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| The Akers family, taken around 1920 in Patrick County, VA. L-R: Velva, Mary, Samuel, Dovie and Dewey |
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| Samuel Green Akers, from the photo above |
Samuel Green Akers, son of Isaac Nathaniel Akers and Nancy
Venice Conner, was born in 1866 in Virginia.
Samuel's birth date of 1866 is calculated from several sources, including
censuses. His 1937 Virginia death certificate does not list a birth date, but
his age is given as 74. This would mean a birth date of 1863, which I haven't
been able to corroborate with any other source. The informant on his death
certificate, his son-in-law Leonard Charles, may not have known how old Samuel
was at the time he died. His 1900 census entry says he was born in March 1867,
which doesn't line up with his age given in the other censuses (1870,
1880, 1910, 1920, 1930). However, the
census closest to the year of his birth, 1870, said he was 4 years old, which
indicates a birth year of 1866.
He was listed as a member of Isaac Nathaniel Akers and Nancy Venice Conner's household in the population census on September 29, 1870 at a farm in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Exonie E. Akers and Clements Spencer. Samuel was their oldest child, 4 years old and born in Virginia.
He was listed as a member of Isaac Nathaniel Akers and Nancy Venice Conner's household in the population census on June 25, 1880 at a farm in Dan River District, Patrick County, VA along with Charles A. Akers, Exonie E. Akers, Isaac Murray Akers, K. Maud Akers, and Kesiah L. Raker. Samuel was 14 years old and born in Virginia. He had attended school during the year but was at home when the census was taken, indicating he may have been working on the farm.
Samuel died on June 7, 1937 at the age of 71 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA. Samuel died at 12 noon. His residence was given as Amelia Courthouse Star Route, Giles Ward. He was married at the time; his wife's name was given as Mrs. S. G. Akers. According to the informant on his death certificate, his son-in-law L. W. Charles, Samuel was 74 years old, which makes him 3 years older than other information found. I believe he was really 71 years old when he died. His date of birth was blank on the death certificate, but his birthplace was given as Patrick County, VA. His father's and mother's names and birthplaces were entered as "not known". The burial date and place was not given, but the undertaker was L. W. Hammer.
The doctor, George C. Egglislon, MD of Amelia, VA only saw him after death and last saw him alive on June 4, 1937. The cause of death was listed as "probably cerebral hemorrhage", with significant conditions from "excessive heat of weather". There were no external causes or injury, although the doctor noted the "excessive heat of sun" and "work in sun" as factors. It sounds like Samuel may have been outside working on the farm on a hot day and suffered a stroke.
His obituary appeared on June 8, 1937 in the Free Lance Star newspaper in Fredericksburg, VA. I have not been able to find a copy online of Samuel's obituary, but I found this reference to his obituary being published in the Free Lance Star newspaper on June 8, 1937 at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library web site (http://www.historypoint.org/obits/index.asp):
"Name: AKERS, SAMUEL G. Published in the Free Lance Star June 8, 1937 Reference: Hodge, Volume A-B, Page 9"
He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, VA. His wife Mary was buried there in 1956. There is a large upright headstone there that says "Akers" with flat headstones for both him and his wife. On his headstone, his birth year is 1866, which checks with other information. His death year, however, is 1938, which is a year later than he really died according to his death certificate.
[Research note for Samuel Green Akers: He may have worked on the railroad. Need to investigate this...the source for this information is unknown, but I did have it in my notes.]
He was listed as a member of Isaac Nathaniel Akers and Nancy Venice Conner's household in the population census on September 29, 1870 at a farm in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Exonie E. Akers and Clements Spencer. Samuel was their oldest child, 4 years old and born in Virginia.
He was listed as a member of Isaac Nathaniel Akers and Nancy Venice Conner's household in the population census on June 25, 1880 at a farm in Dan River District, Patrick County, VA along with Charles A. Akers, Exonie E. Akers, Isaac Murray Akers, K. Maud Akers, and Kesiah L. Raker. Samuel was 14 years old and born in Virginia. He had attended school during the year but was at home when the census was taken, indicating he may have been working on the farm.
