Maison T. Standridge

Maison Theodore Standridge

• BORN: February 20, 1926
• DIED: December 5, 2016
• LOCATION: Russellville, Arkansas

Maison Theodore Standridge, age 90, of Russellville, died Monday, December 5, 2016 at Atkins Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on February 20, 1926 in Lurton.
He retired from the Russellville Water and Sewer Department after 26 years of service.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Alonzo Mason and Mary Henrietta Gibbs Standridge, his second mother, Nellie Standridge; one daughter, Melissa Carol Lackey; four brothers, Clifford, Eulis, and Dudley Standridge and Ronnie Smith; and two sisters, Cornelia Cabral and Athelia Standridge.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Emma Hollowoa Standridge of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Tad (Lisa) Standridge of Dardanelle; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra (Bob) Sprafke, Deborah (Trent) Ford, and Marilyn (Carl) Standridge, all of Russellville; five sisters and brothers-in-law, Irene Ford of Dover, Malinda (Mike) Brown of Russellville, Kathleen Campbell of Russellville, Maxine (Donnie) Bumgarner of Danville, and Susie (Doyle) Tennison of Pelsor; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at the Shinn Chapel with the Rev. Roy Broadbooks officiating. Burial will be in East Point Cemetery, under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m., on Tuesday evening at the funeral home. 

Sister remembered...

http://pattypenny.blogspot.com/2007/12/i-remember-pearl-harbor.html

Friday, December 07, 2007

I remember Pearl Harbor

I remember when pearl harbor was bombed by the Japanese. We were living at carrollton on the farm when word came by a neighbor of this great tragedy.
We didn't have a radio, or newspapers so our news came by word of mouth.
I remember daddy, moma, Richard and my self walking to the carrollton store to listen to the radio.
I remember the wood stove with chairs, nail kags and what ever that could be drawn up in a circle around the heating stove where a crowd had gathered and the voice coming out of the black box. there was a unnatural hush in the room as they listened to the voice.
daddy had joined the circle and mother was standing in huddle of frightened women.
I knew something very important was happening but I could not comprehend what it could be..
The men later talked among them selves about a pearl harbor, and the "japs."
I reasoned that a pearl was a round white shining marble but what is a harbor?
and what is a jap. I could tell by the peoples tone what every it was it was bad.
Dec. 7, 1941 changed our lives forever. I was 3 years and 7 months old that day.
Daddy went to war in 1943 and we moved to Denver AR. living across the garden from mother's parents.
Today the Japanese are our allies and always spoken of with respect but in that time they were called JAPS and the public hated and despise the very word.
In my twilight years I look back on that day and remember the voice of Franklin Roosevelt saying this day will live in infamy.

Leon and Syble

This was posted on FB.  Taken in 1965.  Syble is Larry's Mom's first cousin and Leon was Larry's Dad's first cousin.  So I don't know what kin that makes the couple's children to Larry but they are the finest folks and I am posting this photo here so I can preserve it.   Leon has passed away, but I spoke to Syble this week.  She was born in 1929 or 28 I forget which.  She is a great friend.

Denver, Arkansas

Found this on the Net about Denver, Arkansas.  I recall it was first call New Salem.  Sister Helen found the photo on Facebook on a Darby page.

An early mill had been constructed by Malachi Reeves near Denver by 1836. The Denver Post Office was established on August 11, 1884, with Willis F. Miles as the first postmaster. In the 1880's, the Denver Post Office closed for several months and mail was handled by the nearby town of Little Star. Then in 1919, it closed again for several months, with the mail service being handled in Green Forest. The Denver Post Office would close permanently sometime in the 1960's.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) Lodge #542 in Denver was instituted on April 4, 1908. The charter was picked up on August 23, 1927.
Early settlers of the Denver community included the historic Gaddy Family of Carroll County.
Also found this you tube video of Denver, Arkansas.  Modern day!
Rolling Hills Of Denver, AR

Charles Merk

When Charles Arnold Merk was born on November 1, 1910, in Howell County, Missouri, his father, Arnold, was 29 and his mother, Mary, was 19. He had one brother. He died as a teenager on April 13, 1928, in West Plains, Missouri, and was buried there.

