Clara Ruth Pearson
GENEALOGY

 

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To the viewer who is puzzled as to the identity of Clara Ruth Pearson, she is family. Her grandmother was Effie May Smith. Aunt Effie May was the daughter of Luke Lee Smith, Jr. and Amanda “Mandy” Henrietta Smith and sister to (1) Margaret “Maggie” Smith, (2) Walter Lee Smith, (3) John D. Smith, (4) Sally Ann Smith, (5) Thomas Rogers Smith, (6) Mattie Lee Smith, (7) Clarence Smith, (8) Elmer B. Smith and (9) Henry Smith. Effie May Smith became Ruth May Pearson. To understand the name change, go to the bottom of this Genealogy (press END) and read, “LETTER FROM CLARA RUTH PEARSON”. All the genealogy information below was contributed by Clara Ruth Pearson Earnest.                         Editor, Don Smith

 

John Thomas Jamerson◄─

(Also known as: WILLIAM RUSSELL PEARSON)

(For those searching for JAMERSON ancestors, sometimes the spelling is

JIMERSON or JIMMERSON )

Birth: 30 April 1878, Obion, Obion County, Tennessee

Marriage: 20 SEP 1904,  New  Madrid, New Madrid County, Missouri

Death: 19 FEB 1956, Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

Buried: Buried in Highland Cemetery, Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma.

He was buried as “William Russell PEARSON”

Husband’s Father: James Allen JAMERSON

Husband’s Mother: Martha Amanda CAMPBELL

 

     ─►Wife: Effie May SMITH  (Also known as: Ruth May PEARSON)

Birth: 25 FEB 1882, Hickman, Fulton County, Kentucky

Marriage: 20 SEP 1904, New Madrid, New Madrid County, Missouri

Death: 26 MAY 1979, Henryetta, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Buried: Buried in Highland Cemetery, Okemah, Okfuskee County,

Oklahoma. She was buried as “Ruth May PEARSON”

Wife’s Father: Luke Lee SMITH, Jr.

Wife’s Mother: Amanda Henrietta WILLIAMS

 

Children Of John Thomas JAMERSON and Effie May SMITH:

(Children Of William Russell PEARSON and Ruth May PEARSON)

1. Lee Leslie JAMERSON

Birth: 30 MAR 1905, Obion, Obion County, Tennessee

Death: 11 DEC 1999, Avenal, California

2. Sherill Allen JAMERSON

Birth: 2 APR 1907, New Madrid, New Madrid County, Missouri

Death: JAN 1971, Bakersfield, California

3. Lillian Christeen JAMERSON

Birth: 6 APR 1908, New Madrid, New Madrid County, Missouri

Death: 6 AUG 1996, McKinleyville, California

4. Bessie Alaveen JAMERSON

(Sarah Ruth says she believes that the name should  be: Alveara

JAMERSON. Obtained information from a letter from Claude

PEARSON’s wife.)

Birth: 16 JUL 1909, Obion, Obion County, Tennessee

Death: JUL 1910, Obion County, Tennessee

Buried: Huffstudders’s Cemetery, Obion County, Tennessee

**********************************************************

At this point Effie May Smith changed her name to Ruth May Pearson and

John Thomas Jamerson changed his name to William Russell  Pearson,

so children # 5 to 11 had last names of PEARSON:

**********************************************************

5. Bessie May PEARSON

Birth: About 1910-1911, Obion County, Tennessee

Death: 1913, at 22 months

Buried: Near Hayti, Pemiscot County, Missouri

6. Betty Ethelene JAMERSON

Birth: 1 FEB 1912, Obion, Obion County, Tennessee

Death: 15 DEC 2003, Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma 

─►7. J. T. PEARSON

Birth: 7 SEP 1914, Blytheville, Mississippi County, Arkansas

Although technically born in Blytheville, Arkansas,

he began the first grade in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma and

always gave it as his birth place.

Death: 27 NOV 1992, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Social Security Number: 442-18-7459.  He’s listed as “J. Pearson”

8. Johnny PEARSON

Birth: 27 OCT 1916, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Death: 31 DEC 1999, Coalinga, California

9. James Woodrow PEARSON              

Birth: 9 OCT 1918, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Death: Henryetta, Oklahoma

10. Claude PEARSON

Birth: l7 SEP 1919, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Death: 26 NOV 1982, Gold Beach, Oregon

11. Ruth Marie PEARSON                    

Birth: 2 DEC 1922, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Today: Current living in Myrtle Point, Oregon

 

J. T. Pearson ◄─

Birth: 7 SEP 1914, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Although technically born in Blystheville, Mississippi, Arkansas,

since he began the 1st grade in Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County,

Oklahoma, he always gave Ft. Gibson as his birth place.                               

