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| Evergreen Church and entrance to the cemetery Dyke, Greene County, Virginia photo courtesy Jan Hensley |
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Tombstone Tuesday: The Knights
Tombstone Tuesday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that asks bloggers to include an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors along with a brief description of the image or the ancestor.
Leanna Jollett Knight and James Mitchell Knight are buried near one another in the Evergreen Church Cemetery in Greene County, Virginia. A pretty little stone church and a well-maintained cemetery surrounded by a low stone wall - beautiful scenery from every direction - who wouldn't want to be buried here?
Monday, July 11, 2016
James Franklin Jollett's Kids: Leanna Knight
As part of my “Genealogy Do-Over” efforts AND to force myself to get
crackin’ on my James Franklin Jollett book, Jollett Reunion, I will be
researching and writing brief biographies of James Franklin, his wives, and his
children.
Leanna Alice Jollett was the fourth child born to James Franklin and
Lucy Ann Shiflett Jollett. That was on March 14, 1867 in Greene County,
Virginia. However, there is no record of a “Leanna” in the 1870 census. Oh, the
Jolletts were enumerated on time, that is a fact. But there was no Leanna.
There was a three-year old daughter though, listed exactly where she should
have been listed, chronologically after Laura and before Mary F. Her name was “Columbia
A.”
In the next census in 1880, Columbia was nowhere to be found. In her
place was Leanna, age 13, right after Laura and before Mary F, the same age
expected for Columbia had she been listed.
There is no real explanation for the disappearance of one and
appearance of the other. Maybe there were twin girls and the enumerator failed
to list Leanna, and then maybe Columbia died before 1880. Or maybe the common
nickname “Lum” latched onto a middle name Ann and then “Lumanna” somehow
morphed into “Leanna” and it stuck. Maybe the enumerator simply mis-heard “Leanna”
and wrote “Columbia.” We will probably never know.
What is true, though, is that Leanna was the name on her marriage record,
death record, tombstone, and every census from 1880 to 1930.
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| James Mitchell Knight and Leanna Jollett Knight |
At age 18, Leanna married James Mitchell Knight, a farmer and son of a
farmer, whose childhood in Greene County was much like her own. Both attended
school, probably the same school since they grew up as near neighbors. One of
Leanna’s grandchildren once said that Leanna was not a beautiful woman but her
grandfather – who was quite handsome – absolutely adored his sweet Leanna.
The Knights had eleven children, and all survived into adulthood. They
owned their own farm in the Monroe District of Greene County. Supposedly for a
time they ran a store, but that is not reflected in the census records, only in
the memory reported by their son Clyde. Leanna was the postmistress for the
Nimrod Post Office from 1919-1925.
Leanna was quite social, and her name often appeared in the society
columns when she visited her aunt Clementine Morris, sister of Leanna’s mother.
It didn’t matter that they lived just a few miles from one another in the same
county; a visit was a visit when it came to local news. Despite their 20-years
difference in age, they had much in common. Both boasted very large families,
Aunt Clem’s outnumbering even Leanna’s large brood. As a result, they had
children of the same age, so they surely had plenty to talk about.
Leanna died in 1936 from endocarditis and myocarditis, in other words,
severe heart problems. Some time later, Mitchell went to live with their son
James Frank. He died in 1942, just a short six years after his beloved Leanna.
The two are buried in the Evergreen Church Cemetery in Greene County.
Leanna Alice JOLLETT (14 Mar 1867 Greene Co, VA – 20 Sep
1936 Albemarle Co, VA) and James Mitchell KNIGHT (9 May 1866 Greene Co, VA – 16
Feb 1942 Greene Co, VA) married 1 Mar 1885 Greene Co, VA
- Bertha Ola KNIGHT (18 Jan 1885 Greene Co, VA – 31 Jan 1963 Greene Co, VA) and Benjamin SHIFLETT (10 Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA – 24 Jan 1959 Greene Co, VA) married 24 Dec 1912 Greene Co, VA
- Victoria KNIGHT (4 Jul 1887 Greene Co, VA – 2 Feb 1929 Albemarle Co, VA) and Martin Lucas SHIFLETT (14 Aug 1882 Greene Co, VA – 5 Dec 1950 Ruckersville, VA) married 2 Mar 1904 Greene Co, VA
- Laura Maybelle KNIGHT (3 May 1890 Greene Co, VA – 20 Apr 1975 Greene Co, VA) and James Pearlie SHIFLETT (25 Jun 1889 Greene Co, VA – 2 Sep 1922 Greene Co, VA) married 17 Jan 1907 Greene Co, VA
- Eliza Jane KNIGHT (14 Jun 1892 Greene Co, VA – 23 Jun 1928 Albemarle Co, VA) and Charles Herbert GIBSON (17 Apr 1896 Greene Co, VA – 30 Apr 1990 Charlottesville, VA) married 27 Nov 1919 Greene Co, VA
- James Frank KNIGHT (3 May 1894 Greene Co, VA – 18 Apr 1986 Albemarle Co, VA) and Margaret LAWSON (16 Dec 1895 Greene Co, VA – 6 Mar 1963 Charlottesville, VA) married 9 Apr 1913 Greene Co, VA
- Pearl Josephine KNIGHT (25 May 1896 Greene Co, VA – 27 Dec 1988 Madison Co, VA) and William Harvey SHIFLETT (Mar 1893 Greene Co, VA – 3 Aug 1926 Greene Co, VA) married 13 Oct 1913 Hagerstown, MD
- William Lewis KNIGHT (20 Jun 1897 Greene Co, VA – 2 Sep 1970 Baltimore, MD) and Ethel Florence MORRIS (20 Mar 1899 Greene Co, VA – 6 Dec 1973 Baltimore, MD) married 10 Jan 1919 Greene Co, VA
- Edward Cole KNIGHT (6 Oct 1899 Greene Co, VA – 1 Sep 1982 Charlottesville, VA) and Eva Mae SHIFLETT (27 Apr 1906 Greene Co, VA – 25 Aug 2000 Charlottesville, VA) married 7 Sep 1927 Albemarle Co, VA
- Lonia “Lonnie” Catherine KNIGHT (24 Jul 1904 Greene Co, VA – 22 Sep 1988) and m1) Isaac Joshua KNIGHT (17 Sep 1899 Greene Co, VA – 29 Apr 1962 Maryland) married 25 Dec 1920 Greene Co, VA ; m2) Meade Elton JENKINS (19 Apr 1904 Winchester, VA – 21 Nov 1971 Staunton, VA) married 2 Feb 1957 Charlottesville, VA
- Clyde Henry KNIGHT (28 Oct 1904 Greene Co, VA – 13 Oct 1997 Charlottesville, VA) and Elsie Olyn MORRIS (13 Feb 1904 Greene Co, VA – 28 Sep 1984 Charlottesville, VA) married 3 Jun 1927 Greene Co, VA
- Isaac Finks KNIGHT (20 Aug 1908 Greene co, VA – 21 Dec 1994 Dundalk, MD) and Etha MORRIS (15 Oct 1908 Greene Co, VA – 20 Oct 1994 Baltimore, MD) married 4 Apr 1928 Greene co, VA
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All
rights reserved.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Sunday's Obituary: Laura and Will Sullivan
Sunday’s Obituary is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers
asking bloggers to share old obituaries and other information about an
ancestor.
Death of Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan
Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan, 82, died at her home Wednesday
evening about 10 o’clock after an illness of eight months.
She was born on May 30, 1865, a daughter of the late
Franklin and Lucy Jollett, of Greene County. She was united in marriage with
William J. Sullivan, who preceded her in death several years ago. She was a
charter member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church which was organized in
1895, and was an active member of various organizations in the church until her
health failed.
Her kindness and love won for her a place in the
community and church that will always be remembered.
She is survived by the following daughters: Mrs. J. W.
(Minnie) Breeden, Roanoke; Mrs. C. V. (Pearl) Strole, Shenandoah; Mrs. C. H.
(Floral) Merica, Shenandoah; Mrs. L. G. (Elta) Farrar, Portsmouth, Va.; Mrs. F.
S. (Leota) Racey, Dayton, Va; one sister: Mrs. Mollie Davis, Harrisonburg, Va.;
six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and
nephews. Four brothers and four sisters preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock
from the Evangelical United Brethren Church with her pastor, the Rev. P. W.
Fisher, in charge, assisted by the Rev. L. A. Racey and Elder E. L. Cave.
