THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION Summer 2011 Number 91

Mary Bondurant Warren, Editor 750 Glenwood Dr., Athens, GA 30606-4628, 706/549-1264 e-mail: [email protected]

www.Bondurant-Family.org Your Portal to Bondurant Family Historical and Genealogical Information David W. Bondurant, BFA Webmaster

HELLO BONDURANTS!

We are having a fabulous meeting this year. We are visiting the beautiful state of North Carolina. Our meeting is timed a little early this year because of the football season. You know those die-hard football fans and their games. We can work around them and find a slow weekend. This year we will be visiting the home state of Ginny and Carroll Wray in Greensboro, NC. They are our wonderful hosts and we are being shown around Mount Airy, the home of “Mayberry RFD” and the Andy Griffith Show. You can read the schedule for the events on the following pages. We are staying at the Best Western Plus near the airport, for all those who don’t have cars. Being there also gives us the opportunity to be only thirty minutes from Winston-Salem’s historic village “Old Salem.” Some of us will be able to make it there for a short visit on Saturday, but if there is not enough time we can always visit on Sunday. The Greensboro Library is also a wonderful place to visit for those who like genealogy or historical research. There are historical documents from 1781. There are also 18th Century historical maps to the present. The library has information on the native Americans, and pirates who inhabited the area. Greensboro also offers a historical walking tour on Sunday at 2 p.m. for $5.00 The weather averages 70 degrees with very little rain, so put on your walking shoes, and join us for a fabulous trip down memory lane. 2 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

I look forward to meeting all of you again, and hope to meet some new members also.

Love to all, Marcelle Bondurant Hoffman.

Don’t Miss the Revolutionary Battlefield! Greensboro was the site of an important Revolutionary battle, with British General Cornwallis facing Rebel General Nathanael Greene, the small Continental Army, and Rebel militias from most of the southern colonies. Cornwallis claimed victory, but that was short-lived, for he surrendered to the Rebels at Yorktown in October 1781. Visit the park commemorating the Battle of Guilford Court House. At Guilford, the mother-church of the Southern Quakers can be seen at Pleasant Garden Meeting House. Following the battle, the Quaker meeting house was commandeered by the British to serve as a military hospital until their wounded could be evacuated.

OUR ANNUAL MEETING IS OCT. 7-8, 2011

Meeting headquarters will be Best Western Plus - Greensboro Airport, 7800 National Service Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409, 336/454-0333. The hotel offers free airport pickup and a complimentary breakfast each morning. Make your reservation before 24 Sept. 2011, and receive the group rate of $85.31. Thereafter $123.99, so reserve early. Same price for either King or double bed rooms. Visitors are welcome to come to any and all of our meetings, so come and bring your kin!

Friday Oct. 7, 7:30 - Get some supper before you come to “Meet Your Kin” in the hotel’s meeting room. Bring family photos and memorabilia for display. We’ll have introductions all around of those attending, and how they are connected to the Bondurants. This is an informal session to allow all to get acquainted and meet new kinfolks. THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 3 We’re Heading for Andy Griffith’s “Mayberry”

Saturday Oct. 8. Hotel breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m. 8:30 am. Meet at the lobby of the hotel. A 15 person van will be available for those needing a ride; cost is $18 per person. Our group drives to Mount Airy, NC, about an hour and a half away.

10 a.m. Group assembles at the Andy Griffith Theater, Rockford St., Mount Airy, a few blocks from downtown. We’ll go to the Visitors Center on Main Street, where a guide will meet us for a tour of the Old Jail, Snappy’s Lunch (owned by Mary Dowell, whose grandmother is a Bondurant), Floyd’s Barber Shop, the Mount Airy Museum, and see Andy’s Squad car. We head for Hampton Inn’s meeting room at noon. 4 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

12:30 p.m. Informal lunch in Hampton Inn’s meeting room, cost $6 each. Coffee, sweet and unsweet tea, and water are included with the lunch. Our hosts Carroll and Ginny Wray will pick up Subway meals, and have them ready at the hotel. We hope to have some of the Bondurants who live in and near Mount Airy join us for lunch today. THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 5 6 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Once we finish lunch, we’ll have our annual meeting there at Hampton Inn. On the agenda is our election of officers, selection of 2012 meeting site, and discussion of a trip to France to see the Bondurant homeplace. Sorry, we won’t have time to sit down to those pork chop sandwiches at Snappy’s Lunch!