Charles Arnold Merk, his mother, and brother, Uncle Harold

One of my books from the Library this week was "Traces of the Ozarks Past" by Rex Jackson.  It includes a chapter about the West Plains Bond Dance Hall explosion that killed Charles and many others.  I looked on the net and found a book has also been written about the disaster.  I also read that the cause was likely a truck filled with dynamite was was housed in the Wiser Motor Company below the dance site.  I typed in the story from the little book.  Since, I used my new laptop without Word, I probably have several typos but will share the story here.   Uncle Harold was the age of Daddy so he was old enough to recall all of these events.  This probably shaped his life as well as the remainder of the life of his mother.

A jubilant group of souls unaware of a shocking unforgiving catastrophe about to undoubtedly enjoying themselves on a spring night in the Ozarks.  The orchestra music carried them gracefully around the dance hall floor and swept them to realm of joy and contentment--but the grim reaper had other plans for them.  A tremendous explosion would send 37 people into eternity, leaving friends, loved ones, family members, and a grief-stricken community in awe of the devastation and loss.

On April 13, 1928, the peaceful town of West Plains, Missouri, was rocked by disaster at 11:05 P.M.  About 60 people were attending a dance at Bond Dance Hall (old Shine Hall), along with musicians, when a powerful explosion occurred.  The dance hall was located on the second floor of a building on East Main Street, but the blast originated on the first floor which was occupied by the West Motor Company.  The explosion was heard 26 miles away in Mountain View as well as other places.

The Howell County Gazette headlines read: "37 Dead, 22 Hurt in Fatal Explosion", while the West Plains Weekly Quill cried:  "37 Killed in Mysterious Blast; 22 Injured".

There were a couple of explosions: the first was said to have been a light one, but the second one sounded like a bomb had been detonated which left the whole block in flames; the ground trembled and the dance-goers were engulfed in a life-taking fire and debris.  It was reported that the dance floor roes up from the force of the explosion "like the deck of a ship in a storm."

The sounds of the trapped victims in piteous agony could be heard in the flaming rubble of what remained of Bond Dance Hall and Wiser Garage.  Citizens that first responded to the scene witnessed injured and bleeding souls crawling out of the fire-trap--they did their best to help rescue them.  Eventually, the fire department arrived and dept a constant stream of water "on the smoking remains of the dance hall".  

The catastrophe devastated and damaged several other buildings including the West Plains Bank and Howell County Courthouse, as well as blowing out windows two blocks away.  When the fire was finally under control, the gruesome task of recovering bodies began.  By this time the scene was further saddened by the arrival of family and friends of the lost with their tears and screams as familiar and unfamiliar bodies were displayed one after the other.  Many of the fire victims were  burned beyond recognition and would never be identified.  The first victim to be recovered from the ruins was Paul Evans, Jr. and soon after, Mrs. Robert G. Martin's body was found.  The injured survivors were quickly transported to Christa Hogan Hospital.

Speculation as to the cause of the explosion and consuming fire may have gone to the grave with J. W. "Babe" Wiser, owner of the Wiser Motor Company who was also a victim of the tragedy.  No one could ascertain as to whether or not it was an accident or deliberate.  The coroner's verdict of April 23, 1928, concluded "fire and explosion is unknown to the jury".  Though there were other theories, the most common was that the explosion was caused by gasoline in the garage below.

Reporters and photographers came from far and near to cover the event.  In time, however, thousands of people turned out to view "ground zero" and watch workers mining through the mangled mess for any other bodies or clues yet to be recovered or discovered.

Twenty of the unidentified victims of the Bond Dance Hall tragedy were laid to rest in silver-gray caskets and buried together in two rows in unmarked graves at Oak Lawn Cemetery in West Plains--a few blocks east and south of the downtown square.  Thousands attended the funeral with bowed heads and broken hearts.  "It was the most pathetic scene ever witnessed in West Plains."

A large granite "Rock of Ages" monument with the names of the twenty were finally erected on the site October 6, 1929.  The names are as follows:  Miss Mary Adair, Miss Frances Drago, Mrs. Wallace Rogers, Robert Murphy, Mrs. Robert Murphy, Miss Ruth Fisher, Marvin Hill, Evelyn Conkin, Esco Riley, Mrs. Esco Riley, Miss Icey Risner,  Boyd Garner, Carson McClelland, Chester Holstein, Miss Beatrice Barker, Miss Juanita Laws, Miss Ruby Hodkinson, Newt Riley, James Loving and Hugh Sims.



