MEARS: Ervin Jasper Mears Descendants

KEDEY/KIDDY - MEARS - MELTON - SHARP -YOUNG

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Ervin Jasper Mears - Mary Elizabeth Moses

June 24, 1837 Cannon Co., TN - Jan 29, 1933 Itawamba Co., MS

Ervin Jasper Mears and wife

First Cousin to my Gt Grandfather, G. W. Mears

Son of George Washington Mears and Melinda C. Adair

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On May 8, 1958, Tom R. Mears wrote his niece, Ruth Peavy, the following when she had written him about family information:

". . . E. J. Mears had a rather colorful career in the Confederate Army under Lee. He ws the captain of Company R, 42nd, Regit. Mississippi Volunteers, Davis Brigade, Hearth Division, A. P. Hill Corps, Center of the Virginia Army. His company was the one that took the brunt of the attack at Gettysburg, and history says that it was all wiped out but 7 men. He was wounded four times - in the arm, the head, chest and heel. He stayed in a Union hospital for two years after the close of the War and when he was dismissed from it, he was told that because of the wound in his lung, he could only live about two years. He livd to be almost 99. He told this story about how he got his comission as a second lieutenant. One day a man came into their camp with a load of apples off the wagon. He and some of the others told them to stop, and a fight ensued. He had a man down on the ground just going for him when he suddenly realized that all of the others had stopped fighting. He looked up and there stood Stonewall Jackson. He got up as fast as he cold and saluted. Jackson said, 'What did you come into the army for?' He again saluted and said, 'to fight, sir.' Jackson replied, 'Well, it looks like you are doing a pretty good job of it,' and rode on. That night he was told to go to Jackson's tent. He thought he was going to be disciplined, but when he reached there, he found another soldier in the tent and Jackson told him that he had a mission to be performed behind the line; and that man was his most trusted spy; that he needed another man to go with him; and that he had watched him that afternoon and believed that he was the right man. When they came back from the mission, he was made a second lieutenant."

left: Ervin, daughter, 'Scrap', Samuel Dillard, his family Eunice and Lorena

 Ervin, his daughter,

In a letter dated May 19, 1958, Minnie Mears, wife of Thomas Robert Mears, who was s/o Gouldberry Mears and gs/o Erving Jasper Mears was that Erving Jasper said this about the war:

One thing that impressed me was that Grandpa said that during the two years that he was in a northern prison hospital, he received the very best of care. He was also a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and said that the WAR would never have been fought had the hot heads listened to him. Another thing that deeply impressed me was that when I asked him why he thought the South lost at Gettysburg, he used almost the same words that recently created such a furor about Eisenhower in the papers. He said, 'Well Honey, the soldiers were hot and ready to go; but, when we were winning, they pulled us back and wouldn't let us follow through. Then they sent us against the impossible. There was not a coward in my bunch ad every man fought as long as he could crawl, but when we started up that hill, every one of us knew that we were walking into the jaws of death.' . . .You will pardon the long recitation of these memories, but from what you said in your letter, I thought that you would like to have them."

Center Star Cemetery
Mantachie, Itawamba Co., MS

 Ervin J. Mears Tombstone Elizabeth (Moses) Mears Tombstone

Photograph - Courtesy of Norma Wallette

* * * * *

Bob Burnitt's visit to Center Star Cemetery
In December 2004

Bob Burnitt at gravesite of Erb, Mary and Hulda Jane Mears

Bob writes in February 2008:

Back in December 2004, my elderly mother, my sister and I went to my nephew’s Army graduation at Fort Jackson South Carolina, and on the way back we veered off to Itawamba County (Mentachie Mississippi) and visited the Erb Mears gravesite. I had been to Mississippi many times when I was young but I wasn’t much interested in family history in those days, so I took time to do a little looking on that pass through.

I knew that all of my Mears’ were Methodists, so I went to the only Methodist Church and cemetery in town (Center Star) and walked directly to the Erb Mears and family gravesite almost as if I knew where it was.

There were several things I noticed immediately when I reached the site. One, the graves were facing west. If I remember correctly, all three graves faced west, but Erb’s headstone had been broken at ground level, and whoever was kind enough to reinstall it placed the stone facing east. At least that is the way I remember. I have disks stowed away with the pictures. I don’t know if that is significant or not.

