Georgio Julius Montagna of Italy #52Ancestors #36

I know very little about Georgio Montagna. He was born in Italy by my estimate about 1850.
Update 22 April 2018:
I have located documents naming him

Giorgio Giuseppe Geremia Montagna

He was born 1 October 1853 in Mirandola, Modena, Italy to Domenico Montagna and Teresa Ceretti.

Map of unification of Italy, 1815-70. Public Domain

He was married to Elizabetta Rosa Bonini. This is the official record of the marriage in 1896, but probably married about 1876 by the Church.

Marriage of Giorgio Montagna and Elisa Rosa Bonini in Rome

After doing some reading in the excellent resource, "Italian Genealogical Records" by Trafford R Cole, Psy.D., I found the reason for two marriages.

Beginning in 1866, the town officials were responsible for recording all births, marriages, and deaths. The child had to be personally presented to the town official to register the birth.
After the Kingdom of Italy was formed, Pope Pius IX was totally against the new country. He had controlled the city of Rome and the central portion of the country know as the Papal States. The Church lost the battle (literally). The Pope did not give in quietly, and prohibited all faithful Catholics from participating in the political system.
A power struggle arose between the Officials and the Church. Many people were married by the Church, but did not register the marriage with the city officials. The town would not recognize the marriage and would record all of the children resulting from these marriages as illegitimate. The couple would finally be forced to remarry in a civil ceremony and recognize their "illegitimate" children. From 1865 to about 1880 there are many cases of the marriage being recorded after the couple had several children.

He is named in the marriage of his daughter Juilia to Bernardino Fratoddi in Manhattan, New York:
Name: Bernardino Fratoddi
Spouse's Name: Juilia Montagna
Event Date: 09 May 1905
Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York
Father's Name: Giuseppe
Mother's Name: Flavia Salirae
Spouse's Father's Name: Georgio
Spouse's Mother's Name: Elizabeth Bonnine

He is given as Juilia's father on her death certificate as Julius:
Name: Julia M. Fratoddi
Death date: 08 Dec 1957
Death place: Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
Gender: Female
Age at death: 78y
Estimated birth year: 1879
Father's name: Julius Montagna
Mother's name: Rose

Giorgio and Rosa had at least three children, all born in Bologna:
Edgardo born 13 August 1877
My great grandmother Giulia 10 October 1879
Italio born 6 March 1886
I'm sure there were other children but I haven't found them yet.

I will continue to search for more records. If you have any info on this family I would love to hear from you.

Samuel M Carter 1816-1882 #52Ancestors #28

Samuel M Carter was born in South Carolina to parents currently unknown. He married Agnes Coursey, also from South Carolina. They were living in Georgia by 1836 where their first child was born.

There is a Samuel Carter found in DeKalb county in 1840, and the 1850 census shows the family in Black Hall, DeKalb County:
Samuel Carter M 34y
Agnus A Carter F 38y
Wm J Carter M 14y
Isabella Carter F 12y
James H Carter M 11y
Samuel M Carter M 8y
Mary A Carter F 6y
Amanda Carter F 5y
Thos Kendrall M 3y
not named M 3m (Hiram)

In 1860 the family is found in the Stones District of Fulton County:
CARTER SAML 43 M W SC Laborer
Agnes J, 50, born SC
James H, 20, born GA
Samuel M, 18, born GA
Mary A, 16, born GA
Thomas K, 14, born GA
Amanda, 13, born GA
Hiram, 11, born GA

In 1870 the family had moved to Buchanan in Haralson County, where Sam and Agnes would remain the rest of their lives:
CARTER SAMUEL 61 M W SC
Occupation Farming, Value of Real Estate 1000, personal 500
Agnes 60 born SC
Thomas 23 Farm Laborer, born GA
Hiram 19 Working on farm, born GA

Buchanan GA
By Seth Ilys at en.wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons

The 1880 census finds Sam and Agnes in the 1077 Militia District in Waldrup, Haralson County:
Carter, Samuel, 65, Farmer, unemployed during the year, SC, Parents SC?
Carter, Agnes, 69, wife, keeping house, born SC, Father SC, Mother ?

