Elsie CHAMBERS

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1910 Census
Name: Elza Chambers [Elsie]
Age in 1910: 8
Birth Year: abt 1902
Birthplace: West Virginia
Home in 1910: Magnolia, Mingo, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Father's name: Russ B Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Mary Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Native Tongue: English
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Rees B Chambers 45
Mary Chambers 35
Talt Chambers 15
Edward Chambers 10
Elsie Chambers 8

1920 Census
Name: Elzia Chambers [Elsie]
Age: 17
Birth Year: abt 1903
Birthplace: West Virginia
Home in 1920: Magnolia, Mingo, West Virginia
Street: Main Street
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Reese Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Operator
Industry: Telephone
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Household Members:
Name Age
Reese Chambers 54
Talt Chambers 22
Edward Chambers 20
Elsie Chambers 17

1930 Census
Name: Elsie M Miller
Birth Year: abt 1902
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: West Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Matewan, Mingo, West Virginia
Age at First Marriage: 21
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members:
Name Age
Clifford C Miller 38
Elsie M Miller 28
Mary K Miller 5

Birth:
Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name: Elsie C Miller
SSN: 234960179
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Date: 31 Dec 1901
Birth Place: Matewan Ming, West Virginia
Death Date: 2 May 1993
Father: B C Chambers
Mother: Mary McCoy
Type of Claim: Original SSN.
Relationship of Signature: Not signed (blank, typed or unwitnessed mark).
Notes: 18 Sep 1972: Name listed as ELSIE C MILLER

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46108671&ref=acom

Died:
Social Security Death Index
Name: Elsie C. Miller
SSN: 234-96-0179
Last Residence: 26101 Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia
BORN: 31 Dec 1901
Died: 2 May 1993
State (Year) SSN issued: West Virginia (1973)

Elsie married Clifford Clay Miller 26 Jul 1923, Mingo Co. WV. Clifford was born 10 Jan 1895, Rock Camp, Monroe Co. WV; died 20 Jun 1967, Huntington, Cabell Co. WV; was buried , Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington, Cabell Co. WV. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
West Virginia Vital Records
http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=10338283&Type=Marriage

1. Mary Catherine Miller was born 13 Aug 1924, Mingo Co. WV; died 28 Mar 1998, Fort Wayne, Allen Co. IN.

Other Events:

• _UID: B96FF63560F642CBA2AEAF9990A477BAB3BC

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1880 Census
Name: Reese Chambers
Age: 15
Birth Year: abt 1865
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Reese B. Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's name: Emma Chambers
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farm Laborer
Household Members:
Reese B. Chambers 48
Emma Chambers 49
Mary Chambers 21
Sarah Chambers 17
Reese Chambers 15
Hugh Chambers 12
James Chambers 11

1900 Census
Name: Reece B Chambers
Age: 35
Birth Date: Jan 1865
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Magnolia, Mingo, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mary Chambers
Marriage Year: 1894
Years Married: 6
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Reece B Chambers 35
Mary Chambers 30
??Alt Chambers 5
Burgett Chambers 3
Edward Chambers 6 months
Ace Runyon 20 [boarder]
Don Runyon 24 [boarder]

1910 Census
Name: Russ B Chambers [Reese B Chambers]
Age in 1910: 45
Birth Year: abt 1865
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Magnolia, Mingo, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mary Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Farmer
Industry: General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other: Employer
Home Owned or Rented: Rent
Farm or House: Farm
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 16
Out of Work: N
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Household Members:
Name Age
Russ B Chambers 45
Mary Chambers 35
Talt Chambers 15
Edward Chambers 10
Elza Chambers 8

1920 Census
Name: Reese Chambers
Age: 54
Birth Year: abt 1866
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Magnolia, Mingo, West Virginia
Street: Main Street
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Carpenter
Industry: House
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Household Members:
Name Age
Reese Chambers 54
Talt Chambers 22
Edward Chambers 20
Elzia Chambers 17

HISTORY

The Battle of Matewan or the Matewan Massacre was a shootout in the town of Matewan in Mingo County, West Virginia on May 19, 1920. It was between local miners and the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency.

At this time miners worked long hours in unsafe and dismal working conditions, while being paid low wages. Adding to the hardship was the use of coal scrip by the Stone Mountain Coal Company, because the scrip could only be used for those goods the company sold through their company stores. The miners, under John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers of America and Mary Harris "Mother" Jones were organizing the miners. About 3000 had signed union cards, and the Stone Mountain Coal Corporation fought back with mass firings, harassment, and evictions.

