Melissa Ella Ferguson

Notes:

(Research):
Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 4 May 1910
SD 2 ED 131 Sheet 14A
Hemphill and San Augustine Road
231-233
George and Fanny Conn family
235-237
William and Florence Conn family
236-238
Conn, Malissa E Hd F W 38 Wd 5/4 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Conn, Emma E Dtr F W 10 S Tx Ark Tx Laborer Home Farm\\
Conn, Clarrisa L Dtr F W 8 S Tx Ark Tx
Conn, Mary E. Dtr F W 6 S Tx Ark Tx
Conn, Edward L Son M W 2 S Tx Ark Tx
Ferguson, Nancy J Mother F W 623 Wd 4/2 Tx Tenn Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 16 Feb 1920
SD 326 ED 168 Sheet 36B
721-704
Conn, Ella M Head F W 49 Wd Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Conn, Lorena C Drt F W 17 S Tx Ark Tx Farm Laborer
Conn, Mary E Dtr F W 15 S Tx Ark Tx
Conn, Edward L Son M W 11 S Tx Ark Tx
Furguson, Nancy J Mother F W 73 Wd Tx Tenn Tx

1930 Census
Texas, Harris County, Part of JP 2, Houston City
Enumerated April 8, 1930
ED 101-125 SD 26 Sheet 19A
6727-241-283
T/Fenley James E Head M W 34 m 23 Tx Tx Tx Machinist Tool Factory
T/Fenley, Emma Wf F W 30 m 19 Tx Tx Tx
T/Fenley, Corinne Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
T/Fenley, Kathryn Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Conn, Ella Mother-in-law F W 58 W 19 Tx Tx Tx
Conn, Edward Brother-in-law M W 21 Un Tx Tx Tx Operates rigs Garage Shell

Melissa married Elisha Leonidas Conn about 1890. Elisha (son of Henry Patrick Conn and Clarissa "Clarrisee" Gibson) was born on 15 Dec 1867 in Arkansas; died on 12 Feb 1909 in Texas; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Adrian Elisha Conn was born on 10 Aug 1892 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 4 Apr 1899 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Emma Elizabeth Conn was born on 10 Nov 1899 in Texas; died on 2 Jan 1990 in Harris County, Texas; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Clarissa Lorena Conn was born on 27 Apr 1902 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 7 Oct 1923; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
4. Mary Eva Conn was born on 10 Feb 1904 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 8 Nov 1928 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
5. Edward Leonidas Conn was born on 1 Apr 1908 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 5 May 1932; was buried in Gravel Hill Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

From the notes of Katherine D. Freistat:

Abstract of Civil War Pension Applications, Sabine County, Texas (Mrs. Nancy Jane Ferguson, widow's application)

Her husband (Jeremiah Alexander Ferguson) enlisted February 17, 1862 and was discharged 1865. He served with Company F, 11th Texas Regiment Infantry. T.R. Smith, County Judge. W.M. Fullen and W. H. Cooper were witnesse

Jeremiah married Nancy Jane Griffin on 4 Oct 1866. Nancy (daughter of Thomas J. Griffin and Rebecca Clark) was born on 25 Jul 1846 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 6 Jun 1928 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the notes of Katherine D. Freistat:

Abstract of Civil War Pension Applications, Sabine County, Texas: Mrs. Nancy Jane Ferguson, widow's application for pension number 26250, field March 14, 1912, approved December 1, 1913, allowed from March 1, 1914. Date of pension November 9, 1912. She is the widow of Jeremiah Alexander Ferguson who departed this life on February 12, 1912 in Sterling County, Texas. They were married on October 14, 1866 in Sabine County, Texas. She has not remarried. Her age is 66 years and she was born in Sabine County, Texas. She has lived in Sabine County, Texas for 62 years and her post office address is Hemphill, Texas. Mr. (sic) Nancy Jane Ferguson died June 6, 1928 in Sabine County, Texas.

At the time of the 1910 Census, she was living with the family of her widowed daughter, Melissa Ferguson Conn, in Precinct 1 of Sabine County.

