Priscilla Dickinson "Dee" (Selph) Harding

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Priscilla Dickinson “Dee” SELPH -  daughter of  Duncan Hyder and Lavinia (Burton) Selph, was born in December 1859 in Tennessee. She married John Harding. She died in 1921 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co., TN and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery there. After Dee's death John Harding lived with his daughters Sarah Dabb and Lillye Duncan Harding. He died 1 Nov 1943 in Gulfport, Mississippi and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery there.

Census Records for Priscilla (Selph) and John Harding:

25 June 1900, 7th Civil Dist., Rutherford Co., TN, p. 77:

207-210  Harding, John Head W M Dec 1853 46 M14 TN TN TN
---S. Dee Wife W F Dec. 1860 39 M14 2-2 TN TN TN
---Lillie Dau W F Oct 1897 12 S TN TN TN
---Sallie Dau W F Apr 1890 10 S TN TN TN

26 April 1910, 7th Civil Dist., Rutherford Co., TN, p. 8:

62-62 Harding, John Head M W 54 M23 TN TN TN
Dee Wife F W 49 M23 TN TN TN
Lillie Dau F W 22 S TN TN TN
Sara Dau F W 19 S TN TN TN

2-3 Feb 1920, 11th Dist., Rutherford Co., TN, p. 82:

264-278 Dabb, Asma D. Head M W 28 MS MS MS
Sahara Wife F W 30 TN TN KY
Asma D., Jr. Son M W 7/12 TN MS TN
Harding, John F-i-l M W 64 TN TN TN
Dee Selp M-i-l F W 60 KY MO KY
Lillye D. S-i-l F W 31 TN TN TN

2 April 1930, Gulfport City, Harrison Co., MS, p. 125:

2213 Kelly St.
45-45
Dobbs, Osma D. Head M W 39 M-27 b. MS fb.MS mb. MS
-----Sara Wife F W 39 M- 27 b. TN fb. KY mb. KY
-----Durant Son M W 10 S b. TN fb. MS mb. TN
-----Hardy M. Son M W 9 S b. TN fb. MS mb. TN
-----Lillie D. Dau F W 7 S b. TN fb. MS mb. TN
Harding, John Father M W 74 M-39 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
-----Lillie Sister F W 41 S b. TN fb. TN mb. TN


11-12 April 1940, Beat 2, Gulfport Ward 1, Harrison County, MS:

1610 20th Ave.
109
Dabbs, Osmond D. Dabbs Head M W 49 M C-3 grade b. Miss res same place 1935
-----Sarah H. Wife F W 49 M C-3 grade b. TN res same place 1935
-----Osmond D. Son M W 20 S C-3 grade b. TN 1935-same place
-----Hardy Son M W 19 S grade C-2 b. TN 1935-same place
-----Dede Dau F W 17 S grade C-1 b. TN 1935-same place
Harding, John D F-i-l M W 86 Wd grade H-1 b. TN 1935-same place
-----Lillye D. s-i-l F W 51 S grade C-5 b. TN 1935-same place
Quimby, Sam lodger M W 47 S grade H-4 b. Ark 1935- ElDorado, Union Co., Ark

The lives of the Harding children and their parents play out in the Biloxi, Mississippi newspapers:

Murfreesboro. Miss Sara Selph Harding and Sergt. O. Durant Dobbs of Quitman, Miss. were married in Meridian, Miss., Tuesday evening, March 12.
[Source: Nashville Tennessean and the Nashville American (1910-1920); 24 Mar 1918]

Harding, Lillye Duncan (1) Senior, Gulf port Harrison
[Source: State Teachers College Bulletin Roll of Students, Session 1929-1930, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, July 1930]

Among those from the Coast who entered State Teachers College at Hattiesburg Monday was Miss Lillye Harding of Gulfport, who has taught in the Gulfport junior high school for several years and who will be in charge of the junior English in high school next session. Miss Harding is a specialist in the method of giving work known as the contract method and is further developing her proficiency in his line of work while completing her degree work.
[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Wed. 11 June 1930]

TEACHER HOME

Miss Lillye Harding, who received her degree at the close of the summer session at State Teachers College, Hattiesburg, has returned home. She resides with her sister, Mrs. D.D. Dabbs of Broadmoor. Miss Harding is a member of the high school faculty of Gulfport High school.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Mon. 8 Sept. 1930]

Miss Lillye D. Harding, librarian at the Gulfport High School, l left this morning by motor for Nashville to enter Peabody College where she is working on her master's degree in library science and where she will attend the last term of the summer session. She has been teaching at the Gulfport summer school until last week. Her nephews, Hardy and Durant Dabbs. Jr., of Pratt Street, accompanied her to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., to spend two weeks with John Selph.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Wed. 25 July 1934]

A ten days' suspended sentence and the withdrawal for 60 days of their privilege of driving an automobile was the penalty imposed upon Hardy Dabbs and Luther Menger, Gulfport youths, who were before the court in connection with alleged driving of an automobile in the municipal park. The mayor advised the youths that the streets and roads were for traffic purposes but that the municipal playground where children assembled and played was not a thoroughfare. He told police officers to keep a close eye on the lads and see that neither of them drove an automobile for the next 60 days.

