Wordless Wednesday Awaiting Relief Boat on Mississippi River circa 1897

April 2, 1897
Greenville, MS

Dedicated to those suffering through devastating weather disasters.

Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Tombstone Tuesday Richard Elijah Flowers

Rev Richard Elijah Flowers, Sr
Jan 4 1906
Nov 28 1961
Buried in Mt Olive MB Church Cemetery
Hazlehurst, Copiah County, MS

Richard was the son of Raymond Flowers and Severe Overton Flowers Carruth.
Severe was my paternal grandmother's sister.

First Graduations 1987 & 1989

Daughters, Jessica and Joy
K-5 Graduates
Southside Christian School
Jackson, MS

They could be Kin

Cousin Alesa contacted me awhile ago concerning a post about my Overton family. We discovered her great grandmother Mary Brown Overton Brandon and my paternal grandmother Gertrude Overton Durr were sisters. Alesa noticed my married surname, Rudd, and asked if a Paul Rudd was on my family tree. Paul Rudd was Alesa's grandfather. I told Alesa that I had done very little research on the Rudd family and didn't have any information on Paul. My husband knows so little about his family and I couldn't get the Rudd family back to 1870, the research stopped at the 1920 census.

Cousin Tony saw my post 35th Wedding Anniversary & Family Portrait, showing the family portrait of Paul and Amanda Brandon Rudd and their 12 children. Tony asked if my husband was also related to the Paul Rudd family. I shared my research dilemma and he asked me to share what I knew and he would see what he could find. Two heads are better than one.

Philmore Rudd's WW1 Draft Registration Card

Paul Rudd's WW1 Draft Registration Card

Philmore/Filmore Rudd and Sarah Ross were my husband's great grandparents. Concentrating on Philmore, he was found in the 1940 census living with his cousin Richard Ross. Philmore was married, 50 years old, working as a farm laborer. Philmore's wife and children were not with him. In 1930, Philmore is in his own household with wife Sarah and two of their three children. Philmore was listed in the 1920 household of cousin John Ross. Philmore was 25 years old, single, working as a farm laborer, and according to the census he could read and write.

Cousin Tony found a 1917-18 WWI draft registration card, which I had not searched. When I saw who Philmore had listed as his nearest relative, I realized he might be connected to Paul. Philmore's nearest relative was William Rudd of Jackson, Hinds County, MS.

Paul Rudd was born about 1899, likely in Hinds County. Paul's father was William Rudd born about 1864, his grandfather was William Rudd born about 1835, and Paul named a son William born about 1892. I think there is a possibility that Paul and Philmore are half brothers.

I am not sure of Philmore's birth year. The census records have his birth year from 1879-1895. The WWI draft card has his birth year as 1884, which I believe is close to accurate. I think he was likely born to a couple who was not married since he cannot be found in the 1900 and 1910 census records, and he was probably using his mother's surname or her husband's surname.

Philmore's father may be William Rudd, b. 1864. Additional information is needed to verify that there is a kinship between Philmore and Paul. I now think they could be kin.

Wordless Wednesday What Crime did they Commit

Mississippi Parchman Penal Farm
Female Prisoners Sewing

Photograph courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Tombstone Tuesday Catherine McArn 1821-1885

Our Mother
Catherine McArn
Born Jan 12 1821
Died Feb 8 1885
AE 64 Yrs 26 Dys

Buried at Union Church Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Union Church, Jefferson County, MS

Catherine was the daughter of Dougald and Flora Gilchrist Torrey. She married Duncan McArn. Catherine and Duncan were the slave owners of members of my family, the Sartin family.

35th Wedding Anniversary & Family Portrait

Top Row Standing (L to R) Benita, Sherman, Alfred, Myron, Howard, Nancy
Middle Row Seated (L to R) Mary, Yvonne, Paul Rudd Sr., Amanda Bell Brandon Rudd, Emzora, Wilhelmenia
Seated in Front (L to R) Bettye, and Marvin

Paul and Amanda Rudd celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with their 12 children. Two additional children were members of the family; Paul, Jr., who died at 15 years of age in 1941, and an unnamed female child who died shortly after birth in 1943. The family lived in Chicago.

Paul was the son of William and Ella Hamilton Rudd. He was born about 1899 in Hinds County, MS. Amanda was the daughter of Pink Jack Brandon and Mary Brown Overton. She was born about 1905 in Copiah County, MS.

Photograph courtesy of Alesa Benson, granddaughter of Paul and Amanda.
Amanda was the niece of my maternal grandmother, Gertrude Overton Durr.