Bessie Lee Monson (abt. 1876 - 1972)

Born about 20 Jul 1876 in Nicholas County, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Apr 1972 at about age 95 in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Biography

Bessie Monson was born in Appalachia, in Kentucky.

Bessie Lee Monson was born about 20 Jul 1876 in Nicholas County, Kentucky, United States, daughter of Elijah Whaley Monson and Susan M. (Turley) Monson. In the 1880 census Bessie was listed as the daughter of Elijah Monson in Precinct 2 Head Quarters, Nicholas County, under the nickname Dink (age 4) .^[1]

Her siblings were:

1. Isaac Newton Monson
2. Louella (Monson) Evans
3. Eva S. Monson
4. Sarah T. (Monson) Maffett
5. James L. Monson
6. Nancy Bailey (Monson) Scott
7. Elda (Monson) Gaffin

In the 1900 census Bessie (age 24) was the single daughter of Elija Monson in Magisterial District 1, Nicholas County.^[2]

Bessie had attended Smith's Classical Institute before enrolling at the State College of the University of Kentucky. In 1904, she was one of only five candidates for graduation from the Department of Pedagogy and the only female. Her thesis covered "Points of Contact Between Sociology and Pedagogy."^[3][4]

After teaching in the Cynthiana Public Schools in Harrison County, Kentucky, Bessie relocated to Alabama.^[4] She may have been living as a boarder in the household of John W. Coleman in Anniston Ward 1, Calhoun County, Alabama, in the 1910 census (though this record lists a birthplace of Tennessee, that could be an informant error).^[5] A record for Bessie in the 1920 federal census has not been located.

In the 1930 census Bessie (age 52) was the single head of household in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. She rented a home on Eleventh Street for $65 per month which she shared with a boarder, Martha Dickinson (40, stenographer) from Florida. Bessie worked as a public school teacher.^[6]

In the 1940 census the two women were still roomates, renting on Twenty-seventh Place, where Martha Dickenson (58, general clerk) was listed as head of household in Election Precinct 21, Jefferson County. Bessie (age 63) was a high school teacher.^[7]

In the 1950 census Bessie (age 73) was listed as never married, head of household in Birmingham, Jefferson County. She had no occupation listed.^[8]

In the 1960's, Bessie became one of the charter members of the Birmingham Zoological and Botanical Gardens Society.^[4]

Bessie died on 25 April 1972 at age 95. It's not yet clear if she lived in Alabama or Kentucky at that time. She was listed in the Alabama Death Index;^[9] The US Social Security Death Index indicates her last place of residence was Harrison County, Kentucky.^[10] Bessie was buried in Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana, Harrison County.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: MCZK-N7V (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBM-Y68 Image number 00207
   Dink Monson (4), single daughter, in household of Elijah Monson (56) in Precinct 2 Head Quarters, Nicholas, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky, United States.
2. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 82; FHL microfilm: 1240546; Record number: 19275;
   FamilySearch Record: M9HM-VN5 (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-62C7-HZ Image number 00403
   Bessie L Monson (24), single daughter, in household of Eliza Monson (75) in Magisterial District 1, Nicholas, Kentucky, United States. Born in Kentucky.
3. ↑ Graduation: The Lexington Herald (Lexington, KY) Thu 05 May 1904; p. 2, c. 4: Newspapers.com clipping accessed 15 Jan 2023.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Obituary: The Lexington Herald (Lexington, KY) Thu 27 Apr 1972; p. 2, c. 8: Newspapers.com clipping accessed 15 Jan 2023.
5. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910"
   citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 7A, family 136, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 4; FHL microfilm 1,374,017.
   FamilySearch Record: MK3R-KC5 (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RVH-NW6 Image number 00856
   Bessie Monson (35), single boarder, in household of John W Coleman (52) in Anniston Ward 1, Calhoun, Alabama, United States. Born in Tennessee.
6. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
   citing enumeration district (ED) ED 44, sheet 4A, line 28, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 26; FHL microfilm 2,339,761.
   FamilySearch Record: 32G2-K3Z (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R7C-GJ8 Image number 00013
   Bessie L Monson (52), single head of household in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States. Born in Kentucky.
7. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
   citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 36;
   FamilySearch Record: V155-K74 (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89MT-9NH1
   Bessie L Monson (63), single partner, in household of Martha Dickenson (58) in Election Precinct 21, Jefferson, Alabama, United States. Born in Kentucky.
8. ↑ 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
   citing Page: 10; Line: 3;
   FamilySearch Record: 6F7V-5X5B (accessed 15 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-SQH7-Y97Q-C
   Bessie L Monson (73), single head of household in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States. Born in Kentucky.
9. ↑ Death: "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974"
   citing FHL microfilm: 2114476; Record number: 3;
   FamilySearch Record: JNGV-V68 (accessed 16 January 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9TT-N4F6-R Image number 01003
   Bessie Monson death 1972 (age 95), daughter of Elijah Monson & Susan Tuley, in Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States.
10. ↑ Death: "United States Social Security Death Index"
    citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
    FamilySearch Record: V9XW-SZ8 (accessed 16 January 2023)
    Bessie Monson death Apr 1972 (born 20 Jul 1876) residing in Harrison, Kentucky.
11. ↑ Gravestone: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #154531433 (accessed 15 January 2023)
    Memorial page for Bessie L “Bess” Monson (20 Jul 1876-25 Apr 1972), citing Battle Grove Cemetery, Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by Sue McDuffe:) (contributor 47122067).