Josephine Beall (Willson) Bruce (1853 - 1923)

Descendants

Biography

Josephine Beall Willson Bruce was an educator and a women's rights activist in the late 1890s and early 1900s.^[1]

Life Events

Josephine Beall Willson was born on October 29, 1853, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the eldest child of Dr. Joseph Willson and Elizabeth Harnett.^[2]

The Willson family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, within a year of Josephine's birth, and so she attended the Cleveland Central High School. After graduating in 1871, Josephine took a number of courses in teaching. As a result, she was offered the opportunity to teach at the Mayflower school, becoming the first Black teacher in the Cleveland public school system.

Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce and his wife Josephine Beall Willson.

Her father having applied for a license in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on June 22, 1878, Josephine, never before married, and of the age of not less than eighteen years, and Blanche Kelso Bruce, also never before married, and sworn to be of the age of not less than twenty-one years, were married there on the 24th.^[3]

The couple were to have only one child, a son they named Roscoe Conkling after the New York Senator, Roscoe Conkling, who had extended a courtesy to Blanche on his entry to the Senate, in counter to the discrimination shown by most of the Senators present.

Josephine met Booker T. Washington, who offered her the position of principal at his Tuskegee University. Accepting the offer (from 1899 to 1902), she was able to continue to promote education, and to offer training to other teachers. While there, her son was to visit, leading to him being offered the position of head of the academic department.

On June 4, 1880, Josephine (recorded as Jenne) was living with her family at 909 M Street, Washington, DC. Home at the time were her husband, Blanche, U.S. Senator; their 13-month-old son, Roscoe; and the household staff: 22-year-old Virginia-born Jesse Scott (male); 30-year-old Virginia-born Alice Scott; and 30-year-old Maryland-born Lizzie Perkins.^[4]

The National Organization of Afro-American Women (NACW) banner held at the Smithsonian.

Josephine was heavily involved in activism, particularly in the advancement and education of Black women. She dedicated a large part of her life to the National Organization of Afro-American Women (NACW), successfully running for the vice presidency of the organization in 1896.

Blanche died in March 1898, leaving Josephine a relatively young widow. His obituaries named many of the luminaries of the Washington political scene, including Frederick Douglass, and President McKinley.^[5]
Roscoe was to inherit his father's library, all else (after payment of any pre-existing debts, and providing for funeral expenses) going to his beloved wife, Josephine; and, after that, to her heirs. Josephine was named as sole Executrix, and Guardian to their son. Blanche had taken great pains to note what he considered to already be Josephine's property and, therefore, not part of his Estate.^[6]

On January 2, 1920, 63-year-old Josephine was living at 1716 17th Street Washington, DC, with her son and his family. Home at the time were Roscoe, an assistant superintendent of schools; his wife, Clara; and their children: 15-year-old Clara, 13-year-old Roscoe Jr, and 10-year-old Burrill.^[7]

Josephine Beall Bruce née Willson, aka Josephine Beall Willson Bruce, passed away on February 15, 1923, in Kimball, West Virginia, United States, in the 70th year of her age, in her sleep of a heart attack.^[8] and was buried alongside her husband in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Benning, where other members of the family also lie.^[9]
(Note, her "middle" name was spelt with a terminal "e" on the death record, and in her sister Mary's will. All other records omit the terminal "e" on Beall.)

In her Will, Josephine left everything to her son, Roscoe Conkling Bruce, also naming him as sole Executor, and expressing the wish that the income from her estate be used to defray the expenses that would be incurred in the higher education and professional training of her three grandchildren: Clara Josephine Bruce, Roscoe Conkling Bruce Jr, and B. K. Bruce 2nd.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Josephine Beall Willson Bruce
2. ↑ "District of Columbia Deaths, 1874-1961," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2V5-PZT : accessed 8 February 2021), Josephine Bealle Bruce, 15 Feb 1923, Kimball, McDowell, West Virginia, United States; citing reference ID , District Records Center, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,116,606. Name: Josephine Bealle Bruce; Event Type: Death; Event Date: 15 Feb 1923; Event Place: Kimball, McDowell, West Virginia, United States; Event Place (Original): Kimball, Mcdowell, West Virginia; Sex: Female; Age: 69; Birth Year (Estimated): 1854; Father's Name: Joseph Wilson; Mother's Name: Elizabeth Harnett; Record Number: 1979
3. ↑ "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ6G-YQF : 26 August 2019), Blanche K. Bruce and Josephine B. Willson, 24 Jun 1878; citing Marriage, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, Pg 475, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society, Columbus; FHL microfilm. Name: Josephine B. Willson; Event Type: Marriage; Event Date: 24 Jun 1878; Event Place: Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States; Sex: Female; Spouse's Name: Blanche K. Bruce; Spouse's Gender: Male; Record Number: 211
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6C7-JJN : 12 November 2020), Jenne B. Bruce in household of B. K. Bruce, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 27, sheet 82B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,122.
5. ↑ Husband's Death — "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5MY-H7GT : 18 July 2020), Hon Blanche K Bruce, 1898.
6. ↑ Probate Records (District of Columbia), 1801-1930; Author: District of Columbia. Register of Wills; Probate Place: District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. Name: Blanche K Bruce; Gender: Male; Probate Date: 1898; Probate Place: District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., USA; Inferred Death Year: Abt 1898; Inferred Death Place: Washington, D.C., USA; Case Number: 8277; Item Description: Wills, Boxes 0173 Sullivan, Mathie C - 0178 Preinkert, 1897-1898
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNLT-RSX : 1 February 2021), Josephine B Bruce in entry for Roscoe C Bruce, 1920.
8. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F1TQ-KMZ : 10 March 2018), Josephine Bealle Bruce, 15 Feb 1923; citing Kimball, McDowell, West Virginia, County Records, 2521, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,953,052. Name: Josephine Bealle Bruce; Event Date: 15 Feb 1923; Event Place: Kimball, McDowell, West Virginia; Gender: Female; Father's Name: Joseph Willson; Mother's Name: Elizabeth Harnett; Affiliate Repository Type: County Records
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 08 February 2021), memorial page for Mrs Josephine Beall Willson Bruce (29 Oct 1853–15 Feb 1923), Find A Grave: Memorial #58916211, citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Benning, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, USA ; Maintained by Clifford (contributor 47115422).
10. ↑ "West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD5-FDLR : 12 March 2018), Josephine B Bruce, 1923; citing McDowell, West Virginia, United States, Will book, v. 02 1908-1924, page 258, Jackson County Clerk, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 801,876.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q51852834, en:Wikipedia
• Wikipedia: African-American women's suffrage movement