1860 Census, Western Division, Lauderdale County, Alabama, P.O. Waterloo, page 48, 30 June 1860
355/355	Efrom Read	age 38	M W	Farming	born N.C.
	Cynthia	age 34	F W		born Ala.
	Francis	age 8 mos	F W		born Ala.
	Mary	age 8 mos	F W		born Ala.
	Jesse Whitsett	age 10	M W		born Arkansas
	John	age 8	M W		born Arkansas
	Joseph	age 6	M W		born Arkansas

---

1870 T2R14W, Lauderdale Co., Alabama, P.O. Waterloo, pg. 550, Aug. 24, 1870
1594/1541	Reide,	Ephram	age 47	M W	Farmer	born N.C.
		Synthia	age 47	F W	Keeping house	Ala.
		James	age 21	M W	Farm Hand	Ala.
		Joseph	age 17	M W	Farm Hand	Ala.
		Frances	age 10	F W		Ala.
		Mary	age 10	F W		Ala.
		Mary	age 7	F W		Ala.
1595/1542	Tanksly,	John	age 53	M W	Farmer	Tenn.
	Rayborn,	Eliza	age 23	F W	Keeping House	Arkansas

---

1880 Census, Beat 12 & 11 (T1R14W), Lauderdale County, Alabama, ED141, page 17, 12 June 1880
3/3	Reed,	Ephraim	W M age 58	Head	Farmer	N. C.	N. C.	N. C.
		Cinthia	W F age 55	Wife	Keeping house	Tenn	Va.	Va.
4/4	Reed,	Francis M.	W M Age 20	Head	Farmer	Ala.	N. C.	Tenn.
		Mary E.	W F Age 22	Wife	Keeping house	Ala.	Ala.	Ala.
	Tankersly,	John	W M age 60	Uncle	Works on Farm	Tenn.	Va.	Va.

Jesse James Whitsett

Jessie James Whitsett (1850-1934)

Great Granddaughter Betty Thompson of Fayetteville, Arkansas provided us with the data for Jesse James Whitsett and his family.  Census records and other documentation support her information.  He was born on January 30, 1850, in Spring Creek Township, Phillips County, Arkansas.   After his father died (about 1855), Jesse's mother Cynthia returned to Lauderdale County with her three boys.  Jesse grew up in Lauderdale County in the household of his stepfather, Ephraim Reed.

He married Margaret (Malinda) Pickens in Lauderdale County on February 27, 1871.  She was the daughter of Leroy Madison Pickens and Martha Fairies and was born October 25, 1845 in Tennessee.  Some time before the turn of the century, Jesse took his family to Bell County, Texas and then Durant, Bryan County, Oklahoma.  Jesse died probably in December, 1934 in Floyd County, Texas.  Margaret died on August 5, 1908 in Chillicothe, Hardman Co., Texas.

Children of JESSIE WHITSETT and MARGARET PICKENS are:
JOHN LEROY WHITSETT, b. May 24, 1872, Lauderdale Co., Ala.; d. April 25, 1928, Durant, Bryan Co., Oklahoma.  He married QUINNIE WEATHERFORD November 1, 1896 in Holland, Bell County, Texas. She died September 22, 1916 in Durant, Bryan Co., Oklahoma. Seven children: daughter Georgia E. Whitsett, b. abt. 1899, Texas; son Emmit Whitsett, b. abt 1901; daughter Margaret M. Whitsett, b. abt. 1907, m. John Fletcher; son James J. Whitsett, b. April 1910; son Ira Whitsett, b. abt. 1912; daughter Ruby Whitsett, b. abt. 1914; daughter Quinnie Ethel Whitsett, b. abt. 1916, m. O'Dell Mosley.
ERNEST PRESTON WHITSETT, b. February 7, 1875, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. September 29, 1946, Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas.   He married BEULAH ETHEL MILLS Abt. 1901. She was born July 27, 1879, and died May 1972 in Harrison, Boone County, Arkansas. Five Children: son Preston M. Whitsett, b. Aug. 9, 1902, d. May 6, 1903, Bell Co., Texas; son Jewel Forest Whitsett, b. May 22, 1903, Bell Co., Texas, d. Aug. 12, 1983, Swisher County, Texas, m. Electa Killough; daughter Opal Mae Whitsett, b. Mar. 14, 1906, Bell County, Texas, d. Feb. 15, 1989, Boone County, Arkansas, m. Waldo Franklin Brewster; son Gerald Wheeler Whitsett, b. Oct. 15, 1907, Bell Co., Texas, d. July 11, 1929, Hale Co., Texas, m. Willie Mae Watson; daughter Ina Fae Whitsett, b. Aug. 15, 1910, Bell Co., Texas.
CHARLES WALTER WHITSETT, b. February 13, 1878, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. December 14, 1932. He married GEORGIA SEARS December 22, 1902. One daughter, Effie Whitsett, b. Abt. 1906, Texas; married J. Paul Patterson; b. Abt. 1903, Texas.
JESSE JOSEPH WHITSETT, b. May 14, 1882, Lauderdale Co., Ala.; d. November 11, 1961, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Married MINNIE EVALINE GOODNIGHT November 3, 1907 in Holland, Bell County, Texas. She was born Abt. 1887 in Texas.  One son, Joseph Henry Whitsett, b. Nov. 20, 1909, m. Minnie Lou Richards.
WILLIAM WHEELER WHITSETT, b. August 31, 1884, Lauderdale Co., Ala.; d. November 1, 1963, Tulia, Swisher Co., Texas.  He married CLARA MAY ALEXANDRA. She was born Abt. 1888 in Texas.  They had a daughter, Vela Murriel Whitsett, b. Feb. 21, 1913.
MARTHA ETNA WHITSETT, b. July 5, 1889, Wright, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. September 7, 1974, Rockwall, Texas; m. BARNEY S. SEARS, May 8, 1905, Waco, McLennan County, Texas.

