Effie Narcissa Boykin1

Female, #9929, (9 Nov 1891 - 22 Aug 1984)

Parent*Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin (1 Jan 1836 - 3 Dec 1901)
Parent*Martha S. Dickson (1857 - 22 Feb 1893)
Effie Narcissa Boykin|b. 9 Nov 1891\nd. 22 Aug 1984|p9929.htm|Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin|b. 1 Jan 1836\nd. 3 Dec 1901|p9787.htm|Martha S. Dickson|b. 1857\nd. 22 Feb 1893|p9788.htm|Dr. Samuel Boykin|b. 1786\nd. 29 Apr 1848|p9994.htm|Narcissa Cooper|b. 28 Apr 1803\nd. 14 Jun 1857|p9995.htm|Henry C. Dickson|b. Apr 1827\nd. 19 Feb 1902|p43356.htm|Mary S. (?)|b. say 1836\nd. say 1881|p43357.htm|

Name Variation  Effie Narcissa Boykin was also known as Eleanor Burwell. 
Birth*9 Nov 1891 Effie was born at Decatur, DeKalb Co., Georgia, on 9 Nov 1891.2 
 She was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin and Martha S. Dickson. 
Letter Text6 Nov 1892 Effie Narcissa Boykin, Florence Barnard, Eva Paxton and Belle Boykin was mentioned in a letter on [ D] at Decatur, DeKalb Co., Georgia, from Mattie Boykin to Basil Manly Boykin; Letter from Mattie Boykin [age 35] in Decatur, GA to her step-son, Manly Boykin [age 23] in Lamar, Barton Co., MO.

My Dear Manly,
     You begin to think, no doubt, that I am as slow to reply as you were to write. I have been trying to do so ever since the reception of your letter.
     I was glad to hear from all and that Eva [Eva Paxton Boykin, 24, sister of Manly and step-daughter of Mattie] and the children were so much benefitted by their stay in the country.
     We were moving along in a quiet way, enjoying the baby [Effie/Eleanor Boykin, her daughter who was three days short of one year old], if not everything else that comes into our lives. Narcissa [a reference to Eleanor] has improved very much in so many respects since you were here and is, of course, a growing delight. The "Baby Tender" has been a blessing truly.
     It has strengthened her limbs and given her a great deal of pleasure. She just runs all about in any direction she wishes -- in the "Tender" I mean. She pulls up by chairs on anything convenient and walks around them some. I do not think it will be a great while before she walks.
     You know already of Florence's visit and the length of it. [Florence Barnard, age 18]. I have never had any girl visit in the house who was so pleasant in every way. I got better acquainted with her than ever before and love her that much the more. She did not tell you some things about her stay in Decatur that I certainly will not hesitate to tell you. Perhaps you know she spent a day and night at Mrs. Ramspick's. Mr R. told her she had the advantages of Mamie [identity unknown], that she was here, getting on the good side of me, "Jm(?) Manly"! A mean little thing for him to say. Mrs. R. also joined in and said the same thing in a little different way! As if Florence was the kind of girl to do such a thing!
     Mamie showed her the heart you gave her and told her where she got it -- said she was sorry you did not give her the "love-chain" with it, but she supposed she would get that Christmas! I tell you so you may not disappoint her! She also showed Florence her private "memorial book" and in it a piece of sentimental poetry marked underneath "From B. M. B." They quizzed her to know if you had written to her -- and of course she was too truthful to deny it. Mamie asked her to tell you she would answer your letter in about six months! I wish I could talk with you -- I would tell more than I will write -- some things about the R's that would seem too trivial to write.
     I want to say some other things to you in all seriousness and affection. I certainly feel a deep interest in your future -- and I trust you will let me speak freely to you. I love Florence, too, and feel more interest in her welfare than when you were here. What I want to say is, that if you do not truly and sincerely love Florence, I want you to let her alone. Don't make her think you love her if you do not. I do not know that you could win her love easily, after those two years of leaving her alone -- but do not try unless you will love her on to the end, as any woman with a woman's heart wants to be loved -- supremely.
     I feel for Florence, something of the same kind of concern I will for Belle [Belle Boykin, age 18, Manly's sister and Mattie's step-daughter] when the time comes and I tell you I do not want ever you to trifle the least bit with her. Your going to see her the second time, and writing after you go away, with what you said makes it hard for me to conjecture what your correspondence will lead to. And if you do love her, in justice to her, you surely ought not to continue a course that would lead another to think you aren't in love with her. I should have said in justice to yourself -- for I do not see how you can expect the respect of Florence otherwise.
     Florence would be shocked, no doubt, if she knew I had foreseen to write all this of her -- but it is love for her as well as you that has prompted me. I remember so well, too, the undecided way you spoke of your feelings when here. Since your visit home, I have been more anxious about your future and sincerely interested than before. You understand why. If it seems to you I have gone beyond my privilege in what I have said, that has been my inspiration, and if my words have been out of place in regard to Florence, think no more about them.
     Belle was sick in bed for several days a few weeks ago, but is well now and seems to be doing well.
     Your father [Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin, Mattie's husband and a Baptist evangelist who traveled a great deal] has not been at home more than a few days at a time since you were here. He is well as usual.
     Give my love to Jim, Eva and the children and include yourself in the division.
               Sincerely,
               Miss Mattie