When the meeting concludes, we’ll head back to Greensboro. If time permits you can stop for a few minutes at Old Salem, part of the city of Winston Salem, to see the Moravian settlement church, God’s Acre Cemetery, and museum houses. Old Salem is about half an hours drive from our hotel. If you can see only one place, choose God’s Acre, the Moravian’s burial ground dating back to the Revolutionary era. In it persons were buried in “choirs” - not in family plots as most modern cemeteries are laid out. The Choir was a gender and age division, for example single men, single women, married women, married men, and children each were interred together. No elaborate monuments, just simple stones with the decedent’s vitae. A beautiful lane of oaks led from the church to the cemetery in years past. It was badly damaged by a windstorm which passed through the city some years ago.

6:30 p.m. Group dinner at Moose Café, located at the Central North Carolina Farmers Market. A country style meal of fried chicken or country ham will be served buffet style in their meeting room. Cost $13.00 includes gratuity.

8 p.m. Adjourn to the hotel for visiting and a good nights sleep! New and old officers need to meet this evening at the hotel.

NEW MEMBER: THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 7

Mrs. Gail Bondurant Cox, 970 Brownwood Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27105, 336/767-4495. e-mail:[email protected]. She is a descendant of Andrew Jackson Bondurant and Jo Ellen Scales. We’ll look forward to getting acquainted when we meet in her neighborhood in October 2011.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Joseph B. Lambert, from IL, to 536 Terrell Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209-6129. Ruby Talley Smith, from Baltimore, to 12222 Shadetree Lane, Laurel, MD 20708-2832. New e-mail: [email protected]. We’re thankful that Ruby’s health and mobility are improving!

DEATHS Our sympathy to those families who have lost loved ones. Thanks to Clint Bondurant for these obituaries!

MRS. ERMILIE “Erm” BONDURANT, 69, of Hillsboro, [state not mentioned], died 4 Feb. 2011 there. She was born 8 Feb. 1941 in Bond Co., the daughter of Floyd Bone and Blanche Holbrook. Ermilie and Wayne Bondurant were married 17 July 1959, at Decatur. Mrs. Bondurant lived in Greenville and Hillsboro. She was a 1958 graduate of Greenville High School, and in 1968 became a certified dental technician at the University of Lexington. From 1975 to 2005 she and her husband owned their own dental tech lab. In addition to her husband, survivors include a son Jay Fielding Bondurant of Crete; a grandchild Dane Fielding Bondurant of Hillsboro, and a sister Dorothy Lyttaker of Rushville. She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters. Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association.

MRS. GLADYE ERNESTINE FORTUNE BONDURANT, born 10 Dec, 1923, died 26 Oct. 2010 in Memphis, TN. She was the widow of Florian Moseley “Jim” Bondurant, and was survived by daughter Gail Nichols and husband Tom, and two sons, John Bondurant and wife Phyllis, and David Bondurant and wife Lorn Edene, and her two brothers Don Fortune of Tremont, MS, and Jimmy Bondurant of Batesville, MS. Her five grandchildren were: Brian Bondurant and wife Ashley, Brad and James Bondurant, Ben Bondurant and wife Chalise, and Thomas Nichols, and twin great grandsons Matthew and Barret Bondurant and a great granddaughter Bondurant. In-laws of Gladye were Florian Moseley Bondurant, Sr., and Mary Crenshaw.

Who were F.M. Bondurant, Sr.’s parents?

MRS. LINDA MOORE BONDURANT, 39, of Mayodan, NC, died 5 Sept. 2010. She was the daughter of the late Robert Moore and Mary McHone, sister of Cherly Moore, Janie Bondurant, and Cathy Moore, all of Mayodan. Linda was the mother of Brittany Wagner, deceased, and Jason Wagner.

Was Linda’s husband Johnny Lee Bondurant? Had they been divorced?

