Walter Felix Harrison McLemore

Walter married Ada Lee Whitfield on 12 Oct 1946. Ada was born on 7 Jan 1917 in Durant, Bryan County, Oklahoma; died on 16 Feb 2002 in Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Notes:

Location of birth is alternately shown as Marrietta, Love County, Oklahoma. This contradicts census information.

Melba Gene McLemore writes that he was killed in an auto accident, and his father raised his three children, as their mother was financially unable to do so.

He is buried at the Shamrock Cemetery, Block A, Lot 53, Space 5.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Collingsworth, JP 4
Enumerated 17-18 Jan 1920 by C.H. Coperton
SD 18, ED 34, Sheet 6B
87-102
McLemore, Russell Hd M w 24 M Tx US US Farmer
McLemore, Ida B Wife F w 22 M Ok Ga Ok
McLemore, Jess Son M W 1 4/12 S Tx Tx Ok
88-103
McLemore, Walter A Hd M W 52 M Tx Tn Tx Farmer
McLemore, Roberta Wf F W 47 M Tx Mo Mo
McLemore, Ruth Dtr F W 17 S Ok Tx Tx
McLemore, Walter H Son M W 9 S Ok Tx Tx
Bullock, Luther Boarder M W 16 S Ky US US Laborer Farm
89----
McLemore, Eugene Hd M W 27 M Tx Tx Tx Laboer
McLemore, Winona Wf F W 21 M Ok US US
McLemore, Lorene L Dtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Ok
McLemore, Walter F Son M W 4 1/12 S Tx Tx Ok

Eugene married Winona Lovia (Loveta) Terrill on 13 Aug 1913. Winona was born on 14 Dec 1896 in Nocona, Montague County, Texas; died on 16 Dec 1960 in Jimtown, Love County, Oklahoma. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):
Census Information:

1930 Census
Oklahoma, Comanche County, Lawton Township
Enumerated April 2nd, 1930 by Raleigh L. Robertson
ED 16-18 SD 8 Sheet 1B
C Avenue,
22-26-33
McLemore, Winona Hd R $15 F W 33 Wd 16 Ok US US Cook Private House
McLemore, Lorene Dtr F W 16 S Tx Ok TX
McLemore, Eugene Son N W 8 S Ok Ok TX

Notes:

He was Sheriff of Wheeler County, Texas.

(Research):Census Information:

1910 Census
Oklahoma, Jackson County, Martha
Enumerated 12-13 May 1910 by Jack Fletcher
SD 5 ED 143 Sheet 17B
304-304
McLemore, Walter K Hd M W 43 m1 19 Tx Unk Unk Farmer
McLemore, Bertie Wife F W 36 M1 19 5/5 Tx Mo Mo
McLemore, Eugene Son M W 18 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Jessie Son M W 16 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Russell Son M W 15 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Pauline Dtr F W 11 S Ok Tx Tx
McLemore, Ruth Dtr F W 8 S Ok Tx Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Collingsworth, JP 4
Enumerated 17-18 Jan 1920 by C.H. Coperton
SD 18, ED 34, Sheet 6B
87-102
McLemore, Russell Hd M w 24 M Tx US US Farmer
McLemore, Ida B Wife F w 22 M Ok Ga Ok
McLemore, Jess Son M W 1 4/12 S Tx Tx Ok
88-103
McLemore, Walter A Hd M W 52 M Tx Tn Tx Farmer
McLemore, Roberta Wf F W 47 M Tx Mo Mo
McLemore, Ruth Dtr F W 17 S Ok Tx Tx
McLemore, Walter H Son M W 9 S Ok Tx Tx
Bullock, Luther Boarder M W 16 S Ky US US Laborer Farm
89----
McLemore, Eugene Hd M W 27 M Tx Tx Tx Laboer
McLemore, Winona Wf F W 21 M Ok US US
McLemore, Lorene L Dtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Ok
McLemore, Walter F Son M W 4 1/12 S Tx Tx Ok

1930 Census
Texas, Wheeler, Shamrock, ED 7
Enumerated April 3, 1930 By Virginia Anderson
ED 242-7 SD 1 Sheet 3A
204-45-58
McLemore, Walter K Hd M W 61 M 22 Tx Tx Tx Sheriff County
McLemore, Roberta Hd Wife 57 M 18 Tx Tn Tx
McLemore, Walter H Son M W 19 S Tx Tx Tx

Immediately following their listing were those for the Beach Hospital and Shamrock General Hospital.

