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| Taken at John Street School, Franklin Square, NY |
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| This graduation announcement was sent to family in Erath County by my father's brother, Hairston Albritton "Buster" Bryan, who is named in two of the clippings. The photo below was his senior class picture. |
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| Mary Murray married William J. Kingsley on October 10, 1899. Source: Murray - Kingsley Wedding, photograph, 1899; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Mary Fahey, Iowa, 2000. |
Mary came to the United States about 1895,
leaving her home in New Quay, County Clare, and like so many immigrants, never returned.[1]
Her parents were Cecelia Linnane and James Murray. Mary was the eldest of
eleven children.[2] Mary went to Dubuque, Iowa,
where her aunt, Sarah Murray Cassidy, was living. A few years later, she was
joined by her sister, Bridget "Delia." Mary and Delia worked as
servants and eventually married brothers William and Joseph Kingsley. [3]
Mary's sisters Sarah, Catherine, and Helen immigrated to the United States in 1911. Her sister, Julia, and brother, Patrick, remained in Ireland. It is not known what became of her brother Tom. Mary's youngest sister, Susan, was not born when Mary left for Iowa, and even though Susan came to New York in 1920, they never met.[4]
In addition to twins who died in infancy, Mary and William had daughters, Sarah and Marion, and sons, William, Joseph, and Henry.[5] William Kingsley died in 1915, leaving Mary, a widow, with five children between the ages of 5 and 13.[6] Sadly, Marion and Henry preceded Mary in death.[7]
Mary died in 1955 and is buried with William at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery at Dubuque, Iowa.[8] Her obituary can be seen at Sunday’s Obituary: Mary Murray Kingsley.
[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Dubuque, Iowa, type of census, Dubuque, ward 4, enumeration district 128, page 10B, dwelling 200, family 234, William Kingsley household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4328297-00109?pId=137126189 : accessed 8 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 402.
[2]
[4] Letter from Mary K. Fahey (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 16 December 1999; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). Also, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJKW-KHC : 4 November 2017), William Kingsley and Mary Murray, 10 Oct 1899, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk 6 pg 179, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,403.
[5] mkf74285, "Fahey Family Tree," public tree, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/119439030/family/familyview?cfpid=320185019759&dtid=100: accessed 9 June 2021). "Bible Page with Births" shared by mkf74285 on 05 March 2018.
[6]
[8] Find A Grave, memorial 143054917, for Mary Murray Kingsley.
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]
[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.
.
This photograph is from the Marguerite Cook Cark
collection.[1] The young man’s noticeably
short hair, wide tie, and small lapels indicate that it was probably taken between 1890
and 1900.[2]
Across the top of the photo is written “Mr. Guss Williamson Pictur.” On the back at the top is “Mr. Guss
Williamson Ringgold Louisiana.” Also, on the back is “Saturday eve Dec 28 1917
didn’t have much of a time Xmas.” There is more on the back, but it is not legible.
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| This last portion of the photo shows a name that is upside down and at the bottom of the photo. It may be Jonathan Corly or Cook, Ringgold, La. |
If this is Guss Williamson and taken in the 1890s, it is most likely Augustus M. Williamson who married Carrie V. Corely on 26 February 1899 in Red River Parish, Louisiana. Could this have been taken on their wedding day? By 1910, they had four children: Lena, Jesse James, Alfred, and Claud Clarence.[3] The youngest, Audrey “Polly” Williamson, was born in 1911.[4]
[1] Gus Williamson photograph, ca.1900; digital image, 2016, 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.
[2] "More Photo Identification Tips: Hairstyles of the 19th Century," Ancestral Findings (https://ancestralfindings.com/more-photo-identification-tips-hairstyles-of-the-19th-century/ : accessed 21 May 2021). Also,
[3] "Louisiana, U.S., Compiled Marriage Index, 1718-1925," database with images, Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?dbid=7837&h=548954&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=6742 : 31 May 2021), A. M. Williamson to Carrie Corley, 26 February 1899, Bienville Parish. Also,
[4]“Audrey 'Polly' Neal [obituary],” The (Shreveport)Times, 7 December 2000, p. 16, col. 1; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78077314/obituary-for-audrey-neal-1911-2000/: accessed 21 May 2021).
[5] Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/34638637/carrie-v.-williamson : accessed 28 May 2021), memorial page for Carrie V. Corley Williamson (29 Feb 1880–9 Dec 1913), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34638637, citing Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ringgold, Bienville Parish, Louisiana; Maintained by YouDee (contributor 47001622). Also, Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/34638636/lena-mae-williamson : accessed 28 May 2021), memorial page for Lena Mae Williamson (25 Nov 1899–1 May 1914), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34638636, citing Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ringgold, Bienville Parish, Louisiana; Maintained by YouDee (contributor 47001622). Also, "Louisiana Deaths, 1850-1875, 1894-1960," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3SL-P9D : 21 May 2021), Augustus W Williamson, 27 Feb 1917; citing Dodson, Winn, Louisiana, certificate number 10449, State Archives, Baton Rouge; FHL microfilm 2,364,415.
[6] “Alfred A. Williamson[obituary],” The (Shreveport)Times, 29 March 1986, p. 31, col. 4; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78078312/obituary-for-alfred-a-williamson-aged/ : accessed 21 May 2021). Also, “Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Williamson and Hostesses,” The Childress Index (Texas), 8 April 1979, p. 4; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78078070/jesse-james-williamson-no-children/ : accessed 28 May 2021).
This Bienville Parish photo came from the Frye family collection.[1]
On the back is written, Warren Davis and Berry Davis.
The sack suits with small lapels, the young man's hair, and the walrus mustaches point to the years between 1900 and 1910, but. It could be a little later.[2]
The older man in this photo is probably Frederic B. Davis Sr. or Fredric B. Davis Jr. There is some confusion about the middle names of Frederic B. Davis Sr. and Frederic B. Davis Jr.; however, both were called Berry. Frederic Sr. had a son, Edward Warren Davis and Frederic Jr. had a son Warren Murph Davis, known as "Murff."[3]
Is this a photo of Fredric Sr. and his son, Edward Warren Davis, or is it a photo of Fredric Jr. and his son, Warren Murph Davis? Either scenario is a possibility.
Several readers of this blog have these men in their family trees. I hope one has this photo or similar and can identify these men.
[1] "Warren Davis and Berry Davis," photograph, Frye Family Collection, privately held by C. Frye, California, accessed 2019; scanned copy held by D. B. Quinn. Used with permission.
[2] "1901-1910 Fashion," blog entry, 21 September 2011,
[3] YouDee20012001,"Marler Pate Corley McCoy Family Tree," private tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/973847/family/familyview? fpid=-626224692&fpid=-626224692&usePUBJs=true: accessed 24 April 2021).
