THE HERITAGE OF FATHER AND GRANDFATHER MARION TAYLOR HARRIS BARNES AND MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER NOBIE (ALEXANDER GAINES) BARNES
It was and will be quite easy to document the relatives of our father
Marion Taylor’s side, our Harris/Barnes/Strange/Craft relatives.
I was informed by one of Daddy’s [Marion Taylor] sole surviving relatives
of his generation that every Harris, Craft, Strange and Barnes in Part of what is now ALEXANDER daughters who have married and moved from the family homesteads
have married surnames. They cannot, therefore, be identified unless
the surname is known. Genealogy researchers know that females are lost
to ancestral family lines. It is, therefore, known that families
are actually larger in count because of unidentified females. Also, siblingscanot
always be linked because I must make known that Black families were not included in the United
States Census' taken prior to 1850 because it did not keep a record of
slaves. It only counted slaves' heads and did not mention their names nor
family members' names. They are only listed as belonging to particular
masters of the plantations under the slave owner's name. We can,
however, tell who were living as slaves during that bleak period by the
ages they gave in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. We then
know we can trace Alexanders back to the
late 1700s and we have, although many also died during that period!
Most Blacks in What a wonder. Honor those who have gone before us through perilous
times as slaves by reading through their names.
Closely-related Barnes, Craft and Alexanders
live in other states, also, to include OUR HARRIS-BARNES-CRAFT-STRANGE
ANCESTORS Daddy (Marion)'s son, Marion Earl, sent his DNA to the African Ancestry
genetic testing laboratories to attempt to discover where our Dad's (Marion
Harris Barnes) ancient history began. What Earl discovered was printed
on the certificate of ancestry above:
Marion Harris Barnes' heritage - and ours, on the male side - begins
in Ethiopia (which in the Bible in Genesis, Chapter Two, is called CUSH).
Moses, the great biblical prophet, was married to a Cushite (Ethiopian)
woman.
Daddy's blood and genes are also in his daughters but his Y-chromosome
and male DNA is passed on through his son, Marion Earl. Marion Earl,
in turn, passes on the Y-chromosome and male DNA to his sons, Kevin and
Aaron. They, in turn, will pass the male DNA on to their sons throughout
all coming generations. The fathers pass on the male DNA to their
sons
and the mothers pass on the female mtDNA to their daughters.
The daughters receive the male DNA but do not pass it on. The sons
receive the mtDNA, female DNA, but do not pass it on. It is believed,
scientifically at present, that each passes on only to the same sex:
the mother line to daughters, the father line to sons - through the ages.
Daddy (Marion) married Nobie (Alexander)
Gaines in Hartwell, Daddy (Marion) had to go in his birth name (Barnes) when Social Security
began in 1936. His wife and our mother, Nobie,
Dorothy, Fannie and Barbara came to Pgh
to join him in 1938. Vernelle was already
in MARION
TAYLOR’S HARRIS ANCESTORS & DESCENDENTS (HIS
MOTHER’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY)
HARRIS:
Elisha Harris [raised Marion] b. 1854;
Marion's grandfather
Emma Harris b. 1914; Daddy's cousin
Possible relatives: Elizabeth Harris b. 1794 lived in Elbert county,
GA Virginia Harrisb. 1823Elbert
county, GA MalindaHarrisborn
1825Elbert county, GA Aaron Harris b. 1826 in SClived
in Elbert county, GA Amos Harrisdied 1880
Elbert county, GA Adline Harrisdied
1880 Elbert county, GA William Harrisb. 1847 Jesse Harris b. 1850 in SC male Cyrus Harris b. 1808 male
George Harris b. 1810 male Sophia Harris b. 1817 Matilda Harris b. 1827 Henry Harris b. 1829 Shadrach Harris b. 1837 William b. 1838 Penny Harris b. 1842
Hartwell Harris b. 1840 Benjamin Harris b. 1846
George Harris b. 1849
Elizabeth Harris b. 1853 Maria Harris b. 1860 MARION
TAYLOR’S BARNES ANCESTORS & DESCENDENTS (HIS FATHER’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY)
Husband of Nobie Gaines;
[Stepbrother Nathaniel Craft, Stepsisters Zeapherlee
Craft, AnnieRee]
BARNES DECEASED:
Marilyn Barnes b. Joseph Barnes b. 1840 Amanda Barnesb. 1844 (grandmother
of Ida, Minnie, Harvey)
Ida Barnes b. *************
MARION TAYLOR’S
CRAFT AND STRANGE ANCESTORS & DESCENDENTS
CRAFTS: Henry Craft b. 1850 Hart county,
GA Hartwell District
possibly related:
STRANGE: Henry Strange b. 1825 Hart county, GA
Smith District
Hampton Strangedied
1880 Hart county, GA possibly related:
LAST KNOWN STILL LIVING: Lamar M. Strange, b. 1914 Daddy's cousin;
living in His children are:
His sibling are:
OUR ALEXANDER AND GAINES ANCESTORS
AND DESCENDENTS Although in most states in slavery Blacks were not permitted to marry,
the state of Marriages In Franklin County, Georgia
prior to 1865
ALEXANDERS in ALEXANDER, Elizabeth 31 DEC 1807 Levi BANKS
1850 CENSUS
ALEXANDERS in Alexander M born in 1755 Female
GAINES (GAINS) in Gains S born 1780 Female Mother
1870 CENSUS
ALEXANDERS in Tobe Alexander b. 1790 in SC
GAINES:
Charles Gaines b. 1810
ALEXANDERS:
Lucinda Alexander b. 1817
GAINES in Jackson Gaines b. 1808 in VA
ALEXANDERS in Clarisy Alexander b. 1827
1880 CENSUS
ALEXANDERS IN 
The Harris Household in which Daddy (Marion) was raised is taken from
the 1920 Census (14 members):
Lisha's wife, Mary ("Mae") b.
1870; Marion's grandmother
Julia Harris Hill b. 1840; Elisha's
sister; Marion's great-aunt
Neeley Harris Rucker b. 1860; Elisha's
sister; Marion's great-aunt
Minnie Harris Craft b. 1884; Elisha
and Mary's daughter; probably Daddy's (Marion's) mother
Vinnie Harris b. 1897; Elisha
and Mary's daughter; cousin of Marion
Candy Harris b. 1903; Elisha
and Mary's son; cousin of Marion
Sis Strange b. 1906; granddaughter of Elisha;
cousin of Marion
Rosa Strange b. 1907; granddaughter of Elisha;
cousin of Marion
Marion Taylor Harris b. 1907; grandson of Elisha;
our Daddy; probably Minnie's son
Willie Strange b. 1908; grandson of Elisha;
cousin of Marion
Nathaniel Craft b. 1912; son of Minnie; step-brother of
Marion
Zeapher Lee Craft b. 1914; daughter
of Minnie; step-sister of Marion
Annie Ree Craft b. 1918;
daughter of Minnie; step-sister of Marion
Liskie Harris
Fletcher Lee Harris (
Alfred Harris b. 1810 male
Martha Harris b. 1843
William Harris b. 1843
Lavina Harris b. 1844
Mary Harris b. 1848
Antoinette Harris b. 1850
Sarah Harris b. 1852
father of Vernelle, Dorothy,
Fannie, Barbara, Juanita, Marion Earl
born
ALL BURIED IN
Joseph Barnes b. 1840 Hart county, GA
Hartwell District
Fannie Barnesb. 1850-1959;
lived to be 109 years old?; born a slave
Dad's grandmother who raised him; she would have been
55 or so when Dad was born. The woman Vernelle
remembers as his grandmother was very tall, thin, no teeth and dark-skinned.
