While the tombstone for Sterling M. Paceley clearly lists his birth year as 1882; that is an error. Perhaps the current stone replaced an earlier one, too worn to be read correctly. Sterling's correct birth date is believed to be June 3, 1861, based upon the following documentation:
1. The "Births" page from a family bible submitted by Sterling's son William Clyde Paceley at the time of his application for railroad retirement contains the following entry: "S. M. Paceley was born June 3, 186-."
2. The birth dates of Sterling's and Mollie's children, as listed in that same bible, were:
• Baby June 18, 1882
• James Milton Oct 21, 1884 (also from TX d. cert. 38173)
• Bessie Faye Dec 24, 1886 (also from TX d cert 18662)
• William Clyde Jan 18, 1888 (also from TX d. cert. 10953)
• Rillah Lee May 9, 1894
• F. B. May 8, 1896
3. Grayson Co. TX "marriage certification" dates the marriage of S. M. Paceley and Mollie S. Mays as 9 May, 1880.
4. The 1880 Grayson Co. TX census, enumerated 18 June 1880, lists Sterling Paceley and Mollie Paceley as 18 and 15 years old, living in the household of Mollie's father, Wright Mays.
5. The 1900 Grayson Co. TX census lists Sterling's birth date as June 1861.
Above data provided by Pat Trentham, a family member.
1. The "Births" page from a family bible submitted by Sterling's son William Clyde Paceley at the time of his application for railroad retirement contains the following entry: "S. M. Paceley was born June 3, 186-."
2. The birth dates of Sterling's and Mollie's children, as listed in that same bible, were:
• Baby June 18, 1882
• James Milton Oct 21, 1884 (also from TX d. cert. 38173)
• Bessie Faye Dec 24, 1886 (also from TX d cert 18662)
• William Clyde Jan 18, 1888 (also from TX d. cert. 10953)
• Rillah Lee May 9, 1894
• F. B. May 8, 1896
3. Grayson Co. TX "marriage certification" dates the marriage of S. M. Paceley and Mollie S. Mays as 9 May, 1880.
4. The 1880 Grayson Co. TX census, enumerated 18 June 1880, lists Sterling Paceley and Mollie Paceley as 18 and 15 years old, living in the household of Mollie's father, Wright Mays.
5. The 1900 Grayson Co. TX census lists Sterling's birth date as June 1861.
Above data provided by Pat Trentham, a family member.
While the tombstone for Sterling M. Paceley clearly lists his birth year as 1882; that is an error. Perhaps the current stone replaced an earlier one, too worn to be read correctly. Sterling's correct birth date is believed to be June 3, 1861, based upon the following documentation:
1. The "Births" page from a family bible submitted by Sterling's son William Clyde Paceley at the time of his application for railroad retirement contains the following entry: "S. M. Paceley was born June 3, 186-."
2. The birth dates of Sterling's and Mollie's children, as listed in that same bible, were:
• Baby June 18, 1882
• James Milton Oct 21, 1884 (also from TX d. cert. 38173)
• Bessie Faye Dec 24, 1886 (also from TX d cert 18662)
• William Clyde Jan 18, 1888 (also from TX d. cert. 10953)
• Rillah Lee May 9, 1894
• F. B. May 8, 1896
3. Grayson Co. TX "marriage certification" dates the marriage of S. M. Paceley and Mollie S. Mays as 9 May, 1880.
4. The 1880 Grayson Co. TX census, enumerated 18 June 1880, lists Sterling Paceley and Mollie Paceley as 18 and 15 years old, living in the household of Mollie's father, Wright Mays.
5. The 1900 Grayson Co. TX census lists Sterling's birth date as June 1861.
Above data provided by Pat Trentham, a family member.
1. The "Births" page from a family bible submitted by Sterling's son William Clyde Paceley at the time of his application for railroad retirement contains the following entry: "S. M. Paceley was born June 3, 186-."
2. The birth dates of Sterling's and Mollie's children, as listed in that same bible, were:
• Baby June 18, 1882
• James Milton Oct 21, 1884 (also from TX d. cert. 38173)
• Bessie Faye Dec 24, 1886 (also from TX d cert 18662)
• William Clyde Jan 18, 1888 (also from TX d. cert. 10953)
• Rillah Lee May 9, 1894
• F. B. May 8, 1896
3. Grayson Co. TX "marriage certification" dates the marriage of S. M. Paceley and Mollie S. Mays as 9 May, 1880.
4. The 1880 Grayson Co. TX census, enumerated 18 June 1880, lists Sterling Paceley and Mollie Paceley as 18 and 15 years old, living in the household of Mollie's father, Wright Mays.
5. The 1900 Grayson Co. TX census lists Sterling's birth date as June 1861.
Above data provided by Pat Trentham, a family member.
