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. 

Joseph Briscoe Davison

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.

Joseph Briscoe Davison, son of Joseph Davison and Susan Capers Briscoe, was born March 9, 1877 in Greene County, Georgia. He was one of seven children—Mary Daisy Davison, Joseph Briscoe Davison, Sarah Elizabeth Davison, Ralph C. Davison, Evelyn Capers Davison, and two infant children (sex unknown). Joseph is my 3rd cousin 3x removed. Our nearest common relatives are my 5th great-grandparents–Robert L. Hobbs Sr. and Mary Marion Caldwell who were married in 1776 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He went by Joe.

On June 14, 1880, Joseph and his family lived in the 138th District of Greene County, Georgia. His father was the postmaster; his mother was a housekeeper. There were three servants living in the home with them-Eliza Bearer (age 22, cook), Henry Towns (age 30, laborer), and Jordon Raiden (age 60, laborer).

Joseph learned about death early in life when his older sister Daisy contracted dysentery in the spring of 1887. She died at the age of 12 in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia on May 4, 1887. Just eight days after Daisy’s death, Joseph’s father, who also suffered from dysentery, died on May 12, 1887 in Woodville at the age of 45. Both Daisy and Joseph’s father were buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Sometime before 1900, Joseph moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. He was listed in the 1900 New Orleans, Louisiana, City Directory—living at 1507 Prytania Street and employed as a clerk. Just before his 23rd birthday, Joseph married Julia M. Young, daughter of James L. Young and Alice J. Gorham, in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia on February 20, 1900. The Atlanta Constitution published an article on February 19, 1900 detailing the upcoming ceremony:

One of the prettiest weddings of the season will be that of Miss Julia Young, of Woodville, and Mr. Joseph B. Davison, of New Orleans, which will occur at the Baptist church in Woodville on the 20th instant at 6 o’clock in the evening. Dr. B. F. Riley, of the State university, will officiate, and Mrs. J. V. McWhorter will play the wedding march. The church will be beautifully decorated in moss, palms, ferns, smilax and lilies of the valley. The bridemaids will be: Miss Clyde Young, maid of honor, sister to the bride; Miss Bessie Davison, Miss Maggie Davison and Miss Pope Maxwell. The groom’s attendants will be Mr. Emmett Lunceford, of Monroe, best man; Mr. C. M. Young, of Athens; Mr. Will Sanford, of Crawfordville, and Mr. S. W. Durham, of Woodville. Mr. John Durham, Mr. John McWhorter and Mr. J. C. Davison will act as ushers. The flowers girls are little Miss Russell Davison, Ellener Davison, Ruby Wilson and Kathleen Armstrong. The bride’s gown will be of white satin duchess trimmed in pearls and applique. She will carry white carnations. The bridemaids will wear organdle dresses and will carry lilies and maidenhair ferns. The bride’s long vail will be confined by a diamond sunburst, gift of the groom. Miss Young is a very handsome and charming young woman and has been the recipient of many attentions since her debut. Mr. Davison is connected with the Illinois Central railroad at New Orleans. Immediately after the marriage the bride and groom will leave for New Orleans, their future home.

Together, Joseph and Julia had two children—Joseph Briscoe Davison Jr. and Roy Benson Davison.

On June 13, 1900, Joseph and Julia were in fact living on Duffosat Street in the Orleans Parish of New Orleans. Joseph was a clerk for the railroad. The year 1900 was huge for Joseph and Julia with three major events taking place in their lives. They got married, Julia moved to New Orleans, and then she must have gotten pregnant within a month of their wedding as she gave birth to their first child, Joseph Jr., in Louisiana on December 16, 1900.

On May 16, 1901, 14 years after the death of his father, Joseph’s mother married Dr. Peyton Wade Douglas in Greene County, Georgia.

Joseph and Julia’s stay in New Orleans was short-lived. By 1905, they moved to Atlanta where they lived at 298 Central Avenue. Joseph was a clerk for Bell Telephone Company. By 1907, they moved to 30 Augusta Avenue in Atlanta and were still living there in 1908 when Roy was born on May 15. Joseph was now working as a traveling salesman.

On April 22, 1910, Joseph, Julia, and Joseph Jr. still lived in the Augusta Avenue house. The census enumerator spelled their last name “Davidson.” Joseph and Julia had been married for 10 years. Julia was enumerated as the mother of two children, both of which were living. Joseph was a traveling salesman for wholesale grocers. He was paying a mortgage on the house they lived in.

