[WHT: The following information is from Bo Watts.]
William James Jones was born in Sumter County, SC. on July 31, 1854. His parents were Francis A. Jones and Sarah Elizabeth Baker. He married his first wife Maggie Mathis in 1880 and she died in 1881. In 1883 he married Mary Anna (Mamie) Josey. They were known to family and friends as Willie and Mamie. Mary Anna was born in Lee County on July 21, 1866. Her parents were George Lafaytte Josey and Alice Jeanette SmithWillie and Mamie had 10 children. They lived all of their life in Sumter County and he was a farmer. In 1928 when he was 74 and she was 62, they came to live with us in our little house near Oswego, SC. Granddaddy was a soft spoken, kind, and gentle man and he and our father Vernie Parnell Watts held each other in close friendship and respect. Granddaddy was a big help to Daddy, doing many of the chores that are required in keeping a farm running. They both loved to fish and spent many happy times doing this. He and Bo also fished together and he helped Bo build bird traps. Once, when they caught a bird, he dressed it and I was allowed to roast it in my "Mary Lou" aluminum roasting pot, (Toy Sized)
He picked cotton with us, and one day he left his sack to go to the house, probably for water, and Bo and I decided to fill our sacks from his, but soon we saw him returning and were very quick to put back what we had taken. But somehow, we knew, he would only see the humor of our behavior.
Grandaddy had a toy, it was a monkey on a stick that when shifted up and down would cause the monkey to do flip-flops. Also in their trunk they had Ruby Leona's hair which was long and thick and lustrous and dark brown. They had cut it when she was ill with influenza and died in 1917 at the age of 14. I wonder who has it now--also the monkey.
Grandmother often entertained us time and again through those years with the story of her family's trip to Arkansas when she was 5 years old. They went by wagon train to pioneer a farm. Unfortunately, her father died and also one of her siblings and her mother could not manage to carry on with several children to care for. Greatgrandmother's brother rode a horse from South Carolina to bring all of them back to SC. It would have been so nice if some of them had written their experiences.
Grandmother & Granddaddy helped mother during the busy canning season, and in the winter Bo and I had the usual childhood deseases she always had a remedy at hand. Some of which we were not happy about, however they usually worked. She spent hours piecing quilts from scraps of material she and mother used to make our clothes. I was sixteen before I had a "bought" dress. When I completed elementary school she and mother made me a beautiful dress of blue organdy--ruffles from waist to hem, edged in pink. They made me stand on the way to school in the car so that I wouldn't wrinkle.
They lived with us some of the time, when we were away from Oswego for 2 years, living in an old large house near Mayesville, SC. to manage a farm for Mr. Jim Mayes. The stairs in that house were difficult for them and so they lived elsewhere most of the time. We returned to our house near Oswego in late 1938 and they returned to live with us. I remember when Granddaddy got out of the car he was crying and pleaded that he would never have to leave our house again. He was 85 years old at that time and was with us for about another year, until he died on December 8, 1939. (prepared by Colzie Mae Watts Britt)
This is a copy of a note, written by Leila Jones the eldest daughter of Willie and Mamie Jones, found with a pair of white knitted socks: ("This is a pair of socks knit by Grand Daddy Jones first wife Maggie Mathis in 1880. She died in 1881 just one year after they were married. In 1883 he married Mary Anna Josey. This is written by their daughter Leila Jones Peebles in 1965")
[WHT: Information provided by Alton Josey "Bo" Watts.]
Vernie Parnell Watts, was the 6 th of 13 children born to Edgar Ruthen Watts, Sr and Martha Jane Evans, in Claronden County, SC, on March 23, 1896. The family moved to Sumter County early in the 20th Century, probably before 1906 to a small farm they purchased near Oswego, SC. Vernie Served in France during WWI with the 81st (Wildcat) Division, 318th Field Artilery. He died in Sumter SC on November 20, 1973 and is buried in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Oswego, SC. Vernie was married to Ethel Mae Jones on December 17, 1923 at the parsonage of Bethel United Methodist Church in Oswego, SC. They purchased part of the family farm (some 80-85 acres) on which a house built by a Mr. Haynsworth had been built. They lived all of their married life in this house except for 2 years spent managing a farm for Mr. Jim Mayes at Mayesville, SC. They had two children: 1. Colzie Mae Watts, born March 1, 1925; 2. Alton Josey Watts, born December 8, 1927.
Heyward Witherspoon Copeland-8279
[WHT: an ASSUMPTION he is a child of Witherspoon C. Copeland.]
