Biographical Data


This page is used for summary biographical data. This data will be limited, in this order, to the individual's

GEDCOM Files The names on these pages are sorted alphabetically on the last name. The name itself is a link that points to an individual page for that person. This individual page will include whatever detailed data I have about the individual, such as grandparents, siblings, marriage dates, place of burial, what life history I have, and so on. Not all data has been verified. The actual data for all people in this site is available in GEDCOM files, which can be downloaded and imported into any genealogical program. Just click the file cabinet icon at the right of this paragraph. Please send any comments, corrections, suggestions, etc., about these pages to Lee Hill.

Burrows, Thelma Stafford (b. 1911), daughter and only child of Thomas Ralph and Callie Bryant Stafford, granddaughter of John William Stafford. Thelma married Elmer Burrows. The marriage produced one child, Barbara Jean Burrows, who died of leukemia just short of her third birthday.

Davis, Mahalla Elizabeth (1860-1938), daughter of Thomas Green Davis and Rhoda Jane Armstrong, wife of S. B. Blankenship, sister of Frances Jane Davis, and sister-in-law of John William Stafford. Lee Hill verified her burial in Gentry Cemetery, Grassy Township, Williamson County IL.

Fleeman, Catherine (1820-1895), wife of Thomas G. Stafford, mother of James Thomas Stafford. She is the daughter of John Fleeman (c. 1780-c. 1840) and Lucinda (Lucy) Haley (1798-1852).

Hill, Lee H. III (b. 1945), son of Margaret Townes and Lee H. Hill Junior, brother of Jane Anne Hill Kemmerling, grandson of Herbert Lee Townes, ggrandson of John William Stafford, and the author of these web pages. Please send any comments about these pages to Lee Hill.

Hill, Lee H., Junior (1921-1986), son of Lee H. Hill Senior, father of Lee H. Hill III and Jane Anne Hill, grandfather of Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, and first husband of Margaret Frances Townes.

Hill, Hubert Lee (1894-1985), also known as Lee Hubert Hill Sr., son of Levi C. Hill, father of Lee H. Hill Jr., grandfather of Lee H. Hill III, first husband of Daisy Hogue, and second husband of Marge Korando Hill. You will also find many more pictures of Hubert on Daisy's page (see "Karraker" below).

Holland, Harriet (Hattie) Frances (1871-1937), wife of Thomas Jefferson Stafford, mother of Lillie Gertrude Stafford, and grandmother of Frances Lee Widdows.

Karraker, Daisy Hogue Hill Wright (1894-1976), daughter of William Howard Hogue, first wife of Hubert Lee Hill, wife of Elza H. Baumgartner, wife of Claude Wright, and wife of Elwin Taylor Karraker; mother of Lee H. Hill Jr., and grandmother of Lee H. Hill III.

Mountain, Anna Pearl Stafford (1885-1976), daughter of James Thomas Stafford and Minerva Jane Hiller, half-sister of John William Stafford, and wife of Mark S. Mountain.

Stafford, Ernest Lee (1896-1982), husband of first wife Sallie Lemons Stafford, brother of Thomas Ralph and Lola May Stafford, father of Ernest Floyd Stafford, and the second son of John William and Francis Jane Stafford.

Stafford, John William (1868-1944), husband of Frances Jane Davis Stafford, son of James Thomas and first wife Martha Ellen Hiller Stafford, father of Lola May Stafford, grandfather of Margaret Frances Townes, and ggrandfather of the author of these pages.

Stafford, Lola May (1899-1953), wife of Herbert Lee Townes, daughter of John William Stafford, mother of Margaret Frances Townes, and grandmother of the author of these pages.

Stafford, James Thomas (1846-1911), son of Thomas G. Stafford; husband of Martha Ellen Hiller Stafford, Minerva Jane Hiller Stafford, Matilda Artz, and Mattie Fulkerson; father of John William Stafford; and grandfather of Lola May Stafford.

