Jesse and Hettie

Jesse Booker Rusmisel and Hettie Elizabeth Jordan were married in Staunton, Augusta, VA 27 Aug 1902:

Marriage License of Jessie B. Rusmisel and Hettie E. Jordan
Date of Marriage: August 27, 1902 Place of Marriage: Staunton, Virginia
Husband Wife
Name: Jesse B. Rusmisel Hettie E. Jordan
Race: White White
Age: 24 26
Single, widowed, or divorced: Single Single
Birthplace: Highland County, Virginia Bath County, Virginia
Parents: Jno. H. and Eliz Rusmisel Jno. H. and Maggie Jordan
Occupation: Farmer
Ceremony performed by Wm. M. Scott
Reported by: not listed
Clerk of Circuit Court, Bath Co. Virginia, Line 26

According to his daughter Letha, Jesse had stayed at home to look after his parents. Hettie was a "nurse."  Letha (Rusmisel) McVeigh said that when he and Hettie were married he was a caretaker at a hunting club named the Pimrod Inn [sic--should be Nimrod Hall] on the Cow Pasture River and she was a nurse at a hospital in Staunton. A Rusmisel Cousin, Rick Armstrong, who has done a lot of research, found a reference to him being there in Sep 1905.  [Rick says, "The place is Nimrod Hall. In the early part of the 1900's the place was a hotel and later a summer camp for children. The old buildings are still there and seem to be in fairly good repair."- Dec. 3, 2002]

They moved to Clifton Forge around that time since Chertsey was supposedly born there 12 April 1905.  After the death of her husband, Jesse's mother Elizabeth E. Rusmisel remained on the farm. At some point, she deeded her property to her son, J. B. Rusmisel, with the understanding that he would pay her burial expenses and other debts. She later became dissatisfied, and asked for the property to be returned. J. B. Rusmisel had not recorded the deed and complied with her wish. He stated in September 1905 that his brother Harrison Rusmisel had gotten her dissatisfied and convinced her to give the property to his wife, Mary C. Rusmisel. Maybe his mother didn't like him marrying Hettie.
According to daughter Letha, between 1903 and 1905 they moved to Clifton Forge. Jesse was working as a railroad mechanic in shop repairs. Chertsey Brooks Rusmisel was born Apr 12, 1905 when they were living on Church Street and was named after a nurse who worked with Hettie. About 1907 John Rusmisel was born, but he only lived a few hours. On Feb 19, 1909 Maude Moore Rusmisel was born on Hospital Hill and was named by Hettie's father John Jordan. All of the children were baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Clifton Forge. Jesse was Lutheran until his marriage, but Hettie was Presbyterian, so they went to the Presbyterian Church. Hettie became ill with "TB or Black Lung." The children stayed a while in Millboro with their grandparents Jordan for a while, then later Hettie put them in the Presbyterian Orphanage in Lynchburg. Hettie died in Clifton Forge and was buried in Staunton.

In Clifton Forge, Jesse may have worked in the coal mines according to Letha. He was also a mechanic in shop repairs and "car repair" on the railroad (1910 Census). Hettie's death certificate (1913) says he was a "House mftr, contractor and carpenter." Hettie's death certificate says she died of tuberculosis.

Certificate of Death, Hettie Rusmiselle
Place of Death: Alleghany Co., State of Virginia
Bureau of vital Statistics file No. 27956
City of Clifton Forge
Full name: Hettie Rusmiselle
Sex: Female, Race: white, Married
Date of Birth: 1865, Age: 38
Occupation: House Mfr
Birthplace: VA
Name of Father: John H. Jordan
Birthplace of Father: VA
Name of Mother: Margrette Brooks
Birthplace of Mother: VA
The above is true to the best of my Knowledge: J Rusmiselle
Address: Clifton Forge, VA
Medical Certificate of Death:
Date of Death: Nov. 23, 1913
I hereby Certify, that I attended the deceased from Nov. [20?], 1913 to Nov. 23, 1913, that I last saw her alive on Nov. 23, 1913, and that death occurred , on the date stated above, at 12-5 am, cause of death was as follows: Tuberculosis (Pulmonary). Signed: B.B. McCutcheon, MD Nov. 23, 1913, Address: Clifton Forge, VA
Place of Burial or Removal: Millboro, VA
Date of Burial: Nov. 24, 1913
Undertaker: [illegible] address: Clifton Forge, VA
Filed: Dec. Rept. Local Registrar: W. M. Revercomb?

After Hettie's death the girls were in the Orphanage in Lynchburg, VA and Jesse went to Charleston to work in the shipyards. Letha said it was cold and awful like in the book Jane Eyre [but other sources say it is actually quite nice--it is still there]. She said they had single beds but would sleep together to keep warm. They were there for about 6 years, when Letha was about 11 to 16.