[Note: Mattie died just three months later, on 22 Feb 1893, two days after giving birth to Martha Boykin, who later married Harry Stuart Culpepper, Sr. Three weeks after Mattie's death, on 16 Mar 1893, Manly Boykin married Florence Barnard.]. 
1900 Census1 Jun 1900 Effie and Martha was listed as a niece in McCormick Neal's household on the 1900 Census at McIntosh, Marion Co., Florida.3 
Probate7 Dec 1901 Belle, Effie and Martha listed to benefit in Rev. Thomas Cooper Boykin's will at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, on 7 Dec 1901.4 
Relocation*circa 5 Dec 1903 Upon the death of their Uncle McCormick Neal, Mattie and Effie relocated to Atlanta to live with the family of their half-brother Basil M. Boykin. 
Will5 Dec 1903 In McCormick Neal's will on 5 Dec 1903 at McIntosh, Marion Co., Florida, Effie and Martha was named as an heir.
("I hereby devise to Effie Boykin and Mattie Boykin, the nieces of my beloved wife, lately deceased, who now reside with me, both of whom I have instituted proper proceedings to adopt, all the property which I possess at the time of my death, share and share alike." Witnesses were J. K. Christian and W. M. Gist (who at time of probate on Dec 7, 1904, stated that McCormick Neal died on 1 Dec 1904.)).5 
1910 Census15 Apr 1910 Belle, Effie and Martha was listed as a sister in Basil Manly Boykin's household on the 1910 Census at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia.6 
Event-Misc*18 Sep 1912 Arrived in the port of NY on the S.S. Carolina, having departed form Liverpool, England 6 days earlier. At this time, she was age 22 and her address was 385 Piedmont Avenue, Atlanta. She was in the company of Mildred Rutherford of Athens, GA (age 61, b 16 Jul 1851), Helen McMahan of Athens, GA (age 20, b Feb 1892), and three 16-year-old girls: Louise Irvin of Savannah, GA (b 21 Jan 1895), Isabel Garrard of Columbus, GA (b 23 Dec 1895), and Ruth Yerbey of Rome, GA (b 8 Aug 1896). Note that Mildred "Millie" Rutherford was Effie's second cousin and the head of the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens, one of the finest girl's schools in the country. on 18 Sep 1912 at Ellis Island, New York.7 
Deed*26 Apr 1915 Martha Neil Boykin and Effie Narcissa Boykin granted a deed on 26 Apr 1915 at Marion Co., Florida.
(To J. K. Christian, #158-381).8 
Deed5 Jul 1916 Martha Neil Boykin and Effie Narcissa Boykin granted a deed on 5 Jul 1916 at Marion Co., Florida.
(to E. W. Rush, #164-234).8 
Deed13 Aug 1917 She granted a deed to Martha Neil Boykin on 13 Aug 1917 at Marion Co., Florida.
(#164-363).8 
1930 Census*1 Apr 1930 Effie was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census at New York City, New York Co., New York.9 
Death*22 Aug 1984 She died at Atlanta, Fulton Co., Georgia, on 22 Aug 1984. Suggested Obituary Notice written by Eleanor prior to her death:
Memorial services for Miss Eleanor Boykin, of Terrace Drive, N.E., a native Atlantan who returned here in 1967 after having spent many years in San Francisco and New York as a journalist, editor, and lecturer, will be held at COvenant Presbyterian Church on ____. The Rev. ____ _____ will officate.
Miss Boykin, who died on ______, was at one time a reporter for the Atlanta Constitution, and was associated with various publications in New York. Her book, "This Way Please: A Book of Manners," for several years on the Georgia School list, was translated into Japanese and brought out in a special edition in India.
Her hrandfather, Dr. Samuel Boykin of Columbus and Milledgeville, was a noted botanist and concologist, for whom several species of plants and shells were named. Boykin Hall, near Milledgeville, which he built, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Friends and relatives are asked not to send flowers, but, if they wish, to make contributions to Recording for the Blind, 120 Florida Avenue, Athens, GA 30605.
Among surviving nieces and nephews are Mrs. Griffin Saussy, Allen Miles Boykin, Warren Culpepper and Stuart Culpepper, all of Atlanta..10 
Burial*Feb 1985 Her body was interred in Feb 1985 at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, DeKalb Co., Georgia. 
Biography* Known as Effie in her youth, Eleanor was only two years of age when her mother. Mattie, died at the time of giving birth to Martha. The girls' father, Tom, was a Baptist preacher who died eight years later.