ANSWERS: 8 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

From Ruby Talley Smith, to identify Ellis Aubrey Woods, whose obituary appeared in the previous newsletter. “Ellis was uncle of BFA member Sue Woods Pittman. Her father was Chester Orin Woods, and mother Anna Mae Bondurant [who] descends from Darby.”

From Sharon Kingen ([email protected]). In response to your questions about the Oshaughnessy family members, here is the information. Louis Bondurant “Barney” O’Shaughnessy, born 7 Feb. 1890 Louisville, KY, according to his World War I Draft registration, died 1924 in Liberty, NY. He was the son of Lucile (aka Louisa or Lucinda) C. (possibly Coleman) Bondurant, born about 1863 KY, died 3 April 1947 New York, NY, who married Louis P. O’Shaughnessy, who died 13 Feb. 1900, , MA. Lucile was the daughter of Joseph Davis Bondurant, born about 1830 KY, died 2 Oct. 1899 New York, NY, age 69. Joseph married 22 Dec. 1859 Myrah Gray, born about 1838 KY, died 17 Nov. 1899 New York, NY, buried Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson Co., KY. They had 4 daughters; Myra born about 1861 married Joseph J. “Joe” Eakins, born about 1861, died 23 July 1905 Colorado Springs, CO. Lucile [above] Alice Lillie (see implied marriage in article below).

I think this links to the Ryan Lillie Bondurant, 17 June 1927 New York, NY, who is also on your list of obituaries. One obituary of Joseph Bondurant indicates that he had only 3 daughters so Alice may have died somewhat young (she was 12 in the 1880 census of Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY). Joseph Davis Bondurant was the son of Dr. Jeffrey William Bondurant and Lucinda Coleman.

New York Times, New York, NY, 4 Oct. 1899. Obituary Joseph Davis Bondurant, of Louisville, KY, died suddenly last Monday in the Rutland Apartment House , 57th St. Mr. Bondurant retired from active business four years ago in Louisville and moved to New York with his family. He was one of the bidders for the erection of , and entered into several smaller contracts while living here, but did not engage very actively in business on account of his health. His three daughters married New York newspaper men, one of whom is J.J. Eakins. Mr. Bondurant was 69 years old. Burial will be in Louisville, where the body was taken yesterday.

The Kentucky Irish American, Louisville, KY, 29 July 1905. Joseph Eakins Succumbed to the Insidious Ravages of Lung Trouble

Joseph J. Eakins, formerly one of Louisville’s best-known newspaper writers, died at Colorado Springs on Sunday after a long illness. Death resulted from lung trouble. The remains were brought to Louisville for burial and the funeral took place from the Cathedral of the Assumption Thursday morning. Joe Eakins, as he was popularly known, was born in Louisville, 44 years ago. He was the son of Patrick Eakins, who years ago was prominent in local Irish-American circles. After THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 9 graduating from high school he attended the Louisville law school and graduated from that institution, but never took up the practice of law. Instead he took up newspaper work and soon ranked as one of the most energetic and best newsgatherers in the city. In 1884 he resigned as city editor of the Times to become private secretary of Mayor P. Booker Reed. In 1888 Mr. Eakins went to New York, where he resumed newspaper work. His ability was recognized at once. He made a specialty of sporting matters and ere long was made sporting editor of the New York World. He was an authority on all sporting matters and for years led all other sporting writers of America’s great metropolis. He was always a hard worker and two years ago his health gave way under the strain to which it had been subjected. He fought gamely but vainly against the ravages of the dread disease. In the end he went to Colorado, hoping to gain strength in that Western country. He was too far gone, however, and his death ensued on Sunday. Handsome and affable, Joe Eakins was always a prince of good fellows. His death is not only a loss to his wife, who was formerly Miss Myra Bondurant of Louisville, but is a shock to his former colleagues in the newspaper business both in Louisville and New York.

