Sunday’s Obituary - Mrs. S. C. Rivers

Wilma Rosa White Rivers

Wife of Sidney C. Rivers

b. 19 September 1884

d. 8 June 1919

Mrs. S.C. Rivers died at Hamlet in the hospital while being operated on. Her death occurred early Sunday morning. Mrs. Rivers had lived here with (her) husband, who died the latter part of February. She was a Miss White of Cheraw and is survived by her mother and father and one sister of Cheraw to whom we extend our sympathies. Mrs. Rivers was about 38 years old and had been married about ten (10) years.[1][2]

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[1] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 2001, page 42. Tombstone of Mrs. S. C. Rivers; 19 September 1884–8 June 1919, Elizabeth Baptist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[2] The Chesterfield Advertiser, June 12, 1919, page 4, col. 7:

Wednesday’s Child: Little Ivy Davis

Little Ivy Davis, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Davis

The community was shocked upon learning of the sad accident of Little Ivy Davis. Ivy was at play Wednesday when a gate fell on her and killed her instantly. She was five years old dearly loved by all who knew her. Her mother died when she was an infant. She leaves to mourn her a father and step mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Davis, four sisters and two brothers. The whole community extends their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. The body was laid to rest Thursday morning at Bethel Church. The large crowd at the funeral attested the love held for little Ivy and the family. We hate to lose our little darling from our midst but "God's will be done." He has a better home for her and we should be glad that she is reaping the golden harvest of her sweet little life, She is "Asleep in Jesus Forever More at Rest."[1]

This is a very sad story. It's hard to imagine the pain that James Alexander was experiencing. He had lost his first wife, Mary Ella Smith on 22 Jan 1902. Then he had married Annie Violet Douglas about 1902 and to them Little Iva was born on 9 Jan 1917. Iva's mother, Annie, passed away on 22 March 1918 when Little Iva was just a year old. James had remarried a third time to Leilan Douglass and now Little Iva has been accidently killed on 29 Mar 1922.  

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[1] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1892-1926; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 2001. Obituary of Little Ivy Davis;The Chesterfield Advertiser,6 April 1922, page 1, col. 2, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Sundays Obituary: Mrs. W. W. Eddins

Martha E. Previtte was born on 5 Sep 1863 in Anson County, North Carolina.^{[1] [2] [3]} She was a daughter of John Washington Previtte and Elizabeth Davis Previtte. She died on 21 Apr 1934 at the age of 70 in Wadesboro, Anson, North Carolina.^[4] She was buried at Zoar UMC Cemetery on 23 Apr 1934 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^[5]   

Martha E. Previtte and William W. Eddins were married in 1882. William W. Eddins, son of Joseph C. Eddins and Matilda Ann Tice, was born on 3 Nov 1863 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He is enumerated in the 1900 for Court House Township, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^[6]  William died on 20 May 1924 at the age of 60 in Anson County, North Carolina.^[7]  He was buried at Zoar UMC Cemetery on 21 May 1924 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.^[8]   

William W. Eddins and Martha E. Previtte had the following children:

                      i.   Infant Eddins born/died on 2 Sep 1888 at the age of 0 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried on 2 Sep 1888 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                     ii.   Fanny J. Eddins was born in Jul 1889 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                    iii.   Ila V. Eddins was born in Oct 1891 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                    iv.   Henry Thomas Eddins, born 3 Sep 1893, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

                     v.   William B. Eddins was born in Oct 1898 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Obituary^[9]

Mrs. W. W. EDDINS- Mrs. Martha Privett Eddins, widow of the late W. W. Eddins, died at her home on the White Store road last Saturday night. The funeral was held Monday by Rev. W. H. Moore at Zoar church, in Chesterfield County, and interment was in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Eddins was a daughter of the late John Privett, and was born in Chesterfield County 71 years ago. She had lived in Anson County for many years. She was an excellent Christian woman, and had been a member at Zoar church since girlhood. She was a good neighbor, and had a large circle of friends. Many funeral designs showed the esteem in which she was held. She is survived by two sons and two daughters.

[The Messenger and Intelligencer, 26 April 1934, page 5.]

Martha Privett Eddins is my great grand aunt. She is a sister to my Great Grand Mother Mary Hulda Privett Purvis.

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[1] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Martha Privett Eddins; (5 September 1863–21 April 1934); Memorial # 47277397; Record of the Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery; Brocks Mill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 2 June 2012.

[2] 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page: 291B, Line 36, Household 85/85, Household of J. W. PRIVETT; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.

[3] 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #5, Page: 326B, Line 43,, Dwelling 291, Family 291, Household of John PRIVOTT; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 21 July 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.

