Mollie (Long) Davis (1872 - 1935)

Born 8 Oct 1872 in Texas, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Herbert Lafayette Murray — married 1896 in Winfield, Titus, Texas, United States

Wife of Augustus Yanke — married 1905 (to 1909) in Texarkana, Bowie, Texas,

Wife of Adolphus Dalton Davis — married 17 Jun 1917 in Franklin, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1935 at age 62 in Texarkana, Bowie, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Charles Mintz [send private message] and Jerry Murray [send private message]

Biography

Molly Long Murray Yanke Davis, (8 Oct 1872 - 27 Aug 1935) Age 62

Birth & Parents

On 8 Oct 1872 in Mount Pleasant, Titus county, Texas, (Mary or Molly) Long was born to John Thomas Long, (10 Apr 1841 - 27 May 1907), and Celia Temperance Gambell Long, (10 Jan 1852 - 31 Mar 1939).

Mary becomes Molly

Although the 1880 Census and 1900 Census report her name as Mary Long, these documents may be wrong; census takers were not the most accurate information gatherers. However, assuming these old documents were correct it is still true that she preferred being called Molly.

The 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census report her name as Molly, Her marriage certificate, death certificate and obituary call her Molly. And to drive the point home, her youngest son, Bonner, named his only daughter, Mollie Jo Murray, in honor of her.

The source documents are silent as to her having a middle name. The only source that reports her name as Mary Jane Long is the Find-A-Grave website. The site does not have a photo of the grave, tombstone or cemetery. The site does not provide any proof of its claim.

3 Marriages - all 3 husbands were Potters

It is interesting that all 3 of Mollie's husbands were pottery manufacturers .

1st Marriage to Herbert Lafayette Murray

About 1896 in Titus county, Texas, 24-year old Molly Long married the 41-year-old widower Herbert Lafayette Murray, (1855 - March 1903), son of John Murray, (Sept 1833 – 1859), and Nancy Paralee Turner Murray, (17 Oct 1837 - 1880). This was Herbert's second marriage, he was formerly married to Caroline Malinda White.

4 known Children: 2 sons, 2 daughters

Together Molly Long and Herbert L. Murray had 4 known children, 2 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom were born in Titus County, Texas.

• 1. Bertha Louise "Lois" Murray Huff, (x June 1895 - 25 March 1964) Age 68
• 2. Emmet Earnest Murray, (June 1897 – Bef. 1910) died an infant
• 3. Eunice Alma Murray Hohmann Porter, (5 Dec 1899 - 27 Jun 1974) Age 74
• 4. Henry Felix Murray, (3 Dec 1901 - 23 Jul 1997). Age 95

The Question of Glenn Murray

The enumerator of the 1900 US Census, J. R. Fleming, reported another child born to Molly and Herbert Murray. After several intensive investigations by family historians over the course of several years family historians believe this is an error by the census taker. The 1900 Census is the only source document that indicates a child named Glenn Murray was born. While it is not possible to say conclusively that this child was not born; the circumstantial evidence suggests that..... if he did, he died soon after being born.

Verification of 4 known Children

On 26 June 1900, J. R. Fleming, the 1900 US Census enumerator, asked Molly Murray how many children she had given birth to. She replied 4 children were born to her. The enumerator then asked her how many of her children were still living on that day. She replied all 4 children.

Marriage to Gus Yanke

Sometime in 1903 in Titus county, Texas, Molly Long Murray married Gus Yanke.

2 Children: 2 sons

Together Gus and Mollie Murray Yanke had 2 children, 2 sons, both of whom were born in Winfield, Titus county, Texas.

• 1. John Paul Yanke Murray, (1 Oct 1906 - 13 Oct 1995 Marshall, Harrison, Texas) Age 89
• 2. Bonner Augusta Yanke Murray, (5 Feb 1910 - 28 Aug 1972 Euless, Tarrant, Texas) Age 62

Verification of 6 known Children

On 22 April 1910 Albert Spruce, the 1910 US Census enumerator, asked Molly Murray how many children she had given birth to. She replied 6 children were born to her. The enumerator then asked her how many were children were still living on that day. She replied all 6 children.

Divorce from Gus Yanke

Mollie and Gus Yanke separated shortly before their 2nd child was born. Growing up both boys had little contact with their father. From their youth both boys were raised as part of the Murray family of Marshall, Texas and both adopted that surname as their identity. After their mother married, (17 June 1917) Adolphus Dalton Davis a few of the source documents report him as their father. It should be noted that Gus Yanke's obituary did explicitly state that he had 2 sons that survived him.

In late 1909 Gus and Mollie divorced. On 22 April 1910 Mollie Yanke told Albert Spruce, the US Census enumerator that she was divorced. Mollie's newborn son is only 2 months old and his name is listed as H. L. Yanke. It appears that the infant had not received a name at that time.

Gus Yanke does not appear in the 1910 Census. Between 1910 and 1920 he moved to Bastrop county, Texas. On 23 Jan 1920, John J. Sapp, the enumerator of the 1920 US Census reported that Gus Yanke was a boarder, renting a room from Ervin and Elba Fort. He also reported that Gus was employed as a potter, and that Gus claimed that his martial status was widower.

3rd marriage to Adolphus Dalton Davis

On 17 June 1917 in Franklin County, Texas, 44-year-old Mollie M. Yanke married 25-year-old Adolphus Dalton Davis, (1892 - 1960), son of Lee Romine Davis, 19 June 1853 - 24 Aug 1911), and Mary Josephine (Layman) Davis, (x Nov 1853 - Unknown), This was Dolph's 1st marriage.

Death & Burial

On 27 Aug 1935 in Texarkana, Bowie county, Texas, Molly Long Murray Yanke Davis died. She was 62 years old.

Her remains were laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery, Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas. A F.A.G. memorial has been created for her; however, there is no description of the cemetery or grave and there are no photos of the cemetery, grave or tombstone. The memorial is confusing as it attempts to create a genealogical tree. Some of the information is incorrect. But.. if you want to... you may access the website here: Find A Grave: Memorial #140261424;

Sources