An Ancestor I Admire; Mrs. Delilah Lewis

 The more I discover about my 3rd Great Grandmother Delilah Lewis, the more I come to admire her. I recently stumble across a news clip noting her death. She was “well known as a woman of more than ordinary intelligence and experience.”. She must have been an remarkable woman. According to a news article, Delilah was the oldest woman in Missouri at the time of her death on April 14, 1887 at age 113.

I first learned about Delilah from the 1880 Missouri census. Her name was Lillie Lewis, a widow. Her parents were from Kentucky. Lillie was listed living with William Washington (and Susan and family) in St. Joseph, Missouri: Her relation to Head of House was mother-in-la., Delila’h’s age 93 and birth year about 1787.

The postcard photo
The elderly lady seated on the right is believed to have been of Delila Lewis. In the middle 1970’s, I wondered, who were the people in the photo postcard with Delilah for years.. I would stare that the photo. I discovered that I resemble one of the ladies in the photo. Delilah’s granddaughter Anna Laura. Sh’e’s the older one behind her father William.

It was decades later when I came across Delilah on the 1870 Missouri census. Her residence was Post Office: Brownsville. Her was Delila Louis, age about 60, in Blackwater, Born about 1810. She was living with the Tivis family and two other elderly ladies.

I wondered if this Delila Louis was the one born in 1773. She turned out to be her.The year of births are different. The Tivis family moved to St. Joseph, Missouri as well.

The St. Joseph, Missouri newspaper recorded Delilah’s death with an unusual obituary.Whoever recorded the information listed Delilah’s former enslavers and her journey to Missouri in 1878. Delilah left us a paper trail. She lived about 22 years after being enslaved. She’s not forgotten. I came across a newspaper that reconized her death 30 years after she passed.

R. I. P. 3rd Great Grandmother Delila

Thanks for reading.
An Ancestor I Admire; Mrs. Delilah Lewis
She was on my material lineage: Delilah, Susan, Anna, Mary, Lula and me, the 6th generation.

God bless,
S. A. Blakley

The Discovery Of Delilah Lewis’ Family Connections ~ Memorable

 What‘s Memorable About The Discovery of Delilah Lewis’ Family Connections? I can’t explain it in words. I believe it came by the grace of God. Every found discovery about Delilah’s lineage came to be a Thank You, Jesus moment!

The crop photo is a list of names. I added the dates and names from sources that I found through the years..and whited out and made corrections. I scribbled down names that my mother , Lula knew near the edge of the page 21.

Here are a few names that my mother Lula spoke of, on her mother’s side.
The clues that I followed up on were the names: Bertha Reynolds, Naomi Powell, Prudence Hill, and The Southside Stillmans.

I created a Browning / RUCKER and TIVIS Family Tree from what sources that I found. And made the discovery that the trees were connected. In 2019, came the discovery of Delilah’s 1887 obituary published in the newspaper. And in 2020 more breakthroughs came by connecting the dots with Tivis Family Connections.

What was it that made this discovery more interesting? The DNA matches with cousins who didn’t know that we were cousins. Thanks for DNA matches and a deeper search, this mystery was solved and in 2022 more connections came.

Mrs. Delilah Lewis’ Family Connection:
Delilah was the mother of Susan (Leach) Washington. Susan married William Washington on Thursday, September 20, 1866 in St. Joseph, Missouri. They had 6 children that carried the Washington surname.

The names of William’s and Susan’s children were Laura Anna (Washington) Allen Walters, Nannie, Amelia, James A., Virginia F. and Lillie Washington. William Washington was listed as son of , William Jr. not sure if Susan was his mother. Susan passed on Thursday, January 9, 1890 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

William Washington married Mrs. Malaha Wynn on Wednesday, December 17, 1890. Her children. Townsend Wynn and Ella (Wynn) Lewis appeared on Laura Anna (Washington ) Walter’s 1947 obituary.

Delilah had other children. One is believed to have been Sarah J. Tivis or Sarah’s husband, George Tivis. They had about 12 children. The Tivis Family came from Saline County in Missouri. The Browning, Ruckers, Southside Stillmans are from this Tivis lineage.

What have I learned that some of my ancestors were well known? Relatives made the news paper. William Washington Sr’s. popularity led me to Susan’, and her mother’s obituaries along with other’s death notices in th newspaper.

Delilah and her lineage shouldn’t be forgotten: The older descendants know who were kin.They shared with family. I’m so thankful.. Without pursuing what my mother shared with me, I wonder if the connection would have been lost. Praying that more connections will come.