Samuel died three months after Agnes, in November of 1882. They are buried in the Brooks Cemetery in Haralson County, Georgia.

Photo by Stacey Bland on findagrave.com. Used with permission

Agnes Coursey Carter 1811-1882 #52Ancestors #27

Agnes Coursey is believed to be the daughter of Charles and Isabella Anderson Coursey. She was born January 13, 1811 in South Carolina.

Agnes married Samuel M Carter, either in South Carolina or Georgia. Their first child, William J, was born 1836 in Georgia. Other children were Isabella born 1838, James H in 1840, Samuel M in 1842, Mary A in 1844, Thomas Kendrell in 1845, Amanda in 1847, and Hiram in 1850.
There is a Samuel Carter in DeKalb County in 1840, and the family is found there in 1850.

In 1860, the family is found in Stones District, Fulton County. By 1870, the family had moved to Haralson County where Agnes and Samuel would live the rest of their lives.

Agnes died at the age of 71 on August 15, 1882, and Samuel died in November of 1882. They are buried near their daughter Amanda Carter Brooks in the Brooks Cemetery, Haralson County, Georgia.

Photo by Stacey Bland on findagrave.com. Used with permission

She's Her Own Ma-Jane McKenzie McNamara- #52Ancestors #32

I've been searching for some time for information on Jane McKinzie McNamara. I first learned of her from her daughter Lizzie's death certificate. Lizzie was my great grandmother, wife of Patrick McGowan. Lizzie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1864, so her parents had to be there. Somehow they have managed to remain well hidden in the census records.
I had found another daughter, Rose, from her marriage to John Hogan, listing her parents.

I estimated Jane's birthdate to be about 1840, give or take a few years, and I knew she was born in Ireland. I knew her husband Daniel McNamara was born in 1841, and had died in 1904 leaving Jane a widow. The 1910 census had several Jane McNamara's in Pennsylvania.

Finally, paydirt!  Sort of. I did find a death certificate for Jane McKinzie McNamara. With great excitement I slowly read the information. Date of birth March 17, 1842..St Patrick's day! Awesome! Widowed is correct since Dan was already deceased.  Date of death November 30, 1922..Slowly scrolling down...parents!! Yes!  Oh No!!

Father is Daniel McNamara (her husband)...and she's her own mother. Surely the informant had to be a son in law, but no, it turns out he was the undertaker. He must have spoken to one of the children, and asked Father? Mother? Understandably distraught, they gave their own parents instead of Jane's.

Oh well, still glad to have found this much.
Using the birthdate and location, I was also able to find Jane in the 1920 census, and a previously unknown daughter Anna.

Name: Jane Mc Namara
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Penn Hills, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
District: 307
Gender: Female
Age: 78
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Can Read: No
Can Write: No
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Own or Rent: Own
Birth Year (Estimated): 1842
Birthplace: Ireland
Immigration Year: 1869
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Sheet Number and Letter: 18A
Household ID: 283
Line Number: 49
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: T625
GS Film number: 1821516
Digital Folder Number: 004384985
Image Number: 00629

Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Jane Mc Namara Head F 78 Ireland
Anna Mc Namara Daughter F 32 Pennsylvania
William Daugherty Boarder M 23 Kentucky

Citing this Record:
"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6B2-WTT : accessed 13 Aug 2014), Jane Mc Namara, Penn Hills, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States; citing sheet 18A, family 283, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821516.

Shortly after finding the above, I ran across another daughter, Mary, from her death certificate. At least she had the correct parents listed.

Update March 29, 2015
I found two McKenzie connections through AncestryDNA, and together we've been able to find more pieces of the puzzle. Jane had a brother, George Patrick McKenzie. HIS death certificate listed parents as Archibald McKenzie and Elizabeth Brown. Together we've been working on the McKenzie family. We were able to find the following:

Jane and her family were living in Upper Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales in 1861.

Notice the last entry in the family. The boarder is none other than Dan McNamara!

This led to a further search for him, where I was surprised to find an entry in the marriage records. 

