Marie Celeste Lejeune

Marie married Charles Trahan on 28 Jul 1800 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Charles (son of Pierre Trahan and Anne Rose Brasseur) was born on 10 Oct 1777 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; was christened in 1778 in St. Landry Church, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died after 1816 in of, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Marie married Antoine Raymond Hebert on 23 May 1815 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Antoine was born about 1795 in New Orleans, Louisiana; died after 1837 in of, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
St. Landry Church, Opelousas, LA
Mary Hebert b 25 Dec 1820

Marie married John J Means about 1835. John (son of John Means) was born on 15 Jan 1815 in Grand Coteau, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died before 1870 in Liberty Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 26 Jun 1860, Liberty Co, Texas
• Census: 1870, Liberty Co, Texas
• Census: 22 Jun 1900, Liberty Co, Texas
• Residence: Aft 1900, Liberty Co, Texas; app for pension

Notes:

Celestine's birth becomes critical in determining who her father was because she seems to be the dau of John Means and not Tom Means.

b.d. in 1860 Liberty -- age 20 so 1840
She is married to David Burrell and Clarinda is 1; living next door to John and Elmire Meins (Means).

b.d. 1870 Liberty -- age 30 so b 1840
m to Jack Odell (Odle) and next door to Clarinda and James Burrell when they were liv w/ Dowdell - whoever he was.

(can't find her in 1880)

b.d. 1900 census Liberty - age 62 - (1837) widow Odell liv/w Clarinda Parker. Next door to James Means, son of John who I think is her father instead of Tom.

1931: grandson Sam Parker was informant on her D.C. and gave her b.d. as 1832 and said her father was Tom Means, and didn't know who her mother was.

John's wife Elmira was b 1825 and birth dates of their children we know start with 1842, meaning she was age 17. If Celestine was b 1840, Elmira could have been her mother (damn, they were young, but that was their custom.)
If she was b 1832 as Sam Parker said, or even 1837 as in 1900 census, she could not be Elmira's.

Her first born was James Burrell in 1858. So any age we have to pick from will work here. And David Burrell was b 1835; so, again, any of the ages will work here as well; though looking at this -- and the trends of the times, I don't think she was as old as 1832.

There is no record of a Tom Means anywhere in the time frame to be her father -- except the Tom who son of John and Elmira.

I am convinced that John is her father -- not an illusive Tom that all we had to go on was Sam Parker's best efforts, and he didn't know her mother. Clarinda had died in 1926; and Celestine died in 1931.

But due to the young age of Elmira and the slight discrepancy of her age, I think it is more probable that she is the daughter of a first wife and that Pauline is her sister by that first wife (see Pauline's individual note.)




Birth:
1832 as indicated in her d.c., 1840 as the year she indicated in two different census records. 1837 was also indicated in a 3rd, census; so that's possible. 16 Aug 1831 was given as her birth date in her application for pension (not dated), stating age 89 years old. We will assume Aug 16 was her birthdate.
(see her individual note)


Census:
David Burrell age 25 Farmer TX Farmer
Celestine Burrell age 20 LA
James Burrell age 3 TX
Clarinda Burrell age 1 TX

next door:
Meins (Means)
John 46 1814 "United States of America" farmer
Elmire wife 35 1825 Louisiana
John 18 1842
James 16 1844
Antoine 14 1846
Amos 5 1855
Solomon 3 1857
Thomas 6/12 1859

Census:
pg 26, a couple houses away, is her mother
Celestine, now married to Jack Odle
Jack Odle 35 AL
Celestine 30 LA
Oliver Burrell 9 TX (her son)

pg 27, a couple houses away is her dau Clarinda
Head of household
Dowdell, John, 28 LA farm laborer
Odle, Laura, 12 TX
John 10 TX
James 8 TX
Burrell, James 12 TX
Clarinda 10 TX
res 264/255
pg 27

Census:
22 Jun 1900 Liberty Census
Clarinda Parker, residence, Liberty town, Liberty, Texas.
b Jan 1858 TX, spouse James Parker TX
father b Texas, mother b Louisiana
head of house James Parker b Jun 1861, 39, TX IL LA
married 16 yrs. (1884)
8 children, seven living. (children all b in Texas)
John - May 1888 age 12
Ada - Mar 1890 age 10
Senn son Jan 1892 age 8
Clemmie dau 1894 age 6
Oliver Nov 1896 age 4
Baley dau Jan 1900 age 4 mos
Sallie Odell mother in law Aug 1837 age 62 widow LA LA LA
(Celestine Means Burrell Odell or Odle)
5 children 1 living

