Sunday, June 10, 2012

My Mother's Side of the Family - The Sargent's

Most of my Mother's immediate family (Sargent) is dead or unknown, so there was little to go on when I searched for information.  All I knew was that my Mother, Dorothy Jane Sargent, was raised by her Father, Edward Joseph Sargent, and aunt, Fannie "Nannee" Sargent, in Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, after her mother died shortly after childbirth.  She married Leroy Lamar McMillin and continued to live in Harrisonburg until their deaths.

Except for a brother, Edward Joseph Sargent, Jr., Feb 13, 1916 to Feb 14, 1937, there was only her older sister, Nellie Irene who married Charles Patrick O'Boyle before WWII and moved to California.  They had three children, Ja'Nell, Patrick and Michael.  They briefly returned to Harrisonburg to live during the 1950's then returned to California near Oakland.

After Aunt Nell's husband died, she returned to Harrisonburg and married John Taliaferro and they lived in the area until John died.  Aunt Nell returned to California where she eventually died.

There was also Aunt Mamie "Tot" Sargent, Fannie's sister, who married Smith Oden from Bastrop, Louisiana.  They came to visit each Christmas, along with their youngest son George "Bitty" Oden.  They had another son, Bobby, and daughter, Nelwyn, who moved to Buffalo, NY.  Last I heard, George was living somewhere in the Florida Panhandle area.

I recall a few other Sargent names from my childhood but we apparently did not maintain close ties with them. 

I recall seeing a few very old photos in Nannee's old pre-Civil War house but they meant nothing to me at the time.  I assumed all were lost until First Cousin - JaNell sent these photos to me recently.  I do not know the dates of the photos but I've tried to guess as close as possible.

My Great-Great Grandparents, Joseph Sargent and Janet Campbell Sargent, parents of Thomas Edward Sargent, probably between 1840 and 1855


Mary Elizabeth Dish Sargent probably Apr 22, 1831 Mar 4, 1924
My Great Grandmother
Photo probably between 1875 and 1895



Thomas Edward Sargent Jun 18, 1852 Nov 15, 1901
My Great Grandfather
Photo probably between 1875 and  1895




Edward Joseph "Eddie" Sargent Jan 8, 1888 Feb 8, 1931
My Grandfather
Photo probably taken about 1928 to 1930


Edward Joseph "Eddie" Sargent as a young man
Nellie Irene Huff Sargent Mar 14, 1890 Nov 4, 1921
My Grandmother
Photo probably between 1915 and 1920



This is Nellie Irene Huff when she was apparently younger.



Nellie Irene Sargent O'Boyle
My Mother's Sister
Photo probably taken in the 1940's.




Dorothy Jane Sargent McMillin October 14, 1921 and August 6, 2007
My Mother
Photo taken in 2000