

Hannah Lincicum was born about June 1840 in Ohio.

She died 24 November 1907 in Cherokee County, Kansas.

Burial was in an unmarked grave at Galena Cemetery in Galena, Cherokee County, Kansas.

Hannah was a daughter of Caleb and Nancy Lincicum. She first married Jacob Woolf (d. 1863) on 13 March 1862 in Miami County, Indiana. Jacob died just fourteen months later while serving with Company C of the 87th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. The supposed cause of death was "lung fever."

A year after Jacob's death, Hannah married Joseph Cole on 9 June 1864 in Miami County, Indiana. This couple had five children: Clara, Ida, William, Alice, and John.

Eight months before her own death, Hannah buried her daughter Ida after the younger woman succumbed to tuberculosis while staying in Hannah's home. One can only imagine the toll this took on Hannah.

Following from 25 November 1907 edition of The Galena Evening Times (Kansas):

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Gabe Smartt Last Will and Testament (Father-in-Law of Walter Win Lincecum)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:28:00 +0000

Gabe was born 27 July 1848 in Louisiana.

He died 20 July 1925 in Callahan County, Texas.

Burial was in Oplin Cemetery of Callahan County, Texas.

Gabe was a son of Joseph C. Smart of Tennessee. Though Gabe was born in Louisiana, Joseph had moved his family to Texas by 1870. On 18 December 1878, in Denton County, Gabe married Cynthia A. Crowder. He was 30 years old, and she was 10 years his junior.

Gabe pursued the occupation of farming most, if not all, of his life. According to the agriculture schedule of the 1880 US Federal census for Callahan County, Texas, Gabe was a sharecropper.

A few years before his death, Gabe wrote his last will and testament. In it, he left everything to his wife, Cynthia. Upon her death, everything was to be split evenly between his two daughters, Mrs. Minnie Lincecum and Mrs. Nettie Miller.

Page 1 of Gabe's Will
(Click to enlarge.)

Page 2 of Gabe's Will

Note: Gabe's daughter Minnie (1881-1965) was a wife of Walter Win Lincecum (1882-1966), though the couple divorced before 1950.

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Fannie E. Lipscomb Massey (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:56:00 +0000

Fannie E. Lipscomb was born 8 September 1902 in Missouri.

She died 18 February 1982 in Missouri.

Burial was in Maple Park Cemetery of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.

Most say Fannie's middle name was Elizabeth, but I haven't found that yet. I do know she was a daughter of Mariah Sophia "Sophie" Jacobs (1887-1981) and Robert Emilius Lipscomb (1875-1962).

When she was about twenty years old, Fannie married Piercy Adolph "Pete" Massey (1898-1967), son of Mary Jane Prier and Richard Massey. This young couple had three children: Clara Maudiene Massey Gaston (1922-1998), Pauline Augustia Massey Anderson (b. 1924), and Danny D. Massey (1933-1996). The family spent many years residing on Kansas Avenue in Springfield, Missouri.

Danny, Fannie, and Piercy are all together in a family plot in Maple Park Cemetery of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri.

Cropped and enhanced image.
Original by Lyle and Marsha via FindAGrave.

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Earlene Alston, Daughter of Rosena Lincecum (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 04:40:00 +0000

Earlene Alston was born about March 1894 in Louisiana.

She died November 1979.

Burial was in New Morning Glory Church Cemetery of Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Earlene. She was a daughter of Rosena Lelia Lincecum/Linscomb and Ray Manuel Alston (d. 1933) and seems to have never married. Earlene spent most, if not all, of her life in the neighboring parishes of Avoyelles and Rapides in central Louisiana.

Here's a clipping of her death notice in the 20 November 1979 Town Talk of Alexandria, Louisiana.

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Daisy Lee Lynch, Daughter of Ella Lincecum, Drowns (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:15:00 +0000

Born	5 September 1908	Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, USA
Died	21 April 1929	West Columbia, Brazoria, Texas, USA
Buried	West Columbia Cemetery	West Columbia, Brazoria, Texas, USA

Daisy Lee was the daughter of Ella Lee Lincecum (1891-1953) and John Brown. As a young woman, she married Jeff Lynch, but the marriage didn't last long. They were parted by death before Daisy turned 21, as was reported on the front page of the 22 April 1929 edition of The Waxahachie Daily Light (Texas):

THREE DROWN IN TEXAS ON SUNDAY EVE

CAUGHT IN UNDERTOW OF RIVER NEAR WEST COLUMBIA.

