1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 72B;
Image 84 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Alfred Williams; age 42; born in AL; married at 22; Negro; coal loader in coal mine; head
of household.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #5977; WV Archives Web Site.
Alfred Williams; age 50; born in 1894 in Marion, Perry Co, AL; married; husband of Lela Williams;
coal loader; Colored; living at Welch, WV; son of Winston and and Louise Williams; died 18 May
1944 in Grace Hospital, Welch, WV; from uremia; buried 21 May 1944; Cemetery, Roderfield, WV.
3. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
Kenneth Bowen; 5 May 2010.
Alfred Williams; born 1894 (sic, 1888); died 18 May 1944; buried here; no grave marker photo shown.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 72B;
Image 84 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Lelia Williams; age 30; born in AL; married at 18; in household of husband; Alfred Williams.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #15606; WV Archives Web Site.
Lelia Williams; age 45; born in Marion, AL; married; Colored; living at Kimball, WV; daughter of
William and Lelia Jefferson; died 18 Sep 1943 at Welch, WV from central nervous lues (syphilis) and
hypertension; buried 17 Oct 1943 in Norwood Cemetery, Kimball, WV; informant, Alfred Williams,
Kimball, WV.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 773A;
Image 85 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Elezola Williams; age 10; born in AL; in household of father; Alfred Williams.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 773A;
Image 85 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Penella Williams; age 8 mons; born in WV; in household of father; Alfred Williams.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 72B;
Image 84 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Alfred Williams; age 42; born in AL; married at 22; Negro; coal loader in coal mine; head
of household.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #5977; WV Archives Web Site.
Alfred Williams; age 50; born in 1894 in Marion, Perry Co, AL; married; husband of Lela Williams;
coal loader; Colored; living at Welch, WV; son of Winston and and Louise Williams; died 18 May
1944 in Grace Hospital, Welch, WV; from uremia; buried 21 May 1944; Cemetery, Roderfield, WV.
3. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
Kenneth Bowen; 5 May 2010.
Alfred Williams; born 1894 (sic, 1888); died 18 May 1944; buried here; no grave marker photo shown.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; Bartlett; taken on 28 Apr 1930; Page 73A;
Image 85 of 89; Family #83/83.
Listed as Samuel N. Williams; age 19; born in AL; in household of father, Alfred Williams.
1. 1910 Census, Symth Co, VA; Seven Mile Ford Precinct; taken on 27 Apr 1910; Page 51A; Image
11 of 21; Family #111/111.
Listed as Laurence Seets; age 11; born in NC; in household of father, Joshua C. Seets.
2. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; State Road #8; taken 9 Apr 1930; Page
100A; Image 23 of 62; Family #244/229.
Listed as Lester L. Seets; age 31; born in VA; married at 20; car coger (?) for coal (mine?); head
of household.
3. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Superior; Enumeration District 24-41;
taken 4 Apr 1940; Page 804A; Image 11 of 26; Household #92.
Listed as Lester Seets; age 41; born in NC; married; 6th grade education; lived at same place at
1930 Census; motor boss in coal mine; head of household.
4. McDowell Co, WV; Death Certificate #12182; WV Archives Web Site via LDS Web Site.
Lester Seets; age 56; born 25 Aug 1898 in Marion, VA; widowed; motor boss in coal mine; served
in US Army in WW II (sic, WW I); living at Superior, WV; son of Curtis and _____Seets; died 11
Oct 1954 in Stevens Clinic, Welch, WV from a pulmonary infarction due to a conanary thrombosis
with diabetes mellitus and constitutional obesity; buried 14 Oct 1954 in Woodlawn Cemetery;
informant, Mrs. John Gillise(sic, Gillespie).
