52 Cousins~Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin: A Winston County Mother's Story

 

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin (1856-1932) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin: A Winston County Mother's Story

Early Life and Family Origins

Huldah Ann Rivers was born on April 4, 1856, in Warrior, Jefferson County, Alabama, to Frederick W. Rivers (1817-1890) and Synthia Matilda Knight (1824-1902). Her parents had both been born in South Carolina and made their way to Alabama, where they established their family in the growing region around Birmingham.

Huldah grew up as one of several children in the Rivers household. Her siblings included Margaret Matilda Rivers Tidwell (1844-1913), Synthia Jane Rivers Waid (1860-1909), Marcus C. Rivers (1862-1945), and Richard M. Rivers (1866-1944). The 1860 census shows young Huldah, then just three years old, living with her family in the Blackburns area of Jefferson County. By 1870, when she was fourteen, the family had moved to the Mt. Pinson area, still in Jefferson County.

Marriage and Moving to Winston County

On February 14, 1874—Valentine's Day—seventeen-year-old Huldah Ann married Lewis William Baldwin in Houston, Winston County, Alabama. Lewis, born December 8, 1855, in Ashville, St. Clair County, was the son of Irvin C. Baldwin (1814-1864) and Sydney S. Willoughby (1816-1864). Both of Lewis's parents had passed away when he was just a young boy, leaving him and his siblings to make their own way in the world.

The young couple settled in Houston, a small community in Winston County—an area known as the "Free State of Winston" for its opposition to secession during the Civil War. This rugged, independent region in Alabama's hill country would be their home for most of their married life.

Growing a Family

Huldah and Lewis wasted no time starting their family. Over the next eighteen years, they would welcome eleven children into the world, though tragically, not all would survive to adulthood. Their children were:

Matilda Frances Baldwin (December 29, 1874 - 1974), who married Grant U. Burdick on Christmas Day 1890

Tempie Jane Baldwin (February 7, 1877 - May 31, 1958), who married Thomas Jefferson McClellan on Christmas Day 1894

Margaret Elizabeth Baldwin (January 3, 1879 - August 10, 1961), who married Robert Coatney Bradfield on October 22, 1899

Joanna Elizabeth Baldwin (March 10, 1881 - March 21, 1942), who married William Jasper Dunlap on December 17, 1899

George H. Baldwin (August 21, 1882 - July 14, 1972), who married Ada Lauvernia Thornton on April 8, 1906

Hulda Henrietta Baldwin (March 20, 1884 - February 27, 1953), who first married Ross E. Thornton in 1901, and later married William Jasper Dunlap (her sister's widower) in 1943

Lillie Alice Baldwin (January 25, 1886 - December 20, 1971), who married George Washington Blevins on May 10, 1902

Richard Andrew Nathaniel Baldwin (April 14, 1888 - June 15, 1968), who married Lillian Horsely on December 27, 1919

Esther Izora Baldwin (March 25, 1890 - July 7, 1964), who married Burvil Angress Sides on October 10, 1909

Cynthia Jane Baldwin (August 19, 1892 - April 26, 1953), who married Oscar C. Johnson on September 24, 1911

Jonnie Harrison Baldwin (August 19, 1892 - September 23, 1897), who died at just five years old

The loss of little Jonnie in 1897 must have been heartbreaking for Huldah and Lewis, but they continued to raise their remaining children in the close-knit community of Houston.

Life as a Farmer's Wife

The census records paint a picture of Huldah's life over the decades. In 1880, the family was living in Township 11, Beat 1 of Winston County. Lewis worked as a farmer, and at just 23 years old, Huldah already had three young daughters—Matilda (age 5), Tempa (age 3), and Margaret (age 1).

By the 1900 census, the family was still in Houston, and the household was bustling. Huldah, now 44, had been married for 26 years and had given birth to ten children, with nine still living. The census that year captured daughters Hulda, Lillie, Esther, and Jane still at home, along with son Richard and nephew George H. Terry.

Life in rural Alabama during this period meant hard work for everyone. Huldah would have been responsible for cooking, cleaning, preserving food, making clothes, tending gardens, and caring for her large brood—all without modern conveniences. Meanwhile, Lewis worked the land to provide for his growing family.

By 1910, the family had moved to Walker County, Alabama, specifically to Precinct 5. The household had gotten smaller, with most of the older children married and gone. The census shows that Huldah and Lewis had been married for 26 years (though it was actually 36 by then), and only their youngest children, Andrew and Janie, were still at home.

Historical Context: Life in Alabama (1856-1932)

Huldah lived through some of the most transformative periods in American history. She was born just five years before the Civil War began. Although she was too young to remember much of the war itself, she certainly grew up hearing stories about it and experiencing its aftermath during Reconstruction.

The region where she lived—Winston County—was unique in Alabama. It had attempted to remain neutral during the Civil War, with many residents opposing secession. This independent spirit shaped the community where Huldah and Lewis raised their family.

During Huldah's lifetime, Alabama transitioned from an agricultural economy devastated by war to one beginning to industrialize, particularly in the Birmingham area where she had grown up. The state struggled with poverty, the sharecropping system, and Jim Crow laws, but also saw the development of coal mining and iron production.

Widowhood and Later Years

After 43 years of marriage, Huldah's life changed dramatically when Lewis died on November 28, 1918, in Jasper, Walker County. He was 62 years old. Lewis was buried at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in Jasper. His death came at the end of World War I, during the devastating Spanish Flu pandemic that swept the world.

The 1920 census shows 64-year-old Huldah, now widowed and going by "H. A. Baldwin," living in Motes, Winston County. Her son Andrew, age 30, and his wife Lillian, age 21, were living with her—likely helping to care for her and maintain the household.m

In an interesting twist of fate, about 1922, at the age of 66, Huldah married James Owen Farley, who was 77 years old. James was the widower of Elizabeth A. Baldwin—Lewis's own sister. This type of marriage between in-laws was not uncommon in rural communities, where practical considerations and existing family connections often influenced such decisions.

