Alma Julia Lott

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Page One

McClelland honored with diploma

Alma J. Lott McClelland was honored Thursday night by the Hemphill I.S.D. Board of Trustees. Mrs. McClelland has been a volunteer at the Hemphill I.S.D.'s cafeteria for the past nine years-serving ice cream at least two days a week.

The school learned that she had never received her high school diploma because she had to go to work to help her family. She lacked one and one-half credits to obtain her diploma, so Hemphill I.S.D. presented her with an honorary diploma.

Mrs. McClellend's daugther, Nancy Fuller, and granddaughter, Missi Fuller Gibbons, were by her side Thursday night as she received this special recognition.

Hemphill High School Principal Marc Griffin read the following before the diploma was presented:

"In 1939, our country was in a different place than we know it today. Having just stabilized after World War I, then surviving the Great Depression, the United States was at work again. With millions of men away fighting, huge numbers of horrific casualities still lingering from World War I, there was a severe shortage of laborers in a range of jobs from rural to the cities. Women were called on, by necessity, to do work outside the home.....Sabine County was no exception. Many men and women of [that era] dropped out of school as non-completing seniors to either suppor the war effort directly or support their families while the men were away. Alma J. Lott dropped out of high school in October of 1939 to go to work. Her father, Joshua Lott, had returned home from World War I with lung deterioration due to being gassed while held as prisoner of war in France. Hemphill had a sewing room which paid $2 a day for women would go to work for family support. Sewing rooms housed large and dangerous equipment. Certainly there was no air conditioning. Nonetheless, Alma, like millions of other young people from 1935 to 1945 when to work...Alma has lived a life with few regrets. But the one regret she has mentioned numerous times is how she wished she could have graduated from high school...Numerous times, when her family has complained about a "difficult subject" she always told them to 'Hush' (because) if given a chance she would have become a medical doctor. She has been a lifelong reader and has encouraged all those whose lives she touched to always continue to read and learn. She has worked 'around the square' in Hemphill. She has decorated retails windows, done bookkeeping in stores, ordering, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and maintained displays and every other area of retail sales. Later in life, she operated Granny's House, a licensed family home for child care in Hemphill. She insisted on checking every child's report card once they entered school, and if the bus dropped them off she made them do their homework (which she checked) after a healthy snack. Graduating from college was not an option that was ever given [to her daughter and grandchildren] Nancy, Trey or Missi....In 2001...the federal legislature formally recognized those high school seniors who interupted their own education to contribute to the U.S.'s economic support...They gave the states the right to return the privilege of graduation to those young men and women show left high shool during the time of war and economic depression....."

Obituary

Alma Julie Lott McClelland, age 93 passed from this earthly life on June 5, 2016 in The Woodlands, Texas. She was born November 2, 1922, in Bronson, Texas. Alma was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Jacks Lott and Joshua Andrew Lott. Preceded in death was her husband, Van Ennis Mc Clelland, grandson, Grayson Fuller and three brothers, Albert, Herman, and Hulan Lott. She was a resident of Sabine County for 86 years where she was fondly referred to by numerous children as "Granny" or at school as the "Ice Cream and pickle Lady." Her life was a testimony to the person she was. Managing Granny's House, where she cared for numerous children complete with home Cooked meals, serving as the Nursery Manager for her beloved First Baptist Church touching the lives of so many children, or volunteering at school for nine years, to raise scholarships for students, were all done with love and the greatest care she had to offer. Frequently, When asked why she volunteered at school three to four days a week her answer was always the same. "If I can help one child go to college by selling pickles and ice cream, that will be an opportunity I never had." She received a Presidential commendation from President George H W Bush following the explosion of the Columbia Space shuttle. She cooked more than 100 dishes to serve to the volunteers with her own money. Granny was Nursery Director of First Baptist Church for nine years. She worked "on the square" in Hemphill most of her young adult life.
She is survived by her daughter Nancy Fuller Gilpin and husband Jerry of Montgomery, Texas, two grandchildren, Trey and Wynter Fuller and Melissa and Nick Gibbens, of Houston. Her life was blessed by five great grandchildren; Graham, Stella, Gracie, Will, and Liam.
Granny's final resting place will be the Lott Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, June 11, at 2 pm, First Baptist Church. A reception will follow for all friends and loved ones.

