DeWitt Talmadge Giddens (abt. 1895 - abt. 1971)

Born about 19 Aug 1895 in Greenville, Louisiana, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 27 Aug 1971 at about age 76 in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi, United States

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Biography

Dewitt Talmidge Giddens is the son of Needham Giddens and Ida Allums. ^{[1] [2]}

He was born Aug. 19, 1895 in Louisiana, USA and passed away Aug. 27, 1971 in Biloxi, Harrison County,Mississippi, USA.

WWI Louisiana , PFC Company B 215th Field Signal Battalion World War I.

Burial: Springhill Cemetery Ringgold Bienville Parish Louisiana, USA ^[3]

Dewitt was enlisted 15 May 1918 and released 31 Jan 1919.^[4] He is described as medium height and medium build, with brown hair and blue eyes.^[5]

Research Notes

Further research required.

Dewitt is listed on the passenger list (immigration list) for the ship Amapala which sailed from Cristobal, C. Z. May 4, 1929 to New Orleans arriving May 8, 1929. Dewitt is listed as married on that sailing log. The Amapala weighed 4,148 tons and was a fruit/banana boat owned by the Standard Fruit Co / Vaccaro Brothers. (Founded by the Vaccaro Brothers in 1899 the company traded mostly between New Orleans and Honduras and used many chartered ships, in addition to those owned. In 1905 United Fruit Co purchased a half share in Standard Fruit, but was forced to sell it in 1908. In the 1920s, Standard Fruit expanded into other countries and absorbed other companies and continued to prosper, extending routes to the East Coast of the USA. After the war, in the 1950s, it was decided to dispose of owned ships and these were either sold or scrapped, the last ones being withdrawn from service in 1958. However, the company has since continued operating with chartered tonnage.) The Amapala was in 1942 attacked by U-Boat off Mississippi River and the wreck sunk by Coast Guard.

Dewitt and his family are on the passenger manifest for the Honduras American Fruit Company's ship the SS Virginia, Voyage #9 which sailed from Cristobal, C.Z. on April 28, 1928, arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 3, 1928. At the time the family's residence was listed as 2526 Herbert Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. His wife and two daughters were sailing on this voyage. ^[6] Dewitt was married to Elba Collier Whitley. Date given in family Bible as 17 Dec 1938. More resources needed. Dewitt is also listed as being married to Zella Estella Pate on 14 Apr 1963 in same family Bible. Further research is needed.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ["United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPTF-BRQ : 29 October 2015), Dewitt T Giddens in household of Needham W Giddens, Ringgold, Bienville, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 6, sheet 33B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,522.]
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSRM-NH6 : 20 January 2015), De Witt Giddens in household of W W Giddens, Ward 3, Red River, Louisiana, United States; citing sheet 4A, family 60, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,578.
3. ↑ Created by: SnL Roots Record added: Aug 20, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial# 15440774. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15440774&ref=acom
4. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
5. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ8C-KD1 : 12 December 2014), Dewitt Talmage Giddens, 1917-1918; citing Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,684,663.
6. ↑ From: "Louisiana, New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZQG-DKD : 8 October 2015), De Witt Giddens, 1928; citing Immigration, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Ship Virginia, NARA microfilm publication M259 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 2,311,473.
7. ↑ marriage to Zella Estella Pate listed in Family Bible. Link to Blog "My Big Fat Cajun/Irish/Scottish/English/German/French/Southern Family Blog <http://mybigfatfamilyblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Zella+pate>

• "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XP1B-RQ3 : 8 April 2016), Dewitt Talmage Giddens, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYR2-JZQ : 20 May 2014), Dewitt Giddens, Aug 1971; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).