T H E F I S H M A N U S C R I P T Page
Amanda M. Fish, daughter of Joseph Martin Fish and Nancy
"Ann" Dyches Fish, was born in 1825 in Louisiana, probably Washington
Parish. She was married at age 14
December 5, 1839 to 16-year-old Henry Whitmire, according to Angelina County,
Texas marriage records. He, the son of
Jesse Whitmire and Nancy "Ann" Durden Whitmire, was born about 1823
in Washington Parish.
He had received a Third Class 320-acre land grant December 5,
1839, his wedding day, according to Jefferson County records. He appeared as a taxpayer in 1840 in Jasper
County, Texas. His land grant, located
in Jasper County, was confirmed to him January 1, 1844. Newton County was organized from Jasper
County in 1846 and Henry Whitmire found himself in the new county. He assigned the land.grant to J. N. Brown
November 8, 1849 who assigned it to Gardner Wilbanks February 22, 1856. On August 30, 1860 Gov. Sam Houston directed
that the grant be patented in Ellis County, Texas on a site located 16.5 miles
west of Waxahachie, according to Patricia Ann "Patty" Bennett McGinty.
On January 11, 1847 he appeared on a jury list along with Joseph
Martin Fish, Joshua Hickman and James Hickman.
He appeared among the veniremen in Newton County again January 1,
1850. His father-in-law had received "a
league and a labor" land grant in Williamson County in 1846, and it is
believed that Henry Whitmire made trips with him to the new area to prepare
homes for their families. It is believed
that their families were moved to Williamson County in the fall of 1848, and
the men continued to commute between east and central Texas.
Henry Whitmire died in Williamson County, Texas October 17,
1853, according to the research of Lynda Dorene Whitmire Wright. Mary Alnora "Nora" Cox Drennan
stated that he died "away from home under unknown circumstances"
before the birth of his last child in 1854.
It is possible that he died or was killed while commuting between Newton
and Williamson counties.
Amanda M. Fish Whitmire received a deed May 9, 1855 "for
love and affection and $1" from her father to 250 acres of his headright
"including the farm and houses in the possession of Amanda M. Whitmire on
the south side of North San Gabriel River," according to Williamson County
Deed Book 6, page 105. She sold the
property to William Dark January 18, 1858 for $200, according to Williamson
County Deed Book 7, page 294. She
registered her brand "AW" in Williamson County January 25, 1866.
Amanda M. Fish Whitmire was enumerated as the head of Household
93-93, adjoining that of her mother, in the 1870 census of Williamson
County. The family was listed as:
"Whitmire Amanda 44, born in Louisiana,
keeping
house, $150
personal
property
Acy 25, born in Texas, farmer,
$50
personal property
Canzada 24, born in Texas, illiterate
William 20, born in Texas, $50 personal property
Isaac 18, born in Texas, illiterate, idiotic
Nancy 16, born in Texas,
illiterate"
Also adjoining was the household of her son-in-law Michael Rape:
"Rape Mical 33,
born in Ireland, laborer, $50
personal property
Cruchina 22, born in Texas, keeping
house"
Amanda M. Fish Whitmire received a deed from J. M. Bristol October
23, 1878 to 53 acres for $80 in the Gravis League, according to Williamson
County Deed Book 30, page 56. She sold
26.5 acres of the property October 22, 1878 to William Davidson, according to
Williamson County Deed Book 20, page 494.
She reappeared June 14, 1880 in the federal census as the head
of Household 167 in precinct 4, adjoining the household of her son-in-law,
Oliver Hazard Perry McCall:
"Whitmire Amanda 55,
born in Louisiana, father
born in France, mother
born in South Carolina
Chrischana 30, born in Texas, father born
in Mississippi, mother born in Louisiana married,
epilepsy, insane
Isaac
A. 26, born in Texas, father
born in Mississippi,
mother born
in Louisiana,
single
Fish Nancy 79, born in South Carolina,
[parents' places
of birth left blank], widow,
lame"
Amanda M. Fish Whitmire died prior to May 6, 1901, according to
a letter written on that date by Fannie Alice McCall, a granddaughter. She was buried in Chalk Ridge Cemetery,
"halfway between Florence and Georgetown," according to Drennan
research which reported that there were "11 or 12 people buried there,
close to Rattlesnake Hill." She
mentioned that there was a school located on the land of Asa C.