She wore her head tied in a handkerchief all the time. Wore an apron and
long dresses.She lived with Uncle Nate
and Aunt Mary Jo or they lived with her.
a son was the Rev. Barnes, pastor of St. Luke's
Fannie Barnes, granddaughter of Fannie Barnes
Haywood Barnes
Elisha Barnes
Sarah Barnes b. 1866 Hart county, GA
Dooley's District
Thomas Barnes b.
Joseph Barnes b.
Minnie Barnes b. July 16,1897; died January, 1975; daughter of Elisha;
Social Security Number: 258-82-8596
Henry Barnes b. 1892 died 1969
Henry Barnes 10/16/?
Clara Barnes
Janson Barnes
Leckey Barnes
Harvey Barnes b. 1886died
September 17, 1954
Stonewall Barnes b. April 5, 1902 died February 1,
1948
Alex Barnes b. March 6, 1905 died August 10,1986;
Social Security Number: 259-22-3400
Clara Barnes b. October 3, 1906 died
March 11, 1967
Navell Barnes b. July 29, 1910; died
March 26, 1993; Social Security Number: 254-84-9235
Jameson T. Barnes b. June 6, 1919 died
December 28, 1978
Jimmy Barnes b. January 21, 1921 died August
4, 1974
Marilyn Barnes b. November 2, 1923 died June
17, 1954
Mary E. Barnes died 1880
Hart county, GA
Lev Craft b. 1851
Hart county, GA McCurry District
Amanda and Arthur Eugene Craft, Sr. Hart county,
GA
son, Arthur Craft, Jr. Hart County, GA
son, Rudolph Craft Hart county, GA
Charlie Joe Craft
Earlie Craft
William Craft
Earcey Craft b. 1884died
1974
Martha Ann Craftb. 1891died
1974
Tom Craft, father of Zeapher V. Lee
AnnieRee Craft b. August, 1900
died May 10, 1967; son, Robert Joseph Barnes (?); stepsister of Marion
Julian Craft b. 1915 died 1974
Jameson T. Craftb. June 6, 1919died
December 28, 1978
Nathaniel Craft; m. Mary Jo; son, Thomas (Tom); beloved stepbrother
of Marion
Zeapher Craft, b. September 3, 1912
died October 2, 1995; son, Andrew "Bim" Craft;
stepsister of Marion
Lucille Craft died Oct. 13, 1972
Isham Craft
died 1880 Elbert
Leah Craft died 1880
Hart
Martha T. Craft died 1880
Elbert
Mary Craft died 1880
Elbert
William Craft died 1880
Elbert
Abraham Craft b. 1820 Elbert county, GA
Gaines District
Stephen Craft b. 1834 Elbert county,
GA Centerville District
Thomas Craft b. 1839 Elbert county,
GA Centerville District
Newton Strange b. 1820 Hart county, GA Smith
District
Minnie Hunt Strange, Aunt of Lamar Strange
Arminda Strange b. 1810
Grace Strange b. 1792
Neva Mae Strange, daughter of Rosa Harris Strange
Monk Strange, Daddy's cousin
Dr. Anthony Strange, son
Sandra Strange, daughter
Christine Strange Morrison, Daddy's cousin; church organist, sister
of Lamar; retired school teacher
Eula Strange Jones, sister of Lamar; Daddy’s
cousin
Cynthia Strange, sister of Lamar; Daddy’s cousin
Fannie Strange Underwood, sister of Lamar; Daddy's cousin
Will Strange, brother of Lamar [has three sons who live in Port Chester,
NY]; Daddy's cousin
Maxwell Strange, brother of Lamar; Daddy’s cousin
Spencer Strange, brother of Lamar; Daddy's cousin; father of :
Spencer, Jr.; Vashti; Richard
ALEXANDER, Isaac 24 DEC 1807 Susannah THOMAS
ALEXANDER, Murphy 27 JUL 1813 Susannah COLEMAN
ALEXANDER, John P. 28 FEB 1828 Elizabeth TATE
ALEXANDER, James S. 13 SEP 1829 Elizabeth HUMPHRIES
ALEXANDER, Samuel 12 JAN 1832 Matilda NEAL
ALEXANDER, John M. 14 FEB 1844 Sarah GUNNELS
ALEXANDER, Rachael Ann 4 SEP 1848 Richard C HUNT
ALEXANDER, William P. 11 OCT 1854 Louisa E. SEWELL
ALEXANDER, Harriet C. 25 NOV 1856 Joseph W. CARTLEDGE
ALEXANDER, T. 15 DEC 1859 James L. CARSON
CENSUS YR: 1850 STATE or TERRITORY: GA COUNTY: Elbert DIVISION
Alexander J B born in 1794 Male Farmer GA
Alexander C born in 1808 Female GA X
Alexander W A born in 1810 Female SC
Alexander W B born in 1815 Male Farmer GA
Alexander G J born in 1826 Male Stewart GA X
Alexander W W born in 1831 Male Farmer
GA X
Alexander L J born in 1832 Female GA X
Alexander J A born in 1833 Male Farmer GA X
Alexander L A born in 1836 Male GA
Alexander J H born in 1838 Male GA
Alexander N T born in 1840 Male GA
Alexander F C born in 1842 Male GA
Alexander M E born in 1844 Female GA
Alexander F born in 1844 Female
Alexander M W born in 1847 Male GA
Gains R T born in 1781 69 Male Farmer Father
Gains F born in 1805 Male Merchant Son
Gains D born in 1813 Female Daughter
Gains J born in 1836 Male Grandson
Gains F Male born in 1838 Male Grandson
Gains L Born in 1841 Male Grandson
Gains M born in 1843 Female Granddaughter
Gains S born in 1846 Female Granddaughter
CENSUS YR: 1870 STATE or TERRITORY: GA COUNTY: Elbert DIVISION:
Joanna Alexander b. 1791
Ruben Alexander b. 1820
Jack Alexander b. 1826
Mat Alexander b. 1828
Milly Alexander b. 1833
Dave Alexander b. 1836
Lee Alexander b. 1839
Catherine Alexander b.1840
George Gaines b. 1816e
Gabriel Gaines b. 1838
James Gaines b. 1838
Johnes Gaines b. 1842
Lewis Gaines b. 1843
Lindsy Gaines b. 1843
John Gaines b. 1847
Gaines Richard b.1850 M Laborer
Henry Gaines b. 1852
John Gaines b. 1854
Peter Alexander b. 1840
Norris Alexander b. 1841 in SC
Rubin Gaines b. 1817
Richard Gaines b. 1820
Rabun Gaines b. 1820
Benjamin Gaines b. 1826
Asa Gaines b. 1832
Henry Gaines b. 1842
Henry Alexander b. 1820
Hugh Alexander b. 1836 in SC
Census Place: Pike,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 409B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Joanna ALEXANDER Self Female Divorced BLACK b. 1845 GA
Caroline ALEXANDER Dau Female
BLACK b. 1866 GA
Sam ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1868 GA
Mary ALEXANDER Dau Female S BLACK
b. 1870 GA
William ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1872 GA
Dinah ALEXANDER Other Female BLACK b. 1809 GA
Census Place: Pike,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 411B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Henry ALEXANDER Self (Husband)M Male MULATTO b. 1852 GA
Clider ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1862
GA
Lucy ALEXANDER Other Female BLACK b. 1805 GA (grandmother)
Tom ALEXANDER Other Male W BLACK b. 1873 GA
Cathrine ALEXANDER Other Female W BLACK 1830
