Shakin' the Family Tree

Two of my Balding cousins, Parry and Frances, have been in town this weekend for a funeral for their mother, Miriam Roots Parke Balding.

Parry and Frances are my first cousins, once removed - the son and daughter of Aunt Miriam and my grand uncle, Marvin Parrish Balding, Sr. We are all so close in age that it's often easy to forget they are not my first cousins.

But we had not seen each other since we were all children. This Balding family removed (as our ancestors would say) to Annandale, VA in our childhood. I've been Facebook friends with Parry for a while now, and as a family we recently rounded up the funds to mark the grave of another close Balding relative.

But that's not the same.

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Naturally, we reminisced about family. In addition to visiting family graves at Roselawn Memorial Park, we went later in the day to Oakland & Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park to visit Balding and Chapin graves.

I went home after Aunt Miriam's service, and waited for Parry and Frances to call about going to Oakland. I got to thinking about Aunt Miriam's middle name - Roots - and wondered.

Was she descended from Logan Holt Roots, the former Congressman from Arkansas, who is buried at Oakland?


Family plot of Logan Holt Roots and Emily Margaret Blakeslee

I starting digging farther back into her family tree, and discovered that yes, she was. Logan Holt Roots was Aunt Miriam's great grandfather.

But when I returned to my desk after the trip to Oakland, the Roots family story got even better.

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Logan Holt Roots was born on 26 Mar 1841 to Benajah Guernsey Roots and Martha Sibley Holt, at Locust Hill near Tamaroa in Perry County, IL.

As a young man, Benajah Roots moved from his birthplace in Onondaga Co., NY to Sparta, in Randolph Co., IL. There he built a cabin, and went back to New York to get his wife and two children, Oliver Guernsey and Philander Keep Roots. (The latter was known by most people as P K, probably a mercy for a child at any time.)

By 1854, Benajah built a frame house that served the family as both home and school. The home was known as Locust Farm/Locust Hill Academy, and was located near Tamaroa, Perry Co., IL.

In addition to his roles as an educator, civil engineer and lawyer, Benajah Roots was also a stalwart abolitionist, who assisted slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad. His Locust Hill home with the secret passageway in the basement has been definitively proven to be part of the network of homes used to hide runaway slaves on their way to Canada.

The Southern Illinoian described the danger of Roots' actions this way:
...Jean Ibendahl points out that Root's stand was not popular with his neighbors.

"This was a hotbed of Southern sympathizers," Ibendahl said. "Once, they threatened to tar and feather him, so he left until tempers had cooled down."...One time, two slave owners were convinced Roots had their slaves hidden in the cistern, even though they had searched the property and found nothing.

"They camped in the orchard, which was south of the house," Ibendahl said. "Roots sawed a hole in the kitchen floor to give the slaves food and water. Finally, the owners gave up and left..."

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It's the stories of the ancestors - even though these are not mine - that create the fullness of their lives long after they are gone.

Everyone has a story.

I love this one.

I've been on a campaign to find James Ernest Balding's resting place, once I found out that his youngest sister was buried here in Little Rock.

I knew from California Death Index information that he died on 2 Apr 1944 in Los Angeles County, CA. But I didn't realize I had access to his death certificate on Family Search until this morning.

I had to scroll through hundreds of 1944 California death certificates to find it. But when I saw his name at the top of the certificate, I rejoiced. Now I'd know where he was buried.

Only he wasn't. His body was donated as a "specimen" to the University of Southern California.

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James Balding died alone in an institution called Ranchos Los Amigos at Hondo, CA (now Downey, CA), where he spent the last 8 years, 5 months, and 7 days of his life. The certificate notes that his wife's name was Ella - he and Dora Enderlin had divorced prior to the 1940 census, where she listed her marital status as divorced. In the 1930 census, they were married and living in Los Angeles County.

I had not been able to find James in the 1940 census. It's possible I could now, knowing more geographic detail about where he was during that census.

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From this website, I learned about the history of Rancho Los Amigos, including the period of time in which James was a patient there. Here's an excerpt - you should click the link and read the rest.

