Sarah Elizabeth McLemore

1854 - 1941  (86 years)

• Name	Sarah Elizabeth McLemore  [1]
  Born	15 Oct 1854	McDade, Bastrop County, Texas   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Died	18 Aug 1941	Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California   [1]
  Notes	Melba Gene McLemore notes that Rosa's papers list ONLY David O'Donovan, and not James Williams, as Sarah's husband. She was said to have had 8 children in total. No marriage record has been found for David Donovan and Sarah Elizabeth. Melba further notes that census records on David Donovan and Sarah show them to be married the same number of years as Sarah would have been married to James Williams. Additionally, in 1891, Sarah writes a letter to her step-brother Felix mentioning "Jim," and giving the impression she is writing about her husband. Melba therefore speculates that it is possible (but not proven) that James Williams may have actually changed his name to David Donovan. Pleasant McLemore had the following to say about his sister, in a letter he wrote in January, 1955: "sister elizabeth was grown and married, when i was born, in later life she Became a preacher, she preached in the church of god for 35 years, she died At the age of 86 with hardening of the arteries. She prayed for the sick and They got well, she used no medicine." Another family member mentioned that Sarah wrote hymns and gospel music. The following letter, written by Sarah Elizabeth to her half-brother Felix in 1891, was transcribed by Melba Gene McLemore. Melba indicated that the original was difficult to read, both due to ink blotches and a section of the top left had corner being torn. Barstow, California Feb. 1891 To: F.H. McLemore Dear Brother, I will answer ?.your letter which i rec'd sometime last month. I have Been so busy lately that i have not had much time to write you an by the Heading of this letter [you can tell] t hat we have moved from doggatt. we left there the First of january not being able to get a house in that place. we are living Ten miles from there. A good bit of work going on her , as this is the Terminal of one r.r. and an other goes thru here. Jim got a job here the First of month. He attends to what they call the coal shoot. That is he Loads all the enjines with coal during the day & on other mass loads at Night..he gets 70$ seventy dollars a month.sometimes he has not ? Much to Do. I don't think it agrees with him to work rather hard and other times Has not much to do . I don't think it agrees with him to work . there is a school here & the children are going to school but i think there are only three other pupils besides mine. David is sick so much he Does not go regular.we have had some very cold weather since christmas. It Is usually very mild weather in winter here but generally very warm in Summer. I don't suppose i will ever see the " lone star state" again. It Seems to me that i should be glad to see green fields again. There is Nothing growing here except a few trees along the river front?? Of course There is farming done as some other parts of the state bit i think it is All done by erigetion and the whole state is mountainous and i think nar Person has been here a few. A mine some of them are .no buy s meal and i Don't believe ???..their mines are worth five dollars. i received a letter from emma when i got yours. she told me addie was there And in very bad health but i suppose you hear from them often. In regard to My post try as i should not be in the least offended at any thing you might Do for me but i don't think hymn writers ever make much money with their Pens & that is my forte. I have intended to write to some publishers but was Not expect to receive answer. Still if i could make something i could devote More time to writing here , by write better. Still my time ?..talent ? Life are consecrated to god. & if he designs that & that i should receive any thing i will & if not it will be best & i Shall be content. Well this is bad ink & paper & my paper is probably Written & oversaid erably blotched so excuse it . I shall not write a long Letter this time. Tell walter i suppose he is grown so much since i seen him That my nose is hardly as large as his foot now. John ? Sends his regards to You. Give my love to the children and write soon to your sister. S.e. donovan Direct to barstow San bernadino co. Cal. (Research): Census Information: 1880 Federal Census: Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace S.E. WILLIAMS Self M Female W 25 Tx Dress Maker MS TN Keton J. WILLIAMS Son S Male W 4 TX IN TX Mary M. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 1 TS IN TX N.J. McLEMON Mother W Female W 43 Tn Keeping House TN NC Nancy A. McLEMORE Sister S Female W 15 TX At Home MS TX Source Information: Census Place E.D. 28, Luling, Caldwell, Texas FHL Film # 1255294 NA Film Number T9-1294 Page Number 244C Rosa McLemore Dunkerly said that Sarah married an O'Donovan. It appears his last name was actually Donovan, at least based on the census records below. 1900 Federal Census California, San Diego, San Diego Ward 7, ED 199 Enumerated 6th of June 1900 James A. Thomas SD 6 ED 199 Sheet 5A 115-141 Donovan, David Hd July 1846 54 M 27 Ireland Ireland Ireland Day Laborer Donovan, Sarah E Wife W f Oct 1854 43 M 27 8/6 Texas Kentucky Tennessee Donovan, Mamie M Dtr W F Aug 1878 21 Tx Ireland Tx Donovan, Edward J Son W M Aug 1881 S Tx Ireland Tx Day Laborer Donovan, Robert E Son W M Apr 1885 15 S Tx Ireland Tx Donovan, Sarah E Dtr W F Nov 1889 10 S California Ireland Tx Donovan, Wesley Son W M July 1893 6 S California Texas 1910 Census Arizona, Maricopa County, Osborn, ED 68 Enumerated 30 April 1910 by Henry Jennings SD of Arizona, ED 68 54-60 Donovan, David Hd W W 63 M1 37 Ire Eng Ire Eng Ire Eng Own Income Donovan, Sarah E Wife F w 52 M1 37 8/6 Tx Missouri Kentucky Donovan, Wesley M W 17 S California Ire Eng Texas Government ??? 1920 Census Califorina, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Assembly Dist 73, ED 379 Enumerated 13 Jan 1920 by Emma C. Price SD 8, ED 379, Sheet 15 B 933-255-314 Donovan, Wesley Hd R M W 26 M Calif Ireland Tx Fireman Firehouse Donovan, Florence Wf F W 22 M Iowa US US Donovan, Dorothy Dtr F 4 10/12 S Calif Calif Iowa Donovan, David Son M W 2 3/12 S Calif Calif Iowa Donovan, Eliza Dtr F W 6/12 S Calif Calif Iowa Donovan, Sarah E Mtr F W 65 Wd Donovan, Elizabeth Sister F W 30 S Telephone Operator Donovan, Gordon Nephew M W 8 S Ca Texas Canada 1930 Census California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (Distr 501-750), ED 524 Enumerated Apr 9 & 10 by Lillian E. Crowley ED 19-524, SD 17, Sheet 13 B Donovan, Sarah E. Hd F W 75 Wd Tx Ky TN None Donovan, Robert E Son M W 44 Wd Tx Ireland Tx Molder Foundry & Iron & Brass Donovan, Gordon Grandson M W 18 S Calif Tx Tx None
  Person ID	I24477	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	17 Aug 2014

