Table of Contents



Children



John H. Claiborne
Fifth Child of John B. Claiborne
20 September 1842 - 28 November 1932

John Henderson (or Harrison) Claiborne was born on 20 September 1842 in DeKalb County, Tennessee [Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. See also census records for 1880, 1910 and 1920. ]. By 1860 the family had moved to Arkansas and on 6 January 1863, while 19 years old, he enlisted to fight in the Civil War with Company H of the Arkansas 25th Infantry Regiment [Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. See also census records for 1880, 1910 and 1920. ]. James Harrison Claybourn, his cousin, wrote in a letter dated 1919: "John H. [Claiborne] was captured [in the Civil War] and brought North where he took the Oath of Allegiance, was released from prison, and came to our house [This would be the home of William Divine Claybourn, John's uncle, in Illinois] and stayed until the war was over. He went back [to Arkansas] where he was still living several years ago" [Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959)].

On 18 February 1869 he married Sarah A. Roberts. The family is listed in the 1870 census of White County, with John being listed as 28 years old, a farmer with a wife, Sarah A., age 25, and a six month old son, William B., born in Arkansas [Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).]. John and Sarah would go on to have at least one more child, Edgar, as listed below. Presumably Sarah died because by the 1880 census of White County John is listed as 36 years old (the age does not tally), a farmer, and having a new wife named Mary J., age 32 [Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. This new wife is Mary Jane Ware, and together she and John would have eight children together. Four children are listed in the 1880 census, with the first two being from John's first marriage: Bruce (10 yrs old), Eddie (9 yrs old), Flora B. (3 yrs old) and Annie (2 months old). John's younger brother Sam (22 years old) and a cousin named B.W. Weir (22 years old) were also in the household. Between 1884 and 1886 John served as coroner of White County [Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas, (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishers, 1890). ].

Goodspeed lists the following for him in 1890: "married Mary Ware; the father of six children; living in Texas" [Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas, (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishers, 1890).]. Thus, he moved to Texas sometime between 1886 and 1890, and appears to have lived at Honey Grove, Texas and later at Sweetwater, Texas [Claybourn, Verner M., and Harriette Pinnell Threlkeld. The Claybourn Family (A-1 Business Service, 1959).]. On 23 December 1906 John married for the third time, this time to Mary Ethel Waters (called "Ethel"). John was roughly 64 at the time, but surprisingly his new wife Ethel was the young age of 24 (having been born on 27 Jan. 1882), for a total age difference of about 42 years. It was not uncommon for young women in Arkansas to marry Confederate pensioners, though state law was later changed to restrict this practice by limiting eligible widow's pensions to those born before 1870. Ethel had previously married to an Albert Ross Ladyman in Dec. of 1900 and had two children by him (Lonnie Ladyman and Elbert Ross Ladyman) [Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. Presumably they divorced because Albert would later remarry and did not die until 1968 [Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.].

John and Ethel had five children together, listed in greater detail below [Much of the data on John's children was derived from the 1880 census, prior research by Ms. Threlked, and records with the LDS Church, which can be found here.]. The 1920 census lists John as being 75 years old, married to 37 year old Mary E. and having six children at home: Elbert (16 yrs old), Luther (13 yrs old), James (13 yrs old), Everett (10 yrs old), Mattie (8 yrs old) and John (5 yrs old). The family is also listed on the 1930 census, with only two children (Woodward and John D.) living at home [United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.]. Note that their last child was conceived and born when John was an astounding 70 years old. He died on 28 November 1932 at the ripe old age of 90 years old in Grayson County [Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.]. Waters Family genealogy research indicates that Ethel followed in death many years later on 12 June 1976 in Sherman (Grayson County), Texas ["AR Family Group Sheet for Robert Pleasant Waters," available online here: http://www.fgs-project.com/arkansas/groups/w/watersrp.txt].

