Jessie Ellnora IZARD FONDREN

John 1850 - 9 Jan 1930
*Obituary
Published 10 January 1930
Forest City Times
J T Fondren, aged about 70, who has been vice president of the Bank of Eastern Arkansas for the past nine years, died at his home here today following a long Illness.Mr. Fondren started with the bank in 1889 as bookkeeper.He is survived by three sons, James and Thomas Fondren of Forrest City, and Willie Fondren of Memphis; one daughter, Mrs. Beatty Thomas of Memphis. Funeral services will be held Saturday; Ark.Gazette 1/10/30 Source:by Kathy Karcher Floyd "Ouiser-http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ouisersplace/
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Believe his birth was about 1860 going by this obit, which says about age 70, however, going by obit of his mother who married Rufus S.Fondren in 1849. He married Jessie Elnora Izard in Oct.5,1875, St.Francis County, Arkansas; and then Mrs.Willena Pope on Oct.5,1897 after his first wife died, in St.Francis County, Arkansas. First wife is buried in City cemetery with him, and believe his second wife could also be there! He could be born as per census below, about 1851. Another mystery from the past!
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Per Loyd Sybert research:This would make him born abt.1851, which is consistent with his mother's obit, and he could have been in the Civil War that way: :
The 1910 Arkansas Census listed:
John T. Fondren 59 and his second wife
Willella M. 43
(FONDREN W. H. MRS NA FCTIMES At the home of B.J.Pope on Tuesday afternoon, a few miles south of town, in the presence of a few friends and relatives, T.J.Fondren and Mrs.W.H.Pope were united in holy matrimony by Rev. McDonald 10-8-1897)
as renting and residing at 208 Jackson Street, Forrest City, Madison Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas. John was employed as a cashier at a bank. John and his second wife, Willella had been married for 12 years. She had born 4 children by a previous marriage of which 3 had survived.
John and his first wife's children were listed in the household; James J. 20 Twins
Nannie L. 20 Twins
Willie G. 17 Son
Also listed was:
John T. 10 the son of John T. and Willella M. Fondren.
(FONDREN BABY-FCTIMES
Mr.& Mrs.Thos.Fondren are rejoicing over the birth of a fine new baby boy who arrived yesterday, Sep.7,1899.)John Thomas Jr. was a student at Quachita College in 1918 per the WW I Draft Registration. Per Descendant, John Fondren Harrison, my grandfather, Dr. John Thomas Fondren, Jr., and his wife, Claramae Fondren, moved from Forrest City to Memphis where he attended medical school and then to Nashville where he worked at the Central State Mental Hospital. One item I found particularly interesting was from the will. JT Fondren Sr. apparently left to my grandfather (who died in 1959 before I was born) a diamond stud and watch. My grandmother, Claramae, left a diamond and a pocket watch to me when she died in 1973.Claramae:Birth: Mar. 2, 1903
Death: Dec. 13, 1970 Burial:Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum
Nashville*August 2013.
Also
listed were John's step children;
Blanche L Pope 23 and
Ben James Pope 18.
All the children were listed as single. James J. Fondren was employed as a bookkeeper for a general store.
The 1920 Arkansas Census listed John T. Fondren 69 and his wife, Willella M. 51 as residing at 203 N Forrest
Street, Forrest City, Madison Township, St Francis County, Arkansas. They owned their home free and clear.
John was listed as a vice president of a bank. Also listed in the household were two sons,
William (Willie G. ?) 26 and
Thomas 20.
Also listed was a step son, Ben Pope 27.
William Fondren was employed as a salesman in a
drug store and Ben Pope was a pharmacist.
John Thomas Fondren died before 1930. His wife is listed in the 1930 census as the head of household in Forrest
City, Madison Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas. She was listed as living alone.
Last Will and Testament of J. T. (John Thomas) Fondren
I, J. T. Fondren of Forrest City, Arkansas, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament as follows:
First-I desire that all my just debts including my funeral expenses be paid as soon as may be practicable after my death.
Second-I give, devise and bequeath to my wife, Willella M. Fondren, and to our son, J.T.Fondren, Jr., in equal interests my interest in the homestead upon which we now reside in Block Thirteen (13) in the town of Forrest City, fully described in a deed from Mamie Lou Fondren to me dated Mar.2,1916, and recorded in Record Book 31 at Page 575 in St.Francis County, Arkansas.
