Laverne Lee

Family/Spouse: Earl S. Biggers. Earl was born on 17 Aug 1913 in Texas; died on 4 Feb 2002 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Ernest married Georgia Ann Horn on 6 Nov 1916 in Jasper County, Texas. Georgia (daughter of Elmer Augustus Horn and Mary Ann McLemore) was born on 7 Jan 1897 in Texas; died on 9 Dec 1961; was buried in Magnolia Springs Cemetery, Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ebenezer married Martha Elizabeth Kelley on 16 Mar 1887 in Jasper County, Texas. Martha (daughter of Daniel Kelley and Malinda Davis) was born on 13 Dec 1867 in Texas; died on 20 Aug 1937; was buried in Magnolia Springs Cemetery, Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1880 Federal Census Household:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace Elmore A HORN Self M Male W 38 GA Farmer GA GA Maryann HORN Wife M Female W 22 TX Keeping House NC GA Mary P HORN Dau S Female W 10 TX At Home GA MS William A HORN Son S Male W 8 TX GA MS Source Information:
Census Place Jasper, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255313
NA Film Number T9-1313
Page Number 157B

Elmer married Mary Ann McLemore on 2 Nov 1880 in Jasper County, Texas. Mary (daughter of John M. McLemore and Sarah Morgan) was born on 12 Dec 1857 in Newton County, Texas; died on 12 Jan 1923 in Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Magnolia Springs, Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The 1910 Census indicates that Mary was the mother of eight children in total, all of whom were still living.

Notes:

CENSUS YR: 1850 STATE or TERRITORY: GA COUNTY: Decatur DIVISION: District No. 22 REEL NO: 432-67 PAGE NO: 74A HN FN LAST NAME FIRST NAME AGE SEX RACE OCCUP. VAL. BIRTHPLACE

687 687 Lee E. 52 M Farmer 400 SC
687 687 Lee Hannah 50 F NC
687 687 Lee Stephen 19 M Laborer GA 687 687 Lee Elias 10 M GA

Could this be the Elias Lee (born ca 1840) who married Dorcas Morgan? It appears that he would have been too young to marry in 1864. But could there be an error in the age on either the transcription or on the census itself? Jo Ann Lee Gartig said that Elias M.C. Lee's father was named Ebenezer. There was an Ebenzar Lee listed as a head of household on the 1840 Decatur County, Georgia census, enumerated immediately before Joshua T. Hawthorn. His household consisted of 1 male under 5, 1 male 10-15, one male 15-20, one male 20-30, and one male 30-40. There were also three females in the home, one between 15-20, the next between 20-30 and the final female household member between the ages of 30 and 40.

Elias married Dorcus Morgan on 23 Nov 1854 in Decatur County, Georgia. Dorcus (daughter of Daniel Morgan and Mary ???) was born about 1836 in North Carolina; died before 1886. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1870, she was living next to her brother, James Morgan.

According to the FamilySearch 1880 Census:

Census Place:Precinct 3, Jasper, Texas Source:FHL Film 1255313 National Archives Film T9-1313 Page 15 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace Darcus LEESelfFWW43NC Occ:Keeping HouseFa: NCMo: NC Ebenezer LEESonMSW22GA Occ:Works On FarmFa: GAMo: NC Daniel MORGANFatherMWW79NC Occ:Retired FarmerFa: NCMo: NC Owen MORGANBrotherMSW45NC Occ:IdleFa: NCMo: NC Alley MORGANBrotherMSW18TX Occ:At HomeFa: NCMo: GA

Notes:

Married:
Per www.rootsweb.com/~gadecatu/marriage

Dorcas Morgan m Elias M.C. Lee on 23 Nov 1854

Notes:

Census Place:Precinct 3, Jasper, Texas Source:FHL Film 1255313 National Archives Film T9-1313 Page 15 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace Daniel KELLYSelfMMW63GA Occ:FarmerFa: NCMo: NC Malinda KELLYWifeFMW53GA Occ:Keeping HouseFa: GAMo: GA Laban KELLYSonMSW18TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: GAMo: GA Francis M KELLYSonMSW16TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: GAMo: GA George W. KELLYSonMSW14TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: GAMo: GA Martha KELLYDauFSW13TX Occ:At HomeFa: GAMo: GA Mary Ann KELLYDauFSW10TX Occ:At HomeFa: GAMo: GA Tomsill KELLYDauFSW8TX Occ:At HomeFa: GAMo: GA

Daniel married Malinda Davis before 1848. Malinda was born about 1827 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Aurin married Eleanor Deckle before 1842. Eleanor was born about 1815 in Georgia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She appears to have been first married to a Mr. Heath. Also living with them at the time of the 1850 Jasper County, Texas census were 15 year old A.J. Heath, laborer, born in Georgia and 14 year old Julia Ann, also born in Georgia.

