Joshua and Ervin Vickers Family

Others researching this line:
Charline Sims, chs79@qzip.net

The History of Ervin Vickers Family

by Charline Sims

Chapter One

JOSHUA VICKERS

The history of the Ervin (Irvin) Vickers family will begin from Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama with the 1850 census records. As we trace the history of Ervin, it should be noted that on the census records from Alabama his name is spelled Irvin. It wasn't until the 1900 census record from Houston County, Texas that his name was spelled Ervin. He signed his name Ervin on several legal documents. Joshua Vickers, father of Irvin/Ervin Vickers, was born in 1826. I think his father was Jesse Vickers. According to the census records in 1830 there were six Vickers men living in Henry County. They were Jacob, Jesse, Joel, Samuel, Stephen and Young. In the 1840 census from Henry County Jesse Vickers was head of the household with three children. None of the other men were on the census records for that year. Jesse's three children were all sons and ranged in age from 5/10, 10/15, and 15/20. Joshua would have been 14 years old on this census record and would have put him in the 10/15 year old bracket.. On the 1850 census record, Jesse and his wife, Nicey (?), had three children ranging in age from sixteen to two. Nicey was born in 1810 and was 40 years old on this census. Sarah, daughter, was born in 1834. Younge, son, was born in 1844 and Edward C. was born in 1848. According to the 1850 census record, Joshua Vickers, the father of Ervin, was listed as a 24 year old farmer. From the Deeds Records book in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama, Jesse and Nicey Vickers sold some land to Joshua Vickers for $400 on October 28, 1850. The land described as West half of the Northwest quarter in Section 24, Township 8, Range 27 and also, Southwest fourth of Northeast fourth Section 23, Township 8, Range 27. Also, the Northwest quarter Section 23, Township 8, Range 27 at Sparta, Alabama. All lands lying South and East of Corfren (?) Creek of the above described lands taking the run of said creek up to Whitmore Price's spring branch and that shall be the dividing line, containing 150 acres. There was no one else listed in Joshua's household at this time. It is not known if he was living by himself farming his land.

Joshua Vickers was married to Mary Elizabeth Price, born November 25, 1832, on January 16, 1851 in Henry County. When the 1860 census was taken in Lawrenceville, (Precinct 11), Henry County, Alabama, he was listed as a 34 year old farmer and his wife, Mary, was a 27 year old housewife. There were four children listed in their household. Hatcher, 6, (b.1/22/1854), Irvin, 4, (b. 10/28/1856), Lacy, 2, (b. 1858), John, 1, (b. 1859). According to this census record, they had an estate valued at $1000 and personal property valued at $1445.

Ten years later on the 1870 census records Joshua and Mary were still living in Lawrenceville, Alabama and he was farming their land. But this census record does not list their daughter, Lacy, who would have been 12 years old nor their son, John, who would have been 11 years old. It is not known what happened to them. Their oldest son, Hatcher, and the second son, Irvin, were living at home with their parents. There were four more children in the family at this time. Sarah, 9, (b.1861), Susan, 6, (b.1864), Mary (Martha), 4, (b. 1866) and Amanda, 2, (b. 1868). According to a letter from Mary A. R. Dominy, in September, 1871, Amanda died after a short illness (fever). Mary mentioned in that letter to her brother, who was living in Pennington, Texas, that Joshua's daughter, Amanda, had died. So we know that Joshua was still alive at that time.

According to the next census record in 1880, Mary E. Price Vickers was listed as the head of the household. The exact date of Joshua's death is not known but it was between 1871 and 1880. In the household at this time were her daughters, Sarah, - 18, Susan, - 16 and Mary (Martha), -14. Her son, Irvin, had married Sarah Elender Price on December 20, 1878, in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama, and they had a 2 month old son, William Albert. They were living with his mother at this time so he could be of help with the farming.  Hatcher J. Vickers had married Phebia C. Fondren and they had a 1 year old daughter, Phebia. They had their own household and he was a farmer.

Living in Lawrenceville, Alabama, during the time the 1880 census was taken was the family of John Cooper and his wife, Martha. They had eight children: John, 17, Martha, 16, George, 14, Lucy, 12, Mary, 10, Nancy, 8, India, 4, and William Franklin, 2 years old. When this family came to Texas, Mary Price Vickers brought her family along. William Franklin Cooper later married Mary Jane Vickers, the daughter of Irvin Vickers and his second wife, Cinderella Ashworth.

