Tombstone Tuesday - Ludie McIver Messer

Ludie Emaline McIver

Born on October 5, 1905

Daughter of

Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford

Sister to

Donald, Robert Lee, Arabelle Philips, Minnie, Flora Jane, 

Matthew Ranson and Coy Howard

Wife of

Clifford Messer

Mother to

Donald Clifford, Patsy, Kenneth and Frederick

Died on March 15, 1989

Buried in Highland Cemetery

Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi

Ludie Emaline McIver Messer was my maternal grand aunt.  Her sister, Flora Jane McIver Bynum, was my grandmother.

Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Stephen Rogers.

Sunday's Obituary - Donald John McIver

Hattiesburg American - 9/30/1972

Donald John McIver was born in North Carolina on October 16, 1880 to the marriage of Evander Wilder McIver and Lucy Blaylock.  As a young man, Donald moved to Mississippi with his father.  They were later joined by his stepmother, Lillie Tufford and half sisters and brothers, Robert Lee, Arabelle Philips, Minnie, Flora Jane and Matthew Ranson.  Two other half-siblings were born after the move to Mississippi; Ludie Emaline and Coy Howard McIver.

Donald married Amanda Elizabeth McCraney circa 1928.  Amanda was born on June 21, 1905 to the marriage of John Malcomb McCraney and Eloise Green of Pearl River County, Mississippi.

The following children were born to Donald and Amanda McIver:

Donnie, 1929-2001 (m. Charles Ray Rester)
John Evander, 1932-2001 (m/d. Joyce Holmes)
Elizabeth "Betty", 1936 (m. Terria Elton Bond)
Ruth, 1941 (m. Darold K. Pritchard)

Donald John McIver died on September 29, 1972 and Amanda Elizabeth McCraney McIver died on March 7, 1994.  Both are buried in the New Bethel Church Cemetery in Pearl River County, Mississippi.

Family Recipe Friday - Uncle Coy's Pancakes

Coy Howard McIver was the son of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford.  He was a brother to my maternal grandmother, Flora Jane McIver Bynum.

Toby, Sandy and Coy McIver

Sunday's Obituary ~ Matthew Ranson McIver

South Mississippi Sun - 5/12/1976

Matthew Ranson McIver

Born on January 11, 1901

Son of

Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford.

Brother to

Donald John (half brother), Robert Lee, Arabelle Philips, Minnie,

Flora Jane, Ludie Emaline and Coy Howard

Died on May 10, 1976

Sunday's Obituary ~ Lillie Tufford McIver

Biloxi Daily Herald - 2/15/1941

Lillie Tufford McIver

Born on April 12, 1871

Raeford, Hoke County, North Carolina

Daughter of

Peter Tufford and Mary Hill

Wife of

Evander Wilder McIver

Mother to

Donald (stepson), Robert Lee, Arabelle Phillips, Minnie, Flora Jane,

Matthew Ranson, Ludie Emaline, and Coy Howard McIver

Died on February 10, 1941

Buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery

Caesar, Pearl River, County, Mississippi

Lillie Tufford McIver was my maternal great grandmother.

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Robert Lee McIver

Robert Lee McIver

Son of 

Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford

Born on July 2, 1890

Died on March 26, 1913

Buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery

Caesar, Pearl River County, Mississippi

Sibling Saturday - Ludie and Flora McIver

Ludie Emaline and Flora Jane McIver

Ludie and Flora were the daughters of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford.  Flora was born in 1898 when the family was living in North Carolina.  Ludie was born in 1903 after the family had moved to Mississippi.

Ludie married Clifford Messer in the mid 1920s.  They made their home in Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi where they had the following children:

Donald Clifford, 1927-2011 (m. Annette Davis)
Patsy, 1929 (m. David Sanders)
Kenneth, 1933-2004 (m. Phyllis Phadelia)
Frederick C, 1941

Flora married John Buel Bynum in 1921 and had the following children:

Jessie Lois, 1922-2006 (m. Lloyd Livingston)
Johnnie Louise, 1922-2013 (m. 1. William Riley; 2. Edwin Luper)
Mildred Annette, 1926-2012 (m. Bruce Alfonso Edmonds)
James Wilder "Jimmie", 1928-2012 (m. Virginia Mikell)

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Arabelle Philips McIver

Arabelle Philips McIver

Daughter of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford McIver

Born September 16, 1883

Died April 12, 1903

Buried in the Union Baptist Church Cemetery

Caesar, Pearl River County, Mississippi

Gone to a fairer land

Of pleasure and love,

To join the bright hand

Of angels above.

