Hightower Family Genealogical Database

Entries: 125841    Updated: 2013-05-06 19:27:45 UTC (Mon)    Contact: Tony Rockefeller
Please click HERE to visit my guestbook
Index | Descendancy | Register | Pedigree | Ahnentafel | Public Profile | Add Post-em
  • ID: I15221
  • Reference Number: 15221
  • Name: Robert Sylvester Hightower
  • Given Name: Robert Sylvester
  • Surname: Hightower 1 2
  • Name: Bob Hightower
  • Given Name: Bob
  • Surname: Hightower 1
  • Sex: M
  • Change Date: 30 OCT 2012
  • Occupation: a miner, and grocery store owner 1
  • Birth: 20 FEB 1869 in Nokomis, Montgomery County, Illinois, USA 3 4 1
  • Census: 02 APR 1930 Alba, Jasper County, Missouri, USA 5 1
  • Death: 23 FEB 1943 in Alba, Jasper County, Missouri, USA 3 4 1
  • Burial: 26 FEB 1943 Weaver Cemetery, Jasper County, Missouri, USA 3 1



    Father: Sterling Silvester Hightower b: 04 FEB 1840 in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Illinois, USA
    Mother: Angeline Rebecca Hancock b: 03 NOV 1843 in Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Illinois, USA

    Marriage 1 Nancy Madison Sallee b: 03 OCT 1876 in Phelps County, Missouri, USA
    • Married: 08 JAN 1893 in Oakland, Jasper County, Missouri, USA 6 7 8 1
    Children
    1. Has Children Flora Angeline Hightower b: 12 JAN 1894 in Prosperity, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
    2. Has Children Robert Sylvesta Hightower b: 15 FEB 1896 in Aurora, Lawrence County, Missouri, USA
    3. Has Children Hazel Lucille Hightower b: 04 OCT 1900 in Oakland, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
    4. Has Children Frances Elizabeth Willard Hightower b: 12 OCT 1903 in Oakland, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
    5. Has Children Mary Ann Hightower b: 29 APR 1907 in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
    6. Has Children Ruth Trilla Hightower b: 21 NOV 1910 in Duenweg, Jasper County, Missouri, USA
    7. Has No Children Birdie Mae Hightower b: 17 SEP 1913 in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, USA

    Sources:
    1. Title: Hightower Family Genealogical Database [database online]. Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA: Anthony Lee Rockefeller
      Abbrev: Hightower Family Genealogical Database [database online]. Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA: Anthony Lee Rockefeller
      Publication: Copyright (c) 1996-2013, Anthony Lee Rockefeller
    2. Title: Precious Memories, Hightower Families in the United States of America from 1698 to the present with Special Attention to descendants of Francis Pharoah Hightower
      Abbrev: Precious Memories
      Author: Eason, Dona M.
      Publication: D. M. Eason, Huntington Beach, CA, c 1989
      Note:
      "Corrections and additions" (15 p.) inserted. Includes bibliographical references and index.
      Repository:
        Name: Allen County Public Library
        Note:
        Internet address: http://www.acpl.lib.in.us

      Note: Page 86, 103-105
    3. Title: Thurman, Robert Sylvester, Research, personal knowledge and family records
      Abbrev: Thurman, Robert Sylvester
    4. Title: Thompson, Eunice Eddene (nee Hightower), Research, personal knowledge and family records
      Abbrev: Thompson, Eunice Eddene (nee Hightower)
      Publication: 1996 - 2006
    5. Title: 1930 Federal Census of Jasper County, Missouri
      Abbrev: 1930 Census of Jasper County, Missouri
      Note: Roll: 1206, Written Sheet No. 1-B, Enumeration District No. 49 - 46, North Main, Dwelling No. 43, Family No. 28, Lines 31 through 35
      Hytier [sic], Robert S., head, 61, age at first marriage 22, born in Illinois, general merchandise, Alba City
      Hytier, Mattie M., wife, 53, age at first marriage 14, born in Missouri, clerk, grocery store
      Cook, Ruth, daughter, 19, age at first marriage 17, born in Missouri
      Cook, Clide [sic], 25, age at first marriage 23, born in Illinois, delivery, grocery store
      Hall, Grace, grand daughter, 15, born in Missouri
    6. Title: Precious Memories, Hightower Families in the United States of America from 1698 to the present with Special Attention to descendants of Francis Pharoah Hightower
      Abbrev: Precious Memories
      Author: Eason, Dona M.
      Publication: D. M. Eason, Huntington Beach, CA, c 1989
      Note:
      "Corrections and additions" (15 p.) inserted. Includes bibliographical references and index.
      Repository:
        Name: Allen County Public Library
        Note:
        Internet address: http://www.acpl.lib.in.us

      Note: Page 103
    7. Title: Thompson, Eunice Eddene (nee Hightower), Research, personal knowledge and family records
      Abbrev: Thompson, Eunice Eddene (nee Hightower)
      Publication: 1996 - 2006
      Note: Marriage place may be Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri.
    8. Title: Thurman, Robert Sylvester, Research, personal knowledge and family records
      Abbrev: Thurman, Robert Sylvester
      Note: The square dance music filled the room with its toe-tapping rhythm. The dancers laughed together as they went through the steps they were able, for the moment at least, to forget the outside world. It was here that Robert and Mattie met.