Burial took place in the United Brethren Cemetery.
Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased, Millard M.
Davis, Russell Coleman, Owen Sullivan, Leonard Clift, Clyde Knight, and Alfred
Roberts.
The ladies of the church carried flowers.
Those attending from a distance were: Mrs. A. H.
Woodring, Martinsburg, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Billingsley, Mr. and Mrs.
Owen Sullivan, Gary Sullivan, Russell Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Karnes, Mr.
and Mrs. Tommie Bern, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Secrist, Mrs. Julia Gilmer, of
Washington; Mrs. A. L. Maiden, Mr. and Mrs. Lew Morris, Mrs. Mabel Shifflett,
Mrs. Buey Snow, Mrs. Eugenia Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Roberts, Mr. and Mrs.
Clyde Knight of Stanardsville; Mrs. Bessie Aleshire, of Luray; Mrs. Irvin
Monger and daughter, Betty, Mrs. Minnie Long, of Elkton; Mrs. Mattie Hensley
and son, Stephen, of Dayton; Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Marie Wilson, Misses Florena
Swank, Carolyn Caricofe, Jane Keiler and Mildred Hanna, of Shenandoah College;
Rev. and Mrs. John Sowyer, of Staunton; Dave Sullivan, of Swift Run; Mrs.
Mollie Davis and daughter, Mrs. Violetta Ryan, of Harrisonburg; Mrs. Sadie
Jollett and Mrs. G. A. Steppe and son, Jollett, of Dahlgren, Va.
Card of Thanks
We wish to express our deepest appreciation to our
friends, neighbors and relatives for their many acts of kindness during the
illness and at the death of our mother, Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan.
The Daughters
SHENANDOAH NEWS
Death of W. J. Sullivan
Funeral services for W. J. Sullivan were held from the
Shenandoah United Brethren Church Sunday afternoon at two o’clock. Services
were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Vernon Rogers, assisted by Rev. L. A. Racey
and Rev. E. L. Cave. Interment was in the United Brethren Cemetery. The I. O.
O. F. Verbena Lodge No. 42 attended the funeral in a body.
Mr. Sullivan, age 76, a well known Shenandoah city
merchant, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Friday morning at 1:30 at his
home. Mr. Sullivan had been a resident of Shenandoah for 55 years and for the
past 38 years operated his grocery store in the northern end of Shenandoah. He
managed his grocery until the time of his death.
Mr. Sullivan took a keen interest in civic affairs,
serving several terms on the town council and has been a member of the Board of
Directors of the First National Bank for a number of years. He also served
several terms on the Page County school board. Mr. Sullivan was a charter
member of the Shenandoah United Brethren Church and for [?] years was
Superintendent of the Sunday School.
On January 14, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss
Laura E. Jollett, who survives him. To this union were born five daughters, all
of whom survive.
He is survived by the following children, Mrs. J. W.
Breeden, of Roanoke; Mrs. C. V. Strole and Mrs. C. H. Merica, of Shenandoah;
Mrs. L. G. Farrar of Portsmouth and Mrs. F. S. Racey, of Verona. Also six
grandchildren survive. There are also one sister, Mrs. J. M. Billingsley, of
Washington, and two brothers, Kennie Sullivan, of Shenandoah, and Dave
Sullivan, of Greene County, surviving.
Active pallbearers were: Alfred Roberts, Lewis Jollett,
J. T. Long, Monroe Owen and Hugh Sullivan, nephews of the deceased. The members
of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank and the members of the I.
O. O. F. Verbena Lodge carried flowers.
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All
rights reserved.
Friday, July 8, 2016
Sepia Saturday: Don't Forget to Write
Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt of a street scene with
people coming and going reminded me of this souvenir of St. Petersburg,
Florida.
This is my great-grandmother Mary Susan “Sudie” Eppard
Rucker. According to my grandmother, her mother loved Florida, and so she made
a point to visit every year. She always brought back a souvenir, usually some shell-encrusted
tchotchke – a bowl, a box, an ashtray. One of those souvenirs sat on my
grandmother’s end table for as long as I can remember. Sadly – or perhaps not –
it was not among the things that were saved and divided among her survivors.