Samuel died on June 7, 1937 at the age of 71 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA. Samuel died at 12 noon. His residence was given as Amelia Courthouse Star Route, Giles Ward. He was married at the time; his wife's name was given as Mrs. S. G. Akers. According to the informant on his death certificate, his son-in-law L. W. Charles, Samuel was 74 years old, which makes him 3 years older than other information found. I believe he was really 71 years old when he died. His date of birth was blank on the death certificate, but his birthplace was given as Patrick County, VA. His father's and mother's names and birthplaces were entered as "not known". The burial date and place was not given, but the undertaker was L. W. Hammer.
The doctor, George C. Egglislon, MD of Amelia, VA only saw him after death and last saw him alive on June 4, 1937. The cause of death was listed as "probably cerebral hemorrhage", with significant conditions from "excessive heat of weather". There were no external causes or injury, although the doctor noted the "excessive heat of sun" and "work in sun" as factors. It sounds like Samuel may have been outside working on the farm on a hot day and suffered a stroke.
His obituary appeared on June 8, 1937 in the Free Lance Star newspaper in Fredericksburg, VA. I have not been able to find a copy online of Samuel's obituary, but I found this reference to his obituary being published in the Free Lance Star newspaper on June 8, 1937 at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library web site (http://www.historypoint.org/obits/index.asp):
"Name: AKERS, SAMUEL G. Published in the Free Lance Star June 8, 1937 Reference: Hodge, Volume A-B, Page 9"
He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, VA. His wife Mary was buried there in 1956. There is a large upright headstone there that says "Akers" with flat headstones for both him and his wife. On his headstone, his birth year is 1866, which checks with other information. His death year, however, is 1938, which is a year later than he really died according to his death certificate.
[Research note for Samuel Green Akers: He may have worked on the railroad. Need to investigate this...the source for this information is unknown, but I did have it in my notes.]
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Samuel Green Akers and Mary Henrietta "Etta"
Terry were married on March 4, 1885 in Peters Creek, Stokes County, NC. They
were married by George W. Merritt, a Justice of the Peace. Witnesses to their
wedding were Lizzie Peatross and C. C.
Merritt (possibly related to George?). Samuel's age was listed as 19 and Mary's
was listed as 18, although I think, based on her birth date in 1869, Mary was
really 15. There is probably an interesting story why they got married in North
Carolina instead of Patrick County, Virginia, probably having to do with Mary's
young age.
They appeared in the census on June 13, 1900 at a farm in Smith River District, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 33 years old, Mary was 31 and they had been married 15 years. Samuel was born in March 1867, which I believe to be one year later than his actual birthdate based on other censuses. He was a farmer, and owned his farm. He was able to read and write. Mary's month and year of birth was June 1868, which I believe was really July 1869 based on other evidence. She had 5 children, 3 of which were still alive and listed in the census - daughters Mary and Fannie, and son Dewey. Mary also could read and write.
They appeared in the census on April 22, 1910 at a farm in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 44, his wife Mary was 41 and they had been married for 25 years. He was still a farmer living on his own farm, and was able to read and write. Mary had 7 children with 5 still living: Mary, Dewey, Fannie/Edna, Dovie and Velva. Their oldest daughter Mary was no longer living with them, by this time she had married my great-grandfather, John B. West, and they had their own family.
Samuel and Etta appeared in the census on February 6, 1920 at a farm in Stuart Town, Dan River Township, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 53 years old and worked as a carpenter. Mary, his wife, was 50 years old.
They lived at 1201 Orange Avenue NW in Roanoke (city), Virginia in 1921–1922. Samuel's occupation was listed as "helper" in the Roanoke city directory.
They lived at 504 Otterview Avenue, Ghent in Roanoke (city), Virginia in 1924. Samuel was listed as a carpenter in the Roanoke city directory.
