Marion Lankford

Marion Lankford, daughter of James Meriweather Lankford and Caroline B. Hobbs, was born January 1859 in Georgia. Her family lived in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia in 1860 so the probability is high that she was born there. Marion was the youngest child of seven—Mary T. Lankford, James C. Lankford, Emma S. Lankford, Emerette (Nannie) R. Lankford, Nathan Lankford, Laura J. Lankford, and Marion Lankford. Marion is my 2nd great grand aunt. Our nearest common relatives are her parents, my 3rd great grandparents. Her brother James is my direct ancestor.

As mentioned above, the Lankford family lived in Woodville on July 21, 1860. Marion was enumerated as “Meron,” age 1. Her father was a stock trader with real estate valued at $1500 and a personal estate of $4000. In today’s world, that would be about $135.5K so I would say they lived comfortably. Siblings Mary, James, and Emma were all attending school. 

James M. Lankford family in the 1860 census (click to enlarge)

Like many men during the mid-1860s, Marion’s father left home to fight during the Civil War. Marion was just a little girl at that point in time.

By June 21, 1870, the family have moved four miles down the road to Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. The census enumerator spelled her name “Miriam” this time around. Her father was a farmer and brother Nathan a farm laborer. Her mother Caroline was enumerated as keeping house. 

Before the next census was taken, the Lankford family moved again, this time to Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. When the census enumerator visited the home on June 10 1880, he found Marion (age 21), her parents James and Caroline, sisters Emerette (enumerated as Ernest, age 27) and Laura (age 23), and two nephews—Walter and Julius Wilson—children of sister Emma who had apparently died sometime between June 1873 and the time this census was taken. 

1880 Soundex Cards for the James M. Lankford family

Marion’s brother James, his wife Mary Ann, and children Homer, Alice, Julia, and Jessie lived next door. Her father, the only adult working in the home, continued to work as a farmer. Marion’s brother Nathan died young, at age 28, June 1884 in Penfield. Her father James died October 29, 1887 in Lithonia, DeKalb County, Georgia. I have yet to find the circumstances of James’ death or burial. It’s unknown whether the Lankford’s had moved to DeKalb County or if James just happened to be there when he died. I haven’t found any evidence of this family living there but do know there were extended Lankford families there.

On June 16, 1900, Marion (age 41), her widowed mother Caroline (age 70), and sister Emerette (enumerated as Maurice, age 46), lived in Penfield once again. Both Marion and Emerette were single. Marion worked as a seamstress and Emerette worked in the knitting mill. Caroline and Emerette were both enumerated as able to read, write, and speak English, however, the census enumerator left those cells blank for Marion on the form. Caroline died on January 8, 1906 in Baldwin County, Georgia. Like her father, I don’t know the circumstances nor the burial location for Caroline. Marion’s brother James died in Greene County on January 21, 1908. He was buried at Penfield Cemetery in Penfield. 

On April 16, 1910, Marion and Emerette (Nannie) still lived together on Main Street in Penfield. Marion was not working, and this time was enumerated as able to read and write. Nannie worked in the hosiery mill.

The paper trail for Marion ends with the 1910 census. Like her parents, I have not found a death record or burial location for her. My guess is she died before 1919. If she died between 1919 and 1927, I expect I would have found a death certificate for her on the Georgia Archives website. Nathan’s 1884 death notice doesn’t list any survivors, including his wife. Her brother James’ 1908 obituary notes only that he had three surviving sisters. Her sister Mary died in 1919 and her obituary notes “… She leaves a husband and several children besides hosts of friends” but no mention of siblings. Nannie died in 1935 and notes she was “survived by several nieces and nephews,” again no mention of siblings, but clear they had all died. Both Emma and James are buried at Penfield Cemetery. I’ve made many trips to that cemetery but have not found a grave for Marion, however, it took many visits there before I found Emma’s grave. Perhaps I need to make another trip to Penfield.

Marion never married and it appears she and her sister Nannie, who also never married, spent their entire lives together. I envision the two of them living out their lives in the family home in Penfield, looking after all their nieces and nephews.

References

• Miss Nannie Lankford Is Buried in Penfield, Penfield Correspondent, The Herald Journal, April 12, 1935.
• Mr. Nathan Lankford, The Greenesboro Herald, June 27, 1884.
• Mrs. Caroline B. Lankford, Georgia, Confederate Pension Applications, 1879–1960.
• Mrs. W.O. Wilson, Oglethorpe Echo, April 25, 1919. 
• Obituary, Mr. J.C. Lankford, newspaper unknown, January 1908.
• U.S. Inflation Rate Calculator from 1665 through 2022; https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1860?amount=4000.
• United States Federal Census, District 234, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1880.
• United States Federal Census, Militia District 140, Greene County, Georgia, 1870.
• United States Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1900, 1910.
• United States Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.

On this day in history, a Purple Heart was awarded

Seventy-seven years ago today, Private First Class John “Johnnie” Henry Marston Jr. was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received on October 2, 1944. Johnnie, a rifleman with Company B of the 5th Army's 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Division (Custer Division), was involved in the North Apennines Campaign in Italy in the fall of 1944 as they fought to take the mountainous region heavily fortified by the Germans. This North Apennines Campaign was a final offensive into Po Valley to collapse enemy resistance and liberate Italy.