WEST COLUMBIA, Tex., April 22. -- A joint funeral was to be held today for three West Columbia citizens who were caught in an undertow and drowned at the mouth of San Bernard River, twenty miles south of here, Sunday.

They are Gideon Lincecum, 30, his wife, about 28, and their niece, Mrs. Jack Lynch.

Two other West Columbia persons, Mrs. Lynch's husband and her mother, Mrs. Brown, managed to fight their way back to the shore, but Mrs. Brown still was in a serious condition today from the shock.

A large party of bathers, many of them relatives of the victims, stood on the shore helpless and witnessed the drowning. The bodies were washed ashore a short time later.

Caledonia Hawthorne, Granddaughter of Caledonia Lincecum (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:22:00 +0000

Born	25 July 1896	Louisiana, USA
Died	29 March 1966	Jena, La Salle, Louisiana, USA
Buried	Hawthorne Cemetery	Little Creek, La Salle, Louisiana, USA

Caledonia Nancy Lincecum was born about August 1849 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, to Lucinda Hawthorn and Harmon R. Lincecum. At about the age of 18, Caledonia married Newton P. Hawthorne, son of Martha Mecom and Albert Hawthorn. Both Caledonia and Newton were grandchildren of William Hawthorn (1777-1841) of South Carolina.

Records suggest the young couple of Caledonia and Newton had as many as eleven children, though I can only account for eight. One son was Daniel P. Hawthorne, born 1 January 1871 in La Salle Parish, Louisiana. Daniel married Della Doughty on 18 April 1895 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Their first child was Caledonia "Callie" Hawthorne, the actual subject of this short sketch.

Callie married Charles F. "Charlie" Howard about 1914. He was a son of Hardy Harrison Howard (1851-1922) of Mississippi. I know of three children born to Callie and Charlie: a set of twins born and died 27 April 1922, and daughter Era J. (d. 2012).

Interestingly, I found a Divorce Petition Coupon dated 31 March 1930 in Green County, Arkansas pertaining to the Howard couple. Callie was the plaintiff, and Chas. the defendant. Nothing has been found, however, to suggest the couple ever officially divorced. They were listed in the same household for both the 1940 and 1950 census.

Mrs. Callie Howard of Little Creek, Louisiana died "after a lengthy illness" in the early afternoon on 29 March 1966 in a local hospital. She, Charlie, the twins, and Era were all, after their respective deaths, laid to rest in Hawthorne Cemetery.

Barbara Lucille Lincecum Musholt Adams Thurman (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:42:00 +0000

Born	18 February 1930	Sacramento, California, USA
Died	23 February 1997	Auburn, Placer, California, USA
Cremated	Ashes to be Spread	Trinidad, Humboldt, California, USA

Barbara Lucille Lincecum was a daughter of Grayce Ophelia Kingrey (1901-1943) and Earl Luke Lincecum (1897-1946). Both Grayce and Earl died in their 40s, so Barbara was orphaned by the age of 16.

Barbara was married at least three times: first to John Michael "Mike" Musholt (div. 1968), second to George A. Adams (div. 1973), and third to Warren H. Thurman. Per her obituary, Barbara was survived by two sons and a daughter, eight grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

"2007 view of the coastline south of Trinidad overlooking Trinidad Bay with offshore rocks;
part of the California Coastal National Monument."
Image cropped and enhanced. Original by TrinidadMike. (Public Domain.)

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Aaron and Bertha Lincecum Craig (Virtual Graves)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:28:00 +0000

Aaron Craig was born 10 December 1896 in Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

He died 21 July 1943 in Christian County, Kentucky.

Burial was at Sikeston Memorial Park in New Madrid County, Missouri.

Bertha May Lincecum Craig was born 11 November 1899 in Allenville, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

She died 14 January 1979 in Delta, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

Burial was at Sikeston Memorial Park in New Madrid County, Missouri.

Aaron, son of Azro Thomas Craig (d. 1932) and his second wife Mary Etta Hurst, was a member of the American Legion and a veteran of World War I. About six months before his 23rd birthday, Aaron and Bertha were married in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. This couple would have 8 children:

Lucille (1920-1935)
Marvin A. (1922-1984)
Howard C. (1923-1996)
Glen A. (1926-1980)
Alene E. (1929-2018)
Richard Lee (1932-1932)
Calvan (1937-1937)
Alvin (1937-1937)

The Southern Graves blog has a short write-up about the four children who did not live to adulthood: Blodgett Cemetery Holds Four Craig Children.