On this particular trip dated around 1950 or 1951, Sudie’s
big souvenir was this photo. As the story goes, her picture was taken for the
newspaper. Why? Good question. Although the full story has been lost to time,
one possibility is that she was newsworthy because she was wearing a coat. Who
does that in Florida?
Given Sudie’s love of travel, it is not surprising that she
signed my mother’s autograph book about ten or twelve years previous with this
message:
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| Remember me in morning Remember me at night Remember me while away And don't forget to write. Grandmother Rucker |
Let’s take a walk over to Sepia Saturday and grab some
souvenirs.
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Wedding Wednesday: Sullivan Golden Anniversary
Wedding Wednesday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that invites bloggers to display their ancestors’ old wedding photos, wedding invitations, and wedding announcements.
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| Doris Jean Strole, Laura and Will Sullivan, Jimmie Morris |
A visit with my mother’s 2nd cousins Mary Lee Upton and Phyllis Carruthers, daughters of Elta Sullivan Farrar, solved the mystery of this photo. I had thought these were Sullivan grandchildren but they were not. The children were dressed to represent Laura and Will on their wedding day. The occasion was the Sullivans' 50th anniversary, an event that warranted detailed coverage in the local newspaper, The Page News and Courier.
Golden Wedding
The adult Bible Class of the United Brethren Church, Shenandoah, Virginia, gave Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sullivan a surprise celebration in honor of their golden Wedding anniversary at the church January 14, 1936.
The couple were met at the church door by a youthful bride and groom, Doris Jean Strole [niece of Pearl Sullivan Strole] and Jimmie Morrison [possibly Jimmie MORRIS, Laura’s great nephew], who escorted them to their seats to the strains of Mendelsohn’s Wedding March and sang “Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet.”
The choir then sang “Love’s Old Sweet Song.”
“Down By the Old Mill Stream” was beautifully rendered by Maxine Strole [granddaughter].
A reading, “Why We Go To Church,” was given by Miss Frances Knipple.
“When you and I Were Young, Laura,” was sung by the choir.
The couple’s Love Story was told, closing with Riley’s lovely poem, “That Old Sweetheart of Mine,” by Miss Fannie Louderback.
“Silver Threads Among the Gold” was sung by Mrs. Miller Davis and Mrs. Forest Racey [daughter Leota].
A beautiful family Bible, a gift from the Sunday School, was presented with an appropriate speech by Rev. Lee E. Sheaffer.
Then everyone was invited to the basement, where refreshments were served. The tables were artistically decorated, carrying out the color scheme of white and gold in the bride’s cake, candles, and favors.
Rev. Sheaffer made a jolly little speech and called on many others who responded with cheer and good wishes to the couple. Mr. Sullivan expressed his thanks and appreciation for the happy evening.
Many merry jingles were sung and time passed all too quickly bringing the parting hour.
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan (nee Miss Laura Jollett) were born and reared near Swift Run, Virginia.
They were married fifty years ago, by Reverend Garrison at the bride’s home near Swift Run, January 14, 1886.
Their four children are: Mrs. J. W. Breeden, Roanoke; Mrs. Lewis Farris [should be FARRAR], of Shenandoah, Mrs. Forest Racey, of Rockingham, and Miss Floral Sullivan at home. [there were 5 children – Mrs. Clyde Strole was omitted]
Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have lived many years in Shenandoah where they are loved and respected by a host of friends.
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Tombstone Tuesday: The Sullivans
Tombstone Tuesday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that asks bloggers to include an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors along with a brief description of the image or the ancestor.
Laura Jollett and Will Sullivan are buried in Coverstone Cemetery in Shenandoah, Virginia where they had lived for over 50 years. Three of their daughters are buried there too.
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| John Wesley Breeden is buried between his two wives: Minnie Sullivan Breeden and Margaret Lucas Coverstone Cemetery |
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| Pearl Sullivan Strole Coverstone Cemetery |
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| Elta Sullivan Farrar and husband Lewis Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Chesapeake, Virginia |
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| Forrest Racey is buried between his two wives: Leota Sullivan and Hazel Gilmore Mt. Hebron Cemetery Winchester, Virginia |
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All
rights reserved.
Monday, July 4, 2016
James Franklin Jollett's Kids: Laura Sullivan
As part of my “Genealogy Do-Over” efforts AND to force myself to get
crackin’ on my James Franklin Jollett book, Jollett Reunion, I will be
researching and writing brief biographies of James Franklin, his wives, and his
children.