GA (mother)
William ALEXANDER Other Male S BLACK b. 1861 GA
Census Place: District 212,
Source: FHL Film 1254147 National
Archives Film T9-0147 Page 490B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Peter VORTERS Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1852 GA
Marth VORTERS Wife Female M BLACK b. 1857
GA
Robert W. VORTERS Son Male S BLACK b. 1872 GA
John H. VORTERS Son Male S BLACK b. 1875 GA
Alonzo VORTERS Son Male S BLACK b. 1878 GA
Clary ALEXANDER Mother Female Widow BLACK b. 1830 GA
Rezannah ADAMS Other Female Widow WHITE b.
1836 SC
Julie ADAMS Other Female S WHITE b. 1856 GA
Wilson M. ADAMS Other Male S WHITE b. 1863 GA
D. B. LEDBETTER Other Male S WHITE b. 1851 GA
Census Place: Gunnels,
Source: FHL Film 1254147 National
Archives Film T9-0147 Page 528C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Gus ALEXANDER Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1843 GA
Mary ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1848 GA
John ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1869 GA
Perry ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1874 GA
Charles ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1877 GA
Frances ALEXANDER Dau Female
S BLACK b. 1879 GA
Rhoda ALEXANDER Mother F Widow BLACK b. 1825 GA
Census Place: Alfords,
Source: FHL Film 1254151 National
Archives Film T9-0151 Page 577C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Peter ALEXANDER Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1841 GA
Francis ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1850 GA
James ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1868 GA
Jackson ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1871 GA
Lewis ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1872 GA
Doctor ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1873 GA
Harriet ALEXANDER Dau Female S
BLACK b. 1874 GA
Moriah ALEXANDER Dau
Female S BLACK b. 1876 GA
Essie ALEXANDER Dau
Female S BLACK b. 1879 GA
Moriah ALEXANDER Mother F Widow BLACK b.
1808 GA
Census Place: Town,
Source: FHL Film 1254151 National
Archives Film T9-0151 Page 589D
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Peter ADAMS Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1826 GA
Mary ADAMS Wife Female M BLACK b. 1830 GA
Lindsey ADAMS Son M S BLACK b. 1860 GA
Tidy ADAMS Dau F S BLACK b. 1862
GA
Amanda ADAMS Dau F S BLACK b.
1866 GA
Ben HUDSON FatherL M W BLACK b. 1805
GA
Lucy ALEXANDER Sister-in-Law F S BLACK b. 1820 GA
Census Place: Ruckersville,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 484A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Rubin ALEXANDER Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1824 GA
Nancy ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1832 GA
Virginia ALEXANDER Dau Female
S BLACK b. 1865 GA
Lucindy ALEXANDER Dau
Female S BLACK b. 1870 GA
Emory ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1869 GA
Eliza ALEXANDER Dau Female S BLACK
b. 1875 GA
Lucy ALEXANDER Mother Female Widow BLACK b.1790 VA
[Lucy ALEXANDER may be Mother of Rubin, Jackson, Madison and Harkness
and Grandmother of William Harkness.
She would, therefore, be Nobie'S
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. And Rubin, Jackson and Madison would be
the brothers of Harkness ALEXANDER.
Many same names run through these particular families: Rubin,
Lucy, Lucinda, Lucindy, William, James, Adaline,Adoline,
"Liny" - nickname for Adaline?,
Fannie. In fact, William Harkness,
son of Harkness, names at least five of
his children seemingly for these ancestors: Rubin, James, Fannie,
William H., and Lucille]
Census Place: Eliam,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 441B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Jackson ALEXANDER Self (Husband)Male M BLACK
b. 1827 GA
Betsy ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1831 GA
Sandford ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1868
GA
Lucinda ALEXANDER Dau Female S
BLACK b. 1862 GA
Lulah ALEXANDER Dau
Female S BLACK b. 1864 GA
Fannie ALEXANDER Dau Female S
BLACK b. 1869 GA
John ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1872 GA
Lizzie ALEXANDER Dau Female
S BLACK b. 1874 GA
Georgia ALEXANDER Dau Female
S BLACK b. b. 1876 GA
Census Place: Eliam,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 446D
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Madison ALEXANDER Self (Husband) Male M BLACK b. 1827 GA
Adaline S. ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK
b. 1839 GA
Bedford S. ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1863 GA
James H. ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1865 GA
Lorenzo D. ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1866 GA
Flora E. ALEXANDER Sister Female S BLACK b. 1868 GA
Rosa D. ALEXANDER Dau Female S
BLACK b. 1869 GA
John A. ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1873 GA
William H. ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1875 GA
Dolly ALEXANDER Dau Female
S BLACK 9M GA
Census Place: Moss,
Source: FHL Film 1254145 National
Archives Film T9-0145 Page 479C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
[Nobie GAINES BARNES's
Great-grandfather]
(William) Harkness ALEXANDER Self (Husband)
Male M BLACK b. 1829 GA
Judy ALEXANDER Wife Female M BLACK b. 1836 GA
The 1910 Census records that Hark and Judy ALEXANDER had 18 children
born.
How many survived birth or childhood is not known.
children:
Sarah ALEXANDER, b.1858 GA
William Harkness
ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1862 GA [Nobie's
grandfather]
Liny ALEXANDER Dau
Female S BLACK b. 1864 GA
Dunsten ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1870
GA
Larkin ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1872 GA
Joseph ALEXANDER Son Male S BLACK b. 1875 GA
It is thought that there are other married children who cannot be identified
at present.
"They brought us in in chains;
God brought us out in Spirit."
THE DIRECT HERITAGE OF MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER NOBIE (ALEXANDER GAINES) BARNES
In 2005, The National Geographic Society, IBM, geneticist Spencer Wells, and the Waitt Family Foundation launched the Genographic Project, a five-year effort to understand the human journey—where humans came from and how we got to where we live today. This unprecedented effort will map humanity's genetic journey through the ages.
The fossil record fixes human origins in Africa, but little is known about the great journey that took Homo sapiens to the far reaches of the Earth. How did we, each of us, end up where we are? Why do we appear in such a wide array of different colors and features?
Mitochondrial Eve
Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) is that which is passed down from mother to daughter through all the generations. MtDNA is only passed through the females.
All humans living today descend from a woman nicknamed "Mitochondrial Eve". This unknown woman probably lived in Africa more than 144,000 years ago (1,440 centuries, 5,760 generations+ ago). She became an ancestor of all modern humans. She wasn't the only human female in her generation -- some scientists think that she belonged to a human population of about 2,000 people. The other women of her time certainly left daughters and granddaughters, but Mitochondrial Eve was the only woman in her generation whose descendants in the female line are still living today, the L line. At some point, the descendants of all her contemporaries left only sons, so that their female lines became extinct. Many races and lines were spawned from this original L line and spread throughout the world. There are 37 different known branches from the same "Eve" tree thus far. If those living today have mitochondrial DNA that is L1 and L2, they are direct descendents of "Mitochondrial Eve".
Part of the L haplogroup, which has been concretely characterized as representing the original human mitochondrial lineage, haplogroup L2 is found in Africa. This haplogroup dates to approximately 70,000 years [700 centuries] ago, and is detected in highest frequency in north, west, and central Africa.
In August of 2005, Fannie Ruth, one of Nobie’s daughters, decided to take part in the National Geographic genographic project to help them discover where all the various races came from. Not knowing fully what the project would amount to, she sent in her DNA sample and was absolutely amazed, upon receiving the results, to discover that all of the females in Nobie’s line before her and all her daughters and their daughters and their daughters, etc. – each mother passing along to her daughter(s) - are members of the haplogroup L2, meaning that they are among the most direct and closest descendants of Mitochondrial Eve!!
For all female daughters of Nobie Barnes (Vernelle, Dorothy, Fannie, Barbara and Juanita) and their daughters (Gayle, Donna Ann, Jeanine, LaVerne, Phyllis, Joy, Teri, Francine, Cheryl, Jackie) and their daughters and their daughters, and every daughter through generations thereafter, this means the following:
All of us family females, throughout the generations since "Mitochondrial Eve", have the same mtDNA. MtDNA never changes...passed along from the first mother, whoever that was, down to the present day – whether that first mother was born 10,000 years ago or 20,000 years ago, etc. Our mtDNA results, identified through Fannie Ruth’s DNA by the Genographic project, identify our female line as members of haplogroup L2.
Haplogroup L2 originated 60,000 to 100,000 years ago from descendents of the L1 line. This distinctly African haplogroup included those peoples who never left the continent. The subclade L2a is the most common in Africa, and also reflects the most common African American lineage.
This ancient line of descent is directly from the oldest and common ancestor of all humans, “Mitochondrial Eve”. All of us females in the Nobie Barnes genealogical line are directly from the line of "Mitochondrial Eve" . All existing mtDNA of whatever race began with Eve and remains greatest, and subsequently the oldest, in Africa. This strongly suggests that modern humans originated in Africa and the L1 and L2 lines are her oldest and purest daughter lines!
The amazing thing, too, about this particular DNA test, is that you get a number to accompany your DNA but you do not send in your name or tell your race. You do not tell if you are Caucasian, Black, Latino, whatever. You just send your DNA. It is your mtDNA that will tell who you are in the human race! The females in our family line go all the way back to the oldest mtDNA found in the world: we are great (over 5,700 generational great) granddaughters of “Mitochondrial Eve”!!!
All other races come from our 5,700+ generational MOTHER “Mitochondrial Eve’s” DNA! AMAZING! And her DNA is in the bloodstream of all Nobie’s mothers, daughters, granddaughters, great grand- daughters, great great granddaughters, great great great grand- daughters and ever shall be in all the future daughters in this family bloodline. AMAZING.
Just think. All the females listed here on these pages from Nobie's side are “daughters” with the blood in their veins of the oldest bloodline found on the face of this earth to date, that of “Mitochondrial Eve”.
Nobie's blood and genes are also in her only son, Marion Earl, but her mtDNA, the female DNA, is passed on through her daughters. They, in turn, will pass the female DNA on to their daughters throughout all coming generations. The fathers pass on the male DNA to their sons and the mothers pass on the female mtDNA to their daughters. The sons receive the female DNA but do not pass it on. The daughters receive the male DNA but do not pass it on. It is believed, scientifically at present, that each passes on only to the same sex: the mother line to daughters, the father line to sons - through the ages.
Now back to the rest of the story:
Nobie's heritage - and ours on the female side and line - begins in Senegal and is of the Mandinkan peoples, the same peoples as Alex Haley who wrote the story of the Mandinkans in the book and the movie, "ROOTS". His accounting tells of how the Mandinkans were sold into slavery and brought to America. It is wonderful beyond words to be able to trace our heritage back to the Motherland of Africa, the Senegalese people AND the "Mitochondrial Eve": the known beginning of our maternal family lineage. Overwhelming and gratifying beyond words.
Nobie's Great-Grandfather Harkness
ALEXANDER b. 1829; lived and owned his own farm in Elbert, GA
Great-great grandmother: Judy ALEXANDER, wife
of Hark ALEXANDER, b. 1835, GA
The 1910 Census records that Hark and Judy
ALEXANDER had 18 children born. How many survived birth or childhood
is not known. I would suspect that
there are a number of children born before Sarah, who was born in 1858
when her father was 29 years of age and her mother was 23 years of age.
Hark and Judy ALEXANDER's children [as of the 1880 census] were:
Sarah ALEXANDER, daughter, b. 1858 GA,
died
August, 1941; [Nobie's Great-aunt]
Sarah
married Nelsen OLIVER, who was b. in SC in 1854. They lived in
Son, Price OLIVER, b. 1876;
Daughter, Misie OLIVER, b. 1877;
Son, Willie OLIVER, b. 1878;
Daughter, Adoline OLIVER, b. 1879.
It
is thought that there are other children who cannot be identified at present.
William Harkness
ALEXANDER, son, b. 1862 GA [Nobie'sfutureGrandfather.
His family will be shown in detal below]
W. Harkness and his wife, Creasy,
had 15 children.
