Beverly Clinton Tidwell of Alabama 1888-1955 #52Ancestors #7

Beverly Clinton Tidwell was born October 8, 1888 in Perryville, Perry County, Alabama. He was the son of Phelan and Sarah Elizabeth McCullough Tidwell. He was the fifth of nine children. He was known as Clint or B.C.. He was named Beverly after his great grandfather, Beverly Cornelius, and/or his uncle, Beverly Cornelius Tidwell..

Phelan Tidwell Family. Beverly is 5th from the left.

Perry County was one of the few counties in the US to have a surviving census from 1890.
1890 Census Perryville, Perry Co AL Beat 8
Series: M407 Roll: 1 Page: 15

Phelan Tidwell, Head, Age 44, Born AL, Farmer, can read & write
Elizabeth, 33, 5 children born, 5 living, Born AL, can read & write
McKetron (McKesterson) , son, age 9, born AL
Zada, daughter, age 7
Zola, daughter, age 5
Martha J, age 4, daughter, born AL
Beverly C, age 2, son, born AL

The 1900 census was a challenge. Everyone in the family was listed with the last name Phelon.
Oldtown, Perry, Alabama
Series: T623 Roll: 36 Page: 191

Phelon, Tidwell 53 M W AL Sept 1847, 57, Married 19 years, Farmer
Phelon, Sarah E, Dec 1857, 42, 9 children, 8 living, born AL, Father TN, Mother AL
Phelon, Kessie, July 1882, 17, Farm Laborer
Phelon, Zada B, Dec 1883, 16
Phelon, Zola M, Mar 1885, 15
Phelon, Mattie J, Aug 1886, 13
Phelon, Bevley C, Oct 1888, 11
Phelon, Ella D, Sept 1890, 9
Phelon, Phelon, July 1894, 5
Phelon, D. Forest, July 1899, 11/12

The family moved to Kingdom in Bibb county by 1910
Philan Tidwell 64
Bettie Tidwell 53
Clinton Tidwell 21
Ella D Tidwell 19
Phelen Tidwell Jr. 15
Forrest Tidwell 10

Clint served in WWI in the Alabama Wagoner Supply Company, 89th Infantry.

Clint Tidwell, WWI

Clint became a house carpenter and built many houses in Jefferson County Alabama. He also built at least one bridge

Bridge in Perry, Alabama built by Clint Tidwell

In 1920, Clint was living in Bessemer, Jefferson, Alabama in a boarding house along with his brother McKesterson. Both had occupation as house carpenter.

Clint Tidwell, Bessemer, Alabama

Clint married Flora Jane Carter about 1930. I have not been able to locate a marriage record, but they were not married when the census was taken in April, 1930. Clint was living with his divorced niece, Lucille Blake Bentley, and his father Phelan.

Clint and Flora had two daughters, Anna and Mary. They lived in Hueytown, Alabama.

Per my mother, Anna, Clint had the original idea to build the Hueytown Community Center. He donated his time and labor. He caught pneumonia and suffered his first heart attack while building it.

Beverly Clinton Tidwell died of a heart attack May 31, 1955. He was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama.

The Birmingham News
June 1, 1955, page 8

"SERVICES ANNOUNCED FOR BEVERLY TIDWELL

Funeral services for Beverly Clinton Tidwell, 65, a widely known Hueytown building contractor, who died yesterday in a local hospital, will be held tomorrow.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, with the Rev. Fred Jordan, the Rev. John Hones, and the Rev. Clay Herring officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery. Brown-Service, Bessemer, directing.

Mr. Tidwell, who made his home in Hueytown for the past 30 years, lived at 112 Lindbergh Rd. at the time of his death.

He was active in church and civic work and was a member of the Pleasant Ridge Church.

Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Flora Carter Tidwell; two daughters. Miss Anne Tidwell, an employee of the Birmingham News Circulation Department, and Mrs. Winifred Justice; three brothers, M. Kess Tidwell, Dallas, Tex., Thelon* Tidwell, Bessemer, and D. Forrest Tidwell, Norfolk, Va.; and two sisters, Mrs. Martha Blake, Trenton, N.J. and Mrs. William H. Ellis of Birmingham."