Granny's favorite charity is Hemphill ISD Scholarship Fund.

Copied from www.obittree.com
Also published in The Sabine County Reporter, June 8, 2016, Page 12

Alma married Van Ennis McClelland before 1949. Van (son of William Archie McClelland and Nancy Emline "Dovie" Marshall) was born on 28 Feb 1923 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 13 Mar 1950 in Snyder, Scurry County, Texas; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Notes:

On his FindAGrave memorial page, created by Steve Carter and maintained by Cindy Lott , there is a photo of his miltary marker. It is engraved with a cross, and the following inscription, Joshua Lott, Texas, Pvt, US Army, World War I, Apr 21, 1895, April 1, 1961.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1, East Mayfield Town
Enumerated April 7, 1930
ED 202-1 SD 19 Sheet 5A Stamped 5
320-85-88
John and Bulah Carter and family
xxx-xx-89
William and Lockie Craddock
xxx-xx-90
Lott, Joshua Head R $5 M W 34 M 22 No Yes Tx La Tx Section Work Steam Railroad
Lott, Mary L Wf F W 29 M 18 No Yes Tx Tx Tx
Lott, Alma J Dtr F W 7 S Yes Tx Tx Tx
Lott, Albert D Son W M 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Lott, Hermon J Son M W 3 10/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Joshua married Mary Eliza "Lizzie" Jacks. Mary (daughter of Jesse Andrew Jacks and Stella Mays) was born on 22 Feb 1901 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 22 May 1971 in Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On his FindAGrave memorial page, created by Steve Carter and maintained by Cindy Lott it was noted that "Andrew Jackson Lott was born to Nathan Lott and Dicy Lott Lott in Covington Co., Mississippi. around 1870 they moved to Vernon Parish Louisiana, where Fort Polk Military Base presently is. Andrew and some of the Lott family then moved to Texas. Some settled in Sabine Co and some in Newton Co. Texas. Andrew married Julia D. Jones."

There is also a scan of his Texas Death Certificate. Date of birth on this certificate is shown as 8-14-1861 (vs. 1862). Father is lsited as Nathan Lott, but mother is listed as Julia Jones (sic). His wife is listed as Julia Lott. It appears that the information on wife and mother was conflated. He was shown as dying on Bronson, Texas, where he had lived for 48 years.

Andrew married Julia D. Jones. Julia was born about 1866; died about 1953 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His date of birth in the book Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records is shown as 28 Mar 1868. This is also the date shown on FindAGrave, and his Texas Death Certificate. Census records indicate he may have actually been born between 1872-1874.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr No 3
Enumerated 7 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 70 Sheet 4B
70-70
Jacks, Jesse H Head W M Mar 1872 28 M 4 Tx Miss Miss Farming
Jacks, Estella Wf W F Sept 1877 22 M 4 1/1 Tx Tx ---
Jacks, Clara S Dau W F Aug 1898 1 S Tx Tx Tx

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr No 6
Enumerated 5 May 1910
SD 2 ED 3 Sheet 30B
176-176
Morris, Mollie Head F W 63 Wd Ala NC GA Farming
Woods, Nannie Sister F W 68 Wd Ala NC Ga
Jacks, Jessie Boarder m W 35 Wd Tx Tx Tx Laborer Lumber Mill
Jacks. Lizzie Boarder F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Jacks, Delma Boarder F W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Carrico, Minnie Grdtr F W 4 S Tx Tx Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 31 Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 168 Sheet 25B
Bronson Hemphill Road
496-515
Jacks, Jesse Head M W 50 M Tx La Miss Farmer
Jacks, Clara S Dtr F W 21 S Tx Tx Tx
Jacks, Marion G Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Jacks, Velma Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 29 Apr 1930
ED 202-3 SD 19 Sheet 9B
Lower Hemphill and Bronson Saded?? Public Road
Jacks, Jesse Head M W 60 Wd 25 Tx Ga Ga M???ties Railroad
Jacks, Velma Dtr F W 25 Wd 19 Tx Tx Tx Cook Private Family
Jacks, Franie B Grd F W 2 3/12 S Tx Tx Tx
Wright, Clara S Dtr F W 31 M 25 Tx Tx Tx Laundress Private Family
McClelland, Ollie V Grddtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
McClelland, Mack Grdson M W 2 5/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Jesse married Stella Mays about 1896. Stella (daughter of George Washington Mays and Mary Elizabeth Iles) was born in Sep 1877 in Sabine County, Texas; died in Sep 1936; was buried in Lott Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

White and Toole show that she died ca 1935. Could she have actually died before 1910? Her husband, Jesse Jacks, is listed as widowed as of the 1910 census, married in 1920 but without Stella in the home, and widowed in 1930. They may have simply seperated, as they share a double gravemarker at the Lott Cemetery, and her date of death on this is shown as Sept. 1936.

