Ancestry Search

Eiland Family Photo - 52 Ancestors

2018-01-10T21:38:00.000-06:00

Several years ago I made contact with another Eiland researcher in San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas. She was my grandfather's first cousin. After corresponding a few times, she sent me an old photograph - the original. It is undoubtedly my favorite family photo.

I remembered the picture as soon as I took it out of the envelope. I had studied that picture intently when I was a little girl. It used to set on a table in the hallway at Aunt Jewel's house. She was my grandfather's sister. I would ask questions about the photo but everyone was very vague about it, only identifying the couple standing on the far right as my great grandparents and the elderly couple seated in front as my great great grandparents. My grandmother talked about how the ladies used to save the hair from their hairbrush and use it to make the hairstyles stand up like the younger lady seated in the picture.

Names had been written on the back of the picture but some things puzzled me.

The two oldest brothers were not listed but I knew one had died of influenza in 1890 and the other lived a good distance away from the rest of the family (in Texarkana).
The youngest child, Anna, was not listed.
The grandchildren listed were Boyd, Jewel and Crawford (my grandfather and supposedly the infant being held). So that would date the photo about October 1908, when Crawford was 1-2 months old.
But who is the fourth grandchild? And where were the other grandchildren who would have been alive at the time? And why would Jewel be dressed identical to a cousin?
And if the photo was taken in late 1908, there should be more daughter-in-laws in the photo. For instance, Ed and Enoch married in 1901 but only Enoch is standing next to a "wife". But Ed married before Enoch. Where was his wife?

I know nothing is that cut and dried but it certainly made me want to look further. So I started making a timeline to determine the order in which the five younger brothers and one sister married and in what order the grandchildren were born. Ruling out the older two brothers and supposing the young lady next to Enoch is really his sister, Anna, then there are only 3 daughter-in-laws in the picture. The first 3 of the brothers in question to marry were Jay, Arthur, then Basil and each of them has a woman beside him in the photo.

Another thing that puzzled me was how the younger woman seated in front was dressed. She is wearing a much fancier dress, maybe velvet, and definitely a lot of lace. Her hair is also quite fashionable. The other ladies are dressed more ordinarily. At first I thought she was Anna but then I noticed the wedding ring. She appears to be showing off the ring (like it was new). Then it dawned on me that the fancier dress was most likely a wedding dress (not everyone wore white) or a "going away outfit" and this picture was likely taken on her wedding day. As the bride, she would be seated in a place of prominence - between her new husband, Basil, and his father, James. Everyone else has taken a “back seat”, letting the bride have her day. That would date the photo to precisely October 21, 1898.

Let's see if the birth order of the grandchildren supports this theory. There are 4 grandchildren in the picture. The first 4 grandchildren born to the five brothers in the picture were: Plumer (Jay’s son), Flora (Jay’s daughter), unknown name (Jay’s second daughter, born late 1896 and who died before the 1900 census), and Boyd (Arthur’s first child, born one month before Basil married Lela). These are the only four grandchildren that existed on October 21, 1898 and so I believe that the picture was taken at the wedding of Basil Eiland and Lela Simmons.

So an accurate listing would be:

Back row: Ed, Enoch, Anna Rebecca (the 3 unmarried siblings as of October 1898), Jay and his wife, Christina, Arthur (holding Boyd, only a month old) and his wife, Willie.

Front row: Basil and Lela (the bride and groom), James and Rebecca with grandchildren Plumer, Flora and the one who died before the 1900 census.

Everyone has been accounted for.

Now, my new found cousin was not too impressed with my findings so I asked her who wrote the names on the back of the photo. She assumed it was Aunt Jewel, who had passed away about five years earlier so I guess we will never know for sure. That could be why I never got a straight answer when I was a kid.

But I think I'm right, of course.

This post is for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks hosted by Amy Johnson Crow.