(Research):At the time of the 1920 Federal Census, she was living with her widowed daughter, Melissa Ella Conn.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine District
Enumerated 13 and 15 Nov 1850
Pages Handwritten 29 and 30 Stamped 225
225-225
Drucilla Lowe 47 F Ga
William Furguson 23 M Farmer Tx
James Furguson 21 M Farmer Tx
Allonder Furguson 19 M La
Emily Lowe 16 F Tx
Malinda Lowe 14 F Tx
Jackson Lowe 1p M Tx
226-226
Roland Furguson 28 M Farmer La
Huldah Furguson 26 F Ark
James E Furguson 6 M Tx
Jeremiah A Furguson 5 M Tx
Nancy A Furguson 4 F Tx
Green B Furguson 1 M Tx
Granbury Furguson 1 M Tx

Roland married Mahuldah Latham. Mahuldah (daughter of Lewis Latham and Unknown Wife Of Lewis Latham) was born about 1822 in Illinois; died about 1880. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In a 1966 article about the Golden Wedding anniversary of Onie Griffin and Imboden Boyd, Virgie Speights wrote that Onie's great grandfather was W. H. Griffin, who came as a boy of 17 years with the Boyd family to Texas (circa 1835).

Thomas married Rebecca Clark in 1844. Rebecca (daughter of William Clark and Elizabeth Isaacs) was born about 1826 in Texas; died before 1880. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In November, 2009, Vernon Virginia Ferguson Johnson (vernon2007@sbcglobal.net) emailed me that:

"As far as anyone knows the Olly Ferguson that married Drucilla Cook was not ever called AULSTON ? he never used this name--this is a different person, but has been so widely reported now that it is often taken as fact.

I want to remind descendants of Olly Ferguson -East Texas that Otey Ferguson in Va is NOT Olly of Texas...Please don't use the man in Va....the following message was posted several years ago.... my line is Olly, Roland,. Roland, Samuel, Jim, Vernon,

In 1993 when I found that someone had Olly's parents as Alexander Ferguson Jr and Nancy Wood, I contacted Christine Huddleston in Vinton, VA. She is the daughter of Edmund T Ferguson, Sr. who wrote "Ancestors & Some Families of Stephen D Ferguson and etc" She sent papers that listed the children of Alexander and Nancy and who they married. The third child listed was OteyOtty born 7th May 1797. Otey married Polly Arrington 3rd Mar 1823: min. Moses reer -surety, Daniel Arrington.

Transcript of Nancy Ferguson will (wife of Alexander Ferguson) proved 7th of Oct 1839 Rocky Mount, Franklin Co, VA. After listing all her children she left one dollar each to children of her son Otey Feguson, dec'd .....Alexander, Elizabeth, Sarah, Absond?, Daniel and Otey.

I would think that this proves that this is not our Olly.

Olly A Ferguson has no record of when or where he was born his age is never given. He did appear to die, or leave, Sabine County ca 1832, as his wife Drucilla remarried Eli Low around that time.

Olly A Ferguson could not have been the Son of Alexander and Nancy Wood their son was Otey/Otty, and he lived and died in VA

These are facts we do know about Olly:

1820-MS-Franklin Co-Marr-Bk A p 22 minister-David Cook March 25, 1820
Lic: -----Oaly A Fergison to Drewcilla Cook on 25th March 1820 by Co clerk
Marr:---Olay A Fergusson to Drucilla Cook on 29th March 1820 by David Cook
Cert:----Olly A Ferguson to Drucilla Cook on 26th March 1820 on new cert 25th Feb 1965

1824-TX-Nacog/Sabine-Feb 16-Apr 3, 1824--Petition of the Americans residing at Nacogdoches:signed by Olle A Ferguson. "Barker Texas History Center March 10, 1827-Ayish Bayou-petition sent to President of Mexico? Barker TX Hist Center-General Land Office, Spanish Archives,Tanslations of Empresario's Contracts, Vol I p 168. Application of Settlers of Boundary Border Leagues (file 52 p 327 original)

1826-TX-Sabine-Nacogdoches Archives-Olly A Ferguson and Allen W Arthur accused of killing Louis Blackman-Letter to Alcalde Hines Sep 18, 1826. They were acquited 2 Nov 1826-letter from Elbert Hines Alcalde to Alcalde of Nacog.

@1832-TX-Sabine-Olly's wife Drucilla married Eli Low. Child Emily Low born @ 1833

If anyone has further information, please let me know. Thank you. Vernon Virginia Ferguson Johnson (vernon2007@sbcglobal.net)