The 85th had spent a good part of September fighting the Germans who were defending the Gothic Line, “a German defensive line of the Italian Campaign of World War II” according to Wikipedia. On October 2, 1944, the offensive centered around Casoni di Romagna, Italy. The area had seen heavy rain, streams were overrun, and bridges washed out, making travel through the mountainous region dangerous for the soldiers. Resistance from the Germans was heavy and the conditions made it difficult for replacement troops coming in to replace the many casualties, to reach the area. On this day, Johnnie, 24 years old at the time, was in the back of a truck traveling up a mountain when a German mortar exploded beside the truck. The truck, filled will soldiers, rolled over, injuring and killing several men, with Johnnie being one of the injured.

Custer Division patch

Example of a truck the 85th soldiers might have been traveling in.
Photo from 85th Infantry Division – Minturno to the Appennines.

We don’t know exactly what Johnnie’s injuries consisted of. His son Randy told me it was shrapnel, mostly in his back, from a mortar shell that exploded beside the truck. But it was clear from Johnnie’s letters home that he didn’t want to worry his family. Johnnie regularly wrote his wife Lucile, and often her parents, Sam (he called him Doc) and Leola Stacks. The letters below are part of the collection of over 300 left behind by Lucile, who kept them tucked away in two shoeboxes, and now are in the possession of their son Randy. 

One of two boxes of Johnnie's letter saved by his wife Lucile

In an October 3, 1944 letter, Johnnie made no mention of what happened in Italy nor of his injury. 

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am OK and hope with all my heart that this finds you the same. I hope you are over with the trouble with your throat since you have your tonsils out now. Also, glad that the doctors didn’t find anything else wrong with you. I am sorry to hear that you had to break one of your checks but you should have that other forty dollars I sent you by now anyway. I hope it don’t get lost like the first forty I sent you. I still can’t understand what happened to that money. I can’t do anything about it now because I have lost the receipt that I got when I sent it to you. But just in case, this other money doesn’t get to you, I am going to make sure I don’t lose these receipts. You asked me have I heard from Louise or Evelyn lately. No, I haven’t heard from them in about three months now. I am still waiting to hear from them first. I have been hearing from Dad and his wife pretty regular lately. O’yeah, I received a letter from Aunt Agnes. I can’t keep addresses so I haven’t written her. I wish you would write to her for me and explain why I haven’t answered her letter. Tell her I will try my best to remember her address on her next letter and will write myself. Tell Mom Stacks and Doc I haven’t forgot them and that I will write them right away. I guess Mickey will be in the Army by the time you get this. If not, tell him I wish him all the luck in the world when he does go. How is Nell? Sure would like to see that fat little pig now, Ha Ha. Just kidding. Well honey, I will have to close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

I laughed out loud when I read the end of the letter where Johnnie mentions his sister-in-law, Nell. I probably met Johnnie one time, at my sister’s wedding, but don’t remember him. I do remember Nell though who often visited her sister Lucile. For a time before her death, Lucile lived next door to my mother so I often saw her when I was home and Nell was usually there. Both Lucile and Nell were the sweetest women you can imagine and both of them tiny.

Johnnie wrote a V-mail to his in-laws on October 3, 1944 and made no mention there either. 

Hello Folks,

Just a few lines to let you know I haven’t forgotten two good people and that I never could anyway. I hope this finds you both well. As for myself, I am OK. I haven’t had much time to write lately. But I will try to catch up on all my writing later on as soon as time permits me too. I received a letter from Aunt Agnes about three days ago. I can’t answer it because I can’t keep no writing addresses on me. I have been trying to remember her address but it is no need. Maybe it will come to me later on. Have you heard from Cecil lately? How is he? Tell him to drop me a line. O yeah, I have seen Irwin. He is OK! Hope to see him again soon. Will close. Tell all hello for me. 

Lots love, Johnnie

In an October 5, 1944 V-mail to Lucile, he casually mentioned he was in the hospital with a “sprang” ankle. 

My Dear Darling Wife,

Just a few lines to let you know I am OK and hope with all my heart that this finds you the same. Honey, I received the picture of you. It really looks well. Gosh, I still believe you have grown a little taller. You sure look tall in this picture. It’s really going to be bad if I have to get up on a step ladder to even kiss you, Ha Ha. I am in the hospital again. I sprang my ankle and it swelled up a little bit and they sent me to the hospital. I don’t guess I will be here very long. But who knows? I am very down on my weight now. But you can’t expect to keep that or anything else over here. Have you been getting my mail to you pretty regular? I have been writing to you as much as possible. Will close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

During that time, it appeared he spent time reflecting on their life together as evidenced in his October 6 and October 9, 1944 V-mails to Lucile. There was no mention of his injury or hospital stay in either but I believe he was still there.

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines hoping that this finds you well and OK. As for myself, I am well. Only wanting to see you so bad, which I hope and pray won’t be so long off. I wonder a lot how things are going back home with you, and I have dreamed often of the day when I return and we can start building up again the things that we both want. I have seen a lot and learned plenty since I have been over here and a lot of things that I have seen here, I know darn well none of the people back there will believe was possible, not unless they’ve seen it all themselves. Things that have happened here, I hope and pray will never happen back there in America. I guess you are tired of all this I am writing so I will close. Tell Mom and Doc I said hello and tell all the rest I am thinking of them. I miss you a lot Darling and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie’s October 9, 1944 V-mail contained more reflection and again, no mention of his injury or hospital stay.

