Republic of Texas resident
Daughter of Meredith E. Webb
Wife of John Ham and Andrew J. Butts

Celina Butts, 101, died at the home of her son-in-law, Jodie Wheeler, with whom she lived. Celina Webb was born Oct. 11, 1834, in Tennessee. Although her obituary says Celina came to Texas as a 6-week-old infant in 1834, the 1850 Census, Shelby County, lists a girl Oreluous as born in Tennessee about 1839 and the first child born in Texas as John, 8 (b. 1841). By 1850 her mother was deceased, and her 47-yr-old father was remarried to Rebecca, age 19. In addition to other children, the census lists 2 girls, Seliny and Laviny, as both 15 years old.

Her father, Merideth Webb, helped settle Shelbyville while Texas belonged to Mexico. He apparently had several more children with his wife Rebecca. In 1860, the couple, ages 57 and 30, are listed in the Shelby Co. census with Elizabeth, 13 [by previous wife?]; Joel, 11; Mary, 9; Amanda, 6; Elcenny, 4; and Alfred Webb, 2. The couple are listed in 1870 with children Jane Ellen, 18; Alfred, 12; Thomas E., 9; Matilda J., 5; and Eugenia, 2. Rebecca Webb died on August 27, 1870, and is buried in Methodist M.E. Cemetery. Merideth Webb appears to have married again, and is listed in the 1880 census as M. Webb, 77, with wife C. E., 46 (b. LA), and 4 children: T. E., son, 19; E. E., daughter, 12; James, 8; and M., son, 4.

By 1860 Celina Webb had married (1) John Ham; that year's census lists the couple with 2 small children, F. S., 3, and C. A., 5 months. Mr. Ham died 1868-1870, and in 1870 Selina Ham, 30, and her 4 children were living with John and Catherine Smith. Celina's children listed are: Josephine, 12, Isabelle, 10, Sallie, 6, and Hardy, 2. Celina married (2) Andrew J. Butts before 1880, when the census lists A. J. Butts, 53; wife C. E., 44; daughter N. J., 14; son J. H., 11; and daughter E. A., 5. Mr. Butts died before 1900, when her son Hardy Ham, 31, and his wife Porter and their 2 small children were living with her. At that time Celina said she had had 7 children and 5 were living; her birth date is given as October 1836. In 1920 Celina, 85, was living with daughter and son-in-law Bettie and Jodie Wheeler and their 6 children.

Celina's older sister, Sarah Webb Sanford, died at age 92 in 1925. At that time, Mrs. Sanford's survivors included 6 half-brothers: Eli, Alf, Joe, Larry, Jim and Mack Webb of Center; 3 half-sisters: Mrs. A. E. Smith of Orange, Mrs. Mary Panger of Cookville, Mrs. Jennie McDonald of Stockman; and 1 sister, Mrs. S. E. Butts, 91, of Ironosa.

Mrs. Butts was active "until the age of 95 when her sight became impaired. She gave up the active pursuit of housekeeping and went to live with their daughter." Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Bettie and Jodie Wheeler and their children, survivors included 3 brothers: Mack, Eli, and Jim W. Webb; and 1 sister: Mrs. Jennie McDonald. Mack Webb died from a gunshot on March 29, 1939, and is buried in Short Cemetery; Mangum Funeral Home files list his parents as Ellen Tow and Merideth Webb.

Sources:

Obituary, Center Daily News, November 4, 1935

1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 censuses, Shelby County, Texas