Census Sunday: Eliza Jane Smith McClendon Fortenberry

Eliza Jane Smith 

1846 – 1905 

Daughter of Wyatt Smith & Euseba Fortenberry

Eliza married twice, first to David Jackson McClendon & later to John Norvel Fortenberry. Looking at census records, I have been able to find her with her parents and with her second husband but not with her first husband. Fortunately, the 1880 census shows children from both marriages.

1850 US Census, Pike County, Mississippi. Wyatt Smith family.

‘Wiatt’, 41, farmer, b. Mississippi; value of real estate $1,000. Wife, Libbey, 40, b. S Carolina

Children all born in Mississippi: [names as they are spelled in the report]

Sarintha, 17; William J. M., 15; Emeline M., 13; Jasper, 10; Oscar N., 8; Elija J, 6; Adollphus, 3 years old.

1880 US Census, MS, Pike; SD 3, ED 37; ancestry.com.

Norvel Fortenberry, 27 b MS, farmer

Eliza J, 34

Carl Edith, son, 5

Burrel W, son, 3

Annie McClenden,  step daughter, 15

Eugene W McClenden, stepson, 13

1900 US Census, MS, Pike, Beat 1; SD 7, ED 104, page 21; ancestry.com

John Fortenberry, 48 b Oct 1851 MS; married 1873; farmer

Eliza J, 53 b March 1847 MS; mother of 10/ 7 living

Carl L, son, 26 b Nov 1873 MS; farmer

William L, son, 16 b Nov 1883 MS; farm hand

Audray E, daughter, 14 b June 1885 MS

Emma E, daughter, 12 b June 1887 MS

Related Posts:

• Jeremiah Smith
• Wyatt Smith

Vintage Photograph: Shirley Fortenberry

Shirley Fortenberry

b 29 October 1909 MS

son of Tate Edward Fortenberry  & Lucy Viola Brown

My 1st cousin 1 x removed

Shirley is in uniform in this photo but I have been unable to find a military record for him as yet. I do not know when or where he died. I welcome more information about Shirley.

Census Sunday: Willis James Fortenberry

 Willis James Fortenberry 

1829 – 1905 

Son of William Jasper & Violette (Kennington) Fortenberry 

He married Louisa Blackwell. 

They lived in Pike Co., MS & had seven children.

 Willis was my 3^rd great grand uncle.

Note: Fortenberry has variations including Fortinberry/Fortinbery

1870 US Census, MS, Pike; ancestry.com

Willis Fortenbery, 40 b MS, Minister

Louisa 42 b KY, house keeper

Permelia 14 b MS

John 14 b MS

Edward 12 b MS

Monroe 9 b MS

Armintha 6 b MS

Hollace 3 b MS

Harman 1 b MS

Coyabel 52 b MS

1900 US Census, MS, Pike, Tylertown, Beat 2; SD 7, ED 106, Sheet 13; ancestry.com.

“Willis J Fortinbery” 70 b Nov 1829 MS, farmer; m 1853

Louisa, wife, 71 b Apr 1829 KY; mother of 7/ 7 living

Felder, son, 31 b May 1869 MS; farm laborer

Eliza, dau in law, 24 b Sept 1875 MS; mother of 2/ 2 living

Alberta, grand daughter, 6 b Jan 189 MS

Ecca, grandson, 4 b Mar 1896 MS

Related Posts:

• William Jasper Fortenberry
• Euseba Fortenberry

Maps: Neighbors or Family or Both?

When searching census reports I often look at the other people on the page or in nearby pages. Sometimes I find family members who lived next door or nearby. I’m sure that many researchers do the same thing.

Another way to find neighboring family members is through maps. I have had great success by using the Family Maps books by Gregory A. Boyd, J. D. I have a few & have blogged about them in the past. I am revisiting those books to see what I have missed.

Family Maps

Of Pike, County, Mississippi

Deluxe Edition

Gregory A. Boyd, J. D.

2005

I looked for my Fortenberry family & found the surname in map group 12, section 34, near Smithburg, MS.  Along with the Fortenberry surname I found Smith surnames. I made a list in my notebook and then looked closely at their relationships. Soon I was sketching two family trees.


Wm. J Fortenberry & Violette Kennington          Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon

My 4^th great grandparents                                        My 4^th great grandparents

They were not listed in the map book but these children were:                                           

Gasua C Fortenberry 1805 – 1884                             Calvin Smith 1812 – 1881

Burrell T. Fortenberry 1820 – 1863                           Jeremiah 1821 – 1894

Euseba Fortenberry 1809 – 1878      ….Married...   Wyatt Smith 1808 – 1894

In this area of Pike County these two families, united by the marriage of Wyatt & Euseba (Fortenberry) Smith, my 3^rd great grandparents, lived and worked side by side.

