Evelyn Lee Campbell

Evelyn Lee Campbell

Evelyn Lee Campbell Ponton, 1884-1960

• Father: Douglas McQueen Campbell b. 24 January 1844, d. 20 October 1925
• Mother: Ella Abercrombie Wood b. 31 January 1852, d. 25 February 1925

• Evelyn Lee Campbell was born on 24 June 1884 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas.
• Evelina Wood wrote (from Willis) to her grandson Wood Powell on 12 April 1887, ". . . I wish your three sweet daughters & Campbell's girls, Lina's & "Ella's little red head could see each other & become acquainted. I want Lina to send you one of "Willie's pictures recently taken. How I long to see you my dear boy and your sweet wife & children. I sometimes think Is life worth living? when kindred are so far away . . ."
       Letter in private collection of B. M. Henwood, descendant of Wm Wood Powell; original transcription by R. E. Reichardt.
• A photographic portrait was made of Evelyn Lee Campbel about 1890.
• Some Campbell cousin "girls" posed for a photograph about 1892.
• Douglas McQueen Campbell and Ella Abercrombie Wood appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 1104 San Jacinto Street. Other members of the household included Evelyn Lee Campbell.
• The following appeared on 25 July 1908 in the Galveston Daily News: Miss Julia Lee Wren is in Houston visiting her cousin, Miss Evelyn Campbell, daughter of Mrs. Douglas Campbell.
• On 9 September 1908, Robert Micajah Powell wrote to Evelyn Lee Campbell: 5260A McPherson ave, Apr 9 - 1908. Dear Evelyn, Note the above new address. We moved our residence last week. We are in a Flat & George & his wife occupy the adjoining one, the young people wanted to try house keeping. we are two families, each in its separate quarters a porch in front serves each apartment, a meeting ground & a way to communicate with each other at any & all hours. I read the great number of the Houston Post of Sept 1st. I credit you with the kind & thoughtful rememberance, altho your Mother's hand inscribed the address on the package -- I enjoyed every word of the wonderful record of the growth of Texas. So many new towns everywhere. The claim of 9,000 inhabitants of Houston surprises me, altho I have always believed in its growth, yet it has come a little sooner than I expected. It is bound to be the principal City of Texas, has just begun to grow. He is fortunate who owns a few feet of its historic soil. When you write give me Sarah's address. I have lost her & I miss her delightful letters. I inclose you my letter to the old boys at the reunion at Jacksonville -- Put it in your scrap Book & Some day hence -- say fifty years you will wonder what it means. Where are the people to whom it was written. In a few days I will be 82 years old & I am under the dominion of my years & I have to be obedient to their exactons. The family tradition gives me two more years to live. I keep well but of very little account. Give my love to your mother, father, Billy, Josie -- all of our people & an abundance to yourself. Your Uncle Mike.
• Douglas McQueen Campbell and Ella Abercrombie Wood appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at 1006 San Jacinto Street. Other members of the household included Evelyn Lee Campbell.
• She married Harwood D. Ponton, son of John Ponton and Winifred Pauline Koonce, circa 1910.
• Ellerbe sent a postcard during World War I to her cousin Evelyn Campbell Ponton: "Have I sent you one of these? I look like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders but you shall see it just the same --. "
• Harwood D. Ponton and Evelyn Lee Campbell appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Other members of the household included Ella Wood Ponton, Harwood Douglas Ponton, Douglas McQueen Campbell and Ella Abercrombie Wood.
• The following appeared on 28 March 1926 in The Times-Picayune: (Lake Charles, La.) Mrs. M. B. Rotholz and son, Max, Jr., of Omaha, Neb., are visiting Mrs. H. D. Ponton       Lavinia Abercrombie Rotholz' maternal grandfather was a brother of Evelyn Lee Campbell Ponton's mother.
• Harwood D. Ponton and Evelyn Lee Campbell appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, at 917 South Division Street. Other members of the household included Ella Wood Ponton and Harwood Douglas Ponton.
• The following appeared on 2 October 1932 in The Times-Picayune: (Lake Charles, La.) Mrs. Max Rotholz and son, Max, Jr., have returned to Houston after a visit with Mrs. H. D. Ponton.
       
• A photograph was made in 1938 of "Doc" Ponton with daughter Ella and wife Evelyn.
• Harwood D. Ponton and Evelyn Lee Campbell appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, at 917 South Division Street. Other members of the household included Ella Wood Ponton and Harwood Douglas Ponton. It is noted that son Harwood was absent from the household.
• She was employed as a church librarian, according to the 1940 census.
• During the early 1950s, Doc and Ev Ponton were visited in Louisiana by Mrs. Robert Goree, Minnie Wood, Anna Goree, and Eloise Powell.
• Evelyn Lee Campbell died on 29 January 1960 at age 75 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
• Her husband Harwood D. Ponton became a widower at her death.
• The following appeared on 29 January 1960 in the Lake Charles American Press: Mrs. Evelyn Ponton of 917 South Division street, wife of Harwood D. Ponton, died at 7:35 a.m. today at the Lake Charles Memorial hospital. She had lived in Lake Charles for the past 41 years.
       The body is at the Hixson funeral home, where Christian Science services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with Leader Frank Ferrar officiating.
       She was a member of the First Church of Christian Scientists here and the Mother Church of Boston, Mass. She was active for many years in local civic and welfare work and served in many organizations.
       Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Ella Wood Ponton of Lake Charles; one son, Harwood D. Ponton Jr., of Baton Rouge, and one granddaughter.
• She was interred at Brookside Memorial Park, Houston, Harris County, Texas.

• Last Edited: 17 Dec 2014

• Charts: Descendants of ABERCROMBIE Charles & Edwina Malinda "Dicey" Booth, Descendants of CAMPBELL Archibald & Rebecca Kirk, Descendants of WOOD William & Lydia Ballentine