Category: Alabama

Mrs. Annie Graham – Obituary

Earlier this year I met via Ancestry.com Cedric Jenkins, a newly found cousin, who is a descendant of my grandfather Mershell Graham’s sister Annie Graham. He shared this funeral program and also programs for Annie Graham’s children, which I will share in the coming days. My grandfather and his sister lost contact after he moved to Detroit.

Obituary

The late MRS. ANNIE GRAHAM was born August 13, 1885 in Elmore County, Alabama to the late Mr. William Graham and Mrs. Mary Graham.

Her early childhood was spent around Elmore County. At an early age she confessed hope in Christ and joined the fellowship of the East Chapel Methodist Church under the pastorate of the Rev. Ed. Bowens.

She was a member of the Esthers of America. She was always ready to serve and willing to give. She met everyone with a smile. She was a good neighbor, who would always come to the rescue and do whatever she could for others.

She departed this life October 15, 1964 at the home of her daughter.

She leaves to mourn one daughter, Mrs. Emma M. Reeves, Millbrook; three sons, Mr. Will Jackson, Birmingham Alabama, Mr. Clyde Jackson, Coosada, Alabama, Mr. Joe Jackson, Millbrook, Alabama; three daughter-in-law, Mrs. Odessa Jackson, Birmingham, Alabama, Mrs. Edith Jackson, Coosado, Alabama, Mrs. Ethel Jackson, Millbrook, Alabama; sixteen grandchildren, forty-three great-grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends.

Servant of God, well done,
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle is fought, the victory is won;
Enter thy Master’s Joy.

Links to more about Annie Graham
R is for Relatives, of the Elusive Kind
Mystery Photograph
Annie Graham – Sibling?

Timeline for Joe Turner, Hayneville, Lowndes County AL (1837 -1919)

Click to enlarge

Joe Turner was my 2X great grandfather. I have been able to follow him from the age of twelve in a slave census; through several lists of the enslaved in Wiley Turner’s probate record. Joe Turner was my maternal grandmother Fannie Turner’s grandfather. When Fannie was about three, her father Howard Turner and his father, Joe fell out over a land deal. Howard was murdered at a barbecue and ties were cut between my grandmother and her father’s family. Therefore I have no family stories or photographs of them.

I first found the Turner family in the 1870 census. I was able to follow them through various records both before 1870 and after.

Joe Turner’s birth year changes through the records from 1852, when he is listed as 15 and so would have been born about 1837; to 1843 in the 1870 census; 1841 in the 1880 and 1900 census; 1848 in 1910 and 1839 on his death certificate. I have used the earliest date to estimate his age over the years.

Sources for the information below is in italics at the end of the entries. All took place in Lowndes County Alabama, mostly in the Hayneville area. The links will take you to blog posts.

I first published a timeline in 2016. I have uncovered more information since then so decided to re-do it.

