Friday's Photo: Eliza Catherine Wimberly Davis - From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark

Maggie Martin Cook and Alice Mae Davis Regan

This photograph of Eliza Catherine Wimberly Davis was identified by Maggie Martin Cook as Eliza Davis on the back. Maggie’s handwriting was later identified by her granddaughter.

Eliza Catherine Wimberly was born 20 July 1856 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, the daughter of William Wimberly and Mary Angelina Pittman Wimberly. She was the fifth child of William and Mary, and the fourteenth child of William. Eliza died 29 February 1928 in Bienville Parish and was buried in Wimberly Cemetery, where her grave is marked.

On 23 April 1874, Eliza married Henry Jefferson Davis, son of William Martin Davis and Emily Smith or Smythe Davis. Henry was born on 22 June 1852 in Bienville Parish and died there on 20 December 1884. He is also buried in Wimberly Cemetery.

Eliza and Henry had five children: Mary Louella, Emily Alberta, Willie Jane, Henry “Bud” Martin, and Alice Mae. According to the Wimberly book, as shared by Chester Regan Cummings, great-grandson of Eliza, Henry died of pneumonia just six months after Alice Mae’s birth. Eliza was left to raise five children without their father.

Although Eliza was not a descendant of any of my
Bienville Parish ancestors, two of her daughters
 married into my family. H. J. Giddens was a
descendant of my third-great-grandfather’s brother,
Jacob Giddens. J. B. Regan was a descendant of my
second-great-grandmother, Elizabeth Regan Bryan.

The same account describes Eliza as a determined and courageous mother who kept her family strong and secure. She maintained her home and raised her children until her son, Henry Martin Davis, married. Eliza then lived with Henry and his wife, Jeffer McGraw, until her death.

If you would like to learn more about the families I research, follow my Facebook page, where I share each post along with other genealogical finds.

Diana

© 2026

Eliza Davis, photograph, no date; digital image, from the privately held photo collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Photos were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas, on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission. 

Maggie Martin Cook and Alice Mae Davis Regan, photograph, no date; digital image, from the privately held photo collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Photos were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission. 

The Times, March 3, 1928, Page 22. via Newspapers.com  (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-eliza-c-wimberly-davis-obit/196748333/: accessed May 2, 2026), clip page for Eliza C. Wimberly Davis - obituary by user dewquinn

Vera Meeks Wimberly, Wimberly Family History, Ancestors, Relatives, and Descendants of William Wimberly, Pioneer from Georgia to Louisiana 1837, print (Houston Texas: D. Anderson, 1979), pages 587-630.

Friday's Photo: Joseph Brown Bryan of Bienville Parish, Louisiana

These photos of Joseph Brown Bryan were found in the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark, a descendant of Joseph and his wife, Sarah Margaret Wimberly. 

Born on September 19, 1824, in Georgia, likely in either Twiggs or Houston County, Joseph Brown Bryan was the son of Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Span Regan.

Joseph and Sarah, daughter of William Wimberly and Lucy Smith Lawson, married in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, and together, they had eight children: Laura Frances, William Walter, Augustus Reddick, Lucy Elizabeth, Joseph Sarah Catherine "Josie," James Anderson, John Terrell, and Alice Martha. Josie and John were adopted by their aunt and uncle, Alice Mary Wimberly Bryan, and James Bryan, a childless couple. 

Joseph, Sarah, and their children are buried in the Wimberly Cemetery in Bienville Parish. 

Joseph Bryan was identified on the back of this photo, but 
the tall man beside him was not. I suspect it might be one of 
his sons.

 

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

Unidentified photographs, n.d.; digital images, from the privately held photo collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Photos were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas, on 28 April 2014, 14 September 2014, and 9-11 November 2016.

From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: Grand Bayou Methodist Church History

Grand Bayou Methodist Church, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, disbanded on 24 October 1984 and merged with Ringgold Methodist Church. On 7 August 1985, the church was moved to the Wimberly Cemetery where it is used as a Memorial Chapel. This photo, taken in June 2007, shows Grand Bayou Methodist Church in Wimberly Cemetery.

The history was compiled in 1982 by Marguerite Cook Clark for the 100th anniversary of the church and found, along with the event program, in her saved files. To see Grand Bayou Methodist Church prior to 1930 click on this link. 

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

© 2022 

Sources 

Marguerite Cook Clark, A Brief Statement of the History of the Grand Bayou Church and event program, 1982, unpublished manuscript, from the privately held collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Documents were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016.

Grand Bayou in Wimberly Cemetery, photograph, June 2007; scanned images, original photograph from the privately-held collection of Diana Bryan Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2022. 

“Bistineau Chapter LSDAR Meets in Old Church,” The Bienville Democrat, 29 Oct.1987, p.4; database and images, The Digital Archives of The Bienville Parish Library  (http://bienville.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?i=f&by=1987&bdd=1980&bm=10&bd=29&d=10291987-10291987&fn=bienville_democrat_usa_louisiana_bienville_19871029_english_4&df=1&dt=10 : accessed 28 October 2022).

