Don Ring

Postcard promoting the "Gladioli Show" July 28-29 in Grants Pass, Oregon. Title is "Cavemen cavort with Mel Venter Gang".
Post card is addressed to Mrs. H.C. Venter, Mel's mother (Katherine Donnally Venter), who was living in Sacramento, Ca at the time it was mailed. Mel was a well-known radio personality for KFRC, and also a member of the KTVU Channel 2 staff.
The Cavemen are a Grants Pass, Oregon, organization that was formed in 1922 to boost awareness of Grants Pass and its famous caves.
Mel was born to Charles H. and Katherine Donnally Venter in Sacramento, Ca. Mel died November 24, 1983, in Santa Cruz Co., CA.

Please do not contact me regarding the Venter surname as I found this post card in an antique shop in Santa Cruz, CA and this is NOT one of my family names; just wanted to share!
People in photo include: Kfrc Breakfast Gang and The Cavemen

The first Barrs relatives of Al Barrs, Jr. to settle in Day (Daytown to we natives.) were my Great Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs and his wife Mary Elizabeth Boyet-Barrs. Both Great Grandparents were born in Lowndes County Georgia. (Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Boyet's surname spelling is unclear. It has interchangeably been found spelled Boyet in the Federal Census Reports, Boyt, Boyet, Boyette and Boyett in the Brooks County Georgia history book "Brooks County Echoes of Its People." Her father was Ashley Boyet of Lowneds and later Brooks County FL. Grandpa Isaac Newton Barrs and Mary Elizabeth Boyett were married in Brooks County Georgia on January 29, 1873. Brooks County Georgia was divided from Lowndes County in 1858. G Grandfather Isaac Newton Barrs build a general store in Day in 1904, owned a two story pioneer hotel/boarding house and built three large homes near Day and Brewer Lake. He and G Grandmother Elizabeth are buried in the Day Demetery. Al Barrs e-Mail; [contact link]

Abraham (Abram) Bell was born on August 15, 1830 in Early or Decatur County GA. He died on March 29, 1900 in Mayo Junction Lafayette County FL. He was married to Susan Clark (daughter of Cullen Clark and Milly Measles) on September 17, 1857 in Madison County FL. Susan Clark was born on December 25, 1832 in Georgia. She died on November 27, 1916 in Lafayette County FL. Abram Bell and Susan Clark are buried in the Rogers Cemetery in Day Lafayette County FL. Abram Bell and Susan Clark had the following children: (Judge W. Bell was my, Al Barrs;, Great Grandfather. He married Lular Toole in Lafayette County Florida.)
Joanna Bell
Judge W. Bell
Laura Bell
Susan Ann Bell
William Andrew Bell
Millie Bell was born about 1874
George Bell was born about 1875
Anna Bell was born about 1877
Ella Bell
Lulu Bell was born about 1881
Eddy Bell was born about 1883

The back of the photo says "17 years old - 1896 April -
Clura."

I did some research and determined this to be Clura Stamberger. After looking through the 1900 US Federal Census, I belive that this young lady is most likely Miss Clura Stamberger, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Stamberger, both of which were German immigrants. Clura Stamberger was born in Illinois, and was 20 years old in June of 1900. If Miss Stamberger and the Clura in the picture are one in the same, then that puts Clura’s birthday sometime between April and June 15th.

50th Wedding Anniversary of John Loyd Melvin and Carrie Melvina Underwood. March 1959

Jesse Woodrow Melvin and wife Cornelia Tennessee Thurmond, taken while in was in service of U S Marine Corp. during World War II

Jesse W Melvin shaking hands with his brother Eddie W Melvin as he departs on another mission during their stay together in World War II

George Grandberry Barrs was Born in Twiggs County Georgia 1825 the oldest son of James Barrs (Born Lenoir County NC 1795 to John Barrs, Jr. and unknown mother) George Grandberry Barrs fits wife's name is unknown but we believe she was probably a Twiggs County Grandberry woman. George Ggrandberry Barrs’ wife was Elizabeth Cole
George Grandberry Barrs was killed at Coley's Station Pulaski County GA in 1866 and he was a CSA War Between The States veteran. He rose from Pvt. to Lt. He was the father of William Joshua and James Grover Barrs. His Uncles were Arthur Barrs (GGG Grandfather of Al Barrs, Dempsey Barrs, Unknown probably William Barrs. George Grandberry Barrs was a 1st cousin to Arthur Barrs' who's sons were Isaac L. Barrs, James C. Barrs and William Barrs, all born in Twiggs County GA.
Research Information:
James Barrs: Born 1795 Lenoir County North Carolina to John Barrs, Jr. and unknown mother. James Barrs, father of George Grandberry Barrs, died in 1872 in Pulaski County Georgia. Brothers of James Barrs: Dempsey, Arthur and Unknown probably William Barrs. Dempsey, Arthur, and James Barrs moved to Twiggs County Georgia after their father, John Barrs, Jr. died between 1820 and 1830. Unknown Barrs who we believe to be William Barrs moved to South Carolina. There is a William Barrs in Orangeburg South Carolina who may be the missing brother, but we have not validated that at this time (2006). By Al Barrs BARRS FAMILY HISTORY

James Barrs: Had 2 wives. The first and mother of his children was probably a Grandberry of Twiggs County Georgia. His last wife was Ann E. Pipkin, who he married January 8, 1851, in Pulaski County Georgia. They never had any children but did raise two sons of George Grandberry Barrs and his wife Elizabeth Cole after their deaths.

James Barrs children: James Barrs had one unknown daughter, George Grandberry Barrs born 1825 in Twiggs County Georgia and killed 1866 (It is rumored that he was stabbed in the back by a shoe-carver over a dispute about a woman at Coley's Station Pulaski County Georgia.) George Barrs Married Elizabeth Cole (Father Grover Cole) August 26, 1852 in Pulaski County Georgia. John and James Barrs were his youngest sons.

War Between the States Record of George Grandberry Barrs
GSI # LAST NAME FIRST NAME COMPANY U NIT SERVED RANK
10389 Barrs George G. G 10th Inf. Reg't. Private
10388 Barrs George G. A 26th Batt'n, GA Inf. 3rd Lt., 2nd Lieutenant

Notes: * "G" = Grandberry. Killed shortly after The War at Coley's Station, Pulaski GA, buried at Coley's Station. Son of James Barrs, youngest son of John Barrs, Jr. Lenoir County NC

George Grandberry Barrs: After his death his 2 sons, (William Joshua and James Grover Barrs) went to live with their Grandfather James Barrs and their stepmother Ann E. Pipkin in Pulaski County Georgia. He served in CSA 10th Regiment Georgia Volunteer and injured 4 times.

William Joshua Barrs: Married Susan Coley and later her sister Malinda Coley. Son: James Colquitt Barrs

James Colquitt Barrs: Married Nellie Myers and had 13 children. Children J. C. (Jr.?), Susannah (Henrietta), Gabriel (Gable), Naomi (Nell), Wilburn, Woodrow, Mitchell, Fred Coolidge, Agaline, Carlis Ivey, Viola, William Thomas and Herbert Arthur Barrs.

Herbert Arthur Barrs:

James Grover Barrs: Married Sarah (Sally) Eleanor Manning January 13, 1888 in Pulaski County Georgia.

Footnote:
James Barrs and his brother Arthur Barrs (GGG Grandfather of Al Barrs) were apparently very close all their lives. Arthur was the oldest son of John Barrs, Jr. and James Barrs was the youngest son. In the 1830 Twiggs County Federal Census Report Arthur Barrs had 65 slaves in his household. In the 1840 Twiggs County Federal Census Report Arthur did not appear (he died about 1843) and his wife Nancy Elizabeth Barrs was the head of their household. Arthur and/or Nancy had transferred or sold 61 of their 65 slaves to James Barrs. Nancy Barrs kept only 4 of their 65 slaves. Arthur and Nancy Barrs' sons, Isaac L., James C. and William W. Barrs moved to Lowndes (Brooks in 1858) County Georgia after Arthur Barrs’ death. Nancy Barrs went to live with her son William W. Barrs and died in Brooks County Georgia in 1880 at the age of 87. Both her parents were Irish. Her mother was Sarah and her father Thomas Campbell.

William Barrs was a very successful farmer in Brooks and Lowndes County Georgia until his death in 1890 or 1900. William Barrs and his wife Lauraney Woods are buried in the old Columbia Primitive Baptist Cemetery in Nankin Brooks County Georgia. James C. Barrs (GG Grandfather of Al Barrs) moved to south Columbia County Florida around 1870, cleared land to farm, built a general store, started Barrsville Florida and incorporated a US Post Office. James C. and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs were last known to be living in Suwannee County Florida at the time of the 1880 Federal Census. They were the father of my Great Grandfather Issac Newton Barrs who moved from Nankin Brooks County Georgia to Lafayette County Florida around 1880 and built a general store in Day Florida in 1904. Isaac Newton Barrs lived until 1933. He and his wife Mary Elizabeth Boyet are buried at Day Lafayette County FL. My Grandfather Oscar Marion and Father Alfonso, Sr. are also buried there along with their wives, Bertha Lee Newman-Barrs and Evia Adetha Bell-Barrs/Knouse.

By Al Barrs, Jr. Greenwood, FL [contact link]

Jesse Woodrow Melvin taken during the war.