Hadley Family Land Records - 52 Ancestors

2018-01-08T09:17:00.000-06:00

Joshua Hadley was the first ancestor I proved for membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. He arrived with his wife, Obedience, and four children in May of 1831. They came from Tennessee and were listed in Stephen F. Austin's Register of Families. Obedience's brother, Matthew Grantham, came with them. He was unmarried and had no known children. They all settled in Grimes County near Roan's Prairie, although Matthew appears to have claimed land in Walker County. As a leader in early Texas, Joshua was instrumental in the start of a new nation.

This land record is copied from images made from the microfilm holdings at the Montgomery County (Texas) Library. The microfilm contains typewritten transcriptions of the original handwritten documents and consequently may have errors. Bear in mind that this is an example of an English transcription of a pre-1836 Mexican (Spanish) document filed in a Texas courthouse after the establishment of the Republic of Texas.

Vol.D.p.66

Josuah Hadley. Deed from Govt.

I, citizen Miguel Arciniega, Commissioner appointed by the Supreme Government of this State, for the division and occupation of land and the execution of titles to the new colonists, in the colonization enterprise of Empresarios Estevan F. Austin out of the ten litoral leagues of the coast. Whereas Joshua Hadley has been received as a colonist in the colonization enterprise contracted by the government of the State of Coahuila & Texas by Empresario Stephen F. Austin on the fourth of June 1825, as appears on folio 1451 of this book of records and the said Joshua Hadley having proved that he is married and finding in his person the requirements provided by the law of colonization of this State of March 24, 1825, in conformity with the said law and the instructions which govern me, dated September 4, 1827, and additional Article dated April 25, of the past year 1830, and in the name of the State I give, grant and confirm in real and personal possession one league of land unto the said Joshua Hadley which land has been surveyed by Surveyor Horatio Chrisman appointed previously for the purpose under the following situation and bounds situated adjoining a league of land surveyed by Surveyor Horation Chrisman for John S. Plak and beginning the measure of the survey at a land mark erected on the north line of the league of said Blake 2000 varas from the north east corner of said league from which a land mark a white oak bears south 71° west 6 varas distant, and another white oak bears south 53-1/2° east 21 varas distant, a line was run from said land mark north 70° east and following the said boundry of Black 2000 varas to his north east corner and on the same course 3000 varas more to another land mark for which a white oak bears north 57° west 31 varas distant, and another north 9° east 30 varas distant and thence north 20° west five thousand varas to another land mark from which a white oak bears north 50° east 5-1/3 varas distant and another black jack bears south 52-1/3° east 9-2/3 varas distant and thence south 70° west five thousand varas, to a white oak the north west corner from which a white oak bears south 53° east 6 varas distant, and another bears north 10° east 9-1/2 varas distant, and thence south 20° east five thousand varas to the point of beginning, and comprising one league of land in area, two twenty fifths part of the said land belongs to the arable class and twenty three twenty fifths part to pasture which serves as classification for the price which should be paid to the State for it, according to Article 22 of said law, under the penalties therein established, he being warned that within one year he must erect permanent monument at every corner of the land and that he must settle upon and cultivate it in conformity with the provisions of the law. Therefore exercising the functions given me by the law proper and subsequent instructions I execute the present instrument and order a copy taken of it and delivered to the petitioner that he may possess and enjoy the land, he his children, heirs and successors or who from him or them may have claim or right.

Given in the town of San Felipe de Austin on the 7 day of the month of May 1831, which I sign with the witnesses of assistance in conformity with the law.

Miguel Arciniega

Of assistance. Robert Taylor, Jr. C.C. GIvens

This accords with the original title which is recorded in these archives whence it is taken for the party on the day of the date hereof in the form required by law to which I refer and sign with witnesses of assistance.

Given in the town of San Felipe de Austin, on the 7 day of the month of May 1831.

