Frank Douglas Masten

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Apr 1930, Precinct No. 1, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Residence: Apr 1940, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 13 Apr 1940, Divisions 183 - 190, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Cremation: Aft 24 Nov 2002, Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Notes:

Birth place may be Silver City, New Mexico

Residence:
3231 Memphis Street

Frank married Jacqueline Lou Wilson on 8 Aug 1960 in San Diego, San Diego County, California, United States. Jacqueline was born on 30 Oct 1925 in Franklin, Warren County, Ohio, United States; died on 5 Apr 2015 in Sun City, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States; was buried after 5 Apr 2015 in Camino del Sol Mortuary Columbarium, Sun City West, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• US SSN: 460-24-6404
• Occupation: Mining Engineer/Rancher
• Census: 15 Jun 1900, Ward 4, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States
• Residence: Jun 1917, Teel, Grant County, New Mexico, United States
• Residence: Mar 1918, Teel, Grant County, New Mexico, United States
• Residence: Jan 1920, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 16 Jan 1920, Voting Precinct 24, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 21 Apr 1930, Ward 25, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
• Residence: Apr 1935, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, United States
• Census: 8 Apr 1940, Tulsa City, Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
• Residence: Apr 1942, San Diego, San Diego County, California, United States

Notes:

Source [US-SSS-1917b] has Merlin Douglas Masten’s birthdate as 21 Dec 1887. [Whatcom-1962], Merlin’s death certificate, has his age correct but lists a birthdate off by exactly one decade, 21 Dec 1877. [US-1900-1e] and [Masten-1900] also support the date in 1887, listing Merlin as having been born in 1888. Only [US-SSA-1941a], Merlin’s original Social Security application, lists his birthdate as 21 Dec 1886.

In [US-SSS-1917b] and [US-SSA-1941a], Merlin Douglas Masten listed his birthplace as “Aversberg (Lauderdale County), Mississippi”. No such location exists in Lauderdale County or even in Mississippi more generally. However, Merlin’s half-brother, Matthew LeRoy Masten, recorded that many of Merlin’s younger siblings were born in “Orvisburg”, Pearl River County, Mississippi, and the family of Horace Greely Masten and Alice Frances (Stone) Masten were known to be living in Poplarville (close by Orvisburg) in the early 1890s. On the other hand, [Masten-1900] records Matthew traveling from New Orleans, Louisiana to Jackson, Mississippi with his father’s, “...new wife and baby” (Alice (Stone) Masten and Merlin) in1889. He also records that the family was only in Orvisburg/Poplarville from 1892 on, 5 years after Merlin’s birth. However, in the late 1880’s Horace Greely Masten was known to be working near Boque Chitto, Lincoln County, Mississippi south of Jackson, and Merlin lists Boque Chitto as his birthplace in [US-SSS-1942a1] and [US-SSA-1953a]. Given the timeline of Horace’s movements in Mississippi, it seems more likely that Merlin was born in Boque Chitto than in Orvisburg.

Merlin Douglas Masten had been a resident of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington for 10 years at the time of his death in 1962.

Merlin Masten’s obituary has his name spelled “Mastin”.

There is no modern town called “Teel” in New Mexico. This probably refers to the area at the north end of the Mimbres Valley where there was a US Post Office.

Residence:
1308 Montana Street

Residence:
229 Ivy Street

Merlin married Lois Miranda Stiles on 27 Dec 1911 in _______, Williamson County, Texas, United States, and was divorced after 17 Aug 1927 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States. Lois (daughter of Francis Newton Stiles and Marina Floyd Thomas) was born on 4 Mar 1885 in Thrall, Williamson County, Texas, United States; died on 19 May 1975 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States; was buried on 22 May 1975 in Restlawn Memorial Park, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• US SSN: 463-70-9364
• Occupation: School Teacher/Homesteader
• Cause of Death: Arteriosclerosis
• Census: 2 Jun 1900, Precinct 6, Williamson County, Texas, United States
• Census: 5 May 1910, Precinct #6, Williamson County, Texas, United States
• Residence: Jan 1920, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 16 Jan 1920, Voting Precinct 24, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 15 Apr 1930, Precinct No. 1, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Residence: Apr 1940, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Census: 13 Apr 1940, Divisions 183 - 190, El Paso City, El Paso County, Texas, United States
• Residence: May 1975, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, United States

Notes:

Lois Miranda Stiles adopted her grandsons, William Cecil Herndon and Robert Frank Herndon, in 1941, about four years after the death of her daughter Elizabeth Marina in 1937. She officially changed Robert’s name to “Donald Stiles Herndon” but did not change William’s name.

