Idella (went by Della) Mae Watson was one of four known children of a Mr. Watson (given name unknown) and Idella Harris (c1855-c1894). Some records indicate Mr. Watson died before 1900 and others indicate he died c1920. Does anyone know anything about him?

Della married first to Isiah (some say Ira) V. Beach (1873-1899) on 07 Oct 1894 at Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Della and Isiah were the parents of two known children, namely:

1. George Ivan Beach b. 03 Jul 1896 d. 18 Oct 1983
2. Ernest Wesley Beach b. 16 May 1898 d. 14 Aug 1950

After Isiah died, Della remarried to the widower Charles (went by Charley) Solomon Stevenson (1866-1940) on 22 Fe 1900 at Bienville Parish, Louisiana. In 1900 Della, Charley (married four months), two Stevenson children by Charley's first marriage, and George and Ernest Beach (listed as Stevenson) were living at Bienville Parish, Louisiana next to Isiah Beach's widowed father.

Charley was first married to Cornelia Ruth Bailey (???-???) in c1888 at probably Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. The family soon after moved to near Jacksonville, Cherokee County, Texas. Charley and Cornelia were the parents of two sons and one daughter, all born at Cherkee County, Texas. The children were namely:

3. William Montgomery Stevenson (1890--1963)
4. James Thomas Stevenson (1895-1965)
5. Sarah Harper Stevenson (???-age 4)

When the child Sarah was fouir years old she and her mother were standing under a tree during a lightening storm and were struck by a lightning bolt and killed. After Cornelia died, Charley returned to Claiborne Parish, Lousiana with his two young sons who were taken in by one of Cornelia's married sisters.

Both of the Beach children were raised in the Stevenson household. Charley was a school teacher and ran a lumber mill. After marrying Charley, Idella, and their two sons each from prior marriages, lived in Louisiana until c1908, when the family moved to Bay City, Texas. Charley did not like it there and the family started to return to Texas. They stopped at Center, Shelby County, Texas where they lived from 1910 to 1920. Charley and Idella were the parents of ten known children, namely:

6. Charles ("Charlie") Solomon Stevenson (1901-1921)
7. Bertha Idell Stevenson Dexter Bergland (1903-1985)
8. Franklin Pierce Stevenson (1905-1983)
9. Odessa Stevenson Miles (1907-1952)
10. Robert Henry Stevenson (1909-1984)
11. Foster Lee Stevenson (1911-1988)
12. Fannie Mae Stevenson Drake Grimes Warren Cooley (1913-1976)
13. Susan Lorene Stevenson Graham (1916-2004)
14. Ernie Louise Stevenson Mooring Hale Lane (1919-1991)
15. Prentis Osborne Stevenson (1923-1993)

Links to Della's second husband, and seven of her thirteen known children are included below.

NOLAN COUNTY DEATH CERTIFICATE

name: Idell Stevenson
death date: 13 Feb 1936
death place: Precinct 5, Roscoe, Nolan, Texas
cause of death: Acute cardiac decompensation; acute renal suppression; mitral stenosis insufficiency
gender: Female
race: white
death age: 56 years 1 month 12 days
birth date: 01 Jan 1880
birthplace: La.
marital status: Married
spouse's name: C.S. Stevenson
father's name: Watson
father's birthplace: La.
mother's name: Idell Harris
mother's birthplace: Unknown
occupation: Housewife
place of residence:
cemetery:
burial place: Roscoe, Texas
burial date: 14 Feb 1936
informant: C. S. Stevenson, Roscoe, Texaqs
film number: 2116784
digital film number: 4166602
image number: 3003
reference number: CN10467
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