Final Years

Huldah spent her final years in Walker County, Alabama. She passed away on March 21, 1932, in Falls City, Walker County, at the age of 75. She was laid to rest beside Lewis at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in Jasper.

She died during the depths of the Great Depression, having witnessed enormous changes in American life—from the horse-and-buggy era to the age of automobiles and radio, from the Civil War's aftermath to the modern industrial age.

Legacy

Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin's legacy lived on through her children and their descendants, who scattered across Alabama and beyond to California and Illinois. Her daughters and sons carried forward the resilient, independent spirit of Winston County, raising their own families and contributing to their communities. Through hard work, dedication to family, and perseverance through difficult times, Huldah exemplified the strength of women who built families and communities in rural Alabama during one of the most challenging periods in American history.

Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin is my 1st Cousin 4X Removed. 

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1. Irvin Baldwin Family, G. Edward Stahlnecker (g.stahlnecker@worldnet.att.net), Irvin Baldwin Family Bible (http://www.freestateofwinston.org/baldwinbible2.txt : Downloaded 4 August 2011), Lewis William BALDWIN, BIRTH, 8 December 1855.

2. 1880 U. S. Census, Winston County, Alabama, population schedule, Township 11, Beat 1, Winston County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #287, Page 535C; Line 46, Dwelling 24, Family 24, Household of Lewis W. BALDWIN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_0035.

3. 1900 U. S. Census, Winston County, Alabama, population schedule, Houston, Winston County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #157, Page: 247A; Line 24, Dwelling 43, Family 43, Household of Louis BALDWIN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_44.

4. 1910 U. S. Census, Walker County, Alabama, population schedule, Precinct 5, Walker County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #0175, Page: 107A & 107B; Line 50-53, Dwelling 537, Family 551, Household of Louis W. Baldwyn; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 zug 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_35.

5. Family, Irvin Baldwin Family Bible, Lewis William BALDWIN, DEATH, 28 November 1918.

6. Family, Irvin Baldwin Family Bible, Lewis William BALDWIN, MARRIAGE, 14 February 1874.

7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  July 2024); Memorial page for Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin; (4 April 1856–21 March 1932); Find a Grave memorial # 80429161, Citing New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery; Jasper, Walker County, Alabama, USA.

8. 1860 U. S. Census, Jefferson County, Alabama, population schedule, Blackburns, Jefferson County, Alabama, Page: 676, Line 5-15, Household 232/217, Household of Frederic W. RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653_12.

9. 1870 U. S. Census, Jefferson County, Alabama, population schedule, Township 14 Range 3, Jefferson County, Alabama, Page: 288A, Line 17-28, Dwelling/Family 246/254, Household of Frederic W. RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_21.

10. 1910 U. S. Census, Walker County, Alabama, population schedule, Precinct 5, Walker County, Alabama, ED #0175, Page: 107A & 107B; Line 50-53, Dwelling 537, Family 551, Household of Louis W. Baldwyn.

11. 1920 U. S. Census, Winston County, Alabama, population schedule, Motes, Winston County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #131, Page: 198B, Line 51, Dwelling 101, Family 101, Household of H. A. Baldwin; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 4 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_43.

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Huldah Ann Rivers Baldwin (4 April 1856–21 March 1932), Memorial # 80429161.

Aunts & Uncles~A Carolina Girl's Journey: The Story of Alice Eddins Adams

The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Alice "Alley" (Eddins) Adams (c. 1781–bef 1870) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled: 

"A Carolina Girl's Journey: The Story of Alice Eddins Adams"

Early Life and Family Background

Alice "Alley" Eddins was born around 1781 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, during the final years of the American Revolution. She was the daughter of William Eddins (1757–1822) and Nancy (died 1816). Growing up in South Carolina in the decades following independence, Alice came of age during a time of tremendous growth and westward expansion in the young nation.

Marriage and Family

Around 1810, Alice married Emanuel A. Adams in Anson County, North Carolina. Emanuel, who was born in 1773 in Pitt County, North Carolina, was the son of John Adams. The couple appears together in the 1810 Anson County Census as newlyweds without any children, suggesting their marriage was quite recent.

Together, Alice and Emanuel had at least three known children, though census records suggest there were more that have not been idntified:

• Riley Adams (1811–May 12, 1877) – Born in Chesterfield, South Carolina, Riley later married Matilda May Collins on July 3, 1864, in Monroe County, Alabama. He served in the Creek War in 1853 and later in the Home Guard in September 1864 during the Civil War.
• James Irvin Adams (c. 1813–before 1870) – Born in Anson County, North Carolina, James married Nancy Helen Eddins on January 6, 1839, in Pike County, Alabama. He later moved to Colorado, Texas, where he died before 1870.
• Louisa Ann Adams (May 6, 1821–July 16, 1901) – Born in Anson County, North Carolina, Louisa married Reverend Simeon Williams (1797–1870) and died in Pike County, Alabama.

The 1830 census reveals an important detail: Emanuel and Alice's household included five unnamed children who have not yet been identified by researchers, reminding us that there were more branches of this family tree waiting to be discovered.

Life in North Carolina (1810–1827)

Alice and Emanuel began their married life in Anson County, North Carolina, where they were farming and raising their young family. The 1810 census shows them with one young male child—likely their firstborn, Riley. By 1820, their household had grown considerably, with the census recording one male aged 10-15, three males under 10, and two females under 10, totaling eight free white persons. The family also owned one enslaved person.

Life in Anson County wasn't without its challenges. In 1827, Emanuel lost 149 acres of land in a tax sale when the sheriff couldn't find any goods or chattels to cover the unpaid taxes from 1824. The property on Thompson's Creek was sold to John McRae for just $2.87—the amount of back taxes and costs. This financial setback may have influenced the family's decision to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

The Move to Alabama (1827–1830)

Like many families in the 1820s and 1830s, Alice and Emanuel looked westward for better opportunities. Between 1827 and 1830, they joined the great migration to Alabama, settling in Pike County. This move was part of a larger pattern—thousands of families from the Carolinas and Georgia were drawn to Alabama's fertile cotton lands following the removal of Native American tribes.

