Maggie Lois (Philpott) Stokes (1903 - 1984)

Born 15 Sep 1903 in Cedar Gap, Missouri

Ancestors

Wife of Merlin Ira Stokes — married 1 May 1928 in Ozark, Missouri

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1984 at age 80 in Mesa, Arizona

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Arleen Tackett [send private message]

Biography

Maggie was born in 1903. She is the daughter of Joseph Philpott and Mollie Carrick. ^[1]

Maggie Lois Philpott was born on September 15, 1903 in Webster County, Missouri to Joseph McDonald Philpott and Mollie Coleman Carrick Philpott. She was called Lois in the family.

When Lois was born into the Philpott family, she had 2 older sisters, Willa Mollie McKinley Philpott, who was 6 years old; Jessie Mae Philpott, who was 4 years old, and an older brother, John William Philpott, who was 22 months old. When Lois was born, her father, Joe Philpott, was teacher at the Gentry School for the 1903-1904 school year. Gentry School was about 3 miles South of Diggins, Missouri.

A few days before Lois turned 6, a brother was born. He was called Joseph (Joe) Alonzo Philpott. On February 24, 1911, when Lois was 7, a sister, Mabel Lelia Philpott, was born. When Lois was 8, Nellie Belle Philpott was born on November 23, 1912. On April 30, 1915, the last baby sister, Mildred Priscilla Philpott, was born and Lois was 11.

On April 10, 1907, Joseph McDonald Philpott was appointed U. S. Postmaster for Diggins, Missouri in Webster County, Missouri. Lois was just 3 years old. Previously her father had been a teacher at different schools. He had taught at the Davis School when Lois was a child. It was a school about 6 miles south of Diggins.

In the 1910 United States Federal Census Lois, 6, was living with her family at East Dallas Township in Webster County, Missouri. Her father, Joseph M. Philpott, was 41 years old and her mother, Molly C. Philpott, was 36 years of age. Also in the household was Willie M. Philpott (Willa) who was 12 years old, Jesse M. Philpott, 11; John W. Philpott, 8; and Joseph A. Philpott, 7 1/2 months old. An additional member in the household for the Census was Jesse M. Wells, 25, who is listed as single and a servant of the family.

On October 6, 1911, William B. Carrick passed away. This was Mollie Carrick Philpott's father and a grandfather to Lois. Lois was 8 years old at the time. Williams's wife, Elizabeth Rebecca Skeen Carrick has passed away July 21, 1887. Lois never got a chance to know her Carrick grandmother.

Around 1911, the Philpott family moved to the Philpott Farm close to the Finley River. Lois was around 8 years old. At about that time, Joseph Philpott operated a General Store in Diggins, Missouri.

On August 25, 1915, William Hansen Philpott passed away. This was Joseph McDonald Philpott's father. This was a grandfather to Lois. She was 11 years old. Mildred Philpott, the baby of the family, was only 4 months old.

in 1918, Joseph McDonald Philpott was elected as Webster County Collector. He served in this capacity for eight years.

The Philpott family moved back to Marshfield, Missouri in 1918. Joseph McDonald Philpott and Mollie Carrick Philpott joined the Marshfield First Baptist Church. Joe Philpott was a deacon in the church and was present for the building of a new church building. That building is near the corner of Highway 38 and A Highway in Marshfield, Missouri. It was across the street from Marshfield School. Joe and Mollie signed pledges for the debt on the new church building. They worried about paying the debt off but were faithful supporters of their church. Maggie Lois Philpott was the 1st girl baptized in the new building. There were boys baptized ahead of her, but she was the first girl.

The Philpott family lived in Seymour, Missouri when Mildred Philpott, the baby of the family, was born. They later moved to Marshfield, Missouri. Willa Philpott moved her membership to Marshfield First Baptist Church on January 19, 1920 from a church in Diggins, Missouri.

In the 1920 United States Federal Census, the Philpott family is living in Webster County, Missouri. Lois Philpott is 16 years old. Her father, Joseph M. Philpott, is 50 years old; and her mother, Mollie Philpott, is 45 years old. Others living in the home are Willa Philpott, 22; Jessie Philpott, 20; John Philpott, 18; Joseph Philpott, 10; Mabel Philpott, 8; Nellie Philpott, 7; and Mildred Philpott, 4 years of age. Joseph Philpott is the Webster County Collector and his daughter, Jessie is listed as the Deputy Collector. The family is listed as living on Rogersville Road in Marshfield, Missouri.

On January 14, 1921, Mary Killian Philpott passed away. She was the mother of Joseph McDonald Philpott. She was a grandmother to Lois Philpott. Lois was 17 years old when her Grandmother Philpott passed away.

On September 27, 1921, Mary Essie Philpott Kendrick passed away. Essie was Joseph McDonald Philpott's sister. She had about 4 children. Joseph McDonald Philpott and Mollie Carrick Philpott took 2 of the children into their home to raise. They were Bessie Kindrick and Johnnie Kindrick. They were around 5 and 7 years of age.

