Just some quick Lincecum Lineage database news: I updated pages for members of the Andrew B. Campbell family, which includes four marriages and ten children.
Andrew was my 4th great-grandfather. I often see him with the middle name of Boling, but I’ve yet to find it on anything besides other family trees. Andrew was likely born 24 August 1834 in Tennessee to Johnston Campbell and Martha “Patsey” Andrews.
Andrew was in Massac County, Illinois by 1853 when he married Louisa M. Johnson. This couple would have at least ten children. A son, Thomas Henry Campbell, was my 3rd great-grandfather.
A. B. Campbell served in Company K, 29th Illinois Infantry from 1862 to 1865. He would marry three more times before his death on 27 February 1916 in Massac County. The Civil War service is reflected on his headstone in Lower Salem Cemetery.
— Lower Salem Cemetery at Massac County, Illinois. Image by Amanda Trill (2012).
Family lore says it’s true. Supposedly, Louisiana was disowned by her family and placed there by her husband.
To be fair, the name of the institution had been changed to Georgia State Sanitarium at the time Louisiana (aka “Lucy Ann”) was likely there. Prior to her time as an “inmate,” it was known as the Georgia Lunatic Asylum. Located in Milledgeville, today the history-filled (some say haunted) grounds are known as Central State Hospital. But anyone and everyone who grew up in middle Georgia knows that’s where they sent the “crazies.” Some of us might’ve even been threatened “to be sent to Milledgeville” a time or two.
— Lucy Ann Meeks listed as Inmate in Georgia State Sanitarium for 1900 census.
Louisiana “Lucy Ann” Brown was born 5 May 1863 in Baldwin County, Georgia. Her parents were William C. “Billy” Brown (d. 1898) and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Thigpen (d. 1897), and Lucy Ann was one of at least twelve children born to them.
Lucy Ann married John Oliver “Ollie” Meeks, son of Bennett B. Meeks, on 14 January 1883 in Washington County, Georgia. Lucy Ann was four months shy of her twentieth birthday. John was two to four years her senior.
Ten months after her marriage, Lucy Ann started having babies. She would have at least nine of them by the time she was thirty-three years old. The last one I can account for, Bettie, was born about 1896. Before Bettie was four years of age, possibly well before, her mother was an inmate in the Georgia Lunatic Asylum / Georgia State Sanitarium.
I’ll list the known children of John and Lucy Ann in a bit. First let me tell you about John’s previous marriage.
John Oliver Meeks married Nancy Brown, daughter of James and Emerline, on 8 October 1877 in Washington County. I do not know of any familial connection between Nancy and Louisiana.
Nancy seems to have been about aged sixteen years when she married John, and the couple had son Benjamin approximately one year later. This small family was listed with Nancy’s parents for the 1880 United States Federal census, and I have a hunch Nancy’s daddy James did the talking when the census taker came around.
In the space saved for noting John’s occupation, it was written, “Tramp – nothing good.” See below (third line down).
— 1880 Washington County, Georgia, US Federal census
Knowing John married Louisiana a few years after this census, I wondered how his and Nancy’s marriage ended. The 1900 census (same locale) shows Nancy Brown as the divorced daughter of J. and Emmaline. Nancy’s son “Bennie” was there, too.
If you might indulge me for a moment, I ask you to look again at the image of the cropped 1880 census entry above. See the Armstrong family next door to the Brown / Meeks family? Head of household A. C. Armstrong’s wife Ann is listed, but it’s also noted she was “in Lunatic Asylum.” [I wonder if this gave John any ideas?]
I know husbands (and doctors) sometimes institutionalized women who suffered from postpartum depression, and it would not surprise me if this was the case with Lucy Ann.
Truth be told, I don’t know for certain why my 3rd great-aunt Louisiana “Lucy Ann” Brown was put in the lunatic asylum / sanitarium. I do know she died in Milledgeville on 27 June 1907 at the young age of forty-four. She was buried in Cedar Lane Cemetery, also known as Central State Hospital Cemetery #1. She, surprisingly, has a grave marker. So, so many — too many — that are buried there do not. I have a feeling it was added some time after her death.