__________________

  • 1837 Born into slavery in Alabama.
  • 1850 slave census – 12 year old male mulatto listed among Wiley Turners enslaved. Possibly Joe Turner, as the only male mulatto in the right age range to appear below at 15 in 1852.
  • 1852 Age 15 – Appears as “Joe (white)” (number 94) in 1st list of enslaved with ages and valuation. Wiley Turner estate file page 657.
  • 1856 Age 18. 2nd List of enslaved and livestock divided for heirs. Wiley Turner estate file page 717.
  • 1857 Dec Age 19 3rd “Valuation of entire slave property of decd- names of…” Joe appears as “Yellow Joe”  Wiley Turner estate file page 796.
  • 1860 slave Census
  • 1861 11 Jan. Age 24 Alabama seceded from the Union.
  • 1861 Age 24 – Marriage to Emma Jones (1842–1901) – during slavery. 1900 US Census
  • 1862 Age 25 — Birth of Daughter Lydia Turner (1862–) 1870 US Census
  • 1864 Age 28 — Birth of Son Howard Turner (1864–1892) 1870 US Census
  • 1865 9 June Age 29 –  Bill from Dr. W.H. Haigler for Quinine for Joe. Wiley Turner estate file page 637
  • 1865 Age 29 – Final list of enslaved. Joseph (#27) Wiley Turner estate file page 544.
  • 1865 22 Nov age 29: Bought from sale of estate of Wiley Turner – 1 work ox (Ben) to Joe Turner $5 paid. 1 milch cow and calf to Joe Turner paid $13
  • 1865, April Age 29 – Civil War ends.
  •  1865 December 18 – Slavery legally over in Alabama.
  • 1866 Age 30 – Birth of Daughter Fannie Turner (1866–1880) 1870 US Census.
  • 1866 Age 30 – Alabama State Census Hayneville, Lowndes County. Joe Turner: 1 male under 10 (Howard); 2 males 10-20 (Who are they?); 1 male 40 – 50 (Joe) 2 females under 10 (Fannie & Lidya) ; 1 female 30-40. (Emma)
  • 1867 Age 31 – Birth of Son Joe Turner (1867–1920) 1870 US Census.
  • 1867 Age 31 – Residence Lowndes, Alabama, USA Alabama Voter Registration Records.
  • 1868 August 27 Age 32- Land Transaction
  • 1968 Letter from an agent of the Alabama Freedman’s Bureau about intimidation happening in Lowndes County.
  • 1869 Age 33 – Birth of Daughter Anna Turner (1869–) 1870 US Census.
  • 1870 Age 34 – Residence Hayneville, Lowndes, Alabama. 1870 US Census.
  • 1871, Nov. Age 35 – Elected constable Hayneville, Lowndes County, AL
  • 1872 Age 36 – Land transaction
  • 9 Jan 1876 Age 40 – Birth of Son Alonza Turner (1876–1944) 1880 US Census.
  • 1880 (before) – Death of Daughter Fannie Turner (1866– before 1880)
  • 1880 Age 44 – Residence Prairie Hill & Gordonsville, Lowndes, AL. Farming 1880 US Census and 1880 Agricultural Census.
  • 1890 -1891 • Age 54 — Turner v. Turner Probate Court land dispute. Hayneville, Lowndes County, AL.
  • 1891 Age 55 — Death of Son Howard Turner (1864–1891) Mentioned in court case above and news article.
  • 1900 Age 64 — Residence Gordonsville, Lowndes, Alabama. 1900 US Census.
  • 1901(about) Age 65 – Death of Wife Emma Jones (1842–1901) Lowndes County. Emma disappears from records and Joe remarries.
  • 1902 January 22 – Age 66 – Marriage Luella Freeman (1880–1977) Gordonsville, Lowndes, AL. “Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957″
  • 1903 – Age 67 — Birth of Son John Van Turner (1903–1943) Lowndes County AL. 1910 US Census.
  • 1904 – Age 68 – Birth of Daughter Anna E. Turner (1904–1924) Lowndes County. 1910 US Census.
  • 1906 October 10 – Age 70 – Birth of Son Daniel Turner (1906–) Lowndes County. 1910 US Census.
  • 1908 Age 72 – Birth of Son Buck Turner (1908–1931) Lowndes County Alabama 1910 US Census
  • 1909 Age 73 – Birth of Daughter Josephine Turner (1909–1915) Lowndes Cty 1910 US Census
  • 1910 Age 74 – Residence Precinct 4, Lowndes, Alabama. 1910 US Census.
  • 1911 Age 75 – Birth of Daughter Elizabeth Turner (1911–) Hayneville, Lowndes, Alabama. 1920 US Census.
  • 1912 Feb 25 – Age 76 – Birth of Son Talmadge Turner (1912–1987) Lowndes County Alabama. 1910 US Census.
  • 1914 August 21 – Age 78 – Birth of Daughter Luella Turner (1914–1916) Lowndes County Alabama. 1910 US Census.
  • 1915 February 19 • Age 79 – Death of Daughter Josephine Turner (1909–1915). Alabama, Death Index, 1908-59.
  • 1916 March 24 – Age 80 – Death of Daughter Luella Turner (1914–1916). Alabama, Death Index, 1908-59.
  • 1918 – Age 82 Joe Turner owned 240 acres, according to a news article in The Emancipator.
  • 1919 7 Feb Age 83 – Death Lowndes County. Alabama, Death Index, 1908-59. Death Certificate.
    1919 April 28 – Joe Turner’s Will
  • 1919  Birth of Daughter Selena Turner (1919–2011) Lowndes County AL. 1920 US Census.

