THE FLOWERS FAMILY OF MASON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIAAS RELATED TO HOWARD FRANKLIN FLOWERS
[Home] [Bost] [Cahill] [Flowers]
According to some Flowers researchers, the family came to West Virginia / Virginia from southwestern Pennsylvania, traveling south along the rivers and waterways. We have not yet been able to link our line to this scenario, but are still looking. Little by little, we are reconstructing his family's history. Historical Note: West Virginia did not become a state until 1863. Up until then, it had been part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. That is why you will see me refer to it as "Western Virginia" for dates prior to 1863.
"Generation 1"Howard Franklin Flowers, Sr. was born December 29, 1898 in Cottageville, Jackson County, West Virginia. He died on May 20, 1954 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. He married Laura Cahill on April 29, 1922 in Masseyville, Ross County, Ohio. Laura Cahill was born February 18, 1906 in Franklin Township, Ross County, Ohio, the daughter of John Wesley Cahill and Viola Siders/Cydrus. She died on July 23, 1982 in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. For more information, see the Cahill family page. Children of Howard Franklin Flowers and Laura Cahill are:
"Generation 2"
James Wilson Flowers was born on August 13, 1873 in Mason County, West Virginia, the son of Thomas W. Flowers and Vina McDade. He died on April 21, 1924 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. He married 1) Luvenia/Luverna M. Stover on April 26, 1894 in Mason County, West Virginia. He married 2) Minnie Tilden Baker on September 13, 1923 in Harrisburg, Franklin County, Ohio. Luvenia/Luverna M. Stover was born October 15, 1878 in Mason County, West Virginia, the daughter of David Harpold Stover and Mary Ann Rhodes. She died on August 27, 1915 in Eagle Township, Vinton County, Ohio.
Minnie Tilden Baker was born on December 24, 1876 in Arbuckle, Mason County, West Virginia. She died on May 22, 1953 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Minnie was previously married to George Cossin. There were no children born to this union.
James Wilson Flowers often went by Wilson Flowers or J W Flowers. his name can be found under these various forms in the various documents we've researched and, at times, can cause some confusion! Add to this is the fact that in Mason County, West Virginia, about the same time "our" James Wilson Flowers was living there, census records and deeds show that there was another J. W. Flowers residing in the same county. What connection there is between the two men has not been determined (but we bet there is one!)
Detail from 1910 Census, Mason County, West Virginia, showing the family of James Wilson Flowers. Family members are listed as follows: J. Wilson Flowers (Head), Verna (Wife), Rachel (Daughter), Howard (Son), Sophrona (Daughter), Luther (Son), Mary (Daughter), and Vernon (Son). Shortly after this census was taken, the family left West Virginia and moved to Eagle Township in Vinton County, Ohio.
Detail of 1920 Census for Franklin County, Ohio with Wilson Flowers (a.k.a., James Wilson Flowers) listed as a "lodger" at the residence of Minnie Cossin, both living in Columbus, Ohio. Why James Wilson Flowers went to Columbus after Luverna's death is not known. A search through the census for this same period shows that his minor-aged children were then living with their grandparents in Mason County, West Virginia. James Wilson and Minnie were married in 1923. Children of James Flowers and Luverna Stover are:
Lone Cedar School Class of 1908. This picture is from a newspaper clipping and has four of James and Luverna's children in it. Standing in the door - teacher Ms. May WIlcox. Row 1 L-R: Mirla Miller, Verda Anderson, Suphrona Flowers, Corda Pullins, Wyval Pullins, Delbert Miller, Harry Childes, Luther Flowers, Samuel King. Row 2 L-R: Joe Molze, Elva Anderson, Howard Flowers, Amy Miller, Corda Miller, Mary King, Ocie Pullins, Nellie Campbell, Ruby Childers, Avie Miller, Emma Pullins, Henry Sayre, Flayo Miller, Rachel Flowers. Back Row L-R: Elmer Pullins, Ben King, Arfie Jones, Ben Sayre, Goldie Childers, Clara King, Sylvia Sayre, Jasper Stover, Mamie Miller, Janie King, Lizzie King
