Reubin Burress/Samantha Emaline Taylor

By: Vicki Burress Roach

Reubin Burress was born ca 1846 somewhere in GA. He was the son of Henry R. Burress and Julia (maiden name unknown at this time). Reubin is married by the 1870 census to Samantha Emaline Taylor

and they are residing in Jasper, Walker County, AL. Family stories say Reubin died in 1876 in Jasper, AL when a well caved in on him. He was supposedly cleaning the well according to Grace Burress Batavia. They had 3 small children who were toddlers; James Henry Burress, Alice, and Rube (my great grandfather). Samantha brought her children by wagon train from AL to Tupelo (Lee Co., MS), then 20-Mile Bottom and finally to Rienzi, MS. My great aunt, Grace Batavia, said "Samantha came to MS to be near her people".  Samantha was born in 1852 and died between 1911-1913 in this area. She is buried in Piney Grove Cemetery with her second husband, George W. Jacobs. His first wife was Sarah Burke. He married a third time after Samantha’s death. Samantha and George married in 1889 in Prentiss County, MS.

James Henry Burress, son of Reuben and Samantha, married 3 times and fathered 21 children. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Piney Grove Cemetery.

Alice Burress, daughter of Reuben and Samantha, married Charlie Bearden. Both are buried in Piney Grove Cemetery.

Rubin Elbert Burress, youngest child of Reuben and Samantha, was born 1876 and died in February 22, 1927 in Corinth, MS. On November, 1894 he married Ozella Viola Tittle. Ozella was born March 8, 1880 and died October 11, 1962. They are buried in Piney Grove Cemetery. They had 7 children to live. Ozella was a very young bride and had several children to die during childbirth or shortly thereafter. Their children were; Olen Tennessee Burress 1903-1973, Lois 1905-1984, James Elmer (my grandfather) 1907-1993, Alice 1910-deceased, Charlie Adrian 1912-1952, Grace 1916-deceased, Ruby 1920-deceased. Olen is buried in Peoria, Illinois. Lois is buried in Eastview, Tennessee. Elmer, Grace, Ruby and Charlie are buried in Alcorn County. Alice is buried in West Memphis, Arkansas.