*Actually Phelon
------------------------------

Flora Carter Tidwell of Alabama 1905-1981 #52Ancestors #6

Flora Jane Carter was born August 13, 1905 in what would become Hueytown, Alabama. Flora was the daughter of Samuel Thomas Carter and Mary Alice Warnick Carter. She was born four months after her father was killed in the Virginia Mines.

Flora Carter

Flora is the baby in Alice's lap

Flora's mother was remarried in 1909 to James Harve Hamaker. He raised Flora and her sister Dessie.

Flora as a girl by snowball bush, Hueytown, AL

Flora attended Hueytown High School, where she was on the girl's basketball team.

1921 Girl's Basketball Team from Hueytown Historical Society. Flora is 2nd from the left in the back.

Possibly Senior Picture

Flora married Beverly Clinton Tidwell about 1930. I have not been able to locate a marriage record.
My mother, Anna Janet, was born January 21, 1931.

Flora holding Anna near the washpot and chinaberry tree, 1931. 

Another daughter, Mary Evelyn, followed in 1935.

Flora at TB Sanitarium, Birmingham, Alabama. 2nd from the right.

Flora contracted TB at some point and was sent to a sanitarium for 16 months. The sanitarium is now known as Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital in present day Homewood, Alabama. Flora lost a lung to TB.

Flora's husband Clint died in 1955. Clint was a carpenter, and built Flora a house at 112 Lindburg Rd, Hueytown. Flora's Aunt, Annie Brown, lived next door.

When I was a child, Flora lived with her mother Alice Warnick. Flora moved back to her house in the 1970's.

Flora, her mother Alice, and me

Flora was an excellent seamstress. She could make anything on her treadle Singer machine, which I was lucky enough to inherit. I remember one Christmas ripping off the paper to find a Parisian box. Uggh, clothes...the bane of every child's Christmas. I was delighted to find inside a wonderful set of clothes for my doll, all handmade by my grandmother. If I spent the night and had forgotten my PJs, before bedtime there would be a set made, complete with buttons.

Flora lived alone up in her 70's She then moved in with her daughter Mary.

Flora died April 9, 1981, and is buried next to husband in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama.

Mary Alice Warnick Carter Hamaker of Alabama 1883-1970 #52Ancestors #5

Mary Alice Warnick, known as Alice, was born July 14, 1883 in Alabama or Mississippi, depending on the census you're reading. She was the third of eight children born to George Washington Warnick and Flora Jane Cargo Warnick. She was raised in Jefferson County Alabama around the Hueytown area.

Alice married her neighbor, Samuel Thomas Carter, December 22, 1901.

Samuel Thomas and Mary Alice Warnick Carter

They had a daughter, 'Dessa, about 1903. Alice was pregnant when Samuel died February 20, 1905 in the Virginia Mines which you can read about here. Their daughter Flora Jane was born August 13, 1905.

Flora, Alice and O'Dessa Carter

On July 22, 1909, Alice married James Harve Hamaker.  My mom told me they were married in a wagon by a circuit riding preacher. He raised Alice's two daughters and together they had a son, Roma Neal Hamaker October 12, 1911.

James Harve and Alice Hamaker

Harve purchased land originally belonging to the Huey family and built Alice a house at 3121 Warrior River Road, Hueytown. When I was a child I thought it was very strange to have to go outside on the back porch to access the bathroom. Lights hung down from the high ceilings from a cord. The stove/heater in what I guess would now be a den always had some flatirons warming on it. I remember having the sheets of the bed warmed in winter with those flatirons, before they were piled with tons of heavy quilts.

Flora, Alice and Dessie

My dad supplied Alice with Red Seal snuff. She had long gray hair which was kept in a bun until bedtime, when she would take out her hairpins and brush it. She tatted lace.

Harve, Alice. Roma, and his wife Pearl on vacation in New Orleans 1948

Warnick Sisters. Alice on the left.

