Benton Stafford Thurmond

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZX4-8SP
name: Benton Stafford Thurmond
event: Draft Registration
registration date year range: 1917-1918
event place: El Paso County, Texas, United States
gender: Male
birth date: 14 Feb 1887
birthplace: Victoria, Texas, United States
country of citizenship: United States
nara publication title: World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards
nara publication number: M1509
film number: 1953282
digital folder number: 005152950
image number: 01989
Collection: Benton Stafford Thurmond, "United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"


From FindAGrave

Las Cruces Sun-News
October 24, 1951

THURMOND FUNERAL PENDS ARRIVAL OF SON FROM GERMANY

Funeral Services for D.S. Thurmond, 64, Hatch, who died Monday are pending the arrival of his son, Graham Funeral Home Reported.

Mr. Thurmond, a farmer, Hatch, died suddenly Monday morning.

His son is Lt. William Thurmond, expected here from his station in Stuttgart, Germany sometime tommorrow.

Other survivors include two brothers and two sisters.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
New Mexico, Grant County, Pr 26, Hurley
Enum 14 Feb 1920
SD 211 ED 57 Sheet 25B
Romero Street
115-532-544
Thurmond B S Head M W 33 M Tx Tx Tx Clerk Copper Co Office
Thurmond Lucille Wife F W 26 M Tx Tenn Tx

Family/Spouse: Loucile Cowen. Loucile was born about 1894 in Texas; died on 21 Jul 1950 in Hatch, Dona Ana County, New Mexico; was buried in Garden of Memories Cemetery, Hatch, Do?a Ana County, New Mexico. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alfred married Susan C. Stafford on 29 Nov 1883 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas. Susan was born before 1865; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Esther McGrew Hardin says he "was the achiever of the bunch." He was sheriff, and at one time held just about every other office in Victoria Co, TX. He was considered the model sheriff of Texas. Per the Handbook of Texas, Columbus "Old Zip" Thurmond was a native of Tennessee and came to Texas at an early age and settled in Victoria County. He was a merchant in the firm of J.O. Wheeler and became treasurer of Victoria County in 1846. He married in 1858 to Maggie McGrew; they were parents of four children. He operated stores at Goliad and Brownsville between 1863 and 1865, when he became a land agent. He was sheriff of Victoria in 1884. His papers, covering 1831 to 1897, are in the Archives at the University of Texas.

His birthdate was auspicious. On November 13, 1833, between midnight and dawn, thousands of meteors showered the sky over North America. To the native peoples of the land, it appeared that the stars were falling out of the heavens. Some thought it was the judgment day. Others called it "The Night the Stars Fell".

A young girl who was a slave at the time of the event said "Somebody in the quarters started yellin' in the middle of the night to come out and to look up at the sky. We went outside and there they was a fallin' everywhere! Big stars coming down real close to the groun' and just before they hit the ground they would burn up! We was all scared. Some O'the folks was screamin' and some was prayin' we all made so much noise, the white folk came out to see what was happenin'. They looked up and then they got scared too."

The celestial phenomenon called "the most impressive and awesome display ever recorded" was, in fact, the Leonids meteor shower seen in one of its most impressive years. Viewers witnessed 50,000to 150,000 meteors per hour, only equaled by the November 17, 1966 display, when the Leonid shower brought 150,000 meteors per hour. Debris from the comet Temple-Tuttle that orbits the sun every 33 years causes the shower."

Columbus married Margaret Alice McGrew on 2 Apr 1857 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas. Margaret (daughter of John McGrew and Nancy Holliday) was born on 3 Mar 1835 in Mississippi; died on 13 Jul 1914 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Victoria, Victoria County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name Margaret Alice Thurmond
Event Type Death
Event Date 13 Jul 1914
Event Place Victoria, Victoria, Texas, United States
Gender Female
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 03 Mar 1835
Birthplace , Mississippi
Father's Name John Mcgrew
Mother's Name Nancy Holliday
Informant C L Thurmond
Certificate Number 15818
GS Film number 2051128
Digital Folder Number 005145350
Image Number 02132



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K37T-9GJ : accessed 02 Jul 2014), Margaret Alice Thurmond, 13 Jul 1914; citing certificate number 15818, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2051128.

Notes:

Location of death shown by some as in Lauderdale County, TN and by others as in Dyersburg, Dyer County, TN.

John married Anna Louisa Sturges on 19 Dec 1811 in Columbia County, Georgia. Anna was born on 30 May 1797 in Columbia County, Georgia; died about 1855 in Refugio County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The "TotalFam" Tree at WorldConnect has the following notes relating to the marriage of John Green Thurmond and Ann Sturgis. "I have a copy of John G Thurmond and Ann Sturgis marriage bond from Columbia County GA records. 1787 to 1935 Microfilm Drawer #190 Box #63. The bond dated ninth day of December 1811. Newspaper "Mirror of the Times" of Augusta GA issue dated Dec. 23, 1811 states they were married on December 19, 1811."

Notes:

Wynema McGrew writes that the baptisms of twin brothers Guillermo and Juan, children of Santiago and Constancia Tibbett (Tillet) Magrew, Protestants were recorded in Bapt. Rcds. Bk #2, p. 31, and she transcribed this below, exactly as she says they were recorded, in "Records of Old Mobile, Catherdral of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, Alabama, Section 8, Baptisms, 1781-1850."

123. William Magrew
On 17 November 1788, I, the undersigned pastor of Mobile, baptized solemnly in James Magrew's house, William, born on 24, June 1788. /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

124. John Magrew
On 17 November 1788, I the undersigned pastor of Mobile, baptized solemnly in James Magrew's house John, born 24 June 1788. /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

[The above children are legitimate offspring] of James Magrew and Constantine Tillett, Protestants, natives of the Tombigbee River, in this District. Cassian Castanares, Sacristan, was the godfather for all. . /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

He and William purchased land in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana in 1807. (THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW).

Purchased land in Marion Co, MS on 6 Aug 1817 and on 31 Oct 1818 (THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW).

Per Copiah County MS marriage records, John McGrew was a surity for J.M. Rowan and Mrs. Martha Lawhan, 2 Oct 1842, so this places the family of John McGrew in Copiah Co. It was probabaly his son, however, as he was deceased by 1836.

Was in DeClouets Regiment during the War of 1812, and was in the Battle of New Orleans, along with his twin brother William.

Per Nancy's pension application, he died in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, LA. Their is also a Covington Co, Mississippi where the family once lived. This could cause confusion in the records.

John married Nancy Holliday before 1827 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Nancy (daughter of Ayres Holliday and Olivia Johnson) was born about 1796-1797 in Georgia; died after 1860 in Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Copiah County, Gallatin
Enumerated 21 Sept 1850
Stamped 255
678-678
Nancy McGrew 54 F --- $320 Ga
Wm G. McGrew 23 M Farmer Mi
Amanda 19 F Mi
James McGrew 17 M Laborer Mi
John McGrew 16 M Mi
Margaret McGrew 14 F Mi
George Hartley 22 M Laborer Mi
John W. Seers 70 M Garden Maker N. York

1860 Census
Texas, Victoria County, Victoria
Enumerated 14 Jun 1860
Page 39
279-287
Martha Cunningham 22 F ---- $7500 $7000 Miss
Nancy McGrue 63 F ---- $--- $1500 Ga
Amanda McGrue 29 F Miss