James Jeptha Stallings was born on 17 February 1873 in Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas, the youngest of two children born to Dr. Jesse Joseph Stallings and Mary Pauline "Molly" Humphries. He had one older sister, Sarah Nilah. When James was just 3 years old and the family was living in Texas, his father died (cause unknown) at the young age of 28. Dr. Jesse Stallings is buried in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. After Jesse's death, mother Molly and her two young children (Nilah and James) returned to southern Louisiana where she had been raised and much of her family still lived. James would grow up and live in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana the rest of his life.
Claudia Clara Robbins, my great-grandmother, was born on 25 August 1877 in Grayson, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Wells Robbins and Missouri Ann Mitchell. Claudia had 3 older brothers and 5 older sisters. She would live her entire life in Caldwell Parish. Claudia's father, Benjamin, who was a Confederate Soldier (Louisiana Infantry) in the Civil War, 1862 – 1865, died in 1879 when Claudia was only two years old.
James met Claudia Clara Robbins in Caldwell Parish, LA and they were married on 12 August 1894. Claudia was 17 and James was 21 years old when they were married. They would have eight children, six girls and two boys from 1895 – 1916, all born in Grayson, LA. Education was always a priority in the Stallings home. Father James would read to his young children and encouraged all of them to read also. Many of James and Claudia's children (and grandchildren) would later become teachers in Louisiana high schools and colleges.
In the 1900 census James' occupation is listed as a farmer, but in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, James' occupation is listed as Merchant, General Store. James Stallings owned and ran the local general store in Grayson. In his store, he sold everything that people needed from food, goods, materials and even coffins. There were also a few rooms that boarders would rent in the general store. During the depression years, James was very kind to most people allowing them to buy food and goods on credit because they had no money. Also during the depression, James became licensed as an optometrist and would help fit eyeglasses for many of the people of Caldwell Parish. He was known by many as Dr. Stallings.
In 1918, at the age of 43, James Stallings registered for World War I in Columbia, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, although he would never serve. On his WW I registration, his employer's name is listed as "myself." He is listed with a medium build, medium height, brown eyes and brown hair.
James' wife Claudia died suddenly in 1920 at the age of 43, after she picked a pimple on her face and it became infected. When Claudia died suddenly in 1920, she left her husband James with several small children, the youngest at 4 years old. Claudia Robbins Stallings is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, Louisiana.
James Stallings re-married two years later, in 1922, to Lydia Melton. She had one son, Hampton Melton, from a previous marriage. James and Lydia would live their remaining years in Grayson. James Stallings died in 1941, at the age of 68, and is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, LA.
Claudia Clara Robbins, my great-grandmother, was born on 25 August 1877 in Grayson, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Wells Robbins and Missouri Ann Mitchell. Claudia had 3 older brothers and 5 older sisters. She would live her entire life in Caldwell Parish. Claudia's father, Benjamin, who was a Confederate Soldier (Louisiana Infantry) in the Civil War, 1862 – 1865, died in 1879 when Claudia was only two years old.
James met Claudia Clara Robbins in Caldwell Parish, LA and they were married on 12 August 1894. Claudia was 17 and James was 21 years old when they were married. They would have eight children, six girls and two boys from 1895 – 1916, all born in Grayson, LA. Education was always a priority in the Stallings home. Father James would read to his young children and encouraged all of them to read also. Many of James and Claudia's children (and grandchildren) would later become teachers in Louisiana high schools and colleges.
In the 1900 census James' occupation is listed as a farmer, but in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, James' occupation is listed as Merchant, General Store. James Stallings owned and ran the local general store in Grayson. In his store, he sold everything that people needed from food, goods, materials and even coffins. There were also a few rooms that boarders would rent in the general store. During the depression years, James was very kind to most people allowing them to buy food and goods on credit because they had no money. Also during the depression, James became licensed as an optometrist and would help fit eyeglasses for many of the people of Caldwell Parish. He was known by many as Dr. Stallings.
In 1918, at the age of 43, James Stallings registered for World War I in Columbia, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, although he would never serve. On his WW I registration, his employer's name is listed as "myself." He is listed with a medium build, medium height, brown eyes and brown hair.
James' wife Claudia died suddenly in 1920 at the age of 43, after she picked a pimple on her face and it became infected. When Claudia died suddenly in 1920, she left her husband James with several small children, the youngest at 4 years old. Claudia Robbins Stallings is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, Louisiana.
James Stallings re-married two years later, in 1922, to Lydia Melton. She had one son, Hampton Melton, from a previous marriage. James and Lydia would live their remaining years in Grayson. James Stallings died in 1941, at the age of 68, and is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, LA.
