History of the Wilson Whitsett family of Lauderdale County, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
History of the Wilson Whitsett family of Lauderdale County, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. |
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WILSON WHITSETT OF LAUDERDALE COUNTY, ALABAMA |
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Wilson Whitsett was born about 1808 or 1810. I think the 1810 date fits best with the available evidence. There is no clear record of where he was born, although I think it was probably Kentucy or Tennessee. Tradition in the families of descendants of John Whitsett says that Wilson was the second son. As we have stated earlier, the first record of Wilson is in the estate sale record for Adam Whitsett's estate. The sale probably occurred in February or March was recorded on April 26, 1825. Wilson, then age about 15 purchased a book and razor for about 43 cents. Benjamin and Jane Eliza (Simpson) Price took in Wilson and his three younger brothers after the death of their father. The Price's were originally from Kentucky and were married on April 16, 1807, near Price's Station in Wayne County, Kentucky. It seems likely that they were close in age to the Whitsett boy's parents. The Price's became acquainted with and probably close friends of the Whitsett family perhaps while they lived in Tennessee, although we have nothing to show a connection before Ben Price is recorded as the administrator of Adam Whitsett's estate in February, 1825. Evidence seems to indicate that Ben and Jane had no male children and the Whitsett boys filled a void in the family. Having boys in the family would certainly be a great help on any nineteenth century homestead. Wilson and Elizabeth Price (daughter of Ben and Jane Price) were married on February 11, 1830. The marriage was recorded on March 23, 1830 (Lauderdale Co. Marriages, Book 1, page 129). When the 1830 census was taken Wilson and Elizabeth were enumerated next door to Ben Price. In the Price household is listed one male between 15 and 20 - probably Isaac Whitsett, age 18. Also in the household is a girl under five years of age whose identity we do not know. One interesting thing about this census is that Wilson is listed as "Wilson Whiteside."
When the 1840 census was taken Benj. Price and W. Whitsett are listed adjacent to each other. In the Price household were one male 50-60 (Ben, age about 55); one female from 10 to 14 years of age and two females from 20 to 29 years of age (unknown); and one female between 40 and 49 years of age (Jane, age should be about 53). In the Wilson Whitsett household are one male five years to nine years old (Benjamin, age about seven) and one male from 20 to 29 years of age (Wilson, age about 30 if he was born in 1810); females included two under five years of age (Margaret, age 3 and Cammy, age 2), one between five and nine (probably Nancy who died in 1852 - although her birth date has been given as April 24, 1838 it was probably 1835), one female between 10 and 14 (Jane, age about 9), and one female between 20 and 29 (wife Elizabeth Whitsett, age about 28). On March 10, 1850 the oldest daughter Jane Whitsett married Christopher C. Simpson (Book 2, Vol. 5, page 219). Jane was born about 1831 in Lauderdale County. The Rousseau Biographies, a history of the family and descendants of Camilla (Whitsett) and John Harvey Rousseau states that Jane was the oldest child in the family and that as an adult she smoked a corn cob pipe. Jane and Christopher had six children: Rachel Simpson, born about 1854; Margaret Ann Simpson, born about 1856; Elizabeth Simpson, born about 1858; son Benjamin Christopher Simpson, born in December, 1859; son Alaxey Simpson, born about 1863; and daughter Viola Simpson, born in 1866 (died in 1903). Christopher Simpson was born in Mississippi in about 1828 and died before 1866. Jane never remarried and lived out her life in the vicinity of Waterloo. She died in 1903. Son Benjamin Christopher Simpson married Adella Moore in 1888. He died in 1929 and Adella in 1968. In August, 2003 Jim R. Simpson, a descendant of Jane and Christopher, provided me with some of the information on the family. The 1850 Lauderdale County census enumerated the Wilson Whitsett family on November 11, 1850 (Dist. 1, page 251). The head of household Wilson's place of birth is given as South Carolina, although I doubt this very much. His age is listed as 40 and his occupation is farmer. Elizabeth is 38 years old and her place of birth is Kentucky. Benjamin is 17 years old and his occupation is listed as "Asst." (assistant or assorted?). Daughter Margaret is 13 years old, Camby is 12, Sarah is 8, Harriet is six and son Isaac is three. Nancy, age about 15, is not listed. By 1850 Ben Price had retired from farming and he and Jane were living with Wilson's family. Benjamin and Jane Eliza Price are listed in the household. Benjamin's