America Virginia Crenshaw1

b. 14 April 1848, d. 2 December 1939
America Virginia (Crenshaw) Booth
(courtesy of Peggy Lester)
FatherGeorge Sanders Crenshaw2 b. 20 Jul 1818, d. 10 Mar 1891
MotherMargaret Wilson Buchanan2 b. 20 Mar 1812, d. 27 Aug 1883
Birth14 Apr 1848 America Virginia Crenshaw was born on 14 Apr 1848 in Smyth County, Virginia.3,4,5,6 
Childhood America grew to adulthood with her 5 siblings in Smyth County, Virginia. The 1870 census recorded the family in Rich Valley just a month before America's marriage to Joel Booth.7,8 
  They were most likely living in the "Andrew Fullen house", a home built by America's grandfather, John Buchanan, for his sister Mary (Buchanan) Fullen and her husband Andrew. Mary and Andrew Fullen were both deceased by1834, and America's parents moved into the home at the time of their marriage in 1844.9 
Marriage13 Sep 1870 She married Joel Booth on 13 Sep 1870 in Smyth County, Virginia.1,4 
Migration1875 America and Joel moved to Washington County, Virginia, in 1875. There Joel purchased 50 acres of land which he cleared before building the family a home.10 
Cens-188010 Jun 1880 The young couple were enumerated farming in the Saltville District of the county in 1880 with Harvey (9), James (4) and Mary (1). Joel's mother, Margaret, was also living with them.11 
Widowed5 Jul 1889 America was widowed on July 5, 1889 when Joel died suddenly from consumption. Seven weeks later, America gave birth to twins. She named them Joel and America.12 
Cens-190013 Jun 1900  With Joel's death America found herself responsible for 8 children. In 1900 5 of them were still at home with her, ranging in age from her 21 year old daughter Mary, to her 10 year old twins.13 
Cens-Sum  America remained in the family home for many years. When her youngest son, Joel, married in early 1910 he and his wife Emma also lived with America. Accordingly, when the 1910 census was enumerated in April, Joel (enumerated as "Joseph") was listed as the head of the household. By 1920 Joel and Emma had added 2 children of their own to the household. They were all enumerated on Shortsville Road.14,15 
  America's daughter Sarah and her husband Charles Smyth lived next door with their family.16 
  Another daughter, Mary, provided a home for America during the last years of her life. Mary's husband, Hugh Smyth, was the brother of Charles Smyth (husband of America's daughter Sarah).9 
Death2 Dec 1939 America died on 2 Dec 1939 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 91.5,3 
Burial She was buried at Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5 

Related Links and Images:

Peggy (Stringer) Lester's wonderful account of her grandmother America
America standing in front of the house her husband Joel built for the family. Click on the camera icon for larger image.17
America with her children (1938). Click on camera icon for larger image then move curser over each face to see the name.18

Family

Joel Booth b. 1849, d. 5 Jul 1889
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited13 Jul 2011

Citations

  1. [S23] Virginia Crenshaw Moore, "George Sanders Crenshaw" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 123.
  2. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great granddaughter of George and Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw.
  3. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of America Virginia Crenshaw and Joel Booth", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the granddaughter of Joel and America (Crenshaw) Booth.
  4. [S60] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1851-1891 & 1860 Census, p. 16. Transcript reads: Joel Boothe, 21, s/o Wm and Margaret AND Crenshaw, America 22, d/o Geo & Mgt (Buchanan); 13 Sept 1870 [place of birth was Smyth County unless otherwise stated].
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 126. Transcription reads: America V. Booth, w/o Joel Booth, Sr., 14 Apr 1848 - 2 Dec. 1939. Date confirmed by Peggy Lester, descendant.
  6. [S23] Virginia Crenshaw Moore, "George Sanders Crenshaw" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 123. This record, submitted by a descendant, states America was born 18 Apr 1848.
  7. [S576] George S. Cranshaw household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford post office, p. 878 (following 877 script), dwelling 100, family 100, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 18 of 191. Enumeration reads: George S. Cranshaw, 43, farmer, personal real estate of $500; Margaret W., 47; Mary E., 15; Sally R., 13; America V., 11; John B., 10; Wellington [sic] J., 8; James C., 6; all b. VA.
  8. [S1006] Geo S. Crenshaw household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley township, p. 82b (stamped), dwelling 448, family 448, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 68 of 90. Enumeration reads: Geo S. Crenshaw, 51, farmer, owns $750 real estate; Margaret, 57; Mary E.A.R., 25; Sarah E.O.S., 24; America _.O.S., 22; John B., 20; Joseph W., 18; James C., 16; all born VA.
  9. [S1598] Peggy Lester, "America Virginia Crenshaw Booth."
  10. [S1598] Peggy Lester, "America Virginia Crenshaw Booth". Peggy notes that the house was "recently" (relative to 1995) destroyed by fire.
  11. [S165] Joel Booth household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 220C (stamped), dwelling 207, family 212, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, Oct. 2004, image 23 of 63. Enumeration reports: Joel Booth, 32, marr, farm laborer; America, wife, 33; Harvey, son, 9; James, son, 4; Mary, dau, 1; Margaret, mother, 62; all b. VA.
  12. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 1 Feb. 2003. Citing phone conversation with Peggy Lester, desc. of America Virginia Crenshaw and Joel Booth.
  13. [S574] America V. Booth household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 122, sheet 11A (p. 301 stamped), dwelling 126, family 126, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Oct. 2004, image 59 of 92. Enumeration includes: America V. Booth, 52, wid, b. Apr 1848, mother of 9 children, 8 living; Mary E. dau, 21, b. Dec. 1878; Lysander, son, 19, b. __ 1881; Sarah A. 17, b. May 1883; Nannie W., dau, __, b. Dec. 1886; America V., dau, 10, b. Aug. 1889; Joel, son, 10, Aug. 1889; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  14. [S237] Joseph Booth household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 115, sheet 1A (p. 212 stamped), dwelling 6, family 6, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 1 of 37. Enumerated includes: Joseph Booth, 20, marr #1, marr 0 yrs, farmer, owns farm, no mortgage; Emma V., wife, 20, marr #1, marr 0 yrs, no children; America V., mother, 62, wid, mother of 8 children, all living; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; resid on Abingdon Rd.
  15. [S238] Joel Boothe household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 168, sheet 2A (p. 331 stamped), dwelling 23, family 24, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 3 of 25. Enumeration includes: Joel Boothe,, 30, owns farm, no mortgage, farmer; Virginia E., wife, 30; Leoury [?] W., son, 8; Edward L., son, 4 5/12; America A., mother, 71, wid; all b. VA; all children b. VA' resid on Shortsville Rd.
  16. [S238] Charles W. Smyth household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 168, sheet 2A (p. 331 stamped), dwelling 24, family 25, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 3 of 25. Enumeration includes: Charles W. Smyth, 38, farmer; Sarah A., 36, wife; Frank J., son, 16; Nannie C., dau, 14; Eugene B., son, 12; Garland W., son, 9; Irene B., dau, 7; Elizabeth M., dau, 4 9/12; Margaret V., dau, 2 8/10; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; resid on Shortsville Rd.
  17. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Peggy Lester, 2006.
  18. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Peggy Lester 2006.