Tragedy struck the Davison family in the fall of 1913 with the premature death of Joseph on October 15, 1913, most likely in Atlanta. Unfortunately, I don’t know the circumstances of his death but I imagine it must have been unexpected as he was only 36 years old at the time. Joseph was buried in the family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery. The Atlanta Constitution published an “In Memoriam” for Joe on October 19, 1913:

In the death of Joe Davidson, [sic] the ranks of the salesmen who work out of Atlanta have suffered a loss which can never be fully filled. Mr. Davidson was one of the best representatives of that splendid class of men who today form the backbone of business, the salesmen. He represented the Frank E. Block company of this city for many years and his territory comprised the Southern road to Macon and the Georgia road from Crawfordsville south.

Mr. Davidson’s death took place last Tuesday night and he was buried at Bairdstown, Ga., on Thursday morning. Paul S. Pause represented his firm at the burial.

He was a member of U.C.T. Atlanta Council 18, and is sincerely mourned by his fellow members. While not a strictly religious man in the narrow sense of the term, Mr. Davidson was one of the best men it has ever been the writer’s pleasure to meet, and if all those who came in daily contact with him, will take his life as an example of how to live and keep it ever before them, he will have left a mark on his community which will work for good as long as mankind retains a memory.

Mr. Davidson is survived by his wife and two young children.

Joseph Jr. was 12 years old; Roy was 5 years old.

According to Wikipedia, U.C.T. was a society of traveling salesmen. “The Order of United Commercial Travelers was formed on January 16, 1888 by six men in a meeting at the Neil House in Columbus, Ohio to provide a society for traveling salesmen, or commercial travelers.”

It’s sad to note that his wife Julia also died prematurely at home on July 22, 1915. She was the same age as Joseph when he died—age 36.

Sarah Elizabeth Davison

Davison family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery

“We’re related to many of the people buried here although I don’t know how” is what Daddy once told me as we walked through Bairdstown Cemetery, a small well-kept cemetery located in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Bairdstown Cemetery is the final resting place of my paternal grandparents, several family members, and many Lankford’s in my tree but not in our immediate family. I remember looking at all the stones when we visited, wondering who these people were and how we were connected. Several years ago, I thought it would be interesting to connect the dots. This blog post is about one of those connections.

Sarah Elizabeth Davison, daughter of Joseph Davison and Susan C. Briscoe, was born on October 16, 1882 in Georgia (possibly Greene County where her parents lived in 1880). She was the third child of five—Mary Daisy Davison, Joseph Briscoe Davison, Sarah Elizabeth Davison, Ralph C. Davison, and Evelyn C. Davison. She went by Bessie. A relationship calculator tells me that she and I are 3rd cousins, 3x removed with our nearest common relatives being my 5th great-grandparents Robert L. Hobbs Sr. (1754–1845) and Mary Marion Caldwell (1759–1853).

When Bessie was four years old, her older sister Daisy died on May 4, 1887 of dysentery in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. The Atlanta Constitution reported her death that same day:

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.

Just eight days after Daisy’s death, Bessie’s father, who also suffered from dysentery, died on May 12, 1887 in Woodville. The Atlanta Constitution reported his death on May 14:

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.

Bairdstown Church

Both Daisy and Joseph were buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

Happier times came 13 years later when on February 20, 1900, Bessie was one of four bridesmaids in her brother Joseph’s wedding to Julia Young which took place in Woodville. The wedding was deemed “One of the prettiest weddings of the season …” by The Atlanta Constitution. The bridesmaids wore organdy dresses and carried lilies and maidenhair ferns. On June 5, 1900, Bessie, her mother, brother Ralph, and sister Evelyn were still living in Woodville. There was a 21-year-old female school teacher named Hattie H. Thomas living in the home with them. Bessie, Ralph, and Evelyn were all attending school. Her mother’s occupation was listed as “Capitalist.” On May 16, 1901, 14 years after the death of her father, Bessie’s mother married Peyton W. Douglas in Greene County. After the wedding, the family apparently moved to Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. In 1907, they lived at 562 Washington Street in Atlanta. Bessie was a music teacher. On September 3, 1908, Bessie attended the wedding of her cousin Dr. Thomas Callahan Davison to Laura Rutledge where she played Mendelssohn’s wedding march during the ceremony. Bessie wore a white point de esprit evergreen silk dress that day.

On April 19, 1910, Bessie was still living at the Washington Street house in Atlanta with her mother Susan, stepfather Peyton, and sister Evelyn. Susan and Peyton had been married for seven years, the second marriage for both. Peyton, a retired physician, was 69 years old. Susan, age 55, was retired as well. Bessie and Evelyn were both enumerated as music teachers.

Bessie and Evelyn were often written about in the social columns. On July 14, 1910, The Atlanta Constitution wrote:

Miss Davison Entertains. Miss Evelyn Davison entertained most delightfully at a matinee party Tuesday afternoon in honor of Miss Lucille Howell, of Valdosta; Miss Mary McGuffey, of Jackson, and Miss Bessie Davison.

