My Branch Of The Byers Family
Pictures are located at the end of this file. Scroll down the page to see them.
The lineage of this branch of the Byers family is as follows:
Daniel Byers (b. Abt. 1756 - d. Abt. 1818) and Margaret ___?___(b. Abt. 1760 - d. Abt. 1818)
James Byers (b. Abt. 1787 - d. Abt. 1875) and Margaret Bratcher (b. Abt. 1785 - d. bet 1830-1850 )
William Byers (b. Abt. 1822 - d. ) and Rhoda Lacefield (b. Abt. 1828 - d. )
William Byers (b. June 3, 1863 - d. Dec. 23, 1929) and Dora E. Bratcher (b. June 26, 1872 - d. May 11, 1956)
The death certificate of William Byers (who married Dora E. Bratcher) states that his father was William Byers born in Grayson County, Kentucky and his mother was Rhoda Lacefield born in 'Unknown'. The ancestry of William (who married Rhoda Lacefield) is not as clear.
As you read the census records below, you will notice names that are not spelled correctly and ages that don't exactly match. However, the census folks probably did the best they could.
The 1850 Census Of Grayson County, Kentucky
Byers, William 28 M. Farmer, Value of Real Estate $100
Rhoda 22 F. John 1 M.
James 5 M. James 60 M. Farmer (father, must have been born in 1790)
The 1860 Census Of Grayson County, Kentucky
Why would the census taker list William as a Sr. when William, Jr. wasn't born until 1863?
Byers, William, Sr. 35 Farmer
Roda 30 Ind.
James 15
John 11
Hannah 10
Lewis 7
Ransom 6
Palestine 2
The 1870 Census Of Grayson County, Kentucky
James has left home.
Byers, Wm (35) & Rhoda (40) William's age had to be 45
Jno (20)fl; Hannah (19)ah; Louis (17)fl; Ranson (15); Palestine (12);
Nancy J (9); Wm (7); Mary M (2)
The 1880 Census Of Grayson County, Kentucky
Hannah, Louis, and Palestine have left home.
Byers, William 55 Farmer KY KY SC
Roda 48 wife KY KY KY
John 30 son Farm Laborer KY KY KY
Ransum 23 son Farm Laborer KY KY KY
Nancy J. 19 dau KY KY KY
William 15 son Farm Laborer KY KY KY
Mary M. 12 dau KY KY KY
The 1890 Census Of Grayson County, Kentucky
missing
The 1900 Census Of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
This is William, Jr.
Byres, William JE-1863 36 m12 KY KY KY farmer
Dora E. wife JA-1872 28 m12 KY KY KY 4c 4a
Perry V. son AP-1889 11 s KY KY KY
Mary C. dau JA-1893 7 s KY KY KY
Nealy M.dau SE-1896 4 s KY KY KY
Pearl dau SE-1899 9/12 KY KY KY
There are other daughters named Katherine and Dimple who haven't been born yet.
The 1910 Census Of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Dora has divorced William and moved somewhere with Baby Dimple b. 1907, Perry V. and Mary C. have left home.
BYRES William 4- d KY KY KY
Nealy dau 14 s KY KY KY
Pearl dau 10 s KY KY KY
Kate dau 8 s KY KY KY
As of The1910 Census, William and Dora have divorced. The actual divorce date is unknown as of this writing (August 12, 2001).
Below is a picture of the William Byers and Dora E. Bratcher family. Read it clockwise - 12 o'clock, Perry V. - 3 o'clock, Mary Cassandra - 5 o'clock, Pearl - 6 o'clock, Baby Dimple - 7 o'clock, Kate - 9 o'clock, Nealy M. - 10 o'clock, Dora E. Bratcher Byers (Bryant). The center - William. Baby Dimple's picture was added to the original picture at some later date by someone unknown (I think it was Nealy).
This picture was sent (date unknown) to Mary Cassandra Byers Bobbitt (my grandmother) by Nealy. This picture and others of the Bobbitt/Byers family were handed down to me after my father's death.
