"Aunt" Jessie Thomas, Cook of the Capt. Arthur H. Keller Family

Subject

People

Description

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.
1. Edward Hart to Jesse Messenger
2. Ed Hart's 1880 federal census enumeration
3. Ed Hart's 1880 federal census enumeration, enlargement.
4. Capt. Arthur H. Keller's 1880 federal census enumeration showing "Jessy" Hart as a "domestic."
5. Capt. Arthur H. Keller's 1880 federal census enumeration showing "Jessy" Hart as a "domestic," enlargement.
6. Cyrus and Jessie Thomas' 1900 federal census enumeration, p. 1.
7. Cyrus and Jessie Thomas' 1900 federal census enumeration, p. 2.
8. Jessie Thomas' 1910 federal census enumeration.
9. Ed White's 1920 federal census enumeration showing his mother-in-law Jessie Thomas in his house.
10. Ed White's 1920 federal census enumeration showing his mother-in-law Jessie Thomas in his house, cropped.
11. Jessie Thomas' 1930 federal census enumeration.
12. Jessie Thomas' 1930 federal census enumeration, enlargement.
13-15. Silas [sic] Thomas' 1913-1914 city directory entry.
16-18. Jessie Thomas' 1920-1921 city directory entry.
19-21. Jessie Thomas' 1926 city directory entry.
22.-24. Jessie Thomas' 1939 city directory entry.
25. Cyrus Thomas' 1917 Alabama death certificate.
26. Jessie Thomas' 1939 death certificate.
27. Jessie Thomas' obituary.
28. Jessie Thomas' tombstone in the Black Section of the Florence City Cemetery.

Source

1. Colbert County, Alabama Marriages Volume A, 1867-1874, p. 102 from Ancestry Library Edition.
2. 1880 federal census.
3. 1880 federal census.
4. 1880 federal census.
5. 1880 federal census.
6. 1900 federal census.
7. 1900 federal census.
8. 1910 federal census.
9. 1920 federal census.
10. 1920 federal census.
11. 1930 federal census.
12. 1930 federal census.
13. Alabama death certificate.
14. Alabama death certificate.
15. Florence Herald
16. Find-A-Grave

Publisher

1. Ancestry Library Edition.
2. Ancestry Library Edition.
3. Ancestry Library Edition.
4. Ancestry Library Edition.
5. Ancestry Library Edition.
6. Ancestry Library Edition.
7. Ancestry Library Edition.
8. Ancestry Library Edition.
9. Ancestry Library Edition.
10. Ancestry Library Edition.
11. Ancestry Library Edition.
12. Ancestry Library Edition.
13. RL Polk & Co's Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Alabama.
14. RL Polk & Co's Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Alabama.
15. RL Polk & Co's Tri-Cities Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Alabama.
16. RL Polk & Co's Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala.
17. RL Polk & Co's Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala.
18. RL Polk & Co's Directory Comprising Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala.
19. Polk's Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala. City Directory
20. Polk's Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala. City Directory
21. Polk's Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, Ala. City Directory
22. Mullin-Kille and Florence Times Florence, Alabama Con Survey City Directory
23. Mullin-Kille and Florence Times Florence, Alabama Con Survey City Directory
24. Mullin-Kille and Florence Times Florence, Alabama Con Survey City Directory
25. Familysearch.org
26. Familysearch.org
27. Newspapers.com
28. Find-A-Grave.

Contributor

Lee Freeman

Rights

Images are available for educational and research purposes. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the express written consent of the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the interested party to identify the copyright holder and receive permission.

Format

Jpeg

Language

English

Type

Still Images

Files

Hart to Messenger Marriage .jpg
Ed Hart 1880.jpg
Ed Hart 1880 Cropped.jpg
Jessy Hart 1880.jpg
Jessy Hart 1880 Cropped.jpg
Cyrus Thomas 1900 1.jpg
Cyrus Thomas 1900 2.jpg
Jessie Thomas 1910.jpg
Jessie Thomas 1920.jpg
Jessie Thomas 1920 Cropped.jpg
Jessie Thomas 1930.jpg
Jessie Thomas 1930 Cropped.jpg
1914 City Dir Title.jpg
1914 City Dir Abbr.jpg
1914 Silas Thomas.jpg
1921 City Dir Title.jpg
1921 City Dir Abbr.jpg
1921 City Dir Entry.jpg
1926 1.jpg
1926 2.jpg
1926 3.jpg
1939 1.jpg
1939 2.jpg
1939 3.jpg
Cyrus Thomas.jpg
Jessie Hart 1939 Death Cert.jpg
Aged Negro Woman Dies.jpg
Jessie Thomas Tombstone.jpg

Collection

People

Citation

“"Aunt" Jessie Thomas, Cook of the Capt. Arthur H. Keller Family,” Shoals Black History, accessed March 25, 2025, https://shoalsblackhistory.omeka.net/items/show/1272.