![]() |
| Laura E. Jollett's calling card courtesy of her granddaughters Mary Lee Farrar Upton and Phyllis Farrar Carruthers |
Child #3 of James Franklin and Lucy Ann Shiflett Jollett was Laura Etta,
born May 30, 1865 in Greene County, Virginia. When she was 21, she married her
childhood sweetheart, William J. Sullivan. Will’s sister Louisa had married
Laura’s brother Burton Lewis just a few years before.
Laura and Will’s love for one another inspired their friends and
family. On their 50th anniversary, their Sunday School class
surprised them with a lavish anniversary party. Part of the program included a
reading of their Love Story, written by one of the most popular school teachers
in Page County, Miss Fannie Louderback. Three of the stories must have been
memories shared with their children and family members over the years.
Supposedly Laura and Will, growing up on neighboring farms, played
housekeeping games with Laura as wife and Will as husband. She claimed her favorite
flower was Sweet William and his was the Laurel.
The simple life of students attending a country school is revealed in a
story about how they enjoyed attending spelling matches. When a word was given
to Will to spell, he responded, “L-A-U-R-A”; she blushed and hung her head.
Not long before they were engaged, Will came calling but apparently
stayed too long for Laura’s father. When the clock struck ten, James Franklin
called out, “Close the door from the outside, young man.” Laura handed Will his
hat, and he sneaked a kiss.
Laura and Will were married in her home on January 14, 1886. The first
three of five girls were born in Greene. By 1899, they were well-established
across the mountain in Shenandoah, Virginia. Will was working as a drayman, an
older term for someone who drove a flat-bed wagon pulled by horses or mules to
deliver all kinds of goods.
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| Laura and Will Sullivan daughters Minnie and Pearl about 1893 or 1894 |
Will was as smart as he was ambitious. For a time, he was Assistant
Secretary of the YMCA; in other words, he helped manage the comings and goings
of those who worked there or stayed there on a temporary basis. He also became
a respected retail merchant running his own store.
Meanwhile Laura stayed busy as a mother of five daughters and as a
volunteer with the Gleaners, a woman’s society in the United Brethren Church,
where the Sullivans were charter members. She likely played an important role
as “the woman behind the man” when Will stepped into the political arena. He
served several terms on the town council and on the Page County School Board.
He was a member of the Board of Directors at First National Bank.
Will died in 1942 and Laura in 1947.
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| My grandaunt Velma Davis Woodring captioned this photo "The Three" Top: Sallie Jollett Clift Seated: Mary Frances Jollett Davis and Laura Sullivan |
Laura Etta JOLLETT (30 May 1865 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jul 1947 Shenandoah,
Page Co, VA) and William Jackson SULLIVAN (13 Jan 1866 Greene Co, VA – 22 May
1942 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA) married 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, VA
- Minnie Belle SULLIVAN (21 Feb 1887 Greene Co, VA – 5 Jan 1952 Harrisonburg, VA) and John Wesley BREEDEN (15 May 1880 Rockingham Co, VA – 8 Aug 1961 Harrisonburg, VA) married about 1905
- Lula Pearl SULLIVAN (9 Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA – 29 May 1986 Annandale, VA) and Clyde Vernon STROLE (4 Feb 1893 Page Co, VA – 198 Mar 1951 Harrisonburg, VA) married 11 Jun 1913
- Floral Mae SULLIVAN (4 Mar 1895 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 14 Feb 1987 Chesapeake, VA) and Cletus Homer MERICA (23 Feb 1899 Elkton, VA – 11 Oct 1971 Elkton, VA) married 16 Sep 1941 Verona, VA
- Elta Gladys SULLIVAN (3 Aug 1899 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 14 Jan 1991 Chesapeake, VA) and Lewis Granville FARRAR (6 May 1898 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 13 Nov 1970 Portsmouth, VA) married before 1920
- Leota Clarice SULLIVAN (24 Dec 1901 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 26 Jan 1981 Winchester, VA) and Forrest Sheldon RACEY (9 Jun 1902 Hampshire Co, WV – 8 Jun 1988 Winchester, VA) married 3 Dec 1930 Page Co, VA
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All
rights reserved.
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