The Stanmore family history, part 1

The Stanmore family roots extend directly to Africa through genetic ties of our African Fore-parents who were brought to the Convention Prohibition of importing slaves, January 1808. The earliest account of the family ancestors is that of Steven and Emily Boatwright, Columbus, South Carolina.

Obviously Emily was a bright child as her slave master, Boatwright, took her from her mother at the age of eight to be trained in the big house for servitude and nursemaid purposes. Emily’s new adventure ended all communication between her and her mother. She never saw her mother again. In all probability finily1s mother was sold to another slave owner. Emily did her chores well. In later years she boasted to her grandchildren that she “never got a whipping”.

At the early age of thirteen Boatwright married Emily to another slave, Steven. This ceremony was conducted by having Emily and Steven hold hands and jump over a broom handle. Steven was most likely eighteen to twenty years of age. Emily and Steven began their role of family life with great uncertainties of a future together, and even less of rearing a family to maturity. Emily was afraid to dream of putting into practice the many skills of caring for a family that she had learned in the “big house”. Their log cabin with its drab Halls and simple furnishing was all that they were sure of. It was not unusual for Emily to join other slave women in breast feeding babies whose mothers kept long hours in the fields.

An old national controversy on the slavery question had reached a crucial stage. The father Boatwright encourages his son to leave with the slaves that were to go. A caravan was formed and the move turned out to be a two year journey. Sickness and death and many other hardships ware encountered before reaching their destination.

Boatwright bought a farm and organized his properties near Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1861 war was declared between the North and South. The war was fought in the South and great destruction was throughout. Snily and Steven survived the war, but the financipa-tion Proclamation in 1862 brought them and other hundreds of thousands of slaves to a startling question....How to survive? Many slaves were kept until after crops were cultivated in July 1863.

The first thing Steven did was to exercise his rights to choose a name for himself. His choice was elegant and full of stamina. He announced to Sinily and the children their name shall be henceforth “STANMCRE”. For well over a century the name has reflected inherent power through the character of Steven’s children. Emily and Steven were the parents of 20 children.

It was about this time that Steven left home and went to Texas. After all of Emily’s children were adults and were going their separate ways, she began to weaken. She became less capable of supporting and caring for herself and her youngest child, Cleveland, who was born with a handicap. Levi, Emily’s son, moved his mother and younger brother to Cass County in Queen City, Texas.

Levi had longed to bring his parents together again. He had never been satisfied with their slave code marriage. He visited his father in Marshall, Texas and persuaded him to move to Queen City. The same day that Steven arrived in Queen City, he and Emily were married in a Civil Ceremony. They enjoyed their own private home near Levi and his family.

Emily and Steven lived to be near 100 years of age. Their reunion added much dignity and stamina to the Stanmore legend. Steven could not read nor write but possessed a great ability for memorizing. He could recite long passages of the Bible verbatim and tried to weave the meanings into his daily living, Emily lovad to sing and often voiced her prayers aloud. She was a devout Christian and shouted her praises of love for Jesus Christ daily, —by Florence Stanmore LEVI AND ROSIE STANMORE 786 Lev! Stanmore, one of Emily and Steven Stanmore1s younger and most aggressive sons eventually left homo seeking work. He became a cook for a railroad company extra gang and a part of his responsibility was to shop for food. He bought vegetables from Elizabeth Johnson. Rosie’s aunt. Later Rosie became Levi’ s bride. Levi was the father of three children when he met Rosie. During their marriage they became the parents of 16 children.

Levi and his family lived on and cultivated a rented farm. This property is commonly known as the Hudson Farm. Rosie’s mother died when she was a very young child and she was reared by her mother’s relatives.

Julia was the daughter of Winnie Haskins Nelson and Charles Nelson, the sister of Rosie Haskins Stanmore, (mother of Levi and Rosie Stanmore’s children). Julia was born in Blossom, Texas on August 26, 1898. After the death of her mother all the Haskins children were raised by Levi and Elizabeth Johnson. The family moved to Oklahoma before statehood. They claimed Rosie as their own daughter and were called Other Mama and Other Papa by all the Stanmore children. There was only one brother, Henry Haskins. He and his wife Nanie have three living children, Rissle M. Hammond, Gladys H. Howard and Robbie C. H. Slocum, all are daughters of Henry Haskins. Minnie, Rose and Mlttie were sisters to Henry Haskins. Mittie Taylor had only one child, Elizabeth Taylor Knight, who retired from the Telephone Company and now resides in Los Angeles, Calif. Julia Overton, Rose Hardway and Elizabeth Knight are the only neices of Rosie Haskins alive. Rosie and Julia live in Bakersfield, California. All of her life, Julia has been fond of children. Although she had no children of her own, Julia helped to raise and care for 14 children.

In 1925, sadness and grief came to Levi and his children at the death of Rosie, Rosie was in her mid-forties when she was laid to rest in the Queen City Cemetery. This called for a great adjustment in the family. Allene, the oldest daughter curbed her education to keep house and rear her younger sisters and brothers. Levi bought a 160 acre farm and built a nine room house on it. Levi was moving on in age and his older sons aided him in finalizing the purchase.

In the new home, the Stanmore family became great farmers. They enjoyed the fruits of their efforts as abundance of cotton f corn, potatoes, peanuts and a great variety of vegetables, poultry, cows, hogs, etc, were all produced on their farm. There was a syrup mill and a fruit orchard. Levi planned and provided well for his family.

