It would be wonderful if this all fits! Like you, I've hit nothing but
brick walls. The first time I saw the post about the picture post card,
and it seems like it was several years ago, I wondered then if there was a
connection, simply based on the Mayflower, Arkansas. I've pieced this much
together, and hopefully it's right. Laura was bprm om Pctpber 1877 in
North Carolina, and I believe her maiden name was Long.
A fellow reseacher, Bonnie Bates Tustin, sent me a letter about her Dad fro
man uncle of hers that states:
Walter Bates (Bonnie's Dad- Walter Calvin Bates) "was married before he
left that part of the country. (This could be either Arkansas or
Louisiana). Walter married a young widow that had a couple of small boys,
her name was Laura Carnahan, her husband was killed, he was a Brother to
the Carnahan Man that married my sister Lula (my grandmother, Lula Adele
Styers, and actually was Walter's half-sister). They lived in
Louisiana. The two men was very prosperous, good neighbor. I knew them,
but Walter and Laura didn't live to-gether long enough to hardly get
settled. There were no children borned to them, everything was legal, no
second try. Walter just began to get work further away until he was out of
the State. (I believe he died in Pittsburg, Kansas). After their
separation, not too long she remarried again, and that was it. I remember
all of these happenings, but I can't Remember the exact dates. I even know
where Mr. Carnahan is buried, I was there, but I can't the date."
I found Laura's marriages listed in a CD I've got about Faulkner County
Arkansas Marriages:
She was married to W.J. Joiner on 3-1-1894
then to Charles Carnahan on 10-20-1900
then W.C. Bates on 2-16-1907 (this is the fellow the above letter refers to)
L.C. Grimes on 10-20-1911
There is a Laura Joiner listed on the 1900 Arkansas Census in Benedict
Township, Faulkner County residing with Charles Carnahan (head of
household); Ellen Forbes (neice of head of household); Laura Joiner
(housekeeper); Minnie Joiner, age 4 (border); and Kate Joiner, age 5 months
(border.
The census also reflects both Minnie and Kate were born in Arkansas; their
mother was born in North Carolina and their father was born in Missouri.
So, from all this I figured Laura Long-Joiner was the mother of Minnie and
Kate Joiner. Either Laura's "Joiner" husband died, or left or something
shortly after Kate was born, since she's listed as only 5 months old on the
1900 census. Apparently after being Charles's housekeeper in Faulkner
County, Arkansas they got married, had two children - Andrew J. and Mary
(that you found on the 1920 census) and then Charles was killed, probably
in or around Shreveport, Louisiana and Laura apparently moved back to
Mayflower, Arkansas for a time - probably married Walter Bates there, then
when he disappeared, she evidently married the Grimes fellow. Since she
married him in 1911, I presume they remained in Faulkner County, Arkansas
for a few years anyway (which is where the post card was sent that you
have) . At some time after that she must have remarried and migrated on to
Crittenden County, Arkansas.
This has got to be the same Laura Carnahan. But like you, there are lots
and lots of brick walls out there. One thing I have noticed about married
women and their last names (at least in Arkansas way back then), my
great-grandmother, Elizabeth Jennie Glenn, was married multiple times - she
married Tillmon Bates (Walter's daddy) in 1882 and had two children; then
married my great-grandfather, J.H. Styers in 1885 and had 7 children, then
J.H. died; then she marriedsome fellow named Edward Hughes and I think had
2 more children. But in some of my notes I have that Edward Hughes ran off
and left Jennie after the second child was born. And after he left, she
went back to using the name Styers. Seems like if they didn't like one of
the husbands they just went back and picked up a name of a husband they did
like. Just thought I'd add that, because your post card is addressed to
Laura Carnahan. Perhaps Laura didn't care for a couple of the guys after
Charles Carnahan. Anyway, I'll keep digging and if I come up with anything
else, I'll be sure and let you know. Would love to have any pictures and
information you care to share on this.
Thanks,
Peggy C. Nail
Administrative Assistant
Mississippi Law Journal
P.O. Box 849
University, MS 38677
pnail(a)olemiss.edu