My Dear Darling,

Well, how is this finding you tonight? I hope well and alright. As for myself, I am OK. How is your job by now, since cold weather is almost there? I hope it isn’t as bad on you as the summer months was. Gee honey, all I look forward to now is getting back to you and taking care of you and I pray to God every night to help me get back to you. You and you alone is what I want to see again. You are all I have and only God knows what would happen to me if anything should harm you or take you from me. Gee what a day it will be when peace is in the world once more. I pray that it isn’t very far off. Well honey, I will have to close. Tell all the family I said hello and give them my love. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Johnnie wrote another V-mail to Lucile on October 10, 1944 to let her know he had been moved to a different hospital. During the process, he accidentally left his personal family photos at the first hospital. How devastating that would have been for a soldier in the field of battle. 

My Dear Darling,

Just to let you know I am alright and hope with all my heart that this finds you the same. Honey, you know all the pictures I had of you and all the rest of the family? Well, the hospital I was at before I came to this one is where I left them. I put them under my pillow when I arrived there and when they transferred me to the hospital that I am at at the present, I thought I had all my stuff with me but as I later found out, I had left the pictures. I wrote to the hospital to see if they could recover them for me. I hate to think that they are lost from me. They are all I had of you and the family. Of you all being near to me. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

On October 12, 1944, Johnnie told Lucile he was still in the hospital and not receiving his mail. He wrote this letter on American Red Cross stationery.

My Dear Darling, 

Just a few lines to let you know I am thinking of you and hope and pray that this finds you well and alright. I haven’t heard from you in a good while now. The reason is all the mail I have is back at my outfit. I guess is this, they haven’t forwarded it to me here at the hospital as yet. I don’t know whether I will get any of it or not. If you are still writing me pretty regular, I shall have stacks of mail from you personally. How is the home front coming along? What about little Nell? Is she coming along alright? Has she been hearing from Robert pretty regular? I wrote Dot and Drexter the other day, also Mom Stacks and Doc. O say, if Mickey has left for the Army, I guess I will have to write Gearl and tell him to keep a look out on you for me and to take care of you for me till I get back. Have you ever heard from Louise or any of my sisters yet? I haven’t. I have a good family, don’t I? Can’t even hear from them once in a while. At least Dad and his wife write me pretty often. Have you seen them lately? The last letter I received from them, they were talking about going down to Jacksonville, Fla. for a few days. I guess you will have to start sending me some pictures of you again, just in case I don’t get the others back. It really burns me up to go off and leave those pictures like I did. I surely hope and pray I get them back. You know the other day I got to thinking about all the crowds we used to run around with and was wondering where they all got to be now. Have you ever thought about that? Well, I guess I will close for this time. Tell all hello for me and to write. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Will the world see peace again? Johnnie prays for that in his October 18, 1944 V-mail to Lucile but doesn’t mention his injury or hospital stay.

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am alright and hope with all my heart that this finds you well in health and making out OK back there at home. Also, hope you never get interested in whatever you are doing, or at the place where you are working. Not to give me a little thought and the good times we have had together in the past years when I am where I can think my thoughts and go back to the years of what we need to enjoy so much. And the peace that this world once had and pray that we see it again in peace and happiness. And all of this in the past and I hope forgotten. Well honey, tell all the family hello and to write. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

It wasn’t until October 20, 1944 that Lucile received official word from the Army that Johnnie had been wounded. Below is the telegram she received that day.

Western Union telegram sent to Lucile Marston (click to enlarge)

Western Union

..QF59 WN46         1944 OCT 20   PM  8  09

W.WMUC 404 32 GOVT= WUX WASHINGTON DC  20   900P=

MRS LUCILE S MARSTON=

ROUTE NUMBER ONE   COLLEGE PARK   GA=

REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOHN H MARSTON JR WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED IN ACTION TWO OCTOBER IN ITALY   YOU WILL BE ADVISED AS REPORTS OF CONDITION ARE RECEIVED=-

J A ULIO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.

Johnnie wrote Lucile again on October 21, 1944 and was apparently still in the hospital. That’s 19 days – quite a few for a “sprang” ankle. Were Johnnie’s injuries much worse than he let on? 

My Dear Darling

I will try to write you a few lines but as I haven’t received any mail from you at all this month it is going to be hard. I know it isn’t your fault, of me not getting any mail from you, you see since I am away from my outfit, all of my mail is going to it and they haven’t just yet sent it here to me at the hospital. As you know I could write you all my mail to you and tell you how much I love you and how swell you have been to me, after what hardships I put on you in the years we have been married. But I know you get tired of it and want to hear other things I have to say. As I said before not hearing from you, I can’t think of anything to write. I am sending a clipping out of the Stars and Stripes that they wrote about the outfit I am in and I want you to keep it for me and maybe later on in years I hope I can look at it and think of these days. Well as I said before, I can’t think of much to write except I dream of you often. God only know how much I love you. Tell all the folks hello and to write. I miss you a lot and I love you a million!