Samuel and Etta appeared in the census on April 16, 1930 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA. They were living by themselves. Amelia County was where one of their daughters lived, Mary Akers (my great-grandmother), who had married John B. West (my great-grandfather). Samuel, who was listed in the census by his initials, S. G., was 64 years old and a farmer. The census states he was 19 years old when first married, which agrees with the marriage information found for this couple. He was not a veteran. Mary, his wife, was 61 years old and according to the census, 17 years old when first married. The information I have found about this couple's wedding and Mary's birth date indicates she was really 15 when first married. This would be the last census they both appeared in since Samuel passed away in 1937.
They appeared in the census on June 13, 1900 at a farm in Smith River District, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 33 years old, Mary was 31 and they had been married 15 years. Samuel was born in March 1867, which I believe to be one year later than his actual birthdate based on other censuses. He was a farmer, and owned his farm. He was able to read and write. Mary's month and year of birth was June 1868, which I believe was really July 1869 based on other evidence. She had 5 children, 3 of which were still alive and listed in the census - daughters Mary and Fannie, and son Dewey. Mary also could read and write.
They appeared in the census on April 22, 1910 at a farm in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 44, his wife Mary was 41 and they had been married for 25 years. He was still a farmer living on his own farm, and was able to read and write. Mary had 7 children with 5 still living: Mary, Dewey, Fannie/Edna, Dovie and Velva. Their oldest daughter Mary was no longer living with them, by this time she had married my great-grandfather, John B. West, and they had their own family.
Samuel and Etta appeared in the census on February 6, 1920 at a farm in Stuart Town, Dan River Township, Patrick County, VA. Samuel was 53 years old and worked as a carpenter. Mary, his wife, was 50 years old.
They lived at 1201 Orange Avenue NW in Roanoke (city), Virginia in 1921–1922. Samuel's occupation was listed as "helper" in the Roanoke city directory.
They lived at 504 Otterview Avenue, Ghent in Roanoke (city), Virginia in 1924. Samuel was listed as a carpenter in the Roanoke city directory.
Samuel and Etta appeared in the census on April 16, 1930 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA. They were living by themselves. Amelia County was where one of their daughters lived, Mary Akers (my great-grandmother), who had married John B. West (my great-grandfather). Samuel, who was listed in the census by his initials, S. G., was 64 years old and a farmer. The census states he was 19 years old when first married, which agrees with the marriage information found for this couple. He was not a veteran. Mary, his wife, was 61 years old and according to the census, 17 years old when first married. The information I have found about this couple's wedding and Mary's birth date indicates she was really 15 when first married. This would be the last census they both appeared in since Samuel passed away in 1937.
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| Mary Henrietta (Terry) Akers, from the photo above |
Mary Henrietta "Etta" Terry, daughter of John Jackson Terry and Mary Ella Harbour, was
born in July, 1869 in Virginia. The main evidence supporting this birth date is
from the two closest censuses to when she was born, 1870 and 1880, as well as
the 1920 and 1940 censuses. In fact, the 1870 census says she was born in July
the previous year (1869). In addition, the death certificate for her sister,
Susan Terry Bolling, says that Susan was born on January 20, 1868, making Mary
being born in June or July 1868 impossible. However, the 1900, 1910 and 1930
censuses all support a birth year for Mary of 1868, which is also the date
given in her death certificate by Ralph M. Whitticar. I have not been able to
figure out how Ralph was related to her, if at all. A Ralph Whitticar, Jr. was
a pallbearer at her funeral. Her obituary listed her age as 88 years old when
she died, which would also support an 1868 birth year. Her tombstone also has a
birth year of 1868, but that could be inaccurate since the dates on her husband
Samuel's tombstone are incorrect. Also, the first census to have her age
indicating she was born in 1868 is also the first census after she was married
in 1885. A birth year of 1868 would mean she was 16 when she got married; I
believe she was really 15 years old.
Throughout her life, she went by the name Mary or her nickname Etta (short for Henrietta).
She was listed as a member of John Jackson Terry and Mary Ella "Bird" Harbour's household in the census on August 17, 1870 at a farm in Smiths River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Martha E. Terry and Susan J. Terry. Mary was 11 months old, born in July the previous year, and born in Virginia.
