Lapsley Family: Miscellaneous information gleaned from old newspapers

(The Lapsleys lived in Russell County near the Old Liberty Church on (present-day Hwy 92), not too far removed from Montpelier & the Adair-Russell County line. Until Russell County was formed in 1826, the Lapsley property fell in Adair County.)

Reunited At Last: The Interrupted Courtship of Emerine Lapsley and Cortez Collins

The Adair County News, Wednesday, April 3, 1907

Miss Emerine Lapsley, who has been visiting for the past three months in Dallas, Texas, returned to her home at Esto, Ky., last week. Miss Lapsley spent a few days visiting in Columbia on her return.

The Adair County News, Wednesday, January 19, 1910

Collins - Lapsley

Miss Emerine Lapsley, a highly respected young lady and one of the best known teachers of Russell county, was married on the 14th inst., at 10 a.m., in the parlors of the Leclede Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., to Mr. Cortez Collins, a prominent business man of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Collins is also a native of Russell [county], Ky., and this union dates back to a courtship which was begun several years ago. The couple have the best wishes of their many Kentucky friends. They will reside at Dallas, Texas.

The Adair County News, Wednesday, January 26, 1910 (reprinted from the St. Louis Star)

End 30 Year Romance

Thirty years after they separated as childhood sweethearts, Miss Emerine Lapsley, of Esto, Ky., and Corties Collins, Dallas, Texas, were married at the Leclede Hotel Friday [January 14, 1910.] Rev. Earle Wilfley, pastor of the First Christian Church, performed the ceremony in the hotel parlors. The two met in St. Louis by appointment and were married soon after Miss Lapsley's arrival. Neither of them is superstitious as the license was procured on the 13th of the month and the ceremony performed Friday.

Mr. Collins left his old home in Eastern Kentucky in 1880 and went to Texas to make his fortune. He left behind him his young sweetheart, who began teaching school when only 16 years old. This, she says, prevented her from marrying some other man before this time. She went to Dallas to visit her sister-in-law three years ago, and there she met again her sweetheart of years gone by. He had not married in those long years and the two were soon as good sweethearts as ever. [The sister-in-law most likely was Florence Lapsley, nee Vaughn, who married Emerine's oldest sibling, James Wade Lapsley. Emerine's other siblings, all younger, were John V. C. "Couver" Lapsley, Sarah E. Lapsley, and Thomas F. Lapsley. ]

Miss Lapsley returned home and many letters were exchanged and an engagement was soon ready for announcement. The wedding would have occurred last summer, but Mr. Collins was thrown from his horse and his right leg was broken.

Mr. Collins is a civil engineer and real estate broker in Dallas. He and Mrs. Collins expect to arrive at their home before January 20.

Mrs. Collins, who is a graduate of the Valparaiso Normal School of Valparaiso, Ind., said, "We ought to be happy," she said. "We waited until we were old enough to know what we were doing. I feel that we are only taking a new lease on life and will be happier than ever."--St. Louis Star.

Cortes Collins appeared in the 1860 Russell County census as the 11-month-old son of Stanton P. Collins and wife Margaret Barger Collins. He appeared in the 1880 Collin County, Texas census as 20-year-old farmer Corties Collins in the household of George Nip. Mr. Collins' relationship to the head of household was indicated as "other." Emerine Lapsley appeared in the 1860 Russell County census (not too many households removed from the Collins family) as four-month-old Mary E., the daughter of John L. Lapsley and wife, Elizabeth Nelson Lapsley. In 1880, at age 20, she still resided in Russell County in her father's household, and her occupation was given as "teaching school."

Obituaries

September 5, 1906 (Adair County News)

John L. Lapsley

The subject of this notice died at his late home in Russell County, six miles this side of Jamestown, last Saturday morning [September 1st.] Had he lived until October he would have been 87 years old. He was a devout Christian, having been a member of the Baptist church for many years. He was regarded as one of the best citizens of Russell county, and many friends attended the funeral. The sermon was preached by Rev. Chas. Deener.

Thursday, March 5, 1942 (Russell County News)

(abstract of obituary)

Florence Lapsley, about 82 years old, widow of [James] Wade Lapsley who "died many years ago," died in Dallas, Texas (date not given), where she had resided for the past 35 years. Survived by a son and a daughter; preceded in death "about two years'"ago by a sister, Alice Sharp. The funeral service was held in Dallas, with "simple ceremonies" held graveside by Rev. Chandler, pastor of the local [Jamestown, Ky.] Methodist church. Her remains were buried in the Lapsley cemetery near Esto Friday morning, February 27. Pruitt funeral home in charge of local arrangements.