Daniel McNamara marriage

Keep in mind that the UK marriage records have individual entries for the bride and groom, with the only link being the date. A bit more searching and I found this:

Jane McKenzie marriage

Sooo, it appears that Jane McKenzie married Daniel McNamara the second quarter (April-May-June) 1861.

June 23, 1864

I have to wonder if the marriage was secret, because I also found the record of Jane's immigration with her family. Her father, brother Murdock, and Daniel McNamara were not on the same ship.

This states Jane McKenzie, spinster

 It turns out Her father, brother, and husband had already made their way to Pennsylvania.

I'd love to hear from you if you have any more info on these families.

John T Meigs or Meggs 1760-1844 #52Ancestors #25

John T Meggs or Meigs was born about 1760. Tradition says he was born in Virginia, but the only census records I have found show him in North Carolina.
Supposedly he moved to North Carolina when he was about 16.
Tradition and online trees state that John served in the North Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War at about age 16. There is a record of A John Meggs.

NC State Archives Revolutionary Army Accounts, Reel: S.115.45 Vol. C, pg 64 John Meggs Hillsborough District. The United States of America For Sundries furnished and cash paid the militia of North Carolina Virginia and South Carolina as allowed by the auditors of Hillsborough District in Augst 1782 as p report No82 To amount brought forward (highlighted in yellow) 2027 To John Meggs--574--3.18 Specie. (fromAncestry.com member plrolison)

He also was said to have fought in the War of 1812. I haven't followed up on that yet.

A John Meggs Sr. was issued a Land Grant of 300 acres in Anson Co., NC on December 12, 1816. Grant # 2386, Book 130, Page 426, File #6261.

plrolison originally shared this to Ancestry.com

John married Miss Polly Gordon. They had at least eight children, all born in North Carolina:
Martha Margaret born 1788, never married, died 1843
James born 1789, married Sarah Elizabeth Thomas, died 1821
John born 1790, married Charity Lassiter, died 1854
Stephen Strider born 1792, married Lucinda Adeline Johnson, died 1867
Isaac born 1794, married Anna Balkin, died 1900
William born 1799, married Mary Tubbs and Caroline Goodman, died 1880
Thomas born 1807, married Karonhappuc Tubbs (sister of Mary Tubbs), died 1880
David born 1813, married Nancy, died 1881

Many online trees cite the John Meggs found 1810 in Anson, North Carolina as the same John Meggs.
1810  NORTH CAROLINA  ANSON  NO TWP LISTED
Series: M252 Roll: 38 Page: 25
Jno Meggs
Males
Under 10 2
10 to 15 2
16 to 25 2
26 to 44 1
45 up 0
Females
Under 10 1
10 to 15 0
16 to 25 0
26 to 44 1
45 up 0

The dates are not quite matching up, John and Polly both would have been 45 up, 4 sons would have been 16-25, 1 son 10-16, and 1 son under 10.

The family moved to Hall County Georgia by 1820. In 1830 and 1840 they are in Campbell County, Georgia. Dates still not completely matched up.
1830 Campbell Co., Georgia
1 male 10-15=David about 18
1 male 15-20=Thomas about 23
1 male 60-70=John about 70
1 female 60-70=Polly about 70

On July 1, 1843 John was granted 202 acres of land in Carroll county from the Georgia land Lottery. It is not known if he ever moved there. He died in 1844.

Sophronia J Holley Warnick 1836-1898 AL #52Ancestors #14

Sophronia Holley was born December 16, 1836 in Alabama. Her parents are unknown at this time. One suspect for her father is Phillip Joseph Holley who was in Blount County, Alabama in the 1840 and 1850 census. DNA links me to Phillip and his wife Harriett Hood. I think Sophronia may be the Julietta listed as his child in the 1850 census.