The Kentucky Irish American, Louisville, KY, 30 May 1903. GRACIOUS GIFT Wealthy Catholics Donate New Cathedral to Richmond Diocese

The corner-stone of the new Catholic Cathedral of Richmond, VA, will be blessed on Thursday afternoon. The Richmond Times declares: “The new Cathedral will be perhaps the finest edifice of the kind in the entire South. It is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan, of New York, to the Catholics of Richmond. It will cost about $250,000. Some idea of its magnificence may be obtained by the consideration that it will cost considerably more than three times as much as any church in Richmond today. William K. Ryan, the eldest son of the donors married Miss Lily Bondurant of this city. The new Cathedral will be quite an adornment to the Diocese of Richmond, which has only 30,000 Catholics, less than one-third of the Catholic population to the Diocese of Louisville. By the way, the third Bishop of Richmond, was a Louisville priest, the Right Rev. John McGill, who was consecrated Bishop of Richmond in 1850 and who died in 1872. The ceremony of blessing the cornerstone will be conducted by the present Bishop of Richmond, the Right Rev. A. Van de Vyer.”

Sharon noted: Another article shows that on 29 June 1930 “the gross value of the estate left by the late Thomas Fortune Ryan is fixed at approximately $125,000,000, it was learned yesterday when Federal and State inheritance tax reports were completed.” . . . There are articles that appeared in The New York Times which tend to verify that Lillie/Lily Bondurant married William K. Ryan.

If I have drawn the right conclusion from the clues I found, William K. and Lillie Bondurant Ryan had a son named Joseph B. Ryan who built the big ski resort at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. He died at the age of 44 in a 22 story fall from a hotel window, probably in New York. It would be 10 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

interesting to read more about this incident. The article appeared 13 Sept. 1950. The clues also indicate that a Miss Lillie B. Ryan, descendant of Thomas F. Ryan, married Charles de Bevoise, in , on or about 9 Aug. 1953. It appears that they had a son born on or about 25 Oct. 1961.

Can anyone else fill in details of this prominent family from the O’Shaughnessys to the de Bevoises? Since they were Catholics, parish records should furnish important dates.

THE OGLETHORPE COUNTY, GEORGIA, COURT HOUSE A Bondurant Production

With the advent of the digitized Athens, GA, newspapers I was surprised to learn that this edifice, still in use, was built by two Bondurant brothers; Robert E. was contractor, of , and John Parnell I, brickmaker of Augusta, GA furnished the bricks. No, a Bondurant didn’t design it! THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 11

THE NAPOLEONIC MYTH

Recently a response to Marcelle’s invitation to join the Bondurant Family Association came from an unidentified individual who wrote: “Sorry – you have the wrong Bondurant family. My family arrived US as exiles of Napoleon (two brothers).”

Sorry, that’s a figment of someone’s imagination. I heard about this back in the 1960s, and on investigation found that it was wrong. To Marengo Co., AL, in 1817 refugee Frenchmen came after the fall of Napoleon to try to start over. The French created what was called “the vine and olives colony.” It failed, and survivors had returned to France by 1830. There was no Bondurant among them. William Bondurant, former owner of Muddy Creek Mill, in Cumberland Co., VA, was in the Marengo Co. area after 1822; he was the progenitor of the Bondurant families there. Yes, he was one of two brothers, both sons of John Peter Bondurant and Martha Walton. The other brother died in Cumberland Co., leaving an only son.

JOHN WILLIAM BONDURANT

An inquiry from Stephanie Smith ([email protected]) on this man who died in Memphis, TN, in 1947, brought a flood of help from Sharon Kingen, Eve Mayes, and Clint Bondurant. Stephanie and her mother, in turn, filled in many blanks in their family tree which we had in our data base. It was mutually productive! This is a composite of family information from all these sources.

Immigrant Jean Pierre and Ann Tanner Bondurant had a son John Bondurant who married Sarah Rachael Taylor. Their son was Rev. Thomas Bondurant who married Rhoda Agee, and had among other children Jacob P. Bondurant, born about 1776 Buckingham Co., VA, married 1794, and died about 1819 in Snow Creek settlement, Franklin Co., VA. Thomas’ wife was Jane Prunty, born 20 March 1773 in Henry Co., VA [not formed until 1776, so may have been born in parent Pittsylvania Co.], and died 15 Jan. 1858 in Franklin Co., VA. Among Thomas and Jane Prunty Bondurant’s children was Joseph Bondurant, born about 1808 in Franklin Co., VA, married 16 March 1829 there to Sarah E. “Sally” Hunt. Joseph died 1852 in Marshall Co., KY. Sally was born about 1810 in Franklin Co., daughter of Daniel B. Hunt and Elinor Craig, and Sally died 29 June 1892 in Marshall Co., KY. Joseph M. Bondurant, son of Joseph and Sally, was born about 1842 in KY, married 17 Nov. 1863, and died 21 Dec. 1886 in Marshall Co., KY. His wife Frances Elizabeth “Fannie” Brewer was born 24 March 1846 TN, died 21 Jan.1922 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN. Both were buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, KY. They had the following children: Thomas M., born 1864 Mary J. “Annie,” born 1867 KY, died 1950. Stephanie’s great grandmother. 12 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

