Ann Retta 'Annie' (Southward) Twitty Sparlin Gallagher
--b. October 11, 1818 Holden, Johnson Co., Missouri 
--d. November 4, 1912 Winningkoff, Collin Co., TX
----buried St. Paul Catholic Cemetery, Winningkoff, Collin co, TX
--m/1 Mr. TWITTY
--BEFORE 1838
--m/2 Benjamin SPARLIN
--May 24, 1838 Barry Co., Missouri
----b. 1812 Ohio
----d. abt 1855
------s/o John Sparlin and Nancy PARSONS
--------gs/o Andreas Sperling and Sarah --
--------gs/o Baldwin Parsons and Rachael PARKE
----------gt gs/o Thomas Parson, Jr. and Parthenia BAYLDWIN
--m/3 William 'Billy' GALLAGHER (GALLAHER)
--abt 1855 near Sherman, Grayson Co., Texas
----b. February 1818 Leinster District, Ireland
----d. July 2, 1904 Winningkoff, Collin Co., Tx
------buried St. Paul Catholic Cemetery, Winningkoff, Collin co, Texas
Ann Retta (Southward) Gallaher
Photo: Courtesy of Dianne Erwin
* * * * *
My Websites for Ann
- Ann's Documents
- Job(e) Legacy - Gedcom on Rootsweb World Connect
JOB(E) LEGACY
Descendants of Andrew Job Jr
Birth
Dates for Annie's birth differ with each census. She gets older with each census from 1860 to 1910. Her birth year started out as about 1818-9 in 1860 and had gone backward to 1809 by 1910. We know by the 1830 IL census for Wm. Southward that she was in the 10-15 column at that time. This would indicate she was born in 1815-20.
Name
On most records, Annie Retta is called "Ann." The name on her death certificate in Collin Co., TX in 1912 is" Annie Retta." She was named in her father's estate papers as "Ann Sparlin of Texas."
Marriages
We don't have any idea who Ann was first married to, but now think his name was Twitty as that is the name she had when she married Benj. Sparlin in Barry Co., MO on May 24, 1838.The name "William" Sparlin was only known from her obituary written in 1912 by her son, George (Dallas) Sparlin. This was also true of her first husband's last name being "Whitaker." There was no documentation for either name. We were never able to find any records of her having been married to a "William" Sparlin. We also have no record of her first marriage.
Children
"The later census records for the Gallahers say Annie had 12 children, but I can account for only 6-the 2 Sparlins on the 1860 census, and the 4 with William Gallaher-the 3 little girls on the 1860 census and my g-grandfather, Leander Wells Gallaher, b.1862 or 64 (depends on which record you look!)"MY NOTE (AJB):
As you can see we are missing quite a few children. These are believed to have been the Sparlin children - several who died during the cholera epidemic - see obituary (below)
Death Certificate
Death certificate states that she was born in Pettis Co., MO. Johnson and Pettis were both a part of Cooper Co. in 1820. Before that they were a part of Howard Co. Obituary says Holden, MO was her "old homeplace." Holden is now in Johnson Co., MO.
Evidence - links Ann to William Southward
- Her son listed her father as William Southwood on her death certificate. It gives her birth place as Pettis, Mo.
- In her obituary, the story is told of her two brothers coming from Texas back to Holden, Mo. to the old homeplace to get her and her children after her 2nd husband died of cholera. They took her back to Grayson Co., Tx. where they were living. William Southward and several of his children filed for land grants in Grayson Co.
- On the 1860 and 70 Collin Co., Tx. censuses, Annie and her family are living in the same neighborhood as three of William Southward's sons--James C. and his wife, Martha Caler (married in 1852 in Grayson Co., Tx.); Elijah and his wife, Susan Houston; and Henry and his wife, Jane. By the same neighborhood--I mean one or two households away on the census. They are listed here as Southwood.
- Annie and William Gallaher married near Sherman in Grayson Co. He also had a land grant there, but sold it and they lived in Chickasaw Territory for a few years before going to Collin Co., Tx.
