Leon Hilliard Mathis

This is the fifth in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their fifth child was Leon Hillliard Mathis.

The following family summary was taken from Murray and Jean Harris' book, "The Mathis Family of Little Egg Harbor". Some additions have been made.

Leon Hilliard Mathis, son of Joshua H. (2043) and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born May 9, 1904 at Atsion, died September 25, 1976 at Manahawkin, married (a) October 1, 1924 Verda Mamie Mott, daughter of Joel Milton Sr. and Florence Virginia (Quinn) Mott, born September 28, 1906, died April 26, 2002 and (b) Elizabeth S. Baker, born 1912, died January 19, 1971 and (c) Awilda Lippincott. Leon was a supervisor of public works and lived on Stage Road, Tuckerton. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery there. He had five children with Verda and four with Betty.

i Leon Jr., married Lorraine Silvia of Bristol, RI. (died 1999)

ii Cecil Allen Milton, born January 22, 1928, (died 1992), married Joyce C Leek.

iii George W., born November 14, 1929, married Mary Jones. Lived in Farmville, VA in 1999.

iv Mary, married Charles A. McGill who died in Februaty, 1988 in N.Y. Mary was living in Little Egg Harbor in 1999.

v Charles, adopted by the Luker family, married Jeannie Patricia Dovak. Charles was adopted out to the Luker family. Their children: Denise Ann, Kathleen Patricia and John Elliot Luker. Charles and Jeanie were living in Hanover Indiana in 2010.

vi Clarence, married Patricia Klein

vii Helen, married on October 8, 1966 William White, son of George White of Tuckerton. They lived in L.E.H. in 1999.

viii Margaret M., married William Boyd. They lived in Southampton in 1999.

ix William J. lived in L.E.H. in June 1999.

The 1930 Bass River Township Census shows Leon H (age 25) and his first wife, Verda M. (age 23) with their children Leon H, Jr, (age 5), Cecil A. (age 2 years, 2 months), and George W. (age 4 months). They were living on Greenbush Road.

Following are some photos of Leon Hilliard Mathis and his family.

Obituary courtesy of Shirley Whealton.

That's about all that I have on Leon Hilliard Mathis. Any additional information that our Blog readers can provide would be appreciated.

Pete S

George Washington Mathis

This is the fourth in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Their fourth child, George Washington Mathis, was tragically killed, at an early age in the development of his family, in a construction accident.

George Washington Mathis, son of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born 1900, died 1929, married Jennie Holman Brown (1903-1964) from West Creek. After George was killed in a construction accident, Jennie married Arthur J. Fallon of Bristol, Pa. Children of George and Jennie:

i Esther Olive (1922-2004), married Herbert Miller and had Mary Kathleen (born 1943), Thomas (born 1944), Anne Louise (born 1954), Marie (1957-2002) and Douglas Arthur (born 1959).

ii Anne Gertrude (1925-1993), married Henry Bonham and had Linda (born 1952) and Lori (born 1954)

iii Mary Alma (1927-1927)

Following are some photos of George Washington Mathis and his family.

Pete S

PS- Got the following email and two photos from Kathleen Miller Kimble, George Washington Mathis' granddaughter and thought I would share them with you. Thanks, Kathleen!

Thank you for all of your hard work and research on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Mathis. My siblings and I check your blog each week and have learned a great deal about the family.

FYI: To date George W. Mathis has 7 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. I'm attaching photos of my grandmother, Jennie (Brown) Mathis, and mother, Esther (Mathis) Miller, as young women for your files.

Thanks again,

Kathleen (Miller) Kimbell

Leonard Paul Potter

The other day Jason Potter wrote a comment (See below) to the Blog regarding the October 16, 2009 entry entitled "The Potter-Sooy Connection".

Go to "The Potter Sooy Connection"

Hey, I'm a junior in high school and doing a project about my family's heritage, and I typed in my dads dads name. Leonard Paul Potter Sr. I am Leonard Paul Potter Jr's son. I'm just curious to see whether or not this is my family's past. Other wise this is pretty cool how far back this dates. -Jason Paul Potter

I resonded that "The Potter-Sooy Connection" Blog entry was indeed Jason's family. Leonard Paul Potter, Sr. was a brother to Stephen Potter who was listed as the Eighth Generation.

Jason answered with the following comment.

Thank you for the info, I showed it to my dad, and he would be very interested in seeing his dad's pictures as well. He said we may have some that may be on interest to you. I have visited my great Uncle Bud and Aunt Millie a few times in New Gretna when we come down to our beach house on Long Beach Island. My dad has one of those Barnegat sneak box duck boats made at The Tuckerton Museum. Is there any info on the Potter side? Jason

Well, Jason, following are the photos I have of Leonard Paul Potter, Sr. I hope that you and your dad enjoy them.

Steve Potter, Sr. with son, Leonard Paul Potter on Sooy Lane in New Gretna. (Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

Leonard Paul Potter fishing on the Bass River. (Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

Leonard Paul Potter. (Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

Leonard Paul and MargiLou Potter leaving the church on their wedding day. Mom-Mom Sooy is on left. (Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

Leonard Paul and MargiLou Potter on their wedding day. (Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

The Stephen and Leonard Paul Potter families.

Who can identify those in the photo?

(Photo courtesy of Steve and Millie Potter.)

Pete S

Martha Elizabeth Mathis Parker

This is the third in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Martha Elizabeth was their third child. The following information from Clifford Parker's book, "The Parker Family of Parkertown, New Jersey and Allied Lines", gives an overview of her family after her marriage to Leslie Parker.