[4] State of North Carolina, death no. 44 (21 April 1934), Martha Privatt Eddins; https://www.ancestry.com, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[5] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 2 June 2012; Headstone for Martha Privett Eddins;  Memorial # 47277397. 

[6] 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #21, Page 20A/102A, Line 43, Dwelling 368, Family 375, Household of William EDDINS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 2 June 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T624_1523.

[7] State of North Carolina, death no. 47 (20 May 1924), William W. Eddins; https://www.ancestry.com, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.

[8] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Accessed on 2 June 2011; Headstone for William W. Eddins;  Memorial # 47277353. 

[9] Mrs. W. W. EDDINS, The Messenger and Intelligencer, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, 26 April 1934, page 5.

Nancy Ann Davis Driggers (1864-1936)

Nancy Ann Davis was born on 11 May 1864 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, a daughter of Thomas P. Davis and Nancy Jane Massey.[1][2] Nancy died on 26 May 1936 at the age of 72 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. She was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery on 28 May 1936 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.

Nancy Ann Davis and John Walter Driggers were married in 1898 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. John Walter Driggers, son of J. Maston Driggers and Sara McBride, was born on 5 Aug 1877 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.[3][4][5] John died on 10 Jul 1966 at the age of 88 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.^[6]He was buried on 12 Jul 1966 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida. 

John Walter Driggers and Nancy Ann Davis had the following children:

           i.   Pauline Inez Driggers, born 6 Nov 1899, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married William Howard McKee; died Dec 1983, Duval County, Florida.

          ii.   Florence Driggers, born 1901, Coffee County, Alabama; married Augustus Julian Ruff.

         iii.   James Marvin Driggers was born in 1905 in Coffee County, Alabama.

Obituary for Nancy Ann Davis Driggers:

Mrs. Nancy Ann Driggers, 72, of 1704 Swift Street, died about noon yesterday following a brief illness. Mrs. Driggers was born at Chesterfield, S. C., moving here from Crestview, Fla., about 20 years ago. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church. Mrs. Driggers is survived by her widower, Walter W. Driggers; two daughters, Mrs. Pauline McKee and Mrs. Florence Huff; and a son. James M. Driggers, residing here; also six sisters, Mrs. Ella Oliver, Ruby, S. C.; Mrs. Mary Therrell. Mrs. Hattie Rivers, Mrs. Minnie Johnson, Mrs. Lottie Driggers and Mrs. Sarah Pitts, and a brother, Jeff Davis, all residing at Chesterfield. Funeral services will be held In the chapel of the Seashole Funeral Parlors at 2 P. M. Thursday the Rev. Ira Sanders, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, and the Rev. Robert G. Witty, pastor of Faith Temple, officiating. Pallbearers will be: Carl Cesery, George McCormick, E. L. Dorsey, P. L. McCloud, W. C. Outler, Ray Permenter. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. [Jacksonville Newspaper, 27 May 1936]

John Walter Driggers Obituary:

DRIGGERS- John Walter Driggers, 86, who lived at 1712 7th St N. in Jacksonville Beach died at a Jacksonville Hospital. Mr. Driggers was born in Chesterfield, S.C. and had lived in Jacksonville Beach for 50 years coming here from Crestview. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Pauline McKee and Mrs. Florence Ruff of Jacksonville Beach, one son, J. M. Driggers of Jacksonville and 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Giddens-Griffith Beach Funeral Home with Rev. W. T. Everson of the Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. Giddens-Griffith Beach Funeral Home is in charge of arrangement.

Nancy Ann Davis Driggers is my second cousin 3 times removed.

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          [1]  Nancy Ann [Davis] DRIGGERS, death certificate #8834 (26 May 1936), Florida Department of Health, State of Florida Vital Records, Tallahassee, Florida. BIRTH-DEATH-BURIAL: Florida Death certificate, for Nancy Ann DRIGGERS, Jacksonville, Duval County, Female, Vol 712 Cert #8834. Birth listed as 11 May 1864; death was 26 May 1936, burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida.

          [2] 1900 U. S. Census, Coffee County, Alabama, population schedule, Parker, Coffee County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #43, Page 24B/7B; Line 73, Dwelling 234, Family 242, Household of Maston Driggers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 27 May 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_9. 1900 CENSUS: Parker, Coffee County, Alabama; Roll: 9; Enumeration District 43; FHL microfilm: 1240009, Page 24B/7B; Line 73, Dwelling 234, Family 242; Maston DRIGGERS, age 62, born Jan 1838, in SC; Sarah DRIGGERS, wife, age 55, born Jan 1855 in SC; Walter DRIGGERS, son, age 22, born Aug 1877 in SC; Ann DRIGGERS, his Wife, age 35, born May 1865 in SC; and Pauline DRIGGERS, daughter, age 1, born Nov 1898 in SC. .