Always, Johnnie

First page of Johnnie's October 21, 1944 letter to Lucile (click to enlarge)

In Johnnie’s October 23, 1944, he mentions receiving multiple letters from Lucile. Does this mean he was out of the hospital and back with the 85th?

My Dear Darling,

Received seven letters from you today, and you don’t know how good I felt getting to hear from you after not hearing from you in almost a month and a half. I am so glad and happy to hear that your throat is well, and able to eat once again. I bet you really got down to half starving while your throat was sore. I sent you some more money, sometime ago. You should have it by now. Let me know. Yes, I can imagine how tough it was on you starting back to work again after being off sick with your throat. You should have taken your mother’s advice and stayed off a little longer. I received a letter from your mother also and one from Dot and Louise. Mom Stacks is worried too much, being in the condition she is in. I hope she can build herself up again. Don’t this sound like the red headed girl I used to know. Same as ever. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Always, Johnnie

Another mention of being in the hospital in Johnnie’s October 26, 1944 V-mail to Lucile. 

My Dear Darling,

I received the package with the candy and crackers in it. Also, a letter from you and Nell. I am sorry to say but all the candy and the crackers both were molded. It is just a waste of money I guess to send stuff like that over here. I am glad to hear that you are completely well again. So sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time where you work. It seems to me when bad luck runs it hits us both at the same time. As you know, I wrote you and told you I was in the hospital again with a sprained ankle. Well, it’s OK now but now they are seeing what they can do about my eyes. You remember the trouble they gave me all the time and you used to get on me about them. Well, maybe now they will fix them up for me. O yes, about Louise wanting you to go down to Miami. I don’t like the idea of you traveling alone down there and as it is the way you talk about not having the money to do other things with. I don’t see how you can do it and as sick as Mom Stacks is you should stay and help her all you can. But I guess you know what you are doing so that’s up to you. Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

Johnnie was still in the hospital on October 28, 1944 when he wrote a V-mail to Lucile. 

My Dear Darling,

Just a few lines to let you know I am alright and hope and pray that this finds you the same. I received a letter from Irvin today. He is in the hospital also. But it isn’t serious he said. I was glad to hear that. I will be leaving here in a couple of days, going back to my outfit. O yes, honey, I hope you understand me about you going to Florida. But being that you have been on your own since I have been gone, you know what you are doing. I received a letter from Louise, and she said that Bill has bought Evelyn a home and everything she needs and she said he was always asking Evelyn if she’s happy, wanting to know if there is anything else he can get her. Do you think they will make out OK? Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a million.

Johnnie

There was one last mention of being in the hospital in Johnnie’s November 19, 1944 letter to Lucile. Looking back on the reflection he was going through in earlier letters, he had clearly made peace with the Lord and just wanted to get back home to his family.

My Dearest Darling, 

Just a few lines to let you know I am well and OK and hope with all my heart that this finds you the same. My outfit is back at the rest area now for a while and today is Sunday and I went to church services this morning. I should have went tonight but being that I received quite a few letters from you and a couple from Dad I thought I would try to catch up a little on my writing. One thing honey, I want you to know I tried to go to all the church services I can, and when I was back at the hospital when I got able, I went to all the services that they held. I have learned a lot about what a guy like me, for example, never thought of about life and the right way of living which I want to show you I can do and will do as long as I live. I pray to the Lord every night to return me to you and the rest of my family and yours where I can show them what a change of life I have found and didn’t have sense enough to understand or maybe I shall say too dumb to look at the right side of the Lord way of life. But I tell you now I know and I have asked him to give me the chance to go his way. Things I have done I know wasn’t right I have asked him to forgive me. Some you know about and some I guess you don’t know about. But you will. I will tell you everything. Well honey, I will have to close for now. I miss you a lot and I love you a million. 

Always, Johnnie

As far as I can tell, Johnnie spent most of the month of October 1944 in the hospital. I would say his injuries had to have been far more serious than a sprained ankle.

The Atlanta Constitution listed Johnnie in a December 20, 1944 article of Georgian’s killed, missing and wounded. The article incorrectly listed his middle initial as “J” instead of “H.”

It’s not every day you receive a letter from your governor but that’s what happened to Lucile. Below is a copy of the December 21, 1944 letter signed by Georgia’s Governor expressing his sympathy and appreciation for Johnnie’s service to the country.

Letter from Georgia Governor Ellis Arnall (click to enlarge)

 December 21, 1944

Mrs. Lucille S. Marston
Route # 1
College Park, Ga.

Dear Mrs. Marston:

According to press dispatches your loved one has been wounded in the service of his country. I hasten to express to you my interest and sympathy. It is my wish that his wounds are not serious. The sacrifice made by your loved one will ever be enshrined in the greatness of our nation.

Sincerely yours, 

Ellis Arnall

Governor

That was followed by a December 22, 1944 letter from the chairman of the Atlanta chapter of the Red Cross, extending his sympathy on the news of Johnnie’s injuries.

Letter from the American National Red Cross (click to enlarge)

December 22, 1944

Mrs. John J. Marston Jr.

College Park, Georgia

Dear Mrs. Marston:

The Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross learns with regret through the casualty lists of the newspapers that your husband, Pfc. John J. Marston, Jr., has been reported wounded in action in the Mediterranean Area.

We join your many friends in extending sympathy to you and your family and hope that the War Department will soon be able to send you encouraging news regarding his condition.