Another thing was the headstone beside Erb and his wife. The headstone next to Elizabeth stated “H.J. (SRAP) Mears”, just like that, with SRAP in parentheses. Since then I have seen it as Sharp and Scrap (on your website), and I think one other place in similar form. If you have any info on this person, however their name was spelled, it would be appreciated. But on the tombstone it was definitely “SRAP”. Until I looked at your latest site, I thought this “SRAP” was a male. Your photo on your site depicts a young attractive female, which was a surprise.

Another thing was how small and modest their headstones were. Of course, a modest headstone doesn’t necessarily indicate poverty, but somehow the sight of those stones supported what I had already figured out, those people died poor as a snake. Being on the losing end of the Civil War resulted in poverty for most of that generation of southerners. And that, probably more than ANYTHING else, is what had an influence on Goal Berry Mears Sr. and his brother Thomas Robert Mears, the two Mississippi Mears that came to Texas to “succeed” at all costs. And they were successful for sure.


Children of Ervin Jasper Mears and Mary Elizabeth Moses


  1. Goldsborough 'Gouldberry' Mears

    --b. March 31, 1869 Pontotoc Co., MS
    --d. January 10, 1961 McLellan Co. TX)
    --m. Catherine Frances Meeks 'Katie' WILEY
    --June 1891 Robertson Co., TX
    ----b. December 18, 1866 New Albany, MS
    ----July 23, 1952 Calvert, Robertson Co., TX)
    ------d/o Allen Sidney Wiley and Martha E. A. Meeks

    Bob Burnitt, a descendant, writes (February 2008):

    I am a descendant of Earvin Jasper “Erb” Mears. He is my great great grandfather. One of his sons “Gouldsbourgh Mears” (though on his tombstone in Calvert Texas it is stated Goal Berry Mears) is my great grandfather and the man who raised my father. I grew up calling him “Grandpaw Mears”. Grandmaw Mears called him “Berry”. My grandmother, Catherine Mears Burnitt - Rolls – Cannatella was of course my father’s mother. Since she divorced her first husband (Andrew Wagner Burnitt Sr.) when my father was a toddler, and this was at the beginning of the Great Depression, Grandpaw Mears ended up raising my father and his brother, and really, a number of my father’s cousins. Grandpaw Mears was considered pretty affluent (for the time) and in his 70’s ended up supporting or assisting a large number of relatives and generations of his Negro farm hands. Of all my descendants, and I have them all back to the 18th century, the Mears’ left the most indelible impression. So they are a very interesting family to me. Most of the ones I have known are kind of “larger than life” as people like to say these days.

    My Grandpaw Mears out lived all of his sons and died at 92 (1961). Though his daughters outlived him, they did not live to be as old as he. My grandmother Catherine died at 68, but most of her sisters lived up in to their 80’s.


    Children of Gouldberry and KATIE


    1. Lila Louisa (Mears) Aerl

      --b. June 8, 1892
      --d. April 22, 1981 McLennan Co. Texas
      --m. Vincent Lancaster AERL
      ----b. October 7, 1890 Lorena, Texas
      ----d. March 5, 1969 Waco, McLennan Co. Texas
      ------s/o Van Daniel Aerl and Viola LANCASTER


    2. Lillian (Mears) McCall

      --b. 1893/95 Robertson Co., TX
      --d. before 2002
      --m. James White 'Jim' McCALL
      ----b. July 5, 1893 Hammond, Texas
      ----d. 1948 Robertson Co., Texas


    3. Lenora 'Lee' (Mears) Riley

      --b. July 31, 1896 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. November 27, 1980 Calvert, Robertson Co., Texas
      --m. Rufus Waterson RILEY
      --September 28, 1914 Robertson Co., Texas
      ----b. April 4, 1893 Robertson Co., Texas
      ----d. April 21, 1975 Calvert, Robertson Co., Texas


    4. George Washington Mears

      --b. Decmeber 17, 1898 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. bef 2002
      --m. Bertie SMITH


