"The Fifes came from Scoltland between 1750-1800.
They migrated from Virginia to Georgia to Alabama." (from my mother's files).
We don't know if the Fifes came as a result of the upheavals there around
Bonnie Prince Charlie, or for other reasons.
J. O. only had one brother, James Harvey, who married
Mollie Kizer. I don't know if she was related to the Kizers around
Ladonia. They married in 1873, and best we can tell the Fifes didn't
come to Texas until 1880-1881 (there were in Miss for the 1880 census,
and J. O & Harriett's son Malcom Commander was born in Delta
Co., in 1881) We think James & Mollie settled Temple Texas; they're
there in the 1900 census.
J. O. and Nancy Harriett [nee Dunnum] married in Union
Co., Miss. in 1873. They had 18 children, according to their daughter,
Virginia, though I can only find names of 13. "Mutt" Fife - several
folks in Ladonia mentioned him when I was there this week - was J. O.'s
grandson (son Robert Cornelius > grandson Robert C. "Mutt" Fife).
There were 4 children born in Delta Co., and 3 in Hunt Co. One, Harriet
Lela, married Clifford Threlkeld; there's a stained glass window in the
Presbyterian church in Ladonia dedicated to their memory. I have
the names and birthdates (and some marriages) of the other children if
you're interested)
J. O. was in the 3rd Alabama Cavalry. Before
the war, he was an overseer on a plantation; after the war he was a farmer.
Nancy Harriett's obituary:
Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Harrett [sic] Fife,
96, will be held Thursday afternoon ad 2:30 in the First Methodist Church.
Mrs. Fife died Tuesday at 6:25 p.m. at her home
on 1309 Chestnut St. in Commerce, where she had lived for the past 28 years.
Born in Union Co., Miss. on Dec. 23, 1852, she
was married to Joseph Oliver Fife on Dec. 18, 1879. They moved to
Texas in 1880.
She is survived by 4 generations, including
151 descendants, 139 which are still living. Surviving are 6 children,
Mrs. Virgie [Fife] White, Mrs. Hattie Threlkeld, and Archie Fife, Commerce;
Mrs. Pearl Kizer and Robert Fife, Ladonia; and Oscar Fife, Carnegie, Ok.
Other survivors are 53 grandchildren 76 great
grand children and 10 great, great grandchildren.
Rev. Carl Reynolds, Methodist pastor at Cooper,
Rev. Franz Alford, pastor of the Commerce Christian Church, and Rev. Claude
Sipsoon, pastor of the 1st Methodist Church, will conduct the services.
Burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetary in
Ladonia with the Sheely Funeral Home in charge.
Pallbearers will be grandsons of Mrs. Fife.
They are Lee Oliver White, R. C. Fife, Quincy Threlkeld, Jim Kizer, L.
C. Threlkeld and Waldo Anderson.
View
Their Tombstone
Joseph Oliver's Obituary:
J. O. Fife died age 77 on April 27, 1916.
"Up until a few months before his death, was in active health. "He was
a good man and a true Christian and one of the best citizens we have ever
known." Member Methodist church and "a loyal worker for the cause
of Christ." Funeral services at Methodist Church by Rev. Hubbard
of Yowell and buried in IOOF cemetary @ Ladonia, TX. "
Fannin County TXGenWeb
