William's parents were Jacob and Olivia Inks (or McClure) Pyeatt. William had dark hair, a dark complexion, blue eyes and was about 6 ft tall (according to his civil war POW records). William and at least two of his brothers, James Benton Pyeatt and Andrew McClure Pyeatt went to Williamson County, Texas, with their parents sometime around 1850.
William (nor his parents) have been located on the 1850 census.
William married on April 8, 1853, in Burnet County, Texas, Diana Hornsby who was born Sep 12, 1836, (or Sep 1837) in Mississippi to Tom and Beth Helton Hornsby and died June 6, 1928, in Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. She is buried in the Oaklawn Cemetery, Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The license recorded in Book A page 10 was applied for on 4/4/1853 by "William Pyatt" and "Deanner Hornsby". There were only three marriages in 1852 in that county and William and Diana were the 3rd couple in 1853 - making them the sixth couple married in Burnet County. I find that to be very interesting!
According to census records, Diana listed her father was born in Mississippi and her mother in South Carolina/Virginia/Mississippi. On Diana's death certificate, the informant (a Mrs. Dawson) listed her father and mother born Mississippi. We find a Thomas M Hornsby on the 1850 Williamson County, Texas, census which gives Thomas's age as 45 years (born c 1805) and born in Georgia. So, though this Thomas had a daughter, Diana, born in Mississippi - her age is given as 11 instead of 13. However, on the 1900 census, Diana listed her month and year of birth as September 1837 (or at least someone did). That would come closer to matching her age of 11 in 1850 (which might also have been an error). The Hornsby's from Travis and Williamson County, Texas, were originally from Georgia and then Covington County (and Simpson County) Mississippi. Also in Williamson County, Texas, at the same time as Thomas M Hornsby was William Pyeatt and his parents and brother and many other Jefferson County, Missouri, families. Any help in verifying that this Thomas is Diana's father would be appreciated. I note that the 1840 Simpson Co, Mississippi, census has a Thomas Hornsby 1m30-40;3f<5;3f5-10;1f20-30 that lives in close proximity to several Helton families. Thomas' other known children were: Elizabeth Hornsby, John Hornsby, Mary J Hornsby, Julia Ann Hornsy, and Caty A Hornsby.
William and Diana had the following children:
This family was in Jackson Township (Ste Genevieve County) Missouri during the 1860 federal census as follows:
On the 1870 federal census they were in Ste. Genevieve County, Jackson Township, Missouri as follows:
In 1900 William and Diana, along with daughter Nancy, are in Jordan Township, Ripley County, Missouri as follows:
On the 1910 census of Perry Township, St Francois County, Missouri, the elderly couple is living with their married daughter, Nancy, as follows:
William's obituary reads as follows:
Jefferson Democrat, Hillsboro, Jefferson County, Missouri Thursday March 14, 1912
W. D. Pyeatt was born Feb. 4, 1831, and died Tuesday, March 5, 1912, at the ripe age of 81 years and 1 month. He was married in 1853 and joined the church in 1857, and had lived as consistent life ever since. He leaves a wife who has been his faithful companion for many long years. There was born to this union twelve children, eight of whom are living. One of the oldest citizens of Jefferson County is gone, across to the land of rest. May God bless his bereaved companion and children. What has been their loss will be his eternal gain. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." R A Boyd
In the 'Plattin' section of the same issue of the Jefferson Democrat: William Pyeatt died last week at the home of Arthur Morse and was buried at Charter Cemetery.
His death certificate information is as follows:
Missouri State Board of Health - Certificate of Death
Place of death: County - Jefferson; Township - Plattin
Registration District: 421 File No: 9802 Primary Registration Dist No: 5276 Registration No: 33 Full Name: William D. Pyeatt Sex: Male Color: White Marital Status: Married Date of Birth: Feb. 4, 1831 Age: 81 years 1 month 0 days Occupation: Farmer Birthplace: St. Louis, Mo. Name of Father: Jacob Pyeatt Birthplace of Father: St. Louis, Mo. Maiden name of Mother: Olive Inks Birthplace of Mother: St. Louis, Mo. Informant: Diana Pyeatt Address: Plattin, MO Date of Death: March 4, 1912 Cause of Death: Chronic Paralysis, debility and exhaustion. Died without a physician in attendance Duration: 25 years Place of Burial: Charter Cemetery Date of Burial: Mch 6, 1912 Undertaker: T S Byrd Address: Festus, MO Filed: Mch 5, 1912 J E Rutledge
After William's death, Diana appears to continue to live with her daughter, Nancy, and family. They appeared as follows on the 1920 census in District 203, Trumann, Poinsett County, Arkansas:
I know of no connection to Trumann, Arkansas. So, I have to wonder if Simon's job took them there. According to her obituary, Diana moved to Tulsa around 1920 and lived with/near her daughter Nancy. Did they move there due to the death of Simon? We know Nancy was a widow by 1924. It is known that Diana's son, William 'Bill' Pyeatt and his family had lived in the Tulsa area for many years before Diana and other family members moved there as well. Did Diana and Nancy move there for family support after Simon died?
Diana applied for a Confederate Widow's Pension in March of 1922. She is listed as 'Pyeatt, Diana (widow of Wm D)' living 'in back of' 406 W Brady Street on the 1924 and 1925 Tulsa City Directory. At that same address, in the front, was Nancy Weickel (widow of Simon J). Diana died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 316 W Cameron, June 6, 1928, and is buried in the Oaklawn Cemetery on E 11th Street. Her obituary reads as follow:
Which daughter of William and Diana was alive and married to a Stephens in 1928 and which 2 daughters (besides Mary Ann) were already dead?
I found a Catherine Stevens (born MO 1858) living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a widow in 1930. It said she was first married at age 24 (1882). I also find a 'matching' Catherine Stevens (born MO Aug 1858) living in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, as a widow with three children (Carrie b: Apr 1877 MO, Arthur b: Jan 1881 MO, Edward b: Mar 1884 MO) on Reilly Avenue. If this is Diana's daughter, she was most likely first married to Simon Still in 1882 in St Francois County, Missouri.
Sources:
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June 8, 1928 Friday Tulsa Daily World
"Mrs Diana Pyeatt, 91 years of age entered into rest at the home of her daughter, Mrs Weickel - 314 W Cameron Wednesday night. Funeral services will be held 10am Friday at the Tulsa Undertaking chapel, Reverend Bracken officiating. She is survived by 5 sons, Mike, William, George, Byrd and Frank; 1 daughter, Mrs Weickel, all of Tulsa, and another daughter, Mrs Stephens of Oklahoma City. Burial will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery."
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