52 Ancestors Week 8: Naturally Kindhearted~William Mcmanus

Good Deeds is the topic for Week 8 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2015 Edition.
       Researching my maternal Great Great Grandfather, William A. McManus (1854-1914) has lead me to believe that he was a generous, kind man.
 Not much is known at this time about William's parents or where he grew up except for census records recording his birth place as South Carolina. 
 According to Bible records and a newspaper account, W.A. McManus, as he is often listed in records, married Francis "Fannie" Virginia McRady (1856-1903) on 11 Dec. 1872 in Sumter County, South Carolina.

     William McManus was a farmer and lived with his wife and children in the Spring Hill area of Sumter (now Lee) County, South Carolina. 
      Family lore says that his daughter, my maternal Great Grandmother, Loretta "Etta" (McManus) Daughrity (1894-1936) was adopted by the McManus family after she had been abandoned as a baby. Records of an adoption have not been found but along with her 1912 marriage licence is a hand written note from her father, W.A. McManus, giving permission for Etta Daughrity, his under aged,"adopted daughter" to be married. 

Bessie
adopted daughter of W.A. & Fannie McManus
Pisgah Church Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina

        After visiting the family cemetery a second adopted daughter was discovered . Bessie McManus (1887-1892), shown on her headstone as "adopted daughter" was only 4 years old when she died and had not been recorded in the family Bible. 
    Two adopted daughters. I wanted to find out the story if I could. My grandmother, Azile Juanita (Daughrity) Roberts Sullivan (1921-2009) the youngest of  the five Daughrity sisters, did not remember much about the McManus family, so I talked to her oldest sister Mildred  Chrystanella (Daughrity) Jolly Finfrock (1919-2006) to see if she may have remembered any stories about her maternal grandparents and what if any thing she may have known about the adoptions. All she could tell me was that "They were just good and would take people in ".
  

    From W.A. McManus' obituary in the Camden Chronicle, Camden, Kershaw, South Carolina, 25 Sept. 1914 comes another clue about the nature of my Great Great Grandfather.

Pisgah, Sept. 15--- Mr. W. A. McManus was buried at
Pisgah church yesterday, after services by Rev. T. L. Cole.
He lived here for many years, but died in Bishopville, where
he had been living for sometime. He did his share toward his 
fellowman, and many graves he dug without money or without 
price. Naturally kindhearted, he had many friends and relatives
who sorrow that he is no more. Peace to his ashes.

Headstone of W.A. McManus
Pisgah Church Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina

Naturally Kindhearted. One who did Good Deeds. A great Legacy.

Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people.
Thanks so much for stopping by!

This Week On My Family History Calendar

Nov.9-Nov.15

Nov. 14~
    My maternal Great Great Grandmother, Francis Virginia McCrady McManus (1856-2903), died at the age of 47 in Sumter County, South Carolina 114 years ago. Fannie is buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, South Carolina.


Are we kin? Please contact me. Together we can find our people!








    

Celebrating Women's History Month: Death By Suspicious Circumstances?

Blog Prompt 11 From Lisa Also at The Accidental Genealogist

Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?

Buried in Pisgah Cemetery, Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, SC are my Great Grandmother's Sister and Brother in Law.
  The headstones of Effie Vida Mcmanus Burkett and her husband William J. Burkett  lead me to wonder what happened to this couple and what caused their deaths just a day apart.
  

Effie Vivda Burkett (1882-1896)
Headstone, Pisgah Cemetery
Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter, SC
© Cheri Hudson Passey

Willie J. Burkett (1872-1896)
Headstone, Pisgah Cemetery
 Pisgah Crossroads, Sumter,SC
© Cheri Hudson Passey

 

          
A Search of Chronicling America gave me new insights on the untimely deaths of this young couple.   

