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| Ruby Fowler Lovelace and Jim Lovelace |
Until now, I had only one photo of my great-grandmother, Ruby Fowler Lovelace. It hung on my maternal grandparents, Guy and Virginia Lovelace's bedroom wall for as long as I can remember.
I've wished many times since I began researching my family tree that I had more photos of her and the Fowler side of the family.
I've wished many times since I began researching my family tree that I had more photos of her and the Fowler side of the family.
Thanks to a distant cousin who contacted me after reading my blog, I finally do.
Like me, Jenny West is a third great-granddaughter of Ruby's parents, Lewis and Sarah Patterson Fowler. Our great-grandparents were siblings.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Fowler Siblings
l to r: Daisy Fowler Lovelace, Molly Fowler and Ruby Fowler Lovelace
Oliver Fowler in the front
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Like me, Jenny West is a third great-granddaughter of Ruby's parents, Lewis and Sarah Patterson Fowler. Our great-grandparents were siblings.
Lewis M. Fowler was born 14 July 1852 around Finger, Tenn. in McNairy County to Oliver and Anna Malone Fowler. Oliver died at the young age of 32 when Louis was just six and his brother James was five. Anna then married Frances Callaway Robison, a widower who also had children and together they are said to have had six more.
In 1868 at the age of 19, Louis Fowler married Sarah E. Patterson who was 16. Together, they had nine children:
Lula M. Fowler
1873 - 1960
Married G.W. Parker
Children were Herbert, Jasper, Lucy, Jerline, Mattie, Blanche, Vary Elmore and John
Died in Lincoln, Tenn.
Oliver Wilson Fowler (Jenny's great-grandfather)
12 Jan 1875 - 9 Jun 1951
Married Lucy Browder (died in 1917)
Married Lillie Dell Hudson
Children with Lucy were: Vassie Alleen, Rose Lee (Jenny's grandmother), Willie Oliver, and Otis Mason. Children with Lillie were Daulton, Odell and Aurthur.
Died in St. Francis, Ark.
Mollie F. Fowler
Sep 1876 - 1931
Married S.W. Parker
Married John Henry Fowler
Possible Children were: Early May, William Richard, James H., Jim, Leander Doyle, Burt, Emma Lou, Jessee, Andrew Wayne, Addie Bell and Floyd.
Thomas Monroe Fowler
26 May 1880 - 19 Nov 1937
Married to Mary
Children were: Mary, Elmer, Vera and Blanche
Samuel Dalton Fowler
16 Jan. 1882 - 2 Oct 1913
Married Clyde Lorene Mann
Children were Jessie T. and William L.
Buried at Zion Baptist Church
Ruby Fowler (My great-grandmother)
12 Aug 1887 - 29 Jan 1952
Married James "Jim" Luther Lovelace
Children were Ovid, Jack, Blanch, Homer, Guy (my grandfather), Otha, Hobert and Marie. Buried at Zion Baptist Church
Daisy Fowler
Jun 1893 - Dec 1976
Married Walter Lee Lovelace (first cousin of Ruby's husband, Jim. Walter's father was Lynn Boyd Lovelace who was a brother of Jim's father, Charles B. Lovelace)
Children were Starley, Amelia, Walter Jr., Mildred Louise and Anna Elizabeth.
Elender M. Fowler1884 - after 1900
Mary C. Fowler, born 1871 must have died as young child.Jenny's grandmother, Rose Lee Fowler, kept these photos for many years and when Jenny became interested in genealogy, a cousin shared them with her. I am very grateful Jenny is sharing her family's photos with us. I have a few relatives who aren't online and I plan to mail them a copy to see if they see anyone they may recognize.
In this blog, I'm posting the photos that have been identified first. The photos of people that need to be identified are posted last. Some of the photos were weathered so I cleaned them up a little.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Ruby Fowler Lovelace |
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| Click to Enlarge Overlay of Ruby Fowler Lovelace, young and old |
Although Jenny let me know this photo has "Ruby" written on the back, just to be certain, I took the photo of Ruby as an older woman and put it on top of the photo thought to be of her as a young woman and the features fit exactly. I have no doubt this is a photo of my second great-grandmother when she was a young woman.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Ruby Fowler Lovelace |
This photo seems to really capture the way she must have looked in real life.