The known children are: Jean, Ervin, James, Rubin, William, Fannie,
Jessie, Thomas, Ellis, Marie (Mary), Homer, Osie,
Susie, Lucille.
Liny ALEXANDER,
daughter, b. 1864 GA; married Elijah RUCKER [her second marriage];
she was widowed between 1910 and 1920. In the 1920
Dunsten ALEXANDER, son, b. 1870 GA; wife
Lula, b. March, 1867
Children:
Pearson (Pierce), son; b. February, 1892
Armond (Erman)(Ermine),
son; b. October, 1893
Otis, son; b. February, 1895
m. Elease (?). Otis and Elease
had six children:
Owen, Curtice, Murtice,
Clarence, Raymond, Grover; Pittsburgh, PA
Mary, daughter; b. November, 1899
Myrtice, dau.,
b. 1901
M. J. son, b. 1903
The 1910 Census states that eight (8) children were born to Dunsten
and Lula ALEXANDER. There is a Pierce (1890) and Erman
(1892) mentioned but it is difficult to tell if Erman
is the Armond listed above or if Pierce
is the Pearson listed above. If they are different sons, that, indeed,
totals eight (8) children.
In the 1910 Census, Ermine and Otis are living part-time as hired hands
with a white family, William P. Gaines.
In the 1920 Census, Erman and Anna ALEXANDER
are married but have no children as yet.
Larkin ALEXANDER, son, b. 1872 GA
Joseph W. ALEXANDER, son, b. 1875 GA; the
1910 Census shows Joseph W. and Catherine ALEXANDER
are married and have six (6) children:
Elzular (spelling may be incorrect), dau.,
b. 1897
Larkin, son, b. 1899
Agnes, dau., b. 1902
Ernest, son, b. 1906
Ben, son, b. 1910
There are believed to be other children who cannot be identified
at this time. It is believed that the other children were married
and in their own households by the time of the 1880
************************************************************************************
The William Harkness and Creasy Alexander Family [Nobie's Grandfather]
(William) Harkness ALEXANDER; farmer;
b. October, 1862; m. Creasy, b. March, 1866;
he died May 20, 1943.
Great-grandaughterVernelle
remembers: "Great-GrandpopHarkness
had a large farm (but, as you know, to kids everything seems large!).
He raised sugar cane, peanuts, watermelons and, perhaps, cotton.
He would tell us (Minnie Dee,
William Harkness and Creasy ALEXANDER
had 15 children. The known children are:
Jean (1882), Ervin (1883), Jim (1886), Rubin (1887), William
(1889), Fannie (1891), Jessie (1892), Thomas (1896), Ellis (1897),
Marie (Mary) (1898), Homer (1901), Osie
(1902), Susie (1903), Lucille (1905).
Child of William Harkness: Jeannie
ALEXANDER; b. 1882 ; schooled at
Jeannie's children: Lucius, b.? ;
Jeannie's son, Frederick (Fred)
b. 1904, died in 1997; married Rosa Lee King in Wintergarden,
FL.
Freddy's home was a sanctuary of safety and joy for those in need;
a child's advocate, thoughtful, loving all. To him there was no race,
age, or class of man. He became Deacon Emeritus of
He had two daughters: Catherine b. 1.9.34 and Emma Jean, b. 2.2.39,
Jeannie's granddaughters. Fred's daughter and Jeannie's granddaughter,,
Catherine Hudson Osley (m. Edward Osley,
Fred's Grandchildren and Jeannie's Great-grandchildren are: Dazzle
Bruce Hawkins and wife, Cordette, of Akron,
OH; Fredrick Wayne Hawkins and wife, Shafeeqa,,
of Alliance OH; Cynthia Conley and husband, Anthony, of Canton, OH; Dana
Scott Mitchell and wife, Mary, of Cleveland Heights, OH; Pamela Lynn Mitchell
of Chicago, ILL: and Brian Rubin Hudson Mitchell of Shaker Heights, OH;
Savannah Phyllis Dobbins and husband, Ernest of Alliance, OH; Curtis Osley
of Alliance OH; Denise Jones of Alliance, OH; Danny Osley
and wife, Faye, of Hollywood, FL. [These are William Harkness
and Creasy Alexander's Great-great-grandchildren and Hark and Judy Alexander's
Great-great-great-grandchildren]
Fred's Great-grandchildren and Jeannie's Great-great-grandchildren number
23 as of December, 1997 [These are William Harkness
and Creasy Alexander's Great-great-great-grandchildren and Hark and Judy
Alexander's Great-great-great-
great-grandchildren..
Fred's Great-great-grandchildren and Jeannie's Great-great-great-grandchildren
number 14 as of December, 1997 [These are William Harkness
and Creasy Alexander's Great-great-great-great-grandchildren and Hark and
Judy Alexander's Great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren].
Jeannie's daughter, Pearlie Mae Sanders, 
b.
1906, died in 1984; Pearlie Mae was a noted
gospel singer and preacher of the Word.
Child of William Harkness: Ervin
ALEXANDER, b.October, 1883; schooled
at
Child of William Harkness: James
(Jim) ALEXANDER, b April, 1886; schooled at
Child of William Harkness: Rubin
ALEXANDER, b. Agust, 1887; schooled
at
Child of William Harkness: William
ALEXANDER; b.August, 1889; schooled
at
Child of William Harkness: Fannie Julia ALEXANDER b. 2.25.1891; d. 12.7.1953; schooled at Savannah River Academy; m. Will Gaines b. 2.3.1889, veteran of World War I; Will died in 1940; Fannie m. Mr. Sam Plater; m. Elijah Benton
Fannie and Will GAINES had four daughters:
Geneva GAINES, b.
Ruby GAINES b. March 17,
1910; schooled at
Ruby and Owen
Gaines had a daughter Gladys Gaines Spangler
(Pecola)Nobie
GAINES b. March 10, 1912 ; schooled at Savannah River Academy;
died Dec. 12, 1997; m. Marion Taylor Barnes b.May
1, 1907; d. August 4,1963
Nobie and Marion had six children: Vernelle,
Dorothy, Fannie Ruth, Barbara Jean, Juanita Sue, Marion Earl
Nobie's descendants will be detailed
below.
