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Disclaimer:
This tree was drawn in the 1970's based on oral history.
There are a few known discrepancies. Family members are welcome
to submit updates or corrections for our growing family tree.
This tree drawing is a family memento.
 O'Kelley Crest |
DARRIS FAMILY HISTORY
Samuel Dennison Darris b. 1830, came from France to America as a slave on the Monticello Plantation at Waterproof, Louisiana (LA). He was gifted with the slave, Victoria “Vicey” Trezevant b. 1845, who spoke very little English. They settled on Brannond Place in Waterproof where they owned land. During the Civil War, Samuel accompanied his slave master father to Vicksburg, MS where the master was killed. Sam was aware of his father’s hidden treasures of silver and gold from the Union Army, so he returned to the plantation, dug up the gold and told his wife Vicey to sew them in her apron and to never take it off. The Darris’ moved west to Mansfield, TX where they bred and raced horses. They returned to LA shortly before 1870 where Sam purchased land and had substantial wealth. Around 1876 Sam either died or went back to France.
His son, Dr. Samuel David Darris b. 1859, and second of eight children, took over as patriarch. He attended Natchez College in MS, patented medicines, manufactured them for a living and owned a store. Jane Irene Galtney b. 1866, on the Erin Plantation to Ella Marshall, a Choctaw Indian dinner servant and Master Joseph Noland Galtney, married Dr. Darris in 1885 on the Issaquena Plantation in LA. Their family owned and resided on the Monclova Plantation in Waterproof, LA. They settled on Newell’s Ridge in Newellton, LA and acquired 701 acres of land called the Oak Grove Plantation around 1902. Dr. Darris died in Greenville, MS in 1926 due to an accident from slipping on a banana peel while in Chicago. His wife Jane died in 1944 in Cleveland, OH. In 1944 oil was discovered on the Monclova Plantation but was not transferred to the Darris heirs largely due to racial injustices. By 1974 any claims by the Darris’ to the oil had been depleted.
Inman Page Darris, Sr., the eldest of Dr. Darris’ eleven children, was born in 1885 in St. Joseph, LA. He married Sarah Ann O’Kelly, daughter of Daniel Smith O’Kelly, in 1918 in Greenville, MS. Inman was named after Dr. Darris’ college mate, who became president of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO. Inman’s first cousin, Richard Darris married Allyne O’Kelley, also daughter of Daniel S. O’Kelly, in Greenville, MS in 1918. Allyne and Sarah are sisters. Therefore, two sisters married two cousins. All of their children are known today as O’Kelley-Darris double cousins!