Walter married Roberta "Bertie" Carter on 25 Feb 1891 in Parker County, Texas. Roberta was born on 4 Nov 1872 in Missouri; died on 25 May 1954 in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas; was buried in Shamrock Cemetery, Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Melba instead shows her place of birth as Texas.

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JXFX-5R2
Name: Roberta Mclemore
Death Date: 25 May 1954
Death Place: Amarillo, Potter, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: white
Death Age: 81 years 6 months 21 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 04 Nov 1872
Birthplace: Missouri
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Will Carter
Father's Birthplace: Missouri
Mother's Name: Anna Frakes
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Potter County, Texas
Cemetery: Shamrock Cemetery
Burial Place: Shamrock, Texas
Burial Date: 26 May 1954
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2114150
Digital Film Number: 4165605
Image Number: 2217
Reference Number: cn 24630
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Notes:

Melba Gene McLemore writes that her great-great grandfather, Felix Harrelson McLemore "is often described as the most colorful of the McLemore brothers. His self proclaimed profession was that of a Professional Monte Dealer, although census records listed him as a farmer. Letters Felix and Clarissa exchanged show Felix was most often gone to Idaho or Montana prospecting for gold. From their letters, and the children's birth dates, we gather Felix was home long enough for Clarissa Isabella to become pregnant with one of their ten children, and then he would be off again on another mining prospect."

This is a letter he wrote his wife from Thompon Falls, Montana, as transcribed by Melba Gene McLemore:

Thompson Falls MO [Montana]
June 19th 187?
Dear Isabel, I write you a few lines in answer to yours of seven days ago and this being the first chance I have had to get a letter to the office I have had since I received your letter although I was here a week ago but did not have time to write as I was in a hurry to get on .We are still out from Thompson Falls fifteen miles prospecting land but have had bad luck that is we have not struck gold enough to pay in any quantities but are not done trying but don't know when we will give it up but not soon I have found another Lege of one I wrote to you about finding one sometime ago and was going to have an assay of it it only went $16.00 to the ton but I think it will get better as we go down on it and that is our business here today to get fuse and powder and tools to work the lege with the other one I found. I don't know now what it will go but I think it better than the other one. We went to bed rock in our placer mines but did not find gold enough to pay so gave it up but we are going down on our lege and will work a week or so and then I am going on a trip in the mountains with a man who has got horses and will furnish me to go with him and we will be gone for two months or more but you can still direct to Thompson. Hope you are all well can't say when I will be at home may not come this winter but will if I make money enough to get home on and back here in the Spring for I think I will make something here yet for the country is covered with minerals of all kinds. Tell Robert to be on his guard for he is in danger of being killed at any time I have only killed one deer since I have been here, but have not had time to hunt. I saw an awful large bear track in the sand between here and camp this morning but I have not seen one since I have been here. I got a letter from the boys and will answering them as soon as I get a little time hope they are getting out of the grass and they will have an easier time I don't intend for them to make another crop in that county if I can help it. Write soon and often and don't wait for me to write for it may be some time before I am where I can write as ever
F H McLemore

Another letter from Thompson Falls follows:

