Arnette Bickley Elliott

Notes:

Virgie Speights refers to her as "Mrs. Arnette Merritt of Dallas."

Obituary

Arnette Elliott Merritt, 86, of San Augustine, Texas (formerly of Hemphill) passed away Thursday, December 26, 2019 in CHI Memorial Hospital in Lufkin, Texas.

Arnette was born May 27, 1933 in Hemphill, Texas to Von Bergen Elliott and Minnie Bickley Elliott. She was a teacher for many years before retiring from San Augustine ISD. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Hemphill.

She is survived by her son, Carl Merritt of Dallas, Texas and her daughter, Claire Gurley of Bangkok, Thailand.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Starr Funeral Home in Hemphill, Texas.

Downloaded from Starr Funeral Home
Also published in The Sabine County Reporter, January 1, 2020, Page 5

Notes:

FindAGrave shows him as a son of Jim ELLIOTT and Laura McAFEE, both of whom are buried in the Joel Halbert Cemetery in Milam, Texas.

Von married Minnie Mae Bickley on 1 Nov 1924. Minnie (daughter of Horace D. Bickley and Della Meador) was born on 13 Jan 1904 in Texas; died on 13 Nov 1986 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She taught school, and with her husband also ran a general store.

Notes:

Married:
Virgie Speights, in a column dated November 14, 1968, writes about the Von B. Elliott family, on the occasion of their retirement and liquidation of the stock of their former retail store which they had operated for 30 years under the motto "A Fine Store in a Fine Town." She noted that both were lifelong residents of the area, members of pioneer families, and always active in every phase of life in the community. Both were active in chruch, school and civic affairs, and were members of the United First Methodist Church of Hemphill.The Elliott children were well-supervised, well disciplined, with no thought of permissiveness in their up-bringing, and expected to do their best at whatever they undertook. All four were honor students in school, and all completed college educations. The Elliott's have ten grandchildren, "two granddaughter and eight skinny grandsons."

James married Laura McAfee before 1896. Laura was born on 23 Oct 1880 in Texas; died on 13 Jun 1971 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Halbert Cemetery (Joel Halbert Cemetery / Fox Hill Cemetery), Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name Laura Elliott
Event Type Death
Event Date 18 Jun 1971
Event Place San Augustine, San Augustine, Texas, United States
Gender Female
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 23 Oct 1880
Birthplace , Texas
Father's Name B F Mcafee
Mother's Name Martha Mccartneny [White and Toole instead show her as Martha Ann HALBERT]
Certificate Number 44023
GS Film number 2223202
Digital Folder Number 005145929
Image Number 02694

Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K36L-DB8 : accessed 01 Feb 2014), Laura Elliott, 18 Jun 1971; citing certificate number 44023, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2223202.

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K3FM-DXN
name: Horace D Bickley
event: Death
event date: 25 Jan 1967
event place: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States
gender: Male
marital status: Married
birth date: 07 Feb 1880
occupation farmer
veteran? no
birthplace: , Texas
father's name: William Bickley
mother's name: Mattie Smith
certificate number: 10079
film number: 2138242
digital folder number: 005164798
image number: 01397
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Horace D Bickley, 1967

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 13 Jan 1920
SD 226 ED 168 Sheet 13A
Hemphill and Fairdale Road
253-269
Bickley, Horace D head m W 40 m Tx Ga Ga Drayman General Hauling
Bickley, Della Wf F W 37 M Tx Miss Tx
Bickley, Clarence L Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Salesman Retail Drug Store
Bickley, Minnie M Dtr F W 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Mattie C Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, James P Son M W 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Horace D Jr Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Bickley, Hellen A Dtr F W 2 5/12 S Tx Tx Tx

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated April 14, 1930
ED 202-2 SD 19 Sheet 6A Stamped 20
112-136
Bickley, Horace Head M W 51 M 21 Tx Ga Miss Night Watchman City
Bickley, Della Wf F W 47 M 17 Tx Miss Tx
Bickley, Helen Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx

Horace married Della Meador. Della (daughter of James T. Meador and Martha Ann Oliver) was born on 7 Aug 1883 in Texas; died on 4 Apr 1972 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Myrtle Springs Cemetery, Geneva, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KSYR-R6R
name: Della Meador Bickley
event: Death
event date: 04 Apr 1972
event place: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas, United States
gender: Female
marital status: Widowed
birth date: 07 Aug 1883
birthplace: , Texas
father's name: James Meador
mother's name: Martha Ann Oliver
informant Mrs. Von Elliott, daughter
certificate number: 30928
film number: 2223768
digital folder number: 005144713
image number: 03118
Collection: "Texas, Deaths (New Index, New Images), 1890-1976," Della Meador Bickley, 1972

Notes:

On the "Betts-Tuttle-Roedel-Lang" tree at RootsWeb, he is shown as a son of Simon Peter Bickley and Martha Ann Culver, and half-brother of John S. Bickley, born 1847. This does not appear to be correct, as William Buckley can not be located in the household of Simon Bickley and Harriet Culver in the 1850 through 1880 census. The "Ancestors of William Gene Bowman", also on RootsWeb, also shows William Washington Bickley, along with a twin brother, Wilson W. Bickely, as sons of Simon Peter Bickley and Martha Ann Culver, again married 27 Jan 1846. The also shows Simon married second Ann Elizabeth Biggs, not Harriett.

