Book Report: Cemetery Records in Louisiana

Magee, Zuma F., and Thelma S. Bateman. 

Cemetery Records - Louisiana. Volume III. 

Franklinton, Louisiana: Privately printed, 1966.Smith Cemetery. From the Washington Parish Library, Franklinton, LA.

I found this book in the Franklinton Library, LA. It’s more of a report, actually, typed pages in thick folder. It lists several cemeteries in Louisiana, where some of my families settled and were laid to rest. This is exactly the kind of resource I like to uncover because it cannot be accessed by internet. You have to visit the library to read the data inside.

 Several of my family’s surnames were included. I found these names that match with my records:

Smith Cemetery, pages 6 - 8

W L Smith                           13 Sept 1853  21 Apr 1930

Emma J Warren                  27 Nov 1858   9 Oct 1932     w/o W L Smith

Bertha Jane Smith              2 Jan 1878     24 June 1898 d/o W L & E J Smith

Spurgeon Ira Smith             12 Mar 1892   2 Oct 1893     s/o W L & E J Smith

Willie Edgar Smith              6 July 1879    11 Mar 1893   s/o W L & E J Smith

Alford Cemetery, page 25

Rev N E Alford                    15 Oct 1845   28 July 1937

Mary L Stafford                  7 Sept 1850   9 July 1902    [w/o N E Alford]

Frances Dora Alford            29 Oct 1869   17 Nov 1889   d/o Rev N E & M L Alford

Thomas L Alford                 12 Sept 1873  12 Apr 1917   [s/o Rev N E & M L Alford]

Sallie McGruda Alford         23 Jan 1878   28 Nov 1925   w/o T L Alford

H Lucious Alford                10 June 1884 4 June 1949   [s/o Rev N E & M L Alford] 

Alford Cemetery, page 26

Seaborn Alford                   19 May 1844  22 Nov 1919   Pvt. Co A & K La. Cav. C S A

Laura A Ellzey                     25 Apr 1844   19 Mar 1903   w/o S L Alford

Page 27

J S Alford                          11 Oct 1807   15 Nov 1897   [John Seaborn Alford]

Margaret                           9 Feb 1819    8 Sept 1885   w/o J S Alford

Mt Hermon Cemetery, page 69

Ira P Alford                        24 Jan 1822   15 Sept 1901

Laura C. Fortenberry         22 Apr 1866   19 June 1901 w/o W E Fortenberry; 

                                          d/o Rev E M & L E Schilling

Alphabetical Ancestors- S

S is for these Surnames…

Schilling

Murrey J Schilling [1853 – 1951] was the son of Frank & Elizabeth (Ott) Schilling. He married Mary Jane Ellzey [1857 MS – 1932] who was the daughter of John Schaffer Ellzey, Jr. & Saryntha A Smith. Murrey & Mary Jane had nine children: Alfred, Ola, Dixie, Ruby, Oscar, John, Minnie, Fuman & Alma.

Simmons

William Archie Simmons [1897 LA – 1955] married Lillian Alford [1900 LA – 1969], daughter of Julius G Alford & Lily E Brumfield. William & Lillian had three children: Woodrow, Geneva & Gwendolyn. They lived in Washington Parish, Louisiana.

Simmons

Vern James Simmons [b1927 MI] married Dorothy June Hurd 91929 MI – 2008 MI], daughter of Howard Merton Hurd & Marian Louise Lehman. They had three sons.

Smith

Not only do I have Brown ancestors, I have Smith ancestors. And, they married each other. Try to search for those names and you will find long lists of results you have to sort through! Here are a few of my Smiths…

Jeremiah Smith Sr. [1755 – after 1827 MS] married Jemimah Hollis. They had four children: Jeremiah, George, Daniel & Mary.

Jeremiah Smith [1773 SC – 1843 MS] married Joanna Dillon [1778 NC – 1821 MS]. They had thirteen children: Hollander, Martha P., Eli, Jane, Edwin, Wyatt, Eliza, Calvin, Lidda, Mehala, Milevey, Joanna & Jeremiah. In 1790 Jeremiah was in Greenville Co., SC. In 1841 he was in Pike Co., MS.

Wyatt Smith [1809 LA – 1894 MS] married Euseba Fortenberry [1809 SC – 1878 MS]. They had nine children: Emmaline, Saryntha, William, Jasper, Newton, Rankin, Eliza Jane, Adolphus & Walter. Census records from 1840 – 1880 show Wyatt in Pike Co., MS.

Spice

Arthur Spice [b 1877 OH] was the son of Robert Anson Spice & Emma C Gordon. Arthur married Emaline Floy Moore [1883 OH – 1942 OH], daughter of Peter Jonathan Moore & Caroline Louise Gruissy. Arthur & Emaline had five children: Vernon, Glenn, Floy, Jay & Ralph. Arthur was a farmer and worked at a brick works. In 1910 & 1920 they were in Medina Co., OH.

Spurlock

Mary Polly Spurlock [1800 GA – 1888 MS] was my third great grandmother. I know nothing about her parents or family. I’d love to learn more. She married Edward S Brown [1806 GA – 1856 MS]. Mary & Edward had five children: Moses, Magdelene, Martha, Adeline & James.

Strohschein

Paul C Strohschein [b1922 LA] married Lacy L Ball [b1930 LA] in 1950. LA. Lacy was the daughter of James Alton Ball & Mildred Olga Brown. They had four children.

Strumpf

Not only is this an interesting surname but they are related in an interesting way. It is a case of siblings marrying siblings. Siblings John & Maria Magdalena Stumpf married Jacob & Mary Magdalena Ritter. Johannes Ritter, Sr. & Maria Elisabeth Keck were the parents of Mary Magdalena Ritter [1790 PA – 1870] and Jacob Ritter [1785 PA – 1847].

Swagler

Delbert Milton Swagler [c1883 OH – 1962] married Lena Morrison [1883 OH – 1962 OH]. She was the daughter of Seth Benner Morrison & Margaret Jane Gruissy. Delbert & Lena had four children: Roy, Harold, Cleal & Paul. Delbert was a farmer in Medina Co., OH. Lena was a seamstress.

Other ‘S’ surnames in my tree: Sanfillipo, Schmitts, Shollenberger, Slaby, Sloan, Snyder, Sommer, Sparks, Stafford, Stahler, Stallings, Statham, Steele, Sterling, Straum, Sullivan, Sunburg & Swank.

Ellzey

I am connected to an assortment of Ellzey family members through Benjamin Franklin Ellzey. He was married twice, to sisters Nancy & Emily Holmes. His children were born in Mississippi. 

1 Benjamin Franklin Ellzey b: 10 Sep 1826,MS,  d: 20 Nov 1904, MS

... + Nancy Jane Holmes

......2 Ivanson M. Ellzey b: Abt. 1853 MS

......2 Salina Ellzey Walker b: Abt. 1855 MS

......2 William S. Ellzey b: 01 May 1857 MS, d: 09 Jul 1946 MS

...... + Amanda Adarene Fortenberry b: 02 Jul 1865 MS, m: Abt. 1883, d: 10 Jul 1949 MS

.........3 William Franklin Ellzey b: 27 Feb 1888

......... + Kittie Smith Ellzey

.........3 Sibley Ellzey Ginn

......... + Dean Ginn

.........3 Irene Elizabeth Ellzey b: 14 Jul 1891

......... + Cullen Simmons

.........3 Charles Spurgeon Ellzey b: 10 Jan 1894 MS

......... + Mae McMillan Ellzey

.........3 Earnest T. Ellzey b: 12 Feb 1896 MS

......... + Irene Holmes Ellzey

.........3 Lillian Pearl Ellzey b: 03 Apr 1899 MS

.........3 Alva Edwin Ellzey b: 23 Oct 1900 MS

......... + Blanche Alford Ellzey

.........3 Hettie Muriel Ellzey b: 02 Jun 1903 MS

......... + Emmitt Gulledge

.........3 Mary Thelma Ellzey b: 22 Feb 1906 MS, d: Jan 1974 Magnolia, Pike, MS

......... + Roy J Brown b: 8 Mar 1902 Osyka, Pike, MS, d: 12 May 1956 Magnolia, Pike, MS

......... + Crawley

......... + Denny H Smith b: 3 Mar 1892 in Tylertown, Walthall, MS, d: 18 Mar 1966 MS

.........3 Ayleen Ellzey Fortenberry b: 14 Apr 1908 MS

......... + Seab Fortenberry

... + Emily Holmes Ellzey b: Jan 1836 MS, d: Aft. 1900

......2 Theodore Ellzey b: Abt. 1861 MS

......2 Josephine Ellzey b: 25 Apr 1862 MS, d: 13 Jul 1907

...... + Richard A. Fortenberry

......2 Nannie J. Ellzey b: Abt. 1866 MS

...... + Webster Fortenberry

......2 Samuel J. Ellzey b: 26 Jul 1867, d: 08 Jul 1902

......2 Mollie C. Ellzey b: Jan 1870 MS

...... + Ellis Schilling b: May 1868

.........3 Barla Schilling b: Mar 1892 LA

.........3 Annie Schilling b: Feb 1894 LA

.........3 Mae Schilling b: May 1896 LA

......2 Annie I. Ellzey b: Jan 1870 LA

......2 John H. Ellzey b: Abt. 1871 LA

......2 Hettie F. Ellzey b: Abt. 1872 MS

......2 Margaret W. Ellzey b: Abt. 1874 MS

......2 Ida Ellzey Kirk

A few Ellzey Resources:

·         1860 US Census, Pike, Holmesville, page 41. B F Ellzey family

·         1880 US Census, MS, Pike; SD 3, ED 37, Page 12. B Frank Ellzey family

·         1900 US Census, MS, Pike, Beat 1; SD 7, ED 104, Sheet 18. Benjamin Ellzey family

·         G. K. Fortinberry, ABSTRACT HISTORY OF THE FORTINBERRY FAMILY; 1795-1940's; Family History Center Microfilm #1036152