The West Family Line - The Children of Thomas

Thomas West

My 3 times Great Grandfather

The Story Continues

Franklin P. West

Frank was born in January 1851.

After the Civil War the children of Thomas had to live without their father. They began to build their own families.

In the 1870 Federal Census Frank is living with his brother Fleming and is 18 years old.

Frank married Rhoda Knott in Oct 22 1879 as we see from the article in The Torchlight newspaper of Oxford, Granville County. Frank was 28 years old and Rhoda was 24 years old.

From the 1880 Census we learn the following:

Frank age 28 and his wife Rhoda age 25 were living with her mother Mary J. Knott.

The Federal Census for 1890 was destroyed. There is a 20-year gap that makes some details hard to pinpoint.

Sometime before 1890 Rhoda West passed away.

From the 1900 Federal Census we discover the following:

Frank and his wife Bettie are living in Walnut Grove, Granville County. Frank’s age is given as 52 and Bettie is 44 years old. They have been married for eight years. There have been no pregnancies.  However, Frank’s children from his earlier marriage are living with them.

Another contradiction: I found the marriage record for Frank and Elizabeth Owens listed as 13 Sep 1891.

In the 1910 Federal Census we discover this information:

Frank and his wife Bettie are living in Walnut Grove, Granville County. Frank is 57 years old and Bettie is 54. They are living next door to Bettie’s mother, Bettie Owens, who is living with her son Alfred Owens.

Frank and Elizabeth make the newspaper in Oxford:

Oxford Public Ledger Feb 22 1911

Oxford Public Ledger Sat June 7 1913

In 1914 Frank’s wife Elizabeth Owen West passed away on July 1, 1914. Elizabeth is buried in the cemetery at Hester Baptist Church in Oxford.  

Oxford Public Ledger Jul 4 1914

Following her death, Frank marries Martha Ann West. I believe her parents were James William West and Mary E. Newton. This marriage took place on 24 Aug 1914, less than 2 months after Elizabeth’s death.

The 1920 Federal Census provides the following information:

Frank and Martha are living in Walnut Grove, Granville County. Frank is 68 and Martha is 45 years old.

The 1930 Federal Census has the following information:

Frank and Martha are still in Walnut Grove, Granville County. Frank is 79 and Martha is 60.

Frank passed away on February 27, 1931 in Tally Ho, Granville County. His birth year is listed as 1851.  His cause of death was pneumonia. He is buried in the cemetery at Hester Church.

Martha Ann passed away 24 Aug 1948 and is buried at Mountain Creek Baptist Church. 

Tomorrow's post will be about another child of Thomas West.

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie