Thelma Harriett Williams

Notes:

A member of the Hemphill Garden Club and the DRT. (White and Toole, p 69).

Thelma married Chester Dennis Murray on 3 May 1944. Chester was born about 1906. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They own and operate the present Williams Hotel and M'Lady's Dress Shop. Members of the United Methodist Church (White and Toole, p 69).

Notes:

Sim Williams was Sherriff of Sabine County in 1908, and became a member of the 40th and 41st House of Representatives. He and his wife were members of the First Methodist Church.

In his 2002 book, THE MYSTERY OF LADY BOUNTIFUL, Bob Bowman writes that a $5,000 bond was posted for Lillian Knox, accuses of murdering her husband, timber magnate Hiram Knox. The bond was singed by five Hemphill men, including Dr. Tom ARNOLD, a witness for the prosecution. The other four were E. P PADGETT, a lawyer; J.P. (sic) FULLER, who owned a drug store; L.E. PRATT, a merchant; and John W. MINTON, attorney for the Knox family. Another press report listed S.R. Williams as surety. (Bowman, p. 105).

His Texas Death Certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, showed him as the son of W. A. Williams and Susson Bickley. His occupation was listed as Hotel Operator, and he was shown as a Lifelong resident of Sabine County.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1940 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill, J.P. 1
Enumerated April 11, 1940
SD 42-2 ED 202-1 Sheet 81A
Williams, Simon R Manager M W 66 M No 7 Tx Same House Manager Hotel
Williams, Dora Managar Wife F W 66 M No 7 Tx Same House
Williams, Thelma Manager Dtr F W 34 S No H-4 Tx Same House Manager Retail Dress Shop
Sedberry, Ruth Guest F W 43 M No C-4 Tx Auistin Travis Tx Investigator Social Welfare
Beachamp, Oswald A Guest M W 43 S No H-4 Florida R Sabine Tx Judge County Counrt
Smith, Tillman Guest M W 21 S No H-4 Tx Lufkin Anglina Tx Employee Livestock Sanitary Comm.
Powell, Glenn Guest M W 26 S No H-4 Tx R Angelina Tx Bus Driver Bus Line
Beckham, Marie Waitress F W 24 D No H-4 Tx R Sabine Tx Waitress Hotel
Weatherred, Eliza Cook F W 19 M No 5 Tx R Sabine Tx Cook Hotel

(Medical):See attached sources.

Simeon married Madora "Dora" Esther Watson in 1897. Madora (daughter of Jacob Moore Watson and Nancy Curren Rowan Day) was born on 15 Apr 1873 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 11 Jan 1943 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She and her husband operated the Williams Hotel, and she also taught school.

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

Married:
They operated the Williams Hotel for many years, the first one built from the court-room of the last frame Court House in Hemphill. It was completely destroyed by a fire during the night of Feb 26, 1918, which also destroyed other business buildings on the side of the Square, including the Hemphill Drug. Dr. D.G. Mann and Pat Murphy (partner of Jim Fuller) escaped the burning hotel from a window upstairs by tying sheets together and climbing down. At that time the hotel was being managed by County Sheriff Bosco Bright and his wife, Nettie, who was a sister of Sim Williams. They were the parents of Sid Bright. (White and Toole, p 68).

Notes:

David WILLIAMS (1807-1899) and CYNTHIA YOUNG (1815-1910) were the parents of William Archer Williams. They came to Texas from Georgia prior to 1880. Their graves are in the Bickley Cemetery, north of Geneva. (White and Toole, p 70).

William married Susan Culver Bickley on 8 Oct 1868. Susan (daughter of Simeon Bickley and Harriette L. Culver) was born on 20 Mar 1851 in Talbot County, Georgia; died on 9 Sep 1899; was buried in Bickley Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sometimes shown as born in Hancock, Georgia.

Notes:

Married:
They appear to have also had a daughter named Lena " Her teachers included Lena Williams, a sister of the late Sim Williams, Tom Sutton and a Mr. McLanahan." (From a newspaper sketch of Alpha Martin Cooper, p. 46, OLD TIMES OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS.")

