Clara Alberta (Knowles) Campbell (1882 - 1960)

Born 29 Jun 1882 in Alabama, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of William D Wesley — married 23 Apr 1902 in River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States

Died 10 Nov 1960 at age 78 in River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Clara Alberta Knowles was born on 29 June 1882 in Alabama, most likely in Covington County. She was the daughter of William Thomas Knowles and Mary Ann "Polly" Cotter.^[1][2]

When she was sixteen, she was enumerated in the household of her parents on the 1900 United States Census. They were living in Covington County, Alabama.

1900 United States Census, Precinct 2, Fairfield, Covington County, Alabama:^[3]

Clara Knowles was married to William D. "Willie" Wesley on 23 April 1902 in River Falls, Covington County, Alabama. Rev. D. J. Hartzog, Minister of the Gospel, presided over the rites.^[4] They were the parents of at least one child, Herbert Gaston Wesley who died in 1969.^[5] William D. Wesley died in 1904.

Clara and W. L. Campbell were married on 2 November 1906. Squire C. A. Thames performed the ceremony.^[6] They were the parents of at least one child, Clarence Campbell, born about 1902.

On the 1910 United States Census, she was enumerated as Clara "Camell." She was recorded as the widowed head of household in Covington County, Alabama. She was recorded as being the mother of two children, two of whom were still living. Both of these children are enumerated with her--they were Herbert G. "Westley" and Clarence "Camell." Also living in the household was her mother, Mary Knowles. The census records Mary's occupation as keeper of a boarding house. Clara's boarders were James H. J. Miller and Sidney Kobb, Sidney's wife Katie, and Sidney's two daughters Ina M. and Nellie.

1910 United States Census, Precinct 18, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama:^[7]

In 1914 a noticed appeared in The Andalusia Star ordering William L. Campbell, whereabouts unknown, to respond to a bill of complaint filed against him by Clara Campbell. If he did not appear, a decree of pro confesso would be rendered against him. This type of order is issued in the context of divorce proceedings. It is a decree in favor of the complainant and means the defendant has made no answer to the bill and its allegations are consequently taken as confessed.^[8]

On the 1920 United States Census, Clara had reassumed the surname of her first husband--Wesley--and is recorded as being divorced. Her two sons, Herbert Wesley and Clarence Campbell, are still part of her household as is her mother, Mary Knowles. Clara is still operating her home as a boarding house in Covington County, Alabama. Boarders are John Brown, Vergal Moore, Wilber Moore, Joe Jones, Albert Still, and Tom Lloid.

1920 United States Census, Precinct 18, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama:^[9]

Clara Wesley was still operating her home as a boarding house in Covington County, Alabama when the 1930 United States Census was taken. Boarders were Everett C. Knowles (who could have been a relation--research needs to be done to know for sure), George Thomasson, James O'Bannon, May O'Bannon, Ethel O'Bannon, and George Renolds.

1930 United States Census, Andalusia, Covington County, Alabama:^[10]

Her house burned in 1929.^[11] Then her house was again was destroyed by fire in Oct 1931.^[12] There was no mention of anyone hurt in either fire.

When Clara applied for her Social Security card in May 1937 she listed her name as Clara Knowles Wesley. Her record was updated in December 1939 at which time her name was listed as Clara A. Campbell.

Clara passed away on 10 November 1960 in River Falls, Covington County, Alabama. On her Alabama death record, she is named as Clara Alberta Campbell.^[1] She was buried in River Falls Cemetery, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JX9R-KPK : 12 August 2020), Clara Alberta Campbell, 1960.
2. ↑ "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007." database on-line, Ancestry.com’’, (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 Jun 2021), database entry for Clara Knowles Wesley, born 29 Jun 1882; citing "Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007." Ancestry Record 60901 #13592695 (Record only, no image, no sharing link)
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M98H-VJH : accessed 10 September 2020), Clara Knowles in household of W T Knowles, Precincts 2, 6, 18 Fairfield, Loango, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 26A, family 472, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,011.
4. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZS-J596 : 6 November 2017), Willie Wesley and Clara Knowles, 23 Apr 1902; citing River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,288,859.
5. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JNM1-7RX : 6 August 2020), Clara Knowles in entry for Herbert Gaston Wesley, 1969.
6. ↑ "Marriage Announcement," Newspapers.com, The Andalusia Times (Andalusia, Alabama), 07 Nov 1906, Page 5, accessed and clipped 10 Sep 2020.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ4-6Y9 : accessed 10 September 2020), Clara A Camell, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 59, sheet 16A, family 72, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 9; FHL microfilm 1,374,022.
8. ↑ "Order of Publication," Newspapers.com, The Andalusia Star (Andalusia, Alabama), 01 May 1914, Page 4, accessed and clipped 10 Sep 2020.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXZZ-GGD : accessed 10 September 2020), Clarra Wesley, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing ED 65, sheet 17B, line 89, family 72, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 10; FHL microfilm 1,820,010.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:3X8Q-MPZ : accessed 10 September 2020), Clara Wesley, Andalusia, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 1A, line 10, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 10; FHL microfilm 2,339,745.
11. ↑ "House Burned 1929," Newspapers.com, The Andalusia Star (Andalusia, Alabama), 07 May 1929, Page 2, access and clipped 10 Sep 2020.
12. ↑ "House Burned," Newspapers.com, The Andalusia Star (Andalusia, Alabama), 06 Oct 1931, Page 3, access and clipped 10 Sep 2020.
13. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 10 September 2020), memorial page for Clara Alberta Knowles Wesley Campbell (29 Jun 1882–10 Nov 1960), Find A Grave: Memorial #84195010, citing River Falls Cemetery, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by Donna Chisum Fountain (contributor 46950751).