      Nancy Madison Sallee Hulsey, age 16, had already lived a lifetime. Robert Silvester Hightower, age 22, had already lived with adventure. The two of them began a new lifetime with their marriage on 8 Jan 1893. Little did they dream this journey would take them through 50 years of marriage, the rearing of Mattie's son, Guy, who became a son for Robert, and six daughters. There were moments of grief, of losing their infant daughter, Birdie Mae, moments of happiness, and hard times and good times. Robert did what many men of southwest Missouri did at that time. He prospected and worked in mines, and the family income depended on these endeavors. Mattie did what most women did. She kept the home and family together. Food was not always in abundance, water might have to be carried a half mile for family use. They lived as many families did, even with Christmas, they were typical of the times. An orange in a stocking would be the thrill of the day. Fresh fruit at that time of year was almost unheard of. Nuts for each child and if times were good, a personal gift. The children remembered these times with happy thoughts.

      After the children grew up and were married, Mattie opened a restaurant in Duenweg, MO and she developed her specialty, chili. Later they began a new venture, the grocery store, that became known as the general store, in which they sold something of everything. Little did they realize that eventually, most of their children would follow them in this business. They usually settled in small rural communities and they used the bartering system. Their customers, farmers, would sell them chickens, eggs, and cream for money to buy what they needed. Anything over the amount of their produce was charged.

      Mattie had a strong personality and could meet people well, which made her a natural in the business. She had a sense of humor, strong faith in God, family, and it all brought much laughter, love and good times into her life. The songs she sang to her children and grandchildren still live in them today.

      Robert was a man's man. His erect body and his walking gait told the world he was such a man. He had a quiet grin and a twinkle in his eyes that let you know that he, too, had a sense of humor. His happiest times were in the out of doors. His love of playing horseshoes equaled only that of fishing and he excelled at both. Many a horseshoe player learned that when Robert complained of his shoulder acting up, that he was actually in good form that day. Such was the time he made 49 ringers out of 50.

      Going home became a Sunday tradition for their children and families after they married. No formal invitation or planning...they just came. They brought their own favorite dishes with them for the Sunday dinner. The air would be filled with appetite building smells and the table loaded with food. There would be fried fish if Robert had been fishing that day, or wild duck or quail if the son-in-laws had been hunting. Mattie did her part too with her crock of pinto beans, baked her lemon cake, fixed hot rolls, cole slaw, orange-pineapple salad and roast beef with noodles. Summer would bring fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cream gravy and sliced tomatoes from the garden. Home made vanilla ice cream churned to a firmness and served with home made chocolate sauce or home made pineapple topping or fresh baked blackberry cobbler.

      Then a change came to the family. In 1941, the nation went to war and some family members moved away from the area for war work while grandsons went into the armed services. Some moved away at such a distance that visits became once or twice a year, yet, in spite of the miles or time that separated family members, the sense of family lived in each person, nurtured by memories and traditions.

      In February, 1943, Robert passed away shortly after he and Mattie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Mattie joined him in death in July of 1963.

      The family has grown into its 6th generation. We are separated by miles but the legacy of family is still with us. We cherish the memories...memories built on happenings, stories, and traditions. Traditions handed down from generation to generation include foods eaten on those Sundays so long ago at the home of Mattie and Robert.
    • Index | Descendancy | Register | Pedigree | Ahnentafel | Public Profile | Add Post-em
    PLEASE submit scanned copies of photographs, documents, and grave markers to TRock127@cox.net for inclusion in this database. Copyright © 1996-2013 Anthony Lee Rockefeller
    Printer Friendly Version Printer Friendly Version Search Ancestry Search Ancestry Search WorldConnect Search WorldConnect Join Ancestry.com Today! Join Ancestry.com Today!

    WorldConnect Home | WorldConnect Global Search | WorldConnect Help
    RootsWeb.com, Inc. is NOT responsible for the content of the GEDCOMs uploaded through the WorldConnect Program. If you have a problem with a particular entry, please contact the submitter of said entry. You have full control over your GEDCOM. You can change or remove it at any time.