In the 1930 US Federal Census, Lois Miranda (Stiles) Masten, listed herself as “widowed,” despite the fact that her husband, Merlin Douglas Masten, was still alive and living in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1940, Lois lists herself as “divorced”.

On her grave marker, Lois Miranda Stiles is listed as, “Lois Stiles Masten”.

In the 1930 US Federal Census, Lois Miranda (Stiles) Masten is listed as “Lois T. Mastin”.

Residence:
1308 Montana Street

Residence:
3231 Memphis Street

Residence:
3231 Memphis Street

Buried:
Section D-3, Lot 4, Space 12

Notes:

17 Aug 1927 is the date that the divorce petition was recorded in the El Paso Herald. Presumably Lois Miranda (Stiles) Masten’s divorce from Merlin was granted sometime afterwards.

The marriage license contained in source [Williamson-1911] does not list the actual location where Merlin Douglas Masten and Lois Miranda Stiles were married. It does, however, list Lois’ middle name as “Marina” rather than “Miranda”. This fact has significant implications since almost all contemporary genealogical sources and accounts of family members agree that her middle name was Miranda. The name Miranda, though, is not yet supported by any vital records. An additional primary source is required to substantiate the family’s belief.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Harry Masten
• Occupation: Lumberman
• Cause of Death: “Cerebral Apoplexy”
• Census: 12 Jun 1860, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 9 Jun 1880, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 15 Jun 1900, Ward 4, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States

Notes:

Despite being listed in the 1870, 1880, and 1900 US Federal Census’ with the last name of “Maston,” Horace used the name “Masten” throughout most of his life.

Horace Greely Masten had only been living in Neame, Vernon Parish, Louisiana for a few months at the time of his death in 1911.

In the 1870 US Federal Census for Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, Horace is listed as “Harras Masten.”

On his death certificate, Horace Greely Masten, is listed as “Horace Greeley Mastin”.

Horace Greely Masten and his family appear to have been living in Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi from 1893 to 1899, just after Horace was forced to close the lumber mill that he owned. Although source [Masten-1900] mentions the family moving to Fernwood, Pike County, Mississippi in 1899 (Horace was to work at the Enochs Brothers mill in Fernwood) the family did not apparently stay in Fernwood. Shortly thereafter, [Masten-1900] mentions the family moving on to Fisher, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, and source [US-1900-1e] lists the family in Sabine Parish, Louisiana in 1900. Given this timeline, Inez and Fred, were probably born at Boque Chitto or in the Poplarville/Orvisburg area. Daughters Ethel, Beatrice, and Nellie, were probably born in, or near, Meridian, Mississippi. Horace and Alice’s youngest daughter Anna was probably born at, or near, Fisher, Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

Horace married Alice Frances Stone after 20 Apr 1886 in _______, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. Alice (daughter of Thomas J Stone and Catherine Stone) was born on 29 Jan 1865 in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States; died on 10 Jun 1916 in Oakdale, Allen Parish, Louisiana, United States; was buried on 11 Jun 1916 in Orange Grove Cemetery, Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States
• Census: 15 Jun 1880, Livingston, Madison County, Mississippi, United States
• Census: 15 Jun 1900, Ward 4, Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States

Notes:

An “Alice Frances Masten,” who died on 10 Mar 1916, is found in [SoLAD-2002a]. This is probably the “Alice F Stone[US-1970e]. However, The date of death and age at death both conflict with information from [George-2002]. Additional research is required.

The connection of Alice Stone to the family of Catherine Stone is not proven but quite likely based on the age of individuals named “Alice Stone,” known to be living in or around Hinds County, Mississippi in 1870 and 1880.

Notes:

20 Apr 1886 is the date Horace Greely Masten and Alice Frances Stone declared their intent to marry and registered with with the Hinds County clerk. It *IS NOT* the date of their marriage.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Rancher
• Cause of Death: Bowel obstruction/Pnumonia
• Census: 25 Feb 1841, Pulaski County, Missouri, United States
• Census: 18 Sep 1850, Milam and Williamson District, Milam County, Texas, United States
• Census: 5 Jul 1860, Western District, Milam County, Texas, United States
• Census: 2 Jun 1900, Precinct 6, Williamson County, Texas, United States
• Census: 5 May 1910, Precinct #6, Williamson County, Texas, United States

Notes:

Every census record from 1850 though 1910 in addition to [TxDoSHS-1911a] lists an age for Francis Newton Stiles’ consistent with a birthdate in 1837 or 1838. In fact [US-1900-1f], the only US census to list the month and year of an individual’s birth, reports his birthdate as “Dec 1837”. Despite this, 15 Sep 1841 (probably derived from Francis Newton Stiles’ headstone) is widely reported to be his birthdate. But if Francis Newton Stiles is accurately enumerated with his father’s family in 1840, as suggested by [US-1840a], then he cannot have been born in 1841. Moreover, [US-1840a] is the only census record discovered for Seaborn Stiles and his family in 1840...thus far, and is only consistent with the known number of children at the time if the 1837 birthdate for Francis Newton Stiles is accurate. Consequently, this database uses a birthdate of “Dec 1837” rather than 15 Sep 1841, since the latter isn’t consistent with any of the known facts of Francis Newton Stiles’ life.

