Burford Ancestors - Generation 4 - Jennie Edith Burford

Jennie Edith Burford was born 10 February 1889 in Newton, Jasper County Illinois

Edith was the daughter of Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr. and his first wife Helen Virginia Lockard.

PHOTO: Alexander and Helen with their children Raymond, Edith, and Hazel

Edith married William Edward "Will" Searcy 09 October 1909. He was born 12 October 1885, and died 21 August 1956 in Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas.

CHILDREN of EDITH BURFORD and WILL SEARCY are: 

i.  Laura Amy Searcy, born 24 July 1911; died 19 October 1994  

ii. Eleanor Evelyn Searcy, born 03 January 1913; died 05 February 1988  

iii. Nellie Jane Searcy, born 23 August 1915; died 30 July 1991  

iv. William Edward "Bill" Searcy, Jr., born 07 January 1918; died 18 March 1976  

v. Edith Willene Searcy, born 02 December 1926; died 26 July 2016

vi. Jerry Dean Searcy, born 26 July 1933; died 14 August 1997

I don't have a good picture of Edith as an adult, and I don't have a good picture of Will Searcy.

These group photos -- along with some others -- came courtesy of Myra Burford Luker (many thanks!!).

Edith is in the back (marked). Here is the note that came with this photo:

 

Here is the note that came with this photo:

* * *

Will Searcy died 22 August 1956, age 70

Edith Burford Searcy died 31 Oct 1980, age 91

They are buried in Vanndale Cemetery Vanndale, Cross County, Arkansas,

Burford Ancestors - Generation 4 - Raymond Minter Burford

Raymond Minter Burford was born 10 October 1886 in Newton, Jasper County, Illinois

I don't have any real good pictures of Raymond as an adult.

In this photo Raymond is on the left. Behind him is Juanita and one of her sons, and Florence Burford. The woman in the middle is Willie Mae's mother Ella Irby.

In both of these group pictures Raymond is on the right.

Raymond married Ruby Lois Thompson 22 February 1913 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee - First Presbyterian Manse, daughter of David Thompson and Mary Foote.  She was born 07 Oct 1894 in Cross County, Arkansas, and died 26 Sep 1985 in Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas.

Eleanor, Ruby, Nellie Jane, Willene

Children of Raymond Burford and Ruby Thompson are: 

i. David Raymond Burford, born 11 November 1913, Cross County, Arkansas; died 25 August 1999, Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas.  

ii. Lawrence Thompson Burford, born 06 February 1916, Arkansas; died 13 September 1998, Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas

iii. Joseph Eugene Burford, born 08 February 1919, Cross County, Arkansas; died 07 July 2003, Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas.

* * *

Raymond Burford died 30 December 1958, age 71, in Cross County, Arkansas.

Ruby Thompson Burford died 26 September 1985, age 90.

They are buried in Vanndale Cemetery Vanndale, Cross County, Arkansas.

Burford Ancestors - Generation 3 - Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr. Part Two

Okay, I guess my brain was on vacation yesterday. Some of the information in yesterday's post should have been saved for today (Alexander's death). And some of the information in today's post (regarding Helen Virginia) should have been included yesterday. So let's see if I can rewind...

Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr. married Helen Virginia Lockard, daughter of Lemuel Lockard and Amy Gibson. She was born 16 Jul 1856 in Louisville, Clay County, Illinois, and died 15 Nov 1897 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois.

NOTE: Helen Virginia Lockard was not raised by her parents, but was raised by her mother's brother Smith Gibson and his second wife Emily Stanley. (Source: Myra Burford Luker.)

NOTE - According to FindAGrave website, Amy Gibson Lockard died in 1850, which would be six years before Helen Virginia was born. However, there is no photo of her gravestone and I can find no official death record for her. So I wonder if the date on the stone could have read something like 1856 or 1859, which could have been misconstrued by the person who saw it. 

NOTE: (From Dorothy Moore Burford:) "Helen Virginia Lockard Burford was a weakly person and was not able to take care of her children, so when Lora Gibson was 14 years old, she went to stay with the family and take care of the children, and they paid her for doing that job. She lived with them from then on." 

Helen Virginia died of typhoid fever. About a year and a half after Helen Virginia died, Lora and Alexander married. 

NOTE: Helen Virginia Lockard and Asa Gibson were cousins. Asa was the father of Lora Gibson. So Lora Gibson and Helen Virginia were second cousins. (Source: Myra Burford Luker) 

Alexander married Lora Gibson 20 June 1899 in Albion, Edwards County, Illinois, daughter of Asa Gibson and Adaline Lucretia Gard. She was born 04 Jul 1877 in Clay County, Illinois, and died 31 Dec 1970 in Forrest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas.