age is 65, place of birth is Kentucky and occupation is given as "hog feeder." Jane Eliza is 63 years old and her place of birth is given as South Carolina. On August 29, 1852 daughter Nancy Whitsett died at the age of 17. She had never married. She is buried in the old Simpson Cemetery in Lauderdale County near Waterloo. The oldest son Benjamin Whitsett, born in 1833, died sometime between 1850 and 1860 and was never married. In 1850 and 1860 Wilson purchased land from the BLM located about three to three and half miles north east of Waterloo in sections 19 and 20 of T1R14W. This land would be adjacent to County Road 78. The 1860 agricultural census of Lauderdale County lists Wilson Whitsett with 120 acres of land under cultivation and 340 additional acres unimproved. Part of this 460 acres may have originally belonged to Ben Price. The agricultural census lists Christopher Simpson with 220 acres, Thomas Webb with 160 acres. Also listed are John Whitsett (son of Josiah) with 75 acres, Josiah Whitsett with 325 acres and Isaac Whitsett with 300 acres. Wilson, age 51, farmer, born in North Carolina is listed on the U.S. census of Lauderdale County, enumerated on June 29, 1860. In the household are Elizabeth, age 46, born in Kentucky; Harriet, age 15; Isaac, age 12; Florence, age 9; Catherine, age 7; Wilson (William Shanner), age 4. Also living with Wilson and Elizabeth was Edward Patterson, age 19, a teacher born in Tennessee. In Waterloo on July 4, 1860 is Thomas Webb, age 19, born in Mississippi and wife Sarah (Whitsett), age 18 and a young woman named Leutisha Rhea, age 12, born in Mississippi who was probably a relative of Thomas'. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Wilson and Elizabeth's oldest son, Benjamin had probably died and the other two sons, Isaac Jones and William Shanner were too young to enlist. However, the family was well represented by their son-in-laws. John Harvey Rousseau, husband of daughter Camilla, enlisted in a cavalry unit, perhaps the 4th Alabama Cavalry. Private Christopher C. Simpson, husband of the oldest daughter Jane, joined Company H of the 4th Alabama Cavalry. Also in this company was Jane's first cousin Private John William Whitsett, son of Joe and Kissiah Whitsett (brother of Wilson). Private Thomas Jefferson Webb, husband of Wilson’s daughter Sarah Price Whitsett, joined Company B of the 27th Regiment of Alabama Infantry. The terrible economic condition in Lauderdale County was probably the reason for Wilson Whitsett’s family members to leave Alabama after the war for Arkansas and Texas. Some time after the war, Wilson and Elizabeth's daughter Harriet married E. G. Young. The Young's apparently remained in Lauderdale County but I have been unable to find any information about them, including their names on census returns from 1870 through 1930. Harriet supposedly died some time after 1881, whether days, months or years after I do not know. She or her husband do not appear on the 1870 or 1880 census that I can find. Wilson's wife Elizabeth died some time in 1870 in Lauderdale County. She was about 58 years old. Her place of burial is unknown. The following year son Isaac Jones Whitsett married Sarah Elizabeth Sherrod on December 5, 1871. She was the daughter of Thomas Sherrod and Ruth Jinkins of Lauderdale County. In 1876 "Jones" Whitsett and his family removed to Grayson County, Texas. On March 18, 1875 daughter Florence married Richard W. Raiborne in Lauderdale County. Their daughter Katie was born probably in early 1876. Florence may have died in childbirth. She passed away before 1878 in Lauderdale County. Wilson's daughter Catherine Whitsett married James Williams on February 26, 1876 in Lauderdale County. She and her husband moved to Texas probably soon after their marriage. In 1881, when her father's estate was settled, she and James were living in Coleman County, Texas. Catherine "Kate" Williams and her husband James were living in Blanket, Brown County, Texas in 1900. They had nine children in 1900, all born in Texas: Frank Williams, born in October, 1879; Ullia Williams, born June 1884; Emmit Williams, born December, 1885; Ernest Williams, born July 1887; Clifford Williams, born July, 1889; Mary Williams, born November, 1891; Elisha (Elijha) Williams, born June, 1893; Bryan Williams, born May, 1896; Beula Williams, born May, 1899. The quality of the census return is poor and some names are difficult to decipher. The youngest son, William Shanner Whitsett, lived for awhile with his sister Cammie in Greene County, Arkansas. Before 1880 he went to Texas and was living with his older brother Isaac Jones in Grayson County when the 1880 census was taken. He returned to Waterloo and married Matilda Lindsey in Lauderdale County on March 27, 1897. One daughter that we know of, Myrtle W. Whitsett, was born about 1904. William apparently died between 1910 and 1920 probably in Lauderdale County.