Notes:

It is assumed that since John McLemore, at a relatively young age, was married to Sarah Morgan of Sampson County, NC that he was also almost certainly a native of Sampson County, NC himself. It further appears, based on the 1840 head of household census, that he was probably already living with the Morgan family by 1840, when he would have been just 18. It is not known if he and Sarah were already married, or if he was simply a farm hand. Furthermore, an analysis of all the McLemore families in Sampson County, NC (both through and examination of census enumerations and land transfer deeds) indicate that if John McLemore was indeed from Sampson County, he would almost certainly have to be a son of Tobias McLemore. There is no other family into which he would fit. This relationship is therefore based on circumstantial evidence, and is not absolutely certain. Any additional information, which would either help prove or disprove this relationship, is most welcome. Please email: strong@texas.net

In a letter written by Johnnie Mae Speights, she recounted a story told by her Uncle Ira "...his father ran away from home at age 14 in the dark of night because he was smoking in the barn and set it on fire and it burned up, horses and all." Henry McLemore heard a slightly different version of this story. As told to him by Ira's son, DeFord "...the father was a mean drunk. He came home with a group of men after a night of heavy drinking. He woke him up in the middle of the night and ordered him to go tend to the horses. He stumbled out in the dark to the barn to do this. As he was working, one the horses kicked over a lantern, and the barn started on fire. Scared to death of his facing his father's wrath, he jumped onto a horse and took off, never looking back."

According to Nan McCoy Kittell of Jasper, a descendant of John McLemore, it was actually John McLemore (our common ancestor), and not his son John Finn, "who ran away after burning down the barn." Nan also thinks John may have had the middle initial "M", but does not know what that stood for. Nan's mother, who also did much research on this branch of the McLemore family, noted that "John left S. C. (sic) with an older brother when he was 16 years old."

Jim White, also a McLemore family researcher,stated that a databse he had access to noted a Philadelphia Insurance company (Pioneer) which had records of a claim on a Barn owned by Tobias McLemore for $203 around 1830. He also referenced the Draper papers for this claim.

John and Sarah McLemore can first be positively identified on the 1850 Decatur County, Georgia federal census. John McElmore, a 28 year old Farmer born in North Carolina, is shown with wife Sarah (age 24, also born in North Carolina) and children William (age 5), James (age 3), and Sarah (11 months), (household #516-516). All the children were shown on this census as being born in Georgia. Based on the relatively young ages of John and Sarah at the time of the birth of their eldest son William, it was likely a first marriage for them both. It is not known if they married in North Carolina, Georgia, or elsewhere. It further appears they were in Georgia by about 1845, based on William's age. No other McLemore's were found on the Decatur 1850 census.

Just a few homes away from them in 1850 were Sarah's parents, Daniel and Mary Morgan. The Morgan family can be found in Sampson County, North Carolina at the time of the 1830 and 1840 census. Additionally, when the 1840 Sampson County census was taken, Daniel and Mary Morgan had an otherwise unaccounted for "male between 15-20" living with them. It is presumed this was their son-in-law/son-in-law to be, John McLemore, who was said to have "run away from home" circa 1836.

John McLemore and family followed the Morgan family from Decatur County, Georgia to Newton County, Texas sometime after 1850. Sarah died either enroute, or shortly after arriving to Texas.

Per a marriage license on file in Jasper County, "John McLemore married Sarah Ann Boit (Boyett) on July 26, 1859". Based on the ages of the five children listed with them on the 1860 Newton County, Texas Census, they would have all been his from his first marriage to Sarah Morgan. The children shown on the 1860 census were William H (age 14), James H (age 12), John F (age 7), Daniel F (age 3), and Mary A (age 2). William and James had both appeared on the earlier 1850 Decatur County, GA census. Sarah, who had been shown as an 11 month old toddler in 1850, but not on this subsequent census, had apparently died.The family was located in adjacent Jasper County, Texas at the time of the 1870 census.