"Your grandfather, John Whitsett, the youngest of four brothers and two sisters. Wilson Whitsett, the oldest, Isaac Whitsett, the second, Joe Whitsett, the third and John Whitsett, the fourth and youngest, born in 1828. Do not know any dates. Their Farther and Mother came from Virginia to Jiles [Giles] County, Tennessee, and died there when the children were small and no dates were kept of anything. They were all adopted by one man and wife, a Mr. Ben Price, brought to Lauderdale County, Alabama, and raised there and lived and died there around Waterloo, except Father. He died in Pope County, Arkansas, when I was 6 years old. Your Father was 6 months old. There was one Brother, the oldest one never adopted, he being old enough to take care of himself and went to Georgia and raised up a family of boys there, all being railroad men. I saw a man who knew them after they were all middle aged men."
"Jim, this is all I know about our direct people. Doctor [Lee M.] Whitsett, of Fort Worth, has a biography of the Whitsetts, 330 years old. If he is still living, he is 55 or 60 years old. Please give me the outcome of this."
"Your effectionate uncle,
J. J. W."

1880 Census, Beat 12 (T1R14W), Lauderdale County, Alabama, ED141, page 16, June 11, 1880
7/7	Whitsett	James W.	W M age 30	[Head]	Farmer	Ark.	Tenn.	Tenn.
		Malinda J.	W F age 34	Wife	Keeping house	Tenn.	Tenn.	Tenn.
		John L.	W M age 8	Son	works on farm	Ala	Ark.	Tenn.
		Ernest P.	W M age 6	Son	At home	Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.
		Charlie W.	W M age 2	Son	At Home	Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.

---

1900 Census, Precinct 3, Bartlett, Bell County, Texas, ED21, Sheet 18B, June 15, 1900
303/314 Whitsett,	Jesse J.	Head	W M	Jan 1850 age 50	M. 27 yrs	Ark.	Tenn.	Tenn.	Farmer
	Margret	Wife	W F	Oct 1845 age 54	M. 27 yrs	Tenn.	S.C.	S.C.	Mother of 6/6
	Ernest	Son	W M	Feb 1875 age 25		Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.	farm labor
	Walter	Son	W M	Feb 1878 age 22		Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.	farm labor
	Jessie	Son	W M	May 1882 age 18		Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.	farm labor
	William	Son	W M	Aug 1884 age 15		Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.	farm labor
	Martha	Daughter	W F	Jul 1889 age 10		Ala.	Ark.	Tenn.	at school

1900 Census, Precinct 5, Bell County, Texas, ED 27 Sheet 2 B, June 4, 1900
31/31 Whitsett	John L.	Head	W M	May 1873 age 27	M. 3 yrs	Ala.	Ala.	Ala.	Farmer
	Quinnie	Wife	W F	Dec (1877) age ??	M. 3 yrs	Tenn	Tenn	Tenn	mother of 2/1
	Georgia E.	daughter	W F	Dec (1898) age 1		Texas	Ala	Tenn

---

1910 Census, Precinct 5, Bell County, Texas, ED14, Sheet 9A (page 9)
117/117 Whitsit,	John L.	Head	age 37, married once 14 yrs		Ala.	Ala.	Ala.
	Quine	Wife	age 33, married once 14 yrs		Ala.	Ala.	Ala.	mother of 4, 4 living
	Georgia	Daughter	age 11		Texas	Ala.	Ala.
	Emmet L.	Son	age 9		Texas	Ala.	Ala.
	Margarette M.	Daughter	age 2		Texas	Ala.	Ala.
	James J.	Son	0 mos		Texas	Ala.	Ala.