[Stiles-1998] has birth place listed as “Middle, Tennessee”, but this is contradicted by many other sources.

[US-1880-1d] has a listing for a Frank and Pomfie Stiles having two children of the correct age matching Frank Elmo Stiles and Villa Ernest Stiles. This may be Francis Newton Stiles and Marina Floyd Thomas, but numerous facts don’t match including Francis’ age in 1880, his birthplace which is listed as North Carolina, and the children’s names.

Francis married Marina Floyd Thomas on 24 Feb 1875 in Sabine, Milam County, Texas, United States. Marina (daughter of James T Thomas and Marina Clarinda Grice) was born on 29 Oct 1857 in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, United States; died on 28 May 1898 in Thrall, Williamson County, Texas, United States; was buried after 28 May 1898 in Stiles Cemetery, near Thrall, Williamson County, Texas, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 22 Jun 1860, Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, United States
• Census: 24 Aug 1870, Beat No. 4 (Benton), Lowndes County, Alabama, United States

Notes:

[Stiles-1998] has birth year as 1847, but [McCown-1998] has birth year as 1857. The latter year also corresponds to information in [Stiles-1971] stating that the girls (Eliza J, Marina Floyd, Amanda, and Miranda) where all between the ages of 13 and 17 when they undertook the trip to Texas with their grandmother, in 1872.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Harness and Saddle Maker
• Census: 12 Jun 1860, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 9 Jun 1880, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States

Notes:

It is not clear if James’ surname was “Maston,” as indicated in the 1860 and 1880 US Federal Census’, or “Masten” as listed in the 1870 US Federal Census Index. Horace Greely Masten, James’ eldest son, used the latter spelling throughout most of his life. On the other had the Works Progress Administration, Indiana Marriage Records have James and most of his children marrying in Martin County using the name Maston.

James B Maston’s father and mother were born in Deleware and Ohio respectively.

James married Susan M Bertrand on 30 Dec 1856 in _______, Martin County, Indiana, United States. Susan (daughter of Joseph N Hyacinth Bertrand and Lucinda Carrico) was born on 27 Nov 1836 in _______, _______, Indiana, United States; died on 27 Nov 1913 in (unknown); was buried after 27 Nov 1913 in Goodwill Cemetery, Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 9 Oct 1850, Columbia Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 12 Jun 1860, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana, United States
• Census: 9 Jun 1880, Perry Township, Martin County, Indiana, United States

Notes:

[US-1850-1i] and [US-1880-1n] disagree on Susan M Bertrand’s place of birth. The former (probably filled out by her parents) lists Indiana. The latter (probably filled out by her husband) lists Kentucky. Thus, Indiana is more likely.

Susan M. Bertrand’s father is very likely to be “Joseph [Nicholas] Hyacinth Bertrand,” who died 28 Dec 1851 in Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana. Three of Joseph Hyacinth Bertrand’s known children from source [] align with the children listed in the home of H. Bertrand in the 1850 US Federal Census for Martin County, Indiana.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States

Thomas married Catherine Stone before 1862 in _______, _______, Mississippi, United States. Catherine was born about 1841 in _______, _______, Mississippi, United States; died in ? in (unknown). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 4 Jun 1870, Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States
• Census: 15 Jun 1880, Livingston, Madison County, Mississippi, United States

Notes:

“Stone,” was Catherine’s married name. Her maiden name is not known.

At the time of the 1880 US Federal Census, Catherine Stone lists herself as widowed. In addition, her father and mother were born in Mississippi and Ohio respectively.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 25 Feb 1841, Pulaski County, Missouri, United States
• Census: 18 Sep 1850, Milam and Williamson District, Milam County, Texas, United States
• Census: 5 Jul 1860, Western District, Milam County, Texas, United States
• Residence: Jul 1867, Precinct 4, Milam County, Texas, United States
• Census: 26 Aug 1870, (unnamed district), Milam County, Texas, United States

Notes:

It is not known where exactly in Milam County Seaborn Stiles and his family lived, but secondhand sources occasionally refer to “Brushy, MIlam Co.”. No such town exists in modern Milam County, Texas, but Brushy may be a reference to Brushy Creek which runs from southwest to northeast across Williamson and Milam counties and crosses the county line approximately 2 miles south of Thorndale. Given census records from 1850 through 1870 which consistently place Seaborn Stiles and family in western Milam County, it’s likely his farm was located along Brushy Creek south or just east of Thorndale.