O'Neal GAINES b. 6.26.1914;
schooled at
O'Neal
and Jeff had a son, Howard (deceased)
Child of William Harkness: Jessie
ALEXANDER; b. July, 1892; schooled at
Child of William Harkness: Tommie
ALEXANDER; b. May, 1896; schooled at
Child of William Harkness: Ellis
ALEXANDER; b. March, 1897, died April 11, 1953; schooled at Savannah
River Academy; associate pastor, Pilgrim Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA;
The Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded in his Pittsburgh backyard in 1926,
under Rev. William M. Pulliam, brought up from Hartwell, GA to pastor the
church. Ellis and his sister, Fannie Julia ALEXANDER Gaines Plater,
were among the founding members of
Ellis, b. 1897 and Sallie, b.1901, had a son: James E. Alexander;
m. Elizabeth Sadler; James died
James (Alec) and Elizabeth had four (4) children: Lawrence (Larry),
Patricia (Patsy), Beverly (Bev) and James (Scoop)
(deceased), all of
Child of William Harkness: Marie
ALEXANDER, b. December, 1898; schooled at
Child of William Harkness: Homer
ALEXANDER; b. 3/18/1901; died 12/1/85;
m. Augusta Hutchins in 1931; schooled at Savannah River Academy; was a
minister, graduate of Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA; instrumental in inspiring
hundreds of students to attend Morehouse and other colleges. Pastor
Emeritus of The Lindsay Street Baptist Church, Atlanta after 27 years as
pastor; licensed and ordained 29 ministers; moderator of the Cabin Creek
Assoc. for 26 years; president emeritus of the Fifth District Convention
of the General Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc. for 26 years; Executive
Board member of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc
for 30 years; baptized 11,028 individuals; performed more than 2,000 marriages,
eulogized more than 6,000 individuals.
Homer and Augusta had a son: Dr. Cameron M. ALEXANDER; presently pastor of one of the largest Black churches in Atlanta, Antioch Baptist Church North of Atlanta, GA; president, General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc. Cameron m. Barbara J. and has four children: C. Eric Alexander; Gregory Alexander; Kenneth Alexander and Barbara Maria Alexander. Cameron has three grandchildren: Shatavia, Gregory and Cameron Eric Alexander.
Child of William Harkness: Osie ALEXANDER, b. 1902
Child of William Harkness: Susie
ALEXANDER; b. 1903; schooled at
Child of William Harkness:Lucille
ALEXANDER; b. 1905; schooled at
In the "olden days", family truly worked together. It was lived
out in actuality that "it takes a tribe to raise a child", for the children
of the families lived with various relatives to help one another to "get
on their feet". Oftentimes, the parents lived in one state, finding
work there, and the children lived in another state: generally with
grandparents - but often with friends - who
wanted to "keep the kid(s)" or to have the children help work the
farms. That is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to easily
trace Blacks' family lines. The census records of
William Harkness Alexander and all his
children are deceased.
**********
Family of William and Creasy Alexander's Grandchild (Pecola) Nobie
Gaines Barnes
Nobie's Mother, Fannie Alexander Gaines
Mrs. Will Gaines
1892 - 1953
(Pecola) Nobie
Gaines and Marion Taylor Barnes married
Nobie and Marion
n. Nobie Gaines; Marion Harris Barnes
1912 - 1997
1907 - 1963
They had six children: Vernelle, Dorothy, Fannie Ruth, Barbara Jean, Juanita Sue, Marion Earl
Juanita Sue, Dorothy, Marion Earl, Vernelle,
Barbara Jean
Fannie Ruth
Nobie (and
Vernelle (b.
Nobie
and 
Vernelle and Donald [both deceased]
Vernelle had eight children: Gayle Arnetta,
Donna Ann, Gary, LaVerne Jean, Jeanine Carol,
Phyllis, Harold Lee, Kenneth.
Vernelle
Vernelle and children
Vernelle's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Gayle Arnetta
Barnes-Price b. 3.10.48
Gayle is Supervisor, Tri-State Children's Detention Home.
Gayle, Gayle's children, Vernelle's
Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Sonya Price b. 6.25.1969; James Earl Price b. 6.25.1973
Sonya and Derrick McClintock, Bunny McClintock, Sharise,
April, Jenea
, Sonya's children, Gayle Arnetta's
Grandchildren, Vernelle's Great-grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-great-grandchildren:
Sharice Price b. 6.18.1986
April
Price b. 4.3.1988
JeNea Price b. 10.18.1991
Vernell's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Donna Ann Bacon Ralph b. 1.12.1950; m.
Eugene Ralph. Donna works in the Finance Department, Dollar Bank,
Pittsburgh, PA.
Donna Ann's children, Vernelle's Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's Great-grandchildren: Tracey Lavelle Ralph Webster b. 9.5.1968; m. Joseph William Webster III; children: Joseph William Webster IV and Jasmine Onaya Webster:
Tracy and family
Eugene Steven Ralph b.7.19.1973
Vernelle's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Gary Bacon, Sr., b. 1.11.1951; m. Valeria
(Pinky).
Gary's
children, Vernelle's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Gary Bacon Jr. b. 11.24.1979
Gregory b. 9.23.1981
Gary Bacon, Jr.'s child, Gary Sr.'s Grandchild, Vernelle's
Great-Grandchild, Nobie & Marions's
Great-great-grandchild: ( a girl)
Gregory's
child, Gary Sr.'s Grandchild, Vernelle's
Great-Grandchild, Nobie & Marion's Great-great-
grandchild: (a girl)
Vernelle's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: LaVerne Jean
b.
3.6.1952. LaVerne
is a Nurse's Aide at Allegheny General Hospital,
LaVerne
LaVerne's children, Vernelle's
Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Danyiel D. Bacon b. 8.1.1969 and Danyiel's
children, LaVerne's Grandchildren, Vernelle's
Great-Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's
Great-great-grandchildren: Anthony Horne b. 3.13.1991; Baylie
Horne b. 3.25.1995
Danyiel and children, Anthony and Baylie
Terriann Patterson, b. 5.12.1983
Toni
M. Bacon b. 4.7.1968:
Toni and family
Toni's children, LaVerne's Grandchildren, Vernelle's Great-Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's Great-great-grandchildren: Lawrence Bacon b. 12.3.1984; LaRon b. 7.20.1986; Bruce Nelson b. 7.29.1992
?
Vernelle's Child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Jeanine Carol Bacon b. 4.14.1953;
Jeanine
is Manager, Pittsburgh Water Department:
Jeanine
Faye, Jeanine's "baby"
Vernelle's Child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Phyllis Bacon Fisher b. 5.3.1954;
Phyllis
is Mail Handler,
Vernelle'sChild,Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Harold Lee Bacon b. 12.6.1957; m. Jenell Williams Bacon: Harold Lee is Warehouse Manager in Snellville, GA.
Harold Lee's children, Vernelle's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-Grandchildren:
Tyronda b. 8.5.1979
Harold L.BaconJr.b.
10.13.1982
Harold
Lee Bacon b. 7.13.1986 (
Antoine Deron
Bacon b. 6.1.1987 (
Vernelle's Child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Kenneth D. Bacon b. 12.26.1964;
Kenneth
is Nursing Home Aide.
Kenneth's children, Vernelle's
Grandchild, Nobie & Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Kenneth Patterson b. 5.20.1989
Donald
Edward Patterson b. 2.14.93--(Deceased 2.14.1993)
Jasmine D.Patterson
b. 2.12.1995
A set of twins (?)
Dorothy (b.