The 14 year-old Menger youth, driver of the automobile in which young Dabbs, also 14, was a passenger were said to have been spreading consternation among tennis players on the municipal court in the city park by driving his car towards groups of young girls who were at play on the court, but would suddenly apply the brakes and stop before striking any of them.

Menger was charged with reckless driving and Dabbs with malicious mischief both youths, officers said, had been warned several times against speeding and reckless driving of automobiles on the beach boulevard and Second Street.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Thurs. 18 July 1935]

Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Dabbs of Columbus, Miss Dede Dabbs, student at Mississippi State College for Women, Durant Dabbs, medical student at Tulane University, and Hardy Dabbs, student at Mississippi College, Clinton, spent Tuesday and Wednesday with Miss Lillye D. Harding at her home on 20th avenue.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Sat. 27 Dec 1941]

Mrs. O.D. Dabbs returned to Alexandria, La, with Mr. Dabbs who was transferred there from Hattiesburg. Mr. Dabbs spent the Christmas holidays in Gulfport with his family. Hardy Dabbs has returned to Clinton to resume his studies at Mississippi College; Durant has returned to New Orleans where he is a medical student at Tulane University, and Miss DeDe has returned to Mississippi State College for Women.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Wed. 8 Jan 1941]

JOHN HARDING DIES. 

John Harding, 88, a native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., but a resident of Gulfport for 16 years died this morning at 3:45 o'clock at the home of his son-in-law and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Dabbs and Miss Lillye D. Harding, 1620 20th avenue, with whom he made his home.

Mr. Harding was the husband of the late Pricilla Dickinson Selph Harding. Other than his daughters he is survived by three grandchildren, Durant Dabbs, New Orleans, medical corps; Durant Dabbs Jr., aviation cadet, and Miss Dede Dabbs, Gulfport. Of his five brothers and sisters, one brother and one sister survive.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 10:30 o'clock from Riemann's Chapel with Dr. Henry T. Brookshire officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

[Source: Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Tues. 2 Nov 1943]

Miss DeDe Dabbs of Gulfport, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Osmond Durant Dabbs Sr., became the bride of Dr. James Louis Smith, son of Dr. and Mrs. Parks Metthews Smith of Magnolia, Ark, last Thursday evening at 6 o'clock in the First Baptist Church with Dr. Henry T. Brookshire, pastor, officiating in the double ring ceremony. The church was decorated in white and green, the alter, banked with palms and smilax, formed a background for white gladioli and ferns, and seven tiers of lighted white tapers in cathedral candelabra. A white wedding bell topped the center decoration. Preceding the ceremony, a program of nuptial music was rendered by Mrs. J. L. Head, organist Miss Lois Smith of Gulf Park College sang ... The groom was attended by his brother, A. O. Smith, as best man. The groomsmen were Hardy M. G. Dabbs, brother of the bride, recently honorably discharged from the Army AAF; Ensign Jack Breed, John Gardner, and Dr. Lynn Abernethy. The maid of honor was Miss Annie Louise Mounger of Columbia, Miss Mary Elizabeth Sweatt, bridesmaid, and Mrs. E. T. Riemann Jr. of Nashville, Tenn., was bridesmatron. The bride was given in marriage by her father. She was beautiful in a wedding gown of white satin with scalloped sweetheart neckline joining a marquisette yoke and cala pointed sleeves. Her full length three tiered veil of French illusion fell from a coronet of orange blossoms. Her only ornament was a string of pearls, a gift of the groom. She carried a white Bible topped with a white orchid from which hung streamers of white satin ribbon and butterfly gardenias. Following the ceremony there was a reception at the home of the bride's parents at 1610 avenue. Those receiving were Mr. and Mrs. Dabbs, Dr. and Mrs. Parks M. Smith, father and mother of the groom, and assisted by members of the bridal party. The wedding gifts were displayed in the living room. Mrs. J. Paul Gates kept the bride's book. Mrs. L. P. Sweatt, Mrs. Jack Faucette, Mrs. Nelson Jones, Mrs. Henry T. Brookshire, and Mrs. Hanun Gardner assisted the hostess in entertaining. The tea girls were Mrs. Jack Schlegel, Mrs. E. G. Wiggins, Mrs. Jack Breed, Miss Patsy Karst, and Mrs. Bob West. Following the reception, Dr. and Mrs. Smith left for a wedding trip to the Mississippi Delta and the Ozarks. Dr. and Mrs. Smith will be home after October 28 at 121 Normandy Road, Little Rock, where Dr. Smith will enter private practice. Mrs. Smith, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, attended Gulfport schools and Gulf Park College, and is a graduate of Mississippi State College for Women. She was a member of the Delta Alpha Sigma Sorority at Gulf Park and a Lockheart at NSCW. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Dr. Smith is a member of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, American Legion, Veterans of World War II, MCAUS. He attended Arkansas A. and M. University of Arkansas Medical School, took post graduate work at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, where he served his internship, and at Tulane University Graduate School. After his honorable discharge from the Army Medical Corps he was made superintendent of the Angola General State Hospital, Angola, La., for over a year, leaving to take two years of training in opthalmology [sic] at the New Orleans Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. Out of town guests were Dr. and Mrs. P. M. Smith, Magnolia, Ark.; Mrs. and Mrs. A. O. Smith, Stamps, Ark.; Dr. and Mrs. Wily R. Buffington and Dr. and Mrs. Horace L. Buffington of New Orleans, and Mrs. I. R. Dozier, Fort Smith, Ark.; Mrs. E. T. Riemann Jr., Nashville; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mounger and Miss Annie Louise Mounger, Columbia; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dabbs of New Orleands; Mrs. F. Audley Smith of New Roads, La.; Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Aiken, Hammond, La.; Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Selph and Donald Selph, Mobile. 

