Sarah Elizabeth Ann Culpepper

Female, #35290, (1 Aug 1856 - 14 Mar 1940)

Parent*Elias Daniel Culpepper (31 Jan 1832 - 8 May 1914)
Parent*Nancy Clegg (30 Jul 1832 - 2 Nov 1904)
Sarah Elizabeth Ann Culpepper|b. 1 Aug 1856\nd. 14 Mar 1940|p35290.htm|Elias Daniel Culpepper|b. 31 Jan 1832\nd. 8 May 1914|p32452.htm|Nancy Clegg|b. 30 Jul 1832\nd. 2 Nov 1904|p32453.htm|Rev. William H. Culpepper|b. 17 Oct 1813\nd. 22 Mar 1909|p32073.htm|Sarah Leslie|b. 15 Feb 1808\nd. 22 Jan 1849|p32074.htm|||||||

Birth*1 Aug 1856 Sarah was born at Jefferson Co., Arkansas, on 1 Aug 1856. 
 She was the daughter of Elias Daniel Culpepper and Nancy Clegg. 
1860 Census*1860 Sarah, Nancy, John, James and Joseph listed as a household member living with Elias Daniel Culpepper in the 1860 Census at Darysaw, Jefferson Co., Arkansas. 28 m-p. 873 hh 646. 
1870 Census*1870 Sarah, Nancy, John, James, Isaac, Joseph, Martha, Malcolm and Francis listed as a household member living with Elias Daniel Culpepper on the 1870 Census at Derasaw Township, Grant Co., Arkansas. 38 m-210 hh 33. 
1880 Census*1880 Sarah, Martha and Julia was listed as a daughter in Elias Daniel Culpepper's household on the 1880 Census at Grant Co., Arkansas. 48 m-ED100-27. 
Marriage*19 Jul 1881 She married Alexander Burgess Williams at Grant Co., Arkansas, on 19 Jul 1881. 
Married Name19 Jul 1881  As of 19 Jul 1881, her married name was Williams. 
Residence*1894 Sarah resided at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas, in 1894. 
Residencecirca 1935 Sarah resided at Sweet Home, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, circa 1935. 
Death*14 Mar 1940 She died at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas, on 14 Mar 1940. 
Burial*16 Mar 1940 Her body was interred on 16 Mar 1940 at Bellwood Cemetery, Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co., Arkansas.1 
Biography* Sally was the daughter of Elias Daniel and Nancy (Clegg) Culpepper. Mrs. J. F. (Corinne Williams) Hilton, wrote about her mother:2

She was born August 1, 1856 in Jefferson Co.,3 Arkansas, the second child in a family of 10 children. Though only five years of age when the Civil War broke out - she was a useful child around the house and when her father came home with a minie ball in his shoulder - it was she who washed and dressed the terrible wound and washed the awful rags to dress it with and nursed him back to health, he always claimed. He lost the use of his arm completely. She attended and taught in the Sixth Avenue School here in the early '70's. On July 19, 1881 she was married to Alexander Burgess Williams and for a time was occupied with her own life and family - but was always a good neighbor. A. B. Williams died Feb. 26, 1899 in Pine Bluff. During his life and thereafter she was the mainstay of the community in sickness and adversity, during those early days when doctors were few and far between and telephones almost unheard of, the trail that is now part of a National Highway - 65 - (Ohio Street) was beaten to her door by folks who needed help - "Send for Mrs. Williams, then if she says so, send for the doctor" was a familiar saying. No one left her house empty handed nor did she ever leave it without a bouquet of flowers, sack of fresh vegetables, bucket of milk, fruit from her own trees, berries from the garden or some token of thoughtfulness for others. She wove beautiful rugs on an old fashioned loom, made quilts, pieced and quilted them preferring to "card" the cotton and gave away hundreds of both quilts and rugs for birthday, graduation, wedding and anniversary presents or just gifts. Many of these are still treasured keepsakes. One year she pieced, quilted and gave 22 quilts to the Jefferson County American Red Cross Chapter and was a liberal contributor to that Organization all through the years with her work - knitting mostly (she made beautiful socks). She was an acute sufferer from a circulatory ailment but despite that she visited the sick and shut-in taking cheerful message and heartening gifts.

She was a Charter member of the Carr Memorial Methodist Church and one of its most faithful members and generous contributors. She was a typical pioneer woman - one year when small pox was prevalent (and deadly) she got vaccine and vaccinated several families, white and colored, she pulled teeth delivered white babies when no doctor was available (negroes had their own mid-wives) kept a large vegetable garden - had a big orchard and the only rasberry patch in town - a beautiful flower garden - furnished flowers for weddings and funerals (no charge) and divided plants and bulbs with all who asked.

When the Williams family moved to 10 Ave. and Ohio St. in 1894 they built a small cottage on the edge of a "cane-brake," no house obscured the view from there to 6th and Indiana St. It was back breaking work to get the land ready for cultivation, but was very rich soil when ready, and until this day has never needed enriching and everything grows you put in it. After Burgess Williams death, "Aunt Sally" supported her family - nor did she expect or accept help from any source - she worked with her own two hands - she was not a trained nurse but had plenty of good common sense, faith in her God and a grim determination to do the very best she could with what she had.


"Aunt Sally" passed from this earth on March 14, 1940 - she was survived by three daughters, Nancy W. Green; Janet W. Guenther; Corinne W. Hilton. Her favorite saying was "You only keep what you give away."

Sally was 83 years old at the time of her death. 

Family

Alexander Burgess Williams (26 Dec 1854 - 26 Feb 1899)

Charts Descendants of Elias Daniel Culpepper of Jefferson Co., AR
Last Edited 19 Jan 2000

Citations

  1. William Harold Broughton, The Cleggs of Old Chatham: the ancestry, family, descendants of Thomas A. Clegg and Bridget Polk, their kin, and events of history Clegg Family Association, 1977.
    "burial will be in Bellwood cemetery" ("Aunt Sallie Culpepper Dies Here Last Night" [UL:Pine Bluff Commercial:UL] (Jefferson Co., AR) 15 Mar 1940 p. 9, col. 1 & 2) but [UL:The Cleggs of Old Chatham:UL] p. 228 listed Sarah as having been buried in the Clegg Cemetery in Junet, Grant Co., AR.
  2. "Mrs. Sarah E. Culpepper Williams 'Aunt Sally'" three page, double spaced, typed biography
  3. on a farm that is now in Grant Co., AR ("Aunt Sallie Culpepper Dies Here Last Night" Pine Bluff Commercial (Jefferson Co., AR) 15 Mar 1940 p. 9, col. 1 & 2)]