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Lillian Arenda Brown 9/8/1896-3/30/1957

 

Jess E. Stevens and Lillian A. Brown were married on Dec. 5, 1912 in Limestone Co. TX. by N. B. Sikes a minister of the Gospel. Lillie died in 1957 but Jess Stevens whereabouts is still unknown to our family. Lillie divorced Jess when my grandmother was just a young girl.

Minnie Ola Stevens was born in Groesbeck, Limestone Co. Texas. She has one sister Mildred Stevens Cobb who is still living in a nursing home in Groesbeck and several half siblings who live in central Texas. Their mother Lillian Arenda Brown is buried at the Fort Parker Cemetery with her last husband George Rumulus Sanders. Lillian's parents were Robert Price Brown and Ella D. Mayo. She had a brother who was in WW1 and is buried along with his father just outside the fence at Ferguson Cem. in Limestone Co. TX. The graves are unmarked and at the moment no one in the family knows the location to put a gravestone. Robert Price Brown's mothers name was Penina. I don't know her maiden name or where she was from. Ella Mayo Brown is buried close to Old Union but I'm not sure of her gravesite either.

Minnie Ola Stevens never knew much about her father because he was sent to jail when she was very young. She always looked for him and wondered what became of him. She told me he liked to tinker with cars and thought he may have been a mechanic. Whenever we drove by a garage she would look to see if the mechanic looked familar. Minnie Ola Stevens Frazier died of cancer in 1975 in Beaumont TX.

My great grandfather, Jess E. Stevens was the son of Edd and Anne Stevens. It is said that Edd's real name was Power or McPowers. Edd and his twin brother were born at sea in April of 1854. He had changed his name for fear of being deported after jumping ship in the Boston Habor! He told his children that he had a twin brother and they were living in London going to school while their parents where in the shipping business. The family was from Dublin,Ireland. At about age 12 the boys became orphaned when the parents ship wrecked and they were lost at sea. They returned to Ireland where the twins had a disagreement at age 16. That is when Edd came to America and his brother stayed in Ireland. After jumping ship he lived with a family in New York by the last name of Stevens.

Mr. Stevens was a bricklayer and taught him the trade. Edd took the Stevens name. After a few years in the Navy, he came to Texas with another man to become cattle ranchers. He told his sons the story of coming home one night and being bushwacked. Said he was hit in the face with a boot and when he came to all of the cattle were gone. He had a very crooked nose and claims that was the result of the boot! He lived in Dallas during the 1880's working as a bricklayer. He may have even been married while in Dallas.

After the family moved to Limestone County outside Groesbeck, Edd would still travel back to Dallas to lay brick During the 1890's - 1920's, he would work for awhile and then return. Went he died in his 70's he was laying brick and fell over dead with a heart attack. When he wasn't working he was a real drinker. He was very good friends with a Jewish man in Groesbeck and when Edd would paint the town red and end up in the county jail his friend would go post his bail and send for Jess to bring the wagon and fetch his father home. Edd and Anne were divorced and Edd remarried. Edd had four children Jess, Tom, Jeff and Kathleen. Evidently Jess took up his father Edd's ways because he was a wanderer. He never stayed in one place very long after the divorce from Lillian. Most of this info came from an audio tape made by Jess' brother Tom before his death in 1987. Even he didn't know where his brother Jess ended up.

Jess and Lillie married in 1912 had a daughter in 1914 and another in 1916. They divorced and both also remarried. Lillie to a R.L. Moody which only lasted a short time and she married George R. Sanders in 1922. Jess remarried a Kate Moody ( kin to R.L.Moody?) only to divorce and marry again. He had three more children by this third marriage. I would like to find these children and the burial place of Jess Stevens.

My grandmother always wanted to find her father. She asked her uncle, Jeff Stevens, that lived in Groesbeck but he told her she was better off not knowing. Jeff Stevens lived a long life in the Groesbeck area and died in the late 1980's. Jess Stevens had another brother possibly Tom who moved to Shreveport, LA and a sister named Kathleen who lived in Navarro Co. near Streetman. They may have been kin to the McGee family of Richland, Navarro Co. TX. As Minnie Ola was visiting her father's family Rita McGee when she met and married my grandfather J.A. Frazier in Corsicana.