Perry is the father of Vernon Byers Baggett, Evelyn Byers Lindsey, Lucy Byers, and Guy Byers. Mary is the mother of Hubert Eugene Bobbitt, Leyburn Kenneth Bobbitt, Chester Leon Bobbitt, and Reatha Alberta Bobbitt. Kate is the mother of Dimple Howard Bloeman. The children of Pearl, Dimple, and Nealy are unknown as of this writing (July 30, 2001).
Dora divorced William and married a man named William Bryant. Woodrow Bryant is their son. 'Woody' is a half brother to the children in this picture.
The source of information about this picture is Vernon Byers Baggett and Evelyn Byers Lindsey.
Information From The Death Certificate Of William Byers
County: Muhlenberg, Kentucky
Registration District No. 1093
File No. 19
Registered No. 965
Full Name: William Byers
Sex: Male
Color or Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Name of Wife At Death: Ethyl (Lott) Byers
Date Of Birth: June 3, 1863
Age: 66 years, 6 months, 20 days
Occupation: Farmer
Birthplace: Grayson County, Kentucky
Name Of Father: William Byers
Birthplace Of Father: Grayson County, Kentucky
Maiden Name Of Mother: Rhoda Lacefield
Birthplace Of Mother: Unknown
Informant: Perry Byers
Address Of Informant: Bevier, Kentucky
Filed: Writing Is Unreadable On Document
Date Of Death: December 23, 1929
Cause Of Death: Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Place Of Burial: Union Cemetery (Methodist Cemetery, Island, Kentucky)
Date Of Burial: December 24, 1929
Undertaker: J.P. Hughart and Son
Address: Island, Kentucky (McLean County)
Certified Copy Signed By: Sandra J. Davies, State Registrar, March 30, 2001
Information From The Death Certificate Of Dora Bryant
Registration District No. 410
Primary Registration District No. 2145
File No. 116 56- 9111
Registrar's No. 297
Place Of Death: Daviess County
City Of Death: Owensboro
Hospital: Kentucky Convalescent Home
Usual Residence: Muhlenberg County
City or Town: Drakesboro (Nonnell)
Name Of Deceased: Dora Bryant
Date Of Death: May 11, 1956
Sex: Female
Color or Race: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Date Of Birth: June 26, 1872
Age: 84
Usual Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Butler County, Kentucky
Father's Name: Frank Bratcher
Mother's Maiden Name: Criller Shultz (first name barely readable)
Social Security Number: None
Informant: Woodrow Bryant
Cause Of Death: Unreadable on Document
Burial Date: May 13, 1956
Name Of Cemetery: Island (Methodist Church Cemetery)
Location: Island, Kentucky (McLean County)
Funeral Director: Tucker Funeral Home, Central City, Kentucky
Certified Copy Signed By: Sandra J. Davies, State Registrar, March 30, 2001
The following picture is that of Lucy Byers. Lucy was a daughter of Perry Byers. Lucy's brother was Guy Byers. Her sisters were Vernon Byers Bagett and Evelyn Byers Lindsey.
This is Evelyn Byers and Uncle Hobert Mayse and Little Vernon Byers
This is Evelyn Byers. Grown up, some.
This is Marcus and Evelyn Byers Lindsey
This is Evelyn Byers Lindsey (School Board Member)
And, of course, Elk Valley School
Sorry the picture is so big, but I wanted you to be able to see my mom... Hazel Bruce in the second row, fourth from right.... and my aunt Audie Bruce in the first row.... fourth from left.... and Vernon Byers in the fourth row... third from left... and, of course, Mrs. Evelyn Byers Lindsey in the fourth row... first on left.
The following picture is that of Katherine 'Kate' Byers. According to their marriage certificate, Kate married Guy Howard on November 12, 1919, county of Muhlenberg, Kentucky. She was 18 years of age when she married. Kate's place of birth is listed as Ohio County, Kentucky and her place of residence is listed as Bevier, Kentucky. Present at the marriage were W.O. Strader and her brother Perry 'Bubber' Byers.
The following picture is that of Dimple Mae Howard... Kate's daughter. This picture was taken July 9, 1947. The location is unknown.
The End.... for now.