Stumbling block? Broken bridge?...

Stumbling blocks, bridges that are broken and most of all poor documentation due to spelling...blah, blah, blah

I am not at my wits-end just confused? There is not enough time in the day to do family search. For those of you that do it here and there I am not sure how it happens. I can miss a day and it seems that all thoughts and information gathered is completely gone from this old mind of mine. Yes, I call it an ole'folk moment -LOL.

I have tried sooOOoo hard to find my late cousin Helen-Healon Womack Shars-Shears and Henry Womack's first wife, Silva ?? (Womack) which could have been Helen's mother. I am unclear of whether or not Helen was listed as a boy. I do know that 'Heland' fall of the face of God's Precious earth, if I may and that I can not find records of Helen's birth any where . Perhaps I shall move on to the next person and pick on those precious family members of mine at a later time.

So, from this point on I will not call this a stumbling block or a bridge that is broken, I will just say this a stopping point and again, I will return to research them at a later time.

To God be ALL Glory...happy researching to you all!

The Life of Henry Womack - Wamack

This is the timeline for Henry Womack. He seemed to have been born as soon as my Great Great Grandfather John Womack returned from the Civil War. Henry was born to John Womack and Nellie Montague in or about 1880. The 1880 Census show that he was 2 years of age (Census below). 

According to this document I copied at the Family Reunion, 

'Henry had 14 children". The only one listed on this document was Walter, Freddie, James, Wilbert, Ruben, John, Helen and Gertrude. 8 of the 14 noted. 

Henry appeared to have lived in Marshall, Texas his entire life. He got married to Lillian Long in 1896, which would have made him 16 years of age (?) and then he married Gertrude in 1903, which would have made him 23 years of age (?). Henry and his brother Raz married two sisters. Henry to Gertrude Alexander Rector and Raz to Willie Alexander (Rector).

1880 Census

1900 Census

1910 Census

1920 Census

1930 Census

1940 Census

Henry died in 1946. 

Rector - Alexander meets Womack (Henry Womack)

My Great Uncle Henry Womack married for the second time as far as I know...

In 1903, he married Gertrude - Girtie - Gertie - Girty Alexander Rector in Marshall, Texas.

The name Alexander came from her Mother, Jane and the name Rector came from her Father, Edward. One the 1880 Census (correction needed on the image below) she was named "Gertie Alexander" and on the 1900 Census she was named "Girty Rector". Why, is unclear. 

Henry Womack was the son of John Womack and Nellie Montague of Marshall, Texas. He was my Great Grandmother's, Maggie Womack Payne's brother. Let's take a look at the timeline I came up with for Gertrude - Girtie - Gertie - Girty Alexander Rector.

Marriage Record for Hannah - Hanah Womack Hillard Hubbard Booker

Name: Charley Booker
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Age:
Spouse's Name: Hannah Womack
Spouse's Birth Date:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Spouse's Age:
Event Date: 24 Nov 1910
Event Place: Hunt, Texas
Father's Name:
Mother's Name:
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Race:
Marital Status:
Previous Wife's Name:
Spouse's Race:
Spouse's Marital Status:
Spouse's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M00037-6
System Origin: Texas-EASy
GS Film number: 1024972
Reference ID:

He was married to Hannah when he was drafted.

[Hannah - Hanah died as a Booker. It appeared that she married Charley Booker in 1910, Hunt County. Hunt County was founded in 1846, named for Memucan Hunt, Junior. According the 2010 Census it had grown to nearly one hundred thousand residents. Even in 1910 Census show that the population was just more than forty-eight thousands residents.] 

A Family Reunion...finding pieces of the puzzle

Theres is a thing that we do called a family reunion. Where people that are related come together and update news, photos and other things. For some it is a tradition and for others it is just something to do. This year marks the first family reunion that I had gone to in a long, long, long time. I really had a ball! I was able to catch up on new and old things. This was a place that was paradise to me!!...gathering family tree information. I think I spent more time gathering information than I done meeting new faces and greeting old ones. I cannot express enough the joys of finding pieces of the puzzle. I cannot upload any pictures because I don't have permission.