Thompson Falls
Dear Isabel,
I write you a few lines after waiting to hear from you. I have written two letters since I heard from any of you. What is the matter. Have you written or not or do you wait for me to write before you write. If so I think you owe me a dozen or more for I know that I have written a dozen more than I got from any of you. I am not doing anything of account. Hardly make my grub and sometimes don't make that. In fact couldn't do much if I had work to do for the snow is three feet or has been until a few days back. We had quite a thaw but it snowed all day yesterday and the night before. As the snow snow is over two feet deep now and will not be less until spring. I shall prospect next spring again after I do my assessment work on my claims which will take some twenty days as I own two Interests and as soon as I am done I will start for the mountains for two months and if I don't find something rich I will quit and go to work for wages and try to get back home by winter if I can. I hope you will get along without me until then which I know you can and better perhaps than if I was there but you don't know how bad I want to see you all but I can't get there now so I will try to content myself by thinking you will get along without me best. I hope the children are going to school. When you write give me all the news and don't write such short letters as this. Hope this will find all well.
As ever F H McLemore


The following letter, also transcribed by Melba Gene McLemore, is one that Felix wrote his son John Wright McLemore from the Idaho Territory in the 1880's:

Murrayville, Shoshone County Idaho Terr.
March the 22nd, 188?
John W. McLemore
Dear Son: I write you in answer to yours which came to hand a day or so ago. I haven't nothing new to write. I am working at a saw mill at two dollars a day and board and it is very hard work in heavy timber and snow but I don't think I will work long as the mill will not run only to the last of the month by the partie who is running now --- I will not stay here long for as soon as I can make a few dollars I will go to work on my claims. I wish you all was out here and I hope you will sell the place this year at some price for I can't live in that country anymore after seeing this country. What has become of Marion Oliver or do you know. I have written to him several times but got no answers. Is Tie Jones thear yet if not find out whear he is and write to me. I have written to him and Neal Campbell but have not got any answers -- I don't think Marion Oliver is in the county or he would have answered my letters -- I hope you will succeed in making a good crop, be sure and do the best you all can for I don't know when I will start home not before fall at any rate. I will try to save money enough to carry me home this summer if possible. Thear is quite a rush here now and plenty men out of work and can' get a day's work--I have just written to your mother-- I hope you boys will not let your mother do any hard work for she says she has not been well since I left home. Well I will close. Hope this will find all well. What is John Shep doing.
as ever your Affectionate Father
Felix McLemore FH McLemore

Clarissa wrote her husband in December, 1883 asking him to come home, as there had been some killings in McDade. Melba's transcription of this letter follows:

McDade Bastrop December the 10th 1883

Dear Husband In answer to yours which came in hand a few days Since and found all well and doing the the best we no how - your fruit trees has come and i went and got them and planted them out - you sayed to mark the hogs ive have marked all that didnt die the rest of them are looking very fine there is thousands of _____ yet plenty to last even till Spring-- Moley Bobs Wife is here bin here since sunday She stayed at Mr. Wards seven or eight days and 10 or 12 at Thads and is here and She dont no where bob is at left here a few days ago to hunt a place and have not herd from him since-The partys that rented the Wheat ? place have backed out wanted Thad to furnish 10 or 15 dolars to repane the houses and deduct it from the rent dont no of eny one else wanting land and will have to let it stand until you come home- well there has bin some killing in McDade Bose Heffington was kild there a few nights ago in the dark no one was present the parties met on the street near the market and both parties shot but neither party culd be found and it was a mistry for a while.what _____bose recieved the first shot through the left lung and brok and runn out g. milltons paster and went to miltons house and told about it- he lived about forty eight hours and made an afendavit and swore to it and it was against Jeff fitzpatrick and jeff has not bin seen since Walter sayes he is very proud now and going to bring him a saddle The cowes are very poor on account of eating acorns still I have rote all that is of eny interest. will close by saying I wis you would come home as soon as you can
Your Wife Isabell

(Transcriber's Note: It appears this letter was folded and an extra note added to the end of the paper as the writing appears upside down when looking at the front page of the letter. Written above Isabellas heading of "McDade Bastrop December the 10th 1883" is the following: "Bill says he has quiet crying and will give you some Eggs to make you an EGG Nog when you come home."