I recognized this photo as soon as I saw it because I got a copy a while back from my Aunt Marie Lovelace. You can read all about them, here. They are the parents of Ruby's husband, Jim. This is my ancestor who was written up in the Zion Baptist Church minutes in 1890 for allowing dancing in his house.
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| Click to Enlarge Children of Jim and Ruby Fowler Lovelace at the Lovelace Family Reunion in the late '70s Standing: Guy, Marie, Ovid, Hobert and Jack Lovelace Seated: Blanch Lovelace Brother Otha died in 1961 |
This is a photo I took of my grandfather, Guy Lovelace, and his siblings back in the late '70s. You can really see the family resemblance between Ruby and her adult children.
Ruby was born 12 Aug 1887 in Chester County, Tenn. She married James Luther "Jim" Lovelace on 28 Mar 1905.
Ruby's grandchildren called her "Grandmomma Ruby." Her youngest daughter, Marie, remembers Ruby as being very mild-mannered and never losing her temper or getting mad. She was always very worried and afraid during storms which may be where my grandfather Guy Lovelace, picked up his own anxiety during bad weather.
Church records show Jim and Ruby joined Zion Baptist Church on August 18, 1918 at a revival "preached by Dr. Woolridge with music led by Brother Thomas."
Their extended family was a big part of the lives of Ruby and Jim, with Jim’s parents, Charlie and Nancy Jane, living on the farm next door. Marie remembers Ruby preparing homemade moon pies for the frequent gatherings the Lovelace family would have.
In later years, grandson Bill Lovelace remembered Ruby as being very sensitive and crying often. He remembers “Grandaddy Jim” getting angry with her and her responding by bursting out in tears. My mother remembers her being very kind but also "nervous."
On 29 Jan 1952, when Ruby was 64, Jim called Marie to let her know that his wife was having problems with her heart so he had called Dr. Stewart. When Marie arrived at the house, she remembers Ruby was cooking pork tenderloin, fried potatoes and chocolate pies. At 3:00, Kate Smith came on the radio and Ruby told Marie and her sister Blanch, who had also come, that she was going to go lay down. About an hour later, Marie went to let her know she was leaving and Ruby had passed away in her sleep.
My maternal grandparents, Guy and Virginia Lovelace and their family were living in the house across the field from Ruby and Jim. My mother remembers playing next to the road with her brother Bobby when someone at Ruby’s house shouted for them to quickly get their father.
My mother's brother, Bill Lovelace, remembers that the next day the family was holding Ruby's wake in her house so his father went to see her. Bill waited in the truck in the driveway of the house for Guy to return. When he did, Bill remembers his father leaning his head on the steering wheel and crying.
It is the only time Bill remembers seeing his father cry.
After Ruby’s death, Jim lived at home alone for awhile then he stayed with several of his children.
Finally, he went to live with his son and daughter-in-law, Hobert and Carolyn Lovelace until his death from cancer in 1968, 16 years after Ruby had passed away.
They are both buried at Zion Baptist Church in Haywood County.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Ruby Fowler's in-laws, Charles "Charlie" Buchanon Lovelace and Nancy Jane Yelverton Lovelace |
I recognized this photo as soon as I saw it because I got a copy a while back from my Aunt Marie Lovelace. You can read all about them, here. They are the parents of Ruby's husband, Jim. This is my ancestor who was written up in the Zion Baptist Church minutes in 1890 for allowing dancing in his house.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Eva Pearl Lovelace Patterson and Edward Mansfield Patterson |
I had already gotten a copy of this photo from Joan of Bells, Tenn. who contacted me a few years ago. This is Eva Pearl Lovelace, (b. Feb 1889 in Haywood County) who was Joan’s grandmother and the sister of my great grandfather, Jim Lovelace. So Eva Pearl and Ruby were sisters-in-law. Eva Pearl married Edward Mansfield Patterson (b. Feb 1889 in Haywood County) on April 2, 1905 in Haywood County. Their children were Irene, Helen, Homer Edward, and Viola. They also had a son named Richard Hess who died at 18 months.
They lived and farmed near the home of Eva’s parents, Charlie and Nancy Jane Yelverton Lovelace, as did Ruby and Jim Lovelace.
