Auvine Lynxwiler: 1-10-2005

Auvine was a daughter of James (& Donie Ezell) Littrell, son of Timmons and great-grandson of Rodham Literal. James was John Littrell’s brother. Their wives, Kizzie and Donie were first cousins.

SIKESTON -- Mattie Auvine Lynxwiler, 84, died Jan. 10, 2005, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

Born Dec. 4, 1920, in Loretta, Tenn., daughter of the late James C. and Donie Ezell Littrell, she moved to the Southeast Missouri area with her family in her early years. She was a faithful member of the North Acres General Baptist Church in Sikeston. She was a retired employee of the state of Missouri and had also been employed by the International Shoe Company in Sikeston, the Sikeston R-6 School Lunch Program, and the Missouri Delta Medical Center.

In December 1937, she married Herbert Sylvester Lynxwiler, who preceded her death on Oct. 20, 1981.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Beverly Lynxwiler of Paducah, Ky., and Larry and Tracy Lynxwiler of New Madrid; four sisters, Clera Beeson, Lorene Thompson Martin and Rachel Thompson of Sikeston and Vela Nolan of Pensacola, Fl.; three grandchildren, Erin Newsom of Cape Girardeau, Melissa Arnold and husband, Barry, of Bowling Green, Ky., and William Lynxwiler of Paducah; three step-grandchildren, Jeremiah O'Guin and Jacob O'Guin of New Madrid and Roberta O'Guin of Bertrand; two great-grandchildren, Kaden Strayhorn of Cape Girardeau and Emilee Arnold of Bowling Green; eight nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

In addition to her husband and parents, three brothers, J.C. Littrell, Bill Littrell, and Arthur Littrell; and one granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Lynxwiler, preceded her in death. Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at North Acres General Baptist Church. The Rev. Steve Tippen, pastor, and the Rev. Jimmy Trotter, former pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery at New Madrid. Pallbearers will be Bud Dock, Norman Elledge, Phil Hubbard, Barry Arnold, William Lynxwiler, and Wendell Thompson. James & Donie Ezell Littrell 116

She is a niece of John & Kizzie Littrell. She is one of what Bertha, Onene, and others referred to as the 'Littrell sisters' because, at the time, only the sisters were still living. They were the children of James Caroll Littrell and Donie (Ezell) Littrell. James migrated his family to MO before Grandpa John. –GlennDL The picture comes courtesy of John ‘JL’ Littrell and appears to be from the 1982 John & Kizzie Reunion.

Tenant Farming in the Missouri Bootheel: 1930s

Updated and reposted 7-14-16

Grandpa John and Uncle James brought their families to the Bootheel area of Southeast Missouri in the early 1930s. As tenant/sharecropper farmers they faced hard and unfair times trying to establish a foundation for rearing a family.

The depression hit most Americans in the 30s but farmers and farm workers had been facing economic depression since the 1920s and win the rest of the country was hit by the stock market crash the farmers had already been living the hard life.

Dawn to dusk farm hands were paid a measly $.75 a day for picking cotton. Tennant farmers and sharecroppers constantly faced mass evictions, company stores and landlord controlled price fixing.

Uncle Jim was a tenant farmer from 1930 to 1936 and grandpa John through most of the same decade. They both lost a son to farm accidents during that time.

On Highway 62 from Charleston to Ft. Defiance.

We have no reason to believe that either John or Jim participated in the strike of 1939, but it would have been hard to not be aware of 1,000 tenant farmers and their families lined up along Highway 61 and 62 in the Bootheel.

Aunt Donnie, Uncle Jim, Grandma Kizzie and Grandpa John Littrell.