- I also have found a William Southword (b. Tn.) in the 1850 Fannin Co., Tx. census. His age (51) appears to be too young to have married in 1812--when he is supposed to have married Sallie--but you know how accurate census records can be. His "wife" is just listed as "M. f 50 Tn". I read somewhere that William married or went to Texas with Mourning Jobe, Sallie's sister. There are 4 children listed by initials that would match the names and approximate ages of the children known to have come to Texas. The only other one that I know of that came to Texas and filed for a land grant in Grayson Co. and isn't on this census is Iradell. He was apparently still in Clay Co., Mo. (My note: Yes he was!!)
- The youngest daughter,Sarah Elizabeth, b. 1835 Iowa (Michigan Terr.), married Thomas H. Howeth 27 Apr 1852 in Grayson Co., Tx.
-- she was in the 20-30 column. Her husband there was listed as Benj. Sparland. They were on the same page as Wm. Southward and just below David Tetherow, the husband of her older sister, Ruth.
Sparlin, Benjamin age 38 born Ohio farmer
" Ann R 32 MO
" Sarah 10 "
" William 9 "
" Nancy 7 "
" George 5 "
" Marshall 4 OH
" John 2 "
" John 76 MD - Ben’s father
May-LDS film #0432038, Holmes Co, Ohio Deed Vol. 17-18, 1851 - 1853.Benjamine Sparlin sold his land in Holmes Co, Ohio to Daniel Sparlin on the 31 day of May 1851 and recorded the 3rd day of January 1852. She is listed as Amaretts Sparlin
Wm. Gallaher 31 (m) Linster, Ireland Wagon Maker $200 Ann 41 (f) MO Eliza 3 (f) CT (this is Chickasaw Territory) Ellen 2 (f) CT (this is Chickasaw Territory) Catherine 7/12 (f) TX Nancy SPARLIN 17 (f) MO George SPARLIN 14 (m) MONOTE: The Gallahers were living next to/close by Elijah and James Southwood on this census
William GALLAHER 45 (m) Ireland -Farm Laborer $600 $410 Anna 51(f) MO -Keeping Home Ellen 12(f) -At School (born Chickasaw Nation) Leander 6 (m) TX Ellen GALLAHER 50 (f) IrelandThis family was living next door to the Henry Southwood Family, her brother.
NOTE FROM DIANNE (regarding Ellen -one in census above)"Ellen was a Gallagher-leading us to think William may have also been a Gallagher as family tradition says he changed the name due to several reported theories. There was a family of Gallaghers who lived nearby who were the nephews and nieces of Ellen. She came to the US with them in the mid-1850’s from Co. Roscommon. She is living with one or the other of them on all the other censuses from 1860-1900, except for 1870 when she was with William and his family."
- 1880-Collin Co, Texas (G460- Soundex) Vol 7, Ed 18, Sheet 34, Line 33
-- Just Precient 1William GALLAHER 62 Ireland A. R. 62 ? Missouri Leander 16 Texas -son Alonzo B. BLAKEMAN 13 Texas -S.G.S. Ethel M. BLAKEMAN 10 Texas -d Margaret A. BLAKEMAN 8 Texas -d and 1 servantNote from Dianne: "The Blakeman children are the children of Annie's daughter, Nancy Sparlin Blakeman, who had died." Regarding the servant girl - see 1900 below:
Tarrant Co., Texas, Fort Worth, E. D. 84William Gallaher
William GALLAHER Feb 1818 (82) (m 45 years) Head Annie Oct 1813 (86) (m 45 years)(12 children-3 living)MO Wife Lee W May 1864 (36) (m. 7 years) TX Son Annie Apr 1874 (26) (m. 7 yrs) (5 children-4 living) TX dil Fred G Sep 1892 ( 7) TX Gs Cypri (?) Sep 1894 ( 5) TX Gd Lura Sep 1895 ( 4) TX Gd John D Dec 1899 (5/12) Gs Betsey Jan 1862 (black) (servant girl)In regards to Betsey, Dianne says:"The Betty/Betsy listed as a servant is a black child taken in by the Blakeman and Gallaher families as a toddler and who lived with the family until her death in the 1930's."
