The Andrew Jackson Byrd family

of Randolph County, Arkansas

Submitted & © 2001 by: Kenneth E. Byrd great grandson

This image was made from the original glass plate image owned by Mildred Mayme BYRD JENKINS (b. Sept. 19, 1914 Birdell, Randolph Co. AR), granddaughter of the sitting Andrew Jackson BYRD (b. Mar. 29, 1857 Pilot Knob, Iron Co. MO - d. Apr. 1, 1930, Morris Ranch, Gillespie Co. TX) and Mary Elizabeth SIMMONS BYRD (b. Jan. 15, 1862 Salem, Fulton Co. AR - d. Apr. 12, 1948 Morris Ranch, Gillespie Co. TX).  The children standing are Robert Weakley ("Dock") BYRD (b. Dec. 12, 1890 Ravenden Springs, Randolph Co. AR) and his sister Lelia Vi BYRD (b. Dec. 29, 1895 Ravenden Springs, Randolph Co. AR).  Based on the appearance of the children, the original image was probably made about 1901-1902, most likely in Pocahontas, but perhaps elsewhere in Randolph County.

Andrew Jackson BYRD and Mary Elizabeth SIMMONS were married July 12, 1882 in Ravenden Springs, Randolph Co. AR. Their first child, Mollie Naomi BYRD (b. Oct. 30, 1884 - d. Aug. 21, 1885 Ravenden Springs, Randolph Co. AR) died of diphtheria; family history tells of how the desperate parents, Andrew and Mary "..cut a lock of the baby's hair and augured a hole in an oak tree, placing the hair inside..." after then current medical treatments failed.

Andrew's father, William Carroll BYRD (b. Aug. 23, 1815 Byrd Creek, Stewart Co. TN - d. ~1875 Randolph Co. AR) lived near Brunot, Iron (earlier Wayne) Co. MO between 1849-1863 when he sold all of his land and moved to Randolph Co. AR.  He purchased his 160 acre farm at Ring, along Janes Creek in NW Randolph Co. AR on Oct. 19, 1867 from John and Hannah CANADA of Lawrence Co. AR.  William Carroll BYRD married his second wife, Chloe DAVIS LOONEY, in Walnut Hill, Randolph Co. AR on Dec. 24, 1868; his first wife (and mother of Andrew Jackson BYRD) Margaret Elizabeth JACKSON BYRD (b. Sept. 22, 1827 KY) had died sometime between March 1863 and this time, the exact time and place unknown.

Mary Elizabeth SIMMONS BYRD was born in Fulton Co. AR, in/near Pilot Hill (Salem), Benton Twp.  Her father, Alfred L. SIMMONS (b. May 31, 1838 FL - d. Nov. 15, 1864 AR? MO?), served in Co. I, 7th Arkansas Infantry CSA and died in 1864 (see http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1117/al_simon.html for more details).  Her mother, Martha Caroline BAILEY SIMMONS (b. June 15, 1840 AL - d. Mar. 3, 1896 Ravenden Springs, Randolph Co. AR) married Alfred on Aug. 7, 1859 probably in Fulton Co. AR.  After his death in 1864, Martha remarried to a man with the surname of ENNIS; before remarrying, family history states that Martha and her daughter Mary Elizabeth "...had to chop cotton for their very existence..".  Mr. ENNIS died in 1874, and Martha married her third husband, Marion Frances LAMB (b. Dec. 12, 1854 - d. ?) on Apr. 8, 1874.

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