20

Lorene Littrell Thompson: b.6-22-1922 / d.6-1-2012

I came across the obituary after the John and Kizzie Comer Littrell Reunion in Oct-2012. If you have any obits or info you want to be posted send them to me.

indianaglenn@gmail.org 
PO Box 20794
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220-0794

Lorene was a daughter of James (& Donie Ezell) Littrell, son of Timmons and great-grandson of Rodham Literal. To my knowledge, she was the last surviving child of James & Donie. She is buried in Evergreen, next to her sister Rachel, a short way from the rest of the family. As you can see from their shared stone they were very close:

“Doll” & “Dale”
”Sisters By Birth”
”Sisters-In-Law By Marriage” 

 
Lorene Thompson (06/04/12) Monday, June 4, 2012, Sikeston Standard Democrat 

“FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Lorene Francis Thompson, 89, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., and New Madrid, Mo., died peacefully June 1, 2012.

She was born June 22, 1922, in Loretto, the daughter of the late James C. and Donie Littrell and the close sister of the late Rachel B. Thompson. She was one of eight siblings, all of whom preceded her in death.

Lorene worked as the clerk of the Magistrate Court at the New Madrid County Courthouse for almost 30 years before her retirement. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sikeston.

On March 27, 1951, 10 days after her sister, Rachel, married Dewey D. Thompson, she married Dewey's brother, Billy Burl Thompson. Bill preceded her in death on Sept. 9, 1969. On July 9, 1991, she married Johnny Martin, who also preceded her in death.

Although she was never able to have children of her own, she had a tremendous amount of love for each and every one of her nieces and nephews. Having been so close to Rachel throughout her life, she simply "adopted" Rachel's children and grandchildren as her own. Those children surviving her are: one son and daughter-in-law, Wendell and Martha Marie Thompson of New Madrid; two daughters and one son-in-law, Teresa Thompson and Brenda and Randy Reynolds both of Franklin; three grandchildren, Heather (and Micah) Pollock of Spring Hill, Leah Primm of Birmingham, Ala., and Caleb Reynolds of Franklin; and one great-grandson, Gentry Pollock of Spring Hill.

Visitation will be held this evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. Tim Farrenburg, pastor, will officiate.

Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid. “

James & Donie (Ezell) Littrell

96 / 99

Caldonia “Donie” Ezell & James C. Littrell

James Carroll Littrell was the son of Timmons Seburn Literal and Mary Catherine Urban.

1 James Carroll Littrell 
  + Donie Ezell
...2 Arthur Littrell
    + Florence V. Horten
......3 Carolyn Joyce Littrell
       + Dan Lukroffa
......3 Donald Wayne Littrell
       + Ann Baker
.........4 Leslie Littrell
...2 Denzel "Bill" Lee Littrell
    + Ruby Miller
......3 Billy Gene Littrell
       + Jane Winkelman
.........4 Darla Jean Littrell
          + Newman
.........4 Kim Littrell
...2 Clera Estelle Littrell
    + W.T. Beeson
......3 Bobby Carl Beeson
......3 Cecil Thomas Beeson
       + Myrtle Christine Cooksey
.........4 Catherine Jean Beeson
          + Johnny Herbert
............5 Crystal Herbert
............5 Braxton Herbert
............5 April Herbert
.........4 Rusty Lynn Beeson
.........4 Steven Thomas Beeson
          + Kari Lynn Cathey
.........4 Jeffrey Lee Beeson
          + Donna Nall
.........4 Anthony Keith Beeson
          + Paula Schaffer
.........4 Tracy Alan Beeson
          + Helen Lorraine Sissom
......3 Thurman Beeson
......3 Jacquline Beeson
       + Phil Hubbard
......3 Karen Sue Beeson
       + Larry McBride
...2 Vela M. Littrell
    + Howard G. Nolen
......3 Barbara Ann Nolan
       + Laney J. Hiller
.........4 Zachary Hiller
.........4 Joshua Hiller
...2 Auvine Littrell
    + Herbert S. Lynxwiler
......3 Charles Lynxwiler
       + Beverly Latham
.........4 William Eric Lynxwiler
.........4 Mellissa Ann Lynxwiler
          + Barry Arnold
......3 Larry Dale Lynxwiler
       + Pam Curtis
.........4 Erin Elizabeth Lynxwiler
...2 Lorene Francis Littrell
    + Billy Burl Thompson
    + Johnny Martin
...2 Rachel Littrell
    + Dewey Thompson
......3 Wendell Warren Thompson
       + Martha Riley
......3 Teresa Thompson
       + Leonard Primm
.........4 Leah Primm
......3 Brenda Gail Thompson
       + Randy Reynolds
.........4 Caleb Matthews Reynolds
...2 J.C. Littrell
    + Addie L. Smith
...2 Buford W. Littrell

