Susan Capers Briscoe

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Susan “Susie” Capers Briscoe, daughter of Ralph Briscoe and Sarah Dougherty, was born in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia on December 7, 1850. The Briscoe family had at least nine children with Susan being the youngest. The others were William J. Briscoe, John P. Briscoe, Nancy C. Briscoe, Egbert B. Briscoe, Mary Catherine Briscoe, Lucius J. Briscoe, Martha M. Briscoe, and Sarah H. Briscoe. Susan is the wife of my 2nd cousin 4x removed, Joseph T. Davison. We have no common relative. The majority of records I found listed her as Susie so I’ll do the same here.

In 1850, Susie’s father Ralph was a farmer with real estate valued at $5000. The census slave schedule shows that Ralph owned 24 slaves. Her four oldest siblings were attending school.

On June 14, 1860, the Briscoe family lived in the Northern Division of Walton County. Her father, still a farmer, was quite wealthy now with real estate valued at $8960 and a personal estate of $20,550. The census slave schedule shows that Ralph owned 22 slaves. Six children were still at home—John, Egbert, Lucius, Martha, Sarah, and Susan. Lucius, Martha, and Sarah were the only children attending school.

On August 17, 1870, the Briscoe family lived in Monroe (Subdivision 129) in Walton County. Susie was 18 years old and at home, helping her mother keep house, as was her sister Martha, enumerated as Mattie. Susie’s father, at age 72, had lost much of his wealth, now with real estate valued at $2800 and a personal estate of $1000. They did have a black female named Lucy Briscoe, age 47, living in the home and working as a domestic servant. The census taker noted that Lucy had attended school within the year and was unable to read.

Susie married Joseph T. Davison, son of James McCluney Davison Sr. and Mary Ann Southerland about 1874, most likely in Greene County, Georgia. They had at least five children—Mary Daisy Davison, Joseph Briscoe Davison, Sarah Elizabeth Davison, Ralph Cleveland Davison, and Evelyn Capers Davison.

On June 14, 1880, Susie, her husband Joe, and children Mary and Joseph lived in District 138 of Greene County, Georgia. Susie was a housekeeper and her husband a postmaster. There were three black servants living in the home with them—Eliza Bearer (age 22, cook), Henry Towns (age 30, laborer), and Jordon Raiden (age 60, laborer).

Susie’s father Ralph died in Walton County on March 28, 1881. He was buried at Rest Haven Cemetery in the city of Monroe in Walton County. In his will, her father left her $1500 in money or good notes in lieu of 150 acres of land that had been otherwise disposed of. He also left her one cow and its increase and all the household and kitchen furniture in her possession at the time of his death. Ralph wrote a codicil to his will before he died in which he stated “I desire that item 2nd of said will remain unchanged except as to the money which has been paid to my daughter Susie C. Davison mentioned in said item for which I hold her receipt amounting to $500 to this date.”

Susie’s daughter Daisy contracted dysentery in the spring of 1887 and died on May 4, 1887 at age 12 in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. Just eight days after Daisy’s death, Susie’s husband Joseph, who also suffered from dysentery, died on May 12, 1887 in Woodville at the age of 45. Both were buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The Atlanta Constitution published the following on May 4, 1887:

Woodville, Ga., May 3.—[Special.]—There seems to be an epidemic of dysentery struck this little town, and many cases proving fatal. Among the afflicted are the families of Colonel Joe Davison’s, our worthy postmaster, railroad and express agent, and Arch Ages’s, the latter having already lost two children, and has four very low.

The Atlanta Constitution reported Daisy’s death on May 5, 1887 and Joseph’s on May 14, 1887:

Death of Miss Daisie Davison. Woodville, Ga., May 4.—[Special—Colonel and Mrs. James Davison lost their elder daughter, Miss Daisy, aged about thirteen years this morning, at 4 o’clock, with dysentery. The funeral services will take place at their residence tomorrow at 9 o’clock, conducted by Rev. M. W. Arnold, of Harwood, Ga., after which her remains will be taken to Bairdstown, Ga., for interment.

Death of Colonel Davison. Woodville, Ga., May 13.—[Special.]—Colo. Joseph Davison, our efficient railroad and express agent and post master, breathed his last at his residence yesterday at 12 o’clock, after a short and serious attack of dysentery. He was in his forty-seventh year, and was one of the best citizens and highly respected by all who knew him.

After Joseph’s death, Susie replaced him as postmaster in Woodville on May 20, 1887. She was replaced by Charles C. Davison on June 6, 1901.

U.S. Postmasters (click to enlarge)

Susie’s mother died in Walton County on October 15, 1888 and was buried beside Susie’s father at Rest Haven Cemetery.

Sometime around 1900, Susie’s son Joe moved to New Orleans to work for the Illinois Central railroad. He returned home on February 20, 1900 to marry Julia M. Young at the Woodville Baptist Church in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. The Atlanta Constitution labeled it as one of the “prettiest weddings of the season.”

On June 5, 1900, a widowed Susie lived in Woodville, along with her daughters Bessie and Evelyn, and son Ralph. There was also a single white female named Hattie H. Thomas living in the home as a boarder. The census records shows that Susie had given birth to seven children, four of which were living. If that is true, I have only been able to document five. Her occupation was enumerated as “capitalist,” a business owner. The three children were all at school and Hattie worked as a school teacher. Susie owned her home, free of mortgage. Everyone in the house could read and write.

Susie married Dr. Peyton Wade Douglas, son of Tillman Douglas and Phoebe Charlton, in Greene County on May 16, 1901 in a service performed by J. M. Brittain, M.G. The marriage was the second for both. Peyton was a veteran of the Civil War (surgeon) and the father of eight children from his first marriage. His wife, Georgia Stanley Douglas, died in 1899.

Susie’s son Robert, married Katie Jean Magill of Greenwood, South Carolina, in Atlanta on August 30, 1908. They kept the marriage secret until October. When the announcement was published in Greenwood’s The Evening Index on October 15, Susie was described as “one of Atlanta’s most estimable ladies, noted for her charming personality and amiable disposition.”

On April 19, 1910, Susie, Peyton, and her daughters Bessie and Evelyn lived on Washington Street in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. In this census record, Susie was enumerated as having had five children, four of which were living, different than what was recorded in 1900 but since I find no records for two additional children, I tend to believe this record is correct. Susie was not working, her husband was a retired physician, and both her daughters were music teachers. They owned their home free and clear. They still lived in the Washington Street home in 1911 according to the Atlanta City Directory. Peyton, now retired at age 73, was a lecturer at the Cyclorama in Grant Park. For those reading that are not from the Atlanta area, “the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum was a Civil War museum located in Atlanta, Georgia. Its most noted attraction was the Atlanta Cyclorama, a cylindrical panoramic painting of the Battle of Atlanta” according to Wikipedia. As a veteran of the Civil War, Peyton was most likely sharing his personal experiences as a surgeon during the war. 

The wedding of Susie’s daughter Evelyn to Ben Hill Cocroft took place at Susie and Peyton’s home on January 24, 1912. The home was “decorated with palms, ferns, pink roses and pink carnations.”

Susie’s son Joseph, a traveling salesman, died at his Augusta Avenue home in Atlanta on October 14, 1913. He was only 36 years old. Joseph was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

About 1919, Susie moved to Miami, Dade County, Florida but it does not appear that Peyton went with her. I found him living with his daughter Rose (Rosa) Robertson and her family in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia in 1920. There was a “W” for widowed in the marital status column on the census form that year. Susie was not living with any of her children and I have been unable to find her living alone.

Peyton died of heart failure on April 28, 1920 at the Madison home of his daughter Rosa. His death certificate shows his wife was “Susie Capers Douglas.” Peyton’s daughter Peytona Douglas was the informant. He was buried at Madison Historic Cemeteries following a funeral service at the Methodist Church in Madison.