5. E-mail, 12 Apr 2012; Tom Vannoy.
"...The story told to my cousin, by her mother, before she died was: Her father, my grandfather, Thomas P Scott, impregnated a Seets girl who was staying at his mother's house. My mother nor any of my aunts ever told me or any of my cousins about this. My aunt told her daughter that he was Lester L Seets, born 1899. When I was going through my mother's dresser drawers I found a picture of two WW1 soldiers. Over one was (2 ). On the other side it said Lester L Seets, no. two. It was on a postcard but not mailed but below his name he wrote: to dorothy, who was my (Tom Vannoy) mother. Also it was said that Lester came to see my Papa Scott once and my Mama Scott threw a fit and he never came back again to my knowledge. Also the story goes that when he went in the Army he listed my Aunt Minnie Scott Greer as his beneficiary on his insurance. Evidently my Aunt Minnie, my mother and maybe all my Aunts knew this story and kept it a secret from all of the grandchildren of Papa Scott. Perhaps the Seets staying with my great-grandmother was the wife of Joshua Seets, but if so how did he know Papa Scott was his father. I have been through all the files you mentioned and also found that John L Seets, son of Lester Seets joined the Army March 27, 1943 and was killed in Italy Nov 11, 1943. Attended Superior schools, Methodist, son of Mr and Mrs Lester Seets, Box 15, Superior, WVA. Many Seets names appear as living in Ashe, Oldfields township, in 1930 and 1940 Census. I am going to drive over and see if I can find more info from some of the Seets families. I talked to some in the Todd area of Ashe and came up with blanks. Again thank you for your great info. I will let you know as I progress with my search."
6. E-mail Tom Vannoy; 25 Apr 2012.
"Larry, I have found Lester's grandkids and found that Lester Seets mother was Nettie Brown. Nettie Brown was raised in an orphanage and was staying with my great grandmother, Emiline Houck Scott when Thomas Preston Scott (my grandfather) got her pregnant. Lester was raised by Joshua Seets. The Seets, Houck's and Woods were inter twined by marriage."
1. 1920 Census, Smyth Co, VA; Marion District; taken on 9/10 Jan 1920; Page 49A; Image 9 of 10;
Family #95/95.
Listed as Clara Seets; age 16; born in VA; married; in household of uncle, James A. Lester.
2. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; State Road #8; taken 9 Apr 1930; Page
100A; Image 23 of 62; Family #244/229.
Listed as Clara Seets; age 27; born in VA; married at 16; in household of husband, Lester L. Seets.
3. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Superior; Enumeration District 24-41;
taken 4 Apr 1940; Page 804A; Image 11 of 26; Household #92.
Listed as Clara Seets; age 36; born in VA; married; 6th grade education; lived at same place at 1930
Census; provided information for this census; folds laundry; in household of husband, Lester L. Seets.
4. Mercer Co, WV; Death Certificate #10228; WV Archives Web Site via LDS Web Site.
Clara Elizabeth Seetsage 50; born 23 Mar 1903 at Marion, VA; married; housewife; living at
Superior, WV; daughter of W.P. and Mollie (Clark) Lester; died 16 Jun 1953 in the Bluefield
Sanitarium, Bluefield, WV from generalized carcinomatosis, squamous cell carcinoma of cervix with
onset in 1947; buried 18 Jun 1953 in Woodlawn Memorial Park; informant, Lester Seets, husband.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; State Road #8; taken 9 Apr 1930; Page
100A; Image 23 of 62; Family #244/229.
Listed as Johnnie Seets; age 5; born in WV; in household of father, Lester L. Seets.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Superior; Enumeration District 24-41;
taken 4 Apr 1940; Page 804A; Image 11 of 26; Household #92.
Listed as John Seets; age 17; born in WV; single; 8th grade education; lived at same place at
1930 Census; in household of father, Lester L. Seets
3. E-mail; 12 Apr 2012; Thomas Vannoy from "WW II Young American Patroits, 1941-1945,
McDowell Co, WV; Page 760.
"..."John J Seets, son of Lester Seets, joined the Army March 27, 1943 and was killed in Italy Nov 11, 1943. Attended Superior schools, Methodist, son of Mr and Mrs Lester Seets, Box 15, Superior, WVA..."
1. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Curtis Seets; age 2; born in NC; in household of father, Robert E. Seets.
2. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as Joshua Seets; age 10; born in NC; in household of mother, Pheobe Shepherd Seets.
3. 1910 Census, Smyth Co, VA; Seven Mile Ford Precinct; taken on 27 Apr 1910; Page 51A; Image
11 of 21; Family #111/111.
Listed as Joshua C. Seets; age 55; born in NC; married once for 22 yrs; farm laborer; head of
household.