Lois graduated from Marshfield High School. She taught school. In 1923 she was a school teacher and on November 3 that year her school received prizes at the County School Fair.

In April 1925, Joseph McDonald Philpott bought the Ford Garage in Marshfield, Missouri from C. C. Robertson. It was a headline in The Marshfield Mail on April 30, 1925. C. C. Robertson sold the Robertson Motor Company to J. M. Philpott. This Motor Company and Garage has the Ford Agency. It was the largest business deal made in Marshfield in some time. Mr. Philpott will take charge as soon as the invoice is made and that is expected to be immediately. The article stated that Mr. Philpott expects to give the business as much of his personal attention as his duties as Collector of the County will permit, but he will attend fully to the duties of his office.

On May 26, 1927, The Marshfield Mail reported that J. M. Philpott, former Webster County Collector, has purchased an interest in The Bank of Diggins and is now Cashier of that institution. Mr. Philpott expects to move his family to Seymour. Before moving here to take up his duties as Collector, Mr. Philpott resided south of Diggins and he was formerly in business there. His son, John, and daughter, Jesse, who are employed in the Marshfield banks, will remain here.

Lois was married to Merlin A. Stokes in Christian County, Missouri at Ozark, Missouri on May 1, 1928. Merlin A. Stokes was born on September 8, 1905 in Webster County, Missouri to Arthur Stokes and Oceana Burtine Wickwire Stokes.

An article in The Marshfield Mail on May 17, 1928 reported on Lois Philpott's marriage to Merlin Stokes. It stated they were married at Ozark, Missouri. Miss Lois Philpott, prominent Webster County school teacher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Philpot, and Mr. Merlin Stokes, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Stokes, of west of town, were married at Ozark, Tuesday, May 1, 1928. The couple have many friends who are congratulating them on the event. The announcement also appeared in the Seymour Citizen newspaper.

Merlin Ira Stokes and Maggie Lois Philpott Stokes had four children. They were Robert M. Stokes, Betty Jo Stokes, Arthur Stokes and Patsy Stokes.

On August 19, 1929, Merlin and Lois Philpott Stokes had their first child, a son named Robert Merlin Stokes. This was also the first grandchild of Joseph McDonald Philpott and Mollie Coleman Carrick Philpott.

In the 1930 United States Federal Census, Merlin travelled to jobs in other states sometimes. M. Lois Stokes is 26 years old and her son, R. Merlin Stokes is 8 months old. They are living with her parents, Joseph M. Philpott and Mollie C. Philpott. Also living in the home is Willa, 32; Jessie, 30; John, 28; Mabel, 18; Nellie , 17; Mildred, 15; and cousins, Bessie Kindrick, 17 and John W. Kindrick, 15. Willa, Lois' oldest sister was a teacher and never married. She lived in the family home all of her life. Nellie also never married but she worked during the week elsewhere and came home on weekends all of her life. Jessie dated Oren Langdon for many years before they married. There were a total of 12 people living in the Philpott household in the 1930 United States Federal Census. Only one was a baby. The others were 15 years of age and older.

On March 12, 1933, Betty Jo Stokes was born. She was the second grandchild on the Philpott side of the family.

Also in 1933, Mildred Philpott graduated from Marshfield High School. Jessie Philpott married Oren Langdon on November 1933.

On November 23, 1933, Jessie Philpott married Oren Langdon. According to The Marshfield Mail in November 1993, it was a quiet wedding and was solemnized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Philpott on a Saturday evening at 6:30 o'clock. The Rev. Victor Connelley, pastor the The Marshfield First Baptist Church officiated at the ceremony, and only immediate members of the family were present.

In June 1934, Joseph Philpott married Mildred Kime in Oklahoma. In July of 1934, Joe and Mildred Philpott sailed for South America where they resided in El Centro where Joe Philpott was employed by the Tropical Oil Company.

In 1935, Jessie Philpott Langdon was declared incompetent and sent to Nevada, Missouri. Nevada was where the state took care of those declared incompetent. Jessie would be in and out of Nevada the next few years. The Philpott parents, Joe McDonald Philpott and Mollie Coleman Carrick Philpott were also declining in health. They were both suffering from Senile Dementia. In later years, many thought they had Alzheimers as many of their children also developed Alzheimers.

On June 17, 1936, Arthur Stokes was born.

Lois stopped teaching when she married in 1928. However, in 1937, she taught school for another teacher on maternity leave.

On April 1, 1937, Oren and Jessie Philpott Langdon had a baby boy named Joe Oren Langdon. Possibly because of Jessie's own precarious health, no one seemed to realize that Joe Oren had problems of his own. The Philpott family was good to him and they did what they could. Joe Oren Langdon had Down's Syndrome, but the family did not realize it for several years.

On July 28, 1938, John William Philpott married Alice Fitzpatrick. They married in Clay County, Missouri. They lived in Kansas City, Missouri.