The 1830 Pike County census provides a snapshot of their household: Emanuel (age 50-59), Alice (age 30-39), and their children—including males aged 10-14, two aged 15-19 (Riley and James Irvin), one aged 20-29, and three females aged 10-14. The family now owned two enslaved people and had nine free white persons in the household.

Establishing Roots in Alabama (1830s–1840s)

Emanuel worked to establish the family's future in Alabama, acquiring land through federal grants. In August 1837, he purchased 83.1 acres in Pike County, and in July 1841, he added another 159.8 acres. These land acquisitions show the family was building prosperity in their new home.

The 1840 census shows some changes—the household had decreased to five free white persons, though they now owned five enslaved individuals. By this time, some of their older children were likely establishing households of their own.

In 1846, Emanuel served as security for William R. Eddins (the brother of his wife Alice) who was appointed guardian for Christian Joliff, a minor heir. This role suggests Emanuel was respected in the community and had accumulated enough property to stand as surety for a $1,500 bond.

Later Years in Monroe County (1850–1860)

At some point between 1840 and 1850, the family moved from Pike County to Monroe County, Alabama. The 1850 census found 76-year-old Emanuel, 69-year-old "Aley" (Alice), and their 39-year-old son Riley living together. The agricultural census shows Emanuel still actively farming, and the state census records they owned six enslaved people.

These were comfortable years for the couple. In 1858, Emanuel acquired an additional 40 acres in Monroe County, continuing to invest in land well into his eighties. The 1860 census records Emanuel at age 88, Alice at 75, and Riley at 46 still living together—a multigenerational household that was common on the frontier.

Historical Context

Alice and Emanuel's lives spanned an extraordinary period in American history. Alice was born just as the Revolutionary War was ending, when the United States was barely formed. By the time of her death, the nation had expanded across the continent, fought a second war with Britain, experienced massive westward migration, and survived the devastating Civil War.

The couple's move to Alabama was part of the "Alabama Fever" of the 1820s–1830s, when cotton became "king" and Alabama's population exploded from about 128,000 in 1820 to over 590,000 by 1840. They witnessed the forced removal of Creek Indians from Alabama lands, the rise of the plantation economy, and the growing tensions over slavery that would tear the nation apart.

Living through the Civil War years in their seventies and eighties, Alice and Emanuel saw their world transformed. The 1861 probate records from Emanuel's estate include the painful notation of enslaved people being sold—a woman named Tamer sold to "Ailey Adams" (likely Alice herself) for $223, and a woman named Sarah sold for $1,000.

Final Years

Emanuel died before December 3, 1860, when his estate administration began. The probate records show he owned eight head of cattle and a wagon at his death. His land and remaining assets were sold in April 1861, just as the Civil War was beginning.

Alice survived her husband and continued to live in Monroe County. She died sometime before 1870, as she doesn't appear in that year's census. She was likely in her late eighties at the time of her death.

Alice and Emanuel's story is one of resilience, migration, and family—a narrative shared by countless American families who moved westward seeking opportunity in the nineteenth century. While we don't know all their children or every detail of their lives, the records that survive paint a picture of a couple who built a life together across nearly sixty years of marriage, raised a family through tremendous national upheaval, and left descendants who continued their legacy in Alabama and beyond.

Note: Research continues to identify the unnamed children referenced in census records. Family members with additional information are encouraged to contribute to this ongoing genealogical research.

Alice "Alley" (Eddins) Adams is my 3rd Great Grand Aunt

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1. 1810 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Anson County, North Carolina, Page#NL, Line#12, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm.

2. 1820 U S Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Ratcliff, Anson, North Carolina, Page#NL, Line #12, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm M33, Roll 80.

3. 1830 U. S. Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Pike County, Alabama, Page#32, Line #Last Entry, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm.

4. 1840 U. S. Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Pike County, Alabama, Page#366, Line #22, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm M704 Roll 12.

5. 1850 Alabama State Census, Pike County, Alabama, population schedule, Monroe, Alabama, Emanuel Adams; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 October 2022).

6. 1850 U. S. Census, Monroe County, Alabama, population schedule, Monroe, Alabama, Page 49 (Stamped), Line #9, Dwelling#710, Family#710, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 11.

7. 1860 U. S. Census, Monroe County, Alabama, population schedule, Monroe, Alabama, Page 849 (Stamped), Line #22, Dwelling 620, Family 571, Household of Emanual ADAMS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 October 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653 Roll 18.

8. North Carolina, Deed Book:  Deed Book "E", page 123, the property of Emanuel Adams; Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

9. Lebanon, Alabama, Alabama, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908, Document Number: 2734; Emanuel Adams, 15 August 1837; Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com.

10. Lebanon, Alabama, Alabama, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908, Document Number: 6111, Emanuel Adams, 1841.

11. Wilcox County, Alabama, Probate Files & Loose papers, Guardian of Christian Joliff; "Wilcox County Court Minutes," digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2994809:8799: online July 2025); Estate of Davis Joliff.

12. Lebanon, Alabama, Alabama, Homestead and Cash Entry Patents, Pre-1908, Document Number: 44338, Emanuel Adams, 1858.

13. Wilcox County, Alabama, Probate Files & Loose papers, Emanuel Adams; "Monroe County Court Minutes," digital images, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2994809:8799: online July 2025); Estate of Emanuel Adams.

14. Wilcox County, Alabama, Estate Appraisement, Estate of Emanuel Adams.

15. Wilcox County, Alabama, Sale of Slaves, Estate of Emanuel Adams.

52 Cousins~ A Family Man's Journey: John Henry Earnhart Through War, Peace, and Migration

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of John Henry Earnhart(1841-1896) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"A Family Man's Journey: John Henry Earnhart Through War, Peace, and Migration"

Early Life and Family Origins

John Henry Earnhart was born on October 6, 1841, in Bedford County, Tennessee, to Daniel Earnhart (1809-1883) and Martha Ann "Lucy" Lentz (1811-?). He grew up in a large farming family in the rural Tennessee countryside during a time when most families made their living from the land.

