[The Lead Belt News, May 6, 1959]

MRS. WM. CAMPBELL

Mrs. Edith Florence Campbell of Leadington [St. Francois County, Mo.], wife of Wm. [William] Campbell, died in the Walter Fischel Hospital, Columbia, Mo., Sunday, May 3, 1959. A daughter of the late James and Ellen Hart, she was born on April 26, 1900, and was aged 59 years 7 days at the time of death.

She is survived by her husband, three sons and three daughters: James Campbell, Esther; Charles and Leon Campbell, Leadington; Mrs. Woodrow Meadors, Leadington; Mrs. Allen Gerstenschlager, Flat River, and Mrs. Patrick Sherman, Belleville, Ill. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Carrie Hart, Mrs. James Church, Mrs. Emma Kohler, Mrs. Alex Russell, James and Charles Hart, all of St. Louis.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, May 6, at the Free Will Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Turnbough. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Raymond Caldwell & Son service.

James and Ellen Hart are my g grandparents. Their daughter, Catherine, my Grandmother, married James Henry Church. I am seeking any and all info I can about my Hart, Church, Dix, and Haddock lines. Can you provide me any? Thanx, Doug

I found a James C. Hart wife Ellen with children: Carrie, Jan 85; James Jan 88 Katie, Jujn 91, Emma Jun 96 and Edtih F., 1899 living Randolph Twp, St. Francios Co on 1900c. I believe this James is the same James who lived with my family:

James C. Willis and his wife Mary A. (Howard?) with children: Cyntha Eliz., 1855; Mary E., 1867; Sarah Jane 1869, James W., 1871 and Margaret, 1873. We are trying to find out why James and his mother? Tabitha are living with our family. Do you know anything about this?

Starr

Starr, I've responded to you before but have not heard from you. James Calvin Hart and Ellen Victoria Dix Hart are my gg grandparents. You mention you believe "this James is the same James who lived with my family". I have some references about the Hart/Willis names being comingled. But have not been able to understand how or why. Somewhere I had James Calvin's father, Charles Elliot Hart, married to a Dorcas Willis, and having two children, Permelia Jane and John N. 'Jack' Hart, but no confirmation. In fact, another source has Permelia Jane listed as Charles Elliot's grandaughter. Also, I have misc. info that Charles Elliot was married to Mary Ellen Blackwell and a Margaret (Burger?) and had 10 children by Mary Ellen and 2 by Margaret. Charles Elliot was buried in Shannon Co. in the Old Midco Cemetery on the Dillard farm. I'm not sure this is correct because I've also found reference to this cemetery in another county south and east of Shannon. Can't remember the name at present. Also I believe several census records show Hart's and Willis' in the same household. Perhaps they were related and came together during the Civil War for mutual protection. The war was particularly violent and cruel for isolated families in southeast Missouri. In fact, Charles Elliot was murdered by a raiding party in 1864.

Let me know your Willis history. Thanx, Doug

Your Ellen Dix was the daughter of John Dix. Do you know John's connection to David C. Dix? And Vincent Dix? Please email me.

Starr:

I would enjoy hearing from you about the Hart/Willis 1870 census records showing a Tabitha and James living with your family.

Mike White (mtwhite@olp.net)

I find Tabitha Hart, 28, b. ILL and James Hart 8, b. MO living with my Willis family onthe 1870c, pg. 704, Randolph Twp., St. Francois Co.., MO.

Starr:

I e-mailed a lady years ago and ask her about the Willis and Heart entry in the 1870 census. She told me it was a missprint in the 1870 census and they did not live with her family. It is possible because the 1870 census was a mess in Missouri with families scattered everywhere because of the Civil War. I believe it was spelled Heart in this entry.

The age for my James C. Hart is about the same but I have never understood why if Charles Elliott Hart was his father he did not go live with one of his brothers or sisters in Reynolds County? My Greatgreatgrandfather James said his parents were Elliott and Margaret Hart but he was so young when they died that I always have wondered if they were not his grandparents. Maybe this Tabitha was a Willis and married one of Charles Elliott Harts sons and the son died and she went to live with her parents?????

Thanks for e-mailing me back
Mike White

OK. I did look at the original at the National Archives (or I should say copy since the originals were kept at the state level and copies made by the clerks and forwarded to DC)

Many mistakes are found on the census. If this family did not live with my Willis they did indeed exist and perhaps research in local records will help.

I have not done research personally on the Hart line (even though I do this professionally). I am concentrating on my Howard and Willis line. I assume you have found Hart info on the internet dealing with Elliot Hart and Dorcas Willis and their children.

Since I did not do this research I really dont have a "feel" for the family nor why the confusion of who is who when so much research has already been done.

Starr

Starr, much about Charles Elliot Hart is confused. There has been mention by some that he was first married to Dorcas Willis, others say his first marriage was to Dorcas Wilkerson. I have not seen or had any documentation either way. The Dorcas Willis connection seems rather doubtful since she was married to and having chidren with a Robert Witt at the time Permellia Jane and John N. were born, unless she had them by Charles Elliot between her children with Robert Witt. Another, but more remote possibility, is that there were two Dorcas Willis'.

Unfortunately I have lost my notes about the researcher who said that Charles Elliot married Margaret Burger on April 26, 1849 in Moniteau Co., MO. If true, this too is confusing because Charles, at this time, was married and having children with Mary Ellen Blackwell in Shannon/Carter Co. This might very well be possible if Charles was maintaining two separate relationships in two different and closely proximate counties. This too might explain why current relatives disavow any knowledge of Margaret or James Calvin Hart, and why much of the Hart family is in Reynolds Co. and Shannon/Carter Co.

If you trace the birth dates and places of Charles' children by Mary Ellen Blackwell (md. 1836 in Shannon Co, MO?) their migration pattern would be as follows: 1836, TN; 1838, IL; 1840, IL; 1842, IL; 1844, MO; May 02, 1846, Madison Co., MO; 1849, Madison Co., MO; (md. Margaret Burger in Moniteau Co. MO?); 1850, Reynolds Co., MO; October 15, 1852, Shannon Co., MO. At least four of their ten children died in Shannon Co.; of twin brothers Edward Alonzo and Lewis Clark one died in Shannon Co. and the other in Reynolds Co. Their oldest child, born in TN, died in Shannon Co. What all this appears to say is that this Hart family (families) were separate and probably knowledgeable of each other. I believe it was Mike White that told me that our gg grandfather, James Calvin Hart, often spoke of his brothers Edward and Eli.

Can you provide me more info about your Willis line and the 1870 census entry? Do you have any documentation about Dorcas Willis? My email address is dbchurch@hargray.com.

Thanx, Doug