296. William Terrell SISSON (Zachariah , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born about Jun 1835 in Union Co., SC. He died 1909 in Houston Co., Texas.

William was a prisoner of war during the Civil War. After the war he moved from Mississippi to Texas. (from pension papers)

William married (1) Mary. Mary was born about 1837. She died after 1870.

William also married (2) Elizabeth about 1874.

297. Robert SISSON (Zachariah , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born about 1837 in Union Co., SC. He died after 1870.

Robert married Sarah. Sarah was born about 1840 in Georgia. She died after 1870.

298. James Lane SISSON (Zachariah , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born 28 May 1840 in Union Co., SC. He died 1918 in Mississippi.

James married Susan Jane THOMPSON about 1865 in Mississippi. Susan was born 2 Jul 1846 in Mississippi. She died 3 Oct 1925 in Mississippi.

299. Andrew Jackson SISSON (Zachariah , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born 18 Dec 1845 in Mississippi. He died 23 Dec 1903 in Falls Co., Texas and was buried in Glade Chapel Cemetery, Falls Co., TX.

Texas Death Records, page unknown, #25932

Andrew married Lucinda Jane BYRD in 1866 in Mississippi. Lucinda was born 20 Nov 1848 in Pickens Co., AL. She died 19 Mar 1926 in Blooming Grove, Navarro Co., TX and was buried in Dresden Cemetery, Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX.

303. Emmett Elias SCISSON (William C. , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born about 1847 in Magazine Township, Yell Co, AR.

In the 1860 census, Emmett Elias Scisson and Zachariah Scisson were enumerated in the household of the H. H. Herring family in Duchess Creek, Yell County, Arkansas.

Emmett married Margaret Jane BYRNE on 13 Dec 1868. Margaret was born May 1854.

304. Zachariah Taylor SCISSON (William C. , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born 8 Sep 1848 in Spring Creek, Yell Co., AR. He died 26 Jan 1897 in Danville, AR and was buried in Danville Cemetery, Yell Co., AR.

Zachariah married Caloniene BLACK "Carrie" on 7 Nov 1872. Carrie was born 28 Aug 1850 in Murray Co., GA. She died 23 Aug 1925 and was buried in Danville Cemetery, Yell Co., AR.

Dates from grave marker, Danville Cemetery, Yell Co., AR.

307. John F. SISSON (James M. , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born 1858 in Spring Creek Township, Yell Co., AR.

John married Mary U. HANEY on 27 Aug 1876 in Yell Co., AR. Mary was born about 1861 in AR.

308. James Craig SISSON (James M. , William C. , Joshua , William , Thomas ) was born 24 Mar 1861 in Spring Creek, Yell Co., AR. He died 6 Aug 1920 in Upper Spring Creek, Yell Co., AR.

James married Mary Virginia HANEY on 27 Jan 1887 in Spring Creek, Yell Co., AR. Mary was born 19 Nov 1871 in Spring Creek, Yell Co., AR. She died 10 Jun 1968 in Holdenville, Hughes Co., OK.

316. Ross Gilliland CLAY (Emma Cornelia LAWSON , Mary SISSON , Charles Bruce , William , Thomas ) was born 5 Oct 1885 in Calhoun County, Alabama. He died 29 Mar 1962 in Etowah County, Alabama near Attalla, AL and was buried 31 Mar 1962 in Forrest Cemetery, Gadsden, Alabama.

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THE GADSDEN TIMES March 30, 1962
ROSS GILLILAND CLAY
Ross Gilliland Clay, 76, 323 Fayette Street, Attalla, died yesterday at 8:05 P.M. at his residence following a long illness.  Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 11 A.M. in Collier-Butler Chapel with the Revs. J.P. West and Jimmie Waters officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Cemetery, Collier-Butler Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Active pallbearers will be Aubrey Watkins, George Flanagan, Dewey Colvin, Tommie Roberts, Ray Collins, Ed Lasseter, J.C. Brasseal and C.E. Clark.  Honorary pallbearers will be V.B. Little, Joe Wood, Charlie Kelly, J.W. Godfrey, Grover Gilliland, Luther Whitt and all personal friends.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nora Condray Clay;  three daughters, Mrs. Paul Thompson and Mrs. Truman Smith, both of Birmingham, and Miss Libby Clay, Attalla; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  A native and lifelong resident of Etowah County, Mr. Clay formally operated Clay's Grocery and was employed by the City of Attalla until his retirement.  He was a member of the Sibert Methodist Church.  The body will remain at Collier-Butler through the hour of service.

Ross Clay had a beautiful tenor voice, played the piano, and taught music.  He was intrigued with minerals and mining and mined for many years.  He was a hard worker.  His wife once Said that he would work if it cost him money.

He was a kind and gentle man, an excellent father, and a good husband.  He was a man of impeccable character.  He was a very intelligent man and was well read.

He was a small but very strong man.  He was five feet six inches, weighed 140 pounds, blue eyes, and fair complected.  

When he started school his mother had already taught him his ABCs.  After recess on the first day of school the teacher rang the bell for the children to come back in.  Everyone went in except Ross.  The teacher called to him and asked him wasn't he coming in and he replied that he didn't see any need because he already knew it all.

Ross married (1) Lily FRIX in Dec 1908 in Etowah County, Alabama. Lily was born 17 Jan 1893 in Alabama. She died 10 May 1927 in Walnut Grove, ALabama.

Ross also married (2) Nora Bernice CONDRAY on 25 Apr 1931 in Gadsden, Al. Nora was born 22 May 1903 in Etowah County, Alabama Walnut Grove. She died 22 Jun 1985 in Duluth, Georgia and was buried 24 Jun 1985 in Forrest Cemetery, Gadsden, Alabama.

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Nora was the middle child of eleven.  After she finished nursing school she returned home to help with the rearing of her brothers and sisters.  All of the older children were married when her mother died so she kept the family together at the home place in Hokes Bluff until she married.  When she married she took Guy to live with her, Roberta went to live with Lura, and Durwood lived with Mollie.  Gene had already married at this point in time.  Winnie was widowed and she and Louise also lived at the home and Winnie worked as a telephone operator.  Nora was a very frugal person.  Family jokes include the family sitting down to biscuits and gravy because she had sold the eggs.  She owned and operated two grocery stores and service stations. She was a strict disciplinarian like her father.  The only emotion that she would ever display was anger.  I never saw my mother cry. She loved her family and always helped care for the sick. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and colon cancer however she died from complications from a broken hip.
Obituary the Gadsden Times June 23, 1985
MRS. CLAY
Mrs. Nora Condray Clay, 82, Duluth, Ga., formally of Hokes Bluff, died Saturday.  Survivors: Daughter, Miss Libby Clay Duluth.  Nash Funeral Home, Duluth, directing.  The funeral will be Monday at 10 A.M. (CDT) at Duluth First United Methodist Church with the Rev. J. Harvey West and Dr. G. Michael Carroll officiating.  Grave side services will be held at 4 P.M. at Forrest Cemetery.  Other survivors: sisters, Mrs. Melvin Roper, Gadsden, Mrs. J.D. Handy Hokes Bluff; brothers, Gene Condray, Hokes Bluff, Guy Condray, Gadsden.  Mrs. Clay was a member of the Eastern Star and Rebeka Lodge in Hokes Bluff and the Central United Methodist Church in Gadsden.

I believe that she was a lot like her father.  He almost always let her go with him to take the cotton to gin because the boys would play on the cotton on the wagon and he didn't like that.  She said that she would sit up front on the wagon with her father and talk to him and she always got a candy bar on the way home.

318. James Benson CLAY (Emma Cornelia LAWSON , Mary SISSON , Charles Bruce , William , Thomas ) was born 12 Aug 1869 in Jacksonville, Alabama. He died 22 Sep 1919 in Etowah County, Alabama (Fairview Baptist Church).

James married Josephine Saloma HOOPER on 9 Dec 1894 in Etowah County, Alabama. Josephine was born 9 Aug 1875 in Alabama. She died 17 Dec 1969 in Etowah County, Alabama (Fairview Baptist Church).

