Jacques families settled in Center Point near Nashville, Ark.

Published 12:36 pm Friday, December 13, 2019

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Today’s story will be a continuation of the Jacques family which was presented in the past two columns. It will focus on the life and family of David Laurens “Tick” Jacques, the second son of Dr. Thomas Sonley Jacques and his first wife, Sarah R.A. Raiford.

David Laurens “Tick” Jacques, was born in 1852 in the Town of Clinton of Laurens County, S.C. He migrated to the Town of Nashville, Ark., at the age of 19 years circa 1871. A few years later, he was married at the home of a Mr. Meadows by Bro. Putman on December 9, 1874, to Sarah Jane “Sally” Anderson, daughter of Oliver Perry Anderson (1825-1887) and Arabella Brownlee/Brown Lea (1826-1897). Sarah Jane was born October 15, 1856, in Holmes County, Miss., and died December 28, 1922, in Nashville, Howard County, Ark. Both of her parents who died there also were born in Waterloo, S.C. Two of Oliver Perry Anderson’s brothers, Dolph and Charles, followed him to Arkansas, probably after the War Between the States. It has been recorded that 12 Anderson close relatives rendered service as members of the Confederate Army.

David Laurens and Sarah Jane Jacques resided in the Nashville, Ark., area.  They were the parents of the following children: Thompson Aurelia “Tompie,” b. 1976, m. Lafayette Bowden; Carl Augustus, b. 1878, d. 1960, m. (1) 1903 Cora Brewer (2) 1926 Mattie Yates; Barnabas Aubrey Theodore “Ted,” b. 1881, d. 1960, blind and single; Thomas J. “Boss,” b. 1883, d. 1968, m. Marjorie Snow Floyd; Ollius Paul “Nick,”, b. 1886, m. 1908 Occo Branch (1887-1952); Nannie Bell, b. 1888, d. 1902, single: and Sallie Tallie “Snooks,” b. 1893, d. 1978, m. 1910 George Worthy Irvin (1888-1926). All the children were born in Nashville, Ark., and most died there as well.

At David Laurens Jacques’s death in 1936, he was buried in the Nashville Cemetery. His obituary identified him as one of the early settlers of the Town of Nashville during the early 1870s. It also stated he had much to do with the settlement and development of the city and the surrounding county. It further praised him for “having lived a most useful life in every way for his family and his community.”

The oldest son, Carl Augustus Jacques, was born in 1878, and he was married twice, first to Cora Brewer in 1903, and later, Mattie Yates in 1926. It appears he resided in a log house, which was across a creek and north of his brother, Boss Jacques, in the Center Point community.

Thomas J. “Boss” Jacques was the third son of David Laurens Jacques. Boss was born August 7, 1883, in the Nashville area. At the age of 24 years, he was married December 25, 1907, to Marjorie Snow Floyd (1885-1964), daughter of Anthony Reagor “Dutch” Floyd (1843-1917) and Mary Jane McClure (1844-1920) who were both natives of Tennessee. Boss and Marjorie Snow made their home in the Center Point community where his livelihood was farming. He kept several head of stock and raised three special hogs in the range of 500 pounds each year for them and their two children. The annual hog killing was a major event for all the family and it occurred near the Christmas season. Boss also grew crops, mainly cotton and some corn for the animals. His grandchildren often spent weeks during the summer to learn about farm work.

Boss and Snow were the parents of two children: Calvin Floyd, b. November 6, 1908, d. April 4, 1991, m. Mary Conway Power (1912-1994); and Thompie Aurelia, b. October 19, 1912, d. 2006, m. Robert A. Lawrence (1911-1963). At their deaths, Boss and Snow were buried in the Center Point Cemetery in Howard County, Ark.

