TheLuttrells.com
This page last updated 25 May 2026
Close this window to return to previous page

James Monroe* Luttrell
Son of John Rutherford and Margaret Alice Duncan Luttrell
b. 1839  Franklin, Morgan Co., Illinois
m. Mary Ann Ward  Nov. 24, 1859 in Morgan Co., IL
d. 1873 (after March; prob. before 24 Dec)
(no information found for him after death of wife in Dec. 1873, except for 1889 newspaper article 
mentioning he and wife had died  leaving orphaned children)

Mary Ann Ward
Daughter of John (from England) and Elizabeth Boyer Ward
sister is Catherine, dau of Elizabeth (John's second wife)
b. abt 1841
d. Dec 1873
She died at time of birth of daughter Mary ("Mamie").  James may have already died.  
Children were separated and sent to live with others  

Children of James and Mary

Lewis Palmer Luttrell
b. Feb. 7, 1862, Franklin, IL
​1880 Morgan Co., IL census shows LPL living in household of 
George and Catherine Wright (sister of Mary Ann Ward)
m. Katie Brown 12 Oct 1886 in Bossier Parish, LA
​d. 30 Jul 1947, Harris Co., TX

 Thomas Edward Luttrell
b. 1864, Morgan Co., IL
1880 Morgan Co., IL census shows TEL in household of Michael (age 54) and Mary (age 56) Lynch - 
relationship shows "laborer".  Others shown are "dau", "niece" and "taken to raise"
m. Ida Craig, 16 Mar 1892, Cross Co., AR
1900 Caddo Parish, LA census shows Thomas Luttrell, age 35,
railroad laborer, married to I. Francis; children are M. Francis and A. Louis
1920 El Dorado, Saline Co., IL census shows Thomas, age 55, coal miner; spouse is Ida, children shown are Arthur, Craig and Margaret.
d. 30 Sep 1921; bur. Saline Co., IL

 Cora Luttrell
b. 27 May 1868, Morgan Co., IL
1880 Perry, Davis Co., Iowa census shows Cora M. Luttrell, age 13, POB - IL; father's POB - IL; relationship to head of household - 2nd cousin;
in household with William Evans age 43 and Margaret Evans age 40
m. Hiram Hastings (d. 28 Nov 1912; "widower"), Morgan Co., IL 16 Mar 1888
daughter - Pansy Ellen Hastings b. 2 Mar 1889
 d. 8 Oct 1920, Joplin, MO

Ernest Cecil Luttrell
b. 2 Jul 1869, Morgan Co., IL;
1880 US Census for Carlinville, Macoupin, IL shows Ernest Lyttrell, age 10, in household of John (age 45) and Loretta (age 29) Sacre.  
No relationship or occupation is shown for Ernest.  Macoupin County is adjacent to Morgan Co. IL. 
m. Annie M. Doyle, 23 Nov 1891, Morgan Co., IL
22 Nov 1892 - ECL and wife, Annie M Luttrell sign "quit claim" deed for Morgan Co., IL property inherited from Mary Ann Ward Luttrell
1910 Eldorado, Ward 2, Saline Co., IL census shows spouse, Anna M., children - Mary, Leo, Monica, Emerline, Patrick, Joseph and Helen.
1930 Eldorado, Saline, IL census shows Ernest, coal miner, spouse is Ida, age 52, Arthur, age 30; Margaret, age 16; Freda, age 15 (appears to be widow and children of Thomas Edward Luttrell)
d. unknown

Mamie Luttrell**
b. 24 Dec 1873, Morgan Co., IL;
Family information shows Mamie adopted (or arranged the adoption) at birth by doctor (Smith) who delivered her, due to death of mother.  
No info about her father, James Monroe Luttrell.  Siblings were all sent to homes of other family members.
1880 US Census for Franklin, Morgan Co., IL shows "L Mamie Smith" in household of "A William Smith", age 34, and Lydia Smith, age 28
m. Edward Story  3 May 1893, Macoupin, Illinois
d. 16 Nov 1958, Los Angeles, CA
__________________________________________________

1850 US Census for Morgan Co., IL shows James Luttrell (Ancestry.com transcriber shows "Dutherall"), age 11, son of John and Margaret

10 May 1863James M. Luttrell and his wife Mary A. Luttrell, for $200, sold to Moses L Clayton the following land. . .(previously been assigned to Elizabeth Palmer Ward, Mary Ann’s mother, the widow of John Ward). . . .the undivided one fourth part of forty-five (45) acres of land which is described as being a part of the West half of the South west quarter of Section Number twenty five (25) and also the one undivided fourth part of Seven (7) and one-half acres of land being a part of the South east quarter of the South west quarter of Section Number Twenty five (25) both of said tracts of land being in Township Number Fourteen (14) North of Range Nine (9) West 
these being the same lands that were assigned to Elizabeth Palmer who was the widow of John Ward. . . .Morgan County, IL


