Moody

The Ward-Moody family of Washington, D.C.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Darden, 57, son-in-law Algia Vaughn, 23, daughter Mittie, 22, and grandchildren Joseph, 8, Sarah, 6, and Macinda Vaughn, 5 months. [Joseph “Vaughn” was actually Joseph Ward, listed with his stepfather’s surname. “Macinda” appears to be Minerva Vaughn.]

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street,  Virginia-born Fannie Moody,  35, “keeping house” with sons William, 11, and John, 8.

On 18 February 1892, William Moody, 23, of Wilson, son of Fanny Moody (who lived in Washington, D.C.) married Sarah Ward, 18, daughter of Mittie Ward, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony at Sam Williams‘ residence in the presence S.W. Williams and J.W. Jeffreys, both of Wilson, and W.T. Williams of Halifax, N.C.

Sarah Ward Moody, her husband William M. Moody, their children Augustus and Christina Moody, and William’s mother Fannie Moody Harris migrated to Washington, D.C., between 1896 and 1898.

In the 1899 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody William M, waiter, 1617 V nw

In the 1901 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody William, waiter, 2531 15th nw

In the 1900 census of Washington, D.C: waiter William Moody, 27, wife Sarah S., 24, dressmaker, and children Augustus, 5, and Crist Moody, 4, plus sister-in-law Minerva Vaughn, 10, mother-in-law Mittie Vaughn, 46, cook, and mother Fannie Harris, 55, cook, all born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 and 1912 Washington, D.C., city directories: Moody William, waiter, 1443 Pierce pl nw

In the 1913 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Wm M, waiter, 1443 Swann nw

In the 1915 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Wm, waiter, h Whittingham pl ne

In the 1919 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Wm M, waiter, h 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In the 1920 census of Washington, District of Columbia: at 1032 Whittingham Place, paper hanger William Moody, 48; wife Sarah, 44; son Augustus, 26, hotel waiter; widowed daughter Christiana, 24; her children Lorine, 5, Robert W., 3, and Earl, 18 months; William’s mother Fanny Harris, 75; and lodger Hattie Carter, 12.

Fannie Moody Harris died 24 April 1920 in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Times, 28 April 1920.

In the 1921, 1922, and 1923 Washington, D.C., city directories: Moody Wm M, paperhngr, h 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In the 1922 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Sarah, laundress, h 1032 Whittingham pl ne

Christine Moody Briggs Payne died 22 July 1928 at the family home at 1032 Whittingham Place, N.E., in D.C.’s Deanwood neighborhood.

The Washington Times, 23 July 1928.

In the 1933 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Wm M (Sarah), paperhngr, h 1032 Whittingham pl ne h[ome] d[itto]

In the 1936 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Wm M, h 1032 Whittingham pl ne

William M. Moody died 11 May 1936 on Whittingham Place.

The Washington Times, 13 May 1936.

Five months later, on 16 October 1936, Sarah Helen Ward Moody died.

The Washington Times, 5 August 1936.

Augustus Moody injured in fall.

Washington Times, 5 August 1936.

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Augustus Moody migrated with his family to Washington, D.C., between 1895 and 1900.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Darden, 57, son-in-law Algia Vaughn, 23, daughter Mittie, 22, and grandchildren Joseph, 8, Sarah, 6, and Macinda Vaughn, 5 months. [Joseph “Vaughn” was actually Joseph H. Ward, listed with his stepfather’s surname. “Macinda” was Minerva Vaughn.]

In the 1900 census of Washington, D.C: William Moody, 27, wife Sarah S., 24, and children Augustus, 5, and Crist Moody, 4, plus sister-in-law Minerva Vaughn, 10, mother-in-law Mittie Vaughn, 46, and mother Fannie Harris, 55, all born in North Carolina.

In the 1910 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 722 Indiana Avenue, Joseph H. Ward, 39, doctor at sanatorium; wife Zela, 27; son Joseph H. Jr., 1; roomers Fern G. Gibson, 22, and Grace M. Winburn, 26, nurses at sanatorium; nephew Agustus A. Moody, 17, student; and roomer Beaula Porter, 42, schoolteacher.

On 7 March 1914, Augustus Moody, 22, married Adelle Minor, 18, in Washington, D.C.

In the 1915 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus waiter r 43 Hanover nw

In 1917, Augustus Moody registered for the World War I draft in Washington, D.C. Per his registration card, he was born 27 June, about 1892, in Wilson, North Carolina; lived at 43 Hanover, N.W., Washington; worked as a waiter at Washington Terminal Company; and was married.

Augustus Moody’s signature on his World War I draft registration card.

In the 1933 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus paperhngr Wm M Moody r 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In the 1936 Washington, D.C., city directory: Moody Augustus interior decorator r 1032 Whittingham pl ne

In 1942, Augustus Moody registered for the World War II draft in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Per his registration card, he was born 27 June 1892 in Wilson, N.C.; resided at 64 Larkin Street, Annapolis (later, 1525-5th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.); his contact was Sadie Harvey, 1525-5th Street; and he was a self-employed contractor.

Scanselize her name.

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Wilson Advance, 5 March 1880.

“Disorderly conduct” was often a catch-all charge directed at many types of behavior deemed unruly, but not dangerous.

There was more:

7 23 1880

Wilson Advance, 23 July 1880.

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On 3 May 1875, in Wilson, Alexander Harris, 40, married Fanny Moody, 25.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street,  Virginia-born Fannie Moody,  35, “keeping house” with sons William, 11, and John, 8.