The entire citizenship of the Winningkoff community was greatly shocked last Tuesday when they heard of the death of 'Aunt Ann' Gallagher, a highly esteemed and respected Christian woman, who had made tht community her home for more than 40 years.
Mrs. Gallagher was born near Holden, Missouri, October 11, 1809 (MY NOTE- This birthdate is in question?) and died NOvember 4, 1912. She was therefore 103 years and 24 days old at the time of her death. She grew to womanhood in Missouri, and was married to a Mr. Whitaker, who died about three months after their marriage. She was then married to Mr. William Sparling at Holden, who was the father of D. Sparlin of this city. After her marriage to Mr. Sparlin they moved to the state of Ohio where they resided for several years. She and Mr. Sparlin and their seven children then decided to move back to Missouri.
They loaded their teams and wagons and luggage on a boat and started on their journey back to their native state. While on the boat, Mr. and Mrs. Sparlin and two of their sons fell victims to cholera, which was then raging throughout the country; Mr. Sparlin and the sons dying on the boat. The boat stopped at a wayside landing where their bodies were buried on banks of the Ohio River. Mrs. Sparlin and the other children were taken off the boat upon their arrival at Cincinnatini and placed in a Sanitorium for several weeks, and she finally recovered from the dreaded plague.
In the meantime, while she and the children were in the sanitorium at Cincinnatini, their wagons and teams and all their clothing and such other luggage as they were moving back with them and $600 (?) in money had been stolen. NO clue was ever found as to who the robbers were.
AFter Mrs. Sparlin had fully recovered from her sickness, she and the children managed to make their way to St. Louis. Mr. Sparlin of this city stated that he was so young that he could not remember how they got to that place. At any rate, he remembered of their being again at their old home in Missouri.
Two of her brothers, who were then living in Texas, went to Missouri and moved her and the children to Sherman. They remained at this place about three years. It was while she was living at Sherman that she was married to William Gallagher. They then moved to what was then the Indian Territory where they resided for ten years. From the Indian Territory, they moved to Winninghkoff in the Co., where she had since resided up until the time of her death. (Note from Dianne: "I don’t think they lived in the Indian Territory for 10 years. William didn’t come to the US until 1849, was in Grayson Co., Tx. by May, 1850 when he filed on land, and they were in Collin Co., Tx. before 1860. We can’t find a marriage bond for them as yet so we don’t know when they married. Their first known child was born ca. 1857"
Mr. Gallagher was called to his reward several years ago and since his death, she had made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Ellen Spurgin of that community.
Mrs. Gallagher had been a cripple for several years, the result of injuries received in a runaway. She was a member of the Catholic Church and was a consistent Christian woman. She was a loving mother, and a true neighbor and friend. Probably no other woman in Collin Co., had more friends than she. Of a jovial sunny disposition, she numbered her friends by her acquaintances. Besides the son and daughter above mentioned , she is survived by a son, Lee Gallagher who lives at Winingkoff, 22 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Burton L. Hunter, Jr. of this city is a grandson, their birthdays both being on the same day, October 11.
The remains of this good woman were laid to west Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 at the St. Paul Catholic cemetery near Wylie, with the ceremonies of this church. A large number of relatives and friends gathered upon this occassion to pay their last tribute of respect to this good woman.
The editors of this paper extend their deepest sympathy to the bereaved ons in this sad hour of sorrow.
The 1912 obit for Ann has been found to have several mistakes. The info was provided to the newspaper by George (Dallas) Sparlin when he was 67 years old. This was from his memories as a young child and of some events that happened before his birth. This could explain why the information was incorrect.
L.W. GALLAHER 45 TX
Annie E. 37 IL
Fred 17 TX
Myrtle 15
Lura 13
John D 11
Hattie 9
Genive 7
Fay -no age given
Oiben -no age given
Annie 101 - mother
Obituary for Ann Gallagher
--copied exactly from scanned image sent to me by Dianne Erwin--
Be sure and read Dianne's Comments below
Eventuful Life of Centenarian Ends
Comments from Dianne - regarding obituary
If you have any old photos for any descendants of this family, please send to me at
Ann (Jobe) Brown