The names of the identified are:  R. G. Martin, Mrs. R. G. Martin, Kitty McFarland, Mrs. Carl Mullins, Paul Evens Jr., Chas. Fisher, Major Bob Mullins, J. W. Wiser, John Bates, Charles Merk, Julian C. Jeffery, Carl Jackson, Miss Dimple Martin, Lev Reed, Hael Slusser, Ben Jolley, and Clinton Clemmons.



Some of the prominent figures in the community, such as Mrs. Sula Gaines Martin who was the daughter of Confederate Colonel R. G. Maxey.   Mrs. Martin was also the leader of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Confederacy, Woman's Business Club and vice chairman of the Democratic committee of Howell County, MO.  Mr. and Mrs. Martin were buried at the Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee; their beautiful daughter, Miss Dimple Martin, who played the piano in the orchestra that fateful night was also buried at Elmwood Cemetery.  Young Dimple had, a couple of years earlier, won a movie tryout at the Newman Theater in Kansas City, Mo., in a beauty contest.  She had also participated in a number of local talent shows and programs.  The song being played at the time of the blast was--ironically, At Sundown.






At Sundown by Artie Shaw





One man that survived the burning of one of the buildings on the block, the Adams Building, was Frank K. Poole, who was a Union Civil War veteran.  Apparently he must have had nine lives since he lived through the bloody War and had escaped the horrible fire, as well.

The number of people affected by this disaster was many, and it took years for things to return to some sort of normalcy.   The town, at times, was called the "City of the Dead."  Today, the horror of the eventful night still lingers in the conscience of the West Plains community.  Even though the beautiful music and lively dance floor changed in that terrible moment, sweet memories of those lost souls who danced into eternity are ever present.

Rex T. Jackson, Dancing into Eternity: Disaster At the Bond Dance Hall, The Ozarks Reader Magazine, Vol 7, No 2, 2010.

Lee Henry Cody

When Lee Henry Cody was born on January 29, 1880, in Arkansas, his father, John, was 34 and his mother, Sarah, was 30. He had two sons and one daughter with Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" BLEVINS between 1908 and 1916. He died on June 18, 1949, in Carroll County, Arkansas, at the age of 69, and was buried in the Denver Cemetery.  His mother was Sarah Mckee Cody.

Anderson Pinkney Darby

Anderson P. Darby and Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Anderson married in 1903.  They lived near Denver, AR.  The picture below is from the Betty Blevins Cody Cedar Chest Collection.  Above Anderson and Betty are pictured near Denver, AR at an older age.

Anderson and Betty Darby were born in 1883.  Anderson was the son of Levi Cazey Darby and Margaret Mckee.  Margaret was the daughter of John Mckee and Mary Susan Carpenter.  Mary Susan Carpenter and our Grandfather William Wesley Carpenter were siblings!

The picture of Anderson P. Darby is from the Betty Blevins' Cody collection and below is a copy of the same photo from Ancestry.  Same picture from different sources.  

This photo from Ancestry is Anderson and Betty Anderson Darby and three of their children:  left to right are Oscar, Clara and baby Herman Darby.

 This photo from Ancestry is Mary Elizabeth Anderson and her sisters.  Back row left to right: Belle and Cassie and front left to right Dela and Betty.  The Anderson's father was Richard Anderson and their mother was Cynthia Emeline Matlock.  Cynthia Emeline was a sister to Betty Blevins Cody's mother, Catherine; thus, the four Anderson girls were first cousins of Betty Blevins Cody.  Anderson P. Darby was a first cousin to Lee Henry Cody (Betty's husband).

I can't help but ponder--was Anderson P. Darby is some way related to Richard Anderson, father of the four sisters above?    Cynthia Matlock husband Richard Anderson died in July of 1893.  Cynthia married two more times--James Hobbs and Green Asbury Williams.

Perry Cody and Arvilla Cody

This is brother and sister, William Perry Cody (Coady) and Arvilla Cody.  They are children of John C. and Sarah McKee Cody.   Perry was born in Oct. 1885 and Arvilla in 1888 near Denver AR.  This photo is from Betty Blevins Cody's Cedar Chest Collection.  Perry and Arvilla are siblings of Betty's husband, Lee Henry Cody!