There was one thing that I gathered from a newly met family member (courtesy of him and him ONLY), that was a great deal of information to me and other family members that are reading this Blog post.

Five Minute Find: Sending Documents Home From the Library

Maud Harris Womack - Anna Mind/Maud Womack - Death

Finding the death of a relative can be pretty challenging. My search was:

Wom*
Harrison County
female

I took the time to browse thorough each and every one until I came across Ras Womack's wife Maud Harris Womack. Her son, Julius White was the informant. He gave the name "Anna Maud Womack" but to search you would have to search "Anna Mind Womack". I am not sure how they got an I out of an A. Anywhoos, I was excited to find her death certificate.

Anna Mind/Maud Womack

May 1895 - November 1977

Birth - according to "Marshall, Harrison, Texas"

Death - Marshall, Harrison, Texas

Father - Tom Harris

Mother - Eddie Hennessy

 

Maud Harris Womack - Anna Maud/Mind Womack

Keeping track...can be a task by itself

I went through the familysearch.com and searched for all of the African Americans with the last name Womack, my search options were: 'Wom*', United States, Texas, Marshall Texas this was to find any Womack that was born or died in Marshall, Texas during a certain time period. I will use this as a guide during my research. I found myself going and forth when doing my research, especially when names come up and they look familiar. I type and copied all the 'Womack' names and put them in a binder. I colored coded them by male and female and then by the month and year born. This tool may help some of you that may be researching your family history. The more I discover, I will add them to my list. In fact, there were more on ancestry.com. After taking listing them, I went back to see what I could find on that person and made note and inserted the notes behind that person. This also tells me how and if they are related to my family.

Sammie Womack
Birth - January 1935
Father - s Womack
Mother - Maud Womack

Preston E. Womack
Birth - February 1935
Father - Rubin Womack
Mother - Alberta Powell

Ras Womack Junior
Birth - April 1931
Father - Ras Womack
Mother - Maud Womack

Tommie Womack
Birth - May 1933
Father - Ray Womack
Mother - Maude Womack

Lucille Womack
amendment on birth certificate, Gertrude Womack Haynes, possession of a family Bible
Birth - May 1933
Father - unknown
Mother - Gertrude Womack Haynes

Freddie Womack
Birth - February 1934
Father - unknown
Mother - Gertrude Lucille Womack

Nathan Womack
U.S. World War I Registration Card
age 23
Birth at time of registration - October 5, 1894
Event - Marshall, Harrison, Texas
Mother is solely dependent upon him for care, reason for joining

Garland Womack
Birth - August 1938
Father - Ruben Womack
Mother - Norris Perkins

Ruby Gene Womack
Birth - March 1939
Father - Reuben Timothy Womack
Mother - Rosie Mae Spencer

Erika Marie Womack
Birth - April 1960
Father - Freddie Womack
Mother - Willie Marie Lee

Rosie Marie Womack\
Birth - December 1975
Father - unknown
Mother - Erika Marie Womack


Maggie Payne (Womack)
Birth - October 1896
Father - John Womack
Mother - unknown
Death - June 1969 - Marshall, Harrison, Texas


Effie Chalmers
Birth - January 1886
Father - Winzon Andrews
Mother - Frances Womerton
Death - October 1961 - Marshall, Harrison, Texas

James Womack
findagrave.com
Headstone reads -
'1905 - 1929', 'Brother' (before his name), 'At Rest' (on the bottom)

Mary Jewel Walker Simpson
Birth - June 1929 in Marshall, Harrison, Texas
Father - John Henry Roland
Mother - Octavia Womack
Death - April 1977 - Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas

Maizy Bailey Womack
Birth - May 1894
Father - William Womack
Mother - Louise Murray
Death - September 1948 - Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas

Willie Womack Bell
Birth - 1900 abt.
Father - Willis Womack ('deceased' according to her death certificate)
Mother - Katherine Perkins Williams
Death - September 1948 - Houston, Harris, Texas

Emily Womack Brown
Birth - 1863 abt.
Father - Alfred Womack
Mother - Minnie ? unknown
Death - September 1926 - Navarro County