You can read more about the photos Joan shared on this blog entry.
Because a few of these photos are of my ancestors, I have no doubt, many of the unidentified photos are as well.
Because a few of these photos are of my ancestors, I have no doubt, many of the unidentified photos are as well.
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First, here are some photos of our mutual ancestors that Jenny had already identified.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Ruby's brother, Wilson Fowler
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Wilson was born in 1875 in McNairy County, Tenn. He first married Lucy Browder and they had four children: Vassie, Rose Lee, Willie and Otis. After Lucy died, he married Lillie Dell Hudson who had children of her own including Leona and Ira. Together, Wilson and Lilly had Daulton, Odell and Authur. Between 1910 and 1920 Wilson moved to St. Francis, Ark.
Wilson died 9 Jun 1951 and was buried in the Harris Chapel Cemetery in Wynne, Ark.
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Rose Lee, Willie and Vassie Fowler |
These are three of the children of Wilson Fowler with his first wife, Lucy. I assume the one on the left is Rose Lee Fowler.
Rose Lee was born in 1905. She married John Otto Montgomery in 1919 and they had five children including: John Clifford, James Everett, Paul Montgomery, John Otto, Jr. and Dorothy Lee. Rose Lee died 3 Mar 1977 in Parkin, Arkansas and was buried in the Hughes Cemetery in St. Francis County.
Rose Lee's son, Otto, is Jenny's father and lives in Marion, Ark. They are planning a research trip to Haywood County in the coming weeks and I know just the places to recommend.
Mrs. Rose Lee Montgomery ObituaryWillie Fowler was born 31 Aug 1907 and married Doris Bostick in 1931. They had four children including Dorothy Willeen and Kathryn Marie. He died 11 Jul 1990.
Mrs. Rose Lee Montgomery, aged 71, of Parkin died Thursday afternoon at crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis. She had been in poor health for one year and in the hospital for the past two weeks.
She was born December 19, 1905, in Brownsville, Tenn., and was the daughter of Mrs. Lucy Browder Fowler and Wilson Fowler. She made her home in Parkin most of her life. She was a housewife and a member of the Gladen Baptist Church outside of Parkin. She married John Otto Montgomery in 1919 and he preceded her in death in 1942.
She leaves three sons, J. E. Montgomery of Parkin, Paul Montgomery of West Memphis, and Otto Montgomery of Marion; one daughter Dorothy Baldwin of Parkin; two brothers, Willie and Otis Fowler, both of Wynne; three half-brothers, Dalton Fowler of Wynne, Arthur Fowler of West Point, Miss., and Odel Fowler of Pine Bluff; one step-brother, Ira White of LeVesque; one stepsister, Mrs. Leona Crowder of Parkin; 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren
Funeral services will be at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p. m. Saturday with Rev. Jack Thorn of Parkin officiating. Burial will follow in Hughes Cemetery. Source
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Vassie Fowler |
Vassie Alleen Fowler was another daughter of Wilson Fowler. She was born 18 Aug 1903 and married Granville Gracy in 1928. She also spent most of her life in Arkansas. Vassie died 15 Oct 1971 and was buried in the Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City, Ark.
Vassie Fowler Gracey Obituary, Oct. 1971
Funeral Services for Mrs. Vassie Gracey, 68, Of Hughes were held Saturday at Stevens Funeral Home in Forrest City. Burial followed in the Forrest City Cemetery in Forrest City. Mrs. Gracey was the sister of Willie Fowler and Otis Fowler, both of Wynne and Mrs. Rose Lee Montgomery of Parkin. Other survivors include three half brothers, Dalton Fowler of MS and O'Dell Fowler of Grady; a stepbrother, Ira White of Wynne and a step sister, Mrs. Leona Crowder of Parkin. Mrs. Gracey was born August 18, 1903 near Brownsville Tn. and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Fowler.She was a housewife and a member of Gladden Baptist Church near Parkin. She had been making her home in Parkin with her sister, Mrs. Montgomery,since the death of her husband Granville Gracey, last August.She died in the Crittenden Hospital in West Memphis.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gracey were conducted by Rev. James Miller. Source
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Photo/Jenny West
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Lilly, Odell and Wilson Fowler |
Odell Fowler Obituary, January 26, 2005
WHITE HALL -- Odell Fowler, 78, of White Hall, died Wednesday at John L. McClellan Veterans Hospital at Little Rock.