Pedigree Chart

Joshua Clyburn
c. 1758 - c. 1799
Ephraim Claybourn
1788 - 1850
Sarah
John B. Claiborne
1812 - 1874
Mary "Polly" Browning
1792 - 1874
Sally Browning
John H. Claiborne
1842 - 1932
Perlina E. Thomason
c. 1830 - 1870

Descendants

John and his first wife Sarah A. had at least two children together:

  1. William Bruce Claiborne (called "Bruce") was born on 24 November 1869 in White County, Arkansas and married Emma Davis (born on 20 May 1872). Emma Davis died on 1 December 1937 in Lamar County, Texas and Bruce followed in death on 20 January 1945. Both are buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Lamar County, Texas.

  2. Edgar Smith Claiborne was born in February of 1871 in White County, Arkansas [Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. On 10 December 1893 he married Julia "Belle" Sailor, who was born in 1871 in Lamar County, Texas to Alvin Emmanuel Sailor (11 Feb 1842 - 19 May 1891) and Sarah Jane Ragsdale (26 Apr 1844 - 31 May 1877) [Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. Julia died in 1926 and Edgar followed on 23 October 1948, both in Lamar County, Texas [Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit.]. They are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Lamar County. Together they had four children:

    1. Mattie M. Claiborne was born in October of 1894 in Lamar County, Texas. By 1920 she had moved to Kaufman County, Texas, and her last known recorded activity is residing there for the 1930 census [Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.].

    2. Bertha Claiborne was born on 11 October 1903 in Lamar County and married Floyd H. Brooks (born on 31 Oct 1899). They are included in the 1930 census but no children are listed [United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.]. Floyd died on 31 December 1968 and Bertha followed many years later on 12 November 1985, both in Delta County, Texas [Social Security Death Index, Number: 459-80-5186 (Bertha); Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: 1963. Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit. Social Security Death Index, Number: 466-60-7143 (Floyd); Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: 1955. ].

    3. Alvin Harrison Claiborne was born on 7 January 1900 and married Lydia Lee (born on 20 April 1911) [World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Card. Registration Location: Lamar County, Texas; Roll: 1983378; Draft Board: 2.]. It's likely that Alvin participated in World War I since in 1920, about a year after it had ended, Alvin was stationed in Coblenz-Lutzel, Germany serving with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, Air Force Group [Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.]. Alvin and Lydia had a child, Alvin Jr., who was born on 11 Nov 1926 but died just 11 years later on 25 Jul 1937 [Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit. ]. Some records indicate that Lydia died on 1 March 1948, but in the 1930 census Alvin is listed as a widower [United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls]. Alvin died on 18 December 1951 [California Death Index. Place: Los Angeles, California; Date: 18 Dec 1951; Social Security: 463285692.]. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Lamar County, Texas.

    4. Nelda Beatrice Claiborne was born on 3 August 1901 and died on 12 March 1903. Nelda is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Lamar County, Texas.

John and Mary Jane Ware had eight children together:

  1. Belle Claiborne was born in about 1872.

  2. Mattie Claiborne was born on 2 June 1876 and died on 26 January 1976.

  3. Flora Bertha Claiborne was born in August of 1877. She was still living with her parents in 1900, then aged 23, but she would eventually marry Ed Alexander [1900 U.S. Census. Justice Precinct 6, Lamar, Texas; National Archives and Records Administration, Roll: T623_1652 Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 83.]. Nothing more is known about them.

  4. Annie Frances Claiborne was born in April 1880 and married Baston Mimms (born in 1875 in Mississippi) [1900 U.S. Census. Justice Precinct 6, Lamar, Texas; National Archives and Records Administration, Roll: T623_1652 Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 83.]. They had at least one child, Ula B. Mimms, who was born in November of 1898.

  5. Georgia Lee Claiborne was born on 19 September 1881 in McRae, White County, Arkansas. She married Thomas L. Sanders and Georgia died on 15 August 1952 in White County, Arkansas. The couple had at least four children together, based on 1920 and 1930 census records [1920 U.S. Census. McRae, White, Arkansas; Roll: T625_85; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 166; Image: 202. 1930 U.S. Census. Lucas, Crittenden, Arkansas; Roll: 71; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 856.0. ].