John had several siblings who grew up alongside him in Bedford County. His sisters included Melinda J. (born around 1833), Harriett (born around 1835), and Mary (born around 1837). He also had brothers James A. (born around 1843) and George (born around 1845). The family remained close-knit throughout John's childhood, all living together in District 18 of Bedford County.

Growing Up in Antebellum Tennessee

John spent his boyhood in the 1840s and 1850s, a pivotal time in American history. As a young man, he would have witnessed the growing tensions between North and South that would eventually lead to the Civil War. In 1850, when John was about nine years old, he was living at home with his parents and siblings, likely helping with farm chores and attending whatever local schooling was available in rural Tennessee.

By 1860, at age 19, John was still living with his parents. This was the year Abraham Lincoln was elected president, and the nation stood on the brink of civil war. Many young men John's age would soon find themselves caught up in the conflict that would define their generation.

Marriage and Starting a Family

Around 1860, John married Evaline Wise, who was born on April 30, 1838, in Tennessee. Evaline was about three years older than John. Evaline was the daughter of Henry Wise and Margaret Brindle. The couple would spend the next 36 years together, building a life and raising a large family in Bedford County.

John and Evaline had eight children together:

Martha Elizabeth Earnhart (1861-1940)

William Daniel Earnhart (1863-1954)

Henry Jasper Earnhart (1864-1870) - tragically died at age six

NOTE: A son named "Jones" b. 1865 is listed in the 1870 Census: This is believed to be James Robert Earnhart.

James Robert "Bob" Earnhart (1867-1950)

Margaret Susan Earnhart (1870-1948)

John Wesley Earnhart (1873-1959)

Francis Matilda Earnhart (1875-1956)

Life During and After the Civil War

The 1860s were tumultuous years for Tennessee families. The state was a major battleground during the Civil War (1861-1865), with divided loyalties tearing communities apart. While we don't have records of John's specific wartime activities, he was of military age during the conflict. What we do know is that by 1870, five years after the war ended, John was back home in Bedford County with Evaline and their growing family.

The 1870 census shows 28-year-old John living with his wife and their young children: Martha (8), William (7), Jones [James Robert] (4), and baby Margaret, who was just seven months old. The family was rebuilding their lives in the post-war South, a period known as Reconstruction.

Family Life in the 1870s and 1880s

By 1880, John was 38 years old and firmly established as the head of his household in District 18, Bedford County. The census that year lists six of his children living at home: Martha (17), William (16), Robert (14), Susan (11), John (8), and Fanny (5). Like most families in rural Tennessee at the time, they likely farmed for their livelihood, with the older children helping with the heavy work.

These were the years when John and Evaline watched their children grow into young adults. The 1870s and 1880s saw America transform from a war-torn nation into an increasingly industrialized country, though life in rural Tennessee would have changed more slowly than in the cities.

Later Years and Move to Missouri

Sometime between 1880 and 1896, John and Evaline made the significant decision to leave Tennessee and move to Christian County, Missouri. Many families made similar moves during this period, seeking new opportunities or joining relatives who had already relocated westward.

Death and Legacy

John Henry Earnhart died on August 25, 1896, in Christian County, Missouri, at the age of 54. He was buried in Wise Hill Cemetery in Clever, Christian County, Missouri. Evaline lived another 17 years as a widow, passing away on June 21, 1913, at age 75. She was laid to rest beside John in Wise Hill Cemetery.

John and Evaline's legacy lived on through their children, most of whom enjoyed long lives. Their descendants continued to spread across America, carrying forward the Earnhart family name and the stories of their Tennessee roots.

John Henry Earnhart is my 2nd Cousin 4X Removed. 

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1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  June 2025); Memorial page for John Henry Earnhart; (6 October 1841–6 October 1841); Find a Grave memorial # 70064390, Citing Wise Hill Cemetery; Clever, Christian County, Missouri, USA.

2. 1850 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, Page: 185A (Stamped); Line 7, Dwelling 2, Family 2, Household of  Daniel EARNHEART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 May 2022); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432.

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Western Division District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, Page 248 (Stamped); Line 8, Dwelling 1241, Family 1195, Household of Daniel EARNHEART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 May 2022); citing National Archives Microfilm M653.

4. 1870 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, Page:#331B (Stamped); Line:#20, Dwelling:#181; Family:#191, Household of John EARNHART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_.

5. 1880 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, enumeration district (ED) 12, Page:#331B (Stamped); Line:#7, Dwelling:#1; Family:#3, Household of John EARNHART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_.

6. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Evaline Wise Earnhart (30 April 1838–21 July 1913), Memorial # 70064258.

7. 1870 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, Population Schedule, District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, Page:#331B (Stamped); Line:#20, Dwelling:#181; Family:#191, Household of John EARNHART.

8.1910 U. S. Census, Christian County, Missouri, population schedule, Porter, Christian, Missouri, enumeration district (ED) 0040, Page:#21B/100B (Stamped); Line:#76, Dwelling:#76; Family:#76, Household of James M. LETT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll:.

Aunts & Uncles~Elisha Blakely Davis: A Life in the Carolina Piedmont

The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Elisha Blakely Davis (1848-1912) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

"Elisha Blakely Davis: A Life in the Carolina Piedmont"

Early Life and Family Background

Elisha Blakely Davis was born on June 27, 1848, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, to Michael Davis (1806-1888) and Hulda "Huldie" Rivers (1816-1881). He entered the world during a time of significant change in the American South, just over a decade before the outbreak of the Civil War.

Elisha grew up as the youngest of several siblings in the Davis household. The 1850 census shows him at about two years old, living with his parents and siblings including William A., Sarah A., Elizabeth, Thomas F., Nancy, and Charles W. Davis. His father Michael was a farmer, and the family was well-established in Chesterfield County, where they would remain for generations.

