Monday Movie: Hutson-Redding Family Plot

Hutson-Redding Family Plot
Cabiness Ridge Section

Alvis Elmer & Juliette Witty are buried here.

Spring Comes to Rose Hill Cemetery

What is Alvis Witty's Connection to Panama?

Alvis Elmer Witty and his wife Juliette Hutson rest in Rose Hill Cemetery. They are buried in the Hutson - Redding plot in the Cabiness Ridge Section.

Alvis Elmer Witty
May 24, 1883
Apr 6, 1944
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Juliette Hutson Witty
June 6, 1884
Nov 12, 1977
Alvis Witty is a bit of an enigma. I can find bits of information about him, but I cannot yet connect much of it.

Alvis was the son of James S. and Isabella Witty. According to census records, Alvis was born in Florida. He is listed with his parents and sister Cora in the 1900 Orange County, Florida US Federal census. His father James was a farmer born in North Carolina. Supposedly, James's parents were born in North Carolina as well. Isabella (Alvis's mother) was born in Tennessee. Her parents were supposedly born in South Carolina.

Alvis married Juliette Hutson, daughter of Moses M. Hutson and Effa Wickliffe, 18 August 1908 at the Vineville Baptist Church in Bibb County, Georgia.

The first time I see Alvis mentioned in connection with the United States territory Canal Zone in Panama was on a New York passenger list dated 26 July 1908 (less than one month before his marriage). There were many subsequent trips made to the Canal Zone by Alvis, his wife Juliette, his mother Isabella, and his mother-in-law Effa. Dates ranged from 1908 to 1913.

I found a few more items regarding Alvis and the Canal Zone. All were found in the Macon Weekly Telegraph newspaper in the "Society" column.

Macon Weekly Telegraph 9 Aug 1908

Mrs. Effa Wickliffe Hutson announces the engagement of her daughter, Juliette, to Mr. Alvis Elmer Witty, of Gorgona, Canal Zone, U.S.A. The wedding to take place at an early date. No cards.

Indeed, the wedding was soon, approximately 10 days later:

Macon Weekly Telegraph 19 Aug 1908

Hutson-Witty -- Pretty Afternoon Wedding Yesterday.
An interesting event of Tuesday, August 18, to many friends of the young couple, was the marriage of Miss Juliette Hutson and Mr. A. E. Witty, of Gorgona, Canal Zone.

It was celebrated at a beautiful home wedding at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. Effie Wickliffe Hutson, in Vineville, at 4:30 o'clock, those witnessing it being limited to the family and closest friends...

...Immediately after the ceremony an informal reception was held, the bride and groom leaving directly to catch the northbound train for New York.

They will only be there for a short while and sail on the 22nd for Gorgona.

The congratulations and best wishes of many friends attend them to their distant home, where Mrs. Witty will be a charming addition to the circle of young matrons from the States who are already there.

Macon Weekly Telegraph 12 Feb 1910

Mrs. Effa W. Hutson left yesterday for New Orleans and from there she sails for Panama, to visit Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Witte, at Gorgona, Canal Zone, and will probably spend several months with them. Mrs. Witte, as Miss Juliette Hutson before her marriage, was one of Vineville's loveliest and most popular girls, who went to Panama immediately after her marriage a year or two ago, and they have resided there, Mr. Witte having a government position.

By 1918, Alvis registered for the draft (and claimed his residence to be) in Glynn County, Georgia. His occupation was listed as manager of a mill supply company. I have not, however, found Alvis and Juliette in the 1920 US census.

Alvis can be found in the 1930 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma US Federal census. He and Juliette are also listed in the Oklahoma City directories from 1936 - 1939. Alvis's occupation is clerk for a U. S. Supply Co. By this time, it appears, Alvis and Juliette have two daughters.

That's about it. Juliette is listed in Georgia Deaths, 1919-98. She died in Bibb County, Georgia at the age of 93.

Researching Alvis and Juliette created a couple of big questions for me. How in the world did they meet? And what kind of government job did Alvis have in the Canal Zone?

If you have any more information regarding Alvis and Juliette Hutson Witty, please comment.

Monday Movie: Canning Family Plot

Canning Family Plot
Rose Hill Cemetery
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia

Victor E. Armstrong Fought Fires

Victor E. Armstrong
Apr 29, 1873
Feb 9, 1961
Mr. Armstrong and his wife rest in Rose Hill Cemetery. They share a plot in the Cabiness Ridge section with the Strozier family.

Victor Emanuel Armstrong was born in Alabama. He, his parents, and his siblings were living in Henry County, Alabama in June 1880.

Victor married Alma Martha between 1901 and 1903. She was born 28 July 1884 in Georgia, and she passed away 12 December 1971. She lies next to her husband in Rose Hill.

In April 1910, Victor and family were living on Oak Street in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. His occupation was a fireman. At the time, Alma claimed to have three children with two living: Vashti and Marion F.

Between 1919 and 1920, Victor found himself in a somewhat controversial and likely awkward situation. The current fire chief was being ousted due to "inefficiency," and Victor was named his replacement. The saga was covered extensively in the local Macon Weekly Telegraph. Here is one such article dated 3 June 1919:

PLAN TO OUST FIRE CHIEF ON CHARGE OF INEFFICIENCY

Civil Service Commission Will Appoint Victor E. Armstrong to Succeed Monroe Jones at Meeting Today, Reports Say.

The Civil Service Commission, it was stated last night, will meet today and appoint Capt. Victor Armstrong as chief of the Macon fire department in place of the present chief, Monroe Jones, whom the commission will order for trial on the charge of inefficiency. Captain Armstrong is now senior captain of the department and second assistant chief.

