Dear Glenn,
I have a picture of my family taken in 1923 at the England place. I imagine your mother had some pictures of the time we went to Antrim, Ohio. I have one with Father standing in the yard with two cousins that he had not known he had. One with Caryl and Dad at the same time. I have the large picture of the group taken at Antrim. I am not in it because I was taking moving pictures on our movie camera and some still pictures.
I have a picture of the grave stones we had put up in cemetery at Judsonia, AR. The stone that was there was Civil War stone and was faded out until you could not read it. The three childrens names on concrete edging that was around the lot was faded so. I knew the names that should be there or I would not know who they were. A year later we went back and they had not kept it. There is a magnolia tree in the center of the plot that is very old.
When my Grandmother lost her husband and two girls and the stepson she had nothing left, but her brother that lived in Kansas City, I don't know which one, sent her a ticket to Kansas City and then to Noble to her parents with Father and Aunt Lilly, Father was 4 and Aunt Lilly was 10 years old. Grandma lived there, her father had a mill ((feed mill, I suppose), when Great-Grand-mother Gray died she bought 3 acres from her father and built a 3 room house. Her parents lived in a log house.
Aunt Lilly took some kind of course from Normal University to prepare her to teach. She was 20 when her mother died. Father went to Uncle Eph and made his headquarters there. He went to Decatur, IL and worked, I don't know what at, but that was when Father started chewing tobacco. The Grays just lived about 2 miles north of where Mother lived, they both went to the same grade school, Gray School House. Father went until 3rd or 4th grade and Mother went until about 6th grade.
I have a list of the Gray brothers and sisters, Uncle Eph, Frank, Orley, Leonard, Rob, and a sister that was mother of Fern Gray that married a Hickle or Hickel. I will try and find the Gray papers and have them together wit the Meredith papers.
I received a letter or Christmas card from Kathryn Meredith Rolinski Peterson. Her first husband died, she married Peterson. I invited her to the 1983 reunion. Her Dad was first cousin to my Dad.
The Daniel Grays lived about 3 miles from Adam Guyot. Daniel Gray was Sarah Louisa Gray's father, my grandmother, mother of Robert Leroy Meredith. She married Robert Campbell Meredith, son of George Meredith. his youngest son of 13 children was George Washington Meredith and his son was Frank Meredith, father of Kathryn Meredith Rolinski Peterson. She had one brother, William Meredith who died about 1980. His wife, Hazel, is still living. She lives near LaRose, IL where Kathryn lives.
Daniel Gray married Maria Vermilye - 1st wife. Ten children were born to this union, third in line was Sarah Louisa Gray - 2nd wife of Daniel. His first wife and 6 children died in Ohio. Within a year he married Sarah Louisa Gray. They moved to Judsonia, AR. Aunt Lilly and my father, Robert Leroy Meredith, were born there. Two older children were born there but died at birth. Nora May died at age of 8 years. Carrie Jane died at the age of 13 years. They are buried at Judsonia, AR, where Robert Campbell and his son by his first wife, Elsworth are buried, I believe that he was 21 years of age.
When Wilbur and I were in Judsonia, AR at the cemetery, we found that the stone markers had deteriorated to the point that they were hardly readable. We purchased a new stone and had it put in place of the old one. The names of the children are in the concrete edging around the plot, it was still there when we were there the last time. Also, there is a large Magnolia tree in the middle of the plot.
About the spelling of my name, I spell it without the second "O". Wilbur's sister, Miss Dorothy uses both "O"s to make it easier to keep our two names legally apart.
In your first sheet, the farm where you were born is a mile west and a mile and a half north of Galesville. Six miles south of Mansfield. Blue Ridge is on the Wabash Railroad but Galesville is 3 to 4 miles north of Mansfield. That house is straight across the field from us and one quarter mile south. Verne Zieders lived one quarter mile north.
Friday 11 July 2014
Letter to Glenn Meredith from Aunt Dorthy
August 1, 1991
Dear Glenn,
Everyone seemed to enjoy the day Saturday. It was wonderful so many came and the wonderful part of the day was a beautiful cool July day. We were indeed blessed.
Glenn it takes someone to take hold of an idea and go with it. I want to thank you for doing just that. It would have never happened if you and Shirley hadn't had the enthusiasm and desire to make it happen. I thank you for it.
I hope you had a good trip home. You are use to driving long trips alone but you had many thoughts to accompany you.
My thoughts of your Dad and Mother, they had goals and ideas and they didn't let go until they made them happen.
The world has to have those kinds of people, then there are the followers. There has to be both kinds. Then there are those that find fault with any thing that other people think of. We don't need those kind but we have them. One time Wilbur said, "pick up your feet and quit dragging." He had ideas and goals and many times I wasn't one to push; instead I dragged along. If we had more pushers, more positive persons instead of negative people.
I have been more negative, why? I wonder. Mother was a negative person to a certain extent. Father wanted to do things, go places, she would rather stay home. I think of the hard work she had in feeding and clothing her family with no convenience, she was glad to have him take some of us and go.
She always made it possible for him to go. His shoes were polished, he had clean clothes to look clean and dressed in the best they had. I remember her saying, "he is before the public and how he looked was a reflection on her. " It didn't matter about her. He came first. She helped him in the only way she knew how. She was such a clean person. She said many times, "it is no sin to be poor, but it is a sin to be dirty."
I hope you find happiness and contentment with another mate. There is nothing worse than being alone.