— Image by John Moon via FindAGrave. Permission for use granted in bio.
— Cedar Lane Cemetery Historical Marker
Not long after Lucy Ann’s death, John Oliver Meeks married again. This time, to a woman named Bessie. She would give him at least three more children before his death in 1921. After John’s death, Bessie married again to a Mr. Cox. Bessie Cox was mentioned as a surviving stepmother in a 1968 obituary for one of Lucy Ann’s daughters.
A list of known children born to John Oliver “Ollie” Meeks and Louisiana “Lucy Ann” Brown:
Addie Meeks Lindsey (1881-1949)
Jane E. Meeks (b. abt 1885, not found aft. 1900 census)
Willie Robert “Algie” Meeks (1887-1965)
Sarah A. “Sallie” Meeks Johnson (1890-1960)
Marion M. Meeks (b. abt 1891, d. 1900-02)
Henry Clayton Meeks (1892-1936)
Clara Belle “Pet” Meeks Brantley (1895-1968)
Ruth A. Meeks (b. abt 1895, not found aft. 1900 census)
Still going through Grandpa B. J. Lincecum’s photos and such, and still discovering things I did not know. For instance, he had a way with words. Especially when it came to rhyming in light poetry.
Most of the examples I found were from the time period of Grandpa’s service in the US Air Force, or afterwards, during the time he was with the Cape Girardeau, Missouri Police Department.
— March 1975, Joe Lincecum
Here are a few examples of Grandpa’s creativity.
A Holiday Thought by TSgt B. J. Lincecum
We hope and pray that “sixty four”
Will bring us all good cheer.
We pray that all the world may be
Relieved of strife and fear.
We all should be quite thankful for
Our rights to come and go,
There’s no “Big Brother” watching us
And no Passports to show.
It’s time to count your blessings,
Giving thanks for one and all.
Remember, many people live
In fear behind a wall.
So as you see the happiness
Around you on this day
Remember those who gave their all
That we could live this way.
Conscience by SSgt B. J. Lincecum
There is an old saying,
“Let your conscience be your guide,”
But you cannot measure conscience,
With a ruler, or a slide.
This proverb, is alright as such,
With one or two big “ifs,”
There’s a difference in the minds of men,
It’s not given as a gift.
It’s a thing that you must cultivate
From childhood to the grave,
Until “right” is such a habit,
You are, your conscience’s slave.
This final one’s a bit of a heavier subject. Seems to have been written about 1978.
Ode to “Pig” by B. J.
Many times, they call us names,
Such things as “Dirty Pig,”
They badger, gripe and criticize
with other verbal digs.
But let an accident occur,
A riot, fight, or brawl
then who they call to break it up
they sure don’t mind at all.
To dial the number 911
and shriek “send the Police,”
Another cop may risk his neck
and just to keep their peace.
Yes “Pig,” some people call us,
So think about it friend
We make the bed we lie in
on this you can depend.
For every person we abuse
With words or overt action
You add another to the group
The ever growing faction.
That group that always call us “Pig”
But wait, do not despair
Each time you hear this put-down
And want to pull your hair,
Ignore that connotation,
Go out and make a friend
Show all you have compassion
And soon you’ll change the trend,
From references of “Dirty Pig,”
kind words you can expect
Be firm, but fair with everyone
Good deeds will bring respect.
My grandfather B. J. Lincecum (1932-2014) was a diarist and picture-taker. Though his modus operandi changed with the times and technology, as far as I can tell he practiced those two family history chronicling pastimes for the bulk of his life. He was also a regular sightseer and traveler, so his images didn’t always only involve family.
— Some of B. J. Lincecum’s Picture Booklets
Though I’ve been through some of his photo albums before, I’ve only just begun delving into these picture booklets. I adore them for many reasons, of course, but a big one is each booklet tells a little story.
Here’s a picture of B.J.’s son (my dad) by a river “on the way to Marrakech,” taken when the family was stationed in Morocco.