Aaron actually died at a pretty young age himself -- just 46 years. Immediate cause of death was noted on his final vital record as Tb. pul. chr. far adv. active. I translate that as "active advanced chronic pulmonary tuberculosis." Aaron took his last breath not long after noon on a summer day at the Veterans Administration Facility in Outwood, Kentucky. He had been a patient there for a little over a month.

Andrew Lincecum, Free Born

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:15:00 +0000

Andrew Lincecum was born 1853-1860, likely in Louisiana. This 3rd cousin of mine was a son of Rezin Bowie Lincecum and Annise (Annis, Annisa) Bowie.

I have seen Andrew's surname spelled many ways: Lincecum, Linceycum, Lynscum, Lincecom, and Linscomb. And though I've seen him referred to as Andrew most often, Andy and André are also noted.

My family and family history (so far as I know) is very ~~caucasian~~ white. So it was a mild surprise to see R. Lincecum, a white planter, married to Annise, noted as Black in the 1860 Catahoula Parish, Louisiana Federal census. These were the parents of Andrew, so his "color" was given as mulatto. A notation was added to the census for the children of this union: Free Borne --

What might that mean? Per Wikipedia:

The term free people of color…in the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, at first specifically referred to persons of mixed African and European descent who were not enslaved. The term was especially used in the French colonies, including La Louisiane… In these territories and major cities, particularly New Orleans, and those cities held by the Spanish, a substantial…class of primarily mixed-race, free people developed. These colonial societies classified mixed-race people in a variety of ways, generally related to visible features and to the proportion of African ancestry…

In the Thirteen Colonies, settled by the British, and later in the United States, the term free negro was often used to cover the same class of people – those who were legally free and visibly of ethnic African descent. It included persons of mixed race…

On the flip side, Christophe Landry of Louisiana Historic & Cultural Vistas, notes the following:

From 1699 to 1868, mixed color marriages were expressly forbidden.

So I wonder, were Rezin and Annise "officially" married? I just don't know the answer to that yet.

Returning to Andrew, specifically, his race was noted in a fairly consistent way across the census records taken throughout his life: 1880 – mulatto; 1900 – black; 1910 – black; 1920 – mulatto; and 1930 – negro.

Andrew was occupied as a farmer for the majority, if not all, of his adult life. About 1887-1889, he married Minerva Maxwell, possibly a daughter of Jackson and Mary Jane M(c?)axwell. Census takers considered her to be black, Indian, mulatto, and negro. The couple had five children: Wallace, Mary Ann (Anise), Roley, Otta (Ida), and Edward.

An interesting note might be that Andrew's son Roley (Rollo, Raleigh, Rolle, Rawlins) lived to be 100 years old.

By the time the 1940 Rapides Parish, Louisiana Federal census was taken, Minerva was a widow. She later died on 22 September 1956.

The Dixie Overland Highway (An American History Tidbit)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 19:38:00 +0000

When I'm down in the minutiae of researching someone's life, it's easy to miss the bigger picture. The history around them, even though it most definitely shaped them to some degree. I have to make a conscious effort to widen the lens -- work to put meat on the bones, so to speak.

Other times, little things just jump right out. Hop in the car with me. 🚗

In May of 1930, Oscar Lee Pike, son of Alma Rosalie Lincecum Pike, was living just two doors down from his future sister-in-law, Ella Mae McGuire. Both families were in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, and both families were residing along the Dixie Overland Highway.

The Dixie Overland Highway was conceived in 1914 by the Automobile Club of Savannah, Georgia, with the goal of charting a path through the southern States "for the purpose of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific."

Following from the March 1917 Better Roads and Streets magazine:

An association was formed, officers elected, and a plan of operation agreed upon. The object of the association being to promote the construction and use of a highway through the States of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

...It was then developed that the Dixie Overland Highway when constructed will be the shortest, straightest, and only year round, ocean to ocean highway, in the United States. All highways east of the Mississippi and the most of those west of the river, are laid out for north and south travel. The Dixie Overland connects them all, is a trunk line through the heart of the 'black belt,' crossing the rivers at the head of navigation, and forming what the promoters believe to be the most useful and important highway in the South.

