Willie Jane Blessing1

b. 29 June 1861
FatherWilliam T. Blessing2 b. 1827, d. bet 1870 - 1880
MotherMargaret Jane Buchanan Gardner3,2 b. 16 May 1829, d. 1905
Birth29 Jun 1861 Willie Jane Blessing was born on 29 Jun 1861 in Smyth County, Virginia.2 
Marriage23 Apr 1884 She married Thomas Marion Anderson on 23 Apr 1884 in Smyth County.4 
Widowed23 Oct 1895  Thomas died about 11 years after their marriage.4 
Cens-190011 Jun 1900  Willie then made her home in Marion (Smyth County) with her widowed mother and her older sister Mary ["Lizzie"]. When the 1900 census was enumerated Willie reported that she was a teacher.5 
  The sisters' mother died in 1905. In the years that followed Willie and Lizzie apparently moved to Texas where Lizzie died in McCulloch County in May 1923. Willie was listed as the informant on Lizzie's death certificate. 
Cens-194024 Apr 1940  Later Willie returned to Virginia. In 1935 she lived in Norton (an independent city within Wise Co.). By 1940 she resided with her widowed cousins Mattie Miles and Mary Margaret Painter in Marion (Smyth County).6 
Burial Willie was buried at Round Hill Cemetery in Smyth County.7  
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited4 Jan 2013

Citations

  1. [S1006] William Blessing household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., St. Clair township, p. 99 stamped (page after), dwelling 66, family 64, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 10 of 39. Enumeration includes: William Blessing, 42, farmer; Margaret J., 41; Mary E., 18; Gardner A., 15; John W., 13; Charlie T., 11; Willie Jane (f), 8; all b. VA; also Susan Elliott, servant [and family].
  2. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  3. [S521] Jane Blessing household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., Marion district, ED 81, page 23B (stamped), dwelling 17, family 17, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 44 of 54. Enumeration includes: Jane Blessing, 51, keeping house; Mary E., 24, dau; Gardner A., 22, son; John W., 20, son; Charles T., 18, son; Willie J., 16, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; sons all "work on farm."
  4. [S60] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1851-1891 & 1860 Census, p. 5. T. Marion Anderson, 21, b. Goochland Co., VA, s/o Mathew & Adelia, lawyer AND Willie J. Blessing, 22, s/o Wm & Mgt; marr: 23 Apr. 1884 by R.B. Boatwright.
  5. [S682] Willie Anderson household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 82, sheet 16A 9p. 77 stamped), dwelling 281, family 297, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 31 of 32. Enumeration includes: Willie Anderson, 68 ["6" was written over another number and is not correct], b. June 1831 [should be 1831], widow, teacher; Jane Blessing, mother, 71, b. May 1829, wid, mother 5 children, all living; Mary, sister, 47, sgl, b. May 1853; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  6. [S3039] Mattie M. Miles household, 1940 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 87-2, sheet 15A, household 292, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: Mattie M. Miles 75, wid, b. VA; Mary Margaret Painter, 67, wid, b. VA; both resid at same location in 1935; Willie B. Anderson, 77, wid, cousin, b. VA, resid Norton, VA in 1935.
  7. [S1037] Mack Sturgill and Kenneth Sturgill, Smyth Co., Virginia Cemeteries, Vol. 3, p. 110. Stone reported to read: Willie B. Anderson. Note: the authors added that there were no dates on the stone and that the stone was broken. They also noted, "wife of Thomas M. Anderson" but it is not clear if that information was actually on the stone.