Person:Melissa McCall (1)

Melissa Artelissa McCall

Melissa McCall was born about 1834 in Alabama.

The 1860, 1870 and 1880 US Census enumerations discussed below provide some clues to Melissa’s birth family. Living next door to Mellisa and John Denfield (sic DENFIP) in the 1860 census was a Smith Henderson McCall and Anna McCall. Mellissa named her second son, my Grandfather, Smith Henderson Denfip. Other researchers have determined that the parents of Smith Henderson McCall are Anna Christy and Willie (or Willey) McCall. Another clue is from a Modern Woodman of America Insurance application in 1905, which states that the father of Melissa, died in the Blackhawk War. A Private W.P. McCall enlisted in the Blackhawk War from Union County, but there is no information on his death. Union County is just above Alexander and Pulaski Counties in Southern Illinois. It is most likely that this W.P McCall is Willie McCall. Three other soldiers named McCall from Illinois also enlisted in the Blackhawk War, but from more distant counties. If correct in his death during the war, this would have been about 1834, a reasonable period for recollection by the grandson who filled out the application in 1905. No such fatality of a McCall has been found to date.

Melissa Artelissa McCall and Miles Strong Marriage

Family tradition is that Melissa McCall married a Mr. Strong about 1850 in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. The family has yet to be located in the 1850 US Census. Two children are known from this marriage: Sarah Amanzie and Albert W. Strong. A record of Miles W Strong and Artelissa McCall was found in Alexandra County, Illinois for their marriage on 13 March 1852.

Sarah Amanzie Strong

Sarah Amanzie Strong was born about 1850 and married a Burk. She is said to have died in 1926.

Albert W. Strong

Albert W. Strong was born in December 1856 in Tennessee or Illinois. Albert is enumerated in the 1870, 1900, and 1910 US Census. His death is recorded in the Alexander County Death Records. he died on 16 August 1916. and is buried in Mounds, Alexander, Illinois.

Either Melissa and Miles Strong divorced, or he died between 1856 and 1858.

Melissa McCall and John Alfred Denfip Marriage

Melissa McCall married John Alfred Denfip in 1858.

1860 US Census Melissa Denfip has not yet been found.

However, in 1860, living next door to Tapley White, the future second husband of my Great Grandmother Rebecca Emeline McClusky Childers, is the Louis McCraven (or McRaven) family we will discuss below. Note that this family has a son named Tapley McCraven. Note also that Rebecca has a grandson named William Tapley Oller. The 48 year old farmer, Louis McCraven, has Real Estate valued at $3500 and personal property of $900 and was born in Tennessee. His wife, Nancy, 47 years old, born in Ohio, is keeping house. Both are enumerated as literate. The seven children recorded are; B.F. a farmer age 19, Tapley age 16, William R. age 14, Nancy C. age 12, Louis H. age 9, Joseph R. age 6 and Joanna McCraven age 3. Next door to Louis seems to be a recently married son, Thomas McCravin, who is also farming, age 21, and has no real estate but $200 of personal property. His wife Elizabeth is 17 years old. They have no children.

In 1865, her husband John Alfred Denfip volunteered for service in the 18th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Union Army on February 24, 1865. John would have been 32 years old at that time. John Served in Company B along with Tapley McRaven. He was discharged later that year on December 16, 1865 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the war ended.

On July 28, 1870 US Census of Unity Township, Alexander County, Illinois, Melissa Denfip is enumerated as Melissa Denfiss, with her husband John. Melissa is recorded as a 32 year who was born in Alabama and cannot read or write. Husband John is recorded as a 34 year old Farmer with Real Estate worth $800 and $150 of personal property. John is recorded as a US Citizen born in France. Four of John and Melissa’ children are recorded in the family: Chas. (Charles) age 10, Smith age 8, Levi age 4 and Effie Denfiss (sic Denfip) age 2, all born in Illinois.