— “Mike by the river on the way to Marrakech. We stopped by road to ‘rest.’ Was very pretty view.”
What about a fun outing to a ballgame? Grandpa was at Sportsman’s Park / Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri in 1956.
— Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, in 1956.
Or we can get a peek into something a little closer to home. Delta (Cape Girardeau County, MO), where my great-grandparents owned and operated Lincecum Grocery, had to deal with a bit of flooding the latter part of May 1957. The bottom image in right side of collage shows their storefront.
— Delta, MO flooding in May 1957.
I treasure each image, and would like to share them with those who follow Lincecum Lineage. It is unlikely, however, that all will make it into the database. So I invite you to follow me on Twitter — I’m “southerngraves.” I have shared what you see above and more there, and will continue to share more as I uncover interesting images. (Full disclosure: I tweet about genealogy, all sorts of history, and cemeteries / tombstones. Every now and then a nature or book/reading tweet will make it onto the timeline. If we have similar interests, I’ll be happy to follow back.)
IN MEMORY OF: Bonnie Huffman and LaVerne Sullinger.
The image above is from a “where are they now” type booklet given to those who attended a class reunion in 1990. This was the 40-year reunion for the 1950 graduating class from Delta High School in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Here is Grandpa’s page (no. 3 cropped out to protect the living):
As was not uncommon at rural, small-town Missouri schools, Grandpa was related to a few of his classmates. Previously, I shared the story of Bonnie Huffman’s murder. She was Grandpa’s 7th cousin-in-law.
Virgie LaVerne Sullinger was more closely related to Grandpa, as she was his third cousin. LaVerne was born 25 January 1933 at Advance, Stoddard County, Missouri. Her parents were Claude E. Sullinger and Maudlue Tidwell.
LaVerne graduated from Delta High School in the Spring of 1950, and within a couple of years was married to George Thomas Reeves (1928-2011). The couple welcomed daughter Rebecca Anne in February 1953.
Five years later, a “tragic series of mishaps” would conclude with the deaths of both LaVerne and Rebecca.
Daily Standard (Sikeston, Missouri) Monday, 29 September 1958 – pg. 1
Search Fails In Effort To Recover Body Of Girl Drowned Near Allenville CAPE GIRARDEAU — An unremitting search had failed to recover the body of [5-year-old] Rebecca Ann Reeves, who drowned through a tragic series of mishaps in the diversion channel near Allenville shortly after noon Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. George Reeves, the parents who live in Cape Girardeau, had gone fishing with their two children and, in some manner, Rebecca fell into the water. The father went to her rescue, got her to the bank where Mrs. Reeves came to help her on land. Mrs. Reeves slipped and also went into the water and all three went under. In the struggle, the girl slipped loose from her father’s grasp.
Mrs. Reeves was given artificial respiration en route to the hospital and was apparently in good shape when she reached there, but today it is reported her condition is critical, mostly due to shock.
— Source: Newspapers.com
Daily Standard (Sikeston, Missouri) Wednesday, 1 October 1958
Mother Of Drowned Girl Died Monday Evening Mrs. George Reeves, of Cape Girardeau, who was rescued from drowning near Allenville last Saturday, died in a Cape Girardeau hospital Monday night. She had suffered from injuries while being rescued from a drainage ditch and from a subsequent attack of pneumonia.
Her daughter, Rebecca Anne Reeves, who fell into the water at the time her mother did, was drowned and her body was recovered Tuesday half a mile from the point of drowning.
Funeral services for Mrs. Reeves and her daughter were held in Cape Girardeau this afternoon.
— Source: Newspapers.com
LaVerne and Rebecca were buried together in Union Park Cemetery at Chaffee, Scott County, Missouri.
— Image by Brenda Johnson (2018) via FindAGrave. Permission for use granted in bio.
It’s been more than 65 years since Bonnie Loretta Huffman, my 8th cousin, was murdered in Delta, Missouri.
I was reading through my grandfather’s (Billy Joe Lincecum, 1932-2014) high school graduation — “Baccalaureate Ceremonies” — program and found some surnames of a few of his fellow graduates were familiar. There were only thirty students graduating from Delta High School in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri for the year 1950, so it wasn’t a long list. Trying to chase down any possible familial connections led me to Miss Huffman.
