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James Rufus Wilks  James Rufus Wilks
Male 1871 - 1951

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  • Birth  30 May 1871  Taylor's Store, Franklin, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender  Male 
    Obituary  Wednesday, October 24, 1951  Fulton, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Fulton Daily Sun-Gazette 
    • James Rufus Wilks Dies in Iowa Tuesday
      Former Resident of Callaway County Lived with a Daughter.
      James Rufus Wilks, 80, former resident of Callaway County, died Tuesday night at S. Francis Hospital in Grinnell, Iowa after suffering a stroke of paralysis. He and Mrs. Wilks had been making their home in Grinnell with a daughter, Mrs. John Lewis, since 1949.
      Funeral services will be held here at the Maupin Funeral Home at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. The body was brought to Fulton, Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be in the Cemetery of Auxvasse. The Rev. A.F. Larson will conduct the services.
      Mr. Wilks was born at Taylors Store in Franklin County Va., on May 30, 1871. On January 2, 1894, he and Miss Oddie E. Day of Auxvasse were married. They had twelve children, ten of whom survive.
      They are; Leo Wilks of Auxvasse, Mrs. Homer Owen of Auxvasse, Mrs. T.L. Finn of Hobbs, N.M., Mrs. C.D. (Jack) Carrington of Fulton, Ira Day Wilks of East St. Louis, Ill, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Paul Sherman of Russellville, Ark., Lowell Wilks of Scottsbluff, Nebr., Paul E. Wilks, who is in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Peoria, Ill, and Mrs. max Foulds of Hobbs, N.M.
      He is also survived by his wife, twenty-two grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Aliff and Mrs. Ollie Alcorn, both of Portsmouth, Ohio.
      Mr. Wilks came to Callaway County when he was nineteen years old and remained here until 1949 when his health failed.
    Died  23 Oct 1951  Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Cause: broken hip, uremia, stroke 
    Buried  26 Oct 1951  Auxvasse Cemetery, Auxvasse, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID  I368  Herring Family of Callaway County, Missouri
    Last Modified  18 Mar 2010 
     
    Father  William Henry Wilks,   b. 1833,   d. Abt 1873, , , Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother  Rebecca Anne Wilks,   b. Abt 1831, , , Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Mar 1885, , Franklin, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID  F1340  Group Sheet
     
    Family  Oddie Elizabeth Day,   b. 19 Mar 1876, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Sep 1952, Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  2 Jan 1894  Auxvasse, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Marriage license, dated January 1, 1894, Rufus Wilks of Williamsburg, Callaway Co., Missouri, who is over the age of 21 years, and Miss Oddie E. Day of Auxvasse, Callaway Co., Missouri, who is under the age of 18 years. Issued on the consent of Sanders P. Day, father of Miss Oddie E. Day and on the statement of J.F. Stringer uncle of Miss O.E. Day, that all parties herin interested give their consent to this marriage. John M. Bryan, Recorder

