Born 13 Sep 1850 in Mississippi

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 Sep 1930 in Monticello, Drew, Arkansas, United States

Profile manager: Joyce Henley [send private message]

Biography

Mary Elizabeth (Franks) Bostian was the daughter of Marshall Franks and his second wife, Margaret Malinda L. (Hodges) Franks of Lowndes Co. MS, who married November 22, 1845.

Records indicate that Mary had at least three sisters - a half-sister, Margaret A. Franks, from Marshall's first wife, Mary Hilliard; Sarah E. Amanda Franks, and Valera A. D. Franks.

Mary was born in Lowndes County, MS, where the Franks clan had settled on properties that also extended into neighboring Pickens County, AL. Her immediate family moved to Bankston, Choctaw County, MS, during her childhood, and was living there during the 1860 Census at house no. 573.

Also living in the textile mill town of Bankston during the 1860 Census, at house no. 626, was her future husband, Napoleon Bonaparte Bostian. The two married in Mississippi ca. 1867.

Their first two children were born in Mississippi. Their third child was born in Texas, where they lived for a short time. The rest were born in Arkansas where the family settled, just south of Cornerville in Lincoln County near the Lincoln/Drew County line.

The known children of Napoleon and Mary were 1. Alice, 2. William "Billy", 3. James Franks "Jim", 4. John W. "Johnnie", 5. Edward, 6. Levianna, 7. Ruth, 8. Ezra, 9. Carrel, 10. Hattie, and 11. Van. The 1900 US Census stated that Mary was the mother of eleven children, with eight being alive at that present time.

Mary Elizabeth was also the granddaughter of Martin and Margaret (Ross) Franks; great-granddaughter of Marshall Franks, who served as a Lieutenant in the American Revolution and later donated property for the Tabernacle Methodist Church located in Pickens County, AL; and great-great-granddaughter of Nehemiah Franks(1715-1799), originally of Virginia.

Mary passed away at the age of 80 years and 6 days. She is buried in Oakland Cemetery located on N. Hyatt St. in Monticello, AR, in the New Northeast Addition, Block IV. Her grave, with headstone, is located in the NW corner area of the block mentioned. Her son, Van, is buried next to her south side. I believe that her husband is buried in an unmarked grave on her north side. He reportedly died a few years after her, during the Great Depression, which may explain why he had no marker. I've placed a photo of her headstone on her Find A Grave memorial.

Note: Her Find A Grave memorial bio is basically the same as this one because I created and manage both.

Sources

• Arkansas State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics-Death Certificate of Mary E. (Franks) Bostian

• [1] 1920 US Census, Monticello, AR, listed as "Mary Boston" (sic)

• 1900 US Census, Mill Creek Twp, Lincoln Co. AR

• 1860 US Census, Bankston, Choctaw County, MS

• 1850 US Census, Lowndes County, MS

• [2] Find A Grave Memorial for Mary E. (Franks) Bostian

More Genealogy Tools