Who is the Mother of Leonidas Purvis, aka Leonidas Odom?

Leonidas Purvis was born in 1858, in Pennington, Trinity County, Texas. But who is his Mother. Based upon Census information his mother is either Nancy Jane Purvis Odom and Lucy/Lucie Purvis

In 1860, Lucy  and Nancy Jane are both listed in the household of John Odom and there is no Leonidas Purvis/Odom age 2 listed in the household.

1860 CENSUS: Western District, Trinity County, Texas; Roll: M653_1306; Image: 152; Family History Library Film: 805306; Page: 310B; Line 22, Dwelling 135, Family 135; John ODOM, male, age 35, born in MS; Nancy ODOM, female, age 30, born in MS; Isack ODOM, male, age 14, born in MS; Elizabeth ODOM, female, age 10, born in MS; Jerry ODOM, male, age 6, born in MS; Joseph ODOM, male, age 4, born in MS; Richard ODOM, male, age 2, born in MS and Lucy PURVIS, female, age 25, born in MS. [Odam]

1862- In April 1862, Lucy and Leonicis petition the Confederate Army for $8 due them for providing beef to the Army.  I don’t think this is her 4 year old son, Leonidas Purvis. 

Page 4 of the Civil War file shows a document that seem to Suggest the Leonicis is a Sr.  Is there a Leonicis Purvis, Sr., now deceased, that Lucy/Lucie is filing her petition on behalf of to obtain the $8 owed them by the Confederate Army.  

Is Lucy Purvis the sister of Nancy Jane Odom or is she the sister-in-law. If there is a Leonicis Purvis, Sr. why can’t he be located?

Leonidas, the child, is first enumerated in the 1870 Population Census for Trinity County, Texas in the Household of Mrs. Lucie Purvis, age 33 with his sister Martha, age 9. Leonidas PURVIS is listed as age 12.

1870 CENSUS: Trinity County, Texas; Roll: M593_1606; Family History Library Film: 553105; Page 354A, Line 3, Dwelling 62, Family 67; Mrs. Lucie PURVIS, Female, age 33, born in MS; Leonidas PURVIS, Male, age 12, born in TX and Martha PURVIS, Female, age 9, born in TX.

In this same county lived Lucie’s sister Nancy Jane Purvis and her husband John Odom. Nancy Jane was eleven (11) years older than Lucie. Her family in 1870 is shown here:

1870 CENSUS: Trinity County, Texas; Roll: M593_1606; Family History Library Film: 553105; Page 353B & Page 354A, Line 37, Dwelling 61, Family 66; John ODOM, male, age 46, born in MS; Mrs. Nancie ODOM, female, age 46, born in MS; Lizzie ODOM, female, age 19, born in MS; Joe ODOM, male, age 15, born in MS; Richard ODOM, male, age 12, born in TX and James ODOM, male, age 7, born in TX.

In 1880, Lucie is presumed deceased; John Odom, husband of Nancy Jane is deceased.  Nancy Jane and her youngest son, James living in Walker County, Texas.

1880 CENSUS: Walker County, Texas; Roll: 1331; Family History Film: 1255331;  Enumeration District: 154; Page 305D (stamped); Line 2, Dwelling 317, Family 317, Nancy ODOM, Female, age 53, born in MS, Widowed and James ODOM, Son, age 16, born in TX.

Leonidas Purvis married Emma Johnson in 1877 and is still living in Trinity County, Texas. He is now using the surname Odom. Their only child, a daughter Emma is age 2.

1880 CENSUS: Trinity County, Texas; Roll: 1329; Family History Film: 1255329 Enumeration District: 109; Page: 321A(stamped); Line 46, Dwelling 198, Family 220; Leonlas ODOM, male, age 21, born in TX; Emma ODOM, Wife, age 22, born in TX and Emma ODOM, Daughter, age 2, born in TX.

Emma Johnson Odum died in 1883 leaving Leonidas a widow and Emma, the daughter, an orphan. Then on 5 January 1886, Leonidas Purvis-Odom passed away and the daughter Emma is placed under her Grandfather Robert Isaac Johnson care by the Courts.

There are many who say that Leonidas Purvis is the son of John Odom and Nancy Jane Purvis. I do not see any evidence of that nature in the documents available.  Even though no marriage license has been found I believe that the Civil War petition and 1870 Census clearly shows that Leonidas Purvis-Odom is the son of Lucy/Lucie Purvis.

If you have any information about the families mentioned above; please contact me through this blog. 

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        1. Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Confederate Citizen File (https://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 26 July 2022), entry for Leonicis and Lucy Purvis, NA.

        2. 1870 U. S. Census, Trinity County, population schedule, Trinity County, Texas, Page 354A, Line 3, Dwelling 62, Family 67, Household of Mrs. Lucie PURVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 July 2013); citing  National Archives Microfilm M593_1606.

        3. 1880  U. S. Census, Trinity County, Texas, population schedule, Trinity County, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 109, Page: 321A(stamped); Line 46,, Dwelling 198, Family 220;, Household of Leonlas ODOM; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 18 July 2015); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 1329.

        4. State of Texas, Texas General Land Office: Land Grant Search, On-line database (Austin, TX 78701: Texas General Land Office, 2015), Leonidas Odom, Trinity County, Texas.

        5. Trinity County, TX, Texas, Probate Minutes Books, Probate Minutes Book B Index -Sept 1882-Nov 1886: Page 243, Death of Leonidas ODOM; 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.-.

        6. 1860 U. S. Census, Harris County, Texas, population schedule, Beat 4, Houston County, Texas, Page: 240 (stamped); Line 26, Dwelling 465, Family 437, Household of Robert JOHNSON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 July 2015); citing  National Archives Microfilm  M653_1297.

        7. 1870 U. S. Census, Walker County, population schedule, Precinct 3, Walker County, Texas, Page 362A (stamped); Line 38, Dwelling 328, Family 328, Household of Robert JOHNSON; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 July 2015); citing  National Archives Microfilm M593_1607.