Olly married Drucilla Cook on 25 Mar 1820 in Franklin County, Mississippi. Drucilla (daughter of Greenberry "Green" Cook and Nancy Morris) was born in Feb 1802 in Georgia; died on 4 May 1865 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Isaac Low Cemetery, Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per the 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, Drucilla Low owned 4 slaves.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine District
Enumerated 13 and 15 Nov 1850
Page Handwritten 673 Stamped 225
225-225
Drucilla Lowe 47 F Ga
William Furguson 23 M Farmer Tx
James Furguson 21 M Farmer Tx
Allonder Furguson 19 M La
Emily Lowe 16 F Tx
Malinda Lowe 14 F Tx
Jackson Lowe 1p M Tx
226-226
Roland Furguson 28 M Farmer La
Huldah Furguson 26 F Ark
James E Furguson 6 M Tx
Jeremiah A Furguson 5 M Tx
Nancy A Furguson 4 F Tx
Green B Furguson 1 M Tx
Granbury Furguson 1 M Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sandy Beat No. 7, PO Fairmount
Enumerated 17 July 1860
Page 41
307-307
Durciller Low 56 F Farmer 3000 8532 Ga
Isaac Low 23 M Farmer 1100 810 La
Jackson G Low 20 M 1100 470 Tx
Alma H Low 15 F Miss
308-308
William Furguson 34 M Farmer $000 $640 La
Selendra Furguson 22 F La
William E Furguson 8 M Tx
Oleanner Furguson 6 F Tx
Plasete J Furguson 4 F Tx
Drusiller Furguson 1 F Tx
Benjamin G Furguson 8/12 M Tx

Notes:

Married:
Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935, Ancestry.com
Oaly A. Ferguson to Drewcilla Cook 25 Mar 1820 Franklin County

Notes:

On the 1835 Sabine District, Texas census, his family is listed as follows:

79. Lewis Latham 45 widower Catholic farmer Parazade, daughter 18 single Mahulda, daughter 13 single Maston, son 9 Jare Collinds, son 7

313. Alca Latham 21 Lewis, son 1

Is Alca a widowed daughter in law? Or an unmarried daughter?

On December 20, 1848, Lewis gave James Ferguson "Power of Attorney" and conveyed his right, title, and interest in his headright of land of (1) league of land, for the sum of $1000. Witnessed by Abraham Large and Collins Latham.

His place of birth has been shown as both Kentucky and South Carolina.

Lewis married Unknown Wife Of Lewis Latham before 1817. Unknown was born about 1790; died before 1848. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

One of his descendants, Elaine Wells, emailed in November 2012 that "I have visited the Dickey-Clark Cemetery in Sabine County Texas. I do not personally have a photo of the headstone for William Clark, but there is a photo on Ancestry.Com which shows the exact date of birth as May 1, 1790. Date of death July 4, 1856. It also showed that William Clark served as a Pvt. in the Mississippi Militia in the war of 1812. I was present at the ceremony when the Historical Marker was dedicated. " In January 2020, Elaine emailed "I have submitted my DNA to Ancestry and it shows my DNA directly related to William Clark. It shows his father was William Barnett Clark, born 09Oct1966 in Orange Co., Virginia, died in 1835 in Amite Co., MS. His wife was Frances Ragsdale. Born 1764 in Lunenburg Co., VA. His father was John James Clark, born 19Fe1741 in Clark's Mountain, Orange Co., VA and died 28Oct1831 in Bedfore, Orange Co., VA. Ancestry shows his wife was Mary Towles, but there was no other information about her. It shows that I have shared DNA with all those listed, except Mary Towles."

When John William Clark of Oklahoma City published his 1971 book, SOME DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM CLARK OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS he was conducting research to prove a theory that William Clark born about 1790 in South Carolina was related to or descended from Elijah Clark, father of John Clark, Governor of Georgia 1819-1823. He wrote in the preface to his book that "Several clues have pointed the way to research this angle as follows: Elijah Clark went from South Carolina to Georgia in early days following the Revolutionary War as a General. His son John became Governor of Georgia. John's sons went to Miss., such as Elijah, Gibson, Etc. One of John's grandsons became a political figure in Texas. A William Barnett Clark was granted a Georgia passport by the governor, signed by the Solictor General Elijah Clark to proceed across the western country to Miss. in search of land. Our William names a son William Barnett in later years after he was in Sabine Co., Texas."

The author, also noted that there were three William Clarks in Sabine County, Texas at the same time, "however our William Clark was the only one that remained there until he died."

He listed the following facts about our William Clark in the preface of his book:
a) Born ca 1790 in South Carolina
b) Fought in the War of 1812
c) he was married in Mississippi, Amite County, to Elizabeth Isaacs 16 Mar 1812 and again to Mahala Graham ca 1836 in Sabine County
d) Received a land grant from the Mexican Government in Zavalla's Colony in June 1835
d) has a total of about 21 children by two wives, many of these descendants still living in East Texas
f) the only one of the three William Clarks living in Sabine county before 1850 that remained in that county and died there
g) the only land owned by William Clark south of Hemphill, TX was land bought by William and not granted to him as original owner
h)All paper of William Clark were signed by an "X" and witnessed by someone else
i) William was listed on the census records of Sabine County in 1835 and 1850, and second wife Mahala was listed in 1860, 1870 and 1880. This and the wills indicate he died prior to 1860.