Perry Cody married Josephine Carpenter, daughter of Eli Carpenter.  Josie was Grandpa Gaddy's first cousin.  Arvilla married Charles Henry Avery.  Charles was the son of John and Martha Jane Mattox Avery.  Martha Avery was a daughter of Redden Mattox.

The families in the photos contained in the Cedar Chest of Betty Blevins Cody all have a connection by family or place.  Sorting out the families is complicated but possible.  I want to thank Bob Thompson for sharing the photos with the Three Sisters!

Sally and Nola Miles

Nola and Sally Miles were sisters, daughters of William Edward Miles and Sarah Elizabeth Cody Miles.  (Sarah Cody was Lee Cody's sister, Lee Betty Blevins' husband).Nola married Robert Roberts and Sally married Alfred Bess.  Nola and Robert Roberts are on the left and Sally and Alfred Bess on the right.

Robert Roberts was born July 7, 1888 and Nola Miles July 30, 1897.  They were parents of R. J. Roberts, who was the father of Steven Roberts.  Steve's partial obituary:  Steven Roberts, age 60, of Omaha, Arkansas, passed away Friday, April 17, 2015, at his home. He was born January 14, 1955, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, the son of Robert Justin “RJ” and Jeanie (Pugh) Roberts, who preceded him in death. 

 I found these three pictures that relate to the first old photo at Ancestry.  First, one her porch is Nola Miles Roberts.  I think the picture was taken in Ok.  Below, is her husband Robert Justin Roberts (he was called Bob).

This last photo is of the Nola and Bob's grandson, Steve, when he was in High School in Tulsa, OK,  1971. 

Smith Matlock

This is from "Find A Grave"

Birth: Dec. 15, 1852

Denver

Carroll County

Arkansas, USA

Death: Jan. 5, 1916

Omaha

Boone County

Arkansas, USA

Matlock Smith 15 Dec 1852 5 - Jan.1916

Matlock Mary E. 30 June 1855  

 Spouse:

  Mary Elizabeth Butler Matlock (1855 - 1929)*

 Children:

  Asbury Vespucius Matlock (1874 - 1894)*

  Effie Alice Matlock Hulen (1884 - 1916)*

  Walter Lafayette Matlock (1888 - 1976)*

Burial:

Cottonwood Cemetery 

Boone County

Arkansas, USA

 This is Smith Matlock with two of his sons.  The picture card was sent to Betty Blevins Cody by the son standing to the left.  I think Smith was a "blacksmith".

The card says, " that is the one that got his leg broke.  He can't walk good yet.  His name is Jodie?."  Goes on to say, "Bettie, this is me and paw and one of my brothers.  It was dark where I was standing."

William Riley Benton

William Riley Blevins

Born 1899 in Boone County, AR

William Benton was the son of John and Caroline M. Edmondson Benton.  Caroline Edmondson was Betty Blevins Cody's first cousin through her mother Catherine Matlock.  Catherine's sister Nancy Harriett Matlock married an Edmondson who died during the Civil War.  She married second to a White.  Nancy Matlock was only a half sister to Catherine Matlock.  

This picture is from the Betty  Blevins Cody cedar chest collection

c

William Blevins 1872-1920

William M. Blevins and 

Minnie Slaten Blevins

with their child

This photo is from the Betty Blevins Cody cedar chest collection.
William Blevins is the son of James K. Polk and Sarah Jane Matlock Blevins.  He is Betty Blevins Cody's first cousin (double--both parents were siblings).  He went by the name Bill.  The child is likely their first, Evert (1908-1909) or second Iris E. Blevins.  James K. Polk and Sarah Jane Matlock Blevins died when their children were young.  Isham Martin Blevins (Betty's father) took the children into his home.  He was James Blevins' brother and his wife, Catherine, was their mother's sister!

Bessie Cloud

Bessie Cloud
From Betty Blevins Cody cedar chest collection.

notes from Fleta:

