Jett Clinton Arthur, Jr

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
October 15, 2008, Page 11

Jett Clinton Arthur, Jr.

Jett Clinton Arthur, Jr. 90, died Sunday Aug. 31, 2008 at his home in Metairie, LA.

Arthur was born in Hemphill on May 31, 1918 to Jett Clinton Arthur and Anna Alice Smith Arthur. He had lived about 67 years in Metairie.

Arthur graduated from Hemphill High School as valedictorian in 1935 and was the first Eagle Scout in Sabine County. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1939, where he received a B.A. degree in chemistry and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1946 where he received a M.A. degree in physical chemistry and chemical engineering. he was a U.S. Navy World War II veteran.

Following the war, Arthur returned to his chemistry career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Southern Regional Research Center, located in New Orleans.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, La Verne Pitts Arthur; his parents; his brother, Roland Smithie Arthur; and brothers-in-law, Orland and Norvell Pitts.

Survivors; daughters, Martha Ann Stitsinger and husband Jon of Pearland, and Laura Jean Porter and husband Albert of Metairie; son James Clinton Arthur and wife Alicia (Jurisch) of New Orleans; grandchildren, Jennifer Lussier and husband Allen of Pearland, Arthur Lloyd Walters Walters of Portland, OR, Christopher Stitsinger and wife Lynda of Lake City, FL, and Megan Elizabeth and Jett Clinton Porter of Metairie; 15 great-grandchildren; brother Williamd Scott Arthur and wife Jean and son, Robert, of Woodville and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was conducted by Rev. Gene Finnell at Munholland United Methodist Church, Metairie, on Saturday, Sept. 20. His ashes were buried beside his wife, LaVerne, at the Lakelawn Metairie Cemetery in a private family ceremony.

Memorial donations may be made in Arthur's memory to Munholland United Methodist Church, 1201 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA 70005 or to the Jett C. Arthur, Jr. Scholarship Fund, Stephen F. Austin State University, Attn. Alicia Roland Chapman, P. O. Box 6096-SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962.

Arrangements were made by Leitz-Eagen Funeral Home and Lakelawn, Metarie Cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, October 2008)

Notes:

Occupation from 1922-1936, U.S. Post Office. Special interests in Real Estate, Merchant. Co A 360th Inf USNA 1917. (Source: Katherine D. Friestat)

Jett married Anna Alice Smith on 21 Aug 1917 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Anna (daughter of John Perry Smith and Alice Sophrina Ferguson) was born on 4 Mar 1898 in Jasper County, Texas; died on 18 Oct 1976 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation Insurance, Merchant, Real Estate.

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDKX-DM7
Name: Benjamin Clinton Arthur
Event Date: 23 Mar 1937
Event Place: Hamphill, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Male
Race (Original): White
Age (Formatted): 82 years 8 months 25 days
Birth Year (Estimated):
Birth Date: 02 Jul 1854
Birthplace: Sabine Co., La
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Solmon Arthur
Father's Birthplace: La
Mother's Name: Evelyn Curtis
Mother's Birthplace: La
Occupation: Farmer
Residence Place:
Cemetery (Original):
Burial Place: Hamphill
Burial Date: 24 Mar 1937
Informant's Name (Original): X
GS Film number: 2117277
Digital Folder Number: 4166743
Image Number: 1253
Reference ID: cn 28200
Collection: Benjamin Clinton Arthur, "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976"

Benjamin married Mary Emma Youngblood. Mary (daughter of James Youngblood and Margaret J. Smith) was born between 1856 and 1872; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

As of the 1930 census, he was living as a boarder with Emma (Smith) Conner and her husband, William F. Conner in JP 1 of Sabine County.

Death Certificate, dated 28 May 1942. Physician attended John Perry from May 18 through May 28, 1942. Primary cause of death Automloxcater?? Informant Curtis B. Hamilton. Residence: Brookeland. (Source: Katherine D. Freistat).

John married Alice Sophrina Ferguson on 31 Oct 1887 in Sabine County, Texas. Alice (daughter of Gram Berry Ferguson and Mary Elizabeth Sophronie White) was born on 29 Mar 1871 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 24 Jan 1946 in Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
According to Katherine D. Freistat, John Perry and Alice separated, however, Alice continued to use the signature Mrs. J.P. Smith for at least several years after their separation.

Notes:

Born when his mother was 44? Need to double check both their ages.

