Mikel (or Michael) Andrew Pyeatt was born July 25, 1862 in Illinois (or Missouri or Casper, Wyoming) and died February 27, 1935 in Concord Township, Washington County, Missouri. He is buried in the Mitchell Cemetery, St Francois Co, MO (see photo of headstone in the "Mikel A Pyeatt Descendants album). He married Rosetta Thurmond in Shannon County, MO, on 12 Oct, 1889, at the home of her guardian, H N Thurmond by S M Rowlett, JP. Rosetta was said to be Cherokee indian adopted into the Thurmond family by a Dr Thurmond. However, an obituary of her father, lists her parents as William Phillip Thurmond and Katie Calvert (see below). She was born September 1, 1871, and died January 19, 1933. Rosetta is also buried in the Mitchell Cemetery (see photo of headstone in the Mikel A Pyeatt Descendants album).
We beleived that Mikel was the sixth child born to William D and Diana Hornsby Pyeatt. However, Mike's death certificate information given by his son, James V Pyeatt, lists his father as David Pyeatt. We will be trying to determine who this person is.
Mike's birthyear and the proximity to Mikel in various counties to other children of William and Diana had pointed to his being 'their' Michael. Also, I only know of one other Michael Pyeatt/Piatt, etc. it not being a very common Pyeatt name. At the time of Diana's death in Tulsa, OK, in 1928, her obituary stated that "She is survived by 5 sons, Mike, William, George, Byrd and Frank; 1 daughter, Mrs Weickel, all of Tulsa, and another daughter, Mrs Stephens of Oklahoma City." This is one of the pieces of this puzzle that hasn't yet been confirmed. Did Mikel Andrew Pyeatt live in Tulsa in 1928? Norma Manser offered the story that Mikel had been a security guard in Oklahoma and that he met Rosetta Thurmond there.
Michael Pyeatt and Rosetta Thurman/Thurmond had the following known children:
I have listed William Irvin as a child of Rosetta's. However, there is the possibility that he was the result of a first marriage of Mikel's. I say this due the timing of the the marriage versus the birth of William Irvin. He was born either in 1888, 1890 or 1891 (based on his headstone, his birthyear on the 1900 census and his age on the 1920 census respectively).
Of interest to me in the naming of these children: William might have been named for Mikel's father; Azlee is the name of Washington Byrd Pyeatt's wife whom he married very close to the time of Azlee Lavonne's birth; Katherine was a Pyeatt family name. I have been in contact with Norma Manser Manser3401@cs.com of Springfield, Missouri who can provide more information on the children of Mikel and Rosetta which I will be sharing - if she will allow.
Mikel and family appear as follows on the 1900 federal census of Johnson Township, Carter Co, Missouri:
Living in the same Township at 151/37/27/88 is Frank C Pyeatt and family whom we have determined to be William and Diana's son.
Note that Michael's birthplace is given as Illinois. Michael son of Wm and Diana was born in Missouri. However, the fifth son of Wm and Diana was born in Illinois and we know of many instances of people giving different places of birth than what their parents originally reported for them as children. Also, these Pyeatt sons have been notorious for not knowing where their parents (or, they themselves) were born or for putting their mother's place of birth as Texas (where she and William were married). So, I was not surprised at this Michael's difference in place of birth.> I find it strange that there would be two Michaels (not a popular name at that time, also the only Michael Pyeatt in all my older records (pre 1950s)) marrying in Shannon County near children of Wm and Diana (William C 1890, John H 1891 and George W 1886) and living in Carter County near children of William and Diana (Frank C - Johnson Township; John H - Kelley Township). When I viewed the actual census page I learned that Michael gave not only his place of birth, but also that of his father as Illinois and his mother as Kentucky. Also, descendants of Mikel Andrew Pyeatt have told me that he was born in Casper, Wyoming. So, that needs to be investigated as well as the information that Rosetta was adopted by a Dr Thurmond.
