A Bit of History
Share a little bit of history with the family. We want to continue to make the connection. Send your pictures, share your stories and we will share your memories and photos here.
Jane Chandler
Jane Chandler was born in Africa and brought to America at an incredibly young age by way of a slave ship. She designated a house slave on the Chandler plantation in which she lived. There she met John Chandler who was the plantation owner's son.
John was of African and Caucasian descent. He was conceived only to bed the slave women and produce more slaves. After their emancipation, they migrated to Arkansas years later from Richmond VA. Jane had her first child at age 16. She and John produced a total of sixteen children of which Willie Chandler was child number 16.
Elizabeth Johnson Family
Another branch of the family tree was formed and extended when Jane's daughter, Elizabeth Chandler one of 16 children met and married Lucious Johnson, they would have four children. and the legacy continued with her sons. James P. Johnson and Freddie Johnson continued to extend the family tree.
Willie Chandler was the youngest of 16 children born August 5, 1894, to John and Jane Chandler. Affectionately called “Uncle Bo”, Willie would go on to father two daughters, Willie Mae, and Marie Chandler. In September of 1984 at the age of 90 willie passed away. His daughter Marie Chandler would go on to birth nine children expanding and continuing the family legacy.
Willie "Uncle Bo" Chandler
FAMILY ROOTS OF FIELDER
Bass Reeves
Bass Reeves was a former slave who became America’s first Black Deputy U.S. Marshal, working primarily in Arkansas and the Oklahoma Territory. He was a brave, reliable, and highly successful deputy marshal. He would independently make more than 3,000 arrests of dangerous fugitives including fourteen that he shot and killed in self-defense. He had eleven children, and his daughter Harriet went on to marry a man with the last name of Fielder to continue the family tree.
Fielder "Papa" Reeves
Papa Reeves was the son of Harriet Fielder, the daughter of Bass Reeves. He went on to have five children to continue the Fielder legacy.
FAMILY ROOTS OF LUCKETT
Josephine Luckett
Lovingly called "Cousin Josie’s" her Father was the brother of Elizabeth Johnson and Bo Chandler. Josie and her twin brothers were first cousins with James P. Johnson. She went on to have four daughters with Dave Luckett, Elizabeth, Irene, Dorithea, and Willela. Elizabeth Luckett then went on to have eleven children with Lester Dupree to continue the family tree.