The Derr family - Montgomery Co., AR
John C. Derr with at least six children came to Montgomery Co. from Giles Co., Tennessee before 1860. John C.'s father, James, came to Tennessee from Pennsylvania before 1816. One of those ten children was my great grandmother, Verlinda C. (Malinda on the various census pages) DERR STANDRIDGE, wife of Warren Samuel Heddon Standridge. She appears to be the last child that survived to adulthood of John C. Derr and his first wife, Jane. Among Verlinda's sisters were: Eliza Jane DERR GOODNER, wife of Guilford Dudley Goodner; Sarah DERR COX, wife of William J. Cox and murdered by her brother-in-law, John Randolph Cox; Martha Ann DERR SMITH, second wife of Samuel Mitchell Smith. Reference: Dixie.
Two of grandmother's brothers, William Pryor Derr and John Massey Derr, joined the "Caddo Rifles" Co. C. 4th Arkansas Infantry with John Randolph Cox who was discharged Dec. 1861. J.R. did not participate in any battles. At the Battle of Elk Horn William P. Derr was shot in the hand and breast but recovered and was discharged. John M. Derr was present at the battles of Elk Horn, Richmond, KY., Murfreesboro, absent at Jackson, but present at Chickamauga and finally absent without leave.
William J. Cox b. 5 July 1838 and Moses Charchoch Cox b.1845 both served in Co. I. 33rd AR Inf. CSA and were brothers, the sons of George R. Cox, who settled in the Black Springs area in the 1850s at Cox Springs. They also had another brother who was in the Civil War, John Randolph Cox. He was hanged about 1863 in the street at Black Springs, for killing his girl friend, as he went into a rage when he came home and found her married to his brother William J. Cox. Posted 21 Sept. 1999 Olena.
Mary E. Derr 19 m Guilford D. Goodner 20 15 Dec 1859 Bk A pg 144 Sarah J. Deer 19 m William J. Cox 22 10 Jan 1861 Bk A pg 161 John C. Derr 43 m Sarah Partaint 28 20 May 1861 Bk A pg 165 William A. Derr 21 m Lucinda Royall 19 30 Jun 1861 Bk A pg 167 Martha Ann Derr 16 m Samuel M. Smith 30 13 Feb 1863 Bk A pgs 181 & 189
Naomi A. Malvina Goodner b. 21 May, 1837 Wayne Co, TN was a sister to Guildford. Their parents were John Cunningham Goodner and Susannah Smith. After Naomi died her husband, S.M. Smith, married Martha Derr sister-in-law to Guilford. Guildford's son James David Goodner b. 1869 m. Verlindia Isabelle Standridge b. 31 Aug. 1869 in Mt. Ida. V.I.S. grand uncle, Ansel (b. 1814), was a brother to Samuel Standridge Jr. (b. abt. 1881) Warren's father. Warren married Martha's sister. Margaret Eliza Goodner b. 22 Nov 1896 Mena, Polk, Arkansas. Her parents were James D. and Verlindia Goodner. Verlindia died 18 Jan. 1937 in Edmond, Ok.
Warren Samuel Heddon STANDRIDGE b. June 8, 1854 in GA, died Aug. 5, 1929 in Opal, Polk County, AR. Source: Death certificate. Verlinda C. Derr Standridge b. Nov. 4, 1857 in AR, died Aug. 21, 1927 in Opal, Polk County, AR. Source: Headstone. Both Warren and Verlinda are buried in the Lower Big Fork Cemetery near Opal. They were married sometime in 1870. Verlinda was thirteen years old. Warren was seventeen. They had nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity. All but one, Gilford, who died when he was two in TX, are buried in the Lower Big Fork Cemetery.
Children of Verlinda and Warren Samuel Standridge: Gilford born in TX d. age two, buried in Graham, TX Louisa (Luiza) Jane b. Nov. 19 1874 TX d. Nov 7 1907 Texarkana, AR Honora (Honor) b. Sept. 6 1877 TX d. Sept.16 1967 Mena, AR William Robert (Bob) b. 1883 (TX OK AR?) d. 1962 Pine Ridge, AR Ollie (daughter) b. April 19 1885 AR d. Mar. 14 1985 Mena, AR Albert Harrison b. June 22 1889 AR d. May 19 1962 Fayetteville, AR Samuel Cooper b. April 19 1891 AR d. July 13 1981 AR, Ross Lee b. Mar. 7 1894 AR d. Oct. 2 1918 France, Veteran of WWI Drew Earl b. Feb. 24 1897 AR d. Apr. 1985 Mena, AR
The exact location of William Robert (Bob) Standridge's birth is unknown. I was
told by my father, Ralph Gipson Standridge (Gip), that Grandpa was born in a covered wagon
during the family's return trip to Arkansas after several years in Texas.