Friday's Photo: Joe Mangham Wimberly of Bienville Parish

Today's photo comes from the collection of Mary Martin Smith. The "mc collection" seen on the label indicates that Mary Martin Smith copied the original that was found in the Marguerite Cook Clark collection. However, I did not see the exact photo when scanning photos in the Marguerite Cook Clark collection. I found only the faded photo seen below leading me to the conclusion that there is still more to see. 

Did Joe Mangham Wimberly have a nickname? On this
photo, there is a word following her name in quotation marks. 

Joe Mangham was the daughter of James Green Mangham and Julia Frances Murph. She was a graduate of Female College in Mansfield, Louisiana, and taught school for a short period. She married Andrew Lawson Wimberly, child of John Lawson Wimberly and Alice Martha Bryan. 

Andrew and Joe had eight children:

Tom Lawson Wimberly

Jim Green Wimberly

Frank Lee Wimberly

Hallie Wimberly

Linda May Wimberly

Sarah Alice Wimberly

Vashti Wimberly

Julia Fannie Wimberly

Joe, Andrew, and their children are buried in the Wimberly Cemetery. 

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

© 2022 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105942827/josephine-wimberly : accessed 08 July 2022), memorial page for Josephine “Joe” Mangham Wimberly, Find a Grave Memorial ID 105942827, citing Wimberly Cemetery, Bienville, Bienville Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by A Footstep In Time (contributor 47345816).

Joe Mangham Wimberly, photograph, n.d.; scanned image held by D.B. Quinn, 2022, from the privately held photo collection of Mary V. Smith, Alaska, 2004; original images photographed between 1973 and 1993.

Joe Mangham Wimberly photograph, n.d.; digital images, from the privately held photo collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Photos were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016.

Vera Meeks Wimberly, Wimberly Family History, Ancestors, Relatives, and Descendants of William Wimberly, Pioneer from Georgia to Louisiana 1837 (Houston Texas: D. Anderson, 1979), 262-263.

From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: Virginia T “Jennie” Hinton Beckham and her son, John W. Beckham

These newspaper clippings were found in the Marguerite Cook Clark collection.[1] 

 Virginia T “Jennie” Beckham was one of 12 children of John Woodard Hinton and Angelina Jane Knighton.[2] Jennie and her husband, William B. Beckham are buried in the Wimberly Cemetery.[3] 

John Wesley Beckham, son of Jennie and William Beckham was buried in the Bistineau Cemetery in Heflin, Webster Parish, Louisiana.[4]

Note that dates of death written on the obituaries do not agree with those found on the cemetery stones. Records indicate that Jennie died on 17 October 1956 and her son died on 21 February 1968. [5]

 

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 

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[1]. "Mrs. Jennie Beckham Expires at Age of 82," newspaper clipping, 17 July 1956,  from unidentified newspaper, from the privately held collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Obituaries were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission. Also, "John W. Beckham [obituary]," newspaper clipping, 25 February 1968, unidentified newspaper, from the privately held collection of Marguerite Cook Clark (1913-1989), Waynesville, North Carolina, 2021. Obituaries were accessed and scanned at the home of Marguerite Cook Clark's daughter in Alpine, Texas on April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

[2]. "From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: John W. Hinton of Bienville Parish, Louisiana," blog entry, 28 October 2020, Moments in Time: A Genealogy Blog, blog (https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/from-files-of-marguerite-cook-clark_28.html : accessed 29 May 2021).

[3]. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 07 January 2021), memorial page for Virginia T “Jennie” Hinton Beckham (10 May 1874–17 Oct 1956), Find a Grave Memorial no. 70393381, citing Wimberly Cemetery, Bienville, Bienville Parish, Louisiana; maintained by Derek Galbreath (contributor 47187152).

[4]. Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/92336157/john-wesley-beckham : accessed 29 May 2021), memorial page for John Wesley Beckham (30 Sep 1895–21 Feb 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 92336157, citing Bistineau Cemetery, Heflin, Webster Parish, Louisiana; maintained by Derek Galbreath (contributor 47187152).

[5]."United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZH-NFZZ : 29 May 2021), John Wesley Beckham, 6 Feb 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985). Also, "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLHZ-KBSL : 29 May 2021), Jennie T Beckham, 17 Oct 1956; citing Ringgold, Bienville, Louisiana, certificate number 13016, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FamilySearch digital folder 004228873.

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Friday's Photo: Jesse Wimberly and Jane Crumpton

Jesse Pittman Wimberly  1852-1889
Jane Elizabeth Crumpton  1854-1940

Maggie Martin Cook wrote Uncle Jesse and Aunt Jane Wimberly above this photo. She was just a toddler when Jesse Wimberly died, but I'm certain she knew Jane and her children.

