So I am looking at the 1910 census for the US and it shows the following information
Head of Household as
Margett Morre age 50 is a black woman
Ben Moore is age 21
Farris Moore is only 16 years old. He is single
Rachel Orr is 30 years old
Percy Russell is 16 years old.
The home town is listed as Columbus Ward 3 in Lowndes County, Mississippi
This is really confusing because my grandfather is Farris, but the question is what was his real name? Was his name Moore or Moone or Morre. The dates of birth and household names all align.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
First Black Man to Own A Store
So I am not sure what the real story or the real legend is. I have always been told that my great grandfather was the first black man to own his own store. In an earlier post I talked about the conversation that I had with the old woman who remembered the story. The conversation that I had with her was in 2009. When I started tracing my family history again in 2012, she was already deceased. Instead, I spoke with her daughter who was in her seventies. I asked her if she remembered the story that her mom told me. She indicated that when she was growing up she remembered hearing talk of the first black man who owned his own phone. She told the same story of how he called down to the store on Military and asked for someone to bring him some food. He was calling from his own home from his own phone. He lived on a railroad. Now according to this woman, he sort of disappeared after that incident. No one really knew what happened to him because they didn't see him at the store anymore. According to her, the store was owned by White people and he simply worked in the store as a meat cutter. She thinks it was in the early fifties. Now, by this time, he was no longer the owner of the other store, but he was working at Dowdle and Moss Grocery in the meat department. So perhaps this is when she knew him. After 1952, he is no longer listed in the city directories. And by 1957 his wife is a widow. So what happened to Farris Moore?
If anyone has ever heard of this story please leave me a comment.
If anyone has ever heard of this story please leave me a comment.
Military Rd (Military Road)
This is the address of the old store that my great grandfather supposedly owned. I am still trying to find out more information. The little store still sits in the same place at 1108 Military Road in Columbus, Mississippi. It is not being used right now. I don't think it has been used for a very long time. But, it looks like the building is still being maintained.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Susie Moore from Columbus, Mississippi
I am looking for the family of Susan Moore aka Susie Moore. Susan Moore was married to a man named Farris Moore in Columbus, Mississippi.
Blacks in Mississippi (1930's)
I was just making rough calls when I was directed to call a woman who might have been related to Farris Moore. The first person that I spoke with was a woman in her 60's who told me that she remembered hearing of a story about the Black man who owned his own grocery store. She told me that I needed to talk to her mother, but she would not give me the phone number. So, I called her brother, who gladly put me in touch with the old woman.The brother who was also up in age told me that it would seem very far fetched for an African American man to own his own store in Mississippi in the 1930's and 1940's. I told him that I thought it to be odd too.
Anyway, I called a woman named Eleanor, and I told her what I was looking for. She said that she remembered hearing talk of someone named "Forrest". I said, but his name is pronounced Farris.....like the state fair. She said that they ( black folks) pronounced it Forrest. I realized at that point that I probably was doing myself a huge disservice, by pronouncing it Farris because no one in that age group would know who I was speaking about.
Anway, she told me that she heard the story about a man named Farris who had a grocery store up on Military....Military Rd. that is. The conversation continued this way:
the old woman: Did he run the sto?
me: He owned the store.
the old woman: I know you say he owned it, but did he run it.
I knew then, that this woman knew exactly the story that I was speaking of. My heart started racing as I felt that I was getting closer to some info about this man. In any event, I told her that I didn't know if he ran the store. But, that I was told that he owned it. She continued:
"Well, when I was a little girl, my mother and the old folks would tell the story of the first Black man who owned his own sto and his one telephone in Columbus. It was a bit of a joke. They say the Black man decided he would call down to the sto on Military and ask for them to bring him some t'eat. And the White people told him what he better do, and the man was calling from his own house talking on his own phone."
She told me that was all that she knew, but I had the feeling that she knew more. I asked her if it was ok for me to call her again sometime to see if she remembered anything else about the old tale. She said it was fine. But, I didn't call back until 2012. By then, her daughter told me that she was deceased.
Anyway, I called a woman named Eleanor, and I told her what I was looking for. She said that she remembered hearing talk of someone named "Forrest". I said, but his name is pronounced Farris.....like the state fair. She said that they ( black folks) pronounced it Forrest. I realized at that point that I probably was doing myself a huge disservice, by pronouncing it Farris because no one in that age group would know who I was speaking about.
Anway, she told me that she heard the story about a man named Farris who had a grocery store up on Military....Military Rd. that is. The conversation continued this way:
the old woman: Did he run the sto?
me: He owned the store.
the old woman: I know you say he owned it, but did he run it.
