1905 Mar 12:  JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION (written “J. W. CHAMPION” on the record) married his second wife LESIE ANN GRACE McCAIN (written “MRS. LESSIE GRACE” on the record), in Lafayette Co., MS.  The ceremony was performed by J. W. LOVELADY, J. P.  She had been married twice before.  She had been married two times before—(1) W. M. McCAIN and (2) to GEORGE GRACE, by whom she had two children—(1) LELA GRACE, born 1898 in MS, and (2) STELLA GRACE, born 1900 in MS.  I have been told that George Grace was her first husband, and W. M. McCain was her second husband; but the marriage record (to J. W. Champion) named her as “Mrs. Lessie Grace,” which would indicate that George Grace was her second husband.  Need to prove.  T. F. Champion remembers hearing her name pronounced “Lisa.”  (Marriage record per Lafayette County, Mississippi Marriage Records, Book O, page 280.  License 11 Apr 1905.  Marriage dated 12 Apr 1905.  Filed 29 Jun 1905.  Recorded 5 Jul 1905.)   Photocopy of original record on file; taken from Lafayette Co., MS courthouse Oct 2006 by CCM.

1906 Dec 19:  The only child of JOHN WILLIAM and LESIE/LISA CHAMPION was born--ELVIS OSCAR CHAMPION--at Lafayette Co., MS.  He ultimately married LOY COLE, and he died 28 Oct 1975, of heart failure, was buried in St. Peters Cemetery, Oxford (Lafayette), MS, in Section 9, which is part of the Oxford Memorial Gardens. (The birth and death dates are from his tombstone.)

1910 FEDERAL CENSUS--LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI (Beat 4, Supervisor’s District 2, Enumeration District 32, taken 10 May 1910 by William P. Anderson), Roll T624_745, Sheet 14A (lines 12-19):

Living in Dwelling 263 (Family 270) was the household of JOHN W. CHAMPION.  He was age 56, born in MS (both his parents also born in MS), a farmer, owning his farm, free of mortgage (Farm Schedule 278).  His wife LESIE CHAMPION was age 34,  born in MS (her father born in MS, her mother born in KY).  They had been married five years.  They reported five children, all born in MS--(1) MAMIE CHAMPION (age 17, daughter, able to read and write, not attending school, a laborer on the home farm),  (2) VOLLIE CHAMPION (age 15, son, able to read and write, not attending school, a laborer on the home farm), (3) LEWIS CHAMPION (son, age 7, attended school in the year), (4) LELA GRACE  (stepdaughter, age 12, laborer on the home farm, able to read and write, attended school in the year), (5) STELLA GRACE (step daughter, age 10,  able to read and write, laborer on the home farm, attended school in the year), and (6) ELVIS CHAMPION (son, age 3).   Note that WILLIE A. CHAMPION, who would have been 12 years old, was not listed in the household, at this time.  She might have been living with her oldest sister or brother.  Mamie, Vollie, and Lewis were John Champion’s children by his first wife, Donzella Elizabeth “Betty” Champion.  Lela and Stella Grace were his stepdaughters, children of Lesie Champion and her former husband, George Grace.  Elvis Champion was the son of John and Lesie Champion.

1916:  It was probably this year, or about this time, that VOLLIE LEE CHAMPION married ADDIE CORINE PEGRAM in MS.  They probably married in Water Valley (Yalobusha), MS, where ADDIE's sister MAGGIE PEGRAM WOMBLE was living.  It is not known whether they married there, or in Attala Co., MS, where her family was living.  Still need to prove both date and place of marriage.  (For further information regarding their lives and descendants, see family group records for VOLLIE LEE & ADDIE CORINE PEGRAM and her father THOMAS FRANKLIN PEGRAM.   See also CHAMPION file, for copies of records, and other information.)

1917 Jun 5:  VOLLIE CHAMPION registered in the World War I Civilian Draft Registration, in Lafayette Co., MS; but his residence was given as RFD, Water Valley, MS.    He did not get called to serve.

1917 Nov 9:  WILLIE A. CHAMPION married GROPHY YOUNG.  (Do not know location.)  They had 4 children--(1) MILDRED YOUNG (whose first husband was RALPH WILLIS), (2) ROBERT LEE YOUNG, (3) ILA MAE YOUNG, and (4) JAMES URSAL YOUNG.  WILLIE died sometime in the early 1970's, per TFC.  (For further information regarding their descendants, see CHAMPION file.)

1918 Sep 12:  WILLIAM OSCAR CHAMPION registered in the World War I Civilian Draft Registration, in Yalobusha Co., MS.  The same day, his brother SIDNEY ANDREW CHAMPION registered in Lafayette Co., but his residence was given as RFD, Water Valley, MS.    They were not called to serve.