Notes:

Michael Watson, b ca 1798 in Ga., m Pensey Raiford b 1798 in Ga., moved to Texas ca 1836, rec'd a second class land grant, and settled in Sabine County. He was a charter member of the Jackson Masonic Lodge at Milam. A son, JACOB MOORE WATSON, b Feb 11, 1835, d Sept 6, 1872, m Oct 15, 1857 at Milam, NANCY CURRAN ROWAN DAY. (White and Toole, p 68).

FindAGrave shows that Michael and Pensey were buried at McMahans Chapel Cemetery.

(Research):Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Housan Bayou, P.O. Hemphill
Enumerated 21 Jun 1860
Page 13
95-95
J.M. Watson 25 M Merchante $250 Ga
N.C.R. Watson 23 F Miss
O.M. Watson 1 M Texas


1870 Federal Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill
Enumerated 27 Jun 1870
Page 1
1-1
Watson, J. M. 35 M W Lawyer $1000 $1000 Ga
Watson, Nancy C. R. 24 F W Keeping House Mississippi
Watson, Thomas R 9 M W Texas
Watson, Lucinda C 8 F W Texas
Watson, Jacob A 6 m W Texas
Watson, Roberta S 4 F W Texas
Watson, Eddie 3 M W Texas
Watson, Nannie J 1 F W Texas
Elizabeth BROWN 21 F W Widow Mississippi

1880 Federal Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sub Distr. 84
Page 12, SD 1, ED 84, Stamped 14
Enumerated 26 Jun 1880
116-123
Watson, C. R. W F 44 Keeping House Miss Ga Ga
Waston, Thomas W M 20 Son Merchant Tx Ga Miss
Watson, Luly C. W F 18 Dtr Tx Ga Miss
Watson, Jacob W M 16 Son Farmer Tx Ga Miss
Watson, R. W F 14 Dtr Tx Ga Miss
Watson, Eddy W M 12 Son Tx Ga Miss
Watson, Nannie W F 11 D Tx Ga Miss
Watson, Dora W F 7 D Tx Ga Miss
Davis, W. R. W M 25 Boarder Merchant Miss Ala Miss

Jacob married Nancy Curren Rowan Day on 15 Oct 1857 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. Nancy was born on 17 Jul 1835 in Mississippi; died on 23 Feb 1909 in Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

White and Toole instead show her as as the daughter of Ortton Day, who they say was also the father of Daniel and Stacy Day. (White and Toole, p 68). On the annotated transcription of the Hemphill City Cemetery, Kay Parker McCary also lists her as a daugher of Ortton Day, and addes that her tombstone was inscribed "Wife of J. M. Watson Her many virtues form the noblest monument to her memory." On her FindAGrave memorial, created by Kay Parker McCary, she is shown as the daughter of Ortton DAY (died 1868, b. Hemphill Cemetery) and Elizabeth PENNINGTON.

On the death certificate of her youngest daughter, Dora, her maiden name was listed as Hale.

Notes:

An S. Bickley, 46 years, 2 months, Farmer, b. SC was listed on the 1864 Census for Re-Organizing The Georgia Militia. He was in Talbot County, Twenty-fifth Senatorial District, 688 Militia District,
John E. Barksdale, Enrolling Officer; Albert E. Acee, Aide de camp. In that same district, other Bickley's listed were J. S. Bickley 17 years, 4 months, Farmer, b. GA ; Wilson Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, Farmer b. Ga; and W. Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, farmer, b . Ga

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Georgia, Talbot County, District 17
Enumerated 21 Aug 1850
179-179
Simion Bickely 26 M Farmer 550 SC (Indexed by Ancestry.com as Leonion Beckley)
Harriette Bickley 21 f Ga
John Bickley 3 M Ga

1860 Census
Georgia, Talbot County, Georgia Militia District 688, P.O. Center
Enumerated 28 Jun 1860
Page 39
288-288
Wm A Stansell 24 M Farming 1400 5130 Ga
Sarah C Stansell 26 F Ga
Ida V. Stansell 2 F Ga
Simeon Bickley 37 M Farming $1200 $2248 S.C.
Harriet E. Bickley 31 F Ga
John Bickley 13 M Ga
Susan A. Bickley 9 F Ga
Joseph B. Bickley 5 M Ga

