LUNA LAURA DOWLING
Luna Laura Dowling
Born 30 Dec 1892
Died 17 Sep 1979 Houston Harris Co., TX, USA
Description Charlie McDuffie Gardiner, born 21 Mar 1882, died 16 Oct 1973.
Luna Dowling born, 30 Dec 1892, died 17 Sept. 1979.
Location Hendricks Cemetery, Beulah Community, Cherokee, Texas
Date 22 July 2007
The first known about *LUNA LAURA DOWLING GARDINER* is from the 1900
census where she is 7 years old and the Dowling family is living in
Houston
County
Texas. The same census gives her birth month as December and the
birth year
is 1892. Her parents are listed as *WILLIAM DOWLING* born 12 Aug
1849 in
Virginia and died before 1900 probably in Houston Co.; unknown
date. Her
mother was *MARGRET BREES*, born 6 Jan 1854 in
Indiana and died 28 Sept
1906 in
Cherokee County. Her burial place is Hendricks Cemetery, Bulah
Community,
Cherokee, Texas. William Dowling's father and mother are
buried in the City Cemetery in
Palestine, Texas. Their names are *RUBEN P
DOWLING *and *FRANCENIA FLORENCE SMITH*.
She is seen again in the 1920 and 1930 census married to Charles
McDuffie
Gardiner and living in Cherokee and Houston Counties. She was married at
a very
early age, about 14 years to 24 year old Charles in
Cherokee County. Family
lore is that Luna, an Indian child was taken in by the Dowlings; where
she was
given an additional name of 'Laura Dowling'. She was supposed to have
been
born in a tee pee. During the lives of her grandchildren they remember a
photograph of a man hanging in her home that had long braided hair and
an
earring. She told her grandchildren that was her father. The where
abouts of the
photograph is unknown.
As the story continues when it came time for her to marry Charles she ran
As the story continues when it came time for her to marry Charles she ran
away but was found and was brought back to face the music. At this time
both parents were deceased and she was in the care of her brothers and
sisters.
As with a lot of families we didn't take advantage of the time we had
with our
grandmother. We did not ask her about her family or past, just enjoyed
the time
we had together. As all of us do, we think we have all the time in the
world, and
it's to late when we realize our mistake. We loved her very much and
would like
to know the truth about her family and where she came from. We have
always
loved the stories she told about her life, and would be put to bed at
night with
these tales of her life.
Luna was a hard working wife and mother; raising all but one of her
eight children.
The oldest son, James Earl, died at an early age. She had her own crops
to grow and sell, and animals she tended so she could take care of her
children. She also worked, washing and ironing for others.
Her descendants would love it if you would share any information you
know about or have. No birth or marriage records or certificates have
been found at this time.
Also looking for info on Charles
Henry Gardiner
b.1810 NY d. unknown in Cherokee or
Nacogdoches County.
Family Members
Charles M Gardiner1883–1963
Any other info you happen on would be great, please
contact me,
Mary Watts.
Information from Cheryl Gardiner, March 3, 2008