Saturday, March 1, 2025

Jesse Bobo Gant & Family

Jesse Bobo Gant, our 3rd cousin 4 times removed, has already been mentioned here, when I talked about his father and other Bobos of the family.
Today, more about Jesse Bobo's immediate family.

👉 Jesse came to this world on 6 February 1866, in Waynesboro, Wayne, TN. His parents were Mr. Absolom Bobo Gant and Nancy E Martin. The family was registered on 23 June 1870 (1) in Civil District #7, Wayne, TN (post office Waynesboro). Absolom B. Gant (age 31) was a farmer. His wife Nancy (age 32) was keeping house. Their children were: Mary Elizabeth (age 9), Jesse Bobo (age 4), and Samantha A (age 3). There is also Ann Gant (age 14) mentioned in the record, who was a "domestic servant". Ann was most likely not Jesse's sibling, as his parents married in 1860 (2). I have not established their exact relationship, though. The family real estate was worth #600. The estimated value of their personal estate was given as $400.

 
Not long after the census, on 1 September 1870, Jesse's sister Nancy Emma was born in Wayne, TN. Another one, Sarah Clementine, arrived in January 1873. Then, on 13 April 1876, his sister Eliza Perry came to this world.

👉 The family had come to Hill County, Texas by 26 May 1879, when the youngest daughter of Absolom and Nancy Gant was born. They named the girl Tennie.

🏡 Census 30 June 1880 - Jesse lived with his parents and sisters in Precinct #1, Hill County, Texas. Absolom Bobo's (the father's) given in the record was 43, Nancy (the mother) was also 43. Then came Mary E (age 19), Jesse B. (age 13), S A (Samantha A - age 12), Nannie (age 10), S C (Sarah Clementine - age 5), Eliza P (age 4), and Tennie (age 1). Both Jesse and his sister Samantha attended school then (3).

29 May 1881 - the family celebrated Mary Elizabeth's wedding, who married John Pritchard Clark (4). John was born on 26 July 1857, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts. He was the son of Capt. John S Clark and Priscilla Pauline Pritchard.


1 December 1885 - Jesse married Lillian Hanna Hoffmann (5). The lady was born in Hammonton, Atlantic, New Jersey, on 15 September 1868. Her parents were Jacob Boyer Hoffmann and Sarah Ann Shaw.

Another marriage in the Absolom Bobo Gant family took place on 17 December 1885 (6). 18-year-old Samantha Arabelle married 20-year-old William Frank Brown - born on 6 April 1865, in Hill County, TX, to William Marion Brown and Margaret Elizabeth Smith.



22 October 1886 - Jesse and Lillian's daughter Gertrude was born. Sadly, the baby girl died on ♦ 2 November of the same year (7). 

Another daughter, Mertie Rosalee, was born to the young couple on 20 November 1887.

A few months later, on 15 February 1888 (8), Jesse's sister, 17-year-old Nancy Emma, married her 1st cousin once removed Elisha Thomas Harbour. It took place in Hilsboro, Hill, TX. The man was born on 6 September 1864 in Savannah, Hardin, Tennessee, to Elijah Carol Harbour and Elizabeth Ann Gant.

 
15 February 1891 (9) - Sarah Clementine Gant (age 18), Jesse's sister, married Mr. Ross Bartow Aldridge (age 25). he was born on 16 August 1865, in Iuka, Tishomingo, Mississippi, to the family of Mr. Willliam Pope Aldridge and Sarah Charlotte Robinson.



Jesse and Lillian welcomed another son on 19 June 1892. His name was Albert Ivy (10).


Their next daughter Laura Leona arrived on 18 March 1893.

On 30 December 1894 baby girl Sadie Bell was born (11).

Then, on 13 October 1896 (12) - Theodore Floyd - another son of Jesse and Lillian's came to this world.

20 Jan 1899 - the youngest sister of Jessie's, 19-year-old Tennie Gant married William Harvey Hardin (13). The groom was born in 1873 in Mississippi.

Source: "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8Y-NP5Z : Thu Jan 16 12:59:18 UTC 2025), Entry for W H Hordin and Tennie Gant, 20 Jan 1899.
 


The time of mourning came again on ♦ 22 February 1904, when Absolom Bobo Gant, Jesse's father died (14).

In the same year, on 27 July 1904 (15), the eldest surviving daughter of Jesse's, Mertie, married Mr, Andy Glass, who was born on 24 January 1895 in Peoria, Hill, TX, to James William Glass and Katherine Victoria Winters.