Mershell & Annie Mae Graham Sibling Relationship Proved

Graham, Mrs. Annie, Elmore. Funeral service will be Sunday at 11 a.m. at East Chapel MP church. The Rev. Paul Cook will officiate. Burial will be in Jackson Cemetery with Ross-Clayton Funeral Home directing. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Emma Reves; sons, Clyde Jackson, William Jackson, Birmingham, and Joe Jackson; a brother, Marshall Graham, Detroit, Mich.; 16 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; three daughters-in-law, Mesdames Edith, Odessa and Ethel Jackson; and other relatives. She was a member of the Esters of America Society No. 1.

When I found this obituary for Annie Mae Graham on Newspapers.com, I wondered who the son “Joe” was. I had never heard of him before. At first reading I thought that “Marshall Graham” in Detroit was her son, formerly identified as “Michele” in census records. On re-reading, I realized that the “Marshall Graham” was named as her brother, and was my grandfather Mershell who lived in Detroit. And that Joe was Annie’s son, Michele.

I had been looking for something to tie my grandfather Mershell C. Graham to those I suspected were his siblings – Annie, Jacob and Abraham Graham. All of them listed the same parents on their delayed birth records and death certificates, but I could not find them in the same household. In 1900 my grandfather was not in the home with the other children. I have yet to find him in 1900.

Annie Graham’s great grandson, Cedric Jenkins, saw the obituary and contacted me on Ancestry. That was the first he had heard of my grandfather Mershell. We exchanged photographs and information. Annie and Mershell certainly look like sister and brother in the photos below.

  • Annie Mae Graham. Photo from Cedric Jenkins
  • Mershell C. Graham, photo from my collection

After Cedric got in touch with me, I realized I had a DNA match on 23 & me with the surname Jenkins. That Jenkins matched my maternal first cousin, Dee Dee, and was identified as a probable third cousin. He turned out to be Cedric’s nephew.

Using an obituary, a genealogical paper trail, DNA and a newly connected cousin, I was finally able to connect my grandfather Mershell Graham to his sister.

O. Barron’s Farm 1918, Elmore County, Alabama

Cedric was also able to identify the children in the photo above as Annie Mae Graham’s children. In the front are Joe (Michele) and Emma. On the mule closest to us is Will and next to him is Clyde.

Mershell Graham with his wife Fannie and children Doris (my mother), Mary Virginia and Mershell Jr. Standing in front of Plymouth Congregational Church in 1927. Detroit, Michigan.

Other posts about Mershell’s siblings

R is for Relatives, of the Elusive Kind
Mystery Photograph
Annie Graham – Sibling?
Jacob Graham – Sibling?
Inside Cover of Mershell C. Graham’s Bible

Note: I published an earlier version of this post but I got so much new information that I decided to re-write it but keep the comments from the first post, as I did not want to leave that one up.

Second Inventory of Wiley Turner’s Estate – 1856

Wiley Turner died in 1851 in Lowndes County Alabama. The first inventory of his personal property, including those enslaved on his plantation, took place in 1852. You can see a list of names, ages and “value” in this post – Joe Turner in the 1852 Estate File of Wiley Turner.

The second inventory was taken in 1856 when Wiley Turner’s oldest daughter Mary J Hunter had reached the age of 21.  She picked lot #6, which is highlighted in red below.  Click the images of the inventory on the right to enlarge for reading.

“Land of Cotton”  By Edward Warren Day, 1900   Library of Congress [LC-USZC4-11947]

The State of Alabama
Lowndes County
To the Hone. E.H. Cook Judge of Probate for said County.