Tensions were high when the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency
sent Albert C. Felts and 12 other men to evict families that had been living at the Stone Mountain Coal Camp just on the outskirts of town. After the evictions had been made, Felts and his men went to the Urias Hotel at Matewan for dinner, then they walked toward the train depot to catch the train back to Bluefield, West Virginia.

They were stopped by Matewan Chief of Police Sid Hatfield, who claimed to have arrest warrants from the Mingo County sheriff. Hatfield, a native of the Tug River Valley, was a supporter of the miners' attempts to unionize in the southern coalfields of West Virginia. Detective Felts and his brother Lee Felts then produced his own warrant for Sid Hatfield's arrest.

News of the evictions soon spread around the town. The detectives were unaware they had been surrounded by armed miners, who watched intently from the windows, doorways, and roofs of the businesses that lined Mate Street. Sid Hatfield, his deputy,Fred Burgraff, and Mayor Cabell Testerman met with the detectives on the porch of the Chambers Hardware Store. It is still unknown whether it was Hatfield or the leading detective, Albert Felts, that shot Mayor Testerman first, though what followed was Sid Hatfield shooting Albert Felts.

This began a gun battle that became known as the Matewan Massacre, or the Battle of Matewan leaving seven detectives and three townspeople dead, including the Felts brothers and the mayor of Matewan, Cabell Testerman. Some of the bullet holes from the battle can still be seen today in the old post office.

Among the men who were indicted in the massacre were Reese Chambers, Ed Chambers, Talt Chambers, Hallie Chambers, Charles Kiser, Ben Mounts, Doug Mounts, Art Williams, William Bowman, Bowser Coleman, Jim Overstreet, Clare Overstreet, N. H. Atwood, Van Clay, Jess Boyd, Lee Toler, and John Patrick.

[Note: Talt and Ed were his sons, and Hallie was his nephew.]

The most important eye-witness to this shooting was one Anse Hatfield (not "Devil Anse" Hatfield of the feud fame), who knew most of the men who took part in it and who testified before the Grand Jury, which indicted Sid Hatfield and others. A very short time thereafter, and after dark, he was assassinated by being shot while sitting in front of his hotel. A few days before he was killed, authorities say he received a letter threatening his life.

On September 9, 1920, the Mingo County Grand Jury returned indictments in connection with the killing of Anse Hatfield, at Matewan against Sid Hatfield, chief of police of Matewan, Hallie Chambers, Ed Chambers, and Talt Chambers. With the exception of Talt Chambers, the men indicted were charged with seven counts of murder in connection the Battle of Matewan on May 19.

When the charges against Hatfield, and 22 other people, for the murder of Albert Felts were dismissed, Baldwin-Felts detectives assassinated Hatfield and his deputy Ed Chambers on August 1, 1921, on the steps of the McDowell County courthouse in Welch, West Virginia. Of those defendants whose charges were not dismissed, all were acquitted.


Died:
West Virginia Death Certificate
http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=1428065&Type=Death

West Virginia Deaths, 1853-1970 Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Name: Reece B. Chambers
Birth Date: abt 1865
Death Date: 26 Aug 1958
Death Place: Barboursville, Cabell, West Virginia
Death Age: 93
Occupation: Farming
Race: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Gender: Male
Informant: hospital records [Barboursville State Hospital]
FHL Film Number: 559885

Reese married Mary McCoy 09 Jan 1896, Mingo Co. WV. Mary was born 1875, Pike Co. KY; died Aft 1910, Mingo Co. WV. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 73781FFF07624B719179BFDE4D8AC783F6D8

Notes:

Married:
West Virginia Vital Records
http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=10733267&Type=Marriage

Other Events:

• _UID: BB98587FAE20473CBD2A9DAC7504ECD0E0E5

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1840 Census Russell Co. VA, Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 Census
Name: Rees B Chambers [Reese B Chambers]
Age: 17
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: District 54, Russell, Virginia
Gender: Male
Family Number: 918
Household Members:
John O Harrison 35
Elisabeth G Harrison 27
Mary Harrison 8
Louisa Harrison 4
Lydia Harrison 0 [less than 1 year]
Rees B Chambers 17
Ibby Lewis 18

1860 Census
Name: Rees Chambers
Age: 35
Birth Year: abt 1825
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Family Number: 1018
Household Members:
Name Age
Rees Chambers 35
Emily Chambers 40
Rhoda Chambers 12
Thomas Chambers 4
Nopolson Chambers 3
John Chambers 1

1870 Census
Name: Rim Chambers [Reece Chambers]
Age in 1870: 38
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Rim Chambers 38
Emazilla Chambers 40
Thomas Chambers 12
Henderson Chambers 10
John Chambers 8
Louisa Chambers 2
Sarah Chambers 6
Mary Chambers 8
According to the census records, neither Reese nor Emily could read or write.