On 17 September 1900 (16), baby girl Nannie Maud was born to Jesse and Lillian.



A wedding again - 5 June 1904 (17) - Jesse's sister Eliza Perry (age 28) married a 4-year-older Mr. John Marion McDaniel. He was born in 1872 in Wayne, TN.
 

Jesse's son Albert Ivy (age 17) married Miss Ella Harris on 21 March 1910 (18). Ella was born in the Hill County, TX, on 23 March 1892, to Archibald Barkley Harris and Martha Ann Colville.

🏠 Census - 7 May 1910 - Jesse Bobo lived with his nuclear family in Justice Precinct #7, Hill County, TX.The record mentions Jesse B, (age 44), his wife Lillian (age 41, born in New Jersey). By the time of the census, the lady had given birth to 8 children, only 6 survived*. Jesse and Lillian's children given in the record, who still live at home were Ivy (age 17), Sadie (age 15), Floyd (age 12), and Nannie (age 9). Jesse was a farmer. His daughter Mertie (age 22), her husband Andy (age 25), and their two children Blanch (age 4), and Claude (age 1) lived in the next house (19).


 

In the following year. Jesse and Lillian's family grew again. On 27 May 1911, their daughter Lillian Lorene was born (20).


On 5 October 1913 (21), 19-year-old Sadie Bell left her parents' home. She married 2-year-older James Monroe Smith, born on 23 December 1892 in Waco, TX.

Source: "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV1H-MZ6Z : Thu Jul 11 19:03:59 UTC 2024), Entry for and Sadie Gant, 04 Oct 1913.


Their first child was born next year, in July.

 From: "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LCR-D4ZM : 12 March 2020)

Jesse's mother Nancy E Gant died on ♦ 22 October 1913, in Hillsboro, Hill, Texas.

 

👉 It appears cousin Jesse had a creative mind. He rationalized and patented a cotton chopper in 1915.



Source: Gant, Jesse B. Cotton-Chopper., patent, March 23, 1915; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth857830/: accessed February 24, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

 
On 26 November 1916 (22), Nannie Maud (age 16) married James John Hrabal (age 19), born on 2 February 1897 in Hilsboro, TX, to Joseph F Hrabal II and Aloisie Winklar.

 🏠 1920 - Census - only Theodore F (age 21) and Lillian (age 8) lived with their parents Jesse and Lillian in Justice Precinct #7, Hill County, TX (23).


Sad time came again, when Nannie's husband James (age about 29) died of broncho pneumonia on  ♦ 21 January 1926, in Waco McLennan, TX (24).

Grief stayed with the family - on ♦ 21 March 1927 Sadie Bell Gant Smith passed away, due to TB, at the age of 26 (25).

 
Lillian Lorene married Otis Charles Wade by 23 March 1928. On that day, their baby girl Francis, born on 12 February 1928, passed away (26, 27).


🏠 In 1930 (28), the Jesse and Lillian lived in Justice Precinct #4, Hill County, TX. The census of the 14th April registered also in their their son Theodore F (age 31) in the same household also. They looked after the children of Sadie's, who after their mother's passing lived with their grandparents and uncle. The children were Pauline (age 15), Orvis (age 13), Raymond (age 21), Hannah R (age 4), and Jack T (age 9).

Otis Wade, Lillian Lorene's husband, left this world on ♦ 2 January 1934. He lived 24 years.

Jesse Bobo Gant passed on ♦ 22 January 1934, about a week before his 68th birthday. He lived in Whithey, Hill County, TX at the time of his death (29).



Two years later, Lillian Gant mourned her child again. This time, it was Mertie, who died of influenza/pneumonia on ♦ 29 April 1936 (30). Mertie Rosalee lived 48 years, 5 months, and 9 days (30).

♦ 3 February 1941 - another daughter, Laura Leona, passed due to flu and pulmonary problems, in Waco, McLennan, TX,. She was  47 years, 10 months, and 15 days old (31).

Jesse's wife, Lillian Hannah Hoffman Gant joined her spouse on 3 June 1961, when a cardiac arrest took her from this world. She lived 92 years, 8 months, and 18 days (32).

--

Nannie remarried. Her second husband was Ben Meart Drennan who was 4 year older than Nannie. He was born on 12 March 1896 in Saline, Arkansas. His parents were John Harvey Drennan and Mary C White. Ben was also a widower.