1930 Census, Bryan County, Durant, Oklahoma ED7-26, Sheet 16 A (page 256)
379/392 Whitsett	James J.	Head	age 20, Single	Texas	Alabama	Texas	Laborer, Dairy
	Margaret	Sister	age 23, Single	Texas	Alabama	Texas
	Ira	Brother	age 18, single	Texas	Alabama	Texas	Laborer, Odd jobs
	Ruby	Sister	age 16, single	Texas	Alabama	Texas
	Quenie E.	Sister	age 13, single	Texas	Alabama	Texas
	James J.	Gr.Father	age 80, widowed	Ark.	Tenn.	Tenn.

Children of JOSEPH WHITSETT and IDA WRIGHT are:
MINA EUDORA WHITSETT, b. November 17, 1876, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. July 10, 1907, Peaster, Parker County, Texas; m. CHARLES SPENCER RUTLEDGE, March 22, 1898; two daughters, Amy Carol Rutledge and Ida May Rutledge.
JAMES EDWARD WHITSETT, b. July 3, 1879, Waterloo, Lauderdale County, Alabama; d. April 25, 1967, Weatherford, Parker County, Texas; m. BELLE ZORA GUERRY December 21, 1902, Weatherford, Texas; two children, James Mortis Whitsett and daughter Maybelle Whitsett.
BEDA MAY WHITSETT, b. December 12, 1881, Waterloo, Lauderdale Co., Alabama; d. April 29, 1931, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; m. ALLEN BELLAH RICE, March 30, 1909.

Chapel Hill, N.C.
11/6/1929

Mr. J.E. Whitsett,
Dear Sir:
I notice in the paper that Mr. J. E. Whitsett was Foreman of the jury who tried R. H. Hamilton of your State a few days ago. Having had a letter only a few days ago from my Nephew, Dr. W. T. Whitsett, of Whitsett, N. C., who is getting up a history of the Whitsett Family, I could not help but think that perhaps you might help in that history, by giving a small outline of your Family in Texas.
I had a granduncle who was a preacher and left N. C. quite a number of years ago and settled at or near Mems, [Memphis] Tenn. His name was Wm. Whitsett. I did not know but what you might be of that family.
Do you know what your grandfather's name was. If you care to you might write Dr. W. T. Whitsett of Whitsett, N. C. and give him what you might have of the Family in Texas.
With good wishers, I am
Yours truly,.
A. T. Whitsett.

WHITSETT, N.C.
Oct. 12, 1929

Mr. A. T. Whitsett,
Chapel Hill, N.C.

Dear Uncle Alfred, -
My history of the Whitsett family is drawing to a conclusion, and I hope to publish before many more months. It is hard to get all the information together.
Can you give me, or tell me where I can get a correct list of the dates of birth, and death where now dead, of the children of Austin Whitsett, your father, and my grandfather?
Also, what was name of woman Uncle Henry married? Also Uncle Jerry? Where are these two buried. Can you give their children's names, also to whom the children were married.
Help me all you can, please. Your help in past has been the best I have been able to obtain.
With regards to all the family,

Sincerely yours,

W. T. Whitsett.
_______________________________________
Brevard, North Carolina
November 11th, 1929

Mr. J.E. Whitsett
Weatherford Tex.
Dear Sir:
I enclose you clipping from the Ashville, N.C. Citizen.
I am the youngest son of Ralph Crawford Whitsett and Rachel Dunn Whitsett of Va. My grandfather, Wm. Whitsett, fought in the Revolution, was under Col. Crawford and married Col. Crawford's niece, Hadessa.
I am of Scotch-Irish descent and all my forebears came from Va. Grandfather was born in 1752, Father in 1801, and self in 1852.
If you can figure out any relation I would be pleased to hear from you.
I have my winter home at Eustis, Fla. And leave for there last of this week. I would have been there but have been laid up for over a month with an infected right hand.
Yours truly,
H.G. Whitsett
P.S. My oldest Brother's name was James Estel Whitsett. I have one Brother, A.H. living at Mt. Ida and sister, M.H. Whitsett Hindron living in Dayto [sic] Wash. She is past 90.