Ella D. Callins Womack
Birth - May 1908
Father - Sandy Womack
Mother - unknown

Chattie Belle Cooper Womack
Birth  October 1948
Father - John Womack
Mother - Josephine Davis
Death - August 1954 - Freestone County

Roxie Gardner Womack
Birth - November 1904
Father - James Womack
Mother - Millie Anderson
Death - December 1972 - Palestine, Texas

Rossie Dain Womack
Birth - August 1879
Father - Green Womack
Mother - unknown
Death - May 1947 - Montgomery, Texas

Estella Graham Womack
Birth - May 1906
Father - Henry Womack
Mother - Millie Bell
Death - August 1961 - Dallas, Dallas, Texas

Willie Womack
U.S. Census Mortality Schedules 1850 - 85
died at the age of 4, Inflammation
Death - June 1869 - Marshall, Harrison, Texas
Census Year - 1870
no parents listed

Olean G. Womack (O.T., the same person)
Birth - September 1851
Father - Arnall Womack
Mother  - Mehaley Dickson
Death - December 1923 - Longview, Gregg, Texas
Pastor at death

Anna Maud Womack Harris
May 1895
Father - Tom Harris
Mother - Eddie Hennessy
Death - 1972 - Marshall, Harrison, Texas
informant was Julius White, her son

Janice Womack
Birth - April 1920
Father - Ras Womack
Mother - Bula Williams
she was born in Marshall, Texas

Mary Shipp Womack
Birth - 1899
Father - Frank Womack
Mother - Lucy Bradford
Death - 1980

Fred Womack
Birth - July 1879
Father - Henry Womack
Mother - Lusie Womack
Death - June 1925 - Asco, Eastland, Texas
informant Will Womack

Mattie E. Womack Gasper
Birth - December 1893
Father - Paul Gasper
Mother - Celia Dawson
Death - January 1979 - Navarro County
teacher at death

Isaac Julius Ray Womack
Birth - January 1903
Father - Eli Womack
Mother - Catherine Henry
Death - September 1980 - Fort Worth, Tarrant, County

no name baby, male
Birth - 1946 - Harrison County
Father - O.J. Womack
Mother - Aimee Scott

V.G. Womack, male
Birth - June 1947
Father - O.T. Womack
Mother - Annie Lee Scott

Rubby Mary Womack
Birth - June 1949
Father - O.J. Womack
Mother - Ameila Scott

Roy Lee Womack
Birth - November 1951
Father - O.T. Womack
Mother - Annie Lee Scott

John W. Womack
Birth - December 1918
Father - Henry Womack
Mother - Gertrude Alexander
Death - August 1956 - Marshall, Harrison, Texas

NcClurie Womack
Birth - October 1926
Father - Will Womack
Mother - Jessie Edward
Death - November 1967

Ras Womack
Birth - October 1892
Father - John Womack
Mother - Nellie Montague
Death - July 1955

Willie Womack
Birth - April 1888
Death - April 1983
Social Security Death Index
all that is noted, no parents or ethnicity

Reuben Womack
Birth - November 1912
Death - December 1987

Ras Womack, Junior
Birth - April 1931
Death - August 1996

Alfred A. Womack
Birth - 1881 abt
Death - June 1968 Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas
married to Myrtle Greer
home in 1940, Little Rock Arkansas

Lulia Shanon Womack
Birth - November 1887
Father - L. Womack
Mother - Kessiah Mannon
Death  November 1943
teacher at death

Carra Silas/Carra Womack
Birth - September 1874
Father - Roe Womack
Mother - Sallie Hunter
Death - June 1930

John Womack
Birth - 1839 abt
Death - January 1924

Nellie Womack
Birth 1854 abt
Father - Frank Montague
Mother - Hannah ? unknown
Death - April 1939







 

Response from the Marshall Public Library - Clue#10

Harrison County Genealogical Society easttexaskin@yahoo.com	3:28 PM (4 hours ago)
to me

 

I will pass this on to R****** who works on Thursdays.  He  is our Confederate Army expert.  He won't be in this week; but he will be here the following week.  I did find a John Womack who died in 1924 who is buried in Nichols Cemetery.

