Early Life
Syrous Sanders Guffey was born in Jackson County, Alabama on November 22, 1871, the fourth of eight known children. His father, Ephraim Berry Guffey, was also a farmer and resident of the same area. His mother, the former Miss Morning Caroline McKinney, died when he was just a boy.
Family
Syrous was married three times and fathered at least 16 children. One daughter died in infancy. His first child was George Sanders Guffey. George was born in Arkansas in 1893. His mother was Georgia Ann Hawkins. Syrous and Georgia weren't married at the time of their son's birth. According to family stories, Syrous was also unaware of Georgia's pregnancy and returned back home to Alabama.
On July 17, 1893 in Dekalb County, Alabama, Syrous Guffey married Sarah Caroline Hastings. Together they had 3 children. Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1895), Rubin Wallace (1897) and Vester "Belle" Guffey (1899). Sarah Caroline Guffey's exact date of death is unknown, but it is believed she passed away somewhere around 1900.
After the loss of Syrous's wife, he and Georgia Ann Hawkins reunited. They wed on March 25, 1901 in Arkansas. Georgia and their son George Guffey joined Syrous and his 3 children in Alabama. Georgia Ann Guffey's life was short lived as well. Her date of death is also unknown, but it's believed to be between 1910 and 1918. Her last census was 1910.
Syrous's third wife was Rosie Bell Helton. They were wed on October 11, 1916 and remained husband and wife for almost 30 years until Syrous's death. Together they had 12 children. 9 daughters and 3 sons.
Death
On November 2, 1946 at the age of 75, Syrous Sanders Guffey passed away.
*Below is a list of Syrous's children in order by their age. I've composed this list from a combination of sources. Living Guffey relatives first hand knowledge, federal and local census, marriage license, death certificates and many of our family obituaries.
1. George Guffey
2. Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Guffey
3. Reubin Wallace Guffey
4. Vester Belle (Guffey) Burroughs
5. Ruth Mae (Guffey) Nailer
6. Vester Lorene (Guffey) Guthrie
7. Bertha Lou (Guffey) Foster
8. James Sanders Guffey
9. Mary "Louise" Guffey
10. Jacob "Owen" Guffey
11. Serena Marie "Serenie" (Guffey) Grove
12. Willie "Hayden" Guffey
13. Ovella Guffey *died at birth*
14. Dollie Inez (Guffey) Phillips
15. Altha Louvene (Guffey) Gifford
16. Bonnie Vergie Lillian (Guffey) Stapler
Early Life
Syrous Sanders Guffey was born in Jackson County, Alabama on November 22, 1871, the fourth of eight known children. His father, Ephraim Berry Guffey, was also a farmer and resident of the same area. His mother, the former Miss Morning Caroline McKinney, died when he was just a boy.
Family
Syrous was married three times and fathered at least 16 children. One daughter died in infancy. His first child was George Sanders Guffey. George was born in Arkansas in 1893. His mother was Georgia Ann Hawkins. Syrous and Georgia weren't married at the time of their son's birth. According to family stories, Syrous was also unaware of Georgia's pregnancy and returned back home to Alabama.
On July 17, 1893 in Dekalb County, Alabama, Syrous Guffey married Sarah Caroline Hastings. Together they had 3 children. Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1895), Rubin Wallace (1897) and Vester "Belle" Guffey (1899). Sarah Caroline Guffey's exact date of death is unknown, but it is believed she passed away somewhere around 1900.
After the loss of Syrous's wife, he and Georgia Ann Hawkins reunited. They wed on March 25, 1901 in Arkansas. Georgia and their son George Guffey joined Syrous and his 3 children in Alabama. Georgia Ann Guffey's life was short lived as well. Her date of death is also unknown, but it's believed to be between 1910 and 1918. Her last census was 1910.
Syrous's third wife was Rosie Bell Helton. They were wed on October 11, 1916 and remained husband and wife for almost 30 years until Syrous's death. Together they had 12 children. 9 daughters and 3 sons.
Death
On November 2, 1946 at the age of 75, Syrous Sanders Guffey passed away.
*Below is a list of Syrous's children in order by their age. I've composed this list from a combination of sources. Living Guffey relatives first hand knowledge, federal and local census, marriage license, death certificates and many of our family obituaries.
1. George Guffey
2. Nancy Elizabeth "Lizzie" Guffey
3. Reubin Wallace Guffey
4. Vester Belle (Guffey) Burroughs
5. Ruth Mae (Guffey) Nailer
6. Vester Lorene (Guffey) Guthrie
7. Bertha Lou (Guffey) Foster
8. James Sanders Guffey
9. Mary "Louise" Guffey
10. Jacob "Owen" Guffey
11. Serena Marie "Serenie" (Guffey) Grove
12. Willie "Hayden" Guffey
13. Ovella Guffey *died at birth*
14. Dollie Inez (Guffey) Phillips
15. Altha Louvene (Guffey) Gifford
16. Bonnie Vergie Lillian (Guffey) Stapler
Gravesite Details
Year of birth is incorrect . Headstone says "Nov. 22, 1869". Should be "Nov. 22, 1871".
Family Members
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George Sanders Guffey
1893–1960
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Reuben Wallace Guffey
1897–1933
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Vester "Bell" Guffey Burroughs
1899–1934
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Ruth Mae Guffey Nailer
1917–1998
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Vester Lorene Guffey Guthrie
1919–2003
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Bertha Lou Guffey Foster
1922–2003
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James Sanders Guffey
1924–2002
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Merry Louise Guffey Foster
1926–2011
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Jacob Owen Guffey
1928–2002
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Serena Marie Guffey Grove
1930–2021
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Willie Haden Guffey
1932–2006
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Ovella Guffey
1933–1933
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Dollie Inez Guffey Phillips
1936–2016
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Altha Luvern Guffey Gifford
1938–1960
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Bonnie Virgie Guffey Stapler
1940–2016