Nan Kittell located the following land record from Newton County:

No. 79, Vol. 29 In the Name of the State of Texas. To all to whom these presents shall come, know ye, I Sam HOUSTON, Governor of the State of Texas aforesaid by virtue of the power vested in me by law and in accordance with the laws of said State in such case made and provided do by these presents grant to John MacLAMORE assignee of James A. WALTERS his heirs or asigns forever, 160 acres of land situated and described as follows. In Newton County on the waters of Slaydons Creek a tributary of Sabine river 17 mile S.16 degree W. from Newton by virtue of Premption Certificate No. 5 issued to John MacLEMORE as assignee of James A. WALTERS by the Chief Justice of Newton County 20th day of December 1858. Beg. at a stake on the W. line of H. KELLY's 160 acre survey...and on the N.line of L. DONAHOS 1/2 league survey..... Hereby relinquishing to him the said John MacLEMORE and his heirs or assigns forever all the right and title in and to said land, heretofore held and possessed by the said State, and I do hereby issue this Letter Patent for the same. In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the State to be affixed as well as the seal of the Genral land office. Done at the City of Austin on the 6th day of February 1860. Francis M. WHITE, Comm. G.L. Office Sam HOUSTON, Gov. Filed--Sept 24th, 1860 at 2 p.m. Recorded--Vol. "C" p 534

On October 7, 1874, John sold this same 160 acres of land to James R. RICHARDSON for $1 an acre. John apparently could not write, as he signed the land conveyance with his mark. His name on this document was spelled as "McClemore."

Even after his second marriage to Sarah Ann Boyett, there continued to be a close connection between John McLemore and the Morgan family. Robert Lee McLemore sent me copies of deeds from the late 1860's in which Malichi Morgan, Kizzie Kelly, and John McLemore transfered property they jointly held to Dunkin and Eliza Morgan. Furthermore, J.F. and Mary Ann McLemore were mentioned by name as grandchildren of Daniel and Mary Morgan in a deed dated January, 1889. Dorine Speights also wrote that "Aunt Julie Morgan was closely related to Pap (Finn McLemore). He and mother used to go by buggy to Jasper to see her." From Jasper Cemetery records, it appears numerous members of both the McLemore and Morgan family are buried near each other at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Jasper. The Zion Hill Baptist Church is the oldest Protestant Church in Jasper County.

John McLemore died in January 1891. In 1899, Sarah Ann applied for a Widow's Pension, based on John's service in the C.S.A. Her application stated that John served in Co K, Speights Regiment, 21st Texas from the fall of 1864 to the Spring of 1865.

The War Department indicated, however, that there were "no rolls on file in this office of Company K, 21st Texas Infantry, C.S.A., and no record has been found of the service, capture or parole of a man named John McLemore, as a member of this organization." Sarah's original application (File No. 2267) was rejected on September 28, 1899. Sarah reapplied for a pension almost 10 years later, in October of 1907. On this application she indicated that John served for about 3 years, from April 1862 to 1865. Both J. W. Claud and M. Morgan testified that they had served alongside him. This application (File No., 13383) was approved in March, 1908. Sarah Ann died sometime shortly thereafter.

In Zion Hill Cemetery is a double tombstone reading simply: McLemore
John Sarahan E.
Father Mother
Age 70 Age 70

Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, circa 1998 and revised periodically

(Research):Census Information:

1830 Census (p 186) Tobias MacLemor
Sampson County, NC

2 males under the age of 5 <---Maybe Redden and Tobias, Jr.
1 male between 5-10 <---(Appears to have been the John McLemore b. ca 1822 who married Sarah Morgan of Sampson County and later moved to Texas with the Morgans)
1 male between 15-20<---Could be either Amos (b ca 1813) who married JEMIMA SIMMONS or Raiford (b ca 1815) who married Polly UNDERWOOD
1 male between 40-50 <--Tobias (born between 1780 and 1790)

1 female under 5 <---Sarah?
2 females between 5-10
2 females between 10-15
1 female between 15-20
1 female between 40-50 <--his wife (born between 1780 and 1790)