      This is to certify that the undersigned Minister of the Gospel did at J.F. Stringer's in said county on the 2nd day of January, A.D. 1894, unite in Marriage the above named persons. E.J. Sanderson
    Marriage  50th Wedding Anniversary 
    • The Auxvasse Review - Auxvasse, MO - Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 5, 1944
      Mr. & Mrs. Rufus Wilks celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home nine miles east of Auxvasse on Sunday, January 2, and a fine meal was enjoyed at noon. The large table was decorated with flowers, and candles in gold candle holders. In the center was a large three-tier wedding cake, decorated with 50 golden candles and a miniature bride and groom. Mr & Mrs. Wilks were married just south of Auxvasse at the home of Mrs. Wilks' aunt. Mrs. M.E. Stringer, with whom she made her home. The Reverend E. J. Sanderson, Baptist Minister, performed the ceremony. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wilks resided for a few years in the Williamsburg Community where they engaged in farming. In 1900 they moved to their present location, then known as Callaway Post Office, where Mr. Wilks operated a general store in connection with the office. In 1908, when the post office was discontinued, Mr. and Mrs. Wilks built a new house on the site and have resided there since.
      Twelve children were born to them, all of whom are living except one son, Linwood, who was killed while working in a defense plant in Kansas City on April, 1943. Another son, Paul, who is a gunner's mate first class on the U.S.S.Tuna, in the South Pacific, could not be present Sunday to join in the anniversary celebration. Mr. Wilks' only brother, John W. Wilkes, and son and daughter of McCredie, and Miss Abbie Day of Fulton, were the only guests present in addition to ten children, seventeen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren of the celebrants.
      Hearty congradulations, best wishes and many appropriate gifts were received by Mr. and Mrs. Wilks, including a much enjoyed crate of citrus fruit from Mrs. Wilks' brother in Florida. (stepbrother) Mr. and Mrs. Wilks are still very active and took much pleasure in having so many members of their family with them on this occasion, the number including the following: Mr. and Mrs. Merle Bost and son, Tommy (Finn), Mr. and Mrs. Ira D. Wilks and daughter, Susan, Mr. and Mrs. Max Foulds and son, Carl, of (East) St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sherman and children, Billy, Neva Jean, and Patty, and Mrs. Linwood Wilks and children, Larry Hale and Jackie Sue, of Higginsville, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. John Lewis and children, Donald, BettyLu, Margaret, and Paul, of Thornburg, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Wilks and children, Jean Ann and Jerry of Scottsbluff, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Carrington and son, Rex, of Fulton; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wilks and daughter, Opal Jean, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Dryden and children, Uvon, Jimmie, Donald and Juanita, of Auxvasse; and Frances Wilks of the home.
    Children 
    >1. Leo Wilks,   b. 20 Nov 1894, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Mar 1995, , Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Elizabeth Overton Wilks,   b. 25 Aug 1896, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Nov 1987, Auxvasse, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >3. Iris Wilks,   b. 6 Feb 1898, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Dec 1965, Hobbs, Lea, New Mexico, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >4. Mary Leona Wilks,   b. 25 Mar 1900, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Feb 1957, Fulton, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >5. Ira Day Wilks,   b. 22 May 1902, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jul 1984, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >6. Dollie Ora Wilks,   b. 15 Aug 1904, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Apr 2000, What Cheer, Keokuk, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >7. Virginia Wilks,   b. 8 Feb 1907, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Apr 1993, Springdale, Washington, Arkansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >8. James Lowell Wilks,   b. 23 Oct 1909, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Mar 2000, Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >9. Paul Eugene Wilks,   b. 22 Nov 1911, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Feb 1998, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >10. Linwood Wilks,   b. 14 Sep 1914, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Apr 1943, Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    >11. Lucielle Wilks,   b. 1 Jun 1917, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 May 2004, Auburn, Placer, California, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
     12. Francis Ann Wilks,   b. 13 Oct 1921, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Feb 1947, Bachelor, Callaway, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Last Modified  14 Nov 2008 
    Family ID  F116  Group Sheet
     
  • Photos
    Wilks Family
    Wilks Family
    Rufus and Oddie Day Wilks and children.
    Back Row, standing: Mary Leona - born 1900 (my grandmother), Elizabeth Overton - born 1896 [Bessie], Leo - born 1894, Iris - born 1898, Ira Day [Judge] - born 1902, Front Row -James Lowell - born 1909, James Rufus [father] - born 1871, Paul Eugene [Buddy Paul] - born 1913, Dollie Ora - born 1904
    Oddie…
    Wilks, Paul and James Rufus Wilks
    Wilks, Paul and Rufus
    Paul Wilks on leave from the war with his father Rufus Wilks. Picture taken early 1940's in Callaway Co., Missouri. Paul Wilks was my grandUncle, James Rufus Wilks was my great grandfather.
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Picture taken about 1887 in Roanoak Virginia right before he came to Missouri. Rufus Wilks was my great grandfather on my mother's side.
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Rufus Wilks, my great grandfather, about 1895 in Callaway Co., Missouri.
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Wilks, James Rufus
    Taken near Auxvasse Missouri, late 1940's. My great grandfather.
     
