Matthew Bradley EPPERSON Finis Arnold EPPERSON Trudie Elizabeth EPPERSON Joan EPPERSON Jessie Elizabeth DOWNS Emma Victoria HOLLOMAN Mini tree diagram
Finis Jerome EPPERSON

Finis Jerome EPPERSON1,3,4,5,10,11,12,13,6

1st Jan 19061,2,3,4,5,6 - 28th Aug 19829,2,3,6

Life History

1st Jan 1906

Born in Nashville, Howard, Arkansas.1,2,3,4,5,6

10th Aug 1925

Married Jessie Elizabeth DOWNS in Johnson County, Texas.5,12

12th May 1926

Birth of son Finis Arnold EPPERSON in Cleburne, Johnson, Texas.5,14,13,15

22nd Mar 1931

Birth of daughter Trudie Elizabeth EPPERSON in Cleburne, Johnson, Texas.13,5

10th Feb 1933

Birth of daughter Joan EPPERSON in Johnson County, Texas.5,13

28th Aug 1982

Died in Cleburne, Johnson, Texas.9,2,3,6

Cardiac Arrest, due to Cardiac Arrhythmia, due to Arteriosclerosis Cardiovascular Heart Disease with Mitral Regurgitation, Ventrial Hypertension, Aseptic Microsis Left Hip

30th Aug 1982

Buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery, Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas.7,8,6

Notes

  • In 1910, Finis Jerome is the youngest child in a blended family household with his step-siblings, children of Emma Victoria Reeves from a previous marriage.

    1910 Federal Census, Bandera County, Texas, 20 April, Justice Precinct 6, District 13, page ?, Hse #43, Fam #45
    Epperson, M B  Head  M W 42  2nd Marriage  (# of years not stated) AR TN AL Farm[er]  Rents
    Epperson, Emma V  Wife  F W 44  2nd Marriage, married 25 years  Borne 8 children, 6 living  AR GA GA
    Epperson, Troy  Son M W 20  AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Epperson, Mitchel (?)  Son M W 14  AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Epperson, Opal  Son M W 11  AR AR AR
    Epperson, Finis  Son M W 4  AR AR AR
    Reeves, Walter  [Step]son M W 21  AR AR AR Farm[er]
    Reeves, Grover  [Step]son M W 17  AR AR AR Farm Laborer
    Reeves, Myrtle [Step]daughter F W 11 AR AR AR

    The marriage information tells us the Matthew and Emma were both married before, and that they have been married for 25 years.  But the Reeves surname of the last three children tells us that they are Emma's children from her first husband.  The youngest, Myrtle (Ruth in 1920) was only 11, so was born about 1899.

    Thus Matthew and she would have married after that time.  So Finis is the only one of the Epperson children who might be her child.  It is more likely, due to her age, that his mother is the first wife of Matthew.  I have not been able to find information on either marriage or spouse's name for either Matthew or Emma Victoria.

    1920 Federal Census, Gonzales County, Texas, 2 January, Justice Precinct 5, District 94, page 1A, Wrightsboro St, Hse/Fam #1
    Epperson, Matthew B  Head  Rents  M W 57  AR TN AL Minister, Group of Churches
    Epperson, Emma V  Wife  F W 53  AR GA GA
    Epperson, Finis J  Son M W 14  AR AR AR
    Reeves, Ruth Stepdaughter F W 21 AR NY AR Teacher

    The Epperson are the first family enumerated in their District.  The census page also indicates that Matthew is the enumerator for this census.

    One step-sibling is still in the household with Finis.  Here Ruth corresponds to Myrtle in the 1910 census.  This leads me to conclude that her full name was Myrtle Ruth.

    Finis married in 1925.

    Texas, Select County Marriage Index, 1837-1965
    F J Epperson
    Spouse Jessie Downs
    Marriage 10 Aug 1925 Johnson, Texas, United States

    In 1930 Finis and his wife Jessie Elizabeth Downs were living in Johnson County, Texas, near Cleburne.  Finis' father Matthew was now living in his household.  Finis' mother died in 1929.

    1930 Federal Census, Johnson County, Texas, 24 April, Justice Precinct 1, District 4, page 15B, Grand Avenue, Hse #232, Fam #244
    Epperson, Finis J  Head M W 24  married at age 18 [abt 1926] AR AR AR Clerk, Steam Railway
    Epperson, Jessie E  Wife  F W 22 married at age 17 [abt 1925] TX TX TX
    Epperson, Finis A  Son M W 3yrs 10mos  TX AR TX
    Epperson, Mathew W  Father M W 67 Widower  TX AR TX

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Cleburne, Texas, City Directory, 1949, p 244
    Epperson Finis J (Jessie) mech SF RR h 223 W Willingham Phone #981J
    Epperson James T (Kathryn E) mgr White Auto Store h 308 N Granbury Phone #1125J

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Cleburne, Texas, City Directory, 1957, p 353
    Epperson Finis J (Jessie) mach [mech ?] Santa Fe Ry h 223 E Willingham Phone #5-4945
    Epperson J Troy (Trudie) sr clk Santa Fe Ry h 111 E Willingham Phone #5-4590
    Epperson J Troy Jr (Kathryn) Co[unty] Aud[itor] h 401 N Anglin  Phone #5-8529
    Epperson Kathryn (Mrs J T Jr) dep co[unty] clk h 401 N Anglin  Phone #5-8529

    Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
    Finis Jerome Epperson
    Age 76, Occupation Retired Machinist for Santa Fe Railroad
    Birth 1 January 1906 Arkansas
    Residence 414 W Wilson St, Cleburne, Johnson, Texas, USA
    Father Matthew B Epperson
    Mother Emma Victoria Holloman
    Informant and Spouse Jessie Downs
    Death 28 August 1982 Johnson County Memorial hospital, Cleburne, Johnson, Texas, USA
    Cause of Death Cardiac Arrest, due to Cardiac Arrhythmia, due to Arteriosclerosis Cardiovascular Heart Disease with Mitral Regurgitation, Ventrial Hypertension, Aseptic Microsis Left Hip
    Burial 30 August 1982 Cleburne Memorial Cemetery, Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, by Crosier-Pearson Funeral Home
    Certificate #75028 filed 10 September 1982

    The Cleburne (Johnson County), Texas Memorial Cemetery registry lists Finis Jerome and his wife, and his parents, in Block 54.

    Epperson, Emma Victoria Mar. 04, 1866 Aug. 02, 1929 B 54 L 4
    Epperson, Matthew Bradley Nov. 05, 1862 May 31, 1954 B 54 L 4
    Epperson, Finis J Jan. 01, 1906 Aug. 28, 1982 B 54 L 4
    Epperson, Jessie E Jan. 28, 1908 Sept. 21, 1996 B 54 L 4
    -- Cleburne Cemetery, http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txjohnso/cemeteries/cleburnemem54.html

Sources

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