Notes:

(Research):

Census Information:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sub Div 84
Enumerated 5 July 1880
Page 22B SD 1 ED 84
Marion Jacks Self M M W 37 La Farmer La La
Mary Jacks Wife M F W 36 Ms SC Tn
Mary J. Jacks W F 12 Dau Tx La Miss
M. Eliza Jacks Dau S F W 10 Tx La Ms
Jesse A. Jacks Son S M W 8 Tx La Ms
Nicholas T. Jacks S S M W 6 Tx La Ms
Warren J. Jacks S S M W 4 Tx La Ms
Marion F. Jacks S S M W 2 Tx La Ms

Family History Library Film 1255325
NA Film Number T9-1325
Page Number 218B

(Courtesy of Darwin E. Morris)

Nicholas married Mary Rice. Mary (daughter of Joseph Rice and Jane Catherine Melton) was born about 1841 in Mississippi; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph M. and Catherine Jordan (sic) Rice (White and Toole, p 73).

Notes:

Thomas Samuel MAYS, b 1820, S.C., m a Ross. Issue: Geo. W. Mays, CSA, Veteran from Arkansas (White and Toole, p 73). His widow, Mary E. Mays, applied for a widows pension based on her husband's service for the Confederate States in the State of Arkansas. He enlisted in Jan. 1863, and served until the end of the War. His unit was Company C, Crawfords Regiment, Fagons Brigade, volunteer Calvary Service. Pension File Number 20191. The Death certificate of his son, Samuel Warren Mays, shows that George was born in Red River County, Texas. Laura Buckmaster writes that: Surname is "Mayes" on George's stone. The rest of the stones in the family are spelled "Mays".

(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, SubDiv 84, JP No. 1
Enumerated 6 July 1880
Page 24D SD 1 ED 84
211-219
Mays, George W M 35 Farmer Tx SC SC
Mays, Elizabeth W F 30 W La --- Miss
Mays, Ida W F 12 Dtr Tx Tx La
Mays, Ross W M 9 Son Tx Tx La
Mays, Ella W F 4 Dtr Tx Tx La
Mays, Nannie W F 2 Dtr Tx Tx La

George married Mary Elizabeth Iles on 1 Mar 1866 in Lafayette County, Arkansas. Mary (daughter of George W. Iles and Mary Curry Bickham) was born on 5 Aug 1849 in Louisiana; died about 1920; was buried in Brookeland Cemetery, Brookeland, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

White and Toole show she died ca 1878, but she is listed on the 1880 census with George and her children. She also applied for a Confederate Widows Pension in February 1911.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP No 3
Enumerated 8 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 70 Sheet 5B
83-83
Mays, M. Elizabeth Head W F Aug 1849 50 Wd 11/7 La Miss Miss Farmer
Mays, Ross Aug 1871 28 S Tx Tx La Farmer
Mays, Nannie Dau W F Apr 1881 19 S Tx Tx La
Mays, Samuel Son W M Aug 1882 17 S Tx Tx La
Mays, Linnie Dau W F Jan 1886 14 S Tx Tx La
Mays, May Dau W F Aug 1880 (sic, s/b 1890) 9 S Tx Tx La

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. No. 3
Enumerated 8 May 1910
SD 2 ED 133 Sheet 19A
360-360
Mays, Mary E Head F W 60 We 4/4 Ark Miss Miss None
Mays, Ross Son M W 38 S Tx Miss Ark Laborer Odd Jobs
Mays, Nannie Dtr F W 27 S Tx Miss Ark
Mays, May Dtr F W 19 S Tx Miss Ark
Robbins, Ida Dtr F W 42 We 3/2 Tx Miss Ark Seamstress Own Shop
Robbins, Clarence Grandson M W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Robbins, Lottie Grandtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx