Robert Earl Burke, Jr. Ancestry Pages

Womack Family

Sites:
Womack Genealogy Network, Womack Genealogy Discussion
Womack Early Records in America
GenForum: Womack, Warmack
RootsWeb: Womack, Warmack

Images of the family of Robert Caldwell Womack (1854 - 1933) and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Hudgins (1869 - 1910)
Various Womack records
Womack Census records
The Hunt for Burrell Womack's Ancestry

Olga Austin Womack and wife Mollie Hill Womack in 1917.

This is a poem written by my great-aunt Jewell, and published in her Womack Family book. ITS SEPTEMBER AGAIN In memory of our wonderful Dad. This month holds so many memories, Some good and some so very sad, The good is that on September 14 1897, A baby son was born into the world, He was our wonderful dad. Dad had a loving mother that prayed for her family each day. Since pneumonia took her and brother David, When she was only thirty nine years old, Grandfather realized he must care for his children, He knew he must find some way. He was left with six boys and two baby girls, He knew he must be very brave too, While living in a beautiful farm house, on two hundred acres, They were all very determined and aware of all the work each one must do. Losing his mother at age thirteen, Was almost too much for Dad to bear, The days he was so sad and didn't know what to do. He would find comfort as he would, remember her calling his name in prayer. Dad and brothers were very talented, Loving music, they had singing groups all of their own, They sang at churches and at conventions all over the country, And the Womack name was very well known. Dad really loved singing and taught music, When he was only eighteen years old, He didn't realize how this school would change his life, As our mother was a student, and they soon fell in love. And as the story goes, soon after they became man and wife. Our dad and mom had thirty one years of marriage, With seven children and only four left today. Dad was so young when he was taken away, And now since we've lost mom, Inez, Thelma, Carl and I are looking forward to meeting them In a much better land some day. There is something worth much more than riches, Our grandmother Womack and mom believed if we have God's blessings, we must pray, Grandfather and dad left us a heritage of honesty and hard work, for the needs of this life, And we are so thankful this has been passed on to our family today. Once more I say it's September again, The wind rushes through the branches of the trees, From my window I can see the leaves falling one by one. This is sad but we know there is a reason, The Bible tells us that us that we and everthing must die before we can live again. This is after our work in this life is done. Dad we loved you and miss you, As you were taken away, when you were so young, And even though we did not understand, We are looking forward to meeting you in a much better land. Dad and mom are ever near us, They are around us where the spirits tread, For in all this enormous universe, Is Life There Are No Dead Dad loved this song, Just give a rose to your dear Mother, the best friend you've ever had, But when you gather pretty blossoms, Please won't you save a rose for Dad.

Olga Austin Womack (1897-1949) was my great-grandfather, the father of my paternal grandmother, Thelma Clara (Womack) Burke (1925 - ).

Olga Austin Womack was born 14 Sep 1897 in Yell Co, AR, the son of Robert Caldwell Womack (1854-1933) and Mary Elizabeth Hudgins (1869-1910). Olga was a farmer, like his father. Olga and his brothers were also great singers, and performed at church services. Olga ran a small music school, and one of his students was his future wife, Mary Ann "Mollie" Hill (1900-1991). He married Mollie on 29 Sep 1917 in Yell Co, AR. Olga and Mollie had seven children:

1. Jewell
2. Inez
3. Thelma
4. Austin
5. Alton
6. Carl

Olga died of cancer 6 Jan 1949, only 51 years old. He was layed to rest at Needmore Cemetery in Yell Co, AR. Mollie never remarried. When she died in 1991 in Michigan, she was brought back to Arkansas to be next to Olga.

Robert Caldwell Womack was born 26 Oct 1854 in Arkansas, probably Dallas County, the son of Burrell H. Womack (about 1815 - between 1860/1870) and Avarilla Cook (about 1817 - between 1853/1858). He died at the age of 78 near Danville, Magazine Township, Yell Co, AR on 5 May 1933. He was buried at Petillo Hill Cemetery, Yell Co, AR (no marker). He was a farmer his entire life.

