Schlatter Family Site

Two Items From
"Ada Coon Davis Files"

Marriage license for John Davis and Ada A. Coon, dated 6 November 1907 at Woodville, Mississippi.

Paper handprint:  “Little Willie, 13 mos.”

 This item was in possession of Annie Lee Richardson Schlatter, b. 21 Oct 1924, d. 18 Mar 2007 (known by her nickname of “Babe Schlatter”).  She grew up in Centreville, Wilkinson County, MS and moved to Knoxville, TN in 1951 with her husband, Joseph A. Schlatter, Sr., and two sons, Joseph A. Schlatter, Jr., and John F. Schlatter.  She lived in Knoxville until her death.

 This handprint was in a folder marked “Ada Coon Davis.” 

Babe Schlatter’s father was Clarence J. Richardson, b. 12 Mar 1896, d. 13 Feb 1972.  His mother was Martha “Mattie” Coon, b. 28 Jan 1866, d. 21 Jan 1901.  Mattie Coon had six siblings – four brothers and two sisters.  One of her sister’s was Ada Adair Coon, b. Feb 1879, d. 1962.; she married John Davis (b. 1877, d. 1952) on 6 Nov 1907. 

Ada Adair Coon Davis was an aunt of Babe Schlatter’s father; she was Babe’s great-aunt and was known to Babe and to her sons as “Aunt Ada.”  Babe Schlatter visited Aunt Ada at her home in Woodville, MS, until Aunt Ada died in 1962. 

Babe’s father, Clarence J. Richardson, was one of seven children born to Reverdy Hunter Richardson (b. 1 Sep 1864, d. 12 Apr 1916) and Mattie Coon (b. 28 Jan 1866, d. 21 Jan 1901).  Babe stated on numerous occasions that her father told her that he had a younger brother who died in infancy.  This child was known as “Little Willie.”

 “Little Willie” may be Richard H. Richardson, who may have been born 10 Aug 1900 and died in Dec 1900.  However, these dates clash with the handwritten note on this handprint that Little Willie was 13 months old when the handprint was taken.

This is a family mystery that remains unsolved:  Who was "Little Willie" that my Grandfather Richardson spoke of and whose handprint was in a number of items left to my mother by her Great-Aunt Ada Coon Davis.