Sarah Price Whitsett Webb
CORONER'S INQUEST OVER DEATH OF W. W. WEBB SUNDAYW. W. Webb. 55. Prominent farmer of Talmadge community in the southwest part of Wilbarger County, was found dead seated in a truck, where his companions had left him while hunting at one o'clock Sunday afternoon. The upper part of his head was blown off and his hands were grasping a shotgun and a forked stick with which the trigger had been pulled. Justice of Peace, W. D. Hollars accompanied by Deputy Sheriff R. W. Walker, went to the scene and conducted a coroner's inquest. The Justice returned verdict of suicide. With his nephews, Charles and Floyd Webb, the trio had gone off for a hunt 16 miles southwest of Vernon. Mr. Webb cut himself a walking stick and later cut a smaller stick, leaving a notch in it. Complaining being tired, he told the two boys to continue the hunt and he would rest for awhile in the truck. The boys heard one shot fired from the direction of the truck and hurried back finding Webb dead. OFFICERS NOTIFIED They notified relatives and officers at once. The stick in his hand showed where the bark had been scrapped away and the green bark on the right hand trigger, told the story of how he met his death. No reason for the act has been revealed, it is said that his home life was harmonious and that he had no financial problem. He had been a resident of the southwest part of the county for twenty years. He is survived by his widow, who is a daughter of Jim Gray of Rayland, and 10 children. Two of his daughters live in Vernon. They are Pink Haynes and Mrs. Dick Crabtree who were at home when they were notified of their father's death. Other children are Miss B. D. Webb of Thalia, Mrs. Bill Jordon of Rayland, Buster, Bonita, Dora, Ora, Ysleta and a baby daughter all residing with their parents. Internment will be in Talmadge Cemetery Monday afternoon. The children identified in the article were daughters Mrs. Pearl “Percy” Haynes (then 27 years old, wife of Pink Haynes) and Mrs. Clara C. Crabtree (age 25), Miss Berna Doris Webb (age 22), Mrs. Jessie Jordon (age 20), Clarence “Buster” Webb (age 17), Bonita Webb (age 10), Dora and Ora Webb (twins, age 9), Ethel Ysleta Webb (age 4) and Frances Webb (age 6, misidentified as the baby). The family was traumatized by the suicide. For years they perpetuated the story that Wilson had accidentally shot himself because the gun had a hair trigger. On March 17, 1993 daughter Jessie (Jordon) Thompson wrote to one of her nieces relating some of the history of her family. This copy of the text of the seven-page letter has been edited for clarity. … We were proud
of our boys too. Sam teaches in college and his oldest son Mark
said one time I think Dad has and is in his [?] course in college.
Ha! David will be 60 June 10th. He’s taking a course in the
college here now. So you don’t get to old to learn if you
want to go to school. I heard something about Indian blood but I’ve
forgotten what. Anyway, let me tell you this. A girl in the Webb
family decided she was going to find out. I’ve forgotten her
name. I’m sending you what she sent Lela Webb, Uncle Baily’s
daughter. Grandpa and Grandma Webb had only boys, four of them.
I can name them, Luther, Arthur, Baily and my Dad was the youngest.
His full name was Wilson Whitsett. Lela didn’t want to work
with this girl so she sent the package to Pearl from Odessa, Texas.
Percy didn’t want to fool with it and she brought it to me.
I didn’t know anything about what to do – so I’ve
kept it. Now you can keep it or give it to your Mom. She might be
interested in keeping it awhile. I’ve had it my share. Several
years ago I asked Dorsy if she wanted to take it over and work with
the girl and she said no. At that time they had Bob’s mother
and later put her in a nursing home. I remember Grandma Webb lived
with us and I slept with her. I wasn’t born when Grandpa Webb
died. Percy [Pearl] was 6 years old and she remembered a lot about
him. He was shot and injured real bad in the war and never was able
work. I think Percy said Dad and Mother took care of them most of
the time. Grandma Webb was loved by all. She was so sweet and helped
Mom a lot. She called Dad Willie. She was visiting Uncle Baily and
Millie when she got sick and bedfast. It was her heart. Uncle Baily‘s
farm was next to ours. Grandma Webb was sitting up in bed and telling
them about during the war, how the Yankees would hunt the soldiers
down and shoot them. And how they hid them, and how they’d
come in when you were eating and grab your tablecloth and yank it
off food, dishes and all in the floor [breaking the dishes} and
they would laugh at you. One day a woman was walking down the railroad
track and she was bare footed. Grandma Webb saw her and went to
her. Her feet were sore from walking barefooted. {Grandma Webb said]
“I pulled my shoes off and gave them to her. I’ve never
had to go barefooted since,” and she fell over dead with a
heart attack – Aunt Millie said Grandma laughed when she said
that and died. So every since there’s been people on this
Earth fighting each other. Only now they are smarter and can kill
more at a time. But then we have more and more on this Earth than
ever before. Think of many starving. We had a principal at S. Ward
where I was manager of the cafeteria who said that if people didn’t
start cremating instead of cemeteries that all the land would be
used up and no land left to raise food to eat. He worked at a funeral
home in college and he says at the rate people are dying it is time
to cremate. I’ve planned to be cremated and my ashes put beside
[Wane]. I’m planning on David having me up at Thalia Cemetary
when Ysleta and Marie bring Clydie’s ashes to put by Dad and
mother. Dad was killed in a hunting accident. He was 48 years old.