JOHN WILLIAM, born 7 April 1868 KY, died 22 May 1947 in Shelby Co., TN. This is the man Stephanie initially inquired about. Clifton M., born about 1876 KY. Sam, born 6 Dec. 1881 TN.

John William’s son Jack Bondurant, living in Atlanta when his father died, gave John William’s birth year on the death certificate as 1862, before his parents married. Repeated census records show that John William was born in 1868, not earlier, and was the third child of the family.

Joseph M. and his family appeared in the 1870 census of Marshall Co., KY, Brewers Mill P.O., Dist. 5, page 208, enumerated 30 June 1870. In their household were: Sarah Cross (mother), 60, widow, born VA, “at home.” She was the widow of 1st Joseph Bondurant, 2nd Abram Cross, and mother of Joseph M. Bondurant. George W. Bondurant, 20, born KY, youngest brother of Joseph M. Bondurant. Also in the home were: Daniel Flood, 87, born VA, farmer Anna J. Flood, 19, born KY, farmer. What was their connection, if any, to Joseph M. Bondurant or his widow Sarah E. Hunt Bondurant Cross?

By 1880 Joseph M. and Frances were in Smith’s Dist. #8, Marshall Co., and were counted 15 June 1880. Children were Thomas, Annie, John W., and Clifton M. Boarder Patsy Kline, 21 was also counted with them.

With the loss of the 1890 census, and Joseph M.’s death, our next census was that of 1900, Shelby Co., TN, Memphis, Poplar St., page 22B, taken 1 June 1900. Francis [sic] E. Bondurant, head of household, born 4 March 1845, 55, widow, bore 7 children, 3 living, born TN, father born Germany, mother TN. Sam Bondurant, son, born 6 Dec. 1881, 18, all born TN.

1910 census, Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, Poplar Ave., page 95A, taken 15 April 1910. Fannie E. Bondurant headed the household, aged 65, a widow who bore 7 children, only 3 still living, born TN, both parents born TN. “Keeper, rooming house.” James P. Stalls, grandson, 21, born TN Frank A. Curtis, son-in-law, age 50, married 4 years, born KY. Second husband of Mary J. “Annie.” wife Mary J., daughter, 44, married 4 years, bore 1 child, still living [James P. Stalls above], born KY, father born KY, mother in TN. Fannie had 10 roomers, several couples, and one other family. All lived at 151 Poplar Ave., Memphis.

1920 Census of Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, taken 3 Jan. 1920 Frank Curtis, head of household, 56, married, born KY wife Mary, 52, born KY, father born KY, mother TN. Paul, son, 30, born TN. [James Paul Stalls] THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 13

Mamie, wife, 22, born TN Paul, Jr., son, 2 ½ years, born TN. Francis [sic] Bondurant, grandmother, 74, widow, born TN.

THOMAS M. BONDURANT, born Nov. 1864 Paducah, McCracken Co., KY, died 16 Dec. 1900 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, according to death records. He married Clara B. Robinson, born 8 Aug. 1864 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, died 26 Jan. 1946 Louisville. Both were buried at the Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, KY.

1900 Census, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, page B, 5 June 1900. Thomas M. Bondurant, head, born Nov. 1864, 35, married 11 years, born KY, clerk Clara B., wife, born Aug. 1872, 27, married 11 years, no children, born KY, father born Ireland Emma A. Robinson, sister in law, born July 1871, 28, single, born KY, father born Ireland, buyer of dry goods.