Thanks for being you.
Our love to you
Aunt Dorthy and Uncle Wilbur
Thanks for all you do.
Dear Glenn,
Everyone seemed to enjoy the day Saturday. It was wonderful so many came and the wonderful part of the day was a beautiful cool July day. We were indeed blessed.
Glenn it takes someone to take hold of an idea and go with it. I want to thank you for doing just that. It would have never happened if you and Shirley hadn't had the enthusiasm and desire to make it happen. I thank you for it.
I hope you had a good trip home. You are use to driving long trips alone but you had many thoughts to accompany you.
My thoughts of your Dad and Mother, they had goals and ideas and they didn't let go until they made them happen.
The world has to have those kinds of people, then there are the followers. There has to be both kinds. Then there are those that find fault with any thing that other people think of. We don't need those kind but we have them. One time Wilbur said, "pick up your feet and quit dragging." He had ideas and goals and many times I wasn't one to push; instead I dragged along. If we had more pushers, more positive persons instead of negative people.
I have been more negative, why? I wonder. Mother was a negative person to a certain extent. Father wanted to do things, go places, she would rather stay home. I think of the hard work she had in feeding and clothing her family with no convenience, she was glad to have him take some of us and go.
She always made it possible for him to go. His shoes were polished, he had clean clothes to look clean and dressed in the best they had. I remember her saying, "he is before the public and how he looked was a reflection on her. " It didn't matter about her. He came first. She helped him in the only way she knew how. She was such a clean person. She said many times, "it is no sin to be poor, but it is a sin to be dirty."
I hope you find happiness and contentment with another mate. There is nothing worse than being alone.
Thanks for being you.
Our love to you
Aunt Dorthy and Uncle Wilbur
Thanks for all you do.
Lord Beazly, Ireland
In 1654, 1656 and 1659, an act of settlement was enacted to parcel out land among the soldiers and creditors of the Commonwealth, and only those Irish landowners able to prove their constant support of the Parliamentary cause escaped having their estates confiscated.
Charles I (1625-49) and the commonwealth (1649-60) were responsible for the raising of armies and thus uprisings occurred.
The Commonwealth was a union of England, Scotland, and Ireland effected in 1653.
Of these, those who catholic were still obliged to exchange land owned to the northeast or south of the river Shannon for land in Connaught, Galway is in Connaught.
Under William III, protestants were the only members of Parliament. He defeated James II in 1690. The Catholics supported James II. They lost all their property. If they accepted Williams regime they were exempt from discriminatory laws.
Lord Beazly gave money and soldiers to Charles I who was catholic. He then received land under the commonwealth as a Catholic in Galway. I didn't find a direct reference to Lord Beazly; however, it is the only reference to the prayer book of Geffory Beasley. Charles I and then later the Commonwealth gave land to supporters of both. Soldiers also received land. This is the only traceable historical event to this era. Aunt Minnie Howe told me about Lord Beazly.
In 1828-29 repeal of the Test Act and Catholic emancipation provided for political equality. The great potatoe famine of the 1840's caused further emigrations. Charles I and the commonwealth gave land to Lord Beasley in return for money and soldiers. They were catholics, thus received land near Galway.
The exiles who came to America gave money to support Venianism. They failed in 1865, they were imprisoned. The funding continued for a nation wide uprising.
Grandfather took advantage of it to sell his property in 1881 under the land act of 1881. A famine was projected. You can assume with support from Irish exiles, a famine is a nationwide uprising. He would not want a constant changing of land reforms. It was not a lasting reform.
The potatoe blight of the 1840's cause no proceeds from the crops, a famine resulted.
A 'vision' was given probably during the 1840's to Grandfather Beasley to give him freedom from the constant land reforms and uprisings. When he came to America, he would not do what anyone said. He had done it all. I certainly can understand why after 1840 that anyone would want to leave for the freedom from violence in America.
I assume my assumptions are correct. This is the only reference that is in the Encyclopedia Brittanica 1985. The rest is my logical assumptions.
This land from Lord Beazly was south of the Shannon River. This was town was Innashannon.
Charles I (1625-49) and the commonwealth (1649-60) were responsible for the raising of armies and thus uprisings occurred.
The Commonwealth was a union of England, Scotland, and Ireland effected in 1653.
Of these, those who catholic were still obliged to exchange land owned to the northeast or south of the river Shannon for land in Connaught, Galway is in Connaught.
Under William III, protestants were the only members of Parliament. He defeated James II in 1690. The Catholics supported James II. They lost all their property. If they accepted Williams regime they were exempt from discriminatory laws.
Lord Beazly gave money and soldiers to Charles I who was catholic. He then received land under the commonwealth as a Catholic in Galway. I didn't find a direct reference to Lord Beazly; however, it is the only reference to the prayer book of Geffory Beasley. Charles I and then later the Commonwealth gave land to supporters of both. Soldiers also received land. This is the only traceable historical event to this era. Aunt Minnie Howe told me about Lord Beazly.
In 1828-29 repeal of the Test Act and Catholic emancipation provided for political equality. The great potatoe famine of the 1840's caused further emigrations. Charles I and the commonwealth gave land to Lord Beasley in return for money and soldiers. They were catholics, thus received land near Galway.
The exiles who came to America gave money to support Venianism. They failed in 1865, they were imprisoned. The funding continued for a nation wide uprising.