    Headstones
     Wilks family
    Wilks family
    Wilks family headstone.
     James Rufus Wilks
    James Rufus Wilks
    James Rufus Wilks, May 30, 1871 - Oct. 23, 1951. James Rufus Wilks was born in Taylors Store Virginia, a son of William Henry Wilks and Rebecca Ann Wilks. He was a grandson of Blade Wilkes and Anne Wilkes. He was my great grandfather. On Jan. 2, 1894 in Auxvasse, Missouri, he married Oddie Elizabeth Day. They raised a family of 12 children, and…
     
    Marriages
    Marriage, Wilks - Day 1894
    Marriage, Wilks - Day 1894
    Marriage license of James Rufus Wilks and Oddie Elizabeth Day Record of marriage, Rufus Wilks of Williamsburg, Callaway Co., Missouri, who is over the age of 21 years, and Miss Oddie E. Day of Auxvasse, Callaway Co., Missouri, who is under the age of 18 years. Issued on the consent of Sanders P. Day, father of Miss Oddie E. Day and on the…
     
    Misc Documents
    Wilks Log House
    Wilks Log House
    The original Wilks log house, near Bachelor, Callaway Co., Missouri. The first 8 children of Rufus Wilks and Oddie Day were born in this house. It was two rooms with an upstairs loft. There were open steps going up one wall. The house was left in 1910 when the new house was built on the property. Rufus built the house, probably about 1892
     
