This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: sherrylyn7 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.mississippi.counties.kemper/1707.1.1.1.3.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hello! Hibernia Shumate Merrell was my great grandmother. I am the granddaughter of Dorothy J. Merrell, who was 5 at the time of her mother's murder. After her death and his hospitalization, she went to live with older siblings. I was told by my aunts that he struck her in the head; and, after some time, he took her to a hospital. However, it was too late and she died. He was institutionalized at East Mississippi State Hospital in Meridian until his death July 22, 1950. According to my research, he was born May 27, 1865 and Hibernia was born in 1889/90. Her headstone says April 25, 1889, which makes her and Emoline 2 months apart. According to the 1900 census, she was born in March 1890. They may have fudged her DOB when they got married in 1905, and she may have only been 15. Either way, he was about 25 years older. John was first married to Betty Florence Hart, who died in 1902, and left him with 3 young children. One of their children was John T. Merrell Jr. Ironically, Hibernia, John, and Betty are all buried at the Blackwater Cemetery. I was always told that Hibernia's grandmother was a Cherokee Indian, but I have not been able to find anything other than her name, Willie Lloyd. Would love to find out if you have more information on the family of Hibernia Shumate. Blessings! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. <br>