“And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.”        The Holy Bible   King James Version  Genesis 9:7

Lydia Fowler must have been a good Christian woman, for she obeyed the Word of God.  She had many children, and her children had many children, and there are countless numbers of her descendants walking the earth today.

The first time that Lydia Fowler is mentioned in a legal document appears to be in the 1822 Last Will and Testament of her father, Ephraim Fowler:

If one is to believe that Ephraim Fowler listed his children in their birth order, then Lydia Fowler was the oldest daughter of Ephraim and Nancy Fowler.   It is my belief that she was born circa 1785 in Union County, South Carolina.

The Charles E. Hames mentioned in the Last Will and Testament descended from a long line of the well documented and well researched Hames family.   His grandfather Charles Hames (1732-1807) could be considered the patriarch of the Union County Hames family.  The elder Charles Hames and his wife Catherine Krugg (d. 1835) were the parents of William Hames (1759-1823).

William Hames and his wife Elizabeth Moseley (1763-1850) had several sons and daughters.  William Hames also had an out of wedlock son — Charles E. Hames — and it was this son that Lydia Fowler had married in the very early 1800s.

Last Will and Testament of William Hames:

My will and desire is also that Charles Hames my son who was born out of wedlock should share with my other children at the death or marriage of my said wife and I have made this special mention knowing that my said son Charles could not claim under this will as legally one of my heirs and I do by these present give and bequeath to the said Charles Hames or his heirs an equal share of my estate at the time of my wife’s death or marriage.

The Children of Lydia Fowler and Charles Hames

Elizabeth Hames 1804–1891
Nancy Hames 1807–1840
Sarah Hames 1809–1855
William P Hames 1810–1880
Theresa “Tracey” Hames 1812–1870
Coleman Hames 1814–1887
Cinthia Jeanette Hames 1817–1901
Pressley Harrison Hames 1820–1900
Joshua Hames 1827–
Franklin “Frank” Hames 1828–1903
Mary Hames 1835–1908

Charles Hames died in 1847. In 1850, Lydia Fowler Hames and her two youngest children Franklin and Mary Hames lived in the household with Lydia’s mother, the elderly Nancy Moseley Fowler. The estate of Ephraim Fowler, who died in 1822, was in the process of being settled between the years of 1846 to 1849. I do not know if they were living in the Ephraim Fowler home place or the Charles Hames home place.

I have been researching the descendants of Lydia Fowler and Charles Hames for a very long time. What follows in my attempt in sharing some of the stories of their lives…

Charles Hames and Lydia Fowler’s son youngest son Franklin Hames married Cecelia Comer. This couple stayed and raised their family in Union County. A son, Thomas F. Hames was born to them in 1862. He married Elizabeth Faucett, and they had five sons and two daughters.

In 1890, the Thomas F. Hames family moved from Union County SC to a ranch near Frisco, Texas, now a suburb of Dallas. Their oldest son, William Henry Hames (b. 1886) was twelve years old when he, his parents, and his siblings became ill in 1898 with typhoid fever. His parents and one brother died. He and his younger brothers and sisters went to live with his maternal grandparents, John and Rose Faucett, in Denton, Texas.

William Henry Hames, known as Bill Hames, was a great grandson of Lydia Fowler Hames. When he was fifteen, he traveled by wagon all day to Gainesville, Texas, a thirty-one mile trip from Denton, to see his first carnival. HIs mind was made up. He graduated from high school and got his start in the entertainment business by buying a carousel and dragging it from town to town. Many years of hard work and sheer determination and Bill Hames became the owner of one of the largest carnival conglomerates in the country. Bill Hames Shows, Incorporated.

Bill Hames was also a rancher, living on a 4000 acre spread near Pilot Point, Texas. He married Mary Frances Cardwell (1892–1986) and they were the parents of three daughters and two sons. Bill Hames died in 1960. The business stayed in the family for many years after his death but was eventually sold to Carnival Americana! Carnival Americana.