MARY J. “ANNIE” BONDURANT was born 24 Feb. 1867, Paducah, McCracken Co., KY, and died 16 May 1950, Memphis, Shelby Co., KY. She married 1st James Franklin Stalls who died 19 Nov. 1889; one son, J. Paul Stalls, Sr. She married 2nd Frank A. Curtius or Curtis, born 25 Feb. 1856, died 12 Nov. 1949. Both were buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Paducah, KY. More on this couple at end of this article.

JOHN WILLIAM BONDURANT was born 7 April 1868 in KY, died 22 May 1947 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN. He married Nellie Breen in Memphis, TN.

1910 census of Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, ward 18, page 1b, 16 April 1910. John W. Bondurant, head, 43, married 15 years, all born KY, salesman of real estate Nellie, wife, 36, bore 1 child, still living, born TN, father and mother born Ireland. John W., Jr., son, 6, born TN. Ellen Breen, mother in law, 64, widow, 4 children born, 3 living, all born Ireland John J. Breen, brother in law, 40, born TN, clerk James Breen, brother in law, 45, born TN, painter.

1920 Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, census, page 203A, 5 Jan. 1920. John W. Bondurant, head, 51, all born KY Nellie, wife, 45, born TN, both parents born Ireland John W., Jr., son, 16, born TN.

1930 Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, census, made 10 April 1930, page 261. Jack W. Bondurant, head, 60, married 25 years, all born KY, Agent, real estate. Nelly, wife, 55, married 25, born TN, parents in Ireland.

CLIFTON M. BONDURANT, born 27 Feb. 1878 KY, died July 1943 in , Orleans Parish, LA. He married 1st Beulah A. Powell on 20 Nov. 1897 in Shelby Co., TN. She was born 20 Dec. 1876 MS, died 17 March 1903, Memphis, Shelby Co., TN. He married 2nd Anolia C. Skinner. 14 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

No further information. Clifton’s information came from his World War I draft registration.

1900 Census, Memphis, Shelby Co., TN, page 215 B, 2 June 1900. Cliff M. Bondurant, boarder, born Feb. 1875, married less than a year, all born KY, railroad. Beulah A., wife, boarder, born Dec. 1876, 23, married less than a year, no children, all born MI, stenographer.

SAM BONDURANT, born 5 Dec. 1881 TN. Have no further information on him after 1 June 1900 census of Memphis, TN. Could he be Joe S. Bondurant who was surety for the marriage of J.F. Stalls and Mary J. Bondurant in 1888?

Stephanie was joined by her mother Virginia Albrecht in the search. Mary J. “Annie” Bondurant’s 2nd husband, Frank A. Curtius, signed a will 26 Sept. 1947, filed 21 Nov. 1949. He provided his wife with most of his estate, and residue to his sister who lived in KY. There was no mention of his step-son J. Paul Stall, Sr. in the will. Annie Curtius’ will was signed 9 Dec. 1949, and left her entire estate to her son J. Paul Stall, [Sr.] and wife Evelyn F. Annie died of pneumonia in Memphis. The will of J. Paul Stalls, Sr., signed 21 Feb. 1938, but filed 8 Feb. 1951 left his son only $1, and remainder of his estate to go to his wife Evelyn F. J. Paul Stalls, Sr. married Minnie Virginia Richards, daughter of J.E. Richards and Minnie Demumbrie. J. Paul Stalls, Sr. was well known in the Memphis area for his musical ability. He was organist for several churches, taught organ, piano, and the violin. Their son James Paul Stalls, Jr. was born 19 Aug. 1917 in Memphis. The young couple lived with Mrs. Richards until their divorce in the 1920s. Both men developed Parkinson’s disease late in their lives. J. Paul Stalls, Sr., remarried Evelyn Fitzgerald. He and his family lived for many years with his mother Annie Bondurant Curtius.