"Ace" Whitmire which she attended in 1904. The cemetery was visited in May 1985 by Ora Ethel Cox Gowen and
Arlee Claud Gowen who found all the graves but one marked with only
fieldstones. The one exception was that
of Oliver Hazard Perry McCall whose stone had been toppled over by cattle
grazing on the ranch.
Apparently the heirs discovered that they did not have a deed to
her property. On January 23, 1903 a
confirmation deed was made by J. M. Bristol to 50 acres in the "southwest
corner of the Gravis League to Amanda M. Whitmire, A. C. Whitmire and P. M.
Call," according to Williamson County Deed Book 105, page 135.
On December 6, 1905 "A. C. Whitmire, Nancy McCall, Cansada
Shed, J. Shed and Ike Whitmire" deeded jointly owned property to John Ward
Bowlin, according to Williamson County Deed Book 118, page 26.
Children born to them include:
A C.
"Ace" Whitmire born April
3, 1844 [1845]
Jack Whitmire born about 1845
C "Can"
Whitmire born in 1846
C
"Roach" Whitmire born
about 1848
William Whitmire born in 1850
I. A.
"Ike" Whitmire born in
1852
Nancy A Whitmire born November 15, 1854
Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire, son of Henry Whitmire and
Amanda M. Fish Whitmire, was born April 3, 1844 in Williamson County. He was married January 11, 1872 to Clarissa Abigail Shedd who was born
December 9, 1851, according to her tombstone.
She was born in Georgia in January 1856, according to her 1900 census
enumeration. He operated a freight
service using ox-drawn wagons.
Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire received a deed from John Thomas
Coffee and W. C. Dalrymple July 10, 1872 to 100 acres on Cowan Branch of
Berry's Creek for $121.50, according to Williamson County Deed Book 13, page
749. Leroy Boyce Lord witnessed the
transaction. He sold the property
January 8, 1875 to Sarah J. Collins for $300, according to Williamson County
Deed Book 16, page 712.
On June 12, 1880 he appeared as the head of Household 165-165,
Williamson County, Enumeration District 130, page 22, Precinct 4, in an
adjacent location with his mother's household. The family was rendered as:
"Whitmire Ace C. 35,
born in Texas, father
born in Louisiana,
mother born [unknown],
farmer, illiterate
Clarissa 29, born in Georgia, father born in Georgia, mother
born in Georgia, wife
William
H. 6, born in Texas, father born
in Texas, mother born
in Georgia, son
Idar
Bell 5, born in Texas,
father born
in Texas, mother born
in Georgia, daughter
Melona
A. 4, born in Texas, father born
in Texas, mother born
in Georgia, daughter
Alfred
H. 2, born in Texas, father born
in Texas, mother born
in Georgia, son
(no
name) 2/12, born in April in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia,
son"
Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire received a deed August 17, 1885
from his cousins Isaac Franklin Fish and Susan Ann Osteen High Fish, according
to Williamson County Deed Book 37, page 575.
Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire and Clarissa Abigail Shedd
Whitmire deeded land November 10, 1886 to R. W. McLendon, according to Williamson
County Deed Book 41, page 462. He
received a release January 23, 1897 from R. S. Hyer on 60 acres of land
purchased from him, according to Williamson County Deed Book 97, page 81.
He appeared as the head of Household 380-387 in the 1900 census
of Williamson County, Enumeration District 130, page 22, which was recorded
as:
"Whitmire Asa 54,
born April 1846 in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Texas, married 29 years,
Clarissa
A. 44, born January 1856 in
Georgia, father born in
Georgia, mother born in Georgia, 13 children; 11
living, wife
Boss 28, born April 1872 in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Ona 27, born April 1873 in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Mandy 19, born April 1881
in Texas, father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Becky 17, born June 1883
in Texas, father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Jennie 15, born December 1884 in Texas, father born
in Texas, mother born
in Georgia
Johnnie 13, born January 1887 in
Texas, father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Jessie 11, born June 1888 in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Dinkie 9, born February 1891 in
Texas, father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia
Otho 6, born March 1895 in Texas,
father born in Texas,
mother born in Georgia,
son"
Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire conveyed property in the J.A.F.
