Born: 5 July 1891, Apalachee, GA. 1 2 4
Parents: JOHN THOMAS SIDWELL, JR. AND MAGGIE FEARS
Married: About 1910. 5
Religion: Methodist. 5
Death: 25 Jan. 1920, Walton Co., GA. 1 3 5
Burial: Fears Cemetery (beside his mother), Buckhead, Morgan Co., GA. 5
Notes:
As of 5 June 1917 he was a self-employed farmer, with a wife and two children living at Apalachee, Morgan Co., GA; he was of medium height and build, with gray eyes and brown hair. 4
The 1920 Census, Monroe, Walton, GA., taken Jan. 10th-12th, listed him with wife Etta, sons, Castelle, Billie, and Clay; he was employed as a Railroad Fireman.
About two weeks later he was dead, taking his own life by pistol shot to the dead (The Madisonian, 30 Jan. 1920, obituary, C. F. SIDWELL TAKES OWN LIFE SUNDAY EVENING). Summary: this occurred between the Apalachee and Bostwick Stations on the Greene County Railroad, while he was serving as train conductor. In May of 1919 his foot was mashed in a train coupling accident, and had to be amputated, and he was fitted with an artificial leg. It was believed that his brooding over this condition led to his suicide. But notes he wrote to his sister Pauline indicated trouble with his wife, "I have been a true husband to that woman .... God knows I have had hell since I went to Monroe." He and his family had moved to Monroe two years earlier so that he could take the position of brakeman for the Greene County Railroad.
Spouse: LORETTA MAYNE orphan 5 b. about 1891, Georgia. 6
CHILDREN OF CLAY FEARS SIDWELL AND LORETTA MAYNE 1 5 6:
CASTEL SIDWELL b. about 1912, Georgia.
BILL SIDWELL b. about 1914, Georgia.
BEN or CLAY SIDWELL b. about 1918, Georgia.
Sources:
1. "Morgan County, Georgia Heritage, 1807-1997," 1997, Morgan Co. Heritage Book Committee and Don Mills, Inc, Walsworth Publishing Co.
2. 1900 Federal Census, Askew, Morgan, GA.
3. Indexes of Vital Records for Georgia: Deaths, 1919-1998, Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records, Cert. 2485-B.
4. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
5. The Madisonian, Madison, GA, 30 Jan. 1920, obituary (reprinted from the Walton News).
6. 1920 Federal Census, Monroe, Walton, GA.
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Page last updated 28 April 2008.