A Family legacy

Photo Identification – Honoring the Past

Pictured Individuals (Left to Right)

1. Alvin Claypool 9. Sallie Claypool 17. Fannie Claypool 25. Ms. Edith Mays 2. Minor Henderson 10. Clydia Barefield 18. Mollie Barefield 26. Marilyn Clay 3. Joseph Benson 11. Georgia Anderson 19. Fannie Clay 27. Mannie B. Claypool 4. Walter Spears 12. Helen Claypool 20. Armanda Benson 28. Delphine Clay 5. Carl Claypool 13. Clara Claypool 21. Katie E. Henderson 29. Sylvesta Barefield 6. Emel Claypool 14. Frankie Anderson 22. Glendola Lovies 30. Dorris M. Anderson 7. Herman Barefield 15. Mable Claypool 23. Jaunita Lovies 31. Marcus Spears 8. Norman Barefield 16. Dollie Spears 24. Deborah Anderson  

A heartfelt thank you to the late Dorris Taylor (Anderson)—identified as #30 in the photo—for providing the names of each individual pictured. In 2008, as preparations began for the launch of our first family reunion website in anticipation of the 2009 gathering in Tampa, FL, Dorris generously shared her knowledge. After her daughter Karla Taylor received a copy of the photo via email, Dorris identified each name effortlessly, as though revisiting the moment from 1939 when the photo was taken.

Her recall was nothing short of extraordinary—31 names from memory nearly 70 years later! Sadly, Dorris passed away on February 20, 2016, at the age of 90, peacefully in her home in Peoria, Illinois, surrounded by loved ones.
Rest in peace, Aunt Dorris. Your legacy lives on.

The Big Six Families

Barefield/Barfield • Clay • Claypool • Henderson • McClelland • Woolfolk

The intertwining of these six families began in 1888 and spanned over three decades. The first union was marked by the marriage of Coleman Woolfolk to Nannie McClelland on September 4, 1888. What followed were numerous unions that shaped the fabric of our family:

• Clay, Marcus Sr. married McClelland, Alice Lovie – Nov 27, 1903

• Barefield, David Sr. married Woolfolk, Lessie – Oct 25, 1914

• Barfield, Joe married Henderson, Sallie – Apr 8, 1917

• Claypool, Louis Jr. married Woolfolk, Clatie – Jan 22, 1921

• Barefield, William married McClelland, Pearlie Mardell – Mar 27, 1921

• Claypool, John married Henderson, Audrey – Dec 17, 1921

• Claypool, George Arthur Sr. married McClelland, Marie – May 20, 1922

• Woolfolk, Coleman Sr. married Claypool, Charity – May 8, 1926

• Barefield, David Sr. married Woolfolk, Mary Jane – 1934

• Clay, Mark Jr. married Claypool, Blanche Irene – Jun 17, 1941

• Claypool, John married Clay, Laura Bell – 1942

• Barfield, Hobart Sr. married Clay, Delphine – Mar 4, 1946

Family Lineages

Barfield / Barefield

The Barfield family lineage traces back to 1811, beginning in North Carolina. The earliest known ancestor is Alfred Barfield, recorded in the 1870 U.S. Census in Waverly, Humphreys County, Tennessee, with his wife Narcissa and four of their eight known children.

Children of Alfred and Narcissa:

• Cread2 (b. 1843)

• Thomas (b. July 2, 1845, Bumpus Mills, TN)

• Riley C. (b. March 1848)

• Sanders C. (b. 1856)

• David Barfield (b. 1860)

• William A. (b. 1866)

• Rachel B. (b. 1869)

• Virginia (b. 1869)
  Additionally, Alfred had a son, Commodore, with Alice.

Thomas Barfield (b. 1845), migrated with his wife Isabelle Mason from Barlow, Kentucky, to Grand Chain, Pulaski County, Illinois after 1900. Children include:

• Jasper (b. 1862)

• Sallie (b. 1868)

• Romulus (b. 1870)

• Robert O’Neal (b. 1868)

• Thomas C. Coleman (b. 1859)

• Debbie Mason (b. 1854)

Thomas died on August 22, 1929, following Isabelle’s passing on July 24, 1921.

Clay

George Clay was born in 1850 in Kentucky. Though his parents remain unidentified, he moved to Pulaski County, Illinois, by 1875 and married Laura Washington, daughter of Lewis and Harriett (Bailey) Washington from Louisiana.

Children of George and Laura Clay:

• Lee (b. 1875)

• Eliza (b. 1876)

• Lucy (b. 1878)

• Harriet (b. 1881)

• Marcus (b. 1882)

• Stasnirb (b. 1883)

• John (b. 1886)

• Aaron (b. 1894)

George likely passed away before 1900. Laura survived him by over 40 years, passing on July 3, 1940.

Claypool

The Claypool family begins with John Claypool, born in 1829. He had three wives and fathered at least eight children.

With wife Charity:

• Fredrick Jack Claypool (b. 1861)

• Louis T. Claypool, Sr. (b. 1863)

• Cora Claypool (b. 1866)

• Maggie Claypool (b. 1870)

• Joseph Claypool (b. 1873)

• Ametta C. Claypool (b. 1874)

With Emily Pride:

• Jesse Claypool (b. 1888)

With Millie:

• Samuel Claypool (b. 1875)

The family moved from Kentucky to Pulaski County, Illinois around 1873–74. Ametta was the first born in Illinois. Dates of death for John and his wives remain unknown.

Henderson

The Henderson lineage traces to Henry Henderson, son of Minor Henderson and Priscilla A. Owsley from Ballard County, Kentucky. Born in 1846, Henry married Lucy Penn, daughter of Millie Penn, also from Kentucky. They later moved to Pulaski County, Illinois by 1900.

McClelland

The McClelland line begins with Richard "Dick" McClelland, born in 1839. Though his parentage is unconfirmed, his complexion suggests mixed ancestry, possibly linked to the Caucasian McClellands in Pulaski County.

Richard married Sallie Rutledge from Tennessee. The couple relocated to Pulaski County, IL, by 1867.

Known Children (15 of 17 total):

• Luther (b. 1859)

• Nannie Bell (b. 1860)

• Ella (b. 1861)

• Fannie S. (b. 1865)

• James Witt (b. 1867)

• Josephine (b. 1869)

• Flora (b. 1873)

• Mary (b. 1876, d. 1892)

• Minnie (b. 1878)

• Warn (b. 1880)

• John (b. 1882)

• Lula (b. 1885)

• Alice (b. 1887)

• Clayta (b. 1889)

• Mark (birth date unknown)

Richard was a minister and officiated many local marriages. He died in December 1899; Sallie followed in February 1901.

Woolfolk

The Woolfolk family begins with Peter Woolfolk, born in 1823 in Virginia, and his wife Cherry E. They had six children, with at least four born in Kentucky between 1853–1871.

They moved to Grand Chain, Illinois, likely in 1867, as their son Albert appears to be the first born in Illinois.

Though their exact dates of death remain unknown, both Peter and Cherry are believed to have passed in Pulaski County.