book

1888 history book...

History of Harrison & Mercer County Illustrated 1888

this is the original book, which belonged to my great great grandpa JC Maxwell and has been kept by my great aunt Minerva Maxwell Brown, keeper of family heirlooms. what an amazing piece of family history!

a quote from my mom!

"...you can`t change a Missouri mule or a Maxwell."
Janet Axsom

my parents are workers!

My husband (Bernard Axsom) bought his first car from money earned hauling hay. In the late 50`s early 60`s any teen that wanted to work had no trouble finding a job. He worked for farmers, hauling hay and at service stations. I worked at Yeaters, Root Beer stand, concession stand at drive-in, and Fros-top. Good old days!

UCM Graduate

Austin Hague of Mercer graduated from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Dec. 9 with a master of business administration with a concentration in finance. Those attending his graduation were his parents, Jack & Linda Hague, Chris & Saraj Cavanah; Levi Hague; and Tori Humphrey.

grandma & grandpa

Monday, January 2, 2012

2004 Axsom Association Officers

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

president Marguerite Jenkins
vice president Norma Zanetti
secretary Larry Axsom
treasurer Ralph Axsom

2004 Axsom Association Active Membership Roster

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

David & Sandra Taylor Pine Bluff AR
Gary & Kathy Axsom Mesa AZ
Ronald & Louise Axsom Mesa AZ
Kathleen Caruso Golden Valley AZ
Martha Axsom El Cajon CA
James and Tricia McCue Folsom CA
Shirley Axsom Claymont DE
Paula & Robert Widenor Wilmington DE
David & Kathleen Axsom Wilmington DE
Erik & KAren Axsom Palm Bay FL
Norma Morris Boise ID
Gene & Barb Waldvogel Peotone IL
Helen Axsom Momence IL
Charles & Lula Brown Indianapolis IN
Hazel Axsom Columbia City IN
Kevin & Gloria Holleman New Haven IN
George & Elizabeth Ott New Albany IN
Mary Axsom Columbus IN
Jerry & Opal Bebout North Vernon IN
William & Helen Axsom Bloomington IN
Edwin & Janet Sowders Avoca IN
Lola Norman Bedford IN
Sam & Helen Axsom Ellettsville IN
Berniece Norman Heltonville IN
Roy & Sarah Norman Heltonville IN
Mary Lou Gardner Solsberry IN
Margaret Axsom Lafayette IN
Mary Johnson Independence MO
Dean & Donna Axsom Independence MO
Robert & Marguerite Jenkins Independence MO
Russell & Carol Myers Lee's Summit MO
Loren & Bonnie Couch Odessa MO
Kevin & Debbie Dailey Mercer MO
Thomas & Lisa Butler Vichy MO
James & Anna Johnson Stoneville NC
Nat & Sallie Jones High Point NC
Joe & Norma Zanetti Eden NC
Wayne & Peggy Campbell Garner NC
William & Betty Huffstetler Charlotte NC
Daphene Preslar Hamlet NC
Charles & Kitty Miller Leland NC
Samuel & Geneva Miller Leland NC
Alton & Betty Axsom Supply NC
Julia Barber Elkin NC
Matthew & Yvette Axsom Keene NH
Dorothy Axsom Bartlesville OK
Ralph & Mary Anne Axsom Tulsa OK
Sherry Heal Downington PA
Eva Axsom Anderson SC
Larry &Ruth Axsom Greeneville TN
John & Sara Axsom Plano TX
KEvin & Barbara Eksrom Kennewick WA
Lorna Jernigan Kennewick WA
Edna Kroepel Butternut WI

posthumous membership roster:
Raymond William Axsom Claymont DE
Ted Gardner Solsberry IN
Bessie Axsom Ashburn China Grove NC

Brayden Joyce

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

was born at 9:04a.m. on 03Nov2004 at Morehead Memorial Hospital, Eden NC. he weighed 7lb3oz.
Mickey Joyce and Jan Axsom Joyce are the proud parents.
Joseph H Axsom
-Andrew Axsom
--Samuel J Axsom
---Ephraim Rayton Axsom
----Andrew Houston Axsom
-----Carl Houston "Buster" Axsom
------Houston Axsom
-------Jan Axsom m. Mickey Joyce
---------Brayden Joyce

from the mail bag

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

THe Southwestern Regional Pigeon show was held today (Bakersfield CA 2 October 2004) with 2000 pigeon breeders attending. Taking first place for Best Male Schetti was Ronald Jess (Bub) Axsom. His other blue ribbon was for first place female. Bub is 10 years old and attends Blue Ridge Elementary School 5th grade in Pinetop Arizona. He is the son of Ron and Susan Axsom, also of Pinetop.
Very proud grandparents, Ron & Louise Axsom, Mesa, AZ

