Family Group Sheet
NameJohn Nelson Lawson
Birth25 Jan 1841, Morgan Co., Kentucky
Death1 Mar 1930, Elliott Co., Kentucky
FatherJames P. Lawson (1794-1865)
MotherMary “Polly” Ward (1804-?1880)
Marriageabt 1863, Carter Co., Kentucky
SpouseMary Catherine Sparks
Birth7 Jun 1844, Lawrence Co., Kentucky
Death27 Apr 1903, Elliott Co., Kentucky
FatherGeorge G. Sparks (1796-1879)
MotherNancy Short (~1800-1879)
Children
SpouseWillis R. Cox
Notes for John Nelson Lawson
His death certificate records John Nelson Lawson, age 90 years 1 month 5 days, born 25 Jan 1840 in Ky, died 1 Mar 1930 in Moccasin precinct, Elliott Co., Ky, widowed, farmer, father Jim Lawson, born in Ky, mother’s maiden name Polly Ward, born in Va, cause of death paralysis, informant Dell Lawson, Ibex, Ky, burial in Sparks Cemetery.
The reported birth date is earlier than suggested by census records. He was recorded as age 8 in 1850, 19 in 1860, 39 but apparently intended as 29 in 1870, 39 in 1880, and 59 born Jan 1841 in 1900.
The reported birth date is earlier than suggested by census records. He was recorded as age 8 in 1850, 19 in 1860, 39 but apparently intended as 29 in 1870, 39 in 1880, and 59 born Jan 1841 in 1900.
Census Notes for John Nelson & Mary Catherine (Family)
1870 census of Elliott Co., Ky, precinct 1, Sandy Hook P.O., enumerated 16 June, lists on p. 20 as family #114:
Parson, John, 39, farmer; Mary, 26; Livena, 4; Jane, 3; George, 5/12. All born in Kentucky.
There is no other match for this family in the 1870 census, and the three children match. Nor is there any Parson family in any later census year. Apparently the census taker misheard Lawson as Parson, and the age 29 as 39. Either that, or misread his own notes. (Often census takers wrote down the families on regular note paper when making their rounds, and then transferred them into the official ledgers later. An L with a big loop at the top can be mistaken for a P.)
The following household is listed as Henry Parson age 29 with wife Elizabeth age cc, who fits to be the brother Henry Lawson living next door to the James Lawson family in 1860.
1880 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Moccasin precinct, enumerated 3 June, lists on p. 4 as family #25:
Lawson, John, 39, b. Ky Va Ky, farmer; Mary, 35, wife, b. Ky NC Va; Levinia, 14, dau; Nancy, 12, dau; George, 10, son; Ida E., 8, dau; Amanda L., 4, dau; James H., 10/12, son. All children born Ky Ky Ky. Mary, 76, mother, widowed, b. Ky NC NC.
The preceding household is headed by Mary’s brother L. H. (Levi Hansford) Sparks, age 46, with wife Nancy J. (Lawson) age 41 (John’s sister), and the following household is headed by Price Sparks, age 25, with wife Malissey age 22.
1900 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Moccasin precinct, enumerated 5 June, lists on p. 2A as family #25:
Lossen, John N., 59, b. Jan 1841, Ky Ky Ky, farmer; Mary, wife, 52, b. June 1848, Ky NC NC, married 37 years, mother of 8 children, 8 living; Livinia, dau, 34, b. Nov 1865, Ky Ky Ky, single; Nancy J., dau, 32, b. Dec 1868, Ky Ky Ky, married 13 years, mother of 6 children, 5 living; Cox, W. R., son-in-law, 31, b. Nov 1869, Ky Va Ky, married 13 years, farm laborer; Ida E., dau, 27, b. May 1873, single; Emma, dau, 18, b. Mar 1882; Nora, dau, 15, b. Jan 1885; Minnie, dau, 13, b. Feb 1887; James, son, 20, b. July 1880. All children born Ky Ky Ky. Bollen, Manda, dau, 24, b. June 1876, Ky Ky Ky, married 3 years, mother of 1 child, 1 living; Bollen, John W., grandson, 1, b. Mar 1899, Ky Ky Ky; Bollen, Millard, son-in-law, 23, b. 1877, Ky Va Ky, married 3 years.
This household ordering is atypical, causing the surnames to get messed up. Nancy is indexed as a Lawson, when she should be Cox, and Ida through Minnie are indexed as Cox when they should be Lawsons. Willis and Nancy are also enumerated on the preceding page with their children.
Parson, John, 39, farmer; Mary, 26; Livena, 4; Jane, 3; George, 5/12. All born in Kentucky.
There is no other match for this family in the 1870 census, and the three children match. Nor is there any Parson family in any later census year. Apparently the census taker misheard Lawson as Parson, and the age 29 as 39. Either that, or misread his own notes. (Often census takers wrote down the families on regular note paper when making their rounds, and then transferred them into the official ledgers later. An L with a big loop at the top can be mistaken for a P.)
The following household is listed as Henry Parson age 29 with wife Elizabeth age cc, who fits to be the brother Henry Lawson living next door to the James Lawson family in 1860.
1880 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Moccasin precinct, enumerated 3 June, lists on p. 4 as family #25:
Lawson, John, 39, b. Ky Va Ky, farmer; Mary, 35, wife, b. Ky NC Va; Levinia, 14, dau; Nancy, 12, dau; George, 10, son; Ida E., 8, dau; Amanda L., 4, dau; James H., 10/12, son. All children born Ky Ky Ky. Mary, 76, mother, widowed, b. Ky NC NC.
The preceding household is headed by Mary’s brother L. H. (Levi Hansford) Sparks, age 46, with wife Nancy J. (Lawson) age 41 (John’s sister), and the following household is headed by Price Sparks, age 25, with wife Malissey age 22.
1900 census of Elliott Co., Ky, Moccasin precinct, enumerated 5 June, lists on p. 2A as family #25:
Lossen, John N., 59, b. Jan 1841, Ky Ky Ky, farmer; Mary, wife, 52, b. June 1848, Ky NC NC, married 37 years, mother of 8 children, 8 living; Livinia, dau, 34, b. Nov 1865, Ky Ky Ky, single; Nancy J., dau, 32, b. Dec 1868, Ky Ky Ky, married 13 years, mother of 6 children, 5 living; Cox, W. R., son-in-law, 31, b. Nov 1869, Ky Va Ky, married 13 years, farm laborer; Ida E., dau, 27, b. May 1873, single; Emma, dau, 18, b. Mar 1882; Nora, dau, 15, b. Jan 1885; Minnie, dau, 13, b. Feb 1887; James, son, 20, b. July 1880. All children born Ky Ky Ky. Bollen, Manda, dau, 24, b. June 1876, Ky Ky Ky, married 3 years, mother of 1 child, 1 living; Bollen, John W., grandson, 1, b. Mar 1899, Ky Ky Ky; Bollen, Millard, son-in-law, 23, b. 1877, Ky Va Ky, married 3 years.
This household ordering is atypical, causing the surnames to get messed up. Nancy is indexed as a Lawson, when she should be Cox, and Ida through Minnie are indexed as Cox when they should be Lawsons. Willis and Nancy are also enumerated on the preceding page with their children.