Jessie Pittman Wimberly was the third child of William Wimberly and Mary Angelina Pittman Roberts Hinton Wimberly. Jesse, the 12th of William Wimberly's children, grew up with many half-siblings. He was half-brother to Sarah Margaret Wimberly Bryan who was the grandmother to Maggie Martin Cook and also aunt to my grandfather, Redic Bryan. 

In 1878, Jesse married Jane Elizabeth Crumpton, daughter of David Jackson Crumpton and Mary D. Scott. Jesse and Jane were the parents to four children; Laura Jessie, James Abner, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah Alice. 

According to the Wimberly Family History, Jesse and Jane lived on a farm about six miles from Ringgold near the William Wimberly farm. Jesse took care of his farm and also put in crops for his sister Eliza Davis after her husband died in 1884. Jesse died from the flu in 1889 when he was only 37 years old. Jane did not remarry. She died at the home of her daughter in Natchitoches in 1940. Jesse and Jane are buried in the Wimberly cemetery.

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

© 2019

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Wimberly, Vera. Wimberly Family History: Ancestors, Relatives, and Descendants of William Wimberly, Pioneer from Georgia to Louisiana, 1837. Houston, Tex.: D. Armstrong, 1979. Print. 

From the Files of Marguerite Cook Clark: Charles Arthur Martin

Charles Arthur Martin 1884 - 1912

Charles Arthur Martin was the seventh child and youngest
son of Thomas Jefferson Martin and Laura Frances Bryan.
He was born in Bienville Parish, Louisiana on August 4, 1884.

This photo was unlabeled but is clearly a photo of Charles Arthur Martin.
The clothes, chair, and his smile match the photo above. 

I would guess that this picture was taken soon after 1900. In
1900, he was 15 years old, living with his parents, and two
siblings. His occupation on the census was farm labor. 

In 1910, he was living with his parents and the census shows that
he owned a farm. William Martin (a boarder born in GA) is also
living with the family. 

Charles was a member of the Mackey Lodge in Ringgold, Louisiana. In
1909, he was passed and raised and also served as the Junior Deacon. 
In 1912, he served as a Steward in the lodge.
Charles died on June 15, 1912. He is buried in the Wimberly Cemetery
in Bienville Parish. 

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

© 2019

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Ringgold, Bienville, Louisiana; Roll: T623_18; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0004.

Year: 1910; Census Place: Ringgold, Bienville, Louisiana; Roll: T624_509; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0006; FHL microfilm: 1374522

Friday's Photo: Redick, Clara, and Frankie Martin

Redick, Clara, and Frankie Martin - From the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark

A few weeks ago, I posted information about John Joseph Martin, son of Thomas Jefferson Martin and Laura Frances Bryan. He first married Sarah Olive "Ollie" Thomas on December 3, 1893 in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Ollie was the daughter of Lucy T. Wimberly and Newport L. Nix. She and John were second cousins, both descendants of William Wimberly. J.J.'s grandmother was Sarah Margaret Wimberly Bryan. Ollie's grandfather, John Lawson Wimberly, was the brother of Sarah Margaret Wimberly. 

Redick, Clara, and Franke Martin were three of four children of John Joseph Martin and Sarah Olive "Ollie" Thomas.  Information seen below about the children of John and Ollie came from the book Wimberly Family History compiled by Vera Meek Wimberly. 

The first child of John and Ollie was Clara Essie Martin, born April 14, 1895 in Bienville Parish. Clara married Annie Lonzo Carter in 1913. Clara and her husband died in 1980 and are buried in the Springhill Cemetery in Ringgold. 

Redick Clinton Martin, the second c h i l d of John and Ollie, was born on March  
18, 1898 in Bienville Parish. In 1918, he married Sarah Bertha Preuett. His occupation was that of a farmer and he served in both World War I and World War II. Redick died in 1968 and is buried in Wimberly Cemetery. 

Frankie Bertha Martin was the third child of John and Ollie. She was born on May 18, 1901 in Bienville Parish. She married James William Wiggins in 1919. Frankie died in 1974. Her husband died in 1977. They are buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Red River Parish. 

The fourth and youngest child of John and Ollie was Thomas Alvin "Pete" Martin born on October 19, 1905 in Ringgold, Bienville Parish. He married Bertha Crumpton in 1931. Pete died in 1978 and his wife 10 years later. They are buried in the Wimberly Cemetery. 

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

© 2019

Sources

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Marguerite Cook Clark. Accessed April 28, 2014, September 14, 2014, and November 9 to 11, 2016. Used with permission.

Wimberly, Vera. Wimberly Family History: Ancestors, Relatives, and Descendants of William Wimberly, Pioneer from Georgia to Louisiana, 1837. Houston, Tex.: D. Armstrong, 1979. Print.