 

B*******, Museum Library Volunteer

____________________________________________________________________

 

Above is the response email from the easttexaskin@yahoo.com, I wrote them some time ago requesting information about the actual name my Great, Great Grandfather joined the Civil War/registered as. Just from dong my research I had come across several names. I could not decipher rather he was just unable to spell his name which was common or if he just registered in a previous slave name or what. Hopefully hearing from the Marshall Library assigned member/volunteer I will get some more clues.

Julius "Ceasar" White - Son of Maud Harris, stepson of Ras Womack

1920 Census  - Julius White, age 7, abt. 1913

 

b. Oklahoma, according to Census

 

Father - United States

 

Mother - Texas

 

None, not working, attended school

 

Paralee Rose- Auntie - Arkansas, died 1931

 

 I attempted researching the connection. I have been able to find how he was Paralee's nephew. I do know that she married a Benjamin Harris and Julius' Mother name is Maud Harris. I also attempted trying to research the connection among the two and was able to do so. There is a Willie Harris in the home, I could not find a connection between any of the Harris' listed on any of the Censuses.

 

In the home:

 

Luvenia Maxey, cousin, age 11

 

Robert Whitten, cousin, age 21

 

Willie Harris, cousin, age 25

 

Frog Town Street

 

 

 

 

1930 Census  - Julius White, age 18

 

b. Oklahoma, according to Census

 

Father - Ras (Rasa) Womack, age 48, Texas (stepfather)

 

Mother - Maud Harris Womack, age 38, Texas

 

Bell Boy - Hotel

  

In the home:

 

Toney Farley, cousin, age 17, porter, Barber Shop

 

Lizard Loop Street
 

 

1940 Census  - Julius White, age 28

 

b. Oklahoma, according to Census

 

Father - Ras (Rasa) Womack, age 48, Texas (stepfather)

 

Mother - Maud Harris Womack, age 38, Texas

(not listed on this census)

 

Cook - Restaurant

  

In the home:

 

many residents, not listing, no relation

Ethel Lee Harris White, wife, age 26

 

Cliff Street, Dallas Texas

 

Doodling and research....

 

 

 

Marshall, Harrison, Texas City Directories

 

 

Military

 

...it appeared he one daughter, he died when she was 16 years of age

 

Lois Lavern White 1960 - 2006, Dallas Texas

 

 

 Julius passed on in 1976

 

 

 

Bernard Wilson - Permer Bernard Payne - Clue#12

I wrote to the Marshall High School and I got the response some time ago, but I have not posted an updated because I was waiting on the second response. Staff ask for dates and years which I have sent. Hopefully I will hear from them soon. Perhaps the transcript will give me more clues. There are still quite a few things I want to learn about him. From what I remember he was sort of laid back, short in height (extremely) and slew footed. He used to have this thing with pulling up his pants with  his forearms and he combed his afro to the front.



Bernard Wilson - Permer Bernard Payne - birth certificate

Okay, so I have good but sad news...good because I had been searching for what seemed to be inevitable bad because I really feel for my Grandmother (a child a 17 years of age on top of the struggle).

So, in searching Bernard Wilson - Permer Bernard Payne, I had been wondering why he had all of the names going on. I found his birth certificate. His name was "Pharmel" on the birth certificate. Now, how they get "Permer" out of that I don't know.  I did not see where 'Bernard' was on the certificate and I am still not sure where it came in. Though, the birth certificate reads "if the child is not name, give a supplemental report". On the bottom of the birth certificate nothing was filled in. The other thing that caught my eye was that it was noted he was not a illegitimate child, but he entered the military as 'Lewis', which was my maternal Grandfather's name. The birth certificate does note that my Grandmother was married, but Carey Lewis' name was not listed as a Father. He used 'Payne' throughout the remainder of his life. I'm assuming after the military. I can certainly say that of ALL the sibling they ALL had very high cheek bones and was dark skinned, he did NOT resemble any of them. Not at all! 