Bonnie Loretta was born 19 November 1933 at Whitewater, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Her biological father, Otto W. Huffman, died thirteen months later. By 1940, Bonnie’s mother Lillie Bollinger (1909-1997) had re-married to Millard Thiele (d. 1989). The family, including two more Huffman daughters and a Thiele son, were residing in Bollinger County, Missouri.
In the spring of 1950, Bonnie was the valedictorian of her high school graduating class. The following year she was a freshman studying Elementary Education at Southeast Missouri State College.
The first sad research surprise was finding out Bonnie died at the young age of twenty years. The second was the cause of death: homicide. Per her death certificate, Bonnie died of a “fracture of the 3rd cervical vertebrae.” The coroner’s jury verdict was also noted: “Death from hands of person or persons unknown.”
Next was combing through all the newspaper articles and headlines. First up is from the Detroit Times (Michigan), dated Tuesday, 6 July 1954.
Teacher, 20, Found Slain DELTA, Mo., July 6 (AP) — Bonnie Loretta Huffman, 20, a rural school teacher, her neck broken and her jaw fractured, was found dead in a culvert near here last night.
Police found no signs of a struggle at the spot where her body was discovered, but her dress had been torn and signs of a struggle were found near her abandoned car.
Glasses she had been wearing and her purse and necklace were missing.
Miss Huffman had gone to a movie Friday night with friends and after the show had left for home alone.
Deep impressions in the gravel near the abandoned car, police said, indicated another car had been started at high speed. They said the gravel indicated her car had not been stopped suddenly.
Police said they found an ear ring on the left running board and the other ear ring and a small seat cushion in the road. Police believed Miss Huffman stopped the car for some one she knew, then was forced into the other car.
“Teacher, 20, Found Slain,” issued 6 July 1954, accessed 3 April 2020, name of interest: Bonnie Loretta Huffman, Detroit Times, Detroit, Michigan, online image (GenealogyBank).
— Evening Star (Washington, DC) – Wednesday, 7 July 1954
— San Diego Union (California) – Wednesday, 7 July 1954 – pg. 5
— Boston Daily Record (Massachusetts) – 7 July 1954
The next day it was reported a “novelty salesman” was being questioned about Bonnie’s murder, but nothing came of it. And the following was published in the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune (Missouri) after five more days went by with no developments:
No New Leads in Slaying of Bonnie Huffman DELTA, Mo., July 13. (AP) — A coroner’s inquest last night failed to turn up any new leads in the mysterious slaying July 3 of Bonnie Loretta Huffman, 20-year-old school teacher.
The coroner’s jury found that Miss Huffman, discovered dead of a broken neck in a weed patch two miles from her abandoned car, “died at the hands of a person or persons unknown.”
…Among the six witnesses at the inquest were the victim’s mother, Mrs. Lillie Thiele, who appeared composed as she testified, and Bobby Gene Thiele, half brother of the slain teacher.
A fund being collected under the sponsorship of the police department of nearby Cape Girardean [sic] and the Southeast Missourian in that city as a reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of the killer had grown to $997. Contributions were being received in amounts as small as 15 cents…
About a week after the one-year anniversary of the slaying of Bonnie Huffman, a “mysterious” cross appeared at the site where her body had first been found. Following from St. Louis Globe-Democrat (Missouri) dated Tuesday, 19 July 1955 (page 3):
Where Pretty Teacher Found
White Cross Mysteriously Appears at Slaying Scene DELTA, MO., July 18 (Special). — Police are investigating a large white cross found at the exact roadside spot where the body of a pretty rural school teacher, victim in an unsolved slaying, was found a year ago.
The wooden cross was found Saturday, half a mile north of here, the body of Miss Bonnie Loretta Huffman, 20, was found there July 5, 1954…
The cross was carefull [sic] made, about 6 feet tall, the planks painted white. Painted in black on the cross in neat letters are the words:
“To the memory of Bonnie Huffman, July ?, 1954.
