Life History

Notes

• 1870 Federal Census, Drew County, Arkansas, 8 August, Beauregard Township, P O Green Mount, page 5 (scan 569), Hse/Fam #44
  Pertise [Pertius], A P 42 M W Farmer $1200 Real Estate $1600 Personal b AR Cannot read or write [b abt 1828]
  Pertise, Eliza 32 F W Keeping House born AR Cannot read or write [b abt 1838]
  Pertise, Willie 3 F W born AR [b abt 1867]
  
  Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957:
  Willie Pertuis
  Age 9, Birth Year abt 1868
  Residence Tyro, Lincoln, Arkansas
  Spouse's Name C W Godfrey
  Spouse's Gender Male
  Spouse's Age 25
  Spouse's Residence Tyro, Lincoln, Arkansas
  Marriage 24 Mar 1887 Lincoln County
  Marriage License Date 23 Mar 1887
  
  Willie's husband Cullen Godfrey died after the 1900 census, when they were reported living in Wells Bayou, Lincoln County, Arkansas.  In 1920, Willie's mother Eliza Pertuis is living with her and her husband Isaac Matthews.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas, 7 January, Randolph Township, District 43, Page 7A, Hse #156, Fam #166
  Mathews, Issacc L Head Owns M W 66 Married  AR GA GA Farming
  Mathews, Willie F Wife F W 52 Married  AR AR AR
  Pertuis, Eliza Mother-in-Law F W 82 Widow AR VA VA
  
  There is another family enumerated as a second family in their household.  This is Emanuel Godfrey and his wife Bessie, who are reported to be renting their quarters.  Emanuel is Willie's son from her first marriage with Cullen Godfrey who died after the 1900 census.
  
  There is another Pertuis family a few doors away.  Widowed Chester Pertuis, age 59.  Chester was born in Arkansas, and his father in South Carolina, and mother in Georgia.  In Chester's household are is single son Godfrey, age 31, a daughter Donna McCullom, age 34 and her 14-year-old son Charles W.
  
  Before 1930, Willie's husband Isaac Matthews died.  I have found the death and information.  Willie is living with her son Pierre.  His name is spelled phonetically in English in this census as Peair.  Pierre's record informs us that his father Cullen Godfrey was born in Mississippi.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas, 15 April, Dumas, District 21-14, page 14B, College St, Hse #342, Fam #387
  Godfrey, Peair [Pierre] Head Owns $4000 M W 43 Single AR MS AR b abt 1887] Machinist, Cotton Gin
  Godfrey, Willie F Mother F W 62 Widow AR AR AR [b abt 1868]
  
  1940 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas, 15 April, Randolph Township, District 21-16, Page 8B, Hse #170, Own $1600, Farm
  Godfry, Jesse Head M W 47 Married Grade 7 b Ark Same place in 1935 Farmer [b abt 1893]
  Godfry, Sallie Kate Wife F W 44 Married Grade 7 b Ark Same place in 1935 [b abt 1896]
  Godfry, Geraldine Dau F W 17 Single Grade H2 b Ark Same place in 1935 [b abt 1923]
  - page 9A -
  Godfry, Wilie Frances Mother F W 77 Widow Grade 4 b Ark Same place in 1935 [b abt 1863]
  Hutchinson, Dave Adopted Son M W 54 Single Grade 5 b Ark Same place in 1935 Assistant Farmer [b abt 1886]
  
  Note that Dave Hutchinson is reported as an adopted son of Jesse, but Dave is 7 years older than Jesse.
  
  Willie and her son Jesse's household were also enumerated a second time in their residence in Dumas.  Jesse is reported as a farmer.  There are some slight differences in the enumeration, notably the name of the daughter Geraldine is given a name that appears to be Joliene.  There is a boarder in the city home.  In the Dumas enumeration, Willie's name is more properly reported as Willie Matthews, but without the benefit of her middle name.
  
  However, that enumerator reported her as mother-in-law, rather than mother.  this was probably because of the difference in the last names, with Willie's second married name being different form her son's name, the enumerator probably took her for Sallie's mother.We are not including that whole transcription here.
  
  Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950
  Willie God Matthews
  Age 82, Estimated Birth Year 1867
  Death 8 Aug 1949 Desha County
  Volume 45, Certificate #8974
  
  -------------------
  Mrs Willie Pertuis Matthews
  Birth Jul. 26, 1867
  Death Aug. 8, 1949
  
  Willie Pertuis Matthews was the wife of Alonzo Isaac Matthews. They were married on 21 Oct 1906 in Lincoln County. Alonzo was the son of John L and Carolyn Matthews. Willie was the daughter of Pierre (Peter) A and Eliza Pertuis, pioneers in Arkansas. This was her second marriage. She first married Cullen Godfrey.
  
  [In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, she is enumerated as a widow under her first married name as Willie Godfrey, in the home of her son.]
  
  Burial Tyro Cemetery, Star City, Lincoln County, Arkansas
  
  Created by D Strickland Jan 11, 2011
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #64089808, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Pertuis&GSiman=1&GScnty=132&GRid=64089808&
  -------------------
  

Sources

• 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 2. 1870 Federal Census, Drew County, Arkansas
  • 8 August, Beauregard Township, P O Green Mount, page 5 (scan 569), Hse/Fam #44
• 3. Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957
• 4. 1920 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas
  • 7 January, Randolph Township, District 43, Page 7A, Hse #156, Fam #166
• 5. 1930 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas
  • 15 April, Dumas, District 21-14, page 14B, College St, Hse #342, Fam #387
• 6. 1940 Federal Census, Desha County, Arkansas
  • 15 April, Randolph Township, District 21-16, Page 9A, Hse #170, Own $1600, Farm
• 7. Arkansas Death Index, 1914-1950