My relationship to James ML Stalls:
Me
Virginia Marie Stalls (mom)
James Paul Stalls, Jr (granddaddy)
James Paul Stalls, Sr (g-grandfather)
James Franklin Stalls (gg-grandfather)
James ML Stalls (ggg-grandfather)
*please see note at bottom of post concerning the children of James ML Stalls and Georgia Anna Manning
*family photos and cemetery photo used with permission of Robert Stalls
James ML Stalls was born May 22, 1831 in Stewart County, Tennessee to parents Elijah Stalls and Edna Barrow.
Though each individual in a household was not listed on US census records until 1850, he is represented on the 1840 census. The family is found living in Stewart County, Tennessee. Elijah Stalls is listed as head of household. James ML Stalls is represented as
Free White Persons-Male-5 thru 9- 1.
Also represented in the household were:
Free White Persons-Male-Under 5- 1
Free White Persons-Male-20-29- 2 (one was Elijah, I’m not sure who the other was)
Free White Persons Female-Under 5- 1
Free White Persons-Female-10-14- 1
Free White Persons-Female-20-29- 2 (one was Edna, I’m not sure who the other was)
In 1850 the family is still living in Stewart County, Tennessee. James is listed as James Stalls, age 19 years, no occupation listed. His parents are listed as Elijah Stalls (farmer, age 39 years) and Edna Stalls (age 40 years). James’ siblings living in the house are listed as: May (or Mary, age 22 years), Margaret (age 14 years), George (age 13 years), Elisabeth (age 7 years) and William (age 7 months). Two others living with the family are: May Robins (age 45 years) and Zachary Gastin (not sure about last name, age 1 year). I’m not sure how they are related to the family, if at all, yet.
James ML Stalls married Georgia Anna Manning on September 27, 1851 in Stewart County, Tennessee.
James and Georgia have moved by the enumeration of the 1860 census. They are found living in Post Office Paris, District 4, Henry County, Tennessee. James is shown as 30 years of age and an “overseer”, most likely of a farm. Georgia is listed as Georgian, age 25 years. Their children listed are James (age 2 years) and Daniel (age 8 months?).
By 1870 the family moved to Dover, District 7, Stewart County, Tennessee. James is listed as Jas Stalls, age 39 years. His occupation is shown as “Ferryman”. Georgia is listed as Georga, age 34 years and keeping house. The children listed are: Jas (James, in school, age 13 years), John (?, in school, age 11 years), Elizabeth (age 9 years), Elladene (age 6 years) and William (age 5 months).
Once again the family moved so that in 1880 they are found on the census living in Clarke River, District 2, McCracken County, Kentucky. James is listed as age 49 and working in a sawmill. Georgia is listed as Georgie A., age 45 years and keeping house. Their children living with them are: James F (works in sawmill, age 23 years), Don F (works in sawmill, age 21 years), Nelly (at home, attended school within the year, age 16 years), William (at home, attended school within the year, age 11 years), Miny (attended school within the year, age 8 years) and Dasy (age 5 years).
There is no census for 1890.
Though I have not yet located James ML Stalls in the 1900 census I do know he was living in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee at the time. Checking the Memphis City Directories he first shows up in 1898, so he probably moved to Memphis in 1897. The directory shows his listing as:
Stalls, James M, carp, res 35 Peyton ave.
1910 is the last census James ML Stalls shows up on. He is listed as James M Stalls, age 78 years. No occupation is listed, so I assume that means he is retired. Georgia is listed as George A., age 71 years. This census also tells use their address! James and Georgia lived at 231 Looney Avenue, District 157, Ward 2, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
James ML Stalls died March 30, 1912 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. The cause of death was Apoplexy. Something interesting on the burial certificate is that it looks like it says his length of residence in Memphis was 30 years, but that can’t be correct unless he was unlisted for some reason.
James was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis Shelby County, Tennessee.
*note about the children of James ML Stalls and Georgia Anna Manning - the children listed in the Bible of Daisy Dean Stalls are:
- Calvina Stalls (April 6, 1853-March 22, 1857, Scarlett Fever)
- Lucy Stalls (June 9, 1855-March 18, 1857, Scarlett Fever)
- James F Stalls (James Franklin Stalls, August 29, 1857-November 19, 1889)
- Don F Stalls (September 14, 1859, Paris, Tennessee-January 16, 1910)
- Bettie Davis Stalls (Elizabeth, June 22, 1861-April 13, 1925)
- L Stalls (December 22, 1862-July 12, 1863)
- Nellie L Stalls (April 13, 1864-March 8, 1945)
- Willie L Stalls (William Franklin Stalls, August 5, 1869-October 7, 1914)
- Georgia Anna Stalls (“Minnie”, February 1, 1872-April 11, 1944)
- Daisy Dean Stalls (only marriage date listed, birth and death dates are April 16, 1875-December 3, 1848)
What’s interesting is how the names change throughout the census records. Also, on the 1910 census it says that Georgia had 11 children, 5 of who are still living. The Bible only lists 10 children. I wonder who the 11th child was?