319. Margaret Ellen (Maggie) CLAY (Emma Cornelia LAWSON , Mary SISSON , Charles Bruce , William , Thomas ) was born 27 Dec 1871 in Calhoun County, Alabama. She died 7 May 1912 in Texas.

Margaret married Samual W. COX on 2 Dec 1896 in Marshall County, Alabama.

321. Sidney Glenn CLAY (Emma Cornelia LAWSON , Mary SISSON , Charles Bruce , William , Thomas ) was born 28 Sep 1879 in Calhoun County, Alabama. He died 20 Mar 1952 in Murphy, North Carolina (Hanging Dog Cemetery).

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Sidney Clay was a well read man and an excellent debater.  He practiced and promoted progressive politics.  He was a man far ahead of the times.  In addition to his articulating abilities and  intelligence he had a wonderful Sence of humor.  He could see the bright side of any situation and could always get a laugh.  He always had a song in his heart and a smile on his face.

He named his Favorite fox hound after his sister-in-law.  He called the dog "Miss Nora".

This is a letter that Sidney Clay wrote to his sister Flora McDonald.

Walnut Grove, Ala.
         Dec. 2, 1900
Mrs. Flora McDonald

Dear Sister,
I received your letter some days ago.  I am still here at Walnut Grove but I don't know how long I will remain.  

I kindly want to go to Fla. but it is a long way to walk.  You know me and Frank Wynn went to B'ham Thanksgiving Day and we had a good time.  I saw things that I never dreamed of before.  I can't begin to describe what I saw.  I went to a show and saw the crucifixion of Christ just as real as anything you ever saw.  It looked rite pitiful.

I stayed out in the streets until midnight and there was Thanksgiving people on the streets then.  I never slept a wink all night.  Toady, you don't know anything unless you can visit B'ham.

I can get a job down there running a street car at 16 cents an hour but it is too much of a city for me.  Toad, if I am in Ala. next spring I am going to send you the cash to come down here and to really crust yourself up and get stout.  No place like Ala.

Toad, get Bill to speak to John about that money for me.  I want to know why he hasn't paid it.  He has acted weird about it.

I wrote to Uncle Roe just after I came home but I haven't got any answer yet.  I guess they have forgotten me.  

Toad, how did the election go up there?  Was your Mc elected?  What is old Nath doing now?

Toad, if you will come down here Xmas and hang up your sock old Santa Clause will come to see you.  If you will write at once and tell me all of the news I will send you a present anyhow.

Old Toad is mean but I like the old heifer.  I haven't got but two sisters and I am going to be good to them.

Love to you all.  Write soon.

                        Truly,
                        Sidney Clay

The Scout
Murphy, North Carolina Mar 22, 1952

Sidney Glenn Clay, 72, a farmer, died Thursday at his home, Route 3, Murphy after a short illness.

Funeral services were held Saturday at 11 A. M. in Hangingdog Baptist Church.  Burial was in the church cemetery with Ivie Funeral Home in charge.

Al Clay, Walter, Charlie, and Frank McDonald, Wayne Palmer and Lofton Lovingood served as Pallbearers.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Etta Lovingood Clay, five sons, Eugene of Colorado, Harmon of Akron, Ohio, Sidney of Franklin, NC., Clarence of Murphy and Doyle with the U.S. Army stationed at Ft. Lawton, Wash. and 12 grandchildren.

He was a native of Jacksonville, Alabama.

Sidney married Etta May LOVINGOOD on 11 Dec 1911 in Marietta, Georgia. Etta was born 16 Dec 1888 in North Carolina. She died 19 May 1977 in Murphy, North Carolina (Hanging Dog Cemetery).

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Aunt Etta loved a good time.  Mary says that she loved to go to her house because she would let her get in the kitchen and cook and make a mess but she never got upset.  She loved to read and her favorite book was Uncle Tom's Cabin.  For fun I asked to borrow it and she told me that I lived in Atlanta where there was lots of libraries and if they did not have it I made plenty of money and could buy me one.  I played like I was stealing it and she caught me and did not let me have it.