Minnie Ola's mother Lillie had several more children with Mr. George R. Sanders. He was a tenant farmer in the Limestone Co. area near Oletha. I am sure they lived in other areas of the county too. I do know that they lived in a small community called Box Church just east of Groesbeck, Texas at one time. Lillie and George Sanders had two sons and several daughters: Thomas, William, Alice, Lucille, Ella Pearl, Edith Ione, Georgie Ruth, and Nona Faye.

Minnie Ola STEVENS
Birth: 24 Aug 1914, Groesbeck , Limestone County, TX
Death: 15 Apr 1975, Beaumont, Jefferson County, TX
Father:Jess E. STEVENS
Mother: Lillian Arenda BROWN b. Sept.1896

Married: John Alfred FRAZIER Navarro Co.TX

Children of John Frazier and Minnie Ola Stevens:

Alta Rea FRAZIER(1934-) 7 children 11 grandchildren 8 great-grandchildren

James Alfred FRAZIER(1936-) 7 children 7 grandchildren 2 great-grandchildren

Joyce Elaine FRAZIER(1937-) 3 children 2 grandchildren

Alta Rea FRAZIER*
----------------------------------------
Birth: 1934, Corsicana TX
Spouse: James Earl CRAIN
Father: Henry CRAIN
Mother: Emma HIGGINBOTHEM
Marr: 1951, Houston, TX
Children:
Patricia Ann CRAIN children: 3 sons 1 daughter 5grandchildren
Barbara Lynn CRAIN children: 1daughter 1 son 1grandchild
Cynthia Joyce CRAIN children: 1 daughter 1 son
John Murray CRAIN children: 1 daughter

Alta Rea FRAZIER* (See above)
----------------------------------------
Spouse: W.B. Morse
Birth:Webster Parish, LA
Death: Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Children:
Kendal Ray MORSE (twin)
Kimberly Rea MORSE (twin)
Darla Kay MORSE children: two daughters

 

1.6.2a James Alfred FRAZIER*
  ----------------------------------------
  Born 13 May 1936
  Place Corsicana, Navarro Co. TX 
  Married 1954 (Div)1962 Re-Married 1963(Div)
  Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co.TX
  Marriage No. 1 & 2 Divorced
  Edna Mae JONES
  Born: 1936 
  Place: TX

  Children of James and Edna Mae:
 James  Buchaan FRAZIER
   Born: 15 Jul 1957 
   Place: Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
   Married: 1978 (Div)
   Place: Beaumont,Jefferson Co. TX
   Wife: Mandy King
   Children:
   Holly Gail FRAZIER
   Born 9 May 1979
   Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
   Children: Two children unknown names
   Brittney FRAZIER 
   Born 1982
   Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co.TX            

Jamie Anne FRAZIER
Born 7 Jan 1960
Place Beaumont, JeffersonCo. TX
Spouse: Bobby L. Parker div.
Spouse: James Young
Children:
Steve Parker
Born 1982
Place TX
Jerrod Parker Born 1983
Place TX

Steven Keith FRAZIER
Born 1962
Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Children: none

John Alfred FRAZIER III
Born 24 Jun 1964
Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Children: none

_________________________________________

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Married 25 Apr 1969 (Div)
Place HARDIN CO. TX
Marriage No.3 Divorced
JUANITA L BIRMINGTHAM
Children: none

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Marriage No.4 Divorced
DIANA S GRAHAM
Children
Rusty FRAZIER
Born1972?
Place TX

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Marriage No.5 Divorced
JOANN KING
Born 1948
Children
April Ladonna FRAZIER
Born 28 Apr 1976
PlaceTX Children: Two children unknown names

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Marriage No.6 Divorced
JOYCE L KENNEDY
Born 1948
Children
Jenny Lenelle FRAZIER
Born Apr 1980
Place TX
Children: One child unknown name

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Marriage No.7 Divorced
Polly WARREN
Leon Co. TX
Children: none

James Alfred FRAZIER* (See above)
Marriage No.8 Current

Violet (unknown)
March 13,2004
Leon Co. TX
Children: none

__________________________________________

Joyce Elaine FRAZIER
----------------------------------------
Born 1937
Place Gregg Co. TX
Spouse: Hershel Bolton d. 1963
Children:

Hershel Darwin BOLTON
Born1957
Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Spouse: Cindy MILLS
Children: Ashley BOLTON

Terry BOLTON
Born 1958
Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Spouse: Brent K. Barnes (div.)
Children: Justin BARNES

Lisa BOLTON
Born 1959
Place Beaumont, Jefferson Co. TX
Children: none

---

 