  • Notes 
    • The following notes were written by Pat Sherman McCallister
      ********************
      M: Oddie Elizabeth Day - he was of English descent. Death certificate says - he fell and broke a hip - had uremia (1 week) - hemiplegia (4 yrs) - hypertension (10 years) - said he lived 13 days after fracture - says father is William & mother is Ann - info given by John Lewis. Hemiplegia is a stroke. I don't think it had been four years since he had a stroke.
      They had moved to Aunt Dollie's farm in Iowa after they could no longer stay on the farm. Aunt Dollie was picked because it was closer to what they knew, of course, Oddie was paralyzed with a stroke-since Dec.1947
      Rufus came to Missouri in the early 1890s, to St. Louis. I guess he was 19. Lowell said he and Marcus were 16. They had no family in Missouri. His brother John came between 1896 and 1899. Rufus settled near Williamsburg and married Oddie at her Aunt Mag Stringer's home, south of Auxvasse, by E.J.Sanderson, Baptist Minister. Rufus lived with an older sister, Aunt Bid (Missouri Evelyn), who had a son named Marcus Wilks, about Rufus' age, after the death of his mother. She must have lived till after 1882, because I have a picture taken then at John's wedding. His father died when Rufus was young. In Virginia, Rufus worked for a man named John Cardwell Ferguson, merchant who was the father of Mrs. T. C. (Annie) Newbill who my children and I visited in 1970 when we were looking for the cabin at Taylor's Store, Franklin County, VA.The cabin was gone, but Annie thought she remembered a young Rufus. Miss Annie was white- haired, in her 80s. Rufus' sister, Missouri Evelyn married a Henry Ferguson. Probably there was a relationship. Taylor's Store was SE of Roanoke, near Rocky Mount and a little town of Wirtz. Booker T. Washington's birthplace is near there also - Burnt Chimney and Boone's Mill. Go out Hi way 220 - Burnt Chimney is closer to home than Taylor's store, which burnt. When we were there, all that was there was an auto garage and a few houses, including Miss Annie's bungalow with oriental carpets and chandeliers. I don't think it is on the map anymore. Rufus lived in Callaway County until 1949, when his health failed. Rufus sold at auction, Fri. Feb, 10, 1950:100 acre farm and Chevrolet Touring car and six rooms of furniture. Rufus could do just about anything in wood: baskets, barn, chair bottoms. When Rufus' children were young they took turns going to town, which Rufus did once a month. Not everyone could go every month, just one at a time, therefore each got to once a year, with 12 children. Of course, the older ones were gone by the time the younger ones came up. Lowell told me that story. Lowell used to think that they were poor, but when everyone else was bad off, Rufus still had something. Uncle John, Rufus' brother, never had anything, tho' some of his children went to college. Rufus was shot by a ricocheting bullet ca. 1917 - 1920. They operated on him on the dining -room table, but the doctor said it was too close to the spine to take out, so he took it to his grave. Truman Brown was the one who shot the gun, he was so sorry, he came and nursed Rufus for quite some time. The Browns lived down the road and Truman came to the reunions pretty regularly. He and his brother developed a furnace to put in trailer houses or motels and made a lot of money. Truman was the age of the Wilks children. Rufus' first car was a 1918 Chevy - had it two or three years. Then in the early 20s had a touring car - must be the one in the garage that sold in the sale - 1950. Related by Lowell: Neighbors on the road south and north of Rufus' house (beginning from the hi way): Sam Scott, nice fellow, after the Book's house. The Books house was in the sharp curve ( curves to the east) - then Hubert Holly - Scott School - (they rerouted the road. It doesn't go directly in front anymore) I think they made it a residence. Then the Dawsons and then Hunts. North from Rufus' house: Shoab (Schobe) - Rand - Elmer Shelton - the Kings (Viola was killed at the hi way (the slab) in a car wreck. Rufus farmed and rented some land farther north of his place. He had about 100 to 200 acres of his own.
      ===============================
      Sale Bill:
      Thursday March 4, 1948, beginning at 12:30 P. M. Public Sale - at auction - 4 miles southwest of Bachelor, and 8 miles southeast of Auxvasse, 2 miles north of Highway 40 (now Interstate 70): Livestock:7 head of good cows, 3 to 7 years old; 2 black bull calves; 2 black heifer calves; 6 head of black and 1 roan steer calves & 1 good horse mule. Farm Machinery:1 high wagon with box; 1 John Deere 6-foot grain binder; 1 McCormick corn binder; 1 corn planter with fertilizer attachment; 1 one- horse corn planter; 1 good 12-inch gang plow; 1 16-inch Janesville sulky plow; 1 14-inch Janesville sulky plow; 1
      10-foot smoothing harrow; 1 6-shovel Oliver cultivator; 1 drag harrow; 1 A-harrow; 1 16-inch John Deere breaking plow; 1 16-inch Case breaking plow; 1 14-inch Bradley breaking plow; 2 New Departure cultivators; 1 endgate seeder; 1 corn sheller; 1 600-lb. platform scale; 1 14-inch disc harrow; 2 Janesville disc cultivators; 1 anvil; 1 forge; a lot of tongs; a few carpenter tools; one boring machine; 1 set of chain harness; 1 set of tug harness; some horse collars. Feed:about 100 bushels of good corn; 1 stack of lespedeza hay; 1 stack of timothy and clover hay, and other things too numerous to mention.
      Rufus Wilks
      =============================
      They must have quit farming and sold all that after Oddie had her stoke and Rufus' health was not good. There was an old black Victrola, an oak Murphy bed with an oval mirror in the front, fine looking that I think Mother said had come from S. P. Day's things. There was an old settee, I think Mother said it was horsehair, and uncomfortable, in the parlor with the Murphy bed. There was another Murphy bed upstairs in the boys' room, the north bedroom. It was plain. There were two other beds in that room, plus a table, kerosene lamps, an oval shaped flat-topped wood stove. In the summer of 1948, my father, Paul Sherman, and Uncle Merle Bost wired the house for electricity, putting bare bulbs in the ceilings. There was a string from it to the bedstead to turn the light on. There were no closets but a built - in cabinet type thing for clothes. There was a wooden clock on the mantel in Rufus and Oddie's bedroom, which doubled as a living room, especially in the winter, so you didn't have to make a fire in the parlor. Rufus had a chair, like I have never seen except as a beach chair. It was leather or something - black. It had a rod that was moveable in the back. You inserted it in holes along the frame, to raise or lower the back of the chair. His spittoon sat beside the chair. His razor strop hung on the wall. He always shaved with a straight razor. The last person I knew of to own the homeplace was James Stark, Williamsburg
      ====================
      1965 - Wilks Family Reunion at Auxvasse
      The annual Wilks reunion was held Sunday at the club house south of Auxvasse. The day was spent visiting, reminiscing and picture taking. It was decided to meet again May 29, 1966. The following were present: Mr. and Mrs. John Lewis and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lewis and Jesse, Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sherman, Mr and Mrs. Bill Wilkes, Cindy, Connie and Clay, Springdale, Ark.; Mr and Mrs David Herring, John and Mary Jo, Robinson, Ill.; Mr .and Mrs. Rex Carrington and Lisa Ann, Montgomery City; Mr. and Mrs. James Dryden and Jimmy, Mr and Mrs Donald Dryden, Bonnie and Donnie of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Juanita Cuno, Glenda and Sandra, Mr. and Mrs. Truman Brown, Mrs. Frank Gebart and Larry Dryden, St. Louis; Ira D. (Judge) Wilks, Mrs. Blanche Kennedy of East St. Louis Ill.; Mrs. Iona Wilkes, Tipton; Mr and Mrs Glenn Maxwell and Mr and Mrs John Barnes of Mexico; Mr and Mrs C.D. Carrington and Glen Maupin of Fulton; Mrs. Ada McGuire, Oscar Wilkes, Mr and Mrs Homer Owen, Mrs. Minnie Miller, Billy Nole, Vicki Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Trammell, Diana Kaye and Jana Raye, and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wilks all of Auxvasse.