He, Charlie and Floyd Webb were hunting. When they got in the car
with loaded guns, Dad bumped his and it went off and shot him in
the head and killed him instantly. Or, his finger may have pulled
the trigger. The gun he had – had gone off too easily. He
tried to be careful with it. That left mother with 5 little kids.
Doris was still at home and mother had a break down. Dorsy took
over and she was mother to the five little ones, and mother too.
She took care of an ill mother physically and mentally too. She
was hurting so much herself. After she got everyone in bed at night
– she’d go up in the corn patch and scream and cry her
little heart out where no one could hear her. She told me, some
times when she’d be sewing for the little kids she’d
have so many tears in her eyes. “I had a hard time sewing.”
The little kids would see her and say what wrong Dorsy? She could
sew by the time she was 12 yrs old. She helped mother cook, etc.
I worked in the field plowing. Dad had to have help to work a farm
and he wanted me to be a boy so much that he called me Jack for
years. I had gotten married before Dad died. Buck was 16 I think
and he stayed home and plowed. He educated him self mostly. He was
about as smart as the president I think. My marriage [to Bill Jordon]
was a bad one. I separated and when I married Dave that was the
right one. We had these two fine boys and you know what they are
men now 58 and almost 60 – David said to me one day I’m
not having any more birthdays. I said why? Are you planning on dying?
He said no, no so – I said well then you’ll keep on
having birthdays. Mamaw [Fannie Webb] only lacked 8 days being 101.
He said, “I’d better retract that and say I’m
not going to tell any one how old I am.” I said, you could
do like Percy did. One of her friends asked her how old she was
and she said, “Why did you want to take out some insurance
on me?” After she was quite old and living in the low rent
apartment on Bacon Street, the next door old lady said, “Pearl
how old are you?” Percy said, “Well, you go out to the
cemetery and you’ll see.” But when she buried Pink she
only had his birth and death and just her name on double markers,
no dates. She said, “My kids can have that done when I’m
put there.“ I must close. Maybe if you get back to Texas some
time we could talk more. My tongue never gets tired, tho’
my body did. I couldn’t get out of bed, but after a years
therapy I got in a wheelchair. Now I can use a walker and wheelchair
both, but I use the wheelchair the most. But, I can ride in car
and I’m planning on going to Vernon when Ysleta and Marie
come to Vernon and the Thalia cemetery, if I know what day and time
they will be there. I’ve written Ysleta and expecting an answer
soon. Love [to] you Aunt Jessie
Isaac Jones Whitsett
In 1881 Jones took his family to Griffithville, White County, Arkansas two counties away from his sister Camilla Rousseau. In addition to farming, he owned a saw and grist mill and according to the 1900 census, ran a hotel. In 1890 the Goodspeed Publishing Company, famous at that time for publishing local histories with brief biographies of prominent citizens, published a sketch of Isaac Jones Whitsett in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas, page 266 under White County.
On June 7, 1903 the oldest son Benjamin Shanner Whitsett married Sarah Myrtle Dugger in Griffithville. She was the daughter of William A. and Mary A. Rebecca Dugger. In February, 1905 Jones' wife Sarah Elizabeth died in Griffithville. The following year Ben and Myrtle's first child, Herbert Hicks died on February 18, 1906. He was not yet two years old. In 1909 Benjamin took his father and brother Herbert and moved back to Texas. Benjamin's father-in-law William Dugger also took his entire family and went with the Whitsett's and in 1910 there were all located in Comanche County, Texas. Comanche is located about half way between Abileen and Waco. Benjamin S. Whitsett's household in 1910 consisted of wife Myrtle, his father Isaac J., brother Herbert H. and three sons: Ewell, age 4, born in Arkansas; Thomas W., age 2, born in Arkansas; Jake, age five months, born in Texas are also in the household. By 1920 Benjamin and his family had moved to Olney, Young County, Texas. Several more children had joined the family. Isaac Jones Whitsett died on February 12, 1928 and is buried in Orth, Young County. In 1930 Benjamin and his family were living in Lemesa, Texas but returned to Olney. In 2005 Mary Thomas, Benjamin's granddaughter wrote, "Benjamin owned a blacksmith shop for many years and then a garage to work on cars. Both buildings are no longer standing. My greatest of memories were of the blacksmith shop." Benjamin died on July 3, 1957 in Olney. Myrtle died in Olney on August 25, 1970. Both are buried in Olney Restland Cemetery. Herbert Hughes Whitsett never married and left no descendants when he died in Olney, Texas on September 26, 1961. Children of Benjamin S. Whitsett and Sarah Myrtle Dugger
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Ronald N. WallUpdated: 29 MAY 2011 |