James C. Littrell & Donie Ezell’s Children

James Carroll Littrell was the son of Timmons Seburn Literal and Mary Catherine Urban.

8~Buford W. Littrell FTJ#601

Buford W.⁸ Littrell(James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born November 19, 1903 in TN., Lawrence Co.; died January 14, 1957 in TN., Lawrence Co., Loretto.

Buford W. Littrell
Courtesy of Auvine Littrell~Lynxwiler

 

Buried: TN., Lawrence Co., Fairview Cemetery.¹

 

8~Arthur Littrell FTJ#11

Arthur⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born February 16, 1911 in TN., Lawrence Co., Fairview, and died January 06, 1989 in TX., Austin. He married Florence V. Horten (#1524) Abt. 1933 in Lilbourn, MO., daughter of Jack Horton and Mary. She was born March 16, 1910 in Ashridge, AL.                      see previous post

Arthur Littrell: Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.

8~Bill Dansel Lee Littrell FTJ#12

Bill Dansel Lee⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born March 22, 1913 in TN., Lawrence Co., Loretto, and died March 03, 1951 in TN., Brownsville. He married Ruby Miller (#1525) 1936 in Lilbourn, MO., daughter of J. Miller and Essie. She was born July 14, 1916 in Bowden, Ga.²

Bill Dansel Lee Littrell: Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.

8~Clera Estelle Littrell FTJ#13

Clera Estelle⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born October 28, 1914 in Loretto, TN. She married W.T. Beeson (#35) September 26, 1936 in Kewanne, MO., son of Samuel Beeson and Annie. He was born November 19, 1910 in AR., and died June 04, 1982 in Sikeston, MO.                                see previous post

8~Vela M. Littrell FTJ#1

Vela M.⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born January 28, 1917 in Loretto, TN. She married Howard G. Nolen (#4) 1939 in Benton, MO., son of Joseph Nolan and Maudie. He was born May 02, 1916 in Lilbourn, MO.⁴

8~Auvine Littrell FTJ#14

Auvine⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born December 04, 1920 in Loretto, TN. She married Herbert S. Lynxwiler (#27) December 07, 1937 in Kewanee, MO., son of John Lynxwiler and Nannie Cole. He was born August 27, 1914 in AR., Warm Springs, and died October 20, 1981 in TN., Memphis.                        see previous post

Herbert S. Lynxwiler: Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.

8~Lorene Francis Littrell FTJ#15

Lorene Francis⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) born June 22, 1922 in Loretto, TN. She married (1) Billy Burl Thompson (#34) March 27, 1951 in Piggott, AR.; born March 27, 1930; died September 09, 1969 in MO., New Madrid. She married (2) Johnny Martin (#1388) July 09, 1991 in Piggott, AR.                  see previous post

Billy Burl Thompson: Buried: MO., Sikeston, Memorial Park Cemetery.

 

8~Rachel Littrell FTJ#16

Rachel⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born June 24, 1924 in St. Joseph, TN. She married Dewey Thompson (#18) March 17, 1951 in Burling, Ms., son of Mack Thompson and Bertha Fox. He was born September 22, 1926 in Holcomb, MO., and died March 30, 1988 in Sikeston, MO.⁵                                          see previous post.