The Thomas Fondren family was living in this same area during that time. Thomas and Elizabeth Fondren had five children: Amanda, 23, William, 18, Susan, 16, Phebia, 12, and James, 8 years old. This family also came to Texas but before they left Alabama, Hatcher Vickers married Phebia Catherine Fondren and they lived in Henry County, Alabama until his death.

Hatcher Vickers was a Deputy Sheriff in Lawrenceville, Alabama. He and his wife, Phebia, had five children. They were: daughter, Phebia (b.7/3/1879), son, William Joshua (b.8/24/1881, son, Ervin Thomas (b.10/3/1884), son, Robert Hatcher (b.8/27/1890), and daughter, Elizabeth-Lizzy (b. 4/l 3/1893).

Hatcher died on July 1, 1893, at the age of 41. He was a deputy sheriff transporting a prisoner to jail when he was shot by the prisoner with his own rifle. He was buried in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Alabama. This accident left Phebia a widow with five children to raise. The youngest child was only three months old.

Phebia Catherine Fondren Vickers, known as "Aunt Doll", came to Texas and settled in the Pennington, Houston County, Texas area. She purchased land and raised her family near the Vickers and Fondren families. Her oldest child, Phebia Jane, born July 3, 1879, was never married. Phebia Janes's son, Henry James Vickers, born March 11, 1908, in the Pennington area married Ruby Trawick and they had one daughter, Patricia Ann.  Henry James was killed in a car accident on September 12, 1964 at age 56 and was buried in the Pennington Cemetery. Phebia Jane died October 15, 1945 at age 66 and was buried in the Pennington Cemetery.

"Aunt Doll's" son, William Joshua (known as Will), born August 24, 1881, never married. He died of cancer November 3, 1943 at age 62 and was buried in the Pennington Cemetery. He always had a problem with asthma.

Her son, Ervin Thomas, born October 3, 1884, also never married. He died December 30, 1944 at age 60 and was buried in the Pennington Cemetery.

Her daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie), born November 29, 1888 was never married. She was the Postmaster in the Post Office in Pennington for many years. She died May 28, 1965 at the age of 77 and was buried at Pennington Cemetery.

Her son, Robert Hatcher Vickers, was born August 27, 1890. He married Margaret Viola Trawick, born December 10, 1892 and they had two daughters. Their daughter, Rosa Mae, born March 22, 1920, married Omie Kennedy. Rosa Mae and Omie had two children: Ronald Wymelle and Sharon Anita.

Robert Thatcher and Margaret Viola's other daughter was Lillie Belle, born January 17, 1917. She married Gay Wars and lived in Groveton, Texas. They had one son, Dennis Wars. Robert Thatcher Vickers died November 4, 1987 at age 97 and his wife, Margaret Viola Trawick Vickers died December 7, 1987 at age 95. They were buried in the Moore Cemetery in Trinity County. Phebie Catherine Fondren Vickers, who moved to Texas after her husband, Hatcher, was killled in Lawrenceville, Alabama and raised her five children, died on October 15, 1945 at age 87. She was buried in the Pennington Cemetery, in Trinity County.

The next son of Joshua and Mary Elizabeth Vickers was Irvin.

Chapter Two

THE ERVIN VICKERS STORY

The last census record listing the Vickers family in Alabama was in 1880. Since the 1890 census records were destroyed, it is difficult to get accurate information from 1880 and 1900. As we traced the history of Ervin, it was noted that on the census records from Alabama his name was spelled Irvin. It was not until the 1900 census record from Houston County, Texas that his name was spelled Ervin. He signed his name Ervin on several legal documents.

On October 28, 1856 in Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama, Irvin Vickers was born to Joshua Vickers and Mary Elizabeth Price.

Irvin Vickers married Sarah Elender Price on December 20, 1878 in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama at the home of her father. Her father, Burrel Price gave his permission "State of Alabama, Henry County. Honorable H.E. Owens, Judge of Court of Probate, you are hereby authorized to issue mariage license for my daughter, Sarah Elender Price, to marry Irvin Vickers and this will be your authority for same." It was the custom then for the groom to take the Marriage License Book from the courthouse to sign. He had to put up $200 for the book and when the book was returned he was given his money back. Irvin and Sarah Elender lived with his Mother, Mary Elizabeth, after they were married. On the 1880 census, Mary Elizabeth was listed as head of household with three daughters along with Irvin and Sarah Elender. The daughters were Sarah, 18, born 1862, Susan, 16, born 1864, Mary, 14, born 1866. On the 1880 census was listed a 1 month old son of Irvin and Sarah Elender. His name was William Albert and he was born on February 11, 1880. They were still living in Alabama when their son, Edward, was born on September 30, 1882. Sometime in the next few years, Sarah Elender Vickers died and was buried in Lawrenceville, Alabama. This tradgey left Irvin with two small sons to raise.

