Person Page - 155

     Charity ABNEY, daughter of Albert Abner ABNEY and Patience STRICKLAND, was born on 14 May 1827 in Gallatin County, Illinois.

Charity married Tolbert Weaver (?) on 20 March 1845 in Gallatin County, Illinois.

Charity ABNEY died in 1856 in Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois.

     Tolbert Weaver (?) was born in 1819 in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee.

Weaver married Charity ABNEY, daughter of Albert Abner ABNEY and Patience STRICKLAND, on 20 March 1845 in Gallatin County, Illinois.

Tolbert Weaver (?) died in 1869 in Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois.

     Mary WATTS, daughter of Dempsey WATTS Sr., was born circa 1764 in Norfolk County, Virginia.

     Matilda COTTINGHAM, daughter of Rev. William COTTINGHAM, was born in 1823 in Bibb County, Alabama.

She was probably the female age 5 to 9 listed in the household of her father, Rev. William COTTINGHAM, in the 1830 Federal Census of Bibb County, Alabama.¹

Matilda married Nathan Fike in 1843 in Union County, Arkansas.

Matilda COTTINGHAM and Nathan Fike appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 25 July 1860 in Texana, Jackson County, Texas. The household was listed as Nathan Fike, a 39 year old farmer, born Chatom County, North Carolina, and his wife,Matilda Fike, age 37, born Bibb County, Alabama. Fike had real estate valued $1000 and personal property valued $2700. Also in the household was Matilda's father, William Cottingham, a 65 year old Methodist South (Methodist Episcopal) clergyman, born Richmond county, North Carolina. He had personal estate valued $150.

     Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM, son of Rev. William COTTINGHAM, was born on 16 November 1819 in Bibb County, Alabama. This is not proven, but it is understandable that a Methodist minister would name a son after the prophet Gideon and John Wesley, founder of Methodism.

He was probably the male age 10 to 14 listed in the household of his father, Rev. William COTTINGHAM, in the 1830 Federal Census of Bibb County, Alabama.¹

As of 1843, Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM was living in Arkansas. Church records show Gideon W. Cottingham associated with churches in Mountain Mess(?) in 1843 and Lafayette in 1844. He was among a list o the pastors in the Washington, Hempstead, county circuit 1842-1853. It was formerly called the Mount Prairie Circuit, which might refer to the Mountain Mess(?) in 1843. In 1847 he was assigned to the Helena circuit and in 1851 to Batesville station, in Independence county. At some point in the 1850s he transferred to the Texas Conference and was stationed at Eagle Lake, Colorado county, Texas.²

Gideon married Mary Elizabeth Thomas in 1845 in St. Francis County, Arkansas.³

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM appeared in a newspaper article 21 May 1937 in the The Timely Remarks, published in Refugio, Texas. The article was a history of St. Mary's of Aransas, Refugio county, Texas. Now a ghost town, it was once a thrilling town before the emmergence of Rockport. The article mentioned a businessman named James I. Cottingham who operated a wholesale/retail lumber business and later the St. Mary's Wharf Co. it named Rev. Gideon W. Cottingham as a relative and a Methodist minister who also moved to the city, along with son, James P. Cottingham. It mentioned that Gideon was an inventor who had develop some sort of animal trap. It said that prior to 1875 he had moved on to the Rio Grande valley.

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM and Mary Elizabeth Thomas appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 27 June 1860 in Texana, Jackson County, Texas. The household was listed as G. W. Cottingham, a 40 year old M. S. (Methodist South/Methodist Episcopal) clergyman, born Bibb County, Alabama and his wife, M. E. Cottingham, age 30, housewife, born Montgomery county, Tennessee. He had real estate valued $2,000 and personal estate valued $3,500. Also in the household were inferred children Jas. A. Cottingham, age 10, attending school, born Hempstead county, Arkansas; and W. C. Cottingham, male age 2, born Bastrop county, Texas. Gideon's father, Rev. William Cottingham was also living in Texana with daughter, Matilda, and family.⁴

He was included on a tax list in 1862 in Colorado County, Texas. Also in 1864.

As of 1865, Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM was living in Colorado County, Texas. He operated the Colorado Anchor House hotel and was exempted from paying tax that year because he housed two soldiers.

As of 7 August 1867, he was living in Precinct 8, Upshur County, Texas. On that date G W Cottingham of Alabama registered to vote. He said he had been a resident of Texas for 10 years and had lived in Upshur county for 8 months.⁵

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM announced a patent for his new Improved Washing Machine on 28 June 1870 in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas.

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM and Mary Elizabeth Thomas appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 21 August 1870 in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas. The household was listed as G. W. Cottingham, a 49 year old minister of the Gospel, born Alabama, and his 41 year old wife, Mary E. Cottingham, keeping house, born Tennessee. He had personal estate valued $1500. Living with them were inferred children James P. Cottingham, age 19, at home, born Arkansas; John J. Cottingham, age 10, at home, born Texas; Cassie C. Cottingham, age 5, born Texas and Mattie M. Cottingham, age 3, born Texas. Also in the household were L. B. Baldwin, a 21 year old farmer, born Alabama; Joe Taylor, a 21 year old farmer, born Texas and M. Sennington, a 50 year old black day laborer, born Tennessee.

He was listed in the 1876 city directory for Sherman, Texas. Rev Gideon W Cottingham, proprietor of Planter's House hotel and an ironing and washing machine laundry, 508 and 510 Main street. John T. Cottingham was listed as clerk at the Planter's House hotel.⁶

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM and Mary Elizabeth Thomas appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 24 June 1880 in Forest City, Saint Francis County, Arkansas. The household was listed as G. W. Cottingham, a 60 year old minister of Gospel, born in Alabama and his wife, Mary E. Cottingham, age 50, keeping house, born Tennessee. Both of Gideon's parents are shown to have been born in Tennessee. Mary's father was born in North Carolina and her mother in Tennessee. Also in the household was son John T. Cottingham, age 19, born Texas and daughter, Charrie Cottingham, age 15, attending school, born Texas.

Gideon and Mary appeared in a newspaper article 31 January 1891 in the The Galveston Daily News, published in Galveston, Texas. Hotel Arrivals -- at the Tremond included "G. W. Cottingham, Hains (Haynes, Lee county), Ark; Mrs. Cottingham and niece, Brownsville, Tex." The niece was most likely the daughter of their son James, who also lived in Brownsville.

He was included on a tax list in 1892 in Cameron County, Texas.

He appeared in a newspaper article 19 July 1895 in the The Brownsville Herald, published in Brownsville, Texas. "The Herald has been presented with some fine specimens of milo maize and sorghum by Rev. G. W. Cottingham, which were raised on his farm three miles west of town... The Milo Maize is a new product in this country, and Mr. Cottingham only raised an acre of it as an experiment."

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM and Mary Elizabeth Thomas appeared in a newspaper article 4 September 1895 in the The Brownsville Herald, published in Brownsville, Texas. "A Successful Operation -- The friends of Mrs. G. W. Cottingham will be pleased to learn that she has sufficiently recovered from the effects of the operation recently performed, involving the removal of a tumor from her tongue, to be removed to her country home at the Pipkin settlement, having gone this morning in company with her husband, Rev. G. W. Cottingham, and son J. P. Cottingham." Note: James P. Cottingham's wife was Lura Ann Pipkin so the home referred to was most likely theirs.

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM and Mary Elizabeth Thomas appeared in a newspaper article 10 December 1895 in the The Brownsville Herald, published in Brownsville, Texas. "J. P. Cottingham was in the city this morning from Pipkinsville. He informed The Herald that his mothe is again quite sick with throat trouble."

Rev. Gideon Wesley COTTINGHAM died after 1896 in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.⁷ He was buried in Old City Cemetery, Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.⁸

     Col. John ALSTON was born on 31 December 1673 in Felmersham, Bedfordshire, England.

John married Mary Clark circa 1700 in Pasquotank Precinct, North Carolina. She was a Quaker. To this union ten known children were born: 1. Joseph John 2. Solomon 3. William 4. Phillip 5. Jame 6. Mary 7. Elizabeth 8. Sarah 9. Martha 10. Charity.

John left a will dated 20 February 1755 in Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. It named sons Solomon, William, Phillip and James; daughters Mary Seward, Elizabeth Williams, Sarah Kearney, and Charity Dawson; wife, Mary; grandson John Alston, son of Solomon; granddaugher Elizabeth, daughter of William Alston; granddaughter Pattie, daughter of Joseph John Alston; grandson William, son of James. It was probated 2 Dec 1758.

Col. John ALSTON died in 1758 in Chowan County, North Carolina.

     Mary Clark was born circa 1685.

Mary married Col. John ALSTON circa 1700 in Pasquotank Precinct, North Carolina. She was a Quaker. To this union ten known children were born: 1. Joseph John 2. Solomon 3. William 4. Phillip 5. Jame 6. Mary 7. Elizabeth 8. Sarah 9. Martha 10. Charity.

     Zachariah ABNEY Jr., son of Zachariah ABNEY and Jennie May Bryson, was born on 13 October 1905 in Harrison County, Texas.¹ He was also known as Zach.

Zachariah ABNEY Jr. appeared on a census, enumerated 16 May 1910, in the household of his parents Zachariah ABNEY and Jennie May Bryson in Precinct 8, Harrison County, Texas. He was 4 years old.