During these months of anxiety, we feel sure that you are comforted by a feeling of pride in knowing that your husband has rendered a wonderful service to his country.

Sincerely,

OBY T. BREWER

Chairman, Atlanta Chapter, American Red Cross

Johnnie was awarded a Purple Heart on February 18, 1945.

John Henry Marston Jr.'s Purple Heart

Excerpt from Enlisted Record and Report of Separation
Honorable Discharge, John H. Marston Jr. (click to enlarge)

In a February 16, 1945 V-mail from Italy, Johnnie asked about his father-in-law, Sam Stacks. Unbeknownst to Johnnie, Sam had passed away on February 12. In the middle of the letter, Johnnie casually mentions the medal as “one of the pretty medals that the Army has.”

February 16, 1944 V-mail from Johnnie (click to enlarge)

My Dear Darling,

Received two letters from you today and was glad to hear that you received the book about Rome and also the menu. I am glad Nell likes the things I sent her for the baby. I received a letter from her the other day saying she had received the baby’s things. She said she was going to send me a picture of the baby. Be sure she doesn’t forget. Honey, I am sending you a medal I received when I got hurt and was sent back to the hospital. It is one of the pretty medals that the Army has, and I am sure you have heard alots about them. Well, I guess that’s enough on that. How is Mom Stacks and Doc? Tell them both I said hello. Also, little Melvin and the rest of the kids. O’yeah, I wrote Happy the other day and got on him about writing you so much, Ha Ha. I told him not to claim you for one of his girls, Ha Ha. Will close. I miss you a lot and I love you a mission.

Johnnie

Johnnie, who proudly served his country, is the father of my brother-in-law, Randy Marston. 

Johnnie and Lucile Marston (post war)

You can read more about Johnnie and Lucile at the following links:

Sending love via a Valentine V-mail 

What was Johnnie doing on D-Day, June 6, 1944? 

Keeping up a tradition via V-mail during World War II 

Christmas in Italy, 1944 

References

• 85th Infantry Division: Minturno to the Appennines, Information-Education Section-Mtousa, Headquarters, 85th Infantry Division, 1944.
• Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge, John H. Marston Jr.
• “Georgian Killed in Action, One Missing, 65 Wounded,” The Atlanta Constitution, December 20, 1944.
• Gothic Line; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_Line.
• John H. Marston, U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942–1954.
• Operations Report by the 337th Infantry Regiment for the period January 1944 through April 1945.
• Personal collection of letters written by Johnnie Marston to Lucile Stacks Marston dating 1939 to 1945.

Mary A. Janes

Mary Janes (ca. 1924)
(photo from The Atlanta Constitution)

Mary A. Janes, daughter of Edward Horace Janes and Mary Ann (Mittie) Cunyus, was born on October 6, 1904 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. She was the youngest of five children—Thomas W. Janes, Sarah M. Janes, Celeste Emily Janes, Louise H. Hanes, and Mary A. Janes. Mary is my 1st cousin 2x removed with our nearest comment relatives being Thomas P. Janes and Emily Eliza Fish. Thomas Janes, Georgia’s first commissioner of Agriculture, is my 2nd great grandfather and Mary’s grandfather. Thomas Janes was not the only political figure in her family. According to The Atlanta Constitution, Mary was “a cousin of Judge William H. Fish, who for years was judge of the supreme court of Georgia. On her maternal side she is closely related to Mrs. W. H. Felton, the first woman senator of the United States, and a relative to William Jennings Bryan, her grandmother being Miss Celeste Jennings, of Wetumpka, Ala.”

On April 30, 1910, Mary and her family lived on Angier Avenue in Atlanta. At age 5, Mary did not attend school. Her father was a commercial trader in crockery and her brother Thomas a city salesman in the lime and cement industry. Mary’s mother was enumerated as Mittie A. Janes and the mother of five children, all of which were living. Everyone in the home could read and write except for Mary. In August 1919, Mary, her mother, and sister Celeste were in New York after a week of “motoring in New England.” They spent the next 10 days at the Hotel Martinique before returning to Atlanta.

On January 13, 1920, Mary and her family lived on Pennsylvania Avenue in Atlanta. At age 15, Mary was attending school and could read and write. Her father was still selling crockery. The 1924 Atlanta city directory listed Mary and her mother as living at 1119 Peachtree Street. Mary attended the North Avenue Presbyterian School and Washington Seminary in Atlanta. Majoring in Bible studies, she was active in the athletic programs at both schools, as well as maintaining an active social life. 

Mary’s parents announced her engagement to Hugh Waldo Gallaher in The Atlanta Constitution on October 5, 1924. The announcement noted that Hugh lived in New York city at the time and that a 6 pm wedding would take place at the home of Mary’s sister Celeste in Providence, Rhode Island on October 18. Hugh, the son of Charles M. Gallaher and Minnie Burdette, was nine years older than Mary. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia and his maternal ancestral roots traced back to “Henry Adams, who settled in Massachusetts in 1632.” Hugh served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. At the time of their engagement, he worked for Kerr Steamship Company in New York. I’m wondering though, if Mary and Hugh had two wedding ceremonies. I say this because I found a marriage record for the two of them that shows they obtained a license in Manhattan on August 5, 1924 and were married on August 7. 