Stafford, Sallie Lemons (1896-1939), first wife of Ernest Lee Stafford, mother of Ernest Floyd Stafford. Sallie died at age 43 of a heart condition. Several of her photographs show her as an invalid.

Stafford, Thomas G. (1825-1862), husband of Catherine Fleeman, father of James Thomas Stafford, and grandfather of John William Stafford. Thomas's parents are not known. At this time, he is the beginning point of all Staffords in these pages.

Stafford, Thomas Jefferson (1874-1963), husband of Harriet (Hattie) Frances Holland Stafford, half-brother of John William Stafford, father of Lillie Gertrude Stafford, and grandfather of Frances Lee Widdows.

Stafford, Thomas Ralph (1891-1963), husband of Callie Bryant Stafford, son of John William Stafford, brother of Lola May Stafford Townes, and father of Thelma Stafford.

Townes, Charles Marion (1868-1946), son of Thomas Warren and Margaret Stowers Townes, brother of Herbert Lee Townes Sr., father of Mary Virginia Townes Purdy.

Townes, Halcott (1796-1869), husband of Caroline Thurston, father of Thomas Warren Townes, and grandfather of Herbert Lee Townes.

Townes, Harvey Leslie (1883-xxxx), son of Thomas Warren and Margaret Stowers Townes, and fraternal twin brother of Herbert Lee Townes Sr. He married Myrtelle Scott in 1909 in Sedalia, MO.

Townes, Herbert Lee Jr. (1922-1997), husband of Tottie Farlow Townes, son of Lola Stafford and Herbert Lee Townes Sr., grandson of John William Stafford and Thomas Warren Townes, and father of Natalie (Nikki) Townes.

Townes, Herbert Lee Sr. (1883-1956), husband of Lola May Stafford, son of Thomas Warren Townes, father of Margaret Frances Townes Hill, and grandfather of Lee H. Hill III and Jane Anne Hill Kemmerling.

Townes, Margaret Frances (1925-1983), daughter of Herbert Lee and Lola Stafford Townes, granddaughter of John William Stafford and Thomas Warren Townes, wife of Lee Hill Jr., and mother of Lee Hill (the III) and Jane Ann Hill.

Townes, Paul Halcott (1918-2000), husband of Marietta (Vesta) Drake Townes, son of Herbert Lee Townes and Lola Stafford Townes, and father of Paul Stephen (Steve) Townes and Jacqueline Townes Richards.

Townes, Paul Stephen (b. 1947), son of Paul Halcott Townes and Marietta (Vesta) Drake Townes, and brother of Jacqueline Drake Townes Richards.

Townes, Vesta Drake (1927-1969), wife of Paul Halcott Townes, and mother of Paul Stephen (Steve) Townes and Jacqueline Townes Richards.

Townes, William Warren (1920-1993), husband of Dorothy Bobb Hall Townes, son of Herbert Lee Townes and Lola Stafford Townes, father of Rebecca Jane (Becky) Townes Vincent, Elizabeth Kay (Beth) Townes Merk, and Barbara Jo (Barby) Townes Hinkle. William died at home in Fresno on 31 July. He served in World War II as a navigator with the Army Air Corps 40th Bombardment Group, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Jeff and Becky Vincent Becky Townes Vincent Jeff and Becky Vincent Rebecca Jane (Becky) Townes Vincent (b. 1950), daughter of Dorothy Bobb Hall and William Warren Townes, sister of Beth Townes Merk and Barby Jo Townes Hinkle, and mother of Jeffrey Gordon Vincent Jr.


Thomas Warren Townes. This is a closeup of a family group photo taken in 1913 at the Townes's golden anniversary party. Thomas Warren Townes (1838-1915), son of Halcott Townes and Caroline Thurston, father of Herbert Lee Townes and husband of Margaret Stowers Townes. He is listed as a riverboat captain. He married Margaret Stowers in Springfield (MO?) on 27 August 1863. The marriage produced eight children: Emma Eliza, Carrie M., Thomas P., Thomas C., Herbert Lee, Harvey Leslie, Allie, and Charles Marion. This data has not been verified as of 7/5/00.