He was born Nov. 26, 1926, at Wynne, a son of the late W.O. Fowler and Lilllie Hudson Fowler.
He received his education in the Wynne School District.
He served in the Army during the Korean War.
He had been employed as a heavy equipment operator at the Pine Bluff Arsenal prior to his retirement.
He attended the West 28th Avenue Church of Christ at Pine Bluff.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Clarice Payne Fowler, who died Feb. 25, 2003; one son, Preston Darnell Fowler; four brothers, Willie Fowler, Otis Fowler, Arthur Fowler and Ira White; one sister, Leona Crowder; and one grandchild.
Survivors include two sons, Sterling Odell Fowler and Lenny Fowler, both of Pine Bluff; two daughters, Reba Carter of White Hall and Sue Carrow of Little Rock; one brother, Dalton Fowler of Wynne; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today in Walnut Lake Cemetery at Dumas with Dennis Carrow officiating. Burial will be by Cranford Funeral Home at White Hall.
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Here are some photos of ancestors for whom we need to determine identities. These could be Fowlers, Pattersons, Browders or others. The Fowler family tended to have dark hair and eyes so I am posting them first.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Unidentified boy |
This young man looks a lot like he could belong to my second great-grandparents, Charlie B. and Nancy Jane Yelverton Lovelace. He looks a little like both of them and is dressed similarly.
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Unidentified baby |
This photo was taken at the Clark Photography Studio in Brownsville. It looks very much like other photos I've seen of my ancestors from around the time my grandparents were babies.
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Unidentified woman and little girl |
This woman and little girl are in a setting and in clothing similar to other Haywood County family photos from this period.
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Unidentified girl |
She looks like she could fit into the same family as the woman above. This is one of my favorites of all the unidentified photos.
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Unidentified children |
These children are dressed a little more uptown than my Fowler/Lovelace ancestors so they may be from one of the other families mentioned. They also look like they live in a less rural setting than my kinfolk.
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Unidentified children |
These girls have store-bought dolls which I've not seen in any photos of my Haywood County ancestors.
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Unidentified woman |
A school teacher perhaps? Although the book could just be a photographer's prop, she does have that school teacher mojo going on.
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Unidentified woman in Corinth, Miss photo studio |
This photo contains a clue. This lady was in a Corinth, Miss. studio having her photo taken.
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Unidentified boy in studio |
Here's another studio photo of a young man. This one includes his gun and his dog.
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Unidentified family |
This young couple saved their hard-earned money, went to the studio for what was possibly their first family photo and their kids would. not. be. still. I wonder how many times they tried. That one kid looks like an alien. The father appears to be counting the seconds until he can get out of there.
This family is in a similar setting and is wearing the style of clothing I am used to seeing in the photos of my Haywood County ancestors in this time period.
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Unidentified man |
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Unidentified man |
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Unidentified family |
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Unidentified man |
This is the first of the photos of people who have unusually light-colored eyes. I assume they were blue.
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Unidentified man in bow tie |
Another of the blue-eyed people, this photo could have been taken at the same time as the one above making these two brothers? ...or not.
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Unidentified couple |
Possibly a sister of the two people above and her husband? That's a huge leap to make but she does have very light blue eyes, and again it's in a similar setting.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Unidentified couple |
The man in this photo looks very similar to the one above and the setting and lighting is exactly the same. They were brothers, perhaps?
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Unidentified man |
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Unidentified boy |
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Unidentified children |
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Unidentified boy in sailor suit on driveway |
One of the most unique of the unidentified photos, this boy looks like he would be more at home on a city sidewalk in Chicago than a muddy driveway in front of a wooded clapboard house in the country.
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Photo/Jenny West
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Sawmill |
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If you're able to identify any of the people in these photos, please let me know. If we can put any more names to faces, I'll post the information here on this page.
For more blog entries, visit my Blog Home Page or to check out the genealogy research about my specific family lines, go to my Haywood County Line Genealogy Website. You can read more about the Fowler family on their page of my website.
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