1840 Census, Sampson County, North Carolina
(p. 9) Danl Morgan
1 male between 5-10 (Owen)
1 male between 10-15 (James)
1 male between 15-20 (This appears to have been JOHN McLEMORE, son-in-law of Daniel, who married his eldest child, Sarah. The date of their wedding is not known, so John may have actually been living with the family prior to his marriage to Sarah)
1 male between 40-50 (Daniel)
2 females between 5-10 (Dorcus, Elizabeth)
1 female between 10-15 (Sarah)
1 female between 40-50 (Mary)
Why isn't there a listing for a male, under the age of 5? (Daniel/David, born ca 1838)

1850 Census
Georgia, Decatur County, District 22
Enumerated 28 Aug 1850
Stamped 63
576-576
John McElmore 28 M Farmer N. ca.
Sarah McElmore 24 F N. ca.
Wm. McElmore 5 M Ga
James McElmore 3 M Ga
Sarah McElmore 11/12 F Ga
577-577
G. and Martha Boyet, Occ Miller, both born in Georgia
578-578
Daniel and Mary Morgan (the parents of John's wife, Sarah Morgan)

1860 Census
Texas, Newton County, Post Office Newton
Enumerated 3 July 1860
Page 25 Stamped 258
159-159
McLemore, John 37 M Farmer $470 $400 North Carolina
McLemore, Sarah A 23 F Alabama
McLemore, William H. 14 M North Carolina (?)
McLemore, James H. 12 M Georgia
McLemore, John T(F?) 4 M Georgia
McLemore, Daniel F. 3 M Georgia
McLemore, Mary A. 2 F Texas


1870 Census
Texas, Jasper County, Subdivision 23
Enumerated by T.J. Carraway on 9 July 1870
Page 16
#116-118 McLamo, John 48 M W Farmer $250 $100 North Carolina Can't read or write
" , Sarah E. A. 33 F W Keeping House Georgia Can't write
" , John F. 16 M W Farm Laborer Georgia Can't write
" , Daniel F. 14 M W Georgia Attended school, Can't write
" , Mary A 12 F W Texas Can't read or write
" , Thomas E 9 M W Texas
" , Samuel M 7 M W Texas
Enumerated by T.H. Carraway on 8 and 9 Aug. 1870
page 56
#428-430
" , Earnest E 6 M W Texas
" , Noah 4 M W Texas
" , Martha A 3 F W Texas
" , Julia 1 F W Texas

Note: The family was listed in two separate households, as shown above. It appears that this was simply a transcription error.

1880 Federal Census Census Place:Precinct 3, Jasper, Texas
Source:FHL Film 1255313
National Archives Film T9-1313 Page 14
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John MCLEMORE Self M M W 61 NC Occ:FarmerFa: NC Mo: NC
Sarah Ann MCLEMORE Wife F M W 44 GA Occ:Keeping HouseFa: SC Mo: SC
Daniel MCLEMORE Son M S W 23 GA Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: NC
Thomas MCLEMORE Son M S W 19 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Samuel MCLEMORE Son M S W 16 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Earnest MCLEMORE Son M S W 15 TX Occ:Works On FarmFa: NC Mo: GA
Julia Ann MCLEMORE Dau F S W 11 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
Eliza Jane MCLEMORE Dau F S W 9 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
George W. MCLEMORE Son M S W 8 TX Occ:At SchoolFa: NC Mo: GA
Josephine WILSON Other F S W 14 TX Occ:At HomeFa: GA Mo: LA
(Josephine is a niece of John's first wife, Sarah Morgan)

(Medical):Y DNA Results, FTDNA Haplogroup:

R1b1c (R-M269)

A direct male descendant volunteered to have his DNA tested. The results can be found at www.ysearch.org, under the user ID #4E4HJ. The FamilyTreeDNA kit number is 33104.

A direct male descendant of John McLemore was a participant in the Morrison DNA study. This DNA was a high definition match to two other McLemore's (not previously proven to be related), as well as to a McElmurry from Kentucky. See the results for Group O at the following website:

http://www.geneticousins.com/morrison/

The McLemore's that he matched were (1) a descendant of Keton Jones McLemore, whom in 1850 lived just across the border from Sabine County, Texas, where some of John's descendants later settled and (2) Wright McLemore, born in North Carolina and living in Arkansas, next to Keton Jones McLemore, at the time of the 1830 census. The two matches are one-step and two-steps removed, respectively, at twenty five markers. The differences in both cases are on rapidly mutating markers.