1865 IL Census for Franklin, Morgan Co. shows 2 brothers living very near ea other
James Luttrell with 2 M under 10; 1 M 20 to 30; 1 F 20 to 30
Hiram Luttrell with 2 M under 10; 1 M 10 to 20; 1 M 30 to 40; 1 F 30 to 40

1870 US Census for Franklin Precinct, Morgan County, Illinois shows "James Lutrell 'farmer', age 29 ; Mary Lutrell 'keeps house', age 27; 
Lewis, age 8; Thomas, age 6; and Cora, age 3". Place of birth is 'Illinois' for all. 
Luttrell family researcher, Jerry Ramsey info says J. M. L. birthdate of 1839 "more probable since brother Isaac b. 1841"
James' age in 1850 census also indicated DOB of 1839 but a document, signed by Hiram Luttrell (James' brother), prior to marriage of James and Mary Ann in Nov 1859, gives permission of father, John R Luttrell, for James to marry Mary Ann Ward.  If James' DOB was 1839 he would have been age 20 at marriage date.  If DOB was 1841 he would have been age 18 at wedding date, possibly needing parental permission???
_______________________________________________________________


Notes about James Monroe Luttrell & Mary Ann Ward Luttrell

From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois", Chicago: Chapman Brothers 1889 - Biography of William Thomas Luttrell
One of William T. Luttrell's brothers was named "James Monroe". "James married Mary A. Ward of Franklin; they both died leaving four children - Lewis, Thomas, Ernest and Cora." (obviously didn't know about Mamie who was taken by doctor at birth)

There are two other James Luttrell's (including a James M Luttrell) in Morgan Co., IL. These 3 James' are all cousins - sons of John Rutherford Luttrell, Hiram Luttrell and Lott Luttrell (who was son of Richard Luttrell d. 1815

14 May 1863 (deed) John Rutherford Luttrell and Margaret his wife to James M Luttrell for $200. . .
The South half of the West half of the South west quarter of Section one (1) in Township thirteen (13) North of Range No. nine (9) west of the third principal meridian containing forth (40) acres. . . .
Book TT Pg 607

13 Sep 1865 (deed) James M Luttrell and Mary A Luttrell his wife. . .for six hundred dollars ($600). . . to William T Luttrell (JML’s brother). . .the same property JML purchased from his parents John Rutherford and Margaret Luttrell on 14 May 1863.
Book 1 Pg 408    Nice proft.

1870 Census for Franklin Precinct, Morgan County, Illinois shows "James Lutrell 'farmer', age 29 (as of June 1st); Mary Lutrell 'keeps house', 
age 27; Lewis, age 8; Thomas, age 6; and Cora, age 3".  Place of birth is 'Illinois' for all.  
Luttrell researcher (and cousin) Jerry Ramsey info says J. M. L. birthdate of 1839 "more probable since brother Isaac b. 1841 according to 
1850 Census Index".

* Ramsey and Mrs. Guy Martin information shows "James Madison" Luttrell
Claude Atherton Luttrell, Sr. (grandson of J. M. L.) diary notes show "James Monroe".   Article about William T. Luttrell (bro. of James M. Luttrell) in "Portrait and Biographical Album of Morgan and Scott Counties, Illinois" by Chapman Brothers, 1889 also shows "James Monroe".

**Notes re: Mamie Luttrell
Mamie not shown in other sources.  "Mamie" shown in diary entry of Claude Atherton Luttrell, Sr. (son of Mamie's brother, Lewis P.) with notation "adopted (child) by Smith".  Mother apparently died in childbirth.  Dr. adopted or arranged the adoption of the baby. 

(Quitclaim deed) 24 Aug 1892 Mary L Smith (grantor) - to H G Keplinger (grantee) of Franklin, Morgan Co., IL, - for ten dollars granted all rights she had in property of her mother, Mary Ann Luttrell, which was previously occupied by Elizabeth Ward (Mary Ann Luttrell's mother) as her dower. 
Confirmation that Mary L Smith is the daughter of Mary Ann Ward Luttrell 

3 May 1893 - Mamie L Smith married Edward Story in Macoupin Co., IL

1900 (census) - Mary L Story (DOB Dec 1873) and E L Story in Scottville, Macoupin Co., IL - children are Verner E, Elsie A and Lila M.