Evander Wilder McIver (1855-1940)

My great-grandfather, Evander Wilder McIver, was born in North Carolina on August 22, 1855 to the marriage of John Roberson McIver and Lucinda Wilder.

Evander, who descended from the Scottish Clan Maciver, was the seventh of eight children born to John and Lucinda.

He was a brother to John Wilder, William Neal, Kenneth Wilder, George Wilder, Matthew Wilder, and Lucinda McIver.

The 1860 census shows Evander and family living in Cumberland, North Carolina.  

In the 1870 census, Evander is listed as a laborer living with the McGilvary family in Pocket, Moore County, North Carolina.

The 1880 census shows Evander and wife Lucy (believed to be Lucy Blaylock) living in Oakland, Chatham County, North Carolina.  Also living in the same household were his father, John Roberson McIver and brother, John.

Evander and Lucy had one son, Donald John McIver, who was born on October 16, 1880.  It is assumed that Lucy died at some point after Donald's birth as records show a second marriage for Evander in 1889.

It should also be noted that records indicate son, Donald, moved with Evander and his second wife to Mississippi in the early 1900s.  His 1917-1918 WWI draft registration cards show a residence of Millard, Pearl River County, Mississippi.

Evander's second marriage took place on July 25, 1889 to Lillie Tufford.

The wedding ceremony was held in the home of H. W. Hill in Quewhiffle, Cumberland County, North Carolina.

The Justice of the Peace, D. K. McDuffie performed the ceremony with witnesses listed as D. N. Leslie and H. W. Hill.

Following their marriage, it is believed by family that Evander, Lillie and possibly Donald lived in Southern Pines, North Carolina; though no records have been found to confirm.




The next available census record shows the family living in Pearl River, Mississippi in 1920.

Evander Wilder McIver passed from this life in 1940.  As I have been unable to locate a 1940 census record for him, I am led to believe that he died prior to April 1 census.  He is buried in the Military Baptist Church Cemetery in Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi.

The following children were born to the marriage of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford:

Robert Lee
Arabelle Philips
Minnie
Flora Jane
Matthew Ranson
Ludie Emaline
Coy Howard

One of Evander's granddaughters remembered that Evander was of the Presbyterian faith and that their house in Mississippi resembled the family home on the once popular television show, The Waltons.

He was called grand-daddy by his grandchildren; all of whom loved to spend the night with him.  As Evander aged, he lost his eyesight.  Grandchildren remembered Grand-Daddy Evander rubbing the tops of their heads as a way of telling them apart.

A special "thank you" to Margo Necaise for sharing family information on Evander.

Lillie Tufford (1871-1941)

Lillie Tufford was one of my maternal great grandmothers.  She was born in Raeford, Hoke County, North Carolina on April 12, 1871 to the marriage of Peter Tufford and Mary Hill.   

On July 25, 1889, Lillie married Evander Wilder McIver in Quewhiffle, Cumberland County, North Carolina.  The ceremony took place in the home of H. W. Hill and was performed by D. K. McDuffie, Justice of the Peace.

The marriage certificate states that Lillie's parents were both deceased.

Family researchers believe that Lillie's mother, Mary, died shortly after Lillie's birth and that her father placed her in an orphanage.

Canadian census records show that Peter Tufford traveled back to his birthplace after Lillie's birth in 1871.  He lived in the Ontario area for several years before moving to North Branch, Michigan where he died in 1890. 

It is also believed by some family researchers that a cousin who operated a store took Lillie out of the orphanage.  She supposedly lived with this cousin's family until she married.

Could this family have been that of Henry William Hill?  Is this Henry William Hill the same H. W. Hill in whose home Lillie and Evander were married?  The search for Lillie in the 1880 census has thus far proved unsuccessful. 

