The Barnett Family and the Land They Owned in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Janice and Larry Holland
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

I received a telephone call last week from Janice Holland, who was searching for the ancestor of her husband Larry Barnett. Using Ancestry, I search for Larry's ancestor. Janice gave me the name Isaac Barnett and his wife Susie Perry Barnett. Isaac parents were Shelton and Maria Anderson Barnett. According to the 1880 United States Federal Census, Shelton was born in 1820 in Virginia. In 1880 he was living in the 5th Ward, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Both of his parents were born in Virginia. Shelton could read and write and was a farmer by occupation.

Living in the household with him and his wife were;  his son Isaac (23),  his daughter-in-law Susan (17), his grandsons Willie (2) and Ed Barnett (1/12). Shelton and Mariah was married on August 11, 1879 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.  According to the 1870 United States Federal Census, Shelton's personal estate valued at 100 dollars and his Real Estate valued at 400 dollars. Living in the house with his wife was their two sons; Isaac (13) and his John (16).

Isaac and Susie was the parents of: William, Anney, Isaac, Jr., John, Juley, Roday, Mary, and Martha. Please note that I spelled their names the way they spelled on the 1900 United States Federal Census.  On the 1920 United States Federal Census, three other children was born; George, Clyde and Oliver. Isaac could not read  or write. His home was free of a mortgage and his occupation was a farmer.

Larry and Janice were very excited to find documentation dating back to the 1800s about their ancestors. This was the very first time they had seen these types of documents. I invited them to the Amite Clerk's Office to teach them how to conduct genealogy research. Both of them were excited to find the records. They both understand the importance of genealogy. Following the duplication of the records, she gave them to me so that I could have them transcribed. The Barnett family are planning a large family reunion and they asked if I could present our findings.

Larry Holland Researching at the Amite Clerk's Office
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Exploring African American History in the Louisiana Florida Parishes

Esau and Malinda Tom Lawson's Grandson Xavier Smith, Sr.

Xavier Smith, Sr. was born in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana around 1897. The 1910 United States Federal Census indicates that he lived in the house with his stepfather Abe "Obie" Harrison, his mother Sallie Lawson Harrison, and four siblings: Governor Harrison, Mary B. Harrison, Eddie Harrison and Lelia Smith. Xavier worked as a yard boy for a private family.

According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, he was married with his own family. He married Daisy Morris Smith. Xavier was twenty-two and his wife Daisy was eighteen. They had one child living with them at the time name Helen Smith. Ten years later in 1930, he and Daisy other children were: Xavier, Jr., Glen, Dorothy and Clarence Smith. By 1940 United States Federal Census they had given birth to two more children: Earl Smith and Yvonne Smith. They were living in Ried's Quarter. Xavier owned his own home and worked as a laborer.

Xavier Smith, Sr. was a very active and dedicated member at Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church. He joined the congregation of Grant Chapel in1916. He served 70 years of continued service and was considered to be the church's historian and father. He passed away on November 10, 1993 in Amite, Louisiana. He is buried at Butler Cemetery in Amite, Louisiana.

Genealogy Discussion with Antoinette and Karran

Aunt Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon Story

Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon

Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon was born on the 10th day of 1909 in St. Helena, Louisiana to Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson Williams and died on July 20, 1987. She is my maternal great-aunt. All of her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Mandy. Aunt Mandy had three other siblings born to Thomas and Emma. Her siblings were Josephine Richardson Harrell, Alexander Thomas Richardson, and Rosabel Richardson Moore. 

Her second marriage was to Jim Williams, with whom she had four children, Jimmy Williams, Victoria Dorothy Williams, Arthur Williams, and Ethel Williams Temple. Before moving to Tangipahoa Parish, they lived in St. Helena, Louisiana. 

She met and married Willie Kiddes Gordon, Sr. They were the proud parents of James. E. Gordon, Willie K. Gordon, Jr.,Min. Adam Gordon, Robert Gordon, Sr., Elder Frank Gordon, and Barbara Jean Payne. She was called MaMe by her grandchildren. She was the State President of the Home and Foreign Mission Department of The Churches of God in Christ Eastern Jurisdiction.

Our family often talks about Aunt Mandy's delicious homemade cakes. Especially her jelly and coconut cakes. She was a strong leader and role model for her family. She was known for her unconditional love and generosity. She was respected and admired by all who knew her and her family who adored her. She wore beautiful hats and dresses and carried a purse on her arm. 