 

8~J.C. Littrell FTJ#17

J.C.⁸ Littrell (James Carroll⁷, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell), born February 11, 1927 in TN., Lawrence Co., Loretto; died September 05, 1935 in New Madrid, MO

Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.

---

1 The Old Cemetery Society of Lawrence County, TN., Supplement To At Rest:Cemetery Records of Lawrence County, Tennessee, (Lawrenceburg, TN.,; The Family Tree Press,Reprinted 1992), page 562.)

2 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Information on the descendants of Bill Dansel Lee Littrell contributed by himself.

3 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Family Group Data on the family of Cecil Thomas Beeson contributed by himself [3-4-1993].

4 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Family Group Data on the descendants of Vela M. Littrell-Nolan contributed by herself 11-26-1990].

5 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Family Group Data for Rachel Littrell-Thompson contributed by herself [11-13-1990]

James Carroll Littrell: 1880-1965

James Carroll Littrell was the son of Timmons Seburn Literal and Mary Catherine Urban.

                   Uncle Jim and Grandpa John                                        
August 1962                                                     

James Carroll⁷ Littrell (Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell) was born February 16, 1880 in TN., Lawrence Co., Loretto, and died February 21, 1965 in MO., Sikeston. He married (1) Addie L. Smith (#711) February 11, 1902, daughter of James Smith and Martha Hughes. She was born June 21, 1885, and died December 19, 1903. He married (2) Caldonia “Donie” Ezell (#2). March 03, 1909 in Lawrence Co., TN., daughter of John Ezell and Mary Belew. She was born August 10, 1886 in TN., Loretto, and died October 30, 1981 in MO., Sikeston

James Carroll Littrell married (1) Addie L. Smith (#711) and after her death married (2) Caldonia “Donie” Ezell (#2).^{1 2.3 4}

By 1929 James Carroll had just about hit rock bottom on making a living for his family, he and his brother John had heard about what good farming land it was in Missouri, so they went to Missouri to check things out. John, who was married to the 1^st cousin of James’ wife Donie, would not move to Missouri for a couple of years. James made plans to move the family and on the last day of 1929, he loaded his family of 8 children and headed for southeast Missouri in a T Model Car.
The family landed in New Madrid on the ferry. They moved up the levee from New Madrid for a while and then moved on a farm at LA Forge. James rented some ground from Charlie Rablis (?) where he farmed for a good while. Eventually he moved to New Madrid MO., where he had a gas station, and then they moved to Sikeston, Missouri.
James had a car wreck that caused him a lot of pain and prevented him from working.
James died in 1965 at the age of 85, Donie continued to live in Sikeston, Missouri.  

Interview/letter with - Auvine Littrell 1993 , c. 1993, Aug.:
".....Glenn the best that I can remember Dad & (the) family
moving from Tennessee to Mo…”

James Carroll Littrell:
Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.
1880, TN., LAWRENCE CO.:ED#173,pp12 w/PARENTS "LITTERELL, JAMES"
1900, TN., LAWRENCE CO.:ED#50,pp7B w/COUSIN & his Wife "LITREL, JAMES
1910, TN., Lawrence Co., Census w/wife "CALDONA" p13B
1920, TN., Lawrence Co., Census w/ family~FARMER

Addie L. Smith: Buried: TN., Lawrence Co., Selena Cemetery.
Donie Ezell: Buried: MO., New Madrid Co., Evergreen Cemetery.

Child of James Littrell and Addie Smith is: Buford W. Littrell

Children of James Littrell and Donie Ezell are: Arthur Littrell, Bill Dansel Lee Littrell, Clera Estelle Littrell, Vela M. Littrell, Auvine Littrell, Lorene Francis Littrell, Rachel Littrell, and J.C. Littrell.

