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Sunday, December 26, 2021

Tragedy in the Leonidas Purvis Family

Leonidas Purvis was born 2 January 1858 In Trinity County, Texas, a son of Lucy Ann Purvis; daughter of Joseph Purvis and Elizabeth Cook. Between 1854 and 1855, Nancy Purvis Odom and her husband John Odom moved from Simpson County, Mississippi. Her sister, Lucy Ann, is believe to have moved with them to Trinity County, Texas. Joseph Purvis the father of Lucy Ann  Nancy Jane was deceased but their mother, Elizabeth, was living and wouldn’t pass away until sometime after 1860.  

Leonidas Purvis, born 2 January 1858  married Emma Johnson about 1877 in Trinity County, Texas. No record of their marriage has been found and this date is based on the birth of their first known child, Emma Odom. By the time Emma was born in 1876 her father Leonidas Purvis was also known as Leonidas Odom. Leonidas and Emma would have a second child, Martha Ann “Mattie” Odom born 10 December 1883. Also by the birth of Mattie, the first-borne Emma Odom had passed away. 

Page 243

4th That on the ____day of 1883 the said Emma Odom departed this life and left as issue Surviving her an only daughter named Mattie Odom. That she left Surviving her also her husband the said Leonidas Odom.

If the loss of a child wasn't enough tragedy for the family, the Mother, Emma Johnson Purvis, would succumb in 1883 shortly after the birth of her daughter Mattie Odom. Mattie would survive and live a very productive life passing away at age 80. 

Then 3 years later on 5 January 1886, Leonidas Purvis/Odom passed away leaving surviving his 3 year old daughter, Martha Ann “Mattie” Odom. 

Probate Minutes Book B Index -- Trinity County, Texas -Sept 1882-Nov 1886.

 Page 243, item 5, bottom of page. Page 243, Item 5. That on the 5th day of January A. D. 1886, the said Lenados [Leonidas] Odom departed this life and left Surviving him the said Mattie Odom, only daughter of him and his said deceased wife.-

By this time, Leonidas mother Lucy Ann Purvis was deceased. Stepping in to care for the 3 year-old “Mattie” was her Grandfather Robert Isaac Johnson. Robert Isaac Johnson. was appointed Guardian of the infant child, Martha "Mattie" Odom, age 3. 

Probate Minutes Book B Index -- Trinity County, Texas -Sept 1882-Nov1886.

 JOHNSON, R.I. (father of Emma Odom) Guardian 242-246, 

 ODOM, Emma nee Johnson Estate 242-246, 

 ODOM, Leonidas (father of Mattie) Estate 242-246, 

 ODOM, Mattie (dau of Emma) Guardianship 242-246,

http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/trinity/court/proindxb.txt


Emma Johnson Purvis/Odom died 1883. 

Leonidas Purvis/Odom died 5 January 1886

Their First-born  Emma Purvis/Odom died before 1883. 

Their only surviving child, Martha Ann “Mattie” Purvis/Odom borne 10 December 1883; married William Jefferson Shaw (1878-1947) on 20 April 1901 in Walker County, Texas and died on 18 August 1964 in Bowie, Montague, Texas.  


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[1] Probate Minutes Book B Index -- Trinity County, Texas -Sept 1882-Nov 1886. FHL Film#1005083


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