New York marriage index (click to enlarge)

Perhaps they had a simple ceremony in New York, followed by a formal ceremony in Rhode Island as described in The Atlanta Constitution on October 19, 1924. Celeste’s home was decorated with “a bank of palms and ferns, arranged in pyramid shape with tall white tapers burning on either side and at the top of the center.” Mary’s maid of honor and only attendant was Julia Tirrell of New York. Julia “wore an imported gown of canary-colored chiffon, fashioned over gold cloth and carried an arm bouquet of long-stemmed, yellow chrysanthemums, tied with yellow satin ribbon.” Mary’s brother-in-law W. Howard Perry gave her away. She wore a “wedding gown of heavy white satin, fashioned along straight simple lines. Her wedding veil of filmy white tulle and princess lace was held to her lovely blonde hair with a bandeau of pearls, with a ruche effect in the back and fell in graceful folds to the end of her white satin court train. She carried a huge shower bouquet of bride’s roses and valley lilies.” Hugh’s brother Maurice of New York was his best man. An elaborate reception was held afterwards. Celeste “wore an attractive gown of peach-colored chiffon, embroidered in crystal beads, fashioned over flesh-colored satin. Her corsage bouquet was of pink roses and valley lilies.” Mary’s mother wore “black lace veining black satin” and a “corsage bouquet of orchids.” Hugh’s mother wore “a robe of black sequins, fashioned over black satin and trimmed in black ostrich. Her corsage bouquet was of orchids and valley lilies.” Mary and Hugh honeymooned in Bermuda, sailing from Boston aboard the S.S. Fort St. George that left Bermuda on November 1, arriving in New York on November 3, 1924. Mary traveled in a “smart three-piece traveling costume of dark brown cloth, trimmed in beige fox fur and her hat was a French model to patch.” The passenger list recorded their home address as 523 W. 112th Street in New York. The couple made their home in Brooklyn, New York after returning from their honeymoon. 

One year later, Mary was in mourning following the death of her father from a stroke in Atlanta on November 28, 1925. Edward was buried at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta. The following spring (April 1926), Mary and Hugh left their home at 184 Columbia Heights in Brooklyn, New York and traveled to Havana, Cuba. They returned to Miami, Florida on April 15 aboard the S.S. Mseneca. They must have enjoyed Cuba, returning there at least twice. The second trip was in April 1927. A ship manifest shows they returned home to Miami aboard the S.S. New Northland arriving at port on April 12. They sailed to Cuba a third time in May 1930, returning to Miami on March 1, aboard the S.S. Iroquois. The ship manifest showed their home was in Forest Hills, New York at that time. 

Mary and Hugh as listed on the List of United States Citizens
for the S.S. Iroquois (ca. March 1930) (click to enlarge)

I’ve been unable to find Mary and Hugh in the 1930 census records. Census day was April 1 that year so perhaps they were still in Miami vs. at home in New York when the census enumerator knocked on their door. The paper trail picks up again in 1934. Sometime after their trip to Cuba, Mary and Hugh moved to Florida. Sadly, Hugh died suddenly of heart trouble at their home in Miami Beach, Florida on May 22, 1934. He was just 38 years old. At the time, Mary and Hugh lived at 313 Twenty-first Street in Miami Beach. Mary, his mother, and brother were the only survivors. Hugh was buried in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida on May 24, 1934 following a private funeral service held in the chapel of the Nicely Funeral Home. The service was performed by the Rev. J. C. Tyler, pastor of the Miami Beach Methodist Church. Mary was listed as Mrs. Mary Gaines Gallaher in the obituary published by The Brooklyn Daily Eagle in Brooklyn, New York on May 24, 1934.

Mary spent the summer of 1935 in Miami. She remained active in the Miami Beach social circles, hosting a cocktail party for Mrs. Mary Jay-Smith, a “beach socialite” in June 1935. In early September 1935, Mary was honored at a party held at the Royal Palm Club in Miami  to wish Mary and another socialite farewell. Both were leaving Miami for the north. One of the guests was Lloyd Fales. As it turns out, Mary was traveling north for love. On September 20, 1935, she quietly married Lloyd Huntington (or Hunting) Fales, son of Herbert E. Fales and Nettie Smith. The ceremony took place at the home of Lloyd’s mother in Boston, Massachusetts and was attended by immediate family only. Following an extended honeymoon, they returned to their winter home in Miami. Her new husband “received his education at the Florida Adirondack school and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a member of the Delta Kapp Epsilon fraternity” according to The Atlanta Constitution on September 21, 1935. In May 1936, Mary attended a cocktail party of the home of Edna Boggs. Mary had just returned from her latest trip to New York.

One interesting thing I discovered was a divorce announcement of Mary Jones Fales vs. Lloyd H. Fales recorded in the Miami News on August 8, 1936. Was this Mary and Lloyd or another couple with the same names. I have found no other mention of divorce and they were together in 1937 so I’m not sure what’s going on here but wanted to mention it.