The southern campus of the Rancho Los Amigos Hospital is often referred to as the "Hollydale Mental Hospital" or the "Downey Insane Asylum" in contemporary times, however these misnomers paint an incorrect picture of the hospital's past use, which was much broader than just caring for the mentally ill. It was built in 1888 as a catch-all institution for the Los Angeles County Medical Center; a place to care for the handicapped, homeless, insane and elderly. The hospital was located in the former town of Hondo, which was absorbed by Downey in the 1950s. Funded by county bond money, it was simply called the County Poor Farm. Here, able-bodied residents could work on a large farm which sustained most of the hospital's dietary needs, in lieu of paying for room and board and medical care. These tenants were typically the homeless who drank too often, and just needed a few sober weeks of manual labor on the farm. Others worked on crafts such as wool clothes and rugs, which would be sold to the public. The 600 acres of property also encompassed an aviary, zoo, and rail line used for freight and passengers. Unclaimed bodies of residents who died at the poor farm were buried at a potter's field nearby, which has been relocated (but no one seems to know where, exactly) after torrential flooding washed away some of the caskets in 1914.

In 1918, the Spanish influenza epidemic hit the area, and the facility began treating all victims rather than just the indigent, and the word "Poor" was simply stricken from the name of the facility. The hospital expanded greatly in the 1920s to alleviate overcrowding conditions and rebuild flood-damaged structures, leading to the construction of the Spanish Colonial Revival buildings seen today. In 1932, the name of the institution was changed once again to Rancho Los Amigos, which translates to "Ranch of the Friends." The wide range of activities offered at the hospital were making it a legendary place to receive physical and occupational therapy; swimming, woodworking and weaving proved to help restore broken limbs and spirits. One example was that of a man with a badly crippled left arm and hand; the therapist placed a sanding block in it and directed the patient to sand furniture, which exercised the muscles and the patient also earned his own stipend to spend at the hospital store. Another patient who suffered from polio learned to paint by wielding an artist's brush between her teeth after 10 years of recovery.

After the Long Beach earthquake disaster in 1933, a large group of Rancho patients flooded the county supervisor Roger Jessup's office. They told tragic tales in hopes that he would push for funding improvements at Rancho to help the many victims. Some of these real-life stories were so traumatic that Jessup's secretary, Grace Wagner, became "hysterical" after hearing them, and actually leaped out of the office window and plummeted to her death.

But that's information from just the top of the certificate. It was the rest that hurt my heart.

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James Ernest Balding died of complications of central nervous system syphilis. The final "stage starts after three years of exposure and infection to syphilis. Typically, the person is no longer contagious with the disease, but the gram-negative bacteria in the body can reactivate, reproduce, multiply, and spread drastically throughout the body. At this point, the infection spreads to all the systems in the human body, including the nervous system, bones, eyes, and heart. Neurosyphilis at this point can cause several damages to the body, including tabes dorsalis. When the nervous system is infected at this particular stage, the individual is at risk for meningeal syphilis, which in turn slowly shuts down the entire body. The tertiary stages can also cause the growth of many tumors, and lead to cancerous affects in the body. This stage can be diagnosed through specific tests in serology. The nonspecific tests may be negative. At this point, there is little treatment the individual can pursue, and the body shuts down as a whole." Source: Wikipedia.

Death certificate for James Ernest Balding, 1878-1944

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This discovery gives rise to dozens of questions, most of which I expect will never be answered. Stuff like...

Who was Ella? The institution didn't know how old she was, making me believe they were not in touch with her, and possibly didn't know how to contact her to ask her.

Did Dora and James divorce because of his syphilis? They appeared as husband and wife in the 1920 and 1930 censuses, so they were together for a while.

Was Pop Balding notified of his brother's death? Both parents were already dead. Aside from Ella, Pop and Ione (nee' Balding Seaman Sisson) were James' only known survivors.

Who gave his biographical history when he was admitted? Hospital staff did not know all of his parents' biographic information - something you'd collect at admission, and certainly in a facility where people came to die.

So many questions, not so many answers.

But enough for me to create a Find a Grave memorial for him.

Because everyone has a story. Even if there's no happy ending.

My sister and I went to Oakland & Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park yesterday to decorate family graves.

Together, we have a combined total of over two dozen ancestors, relatives and extended family members buried there, including several members of my brother-in-law's family.

And as we were placing flowers on the grave of our great great grandmother, Laura Isabelle Cunningham Balding, it finally hit me that the two people buried next to her were her son-in-law, Charles Edwin Seaman and her granddaughter, Ethel Ione Seaman Rich, Charles' daughter from his marriage to Laura's daughter, Nellie Ione Balding.

So natch, my genealogy ADD kicked in and as I was exploring this part of the family in greater depth, I ran into the birth certificate for Arthur Robert Sisson. He was Nellie's son from her second marriage to Arthur Wright Sisson.



It says that with Arthur's birth, Nellie had borne 5 children, 4 of whom were living.

