Nellums

 

Family of E.Z. and Laura Frances Richbourg Nellums – 1890

Left to right are Lyman, Annie, William, Louis, Alonzo, E.Z. and Fannie

From the collection of Mildred Penton Richbourg

 

Laura Frances Richbourg, the fifteenth of seventeen children of Florida Pioneers William Middleton Richbourg and Rebecca Nettles, was born in Muscogee 5 Feb 1862.  She married Ezekiel Zachariah Nellums 14 Aug 1877.  The son of Green Berry and Mary Nellums, he was born 13 Jan 1853 in Alabama and was known as E.Z.  Laura Frances and E.Z., a farmer and house carpenter, lived in Muscogee on the 39 acres granted in Homestead Certificate #4808.

 

Their seven children were born in Muscogee.  The last child, Ezekiel Zachariah Jr., was born 11 Mar 1889.  Laura Frances and the baby developed measles.  She died 5 Jun, and he died 23 Jun of that year.  They were both buried in the Muscogee Cemetery.  The stone that identified the grave of Laura Frances was one of many that was destroyed by vandals in the 1980s and lost.

 

After the death of Laura Frances, her surviving children, ranging in age from one to eleven years, were cared for by E.Z. and family members in the Muscogee community.  On 3 Jun 1892 E.Z. married Amanda Mims, whom some believed to be the sister of Laura Frances.  E.Z. Nellums died in Muscogee 18 Nov 1894 and was buried beside Laura Frances.

 

Information and pictures in this section were provided by Judith Richbourg Jolly.