Readers, early on in the Emmett Wilson research, I found this article from The Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch:
The unveiling of the Florida window at Blandsford Church. Also, a clue to a potential lead/family member, and an error. Emmett wasn’t elected to the Senate. Source: The Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 23, 1912.
Julia Maxwell, Emmett’s first cousin, was the only daughter of Emilie Cussen and Walker Anderson Maxwell, who were married in 1902, in Richmond, Virginia. Julia, named for Walker’s mother, Julia Anderson Hawkes Maxwell, was born in 1904 in Marianna, Florida.
Matthew Leonidas Dekle, of Marianna, Florida. Source: Makers of America: An Historical and Biographical Work by an Able Corps of Writers, Vol. 2, 1909
In 1909, Walker ‘died suddenly’, owing his employer, M.L. Dekle, a lot of money. As mentioned in an earlier post, Emmett’s brother, Cephas, handled the legal paperwork and Walker’s life insurance probably settled the debt. I still haven’t found out what, exactly, was the cause of death.
When Walker died, Emilie and Julia moved in with W.E.B. and Eudora Wilson Smith (Emmett’s sister and brother-in-law, and Walker’s niece) in Marianna in 1910. Julia was only five years old.
We don’t know if Emilie and Walker had other children; the 1910 Census asked respondents for the number of children born and children living, but both items are left blank for Emilie Cussen Maxwell. It’s likely Julia was an only child.
We next hear about Julia in June, 1912, right after Emmett won the primary for U.S. Congressman. The Ladies’ Memorial Association invited Emmett to Petersburg, Virginia, for the dedication of the Florida window at Blandford Church. Emmett was the keynote speaker, as noted in the article above, and his cousin, 12-year-old Julia Anderson Maxwell, unveiled the window for the event.
The Florida window at Blandford Church, Petersburg, Virginia. This is the window Emmett helped dedicate in June, 1912. Source: Florida Memory.com
We don’t find any other information about Julia until 1925. She’s now living in Washington, D.C., at the Elizabeth Somers YWCA building on M Street, N.W. Her mother is nowhere to be found; Emilie may have remarried; but more likely, I think that Emilie died, and Julia was on her own before her 21st birthday.
This article, from the Washington, D.C. Evening Star is dated July 19, 1925. All of the young women listed here are residents of Elizabeth Somers YWCA, and, Julia is listed as a ‘senior’; perhaps a resident of the YWCA of senior status, since Julia did not go to college, according to the 1930 Census.
Speak of the 1930 U.S. Census, Julia was 26, still living in the Elizabeth J. Somers YWCA in Washington, D.C., and is listed as a librarian for the U.S. Navy. I have found several other articles that indicate she lived for several more years at the YWCA, then eventually moved to Alexandria, Virginia. She made a good career for herself, never married, remained very active with YWCA activities, fundraisers, and other community service projects.
Julia died in 1995 and is buried at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Cemetery in Alexandria.
Julia Anderson Maxwell. Source: http://www.findagrave.com
Categories: Congressman Family Florida History
jsmith532
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