      1919 - Found a plat -Rufus had about 120 acres- Township 48 north Range 8 West-Sec.3 -Callaway Co, MO - Leo is next door on the 1897 plat- the land is listed as the Callaway P.O. on land that belongs to S.P. Gilbert. Probably Rufus bought it from him. There is no residence listed on the plat except one back where Mumford's is. Probably that is the one.
      1920 census Callaway County MO -
      Rufus J. Wilks - W-422; M-1571; Roll 258 - Vol. 16 or 1b - ED 26 - sheet 8 - Line 43
      Found a record that says that the Callaway Post Office was run from 1894- 1906
      The Bachelor P.O. from 1875-1959.
      1884 -Bachelor P.O. Jackson Twp. seventeen miles from Fulton, on Chicago & Alton R.R. - mail semi wkly - John W. English is postmaster
      There was a Post Office at Taylor's Store, Franklin County, Va started - Mar 18 1818. The postmaster was Sparrel Hale. The post office was still operating when the book was printed.
      -------------------------------------
      Rufus brought some things with him from VA. He brought a quilt that is long gone. He brought the picture frames that I have. He brought knowledge of how to do just about anything to make a home and his way in life. He brought the knowledge of how to do the "jig" [dance] He also brought the expression "hit" for the word "it".
      ------------------------------------------------
      I have notes that I wrote - don't know when nor from where I got the info but think it is a transcription from an audio tape made at a reunion [probably late 1980s], listening to John Wilkes' daughters:
      John & Rufus Wilks' parents died when Rufus was 2 and one when he was 10. Your dad's mother [speaking to Marcus' son] was Dad's oldest sister and she raised him. Marcus and Rufus grew up as brothers. The mountain air was so clear that they could holler back to each other. They were 16 when they came to Missouri - both the same age. Marcus stopped in Illinois and Rufus to St. Louis. Marcus saved some money and went back to Virginia but not for long. and they all ended up here. [Callaway County, MO] Marcus worked in St. Louis some until a doctor told him he had to get out of there. Maybe he was there part of the time Rufus was. worked in silver foundry down on the river. Rufus and Marcus worked for Berthen? Bridge and Iron Foundry. Rufus, Marcus and Aunt Ollie [sister] moved in a place for themselves. Ollie kept house. Aunt Bid [Marcus' mother, Missouri Evelyn] had made the boys a wool counterpane [beautiful piece of work - Lowell says] Aunt Bid had carded, spun and woven the wool. Lowell still has Rufus' counterpane. [I have never seen this - Pat McAlister]. Marcus didn't get his - his daughter says - says he never got over not getting it. Lowell says he must have lost it but daughter says no. She [daughter] says she thought that was why he didn't go back to Virginia. He was hurt when he didn't get it. Rufus worked for John Harrison in Callaway County east of town Rufus and Marcus sent back to Virginia and got a five gallon keg of brandy one time. They split it up. Each gave 1/2 gallon to their bosses. Aunt Bid and boys lived in Roanoke VA. Cousin Patty [Ferguson] took us out to where the farm had been and I've heard my dad tell about the fun they used to have in pear trees when they were little kids. Two great big pear trees still stand - big as an oak tree. On the map find Burnt Chimney - country store there that Pete McGuire's sister used to run. and when Lowell first started going back there she was still living. Her son still runs it. Mary -- McGuire opened it originally. Pete McGuire came out here and married Ada Bell Wilkes and Rufus said one time Patty was kind of sweet on Pete or vice versa. Then Joe Penn [J.P. Ferguson] That's the Perkin ? boy that lived at Roanoke's boy. Joe Penn married a widow lady with one girl and Joe Penn [Ferguson] raised her. She to this day thinks there is no one like him and he lived with them till he died. She's still living - but her husband passed away. We see her when we go back there. Swell gal. She asks - heard of Ferrum, south of Roanoke and Dale's Ford - crossing where Rufus was living in Virginia. [Lowell says he has not heard of them]. When the water was high they used stilts to walk across. When Lowell was there the first time Patty [Ferguson] took them out there to the creek [little old [ ?] - no bridge - said he heard talk of when they wanted to cross they would holler and someone with a mule would come to carry them across.
      Burnt Chimney is closest to where they lived [I thought it was Taylor's Store - PM]. Taylor's Store burned down. We found where it was. Lowell looked around in March but didn't find it. There was a little church 1/2 mile from where it was. Looked at all the churches. Practically all the people here where we lived [Callaway Co, MO] had migrated here from Virginia or to Kentucky and then to Missouri [found that on the censuses -PM]. Went through the cemetery - names of families for practically every neighbor we had. [MO or VA? - PM] Dudeys and Fergusons - See all the names you'd think you were at Harmony church [ Auxvasse, MO] One thing I remember was a very little boy [Lowell is talking] Russ [Marcus' boy] and then - was big enough to be smoking cigarettes. course if we kids would have touched tobacco in any way, shape or form - we'd a got our fannies beat off. At any rate Rufus made some remark to Marcus about kids smoking and Marcus said - well - tell you Rufus - I've always advised them against it but never felt like I could tell them they couldn't do something I did right in front of them. I guess I had the story wrong - I thought it was Rufus that said that -PM]. Marcus' son said that Marcus really hated to know that his boys were smoking. He never said much. They sneaked around at first. Don't see much tobacco in Virginia. They still raise it with a double shovel and a mule like they did one hundred years ago. [They plant in small patches -PM] In Vermont and Connecticut you see fields. and lots in Canada .They went to Montreal to the fair and saw the fields Rufus and Marcus worked in the tobacco barn as children - kept the fires going at night. Rufus and Marcus raised a little in Missouri. They would pick the worms and suckers off them. The last crop Marcus raised was in 1944. Rufus and Marcus knew how to most anything as children. Rufus could make oak strips - baskets - make hickory barked chair bottoms [I have one of these chairs - PM] Marcus didn't do that. Rufus could do about anything in the way of woodwork. He built the house and barn [1910] Rufus cut the timber on the farm - sawed the wood with their own sawmill. [This could be as simple as a saw with a roof over it.-PM ] They didn't have much formal education but sure had otherwise.
      End of transcription. Part of what Lowell said might have been later. I taped some as we were riding around the countryside - to the farm.
      ----------------------------------------------
      Rufus' horse's name was Tom and the mule was Trouble, which is what Rufus called Opal Jean.
      ----------------------------
      I remember My father and Uncle Merle working on wiring Rufus' house for electricity, 1948. Jean Ann remembers her father doing that and Opal says that Uncle Judge helped with that. Must have been a big job.
      ** End of notes were written by Pat Sherman McAllister**

