Laura Ann Richardson Tiller

We get the location of Laura Ann from pg. 206 of the book "Our American Adventure: The History of a Pioneer East Texas Family, 1657-1966" by Tiller and Tiller.

During the settling of our country in the South, there was much turmoil, hardship, and unrest. Richard and Mary Richardson came to this area and settled in Louisiana. There were three daughters: Elizabeth Ann, Susannah and
Laura Ann Richardson. When the girls became young teenagers, they began to marry which was common in those days. The men that chose these girls were looking for adventure, land and opportunity.

The people that lived in that area were called "Deep East Texas Folks". In 1976 Terry G. Jordan and Mary Lynn Tiller Weir wrote a book by that name. I will be referring to the book and giving quotes from time to time.

I have chosen Laura Ann Richardson first. She was born 12 Feb 1822 in Louisiana and was married to William Benjamin Tiller 12 Feb 1835, Wilkinson, Mississippi. She was only 13 years old. Her father, Richard Richardson died the year she was born. Laura stayed behind in Louisiana while her husband went over into Texas to secure land and he received a Second-Class land grant. He built a crude log cabin and went back to get Laura. She had given birth to their first child Laura Elvira born 04 Nov 1837.

Laura's mother went with them to Texas. Laura gave birth to her second child, William Henry Cornelius Tiller 28 Feb 1841, Harrison, Texas. Just seven months later on 07 Sep 1841 Laura also perished. This left William Benjamin with two small children and his Mother-in-law helped him, but she met the same fate by dying in 1843.

Before the event in Sep 1841 William Benjamin Tiller and Mary Richardson applied for Headright Land Grants and William was awarded 1, 280 acres in Harrison County and Panola County. William Benjamin received two parcels,
640 acres in southeastern part of Harrison County and 640 acres at Elysian Fields where he had established his homestead. Since Richard Richardson had died by
now, Mary was entitled to apply for a Headright Land Grant. Mary Richardson parcel laid just east of William Benjamin homestead at Elysian Fields, Panola County. All of this land stayed in the family. This gives you a summary of what
happened.

On 08 Oct 1844 William Benjamin remarried Elizabeth Martha "Betsie" Woodley. The Woodley family was another part of the "Deep East Texas Folks". Laura's two children grew-up in this area and settled there as adults:
Laura Elvira Tiller married Henry Henley Golden 26 Apr 1853 Panola, Texas. His first wife, Sarah Dillard had only been dead a short time. Henry and Sarah were
married 06 Mar 1847.

Henry Henley Golden was murdered in Apr 1855 in DeBerry. In Laura Elvira remarried Thomas Neal Campbell in Sep 1856.

Now to give you a little more information on even more family ties:
1. Henry Henley Golden sister Dorcas Irene Golden married Isaac Henley Crenshaw. Their daughter Anna Elizabeth Crenshaw married Milton Jared Tillery
2. Henry Henley Golden sister Lucinda M. Golden married Israel Cornelius Oden. Israel and Lucinda's daughter, Catherine E. Oden married William Henry Cornelius Tiller, the son of William Benjamin Tiller and Laura Richardson.
3. Sarah Dillard's Golden daughter Zora del Norte "Rio" Golden married Goodwin Lafayette Tillery (brother to Milton Jared Tillery)
4. Laura Elvira Tiller Golden daughter Leona Catherine Golden married Thomas Matthews another "Deep East Texas Folks". William Henry Cornelius Tiller fell into the age group to be a soldier in the Civil War. He joined the Confederate Army and served in the First Chickasaw &
Choctaw Mounted Rifles, Company K. I find his grandfather, Richard Richardson was born and died in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Wilkinson County was part of the Choctaw Nation. Therefore, since he served in that particular unit in the Confederate Army, he would have a "Choctaw Indian Heritage". When the Civil War was over, he went back to Panola County and married Catherine Elizabeth Oden 23 Nov 1865. The Oden family was another pioneer family of that area. Catherine's parents were Israel Cornelius Oden and Lucinda M. Golden. Lucinda was the daughter of Richard Golden and Mary "Polly Higgins.