On March 25, 1939, Mildred married Elrey Cantrell at Ozark, Missouri

On April 15, 1939, Mabel married John Brixey. They had a ceremony at 6:30 o'clock at the Baptist parsonage on a Saturday evening. The Rev. L. L. Rodgers, pastor of The Marshfield First Baptist Church officiated. An article reported in The Marshfield Mail about the wedding stated that the bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Philpott of this city. She is a graduate of The Marshfield High School and has attended Southwest Teachers College. For the past several years she has been teaching in Webster County. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Brixey, of Route 3, Marshfield, Missouri. He is a graduate of Marshfield High School. Since then he has been engaged in farming with his father. Both young people are well known here, and their friends wish for them much happiness. Betty Jo Stokes, a niece, was there and remembers the ceremony. She would have been 6 at the time. Mabel moved into the Brixey home with John and his parents. His parents were not well. They lived south of Marshfield in the rural area. Mabel helped take care of them. John and Mabel lived with his parents and were their caretakers until they died.

Lois Philpott Stokes and her family were living in Seymour, Missouri in June 1939.

In the 1940 United States Federal Census, Merlin Stokes and Lois Philpott Stokes are living in Webster County, Missouri, renting a farm. Merlin is 34 years old and Lois is 36 years old. Robert Stokes, their son, is 10 years old, daughter Betty Jo Stokes is 7 years old and Arthur Stokes is 3 years old.

The 1940 United States Federal Census shows that Merlin completed 8th grade and the highest grade Lois completed was 2 years of college.

On March 1, 1940, Joseph McDonald Philpott passed away. He was 70 years old. He had memory issues for several years. The Death Certificate states that he passed away at 70 years, 10 months, and 28 days of age. His principal cause of death was Cerebral Atrophy (cause unknown)-Senile Dementia present for at least two years--no organic lesion demonstrable. The contributory cause of death was Secondary Anemia, Severe--Cause unknown with onset about 6 months before.

On February 1, 1941, Jessie Philpott Langdon was readmitted to Nevada, Missouri institution for insanity.

On February 7, 1942, Patricia Sue Stokes was born to Merlin Stokes and Lois Philpott Stokes. She was the baby of the family. Her brother, Robert Stokes, was twelve years old. Betty Jo, her older sister, was 8 years old. Pat's other brother, Arthur, was 5 years old. This would be the 5th grandchild for Mollie Coleman Carrick Philpott.

On March 30, 1942, Mollie Coleman Carrick passed away. She was 68 years old. She had memory issues for many years. All of her children survive her as well as the orphaned niece and nephew, Mrs. Bessie Kindrick Swan, and Johnnie Kindrick. Joe Philpott and his wife are still living in South America. They would come home every few years and stay awhile.

On October 17, 1943, Jessie Mae Philpott Langdon passed away. She was Lois' sister who had married Oren Langdon. She had been ill and the past several years been in and out of Nevada--the state institution in Missouri where those who were incompetent were sent. Oren and Jessie had a son, Joseph Oren Langdon (Joe Oren) born April 1, 1937. He was only 6 years old when Jessie passed away. The death certificate stated she had a Brain Tumor. The Death Certificate listed her age as 44 years, 7 months and 13 days. The immediate cause of death listed is Encephalitis with secondary cause due to Brain Tumor. The family helped take care of Joe Oren while Jessie was in and out of the home. Because of Jessie's illness, many were not aware that Joe Oren Langdon was a Down Syndrome baby.

Merlin and Lois Stokes moved with their family to Arizona in 1947. Merlin had been in Arizona as a teenager when he hopped a freight train that took him there. He always wanted to go back to Arizona but it took him several years to convince Lois they should move there. Betty Jo Stokes had just finished 8th grade when they moved. She went from a classroom with 8 students in 8th grade to 300 Freshman in a class in Arizona.

Merlin passed away June 27, 1960 at the age of 54. Reports were that he was on scaffolding on a high rise in Arizona and a wasp stung him and he fell to his death.

Lois passed away on August 22, 1984 in Arizona.

Merlin Ira Stokes and Maggie Lois Philpott Stokes are buried at the Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Maricopa County, Arizona in Mesa Arizona.

Sources

death date came from online source https://family search.org/pal:MM9.2.1/MWLG-BQZ

Other information came from Mabel Philpott Brixey-personally given to me by Mabel before she passed away.

The Marshfield Mail, Webster County, Missouri newspaper, May 26, 1927 issue.

1910 United States Federal Census 1920 United States Federal Census 1930 United States Federal Census 1940 United States Federal Census Christian County, Missouri Marriage Licenses Missouri, Marriage Records, 1805-2002-AncestryLibrary.com Find A Grave Memorial Number 106240572 Find A Grave Memorial Number 106425015

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Arleen Tackett, Thursday, August 29, 2013.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Arleen Tackett for creating Philpott-158 on 29 Aug 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Arleen and others.