MRS. RUTH CLEOPATRA ALVERTINE BONDURANT BURROUGHS

She was the daughter of James Agee Bondurant (1779-1832) and Chloe Garrett (1782-1868). Ruth was born in Buckingham Co., VA, 31 March 1810, died 25 July 1871 in East Peoria, IL. Her husband was William Cook Burroughs, born 22 Oct. 1794 Christian Co., KY, died 17 Jan. 1879 IL. IN PURSUIT OF RUTH CLEOPATRA ALVATINE BONDURANT BURROUGHS by Bruce Ramsdell

A few weeks ago on a Saturday, Bruce and friend Marvin were in El Paso, Woodford Co., IL. They had snooped around the Burroughs farm where newly discovered cousin David Burroughs still lives. He and his neighbor and sister Kay Burroughs Poorbaugh were at a funeral that day. Bruce took photos of the large old house in which “Grandma Oma Burroughs Thorpe” grew up. The night before he had called Kay Burroughs Poorbaugh and identified himself as the great THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 15 grandson of William Strothers Burroughs. Finding that he was “family” Kay welcomed them to come over right away. “As we drove across the lush county we passed through Eureka, IL, which according to the town sign, Ronald Regan went to college. . . . We headed north out of El Paso swallowed by a tunnel of tall corn on both sides. We whizzed by her [Kay], but thanks to Marvin’s good eyes, he saw her sitting outside her screen door. We visited with her for a while, hearing for the first time all kinds of Burroughs family tales and traits. I showed her my photos and she showed us some. As we were to say good bye I asked her if she knew anything about the old Burroughs family home where Grandma Thorpe grew up. She surprised us with the news that the house was next door, and her brother David still lives there. By then night had come and it was too dark to see. It seems like the cavernous fields of corn make nightfall come more suddenly. The next morning we had a date to meet Jane Foster, whom I met on line. She has married into the Engel line, and promised to show us around Metamora, IL. This is another small town in Woodford County. From this county four different family names of Mom’s (Jan Thorpe Ramsdell) come. We met Jane in the town square. It is one block of the town devoted to trees, a gazebo, and war memorials. It also has a statue of Abraham Lincoln, who had practiced law there. She showed us some wonderful old Engel graves. Jane’s hobby is photographing all the tombs in graveyards and posting them to findagrave.com. She is doing one graveyard at a time. It is time consuming work but she loves it. She knows some techniques for reading old markers. This ability would have been valuable to me as you will see. The Burroughs home is a large house with the old dark woodwork which we could see through the windows. Everything is green and verdant. There is a grass airstrip next to the barn. The Burroughs host small plane ‘fly-ins.’ It has two old but clean cisterns and a good coat of paint. Since our visit, David Burroughs e-mailed me and has invited us back for a better look. He would like to show us the barn, too. Just think how much better it would have been if they knew I was coming! We then went down a mile or so into the town of El Paso and explored Evergreen Cemetery. There we saw the graves of our four family lines. the Pinkham, Thorpe, Burroughs and Engel ancestors are all represented. Among many other things we had learned from cousin Kay, that Pinkham was spelled Pyncombe in England. We then headed down Interstate 39 toward Friendsville, Wabash County, in far south-east Illinois. We got off the main road and drove into the hinterlands in the pursuit of the final resting place of Ruth Cleopatra Alvatine Bondurant Burroughs. The road is narrow and the corn is tall, and the land very productive. It made me wonder why anyone would leave that country. Little traffic and much to see while driving through the small towns. Scattered about are numerous active oil wells. More reason not to leave! By then we are at the mercy of our GPS and for once it led us true. The road to Friendsville is bumpy and full of pot holes. It got a little spooky as the sharp turns and bosky tree-covered lanes seemed to be leading nowhere. Finally the GPS said ‘You have reached your destination,’ and we thought, ‘really?’ But there on the left was a very old but larger than expected cemetery. The one I was looking for only had nine souls interred. I had found out about it on findagrave.com. This corner of two county roads with a church and a few homes is what is now left of the town of Friendsville.” They started looking for Burroughs tombstones, but most names were 16 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Wilkinson and Couch. . . . “There was a lady out in her yard across a ravine, about 75 feet away. I hollered and asked her if she knew anything about this graveyard. She was very helpful but hard to understand. . . . She was telling me the people in the house next to the church would know. As Marvin continued the search I walked across the front of the small church and knocked the door of the house. A man and woman came to the door. I must have looked out of place with my black two door sports car parked in this rural hamlet. I explained what I was looking for, and I could tell they knew something. The lady told me she had bad news about my cemetery. The Couch-Higgins Cemetery had been lost to time and rediscovered in a hog yard. The graveyard spent decades in a paddock overrun with pigs. About 20 or 30 years ago some descendants decided to find the resting place. They felt it was located in a farm but the farmer denied it. Being a spiritual group they used the services of a male witch. He was able to locate it using a divining rod. We accepted their kind offer to lead us to it. Sure enough less than a mile north we stopped at an old sign announcing the Couch-Higgins Cemetery. There was nothing behind it except some long grass. About 75 feet into the grass were high patches of barnyard weeks. That is also where the trees started. All four of us started wading through the underbrush with the man fearlessly reaching onto the weeds. I could see that he had no fear of ticks, chiggers, snakes, or poison ivy, so I started parting the weeds by stomping on them. I came across a large square stone lying on the ground, and yelled ‘over here!’ All came to my aid and we discovered the remnant of eight of the nine graves. It was getting dark and none of the engravings were legible to our amateur eyes. Some of the remains were simply three inch thick stones about 12 inches wide and 15 inches tall. One of them was made out of limestone and simply lying flat on te ground. It could easily be picked up and taken. There are two side-by-side relatively newer markers of similar style. They are probably the Burroughs. I almost wish the sign for the cemetery was not there to keep it hidden, but then we would never have found it. The farmer allowed the descendants to fence it off from the animals. Looking at it, I feel that perhaps humans may have damaged the hallowed ground more than the pigs, as many of the stone markers are simply gone. The graveyard was used starting in 1828. One person placed there in the 1830s and several in the 1840s. Our ancestors William Cook Burroughs and Ruth Cleopatra Alvatine Bondurant Burroughs were buried there over thirty years later; he in 1879 and she in 1871. How and why they are actually there is a mystery which needs to be investigated. THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION 17

