I thought
when I moved to Willis, Texas that I would have a better chance
solving the mystery of what happened to my great-grandfather, William Marcus
Jeffery. It didn’t turn out to be any easier to solve the riddle than before.
William
was born in Caldwell County, Texas, in November, 1852, the son of
Jeremiah C. Jeffrey and Miverva Minervice (Franks) Jeffrey. William possibly
was born in Prairie Lea, the location given on the first census[1]
where he is mentioned, The Caldwell County 1860 lists parents and William as a
son age 8 along with Mary A. age 9, Andrew age 5 and James, 11 months.
By 1870[2]
the family had moved to Crockett, Texas. With them were children J D, (I
believe this to be Jeff Jesse, born 1861)
J C, (Jerry C) age 6, and M E (Mattie Elizabeth) age 1 year.
By 1880[3]
William’s father had died and Minerva remarried to George Forrest, listed on
the census as Dr. but his occupation is given as a farmer. He had been living
nearby on the last census so possibly was a family friend.
With them are James, Jerry and Mattie. William, now 28 years
old is not living with them. There is a William Jeffrey living in Milam County, Texas[4] with a family named Harvey. This William is listed as 28 years
of age and relationship as laborer. We suspect this is our William who has gone
off to find work.
There is no 1890 census so the next time we find William, he
is the father of Daisy, born to Ellen Crain in 1892 in Oakwood, Texas, on the border of Leon and Freestone Counties[5].
In 1894, William and Ellen are married in Anderson County, Texas.[6]
William’s brother was living in Palestine in Anderson County so they might have been living with
him or nearby. Mattie was born the same
year but we don’t have a record of just where.
By June, 1900 the census of Montgomery county shows they had moved to
Willis Texas. Willis was a major center for tobacco growing. I imagine that
William wanted to find work to support his family. With them are now Manni, age
2 and Maud age 2 months. William’s mother and sister Mattie along with a few
other relatives are now living in Huntsville.
Then the mystery occurred. Ellen remarried in May of 1902.[7] What happened to William?
I’ve searched records and even wandered cemeteries trying to
find him. I haven’t turned up so much as a clue. There is a large and very old
cemetery near where they might have lived in Willis. I was told that one field
is full of unmarked graves. It’s possible that he was buried there or he could
have been buried in Huntsville or even the Jeffrey cemetery in Caldwell County. We’ve found no trace. He has
simply vanished. But I haven’t given up
searching.
[1] 1860 Federal
Census Caldwell County, Texas
[2] 1870
Federal Census, Houston County, Texas
[3] 1880
Federal Census, Houston County, Texas
[4] 1880
Federal Census, Milam County, Texas
[5]
Certificate of Death for Daisy Robinson
[6]Index
of "Texas,
Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch
(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX74-XVW :
accessed 23
Sep 2013), W. M. Jeffrey and
Ellen Crane, 14 Oct 1894.
[7] Anderson
County Marriages Index familysearch.org
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