I think she was Bessie May Cloud, married Alvah Varner


 I found this tree online
  2-William Alvah 'Alvah' Varner b. 26 Feb 1885, Green Forest, Carroll Co AR, d. 30 Jun 1947, Taft, Kern Co
  CA, bur. Union Cemetery, Kern Co CA
  +Bessie May Cloud b. 26 Sep 1894, Sneedsville, Hancock Co TN, m. 26 Oct 1912, Carroll Co AR,
  d. 10 Mar 1922, Taft, Kern Co CA, bur. Union Cemetery, Kern Co CA
    3-Bernice Varner b. 3 Jan 1913, AR, d. 3 Jun 2003, bur. West Side District Cemetery, Taft, Kern, CA
    +Cecil Tanner bur. West Side District Cemetery, Taft, Kern, CA
    3-Lucille 'Luke' Varner b. 31 Dec 1920, Taft, Kern Co CA, d. 15 Jun 2001, Taft, Kern Co CA,
    bur. West Side District Cemetery, Taft, Kern, CA
    m. 22 Mar 1944, Las Vegas, , Nevada
    3-Maxine Varner d. Jul 2001, bur. West Side District Cemetery, Taft, Kern, CA


Ancestry has her a daughter  of Joseph Cloud and Ruth Lucinda Jefferson (or maybe Foley) in Hancock Co TN.


buried here Kern Co CA
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=varner&GSfn=bessie&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=6&GScnty=197&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=25158034&df=all&

Birth:	1894
Death:	Mar. 10, 1922
Erickson and Brown Funeral Home Records, Taft, CA: Book D, Line 72 Varner Bessie ca 1894 10 March 1922- Age about 28 yrs. Union Cem. Bakersfield, Ca. Father: J. H. Cloud - Tenn. Mother: Not Listed. Spouse: Not Listed Chg. William A. Varner 512 Shattuck St. Taft, Ca. Phy. H. M. Hawkens. Family links:  Spouse:   William Alvah Varner (1885 - 1947) Inscription: Bessie May wife of W. A. Varner Sep. 26, 1894 Mar. 10, 1922 MOTHER Only Sleeping
Burial: Union Cemetery Bakersfield Kern County California, USA Plot: 1091 - 10

Name:	Bessie Cloud
Gender:	Female
Age:	19
Birth Year:	abt 1893
Residence:	Denver, Carroll, Arkansas
Spouse's Name:	Alvah Varner
Spouse's Gender:	Male
Spouse's Age:	27
Spouse's Residence:	Green Forest, Carroll, Arkansas
Marriage Date:	26 Oct 1912
Marriage License Date:	8 Oct 1912
Marriage County:	Carroll
Event Type:	Marriage
FHL Film Number:	1035336

Arvilla E. Cody

This picture is from the cedar chest collection of Betty Blevins Cody.  This collection was shared with the Three Sisters by her grandson, Robert Thompson.

Arvilla E. Cody (1890-1970) and

Charles Henry Avery

 The writing on the back of this picture says the photo is of Arvill and Abb Miles, but as I investigated these families, I think it is Arvilla Cody and her husband, Charles Henry Avery.  The tiny print at the bottom says the picture is of the parents of Beatrice Mastropolito.   Her parents were Arvilla E. Cody and Charles Avery.  Arvilla E. Cody is the sister of Lee Cody, husband of Mary Elizabeth Blevins Cody.

We would welcome information concerning this photo.

Hazel Gaddy

 Robert Thompson contacted me offering to share his Grandmother Betty Blevins Cody's photos with me.  On the DVD he also had a file of his mother's old picture and this picture of Momma was in the bunch.  Virgie Cody was about 3 years older than Mom, but they attended Denver School together.  Below is a picture of Momma at about the same time.  I only had a small copy of the big photo and when I cut just Momma out it did not turn out great, but you can see it is the same beautiful girl.  I would guess that these were taken in 1935 or 1936, but it could have been a year earlier.

I strongly believe we should share all our documents, family trees and photos.  Selfish people try to keep their candle under a basket.  How foolish!  We should share what we find freely.  I have received permission from Sister Fleta to share the old pictures from Betty Blevins Cody's cedar chest.  Most are not our kinfolk, but they are someone's and maybe they will find them at this Blog.  At least that is our wish!

This photo of Momma was taken in fall or winter 1936 on the steps of the Denver School.

Billy Joe and Aunt Frances Rudd

 

Left to right seated:  Benita Parrish, Billy Joe Rudd, Fred Rudd and Frances Rudd .  Billy Joe's dad is standing hands on his hips.  Man seated on porch in light pants is Grover Parrish.  Two ladies on porch unsure who they are.  One might be Billy Joe's Momma and one wife of Grover Parrish.    Grover Parrish married Onley Rudd's sister.