Who was the fifth kid, please? I can only account for Charles Ernest Seaman, Victor Claude Seaman, Ethel Ione Seaman Rich, and Arthur Robert Sisson. Was this fifth child a Seaman or Sisson?

I got death certificates in the mail Friday - four of them - for a great grandfather, great grandmother, and two great-great grandparents.

Fred and Eada Parrish Chapin, Victor Claude Balding, and Mary Mathilda, "Tildie" Wharton Burris.

They were related to each other not by blood but by marriage, so I can only use any similarities in causes of death as they apply to me, and other common descendants of the multiple blended families.

The years of death are 1938 (Fred Chapin and Tildie Burris), 1944 (Eada Chapin), and 1945 (Pop Balding).

And as I laid them out side by side, I noticed something else.

Three of the four of them died at home - or at the home of a child, where they had been living. (That's the multi-generational family living under one roof thing that was the rule instead of the exception until after World War II.) They were surrounded by people and things that were familiar, and even if in a small way, comforting.

And it struck me.

What a grand way to die...

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The aftermath of World War II not only saw a change in the way American families lived, but also how - and where - they died.

Prior to World War II, only in exceptional circumstances did people die in hospital beds instead of in their own beds, in their own homes, or a home of relatives (frequently their children) that had become their home.

My paternal great grandmother, Tildie Burris, died on 26 May 1938 at the home of her daughter, Emma Burris Crites. Her death certificate notes that she died of chronic nephritis, or kidney disease as we would say now. It also says the doctor saw her for three days leading up to her death and she was in a partial coma. As has been noted by memories of her grandchildren, some of whom said she got "mean" in her later years, the certificate says she had senility.

The next death in the chronology was my great-great grandfather, Fred Chapin, on 29 Dec 1938. He died at Baptist Hospital of prostatic hypertrophy - a condition in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged. He also had kidney disease - a combination of which we recognize today as dangerous for older men. His doctor attended him (Fred was also diagnosed with senility) from 28 Nov 1938 to the date of his death. I'm going to guess that he was only hospitalized for part of the 32 days his doctor cared for him.

On 2 Dec 1944, my great great grandmother, Eada Chapin, died at the home of her daughter, Hattie Chapin Balding, of a heart attack. There is no note on the certificate of senility, but it does say she had arteriosclerosis.

Only a little more than a month later, my great grandmother, Hattie Chapin Balding, was present at the death of her husband, Victor Claude "Pop" Balding, when he died at home - in the same house - of a cerebral hemorrhage.

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Some of those deaths were sudden, some weren't.

But I am sure now - whether I leave suddenly, or because of a lingering illness - if at all possible, I'd like to die at home.

Several commenters from Sepia Saturday commented on this photo of my grand aunt, Ruth Balding. Ruth was 23 years old at the time this photo was taken of her in July 1926, at the beach in Santa Monica CA.



One of the commenters mused that it would be neat to know what Ruth was thinking as she dabbled in the surf.

Indeed.

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Of course, Ruth did not record her thoughts on the back of this photo, or any of the others in the album she kept. An album I had no idea existed until one of my cousins clued me in. She made scans of the photos and sent me a CD. We marveled over them on the phone as my cousin read me the labels from the photos in Ruth's album.

The album seemed to be a record of the travels of the Victor Balding family, primarily during the mid to late 1920s and then at the end, some travel in the 1930s, after Ruth had married and left home.

One question I had was - how did the family afford to travel? My remembrances of discussions with my grandmother focused on how tight finances were for the Baldings. Ruth and her father supported the family with their jobs. Ruth lived at her parents's home until she married in 1932 at the age of 29 - contributing her income as the bookkeeper at the Brandon Co. to the good of her family.

My theory about how they were able to travel is connected to Pop Balding's job. In 1904, Victor Balding began working for the railroad as a telegrapher. He advanced to chief telegrapher, and worked for the railroad for 38 years, until his retirement in 1942, just three years before his death.

I think it was likely that, as a perk of Victor's job, he and his family were able to travel by train either at greatly reduced fares, or perhaps, free.

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Aunt Ruth has always intrigued me.

I never knew her. She committed suicide on 30 Dec 1959, when I was thirteen months old and living with my parents in Clearwater FL.

How she got to that tragic end from the woman we see above...carefree? thoughtful? pensive?...is a matter of perspective, one I searched for in a four part series of blog entries I did about Ruth in January 2012.

I don't know if I got it right.