1920 FEDERAL CENSUS--TUPEL0 (YALOBUSHA), MS (Beat 2, Sheet 6A, Supervisor’s District 4, Enumeration District 121, taken 15 Jan 1920, by WALTER B. HUNTER, page 2217/6393):  

Living in Dwelling 101 (Family 104) was the household of WILLIAM O. CHAMPION.  He was a farmer (Farm Schedule 107), owned  his farm, mortgaged, was age 34, born in MS, with both his parents also born in MS.  His wife was VIOLA CHAMPION (age 32, born in MS, with both parents born in MS), and they listed 3 children living in their home, all born in MS--(1) GLADYS CHAMPION (daughter, age 12,  attended school in the year), (2) HERMAN CHAMPION (son, age 10, attended school in the year), and (3) BILLIE CHAMPION (son,  age 1-6/12).  (See CHAMPION file, for census worksheet.)

1920 FEDERAL CENSUS—YALOBUSHA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI (Township 10, Beat 2, Supervisor’s District 4, Enumeration District 121, page 5B, lines 89-94.  Taken 14 Jun 1920 by William Hunter.):

Living in Dwelling 94 (Family 97) was the household of VOLLIE L. CHAMPION.  He was age 24, born in MS, as well as both his parents.  He was a farmer, renting the farm, working on his “own account.”  His farm was listed on farm schedule number 100.  His wife was ADDIE C. CHAMPION, age 21, born in MS, as well as both her parents.  They listed 4 others living in their household, all born in Mississippi—(1) MARIE O. CHAMPION (daughter, age 2.  The census taker’s writing is difficult to dicipher, here, being either “2” or “2-1/2” either of which would be correct, since she would have reached age 8, the following October); and (2) MATTIE C. CHAMPION (daughter, age 1—again, the census taker’s writing being unclear, but she would have reached age 1 just 2 weeks prior to this date; another error is in the name.  Her name was actually “ADDIE CORINE,” so it appears the census taker heard her name incorrectly); (3) JOHN W. CHAMPION (father, age 65, occupation given as “none,” born in MS, as well as both his parents);  and (4) JOHN L. CHAMPION (brother, age 17, born in MS, as well as both parents, occupation “labor,” “working farm,” for wages).  Everyone in the household could read and write, except for the young children.  See CHAMPION file, for copy of this census page, taken from Ancestry.com’s census images online, on 11 Jan 2003.  See also Picture file filename “1920 Census – Yalobusha Co MS – Vollie Champion.”

1930 FEDERAL CENSUS—LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI (Beat 4, Enumeration District 36-10, Supervisor’s District 2):

Listed on Sheet 6B (taken 10 Apr 1930 by Leburn A. Neal), living in Dwelling 122 (Family 122) was the household of JOHN B. KING and his wife ELIZABETH KING.  He was age 56, born in MS (father born in AL, mother born in MS), and a farmer, renting his farm (“general farm,” Farm Schedule 120).  His wife was age 53, born in MS (as were both her parents); and her occupation was listed as “none.”  They had been married for 34 years, having married when he was age 22 and she was age 19.  Both of them could read and write.  Note:  ELIZABETH KING was DONZELLA ELIZABETH CHAMPION, oldest daughter of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION.  This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image taken from Ancestry.com. 

Listed on Sheet 6B (taken 10 Apr 1930 by Leburn A. Neal), living in Dwelling 123 (Family 123) was the household of C. V. KING.  He was the oldest son of John and Bettie King.  He was age 30, a farmer, renting his farm (census calling it a “general farm”).  He was born in MS, as were both his parents.  He and his wife ETHEL KING (age 30, born in MS, as were both of her parents) had been married for ten years (both age 20, at the time of marriage).  They could read and write.  They had six children, all born in MS—(1) CLAUDINE KING (difficult to read, not sure if this name is correct; son, age 9, attending school and could read and write), (2) J. B. KING (son, age 7, attending school, could read and write), (3) DUEL KING (son, age 6, attending school, could read and write), (4) NEWEL KING (son, age 5, attending school), (5) RUSSELL KING (son, age 3-6/12), and (6) TAYLOR M. KING (son, age 1-9/12).  This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image taken from Ancestry.com. 

Listed on Sheet 7A (taken 11 Apr 1930 by Leburn E. Neal), living in Dwelling 131 (Family 131) was the household of S. A. CHAMPION and his wife IDA CHAMPION.  He was age 47, born in MS (as well as both parents), a farmer, owning his farm (Farm Schedule 129).  His wife IDA was age 46, also born in MS (along with both her parents).  They had been married for 27 years (since he was age 20 and she was age 19).  Only one child was listed in their household—RUTHIE CHAMPION, a daughter, age 10, who was born in MS and was attending school.  (This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image taken from Ancestry.com.  Census Roll)

1930 FEDERAL CENSUS—YALOBUSHA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI (Beat 2, Enumeration District 81-10, Supervisor’s District 2):