      ********************
      Name: Rufus Wilkes
      Home in 1930: Jackson, Callaway, Missouri
      Age: 58
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
      Birthplace: Virginia
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Spouse's Name: Oddie E
      Race: White
      Occupation: farmer, general farm
      Military service: no
      Rent/home value: own, no value given, has a radio
      Age at first marriage: 22
      Parents' birthplace: Va., Va.
      Household Members:
      Name Age
      Rufus Wilkes 58
      Oddie E Wilkes 54 wife, Tx., Mo., Mo.
      Paul E Wilkes 18 son
      Linwood Wilkes 15 son
      Lucila Wilkes 12 daughter
      Frances Wilkes 8 daughter
      Sanders P Day 84 father-in-law
      Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Jackson, Callaway, Missouri; Roll: 1180; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 19; Image: 246.0.
     
  • Event Map
    Event
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 30 May 1871 - Taylor's Store, Franklin, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 2 Jan 1894 - Auxvasse, Callaway, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsObituary - Fulton Daily Sun-Gazette - Wednesday, October 24, 1951 - Fulton, Callaway, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: broken hip, uremia, stroke - 23 Oct 1951 - Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 26 Oct 1951 - Auxvasse Cemetery, Auxvasse, Callaway, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Maps 
     = Link to Google Earth