52 Ancestors 52 Weeks #8–Martha Ellafaire Brazell

                                                                                

Martha Ellafaire Brazell, shown in the above photo with her son Ernest Galveston Wilson and his children, is my maternal grandmother. She was born 31 Aug 1886 in Richland County South Carolina to William “Willie” Brazell and Eliza Ellafaire Brazell. She lived in Richland County in 1900 with her mother, father and siblings. They lived “next door” to Charles Shirer and family and Isaac Shirer and family.

1900 US Federal Census, South Carolina, Richland, Center, District 0080
Enumerated 14 June 1900 by Max LeBorde

Transcribed:

House # 247  Family #247  Brazil Wm, Head, married white male, married 20 years, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina, farmer

_____ Eliza, Wife, married white female, married 20 years, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Henry, Son, 19 year old white single male, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina, farm laborer

_____Mary, Daughter, 17 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Martha, Daughter, 15 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Johnny, Son, 13 year old white single male, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Minnie, Daughter, 11 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Dennis, Son, 9 year old white single male, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

In 1905 at age 19 she married Elisha Atkinson Wilson, son of Rev Thomas Wilson and Elizabeth Gulledge.

By 1910 she and Elisha had 2 children and were still living in Richland County on Garners Ferry Road. They lived “next door” to William M Ford and his family and Hamilton D Drawdy and his family.

1910 US Federal Census, South Carolina, Richland, Center, District 0073
Enumerated on 26 April 1910 by David M Haithcock

Transcribed:

105 Garners Ferry Road  Family # 105  Wilson Elisha A, Head, 31 year old white married male, married 8 years, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina, farmer

_____ Matha, Wife, 22 year old white married female, married 8 years, has had 2 children both of whom are still living, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Earnest, Son, 3 year old white single male, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Jessie, Daughter, 1 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

There seems to be a discrepancy in the marriage date and the number of years married recorded on the census.

The Elisha Wilson family was living on the Camden Road in Eastover South Carolina in 1920 “next door” to Billy Williams and family and Nathan Williams and family.

1920 US Federal Census, South Carolina, Richland, Eastover, District, 0104
Enumerated 24 Jan 1920 by C M Haithcock

Transcribed:

299 Camden Road Family #309  Wilson Elisha, Head, 47 year old white married male, born in SC, father born in South Carolina, mother born in North Carolina*, farming

_____ Martha, Wife, 37 year old white married female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina, farm laborer

_____ Earnest, Son, 12 year old white single male, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Jessie B, Daughter, 11 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

* This census states Elisha Wilson’s mother born in North Carolina while the previous one stated she was born in South Carolina. I have always heard from all family members that she was born in Anson County North Carolina.

1930 finds the family residing in Eastover, Richland, South Carolina on South Side RR St. Living with them is their younger daughter, my mother, Clara Geneva Wilson. The two oldest children, Ernest and Jessie, have married and moved out. They live “next door” to John A Ammons and Anna Macon.

1930 US Federal Census, South Carolina, Richland, Eastover, District 50
Enumerated on 5 April 1930 by Lawrence J Hook

Transcribed:

83 South Side RR St Family #83  Wilson Elisha, Head, 55 year old white married male, married at age 24, born in SC, father born in Virginia*, mother born in North Carolina, farmer

_____ Martha, Wife, 40 year old white married female, married at age 16, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

_____ Clara B**, Daughter, 5 year old white single female, born in South Carolina, father and mother born in South Carolina

* this census states Elisha’s father born in Virginia
** should be Clara G

In 1940 Elisha and Martha Wilson lived in Eastover South Carolina. Their “next door” neighbors were George Archie and family and L D Hinson and family.

1940 US Federal Census, South Carolina, Richland, Eastover, District 40-46
Enumerated on 22 April 1940 by Cornelia A McKenzie

Transcribed:

House #89 Wilson E A, Head, 63 year old white married male, born in South Carolina, lived in same house 1 April 1935, laborer on malaria project

_____ Martha, Wife, 56 year old white married female, born in South Carolina, lived in same house 1 April 1935

There is no mention of Clara Geneva Wilson in the house in 1940 although she was only 16 years old. In speaking with her niece, daughter of Jessie B Wilson Hinson, who is only a year younger than Clara Geneva, I was told that Clara Geneva was living in her parents house in 1940. Whether the enumerator neglected to include her or whether she was living elsewhere, I’ll never know.

After her husband Elisha was killed while serving as town constable, Martha Ellafaire came to live with my family. She was always there while I was growing up. She took care of me and my sister and brother while my mother worked. Nanny had a stroke and we were unable to care for her at home. She entered a nursing home and died there 3 May 1965. She is buried along with her daughters Jessie and Clara at Eason Memorial Baptist Church in Eastover South Carolina.