Henry William Hill was a brother to Mary Hill and therefore, an uncle to Lillie.  The 1870 census shows Henry living with his mother, Mary Woods Hill, in Cumberland County, NC.  His occupation is listed as a store clerk.  The 1880 census shows him living with his wife, Annie Benoy, in Moore County, NC.  His occupation is listed as a merchant.

It is believed that Lillie and Evander lived in Southern Pines, North Carolina after their marriage.  They moved to Mississippi prior to 1902 and the death of their daughter, Arabelle Phillips McIver on August 12, 1902.  Family members report that Evander traveled to Mississippi first and the family followed on a train.

The earliest census record for Lillie found to date has been the 1920 census which shows Lillie, Evander and children living in Pearl River, Mississippi.

The following children were born to the marriage of Lillie Tufford and Evander Wilder McIver:

Robert Lee, 1890 NC-1913 MS
Arabelle Phillips, 1893 NC-1902 MS
Minnie, 1895 NC-1979 MS
Flora Jane, 1898 NC-1991 MS
Matthew Ranson, 1901 ?-1976 MS
Ludie Emaline, 1903 MS-1989 MS
Coy Howard, 1907 MS-1993 TX

Lillie passed from this life on February 10, 1941 and is buried in Caesar Cemetery in Pearl River, Mississippi.  It is remembered by family that she was a good cook, especially tea cakes with syrup.

Courtesy of Margo Narcaise

A special "thank you" to Margo Necaise for sharing family information on Lillie.

Flora Jane McIver (1898-1991)

Flora Jane McIver Bynum

Flora Jane McIver was born in Moore County, North Carolina on January 21, 1898.  She was the fourth child born to the marriage of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford.

The family remained in North Carolina before moving to Mississippi some time prior to 1903 and the birth of another daughter, Ludie Emaline.

The 1920 census shows the family living in Pearl River, Mississippi.



In 1921, Flora was teaching school in Rocky Branch, near Sumrall in Lamar County.  It was during this time that she met and married John Buel Bynum.

Part 3 of 3, Memories of John and Flora McIver Bynum from their son, James Wilder "Jimmie" Bynum:

How did we survive the depression?  

When any neighbors killed a hog or beef, they shared with the whole community.  Mama was also real resourceful.  One thing I remember, she would can everything she could get her hands on.  She and Mrs. Anna Williams would take all the children and spend the day picking huckleberries.  Mama would then bring them home and can them.  

After Lone Star we moved to Williamsburg in Covington County.

Sisters, Ludie and Flora

As the depression began to subside, things began to get better.  We started a garden and got a bunch of Dominique chickens.  Mama always kept about a dozen hens for a setting.  Sixteen eggs made a setting.  We would fix a box, put straw in it and pretty soon a hen would start laying in it.  After the eggs hatched, we could hardly wait for the biddies to get to frying size.  Fried chicken was a treat because fryers were not plentiful back then. 

Mama taught the girls to cook, can, wash and iron.  We didn't have a refrigerator, neither did anyone else, just an ice box.  In the summer, someone would deliver ice about three times a week; usually in a Model-T truck.  We always got thirty pounds except on rare occasions when we made ice cream; then we bought fifty pounds.  

Mama must have worked sixteen hours a day canning, sewing, cooking, working in the garden, washing and ironing.  She had no modern conveniences except for running water.  We had a cast iron wash pot and two number 3 wash tubs for laundering our clothes.  The wash pots were filled with water on Wash Day (once a week).  A fire was built around the wash pot and strong lye soap added.  First, the white clothes were boiled, then transferred with a battling stick to the tubs to be rinsed and hung on a clothes line to dry.  The same procedure was followed with the colored clothes.  While the clothes were boiling, she punched them around with the battling stick.  It took almost all day and it was really rough in the winter time.

John and Flora McIver Bynum

Mama also did the milking when Pa would be in summer school.  I kept begging her to let me learn to milk, but once I learned, it wasn't that much fun.  I could hit a chicken or a cat at about twenty feet, with a stream of milk and got Mildred a few times.

Lois, Louise, Mildred and I picked cotton for the neighbors for 50 cents per 100 pounds.  I think I made about $4.00.  Lois and Louise worked all summer, but Mildred had set a goal and when she reached that goal, she quit.  Her goal was the price of a pair of boots.

Pa taught in the Public Schools of Mississippi for twenty-three and a half years and served as County Superintendent of Education in Jefferson Davis County for sixteen years.  He was highly regarded as a teacher and Administrator and was encouraged by the outgoing State Superintendent of Education to run for office.  He chose not to run, but left a legacy as one of the state's leading educators, a great classroom teacher, a strong disciplinarian, outstanding administrator, and his students became his lifelong friends. This was all possible because he had a devoted wife to support him through the good times and the hard times.  She was always there to help him in his career. (Part 1) and (Part 2)

Flora Jane McIver Bynum with Grandson, Michael in 1979

Flora's yard surrounded by beautiful lilies

Flora Jane McIver Bynum passed from this life on April 17, 1991.  She is buried alongside her husband, John Buel Bynum, in the Prentiss Cemetery in Prentiss, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Gene Phillips at FindAGrave.com

John Buel Bynum (1895-1972)

John Buel Bynum

John Buel Bynum was the oldest of thirteen children born to the marriage of James Benjamin "Ben" Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall.  He was born in Marion County, Mississippi on August 7, 1895.


In November of 1921, John married Flora Jane McIver, daughter of Evander Wilder McIver and Lillie Tufford.  








The following children were born to the marriage of John and Flora:

Jessie Lois (Livingston)
Johnnie Louise (1. Riley; 2. Luper)
Mildred Annette (Edmonds)
James Wilder "Jimmie" (m. Mikell)

Part 1 of 3, Memories of John and Flora McIver Bynum from their son, James Wilder "Jimmie" Bynum:

Pa, as we called him, was an educator and athlete.  He was good in both fields because he believed in hard work and dedication.  When he attended school at Sumrall, he would walk or run the five miles both ways.  Often he would do this with one of his younger brothers or sisters on his shoulders.  When he was a junior in high school he represented Sumrall in a track meet at Purvis, and entered the pole vault, broad jump, mile race, and hundred yard dash and won every event.  After graduating from high school, he was awarded a baseball scholarship to Millsaps College in Jackson Mississippi, but was unable to take advantage of it because he didn't have the money for train fare from Hattiesburg to Jackson.  Instead, he enlisted in the Army.

In 1916 he was stationed at Camp Jackson, Mississippi, before being sent to active duty as a Sargent in Company D, 155 Infantry, in the European Theater in France during

World War I.  He served for three years and was honorably discharged from the Army on July 22, 1919.  While in the Army, he was still an active athlete and was on the army professional boxing team and football team.

After being discharged from the Army in 1919, he started working for the J. J. Newman Lumber Company part time and went back to school at State Teachers College in Hattiesburg.  He also played for the lumber company's semi-pro baseball team.

He met Flora Jane McIver, who was teaching school at Rocky Branch near Sumrall and they later married in November of 1921.  Twins, Jessie Lois and Johnnie Louise, were born in 1922 and were so identical, that my mother had difficulty giving them medicine, being afraid of overdosing one.  Mildred was born in 1926 and I was born in 1928.  With all these additions to our family, Pa still graduated from the State Teachers College.

His teaching began at Grandby, then Clem in Jefferson Davis County, from there to Hopewell near Columbia, and then to McLain in Greene County.  When we lived at McLain, I was five years old and the depression was going strong. 

The warrants that were issued were not good; there wasn't any money to back them up.  So the teachers could not be paid.  Good credit at Backstrom's Store, the kindness of friends, Pa's hard work and faith that things would get better, helped us hang on.      (Part 2) (Part 3)
 

In 1947, John Buel Bynum was elected to the office of Superintendent of Education for Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi. 

Superintendent of Education

He went on to receive a Secondary Permanent Professional License from Mississippi Southern in 1953.

Secondary Permanent Profession License

In 1965 he became the Executive Secretary of the Jefferson Davis County Chamber of Commerce.

It was from this office that he wrote his granddaughter the following letter on March 13, 1967:

John Buel Bynum passed from this life on June 2, 1972.  He is buried alongside his wife, Flora Jane McIver Bynum in the Prentiss Cemetery in Prentiss, Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Gene Phillips at FindAGrave.com.