Growing Up in Chesterfield County

By 1860, when Elisha was about twelve years old, he was still living at home with his parents and siblings. This was a formative time in American history—the nation was on the brink of civil war, and life in rural South Carolina was about to change dramatically. As a young boy coming of age during the Civil War years, Elisha would have witnessed the upheaval that affected every Southern community.

Marriage and Family

On February 15, 1874, at the age of 25, Elisha married Mary Jane "Molly" Eddins (1854-1916) in Chesterfield, South Carolina. Mary Jane was the daughter of Joseph Columbus Eddins, Sr. & Matilda Ann Tice. Their union would prove to be a long and fruitful one, lasting until Elisha's death nearly four decades later.

Photo Courtesy of Donna Hodgman

Together, Elisha and Mary Jane raised a large family of ten children:

Joseph M. Davis (1874-1946)

Mary Huldah Davis (1876-1933) - named after Elisha's mother

Charles Davis (1877-1954)

William E. Davis (1878-1952)

Mary Ellen Davis (1879-1964)

James Thomas "Tom" Davis (1880-1968)

Alford Davis (1882-1883) - tragically died in infancy

Nancy Jane Davis (1883-1972)

Marion Fredrick Davis (1886-1963)

Sarah E. "Sally" Davis (1889-1984)

Nine of their ten children survived to adulthood—a relatively good outcome for the era, though the loss of baby Alford would have been deeply felt by the family.

Life as a Farmer and Landowner

Elisha followed in his father's footsteps as a farmer in Chesterfield County. The 1880 census captured the young family when Elisha was 32 years old, living with Mary Jane and their five young children at that time. By 1900, the census noted that Elisha and Mary Jane had been married for 26 years and had ten children, with nine still living.

Like many families in the rural South during this period, the Davis household was a working farm where everyone contributed. The children would have helped with planting, harvesting, and the countless daily tasks required to maintain a farm in the late 19th century.

Land Holdings

Elisha owned property inherited from his father Michael—two tracts totaling 81 acres in Chesterfield County. These lands were situated along Abrams Creek and represented the family's livelihood and legacy. The first tract contained about 55 acres lying on both sides of Abrams Creek, while the second tract contained about 26 acres on the east side of the creek, including swampland.

Later Years and Final Move

In 1910, at age 62, Elisha and Mary Jane were living in Red Bluff, Marlboro County, South Carolina—a move from their longtime home in Chesterfield County. Still living with them were three of their adult children: Joseph M. (age 35), Mary E. (age 26), and Sarah E. (age 30). The census recorded that the couple had been married for 35 years at that point.

The Land Sale of 1911

On February 2, 1911, Elisha made a significant business transaction, selling his two inherited land tracts to J. W. T. Rivers for $2,000—a substantial sum for the time. The deed was witnessed and properly recorded, with Mary Jane formally renouncing her dower rights to the property, as was required by law for married women at the time.

Interestingly, both Elisha and Mary Jane signed the deed with their marks rather than signatures, indicating they may not have been literate—not uncommon for their generation, particularly in rural areas of the South.

Death and Legacy

Elisha Blakely Davis died on October 13, 1912, in Scotland County, North Carolina, at the age of 64. He was buried the same day at Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chesterfield, South Carolina—returning to the county where he had spent most of his life.

His estate was divided among his surviving children, with commissioners appointed on December 4, 1912, to ensure an equal distribution of his remaining real estate among the legatees.

Mary Jane survived her husband by four years, passing away in 1916. Together, they left behind a substantial legacy—nine surviving children who would go on to have families of their own, ensuring the Davis name continued in the Carolina Piedmont for generations to come.

Historical Context (1848-1914)

Elisha's life spanned one of the most transformative periods in American history:

1848: The year of his birth coincided with the California Gold Rush and growing tensions over slavery

1861-1865: The Civil War occurred during his teenage years (ages 13-17)

1865-1877: Reconstruction Era, when he came of age and started his own family

1870s-1890s: The rise of sharecropping and tenant farming reshaped Southern agriculture

1900: The turn of the century found him as an established farmer with a large family

1912: His death came just two years before the outbreak of World War I

Throughout these tumultuous decades, Elisha remained rooted in the land and community where he was born, building a life centered on family, farming, and faith.

Deed Transcription

E. B. DAVIS TO J. W. T. RIVERS

The State of South Carolina, County of Chesterfield

Date: February 2, 1911

Parties: E. B. Davis of Chesterfield County, South Carolina, sells to J. W. T. Rivers

Consideration: Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00)

Property Description:

All that certain piece, parcel or tract of land, situate, lying and being in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, originally consisting of two tracts:

First Tract: Containing fifty-five acres more or less, lying on both sides of Abrams Creek. Reference to a deed from G. A. Parker to James K. Parker and from Nancy Parker to Michael Davis and from Michael Davis to me will also show [boundaries].

Second Tract: Containing twenty-six acres more or less on the east side of Abrams Creek including the whole of the swamp to W. A. Davis line. Reference to an old Grant to Kilgore and Deed from Michael Davis to me will also show boundaries, etc. Reference may also be had to plats attached.

Terms: Together with all and singular, the Rights, Members, Hereditaments and Appurtenances to the said Premises belonging, or in any wise incident or appertaining.

Warranty: To have and to hold, all and singular, the said Premises before mentioned unto the said J. W. T. Rivers, his Heirs and Assigns forever. The grantor binds himself, his Executors and Administrators to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said Premises unto the said J. W. T. Rivers, his Heirs and Assigns, against all persons lawfully claiming, or to claim the same, or any part thereof whomsoever.

Witnesses: R. E. Rivers and W. C. West

Signature: E. B. Davis (his mark)

Sworn before: R. E. Rivers, Clerk of Court, February 2, 1911

Renunciation of Dower: Mrs. Mary Jane Davis, wife of E. B. Davis, appeared before W. C. West, Deputy Clerk of Court, and being privately and separately examined, did declare that she does freely, voluntarily and without any compulsion, dread or fear of any person or persons whomsoever, renounce, release and forever relinquish unto J. W. T. Rivers, his Heirs and Assigns, all her interest and estate, and also all her right and claim of dower.

