Minnie (Buckingham) Patterson (1886 - 1978)

Ancestors

Biography

Minnie Buckingham Harper was the first African-American woman to serve as a member of a state legislative body in the United States.^{[1] [2]}

Minnie Buckingham was born 15 May 1886 in Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of Elisha Buckingham and Lora Brooks.

The 1900 Census^[3] shows her at age 15 in the home of her parents in Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia.

The 1910 Census^[4] shows her at age 25 in the home of her parents in Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia.

The 1920 Census^[5] shows her at age 34 in the home of her parents in Scott District, Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia. Her son, Ivan is also on this census at age 5.

She married first to Ebenezer Howard Harper on 7 May 1923 in Keystone, McDowell County, West Virginia.^[6] Their son:

• Ivan Harper, b. 1914

Her husband, E. H. Harper, was a lawyer, and a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from McDowell County when he died on 21 Dec 1927.^[7]

Minnie was appointed by Governor Howard Gore to fill her husband's unfinished term of office.^[1] She had received the unanimous recommendation of the McDowell County Republican Executive Committee.^[8] She did not run for the office after the term was finished.

The 1930 Census^[9] shows her at age 43, widowed, living with her son Ivan in North Fork, McDowell County, West Virginia.

In 1935 Minnie was in Bedford, Bedford County, West Virginia.^[10]

She married second to John W. Patterson in 1936 in McDowell County, West Virginia.^[11]

The 1940 Census^[10] shows her at age "47" with her husband in North Fork, McDowell County, West Virginia.

John Patterson died in 1955.^{[12] [13]}

Minnie died 10 Feb 1978 in Winfield, Putnam County, West Virginia.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Talbott, I. D. "Duke" and Charles M. Murphy "Minnie Buckingham Harper." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Last revised 15 May 2018. Retrieved Web. 22 May 2022.
2. ↑ West Virginia Blue Book. Senate Clerk, State of West Virginia. Charleston, 1928, page 221 (in pdf: 265 of 1213)
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900"
   FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9ZH-1SM : accessed 22 May 2022), Minnie B Buckingham in household of Elisha Buckingham.
   Image path: United States Census, 1900 > West Virginia > Putnam > ED 79 Scott district (west side) Winfield village > image 5 of 30; Citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6QW9-6D1 (accessed 21 May 2022)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910"
   FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPJZ-FPW : accessed 22 May 2022), Minnie Buckingham in household of Elisiah Buckingham.
   Image path: United States Census, 1910 > West Virginia > Putnam > Winfield > ED 164 > image 21 of 28; Citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYL-1H5 (accessed 21 May 2022)
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920"
   FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNK2-KJW : 4 February 2021), Minnie Buckingham in entry for Euphrates Buckingham.
   Image path: United States Census, 1920 > West Virginia > Putnam > Winfield > ED 110 > image 4 of 8; Citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RFM-Z2S (accessed 21 May 2022)
6. ↑ "West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FTRF-4XY : 11 February 2018), E H Harper and Minnie Buckingham, 1923; citing Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States, , county clerks, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 806,452.
   https://archive.wvculture.org/vrr/va_mcdetail.aspx?Id=11407778
7. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F1Y6-3J4 : 10 March 2018), Mrs. M. B. Harper in entry for E. H. Harper, 21 Dec 1927; citing Cabell, West Virginia, County Records, 15401, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,953,435.
8. ↑ May 15, 1886: West Virginia's First African-American Female Legislator Born in Putnam Co. West Virginia Public Broadcasting; By West Virginia Encyclopedia Published May 15, 2020 at 7:00 AM EDT, accessed 22 May 2022.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1930"
   FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMHF-9NM : accessed 22 May 2022), Millie B Harper.
   Image path: United States Census, 1930 > West Virginia > McDowell > North Fork > ED 39 > image 11 of 15; Citing NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002).
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRC2-SFB (accessed 22 May 2022)
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "United States Census, 1940"
    Catalog: West Virginia, 1940 population census : population schedules West Virginia (McDowell County)
    Image path: United States Census, 1940 > West Virginia > McDowell > North Fork Magisterial District, Northfork > 24-52 North Fork Magisterial District, Northfork Town, Town Jail > image 9 of 15; Citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
    FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-B3QM (accessed 22 May 2022)
11. ↑ "West Virginia, U.S., Marriages Index, 1785-1971"
    Ancestry Record 2538 #10745887 (accessed 23 May 2022)
    Minnie B Harper marriage to John Patterson in 1936 in Mcdowell, West Virginia, United States.
12. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9H7-15M : 10 March 2018), John Patterson, 22 May 1955; citing Welch, McDowell, West Virginia, County Records, v 12 p 1956, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 800,214.
13. ↑ "West Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1724-1985"
    Wills, 1893-1969; Author: West Virginia. County Court (McDowell County); Probate Place: McDowell
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9087 #955669 (accessed 23 May 2022)
    John Patterson Will.
14. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VSPG-QWP : 8 January 2021), Minnie Patterson, Feb 1978; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• FamilySearch profile for Minnie Buckingham (1886–1978), accessed 21 May 2022.

See also:

• West Virginia State Museum > Important People > Minnie Buckingham Harper
• The Congressional Record, The Hon. Nick J. Rahall, II of West Virginia
  In the House of Representatives, Wed, 28 Feb 2007;
  Tribute in Honor of Black History Month (excerpt)
• Wikipedia entry for Minnie Buckingham Harper
• Dave Tabler; The first African-American woman to serve in a legislative body in the US; Appalachian History.net, 10 Jan 2017, accessed 22 May 2022.