Willie Lawson Neyman

(16 Nov 1870-19 Apr 1928)

Willie Lawson Neyman was born in Town Creek, Lawrence County, Alabama.  He is the son of David C. Neyman and Elmira Hawkins.  He married his first wife, Mary Sullivan, in Tate County, MS  (8 Jan 1891), and had one daughter by her.  One tale that was told is that two brothers got into a fight in Town Creek, AL with some Indians, and Willie killed one of them (cannot be verified).  Soon after, he moved to Arkabutla, (Tate County) Mississippi.  His brother Dallas Hawkins came to Mississippi with him.  They came from Alabama on horseback, sleeping in barns or camping out on the way.  According to Dallas Hawkins, they were on the way to Arkansas, and stopped in Arkabutla and raised a crop.  They liked it so well, that they stayed there.  Both brothers settled near Arkabutla.  Willie married Elnora Adeline Haley, and both Jesse and Maude were born in Arkabutla.

     About 1900 he took his family to Texas to live, where Hubert was born.  He moved the family back to Arkabutla before 1904, and the rest of his children were born there (see below).    In 1922 he and his family moved to Craighead County, Arkansas, and then to Poinsett County, Arkansas, where he lived until his death.  He died in Baptist Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, following gall bladder surgery.  He is buried in Surrat Cemetary, Arkabutla, Tate County, Mississippi.

     To get to the old homesite in Arkabutla, go through Arkabutla past the Methodist Church, take the next road on the right.  The site is on the left about 1.5 miles down this road, sitting on a hill. 

Marraige Certificate for 1st Marraige, 1891 (0.5 MB)

Photo of 7 of his children, about 1912

Arkabutla Lodge Membership Card, 1917

Copy from Family Bible listing the Children

Tombstone

Tombstone Grouping – Wife, Elnora, to the right, infant son, Hugh Kenneth, to the left

Children

By First Marriage

NAME                                    Birthdate            Birthplace              Death Date

By Second Marraige

Contributed by Joyce L. Neyman. Information on first marriage from Phil Neyman