[Source]

In 1926, the American Association of State Highway Officials designated and unveiled the official description of U.S. Route 80, which largely followed the Dixie Overland Highway. The entire route was 2,726 miles, with the following being the portion through Louisiana:

Beginning at the Mississippi-Louisiana State line at Delta via Tallulah, Royville, Monroe, Ruston, Arcadia, Minden, Shreveport to the Louisiana-Texas State line east of Waskom.

Here is a present-day map of the Dixie Overland Highway / U.S. 80 through Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, where Oscar Lee Pike and Ella Mae McGuire resided in 1930.

It didn't take long for tourism to be promoted along these auto trails and highway routes. Even today, Louisiana's Historic US 80 Byway is said to be where "drivers...can drink in vistas of verdant farms and forested landscapes."

Alma Rosalie Lincecum Pike (1874-1926) and Family

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 01:30:00 +0000

Alma Rosalie "Rose" Lincecum was born 12 July 1874 in Grant Parish, Louisiana to Harmon R. Lincecum and Margaret Frances "Fanny" Turnley (b. 1843). There was an age difference of about twenty years between Alma's parents, and it's quite possible her father died when she was very young.

On 16 September 1894 in Grant Parish, when Alma was twenty, she married Georgia native Luther F. Pike (d. 1944). He was a son of James D. and Malinda A. Pike.

The 1900 federal census taker visited Luther F. Pike's household just fifteen days after Alma gave birth to twins. By that time, though, Alma had already given birth to five children with only the twins still living. All told, Alma gave birth to at least eight children. Four died in infancy, and four survived to adulthood. The latter were twins Oscar Lee and Luther Franklin, son Johnnie Reynolds, and daughter Carrie M.

Alma and Luther raised their children primarily in the north-central part of Louisiana. Aside from being a fireman on a log train once, Luther was usually occupied with farming.

Oscar Lee Pike was born 5 June 1900 in Selma, Grant Parish, Louisiana. For his 1918 World War I draft registration, Oscar was described as slender, with blue eyes and light hair. Like his father, Oscar spent most of his time in the business of farming.

About 1927, Oscar married Ora Belle, daughter of Oscar and Carrie Belle Goodwin. The young couple had at least three children. Two were a son, Oliver Cortez "Pete" Pike (1927-2015), and a daughter Joyce E. (1940-1990).

Oscar Lee Pike died 1 November 1951 in Simsboro, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Luther Franklin Pike was born 5 June 1900 in Selma, Grant Parish, Louisiana. For his 1918 World War I draft registration, Luther was described as slender, with blue eyes and sandy hair. An interesting addition to his 1942 World War II draft registration was the notation that Luther had a scar on his right temple and a scar on his right wrist.

It seems Luther did spend time in California from the late 1950s to at least the mid-1960s. He might've even gotten married there during that time. However, I am still determining since I have found no mention of a wife after the supposed marriage.

Luther died 3 February 1971 in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Johnnie Reynolds Pike was born 9 April 1903 in Grant Parish, Louisiana. He married Ella Mae (1910-1984), daughter of Willie and Hattie McGuire.

Johnnie and Ella had at least three children: Harold Lloyd (1934-2010), Claude Edward (1936-2010), and Johny Reynolds Jr. (1937-2003).

Johnnie Reynolds Pike, Sr. died in January 1981, aged 77 years.

Carrie M. Pike was born 15 November 1907 in Selma, Grant Parish, Louisiana. About 1926, she married Joseph C. Madere (1895-1977), and the couple had at least two children. One was a son, Joseph C. Madere, Jr. (1926-1996).

Joseph and Carrie spent some time residing in the port city of New Orleans, where Joseph worked as a machine feeder for a lumber company. He also was an employee of Lane Cotton Mills.

The couple returned to central Louisiana before Carrie died in Alexandria, Rapides Parish on 3 June 1966. Burial was at Liberty Chapel Cemetery in Grant Parish.

Original image by lcgates (2021) via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Alma Rosalie Lincecum Pike was just 52 years old when she died on 26 December 1926 in Rochelle, Grant Parish, Louisiana. Burial was at Lincecum Cemetery.