Alice is buried beside Harve in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Alabama. At her funeral, I remember the pastor saying he once thought a small child was trying to open the heavy wooden door to the sanctuary. When he went to help, there was Mrs. Hamaker, who was too weak to open the door. She lived to be 87.

Flora Cargo Warnick 1859-1945 #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks-#3

Used by permission of http://www.nostorytoosmall.com/

Flora Jane Cargo Warnick was born October 6, 1859 in Blount County, Alabama to Albert and Sarah Yielding Cargo. She was the youngest of four children. You can read more about Albert here, and about Sarah here.

Flora had a hard early life, as her father died in the Civil War when she was two. She was 18 when she married George Washington Warnick in Blount County, Alabama. He was a widower with a four month old daughter, Ida.

Flora and George had eight children: Dora born July 26, 1878; Margaret P "Maggie" born October 1879; Mary Alice born July 14, 1883; Eugene Ednor born January 19, 1884; Maude born October 31, 1888; John R. born June 1892; Annie Etta born December 29, 1894; and Willie Ray (a girl) born April 1899.

This small pitcher was given to me by my Aunt Mary. It belonged to Flora Cargo Warnick.

At some time Flora became disabled with arthritis. In her later years she was totally bedridden. Her daughters Dora and Annie cared for her.

Warnick Homeplace. Not sure of location.

The Warnick family was interesting to trace in the census. They seemed to move around a lot.
In 1880 they can be found in Smithville, Monroe, Mississippi. George is a farm laborer.
In 1900 they are around Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama. George is a night watchman.
In 1910 they are still in Hueytown. George is a farmer.
In 1920 they are found in Boaz, Marshall County, Alabama. George is a farmer.
In 1930 they are found in the home of their daughter, Dora Stonecypher, in Calera, Shelby County, Alabama.
In 1940 they are still in Shelby, Alabama. They have a housekeeper, Dora May Cost.
Some time before 1945, they moved in with their daughter Annie Warnick Brown in Flat Top, Jefferson, Alabama.

Flora Jane Cargo Warnick. She had red hair and was bed-ridden for years with arthritis.

Obit of Flora Cargo Warnick

WARNICK---Mrs. George Warnick, age 86, Flat Top, Ala., passed away June 3 at a local infirmary. Survived by the husband, G. W. Warnick; 1 son, Eugene Warnick; 6 daughters; Mrs. J. H. Hamaker, Hueytown; Mrs. A. J. Brown, Flat Top; Mrs. Homer W. Stewart, Sylacaua; Ms. B. H. Mumpower, Rutledge Springs; Mrs. Thomas Cargo, Blountsville; Mrs. D. F. Parsons, Gadsden, Ala. Funeral Services Tuesday 11 a.m. from Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown, Rev. Autrey Powell and Rev. Thomas officiating, interment adjoining cemetery, Bell directing.
---Published in The Birmingham News, Monday, Jun 4, 1945, Announcements/Deaths pg 14

Strangely daughter Dora Warnick Stonecypher not mentioned, nor is her son John R. Warnick.

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama

John Warnick of Alabama and Texas

I have two old photos of John Warnick. I love them both.

Uncle John Warnick and friend. Green 1 cent stamp on back

Washington stamp issued 1917-1919?

The second is a family photo

John Warnick and family

Corporal stripes? WWI?

There are two possibilities for Uncle John Warnick:
From family stories, John R. Warnick born 1892, son of George Washington Warnick and Flora Cargo Warnick, was "in trouble with the law". He left home sometime after the 1910 Hueytown, Jefferson County, Alabama census and never came back. I have been unable to locate him in any census after 1910.
John was not mentioned in his mother's obit in 1945, but was mentioned in his father's in 1949.

The second possibility is John Wesley Warnick, son of Caleb and Sophronia Holley Warnick, and brother of the above George. He was born 1874. I have more info on him, but have not been able to place him in Texas. He married Constance Belma Freeman. I also have only seen two sons in census records, and those two are mentioned in his obit.

Are these photos the same person? I'm thinking that they are.

