Mathis Ancestor Photographs
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chart demonstrating the Mathis Migration Patterns)
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How common is the surname "Mathis?" According to
the 1990 U.S. census figures, "Mathis" is the 483rd most
popular name with approximately 60,000 U.S. citizens representing about .024% of
the population.
Edmund Mathis (1720-1783) was a Revolutionary War veteran
born in Bulloch County, Georgia. His service to the country was recognized
in a ceremony in September 2002, as reported by the SAMPSON INDEPENDENT NEWS
in an article titled Mathis Honored with Marker: "Two hundred and nineteen years after his death American Revolutionary War soldier Edmond Mathis has a marker at his grave. It was dedicated Saturday, in ceremonies led by the Sons of the American Revolution, Raleigh Chapter. Wallace Johnson, chapter president, gave the welcome to a crowd estimated at 50, most of them descendants of Mathis. Gladstone Mathis, a descendent of Edmond, helped organize the dedication - including clearing and preparing the gravesite - and he lives on the John O. Mathis Homestead, which was established in 1880."
(The above information and the two photos
below furnished by Mike Mathis. Click on the thumbnail on the left for a
full image.)
The Family of George Washington Mathis (1846-1891)
George Washington Mathis is the son of Cornelius D. Mathis
(1806-1879), the grandson of John Mathis (1774-1852) and the great
grandson of Edmund Mathis (1720-1783).
Ancestral Lineage: Edmund Mathis (b. 1720) >
John Mathis (b. 1774) > Cornelius D. Mathis (b. 1806) > George Washington
Mathis (b. 1846) > Joseph Wiley Mathis (b. 1872) > Dorothy Lou Mathis
Childress (b. 1922) > JPC (b. 1945)
The above photo represents the "good old days," as the
older generation likes to believe. Pictured seated is Lucinda Elizabeth
(Mathis) Jones (1868-1946), and probably her mother, Sarah Elizabeth (Thornton)
Mathis (1842-1921), wife of George Washington Mathis
(1846-1891). Lucinda, affectionately known around the small town of Aetna,
Tennessee as "Aunt Bet," was born without a left arm. The cabin
above was located at the end of "Mathis Holler Road," but was torn
down in 1938 to make way for a new house. The land on which the cabin was
located had been in the Mathis family since the early nineteenth century.
The following photos feature part of the family of G.W.
Mathis and wife Sarah. The first photo on the left (probably taken abt. 1915) likely was taken at the home of Lucinda or at the home of her sister
Sarah Jane (Mathis) Flanigan, since Sarah Elizabeth was living with her daughter
at the time of the mother's death in 1921. I can only speculate as to the
names of the individuals. Back row, l. to r., James R. Jones (abt.
1867-1947), wife Lucinda (Mathis) Jones (1868-1946), Sarah Jane
(Mathis) Flanigan (1877-1954); middle row, unsure of two children in photo;
front row, l. to r., the lady in front of Jim Jones was said to have been Mary
(Mathis) Sharp (1837-1891), sister to George W. Mathis. (I have
another photo of this lady in the same rocking chair that is adjacent to her,
and a caption on the back side of the photo reads: "Poor old Sis
Mathis. Only kins coz's from one to the other - no welfare."
The problem with the identification is that other records indicate that Mary
Mathis died in 1891, likely long before either photo was taken.) The lady
in the middle of the front row could be Maud May (Mathis) Rosenberg
(1883-1952) and the lady on the right in the rocking chair is Sarah Elizabeth
(Thornton) Mathis (1842-1921).
The second photo below (actually a cropped portion of a
larger postcard photo of the house in the background) is Sarah
Elizabeth Thornton and probably her daughter, Sarah Jane (Mathis)
Flanigan, or perhaps her sister, Mary Elizabeth (Halbrook) Thornton
(1845-1922).
The remaining photographs below feature other children
of George W. and Sarah Elizabeth (Thornton) Mathis, including James Polk
Mathis (1866-1907) and his wife Elizabeth (Carroll) (1872-1972) (photo
furnished by Charles Parnell), William Paul
Mathis (1869-1929), Joseph Wiley Mathis (1872-1936), then probably Maud May (Mathis) Rosenberg (1883-1952).
(Click on the thumbnail sketches below to see enlarged
views.)
DESCENDENTS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON MATHIS AND SARAH ELIZABETH
THORNTON
The following photograph was taken during a family reunion,
probably around 1936, and involved the offspring of George Washington
Mathis and their respective families. As best I can determine, in 1936
seven of the 11 children of G.W. and Sarah would have been living. The
only likely living sibling not shown in the following photograph would have been
Maud May Mathis (1883 to 1952).
Following is my best identification of the above, based on identities
given to me by Lloyd V. Mathis. The children of George Washington and
Sarah Elizabeth Mathis are underlined:
1.
Fannie Mathis (Miller) – (1875-1953)
2.
Lucinda Elizabeth Mathis (Jones) – (1868-1946)
3.
Sarah Mathis (Watson) – born circa 1913
4.
Bill Kimbro – born circa 1905
5.
Martha Anne Mathis (Jones) – (1871-1938)
6.
Edwin Roland Flanigan – (1878-1960)
7.
Ed Murphy
8.
Unidentified (probably
Mr. Bailey, Myrtle Rhea Jones’ husband)
9.
John Moses “Frank” Mathis – (1874-1939)
10.
Unidentified (probably
Dick Mathis, Ruth Priest’s husband)
11.
Jake Hugh Mathis – (1880-1945)
12.
Mildred Kimbro – born circa 1930
13.
Louise Mathis (Kimbro) – (1905-1982)
14.
Ann Murphy
15.
Sarah Jane Mathis (Flanigan) – (1878-1954)
16.
Billy Kimbro – born circa 1925
17.
J.B. Murphy
18.
Dixie
L. Speer – born circa 1920
19.
Myrtle Rhea Jones (Bailey) – (1894-1986)
20.
“Rose” (no surname identified)
21.
Ruth Priest (Mathis) – (circa 1905-1960)
Click
here to go to the Childress/Mathis Family Tree data on Roots Web for notes
on the above individuals.
More Mathis Ancestor Photos:
For additions, corrections or comments, please send an e-mail to Patrick
Childress
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