(OTL) From Missouri to California: a Trio of Roberts Men Go West for Work in Oil

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 20:38:00 +0000

Rather than an exhaustive report, this is more of a brief note of historical context.🤓

"Foreign immigration is a hot topic these days, but the movement of people from one state to another can have an even bigger influence on the United States' economy, politics and culture. Americans have already seen this with the Western expansion, the movement of Southern blacks to Northern cities and the migration from the Rust Belt." -- New York Times article Where We Came From and Where We Went, State by State dated 19 August 2014.

One by one, three of the eldest sons born to Justus Roberts and Martha Barks went west to California from their native Missouri. Did they make a pact and all go together? I'm not sure, but with the records I can access, here is when they each arrived in the Golden State:

William Eppie Roberts was born 1884 in Bollinger County, Missouri. According to an obituary, he was a Coalinga, Fresno County, California resident by 1910.
Milas Sylvestor Roberts was born 1886 in Bollinger County, Missouri. He married Mary Wood (d. 1974) on Christmas Eve 1910 in Fresno County, California.
Linus H. Roberts was born 1890 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. According to an obituary, he was a Fresno County, California resident by 1916.

A job opportunity in the oil industry may have lured these young men west. William was an oil well pumper. Milas held the occupations of driller, rotary helper, and gauger. And Linus was an oil field teamster and general "oil worker." William spent several years with the Union Oil Company. And on each of their 1942 World War II draft registrations, both Milas and Linus list "Standard Oil Co." as their employer.

"The 19th century was a period of great change and rapid industrialization. The iron and steel industry spawned new construction material, the railroads connected the country and the discovery of oil provided a new source of fuel. The discovery of the Spindletop geyser in 1901 drove huge growth in the oil industry. Within a year, more than 1,500 oil companies had been chartered, and oil became the dominant fuel of the 20th century and an integral part of the American economy.

...When Standard [Oil Company] entered California in 1900, seven integrated oil companies already flourished there. The Union Oil Company was the most important of these." [Source]

In 1903, according to Wikipedia, "California became the leading oil-producing state in the US, and traded the number one position back-and-forth with Oklahoma through the year 1930."

"The Golden State got its nickname from the Sierra Nevada gold that lured so many miners and settlers to the West, but California has earned much more wealth from so-called 'black gold' than from metallic gold. The San Joaquin Valley has been the principal source for most of the petroleum produced in the State during the past 145 years." -- A Brief History of Oil and Gas Exploration in the Southern San Joaquin Valley of California

Image by Wikipedia user Antandrus. License for use: CC BY-SA 3.0

The Coalinga Oil Field is located in western Fresno County, California, surrounding the town of Coalinga. It was discovered in the late 19th century and became active around 1890. Each of the Roberts brothers named above spent at least some time residing in Fresno County, part of the San Joaquin Valley, and even specifically the town of Coalinga. Saying they worked at the Coalinga Oil Field at some point in their lives seems hardly a stretch.

Per Wikipedia, "A dramatic oil gusher erupted in Sept. 1909 at the 'Silver Tip' well [in Coalinga], producing 20,000 barrels a day, the biggest gusher in California until then. This was an event of such excitement that [the] Los Angeles Stock Exchange closed down for a day so that its members could come by train to view it." Given the timing, I wonder if that gusher guided the Roberts brothers to the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno County, and Coalinga.

Via Wikipedia. Digitization of unique historic image.
Author unknown.

Other places on the map above where the Roberts brothers lived include the cities of Fresno and Atascadero. Additionally, upon their deaths, Linus was buried in Fresno's Mountain View Cemetery and William was buried in Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery. 🪦

The fact that all three brothers stayed in California for the rest of their days hopefully means they deemed their moves worthy and successful.

[These three brothers were part of a family of eleven children. To learn more about the additional eight siblings, go here.]

BOOK #AD: American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture in California

Jettie Mae Roberts was Wife to Albert Lewis Lincecum, and One of Eleven Children Born to Justus Roberts and Martha Jane Barks

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:49:00 +0000

I love big families! This is a long one, though. Stay hydrated! ❤️

Jettie Mae Roberts, wife of Albert Lewis Lincecum (1890-1961), was born 16 March 1896 in Bollinger County, Missouri. She was one of eleven children born to Justus Aleander Roberts (1860-1940) and Martha Jane Barks (1865-1951):

William Eppie Roberts (1884-1960)
Wesley Everett Roberts (d. young)
Milas Sylvester Roberts (1886-1960)
Pearl Lavinia Roberts (d. young)
Linus H. Roberts (1890-1976)
Early Clarence Roberts (1893-1965)
Jettie Mae Roberts (1896-1976)
Ray Ransom Roberts (1899-1966)
Roy Albert Roberts (1902-1973)
Clyde Edwin Roberts (1905-1979)
Bessie Marie Roberts (1908-1989)

I have found plenty of evidence that Martha indeed had eleven children, and I have been able to name all nine that survived to adulthood. The names of the two who died in infancy come from Brenda Johnson, granddaughter of Bessie Marie Roberts Thoma Cobb.

