Sallie Larzalere Lucinda Beach Gardner1,2

b. 13 April 1831, d. 28 August 1889
Sallie (Gardner) McCamant (repaired)
photo courtesy Gladys Dillard
FatherJeremiah Caleb Gardner3 b. 1 Nov 1799, d. abt 1872
MotherMargaret Montgomery Edmiston3 b. 7 Mar 1804, d. abt 1866
Birth13 Apr 1831 Sallie Larzalere Lucinda Beach Gardner was born on 13 Apr 1831 in Washington County, Virginia.1,4 
  She was named for her father's sisters Sarah (Gardner) Larzalere and Lucinda (Gardner) Beach. 
Childhood  Sallie spent her childhood with her parents and siblings, first in Washington County and then in neighboring Smyth County.5,6 
Migration  In the early 1850s Sallie's parents migrated to Texas, taking their youngest children with them. They settled northeast of present day Dallas, in the vicinity of Lamar and Hunt Counties.7 
Marriage19 Dec 1855 She married Alexander Smith McCamant, son of Samuel McCamant and Matilda Dickenson, on 19 Dec 1855 in Lamar County, Texas.8,1 
  Alexander was originally from Grayson County, Virginia. Two of Alexander's brothers married two of Sallie's sisters in the years following Alexander and Sallie's marriage.  
Cens-186025 Jul 1860 In 1860 the young couple was enumerated farming in Hunt County. Alexander reported that he owned real estate worth $1,000 and personal property of the same value. Two children had joined the family: 3 year old Margaret and 2 year old William.9 
Occupation Alexander served as surveyor of Hunt County before moving the family to "the Paluxy" in 1861 [the Paluxy River flows through present day Hood County. Hood Co. was part of Johnson County until 1866].10 
Military Alexander joined Co. A, 14th Brigade of the Confederate Army during the Civil War and was assigned to protect the frontier against the Indians.11,12 
Residencecirca 1866  The family moved to Granbury when Hood county was organized. Alexander had been elected clerk of the county court and Granbury was to be the county seat.13 
  However tragedy struck the family in the summer and fall of 1867 when 3 of their children died during a three month period.14 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870  The 1870 census for Hood County provides a snapshot of the family at that time. Two children born after the 1860 census were listed along with William (age 10): Sam (age 6) and Myrtle (age 2). Alexander listed his occupation as "CG clerk" and stated that he owned real property worth $500 and personal property of the same amount.15 
  The household was also enumerated as though it included Alexander's brother John, and Sallie's sister India, who had married in 1858. In reality, India died in August 1870, but the census taker did not reach the family until September and following census rules he recorded the household as it stood on June 1st. 
Anecdote  Family tradition tells a story about Sallie having a close call with the Indians in the 1870s. As the story goes, Sallie and 2 of her sisters were near the Paluxy River southwest of Camanche Peak when a report circulated that a Comanche raiding party was approaching from the south. The women and their children took refuge in a stone house near the river [possibly the home of Susan Gardner McCamant]. Several days passed with no sign of the Indians so Sallie went to the creek to wash some clothes. The wind was blowing and she did not hear a lone brave approach her from behind. He grasped her bonnet with one hand and raised his scalping knife with the other. At that moment the men who had been trailing the raiding party rode up and began shooting at the Indian who quickly retreated, but not before separating Sallie from both her bonnet and most of her long hair.16 
Residencecirca 1877  Sallie and Alexander left Hood County and moved to Jones County, Texas, circa 1877.17 
Death28 Aug 1889 Sallie died on 28 Aug 1889 at Ft. Phantom Hill just north of Abilene in Jones County, Texas. She was 58.18,4 
Burial She was buried at Ft. Phantom Hill Cemetery in Jones County.18,4 

Research Comment:

Alexander and Sallie's 1880 census entry escaped me for some time. When I finally found them in Jones Co. I discovered that the enumeration had been badly misrecorded. The household was listed as: Ellick McCamit, 40, occupation: Frating [?], b. TX; Sarah, 35, wife, keeping house, b. TN; Dodd, 16, son, Stock Herder, b. TX; Sarah, 11, dau, b. TX; Samuel, 9, son, b. TX.19

Related Links and Images:

Click on the camera icon to see the larger photo from which the image of Sallie at the top of this page was cropped. The larger photo is not retouched
Find Lamar County on the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page). Sallie's family first settled here when they migrated to Texas and Sallie and Alexander married in Lamar Co.
By 1860 they were in Hunt County which you can also locate on the map. Also look for Hood County and Jones County.