[LDS-AF-1999f] actually lists Seaborn Stiles’ birth place as merely “Laurens, S.c.” It is not known if he was actually born in the town of Laurens. This source also lists his death at Brushy, Milam County, Texas.

[US-1850-1a] has ages for Seaborn Stiles’ children (by Rebecca Fincher) that don’t correspond to the birth dates derived from sources [Stiles-1999] and [Dempster-2000].

Both [Stiles-1986] and the Williamson County Historical Commission have inaccurate locations for Lawrence Chapel Cemetery. The cemetery is actually located on County Road 473, 2.8 miles south of the junction of 473 and Texas Farm Road 112.

The given name for the individual referenced as the head-of-household in [US-1840a] is very difficult to read. It is likely to be a poor transcription of “Seaborn”, indicating that this is indeed the record for Seaborn Stiles and his family. Additional facts that lend themselves to this conclusion include the enumeration of a “William Styles”, likely to be William Stiles and his wife Piety Ellis, on the line above and the fact that the number and ages of the listed children are consistent with Seaborn Stiles’ family in the 1840s.

Despite being widely used and reported by a number of second-hand sources including [Stiles-1998] and [Stiles-1986], there are no references to the given name, “Francis”, in any first-hand sources or vital records. Consequently, Lindell-Herndon Genealogy uses “Seaborn Stiles” as this individual’s name.

A “Sibourne Stiles” is enumerated with his family in Franklin County, Tennessee in 1830. [US-1830a] lists one woman between the ages of 20 and 30 (Rebecca Fincher?) and one woman under the age of 5 (Amanda Stiles?). If this record actually refers to Seaborn Stiles, then the marriage date for Seaborn Stiles and Rebecca Fincher, derived from [Stiles-1998], is almost certainly inaccurate.

Seaborn Stiles had been a resident of Texas for 18 years and of Milam County for 17 years at the time his name was entered in the Milam County voter rolls. Consequently, he probably moved from Missouri to Texas with his family in 1849.

Census:
Millertown Post Office

Seaborn married Rebecca Fincher in 1834. Rebecca was born in 1810 in _______, _______, Tennessee, United States; died about 1843 in _______, _______, Tennessee, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Numerous sources, including [Stiles-1998] and [LDS-AF-1999f] list the name of Seaborn Stiles’ first wife as “Rebecca Fincher Newton”, but there are no first hand sources that support this assertion. Rather, [Lewis-1893a] claims that Seaborn Stiles’ first wife was Rebecca Fincher, presumably the daughter of Francis and Sarah (Flewellyn) Fincher, a family that also lived in Franklin County, Tennessee at about the time Rebecca married Seaborn.

[LDS-AF-1999f] lists Rebecca Fincher’s birthplace as South Carolina. However, in [US-1910-1d] both James Ellen Stiles and Francis Newton Stiles lists their mother’s birthplace as Tennessee. So, considering the notorious inaccuracy of the LDS Ancestral File database, this database uses the Tennessee location.

[LDS-AF-1999f] lists Rebecca Fincher Newton’s death year as 1874, but this is almost certainly not correct since Seaborn Stiles had married his second wife, Matilda Helena Moore around 1844. More likely Rebecca died in childbirth or of an illness around 1843.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 18 Sep 1850, Pine Flat Beat, Dallas County, Alabama, United States

Notes:

The information on James, his parents, and siblings is based on the only matching record of a “James Thomas” in the 1850 Federal Census for Dallas County, Alabama. It is also assumed that the family was likely to have been in Dallas County in 1850 due to James’ marriage to Marina Clarinda Grice in 1853.

James Thomas does not appear in the Eighth Census of the United States for Selma Dallas County, Alabama, and his wife Clarinda, as well as his two eldest daughters, are enumerated in the household of his in-laws. Although there is no record of James Thomas having served with the Confederate States Army, and despite the fact that the start of the Civil War was still 6 months away, his enlistment is a likely explanation for his absence.

James married Marina Clarinda Grice on 3 Nov 1853 in _______, Dallas County, Alabama, United States. Marina (daughter of Lindsey Baker Grice and Elizabeth Todd) was born on 11 Dec 1834 in _______, Lowndes County, Alabama, United States; died on 27 Jun 1867 in _______, Lowndes County, Alabama, United States; was buried after 27 Jun 1867 in Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery, near Collirene, Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Oct 1850, Lowndes District, Lowndes County, Alabama, United States
• Census: 22 Jun 1860, Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, United States