James C. Littrell, 85, Former Resident, Dies At Home In Sikeston

James C. Littrell, 85, of 218 Edmondson, Sikeston, died at his home Sunday at 7:15 a.m.
Born in Lawrence County, Tenn., on February 16, 1880, he was a retired farmer. He was formerly a resident of New Madrid.
Surviving are his wife, Donnie Ezell Littrell: five daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Auvine) Lynxwiller of Sikeston, Mrs. W. T. (Clera) Beeson of Morehouse, Mrs. Billy (Lorene) Thompson of New Madrid, Mrs. Dewey (Rachel) Thompson of Lilbourn, Mrs. Howard (vela) Nolen of Titusville, Fla., one son, Arthur of Titusville, Fla., one brother, John Littrell of East Prairie, 14 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Services were held in the Jackson Funeral Chapel Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock with Rev. Robert Jones and the Rev. Jimmie Edmondson officiating. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid.

---

1 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), "Mrs. Donnie Littrell has 87th birthday" undated and unreferenced Newspaper clipping,, contributed by Bertha Littrell-Thurman

2 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), According to her daughters, Donie's full name was : Donie Emaline Cal Lizzie Ezell Littrell. She was supposedly named after her aunts. To date two of her known aunts on her fathers side were Nancy and Ollie, and there was a "C.A." and a "T.S.A." Ezell who we are still clarifying the initials and finally a "T.C." or "T.H.C." who may have been an uncle or aunt[?]. Obviously from this group any of the "C" initials could be for Cal [short for ?]. If the Ezell aunts and uncles are complete then the Donie, Emaline, and Lizzie must have come from the Belew [mother] side of her ancestry. As yet she has no Aunts identified in that family.Besides the fact that all of her aunts have not been identified it is also possible that the reference to 'aunts' may mean or include 'Grand Aunts" or the Donie, Emaline, Cal, and Lizzie may not be the full or actual names her Aunts went by, for example Donie's first cousin [sister-in-law by marriage] was Kizzie Zore Comer Littrell who on one census showed up as "Lizzie" [but to our knowledge never went by that name, and it could very well be a misprint or misinterpretation.] But Kizzie or Lizzie does suggest that the name existed somewhere in the Ezell family line. GDL 10-25-99 According to the 1910 Census, Caldona, Cal or Donie could be a derivative of Caldona?.

3 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Information on the descendants of James Carol Littrell contributed by Auvine Littrell-Lynxwiler [9-30-19921], Vela M. Littrell-Nolan, Clera E. Littrell-Beeson, Lorene F. Littrell-Thompson, and Rachel Lorene-Thompson.

4 Carter, Mrs. Caude A., Lawrence County, Tennessee, Marriage Records, 1818-1923, (Lawrenceburg, TN.,; The Family Tree Press,Reprinted 1992), page 148, this source says 3-3-1919, but that would have their marriage occurring after 4 of their children's birth or those children being born after his first wife's death.

The Family’s Migration Story: Tennessee To Missouri Ferry

The story told about Uncle Jim's journey references “...they landed in New Madrid on the ferry...”. The story told of Grandpa John's journey does not reference how they got across the Mississippi River. In trying to trace the journey and migration of John & Kizzie family from Tennessee to Missouri, I investigated several possible crossing points in Mississippi and New Madrid counties.

We know of four ferries in the New Madrid area: the Dorena-Hickman Ferry, the Belmont-Columbus Ferry, and the Tiptonville Ferry (Ferryland in Missouri) and the New Madrid Ferry.

• The only one still operating is the Dorena (MO)-Hickman(KY) Riverboat Ferry crossing. Having ridden it several times during this research its history is sketchy and appears to have been an on again off again operation for sometime.
  

• The Belmont(MO)-Columbus(KY) Ferry is probably the oldest of the four ferries, dating back to 1825. The community of Belmont was located north of Dorena and like Dorena no longer exist. The only reference to the Belmont-Columbus Ferry I have found is one that mentions it was established in 1825 and was re-opened in 2014. I will investigate this on my next trip.
  

