Biography of Sarah Elizabeth Smith Williams of Union County Arkansas & Union Parish Louisiana Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Lyle Smith, 9/2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= BIOGRAPHY OF SARAH ELIZABETH SMITH WILLIAMS, Researched and written by her nephew, Lyle Smith, in 2005 ================================================================================== SARAH ELIZABETH SMITH WILLIAMS, December 13, 1879 - June 1, 1972 Wife of John Harrison Williams "Aunt Lizzie" ============================================================= Aunt Lizzie was born December 13, 1879, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas, daughter of Woody K. Smith and Martha Jane Poole. The reality of death faced her in her young life and continued through out her long adulthood, but her faith remained steadfast during it all. Her mother died 5 months and 9 days after her birth. Woody K. Smith was born April 26, 1857, in Ouachita Township, Bradley County, Arkansas, the son of Hansford Willis Smith and Martha Ann Davis. Hansford was born April 5, 1822, in Alabama. He died February 1, 1863, in Bradley County, Arkansas. Hansford W. Smith married Martha Ann Davis December 29, 1848, in Alabama. Her parents were Woody K. Davis and Mary Ann Davis. Woody K. Smith, age 20 years, of Oakland, Union Parish, Louisiana, married Martha Jane Poole, age 20 years, also of Oakland, on February 8, 1877. They were married in Union County, Arkansas, by Obadiah F. Bolding, Minister M.E. Church, south. This marriage being duly filed and recorded in Book “D”, Page 230 of Union County Marriage Records. Martha Jane Poole was born June 28, 1856, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas, the daughter of Hardy Garrison (Frost) Poole, and Susan Rebecca Gathright. Hardy G. Poole, age 21 years, married Susan Gathright, age 17 years, on February 8, 1852, in Union County, Arkansas. Children of Woody K. Smith and Martha Jane Poole were: A- James Hardy Smith was born April 20, 1878, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. B- Sarah Elizabeth Smith was born December 13, 1879, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. Martha Jane Poole died May 22, 1880, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas, leaving 2 small children. She was buried in Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The 1880 United States Census for Union County, Arkansas, was done in June just after Martha died. “Elizie”, was listed as a grand daughter, living with her maternal grand- parents, Hardy and Susan Poole. Woody K. Smith was listed as “Wood” Smith, at another residence and was a farmer. Three months later Woody K. Smith married Mahala Elizabeth Head on September 2, 1880, in Union County, Arkansas. Mahala E. Head was born August 5, 1853, in Alabama. They were married by W. H. Harris, Justice of the Peace. This marriage being duly filed and recorded in Book “E”, Page 288 of Union County Marriage Records. Mahala’s parents were Thomas Jackson Head and Francis Johnson. So at a very young and tender stage in their lives, Jim and Lizzie had a step-mother. Children of Woody K. Smith and Mahala E. Head were: C- Thomas Jackson Smith (Tom) was born October 5, 1881, in Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. He died March 10, 1966, in Pineville, Louisiana. D- William Hansford Smith (Bill) was born June 2, 1883, in Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. He died February 2, 1951, in Las Animas, Colorado. E- Nancy Jane Smith (Nannie) was born June 12, 1885, in Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. She died November 1, 1972, in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana. F- Harmon Smith (twin) was born July 5, 1887, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. He died December 18, 1967. G- Armon Smith (twin) was born July 5, 1887, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. He was killed October 31, 1933, near Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. H- Woody Columbus Smith was born July 9, 1890, at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas. He died May 27, 1975. Woody K. Smith and Mahala Head lived near Lapile, Union County, Arkansas and farmed there the first years of their marriage. During the first 17 years of her life, Aunt Lizzie lived at Lapile, Union County, Arkansas, Randolph, Union Parish, Louisiana, and at Blanchard Springs, Arkansas. Mahala Elizabeth Head Smith died March 20, 1895, leaving 6 children of her own, as well as 2 step-children. Woody K. Smith married his 3rd and final