PHOTO: Lora Gibson and Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr.

CHILDREN of ALEXANDER BURFORD and LORA GIBSON are: 

i. Adelbert Smith "Deb" Burford, born 17 August 1899, Illinois; died January 1970, Illinois. 

ii. Helen Alice Burford, born 22 February 1901, Bone Gap, Edwards County, Illinois;  died 06 January 1984, Arkansas.  

iii. Ishmael Gaylon Burford, born 01 June 1902, Bone Gap, Edwards County, Illinois; died November 1915, Cross County, Arkansas.

iv. George Alexander Burford, born 03 October 1903, Bone Gap, Edwards County, Illinois; died 20 January 1985, Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas.   

v. Killough Marvin Burford, born 08 December 1907, Bone Gap, Edwards County, Illinois; died November 1943, Kansas.

PHOTO: Alexander and Lora with their first 5 children.

vi. Bernice Pope Burford, born 04 December 1911, Hamlin, Cross County, Arkansas; died 12 January 2001, Alton, Illinois.

vii. Lester Morris Burford, born 04 March 1913, Hamlin, Cross County, Arkansas; Brushy Lake Township; died 24 August 1990, Alton, Madison County Illinois.

viii. Neil Wallace Burford, born 13 November 1914, Arkansas; died 24 December 1987, Arkansas.

ix. Juanita Virginia Burford, born 06 September 1916, Brushy Lake, near Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas; died 29 February 2004, Bonita, San Diego County, California.

x. Jewell Alma "Judy" Burford, born 30 March 1918, Arkansas; died 05 May 1999, Arkansas.

* * *

Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr. died 07 October 1929, age 72, Judsonia, White County, Arkansas.

Lora Gibson Burford died 31 December 1970 in Forrest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas.

They are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Judsonia, White County, Arkansas. 

Burford Ancestors - Generation 3 - Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr.

 Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr. was born 11 Mar 1857 in Jasper County, Illinois

He was the son of Alexander Oscar Burford, Sr. and Nancy Reynolds.

NOTES: From Newton Press, December 28, 1887: 'Alex Burford ... is one of the proprietors of the newsy Democratic paper, the Olney Advocate.'. -- source, Marion Burford.

Alexander Burford married Helen Virginia Lockard 24 December 1885 in Jasper County, Illinois, daughter of Lemuel Lockard and Amy Gibson.  She was born 16 July 1856 in Louisville, Clay County, Illinois, and died 15 November 1897 in Olney, Richland County, Illinois.

CHILDREN OF ALEXANDER BURFORD AND HELEN LOCKARD ARE:

i. Raymond Minter Burford, born 10 October 1886; died 30 December 1958.

ii. Jennie Edith Burford, born 10 February 1889; died 31 October 1980.

iii. Hazel Amy Burford, born 21 January 1892; died 26 February 1967.

* * *

Helen Virginia Lockard Burford died 16 July 1856, age 41, in Olney, Richland County, Illinois. Cause of death: typhoid fever. Burial Details Unknown.

Alexander Oscar Burford Jr. died 07 Oct 1929, age 72, in Judsonia, White County, Arkansas.  

NOTES: Alexander Oscar Burford worked at the post office in Judsonia, Arkansas. Part of his job was to take outgoing mail out onto the platform and hang it on the specified place for pickup by the train, and he retrieved the bags of incoming mail. On October 7, 1929 Alexander Oscar misstepped and fell backwards off the platform. He landed on his back and the back of his head. Later he went home and lay down to rest a while. He died while he lay there. -- From Cleffie Hicks Burford

* * *

This was Alexander's first family. Tomorrow's post will be about his second family.

Burford Ancestors - Generation 3 - George Washington Burford

George Washington Burford was born January 1849 in Newton Jasper County, Illinois; died 1917, Linn County, Oregon.

George Burford married Mary Ellen Hobson 19 Apr 1873 in Jasper County, Illinois, daughter of William Henry Hobson and Caroline Smallwood.  She was born 15 December 1851, Jasper County, Illinois, and died 12 March 1938 in Linn County, Oregon.

CHILDREN of GEORGE BURFORD and MARY HOBSON are:  

i. Walter Burford, born 21 September 1875, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 07 April 1944, Linn County, Oregon.

ii.  Nancy Caroline Burford, born 02 November 1881, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 08 August 1940, Lacomb, Linn County, Oregon.  

iii. Ada Burford, born 26 December1886, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 08 January 1892, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois.