I knew then, that this woman knew exactly the story that I was speaking of. My heart started racing as I felt that I was getting closer to some info about this man. In any event, I told her that I didn't know if he ran the store. But, that I was told that he owned it. She continued:
"Well, when I was a little girl, my mother and the old folks would tell the story of the first Black man who owned his own sto and his one telephone in Columbus. It was a bit of a joke. They say the Black man decided he would call down to the sto on Military and ask for them to bring him some t'eat. And the White people told him what he better do, and the man was calling from his own house talking on his own phone."
She told me that was all that she knew, but I had the feeling that she knew more. I asked her if it was ok for me to call her again sometime to see if she remembered anything else about the old tale. She said it was fine. But, I didn't call back until 2012. By then, her daughter told me that she was deceased.
Mississippi Records Search
Tools to Use
Phone directories go back to the year 1905.
Property tax rolls and deeds go back to 1940's
Check the Chacery Clerk's Office at the courthouse.
Missing City Directories for Columbus, Mississippi
1947-1952
1952-1957
Nothing before 1931
Not even the State National Archives had records. We also checked the University of Women to see if they had the missing directories to no avail.
The Lowndes County Library only has city directories for the years
1912-1931
1928-1929
1936
1938
1940
1942
1947
1952
1957
1959
1961
Phone directories go back to the year 1905.
Property tax rolls and deeds go back to 1940's
Check the Chacery Clerk's Office at the courthouse.
Missing City Directories for Columbus, Mississippi
1947-1952
1952-1957
Nothing before 1931
Not even the State National Archives had records. We also checked the University of Women to see if they had the missing directories to no avail.
The Lowndes County Library only has city directories for the years
1912-1931
1928-1929
1936
1938
1940
1942
1947
1952
1957
1959
1961
Death Records for Family Tree
We cannot find a death record for him. I was hoping to find some free death records online, but it looks like I am going to have to use Ancestry. I think it is terrible that they have eliminated the Social Security Death index and now you have to pay for it on Ancestry. Ugh. I did find another place that is listing a record for some people named Farris Moore. It looks like the date of birth is correct and the date of death is right around the time that we are looking for. If not, I will see if I can order a record through Vital Statistics.
Books To Help Trace Family History
The librarian suggested some books for me to read to get a feel for the racial climate and way of living.
Suggested Readings
Woman of Color: Daughter of Privilege
Suggested Readings
Woman of Color: Daughter of Privilege
Farris Moone or Farris Morre Family
This census record has different names listed for the same household members. I guess the reason is that the type was not legible. If anyone has any information on the Farris Morre or Farris Moone family please leave a response.
Harris Family Genealogical Record According to the 1900 Census
Now, we think that this Harris family were the parents of my great grandmother. The names are all confused. My great grandmother told my grandfather that his grandfather's name was Johnny Harris? and that his grandmother was Lucy Harris.
The 1900 Census shows the following record:
William Harris and Lucy Harris are the parents of Rosa, Gene, William Harris Jr., and Luella Harris. They are living in Clay, Mississippi, Bt 2
The ages
Rosa age 7
Gene age 4
William Harris jr. age 2
Luella age 11
My grandfather also had an uncle named Johnny Harris. I have searched and searched and find no record of a Johnny Harris in this family. I wonder if the brother Gene's name was somehow incorrectly pronounced Johnny......hmmmm
The 1900 Census shows the following record:
William Harris and Lucy Harris are the parents of Rosa, Gene, William Harris Jr., and Luella Harris. They are living in Clay, Mississippi, Bt 2
The ages
Rosa age 7
Gene age 4
William Harris jr. age 2
Luella age 11
My grandfather also had an uncle named Johnny Harris. I have searched and searched and find no record of a Johnny Harris in this family. I wonder if the brother Gene's name was somehow incorrectly pronounced Johnny......hmmmm
Farris Jr. Family Timeline According to the 1920 Census
Now, Farris Jr. or Farris C. Moore Jr. is the son of Farris Moore.
1893 Farris Moore is born.
There are two entries.
The 1st entry indicates: Farris Moore or Farris Moone is 27 years old and living with a Samie Moone age 24. The household members are Farris Moone Jr age 5 and a Mory Moone age 5. They are living in Columbus Ward 3 in Lowndes County Mississippi.
2nd record indicates: Farris Moore is 27 years old and married to a Fannie Moore age 24. They have two children: Mary Moore age 8 and Farris Jr. age 5.
I believe there is a mistake with the name somehow. The writing on the census many times was not legible, so I am thinking that the person making the document entry was unsure of the spelling.
1931 City Directory
According to the 1931 city directory Farris Moore Jr. is working as a porter at EB Beard adress 611 n 14th. He is listed as colored.
That same year his father Farris Moore is living with his wife Susie Moore at h 709a s 22nd. He is listed as the owner of a grocery at 1108 Military rd Columbus, Mississippi.