Grandfather took advantage of it to sell his property in 1881 under the land act of 1881. A famine was projected. You can assume with support from Irish exiles, a famine is a nationwide uprising. He would not want a constant changing of land reforms. It was not a lasting reform.
The potatoe blight of the 1840's cause no proceeds from the crops, a famine resulted.
A 'vision' was given probably during the 1840's to Grandfather Beasley to give him freedom from the constant land reforms and uprisings. When he came to America, he would not do what anyone said. He had done it all. I certainly can understand why after 1840 that anyone would want to leave for the freedom from violence in America.
I assume my assumptions are correct. This is the only reference that is in the Encyclopedia Brittanica 1985. The rest is my logical assumptions.
This land from Lord Beazly was south of the Shannon River. This was town was Innashannon.
Wednesday 9 July 2014
Letter to Aunt Ethel from Faye
Dear Aunt Ethel,
We were just in Illinois last week end to meet April,
who came from her job in Charlottesville, Virginia to celebrate Mom's 85th birthday and uncle Amiel and Lorraine's 40th anniversary.
Reading the Gieske family history reminded me to read the Beazly's again. When I did I thought of several questions that only you may be able to answer.
1. Was the family farm in County Cork the same land that was given to "Lord Beazly"?
2. Was it a reward for civic service or military service?
3. Since William the Conqueror brought soldiers over from Normandy and elsewhere in Europe, does anyone know if the Beazly's came from the continent then, like maybe France?
4. Did the Webbs have to leave Ireland after your parents did? Since they are living at Bristol it made me wonder. Someone said there is a caravan dealer named Webb still in Ireland. Do I have that straight? Sis told us how she left Ireland. It is hard to imagine anyone hating her enough to shoot at her.
5. What was Uncle Willie Moore's story you referred to? Something about the Revolution.... My Grandma was a Moore, but we have only traced back to Charleston where a Moore married a Furr from N.C.
Beverly went looking for the church in Ireland where your ancestors are buried, and she did find the place. Someone pointed out an abandoned house where the family used to live. I think she took a picture of a tombstone about a year ago.
One more question: that beautiful flow blue willow ware you had in your living room, was it your mother's or grandmother's china?
Our business is booming right now, but it isn't like this all year round. George is selling the same house and 5 acres he sold his first year.
Beverly is spending a few days in London trying to make up her mind about her next contract. She may go back to Sydney, Australia. The Chase Bank offered another contract where she used to work. Eventually she says she will go back to Florida.
My brother Edwin has a branch in England now. He goes over for a month at the time. His only son got married quietly last month to a nice level headed girl. They live in Nashville, which is Edwin's home base.
Love Faye
RESPONSE
Dear Faye and George,
My writing has gotten terrible since January when I had a pacemaker put in, so Glenn said he would type this up for me.
1. Yes, Cork is the largest city in the county of Cork.
2. I'm not sure what the grant of Lord Beazly was but you could find it in a city library all I can remember of William of Orange was what Dad's sister, Aunt Minnie Howe told me -- now if the paper I had written up had William the Conqueror then that is right. My memory was better then than now. It must have been about 1600, I know it was a long time before Queen Victoria. The grant of land across the south of Ireland, Dad had only about 40 acres of land left when they came to the US in 1892.
3. No, perhaps that's the reason it's spelled Beazly, not Beasley.
4. I think I remember Uncle Eddie Webb moved to England at the time and helped his son in Bristol. When the folks and I were in Ireland Mother's brother married a girl by the name of Sarah, I have no idea when she died, then Uncle Eddie married her sister, Eva.
5. All I know about Uncle Willie Moore, he was married to my mother's sister. Mother said she talked too much and made the IRA mad and had to leave Ireland. There were several families that had to leave Ireland, and came to our house in the 1920's and scattered throughout the country.
I would like to have a picture of the grave stone. I'll send it back. Was the Webb house a 2-story house that you drove up to, with the barn attached to it at the back, windows on each side of the front door both up and down? If it was a one story house, it was the ruins of my father's old home.
I would like a picture of the grave stone, I'll send it back.
One of Uncle Eddie's sons lived in the Webb house about 1940, when Jim and Evelyn went for a visit. The Blue Willow ware turkey platter was mother's and brought it from Ireland. If your mother has rough white platter, that one is over 200 years old. I gave that to her so it would stay in the Beazly father. There is a platter just like it on the mantle in the soap "As the World Turns" in Bob's and Kim's house.
t
We were just in Illinois last week end to meet April,
who came from her job in Charlottesville, Virginia to celebrate Mom's 85th birthday and uncle Amiel and Lorraine's 40th anniversary.
Reading the Gieske family history reminded me to read the Beazly's again. When I did I thought of several questions that only you may be able to answer.
1. Was the family farm in County Cork the same land that was given to "Lord Beazly"?
2. Was it a reward for civic service or military service?
3. Since William the Conqueror brought soldiers over from Normandy and elsewhere in Europe, does anyone know if the Beazly's came from the continent then, like maybe France?
4. Did the Webbs have to leave Ireland after your parents did? Since they are living at Bristol it made me wonder. Someone said there is a caravan dealer named Webb still in Ireland. Do I have that straight? Sis told us how she left Ireland. It is hard to imagine anyone hating her enough to shoot at her.
5. What was Uncle Willie Moore's story you referred to? Something about the Revolution.... My Grandma was a Moore, but we have only traced back to Charleston where a Moore married a Furr from N.C.
