The Shemwell Family

Myrtle Mae Autrey Marriage Chronology FOCUS: This analysis focuses upon Myrtle Mae Autrey and her marriages to John Jackson and James Riley Holley. SUMMARY: Myrtle initially married John in ~1918, then divorced him in sometime between ~1924 and ~1927, then married James in ~1927, then divorced him in ~1931, and finally remarried John sometime between ~1931 and ~1939. Intermingled with these events, John had three additional wives: Blanche Ethel Hulsey, Cynthia Ann Morgan, and Leta Fay Autrey (Myrtle's sister). DETAILS: After reviewing several US Census and children's birth dates, it seems that the following chronology for Myrtle's relationships can be established: 1. Myrtle is listed in the 1920 Census with her husband John Jackson. At this time, they have no children. 2. Looking forward to the 1930 Census, it states that Myrtle was 29yrs and first married when she was 17 years old. This suggests that she first married John Jackson in ~1918. 3. Sometime between ~1924 and ~1927, Myrtle divorced John Jackson and married John Riley Holley in ~1927. 4. The 1930 Census has Myrtle listed as the wife of James Riley Holley. The Census lists several children: Alvie (b.1920), Louie (b.1921), Alford (b.1922), Lewis (b.1924), Vera (b.1928), Vernon (b.1928), and Christine (b.1930). Reviewing the 1920 Census records for John Riley Holley lets us draw the following family boundaries co-mingled in the 1930 census: 4a. Note that Alvie (b.1920) and Alfred (b.1922) biological parents were James Riley Holley and Cynthia Ann Morgan. . 4b. Note that Louie (b.1921) and Lewis (b.1923) biological parents were John Jackson and Myrtle Mae Autrey. 4c. Note that Vera (b.1928), Vernon (b.1928), and Christine (b.1930) biological parents were James Riley Holley and Myrtle Mae Autrey. 5. Myrtle divorced John Riley Holley in ~1931 and remarried John Jackson sometime between ~1931 and ~1940. 6. James Riley Holley married Leta Faye Autrey (Myrtle's sister) in ~1932 7. The 1940 Census shows Myrtle back in John Jackson's household and is listed as his wife. The only children listed are: Louie (b.1921), Lewis (b.1924), Vera (b.1928), and Christine (b.1930). 8. In the 1940 Census, James Riley Holley is listed along with his new wife (Leta Faye Autrey) and five children: Alfred (b.1922), Vernon (b.1928), Delores (b.1933), Goldie (b.1935), James (b.1937). 8a. Note that the only biological children of James and Leta are Delores (b.1933), Goldie (b.1935), and James (b.1937).