wife, Mary Rebecca Barron July 18, 1895, in Union Parish, Louisiana. Mary Rebecca was born November 2, 1864, in Union Parish, Louisiana, during the Civil War. Mary Rebecca Barron was a 31 year old, “OLD MAID,” having lived all her life with her father, Henry Callaway Barron, and had her own crops on his farm on Big Corney Bayou, south of Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. Into the marriage she brought her life’s savings of $900.00. Mary purchased a team of mules, food, and enough cloth material for her and Aunt Lizzie to make much needed clothes for the entire family. Some of the Smiths had problems with their new step-mother, but Aunt Lizzie said that “Ma” would always have a warm spot in her heart because of all she did for the Smith family. WRITER’S NOTE: Knowing what I do about the work habits of my grand mother, I know Aunt Lizzie had to work hard also because, Grandma Mary said, “ Lizzie was beside me all the way as we cleaned up the entire house and made the clothes.” Mary Rebecca Smith was raised a Barron, and that meant to have a place for everything, and everything to be put back in its place after use. She did all her chores at the exact same time each day, and always washed at the spring on the same day each week, with no exceptions. She expected her new step-children to do no less. The children’s mother had been sickly for over 3 years and bedridden the last 3 months of her life, so there had not been much discipline in the home. Mary was a hard worker and a stern task mistress if the need arose, and she ran the house in that manner from the start. Each child had duties to perform. On January 20, 1896, Woody K. Smith purchased the following parcel of land from Hosea H. Rockett: “The Northeast Quarter, (NE ¼) of Section 26, except one acre where J.D. Barron’s house lot is, and nine (9) acres in the NW corner of the said quarter section in Township 23, north of Range 3 West, containing 150 acres, more or less.” Witnesses were: John Murphy and H.W, Breazeal. The house the Smith family moved from Blanchard Springs was torn down carefully; the pieces marked and moved 4 miles north of Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. While the house was being rebuilt on Smith Hill, the family lived in a large log cabin off the “Big Cut”, just north of Little Corney Creek. (The Big Cut was a field.) Aunt Lizzie married John Harrison Williams January 23, 1901, in Union Parish, Louisiana. Uncle Johnny was born October 6, 1873, in Calidonia, Union County, Arkansas, the son of Harrison Williams and Mahala Elizabeth Sims. Harrison Williams was born in February of 1816, in Tennessee and died after 1900. Mahala Elizabeth Sims was born about 1849 in Louisiana. WRITER’S NOTE: Benjamin Williams was born in 1775 in Onslow County, North Carolina, and died about 1875, in Grant County, Arkansas. He married Sarah Battle on December 21, 1796, in Onslow County, North Carolina, daughter of Ephriam and Ann Battle. Sarah was born October 21, 1779, in North Carolina, and died in July of 1835, in Saline County, Arkansas. Benjamin was widowed and living with his son Lott Green Harrison in 1850. Benjamin and Sarah Williams are buried in the Williams Cemetery, Tull, Grant County, Arkansas. The only marker is for Lott Green Williams. Children of Benjamin and Sarah Williams were: A- Maria Williams was born October 9, 1797, in North Carolina and died after 1860, probably in Saline County, Arkansas. She married (1) Rev. Eli Lindsey, about 1822, son of James and Rachel Lindsey. Eli was born in 1794 in Christian County, Kentucky and died March 2, 1834, in Conway, Faulkner County, Arkansas. Maria married (2), James William Gamble on November 30, 1847, in Saline County, Arkansas. He was born about 1793 in South Carolina. B- Susan Williams was born about 1800, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. She married Milton Lindsey; who was born about 1796, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. C- Peter C. Williams was born about 1802, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. He married Nancy Duncan on October 9, 1828. Nancy was born about 1806, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. D- Lorenzo Williams was born about 1806, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. He married Mahala Sweet on March 6, 1831. She was born about 1810, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. E- John H. Williams was born about 1810, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. He married A.F.E. Martin on February 17, 1832. She was born about 