As for me, all I know is that I know nothing.

Socrates

    Researching family history has taught me that I can prove almost nothing.  I'm thankful that the McIntyres have been proud of their heritage and kept written records.  Without these, it would have been hopeless.  Today,  I'm pondering another puzzle, one that I may have unraveled, but short of exhuming bodies and checking dna, I can't verify the solution.

     Through genweb (it may be a proper noun, but it usually starts with a small "g") for Scott County, TN, I found a death record for Great Grandma Sallie Sexton Watters stating that she died December 8, 1903. Since the website also had lists from most of the cemeteries in the county, I figured I would find her grave.  Despite hours of searching, I found nothing.  However, on findagrave.com, there was a comment about the fact that there were two graves at Marcum Cemetery for Sallie's mother, Nancy Phillips Sexton. So, at this point,  Nancy had two graves and Sallie had none. While going through family papers, I came upon this little snippet:

     Now, it makes sense. Findagrave.com has headstones for Nancy on plot #2 and #6. Someone assumed Nancy was buried next to her husband, Christopher Columbus, and put a stone there.  I think that when C.C. died, the family bought a plot for Nancy, too.  However, when Sallie died unexpectedly in 1903, she was buried there and another plot three spaces down was later bought for Nancy.   It makes sense, thanks to some unknown McIntyre's record-keeping.

      The writing that says "children of Joe & Lourani Buttram," looks somewhat like my mother's writing, but the "Sally Watters, 1875" is unfamiliar.  Does anyone recognize the writing or know the source of this information? With the help of a couple online friends, we may be able to come one step closer to actually "proving" what happened.

-Cheri

Mary Lynn Newport Waters

      Nancy Belle's father was James H. Watters.  Her paternal grandparents were Marion Waters and Mary Lynn Newport. Though her father was a York, Mary Lynn used Newport on her marriage license to Marion.   
      This research is not mine, but it has more information than I have found elsewhere.   . Thelma May Weber who compiled this information was married to Olive Phillips' son. Mom remembers meeting Olive. Most of this is about daughters from Mary Lynn's second marriage to Elijah Phillips.  Our ancestor is her first husband, Marion Waters, but there are several pieces of information that pertain to us.  Mary Lynn was a redhead.  There seem to be quite a few in the  family.  Also,  Mary Lynn was a cousin of Alvin York.  Am I the only one who remembers that old movie about SGT York? Once again, brackets [ ] are mine, parantheses ( ) are Thelma May Weber's.

     I added a copy of the 1880 census and a marriage record.
    
      Mary Lynn York (daughter of York and Nancy Jane Newport) was born in Near Oneida, Scott County, Tennessee, and died date unknown. She married [2] Elijah Freeman Phillips. She married [1] Marion Waters on Abt. 1876.


Notes for Mary Lynn York:


Mary Lynn York had red hair (Irish)


      She was the youngest daughter of ________ [Andrew?] York and Nancy Jane Newport York. One of Mr. York's brothers, William York, was the father of Sergeant. Alvin York, the World War I hero. Nancy Jane's father-in-law was Uriah York.


      In 1907, Elijah Phillips' sister, Vinnie (Phillips) Steven moved to Coweta, Indian Territory, (later to become the State of Oklahoma). She wrote her brother that living in Coweta was so much better than it was in Tennessee. Times had become very hard for people in the latter state. After the Civil War, work was scarce. Therefore, in 1909, Elijah and Mary Lynn (York) Phillips boarded a train and brought their family to Indian Territory. Elijah farmed and worked in the cotton fields. Mary Lynn, besides her regular duties as a housewife and mother, spent many hours clipping newspaper articles about her famous cousin, Alvin York.
     The three girls Flora, Edith (Georgia) and Olive, remember many trips to town, riding with their mother on one horse while their father walked beside them. They remember talking and laughing and having a good time. The girls were very close and olive relates the times that Flora saved her life. The first was in Tennessee. They were walking on stones to cross a creek when Olive fell in. Being quite small at the time and the water being so deep she was unable to gain her footing. One of the other children was their but could not help. They called to Flora, who came running and pulled her out.
      The second rescue took place near Coweta, Oklahoma. The family had rented a house, but the family living there had not vacated and so Elijah's family was living with his sister's/ The girls were gathering hickory nuts and were fascinated with them because they did not have any where they lived in Tennessee. The pasture near the wooded area had been burned to prepare for the new growth. This use to be a common practice of farmers in former years. Olive was told to stay in a certain place, which she did. She commented to one of the girls with her that her back was getting very warm. The girl saw the fire and called Flora. Flora smothered the flames with her hands. Flora remembers her hands were badly burned and the only relief she could get was holding them up to the cold February wind.