Signature: Mary Jane Davis (her mark)

Recorded: February 2, 1911, Chesterfield County Deed Book 31, pages 341 & 342

Elisha Blakely Davis is my 2nd Great Grand Uncle. 

__________________________

1. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Self-Published, 1995, page 831. Tombstone of E. B. DAVIS; 27 June 1848–13 October 1912, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

2. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 179B, Line 3, Dwelling/Family 1240/1240, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 94, Line 1, Dwelling/Family 1/1, Household of Michael DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

4. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page 316B; Line 23, Dwelling 127, Family 127, Household of Elisha B. DAVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.

5. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #21, Page 107A/107B, Line 50, Dwelling 427, Family 434, Household of Elisha B. DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_Roll: 1523.

6. 1910 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Red Bluff, Marlboro County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #0086, Page 246B; Line 94, Dwelling 152, Family 152, Household of Elisha DAVIS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 26 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm  T624.

7. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of E. B. DAVIS.

8. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  5 July 2012); Memorial page for Elisha Blakely Davis; (27 June 1848–13 October 1912); Find a Grave memorial # 100311076, Citing Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

9. Land Deed - E. B. DAVIS TO W. T. RIVERS; 2 February 1911; Deed Book #31; Page(s) 341 &F 342; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; October 2025.

10. Land Deed - Names Comissioners to Distribute Estate of Elisha Davis; 4 December 1912; Deed Book #36; Page(s) 25 & 26; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; October 2025.

11. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Mary J. DAVIS.

12. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Mary J. DAVIS.

13.State of North Carolina, death no. #360 (14 March 1916), Mary Jane Davis; https://www.ancestry.com, Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina.

14. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Mary J. DAVIS.

15. Mrs. Mary J. Davis obituary, The State, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina, 16 March 1916, Page 3, Col 4.

16. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Mary Jane Eddins Davis (1 May 1854–14 March 1916), Memorial # 100311219.

17. North Carolina, death certificate (2 December 1954), Charlie Davis; http://www.Ancestry.com, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina.

18. 1930 U. S. Census, Durham County, North Carolina, population schedule, Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 23, Page 206B/6B; Line 92, Dwelling 127, Family 129, John R. JOHNSTON Household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T626_Roll: 1687.

19. North Carolina, death certificatecertificate, (2 December 1954), Charlie Davis.

20. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  5 July 2012); Memorial page for Charlie Davis; (5 May 1877–2 December 1954); Find a Grave memorial # 63182667, Citing Maplewood Cemetery; Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, USA.

21. North Carolina, death certificatecertificate # 23821, (12 October 1952), William E Davis.

22. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 19, Page 61A/3A, Line 3, Dwelling 43, Family 43, John R. DAVIS Household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : Viewed 7 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_1523.

23. North Carolina, death certificatecertificate # 23821, (12 October 1952), William E Davis.

24. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, William E Davis (26 June 1878–12 October 1952), Memorial # 63284433.

25. North Carolina, death certificate, (5 June 1964), Mary Ellen Davis.

26. 1930 U. S. Census, Durham County, North Carolina, population schedule, Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, ED 23, Page 206B/6B; Line 92, Dwelling 127, Family 129, John R. JOHNSTON Household.

27. North Carolina, death certificatecertificate # 17739, (5 June 1964), Mary Ellen Davis.

28. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Mary Ellen Davis (17 October 1879–5 June 1964), Memorial:#63281059.

52 Cousins~Andrew White: A Carolina Farmer's Life (1847-1908)

The “52 Cousins” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Root s Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography of Andrew White (1847-1908)) was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled: 

"Andrew White: A Carolina Farmer's Life (1847-1908)"

Early Life and Family Origins

Andrew White was born around 1847 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, during a time when the rural South was still largely agricultural and families worked the land together. He was the son of Richmond White (born 1815) and M. Anne Parsons (1818-1883), who were raising their family in the Chesterfield area.

Andrew grew up with several siblings in a bustling household. His brothers and sisters included William, James, Mary, and his younger brother Alvin. The 1850 census captured three-year-old Andrew living at home with his parents and siblings, and by 1860, when he was about twelve years old, the family had grown even larger with additional siblings Thomas J., Eliza J., Marshall, and Ellen.

Marriage and Starting a Family

In a move that took him across state lines, Andrew married Julie C. Hay (also recorded as Julia Allen in some records) on July 6, 1873, in Floyd, Georgia. Julie, born March 18, 1847, in Marlboro County, South Carolina, was the same age as Andrew. She came from a well-established local family—her parents were Gideon Hay (1817-1901) and Frances McIntosh (1823-1899), and she had several siblings including Preston Whitman, Rebecca, David McIntosh, Fannie, Victoria, and Mary Ellen.

Andrew and Julie built their life together and welcomed five children:

Dorsey J. White (born about 1873), who later married Mary McPherson and eventually passed away on June 16, 1951, in Cheraw, South Carolina

William B. White (born around July 1879), who married Beulah J. Hare and died December 11, 1940, in Southport, South Carolina.

Daniel Columbus White (born April 22, 1880), who married Jessie Luck on December 28, 1911, and lived until June 13, 1955.

Anna White (born July 12, 1893/March 1894), who married Spencer Bennett and passed away April 4, 1962, in Lillington, North Carolina

Julia said in 1910 during the enumeration of the 1910 Census of her son, William B. White, that she had 5 children with 4 living. So we have one child that is unaccounted for at this time. 

1910 Census, Marlboro County, SC, 

Life as a Farmer

Andrew made his living as a farmer, a common occupation in the rural South during the late 19th century. The 1880 census found the family living in Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina, where twenty-seven-year-old Andrew was working the land with his wife Julie and their young sons Dossey (age 7) and William (just eleven months old).