According to the 1940 city directory Farris Moore, a colored man, is living at h 709 22nd s. The strange part is he is no longer listed as the owner of a grocery store, but he is working as a butcher at JD Davis Gro.
1947 City Directory
Farris is still married to Susie. He is no longer a proprietor. Instead he is working at Dowdle and Moss Grocery in Columbus, Mississippi.
1952 City Directory
There is no listing for them at all.
1957 City Directory
Susie is listed as a widow. Now, my question is when did Farris die and how?
1893 Farris Moore is born.
1920 ( Census reports the following)
There are two entries.
The 1st entry indicates: Farris Moore or Farris Moone is 27 years old and living with a Samie Moone age 24. The household members are Farris Moone Jr age 5 and a Mory Moone age 5. They are living in Columbus Ward 3 in Lowndes County Mississippi.
2nd record indicates: Farris Moore is 27 years old and married to a Fannie Moore age 24. They have two children: Mary Moore age 8 and Farris Jr. age 5.
I believe there is a mistake with the name somehow. The writing on the census many times was not legible, so I am thinking that the person making the document entry was unsure of the spelling.
1930 Census
Farris Moore age 37 was born abt 1893 and is living with his wife Susie Moore age 42 born abt 1888.1931 City Directory
1930 City Directory
According to the 1931 city directory Farris Moore Jr. is working as a porter at EB Beard adress 611 n 14th. He is listed as colored.
That same year his father Farris Moore is living with his wife Susie Moore at h 709a s 22nd. He is listed as the owner of a grocery at 1108 Military rd Columbus, Mississippi.
1940 US Federal Census
It lists him again living with his wife Susie in Columbus. His date of birth is abt 1898.
1940 City Directory
According to the 1940 city directory Farris Moore, a colored man, is living at h 709 22nd s. The strange part is he is no longer listed as the owner of a grocery store, but he is working as a butcher at JD Davis Gro.
1947 City Directory
Farris is still married to Susie. He is no longer a proprietor. Instead he is working at Dowdle and Moss Grocery in Columbus, Mississippi.
1952 City Directory
There is no listing for them at all.
1957 City Directory
Susie is listed as a widow. Now, my question is when did Farris die and how?
Passing Down Family Stories is Important!
I have had such a hard time pulling information out of my grandfather. Some things he just does not know or remember. It is so important to pass down the family history through stories about the past. An even better idea is to write everything down. I personally enjoy putting it on the net so that everyone can have access to it. Some day...someone is going to know this Farris Moore and finally we will be able to solve the last missing piece to this puzzle.
Looking for My Great Grandfather (Columbus, Mississippi)
I have heard my grandfather talk about hearing stories regarding his father since I was a little girl and I am now 42 years old. My grandfather is in his nineties. He also passed the story to his sons who are now in their seventies.The story is not a detailed one. All we have ever heard is that our great grandfather was the first Black man to own his own store in Columbus, Mississippi. He owned a store in the 1930's and the 1940's which I would think is a huge accomplishment for Columbus, Mississippi during those times.
Not Knowing His Father Really Hurt
He doesn't talk about it much, but whenever my grandfather tells the story of his father there is a certain sadness in his eyes that neither of us really address when we are talking. He has never stated that it hurt him per se, but he always wanted to know his father. His mother, an African American woman also from Columbus, Mississippi, told him that his father's name was Farris Moore, and that he was the first black man to own his own store in Columbus. One day, in the mid 1940's my grandfather traveled to Columbus, Mississippi, to set eyes on his dad for the first time. According to him, he went looking for him in a local store, and someone said to him :
"There ya daddy right ova dare."
He has not really said much about the visit. All he really tells us is that he met his father and that was it. He does go on to tell us that his father was not the owner, but that he was only a worker. He never saw his father again. The year was 1945....he thinks.
Not Knowing His Father Really Hurt
He doesn't talk about it much, but whenever my grandfather tells the story of his father there is a certain sadness in his eyes that neither of us really address when we are talking. He has never stated that it hurt him per se, but he always wanted to know his father. His mother, an African American woman also from Columbus, Mississippi, told him that his father's name was Farris Moore, and that he was the first black man to own his own store in Columbus. One day, in the mid 1940's my grandfather traveled to Columbus, Mississippi, to set eyes on his dad for the first time. According to him, he went looking for him in a local store, and someone said to him :
"There ya daddy right ova dare."
He has not really said much about the visit. All he really tells us is that he met his father and that was it. He does go on to tell us that his father was not the owner, but that he was only a worker. He never saw his father again. The year was 1945....he thinks.
Farris Moore in Columbus, Mississippi
We are looking for information regarding a Farris Moore from Columbus, Mississippi. We don't know his middle name. Only the middle initial is known. Blacks in Mississippi called him Farris C. Moore, but the words were run together so that it sounded more like Farris Seamore. If anyone has information him please send me a message or you can leave a comment.
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