Ancestors of Albert Edward Dorr

Narcissus' parents, Louis and Frances Dorr, arrive in America at Mobile, AL in 1840 and marry in 1841. He is born on February 2, 1844. At the time he has a two-year old sister Sylvia and a one-year old brother. Sometime after Narcissus is born but before 1847, the family moves to Kemper County, MS. We know this because the record of his brother Norman's birth shows him as being born in Kemper County.

Very little is known of Narcissus' younger days. He has four sisters and seven brothers. He marries an Englishwoman named Sara Jane Wilkins on February 2, 1849 in Sumter, AL. Sumter is on the Alabama-Mississippi border next to Kemper County. Sara Jane is a daughter of one of Louis' neighbors.

From Louis' letters:

Narcissus has his own place two miles from his father and is working for him in return for part of the crop. His father Louis is never quite happy with where he is at the time and tries to convince Narcissus to move to Arkansas or Texas, but Narcissus refuses to go.

In early 1871 Louis and all of his children that were in Kemper County moves to Panola County, MS which is in the northern part of the state. Louis moves to a bluff that overlooks swamp country and that year they are all in poor health. Martin and Narcissus rent 30 acres of bottomland two miles from their father. They pay 50 pounds lint cotton per acre, but the land is creek bottom and never fails to make less than a bale an acre. Around August Narcissus' oldest boy Edwin dies of the flu and in October Narcissus himself becomes very ill. Martin returns from Arkansas and joins Narcissus on the farm. Evidently, due to the poor heath conditions, Narcissus is ready to return to Kemper County in the fall of 1871.

In the fall of 1872 Louis sells his land on the bluff and moves eight miles to the east. For a time Narcissus and Norman rent land in the neighborhood and work together. Later Narcissus is able to buy 80 acres of land adjacent to his father's place for $900. His father writes, "he built a very good house on it. Part of it is creek bottom and made a bale (and made 18 bales of cotton the first year) to the acre besides plenty of corn and potatoes." Norman is working with Narcissus at this time.

In 1875 Norman rents land from Narcissus and is working on his own house. Henry is staying with Narcissus.

In 1876 Louis writes, "Narcisse and Shug [?] are well and are making money like Jews. He has paid for his place and has besides no less than 1000 dollars on interests. Henry is still working with him. All three made nearly 30 bales of cotton last year." In 1877 Narcissus and Edward buy another farm in the neighborhood, 160 acres for about $10 an acre. Martin lives with Louis but is working for Narcissus.

Narcissus and Sara have a total of nine children, five boys, and four girls. In November 1906 Sara dies. In March 1908 Narcissus marries Lucinda "Cindy" Jackson. In 1916 Narcissus passes away and Cindy dies in 1920.

i. William Edwin Dorr was born on 26 Dec 1869 and died on 11 Jul 1871, at age 1.

ii. Caroline "Carrie" Belle Dorr was born on 13 Sep 1872 and died on 4 Mar 1930, at age 57. Caroline married Alfred Thomas Moore on 12 Nov 1896.

iii. Marietta (Mary Etta) Dorr was born on 25 Jan 1875 in Kemper Co., MS and died on 3 May 1962 in Panola Co., MS, at age 87. Marietta married Gerald Gordon Hay, son of Harry Hampton Hay Sr. and Martha Williams, on 22 Aug 1904. Gerald was born on 27 Sep 1870 in Panola Co., MS and died on 30 Jan 1951 in Panola Co., MS, at age 80.

iv. Jennie (Jenny) Dorr was born in 1878 and died in 1932 in Panola Co., MS, at age 54. Jennie married Roscoe Hewlett (Hulette) Freeman. Roscoe was born in 1872 and died in 1935 in Panola Co., MS, at age 63.

vi. Louis Henry Dorr was born on 1 Jan 1881 and died on 27 Jul 1939 in Panola Co., MS, at age 58. He had no known marriage and no known children.

vii. Wilma Louise Dorr was born on 26 Oct 1884 in Sardis, Panola Co., MS and died on 5 Feb 1945 in Sardis, Panola Co., MS, at age 60. Wilma married James Robert Trotter, son of James Thomas Trotter and Lucy Ellen Zibiah Boswell, on 28 Jan 1904 in Panola Co., MS. James was born on 2 Nov 1878 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 14 May 1969 in Panola Co., MS, at age 90.

viii. Weir L. Dorr was born on 10 Jun 1888 in Panola Co., MS and died on 8 Jan 1950 in Memphis, TN, at age 61. Weir married Pattie Hay, daughter of Harry Hay and Sallie Brown, before 1920. Pattie was born in Aug 1894 and died in 1979, at age 85.

ix. Ella Lorine\Lorena Dorr was born on 8 Feb 1890 in Panola Co., MS and died on 16 Sep 1946 in Panola Co., MS, at age 56. Ella married W. Cannon Trotter, son of James Thomas Trotter and Lucy Ellen Zibiah Boswell, on 2 Feb 1910 in Panola Co., MS. W. was born on 1 Oct 1881 in Panola Co., MS and died on 29 Sep 1962 in Sardis, Panola Co., MS, at age 80.

5. Sara Jane Wilkins, daughter of Josiah Richard Wilkins and Mary Burton, was born on 15 May 1848 in Halifax Co., VA and died on 3 Nov 1906 in Panola Co., MS, at age 58.

Sara Jane is from a very established English family who ancestors came to America in 1618 and settle in Virginia. Sara Jane is born in Halifax Co., VA in 1848. Her father, Josiah Richard Wilkins dies of the measles when Sara is only five years old. When she is about 13, her widowed mother moves the family to Kemper County, Mississippi, near the border with Sumter County, AL. Sara marries Narcissus Dorr in 1869. Sometime after 1869 most of the Wilkins family move to Jackson County, Arkansas. Sara and her sister, Elizabeth, who is also married stay in Mississippi.