William Eppie Roberts

William was born on the 3rd of November. But what year? I can produce a source that provides for the years of 1882, 1883, 1884, and 1885! I lean toward 1884, the year given on William's World War II draft registration card, though his gravestone shows 1883.

In March 1904, William married Minnie B. Mungle (d. 1953) in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The couple had at least three children: Freida, Helen (1919-1986), and William George (1922-2002).

By 1910, the elder William and Minnie were located in Fresno County, California, where he worked for the Union Oil Company, possibly as a pumper.

When William registered for the draft in 1942, it was noted he was paralyzed on his right side. By that time, he and Minnie were in San Luis Obispo County, California. William died there 7 November 1960 and was laid to rest in Atascadero Pine Mountain Cemetery.

Milas Sylvestor Roberts

I've often seen his first name spelled as Miles, but do think Milas is correct. Even though the former spelling is on his gravestone.

Milas was born 27 October 1886 at Marble Hill, Bollinger County, Missouri. He married Mary E. Wood (d. 1974) in Fresno County, California on Christmas Eve 1910. The couple had at least five children. Four of them were Freeland Sylvester (1911-1995), Robert E., Donna (1923-2003), and Beverly Jean (1935-2022).

Milas, like William, went West and entered the oil industry. The January 1920 U.S. Federal census records him in Coleman County, Texas. City directories put him back in Fresno County, California by 1928. His occupation in April 1950, at the age of 63, is noted as "Gauger, Oil Fields."

Milas died 25 August 1960 in Fresno County. Burial was in Grangeville Cemetery at Armona, Kings County, California.

Linus H. Roberts

I'm fairly certain Linus's middle name was Hezekiah, though I've yet to find that exact spelling in any of the records accessed. He was born 14 April 1890 in Whitewater, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri.

On 18 January 1914, also in Cape Girardeau County, Linus married my great-aunt Octa Hester Hector (1895-1936). Octa's sister, Georgia Ellen "Trigg" Hector (1903-1983), was my great-grandmother. Trigg's husband and my great-grandfather, Charley Wilbur Lincecum (1902-1990), was brother to Albert Lewis Lincecum (1890-1961). Albert, you'll remember, married Linus's sister, Jettie Mae Roberts. [Whew! Get all that? 😉]

Linus and Octa had two children, William Dorris (1914-1983) and Dorothy Beatrice (b. 1918), before my great-aunt died at just 40 years old. Linus later married Julia A. Phillips Hart (1882-1973).

Like his two older brothers before him, Linus went West to California and made his living as an oil worker. He and Octa were located in Fresno County by 1916. Linus might've retired from the oil industry sometime after 1942, though. The 1950 Fresno County, California Federal census noted his occupation as "Farmer."

Linus died in Fresno County 17 August 1976. Burial was in Mountain View Cemetery.

Early Clarence Roberts
Early Clarence "Earl" Roberts was born October 1893 in Scott County, Missouri. Though I have yet been unable to locate him in 1920 or 1930 census records, a 1934 marriage record puts Early in Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon. (He, too, went West.) Klamath Falls is just ten miles from the California - Oregon border, but more than 500 miles from where his three older brothers settled.

The woman Early married was Colorado native Anona G. (Roper) Voorhes. The couple had no children.

On his 1917 World War I draft registration card, Early was described as short and slender with black hair. Though he followed his brothers West, Early was not an oil man. Instead, he was a mill and factory worker.

Earl died 21 October 1965 in Klamath Falls at the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital. Cause of death was respiratory failure and shock due to 3rd-degree burns on over 90% of his body. A niece notes that Early died in a house fire.

