“J.T. Watson…was from the ‘valley,’” according to George Atkisson’s 1978 history of Vienna’s Antioch Christian Church, referring to the Shenandoah Valley. John Thomas Watson was born in 1879 to Benjamin and Matilda Watson in Middletown, Virginia, according to birth and marriage records. Middletown is in the Shenandoah Valley near today’s western… Continue reading
Mary Margaret Thompson was born in 1873 to Joseph Thompson, a farmer, and Mary Margaret Oliver Thompson, according to the younger Mary’s death certificate. Mary, or Mollie as she was known, was in the middle of the Thompson’s eight children, according to the 1880 census. She most likely grew up… Continue reading
Walter L. Taylor was born in Loudoun County in June 1865; that is, immediately after the Civil War. His parents were Andrew Jackson Taylor and Emily. Between 1877 and 1880, Walter’s father acquired 126 acres along the Middle Turnpike—today’s Route 7—extending from today’s Spring Hill Road to the west past today’s… Continue reading
Bessie D. Rice was associated with the Clarke School for at least five years in the early 20th Century, judging from various references in the Fairfax Herald. She was placing children on the honor roll in 1906 and, as principal, tasking students in 1909. A 1912 letter to the editor noted… Continue reading
Other than a brief period of appearances in school board minutes and local newspapers, Nannie Jones remains a mystery. The challenge with “Jones” as a commonly occurring last name isn’t a surprise, of course. But I hadn’t realized how frequently “Nannie” was used as name or nickname 100-125 years ago…. Continue reading
Clarice V. Haines was born in 1894 to Robert D. Haines, a farmer, and his wife, Rosa May Jerman Haines, according to the 1900 census and the Mellott and Haines Family Tree on Ancestry.com. The family probably lived in the Jermantown area, judging from Fairfax County property records. Clarice was the… Continue reading
Sybel May Grant was born in 1883 in Warren County, Virginia, according to the Virginia birth register. Her parents were James F. Grant, a farmer, and Anna Matilda Bard Grant. On her mother’s side Sybel was a descendant of veterans of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. She had… Continue reading
Grace Berry was born in January 1879, according to the 1900 census. Her parents were members of two families that have a big presence in Vienna-area history, the Berrys and the Gunnells. Grace was the second youngest of nine children for her parents, J. Owen Berry and Mary Josephine Gunnell, according… Continue reading
Henrietta S. Adams was born in 1902 to R.L Adams and Lettie Adams. Gertie Adams was Henrietta’s older sister, and Beulah and Florence Adams were cousins; all had confirmed relationships with the Clarke School. Henrietta completed four years of high school, according to the 1940 census. She continued to live with… Continue reading
Ruth O. Young was born in 1891 to William F. Young, a carpenter, and his wife, Sina Victoria Collins Young. Ruth was the oldest of their three children. She was born in Virginia, according to census information. This may have been at the residence of her paternal grandparents, who lived… Continue reading