(James Means living next door, prob "Sally"'s bro.
James Means Oct 1844 55 m 29, LA LA LA farmer
Malissa wife 1856 49 m 29 yrs, 10 births, 6 living TX MS LA
Oscar Nov 1882 17 TX
Effie Mar 1885 15 TX
Elizabeth Jul 1888 11 TX
Celestine Oct 1891 9 TX
Josephine Oct 1895 4 TX


Died:
d.c. widowed, wife of A.J. Odell,
born Louisiana, father Tom Means, b Louisiana,
mother's maiden name unknown
informant: Sam Parker of Humble, Texas
(note: Sam Parker, is grandson)

Celestine married David Burrell on 27 Nov 1855 in Orange, Orange Co, Texas. David (son of Robert* Burrell and Susanne* Clark) was born in 1835 in Jefferson Co, Texas; died on 01 Apr 1863 in Civil War; was buried in Camp Butler National Cem, Springfield, Sangamon Co, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Celestine married Andrew Jack Odell (Odle) on 31 Jan 1868 in Orange Co, Texas. Andrew was born in 1832 in Alabama; died before 1900 in of, Liberty Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Jun 1880, Robertson Co, Texas
• Census: 14 Jun 1900, Madison Co, Texas
• Census: 06 May 1910, Grimes Co, Texas
• Census: 1920, Madison Co, Texas

Notes:

There doesn't seem to be any record of Pauline's parents. John Means b 1814 is really the only candidate to be her father from what records are readily available.
Because of the closeness over the years of the families of Pauline and Celestine, and the closeness of their ages, it seems a pretty safe bet they were sisters. However the young age of Elmira, John's wife, it's really not possible that she s Pauline's mother and a squeeze to say she was Celestine's mother. So, we have to assume that John had these girls with a wife #1, who might have even died in childbirth with Celestine - or who knows - and he subsequently remarried in a year or two.

All this is pure speculation though. And short of finding wills or something, there doesn't seem to be a way to know for sure. But the closeness of these families, I think this is best guess.





Census:
252/252 Harmon J.E. 53 1827 LA LA LA
Polina 43 1837 LA LA LA
M A 11 1869 TX LA LA
Jacob 8 1872 TX LA LA

251/251 Harmon J.O. 47 self widower TX LA LA
John F 7 son TX TX MS
D.M. 4 son TX TX MS

Census:
Residence 146
Harris, Benjamin Jan 1854 46 m 12 yrs (1888) LA LA TX farmer
Margaret wife Nov 1868 31 TX LA LA
Mary J. dau Sep 1890 9 TX
Joseph son Oct 1892 7 TX
Lillie dau Oct 1894 5 TX
Jacob son Feb 1898 4 TX
John son Jul 1898 1 TX
Heflin Mitchel nephew Sep 1882 17 TX LA TX
Harrison Poline mother-in-law Apr 1837 63 wid TX LA TX


next door: residence 145
Hill, J. T. Jul 1838 61 m 24 yrs TX AL AL
Florence K. Sep 1856 43 7 births, 4 living TX AL AL
Becky dau Aug 1878 21 single TX
Robertson Harman step-son Aug 1880 19 TX
Robertson Virgie step-dau Nov 1882 17 TX

Census:
1910 Grimes Co, Texas
Williamson Gilford G 48 M2 24 TX TN TX farmer
Mary R 51 M2 24 15 ch 7 liv TX LA LA
Thomas M 22 TX TX TX
Joe L 19 TX TX TX
Shelby Poline m-i-l 74 wid 6 children 2 liv; LA MS LA



Census:
Willow Hale Road
145/145
Harris John B 47 1873 LA TN LA
Margaret wife 51 1869 TX LA LA
Rosa dau 15 1905
Corene dau 10 1910
Daniel son 8 1912
Shebby Pauline mother-in-law 84 1836
(Pauline Means Harmon Shebby [Shelby] mother of Margaret)
widow, Louisiana, Mississippi, Louisiana


res Whitley top
Harris Joe 27 head Texas Louisiana Texas
Leatie wife 26 1894 Texas North Carolina Mississippi
Cheatham Leola step-dau 8 1912 Texas Texas Texas
Cheatham Frank step-son 6 1914 Texas
Cheatham Phynie dau 2 1918 Texas
Cheatham Clyde son 0 1920 Texas
Cheatham Claud son 0 1920 Texas
Heblin (Heflin) Mitchel cousin 39 1881 single TX Ark TX

