In a previous post, we settled on August 4, 1889 as the most reasonable date of birth for Joseph Bushrod White, Sr. Not only do the official documents existing during his lifetime indicate this date, but also almost every available census record shows his age as being in line with this information. The only exception would be the 1930 census taken on April 17th, which shows him being 41 years old. For now, I will just assume that this was an error. The 1940 census has him marked down at 50 in the month of April of that year. By August 4th, he would be 51.
Joseph was born to Benjamin Bushrod White and Lucinda Elizabeth Garner. While we have a sufficient amount of information about his mother, there is a good deal of uncertainty surrounding Benjamin. At one time, I had read a story on another family history website that he had died at a young age in 1898. While riding a bicycle in the rain, he supposedly contracted pneumonia and couldn't recover. But that entire website mysteriously disappeared. At any rate, I am fairly certain that he passed away before 1900 because other records show that Lucinda was remarried to a man with the surname Keel by this time. Hopefully when I return to the States, I can make a trip to Comanche - Joseph's birthplace - and get to the bottom of this mystery.
Another issue that shrouds Joseph's early years is the fact that the 1890 census is missing. This is frustrating for just about all genealogists in the U.S., and I'll explain why it happened in an upcoming post. At any rate, there are still a few things we can be fairly certain of. Joseph was the firstborn, not only in his immediate family, but also in bearing our particular surname White in Texas, his father having moved from Alabama to Comanche before his birth. Secondly, he had at least four younger siblings:
Myrtle (1891)
Margery (1893)
Jennie (1895)
Byron (1897).
And lastly, Joseph was no older that 11 years of age when his father passed away. This must have left Lucinda in a difficult position having to find a way to take care of five young children on her own. By 1900, however, the census taken in June shows the whole family included in the household of Lucinda's second husband G. R. Keel. I still get the sense that this made for a rough childhood for Joseph.
By 1910, we find Joseph (also known simply as "Joe") in Cisco, Texas in Eastland County, just under 50 miles north of Comanche. He was also three years into his marriage with Eulah Peyton Williams.
Another issue that shrouds Joseph's early years is the fact that the 1890 census is missing. This is frustrating for just about all genealogists in the U.S., and I'll explain why it happened in an upcoming post. At any rate, there are still a few things we can be fairly certain of. Joseph was the firstborn, not only in his immediate family, but also in bearing our particular surname White in Texas, his father having moved from Alabama to Comanche before his birth. Secondly, he had at least four younger siblings:
Myrtle (1891)
Margery (1893)
Jennie (1895)
Byron (1897).
And lastly, Joseph was no older that 11 years of age when his father passed away. This must have left Lucinda in a difficult position having to find a way to take care of five young children on her own. By 1900, however, the census taken in June shows the whole family included in the household of Lucinda's second husband G. R. Keel. I still get the sense that this made for a rough childhood for Joseph.
By 1910, we find Joseph (also known simply as "Joe") in Cisco, Texas in Eastland County, just under 50 miles north of Comanche. He was also three years into his marriage with Eulah Peyton Williams.
They were wedded on September 30, 1907 in either Stamford or Anson, Texas. Another discrepancy there that needs to be worked out. Eulah was about five months away from giving birth to their first son Herbert in April 1910. The couple would bring three more sons into the world over the next decade: my grandfather Clarence, and my great uncles Ross and Benny. |
Here's a photograph of the four boys together. I would guess that the fifth son
J. B., Jr. (born in 1921, and not in the photograph) was just a baby at this time.
J. B., Jr. (born in 1921, and not in the photograph) was just a baby at this time.
Just briefly before closing this post, I'll mention that the 1910 census indicates that Joseph and Eulah had three boarders living with them as well as Joseph's uncle Wilbur Garner (age 31). My great grandfather had a number of seemingly unrelated occupations throughout his life. At this time, the census shows that he ran a business as a tailor. I'm not sure if the term "haberdasher" would apply, but he clearly did some sort of work with clothing while living in Cisco. And at least one of the boarders was working for or with him in this venture.
Coming up in the next post...
Allie Delphia Williams opens a hotel near the coast, and the family is on the move!
Coming up in the next post...
Allie Delphia Williams opens a hotel near the coast, and the family is on the move!