Robert's dates of birth and death are from his death certificate; the informant was "P. Womack" of Dardanelle. This was Ira Phill Womack (born 1906), Robert's son. The death certificate has a couple known mistakes. It gives Robert's middle initial as "W" when it was "C", and it gives his birthplace as Tennessee instead of Arkansas. Robert was listed as a widower. Unfortunately, Phill did not know the names of Robert's parents; this information comes from census and other records. Robert's middle name, "Caldwell", comes from a 19 Aug 2000 posting at WGN by Danny Womack, son of Lyman Odell Womack (born 1907), son of Robert Womack. Danny is thus the first cousin of my grandmother. Need to ask Danny where he got Robert's middle name from.

Robert Womack first appears as a 6 year old boy in the 1860 Census of Yell Co, AR with his father, Burrell Womack, and his step-mother, Kisiah (Sloan) Womack. I think Robert was born in Dallas Co, AR, because his parents were there in the 1850 Census. I think Burrell brought the family to Yell Co, AR after the death of his first wife, Avarilla Cook, sometime between 1854 and 1858. Around 1858, Burrell married Kisiah (Sloan) Jones, widow of Martin Jones. Burrell died in the 1860s. By 1870, Robert Womack was 16, and living with the family of Jacob Clark in Yell County, working as farm labor.

Work by Danny Womack, as well as my great-uncle Carl Womack, reveal that Robert Womack was married four times, outliving all his wives. Robert's first two wives were sisters, Marsavan and Martha E Lyon. In the 1870 Census, Marsavan and Martha were listed in Perry Co, AR with Nancy C. Lyon (42, born in TN), probably their mother (1870 AR Perry, Perry Twp, Union City PO, p.406A). I have not found any other records of the Lyon sisters, other than their marriage records to Robert Womack. Robert was 20 and Marsavan Lyon was 19 when they married 27 May 1875 in Dardanelle. The 1880 Census of Magazine Township, Yell Co, AR shows Robert and Marsavan Womack with daughters Rosa (born Mar 1876) and Emma (born Apr 1878). Marsavan was pregnant with their third child when the census was taken. Mollie Ella Womack was born in Aug 1880. Marsavan must have died soon thereafter, since Robert married her sister, Martha E. Lyon, 31 Aug 1882 in Dardanelle (he was 27, she was 19). There were no known children from Robert's marriage to Martha, and she too apparently died young.

I do not know much about Robert's three daughters from his first marriage, except through census and marriage records. Rosa married John Carroll 24 Oct 1896 in Yell Co, AR. She next married E C Hollingsworth 26 Sep 1899 in Yell Co. Emma was still single when the 1900 Census of Yell Co, AR was taken. Mollie Ella married Sam Pickens 6 Sep 1898 in Yell County.

Robert Caldwell Womacks's third marriage was to Mary Elizabeth Hudgins (1869-1910), daughter of Daniel J. Hudgins and V A (maiden name unknown). This marriage occurred 17 Nov 1886 in Dardanelle; Robert was 32 (although the marriage record says 30), and Mary was 17. Robert and Mary had a large family of ten known children:

1. William Monroe (Jul 1888 - 1962?)
2. Tennie E (July 1890 - before 1920)
3. David (Jan 1892 - 13 Feb 1910 in Yell Co, AR)
4. Robert Ethridge (23 Jun 1895 - 11 Oct 1976 in Belleville, Yell Co, AR)
5. Olga Austin (14 Sep 1897 - 6 Jan 1949)
6. Raymond D (25 Mar 1900 - Sep 1983 in Dexter, Stoddard Co, MO)
7. Lora L (1902 - ?)
8. Ora L (27 May 1904 - Jan 1982 in Hayti, Pemiscot Co, MO)
9. Ira Phill (22 Dec 1905 - Jan 1981 in Wardell, Pemiscot Co, MO)
10. Lyman Odell (26 Oct 1907 - 11 Aug 1981 in Dardanelle, Yell Co, AR)

NOTES:

1) Tennie married Rufus Walker about 1916, died before the 1920 Census, buried at Petillo Hill Cemetery (no marker). From 1930 Census, Rufus Walker was 36 and said he first married at age 22. In 1920 Census, Rufus was 25 and living with parents in Centerville Twp, Yell Co, AR (though listed as single rather than widowed). Tennie had no known children.

2) Ben and Lora (age 28) Brown - 1930 AR Yell, Centerville Twp, p.76B

Old Womack Home Place in Casa, Perry County, Arkansas.