Then on August 18, 1910, The Atlanta Constitution wrote:

Misses Bessie and Evelyn Davison entertained Monday evening complimentary to their guest, Miss Prudence Brooks, of Lexington, twenty guests entertained. 

And on August 21, 1910, The Atlanta Constitution wrote about a party held at the Washington Street house:

Misses Davison’s Party. An enjoyable event of the past week was the heart dice party given by Misses Bessie and Evelyn Davison at their home on Washington street to their guest, Miss Prudence Brooks, of Lexington. The house was beautifully decorated with ferns and golden glow. The first prize was won by Miss Ethel Adams, the consolation prize by Mr. James Lewis. After the game, delightful refreshments were served. Special music was rendered by Misses Morganstern, Fillingim, and Davison. Miss Bessie Davison received the guests wearing a lavender satin gown trimmed in medallions of silver and pearls. Miss Evelyn Davison assisted in receiving the guests and wore a cream messaline satin gown trimmed in ribbons and lace. Miss Brooks was attractive in a white satin trimmed in chiffon roses and pearls. Invited to meet the guest of honor were Misses Fannie Lee and Madge Ledbetter, Miss Bernie Legg, Misses Teresa T’Lene Thrower, Miss Ethel Adams, Miss Mamie Bowie, Miss Agnes Pearson, Misses Sophie, Teresa and Tillie Morganstern, Miss Irene Hartzog, Miss Carrie Edmondson, Miss Hattie Wise, Miss Eva Land, Miss Susie Wells, and Mrs. Guy Selman of Douglasville, Mr. Louis Brady, Dr. Walker Durham, Mr. Jake Morganstern, Mr. Edward Morganstern, Mr. Fonville McWhorter, Mr. Neil Edmondson, Mr. James Suddeth, Mr. Penn Dugham, and Dr. Jamie Salman.

On January 24, 1912, Bessie was her sister’s maid of honor when she married Ben Hill Cocroft in Fulton County, Georgia. The Atlanta Constitution reported the event on January 25, 1912:

Davison-Cocroft. An interesting wedding of yesterday afternoon was that of Miss Evelyn Capers Davison and Mr. Ben Hill Cocroft, of Thomasville, which took place at the home of the bride’s parents, Dr. and Mrs. Peyton Wade Douglas, at 3 o’clock. The home was prettily decorated with palms, ferns, pink roses and pink carnations. Miss Ellen Davison, of Cox college, played the wedding music, accompanied by Mrs. L. H. Fitzpatrick on the violin. Before the entrance of the bridal party Mrs. C. C. Cocroft, of Thomasville, sang “Because God Made Thee Mine,” and during the ceremony the “Angels Serenade” was softly played. Miss Bessie Davison was her sister’s maid of honor and Miss Nell Cocroft, of Thomasville, was the only bridesmaid. Mr. J. B. Bruden, of Mt. Vernon, was Mr. Cocroft’s best man and Mr. S. M. Bowden, of Macon, was groomsman. Little Misses Dorothy Launceford and Frances Wynne were flower girls. Dr. G. A. Nunnally, of Rome, uncle of the bride, was the officiating minister. The bride was becomingly gowned in a traveling suit of dark blue cloth with hat to match and carried a shower bouquet of bride roses and valley lilies. The maid of honor wore white crepe de chine and carried pink roses. The bridesmaid wore pink crepe de chine and carried white roses. The bride’s mother wore a gray satin gown with touches of heliotrope and wore a corsage bouquet of Parma violets. Mrs. C. C. Cocroft, of Thomasville, wore a gown of black velvet. Among the out-of-town guests were Dr. and Mrs. G. A. Nunnally, of Rome; Col. W. J. Nunnally of Rome; Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Cocroft, Miss Mary Cocroft, of Thomasville; Mr. J. D. Bruden, of Macon; Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Roane, of Monroe, and Mr. S. M. Bowden, of Macon. Mr. and Mrs. Cocroft left for a trip to Florida, and after February 4 will be at home in Thomasville, Ga.

Bessie’s 36-year-old brother Joseph died on October 15, 1913. He was buried in the family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery. His 36-year-old wife Julia (Young) Davison died less than two years later in Oglethorpe County // NOTE after I published this post -- Julia died in Atlanta, not Oglethorpe County // on July 22, 1915. She was buried beside her husband at Bairdstown Cemetery.

Atlanta City Directory, 1913

Bessie lived at the Washington Street house in Atlanta and remained a music teacher until at least 1919. By January 8, 1920, she was living with a widowed woman named Mrs. S. F. Luidler in the Rochelle District of Wilcox County, Georgia and still teaching music.