From Deb Dailey of Mercer MO (writing about the new Axsom cd) I had a chance to use it today and WOS! it was worth the price just for the pictures. THanks for all your hard work!

from Wayne Campbell of Garner NC
I received the 1992 Axsom book yesterday and I am so grateful to you for all the work over the years to keep up with our Axsom relatives. The book is extremely well done and I am delighted to have a copy of it. I will spend hours and then some going through it.
Just a couple of days before yesterday I recieved the new Axsom CD and again I am so impressed at the work you and Norma did to make this come to reality. And the fact that you two made it happen and not just talk about it.! I can't say enought good things about it. both have renewed interest in all of my history and I will continue to pursue it all.
Peggy and I are planning to go to Bar Harbor next year and see more of my family and we put you folks, along with Norma and Joe, at the top of those we look forward to seeing.

From Bill Axsom of Rushville Indiana
from an email from Bill to his son Marshall or daughter Deboraha:
Remember you and Mom and me going to Brown Co. and driving out to try and find the Axsom branch and the Deckard Cemetery? We saw a wild turkey run across the road in front of our car. We toured the TC Stelle home and studio and I ask the men working on the parking lot near the studio if they knew where the Axsom branch was-they said oh yes just follow this road a couple more miles into the woods.
I did grave stone etching there at the Deckard Cemetery and am looking at the etching of my great grandfather Wm David Axsom born 1852 and died 1936-the year before I was born!
There was a picture of TC Steele's studio in Indy paper yesterday and I'm sending you a copy. Love, Dad.
p.s. sending a copy of this email to Larry Axsom, Rita and I enjoy the Axsom newsletter so much and will order a CD soon! TC Steele enoyed the woods and hills of Brown Co near Axsom branch so much he built a wonderful home and studio and many of his works are on display there. I'm sure youknow it is just a couple of miles from the Axsom Branch and the Deckard Cemetery.
Bill (William A Axsom)

Della M Humphrey

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

82, of Bloomington, died at Bloomington Hospital early Friday morning October 8 2004. born September 29 1922 in Monroe County, she was the daughter of James Otta Webb and Myrtle (Axsom) Webb.
She was retired from the Indiana University Music Dept. where she worked as custodian. She was of the the Protestant faith.
She is survived by one daughter, Janet Cox of Ft. Myers, FL; four sons, Cleo Rader of Bloomington, Jim Rader of Bloomington, Jerry Rader of Solsberry and Gerry L Rader of Bloomington, 21 great grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Clovis Webb, Leston Webb, John Webb, Burl and Earl Webb; two grandsons Jerry Rader Jr. and Gerry Rader Jr., and one stepsister. Burial was at Valhalla Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Josph H Axsom Sr
-Samuel David Axsom
--Joseph Axsom
---James Andrew Axsom
----Myrtle Ethel Axsom m. James Otto WEbb
-----Della M (Webb) Humphrey

Mrs Bessie Ashburn

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

88, of China Grove, NC died Monday October 1 2004 at Rowan Regional MEdical Center in Salisbury, NC. She was born June 24 1916 in Surry Co to the late Neal and Carrie Childress Axsom.
She was a member of Landis Baptist Church and the Mothers Sunday School Class. She was a former charter member of Clermont Freewill Baptist church, Kannapolis, where she taught SS, sang in choir, and was listed "Mother of the Church."
Survivors include Ronnie Ashburn of Salisbury, NC-son, Sammy Ashburn of Concord NC-son, Marlene Burris of China Grove, NC-daughter, Mrs. Carla Talbert of Kannaplis, NC-daughter, Enos Axsom of Salisbury NC-brother, Robert Axsom of Dobson,NC-brother, Juila Barber of Elkin, NC-sister.
Burial was at West Lawn Memorial.
Joseph H Axsom Sr
-Andrew Axsom
--Samuel J Axsom
---Samuel Cornelius Axsom
---- Martin Cornelius Axsom
----Bessie Axsom