Mary Elizabeth Price Vickers never married again after the death of her husband, Joshua. She lost her son, Hatcher, on July 1, 1893 at the age of 41 in a tragic accident. Her daughter-in-law, Sarah Elender, died (probably during childbirth -- I do not know this for sure) sometime between 1882 and 1886. So when they left Alabama to come to Texas, Mary Elizabeth and Irvin with his two small children made the trip together. With them was Hatcher's wife, Phebe, (known as "Aunt Doll") and their five children.

Making the trip to Texas with the Vickers family were the Coopers, Dominys, Fondrens, and Prices. At least they were living in Alabama at the same time and they came to Texas about the same time. The Dominys and Fondrens had family in the Pennington, Houston County, Texas area already. They corresponded with the Texas group and the letters have been saved. The letters have been restored by Vivian Cates when they were found by someone in the Dominy family after the people who wrote the letters had died. The letters were very interesting and described the living conditions during that time. (That would be another story). After Ervin settled in Houston County, Texas, he married Cinderella Ashworth on May 15, 1889 in Groveton, Trinity County, Texas. She was the daughter of William and Adeline Ashworth from the Groveton area. On October 1, 1889, Cinderella inherited forty acres of land from the inheritance of her father, William, who had died. There were 160 acres of land that was divided between the children: W J and Harriet Ashworth Trawick, Ervin and Cinderella Ashworth Vickers, Elvin and Julia Ashworth Keels, V. A. Ashworth, Sarra Ashworth, Ruben and Almarinda Keels. According to the Deed Records (Deed 23) at the Houston County Courthouse, Ervin and Cinderella sold forty acres to W J Mangum on May 1, 1896 for eighty dollars.

Ervin and Cinderella had seven children (five boys and two girls). They lived most of their married life in and around the Kennard area. Their first child was Mary Jane Vickers - born in 1890. She married William Franklin Cooper when she was 14 years old and her school records are not available.

According to the Texas School Records at the Crockett Courthouse, during the school year of 1905 for Lake Creek school, the following children of Ervin and Cinderella were listed: William Robert (Rob) - 12, Andrew Jackson (Jack) - 9, Jesse Thomas - 7. Also living in the household and attending school were: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Vickers - 16, and Robert H Vickers. They were the children of Ervin's brother, Hatcher, and his wife Phebia. This brother was killed while in Alabama and his widow brought the children to Texas with the rest of the Vickers family.

During the 1906 school year still attending the Lake Creek school were: Rob - 13, Jack - 10, Jesse - 8, and nephew, Robert H - 15. We can see by this record that Lizzie was not attending school. The next school year, 1907, the Ervin Vickers family had moved to the Kennard City school district and had transferred from Lake Creek School. Attending this school were: Rob - 14, Jack - 11, Jesse - 9. The nephew Robert H. was not listed on this year's school roll. The school records for 1908, 1909, 1910 were not available but the 1911 records place the Vickers children in the Center Ridge School District. Attending were: Jack - 15 (he transferred to the Kennard City District), Jesse - 13, James Ervin - 11, Lela Belle - 9, and Curtis Lee - 7. Lela Belle started school in 1908 and Curtis Lee in 1910. In the school year of 1912 they were still in the Center Ridge School. Attending were: Jack - 16, Jesse - 14, James - 11, Lela Belle - 10, Curtis Lee -8.

In 1920, Lela Belle Vickers graduated from Kennard High School. Her high school diploma was signed by H. C. Hill, Principal of the High School, J. H. Rosser, Superintendent of Public School, J. C. Merriwether, President Board of Education and W. F. Cooper, Secretary Board of Education.

On October 1, 1911, the Deed Records (Deed 73) at the Crockett Courthouse show Ervin and Cinderella sold a parcel of land to Ben Jackson for $1,000 to be paid at $250 each year until 1913. This land was situated in Houston County, Texas about 13 miles Southeast of the City of Crockett.