Harris John E self 21 1899 TX LA TX
Harris Hattie wife 33 1887 TX TN TN

Pauline married Valmore (Valmon) Chaisson (Chezshon) on 4 Jun 1851 in St. Charles Borromeo Church, Grand Clotea, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, and was divorced between Jan 1856 and Aug 1856. Valmore was born on 2 Jan 1829 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana; died in 1874 in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Pauline married J.E. (Larry) Harmon about 1859 in Texas. J.E. (son of (..) Harmon and Mrs (..) (..) Harmon) was born in 1827 in Louisiana; died before 1901 in of, Robertson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Pauline married B.F. Shelby on 24 Nov 1901 in Brazos Co, Texas. B.F. was born about 1836; died before 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Robertson Co, Texas

Notes:

Census:
Mary Cammell (Campbell) 65 1815 widowed LA LA LA
Louis B. Cammell 18 1862 son Texas
John Meanes 35 1845 son-in-law married LA IL LA
Sarah Meanes 27 1853 Texas Illinois Louisiana
Mary Meanes 8 1872 granddau Texas Louisiana Texas
John W. Meanes 6 1874 grandson Texas Louisiana Texas
Dora A. Meanes 1 1879 granddau Texas Louisiana Texas

John married Sarah Campbell about 1870 in Texas. Sarah (daughter of William Campbell and Mary Row) was born in 1854 in Texas; died after 1882 in of, Robertson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1880, Hardin Co, Texas
• Census: 22 Jun 1900, Liberty Co, Texas
• Census: 1910, Liberty Co, Texas

Notes:

Census:
James A Means 38 LA LA LA
Malitia Means wife 24 TX MS LA
Olive Means dau 6 TX
Mary Means 4 m TX

Census:
22 Jun 1900 Liberty Census
Clarinda Parker, residence, Liberty town, Liberty, Texas.
b Jan 1858 TX, spouse James Parker TX
father b Texas, mother b Louisiana
head of house James Parker b Jun 1861, 39, TX IL LA
married 16 yrs. (1884)
8 children, seven living. (children all b in Texas)
John - May 1888 age 12
Ada - Mar 1890 age 10
Senn son Jan 1892 age 8
Clemmie dau 1894 age 6
Oliver Nov 1896 age 4
Baley dau Jan 1900 age 4 mos
Sallie Odell mother in law Aug 1837 age 62 widow LA LA LA
(Celestine Means Burrell Odell or Odle)
5 children 1 living

(James Means living next door, prob Celestine "Sally"'s bro.
James Means Oct 1844 55 m 29, LA LA LA farmer
Malissa wife 1856 49 m 29 yrs, 10 births, 6 living TX MS LA
Oscar Nov 1882 17 TX
Effie Mar 1885 15 TX
Elizabeth Jul 1888 11 TX
Celestine Oct 1891 9 TX
Josephine Oct 1895 4 TX


Census:
James A Means b 1845 Louisiana
M.C. Means
Celestine Means
Josephine Means

James married Melissa Catherine Holt about 1873 in Texas. Melissa (daughter of John W. Holt and Elizabeth Campbell) was born on 15 Jun 1856 in Texas; died on 22 Jan 1938 in Hardin, Liberty Co, Texas; was buried on 23 Jan 1938 in Moss Hill, Liberty Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 17 Jun 1880, Madison Co, Texas

Notes:

Birth:
Onezime Means 23 Feb 1845 St. Charles Borromeo Ch, Grand Coteau, LA

Census:
Means, Valentine 35 farmer LA LA LA
Elizabeth 24 wife TX LA LA
Robert 2 son TX
Margaret 8 mos, TX

Valentine married Mrs Elizabeth (..) Means in 1877 in Madison Co, Texas. Elizabeth was born in 1856 in Texas; died after 1880 in of, Madison Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Antoine Means 4 Oct 1847 St. Charles Borromeo Ch, Grand Coteau, LA