Sarah Ann Priscilla McClure

Sarah Ann Priscilla McClure was born August 22, 1868, in White County, Arkansas, the daughter of William Holliway S. McClure and Sarah Nancy Elizabeth Cargile.  She was called "Ciller" by most who knew her.

Ciller grew up in White County. She appears with her family on the 1870 White County census as Drissilla, age 2 years. The 1880 White County census lists her as Sarah A.P., age 11 years.

Ciller married John Alvy Laycook on August 16, 1887, in White County. The marriage is recorded in White County Marriage Book H, page 99. John Laycook was born in September 1860, in Arkansas.  John may have been the son of John L. Laycook and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown), who appear on the 1880 White County census.   (Note: The spelling of the Laycook surname was later changed to Lacook, which is still in use today.)

  The 1900 Lonoke County, Arkansas census, York Township, shows John and Ciller with their daughter Maude L., age 9; son Lindsy L., age 8; son William C., age 2 and daughter Irvy J., age 4 months.

The 1910 Van Buren County, Arkansas census, Davis Township, shows John and Sarah with their son Lenny L., age 17; son William, age 12; daughter Irvie J., age 10 and son Robbie L., age 6. The census shows that Sarah had given birth to six children, but only five of them were living at that time. The family was living a few miles from Bee Branch, Arkansas.

Between 1911 and 1917, Ciller and John moved to Ada Valley, at the foot of Petit Jean Mountain, in Conway County, Arkansas, where they remained until their deaths.

John died between about 1917 and 1920. He is buried in the Ada Cemetery in Ada Valley, Conway County.

The 1920 Conway County census, Higgins Township, shows Sarah LaCook, head, 51, widowed; Josie, daughter, 19 and Robert, son, 16 years old. Living with the family was Dave Birdwell, head, 48; Maud Birdwell, wife, 29; Ava Ross, step-daughter, 12; Bartley Birdwell, son, 2 years, 2 months and Lard Birdwell, son, 4 months old. Living near-by was Loyd LaCook, head, 25; Velma, wife, 18 and Geneva, daughter, 1 year, 6 months old.

The 1930 Conway County census, Higgins Township, Ada Valley Road, shows Sarah Lacook, 60, widowed, married at 19; Clyde, 31, a farm laborer and Robert, 26, a farm laborer. Living with them was her daughter Maude Ross, 40, widowed, married at 17, and her two sons, Bartlett Ross, 12 and Millard Ross, 10 years old.

Ciller died October 9, 1955, at Morrilton, in Conway County. She is buried with John in Ada Valley Cemetery, in Conway County.

Children of John Laycook and Ciller McClure