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During my childhood, the only perspective I was presented about Ruth came from abrupt endings of adult conversation coinciding with my entrance into the room, and whispers from some of those same adults when they thought we kids weren't listening, as our extended family gathered for food, televised football games and fun.

So even up to the time I started seriously researching Ruth's history to write that blog post series last year, the mental image I had of this aunt I had never met was a picture of a stern, no-nonsense woman in sensible shoes - one with a good head for business, but not much heart for people.

My mental image of Ruth fit neatly with this photo of her - undated, but surely within the period of time she was diagnosed with lymphatic leukemia (now called lymphocytic leukemia) and the time of her death.



Of course, as family historians know, it is often helpful to look at the big picture, too.


Ruth with her mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephew, photo taken in Ruth's mother's home.

When I saw that photo, it hit me.

There was the visual image of Ruth's difficult relationship with her family of origin, difficulties that would span decades.

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I wish I knew what Ruth was thinking as she played in the surf on Santa Monica beach.

Was she glad for the break from work? From looking after her younger siblings? Did she have more spacious sleeping and living quarters on the train that carried her from home in Little Rock AR to Santa Monica? Did she look forward to adventure on this trip?

I don't know. But I hope that as Aunt Ruth got older, and things got more difficult for her, she was able to reach for her photo album and look back on her youth.

And smile.

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See you on other other side, Aunt Ruth.

I have so many things to ask you.

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This is an encore presentation of this entry for Sepia Saturday. Head over there for a look at more interesting sepia photographs and post cards.

Baldings, Harrises, and Whartons.

Three emails today. From the blog, and the online family tree and Facebook.

Woo-hoo!

I love it when that happens.

I was messing around earlier this morning with some of my Baldings. A whole slew of them lived in Morgan Co., OH, and I was making good progress in finding their graves.

And then, I ran across Thurman W Balding, one of the sons of William Balding and Elizabeth Hummel.

Thurman was born on New Year's Day in 1867 in Morgan County. He's my third cousin, three times removed. (Kind of like the familial relationship I have with another family misfit, Charles E Chapin.)

Apparently, Thurman was an honest-to-goodness outlaw.

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He was a member of the Bill Cook gang, and it seems he spent a lot of time robbing stagecoaches and banks.

Thurman had aliases, including "Skeeter" (because he was tall and lanky) and "Tull." He also went by the surname Baldwin, which may have relieved his family to no end. No telling what his 7 brothers and sisters thought of him...

He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his unlawfulness, and had his sentence commuted by President Roosevelt in 1903.

Thurman died on 2 Mar 1936 in Sun City, Barber Co., KS, and was buried in Sunnyside Cemetery in Sun City, where two brothers and a sister were also laid to rest.

Williams is a surname on my mother's side of the family.

I'm starting with Jesse, because he's the first in the line for whom I have documented and reliable information.

And I'm kind of impressed with Jesse - he served in the Revolutionary War, and lived to the ripe old age of 84, when he died after being kicked in the head by a horse he was shoeing...

My direct lines are in blue.

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First Generation

1. Jesse Williams was born on 19 Jun 1750 in Newcastle Co.,, DE. He died on 29 Sep 1834 in Rockcastle Co., KY. The cause of death was femoral hemorrhage while putting shoes on a horse. He was buried in Phillips Fam Cemetery, Wildie, Rockcastle Co., KY.

Jesse married Elizabeth Rachel Gott daughter of Richard Gott IV and Elizabeth Unknown on 24 Nov 1774 in Baltimore Co., MD. Elizabeth was born on 3 May 1754 in St Thomas, Baltimore, MD. She died on 11 Oct 1794 in Culpepper Co., VA.

They had the following children:

2 M i. Joseph Williams was born on 6 Oct 1775 in Anne Arundel Co., MD.

3 M ii. Richard Gott Williams was born on 26 May 1776 in Fredericksburg, Culpepper Co., VA. He died on 3 Jan 1876 in Mt Vernon, Rockcastle Co., KY.
Richard married Catherine Holder on 23 Jun 1812 in Richmond, Madison Co., KY. Catherine was born on 4 Apr 1797 in Boonesboro, Clark Co., KY. She died on 2 Apr 1884 in Mt Vernon, Rockcastle Co., KY.

4 F iii. Elizabeth Williams was born on 16 Mar 1778 in Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD. She died in 1878.