Dorothy Barnes (b. 4.4.1932) and Harold Akrie (b. 5.14.1926); married 8.22.1953. Dorothy is a community activist, feted church "mother", and a noted church leader.
Dorothy had four children: Joy Ann, Terri Lynn, Francine
Elizabeth, Gerald Dwayne.
Dorothy, Harold and family
Dorothy's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Joy Ann Akrieb.10.6.1954
; m. Christopher Columbus Adams 3rd b. 2.5.1956 (deceased); Joy
is an administrative aide for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of
Joy Ann's children,
Dorothy's Grandchildren, Nobie & Marion's
Great-grandchildren:
Christopher
Anthony Adams, b. 5.6.1983
Matthew
David Adams b. 1.16.1989
Joy and sons, Christopher and Matthew Akrie
Dorothy's child, Nobie
& Marion's GrandChild: Terri
Lynn Akrie Goodman b. 8.29.1956; m.
Craig Goodman. Terri is a flight attendant for US Air (27 years).
Teri Lynn's
Children, Dorothy's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Harold Michael Akrie, b. 7.26.1983
Loren
KevinAkrie Goodman, b. 6.17.1987
Dorothy's child, Nobie & Marion's GrandChild:Francine Elizabeth Akrie Martin, b. 7.11.1959; m. Russell Martin, b. 1.25.1960. Francine graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA and is employed by American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine in Philadelphia, PA in Education and Career Development. Fran assists in the development, implementation and monitoring of specific initiatives for the Department of Education and Career Development including staff supervision, quality assurance and department representation.
Francine Elizabeth's
children, Dorothy's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren:
McKinsi Elizabeth Martin, b. 3.18.1993
Alexander
Christian Martin, b. 7.5.1995
Fran, Russell and children, McKinsi
and Alex
Alex and McKinsi
Dorothy's child, Nobie
& Marion's GrandChild: Gerald Dwayne Akrie,
b. 10.3.1961; m. Carole Elizabeth French, of
Gerald Dwayne's
children, Dorothy's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren:
Alicia
Elizabeth Akrie b. 1.6.1990
Gerald
Nathaniel Akrie b. 6.2.1991
Danielle
Marie Akrie b. 6.17.1994
Joel
Zachary Akrie b. 9.26.1995
Fannie Ruth (b.
Fannie and Raymond
Fannie and Raymond Linder married 1.30.1953. Fannie has a doctorate in psychology, has been a concert soprano here and abroad, is a Bible teacher, retreat leader, a community leader and a patron of the arts; 1965 Outstanding Young Women of America.
Fannie Ruth had two children: Raymond Terence and Michael Craig.
Fannie Ruth's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Raymond Terence b. 6.14.1954; m. Christine Muriel Strum 5.14.1983
Raymond Terence & Christine
Ray has an MBA in finance and economics, author of nationally published
books, national TV and radio personality, business consultant/OKA associate;
Outstanding Young Men of America
Raymond
Terence's children, Fannie Ruth's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-Grandchildren:
Diandra Nicole
b. 5.22.1989
Cassandra
Christine b. 4.16.1992
Diandra
Cassandra
Fannie Ruth's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Michael Craig b.9.10.1958 ; m. Colleen Jo Butgereit 2.10.1996
Michael Craig and Colleen
Michael is a senior vice-president with a national publishing firm,
patron of the arts, community activist
Michael's child, Fannie Ruth's Grandchild, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchild:
Logan
James b. 9.24.2000
Logan James
child model
Barbara Jean (b.
Barbara Jean and Willie Arthur Cheatham married 12.14.1956.
Barbara is a retired Civil Service administrator, serving overseas and
stateside, a community activist and caretaker of friends.
Barbara Jean had three children: Cheryl Lynn, Daryl
Arthur, Harold Michael
Barbara and sons, Harold and Daryl
Barbara Jean's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Cheryl Lynn b. 4.3.1961; m. Jerry Hannah 9.19.1987
Cheryl
Lynn's child, Barbara Jean's Grandchild, Nobie's
Great-Grandchild: ShawniceLynneab.
6.24.1988
Cheryl, Shawnice and Jerry
Barbara Jean's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Daryl Arthur b. 12.2.1964. Daryl is a media , Motown
Barbara Jean's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Harold Michael b. 5.5.1966;
m. Cynthia Odoms, 2.20.1993. Harold
honorably serves the country in the U. S. Army in
Juanita Sue (b. 11.25 1938)
Juanita and William A. Mitchell married 9.21.1957. Juanita
is a teacher assistant in the
Juanita Sue had three children: William Elijah,
Jacqueline Yvette, Paul Edward
Juanita and grandchildren
Juanita Sue's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: William Elijah Mitchell
b. 4.5.1958 Saturday
William's Elijah's children, Juanita Sue's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren :
(5?)
Juanita Sue's child, Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Jacqueline Yvette b. 3.3.1962
Saturday
Jacqueline Yvette's children, Juanita Sue's Grandchildren, Nobie
& Marion's Great-grandchildren:
(3?)
Juanita Sue's child,Nobie
& Marion's Grandchild: Paul Edward
b.11.17.1962. Paul is a noted chef for celebrities in
Marion Earl (b.
Marion Earl and Brenda Thompson married 12.5.1975. Earl
is an ordained lay minister, professional graphics artist, a community
activist - coaching youth sports programs.
Marion Earl had five children:
Kevin Charles, Leah Ruth, Aaron, Hilary, Linda
Earl, Brenda and family
Marion
Earl's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild:
Kevin
Charles b. 5.31.75. Kevin is a
Marion Earl's child, Nobie & Marion's
Grandchild: Leah Ruth b. 9.15.76. Leah attended
Marion Earl's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Aaron Taylor b. 12.26.80. Aaron is a student at Edinboro, College in PA. and is quite a basketball player, also.
Marion Earl's child, Nobie & Marion's Grandchild: Hilary Dianeb. 1.12.82. Hilary is also a student at Edinboro and a gifted athlete.
Marion Earl's child, Nobie & Marion's GrandChild: Linda Maria Nobie b. 2.28.85.
Nobie's "Kids"
**********************************
ANCESTORS' LETTERS FOUND IN NOBIE'S ESTATE
Letter from Sam Plater
[Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater's second
husband] to Fannie's daughter/his
step-daughter, Geneva Gaines].
Miss Geneva Gaines of Rome, Georgia,
I received your letter today and was so glad to hear from you.
This leaves me doing just fine so far and I hope this will find you all
well. Yes,
Yes, I sure was glad to hear from you. I mailed Fannie a letter
just before I got your letter. I will write and
tell Fannie that I got a letter from you.
Listen,
nice dress.
I get a letter from Fannie every week. Sure I do want to see
my wife. Give my love to all when you go home.
My mother sends love to you. You must pray for me.
