| Home Surname List Name Index Sources | Eighth Generation335. James Elkins LESSLY117 was born on 26 June 1819 in Nikelsville, KY.222,223 He died on 10 December 1898 in Grayson County, TX. He was buried in Gerogetown cemetary, Pottsboro, TX. James was in farmer.118
The grave of James Elkins Lessly, his wife, sons John H. and Andrew P. Lessly, and daughter-in-law are in the Georgetown Cemetary near Pottsboro in northern Texas, several miles west of Dennison. According to notes by N.B. Forrets McGuire, one L.D. Lessly of Dennison, Texas believes that his grandfather, John M. Lessly, who lived near Springfield, Missouri, was in the group of seven covered wagons that migrated to Texas in 1876 with James Elkins and Emily Lessly. According to James Alan Lessly, James Elkins raised corn and mules while owning a couple of slaves. ************************************************************************** *********** In the printed Polk County census of 1860 on page 5, James Lessly appears with his family. The family surname is spelled "Lesley". James age is given as 39 and his occupation as farmer. His place of birth is listed as Kentucky. Also listed are his wife Emily, and children John H., George W., Charles A., Andrew P., Mary E., Alice and Paul C. In the 1870 census for Randolph County, Mo, James Elkins appears as "James Lessley". He appears on page 182 A living in Prairie Township, post office Moberly. His age is listed as 51 and his occupation as farmer. His place of birth is listed as Kentucky. Also appearing in his household are his wife Emily and children John H., Charles, Andrew P., Mary E., Alice and Paul. James appears in the 1880 census for Grayson Co., TX (Precinct 1, page 56 D, NA film # T9-1306). His name is listed as "James Leslie". His age is listed as 60, his occupation as Farmer and his place of birth as Kentucky. His father's birthplace is listed as Virginia. Also listed in the household are his wife, Emily, sons Andrew and Paul, and sister-in-law Isabelle Harris. James' age in the 1850 census differs with other information on his birthdate. According to the date of birth of 1819 inscribed on his tombstone, James should have been about 31 at the time of the 1850 census not 29. His age listed in the 1860 census appears to correspond with his tombstone birthdate. The census was taken in June, perhaps just before his 41st birthday. The age listed in the 1870 census corresponds to family information on his birthdate. All census records confirm family information that he was born in Kentucky. ************************************************************************** ********** Texas Land Title Abstracts James Elkins LESSLY and Emily HARRIS were married about 1842 in Kentucky. Emily HARRIS117 was born on 22 August 1819 in Nickelsville, KY.223 She died typhoid fever on 6 September 1881 in Grayson County, TX.224 She was buried in Georgetown Cemetary, Pottsboro, TX. In the 1850 census for Polk County, MO, Emily appears as part of her husband's household. Her age is given as 27(?) and her place of birth as Kentucky. In the printed account of the 1860 census for Polk County, MO, Emily appears as part of her husband's household. Her age is given as 39 and her place of birth as Kentucky. In the 1870 census for Randolph County, MO, Emily appears as part of her husbands household. Her age is listed as 49 and her place of birth as Kentucky. Her occupation is listed as keeping house. Emily appears in the 1880 census for Grayson Co., TX as a member of her husband's household. Her age is listed as 60, her occupation as "Keeping house" and her place of birth as Kentucky. Her father's birthplace is listed as North Carolina and her mother's birthplace as Kentucky. Her sister is also living in the household. Although the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records confirm family information on Emily's birthplace, they differ with information on her birthdate. According to the date of birth inscribed on her tombstone, Emily was born in 1819 and should have been about 31 years of age at the time of the 1850 census not 27. Likewise if family information were correct, Emily should have been 41 and 51 in the 1860 and 1870 census. Given the consistent disparity between 3 census records and family information, it is likely that Emily's birthdate is incorrect on her tombstone. A more likely birthyear for Emily (based on the census information) would be 1821. James Elkins LESSLY and Emily HARRIS had the following children:
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