1. 1910 Census, Symth Co, VA; Seven Mile Ford Precinct; taken on 27 Apr 1910; Page 51A; Image
11 of 21; Family #111/111.
Listed as Louise Seets; age 51; born in TN; married twice, last time for 22 yrs; no children (???);
in household of husband, Joshua C. Seets. (Supports fact that Lester Lawrence Seets was not her
child)
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1941); Page 345; WV Archives Web Site.
John Carson Gillespie; age 23; born in VA; single; living at Superior, WV; married on 20 Oct 1941
at Gary, WV; Virginia Kathelene Seets; age 19; born and living at Superior, WV; single.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; State Road #8; taken 9 Apr 1930; Page
100A; Image 23 of 62; Family #244/229.
Listed as Virginia Seets; age 8; born in WV; in household of father, Lester L. Seets.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Superior; Enumeration District 24-41;
taken 4 Apr 1940; Page 804A; Image 11 of 26; Household #92.
Listed as Virginia Seets; age 18; born in WV; single; 1 year high school education; lived at same
place at 1930 Census; in household of father, Lester L. Seets
3. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1941); Page 345; WV Archives Web Site.
John Carson Gillespie; age 23; born in VA; single; living at Superior, WV; married on 20 Oct 1941
at Gary, WV; Virginia Kathelene Seets; age 19; born and living at Superior, WV; single.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 98; WV Archives Web Site.
Clifford Walter McPeak; age 23; born at Big Four, WV; single; living at Superior, WV; married on
13 Nov 1944 at Welch, WV; Alice Pearl Seets; age 19; born and living at Superior, WV; wirh
consent of Clara Seets, mother of Alice Paerl Seets.
1. 1930 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; State Road #8; taken 9 Apr 1930; Page
100A; Image 23 of 62; Family #244/229.
Listed as Alice Seets; age 5; born in WV; in household of father, Lester L. Seets.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Superior; Enumeration District 24-41;
taken 4 Apr 1940; Page 804A; Image 11 of 26; Household #92.
Listed as Alice Seets; age 16; born in WV; single; 8th grade education; lived at same place at
1930 Census; in household of father, Lester L. Seets
3. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 98; WV Archives Web Site.
Clifford Walter McPeak; age 23; born at Big Four, WV; single; living at Superior, WV; married on
13 Nov 1944 at Welch, WV; Alice Pearl Seets; age 19; born and living at Superior, WV; wirh
consent of Clara Seets, mother of Alice Paerl Seets.
1. "New River Notes"; "Marriage Records of Ashe County, North Carolina, 1801-1872"; compiled by
Minnie Patrick Osborne and Jeffery C. Weaver; Ashe County Historical Society, West Jefferson,
North Carolina, 28694; 1989
Robert Seats married Phebe Shepherd on 22 Oct 1851.
2. NC Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Robert Seats; by bond date of 8 Jun 1851; was married to Phebe Shepherd on 23 Oct 1851 in
Ashe Co, NC; by C.R. Phillips. (marriage date disagrees with Ref 1 by 1 day)
3. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Robert Seets; age 29; born in NC; day laborer; head of household.
1. 1850 Census, Ashe Co, NC; taken on 2 Dec 1850; Page 330A; Image 187 of 198;
Family #1336/1336.
Listed as Pheby Shepherd; age 16; born in NC; in household of father, Presley Shepherd.
2. "New River Notes"; "Marriage Records of Ashe County, North Carolina, 1801-1872"; compiled by
Minnie Patrick Osborne and Jeffery C. Weaver; Ashe County Historical Society, West Jefferson,
North Carolina, 28694; 1989
Robert Seats married Phebe Shepherd on 22 Oct 1851.
3. NC Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Robert Seats; by bond date of 8 Jun 1851; was married to Phebe Shepherd on 23 Oct 1851 in
Ashe Co, NC; by C.R. Phillips. (marriage date disagrees with Ref 2 by 1 day)
4. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Pheobe Seets; age 27; born in NC; in household of husband, Robert E. Seets.
5. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as Phebe Seets; age 33; born in NC; head of household.
6. 1880 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields Township; taken on 15/16/17 Jun 1880; Page 628A; Image
11 of 21; Family #96/97.