The author also stated that other two William Clark's who were associated with Sabine County were:

---William F Clark (William Fain Clark). This William F. Clark received a land grant from the Mexican Government south of Hemphill on the Sandy Creek. This was later conveyed to Joseph Sullivan, and he evidently moved away since he is not shown in subsequent census records. Obediah S. Smith bought this land later and lived on it for years.


---William Clark Jr., a political leader in the Sabine District, born in either Va, Ga, or N.C. on 14 April 1798, and a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and a representative from the Sabine and Nacogdoches District who married Martha Wall. They were the parents of Margaret, Francis, Sarah Jane and William, and this family moved from Hemphill to Nacogdoches County prior to 1860. There he ran a hotel and land business, and on the 1870 census of Nacogdoches, he can be found with his daughter, Sara Jane GRIFFITH, the wife of Dr. L. E. GRIFFITH, who one practiced medicine in Hemphill. William Clark Jr died 3 Jun 1871 in Nacogdoches and has a monument erected in his honor in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches.

On page 1 of his book, John Clark writes that "The first record found of him (William) shows him as a private in Captain John Lowry's Company of Militia, Mississippi Territory Regiment of Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. George H. Nixon. He served in the war from 19 October 1813 to 28 Feb 1814. he was given travel pay to travel 300 miles from Tom Bigby River or Camp in northeastern Mississippi to Amite County, Miss."

White and Toole, in SABINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS wrote of William:

"He served in the War of 1812, from Mississippi, and married Elizabeth Isaacs of Amite County, Mississippi March 16, 1812. They moved to Coahuila, Texas long before the days of the Republic and received a land grant from Lorenzo de Zavala on the waters of the Palo Gacho consisting of one league. His wife died in childbirth in the Run-away-scrape in 1836. According to legend, while William Clark's ox wagon was stuck in the mud at Sandy Creek, and he was trying to extricate it, he met his second wife, Mahala Graham. They were married in 1837, and settled on Big Sandy, and with the children of his first wife there were 21 children." SABINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS

On April 16, 2009, Dr. Gary Clark (drgclarke@msn.com) emailed that "There is a record of probated wills of Edgefield County, Vol. II, p. 98. David Clark and wife Amy willed their plantation to their children: William, Sarah, Edward, David, James and Mary; May 3, 1813. He requested that they all live on the plantation, if possible.

The list of children in this list is limited to six. I would like to know should anyone else determine that David and Amy are William's parents. Another volume on Edgefield County references William purchased property there in April,1783; and David served on a petite jury in 1788."

Land Grant recorded in the General Land Office in Austin as JAV11, Title Jul 2, 1835, Book 22, p. 653. Signed by George Antonio Nixon, Comisionad

Joel Clark emailed, in November 2012, that "Someone posted info about a census in Amite county Mississippi that suggested that this William Clark (my 4th great grandfather) was a Junior. They mentioned 2 separate households and 1 William Clark was married to an Elizabeth. This would lend thought to William Clark's dad being William Clark Senior."

(Research):


Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 28 and 29 Apr 1850
135-135
William Clark 61 M Farmer 1000 SC
Mahala Clark 38 F Ky
Nelson Clark 17 M Tx
Mariah Clark 12 F Tx
Andrew Clark 10 M Tx
Harison Clark 9 M Tx
Margaret Clark 7 F Tx
William Clark 4 m Tx
136-136
Powell and Sarah Fullen (born SC and Va, with dtr born in KY)
137-137
Elijah Clark 37 M Farmer 600 Miss
Jane Clark 28 F SC
Louis Clark 11 M Tx
Elias Clark 7 M Tx
Paschal Clark 5 M Tx
John Clark 4 M Tx

William married Elizabeth Isaacs on 16 Mar 1812 in Amite County, Mississippi. Elizabeth (daughter of Elijah Isaacks and Esther Donaho) was born on 9 Aug 1798 in South Carolina; died about 1836 in Coahuila and Texas, Republic of Mexico. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the daughter of Elijah Isaacs and H. Esther Donoho. Could her age of 36 on the 1835 Sabine County census be in error? She would have been 13 at the time of her marriage, and 14 when Elijah was born.