Family

Alexander Smith McCamant b. 19 Jan 1829, d. 31 Mar 1897
Children
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited7 Jan 2014

Citations

  1. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Bible included a list of children (all in the same script and apparently copied from an earlier record) for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson which contained this entry: Sallie Lizalier Lucinda Gardner was born April 13, 1831, married Alexander S. McCamant.
  2. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner notes that the name Lizalier was spelled a variety of ways including Larzalere.
  3. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. Birth data for Caleb Boudish Gardner and Elizabeth Graham, as well as for Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmondson was recorded in the 1859 Lansdown-Gardner Bible. A list of children followed under the title: "Children and grandchildren of the above". The list included (surname Gardner): Mary Elizabeth Graham, Thomas Edmondson, Margaret Jane Buchanan, Sallie Lizalier Lucinda Beach, Susan Wells Sanders, Caleb Graham, India Campbell, Hattie Virginia Montgomery and Jeremiah Walter Clark.
  4. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Jan. 2013). Sallie McCamant memorial, Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery, Phantom Hill, Jones Co., TX (entry includes photo of stone: "Sallie McCamant born Apr 13, 1831, died Aug. 28, 1883").
  5. [S679] Jeremiah C. Gardner household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 17 (original scipt) followed by p. 215 stamped, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 33 of 115. Household includes: 1 male under 5; 1 male 10-14; 1 male 20-29; 1 male 40-49; 1 female under 5; 2 females 5-9; 2 females 10-15; 1 female 20-29; 1 female slave 10-24.
  6. [S465] Jeremiah C. Gardner household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., District 60, p. 199 stamped (following), dwelling 573, family 580, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 88 of 169. Enumeration reads: Jeremiah C. Gardner, 50, b. NY, farmer; Margaret, 42; Mary E., 24; Thomas E. 22; Margaret J., 20; Sallie L., 18; Susan W., 16; Caleb G., 14; India C., 11; Virginia, 9; Jeremiah W., 4; all b. VA.
  7. [S1656] "Tom Rattan letter, undated", Ollie Gardner - Texas Confederate Widow's pension application no. 43538, Texas State Archives, Austin, Texas.
  8. [S3051] Lamar Co. Texas Marriage Records 1842-1858: 163, microfilm no. 1,293,614, Family History Library. A.S. McCamant and Sallie Gardner married 19 Dec. 1855 by W.A. Provine, a Minister of the Gospel.
  9. [S1551] Alexander S. McCamant household, 1860 U.S. census, Hunt Co., Texas, pop. sched., Beat 4, p. 315 stamped (next page after), dwelling 354, family 353, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 28 of 35. Enumeration includes: Alexander S. McCamant, 31, b. VA, farmer, owns real estate $1,000, pers. prop $1,000; Sarah, 26, b. VA; Margaret, 3, b. TX; William E., 2. b. TX.
  10. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 27.
  11. [S1644] History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 29.
  12. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Aug. 2013). Alexander Smith McCamant memorial #48000023, Fort Phantom Hill Cemetery, PHantom Hill, Jones County, Texas. The memorial includes a transcription from the Taylor Co. News at Abilene Co. TX dated Fri. Apr. 2, 1897.
  13. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 26.
  14. [S2594] "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 Aug. 2012), "Benjamin and Fewell Ancestors" (owner: gbenjamin5), entry for Alexander Smith McCamant, letter from Alexander Smith McCamant (Hood Co., TX dated Nov. 8, 1867) to brother James Martin McCamant, transcription added 19 Oct. 2008 by site owner. The letter states: "I feel quite lonesome having lost three of my little children within the last 3 months."
  15. [S1645] Alexander McAmit household, 1870 U.S. census, Hood Co., Texas, pop. sched., p. 19 (stamped), dwelling 301, family 304, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 37 of 65. Enumeration includes: Alexander McAmit, 41, b. VA, owns real and pers. prop of $500 each, CG clerk; Sarah, 34, b. VA; William E., 10, b. TX; Sam J., 6; Myrtle, 2; all children b. TX.
  16. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 373. The story is credited to an article written by Bill Farley of the Star-Telegram.
  17. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 52.
  18. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  19. [S3104] Ellick McCamit household, 1880 U.S. cens., Jones Co., Texas, pop sched., ED 5A (p. 400 stamped), page 50, dwelling 51, family Feb. 2013. Household includes: Ellick McCamit, 40, occupation: Frating [?], b. TX/TX/TN; Sarah, 35, wife, keeping house, b. TN/TN/TN; Dodd, 16, son, Stock Herder, b. TX; Sarah, 11, dau, b. TX; Samuel, 9, son, b. TX, viewed online at Ancestry.com.