4-280  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

WILLIAM MARTIN SHELTON (3) is the son of Nathaniel Shelton and Mahala (Harper) Shelton.  William was born on July 27, 1847 in Jackson County, Alabama.  On April 18, 1863, William Shelton enlisted in the Union Army in Forsyth, Missouri.  Although he stated that he was eighteen years of age, he actually was only fifteen.  His personal description at the time of his enlistment was height five-feet and eight inches, dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair.  William listed his residence as Jackson County, Alabama and listed his nearest relative, William Shelton of Larkinsville, Alabama.  This relative was his uncle and his future father-in-law.  William served as a private in Company L of the Third Regiment of the Wisconsin Cavalry.  Company L was designated as company D on February 1, 1865.  William was wounded severely in action at Clear Lake, Arkansas on March 12, 1865.  Military papers further state that he had a gun shot wound in the left shoulder.  William was on sick leave in the General Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas from March 14, 1865 to June 15, 1865 when he was honorably discharged.


William Martin Shelton
ca. 1900
Harold Casey Collection


On September 6, 1866, William Martin Shelton married his first cousin, Martha Adeline Shelton (1.5.7), in Jackson County, Alabama.  Martha was born on January 16, 1847 in Jackson County, Alabama and is the daughter of William Shelton (1.5) and Martha (Pace) Shelton (16).  In 1869, William and Martha Shelton moved to Boone County, Arkansas and in 1871, they moved to Webb City, Arkansas.  William and Martha Shelton were the parents of nine children:

  Susan M. Shelton
  Sarah E. Shelton
  Sophronia Caldonia Shelton (3.3), b. February 7, 1872, Meg, Arkansas
  Polly Ann Shelton (3.4), b. January 16, 1875, Meg, Arkansas
  Virginia Ida Mansanora Shelton (3.5), b. May 9, 1877, Meg, Arkansas
  Dora Shelton (3.6), b. December 31, 1879, Meg, Arkansas
  William T. Shelton (3.7), b. December 4, 1883, Meg, Arkansas
  Florence Larue Shelton (4), b. August 8, 1886, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Infant, b. March, 1889


Dora (Shelton) Holcomb, Polly (Shelton) Frazier, Virginia (Shelton) Foster
Sophronia (Shelton) Tolbert, William T. Shelton, William Martion Shelton
Florence (Shelton) Casey, Martha (Shelton) Shelton
ca. 1894
Harold Casey Collection


As a result of his gun shot wound in the left shoulder (two and one-half inches from his heart) causing a physical disability.  William applied for an invalid pension on August 28, 1877, which was approved in November of 1878 for $8.00 per month.  As of January of 1883, his pension was still $8.00 per month.  By 1912, it was $15.00 per month and in 1913 it was $17.00 per month.  When he died in 1918, he was receiving $23.00 per month.  Around sixty years of age, Williams left side became partially paralyized and in his last three years of his life, he required almost constant personal attention.  From 1880 to 1910, William and Martha Shelton were living in Franklin County, Arkansas.  William Shelton built a home on his farm in 1889 and the house was still standing in 1986.  William was noted for having the best orchard and garden in the area.  His orchard and garden included apricots, apples, peaches, plums, cherries, pears, grapes, muscadines, asparagus and strawberries.  Martha Adeline (Shelton) Shelton died on September 4, 1910 and William Martin Shelton died on June 12, 1918.  Both were buried in the Cemetery Ridge Cemetery southwest of Ozark, Arkansas.


SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-281

Louis Bert Casey at the home of William Martin Shelton
Built 1889, Photographed 1983
Courtesy of Louis Bert Casey


Tombstones of Martha (Shelton) Shelton and William Martin Shelton
Photographed 1980
Harold Casey Collection


According to the Family Bible, Susan and Sarah Shelton were born in Jackson County, Alabama.  Susan and Sarah Shelton apparently died prior to 1880 as neither were listed in the 1880 census.  William and Martha Sheltons last child died the same month the he/she was born (March, 1889).