Gravis Survey to R. W. McLendon, according to Williamson County Deed Book 41,
page 462. On August 18, 1905 he sold
five parcels of land in the Gravis League to I. M. Williams for $2,500, according
to Williamson County Deed Book 110, page 578.
Included were plots of 50 acres, 2.48 acres, 3.152 acres, 26 acres and
60 acres.
"A. C. Whitmire, Nancy McCall, J. Shed and Cansada Shed and
Ike Whitmire" deeded land believed to be their inheritance to their
brother-in-law John Ward Bowlin December 6, 1905, according to Williamson
County Deed Book 118, page 26.
He removed to Coryell County about 1906, locating seven miles
north of Copperas Cove and appeared as the head of a household in the 1910
census there. He suffered a stroke
about 1919 and lived bedfast as a paralytic for four years. They deeded half interest in 433 acres in
the Manning Survey to their son-in-law Albert B. Sherwood for $1,000 May 3,
1920, according to Coryell County Deed Book 83, page 485.
John Louis Whitmire bought his parents' farm from the other
heirs, and he and his family cared for them until their deaths. She died of cancer September 22, 1921,
according to Coryell County Death Book B, page 288. and he died January 21, 1923, according to Texas BVS File
703. Opal Lavenia Hartsell Whitmire
retained a receipt issued to John Louis Whitmire January 24, 1923 acknowledging
payment of $75 for his father's casket.
She was buried in Shouse Cemetery adjoining their farm. In 1939 the government bought the land for
Ft. Hood and moved the cemetery to Gatesville, Texas. He was buried in Lacey Prairie Cemetery.
Children born to Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire and Clarissa
Abigail Shedd Whitmire include:
W H
"Boss" Whitmire born March
13, 1874
Ida Bell Whitmire born August 21, 1875
Melona A.
Whitmire born April 8,
1877
Alfred H.
Whitmire born Nov 18,
1878
(son) born
in April 1880
Amanda Whitmire born June 20, 1881
Rebecca Vera
Whitmire born June 5, 1883
J M C Whitmire born Dec 14, 1884
John Louis
Whitmire born Feb 17, 1886
Jesse James
Whitmire born June 19, 1888
Ruth
"Dinkie" Whitmire born in Feb
21, 1891
Otho Walter
Whitmire born in March 1895
William Henry "Boss" Whitmire, son of Asa C.
"Ace" Whitmire and Clarissa Abigail Shedd Whitmire, was born March
13, 1874 in Williamson County. He was
married August 7, 1900 to Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen, niece of
Francis Marion "Buddy" Mullen. She was born March 5, 1881.
William Henry "Boss" Whitmire joined his brother
Alfred H. Whitmire September 17, 1899 in purchasing 152 acres of land on
Berry's Creek from W. J. B. Salyer for $200, according to Williamson County
Deed Book 95, page 621. They paid off
the property and received a release October 10, 1905, according to Williamson
County Deed Book 104, page 572. He
received a deed from W. T. Humble to land in Coryell County March 13, 1907,
according to Coryell County Deed Book 46, page 164.
He appeared as the head of a household in the 1910 census of
Coryell County. He sold his interest in
the family inheritance to John Louis Whitmire November 21, 1923 for $300,
according to Coryell County Deed Book 191, page 125. He died December 21, 1932 in Bailey County, Texas, according to
Texas BVS File 49493. She died December
30, 1967. In 1969 his children lived in
Lamb County, Texas, according to Opal Lavenia Hartsell Whitmire.
Children born to William Henry "Boss" Whitmire and
Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire include:
Lonnie R.
Whitmire born June 19, 1901
Elmer L Whitmire born October 18, 1903
Mabel Whitmire born November 16, 1905
Ernest Whitmire born in 1906
Cleo C Whitmire born April 18, 1914
Modine Whitmire born April 6, 1916
Lonnie R. Whitmire, son of William Henry "Boss"
Whitmire and Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born June
19, 1901. He appeared in the 1910
census of his father's household. He
was married May 27, 1923 to Minnie Viola Turner. In 1969 he lived in Odessa, Texas. In 1984 he lived at Proctor, Texas.