After their children married and moved away, they moved to the old Dr Sherman Place near Ratcliff, Texas. The only one still living with them was their son, James Ervin, (nickname - Fish). During World War II he moved to Beaumont and worked in the shipyards.

Ervin died September 7, 1943 in Kennard and was buried in the Corinth Cemetery. He was 87 years old. After his death, Cinderella moved into the home of her daughter, Mary Jane Cooper, in Houston, Texas. She lived there many years. Then she came back to Crockett to live with her other daughter, Lela Belle Harkins. She died in her sleep on December 21, 1957 and was buried beside Ervin in the Corinth Cemetery in Kennard, Texas. She was 91 years old.

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1 Joshua Vickers 1826 - Aft 1873
. .+Mary Elizabeth Price 1832 - 1917
. .2 Hatcher J. Vickers 1852 - 1893
. . . +Phebia Catherine Fondren 1858 - 1945
. . . . 3 Phebia Jane Vickers 1879 - 1945
. . . . . .4 Henry Vickers 1908 -
. . . . 3 William Joshua Vickers 1881 - 1943
. . . . . .4 none
. . . . 3 Ervin Thomas Vickers 1884 - 1944
. . . . . .4 none
. . . . 3 Robert Thatcher Vickers 1890 -
. . . . 3 Callie Maude Vickers 1893 -
. . . . 3 Mary Elizabeth Vickers 1988 - 1965
. . . . . .4 none
. .2 Ervin Vickers 1856 - 1943
. . . +Sarah Elender Price Unknown - Unknown
. . . . 3 William Albert Vickers 1880 - 1923
. . . . . .+Dora Price 1885 - 1954
. . . . . .4 Cora Belle Vickers 1902 -
. . . . . .4 Lena Pearl Vickers 1904 -
. . . . . .4 Ervin Guston Vickers 1907 -
. . . . . .4 William Price Vickers 1914 -
. . . . 3 Edward Garner Vickers 1881 - 1966
. . . . . .+Maudie A Foster 1884 - 1966
. . . . . .4 Eva Vickers 1900 -
. . . . . . . +Bob Livington Unknown - Unknown
. . . . . . . .5 Dorothy Livingston
. . . . . . . .5 Louise Livingston
. . . . . . . .5 Evelyn Livingston
. . . . . . . .5 Jimmy Livingston
. . . . . .4 Robert Edward Vickers 1903 - 1966
. . . . . . . +Erma Lee Hager 1913 - 1994
. . . . . . . .5 David Vickers 1946 -
. . . . . . . .5 Shermie Lou Vickers 1934 -
. . . . . . . . . +Jerry Robinson 1935 -
. . . . . . . . . 6 Sheri-lyn Robinson 1956 -
. . . . . . . . . 6 Denese Robinson 1961 -
. . . . . . . . . 6 Bradley Vickers Robinson 1962 -
. . . . . . . . . 6 Leigh Robinson 1963 -
. . . . . .4 Velma Vickers 1908 -
. . . . . . . +Estell Pryor
. . . . . . . 5 James Edward Vickers
. . . . . .4 Mildred Curtis (Pete) Vickers 1915 - 1996
. . . . . . . +Opal Goodman
. .*2nd Wife of Ervin Vickers:
. . . +Cinderella Ashworth 1866 - 1957
. . . . 3 Mary Jane Vickers 1890 - 1977
. . . . . .+William Franklin Cooper 1884 - 1941
. . . . . .4 Lee Cooper 1905 -
. . . . . .4 Baby Girl Cooper 1906 -
. . . . . .4 Clarence Cooper 1907 - 1969
. . . . . . . +Willie Pearl Troutman
. . . . . . . 5 Bobble Jean Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Jessie Frank Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Donnice Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Annelle Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Jerry Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Judy Cooper
. . . . . . . 5 Anita Cooper
. . . . . .4 Frankie Cooper 1912 -
. . . . . .4 Vemie Mae Cooper 1910 -