Beverly went looking for the church in Ireland where your ancestors are buried, and she did find the place. Someone pointed out an abandoned house where the family used to live. I think she took a picture of a tombstone about a year ago.
One more question: that beautiful flow blue willow ware you had in your living room, was it your mother's or grandmother's china?
Our business is booming right now, but it isn't like this all year round. George is selling the same house and 5 acres he sold his first year.
Beverly is spending a few days in London trying to make up her mind about her next contract. She may go back to Sydney, Australia. The Chase Bank offered another contract where she used to work. Eventually she says she will go back to Florida.
My brother Edwin has a branch in England now. He goes over for a month at the time. His only son got married quietly last month to a nice level headed girl. They live in Nashville, which is Edwin's home base.
Love Faye
RESPONSE
Dear Faye and George,
My writing has gotten terrible since January when I had a pacemaker put in, so Glenn said he would type this up for me.
1. Yes, Cork is the largest city in the county of Cork.
2. I'm not sure what the grant of Lord Beazly was but you could find it in a city library all I can remember of William of Orange was what Dad's sister, Aunt Minnie Howe told me -- now if the paper I had written up had William the Conqueror then that is right. My memory was better then than now. It must have been about 1600, I know it was a long time before Queen Victoria. The grant of land across the south of Ireland, Dad had only about 40 acres of land left when they came to the US in 1892.
3. No, perhaps that's the reason it's spelled Beazly, not Beasley.
4. I think I remember Uncle Eddie Webb moved to England at the time and helped his son in Bristol. When the folks and I were in Ireland Mother's brother married a girl by the name of Sarah, I have no idea when she died, then Uncle Eddie married her sister, Eva.
5. All I know about Uncle Willie Moore, he was married to my mother's sister. Mother said she talked too much and made the IRA mad and had to leave Ireland. There were several families that had to leave Ireland, and came to our house in the 1920's and scattered throughout the country.
I would like to have a picture of the grave stone. I'll send it back. Was the Webb house a 2-story house that you drove up to, with the barn attached to it at the back, windows on each side of the front door both up and down? If it was a one story house, it was the ruins of my father's old home.
I would like a picture of the grave stone, I'll send it back.
One of Uncle Eddie's sons lived in the Webb house about 1940, when Jim and Evelyn went for a visit. The Blue Willow ware turkey platter was mother's and brought it from Ireland. If your mother has rough white platter, that one is over 200 years old. I gave that to her so it would stay in the Beazly father. There is a platter just like it on the mantle in the soap "As the World Turns" in Bob's and Kim's house.
t
Saturday 25 January 2014
Biographical Interview of Lilly Bell Meredith Taylor, by Dr. M. M. Taylor
My original name was Lele Belle Meredith. The Lele was after Aunt Lele Meredith, the sister of Robert Campbell Meredith. By general usage this later became Lilly Belle Meredith.
My birthplace, in Judsonia, AR was the 'Old Home' about one or two blocks east of the 'New Home' (these are so designated on the map in another section of this binder) The 'New Home' was next to the Harvel Drugstore, the present site of the Baptist Church and across Main Street from the Dunn Hotel. This church was not built until after I left Judsonia at age ten. Dr. Eastland officiated at my birth in 1874.
My father's first wife, Sarah Jane 'Wiley' Meredith died Sept. 19, 1866. About one year later Robert Campbell Meredith met and married Sarah Louisa Gray on Nov. 25, 1867. She had come from Ohio with her father, Daniel Workman Gray and family.
Children born to this marriage were:
Nora May Meredith
Born Feb. 27, 1869 in Illinois
Died March 24, 1877 (age 8 yrs 23 days) in Arkansas
Carrie Jane Meredith
Born Oct. 30, 1871 in Illinois
Died March 13, 1884 (12 yrs 9 months 14 days) in Arkansas
Lilly Belle Meredith
Born Jan. 6, 1874 in Arkansas
Robert Leroy Meredith
Born Aug. 8, 1877 in Arkansas
Died Sep. 20, 1950 (73 yrs 1 month 2 days)
Robert and Sarah moved to Arkansas between about 1871 and 1874 with Carrie, Nora and Ellsworth (from other marriage). They went to see what the country was like and better their lot if possible.
They went by wagon train. One wagon was driven by Robert, another by Robert Vermilye Gray and family and a third by Andrew Columbus Gray, a brother of Robert Vermilye Gray. Andrew Columbus Gray was about 18 years of age at the time and returned by the same wagon soon after.
Robert was a carpenter and wheelright by occupation, made complete wagons and sometimes coffins when needed. In the 'Old Home' there was a large room for carpentering and probably a forge outside but am not able to remember.
Times were hard, sometimes people paid, sometimes not. To my best recollection, one such deal resulted in a tract of forty acres. North and east of Judsonia. This is now owned by Dr. K.R. Taylor.
During the Civil War, Robert Campbell Meredith served in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry with the Union Army. I was too young about age 6 at the time of his death to remember anything about length of service or any narratives concerning his war experiences. His stone in the Judsonia Cemetery lists his military assignment.
He was appointed a constable in Judsonia, about two or three years before his death and was stabbed in the chest by 'drunks' at Christmas tree entertainment.
