Having recently acquired two boxes of my grandfather Earl Higginbotham’s memorabilia from my Aunt Jane, I have come across so many pictures that have no names written on them, or names that I don’t recognize as family names. Maybe they were friends, maybe distant relatives, who knows? Someone out there just might, so I will be using Find Me Friday blog posts to showcase one or more of these photos in hopes that someone will identify them or just maybe, I can place a picture with a family member that previously didn’t have one.
This week I will showcase two photos.
This photo did not have any names on it. I just love the way this lady is looking at the child in this photo. Could this be my grandfather Earl with his mother Dona Higginbotham? It’s so hard to tell since it’s mostly a side view of their faces.
This photo was also unidentified. I suspect, or maybe I just want this lady to be, Earl’s maternal great-grandmother, Sallie Martin Pill. There were two copies of this photo in the box. There were also several letters from a cousin of Earl’s mother, Mildred Dial Webb written to Dona’s mother, Mildred Martin Williams. Mildred Webb spoke often of her grandmother in her letters to Mildred Williams. I have no way of knowing for sure, and it’s purely speculation based on the letters.
If you recognize anyone in these photos, please let me know and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
~Susie Higginbotham Reynolds~
ALLEN WEBB
December 5, 2011 at 10:45 pm
My paternal grandmother was Mildred Dial, the wife of John Allen Webb; the photograph that you have above is that of Sarah Ann Courtney, that was widowed
by Henry Washington Martin circa 1864; late in 1865, she married George Pill, oif this union was born Mariah Pill, the wife of Lemeul Caleb Dial of Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
Henry Washington Martin, known as “Wash” was a contact that was provided to George Pill, a resident of Crawford County, Missouri during the War For Southern Independence, some time in 1864. While as spy in Crawford County, George Pill had drawn a short straw; he was told to spy and become familiar with the activities of a known Union man for one whole week, that began on a Saturday; this man, upon having brought a saddle of corn to the grist meal, waited until his corn was ground, left. George Pill waited along the side of the road, kiling the man and riding off with his meal and horse, where he eventually came in to Lafayette County, Arkansas, where he came to the farm of Wash Martin, where he was then informed of the death of his contact some time earlier, many months before.
Melissa
March 24, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Where did you here this story. Wash was my ggggreat grandfather.
Susie
March 28, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Melissa, Allen has been trying to reply to you, here is his message:
Melissa,
Sarah Ann Courtney, the wife of Henry Washington Martin was widowed by him about late 1864. She married George Pill in November, 1865. Grandma Pill and her children knew this story and others because it was common knoweledge amongst them, being the Martin children, then years later this story was related to the Pill children as well. Grandpa Pill spoke of this experience to our Uncle George Pill and his older sister, my great grandmother, Mariah Pill, the widow of Lemuel Caleb Dial of Caddo Parish, Ida, Louisiana. In 1981, this story was told to me by one of the daughters of Uncle George Pill. My grandmother knew about this story, as well. It is my belief that she would not tell me about this story because she didn’t want me to realize how it was difficult during that era and what others had to do in defense of their families and existence. There were other stories as well that have been told to me by both the Martin and Pill descendants, as many of us have researched and recorded these events. It was fortunate for me, as I began nearly 42 years ago and have had the best experience ever meeting other descendants! Any information that I have , I will gladly make it available to you as well.
ALLEN WEBB
March 29, 2012 at 10:09 am
Melissa,
Sarah Ann Courtney, the wife of Henry Washington Martin was widowed by him about late 1864. She married George Pill in November, 1865. Grandma Pill and her children knew this story and others because it was common knoweledge amongst them, being the Martin children, then years later this story was related to the Pill children as well. Grandpa Pill spoke of this experience to our Uncle George Pill and his older sister, my great grandmother, Mariah Pill, the widow of Lemuel Caleb Dial of Caddo Parish, Ida, Louisiana. In 1981, this story was told to me by one of the daughters of Uncle George Pill. My grandmother knew about this story, as well. It is my belief that she would not tell me about this story because she didn’t want me to realize how it was difficult during that era and what others had to do in defense of their families and existence. There were other stories as well that have been told to me by both the Martin and Pill descendants, as many of us have researched and recorded these events. It was fortunate for me, as I began nearly 42 years ago and have had the best experience ever meeting other descendants! Any information that I have , I will gladly make it available to you as well.