The daughter, Thompie Aurelia Jacques, and her husband, Robert Allen Lawrence. were married August 18, 1934, and they made their home in Texarkana, Tex. Robert worked as a mechanic for Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in Texarkana, and Thompie was a homemaker until after Robert’s death. She then went to work for Howard Discount Stores where she became head of the soft goods department. They were the parents of three children: Margaret Evelyn, b. 1935, m. 1957 Morgan R. Medlin (b. 1933), retired church of Christ preacher for some 60 years in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee; Frances Louise “Fran,” b. 1936, d. 1997, m. 1956 Herman Ray “Poochie” Robinson (1935-1993), a salesman for different companies where they lived in Camden, Ark., Bossier City, La., Dallas and Texarkana; and Calvin Mack, b. 1944, m. 1965 Joey Gale Malone (b. 1943). Mack and Joey made their home in Texarkana where he worked, and    Joey taught school.

Evelyn and Morgan Medlin did not have children, but Fran and Poochie had one son, Randal “Randy” Ray Robinson, who married Anita ?. Mack and Joey are the parents of two sons.

The son, Calvin Floyd Jacques, was reared on the family farm where he worked with his father. Upon being graduated from high school, he entered college and began to teach school. His children recall him riding his horse to the school where he taught. He was married on August 22, 1937, to Mary Conway Power, daughter of William “Will” Power and Lou Anna Bacon of the Corinth community. They both taught school in various communities before settling in Okolona of Clarke County to make it their home. Calvin became the Principal of Okolona School and the Superintendent of the two-school system. He continued in that role until his retirement in 1970.  Conway became the school secretary until she completed nursing training in 1962 to work as a licensed practical nurse in the Arkadelphia area. Her son earned his four-year degree, and her daughter was graduated from high school all that year. In 1983, Calvin and Conway moved to Andalusia, Ala., to be near their daughter and family. At their deaths, they were taken back to their hometown and buried in the New Corinth Cemetery near Nashville, Ark.

Their son, William Thomas “Bill” Jacques, was born October 13, 1939, Nashville, Ark., and was married in Okolona to Sherry Louise Clark, daughter of Allie (Cash) Clark. After completing his degree at Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, he pursued a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force in which he rose to the rank of Captain. Upon his retirement in 1982, the family settled in Austin, Tex. They are the parents of three sons: Michael Gregg, single; Johnny Franklin, m. Julie Elder; and Robert Thomas, m. Nitra Gutierrez and they have a daughter, Charlie.

Their daughter, Marjorie Lou Jacques, b. July 14, 1944, Nashville, Ark., d. December 29, 2017, Andalusia, Ala., was buried in the Cedar Grove Church of Christ Cemetery. Marjorie was graduated from Harding University, Searcy, Ark., and taught school a few years before becoming a homemaker after her first child was born. For some 15 years she taught piano and tutored children in reading. Returning to teaching full-time, she taught sixth grade for several years at Pleasant Home School, Andalusia, Ala., before retiring. She was married December 20, 1969, at Cedar Grove Church of Christ in Andalusia to Curtis Hampton Thomasson, b. 8-18-1940, Andalusia, Ala., son of James Wesley Thomasson, b. 3-2-1905 Covington Co., d. 9-21-1971, and Ruby Evelyn Stokes, b. 5-28-1910 Covington Co., d. 1-18-1953. Both died in Andalusia, and are buried in the Cedar Grove Church of Christ Cemetery.

Curtis and Margie Thomasson are the parents of three children, all born at Andalusia Hospital: Curtis Jacques “Curt,” b. 1972, m. Heather Leanne Graves of Oakman, Ala.; Christy Lane, b. 1973, m. Andrew “Andy” Brian Clanton of Repton, Conecuh Co., Ala.; and Clay Hampton, b. 1975, m. Carrie Elizabeth Turner of Andalusia. Curt has two sons: Tyler Graves, b. 2001 in Birmingham, and Peyton Jacques, b. 2003, Birmingham. Christy has two sons: Matthew Hampton, b. 2009, Mobile; and Chappell Thomasson, b. 2011, Mobile. Clay has two children: Turner Hampton, b. 2013, Andalusia; and Louanna Caroline, b. 2014, Florence, Ala.

Today’s story completes this review of the Jacques genealogy for the family of Thomas J. “Boss” Jacques and his wife, Marjorie Snow (Floyd). Appreciation is expressed to those relatives who have preserved and shared their records.

Anyone who might find an error in the above is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.