Children born to Lonnie R. Whitmire and Minnie Viola Turner
Whitmire include:
Mattie Yvette
Whitmire born May 28, 1927
Cletus Ray
Whitmire born January 31,
1931
Mattie Yvette Whitmire, daughter of Lonnie R. Whitmire and
Minnie Viola Turner Whitmire, was born May 28. 1927. She died August 21, 1931.
Cletus Ray Whitmire, son of Lonnie R. Whitmire and Minnie Viola
Turner Whitmire, was born January 31, 1931, according to Coryell County Birth
Certificate 549. He was married
November 21, 1973 to Mrs. Evelyn Thompson Massingill. Children born to Cletus Ray Whitmire and Evelyn Thompson
Massingill Whitmire are unknown.
Elmer Loyl Whitmire, son of William Henry "Boss"
Whitmire and Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born
October 18, 1903. He appeared as a
six-year-old in the 1910 census of his father's household. He was married December 25, 1927 to Olin
Votaw. He died July 11, 1981.
Children born to Elmer Loyl Whitmire and Olin Votaw Whitmire
include:
Loyl Don Whitmire born Sep 18, 1932
Wanda Jean
Whitmire born May 26, 1934
Myrna Loy
Whitmire born July 7, 1937
Loyl Don Whitmire, son of Elmer Loyl Whitmire and Olin Votaw
Whitmire, was born September 18, 1932.
Wanda Jean Whitmire, daughter of Elmer Loyl Whitmire and Olin
Votaw Whitmire, was born May 26, 1934.
She was married about 1954 to Lewis Wayne Shaffer. Three children were born to them.
Myrna Loy Whitmire, daughter of Elmer Loyl Whitmire and Olin
Votaw Whitmire, was born July 7, 1937.
She was married about 1957 to Bennie Robinson. Three children were born to them.
Mabel Whitmire, daughter of William Henry "Boss"
Whitmire and Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born
November 16, 1905. She was married
November 21, 1926 to Charles Wiseman.
In 1984 they lived in Hereford, Texas.
Children born to them include:
Thomas C Wiseman born January 10, 1928
Thomas C Wiseman born April 18, 1929
Buddy Joe Wiseman born January 10, 1932
Charlene Wiseman born June 18, 1934
Paula Wiseman born March 31, 1937
Ola F Wiseman born February 14, 1945
Thomas Charnel Wiseman, son of Charles Wiseman and Mabel
Whitmire Wiseman, was born January 10, 1928.
He died February 10, 1928.
Thomas Charnel Wiseman, son of Charles Wiseman and Mabel
Whitmire Wiseman, was born April 18, 1929.
Ernest Whitmire, son of William Henry "Boss Whitmire and
Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born in 1906. He appeared in the 1910 census of his father's
household as a four-year-old. It is
believed that he died in childhood.
Cleo Cleveland Whitmire, son of William Henry "Boss"
Whitmire and Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born April
18, 1914, according to Coryell County Birth Book 2, page 86 and Delayed Birth
Book 7, page 286. He was married May
11, 1941 to Billie West. In 1984 they
lived in Sudan, Texas.
Children born to them include:
Anita Kay
Whitmire born April 3, 1944
Anita Kay Whitmire, daughter of Cleo Cleveland Whitmire and
Billie West Whitmire, was born April 3, 1944.
She was married about 1964 to Durwood White. Three children were born to them.
Modine Whitmire, daughter of William Henry "Boss"
Whitmire and Sarah Josephine "Josie" Mullen Whitmire, was born April
6, 1916. She was married May 2, 1937 to
Lester Elmore. She died September 19,
1983.
Children born to them include:
Arnetha Ann
Elmore born December 13, 1938
Julia Mae Elmore born July 27, 1945
James Darrel
Elmore born December 8, 1946
Ida Belle Whitmire, daughter of Asa C. "Ace" Whitmire
and Clarissa Abigail Shedd Whitmire, was born August 21, 1875 in Williamson
County. She was married December 18,
1892 to John Ward Bowlin, according to Williamson County Marriage Book 8, page
10. Opal Lavenia Hartsell Whitmire
shows the date as December 28, 1892.