Margaret Stowers Townes Margaret Stowers Townes Margaret Stowers Townes, 1913. Closeup of photo of Warsaw, MO, golden anniversary. Margaret Stowers Townes Margaret Stowers Townes (1846-1936), wife of Thomas Warren Townes. She is the daughter of Presly G. Stowers and Betty (Unknown).


Emma Elizabeth Townes. Closeup of photo taken at Townes golden anniversary, 1913. Emma Eliza Townes (1872-1947), daughter of Thomas Warren and Margaret Stowers, married George Daniel Durham in Chariton County, MO, on 8 November 1891. She was a Methodist. Died in Des Moines, IA, buried in Dallas, IA (Melcher cemetery?). Their marriage produced 10 children: Herbert Leslie, Margaret Ethyl, Bessie, Lloyd Hayden, Thomas Arthur, Virgil, Opal Noreene, William Hersel, Pearl, Mildred, and Marion.

Minerva Jane Hiller (1841-1899), second wife of James Thomas Stafford. Buried in Progress, IL, Union County. Her stone is marked "Died 1899 Aged 49 Y 8M 8D." This means she was born in 1849 and was about four months short of her 50th birthday.

Martha Ellen Hiller, first wife of James Thomas Stafford and sister of Minerva Jane. Born in Smith County TN, died in Carbondale IL. Buried in Progress, IL, Union County. Her stone is marked "Died February 19 1871 Aged 23 Y 9 M 16 D." This means Martha Ellen was born on 3 April 1847.

Nora Olive Stafford Nora Olive Stafford Nora Olive Stafford Nora Olive Stafford Nora Olive Stafford (1878-1971), daughter of James Thomas and his second wife, Martha Ellen Hiller Stafford. The other people in her photos are unidentified.


Flora May Stafford (1876-1882), daughter of James Thomas and Minerva Stafford. Buried in Progress, IL, Union County.

Mary Callie Bryant. Mary Callie Bryant. That is probably her daughter Thelma with her. Mary Callie Bryant Stafford, eldest daughter of Ward Bryant, wife of Thomas Ralph Stafford, mother of Thelma Stafford. The child in the picture should be Thelma.


April Dawn Richards April Dawn Richards (b. 1979), daughter of Jackie Townes and Ronald Dillon Richards Sr. Granddaughter of Paul Halcott and Vesta Drake Townes.

Ronald Dillon Richards Jr. Ronald Dillon Richards Jr.(b. 1981), son of Jackie Townes and Ronald Dillon Richards Sr. Grandson of Paul Halcott and Vesta Drake Townes.

Lee and Jane Ann Hill, 1951 Lee and Jane Ann Hill, 1950 Lee and Jane Ann Hill. Probably Easter Sunday, 1958. Jane Ann Hill Jane Ann Hill Jane Ann Hill Jane Ann Hill Jane Ann Hill Jane Hill Kemmerling and her husband, Jim Lee Hill, left, Sarah Kemmerling, Jim Kemmerling, and Christina Lee Hill, May 1989 Jane Ann Hill, about 14. That is her grandmother's 1955 Chevrolet in the background. Jane Ann Hill Kemmerling (b. 1946), daughter of Lee H. Hill Jr. and Margaret Frances Townes Hill, wife of Jim Kemmerling, mother of Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, and sister of Lee H. Hill III.


Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, 1984 Sarah Margaret Kemmerling Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, a.k.a., Salome Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, left, on her father's sailboat Sarah Margaret Kemmerling and Benji Sarah Margaret Kemmerling, 10 months old Rory and Sarah, Junior Prom, 2001 Rory and Sarah, Junior Prom, 2001 Sarah Margaret Kemmerling (b. 1984), daughter of Jane Ann Hill and James Kemmerling, granddaughter of Margaret Frances Townes and Lee Hill Jr., ggrandaughter of Herbert Lee Townes Sr., and gggranddaughter of Thomas Warren Townes.

