The Road to East Texas

Our Family Reunion

Eds. Debra Buster and Nedra Chandler Issue 09 Jan-Dec 2003

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Biography Julia Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Harris was the eldest daughter of Joel C. and Paulena 'Lizzie' Moore Harris. She was born 26 November, 1881 in the Sandy Creek area of Chambers Co., ALabama. She married Jesse Newton Taylor in 1902 in Cass County, Texas. Jesse was born 24 November 1874 in Texas. He was the son of Harriet Bricker and Joseph Columbus Taylor of Cass County Texas. Jesse was an early member of Woodmen of the World, Herring School Lodge 2228 in Cass County, transfering his membership to Lodge 1698 about 1907. According to the 1910 Census Jesse and 'Lizzie' farmed the property adjoining his parents. Several of Joseph Taylor's children including William R. and Lula Burton Taylor farmed family land. The Taylors were early settlers of Cass County.		Julia Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Harris, photo taken at Bramms Studio in Atlanta about 1900 1902.
Lizzie and Jessie with twin Calves.	About 1914 Jesse followed the millworks to a community of near Glover and Golden, McCurtain County, Oklahoma. My Grandmother, Nora Parker Forbes remembered visiting their farm in Oklahoma. She had a photo of Jessie and Lizzie with a set of twin calves. Jessie died September 20, 1936.

Julia with granddaughter and beloved feline companion. Can you identify the child?. Let me know

'Lizzie remarried twice first to Mr. Hamilton and then Mr. Alexander. According to Ailene "Lizzie Taylor was a Watkins Dealer in Wright City McCurtain Co. OK. She loved cats and thought cats were special souls. She lived for a time with her daughter and son-in-law, Mamie and William Grabeel.. Mamie cared for Lizzie when she became ill. Lizzie had heart disease and kidney problems Julia died March 26, 1949 in Texas only a few months before her sister Susie Ida Harris Parker Swearengin. Julia and Jessie are buried in Eastview cemetery in Vernon Texas, their granddaughter Ailene Grabeel Clarkson provided the headstone. She has assumed the role of family historian

1920 US FEDERAL CENSUS McCurtain Co. OK, Supervisors district 3 enumerator Richard Johnson

District 151--- Sulphur township (part of) That part of township 5 S.R. 23 E. lying east of Clover Creek and Sections 6,7,18,19,30,31, of township 5 S.R. 24 E. and that part of township 6 S.R. 23 E. lying east of Clover Creek and Little River and that part of township 7

Taken 12 January 1920. No TWP listed

Ln50 res52

Jesse Taylor white male head of household age 45 (1875) born in Texas parents born in Georgia. Rents farm. Can read and write. Timberman and General farmer.

Wife Lizzie white female age 37 (1883) born in Alabama (Chambers Co.AL) parents born in Alabama (this is an error) Joel Harris Lizzie's Father was born in Chambers Co. AL , Paulelena Moore Harris, her Mother, was born in Troup Co. GA

Daughter Mamie age 17 born in Texas (Cass Co) can read and write.

Son Dewey age 13 born in Texas (Cass Co.) can read and write. listed as farm labor

Brother-in-law John T. (Thomas) Harris Widower, age 47 born in Alabama (Chambers Co. AL) parents born in Alabama (this is an error) Joel Harris was born in Chambers Co. AL and Paulena Mmoore Harris was born in Troup Co. GA, He listed as Boarder and farm labor

Son of John Thomas and Nancy Barcum Odrey O. (Odell) Harris age 2 years 10/12 months born in Texas (Cass Co. TX) Nancy Barcum born in Oklahoma

Lebanon Express, Thursday, October 2, 1980

Obituaries

Mamie M. Ruffin

Funeral services for Mamie Myrtle Ruffin, 77, of 1236 47th St., Sweet Home, will

be 2 p.m. today at Tracewell Funeral Chapel in that city. Pastor Howard Libby

will officiate and burial will follow at Gilliland Cemetery.

She was born Nov. 28, 1902, at Atlanta, Texas, and moved to Wright City, Okla.,

at the age of 11. She lived in Arkansas and California before moving to Sweet

Home in 1974.

Survivors include her husband, Ervin Ruffin; five daughters; three sons,

including Les Grabeel of Sweet Home; a brother; 20 grandchildren, and 8

great-grandchildren.

Thanks to Pat Dunn, volunteer, Lebanon Genealogical Society

Sweet Home Genealogical Society

1223 Kalmia St.

Sweet Home, OR 97386

Putting the Pieces together

Please check through old cards, letters, address books, or backs of pictures for information that will help us locate early photos of Joel and Paulena Moore Harris. I am more certain than ever photos of them exist prior to 1900

Special thanks to Jason Sanders for sharing so much information and the Harris/Johnson photographs. He and his parents are primary caretakers for Christina Ross, daughter of Isom Johnson and granddaughter of Nancy Harris Johnson. Nancy was the daughter of Isham David and Julia Elizabeth King Megginson and sister of our Joel C. Harris. Jason has shared a treasure chest of family photos and information from Christina, including photos of Isom and wife, Annie Turnham Harris, Nancy Harris and husband, James Johnson's family.

PatsyJackson was kind enough to respond to my query about obtaining old negatives and photographs from Bramms Studios in Atlanta. I am in pursuit of other old family photos. http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JhB.2ACE/981.1My Uncle and Aunt owned Bramms Studio in Atlanta, TX.Their name Louis P and Gertrude Y (Holt) Bramm. Louis died in the 30s and my aunt died in the 50s. They only had one (adopted) daughter Emily McDonald who has also been dead for years. My last information was that Emily and husband Odie McDonald lived in DeRidder, LA. They had 2 children that died when they were small. I don't know if there was other children who survived. If so they might have records. Patsy Arlington, TX patsyjackson3@earthlink.net <patsyjackson3@earthlink.net>

Our Family Newsletter

It was a pleasure to talk with Ailene Grabeel Clarkson, granddaughter of JuliaHarris and Wiliiam Grabeel Finding her was like striking gold. She kindly supplied all the missing information on my illusive Aunt Lizzie. She and her sister, Maxine Waters helped fill in all the family information on Mamie Taylor Ailene lives in Wichita Falls, TX With their help we have completed the family tree Descendants of Joel C.and Paulena Elizabeth "Lizzie" Moore Harris.

Each edition will highlight a family group and we need your input. to make this interesting. If you have any information about the descendants of Joel C. Harris, & Paulena Elizabeth Moore or their descendants please call us.