“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall be live: St. John 11:25.”
State highway patrolmen removed the cross this morning, and so far have been unable to offer an explanation.
Hundreds of sight-seers were attracted to the cross over the week-end, and automobiles were lined bumper to bumper on the county road where it was located.
It was pointed out that the deadline for a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the girl’s slayer had passed at midnight Wednesday. A total of $1453 was raised for the reward fund, and authorities are now in the process of returning the money.
The slaying has remained a deep mystery. About 50 men were given lie detector tests during the extensive inquiry by state, local and county authorities, the Attorney General’s office and the Circuit Court grand jury also made investigations.
The remains of Bonnie L. Huffman were buried in Bollinger County Memorial Park Cemetery. Lillie Bollinger Huffman-Thiele-Snider was placed beside her in 1997.
The case of Bonnie Huffman, I believe, remains open. The following is on her memorial record at the BCMP cemetery’s website:
Sgt. Friedrich is currently assigned the case. If you have any possible information or possible items that have been around since 1954, please contact Sgt. Friedrich, the Cape Girardeau police or your local police, with any and all possible information or evidence.
— bcmp.org
In the 65 years since Bonnie’s murder, the case has been written about from time to time. See also >>
Though my grandfather is the one who linked me to Bonnie, he was only her cousin by marriage. His wife, my grandmother, Betty Sue Campbell (1934-2014), was Bonnie’s 7th cousin. Their shared ancestor appears to be great-grandfather Hans Georg Hoffman.
[Originally posted on previous platform September 2016.]
Percy Aubrey Cardwell was born 15 November 1892 in Gonzales County, Texas to William Alexander Cardwell and Edna Katherine “Kate” Lincecum. He married Emma Kate Lankford 5 May 1923 in Bexar County, Texas. Percy died at 1:30 p.m. on 25 November 1957 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, just ten days after his 65th birthday. He was laid to rest at San Jose Burial Park in San Antonio.
Individual Facts:
Census: 8 June 1900 / Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas
Occupation: April 1910 / Retail Grocery Store Clerk at Bexar County, Texas (probably worked for his father)
Census: 19 April 1910 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Occupation: June 1917 / Government Clerk at Bexar County, Texas
Address: June 1917 / 345 Bill Green St, San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: January 1920 / Public Bookkeeper at Bexar County, Texas
Census: 5 January 1920 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Address: April 1930 / 228 Sycamore St., San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: April 1930 / Real Estate Broker at Bexar County, Texas
Census: 2 April 1930 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Address: 1942 / 1109 W. Craig Place, San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: 1942 / City Tax Department at San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Address: abt March 1945 / 1109 W. Craig Place, San Antonio, Texas
Address: abt August 1946 / 1109 West Craig Place, San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: abt 1957 / Clerk for City of San Antonio, Texas
Address: abt 1957 / 1109 W. Craig Place, San Antonio, Texas
Notes:
– Percy’s description from his WWI draft registration card (dated 5 June 1917): tall, slender, grey eyes, brown hair.
– From U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925:
P. A. Cardwell, age 27 (dated 20 March 1920)
destination: Tampico, Mexico
objective: Commercial; “to accept position with Tampico Banking Co.”
using port of Laredo, Texas
physical description: 6′ 2″ tall, long chin, brown hair, gray eyes, fair complexion, prominent nose, long face, (including a distinguishing mark of) “Long scar right temple near eye”
Also included with Percy’s passport application was a notarized letter from his father confirming Percy’s paternal parentage, birth date and place.
– From Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964:
P. A. Cardwell, age 28 (dated 30 December 1920)
occupation: Material Agent
from Tampico, Mexico to San Antonio, Texas (admitted at Laredo, Texas)
– Per his death certificate, Percy died at 1:30 p.m. on 25 November 1957. Emma Kate Cardwell was the informant. Cause of death: Apoplexy, acute, severe, terminal (30 min). Hypertensive cardio-vascular disease (15 yrs). Arteriosclerosis, generalized, and severe of both legs with avascularity (6 mos).
