Mary Elizabeth Ellis (Spivey)

Information from Rosalie Angel:

Mary Elizabeth Ellis nee Spivey:

• Born April 8, 1855 at 7-1/2 am, clear morning, in Dardanelle, Arkansas.
• Died January 7, 1942 in Independence Kansas.
• Married September 14, 1876 Unknown location.

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From the United States Census, 1870 for Mary E. Spivey, in the household of William D Jaunay:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNCJ-T9X

name: Mary E Spivey

• estimated birth year: 1855
• gender: Female
• age in 1870: 15y
• color (white, black, mulatto, chinese, indian): White
• birthplace: Arkansas
• home in 1870: Arkansas, United States

	Household	Gender	Age	Birthplace

*William D Jaunay M 35y Tennessee

• Elizabeth Jaunay F 32y Tennessee
• 1. Walter D Jaunay M 10y Arkansas
• 2. Bennie Jaunay M 7y Arkansas
• 3. Martha J Jaunay F 6y Texas
• 4. Elizabeth D Jaunay F 4y Arkansas
• 5. William D Jaunay M 2y Arkansas
• Mary E Spivey F 15y Arkansas

The other two surviving orphaned children, Henry Speight and Martha Jane, were living with their grandmother, Mary Park Parks, during this census. Likely, Mary Elizabeth was a servant to the home of William Jaunay (Jacoway), a family that had three boys and two girls of its own.

From the United States Census, 1880 for Mary Ellis: https://beta.familysearch.org/s/recordDetails/show?uri=http://pilot...

Name Mary Ellis

• Residence Illinois, Washington, Arkansas
• Birthdate 1856
• Birthplace Arkansas, United States
• Relationship to Head Wife

Spouse's Name Alexander Ellis

• Spouse's Birthplace Missouri, United States

Father's Birthplace North Carolina, United States

Mother's Birthplace North Carolina, United States

Race or Color (Expanded) White

• Ethnicity (Standardized) American
• Gender Female
• Martial Status Married
• Age (Expanded) 24 years
• Occupation Keeping House

NARA Film Number T9-0058

• Page 479
• Page Character A
• Entry Number 524
• Film number 1254058

Spouse Alexander Ellis M 25

• Mary Ellis F 24
• 1. Child William Ellis M 2
• 2. Child Catherine Ellis F 7M

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From the United States Census, 1900 for Marey F Ellis (obviously the name is an error by the census taker - all the other information corresponds with this family): https://beta.familysearch.org/s/recordDetails/show?uri=http://pilot...

Name Marey F Ellis

• Residence Township 24 N. Range 15 E., Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory
• Birth Date Apr 1855
• Birthplace Arkansas
• Relationship to Head-of-Household Wife

Spouse Name Alexander Ellis

• Spouse Birth Place Missouri

Father Birthplace North Carolina

Mother Birthplace Kentucky

Race or Color (expanded) White

• Head-of-household Name Alexander Ellis
• Gender Female
• Marital Status Married
• Years Married 23
• Estimated Marriage Year 1877
• Mother How Many Children 4
• Number Living Children 3

Enumeration District 0021

• Sheet Number and Letter 11A
• Household ID 204
• Reference Number 43
• GSU Film Number 1241844
• Image Number 00318

Spouse Alexander Ellis M

• Marey F Ellis F
• 1. Child Kate Ellis F
• 2. Child Lillie Ellis F
• 3. Child Joe Ellis M
• Edgar Pleas M

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The photo was taken in 1910 (age 55, Negative #001827, found at http://www.rogersarkansas.com/Museum/photo/studyclub.htm). It was featured in a description of the Mas Luz Reading Club (which means in English "More Light" - a name that was perhaps inspired by Freemasonry), which Kate took part in. From the book "Rogers: The Town the Frisco Built":

http://books.google.com/books?id=dUSeR9OZGSYC&pg=PA73&lpg=P...

Women continued to enthusiastically support education in Rogers. In 1902, the Mas Luz Club changed its name to the Women's Study Club, and in (June) 1904 it created a library for the town from funds raised through various benefits. For a fee of $1.50 per year, a person could obtain checkout privileges for the library's 450 books. The library was housed over a period of time in several buildings, including private homes, the second floor of City Hall, and the Post Office building on Second and Poplar Streets. Much later, in 1933, the club would officially turn the library over to the "tender mercies" of the city with the recommendation that a librarian be hired for $10 a month.

(The museum photo caption says that the study club also contributed to the public schools and organized adult education classes.)