Any clues you can provide would be most welcome, especially approximate dates for these photos.

Samuel Thomas Carter and the Virginia Mines Disaster of 1905

Wedding Photo of Samuel Thomas Carter and Mary Alice Warnick

Samuel Thomas Carter was born July 13, 1877 in Georgia, son of Thomas Kendrell Carter and Artemesia "Artie" Elizabeth Wheat Carter. He was the third of five children. His siblings were Mary Agnes Frances who was born February 18, 1875, she married Walter Millwood; Lela Ann was born April 19, 1876. She married James Benjamin Blackwell. Augustus Felton was born November 7, 1878. He married Mary Ella Franklin. William Jackson "Jack" was born December 3, 1881, he married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Salter.

Samuel's father died when he was only four years old, just before the birth of his baby brother Jack. I don't know anything about his early years, but I can imagine they were hard. He became a coal miner, probably at a young age. Artie never remarried.

Artie moved the family to what would become Hueytown, in Jefferson County, Alabama. Her daughter Mary Agnes had already married Walter Millwood, and remained in Georgia. In the 1900 census, all the boys listed their occupation as coal miner. Artie and daughter Lela list no occupation. The boys all stated that they had been unemployed between 2 and 4 months the previous year.

December 22, 1901, Samuel married a neighbor, 18 year old Mary "Alice" Warnick. They were married at Bethlehem Methodist Church in Rutledge Springs. The church was organized in 1818, and is still in use today.

Bethlehem United Methodist from Hueytown Historical Society

A daughter Odessa was born in 1903, known as Dessie.

Tragedy struck February 20, 1905 at about 4:00pm. The coal mine where Samuel was at work, known as the Virginia mine,  had an explosion and cave in. The entrance to the mine was blocked. There are many accounts of the disaster in newspapers all over the country,  some with much more graphic details than we see today. Some headlines from local and national papers:
“More Than 100 Men Entombed in Mines Frightful Catastrophe at Virginia City”Birmingham Age-Herald 21 Feb 1905:  1.
“Every Home in Virginia City House of Sorrow: With Pick and Shovel Men Race with Death” Birmingham Age-Herald 21 Feb 1905: 7.
“Over Hundred Lives Probably Lost at Virginia Mines” Birmingham News 21 Feb 1905: 1.
“Little or No Hope Hold Out for Entombed Men but the Rescue Work Goes on Day and Night” Birmingham News 21 Feb 1905: 1.
“100 Miners Entombed; All Perhaps Killed: Explosion of Dust Causes Disaster in Alabama Pit” New York Times 21 Feb 1905: 1.
"Fifty Bodies Taken from Wrecked Mine: Hope for the Remaining Sixty-Six is Now Abandoned; 300 Children Destitute" New York Times 22 Feb 1905.
“One Miner was Found on Knees in Prayer” Birmingham Age-Herald 24 Feb 1905: 5.
“Two More Bodies are Brought Out” Birmingham Age-Herald 27 Feb 1905: 6.
"Charge Deaths to Operators: Coroner's Jury Blames Mine Men for the Explosion"Atlanta Constitution 8 Apr 1905: 1.

"Official List of Entombed Men: One Hundred and Seven in All” Birmingham News 21 Feb 1905: 1.

Special to The Birmingham News
Bessemer, Ala. Feb 21. - "Following is a complete list of coal diggers entombed in Virginia mine, as given by their check weighman, Tinning:

WHITES:
Sam Burchfield
John Gallegher
Fred Morgan, has wife and one child.
Charles McFalls
E. L. Cargo
Ross Stewart
D. Troulis

The Citizen, Berea, KY

James Meekin, has wife and several children.
J. H. Dammer
Pat Meekin, son of above
W. M. Dickinson
Will Meeks
Barney Kiker, has wife and two children
W. A. Meeks
Ernest Hopkins
Robert Beal, has wife only
James Brown, has wife and one child
Fred Smedley
M. L. Turner, has wife and three children
S. T. Carter
Lee Hardeman
E. H. Bryant, has wife and one child.
Charles Crawley, has wife and eight children
Steve Crawley
J.C. Weaver
O. M. Parsons, has wife only
H. Meekin
W. W. Shoemaker
J. H. Pool
Sandy Nelson, has wife and two children
Harry Hughes
N. R. Pool
W. M. Wright
W. H. Donaldson, has wife and child