Dr. Eastland treated his injuries and used break and milk poultices on the wound. It was my job at age 4 or 5 to carry out and burn the dressings and poultices. I could not eat bread and milk until almost grown. He recovered and this stabbing probably did not contribute to his death, which occurred on April 9, 1880. He had been fishing on the Little Red River early in the spring apparently at about the same time as his son, Orlando Ellsworth Meredith and both contracted pneumonia and died nine days apart.
The grave in Judsonia is marked by a military stone and has been photographed by Drs. M. M. and K. R. Taylor and families.
After my fathers' death, Dr. Eastland invited us to stay with him until further arrangements were made. We did this for several weeks until mother bought the house listed on map as 'New Home'. My first schooling began from this home at about age 6.
The school I attended was called Judsonia University, but it was a general school with the grades taught in the basement. Official meetings and funerals were also held here before the Baptist Church was built.
I attended this school from age 6 for three or four years up to the fourth grade and remember my fear at passing a hanging skeleton in the corner of the basement.
Two episodes of this period are impressed on my mind:
In the 'Old Home' in one room bags of unroasted peanuts were stored. I used to get some on the way by and eat them raw, when mother wasn't watching.
Sarah Louisa 'Gray' Meredith had a cow and churned new butter at times. Once she sent me to present a pound of fresh butter to Mrs. Dunn at the hotel. By mistake I presented it to Mrs. Harvel next door and was duly reprimanded on return.
When I was age 10, mother decided to move with me and Robert Leroy Meredith to Illinois.
Uncle John Meredith had written to mother that if she would come to Kansas for a visit on the way to Illinois he would pay the train fare so, Sarah went by train to St. Louis, changed trains, thence to Huron, Kansas and later to Noble, IL.
Andrew Columbus Gray met us at Noble with horses and wagons and took us to Daniel Workman Gray's log house. Columbus Gray was living there at the time. The building was one quarter mile back from the road. The Grubb House now stands on the road at the entranceway. We lived with Daniel Workman Gray for about four years.
Grandma Mariah 'Vermilye' Gray died when I was about thirteen years of age.
When I was about age 14, mother (Sarah Louisa Gray) bought an acre of ground and hired John Liers to build a three room frame house. This was later sold to Charles Farmer. He married Alminta Taylor, daughter of Marion Lafayette Taylor and sister of W. O. Taylor. We moved here at my age 14 and I went to Gray School until age 18. Mother thought that I should have more schooling before teaching, so I went to Noble, IL, to what corresponded to first year high school. There for one winter at age eighteen, I studied, took the examination and received a certificate to teach. I taught spring school of two months (common at that time) and the following winter at Glenwood School at age 19, boarding with Mrs. William Sager.
My mother, Sarah, became sick in September of that year, with some kind of stomach trouble with pain and vomiting. Dr. E. B. Palmer visited her several times, then said he could do nothing more for her. In the meantime she had no appetite and could not keep any food down.
A doctor Davis from Wakefield was called. He advised us to get some beer and keep it cold. This was difficult but we bought ice and kept it wrapped in paper. She took small amounts for awhile then refused. Later the doctor said that he could do nothing for her.
Then we consulted a Dr. Boyles from Clay City. Robert Leroy Meredith who was about sixteen years of age and six feet tall would pick up and return the doctor to the railroad station at Noble, IL. He gave up after several trips.
While teaching at Glenwood School mother asked me to leave teaching and come home, which I did. After this, Robert Leroy and myself took care of mother, Sarah until she died on March 23, 1894, at my age twenty. I borrowed five dollars from Owen Grubb to finish payment on the property tax.
After mothers death it was necessary to make some money immediately so I started teaching probably at Gray School and Robert Meredith went north to work on a farm, at age 16.
In the summer at age 21, I went to Decatur, IL and lived with Frank Gray for about three months, thinking of teaching in the north, but the schools were all taken. So I returned in August for Institute, which was a teachers preparatory course of one month at Olney, IL. There was an opening at Elwood School which was about halfway between Noble and Olney, Illinois and my application was accepted at a salary of $28.00 per month. I boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Betebenner during this year at my age of 22.
During my twenty third year I taught spring term at Hedrick School and winter at Decker School.
My twenty-fourth year was also spent at Decker School and I was married to W. O. (William Otis) 'Odie' Taylor on Dec. 20, 1899. becoming 25 years of age on Jan. 6, 1900.
I lived at intervals from 1894 to 1899 with Uncle Ephraim Gray and his wife Anna 'Curtis' Gray.
I lived happily married with W. O. Taylor until his death on Sept. 27, 1952. He now rests in a mausoleum in Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, IL.
Since 1952 I have maintained the W. O. Taylor and Lilly Belle 'Meredith' Taylor home during the summers. I have lived during the winter season with Dr. K. R. Taylor and Ruth 'Summers' Taylor in River Forest, IL. I enjoy life and still manage my own financial affairs at my attained age of 87, in the year of our Lord, 1961.
My birthplace, in Judsonia, AR was the 'Old Home' about one or two blocks east of the 'New Home' (these are so designated on the map in another section of this binder) The 'New Home' was next to the Harvel Drugstore, the present site of the Baptist Church and across Main Street from the Dunn Hotel. This church was not built until after I left Judsonia at age ten. Dr. Eastland officiated at my birth in 1874.
My father's first wife, Sarah Jane 'Wiley' Meredith died Sept. 19, 1866. About one year later Robert Campbell Meredith met and married Sarah Louisa Gray on Nov. 25, 1867. She had come from Ohio with her father, Daniel Workman Gray and family.