Migl Arciniega

Of assistance Robert S. Taylor, Jr. C.C. Givens

2 labores arable land $5

23 " pasture land 120 27.60

(total) $32.60

Received July 24, 1838. from Joshah Hadley

Thirty two 60/100 in full for all fees due the Govt. E. Collard, Recr.

Public Money, County Montgomery

Republic of Texas

Montgomery County

Before me Gwyn Morrison, Clerk & Recorder of the county aforesaid, personally came Chas. B. Stewart and William W. Shepherd who being duly sworn saith that they are acquainted with the signature of Migl Arciniega from having frequently seen him write and that they verily believe the signature of Miguel Arciniega to the foregoing deed to be his true and genuine signature.

Sworn and subscribed before me, this the 25 July 1838.

Chs. B. Stewart

W.W. Shepherd.

Gwyn Morrison, Clerk & Recorder.

Filed for record the 24

Recorded the 28 July 1838

Ferdinand Kessler, Deputy Recorder.

I had to use a magnifying glass to read parts of this document. Even then, the primitive typewriter made it difficult to distinguish between the 3's and 5's sometimes.

This is an excellent example of the metes and bounds system used to survey land in early Texas, using varas as a measure of distance rather than chains or feet. One vara equals roughly 40 inches but that may be arguable.

Joshua paid $27.60 for roughly 4400 acres of land in Texas in 1831. It just boggles my mind sometimes.

I also find it interesting that in 1831 Joshua promised to pay $27.60 to the Mexican government but instead paid that sum to the Republic of Texas in 1838. No wonder Mexico was upset.

This is a post for 52 Ancestors hosted by Amy Johnson Crow.

Littleton Spivey Smith Pension Application

2017-11-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

I recently rediscovered the Confederate Pension Application of Widow M. F. Smith of McLennan County, Texas.

Background: Martha Francis Chapman was born 28 August 1837 in Houston County, Texas to Robert D. Chapman and his wife, Rebecca Hodges. Robert D. Chapman is one of my DRT (Daughters of the Republic of Texas) proven ancestors. Martha married Littleton Smith in 1857. The 1860 census lists Littleton as "Leticia" Smith along with Martha and their two oldest girls. In 1850 he had been listed alone in nearby Rusk County, age 18 and born in South Carolina.

Now there were some Littleton Smith's in South Carolina but they are pretty well documented and don't fit the criteria for my Littleton but I keep them in mind. Smith is a hard name to research so you tend to keep other Smiths in mind but you can't know for sure if they are related. No other Smiths appeared to have moved with Littleton between 1850 and 1860. Other researchers have left information with the LDS church listing him as Robert Lilton Smith. In 1870 he is enumerated as Lewis Smith but with the correct family members. In 1880 he is listed in McLennan County, Texas as L. Smith, a horse breeder, with the same family. So that pretty much sums up the brick wall on my Smith line.

I spent a little time earlier in the day on Ancestry.com today to see if anything had popped up on my Smith line. I noticed a couple of other Littleton Smiths I didn't remember seeing before but nothing really stuck out.

But back to the pension application - Martha is named as the widow of L. S. Smith throughout the document but in one place that I had apparently not been able to decipher earlier, he is named as Littleton Spivy Smith. It's hard to read the handwriting but this time it made total sense because Littleton Spivey Smith was one of those individuals I noticed on Ancestry today.

Well, it turned out that my Littleton Spivy Smith (born ca 1832 in SC) is not the same Littleton Spivey Smith (born 1819 in GA) that is in Ancestry. I could find nothing to help me but I am one step closer than I was yesterday and that made my day.

Newspaper Findings, Rebecca Hodges Chapman

2017-08-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

While conducting an ancestry search at my local library, I ran across a publication that listed transcriptions of some articles of interest found among the newspapers published in Crockett, Texas between 1853 and 1896.

The complete title is Houston County Collection Volume I, Crockett Newspapers, 1853 - 1896, published by Bebe Beasley Ulrich.