Notes for ADA BURFORD: From Marion Burford: 

Ada Burford - little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Burford, died at the residence of her parents west of town on Friday morning, aged 7 years, 11 mos. and 13 days. She was sick but a day. Ada was a bright child and her parents have the sympathy of their many friends in the hour of their bereavement. Services were held at the First Christian Church and the burial took place at the Newton Cemetery Jan. 13, 1892. 

-- Source: Newton Press

iv. George Washington Burford, Jr., born 24 November 1886, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 27 October 1944, Albany, Linn County, Oregon.

v. John Shelton Burford, born 26 August 1877, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 25 December 1944, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon.

* * *

George Washington Burford died 1917, age 68, in Linn, Oregon.  

Cause of death: "Senile Decay"

Mary Ellen Hobson Burford died 12 March 1938, age 86, in Linn County, Oregon.

Cause of death: Influenza

Burford Ancestors - Generation 2 - Alexander Oscar Burford

  Alexander Oscar Burford was born 21 Mar 1820 in Tennessee

Alexander Burford married Nancy Reynolds before 1844 in Jasper County, Illinois.  She was born about 1822 in Illinois.

NOTE: "After the death of her husband, Alexander O. Burford, Nancy married James N. Van Meter." -- source Marion Burford. [I can't find any specific records to verify this.]

Alexander and Nancy Burford had six children:

i.  John R. Burford, born 20 September 1844, Newton, Jasper County, Illinois; died 16 January 1846.

ii.  William Benjamin Burford, born about 1847. 

iii.  George Washington Burford, born January 1849, Illinois; died 1917, Linn, Oregon.  

iv.  Missouri Burford, born 21 May 1851; died 08 January 1853, Jasper County, Illinois.

v. Shelton A. Burford, born about 1856, Illinois.

vi.  Alexander Oscar Burford, Jr., born 11 March 1857, Jasper County, Illinois; died 07 October 1929, Judsonia, White County, Arkansas.

* * *

Alexander Oscar Burford, Sr. died 28 January 1858, age 37, and was buried in Burford Cemetery, Jasper County, Illinois.

I believe this is Alexander's original stone. The newer stone in the photo above was probably placed in front of the original when the cemetery was rededicated in 2004. The newer stone is on his FindAGrave memorial. I don't know where I got the photo of the older gravestone.

Burford ancestors - Generation 1 - John M. Burford

John M. Burford was born 07 May 1795 in North Carolina, and died 27 February 1873 in Newton, Jasper County, Illinois.

John Burford married (1) Mary 'Polly' Berry 21 February 1818 in Williamson County, Tennessee, daughter of William Berry and Jane Beattie. She was born 18 October 1791 in Washington County, Virginia, and died 22 September 1842 in Wade Township, Jasper County, Illinois.

Children of John Burford and Mary Berry are:

i. Alexander Oscar Burford, born 21 March 1820, in Tennessee; died 28 January 1858 in Jasper County, Illinois.

ii. Mary Anne Burford, born about 1821 in Tennessee; died before 1880 in Richland County, Illinois. She married William Decker 10 August 1843 in Newton, Jasper County, Illinois.

iii. Martha Elizabeth Burford, born about 1824 in Tennessee; died after 1889 in Lawrence County, Illinois. She married Samuel H. Brown.

iv. Shelton A. Burford, born before 1828 in Tennessee.

v. Basil Berry Burford, born about 1829 in Tennessee; died 23 October 1870 in Jasper County, Illinois. He married Mary Ann Mullvaney 01 September 1850 in Newton, Jasper County, Illinois.

vi. Lucinda J. Burford, born about 1830 in Illinois; died before 1880 in Jasper County, Illinois. She married William H. Brown 04 August 1850 in Richland County, Illinois.

* * *

John M. Burford married (2) Elizabeth Reynolds Jourdan 25 May 1852 in Newton, Jasper County, Illinois. 

NOTE: Elizabeth was known as "the Widow Jourdan". Jourdan is spelled "Jourden" in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900.

* * *

Most of our Burford ancestors are buried in Burford Cemetery, Jasper County, Illinois

Them Burfords

I didn't get any feedback yet from yesterday's post.  So I've made an executive decision to continue in alphabetical order with the branches of the family tree. I've already covered the Barnetts and the Bullards, and I'm not going to do the Beekmans because they are just a tendril offshoot from the Thomas/Treat branch. So that brings us to the Burfords. 

The Arnolds, which we just finished, were related to my mother's (Wathada) mother's (Cleffie) mother's (Annie) father, John Henry Arnold. (His mother was a Bullard.)