Marriage: 3 JUL 1938, Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma

Death: 27 NOV 1992, at Clara’s home , Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Buried: On 30 NOV 1992 in  Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma

Social Security Number: 442-18-7459.  He’s listed as “J. Pearson”

 

Wife: Clara Eula JONES

Birth: 26 FEB 1922, Tuskegee, Creek County, Oklahoma

Marriage: 3 JUL 1938, Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma

Died: 1 AUG 1980, Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma

Buried: 5 AUG 1980, Tuskegee, Creek County, Oklahoma

Wife’s Father: Jesse James JONES

Wife’s Mother: Mary Elizabeth CRON

 

Children Of J. T. PEARSON And Clara Eula JONES:

─►1. Clara Ruth PEARSON                     

Birth: 15 JUL 1942, Dos Palos, Merced County, California

Marriage: To Dois David EARNEST on 31 JUL 1959

2. Herman Herbert PEARSON

Birth: 11 JUN 1944, Dos Palos, Merced County, California

Marriage #1: Elizabeth Ann PETREE

3. Margaret Ann PEARSON

Birth: 1 DEC 1948, Dos Palos, Merced County, California

Marriage: To Gary Michael VANDERSLICE on 20 FEB 1971

4. Lois Mae PEARSON

Birth: 4 AUG 1952, Madera, Madera County, California

Marriage: To Bobby Allen COOPER on 26 OCT 1973

5. William Ray PEARSON

Birth: 11 NOV 1957, Fresno, Fresno County, California

Marriage: To Alberta Louise THRONHILL on 28 JUL 1978

 

Clara Ruth Pearson ◄─

Birth: 15 JUL 1942

Place Of Birth: Dos Palos, Merced County, California

Marriage: 31 JUL 1959, Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

Wife’s Father: J. T. PEARSON (JAMERSON)

Wife’s Mother: Clara Eula JONES

 

Husband: Dois David Earnest

Birth: 20 April 1938

Place Of Birth: Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

Marriage: 31 JUL 1959, Okemah, Okfuskee County, Oklahoma

Husband’s Father: Dewey Cliffton EARNEST

Husband’s Mother: Margie Bell COSLETT

           

Children Of Clara Ruth PEARSON And Dois David EARNEST:

1. Dwayne David EARNEST

Birth: 29 JUN 1960, Okemah, Okfuskee, Oklahoma

Death: 29 JUN 1960 – Died at birth

2. Marsha Lynne EARNEST

Birth: 3 FEB 1962, La Mirada, Los Angeles County, California

Marriage #1: To James WATKINS on 13 OCT 1979

Child Of Marsha Lynne EARNEST And James WATKINS:

1. James Wesley WATKINS           

Birth: 21 April 1980, Henryetta, Okmulgee, OK       

Marriage: To Carmen Denae FLORES

on 21JUN 2003. Parents of Carmen Flores

are Fausto and Chris Flores

Marriage #2: To Jeff M. ROSE on 5 AUG 1989             

Step-son of Marsha Lynne EARNEST and son of Jeff  M. ROSE:

1. Jeffrey ROSE

Birth: 29 MAR 1982, Baytown, Harris

County, Texas

Marriage: To  Kristol B. LABORDE on

9 SEP 2000

 

3. Mark Glenn EARNEST

Birth: 25 MAR 1964, La Mirada, Los Angeles County, California

Marriage: 16 MAY 1987 to Julie Kay PRENTICE

Father of Kay Prentice: Frank PRENTICE

Mother of Kay Prentice: Dianne (Prentice) McCARTY

Children of Mark Glenn EARNEST and Julie Kay PRENTICE:

1. Jessica Dawn EARNEST              

Birth: 31 OCT 1988, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, OK

2. Heather Lynne EARNEST                            

Birth: 19 AUG 1992, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, OK

 

LETTER FROM CLARA RUTH PEARSON EARNEST - 16 JAN 2004
-
Letter To Editor, Don Smith -

 

Editor, Don Smith: Clara Ruth Pearson is the granddaughter of Effie May Smith (Ruth May Pearson). Effie May Smith was the daughter of Luke Lee Smith and Amanda Henrietta Williams, and sister to Margaret Smith, Walter Lee Smith, John D. Smith, Sally Ann Smith, Thomas Rogers Smith, Mattie Lee Smith, Clarence Smith, Elmer B. Smith and Henry Smith.)