Luiza first married Major Wimberly then P. Davis Mays. Honor married ? Hughes; William
Robert 1st married grandmother Emmaline (Emma) Morris of Opal, 2nd - Mary Elizabeth
(Lizzie) Kizer Stamey of Black Springs, 3rd - Charity (Chat) Goodner Lawrence of Pine
Ridge; Ollie married Tom Foster of Mountain Fork. Information courtesy of
Dixie. Posted 27 Oct. 2000.
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Guilford Dudley GOODNER b. 1-2-1839, Wayne Co., TN. d. 5-19-1917, Altus ,OK. Interred in local cemetery in Altus. At the age of 3, in 1842, the family moved to Tippah Co., Miss. In 1851, then removed to Montgomery Co., Ark. He, Guilford aged 20 married Mary Eliza Derr, age 19, Dec.15, 1859, in Montgomery Co., Ark. Mary Eliza was born 5-4-1840, Giles Co., Tenn., and died Oct. of 1936, interment in Altus in the local cemetery. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church before her marriage, later a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and then in 1885 again rejoined the M.E. Church. They had twelve children, eleven of whom reached maturity. All the sons were born in Montgomery County. Guilford was in Co. F. 4th AR Inf. during the Civil War. He was released from service by the disbanding of troops at Lewisburg, Ark., in May of 1865, after the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9th, 1865. He then returned to his old home in Montgomery Ark., and remained there until 1868, when he removed to Bell Co., Texas, remaining there until 1871, when he returned to his old home in Montgomery Co., Ark. and with exception of a few months teaching school, and about a year as County Clerk, he farmed most of his life. He was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk in January of 1873, and held that position until he was elected clerk in November of 1874, retaining that office until Oct 31, 1890. He then moved to Jackson County, Okla., residing near Altus, where he stayed until the summer of 1901, when he moved to the town of Altus. His home there was destroyed by fire, but he re-built immediately. He also clerked in a store and in the Post Office, and engaged in the insurance business for a time. From John D. Goodner & Hubert Wesley Lacy book The Goodner Family. Photo of Mary and her children on page 774 Montgomery County: Our Heritage Vol. II. The Goodner family migrated east from Guildford Co. NC.
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Samuel Mitchell SMITH came from Tennessee about Oct.1851. Looks like he came in the wagon train with the Goodner's. He m. Naomi Ann Malvina Goodner 23 Jun 1853 in Montgomery Co., AR. Their children included: Josiah Milton b. 1855, John Guilford b. 1856, John Henry b. 1857, & Williamson Lawton b. 1860. Samuel age 30, married 2nd Martha Ann Derr age 16, on 13 Feb 1863 in Mt Ida. They had one child Mary Jane Smith b. ca 1864. Mary Jane married Charles Laird on 22 Apr 1880 at Mt Ida. Martha passed from life, her death occurring in October, 1864. Samuel Mitchell Smith married 3rd Mary Ann Fryar on 1 Oct 1865 at Mt Ida, Montgomery Co., AR. Seven children. Samuel and Martha's children include: Mary Jane b. 1864, Thomas O. b. 1866, Elizabeth b. 1868, Samuel L. b. 1870, Susanna Hanna b. 1872, Granville Whittington Smith b. 1876, Alfred Fulton b. 1879, and possibly Martha Almeda b. 1880. Samuel's fourth marriage was to Miss Martha A. "Mary" Nobles on 5 Aug. 1888 at Mt Ida. She was 30 when she married. She died at the age of thirty-one. It is reported that Sam owned and tilled the soil where the town of Oden, Ark. now stands. S.M. Smith Sept. 10, 1830 - Feb. 14, 1902 and Mary A. Smith Aug. 15 1848 - Dec. 13, 1883? are buried at the Mount Ida Cemetery.
Montgomery Co. AR. Federal Land Records
DERR JOHN C 2 3S 27W 0 1860/07/02
DERR JOHN C 2 3S 27W 0 1860/07/02
DERR JOHN C 2 3S 27W 159.68 1860/07/02Looks like the place was situated on Bill Hill Creek near county road 5505 about ten miles SW of Mt Ida probably Big Fork Twp. Wm. Derr was assessed for taxes in South Fork Twp. and John C. Derr was assessed for taxes in Big Fork Township, Montgomery Co. 1872. 1870s & 1880s there was a Derr family around Pine Ridge.