Aunt Mandy enjoyed visiting her sisters Josephine and Rosabelle. My aunts Ethel and Dorothy died before I was born. It is only through the family that I remember hearing about them. Aunt Mandy and her husband remained in Amite and raised their family. My grandmother and grandfather raised their family in Amite as well.  New Orleans became home to Rosabelle and Ethel. The matriarchs of our family are very dear to our hearts and we cherish their sweet memories We try to emulate their example of strength and character. We remember them fondly as we share stories of their kindness. They are a source of pride for our family and a reminder of our bonds.

Mr. Willie K. Gordon, Sr. and his wife 
Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon

Earl Lee's LEMON PIE | Baking My Grandfather's Delicious Pie!

The Children of Emma Vining Richardson Williams

Emma Vining was born on October 1, 19886 in St. Helena, Louisiana to Allen Vining and Rosa Hart Vining. Emma Vining died in Amite, Louisiana in 1864. Allen and Rosa had three daughters together: Judy, Emma, and Bernice. 

In the years that followed the death of Rosa, Allen later married Pheoby Self of St. Helena, Louisiana, and as a result of their union, they had several children together.  According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, Emma was living with her paternal grandmother Martha Green Vining, aunt Elizabeth Vining, and her sisters Bernice and and Judy. Judy was eleven and Emma was thirteen at the time. Also living in the house was a 10 year-old girl named Mamie. I recall talking several years back to a cousin named Sandra Brown, who is a descendant of Bernice lineage. Her grandmother told her that Mamie was her sister. Consequently,  Allen and Rosa may have had four daughters.

Emma's grandmother Martha Green was married to Frank Vining in 1874 in St. Helena, Louisiana. Their children were: Allen, Julia, Caleb, Sarah, and Frank Vining. 

Emma's first husband was Thomas Richardson. The couple had four children: Josephine, Alexander, Rosabel and Alma "Mandy" Richardson. After she and Thomas divorced she later married Jim Williams they had four children: Ethel, Jimmy, Arthur, and  Victoria "Dot" Williams. 

It was after reading a comment from one of our younger family members, who stated that she she was unaware that Grandma Emma had other children from a second marriage, that I decided to write and post this blog. "Several members of our family have passed away, " including my mother Isabell Harrell Cook, Cousin Earl Lee Richardson, Sr., Cousin Nathaniel Richardson, and Jo-Ann Lewis Frazier who recounted and shared the Richardson and Williams family history. Our history must be preserved and passed on to the generations, as exemplified by the character of Kunta Kinte in the 1977 television series Roots. 

We are blessed to have images of six of her eight children. If anyone has a photograph of Grandpa Emma, Grandpa Thomas and Jim Williams,  Arthur and Dot, please share with me so I can share it with others. Please don't just hold on to it for yourself, share it with the family. 

In Loving Memories of Mr. Percy Harrison

Percy was born Amite, Louisiana to the late Mr. Obie Harrison and Mrs. Sally L. Harrison on December 3, 1912 and adopted later by the late Mr. Willie Harrison and Mrs. Ella Harrell Harrison. He passed away July 25, 1982 at 4:30 p.m. at Hood's Memorial Hospital in Amite, Louisiana. He was a friendly private individual.  

He leaves to your his passing: two daughters. Mrs. Janice Craig of Amite, Louisiana and Mrs. Lavern Crayton of Dallas, Texas: one son, Mr. Freddie Harrison of Amite, Louisiana: two granddaughter: Miss Charlene Harrison of Amite, Louisiana and Latonya Desha Crayton of Dallas, Texas; two grandson, PVT. Samuel L. Harrison of Germany and Master Dedrian V. Craig of Amite, Louisiana: one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Willie Mae Harrison of Amite, Louisiana: one son-in-law, Mr. Terry Grayton of Dallas, Texas; four sisters, Mrs. Lela Washington, and Mrs. Bell H. Davenport of New Orleans,  Mrs. Mary H. Brown and Mrs. Alma Vernon of Amite, Louisiana; three brothers, Mr. Johnny S. Harrison, Sr. of Oakland, California: Mr. Nathaniel Harrison, Sr. of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Mr. Xavier Smith of Amite, Louisiana: one aunt, Mrs. Bertha Harrell of Chicago, Illnois, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

Source: The Funeral Program of Percy Harrison