...and I am certainly curious as to where 'Wilson' come in...his name was listed as 'Bernard Wilson' on the 1940 Census.

 

Locating information on Willie Mae Womack 1938 - 2009 - Daughter of Ras Womack and Maud Harris

The sheer thought of calling a Funeral Home to ask questions...my ears were listening but my heart was aching. I have not always been a person that attach to death to easy. Yes, I know I have heard it all including no one is prepared for death. Well, it has nothing to do with being prepared for death but it has everything to do with the fear of death. I, like everyone else as a specific/particular fear of something, and that is death. Okay, let's cut to the chase, I called to ask questions regarding my ancestor Willie Mae Womack and I was so nervous that I could not get my questions out. I had to hang up, regroup and then call back with my questions written down. Once I got passed the questions, I gathered a great deal of information such as what to do for archived files at the Golden Gate Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas.

The funny thing to this story...is, I am not afraid of visiting grave sites. It is one of those things that is strange and unexplained all in the same sentence. I have certainly ask in prayer that all fears be removed, death is something that has to happen. So, I have sent the $10.00 off to the Funeral Home for the archived records for Willie Mae Womack, who departed this earth in 2009. A pretty easy process. I am not sure what all is included in the $10.00, according to the young lady that assisted me "it included all that is allowable to the public". I did not go into any details because anything that will give me more clues will be greatly appreciated. I am curious as to who the informant was and her last known job (?) more was than anything. It seemed she moved from Marshall, Harrison, Texas to Dallas, Texas and never began a family.

The Life of Willie Mae Womack - Daughter of Ras Womack and Maud Harris

 

I searched and searched for a birth record for Willie Mae Womack using all of the variations I could think of. I even tried using those same variations with a male gender and just Texas, no results found. I did however, find a 1940 Census. She was born about 1938, Marshall, Harrison, Texas to Ras Womack and Maud Harris. On this 1940 Census she was 2 years of age. Being that the 1940 Census was the last to be released, there was no further history found on her. It was like she was 2 years....and then...??

 

I am sure she lived a great life. I only wish that I would have known her. She was right here under my nose until the year 2009. Rest In Peace, Willie Mae Womack.

 

 

 

...doodling and research

 

She seemed to have moved a few places in her life time. According to the Death Index, she got established a SSN in 1956, state of Texas. It could have been Marshall or Dallas, Texas. In 1956, she would have been 18 years of age. I wonder what sparked her interest to move away from home (Marshall, Texas). Anywhoos, her last know address was in Desoto, Texas.

 

 

She passed on in 2009.

 

 

Obituary found in the Dallas, Morning News.

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Life of Ras Womack, Junior - Son of Ras Womack and Maud Harris

This was certainly no April Fool prank, Ras Womack, Junior was born on April 1st, 1931 to Ras Womack and Maud Harris, Marshall, Harrison, Texas. Yes, another child added to the family. Ras was delivered by Jane Mitchell. She also delivered his brother Sam/Samuel Womack in 1935. His B/C shows that there were three children born and three children living.

 

 

 

I am sure that the limitation are there as far as the Census goes, 1940 was the last Census released. So, with that being said, I found very little about Ras, Junior. Seemed he fought in the Korean was and moved back to Marshall, Harrison, Texas. I did not find any marriages or children.

 

 



 

1940 Census - age 8, Marshall, Harrison, Texas

 

F. Ras Womack, age 52

 

M. Maud Harris, age 42

 

(Though his birth certificate five years earlier shows that Ras, Senior was age 46 and Mother Maud was age 34.)

 

also in the home:

 

Sam Womack, Brother, age 5

 

Willie M. Womack, Sister, age 2

 

 

It appeared he resided with his parents at 1609 Arkansas Street, Marshall, Texas in 1951 which was have made his 16 years of age. Unfortunately, Census for that year has not been released. On a 1935 - 1993 City Directory he was living at 1307 Elysian Fields Avenue, Marshall, Harrison, Texas 75670.

 

 

Ras Womack, Junior passed away in 1996.