The Ben P. & Mary Eleanor (Hurst) Stiles Family

Benjamin Purtle "Ben" Stiles was born on 22 Jul 1877 in Kentucky. His parents, Charley and Sarah Ellen Neff Stiles had moved their family from Kentucky to Collins County, Texas sometime before 1900. Ben, as he was known, was a farmer and the 1930 Census shows that he owned his farm.

Mary Eleanor Hurst, daughter of Joseph Thurman Hurst and Amanda J. Davis, was born on 18 Nov 1888 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Joseph Thruman Hurst and Amanda J. Davis, left Chesterfield with his parents, PJ Hurst headed west to Arkansas in the early 1890’s.

Messenger-Intelligencer Jan 30, 1890 A convoy of families from Anson & Chesterfield have packed up to move to Arkansas. The Anson men leaving are WB Hinson, Joseph Ashcraft, Thos Phillips, John Talton, Marshall Phillips, James Green, John Niven, Fincher Huntley - The Chesterfield County men are PJ Hurst, JL Rivers, SW Lisenby, JT Hurst, GL Moore, Peter Moore, John Adams. Steve Bailey Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anson-County-NC-Genealogy-Services/316137393571?fref=ts

By June 1900, Joe Hurst, a widower, can be found in Collins County, Texas. Family folklore says his wife, Amanda J. (Davis) Hurst passed away on the trip between Cleveland County, Arkansas and Collins County, Texas. No record of her death or tombstone has been found.

Benjamin Purtle "Ben" Stiles and Mary Eleanor Hurst were married on 7 Feb 1906 in Collin County, Texas.

Benjamin Purtle Stiles and Mary Eleanor Hurst had the following children:

i. Burch Stiles, born 8 Dec 1906, Collin County, Texas; married Marie Betty; died 4 Apr 1981, Prnct 1, Collin, Texas.

ii. Charles L Stiles, born 23 Feb 1909, Collin County, Texas; married Mattie Craft; died 4 Jul 1988, Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

iii. Ruth Stiles, born 12 May 1911, Collin County, Texas; married Joe Frair; died 30 Jan 2000, Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

iv. Lena Lynn Stiles, born 11 Apr 1913, Collin County, Texas; married Michael Anthony Cannata, 28 Aug 1944, California; died 30 Jun 2000, Norwalk, Los Angeles, California.

v. Ida Leota Stiles, born 26 Aug 1915, Collin County, Texas; married Wayne Buchanan; married Buddy Hall; died 23 Feb 2002, Dallas, Dallas, Texas.

vi. Infant Stiles was buried in May 1918 in Collin County, Texas. He was born on 7 May 1918 in Collin County, Texas. He died on 7 May 1918 at the age of 0 in Collin County, Texas.

vii. Joseph W. Stiles was born on 9 Mar 1923 in Collin County, Texas. He was buried in Apr 1923 in Collin County, Texas. He died on 28 Apr 1923 at the age of 0 in Collin County, Texas.

viii. Bennie Ervin Stiles, born 24 Jan 1921, Collin County, Texas; married Betty Ruth Wells, 1 Apr 1949, Dallas, Collin, Texas; died 4 Feb 2003, Henderson, Clark, Nevada.

Ben Stiles died on 1 Feb 1956 at the age of 78, and buried 3 Feb 1956 at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Celina, Collin, Texas. Mary Eleanor (Hurst) Stiles died on 13 May 1943, age of 54, and was buried on 14 May 1943 at Cottage Hill in Collin County, Texas.

Mary Eleanor (Hurst) Stiles is my 2^nd Cousin Twice Removed.

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 3 September 2009); Memorial page for Ben P. Stiles; (22 July 1877–1 February 1956); Find a Grave memorial # 6545860, Citing Cottage Hill Cemetery; Celina, Collin County, Texas, USA.

2. 1910 U. S. Census, Collin County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 4, Collin, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 019, Page #18/41 (stamped), Line 25, Dwelling 309, Family 318, Household of B. P. STILES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 September 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm T624, Roll 1540.

3. 1920 U. S. Census, Collin County, Texas, population schedule, Weston, Collin, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 021, Page 9B/95 (stamped), Line 61, Dwelling 178, Family 196, Household of Ben P. STILES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 September 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm T625, Roll 1782.

4. 1930 U. S. Census, Collin County, Texas, population schedule, Precinct 4, Collin, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 0023, Page 2B/212 (stamped), Line 53, Dwelling 45, Family 45, Household of Ben P. STILES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 September 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm T626, Roll 2302.

5. 1940 U. S. Census, Collin County, Texas, population schedule, Collin, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 43-27, Page 1A/416 (stamped), Line 27, Household #7, Household of Ben P. STILES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 September 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm T627, Roll xxx.

6. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982, Ben P Stiles, 1 February 1956; Digital, database, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2021).

7. "Ben P. Stiles 78, Dies at McKinney," Obituary, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, 3 February 1956, Page 21, column 2; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/: viewed 3 January 2021); Newspapers.com.

8. Collin County, Texas, marriage (7 February 1906), B. P. STILES & ELEANOR HURST; County Courthouse, Collin County, Texas.

9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Eleanor Hurst Stiles (8 November 1888–13 May 1943), Memorial # 6545859.

10. 1900 U. S. Census, Collin County, Texas, population schedule, Justice Precinct 4, Collin County, Texas, enumeration district (ED) 15, Page 3B/55B (stamped); Line 67, Dwelling 62, Family 62;, William J. A. HURST; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 12 September 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1621.

11. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982, Mrs. Eleanor Stiles, 13 May 1943.

12. "Mrs. Eleanor Stiles Passes Away, 13 May 1943," Page 1, Column 3."

13. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Eleanor Hurst Stiles (8 November 1888–13 May 1943), Memorial # 6545859.

The Last Will and Testament of John Bittle

Today we will look at the last will and testament of John Bittle. Many families both in Anson County, NC and Chesterfield county, SC are descendants of John Bittle and his wife Mary.  Mary’s last name is unknown but many researchers think her surname may be Gathings.

In the interest of brevity I am only enclosing page 1 of the Last Will and Testament with a link whereby you can freely download all pages of the Will.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-N3LL-9?i=495&wc=MPP5-3TT%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C191220701&cc=1911928

John Bittle and his wife Mary had nine children.

Transcription:

The State of South Carolina,

                                      In the name of God, Amen.
I John Bittle of the District of Chesterfield and State aforesaid,being of sound and disposing mind and understanding, do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner and form following viz:
First_It is my will and desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Second_ I give and bequeath to my sons Irvin Bittle, Burrel R. Bittle and John W. Bittle each Five dollars.
Third_I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elmira Long, (widow of Edmund Long), Mary Ulsey Liles (wife of Thomas H. Liles), Eliza Jane Brantley(wife of Wm. P. Brantley) and Narcissa Riley (Wife of Alex. H. Riley) each Five dollars.
Fourth_It is my will and desire that my Executors hereinafter named shall if necessary, dispose of such of my personal property,as to them shall seem best, to the advantage my estate, in paying of my just Creditors, and funeral expenses, and the legacies bequeathed respectively to my sons and daughters above named.
Fifth_I give and bequeath to my two daughters, Roxana Bittle and Emily Vick (widow of Albert Vick, deceased) the whole of the remainder of my estate, both real and personal, to have, hold and enjoy the same jointly during their natural lives, and upon the death of either of my said daughters, (Roxana or Emily), it is my will and desire that, that portion of my estate to which she was entitled at her death, shall go to the one then surviving, (Roxana or Emily) and at the death of the other, it is my will and desire that the wholeof my estate both real and personal be equally divided among all of my heirs,share and share alike, my Grandson Franklin Bittle son of my daughter EmilyVick  taking an equal share with the other of my heirs the child or children of any deceased parent, taking the share to which his, her or their parents would have been entitled if living.
Sixth_It is my will and desire that my two daughters Roxana Bittle & Emily Vick shall remain and live together on my estate, and in case either of them should marry, it is then my will and desire that, that portion of my estate to which she was then holding and enjoying, shall go to the use and benefit of the other, and in the event that both of my said daughters should marry, it is then my will and desire, that my estate real and personal be divided among all of my heirs in the same manner as prescribed in the fifth clause of this my will---
Seventh_I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my friend David Rivers, & A. M. Streater Executors and my daughter Roxana Bittle Executrix to this my last will and testament.
           In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of February,in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty eight and in the Ninety second year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America. 
Signed, Sealed, published and}                            John  X his mark Bittle (Seal)
Declared by the testator as and}
For his last will and testament}
In our presence who at his request}
and in his presence, and in the}
presence of each other, have signed}
our names as witnefses to the due}
execution thereof}   
W. J. Hanna
W. T. Craig
H. Craig, Jr.     
 
State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
                            We do solemnly swear that the annexed writing contains the last will and testament of then above named John Bittle deceased, so far as we know or believe, and that we will well and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies contained in said Will, as far as his goods and chattels will thereunto extend and the law charges us; and that we will make a true and perfect inventory of all such goods and chattels—so help as God.__
Sworn and Subscribed to before me}                          David Rivers
The 25th day of February 1871.}                                A. M. Streater
                            Hugh Craig
                            Judge of Probate                          
 

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[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-N3LL-9?i=495&wc=MPP5-3TT%3A190567401%2C190561002%2C190567402%2C191220701&cc=1911928