Listed as Phebe Seats; age 49; born in KY; widow; in household of son; Robert L. Seets.
1. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Salina Seets; age 6; born in NC; in household of father, Robert E. Seets.
1. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as David Seets; age 13; born in NC; in household of mother, Pheobe Shepherd Seets.
1. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Lewis Seets; age 4; born in NC; in household of father, Robert E. Seets.
2. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as Lewis Seets; age 11; born in NC; in household of mother, Pheobe Shepherd Seets.
3. 1880 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields Township; taken on 15/16/17 Jun 1880; Page 628A; Image
11 of 21; Family #96/97.
Listed as Robert L. Seats; age 23; born in NC; single; farm laborer; head of household.
1. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as Mary Seets; age 6; born in NC; in household of mother, Pheobe Shepherd Seets.
1. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 8 Aug 1870; Page 554A;
Image 7 of 11; Family #52/52.
Listed as Ellen Seets; age 2; born in NC; in household of mother, Pheobe Shepherd Seets.
1. 1880 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields Township; taken on 15/16/17 Jun 1880; Page 628A; Image
11 of 21; Family #96/97.
Listed as Malinda I. Seats; age 8; born in NC; in household of brother; Robert L. Seets.
1. NC Marriage Collection, 1741-2004; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Presly Shepherd married Ruth Woodey on 28 Feb 1818 in Wilkes Co, NC.
2. 1850 Census, Ashe Co, NC; taken on 2 Dec 1850; Page 330A; Image 187 of 198;
Family #1336/1336.
Listed as Presley Shepherd; age 46; born in NC; farmer; head of household.
3. 1860 Census, Wilkes Co, NC; Jobs Cabin PO; taken on 21 Jul 1860; Page 147A; Image 93 of 141;
Family #678/678.
Listed as Presley Shepherd; age 61; born in NC; miller; head of household.
4. NC Marriage Collection, 1741-2004; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Preley Shepherd; married Martha Ashley on 8 Nov 1861 in Wilkes Co, NC.
5. 1870 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Pine Swamp Township; Gap Creek PO; taken on Aug 1870;
Page 552B; image 4 of 11; Family #27/27.
Listed as Presly Shepherd; age 71; born in NC; works on farm; head of household.
6. "Heritage of Wilkes County", Vol I, Wilkes Genealogical Society, Wilkes Co, NC, 1990; "John
Shepherd, Jr. and Pheba Shepherd" article, page 438.
John Shepherd, Jr; born about 1760 probably in Spotsylvania Co, VA; died in 1812 in Wilkes Co,
NC; son of John and Sarah Shepherd; married Pheobe (_________); children: Elizabeth, Larkin,
Sarah, Wiley, Lucy, Presley, Pleasant, John S., Charlotte, Allan, George, Mary, and Louis.
Presley Shepherd; born on 14 Feb 1799; died aft 1886; married first, Ruth Woody on 28 Feb
1818; second, Martha Caroline Ashley.
1. NC Marriage Collection, 1741-2004; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Presly Shepherd married Ruth Woodey on 28 Feb 1818 in Wilkes Co, NC.
2. 1850 Census, Ashe Co, NC; taken on 2 Dec 1850; Page 330A; Image 187 of 198;
Family #1336/1336.
Listed as Ruth Shepherd; age 35; born in NC; in household of husband, Presley Shepherd.
3. 1860 Census, Ashe Co, NC; Old Fields District; Gap Creek PO; taken on 5 Jun 1860; Page 312B;
Image 12 of 22; Family #88/88.
Listed as Ruth Shepherd; age 65; born in NC; washwoman in household of son-in-law, Robert E.
Seets.
1. 1850 Census, Ashe Co, NC; taken on 2 Dec 1850; Page 330A; Image 187 of 198;
Family #1336/1336.
Listed as Sarah Shepherd; age 22; born in NC; in household of father, Presley Shepherd.
2. 1860 Census, Wilkes Co, NC; Jobs Cabin PO; taken on 21 Jul 1860; Page 147A; Image 93 of 141;
Family #678/678.
Listed as Sarah Shepherd; age 30; born in NC; in household of father, Presley Shepherd.