Children born to this marriage were:
Nora May Meredith
Born Feb. 27, 1869 in Illinois
Died March 24, 1877 (age 8 yrs 23 days) in Arkansas
Carrie Jane Meredith
Born Oct. 30, 1871 in Illinois
Died March 13, 1884 (12 yrs 9 months 14 days) in Arkansas
Lilly Belle Meredith
Born Jan. 6, 1874 in Arkansas
Robert Leroy Meredith
Born Aug. 8, 1877 in Arkansas
Died Sep. 20, 1950 (73 yrs 1 month 2 days)
Robert and Sarah moved to Arkansas between about 1871 and 1874 with Carrie, Nora and Ellsworth (from other marriage). They went to see what the country was like and better their lot if possible.
They went by wagon train. One wagon was driven by Robert, another by Robert Vermilye Gray and family and a third by Andrew Columbus Gray, a brother of Robert Vermilye Gray. Andrew Columbus Gray was about 18 years of age at the time and returned by the same wagon soon after.
Robert was a carpenter and wheelright by occupation, made complete wagons and sometimes coffins when needed. In the 'Old Home' there was a large room for carpentering and probably a forge outside but am not able to remember.
Times were hard, sometimes people paid, sometimes not. To my best recollection, one such deal resulted in a tract of forty acres. North and east of Judsonia. This is now owned by Dr. K.R. Taylor.
During the Civil War, Robert Campbell Meredith served in the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry with the Union Army. I was too young about age 6 at the time of his death to remember anything about length of service or any narratives concerning his war experiences. His stone in the Judsonia Cemetery lists his military assignment.
He was appointed a constable in Judsonia, about two or three years before his death and was stabbed in the chest by 'drunks' at Christmas tree entertainment.
Dr. Eastland treated his injuries and used break and milk poultices on the wound. It was my job at age 4 or 5 to carry out and burn the dressings and poultices. I could not eat bread and milk until almost grown. He recovered and this stabbing probably did not contribute to his death, which occurred on April 9, 1880. He had been fishing on the Little Red River early in the spring apparently at about the same time as his son, Orlando Ellsworth Meredith and both contracted pneumonia and died nine days apart.
The grave in Judsonia is marked by a military stone and has been photographed by Drs. M. M. and K. R. Taylor and families.
After my fathers' death, Dr. Eastland invited us to stay with him until further arrangements were made. We did this for several weeks until mother bought the house listed on map as 'New Home'. My first schooling began from this home at about age 6.
The school I attended was called Judsonia University, but it was a general school with the grades taught in the basement. Official meetings and funerals were also held here before the Baptist Church was built.
I attended this school from age 6 for three or four years up to the fourth grade and remember my fear at passing a hanging skeleton in the corner of the basement.
Two episodes of this period are impressed on my mind:
In the 'Old Home' in one room bags of unroasted peanuts were stored. I used to get some on the way by and eat them raw, when mother wasn't watching.
Sarah Louisa 'Gray' Meredith had a cow and churned new butter at times. Once she sent me to present a pound of fresh butter to Mrs. Dunn at the hotel. By mistake I presented it to Mrs. Harvel next door and was duly reprimanded on return.
When I was age 10, mother decided to move with me and Robert Leroy Meredith to Illinois.
Uncle John Meredith had written to mother that if she would come to Kansas for a visit on the way to Illinois he would pay the train fare so, Sarah went by train to St. Louis, changed trains, thence to Huron, Kansas and later to Noble, IL.
Andrew Columbus Gray met us at Noble with horses and wagons and took us to Daniel Workman Gray's log house. Columbus Gray was living there at the time. The building was one quarter mile back from the road. The Grubb House now stands on the road at the entranceway. We lived with Daniel Workman Gray for about four years.
Grandma Mariah 'Vermilye' Gray died when I was about thirteen years of age.
When I was about age 14, mother (Sarah Louisa Gray) bought an acre of ground and hired John Liers to build a three room frame house. This was later sold to Charles Farmer. He married Alminta Taylor, daughter of Marion Lafayette Taylor and sister of W. O. Taylor. We moved here at my age 14 and I went to Gray School until age 18. Mother thought that I should have more schooling before teaching, so I went to Noble, IL, to what corresponded to first year high school. There for one winter at age eighteen, I studied, took the examination and received a certificate to teach. I taught spring school of two months (common at that time) and the following winter at Glenwood School at age 19, boarding with Mrs. William Sager.
My mother, Sarah, became sick in September of that year, with some kind of stomach trouble with pain and vomiting. Dr. E. B. Palmer visited her several times, then said he could do nothing more for her. In the meantime she had no appetite and could not keep any food down.
A doctor Davis from Wakefield was called. He advised us to get some beer and keep it cold. This was difficult but we bought ice and kept it wrapped in paper. She took small amounts for awhile then refused. Later the doctor said that he could do nothing for her.
Then we consulted a Dr. Boyles from Clay City. Robert Leroy Meredith who was about sixteen years of age and six feet tall would pick up and return the doctor to the railroad station at Noble, IL. He gave up after several trips.
While teaching at Glenwood School mother asked me to leave teaching and come home, which I did. After this, Robert Leroy and myself took care of mother, Sarah until she died on March 23, 1894, at my age twenty. I borrowed five dollars from Owen Grubb to finish payment on the property tax.
After mothers death it was necessary to make some money immediately so I started teaching probably at Gray School and Robert Meredith went north to work on a farm, at age 16.