All the Stanmore children attended the local schools and upon graduation pursued their own unique vocation, exercising special learned skills and professions. Levi was a great promoter of education and was highly skilled and self made educated.

Levi was an ordained deacon and served as Chairman of the Deacon Board at Oak Grove Baptist Church for years. He served on the local Board of Education and all teachers hired for the Black school in Queen City were approved by him. He was a great family man and wanted all children of his blood counted.

All of Levi and Rosie’s children were born in Queen City, Texas. At the time of his death he was married to Julie Lee Webster of Queen City, who still resides there. Levi was laid to rest in the Queen City Cemetery July 19^2. —by Florence Stanmore LEVI STANMORE 78? Levi, the oldest child of Levi and Rosie Stanmore, was born April 7> 1900. At a very early age he became a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church. It was at the Oak Grove Baptist Church where he was ordained as a minister. Levi’s greatest interest was for a higher education. He attended public school in Queen City and then on to Bishop College in Marshall, Texas. He worked as a cook at night and the early morning while at Bishop College. Levi had time for sport so he played football and earned a scholarship. While attending Bishop College he met and married Beverly McNeal of Marshall. To this union five children were born. They are: Levi, Jr. (who died at 6 or 9 months), Rosie Lee, Mary Ellen, Willis Levi and Callie Faye.

After Levi graduated from Bishop College, he still wanted a higher education. He attended Howard University in Washington, D. C. There he graduated with a PhD in in Theology.

Beverly became ill at the early age of 33 in Marshall, Texas where she died. Levi enlisted in the Army as a chaplain. Because of his educational background, he was a 1st Lieutenant, stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He served overseas in the Philippine Islands. He was discharged from the Army with honor as the first black Captain. Levi returned to Texas where he taught at Butler College, Tyler, Texas. In later years he married Thelma Prater Woodard, a school teacher from Beaumont, Texas, Levi died in January 1953

an^ was buried in Beaumont. —by Florence Stanmore mtt.t.tr STANMORE 788 Willie, the second child of Levi and Rosie Stanmore, was born August 11, 1902. He grew up on his father’s farm and was educated during his early years in Queen City and Atlanta, Texas. Willis was baptized at the age of eleven at Oak Grove Baptist Church. In the fall of 19ZO, he went to Little Rock. Arkansas and finished high school at Philander Smith College in 1925. When his mother (Rosie) passed away in 1925, he decided to return to assist his father with the younger sisters and brothers.

Willie studied for two years at Bishop College and returned to Arkansas where he betrame an agent for the Universal Life Insurance Company at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He also accepted a contract with John C. Claybrook as a farm agent and managed his farm for two years.

On December 28, 1929, Willie married Lil-lie Marie Alexander. During his marriage, he became a paint contractor and worked at several other things during the depression years. Willie and Lillie set up a wood market (fuel) and sold to the community. During World War II they ventured into the restaurant business and small real estate.

Willie was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church for many years and later became a charter member of Bnmanual Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. E. C. Dyer. He was ordained a deacon by Snmanual Baptist. In 195^ he joined Archvlew Baptist and became Chairman of the Board of Deacons in 1956 and yet serves in that office. On Mar. 19, 1978, Willie became an associated member of Oak Grove Baptist, Queen City, Texas where he wishes to be connected with this church for the rest of his life.

Willie and Lillie are now retired (Lillie a retired school teacher). Both of them enjoy fishing and light gardening. Willie is the father of two children: Mavis who resides in Little Rock, Arkansas arri Willie (deceased), --by Florence Stanmore ALLENE STAHMORE BEASLEI 789 Allene, the oldest daughter of Levi and Rosie Stanmore, was born February 8, 19*. Allene attended public school in Queen City and joined the Oak Grove Baptist Church at an early age under Rev. Griffin King. After her mother (Rosie) passed, Allene helped rear her younger sisters and brothers. On October 10, 1925 she married McKinlqy (Mao) Beaslsy, son of Willie and Fannie Beasley of Queen City. In 1937 Allene and Mac moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to make their home. Mao passed away June 1, 1953 and Allene remained in Little Rock until 1958 then she moved to Flint, Michigan where she new resides with her daughter. Allene is a member of Christ Fellowship Church. She is also a member of the Eastern Star Chapter #12. Her hobbies are sewing and crafts. Her children are: McKinley, Jr. (deceased), Braa Jean, Raymond (deceased), Troy and John J. —by Florence Stanmore AZELL STANMORE WRIGHT HOWELL 790 Azell, the fourth child of Levi and Rosie Stanmore, was born January 28, 1906. She attended public school in Queen City and at that time high school students could teach in public school so she had the opportunity to teach in Queen City. She graduated from Bishop College after her children were born. She married Rev. J. W. Wright who pastored in Domino, Texas at the time. Three children were born to this union: John D., Qtian-dolyn and Lottie. Rev. J. W. Wright passed away February 19^3 in California. Azell was also an agent for Universal Life Insurance. She married V. K. Howell in the late IfO’s, an instructor at Wiley College in Marshall.

Azell lived a short but fruitful life. She lived only ^7 years but is still remembered by all of us as a great woman. When Azell became ill, she went to Little Rock, to her older sister, Allene. She died on November 26, 1952 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was buried in the Queen City Cemetery.

By Florence Stanmore