A Legacy of Perseverance: William Jess Oakes

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representation of cotton mill about 1900

When I'm having a bad day, sometimes it helps to stop and think about my ancestors and their struggles just to survive. Today, I was thinking specifically about William Jess Oakes, my great-granduncle. One of his census records has really stuck with me. Born approx. March 1, 1852 (there's some discrepancy on the year, but this seems to fit best with the age of his mother) in Georgia, he certainly didn't have it easy.

As the eldest of 7 children, his family probably depended on him when he was young. His father worked as a farm laborer and likely put in a lot of hours for not a lot of pay. At the time of the 1870 census, William could not read or write and was living at home. By the 1880 census, he was shown as being a servant in the household of William H Head (relationship unknown) in Trickum, Georgia - not far from where he grew up in Tunnel Hill, both in Whitfield County. Part of me wonders if this was his attempt to be independent, or if there simply wasn't enough room and/or money in the home of his parents. Either way, being a servant wasn't a luxurious life. He probably earned little more than room and board. 

In 1881, he married Elizabeth (Bettie) Bell and they started their life together. On an 1890 property tax digest, the aggregate value of all of his property was a mere $65.00. It really hits home - he had a wife and at least 6 children by this time (I don't know the dates of birth/death for 2 children who died prior to 1900). To put it in perspective, $65 in 1890 is about $2,217 today. I can't even imagine!

By 1900, he was still married, living in Trion, Chattooga, Georgia, with a growing family of his own. In the 19 years since his marriage, William and Bettie had 14 children, 12 of whom were living at the time of the census. The children ranged in age from 18 years down to 5 months old. All 14 family members lived in a rented house. By this time, William was shown as being able to read and write, although none of his children were attending school, and none of them could read or write.

It certainly makes sense why the children weren't receiving an education...they were busy working in a cotton mill! The 6 oldest children worked as spinners and oilers in the mill. William was listed as a weaver (also in the cotton mill) but was shown as being unemployed for 12 months. So, in all likelihood, it was the children supporting the family. When I first worked with this census record, I was really touched by how young the children were to be laboring in the likely awful working conditions in a mill. It was a dangerous job. Certainly, I was aware this was a relatively common practice - child labor was cheap and plentiful - but somehow it really struck home when I saw it in my own maternal line. 

I often wonder why William was unemployed. Did the factory just want to use the cheaper child labor? Did he have some kind of medical issue? Did he have trouble holding a job? Unfortunately, no records I've found give any clue to the goings on in his life at this point. But I'd imagine there was immense pressure on him with 14 mouths to feed.

1900 census

By 1910 the family had moved to Coldwater, Georgia - a considerable distance away. Here William was a farm laborer living with his wife, 8 of his children, plus 2 of his grandchildren. All but his wife and the grandchildren were working as farm laborers. In 1920, we find William and his daughter (along with her 2 children) still living on a rented farm, this time in State Line, Georgia. Interestingly, he's shown as widowed, but his wife didn't actually pass away until early 1924. We find Bettie living instead with one of her sons, 2 of her daughters and their children in Cave Springs, Georgia. She's also listed as widowed. Certainly not conclusive, but it appears their marriage may have been going through some struggles. Had she just been visiting at the time, I wouldn't have expected them both to be listed as widowed. Although William and his daughter did move at least 2 more times while residing in Rome, Georgia, he continued to live with her throughout the 1930's (working as a farmer) and into 1940.

Bettie's death certificate shows she died as a result of acute dilation of the heart and nephritis (a kidney issue) in March 1924. A copy of her funeral record shows she died in her residence, but there's no indication she was living with William at the time, even though she was listed as married. I've been unable to determine who she may have been living with, as the address on the funeral record doesn't  match anything I've found on censuses for any of her children in 1920 or 1930. But certainly it appears it was a family divided.

William passed away on July 16, 1941 after a long illness. Based on records I've found, he never owned his own home or farm. He relocated his family frequently. He probably struggled his whole life to support his family's basic needs, working well into his 70's. He persevered in the face of adversity. Thanks in part to his numerous children, his obituary showed he had 67 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren surviving him. 

Despite the struggles he faced, it's quite a legacy (and a LOT of people for me to find and place in my tree). So, when I'm thinking how hard my life is - I stop and remember William Jess Oakes, his children...and the cotton mill. Comparatively, my life is a cake walk. Despite being sparse on details, William's life helps me remain thankful for all I have and how fortunate I am.