Josephine (Williams) Arnold (abt. 1857 - 1900)

Born about 22 Jan 1857 in Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Frank E Arnold — married 17 Apr 1879 in Gallia County, Ohio, United States

Descendants

Died 13 Jul 1900 at about age 43 in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, United States

Biography

Josephine (Williams) Arnold is a part of US Black heritage.

Josephine Williams was born on 22 Jan 1857^[1] in Virginia, United States of America. She was probably born in Greenbrier County, Virginia (present day West Virginia), where her family lived at the time. The family had previously been enslaved there by a Dr. Cree but were freed after his death by his daughter Frances Cree. At her death, she sent them to Gallipolis where Eliza Sands would help them, seeing that the children were all educated.^[2]

Josephine Williams was listed in Allen Williams's household in Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, United States of America.^[3] She is assumed to be the daughter of Allen Williams and his wife Ellen Bell based on this 1870 census record.

Josephine married Frank E Arnold on 17 Apr 1879.^[4] They had seven children, five of whom were living in 1900.^[5] In 1880, they lived in Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio^[6] and in 1900, the family was living in Gallipolis, Ohio.^[5]

Josephine had been ill since the birth of her youngest child and died suddenly on 13 Jul 1900 in her home in Gallipolis.^[7] She was buried in Pine Street Cemetery in Gallipolis.^[1]

Research Notes

• Since the Cree family who enslaved the Williams/Bell family have not yet been identified and death dates found, it's not clear whether Josephine was ever enslaved or if she was born after the family had been freed.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/68479354/josie-arnold : accessed 28 February 2022), memorial page for Josie Arnold (22 Jan 1857–13 Jul 1900), Find A Grave: Memorial #68479354, citing Pine Street Cemetery, Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Neil Elvick (contributor 47206481).
2. ↑ Interview with Josephine's brother Charles Williams:
   The Federal Writers' Project, Slave Narratives; A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, Vol. 12, Ohio, pages 111-113, images 115-117 of 120, Rev. Williams interview, Washington, District of Columbia : The Library of Congress, 1941; image copy, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/resource/mesn.120/?sp=115 : accessed 26 Feb 2022).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", Cheshire, Gallia, Ohio, USA; page 24-25, family 177, dwelling 177, Josephene William in Allen William household; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M62Q-S6F
4. ↑ Ohio, Gallia County, Marriage Records, 1878-1884 Volume 5, page 51, No. 148, Frank E. Arnold and Josephine Williams, 17 Apr 1879; "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDWP-6QH : accessed 28 Feb 2022).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1900," ED 29, Gallipolis Ward 3, Gallia County, Ohio, USA; sheet 4B, family 104, dwelling 96, Josie Arnold in Frank E Arnold household; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM89-WZ6
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," ED 20, Cheshire Township, Gallia County, Ohio, USA; page 19, family 194, Josephine Arnold in Frank E Arnold household; NARA Series T9, Roll 1018; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8MF-KKZ.
7. ↑ "Funeral Services for Mrs. Arnold," The Gallipolis [Ohio] Daily Tribune, 14 Jul 1900, page 1, column 2; image copy, Bossard Library Digital Newspaper Archive (https://bossardlibrary.advantage-preservation.com : accessed 28 Feb 2022).