According to FamilytreeDNA in Houston, the probability that the two DNA donors share a common ancestor, is as follows:

In comparing 25 markers, the probability of sharing a common ancestor within the last...

4 generations is
27.54%
8 generations is
58.22%
12 generations is
78.24%
16 generations is
89.3%
20 generations is
94.93%
24 generations is
97.66%

In addition to this above matches, the Wright McLemore, John McLemore, and Keton Jones McLemore descendants were also 12 marker Y DNA matches to a proven descendant of Abraham Macklemore, the immigrant, thought be a brother to James Macklemore, immigrant. This 12 marker match was through the line of Robert McLemore, born 1769 in North Carolina, a grandson of Abraham's.

Each of these matches, including the McElmurry, can be found indexed in these files.

The members of R1b are believed to be the descendants of the first modern humans who entered Europe about 35,000-40,000 years ago. Those R1b forebearers were the people who painted the beautiful art in the caves in Spain and France. They were the contemporaries (and perhaps exterminators) of the European Neanderthals. R1b is the most common Y haplogroup in Europe - more than half of men of European descent belong to R1b. Fourteen of the 30 most common haplotypes in the YSTR.org database are typical of R1b.

Edwin Holcombe writes that "the marker values...are close enough to modal values for Haplogroup R that there are matches to this family in Scotland, Ireland, England, and other locations in Europe even at 67 markers. The family's haplogroup is projected in the project Results listing to be R-L21, but this has not been confirmed by a SNP test. With the common values that this group has for its STR markers, SNP testing may be the key to learning more about the origins of this family through DNA research."

John married Sarah Morgan before 1844. Sarah (daughter of Daniel Morgan and Mary ???) was born about 1826 in North Carolina; died before 1859 in Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

No record of John and Sarah's marriage has yet been located. However, it can be proved by a Deed to John McLemore by the Heirs of Daniel Morgan, dated the Seventh day of January, A.D. 1889, Jasper County, Texas. It was filed for record Jan'y 8th 1889 at 10 o'clock am and recorded January 16th 1889 at 5 pm by AJ Rigsby, Clk. (Vol P, Page 367). This deed indicates that the "heirs at law of DANIEL MORGAN and MARY MORGAN deceased . . . . (include) the grandchildren of the said decedents, viz: J.F. McLEMORE and Mary Ann (McLemore) HORN and her husband Elma HORN... " John Finn and Mary Ann were apparently the only two of John and Sarah's six children still surviving in 1889.

Sarah apparently died sometime before John's remarriage in 1859, Nan Kittell indicated that she might have died in Alexandria, Louisiana, on the way to Newton County. As her youngest daughter, Mary Ann, was said to be born in Newton County, it would appear Sarah probably died shortly after the family arrived in Texas.

In a letter provided to me by Kenneth Morgan, written by Carolyn Lockhart, she indicated that Sarah's parents, Daniel and Mary Morgan, were "100% Cherokee Indian." She said that Sarah's sister, Elizabeth, instructed her children not to mention their heritage. Elizabeth, however, always wore fringe on her dresses to secretly remind herself of her Cherokee forebearers.

Her paternal line were said to have emigrated to the United States from Ireland or Wales, so the Native heritage was presumed to be maternal. Jo Ann Lee Gartig suggests she might actually have been associated with the Creek tribe, not Cherokee. However, mtDNA testing shows her direct maternal line was HV, a very common European marker, and not one associated with native heritage. It is possible she did indeed have some Native American ancestry, but if she did, it was not through either her direct paternal or direct maternal lines, and she was certainly not "100%."

Notes:

Married:
In a letter that Edythe McLemore McCoy wrote Sam McLemore in June, 1982, she indicated that "Your information was most helpful in that I went to the Genealogical Library in Beaumont and researched the 1850 Census in Decatur County, Georgia, where I found John McElmore (sic) and his wife, Sarah. They had three living children and may have had another one who died in infancy (before Finn was born in 1853). That would account for seven children including Dan and Mary Ann (the three that came to Texas). I will look for marriage records around 1844-1845 in Alexandria, La. Also, I plan to get in touch with a man in Crossett, Ark., who says his great granddad may have been a brother of John Mclemore who came to Texas."