Antonio Augustus Sousa (1871 - 1918)

Born Mar 1871 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Died 8 May 1918 at age 47 in Rocky Ford, Otero, Colorado, USA

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Biography

Antonio "Tony" Sousa was born in March 1871 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.^[1]

In 1886, Tony began a career in Washington, D.C. as a government clerk,^[2] but his passion appears to have been baseball. In 1894, he started a baseball league for members of various governmental agencies in the District of Columbia. A newspaper article about the opening game of the second season of the Departmental League described its origins:^[3]

"..."The idea of a departmental base ball league originated with Mr. Anthony A. Sousa more than eighteen months ago; when he immediately began to materialize his ideas and put upon an organized basis the league for the season of 1894. "Tony," as he is familiarly called, was made its president , and by his energy and good tact it became an assured success. As a testimonial of the good feeling and confidence the league reposes in him, he was unanimously made president for the season of 1895."

Antonio Sousa married Candace Cohill on 31 January 1895 in Washington, D.C..^[4]

His interests also included music and comedy:^[5]

"An evening with Anthony A. Sousa's Comedy Company and the Marine Band Orchestra proved to be an attractive drawing card at National Rifles Hall last night. The entertainment was for the benefit of the fair fund of Naval Lodge, No 4, F.A.A.M. and consisted of a one-act patriotic burletta by Mr. Sousa, who directed the production..."

In 1900, Antonio and Candace were living with her mother, Mary Susan (Grimes) Cohill at 619 G Street, SE, Washington, D.C.^[6] Three Sousa children were also enumerated in this household:

• Ethel L Sousa, Age 4
• Antonio Sousa, Age 2,
• Meriam Sousa, Age 1

In 1910, Antonio and Candace had moved next door, to 617 G Street, SE and their household now included four children: ^[7]

• Ethel L Sousa, Age 14
• Antonio Sousa, Age 12,
• Meriam Sousa, Age 10 (Meriam was enumerated twice -- once with her parents and a second time in her grandmother's household at 619 G St. SE)
• Allen C. Sousa, Age 5

In the 1910 census Antonio (age 39) was living in Washington City, District Of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA. Age in 1910: 42; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head^[8]

Tony died on 8 May 1918, while on a business trip to Colorado. An obituary appeared in the Washington Times the following day:^[9]

"Tony Sousa, Brother of Composer, Is Dead."

Tony Sousa, brother of the composer, John Philip Sousa, and widely known as a writer of music and poetry, besides being the founder of the departmental baseball league, died yesterday at Rocky Ford, Col., a telegram to his wife, Mrs. A.A. [sic] Sousa, of 433 First street southeast announced today.

Mr. Sousa had gone to Colorado on a sugar beet investigation for the bureau of plant industry, Department of Agriculture, with his son, Allen Sousa. The body will be brought here tomorrow by John Philip Sousa and funeral services will be held Monday.

Mr. Sousa was fifty years of age and a native of Washington. He had been in the Government service thirty-two years.

Other survivors are a son, Anthony Parkhurst Sousa; two daughters, the Misses Mirian and Ethel Sousa, two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Bowers and Miss Tinney Sousa, and a brother, Louis Sousa."

Antonio A. Sousa was buried on 14 May 1918 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.^[10]

Research Notes

For a family story discussing a relationship to the Sousa family, see blogpost "How to find out if your grandfather is just... (shall I say it?) ...blowing his own horn..."

To do: review the John Philip Sousa papers at the United States Marine Band Archives in Washington, D.C. -- See the collection description here: https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/1182633657 and the detailed finding aid here: https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Portals/175/Docs/Collections/USMB_Sousa%20papers_A1970_1.pdf?ver=2018-11-01-160812-013

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: Title: 1900 Federal Census, District of Columbia Publication: Name: National Archives Microfilm Publication T626. Citing: Page: Roll 164, SD 1, ED 135, Sheet 18, p. 41, Dwelling/Family # 344/346.
2. ↑ In 1918, he was said to have been working for the government for "thirty two years," see: "Tony Sousa, Brother of Composer, Is Dead," The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.), 9 May 1918, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com.
3. ↑ "Department League -- The Second Year Opens Under Auspicious Conditions," The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 27 Apr 1895, p. 13, col. 4, Newspapers.com.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Washington, D.C., U.S., Marriage Records, 1810-1953"
   Ancestry Record 61404 #900208012 (accessed 7 February 2022)
   Candace Cohill (23) marriage to Antony August Sousa on 31 Jan 1895 in District of Columbia, USA.
5. ↑ "Naval Lodge Benefit--Music and Comedy at National Rifle Hall," The Washingotn Times (Washington, D.C.), 19 Apr 1899, p. 5, col. 3, Newspapers.com.
6. ↑ Census: Title: 1900 Federal Census, District of Columbia Publication: Name: National Archives Microfilm Publication T626. Citing: Page: ED 135, SD 1, sheet 18, p. 41. Dwelling/Family # 344/346.
7. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1910; Census Place: Precinct 5, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T624_151; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0094; FHL microfilm: 1374164
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #2787982 (accessed 7 February 2022)
   Antony A Sousa (42), married, Clerk, head of household in Precinct 5, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Born in District of Columbia.
8. ↑ 1910 Census: Author: Ancestry.com Title: 1910 United States Federal Census Date: 2006,
   Page: Year: 1910; Census Place: Precinct 5, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T624_151; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0094; FHL microfilm: 1374164.
9. ↑ "Tony Sousa, Brother of Composer, Is Dead," The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.), 9 May 1918, p. 3, col. 3, Newspapers.com.
10. ↑ Cemetery: Title: District of Columbia, Congressional Cemetery Online interment records, obituaries and death certificates Publication: Name: www.congressionalcemetery.org. Citing: Page: R85/83.

• See article on life of John Philip Sousa for some additional details on the life of Tony Sousa, here: "Early Life of John Philip Sousa, The March King," Evening star (Washington, D.C.), 07 Aug. 1921. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1921-08-07/ed-1/seq-53/).