Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I would like to know more about them, my great-great-grandparents. I am descended from their daughter Lucy. I have a tin type of them believed to be taken when they got married, also one of her taken at about the same time. She was born in 1833 and died 1913. He died in 1885.They had four or five children; a son and the rest girls.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I am descended from Dix McComas, Lucy's brother. There were a total of 11 children from Elisha McComas and Mary Phifer -- five girls (Lucy, Betty, Sally, Minnie, and Irene) and six boys (George, David, Bob, Dix, Leslie, and John). Much of this has been documented by Paul McComas from the Elisha McComas Bible which is in the Cumberland County Cemetery Records. (Paul is descended from John McComas.) Please contact me and we can perhaps link your photos to names.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
This is exciting! I assume that you have pictures too. How about family stories? My great-grandmother Lucy McComas died when she was 30, a few months after my grandmother was born. My great aunt Golden said that the doctor that attended her in the delivery was a quack. I heard a few loving stories of the shared experience of sewing quilts. "I can still see her little hands sewing on those quilts," and then Aunt Golden would cry. I haven't heard any stories at all about Mary Helen Phifer, but I perceive that she was much loved, because of a large old drawing made from eye-balling a small tin-type. I haven't heard anything about Elisha McComas either.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I don't have many stories except for my grandfather, Walter Les McComas, Lucy's nephew and Dix's son. I have attached some photos -- Walter Les McComas (my grandfather and Elisha's grandson), Jack Dixon McComas (my father), and me and my brothers (Jack Jr., Dix, and Michael). Also you should check out the Alpine Motel in Burkesville, KY -- Walter Les owned it and lived on the grounds. His old home is now a luxury suite. Also don't have many photos -- currently trying to collect them from people who took them after my grandmother's death. If you could scan your photos and email them to me ( mccomas@ix.netcom.com) I will distribute them to people who may be able to identify someone. My father remembers Elisha and his sister is still alive also. Send me your email address and I'll send you information on the family.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I don't have a scanner, but I know where a pretty good photocopy machine is. How about if I make duplicate copies, one for me, and one for you, and number them, and mail them to you, and if you recognize any, you can tell me their names, and if you want copies, I can have my hometown photographer make negatives for you, and then you can have a high quality picture. He charges $6 per negative; he does a GOOD job. What year was your grandfather born? Some of these are baby pictures---niece and nephew pictures. How extensive is your knowledge of the McComas family? I need to fill out missing names and birthdates. I have a tin type of an attractive young man who looks like a McComas, and since the only picture of Elisha Sinclair McComas I have is also a tin type, I'm wondering if he could be his brother.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
Sorry this reply took so long. I would be extremely interested in seeing your pictures. If my father can't recgonize anyone, I can send them to my aunt. I also just fouind the email address of the ggranddaughter of Robert McComas (Lucy and Dix's brother). I will send her a note tomorrow and maybe she can match up some names also. Please send me a reply to my home email mccomas@ix.netcom.com and I will send you my address. I do not like to list it on bulletin boards. Thanks
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I was so glad to find someone who has some information on the McComas family in Kentucky. My grandmother was Opal Graves and her mother was Lucy McComas. I am certain we may be related. I would appreciate any information you may have. Thanks
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
My grandmother was Flora Moore Brooks, a younger sister of Opal Graves. She was sad to leave Kentucky. The river was high, and she could see it just below the boards in the bridge they were crossing. She thought she should have been the one to stay in Kentucky, because she was the youngest. But her aunts favored Opal. She looked the most like a McComas, delicate, and her aunts feared that if she went to Kansas, it would be so hard on her health. Harvey Daniel Moore was too poor to own his own farm, and land was free in Kansas. The McComas's didn't look kindly on him because of his poverty. I also heard a few stories of the special friendships that continued between the McComas's and their former slaves/the descendants of the McComas's and the descendants of their former slaves.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
My grandmother was Opal Graves. So many times she told my sister and me how much she missed her brothers and sisters. It was so sad to break up the family. I have so much respect for their dad Harvey. If you have any additional information, I would love to hear it.
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Re: Mary Helen Phifer/Elisha Sinclair McComas from Ky. mid-1800s
I'm sorry, I don't believe my Phifer family is tied in with your Phifer family. Mine were born and raised in and around the Medford area in N.J.
Marilyn Phifer
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