Mary was in Atlanta the summer of 1936 when the book Gone With the Wind, written by Margaret Mitchell, was published. After she returned to Miami, Helen Rich, a reporter for the Miami Tribune, wrote that “Everyone around here [Miami] seems to know the author, Margaret Mitchell, or they know someone who knows her, and the stories they tell of her are most interesting. Yesterday I was checking colorful bits of authenticity with Mary Fales, who is from Atlanta, which is the setting of the story. She was there this summer when the book first came out, and she says that everyone up there feels that the characters are definitely drawn from life tho’ they can’t quite figure out whose, and “Peggy” Mitchell won’t tell!” So, I wonder which category Mary fit in—knew Margaret Mitchell, or knew someone who did? In October 1936, Mary and Lloyd traveled to Honolulu and then returned to their home on Royal Palm Avenue in Miami for the winter. Lloyd, known as an aviation pioneer in Miami, owned the Viking Airport on Biscayne Island from 1929 until the start of World War II when he closed it to join the Civil Air Patrol. Due to their interest in aviation, Mary and Lloyd supported and attended the annual air meet held in early December 1937. The society columns in the Miami Herald noted that Mary was stunning in her “smartest tweed” that day. Mary and Lloyd started 1938 in Florida, taking daily sun baths with friends. Following a summer spent in Maine, they returned to Florida early to oversee “the redecorating of their Alton Road home.” They were joined by Lloyd’s son John, who was back in Florida to work at the Miami Beach First National Bank.

On April 2, 1940, Mary and Lloyd lived in a rental home at 15 Canada La Jolla Boulevard in San Diego, San Diego County, California. The monthly rent for the home was $100. Lloyd was a proprietor at an airport. His 19-year-old son John, from a previous marriage to Harriette Folger McGuire, was living in the home. There was also a 29-year-old “houseboy” named Simeon Domino living in the home. During World War II, Lloyd, a lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, “was commanding officer of Miami Coastal Patrol No. 7 and of Tow Target Unit No. 7 in Glendale California. After returning from the war, he “was involved in private investment work in Miami.”

On February 12, 1947, Mary hosted a party of 10 at a weekly fashion luncheon held at a Miami Surf Club. Tables were decorated with Valentines and spring flowers of yellow and blue. The models “entered the stage through a huge red heart.” Mary traveled to Atlanta in January 1948 to celebrate her mother’s birthday. She and Lloyd spent time in Kennebunkport, Maine the summer of 1949. In December, they were back in Miami for a Biscayne Yacht Club race, taking their French poodle, Timmy, along for the ride. The poodle’s registered name was Gloriett Tamino, “for the great hero of Mozart’s Magic Flute.” When traveling aboard the family cruiser, named Maisie, Timmy apparently liked to “fish,” tugging “from time to time when he thinks he might have a bite.”

In early July 1952, Mary and Lloyd left their home at 4040 Kiaora Street in Coconut Grove, Florida, headed for New York for a planned trip to Europe with Gen. and Mrs. Francis Brady. The foursome took a car across the pond planning to “motor through the continent.” On October 18, 1952, they boarded the S.S. Constitution in Naples, Italy for a first-class trip back home, arriving in New York on October 27, 1952. 

S.S. Constitution (ca. 1953), Théodore Brauner, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

In October 1953, Mary and Lloyd took the trip of a lifetime when they traveled to the Holy Land. During their visit to Jerusalem, they saw camel caravans and “entire families on small donkeys, just as in Biblical days.” Mary taught Sunday School classes at her church and felt what she learned on the trip could “make the Holy Land and the Bible ‘come more alive’ to her pupils. Mary and Lloyd visited Casablanca and were “amazed at the beautiful new and modern apartment houses … each with its own porch overlooking the blue Mediterranean.” Their visit to Casablanca coincided with “the uprising when the new Sultan took over. There were French troops in trucks in the streets when they went shopping one day and when they came out of the bazaar, the troops were in the streets with their guns at the ready, and everyone on the street was standing with his back to the wall. (There had been 7 killings the day before.)” With the help of their guide, they quickly retreated to the safety of their hotel. The couple spent the summer of 1954 in Maine. Upon their October return to Coconut Grove, Mary decided all the work required to be away for an entire summer was no longer worthwhile. It had to be exhausting to close up one house and immediately have to unpack and open up another.

In 1960, Lloyd worked as a securities broker at Thomso-McKinnon-Auchincloss-Kohlmeyer Inc. in Coral Gables, just a short distance from their home in Miami. In July 1972, they attended the Bath Club’s annual mid-summer Beachcomber fest, enjoying a dinner of lobster, steamed clams, and steak cooked on the beach.

Mary passed away on January 27, 1975 at her Sevilla Avenue home in Coral Gables, Florida. Buried at Newton Cemetery in Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, she was 70 years old. From the looks of it, Mary had lived a full life—helping her second husband raise children from his first marriage (John, Julia, and Harriette), attending church and teaching Bible subjects to Sunday School classes and in the Unity Religious sect, traveling the world, all while enjoying a very social life.