1870 Census
Georgia, Harris County, P.O. Hamilton
Enumerated 3 Aug 1870
Page 250
Bickley, Simeon 49 M W Farmer S. Carolina
Bickley, Harriet 42 F W Keeping House Ga
Bickley, Joseph B. 15 M W Ga
Bickley, Thomas 8 M W Ga

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Simeon Bickley Self M M W 58 SC Farmer SC SC
Harriet Bickley Wife M F W 52 Ga Keeps House GA GA
Thomas Bickley Son S M W 18 Ga Works on Farm SC Ga
Davis Moor Other S M W 19 MS Works on Farm MS MS
Census Place Precinct 5, Sabine, Texas
FHL Film 1255325 NA Film # T9-1325
Page 246D

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 8
Enumerated 7 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 8B
112-113
Bickley, Simon Head W M Dec 1821 78 M 53 SC SC SC Farmer
Bickley, Harriette Wf W F Jun 1828 71 M 53 4/3 Ga Ga Ga
Jones, Willie M Servant W M Jul 1883 16 S Ga Ga Ga Farm Laborer

Simeon married Harriette L. Culver on 4 Dec 1845 in Talbot County, Georgia. Harriette was born on 10 Jun 1828 in Georgia; died on 24 Aug 1907 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Bickley Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John CULVER (1700-1766) and his wife Mary, both of Del., were the parents of Aaron CULVER (1726-1795) who m ca 1757, Ann MILES, in Maryland. Issue: Joshua J. CULVER (1759-1855) in Ga., m NANCY ELLIS (1760-1840). Issue: Joseph, b ca 1785 in Maryland, d 1847 in Ga., m Aug 25, 1816, Mary E. SAUNDERS (18702-1868). Issue: Harriett, b Ju (sic) 10, 1828, Ga. d Aug 24, 1907 in Sabine County m Dec 4, 1845 in Tolbert Co, Ga, Simeon BICKLEY (1822-1907). (White and Toole, p 70).

Notes:

Married:
Groom's Name: Simeon Bickley
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Harriett Culver
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 04 Dec 1845
Marriage Place: , Talbot, Georgia
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M71375-1
System Origin: Georgia-EASy
Source Film Number: 249366
Reference Number:
Collection: Georgia Marriages, 1808-1967

On the "Betts-Tuttle-Roedel-Lang" tree at RootsWeb, he was shown as married first to Martha Ann Culver on 27 Jan 1846 Muscogee County, GA and second to Ann Elizabeth Biggs on 8 Apr 1847 in Talbot County, GA. This does not match census records, or Sabine County burial records. These same marriages are shown on the "Ancestors of William Gene Bowman" tree at RootsWeb.

There appears to have been two Simon/Simeon Bickleys in Georgia. The Simeon Bickley that married Harriette Culver can be found, with Harriett in his household, in Talbot County, GA in 1850 and 1860, in Harris County, GA in 1870, and in Sabine County, Texas in 1880.

There are marriage records in Muscogee County, GA for a Simon P Bickley, as copied below:

Martha A. Culver to Simon P. Culver 27 Jan 1846, Muscogee County, GA
Ann E. Biggs to Simon P. Culver 8 Apr 1847, Talbot County, GA

Notes:

At the time of the 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, Michael and Patsy (indexed on Ancestry.com as Dorsey) were living next to daugher Katherine and her husband, William P Roberts. Living in the Watson household were their four sons, and James Halbert, age 29, who would later marry Phoebe Eliza Irvine. Per marriage records and a photo of her grave marker, her first name was actually Pensy.

Michael married Pensy Elizabeth Raiford on 9 Dec 1819 in Jefferson County, Georgia. Pensy was born about 1798 in Georgia; died about 1855 in Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Ancestry.com. Georgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1754-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997 shows a marriage of Michael Watson to Pency Raiford, 9 Dec 1819 Jefferson Co, Georgia.