"Generation 3"Thomas W. Flowers was born in February of 1848 in what is now West Virginia, possibly in Mason County. He is the son of Benjamin Flowers and Katherine or Catherine Hughes. He died on July 2, 1910 in Cabell County, West Virginia, an inmate of the Huntington Asylum. He married 1) Virginia Slaughter on October 5, 1871 in Jackson County, West Virginia. For reason unknown to us, Thomas remarried Virginia Slaughter on September 28, 1903 in Mason County, West Virginia. He may have married or had a relationship with 2) Lavina McDade, date and location unknown. Thomas's cause of death is listed as "demented." He was an inmate at the Huntington Asylum, later called the Huntington State Hospital, which no longer exists. During the 1940s and 1950s, the conditions at the hospital were apalling. Two web pages give detailed accounts of this: Doors to the Past: Huntington State Hospital and GenDisasters: Huntington, WV Hospital Fire, Nov 1952. We can only hope that things were better when our ancestor was a patient there! Virginia Slaughter was born on October 6, 1848 in Jackson County, Western Virginia, the daughter of Andrew Slaughter and Tabitha Rucker. She died on July 4, 1931 in Apple Grove, Mason County, West Virginia. After the death of Thomas Flowers, she married 2) Isaac Webster Spears on September 23, 1914; he died May 29, 1919 Arbuckle, Mason County, West Virginia.
Lavina McDade was born about 1846 in Western Virginia. She died after 1871. She is sometimes referred to as "Vina." We have no further information for Lavina. No record for a marriage between Thomas and Lavina has been found. The documented marriage between Thomas and Virginia, plus the fact that son James sometimes used the last name McDade, and later used the last name of Flowers, has led us to wonder if he might have been born out of wedlock. This is only a surmise, and we have no hard facts on which to base this...just our own suspicions regarding the use of his mother's maiden name for the first part of his life. Census records have a Lavina McDade residing in the household of Elizabeth Rhodes in Cologne Township, Mason County, West Virginia in 1870 (second line from bottom - below). She may, or may not, be the Lavina McDade who is the mother of James Wilson Flowers. What also interesting is that many of these neighbors are related in various degrees by marriage -- McDade, Stover, Rhodes. Even more interesting is the family of Benjamin McDade listed first, as this is the same family that eventually moved to Ross County, Ohio and with whom an orphaned Laura Cahill lived prior to her marriage to Howard Franklin Flowers.
Child of Thomas Flowers and Lavina McDade is:
Children of Thomas Flowers and Virginia Slaughter are:
"Generation 4"Benjamin Flowers was born on December 6, 1811 in Virginia (probably present day West Virginia), the son of Thomas Jefferson Flowers and Mary Hall. An alternate birth date of January 6, 1812 has also been found. He died on March 11, 1880 in Jackson County, West Virginia, the cause of death listed as a "rupture" (hernia). He married 1) Catherine Hughes on April 1, 1832 in Jackson County, Western Virginia. He married 2) Matilda Staats on February 2, 1854 in Jackson County, Western Virginia. Catherine Hughes was born about 1808 in Western Virginia. Her parents' names are not known. She died about 1849-1854, probaby in Western Virginia. She may be the daughter of Job Jacob Hughes and Mary Margaret Hamm, but we have not been able to verify this. Matilda Staats was born about 1811 (or 1820) in Jackson County, Western Virginia, the daughter of Elijah Staats and Mary (per information found in the Jackson County Marriage Register). She died, date and place not found. Some family trees list her death as November 19, 1892, but we have been unable to verify this as we cannot find a death record for Matilda Flowers (or Perkins or French) to match that date. Matilda may have married twice more after Benjamin's death. In the Jackson County, West Virginia marriage records is found, on November 9, 1882, a record for marriage between Matilda Flowers and George W. Perkins. Then on October 10, 1883, is found a record for marriage between Matilda Perkins and William W. French. In both instances, the age of the bride (Matilda) coincides with Matilda Staats Flowers age.