References

• Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1924.
• E. H. Janes is Dead; Last Rites Monday, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 29, 1925.
• Farewell Fete is Planned for Beach Socialite, Miami Tribune, Miami, Florida, June 9, 1935.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178124247/mary-ann-janes: accessed 29 January 2022), memorial page for Mary Ann “Mittie” Cunyus Janes (28 Jan 1863–24 Oct 1948), Find a Grave Memorial ID 178124247, citing Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by WWII History Fan (contributor 48178484).
• Gallaher, Hugh W., Florida State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 7896.
• Harrison, Gwen, Conversation Piece, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, December 12, 1949.
• Holy Land Lives When Mrs. Fales Teaches Bible Now, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, October 16, 1953.
• Hugh L. Gallaher, The Daily News Leader, Staunton, Virginia, May 24, 1934.
• Hugh W. Gallaher, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, May 24, 1934.
• Janes, Edward Horace, Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933.
• Janes, Edward Horace, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Standard Certificate of Death no. 29768.
• Janes-Gallaher Wedding Takes Place in Rhode Island, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 19, 1924.
• Janes–Gallaher, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 5, 1924.
• Lloyd Fales, 75, Aviation Pioneer, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, October 13, 1975.
• Lloyd Hunting Fales, Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Records, 1840–1915.
• Mary J. Fales, 70, An Instructor in Unity, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, January 29, 1975.
• Mary Janes, New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907–2018.
• Miami Beach Her Summer Choice, Miami Tribune, Miami, Florida, July 7, 1935.
• Miss Janes to Wed Mr. Gallaher, of New York, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, October 5, 1924.
• Mrs. Gallaher Weds Mr. Fales in Boston, Mass., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, September 21, 1935.
• Rich, Helen B., From My Notebook, Miami Tribune, Miami, Florida, October 15, 1936.
• Surf Club Holds Style Show Here, The Miami News, Miami, Florida, February 13, 1947.
• United States Federal Census, Atlanta Ward 4, Fulton County, Georgia, 1910.
• United States Federal Census, Rome Ward 3, Floyd County, Georgia, 1900.
• United States Federal Census, San Diego, San Diego County, California, 1940.
• The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 21, 1919.
• List of United States Citizens, S.S. Mseneca, April 1926.
• List of United States Citizens, S.S. Iroquois, March 1, 1930.
• Hugh W. Gallaher, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, May 23, 1934.
• Hugh W. Gallaher, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, May 24, 1934.
• Farewell Party, Miami Tribune, Miami, Florida, September 4, 1935.
• The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, May 17, 1936, December 7, 1937, January 12, 1938, November 6, 1938, and July 18, 1972.
• Atlanta Bound, The Miami News, Miami, Florida, January 22, 1948.
• Come Join Me, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, June 22, 1952.
• List of In-Bound Passengers, S.S. Constitution, October 1952.
• Fales, Mary J., The Miami News, Miami, Florida, January 29, 1975.
• Too Much Trouble, The Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, October 29, 1954.
• List of United States Citizens, S.S. Fort St. George, November 1924. 
• S.S. Constitution photo, Théodore Brauner, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ss_Constitution1953.jpg.

A day of research leads to a breakthrough

In researching my husband’s Scottish ancestors two weeks ago, I managed to take his great-grandmother Jemima Durie’s maternal line back another generation—always an exciting accomplishment. I was actually working on the Athya surname, documenting the children of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie. I had a good start but wanted to confirm their birth and death dates. ScotlandsPeople is one of the sites I used to cobble this family together and that’s where I needed to go to download their birth and death records. 

Each record cost 6 credits and the site offered bundles of 30, 40, 80, or 160 credits for purchase. Since I knew of 10 children born to this family, I selected the 80-credit option. I was successful with 11 of 12 records by the time I got to the remaining 8 credits, having confirmed the 10 children I knew of, and discovering one more. For my last download, I decided to look for someone in the Durie line. I knew Jemima’s parents were James Durie and Jane Braidwood, but that’s it. In searching the statutory registers of deaths, I found a Jane Durie, age 77, who died 1908 in Springburn, a district of Glasgow, Scotland. 

Statutory registers of death index for Jane Braidwood Durie
(click to enlarge)

I remembered seeing Springburn in one of the children’s records so took a chance. Luckily, it was the right person.

Name: Jane Durie
Profession: Widow of James Durie (Engineer)
Date/place of death: October 28, 1908, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland
Age: 77 years
Father: Andrew Braidwood, Engineer, deceased
Mother: Mary Braidwood, maiden surname Liddell, deceased
Cause of death: Senile Cardiac Arterio Sclerosis
Informant: Annie Durie, daughter-in-law, 42 Stewartville Street, Partick (Glasgow, Scotland)

The death record showed Jane was married to James Durie and her father was Andrew Braidwood. I knew her father was a Braidwood but didn’t know his forename. The record told me Jane’s mother was Mary Liddell. A quick search on Ancestry.com and I learned that Andrew Braidwood and Mary Liddell married on June 20, 1818 in Newton, Midlothian, Scotland. The 1851 Scotland census estimated Mary Liddell Braidwood was born about 1798 in Lasswade, Midlothian, Scotland. I’ve since discovered other researchers were already on this path, but I hadn’t found that or their research, so this was new territory for me! The record also showed that Jane Braidwood Durie had a daughter-in-law named Annie so that is another clue that should help down the road.

My Scottish research has been stagnant for many years. It feels good to be making progress.

References

• Athya, Jemima, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/4 1426, National Records of Scotland.
• Durie, Jane, Statutory Registers Deaths 644/6 881, National Records of Scotland.
• Glasgow, St. George, Scotland Census, 1851.
• Liddell, Mary and Braidwood, Andrew, Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561–1910.