    1. Amiel L. Sanders was born in about 1915.

    2. Edith W. Sanders was born in about 1917.

    3. Tolbert Sanders was born in about 1919. Tolbert was not included in the 1930 census, so presumably he had died prior to it.

    4. Thomas J. Sanders was born in about 1920.

  6. Sarah Frances Claiborne was born on 16 Aug 1883 in White County, Arkansas [1910 U.S. Census. Cane, White, Arkansas; Roll: T624_67; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 155; Image: 663.]. In 1903 she married DeWitt Franklin Weir, who was born on 7 Feb 1885 [1910 U.S. Census. Cane, White, Arkansas; Roll: T624_67; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 155; Image: 663.]. DeWitt died on 11 December 1921 and Sarah followed on 14 August 1930, both in White County, Arkansas. Together they had at least three children [1910 U.S. Census. Cane, White, Arkansas; Roll: T624_67; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 155; Image: 663.].

    1. J.W. Weir was born in about 1906 in Arkansas.

    2. Virgil Weir was born in about 1908 in Arkansas.

    3. Catherine Weir was born in about 1915 in Arkansas.

  7. John Wesley Claiborne was born on 3 April 1885 and died on 30 Sept 1886. He is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Lamar County, Texas.

  8. Willie Mae Claiborne was born on 16 July 1889.

John and Ethel had five children together:

  1. Luther Lloyd Claiborne (a twin to his brother James) was born on 27 January 1907 in Petty (Lamar County), Texas [Social Security Death Index, Number: 466-12-9944; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951.]. On 29 June 1932 he married Almeda "Meda" Barker (born on 29 June 1902). Luther died on 2 August 1990 and Meda died on 7 June 1991 [Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit. ]. Both are buried in Bethany Cemetery in Grayson County, Texas. Together they had at least two children:

    1. Cay Dean Claiborne was born on 11 January 1936 [Ancestry.com. Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Texas. Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services. Microfiche. ].

    2. Ella JoAnn Claiborne was born on 11 June 1942 in Grayson County, Texas [Ancestry.com. Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Texas. Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services. Microfiche. ].

  2. James ("Charley") Lowry Claiborne (a twin to his brother Luther) was born on 27 January 1907 in Petty (Lamar County), Texas and died on 31 May 1988 [Social Security Death Index, Number: 457-14-2893; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951. ]. He is buried in Bethany Cemetery, Grayson County, Texas.

  3. Everett Woodward Claiborne was born in about 1910. He is listed in the 1920 and 1930 census with his parents, but his life thereafter is unknown.

  4. Mattie Maude Claiborne was born on 29 February 1912 [Social Security Death Index, Number: 451-28-5414; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951. ]. She married Leonard O. Rolen, who was born on 15 March 1910 [1920 U.S. Census. Justice Precinct 1, Grayson, Texas; National Archives and Records Administration, Roll: T625_1808; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 67; Image: 656. ]. Leonard died on 9 August 1987 and Mattie followed on 4 January 2002 [See Mattie's Social Security record mentioned above; For Leonard's death, see Ancestry.com. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: Texas Department of Health. Texas Death Indexes, 1903-2000. Austin, TX, USA: Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit. ]. Both are buried in Bethany Cemetery in Grayson County, Texas. They had at least one child, Charles Edwin Rolen, who was born on 22 September 1934 and died on 4 July 2007 [Social Security Death Index, Number: 450-48-1062; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951. ].

  5. John Dee Claiborne was born on 4 November 1914 in Petty (Lamar County), Texas [State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Place: Fresno; Date: 19 Jan 1997; Social Security: 438013947.]. He died on 19 January 1997 in Fresno, California, but his social security number was issued in Louisiana, suggesting he may have lived there for a time [Social Security Death Index, Number: 438-01-3947; Issue State: Louisiana; Issue Date: Before 1951.].


References and Notes


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