Sentimental Sunday

The family of Thomas Henry Smithson and Nannie Carnefix.

Nannie is seen here seated in the middle row. Nannie was my great-grandmother's sister.

Treasure Chest Thursday

This is a photograph that I recently obtained of my great-grandmother's sister, Nannie Carnefix Smithson.

Nannie was the daughter of George W. Carnefix [1831-1864] and his first wife,  who is believed to be Sarah Elizabeth Patteson [b. 1835  - d. abt 1859]. With Sarah George had 2 other known children: James [b. 1856] and Charles [b. 1858]. Nannie was born 01 July 1854 in Greenbrier County, [W] Va.

Nannie married Thomas Henry W. Smithson [1852-1914] on 08 Mar 1876 in Greenbrier County. The couple went on to have at least 11 children:

Lucy [1877-1936]

Emory [1878-1913]

Henry [1881-1943]

Elizabeth [1884-1905]

Verner [b. 1887]

May [b. 1887]

Margaret [b. 1888]

Mary [may be the same child as Margaret]

Lewis [b. 1890]

Charles [1892-1911]

Taney [1895-1911]

As you can see, most of Nannie's children died very young. Only Lucy and Henry reaching beyond the age of 60.

The above photo was taken in 1907 of Nannie. She was 53 years of age at the time.

Nannie died 20 Jun 1911 at Richwood, Greenbrier County, WV.  She was 57 years of age. She is buried at the Baber Cemetery in Greenbrier County.

After the death of his first wife, George Carnefix married Mary Susan Daugherty on 02 May 1860. It is believed they had only one child together.  Elizabeth [called "Eliza"], on 08 Jul 1861 in Sweet Springs, Monroe County, WV.

In 1861 George enlisted with his brother Ben in the Confederacy. Both were killed at the Battle of Cedar Creek, in Bath Co., VA on 19 Oct 1864. One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Here nearly 6,000 Union soldiers were lost, and nearly 3,000 Confederate. Much to the dismay of the Confederacy, the Union Army won this campaign. And three young Carnefix soldiers were lost that day.

George was my great-great-grandfather. Eliza, his and Mary Susan's daughter, was my great-grandmother.

Mary Susan later married Jacob Elijah Wickline, in Monroe County.

Eliza grew up and married Stephen Ledford Faudree in 1878, when she was but 17 years of age. The couple went on to have ten children.

The eigth born child, Mary Elizabeth, was born on 03 Jun 1898. She was my grandmother.

It wasn't until just very recently that we finally got a glimpse of my great-grandmother's siblings, and discovered when and how their father died.

I am blessed to have a copy of this photograph of Nannie.