On November 30, 1866 Elender Strawn [nee Earp] and William P. Derr were appointed exec'rs of the estate of Fielding Strawn d. 2 Oct 1866. Fielding Strawn, age 53, married Elender Beaty, age 33, on 18 Nov 1855 in Montgomery Co. She was the widow of William Robert Beaty, who had died about 1853 [25 Oct. 1852] in Montgomery Co. AR
Fielding STRAWN died leaving the surviving persons, to wit:
Herself as widow
Rachel NELSON, wife of Arch Nelson
Sophronia SMITH
dau. Geneva STRAWN
dau. Melinda STRAWN
dau. Martha STRAWN
Fielden STRAWN
dau. Harriet HUGHEN, wife of George Hughen
(children and one grandchild)
Receipt: On 15 Jun 1874 G.W. Anderson signed a receipt "for the full amount of my interest in the W.R. Baty estate." The name Beaty is spelled Baty in this receipt.Receipt: On 11 May 1874 W.S. Hickey of Millwood, Collin Co. TX, signed for his interest in the W.R. Batey estate, paid by Elender Strawn.
The Strawns arrived in Montgomery Co. c.1840. Fielding Strawn b. 1804 N.C. married his second wife Ellender Earp Batey in 1855 in Montgomery Co. They had three daughters. He died Oct 2, 1866 and was buried in the apple orchard of his family home near Caddo Gap. His wife and daughters Geneva, Amanda and Martha Washington Strawn settled in Collins Co. TX before 1870. Ellender's daughters from her previous marriage moved with them. Pamelia Catherine Batey had wed William Pryor "Bill" Derr c. 1860. Sarah [Susan] Jane had wed George W. Anderson and Malinda "Linnie" Batey had wed William Shelby Hickey. Geneva wed Benjamin Tannehill. In 1875 Ellender moved to Earth Co. TX. Reference: Montgomery County: Our Heritage Vol. II page 950
ID: I1781 World Connect Project
Name: William "Bill" Prior DERR
Birth: 15 Oct. 1838 in TN Died 13 May 1908 Altus, Jackson Co. OK. ?d. 5-13-1908 Comanche Co. OK
Census: 1880 Soundex Collin Co., TX
Marriage 1 Catherine Pemelia Beaty (Permete Catherine "Meaty" Batey) b: Feb 1844 in Bedford CO., TN.
Married: 6 Jun 1860 in Caddo Gap, Montgomery Co., AR. Died: 1936. They bought land in Altus Township, Greer Co. in 1897 and later moved to Jefferson Co. William and Catherine's son, Dr. John Issac Derr, lived near Waurika around 1930s and 1940s. Children:
Robert Wm. b: 17 Jul 1863 in Mt. Ida, AR
Lydia
Charles G. b: 1866 in TX
Nova G. (Ted) b: 1 Apr 1869 probably AR
Lueder (Lula) b: 1869 in TX
Cornelia b: 1871 in TX
John C. b: 1873 in in TX
Collin M. b: 1874 in TX
Melvin K. b: 1879 in TX
Cora Belle b: 23 Oct 1881 in Farmersville, Dallas Co., TX.
Minnie b: 22 Aug 1884 in TX
Claudis Ianthe b: 14 Aug 1887 in TXCheck Census: 1900 Census Indian Territory, OK (Altus Twp, Jackson Co. OK) for R.W. Derr, W.P. Derr & G.D. Goodner
Check Census: 1850 District 10, page 504 Giles Co. TN for Derr family & page 505 for Massey family. Unable to locate John C. Derr by the census index for TN & AR. Maybe living with another family in AR.
John C. Derr is reported to have died in 1893. We don't know that John C. Derr and his wives are buried in unmarked graves just fearful that they are. If they are, indeed, unmarked, we may never find their burial sites. The Montgomery County Arkansas Cemeteries book does not list any Derr as such but on page A2 "Derr Cemetery: 17 graves marked only by fieldstones. According to Russell Baker, Mrs Pearl Kiser said this was a Standridge cemetery. Elmer Simpson said he and Edsel Kiser maintained the cemetery while Edsel was living. He has only heard it called the Derr Cemetery." Maybe John C. Derr and his two wives are buried somewhere close to the Cox family in the the Sulphur Springs area /Alf Community in extreme western Montgomery County.
