Adams County Cousins - Zola Clair Hemphill

Zola Clair Hemphill was one of my great-grandfather, Lafayette Pierce "Lafe" Smalley's first cousins, who are my 1st cousins 3 times removed. She was the daughter of William C. and Emma (Shields) Hemphill. William was one of Lafe's mother's younger brothers. William was born the same year that his father died, 1847. His mother was the head of the household in 1850, William's 25 year old half-brother, David, was listed as a farmer. In 1860, after his mother had remarried, William was living with his uncle, J. C. Milligan and their family.

Apparently William served in the Civil War as he has a military grave marker, showing that he had been a Private in Company B of the 1st Missouri Cavalry. In 1867 there was a William C. Hemphill, a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Cavalry based at Camp Hatch in Rio Concho, Texas. By 1888 William was in Warren County Illinois where he married Emma Shields, who was about 20 years younger than him. Illinois was where Zola, their oldest daughter, was born 10 Mar 1888. By 1895 the family had increased to 3 children and they were living in Marshall County Kansas. Zola had gained 3 more siblings by 1900 and by then they were in Logan County Oklahoma.

The 23rd of December 1908 was the date for Zola's marriage to Carl (William C) Owens in Payne County Oklahoma. They were living at Perkins in Payne County for the 1910 census where William's occupation was machinist. They had one baby son but he died before the year was over. When the next census was taken in 1920 they were still living in Perkins and William was working as a cotton buyer. By then there were 5 children in the family.

They moved within the next 10 years and were living in Hominy, Osage County Oklahoma for the 1930 census. They were renting their house on N Katy Street for $12 per month and did not have a radio. William was now working as a mechanic at a cotton gin and there were 4 children still at home. Only the youngest son was still in the household in Hominy for the 1940 census. William was working as a laborer doing odd jobs.

William C. Owens died 16 Aug 1953 and was buried at A. J. Powell Memorial Cemetery in Hominy Osage County Oklahoma. Zola was buried next to William after her death 28 Aug 1974.