Listed on Sheet 5A (page 82, stamped, taken 16 Apr 1930 by Harry P. Quinn) was the household of ROBERT E. YOUNG, living in Dwelling 82 (Family 85).  He was age 29, a farmer, owning his farm (Farm Schedule 85), and was born in MS, as were both of his parents.  His wife was WILLIE M. YOUNG, age 29, born in MS (as were both her parents).  Her occupation was listed as “none.”  They had been married for 17 years.  Living in their household were the following, all born in MS:  (1) MILDRED I. YOUNG (daughter, age 9, attending school), (2) ROBERT L. YOUNG (son, age 4, not attending school), (3) ILA M. YOUNG (daughter, age 1-11/12), (4) JAMES W. YOUNG (son, age 1/12), and (5) JOHN L. CHAMPION (brother-in-law, age 27, could not read or write, occupation “laborer,” farm worker, not a war veteran).  This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image taken from Ancestry.com.  Note:  WILLIE YOUNG was the youngest daughter of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION, and her husband was known to the family as GROPHY YOUNG.  They had married in 1917.

Listed on Sheet 11A (page stamped 88, taken 16 Apr 1930 by Mrs. Eugene Tarver), was the household of WILL J. HAYLES, living in Dwelling 5, Family 6.  He was age 45, a farmer renting his farm (Farm Schedule 5); and he was born in MS (his father also born in MS, his mother born in AL).  His wife was MAMIE L. HAYLES (age 37, could read and write, born in MS, both parents born in MS, occupation “none”), and they had been married for 17 years-19 years.  They listed six children, all born in MS—(1) CARITON L. HAYLES (son, age 18, single, laborer, could read and write), (2) MORRIS D. HAYLES (son, age 14, attending school, could read and write), (3) CLAUDE R. HAYLES (son, age 11, attending school, could read and write), (4) WILLIAM J. HAYLES (son, age 8, attending school), (5) ELMER L. HAYLES (son, age 5, not attending school), and (6) CHARLES B. HAYLES (son, age 2-3/12).  This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image, taken from Ancestry.com.  Note:  MAMIE HAYLES was the daugher of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION.

Livng in the next dwelling (same page, page 11A/88, taken 16 Apr 1930 by Mrs. Eugene Turner) to WILL and MAMIE (CHAMPION) HAYLES was the family of WILL O. CHAMPION (Dwelling 6, Family 7).  He was age 45, a farmer, renting his farm, a “truck farm” (Farm Schedule 6).  He and his parents were born in MS.  He and his wife VIOLA CHAMPION had been married 23 years.  They had two children, both born in MS—(1) HERMAN D. CHAMPION (age 20, not married, occupation being laborer on the farm, could read and write) and (2) WILLIAM CHAMPION (age 11, attending school, could read and write, occupation listed as “none”).  This information taken from the census microfilm; see CHAMPION file, for printout of the image, taken from Ancestry.com (from National Archives Census Roll T626-1172).   Note:  WILL O. CHAMPION was WILLIAM OSCAR CHAMPION, son of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION.

1935 Apr 28:  JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION died this date in Lafayette Co., MS, of cancer, per his death certificate and grandchildren.  He was buried in the Palestine Cemetery, the next day, per death certificate.  (Cemetery is located in the southeast corner of Lafayette Co., MS, near the Yalobusha County  line.  See CHAMPION file, for certified copy of death certificate.  JOHN had been blind for a long time and had stayed with different children, including son VOLLIE CHAMPION, per grandson Frank Champion.  His great granddaughter LUCILLE CLEMENTS (descendant of BETTY CHAMPION) told her daughter that she remembered his walking back and forth around the front porch edge, holding on for guidance, wearing a deep rut into the ground there, from all the walking. His grandson Thomas F. Champion, Sr. remembers leading his grandfather around, as a young boy.  (For photograph of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION and certified copy of death certificate, see CHAMPION file.)

1937:  LEWIS CHAMPION died in Yalobusha Co., MS and was buried in Palestine Cemetery, beside his mother's grave.  Tombstone reads,  "LEWIS CHAMPION/ died 1937."  (Death date copied from his tombstone by CCM, 1988.  The cemetery is located in the southeast corner of Lafayette Co., MS, near the Yalobusha Co. line.))

1969 Jan 7:  WILLIAM JOSEPH HAYLES, SR., died this date, per tombstone.  He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley, MS (having been born 1 Sep 1883, per stone).   1969 Nov 24:  MAMIE CHAMPION HAYLES died this date, per tombstone in Oak Hill Cemetery, Water Valley, MS.

1970 Oct 18:  SIDNEY ANDREW CHAMPION died this date and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley (Yalobusha), MS.  His residence at death was Water Valley.  Date of death is per tombstone inscription.

1975 Oct 28:  ELVIS OSCAR CHAMPION, SR. died, per his tombstone inscription at St. Peter’s Cemetery (Section 9, part of the Oxford Memorial Gardens.)  His place of death was at his home, located on Highway 7, south of Oxford (Lafayette), MS, near the old Oxford air strip. 

For further information regarding the ancestry of JOHN WILLIAM CHAMPION and DULCEBELLA JANE (HARDING) CHAMPION, see family group records for SIDNEY L. CHAMPION and LEWIS G. HARDING