Jackie Townes, June 1970 Jackie Townes and brother Steve Jackie Townes and brother Steve Jackie Townes At the wedding of Jackie Townes and Ron Dillon Richards. Left to right, that is Paul Halcott Townes, his friend Margee Fast, Bobbie Hall Townes, Margaret Frances Townes, and Bobbie's husband, William Warren Townes. Jacqueline Drake Townes Richards (b. 1951), daughter of Paul Halcott and Vesta Drake Townes, wife of Ron Dillon Richards, mother of April Dawn and Ronald Dillon Richards.


Leta Rollins Stafford (1891-1952), buried in John W. Stafford's plot in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale. More information will follow.

Charles G. Stafford (1880-1925), son of James Thomas Stafford and his second wife, Martha Ellen Hiller Stafford. Cremated remains are buried in John W. Stafford's plot in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale IL.

Henry and Bobby Hinkle Henry and Bobby Hinkle Bobby Hinkle Henry and Bobby Hinkle Henry (b. 1986) and Bobby (b. 1988) Hinkle, sons of Becky Townes Hinkle and William Thomas Hinkle. More photos will follow of these handsome fellows.


Asa Davis, born in Kentucky and married twice. His first wife was the mother of Thomas Green Davis. (Thomas Green was the father of Frances Jane Davis and the father-in-law of John Willliam Stafford.) Asa's second wife was Frances Branson or Brandon. The latter was the mother of Mary E., George Paw, William R., and Mahala C. Davis.

Thomas Green Davis and Rhoda Jane Armstrong Davis. Thomas Green Davis (1830-1906), son of Asa Davis, father of Frances Jane Davis, and husband of Rhoda Jane Armstrong. Thomas was born on 19 January in Alabama and died 26 March in Cottage Home, Illinois. He is buried in Gentry Cemetery. He married Rhoda Jane Armstrong on 23 December 1852.

Rhoda Jane Armstrong Davis (1829-1897), mother of Frances Jane Davis and wife of Thomas Green Davis. Rhoda was born on 29 September in Tennessee and died on 4 March in Cottage Home, Illinois. She is buried in Gentry Cemetery. She married Thomas Green Davis on 23 December 1852.

Gertrude Townes (1885-1964), wife of Charles Marion Townes.

Caroline Mefford (Carrie) Townes, (1866-1932), sister of Herbert Lee Townes Sr. and wife of Charles Perry Kays. Carrie is buried in Turkey Creek, Benton County, MO.

Margaret Francis and Herbert Lee Townes Jr. with their grandmother, Frances Jane Davis Stafford This shot of Frances Jane is actually part of a much larger group photograph, but I can't identify any of the other people. Frances Jane Davis Stafford on the far left, no doubt, and her daughter, Lola May Stafford on the far right. I think the woman in between them is Mary Callie Bryant, Ralph's wife, and I think that's their daughter Thelma on her mother's shoulder. The numbers work about right: if Lola was born in 1899 and Thelma in 1911, Lola would be about 14 and Thelma 2. The year should be close to 1913. Frances Jane Davis Stafford, in the middle of the large photo Frances Jane Davis (1867-1935, daughter of Thomas Green Davis and Rhoda Jane Armstrong, sister of Mahalla Elizabeth Davis, and wife of John William Stafford.

John Henry Townes (1831-1878), brother of Thomas Warren. Married Melinda Mefford Fuqua (1836-1869). Ruth Barlow from Texas descends from him.

Mary Catherine Townes (1845-1902), a sister of Thomas Warren, who married Calvin Howell. A woman in California is related to the Townes family through her.

Jeffrey Gordon Vincent Jr. (1975), son of Becky Townes Vincent and Jeffrey Gordon Vincent Sr., and husband of Charity Anne Steproe Vincent. Married in Fresno on 2 April 1994.

Charity Anne Steproe Vincent (1976), husband of Jeffrey Gordon Vincent Jr. Married in Fresno on 2 April 1994.