Wife # l: Mary JANE Derr maiden name unknown probably MASSEY b. 1818 in TN married John C. c.1836. She died about 1860. Jane, age 42, per June 1860 census; died prior to John C.'s marriage to Sarah on May 20, 1861. John Derr, age one, died April 1860, Mortality Schedule. So it looks like Jane did not die from childbirth.
Wife #2: According to the Montgomery Co. lists of marriages, Book A., pg. 165, John C. Derr, age 43, married SARAH PARTAINT age 28 on February 2, 1861. Dixie's ggrandmother always referred to her stepmother as Sally, a common nickname for Sarah.
William Robert Derr b. June 17, 1863 at Mount Ida later went to Texas, a farmer and gin owner, then to Greer Co. TX in 1888 that was eventually given to Oklahoma. Deputy Sheriff for Greer C., OK until 1902. William "Bob" "W.R." and family including son Henry and at least 33 families and 9 single men moved to Chamal, Tamalipas, Mexico in 1903 by train and established the farming community of Blalock Colony. The Derr family was in the first expedition in March 1903. They were forced to leave during the Madero Revolution and Murdoch and Minerva Catherine Cameron settled between Pharr and McAllen, Texas. The rest scattered over TX and OK.
Butch wrote Oct. 13th, 2000: "I have that William Robert died Jan 1, 1941 in a special hospital (Indian Camp Plantation Hospital now the National Hansen's Disease Center) in Carville, Iberville Parish, LA. One of my aunts told me this information and said he was buried on the grounds of the hospital. As for Sallie, I believe she is the Sally DERR buried in the Roselawn Cemetary here in McAllen, TX. Her grave is just one row over from the graves of my two grandmothers, Granpa DERR and my father and mother. If this is so, she died November 17, 1957. I remember her well and she did live a long life." R.W. Derr m. Sallie TEETER b. Oct 1864 in Terrell, TX.
1900 United States Federal Census Greer, Oklahoma
Sallie Derr, Age: 36 Birth Year: abt 1864 born 224 Oct. 1864
John C. Derr, Age: 27 Birth Year: abt 1873
Nova (Novie) S Derr, Age: 21 Birth Year: abt 1879
Cora Derr, Age: 18, Greer, Oklahoma b. 23 Oct. 1881
Minnie Derr, Age: 15, Greer, Oklahoma abt 1885
Mertie Ann Derr, Age: 15 Birth Year: abt 1885 m. John Talley
Claudie (Claudia) Derr, Age: 12 Greer, Oklahoma abt 1888
Henry Albert (?Alfred) Derr, Age: 12 Birth Year: abt 1888
Siddie Derr, Age: 10 Birth Year: abt 1890
Barnie (Barney Paul) Derr, Age: 8 Born 20 April 1892 m. Gladys M. Bogle
Minerva Catherine Derr, Age: 6 Born: 9 May 1894 Died 10 April 1991 m. Murdoch Cameron
Collin M Derr, Age: ukn Birth Year: abt 1900Surname variations: Derr, Durr, Darr & Deer
DERR
John C. b. 1818 TN
Jane (wife) b. 1818 TN d. ?1860
William Pryor b. 1838 Oct 15 Giles Co. TN d. May 13 1908 OK
Mary Eliza b. 1840 May 4 Giles Co. TN d. Oct 1936 m. Goodner
Sarah J. b. 1842 TN d. 1863 m. W.J. Cox
John Massey b. 1843 May 28 TN d. May 26 1908 m. Mattie "Matt" Mertie Teeter
Melissa b. 1846 TN m. Bush
Martha Ann b. 1847 TN
Phillip b. 1849 AR
Emily b. 1851 AR m. McIver
Drury b. 1855 AR
Malinda(Verlinda) b. 1857 Nov 4 AR d. Aug 24 1927 Polk Co. AR
John b. 1859 AR d. Apr 1860 Montgomery Co. AR
John C. Derr m. Sarah Partain Feb 1861 in Montgomery Co.
Sarah (wife) b. 1833
Gen Lee b. 1864 AR
Norah L b. 1869 AR Sept.
1840 Giles Co. census only one John C. Derr listed as Head of Household with:
2 M btw the ages of 0 - 5
1 M btw 20 -30
1 F btw 0 - 5
1 F btw 20 - 30
1850 not in Montgomery Co. but in AR. Where? Maybe living with the Massey family or missed by the census taker. Not listed as head of household in TN, AR or KY.