 

Dear Cousin Don,

 

Enclosed are photo copies of pictures, charts, etc. I had misplaced the marriage record on Emma Thurman & Joseph Johnson, but finally ran across it. Don, could you send cousin Charles T. Carter a copy of this marriage record as I do not have his address. I’m sure he would like a copy.

 

Joe was 37 years older that Emma. My grandparents eloped; caught a river boat at Hickman, Kentucky and were married in New Madrid, New Madrid County, Missouri 20 SEP 1904, ages 22 and 26 and had to elope. ha-ha.

 

Ran on to Joe and Emma’s marriage record looking for my grandparent’s record. A big billboard sign at Hickman reads,” Hickman, Kentucky, Home of Lovers.” I think I even took a picture of the sign and the courthouse.

 

John and Effie, known to me as William Russell and Ruth May left Obion County, Tennessee, shortly after the birth of their baby girl, Betty Ethelene. Bessie May was born in Obion County, Tennessee and died in Hayti, Pemiscot County, Missouri. My dad, J. T. Pearson, was born in Blytheville, Arkansas 7 SEP 1914. My grandparents changed their names after leaving Obion County, Tennessee, the name change starting with my dad. I’m going on the assumption that my dad’s initial name (J. T.) could very well be, John Thomas after his father’s real name. The reason for the name change is really unknown except that a lot of folks left Obion County, Tennessee about 1911-1913 due to the “Night Riders” and State Militia and the trials that were going on.  Another story I’ve heard was that grandpa and grandma’s brother, John Smith, were bootlegging whiskey and were caught, both sent to jail, and grandpa escaped, and ran away to Missouri, later sending for grandma and the five children. After crossing the Mississippi River into Arkansas, the five children were told your last name is Pearson. He took the name of his brother-in-law, grandma’s sister Sally’s husband.

 

After my dad J. T. Pearson was born, they left Mississippi County, Arkansas and went to the Boston Mountains in west Arkansas near Winslow, Arkansas where my grandpa had Jamerson relatives. Then they moved to Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. My dad J. T. started to school 1st grade there, so he always claimed that as his birth place. All the other children after my dad were born in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. My husband and I took my Dad back and retraced their journey in mid-1985, before he died in 1992; he was so thrilled about this trip he never stopped talking about it. He met great uncle Walter’s children (Editor Don Smith: Walter Lee Smith, Birth 1880; had 8 children), first relatives he had ever seen. He always wanted to know what great uncle John Smith looked like. No one had a picture of him in Tennessee.

 

Don, I’m sending Civil War records of Thomas Spencer Williams and quotes out of several books on him and his brothers.

 

The photo of Tom and his brothers and sisters was sent to me from another Williams cousin who lives in Ft. Worth, Texas. She did not know who the ladies were in the photo. She thought maybe one of the ladies was of great grandmother Amanda Henrietta Williams (Smith), but neither one was. It turns out they were Tom’s two sisters, Ann and Rebecca. She later sent me a photo of Ann (the little lady to the right), the other lady had to be Rebecca. This photo was taken in Texas, shortly before Tom died. Our Amanda Henrietta Williams (Editor Don Smith: wife of Luke Lee Smith) never was in Texas. She was a widow in 1896 with all those children to raise.  I’ll enclose a photo copy of Amanda, not a very good photo of her. It is very likely that Luke Lee Smith and his son, Henry, both died of T. B. in 1896. My grandmother, Effie May, had T. B. but survived.

 

Don, I’ll close for now. If you have any questions, please call.

 

Regards, your cousin, Clara.

 

Click Next To View Pedigree Chart Of Clara Ruth Pearson:
Pedigree Chart Of Clara Ruth Pearson (Earnest)

 

Click Next To View Letter Of Claude Pearson's Wife:
Letter of Dorothy Mae (Pearson) Mathews

 

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