Judge Sidney Cordray, Sr.

Notes:

The SSDI shows that he final benefit payments were in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. McCary indicates that his gravestone had a Masonic Symbol.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1930 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1, Hemphill Town
Enumerated April 8, 1930
ED 202-21 SD 19 Sheet 2A Stamped 16
34-34
Cordray, Judge Head M W 28 M 23 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Eula Wf F W 21 m 17 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, La Norma Dtr F W 1 6/12 Tx Tx Tx

Judge married Eula Mae Smith about 1926 in Texas. Eula (daughter of June Alvin Smith and Vessie Mae Brittain) was born on 19 Nov 1907 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 26 Jun 1985 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. LaNorma Mae Cordray was born on 7 Oct 1928 in Texas; died on 9 Apr 2021 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried on 13 Apr 2021 in Yellowpine Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Living

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 8
Enumerated 11 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 12B
162-162
Cordray, Judge D Head M W Apr 1862 38 m 2 Ga Ga Ga Farmer
Cordray, Emma R Wf W F Sept 1868 31 m 2 1/1 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Martha A Dtr W F Mar 1885 15 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Clara B Dtr W F Jan 1888 12 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Henry E Son W M Sept 1890 9 S Tx Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Cordray, Zilla E Dtr W F Oct 1899 7/12 S Tx Ga Ga
Layfield, Landy D Servant W M Nov 1872 27 S Ga Ga Ga Farm Laborer
Weatherred Mack B M Oct 1877 22 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 1
Enumerated 23 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 137 Sheet 8A
119-123
Cordray, Judge D Head M W 47 m1 11 Ga Ga Ala Farmer
Cordray, Emma Wf F W 41 m1 11 Ga Ga Ga
Cordray, Eugene Son M W 19 m1 1 Tx Ga Tx Farm Laborer
Cordray, Lillian Dtr-in-law F W 16 m1 1 0/0 Tx Tx Tx
Cordray, Zilla Dtr F W 10 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Judge Jr Son M W 8 S Tx Ga Ga
Cordray, Aremel Son M W 5 S Tx Ga Ga

Judge married Emma Louise Layfield about 1898. Emma was born in Sep 1868 in Georgia; died in 1928. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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.

Notes:

White and Toole refer to him as Daniel Cordray, however on the 1870 Sabine County census he is listed as David, but as Daniel in 1880. His first wife died in 1878 (according to her headstone at the Cordray Cemetery), and he is listed with his second wife, Martha, age 44, born ca 1836 in Alabama, at the time of the 1880 census.

Could he have married third Dollie Wilson, sometime prior to 1884?

Dollie Cordray, a widow, age 33, can be found in the 1900 Sabine County, Texas Census with three minor children. The Texas Death certificate of the eldest son of the widowed Dollie Wilson Cordray, namely Cleveland Cordray, lists his father as Dan Cordray. Census records for the children show that their father was born in Texas, however, versus Georgia.

This does not appear likely, as at the time of the 1900 Sabine County, Texas census, Daniel and his second wife, Martha appear together.

Additionally, his widow, Mrs. Martha Cordray applied for a Civil War pension as the widow of D. C. Cordray on 8 May 1915 in Sabine County. She indicated that she married him on 10 Oct 1878 in Sabine County. Martha further indicated she was age 82, and was born in Dallas County, Alabama. having resided in Texas for 42 years. Her late husband, Daniel C. Cordray, was shown as dying on 30 Aug 1905. He was shown to have served the C.S.A. in the state of Georgia, for a period of five months, being discharged in April 1865. He was in the Infantry, Company A, Regiment 29.

On the Williams-McNaughten Tree at Ancestry.com, he is shown as the Uncle of Mary Emma Cordray McGown (1885-1973), her father John Lawrence Cordray also being a son of Jonathan Cordray and Elizabeth Tomlinson. He is likely related to her in some other fashion, perhaps a cousin, as Georgia Marriage records on Ancestry.com show that Elizabeth Tomlinson and Jonathan Cordray were not married until 2 Apr 1846 in Muscogee County, Georgia, eight years after Daniel was born. DM Veitch instead shows him as a son of Daniel and Celia Cordray of Muscogee County, Georgia. Veitch shows that his second wife was Martha Williams Honeycutt, a widow, no issue by Daniel.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat No. 2, Sabine Town
Enumerated 25 July 1870
Pages 7 and 8 Stamped 10
372-372
Cordray, David/Daniel? 37 M W Farmer 1000 1000 Ga
Cordray, Laura 32 F W Keeping House Ga
Cordray, Zella 12 F W Ga
Cordray, Judge 8 M W Ga
Cordray, John W 5 M W Ga
Cordray, Charles 1/12 M W Tx Dec
Cordray, Lewis 19 M B Servant Ga

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Fourth Precinct
Enumerated 14 Jun 1880
Page 2B SD 1 ED 86
12-12
Cordrie, Daniel W M 45 Farmer Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, Martha W F 44 Wf Keeping House Ala Ga Ga
Cordrie, Judge D W M 18 Son Works on Farm Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, John W M 15 Son Works on Farm Ga Ga Ga
Cordrie, Charlie H W M 10 Son Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr. 8
Enumerated 9 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 11A Stamped 151
143-143
Cordray, Dan??l Head M W July 1834 65 M 20 Ga Ga SC Faerm
Cordray, Martha Wf W F Jun 1836 63 m 20 5/5 Ala Ga Ga

Daniel married Louisa Melvine Williams. Louisa was born on 24 May 1839 in Georgia; died on 24 Feb 1878; was buried in Cordray Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Hillery Judge Williams.