Photos and a Bible: The Children of Samuel Clarence Richardson and Mary Elizabeth Fitts of South Carolina

A good home is needed for these photos and the family Bible[1] 

that once belonged to the Sydney Hamilton Richardson family of South Carolina. Sydney was the son of Samuel Clarence Richardson and Mary Elizabeth Fitts.  Information found at Ancestry.com[2] and Find A Grave[3] shows that family members may have lived in or near what are now Beaufort, Barnwell, Hampton, and Allendale Counties. 

The boys in the photos above are Sydney Hamilton Richardson and his twin, Oliver Perry Richardson. They were born on November 29, 1853, so it can be assumed the young boys' photo was taken in the 1850s, and the photo of the boys when they were older was taken in the 1860s. 

These family pages, showing births and deaths, came from the Bible that belonged to Sydney H. Richardson and his wife, Hattie A. Moore. Note the change in the spelling of Sidney in this Bible record while the older record shows Sydney. 

Found folded inside Sydney and Hattie's bible were these papers revealing birth and death dates for the children of Samuel C. Richardson and Mary E. Fitts. Along with these papers was a typed abstract. 

My friend has these items in her possession and would like to donate them to a historical society or library in South Carolina. Do you know of a good home for the Bible and photographs? If so, please send a message to my Facebook page. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2021 

Sources 

[1]"Sydney H. Richardson and Oliver P. Richarson," photographs, abt. 1856-1870, South Carolina, digital images 15 Feb 2021, privately held by L. Rickman, Georgia, accessed 15 Feb 2021.  Also, Richardson Family Bible, "Holy Bible," privately held by L. Rickman, Georgia, accessed 15 Feb 2021.

[2]"Samuel Clarence Richardson 'Buddie'",  Facts, accessed 26 Feb 2021, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/82947861/person/32480294138/facts?indiv=try&h&db

[3] "Samuel Clarence Richardson Sr. (1827-1886)",  Find A Grave Memorial, accessed 26 Feb 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86598446/samuel-clarence-richardson. Also, "Sidney H. Richardson (1853-1915)",  Find A Grave Memorial, accessed 26 Feb 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167428631/sidney-h.-richardson 

A Revisit to Hope School

Photograph saved by Betty Charlene McDonald Rhodes and shared by her daughter, Rita Rhodes Bates. 
"1930-1931, Hope LA," original photograph from the Rhode family
collection, R. R. Bates, LA.  Accessed February 14, 2021. Used with permission.

"Hope School," original photograph from the Frye Family
collection, C. Frye, CA.  Accessed June 6, 2016, and
June 3, 2019. Used with permission.

Last week, I posted a photo of Hope School and asked for information about its location. Many responded and today, I have a little more to work with.

From what I could find, Hope, now known as Fryeburg, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, was a small farming community that  “had a church, a school, a gin, several stores, and a blacksmith shop”[1] by 1910. In about 1921 or 1922, an addition was built.[2] After that time, it was usually referred to as Hope High School; however, I am certain students of all grades attended the school. In 1942, an additional building was built by WPA workers. This building was used as a place to serve lunches.[3] The second floor of the school was used as an auditorium for school events as well as church services and funerals.[4] The wood-framed building closed in the 1940s and was torn down in 1945.[5]

The photo above shows one teacher, twenty-six students of varying ages, and a dog during the 1930-1931 school year. I have enlarged the portions to better see the faces of the children.

 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2021 

Sources 

[1] “Fryeburg,” The Bienville Democrat, 11 Aug 1921; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01061125045607275091613441207: 15 February 2021).

[2]“Notice of Letting Contracts,” State Times Advocate, 27 June 1976; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70928368/addition-to-hope-school/: 15 February 2021).

[3]“Hope High School to Get a New Building,” The Shreveport Journal, 31 Jan 1942; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70986590/hope-hs-building/: 15 February 2021).

[4] “Memories call students home,” The Times, 02 July 1992; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70948346/hope-school-was-torn-down-in-1945/: 15 February 2021).

[5] “Hope School reunion scheduled for Sunday,” The Times, 12 Jun 1992; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71002951/hope-school-reunion/: 15 February 2021).

Friday's Photo: Hope School - Was this in Bienville Parish?

On the back of this photo, from the Frye family's collection, is "Hope School." Was this school in Bienville Parish?

This photo isn't clear enough to see faces when enlarged, but I have enlarged parts of it so you can see details. The children appear to be standing behind a wire fence. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2021 

Source

 

"Hope School," original photograph from the Frye Family collection, C. Frye, CA.  Accessed June 6, 2016, and June 3, 2019. Used with permission.

Clippings from The Baylor County Banner - Seymour, Texas - April 19, 1923

My grandparents, Redic E. Bryan and Myrtie Hairston, and my great-grandparents, Phillip A. Hairston and Lodema Criswell, moved to Baylor County in 1905. My father, Whit Criswell Bryan, was born in Seymour in 1920. He was the youngest of seven children born to Redic and Myrtie. 

In April 2019, I visited the Texas State Library and Archives to read Baylor County Banner issues that could not be found online or on microfilm. I photographed articles with information about my father's family who lived in Seymour. While sorting through my family finds, I realized I had photos of articles that might interest others looking for family. I have pictures of numerous articles from 1923 and a few from other years. I will post as time allows. 

Thank you to Matt Gwinn at the Baylor County Banner for giving me permission to post these clippings.  

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020 

Sources 

Harrison, O. C. The Baylor County Banner. (Seymour, TX.), Vol. 27*, No. 30. 19 Apr 1923. Print. Accessed 15 April 2019. 

*Note that January and February issues were part of Vol. 28. This and all March and April issues were printed as Vol. 27. In May, it goes back to Vol. 28. 

Friday's Photo: An Unknown Photo from a Bienville Parish Family Collection

This photo, from Marguerite Cook Clark's collection, is labeled "unknown." Do you know this young man? 

He reminds me of the photos of Thomas "Tom" Eddie Stewart posted last year at this link.  I have posted a photo of Tom below the unknown young man. 

Thomas Eddie Stewart was born May 23, 1884 (also seen as 1883), in Arcadia, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, to Sarah Catherine "Kate" Watts and Elastus T. Stewart. Siblings were James Pitman, Sarah Elizabeth, Alice Corinne, John Hiser, Martha "Mattie Lou," and Mary Lou.

Could this be Thomas or one of his brothers; James Pitman Stewart or John Hiser Stewart? 

Do you have pictures from the Stewart family? If so, please share!

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2021 

Sources 

Marguerite Cook Clark. Photograph. Scanned photograph held by D. B. Quinn [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Virginia Beach, Virginia.*  

Tom Stewart. Photograph. Scanned photograph held by D. B. Quinn [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Virginia Beach, Virginia.*  

Unknown Man. Photograph. Scanned photograph held by D. B. Quinn [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Virginia Beach, Virginia.*  

*From the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Originals held by M. Harrison. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.