The children of Benjamin Flowers and Catherine Hughes are:
The children of Benjamin Flowers and Matilda Staats are:
"Generation 5"Thomas Jefferson Flowers was born around 1778-1781 in Pennsylvania, the son of Lambert Flowers and Rachel McCoy. He died around 1843-1850, probably in Western Virginia. He married Mary Hall, date and place not known. The 1810 and 1830 US Federal Censuses list a Thomas Flowers living in Mason County, Virginia (present day West Virginia). Although there are no other names or dates, the stroke tallies appear to match what we know of Thomas's family in these years. There is also a Thomas Flowers in Jackson County, Western Virginia in the 1840 Census. Jackson County was created on March 1, 1831 from parts of Kanawha, Mason and Wood counties. So if this is "our" Thomas Jefferson Flowers, it does not necessarily mean that they moved between 1830 and 1840, just that they were now part of the new county of Jackson. History of Jackson County here.
Mary Hall was born about 1787 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Joseph Hall and Mary King. She died in 1858 in Jackson County, Western Virginia of "chronic diarrhea" per death register.
Children of Thomas Jefferson Flowers and Mary Hall are:
"Generation 6"Lambert F. Flowers was born about 1755, possibly in Sussex County, Delaware, the son of Charles McKeel Flowers and Priscilla Nin. Conflicting places of birth found in various family trees are in either Sussex County, Delaware, or in Ireland, but as his father died in Delaware, we suspect the Sussex County birth place is the right one. He died on July 21, 1827 in Harrison county, Western Virginia. He married Rachel McCoy, date and place not known. Rachel McCoy was born about 1762 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She died on July 21, 1827 (unknown if this date is correct, or if she and her husband died on the same date) in Harrison County, Western Virginia. Her parents' names are not known. Children of Lambert F. Flowers and Rachel McCoy are:
"Generation 7"Charles McKeel Flowers was born about 1730 in Ireland. He died between September 1786 and January 1787 (his will was made on September 14, 1786, and was proved on January 5, 1787). He married Priscilla Nin. Priscilla Nin was born, date and place not known. She died after January 1787 as she is listed in her husband's will. We currently have no further information for Priscilla. Children of Charles Flowers and Priscilla Nin are:
Will of Charles McKeel Flowers Source, Sussex County, Delaware Probate Records 1680-1800.
Will Made Date: 14 Sep 1786
In the name of God Amen this 14th day of September 1786, I Charles McKeel Flowers of Sussex County, Delaware, being sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory. Thanks be to almighty God for the same and calling to mind the morality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die. Do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner fain as follows vis. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of the Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommit to the ground to be buried in a Christian like manner and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors and as to what worldly goods it has pleased Almighty God to bless me with in this life. I give one dispose of the some in the following manner: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife, Priscilla Flowers. One third part of all my lands during her natural life and after her death to be disposed of as follows: I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Lambert Flowers, one grown cow and calf and all my wearing apparel and no more of my Estate. I give and bequeath unto my second son Charles Flowers my dwelling plantation with all my lands, rights, titles, interest, and benefits there unto belonging to him and his heirs forever and no more. I give and bequeath unto my wife Priscilla Flowers one bay mare to her and her heirs forever and all the remaining part of my estate after my just debts and funeral charges is settled. I desire should be applied to the use and support of my wife and my five youngest children vis. Rhoda Flowers, Nelly Flowers, Charles Flowers, Revel Flowers, and John Flowers, and I do hereby appoint and constitute my wife Priscilla Flowers and my trusty friend Jesse Cannon to be my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, signed, sealed and pronounced by the said Charles McKeel Flowers and in the presents of Henry Flowers, Staughton Tull, John Tull. Charles McKeel Flowers
Email us at:
URL: http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/flowers0/family/flowers.html
[Home] [Bost] [Cahill] [Flowers]
|