Ray Ransom Roberts

Ray was born 27 March 1899 in Chaffee, Scott County, Missouri. In 1920, he married Iva D. Nothdurft (1901-1993) in Cape Girardeau County. The couple had at least four children: Kathleen Linett (1921-1999), Wilda (1923-1983), Donald R. (1932-2020), and Arlan L. (1935-2019).

By 1930, Ray was working at the shoe factory in Cape Girardeau, and possibly remained occupied there for more than thirty years. The five-story building was located on Main Street, just a couple blocks from the Mississippi River. From the Southeast Missourian archive: "In 1935, International was making about 12 million pairs of shoes a year with a peak workforce of 1600...The building was abandoned in 1984 and demolished in 1990."

Roy Albert Roberts

Roy was born April 1902 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. At age 22, he married Ella Dee Devore (d. 1979). The couple had at least four children, two of them being Arthur I. (1925-1980) and Virgie E. (1931-2013).

Roy moved his family to St. Louis, Missouri shortly after 1940, where he engaged in factory work for a time. Roy died in St. Louis 30 November 1973. Burial was in Fee Fee Cemetery.

Clyde Edwin Roberts

Clyde was born 11 July 1905 in Whitewater, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In February 1925, he married Robbie Lee Johnson (1909-2005). The couple had at least four children. Three of them were Jessie Marie (1928-1974), Paul Edwin (1929-2013), and Mildred Geraldine (1934-2005).

Clyde Edwin Roberts died at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau 15 September 1979. Burial was in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery. Per his obituary, Clyde was employed by the aforementioned International Shoe Co. for 8 years.

Bessie Marie Roberts

The last child born to Justus and Martha Roberts was Bessie Marie. She came into the world on 4 September 1908. At age 17, with her father's consent, Bessie married Otto A. Thoma, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Thoma. The young couple had one child.

After marriage, Otto obtained a diploma from the National Radio Institute. Then he and Bessie moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Otto worked as a radio electrician. In 1934, Otto's father died and the young Thoma family returned home to Cape Girardeau County, Missouri so Otto could take over his father's farm. Less than two years after the death of Adam Thoma, Otto, too, was dead.

Cape County Post (Missouri)

Thursday, 17 October 1935, pg. 1 [via Newspapers.com]

STRANGE ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

Otto A. Thoma Found Dead in Field, Supposedly Overcome by Tractor Fumes.

Otto A. Thoma, youngest son of the late Adam Thoma of Welch township, was found dead early Friday morning in a field by the side of a tractor, which he had driven all night in preparing land for wheat sowing. The motor was still running. The discovery was made by Henry Keller, who had come to relieve Thoma in operating the machine. Dr. Davault of Allenville and Dr. Haskell, medical officer at the CCC camp in that vicinity, were called but could do nothing aside from stating that death had ensued. Coroner Moore was called and after investigating the circumstances, decided that death was caused by monoxide gas. Such gas poisoning cases in closed buildings are not uncommon, but we never heard of a fatality resulting in the open. However, it may be that the unfortunate man, worn out from the night's work, got off the tractor and sat down on the ground, perhaps went to sleep, with the exhaust close to his face, the fumes being driven towards his mouth by wind. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at Trinity M. E. church near Round Pond, of which his father was one of the founders, Rev. G. A. Prietz of Gordonville conducting the services.
Deceased was the youngest son of his parents, and after the death of his father he came home from St. Louis, where he had been in the electrical business, to take charge of the home farm, as his two brothers had farms of their own, close by. He was 32 years old, married, and leaves his wife, a young daughter, his mother and two brothers, Henry and John.

About five years after Otto's passing, on 21 September 1940, Bessie married John Albert Cobb (b. 1906). She would bury her second husband 17 years later. John's death came just 9 days before he and Bessie's wedding anniversary.

Bessie remained in Cape Girardeau County for at least a couple more decades. She died at age 80 on 14 July 1989 at Bond Nursing Home in Lutesville, Bollinger County, Missouri. Burial was beside husband John Albert in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Image by Ruth Smith (2015).

Albert Lewis Lincecum (1890-1961): A Short Biographical Sketch with Photos

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 01:54:00 +0000

Albert Lewis Lincecum was born on 10 August 1890 in Hickory Ridge, a community near Allenville in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. He was one of at least six children born to Francis Marion Lincecum (1857-1931) and Annie Victoria Gibbs (1871-1934).