“The undersigned commissioners appointed by your honor to divide the real and personal Estate of the late Wiley Turner deceased under an order of the 20 January 1856 so that Mary J. a daughter and heir at law of said deceased now the wife of Clinton Hunter could get her part set off to her under said order. Beg leave to report that they met at the plantation  of said deceased. and after first being duly sworn accepted to said ? and valued said slaves separately and then placed them with same other property in six lots of as nearly equal value as possible as follows,”

Lot #1

  1. Austin – a man
  2. Bill Tyus – a man
  3. Henry Turner – a man
  4. Ben a man
  5. Adam – a man
  6. Henry – a man
  7. Martha – a woman
  8. Mary – a woman
  9. Peter – a child
  10. Mary Ellen – a woman
  11. Edmond – a boy
  12. Washington – a child
  13. Betsy woman – a woman
  14. Peggy – a girl
  15. Caroline – a girl
  16. Adaline – a child
  17. Phillis – a woman

Lot #2

  1. Henry May – a man
  2. Jim Swipes – a man
  3. Robin – a man
  4. Joe – a man
  5. Big Jess – a man
  6. Robin – a man
  7. Rachel Clary – a woman
  8. Cherry – a woman
  9. Prince – a boy
  10. Louisa – a girl
  11. Eliza – a girl
  12. Minerva – a woman
  13. Emeline – a woman
  14. Ellen Bullock – a woman
  15. Jack – a man
  16. Old Rachel – a woman

Lot #3

  1. Jess – a man
  2. Wilson – a man
  3. Washington – a man
  4. Cary – a man
  5. Fed – a man
  6. Carter – a boy
  7. Clary – a girl
  8. Freeman – a boy
  9. Harrison – a boy
  10. Julia – a girl
  11. Albert – a boy
  12. Fanny – a girl
  13. Lucy – a woman
  14. George – a boy
  15. Alice – a girl

Lot #4

  1. Mat – a man
  2. John – a man
  3. Tony – a man
  4. George Mims – a man
  5. Sam – a man
  6. Isaac – a man
  7. Mariah – a woman
  8. Ellen – a woman
  9. Mose – a boy
  10. Siller – a girl
  11. Old Hannah – a woman
  12. Eliza – a girl
  13. Abigail – a girl
  14. Emma – a girl
  15. Hagar – a girl
  16. Frank – a boy

Lot #5

  1. Andrew – a man
  2. Nelson – a man
  3. Lloyd – a man
  4. Lewis – a man
  5. Bill Camel – man
  6. Charles – a boy
  7. Fanny – a woman
  8. Thomas – a child
  9. Margaret – a woman
  10. Amy – a woman
  11. Rachel – a woman
  12. Sylvia – a woman
  13. Milly – a girl
  14. Hardy – an old man
  15. A B Turner

Lot #6

  1. Abram – a man
  2. Lewis Tyus – a man
  3. Charles – a man
  4. Jim Pot – a man
  5. Alfred – a man
  6. William – a boy
  7. Mariah Hopkins – a woman
  8. Louisa – a girl
  9. Deller – a girl
  10. Ransome – a boy
  11. Henrietta – a child
  12. Lucy Patten – a woman
  13. Liddy – old woman
  14. Leah – a woman
  15. Sarah Ann – a child
  16. Nelly – a woman
  17. Jane – a girl

_________________________

The pages from Wiley Turner’s file included here came from Ancestry.com.

Boys, Mules and a Cabin – 1918.

Who are they?
Who are they?

I have posted this photo several times as I try and figure out who these children are.  In one post I wonder if they are on the ALLEN side and on another I speculate that they are on the GRAHAM side.  I’m leaning more towards the Graham side because of the writing on the side which I make out as “date/18 On Barrons Farm” .  My grandfather Mershell Graham’s sister, Annie Graham and her children lived on the Barron Farm in rural Elmore County Alabama.  You can read more about these speculations here S is for Sibling, Annie Graham?   The other post speculated that the family the McCall branch – “More About Annabell’s Family”.  These are both families that I have lost and would so appreciate any cousins in those branches getting in touch to help me solve the mysteries.

For more information about the camera used to take this photo follow this link to the Photo-Sleuth’s post about the Autographic camera.

For more Sepia Saturday, CLICK!
For more Sepia Saturday, CLICK!

3 Men in Hats

 The photograph of three of my grandfather Mershell C. Graham’s friends was perfect for today’s Sepia Saturday prompt.  To read about their lives, click this link – The Migration Part 3 – Those Left Behind.  It turned out that some of them also left Montgomery, AL and moved north.

Lowndes Adams, Rufus Taylor and Lewis Gilmer
Lowndes Adams, Rufus Taylor and Lewis Gilmer & Lowndes little niece, Edoline.
For more Sepia Saturday offerings, CLICK!
For more Sepia Saturday offerings, CLICK!