While on the journey, I’ve discovered that there were a hand full of William Washingtons living in St. Joseph, Missouri at the same time. The ones that I was searching for were black. I wondered, which one was my relaitve?
My William Washington was residing on Mulberry Street. And according to the 1880 Missouri census, he was listed as BW or mulatto. His address was Mulberry ne cor 18th, according to the 1882 City directory in St. Joseph.. And in other years that followed, the city directories listed him at 1801 Mulberry Street.
On the 1900 Missouri census, my William Washington was listed as George W. Washington, a white male, born about May 1842 in Missouri. He was a hod carrier. He was living with his wife Mahalah, her daughter Ida / Ella Louis. They were living at 1801 Mulberry Street with two other borders; William Young and Richard McGill.
On the 1902 city directory, William was still living on Mulberry Street. There was no 1903 city directory. So this may have been the last time William and his family lived on Mulberry Street.
On the 1904 city director, there was a William Washington (c) listed as a plumber, lived at 1820 Angelique. and another William Washington (c) listed as a helper at P. L.. Bristol & Bros , lived at 19th and Angelique.
I did compile a list of all the William Washingtons and a Wiley Washington. I compared where they lived. I made note to whom they were married to, where they worked at and so on. I narrowed it down the names of a Wiley Washington and to the one who I believe was my William Washington.
My William’s occupation on the 1920 Missouri census was the clue to who he was. He was working in the industry of plumbing. I continue to search for that plumbing company. I found a Bristol Supply Co or PL. Bristol P & H C. I tracked my William Washington through the city directories. I discovered that he was a laborer, a hod carrier, porter and a janitor.
On the 1920 Census, William was listed as William Washington at age 46. He was born in Missouri about 1846. He was listed as black. He worked in industry: Plumbing Co:
Also, William was living with wife Mahalie who was born about 1847. Mahalie’s daughter Ella Louis who was a widow and was born about 1868. William’s son, John W. Washington who was a widower and born in Missouri about 1859. They lived at 812 N 3rd
Indeed, it was a process to narrow down which William was my William Washington. Out of all of this paper trail, I lost track of William’s track around 1921. His last known address was 812 N 3rd. And as I continue to search for him, he had about six other addresses after he moved from 1801 Mulberry Street.
William Washington lived at 812 N 3rd, according to the 1921 city directory. The William Washington listed on this city directory was the one that was a labor who was Janitor at Bristol Supply. r 821 N 3rd. The (c) wasn’t listed after his name. Note that colored stood for (c) in the city directors.
Also according on the 1921 city directory ~ Wiley wasn’t listed with an (c) after his name. Wiley Washington lived at 821 S 9th in 1913 – 1919, to 1938. I still wondered if Wiley was William’s son William Jr.
Oh what a challenge to was to search through the city directories for the William Washingtons! It was worth the task in doing so. I noticed that Wiley Washington ended up living in the same residents where my William once lived. However , they didn’t live there are the same time. That address was 821 S 9th.
The cropped photo is believe to be of William Washington with his first wife Susan (Leach) Washington. There was an elderly lady on the left side of William. She was Susan’s mother, Mrs. Delilah Lewis. Delilah was listed with the Washingtons on the 1880 Missouri census at age 93. Delilah passed in April of 1887.
William most likely passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. He had a son named William Washington Jr.. or John W. Washington. I haven’t found any new info on William’s son either. I believe that William and Wiley were connected. But, how?
There was a time when I wondered if Wiley was William’s son? .
What I discovered about Willey Washington. He was born in 1853 or 1857 in Chillicothe, Missouri and he passed in 1938. Wiley married to Mary Tate and Libby Holman. He was the father of five by Mary..
They had a son, named Charles Washington (1883 – 1920). Charles lived at 821 S 9th.
Some other thoughts: Did my William Washington Sr. remarry? On Wednesday, December 17, 1890, William married his second wife, Mrs. Mahala “Mahalie ”Winn, 11 months after his first wife, Susan passed in Thursday, January 9, 1890. Mahlala passed on Thursday, March 3, 1921. She was living at 812 N 3rd. She was listed as married.
Did William move out of town? Was he in prison; serving time? Or was he in a nursing home of some sort? Wondering if William kept in contact with his children, if he remarried? He had a daughter Anna. I haven’t found any death notice in the newspaper on William Washington. Sr. Or did he have another first name? John? or George?
I did search for all the George Washingtons and John Washingtons Missouri death records who died in St. Joseph, Missouri. There was four George Washingtons. I was searching for the ones born in the 1840’s, There was one George Washington who was born in 1841 in New Orleans. He passed on Saturday, February 3, 1923.
There were three John’s. Only one was born in the 1840’s. There was a John Washington who was born in 1841. He passed Thursday, August 9, 1934. ( There was a John Washington who’s birth year and age unknown and passed on Wednesday, July 25, 1945. His was Mattie Washington.)
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Thanks for reading.
The Name William Washington: Challenge to Find Info was the orignal title for this blog. I edited this blog and changed the name to Multiples: William Washingtons: Which One Was My Relative?
God bles you,
S.A. Blakley
The 2nd Great Granddaughter of William Washington Sr. and his wife Susan.