A few weeks later, Felix's own brothers Thad and Wright, were taken out of a saloon in McDade and hung by vigilantes, George Milton, Tom Bishop, Mr. Howery and Preacher Frank Fleming. His brothers-in- law, Az and Jack Batey, were killed in a shoot out on Christmas Day, the day following the hangings. Robert Stephens and Haywood Batey were also involved in the shoot out, but not killed. A niece, Pearl Lee Batey was to be born this same day, to Walter and Elizabeth Batey.

Had Felix been home, he likely would have been killed as well. He was interviewed by the St. Louis Globe Democrat Reporter on December 29 about the tragedies in McDade. Melba Gene was unable to find a copy of this article in any of the December, 1883 St. Louis papers, however the article was reprinted in several Texas newspapers.

Melba found the following related article from the Williamson County Sun, published on January 31, 1884:
"Last Monday afternoon, Felix McLemore and Marion Beatty, kinsmen of the men who were hung and shot at McDade on Christmas, rode into Taylor armed with Winchester rifles, and stopped at Pilgrim's saloon. Milton and Bishop, whose firearms were used with fatal effect in the McDade affray, were already in town, well armed, and at Boyd's store on the opposite side of Main street. The two hostile parties were soon aware of their proximity to each other and were vigilant and guarded in their movements on the streets. For a time fears were entertained of a deadly conflict on our streets, but neither party sought a meeting with the other, and Milton and Bishop, having attended to the business which brought them to town, left for home. McLemore and Beatty remained in town till next day, when Marshal Olive got a telegram from the sheriff of Bastrop county, to arrest Beatty, on a charge of robbery, and bring him to Bastrop; in compliance with which he made the arrest and carried Beatty up to Austin that day, McLemore accompanying his friend."

Felix and Isabella had ten children, nine of whom lived into adulthood. Of the nine children, Gabe would die at 17 years and one day of age. The youngest son would live 9 days, as inscribed on Isabella's headstone, as she too would pass from the birth of this child.

In 1892, some four years after Clarissa died, Felix and his children sold their land and McDade. The following year he took out a life insurance policy with New York Life in St. Louis, Missouri. He named his children Clarissa Isabell (Lotta) and Marion Harrelson McLemore as beneficiaries, and listed his occupation as Cowboy and Saloon Keeper.

Felix remarried to "a woman named Sara, around the same time his daughter Minnie Bell married in 1904. Oral family history has this as a short lived marriage---and no records of it have been found." He had a saloon in Mineral Wells about this same time.

Felix bailed out of the saloon business in 1916, he had gone broke from selling on credit. His address in 1919 was St. Louis, Missouri, where he was staying with his daughter, Lotta, and her husband, Claude Johnstone. This is where he was living when he died.

This is a letter he wrote his daughter, Minnie, from St. Louis in 1919, transcribed by Melba.

St. Louis
6-6-19
7025 WATERMAN ST
MRS. MINNIE GAINES

DEAR DAUGHTER

WILL WRITE YOU AGAIN THIS LEAVES ME WELL-LOTTIE IS SITTING_UP THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY THINK SHE WILL BE OUT BY SUNDAY . THE YOUNGEST GIRL FLORENCE HAS A BAD CASE OF THE MUMPS. THIS IS THE FOURTH DAY IT HAS BEEN RAINING HERE FOR THE LAST SIX WEEKS FAIR TODAY

HAVENT HEARD FROM ANY OF THE FOLKS IN SOME TIME DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE REASON WALTER HE WROTE THAT HE EXPETED TO GO TO DALLAS SHE ? BE OPERATED ON FOR THE PYLES AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF HIM SINCE WROTE JOHN BUT HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM DON'T GUESS I WILL SUPPOSE HE GOT MIFFTED BECAUSE I DID NOT STOP AS I WENT HOME FROM YOUR HOUSE. I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR I WOULD OF MISSED THE TRAIN IF I HAD STOPPED. SO IF HE GOT MAD AT THAT I CANT HELP IT.