Thanks for reading.
The Discovery Of Delilah Lewis Family Connections

Where am I one Delilah’s Family Connections?
I’m on the material lineage of Delilah through, Susan, Anna Laura, Mary Anna, and Lula, my mother. They all passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. May they all rest in peace.

 God bless, 
S. A. Blakley

Family Connections: The Church ~ Religious Traditions

 Mrs. Anna Laura (Washington) Allen Walters was a member of the church community. She was affiliated with the Holsey Chapel Church, New Hope (Baptist Church) and St. Paul C.M.E. Church. ~ Here is an article about the church moved at 1718 Holman in 1935. Holsey C.M.E. at 3rd and Rubidoux

The Church And Holy Matrimony
Anna Laura was the daughter of William / John Washington and Susan (Leach) Washington. Her parents, Mr. William Washington and Miss Susan Leach were married by John M. Wilkerson, a minister of the Gospel and founder of the A. M. E. Church ~ Ebenezer A. M. E. Church.

William and Susan were married on Thursday, September 20, 1866 in  St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. Susan passed at age 58 on Thursday, January 9, 1890. Her funeral was held at the A.M.E. Church. William death day is unknown.

Susan’s mother Mrs. Delilah Lewis was a member of the Baptist church and had been for fifty years. She was joined the Baptist Church in 1837. And she was active with the church until her death on Thursday, April 14, 1887.

Anna Laura and her first husband William Allen application license to marry was dated on Monday, December 24, 1888 in  St. Joseph , Buchanan, Missouri. Those listed on the marriage license were Miss Laura Washington and Wm Allen. (George Fermon who was a witness.) ~ The deputy was Dave ? and the recorder was Thos ? Their surnames unreadable.

The names on the marriage license : Miss Laura Washington and Wm Allen.
The marriage took place on Wednesday, March 6, 1889 in St Joseph, Buchanan, MO
They were married by Rev Alexander C. Terrell of Ebenezer Chapel
The church located at 311 Antoine.

(The crop photo is a part of the 1947 handwritten obituary of Mrs. Anna Laura Walters.
She passed on Tuesday, February 11, 1947 in St. Joseph, Missouri at the age of 79.
It was about four months from he 80th birthday.

As I looked back over Anna’s obituary, I read that she was active in most of the aux- doing what was asked of her during her good health. In the funeral booklet, there were names and the order of the service. The Rev W. A Holmes and Rev Horning were over the service. It took place at the Alexander Funeral Home on Friday, February 14, 1947 at 2 pm

The Scripture was from John 14

The Music played…

Let The Lover Lights By Burning
God Will Take Care Of You
There is a Fountain
Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Thanks for reading
Family Connections: The Church ~ Religious Traditions
I believe that most of my ancestors called upon Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Who was Anna to me?
She was my Great Grandmother Anna and my mother’s Grandma Anna.

Posted on another site dated  July 31, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley

God bless
S.A.Blakley

Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors In 52 Weeks Challenge in 2025
The theme for Week 30 is “Religious Traditions.” Have you explored religious records for any of your ancestors? Do you have an ancestor who was active in his/her place of worship?

Tracing The Whereabouts Of Mrs. Delilah “Lillie” Lewis

  About five years ago, I was in the process of making a timeline on my 3rd Great Grandmother Delilah “Lillie” Lewis. The information came from her unbelievable 1887 obituary. Her enslavers’ whereabouts led to where Delilah lived during her enslaved lifetime.

“Data According To Mrs. Delilah Lewis’ 1887 Obituary”.
Delilah was born in Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee. She was raised in Kentucky. She was moved to Franklin, Howard County Missouri. (The time frame from which State to State is unknown.)

Enslaver / Owner : 1831
This is where the paper trail begins with names: It was when Delilah was moved to Liberty, Clay County Missouri. 1830’s – 1840’s – not for sure the beginning years she was with this enslaver / owner. She was sold to Priestley EDWARDS. And she was with him for about 25 and 30 years. (Is this 55 years with the enslaver EDWARDS? )

Then Delilah was hired out to William LANE for ten years. (I assume that within the years with Priestley EDWARDS, Delilah was hired out.)

Residence before 1861 • Saline County, Missouri, USA
She was with enslaver / owner Peyton TOWNSEND, maybe in Blackwater, Missouri.
On the 1860 Slave Schedules: William H. Lane had a female enslaved who was about 70. (Born about 1790.) ~ Information found on Aug 21, 2019 ~ Could be Delilah ~ Reviewed records on March 8, 2023.

Delilah was moved with Peyton TOWNSEND to Saline County, Missouri until after the rebellion in 1861. (I’m assuming that this city in Saline county was Blackwater, Missouri area.)

