Elizabeth Corbett was born In Birmingham, England [1] about 1830 [2] and immigrated with her parents in 1830 [3]. She likely was raised in Philadelphia where her mother, Eliza B. was presumably married to William Corbett and where she presumably married John Nickum in the mid 1840s. Her mother had returned to Philadelphia in 1891 where she died at 1308 Atmore St visiting relatives (perhaps nieces of her sister, Mary Ann Roberts Lewis late of St Clair, Schuylkill PA) for which she willed in Baltimore City.
Elizabeth first married John Nickum/ Nicham [4]. Their children were Samuel (age18); Margaret (age13); Edward (age10)[5] and Anna who had died that year before the census. John died on 8 May 1855 after leaving a will on 27 April 1855 and witnessed by his sister-in-law, Margaret Corbett Harris and husband John on 15 May 1855. He mentions being late of the city of Philadelphia and now of Baltimore MD [6].
Elizabeth may have met Henry Hunter in Philadelphia or Wilmington DL the later where their first daughter, Alice (aka Agnes) Livingston Hunter was born in 1859 [7]. Records of descendants of Alice in Richmond indicates a marriage of Elizabeth in 1853 [8]
A Henry J. Hunter first appears in Baltimore city in 1856/57 on Williamson alley [9] following the date 10 May 1855 at Greenmount cemetery in Baltimore for John Nickum. It's been suggested John was initially buried in Philadelphia and later moved to Baltimore.
Henry and Elizabeth were enumerated twice in Baltimore 1860 At this time Henry was a bell hanger and locksmith [10], but later an artist.
By 1870, they were living in Ward 4, Baltimore, with children Alice (later known as Agnes), Mary and young William, age 78, and by 1872 they had moved to 187 N. Exeter Street4,5,13. In 1871 Elizabeth had a business selling notions at 666 Pratt Street1 and young William presumably helped since he was also enumerated there. The business was subsequently moved to 107 Vine Street, Baltimore. It appears Elizabeth was the daughter that went with Issac to pick out his burial plot in Jun 1872 [11]
Henry was enumerated at both 187 1/2 N. Exeter Street [12] and with only his wife at 193 Exeter Street5 in 1880 . At this time Henry was listed as “insane” in 1880[13]. Elizabeth was head of the household and a boarder, James Woodall, was living with them.[14]. In addition, another family lived in this house with members: Ann M. Patterson, 56 (head of household), and her three children, Sarah E. Patterson, 23, Mary E. Patterson , 25, and Charles W. Patterson, 28.1 William Hunter married Sarah on November 1, 1880[15]. See William’s history for more about his marriages.
After the death of Henry (about 1885), Elizabeth married James Woodall “in the North” [16]. They moved to Richmond, Va. where she continued as a businesswoman. They operated a store at 903 E. Broad Street where they sold picture frames, Bibles and birds and not far from their Monumental Church on Broad.[17] James was enumerated in 1888-1889, having an installment house and picture copying business at 903, 905 and 905 1/2 E. Broad Street.[18]
In 1890-1891 James and Elizabeth began to advertise house furnishings[19] and in 1892, “Housefurnishings, the largest assortment of goods in Richmond” at 909 E. Broad Street and 906 Capital,[20] with their home listed as Walnut Lodge.[21] in the city directory. This octagonal house was located on Nine Mile Road in Richmond.[22] The original owners were Dr. and Mrs. I.J. Hawkes, Quakers from Maine who went to Richmond during the Civil War to care for sick and wounded. During 1895 James’ business failed due to insufficient funds.24 He assigned his step son-in-law, William B. McCrary (husband of Agnes Hunter), as trustee to collect all the furnishings, belongings and money, etc. of the business at 909 E. Broad Street along with other holdings. William was to sell all at auction, and pay to himself 5% of the proceeds for services rendered. In addition $5000.00 was to be given to Elizabeth to settle an old debt. Any money remaining was to be paid to the remaining debtors. [23]
In 1896 a rather large number of creditors filed suit in the Chancery Court of Richmond against James Woodall, Elizabeth Woodall, W.B. McCrary, Trustee, and others declaring fraud. Elizabeth had purchased substantial property from William McCrary, Trustee and stored it in three stores, 1412 (?) East Broad Street, and 1517 and 1536 East Main Street.[24] Elizabeth died on November 23, 1897 [25] at her home at 909 E. Broad Street. Final settlement of this case is currently unknown.
In 1897 three different stores were advertised 1) JAMES WOODALL, manager Mrs. Elizabeth Woodall, home 220 E. Broad Street and 2) MRS. ELIZABETH WOODALL - housefurnishings, 220 E. Broad Street, 1536 (1536 or 536???) E. Main Street and 305 E. Broad Street, home 220 E. Broad Street.21
The wedding of this pair had been set for to-day, but the joy of the wedding preparations and all the delightful details of arrangement in which feminine hearts find so much pleasure, particularly that of a prospective bride, had been suddenly arrested.
The good physicians had given the word that Mrs. Elizabeth Woodall, the grandmother of the bride elect, had been called by Death, and could hardly have another day. All preparations for the marriage were dropped. The immediate relatives of the groom were summoned from their distant homes, and yesterday morning at 9:30 o’clock the silent scene was enacted according to the last wish of the dying woman.
HER WISH FULFILLED
Mrs. Woodall had but one favorite desire – that her idolized grand-daughter should become a wife before she died and her wish was fulfilled.
The arrangements for her granddaughter’s wedding had been going on since before this illness and Mrs. Woodall had, unknown to the young people, prepared matters on a scale of quiet magnificence.
The bride’s attire was a masterpiece of the dressmaker’s art; the monster cake was constructed to an order for the finest purchaseable and the decorators were requested not to spare expense in the beautifying of the pleasant Broad street home.
Mrs. Woodall was a consistent and well-liked member of Monumental church, whose pastor, Rev. Dr. W.A. Barr, performed the ceremony which made her granddaughter a wife, and who was present throughout the trying scene of death.
The newly-made Mrs. C.C. Millner is a pretty and highly accomplished young lady, who has scores of friends in Baltimore, Norfolk and this city, while the groom is a respected employee of the Traction Company.
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