943. Marion Sumpter Josey-8305
1910 Census, Sumter Co., SC; Sumter; Dwelling 43; ED: 121, p. 39A list Marion Josey, age 35, works at a saw mill supply co.; wife, Dozzie, 30 & 5 children: Marion, 10; Chandler, 9; Allice, 6; Walter, 6 & Marcellen, 8 mo.1930 Census, Sumter Co., SC; Sumter; Dwelling 107; ED: 43-29, p. 17B list Marion
S. Josey, age 56, carpenter, born in AR, parents in SC; wife, Doeia, 50, married 32 years & 5 children: Robert W., 22; Jackie M., 19; Thedocia, 10; Willie I., 8 & Helen M., 5.
2417. Marion Henry Josey-8307
1930 Census, Sumter Co., SC; Sumter; Dwelling 55; ED: 43-31, p. 3B list Marion H. Josey, age 31, contractor; wife, Grace, 28 & 4 children: Marion, 10; Mary, 8; Lloyd, 6 & Catherine, 5.
2418. Chandler Baker Josey-8308
[WHT: Received from Sue Kaplan, granddaughter, on June 8, 2004.]
C.B Josey and Maye Fort Josey are my maternal grandparents. He was born June 28 1901 and she was Oct 13th? 1896..they were married for over 50 years..she passed around 1973 and he passed 3/7/1979. Their daughters were Olive McCabe Lieberman and my mother Alma Augusta Terry Hardy, Tilton. They were from Sumter, SC. Grandma always was so proud of her family story of settling Fort Sumpter. Grandad was sad when he related his family story about how he lost part of his family in a house fire.
1910 Census, Lee Co., SC; Mt. Clio; Dwelling 138; ED: 30, p. 10A list J. Walton Smith, age 40, farmer; Cora, 35; & 5 children: Mamie, 9; Enrice, 7; Ruby, 4; Smith, Jr., 3 & Bradford, 1.1930 Census, Lee Co., SC; St. Charles; Dwelling 22; ED: 18, p. 2A list Joseph W. Smith, age 59, farmer, owns real estate; wife, Cora L., 53 & 3 children: Cecil B., 20; Sherwood, 15 & Homer, 13.
[WHT: Received the following obituary from Martha Catoe Peebles on July 16, 2008.]BISHOPVILLE -- Mary Christmas Bramlett, 94, widow of Alfred L. Bramlett, died Thursday, June 5, 2008. Born in Lee County, March 10, 1914, she was a daughter of the late John Abraham Christmas and Gertrude "Trudie" Davis Christmas. Mrs. Bramlett was a member of Bethany Baptist Church.
Survivors include a number of nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Ruby Bramlett Moore of Sumter; her church family and special neighbors. She was preceded in death by sisters, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bass and Lillie Mae Wilson; and a brother, Otis Christmas. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2008, at Bethany Baptist Church with the Rev. Gene Stokes Officiating. Visitation and a reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Bethany Baptist Church c/o Fred Sandy, 2600 Raccoon Road, Mayesville, SC 29104.
Special thanks and appreciation is extended to the staff of McCoy Nursing Center for loving care and devotion to Aunt Mary. Hancock-Elmore-Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is in charge of the arrangements. (State, The - June 7, 2008)
958. John Marion Copeland-8927
1910 Census, Kershaw Co., SC; De Kalb; Dwelling 323; ED: 69, p. 17B list John M. Copeland, age 20, farm laborer; wife, Minnie, 19, married 1 year.
[WHT: The information for Minnie's children was given me by Mary F. House Barnette, Nov. 1999.]
[WHT: Danton & Clinton are living with their grandfather, Robert H. Prescott in 1910 Census, Lee Co., SC; St. Charles; Dwelling 309; ED: 21, p. 18A.]1930 Census, Lee Co., SC; St. Charles; Dwelling 16; ED: 31 - 18, p. 1B list Danton Smith, age 35; wife, Mae L. and 3 children: Williard B., 10; Elvin B., 5 & Jewell, 2 and 8 mo.
962. Heyward Witherspoon Copeland-8279
[WHT: an ASSUMPTION he is a child of Witherspoon C. Copeland.]
L. B. Sparrow is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Hartsville, SC.
The history & genealogy of our Christmas family continues to grow, with the addition of many new families and allied surnames. If you find errors in these pages or have additions, please write Herbert Turner at the Christmas Home Page; the corrections & additions will be made; thank you.
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