According to Ms. Ulrich, in Volume 1, Number 2, published February 7, 1890 under the section "Local News - Nevel's Prairie" appears this announcement:

Mrs. Rebecca Chapman, of McClellan [sic] County is visiting relatives on the prairie. She lived near Old Randolph for 35 years, moving away from there in 1865. Her old friends will be glad to know that she is still sprightly and bids fair to live a good while yet...

While there are not many words printed, it speaks volumes to this researcher. From three sentences I either learned or confirmed that Rebecca Chapman, my fourth great grandmother:

came to Houston County, Texas about 1830
moved to McLennan County, Texas between 1865 and 1890
was still alive and in good health in 1890.

I already knew that she and her husband, Robert Chapman arrived in Texas shortly after they married in 1836 and settled in Houston County. So the writer was a little off on that one. I have never been able to determine much beyond the 1860 census when Rebecca appeared as a widow with several children in Houston County. I have never found their graves and I have never found Rebecca on a subsequent census report. After reading this article, I did locate a Rebecca Chapman in McLennan County but some details leave doubts as to the whether or not it is her. One daughter, Martha Frances Chapman Smith, did move to that area by 1880 so I am still hopeful that it is her.

John Hollingsworth Pension File

2017-07-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

Several years ago I ordered a copy of the "War of 1812 - Claim of Widow for Service Pension" papers for my fourth great grandmother, Zilpha (Galloway) Hollingsworth.

This is my umbilical line, i.e. my mother's mother's mother's.....well, you get the picture. Another term used is matrilineal. Some say this line has the most validity because of the physical birth event and at the same time, it is the hardest to research because the surname changes with each generation.
Anyway, through this single document I was able to get almost a complete picture of the life of my fourth great grandfather, John Hollingsworth, born September 3, 1792. He was born and raised at Fort Hollingsworth in Franklin (now Banks) County, Georgia which I wrote about just a couple of days ago.

According to Zilpha, who was questioned on March 14, 1881, John Hollingsworth enlisted at Franklin County, Georgia on November 15, 1814 for a six month term. He served in the Georgia militia under Col. Booth in the War of 1812. John was honorably discharged at Fort Hawkins, Georgia on May 10, 1815. He received two bounty land warrants for his service. He was described as 6 feet tall with blue eyes, a fair complexion and dark hair. John was first married to Matilda White who died August 25, 1825. He then married Zilpha Galloway on October 11, 1827 in Fayette County, Alabama. He died there on November 30, 1880.

Zilpha kept a journal and in it she recorded the births, deaths and marriages of her entire family. John and his first wife, Matilda White, had six children. Although Zilpha was most likely not present at their births, she did raise them after her marriage to John in 1827. The oldest was only 10 years old. I am sure she carefully recorded their birthdates as well the birthdates of her own children. She wrote about Matilda's children as if they were her own:

Samuel, born September 7, 1817
Thomas, born September 30, 1818
Jeptha, born May 28, 1820
Phoebe, born January 9, 1822
Mary, born November 8, 1823
Matilda, born August 25, 1825, the same day her mother died.

John and Zilpha had fifteen children:

Sarah, born July 17, 1828
Jane, born December 24, 1829
Hannah, born February 9, 1831
Jacob, born June 5, 1832
Greenberry, born November 13, 1833
Frances, born March 1, 1835
Zilpha, born April 27, 1836
John, born November 15, 1837
Henry, born August 30, 1840
James, born August 11, 1843
Wiley, born June 27, 1845
Martha, born October 19, 1846
Benjamin, born September 22, 1848
Franklin, born October 29, 1852
Marion, born January 23, 1855

Zilpha also kept meticulous records of loans she made and news about others in the community. She died April 15, 1894. She and John are buried in Hollingsworth Cemetery on Ford's Mountain in Fayette County, Alabama.