    5. Oscar Mears

      --b. 1899 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. 1900 Robertson Co., Texas


    6. Thomas Robert 'Tom' Mears

      --b. abt 1902 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. March 12, 1953 Calvert, Robertson Co., Texas
      --m. Virginia MARTIN
      ----b. December 11, 1895 Texas
      ----d. Janaury 12, 1948 Bremond, Robertson Co, Texas
      ------d/o W. M. Martin and Miss DILLARD


    7. Catherine (Mears) Burnitt

      --b. abt 1903 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. June 1971 Waco, McLennan Co., Texas
      --m/1 Andrew Wagner BURNITT
      ----b. April 29, 1893 Texas
      ----d. May 21, 1964 Marlin, Falls Co., Texas
      ------s/o Pyke Burnitt and Bessie DAVIDSON
      --m/2 Joe RAWLS
      --m/3 Les CANATELLA


    8. Annie Mae Mears

      --b. March 8, 1904 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. January 4, 1906 Robertson Co., Texas


    9. Gouldberry Mears, Jr.

      --b. October 26, 1906 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. January 10, 1960 Calvert, Robertso Co., Texas
      --m/1 Bernice SHELTON
      --m/2 Z. JEFEL
      --m/3 Mildred WELTS
      ----b. March 17, 1914
      ----d. Decmeber 8, 1965


    10. Nevada 'Ada' (Mears) Davidson

      --b. abt 1909 Robertson Co., Texas
      --d. bef 2002
      --m. Mr. DAVISON


  2. Thomas Robert Mears

    --b. January 8, 1871 Pontotoc Co., MS
    --d. February 22, 1967 Gatesville, Coryell Co., Texas
    --m/1 Rosa Elma BELCHER
    --November 11, 1894
    ----b. April 29, 1860 Virginia
    ----d. September 20, 1923 Gatesville, Coryell Co. Texas
    ------d/o W. H. BELCHER and Mildred MORGAN
    --m/2 Mildred Rosa 'Minnie' WATKINS
    --aft 1926
    ----b. abt 1888
    ----d. October 17, 1975 Gatesville, Coryell Co., Texas
    ------d/o Harry L. Watkins and Rosa BELCHER


  3. Samuel Dillard Mears

    --b. Nov 11, 1872 Pontotoc Co., MS
    --d. Feb 20, 1923 Itawamba Co., MS)
    --m. Eunice WALKER
    --July 3, 1904 Ratliff, MS
    ----b. August 24, 1881 MS
    ----d. Feb 2, 1959)

    Samuel Dillard Mears
    Courtesy of Russell hamm

    Samuel Dilliard Mears (1872-1923) Samuel Dilliard Mears (1872-1923)


    Children of Samuel Dillard Mears and Eunice Walker


    1. Lorena (Mears) Hamm

      --b. April 26, 1905 Tulelo, Mississippi
      --d. June 26, 1996 Mattawan, Van Buren Co., Michigan
      --m. David Jefferson HAMM
      ----b. March 8, 1898 Baldwyn, Mississippi
      ----d. June 28, 1970 Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan

      * * * * *

      David J. Hamm & Lorena (Mears) Hamm
      Courtesy of Russell Hamm

      David J. Hamm & Lorena (Mears) Hamm


    2. Elbert W. 'Bert' Mears

      --b. 1906 Mississippi


    3. Everett Wheeler Mears

      --b. March 17, 1907
      --d. February 2, 1980 Fulton, Itawamba Co., MS
      --m. Lola M. FRANKS
      ----b. April 23, 1915
      ----d. January 24, 2002 Fulton, Itawamba Co., MS

      Everett and Lola
      Courtesy of Norma Wallette

      Everett Wheeler Mears and wife, Lola M. (Franks)


      Children of Everett Wheeler Mears and Lois Franks


      1. Billy W. Mears

        --b. June 12, 1935 Fulton, Itawamba Co., MS
        --d. Aug 19, 1936 Fulton, Itawamba Co., MS

