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Sarah Elizabeth McLemore

Female 1854 - 1941  (86 years)


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  • Name Sarah Elizabeth McLemore  [1
    Birth 15 Oct 1854  McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Female 
    Death 18 Aug 1941  Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1873, Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 65 years) 
    Mother Nancy Jane Johnson,   b. 21 Mar 1835, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Dec 1926, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 91 years) 
    Marriage Aft 1853  Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • In his March 1, 1955 letter to a niece, Pleasant McLemore enumerated his own sibling group "Elisabeth, Emma, Bob, Addie, Rose, Pleasant."
    Documents
    McLemore, Keton Jones family info pg1
    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
    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
    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
    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 
    Marriage 28 Jan 1873  McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [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 Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     2. Mary Mamie Williams Donovan,   b. 14 Aug 1878, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Aug 1960, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)
    Family ID F8160  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Dec 2006 

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

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 15 Oct 1854 - McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 28 Jan 1873 - McDade, Bastrop County, Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 18 Aug 1941 - Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [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).