Jane Byers 1855-1919

2nd Great Grandmother - Maternal Side

Great great grandmother Jane has been elusive at best to track down her heritage. It is stated in Aunt Minnie Bell's book that she was of Welsh heritage and that was about all. The book also states that she was disowned by her family for marrying an Indian. This has lead to much speculation and conjecture. Through DNA I have been able to determine who her grandparents were and at least one aunt. Her grandparents were Wesley P. Byers and Margaret Pugh, her aunt was Malissa Byers Floyd. Her father was either John C. Byers or Frank Byers though they seem to not be listed on census records.

Here is what I do know about Jane from records - she was born probably in Missouri between 1855 and 1857. The Byers family were there farming but also had land in Miller County, Arkansas and Cass County, Texas. Around 1877 she marries an Indian, William Turner, where they settle on a farm in Gillis Bluff, Missouri.

William Turner 

1880 U.S. Census

They had two children:

1. Rose Etta Turner (1877-1939); married John William Hutsen
2. John William Turner (1882-1974); married Adelaide McGhee

John William Turner and Adelaide McGhee Turner

William died in a railroad accident in DeSoto, Missouri in 1881 while Jane was pregnant. She was depending on her son-in-law and daughter to help eek out a meager living on the farm. On December 21, 1884 she married a widower with five children, Thomas Jefferson White.

Together they had two sons:

1. Charley W. White (1885 - ?); married Emma C. Hamilton
2. Lewis "Lude" Jefferson White (1889 - ?); married Clyde Beatrice Long

It has been considered that it was her son-in-law who initiated the long journey from Missouri to Texas in a covered wagon, but it was Jane who had family living in Red River County. She and Thomas continued to live in Missouri until after the 1900 Census, living close to Wesley Byers.

1900 U.S. Census

This record states that Jane had a total of 9 children with 3 living. However by the 1910 Census, when they are living in Winfield, Titus County, Texas it states she had 4 children with 3 living. Needless to say she had raised 9 children in her life time though it appears Charley died before 1900. Lude and his wife are living with Jane and Thomas on their farm while Jesse (Thomas' son) lives next door. Jane apparently had an education as she is able to read and write.

1910 U.S. Census

Around 1915, the couple moved to Bogota and opened a restaurant according to Aunt Minnie Bell.

Jane apparently came down with dropsy (congestive heart failure) in the fall of 1918. She was moved from Winfield to her daughter's home and died in 1919 at Bogota, Texas. It is believed that she is buried in Bogota Cemetery near Johnny Hutsen although I have not been able confirmed this. It is said that it was raining so hard the day she was buried that they had trouble keeping the water out of the grave.