1814, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. F- Lydia Williams was born about 1812, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. She married John Jones on February 7, 1836, in Saline County, Arkansas. G- Harriett Williams was born on October 30, 1814, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina, and died January 29, 1883, in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. She married Burkett Lindsey on December 15, 1831, in Saline County, Arkansas, the son of James and Rachel Lindsey. He was born October 9, 1808, in Christian County, Kentucky, and died August 1, 1894, in Louisiana. H- Edward Williams was born about 1815, probably in Onslow County, North Carolina. He married Eliza Owen on January 24, 1839, in Saline County, Arkansas. I- *Harrison Williams was born about 1817, probably in Lawrence County, Arkansas. He married Mahaly Elizabeth Sims January 17, 1871. She was born about 1821. Children of Harrison Williams and Mahaly Elizabeth Sims were: 1- Angeline Williams was born February 14, 1865 in Union County, Arkansas. She married Hosea Woodford Breazeal December 20, 1883, in Union Parish, Louisiana. Woodford was born August 29, 1857, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama the son of Hosea Bright Breazeal and Sarah Elizabeth Mayfield. He died September 6, 1936 at Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. Angie died February 24, 1940, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She and Woodford are buried in Spearsville Cemetery. 2- John H. Williams was born October 6, 1873 in Caledonia, Union County, Arkansas. He married Sarah Elizabeth Smith (Lizzie) January 23, 1901. 3- Mary Williams was born 1877, in Arkansas. 4- Robert L. Williams was born 1880, in Arkansas. The 1880 United States Census for Arkansas shows the following for the Harrison Williams’s family: Name age sex job where born Williams, Harrison head 62 m farmer Tennessee Elizabeth wife 39 f kept house Louisiana Angeline dau. 15 f work on farm Arkansas John H. son 7 m Arkansas Mary E. dau. 3 f Arkansas Robert L. son 2/12 m Arkansas J- Lott Green Williams was born March 18, 1820, in Lawrence County, Arkansas, and died about 1895, in Grant County, Arkansas. He married Mary Cynthia Jones May 14, 1840, in Saline County, Arkansas, daughter of Jones and Hannah Cooksey. She was born September 17, 1820, in Georgia or Tennessee, and died about 1920, in Grant County, Arkansas. Lott and Mary Williams are buried in the Williams Cemetery, Tull, Grant County, Arkansas. K- Sarah Williams was born about 1824, in Arkansas, and died before 1859, in Saline County, Arkansas. She married Archibald Tull in 1851, son of Jonathan Tull and Susanna Baugh. He was born about 1817, probably on Henderson County, Tennessee, and died after 1886, in Tull, Grant County, Arkansas. Family members say they are buried in the Williams Cemetery. L- Claressa Linnie Williams was born about 1825, in Arkansas, and died after 1880, probably in Saline County, Arkansas. She married Stephen Strom Tucker March 2, 1847, in Hot Springs County, Arkansas. He was born 1788-1824. Lizzie and Johnny were married by W.T. Smith, Minister of the Gospel, and uncle of the bride. Marriage in the State of Louisiana required a $100 bond by the groom and another responsible party. The law read that the men signing the bond agreed “as security, we are firmly bound unto the State, in the sum of One Hundred dollars; and for the true and final payment thereof, we bind ourselves, our heirs, administrators, and assignees, and I do solemnly swear that I am not related within the degree prohibited by law to the party whom I am to marry.” Signing with John H. Williams was John A. Barron. The Law of Louisiana also stated that the parties to marry would be wed in the presence of at least 3 male witnesses. Those witnesses were H.H. Rockett, W.S. Hollis and H. W. Breazeal. This marriage being duly filed and recorded in Book “10”, Page 159, of Union Parish Marriage Records. Uncle Johnny was a carpenter, and in looking for work they lived in Union Parish, Ouachita Parish, ending up their final years in Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. Aunt Lizzie was a gentle soul the entire time I knew her. She joined her father’s church, New Hope Primitive Baptist, on July 3, 1928. Uncle Johnny joined the church June 4, 1955. My oldest brother, John Winford Smith, was born November 13, 1934, in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana. His first bath was given him by his dear aunt Lizzie. She was a gentle, sweet lady, who I never heard speak badly about anyone all the time I knew her. WRITER’S NOTE: Uncle Johnny and Aunt Lizzie’s house had been sold and had been deteriorating badly these last few years. On February 16, 2005, I drove north through Dubach and noticed the house had been torn down. Children of Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Johnny were: 1- Lewis Alymer Williams was born November 6, 1901, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. He died August 27, 1902. 