Tombstone Tuesday~Mary Eliza Davis Rivers

Mary Eliza Davis was the youngest daughter of Michael Davis and Hulda Rivers Davis. She had 8 siblings, 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

Mary Eliza Davis Rivers is my 2nd Great Grand Aunt and by marriage her husband Doctor Wesley  “Doctor W.” Rivers is my great grand Uncle.

Mary Eliza Davis Rivers

b. 23 Nov 1853¹

d. 15 April 1917²

bu. Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery ³

Photo Courtesy of Julious Burr

Mary Eliza Davis and Doctor Wesley Rivers were married  about 1870.^{4 5} This date is calculated based on the birth of their know first born child, Lugenia Rivers, born 3 June 1871. 

Mary Eliza Davis and Doctor Wesley Rivers had twelve (12) known children:

i. Lugenia Rivers, born 3 Jun 1871, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married John William Sweat, 26 Dec 1891, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 30 Jun 1955, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
ii. George Washington Rivers, born 24 Sep 1873, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Julia Elizabeth Perkins, abt 1912, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 3 Feb 1951, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iii. James B. "Jim" Rivers, born 29 Nov 1875, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Minnie B. White, 1904; died 1 Nov 1918, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iv. Nancy Jane Rivers, born 9 May 1877, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Elisha Theodore Davis, 1900, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 26 Mar 1947, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
v. Lillie A. Rivers was born in Jun 1880 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died on 15 Aug 1935 at the age of 55 in Florence, Florence, South Carolina. She was buried on 16 Aug 1935 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vi. Albert Rivers was born in Jan 1883 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He died on 26 Jan 1953 at the age of 70 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Albert was buried on 28 Jan 1953 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vii. William Alfred Rivers, born 25 Jan 1885, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Nellie Olivia Campbell, 5 Oct 1904, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 1 Apr 1951, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
viii. Charlie D. Rivers, born 23 Apr 1887, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Laura Florence Teal, 26 Aug 1906, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; died 17 Aug 1938, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
ix. Thomas L. Rivers was born on 11 Dec 1889 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. Thomas died on 23 Sep 1948 at the age of 58 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was buried on 24 Sep 1948 at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
x. Mary E. Rivers was born on 3 Apr 1892 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
xi. Frederick "Bud" Rivers, born 23 Sep 1894, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; married Mary Della Liles, abt 1914; died 14 May 1957, Bennettsville, Marlboro, South Carolina.
xii. John Calvin Rivers, born 8 Mar 1897, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Lera Hammond, 27 Dec 1922, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 13 Mar 1971, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.


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1. M. [Mary Eliza] RIVERS, death certificate 006154 (15 April 1917), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.
2. Ibid.
3. Mrs. D. W. RIVERS obituary, The State, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, 21 April 1917, Page 3, col. 3.
4. During the “Reconstruction Era” the Southern people were very wary of government officials. In 1870, when the Census Taker came around, they rebelled, in most cases, giving only their first name initials to the government census taker. In 1870, there is a 16 year old female listed in Michael & Hulda Davis household. This is believed to be Mary Eliza Davis.
5. 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 306B, Line 35, Dwelling/Family #371/371, Household of M[ichael] DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.