Lessie E. Simpson

Notes:

Notes rec'd from Buck McLemore Friday 11 July 2003
(Courtesy of Melba Gene McLemore)

Notes were written 27 Sept 1982

We visited with Lessie McDavid and her son today. Lessie is 83 years old. She is active and bright. She could remember seeing Buck's father. She said he was a very handsome man. He was rather short , dark hair and eyes- She said , he lived with them 1 year and helped her father make a crop-

She remembers her grandmother very well. She said Texanna (her grandmother) spent some time visiting and helping her mother after she had a child, which was quite often. Her Mother, Lee Simpson, had 12 more children, about 2 years apart. There were two sets of twins, including Lessie and her twin brother Lester.

Things she remembers about Texanna She had dark hair and eyes- She wore a real pretty black and white check apron most of the time with white embrodery- at night she would take off her apron and sleep with it covering her head.

She remember her grandmother, Mother and herself visiting with Texanna's brother that lived in McDade, a Baker. Texanna sometimes stayed with her brother.

Texanna supported herself after the hanging, by nursing sick people and staying with ladies after child birth .

She did remarry once after Thad was hung- the marriage didn't work out and she is listed as Texanna McLemore on her gravestone. She is buried at Crisp, Texas. She spent a lot of time at Bud and Anna's house.

Lessie said she liked her grandmother but some of her brothers didn't because she would tell on them. She remembered her grandfather (Thad) was noted for making beautiful spurs - he was in the process of making her father a pair of spurs when he was hanged.

She said her mother and grand mother wouldn't talk of the hanging. her Father, Mr. Simpson told the children not to say anything about the hangings to their mother.

Her mother's name was Lee, Margie Lee. She was four years of age when the hanging occurred. Lottie was some younger than Lee and Romy was the youngest.

She said all that she knew about the hanging was from her Aunt ( a sister to Texanna), who lived I believe in Elgin. She said Mrs. McLemore (Texanna )had told her that Mr. ( Thad) McLemore had gone to McDade on Christmas Eve and had taken a flour sack with him to put presents in. And he didn't come back home that night, so the next morning she sent Bud to town, and she was holding Lottie when she saw Bud coming toward the house beating at the horse to to go faster, and she knew something bad had happened, and she stood up and let Lottie fall. And she started yelling the vigilantes have gotten him.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Not located. A Single William McDavid of the same age is a boarder in the home of Addie M and William Ramey of Stonewall County, Texas, where he is listed as a "brother-in-law." Another William McDavid, born circa 1903 is an "inmate" of the Macmic(?) Home and School of Texas in Tarrant County. Listed alongside him is a 14 year old John V. McDavid.

1930 Federal Census
Texas, Lee County, Justice Precinct No. 3
Enumerated April 22, 1930 by John T. Boswell
ED 144-5 SD 24 Sheet 5A Stamped 141

HH 91-91 William and Nettie McDAVID

HH 92-94
McDavid, William F Hd W W 28 M 17 Tx Tx Tx Farmer
McDavid, Lesse E Wife F W 30 M 18 Tx Tx Tx Farm Labor
McDavid, W. Ray Son M W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
McDavid, R. Glen Son M W 2 2/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Lessie married William Franklin McDavid about 1919 in Texas. William (son of William Patrick McDavid and Nettie Susan Mundine) was born on 4 Jun 1901 in Texas; died on 13 Jun 1977 in Williamson County, Texas; was buried in New Knobbs Springs Cemetery, Lee County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ancestry.com US World War II Army Enlistment Records show he enlisted in the Army at Fort Sam Houston on 28 Mar 1941. He had two years of High School and was employed as a Farm hand prior to enlistment, was single, was 5'7" and weighed 169.

Family/Spouse: Lorene Jo Flynn. Lorene was born on 21 Jul 1922; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]