Albert made his living as a farmer in southeast Missouri. Census records show him residing in Cape Girardeau, Stoddard, and Bollinger counties. Most of his days were spent in the former, and Cape Girardeau County is where he married Jettie Mae Roberts (1896-1976) on 22 March 1914.

Albert and Jettie had four children: Norman Francis (1915-1976), Orville Justus (1918-1985), Myrtle Marie (1923-2016), and Emory Emerson (1925-1990).

Great-uncle Albert died of meningitis on 20 June 1961 at the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was laid to rest in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

BOOK #AD: Southeast Missouri from Swampland to Farmland: The Transformation of the Lowlands

Cape County Memorial Park (Missouri).
Image by Ruth Smith (2011) via FindAGrave.
Permission for use granted in bio.

Albert is standing.
Seated is Clarence Hedge, I think.

L to R: Emory, Jettie, and Albert

Francis Marion Lincecum & Family
L to R: Albert, Charley, Francis, Bertha, Annie, and Mary

Albert Lewis Lincecum (1890-1961)

*Another nice photo of Jettie and Albert can be found here.

Letha Elizabeth Gandy and Her Marriage to Doc Lincecum

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:21:00 +0000

Letha Elizabeth Gandy was born on 25 September 1873 at Gandy Bend in Lavaca County, Texas to Barnabas Pipkin Gandy (d. 1914) and Mary Elizabeth Allen. The community in which Letha was born was settled by her grandfather Daniel "in the big bend of the Navidad" River.

View a larger Google map here.

At the "spinsterish" age of 24, Letha married Dr. Addison Lysander "Doc" Lincecum (1874-1965). He was a son of Dr. Lucullus Garland Lincecum (d. 1900) and Louisa Frances "Fannie" Rainwater (1843-1878). Soon after the young couple's marriage, they moved to Lampasas, where their arrival was noted in the local paper:

Friday, 3 December 1897

Lampasas Leader (Texas)

Marriages

LINCECUM - GANDY. -- Lampasas has captured another prize. Dr. Ad. L. Lincecum and Miss Letha Gandy of Hallettsville, Lavaca county, were happily married, and arrived in this city last Saturday.

And thus it is that Lampasas has added another bright star in her constellation of fair daughters.

The bride is of one of the oldest and most highly respected families, and a young lady of culture and refinement.

The groom is the son of Dr. L. G. Lincecum and is well known to everybody, having lived in Lampasas since early childhood. He is a promising young physician, and all Lampasas has a warm welcome for the young couple -- the groom to his old and the bride to her new home.

For the present they are domiciled at the groom's father's residence on West Third street.

Letha and Doc had three children: Barnabas Pipkin Gandy (1900-1999), who was named after Letha's father; Ruth Elizabeth (1903-1982), whose middle name is the same as her mother and maternal grandmother; and Addison Turney (1913-1989), whose middle name is the maiden name of Letha's paternal grandmother.

Historian Clarence Wharton wrote the following about Letha in Texas Under Many Flags (pub. 1930):

Mrs. Lincecum is a Texas author, has been an investigator and writer on historical topics, and many of her writings have been published and have secured for her special recognition and honors from the university and other institutions. Her great-grandfather, John Gandy, of North Carolina, was a soldier in the American Revolution. Her parents were Barnabas P. and Mary (Allen) Gandy, her father a native of Alabama and her mother of Mississippi.

Letha died two days after Christmas in 1959, and burial was in the family cemetery at Gandy Bend. Her tombstone bears an emblem for the Order of the Eastern Star.

Addison "Bubba" Lincecum Died from Burns Received in a Boat Accident (1983)

noreply@blogger.com (S. Lincecum) — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 21:40:00 +0000

Addison Turney "Bubba" Lincecum, Jr. was born on 16 October 1933 in Pierce, Wharton County, Texas to Addison Lincecum Sr. (1913-1989) and Elsie Mae Clarke (1914-1985). Addison married at least once and had at least one child.

In late July 1983, Addison was involved in a boat accident at a Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas marina where he worked. A boat that was refueling caught fire and exploded. He was flown to Houston for treatment after suffering cuts and second and third-degree burns on more than 40% of his body, according to the U.S. Coast Guard office at Galveston.

Unfortunately, Addison did not survive the injuries and died a week before his fiftieth birthday on 9 October 1983 in Houston. Burial was in Wharton City Cemetery in Wharton County.