• Tiptonville-Ferryland Ferry, I was checking out the Point Pleasant, Missouri area when I was directed to a place called 'Ferryland' to the south. It looked to be very promising, primarily because when I spoke to several people fishing on the bank they were familiar with the history of the area and the ferry landing. They pointed out the corresponding landing on the Tennessee side of the river and affirmed that it the Tiptonville Ferry was in operation in the 20 and 30s, that it also operated off and on maybe as late as the 70s. (Ferryland, State Highway 162 dead-ends at the rivers edge)
  On a subsequent trip I went to Tiptonville. I found the ferry location (Tiptonville Ferry Rd.) and once in town I was informed that one of the owners of the ferry in the past was still alive. I was directed to the local Ace hardware store owned and operated by the former ferry owner and his son. As it turned out he and his father owned the ferry and they, with his son had all worked on it. Unfortunately (see New Madrid Ferry below), he informed me that the ferry wasn't in Tiptonville until 1950.

  		Tiptonville Riverboat Ferry VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

• New Madrid Ferry, with Uncle Jim's migration story “...they landed in New Madrid on the ferry...”, the first place I started this search was in New Madrid, but on several visits I was always told there had been no ferry in New Madrid. This was always a letdown because Troy and I had vague memories of a ferry ride in the area. It was because of the negative responses I got from the New Madrid search that I started looking for other possible crossing locations like Dorena, Belmont and Tiptonville.
  In the above paragraph on Tiptonville I finish with the unfortunate news that the ferry was not in Tiptonville until the 1950s, this news was unfortunate for only a few moments, for as the conversation continued he revealed that his father had moved the ferry to Tiptonville from New Madrid!
  He could not date how long the ferry had been in New Madrid but he said New Madrid was a logical location until a sandbar had developed that interfered with the ferry.

As is the case quite often in this type of research a little mis-information, or missed information, can send you on a maddening detour.

There were several things I learned about ferries that would influence the movement of a ferry: sandbars, droughts (sometimes more so than floods), new roads, shrinking towns, river traffic, competition, and changes in ownership.

The case for the New Madrid Ferry

Ferry Crossings were more common than bridges in 1929 and 1932. The most logical route would have been due west to Memphis and a crossing there or somewhere north of there to Tiptonville, Tennessee which is directly across from New Madrid County, MO.
In 1929 there was only one bridge across the river between Memphis and St. Louis. So one has to assume they crossed by ferry somewhere from Memphis to Cairo. Even though there were bridges in Memphis and the newly opened (old) Cairo Bridge (at the current Ft. Defiance location), they might have still taken a ferry if the toll was cheaper. Back then most bridges were toll bridges. In addition we can rule out the use of the Cairo bridge since it was only connecting Missouri and Illinois, not Kentucky, the Cairo-Kentucky bridge over the Ohio River was not yet built.

In the case of Grandpa John’s migration the same scenario would apply. The fact that John's migration story makes no mention of a ferry doesn't mean they took a bridge. Bridges were infrequent, newer, expensive and probably had higher tolls. Ferries on the other hand were more numerous, older and less costly.

Let’s look at the most logical routes:

On this 1926 map Lawrence County was on the state line between Columbia, TN., and Florence, AL., and New Madrid was at the top of the bootheel on the Mississippi. Keep in mind this map shows only the main roads, by necessity back roads would be used, but for major portions of the trip the main roads shown would most likely be used.

There would be three choices in 1929 and 32:

1. From Lawrence County go due west or south to Highway 72 which would take them to Memphis where they would then cross into Arkansas and then take Highway 61 north to New Madrid. Even today, using the newer interstates, this is a possible route.
2. At Memphis take  Highway 51 north and then the backloads west to the river and a ferry (New Madrid)
3. From Lawrence, go northwest to Highway 45, take it north to Highway 51. From there go west on back roads to the ferry(New Madrid) or go north on Highway 51 and then west on back roads to the ferry(New Madrid)

All three routes appear practical, we have no knowledge of conditions that would favor one rout over the other except for three things: the third route appears to be more direct as it angles northwest towards New Madrid, the third route also avoids Memphis (would Memphis be an enticement or a deterrent to these hill folk?), and last, but not least, the second and third routes literally require a ferry to New Madrid.

