Fifth Generation

233. Melvina HIGGINBOTHAM was born on 8 August 1822 in Dallas County, Alabama.⁹⁵ She died on 31 October 1906 at the age of 84 in Tarrant County, Texas.⁹⁵

U. S. Land Patent:
1 Apr 1843
Preemption Certificate #79
Issued to Abram Landers Byas of Claiborne County, Louisiana, at the office at Natichitoches, the SE quarter of Section 11, Township 18, Range nine , 159.36 acres

U.S. Land Parent
7 May 1848
Certificate #3134
To Abram Landers Byas of Claiborne Co, LA, the NE quarter of the SW quarter, Secion 9, Township 14, Range 8, 39.83 acres.

1850 Census. Western District, Bienville Parish, LA. Hh 125.
Abram L. Byas, age 35, b. TN. Melvina, age 28, b. Alabama
Children all born in Lousiana, of his first wife:
William and Thomas, both 12. Joseph 9. Richard 8. Jane 6.
Mary Stephens age 3 - Melvina's daughter by her first husband

An 1860 tax list transcribed online at Tarrant Co, USGenWeb, shows that an
?. L. Byas bought 320 acres from W. A. Dotty.
The 1860 census is lost for Tarrant Co.

A. L. Byas is on the 1863 and 1864 tax lists for Tarrant Co TX

Found on the the 1876 Voters List for Tarrant Co.
T. H. Byas, J. L. Byas, R. L. Byas. All lived in Precinct 3, and had been in Tarrant Co for 10 years. All born in Louisiana.

1870 Census. Tarrant Co TX, Prec 3; Hh 1048
A.L. Byas, age 50, b. AL. Melvina, age 40, b. Miss.
Pemelia, age 12, b. Tex.

Living next door was R. L. Byas, age 28, b. LA. Lucinda, age 25, b. ???. and Francis, male, age 3, b. Texas.
Others of this surname in Tarrant Co in 1870, included Thomas, age 31, b. LA and J. L. Byas, age 29, also b. LA.

1880 Census. Tarrant Co TX, Prec 3; Hh 116\
Abram L. Byos, age 68, b. TN, parents born in NC.
Melvina, age 57, b. Alabama, parents born in GA.

Also found in 1880: Joseph L. Byas, age 39, b. LA, father b. MS, mother b. SC
Thomas H. Byas, age 40, father b. MS, mother b. SC

1900 Census. Tarrant Co TX, Justice Prec 3. Hh 101
S. H. Thompson, b. Jun 1845, age 54, b. AL, father b. TN, mother b. AL
no wife is listed
Daughters: Anna, b. Mar 1872, age 28. Rosa, b. Mar 1877, age 22
Son Wm. R., b. May 1881, age 19
Daughters: Georgia May, b. Feb 1885, age 15, and Mary A., b. Mar 1887, age 12
their mother's birthplace given as Louisana.
David Siner was a boarder in the household
Melvina Byas, mother-in-law, b. Oct 1821, age 78. Said to have had one child, living. Said born Alabama, her parents born the same.

Buried Mount Gilead Baptist Cemetery - the first church organized in Tarrant Co in 1849. The parent church was the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church, established Feb 1846 in Denton County.
Melvina Byas: Aug 8, 1822 - Oct 31, 1906 "mother of Mrs. S. H. Thompson"
Landus Byas: Sandstone marker beside Melvina
R. Byas: Another sandstone marker about 15 feet north of Melvina's marker.
S. H. Thompson June 18, 1845 - Aug 19, 1923
Mary A. Thompson Oct 26, 1847 - Feb 14, 1899 [wife of SHT]

There is a Texas Death Certificate, #53974, Tarrant Co
Mrs. Melvina Byas, age 84, 2 months, 23 days, died on 31st of October 1906 at about 7:30 PM at her residence in Jelico. She died of anemia and old age and had been ill 7 days.

Melvina HIGGINBOTHAM and Charles STEVENS were married on 8 August 1843 in prob Kemper County, Mississippi.⁹⁵ Charles STEVENS died before 1849 in Bienville Parish, Lousiana.⁹⁵

Melvina HIGGINBOTHAM and Charles STEVENS had the following children:

Melvina HIGGINBOTHAM and Abram Landers BYAS were married on 13 August 1849 in Bienville Parish, Lousiana.⁹⁵ Abram Landers BYAS⁹⁵ was born (date unknown).

Melvina HIGGINBOTHAM and Abram Landers BYAS had the following children: