John B. Howard Bible Records and Other Family History Submitted by East Texas Genealogical Society P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***************************************************************** Originally published in East Texas Family Records, Volume 13 Number One, Spring 1989 on page 1. The article on the John B. Howard Bible Records and Other Family History was submitted by Leland Howard of Tyler, Texas. John Howard - died 10-09-1858. Sarah Howard died 1-29-1845. They were mother and father of John Birdsong Howard, born 7-18-1827, in Alabama and died 11-03-1879 in Enterprise, Mississippi. Place of Birth and resident at death of John and Sarah Howard, parents of John Birdsong Howard not recorded in Bible; other evidence and family "memories" indicate strongly that John Howard was from either North Carolina or Craven County, South Carolina and probably born about 1796. Sarah was probably born in South Carolina or Alabama. Alabama Census records for Montgomery County, Alabama in 1830's and 1840's have a John Howard who seemed to be the one who died in 1858. John B. Howard's first wife was Mary A. E. Niblett of Alabama. They married July 11, 1848. Mary died 11-27-1857. Their children were: William J., born 10-29-1849, Mary E., born 2-5-1852, Montgomery, born 2-22-1854 and died 10-9-1867, and Walker P. Howard, born 3-23-1857 and died 7-04-1873. John Birdsong then married Sarah J. Germany 3-30-1867 in Newton County, Mississippi. Sarah died 1-02-1888 near Corsicana, Texas. John Birdsong Howard and Sarah J. Germany had the following children - all born in Mississippi and migrated to Texas in 1879; 1. Theodocia Howard - born 6-17-1868. Married James A. Farmer 6-22-1882 in Navarro County, Texas. 2. Molly P. Howard - born 11-2-1869. Married Dent Farmer 4-03-1885. 3. Sarah Ida - born 4-23-1871. Married D. H. Farmer 4-03-1885. 4. John Booth Howard - born 8-30-1872. Died 12-07-1907. Married Wallace Bunch December, 1892. 5. Genevva - born 12-30-1875. Died 7-23-1917. Married Dr. I. N. Thompson. 6. Alice Vivian Howard - born 2-09-1876. Married H. W. Bunch 8-25-1892. John Booth Howard, Genevva, and Theodocia are buried in Zion's Rest Cemetery near Corsicana, Texas. The other three children of John B. Howard and Sarah Germany are buried in other cemeteries in Navarro County, Texas, with possible exception of Sarah Ida. Sarah J. Germany's parents were: James H. Germany born 7-28-1822 (died 2-02-1881 in Navarro County, Texas near Purdon.) and Marthy E. Morris born 2-14-1823 in South Carolina and died 6-19-1860 in Neshoba County, Mississippi. Marthy E. Morris was part Cherokee Indian. Children of James and Marthy E. Germany were Susan C. born 6-26-1843, Henry W. born 7-27-1845, Margaret Alice born 2-25-1847, Sarah J. born 1-17-1849, Theodora A. born 11-09-1850. Then by a 2nd wife, James Germany fathered John J. born 6-25-1862, and William D. born 5-21-1864. The first six children were born in Mississippi, the last two in Navarro County, Texas. In addition to all of the above - but not in the Pollyglott Bible, Marilee Howard Cory - a great granddaughter of John Birdsong Howard and his first wife, Mary A. E. Niblett, has shared with me some valuable information about their son William and daughter Mary E. Howard. She also had the same basic facts about his other two children who died in their teens as was shown in the Bible. John William Howard born 10-29-1849 in Alabama died 3-29-1925 in Bell County, Texas. He married Manerva Jane Wright born 12-23-1843 in Choctaw County, Alabama and died 8-21-1920 in Bell County, Texas. William and Manerva married 8-6-1868. They had ten children all born in Choctaw County, Alabama. They were: 1. Marry Emma born 8-13-1869 2. Burena Vista born 1-20-1872 3. John Alexander born 2-17-1874 4. Adney Cornelius born 2-02-1876 5. Katie Celeste born 7-10-1878 6. Rebecca Dee born 12-25-1880 7. David W. born 12-25-1880 8. Benjamin Franklin born 7-10-1882 9. Cornelia Blanch born 9-12-1886 10. Cordelia Mozelle born 9-12-1886 John Alexander Howard born 2-17-1874 and died 4-27-1949 married Velma DuBose 12-20-1921. They had three children: John Leonard born 9-15-1922, Minerva Charlotte born 8-13-1924, and Marilee 8-13-1926. Marilee is Mrs. Al Corey, she resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Mary E. Howard born 2-05-1852 was the daughter of John Birdsong Howard and Mary A. E. Niblett. She married C. A. Spannenburg in Alabama. When John Birdsong Howard died in Enterprise County, Mississippi 11-03-1879, his wife Sarah Germany brought her children to Purdon, Texas - near Corsicana in Navarro County, Texas. Her father and some of her siblings had migrated from Mississippi to Purdon in early 1860's. Sarah married Burdine Farmer of Purdon on 12-02-1880. She was then 31 years old and he was 59. They had no children. Sarah is buried beside Burdine Farmer in Zion's Rest Cemetery