Third-To each of my sons, Rufus S. Fondren, James T. Fondren, Willie T. Fondren, and my daughter Mamie Lou Fondren, as may be living at the time of my death, and in case any of my said sons or daughter shall have died before me, then to those who remain alive at the time of my death. I give, devise and bequeath in equal interests the following described real estate, to wit: The brick builidng known as the Fondren Building located on the southeast corner of Washington St. and Front Street in the town of Forrest City and being the North part of Lot Twelve (12) in Block Twenty-Two (22) in Forrest City, Arkansas, as described at Page 475 of Deed Record 46 in St.Francis County. This was the property of my mother Mrs.N. L. Fondren, and was inherited by me as her sole heir several years ago.
To the lineal descendants of any of my said sons or my said daughter, if they may have died, before my death, I give and bequeath each the sum of one Dollar ($1.00)
Fourth-To my son, J. T.Fondren, Jr., I give and bequeath my watch and diamond stud.
Fifth-The entire rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, real, personal, and mixed, wherever situated, I give and devise and bequeath unto my four (4) said sons and my said daughter in equal interests, and to the heirs of who may have died before me.
Sixth-I appoint my wife Willella M. Fondren and my son James T. Fondren, executors of my last will and testament, and desire that they be allowed to serve without bond. Witness my signature in the presence of W. W.Campbell and Walter Allen, whom I have requested to serve in attesting witnesses hereto on this 25th day of September 1923. Signed J. T. Fondren
Subscribed by Linn Turley, Clerk on the 13th day of June, 1930.
Probated January 20,1930. E. A. Rolfe, Judge
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Bradley, Broughton, Carter, Emerson, Hetherington, Humbert, Luther, Miles, Terrell & Whitaker families:
1 John Thomas Fondren b: ABT 1851 d: 9 JAN 1930
+ Jessie Elnora Izard b: 29 DEC 1856 d: 14 JUN 1896
2 Nina Fondren b: 1 JUL 1886 d: 21 MAR 1888
2 James J. Fondren b: 1890
2 Nannie L Fondren b: 1890
2 Willie G. Fondren b: 1893
+ Willella M Unknown
2 John Thomas Fondren , Jr. b:1899
Dr.J. T. Fondren
Birth: Sep. 7, 1899
Death: Jul. 30, 1960 Buried Nashville,Tenn., Woodlawn Mem.Cemetery FAG 72243115
Also in same cemetery:
Claramae E. Fondren
Birth: Mar. 2, 1903
Death: Dec. 13, 1970
Hi,
Rufus is buried in Yocona Cemetery, in Lafayette Co., MS
His father Thomas Fondren is also buried there
Mother Urcilla buried at this cemetery in AR.
Jessie 29 Dec 1856 - 14 Jun 1896
Daughter of James Shackelford Izard (1828 - 1871)
and Nancy Brooke McDaniel Izard (1836 - 1866)
Wife of John Thomas Fondren (1850 - 1930)
Children:
Lucy P. Fondren (1878 - 1878)
Rufus Stinette Fondren (1879 - 1925)
Mary Fondren (1882 - 1887)
Nina Fondren (1886 - 1888)
*Obituary
Published
June 19,1896
Forrest City Times
This community was overspread with gloom Sunday morning when the news became circulated that Mrs.Thomas Fondren was dead. Mrs.Jessie Elnora Izard Fondren was the daughter of James Shackelford Izard. She was born Dec.29,1856, and died Sunday June 14,1896, and was interred in the Forrest City cemetery the following day with Rev.Bozeman officiating. When but 15 years of age, she united with the Baptist church in this city, and has always lived a devoted Christian life. She was married to Mr.John Thomas Fondren on Oct.5,1885, and their union has been filled with happiness. She was the indulgent mother of seven children, four of whom survive her. It was her constant delight to make home pleasant, in which laudable ambition she succeeded beyond ordinary success. The sorrowing husband and motherless little ones have deep and sincere sympathy of a host of relatives and true friends, in this, the darkest hour of their lives. The husband desires us to say that he can find no words to express, and that the Master only can know, how thankful he is for the expressions of sympathy and deeds of kindness shown him in this greatest trial. Mr.and Mrs. W.S.Hemenway of Wheatley attended the funeral today.
Per Mrs.Julia Izard Hemenway's book on Izard Family in 1935:Jessie married Thomas Fondren in Forrest City, Ark. He was from Oxford, Miss., but they soon returned to Forrest City. They had four children:Rufus, Nannie Lou and James (Twins), and Willie. Jessie died when Willie was quite young.

Contributed on 4/13/15

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Record #: 1069463

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