Zachariah ABNEY Jr. appeared on a census, enumerated 17 February 1920, in the household of his mother Jennie May Bryson in Precinct 8, Harrison County, Texas. He was 14.

Zachariah married Dee Parker circa 1930.

Zachariah ABNEY Jr. and Dee Parker appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 8 April 1940 in Waskom, Harrison County, Texas. The household was listed as Zach Abney, a 33-year-old real estate agent, his 29-year-old wife Dee, and their 4-year-old daughter, Jane E. Abney. They live at 138 South Lake Street which was valued at $1,000.

Zachariah ABNEY Jr. served in the U. S. Army during World War II between 1941 and 1945. As a 1st lieutenant.

Dee died on 1 January 1957 in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, at age 46 leaving Zachariah ABNEY Jr. as a widower.

An unknown person married second an unknown person , daughter of Samuel Abney KILLINGSWORTH and Florence Ann Leath, in 1960 in Texas.

Zachariah ABNEY Jr. died on 24 November 1985 in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas, at age 80.¹ He was buried in Algoma Cemetery.¹

     Blanche Killingsworth, daughter of Samuel Abney KILLINGSWORTH and Florence Ann Leath, was born on 30 August 1909 in Longview, Texas.

Blanche married Lewis Henderson on 19 April 1927 in Longview, Texas. An unknown person died in 1952 in Longview, Texas, leaving an unknown person as a widow.

Blanche married second Zachariah ABNEY Jr., son of Zachariah ABNEY and Jennie May Bryson, in 1960 in Texas.

Blanche Killingsworth died on 11 March 2004 in College Station, Texas, at age 94. She was buried in Memory Park Cemetery.

Her obituary appeared 1 April 2004 in the Bryan-College Station Eagle, published in Bryan, Texas. The Bryan-College Station Eagle of Bryan, Texas:

Blanche Killingsworth Henderson Abney passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2004 with her family at her side in College Station. A visitation and prayer service will be conducted by Rev. Bob Waters at Hillier Funeral Home on Friday, March 12, at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Tim Watson, of First Baptist Church, Longview and by Dr. Jerry Neff, Minister of A&M United Methodist Church in College Station on Saturday, March 13, at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church in Longview, Texas. There will be a visitation in the chapel at 12:00 noon, prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Memory Park Cemetery, Longview, Texas.

Blanche was the second child of Samuel Abney Killingsworth and Florence Ann Leath Killingsworth. She was born August 30, 1909, at the family home north of Longview, Texas. As a young child she attended Forest Hill Baptist Church with her family and she often recalled riding a donkey named July to attend her first school that was located at the Alpine Presbyterian Church community. She joined the First Baptist Church, Longview, when she was 11 years old. She later taught Sunday School and was Superintendent of the fourteen year old Sunday School department. She married Lewis Henderson on April 19, 1927, and became the loving mother of his son by his first wife Gladys Rebecca Killingsworth. She and Lewis Henderson had one child, Blanche Henderson, born November 26, 1939.

After the death of Lewis Henderson in 1952, Blanche worked as secretary to the principal of Longview High School and as the file clerk F.R. Jackson Oil Company. In 1960 she married Zach Abney of Marshall and they lived in Longview until his death in 1984. In 1995 she moved to College Station, Texas to live with her daughter and son-in-law Bob and Blanche Brick.

Blanche Killingsworth Henderson Abney was a member of the First Baptist Church, Longview, the East Texas Historical Association, the Texas State Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association, and a major contributor to a family history of “Marry (Barry) and William Barry Henderson, Their Forebears and Descendants.”

She was a keen student of the Bible who loved working in her church, spending time with her family, gardening, sewing, reading, researching genealogy, and taking care of her dogs, Happy and Buddy. She was a wonderful cook whose lemon meringue pies and coconut cakes will always be remembered by those fortunate enough to have enjoyed them…as she will always be remembered by those who were fortunate enough to have known and loved her.

She is survived by her son Richard Lewis Henderson and his wife Elma Jean of Midland, Texas and by her daughter, Blanche Henderson Brick and her husband, Robert W. Brick of College Station, Texas.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Susan Askins and Richard Eanes (Rick) Henderson of Midland and Kathleen Brick, John and his wife, Jamee Brick of Houston. She has four great-grandchildren, Mason and Cooper Askins of Midland and Kendall Smith and her husband Russell of Midland and Hannah Grace Brick of Houston and one great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Ann Smith of Midland.

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families who she loved and cherished as part of her family.

She will be remembered by all who knew her as a kind, gracious and beautiful woman of great faith who was always willing to share in the joys and the sorrows of her family and friends. And she will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her warm smile and wonderful heart. She will be remembered as a virtuous woman “whose price is far above that of rubies.” ---Hillier Funeral Home.