Hopkinsville Kentuckian

____ Pendley (boy)
J.D. Wells, has wife and four children
Richard Tidmore, has wife and four children
John Cohely, has wife
Ben Chastine, has wife and family
Peter Smith
G. L. Pendley, has wife and three children
____ Lawrence, has wife and four children
Joe Scott
Dave Harris, has wife and one child
Jerry Keel, has wife and two children
Kirby Powell, has wife and one child
Roly Bennett
Ira Powell, has wife and one child
Sam Slogett, has wife
Bert Slogett
R. E. Hassell, has wife and two children
Fred Wyatt
P.M. Stucky, has wife and four children
____ McDonald
Andy Nicholson
Luke Bailey, has wife and one child
Jim Jordan, has wife and one child
Bob Pearson
Walter McCoy, has wife and son

ITALIANS:
A. Lazarre
Tussel Last
L. Antonia
Roda Raffael
____ Tussey
Lonzi Eiro

Total Whites - sixty-five

NEGROES:
Levy Steale
W. M. Howard
Ike Cole
Jake Hooks

J. A. Starling
Jim Burton
Jim Huffman

The Red Cloud Chief, Webster County, NE

General Hooks
John Grigsby
Isaac Hooks
John Dudley
Elisha Hale
Loyd Davis
Charles Burton
J. E. Durden
A. J. Jackson
Amos Brown

Wade Johnson
Sam Simpson
Primus Wyatt
W. Goings
Homer Dawson
Ivy Walker, has wife and two children
Dave Smith, has wife and two children
Steve turner, has wife and two children
Henry Turner
James Simpson

Total Negroes - twenty-seven

Following is a list of company men, that is, those employed by the company by the day, including drivers, pumpers, trappers, etc.

WHITES:
John Brown, a driver boss, has wife and one child, a son who was in the mine with him.
Neil Brown, trapper
Charles Moreland
Tom Caldwell, has wife and family
Steve Hawkins
Will Green, pumper
Charles Pickett, chainer
M. J. Vance, has wife

The Brisbane Courier, Australia

John Nelson, driver

NEGROES:
Ike Benner
P. Toles
Bob Hall
Bess McCarthy
Dave Hall
Jackson Bowen


Up to 12 o'clock today many bodies had been brought to this city and had been prepared for burial by Kennedy Bros. undertakers, who were given the contract to take care of and register the entire list of the dead. They have been assisted by Moore Bros., Vermillion & Adams, and by the Z. R. Steen,undertakers, but the entire list of bodies brought to Bessemer have passed through Kennedy Bros hands, who will have a complete record of the disposition of every body. 

Below will be found a list of all bodies received here, together with the place of burial, where instructions have been received.

WHITE
John Coheley, unknown 
Fred Morgan, Adger
Tom Grigsby 
Tolsey Veresto, Blocton
J. G. Tidmore, Pratt City 
Henry Meachim, Pratt City
James Meachim, Pratt City 
Charles A. Crawley, Pratt City
Steve Crawley, Pratt City 
J. M. Brown, Ensley