From Paul Dorr's Letter:

"Aunt Sarah was unlettered but a very fine woman who, I think, was generally loved. I used sometimes to go to this home for Sunday dinner; there was always a table full of company and the "board groaned" with food. Aunt Sarah had many hospitable expressions with a strong "Arkansas flavor"; if you sat near her end of the table when the plates were being loaded and passed to the consumers, and you offered your plate, as was the custom, to the hostess, Aunt Sarah would smile and say, "Just keep that if it suits you." Or if, as she watched from her end of the long table the rapid disappearance of the food from the row of plates, and observed with a keen eye, for example, that you had devoured all of the chicken, three or four pieces, to which you had been helped, she would catch your eye and say with insistent urgency: "Now, Brother Hargrove (or Paul, or any other guest), "You haven't had anything hardly to eat; just help yo'self to chicken and gravy and more mashed postatoes. You set handy." In conversation with her, if you were making a statement about some simple event that had taken place, Aunt Sarah would interject feelingly, from time to time, "I say! I say!" She used to take a vacation from her manifold household duties of one full week every spring. She would spend the first day visiting Aunt Jodie (at Uncle Norman's house) and sit in a rocking chair all day and talk, if anybody was near with whom she could talk. Next day Ira and Clinton would hitch up the buggy and haul her down to Davis Chapel, where she would spend the day (in exactly the same manner) with Aunt Alice (at Uncle Eugene's house). From thence, Uncle Gene would transport her to our house (Uncle Rufus), where she would exactly duplicate the former 24-hour visits, rocking amiably and peacefully, dear soul, talking and "I saying" with my mother, Lillie. Then to Grandma's, to Uncle Ed's and on to the end of the list. Peace to that good woman's ashes."

The above information provided by Jo Dixon Helmers.

6. Thomas Jones Boswell, son of Thomas Leachmam Boswell and Charlotte Jones, was born on 13 Jan 1860 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 1 Apr 1951 in Oakland, TN, at age 91.

Thomas Jones was a brick mason, but he also raised peanuts, corn, cotton and watermelons as well as hogs, cows and chickens. On his home property he had a corn mill, smokehouse, barn and water well. He left most of the farming to the tenants and concentrated on his chimney building. He specialized in building chimneys and had a reputation that any chimney he built was sure to "draw".

He was the Sunday school superintendent of the local Methodist church and always had even prayer with his family. They were down to earth people, quite and gentle, always friendly. He had a fierce temper, but usually lost it only at the horses, and even then never said a bad word.

The story is on the night before the PARKS family moved from Williston, TN to Texas, Thomas rode his horse from Macon to get Laura. He brought her back and that night his father married them. All she brought was what could be carried on horseback. However, it is recorded in the family Bible that they were married by the Rev. S. B. Adams.

In 1937 Thomas bought a two story schoolhouse and converted it into a comfortable colonial type home with white pillars in the front. It was next door to the Methodist church.

Thomas married Laura Ellie Parks on 9 Dec 1879 in Fayette Co., TN. Laura was born on 26 Jan 1862 in Iredell County, NC and died on 28 Jan 1945 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN, at age 83.

i. Thomas Dewitt Boswell was born on 1 Feb 1881 and died in 1967 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN, at age 86. Thomas married Ola Hughes on 27 Nov 1912 in Memphis, TN. Ola was born on 1 Feb 1881 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died in 1967 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN, at age 86. They had no children.

iii. Charlotte Letitia Boswell was born on 11 Oct 1884 and died on 21 Feb 1940 in Oakland, TN, at age 55. Charlotte married Robert Arthur Morton on 9 Nov 1907 in Memphis, TN. Robert was born on 24 Apr 1882 in Williston, TN and died on 18 Dec 1958 in Oakland, TN, at age 76.

iv. John Collins Boswell was born on 6 Nov 1886. John married Elizabeth Pauline Lendermon on 16 Sep 1920 in Memphis, TN. Elizabeth was born on 16 Aug 1890 in Marsh County, MS and died on 12 Feb 1981 in Richardson, TX, at age 90.

v. Walter Lee Boswell was born on 17 Feb 1889 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 16 Mar 1948 in Memphis, TN, at age 59. Walter married Blarnae Crawford. Blarnae was born on 16 Dec 1897 in Roseville, TN.

vi. Russell Norman Boswell was born on 29 Nov 1891 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 14 Jun 1961 in Arlington, VA, at age 69. Russell married Ernestine Louise Daniel on 8 Nov 1927 in Jacksonville, FL. Ernestine was born on 2 Oct 1900 in Dallas, TX and died in May 1981 in Atlanta, GA, at age 80.

viii. Lucy Ellen Zibiah Boswell was born on 21 Dec 1857 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 25 Jan 1930, at age 72. Lucy married James Thomas Trotter on 24 Feb 1876 in Fayette Co., TN. James was born on 18 Oct 1847 and died on 1 Feb 1926, at age 78.

ix. Wilbur Parks Boswell was born on 7 Aug 1889 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN and died on 8 Jan 1954 in East Point, GA, at age 64. Wilbur married Nannie Estelle Colbman on 7 Dec 1921 in Memphis, TN. Nannie was born on 31 Jan 1899 in Island 35, TN (in MS River) and died on 8 Jan 1969 in Memphis, TN, at age 69.

7. Laura Ellie Parks was born on 26 Jan 1862 in Iredell County, NC and died on 28 Jan 1945 in Macon, Fayette Co., TN, at age 83.

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Ancestors of Albert Edward Dorr

Third Generation