Freda Carol (Axsom) Long

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

73, of Indianapolis, passed away October 18 2004. She was born Feb. 22 1931 in Bloomington to Millard E. and Alma I. Deckard Axsom.
Freda was a graduate of Bloomington High School and attended Indiana University. She was a long distance operator and supervisor for Indiana Bell Telephone Co. (SBC) for 30 years, retiring in 1983.
She was a member of Burge Terrace Baptist Church and was a counselor for Hope in Crisis Ministry. Burial was in Clear Creek Cemetery, Bloomington.
Freda is survived by her brother Edgar L Axsom, sisters Norma R. Roper, Treva M. Tuley, Marilyn A. Housel; 14 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.
Joseph H Axsom Sr
-Samuel David Axsom
--Joseph Axsom
---John Axsom
----Millard Edgar Axsom
----- Freda Carol Axsom

Charles T. Chuck Axson

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

age 63 passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday November 23 2004 in Melbourne, Fla. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he retired as a car salesman. Charles is survived by his wife Beverly, children Monica (Jay) Boyd; Michelle (8(Jim) Meyer; Mark Mettert; Shelly (Al) Davison; and Brad (Lisa) Bray; brother Mike (Pam) Axson, siters Sandi (Jerry) Bubb and Sherry Quinn; step mother Phyllis Palermo, and four grand children.
Interment was in Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, Florida.
Joseph H Axsom
-Samuel David Axsom
--Andrew Jackson Axsom
---George Wheeler Axsom
----Charles Newton Axson
-----Charles Thomas "Chuck" Axson

Jesse Reuben Jacobs

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

age 21 of Bloomington, died Saturday Nov. 6 2004.
Born July 5 1983, in Bloomington, IN he was the son of Leslie Jacobs and Rita (Jones) Herrmann. He was a cashier at Sam's Club in Bloomington. He loved to fish, play video games, lift weights and help people.
Survivors include his father, Leslie Jacobs of Bloomington, his mother and step father, Rita (Jones) and Werner Herrmann of Tarpn Springs, Fla., one daughter Alexandra Jacobs of Tarpon Springs, one brother, Aaron Jacobs of Bloomington, one sister Rebecca Jacobs of Los Angeles, CA; his grandparents Marvin and Ingred (Collings) Jones of Tarpon Springs, and Leo Jacobs of Bloomington; his uncles Andrew Jones and David Jones, both of Tarpon Springs, his aunt Renee Going of Italy; and great aunts Sue Clayton and Kay Baxter, both of Bloomington.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother Thelma (Axsom) Jacobs. Burial was at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Tarpon Springs.
Joseph H Axsom Sr.
-Samuel David Axsom
--ANdrew Jackson Axsom
---Meledia "Millie" Axsom m. William Andrew Jacobs
----James Earl Jacobs
----- Leo Edward Jacobs m. Thelma Irene Axsom
------ Leslie Allen Jacobs
-------Jessie Reuben Jacobs
but also:
Joseph H Axsom Sr
-Samuel David Axsom
--William David Axsom
---Theodore Estus Axsom
----Thelma Irene Axsom m. Leo Edward Jacobs
----- Leslie Allen Jacobs
------ Jesse Reuben Jacobs

Jesse's grandparents Leo and Thelma were 3rd cousins, once removed.

Annetta J. (Axsom) Deckard

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

age 77 of Bloomington, died Sunday Dec 19 2004 at her residence. Born Aug. 6 1927 in Bloomington, she was the daughter of William and Flocie (Grubb) Axsom. She was a homemaker.
survivors include one son Foris Deckard and wife Susan of Bloomington; two daughters, Rose Mackey and husband Herman, and Shirley Mullendore and husband, Don, all of Bloomington; one stepspon, Meredith Deckard; four grandchildren, Todd Deckard & wife Tracy of Westfield, Trent Deckard, Cody R. Mackey and wife Krystal, and Elizabeth Hunter, all of Bloomington; four step grandchildren, John L Sullivan, and Joni L. Sullivan, both of Bloomington, Amber Alverson and husband Jesse of Ohio, and Wade Mackey of Indianapolis; three step great grandson, Caleb Sullivan, Chance Sullivan, and Gave Sullivan, all of Bloomington; two step great granddaughters, Jesika Alverson and Pati Alverson, both of Ohio, several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Winfred E. Deckard, four brothers and one sister. Burial was at Valhalla Memory Gardens. Natives of Monroe County, Annetta and Winfred grew up in the country. Her home place was on Saddle Creek. Both residences are under water now. The land was needed back in the 1960s to build Lake Monroe.
To support the family, Winfred got a job as a cook at Indiana University, but he wasn't happy there. "He didn't like it because he said he just worked around too many women, and they got on his nerves," Foris, the eldest of the three Deckard children, laughing at the story. "Mom begged him not to quit, but he did. He went to work in the quarry, and that's where he stayed."
Joseph H Axsom Sr.
-Samuel David Axsom
--Andrew Jackson Axsom
---William May "Billy" Axsom
---- Annetta Jane Axsom Deckard