[Source: Biloxi Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Mon. 29 Oct 1945]

DABBS-MOUNGER

Miss Annie Louise Mounger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mounger of Columbia, Miss., and Lieut Osmond Durant Dabbs Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Dabbs, Gulfport, were married at the First Methodist Church in Columbia at six o'clock on February 21. Dr. J.B. Cain read the double ring ceremony. The alter of the chancery [sp?] was banked with ferns and southern smilax. Tiers of cathedral tapers and baskets of white gladioli lent beauty to the candlelight ceremony. The bride entered on the arm of her father and was lovely in a white satin fitted princess-effect wedding gown. Her long veil of illusion was held in place with sprays of orange blossoms. She carried an arm bouquet of white bridal roses and hyacinths. The bride was attended by Miss Suzanna Alford and Miss Annie Margarete Mathison as bridesmaids and Mrs. James L. Smith, sister of the groom, as matron of honor. Hardy Dabbs, brother of the groom, was his attendant, and Dr. James L. Smith of Little Rock., and John Gardner of Gulfport, were the groomsmen. An informal reception was held following the ceremony and the couple left for a wedding trip to Florida and thence to New York, after which Lieutenant Dabbs will report to Fort Dix, NJ. Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Dabbs Sr., and John Gardner of Gulfport were among the out of town guests attending the wedding.

[Source: Biloxi Daily Herald; Biloxi, MS; Tues. 12 Mar 1946]

Hardy Murfree Gilford Dabbs passed away April 20, 2002, in Gulfport, MS. 

Mr. Dabbs was born in Murfreesboro, TN, December 18, 1920, to Mr. & Mrs. Osmond Durant Dabbs, Sr. In 1924 his family moved to Hattiesburg, MS, where they resided until 1927 when they moved to Gulfport. Hardy attended East Side Grammar School and graduated from Gulfport High School. He earned a B.S. Degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS; served in the Army Air Force as a pilot in World War II. After the war was over, he earned a degree in interior decorating from Parson's School of Design in New York City. He opened his shop, Hardy Dabbs Interiors, in Gulfport in 1948 and enjoyed a successful business until he retired several years ago. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Gulfport since 1927. 

Mr. Dabbs was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Osmond Durant Dabbs, Sr.; his brother, Osmond Durant Dabbs, Jr., MD; and his nephew, Osmond Durant Dabbs III. Survivors include his sister, Dede Dabbs Smith and her husband, Dr. James Smith, of Little Rock, AR; his sister in law, Annie Louise Hollemon; his stepbrother, Wallace Majors and his wife, Nell, of Gulfport; seven nieces; a nephew; and many great-nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will be at Riemann Funeral Home, 25th Avenue in Gulfport, today, from 1:00 until the funeral at 2:00, to be conducted by Dr. Chuck Register. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery

[Source: The Sun Herald ~ 12 April 2002]