Lillian Lorene's second spouse was Henry Tracy Boyd, born on 8 December 1910, Texas, to Robert Arthur Boyd and Edna Lee Cook.


Sources:

1. "United States, Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8Z-GC4 : Sun Jan 19 03:12:44 UTC 2025), Entry for A B Gant and Nancy Gant, 1870.
2. "Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN8X-5NH : 4 December 2014), A B Gant and Nancy Martin, 27 Aug 1860; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 20, Wayne, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
3. "United States, Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFNK-8SY : Sun Jan 19 10:13:00 UTC 2025), Entry for A. B. Gant and Nancy Gant, 1880.
4. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-TFB5 : Fri Jan 17 15:47:02 UTC 2025), Entry for John P Clark and Mary Gant, 29 May 1881.
5. "Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-TVVN : Fri Jan 10 09:47:30 UTC 2025), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian H Hoffman, 17 Dec 1885.
6. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MS-BCP : 22 January 2020), S. A. Gant in entry for W. F. Brown, 1885.
7. "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLQ-LNGD : 5 August 2020), Jessie Gertrude Gant, ; Burial, Peoria, Hill, Texas, United States of America, Peoria Cemetery; citing record ID 85826568, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-DGMN : Thu Jan 16 13:29:55 UTC 2025), Entry for E T Harber and Nancy M Gant, 15 Feb 1888.
9. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2M3-4PK : 22 January 2020), S. C. Grant in entry for R. B. Aldrige, 1891.
10. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LGK-FHZM : 12 March 2020), Albert Ivy Gant, .
11. familysearch.org
12. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L6G-B86Z : 12 March 2020), Theodore Floyd Gant, 1896.
13. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX95-RX3 : 22 January 2020), Tennie Gant in entry for W. H. Hardin, 1899.
14. "Texas, Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HW5M-TZ2M : 14 April 2023), Absolen B. Gant, 1904.
15. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX9G-BNP : 22 January 2020), Mertie Gant in entry for Andy Glass, 1904.
16. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L6F-WXPZ : 14 February 2020), Nannie Maud Gant, 1900.
17. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX9G-YPK : 22 January 2020), Eliza P. Gant in entry for John R. McDaniel, 1904.
18. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK85-K5CQ : Sat Mar 09 09:08:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Ivy Gant and Ela Harris, 1910.
19. "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2MK-5RG : Sat Mar 09 00:54:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Jesse B Gant and Lilian Gant, 1910.
20. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4LCR-D4ZM : 12 March 2020), Lillian Lorene Gant, .
21. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-66WB : Thu Jan 09 09:52:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Mr J M Smith and Miss Sadie Gant, 05 Oct 1913.
22. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-672H : Sat Jan 18 12:27:54 UTC 2025), Entry for James J Hrabal and Nannie Maud Gant, 26 Nov 1916.
23. "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCS3-B43 : Thu Jan 16 21:59:30 UTC 2025), Entry for Jesse B Gant and Lillian H Gant, 1920.
24. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZNX-PSQ : 24 May 2014), James John Hrabal, 21 Jan 1926; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 2844, Mclennan, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
25. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QD-KSG : Sun Jan 19 22:33:57 UTC 2025), Entry for Sadie Smith and J B Grant, 21 Mar 1927.
26. "Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V8QR-SWG : 1 January 2015), Lorine Gant in entry for Francis Gant, 12 Feb 1928; from "Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
"United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CMNV-86Z : Sat Mar 09 09:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian Gant, 1930.
27. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3QY-Y58 : Sun Jan 19 02:18:10 UTC 2025), Entry for Francis Loraine Wade and Otis Wade, 23 Mar 1928.
28.  "United States, Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CMNV-86Z : Sat Mar 09 09:29:20 UTC 2024), Entry for J B Gant and Lillian Gant, 1930.
29. "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZDZ-9HL : 24 May 2014), Jessie B. Gant, 22 Jan 1934; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 2943, Hill, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
30. "Texas, Deaths and Burials, 1903-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6TY-YFM : 14 April 2023), Mertie Glass, 1936.
31. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K393-ZKG : Thu Jul 11 10:29:52 UTC 2024), Entry for Laura Leona McMurray and J B Gant, 3 Feb 1941.
32. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H4-FNB : Mon Jul 22 15:09:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Lillian Hannah Gant and Jacob Hoffman, 3 Jun 1961.

 

Pictures taken on 18 August 2020