5 F iv. Susan Williams was born on 16 Sep 1781 in Culpepper Co., VA.

6 F v. Sarah Williams was born on 16 Jan 1784 in Orange Co., VA. She died in 1794.

7 M vi. John "Jehu" Williams was born on 11 Oct 1788 in Orange Co., VA. He died in 1859.

8 M vii. Jacob Williams was born on 29 Nov 1790 in Orange Co., VA. He died in 1841.

+ 9 M viii. David Williams was born on 1 Mar 1793. He died on 24 Jan 1858.


Second Generation

9. David Williams (Jesse) was born on 1 Mar 1793 in Orange Co., VA. He died on 24 Jan 1858 in Franklin Co, KY. The cause of death was gastritis, per death record.

David married Elizabeth Rowe, daughter of Thomas Rowe and Rachel Keeling on 15 Sep 1817 in Orange Co., VA. Elizabeth was born on 15 Feb 1789. She died on 10 Jul 1855 in Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

+ 10 M i. Jacob Williams was born in 1822. He died on 29 Oct 1900.

+ 11 F ii. Hettie Rowe Williams was born in Apr 1825. She died on 18 Feb 1906.

+ 12 F iii. Elizabeth (Bettie) G Williams was born on 22 Jan 1827. She died on 12 Dec 1895.

13 F iv. Millie R Williams was born on 12 Apr 1829 in KY. She died on 11 Aug 1900 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

+ 14 F v. Susan G Williams was born in 1830. She died on 8 Nov 1861.

+ 15 M vi. Urban Valentine Williams was born on 9 Nov 1833. He died on 1 Sep 1920.


Third Generation

10. Jacob Williams (David, Jesse) was born in 1822 in Virginia. He died on 29 Oct 1900 in Russellville, Pope Co., AR.

Jacob married Catharine C Mueller, daughter of Jacob Mueller and Elisabeth MNU about 1848. Catharine was born on 28 May 1825 in Baden Germany. She died on 14 Jan 1876 in Kentucky. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

16 M i. Lucien Eugene Williams was born in 1849 in KY. He died on 27 Dec 1900.

17 M ii. A Virgil Williams was born in 1852 in KY.

18 M iii. Urban Orville Williams was born on 21 Oct 1853 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

+ 19 F iv. Mildred Carlton "Minnie" Williams was born on 30 Jul 1856. She died on 16 Feb 1932.

+ 20 F v. Margaret Letcher Williams was born on 8 Mar 1861. She died on 19 Jul 1922.

21 F vi. Martha "Mattie" Williams was born in 1865 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co., KY. She died on 14 Apr 1930 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Cook Co., IL.

Martha married Albert T Fisher son of Lewis Fisher and Elizabeth Richardson. Albert was born on 8 May 1855 in Massachusetts. He died on 28 Apr 1918 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Cook Co., IL.

+ 22 M vii. Jo Desha Williams was born on 12 May 1866. He died on 23 Dec 1950.

23 M viii. Julian Otis Williams was born in Nov 1869 in KY. He died in Denver, Co.

11. Hettie Rowe Williams (David, Jesse) was born in Apr 1825. She died on 18 Feb 1906 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.

Hettie married Andrew Neat . Andrew was born in 1821 in Kentucky. He died before 1900.

They had the following children:

24 M i. Thomas C Neat was born in Apr 1842 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 1 Feb 1908 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.
Thomas married Evaline S McDonald on 4 Jun 1868 in Floyd Co., IN. The marriage ended in divorce.Evaline was born in 1847 in Indiana.

+ 25 F ii. Ella J Neat was born in 1846.

+ 26 M iii. Addis Emmet Neat was born in May 1851. He died on 5 Sep 1904.

+ 27 M iv. Benjamin Crittenden Neat was born on 29 Aug 1856. He died on 12 Feb 1919.

+ 28 F v. Estelle A Neat was born on 31 Jul 1859. She died after 1910.

12. Elizabeth (Bettie) G Williams (David, Jesse) was born on 22 Jan 1827 in Anderson Co., KY. She died on 12 Dec 1895 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

Elizabeth married Jeptha David Robinson, son of Owen Robinson and Sarah Gibson on 30 Sep 1847 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. Jeptha was born on 10 Dec 1811 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 21 Jul 1892 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

+ 29 M i. David Owen Robinson was born on 25 Jul 1848. He died on 16 Nov 1926.

+ 30 M ii. Joseph Austin Robinson was born on 26 Oct 1850. He died on 14 Jun 1914.