The Burfords are related to my mother's (Wathada) father's (Lester) father, Alexander Oscar Burford. So, here we go. (If you want more information about the Burford branch of the family tree, you can find it in my books When We Were Irish, and Cloud of Witnesses: Alexander and Lora, available on Amazon.)

PREFACE

“I don't think I will ever dig up any Irish ancestors because I don't think we have any of those. (After my whole life-time of being Irish, I don't know if I can adjust to being English or not!) Our Irish friends told me last year that Burford is not an Irish name, and they thought it was an English name. So I thought that whoever our ancestors were, they probably went from England to Ireland sometime in years past and lived there (and probably married Irish people), until they came to this country on a boat. So a few weeks ago, when I decided to track them down back to whichever one came over here on that boat, the first thing I did was check name origins at some website on the Internet. (That website seems not to exist any more now!) Sure enough, Burford was definitely an English name. Gibson is a name that originated only in Scotland, and it even told which area of Scotland. So Grandma Burford's father's family did originally come from Scotland. But her mother's family (those Gards) came from England. I have them back to 1559 in Poundstock, England. Some of them came from Devonshire. So as far as I can tell, nobody in our ancestry originated in Ireland.”  

– Wathada Burford Thomas

PHOTO: Burford, England

Now it's your turn

This is as far as I'm going to go with the Arnold ancestry, since I am to the point where the next generation are mostly still living.

Question is... which branch of the family tree to pursue next? Arnold was the first one, alphabetically. So I suppose I could continue in that fashion. Arnold is also the one that I'm most familiar with. And most of the people who follow this blog are on the Arnold/Carter/Hicks side of the family. There are a few from the Burford side. And also one or two from the Thomas (my dad's) side. 

Here's the list of "branches" as I have them organized in my records -- Arnold, Barnett, Beekman, Bullard, Burford, Campbell, Carter, Ford, Gard, Gibson, Herdman, Hicks, Miller, Parker, Tamsett, Thomas, Till, Treat, Walls.

Some of these I've already covered, in the process of going through the Arnold genealogy. And some I have done prior to starting the Arnold series. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Tell you what. Y'all give me a day or two to organize my thoughts. And in the meantime, you can do something for me -- IF YOU ARE READING THIS, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHO YOU ARE. That way I'll know exactly who is following along. This would be a great time for you all to give me some feedback -- questions, comments, suggestions, etc. I would really appreciate it very much.

Arnold Ancestors - Generation 4 - Marion Carol Jackson

 Marion Carol Jackson was born 06 April 1940, Floral, Independence County, Arkansas.

Carol was the daughter of Ben and Etta Arnold Jackson

PHOTO: Carol Jackson with her stepmother Cora. Carol's mother, Etta Arnold Jackson, died of tuberculosis when Carol was five years old.

Carol married Norman Ray Allender 02 May 1956, Floral, Cleburne County, Arkansas. He was born 28 June 1936, Wolf Bayou, Cleburne County, Arkansas.

This picture is labeled January 1956. This would have been a few months before they were married.

Carol and Norman were married for 68 years.

They had no children.

They were Christian missionaries in Mexico for 50 years.

64th wedding anniversary, May 2020

December 2020

Celebration of 50 years on the mission field, January 2023

January 2023

* * *

Carol Jackson Allender died 09 December 2024

OBITUARY

Carol Allender

April 6, 1940 — December 9, 2024

McAllen, Texas

Carol Allender made her glorious entry into Heaven at 12:50 a.m. on December 9, 2024.

Carol Allender was born to Benjamin and Etta Jackson in Floral, Arkansas, on April 6, 1940. She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Norman, several nieces and nephews, and Debra Sparkman (a very special friend and fellow servant of the Lord, whom she thought of as the daughter she never had).

She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother Cora Jackson, three brothers, Alvis, Calvin, and Coy Jackson, and two sisters Dulcie Nicholson and Wincel Sandefur.

Although Carol and her husband, Norman, had no children, they have two god-sons, Matthew Flores and Joshua Garza.

Carol and Norman married on May 2, 1956, and answered the call to the mission field in Mexico in January, 1973. They have been active in this ministry to the present. They have churches in Mexico and also founded Templo Rayos De Luz on the border in Pharr, Texas. 

Carol had an extensive radio ministry since 1978 to the present. She loved reading and studying the Bible, telling others about Jesus, playing music, singing, taking pictures, and painting. Most of all, she loved God and her country. She consistently prayed for those who put their life on the line for others (military, police officers, EMTs, fire department workers, hospital workers, etc.). She spent her life telling others about Jesus, because the greatest joy she received was when a soul gave their heart to the Lord.

Carol was dearly loved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.