In this post, I'll just provide some of the basics on Frances' life. The previous couple of blog entries (part 1 and part 2) dealt with my visits to her home in Madison, Indiana.
Frances was born on August 16, 1908 in the town of Marion in Lawrence County, about an hour and a half north of Indianapolis. If she were alive today, she would be 108 years old. It's not so far-fetched now that I think about it.
Frances was born on August 16, 1908 in the town of Marion in Lawrence County, about an hour and a half north of Indianapolis. If she were alive today, she would be 108 years old. It's not so far-fetched now that I think about it.
Her father was John Franklin Byrd, and Dora Alice Gaines was her mother. Frances' daughter Wanda (my great aunt) recently told me that she had occasional visits to her grandparents' home in Mitchell. I'm hoping she will be able to share with me her recollections of them one day in the near future. They would be my second great grandparents.
Based on the federal census data from 1910 and 1920, there were a total of nine, count 'em, nine siblings. Here's a list of their given names starting with the eldest: Lizzie, Bessie, Delbert, Selby, Gladys, Frances, Rex, John J., and Nola.
Based on the federal census data from 1910 and 1920, there were a total of nine, count 'em, nine siblings. Here's a list of their given names starting with the eldest: Lizzie, Bessie, Delbert, Selby, Gladys, Frances, Rex, John J., and Nola.
She was 17 years old, according to the 1930 census, when she married Vernon E. Tanksley. That would place their marriage around 1926 or 1927. No marriage certificate has been discovered as of yet. I am fairly confident that Frances was Vernon's second wife. It appears he was married to a woman name Blanch briefly, but they had no children together. Vernon and Frances, on the other hand, had two daughters, Annis and Wanda.
The family moved around a bit, even across state lines at least once. They briefly lived in Palestine, Illinois. In fact, that is where the youngest daughter Wanda was born. Then they moved to Vincennes, Indiana just east of the Wabash River along the Illinois/Indiana border.
At a certain point, Vernon and Frances lived in Houston, Texas, perhaps to be closer to their daughter Annis and my mother as well. And finally they returned to Indiana and settled in the historic town of Madison, where they lived at 313 Central Ave. The house is attached to three other private dwellings, and it is said that these homes were built sometime between 1830 and 1850.
At a certain point, Vernon and Frances lived in Houston, Texas, perhaps to be closer to their daughter Annis and my mother as well. And finally they returned to Indiana and settled in the historic town of Madison, where they lived at 313 Central Ave. The house is attached to three other private dwellings, and it is said that these homes were built sometime between 1830 and 1850.
I've been told that Frances loved to cook and she was really into keeping up the house. At one point in her life she worked for Meyers, which was a factory that did World-War-II related manufacturing and subsequently turned to the production of jeans and overalls. But it appears that most of her adult life was spent minding the affairs of the home and family.
Grandma Tanksley passed away on May 19, 1985. She outlived Vernon by about eight years. They are buried together in Springdale Cemetery.
Grandma Tanksley passed away on May 19, 1985. She outlived Vernon by about eight years. They are buried together in Springdale Cemetery.