Letha left the orphanage first about 1919 and went to Charleston. There she worked as a messenger and then as a file clerk. Maude and Chertsey went to Ohio to stay with Hettie's sister Carrie Jordan, who had married Joe Pearce. Chertsey met Floyd Carswell  and they were married. Maude came to Charleston.

Letha said that during World War I the spelling of the name was changed to make it less German sounding--from Rusmisel to Rusmiselle. They told people it was a French name.
Letha met Norman McVeigh in Charleston, SC, when he was stationed there during World War I. They met while dancing. He had been dating Chertsey and Letha was dating a doctor. Chertsey had a temper and the doctor was too jealous. Letha was working at the Ferscott Store, a ready-to-wear. John, Henry, and Norman McVeigh were all in the Navy together. Their sister Ora had come to Charleston to visit so Letha had also met her. Letha and Norman went for a vacation to Waynesville, GA to meet the rest of the McVeighs. Letha was 18. They were married at First Methodist Church in Brunswick, July 23, 1921.

About 1920 (after the Census on Jan. 22) Jesse married a widow, Jeanne Drucilla "Jennie"  (Oxner) Harmon, who had a child named Mary Ellaphine Harmon. 
After the war Jesse went to live in Ohio near his daughter Chertsey where he worked as a contractor and a carpenter. He also worked as a contractor in SC and GA. He came to stay with Norman and Letha McVeigh in Waynesville because he couldn't get work. Jennie and Elophine came, too. They also stayed in Charleston and Lexington, SC, where Ginnie's folks lived. Jesse and Norman McVeigh built the first McVeigh store in Waynesville.

Jesse died 30 Jan. 1942 in Waynesville in an accident with a gun.  He is buried at Highsmith Cemetery in Waynesville. Jeanne Oxner Rusmisel  died 8 Jan. 1985 in a Claxton, GA nursing home. She is buried in St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lexington, SC.  

The Reported Difficulty at Kingstree (SC, 1866)

Newspaper article from The Anderson Intelligencer, Feb. 1, 1866, from the Library of Congress website :

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026965/1866-02-01/ed-1/seq-4/

Transcribed by Teresa McVeigh 26 April 2012:

The Reported Difficulty at Kingstree

From the Charleston Courier

Messrs. Editors: In your issue yesterday you made a brief editorial reference to an alleged difficulty with a freedman at Kingstree, S.C., and say that you received your information from an exchange. That exchange has received erroneous information, and he has therefore deceived you and your readers. As the report in the present shape is calculated to do injustice to the citizens of Kingstree, and to the gentlemen who were connected with the affair which I have no doubt gave origin the report in its present shape, as a citizen of Kingstree, and as one intimately acquainted with the facts of the case, I propose to give you a succinct and truthful account of the difficulty, that justice may be done all concerned.

On the evening of 21st November last [1865]. Mrs. Sarah Hanna, a widow lady and residing about fifteen miles northeast from Kingstree, intending on spending the night with her mother, also a widow and a few miles distant, left her keys and the entire charge of her plantation in the hands of Dick Singletary and Levenia Hanna, both freed laborers residing on the place. In the course of the night, the two negroes, combining and confederating with many others, both of this plantation and others adjacent, entered Mrs. Hanna's dwelling and proceeded to have a regular frolic. A large supper was furnished out of Mrs. Hanna's provisions, and one or two hogs killed for the purpose. Whiskey was also sent after to Graham's Cross Roads, a distance of some six miles, two or three times during the night, and Dick Singletary was the party sent, riding the mule, the property of Mrs. Hanna. After being fully glutted on the good things of Mrs. H's storehouse, and after imbibing to their hearts' content of the Whiskey obtained, they next proceeded to divide out amongst themselves every article of furniture, crockery, &c., in the house, except one bed and a few old chairs. In this bed several took lodging for the remainder of the night. Attending the frolic, there were also two or more white men.