2- Martha Ophelia Williams was April 18, 1903, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She finished high school and attended Louisiana State Normal, in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She married Frank Driggers September 15, 1923. They were married in Lincoln Parish by E.F. Welch, Justice of the Peace. Witnesses were Ruth Revel, J.P. Trammell, and G.W. Welch. This marriage being duly filed and recorded in Book “N”, Page 112, of the Lincoln Parish Marriage Records. Ophelia eloped with Frank just before starting her second year of college. She had already borrowed $90.00 to pay for that year of schooling. Frank Driggers was born December 3, 1897, in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, and died March 29, 1961. He was a barber by trade and worked for the sheriff’s department for 12 years. Ophelia died November 16, 1992, in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana. The funeral service was held at the Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston. Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. She was buried beside Frank in Hamilton Memorial Cemetery in Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. Ophelia and Frank had one child: a- Patsy Elizabeth Driggers was born October 28, 1930, in Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. She lives currently outside Nashville, Tennessee, and is retired from Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. Patsy has a BS degree from Louisiana Polytechnic University and a MRE from New Orleans Baptist Seminary. 3- Audra Estelle Williams was born February 23, 1905, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She died January 16, 1906. 4- Lettie Delora Williams was born February 25, 1908, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She finished high school in Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, and attended college in Ruston, Louisiana. In the 1910 United States Census report, she was listed in Union Parish, Louisiana, age 3, and the daughter of John and Lizzie Williams. She died July 29, 1978. Delora married James Pleasant Lindsey November 20, 1927, in West Monroe, Richland Parish, Louisiana. The ceremony was performed by William A. Borum. Witnesses were Robert L. Kilpatrick, Elaine Jenny, And Mrs. William A. Borum. James was born May 26, 1905, in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana. He died May 5, 1961. He was a carpenter and a wood products salesman. His parents were W.T. Lindsey and Mary Jane Russell. Delora and James are buried in Calhoun, Louisiana. Children of DeLora and James are: a- Jimmie Matilda Lindsey was born September 30, 1929, in Monroe, Louisiana. She died August 12, 1969. She is buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Calhoun, Louisiana. Jimmie married Aubrey R. Cartwright December 2, 1946. Jimmie and Aubrey had one child: 1- Gary Russell Cartwright was born August 27, 1951, in Monroe, Louisiana. He was self-employed and lived in Chatham, Louisiana. Jimmie later married a Wyler. b- DeLores Anne Lindsey was born December 6, 1943, in Monroe, Louisiana. She has a master’s degree in Education from NLU and teaches 4th grade in Monroe City Schools. DeLores Anne resides in Monroe. 5- Dorothy Mae Williams was born November 24, 1910, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She finished high school at Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, and took a commercial course in Monroe, Louisiana. She married Robert Leo Kilpatrick April 4, 1933, in Rayville, Richland Parish, Louisiana. Robert’s parents were W.R. and Nannie Kilpatrick. Signing the Marriage Bond was Robert Kilpatrick and J.P. Lindsey. The marriage was performed by James T. Harris, Minister if M.E. Church. Witnesses were J.P. Lindsey and Mrs. J.T. Harris. Robert was born August 13, 1904, in Monroe, Louisiana. He was a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy. He served 19 years and saw service during World War II. Dorothy died December 7, 1976. She is buried in Calhoun, Louisiana, in Rose lawn Memorial Gardens. 