Sam Houston Connection

2017-05-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've had the desire to search for my ancestry since I was very young. When I was a little girl, my favorite books were juvenile biographies of female historical figures like Abigail Adams, Nancy Hanks and Rebecca Boone (one that I especially enjoyed). I was totally in awe of Daniel Boone, at least the Fess Parker version and when I realized that the Boones actually had about a dozen children and not just the two that were depicted on the TV show, I would fantasize about discovering I was one of their long lost great-great grandchildren. Of course, that didn't turn out to be the case but I did find out that I was very distantly related by marriage to a similar American icon.

Follow me if you can - my great great grandfather was James Eiland of Bibb County, Alabama. His grandfather, Enoch Eiland, is believed by most researchers (myself not included, but that's another post) to be the son of Absalom Eiland. Absalom had another son named Asa Absalom Eiland. Asa married a lady named Virginia Moffett, daughter of Henry and Margaret Moffett. Virginia's sister, Nancy Moffett, married Temple Lea. Temple and Nancy Moffett Lea had a daughter named Margaret Moffett Lea, who was the third and last wife of General Sam Houston. So that means that James Eiland's great Uncle Asa Eiland was also the uncle of Sam Houston's wife, Margaret.
(Note: Another source lists Virginia's father as Gabriel Moffett.)

Now I have not verified this particular lineage but maybe I'll keep it handy for bragging purposes.

James Eiland, Confederate or Yankee?

2017-04-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

My great great grandfather, James Eiland, always sticks in my mind as one of my more interesting ancestors. He was the son of Frances Marion Eiland and Elmina Jones. Born in Alabama on 23 August 1840, James was the third of possibly eight children. James and his older brother, Absalom, both served in the 29th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. James was captured by Union forces as Sherman marched toward Atlanta. I can only assume as a measure of self-preservation, James accepted an enlistment in the Union Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Susquehanna until the end of the war, becoming my "galvanized Yankee" ancestor.

When he returned to Alabama, he married Rebecca Hayes on 11 June 1865. Their children were: William, John, Enoch, James, Basil, Arthur, Ed and Anna Rebecca. He died of a spider bite in 1908 in San Angelo, Texas.

Ada Hadley Alvord

2017-03-28T20:43:00.000-05:00

My great grandfather's only sibling was a younger sister named Ada Caladonia Hadley. She was born July 30, 1869 near Cleburne in Johnson County, Texas. The family moved to Callahan County a few years later where their father, Thomas B. Hadley, would become a prominent citizen and county sheriff in the late 1890's.

Ada married Frank L. Alvord, son of Joshua Alvord and Lucy Leavenworth, on December 27, 1888 in Callahan County. They had 4 children:

Ruby Ree Alvord, 1889-1890
Mabel Alvord, born May 24, 1892
Frank Hadley Alvord, 1894-1900
Boyce Edwin Alvord, born March 22, 1901

Ada and Frank lived on a ranch in Shackleford County, just north of Callahan County. Thomas Hadley owned land there as well. These photos were taken probably in the early 1950's while my mother's family was on a vacation in the area.

This is Aunt Ada with my grandmother, Melba Hadley Eiland, and her brother, Edwin Hadley.

This is Aunt Ada's house.

And this is the bunkhouse. I would really love to find out if either structure is still standing.

Ada Hadley Alvord died May 16, 1960 in Callahan County, Texas and is buried in Ross Cemetery in Baird near her parents and brother. I do not know the whereabouts of her surviving children.
I was not going to post this photo because it was so blurry but I got to thinking that someone might recognize the two people to the left. I do not know who they are so I suppose they may be one or both of Aunt Ada's children.

Frank(?), Mabel(?), Aunt Ada Alvord, Edwin Hadley, Melba Hadley Eiland, and Lucille Hadley (Uncle Edwin's wife).

Update: The couple on the left is Mabel Alvord and her husband, N. M. "Buster" George. Thank you, Jo Lynn George Chandler.

Identifying Old Photos

2017-02-10T20:07:00.000-06:00

Sometimes genealogists find photos in the family collection which cannot be identified.
I wish I could tell you the occasion. Wedding? Reunion? Holiday? Funeral?