Mrs. Hanna returned the next morning, and found her house in the condition of a hog pen--dirt and filth of almost every kind over the floor, and upon the clothing of the remaining bed. Riot, pillage, and plunder seemed to have reigned supreme, and the house was gutted of its contents. Mrs. Hanna now sent for her brother, Mr. Trisvan Eaddy, and other neighbors, who arrived in the course of the day. Search was made at once amongst the negro quarters, and most of the missing articles found in their possession, but in such damaged condition as to be almost worthless. Search was continued at the neighboring plantations till the evening of the 24th, when, despairing of finding the articles still missing, Dick Singletary, Lavinia Hanna, and Norris Gaskins (also a freedman,) were arrested and taken to the plantation of Mrs. Eaddy (Mrs. H's mother,) and kept under guard until the next morning. Two white men were arrested as implicated, and were similarly guarded. Some eighteen or twenty gentlemen were present, comprising some of the most intelligent and respectable people of the neighborhood, and they now took counsel together as to how to dispose of their prisoners. It was unanimously agreed that the white men should be taken to Kingstree jail, and that the negroes should be mercifully punished at once. Accordingly they were lightly punished with a stirrup leather strap, but no gagging was inflicted, nor was any blood drawn or any skin broken. Not long afterwards some or all of these freedmen reported the matter to some of the military authorities in Charleston, when orders were sent to the commanding officer of the post here to have the parties implicated arrested preparatory to a trial.

They were accordingly arrested about the last of December or first of the present month, but no court being ready for their trial, they were allowed by the gentlemanly commanding officer of the post to return to their homes on parole, to appear at such time as they might be notified of the organization of a Military Commission. The Commission was convened on the 8th instance, and every man summoned to attend promptly appeared. The trial now commenced, of such only as actually participated in the infliction of the punishment, each being represented by counsel and tried separately. As each case was disposed of, the defendant was sent for safe keeping to the headquarters at Darlington. The trial was concluded on the 11th instant. Various exceptions were taken by counsel as to the mode of conducting the trial pursued by the court. Also as to the exclusion of proper testimony, and had been laid before the proper reviewing authority, and suffice it to say that the action of the Court of the court in the matters disposed of has been disapproved, and a new trial allowed.

This is a brief but full account of the reported difficulty at Kingstree.

The exchange from which you made your extract will please copy.

S.A.M.

Kingstree, S.C., January 18, 1866

Note: Concerns Trisvan Eaddy, his sister Sarah (Eaddy) Hanna (widow of John Hanna, who later married William Henry Singletary), and their mother Elizabeth Singletary Eaddy (wife of John D Eaddy).

John Irvine Rusmisel Military Record (1861-1864)

John Irvine Rusmisel

John Irvine Rusmisel
Residence Highland County VA; a 26 year-old Laborer. Enlisted on 6/11/1861 at Hevener's Store, VA as a Private.

On 6/11/1861 he mustered into "F" Co. VA 25th Infantry (date and method of discharge not given) He was listed as: * On rolls 7/1/1861 (place not stated)

 * Detailed 9/25/1861 (place not stated) * Returned 10/31/1861 (place not stated) (Estimated day)

 * On rolls 4/30/1862 (place not stated) * Detailed 8/28/1862 Niter & Mining Bureau (Detailed by John Hiner, a contractor) * Detail denied 8/29/1862 (place not stated)

 * On rolls 2/28/1863 (place not stated) * On rolls 11/30/1863 (place not stated)

* POW 5/5/1864 Wilderness, VA * Confined 5/9/1864 Belle Plain, VA * Confined 5/17/1864 Point Lookout, MD

 * Confined 8/14/1864 Elmira, NY * Oath Allegiance 6/27/1865 Elmira, NY (Released)

Promotions: * 4th Corpl 12/13/1861 * 2nd Sergt 4/30/1862 (Estimated day)

   He was described at enlistment as: 5' 6.0", florid complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair Other Information: born 12/8/1834 in Augusta County, VA died 8/21/1900 in Green Valley, Bath County, VA Buried: Green Valley Cem., Bath County, VA (Postwar farmer) After the War he lived in Bath County,

VA Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.: - The Virginia Regimental Histories Series (c) Historical Data Systems, Inc. @ www.civilwardata.com   

beccawilliamson1originally submitted this to Rusmisel Family Tree on 23 Mar 2010 on Ancestry.com       

Sarah Susannah "Anna" SPORTS EADDY HANNA Obituary

Obituary Anna Hanna, Florence Morning News, Mon. May 12, 1975, p. 2A, on-line on Ancestry.com:

Deaths and Funerals

Mrs. Anna Hanna

Mrs. Anna Sports Eaddy Hanna, a resident of Honorage Nursing Home for the past twelve years, Sunday in a Florence hospital.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 4 pm in the chapel of Stoudenmeyer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Lee Cemetery.
Mrs. Hanna, 88, was born in Florence County, a daughter of the late Joseph E. and Arelia Taylor Sports. She was married twice and was the widow of James Henry Eaddy and WT Hanna. Mrs. Hanna was a lifelong resident of Florence County and was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church.
Surviving are two sons, Dewey Eaddy of Pamplico and John Wesley Eaddy of Sumter; two daughters, Mrs. Hilma Holland and Mrs. Jowindal McBride, both of Charleston; a brother, Dudley Sports of Georgetown; three sisters, Mrs. Lena Bryant of Andrews, Mrs. Manye [Mamye] Windham of Walterboro, and Mrs. Linnie Jeffords of Brunswick, GA; 27 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great grandchildren.
The family will be at the residence of Mrs. Edaphell H Gibbs, 1207 E. Lakewood Ave.