1860 Big Fork Twp Montgomery Co. AR
page 19 family 187 dwelling 198
Derr, John C 42 TN Farmer
Jane 42 TN
Sarah 18 TN
John 17 TN Farm Laborer
Melissa 14 TN
Martha 13 TN
Phillip 11 AR
Emily 9 AR
Drury 5 AR
Malinda 3 AR
198 185
Derr, William 21 TN Farmer
1870 Big Fork Township Montgomery Co. AR
Mt Ida P.O. page 1 family 177 dwelling 195
Derr, John 51 abt 1819 TN Farmer
Sarah 35 abt 1835 TN
Elizabeth 18 abt 1852 AR
Emily 17 abt 1853 AR
Drusy 15 abt 1855 AR (male)
Malinda 12 abt 1858 AR
Gen Lee 6 abt 1864 AR
Norah L 8/12 abt 1869 ARCaddo Township page 5 family 234 dwelling 234
Massy, Joseph 52 TN Farmer
Sarah A. 27 TN
Fannie 6 AR
Mattie 1 AR
Stafford, Robert 16 MS Farm Laborer
Derr, Malinder 12 abt 1858 AR Domestic Servant
The 1880 lists only a John C. Derr age 72 wife Sarah 54, son Lee G. age 15, and daughter Nora age 9. This is the same family listed for the 1870 census. The birth date for Sarah does not tally but I checked the census myself, it is 54. The census day was 14 June 1880. Their neighbors included Standridge, Reynolds, Mays, Cox and Abernathy.
John's parents -
Father's birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's birthplace: Tennessee1860 South Fork Twp, 123/107 John C. Goodner 57 NC Susannah 55 NC Gilford 21 TN 125/110 Gilford Goodner 21 AR Mary E. 20 TN Amos Ridge 27 AL Elinor Ridge 25 AL Sarah M. Ridge 6 ARand listed on another page in a kind a strange way
--- Polk Township --- 33 -- -- S - 883 Ridge William G 4 AR (none given) John H 2 AR " "33 127 112 Goodner John G 24 TN Farmer Ardena 18 MS Martha 1 AR Note Gilford appeared on the census twice for 1860 and Malinda twice in 18701880 South Fork Twp 57/57 Goodner, G.D. 41 TN GA TN county clerk Mary E 40 TN TN TN John C 19 AR Alfred B 13 AR James D 11 Samuel F 9 Joseph K 5 Guilford 4 Drury L 1In checking the DERR family in 1900, 1910 and 1920 Montgomery Co., AR. we did not find a census on them. So they seem to disappear somewhere from 1890 to 1900. In 1890 Tax Receipt Book J.C. Derr is still in Big Fork Township, where he paid tax on 40 acres on April 6, 1890. Part of Sect. SWSW S2 T3 R27 valued at $50.00 in School District #25 which was Sulphur Springs School Dist.
Now we list the Derr name with those that have disappeared from Montgomery County, AR.
Federal Census records
Montgomery Co. courthouse records
Montgomery Co. ARGenWeb lookup volunteers
The Goodner Family book
Montgomery County: Our Heritage Vol. II
World Connect Project
Derr Message Board
From a book about Jackson County. Item by Edna
Goodner Morris, Arlington, Virginia.
Goodner
Alfred's parents were Mary Eliza DERR and Guilford Dudley GOODNER.
In 1901 G.D.
Goodner was JP of
Greer County, OK Territory.
Jackson Co. OK was created in 1907 from Greer Co. OK. Greer Co.,
became part of Oklahoma, in 1895.
On July 15, 1890, eleven people in four covered wagons left Mt. Ida for old Greer county. Between them and their destination lay five hundred miles of almost trackless prairie, most of it in Indian Territory. Included in the eleven member group were:
Alfred and Theodosia (Williamson) Goodner and their child, Della Mae.
James and Verlinda (Standridge) Goodner and their two sons, Elmer and Jesse.
Samuel Goodner
Joseph Goodner
Guilford Ross Goodner
Dury Lavender Goodner
They crossed the Choctaw Nation but moved into Texas near Denison. After six weeks they crossed Red River at Doans Store and made their ways to Bill Derr's homestead three miles north of the present town of Altus.
Alfred and Theodosia Goodner were the parents of eight children:
Della Mae
Jefferson Guilford
Mary Viola
Earl Williamson
Julia Christine
Marvin Ernest
Eda Ruanna
Annie Ernestine
I would like to thank Butch, great-grandson of William Robert Derr, his email caught my interest and started the wheel rolling to create this webpage and a big thank you to Dixie for contributing data, reviewing this page and for her encouraging words. Additional data, corrections, photographs are welcomed.
Montgomery County ARGenWeb Project
Updated February 23, 2023