near Corsicana. She was very active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died at age 39 on 1-02-1888 and funeral services were held in the Shingle Arbor Church. The children of John Birdsong Howard and Sarah all married in Navarro County, they and their children have left many imprints in Navarro County. Their eldest daughter, Theodocia, was known as "Aunt Docia". She was known as one who was always willing to help those in need. By her first husband, James A. Farmer, she had sons Everett and Cliffie and a daughter, Minnie. Minnie Farmer married Claude E. Watson in 1907. Their daughter, Geneva, married Raymond Worsham in Purdon in 1931. Claude E. and Minnie had 4 other children, other than Geneva, most of them Claude, Albert and Scott Watson were farmers near Barry, Texas. Geneva Worsham became a teacher. There are several members of the Watson, Worsham, Harris, and Wright families still in Navarro County, all descendants of John Birdsong Howard and Sarah Germany. Evalena Sutton born 10-05-1903, (Mrs. Terry Sutton) was a daughter of "Aunt Docia" and her 2nd husband - a Mr. Reeves. As of October 10, 1988 at age 85 Evalena Sutton still teaches piano in Corsicana, Texas. She has two sons - Kennard and Gwyn Sutton. Another daughter of John Birdsong Howard and Sarah Germany was Alice Vivian born 2-09-1876. She married H. W. Bunch 8-25-1892. They moved to Powell, Texas and raised five daughters and one son. The family farm is still "in the family". Their children were: 1. Ethel - married C. Peerhouse 2. Roy N. Bunch 3. Esther Moore 4. Vivian "Bunny" Reed 5. Dolly Wilson 6. Faye Field As of October, 1988 all except Ethel and Roy are still living. Dolly, Mrs. Roy Wilson, lives in Gainesville, Texas and is among the more prominent citizens of Gainesville. Esther is past 90, retired from her own retail clothing business in Corsicana, is a charming lady with four children. Vivian "Bunny", married Elvin "Chick" Reed 10-15-1940. Bunny is retired from teaching and lives in Corsicana. She has two daughters, Rebekah and Sandra. Rebekah "Becky" Supercinski is a teacher in Longview, her husband is an attorney. They have two daughters. Faye Field is a retired teacher is Longview, Texas. Her husband, Tommy Field, is a highly respected retired coach and school administrator. Fay and Tommy have one son, Mike; Mike is Chief Council for the Texas Water Commission in Austin. Faye has had more than 400 articles and poems published in Guidepost and a number of other publications. To correct an oversight, Dolly, Mrs. Roy Wilson, of Gainesville, had three daughters - Wanda Thompson, Bobby Nell Webb and Peggy Holt. Dolly is a designer. Her husband, Roy Wilson was a highly successful rancher and financier. The only son of John Birdsong Howard and Sarah Germany was John Booth Howard - born 8-02-1872 in Enterprise, Mississippi. Died 12- -1907 in Batson, Texas and buried in Zion's Rest, near Corsicana. He married Wallace Bunch in December, 1892 in Corsicana, Texas. They had the following children, all born in Corsicana: 1. Elmer Howard - born 2-24-1894, died 5-24-1958 2. Nell Howard - born 1896, married Valter Anderson 3. Nora Howard - born 1898, died Jan., 1916 4. John O. Howard (Bill) - born 1901, married Cleo Cates 5. Clifton Howard - born 1903, married Minnie Elliott 6. Alvin A. Howard - born 1903, married Ann Cowart Elmer Howard married Lucile Owen in Corsicana in 11-26-1919. Their children were (1) Elnora born 10-10-1920, (2) James Leland born 1-28-1923, (3) Lillian Frances born 1-07-1925, (4) Elmer Harold "Tiny" born 10-16-1926, (5) John G. Howard born 8-10-1930, (6) Allyn A. Howard born 11-20-1938, and (7) Mary Linda Howard born 8-06-1941 Leland Howard married Aline Hodgden in Corsicana, Texas, February 24, 1945. They have two sons, Alan F. "Buck" Howard and Van Howard; Van was born 9-28-1953 and married Gay Smith. Van and Gay gave me the best gift possible - my grandson, Cory Van Howard, born February 19, 1982 in Tyler, Texas. "Buck" married Beverly Richard in Beaumont, Texas. They had two sweet girls, Anna Marie - born 7-18-1970, and Catherine - born 7-23-1973. Leland Howard was in class of 1940, and Aline Hodgden was in class of 1939 of Corsicana High School. Leland was in the Navy 1942 through 1945. He was in the first class of Navarro Jr. College in 1946. Graduated Henderson State University in Arkansas in 1950 as Valedictorian. Was a teacher and principal in Newton County, Texas, Bodcew, Arkansas, and on an Indian Reservation in Louisiana. Then 17 years with the Texas Department of Human Services as a social worker, Supervisor, Regional Program Director, and Educational Director before retiring in 1978. Aline, my wife, was a graduate of Parkland Nursing School in Dallas - served as 2nd Lt. in Army Nurse Corp. - 1942-1944. Worked in Newton Hospital, Beaumont, and Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler for over 42 years before retiring in 1985. Over the years she worked in all phases of hospital work and was highly respected in the medical profession. Lillian Howard married Charles Rieckhoff of Minnesota. They had three children, Frances, Gary, and Anita. Gary had one daughter. Anita had one son. Her husband, Charles, and daughter, Frances, died from cancer within a few months of each circa 1981. Frances was a dear, sweet, loving person. John G. Howard married Jane Houston. They have two daughters, Kay and Helen. Kay has one son. Helen married Steve Sherman. They have three children Chris, Brooke and Chase. In 1988 Kay's son is about 20 years old. Helen's children, Chris is 12, Brooke 9, and Chase 4. Allyn Howard married Jeanie Simmons of Newton, Texas. Their son Jeff, was born with a heart defect. He died in August, 1988, at age 25. Jeff was loved and respected by all who knew him. His caring for other people was even more noticeable due to his own limitations. Jeff was frail, but very active in fishing and boating. Tommy, age 20, married in August, 1988, and attends University of Arkansas. Mary Linda has one daughter - Tracy who married Andy Mullen. Tracy, born 1962, has two children, Andrew - age 5, and Erika - age 2, as of 1988. Linda's husband is Larry Hunting. Refer back to Sarah Jane Germany, my great grandmother. Tradition has always been that Sarah was least half Cherokee Indian. My dad, Elmer Howard, told us that we were part Cherokee and part Blackfoot Indian. I remember back to the 1930's when he talked with his brothers about a letter and some forms that he had from an Indian Bureau in Oklahoma - the gist of this was that they might qualify for some benefits. Dad did not follow up on this. All of the other older relatives have also heard about the Indian connection. After starting this narrative, I discovered some Morris family history in the Tyler Library, from a book of old Southern Bible records. I found that Sarah J. Germany's mother, Martha E. Morris, had parents named John Morris and Drucilla Earp. Drucilla Earp was born in Georgia on 3-15-1789. Martha E. Morris, her daughter, was born 2-13-1823, and married James Germany. This is the same information about birth and marriage of Martha to James Germany as I already had from the Howard Bible and other records. It is possible that Indian blood came though Drucilla Earp, but I haven't been able to confirm this. Also on the Germany side, Sarah's father was James Germany - born 7-28-1822. I have solid data on him and Martha E. Morris as parents of Sarah Germany. However, I also recently learned from the Library - particularly through a book on Van Zandt County, Texas and census records for Navarro County, Texas and Neshoba County, Mississippi, who his parents were. His great grandparents were from Ireland. His grandfather, John Germany, born 1717 in Ireland, came to Georgia about 1740; he married Elizabeth _____. One of their sons, James Germany, married the widow of Peter Lequeux - her name was Hannah. Hannah could be part Indian - pure speculation, but she is the only one I cannot tie with a family. All of my aunts and uncles were special. Uncle Bill and Aunt Cleo were farmers in Angus, Texas. Their sons, DeWitt, James and Billy Howard taught me a lot about farming. Uncle Bill looked like Roy Rogers. Uncle Alvin was like a brother - he taught me about the woods and to love nature as well as people. He loved kids, but didn't become a father until he was past 50. He married Ann Cowart when he was past 50. They had a son, Elmer, born about 1954, and a daughter was born in 1956. Uncle Alvin died on a fishing outing about 2 months before Alva was born. He worshipped his son, Elmer. I know he would have idolized Alva. Elmer now has 2 boys and 2 girls. Alva has a daughter and a son. Uncle Cliff collected Indian artifacts. He had a huge collection and sold it when his health got bad. He and Aunt Minnie had Jackie, Bobby, and Barbara Ann. These three live in Navarro County. I've met some of their children, as well as children of DeWitt and Billy - don't really know these children, but all seem like "good folks". Aunt Nell married Valter Anderson, they farmed and ranched in Gunter, Texas. Their children, J. W., Marshall Elmer "Shortie", Vernon, James, Dorothy, and Mary Catherine Anderson were like brothers and sisters to me. I'm sure their children have good lives because I know their parents were raised with real values. I must add that my grandson, Cory Van Howard, born 2-19-1982, is the main reason I am gathering and recording family history. He is also my best friend. I talk to him about family - by having facts recorded, he can look back as an old man and hopefully remember our many talks and the great love that exists between a grandfather and grandson. Note: Mr. Howard also furnished several pedigree charts that are not being reproduced here.