Wilson Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, Farmer b. Ga; and W. Bickley, 17 years, 3 months, farmer, b . Ga were listed on the 1864 Census for Re-Organizing The Georgia Militia. They were 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 ; and S. Bickley, 46 years, 2 months, Farmer, b. SC

(Research):

Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Enumerated 29 Jun 1880
Page 21 SD 1 ED 86 Stamped 247A
185-185
Bickley, William W M 33 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, Mattie W F 31 Wf Keeping House Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, Minnie L W F 9 Dtr Ga Ga Ga
Bickley, May T W F 6 Dtr Tx Ga Ga
Bickley, Robert W W M 4 Son Tx Ga Ga
Bickley, Horace W M 1 Son Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 8
Enumerated 2 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 3B
33-33
Bickley, William Head W M Nov 1846 53 m 21 Ga Sc Ga Farmer
Bickley, Martha H. Wife W F about 51 M 31 6/5 Ala Ga Ga
Bickley, Lucy Dtr W F July 1871 28 Ga Ga Ala
Bickley, Robert W Son W Mch 1876 24 Tx Ga Ala Farmer
Bickley, Horace D Son W M Feb 1879 21 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Bickley, Willie S Son W M Dec 1881 18 S Tx Ga Ala Farm Laborer
Bickley, Anna M Dtr W F Oct 1888 11 S Tx Ga Ala

William married Martha "Mattie" Hutchinson on 4 Jan 1870 in Georgia. Martha was born on 16 May 1848 in Georgia; died on 25 Jan 1925 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Could not locate a Texas Death Certificate on the Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976 database at Familysearch.org.

FindAGrave shows her as Martha "Mattie" Hutchinson Smith, and lists her location of birth as Autauga County, Alabama. It further shows that she and William Washington Bickley were married 4 Jan 1870 in Talbot County, Georgia, and had seven children. (Memorial # 39404881, showing Burial at the Hemphill City Cemetery). A second FindAGrave Memorial exists (# 64919395) which instead shows her burial at Bickley Cemetery. A photo of this double tombstone with her husband, William W. Bickley is shown. Her date of birth is engraved, apparently in error, as May 18, 1884.

On the death certificates of sons Robert and Willie Simon, she is shown as Mattie Hutchinson (Hutcherson). On the death certificate of daughter, Tinie May, and the one for her son, Horace Bickley, she is instead listed as Mattie Smith. Could she have remarried after her husband William Bickley died in 1907, perhaps accounting for the inconsistent names, and for the two headstones in differing cemeteries?

Notes:

(Research):The Sabine County Reporter
May 9, 2012

Myrtle Springs receives marker

An official Texas Historic Cemetery Marker was dedicated April 28, at Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery. The day was also the cemetery's annual homecoming......

The newly placed marker reads:
GENEVA MYRTLE SPRINGS CEMETERY

Situated North of the small, rural community of Geneva, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery serves as the primary resting place for pioneers, settlers of the area, and their descendants. Originally granted to Juan Ignatino Pifermo in 1794, the town of Geneva grew in the 1820s when pioneers began to settle there from the east. Geneva was first known as Shawnee village and later as Jimtown, after two early settlers of the are, Jim Halbert and Jim Willis. Originally surveyed for Daniel F. Renfro in 1838, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery is comprised of land granted by Levi T. ALLEN in 1879 for use as a church and cemetery. The Geneva Baptist Church was first located on the present day cemetery site, but later moved south of the area. In addition, a school was once located near the cemtery near Myrtle Springs, organized by William Thomas Arnold.

The general landscaping of the cemetery is traditional with brick, marble, sandstone, grantie, wood, and metal grave markers. The first marked grave is that of William J. JONE from 1888, but Bible records indicate that there were earlier unmarked graves, including that of Wiley William CROW (1845-1877). Among the many pioneer families interred at this cemetery, there are veterans of the Civil War, including Wiley CROW, Seth Marion LAYFIELD (1833-1906), and James T. MEADOR (1845-1933), as well as veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Iraq War. Burials for members of the fraternal organizations such as Woodmen of the World are present. Today, the Geneva Myrtle Springs Cemetery Association maintains and cares for the cemtery, while also serving the community of Geneva. Historic Texas Cemetery -2010.

James married Martha Ann Oliver in 1867 in Sabine County, Texas. Martha (daughter of Annanias Oliver and Ludeshia Cornelia "Cassie" Allen) was born on 4 Apr 1852 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Apr 1933 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Myrtle Springs Cemetery, Geneva, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Martha A. Meador
Death Date: 26 Apr 1933
Death Place: Milam, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 81 years 22 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 04 Apr 1852
Birthplace: Sabine, Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Robert Oliver
Father's Birthplace: Mississippi
Mother's Name: Cornelia Allen
Mother's Birthplace: Mississippi
Occupation:
Place of Residence:
Cemetery: Myrtle Springs
Burial Place:
Burial Date: 27 Apr 1933
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2115359
Digital Film Number: 4163856
Image Number: 3405
Reference Number: 19949
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976