The 1870 enumeration of the three dwellings next door offer a strong clue to Melissa’s birth family. All three are McCraven households not McCall. This researcher has had no success finding Melissa’s McCall birth family and perhaps the error is in the assumption that it was McCall based on undocumented work of earlier researchers. In the household immediately next door, Mesissa’s son, from her first marriage, is recorded as 15 year old Albert Strong. Albert is living in the household of farmer F. McCraven, male age 28 and A. McCraven, female age 17. The second to next household is farmer William McCraven age 22 and his wife or sister, M.E. McCraven. The third household is farmer Lewis McCraven age 57, his wife Susan age 57, and their sons: Joseph age 15, and T. McCraven age 25, as well as a 18 year old female, Elizabeth Davis. Lewis, 57 at this time, would have been 21 at the time of the Blackhawk War in 1834 and of fighting age. If Melissa’s father did not die in the Blackhawk War of 1834, Lewis and Susan McCraven would be strong candidates for the parents of this Melissa “McCall”. Other wise they are most likely Melissa’s Uncle and Aunt.

On June 22, 1880 US Census of Township 15, Alexander County, Illinois, Melissa Denfip is enumerated with her husband John. Melissa is recorded as a 46 year old keeping house, who was born in Alabama and cannot read or write. John and Melissa are recorded with their seven children: Charles age 21, Smith age 17, Maberry (Levi) age 12, Effie age 10, Ida age 8, Frank age 6, and John Denfip age 4, all born in Illinois.

[AEH-LD-030]

Again adding to the possible link, living next door is 37 year old Louis McCraven, Jr., born in Illinois of parents born in Tennessee and Illinois respectively. Again a McCraven family is enumerated next door. And again living six homes away from now widowed Rebecca Emeline McClusky Childress White is 66 year old farmer Louis McRaven, a Farmer who was born in Tennessee, and who’s father was born in South Carolina. Louis has a younger 36 year old wife, Cordella, and a daughter Mary Jane age 5. Next door to Louis is a son, Joseph McRaven 25 and wife, Mary E. 17 and one month old baby daughter Vinetta K. McRaven.

Melissa McCall and John Alfred Denfip, Sr.

[Person:John_Denfip_(1): John Alfred Denfip] was born on April 2, 1832 in Strasbourg, France. The 18XX US Census records that John had said both of his parents were also born in France. Melissa McCall and John Alfred Denfip, Sr. were married in 1858 and had two of their seven children before John’s military service in the Civil War.

==== (1) Charles Henry Denfip====

Charles Henry Denfip was born on May 30, 1859 in Illinois.. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Charles married Bettie Holmes about 1885 and had two children: Jessie Lewis Denfip on April 15 1886 and Pearl Denfip on 23 November 1887.

Charles Denfip died in a sawmill accident on 4 June 1901 and Bettie Holmes Denfip died on May 5, 1910. Charles Henry Denfip is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Diswood, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Charles is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

(2) Smith Henderson Denfip

Smith Henderson Denfip was born on November 27, 1862 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Smith Denfip went by the family nickname “Yarb”. Smith Denfip married Nancy Emeline Oller on April 19, 1896 in Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. They had five daughters: Effie Emeline born August 14, 1897, Allie Amanzia born July 15, 1899, Lizzie Marie born on June 25, 1902, Martha Melissa born August 21, 1905, and Ada Katherine born on October 5, 1911.

Smith Henderson Denfip died 6 June 1933 in Sandusky, Alexander County, Illinois. Smith Henderson Denfip is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Diswood, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Yarb is located on the Find-A-Grave website. Nancy Emeline Oller Denfip died February 14, 1937 and is buried next to her husband in Hargis Cemetery, Diswood, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Emeline is located on the Find-A-Grave website

John Alfred Denfip returned from his Civil War military service to father five more children.

