Men and their Overalls

Overalls were the uniform of southern farmers, and elsewhere.

Aunt Ada Markham Spencer and her husband Ernest (1881-1971)
Ernest was a farmer in Copiah County, Mississippi.
He was the son of Lewis Spencer and Emaline/Emma Smiley.

Cousin Sam Baker (1927-2009) of Brookhaven, MS
He was the son of Gilbert Baker and Nannie Benson.

Cousin John Henry Jordan (1900-1991) and his wife Frances Davis
He was a farmer in Copiah County, MS.
He was the son of William Burl Jordan and Mariah McGrew.

Cousin James Pearly Scott, Jr (1900-1992)
Farmer in Caseyville, Lincoln County, MS
Son of James Pearly Scott and Catherine Markham

Photographs courtesy of Anita Christopher and Rance Brown
Cory Broadnax
Shawnmarie Jordan Gonzalez
and James Earl Scott

Mary, Mary

Mary Markham
Daughter of James and Anna Markham
My 1st cousin once removed
The name Mary was ranked the number one name for infant girls born between 1900-1959 and it was popular in the 1800s. The Hebrew meaning of the name is rebellion. The full name Mary Markham is common on my tree. When the name Mary Markham comes up in conversation, we refer to them as Monroe's Mary or James' daughter. We distinguish them by their husband or father.

Born with the Name
Mary Ann Markham born 1850 - Daughter of James and Marilda Whitney Markham
Mary Viola Markham born 1868- Daughter of James and Jane McCray Markham
Mary I Markham born 1871 - Daughter of Alexander and Sally Smiley Markham
Mary Markham born 1882 - Daughter of Melvin Wooley and Alice Markham
Mary Jane Markham born 1884 - Daughter of Monroe and Mary Byrd Markham
Mary Markham born 1900 - Daughter of James and Anna Culver Markham
Mary Markham b about 1950 - Daughter of Samuel David Markham, Jr

Mary Jane Byrd Markham
1855-1937
My Great Grandmother
Married Name
Mary Jane Byrd born 1855 - Wife of Monroe Markham
Mary Lyons born 1868 - Wife of Grant Markham
Mary Howard born 1870 - Wife of William Markham
Mary L Thompson born 1901 - Wife of Samuel Markham
Mary White born about 1920 - Wife of Willie Markham
Mary Jacobs born 1922 - Wife of Robert Winfield Markham, Sr

Photographs courtesy of Allie Mae Markham Moncrief and the late Jessie Mae Markham.
Yeah Baby

Wordless Wednesday - Luella Markham Harris b. 1886

b. 1886 in Lincoln County, MS
She probably died in the Chicago area where the family was located on the 1930 census.
Daughter of Alexander Markham and Sallie Smiley
Sister of Mary, Luther, William, John, Alex, and Jim
Wife of Stanhope Harris
Mother of Josie May and Estella

Luella is my mother's first cousin twice removed.
Photograph Courtesy of Carolyn Betts

Church Record Sunday 1858 Receipt for Hiring Preacher for Negroes

Prior to the Civil War, records of the area where my ancestor lived show that one method by which African Americans received their religious training was from a preacher hired by several slave owners. Reverend Smiley and most of the men who paid for Reverend Smiley's services were Presbyterians and lived in Union Church or Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi.

We the undersigned promise to pay the Rev. J H Smily the sums anexed to our names for his services viz to preach to the negroes at Zion Hill twice in each month for the balance of this year comencing with April, payable the first of January next. this April 3rd 1858

Wm Shaw $15.00 paid - (Shaw owned 53 slaves in 1860.)
D McArn $20.00 paid - (McArn owned 51 slaves in 1860.)
D H Cameron $5 paid - (Cameron owned 21 slaves in 1860.)
R D Torrey $5 paid - (Torrey owned 24 slaves in 1860.)
M McPherson $5 paid - (McPherson owned 8 slaves in 1860.)
John C McCormick $2 paid - (McCormick owned 9 slaves in 1860.)
J ? Scott $5 paid - (J L Scott owned 18, J W Scott owned 22 in 1860.)
?? paid by corn

Shaw, McArn, Cameron, Torrey, and McCormick owned members of my family.

See Copy of Receipt

My notes are between parentheses.
McArn (Duncan) and Family Papers, Collection Number: Z/1487, Box 3
Collection found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History
1860 Jefferson County, Mississippi, Slave Schedule