Household ID: 109
House Number: 109
Line Number: 21
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number: M432
Affiliate Film Number: 2
GS Film Number: 2344
Digital Folder Number: 004187292
Image Number: 00260


Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Philip Holly M 50 South Carolina
Harriet Holly F 48 South Carolina
Joseph Holly M 24 South Carolina
Nancy Price F 22 South Carolina
Matilda Holly F 17 South Carolina
Wm Holly M 17 South Carolina
Elizabeth Holly F 14 Alabama
Juletta Holly F 12 Alabama
John Holly M 9 Alabama
Mary Holly F 8 Alabama
Jas Holly M 3 Alabama
Harriet Holly F 0 Alabama


Sophronia married Caleb Rogers Warnick July 27, 1854 in Blount County, Alabama.
I learned a hard lesson on citing my sources with this marriage. I found it on the internet years ago when I was just starting genealogy. I didn't copy anything but the date and place. I can remember the names were misspelled, but did not note the spelling. I've never been able to find it again. Nothing like that to make you remember THAT lesson. I'M STILL KICKING MYSELF.

Sophronia and Caleb had at least ten children:
George Washington born 1855
Margaret A "Maggie" born 1858
James P born 1859
West born 1862
Nancy born 1866
Mary C. born 1869
John Wesley born 1874
Gus born 1881
Gibbie C. born 1887
Richard, date unknown

They moved from Blount to Jefferson County at some point, where .Sophronia died January 5, 1898.
Sophronia is buried in the Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery in Dolomite, Jefferson County, Alabama.

Cynthia Ann "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell 1820-1906 AL #52Ancestors #13

Cynthia Cornelius was the daughter of Beverly Cornelius and his wife Nancy Euphemia Smith. She was the third of nine children and born in Blount County, Alabama March of 1820. Census data all have her name spelled differently. Cancy Ann, Cinceana, and even as Susana. The death certificate for her son  Phelan has Synsandis. The estate of her father Beverly Cornelius refers to her as Cynthia Ann, Cinthian and Cinciana. She is often confused in online trees as her sister, Cincinatti.

Cynthia Cornelius Tidwell from Sandy Grods collection. She looks so much like my grandmother!

Cynthia married Rowan "Ryan" Tidwell October 16, 1842 in Blount County, Alabama. In this record she is recorded as Caney Anny Cornelius. Rowan and Cynthia had at least nine children:
Louisiana "Sis" born 1844. She married Benjamin Jerome Munkus
Phelan born 1847. He married Sarah Elizabeth McCullough
Harriett born 1851, married E Holdridge Monkus
Beverly Cornelius born 1853, married Eva Locke
Hampton Clinton born 1855 and married Palestine Gibson
Rowan B "Ryan" Jr. born 1859. He married Zimmie Tubb.
Brecusie?? born about 1861. He died young and is only found in the 1870 Perry, AL census.

Phelan Tidwell family about 1891. From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

The family lived in Blount County, Alabama until at least after the 1866 Alabama census. Rowan Tidwell died November 11, 1873 in Jericho, Perry County, Alabama. Cynthia A Tidwell applied and was granted a Civil War Widows Pension in 1899.

In 1880 Suzanna? Tidwell was living with her son Beverly's family in Perry County.
In 1890 Perry, Alabama had some of the few surviving 1890 census records, but unfortunately not Cynthia.
The 1900 census enumerated her as Sinsanny Tidwell living in Perry County with her son Rowan Jr's family.

Cynthia A. Tidwell died on April 13, 1906 in Jefferson County, Alabama per the Jefferson County, Alabama Pension Application (#14196). I do not know where she is buried.

Bridget Conlon McGowan from Ireland to PA to AL #52Ancestors #12

Bridget was born somewhere in Ireland. She was the daughter of Michael Conlon and his wife Ellen. The last name has been found as Conlan, Conlen, Conlin and Conlon.

I have not been able to determine Bridget's entry into the US. Per two census records, she arrived in 1855. There are quite a few Bridget Conlons immigrating in the time period before 1860. I've not found any that are on the same ship with a Michael and Ellen, nor any alone in 1855. I have also not been able to be certain where Bridget was in the 1860 census.