1880 Census
Name: Reese B. Chambers
Age: 48
Birth Year: abt 1832
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1880: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Emma Chambers
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Occupation: Farmer
Household Members:
Reese B. Chambers 48
Emma Chambers 49
Mary Chambers 21
Sarah Chambers 17
Reese Chambers 15
Hugh Chambers 12
James Chambers 11

1900 Census
Name: Reece Chambers
Age: 68
Birth Date: Nov 1831
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1900: Clear Fork, Wyoming, West Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Chambers
Marriage Year: 1896
Years Married: 4
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Household Members:
Name Age
Reece Chambers 68
Elizabeth Chambers 29
Mosouri B Charles 12
Nancy Charles 10
Benjamin H Charles 8
James F Charles 6
Carlos Chambers 2

CIVIL WAR RECORD

CHAMBERS, REESE B.: Co. A. Enl. 3/10/64 in Tazewell Co. Captured at Piedmont, 8/6/64. POW Camp Morton in Indianapolis, Indiana Exch. 2/25/65.

45th Virginia Infantry.
Enlisted in Co. H,29th. VA Inf.
Transferred from 34th.on 6/3/1862
P>Transferred to 16th. VA Cav. on 7/22/1862 to 45th VA Inf on 1/20/1864
Taken POW at Piedmont, VA on 6/5/1864
Sent to Camp Morton,IN where he was held until exchanged on 2/26/1865.

Library of Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows; Collection #: CP-5_159; Roll #: 159; Roll Description: Sussex County (surnames Wi - Wy) to Tazewell County (surnames A - Joh)

Name: Reese B Chambers
Application Date: 8 Sep 1908
Application Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Birth Year: abt 1833
Birth Place: Tazewell County, Virginia
Age: 75
Application Type: Veteran


DEATH

Have been unable to locate his death record in Wyoming Co. WV, so it is possible he may have died in another place.

Birth:
"Compiled Tazewell Co Birth Index" "A B C D", Tazewell Co, VA Web Site Rees Chambers, son of Thomas and Nancy (______) Chambers, was born abt 1833 in Tazewell Co, VA.

Rees(e) married Emmazilla (Emily) Elizabeth WINGO 27 Jul 1855, Tazewell Co VA. Emmazilla (daughter of William Esquire WINGO and Mary SHIPLEY) was born Abt 1831, Tazewell Co VA; died Abt 1895, Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: FC24D579FFC74CCAB4E347DF844C8D1E8240

Notes:

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Census
Name: Emily Chambers
Age: 40
Birth Year: abt 1820
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Virginia
Home in 1860: Western District, Tazewell, Virginia
Post Office: Cedar Bluff
Family Number: 1018
Household Members:
Name Age
Rees Chambers 35
Emily Chambers 40
Rhoda Chambers 12
Thomas Chambers 4
Napoleon Chambers 3
John Chambers 1

1870 Census
Name: Emazilla Chambers
Age in 1870: 40
Birth Year: abt 1830
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Maiden Spring, Tazewell, Virginia
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Knob
Household Members:
Reese Chambers 38
Emazilla Chambers 40
Thomas Chambers 12
Henderson Chambers 10
John Chambers 8
Louisa Chambers 2
Sarah Chambers 6
Mary Chambers 8

Notes:

Married:
Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940
Name: Rees Chambers
Birth Date: 1833
Birthplace: Russell County, Va
Age: 22
Spouse's Name: Emmagilla Elizabeth Wingo [Emmazilla]
Spouse's Birth Date: 1831
Spouse's Birthplace: Tazwell County, Va
Spouse's Age: 24
Event Date: 27 Feb 1855
Event Place: Tazewell, Virginia
Father's Name: Thomas Chambers
Mother's Name: Nancy
Spouse's Father's Name: Squire Wingo
Spouse's Mother's Name: Mary
Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M01695-4

Tazewell County VA Marriages Book 3, Page 3, Line 10,
Feb. 27, 1855 CHAMBERS, REES (21) Single. Born in Tazewell Co. Farmer. Son of Thomas & Nancy Christian
WINGO, EMMAZILLA ELIZA (24) Single. Born in Tazewell Co. Daughter of Squire & Mary Wingo Minister: Bird Lockhart
System Origin: Virginia-EASy
GS Film number: 34214
Reference ID: Page 3 Line 10

Other Events:

• _UID: 9F738053F8B2406992D90607550D1C46741A

Notes:

1830 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had one male age 20 thru 29 [himself], one female under age 5 [Lydia] one females age 15 thru 19 [Nancy] and one male slave under the age of 10.

