McCullers Family Line

McCULLERS

Wow, I find this amazing. Remember we talked about Clara Zadie McKay (Nanny) who married Lemmie Sylvanis Mason? Her parents were Benjamin Franklin McKay and Camella Eleanor McCullers. Clara's father was 56 when she was born and died when she was 13. Her mother remained a widow until her death in 1970. Camella became a step mother when she married Benjamin as his first two wives had died. When they married he had a three year old, five year old and 14 year old. Camella outlived Benjamin by 43 years. She remained a widow all those years. Now let's explore Camella's family line....the McCullers.

Camella was born to Emmitt Peyton McCullers (many places just refer to him as Peyton—his will does).. Peyton was born November 9, 1854 in Georgia. He married Louisa Elizabeth Curl April 30, 1889 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We know that this was not his first marriage because his children Camella 16, Emmitt *Clifton 14 and George 11. They went on to have Elbert in 1890, *Clara in 1893, Willie in 1895, Ida in 1889 and actually we know due to Peyton's will Harvey was born the year Peyton died in 1889. Yes! That will leave her with seven minor children to raise on her own. (Keep in mind she is 36 years old.) Peyton died when he was only 45. (Louisa lived to 70). Louisa outlived Peyton by 34 years. Let's look at Peyton's will.

State of Arkansas In ReEstate of Peyton McCullers Application for

County of Clark order vesting personal property to widow

In the Clarke Probate Court comes Louisa E. McCullers, and shows to the court: That she is a resident of Clarke County, Arkansas; that she is the widow of Peyton McCullers deceased; that said decedent departed this life, intestate, in Clarke County, Arkansas on the 16^th day of April 1899; that he left him surviving the petitioner and five minor children: Elbert P aged 7, Clara W aged 6, Horace aged three, Ida aged 1 ½ one hild Harvey born after death of said Peyton also 2 minor children by a former wife: Emmitt 14 years old and George11 years old

Petitioner says that at the time of death of said Peyton McCullers he was the owner of certain personal property to wit:

2 mules 80.00

1 wagon and harness 20.00

3 cross and colors 54.00

6 head of bogs 18.00

200 bu corn 60.00

40 bu cotton seed 4.00

1 household & kitchen furniture 35.00

Plow tools 4.00

150 pounds (can't read) 10.50

275.50

The Petitioner says: That the care, raising and education of the aforesaid minor children devolves on her: Petitioner asks that an order of this court be entered vesting in her the entire personal property of said estate.

This family shows up in a lot of census....

1860 Census Peyton is only 6. The 1870 focuses on Louisa family and 1880 again and reveals her father's name is Larkin and mother Martha. By the 1910 census Louisa is a widow but listed as a farmer. EP, Clara, Willie, Ida and Harvey are still with her. The last census I found was 1920 and they are in Walters, Cotton, Oklahoma. She is 57, her children are in their 20s and still listed with her.

Lousia is buried in Rush Springs and so are a couple of her children. We have a picture of her headstone.

Dorothy Woolley noted that she found that a large group appeared on the census in the same states so apparently they all moved together. The story is that they moved by wagon train from the Carollinas to Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas and then later to Oklahoma. Louisa must have had strong family connections to move to Oklahoma with her children without a man during those days.

**Did Ma Kay (Camella) go on to name her daughter after her sister, Clara? And then watch that family name of Cliffton go on down to Clara's son.

I have three handwritten pages from Lillie Mae, Clara's neice, listing the names and dates of family. She noted there that Louisa was a step mother...also writing her Dad (Rush) said they left Love County at Marieta and came to Stephens County for a short time...then on to Grady County at Rush Springs in 1919. They rode a train from Gainsville, Texas. He said it was two days one night getting to Marlow.