Unknown WEST Andrew Simpson WEST John A WEST Benjamin Hesicare WEST Mary COX Julia Elizabeth WEST Lillie May WEST Rufus Tillmon WEST William Berry WEST Jesse B WEST Belle Tennessee WEST Opal Annie WEST Susan A BURKE Martha J WEST Margaret Louisa A WEST George Crompton WEST William Gray WEST Mary A WESTWIFE Mini tree diagram
Rufus Asberry WEST

Rufus Asberry WEST1,5,6,4,7,8,9,3,11,10

6th Feb 18491,5,6,4,7,8,9,3,10 - 29th Aug 192811,2

Life History

6th Feb 1849

Born in North Carolina.1,5,6,4,7,8,9,3,10

about 1874

Birth of son John A WEST in Arkansas.5

about 1875

Death of Mary COX in Arkansas.32

8th May 1875

Birth of son Benjamin Hesicare WEST in Melbourne, Izard, Arkansas.5,32,14

about 1878

Married Susan A BURKE.9

between 1880 and 1928

Resident in Prairie Township, Arkansas, Arkansas.4

7th Jul 1880

Birth of daughter Julia Elizabeth WEST in Arkansas.4,6,12,13,14,15,16

19th Mar 1885

Birth of daughter Lillie May WEST in Arkansas.4,6,14,3

7th Nov 1887

Birth of son Rufus Tillmon WEST in Arkansas.17,18,6,4,19,20,3

2nd Jan 1890

Birth of son William Berry WEST in Arkansas.6,19,9,21,8,22,4,23

9th Feb 1892

Birth of son Jesse B WEST in St Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas.6,24,4,9,19,25,26,27,28

2nd Jan 1895

Birth of daughter Belle Tennessee WEST in Ethel, Arkansas, Arkansas.8,6,9,4,29,3,14,14,30

7th Mar 1897

Birth of daughter Opal Annie WEST in Arkansas.31,19

10th Feb 1923

Death of daughter Lillie May WEST in Arkansas County, Arkansas.3

19th Nov 1925

Death of Susan A BURKE in Arkansas County, Arkansas.4,32,3

29th Aug 1928

Died in Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,4,3

(most likely)

30th Jul 1929

Died in Arkansas County, Arkansas.11,2

(less likely)

after 30th Jul 1929

Buried in Chute Cemetery, St Charles, Arkansas County, Arkansas.1,2,3

Other facts

 

Married Mary COX

Notes

  • 1860 Federal Census, Polk County, North Carolina, 16 July, Sandy Plain Division, Sandy Plain PO, page 54, Hse #391, Fam #367
    Mary West 32 F Weaver $0 Real Estate Value $57 Personal Estate b NC [b abt 1828]
    Andrew S West 16 F b SC [b abt 1844]
    Rufus A West 12 M b NC [b abt 1848]
    Martha J West 8 F b NC [b abt 1852]
    George C West 7 M b NC [b abt 1853]
    Margaret L A West 4 F b NC [b abt 1856]
    Wm G West 3 mos M b NC [b abt 1860]

    In the 1870 census, Asberry is the head of a household of several of his siblings.

    1870 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 1 July, p 6, PO St Charles, Hse/Fam #42
    West, Asbury 22 M W Farmer $No Real Estate $No Personal Estate b N Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1848]
    West, Martha 18 F W  Keeping House b N Carolina Cannot read or write [born abt 1852]
    West, George 16 M W b N Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1854]
    West, Louisa 14 F W b N Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1856]
    West, Gray 10 M W b N Carolina Cannot read or write [b abt 1860]

    R Asberry West
    Born 6 Mar 1849 in North Carolina
    Died 29 Aug 1928
    Residence 1880-1928 Prairie, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Spouse Susan A Burkes 1856-1925
    Children:
    Julia E West b 1881
    Lillie M. West b 1885
    Rufus H. West b 1888
    William Beny West b 1891
    Jesse B. West 1892-1973
    Opal Annie West 1897-1977
    Belle Tennessee West b 1898
    --  Ancestry Trees, Mafitt Genealogy, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/3026428/person/-1758461663?ssrc=&ftm=1

    Note that the birth date in this genealogy differs from Asberry's grave marker, which says 6 February 1849.

    I found a West family that was similar but did not quite fit.  In the 1880 census, A S West and wife SJ West were in Prairie Township of Arkansas County.  Age and birth place indicated this might be a brother of Asberry (Rufus).  Later I found an entry for an A S West in 1910, next door to R A and Susan, heightening the likelihood that these are two members of the same family.

    This is Andrew Simpson West, Asberry's older brother.  The 1860 census for their family in North Carolina, found only years later, indicates Andrew S was the oldest child and Rufus A the second.  They are in the household of their mother, a widow's head of household.  In 1870, as we saw above, the whole household of West chidlren were reported in Rufus' household in Prairie Township pf Arkansas County, Arkansas.  Except for Andrew, who was presumably in his own household.

    1860 Federal Census, Polk County, North Carolina, 16 July, Sandy Plain Division, Sandy Plain PO, page 54, Hse #391, Fam #367
    Mary West 32 F Weaver $0 Real Estate Value $57 Personal Estate b NC [b abt 1828]
    Andrew S West 16 F b SC [b abt 1844]
    Rufus A West 12 M b NC [b abt 1848]
    Martha J West 8 F b NC [b abt 1852]
    George C West 7 M b NC [b abt 1853]
    Margaret L A West 4 F b NC [b abt 1856]
    Wm G West 3 mos M b NC [b abt 1860]

    1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 June, Prairie Township, District 2, page 10, Hse #84, Hse #87
    A S West W M 34 Head Farmer NC NC NC [born abt 1846]
    S J West W F 27 Wife House Keeping TN TN NC [born abt 1853]

    But Asberry was in the area, though quite some distance, at least in census pages.

