From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, not currently in print.
Archibald McCravy Lavender, son of Simeon and Mary McCravy Lavender, grandson of Revolutionary War soldier, Charles Lavender, Jr., was born May 18, 1813 in Spartanburg District, South Carolina, on his father’s plantation. He was taught to work on the farm even though the family owned slaves. Archibald attended boarding school with his brothers, William and Charles, and was known to be a scholar of Greek and Latin. He moved to Lowndes County, Alabama, with his parents in 1827, settling near Selma. He returned to South Carolina shortly after wards to finish his education there, where his grandfather, Archibald McCravy, for whom he was named, lived. Possibly he married Sarah L. Duckworth circa 1831 in Spartanburg District while there. By 1840, they are listed on the census in Lowndes County, Alabama, living there until 1845, at which time Archibald moved his family and slaves to Texas. They came in wagons drawn by ox teams and homesteaded 640 acres of Land out of the Peters Colony near the present town of Red Oak in Ellis County, arriving on Christmas Day, 1846.
A rugged individual, he teamed up with Norvell (Norval) R. Winniford, William J. Winniford, Will Morgan and Harmon P. Crum, his brother-in-law, joining a wagon train of gold seekers headed for California in 1850. After two years in the gold fields, he returned by way of Panama to Galveston, bought a wagon and team, and went home to his family in Ellis County. In November, 1852, “Arch” moved his family to Dallas County, where he used his gold dust to buy the headright certificate of Peter Hall, using it to patent the land preempted and occupied by Hall just north and west of the City of Lancaster, fronting on Pleasant Run Road, running north to Wintergreen Road. He built a home on Pleasant Run Road which stood for another generation before it burned. The 1860 census lists him as a farmer with considerable property. Archibald was called the “Squire” and served several times as Justice of the Peace of Lancaster. He died on September 18, 1864 and was buried in Edgewood Cemetery in Lancaster. His wife, Sarah, who was born February 6, 1812 in South Carolina (parents unknown), continued to live in the homeplace until her death on March 22, 1867. She was placed beside her husband on their lot in the Edgewood Cemetery.
They were the parents of ten children, six sons, who all served the Confederacy during the War Between the States, and four daughters listed as follows: 1) James Irvin born 23 December 1833, married Lillis Elender Douglas December, 1859. 2) Mary E. born 1835, married Harmon P. Crum, Jr. January, 1858. 3) Charles H. born 1836, married Martha Ann Virginia Tucker Kirk May, 1865. 4) Susan E. born 1838, single. 5) Virgil Gerome born 8 January 1841, married Eveline Lewis July, 1867. 6) William Albert born 4 January 1844, married Margaret E. Crum December, 1865. 7) Walter S. born 9 April 1845, married Lucy Jane Miller December, .1866. 8) Cecil E. “Buddy” born 1846, married Mary Frances Holloway February, 1873. 9) Almeda Ellafare born 20 March 1849, married Edwin Miller White January, 1866. 10) Sarah Anna born 1 March 1853, married James Densley Hall December, 1873.
There are approximately 30 Lavender descendants buried in the Pioneer Section of Edgewood Cemetery, Lancaster, Texas.
June Anderson Shipley is descended from Archibald McCravy and Sarah L. Duckworth Lavender. Her grandmother was Mary Rosannah Lavender, child of James Irvin Lavender. That line is given: Mary Rosannah Lavender born 1864, died 1892, buried Edgewood Cemetery; married Eugene Fern brook Anderson, Sr., born 1858, died 1888, buried in Edgewood Cemetery. Only child: Eugene P. Anderson, Jr. Eugene Pembrook Anderson, Jr. born 1886, died 1966, buried Edgewood Cemetery; married Freda Ileen Winniford born 1895, died 1978, buried Edgewood Cemetery. Children: Laura Jean Anderson and June Anderson. June Anderson born 1934, married Wayne Shipley born 1934.
Mrs. Jo Wall is also descended from the pioneers Archibald and Sarah Lavender through her great grandfather, Virgil Gerome Lavender, who was the father of Arthur Woodville Lavender. That line is as follows: Arthur Woodville Lavender, son of Virgil Gerome Lavender and Eveline L. Lewis, was born December 10, 1871 in Lancaster, Texas, died June 12, 1958 in Coffeeville, Texas, buried Coffeeville Cemetery, Coffeeville, Texas; married Meta Victoria Cooper October 24, 1900 in Waxahachie, Texas. Meta was born December 5, 1872 in Arkansas, died January 5, 1961 in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, buried Coffeeville Cemetery, Coffeeville, Texas.
By June Anderson Shipley and Mrs. Jo Wall, Dallas