In the summer at age 21, I went to Decatur, IL and lived with Frank Gray for about three months, thinking of teaching in the north, but the schools were all taken. So I returned in August for Institute, which was a teachers preparatory course of one month at Olney, IL. There was an opening at Elwood School which was about halfway between Noble and Olney, Illinois and my application was accepted at a salary of $28.00 per month. I boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Betebenner during this year at my age of 22.
During my twenty third year I taught spring term at Hedrick School and winter at Decker School.
My twenty-fourth year was also spent at Decker School and I was married to W. O. (William Otis) 'Odie' Taylor on Dec. 20, 1899. becoming 25 years of age on Jan. 6, 1900.
I lived at intervals from 1894 to 1899 with Uncle Ephraim Gray and his wife Anna 'Curtis' Gray.
I lived happily married with W. O. Taylor until his death on Sept. 27, 1952. He now rests in a mausoleum in Haven Hill Cemetery, Olney, IL.
Since 1952 I have maintained the W. O. Taylor and Lilly Belle 'Meredith' Taylor home during the summers. I have lived during the winter season with Dr. K. R. Taylor and Ruth 'Summers' Taylor in River Forest, IL. I enjoy life and still manage my own financial affairs at my attained age of 87, in the year of our Lord, 1961.
Meredith Family Genealogy starting with Lillie Bell Meredith
Lillie Bell Meredith
Born Aug. 18, 1877
Died Sept. 20, 1950
She married William Otis 'Odie' Taylor - Dec. 20, 1899
Children of this marriage are:Marion M
1. Kenneth Robert Taylor M.D.
2. Marion Meredith Taylor M.D.
Marion married Avis Elizabeth Wildenradt - June 30, 1937
Children of this marriage are:
2a. Marion Meredith Taylor, Jr.
Born July 21, 1938 in Chicago, IL
Born at Burrows Hospital, 669 Irving Pk
Graduated Roosevelt Grade School, River Forest, IL
Graduated Oak Park-River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL 1956
Graduated Northwest University, Evanston, IL 1960
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, attending 1961
Lives at 1323 Jackson Ave., River Forest, IL
Age 23 in 1961
(more details in Taylor Family Chart)
Born Aug. 18, 1877
Died Sept. 20, 1950
She married William Otis 'Odie' Taylor - Dec. 20, 1899
Children of this marriage are:Marion M
1. Kenneth Robert Taylor M.D.
2. Marion Meredith Taylor M.D.
Marion married Avis Elizabeth Wildenradt - June 30, 1937
Children of this marriage are:
2a. Marion Meredith Taylor, Jr.
Born July 21, 1938 in Chicago, IL
Born at Burrows Hospital, 669 Irving Pk
Graduated Roosevelt Grade School, River Forest, IL
Graduated Oak Park-River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL 1956
Graduated Northwest University, Evanston, IL 1960
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, attending 1961
Lives at 1323 Jackson Ave., River Forest, IL
Age 23 in 1961
(more details in Taylor Family Chart)
Tuesday 21 January 2014
Genealogy Chart beginning with Thomas Meredith (1750)
A. Thomas Meredith
Born Aug. 24, 1786 in Londonderry Township, Guernsey Co., Ohio
Died Feb. 12, 1868
Married Elizabeth Bain
a.) Robert Campbell Meredith
Born Jan. 11, 1829
Died April 9, 1880
Age 51 - short biography under Lillie Bell Meredith Taylor biography
Several other children
First marriage- Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Jane Wiley
She was born Nov. 27, 1827
Died Sept. 19, 1866 - age 39
Marriage date March 27, 1851
Children of the marriage of Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Jane Wiley
aa) Eleanor Evelyn Meredith
Born Nov. 21, 1851
Died Oct. 19, 1865
Age 13 yrs, 10 mon. 21 days
bb) Mary Alma Meredith
Born Mar. 15, 1855
Died Sept. 21, 1861
Ae 6 yrs, 6 mon. 6 days
cc) Alpheus A. Meredith
Born Jul 17, 159
Died Sept. 19, 1865
Age 6 yrs 2 mon. 2 days
dd) Orlando Ellsworth Meredith
Born Jan. 4 1862
Died April 18, 1880
Age 18 yrs 3 mon. 14 days
He was called Wort. Died 9 days after his father. Cause was pneumonia contracted after fishing in the Little Rd River. Sarah Louisa 'Gray' Meredith
was worn out and sick from caring for Robert Campbell Meredith at the time
of his death. Wort died at the neighbors house where they were taking care
of him to relieve his step mother.
ee) James Ross Meredith
Born Oct. 9, 1865
Died Oct. 15, 1865
Age 6 days
2nd Marriage - Robert Campbell Meredith married Sarah Louisa Gray
married Nov. 25, 1867
She was born Mar. 4, 1847
Died March 23, 1894
Age 47 yrs 19 days
Buried Greenhill
Sara Louisa Gray was born in Ohio. Her father was Daniel Workman Gray from Ohio. Sarah came to Illinois with her family. Daniel Workman Gray had a forge and blacksmith shop. He made a pair of tongs at the forge. Ephraim Gray at age 4, sat and watched them made. These tongs were given to Ephraim Gray later, then given to his son Orley Ephraim Gray and later given to Dr. M. N. Taylor about 1957 and are now in his trophy case in River Forest, Illinois. Lilly Belle Meredith Taylor says she followed Daniel Workman Gray about when she was about 10 years old while he grafted and planted fruit trees. He said "I will not live to eat the fruit from these trees, but others will." He was old at this time but lived for a considerable period after.