James Jeptha Stallings was born on 17 February 1873 in Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas, the youngest of two children born to Dr. Jesse Joseph Stallings and Mary Pauline "Molly" Humphries. He had one older sister, Sarah Nilah. When James was just 3 years old and the family was living in Texas, his father died (cause unknown) at the young age of 28. Dr. Jesse Stallings is buried in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. After Jesse's death, mother Molly and her two young children (Nilah and James) returned to southern Louisiana where she had been raised and much of her family still lived. James would grow up and live in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana the rest of his life.
Claudia Clara Robbins, my great-grandmother, was born on 25 August 1877 in Grayson, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Wells Robbins and Missouri Ann Mitchell. Claudia had 3 older brothers and 5 older sisters. She would live her entire life in Caldwell Parish. Claudia's father, Benjamin, who was a Confederate Soldier (Louisiana Infantry) in the Civil War, 1862 – 1865, died in 1879 when Claudia was only two years old.
James met Claudia Clara Robbins in Caldwell Parish, LA and they were married on 12 August 1894. Claudia was 17 and James was 21 years old when they were married. They would have eight children, six girls and two boys from 1895 – 1916, all born in Grayson, LA. Education was always a priority in the Stallings home. Father James would read to his young children and encouraged all of them to read also. Many of James and Claudia's children (and grandchildren) would later become teachers in Louisiana high schools and colleges.
In the 1900 census James' occupation is listed as a farmer, but in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, James' occupation is listed as Merchant, General Store. James Stallings owned and ran the local general store in Grayson. In his store, he sold everything that people needed from food, goods, materials and even coffins. There were also a few rooms that boarders would rent in the general store. During the depression years, James was very kind to most people allowing them to buy food and goods on credit because they had no money. Also during the depression, James became licensed as an optometrist and would help fit eyeglasses for many of the people of Caldwell Parish. He was known by many as Dr. Stallings.
In 1918, at the age of 43, James Stallings registered for World War I in Columbia, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, although he would never serve. On his WW I registration, his employer's name is listed as "myself." He is listed with a medium build, medium height, brown eyes and brown hair.
James' wife Claudia died suddenly in 1920 at the age of 43, after she picked a pimple on her face and it became infected. When Claudia died suddenly in 1920, she left her husband James with several small children, the youngest at 4 years old. Claudia Robbins Stallings is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, Louisiana.
James Stallings re-married two years later, in 1922, to Lydia Melton. She had one son, Hampton Melton, from a previous marriage. James and Lydia would live their remaining years in Grayson. James Stallings died in 1941, at the age of 68, and is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, LA.
Claudia Clara Robbins, my great-grandmother, was born on 25 August 1877 in Grayson, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Wells Robbins and Missouri Ann Mitchell. Claudia had 3 older brothers and 5 older sisters. She would live her entire life in Caldwell Parish. Claudia's father, Benjamin, who was a Confederate Soldier (Louisiana Infantry) in the Civil War, 1862 – 1865, died in 1879 when Claudia was only two years old.
James met Claudia Clara Robbins in Caldwell Parish, LA and they were married on 12 August 1894. Claudia was 17 and James was 21 years old when they were married. They would have eight children, six girls and two boys from 1895 – 1916, all born in Grayson, LA. Education was always a priority in the Stallings home. Father James would read to his young children and encouraged all of them to read also. Many of James and Claudia's children (and grandchildren) would later become teachers in Louisiana high schools and colleges.
In the 1900 census James' occupation is listed as a farmer, but in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census, James' occupation is listed as Merchant, General Store. James Stallings owned and ran the local general store in Grayson. In his store, he sold everything that people needed from food, goods, materials and even coffins. There were also a few rooms that boarders would rent in the general store. During the depression years, James was very kind to most people allowing them to buy food and goods on credit because they had no money. Also during the depression, James became licensed as an optometrist and would help fit eyeglasses for many of the people of Caldwell Parish. He was known by many as Dr. Stallings.
In 1918, at the age of 43, James Stallings registered for World War I in Columbia, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, although he would never serve. On his WW I registration, his employer's name is listed as "myself." He is listed with a medium build, medium height, brown eyes and brown hair.
James' wife Claudia died suddenly in 1920 at the age of 43, after she picked a pimple on her face and it became infected. When Claudia died suddenly in 1920, she left her husband James with several small children, the youngest at 4 years old. Claudia Robbins Stallings is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, Louisiana.
James Stallings re-married two years later, in 1922, to Lydia Melton. She had one son, Hampton Melton, from a previous marriage. James and Lydia would live their remaining years in Grayson. James Stallings died in 1941, at the age of 68, and is buried in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, LA.
Family Members
Children
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Annie Lee Stallings Harrison
1895–1977
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Addie Mae "Mae" Stallings Jemison
1897–1971
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Duval "Buddy" Stallings
1900–1992
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Ina Belle "Belle" Stallings Davis
1902–1995
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Gladys Heloise Stallings Talbot
1904–1981
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Dr Willie Nell "Willie" Stallings Love
1909–1999
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John D Stallings
1913–1922
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Loyce Elaine Stallings Harrison
1916–1989