. . . . . .4 Muzette Marie Cooper 1915 -
. . . . . .4 Lloyd Jaines Cooper 1917 -
. . . . . .4 Ruth Cooper 1919 -
. . . . . .4 Ernest Cooper 1921 -
. . . . . .4 Lora Cooper 1923 -
. . . . . .4 Ruby Cooper 1929 -
. . . . 3 William Robert Vickers 1892 - 1974
. . . . . .+Lillie Myrtle Julian 1897 - 1947
. . . . . .4 Gladys Irene Vickers 1917
. . . . . . . +John Stant Moore 1923 - 1990
. . . . . . . 5 none
. . . . . .4 Robbie Maxine Vickers 1927 -
. . . . . . . +Glenn Bradley Westbrook 1927 -
. . . . . . . 5 Janis Westbrook
. . . . . . . 5 Regina Westbrook
. . . . . . . 5 Steven Westbrook
. . . . . .4 Glynn Julian Vickers 1930
. . . . . . . +Rona Ann Drummond 1934 -
. . . . . . . 5 Gregg Vickers
. . . . . .4 Donald Franklin Vickers 1933 -
. . . . . . . +Patricia Ann Gray 1941 -
. . . . . . . 5 Donald Franklin Vickers, Jr.
. . . . . . . 5 Ronald Lee Vickers
. . . . . . . 5 Robbin Vickers
. . . . 3 Andrew Jackson Vickers 1896 - 1986
. . . . . .+Maybelle Morgan 1896 - 1993
. . . . . .4 Andrew Jackson Vickers, Jr. 1922 -
. . . . . .4 Irene Vickers
. . . . 3 Jessie Thomas Vickers 1897
. . . . 3 James Ervin Vickers 1900 - 1969
. . . . . .+Alta Mae Ainsworth
. . . . . . .4 None
. . . . 3 Lela Belle Vickers 1902 - 1977
. . . . . .+John Thomas Harkins 1901 - 1971
. . . . . .4 Eris Anita Harkins 1923
. . . . . . . +James Everett Morgan 1923 - 1993
. . . . . . . 5 James Everett Morgan, Jr 1942 -
. . . . . . . . .+Angela Litchfield
. . . . . . . . .6 Rebecca Leilani Morgan
. . . . . . . . .6 Marica Morgan
. . . . . . . 5 Robert Larry Morgan 1948 -
. . . . . . . 5 Marilyn Anita Morgan 1952 -
. . . . . . .*2nd Husband of Eris Anita Harkins:
. . . . . . . +Wayne (Happy) Haskins 1914 - 1995
. . . . . .4 Lois Charline Harkins 1924 -
. . . . . . . +Kenneth Culberson Sims 1923 -
. . . . . . . 5 Kenneth Charles Sims 1942 -
. . . . . . . . +Patricia Kathleen Cole 1945 -
. . . . . . . . 6 Kenneth Charles Sims, Jr. 1962 -
. . . . . . . . 6 William David Sims 1964 -
. . . . . . . . . .+Joanne
. . . . . . . . . . 7 Joshua Sims
. . . . . . . . . . 7 Delinda Sims
. . . . . . . .*2nd Wife of Kenneth Charles Sims:
. . . . . . . . +Linda Smith McKenzie 1948 -
. . . . . . . . 6 Kay Lynn McKenzie 1965
. . . . . . . . 6 Donald Haney McKenzie 1961
. . . . . . .5 Thomas Martin Sims 1945 -
. . . . . . . . +Janice Ann Willingham 1946
. . . . . . . . 6 Justin Thomas Sims 1970 -
. . . . . . . . . .+Pricilla Bias
. . . . . . . . . .7 Cody Sims 1994
. . . . . . . . 6 Tiffany Jana Sims 1976 -
. . . . 3 Curtis Lee Vickers 1904 - 1970
. . . . . .+Wylie Tabitha Harkins 1905 - 1994
. . . . . .4 Geraldine Vickers 1924 -
. . . . . .4 Mary Lee Vickers 1926 -
. . . . . .4 John Ervin Vickers 1931 -
. . . . . .4 Smith Allen Vickers 1935 -
. . . . . .4 Charles Edward Vickers 1936 -
. . . . . .4 Jeanette Vickers 1939 -
. . . . . .4 Patricia Vickers 1943 -
. . . . . .4 Cynthia Jo Vickers 1945 -
. .2 Lacy Vickers 1858 -
. .2 John Vickers 1859 -
. .2 Sarah Vickers 1861 -
. .2 Susan (Susie) Vickers 1862 -
. .2 Mary (Martha) Vickers 1866 -
. .2 Amanda Vickers 1868 - 1872

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Kelly G. Vickers, 50 Trembly Bald Drive, Toccoa, GA 30577

Phone (706) 886-0012    Email   kvickers@tfc.edu