In the 1900 census of Washington, District of Columbia: at 2531-15th Street, waiter William Moody, 27; wife Sarah S., 24, a dressmaker; their children Augustus, 5, and Crist, 4; sister-in-law Minerva Vaughn, 10; mother-in-law Mittie Vaughn, 46, cook; and mother Fannie Harris, 55, cook. All were born in North Carolina. (William and Sarah’s Wilson County marriage license indicates that Fannie was already living in Washington when they married in 1892.)

In the 1920 census of Washington, District of Columbia: at 1032 Whittingham Place, paper hanger William Moody, 48; wife Sarah, 44; son Augustus, 26, hotel waiter; widowed daughter Christiana, 24; her children Lorine, 5, Robert W., 3, and Earl, 18 months; William’s mother Fanny Harris, 75; and lodger Hattie Carter, 12.

Mother Ward has departed this life.

PC_4_19_1924_Mittie_Ward

Pittsburgh Courier, 19 April 1924.

——

Mittie Roena Ward was the mother of Dr. Joseph H. Ward, the Wilson-born Indianapolis doctor featured in my first blog entry. Mittie and her twin sister Apsilla, “Appie,” were born in 1849 to Sarah Ward in Greene County on the plantation of David G.W. Ward, who was their father as well as owner. [Ward’s plantation extended into Wilson County, and I have blogged about his home just south of Stantonsburg here.]

aspilla-ward-hagans

Mittie’s twin, Appie Ward Hagans, perhaps 1880s.

On 12 July 1866, Sarah Ward and Sam Darden filed their cohabitation in Wilson County. This registration, which formalized the marriages of ex-slaves, noted that they had been married five years, well after the births of Sarah’s children. Daughter Appie married Napoleon Hagans of Nahunta, Wayne County, circa 1867, and on 16 June 1870, Henry Ward, son of D.G.W. Ward and Sarah Darden, married Sarah Forbes, daughter of Henry Forbes, in Wilson. The couple appear next door to the Forbes family in the 1870 census of Wilson. On 6 May 1879, Mitty Finch [alias Mittie Ward] married Virginia-born Algernon Vaughn in Wilson.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Darden, 57, son-in-law Algia Vaughn, 23, daughter Mittie, 22, and grandchildren Joseph, 8, Sarah, 6, and Macinda Vaughn, 5 months. [Joseph “Vaughn” was actually Joseph Ward, listed with his stepfather’s surname.] Also living in Wilson, plow shop worker Henry Ward, 27, wife Sarah, 28, and children Walter, 9, Manora, 7, Lilly, 5, Claudius, 3, and Addie, 1.

Mittie’s daughter Sarah married William Moody in Wilson on 18 February 1892.

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Before the decade was out, the entire family relocated to Washington DC to join William’s mother, Fannie. In the 1900 census of the District: William Moody (born 1872), wife Sarah S. (1876) and children Augustus (June 1894) and Crist Moody (1896), plus sister-in-law Minerva Vaughn (1890), mother-in-law Mittie Vaughn (1854), and mother Fannie Harris (1854), all born in North Carolina.

Soon after, however, Mittie joined her son Joseph Ward in Indianapolis, reverted permanently to her maiden name (though keeping the title “Mrs.”), and began a peripatetic life that saw her in and out of the households of her children. The Indianapolis Recorder, an African-American news weekly, kept close tabs on the mother of one of the city’s most illustrious residents:

  • “Mrs. Mittie Ward, mother of Dr. J.H. Ward will leave today for Washington, D.C., to spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Moody. Her youngest daughter will remain in the city with her brother Dr. Ward.”  [12 December 1903]
  • “Ward-Artis.  On Wednesday June 22, at high noon the wedding of Miss Minerva Ward, the daughter of Mrs. Mittie Ward and sister of one of our prominent physicians Dr. Joseph H. Ward, and Mr. Dillard Artis, of Marion, will be celebrated in the presence of the immediate family and a few intimate friends. Rev. Morris Lewis assisted by Rev. T.A. Smythe will perform the ceremony. They will leave at 5 p.m. for Marion, where a wedding reception will be given from 8 to 11 p.m., at 920 S. Boot street, the home of the groom. The bride is well and favorably known in our city’s best circles and is a favorite in the younger social set. The groom is a prominent cement contractor of Marion and a highly respected citizen, owning a great deal of property, which he has accumulated by his industry and business tact. They will be at home at 920 S. Boot street, Marion.”  [18 June 1910]
  • “Mrs. Minerva Ward Artis of Marion, spent the holidays with her mother, Mrs. Mittie Ward, of the city.”  [31 December 1910]
  • “Mrs. Dillard Artis of Marion, was in the city a few days this week. Mrs. Artis is visiting her brother, Dr. J.H. Ward and her mother, Mrs. Mittie Ward.”  [18 February 1911]
  • “Dr. J. Ward of Indianapolis and Master Joseph were guests of his mother Mrs. Mittie Ward and sister Mrs. S.D. Artis of S. Boots street Wednesday.”  [19 August 1911]
  • “Mrs. Mittie Ward of Indianapolis, who has been the guest of her daughter for the past week Mrs. S.D. Artis returned home Saturday and on December 5, will leave for Washington, D.C. to spend the winter with her daughter.”   [2 December 1911]
  • “Dr. J.H. Ward of Indianapolis was called to this city [Marion, Indiana] the first part of this week to attend the bedside of his mother, Mrs. Mittie Ward, who is ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S.D. Artis, in South Boots street.”  [25 November 1916]

It was during one of her visits with her daughter Sarah Moody in Washington, D.C., that Mittie Ward succumbed to a stroke.