James Francis Gillespie Culpepper1

Male, #35475, (3 May 1867 - 13 Nov 1950)

ParentWilliam Araspes Culpepper (10 Oct 1839 - 8 Jul 1912)
ParentZillah Ann Caroline Barron (30 Oct 1839 - 13 Nov 1927)
James Francis Gillespie Culpepper|b. 3 May 1867\nd. 13 Nov 1950|p35475.htm|William Araspes Culpepper|b. 10 Oct 1839\nd. 8 Jul 1912|p32464.htm|Zillah Ann Caroline Barron|b. 30 Oct 1839\nd. 13 Nov 1927|p32465.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|Samuel Barron|b. 23 Nov 1794\nd. 27 Feb 1847|p22358.htm|Elizabeth Courson|b. 30 Jan 1802\nd. 11 Mar 1860|p22359.htm|

Birth*3 May 1867 James was born at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 3 May 1867. 
 He was the son of William Araspes Culpepper and Zillah Ann Caroline Barron. 
(household member) 1870 Census1870 James was listed as a household member living with William Araspes Culpepper on the 1870 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama. 30 m-p. 573, hh 22. 
(Son) Photographedcirca 1875 William Araspes Culpepper and Zillah Ann Caroline Barron and family were photographed Back Row, L to R: Zilla Barron Culpepper holding Charles E. , and Mary A. Eliza; Front Row, L to R: Adella Zilla in lap of William A., Sarah Elizabeth, and James Francis.

This photo was sent to Lew Griffin in 1980 by Manola Culpepper Logan (Mrs. Thomas G. Logan) of Detroit, MI. She was a descendant of Elias Daniel Culpepper, and suggested that this photo was of his family. However, if one looks at the children, and their ages and sexes, this cannot possibly be the Elias Daniel Culpepper family. But the photo is a perfect match for the family of Elias D.'s brother, William A. Culpepper. So I'm posting the photo here. Further information on this photo will be appreciated. Circa 1875 at Randolph Co., Alabama.
William Araspes Culpepper family
1880 Census*1880 James was listed as a son in William Araspes Culpepper's household on the 1880 Census at Randolph Co., Alabama. 40 m-ED 111-4. 
Marriage*13 Nov 1887 He married Valula Ann Seymour at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 13 Nov 1887.2 
1900 Census*1900 James was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census at Chambers Co., Alabama. 30 m-2. 
1910 Census*1910 James was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census at Randolph Co., Alabama. 42 m-ED148-1. 
Marriage*5 Apr 1911 He married Lela Lenora Stephens at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 5 Apr 1911. 
Death*13 Nov 1950 He died at Taft, San Patricio Co., Texas, on 13 Nov 1950.3 
Biography* James F. G. Culpepper was the son of William Araspes and Zillah Ann Caroline (Barron) Culpepper. His middle names are a puzzle. A granddaughter, Mrs. Arthur (Marie Veazey) Turk wrote 4 that he was named James Francis Culpepper but "he objected to Francis and used Franklin instead." In the 1870 census he was noted as "James G. Culpepper." One wonders if his full name might have been James Francis Gillespie Culpepper? In any event, he was born and raised in the vicinity of what is now Wadley, AL and he was noted with his parents in the 1870 and 1880 census records of Randolph Co., AL.

In 1887, James married Valula Ann Seymore. Unfortunately, the 1890 census records burned so it is not known where the couple settled down initially. They are noted with their young family in the 1900 census of Chambers Co., AL and they are found in the 1910 census in Randolph Co., AL. James F. Culpepper's wife of 22 years died in 1910. He was 43 years old.

In 1911, he was married a second time, this time to Lela Lenora "Nora" Stephens. Nora (Stephens) Culpepper appears in the 1920 census of Tift Co., GA, as a widow living with her brother Walter and daughter, Maude.

On March 7, 2006, Frederick Seymour Culpepper, grandson of James, wrote: "James F Culpepper, in the early 1900, went to Wauchula, FL, near Dade City FL; Indian Town, FL, and a town near Miami, FL airport, and Homestead, FL. He was speculating and developing land ahead of the railroad arrival. At Homestead , FL all the money was lost because the road and railroad did not arrive, and the mosquitoes were so bad that they would carry a horse off. He went to work as a switchman on a railroad somewhere had an accident and lost an arm. He then went to live with his daughter Lola and son-in-law (M Vesey) south of Tifton, GA until his daughter died about 1943. He then moved to his daughter Maud Piper in Taft, Texas where he is buried."
(Names referenced above: James Francis Gillespie Culpepper James Francis Gillespie Culpepper).5 

Family 1

Valula Ann Seymour (10 Apr 1872 - 14 May 1910)
Marriage*13 Nov 1887 He married Valula Ann Seymour at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 13 Nov 1887.2 
Children

Family 2

Lela Lenora Stephens (16 Aug 1876 - 15 Jun 1937)
Marriage*5 Apr 1911 He married Lela Lenora Stephens at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 5 Apr 1911. 
Child

Charts Descendants of William Araspes Culpepper of Randolph Co., AL
Last Edited 17 Oct 2007

Citations

  1. Lewis W. Griffin Jr., 4307 North 34th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018, e-mail address, Phone: (602) 955-2597.
    James is presumed to have been named for his ancestor Francis Gillespie. The family must have been proud of Francis Gillespie, as his name was commemorated in more than one branch of the family.
  2. Family Adventures, compiler, Early Alabama Marriages (36 vols.), Shreveport, Louisiana: J & W Ent., 1991, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. US/CAN 976.1 V2e.
    p. 383.
  3. Texas Department of Health, compiler, Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2006.
    http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4876
    James Francis Culpepper died 13 Nov 1950 in San Patricio Co., TX.
  4. letter 25 Feb 1980
  5. E-mail from Frederick Seymour Culpepper (#22390), e-mail address, 330 Hialeah Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas 78418 to Warren Culpepper, Mar 2006 - Oct 2007.