Comment:

RuddNCDecember 12, 2016 at 9:42 PM

The lady sitting on the porch is Julia Rebecca (Usrey) Rudd. Gertrude Grace Rudd ("Aunt Gertie") is the lady who's standing. The photo was taken at Julia and Gertie's home on Main Street in Green Forest. Effie Benita (Rudd) Parish probably took the photograph.

This photo came from Larry Allen Rudd's collection of heirlooms recovered from the old house before its demolition in the early 1980's. I also have some items recovered from the old house. I'm digitizing them and making them available on my website http://ruddnc.com.

By the way, the little boy Billie Joe was my grandfather.

https://ruddnc.com/

Henrietta Josephine Carpenter

Sister Fleta is oldest sister.  She said "younger sister you need to label your pictures so everyone can tell who they are.  You write like you talk--in circles."  So I have tried to label these photos and will go back to the Gaddy post and label those.  I think Fleta should act as editor and fix all the errors in my posts.

I have the book "Carpenter's A Plenty".   It did cost a lot but now I am glad to own it.  Pauline Crawford Miller submitted most of the information in the book about our Arkansas Carpenter's.  Pauline was an excellent researcher.  We are even in the book.  Robert Thompson sent me some of his Carpenter photos.  (I have not received the dvd in the mail yet.)

The first photo I am sharing is one of Michael Theodore Carpenter.  Mike's father was a first cousin to William Wesley Carpenter (our line).  Michael Theodore Carpenter was born on March 25, 1839, in Lincoln County, North Carolina, his father, James, was 40 and his mother, Martha, was 44. He married Margaret Susanna Hoke and they had two children together. He then married Henrietta Josephine Carpenter and they had six children together. He died on February 21, 1932, at the age of 92. 

Mike lived in N C when he was married to Margaret Hoke.  They had two sons.  By 1870, Mike has the two boys and Margaret is with her parents.   The census says she is insane.    Margaret did not die until 1889.   She is still with her parents in 1880 and still listed as insane.  Margaret is later committed to an asylum.  Mike and his sons leave N C and may move to Mississippi before coming to Arkansas.  Even though Margaret was still living, Mike married Henrietta Josephine Carpenter (William Wesley's daughter and sister to our Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy before 1880).  Mike was about 20 years older than Josephine. This is the Carpenter family of Fay Carpenter Dad worked with in Green Forest.  Only one of his two sons with Margaret Hoke lived to adulthood.  That son was Wiley Carpenter.  He has many descendants in Carroll County, also.

Michael Theodore Carpenter

1839-1932

Son of James and Martha Johnson Carpenter

 Below is what Betty Blevins Cody had written on the back of the card.   Fay Carpenter's sister was Ruby Carpenter.  She married Betty's son, Clifford.  He was killed in WW II.  Ruby and Clifford had 3 children.  One was Trennie Cody.  She married Hugh Etheridge (Dee Fancher's brother).  Ruby Carpenter married a Cowan second.  She lived in Green Forest.

From what the back of Mike's photo says--He had three sets of teeth.  I have read this elsewhere and I think I have heard of this.  Mike would have served during the Civil War in Mississippi or N C.

This next photo is neat.  All the ladies are holding dolls.  Maybe Fleta can help sort out who they are.  I really don't think any were Carpenter's by birth.  The Cody family is related to us.  Sarah McKee married John Cody (parents of Lee who married Betty Blevins).  

Standing on the lett is Josie Carpenter daughter of Eli Carpenter

Seated girls are  Dora (on left) and Arvilla Cody--daughter of John and Sarah Mckee Cody

Standing on the right is Lula Carpenter daughter of Eli Carpenter

I am not sure who the older lady second from the left is.

Maybe Mila Avery Carpenter of Sarah McKee Cody as she is older!

The back says--"Josey Carpenter Cody Onnie's mother"  Then someone has tried to id the other ladies and it finally says "Second on left Dora Cody and third on left Arvilla."  

Dora and Arvilla Cody were sisters of Lee Cody who married Betty Blevins.  Now, I do not think the Josie Carpenter is our Josephine, but another Josie Carpenter who married a Cody and had a son named Onnie Cody.  Onnie had a sister named Bonnie Cody.    This Josie Carpenter was a daugher of Eli Carpenter and Mila Avery.  Eli Carpenter was a son of William Wesley and brother to our Martha Jane Gaddy and Josie Carpenter (wife of Mike Carpenter).  This Josie had a sister named Lulu Carpenter.  Her picture is one of the one's labeled Carpenter.