_________________________________________
Nov. 14th, 1929
Mr. H.G. Whitsett,
1013 Orange,
Eustis, Florida.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of Nov. 11th was written from Brevard, North Carolina, but I am addressing you at Eustis, Florida, as I see that in your letter you state that you spend your winters there.
I am sorry to say that I cannot give you very much information about the Whitsett family. My Father's name was Joseph Wilson Whitsett and his Father was John Whitsett, My Father was reared in North Alabama, near Waterloo, Lauderdale County, and his Father was left an orphan at an early age and I think there were four of the boys. Their names were Joseph, John, Wilson and Isaac. I think the Whitsett family was from Virginia or North Carolina to Tennessee and from Tennessee to Alabama and there is still quite a few Whitsetts around Waterloo, Alabama. My Father's Father married Cynthia Ann Tankersley and there were three boys, Joseph Wilson, Jesse James and John. John died when he was about 8 or 9 years old. My Father, Joseph Wilson Whitsett was born May 19th, 1854, and died Jan. 15th, 1925, and my uncle, James Whitsett, is still living at Durant, Oklahoma.
I am sure that we are of some relation if I could trace my descendants. My people have always claimed to be of Scotch Irish descent and Whitsett is a name that you seldom meet. I have a letter from Dr. William Thornton Whitsett of Whitsett, North Carolina, in which he states that he is writing a history of the Whitsett family. Possibly you are acquainted with him and more than likely he is some relation of yours.
I would be glad to hear from you again and write me in detail all you know of The Whitsett family. I am anxious to find out all I can about them.
Hoping you have a pleasant winter, I am
Yours truly,
J. E. Whitsett

[The above is a copy apparently typed by a secretary of J.E. Whitsett and not the actual letter sent to Mr. Whitsett in Florida]
____________________________________
Eustis Fla. Nov 1929
Mr. J.E. Whitsett
Weatherford Tex.
Your letter of Nov. 24 received here. Owing to bad weather in mountains we did not get started here till the 19th and got here the 21st and it takes some time too get tying [sic] cleaned up after six months absence.
I am confident that we are some kind of kinfolks. I will give you our family tradition as I remember it. We are of Scotch Irish decent and are from Virginia. James - John and William Whitsett left Va. To go south and my Grandfather William stopped in Pa. And his two brothers went on south and grandfather never heard from either of them while he lived.
My grandfather William was born in 1752 and married Hadessa Crawford a niece of Col. William Crawford of Revolutionary fame.
Grandfather fought under Col. Crawford. Col. Crawford and grandfather lived at Connellsville Pa and the City have recentley erected a monument to his memory. Grandfather William also lived at Layton Pa and Pittsburg and Jacks Run Pa. Grandmother died and was buried at Layton Pa.
Grandfather and Grandmother had thirteen children. Twelve girles and one boy who was the youngest and my father born in 1801 and died at my house in 1892. My father and mother had thirteen children of which I am the youngest born May 31 1852. My mother was Rachel Estep a Daughter of Dr. James Estep a practiceing physitien [sic] and baptist preacher all his life. My grandmother was Rachel Dunn an F.F.V. of Va.
I have one brother A.H.Whitsett living at Mt. Ida Ark and a sister R Hadessa Whitsett Hendron living at Dayton Washington. She is past 90 and spry as a crickit.
My daughter Gertrude Whitsett Kipp is applying to get into the Daughters of the Revolution. Grandfathers service record under William Crawford in the state records at Philadelphia Pa. Are the same as our traditions. An old history of Fayette Co. Pa. By Nelson speaks of my grandfather as being a great indian fighter and scout and a friend of George Washington.
I was born in Fayette Co. Pa. Was in Ky. Six years and came to Fla. In 1890. Bought a summer home at Brevard N.C. six years ago. It is up in the mountains on the head of French Bread River.
Mountains around us run from 3000 to 6000 ft. The river is 2300.
I have tried to give you the high points of our familey and if you can connect up I will be much pleased.
If interested I can go into more detail. I do not think that there are very many living whose grandfather fought for our independence.
I have had some correspondence with William Thornton Whitsett of Whitsett N.C. but have not gone to see him yet. He lives over 200 miles from Brevard. If you should get near here do not fail to come to see me. Hoping that we may get better acquainted I remain
Very Truly Yours
H.G. Whitsett [actual signature]