This photograph was taken at a McCollum Family Gathering of unknown date and place. I can only identify three of the people shown: seated on the far left is Charlie McCollum, standing fourth from the right is his second wife, Martha Merriwether McCollum and seated in front on the far right is a son of one them - I just don't know which son. So if anyone can help me identify whose home provided the setting for this family occasion, I would really appreciate it. The McCollum family first lived in Putnam, Callahan County, Texas and most of them eventually moved to Lockney, Floyd County, Texas. If I knew when it was taken, it would pretty much clear up the locality. Wouldn't it be great if the home was still standing?

The identity of the people in the photo below has been debated among our family. My dad believes it is Mack and Mary Cannon Duke while I believe it is Tom Adams (Mary's step-father) and his first wife, name unknown.

Update: Tom D. Adams' first wife was Isophena/Isavena Bulls. They married 18 December 1883 in Bell County, Texas. McCoy (Mack) Duke and Mary Cannon married 2 December 1900 in McLennan County, Texas. Someone, we don't know who, wrote on the back "T. D. Adams, Bruceville, Texas". Bruceville is in McLennan County. So it comes down to style. Are they dressed for 1883 or 1900?

Fort Hollingsworth

2016-12-11T11:23:00.000-06:00

While doing some internet research on Jacob Hollingsworth I ran across some articles about the home he built upon his arrival in Georgia circa 1792 called Fort Hollingsworth. It is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.

Soon after he arrrived, Jacob discovered that the land granted to him by the State of Georgia was actually in Indian Territory. Jacob built the fort for the protection of his family and others nearby. The issue was settled about 1796 when the Cherokee Nation ceded a four mile strip of land to the U.S. and the fort became a log home.

A complete history of the structure can be found at www.forthollingsworth-whitehouse.com. This site has many photos and purchases can be made to help support the maintenance of the old fort. Although privately owned, the fort is operated by a non-profit organization called Friends of the Fort. It is opened to the public once each May and again at Christmas.
This photo is found on the Banks County Chamber of Commerce website.

The following was written in 1997 by Bonnie Hollingsworth (whose husband is a descendant of Jacob) and appears on the Roadside Georgia website. She does a wonderful job of bringing this old fort to life and since I have never been there I could never begin to describe it.

A Step Through the Door of History
A drive down Wynn Lake Road, from Hollingsworth Community in N. Georgia, will take you to Fort Hollingsworth now commonly referred to as the White House. The two became one just before the Civil War, about 1860. Fort Hollingsworth was built circa 1792/1793, by Jacob Hollingsworth and appears on a 1793 map of the area. Around 1860, the fort was purchased by the White family, who built an addition to the fort, to make it into a typical farmhouse of that era. Mr. White recognized both the quality of the workmanship in the fort, and the historical significance of it, and refused to let it be altered or destroyed. A window was added, badly needed for family living conditions.

Helen D. Thomas put together a short documentary of Fort Hollingsworth and can be viewed here. Be sure to listen to the audio as well.

This will definitely be on my list of places to visit on my next ancestry "road" search.

Charles Richard McCollum

2016-09-16T11:26:00.000-05:00

Charles Richard McCollum was the son of Newman Theodore McCollum and Susan Caroline Nichols of Fayette County, Alabama. He was born November 19, 1854 and died January 27, 1940. He's buried in Lockney, Floyd County, Texas.

This is Charlie with his second wife, Martha Hill Merriwether. I am told that they and their dog traveled around the country in this vehicle that had been transformed into a motorhome of sorts. Apparently, Charlie had foresight...

and a better back than I do. It looks like he had a lot more patience for sleeping in cramped quarters than I ever dreamed of.

This photo was taken on one of their extended vacations. I have wondered for years about where it was taken. They appear to be dressed for cooler weather. They are standing on stone steps and there are cone shaped structures in the background. There is also a pond of some kind directly behind them. Maybe a spring of some kind?