        Billy's Tombstone


      2. Bobby Joe Mears

        --b. June 2, 1937 Fulton, Itawamba Co., MS
        --d. May 18, 1999

        Bobby's Tombstone


    4. Selmer Mears


    5. Thomas Mears


    6. Evvin Jasper Mears

      --b. 1914 Mississippi


    7. Thelma Rae Mears

      --b. 1919 Itawamba Co., MS


  4. Lovie Lula (Mears) Donaho

    --(abt 1874 - Unknown)
    --m. Mr. DONAHO


  5. Alice Mears

    --(abt 1875 - Unknown)


  6. Hulda Jane 'Scrap' (Mears) Baldwin

    --b. May 10, 1880 Mississippi
    --d. May 30, 1930 Mississippi
    ----buried Center Star Cemetery , Mantachie, Itawamba Co., MS
    --m. Mr. BALDWIN

    Hulda's 'Scrap' Tombstone Photo
    Courtesy of Bob Burnitt

     Hulda's Tombstone


  7. Maude (Mears) Hopkins

    --b. January 5, 1884
    --d. December 9, 1966
    --m. Jesse Edgar HOPKINS
    ----(December 1882 -1938)
    ------buried Unity Cemetery, East of Guntown, Lee Co., MS
    ------s/o Eli Willis Hopkins and Nancy MANSEL


    Children of Maude Mears and Jesse Hopkins


    1. Katie Hopkins

      --b. April 22, 1904
      --d. March 13, 2002


    2. Kathleen Hopkins


    3. Willis Chester Hopkins

      --b. September 12, 1912 Mississippi
      --d. March 5, 1965
      --m. Lula V. ?
      --January 29, 1937
      ----b. January 11, 1918


  8. Boyd Fulton Mears

    --b. Feburary 8, 1885 Itawamba Co., MS
    --d. January 30, 1923 MS
    ----buried Pratt Cemetery, Lee Co. MS
    --m. Nona STRICKLAND
    --June 14, 1902 Lee Co., MS
    ----b. July 4, 1884 MS
    ----d. January 17, 1924 MS
    ------buried Pratt Cemetery, Lee Co., MS


    Children of Boyd Fulton Mears and Nona Strickland


    1. Earl J. Mears

      --b. March 20, 1903 Itawamba Co., Ms
      --d. September 26, 1982 Balwyn, Lee Co., Ms
      --m. Vernon GILLEY
      --November 9, 1932


    2. Carl E. Mears

      --b. January 26, 1904 Itawamba Co., MS
      --d. March 16, 1972 Alcorn Co., MS
      --m. Fannie ?
      ----b. June 12 1909
      ----d. April 2, 1943


    3. Elbert Boyd Mears

      --b. October 3, 1906 Itawamba Co. Ms
      --d. April 25, 1988 Baldwyn, Lee Co., Ms
      --m. Lula M. ?
      ----b. December 5, 1905
      ----d. August 27, 1986 Baldwyn, Lee Co., Ms


    4. Cliton W. Mears

      --b. February 22, 1907 Itwamba Co., MS
      --d. June 13, 1969
      --m. Christine ?
      ----b. May 31, 1919


    5. Luther C. Mears

      --b. January 10, 1910 Itawamba Co., Ms
      --d. January 20, 1972
      --m. Katie FARRAR


    6. Guy Otis Mears

      --b. January 10, 1911 Mississippi
      --d. January 19, 1996 Baldwyn, Lee Co., Ms
      --m. Pearlie Mae IVEY
      --March 12, 1928 probably Prentiss Co. MS
      ----b. May 1, 1912 Mississippi
      ----d. December 25, 2000 Baldwyn, Lee Co., MS


    7. Lizzie Beth (Mears) Felks

      --b. 1913 Mississippi
      --m. Clinton Olen FELKS


    8. Maud (Mears) Felks

      --b. 1915 Prentiss Co., Ms


    9. Isabelle (Mears) Green

      --b. 1920 Prentiss Co., MS
      --m. Robert John GREEN
      ----b. 1925


    10. Leonard E. 'Jerry' Mears

      --b. June 3, 1922
      --d. April 28, 2007 Baldwyn, Lee Co., MS
      --m. Louisa L. BEAR


Continue to - William Mears and Christinia Melton's Children

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Elijah Mears


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