The San Francisco Call

Jerry Keel, Pratt City 
Tom Caldwell, Pratt City
W. H. Donaldson, Valley Creek 
Luke Bailey
Robert Pierson, Johns 
Jesse Weaver
Walker Shumaker 
J. E. Jordan, Gentry's Gap
Ed Bryant, McDonough, Ga 
Will Dickson, Dolomite
Will Green, Sumter (Masonic) 
J. M. Lawrence, Bibbville (Masonic)
Steve Hawkins, Blossburg 
Sam Slogett, Adger
Bert Slogett, Adger 
N. R. Pool, Valley Creek
J. H. Danner, Adger 
John Pendley, Jr., Adger
Roda Raffael, Blocton 
M. L. Turner, Tuskaloosa (Masonic)
George Pendley,Sr., Adger (Masonic) 
J. L. Nelson, Pratt City
Ollin Pool, Valley Creek 
Lanzi Ciro, Blocton
W. Alonza Meeks, Blockton 
Will Meeks, Blockton
Fred Smedley, Whitwell, Tenn 
Sandy Nelson, Pratt City
B. M. Chastine, Adger (Masonic) 
A. Lancy, Blocton
Roland Bennett, Blocton 
Thomas Cody, Adger
Charles Moreland, Adger 
Robert Beals, Adger
Charles McFalls, Valley Creek 
W. B. Wright
Sam Burchfield, Valley Creek 
Pat McCoy, Pratt City
Walter McCoy 
Lancy Antonio

Daily Press, Newport News, VA

NEGROES
Pearl Toles, Ravine, Ala 
Ike Hooks, Pratt City
Sylvester McCarthy, Ravine
Dave Hall, Bessemer
Bob Hall, Bessemer 
General Hooks, Pratt City
J. A. Sterling, Pratt City 
unknown, Pratt City
Will Howard, Pratt City 
John Dudley, Bessemer
Ira Walker, Cedar Hill 
Sam Thorn, Cedar Hill
Oliver Houston, Cedar Hill 
Amos Brown, Cedar Hill 
A. J. Jackson, Cedar Hill
H. R. Johnson, Cedar Hill 
Sam Simpson, Cedar Hill
Wade Jonson, Marion Junction 
Jim Burton, Vances
Homer Dawson, Vances 
Henry Stevenson, Vances
George Huffman, Sumter 
Elisha Hale, Pratt City
Jim Huffman, Sumter
-------------



Alice may not have even known at the time, but she was pregnant with another daughter. That daughter was my grandmother, Flora Jane, born August 13, 1905.

Samuel Carter was buried in the cemetery adjoining Bethlehem Methodist, where he was married only a few years before.

Alice remarried in 1909, which you can read about here: http://rootsbranchesandnuts.blogspot.com/2013/06/wedding-wednesday-james-harve-hamaker.html

Wedding Wednesday-James Harve Hamaker and Mary Alice Warnick Carter, Hueytown, AL

Marriage of James Harve Hamaker and Mary Alice Warnick Carter
July 22, 1909

James Harve Hamaker is on of those people who just dropped out of the sky and landed fully grown in Alabama, Although the Hamaker line is pretty well documented in Alabama, I have not been able to place him. His first appearance is in the 1900 census in Jefferson, Alabama:

JEFFERSON   40-PCT

Series: T623  Roll: 21  Page: 171

139/143

HAMAKER, HARVEY, 24, single, born AL ---1876, father unknown, mother AL, coal miner

Meeks, Susan C, 30, sister, born AL Nov 1869, single, father unknown, mother AL

Meeks, Henry, 22 brother, born AL Oct 1877, father unknown, mother AL, coal miner

Harve was born August 8, 1869 per his death certificate.

You would think there would be some clues having Susan and Henry Meeks as his brother and sister. Mysteriously, I have found no earlier census records for them either. No marriage of a Meeks and Hamaker. Harve's death certificate was no help, parents unknown. Still searching.

Harve married Mary Alice Warnick, daughter of George Washington Warnick and Flora Jane Cargo Warnick. Alice was the widow of Samuel Thomas Carter. Samuel died in the Virginia Mines (AL) explosion February 20, 1905. You can read more about him here-- http://bit.ly/1h2IHUA  He left behind not only his widow, but a daughter Dessa and his as yet unborn daughter Flora. Flora was born August 13, 1905.

Mary Alice Warnick Carter, daughters Flora and Dessa

Harve built Alice a house on land origionally belonging to the Huey's, at 3121 Warrior River Rd. Harve raised both daughters, and he and Alice had one son, Roma Neil, born October 12, 1911.

Harve died in 1950, at the age of 81. Alice died in 1970, at the age of 87.

Harve and Alice are buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Hueytown, Jefferson, Alabama