Eden NC was site of NC-VA Reunion

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

On Sunday October 10 2004 Axsom descendants gathered in Eden, NC for the annual get-together. Nearly 90 descendants and friends met in Eden's Freedom Park's shelter hosue on a beautiful fall day to enjoy each other's comany during a delicious covered dish dinner. Most were from Andrew Axsom's clan, but a few descenants from other Axsom clans attended.

How Do The Axsom Families Relate to the Axson Families?

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

There has been some recent coverage in the media about President Woodrow Wilson and of course his wife, Ellen Louise Axson. For Axsom descendants, the question naturally arises, 'just how are the Axsoms and the Axsons related?' The short answers are: not at all (as best we can tell) and very closely (according to our records.)
To understand how those seemingly conflicting answers can both be true we need to define the Axsom Families and the Axson Families.
The Axsom Families: In the United States of America, all of the Axsom families that we have ever come across have been traceable back to Joseph H. Axsom, Sr. of Surry County, North Carolina. According to the Axsom database, there have been nearly 6000descendants of Joseph H. Axsom.
The Axson Families: We know of two clans of Axsons (1) those in the extended family tree of Ellen Louise Axson Wilson and (2) some of the descendants of George Wheeler Axsom and his wife Pearl Mae Foster Axsom.

Let us begin with Ellen Louise Axson Wilson. (This material comes partly from www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies) Ellen Louise Axson grew up in Rome, Georgia, where her father, the Reverend S.E. Axson, was a Presbyterian minister. Thomas Woodrow Wilson first saw her when he was about six and she was only a baby. In 1883, as a young lawyer from Atlanta, "Tommy" visited Rome and met Miss Ellie Lou again-a beautiful girl now, keeping house for a bereaved father. He thought, 'what splendid laughing eyes!" Despite their instant attraction they did not marry until 1885, because she was unwilling to leave her heartbroken father.
That same year Bryn Mawr College offered Wilson a teaching position at an annual salary of $1,500. He and his bride lived neaer the campus, keeping her little brother with them. Humorously insisting that her own children must not be born Yankees, she went to relatives in Georgia for the birth of Margaret in 1886 and Jessie in 1887. But Eleanor was born in Connecticut, while Wilson was teaching at Wesleyan University.
His distinguished career at Princeton began in 1890, bringing his wife new social responsibilities. From such demands she took refuge as always in art. SHe had studied briefly in New York and the quality of her paintings compares favorably with the professional art of the period. She had a studio with a skylight installed at the White House in 1913, and found time for painting despite the weddings of two daughters within six months and the duties of hostess for the nation.
Descendant of slave owners, Ellen (Axson) Wilson lent her prestige to the cause of improving housing in the capital's Negro slums. Visiting dilapidated alleys, she brought them to the attention of debutantes and Congressmen. Her death spurred passage of a remedial bill she had worked for. Her health failing slowly from Bright's disease, she died serenely on August 6 1914. On the day before her death, she made her physician promise to tell Wilson 'later' that she hoped he would marry again; she murmured at teh end, "...take good care of my husband." Struggling grimly to control his grief, Wilson took her to Rome for burial among her kin.

Louise Axson's ancestors trace back to Charleston, South Carolina as early as the 1700s. Although a lot of research has been done to find a genealogical link between Joseph H Axsom of Surry County and the ancestors of Ellen Louise Axson, no relation was ever found between these two familes.
Now for some descendants of George Wheeler Axsom: Below is a lineage for all of George Wheeler Axsom's children.
Joseph H Axsom,Sr.
Samuel David Axsom
Andrew Jackson Axsom
George Wheeler Axsom m. Pearl Mae Foster
*Loyal Robert Axsom
*Goldie Mae Anna Axson
*Beatrice Marguerite Axsom
*Charles Newton Axson
*Edward Franklin Axson
*Earl William Axson
*Dale Eugene Axson

From this lineage chart one can see that two of George Axsom's children were AXSOM and five were named AXSON. These were all children of George and Pearl Mae Foster Axsom. The children are listed in birth date order, so George did not start naming his children AXSON at some point and continue forever in that mode. We dont' know if it was just a spelling issue or if George or some of his children were convinced they were descendants of the Axsons of SC/GA.
So the Axsoms are closely related to one clan of Axsons-namely the children of George Wheeler Axsom; yet the Axsoms are not related to the Axson clan to which Ellen Louise Axson belonged. (The obituaries in this newsletter list the death of a son of Charles Newton Axson, namely Charles T. Axson.)

