Icy Lee Stewart was born in April, 1885 to James William Stewart (b. 1860 Kentucky) and Mahalia Clara Taylor (b. 1860 Tennessee). James and Mahalia were married February 11, 1879 in Butler County, Missouri. Icy Lee married William (Bill) Henry Walton in May, 1906.
She and Bill had six children. She died shortly after her youngest daughter, Clara Mae, was born. Bill was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for six children, one being a newborn, he attempted to place all the children in adoptive homes. Clara Mae was adopted by the Jones family and Bessie Lee was adopted by the Jones' next door neighbor, Edd Powell. Later, after Mr. Powell died, Bessie Lee lived with the Jones' also.
The boys were very successful in hiding and as a result were not adopted.
She died when all her children were so young, that there is no information available on her life. According to family stories she was of American Indian descent and she died of tuberculosis. I do know from personal knowledge that her sons loved her very much. She apparently was their total security and when she was gone, they all felt adrift for years.
This picture is the only known picture of her.
She and Bill had six children. She died shortly after her youngest daughter, Clara Mae, was born. Bill was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for six children, one being a newborn, he attempted to place all the children in adoptive homes. Clara Mae was adopted by the Jones family and Bessie Lee was adopted by the Jones' next door neighbor, Edd Powell. Later, after Mr. Powell died, Bessie Lee lived with the Jones' also.
The boys were very successful in hiding and as a result were not adopted.
She died when all her children were so young, that there is no information available on her life. According to family stories she was of American Indian descent and she died of tuberculosis. I do know from personal knowledge that her sons loved her very much. She apparently was their total security and when she was gone, they all felt adrift for years.
This picture is the only known picture of her.
Icy Lee Stewart was born in April, 1885 to James William Stewart (b. 1860 Kentucky) and Mahalia Clara Taylor (b. 1860 Tennessee). James and Mahalia were married February 11, 1879 in Butler County, Missouri. Icy Lee married William (Bill) Henry Walton in May, 1906.
She and Bill had six children. She died shortly after her youngest daughter, Clara Mae, was born. Bill was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for six children, one being a newborn, he attempted to place all the children in adoptive homes. Clara Mae was adopted by the Jones family and Bessie Lee was adopted by the Jones' next door neighbor, Edd Powell. Later, after Mr. Powell died, Bessie Lee lived with the Jones' also.
The boys were very successful in hiding and as a result were not adopted.
She died when all her children were so young, that there is no information available on her life. According to family stories she was of American Indian descent and she died of tuberculosis. I do know from personal knowledge that her sons loved her very much. She apparently was their total security and when she was gone, they all felt adrift for years.
This picture is the only known picture of her.
She and Bill had six children. She died shortly after her youngest daughter, Clara Mae, was born. Bill was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for six children, one being a newborn, he attempted to place all the children in adoptive homes. Clara Mae was adopted by the Jones family and Bessie Lee was adopted by the Jones' next door neighbor, Edd Powell. Later, after Mr. Powell died, Bessie Lee lived with the Jones' also.
The boys were very successful in hiding and as a result were not adopted.
She died when all her children were so young, that there is no information available on her life. According to family stories she was of American Indian descent and she died of tuberculosis. I do know from personal knowledge that her sons loved her very much. She apparently was their total security and when she was gone, they all felt adrift for years.
This picture is the only known picture of her.
Inscription
Burial plot purchased by E D & S H Powell, who adopted Bessie Lee Walton
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