By the 1920 census, Mike and family appeared as follows in Randolph Township, St. Francois County, MO:
Neighbors of Mikel and family in 1920 were Chas. Glore family on one side of them on the census and a Robert Glore family listed immediately after them. Other family names are Ulbert House, Sterling Lawson, Jr., Sterling Lawson, Sr., Ernest Raddatz, Jerry Wilkinson, Wm. O'Neal, W. H. Mills, Ernest Rice, C. E. Clay, John Forshee, Arthur Williamson, W. Moore, Joseph A. Lawson, Godfrey O'Neal, Lister, Semar.
Mike's death certificate reads as follows:
Missouri State Board of Health / Bureau of Vital Statistics / Certificate of Death 1. Place of death: County - Washington; Township - Concord; City - (blank); Registration District No - 886; Primary Registration District No - 6178; File No - 7878 2. Full Name: Mike Andrew Pyatt; Residence: (blank) 3. Sex: M 4. Color or Race: White 5. Single, Married, Widowed or Divorced: Widow 6. Date of Birth: July 25, 1862 7. Age: 72 years 5 months 11 days 8. through 11. Occupation: (blank) 12. Birthplace: Illinois 13. Name of father: David Pyeatt 14. Birthplace of father: Unknown 15. Maiden name of mother: Unknown 16. Birthplace of mother: Unknown 17. informant: Jas V Pyeatt 18. Burial, Cremation or Removal: Place - Mitchell; Date - 28 1935 19. Undertaker: Harman White & Son Ironton, Mo. 20. Filed: 4-16 J. P. Ye????? 21. Date of Death: 2-27 1935 22. I hereby certify, That I attended the deceased from 2-20 1935 to 2-27 1935. I last saw him alive on 2-27 1935. Death is said to have occurred on the date stated above, at 7am. The principal cause of death and related causes of importance were as follows: ?Lobar? Pneumonia 23. (blank) 24. Was disease or injury in any way related to occupation of deceased? No Signed: J. P. ?Yeuryestin? M.D. Ironton, Mo
Other clues come from St Francois County cemeteries. In the cemetery at Mitchell just outside of Leadwood and Frankclay, known as company cemetery meaning it was owned by the St Joseph Lead Co for its employees and families to use (according to Barbara Serini). Mikel A Pyeatt Jul 25, 1865 - Feb 27, 1935; R. Etta Pyeatt Sep 1 1871 - Jan 19 1933; Margaret Pyeatt Apr 28 1917 - Oct 9 1969 wife of James. Buried in the cemetery in Leadwood, MO, is Irvin Pyeatt Jul 27, 1888 - Jun 26, 1966.
Following is the obituary for Phillip William Thurmond which was posted to the Franklin County rootsweb page by Julia Bandy:
Death has "called" another honored citizen from the ranks of Franklin County pioneers: P. W. Thurmond, while in Casey and Companys Store on Friday, Jan 31, 1912, was stricken with paralysis. He was taken to the home of Lawrence Adams where on Feb. 4 he passed away at the age of sixty-three years and six months. Mr.Thurmond was born on the old homestead on Indian Creek in August 1849. In 1882, he was married to Miss Katie Calvert, to which one child, Mrs. Ettie Pyeatt, of Flat River, Mo. he married his second wife, Miss E. J. Todd, in 1883. To this union eight chldren were born, four of whom with the wife and mother survive. Four of the children, Milton, Ereuna, Eliza and Lufratus, have preceded their father to the land of rest. The surviving children are Mrs. Ettie Pyeatt, of Flat River: Homer, Vernon, Allen and Blanche. He also leaves one brother, C. W. Thurmond and one sister, Mrs. Mary Young of Indianaplois,Iron County, Mo., who take up the broken thread of lifes weary way to the close of the day when lifes joys and sorrows are ended and his loved ones may assemble on that beautiful resurrection morning when all will meet in grand reunion. As a father he endeavored to inspire principles of high ideals into his loved ones. Mr. Thurmond was a member of the Prospect Baptist Church for more than 12 years. His remains were tenderly laid to rest in the Prospect Cemetery on Wednesday, Feburary 5, in the presence of a large assembly of mourning relatives and sorrowing friends. Rev. Wm. C. Hinson conducted the services.
Sources:
Back to Home
Back to William and Dianne Pyeatt