It is understood the change in chiefs will take place the next few days, following the proposed action of the commission today.

It is alleged by those in close touch with the fire department situation that Chief Jones admitted to the commission that he has failed to respond to the alarm at least sixty fire calls during the last year; that he does not sleep at the department station and continues to have his own apartment somewhere in the neighborhood.

Chief Jones is probably senior to all the fire department chiefs in the South, having been chief of the old volunteer department before the present city organization and elected to the present place in 1886. He has been at the head of the department continually since that time, with the exception of the two years administration of the Wallace Miller city council, when A. L. Miller, now a member if the Civil Service Commission, was chief.

Shortly after the organization of the first Civil Service Commission, which was composed ot Curran R. Ellis, R. C. Haglehurst and Frank West, L. A. Miller was supplanted by Monroe Jones.

Victor E. Armstrong, known in fire department circles as "Vic" Armstrong, is at present stationed at No. 2 enginehouse near Wesleyan College on Washington avenue. He is the senior captain of the department and has been acting first assistant chief of the department.

The proposed new chief is a native of Abbeville, Ala., and came to Macon in 1898. He has been a member of the Macon fire department since 1900 and during the long term of service has never lost even a part of a day because of suspension or had a mark against his record. He is now enjoying a vacation of fifteen days, which began May 20.

In January 1920, Victor and family had moved to Lawton Avenue in Macon, and Victor was still the Fire Department Chief. (His World War I draft registration card from 1918 gave the specific address of 117 Lawton Avenue.) Another son had arrived about 1917. His name was Robert.

It appears Victor left the fire department sometime before 1930. At that time, his occupation was Municipal Court Deputy Sheriff. Victor and his family were still in Macon. This time they had moved to College Street.

Victor died in Bibb County, Georgia.

Do you have anything to add regarding Mr. Victor Armstrong? Please comment.

Sources Include:
- "World War I Draft Registration Cards," database, The Generations Network, Ancestry, (http://www.ancestry.com).
- Rose Hill Cemetery (Macon, Bibb County, Georgia), Cabiness Ridge Section; Transcription and Photos by Stephanie Lincecum.
- 1880 U.S. census, Henry, Alabama, Enumeration District 84, Page 20, Accessed March 2009.; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
- 1910 U.S. census, Bibb, Georgia, Ward 4, Enumeration District 44, Page 11A, Dwelling 180, Family 241, Accessed March 2009.; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
- 1920 U.S. census, Bibb, Georgia, Ward 4, Enumeration District 48, Page 2B, Dwelling 38, Family 49, Accessed March 2009.; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
- 1930 U.S. census, Bibb, Georgia, Macon Ward 4, Page 5A, Dwelling 96, Family 115, Accessed March 2009.; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
- "Georgia Deaths, 1919-98," database, The Generations Network, Ancestry, (http://www.ancestry.com).

Monday Movie: DURE Family Plot

DURE Family Plot
Cabiness Ridge, Rose Hill Cemetery
Macon, Bibb County, Georgia

Capt. Geo. A. Dure obtained his family plot prior to the death of his son-in-law Glen B. Jennings in 1888.



Burials in the DURE Family Plot:

Birdsey, Mary Dure
Cherry, Emma Dure
Cherry, George R.
Coburn, Anna Estelle Dure
Coburn, Frank Augustus
Coburn, Frank Dure
Dure, Carrie Sewell
Dure, George A.
Dure, George P.
Dure, Julia Kendrick
Dure, Leon Seabring
Dure, Nela
Ferree, Harry Grant
Ferree, Lillie Dure
Jennings, Evelyn Cherry
Jennings, Glen B.
Kendrick, Ann M.

Elizabeth H. Adams Born in the Bermuda Islands

Elizabeth H. Adams
Wife of Thomas Adams
Bermuda Islands May 26, 1809
Macon, GA Sept 5, 1890
"I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness."
Mrs. Adams rests in Rose Hill Cemetery.

An obituary from the Macon newspaper:

"Died
In Macon, Ga, Sept 5, 1890, in her 82th year, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Adams, widow of Capt. Thomas Adams of Charleston, SC.

Funeral services, THIS (Saturday) MORNING 11 o'clock, from the residence of Mr. Charles Canning _?_ Mulberry street."

I do not know the relationship between Mrs. Adams and Charles Canning. She was buried in his family plot in Rose Hill.

Wordless Wednesday: Clutching a Dove & Standing Tall

Samuel Taylor Adamson, Civil War POW

Samuel Taylor Adamson
Nov 27, 1847
June 18, 1925
FATHER
Samuel rests in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Though not mentioned on his ledger gravestone, Samuel was a soldier in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. He enlisted June 1864 from Jonesboro, Georgia as a private in Company E, 30th Georgia Infantry Regiment. One month into his service, Samuel was captured by the Union Army near Atlanta, GA and sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. He was a prisoner for almost a year, released June 1865.

Census records suggest Samuel Adamson was born in Georgia. In 1870, he is found living in Clayton County, Georgia with his mother Elizabeth and siblings Franklin, Ella, and Julia A. At that time, Samuel was a Railroad Laborer.

Samuel married his wife, Mary Elizabeth Bright, 18 December 1872 in Bibb County, Georgia. They had four children: Edward Alexander, Franklin Green, Ogean Tolitha, and Luther Ennis.

Samuel spent the rest of his life in Bibb County. He was often working on the railroad, and his occupations often had to do with carpentry (carpenter, foreman Central shops, mechanic, railroad cabinet maker, and house carpenter).

Do you have any information to share about Samuel Taylor Adamson? Please comment.