Residence in 1870  Blackwater, Saline, Missouri,
According to the 1870 Missouri census. her residence Post Office: Brownsville. Delila Louis, age about 60, in Blackwater, Born about 1810 ( Delila Lewis who was stated born in 1773.) Delilah’s 1810 birth year makes sense her daughter, Susan birth about 1835 in Missouri. Delila was listed with the George and Sarah TIVIS and Family on the census.

Residence in 1878 St. Joseph, Buchanan County Missouri
According to Delilah’s obituary, she moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1878. She lived with her son in law William Washington and her daughter,. Susan (Leach) Washington and family. Some of the TIVIS Family listed on the 1870 census moved to St. Joseph as well. Some of them were listed on the City Directories in 1880’s – 1900’s.

Residence 1880  in Saint Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri,
Her name was listed as Lillie Lewis on the 1880 Missouri census. She was a widow. Her parents were from KY. Lillie was listed living with her son in law William Washington and her daughter Susan. Relation to Head of House: Mother-in-law; She was listed at age 93. Her birth year about 1787.

Residence 1882  in St Joseph, Missouri, City Directory
Mrs. Delila Lewis, lived at Mulberry ne corner 18th and was listed as colored domestic work. Also noted that there was a Lila Lewis living there too. She was a cook at 309 N 17th Street.

Other information about Delilah:
Delilah was a member of the Baptist church and had been for fifty years
(She passed in 1887 and minus 50 would be the year 1837 with the Baptist Church.)

Delila was in the service to the Lord, before the time of her death.
If she was born in 1773 and passed in 1887, she would have been about 113.
That was what the newspaper index stated.

Her death 1887 in Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States of America
Mrs. Delila “Lillie” ( ? ) LEWIS passed away at her son in law, William Washington home at 1801 Mulberry Street in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Tuesday April 19, 1887 at 4:45 pm. ~

She was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery on Thursday, April 21, 1887.
Delilah Lewis’ Burial Number: 2076 ~ Cost: $15 for Interment

The source of Delilah Lewis obituary was publish in the St. Joseph Daily Herald – Apr 24, 1887 It’s on page 4, third column near middle.





This blog was a repost from ” Translation of Mrs. Delila Lewis’ 1887 Obituary” #52Ancestors Week 10 In 2023. I edited this blog calling it “Tracing The Whereabouts Of Mrs. Delilah “Lillie” Lewis

Thanks for reading.
Tracing The Whereabouts Of Mrs. Delilah “Lillie” Lewis
Rest In Heaven 3rd Great Grandmother “Lillie”

God bless
S.A. Blakley  

 Posted on February 20, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley on another website. 

In Loving Memory of Delilah Lewis

Mrs. Delilah Lewis was born into slavery in May of 1773 in Franklin, Williamson County in Tennessee. She was moved to Kentucky where she was raised. Her parents are unknown. They were perhaps born in KY or TN. At some time, she was removed to Franklin, Missouri or Franklin Tennessee.

She was moved to Liberty, Clay County Missouri where she was sold to Prestley Edwards. She was with him for about twenty five to thirty years. Delilah was hired out to William Lane for 10 years.

In 1861, Delilah was moved with Peyton Townsend to Saline County in Missouri. She remain there after the rebellion of the Civil War.

In 1878, she moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where she lived with her daughter, Susan Leach Washington, her son in law, William Washington at 1801 Mulberry Street. Delilah passed on April 19, 1887 at the Washington's residence at the age of 113.

Delilah was a member of the Baptist Church for 50 years, since 1837.
She was a servant of the LORD.

In her obituary here are the last words....
...."and when the death angel came, she was still in the service of the Lord.

Far from the world of toil and strife
She is present with the Lord
The labor of her mortal life
Ends in a large reward."

Delilah was buried on April 24, 1887 in Mount Mora Cemetery.

Source of info from Delilah's obituary 1887.
St. Joseph, Missouri Herald

Other records
1880 census: Listed as a widow, est birth year 1787, listed with the Washington's
City Directories: where she lived: Mulberry ne cor 18th , did domestic work.

Funeral info:
Burial Number: 2076
Cost: $15 for Interment:

Thanks for reading.
Delilah was my 3rd Great Grandmother.
God bless you.
S. A. Blakley

In Remembrance of Deliah "Lillie" LEWIS

On  April 21,  1887 ~ Delilah "Lillie" LEWIS was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the grand mother of Susan (LEACH) WASHINGTON who was the wife of John / William WASHINGTON Sr.