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“Miss Ethel”
Nettie Ethel DuBose Richardson

 My maternal grandfather is Clarence J. Richardson (1896 – 1972), son of Reverdy Hunter Richardson (1864-1916) and Martha “Mattie” Coon (1866-1901).  After his wife’s death in 1901, Reverdy H. Richardson married Nettie Ethel DuBose on 10 January 1906.  She was born 10 May 1882 and died 8 February 1949.

 I know almost nothing about her.  In fact, I was not aware of her until after my maternal grandparents were gone.  I have a vague recollection of hearing my grandfather speak of “Miss Ethel;.”  I don’t recall when or where I heard this.  Granddad was 4 years old when his mother died and he, along with several of his siblings, was sent to live with a lady named Mary Brannan.  As of February 2013, I am still searching for information on Ms. Brannan.   

Nettie Ethel DuBose Richardson, then, is my maternal grandfather's step-mother.  She and his father had five children together, my grandfather's half-bothers and sisters. 

Nettie Ethel DuBose Richardson

I copied these two photos from the online family tree maintained by her granddaughter; daughter of her son Gordon.  I do not know the provenance or dates of these photos.

Comments on Nettie Ethel DuBose Richardson – “Miss Ethel” 

DuBose-Richardson

 Her name, DuBose, is of interest because the Richardson and DuBose families (DuBois; Dubose; Dubois) intermarried at least once before.  While I have not confirmed this, it appears that my 7^th great-grandfather, John Richardson (born 1674, Durham, England; died 1704, Jamestown, Virginia) married “Mary DuBois” (born 1684, Kingston, New York; died ???).

The DuBose name also appears in the person of Francis DuBose Richardson, a son of one of the Richardson family members who moved from their home in South Carolina to near Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi, in 1808 – 1811.   Francis DuBose Richardson was born in Wilkinson County in 1812 and died in New Iberia, LA, in 1901.  His third-great-grandfather is the John Richardson who married Mary DuBose and I assume this is where his DuBose name originated.

Miss Ethel's father was James Gordon DuBose, but I know nothing more about her ancestors.

Marriage to Reverdy Hunter Richardson 

Miss Ethel was married to my great-grandfather, Reverdy Hunter Richardson from January 1906 until his death 12 April 1916.  They had five children.

1. James Gordon Richardson ("Gordon"), b. 23 April 1907, died 1 April 1981, in Natchez, Mississippi.  Gordon was named for Miss Ethel’s father, James Gordon DuBose.
    

2. Mattie Richardson ("Mattie"), named after her father’s first wife, Mattie Coon; born 10 July 1908, died 7 January 1912.
    

   • Entry in Richardson Family Bible reads:
     "Mattie Richardson, daughter of R. H. Richardson and Ethel D. Richardson died early Sunday morning Jan 7th 1912.  She came to her death by burning.  She fell in the fire Friday the 5th.  After living two days in suffering she fell asleep in the arms of Jesus.  Oh that her brothers and sisters, Father and Mother may live to meet her is the prayer of one who loves her."

    

   • Article in Woodville Republican newspaper states:

   "" ___ of the most ______ incidents which has occurred _____ for many years past was the burning of little Mattie Richardson, aged three years, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Richardson, at her home on Friday of last week, which caused her death on Sunday morning.  Mrs. Richardson left the little girl in her room and went out into the kitchen for a moment, when she heard the child's screaming.  On returning to the room she found the little girl's dress in flames.  The mother extinguished the fire but not until the child was so badly burned that she died two days later.  Her remains were interred in Evergreen Cemetery on Monday morning.  To the bereaved parents we extend our sincerest condolences for the death of their loved one."

   (NOTE:  I have not been able to find her grave in Evergreen Cemetery, Woodville, MS.)

    

3. Alice LaVilla Richardson ("Alice"), born 23 April 1910, died in 1995.
    

4. Arthur Whitfield Richardson ("Arthur"), born 16 July 1912, died 15 May 1989.
    

5. Frances DuBose Richardson ("Frank"), born 12 March 1916, died 1993. 

 Census Records 

1910 Federal Census; Beat 1, Woodville, Wilkinson County, Mississippi 

 1920 Federal Census; Norwood, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana 

1930 Federal Census; Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana 

 Note:  In view of the ages of the three Carpenter’s, I suspect they may have been orphans, living with Miss Ethel.

 1940 Federal Census; Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; 621 Convention Street 

 By 1940, Miss Ethel is the proprietor of a boarding house at 621 Convention Street, Baton Rouge, LA.  I checked Google Earth on 25 February 2013 – the area now is home to office buildings and parking lots.  The census also indicates Miss Ethel had completed two years of college, as had her son Arthur.  She died in 1949, nine years after this census, age 67.

As of February 2013, I am still researching Nettie Ethel DuBose Richardson. 

Follow this link to a page of photos of DuBose graves in Hillcrest Cemetery, Norwood, East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

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