References:  1)  Company Muster Rolls, William Shelton, 1863 - 1865;  2)  1880, 1900 and 1910 Censuses, Franklin County, Arkansas;  3)  Pension Application Number 156,338, William Shelton, 1877;  4)  Family Bible of William Martin Shelton;  5)  Interview, Florence (Shelton) Casey by Robert Casey, 1968;  6)  Cemetery Ridge List, Ozark, Arkansas, by Harold Casey;  7)  Family Sketch of William Martin Shelton by Harold Casey, 1984

SOPHRONIA CALDONIA SHELTON (3.3) is the daughter of William Martin Shelton and Martha Adeline (Shelton) Shelton.  Sophronia was born on February 7, 1872 in Meg, Arkansas.  On November 8, 1894, Sophronia Shelton married James Hickman Tolbert.  James was born on February 9, 1869 in Alabama and is the son of Edward Tolbert and Elmina C. (Reaves) Tolbert.  From 1900 to 1910, James and Sophronia Tolbert were living in Franklin County, Arkansas.  James and Sophronia Tolbert were the parents of seven children:

  Dessie Mae Tolbert (3.3.1), b. April 9, 1897, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Cary Madie Tolbert (3.3.2), b. August 18, 1900, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Jimmie Elminia Tolbert (3.3.3), b. November 6, 1902, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Curtis Hickman Tolbert (3.3.4), b. March 25, 1905, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Elmer Lee Tolbert (3.3.5), b. May 8, 1907, Franklin County, Arkansas
  William Lawrence Tolbert (3.3.6), b. December 14, 1909, Franklin Co., Arkansas
  Bonnie Belle Tolbert (3.3.7), b. March 27, 1914, Franklin County, Arkansas

Sophronia (Shelton) Tolbert died on October 21, 1918 in Little Rock, Arkansas and was buried in the Cemetery Ridge Cemetery southwest of Ozark, Arkansas.  James H. Tolbert died on December 8, 1962 in Tuttle, Oklahoma and was buried next to his wife in Ozark, Arkansas.

4-282  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

References:  1)  1900 and 1910 Censuses, Franklin County, Arkansas;  2)  Interview, Florence (Shelton) Casey by Robert Casey, 1968;  3)  Cemetery Ridge Cemetery List, Ozark, Arkansas, by Harold Casey;  4)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984

DESSIE MAE TOLBERT (3.3.1) is the daughter of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Dessie was born on April 9, 1897 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  In 1917, Dessie Tolbert married William Jasper Brown.  William was born on January 8, 1889 in Franklin County, Arkansas and is the son of William Anderson Brown and Lillie Alice (Truitt) Brown.  William’s brother, Leon Brown, married Dessie’s sister, Bonnie Tolbert (3.3.7).  William and Dessie Brown were the parents of seven children:

  Wilma Jean Brown, b. November 3, 1918
  Ruby Brown
  Iva Ruth Brown
  J. W. Brown, b. September 13, 1922
  Alvin Anderson Brown (twin), b. October 25, 1925
  Calvin Brown (twin), b. October 25, 1925
  Alma Lee Brown, b. September 23, 1934

William Jasper Brown died on December 24, 1958 in Tuttle, Oklahoma and Dessie (Tolbert) Brown died on May 18, 1982 in Tuttle, Oklahoma.  Both were buried in Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984

CARY MADIE TOLBERT (3.3.2) is the daughter of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Madie was born on August 18, 1900 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Madie Tolbert married Harv Bryant.  Harv and Madie Bryant were the parents of two children:

  Ireta Bryant
  Juanita Bryant

Madie (Tolbert) Bryant died on April 28, 1980.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984

JIMMIE ELMINIA TOLBERT (3.3.3) is the daughter of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Jimmie was born on November 6, 1902 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  On February 11, 1923, Jimmie Tolbert married Joseph A. Owen, Jr. in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Joseph was born on May 10, 1899 in Newton, Arkansas and is the son of Joseph A. Owen and Ruthy (Fout) Owen.  Joseph and Jimmie Owen were the parents of three children:

  Majorie Owen, b. January 28, 1924, Pittsburg, Oklahoma
  Clonnie Owen, b. October 18, 1926, Pittsburg, Oklahoma
  Imogene Owen, b. January 23, 1928, Pittsburg, Oklahoma

SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-283

Majorie Owen married a Mr. Davis and Imogene Owen married a Mr. Hardy.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Lawrence Tolbert, 1984

CURTIS HICKMAN TOLBERT (3.3.4) is the son of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Curtis was born on March 25, 1905 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Curtis Tolbert married Mattie Sewell in Ashland, Oklahoma.  Curtis and Mattie Tolbert were the parents of three children:

  Lorene Tolbert
  Kenneth Tolbert
  Shirley Tolbert

Curtis Tolbert died on February 20, 1983.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984

ELMER LEE TOLBERT (3.3.5) is the son of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Elmer was born on May 8, 1907 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  In December of 1929, Elmer Tolbert married Amy Holiday in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Amy is the daughter of J. D. Holiday.  Elmer and Amy Tolbert were the parents of one son:

  John David Tolbert, b. 1930, Franklin County, Arkansas

Elmer Tolbert died on December 3, 1977.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984

WILLIAM LAWRENCE TOLBERT (3.3.6) is the son of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Lawrence was born on December 14, 1909.  On April 28, 1948, Lawrence Tolbert married Kathleen Ruby Fahey in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Kathleen was born on May 17, 1913 in Jefferson, Missouri and is the daughter of James Fahey and Ruby Mae (Wilson) Fahey.  Lawrence and Kathleen Tolbert are the parents of one daughter:

  Maureen Fahey Tolbert, b. August 6, 1947, Dalano, California

Lawrence served in the coast artillery in Hawaii from 1937 to 1939 and in the infantry in Africa and Italy from 1942 to 1945.  Lawrence is a member of the Masonic Lodge.  He retired after working thirty years for the County of Los Angeles.  As of 1984, Lawrence Tolbert was living in Baldwin Park, California.   On November 7, 1964, Maureen Tolbert married Charles Alton Benton in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Charles is the son of George Gladstone Benton and Mary Margart (Watkins) Benton.  Charles and Maureen Benton are the parents of two daughters:  -  Bridgette Lynne Benton, b. March 16, 1966, Van Nuys, California,  -  Fahey Jeannine Benton, b. January 3, 1973, Hollywood, California.

References:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Lawrence Tolbert, 1984;  2)  Family Group Sheet by Maureen (Tolbert) Benton, 1984

4-284  INTERACTIVE FAMILY HISTORIES

BONNIE BELLE TOLBERT (3.3.7) is the daughter of James Hickman Tolbert and Sophronia Caldonia (Shelton) Tolbert.  Bonnie was born on March 27, 1914 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  On April 20, 1930, Bonnie Tolbert married Ivo Leon Brown in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Leon was born on November 24, 1910 in Franklin County, Arkansas and is the son of William Anderson Brown and Lillie Alice (Truitt) Brown.  Leon’s brother, William Brown, married Bonnie’s sister, Dessie Tolbert (3.3.1).  Leon and Bonnie Brown are the parents of five children:

  Earl Frederick Brown (3.3.7.1), b. March 25, 1931, Franklin County, Arkansas
  Wanda Jeanetta Brown, b. December 5, 1934, Grady County, Oklahoma
  Patsy Ruth Brown (3.3.7.3), b. November 30, 1939, Grady County, Oklahoma
  Margaret Diana Brown (3.3.7.4), b. September 23, 1947, Grady Co., Oklahoma
  Carolyn Sue Brown (3.3.7.5), b. February 28, 1950, Grady County, Oklahoma

As of 1987, Leon and Bonnie Brown were living in Blanchard, Oklahoma.  Wanda Brown married George Lamar Hall.  George was born on October 25, 1930 in Florala, Alabama and is the son of Wilson Lamar Hall.  George and Wanda Hall are the parents of one daughter:  -  Seartha Ann Hall, b. February 21, 1959, Pensacola, Florida.

References:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Bonnie (Tolbert) Brown, 1984;  2)  Family Group sheet by Wanda (Brown) Hall, October 22, 1986

EARL FREDERICK BROWN (3.3.7.1) is the son of of Ivo Leon Brown and Bonnie Belle (Tolbert) Brown.  Earl was born on March 25, 1931 in Franklin County, Arkansas.  In 1950, Earl married Georgia Anna Stone in Texas. Georgia was born in 1930 and is the daughter of George Andrew Stone and Prudence A. (Price) Stone.  Earl and Georgia Brown are the parents of five children:

  Anita Jo Brown, b. January 30, 1952, Blancard, Oklahoma
  Lois Marie Brown, b. March 13, 1955, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Gary F. Brown, b. June 9, 1956, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Rita L. Brown, b. June 29, 1957, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Sherell R. Brown, b. October 9, 1959, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

In 1983, Anita Jo Brown married Darie Zarenbenski.  In 1980, Lois Marie Brown married Greg Smith.  In 1978, Gary F. Brown married Debbie Chambers.  In 1980, Rita Brown married John Grzybowski.  In 1980, Sherell Brown married Vergil L. Reimer.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Earl Frederick Brown, October 22, 1986

PATSY RUTH BROWN (3.3.7.3) is the daughter of Ivo Leon Brown and Bonnie Belle (Tolbert) Brown.  Patsy was born on November 30, 1939 in Grady County, Oklahoma.  In 1960, Patsy Ruth Brown married Ambers V. Nix in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Ambers was born in 1935 in Sardis, Oklahoma and is the son of Ambrose Nix and Retta Marie (Taylor) Nix.  Ambers and Patsy Nix are the parents of two children:

SHELTON FAMILY HISTORY  4-285

  Kenny Lee Nix, b. February 22, 1961, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Kevin Leon Nix, b. February 25, 1965, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

On November 23, 1983, Kevin Nix married Patricia LaDonna Culp.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Patsy (Brown) Nix, October 22, 1986

MARGARET DIANA BROWN (3.3.7.4) is the daughter of Ivo Leon Brown and Bonnie Belle (Tolbert) Brown.  Margaret was born on September 23, 1947 in Grady County, Oklahoma.  On March 13, 1965, Margaret Brown married Boyd Dale Cable.  Boyd was born on December 9, 1944 in New Castle, Oklahoma and is the son of John Hoshall Cable and Ella Lee (Harris) Cable.  Boyd and Margaret Cable are the parents of three daughters:

  Shelley Christine Cable, b. December 3, 1965, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Brandy Dian Cable, b. December 25, 1969, Norman, Oklahoma
  Sunnie Lea Cable, b. April 4, 1974, Norman, Oklahoma

On June 16, 1984, Shelley Cable married Terry Lee Stout.  Terry and Shelley Stout are the parents of one daughter:  -  Ashlee Lichelle Stout, b. February 15, 1986, Norman, Oklahoma.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Margaret (Brown) Cable, October 22, 1986

CAROLYN SUE BROWN (3.3.7.5) is the daughter of Ivo Leon Brown and Bonnie Belle (Tolbert) Brown.  Carolyn Sue was born on February 28, 1950 in Grady County, Oklahoma.  Carolyn Sue Brown married Glen Davis Snider.  Glen and Carolyn are the parents of one daughter:

  Shantel Mechael Snider, b. August 25, 1967, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Glen and Carolyn Snider were divorced.  In 1973, Carolyn married a second time to John Henry Hacker.  John was born on June 29, 1948 in Grady County, Oklahoma and is the son of Robert T. Hacker and Margie (Johnson) Hacker.

Reference:  1)  Family Group Sheet by Carolyn (Brown) Hacker, October 22, 1986

POLLY ANN SHELTON (3.4) is the daughter of William Martin Shelton and Martha Adeline (Shelton) Shelton.  Polly was born on January 16, 1875 in Meg, Arkansas.  On March 14, 1900, Polly Shelton married Dale Frazier (born July, 1859 in Virginia).  In 1900, Dale and Polly A. Frazier were living in Franklin County, Arkansas.  Polly (Shelton) Frazier died on March 23, 1901.

References:  1)  1900 Census, Franklin County, Arkansas;  2)  Family Bible of William Martin Shelton in possession of Mrs. Howard Casey;  3)  Interview, Florence (Shelton) Casey by Robert Casey, 1968