Thursday, May 11, 1944 (Russell County News)

Emerine L. Collins Dies in Texas

Emerine Lapsley Collins, wife of Cortez Collins, passed away at her home in Dallas, Texas, May 1, 1944. She was 84 years old and had been in declining health for several years. She was a teacher in Russell and adjoining counties a number of years.

Besides her husband she is survived by two brothers, J.V. Lapsley and T.F. Lapsley of Esto, three nieces, Miss Sallie Lapsley, Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Genevieve Coffey, Odell, Ill., and Mrs. Lizzie Kate Snow, Jamestown, [relationship to following three individuals not stated] , Lt. Col. J.B. Lapsley, location not known, Aldon Lapsley, Artesia, New Mexico, and Clyde Lapsley, Russell Springs, Ky.

Thursday, May 17, 1945 (Russell County News)

J.V. Lapsley Rites This Afternoon

J.V. (Couver) Lapsley, 83, one of Russell County's finest citizens, died at the family home near Montpelier Tuesday morning after a long illness.

Funeral services are scheduled for this (Thursday) afternoon at 2:30 P.M., at Liberty church, followed by interment in Hillcrest cemetery at Welfare [on current-day U.S. Hwy 127 between Russell Springs and Jamestown.] Pruitt funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Lapsley lived a long, honorable, and useful life, and had won and held the esteem of all who knew him. His passing will be felt keenly, not only in his community but throughout the county.

Surviving are Mrs. Lapsley and a daughter, Mrs. D.D. [Lizzie Kate] Snow. They have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community.

Miscellaneous Lapsley entries 1900-1910 (Adair County News)

January 31, 1900

There is a suit now pending in the Adair circuit court to decide which of two teachers has the legal contract in Glenville school district. The one who is successful in the contest will be paid the public money. Miss Fannie Smythe has taught one term out, and Miss Emerine Lapsley is teaching the second term.

June 6, 1900

The question as to who is entitled to the school draw, Miss Emeline Lapsley or Miss Fannie Smythe, both having taught in the Glenville district, last year, was settled at the recent term of court in favor of Miss Lapsley. It is our understanding that Miss Smythe will also be paid for her services by the patrons of the district.

January 16, 1901

Miss Ermine Lapsley has gone to Pulaski county to teach a subscription school.(In the Esto, Russell County, community newsletter.)

August 7, 1901

Mrs. Florence Lapsley and little daughter, Sallie, Creelsboro, and Mrs. J.V. Lapsley, were visiting the families of Dr. Tom Jones and Mr. W.F. Jeffries last week. (In the "Personal Mention" column.)

October 23, 1901

It will be remembered that some time ago trouble arose in the Glenville school district as to who should draw the pay--Miss Fannie Smythe, of this place, or Miss Emmaline Lapsley, of Russell [county], both ladies having taught the school the same year. It was claimed that a trustee for one of the ladies was illegally elected, and the Superintendent refused to pay either one of the teachers. Miss Smythe instituted a suit in the Adair circuit court for her pay and the case was decided in favor of Miss Lapsley. The case was appealed and last week the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the lower court. The cost in the suit will have to be paid by Miss Smythe and it will amount to about one hundred dollars.

January 22, 1902

The Mutual Oil and Gas Company has decided to issue the first certificate of stock to Miss Emerine Lapsley as she is the first lady to seek an investment in the company.

December 20, 1905

Coover Lapsley has bought Arch McElroy's store at Esto. I believe this business will suit him much better than farming. (In the Esto community newsletter.)

June 20, 1906

"Uncle" John Lapsley is very sick and may not recover. (Esto community newsletter.) [See obituary, above.]

February 5, 1908

An Old Barn.

On the Lapsley farm, six miles from Jamestown, there is a barn that was built in olden times. Mr. J.V. Lapsley [aka Coover] who now lives on the farm says he has no idea how long it has bene standing. It was built by his grandfather in the early settlement of this country. The boards appear to have been gotten out with a drawing knife, and the plank in the building was sawed with a whipsaw. The barn shows evidence of age, and two or three times Mr. Lapsley has resolved to raze it, but when the time would come to begin work his heart would fail him, saying, "It was built by my grandfather and I will let it stand."

June 2, 1909

Frank Lapsley was at work in the field one day last week. he heard a noise over his head [and] at first he thought it was the angels coming down to get him. But on investigation it was found to be just a buzzard flying over his head with a silver bell on. (In the Rowe's X-Roads community newsletter.)

June 23, 1909

Mrs. Florence Lapsley, of Dallas, Texas, reached Columbia last Friday afternoon and stopped at the residence of Mr. W.F. Jeffries. From here she went to her old home in Russell county.(In the "Personal" column.)