[Originally posted on previous platform September 2016.]
Edna Katherine Lincecum was born 30 September 1866 in Washington County, Texas to Lachaon Joseph and Elizabeth (O’Banion?) Lincecum. She most often went by “Kate.” I’ve seen her referenced as “Katie” once – in a marriage index which states Katie Lincecum married Willie A. Cardwell 20 January 1892 in Caldwell County, Texas.
The marriage date carries with it a bit of contention, though, since census records suggest Katie and Willie had at least two children prior to that date. I suppose the children could belong to another union. I don’t know at this point. The four children I have ascribed to Kate and William are as follows: Lottie Kate, William E., Percy A., and Thomas A. (also known as “Tom”).
Edna Katherine Cardwell died 1 March 1945 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. She was laid to rest at Mission Burial Park. I have requested a photo of a grave marker via FindAGrave.
Individual Facts:
Census: 28 September 1870 / Burton, Washington County, Texas
Census: 3 June 1880 / Williamson County, Texas
Census: 8 June 1900 / Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas
Census: 19 April 1910 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Residence: 1920-1945 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Census: 5 January 1920 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Census: 14 April 1930 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Residence: April 1935 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Census: 12 April 1940 / San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Address: abt 1945 / 419 Harding Pl., San Antonio, Texas
Occupation: abt 1945 / Housewife at Bexar County, Texas
Note:
– Edna’s son Percy A. Cardwell was the informant listed on her death certificate. Cause of death: Generalized Arteriosclerosis with marked secondary anemia.
[Originally posted on previous platform August 2016.]
On private property in Brenham, Washington County, Texas is an unmarked cemetery. At one time, “most of the people who have lived in the area for many years” indicated the only identifiable grave in the cemetery was that of Col. Samuel D. Lauderdale. Col. Lauderdale and his wife Sarah Hawkins were the parents of Edna Caroline Lauderdale.
Edna married Lucullus Garland Lincecum about 1853 in Washington County, Texas. The couple had at least five children, including a girl named Ida. She was born about 1861, but was gone by the 1870 census.
Research conducted by members of the Washington County Genealogical Society of Brenham, Texas, suggests Ida could have been laid to rest in the Lauderdale Family Cemetery. But little girl Ida hopefully would not have lain there alone. It’s possible her mother and grandfather rest nearby.
For a more thorough report of the Samuel Lauderdale family and a listing of other possible burials in the cemetery, visit the Washington County Genealogical Society at bluebonnetgenealogy.org.
[Originally posted on previous platform August 2016.]
I know very little about the wives of Haywood Lincecum, so figured it would be easy enough to combine them into one post.
Mary Ann Brown and Haywood were married 3 January 1850 at Noxubee County, Mississippi. She was born about 1827-1828, possibly in South Carolina. Mary A. and Haywood had at least one son, Olympus Lincecum (1851-1938). This family can be found in the 1850 and 1860 census for Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. Mary A. presumably died before Haywood married again, so prior to 1869.
Mary E. Perkins and Haywood were married 21 February 1869 in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. Mary E. brought children from a previous marriage to the family. She was born about 1833, possibly in Tennessee. Mary E. and Haywood had at least one daughter, Otelia Lincecum (b. abt March 1870). This family can be found in the 1870 Oktibbeha County, Mississippi Federal census. Mary E. presumably died before Haywood married again, so prior to 1873.
Elizabeth “Betsy” R. McIlwain/e and Haywood were married 21 January 1873 in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. She was born about 1840, possibly in South Carolina or Alabama, a daughter of Samuel and Susanah Conn McIlwain/e. Elizabeth is listed with her parents for the 1860 Cherokee County, Alabama Federal census, and with Haywood for the 1880 Oktibbeha County, Mississippi Federal census. Elizabeth and Haywood had at least one son, Orono Brooks Lincecum (b. 1874).
According to FindAGrave, Elizabeth died 27 March 1890. She was laid to rest at Sanders Cemetery in Oktoc, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi.
Stephanie Lincecum Genealogy 