Joel Capers EADDY death

Joel Capers EADDY, son James Henry and Sarah Susannah "Anna" (SPORTS) EADDY, died on the eve of his wedding. My mother says he had gone to Florence to buy Christmas presents. A cousin said he had gone to pick up the wedding dress. His car was found overturned near Pamplico, SC.

Obituary, Florence Morning News, Sunday, Dec. 27, 1936:

Joel T. Eaddy Buried on Eve of Wedding Day

Christmas brought sadness instead of joy to a certain young lady of Florence county as she laid aside her white wedding dress for one of somber black.
Joel T. Eaddy the expected bridegroom was found dead in an overturned automobile near Pamplico Wednesday night and laid to rest in old Lee Cemetery near Johnsonville on Christmas Eve and on the eve of the day set for his wedding.
Joel was only 23 years of age at the time of his tragic death and those who knew him best were earnest in their praise of his many sterling qualities.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Eaddy of Johnsonville. Three brothers and three sisters also survive, and are as follows. Dewey, David, and John Wesley Eaddy, Mrs. Hilma Holland, Mrs. Theodosia Hyman and Miss Jowindel Eaddy. They with the heartbroken bride-to-be and a host of friends mourned his passing.

Joel Capers Eaddy grave, Lee Cemetery, Pamplico, Florence, SC

Elizabeth "Bessie" (SPORTS) MORRIS Obituary

Georgetown Times, March 4, 1971:

Mrs. Elizabeth Sports Morris, widow of John M. Morris, died Friday in the Georgetown County Memorial Hospital. She had been in failing health for several years and seriously ill for the past two months.

Funeral services were Sunday afternoon in the Elim Methodist Church. Officiating were the Rev. James Crowe and the Rev. Woodrow Smith. Burial followed in the churchyard under the direction of Mayer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Morris was born in Marion County on January 27, 1896, a daughter of the late Joseph E. Sports and the late Aralia Taylor Sports. She had lived most of her life in the Bloomingvale section of Williamsburg County and was a member of Elim Methodist Church and of the Women's Society of Christian Service of the Church. Recently she had made her home in Georgetown with her son.

Survivors include sons Maylon Morris, Eddie Morris, and Bobby Joe Morris, all of Andrews, Ollie Morris of Georgetown, and Laurie Morris of Hemingway; two daughters, Mrs. Lydia Gambone of Torrance, California, and Mrs. Leola Altman of Georgetown; two step-sons, John Seva Morris and William James Morris, both of Andrews; a brother, Dudley D. Sports of Georgetown; five sisters, Mrs. Anna Hanna of Florence, Mrs. Isla Crosby and Mrs. Mayme Windham, both of Walterboro, Mrs. Lena Bryan of Andrews, and Mrs. Linnie Jeffords of Brunswick, Ga.; sixteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Obituary of John Marion Morris

Georgetown Times, Friday, Nov 6, 1958:

John Marion Morris, 74, retired farmer of the Elim section of Williamsburg County, died Tuesday, Oct 28, 1958, at the home of his son, Ollie Morris, 2427 Poplar St., in Maryville.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday in Elim Methodist Church, the Pastor, the Rev. R. T. Farmer, and the Rev. W. G. Newman, pastor of Wayne Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery, directed by Mayer Funeral Home.

Mr. Morris was born September 6, 1884, in the Elim Section of Williamsburg County, a son of the late Billy and Sallie Smith Morris. He attended schools of that area and engaged in farming there until his health began to fail about eight years ago. He had also worked as a guard for the Williamsburg Chaingang for a number of years. He was a member of Elim Methodist Church.

Mr. Morris was twice married, his first wife, the former Miss Mary Evans, having died a number of years ago.

Surviving are his widow, the former Miss Bessie Sports; eight sons, Seva Morris, William Morris, Eddie Morris, and Bobby Morris, all of Andrews; Marion Morris, Pine Bluff, Ark., Maylon Morris, Florence; Ollie Morris, Georgetown, and Laurie Morris, Hemingway; two daughters, Mrs. Lydia Altman, Torrance, Calif., and Mrs. Richard Altman, Georgetown; eight grandchildren; a brother, J. T. Morris, Andrews; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Thompson, Lancaster, and Mrs. Maybelle Williams, Charleston; and a number of nieces and nephews.