Laura Mercedese (Benton) Elliott (1909 - 1935)

Born 4 Nov 1909 in Fordyce, Dallas, Arkansas, United States

Died 18 Nov 1935 at age 26 in Fordyce, Dallas, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Laura Mercedese Benton was born on November 4, 1909 in Fordyce, Dallas County, Arkansas to William Robert Benton Sr. and Louise “Lula” Jane (Britton) Benton. In 1910, she lived on Marshall Street in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. By 1920, she had moved to North First Street in Fordyce, Dallas County Arkansas. Despite being only eleven years old and not attending school, she was able to read and write.

In 1930, Laura lived on West 2nd Street in Fordyce with her parents and siblings. She attended Ouachita College (now Ouachita Baptist University) and the University of Arkansas and taught at a local grammar school in Fordyce.

On June 9, 1932, Laura married Kenneth Roy Elliott in Dallas County, Arkansas. Tragically, she passed away on November 18, 1935 at her parents’ home in Fordyce due to complications from a drug she had taken to treat relapsing fever.

Sources

• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Little Rock Ward 4, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: T624_62; Page: 11b; Enumeration District: 0121; FHL microfilm: 1374075 Ancestry Record 7884 #185531988
• 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Fordyce, Dallas, Arkansas; Roll: T625_61; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 29 Ancestry Record 6061 #2068862
• 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Fordyce, Dallas, Arkansas; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0006; FHL microfilm: 2339807 Ancestry Record 6224 #104406258
• Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #3266531
• Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Marriage Certificates; Year: 1931; Film: #3 Ancestry Record 61775 #90410440
• Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates; Year: 1935; Roll: 5 Ancestry Record 61777 #372569
• Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11021322/mercedese-elliott: accessed 22 June 2023), memorial page for Mercedese Benton Elliott (1909–17 Nov 1935), Find A Grave: Memorial #11021322, citing Oakland Cemetery, Fordyce, Dallas County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by RS Green-Starnes (contributor 47410223).
• Newspaper Clipping, (n.d.). "Obituary for Mercedese Benton Elliott." Accessed 22 Jun 2023.