  
  

  Father	Keton Jones McLemore,   b. Abt 1809, Kentucky ,   d. Aft 1873, Bastrop County, Texas  (Age ~ 65 years)
  Mother	Nancy Jane Johnson,   b. 21 Mar 1835, Tennessee ,   d. 7 Dec 1926, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California  (Age 91 years)
  Married	Aft 1853	Texas   [1]
  	In his March 1, 1955 letter to a niece, Pleasant McLemore enumerated his own sibling group "Elisabeth, Emma, Bob, Addie, Rose, Pleasant."
  Documents » Slide Show		McLemore, Keton Jones family info pg1 Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 1 of 4.
  		McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg2 Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 2 of 4.
  		McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg3 Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 3 of 4.
  		McLemore, Keton Jones Family info pg4 Rosa McLemore Dunkerly (1869-1954) dictated this family history to a grandson in 1941. She was the youngest daughter, and fifteenth child, born to Keton Jones McLemore. Census and other records confirm her recollections to be very accurate. Page 4 of 4.
  Family ID	F8159	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	James Williams,   b. Bef 1853,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	28 Jan 1873	McDade, Bastrop County, Texas   [1]
  	Melba Gene McLemore notes that in January, 1873, K.J. McLemore performs his daughter Sarah Elizabeth's marriage to her first husband, James Williams. The couple were wed in Bastrop County, and the certificate was signed K.J. McLemore, Local Deacon
  Children	1. Keton Jones Williams,   b. Abt 1876, Texas ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Mary Mamie Williams Donovan,   b. 14 Aug 1878, Texas ,   d. 2 Aug 1960, Los Angeles County, California  (Age 81 years)
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2006
  Family ID	F8160	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	David Donovan,   b. Jul 1846, Ireland ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. Edward J Donovan,   b. Aug 1881, Texas ,   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Robert Emmit Donovan,   b. 26 Apr 1885, Texas ,   d. 13 Feb 1975, Burbank, Los Angeles County, California  (Age 89 years)   3. David Donovan,   b. Aft 1885, California ,   d. Bef 1900, California  (Age ~ 13 years)   4. Grace Donovan,   b. Bef 1888,   d. Bef 1900  (Age ~ 12 years)   5. Sarah Elizabeth Donovan,   b. 11 Nov 1889, California ,   d. 16 Jan 1980, San Diego County, California  (Age 90 years)   6. Wesley Donovan,   b. Jul 1893, California ,   d. Aug 1937  (Age ~ 44 years)
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2006
  Family ID	F8153	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 15 Oct 1854 - McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Married - 28 Jan 1873 - McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Died - 18 Aug 1941 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S501] McLemore, Melba Gene-Family Researcher/Family Group Sheets, Correspondence, Email (maddoxyellowrose@hotmail.com) ; http://www.mclemoregenealogy.org/index.php, (http://www.mclemoregenealogy.org/index.php).