                                                                     

        Death Announcement from the Sumter Watchman and Southron January 29, 1986 pg.5
  
                                                                    Deaths
 Mrs. W.J. Burkett died on Friday evening last, at her home near Pisgah, this county, and on the following evening her husband, Mr. W.J. Burkett died. They had both been ill several weeks ago, and were just able to sit up when they contracted measles from another member of the family. In their weakened condition they succumbed to the disease after an illness of about one week.
 Their death was particularly sad, as they were both young and had been married but a few weeks. Mr. Burkett was the only son of Mr. J.H. Burkett and was but 22 years old. Mrs. Burkett was the only daughter of Mr. W.A. McManus, of Spring Hill, and had but recently reached her fourteenth year


This also from the same edition of the paper:

The Watchman and Southron, Jan.29, 1896, page 3


Sad Deaths
 Pisgah, SC Jan. 28, 1896.
 Mr. Willie Burket and his wife, of this place, are dead. One was buried Saturday afternoon, and the other Sunday afternoon, at Pisgah Church, after services by the Pastor, Rev. J. R. Smith. This is indeed a sad case. The were married about the middle of last December and a short time afterwards both of them took sick with something like fits. They had gotten some better of this when they took measles, which resulted in congestion of the brain, and death ensued.
The sympathy of the entire neighborhood has gone out to the afflicted parents of the untimely deceased young couple.
                                                  J.E.D.

 What a sad story! They were newly weds, she only 13 when they married. I am sure their families were happy to have them getting well from their previous illness and devastated to have them then catch the measles and die.
 Willie was his parents only son, and at the time, Effie was the McManus' only daughter. My Great Grandmother Loretta McManus never knew her sister.

 Even though it happened over 100 years ago I felt so bad for their families- imagining all that they went through after the deaths of their beloved children. It was bad enough reading about the tragic deaths, but then I found more:

Sumter Watchman and Southron 5 February 1896, page 4

                                           The Deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Burkett

  The subjoined statements concerning the untimely deaths of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Burkett are published with pleasure. We would state, in this  correction, however that we have " insinuated" nothing, as Mr. McManus charges, but published what seemed to be a well authenticated rumor. We stated distinctly that "it is reported" that they died "under very suspicious circumstances". We do not seem it proper to go in to details in a newspaper concerning these reports, but will very readily give Mr .McManus or anyone else interested our authority, whenever demanded privately.
 We sympathize very much with Mr. McManus in his sad affliction, and a hope that his statement together with that made Mr. J.E. Dupre will put a "quietus" to these reports, but from all we've heard it would seem that an investigation is eminently in order. It will be observed that Mr. Dupre is silent, whether intentionally or not, as to what their first sickness was and what brought it on. 
 If the reports are not true, and no attempt has been made to shield a criminal then a great injustice has been done to the deceased couple and their families, and for the sake of all parties concerned we hope there is no foundation for the damaging rumors.
 The following are the statements referred to:

 I noticed in your paper on January 26 an article insinuating that my daughter and her husband, W.J. Burkett were poisoned. I would like to know what authority you have for such a statement. 
They had been sick nearly three weeks with nervous disorders, from which they were recovering when they contracted measles and finally congestion of the brain, which proved fatal. Your article is absolutely without foundation, as they had had the best medical attention through their entire illness  I would like to know who your informant accuses of administering the "overdose of a dangerous drug". Please publish this correction and oblige.
    Yours etc. W.A. McManus

The deaths of Mr.and Mrs. W.J. Burkett, of this place who died here recently were caused from measles. Their first sickness had about been controlled, when in their weakened state, they took measles, which resulted in congestion of the brain, in death ensued in a short time. I have this statement from their attending physician and this should put a quietus upon the many reports about the matter, which to say the least, are very distressing to the parents and relatives of the young couple whose untimely taking off is regretted by all.   Jas. E. DuPre

Pisgah, S.C. Feb. 5, 1896
                                                                                       


 The original article that W.A.McManus refers to from the January 26. 1896 paper has not been found. A search after this date did not find any more information regarding the accusation of the Burkett's being poisoned  No evidence has been uncovered as to an investigation being conducted. Perhaps the joint statements put the issue to rest and the family was able to mourn in peace..


© 2013 Cheri Hudson Passey