Sarah Louisa Gray's mother was Marie Vermilye, before marrying Daniel Workman Gray. Maria Vermilye's family had been early inhabitants of New York City. Her mothers' maiden name was Osborne.
She was mother of Lilly Bell 'Meredith' Taylor and sister of Ephraim Marshall 'Uncle Eph' Gray.
Marriage date Nov 25, 1867
Children of Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Louisa Gray
ff) Nora May Meredith
Born Feb. 27, 1869
Died Mar. 24, 1877
Age 8 yrs 23 days
Died of brain fever according to doctor in Arkansas
gg) Carrie Jane Meredith
Born Oct. 30, 1871
Died Mar. 13, 1884
Age 12 ys. 9 mon. 14 days
Died of rheumatic fever and heart disease, described in letter from
Lillie Bell 'Meredith' Taylor Collection
hh) Lillie Bell Meredith
Born Jan. 6, 1874
(see separate biography)
Age 87 in 1961
Living at 1323 Jackson Ave., River Forest, IL
ii) Robert Leroy Meredith
Born Aug. 18, 1877
Died Sept. 20, 1950
Married Laura Guyot
(see supplement re: R. L. Meredith Family)
- Born 1750 Chester County, PA
- Died 1844 Clarion County, PA - age 94
- Enlisted in Revolutionary War Jan. 23, 1776 at age 26
- Married Elinor 'Thomas' Meredith in 1782
- She was born 1754 in Chester County, PA
- Children of the marriage of Thomas and Elinor Meredith
Born Aug. 24, 1786 in Londonderry Township, Guernsey Co., Ohio
Died Feb. 12, 1868
Married Elizabeth Bain
a.) Robert Campbell Meredith
Born Jan. 11, 1829
Died April 9, 1880
Age 51 - short biography under Lillie Bell Meredith Taylor biography
Several other children
First marriage- Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Jane Wiley
She was born Nov. 27, 1827
Died Sept. 19, 1866 - age 39
Marriage date March 27, 1851
Children of the marriage of Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Jane Wiley
aa) Eleanor Evelyn Meredith
Born Nov. 21, 1851
Died Oct. 19, 1865
Age 13 yrs, 10 mon. 21 days
bb) Mary Alma Meredith
Born Mar. 15, 1855
Died Sept. 21, 1861
Ae 6 yrs, 6 mon. 6 days
cc) Alpheus A. Meredith
Born Jul 17, 159
Died Sept. 19, 1865
Age 6 yrs 2 mon. 2 days
dd) Orlando Ellsworth Meredith
Born Jan. 4 1862
Died April 18, 1880
Age 18 yrs 3 mon. 14 days
He was called Wort. Died 9 days after his father. Cause was pneumonia contracted after fishing in the Little Rd River. Sarah Louisa 'Gray' Meredith
was worn out and sick from caring for Robert Campbell Meredith at the time
of his death. Wort died at the neighbors house where they were taking care
of him to relieve his step mother.
ee) James Ross Meredith
Born Oct. 9, 1865
Died Oct. 15, 1865
Age 6 days
2nd Marriage - Robert Campbell Meredith married Sarah Louisa Gray
married Nov. 25, 1867
She was born Mar. 4, 1847
Died March 23, 1894
Age 47 yrs 19 days
Buried Greenhill
Sara Louisa Gray was born in Ohio. Her father was Daniel Workman Gray from Ohio. Sarah came to Illinois with her family. Daniel Workman Gray had a forge and blacksmith shop. He made a pair of tongs at the forge. Ephraim Gray at age 4, sat and watched them made. These tongs were given to Ephraim Gray later, then given to his son Orley Ephraim Gray and later given to Dr. M. N. Taylor about 1957 and are now in his trophy case in River Forest, Illinois. Lilly Belle Meredith Taylor says she followed Daniel Workman Gray about when she was about 10 years old while he grafted and planted fruit trees. He said "I will not live to eat the fruit from these trees, but others will." He was old at this time but lived for a considerable period after.
Sarah Louisa Gray's mother was Marie Vermilye, before marrying Daniel Workman Gray. Maria Vermilye's family had been early inhabitants of New York City. Her mothers' maiden name was Osborne.
She was mother of Lilly Bell 'Meredith' Taylor and sister of Ephraim Marshall 'Uncle Eph' Gray.
Marriage date Nov 25, 1867
Children of Robert Campbell Meredith and Sarah Louisa Gray
ff) Nora May Meredith
Born Feb. 27, 1869
Died Mar. 24, 1877
Age 8 yrs 23 days
Died of brain fever according to doctor in Arkansas
gg) Carrie Jane Meredith
Born Oct. 30, 1871
Died Mar. 13, 1884
Age 12 ys. 9 mon. 14 days
Died of rheumatic fever and heart disease, described in letter from
Lillie Bell 'Meredith' Taylor Collection
hh) Lillie Bell Meredith
Born Jan. 6, 1874
(see separate biography)
Age 87 in 1961
Living at 1323 Jackson Ave., River Forest, IL
ii) Robert Leroy Meredith
Born Aug. 18, 1877
Died Sept. 20, 1950
Married Laura Guyot
(see supplement re: R. L. Meredith Family)
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