James Alexander McLaurine1

b. 9 September 1893, d. 4 November 1960
FatherAlbert Lawrence McLaurine1 b. 7 Apr 1863, d. 6 Mar 1901
MotherMyrtle McCamant1 b. 15 Oct 1868 or 15 Oct 1869, d. 17 Sep 1913
Birth9 Sep 1893 James Alexander McLaurine was born on 9 Sep 1893.2,3 
  Like his two older brothers, James' birth date is not consistently reported. His parent's 1900 census entry states he was born in Sept. 1893. James himself reported his date of birth as 9 Sept. 1893 on his World War I draft registration. However records created later in his life use 9 Sept. 1884 (death certificate) or 12 Sept. 1894 (headstone).4,5 
Childhood  James was the third of 4 sons in a family of 6 children, 2 of whom died young. James spent his childhood on the family farm at Ft. Phantom Hill (Jones Co.), Texas. When he was 7 years old his father sold the farm and made plans to move the family west. However Albert McLaurine died suddenly, just before the planned move.6 
  James' mother briefly moved with her children to the New Mexico Territory and then returned to Texas where they lived in several locations, homesteading land in the Texas panhandle for several years (see narrative page for Myrtle).6 
Military5 Jun 1917  James registered for the World War I draft at Thorp Spring (Hood Co.) Texas on June 5, 1917. He was employed by Johnson Brothers as a farm laborer. The application stated that James was of medium height and slender build with gray eyes and brown hair. He claimed an exemption from the draft based on disability.2  
  The disability was probably due to a horse related injury James suffered in his childhood. 
Cens-194015 Apr 1940  In 1940 James lived with his brother Albert and his family in Gregg Co., Texas where he worked as a ranchman.7 
Marriage Later in life James married Emma Alvesta Fletcher.4,8 
Death4 Nov 1960 James died on 4 Nov 1960 at the Veterans Hospital in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, at age 67.4 
Burial He was buried at Fields Chapel Cemetery in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas.5 

Research Comment:

In 1977 James's sister Cordye was interviewed by author and historian Ruthe Winegarten. Portions of that oral history have been transcribed and are available through several Texas repositories including the Dallas Public Library (History & Archives Division). Texas Woman's University at Denton, TX houses 4 cubic feet of material titled "Cordye Hall Papers, 1941-1990" which includes correspondence, photographs and other material. The excerpt cited by this author, which covers Cordye's younger years, was shared by Daphne Davis who obtained a copy from the Richardson Library of Hardin-Simmons University at Abilene, TX.
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited28 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S1653] A.L. McLaurin household, 1900 U.S. cens., Jones Co., Ohio, pop. sched., Precinct 3, ED 100, sheet 24A (p. 191 stamped), dwelling 408, family 418, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: A.L. McLaurin, 35, b. Apr 1865, b. TX/TN/TN, marr 12 yrs, stock farmer; Myrtle, wife, 30, b. Oct. 1869, b. TX/VA/VA, mother of 6 children, 5 are living; Lawrence, son, 11, b. Apr 1889; Cecil, son, 9, b. Dec. 1890; James, son, 6, b. Sept. 1893; Cordie, dau, 3, b. May 1897; Baby son, 0/12, b. May 1900; all children b. TX.
  2. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : viewed Feb. 2013), Data for James Alexander McLaurine, Thorp Spring, Hood Co, Texas (5 June 1917).
  3. [S1653] A.L. McLaurin household, 1900 U.S. cens., Jones Co., Ohio, pop. sched., Precinct 3, ED 100, sheet 24A (p. 191 stamped), dwelling 408, family 418, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2013. Household includes: A.L. McLaurin, 35, b. Apr 1865, marr 12 yrs, stock farmer; Myrtle, wife, 30, b. Oct. 1869, mother of 6 children, 5 are living; Lawrence, son, 11, b. Apr 1889; Cecil, son, 9, b. Dec. 1890; James, son, 6, b. Sept. 1893; Cordie, dau, 3, b. May 1897; Baby son, 0/12, b. May 1900; all children b. TX.
  4. [S2250] "Texas State Death Certificates", database with digital images, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org : viewed Feb. 2013). James A. McLaurine certificate #65235; family information provided by Mrs. Emma McLaurine (wife), Palestine, TX.
  5. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Feb. 2013). James A. McLaurine memorial #23438212, Fields Chapel Cemetery, Anderson Co., TX (photo of stone: James A. McLaurine, Texas, PVT US Army WW II Sept. 12 1894-Nov 4 1960).
  6. [S3071] "Cordye Hall [1898-1994] Oral History", typed excerpt, oral history taken by Ruth Weingarten, 1977, held by Richardson Library, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX.
  7. [S3078] Albert L. McLaurine household, 1940 U.S. cens., Gregg Co., TX, pop. sched., Longview, ED 92-4, sheet 12A, household 294, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2013. Household includes: Albert L. McLaurine, 54, rents home for $30 month, two years college, b. TX, unable to work; Eula Neal McLaurine, wife, 47, finished 7th grade, b. TX, works as seamstress, b. TX; Bessa Mae Cunningham, stepdaughter, 27, divorced, typist; Jimmie McLaurine, brother, 42, sgl, 4 yrs high school, ranchman; informant: Eula; all occupants at same address in 1935. Note: 4 lodgers also resided with the family.
  8. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Feb. 2013). Emma Alvesta (Fletcher) McLaurine memorial #46485007, Fields Chapel Cemetery, Anderson Co., TX (no photo; information appears to be from death certificate).