Lula Carpenter

Daughter of Eli and Mila Avry Carpenter

Eli Carpenter is the son of William Wesley Carpenter

 And...here is the photo of Lula Carpenter, daughter of Eli.  Her sister Josie Carpenter married Perry Cody.  Josie had Bonnie and Onnie Cody (Onnie is a male).

This says "Grandma Cody (Onnie's mother) and her sister Lula.  So this is Josie and Lula Carpenter, daughters of Eli Carpenter.  

Josephine and Lula Carpenter

Daughters of Eli Mila Avery Carpenter

Lula on left

Josie on right

And...this is Mike Carpenter and his wife Henrietta Josephine Carpenter Carpenter.    She looks tall and slender like our Grandmother Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy.

Mike Carpenter and his second wife, Henrietta Josephine Carpenter.

Henrietta Josephine is the daughter of William Wesley Carpenter

William Solon Gaddy Family

 William Solon Gaddy & Martha Jane Carpenter Family           Taken about 1906

Front and center, William Solon Gaddy, Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy

Back row left to right: James Reno Crawford holding Buell, Dollie Gaddy Crawford , Otto Hardesty, Arvilla Gaddy Hardesty, Clarence Collins, Laura Gaddy Collins, George Gaddy, Anna Robertson Gaddy Metz, Ora Gaddy.

Seated on Front Row: left to right- Virgie Gaddy, Ben Gaddy, Alva Collins, William Solon Gaddy, Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy Edna Gaddy and Houston Gaddy.

 I think this picture may have belonged to Martha Jane Carpenter Gaddy.  It has her name and address written on the back.  Below is a cut in of my Grandpa--Elijah Huston Gaddy.  He was about 10 years old.  I received several of Grandma Gaddy's pictures that Momma had--she always said, "no one wants them".  I am proud to have the ones I do own.

Fleta could be pretty lady labeled Gaddy be Vigie Gaddy Snider?  It looks a little like her?

Gaddy Photos

 A descendant of Virgie Cody Thompson (her son) shared these pictures with me.  They belonged to his Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Blevins Cody.  Betty Cody was the daughter of Isham and Catherine Matlock Blevins.  She lived with Virgie after her husband died (Lee Henry Cody).   Betty did not pass until 1960.  She and Virgie went through her old pictures and labeled them.  These were labeled "Gaddy".  The top photo says it is Helen Gaddy.  But it is not.  I am sure it is probably one of Grandpa's sisters.  The photo below looks like "Larry Gaddy".  So I tbink maybe it is Laura Gaddy who married Clarence Collins.  The bottom photo was only labeled Gaddy.  I wonder if they did not know who it was but Betty Cody said it was a Gaddy.

 Lee Henry Cody's mother was a Sarah Mckee and her mother was Mary Susan Carpenter, our Grandfather William Carpenter's sister.  Sarah McKee and Martha Jane Gaddy were first cousins--so I think all these Gaddy pictures are daughter's of Martha Jane and William Solon Gaddy.  Fleta do you have any ideas as to who each one is.  I thought one might be Edna Gaddy, but have decided they do not look like her.

Mr. Thompson is sending me a dvd of all of his Grandmother's pictures.  I can't wait to see what is there.  Sure hope they are labeled with names and not just a picture code as these were labeled.

This is a picture of Sarah Jane "Dolly" Gaddy Crawford.  

 This is Reno Crawford.  I am not sure but think the picture Robert Thompson shared with me my be their wedding photo and the single picture may be Dolly.
What do you think, Fleta?

Benjamin Franklin Coxsey 1836-1875

Benjamin Franklin Coxsey was born  about 1834/36 in Tennessee, probably in either McMinn or Polk County to Absalom and Elizabeth Haile Coxsey.  He married Martha Louise Barksdale [1838-1894] in Tennessee before 1859.

Benjamin served in the Civil War in the Confederate Army.  I sent for his service records and these are my notes from the file.