31 M iii. Jabez Robinson was born on 19 Aug 1853 in Franklin Co., KY. He died in 1928.

32 F iv. Mary Robinson was born in 1857 in Franklin Co., KY.

33 F v. Hettie Elizabeth Robinson was born in 1858 in Franklin Co., KY. She died in 1927.

34 F vi. Ruth Robinson was born in 1861 in Franklin Co., KY. She died in 1908.

35 F vii. Susan Clementine Robinson was born in 1862 in Franklin Co., KY. She died in 1887.

+ 36 M viii. Jacob Urban Robinson was born in Jun 1864.

37 F ix. Sarah Gibson "Sallie" Robinson was born on 14 May 1867 in Franklin Co., KY. She died on 21 Oct 1950 in Jefferson Co., KY. The cause of death was coronary thrombosis, per death certificate.
Sarah married (1) Joseph Thomas on 4 Jan 1893 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.
Sarah married (2) Hewitt . Hewitt died before 1950.

38 M x. Frank Williams "Pretty" Robinson was born in 1869 in Franklin Co., KY. He died in 1908.

14. Susan G Williams (David, Jesse) was born in 1830 in Franklin Co., KY. She died on 8 Nov 1861 in Nelson Co., KY. The cause of death was typhoid fever, per death certificate.

Susan married George A Poor son of Erastus P Poor and Dorothy Grant. George was born in 1824 in Maine.

They had the following children:

39 M i. George W Poor was born in 1854 in Kentucky.

40 F ii. Elizabeth Poor was born in 1856 in Kentucky.

41 F iii. Carrie Belle Poor was born in Nov 1857 in Franklin Co., KY.

42 F iv. Millie Poor was born in 1860 in Kentucky.

15. Urban Valentine Williams (David, Jesse) was born on 9 Nov 1833 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He died on 1 Sep 1920 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. The cause of death was uremia secondary to chronic prostatitis. He was buried on 3 Sep 1920 in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

Urban married Clementine (Clemency) Wilcox daughter of Jesse B Wilcox and Elizabeth Russell on 15 May 1862 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. Clementine was born on 21 Dec 1830 in Franklin Co., KY. She died on 11 Jul 1894 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

43 F i. Pattie Russell Williams was born on 7 Jun 1865 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She died on 18 Mar 1910 in Jefferson Co., KY. The cause of death was myocardiac degeneration, acc to death record. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

+ 44 F ii. Minnie Imogene Williams was born on 7 Jun 1867. She died on 26 Aug 1888.

+ 45 M iii. John W R Williams was born on 11 Aug 1869. He died on 5 Jan 1948.


Fourth Generation

19. Mildred Carlton "Minnie" Williams (Jacob, David, Jesse) was born on 30 Jul 1856 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co., KY. She died on 16 Feb 1932 in Washington, DC. She was buried in Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, AR.

Mildred married Josiah Hazen Shinn, son of Josiah Carlock Shinn and Elizabeth Frances Gilpin on 17 Jan 1875 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co, Kentucky. Josiah was born on 29 Mar 1849 in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas. He died on 2 Sep 1917 in Washington DC. He was re-buried in Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, AR.

They had the following children:

46 F i. Grace Electra Shinn was born on 9 Oct 1875 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co, Kentucky. She died on 23 Oct 1885 in Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas. The cause of death was typhoid fever. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Russellville, Pope Co., AR.

47 M ii. Joseph Roy Longworth Shinn was born on 18 Mar 1880 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co, Kentucky. He died on 13 Feb 1930 in Washington, DC.
Joseph married Maud A MNU in 1910/1920 in Washington DC. Maud was born in 1885 in Kentucky.

20. Margaret Letcher Williams (Jacob, David, Jesse) was born on 8 Mar 1861 in KY. She died on 19 Jul 1922 in Benton Co., AR. She was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.

Margaret married James Webster Wells, son of Hugh S Wells and Paulina Shinn on 2 Jan 1885 in House of J H Shinn, Russellville, Pope Co., AR. James was born on 10 Feb 1854 in Bentonville, AR. He died on 28 Jun 1931 in Benton Co., AR. He was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.

They had the following children:

48 M i. Hugh Desha Wells was born on 3 Jul 1886 in Arkansas. He died in 1920 in Benton Co., AR. He was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.
Hugh married Minnie Garden . Minnie was born in 1889 in Arkansas.

49 M ii. Homer Franklin Wells was born on 18 Jun 1888 in Arkansas. He died on 1 May 1953 in Kansas. He was buried on 6 May 1953 in Ft Leavenworth National Cem, Ft Leavenworth, KS.
Homer married Eula D MNU . Eula was born in 1897 in Arkansas.