She was a family member in the household of Chapman Johnson Harbour in the census on June 1, 1880 in Smith River Magisterial District, Patrick County, VA along with Mary Ella "Bird" Harbour, John L. Terry, Martha E. Terry, Sarah T. Terry, Susan J. Terry, Mary "Polly" Thomas, Abner J. Terry, and Nancy E. Terry. Mary "Etta" was Chapman's niece, 10 years old, at home and had attended school. Oddly, it was listed that she couldn't read or write. Her family (mother Mary Harbour Terry and siblings John, Martha, Sarah, Susan, Abner and Nancy) had moved in with her mother's brother, Chapman, after her husband, John Terry, passed away shortly before the census.
Etta lived in Amelia County, VA on April 1, 1935. Her husband Samuel was still alive then.
She appeared in the census as the head of the household on April 1, 1940 at 530 Day Avenue in Roanoke, Roanoke County, VA along with Fannie Edna Akers. Fannie was one of her daughters. Mary was 70 years old and widowed (her husband Samuel passed away in 1937). They were living in a home with a $25 per month rent. She had a 7th grade education, and she had lived in rural Amelia County, VA in 1935. She had no income in 1939.
She lived at 1418 College Avenue in Fredericksburg, VA in 1949–1950. Mary was living with her daughter, Dovie, and her husband, Bob Reynolds. She was listed in the Fredericksburg city directory as the widow of Samuel G. Akers.
Etta died from myocarditis complicated by intestinal obstruction with internal hernia on September 26, 1956 at the age of 87 at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA. At the time of her death, Mary had been in the Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia for 5 days. Mary's date of birth was given by the informant, Ralph Whitticar as June 19, 1868. Don't know why Dovie Reynolds, her daughter that she had been living with, was not the informant. She was listed as the widow of Samuel G. Akers. Her father was listed as John Terry and her mother as Mary Harbur. The doctor, Lloyd Busch, MD of Fredericksburg, VA attended Mary from Sept 19 until Sept 26, when death occurred at 8:30 pm.
She lived at 204 Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, VA until she passed away on September 26, 1956. According to my Dad's cousin, Anne West, Mary had been living with her daughter, Dovie Reynolds, for 15 years when she passed on.
Her obituary appeared on September 27, 1956 in the in Fredericksburg, VA. It was published in the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star newspaper and reads:
"Mrs. Mary Akers Dies Here at 88; Saturday Rites Set
Mrs. Mary Henrietta Akers, widow of Samuel F. Akers, died yesterday morning at Mary Washington Hospital. She was 88 years old. Mrs. Akers moved here 15 years ago to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Dovie Reynolds, who survives her. In addition to Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Akers is survived by three other daughters, Mrs. J. B. West of Richmond; Mrs. Ben Clifford of Portsmouth, OH; and Mrs. L. W. Charles of Amelia; two sisters, one brother, seven grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Akers, who was born in Patrick County, June 19, 1868, was the daughter of John and Mary Harbour Terry. The funeral will be at 2 P.M. Saturday at Elkins Funeral Home, with the Rev. Harry J. Rains officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Ralph Whitticar Jr., Lawrence McMurtry, Perry A. Thompson, Aubrey Meredith, William P. Miller Jr., and William C. Ross."
Etta was buried on September 29, 1956 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg, VA. The funeral home was Elkins Funeral Home in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
On a more personal note, I met my great-great-grandmother sometime in May 1956 but I was too young to remember. A picture was taken of the 5 generations: my great-great-grandmother Mary H. Akers, my great-grandmother Mary Akers West, my grandmother Mary Elva West Campbell, my Mom Janet Todd Campbell and me. Here is an excerpt from that picture. Great-great-grandmother Mary is giving me kind of a stern look - maybe I was acting up!
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| My great-great-grandmother Mary Akers, my Mom and me, taken in May 1956 |
Here's another picture of Mary, also taken in May 1956 about four months before she passed away. The handwriting on the picture is my grandmother's, Mary Elva West Campbell. This picture is dated by Elva, and Mary is wearing the same dress and brooch she is wearing in the 5-generation picture, which leads me to believe that the 5-generation picture was also taken in May 1956. She still had the stern look, though!
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