So, until we have evidence, or at least information, that contradicts taking the family’s migration story literally doesn’t the New Madrid crossing make since?   

GlennDL~~2014

note: There were two other possible ferries (one in Caruthersville and I think the other in Dyersburg? I will look into this in the future.

Donie Ezell: born August 10, 1886

reposted from 2013

The daughter of John Ezell and Mary Belew. She was born August 10, 1886 in TN., Loretto. Donie was Kizzie’s first cousin, she was also the wife of James Carroll Littrell, the brother of Kizzie’s husband, John Daniel Littrell, making her also Kizzie’s sister-in-law, and Aunt to all of John & Kizzie’s children.

The following article is contributed by Ollie Onene Littrell Curtis, we believe it is from the "Sikeston" [Missouri] Daily
Standard and the date is circa 1981. Donie passed away October 30, 1981
***

95 year-old was a woman's libber even before it was fashionable

By Jill Bock, Daily Standard staff writer.

Donie Littrell, who will turn 95 August 10, knows all about woman working at what is considered a man's job. She was a "liberated woman" long before Gloria Stienem was even out of diapers.

Donie, now a resident of the Sikeston Convalescent Center, grew up doing "men's work".  "I've done everything men done, I've done anything done in the field-- plowed, shucked corn, laid fences, everything," she recalled.

Those early days of hard work  began in Tennessee. In 1929, perhaps not the best time to pick to make a new start, she loaded up her eight children and with her husband came to Southeast Missouri.  "Times were so bad out there we couldn't make a living," Mrs. Littrell said. Her husband, James, who came to the Boothill earlier thought the land looked better for farming than in the hills of Tennessee.

By 1930, the family, working together, had made their first crop in New Madrid County north of LaForge. They continued farming there as tenants for 6 years. "We could have bought that farm $35 an acre," she remembered. "But we were afraid to stick our necks out."

Life in the 1930's rural Missouri was filled with many good times and some bad.  James was one of the first farmers in the area to switch from mules to a tractor. One day while using the new steel wheeled tractor, the youngest child, a boy, who was riding on it with his father, fell off and was killed.

The family enjoyed good times with the neighbors who would bring fiddles and banjos to the home and they would play and dance. Mrs Littrell acknowledged she used these times for a little matchmaking and her daughter later married one of the young men who came calling at their dances. Days were filled with quilt making, spinning, canning produce. Each of the children were appointed chores and when they were through, they had a pony to ride and school to attend.

Looking back, Mrs. Littrell commented, "Everything has changed. Especially the prices, They've gone out of site."  The first year me and my husband were married, he drove a team for $1.25 a day. I could go out and buy three cans of Salmon with twenty-five cents then."

Also she recalled gathering berries on the farm and walking to the store where the proprietor would pay her ten cents a gallon. She would use the money to buy cloth at ten cents a yard.

The family later moved to New Madrid and the to Sikeston in 1947.

Four of her daughters are still in the area. Lorene, Clera, Auvine, and Rachel, live in Sikeston, and her oldest daughter, Vela now lives in Pensacola, Florida, and her son Arthur, lives in Austin, Texas.

"I think I raised a pretty good family. I appreciate everyone of them," she said about her six surviving children.

With 95 years of living behind her, Mrs. Littrell said, "It seemed to me like hard work and all, but I enjoyed it."

