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Rebecca Isabella "Bell" McLemore

Female 1850 - 1918  (67 years)


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  • Name Rebecca Isabella "Bell" McLemore  [1
    Nickname Bell 
    Born 15 Mar 1850  Sabine Parish, Louisiana Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Female 
    Died 16 Jan 1918  Houston, Harris County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Buried Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Rosa's papers have Bell's husband as John Sheppard, a prosperous farmer in Bastrop County, both died in Houston, both buried in Smithville. Parents of 3 children.

      The following letter was written to Rebecca Isabella (McLemore) Shepard shortly after the Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 1883 murders of her brothers, Thad and Wright McLemore, along with Felix McLemore's brothers-in-laws Az & Jack Batey, it is thought that Addie (Nancy Adaline) McLemore wrote this letter; it is also possible it was written by Amanda (McLemore) Ebner.

      Austin Feb. 15 1884

      Dear Isabelle,

      I am a long time in writing but there has been nothing to write, and I want to see you so bad that writing seems like a farce. I wanted to see you so all before I left but knew it would do me no good. I don't like to say good-bye and I felt in leaving then I was leaving the best friends I had on earth.

      Thought my mind would be in a better condition to contend with and have come to the conclusion that the shadow will never be lifted from my life. Well Isabell we are all here together yet. Mollie was intending to go on to Maggie's but Felix was in town when we got here and he said it would never do for her to keep on them, as she would be watched. Henry Green and Ty Jones came up on same train as we did, and next day Jhon (sic) Allen came up. There is no telling what Allen wanted . He acted in a suspicious manner. We saw Felix a day or two ago. He was intending to go down home, but was advised not to. I know that something is on the list regarding him, and know his life would not be worth much if he was down there. He is staying out with Marion Oliver now. He spoke about visiting to have you come up here to see him, and I wish you would. It would be better than for him to go down there.
      We have had a fearful time ever since we been up here. It has been raining and misting all the while. The town is dull and gloomy and nothing doing. We have had no work yet but everybody says after a while times will be better. I guess they will, if not I will back away from this region. I will go slap crazy if I don't get something to do pretty soon.
      I wish I could see you and the children. Don't let them forget me. I know baby will but the others may not. God knows when we will meet again or how we will all come out. If I had known what I know now, I would of never have left there or would of never stopped here . I only stopped here to be nearer to you all , thought from the way things were represented I could get plenty of work here and may after a while, but I will have to live on in the mean time. I want you all to write to me soon. This letter is to Grandmother and all. Give my love to Blanche and tell her to write.

      My best love to you all,

      Your aff' sister
      A??? McLemore

      Transcribed from photo copy from files of Jimmy R. Mclemore of Denver, Colorado by Melba Gene McLemore on 13 January 2003
    • (Research):
      Census Information:

      1880 Census
      John E. SHAKURD Self M M W 30 Mo Farmer In Miss
      Rebecca SHAKHURD Wife M F W 29 Tx Keeping House KY MS
      Vanettis E. SHAKHURD Dau S F W 3 Tx Ms Tx
      Nettie Lila SHAKHURD Dau S F W 1 month -- -- --
      Guadalupe Valley, Guadalupe, Texas
      FHL Film # 1255308 NA Film # T9-1308
      Page Number 289D

      1900 Census
      Texas, Bastrop, JP 2
      Roll T623 1609 Page 36B
      John H Shepard Hd 50 Aug 1849 Miss W Farmer
      Rebecca J Shepard Wf 3/3 49 Mar 1850 La
      Samuel O Shepard Son 15 Sept 1885 Tx
    Person ID I24471  Strong Family Tree
    Last Modified 17 Aug 2014 

    Father Keton Jones McLemore,   b. Abt 1809, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1873, Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 65 years) 
    Mother Rebecca Jane Harrelson,   b. Abt 1820, Mississippi Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 1852 and 1853, Jefferson County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 32 years) 
    Married 28 May 1833  Hinds County, Mississippi Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • In a March 1, 1955 letter to his niece, Pleasant McLemore, the youngest son of Keton by his second wife, recalls that the names of his fathers descendants by his first wife, as far as he knew, were "Lucreacia, Wright, Mandy, Isabel, Felix before Isabel (my error), Maggie, and then Thad, as for Harrison, I never heard of him.....I never did see Wright, saw Thad once, when we stopped at Felixes a few minutes, he didn't talk to me, and I didn't know who he was."
    Documents
    McLemore, Keton Jones family info pg1
    McLemore, Keton Jones family info pg1
    Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 1 of 4.
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg2
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg2
    Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 2 of 4.
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg3
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg3
    Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 3 of 4.
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg4
    McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg4
    Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 4 of 4.
    Family ID F8149  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family John E. Shepard,   b. Aug 1849,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married 25 Feb 1872  Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Children 
     1. Eugenia Vanettis Shepard,   b. Nov 1876, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Nettie Lila Shepard,   b. May 1880, Guadalupe County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1951  (Age ~ 70 years)
     3. Samuel Keaton Shepard,   b. 23 Apr 1885, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Apr 1954, Houston, Harris County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
    Last Modified 9 Dec 2006 
    Family ID F8157  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 15 Mar 1850 - Sabine Parish, Louisiana Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 25 Feb 1872 - Bastrop County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 16 Jan 1918 - Houston, Harris County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S501] McLemore, Melba Gene-Family Researcher/Family Group Sheets, Correspondence, Email (maddoxyellowrose@hotmail.com) ; http://www.mclemoregenealogy.org/index.php, (http://www.mclemoregenealogy.org/index.php).