If anyone can identify the locality of this photo, I would really appreciate it. I'm thinking Arizona or something.

The Eiland Plantation

2016-07-07T11:28:00.000-05:00

Whenever a hurricane of significant strength begins to makes it way towards the Texas coast, I am reminded of my seventh great grandfather, Richard Eiland. Richard settled in North Carolina in the early 1700's. As you can see on the map below, Richard chose land very near the North Carolina coastline.

Here's a closer look. The plantation was just south of the Virginia line.

Here it is blown up a little more. The main road through this area, Highway 615, is known as the Marsh Causeway.

I was able to do a little research on North Carolina hurricanes but the data only went back to the 1850's. There were a few significant storms during that decade as there were every decade since so I can only assume that the same was probably true during the early 1700's. The family endured for several years there, then headed for Georgia and this time they opted for land a little farther in.

Womack Family Reunion

2016-03-01T20:21:00.000-06:00

I was once asked if our family history had anyone who was "known" for doing something at an unusual age. I immediately thought of my husband's great grandfather, William William Womack.
Yes, you read that right.

W. W., as the family refers to him, has a bit of a reputation when it comes to matters of age, as if the name wasn't enough. Now I admit that I have not taken the time to thoroughly document this man’s life so what I am about to share is a compilation from several sources, mainly other researchers. There are some discrepancies.

W. W. was born January 15, 1846 (some say 1839) in or near Bienville Parish, Louisiana. He was the son of Robert and Wrizopa (Southern) Womack, pictured below.

W. W. first married Ruth Adams in 1867 when she was 19. They had six children:
Zelia Elizabeth Womack, born July 30, 1868 (married Thomas Lonzo Wiltcher)
George A. Womack, born July 14, 1871
Richard L. Womack, born June 14, 1873
Newport Womack, born September 20, 1876
Lewis Womack, born 1878
Fannie Womack, born May 25, 1879 (married William Bridges)

Per an online transcription, only the first 4 children were listed in the 1880 census for Winn Parish, LA. Ruth died about 1885. Here is where it gets unusual.

Three years later, when W. W. was 42 years old (some say he was 49), he married a second (some say third) wife, Sallie Smith, who was 16 years old, a difference of 26 years! Sallie was born July 24, 1872 in Union County, Arkansas. They married on December 9, 1888 in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana.

W. W. and Sallie had thirteen children:
Whitton Womack, born September 25, 1889, died 1901
John William Womack, born June 25, 1892
Jesse Franklin Womack, born November 23, 1893
Claude Earnest Womack, born March 6, 1895
Loney Womack, born August 20, 1896 (married Ralph Alford)
Andrew Van Buren Womack, born January 27, 1898
Gilbert Womack, born October 20, 1899
Shug Womack, born August 7, 1901
Lige Womack, born January 1, 1903
Amey Womack, born March 13, 1905 (married Lemuel Hunter)
Lanis L. Womack, born November 27, 1906
Alice Womack, born March 20, 1908, died 1909
Horace Womack, born September 15, 1909

Below is a photo of W. W. and Sallie taken between July 1909, when Alice died, and September 1909 when she gave birth to their last child, Horace.

When Horace was born, Sallie was 37 years old and W. W. was 63 years old (some say 70 - either way, it's unbelievable). W. W. died May 25, 1925 in Louisiana. Sallie died July 12, 1951 in Jackson Parish, Louisiana.

There is a photo hanging on the wall in our house which shows twelve of W. W.’s sons. It was taken May 26, 1925, the day after their father died. They are, left to right, George, Richard, Newport, John, Jesse, Claude, Andrew, Gilbert, Shug, Lige, Lanis and Horace. Sallie's sons (the last nine in the photo) certainly favored her.

A Sallie Womack Reunion is held every year in July at the VFW Hall in Jonesboro, Louisiana.