1840 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

DOD given as 1849 in Russell Co. VA

Tazewell County Marriages
Feb. 27, 1855
CHAMBERS, REES (21) Single. Born in Tazewell Co. Farmer. Son of Thomas & Nancy Christian

Thomas married Nancy CHRISTIAN Abt 1827. Nancy was born Abt 1811, Tazewell Co. VA; died Aft 1880, Buchanan Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: B2B2D7B8AEE64E918B3C1BCFF541BF6D7902

Notes:

1830 Census, Russell Co. VA Thomas had one male age 20 thru 29 [himself], one female under age 5 [Lydia] one females age 15 thru 19 [Nancy his wife] and one male slave under the age of 10.

1840 Census Russell Co. VA, Thomas had two males under 5 [John and Hugh], one male 5-10 [Reese], one female under 5 [Joanna], one female 5-10 [Emeline], and one female 10-15 [Lydia].

1850 Census Russell Co. page 310A, Family #1250. Listed as Nancy Chambers, age 38, born in Tazewell Co, VA, head of household.

1860 Census Tazewell Co. VA, Cedar Bluff, page 837 has the following info:

Chambers, Nancy, age 60, district: Cedar Bluff, page 837. Nancy was living with Joanna, John, Douglas Chambers, age 3 [John's son Douglas Rees Chambers], and Caladina Chambers [Clarissa Shortridge, John's wife], age 15.

1870 Census Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy Chambers, age 55, unable to read and write, is living next door to her son John Chambers. Living with her is her daughter, Joannah, age 33, occupation weaver, and her son William F. Chambers, age 5.

1880 Census, Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy Chambers, age 73, mother is living in the household of John Chambers. She is unable to read or write.

Nancy died in Buchanan Co. was with son, John. This info came from Lori (ddoerr@houston.rr.com)

Birth:
1850 Census, Russell Co. VA, District 54, household 1250, information indicates she was born in Tazewell Co.

Died:
1880 Census, Buchanan Co. VA, Garden District, Nancy, age 73, was living with her son John Chambers.

Other Events:

• _UID: 34FA3E2EBD174AB2A9A52151311A1F20B435

Notes:

"Annals of Tazewell Co, VA", Harman, Vol I, page 85.
Squire Wingo married Mary Shipler on 9 Apr 1826 in Tazewell Co, VA.

1850 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Western District, taken on 30 Sep 1850, Page 309B, Family # 1291.
Listed as Esquire Wingo, age 46, born in VA, carpenter, head of household.

1860 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Cedar Bluff PO, taken on 9 Aug 1860, Page 873, Family #1292.
Listed as Squire Wingo, age 57, born in VA, carpenter, head of household.

1870 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Maiden Spring Township, Knob PO, taken on 29 Aug 1870, Page 296B, Family #508.
Listed as William Wingo, age 65, born in VA, farmer, head of household.

William married Mary SHIPLEY 9 Apr 1829, Tazewell Co. VA. Mary was born Abt 1811, Kentucky; died 10 May 1893, Cedar Bluff Tazewell Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• _UID: 0232C6DA6D154E309DB7CA89B05CF661DE26

Notes:

"Annals of Tazewell Co, VA", Harman, Vol I, page 85.
Squire Wingo married Mary Shipler on 9 Apr 1826 in Tazewell Co, VA.

1850 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Western District, taken on 30 Sep 1850, Page 309B, Family # 1291.
Listed as Mary Wingo, age 39, born in VA (sic, KY), in household of husband, William Esquire Wingo.

1860 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Cedar Bluff PO, taken on 9 Aug 1860, Page 873, Family #1292.
Listed as Mary Wingo, age 47, born in KY, in household of husband, William E. Wingo.

1870 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Maiden Spring Township, Knob PO, taken on 23 Aug 1870, Page 292B, Family #449.
Listed as Mary L. Wingo, age 58, born in VA, in household of son, Henderson R. Wingo.

1870 Census, Tazewell Co, VA, Maiden Spring Township, Knob PO, taken on 29 Aug 1870, Page 296B, Family #508.
Listed as Pollie Wingo, age 60, born in VA, in household of husband, William Wingo.
(Mary is listed twice in this census)