More About Mary Lynn York and Marion Waters:


Death of one spouse: Abt. 1883


Marriage: Abt. 1876






Children of Mary Lynn York and Elijah Freeman Phillips are:
+George Washington Phillips, b. August 15, 1885, d. date unknown.
+Thomas Alvie Phillips, b. September 20, 1887, d. date unknown.
+William Franklin Phillips, b. July 19, 1890, d. Abt. 1893.
+Phelan Louis Phillips, b. July 19, 1892, d. date unknown.
+Hubert Delmar Phillips, b. June 26, 1895, d. 1962.
+Flora Jane Phillips, b. October 24, 1897, Tennessee10, d. date unknown. Bitsy Ester Phillips, b. October 20, 1899, d. June 1901.
+Georgia Edith Phillips, b. November 23, 1901, d. May 1982.
+Olive Belle Phillips, b. May 12, 1904, Tennessee, d. February 28, 1997, San Antonio, Texas.


Children of Mary Lynn York and Marion Waters are:
+Eldora Waters, b. April 18, 1876, d. date unknown. [1876-1947]
+James H. Waters, b. February 27, 1878, Tennessee, d. date unknown, Oklahoma. [1878-1960.  Died in  Grants Pass, Oregon]
+John Waters, b. June 19, 1880, d. date unknown. [1880-?]
+Barney Waters, b. November 8, 1882, d. date unknown. [1882-1952. Died in Siskyou County, CA]


http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/e/b/Thelma-Weber-CA/WEBSI TE-0001/UHP-1188.html


Source:Thelma May Nelson (daughter of Ralph Arthur Nelson and Ruby* Irene Wonser). She married (1) O.B. Ray II, son of Oliver Bealer Ray and Olive Belle Phillips. She married (2) Robert Cornelius Weber.

Emaline Purcell

      I noticed that it's been a month since I last posted.  I have been collecting information, trying to sort the Fry family and the Stewart family histories.   I've gathered plenty to read, but still haven't been able to add much to the letter from the last post. There are bits and pieces that I need to unravel and hopefully, will be able to make a coherent post, but not tonight.  It's been too long since I've written anything, so tonight, I will pass along some good photos and a little information about the Purcells. (The name Purcell comes from the same root as the English word pork and means, you guessed it, "little pig." Those historians who are kind say that the name probably denotes an occupation of swine-herder or that it may have been used at times as an affectionate name.   Personally, "pig" isn't something I want to hear from my loved ones.)
    

    The Purcell history is easy to trace to Ireland.  An internet search will even produce a picture of the family castle. Here's the link if you want to do a little study:  funks.net/genealogy/Purcell/Purcell_FamilyHistory.htm

The John Parcell who was married to Judith Ytie Jans on this page was ggggg grandfather to Emaline Purcell (Earl's maternal grandmother).

     Earl's mother was Ella Ann Adams.  Various sources say her name was Ellan or Ellen Ann, but family records all say Ella Ann.  Ella Ann's parents were Joseph A. Adams and Emeline (Emaline) Purcell Adams. A family document tells a little of Emeline's history.  It is a surprise to find a information about a female ancestor for a change.



Emeline is in front, 2nd from left in plaid.

        I know some of you have seen the above family history, so it's about time that I present something new. These are not the best photos, but they are the first I've come across for Emeline and her family.

Emeline is far right in front row.