6- Olive Inertha Williams was born May 7, 1908, in Spearsville, Union Parish, Louisiana. She died November 25, 1908. 7- John Harrison Williams Jr. was born June 19, 1916, at Randolph, Union Parish, Louisiana. WRITER’S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from a personal interview I had with Ruby Smith Barron, my first cousin, not very long before she died. “Grandpa Woody K. was sick all during the spring of 1933, and he died in June. Cisco was busy in the field, and I couldn’t drive the car at that time, so it was hard for me to get up there to see him and help out.” “We lived where Larue Barron now lives by Momma and Papa’s place. They had a mare I had ridden at home before I married, so I packed a little bag of clothes for Ned and me, and we rode up to see Grandpa for several days. John Lee took care of Daisy for me when I got there. As he took the reins to lead her to the barn, she pulled her head back and up. John Lee admonished me, saying ‘Ruby, you should not have ridden this high headed mare. You and Ned did not need to be on this high headed horse.” “Aunt Lizzie was at Grandpa’s house. She lived at Monroe at the time, and had a premonition that something bad was going to happen, so she rushed from Monroe to Spearsville to be with her father.” “Aunt Lizzie and I had gone to bed, planning to sit up with Grandpa during the last part of the night, so Delma and John Lee could get some rest. Aunt Lizzie and I were sleeping together, and Ned was on a pallet on the floor.” “Before we got to sleep, Delma came in and told us that Aunt Lizzie had company. Her son-in-law, Frank Driggers, had brought their doctor with him to tell her that John Jr. had drowned in the Ouachita River in Monroe. Aunt Lizzie didn’t say a word to disturb Grandpa as she made preparations for her return home. As she was leaving, she was groaning—the only sound she made as she went down the hill.” John Jr. had drowned one week before he was to graduate from high school. He was buried in Hamilton Memorial Cemetery in Dubach, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. During his younger years Uncle Johnny worked hard in his trade as a carpenter. I am sure there are many more houses he helped build, but the two that come to mind are the house of Mr. Boone Breazeal and that of Uncle Clyde Risinger. Both these houses have been removed from their original setting but are still standing and being lived in. On occasion Uncle Johnny had also been know to take a drink of whiskey, if the chance presented itself. He knew that his Primitive Baptist (Hard-shell) preacher-father-in-law did not approve of indulging in the spirits, so he usually tried to hide the fact from him. One evening Uncle Johnny came walking up Smith Hill swinging the gallon lard bucket that served as his lunch pail. Somewhere from the time he got off work until he arrived home, he had managed to take a drink or two. Seeing Woody K Smith setting on the front porch, he cut across to the rear of the house to avoid talking to him at that time. Wanting to let his father-in-law know that he was being helpful, Johnny decided to slop the hogs. The food for the pigs was placed in a 55 gallon drum just back of the kitchen, where table scraps and the dish water could be poured into it. Usually some shorts were added to the mixture. (Shorts are a residual from grinding grain, and can be purchased in 100 pound sacks.) Once a day the drum was carried to the pig pen and poured into the feed trough. Uncle Johnny designed a plan where he would pour the 55 gallons of slop into his 1 gallon lunch pail and carry it to the pig pen. The yard at the Smith house was sandy, since all the grass was kept hoed off. So when the 1 gallon pail overflowed slightly, the result was a long stream of smelly slop running to the front of the house where Woody K. was sitting. Aunt Lizzie said that she knew Uncle Johnny drank when she married him; that she loved him, and if she had it to do over, she would marry him again. Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Johnny had 3 infants buried in Spearsville Cemetery. Lewis Aylmer, Audra Estelle, and Olive Inertha share a common grave there. Uncle Johnny died October 26, 1957. He was buried in Hamilton Memorial Cemetery near John Jr. Aunt Lizzie died June 1, 1972, in Bernice, Union Parish, Louisiana. She was buried in Hamilton Memorial Cemetery by her husband and their son. Their graves are directly west of the gazebo. Lyle Smith February 22, 2005 #####################################################################################