In 1921, Susie rented a home at 1764 NE Fourth Avenue in Miami. It appears she lived there until 1928 when she moved to 1770 NE Fourth Avenue in Miami, which was apparently her daughter Evelyn’s home.

On April 21, 1930, Susie (age 79 and widowed) still lived with Evelyn and son-in-law Ben Hill Cocroft at the NE Fourth Avenue home in Miami. Susie’s daughter Bessie also lived there. Ben, a realtor in real estate, was the only person working. Susie, Evelyn, and Ben were still living in the home in 1935. The census record shows that Susie was retired, Evelyn a housewife, and Ben the owner of a real estate company. 

Susie died (age 86) at home in Miami from an organic heart lesion and senility on November 23, 1937, which she had suffered from for some time. A funeral service was held at Combs Chapel in Miami on November 24 and afterwards her family accompanied her body back to Georgia and she was buried in the Davison plot with her first husband at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. She was survived by her children Evelyn, Bessie, and Ralph. Her obituary noted that she “was the oldest member in Trinity Methodist church and active in church and civic work.”

 
References

• An Epidemic of Dysentery, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 4, 1887.
• At Rest at Last, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, June 27, 1890.
• Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Cyclorama_%26_Civil_War_Museum. 
• Davison-Cocroft, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 25, 1912.
• Death of Colonel Davison, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 14, 1887.
• Death of Dr. Douglas, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, April 30, 1920.
• Death of Miss Daisie Davison, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 5, 1887.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122675067/peyton-wade-douglas: accessed 01 July 2023), memorial page for Dr Peyton Wade Douglas (2 Jun 1838–28 Apr 1920), Find a Grave Memorial ID 122675067, citing Madison Historic Cemeteries, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Joe Stoner (contributor 47793749).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60395210/mary-catherine-nunnally: accessed 01 July 2023), memorial page for Mary Catherine Briscoe Nunnally (6 Sep 1840–12 Nov 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 60395210, citing Rest Haven Cemetery, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Bruce C Breedlove (contributor 48853487).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34229924/ralph-briscoe: accessed 01 July 2023), memorial page for Ralph Briscoe (23 Feb 1798–28 Mar 1881), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34229924, citing Rest Haven Cemetery, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34229940/sarah-briscoe: accessed 01 July 2023), memorial page for Sarah Dougherty Briscoe (3 Jan 1807–15 Oct 1888), Find a Grave Memorial ID 34229940, citing Rest Haven Cemetery, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363).
• Greene County [news], The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, March 2, 1900.
• J. B. Davison and Miss Julia Young, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 19, 1900.
• Joseph Briscoe Davidson, Fulton and Campbell Counties, Georgia, Cemetery Records, 1857–1933
• Joseph Davison and Susie C. Davison, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.
• Miami, Florida, City Directory, 1921, 1929.
• Miami, Florida, City Directory, 1935.
• Mrs. Susie Douglas Funeral Tomorrow, The Miami News, Miami, Florida, November 23, 1937.
• Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• Ralph Briscoe and Sarah Dougherty, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Ralph C. Davidson, Virginia, Death Records, 1912–2014.
• Romantic Wedding, Greenwood Young Lady Wedded in Atlanta Several Weeks Ago, The Evening Index, Greenwood, South Carolina, October 15, 1908.
• S. C. Davison and P. W. Douglas, Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• S. C. Douglas, Dade County, Florida State Census, 1935.
• Susie C. Briscoe Davison, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992.
• Susie C. Davison, U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832–1971.
• Susie C. Douglas, Florida Death Index, 1877–1998.
• Susie C. Douglas, Florida State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death 18623, 1937.
• U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta Ward 2, Fulton County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Division 88, Walton County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Miami, Dade County, Florida, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Northern Division, Walton County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Slave Schedule, Division 88, Walton, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Slave Schedule, Northern Division, Walton, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Town, Walton County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1900.
• Woodstock [news], The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, October 2, 1896.