By 1900, the family had moved to Williamson in Scotland County, North Carolina. At age fifty, Andrew was still farming, now with Julie and their sons William (18) and Daniel (16), plus their young daughter Anna (7) at home. The census recorded that Andrew and Julie had been married for twenty-one years by that point and had raised four children, all of whom were still living—a notable achievement in an era when childhood mortality was common.

Historical Context

Andrew's life spanned some of the most transformative decades in American history. Born just before the mid-century, he would have been a teenager during the Civil War (1861-1865), though at age 14-18, his direct involvement, if any, isn't documented in these records. The war's aftermath, known as Reconstruction (1865-1877), shaped the South during his young adulthood, and he married Julie just as that era was drawing to a close.

The period from 1880 to 1900 saw dramatic changes in American life—the expansion of railroads, the rise of industrialization, and significant population movements. Yet Andrew and Julie remained rooted in agricultural life, working the land in the Carolinas as their parents and grandparents had done before them.

Final Years

Andrew White died around 1908, sometime between the 1900 census and 1910, when his widow Julie was recorded living with their son William B. White in Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina. She was listed as a widow at age sixty-three, having outlived her husband by about thirteen years.

Julie continued living in the area until her death on November 16, 1921, at age seventy-four in Southport, Marlboro, South Carolina. She was buried the following day at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Wallace, Marlboro County, where she rests today.

Legacy

Four of Andrew and Julie White's children all survived to adulthood and started families of their own, carrying forward the White family name into the twentieth century. Their descendants continue to trace their roots back to this farming family who weathered the dramatic changes of post-Civil War America while maintaining their ties to the Carolina soil.

Andrew White is my 1st Cousin 3X Removed. 

____________________

1. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule,  Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, Page: 180A (Stamped); Line 16, Dwelling 1251, Family 1251, Household of Richmond WHITE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online July 2025); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

2. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, South Carolina, Page: 106 (Stamped); Line 28, Dwelling 179, Family 178, Household of Richd WHITE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : online July 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

3. 1880 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 111, Page 562B (Stamped); Line:#2, Dwelling:#390; Family:#390, Household of  Andrew WHITE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T9_1235.

4. 1900 US Census,  Scotland County, North Carolina, population schedule, Williamson, Scotland, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 97, Page:#129B (Stamped); Line:#98, Dwelling:#206; Family:#206, Household of Andrew WHITE; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : on line June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm T623, Roll 1220.

5. " Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : online June 2025), Marriage: Andrew White & Julia Allen, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4766/records/21020626.

6. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  June 2025); Memorial page for Julia Hay White; (18 May 1847–16 November 1921); Find a Grave memorial # 106657381 , Citing New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery; Wallace, Marlboro County, South Carolina, USA.

7. 1910 U. S. Census, Marlboro County, South Carolina, population schedule, Smithville, Marlboro, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 89, Page:#54A (Stamped); Line:#68, Dwelling:#265; Family:#272, Household of William WHITE; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : online June 2025); citing National Archives Microfilm  T624.

8. Julia White, death certificate 318650 (Death Date 16 Nov 1921), Vital Records, Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, Richland County, South Carolina.

Aunts & Uncles~Widow, Mother, Landowner: The Many Lives of Lucy Morris Brock

 The “Aunt & Uncle” series of biographical sketches are Artificial Intelligence (AI) compiled narratives of selected individuals from my Genealogical database.  The selected AI will used the RootsMagic Individual Summary from my Genealogical Software, Roots Magic. All genealogical data is my research material acquired over the past 46 years of research. Today's Biography "The Many Lives of Lucy Morris Brock" was compiled with the assistance of Claude Sonnett 4 and is entitled:

Widow, Mother, Landowner: The Many Lives of Lucy Morris Brock

Born: July 13, 1822 – Died: January 4, 1887

Lucy Morris Brock lived through one of the most turbulent periods in American history, witnessing the antebellum South, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Her life in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, spanned 64 years and was marked by resilience, business acumen, and dedication to her family.

Early Life and Family Background

Lucy was born on July 13, 1822, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, to Wiley Morris (1795-1866) and Charity Short (1816-1866). She grew up in a region where cotton was king and the plantation economy dominated daily life. Her early years would have been shaped by the agricultural rhythms of rural South Carolina in the 1820s and 1830s.

Marriage and Family

Around 1835, when Lucy was just about 13 years old—not uncommon for that era—she married Alsey Brock (1815-1858). Together they had two sons:

• Charles A. Brock (November 26, 1836 – 1898)
• Pleasant A. Brock (1839 – February 28, 1873)

The family made their home in Chesterfield, where Alsey worked as a farmer. The 1850 census shows them living together with their two sons and Lucy's sister Martha Morris, who appears to have been a constant presence in Lucy's household throughout her life.

Widowhood and Independence

When Alsey died in 1858, Lucy found herself a widow at age 36 with two sons in their late teens and early twenties. Rather than remarrying, Lucy carved out an independent life for herself as a seamstress in Cheraw, the county seat. The 1860 census lists her profession as "Seamstress," and she's living with both her sons, who were working as clerks, along with her sister Martha Morris and a young woman named Julia Howell.

This transition from farmer's wife to independent working woman marked a significant transformation in Lucy's life. As a seamstress, she would have spent long hours doing intricate needlework for Cheraw's residents, creating and mending clothing, linens, and household textiles. It was respectable work for a widow, and it allowed her to maintain her independence and dignity.

The Civil War Years (1861-1865)

Lucy lived through the Civil War, though specific details of her experiences during this period aren't recorded. Cheraw, being a significant town in South Carolina, would have felt the impact of the war, particularly as Union troops moved through the state in 1865. Like many Southern women, Lucy likely faced shortages, worry, and uncertainty during these years.

By 1870, she was living with her son Charles and his wife Sarah Jane, along with their household. Her son Pleasant was still alive at this time, though he would die just three years later in 1873, leaving Lucy to mourn the loss of one of her two children.