50 M iii. Meta Carlton Wells was born in Jul 1890 in Arkansas.

51 F iv. Grace Pauline Wells was born in May 1892 in Arkansas. She died in 1912 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. She was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.

52 M v. Raymond Wyatt "Jack" Wells was born on 25 Nov 1895 in Arkansas. He died on 17 Sep 1972 in Benton Co., AR. He was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.
Raymond married Olivia Adele MNU in 1925. Olivia was born on 4 Dec 1890 in Illinois. She died on 17 Jun 1967 in Benton Co., AR. She was buried in Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Benton Co., AR.

22. Jo Desha Williams (Jacob, David, Jesse) was born on 12 May 1866 in Bridgeport, Franklin Co, Kentucky. He died on 23 Dec 1950 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. He was buried on 26 Dec 1950 in Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.

Jo married Maxie Leah Meek, daughter of James Alexander Meek and Mary Emily Conner on 11 Feb 1886 in Russellville, Pope Co., AR. Maxie was born on 10 Feb 1869 in Grenada, Grenada Co., MS. She died on 29 Apr 1955 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. She was buried in Roselawn Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.

They had the following children:

53 F i. Mildred Imogene Williams was born on 27 Jan 1890 in Russellville, Pope Co., AR. She died on 28 Jan 1890 in Russellville, Pope Co., AR. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Russellville, Pope Co., AR.

54 M ii. Cedric Hazen Williams was born on 29 Jun 1892 in Pope Co., AR. He died on 23 Aug 1951 in Crosbyton, Crosby Co., TX. The cause of death was suicide. He was buried in Roselawn Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.
Cedric married (1) Kathleen Kilgore daughter of Jefferson Davis Kilgore and Cassie L MNU on 14 Jul 1915 in Butler Co., MO. Kathleen was born in 1892 in Missouri.
Cedric married (2) Clara Crowe .

55 M iii. Paul Meek Williams was born on 24 Dec 1894 in Pope Co., AR. He died in Feb 1979 in Saline Co., AR. He was buried in Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander, Saline Co., AR.
Paul married Ruth I MNU . Ruth was born on 19 Oct 1894 in Pope Co., AR. She died in Aug 1982 in Saline Co., AR. She was buried in Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander, Saline Co., AR.

56 F iv. Katherine Leah Williams was born on 18 Jul 1899 in Arkansas. She died on

8 Dec 1904 in Russellville, Pope County, AR. She was buried in Oakland Cemetery Russellville, Pope County, AR.

57 M v. Jo Duffie Williams was born on 11 Jun 1903 in Arkansas. He died on 3 Jul 1970 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. He was buried in Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.
Jo married Doris Geneva Balding, daughter of Victor Claude Balding and Hattie Belle Chapin on 31 Oct 1926 in Saline Co., AR. Doris was born on 9 Jul 1907 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. She died on 18 Jan 1998 in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. She was buried on 21 Jan 1998 in Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR.

25. Ella J Neat (Hettie Rowe Williams, David, Jesse) was born in 1846 in Franklin Co., KY.

Ella married Emory L Ford son of John B Ford and Mary MNU on 4 Sep 1866 in Floyd Co., IN. Emory was born in 1847 in Indiana.

They had the following children:

58 F i. Hettie Ford was born in 1867 in Indiana.

59 F ii. Nettie Ford was born in 1872 in Indiana.

60 M iii. Leydon Ford was born in 1876 in Indiana.

61 F iv. Stella Ford was born in 1879 in Indiana.

26. Addis Emmet Neat (Hettie Rowe Williams, David, Jesse) was born in May 1851 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 5 Sep 1904 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.

Addis married Sophia B Ashton on 28 May 1874 in Floyd Co., IN. Sophia was born in May 1854 in Indiana.

They had the following children:

62 F i. Nancy Neat was born in Jan 1877 in Floyd Co., IN.

63 F ii. Hollie Neat was born in May 1883 in Floyd Co., IN.

64 M iii. Addis Neat Jr was born in Apr 1895 in Floyd Co., IN.

27. Benjamin Crittenden Neat (Hettie Rowe Williams, David, Jesse) was born on 29 Aug 1856 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 12 Feb 1919 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY. The cause of death was fatty degeneration of the heart, per death certificate. He was buried on 14 Feb 1919 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.

Benjamin married (1) Ellen MNU in 1884. Ellen was born in Apr 1858 in Ohio.


Benjamin and Ellen had the following children:

65 M i. Benjamin Crittenden Neat Jr was born on 1 Nov 1888 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.


Benjamin married (2) Anna H Jackson on 15 Jul 1903 in Floyd Co., IN. Anna was born in 1874 in Indiana.