Bridget married James McGowan about 1860 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Diocese of Pittsburgh says that marriage records before 1877 are no longer in existence. They were probably married at St. John the Evangelist (South Side)


I was able to obtain the following births and baptisms from the Diocese:
St. John the Evangelist (South Side) Baptismal Records

Patrick, born 22 Mar 1861; baptized 31 Mar 1861; father: James McGown; mother: Bridget Conboy; sponsors: Albert Griffin, Anna Conlon

Mary, born 12 Feb 1864; baptized 28 Feb 1864; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridg. Conlon; sponsors: John McDowal, Mary Conlon

Sarah Helen, born 2 Mar 1866; baptized 18 Mar 1866; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conlin; sponsors: Thos. Nolan, Edelia McCann

Joseph, born 18 Mar 1867; baptized 31 Mar 1867; father: James McGowan; mother: Bridget Conolan; sponsors: Edward McTiernan, Anna McCann

Ellen, born 19 Mar 1873; baptized 6 Apr 1873; father: Jacobo [James] McGowan; mother: Brigitta Connolly; sponsors: Hugo McFadden, Anna Murray

Jacobum, born 15 Feb 1875; baptized 18 Mar 1875; father: Jacobo McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsor: Winifred Gowey

Thomas, born 16 Oct 1877; baptized 21 Oct 1877; father: James McGowan; mother: Brigit Conlon; sponsors: Arthur Holland, Mary McGlinn

The family was in the East Birmingham Borough of Pittsburgh in 1870:
James, age 36, Iron Pudler, value of real estate 1000, personal estate 100, born Ireland, father & mother of foreign birth, US Citizen.
Bridget, age 33, keeps house, born Ireland
Patrick, age 9, Born PA
Mary, age 6, born PA
Joseph, age 4, born PA
Michael, age 8/12, born PA, Sept
Townloe, Mike, age 23, laborer, born Ireland

The 1880 census:
James McGowan Self M Male W 42 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Bridget McGowan Wife M Female W 40 IRE Keeping Bdg House IRE IRE
Patrick McGowan Son S Male W 19 PA Boilers Helper IRE IRE
Mary A. McGowan Dau S Female W 16 PA At Home IRE IRE
Joseph McGowan Son S Male W 13 PA Wks In Rg Mill IRE IRE
James McGowan Son S Male W 5 PA IRE IRE
Thomas McGowan Son S Male W 2 PA IRE IRE
James Conaway boarder S Male W 40 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
Edwd O'Malley boarder S Male W 30 IRE Boiler IRE IRE
William Riley boarder S Male W 36 IRE Boiler IRE IRE

James died in 1889. Bridget is listed as the widow of James in the 1889/90 city directory

Title: J. F. Diffenbacher's Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities. 1889/1890
Author: Diffenbacher, J. F.
Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories
pg 760

McGowan, Bridget, wid Jas, 140 S Twenty-fifth
McGowan, Jos, helper, 140 S Twenty-fifth

In 1900, Bridget was living in McKeesport, Pennsylvania:
630 Jerome St. (Jerome St was demolished as part of the Jerome St Bridge construction in McKeesport)

Picture by Leepaxton at en.wikipedia

MCGOWAN BRIDGET 57 F W IREL Jan 1843, Widowed. 5 children, 5 living, Immigration 1855, Years in US 45
McGowan, James, son, Feb 1875, 25, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill
McGowan, Thomas, Oct 1878, 21, born PA, parents Ireland, laborer pipe mill

In 1910, Bridget was living with her daughter and son-in-law in McKeesport.
1408 Jenny Lind St (now an empty lot)

Ridge, Michael, 44, 1st marriage, married 13 years, Born England, parents England, Immigration 1891, Gas Producer, Tube Works
Mary A, wife, 44, 3 children, 3 living, Born PA, parents Ireland
Katherine, daughter, 11, PA
Maria, daughter, 8, PA
Ellen, daughter, 4, PA
MCGOWAIN BRIDGET 69 F W IREL Mother-in-law, widowed, 10 children, 4 living, parents Ireland, Immigration 1855

By 1920, Bridget had moved to Birmingham, Alabama, and was living with her son Patrick:
Nineteenth Street
McGowen P H 55 M W PA
Tom 27? Salesman Barber Supply
Dan 24 Carpenter Steel Plant
Alice 21 Operator Phone Co
Joe 20 Labor ? Co
Frank 13, ? boy, ? Co
pg 249
John 11
Bridget, Mother, 85 born Ireland

Bridget died January 30, 1920 of Bright's disease (kidney disease). She was buried in Southside Catholic Cemetery. UAB purchased the property where the cemetery was located, and all graves were moved. I have not been able to locate Bridget's final resting place.

