This letter was written by Catherine Cordelia Lumpkin to her niece in 1965 when she was in her eighties:

This is a testimony of the generations of our family as well as I can remember as I listened to my father John Houston Lumpkin and my mother Amanda Elizabeth Brantley Lumpkin talk. I loved to listen as I always loved history, this is what I learned.

My great grandfather, Mr. Lumpkin, moved from Ireland when William Russelll Rice Lumpkin was a baby, about 1812. William R. R. grew up and married Catherine Houston. John Houston was the oldest son of seven children. Their names were: Margaret, John Houston, Rhoda C., William Baldwin, Kate, Mary Childress and Martha Gillespie.

When Mr. Lumpkin came from Ireland, they settled in Georgia where he bought a plantation and had slaves. When William R.R. was about 9 years old, about 1821, his father sold his land in Georgia and moved to Albabama. He brought part of his slaves to Alabama, bought more land and farmed.

When John Houston Lumpkin was about 12 years old, in 1857, William R.R sold out in Alabama and went to Augusta, Arkansas, a town on the White River, where he bought a farm.

When John Houston was 16 years old, in 1861, he volunteered to go to the army during the Civil War, he stayed in the army for 3 years, when he came home 2 of his sisters had died from Marial fever, then he taken the Marial fever, that is why he was crippled in one leg fever fell in his leg left him a cripple, then his mother and father taken the fever and passed away. So Father taken what was left of the children to Yellville, Arkansas where his headquarters was stationed. So that is why he met up with the Brantleys married your grandma Amanda Elizabeth Brantley. Of their family was 9, Laura Amy, Frank, Lucy Ann, Artelia, myself and your daddy Tom Houston, Charlie, Mary and Bettie. Your Grandpa John was high tempered but was good and honest, so was your Daddy, he had a temper but was good and honest is ever one was, he was petted by most all the folks. He was named after his Grandpa Tom Brantley also had an Uncle Tom. I kinly got out of line here. I'll tell you what your Grandpa Lumpkin's sisters names was. Aunt ate, Aunt Margret, they was the one that had passed away when he come home from the army. Aunt Rhoda, Uncle Willie Baldwin, Aunt Mary Childress Aunt Martha Glasby, Aunt Rhoda and Aunt Martha married mothers brothers. Uncle Jim and Unce Ace Brantley. Your Aunt Cordelia

Laura Amy Lumpkin b., Jan 1877 Arkansas, never married.

William Franklin Lumpkin, b., 1878 Arkansas and died before 1900.

Catherine Cordelia Lumpkin, born Sept. 1880 in Arkansas and died in MO.

Thomas Houston Lumpkin b. 5 May 1883 in Arkansas married Martha Lucretia Starkey (sister of Ella Starkey who married Charles W. Lumpkin.)b. 1885 in Springfield MO.

Charles William Lumpkin, b. 14 Mar 1887 Arkansas married Ella Starkey b.31 Mar 1890 MO.

Martha and Ella Starkey were dau's. of William Frankly Starkey and Emma Viola Sanders.

Artelia Lumpkin, b., Jan.1891 Arkansas.

Lucy Ann Lumpkin b. and died in Arkansas before 1900.

Mary Lumpkin, b. and died in Arkansas before 1900.

Betty Lumpkin, b. and died in Arkansas before 1900.

During the land rush days into the Indian Territory the John Lumpkin family decided to move and settled down in Stephens County, Oklahoma

John Houston Lumpkin fought with Thompson's Battalion during the Civil War also was with Price's and Shelbys command in the Cavalry. He surrendered at Jacksonport with Thompson's Battalion.

Duncan Brantley came from England and went from VA,NC,TN toArkansas with three of his sons. They were all farmers.

Duncan Brantley was born in 1790 and married Ann (?) b. 1790 in Va. their children: Zachariah Brantley b. 1814 in NC.

Benjamin b. 1820 in NC

Thomas Brantley b. 1823 in NC.

Frances Katherine b. 1833 in TN.

Robert A. b. 1835 in TN

In 1850 they were in Fulton Co. Arkansas in 1860 they were living in and around Yellville, Ar.

Zachariah married Lydia Wilson b. 1814 in NC their children:

Louisa b. 1845 in TN

Sarah Jane b. 1847 in TN

Frances b. 1848 in TN

Jasper b. 1850 in TN

Lucinda b. 1853 in TN

Newton b. 1854 in Ar.

Catherine b. 1855 in Ar

Caroline b. 1856 in Ar

Adeline b. 1857 in Ar

Emeline b. 1858 in Ar information off of 1860 Census Emeline was 1 yr. so there may have been more children.

Benjamin F. Brantley married Elizabeth Hicks b. 1826 in NC. Their

children:

Cynthia b. 1845 in TN

William b. 1847 in TN

Wylie Houston b. 1849 in TN

Melvin b. 1851 in Ar

Paralee J. b. 1853 in Ar

Bythain B. b. 1855 in Ar

Moses C. b. 1856 in Ar

Walter C. b. 1860 in Ar. I could be missing more children

Thomas Brantley married Anna Amy Eaton b. 1822 in IL. Their childrlen:

Amanda Elizabeth b. 1843 in AR

William F. b. 1850 in AR

Julia b. 1852 in AR

Mary J. 1854 in AR

James T. b. 1855 in AR

Walter b. 1857 in AR

Lavinia b. 1858 in AR probably more children

Thomas BRANTLEY remarried after the death of his first wife Amy (Eaton). He married for the second time Sarah (Thomas) b. in Ar. 1835, and had these children.

Asa R. b. 1859

(Nancy) Catherine b. 1869

Elizabeth 1865

Shearman 1868

Thomas 1870

The children of Amy and Thomas by the name of Walter and Lavinia Brantley must have died as they are not listed in the 1870 census and were only 1 & 3 years old at that time. Asa R. may be Sarah's by a former marriage.

I descend from John Houston and Elizabeth Brantley. Their sonThomas was my grandfather and passed away in.Modesto, California. His son James Houston Lumpkin b. in Stephens Co. Ok. was my father he died in Modesto in 1997.

Submitted by Sharon 'Lumpkin' Staton

P.S. As I gather more information I will add to this.

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