Sarah Frances Lenard (Leonard) was born Jan 1, 1846 in Walker County, Alabama. Her parents were David "Dana" Lenard and Hettie Black Lenard. The last name has been seen spelled "Lenard" and "Leonard". She married William John "Billy" Alvis on August 15, 1865 in Walker County, Alabama. Before he returned to the army (during the Civil War) , Sarah took his measurements and while he was away, she picked the cotton, wove the thread, and made him a suit and even the underwear. Because Sarah hadn't received letters from him or any information on his well being after they married, it would be easy for her mother, Hettie to one day (late October or November 1865) say: "He isn't coming back." Sarah said "Yes he will. He said he would be back and Billy is good for his word." They then heard the screen door open and there was Billy. He was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He had mustered out Oct 20, 1865. Sarah and Billy stayed in Jasper, Walker County, Alabama for about 13 years. They then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. In 1908 they traveled to Texas settling first in Leagueville, with a purchase of 50 acres on August 21, 1909.
One of her grand-daughters, Lizzie Chapman (Rhoda Elizabeth Alvis, daughter of James Monroe Alvis), recounted: "Sarah never allowed herself to be photographed. When asked in older years why, she said, "I didn't have one with all my children so I'll not have it done with just some of them". Sarah would pile up bushes as if to burn. The children would see this and know it was time for a cook-out. With wet shucks, she would wrap eggs. Push these back into the coals and when the steam "spewed up" the eggs were done. They would taste like boiled eggs."
At age 67, Sarah contracted Typhoid Fever around November 2, 1913 and passed away on November 19, 1913. Dr. T. O. Wells of Murchison was the attending physician. She is buried in Red Hill Cemetery near her granddaughter Pearlie Francis Alvis, and later her husband was buried by her side.
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using mostly family stories .
One of her grand-daughters, Lizzie Chapman (Rhoda Elizabeth Alvis, daughter of James Monroe Alvis), recounted: "Sarah never allowed herself to be photographed. When asked in older years why, she said, "I didn't have one with all my children so I'll not have it done with just some of them". Sarah would pile up bushes as if to burn. The children would see this and know it was time for a cook-out. With wet shucks, she would wrap eggs. Push these back into the coals and when the steam "spewed up" the eggs were done. They would taste like boiled eggs."
At age 67, Sarah contracted Typhoid Fever around November 2, 1913 and passed away on November 19, 1913. Dr. T. O. Wells of Murchison was the attending physician. She is buried in Red Hill Cemetery near her granddaughter Pearlie Francis Alvis, and later her husband was buried by her side.
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using mostly family stories .
Sarah Frances Lenard (Leonard) was born Jan 1, 1846 in Walker County, Alabama. Her parents were David "Dana" Lenard and Hettie Black Lenard. The last name has been seen spelled "Lenard" and "Leonard". She married William John "Billy" Alvis on August 15, 1865 in Walker County, Alabama. Before he returned to the army (during the Civil War) , Sarah took his measurements and while he was away, she picked the cotton, wove the thread, and made him a suit and even the underwear. Because Sarah hadn't received letters from him or any information on his well being after they married, it would be easy for her mother, Hettie to one day (late October or November 1865) say: "He isn't coming back." Sarah said "Yes he will. He said he would be back and Billy is good for his word." They then heard the screen door open and there was Billy. He was carrying his shoes because his feet and legs were swollen and they had big knots on them. He had mustered out Oct 20, 1865. Sarah and Billy stayed in Jasper, Walker County, Alabama for about 13 years. They then moved to Hamilton, Marion County, Alabama and stayed about 20 years. In 1908 they traveled to Texas settling first in Leagueville, with a purchase of 50 acres on August 21, 1909.
One of her grand-daughters, Lizzie Chapman (Rhoda Elizabeth Alvis, daughter of James Monroe Alvis), recounted: "Sarah never allowed herself to be photographed. When asked in older years why, she said, "I didn't have one with all my children so I'll not have it done with just some of them". Sarah would pile up bushes as if to burn. The children would see this and know it was time for a cook-out. With wet shucks, she would wrap eggs. Push these back into the coals and when the steam "spewed up" the eggs were done. They would taste like boiled eggs."
At age 67, Sarah contracted Typhoid Fever around November 2, 1913 and passed away on November 19, 1913. Dr. T. O. Wells of Murchison was the attending physician. She is buried in Red Hill Cemetery near her granddaughter Pearlie Francis Alvis, and later her husband was buried by her side.
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using mostly family stories .
One of her grand-daughters, Lizzie Chapman (Rhoda Elizabeth Alvis, daughter of James Monroe Alvis), recounted: "Sarah never allowed herself to be photographed. When asked in older years why, she said, "I didn't have one with all my children so I'll not have it done with just some of them". Sarah would pile up bushes as if to burn. The children would see this and know it was time for a cook-out. With wet shucks, she would wrap eggs. Push these back into the coals and when the steam "spewed up" the eggs were done. They would taste like boiled eggs."
At age 67, Sarah contracted Typhoid Fever around November 2, 1913 and passed away on November 19, 1913. Dr. T. O. Wells of Murchison was the attending physician. She is buried in Red Hill Cemetery near her granddaughter Pearlie Francis Alvis, and later her husband was buried by her side.
Bio by Liz Bearden Smith - using mostly family stories .
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