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- Description is exactly "Jessie Messenger Hart Thomas was the cook for the Arthur H. Keller family of Tuscumbia, in Colbert County, Alabama; her 1939 obituary notes that "among the many white children nursed by 'Aunt' Jessie was the renowned Miss Helen Keller, native of Tuscumbia."
Jessie's precise birth year is unknown as different documents record different years however it seems to have been approximately 1849. Nothing is known about Jessie before her marriage to Edward Hart on March 14, 1871 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. For example, we have no idea who were parents were. We know even less about Edward Hart. He was born around 1845, according to his 1880 census enumeration in Tennessee and apparently died sometime between June of 1880 and 1889.
Known and inferred children of Jessie Messenger and Edward Hart:
1. John (ca. 1871-)
2. James "Jim" (1875-1937). Married India Gewing in 1894 and had at least 4 children.
3. Percy (1878-)
4. Mary F. (1882-1969). Married twice, to Edward "Eddie" White, then to Charles Vinson, with children from the first husband.
5. Unknown
6. Unknown
On June 4th, 1880 a 30 year-old Jessie was enumerated with Edward and the children in Florence and on July 12th or 13th, 1880 a 35 year-old "Jessy Hart" was enumerated with son John as a "domestic" in the household of Capt. Arthur H. Keller in Tuscumbia, in Colbert County.
No death or burial information has been located for Edward Hart as of yet.
According to her 1900 census enumeration Jessie had married a man named Cyrus Thomas who was possibly from Georgia, in 1889. Several Hart step-children and grandchildren were enumerated in their house. Apparently Jessie and Cyrus had at least two children of their own by 1910:
Known children of Jessie Messenger Hart and Cyrus Thomas:
1. William (1893-)
2. Harry (1898-)
Jessie's 1900 census enumeration recorded her as the mother of a total of 6 children, 6 still living by 1900 however her 1910 enumeration recorded her as the mother of a total of 9 children, 5 still living by 1910.
The Thomases were apparently members of St. Mark Missionary Baptist (MB) Church on East Alabama St. in Florence.
In their 1900 census enumeration the Thomases were living on Alabama St. in Florence. Their ages are listed as "unknown" and Cyrus' occupation is listed as "US Canal," meaning he worked on the Muscle Shoals Canal while Jessie's occupation was recorded as "nurse."
In 1900 the Thomases lived on Alabama Street, but by 1910 had moved to South Seminary Street into a house they owned. That year Jessie, her sons William and Harry, and daughter Mary White, husband Edward "Eddy" White and children were enumerated in the Thomas household. Jessie was recorded as married however Cyrus was not enumerated with the family in that years' census. In the 1913 city directory "Silas" and Jessie Thomas were recorded as living at 121 East Alabama Street
Cyrus Thomas died December 17, 1917 of an "unknown" ailment. No burial information was recorded on his death certificate however he is probably buried next to Jessie in the Florence City Cemetery.
The 1920 census enumerated Jessie in her son-in-law Ed White's house on Limestone Street in Florence. Her occupation was recorded as "nurse," however the 1920-1921 city directory listed her by herself at 509 South Walnut. In 1930 the widowed Jessie Thomas was still living alone at 509 South Walnut St. in Florence.
Jessie Messenger Hart Thomas died January 23, 1939 at her home at 509 South Walnut Street at 90 years of age. The funeral was held Thursday, January 26 at St. Mark MB Church, presumably with the service being conducted by the Rev. Dr. LJ Green, pastor of the church. As stated above, her obituary noted that she had as a younger woman been a servant of the Keller family.
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