Thomas Perry Townes. Closeup of a photo taken of the Townes family in Warsaw, MO, at the golden anniversary of Thomas Warren and Margaret Stowers Townes, 1913. Thomas Perry Townes Thomas Perry Townes, probably at the TB sanatorium about 1930 Thomas Perry Townes (1870-1930), son of Thomas Warren and Margaret Stowers Townes. Contracted tuberculosis, died in a TB sanatorium.


Beth Townes Merk and Roman Beth Townes Merk and Debby Beth Townes Beth Townes Elizabeth Kay (Beth) Townes Merk (b. 1952), daughter of Dorothy Bobb Hall and William Warren Townes, sister of Barby Jo Townes Hinkle and Becky Townes Vincent, and mother of Joseph David Merk.

Vey Artz Marberry (1895-1992), daughter of James Thomas Stafford's fourth wife, died at her home in Carbondale on 2 January. She is buried in Oakland cemetery in Carbondale, IL. She was born in Carterville on 26 October to Israel B. and Matilda Evelyn Artz. She later married James Ward Marberry on 11 October 1930. The marriage between James Thomas and Matilda Artz produced no children, and the Stafford descendants have no biological link with Matilda.

Ernest Floyd Stafford Ernest Floyd Stafford, son of Ernest Lee and Sallie Lemons Stafford. This picture is enscribed: "Ernest F. Stafford, Seaman 2nd Class, U.S.N. Entered service April 1, 1941. Now Gunner Instructor, U.S. Naval Station, Corpus Christi, Texas. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stafford, 407 Sycamore St., Carbondale, IL."

Natalie (Nikki) Townes and mother, Tottie Farlow Townes, 1947 Natalie (Nikki) Townes and father, Herbert Lee (Jr.) Townes, 1947. This photo is also inscribed 'That old Herb always takes good pictures!' Natalie (Nikki) Townes (b. 1946), daughter of Herbert Lee Jr. and Tottie Farlow Townes, sister of Catherine Townes, brother of Mark Townes, and mother of David Shockley Jr. (from first marriage) and Kyle Price (from second marriage).



Charles Marion Townes on the left is the only one I'm sure about here. I think that's Herbert Lee Sr. to his left, arms folded. Help! Herbert Lee Sr., Lola, and the Four Kids Herbert Lee Jr., Paul Halcott, William Warren, and Margaret Frances Townes, and Ernest Floyd Stafford, c. 1922 Paul, Herb, and William Townes, c. 1922 This photo has written on the back, 'left to right Paul and Wm. Paul probably remembered all this. He had a fine memory. He told me once that he described to his mother, Lola, what had been said and how she had changed a dressing on her husband's injured foot. Lola then told him that the injury happened to Herbert Lee Sr. when Paul was six months old.' The Townes siblings: William, Paul, Margaret, and Herbert, Fresno, August 1982 Paul, Herb, and William Townes, c. 1922 Becky, Barby, and Beth Townes, daughters of William Warren Townes and Dorothy Bobb Hall Becky, Barby, and Beth Townes, daughters of William Warren Townes and Dorothy Bobb Hall Billy Vincent Christmas 1948 at 616 Allyn Street, as best as I can tell. That would be the morning sun streaming through the east-facing windows. That is Nikki Townes in the foreground, then Jane Ann Hill, and then Baby Paul Stephen Townes at far left. The photo is inscribed by person unknown 'I like this one; I tried to get all 4 of them but couldnt.' The missing child is probably Lee Hill III. House built by John William Stafford, still standing at 812 West Walnut in Carbondale. Photo was very badly stained, which explains the heavy retouching. From left, that is baby Margaret in an unidentified girls' arms. Margaret is reaching for her brother Herb's curly hair. To Herb's left is brother William Warren. The Townes childrens' cousin, Ernest Floyd Stafford, is in front of William. And that is big brother Paul at the extreme right of the photo. 1926.

Last Updated 12/23/04