William Byars Ernest1

b. 29 April 1853, d. 15 July 1917
FatherJohn Henry Ernest2,1,3 b. 7 May 1825, d. 3 Mar 1868
MotherAmanda Jane Byars2,1 b. 25 Mar 1823, d. 6 Jul 1904
Birth29 Apr 1853 William Byars Ernest was born on 29 Apr 1853 at Brook Hall in Washington County, Virginia.1 
Marriage23 Oct 1878 He married Fannie S. Mason on 23 Oct 1878 in Washington County. She was the daughter of William Bernard Mason and Mary Isabelle French.2 
Residence  The couple settled at Old Brook Hall, a log house across the road from William's much more elaborate childhood home. Later William built a home nearby and called it "Sunnyside." 
Cens-19001 Jun 1900  In the mid to late 1890s the family moved to Arkansas. The 1900 census enumerated them living in Imboden; William's occupation was listed as "farmer". Fannie was stated to be the mother of 5 children, 4 of whom were living. They were enumerated as: Mary B. (18), Henry M. (16), Julie J. (11) and Helen (5).4 [the couple's first child, daughter Bessie, died in infancy] 
Widowed  Fannie died in 1901.5 
Cens-191016 Apr 1910  By 1910 William had returned to Washington County. In April of that year he was renting a home by himself in Glade Spring and working as a "commercial traveler" in the grocery sales business.6 
Residence  He also spent time living in West Virginia and then in Richmond, Virginia.5 
Death15 Jul 1917 William died on 15 Jul 1917 in Richmond, Virginia, at age 64.5 

Related Links and Images:

The first Brook Hall photographed about 1937. This is where William and Fannie first lived following their marriage. William's mother had inherited the property in 1866 on the death of her father Col. William Byars7
William was born at Brook Hall, his grandfather's home8

Family

Fannie S. Mason b. 1857, d. 6 Oct 1901
Children
  • Bessie Byars Ernest9 (12 Nov 1879 - 23 May 1880)
  • Mary Belle Ernest4 (Mar 1882 - )
  • Henry Mason Ernest4 (21 Oct 1883 or 21 Oct 1884 - 14 Feb 1949)
  • Lulee J. Ernest4 (Sep 1888 - )
  • Helen Amanda Ernest4 (10 Oct 1894 - )
Last Edited11 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p, 44. Transcription reads: Wm Byars Ernest, b. 29 Apr 1853 to John H. and Amanda Jane Ernest.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 100. Transcription reads: William B. Earnest, 25y, sgl, b. & resid Washington Co., VA, farmer, son of John H. and Amanda J. Earnest and Fannie S. Mason, 21y, sgl, b. Pulaski Co., VA, resid WCV, d/o W.B. & Mary J. Mason; marr 23 Oct. 1878.
  3. [S852] William Byars will (1866), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 16: 406. The will was written 6 May 1858 with a codicil added March 31, 1862. It was recorded 26 March 1866.
  4. [S2635] William B. Ernest|Imboden household, 1900 U.S. cens., Lawrence Co., Arkansas, pop. sched., 68, ED 2A (p. 84 stamped), sheet 27, dwelling 28, family Apr 2011. Household includes: William B. Ernest, 47, b. Apr 1853, marr 21 years, b. VA/VA/VA, farmer; Fannie M., wife, 40, b. Aug. 1859, marr 21 yrs, mother of 5 children, 4 are living; Mary B., dau, 18, b. Mar 1882; Henry M., son, 16, b. Oct. 1883; Julie J., dau, 11, b. Sept. 1888; Helen, dau, 5, b. Oct. 1894; all children b. VA, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S1282] Bob Cooke, "Portrait Gallery," e-mail to Diana Powell, 19 Apr 2010. Mr. Cooke cites the records of his mother Mary Virginia Ernest Cooke. She was William B. and Fannie (Mason) Ernest's granddaughter.
  6. [S237] William B. Ernest household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring, ED 116, sheet 4A, dwelling 68, family 74, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2010. Household includes: William B. Ernest, 56, wid, b. VA/VA/VA, commercial trav, groc sales, rents home.
  7. [S1376] Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia.
  8. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  9. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry #712 reads: Bessie Byars Ernest, w/f, d. 23 May 1880, no age or cause given, child of Wm B. & __annie M.