Martha Elizabeth Mathis, daughter of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born February 3, 1898 in New Gretna [Note: Jean and Murray Harris' book, "The Mathis Family of Little Egg Harbor", lists Martha's birth place as Atsion.], died March 4, 1982 at Daytona Beach, Florida. Married Leslie Parker, (born Janauary 13, 1895 in Parkertown and died June 20, 1978 in Beach Haven) on April 29, 1918 in the West Creek Methodist Church. They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Tuckerton. Children:

i Lester R. Parker

ii Elizabeth Parker married Erman Murray of Daytona Beach, Florida

iii Phyllis Parker married William Gee of Beach Haven, N.J.

The 1930 Beach Haven Census shows the Leslie and Martha Parker family with only two children, Lester and Marjorie E. I believe Marjorie E. was Elizabeth who is listed above. Phyllis has not been born at the 1930 census.

Following are the World War I and II Draft Registration cards of Leslie Parker.

World War I Draft Registration Card - Front

Courtesy of Ancestry.com

World War I Draft Registration Card - Back

Courtesy of Ancestry.com

World War II Draft Registration Card - Front

Courtesy of Ancestry.com

World War II Draft Registration Card - Back

Courtesy of Ancestry.com

Following are some family photos.

Obituaries courtesy of Shirley Whealton

Pete S

Marjorie Nevada Mathis Cavileer

This is the second in our photo series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. Marjorie Nevada was their second child. The following gives an overview of her family after her marriage to Benjamin F. Cavileer.

Marjorie Nevada Mathis, daughter of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born March 11, 1895 and died November 15, 1982. Married Benjamin F. Cavileer (1894-1950). They are buried in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Lower Bank, N.J. Children:

i Marjorie Cavileer (1915-2007) married Bill Fox

ii Harold Cavileer (1917-1993) married Irma Lewis

iii Caleb (1926-1984) Cavileer married Wilhelmina Schwenger

iv Donald Cavileer (born 1828) married Naomi E. Gurganious and Frances Mattle

v Doris Cavileer (born 1930) married George Ryder

vi Benjamin Cavileer Jr. (born 1934) married Margaret M. Galli

Here are some photos of Marjorie and Ben and their son, Donald.

I don't have much information on Benjamin and Marjorie Cavileer's family (photos, birth and death dates, spouses, etc.). Any information that is floating around in the Blog-O-Sphere would be appreciated.

Pete S

Ray Etta Mathis - Daughter of Joshua & Rebecca Mathis

This is the beginning of a series on the children of Joshua and Rebecca Grant Mathis. The series is not meant to present a detailed account of each of the children's families but, rather, a brief overview of the family structure with a few photos of the respective child of Joshua and Rebecca.

I got the following chart, showing all their children, from George and Mary Mathis. It's a great overview of Joshua and Rebecca's kids. It's a little small, but you can enlarge it by hitting your CONTROL and + key. I'll be presenting the children in the order of the chart which lists the children from the oldest to the youngest.

Ray Etta Mathis was Joshua and Rebecca's first child. Born the day after Christmas in 1892, she married brothers John Jr. and Harry Allen. The genealogy information below was taken from Jean and Murray Harris' book, "The Mathis Family of Little Egg Harbor", with some added information obtained from Elaine Allen, Benjamin Allen's widow. Ben was Ray Etta's first child with Harry Allen.

Ray Etta had one son, Leon "Minky" Allen, with her first husband, John Allen. That would make "Minky" a half brother to the rest of Ray Etta's children. She had nine children with her second husband, Harry Allen, five of whom died at birth or in infancy.

Leon "Minky" Allen (1911-1983) was the only child of John and Ray Etta Mathis Allen. Photo courtesy of Benjamin and Elaine Allen.

Ray Etta Mathis, daughter of Joshua H. and Rebecca (Grant) Mathis, born December 26, 1892, died 1973, married (a) John Allen Jr.and (b) Harry Allen, both are sons of John and Sarah (Gray) Allen. Harry was born July 27, 1890, and died January 29, 1983. They are buried in Miller Cemetery, New Gretna. John was the father of Ray's first son.

i Leon Allen, born July 19, 1911, died January 30, 1983, married December 31, 1941 Georgia Griffin and had Anna Rebecca on November 16, 1943 and Sara on September 16, 1946.

ii Benjamin Allen, married Elaine Bangert

iii Lawrence Allen died in infancy. Buried in Atsion Cemetery.

iv Ann Allen, born May 19, 1922 married (a) August Hickman and (b) Ralph Newman

v George Allen, married Pauline Buss

vi Sara Allen, born August 5, 1927, married Howard Ware

vii Jessie Allen, died in infancy, buried Miller Cemetery

viii Harry M. Allen Jr., born July 21, 1932, died of measles at age 2, buried Miller Cemetery

ix Joshua Raymond Allen, a twin to Harry M., born July 21, 1932. Died of measles at age 2 only hours apart from his twin, Harry.

x Esther, stillborn, buried in Miller Cemetery.

Ray Etta has been previously mentioned on the Blog in the telling of tragic story of the loss of her twin boys, Harry M. and Joshua, who died of measles within two hours. You can read that sad story by clicking on the link below. Her situation is also somewhat unusual, in that she first married John Allen Jr. (1889-1947), son of John and Sara Gray Allen, then married his younger brother, Harry (1890-1983), after a divorce from John.

An Allen Family Tragedy

Following are some photos of Ray Etta.

Note: The stroller behind Benjamin likely holds Ray Etta's twin sons, Joshua and Harry, before their death of measles later in that same year.

Obituaries courtesy of Shirley Whealton.

Pete S