Thanks to the Miami, Dade County, Florida city directories, I’m able to track Bessie through a good part of the next two decades. In 1924, she was listed twice—once at 256 NE 20th Terrace and then at 227 NE 3rd Street. The second listing on 3rd Street noted that she worked in real estate. Her sister Evelyn and her husband Ben lived at the 20th Terrace address. She may have worked for the Cocroft Realty Company located at 416 First National Bank Building which I assume belonged to her sister and brother-in-law. Bessie was working for a real estate company located at 806 Professional Building in Miami in 1926. She lived at 1770 NE 4th Avenue in 1927 and still lived there in 1928 and 1929. It appears that her sister and brother-in-law Ben lived there as well. Both Bessie and Ben were still working real estate.

On April 21, 1930, Bessie and her mother were living with Evelyn and Ben at 1770 NE 4th Avenue in Miami. At age 46, Bessie was not working, nor was her mother or sister. Ben was still a real estate realtor. They pretty much stayed on NE 4th Avenue until at least 1939. Bessie’s mother Susan died in Miami on November 23, 1937. Bessie and Evelyn took her body home to be buried in the family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery.

I can’t find Bessie in the 1940 census but the 1941 Miami city directory shows that she had ventured out on her own and lived at 1779 NE 2nd Court, apartment 18. Evelyn and Ben were still living in the NE 4th Avenue home. By 1942, Bessie had moved to 334 NE 26th Street but not for long. She died in Miami on February 11, 1942. Her body was returned home to Georgia and buried in the family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery. Her stone was inscribed with the words “The Lord Bless Thee and Give Thee Peace.” Bessie never married.

Mary Daisy Davison (105-2016)

Baird's Baptist Church, Bairdstown, Georgia

Bairdstown Cemetery, located in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, is the cemetery where my paternal grandparents, several uncles, and an aunt are buried. It’s a beautiful, well-kept cemetery near Baird’s Baptist Church. Daddy’s sister lived just down the road from the cemetery so we’d always stop by when we visited her and take a walk through the graves. I remember Daddy telling me one time that we were related to many of the people buried there, although he didn’t know how. It’s been a while, but several times on my yearly trips home to Atlanta, my husband, Daddy, and I took a day trip to Greene and Oglethorpe Counties to visit the many cemeteries to document my research. Daddy enjoyed these trips and would spend the day telling us stories about his childhood there. My boys were young at the time and had no desire to walk the cemeteries with us so I always made sure they had new Gameboy games to play with and then I would bribe them. Yes, I said bribe! I told both if they would behave all day while we made the rounds to the cemeteries I would give each of them $25 at the end of the day. But, if they acted out, the deal was off. I had to pay up every time and it was worth every penny! I enjoyed these day trips immensely and we always made it a point to stop by Bairdstown Cemetery. By then, the walks took on new meaning because I had started to connect the dots from my family to the people buried there. I found that Daddy was right—we in fact had many collateral connections there. This blog post is about one of those connections—Mary Daisy Davison. A relationship calculator tells me that she and I are 3rd cousins, 3x removed with our nearest common relatives being Robert L. Hobbs Sr. (1754–1845) and Mary Marion Caldwell (1759–1853). They were my 5th great-grandparents.

Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Georgia

Mary Daisy Davison, daughter of Col. Joseph Davison and Susan C. Briscoe, was born in Greene County, Georgia on December 22, 1874. She was the oldest child of seven—Mary Daisy Davison, Joseph Briscoe Davison, Sarah Elizabeth Davison, Ralph C. Davison, Evelyn C. Davison, and two infant children (sex unknown). She went by Daisy.

On June 14, 1880, five-year-old Daisy and her family lived in the 138th District of Greene County, Georgia. She was enumerated as Mary D. Davison. Her father was the postmaster; her mother was a housekeeper. There were three servants living in the home with them—Eliza Bearer (age 22, cook), Henry Towns (age 30, laborer), and Jordon Raiden (age 60, laborer). 

Daisy’s life was cut short in 1887 when she came down with dysentery. At the age of 12, she died in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia on May 4, 1887. The Atlanta Constitution reported her death that same day: 

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.

Davison plot, Bairdstown Cemetery

Daisy is buried in the Davison family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery. Her tombstone reads: 

IN MEMORY OF
MARY DAISY DAVISON.
BORN DECEMBER 22, 1874.
DIED MAY 4, 1887.
SWEET BE THY SLEEP
UNTILL HE WHO RENT
THE GRAVE.
SHALL COME FOR THEE.
AND ON THY CHEEK
THE BLUSH IMPRINT OF
IMMORTALITY.

Daisy's tombstone