This is from Sam Plater,
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Another letter from Sam Plater
to Geneva Gaines [
he passed away
Miss Geneva Gaines, I received your letter today and was glad to hear
from you. This leaves me doing just
fine,
Yes, we have some good doctors down here. I have to go to the
doctor about three times a week.
I am looking for a letter from Fannie today.
I will be glad when I can say I am well. This is a good place
here at my home but I just want to leave. I will
stay till I get well. You told me not to worry. I am not
worrying at all,
My mother sends love to you and give
my love to all.
Yes,
This is from Sam Plater,
Write soon.
Letter from Sam Plater's mother, Mrs. Banner Raines:
Mrs. Fannie Plater -
Dear Fannie,
I received your letter yesterday and must tell you that Sam died on
July 1st. He was bad sick only a few days.
He did not have to suffer very long. We thought he was getting
better and would soon be up again but he got
worse and died right away.
I would have written you but have been too bothered and worried.
I will write more next time. We buried him nice and he was perfectly
willing to die. He got religion just two days before he died so I
feel like The Lord took him home.
Let me hear from you often.
Your mother,
Banner [Bama, Bamma]
Raines
A letter from Sam Plater's mother, Mrs. Banner Raines:
Mrs. Fannie Plater, dear daughter.
I received your letter and was glad indeed to hear from you.
It found me well and doing just fine. Hope when
these few lines come to hand they will find you enjoying the very best
of life. Don't think hard [of me] for not
writing any sooner. You know how it is with people who can't
write for themselves. Have get someone
else to do [the writing].
You asked me about marrying. No, I am not married yet.
Give my love to all my friends.
Oh, I have moved but you still address my letters to
How is Mr. Holloway? Tell him to pray and tell Kelly to write
me. I've got something to tell him and I want
him to write me. I have written him but I didn't get no
answer.
We are having fine weather down here.
I know "it is cold out there" so pray and be a good girl and visit
the church.
I will write more next time.
This is Lula Cook's address: 1210A
I will close
From your mother,
Banner Rains
Geneva Gaines' last letter of her life to her mother,
Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater.
#
Darling Mother,
This is a very dreary, rainy day. Our Sunday School
had planned a picnic on the hills, but, unless it clears up,
am afraid there will be no picnic today.
What are you all doing?
I had hoped to spend this day with you there.
Since I didn't get home, hope you will find lots to do to make this
a full day.
I wrote you a letter week before last and sent it out by someone to
mail. Hope you got it ok.
Had a letter from Grandpapa sometime ago asking me to come home to
stay with the. Don't know just what to tell him, as I don't know
what I am going to do. I haven't answered his letter, but will talk
things over with you when I come home.
How do I like my new home? "Pretty good".
The house is larger and we keep such a crowd until sometime I
hardly know what to do, where to start and what to think. I have
always tried to have patience, but now, I
think it is almost out.
We have had a crowd ever since we came from down South.
Three men beside the Calhouns and I've
had to do for them the same as I do for the Calhouns.
Would have
told you before, but thought they wouldn't be here so long. See?
Anyway, don't worry. I'll be coming home,
and I don't know but I will think about it before I come back.
Let me hear from you real soon.
Your baby
G.
P.S. Hope you are well. Think about my going south and will talk
about it when I come home.
Letter from Pearlie Sanders, granddaughter of William
H. Alexander and daughter of his daughter Jeanie
Alexander Hudson. The letter is to Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater,
Jeanie's sister]:
Dear Aunt Fannie,
Just a line to let you hear from me. I have been sick with pleurisy
but am better.
Now Mama [our Great-Aunt Jeanie] has gotten worse. She isn't
doing good at all. For some cause
she has that shortness of breath so bad and several other complaints so
I thought I had better let you know at once.
So this is all.
Your niece, Pearlie Sanders
P.S. Did not have time to write
Letter from William H. Alexander, father of Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater
and Grandfather of Nobie Gaines
Barnes]:
Dear Fannie, with much pleasure to write
to let you hear from me. Am doing fairly well at
present. Hoping when these few lines reach your hand they
will find you and family well. I have received your letter some time
ago and was truly glad to hear from you. It found us all doing fairly
well. Marie [our Great Aunt] has been sick but better now.
Fannie, your [Great] Aunt Sarah is dead [his aunt] and buried.
Died last Tuesday [August, 1941] and buried today at
Now, Fannie, I wrote some time ago about Will Gaines
[his daughter, Fannie's first husband and father of her four (4)
daughters: Nobie, Ruby,
Now, Fannie, be a good child and trust The Lord for His goodness and
He will carry you through. Write soon
and let me hear from you.
I am again yours truly,
Father, William H. Alexander
Letter from O'Neal, daughter of William H. Alexander
Gaines and sister of Fannie Alexander Gaines. Letter
written to Fannie:
Hartwell, Geurgia
My dear Sis, just a few lines.
I am doing fairly well but Dad is not doing any good and Marie [our
Great Aunt] is very sick. She is
swollen to burst all in her stomach down to her knees. The doctor
says the water has almost covered her
heart and for us to watch her. Says she is likely to drop off
at any time. We have to sit up at night.
I am writing Jessie and the rest of the children and I wrote for her
to come home. You stay so far but you can
decide about coming. I don't think you all should wait until
something happens but you be your own judge.
So I will come to a close .
From your sis
P.S. I am looking for H. M. [their uncle Homer] this morning.
O'Neal
Western Union Telegram from Rev. Homer Alexander to his sister, Fannie Plater
[this announces the death of
their father, William H. Alexander, Nobie
Barnes' Grandfather]:
Mrs. Fannie Plater
15
FATHER DEAD FUNERAL SUNDAY ANSWER IF COMING
REV H M ALEXANDER
Letter from Susie [daughter of W. H. Alexander and
sister of Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater].
The letter is
to Fannie:
Dear Fannie,
Yours was read on yesterday. Glad to hear from you. Too
sorry to hear of you being ill. Hope you are better by now.
Marie is doing fine this morning. Hope soon you can be able to
come home.
Be sweet and don't worry, Fannie, now.
From sister Susie.
Answer soon. All send love to you.
==================
I, Fannie Barnes Linder, also have World War II Ration books for our
Grandmother, Fannie Alexander Gaines Plater
Benton.
I also have our Mother, Nobie's, phone
book of phone/addresses in which she kept record of friends and family.
Dorothy Barnes Akrie has some other
records from our Step-Grandfather, Elijah Benton
Vernelle Barnes Bacon has Nobie's
collections of family photographs, etc.
This site will be continually updated.....
***********************************
Fannie Ruth Barnes Linder
Raymond and Michael Linder's mother
Diandra and Cassandra Linder's grandmother
Logan James Linder's grandmother
Marion andNobie Gaines Barnes's daughter
Fannie Alexander Gaines' granddaughter
William Harkness Alexander's great-granddaughter
Hark and Judy Alexander’s great-great-granddaughter