Arthur Lee Littrell: 1-6-1989

 from: New Madrid County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Littrell, Arthur Lee; 77, a resident of Austin, Texas, formerly of New Madrid, died Friday, January 6, 1989, at Seton's Medical center in Austin, Texas.
He was born February 16, 1911, to the late J.C.and Donie Ezell Littrell. He lived in Austin for the last 16 years, where he worked for Environquip for 10 years,
retiring on August 2, 1985; on December 23, 1933, in New Madrid, he married Florence Horton, who survives in the home.
Other survivors include one daughter, Joyce Lukrofka of San Diego, Calif.; one son, Donald Wayne Littrell of Lake Worth, Fla; five sisters, Clera Beeson, Auvine Lynxwiler, Lorene Thompson, and Rachel Thompson, all of Sikeston, and Vela Nolan of Pensacola Fla; three grandchildren.
Two brothers preceded him in death. 
Funeral services will be conducted today, Wednesday, Jan 11, at 1p.m. at Richards Funeral Chapel with Rev. Paul Lathum, pastor of the New Madrid Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid, with Richards Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Submitted by Kay Lee, Lees102@aol.com

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Tommy Beeson: 1-30-2004

Sikeston Standard Democrat: Sunday, February 1, 2004

SIKESTON - Cecil Thomas "Tommy" Beeson, 63, died Jan. 30, 2004, at his home.

Born Feb. 18, 1940, in Sikeston, son of Clera Littrell Beeson of Sikeston and the late W.T. Beeson, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and of the Baptist belief. He earned his pilot's license while being employed by Potlatch and owned and operated Beeson Flying Service until retiring in 1997. After retirement he became a driver for Rettig Enterprises and Duckett Truck Center, where he was currently employed.

On Feb. 18, 1960, he married Christine Cooksey. She died on Jan. 3, 1993.

He and Helen Cooper were married Feb. 17, 1986, and she survives of the home.

Other survivors include: four sons, Rusty Beeson of Jefferson City, Steve Beeson of Mammoth Springs, Ark., and Jeff Beeson and Keith Beeson of Benton; two daughters, Cathy Herbert of Sikeston and Deborah Hanff of DeSoto; four stepsons, Tim Anderson, Roger Wilcox and Steve Anderson of Springfield and David Anderson of North Carolina; two sisters, Jackie Hubbert of Benton and Karen Sue McBride of North Carolina; and 23 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by one son, Tracy Beeson; one stepdaughter, Nicole Thatcher; and two brothers, Thurman Beeson and Bobby Beeson.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, where services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Randy Lemmons, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, will officiate.

New Madrid American Legion Post 595 will conduct graveside military rites at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.

Pallbearers will be: Steve Beeson, Jeff Beeson, Keith Beeson, Braxton Cray, Roger Wilcox and Tim Anderson.

Thomas Beeson is a grandson of James & Donie Littrell

Reunion Update: FYI

On my recent ‘pre-reunion’ road trip to tie-up some loose research I stopped in New Madrid for awhile at Richard’s funeral home. I had spoken to them last year and they thought that they would be able to find the unmarked grave of Troy Lee ‘Dick’ Littrell. Dick was a son of John & Kizzie who died after the family arrived in Missouri. The story is that he was stepped on or kicked by a mule and died from the injuries. When he died and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, just outside of New Madrid.

No other children of John’s is buried in Evergreen, but most of his brother James’ family is. We were unable to locate his grave or find any record of him being buried there. We also couldn’t determine if he was buried in the same location as James’ family. But I did inquire with Richard’s about the possibility of erecting a stone in memorial near his cousins and uncle and aunt (Donie Ezell). They said we should be able to do it with no problem and they would be glad to accommodate us.

Maybe this is something to consider in the future?

While at Richard’s I also found out that Lorene (Littrell) Thompson died earlier this year. To my knowledge she was the last surviving child of James & Donie. She is buried in Evergreen, next to her sister Rachel, a short way from the rest of the family. As you can see from their shared stone they were very close:

“Doll” & “Dale”
”Sisters By Birth”
”Sisters-In-Law By Marriage”