Life History

Other facts

Notes

• We first see Charley (Charles W) West in the 1880 census, as a childof 6 with his family in Prairie Township, Arkansas County, Arkansas.Charley is the oldest child, and he and all his siblings were bornabout 1874, after his parents moved there, apparently from Tennessee.His father A S West is a brother of Rufus Asberry West.
  
  1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 9 June, PrairieTownship, District 2, page 10, Hse #84, Hse #87
  A S West W M 34 Head Farmer NC NC NC
  S J West W F 27 Wife House Keeping TN TN NC
  C W [Charles] West W M 6 Son AR NC TN [b abt 1874]
  M M West W F 4 Dau AR NC TN
  L B West W F 2 Dau AR NC TN
  
  The initials of his father, A S, and the birth information matchAsberry West, whom I find in the 1930 census not far from Charley'sfamily.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 14 February, PrairieTownship, District 15, page 9A, Hse/ Fam #176
  West, Charley Head M W 46 AR AR AR
  West, Margaret Wife F W 39 IN IN IN
  West, Jesse Son M W 20 TX AR IN Farm Laborer
  West, Lavada Daughter F W 17 TX AR IN Farm Laborer
  West, Homer Son M W 14 TX AR IN Farm Laborer
  West, Gentry Son M W 10 TX AR IN
  West, Opal Son M W 8 TX AR IN
  West, JC Son M W 6 TX AR IN
  West, Emma Daughter F W 4 TX AR IN
  West, Clarence Son M W 2 TX AR IN
  
  I notice that this 1920 census was earlier in the year than the 1880,and yet Charley's age of 26 is yields the same birth year, 1874.Since the census is dated February, this would make it seem he waseither born in January 1874 or some time during the previous 8 monthsin 1873.
  
  Yet in 1930 he loses two years.  In 1930, his age of 54, yields abirth year of 1876 or perhaps 1875.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 10 April, PrairieTownship, District 7, page 3A, Hse #48, Fam #49
  West, Charles W  Head M W 54 AR NC TN Farmer [b abt 1876]
  West, Maggie Wife F W 49 IN IN IN
  West, Gentry Son M W 20 TX AR AR Farm Laborer
  West, Opal Son M W 18 TX AR AR Farm Laborer
  West, JC Son M W 16 TX AR AR Farm Laborer
  West, Emma Daughter F W 14 TX AR AR
  West, Clarence Son M W 12 TX AR AR
  West, Josie Lee  Dau F W 10 TX AR AR
  
  Note that in this census, Maggie's place of birth is reported asIndiana, as in the previous census.  However, the birthplace of themother of all the children is reported instead as Arkansas!  Also,Charley's parents once again have the correct states of birth, fatherNorth Carolina and mother Tennessee, as reported in 1880.
  
  The older children, Jesse, Lavada and Homer are now out on their own.Emma, Clarence and Josie have been born since the last census.  Emmalater marries Oregon Knowlton Jr as his second wife.  Josie marriedWilliam E Padgett.

Sources

• 1. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 10 April, Prairie Township, District 7, page 3A, Hse #48, Fam #49
• 2. 1880 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 9 June, Prairie Township, District 2, page 10, Hse #84, Hse #87
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 14 February, Prairie Township, District 15, page 9A, Hse/ Fam #176
• 4. Social Security Death Index
• 5. Ancestry Trees
  • Adams Family Tree,
• 6. 1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas
  • 16 April, District 7, Sheet 5A, Prairie Township, Ethel & Point Rd,
• 7. Gravestone of Jessie Q Criswell, Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas
• 8. Ancestors of Benjamin West
  • Name: Name: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mike_in_katy/benjaminwest.txt;;
  • Adams Family Tree,
• 9. Gravestone of Robert Oregon Knowlton Jr and Emmie H Knowlton, MtPleasant Cemetery, Ethel, Arkansas