Axsom Newsletter October-December 2004

Issue No. 48 A Publication of The Axsom Association of America.

10th Anniversary Year for the Axsom Association of America!
Over the 4th of July weekend in 1995 a group of 40 Axsom descendants gathered at a hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the first ever national reunion of Axsom descendants. During the Family Sharing Session, members from various of the Axsom families represented there spoke to the attendees about their parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and of themselves. It was the first chance to get to hear the stories personally.
The speakers at those First Family Sharing sessions in Colorado Springs included: Kathleen Meta McCarthy Caruso, Lorena Jernigan, Daniel James Axsom, Larry Earl Axsom, Paul Edward Axsom, Leston David (Sam) Axsom, Lola Norman, Edwin Dale Sowders, Barbara Joyce Axsom Waldvogel, Leona Kay Axsom Clark, Ruth Louise Axsom Hillenburg, William Neil Axsom, Norma Axsom Zanetti, Alton Clay Axsom, Marguerite Axsom Jenkins, Ralph Edward Axsom, and Robert Joseph Axsom. The Family Sharing sessions have been continued at all subsequent National Reunions.
At the first business meeting, the Axsom Association of America was voted into existence, the Charter and By-Laws were adopted and officers were elected. Since then, the Axsom Newsletter has been published some 40 times and the Axsom database has grown to contain almost 12,000 entries!
This year the National Reunion will be held at Bar Harbor, Maine. Don't delay in making your plans to be there with all the gang to enjoy our Axsom heritage.

Cecil Dean Shafer

son of William and Amanda (Craig) Shafer was born at Cainsville MO on February 14 1926 and passed away on August 8 1998 at his home in Princeton MO at the age of 72 years.
Dean was united in marriage to Marolynn Hampshire in Des Moines, IA. Dean was retired from the U.S. Army after serving 21 years. They moved to Princeton in 1995 after living in Reed Spring, Mo. for the past 14 years. Before that they made their home in Des Moines, IA. and Cainsville, Mo. Dean was a member of the V.F.W. Post in Reed Springs, MO and the American Legion Post in Cainsville, MO. he was a member of the First Baptist Church in Princeton,MO. Dean is survived by his wife Marolynn of the home in Princeton, MO, a son Roy Dean Shafer of Des Moines, IA, a daughter, Dona Lynn Hesseltine and her husband Ron of Des Moines, IA., a step-daughter, Jane Breese and her husband Art of Des Moines, IA, three step-sons Albert Lawson and his wife Kathy of Des Moines, IA; Dan Lawson and his wife Cricket of Princeton,MO and Randall Lawson of Des Moines, IA. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and by many nieces and nephews. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, Pauline Axsom and Betty Jean Ashley, 2 brothers William Ralph Shafer and Junior Ross Shafer and by a grandson, Craig Wesley Hesseltine.

In Memory of C.Dean Shafer
Date of Birth Feb. 14 1926
date of death Aug. 8 1998
services
Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel
Tuesday August 11 1998
10:00 a.m.

officiating The Reverend Gary Urich

pallbearers Rick Hesseltine, Donnie Lawson, Scott Lawson, Gilbert Lawson, Jason Lawson, Billy Lawson, Ty Breese

music George Phillips
Interment Princeton Cemetery

October 12 2004

letter from Barbara Brandt to Mary Johnson:

My great grandmother was Rose Craig daughter of Roderick & Melvina Craig. She was born April 8 1870. I am trying to find out who fathered her 3 children: Effie May, Ethel, and Ray. Effie May was my grandmother. I know that she had 3 children before she married Lyman Bears. I did not know that she was also married to a Shafer. I am trying to find out who Roderick Craig's father is. There was a Roderick Craig who came from England and died in Henry County, Indiana in 1844. He had three sons: John, Andrew, & William.
I am 47 years old with one daughter Deanna, who's 2o, my husband is Doug. I work fulltime in a veterinary hospital as office manager. I love animals and have 4 dogs and 8 cats. we live in the country on 11 acres. My mother, Gertrude, lives alone in an independent, senior complex. My father passed away 5 1/2 years ago.