Mildred Stevens Castalow Cobb
Parents: J.E. Stevens, Lillian Arenda Brown b. 9/8/1896 d.3/30/1957  
Born: abt. 1917 (living)
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse: ? Castalow
Children:
Kenneth Earl Castalow
Shirley Castalow (twin)
Ernest Castalow (twin)

Lucille Sanders
Parents: George R. Sanders b.12/27/1887-d. 9/11/1969
 Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born:
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse:
Children:
Willford George 
Son Unknown
Daughter Unknown

Alice  Sanders Petty
Parents:George Romulus Sanders, Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse: Robert Q. (Doc) Petty
Children:
 Alice Elaine Petty
 Douglas Petty
 Gayle  Petty
 Gary Petty
 Kirk Petty
 
Thomas (Tonky) Sanders
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse:(div.)
Children: none

Ella Pearl Sanders
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: April 1934 (died 1999)
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse:unknown (div.)
Children: 4
James Milton
Beth


Edith Ione Sanders Wynn
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 5-28-1937 
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse:Billy Tom Wynn
Children: 3
son Wynn
son Wynn
Trudy Wynn

Georgie Ruth Sanders
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillian Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 5-6-1927  
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse: L.D. Rutledge (div.)
Children:3
Patricia Rutledge
Barbara Rutledge
Sylvia Rutledge (died)

William George Sanders
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillie Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 12-20-1929  Died 10-09-2001
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse: Deloris Magness
Children: 5
Beverly Sanders
Judy Sanders
Mary Sanders
Doyle Sanders
Peggy Sanders

Nona Faye Sanders
Parents: George Romulus Sanders, Lillie Arenda Brown Stevens Sanders
Born: 	7-30-1941 
Place: Limestone Co. TX
Spouse:   Kelly Kruger
Children: 2
daughter Kruger
daughter Kruger

The Sanders lived in several places in Limestone County as he was a tenant farmer. My Grandmother, Minnie Ola used to tell me about picking cotton and working on the farm. Being the eldest child she was already married by the time some of the children were born. Granddaddy (George) Sanders always called my Grandmother by the nickname "Jack", I never knew why. Sometimes I wondered if it was because she was as stubborn as a mule because when she set her mind to do something she always did it! Then again maybe it was because she worked like a mule.

I remember my grandmother working all day every day. She had a certain day to do her household chores whether they needed it or not. She always the laundry on Mondays and ironing on Tuesdays. She would stand at the ironing board and watch her favorite TV show "The Guiding Light" while humming a song. Now Fridays were her days to go to the beauty shop, buy groceries, and run errands. She always hummed while she worked. Always smiling and enjoying her chores.

Grandmother (Minnie Ola) made many trips around the country in the late 50's and 60's driving her "Titty Pink" Caddie and always brought back the best souvenirs. One time after a trip to South Florida she brought back an alligator! Kept it in the bathtub until she realized how mean and big they got! She even went to see Carlsbad Caverns and brought us all back a tee-shirt.

I am so glad she enjoyed her final years and didn't have to work as hard. She suffered greatly from what we now know was colon cancer. The doctors never would tell her exactly what was wrong but she knew. She told me in 1971 that would be her last trip to Florida and even then she flew on a plane instead of driving. I'm just sorry she didn't get to know all her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren because she took such joy out of each minute of time spent with her grandchildren!

Granny Sanders (Lillie) went to live with Minnie Ola in Beaumont when Granny got so sick with cancer also. She said she had never been out of the state of Texas so my grandparents took her on a car trip to New Orleans. That was the first and last time she left Texas. That trip made her so happy and she loved seeing New Orleans!

 

Granny Sanders (Lillie) died at my grandmother's home on Ave B in Beaumont, TX. I still remember that and I held her hand and told her good-bye before she died. I was only 5 or almost 6 at the time but I remember it well. She was so sweet to me even when she was very sick. I remember visiting them on the farm before Granny got sick. Grandaddy Sanders tried to get me to drink goat milk. I thought that was just disgusting but my little sister loved it! And Granny always kept a pan of biscuts on the stove which we would eat with honey and butter if they had it.

 

You can read more on this family and see the photos of my grandmother and mother at: www.granmommie.org

If you have any comments or information on this family please email me at the link below. Please sign my guestbook if you like and be sure to leave the surnames you are researching. I would like to thank Kelly Kruger for all his help without which I could never have found alot of info on the Stevens family.

 

 

This page is dedicated to my Grandmother Minnie Ola Stevens Frazier and her quest to find out what happened to her father. See her photos. Click Here