LYDIA FOWLER m. Charles E. Hames 1782-1847

1. Elizabeth Hames 1804–1891 m. Isaac Sherman Kimberly 1793–1848
   1. James Marion Kimberly 1824–1896 m. Nancy Ann Horn 1827–189
      1. Thomas Pressley Kimberly 1845–1919 m. Mary Adeline Farlow 1846–1943
         1. Carrie Ida Kimberly 1867–1950 m. Samuel Henry Wallace Jr 1860–1937
            1. Tallulah Alberta Wallace 1888–1966 m. Wilhelm Wenger 1888–1943
               1. William Wenger 1910–2007
               2. Myrtice Yvonne Wenger 1915–2011 m. Clinton Fred James Sr 1913–1967
                  1. Clinton F James Jr 1949–1977
               3. Tallulah Elva Wenger 1917–2013 m. Joe Oliver Motley 1905–1966
               4. Regenia Catherine Wenger 1925–2019 m. William Clinton Ray 1917-
            2. Ida Athalia Wallace 1889–1989 m. Charlie Sims Haynie 1882–1936
               1. Clarence Sims Haynie 1910–1938 m. Ida Louise Scarborough 1914–1988
               2. Charlie Lester Haynie 1911–1912
               3. Wallace Milton Haynie 1912–1989 m. Lena Mae Hulsey 1915–1997
                  • Infant Daughter Haynie 1937–1937
                  • Mary Janice Haynie 1939–2013
               4. Myrtice “Estelle” Haynie 1915–1994 m. John William Smith 1912–1983
                  • Beverly Marie Smith 1935–2007
                  • Donna Ruth Smith 1938–1938
               5. Gladys Irene Haynie 1921– m. William Jackson Hudgins 1913–
               6. Charlie M. Haynie 1926–
               7. William Carl Haynie 1927–1927
            3. Myrtice Lillian Wallace 1890–1969 m. George Earl Allen 1890–1945
            4. Nellie G Wallace 1892–1936 m. William Murdock Smith1892–1936
               1. Marion StLeon Smith 1912–2001 m. Andrew Paul Fellows 1908–1984
                  1. Betty Ann Fellows 1932–1990 m. Joseph Orehosky 1932–2012
            5. Eunice Preston Wallace 1893–1975 m. Marion Howard Sullivan 1895–1971
               1. Marion H Sullivan Jr 1918–1982 m. Helen Feilds Landrum 1921–2011
               2. Harold Dennis Sullivan 1925–2002
            6. Katie Estelle Wallace 1895–1974 m. James Earl Dennington 1893–1974
               1. James E. Dennington 1921–2002
               2. Preston E. Dennington 1923–1991
            7. Mary Caroline Wallace 1897–1994 m. Grover Kelley Diden 1895–1963
            8. Lena Wallace 1899–1906
            9. Addie Maude Wallace 1901–1976 m. Joseph M Harris1895–
            10. Candis Ruth Wallace 1904–1996 m. William “Bill” Clark Tribble 1905–1962
                1. Wiliam C Tribble Jr 1925–
                2. George Elmo Tribble 1926–2014
                3. Donald Thomas Tribble 1937–2014
            11. Samuel Henry Wallace III 1906–1974 m. Hazel Margaret Fox 1916–1998
            12. Thomas Carlyle Wallace (1908– 1976) m. Lillian Bianchi White (1910–1994)
                1. Thomas Carlisle Wallace Jr 1934–2017
                2. Samuel Henry Wallace 1939–
            13. Mildred Juanita Wallace 1910–1994 m. Neal Wilson Brewer 1910–1982
                1. Neal Wilson Brewer Jr 1928–1960
