Alice F. Ammons Birt Gardner

GARDNER, ALICE FLORIDA AMMONS BIRT (1861- 1941) ~ Alice Florida Ammons Birt Gardner was born on February 20, 1861, in Newton County, Mississippi to Garner MacConnico Ammons and Ann B. Rogers, both of Fayette County, Tennessee.

Between 1870-1880, the Ammons moved to Texas, settling in Van Zandt County. In 1877, Alice‘s mother, Ann, passed away and is buried in the Prarie Springs Cemetery east of Canton, near the community of Ben Wheeler. Alice was the oldest female of the house when her mother passed and Alice took on her mother‘s duties. In 1896, her father, Garner, would pass away and he too, is buried in the same cemetery as his wife.

On March 11, 1886, Alice F. Ammons married C.K. Birt in Van Zandt County. However, by 1900, C.K. passed away and Alice was living as a widow with her brother Henry R. Ammons in Coryell County, Texas.

Alice then married Confederate Veteran Daniel Washington Gardner between the years of 1911-1920. In 1910, Daniel was married to Queen Ann (nee unknown) and they had one known child: Robert Lee, who was born in September of 1879, in Texas. Daniel was born in Georgia and mustered into Co. B, of the 8th Mississippi Cav., in Perry‘s Batallion and Col. Dillion‘s Brigade as a private. Daniel passed away after 1931, in Coryell County, Texas.

Soon after Daniel‘s death, Alice entered the Confederate Women‘s Home on September 24, 1935. On October 1, 1936, Alice left the home to go live with her brother, Jim C. Ammons in Brownsville, Texas. Upon his death, Alice returned to the Home on July 31, 1938. On March 14, 1941, Alice was admitted to the State Hospital where she passed on May 28, 1941, of advanced breast cancer. Although her wishes were to be buried in Prarie Springs Cemetery along with her father and mother and siblings, her living brothers decided it best to have her lay to rest at the State Cemetery. She was interred two days later.

Sources: Death Certificate, Confederate Home Application, Confederate Veteran Application #41054; Confederate Widow‘s Application #47790; Van Zandt County Texas Prarie Springs Cemetery Listing; Van Zandt County Texas Marriage Records Brides 1885-1894 A-Bri; 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900,1910,1930 US Federal Census Records, www.familysearch.org; www.itd.nps.gov.