          [3] Ibid.

          [4] 1920 U. S. Census, Duval County, Florida, population schedule, Jacksonville Ward 1, Duval County, Florida, enumeration district (ED) #43, Page 14B/66B; Line 83, Dwelling 268, Family 422, Household of John W. DRIGGERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 March 2010); citing NARA publication Roll: T625_217. 1920 CENSUS: Jacksonville Ward 1, Duval County, Florida; Roll: T625_217;  Enumeration District: 43; Image: 689, Page 14B/66B; Line 83, Dwelling 268, Family 422; John W. DRIGGERS, male, age 45, born in SC; Annie DRIGGERS, Wife, age 49, born in SC; Florence DRIGGERS, daughter, age 19, born in AL and Marvin DRIGGERS, son, age 15, born in AL. .

           [5]  1930 U. S. Census, Duval County, Florida, population schedule, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida;, enumeration district (ED) #7, Page 27B/197B; Line 65, Dwelling 577, Family 659, Household of John W. DRIGGERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1 May 2011); citing NARA publication Roll: T626_312. 1930 CENSUS: Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida; Roll: T626_312;  Enumeration District: 7; Image: 397.0, FHL microfilm: 2340047, Page 27B/197B; Line 65, Dwelling 577, Family 659; John W. DRIGGERS, male, age 53, born in SC; Annie DRIGGERS, Wife, age 60, born in SC and J. Marvin DRIGGERS, son, age 25, born in AL. .

           [6] John W. Driggers, Duval County, Florida death certificate #66-034675 (10 July 1966). Birth-Death-Burial: Florida State Death Certificate #66-034675, Duval Co., Florida. John W. Driggers, widowed, born 5 Aug. 1877 in Chesterfield, SC, died 10 July 1966 in Florida. DOA upon arrival at Duval Medical Center. He was a carpenter. Informant was Mrs. Florence Ruff, Burial was in Greenlawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida. John Walter Driggers is buried in the Ruff family plot, the husband of his daughter Florence.

Another Elusive Ancestor

Nancy Ann Davis is another one of my elusive ancestors. Nancy was born 11 May 1864 to Thomas P. Davis and Nancy Jane Massey. She should first appear in the 1870[1] and she is not listed. The 1870 Census in Chesterfield is very problematic and almost useless as a research aid. After the Civil war the residents of the county were very leery of the federal government. As sort of a protest, when the 1870 census was taken they would only give INITIALS for names and in most cases only the first initial. In 1870, Thomas & Nancy had at least 8 known children that should have been on the Census and a daughter born in April 1870 that may have been; yet, there are only 6 listed. Nancy Jane Davis is missing. 

Then in the 1880 Census[2] we find Nancy Ann Davis listed as a daughter. She is listed as Ann Davis, daughter, age 14, born in South Carolina. There is a gap in census due to the loss, by fire, of the 1890, so  it's 1900, she married and lost with no clue as to her married name. 

At this point Nancy Ann became a "brick wall" or in detective terms a "cold case" and it remained there until a clue was found in 2004. In 2004 a local genealogist, published a booklet of obituaries from the local newspaper for the years 1932-1936. Among those obituaries was one for Nancy Ann brother John Nelson Davis[3] containing this info, "he is survived by seven sisters all of this county, among that list was the name Mrs. Ed Driggers".  John Nelson died in Chesterfield, South Carolina and while Mrs. Ed Driggers may have been there in September 1932 when John Nelson died; but, she was not there now, nor was a tombstone or death certificate found.   

My next clue came from a researcher in Florida that was researching the Davis family. She informed me that Nancy and her husband moved to Florida. Now I had a name and a place. 

Nancy Ann Davis married John Walter Driggers (Not Ed Driggers) in 1898[4]. Their first child, a daughter named Pauline was born 6 Nov 1899[5] in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. By 1900, Walter and Ann were in Coffee County, Alabama. While there they had two additional children - Florence, b. 1901 and James Marvin, b. 1905. They them moved to Crestview, Florida and from there to Jacksonville, Florida in 1916. 

Nancy died 26 May 1936 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida; John Walter died on 10 Jul 1966.