Benjamin F. Coxsey Elisted Nov 13 1861 at Cleveland By whom Jas. W. Gillespie period: 12 Mo age 27 years Capt. Robert W. McClary's Co Tennessee Cavalry Pvt.
Nov 13 to Dec 31 1861 Co D 1st Reg. Tn Cav. Absent on sick Furlogh Jan Feb 1862 Amt due for horse 43.20 Present March April 1862 Co D 1st Reg. Tn Cav Amt due for horse 24.40 Present
May June 1862 Present Co. D 2nd Battn Tn Cav
July Aug 1862 Present Co D 2 Battn Tn Cav Pay for horse 24.80
Nov Dec 1862 Present Co E 5 Reg Tn Cav
Jan Feb 1863 Absent Sic since Feb 12 Bounty due 50.00 mounted Co E 5th Reb Tn Cav
March April 1863 Present Mounted 242 days Bounty Due 50.00
B. F. Coxsey Pvt Capt Thadius M. Carder's Co 5th Reb Tn Cavalry 27 years Roll dated Camp near Tunnell Hill GA March 12 1864 Promoted to 1st Corp 
deserted Oct 10 1863

Civil War Muster Rolls from Ancestry.com
SurnameGiven NameMiddle InitialCompanyUnitRank - InductionRank - DischargeNotesBox #Extraction #Record #
CoxeyBenjaminF.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.PrivatePrivateCoxsey, Benjamin F.000231001000001658
CoxeyGeorgeA.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.PrivatePrivateCoxsey, George A.000231001000001659
CoxeyJohnB.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.1 Lieutenant1 LieutenantCoxsey, John B.000231001000001662
CoxseyBenjaminF.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.PrivatePrivate000231001000001664
CoxseyGeorgeA.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.PrivatePrivate000231001000001665
CoxseyJohnB.E5 (McKenzie's) Tennessee Cav.1 Lieutenant1 Lieutenant0002310010

know that John B. Coxsey above is Benjamin's brother and I believe George A. is also a brother.

Benjamin and Martha Coxsey, along with several other Coxsey family members moved from Tennessee to the Bobo area of Carroll County, Arkansas soon after the close of the war.

Benjamin's sister,    Rachel Luvena Coxsey Johnson, moved to Searcy County, AR soon after the Civil War.  Rachel to this day has many Johnson descendants in Searcy County.

Benjamin and Martha are buried in the Carrollton Cemetery, Carroll County, Arkansas.



Benjamin Coxsey in our Powell Rootsweb database

Bonnie Marie Still Harris

 I find joy in solving any puzzle.  I do the crossword in the paper almost everyday.  I look for lost ancestors daily.  I search for dead relatives of others.  I helped a sweet girl in Texas who was adopted in 1960 find her mother with ancestry DNA.  Well, today, I have a new match Jimmie Lee Harris.  A male born in 1941 in OK.  The only clue in the DNA file was Jimmie Harris.  When I looked at shared matches, I knew our connection was through Willis Powell.  Only took me about 5 minutes to figure out that Jimmie is the son of Bonnie Marie Still.
Jimmie Lee Harris
Bonnie Marie Still
Myrtle Powell
Richard Powell Betty Cooper

Me
Willis Powell
Robert Melton Powell
Richard Powell Betty Cooper

At Find A Grave (one of the few great genealogy sites still free and kicking), I found Jimmie's fathers obituary.  Bonnie did not have one at her grave. It validated who Jimmie was.  Then...when I looked into my tree, bam, I already had him in there.  Jimmie has added no tree to his DNA data.  Another counsin found!
James Wesley Harris
Birth: Nov. 10, 1912
Bluejacket
Craig County
Oklahoma, USA
Death: Sep. 28, 1988
Bartlesville
Washington County
Oklahoma, USA

Obituary and Life History

James Wesley Harris, 75, died Sept. 28 at this home, R.R. 4, Bartlesville.
Harris was a retiree of Washington County Butane-Propane Company and Lincoln Life Insurance Company; he grew up in Alluwe and graduated from Nowata High School in 1930. He had worked in the oil fields in the Nowata area.
Funeral services were held Sept. 30 in the chapel of Arnold Moore Funeral Services, Bartlesville.
Interment was in the Memorial Park under the direction of Arnold Moore Funeral Service.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Bonnie Marie (Still) Harris of the home; three daughters, Mrs. Tom J. (Norma Jean) Standeford, Topeka, Kan., Miss Janet K. (Harris) Reese; and Mrs. Dean Jerrold (Judith Ann) Marshall, both of rural Bartlesville.
Also, two sons: Jimmie Lee Harris, Albuquerque, N.M., Jerry Wayne Harris, rural Bartlesville; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.