They were first cousins. He was
born February 28, 1868, according to the research of Opal Lavenia Hartsell Whitmire,
however his census enumeration shows 1869.
He appeared as the head of Household 381-388 in the 1900 census
of Williamson County, Enumeration District 130, page 22. The family was rendered as:
"Bowlin John W. 31,
born February 1869 in Texas,
father born in Texas, mother
born in Texas,married eight years, farm renter
Ider 25, born August 1874 in Texas,
father born in Texas, mother
born in Georgia, 3 children wife
Rufus
6, born January 1894 in Texas,
father born in Texas, mother
born in Georgia, son
Hardy
5, born March 1895 in Texas,
father born in Texas, mother
born in Georgia, son
Horace 2, born April 1898 in Texas,
father born in Texas, mother
born in Georgia, son
John Ward Bowlin purchased her mother's property from the other
heirs December 6, 1905, according to Williamson County Deed Book 118, page
26. He died February 23, 1945, and she
died November 10, 1950 near Brownfield, Texas.
Children born to them include:
Rufus Bowlin born in January 1894
Hardy Bowlin born in March 1895
Horace Bowlin born in April 1898
Alta Mae Bowlin born January 16, 1902
B. D. Bowlin born September 13, 1903
Docie Bowlin born about 1907
Johnny Bowlin born September 28, 1910
Vergie Bowlin born about 1912
Rufus Bowlin, son of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire
Bowlin was born in January 1894 in Williamson County. He appeared as a six-year-old in the 1900 census of his father's
household. He was married about 1918 to
Mattie Kitchen. No children were born
to them.
Hardy Bowlin, son of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire
Bowlin, was born in March 1895. He
appeared as a five-year-old in the 1900 census of his father's household. He was married about 1930 to Addie Lee
Wiggley and lived at San Angelo, Texas.
Children born to them include:
Bobbie Gene
Bowlin born June 19, 1937
Acena Bowlin born about 1939
Virginia Bowlin born about 1942
Glenda Bowlin born about 1946
Bobbie Gene Bowlin, son of Hardy Bowlin and Addie Lee Wiggley
Bowlin, was born June 19, 1937. He died
August 19, 1968.
Horace Bowlin, son of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire
Bowlin, was born in April 1898. He died
May 1, 1901 after being "bitten twice by a rattlesnake" and was
buried in Chalk Ridge Cemetery.
Alta Mae Bowlin, daughter of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle
Whitmire Bowlin, was born January 16, 1902.
She was married in 1920 to Percy Littlefield. She died October 19, 1966.
Children born to them include:
Dorothy
Littlefield born about 1922
J. B. Littlefield born about 1925
Dorothy Littlefield, daughter of Percy Littlefield and Alta Mae
Bowlin Littlefield, was born about 1922.
She was married about 1946, husband's name Bond.
J. B. Littlefield, son of Percy Littlefield and Alta Mae Bowlin
Littlefield, was born about 1925.
B. D. Bowlin, son of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire
Bowlin, was born September 13, 1903. He
was married about 1923, wife's name Margie.
He died May 4, 1959.
Children born to them include:
Terrel L. Bowlin born about 1924
Nelda Bowlin born about 1926
Linda Jo Bowlin born about 1929
Dixie Ruth Bowlin born about 1932
Docie Bowlin, daughter of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle
Whitmire Bowlin, was born about 1907.
She died unmarried in 1979.
Johnny Bowlin, son of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire
Bowlin, was born September 28, 1910. He
was married about 1932 to Lenora Lee.
Lenora Lee Bowlin died with the birth of their first child. He was
remarried in 1940 to Odessa Godwin. She
was later a patient in a mental hospital in Big Spring, Texas. In 1969 he lived at Brownfield.
Children born to Johnny Bowlin and his first wife include:
Patsy Bowlin born about 1934
Vergie Bowlin, daughter of John Ward Bowlin and Ida Belle Whitmire Bowlin, was born about 1912.