From Mrs. Leila Virilla Mars Harbour
3510, 18 St   Meridian Miss.

Meridian, Miss   June 7, 1958.

Dear Dr. Moseley:

  I will not take your time trying to express why I have not replied to your request for additional information, but it was a reason and not an excuse. I was sick and a maid mislaid your letter and I am sorry for delay but hope the information you asked for may still help.

  My Father was James Fenton Mars, oldest child of James Henry Mars and Martha Jane DeWeese Mars, birth place Coffedeliah, Neshoba County, Miss some few miles from the county seat Phuladelphia. Birth date May 20, 1852 and died June 24th , 1924. Buried Rose Hill Cemetery, Meridian. Moved to M. 1889. He had two brothers, both Prominent Methodist Church men, one of them attending nearly all annual Conferences , both of them in fact, and one in particular attending quite a number of General Conferences as delegate. This was the older of the two, George Washington Mars, born Oct. 19, 1864. The other one was Dr. Wm. Henry Mars, born Mch 27th 1867. I don't have either death date right handy. It would be no job to get them as they both have children in Philadelphia. They are buried in Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Philadelphia. A number of daughters Missouri, Kathrine, Matilda Jane, Dixie, who I wrote you married Will Ellis, son of Daniel G. W., Dora Viola and Ida Sue. But this seems to be getting too deep into the Mars family.

  Just in this connection and back to the Ellis line, the name of William Lee Ellis second wife was Rose Joyner , an old maid from Hattiesburg. She died in Slidell. Laso did her husband. He died first. Probebly Mrs. Estelle Martin gave you these dates. It is her father and step Mother. Will Ellis and Dixie had a son, Daniel, who died in infancy. My father and step Mother had taken him to rear. My father and my mother had four children, three girls and a son. I am the oldest, - Jan 8, 1878. (2) Annie Lee Mars Burdick born July 31, 1882 died and buried in Laurel Miss Sept 10th, 1927.

  (3) Dr. Henry Fred Mars, born January 6, 1884, died June 22, 1953 and the baby (4) Viola Pearl Mars, who never married born June 2nd 1886 died July 18, 1909. Both are these are buried Rose Hill, Meridian.

2

  D G W Ellis had one Brother I think you have missed. Or did I name him before? His name was Benson Ellis, and lived when I was a child in North Bend, Neshoba County. I can remember him and some of his family visiting my Mother. There was a daughter named Sula, one named Florence I think, and at least one other whose name I can't recall and a son named "Fip" which I am sure was short for Phillip. He played the violin and what else he did I do not know. Guess all of them were farmers. I don't know the daughters married names. They would be quite old. If any of them are living I do not know.

  Now I have not given you the requested information regarding my Father's two marriages. I will add that James Fenton Mars married my Mother Hannah Belle Ellis in De Kalb, Miss Dec. 24, 1876. and lived on Yazoo Plantation , in East Neshoba County. My mother died of typhoid fever July 20th, 1887 leaving her husband and four little children as named above.

  The second marriage of James Fenton Mars was to Nora Ivilene Ellis, oldest child of D G W Ellis born Dec. 13, 1851 died April 21, 1939. They had no children. I have not given you this marriage date, just failed to look it up but it was something over a year from the date of death Hannah Belle Mars, which was July 20th 1887. This Marriage ceremony was said in Carthage where my Grandfather was pastor of Methodist Church. My father carried me to see them married, the other children being too small. Of course I was accustomed to calling her "Aunt Nora" and my father tried every means to get me to remember to say Mama and at last thought of a real "entertainment" and said if I would not say "Aunt Nora" any more he would carry me to a Hardshell footwashing next Sunday so we all got to go and I have never forgotten it. She proved a very consecrated and wise step mother. Could my father have made so wise a choice any other? She was ever "Mama" and we all revere her memory.

  If the exact date is of vital importance I will try to recall where I saw it not so long ago. I remember it saying it was on Sunday, in Carthage.

  Thank you for sending me George Ellis address. My own Mother is buried at Mars Hill church graveyard, Neshoba Co. Excuse (illegible) typing.

Sincerely,

Mrs. R. L. Harbour