Property and Business Dealings

Lucy proved herself to be a savvy businesswoman, unusual for women of her era. Her most notable financial transaction came in 1878 when her son Charles A. Brock was declared bankrupt. At the bankruptcy auction on November 14, 1878, Lucy purchased property that had belonged to Charles—two lots in downtown Cheraw—for $2,035. This wasn't just a mother helping her son; it was a strategic business move that allowed her to maintain family assets and keep valuable property within the family.

The property included Lot 11 on the northeast corner of Market and Front Street, plus part of Lot 12 where Charles's stables were located. Lucy purchased three-fourths interest in these valuable commercial properties in the heart of Cheraw. This transaction demonstrated both her financial capability—she had saved or accumulated over $2,000, a substantial sum for the time—and her business acumen in navigating the complex bankruptcy proceedings.

Creating a Legacy: The Trust of 1880

On March 18, 1880, Lucy did something remarkable for a woman of her time—she created a complex trust to protect her property and provide for her family's future. She placed her properties in trust with William T. Powell, carefully outlining how the property should benefit her son Charles, his wife Sarah Jane, and Mary Kezzie Brock, the young daughter of Irvin S. Brock (whose mother had died in childbirth in 1876).

The trust document reveals Lucy's sophistication and foresight. She retained the right to live on and use the properties during her lifetime, while ensuring they would pass to her family members in a specific order, protected from creditors and misfortune. The elaborate provisions ensured that if Charles and Sarah had no children, the property would pass to young Mary Kezzie, and if she didn't survive, to Sarah Brock, widow of Hezekiah Brock (believed to be Lucy's sister).

The document also shows Lucy's inability to write—she signed with her mark—but this didn't prevent her from creating a legally sound and complex financial instrument. Her spoken instructions were carefully recorded, witnessed, and executed, demonstrating that literacy wasn't a barrier to her intelligence or business sense.

Her concern for Mary Kezzie, an orphaned child who was living with Charles and Sarah, demonstrates Lucy's compassionate nature and sense of family obligation. She ensured the child would have security even if she married or if circumstances changed.

Final Years

By 1880, Lucy was living in Cheraw with Eliza J. Johnson, another woman in her late fifties. Her son Charles and his wife Sarah were living separately but remained close, and the trust ensured that Lucy could "have, use, occupy and enjoy" any of her properties during her natural life. She spent her final years as a property owner with the satisfaction of knowing she had provided for her family's future.

Lucy died on January 4, 1887, at age 64, and was buried the same day in the Old Saint David's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Cheraw. Her tombstone marks a life that stretched from the early days of the republic through the trauma of civil war and into the uncertain years of Reconstruction.

Historical Context

Lucy's lifetime (1822-1887) encompassed extraordinary changes in American life:

• 1822: The Missouri Compromise attempted to balance slave and free states
• 1835: Her marriage year coincided with increased tensions over slavery and states' rights
• 1850s: The decade before the Civil War saw increasing sectional conflict
• 1861-1865: The Civil War devastated the South; Sherman's troops marched through South Carolina in 1865
• 1865-1877: Reconstruction brought profound social and economic changes to the South
• 1878: Charles's bankruptcy reflected the ongoing economic struggles of the post-war South
• 1880s: The New South began to emerge, though recovery was slow

Legacy

Lucy Morris Brock's life tells the story of a woman who navigated tremendous challenges with grace and determination. As a young widow in the antebellum South, she supported herself through her skills as a seamstress. As a mother, she stood by her sons through their successes and failures—celebrating Charles's work as a clerk and later businessman, mourning Pleasant's death at age 34, and supporting Charles through his bankruptcy. As a landowner, she protected family assets and created a lasting legacy through careful estate planning.

Her story reminds us that behind the grand narratives of history are individual lives—women who ran households, earned livings, managed property, and held families together through war, economic upheaval, and personal loss. Lucy's grave in the Old Saint David's Episcopal Church Cemetery stands as a testament to a life fully lived in service to family and survival in challenging times.

The title of her life story—Widow, Mother, Landowner—captures not just roles but identities she claimed and shaped for herself. Each represented a chapter, a challenge overcome, and a legacy built one careful stitch, one difficult decision, one property deed at a time.

Lucy Morris Brock is my 2nd Great Grand Aunt. 

_______________________

1. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 87. Tombstone of Lucy Brock; 13 July 1822–4 January 1887, St. David's Espiscopal Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

2. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 102A, Line 21, Dwelling #46, Family 46, Household of Alsey BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2012); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

3. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 183A, Line 25, Dwelling #1238, Family #1239, Household of Lucy BROCK; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm M653_1217.

4. 1870 U. S. Census, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 252A;  Line 9, Dwelling 49, Family 53, Household of C. A. BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm M593, Roll 1491.

5. Land Deed - T. M. Mordecai “Assignee” to Lucy Brock; August 1878; Deed Book #5; Page(s) 468-469; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; February 2025.

6. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 003, Page 298A, Line 47, Dwelling 158, Family 173, Household of Lucy BROCK; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 23 July 2012); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.

7. Land Deed - Lucy (Morris) Brock to W. T. Powell; 18 March 1880; Deed Book #5; Page(s) 782-785; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; 23 July 2012.

8. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Lucy Brock.

9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  12 January 2012); Memorial page for Lucy Brock; (3 July 1822–4 January 1887); Find a Grave memorial:# 52861237, Citing Old Saint Davids Episcopal Church Cemetery; Cheraw, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

10. James C. Pigg, Cheraw/Chesterfield District Wills, 1750-1865 &: Abstracts from the Court of Common Pleas 1823-1869 (Tega Cay, South Carolina: self-Published, 1995), #37 Pegues, T. E. B. vs W. W. Campbell & Alsey Brock - Bill to foreclose mortgage & c 1855.

11. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995. Tombstone of Alsey Brock.

12. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Alsey Brock (10 September 1815–13 March 1858), Memorial:#52861192.