The History of Sabine Parish, Louisiana (author John Belisle, The Sabien Banner Press, 1912) states that "in 1860 the white population of Sabine Parish numbers about four thousant, and there were less than two thousand slaves. There were few really wealthy people in the parish, and many owned not more than one of two slaves. the owners of six or more in 1861 included S. L. and Allen Arthur.

http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924028797707/cu31924028797707_djvu.txt

Solomon married Evaline Curtis on 22 Jun 1848 in Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Evaline was born on 16 Dec 1829 in Opelousa, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died on 2 Mar 1916; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

FindAGrave shows her as a daughter of William L. CURTIS and Sarah McCOLLISTER.

Notes:

He was a Texas pioneer of which we are proud. He was a Texas Ranger, and participated in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. He was never known to curse, drink or use tobacco. (White and Toole, p 57). Virgie Speights writes he fought in three wars, Civil, Indian and Mexican--and did nto receive a scratch. His relatives were not so fortunate, however. His father was killed in the Civil War; two brothers died in service, one lost an arm and another a leg. (Speights, p. 36). She also indicates he was the oldest of 13 children.

James married Margaret J. Smith about 1856. Margaret (daughter of Robert H. Smith and Mary Ann Johnson) was born about 1839; died about 1877. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Educated in New Orleans, and was a beautiful lady. (White and Toole, p 57).

William married Mary Ellen Giddens. Mary was born on 14 Feb 1840 in Arkansas; died on 30 Sep 1932 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown as Ellen? on 1880 census? Or was the woman on the 1880 census a second wife?

Notes:

He and Green were twins.

Gram married Mary Elizabeth Sophronie White. Mary (daughter of James White and Drucilla C. Watkins) was born between 1848 and 1854 in Louisiana; died on 27 Aug 1921 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In her Rootsweb World Connect File entitled "Descendants of John and Mary Smith," Katherine Freistat shows that Mary White, the wife of Gram Berry Ferguson, is the daughter of James and Drucilla White. I believe that James and Drucilla are the most likely parents of Mary, but there are several discrepencies that should be resolved if possible.

1) The fact that Gram Ferguson's wife was a White is supported by this entry in "Sabine County Marriages 1875-1900 1900-1910 Prior to 1875" by Blanche Toole: White, Mary E to Green B Ferguson ca 1870

However, Green is Gram's twin, and it appears he actually married Lucy Bean in Orange County (source: Pam Mahon, family researcher)

2) A Mary E. S. White is listed on the 1850 Sabine County census as a two year old born in Louisiana in the household of James E. White and Drucilla C. (Watkins) White (#258-258), along with younger sisters Drucilla and Cordelia. However, the Mary Elizabeth Sophronia White shown as the wife of Gram Berry Ferguson by Katherine Freistat is shown as being born 6 years later, in 1854.

3) Another mystery is why she is not listed with her mother, Drucilla, and stepfather, John C. Partin, in the transcript of the 1860 Sabine County census by Helen Gomer Schluter. Her sisters Theodosia and Cordelia are listed. The actual microfilm should be reexamined. She would have been only 12/13 at the time, so it is doubtful she was already married. If she was not married, this means she had either died or was living with another family in 1860. Her grandparents, Edward and Elizabeth (Strickland) White were living in Sabine County in 1860, and an 11 year old girl, shown as L.E. White born in Texas, was living with them, according to the transcript of the 1860 census prepared by Mrs. Helen Gomer Schluter. Could this have actually been M.E. White? There is a discrepency in her birthplace, Texas vs. Louisiana. However, both she and her grandparents might have forgotten that she was born in Sabine Parish and not Sabine County. Additionally, L.E. White does not show up again. She may have either died or married after 1860, and may have indeed married Gram.

4) On a transcript of the 1870 Census of Sabine County (Blanche Toole), Household #25/25 lists:

Ferguson, G. 21 M W Farmer Texas
" , Mary E. 16 F W K.H. Texas

This would make Gram's wife born circa 1854, not circa 1848 as is shown by Katherine Freistat. I read the actual microfilm, and the ages on the transcript match those on the microfilm. It is possible that the census taker made a mistake when recording her age, or that Mary gave him incorrect information.

It could also be that Gram's wife is someone other thatn Mary White, the daughter of James White.

Notes:

Married:
Blanche Toole's SABINE COUNTY MARRIAGES shows a Green Ferguson to Mary E. White ca 1870. On Katherine D. Freistat's web site, she shows that Gram Ferguson married Mary Elizabeth White, daughter of Jarvis White and J. Massa in Orange County, Texas. Katherine further states that Gram died April 5, 1922 in Bronson, according to Pat. Pat also said that Mary died August, 1920 in Bronson.