They had the following children:

66 F ii. Dorothy Neat was born in 1904 in Floyd Co., IN.

67 M iii. Frank W Neat was born in 1907 in Floyd Co., IN.

68 M iv. Leyden R Neat was born in 1909 in Floyd Co., IN.

69 F v. Laura Neat was born in 1909 in Floyd Co., IN.

28. Estelle A Neat (Hettie Rowe Williams, David, Jesse) was born on 31 Jul 1859 in Kentucky. She died after 1910 in New Albany, Floyd Co., IN.

Estelle married (1) Miles Frank Brinkley on 30 Nov 1881 in Floyd Co., IN. Miles was born in Jan 1848 in Kentucky. He died in 1909.

They had the following children:

70 M i. Benjamin H Brinkley was born in May 1882 in Floyd Co., IN. He died on 18 Dec 1906 in Denver, Denver Co., CO.


Estelle married (2) Harry C Doughty on 10 Feb 1910 in Floyd Co., IN. Harry was born in 1858 in Indiana.

29. David Owen Robinson (Elizabeth (Bettie) G Williams, David, Jesse) was born on 25 Jul 1848 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 16 Nov 1926 in Franklin Co., KY. The cause of death was chronic valvular heart disease per death certificate. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

David married Edmonia Hopper . Edmonia was born on 8 Feb 1857 in Franklin Co., KY. She died on 21 Nov 1938 in Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

71 F i. Jessie Robinson was born on 31 Dec 1880 in Franklin Co., KY. She died on 4 Mar 1896 in Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

72 M ii. George Barnes Robinson was born on 18 Jun 1882 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 13 Feb 1903 in Franklin Co., KY. He was buried in Frankfort

Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

73 M iii. John D Robinson was born in 1890 in Franklin Co., KY.

30. Joseph Austin Robinson (Elizabeth (Bettie) G Williams, David, Jesse) was born on 26 Oct 1850 in Franklin Co., KY. He died on 14 Jun 1914 in Franklin Co., KY. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

Joseph married Caroline Steele Hawkins on 15 Jan 1879 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. Caroline was born on 16 Aug 1848 in Woodford Co., KY. She died on 22 Apr 1931 in Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

74 M i. Jeptha Thomas Robinson was born on 5 Sep 1880 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He died on 5 Oct 1932 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.
Jeptha married Mary Alice Snow on 27 Nov 1926 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. Mary was born on 31 Oct 1895 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She died on 28 May 1963 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

36. Jacob Urban Robinson (Elizabeth (Bettie) G Williams, David, Jesse) was born in Jun 1864 in Franklin Co., KY.

Jacob married Jennie (Annie) MNU in 1895 in Illinois. Jennie was born in Jan 1866 in Illinois.

They had the following children:

75 M i. George V Robinson was born in Apr 1896 in Illinois.
George married Barbara N MNU in 1924 in Illinois. Barbara was born in 1895 in Illinois.

44. Minnie Imogene Williams (Urban Valentine, David, Jesse) was born on 7 Jun 1867 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She died on 26 Aug 1888 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

She had the following children:

76 M i. Unnamed Infant Williams was born on 26 Aug 1888 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He died on 26 Aug 1888 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

45. John W R Williams (Urban Valentine, David, Jesse) was born on 11 Aug 1869 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. He died on 5 Jan 1948 in Franklin Co, KY. The cause of death was
uremia due to hyperplasic prostate, per death certificate. He was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

John married Susan Morris in 1894 in Franklin Co, KY. Susan was born on 25 Apr 1871 in Kentucky. She died on 22 Feb 1954 in Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY. She was buried in Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Franklin Co., KY.

They had the following children:

77 F i. Alice T Williams was born in Nov 1897 in Franklin Co, KY.

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As always, I'm interested in closing any gaps.

So cousins, feel free to contact me.

The theme this week is "going out."



My grandaunt Ruth Balding with her 1928 Essex sedan.

She was 25.




This is a Sepia Saturday post. Head over there for other really cool old photos.

More treasures from Aunt Ruth's scrapbook...

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Russell Ellington (also known all his life as Linky) and Marvin Balding. Photo circa 1922.


Vera Virginia, Doris Geneva (my grandmother) and Marion Chapin Balding (also known as Murnie). Photo circa 1922.


Marvin and Vera. Photo circa 1926/27.

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I am having a blast looking through these photos.

Much thanks to my California cousin for getting them scanned so the whole family can enjoy them...