OBITUARY: Mr. Nancy Ann Driggers, 72, of 1704 Swift Street, died about noon yesterday following a brief illness, Mrs. Driggers was born at Chesterfield, S. C., moving here from Crestview, Fla., about 20 years ago. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church. Mrs. Driggers is survived by her widower, Walter W. Driggers; two daughters, Mrs. Pauline McKee and Mrs. Florence Huff; and a son. James M. Driggers, residing here; also six sisters, Mrs. Ella Oliver, Ruby, S. C.; Mrs. Mary Therrell. Mrs. Hattie Rivers, Mrs. Minnie Johnson, Mrs. Lottie Driggers and Mrs. Sarah Pitts, and a brother, Jeff Davis, all residing at Chesterfield. Funeral services will be held In the chapel of the Seashole Funeral Parlors at 2 P. M. Thursday the Rev. Ira Sanders, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, and the Rev. Robert G. Witty, pastor of Faith Temple, officiating. Pallbearers will be: Carl Cesery, George McCormick, E. L. Dorsey, P. L. McCloud, W. C. Outler, Ray Permenter. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery. [Jacksonville Newspaper, 27 May 1936]

OBITUARY: DRIGGERS- John Walter Driggers, 86, who lived at 1712 7th St N. in Jacksonville Beach died at a Jacksonville Hospital. Mr. Driggers was born in Chesterfield, S.C. and had lived in Jacksonville Beach for 50 years coming here from Crestview. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Pauline McKee and Mrs. Florence Ruff of Jacksonville Beach, one son, J. M. Driggers of Jacksonville and 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Giddens-Griffith Beach Funeral Home with Rev. W. T. Everson of the Baptist Church of Jacksonville Beach officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.  Giddens-Griffith Beach Funeral Home is in charge of arrangement.

Researchers don't overlook obituaries for your ancestor. They can provide the clue you need to find your elusive ancestors. 

If you have any information, suggestions or corrections to this posting please contact me at the email.

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[1] 1870 U. S. Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 302A; Line 20, Dwelling #289, Family #289, Household of T.[Thomas] Davis; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2004); citing National Archives Microfilm M593_1491.

[2] 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #005, Page 331C, Line 1, Dwelling 373, Family 376, Household of Thomas P. DAVIS; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2000); citing National Archive Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.

[3] James C. Pigg, Obituaries from the Chesterfield Advertiser 1932-1936; Self-Published, 2004, pages 20 & 21. Obituary of Mr. J. N. DAVIS; June 1872–29 September 1932, Chesterfield Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Chesterfield Advertiser, October 6, 1932, page 1, col. 4.

[4] 1900 U. S. Census, Coffee County, Alabama, population schedule, Parker, Coffee County, Alabama, enumeration district (ED) #43, Page 24B; Line 73, Dwelling 234, Family 242, Household of Maston DRIGGERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 2004); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_9.

[5] Pauline Inez Driggers, South Carolina Delayed Birth Certificate #11146 (6 November 1899), Ancestry.com | http://www.ancestry.com, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Sunday's Obituary – Maj. Alfred W. Davis

Maj. Alfred W. Davis married Mary Temperance Lowery, 7 April 1872 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He was a son of William Davis and Julia Thurman. He died 29 March 1915 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He is my 1^st cousin, 4 times removed.

Maj. Alfred W. Davis served in Company E, 21st Infantry, S.C. Reg., Vols. in Civil War[1]. Succeeded to company commander upon the death of his brother, Benjamin. T. Davis in 1864. He was promoted to Major. Listed in the Census of 1870 as an "artist.

OBITUARY[2]

Maj. Alfred W. Davis

1 Jan 1838 – 29 Mar 1915

"Maj. Alfred W. Davis - Special to The State: Chesterfield. April 3.-Maj. Alfred W. Davis died Thursday afternoon at of his daughter. Mrs. A. W. Hursey. Mr. Davis was 77 years of age and had been in failing health for a long while. The funeral services were conducted by his pastor the Rev. J. R. Millard, of the Presbyterian Church, and the body laid to rest with Masonic honors. Maj. Davis saw four years service during the war. Going out as a private, by his intelligent devotion duty and sterling worth as a soldier was promoted through the various offices to that of major. Soon after the war Mr. Davis married Miss Mary Lowery, daughter of the late Col. Lowery of the Hornboro section of this county. Mrs. Davis died several years ago. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis only Mrs. Hursey survives. Maj. Davis came to Chesterfield in the late '60s and began work for J. H. Perkins. Soon after this he went into business for himself and through all these years he has been one of the best known men of the county. "

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[1] "Memoirs of the War of Secession, from the Original manuscripts of Johnson Hagood, Brigadier, C.S.A"; Jim Fox Books, Camden, SC 29020, 1997, page 402-403.

[2] SOURCE: "The State", Columbia, SC, April 4, 1915]. Courtesy of Russell G. Davis. Newspaper clipping on file within the genealogical archives of Charlie Purvis