Artemesia Wheat Carter of GA and AL 1853-1923 #52Ancestors #9

Artemesia Elizabeth Wheat was the third of eight children born to Augustus Walter Wheat and Mary Gray Danforth Wheat. She was born November 22, 1853 in Campbell County, Georgia. She was known as Artie.

Cover Illustration taken from the cover of Harper's Weekly, September 7, 1861 

Artie grew up in a wealthy household in the old south. Her father was a merchant in Atlanta before she was born, and later an attorney and judge in Campbell County. The 1860 census shows

Wheat, Augustus W 39 M W GA
Occupation Atty at Law Property 12000, Personal 7000
Mary G 35 F
Frances M 14 F
Henry C J 13 M
John C 11 M
Artemissa 6 F
Harry W 2 M (Harvey, married Julia Morris)
3 slaves...a 45 year old female and two children, both 7 years old, male and female.

Artie's father died in 1868. I believe she is Olta in the 1870 census. 

Her mother's household:

1870 GA Campbell Co., Campbellton, PO Powder Springs, Roll M593_139, Pg 33, dwell 1101, lines 20-26, July 24th
Wheate, Mary, 56, keeping house, $1000, $200, GA, cannot read or write
Wheate, John, 21, farm labor, can read & write
Wheate, Olta?, 18, female, domestic servant, GA, cannot read or write (possibly Artie)
Wheate, Harvey?, 12, farm labor, GA
Wheate, Gilbert, 11, GA (Augustus Gilbert, actually 8, married Carzolia Lee 'Lela' Richardson)
Wheate, Anna, 8, GA (actually 11, married a Hammond, and then Joe Privett)
Wheate, Alza, 4, female, GA (married William Henry Bice)

Artie married Thomas Kendrell Carter December 19, 1873. The marriage is recorded in Douglas County.

I have not been able to find the family in the 1880 census. Per Familysearch's Pedigree Resource File Thomas died December 21, 1881. I have no idea how Artie and her children survived after Thomas' death. Her youngest child would have been less that three weeks old, and the oldest was six.

Their children were:

Mary Agnes Frances born February 18, 1875. She married Walter Millwood;

Lela Ann born April 19, 1876. She married James Benjamin Blackwell;

Samuel Thomas born July 13, 1877. He married Mary Alice Warnick;

Augustus Felton born November 7, 1878. He married Mary Ella Franklin;

William Jackson "Jack" born December 3, 1881. He married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Salter.

Artie moved her family to Jefferson County Alabama. They are found in the 7th Precinct in 1900, which would later become Hueytown.

CARTER ARTIE E 45 F W GA born November 1855
Widowed, 5 children with 5 living, she, father & mother all born in GA.
In Household:
Samuel T 27 born July, 1878
Lela A, 23 born April 1877
Augustus, 20 born November 1880
William J, 19 born Dec 18__ (shows age 17, which should be 1881)
All children shown born in GA
All males list occupation as coal miner
Birth year seems to be a year off

Based on birthplaces of children they moved to Alabama after Thomas died. I'm not sure what led the family to Alabama other than the coal mines.