1920 - Mary & Edward Story, Lila (dau.) and Clara (sister-in-law) are living in Brighton, Adams Co., Colorado
1930 - Mary & Edward Story, Elsa (dau.) and Laverne Ruterford (granddau.) are living in Los Angeles, CA

Mary Ann (Lutterell) Story in the California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997
Birth Date:24 Dec 1873        Birth Place:Illinois
Death Date:16 Nov 1958            Death Place:Los Angeles
Mother's Maiden Name:Ward        Father's Surname:Lutterell

Family Notes
In notebook of Claude A. Luttrell, Jr. (Lewis Palmer Luttrell's grandson), reference is made to a “letter from Aunt Mary (dau. of Lewis Palmer Luttrell) of July 21, 1953. . .
“L. P. Luttrell born in Springfield, IL. . .came south at age 24.  Was age 10 when his mother died in childbirth.  Dr. took baby girl and raised her.  A brother Tom came to Texas in 1901.  Had brother named Earnest.  Grandad often spoke of Wright family.”

Notes re: Cora Luttrell Hastings

15 Sep 1891 - Jacksonville Daily Illinois Courier - "Cora Luttrell Hastings filed for divorce. . .left child with Mrs. E J Strawn."

In 1900 Cora Luttrell Hastings has remarried. She is shown living in Joplin, Jasper Co., Missouri with Jesse Fisher, husband, Pansy, her daughter, and Theo Hastings, the father of Cora's first husband Hiram Hastings

November 1912 - Pansy Hastings Lesh, daughter of Cora Luttrell Hastings, goes from defendant on trial for murder to a family inheritance
- many newspaper articles about her confession of murdering 2 women who were attendants at an orphanage where Pansy lived about 1905. Pansy, who had voluntarily confessed to police years after the deaths, was a very sympathetic defendant. Doctors testified that the two women, who died at different times, showed no signs of poisoning and died of natural causes.  Pansy, who was probably a victim of abuse, probably imagined that she was responsible for their deaths.  The judge directed a verdict of not guilty.  

"ENTITLED TO SHARE OF ESTATE"  Santa Cruz Evening News - Santa Clara,CA  Dec 2, 1912
Jacksonville, Illinois - 
"Mrs. Pansy Ellen Hastings Lesh, who was recently acquitted by a jury in Sedalla, Missouri, of her confessed murder of two women by poisoning, near that city, arrived here today accompanied by her uncle, L. P. Luttrell of Franklin, Illinois. Mrs. Lesh says she will visit here for a short time and later return to her former home in Los Angeles, California. She will remain in Jacksonville until the Luttrell estate is settled. Mrs. Lesh is one of the heirs entitled to a share of $37,000."  (Estate of William Thomas Luttrell who died 18 May 1912)

​Houston newspaper article Nov. 24 1912 re: a Pansy Lesh on trial for murdering two women - "Louis Luttrell", a Texas farmer is prominently mentioned but says he has never met Ms Lesh but she is the daughter of his sister, whom he has not seen in 20 years. 

26 Jan 1913Jacksonville Daily Journal, Jacksonville, Illinois
JACKSONVILLE DAILY JOURNAL 
LONG SEARCH FOR MOTHER REWARDED -  MRS. T. P. FISHER IS LOCATED AT JOPLIN, MO. Mother of Mrs. Pansy Hastings Lesh, Who is to Share in Estate of the Late W. T. Luttrell, Receives News of Property and of Her Lost Daughter. 
Confession to police authorities in Los Angeles, Calif., several months ago by Mrs. Pansy Hastings Lesh, that she had murdered two women in Pettis county, Missouri, in 1904, has resulted in the finding of her mother, Mrs. T. P. Fisher, at Joplin, Mo., for whom relatives have been searching for a long time, as she is one of the heirs of the estate of the late W. T. Luttrell of Franklin. Although the trial of Mrs. Lesh consumed a week at Sedalia, Mo., the mother, who has been making her home with Theodore Hastings, father of her first husband, Hiram Hastings, at Joplin, Mo., did not know that the party on trial for her life was her own child. 

Pansy returned to Los Angeles.  Cora returned to Missouri.

8 Oct 1920 - Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri - Cora Luttrell Hastings Fisher died.  
Death Certificate shows her DOB was 27 May 1868. At her death, she was the wife of Jesse P. Fisher. Her father is erroneously listed as Theopolis Hastings. He was the father of her first husband, Hiram Hastings. Maiden name of mother - "don't know". Birthplace of mother - "think Illinois"
________________________________________________________


James Monroe Luttrell​
Possible Civil War Record
There is a second "James M. Luttrell" in Morgan County at this time. , ,probably a cousin of James Monroe Luttrell. This record may attach to him.

U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 for James M Luttrell
Illinois10thVol 2 of 6
James M Luttrell Born 1839 Illinois age on 1/Jul/1863 - 24 White Married Franklin, Morgan, Illinois
Smiley Luttrell (JML's cousin) also listed on same sheet, from Franklin.

Click here for article about William Thomas Luttrell,
brother of James Monroe Luttrell
____________________________________