HAVE A NICE SMALL GARDEN HAVE HAD LOTS OF RADISHES AND LETTUS BEANS ARE BLOOMING IT IS ABOUT THE SISE OF YOUR GARDEN HAVE LOTS OF FLOWERS PLANTED OUT LOT OF ROSES BUT OUT ONLY A FEW IN BLOOM CLAUDE IS QUITE A GARDNER SO BETWEEN US I THINK WE WILL SOON HAVE LOTS TO EATE FROM IT- YOU CAN GET ANY VEGETABLE IN THE MARKET YOU CAN THINK OF SO THEY HAVE PLENTY TO EAT HERE - HAS KETON COME HOME YET. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW LOTTIE SAYS SHE WILL WRITE TO YOU AS SOON AS SHE IS ABLE-WILL CLOSE HOPE THIS FINDS YOU ALL WELL WRITE SOON I REMAIN AS EVER YOUR AFFECTIONATE OLD DAD

FELIX MCLEMORE

His body was brought back to Millsap, Texas by train, with his daughter Mollie there waiting. He was buried in the Cox Cemetery, next to his wife, Isabella.

(Research):
Census Information:

Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's
Birthplace
Mother's Birthplace

F. H. MCLEMORE Self M Male W 37 LA Laborer TN MS
S. I. MCLEMORE Wife M Female W 33 GA Keeping House SC GA
Walter K. MCLEMORE Son S Male W 12 TX Works On Farm LA GA
Molly MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 10 TX At Home LA GA
John W. MCLEMORE Son S Male W 8 TX LA GA
Thomas A. MCLEMORE Son S Male W 7 TX LA GA (Actually Thaddeus Asbury)
Minnie B. MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 5 TX LA GA
Eliza MCLEMORE Dau S Female W 3 TX LA GA
Felix H. MCLEMORE Son S Male W 1 TX LA GA


Source Information:
Census Place Precinct 8, Bastrop, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255290
NA Film Number T9-1290
Page Number 209C - http://www.familysearch.org v.2.5.0


1900 Federal Census
Texas, Parker County, JP 5, ED 75
Enumerated 12 June 1900 by Sam P. Newbery
SD 3, ED 75, Sheet 5
86-86
McLemore, Felix Hd W M Mar 1843 57 Wd LA TN Miss Farmer
McLemore, Minnie B Dtr W F Mar 1878 21 S Tx La Ga
McLemore, Felix H Son W M Jun 1879 20 S Tx La Ga
McLemore, Clarisy I Dtr W F Apr 1882 18 S Tx La Ga
McLemore, Marion H Son W M Jun 1884 14 S Tx La Ga
McLemore, Nancy J Stepmother W F Mar 1835 65 Wd 8/6 Tenn Tenn NC

1910 Federal Census
Oklahoma, Jackson County, Bacum Township (part of)
Enumerated 29 April 1910 by D.C. Oliver
SD 5 ED 134 Sheet 7B
118-124
Littlefield, J.D. Hd M W 43 M1 20 Tx Tn Tx Farming
Littlefield, Mallie Wife F W 40 M1 20 4/4 Tx La Ga
Littlefield, Deland Dtr F w 18 S Tx Tx Tx
Littlefield, Cedcle Son M W 17 Tx Tx Tx
Littlefield, Keton Son M W 14 Ok Tx Tx
Littlefield, Ona B Dtr F W 8/12 Ok Tx Tx
McLemore, F.H.Father-in-law M W 67 Widow La Tn Miss Laborer Odd Jobs

Felix married Clarisa Isabell "Isabella" Batey on 13 Oct 1866 in Bastrop County, Texas. Clarisa (daughter of Walter Warsham Batey and Eliza Evaline Gober) was born on 21 Jan 1849 in Franklin, Dekalb County, Georgia; died on 24 Aug 1888 in Millsap, Parker County, Texas; was buried in Cox Cemetery, Millsap, Parker County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]