(3) Levi Denfip

Levi Denfip was born on November 27, 1866 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Levi Denfip married Frances Bishop, daughter of Sarah Bond and Joseph Bishop about 1895. They had one child, Marion Frances Denfip on 29 July 1896, and shortly after Frances was thrown from a horse and died in 1896. Levi Denfip latter, about 1902, married Matilda Catherine Bishop, the sister of his first wife. They had three children: Sidney H. born May 15 1903, Clara born November 28, 1906, and Lillian Morene born on May 9, 1911. Levi died on April 22, 1943 and is buried in Olive Branch Cemetery, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Levi, with a photo of his marker, is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

Frances Bishop Denfip died in 1896 and is also buried in Olive Branch Cemetery. A memorial for Frances is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

Matilda Catherine “Katie” Bishop Denfip died on July 26, 1968. Katie is buried next to her husband in Olive Branch Cemetery. A memorial for Katie, with a photo of her marker, is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

(4) Effie C. Denfip

Effie C. Denfip was born about December 1869 in Illinois. She was most likely born in Alexander County. Effie never married. Effie died on August,12, 1933 of “Malarial Fever”. Effie Denfip is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Diswood, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for her is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

(5) Ida Ann Denfip

Ida Ann Denfip was born on January 8, 1872 in Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. Ida Ann married Everett Orlando Lewis. They had seven daughters: Myrtle May, Ida Alice who died in infancy, Mary Elizabeth born on August 23, 1897, Addie Montella born on June 13, 1904 in Pulaski, Effie Ola born July 30, 1906 in Pulaski, Olga Oneita born on June 24, 1908 in Villa Ridge, and Anna Wantana Lewis born May 23, 1911. Ida Ann died on July 29, 1917. She is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Sesser, Perry County, Illinois. A memorial for her is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

(6) Frank Benjamin Denfip

Frank Benjamin Denfip was born on February 8, 1874 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. Frank married Roselle Octavia Brown Dunning they had five daughters: Gertrude, Myrtle Marie born on October 14, 1903, Dovie Jaunita born on November 29, 1906, Pauline Madeline Denfip born on 19 June 1914, and twin Donna also born on June 19, 1914 but died the same day.

Octavia Brown had previously been married to a Mr. Dunning and had two children from the prior marriage: Edna Agnes born May 2, 1896, and Ruth Ann Dunning born October 15, 1900.

Frank Benjamin Denfip died on August 13, 1943 and is buried in Olive Branch Cemetery, Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Frank is located on the Find-A-Grave website. Rosella Octavia Brown Dunning Denfip died March 12, 1970, and is buried next to her husband in the Olive Branch Cemetery. A memorial for Octavia is located on the Find-A-Grave website.

(7) John Alfred Denfip, Jr.

John Alfred Denfip, Jr. was born on March 16, 1876 in Illinois. He was most likely born in Alexander County. John Alfred Denfip Jr. had a family nickname of “Dutch”. Dutch married Charlotte Westerman about 1898. They had four children: Ida born February 9, 1900, Edith born April 16, 1901, Minnie born September 21, 1904, and Herman A. Denfip born April 5, 1908.

John, Jr. died on January 9, 1936 and is buried in Sesser, Illinois.

Charlotte died on May 4, 1908 and is buried in Hargis Cemetery, Diswood, Alexander County, Illinois. A memorial for Charlotte is located on the Find-A-Grave website [1]

Mellisa and John Alfred Denfip’s Latter Years

In a "Modern Woodsman of America Application/Benefit Certificate" completed by John’s son, Smith Henderson Denfip on March 9, 1905, it is stated that John died of a “sun stroke” on August 16, 1880. John Denfip died in Alexander County, Illinois and is buried in the Hargis Cemetery at Diswood, Illinois. Diswood is between the current towns of Olive Branch and Tamms. The Cemetery is well off the road on top of a ridge and has become overgrown. Hargis Cemetery is located at Lat-Long N37 13.418, W89 20.054. A memorial on the Find-A-Grave website has a photo of John Alfred Denfip’s cemetery marker and directions to the cemetery itself.

Melissa McCall Denfip died 1897 at 63 years of age. In a "Modern Woodsman of America Application/Benefit Certificate" completed by Melissa’s son, Smith Henderson Denfip on March 9, 1905, it is stated that Melissa died of a “Malarial Fever”. Her burial place is not known but most likely is at Hargis Cemetery with her husband and children.