In the adjoining section, section 35, more of the same surnames are shown along with a couple new names. Here is the list of landowners along with their relationship to Gasua Fortenberry to illustrate their connection.

Gasua C Fortenberry, 1805 – 1884; my 3^rd great grand uncle

Warren M Huffman, 1835 – 1905; son in law of Gasua, husband of Narcissa

Benjamin C Fortenberry, 1856 – 1895; nephew of Gasua Fortenberry

Wyatt Smith, 1809 – 1895; brother in law of Gasua; my 3^rd great grandfather

Calvin Smith, 1812 – 1881; brother of brother in law of Gasua

Harrison H Burch, 1867 – 1935; grandson in law of Gasua

Isaac Broomfield, 1823 – 1909; brother of sister in law of brother in law of Gasua

Lewis W Brown; unknown

Lewis Brown is a missing piece. I know my Brown family is related to Fortenberry, Smith & Brumfield and my family was (and still is) in the county. Lewis might be a family member but at this time I cannot find a connection.

Looking at one after another section on these maps I can find more & more family connections. Celebrate Mappy Monday by looking at a map!

Related Posts:

• Maps Lead Places
• Mississippi Maps

Research all the Branches: Brumfield & Holmes

Genealogy research does not follow a well-marked path through the forest of family trees. It rambles and curves and splits. I know there are researchers who only want to follow their direct line ancestors, the paved road. However, you never know when those overgrown paths might just lead back to your direct ancestors.

The Holmes family is not in my direct line but does connect. Elisha Holmes, Sr. & Sally Stovall had three daughters who all married into my Brumfield family. 

“Elisha Holmes, Sr., came from Georgia with his wife, Sally Stovall, a sister of Drury, Ralph and Henry Stovall. They settled on Collins Creek in the early part of 1800, contemporaneously with the Magees. They were the original ancestors of the extensive Holmes family in Pike County. They were the parents of the following children: Coleman, who married Polly Ann Foil, sister of William Foil, from Georgia; Josiah, who married Agnes Sumrall; Benjamin, who married Mary Sumrall; William who married Jane Foil, sister of Ann; Jesse, who married Nancy Sumrall; James, who married Nancy Shirley; Cynthia, who married David Brumfield; Betsey, who married Isaac Brumfield; Jennie, who married Willis Brumfield; Elisha, who married Mary Roberts, daughter of David Roberts, from Georgia; and Berry, who never married.” [Conerly, L. W. (1909). Pike County, Mississippi, 1798-1876: Pioneer families and Confederate soldiers (2008 ed.). Madison, GA: Southern Lion Books. Page 66.]

Elisha Holmes, Sr. & Sally Stovall

Parents of:

Coleman Holmes & Polly Ann Foil

Josiah Holmes & Agnes Sumrall

Benjamin Holmes & Mary Sumrall

William Holmes & Jane Foil

Jesse Holmes & Nancy Sumrall

James Holmes & Nancy Shirley

Cynthia Holmes & David (Davis) Brumfield*

Betsey Holmes & Isaac Brumfield*

Jennie (Nancy Virginia) Holmes & Willis Brumfield*

Elisha Holmes, Jr. & Mary Roberts

Berry Holmes

Davis Brumfield 1795 SC – 1863 MS, Isaac Brumfield 1801 SC – 1862 MS & Willis Brumfield 1794 SC – 1833 were the sons of John B Brumfield 1768 NC – 1845 LA & Margaret Kelly. John & Margaret were my 4^th great grandparents. Youngest son of John B Brumfield & brother to Davis, Isaac and Willis was Nathaniel Brumfield 1813 LA – 1852 LA, my 3^rd great grandfather. He married Charlotte Temple Ott 1815 LA – 1895.

I suggest we follow all those paths through the forest because we just do not know where they will lead. You might find another bit of data or another source to support your results.

I leave the Holmes family with this wonderful quote:

“All the Holmes who names may be found in the rolls of the several military companies of Pike and incorporated in this book sprung from Elisha Holmes, Sr., and Sally Stovall, those glorious old Georgia ancestors, like the rest of them, who first planted themselves in the wilds of the Mississippi Territory, gave to the Confederacy its heroes and its heroines.” [Conerly, L. W. (1909). Pike County, Mississippi, 1798-1876: Pioneer families and Confederate soldiers (2008 ed.). Madison, GA: Southern Lion Books. Page 67.]