                2. Gloria Juanita Brewer 1934–1989
                3. Thomas Gerald Brewer 1944–1963
         2. Lucius Othnell “Luke” Kimberly 1869–1954 m. Minnie Nora Henderson 1872–1949
            1. Luke Othneil Kimberly, Jr. 1896–1991
            2. Thelma L Kimberly 1898–
            3. Kenneth Herman Kimberly 1899–1967
            4. Wilmer H Kimberly 1902–
            5. Thomas Lyndon Kimberly 1904–
            6. Carlton R Kimberly 1906–1959
            7. Raymond A Kimberly 1908–1971
         3. Ada Amanda Kimberly 1871–1924
         4. James Thomas Kimberly 1874–1944
         5. William Edgar Kimberly 1876–1940
         6. Marvin Presley Kimberly 1879–1953
         7. Estelle Kimberly 1881–1955
         8. George Hillger Kimberly 1883–1964
         9. Cora A Kimberly1886–1970
      2. Isaac Dixon Kimberly 1847–1924 m. Martha Malindy Dailey 1848–1925
         1. Ira Washington Kimberly 1871–1942
         2. Thomas Jefferson Kimberly 1876–1940
         3. Dandy J Kimberly 1880–
         4. George K. Kimberly 1883-
         5. William A. Kimberly 1886-
         6. Alonzo Parks Kimberly 1889–1947
         7. James Kimberley
         8. Mary Kimberley
      3. Serena J Kimberley1850–1935
      4. Frances E Kimberley 1852–1900
      5. Charles W Kimberley 1855–1923
      6. James Alonzo Kimberly 1857–1950
      7. Lemuel C Kimberley 1862–1938
      8. Marion B Kimberly 1866–1928
      9. Robert S. Kimberley 1867–1949
   2. William Joe Kimberly 1825–1891
   3. Mary Ann Kimberly 1827–
   4. Charles Edward Kimberly 1828–1893
   5. Sarah Jane Kimberly 1829–1910
   6. Suzan Caroline Kimberly 1830–1893
   7. Lemuel Comer Kimberly CSA 1833–1899
   8. Seth Solomon Kimberly 1834–
   9. Rachel Leah Kimberly 1835–1911
   10. Isaac Sherman Kimberly 1836–
   11. Elizabeth C Kimberley 1838–1893
   12. Rebecca Amanda Kimberley 1840–1903
   13. Lydia Emeline Kimberly 1841–1887
   14. Ophelia Haseltine Kimberly 1843–1868
   15. Lucinda Catherine Kimberly 1844–1844
   16. Noah Washington Kimberly 1847–1899
   17. Francis E. Kimberly 1848–
2. Nancy Hames 1807–1838 m. Andrew Fowler 1804–1870
   1. James Fowler 1827–
   2. Elizabeth Fowler 1831–
   3. Thomas Fowler 1836–
   4. Nancy Fowler
   5. Malissa Fowler
   6. Lemuel Fowler
3. Sarah Hames 1809–1855 m. William Sprouse 1798–1881
   1. Nancy Adiline Sprouse 1826–1911
4. William P Hames 1810-1880 m. Sarah Wood 1808-1880
   1. John Richard Hames 1831-1862
5. Theresa “Tracey” Hames 1812– John P Fowler 1805–1880
   1. Nancy Hames 1831–
   2. Celilia Hames 1838–
   3. Lucinda Hames 1840–1923 (daughter of John P. Fowler 1804-) m. James A. “Jim” Millwood 1835–1915 (son of James Millwood and Milly Fowler -daughter of Ephraim Fowler)
      1. James Millwood 1861–
      2. Hix Millwood 1867–1918
      3. Robert L. Millwood 1868–
      4. Edward T. Millwood 1871–
      5. Isaac Millwood 1872–
      6. Monroe Millwood 1875–1942
      7. Charles Millwood 1875–
      8. Mary J. Millwood 1877–
      9. Samuel S. Millwood 1878–1949
      10. Melvina Millwood 1879–
