Sarah Elizabeth McLemore

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

Sarah married James Williams on 28 Jan 1873 in McDade, Bastrop County, Texas. James was born before 1853; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: David Donovan. David was born in Jul 1846 in Ireland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Listed as Mary M. WILLIAMS, age 1, at the time of the 1880 census, and as Mamie M. DONOVAN, age 21, in 1900. Melba Gene McLemore writes that she was in touch with some of Mary's descendants, living in Alaska. They always knew her last name a Donovan, as apparently she used that name from the time she was a young girl. It appears she was adopted, either formally or informally, by her mother's second husband.

She is listed as follows on the California Death Records at Rootsweb:

HUGHES MARY D 08/14/1878
MCLEMORE -------- F
LOS ANGELES 08/02/1960 81 years

(Research):Census Information:

1910 Census, California, Los Angles, LA Assembly District 7
1, ED 156
Enumerated 21 Apr 1910 by Aaron W. Kellogg
SD 7, ED 156, Sheet 3B
732-82-87
Hughes, Marvin P. Hd W M 34 M1 8 Kentucky Kentucky Ohio Carpenter Home
Hughes, Mamie D Wife F W 31 M1 8 3/3 Tx Ire/English Tx English
Hughes, Lucile Dtr F W 6 S Cal Kent Tx
Hughes, Grace Dtr F W 1 S Cal Kent Tx
Hughes, Ester Dtr F W 6/12 Cal Kent Tx (sic-s/b Bethel)

1920 Census not located

1930 Census
California, Los Angeles, Pasadena, ED 21
Enumerated 9 April 1930 by Clark B. Keaton
Enumerated 10 April 1930 by Clark B. Keaton
ED 19-1211 SD 15 Sheet 9A & 9B Stamped 204
1627-225-230
Hughes, Marvin Hd O $600 M W 54 M 26 Kentucky Kentucky Ohio Carpenter House
Hughes, Mammie D Wife F W 51 23 Tx Ireland Tx Housewife
Hughes, Lucile F Dtr F W 26 S Calif Kent Tx Teacher School
Hughes, Bethel A Dtr F W 20 S Calif Kent Tx

Mary married Marvin Parker Hughes on 25 Apr 1902 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. Marvin (son of Charles L. Hughes and Sallie F. ???) was born on 29 Jan 1876 in Kentucky; died on 16 Jan 1948 in Los Angeles County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

California Death Records:

DONOVAN ROBERT E 04/26/1885 M TEXAS
LOS ANGELES(19) 02/13/1975 550-01-9126

(Research):Census Information:

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 Foundr
y & Iron & Brass
Donovan, Gordon Grandson M W 18 S Calif Tx Tx None

Robert Donovan is very likely, but not definatively proven. to be the father of Gordon Donovan, born ca. 1912 in California. In 1930, Gordon and Robert were sharing a home in Los Angeles with Robert's mother, the widowed Sarah Elizabeth. Robert was also marked as widowed. Ten years earlier, in 1920, the 8 year old Gordon was living with his grandmother and with his Uncle and Aunt, Wesley & Florence Donovan. Gordon was not in California at the time, being a lodger in the home of Oliver and Grace Griffin in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona. He was listed as a white male, age 34 and widowed, and working as a "Clerk of Board, Supervisor."

Finally, the listing below is POSSIBLY for Robert and his wife at the time of the 1910 census. The name and age of the head of household is correct, however the birthplace of his mother is shown as California vs. Texas. Additionally Gordon Donovan's subsequent census responses seem to indicate his mother was not born in California, but in either Texas or Canada. The wife on the listing below is shown as being born in California, as are both of her parents.

1910 Census
California, San Francisco, San Francisco Assembly District 33, ED 72
Enumerated 25 April 1910 by Louis Brown
134-134
Donovan, Robert E Hd M W 25 m1 4 Cal Ire Cal Carpenter Lumber Yard
Donovan, Grace E F W 21 m1 4 0/0 Cal Cal Cal

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1920 census, 30 year old Elizabeth Donovan, along with her widowed mother, were both living with her brother Wesley and his family. Elizabeth was listed as single and as a telephone operator.


California Death Records:

CAMPBELL SARAH ELIZABETH 11/11/1889 MCLEMORE DONNOVAN F CALIFORNIA
SAN DIEGO(37) 01/16/1980 571-34-0715 90 yrs

Notes:

Melba Gene cites his place of birth as Barstow, California. She also indicates that he was married to Florence Adeline YOUNG.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Califorina, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Assembly Dist 73, ED 3
79
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, Assembly District 57, ED 524
Enumerated 15th ----- 1930 by Mamie N. Donavan
ED 19-157, SD 16, Sheet 15A
Donovan, Wesley Hd R $23 M W 36 M@21 Calif North Ireland Tx Fireman
Donovan, Florence Wf F W 32 M@18 Iowa Ohio Ohio
Donovan, Dorothy Dtr F W 14 Calif Calif Iowa
Donovan, David Son F W 12 Calif Calif Iowa
Donovan, Elizabeth Dtr F W 10 Calif Calif Iowa
Donovan, Ruth Dtr M W 5 Calif Calif Iowa

Wesley married Florence Young about 1914 in California. Florence was born about 1898 in Iowa; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):California Death Records:

HUGHES LUCILLE FRANCIS 02/06/1904 DONOVAN HUGHES F CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES 02/03/1959 54 yrs

Notes:

She married a Mr. Higgins.

California Death Records:

HIGGINS GRACE HUGHES 08/03/1908
DONOVAN HUGHES F CALIFORNIA
ORANGE 12/13/1981 552-10-1369 73 yrs

Notes:

She married a Mr. Gossland.

California Death Records:

GOSSLAND BETHEL C 11/03/1909
DONOVAN HUGHES F CALIFORNIA
ORANGE 05/06/1994 545-70-2404 84 Yrs