View of the Couch - Higgins Cemetery, left.

Gravestone of William C. and Ruth Cleopatra Alvatine Bondurant Burroughs, below, partially hidden by undergrowth. Located in the Couch-Higgins Cemetery, IL. 18 THE BONDURANT FAMILY ASSOCIATION

Anita Bondurant Oliphant, front row center, surrounded by other school teachers. Thanks to Angie Loving for this scan. Anita, born 20 Aug. 1905, was the wife of Robert Oliphant, and daughter of Yelverton Bondurant and Pearl Ensminger of Louisiana. 19

THE BONDURANTS OF AMERICA -- Jean Pierre and Ann By Mary Bondurant Warren, with Ruby Talley Smith and Amy Warren Sanders The Bondurants’ “First Hundred Years” in Virginia. Here is the story of Huguenot Jean Pierre Bondurant’s life after he landed in 1700 at Jamestown. How did this French exile adapt to an English-speaking society? What was his life like in the colony? Meet his wife Ann Tanner, and learn more about their five children, and grandchildren. Watch the Bondurant family grow with the colony, move into new lands, and new occupations. A “Sentimental Journey” takes you to places important in the family history. Hardbound, 218 pages including maps, photographs, illustrations, and a full name index. $35.00.

THE BONDURANTS OF AMERICA -- Ann Tanner’s Ancestors By Mary Bondurant Warren, with Ruby Talley Smith and Amy Warren Sanders HATCHER, JONES, LOUND & TANNER of Virginia The focus of our 2010 tour in Virginia. Jean Pierre married into a tidewater Virginia English family, whose ancestors had been in the colony two or three generations when the Huguenots arrived. These are stories and documents relating the life of Ann’s colorful ancestors. Learn about the parts they played in Virginia’s early history. A “Sentimental Journey” leads you to present-day sites which once were the homes of Ann’s ancestors. Hardbound, 173 pages including maps, photographs, illustrations, and a full name index. $30.00

THE BONDURANTS OF GÉNOLHAC, FRANCE By Mary Bondurant Warren Following your suggestions, along with family history and “family trees,” are included photographs of the sites and documents relating to the family, maps, and even a driving tour of our most important places. With this hardbound, 172 page book, you can be your own tour guide, and see the sights of France at your leisure. Three Bondurant book set for $75.

HERITAGE PAPERS, P.O. Box 7776, Athens, GA 30604-7776 Shipping $8 per order; GA residents must include 7% sales tax. 20

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