Effie and Mattie were raised by their uncle and aunt, McCormick and Ella Dickson Neal in McIntosh, Florida, and they appear there in the 1900 census. Ella was their mother's sister. Sadly, in December 1904, Effie and Mattie were orphaned again as McCormick died, having been preceded in death by his wife, Emma, the girls aunt.

Records at Ellis Island reveal that at age 22, Eleanor returned to the US through New York from a trip to England with a group of other young women and an older female chaperone, her cousin Millie Rutherford, all from the Atlanta area.

Eleanor never married, but enjoyed a successful professional career as a writer and editor, including serving as editor of Vogue Magazine. She traveled all over the world, sometimes choosing tramp steamers for passage. She was perhaps best known for writing a children's book of manners, "This Way Please". Quite successful, it was translated into many languages.

During her working years, she lived in both San Francisco and New York City. Upon retirement in the early 1960's she returned to Georgia and lived in an apartment at 50 Terrace Drive, NE, Atlanta.

In her 90's, long after her retirement, she was editor of The Culpepper Letter, a software industry newsletter published by her nephew, Warren Culpepper.

At age 93, while still living independently, she had a stroke at home, where she was discovered a couple of days later by Warren Culpepper. Three weeks later at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, she died.

In her will she remembered her niece Florence Saussy and over a dozen other nieces and nephews. She left her body to Emory Medical School, and about one year later her remains were cremated and the ashes laid to rest by her nephew Warren Culpepper in the Garden Cinerarium of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.11 

Charts Edward Boykin Descendants
Last Edited 17 Dec 2004

Citations

  1. Harry Stuart Culpepper and Alma Elaine Payne Ancestors, Culpepper/Payne Family Bible, Steven Edward Culpepper, owner, Sandy Springs, GA, (2005).
  2. From T. C. Boykin notes, provided by Bunny Saussy.
  3. 1900 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 88, Page 82A, Family 257, Precinct 22, Ancestry.com Image 37 of 47, McIntosh, Marion Co., FL
    McCormick Neal, Head, M, Sep 1839, 60, md 20 yrs, GA/GA/GA, Farmer (ID: 44437)
    Ella S. Neal, Wife, F, May 1854, 46, md 20 yrs, GA/GA/GA
    Effie N. Boykin, Niece, F, Nov 1891, 8, S, GA/GA/GA
    Mattie Boykin, Niece, F, Nov 1893, 7, S, GA/GA/GA
    Jonah Couch, Servant, Black, M, May 1866, 34, S, GA/GA/GA, Servant.
  4. Atlanta Constitution, Sunday, 8 Dec 1901. Page 8 (Ancestry.com image).
  5. Lois Potterton Schneider, Abstracts of Will Books 1 and 2, Marion Co., FL, 1883-1908 Schneider, Ocala, FL, 2000.
    p. 69.
  6. 1910 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 93, Page 257b, Family 194, Gen.com img 514, 413 Courtland Street, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA
    Basil M. Boykin, Head, M, 41, md1-17 yrs, AL/GA/GA, Cashier for Stationery Co.
    Florence Boykin, Wife, F, 36, md1-17 yrs, ch 6/4, GA/GA/GA
    Barnard A. Boykin, Son, M, 15, S, MO/AL/GA
    James M. Boykin, Son, M, 10, S, MO/AL/GA
    Florence M. Boykin, Dau, F, 5, S, MO/AL/GA
    Allen M. Boykin, Son, M, 4, S, MO/AL/GA
    Effie N. Boykin, Half-Sister, F, 18, S, GA/GA/GA
    Mattie N. Boykin, Half-Sister, F, 17, S, GA/GA/GA
    Belle A. Boykin, Sister, F, 30, S, GA/GA/GA, Nurse.
  7. American Family Immigration History Center, compiler, Ellis Island Records, The Statue of Liberty--Ellis Island Foundation Inc..
    http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/
  8. Clerk of Circuit Court, compiler, Marion Co., FL Grantee Deed Index A-Z 1914-1920 FHL Film 0,956,535.
  9. 1930 Federal Census, United States.
    Manhattan, New York Co., NY, ED 248, Page 7B
    Ancestry.com Image transcribed by Warren Culpepper
    146 Waverly Place, Rent=$70, Radio=N, Farm=N
    Eleanor Boykin, Head, F, W, 38, Single, GA, GA, GA, Newspaper Copy Reader.
  10. Death Certificate.
  11. Warren L. Culpepper, Publisher of Culpepper Connections, See link below for e-mail address.