    1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 21 June, Prairie Township, District 2, page 27, Hse #188, Hse #199
    R A West W M 32 Head Farmer SC SC SC [born abt 1848]
    Susan J West W F 24 Wife House Keeping TN TN TN [born abt 1856]
    J A West W M 6 Son AR SC TN
    H West W M 4 Son AR SC TN

    The Grand Prairie Historical Society gives us some help in understanding the listing here.  Susan is Asberry's second wife.  The mother of J A (John A) listed in 1880 was Mary Cox.

    "Gentry West tells me John A, son of R A West and Mary Cox, died a young boy and is buried in Lone Tree Cemetery near Stuttgartt, AR.  We have no information on H. the 4 year old son."
    --  Grand Prairie Historical Society Bulletin, April 1991, pp 45

    1900 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 19 June, Prairie Township, District 7, Page 14B, House #240, Family #245
    West, Asberry Head W M Mar 1849  51 Married 21 years NC NC NC Farmer  Owns Farm
    West, Susan A  Wife W F July 1856  43 Married 21 years  8 children/7 living TN TN TN
    West, Julia E  Dau W F July 1880  19 Single AR NC TN
    West, Lillie M  Dau W F Mar 1885  15 Single AR NC TN
    West, Rufus H  Son W M Nov 1887  12 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer
    West, William B Son W M Jan 1890  10 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer
    West, Jesse J Son W M Feb 1892  8 Single AR NC TN
    West, Belle T Dau W F Jan 1895  5 Single AR NC TN
    West, Annie O Dau W F Mar 1898  2 Single AR NC TN

    1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 29 April, North Prairie Township, District 12, page 5B, Hse/Fam #93
    West, R A Head M W 61 Married 32 years NC NC NC Farmer Owns [b abt 1849]
    West, Susan Wife F W 53 Married 32 years 8 children/7 living TN TN TN [b abt 1857]
    West, Berry Son M W 20 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer [b abt 1890]
    West, Jessie Son M W 18 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer [b abt 1892]
    West, Tennessee Dau F W 15 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer [b abt 1895]
    West, Annie Dau F W 12 Single AR NC TN Farm Laborer [b abt 1898]

    Living next door is Asberry's brother A S or Simpson and his second wife Annie L.  Annie is age 57, and this is her first marriage.  They have been married 26 years.  This means that S J, the wife of A S in 1880, died before 1884.  Annie and A S have had 6 children.

    1910 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 29 April, North Prairie Township, District 12, page 5B, Hse/Fam #92
    West, A S Head M W 64 Marriage 2 Married 26 years [mar abt 1884] NC NC NC Farmer Owns [b abt 1846]
    West, Annie L Wife F W 57 Marriage 1 Married 26 years 6 children/6 living KY KY TN [b abt 1853]
    West, Myrtle Dau F W 25 Single AR NC KY Farm Laborer [b abt 1885]
    West, Sallie Dau F W 20 Single AR NC KY Farm Laborer [b abt 1890]
    West, [unreadable] Son M W 18 Single AR NC KY Farm Laborer [b abt 1892]

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 5 February, Prairie Township, District 15, page 5B, Hse/Fam #99
    West, Asberry  Head Owns M W 71 SC SC TN Farmer [born abt 1849]
    West, Susan Wife F W 64 TN TN TN [born abt 1856]
    West, Berry Son M W 29  Single AR SC TN Farmer [born abt 1991]
    West, Tennie Daughter M W 22  Single AR SC TN Farmer [born abt 1898]

    Living just 4 houses away in 1920 we find Frank West and his wife Perarl, with their three sons.  Frank is Asberry's nephew, the son of Asberry's brother Simp (A Simpson).

    I got a note from a family member also looking for more information on the West family, informing me of Rufus Asberry's the burial place.

    "Do you have any documents on West and his marriage to Susan Burke?  She is my ggAunt.  We just got in touch with West's daughter married to Padget, lives in Ethel Ark.  Rufus is buried in White River Chute Cemetery and I am hoping to get photos of the Wests in there.  They are not listed in the Cemetery book but his [grand]daughter said he is there."
    --  Richard Burke, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 7 July 2010

    Gravestone of Asberry West, White River Chute Cemetery, St Charles, Arkansas, Arkansas
    Asberry West
    Feb 6, 1849
    Aug 29, 1928

    Find a Grave lists "Chute Cemetery" as being in (near) DeWitt, Arkansas.  DeWitt is about 10 miles west of St Charles, but the Chute Cemetery is southeast of St Charles.

    Rufus Asberry West
    Birth Mar 6, 1849 North Carolina
    Death Aug 29, 1928 Arkansas County, Arkansas
    Spouse Susan Burke West 1856 - 1925
    Children:
    Rufus Tillmon West 1887-1972
    Jesse B West 1892-1973
    Burial Chute Cemetery, De Witt, Arkansas County, Arkansas
    Created by Ed Burke Apr 23, 2011
    --  Find A Grave Memorial #68821942, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68821942

    I was surprised to find that the Arkansas Death record Index reports a different date of death, over a year later than the gravestone.  This may indicate that the footstone on his grave was laid much later than death, and some error of recording or copying led to the engraving of the incorrect date.

    I have seen this type of error this in other cases also.  Sometimes the grave will have a year later, sometimes a year earlier.  No other similar person seems to be found in Arkansas County to match Asberry for this date.  This may also be an error in transcribing the Index from handwritten form to the typewritten form.

    Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
    Rufus Asb[erry] West
    Death 30 July 1929 Arkansas County
    Roll number 1924-1933, page 6320

Sources

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