      11. Virgil Millwood 1883–
   4. Zealous Hames 1842–1864
   1. Malinda Hames 1843–1870
   2. Thomas Hames 1852–
   3. Edward Hames 1858–
6. Coleman Hames 1814–1887m. Nancy Bevis 1812–1861; m. Mary Hames 1824–
   1. Luella Hames 1865–
7. Cinthia Jeanette Hames 1817–1901 m. James Singleton Durham 1805–1875
   1. Thomas Hansford Durham 1837–1925
   2. Mary Ann Durham 1838–1894
   3. Mary Jane Durham 1840–1871
   4. Lineaus Thompson Durham 1842–1866
   5. Demila Durham 1844–1916
   6. James Lewodus Durham 1846–1925
8. Pressley Harrison Hames 1820–1900 m. Martha Jane Gault 1821–1854; m. Nancy Ann McCreary 1827-1876; m. Frances Hames 1844-1922
   1. Robert Asbury Hames 1841–1880
   2. Henry Milton Hames 1843–1922
   3. Benjamin Franklin Hames 1845–1893
   4. Morgan Newton Hames 1847–1915
   5. Amanda Hames 1851–1870
   6. Benjamin M. Hames 1867–
   7. Thomas Presley Hames 1869–
   8. Richard Hames 1878–1933
   9. Ella Hames 1879–1962
   10. Presley H Hames 1881–1945
9. Joshua Hames 1827– m. Selina Clayton 1831–
   1. Charles Hames 1849–
   2. Addie Amanda Hames 1853–1943 m. Thomas Judson Langston 1849–1933
      1. William Alonzo Langston 1876–1916
      2. Clarence B Langston 1879–1918
      3. Eugene Dent Langston 1881–1954
      4. Alice Janett Langston Holstein 1883–1917 m. Alfred Junior Holstein 1880–1936
      5. Hattie Judson Langston 1885–1959
      6. Newton Hames 1853–
      7. Gadberry Hames 1857–
10. Franklin “Frank” Hames 1828–1903 m. Cecila Cissily Susie Comer 1833–1880
    1. James B Hames 1846–
    2. Mary Hames 1857
    3. Hames 1860
    4. Edward Boyd “Eddy” Hames 1861–1908
    5. Thomas F. Hames Sr 1862–1898 m. Elizabeth Ann Faucett 1867–1898
       1. William Henry Hames 1886–1960 m. Mary Frances Cardwell 1892–
          1. Frank Raymond Hames 1911–1972
          2. Eugene Jerome Hames 1913–2002
          3. Mary Helen Hames 1917–1998 m. William Milton Brown 1903–1936; m. James Robert “Bob” Wills 1905-1975
             1. Buster Lee Brown 1935–1990
       2. Rose A. Hames 1888–
       3. John Hames 1889–
       4. Lillie B. Hames 1893–
       5. Rollie Clevland Hames 1895–1957
       6. Clarence R Hames 1896–1972
       7. Thomas F. Hames Jr 1898–1898
    6. Jane Hames 1868–
    1. John Lewis Hames 1872–1945
    2. Alice Hames 1876–
11. Mary Hames 1835–1908 m. Abraham Dunaway 1830–1864
    1. Robert Liggon Dunaway 1860–1927 m. Louisa B Kelley 1870–1953
       1. Almer Dunaway 1890–
       2. Irving Christopher Dunaway 1895–1954
       3. Robert Lewis Dunaway 1896–1932
       4. Arthur Dunaway 1898–
       5. Arrie Dunaway 1900–
       6. Cora E Dunaway 1902–
    2. Jannie Dunnaway 1862–1911 m. William Franklin O’Shields 1857–1935
       1. Robert Newton O’Shields 1881–1950
       2. Matt M O’shields 1883–
       3. William Berry O’Shields 1883–1937
       4. Ernest Malcolm O’Shields 1886–1938
       5. P. Abraham O’Shields 1887–1918
       6. Luther Franklin O’Shields Sr 1891–1952
       7. Benjamin Earle O’Shields 1891–1961
       8. Willie O’Shields 1900–