My Aunt Ark, Arkie Gertrude Spurlock, my mother's mother's youngest sister, had a parakeet.
Aunt, (actually Grand Aunt) Ark was born July 2, 1902 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Texas. She was probably the third to the last child of John Wesley and Jennie Katherine (Miller) Spurlock. In the 1900 census, Jennie, Arkie's mother states she has had 7 children and all 7 were living. In the 1910 census she states that she has had 10 children and 8 are living. So apparently, she had 2 more children between 1900 and 1910 who died in infancy. I have not found any documentation of these two additional children, so they likely were born after Ark. In this 1910 census, Arkie is listed as 8 years old. The family was living in Ellis County where they were renting a farm.
By the 1920 census, the family had moved to Dallas County, were living on a farm and Arkie is listed as 17 years old. In the 1930 census, Arkie is still living with her parents, age 70 and 65, and she is 26. Her sister, Elsie is 30. Aunt Ark's dad died in 1933 and her mother in 1937. According to the 1940 census, she had moved into the home of her sister, Agnes and her husband, Elmer Clark. They lived at 2806 Alabama St in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas in 1935 and 1940. Arkie is listed as a housekeeper in a private home on this 1940 census.
This is my mom and Aunt Ark when she came to our house to visit.
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| Arkie Spurlock, Personal Collection |
Aunt, (actually Grand Aunt) Ark was born July 2, 1902 in Waxahachie, Ellis Co., Texas. She was probably the third to the last child of John Wesley and Jennie Katherine (Miller) Spurlock. In the 1900 census, Jennie, Arkie's mother states she has had 7 children and all 7 were living. In the 1910 census she states that she has had 10 children and 8 are living. So apparently, she had 2 more children between 1900 and 1910 who died in infancy. I have not found any documentation of these two additional children, so they likely were born after Ark. In this 1910 census, Arkie is listed as 8 years old. The family was living in Ellis County where they were renting a farm.
By the 1920 census, the family had moved to Dallas County, were living on a farm and Arkie is listed as 17 years old. In the 1930 census, Arkie is still living with her parents, age 70 and 65, and she is 26. Her sister, Elsie is 30. Aunt Ark's dad died in 1933 and her mother in 1937. According to the 1940 census, she had moved into the home of her sister, Agnes and her husband, Elmer Clark. They lived at 2806 Alabama St in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas in 1935 and 1940. Arkie is listed as a housekeeper in a private home on this 1940 census.
I believe this is the home on Solon Street in Waxahachie where she worked as a housekeeper - at some time of her life.
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| Personal Collection |
About 1938, Arkie had these photos taken - probably in a photo booth of some sort. They aren't great, but they are of her.
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| Personal Collection |
Aunt Ark was a member of Ferris Heights Methodist Church for many years. In the 1940's and 50's she attended and received certificates for several trainings for Children's Education. Also, she was awarded a Life Membership in the Women's Service Guild in 1957. Here are some of these certificates.
At some point Aunt Ark moved in with another sister, Elsie and her husband, Archie Aday. Here is their house in Waxahachie.
After Elsie passed away in 1968, Arkie continued to live there until Uncle Archie died in 1977. Here is Arkie with some of her siblings.
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| (Left to Right) Arkie Spurlock, Elsie Spurlock Aday, Mag Spurlock McMullen, Amanda Spurlock Petty and Archie Aday Between 1963 an 1968 |
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| Archie and Elsie Between 1963 an 1968 |
This is my mom and Aunt Ark when she came to our house to visit.
I have a few letters that she sent to my mother. Writing letters was the way people communicated back then. Long distance phone calls were expensive and so they wrote letters. Here is a Graduation card and short note she sent to me and my mother.
Aunt Ark died in Waxahachie, Texas on June 15, 1983 at the age 81.
She never married and lived with her siblings her whole life, until she moved into a Nursing Home in her later years. I remember visiting my Aunt Ark a few times in Waxahachie, while she was living with Aunt Elsie and Uncle Archie, I think. And, I remember that she came and stayed with us from time to time for short visits. I also remember the parakeet. I think it was blue. I don't have a photo of it, but I do remember that parakeets were a popular thing back then! Oh, and she LOVED Pepsi Colas. Coca Cola did not work for her and she HAD TO HAVE Pepsi.
Sometimes I think I remember the weirdest things!
'Til Next Time!
#52Ancestors
Thanks, Rick. Great story.
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