Artie was living with her sister's family in Cullman County, Alabama in 1910.
Privitt, Joe, Head, 46, Marriage 1, Married 19 years, born Illinois, parents born unknown, Farmer
Privitt, Annie, wife, 49, Marriage 2, 4 children, 3 living, born GA, Parents GA
Hammond, James A, step-son, 23, single, self and parents GA, Laborer-home farm
Carter, Atie E, Sister-in law, 56, widowed, 5 children, 4 living, self and parents born GA

In 1920 Artie had moved back to Georgia and was living with her daughter's family:
1920 > GEORGIA > FULTON > COOKS DIST (North West Atlanta, about 3 miles west from downtown)

Series: T625 Roll: 253 Page: 169
Hall Street, 143/146

MILLWOOD WALTER S 49 M W GA Occupation: Carpenter, house, Parents born GA
Millwood, Mary F, wife, 44, self and parents GA
Heath, Roberta F, niece, 11, self and parents GA
Heath, Beatrice, niece, 8, self and parents GA
Carter, Artie E, mother in law, 66, widowed, self and parents GA

Artie then moved to Blount County, Alabama, presumably living with her daughter Lela Carter Blackwell until her death January 25, 1923. She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Blountsville, Blount, Alabama.

Photo by Kimberly Crawford

Sarah Elizabeth McCullough Tidwell of Alabama 1857-1913 #52Ancestors #8

Sarah McCullough was born January 3, 1857 in Perry County, Alabama to Gabriel J. and Mary Meggs McCullough. She was the oldest of five children.. She was also sometimes known as Martha and Bettie.

From my cousin Sandy Mathis Grods

In the 1860 census, her family was living in Severe, Perry, Alabama. By the 1870 census, both her parents were dead. Gabriel is presumed to have died in the Battle of Selma, Alabama in 1865. Mary may have died in childbirth of the twins, Thomas and James, in 1863.

Sarah was living in Perry County with William Edmonds and family in 1870. No close family connection is known at this time. Age is indexed as 20, but if you look at the original, it is 10. All the other McCullough children were living with various different relatives.
William Edmond M 90y
Parmelia Edmond F 45y
Margaret Edmond F 20y
Tracy Edmond F 18y
Cromwell Edmond M 17y
Rachell Edmond F 13y
Amos Edmond M 10y
Sarah Mccullough F 20y (10y)

I have not found Sarah in the 1880 census.
Sarah married Phelan Tidwell September 13, 1881 in Jefferson County, Alabama. Martha is crossed out, and Bettie did not have the Ts crossed, so all the indexes show Billie McCulla. Phelan is indexed in the Marriage Book as Phelan Ridwell.

Jefferson County Marriage Book Vol 9 Pg 424

Phelon (or Phelan) and Sarah raised a large family of nine children:
McKesterson "Kess" born July 9, 1882
Zada Belle born December 1883
Zola Mae born March 1885
Martha Jane "Mattie" born August 1886
Beverly Clinton born October 8, 1888
Ella Debaugh born September 22, 1890
Madeline Virginia born 1891
Phelon Thomas Young born July 22, 1894
Deforest born July 25, 1898

Tidwell family about 1891
From left: Zada, Phelan, Ella, Kess, Beverly, Sarah, Mattie, Cynthia "Cincianna" Cornelius Tidwell, and Zola

The family lived in Perry County until after the 1900 census. They had moved to Bibb County by the 1910 census.

Picture in Sandy Grods collection

TIDWELL
Blocton Enterprise, Thursday, 14 August 1913
A SAD DEATH
Mrs. Phelan Tidwell died at her home near Big Springs on Friday evening about
six o’clock from a second stroke of paralysis. Mrs. Tidwell had lived eight years in the
community in which she died, and was never heard to speak a harm word of anyone, and
she was ever ready to assist those in distress or in need of sympathy. She lead a model
Christian life in the church, at home, and in the neighborhood, and none had aught but
kind words to speak of her. She was known in this place, and it was with deep regret that
her friends here learned of her death. Of Mrs. Tidwell it can be said that truly a good
woman has gone to her reward. The remains were interred at Mt. Carmel cemetery
Saturday evening, Rev. J. L. Busby officiating. She leaves a husband, four sons and four
daughters to mourn her loss, to whom we extend deepest sympathy.

Funeral of Sarah McCullough Tidwell from Sandy Grods collection

Sarah is buried in an unmarked grave in Mount Carmel Cemetery, West Blocton, Bibb County, Alabama

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
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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.